JP6070998B2 - Printing control apparatus and printing system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing control apparatus and a printing system.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an image compression / decompression apparatus that can be connected to a scanner / printer in real time without using an actual memory.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-054220

  An object of the present invention is to control a printing operation of a printing apparatus by printing apparatus control software that operates on an operating system incapable of real-time control via an interface board that does not include storage means for storing print data. Even in such a case, it is an object of the present invention to provide a printing control apparatus and a printing system that can prevent unintended blank paper output.

[Print control device]
The present invention according to claim 1 comprises a storage means for temporarily storing print data;
Control means for controlling a printing operation based on print data stored in the storage means by a printing apparatus control software operating on an operating system incapable of real-time control;
Between the printing apparatus and the control means by firmware operating on an operating system having a communication interface function with the printing apparatus and having no storage means for storing print data and capable of real-time control With an interface board that performs communication control of
Instructions from the printing device that require a response within a specified time are transferred to the control means after the firmware receives the command,
The firmware is a print control apparatus that performs processing based on whether a response to the command is transmitted from the control unit within a predetermined time.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the firmware receives a print data transmission request, which is a command from a printing apparatus that requires a response within a specified time, from the printing apparatus, the control unit controls the print data transmission request. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is instructed to stop the printing operation when a response to the transferred print data transmission request is not transmitted from the control means within a predetermined time. It is.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, when the firmware receives a print data transmission request, which is an instruction from a printing apparatus that requires a response within a specified time, from the printing apparatus, the control unit controls the print data transmission request. If the response to the transferred print data transmission request is not transmitted from the control means within a specified time, the print data for one page requested by the print data transmission request is prepared in advance. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the received error image is transferred to the printing apparatus.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the firmware receives a print data transmission request, which is a command from a printing apparatus that requires a response within a specified time, from the printing apparatus, the control unit controls the print data transmission request. If a response to the transferred print data transmission request is not transmitted from the control means within a specified time, an instruction to output a blank sheet is transferred to the printing apparatus, and a blank sheet output instruction is issued. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the page information is notified to the control unit.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, when the firmware transmits an instruction to output a blank sheet to the printing apparatus, the output position of the blank sheet is shifted from the output position of other printing sheets. The print control apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the print control apparatus performs a simple instruction.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus that prints an image on printing paper based on transmitted print data;
Storage means for temporarily storing print data, and control means for controlling a printing operation based on the print data stored in the storage means by a printing apparatus control software operating on an operating system incapable of real-time control And the printing device and the control means by firmware operating on an operating system capable of real-time control without a storage means for storing print data. An interface board that performs communication control between the printer and a command that requires a response within a specified time, the command received from the firmware is transferred to the control means, and the response to the command is specified. On the basis of whether or not it has been transmitted from the control means within Te is a printing system having a printing control apparatus that performs processing.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the printing apparatus control software operating on an operating system incapable of real-time control via an interface board that does not include storage means for storing print data is used for the printing apparatus. Even when the printing operation is controlled, it is possible to provide a printing control apparatus capable of preventing unintended blank paper output.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect obtained by the first aspect of the present invention, when the response to the print data transmission request cannot be transmitted within the specified time, the printing operation of the printing apparatus is performed. It is possible to provide a print control apparatus capable of preventing unintended blank paper output by stopping the printing.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect obtained by the first aspect of the present invention, a response to a print data transmission request cannot be transmitted within a specified time. It is possible to provide a print control apparatus capable of preventing unintended blank paper output by causing an error image to be printed by a printing apparatus.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect obtained by the present invention according to the first aspect, when a response to the print data transmission request cannot be transmitted within a specified time, an instruction to output a blank sheet is given. It is possible to provide a print control apparatus capable of preventing unintended blank paper output by causing a printing apparatus to intentionally output blank paper based on the page information and notifying the control means of page information for which a blank paper output instruction has been issued. it can.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect obtained by the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a print control apparatus capable of obtaining the effect that a blank sheet can be easily found. it can.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the printing apparatus control software operating on an operating system that cannot perform real-time control via an interface board that does not include storage means for storing print data is used for the printing apparatus. Even when the printing operation is controlled, it is possible to provide a printing system capable of preventing unintended blank paper output.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a sequence chart for explaining the operation of the printing system when a memory such as a RAM is provided on the PCI board. 6 is a sequence chart for explaining the operation of the printing system when the memory on the PCI board is simply abolished. 6 is a sequence chart for explaining an operation when a device driver can respond within a specified time to a print data transmission request from the printing apparatus 20 in the printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a sequence chart for explaining an operation when a device driver cannot respond to a print data transmission request from the printing apparatus 20 within a specified time in the printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 9 is a sequence chart for explaining an operation when a device driver fails to respond to a print data transmission request from the printing apparatus 20 within a specified time in the printing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an error image transmitted from firmware to the printing apparatus 20. 10 is a sequence chart for explaining an operation when a device driver cannot respond to a print data transmission request from the printing apparatus 20 within a specified time in the printing system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of notifying a user of information on a page output by a device driver as a blank page. It is a figure which shows the mode of the offset printing which shifts and outputs the output position of a blank paper from the output position of another printing paper.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention prints an image on printing paper based on transmitted print data, and the printing operation of the printing apparatus 20. The printing control apparatus 10 is configured to sequentially transmit print data to the printing apparatus 20 in units of pages.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the print control apparatus 10 includes a CPU 11, a hard disk drive (HDD) 12, a RAM 13, and a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) board 14. The print control apparatus 10 in the present embodiment is configured using a general personal computer.

