JP6338324B2 - Print image processing system and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a print image processing system and a program.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a print control apparatus that generates a print image from variable print data. The apparatus includes a reuse object usage frequency calculation unit that calculates a usage frequency of a reuse object, a variable print data analysis unit that interprets variable print data, extracts a reuse object and a temporary use object, and rasterizes the data, and a cache memory And a storage type determination unit that weights each reuse object based on the use frequency and saves the image data of the reuse object in the cache memory in descending order of use frequency until it cannot be saved in the cache memory. And an image composition processing unit that synthesizes the images of the reuse object and the temporary use object, and a print image transfer unit that transfers the print image to the printing apparatus.

  The system disclosed in Patent Document 2 selects a common part that is a common part for each page and a non-common part that is a unique part for each page from among the edit processing data of a plurality of pages, and individually Layout data division saving means for saving as a file, layout data transfer means for transferring common part files and non-common part files saved by the layout data division saving means, and common part files transferred by the layout data transfer means And an output unit that synthesizes the common part file and outputs the synthesized data for each page.

  Patent Document 3 discloses a mechanism for converting print data in a page description language (hereinafter referred to as “PDL”. PDL is an abbreviation of Page Description Language) into image data such as a bitmap that can be handled by a printing apparatus. An intermediate data generation unit that converts from intermediate data to intermediate data and a drawing data generation unit that converts intermediate data into image data, and a system that operates a plurality of intermediate data generation units and multiple drawing data generation units in parallel are disclosed. Yes. In the description of FIGS. 13 to 20 of Patent Document 3, an example of handling a form that is repeatedly used on a plurality of pages is shown. In the description, it is shown that the intermediate data or image data of the form is stored in the cache memory in the drawing data generation unit, and the form data extracted from the cache memory is used when generating the image data of the page including the form. Has been.

  In the printing system disclosed in Patent Document 4, a device for converting PDL print data into raster image data is divided into two-stage devices, a front-end device at the front stage and a back-end device at the rear stage. Yes. The front stage has a parallel configuration with a plurality of front-end devices, and the rear stage has a parallel configuration with a plurality of processing circuits mounted in one back-end device. A plurality of processing circuits in the back-end device share a cache memory in the back-end device. In the cache memory, data of an object that is commonly used in a plurality of pages, such as a form, is cached.

JP 2012-192531 A JP 09-016791 A JP 2011-070337 A JP 2012-200955 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a system in which element data that is not used in creating an image to be printed is not transferred from an interpretation device to a print image data generation device.

The configuration of the reference example includes an interpretation device and a plurality of print image data generation devices connected to the interpretation device via a network, and the interpretation device is an intermediate element to be reused included in the print data. Reusable element storage means for storing data, and interpreting means for interpreting the print data to generate intermediate data for each page, as intermediate data for each page, as elements not to be reused in the page Includes intermediate data obtained by interpreting the element, and for the element to be reused, generates intermediate data including specific information for identifying the element stored in the reuse element storage unit The intermediate data obtained by interpreting the element to be reused is stored in the reuse element storage means in a form readable by the specific information corresponding to the intermediate data. Each of the plurality of print image data generation devices receives intermediate data of each page output from the interpretation device and uses the intermediate data of each page to correspond to the print data Generating print image data of each page in a format that can be handled by the printing apparatus, supplying the generated print image data of each page to the printing apparatus, and specifying the identification from intermediate data of the page received from the interpreting apparatus. When the information is detected, intermediate data of the element to be reused corresponding to the specific information is acquired from the reuse element storage unit of the interpretation device via the network, and the reuse data is acquired using the acquired intermediate data. Generating print image data of the element to be used, and incorporating the generated print image data of the element into the print image data of the page. A print image processing system according to symptoms.

