JP2004066787A - Image recording apparatus, control method of image recording apparatus, medium providing control program, and control program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image recorder that can reduce a time period for operating a total job after recovery by having done an operation to be operated in relation to the job by the recovery time even in a condition that an image output operation can not be performed because of a malfunction of a printer engine or the like. <P>SOLUTION: This image recorder has a memory means for storing print data or developed image data. In a condition that an image can not be output and can be stored in the memory means, an interpreting operation, a developing operation and the storing operation by the memory means with respect to the print data to be operated is priory performed. In a condition that an image can be output, the prioritized storing operation is interrupted and the operating order is restored such that a predetermined operation in relation to the recording of the image is performed along the received order of the print data transmitted from a data processing device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus such as a printer, and more particularly to a function of storing a plurality of print data specified by a data processing apparatus in a storage medium, and reading out the stored print data from the storage medium as needed. The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus having a function of performing a printing process.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, image recording with a built-in hard disk capable of storing a large amount of information and equipped with a store technology for storing print jobs from a data processing device and storing image data obtained by developing print jobs into images Equipment is increasing. The purpose of storing a print job and expanded image data on the hard disk includes, for example, the following.
[0003]
When outputting the same job a plurality of times, transfer the job from the data processing apparatus to the image recording apparatus at one time, store the job on the hard disk, repeatedly read the stored job, and perform printing processing for a plurality of copies. This is intended to reduce the network load. In this case, the timing of the image output need not be the timing at which the job was transmitted from the data processing device to the image recording device. Alternatively, the job may be stored in the hard disk, and the attribute operation of the job may be permitted.
[0004]
Also, as in the above case, the same job is output a plurality of times, but the job transmitted from the data processing device is interpreted, and the image data subjected to the image expansion processing is stored in the hard disk, and the stored data is stored. In some cases, the image output processing for a plurality of copies is performed at high speed by repeatedly reading out image data and performing image output processing for a plurality of copies without performing image expansion processing.
[0005]
In addition, there is a case where a store technique is used for the purpose of making an image output timing arbitrary by a user separately from a transmission timing of a print job in the data processing apparatus and an image output timing of the print job.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional image recording apparatus, jobs are processed in the order in which the jobs are received. Therefore, if an abnormality occurs in the printer engine or the printer engine is interrupted, Even if the job has a store instruction, the store process to the hard disk cannot be performed. For this reason, the image recording apparatus continues to be in a state in which nothing is processed without interruption until print output becomes possible, and there is a problem from the viewpoint of shortening the processing time, the operating rate, and the like.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems. Therefore, even if an abnormality occurs in the printer engine or the printer engine interrupts the printing process and the image recording apparatus cannot perform the image output process, the process until the return is performed. An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus or the like that can reduce the total processing time of a job after returning by performing possible processing for a job in the meantime.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, in the image recording apparatus of the present invention, in an image recording apparatus that records an image based on print data supplied from a data processing apparatus, the image data is generated based on the print data or the print data. Storage means capable of storing image data to be output, output possible state determination means for determining whether or not the state of the image recording apparatus is an image output enabled state, and image output disabled by the output possible state determination means When the storage device is determined to be in a state and the storage unit is in a storable state, the processing of the print data instructed to be stored in the storage unit among the print data to be processed by the image recording apparatus is prioritized. When the output priority state determining means determines that the image output is possible, the processing of the store priority means is interrupted, and Characterized by comprising a store priority canceling means for returning the processing order so as to perform predetermined processing according to the received order of the print data transmitted from the data processing device.
[0009]
The image recording apparatus of the present invention has an interpreting unit for interpreting print data supplied from a data processing device, and a developing unit for expanding data interpreted by the interpreting unit into image data. In an image recording apparatus that records image data after expansion, a storage unit that stores the print data or the image data after expansion, and determines whether the state of the image recording apparatus is a state in which image output is possible. Output possible state determining means, and when the output possible state determining means determines that the image cannot be output and the storage means can store the image data, the print data to be processed by the image recording apparatus A store priority unit for giving priority to the interpretation process by the interpretation unit, the expansion process by the expansion unit, and the storage process by the storage unit; When it is determined by the output possible state determining means that the image can be output, the processing of the store priority means is interrupted, and predetermined processing relating to image recording is performed in accordance with the reception order of the print data transmitted from the data processing apparatus. And a store priority canceling means for returning the processing order as described above.