  The PCI board 14 is an interface board that has a communication interface function with the printing apparatus 20 and performs communication control between the printing apparatus 20 and the CPU 11 by the CPU 15. The CPU 15 operates firmware which is software for controlling a communication interface with the printing apparatus 20 on an embedded operating system (hereinafter, abbreviated as OS) capable of real-time control. The PCI board 14 in this embodiment is not provided with a RAM for storing print data.

  The HDD 12 is a storage device for storing print data that has been subjected to drawing processing. The RAM 13 is storage means (memory) for temporarily storing print data or the like to be transferred to the printing apparatus 20.

  The CPU 11 controls the printing operation based on the print data stored in the RAM 13 by a device driver (printing device control software) that operates on an OS that cannot be controlled in real time (for example, Windows (registered trademark) manufactured by Microsoft Corporation). Control means.

  As described above, since the CPU 11 is equipped with an OS that cannot be controlled in real time, in this embodiment, the CPU 15 on the PCI board 14 receives an instruction from the printing apparatus 20 that requires a response within a specified time. After the firmware operating in is received, it is transferred to the device driver of the CPU 11.

  The firmware of the CPU 15 performs various processes based on whether or not a response to the command is transmitted from the device driver of the CPU 11 within a specified time.

  Specifically, when the firmware in the present embodiment receives a print data transmission request, which is an instruction from a printing apparatus that requires a response, from the printing apparatus 20 within a specified time, the firmware transmits the print data transmission request to the CPU 11. When a response to the transferred print data transmission request is not transmitted from the device driver of the CPU 11 within a specified time, the printing apparatus 20 is instructed to stop the printing operation.

  Next, operations in the printing system of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the sequence charts of FIGS.

  First, before describing the operation of the printing system of the present embodiment, the operation when a memory such as a RAM is provided on the PCI board 14 will be described with reference to FIG. 14 will be described with reference to FIG.

  If there is a memory on the PCI board 14, as shown in FIG. 2, first, the device driver of the CPU 11 instructs the firmware of the CPU 15 to start printing (step S901). Then, the firmware makes a job transmission notice to the effect that the print job is to be transmitted to the printing apparatus 20 (step S902). Then, the printing apparatus 20 prepares to receive a print job by receiving the job transmission notice from the firmware (step S903).

  Next, the device driver performs a start notification indicating that transmission of print data for the first page is to be started (step S904). The firmware receives the start notification from the device driver and prepares to receive the print data for the first page (step S905).

  Then, the device driver prepares for DMA (Direct Memory Access) transfer of the print data stored in the RAM 13 (step S906). When the preparation is completed, the device driver DMA-transfers the print data in the RAM 13 to the CPU 15 of the PCI board 14 (step S907). Then, in the PCI board 14, the firmware stores the print data that has been DMA-transferred in the memory on the PCI board 14 (step S908).

When the transfer of the print data for one page is completed, the firmware transmits a print data transmission preparation notification (Submit Sheet) for notifying that the print data for the first page is ready for transmission to the printing apparatus 20 ( Step S909).
Upon receiving this print data transmission preparation notification, the printing apparatus 20 transmits a print data transmission request (Image Request) for requesting transmission of print data for the first page to the firmware (step S911).

  Then, after receiving the print data transmission request from the printing apparatus 20 (step S912), the firmware returns a transmission start notification (one page), which is a notification for transmitting the first page of print data, to the printing apparatus 20. Then, data transfer of the print data for the first page is started (step S914).

