JPH08317104A - Image processing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To improve the adaptability of the processing unit to the system by controlling the priority of the interrupt processing in response to the urgency of each of plural users when they use a common printer via an interface. CONSTITUTION: A core section 10 expands code data image information sch as a page description language and sends it to a printer section 2. The printer section 2 is provided with plural kinds of recording paper cassettes and provides an output of image data onto recording paper as a visual image through a print instruction and also is provided with a sorter and sorts plural pages of a document and prints out them on request. When an interrupt print request is received and it takes some time to finish the print-out executed at present, the printer section 2 recognizes priority based on a password or the like added to interrupt print request data and stores a parameter required for restarting processing to a memory at a break of a job such as end of a page printed out at present and stops its operation and processes the interrupt printout with priority.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for inputting image information represented by code data such as a page description language and forming and outputting an image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional copying machine, a sorter (output paper sorting device) is connected, for example, to sort and output a plurality of originals, or to output each page in groups. Is commonly done.

Further, in a multi-function device having a copy function, a printer function, a fax function, etc., not only the copy operation but also the printer operation such as expanding and outputting the data from the computer, the function is utilized to make a plurality of functions. You can use it to sort multiple pages of documents and output them, or to output them by dividing them into groups for each page.

If one user takes a relatively long time to output such a sort function and another user wants to copy only one sheet, an interrupt copy instruction is issued. By giving it, it is possible to suspend the copy operation and the printer operation which are being executed, and preferentially perform the copy for a short time.

[0005]

However, in a situation where a plurality of users use the multifunction device via the interface, when a user sorts and prints out a plurality of pages of a document having a plurality of pages. Even if another user wants to print out a one-page document first, since both users access the multifunction device by remote control via the interface, for example It is difficult to perform the interrupt copy as described above, because it is not possible to coordinate. For this reason, there is a problem that a user who accesses later has to wait until the print operation for a long time which is already being executed is completed, even if the printout is performed for a short time.

According to the present invention, even in a situation where a plurality of users use the image output device through the interface, the output operation is appropriately switched according to the urgency of the image output operation requested by each user. An object is to provide an image processing device capable of outputting.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided input means for inputting image information represented by predetermined data and code data, analyzing means for analyzing the predetermined data input by the input means, and Expansion means for expanding the image information input by the input means, image output means for outputting the expanded image, and switching for switching the expansion operation and the image output operation based on the result analyzed by the analyzing means. And means.

[0008]

According to the present invention, if the result of analyzing the predetermined data is, for example, an interrupt print request, the image development and output operation being executed are temporarily suspended, and the image development and output operation of the document for which the interrupt print request is made. To execute. And
After the image expansion and output operation of the document by this interrupt are completed, the temporarily interrupted image expansion and output operation are restarted.

[0009]

1 is a block diagram showing the construction of an image forming system showing an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a reader unit 1 is an image input device for converting a document into image data, and a printer unit 2
Is an image output device that has a plurality of types of recording paper cassettes and that outputs image data as a visible image on the recording paper in response to a print command.

The external device 3 is electrically connected to the reader unit 1 and has various functions. That is, the external device 3 includes a fax unit 4 to which a telephone line 13 and a hard disk 11 are connected, and an external storage device 6.
Is connected to the file unit 5, a computer interface unit 7 for connecting to the computer 12, a formatter unit 8 for converting the information from the computer 12 into a visible image, information from the reader unit 1, and a computer. An image memory unit 9 for temporarily storing the information sent from 12 and a core unit 10 for controlling the above functions are provided.

The hard disk 11 is an auxiliary storage device for accumulating a large amount of image data and the like, and the computer 12 has functions as a workstation (WS) and a personal computer (PC).

The function of each unit will be described in detail below.

First, the reader unit 1 will be described.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the construction of the reader unit 1 and the printer unit 2.

