JP7322236B2 - PRINTING DEVICE, CONTROL METHOD, AND PROGRAM - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a printing device, control method, and program.

2. Description of the Related Art A printing apparatus such as a multifunction machine or a printer is equipped with a box function for storing print data input from an external apparatus via a network or the like. In addition, from the viewpoint of security such as preventing the printed matter from being left unattended, the input print data is temporarily retained in the above-mentioned box area, and the print data is output when the user issues a print instruction via the operation unit of the printing apparatus. There is a hold print function. In the reserve printing function, the box area of the printing device is used as a temporary storage area for print data, so print data is frequently stored and deleted (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-200316).

In the box of the printing device, when the user or the system instructs to delete the print data, the print data is not deleted first, and only the management information of the data instructed to be deleted is changed, There is a technique for improving the response such as By deleting the main body of the print data in the background when waiting for printing, the performance of other functions such as printing is not hindered.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2017-219970

In some cases, a large amount of print data is stored in a storage area without being deleted until the printing apparatus enters a print standby state. In a printing apparatus having a low-capacity storage area, the storage area is compressed, and the processing speed of the function using the storage area is lowered.

In order to achieve the above object, a printing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, a printing device capable of communicating with an external device, comprising a receiving unit for receiving print data from the external device, a storage unit for storing the print data received by the receiving unit in a storage unit, and the storage unit. printing means for printing an image on a sheet based on the print data stored in the storage unit, wherein a condition for the printing apparatus to shift to a sleep state is satisfied, and among the print data stored in the storage unit If the number of print data printed by the printing means but not deleted is less than a predetermined number, printing the print data stored in the storage unit that has been printed by the printing means but not deleted. The sleep state is entered without deleting the data , the conditions for the printing apparatus to enter the sleep state are satisfied, and the print data stored in the storage unit is printed by the printing means. If the number of print data that has not been deleted is equal to or greater than the predetermined number, the print data that has been printed by the printing means but has not been deleted among the print data stored in the storage unit is deleted . It is characterized by shifting to the sleep state.

According to the present invention, the conditions for shifting the printing apparatus to the sleep state are satisfied, and the number of print data that has been printed but not deleted among the print data stored in the storage unit is less than a predetermined number. In this case, the print data stored in the storage unit that has been printed but not deleted is shifted to the sleep state without deleting the print data, and the conditions for the printing apparatus to shift to the sleep state are satisfied, and If the number of print data that has been printed but not deleted among the print data stored in the storage unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined number, the print data that has been printed but has been deleted is stored in the storage unit. It becomes possible to shift to the sleep state after deleting the print data that has not been read.

System configuration diagram of printer Configuration diagram of print data management table Flowchart for saving print data in a hold printing system Flowchart when printing in the hold printing system Flowchart when instructing deletion of print data in box area Flowchart of processing for deleting the print data body for which deletion has been instructed in the box area Flowchart of background deletion processing of the body of print data for which deletion has been instructed in the box area Flowchart of preferential deletion processing of print data for which deletion has been instructed in the box area in the printing apparatus according to the embodiment Flowchart of preferential deletion processing of body of print data whose deletion has been instructed in the box area in the printing apparatus according to the embodiment

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<System configuration>
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. A printer 0101 , which is an example of a printing device, and an external device 0116 can be connected via a network 0117 . The printer 0101 has a function of printing print data transferred to the device and print data stored in the storage 0107 .

The controller unit 0102 is connected to a printer engine 0114, which is an image output device. On the other hand, it is connected to a network (LAN) 0117 . This allows input/output of print data and device information.

In the controller unit 0102, the CPU 0104 is a controller that controls the entire system. The RAM 0105 is a system work memory for the CPU 0104 to operate, and is also a memory (buffer memory) for temporarily storing input print data. The flash memory 0103 stores system programs. The storage 0107 stores print data and the like. The operation unit I/F 0109 is an interface unit with the operation unit 0113 and outputs screen data to be displayed on the operation unit 0113 to the operation unit 0113 . Further, the operation unit I/F 0109 plays a role of transmitting information input by the operator from the operation unit 0113 to the CPU 0104 . The operation unit 0113 may be a screen installed in the printer or a screen provided by a program in the printer remotely from an external device such as a host computer. A network I/F 0112 connects to a network (LAN) 0117 to input/output information. The above devices are arranged on the system bus 0108 .

