JPH05227341A - Picture processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a picture processing system able to decide automatically a picture output device offering an optimum output time and optimum output picture quality. CONSTITUTION:A picture processing unit 1 is provided with a transmission I/F 13 of picture data to a network 5, an I/F 14 for an external scanner 4 for picture data, a UNI section 10 for information display to the user and a user request input, a data transmission reception I/F 15 with the U/I section 10, a picture data storage section 8, a program storage section 9, a CPU 6 controlling the entire picture processing unit and a memory 7. The program storage section 19 is provided with a count section 91 for picture data quantity, a prediction section 92 for a time till the processing of the picture output device is finished, a fault state and expendables state detection section 93 for the picture output device, an output time calculation section 94 for picture data, and an output means deciding section 95. The picture output devices 2,3 receive the picture data by the I/F 17,19, the picture output sections 16,18 output a picture and the function information storage sections 20,21 send the information requested from the picture processing unit 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing system including an image processing device and a plurality of image output devices, and in particular, the image processing device and the plurality of image output devices are interconnected by a network. The present invention relates to an image processing system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The following is an example of this type of image processing system. As disclosed in JP-A-2-254849 and JP-A-3-29021, an image output device is selected on the user side, one image data is divided and transmitted to a plurality of image output devices. There is an image processing system that outputs an image. In addition, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-44729
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. JP-A-2004-264242, an image processing system which does not divide data, but allows a user to select and output one printer from printers which are a plurality of image output devices connected by a network. There is.

[0003]

In the conventional image processing system as described above, since the selection of the image output device is made by the user, the burden on the user is large and the output time is surely shortened. There is a problem that it is difficult to guarantee the quality of the output image.

The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art by automatically selecting which, or what, the most suitable image output device at the present time with respect to the output time and the quality of the output image. It is to provide an image processing system that can make a positive determination.

[0005]

According to the present invention, at least one image processing device for processing and transmitting image data is provided, and a plurality of image output devices for receiving the image data, forming an image and outputting the image are provided. In an image processing system, a data storage unit that stores the image data, a data amount counting unit that counts the image data amount, and an output that predicts a time until the processing ends when the image output device is processing. Device processing end time prediction means, output device failure status and consumables status detection means for detecting failure status and consumables status of the image output apparatus, output time calculation means for calculating time to output the image data, Associated with the data amount counting means, the output device processing time predicting means, the output device failure status and consumables status detecting means, and the output time calculating means. Output means determining means for determining to which image output device of the image output devices and how to output an image from the amount of data, processing end time, failure status, consumable status and output time. And

[0006]

According to the present invention, the data amount of the image data stored in the data storage unit is obtained by the data amount counting means, the output device processing end time is obtained by the output device processing end time predicting means, and the output device failure condition and consumption are consumed. Output device failure status and consumable status acquired by the product status detection means,
Also, from the output time obtained by the output time calculation means, the output means is automatically determined by the output means determination means in consideration of the function of the image output device, and the image data is output as one or a plurality of optimum image data. Send to device.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration example of an image processing system as an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1
As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing system of this embodiment includes one image processing device 1 and two image output devices 2 and 3.
And a network 5 that mutually connects the image processing system 1 and the image output devices 2 and 3.

The image processing apparatus 1 is an interface for transmitting image data to the network 5 (hereinafter referred to as I / O).
F, abbreviated as F) 13, an I / F 14 for taking in image data from the external scanner 4, and a user interface for displaying information to the user and obtaining a user's request (hereinafter abbreviated as U / I). ) Section 10, an I / F 15 for transmitting and receiving data to and from the U / I section 10, a data storage section 8 for storing image data, a program storage section 9, and a central processing unit for controlling the entire image processing apparatus. Device (hereinafter CP
6) and a general-purpose storage device (hereinafter referred to as a memory)
7 and.

According to the present invention, the program storage unit 9 includes a data amount counting unit 91 for counting the image data amount,
An output device processing end time prediction unit 92 that predicts a time until the processing of the image output device ends, an output device failure status and a consumable product status detection unit 93 that detects a failure status and a consumables status of the image output apparatus, An output time calculation unit 94 for calculating the time for outputting the image data and an output unit determination unit 95 for determining the output unit are provided.

Image output devices 2 and 3 used in this embodiment
Receives the image data at the I / Fs 17 and 19 and outputs the image at the image output units 16 and 18. In addition to it,
The image processing apparatus 1 having the function information storage units 20 and 21.
You can send that information if you request it.
For example, that information is the type of paper trays that you have,
It is the current remaining amount of paper. The function information will be described in detail later.

