JP6946677B2 - Image forming device and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a program.

In recent years, a print server has been proposed which is RIP software that performs RIP (Raster Image Processor) processing for converting vector data into raster data and in which a plurality of RIP software having different versions are installed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). .).

The print server described in Patent Document 1 verifies the first raster data generated by the default RIP software, the first raster data generated by the default RIP software, and the second raster data designated as the printer server. RIP verification software that compares raster data (for example, raster data generated by RIP software before version upgrade) and outputs the difference between the first raster data and the second raster data is implemented.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-108821

One of the problems of the present invention is that when downloading a plurality of data conversion software having different versions, the capacity used is compared with the case where the software resources used by each data conversion software are separately installed. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus and a program which can be suppressed.

[1] A means for converting the input data into a format corresponding to the print output unit of the output destination, and a plurality of conversion means having different versions.
A first storage unit that stores a first software resource commonly used by the plurality of conversion means, and a first storage unit.
A plurality of second storage units for storing the second software resources individually used for the plurality of conversion means, and a plurality of second storage units.
The first software resource is classified into the first software resource and the second software resource, and a link for classifying the software resource used by the conversion means into the first software resource. A third storage unit that stores management information, including a sharing method that includes a method of using software resources and a method of installing the first software resource and storing it in the first storage unit.
An image comprising the first software resource used in the new version of the conversion means and an additional means of adding the second software resource based on the management information when downloading the new version of the conversion means. Forming device.
[2] The image forming apparatus according to the above [1], wherein the plurality of conversion means use the first software resource according to the sharing method.
[3] When adding a new software resource commonly used by the plurality of conversion means, the additional means adds the new software resource to the first storage unit as the first software resource. The image forming apparatus according to the above [1].
[4] The image forming apparatus according to any one of [1] to [3 ], wherein the first software resource includes a font file.
[5] The image forming apparatus according to any one of [1] to [3 ] above, wherein the first software resource includes a license key and software subject to a license.
[6] A means for converting the input data into a format corresponding to the print output unit of the output destination, and a plurality of conversion means having different versions.
A first storage unit that stores a first software resource commonly used by the plurality of conversion means, and a first storage unit.
A plurality of second storage units for storing the second software resources individually used for the plurality of conversion means, and a plurality of second storage units.
The first software resource is classified into the first software resource and the second software resource, and a link for classifying the software resource used by the conversion means into the first software resource. A third storage unit that stores management information, including a sharing method that includes a method of using software resources and a method of installing the first software resource and storing it in the first storage unit.
When downloading a new version of the conversion means, additional means for adding the first software resource and the second software resource used for the new version of the conversion means based on the management information, and
An image forming apparatus including the print output unit that prints out data converted by any of the plurality of conversion means.
[7] A computer having a first conversion means for converting the input data into a format corresponding to the print output unit of the output destination.
When newly downloading the software of the second conversion means, the first software resource commonly used for the first and second conversion means and the first and second conversion means are used individually. It is a program to function as an additional means to add to the storage unit separately from the second software resource.
When the additional means downloads the new version of the second conversion means, the storage unit stores the first software resource and the second software resource used for the new version of the second conversion means. The software resource used by the conversion means is classified into the first software resource and the second software resource, and the link for classifying the software resource into the first software resource. A program to be added based on management information, including a sharing method including a method of using one software resource and a method of installing the first software resource and storing it in the first storage unit.

According to the inventions according to claims 1, 2, 6 and 7 , when downloading a plurality of data conversion software having different versions, a comparison is made with the case where the software resources used by the respective data conversion software are separately installed. Therefore, the capacity used can be suppressed. In addition, even if you download a new version of the conversion means, it is possible to suppress the capacity to use.
According to the invention of claim 3 , even when a new software resource commonly used for a plurality of conversion means is added, the capacity to be used can be suppressed as in the invention of claim 1.
According to the invention of claim 4 , the font file can be commonly used for a plurality of conversion means without downloading the font files individually.
According to the invention of claim 5 , the license key and the software subject to the license can be commonly used for a plurality of conversion means without having to download them individually.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of directory structure information. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a PSD resource management table. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a PSD version control table. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an execution example of a command for adding a reference path to a common resource when a file of version number “V3021” is added. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of link formation.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each figure, components having substantially the same function are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description thereof will be omitted.