The image processing unit 0106 has image processing functions such as an RIP, image compression unit, color space conversion unit, image rotation unit, resolution conversion unit, gradation conversion unit, printer image processing unit, and the like. The RIP expands the PDL code into bitmap images. The image compression unit performs JPEG compression/decompression processing for multi-value image data and JBIG compression/decompression processing for binary image data. The resolution conversion unit performs resolution conversion processing on the image data on the memory and stores it on the memory. The color space converter converts, for example, YUV image data on the memory into Lab image data by matrix operation, and stores the Lab image data on the memory. The gradation conversion unit converts 8-bit, 256-gradation image data on the memory into 1-bit, 2-gradation image data by a technique such as error diffusion processing, and stores the data in the memory. The printer image processing section corrects, processes, and edits the output image data. The image rotator rotates the image data and stores it on the memory. These can operate in conjunction with each other. For example, when the image data on the memory is subjected to image rotation and resolution conversion, both processes can be performed without going through the memory.

<Reserved printing system>
FIG. 3 is a flowchart when print data is saved in the reserve printing system.

The status of the printer 0101 is acquired (S0301), and the CPU 0104 confirms whether the printer 0101 is in a state (online state) capable of receiving print data from the network (LAN) 0117 (S0302). If the printer 0101 is online, then the CPU 0104 checks whether print data is received from the network (LAN) 0117 (S0303). If either of the two is negative, the process returns to step S0301. If both are possible, the CPU 0104 receives print data transmitted from the external device 0116 connected to the network (LAN) 0117 via the network I/F unit 0112 . Then, the CPU 0104 stores the print data in the box area of the storage 0107 (storage unit) (S0304). After saving the print data in the box area, the CPU 0104 adds the received print data information to the JobID management table 0201, the box management table 0202, and the box entry table 0204 (S0305).

FIG. 2(a) illustrates the configuration of the data management table. Specification information including a unique Job ID for each print data, management data for data management, a user ID, print data, device setting information, etc. is recorded in a list structure for each job.

FIG. 2(b) illustrates the configuration of the box management table. Image data stored in the storage is stored in 100 Box areas or a TrashBox area 0203 that has a special role. The TrashBox 0203 stores print data for which deletion has been instructed (print data to be deleted), and the CPU 0104 periodically deletes the print data stored in the TrashBox 0203 . In the box management table, a Box ID, a Box name, and a leading entry number and a trailing entry number that play a role of linking with print data are recorded in a list structure for each Box.

FIG. 2(c) illustrates the configuration of the box entry table. After the print data is stored in the storage, the JobID in the box entry table is checked to search for an unregistered array. When found, enter the Job ID, enter the end entry number of the corresponding Box as the previous box entry number, and enter 0 as the next box entry number.

Next, the next box entry is traced in order from the top entry number of the corresponding box, and the one whose value is 0 is confirmed. If 0 is found, replace that value with the box entry number registered this time.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart at the time of printing in the reserve printing system.

By operating the operation unit 0113 or holding the IC card over the card reader 0115, print data is specified from the user ID associated with the IC card. The user selects print data from the specified print data, and the CPU 0104 receives a print instruction for the selected print data (S0401).

When the print instruction is received, the status of the printing apparatus 0101 is acquired (S0402), and it is confirmed whether the printing apparatus 0101 is in an online state in which print data can be printed (S0403). If the printer 0101 is not online, the process returns to step S0402.

If the printer 0101 is online, the CPU 0104 reads the print data stored in the box area of the storage 0107 to the RAM 0105 (S0404). After reading the print data to the RAM 0105, the CPU 0104 uses the image processing unit 0106 to generate image format data for image formation from the print data (S0405).

