JP6655002B2 - PRINT CONTROL PROGRAM, PRINT CONTROL DEVICE, AND PRINT CONTROL METHOD - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a file print control method.

  Many techniques have been proposed for file print control methods. In particular, since the format of the PDF file is unique, various techniques have been proposed for print control of the PDF file.

  The following prior arts are background arts in this technical field. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-88867 describes an image forming apparatus that outputs PDF data (an example of electronic document data) that requires a short time for printing. That is, the image forming apparatus generates a plurality of PDF data having different generation conditions from each other with respect to the input data. For each of the plurality of generated PDF data, the structure of the PDF data is analyzed, and the printing time required for printing is calculated for each of the plurality of PDF data based on the analysis result. The image forming apparatus compares the calculated printing times and determines a generation condition that minimizes the printing time. The image forming apparatus can output PDF data having a short print time by applying the determined generation condition.

JP 2013-88867 A

  However, the factors that determine the printing time and printing performance (efficiency) of the PDF file are not limited to those described in Patent Document 1, but also depend on other characteristics of the PDF file. For example, when transferring large-capacity file data to a printer, the index is transferred last in PDF format, so if the entire data is not transferred, the page break cannot be known, and the printer starts printing after the entire data is transferred. I do. The improvement of the printing performance in consideration of the characteristics of the PDF file is not considered in Patent Document 1.

  On the other hand, when printing small-capacity files continuously, a waiting time may occur and the printing performance (efficiency) may be reduced. In addition, if there is a print job for a small-capacity file after a print job for a large-capacity file, the small-capacity file is printed first, and the printing order is reversed. However, Patent Document 1 does not consider this point at all.

  A PDF file cannot store print attributes such as single-sided / double-sided. For this reason, the control of print attributes when printing a plurality of PDF files continuously is not considered in Patent Document 1.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a print control method that improves the print performance of a PDF file having such characteristics.

A typical example of the invention disclosed in the present application is as follows. That is, a print control program for causing a print control device to control printing of a file, wherein the print control device has a processor that executes a program, and a storage device that stores the program, and the print control program The file controlled by the print control program has a format in which configuration information indicating the configuration of data stored in the file is placed at the end of the file, and the print control program determines whether the number of pages included in the input file is a predetermined number. If the number of input files is smaller than a predetermined threshold and the number of input files is larger than a predetermined threshold, it is determined that an input file control procedure determines to combine the plurality of input files, and that the input files are combined . If, the input file synthesized in predetermined conditions, finally the combined phi composite file The configuration information by arranging the, and file synthetic procedures for generating a composite file, the attribute information of the first file according to the synthesis transferred to the printer, the print data transfer procedure for transferring the combined file to the printer It is characterized by being executed by a control device.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, printing performance of a file can be improved. Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will be apparent from the following description of the embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a print control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a physical configuration of a print control device. 6 is a flowchart of a print control process. It is a flowchart of an attribute analysis process. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a file name of a file input to a print control device. It is a flowchart of a file division process. It is a flowchart of a data transfer process. FIG. 9 is a timing chart of data transfer to printing when a file is divided. It is a flowchart of a file synthesizing process. FIG. 8 is a timing chart of data transfer to printing when files are combined. It is a figure explaining the effect of this example.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a print control apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The print control apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a file input folder 21, an input file control unit 22, an attribute analysis unit 23, a file synthesis unit 24, a file division unit 25, a queue 26, and a data transfer unit 27.

  The input file control unit 22 monitors the file input folder 21, reads an input file stored in the file input folder 21, and distributes the read file to the attribute analyzing unit 23, the file synthesizing unit 24, and the file dividing unit 25. The attribute analysis unit 23 analyzes the attributes of the input file and determines the attributes of the divided or combined file. The file combining unit 24 combines a plurality of input files and generates one file to be output to the printer 32. The file dividing unit 25 divides one input file and generates a plurality of files to be output to the printer 32. The queue 26 is a buffer for temporarily storing the files generated by the file synthesizing unit 24 and the file dividing unit 25. The data transfer unit 27 transfers the file stored in the queue 26 to the printer 32.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a physical configuration of the print control apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment.