[0010]
The control method of the image recording apparatus according to the present invention is a method of controlling an image recording apparatus that records an image based on print data supplied from a data processing apparatus, wherein the image data is generated based on the print data or the print data. Storage means capable of storing image data to be output, and an output possible state determining step for determining whether or not the state of the image recording apparatus is a state capable of image output; If it is determined that the print data cannot be stored and the storage unit is in a storable state, processing of print data instructed to be stored in the storage unit among print data to be processed by the image recording apparatus When the output priority state determination step determines that the image output is possible, the processing of the store priority step is interrupted, and And executes the store priority canceling process for returning the processing order so as to perform predetermined processing according to the received order of the print data transmitted from the data processing device.
[0011]
The method for controlling an image recording apparatus according to the present invention includes an interpretation step of interpreting print data supplied from a data processing apparatus, and a development step of developing data after interpretation processing by the interpretation step into image data. What is claimed is: 1. A method for controlling an image recording apparatus for recording image data after expansion in an expansion step, wherein storage means for storing the print data or the image data after expansion is provided, An output enabled state determination step of determining whether or not the output is possible; and an image output disabled state determined by the output enabled state determination step, and a state in which the image can be stored by the storage unit. For the print data to be processed by the image recording apparatus, priority is given to the interpretation processing by the interpretation step, the expansion processing by the expansion step, and the storage processing by the storage means. If it is determined that the image can be output by the store priority process and the output possible state determination process, the process of the store priority process is interrupted, and the process is executed in accordance with the reception order of the print data transmitted from the data processing device. And performing a store priority canceling step of returning the processing order so as to perform predetermined processing relating to image recording.
[0012]
The medium for providing the control program according to the present invention includes a storage unit capable of storing print data or image data generated based on the print data, and stores an image based on the print data supplied from a data processing device. A medium for providing a control program for executing a control method of an image recording apparatus to be recorded, wherein the control program is capable of outputting whether or not the state of the image recording apparatus is a state in which an image can be output. The state determination step and the output possible state determination step determine that the image cannot be output, and when the storage unit is in a storable state, the print data to be processed by the image recording apparatus includes: A store priority step for giving priority to the processing of the print data instructed to be stored in the storage unit, and the output possible state determining step Therefore, when it is determined that an image can be output, the processing of the store priority step is interrupted, and the processing priority is returned so as to perform a predetermined processing in accordance with the reception order of the print data transmitted from the data processing device. And a canceling step.
[0013]
In a medium that provides a control program according to the present invention, an interpreting unit that interprets print data supplied from a data processing device, an expanding unit that expands data interpreted by the interpreting unit into image data, the print data, Or a storage unit for storing the image data after expansion, and a medium providing a control program for executing a control method of an image recording apparatus that records the image data after expansion by the expansion unit, The control program is an output enabled state determining step of determining whether the state of the image recording apparatus is an image output enabled state, and an image output disabled state is determined by the output enabled state determining step, and In a state where the image data can be stored in the storage unit, the print data to be processed by the image recording apparatus is analyzed by the interpretation unit. Processing, a store priority step for giving priority to the expansion processing by the expansion means and the storage processing by the storage means, and the processing of the store priority step when the output possible state determination step determines that the image can be output. And a store priority canceling step of returning the processing order so as to perform a predetermined processing relating to image recording in accordance with the reception order of the print data transmitted from the data processing apparatus.
[0014]
According to the control program of the present invention, there is provided a storage method for storing print data supplied from a data processing device or image data generated based on the print data, and a control method of an image recording device for recording the image data A controllable program for executing the step (a), the output state determining step of determining whether or not the state of the image recording apparatus is an image output enabled state; and When the storage unit is determined to be in the state and the storage unit is in the storable state, the processing of the print data instructed to be stored in the storage unit among the print data to be processed by the image recording apparatus is prioritized. The storage priority step, and when the output possible state determination step determines that the image can be output, the store priority step Process interrupted, characterized in that a store priority canceling returning a processing order so as to perform predetermined processing according to the received order of the print data transmitted from the data processing device.