After generating the image format data, the CPU 0104 transfers the image format data to the printer engine 0114 via the device I/F 0110, and the printer engine 0114 forms an image and prints the image on a sheet (S0406). After image formation, the CPU 0104 issues a deletion instruction to the print data in the box area of the storage 0107 (S0407).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart executed when the CPU 0104 receives an instruction to delete print data in the box area.

Through the process of S0407 in FIG. 4, the CPU 0104 receives an instruction to delete the print data saved in the box area (S0501). Upon receiving the print data deletion instruction, the CPU 0502 rewrites the box management table 0202 and the box entry table 0204 (S0502).

Specifically, the box entry table 0204 is searched for the entry of the print data. When the entry for the print data is found, it is unlinked from the existing box. Specifically, the box entry number next to the box entry written in the box entry number preceding the entry of the print data is rewritten to the value of the box entry number next to the entry of the print data. Then, the box entry number preceding the box entry written in the box entry number next to the entry of the print data is rewritten to the value of the box entry number preceding the entry of the print data.

The box entry of the print data is linked to the TrashBox according to the rewriting method of the box management table 0202 and the box entry table 0204 when the print data shown in S0305 is stored in the box area. By the processing of S0502 in FIG. 5, the printed print data is registered as print data to be deleted.

After rewriting the box management table 0202 and the box entry table 0204, the CPU 0104 issues an instruction to delete the print data body (S0503).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of processing for deleting the body of print data for which deletion has been instructed in the box area.

Through the processing of S0503 in FIG. 5, the CPU 0104 receives an instruction to delete the main body of the print data from the reserve printing system (S0601). When the instruction to delete the main body of the print data is received, the status of the printer is acquired (S0602), and it is determined whether the printer satisfies the conditions for deleting the main body of the print data for which deletion has been instructed (the print data to be deleted) in the box area. Confirmation is performed (S0603). In order not to interfere with printing of other print data, the condition for deleting the body of print data for which deletion has been instructed in the box area is the print standby state in which the print data is executed and the printing is not executed. If the conditions for deleting the body of print data for which deletion has been instructed in the box area are satisfied, the CPU 0104 acquires a list of print data for which deletion has been instructed (S0604). By following the box entry linked from the leading entry number to the TrashBox area 0203 of the box management table, it is possible to obtain a list of print data for which deletion has been instructed.

If the acquired list of deletion-instructed print data is not empty (S0605), the print data body is deleted from the top of the list (S0606). The CPU 0104 deletes the print data itself, and rewrites the JobID management table 0201, box management table 0202, and box entry table 0204. FIG. In the JobID management table 0201, the CPU 0104 removes the entry of the print data from the TrashBox link according to the rewriting method of the box management table 0202 and the box entry table 0204 when the print data instruction is deleted as shown in S0305. The CPU 0104 initializes the value of the entry removed from the link. The CP 0104 finds the print data from the JobID management table 0201 and initializes the print data list.

If one print data body for which deletion has been instructed has been deleted, the process returns to step S0602.

If the conditions for deleting the deletion-instructed print data body in the box area are not satisfied in step S0603, or if the list of deletion-instructed print data is empty in step S0605, this flow is completed.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of background deletion processing of the body of print data for which deletion has been instructed in the box area.

After starting up the printing apparatus, the status of the printing apparatus is obtained (S0701), and the CPU 0104 confirms whether the printing apparatus is in a shutdown state (S0702). If the printing apparatus is not in a shutdown state, the CPU 0104 confirms whether a predetermined time has passed since the print data main body deletion instruction was issued after startup or in step S0704 of this flow. If the predetermined time has passed, the CPU 0104 issues an instruction to delete the print data main body for which deletion of the box area has been instructed (S0704). After instructing to delete the main body of the print data, or if the predetermined time has not elapsed in step S0703, the process returns to step S0701. If the printing apparatus is in the shutdown state in step S0702, this flow is completed.

<Embodiment of the present invention>
FIG. 8 is a flowchart of priority deletion processing of print data for which deletion has been instructed in the box area in the printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The status of the printer is acquired (S0801), and the CPU 0104 confirms whether or not the printer has started up (S0802). If the activation is not completed, the process returns to step S0801. If the start-up has been completed, priority deletion of the print data main body for which deletion has been instructed is performed (S0803).