  The printing control apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a computer having a processor (CPU) 11, a memory 12, an auxiliary storage device 13, a communication interface 14, an input interface 15, and an output interface 18.

  The processor 11 executes a program stored in the memory 12. The memory 12 includes a ROM as a nonvolatile storage element and a RAM as a volatile storage element. The ROM stores an immutable program (for example, BIOS) and the like. The RAM is a high-speed and volatile storage element such as a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), and temporarily stores a program executed by the processor 11 and data used at the time of executing the program.

  The auxiliary storage device 13 is a large-capacity and nonvolatile storage device such as a magnetic storage device (HDD) and a flash memory (SSD). Further, the auxiliary storage device 13 is provided with a file input folder 21 for storing files processed by the print control device 1. The input file control unit 22 monitors the file input folder 21 and reads out a file stored in the file input folder 21. Further, the auxiliary storage device 13 stores a program to be executed by the processor 11. That is, the program is read from the auxiliary storage device 13, loaded into the memory 12, and executed by the processor 11.

  The communication interface 14 is a network interface device that controls communication with another device (such as the printer 32) according to a predetermined protocol.

  The input interface 15 is an interface to which a keyboard 16 and a mouse 17 are connected and receives input from an operator. The output interface 18 is an interface to which a display device 19, a printer 32, and the like are connected, and that outputs an execution result of the program in a format that is visible to an operator.

  The program executed by the processor 11 is provided to the print control apparatus 1 via a removable medium (CD-ROM, flash memory, or the like) or a network, and is stored in the nonvolatile auxiliary storage device 13 which is a non-temporary storage medium. . For this reason, the print control device 1 may have an interface that reads data from a removable medium.

  The print control device 1 is a computer system configured on one computer physically or on a plurality of logically or physically configured computers, and is constructed on a plurality of physical computer resources. It may operate on a virtual machine.

  Also, an example has been described in which one physical print control device 1 is mounted on one physical computer, but the functions of the print control device 1 of the present embodiment may be incorporated in another device. For example, by mounting the function of the print control apparatus 1 of the present embodiment on a server that executes an application or a printer that performs print processing, the print performance of a PDF file can be improved by a server or a printer alone.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a print control process executed by the print control device 1 of the present embodiment.

  First, the input file control unit 22 reads the input file stored in the file input folder 21, and determines whether to split the read file, combine the files, or output the files as they are to the printer 32 (101, 102). For example, when a user stores a file to be printed in the file input folder 21, the user may specify whether to divide the file and print or combine and print the file. Alternatively, it may be determined that a file satisfying a predetermined condition is divided. For example, when the data amount of the file is larger than a predetermined threshold or the number of pages is larger than a predetermined threshold, it may be determined that the file is divided and printed. Further, when the data amount of the file is smaller than the predetermined threshold value or the number of pages is smaller than the predetermined threshold value and the number of files to be printed is larger than the predetermined threshold value, it may be determined that the files are combined and printed.

  If it is determined in step 101 that the file is to be divided, the attribute analysis unit 23 executes an attribute analysis process for analyzing the attributes of the input file (103). Details of the attribute analysis processing 103 will be described later with reference to FIG. Thereafter, the file dividing unit 25 executes a file dividing process of storing the generated divided file in the queue 26 (104). Details of the file division processing 104 will be described later with reference to FIG. After that, the data transfer unit 27 executes a data transfer process of transferring the file stored in the queue 26 to the printer 32 (105). Details of the data transfer processing 105 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  If it is determined in step 102 that the files are to be combined, the attribute analysis unit 23 executes an attribute analysis process for analyzing the attributes of the input file (106). Details of the attribute analysis processing 106 will be described later with reference to FIG. Thereafter, the file synthesizing unit 24 executes a file synthesizing process of storing the generated synthesized file in the queue 26 (107). Details of the file synthesizing process 107 will be described later with reference to FIG. After that, the data transfer unit 27 executes a data transfer process of transferring the file stored in the queue 26 to the printer 32 (105).