The invention according to claim 1, and interpretation device, and a one or more print image data generation device, the interpretation device is reused target element of the intermediate data storage to that Symbol憶means included in the print data Interpreting means for interpreting the print data and generating intermediate data for each page, obtained as the intermediate data for each page by interpreting the elements that are not to be reused in the page It includes an intermediate data, with for reuse target element generates the intermediate data including identification information for identifying the elements that are stored before crisis憶手stage, obtained by interpreting elements of the reusable object the intermediate data has, interpreting means for storing before Kiki憶means in association with the specific information corresponding to the intermediate data, the print image data generation apparatus, of each page output from the interpreter During ~ Receive data, generates print image data of each page that corresponds to the prior SL print data, the print image data generated is supplied to the printing apparatus, wherein the intermediate data of the pages received from the interpreter Upon detection of a specific information, it acquires the intermediate data of the reuse object element that corresponds before handed憶means the specific information, the print image data elements of the reusable object by using the acquired intermediate data generated, and the print image data generated the element intended to incorporate into the print image data of the page, first means get the intermediate data over the network from a previous crisis憶means corresponding to the specific information, second means for obtaining the intermediate data corresponding to the specific information from the previous crisis憶means in the memory mapped file method, the interpreter is generated those the print image data The case that is configured on a different computer device from the location to operate said first means, if that is configured to the interpreter is the print image data generation apparatus and the same on the computer system the first A print image processing system comprising: a control unit configured to control the second unit to operate.

The configuration of the reference example is a program for causing a computer device to function as one print image data generation device among a plurality of print image data generation devices cooperating with an interpretation device via a network. Are reusable element storage means for storing intermediate data of elements to be reused included in the print data, and interpretation means for interpreting the print data and generating intermediate data for each page, The intermediate data includes intermediate data obtained by interpreting the element for the element not to be reused in the page, and the element to be reused is stored in the reuse element storage unit. The intermediate data including the specific information for specifying the intermediate data is generated, and the intermediate data obtained by interpreting the element to be reused corresponds to the intermediate data. Interpretation means for storing in the reusable element storage means in a form readable by the specified information, and the program receives the intermediate data of each page output from the interpretation device, the computer device, Using the intermediate data of each page, print image data of each page in a format that can be handled by the printing apparatus corresponding to the print data is generated, and the generated print image data of each page is supplied to the printing apparatus. In addition, when the specific information is detected from the intermediate data of the page received from the interpretation device, the intermediate of the reuse target element corresponding to the specific information from the reuse element storage unit of the interpretation device via the network The data was acquired, the print image data of the element to be reused was generated using the acquired intermediate data, and generated The print image data of the element is a program characterized by that they appear as a means of incorporating the print image data of the page.

The invention according to claim 2, the computer device, a program for functioning as one of a plurality of print image data generation device which cooperates with the interpreter via a network, the interpretation unit, and intermediate data you store SL憶means reuse target element contained in the print data, a interpretation means to generate intermediate data of the pages by interpreting the print data, as the intermediate data of each page for elements that are not reused objects in the page includes an intermediate data obtained by interpreting the elements, specific information about the recycling target element for identifying the elements that are stored before crisis憶手stage It generates the intermediate data including the stores the intermediate data obtained by interpreting the elements of reusable object to listen憶means before in association with the specific information corresponding to the intermediate data It comprises a dilution means, wherein the program, the computer device receives the intermediate data of each page output from the interpreter, generates print image data of each page that corresponds to the prior SL print data, the generated print image data is supplied to the printing apparatus, when detecting the specific information from the intermediate data of the pages received from the interpreter, the reuse object corresponding before handed憶means the specific information Means for acquiring intermediate data of the element, generating print image data of the element to be reused using the acquired intermediate data, and incorporating the generated print image data of the element into the print image data of the page; first means get the intermediate data corresponding to the specific information from the previous crisis憶means via the network, an intermediate de corresponding before handed憶it means to said specific information Second means for acquiring data in the memory mapped file method, if the interpreter has been configured on a different computer device from the person the print image data generating device activates the first means, the If that is configured interpreter within the print image data generation apparatus and the same on the computer apparatus program characterized in that to function as means for controlling to operate said second means It is.

  According to the first or third aspect of the invention, it is possible to provide a system in which data of elements that are not used when creating an image to be printed is not transferred from the interpretation device to the print image data generation device.

  According to the second or fourth aspect of the invention, a single program supports both the case where the interpretation device is executed on a computer device different from the print image data generation device and the case where the interpretation device is executed on the same computer device. it can.

It is a figure which shows the system configuration | structure of embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the internal structure of RIP and BEP of embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the process sequence which the drawing process part of embodiment performs. It is a figure which shows the system configuration | structure of a modification. It is a figure which shows the example of the internal structure of RIP and BEP of a modification. It is a figure which shows an example of the process sequence which the drawing process part of a modification performs. It is a figure which shows the example of the process sequence which BEP dynamically switches a data acquisition system from a reuse object spool.