The originals accumulated on the original feeding device 101 are sequentially conveyed one by one onto the original glass surface 102. When the document is conveyed to a predetermined position on the glass surface 102, the lamp 103 of the scanner unit is turned on and the scanner unit 104 moves to irradiate the document. The reflected light of the document is input to the CCD image sensor unit 109 (hereinafter referred to as CCD) via the mirrors 105, 106, 107 and the lens 108.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the signal processing circuit of the reader unit 1.

The reflected light of the original document applied to the CCD 109 is photoelectrically converted here and converted into an electric signal. CC
The color information from D109 is output to the next amplifier 110R, 1
The signals are amplified in 10G and 110B according to the input signal level of the A / D converter 111.

The output signal from the A / D converter 111 is input to the shading circuit 112, where the lamp 10
The light distribution unevenness of No. 3 and the sensitivity unevenness of the CCD are corrected. The signal from the shading circuit 112 is input to the Y signal generation / color detection circuit 113 and the external I / F switching circuit 119.

The Y signal generation / color detection circuit 113 calculates the signal from the shading circuit 112 by the following equation to obtain the Y signal.

Y = 0.3R + 0.6G + 0.1B Further, it has a color detection circuit for separating the R, G, B signals into seven colors and outputting the signals for the respective colors. The output signal from the Y signal generation / color detection circuit 113 is input to the scaling / repeat circuit 114. Scaling in the sub-scanning direction is performed according to the scanning speed of the scanner unit 104, and scaling in the main scanning direction is performed by the scaling / repeat circuit 114. Further, the scaling / repeat circuit 114 can output a plurality of identical images.

The contour / edge enhancement circuit 115 obtains edge enhancement and contour information by enhancing the high frequency component of the signal from the scaling / repeat circuit 114. The signal from the contour / edge enhancement circuit 115 is used for marker area determination /
It is input to the contour generation circuit 116 and the patterning / thickening / masking / trimming circuit 117.

Marker area determination / contour generation circuit 116
Reads the portion written on the manuscript with a marker pen of a specified color, generates the contour information of the marker, and the next patterning / thickening / masking / trimming circuit 117 thickens or masks the contour information. And trimming. Further, patterning is performed by the color detection signal from the Y signal generation / color detection circuit 113.

The output signal from the patterning / thickening / masking / trimming circuit 117 is the laser driver 11
The signal which is input to 8 and processed variously is converted into a signal for driving the laser. The output signal of the laser driver 118 is input to the printer 2 and image formation is performed as a visible image.

Next, an external I for performing I / F with the external device 3
The / F switching circuit 119 will be described.

When outputting image information from the reader unit 1 to the external device 3, the external I / F switching circuit 119 outputs the image information from the patterning / thickening / masking / trimming circuit 117 to the connector 120.

When the image information from the external device 3 is input to the reader unit 1, the external switching circuit 119 outputs the image information from the connector 120 to the Y signal generation / color detection circuit 1.
Enter in 13.

Each of the above image processes is performed according to an instruction from the CPU 122, and the area generation circuit 121 generates various timing signals necessary for the above image process according to the value set by the CPU 122. Further, the CPU 122
Communication with the external device 3 is performed using the communication function built in the. The SUBCPU 123 controls the operation unit 125 and communicates with the external device 3 by using a communication function built in the SUBCPU 123.

Next, the configuration and operation of the printer unit 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

The image signal input to the printer section 2 is converted into an optical signal modulated by the exposure control section 201 and irradiates the photoconductor 202. This irradiation light causes the photoconductor 202
The latent image formed above is developed by the developing device 203. The transfer paper is conveyed from the transfer stacking unit 204 or 205 at the same timing as the leading edge of the developed image, and the developed image is transferred to the transfer unit 206.

The transferred image is fixed on the transfer paper by the fixing unit 207 and then discharged from the paper output unit 208 to the outside of the apparatus. The transfer paper output from the paper output unit 208 is the sorter 22.
When the sorting function is 0, the sheets are discharged to each bin, and when the sorting function is not working, the sheets are discharged to the highest bin of the sorter.

Next, the external device 3 is connected to the reader 1 by a cable, and the core portion in the external device 3 controls signals and controls each function.