  If it is determined in steps 101 and 102 that the data is to be output to the printer 32 as it is, the data transfer unit 27 executes a data transfer process of transferring the file stored in the queue 26 to the printer 32 (105).

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the attribute analysis processing 103 according to the present embodiment.

  First, the attribute analysis unit 23 analyzes the file name of the input file (1031). As shown in FIG. 5, the file name of the file input to the print control apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes a print document name, one-sided / two-sided designation, and a predetermined number of distribution attributes. The file name may be data delimited by a predetermined delimiter, or may be fixed-length data in which each item has a predetermined data length.

  The print document name is the file name of the input file before the attribute is added. The one-sided / two-sided designation is data (for example, a flag) indicating whether this file is printed on one side or both sides. The distribution attribute is composed of a predetermined number of data, for example, a paper size, an input file name (print job name), and the number of copies, and is referred to in order to determine the printer 32 that outputs the file. Is done.

  Next, the attribute of the file is determined using the analysis result of the file name (1032). The output destination printer is determined using the analysis result of the file name (1033). Various methods can be used to determine the output destination printer. For example, the user may specify when storing a file in the file input folder, or set a printer in advance for each file attribute and select a printer according to the attribute of the input file.

  Then, attribute data is generated using the determined attribute of the file, and the created attribute data is stored in the memory 12 in association with the file name (1034).

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the file division processing 104 according to the present embodiment.

  First, the file dividing unit 25 opens the PDF file to be divided, and expands the data of the PDF file in the memory 12 (1041). Then, the index of the opened PDF file is obtained (1042). The index of the PDF file includes data such as a pointer of a start position of data for each page, a bookmark, and a thumbnail, and is recorded at the end of the file.

  Then, the data is divided for each predetermined division unit (1043). The number of pages serving as a division unit may be set by a user or may be a predetermined number of pages. For example, a PDF file of 10,000 pages is divided into ten PDF files of 1,000 pages.

  Then, an index of the divided file is generated, and an index is given to the divided data (1044). Also, a file name is given to the divided file (1045). The file name given to the divided file may be an internal file name of the print control device 1 or a file name determined by the same rule as the file input to the print control device 1.

  Then, the divided file with the index and the file name is stored in the queue 26 (1046).

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the data transfer processing 105 according to the present embodiment.

  The data transfer unit 27 reads out data (PDF file) to be transferred to the printer 32 from the queue 26 (1051). Then, the read PDF file is opened (1052), the attribute data of the read PDF file is acquired (1053), and the output destination printer is determined (1054).

  Thereafter, it is determined whether the data is the head data of the divided file (1055). If it is the head data of the divided file, the process proceeds to step 1057. On the other hand, if the data is not the head data of the divided file, the process waits until the printing of the previous data starts (1056). If the printing of the previous data has started, the process proceeds to step 1057. The status of the printer 32 (that is, whether printing is in progress) can be acquired from the printer 32.

  Thereafter, the attribute data is transferred to the printer 32 determined in step 1054 (1057), and the data to be printed is transferred (1058). When the transfer of all data is completed, the PDF file is closed (1059).

  FIG. 8 is a timing chart from data transfer to printing when a file is divided.

  FIG. 8A shows the timing when a large file is printed without dividing the file. The print control device 1 transfers the data of the PDF file to be printed to the printer 32. Since the index of the PDF file is located at the end of the data, unless all data has been transferred, the page breaks in the file cannot be known, and printing of the PDF file cannot be started. When the transfer of the data of the PDF file to be printed is completed, printing is started.

