JPH1091372A - Image processor and control method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor improved in the throughput of recording control and its control method by performing exclusive control more efficiently. SOLUTION: When print data from an external information processing terminal are printed on a printer 114, the data are stored in an image memory 104 through an I/F control part 116 under the exclusive control of a recording control part 113 if the printer 114 is busy, and the data are transferred to a printer formatter 117 when the printer becomes ready and expanded into image data, so that recording control by the recording control part 113 is started.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus having a printer function connectable to an external information processing terminal and a control method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printer is connected to an external information processing terminal via an interface and has a print function of recording print data in a printer description language (PDL) format.
2. Description of the Related Art Image processing apparatuses such as copiers and facsimile apparatuses are known. In this type of apparatus, since printing during copying or facsimile reception and printing from an external information processing terminal may occur at the same time, exclusive control is performed by a recording control unit that performs recording control.

[0003]

For this reason, in the above-mentioned conventional example, when the recording control unit is executing printing by copying or facsimile reception, printing from an external information processing terminal may be executed by the above-described exclusive control. could not.

[0004] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and by performing exclusive control more efficiently,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus and a control method for the same that improve the throughput of recording control.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises: an interface means connectable to an external information processing terminal; and an image processing apparatus transferred from the external information processing terminal via the interface means. Storage means for storing the print data stored in the storage means, determination means for determining whether or not the print data stored in the storage means can be printed, and storage means for storing the print data in the storage means according to the determination result of the determination means. Control means for controlling printing of the print data, wherein the storage of the print data and the printing of the stored print data are executed independently.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling an image processing apparatus, comprising: a storage step of storing print data transferred from an external information processing terminal; and a print data stored in the storage step. And a control step of controlling the printing of the print data stored in the storing step in accordance with the determination result in the determining step, and storing the print data. And printing of the stored print data is executed independently.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment. In the figure, 10
Reference numeral 1 denotes a system control unit (CPU), and a system bus 1
The control unit 15 controls the entire image processing apparatus. 102 is R
The OM stores a control program of the CPU 101, an operating system (OS) program, and the like.
Reference numeral 103 denotes a RAM, which is configured by an SRAM or the like and stores program control variables and the like. The RAM 103 also stores setting values registered by the operator, management data of the apparatus, and various work buffers. Reference numeral 104 denotes an image memory, which is composed of a DRAM or the like and stores image data. In this embodiment, each control program stored in the ROM 102 is controlled by software such as scheduling and a task switch under the control of the OS stored in the ROM 102.

An operation unit 105 includes various keys and LE.
D, LCD, etc., perform various input operations by the operator, display the operation status of the image processing apparatus, and the like. 106
Denotes a resolution conversion processing unit which performs millimeter-inch resolution conversion and enlargement / reduction processing. Reference numeral 107 denotes a reading control unit,
It is composed of an image sensor and a document transport mechanism.
The reading control unit 107 optically reads a document using a CS image sensor and converts the document into electrical image data. Reference numeral 108 denotes an image processing control unit that performs various image processing such as binarization processing and halftone processing on image data and outputs the image data as high-definition image data. The read image data is encoded by a reading / recording encoding / decoding control unit, which will be described later, according to a predetermined encoding method, and is stored in the image memory 104.

Reference numeral 109 denotes a communication control unit, which is a MODEM.
(Modulator / demodulator), and controls the modulation and demodulation of facsimile transmission / reception signals. Reference numeral 110 denotes an NCU (Network Controller), which is an analog communication line (PSTN) 120
To transmit a selection signal (dial pulse or tone dialer), detect a calling signal, and perform line control such as automatic incoming call control. Reference numeral 111 denotes a communication codec for encoding and decoding image data according to the capability of the other party during communication when the coding method during reading and recording is different from the coding method during communication. Perform processing. Reference numeral 112 denotes an encoding / decoding processing unit for reading / recording, which encodes and decodes image data at the time of reading and recording.

A recording control unit 113 controls image processing such as smoothing processing and recording density correction processing, and printer output processing for outputting image data to a page printer described later. A page printer 114 records a received image and file data on a recording sheet.