In the external device 3, a fax section 4 for sending and receiving a fax, a file section 5 for converting various document information into electric signals and storing the signals on a magneto-optical disk, and code information from the computer 12 for image information. A formatter unit 8 which is developed into a computer interface unit 7 which interfaces with a computer 12.
The information from the reader unit 1 is accumulated and the computer 12
An image memory unit 9 for temporarily storing information sent from the computer, a core unit 10 for controlling the above-mentioned functions, and the like are provided.

Next, the core portion 10 will be described.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the detailed structure of the core unit 10 described above.

The connector 1001 of the core section 10 is connected to the connector 120 of the reader section 1 by a cable. This connector 1001 has four types of signal lines built therein, and the signal line 1057 is an 8-bit multi-value video signal line. The signal line 1055 is a control signal line for controlling a video signal. The signal line 1051 is the CPU 1 in the reader 1.
The signal line 1052 is a signal line for communicating with
It is a signal line for communicating with the SUBCPU 123 in the reader 1.

Then, the signal line 1051 and the signal line 1052
Is subjected to communication protocol processing by the communication IC 1002, and C
Communication information is transmitted to the CPU 1003 via the PU bus 1053.

The signal line 1057 is a bidirectional video signal line, and receives information from the reader unit 1 in the core unit 10.
The reader unit 1 receives information from the core unit 10 and receives information from the core unit 10.
Can be output to.

This signal line 1057 is connected to the buffer 1010.
The signal line 1058 and the signal line 1070 for unidirectional signals are separated from the bidirectional signals.

A signal line 1058 is a signal line for an 8-bit multi-valued video signal from the reader unit 1, and the LUT1 of the next stage.
An 8-bit multilevel video signal is output to 011. LUT
At 1011 the image information from the reader unit 1 is converted into a desired value by means of a look-up table. LUT101
The signal of the output signal line 1059 from 1 is the binarization circuit 10
12 or input to the selector 1013.

The binarization circuit 1012 has a signal line 1059.
, A simple binarization function that binarizes a multi-valued signal of a fixed slice level, a binarization function by a variable slice level in which the slice level fluctuates from the values of pixels around the order pixel,
And has a binarization function by the error diffusion method. The binarized information is converted into a multilevel signal of 00H when 0 and FFH when 1 and input to the selector 1013 at the next stage. The selector 1013 selects either the signal from the LUT 1011 or the output signal of the binarization circuit 1012.
The signal on the output signal line 1060 from the selector 1013 is
It is input to the selector 1014.

The selector 1014 outputs video signal outputs from the fax unit 4, file unit 5, computer interface unit 7, formatter unit 8 and image memory unit 9 to connectors 1005, 1006, 1007 and 1, respectively.
The signal on the signal line 1064 of the signal input to the core unit 10 via the signals 008 and 1009 and the signal on the output signal line 1060 of the selector 1013 are selected by the instruction of the CPU 1003.

The signal on the output signal line 1061 of the selector 1014 is input to the rotation circuit 1015 or the selector 1016. The rotation circuit 1015 has a function of rotating the input image signal by +90 degrees, −90 degrees, and +180 degrees. The rotation circuit 1015 converts the information output from the reader unit 1 into a binary signal by the binarization circuit 1012, and then stores the information in the rotation circuit 1015 as information from the reader unit 1.

Next, in response to an instruction from the CPU 1003, the rotation circuit 1015 rotates and reads the stored information.
The selector 1016 uses the output signal line 1 of the rotation circuit 1015.
062 or one of the input signal lines 1061 of the rotation circuit 1015 is selected, and as a signal of the signal line 1063,
Connector 1005 with the fax unit 4, Connector 1006 with the file unit 5, Connector 1007 with the computer interface unit, Connector 1 with the formatter unit 8
008, the connector 1009 to the image memory unit 9, and the selector 1017.

The signal line 1063 is a synchronous 8-bit unidirectional video bus for transferring image information from the core unit 10 to the fax unit 4, file unit 5, computer interface unit 7, formatter unit 8 and image memory unit 9. is there. The signal line 1064 is a synchronous 8-bit unidirectional video bus for transferring image information from the fax unit 4, file unit 5, computer interface unit 7, formatter unit 8 and image memory unit 9.