  FIG. 8B shows the timing when a large file is divided and printed. When reading the PDF file to be printed, the print control device 1 starts dividing the file. Division is performed continuously regardless of the progress of data transfer or printing.

  When the first divided file is generated by dividing the file, data transfer of the first divided file starts. When the index is transferred at the end of the first divided file, printing of the first divided file starts.

  The transfer of the data of the second and subsequent files starts after the printing of the immediately preceding file starts. That is, after the printing of the first file is started, the data of the second file is transferred. When the transfer of the second divided file is completed, printing of the second divided file starts.

  As described above, since the data transfer of the next file is started after the printing of the immediately preceding file is started, the files can be printed in the order in which the data was transferred. That is, as shown in FIG. 11A, when the data of the next file is transferred without waiting for the printing start of the immediately preceding file, if the data amount of the subsequent file is small, the subsequent file is transmitted before the preceding file. Printing of the file starts. For this reason, the order of the output from the printer 32 is reversed, which causes incorrect order. However, if the data transfer of the next file is started after the printing of the previous file is started, the printing order of the first file and the second file may be reversed as shown in FIGS. No misalignment can be prevented.

  Further, by dividing and transferring the data and printing, the time until the start of printing can be reduced. Further, by repeating transfer and printing of the divided data, the total printing time can be reduced.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the file synthesizing process 107 according to the present embodiment.

  The file combining unit 24 opens the PDF file to be combined, and expands the data of the PDF file in the memory 12 (1071). The file to be combined may be set by the user, or all files stored in a predetermined folder may be combined.

  Then, the index of the opened PDF file is obtained (1072). The PDF file includes data such as a pointer of a start position of data for each page, a bookmark, and a thumbnail, and an index is recorded at the end of the file.

  Then, the data of the document body part is obtained (1073), and the data is arranged in the specified order (1074).

  Thereafter, an index of the synthesized file is generated, and an index is given to the synthesized data (1075). Further, a file name is given to the synthesized file (1076). The file name given to the composite file may be an internal file name of the print control apparatus 1 or a file name determined by the same rule as a file input to the print control apparatus 1.

  Then, the synthesized file with the index and the file name is stored in the queue 26 (1077).

  FIG. 10 is a timing chart from data transfer to printing when files are combined.

  FIG. 10A shows the timing when printing a plurality of small files without combining the files. The print control device 1 transfers the data of the PDF file to be printed to the printer 32. As described above, since the index of the PDF file is located at the end of the data, the printing of the PDF file cannot be started until the transfer of all data is completed. When the transfer of the data of the PDF file to be printed is completed, printing is started.

  For the following file, data transfer starts after printing of the immediately preceding file starts. That is, after the printing of the first file is started, the data of the second file is transferred. When the transfer of the second file is completed, printing of the second divided file starts.

  FIG. 10B shows the timing when a plurality of small files are combined and printed. When reading the PDF file to be synthesized and printed, the print control device 1 starts synthesizing the files. When the combining is completed, the data transfer of the combined file starts. When the index is transferred at the end of the composite file, printing of the composite file starts.

  As described above, by synthesizing, transferring, and printing the data, the total printing time can be reduced. This means that the data transfer process requires a certain amount of time for the transfer preparation process performed before the true data transfer 1058 as described with reference to FIG. Therefore, by integrating the data transfer processing into one, it is possible to reduce the transfer preparation overhead in the data transfer processing.

  In addition, during the print stop time during printing, the printer 32 pauses in the standby mode. For this reason, it takes time to start the printer 32, and the time until the start of printing the next file becomes longer. However, by synthesizing and transferring and printing the file as described above, the print pause time is eliminated, the waiting time until the printer 32 is activated can be reduced, and the total printing time can be reduced.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the effect of the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 11, RIP (Raster Image Processor) processing is described in order to explain a mechanism for shortening the total printing time while preventing the printing order from being reversed, but the drawings (FIGS. 10 and 8) described above are used. Then, the RIP processing performed between the transfer and the printing is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 11A, if the data of the next file is transferred without waiting for the printing of the immediately preceding file to start, the printing of the second file may start before the first file. This phenomenon occurs remarkably when the data amount of the second file is small. This reversal of the printing order causes misordering.