[Summary of Embodiment]
The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is a means for converting the input data into a format corresponding to the print output unit of the output destination, and is common to a plurality of conversion means having different versions and the plurality of conversion means. It is provided with a first storage unit for storing the first software resource used for the above, and a plurality of second storage units for storing the second software resource individually used for the plurality of conversion means.

The "input data" is data described in a page description language (PDL: Page Description Language) such as PostScript or PDF (Portable Document Format) (also referred to as "PDL data" or "non-raster data"). However, it may be raster data such as TIFF or JPEG. In addition, vector data may be included in the PDL data. "Vector data" refers to data mathematically expressed by figures of points, lines, and surfaces. The data in the "format corresponding to the print output unit of the output destination" is, for example, raster data, which is different from the input raster data. "Raster data" refers to a bitmap image composed of a collection of points in units of 1 dot (pixel). "Software resources" refers to programs, data, etc. used to realize functions.

[Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 is connected to a controller 2 that controls a print job as input print instruction information, an operation display unit 3 that is connected to the controller 2 and serves as an interface with a user, and a print data. Is provided with a print output unit 4 for printing and outputting.

The operation display unit 3 is, for example, a touch panel display, which accepts operations from the operator and displays information to the operator.

The print output unit 4 prints the print data transmitted from the controller 2 on a recording medium such as paper by, for example, an electrophotographic process, and outputs the print data.

The controller 2 includes a job management unit 20 that manages a print job, an operation control unit 21 that controls input and display to the operation display unit 3, a job input unit 22 that inputs a print job from an external device, and the like. It controls a resource input unit 23 into which resources are input from an external device, an input control unit 24 that controls the job input unit 22 and the resource input unit 23 under the management of the job management unit 20, and a RIP (Raster Image Processor). The RIP control unit 25, the management information storage unit 26 that stores management information related to the RIP process, and a plurality of (three in the present embodiment) first RIP processes constructed by exercising on different versions of the RIP software. It manages a unit 27A, a second RIP processing unit 27B, a third RIP processing unit 27C (collectively referred to as "RIP processing unit 27"), and print data to be output to the print output unit 4. It includes a print data management unit 28 and an installer 29 that downloads RIP software to the image forming apparatus 1 and constructs a new RIP processing unit. The management information storage unit 26 is an example of a third storage unit. The RIP processing unit 27 is an example of conversion means. RIP software is an example of data conversion software. The installer 29 is an example of additional means.

Further, the controller 2 includes a common storage unit 31 that stores a common resource 310 that is commonly used by the RIP processing units 27A to 27C, and individual resources 320a, 320b, and 320c that are individually used by the RIP processing units 27A to 27C. When these are collectively referred to, a plurality of individual storage units 32A to 32C (also referred to as "individual storage unit 32" when these are collectively referred to) are provided. The common resource 310 is an example of the first software resource. The individual resource 320 is an example of a second software resource. The common storage unit 31 is an example of the first storage unit. The individual storage unit 32 is an example of the second storage unit.

In the present embodiment, the "resource" refers to a software resource (for example, a program, data, database, library, reference, file, etc.) used to realize a function, and is hardware such as a CPU, memory, and network. Resources are excluded.

The job management unit 20 manages the status of the print job input to the job input unit 22. The job management unit 20 gives an instruction to transfer the print job input to the job input unit 22 to the input control unit 24.

The job input unit 22 receives a print job from a client PC (Personal Computer) as an external device via a network. The print job input to the job input unit 22 is described in a page description language (PDL: Page Description Language) such as PostScript. Then, the version of the RIP software is specified in the attribute information of the print job. The job input unit 22 transfers the print job to the input control unit 24 based on the transfer instruction from the job management unit 20.

The resource input unit 23 inputs the common resource 310 and the individual resource 320 from an external device such as a server. The resource input unit 23 is also used when an additional resource is downloaded. By additionally downloading resources from the resource input unit 23, the efficiency of job processing can be improved and new fonts can be used.

The RIP control unit 25 controls a plurality of RIP processing units 27 having different versions. That is, the RIP control unit 25 activates the RIP processing unit 27 corresponding to the version of the RIP software specified in the attribute information of the print job. The RIP control unit 25 selects an appropriate page from the page queue in which printing is instructed from the upper level in accordance with the page request from the activated RIP processing unit 27, and as a print instruction for one page, the PDL file path, RIP designated page information, etc. Is passed to the RIP processing unit 27 of the relevant version. The RIP control unit 25 may be configured to select the RIP processing unit 27 to be processed and issue a page RIP request.