The video control circuit 10 controls the synchronous bus of the signal line 1063 and the signal line 1064.
04, and control is performed by the signal of the output signal line 1056 from the video control circuit 1004. Connector 1005
The signal line 1054 is also connected to the connector 1009.

The signal line 1054 is a bidirectional 16-bit C
It is a PU bus and exchanges data and commands asynchronously. Information transfer between the fax unit 4, the file unit 5, the computer interface unit 7, the formatter unit 8, the image memory unit 9 and the core unit 10 is performed according to the above 2
One video bus 1063, 1064 and CPU bus 105
4 is possible.

The signal on the signal line 1064 from the fax unit 4, file unit 5, computer interface unit 7, formatter unit 8 and image memory unit 9 is sent to the selector 1
014 and the selector 1017. Selector 10
The CPU 14 inputs the signal of the signal line 1064 to the rotation circuit 1015 of the next stage according to the instruction of the CPU 1003.

The selector 1017 selects one of the signals from the signal line 1063 and the signal line 1064 according to an instruction from the CPU 1003. Output signal line 10 of selector 1017
65 is a pattern matching circuit 1018 and a selector 1
It is input to 019. Pattern matching circuit 1018
Pattern-matches the signal of the input signal line 1065 with a predetermined pattern, and when the patterns match, outputs a predetermined multi-valued signal to the signal line 1066. If they do not match in the pattern matching, the signal of the input signal line 1065 is output to the signal line 1066.

The selector 1019 selects the signal line 1065 and the signal line 1066 according to an instruction from the CPU 1003.
The output signal of the selector 1019 passes through the signal line 1067 and is input to the LUT 1020 at the next stage.

The LUT 1020 converts the signal on the input signal line 1067 according to the characteristics of the printer when outputting the image information to the printer unit 2.

The selector 1021 selects one of the output signal line 1068 and the signal line 1065 of the LUT 1020 according to an instruction from the CPU 1003. Selector 102
The output signal of 1 is input to the expansion circuit 1022 at the next stage.

The enlarging circuit 1022 can set the enlarging magnification independently in the X and Y directions of the image according to an instruction from the CPU 1003. The expansion method is a first-order linear interpolation method. The output signal of the expansion circuit 1022 is the signal line 10
It is input to the buffer 1010 through 70.

Signal line 10 input to buffer 1010
The signal of 70 passes through the bidirectional signal line 1057 according to the instruction of the CPU 1003, is sent to the printer unit 2 via the connector 1001, and is printed out.

Hereinafter, the core section 10 and the interface section 7
Signal flow between the core unit 10 and the formatter unit 8
The signal flow of and will be described.

First, the computer interface section 7
The operation of the core unit 10 based on the above information will be described.

The computer interface section 7 interfaces with a computer connected to the external device 3. The computer interface unit 7 is an SC
It has a plurality of interfaces for communicating with SI, RS232C, and Centronics. The computer interface unit 7 has the above three types of interfaces, and information from each interface is sent to the CPU 1003 via the connector 1007 and the data bus 1054.
Sent to The CPU 1003 performs various controls based on the sent contents.

Next, the operation of the core unit 10 based on the information of the formatter unit 8 will be described.

The formatter unit 8 has a function of expanding command data such as a document file sent from the computer interface unit 7 into image data. When the CPU 1003 determines that the data sent from the computer interface unit 7 via the data bus 1054 is data relating to the formatter unit 8, the CPU 1003 transfers the data to the formatter unit 8 via the connector 1008. The formatter unit 8 develops the transferred data in the memory as a meaningful image such as a character or a figure.

Next, a procedure for receiving information from the formatter unit 8 and forming an image on an output sheet will be described.

The image information from the formatter section 8 is transmitted as a multilevel signal having two values (00H, FFH) on the signal line 1064 through the connector 1008.
The signal on the signal line 1064 is input to the selector 1014 and the selector 1017.