Reference numeral 116 denotes an I / F control unit, which is an L / F
The interface control with a network adapter for connecting to the AN 119 is performed. In this embodiment, a bidirectional parallel interface (IEEE1284) is used. Reference numeral 118 denotes a network adapter,
19, and receives a remote operation request such as transmission and printing from an information processing terminal (FAX server) on a LAN (not shown). Reference numeral 117 denotes a printer formatter which executes processing for expanding code data in a printer description language into image data, and is used when printing from an information processing terminal.

In this embodiment, the printer formatter 117 is connected to the I / F control unit 116 via a parallel interface, and the image developed into image data is directly sent to the recording control unit 11 without passing through the system bus 115.
3 and printed. Also, transmission from the network adapter 118 to the facsimile machine,
Remote operations such as printing and data registration are performed by transmitting predetermined commands, parameters, data, and the like to the image processing apparatus via the I / F control unit 116.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a connection configuration in which the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment is arranged on a LAN. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 200 denotes a network adapter dedicated to the image processing apparatus for connecting the image processing apparatus to a LAN. The adapter 200 performs protocol processing with the information processing terminal and data transfer processing to the image processing apparatus. Reference numeral 201 denotes the image processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, which is connected to a LAN via a network adapter 200. Reference numeral 202 denotes an information processing terminal (FAX / printer server) on the LAN, which manages various service queues such as a FAX transmission queue, a FAX reception queue, and a print queue in order to provide a FAX service and a print service to the terminal device. .

Reference numeral 203 denotes a file server, which is a LAN.
Performs general protocol management and file management. 20
4, 205 are connected to a LAN, and a network FAX,
These are client machines (terminal devices 1 and 2) that request services such as network printing from the facsimile or print server 202.

Here, a print output operation to the image processing apparatus having the above configuration will be described. First, when a print request is sent from the client terminal device 1 (204) to the FAX / printer server 202, the print job is registered in the print queue of the FAX / printer server 202. Thereafter, the print job is selected by LAN protocol processing between the FAX / printer server 202 and the network adapter 200, and the print data is transferred to the image processing apparatus 201, whereby the requested print service is executed.

Next, the operation of converting the printer description language data into image data by the printer formatter 117 of the image processing apparatus and outputting it to the printer 114 will be described.

FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing print control of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment. The printer description language data sent from the FAX / printer server 202 and stored in the image memory 104 is transmitted to the I / F control unit 11
Printer formatter 11 via the parallel I / F 6
7 (301). In this embodiment, the printer formatter 117 and the I / F control unit 116 use a serial and bidirectional parallel interface (IEEE 128).
4), and the I / F control unit 116 side is the host. That is, in the present embodiment, the data transfer from the I / F control unit 116 to the printer formatter 117 is performed in the IEEE 1284 compatibility mode, and the data transfer from the printer formatter 117 to the I / F control unit 116 is performed in the IEEE 1284 nibble mode. It is assumed that it is performed in. The printer description language includes one representing image information to be developed into an image, and one representing printer control information for acquiring printer settings and printer status.

Upon receiving the printer description language data, the printer formatter 117 analyzes the data and
14 and the parameters set in the recording control unit 113 are transferred via the serial I / F (302). Upon receiving the serial command, the recording control unit 113 sends a setting command to the printer 114 if the parameter is to be set in the printer 114 (303). The printer 114 and the recording control unit 113 are connected by VIDEO and a serial I / F. Since the printer 114 returns a printer status indicating the status of the printer as a response (304), the recording control unit 113 passes the printer status to the printer formatter 117 (305).

Sequences 302 to 305 are repeated until all settings are completed. When the settings are completed, image data (VIDEO) is sent from the printer formatter 117 to the printer 114 via the recording control unit 113 (306). Upon receiving the image data, the printer 114 starts an actual printing process.

In some cases, printer description language data is sent from the FAX / printer server 202 even during printing, and this is printer control information for mainly confirming the printing status of the printer 114. The sequence of checking the printer status will be described with reference to FIG.