  The printing apparatus 20 receives a transmission start notification (one page) from the firmware (step S914), and then receives print data for the first page (step S916).

  When the reception of the print data for the first page is completed, the printing apparatus 20 transmits a data reception completion to the firmware (step S917), and the firmware that has received the data reception completion ends the data transfer (step S918). ).

  The same processing is performed between the device driver, the firmware, and the printing apparatus 20 for the print data after the second page (steps S919, S920,...).

  Here, from when the firmware receives the print data transmission request from the printing apparatus 20, until the transmission start notification (step S913) is returned to the printing apparatus 20, and until the start of print data transfer (step S915) is started. Time has time constraints. In other words, there is a restriction that the firmware must start the data transfer in response to the transmission start notification within a specified time after the firmware receives the print data transmission request command from the printing apparatus 20.

  If such a restriction is not satisfied, the printing apparatus 20 outputs the page to be printed as a blank sheet. This is a printing apparatus 20 according to this embodiment, which is a high-speed printer capable of printing on 100 sheets of paper per minute. The printing operation is simply stopped halfway, and printing is resumed when print data arrives. This is because it cannot be done.

  For this reason, the firmware manages transmission start notification and print data transfer start timing so that the above time constraints are observed.

  With this configuration, the operation of the printing system when the memory on the PCI board 14 is simply abolished will be described with reference to FIG.

  In such a configuration, the print data cannot be temporarily stored in the PCI board 14 because there is no memory on the PCI board 14. For this reason, when the memory is simply abolished from the PCI board 14, it is conceivable that an exchange regarding print data transfer is performed between the device driver of the CPU 11 and the printing apparatus 20.

  When print data is transferred between the device driver, firmware, and printing apparatus 20 based on this idea, the operation is as shown in the sequence chart of FIG.

  In FIG. 3, the operations from step S901 to S906 are the same as those in the sequence chart shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 3, when the device driver is ready for DMA transfer (step S906), the device driver transmits a print data transmission preparation notification to the printing apparatus 20 (step S921), and the print that has received the print data transmission preparation notification is received. The apparatus 20 transmits a print data transmission request (Image Request) for requesting transmission of print data for the first page to the device driver (step S923).

  Then, after receiving the print data transmission request from the printing apparatus 20 (step S924), the device driver sends a transmission start notification (1 page), which is a notification for transmitting the first page of print data, to the printing apparatus 20. Reply is made (step S925), and then data transfer of the print data of the first page is started (step S927).

  The printing apparatus 20 receives a transmission start notification (one page) from the device driver (step S926), and then receives the first page of print data (step S928).

  When the reception of the print data for the first page is completed, the printing apparatus 20 transmits a data reception completion to the device driver (step S929). Upon receiving this data reception completion, the device driver ends the data transfer ( Step S930).

  The same processing is performed between the device driver, firmware, and the printing apparatus 20 for the print data of the second and subsequent pages (steps S931, S932,...).

  Even in the processing described with reference to FIG. 3, the device driver receives a print data transmission request (step S924), and then transmits a transmission start notification (step S925) to print the first page of print data. There is a time restriction that the data transfer (step S927) must be performed within a specified time until the data transfer starts.

  However, since the device driver operates on the CPU 11 on which the OS that cannot be controlled in real time is mounted, time management cannot be performed. As a result, there has been a problem that the transmission start notification and the data transfer of the print data cannot be performed within the specified time, and the printing apparatus 20 cannot prevent the blank paper from being output.

  In particular, the device driver cannot grasp even the transmission start notification that it responded to or whether the data transfer of the print data has been performed within the specified time, and therefore whether or not the blank has been output in the printing apparatus 20. There was a problem of not knowing.

  For this reason, when a print job is transmitted to the printing apparatus 20 with such a configuration, the user confirms the print result to determine whether a blank page is output, and if a blank page is output, which page is output. There is a problem that it is necessary to specify whether it is necessary to reprint, and it takes time and effort.

  The operation of the printing system of the present embodiment that prevents the occurrence of such a problem will be described with reference to FIGS.

  A memory such as a RAM is not provided on the PCI board 14 in this embodiment. However, a command from the printing apparatus 20 that requires a response within a specified time, such as a print data transmission request, is on the PCI board 14. After being received by the firmware operating on the CPU 15, it is transferred to the device driver of the CPU 11.