The printer unit 2 is instructed by the CPU 1003.
If the image is to be rotated and output, the selector 1014
The signal on the signal line 1064 input to the rotary circuit 1015
Rotate with. The signal on the output signal line 1062 from the rotation circuit 1015 is supplied to the selector 1016 and the selector 10
It is input to the pattern matching circuit 1018 via 17.

When the image is directly output to the printer 2 according to the instruction of the CPU 1003, the signal of the signal line 1064 input to the selector 1017 is input to the pattern matching circuit 1018.

The signal pattern-matched by the pattern matching circuit 1018 is sent to L through the selector 1019.
It is input to the UT 1020. The LUT 1020 uses the LUT 1 in order to output an image to the printer unit 2 at a desired density.
The table 020 can be changed by the CPU 1003. The signal on the output signal line 1068 of the LUT 1020 is
It is input to the expansion circuit 1022 via the selector 1021.

The enlargement circuit 1022 has two values (00H,
The 8-bit multi-valued signal having FFH) is enlarged by a linear interpolation method of the first order. The 8-bit multilevel signal having many values output from the expansion circuit 1022 is stored in the buffer 10
10 and the connector 1001 to the reader unit 1.

The reader unit 1 sends this signal to the connector 120.
Input to the external I / F switching circuit 119 via. The external I / F switching circuit 119 inputs the signal from the fax unit 4 to the Y signal generation / color detection circuit 113. The output signal from the Y signal generation / color detection circuit 113 is subjected to the above-described processing and then output to the printer unit 2 to form an image on an output sheet.

Next, the computer interface section 7
Will be described with reference to FIG.

Connector A700 and connector B701
Is a connector for a SCSI interface. The connector C702 is a Centronics interface connector. The connector D703 is an RS232C interface connector. Connector E707
Is a connector for connecting to the core unit 10.

The SCSI interface has two connectors (connector A700, connector B701),
When connecting devices having a plurality of SCSI interfaces, connectors A700 and B701 are used to make a cascade connection. When the external device 3 and the computer are connected one-to-one, the connector A700 and the computer are connected by a cable, and the connector B701 is connected by a terminator or the connector B701 and the computer are connected by a cable. Connect a terminator to the A700.

Connector A700 or Connector B701
Information input from the SC via the signal line 751
SI / I / F-A704 or SCSI / I / F-B7
08 is input. The SCSI I / F-A 704 or the SCSI I / F-B 708 outputs data to the connector 707E via the signal line 754 after performing the procedure according to the SCSI protocol.

The connector E707 is the CPU of the core unit 10.
The CPU 1 of the core unit 10 connected to the bus 1054
003 receives the information input from the CPU bus 1054 to the SCSI / I / F connector (connector A700, connector B701).

When data from the CPU 1003 of the core unit 10 is output to the SCSI connector (connector A700, connector B701), the procedure reverse to the above is performed.

The Centronics interface is connected to the connector C702 and input to the Centronics I / F 705 via the signal line 752. The Centronics I / F 705 receives data according to the procedure of the determined protocol, and outputs the data to the connector E707 via the signal line 754.

The connector E707 is the CPU of the core unit 10.
The CPU 1 of the core unit 10 connected to the bus 1054
003 is the Centronics I from the CPU bus 1054.
The information input to the / F connector (connector C702) is received.

The RS232C interface is connected to the connector D703 and is connected to the RS via the signal line 753.
It is input to the 232C I / F 706. RS232C
The I / F 706 receives the data according to the procedure of the determined protocol, and outputs the data to the connector E707 via the signal line 754.

The connector E707 is the CPU of the core unit 10.
The CPU 1 of the core unit 10 connected to the bus 1054
003 is from the CPU bus 1054 to RS232C / I /
The information input to the F connector (connector D703) is received. Further, data from the CPU 1003 of the core unit 10 is transferred to the RS232C / I / F connector (connector D7).
When outputting to 03), the procedure is reversed.

Next, the formatter section 8 will be described. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the formatter unit 8.