After giving the priority deletion instruction, the CPU 0104 acquires the state of the printing apparatus (S0804), and confirms whether it is in a shutdown state (S0805) and whether it is in a sleep shiftable state (S0806). If it is in the shutdown state, this flow is completed. If it is not in a shutdown state and not in a sleep-shiftable state, the process returns to step S0804.

If it is not in the shutdown state but in the state in which it is possible to shift to sleep, priority deletion of the print data main body for which deletion has been instructed is performed (S0807). If it is confirmed that the printer is in a shutdown state during priority deletion processing of the print data body for which deletion has been instructed, this flow is completed. If the state is other than the shutdown state, after the preferential deletion processing of the print data main body for which deletion has been instructed is completed, the printing device is shifted to sleep (S0809).

After transitioning to sleep, the CPU 0104 acquires the state of the printer (S0810), and confirms whether it is in a shutdown state (S0811) and whether it is in a sleep recovery possible state (S0812). If it is in the shutdown state, this flow is completed. If it is not in the shutdown state and not in the sleep returnable state, the process returns to step S0810.

If the CPU 0104 is not in a shutdown state but in a state in which sleep recovery is possible, the CPU 0104 performs sleep recovery (S0813). After returning from sleep, the process returns to step S0804.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of preferential deletion processing of the body of print data for which deletion has been instructed in the box area in the printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Using the method shown in step S0604, the CPU 0104 acquires a list of print data for which deletion has been instructed. The number of box entries of the acquired print data instructed to be deleted is counted, and the number of print data instructed to be deleted is also acquired (S0901).

Next, the CPU 0104 acquires the status of the printing device (S0902), and confirms whether the printing device satisfies the conditions for preferentially deleting the body of print data for which deletion has been instructed in the box area (S0903). As a condition for preferentially deleting the deletion-instructed print data body in the box area so as not to hinder printing of other print data, the number of deletion-instructed print data is a predetermined number or more. If the condition for preferentially deleting the print data body for which deletion has been instructed is not satisfied, this flow is completed.

When the condition for preferentially deleting the print data body for which deletion has been instructed is satisfied, the CPU 0104 sets the print data body preferentially deleting state (S0904). In the case of this embodiment, the print data main body priority deletion state is an offline state. The offline state is a state in which print data is not received from the external device 0116 , that is, a state in which the printing device does not receive print data from the external device 0116 .

After shifting to the print data main body preferential deletion state, the number of deletion instructed print data main bodies to be deleted in this flow is calculated. In order not to hinder the printing of other print data, the number of deletions is set to the number of print data bodies for which deletion has been instructed as a predetermined upper limit.

The CPU 0104 sets the variable N to an initial value of 0 (S906), and compares the variable N with the number of deletions (S0907). If the variable N is greater than or equal to the number of deletions, the process proceeds to step S0912.

If the variable N is less than the number of deletions, the status of the printer is acquired (S0908), and the CPU 0104 confirms whether or not the printer is in a state in which deletion-instructed print data bodies in the box area can be deleted (S0909). ). In this embodiment, when the printing apparatus is in a shutdown state, the main body of print data for which deletion has been instructed in the box area is put into a state in which it can be deleted. If the printing device is not in a state in which deletion-instructed print data body in the box area can be deleted, the process advances to step S0912.

If the printer is in a state where deletion-instructed print data bodies in the box area can be deleted, the CPU 0104 deletes the deletion-instructed print data bodies by the method of step S0606 (S0910). After deleting the body of print data for which deletion has been instructed, 1 is added to the variable N, and the process returns to step S0907 (S0911). In step S0912, the CPU 0104 cancels the print data main body priority deletion state and completes this flow (S0912).

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, when the number of pieces of print data instructed to be deleted in the box area exceeds a predetermined number, the printing apparatus is temporarily placed in an offline state to preferentially delete the print data instructed to be deleted. It is carried out. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the body of print data whose deletion has been instructed from accumulating in the storage area while minimizing the obstruction of printing of other print data.