  As shown in FIGS. 11B and 11C, if the data transfer of the next file is started after the printing of the immediately preceding file is started, the printing order of the files is changed regardless of the data amount of the second file. Do not reverse.

  However, in the case shown in FIGS. 11B and 11C, a print stop time may occur between the printing of the first file and the printing of the second file, during which the printer 32 pauses in the standby mode. Therefore, it takes time to start up the printer 32 from the standby mode, and the time until the start of printing the next file becomes longer.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11D, by combining and printing a plurality of files, the total printing time can be reduced. In addition, the print stop time is eliminated, the waiting time until the printer 32 starts up is reduced, and the total print time can be reduced.

  Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to printing of a PDF file, the present invention can be applied to data in other formats in which data indicating the contents of the file is recorded at the end of the file, similarly to the PDF file. .

  As described above, when the number of pages included in the input file is greater than the predetermined threshold, the print control apparatus 1 of the present embodiment determines that the input file is to be divided into a plurality of files. When it is determined that the input file is to be split, the input file is split under predetermined conditions, and the configuration information of the split file is arranged at the end of each split file to generate a split file. Since the apparatus includes the file division unit 25 and the data transfer unit 27 that transfers the generated divided file to the printer 32, the time until the start of printing can be reduced. Further, by repeating transfer and printing of the divided data, the total printing time can be reduced.

  Further, the data transfer unit 27 monitors the state of the printer 32 to which the file is to be transferred, and after the printing of the first divided file starts, starts the transfer of the second divided file subsequent to the first divided file. Therefore, the files can be printed in the data transfer order, and the order output from the printer 32 can be reversed, so that the order can be suppressed.

  Further, since the data transfer unit 27 transfers the attribute information including the conditions for printing the divided file to the printer 32 for each print job created for each divided file, the data transfer unit 27 can perform printing under different conditions for each file.

  When the number of pages included in the input file is smaller than a predetermined threshold value and the number of input files is larger than the predetermined threshold value, the input file control unit 22 may combine the plurality of input files. When it is determined that the input file is to be synthesized, the file synthesizing unit 24 synthesizes the input file under predetermined conditions, arranges the configuration information of the synthesized file at the end of each synthesized file, Since the combined file is generated, the data transfer unit 27 transfers the attribute information of the first file related to the combination to the printer 32, and transfers the combined file to the printer 32, so that the data transfer overhead is reduced and the total printing time is reduced. Can be shortened. Further, the downtime of the printer 32 can be reduced, and the total printing time can be reduced.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but includes various modifications and equivalent configurations within the spirit of the appended claims. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail for easy understanding of the present invention, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to those having all the configurations described above. Further, a part of the configuration of one embodiment may be replaced with the configuration of another embodiment. Further, the configuration of one embodiment may be added to the configuration of another embodiment. Further, for a part of the configuration of each embodiment, another configuration may be added, deleted, or replaced.

  In addition, each of the above-described configurations, functions, processing units, processing means, and the like may be partially or entirely realized by hardware, for example, by designing an integrated circuit, and the processor may realize each function. The program may be implemented by software by interpreting and executing the program.

  Information such as a program, a table, and a file for realizing each function can be stored in a memory, a hard disk, a storage device such as an SSD (Solid State Drive), or a recording medium such as an IC card, an SD card, or a DVD.

  Further, the control lines and the information lines are considered to be necessary for the description, and do not necessarily indicate all the control lines and the information lines necessary for the mounting. In practice, it can be considered that almost all components are interconnected.