[0015]
According to the control program of the present invention, an interpreter for interpreting the print data supplied from the data processing device, a decompressor for decompressing data interpreted by the interpreter into image data, and storing the decompressed image data A control program for executing a control method of the image recording apparatus for recording image data after expansion by the expansion means, wherein the state of the image recording apparatus is a state in which an image can be output. The output-capable state determining step of determining whether or not the image recording apparatus is not capable of outputting an image and the image recording apparatus is capable of storing the image by the storage unit. Gives priority to the interpretation processing by the interpretation means, the expansion processing by the expansion means, and the storage processing by the storage means to the print data to be processed. When the image output is possible in the storage priority step and the output possible state determination step, the processing in the storage priority step is interrupted, and the process is performed according to the reception order of the print data transmitted from the data processing device. A store priority canceling step of returning a processing order so as to perform a predetermined process related to image recording.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0017]
[First embodiment]
<System configuration>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the system configuration of the image recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0018]
In FIG. 1, a data processing device 101 is, for example, a computer, and functions as a supply source of image information or a control device of a printer. In this embodiment, a laser beam printer (printer) is used as the image recording device 102. The image recording apparatus applied in the present embodiment is not limited to a laser beam printer, and it goes without saying that another printing method such as an ink jet printer may be used.
[0019]
The video controller (video controller) 103 generates raster data for each page based on image information (for example, an ESC code, a page description language, etc.) supplied from the data processing device 101, and sends the generated raster data to the printer engine 105.
[0020]
The printer engine 105 forms a latent image on a photosensitive drum based on raster data supplied from the video controller 103, and records the image by transferring and fixing the latent image on a recording medium (electrophotographic method). I do.
[0021]
The panel unit 104 is used as a user interface. By operating the panel unit 104, the user can instruct a desired operation. The panel unit 104 displays processing contents of the printer 102 and warning contents to the user.
[0022]
<Configuration of Printer 102>
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of the tandem-type printer 102.
[0023]
In the figure, reference numeral 201 denotes a printer housing. Reference numeral 202 denotes an operation panel on which a switch for giving various instructions by a user, an LED display, an LCD display, and the like for displaying messages, printer settings, and the like are arranged. This is one embodiment. Reference numeral 203 denotes a board accommodating unit, which accommodates a board constituting an electronic circuit portion of the video controller 103 and the printer engine 105.
[0024]
Reference numeral 220 denotes a paper cassette that holds the paper (recording medium) S, and has a mechanism for electrically detecting the paper size using a partition plate (not shown). Reference numeral 221 denotes a cassette clutch, which takes out the uppermost one of the sheets S placed on the sheet cassette 220 and feeds the taken out sheet S by a driving force transmitted from a driving unit (not shown). It has a cam to transport to. This cam rotates intermittently each time paper is fed, and feeds one sheet of paper S corresponding to one rotation. A sheet detection sensor 223 detects the amount of the sheet S held in the sheet cassette 220.
[0025]
The paper feed roller 222 is a roller that conveys the leading end of the paper S to the registration shutter 224. Reference numeral 224 denotes a registration shutter, which can stop paper feeding by pressing the paper S.
[0026]
Reference numeral 230 denotes a manual feed tray, and reference numeral 231 denotes a manual paper feed clutch. The manual paper feed clutch 231 is used to transport the leading edge of the paper S to the manual paper feed roller 232, and the manual paper feed roller 232 is used to transport the leading edge of the paper S to the registration shutter 224. The sheet S to be used for image recording is fed by selecting one of the sheet feeding units of the sheet cassette 220 and the manual feed tray 230.
[0027]
The printer engine 105 communicates with the video controller 103 according to a predetermined communication protocol, selects one of the paper feeding means from the paper cassette 220 and the manual feed tray 230 in accordance with an instruction from the video controller 103, and responds to an instruction to start printing. Then, the sheet S is transported from the corresponding sheet feeding means to the registration shutter 224. The printer engine 105 includes a paper feeding unit, a mechanism related to an electrophotographic process such as formation, transfer, and fixing of a latent image, a paper discharging unit, and a control unit therefor.
[0028]
Reference numerals 204a, 204b, 204c, and 204d denote image recording units having photosensitive drums 205a, 205b, 205c, and 205d, a toner holding unit, and the like, and form a toner image on the sheet S by an electrophotographic process. On the other hand, reference numerals 206a, 206b, 206c, and 206d denote laser scanner units, which supply image information by a laser beam to an image recording unit.