  A first system configuration example of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  The system configuration illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a client device 10, a print image processing system 100, and a printing device 50.

  The client device 10 is connected to at least the CEP 20 of the print image processing system 100 via a network 60 such as a LAN (local area network).

  The client device 10 is a device that transmits a print instruction including print data to the print image processing system 100. The print data transmitted by the client device 10 is described in a page description language (hereinafter referred to as “PDL”. PDL is an abbreviation of Page Description Language).

  The printing apparatus 50 is an apparatus that performs printing on a medium such as paper, and the format is not particularly limited. For example, it may be a continuous paper printer or a cut paper printer. Also, the printing method may be either an electrophotographic method or an ink jet method, or may be another method.

  The print image processing system 100 includes a CEP 20, a RIP 30, and a plurality of BEPs 40.

  A CEP (CEntral Processor) 20 is a device that controls the entire print image processing system 100. That is, the CEP 20 receives a print instruction including print data from the client device 10 and controls the RIP 30 and the plurality of BEPs 40 in order to execute a print process corresponding to the print instruction. For example, the CEP 20 transmits print data to the RIP 30 to be processed. One CEP 20 is provided in the print image processing system 100. In a configuration in which a plurality of RIPs 30 exist in the system, the CEP 20 distributes different pages in the print data to each RIP 30 and causes the plurality of RIPs 30 to interpret the plurality of pages in parallel.

  A RIP (Raster Image Processor) 30 interprets the PDL description of the print data received from the CEP 20, and generates intermediate data representing the image of each page represented by the print data according to the interpretation result.

  The intermediate data is data in a data format having an intermediate granularity between PDL data generated by the client device 10 and print image data in a data format (for example, raster format) that can be handled by the printing device 50. As the intermediate data format, for example, an image object described in PDL is expressed by subdividing it into microelements having a simple shape. For example, a display list format is known as the intermediate data format, but the intermediate data format used in the system of the present embodiment is not limited to this.

  The RIP 30 interprets the print data, generates intermediate data for each page, and transmits the generated intermediate data for each page to the BEP 40. In the system of FIG. 1, since there are a plurality of BEPs 40, the RIP 30 distributes intermediate data to the plurality of BEPs 40 in units of pages.

  A BEP (Back End Processor) 40 processes intermediate data of each page received from the RIP 30 to generate print image data (for example, raster format) of each page, and generates the generated print image data. It is supplied to the printing apparatus 50 for printing. In the system configuration of FIG. 1, n (n is an integer greater than or equal to 2) BEPs 40 are operated in parallel to improve the speed of print image data generation processing.

  In the example of FIG. 1, CEP20, RIP30, and each BEP40 are respectively constructed on a plurality of physically different computer devices 120, 130, 140-1, 140-2,. The computer apparatuses 120, 130, 140-1, 140-2,... 140-n can communicate via networks 62 and 64 such as a LAN. The CEP 20 and RIP 30 communicate via the network 62, and the RIP 30 and each BEP 40 communicate via the network 64. The networks 62 and 64 may be a common network. Further, at least one of the networks 62 and 64 may be a network shared with the network 60.

  The computer apparatuses 140-1, 140-2,..., 140-n in which the BEP 40 is installed and the printing apparatus 50 are connected by a communication unit 66. The communication unit 66 may be a network such as a LAN, or may be a communication cable that connects the computer apparatuses 140-1, 140-2,..., 140-n and the printing apparatus 50 on a one-to-one basis. Good.

  Each computer device 120, 130, 140-1, 140-2,... 140-n includes, as hardware, a CPU (central processing unit), a memory (primary storage), and various I / Os (input / output). An interface, a communication interface, etc. have a circuit configuration connected via a bus. Each of these computer devices exchanges data with other devices via a communication interface. In addition, an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse and a display device such as a liquid crystal display are connected to the bus via, for example, an I / O interface. Also, secondary storage such as HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or SSD (Solid State Drive) is connected to the bus via an I / O interface, and further, CD, DVD, Blu-ray (trademark) disk, flash memory, etc. A disk drive for reading portable non-volatile recording media of various standards may be connected. These various drives function as external storage devices for the memory. A program describing the functions of CEP20, RIP30, or BEP40, which will be described later, is stored in a secondary storage such as an HDD via a portable recording medium or via a network, and is installed in a computer apparatus. CEP20, RIP30, or BEP40 is implement | achieved when the program memorize | stored in the secondary memory is read to memory, and is performed by CPU. Note that some functions of CEP20, RIP30, and BEP40 (for example, image processing for bitmap images) may be implemented as hardware circuits (for example, ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or DRP (Dynamic Reconfigurable Processor)). .