1 print control device 1
21 file input folder 22 input file control unit 23 attribute analysis unit 24 file synthesis unit 25 file division unit 26 queue 27 data transfer unit 32 printer

Claims (6)

A print control program for causing a print control device to control printing of a file,
The print control device has a processor that executes a program, and a storage device that stores the program,
The file controlled by the print control program is configured in a format in which configuration information indicating the configuration of data stored in the file is placed at the end of the file,
The print control program includes:
When the number of pages included in the input file is smaller than a predetermined threshold , and when the number of input files is larger than a predetermined threshold, an input file control procedure for determining to combine the plurality of input files,
Wherein if the input file were synthesized result determined, the inputted file synthesized in a predetermined condition, and finally by placing the configuration information of the composite file of composite file, the file synthetic procedure for generating a composite file When,
The first transfers the attribute information of the file to the printer, the merged file print control program for executing a data transfer procedure for transferring to the printer to the print control apparatus according to the synthesis.   The print control program according to claim 1, wherein:
  Dividing the input file under predetermined conditions, and causing the print control device to execute a file division procedure of generating a divided file,
  In the input file control procedure, when the number of pages included in the input file is greater than a predetermined threshold, it is determined that the input file is divided into a plurality of files,
  In the file division procedure, when it is determined that the input file is to be divided, the input file is divided under predetermined conditions, and the configuration information of the divided file is arranged at the end of each divided file. Generate a file,
  In the data transfer procedure, the print control program transfers the divided file to a printer.   A print control device for controlling printing of a file,
  The file processed by the print control device is configured in a format in which configuration information indicating the configuration of data stored in the file is placed at the end of the file,
  The print control device,
  When the number of pages included in the input file is smaller than a predetermined threshold, and the number of input files is larger than a predetermined threshold, an input file control unit that determines to combine the plurality of input files,
  A file synthesizing unit for synthesizing the input file under predetermined conditions, arranging the configuration information of the synthesized file at the end of the synthesized file, and generating a synthesized file; When,
  A data transfer unit that transfers attribute information of a first file related to the synthesis to a printer and transfers the synthesized file to the printer.   The print control device according to claim 3, wherein
  A file dividing unit that divides the input file under predetermined conditions and generates a divided file,
  The input file control unit, when the number of pages included in the input file is greater than a predetermined threshold, determines that the input file is divided into a plurality of files,
  When it is determined that the input file is to be split, the file splitting unit splits the input file under predetermined conditions, arranges configuration information of the split file at the end of each split file, and splits the file. Generate a file,
  The print control device, wherein the data transfer unit transfers the divided file to a printer.   A print control method for a print control device to control printing of a file,
  The file processed by the print control device is configured in a format in which configuration information indicating the configuration of data stored in the file is placed at the end of the file,
  The print control method includes:
  If the number of pages included in the input file is smaller than a predetermined threshold and the number of input files is larger than a predetermined threshold, the print control apparatus determines to combine the plurality of input files. Input file control procedure,
  If the print control device determines that the input file is to be synthesized, the print control device synthesizes the input file under a predetermined condition, and arranges the configuration information of the synthesized file at the end of the synthesized file. A file synthesis procedure for generating
  A data transfer procedure in which the print control device transfers attribute information of a first file related to the synthesis to a printer, and transfers the synthesized file to the printer.   The print control method according to claim 5, wherein
  Includes a file division procedure for dividing the input file under predetermined conditions to generate a divided file,
  In the input file control procedure, the print control apparatus determines that the input file is divided into a plurality of files when the number of pages included in the input file is greater than a predetermined threshold,
  In the file division procedure, when the print control device determines that the input file is to be divided, the input file is divided under predetermined conditions, and the configuration information of the divided file is added at the end of each divided file. To generate a split file,
  In the data transfer procedure, a print control method in which the print control device transfers the divided file to a printer.

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