  In the firmware of the CPU 15 in this embodiment, it is confirmed whether a response to a command such as a print data transmission request has been transmitted from the device driver of the CPU 11 within a specified time, and a response to the transferred print data transmission request. Is not transmitted from the device driver of the CPU 11 within a specified time, the printing apparatus 20 is instructed to stop the printing operation.

  First, in the printing system of the present embodiment, the operation when the device driver can respond within a specified time to the print data transmission request from the printing apparatus 20 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 4, the operations from step S101 to S106 are the same as steps S901 to S906 in the sequence charts shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  When the device driver is ready to transfer the print data, the device driver notifies the firmware (step S107), and the firmware transmits a print data transmission preparation notification to the printing apparatus 20 (step S108).

  Upon receiving this print data transmission preparation notification, the printing apparatus 20 transmits a print data transmission request (Image Request) for requesting transmission of print data for the first page to the firmware (step S110).

  Then, the firmware transfers the print data transmission request from the printing apparatus 20 to the device driver (step S111).

  Then, after receiving the print data transmission request from the firmware (step S112), the device driver notifies the firmware that the print data transmission preparation is complete (step S113).

  Upon receiving this print data transmission preparation completion from the device driver, the firmware returns a transmission start notification (one page), which is a notification for transmitting the first page of print data, to the printing apparatus 20 (step S114), and then continues. Data transfer of the print data for the first page is started (step S116).

  The printing apparatus 20 receives a transmission start notification (one page) from the firmware (step S115), and then receives print data for the first page (step S117).

  When the reception of the print data for the first page is completed, the printing apparatus 20 transmits the data reception completion to the firmware (step S118), and the firmware that has received the data reception completion ends the data transfer (step S119). ).

  The same processing is performed between the device driver, the firmware, and the printing apparatus 20 for the print data after the second page (steps S120, S121,...).

  Next, in the printing system of the present embodiment, an operation when the device driver cannot respond within a specified time to a print data transmission request from the printing apparatus 20 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 5, the operations from step S101 to S112 are the same as those in the sequence chart shown in FIG.

  If the device driver that has received the print data transmission request cannot return a response to the firmware within a specified time and a timeout occurs, the firmware issues a print stop instruction to the printing apparatus 20 (step S120).

  When the printing apparatus 20 receives the print stop instruction from the firmware (step S121), the printing apparatus 20 stops the printing operation (step S121).

  In the present embodiment, the CPU 15 is equipped with an OS capable of real-time control as described above, and the firmware is operating on the OS. Therefore, the firmware is transmitted after the printing apparatus 20 transmits a print data transmission request. It is possible to grasp whether or not a response could be returned within a specified time.

  If the response cannot be returned within a specified time after the printing apparatus 20 transmits the print data transmission request, the firmware instructs the printing apparatus 20 to stop printing, and an unintended blank sheet is displayed. The output is prevented.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a printing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  In the printing system of this embodiment, a response to the print data transmission request command from the printing apparatus 20 is transmitted from the device driver of the CPU 11 to the printing system of the first embodiment described above within a specified time. The firmware process is changed when it does not come, and the other configurations are the same.

  The firmware in this embodiment prepares in advance as print data for one page requested by the print data transmission request when a response to the print data transmission request transferred to the device driver is not returned within a specified time. The received error image is transferred to the printing apparatus 20.

  Next, in the printing system of the present embodiment, an operation when the device driver cannot respond within a specified time to a print data transmission request from the printing apparatus 20 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 6, the operations from step S101 to S112 are the same as those in the sequence chart shown in FIG.

  If the device driver that has received the print data transmission request cannot return a response to the firmware within a specified time and a timeout occurs, the firmware returns a transmission start notification (one page) to the printing apparatus 20. Then, data transfer of the error image print data prepared in advance is started (step S130).

  The printing apparatus 20 receives a transmission start notification (one page) from the firmware (step S115), and then receives error image print data (step S117).

  When the reception of the error image print data is completed, the printing apparatus 20 transmits the data reception completion to the firmware (step S118), and the firmware that has received the data reception completion ends the data transfer (step S119). .

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, even when the device driver cannot respond to the print data transmission request within the specified time, an unintended blank page output from the printing apparatus 20 is prevented, and the error image is blank. Will be output instead of.