[0029]
In the image recording units 204a, 204b, 204c, and 204d, a paper transport belt 250 that transports the paper S is stretched flat by a plurality of rotating rollers 251 to 254 in the paper transport direction (upward from the bottom in the figure). In the most upstream portion, the paper is electrostatically attracted to the paper transport belt 250 by the attracting roller 225 to which the bias is applied. Also, four photosensitive drums 205a, 205b, 205c, 205d are arranged linearly in opposition to the belt conveying surface, and constitute an image forming means. In each of the image recording units 204a, 204b, 204c, and 204d, a charger and a developing device are arranged so as to sequentially surround the periphery of the photosensitive drum.
[0030]
In the laser scanner units 206a, 206b, 206c, and 206d, reference numerals 207a, 207b, 207c, and 207d denote laser units, which drive a built-in semiconductor laser according to an image signal (/ VIDEO signal) sent from the video controller 103. And emits a laser beam. The laser beams emitted from the laser units 207a, 207b, 207c, 207d are scanned by polygon mirrors (rotating polygon mirrors) 208a, 208b, 208c, 208d to form latent images on the photosensitive drums 205a, 205b, 205c, 205d. I do.
[0031]
Reference numeral 260 denotes a fixing unit that thermally fixes the toner image formed on the sheet S by the image recording units 204a, 204b, 204c, and 204d onto the recording sheet S. A transport roller 261 discharges and transports the sheet S. A paper discharge sensor 262 detects the paper discharge state of the paper S. Reference numeral 263 denotes a paper discharge roller and a conveyance path switching roller for double-sided printing, which conveys the paper S in the paper discharge direction, and discharges the paper S to the paper discharge tray 264 as it is when the conveyance instruction of the paper S is paper discharge. In the case of double-sided conveyance, the sheet S is conveyed to the conveyance path 270 for double-sided printing by switching the rotation direction to the opposite direction immediately after the rear end of the sheet S passes the sheet ejection sensor 262 and performing switchback. Reference numeral 265 denotes a discharged paper stacking amount detection sensor which detects the stacked amount of the paper S stacked on the discharge tray 264.
[0032]
Reference numeral 270 denotes a conveyance path for double-sided printing. The sheet S conveyed for double-sided printing by the discharge roller / double-sided printing conveyance path switching roller 263 is conveyed again to the registration shutter 224 by the double-sided conveyance rollers 271 to 274. It waits for a transfer instruction to the image recording units 204a, 204b, 204c, 204d.
The printer 102 can be further provided with optional units such as an optional cassette and an envelope feeder.
[0033]
<Configuration Example of Printer Engine 105>
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a video interface connecting the video controller 103 and the printer engine 105 and the printer engine 105.
[0034]
In the figure, a video controller 103 controls communication with a plurality of data processing apparatuses 101 (including reception of image information), generation (development) of raster data based on the received image information, and control of a printer engine 105.
[0035]
The engine control unit 150 controls the units 151 to 158 in the printer engine 105 based on a control signal supplied from the video controller 103.
[0036]
An outline of the units 151 to 158 will be described. A sheet size detection unit 151 detects the size of sheets placed in the sheet cassette 220 and other optional cassettes (not shown) and notifies the engine control unit 150 of the size. Reference numeral 152 denotes a paper feed port detection unit that detects the presence or absence of a paper feed port in each of the paper cassette 220, the manual feed tray 231, an optional cassette (not shown), and an envelope feeder (not shown), and notifies the engine control unit 150. , 153 are an option checking unit for checking the connection status of options such as an optional cassette, an envelope feeder, etc., 154 is a conveyance control unit for controlling paper conveyance, and 155 is polygon mirrors 208a, 208b, 208c, An optical system such as a drive motor 208d and laser units 207a, 207b, 207c, 207d An optical system controller 156 controls the temperature of the fixing device 260 and also detects an abnormality in the fixing device 260. A fixing temperature controller 157 controls options such as an optional cassette and an envelope feeder. An optional control unit 158 is a sensor for detecting a change (circumstance change) in the environment such as the presence / absence of paper in the conveyance path such as registration, discharge, double-sided, and reversal, the outside air temperature, the number of printed pages, and the remaining amount of toner. Department.
[0037]
Next, an outline of signals constituting a video interface for connecting the video controller 103 and the engine control unit 150 will be described.