Next, the image processing operation in the image processing system of this embodiment will be described. However, details of each unit will be described later. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flowchart for explaining an image processing operation in the image processing system of FIG. As shown in step 23 of FIG. 2, first, an initial value required for this processing is set. This is performed by having each of the image output devices 2 and 3 transmit information of the function that the image output device 2 and 3 possesses via the network 5.

Next, in step 24, the external scanner 4
The image is input by, the image is input to the CPU 6 by the I / F 14 as image data, and is stored in the data storage unit 8. With respect to the stored image data, the total amount of jobs is recognized by the data amount counting unit 91 in the program storage unit 9 in step 25. Then, in step 26, the output device processing end time prediction unit 92 in the program storage unit 9 predicts the end time of the image output devices 2 and 3 if they are being processed. Further, in step 27, whether the output device is currently usable by the output device failure status and consumables status detection unit 93 in the program storage unit 9,
Detects whether there are enough consumables.

Next, at step 28, it is judged whether or not there is a request from the user obtained by the U / I section 10,
If there is a request, the process proceeds to step 29, sets a request value, and in step 30, the output means determination unit 95 in the program storage unit 9 generates output means in accordance with the request, and further in step 31, The output time calculation unit 94 in the program storage unit 9 calculates the generated output time in the output unit, and the U / I unit 10 notifies the user of the output unit. As shown in step 32, the user's judgment is made as to whether or not the generated output means is appropriate. If it is determined to be inappropriate, the procedure returns to step 30 and the same operation is repeated.

On the other hand, if there is no user's request for the output means in step 28, the process proceeds to step 33, and in step 34, the output means determination section 95 generates output means candidates in accordance with the preset request. , Step 35
In step 36, the output time calculation unit 94 calculates the output time, and in step 36, the output means determination unit 95 determines the output means again.

The output means determined in this way and the output end time which can be easily calculated from the performance of the output device are calculated in step 3
7 and 38, the U / I unit 10 informs the user, and further, through steps 39, 40 and 41, the image data is transmitted to the output device according to the determined output means, and the image data is received by the output device. Then the image is output.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the details of the setting of the initial value necessary for this processing in step 23 of FIG. The initial setting values used in this embodiment are as shown in the table of FIG. In step 231, paper size, in step 232, output speed, in step 233,
Processing capacity constant, step 234, preprocessing time, step 235, resolution, step 236, finishing type are set, respectively, and step 237, initial setting is made for all output devices. Is determined, and the same steps are repeated until the initial settings are made for all the output devices. These values are
It is obtained by requesting the image processing device and transmitting information from each output device. These pieces of information become important when generating the output means described later. For example, if the paper size of the output requested data does not match the paper size of the output device,
The output device is excluded.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the operation of the data amount counting section in step 25 of FIG. Even if there is a request for output of multiple copies, through steps 251, 252 and 253, the image data for only one copy is repeatedly read from the steeple to the end for a preset unit of data, and the data is counted during that time. Then, the data amount of one copy is obtained. The number of pages is also detected in step 254, and step 255 is performed.
Then, the total number of jobs is quantitatively recognized by multiplying by the requested number of copies.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the operation of the output device processing time predicting section 92 and the failure status and consumables status detecting section 93 in steps 26 and 27 of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, first, in step 271, the variable P
The printer 2 is set to RI. Next, step 272.
Then, it is checked whether the printer set to PRI (hereinafter, simply abbreviated as PRI) is in process. If it is being processed, in step 260, the time from the remaining pages of the job being processed by the PRI to the end thereof is predicted. Then, in step 272, it is checked whether or not the PRI causes a paper jam. Next, in step 274, the remaining amount of paper is checked for all trays of the PRI. Next, at step 275, the remaining amount of paper is checked for all trays of the PRI. Then, in step 276, it is checked whether the PRI toner is insufficient. Further, through the steps 277 and 278, the above-described processing is also performed on the printer 3. That is, in step 278, the printer 3 is set to the variable PRI and the above steps are repeated. In the present embodiment, the above detection is based on the information transmission from the output device as in the initial value setting.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the processing operation of the output time calculation unit 94 in step 35 of FIG. Steps 351, 352, 353, 354 and 3
Through 55, the processing speed (processing speed E ₂ to the printer 2, and processing speed E ₃ to the printer 3),
A constant determined by the processing capability of the output device (printer 2
Throughput constant K ₂ against, and be) capacity constant K ₃ to the printer 3, the output device processing completion time predicting section 9
2 is the sum of the time required for completion and the pre-processing time required before the output unique to the printer (hereinafter referred to as "pre-processing time" for convenience. Pre-processing time T ₂ for printer ₂ and printer 3) For pretreatment time T ₃
And a), and acquires the output destination by the amount of data generated by the output unit determination section 95 (the amount of data M ₃ for the amount of data M _2, the printer 3 to the printer 2). Then, in step 356, the total data transmission time T _j is
It is calculated by the following formula.