  An example of an error image transmitted from the firmware to the printing apparatus 20 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the error image is an image that allows the user to grasp at a glance that the page has not been printed normally. The user confirms the output result, and which page is printed normally. It is easy to see if it was not done.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a printing system according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  In the printing system of the present embodiment, the device driver of the CPU 11 responds to the print data transmission request command from the printing apparatus 20 within a specified time with respect to the printing systems of the first and second embodiments described above. The firmware processing when not transmitted from is changed, and other configurations are the same.

  When the response to the print data transmission request transferred to the device driver is not transmitted from the device driver within a predetermined time, the firmware according to the present embodiment issues an instruction to output a blank page (blank page output command) to the printing apparatus 20. The device driver is notified of the page information that has been transferred and instructed to output a blank page.

  Then, the device driver displays the page information on which the blank page output instruction received from the firmware is displayed on a display or the like, and prompts the user to re-output the blank page output page.

  Next, in the printing system of the present embodiment, an operation when the device driver cannot respond to the print data transmission request from the printing apparatus 20 within a specified time will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 8, the operations from step S101 to S112 are the same as those in the sequence charts shown in FIGS.

  If the device driver that has received the print data transmission request cannot return a response to the firmware within a specified time and a timeout occurs, the firmware transmits a blank page output command to the printing apparatus 20 (step S140). Upon receiving the command (step S141), the printing apparatus 20 outputs a blank sheet (step S142).

  Then, the firmware transmits, to the device driver, information indicating which page is output as a blank page to the device driver as a blank page output notification (step S143). The device driver that has received this blank page output notification stores information about which page was blank page output (step S144).

  When the print job is completed, the device driver notifies the user of the information of the page output as a blank page, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, and notifies the user to re-output if necessary.

  When the firmware in the present embodiment transmits an instruction to output a blank sheet to the printing apparatus 20, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, the output position of the blank sheet is defined as the output position of other printing sheets. An instruction for offset printing may be given so as to be output in a shifted manner.

  In FIG. 10, since the output position of the output blank paper 61 is shifted from that of other printing paper, the user can easily grasp the blank paper output during the print job.

10 Print Control Device 11 CPU (Device Driver)
12 HDD
13 Memory 14 PCI Board 15 CPU (Firmware)
20 Printing device 61 Blank paper

Claims (6)

Storage means for temporarily storing print data;
Control means for controlling a printing operation based on print data stored in the storage means by a printing apparatus control software operating on an operating system incapable of real-time control;
Between the printing apparatus and the control means by firmware operating on an operating system having a communication interface function with the printing apparatus and having no storage means for storing print data and capable of real-time control With an interface board that performs communication control of
Instructions from the printing device that require a response within a specified time are transferred to the control means after the firmware receives the command,
The print control apparatus, wherein the firmware performs processing based on whether a response to the command is transmitted from the control unit within a predetermined time.   When the firmware receives a print data transmission request, which is an instruction from a printing device that requires a response within a specified time, from the printing device, the firmware transfers the print data transmission request to the control unit, and the transferred print data The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the response to the transmission request is not transmitted from the control unit within a predetermined time, the printing apparatus is instructed to stop the printing operation.   When the firmware receives a print data transmission request, which is an instruction from a printing device that requires a response within a specified time, from the printing device, the firmware transfers the print data transmission request to the control unit, and the transferred print data If a response to the transmission request is not transmitted from the control means within a prescribed time, an error image prepared in advance as print data for one page requested by the print data transmission request is sent to the printing apparatus. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing control apparatus transfers the data.   When the firmware receives a print data transmission request, which is an instruction from a printing device that requires a response within a specified time, from the printing device, the firmware transfers the print data transmission request to the control unit, and the transferred print data If a response to the transmission request is not transmitted from the control unit within a specified time, an instruction to output a blank page is transferred to the printing apparatus, and the page information on which the blank page output instruction has been issued is notified to the control unit. The print control apparatus according to claim 1.   5. The firmware according to claim 4, wherein when sending an instruction to output a blank sheet to the printing apparatus, the firmware issues an instruction to output the output position of the blank sheet from an output position of another printing sheet. Print control device. A printing apparatus that prints an image on printing paper based on the transmitted print data;
Storage means for temporarily storing print data, and control means for controlling a printing operation based on the print data stored in the storage means by a printing apparatus control software operating on an operating system incapable of real-time control And the printing device and the control means by firmware operating on an operating system capable of real-time control without a storage means for storing print data. An interface board that performs communication control between the printer and a command that requires a response within a specified time, the command received from the firmware is transferred to the control means, and the response to the command is specified. On the basis of whether or not it has been transmitted from the control means within A printing control apparatus that performs processing Te,
Having a printing system.

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