The data from the computer interface unit 7 described above is discriminated by the core unit 10, and if the data is related to the formatter unit 8, the core unit 10
The CPU 1003 transfers the data from the computer to the dual port memory 803 via the connector 1008 of the core unit 10 and the connector 800 of the formatter unit 9.

The CPU 809 of the formatter unit 8 receives the code data sent from the computer via the dual port memory 803.

The CPU 809 sequentially develops the code data into image data and transfers the image data to the memory A 806 or the memory B 807 via the memory controller 808.

Memory A 806 and memory B 807 are
Each memory has a capacity of 1 Mbytes, and one memory (memory A806 or memory B807) can handle up to A4 paper size with a resolution of 300 dpi.

In the case of supporting up to A3 size paper at a resolution of 300 dpi, the memory A806 and the memory B807 are connected in cascade to develop the image data. The memory control described above is performed by the memory controller 808 according to an instruction from the CPU 809.

Further, when it is necessary to rotate a character or a graphic when developing the image data, the image data is rotated by the rotation circuit 804 and then transferred to the memory A 806 or the memory B 807.

When the expansion of the image data in the memory A 806 or the memory B is completed, the CPU 809 controls the memory controller 808 to connect the data bus line 858 of the memory A 806 or the data bus line 859 of the memory B 807 to the output line of the memory controller 808. 85
Connect to 5.

Next, the CPU 809 communicates with the CPU 1003 of the core unit 10 via the dual port memory 803, and sets the mode in which the image information is output from the memory A 806 or the memory B 807. CPU of core unit 10
The CPU 100 sets the print output mode in the CPU 122 using the communication function built in the CPU 122 of the reader unit 1 via the communication circuit 1002 in the core unit 10.

When the print output mode is set, the CPU 1003 of the core unit 10 activates the timing generation circuit 802 via the connector 1008 and the connector 800 of the formatter unit 8.

The timing generation circuit 802 includes the core unit 10
A timing signal for reading image information from the memory A 806 or the memory B 807 is generated in the memory controller 808 according to the signal from

The image information from the memory A 806 or the memory B 807 is input to the memory controller 808 via the signal line 858. Memory controller 808
The output image information from is transferred to the core unit 10 via the signal line 851 and the connector 800.

The output from the core unit 10 to the printer unit 2 has been described in the core unit 10 and will not be described.

Next, in the present embodiment, an operation of receiving an interrupt print instruction, temporarily suspending the print being executed to perform the interrupt print, and restarting the temporarily suspended print after the interrupt print is completed will be described.

First, the operation of the core section 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, when data is input to the core unit 10 from the computer interface unit 7 (S701),
The CPU 1003 analyzes the data (S702).
Here, as described above, it is determined that the data is the data relating to the formatter unit 8, and it is further determined whether the data is a data requesting interrupt printing.

After this analysis, the formatter unit 8 is notified that normal data or data with an interrupt print request has been received (S703). Next, when the data transfer preparation OK notification is received from the formatter unit 8 (S704), the data received from the interface unit 7 is started to be transferred to the dual port memory 803 (S705).

Then, the data transfer is continued until all the data received from the interface section 7 is exhausted (S70
6) When all transfer is completed, the formatter unit 8 is notified of this (S707).

Next, the operation of the formatter unit 8 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, when a notification of data reception is received from the core unit 10 (S801), the CPU 80 of the formatter unit 8 receives.
9 determines whether or not an operation such as image development is in progress (S802).

If it is not in operation, the data can be received and the image can be developed regardless of whether or not it is the interrupt print. Therefore, the core unit 10 is notified of the data transfer preparation OK (S803).

After that, the CPU waits for the reception data to be input from the core unit 10 via the dual port memory 803 (S804), and when the data input is started, the core unit 10
The data transfer is repeated until the end of the data transfer is notified from (S805), the sequentially received data is expanded into image data, and the expanded image is output to the printer unit 2 to perform a series of operations.

When an operation such as image development is in progress,
It is determined whether the data reception notification from the core unit 10 is an interrupt print (S807).