  Further, each of the computer devices 120, 130, 140-1, 140-2,... 140-n is controlled by an OS (operating system) installed individually. The programs of CEP20, RIP30, and BEP40 operate on the OSs of the corresponding computer devices 120, 130, 140-1, 140-2,. The OS controls operation of individual computer devices and communication control between the computer devices via the networks 60, 62, 64, and the like.

  The print image processing system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 has one RIP 30, but a plurality of RIPs 30 may be provided in the system 100. In this case, the plurality of RIPs 30 may be installed on different computer devices. Two or more RIPs 30 may be installed in one computer device.

  This also applies to the BEP 40, and two or more BEPs 40 may be installed in one computer apparatus. Moreover, CEP20 and RIP30 may be installed in one computer apparatus.

  However, in the example of FIG. 1, it is assumed that at least the RIP 30 and the BEP 40 are installed in different computer devices.

  Note that “different” computer apparatuses do not necessarily have to be built in separate housings. For example, there is a device such as a blade server in which a plurality of boards each mounted with a CPU, memory, bus, etc. are mounted in a single housing. Each board in this type of device is also a “computer device”. It is a kind.

  Next, the RIP 30 and the BEP 40 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. The RIP 30 includes a control unit 32, an interpretation unit 34, and a reuse object spool 36.

  The control unit 32 performs operation control of the RIP 30. The control unit 32 controls the interpretation processing in the RIP 30 while communicating with the control unit 42 of the CEP 20 and the BEP 40 and exchanging control data such as commands, inquiries, responses, and information indicating the status of each device. For example, the interpreter 34 receives an instruction to start interpreting print data from the CEP 20 and causes the interpreter 34 to start interpretation, or receives a notification from the control unit 42 of the BEP 40 that the intermediate data of the page is unacceptable. Or pause. Further, in the case of a system configuration in which a plurality of RIPs 30 are present, an assignment of a page to be interpreted (for example, specified by a page number) is received from the CEP 20, and the page of the print data (PDL data) is transmitted to the interpretation unit 34. Instructs to output intermediate data.

  The interpreter 34 interprets the PDL description of the print data input from the CEP 20, and generates intermediate data that represents the image of each page represented by the print data in PDL in the intermediate data format based on the interpretation result. .

  There are two types of PDL: a page non-independent type in which generation of a page image depends on the interpretation result of PDL data before the page, and a page independent type in which an image of the page can be generated only by PDL data for each page. Exists. In the former case, the interpretation unit 34 receives the entire print data (PDL data) attached to the print instruction from the CEP 20, interprets the print data from the top, and only the pages allocated from the CEP 20 according to the interpretation result. To generate intermediate data. In the latter case (page independent), the interpretation unit 34 receives PDL data in page units from the CEP 20, interprets this, and generates intermediate data of the page. In either case, if there is only one RIP 30 in the system, all pages of the print data are interpreted and intermediate data for all pages is generated.

  Each page to be printed includes one or more objects (image elements). For example, there are types of objects such as characters, graphics (line drawings, figures), and images (continuous tone images). Among the objects included in the page, there are objects that are reused, that is, objects that appear multiple times in the images of all pages of the print data. For example, in the case of PstScript (registered trademark), an object of a type such as a form or an image is an example. In the present embodiment, intermediate data of such a reused object is spooled in a reuse object spool 36 provided in the computer device 130 in which the RIP 30 operates, and prepared for reuse.

  That is, when the interpreter 34 finds an object to be reused from the print data while interpreting the print data to generate the intermediate data of the page, the interpretation result of the object (hereinafter referred to as “reuse object”). Are stored in the reuse object spool 36. On the other hand, in the portion of the reuse object in the intermediate data of the page, instead of the intermediate data of the interpretation result of the object, specific information for specifying the intermediate data of the object stored in the reuse object spool 36 is provided. Describe. For example, when intermediate data of a reuse object is stored in the reuse object spool 36 as a file, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) indicating the storage location of the file is included in the portion of the reuse object in the intermediate data of the page. A description such as a communication protocol such as HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) including the URL is incorporated as specific information.