Here, the printer description language I
The / F control unit 116 transfers data from the parallel I / F to the printer formatter 117 (307). Upon receiving the data, the printer formatter 117 issues a printer status check command from the serial I / F to check the printer status (308). On the other hand, the recording control unit 1
13 issues the command to the printer 114 (309), and returns a response (310) received from the printer 114 to the printer formatter 117 via the serial I / F as a response (311).

After converting the received response into a printer description language, the printer formatter 117 serially shifts the IEEE1284 to the nibble mode in order to pass the data to the I / F control unit 116 through a parallel I / F. Request is made by I / F (312). I / F control unit 11
6 returns a response (313), and shifts the parallel I / F to the nibble mode. Printer formatter 117
Transfers the printer description language data to the I / F control unit 116 (314), and transfers the data received by the I / F control unit 116 to the FAX / printer server 202 via the network adapter 118.

The sequences 307 to 314 may be performed at the same time as the end of printing, or may be performed periodically regardless of printing.

Next, data transfer between the network adapter 118 and the image processing apparatus in the embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a command sequence with the network adapter according to the embodiment. Note that the print data in the present embodiment is data in a page description language format, and the printer formatter 1 in the image processing apparatus.
The image is developed at 17. Further, it is assumed that the data in the page description language format in the present embodiment is transferred to the image processing device in a format encapsulated by a predetermined header. Similarly, the printer 114
It is assumed that printer control information for notifying the external information processing terminal of this status is also transferred in an encapsulated format.

First, when a status instruction command encapsulating a printer control information command is sent from the network adapter 118 to inquire about the operation status of the printer (401), the I / F of the image processing apparatus is used.
The control unit 116 stores the command header in the internal DRA
The printer control information command is accumulated in the status buffer in the M command buffer. The commands stored in the status buffer are sequentially transmitted to the printer formatter 1 via the bidirectional parallel interface.
Transfer to 17.

Next, when a status request command is sent in order to obtain printer control information, which is a return parameter of the printer control information command, the I / F control unit 116 that has received the status request command transmits a bidirectional command. The print information stored in the status buffer of the DRAM is transmitted from the printer formatter 117 to the network adapter 118 via the parallel interface, and is returned from the network adapter 118 to the FAX / printer server 202. In the present embodiment, when there is no print control information to be returned, the fact that there is no printer control information is described in a header portion added to the return parameter. In this case, the FAX / printer server 202 transmits a status request command to the image processing apparatus again and retries.

As a result of analyzing the printer control information by the FAX / printer server 202, if it is determined that print control can be started, a print start command is transmitted to the image processing apparatus (403), and print control is started. . Then, after starting the print control, a buffer setting instruction command is transmitted to the image processing apparatus in order to secure a buffer area in the image processing apparatus required for printer control (404). In this embodiment, the image processing device is a DRA
An area designated in M is secured as a data buffer.

Next, when a data transfer instruction command encapsulating image data in the printer description language format is sent (405, 406), the I / F control unit 116 of the image processing apparatus sends the command header. The internal DRAM
, The printer description language is stored in the data buffer. Then, the data stored in the data buffer is sequentially transferred to the printer formatter 117 via the bidirectional parallel interface. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that print data in the printer description language format is divided into a size equal to or smaller than the buffer size specified by the buffer setting instruction command and transferred to the image processing apparatus.

After the transmission of all print data is completed, a print end command is sent (40).
7), the image processing apparatus ends the print control. In this embodiment, the FAX / printer server 202 can detect a print result by the above-described print control information command.

Next, a description will be given of a process when a print start command is received from an external information processing terminal (FAX / printer server) while using the printer.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing print control in this embodiment. First, when a print start instruction command is received from the FAX / printer server 202, the print control by the recording control unit 113 is started (step S501). Specifically, after receiving the print start instruction command, the recording control unit 113
Is detected, and it is determined whether or not a printer error has occurred due to a jam of the recording paper or the absence of toner (step S50).
2). Here, when it is determined that the printer is in a printer error state, it is determined that print control cannot be executed, and NG is sent to the FAX / printer server 202 as a response to the print start instruction command (step S516). Terminate print control forcibly. If it is not in the printer error state, OK is transmitted as a response (step S503), and the process is continued.