If it is not the interrupt print, the next data is not received and the operation is not started until the operation relating to the image currently being executed is completed. Therefore, the core unit 10 is notified of the data transfer preparation NG. (S809),
finish.

If it is the interrupt print, the preparation for the interrupt print is performed (S808).

Here, first, the process waits until the break of the job being executed. Here, the job break means, for example, when the image is being developed, one page of the image is developed and output to the memory, and when a plurality of copies of the image are being output, all the pages have been output. Refers to a point in time.

When a job break occurs, the expansion operation and image output operation are stopped. Next, various information relating to the image at the time of this stop, for example, a reception buffer storing data received from the core unit 10, a page control table for managing the image output created at the time of image expansion, and the like. Stores the address on the memory.

Subsequently, a memory area for creating a reception buffer and a page control table is secured for interrupt printing.

Here, at the time of normal printing, sorting and double-sided printing are executed according to the settings on the operation panel and instructions of expanded data, but at the time of interrupt printing, sorting and double-sided printing are performed by the previous print operation. Therefore, set the initial values so that those settings are invalid.

After the preparation for performing the interrupt printing described above, the data transfer preparation OK is notified to the core unit 10 (S803).

Thereafter, as described above, a series of operations of receiving data from the core unit 10, developing it into image data using the memory area secured for interrupt printing, and outputting the developed image to the printer unit 2 are performed. To do.

At the time of interrupt printing, the core unit 10
By receiving the end notification from (S806), it is recognized that the previous print operation is started again after the interrupt print currently being executed ends.

When the interrupt printing is completed,
The address of the previously stored information about the previous image is read out, and the expansion and output of the image is restarted.

In the above embodiment, for example, a personal identification number is added to the data for instructing interrupt printing, and when the core unit 10 determines an interrupt printing request, it is compared with a pre-registered personal identification number, and they match. It is also possible to accept only the interrupt print request from a specific user by adding a process of permitting the interrupt print request only at this time.

It is also possible to select whether or not to accept the interrupt print by presetting on the panel unit.

Furthermore, instead of one type of interrupt print request, a request with a priority order according to the degree of urgency may be used to determine whether or not to permit interrupts.

[0113]

As described above, according to the present invention,
While the image data such as PDL is being developed and output, if the image data such as PDL or the like to which the data for instructing the interrupt print is added is received and analyzed, it is possible to temporarily suspend the image developing and outputting operation being executed. It is possible to suspend and temporarily execute the image development output of the received data. Then, after the interruption printing is completed, it is possible to restart the image development output operation which has been temporarily interrupted.

Further, as described in the embodiment, by adding the data such as the personal identification number, the interrupt print can be permitted only to a specific user.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a reader unit and a printer unit in the above embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an external device in the above embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a computer interface unit in the above embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a formatter unit in the above embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the core unit in response to an interrupt request at the time of printing in the above embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the formatter unit in response to an interrupt request during printing according to the above embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Reader unit, 2 ... Printer unit, 3 ... External device, 4 ... Fax unit, 5 ... File unit, 6 ... External storage device, 7 ... Computer interface unit, 8 ... Formatter unit, 9 ... Image memory unit, 10 ... Core part, 11 ... Hard disk, 12 ... Computer.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. Input means for inputting image information represented by predetermined data and code data, analyzing means for analyzing predetermined data input by the input means, and image information input by the input means. An image characterized by having a developing means for developing the image and an image output means for outputting the developed image, and switching the developing operation and the image output operation based on the result analyzed by the analyzing means. Processing equipment. 2. The predetermined data according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined data is an interrupt print request for interrupting a print operation during execution of an operation by the expanding unit and / or the image output unit. Image processing device. 3. The interrupt print request according to claim 2, wherein the interrupt print request is data with a personal identification number, and when the pre-registered personal identification number is matched, the operation by the expanding unit and / or the image output unit is being performed. An image processing apparatus which allows interrupt printing. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a storage unit that stores a parameter regarding the operation being executed, and restarts processing based on the parameter after the interrupt printing is completed.