  For example, the interpretation unit 34 determines whether or not the object represented by the drawing command is a type to be reused from the type of the PDL drawing command in the print data, and performs the above-described processing according to the determination result.

  When the interpreter 34 finds a reuse object from the print data during the interpretation process, the interpreter 34 checks whether intermediate data of the same reuse object has already been saved in the reuse object spool 36. In this case, the object interpretation process may be omitted. In this case, the interpretation unit 34 does not interpret the object, and may perform processing for incorporating specific information for identifying the intermediate data of the object in the reuse object spool 36 into the intermediate data of the page. Note that whether or not they are the same reuse object may be determined based on whether or not the IDs (identification information) of the objects included in the print data (PDL data) are the same. As another example, a set of parameters (for example, a drawing command, an argument of the command, a value of a state variable indicating the state of the interpretation unit 34 at the time of execution of the command) that defines the image content of the object, or A feature value obtained from a set (for example, a hash value of the parameter set) is used as a fingerprint (fingerprint) of the object, and it is determined whether the objects are the same depending on whether the fingerprints match. May be. In this case, the reuse object spool 36 may store the intermediate data of each reuse object in association with the fingerprint of the object.

  By using the reusable object spool 36, the reusable object needs to be interpreted only once.

  Here, the interpretation unit 34 does not need to treat all of the reused type (for example, form) objects as reused objects as described above. For example, a reusable type object, such as a very simple shape or a very small object, does not increase the processing load and processing time of the interpretation unit 34 even if it is interpreted every time, and the BEP 40 is reused. Considering the processing load and processing time required to acquire the intermediate data of the object from the object spool 36, the processing speed of the entire system is improved by not using the reuse object. As described above, even if the object is a type of reused object, the interpreter 34 does not handle the object that is determined to increase the processing speed of the entire system if it is not spooled. The intermediate data of the interpretation result may be incorporated into the intermediate data of the page.

  The object stored in the reuse object spool 36 is an object in an intermediate data format. The object in the intermediate data format may represent an object in the original PDL data, or may be a fragmented object of the original PDL data.

  The interpretation unit 34 sequentially transmits the generated intermediate data of the page to the drawing processing unit 44 of the BEP 40.

  The BEP 40 includes a control unit 42 and a drawing processing unit 44. The control unit 42 performs operation control of the BEP 40. The control unit 42 controls drawing processing (that is, generation of print image data) in the BEP 40 while communicating with the control unit 32 of the CEP 20 and the RIP 30 and the printing apparatus 50 to exchange control data. For example, a page drawing request is received from the control unit 32 of the CEP 20 or the RIP 30, and the drawing processing unit 44 processes the intermediate data of the page in response to the request. Further, according to the state of the printing apparatus 50, generation of print image data of the page, execution of the transfer to the printing apparatus 50, and suspension are performed.

  The drawing processing unit 44 interprets the intermediate data of the page received from the interpreting unit 34 of the RIP 30 and generates print image data (for example, raster data) of the page. When the drawing processing unit 44 detects specific information for identifying the intermediate data of the reuse object in the reuse object spool 36 from the intermediate data of the page in the generation process, the drawing processing unit 44 uses the specific information to notify the RIP 30. Request the intermediate data. Then, the intermediate data of the reuse object obtained as a result of the request is interpreted, and the print image data of the object obtained as a result of the interpretation is incorporated into the print image data of the page (for example, holding the print image data of the page) The print image data of the object is written on the page memory (memory area reserved for the image of the page).

  FIG. 3 shows an example of a processing procedure executed by the BEP 40.

  In this procedure, when the control unit 42 of the BEP 40 receives a command from, for example, the RIP 30, the command is a page rasterization request (that is, a command requesting creation of print image data) or a stop request (the last page of print data). (S10), it is determined whether it is a request to instruct the end of the print job. If the received command is a rasterization request, the intermediate data of the page transmitted from the RIP 30 in association with the request is received (S12), and the drawing processing unit 44 processes the received intermediate data. The drawing processing unit 44 reads and processes the objects one by one from the top of the intermediate data on the page (S14). That is, the drawing processing unit 44 determines whether or not the read object is a reuse object (S16). If the read object is not a reuse object, it interprets the object to generate print image data, and generates the generated print The image data is written into the page memory (S18). Whether or not the object read in S14 is a reuse object may be determined based on whether or not the object is represented by specific information for identifying a spooled reuse object.