Next, a buffer setting instruction command including information such as buffer size information necessary for data transfer of the print data in the page description language and the total size of the print data is received from the FAX / printer server 202 (step S504). ). Then, when the buffer setting instruction command is received, it is detected whether or not the printer 114 is currently performing printing by copying, facsimile reception, or the like (step S505). here,
The printer 114 is not in use, that is, the recording control unit 113
If the path is empty, the printer formatter 117 sequentially develops the print data transferred from the FAX / printer server 202 and can perform printing, so that an OK response to the buffer setting instruction command is transmitted (step S1). S508). Step S
If the printer 114 is in use at 505, the remaining amount of memory is detected to store the print data in the image memory 104 in the image processing apparatus (step S506).

In this embodiment, control is performed so that print data is stored in advance in the image memory 104 in the image processing apparatus in order to start printing in the shortest time as soon as the path of the recording control unit 113 becomes free. ing. In the present embodiment, the image memory 104 is not used exclusively for print data, but is used in common with image data for facsimile transmission. Since the buffer becomes full during transfer of print data, control is performed to forcibly end print control in consideration of system throughput.

Next, in step S507, step S507
The remaining memory capacity of the image memory 104 detected in 506 is compared with the total size of the print data included in the buffer setting instruction command received in step S504,
It is determined whether accumulation in the image memory 104 is possible. Here, if it is determined that the storage is not possible due to insufficient memory capacity, an NG response is sent to the buffer setting instruction command (step S517).
If it is determined in step S507 that memory storage is possible, an OK response is sent to the buffer setting instruction command (step S508), and the process is continued.

Next, the recording transfer control for transferring the print data to the printer formatter 117 is started (step S509). In the present embodiment, the recording transfer control
This means control for sequentially transferring print data transferred from the AX / printer server 202 and stored in the image memory 104 to the printer formatter 117. Also,
The printer formatter 117 develops an image of the transferred print data, and the recording control unit 113 controls recording of the printer 114. This recording transfer control will be further described later with reference to FIG.

After activating the recording / transfer control in step S509 described above, an image transfer instruction command encapsulating the print data in the page description language format is received (step S510). It is assumed that the image transfer instruction command according to the present embodiment includes a data format of data to be encapsulated, a data size to be transferred, a status flag indicating presence / absence of next data, and the like.

Then, after receiving the image transfer instruction command,
The print data to be continuously transferred is sequentially stored in the image memory 104 (step S511). After the storage is completed, OK is returned to the FAX / printer server 202 as a response to the image data storage instruction command (step S512).

Next, the end of the transfer of the print data is determined from the status flag added to the image transfer instruction command (step S513). If print data accumulation control is to be continued, the process proceeds to step S510, where transfer control is continued.

Finally, a print end command for releasing the print control path is sent to the FAX / printer server 202.
(Step S514), and sends an OK response to the print end command to the FAX / printer server 202 (step S515), and ends the print control.

Next, the recording transfer control in this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, F
According to a command from the AX / printer server 202,
It is monitored whether the above-described print control activates the recording transfer control (step S601). If the recording transfer control is activated, it is determined whether the printer 114 is in use (step S602). Here, if the printer 114 is in use, the process waits until the printer 114 becomes empty.

In the present embodiment, it is assumed that contention control of the printer 114 is performed using a recording semaphore under OS management in the image processing apparatus.

In the above step S602, the printer 114
If it is determined that is available, a recording semaphore is acquired (step S603), and a path for the recording control unit 113 is secured. Next, the status of the print data transferred from the FAX / printer server 202 to the image memory 104 and buffered is monitored (step S604). Then, when the print data is buffered by a predetermined amount, transfer of the print data to the printer formatter 117 is started (step S605). In this embodiment, the transfer of print data from the FAX / printer server 202 and the transmission of print data to the printer formatter 117 are executed independently.