The first to third RIP processing units 27A, 27B, and 27C are installed and constructed in the non-volatile memory or the file system on the controller 2 in the order of the oldest version. In this embodiment, the RIP processing unit 27 operates on a Windows file system. Although each version of the RIP processing unit 27 is shown as one, in order to speed up the process, a plurality of RIP processes are started, and the process 1 has an odd number of pages and the process 2 has an even number of pages. It is processed or operated by multiple threads and processed in parallel.

The RIP processing unit 27 converts the PDL data into raster data and passes it to the print data management unit 28. When the RIP processing unit 27 becomes ready for the RIP processing, the RIP processing unit 27 requests the RIP control unit 25 for a page to be RIPed. The PDL data is an example of the input data.

Although it is possible for the RIP processing unit 27 to convert the PDL data into an intermediate data format instead of the raster data for processing, the method of converting the PDL data into raster data will be mainly described.

The print data management unit 28 converts the raster data converted and output by the RIP processing unit 27 into print data in the data format of the print output unit 4 at high speed using dedicated birdware, and prints and outputs the converted print data. It is transmitted to the print output unit 4 in synchronization with the print speed of the unit 4. The print data output from the print data management unit 28 to the print output unit 4 is an example of data in a format corresponding to the print output unit of the output destination.

The common resource 310 and the individual resources 320a, 320b, 320c are managed separately. The common resource 310 is shared and used by the three RIP processing units 27.

The shared resource 310 is a resource that is hardly affected even if the version is changed. The shared resource 310 includes, for example, a font file (including font data and a font program), a subdirectory of a large object such as a font file, license management information used by an additional application, and a license for the additional application. Includes only one-of-a-kind (licensed software), screens, form data, etc. The license management information includes a license key common to each version and information that identifies the software to be licensed. Without the license key, the font file cannot be copied and used. Third parties can copy and use fonts without a license key.

The individual resources 320 have, for example, startup parameters, function setting files, initial setting files, etc. that must be individually stored, and are common up to the current version, but there is a possibility that differences will occur due to function enhancement in the future. Some things are included.

Further, the resource input to the source input unit 23 enters the individual resource 320 when installed with a certain FTP (File Transfer Protocol) account, and enters the shared resource 310 when installed with another FTP account.

When the installer 29 newly downloads the RIP software based on the PSD resource management table 261 (see FIG. 3), the common resource 310 and the individual resource 320 are separately stored in the common storage unit 31 and the individual storage unit 32. It works according to the program.

The management information storage unit 26 stores directory structure information 260 (see FIG. 2), PSD resource management table 261 (see FIG. 3), PSD version control table 262 (see FIG. 4), and the like. The PSD resource management table 261 is an example of management information. The PSD resource management table 261 may be possessed by the installer 29. Further, the image forming apparatus 1 may not have the installer 29, and the recording medium on which the installer is recorded may be inserted into the image forming apparatus 1 to start the installer.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the directory structure information 260. The directory structure information 260 has a directory structure in which subdirectories are connected to the root directories of the execution module (Bin) and the resource (Resource), respectively. For example, the PostScript RIP processing unit 27 is composed of a plurality of files divided into subdirectories, as shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the PSD resource management table 261 relating to the PSD format subdirectory among the directory structure information 260 shown in FIG. The PSD resource management table 261 manages information on whether each resource of the RIP processing unit 27 is shared or individual, and what kind of sharing method is adopted.

The PSD resource management table 261 has a "shared directory name" column in which a shared directory name is registered, a "shared flag" column in which the sharing method is registered when the directory is shared, individual, or shared, and a reference destination. There is a "shared target" column in which the path to be shared is registered. The directory registered in the "shared directory name" is the one that the RIP software has as standard. Even if the version of the RIP processing unit 27 is changed, the directory of the basic resource is rarely changed significantly. Therefore, it has a PSD resource management table 261 as shown in FIG. 3, which is common to all versions. The information registered in the "shared flag" column is an example of classification information.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the PSD version control table 262. In the PSD version control table 262, a "version number" field in which the version number of the RIP software is registered, a "root path name" field in which the root path name is registered, and a "default use" in which the presence or absence of default use is registered. There is a column, a "pre-processing use" column where the use of pre-processing is registered, a "pre-processing use order" column where the order of preferential use when a failure occurs, and whether or not a font file is installed. "Font installation" field where is registered, "Invalid" field which is registered when the RIP software is disabled, and "Priority selection print attribute" field where the print attribute which is preferentially selected is registered. Is provided.