  On the other hand, when the object read in S14 is a reuse object, that is, when the object is a drawing command for the specific information described above, the drawing processing unit 44 stores the buffer 46 in the OS of the computer device 140. A request for securing is made (S20), and a request is made to transfer the intermediate data of the reuse object to the RIP 30 that has sent the intermediate data of the page (S22).

  In S22, the drawing processing unit 44 uses, for example, an API (Application Programming Interface) provided by the OS of the computer device 140 or the like to specify a file (that is, intermediate data of the reusable object in the spool 36) indicated by the specific information. File). In response to this request, the OS, for example, determines that the specific information corresponds to a specific communication protocol (for example, HTTP or FTP (File Transfer Protocol)) instead of a local (that is, in the computer device 140) file. In this case, a data request (for example, an HTTP GET request) indicating the storage location indicated by the specific information is sent to the computer device 130 via the network 64 using the communication protocol. In response to this request, the data of the file is transferred from the RIP 30 to the BEP 40 by socket communication. Here, each OS of the computer apparatuses 130 and 140 reserves a buffer in its own memory for socket communication. In the BEP 40, a receiving 46 is secured on the memory.

  The computer device 130 having the RIP 30 transfers intermediate data of the requested reuse object by socket communication via the network 64 in response to a request from the computer device 140 (BEP 40). The transferred intermediate data is stored in the buffer 46 (S24). When the entire intermediate data of the requested reuse object is accumulated in the buffer 46, the rendering processing unit 44 sequentially processes the intermediate data in the buffer 46 and converts the intermediate data into print image data (S18).

  After S18, the drawing processing unit 44 determines whether the processing has been completed up to the end of the intermediate data of the page (S26). If the result of this determination is negative (N), the drawing processing unit 44 returns to S14 and processes the drawing command for the next object in the intermediate data (S14 to S24). If the determination result in S26 is affirmative (Y), the drawing processing unit 44 returns to S10 and receives the next command from the RIP 30.

  In the case of the conventional configuration in which the BEP 40 has a spool for storing intermediate data of reusable objects, in a general situation where it is not known which page each reusable object is used for, the RIP 30 is an intermediate between all reusable objects. Data had to be distributed to all BEPs 40. This means that the data of the reusable object that is used outside the page that the BEP 40 is responsible for is distributed to the BEP 40. For this reason, in the conventional configuration, the BEP 40 requires a large memory disk capacity in order to hold data of reusable objects that are not used as a result. Further, since the data of all the reuse objects is distributed to all the BEPs 40, there is a concern that the bandwidth of the network 64 may be compressed.

  On the other hand, in the system configuration of FIG. 1 described above, the RIP 30 spools the intermediate data of the reusable object in the reusable object spool 36 in its own device, and each BEP 40 is assigned to the page assigned to itself. Only included reuse objects are acquired from the reuse object spool 36 in the RIP 30. Conversely, in this configuration, reusable objects that are not used in a BEP 40 are not sent to that BEP 40. Therefore, the BEP 40 does not need to store intermediate data of reusable objects that are not used, which leads to saving of the memory and disk capacity of the BEP 40. In addition, since a reuse object that is not used is not sent from the RIP 30 to the BEP 40, the bandwidth of the network 64 is saved.

  Further, even in a system configuration with one BEP 40, when the RIP 30 and the BEP 40 are constructed on different computer devices, the conventional configuration in which a spool for reusable objects is provided in the BEP 40 is the same as when there are a plurality of BEPs 40. Problem arises. For example, in the case of a print job that prints only a part of print data including a large number of pages, the reusable object included in the printed page may be defined in the print data of the page that is not printed. . In consideration of such a case, the RIP 30 needs to interpret the print data of all the pages in order from the top, and spool all the intermediate data of the reuse object found in the interpretation process. Therefore, if the spool is provided in the computer apparatus 140 on the BEP 40 side, a reuse object that is not used as a result is distributed to the computer apparatus 140 and stored in the computer apparatus 140.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the reusable object spool 36 is provided in the computer device 130 on the RIP 30 side, and the BEP 40 acquires only the reusable object necessary for the page processed by itself from the spool 36. In such a case, such a problem is avoided.

  Next, a modified example will be described with reference to FIGS. In the example of FIG. 1, the RIP 30 and the BEP 40 are constructed on separate computer devices 130 and 140. However, in this modification, as shown in FIG. 4, the RIP 30 and the BEP 40 are on the same computer device 110. Has been built. In the example of FIG. 4, the CEP 20 is also constructed on the same computer apparatus 110, but this is not essential for this modification.