T _j = K ₂ × E ₂ × M ₂ + T ₂ + K ₃ × E ₃ × M ₃ + T ₃ (1)

However, the processing speed, the processing capacity constant, and the preprocessing time are those obtained at the time of initial setting.

FIG. 7 shows steps 33 and 3 of FIG.
6 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the output means determination unit 95 of No. 6 in FIG. First, through step 361, step 362 and step 363, the output means, that is, the amount of data to be distributed to each output destination is determined. For example, the initial value is sequentially calculated by the following formula.

M ₂ = K ₂ × M / (K ₂ + K ₃ ) (2)

M ₂ ← round (M ₂ ) (3)

M _r = M−M ₂ (4)

M ₃ = K ₃ × M _r / (K ₂ + K ₃ ) (5)

Here, M is the total data amount, M _r is the remaining data amount, and round () is a function that makes the argument data amount an integer multiple of the number of pages of the data. In the case of an output device in which a paper jam has occurred, the processing capacity constant K = 0 is set, and if there is not enough paper for the amount of data, the amount of data is set to that number.

Next, at step 364, the output time calculation unit 94 calculates the output time. And step 3
At 65, the output means is determined by determining whether this output means is appropriate or automatically or according to the user's request from the U / I unit 10. As a method of automatic determination, for example, if a certain output device is outputting, the processing capacity constant K is decreased by 5% in correspondence with the preprocessing time, and if not, the processing capacity constant is made more different. To That is,

K ₂ ← K ₂ × 1.05

K ₃ ← K ₃ × 0.95

It is assumed that However, it is assumed that K ₂ > K ₃ .

In the above-described embodiment, the image processing system is configured by the image processing device as the transmission device and the two printers as the output devices, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, the output means is automatically determined based on the data amount, output device processing end time, output device failure status, consumable item status, output time, and output device function. However, since the image data is transmitted to one or more optimum output devices, the user does not have to manually select the output device, and the optimum image output can be performed in terms of speed and image output quality at that time. It becomes possible to do it.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration example of an image processing system as an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flowchart for explaining an image processing operation in the image processing system of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flowchart showing details of setting of initial values necessary for this processing in step 23 of FIG. 2;

4 is a diagram showing a flowchart of an operation of a data amount counting unit in step 25 of FIG.

5 is a diagram showing a flowchart showing operations of an output device processing time prediction unit and a failure status / consumables status detection unit in steps 26 and 27 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a flowchart showing a processing operation of an output time calculation unit in step 35 of FIG.

7 is a diagram showing a flowchart showing the processing operation of the output means determination unit in step 33 or step 36 of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a table showing initial setting values used in this embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Image Processing Device 2 Image Output Device 3 Image Output Device 4 External Image Input Device Scanner 5 Network 6 CPU 7 Memory 8 Data Storage Unit 9 Program Storage Unit 10 U / I Unit 11 Information Display Panel 12 Information Input Button 13 Network I / F 14 image input I / F 15 data input I / F for U / I section 16 image output section 17 network I / F 18 image output section 19 network I / F 20 function information storage section 21 function information storage section 91 data amount counting section 92 output device processing end time prediction unit 93 output device failure status and consumables status detection unit 94 output time calculation unit 95 output means determination unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image processing system comprising at least one image processing device for processing and transmitting image data, and a plurality of image output devices for receiving the image data, forming an image and outputting the image, wherein the image data is stored. A data storage unit, a data amount counting unit that counts the image data amount, an output device processing end time predicting unit that predicts a time until the processing ends when the image output device is processing, and the image Output device failure status and consumables status detection means for detecting output device failure status and consumables status, output time calculation means for calculating time to output the image data, data amount counting means, output device processing time Associated with the predicting means, the output device failure status and the consumable status detecting means, and the output time calculating means,
An image characterized by including an output means determining means for determining which image output device of the image output devices and how the image is to be output from the processing end time, the failure status, the consumable status, and the output time. Processing system.