(Operation of the embodiment)
Next, an example of the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.

(1) When installing a new version of RIP software The installer 29 downloads, for example, a new version of RIP software from a server (not shown) to the image forming apparatus 1. The installer 29 checks the file structure included in the downloaded RIP software package. The installer 29 adds the version name to the root directory, edits the tree, and installs it according to the PSD resource management table 261.

The files in the subdirectory registered as "link" in the "shared flag" column of the PSD resource management table 261 form a link with the referenced file without being installed. For example, since the subdirectory called PSD \ Resource is registered as "link" in the "shared flag" field of the PSD resource management table 261, the referenced "PSD \ Resource file is not installed without installing it. Form a link with the ".. \ PSD \ Resource" file.

Install all the files in the subdirectories registered as "individual" in the "shared flag" column of the PSD resource management table 261. Files in the subdirectory registered as "copy" in the "shared flag" field of the PSD resource management table 261 are not installed. This "copy" subdirectory is automatically copied when the system boots. It also installs all files in new subdirectories that are not registered in the PSD resource management table 261. In this way, the installer 29 handles all subdirectories within the package.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an execution example of a command for adding a reference path to the common resource 310 when the file of the version number “V3021” is added. By executing this, the link is configured as shown in FIG. 6, and the shared resource 310 can be accessed.

As shown in FIG. 4, the installer 29 writes information such as the path name (PSD_V3021) of the installed version of the RIP software in the PSD version control table 262. The RIP control unit 25 can recognize the new version of the RIP processing unit 27 by referring to the PSD version control table 262. When a new version of RIP software is specified in the attribute information of the print job, the RIP control unit 25 selects the RIP processing unit 27 corresponding to the new version when executing the RIP processing.

For example, it is assumed that the first RIP processing unit 27A and the second RIP processing unit 27B have already been installed and constructed, and the RIP software of the third RIP processing unit 27C has been installed. The version number of the first RIP processing unit 27A is "V3019", the version number of the second RIP processing unit 27B is "V3020", and the version number of the third RIP processing unit 27C is "V3021".

As shown in FIG. 6, a new directory name "PSD_V3021" corresponding to the new version of the RIP processing unit is added to form a link.

(2) When installing form data, etc. When installing form data, etc. to be reused, FTP is often used. The installer 29 supports a plurality of protocols, and when the server is accessed by the FTP account for downloading a specific resource, the file is downloaded to the shared resource 310 and not to the individual resource 320. .. There is also an FTP account for the files you want to change to a separate directory.

(3) When installing a font file When installing a font file, it may be necessary to interpret PostScript. In this case, the input control unit 24 selects and activates the RIP processing unit 27 of the version (for example, the latest version) in which the "font installation" field is enabled in the PSD version control table 262, and inputs the font file. Is passed to the RIP processing unit 27 for processing.

The directories for files needed to process this font and the directories for creating license management information are all set as shared directories. All font-related information is written in the shared area and can be similarly used by any version of the RIP processing unit 27.

(4) Other cases In addition, there is an application that is installed according to the Windows registry DB. In this case, it is also possible to register a dedicated shared directory in the registry DB and refer to it to install it in the shared directory so that it can be used by all versions of the RIP processing unit.

As described above, once installed resources can be used in all versions.

In general, initial defects are an unavoidable problem when using newer versions of RIP software. Therefore, the user becomes cautious about introducing a new version, and may install a plurality of RIP software with different versions in the system.