  When the RIP 30 and the BEP 40 are provided on the same computer device 110 as described above, there is no need to transfer intermediate data of the reuse object from the RIP 30 to the BEP 40 via the network, so that there is no problem of communication bandwidth compression. However, if the processing performed by the BEP 40 is the same as the example of FIGS. 1 to 3, the data transfer processing and the capacity of the buffer 46 between programs executed in the same computer device 110 (that is, between the RIP 30 and the BEP 40). Securement will be performed.

  That is, the drawing processing unit 44 in the example of FIG. 2 makes a data transfer request to the RIP 30 by socket communication in order to acquire intermediate data of the reuse object. Accordingly, a buffer 46 is secured on the memory of the computer device 140 of the BEP 40, and intermediate data is transferred from the RIP 30 side toward the buffer 46. Such a reusable object acquisition method can be applied as it is even when the RIP 30 is provided in the same computer apparatus 110 as the BEP 40, but it is necessary to secure a buffer 46 of a certain size in advance, This can cause some delay in processing.

  On the other hand, this modification shows a method that does not require such buffer capacity securing and data transfer using a buffer.

  FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the RIP 30 and the BEP 40 in this modification. In the example of FIG. 5, the RIP 30 may be the same as the example of FIG.

  On the other hand, the drawing processing unit 44a of the BEP 40 uses a method different from the drawing processing unit 44 in the example of FIG. 2 as a method for acquiring intermediate data of the reuse object. That is, the drawing processing unit 44a acquires the intermediate data of the reuse object spooled in the reuse object spool 36 by the memory mapped file method.

  The memory-mapped file method is a method of reading / writing a file as if reading / writing from / to a memory without using an explicit read command (for example, read) or write command (for example, write). The function of the memory mapped file method is provided by the OS. For example, a UNIX (registered trademark) OS provides mmap as an API for using a memory mapped file. The drawing processing unit 44a uses a memory mapped file command such as mmap instead of a read command when acquiring spool data of a reuse object found in the intermediate data of the page. The argument of this command includes the identification information of the object obtained from the specific information indicating the reuse object. Upon receiving this command, the OS of the computer device 110 stores the intermediate data file of the reusable object managed by the file system of the OS of the computer device 110 (corresponding to the reusable object spool 36) as a memory mapped file 48 in the memory space. Map up. With the function of the memory mapped file command, the drawing processing unit 44a can randomly access the contents of the intermediate data file without reading the entire intermediate data file into the memory space. The drawing processing unit 44a accesses the memory-mapped file 48 mapped on the memory space, reads a necessary portion of the intermediate data, processes this, and generates print image data of the reuse object.

  The drawing processing unit 44a may be the same as the drawing processing unit 44 in the example of FIG. 2 except for the reuse object acquisition method. Further, regarding the points other than the drawing processing unit 44a, the BEP 40 may have the same configuration as the BEP 40 in FIG.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of the processing procedure of the BEP 40 of this modification. In the processing procedure of FIG. 6, when it is determined that the object read from the intermediate processing data of the page in S14 is a reuse object in S16, the rendering processing unit 44 uses the memory mapped file method for the reuse object. Obtain (S26). Specifically, for example, the file of the reuse object in the reuse object spool 36 is opened, and a memory mapped file command is issued for the opened file. Thus, the reusable object file is mapped on the memory by the OS of the computer apparatus 110. The drawing processing unit 44a reads and processes the data of the file mapped on the memory (S18). In the flow shown in FIG. 6, each step other than S <b> 26 may be the same process as the step with the same reference numeral in the flow shown in FIG. 3.

  Heretofore, two types of BEPs 40 and BEPs 40 having different methods for acquiring intermediate data from the reuse object spool 36 have been exemplified. Here, as an example, a BEP having both functions of BEP 40 and BEP 40 (that is, both intermediate data acquisition methods) may be used. A BEP having both functions selects which function to use according to the system configuration. That is, in the case of a system configuration in which the RIP 30 is in a computer apparatus different from the BEP, the BEP uses the data acquisition method by data transfer (via the network) shown in FIGS. If they are in the same computer apparatus, the data acquisition method using the memory mapped file shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 is used. FIG. 7 shows an example of the BEP processing procedure in this example.