[0038]
170 is a / CPRDY signal indicating that the video controller 103 can communicate with the engine controller 150, 171 is a / PPRDY signal indicating that the engine controller 150 can communicate with the video controller 103, 172 is a / RDY signal indicating that the engine control unit 150 is in a printable state, 173 is a / PRNT signal for the video controller 103 to issue a print request to the engine control unit 150, and 174 is an engine control unit The / TOP signal 176 output as a vertical synchronization signal from the video controller 103 to the video controller 103 is a / BD signal output as a horizontal synchronization signal from the engine controller 150 to the video controller 103, and the output signal 178 is used for serial communication. / SCLK signal as synchronous clock signal, 1 9 is a / CMD signal as a command signal for the video controller 103 to transmit a command to the engine control unit 150, 180 is a / CBSY signal as a strobe signal for transmitting the command, and 181 is a video controller. An / STS signal for returning a response (including the status inside the printer engine 105) to the command transmitted from the printer 103, an / SBSY signal as a strobe signal for returning a response such as a status, and 183, This is a / VIDEO signal as raster data.
[0039]
Reference numeral 177 denotes a state in which the status of the printer engine 105 is not directly related to the / RDY signal, that is, a state change not directly related to the printability (for example, the air temperature, the number of printed pages, the remaining amount of toner, etc. / CCRT signal which becomes “TRUE” when the value exceeds
[0040]
<Configuration Example of Video Controller 103>
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the video controller 103.
[0041]
In the figure, reference numeral 301 denotes a panel interface unit for performing data communication with the panel unit 104. The CPU 309 can confirm the contents set and instructed by the user on the panel unit 104 via the panel interface unit 301. Reference numeral 302 denotes a host interface unit for bidirectional communication connection with the data processing apparatus 101 such as a host computer via a network. Reference numeral 306 denotes an engine interface unit for communication connection with the printer engine 105. The CPU 309 controls the signals 170, 173, 175, 178, 179, and 180 via the engine interface unit 306, and controls the state of the signals 171, 172, 174, 176, 177, 181 and 182, that is, the state of the printer engine 105. The state can be recognized.
[0042]
An image data generation unit 303 generates (rasterizes) raster data to be supplied to the printer engine 105 based on the image information supplied from the data processing device 101. An image memory 305 temporarily stores the generated raster data. A CPU 309 controls a device connected to the CPU bus 320 based on a control program code stored in the ROM 304. Reference numeral 307 denotes a RAM serving as a temporary storage memory used by the CPU 309, and is configured so that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an unillustrated expansion port. The RAM 307 is used as a drawing object storage unit 402 for storing drawing objects, a work memory temporarily used by a control program stored in the ROM 304, a disk access buffer for speeding up access to the hard disk 311 and the like. A non-volatile memory 310 stores control information such as a density correction table. A DMA control unit 308 transfers raster data in the image memory 305 to the engine interface unit 306 according to an instruction from the CPU 309.
[0043]
The hard disk 311 is a large-capacity storage medium that can store various data such as print data received by the host I / F unit 302 and raster data generated by rasterization by the image data generation unit 303.
[0044]
320 is a CPU bus including an address, data, and control bus. The panel interface unit 301, the host interface unit 302, the image data generating unit 303, the ROM 304, the image memory 305, the engine interface unit 306, the RAM 307, the DMA control unit 308, the CPU 309, the EEPROM 310, and the hard disk 311 are connected to the CPU bus 320, respectively. All devices are accessible.
[0045]
<Configuration of print job>
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a print job output from the data processing apparatus 101 to the printer 102.
[0046]
In the figure, a print job 501 is roughly divided into a job attribute 502 and PDL data 503. The job attributes 502 include various attributes (parameters) necessary for processing the print job. That is, the job mode 511 indicates the processing mode, and “print” indicates that the print job is to be correctly printed. If the print job is to be saved after printing, “print-store”; if only the save is performed, “store”; if the saved job is read out and printed, “load-print”; When the same job is repeatedly read for the number of copies and printed, and the saved job is deleted after the printing is completed, “store-print” or the like is used. Here, these are not character strings but predetermined codes (for example, “print” is a 4-byte 0 = 0x00000000, “print-store” is 0x00000001, “store” is 0x00000002, and “load-print” is 0x00000004. , “Store-print” is represented by 0x00000008 or the like. Subsequently, 512 is the total size (number of bytes) of the job attribute, 514 is the job name (variable size), and 513 is the byte size of the job name. Here, the job name size is configured to be a multiple of 4 bytes, and the fraction of the job name 514 is padded with 0 (“￥ 0” in the figure indicates 1 byte of 0). I have.