However, if a plurality of RIP software of different versions are installed as they are, a plurality of times the system area is required, and if the RIP software is installed on an existing platform, there is a problem that the capacity becomes insufficient. In addition, when installing optional software for expansion, there are resources that cannot be duplicated due to the license, so it is troublesome to install using the installer multiple times for each version of RIP software. Become. According to this embodiment, as compared with the case where a plurality of RIP software having different versions are installed as they are, the capacity shortage and the trouble of installation are reduced.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications and implementations are possible without changing the gist of the present invention. be. For example, in the above embodiment, the RIP processing unit that converts PDL data into raster data has been described, but the present invention also describes the RIP processing unit that converts intermediate data in the previous stage of raster data into raster data. It can be applied in the same manner as in the form of. Further, the present invention can be applied in the same manner as in the above embodiment when converting raster data such as TIFF into raster data in a format corresponding to the print output unit 4.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the Resource part has been described, but the System execution object can also be applied by basically installing it in an individual directory (individual resource) as in the above-described embodiment. In this case, a common DLL (Dynamic Link Library) or the like may be installed in a common directory (common resource).

The components of the controller 2 may be composed of hardware circuits such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA) and an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), which are partially or wholly reconfigurable. ..

Further, it is possible to omit or change some of the components of the above embodiment without changing the gist of the present invention. Further, steps can be added, deleted, changed, replaced, etc. in the flow of the above-described embodiment without changing the gist of the present invention. Further, the program used in the above embodiment can be recorded and provided on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM. Further, the program used in the above embodiment can be stored in an external server such as a cloud server and used via a network.

1 ... image forming device, 2 ... controller, 3 ... operation display unit, 4 ... print output unit,
20 ... Job management unit, 21 ... Operation control unit, 22 ... Job input unit,
23 ... resource input unit, 24 ... input control unit, 25 ... RIP control unit,
26 ... Management information storage unit, 27, 27A-27C ... RIP processing unit,
28 ... Print data management unit, 29 ... Installer, 31 ... Common storage unit,
32, 32A-32C ... Individual storage unit, 260 ... Directory structure information,
261 ... PSD resource management table, 262 ... PSD version control table,
310 ... common resources, 320, 320a-320c ... individual resources

Claims (7)

A means for converting the input data into a format corresponding to the print output section of the output destination, and a plurality of conversion means having different versions.
A first storage unit that stores a first software resource commonly used by the plurality of conversion means, and a first storage unit.
A plurality of second storage units for storing the second software resources individually used for the plurality of conversion means, and a plurality of second storage units.
The first software resource is classified into the first software resource and the second software resource, and a link for classifying the software resource used by the conversion means into the first software resource. A third storage unit that stores management information, including a sharing method that includes a method of using software resources and a method of installing the first software resource and storing it in the first storage unit.
When downloading a new version of the conversion means, additional means for adding the first software resource and the second software resource used for the new version of the conversion means based on the management information, and
An image forming apparatus equipped with. The plurality of conversion means use the first software resource according to the sharing method.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. When adding a new software resource commonly used by the plurality of conversion means, the additional means adds the new software resource to the first storage unit as the first software resource.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The first software resource includes font files.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The first software resource includes a license key and licensed software.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. A means for converting the input data into a format corresponding to the print output section of the output destination, and a plurality of conversion means having different versions.
A first storage unit that stores a first software resource commonly used by the plurality of conversion means, and a first storage unit.
A plurality of second storage units for storing the second software resources individually used for the plurality of conversion means, and a plurality of second storage units.
The first software resource is classified into the first software resource and the second software resource, and a link for classifying the software resource used by the conversion means into the first software resource. A third storage unit that stores management information, including a sharing method that includes a method of using software resources and a method of installing the first software resource and storing it in the first storage unit.
When downloading a new version of the conversion means, additional means for adding the first software resource and the second software resource used for the new version of the conversion means based on the management information, and
A print output unit that prints out data converted by any of the plurality of conversion means.
An image forming apparatus equipped with. A computer having a first conversion means for converting the input data into a format corresponding to the print output unit of the output destination.
When newly downloading the software of the second conversion means, the first software resource commonly used for the first and second conversion means and the first and second conversion means are used individually. It is a program to function as an additional means to add to the storage unit separately from the second software resource.
When the additional means downloads the new version of the second conversion means, the storage unit stores the first software resource and the second software resource used for the new version of the second conversion means. The software resource used by the conversion means is classified into the first software resource and the second software resource, and the link for classifying the software resource into the first software resource. Addition based on management information, including a sharing method including a method of using the software resource of 1 and a method of installing the first software resource and storing it in the first storage unit.
program.

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