<Other embodiments>
In the present embodiment, the condition for preferentially deleting the print data for which deletion has been instructed in the box area is the number of print data for which deletion has been instructed in the box area, but is not limited to this condition. The condition may be the capacity of all print data for which deletion has been instructed in the box area. In this case, when the amount of print data for which deletion has been instructed in the box area reaches a predetermined amount or more, the print data is shifted to a state in which no print data is received.

Further, in the present embodiment, the preferential deletion state of the print data for which deletion has been instructed in the box area is the offline state, but it is not limited to this state. This may be achieved by setting the priority of the task for deleting the body of print data for which deletion has been instructed in the box area to be relatively higher than the priority of other tasks.

Further, in the present embodiment, the determination timing of preferential deletion of the print data for which deletion has been instructed in the box area is after the completion of activation and at the time of transition to sleep, but it is not limited to this timing.

Also, in the present embodiment, an upper limit is set for the number of deletions of the print data for which deletion has been instructed in the box area at the time of preferential deletion, but the configuration is not limited to this. A configuration in which no upper limit is set may be adopted, or an upper limit for the amount of print data to be deleted may be set.

The present invention supplies a program that implements one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in the computer of the system or device reads and executes the program. It can also be realized by processing to It can also be implemented by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that implements one or more functions.

Claims (8)

A printing device capable of communicating with an external device,
receiving means for receiving print data from the external device;
a storage unit for storing the print data received by the reception unit in a storage unit;
printing means for printing an image on a sheet based on the print data stored in the storage unit;
A condition for the printing device to enter a sleep state is satisfied, and the number of print data that has been printed by the printing unit but not deleted among the print data stored in the storage unit is less than a predetermined number. in this case, without deleting the print data stored in the storage unit that has been printed by the printing means but has not been deleted, transitioning to the sleep state;
The condition for the printing apparatus to shift to the sleep state is satisfied, and the number of pieces of print data that have been printed by the printing unit but not deleted among the print data stored in the storage unit is the predetermined number. In the above case, the printing apparatus shifts to the sleep state after deleting print data stored in the storage unit that has been printed by the printing means but has not been deleted. . further comprising determination means for determining whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed;
The print data printed by the printing means but not deleted is deleted from the print data stored in the storage unit when the determining means determines that the predetermined time has passed. The printing device according to claim 1. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said print data is a print job. further comprising transition means for transitioning the printing device to a state in which reception of print data by the receiving means is not permitted when the condition for shifting the printing device to the sleep state is satisfied;
After the printing device has shifted to the sleep state, the printing device deletes print data that has been printed by the printing unit but has not been deleted from among the print data stored in the storage unit, and then sleeps. 4. A printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , characterized in that it transitions to a state. 5. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the state in which reception of the print data is not permitted is an offline state. selecting means for selecting print data from the print data stored in the storage unit;
further comprising receiving means for receiving an instruction to print the print data selected by the selecting means;
6. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the printing device prints an image on a sheet based on the print data selected by the selecting device in response to the reception of the print instruction by the receiving device. 10. A printing device according to claim 1. A control method for a printing device capable of communicating with an external device, comprising:
a receiving step of receiving print data from the external device;
a storing step of storing the print data received in the receiving step in a storage unit;
a printing step of printing an image on a sheet based on the print data stored in the storage unit;
A condition for the printing apparatus to enter a sleep state is satisfied, and the number of print data that has been printed in the printing step but not deleted among the print data stored in the storage unit is less than a predetermined number. in this case, transitioning to the sleep state without deleting the print data stored in the storage unit that has been printed in the printing step but not deleted,
The condition for the printing device to shift to the sleep state is satisfied, and the number of pieces of print data printed in the printing step but not deleted among the print data stored in the storage unit is the predetermined number. In the above case, after deleting the print data stored in the storage unit that has been printed in the printing step but has not been deleted, the printing device is shifted to a sleep state . A control method characterized by: A program for causing a computer of a printing apparatus to execute the control method according to claim 7.

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