[0047]
The job attribute 502 further includes various parameters (gradation 516, resolution 517, number of copies 518, finishing mode 519, printing surface 520, color mode 521, closing direction / width 522, plural Page print mode = so-called N-Up 523), information 525 of the user who has output the print job, and its byte size 526. In the drawing, "2/1" if the N-Up designation is a 2-page print designation, "4/1" if the N-Up designation is a 4-page print designation, and "1/1" if the normal print (no multiple-page print designation). ". It is also assumed that the user information 525 is an e-mail address (used for print history and the like).
[0048]
The subsequent PDL data 503 includes a packet identifier “send_PDL” 551 indicating that the subsequent block is PDL data, a PDL data size 552, and a group of instructions in PDL format. Here, the command group starts with a PDL job start command 553, and includes common environmental parameters 556, form data 557, and drawing commands grouped in page units by a discharge command, such as designation of print resolution and size unit. 558 to 560 continue, and the process ends with a PDL job end command 561. Note that parameters that can be changed in page units, such as paper size and paper type, are specified at the top of each page each time they are changed.
[0049]
<Flow of Print Data in Printer 102>
Next, with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9, it will be described below whether print data received from the data processing apparatus 101 is processed in accordance with the job processing mode 511 and the print data flows in the printer 102. explain.
[0050]
I. Print data flow in print processing mode
FIG. 6 is a data flow diagram showing the flow of print data in a normal print processing mode.
[0051]
In the figure, print data transmitted from the data processing apparatus 101 is received by the host I / F unit 302 in the printer 102, and is temporarily stored in the reception buffer 401 of the host I / F unit 302 (F101). ).
[0052]
The print data stored in the reception buffer 401 is read and interpreted according to an instruction from the CPU 309, and is assigned to the RAM 307 as a drawing object (a display list in an intermediate format that can be developed into an image). (F102).
[0053]
When at least one page of drawing objects is stored in the drawing object storage unit 402, the CPU 309 activates the image data generation unit 303. The activated image data generation unit 303 refers to the drawing object stored in the drawing object storage unit 402, develops the raster data, and stores the raster data in the image memory 305 (F103).
[0054]
When at least one page of raster data is stored in the image memory 305, the CPU 309 activates the DMA control unit 308. The started DMA control unit 308 transfers the raster data to the image transmission buffer 403 of the engine I / F unit 306 (F104).
[0055]
When the printer engine 105 is in a printable state, the CPU 309 sends the image data stored in the image transmission buffer to the printer engine 105 at a predetermined timing.
[0056]
II. Print data flow in store processing mode
FIG. 7 is a data flow diagram showing the flow of print data in the store processing mode.
[0057]
In the figure, print data transmitted from the data processing apparatus 101 is received by the host I / F unit 302 in the printer 102, and is temporarily stored in the reception buffer 401 of the host I / F unit 302 (F201). ).
[0058]
The print data stored in the reception buffer 401 is read and interpreted according to an instruction from the CPU 309, and is assigned to the RAM 307 as a drawing object (a display list in an intermediate format that can be developed into an image). (F202).
[0059]
When at least one page of drawing objects is stored in the drawing object storage unit 402, the CPU 309 activates the image data generation unit 303. The activated image data generator 303 develops raster data with reference to the drawing objects stored in the drawing object storage 402 and stores the raster data in the image memory 305 (F203).
[0060]
When at least one page of raster data is stored in the image memory 305, the CPU 309 stores the raster data on the hard disk 311 (F204).
[0061]
In F204, it is needless to say that the data stored in the hard disk 311 is not only raster data, but also data such as parameters in page units and job units necessary for a series of printing processes is similarly stored as storage job data. When the print processing is performed by reading from the hard disk 311, the print processing is performed in accordance with the parameters.
[0062]
III. Print data flow in load print processing mode
FIG. 8 is a data flow diagram showing the flow of print data in the load print processing mode.
[0063]
In FIG. 9, when the CPU 309 issues a load print processing instruction to the stored job data 404 stored in the hard disk 311, the raster data making up the stored job data 404 is read and stored in the image memory 305. Is performed (F301).
[0064]
When at least one page of raster data is stored in the image memory 305, the CPU 309 activates the DMA control unit 308. The started DMA control unit 308 transfers the raster data to the image transmission buffer 403 of the engine I / F unit 306 (F302).
[0065]
When the printer engine 105 is in a printable state, the CPU 309 sends the image data stored in the image transmission buffer to the printer engine 105 at a predetermined timing.