Thereafter, after the transfer control of the print data is completed, it is determined whether or not the transfer of all the print data has been completed (step S606). Here, when the transfer control is continued, the process proceeds to step S604, and when it is determined that the transfer control is completed, the recording semaphore is released (step S60).
7), the path of the recording control unit 113 is released, and the recording transfer control ends.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the image expanding means for expanding the print data in the printer description language format into the image data, and the memory storage for storing the print data transferred from the external information processing terminal in the image memory. Means and a printer exclusive control means for detecting whether or not the recording control unit is usable. When print data is received, the printer exclusive control means determines that the recording control unit is busy. In this case, the transfer control of the print data transferred from the external information processing terminal to the memory storage unit is continued, and when the recording control unit is in the ready state, the recording transfer control is started by the image developing unit, It is possible to improve the throughput of print data recording control.

In the present embodiment, whether or not memory storage is possible is determined by comparing the total size of print data included in the buffer setting instruction command with the remaining memory of the image memory. However, it is not limited to this. For example, a method may be used in which the remaining amount of the memory is compared with a predetermined threshold to determine whether or not the memory can be stored.

Further, by adopting a configuration in which a buffer setting instruction command is transmitted for each page from the external information processing terminal, it is possible to determine whether or not memory storage is possible in page units.

The command sequence between the external information processing terminal and the image processing device in the present embodiment is not limited to this. For example, it is also possible to use a method of detecting the start of printing when print data is transferred, without using a print start / end command.

Further, in the present embodiment, the control of storing print data during printing is performed by a method of storing the print data in the image memory of the image processing apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, even when the recording control unit is used for facsimile reception, the print data is sequentially transferred to the printer formatter, and when the memory inside the printer formatter becomes full, the print data that has not been transferred to the printer formatter is transferred to the image processing apparatus. It is also possible to use a method of storing in an image memory.

The present invention can be applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), but can be applied to a single device (for example, a copier, a facsimile). Device).

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and a computer (CPU or MP) of the system or apparatus.
It goes without saying that U) can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

[0056]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By performing the exclusive control more efficiently, it is possible to improve the throughput of the recording control.

[0057]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a connection configuration in which the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment is arranged on a LAN.

FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram illustrating print control of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a command sequence diagram with a network adapter in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating print control according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating recording transfer control according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 CPU 102 ROM 103 RAM 104 Image Memory 105 Operation Unit 106 Resolution Conversion Processing Unit 107 Reading Control Unit 108 Image Processing Control Unit 109 Communication Control Unit 110 NCU 111 Communication Code Decoding Processing Unit 112 Reading / Recording Code Decoding Processing Unit 113 Recording control unit 114 Printer 115 System bus 116 I / F control unit 117 Printer formatter 118 Network adapter 119 LAN 120 Communication line

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Takekazu Kumagai 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc.

Claims (10)

[Claims] An interface unit connectable to an external information processing terminal; a storage unit for storing print data transferred from the external information processing terminal via the interface unit; Determining means for determining whether or not printing is possible; andcontrol means for controlling printing of the print data stored in the storage means in accordance with a result of the determination by the determining means. An image processing apparatus for executing printing of stored print data independently. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls printing of print data when a result of the determination by the determination unit is printable. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising detecting means for detecting a storage capacity of the storage means, wherein the print data is stored when the storage capacity of the detecting means is equal to or larger than a predetermined amount. The image processing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims. 4. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising means for inquiring about a size of the print data transferred from the external information processing terminal, wherein the print data is stored when the storage capacity is equal to or larger than a predetermined size of the print data. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein 5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined size of the print data is one.
The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image processing apparatus has a size corresponding to a page. 6. A storage step of storing print data transferred from an external information processing terminal; a determination step of determining whether print data stored in the storage step can be printed; A control step of controlling the printing of the print data stored in the storing step according to the determination result, wherein the storing of the print data and the printing of the stored print data are executed independently. A control method of the image processing apparatus. 7. The control method according to claim 6, wherein the control step controls printing of print data when the result of the determination in the determination step indicates that printing is possible. 8. The printing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a detecting step of detecting a storage capacity in the storing step, wherein the print data is stored when the storage capacity is equal to or more than a predetermined amount in the detecting step. The control method of the image processing device described in the above. 9. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of inquiring about the size of the print data transferred from the external information processing terminal, and storing the print data when the storage capacity is equal to or larger than a predetermined size of the print data. The method for controlling an image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein 10. The predetermined size of the print data is:
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the size of the image processing device is equivalent to one page.