  In the procedure of FIG. 7, when the BEP is activated or the system configuration of the print image processing system is changed, the BEP control unit 42 acquires system configuration information from the CEP 20 (S30). This system configuration information includes information indicating whether or not the RIP 30 is in the same computer apparatus as the BEP. Since the CEP 20 knows the system configuration in order to control the entire print image processing system, it can provide system configuration information. The BEP that has received the system configuration information determines whether or not the RIP 30 exists on the same computer device as the BEP based on the information (S32). As a result of this determination, if the RIP 30 is found to be in a different computer device, the control unit 42 causes the drawing processing unit in the BEP to acquire the spool data by data transfer via the network. (S34). Conversely, if the RIP 30 is found to be in the same computer device as the BEP, the control unit 42 changes the drawing processing unit in the BEP to the second type drawing processing unit 44a that acquires spool data by the memory mapped file method. Set (S36).

  As mentioned above, although embodiment and the modification of this invention were described, these embodiment and the modification are only the illustrations for description to the last. Various modifications and improvements are possible within the scope of the present invention.

10 Client device, 20 CEP, 30 RIP, 32, 42 Control unit, 34 Interpretation unit, 36 Reuse object spool, 40 BEP, 44, 44a Drawing processing unit, 46 Buffer, 48 Memory mapped file, 50 Printing device, 60 , 62, 64 network, 66 communication means, 100 print image processing system, 110, 120, 130, 140-1, 140-2, 140-n computer apparatus.

Claims (2)

An interpretation device and one or more print image data generation devices;
The interpretation device is:
And that SL憶means to store intermediate data for reuse target element contained in the print data,
Interpreting means for interpreting the print data to generate intermediate data for each page, and as intermediate data for each page, intermediate data obtained by interpreting the element for elements not to be reused in the page includes, along with about reuse target element generates the intermediate data including identification information for identifying the elements that are stored before crisis憶手stage, obtained by interpreting elements of the reusable object intermediate interpreting means for storing previously heard憶means data in association with the specific information corresponding to the intermediate data,
Have
The print image data generation device includes:
Receives intermediate data of each page output from the interpreter, the generated print image data of each the corresponding prior Symbol print data page, to supply the print image data generated by the printing device, wherein Upon detection of the specific information from the intermediate data of the pages received from the interpreter acquires the intermediate data of the reuse object element that corresponds before handed憶means the specific information, by using the intermediate data acquired Generating print image data of the element to be reused, and incorporating the generated print image data of the element into the print image data of the page;
First means for acquire the intermediate data from the network corresponding to the specific information from the previous crisis憶means,
Second means for obtaining the intermediate data corresponding to the specific information from the previous crisis憶it means in the memory mapped file method,
The interpretation device If that is configured on a different computer device from the person the print image data generating device activates the first means, the interpreter is the print image data generation apparatus and the same computer system on and means if that is configured to perform a control for operating said second means,
A print image processing system comprising: The computer device, a program for functioning as one of a plurality of print image data generation device which cooperates with the interpreter via a network,
The interpretation device is:
And that SL憶means to store intermediate data for reuse target element contained in the print data,
Interpreting means for interpreting the print data to generate intermediate data for each page, and as intermediate data for each page, intermediate data obtained by interpreting the element for elements not to be reused in the page includes, along with about reuse target element generates the intermediate data including identification information for identifying the elements that are stored before crisis憶手stage, obtained by interpreting elements of the reusable object intermediate interpreting means for storing previously heard憶means data in association with the specific information corresponding to the intermediate data,
Have
The program stores the computer device,
Receives intermediate data of each page output from the interpreter, the generated print image data of each the corresponding prior Symbol print data page, to supply the print image data generated by the printing device, wherein Upon detection of the specific information from the intermediate data of the pages received from the interpreter acquires the intermediate data of the reuse object element that corresponds before handed憶means the specific information, by using the intermediate data acquired Means for generating print image data of the element to be reused and incorporating the generated print image data of the element into the print image data of the page;
First means acquire the intermediate data from the network corresponding to the specific information from the previous crisis憶means,
Second means for obtaining the intermediate data corresponding to the specific information from the previous crisis憶it means in the memory mapped file method,
The interpretation device If that is configured on a different computer device from the person the print image data generating device activates the first means, the interpreter is the print image data generation apparatus and the same computer system on means if that is configured to perform a control for operating said second means,
A program characterized by being made to function as.

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