[0066]
IV. Print data flow in temporary store print processing mode
FIG. 9 is a data flow diagram showing the flow of print data in the temporary store print processing mode.
[0067]
In the figure, print data transmitted from the data processing apparatus 101 is received by the host I / F unit 302 in the printer 102, and is temporarily stored in the reception buffer 401 of the host I / F unit 302 (F401). ).
[0068]
The print data stored in the reception buffer 401 is read and interpreted according to an instruction from the CPU 309, and is assigned to the RAM 307 as a drawing object (a display list in an intermediate format that can be developed into an image). (F402).
[0069]
When at least one page of drawing objects is stored in the drawing object storage unit 402, the CPU 309 activates the image data generation unit 303. The activated image data generation unit 303 develops raster data by referring to the drawing objects stored in the drawing object storage unit 402 and stores the raster data in the image memory 305 (F403).
[0070]
When at least one page of raster data is stored in the image memory 305, the CPU 309 stores the raster data on the hard disk 311 (F404).
[0071]
When the data saving processing of all pages constituting the print job is completed, the CPU 309 starts the reading processing of the saved job data 404 stored in the hard disk 311 and reads the raster data constituting the saved job data 404. The image is stored in the image memory 305 (F405).
[0072]
When at least one page of raster data is stored in the image memory 305, the CPU 309 activates the DMA control unit 308. The started DMA control unit 308 transfers the raster data to the image transmission buffer 403 of the engine I / F unit 306 (F406).
[0073]
When the printer engine 105 is in a printable state, the CPU 309 sends the image data stored in the image transmission buffer to the printer engine 105 at a predetermined timing.
[0074]
If the print job specifies a plurality of copies, the processes of F405 and F406 are repeated for the same page by the number of copies.
[0075]
Note that the data flow in the temporary store print processing mode is not limited to the above, and the first part is the processing in the normal print processing mode shown in FIG. 6 and the processing for saving from the image memory 305 to the hard disk 311. The control means may be such that the processing is performed in a page unit in parallel, and the second and subsequent copies are processed in the load print processing mode shown in FIG.
[0076]
Further, the control unit may start the load printing process if the data saving process is completed for each page even if the data saving process is not performed for all the pages constituting the print job in F404.
[0077]
<Process when abnormality occurs in printer engine 105>
Next, a processing procedure for prioritizing a job of a store instruction to the hard disk 311 when an abnormality occurs in the printer engine 105 will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 10, 11, and 12.
[0078]
I. Decision of store instruction job priority processing
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure for determining whether to give priority to processing of a job instructing a store when an abnormality occurs in the printer engine 105.
[0079]
In the figure, the CPU 309 determines whether an abnormality has occurred in the printer engine 105 in the task of monitoring the printer engine 105 (S101). The abnormalities in the printer engine 105 include, for example, no paper, a paper jam, a failure, and a running out of toner.
[0080]
In step S101, if no abnormality has occurred, the process of step S101 is repeated every predetermined time, and if an abnormality has occurred, the process continues to step S102.
[0081]
In step S102, a print (image output) process cannot be performed due to the occurrence of an abnormality in the printer engine 105. Therefore, a notification for activating the store instruction job priority processing task is performed so that the store process is preferentially performed. Do. The processing content performed in the store instruction job priority processing task will be described later in the description of FIG.
[0082]
When the store instruction job priority notification is performed in step S102, it is determined whether the abnormality of the printer engine 105 has been cleared (step S103).
[0083]
In step S103, if the abnormality is not cleared, the process of step S103 is repeated every predetermined time, and if the abnormality is cleared, the process continues to step S104.
[0084]
In step S104, a print (image output) process is enabled by the release of the abnormality of the printer engine 105, and a notification for activating the store instruction job priority release process task is performed so as to return to the normal process. The processing content performed in the store instruction job priority release processing task will be described later in the description of FIG.
[0085]
After the store instruction job priority release notification is made in step S104, the process returns to step S101, and the process of determining whether an abnormality has occurred in the printer engine 105 is repeated.
[0086]
II. Processing procedure of store instruction job priority processing
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a store instruction job priority processing task that is started when an error occurs in the printer engine 105.
[0087]
In the figure, the store instruction job priority processing task first determines whether there is a job being printed (step S201).
[0088]
In step S201, if there is no print job, the process proceeds to step S203. If there is a print job, the process proceeds to step S202.
[0089]
In step S202, the state of the job being printed which has been interrupted due to an engine error (for example, how many pages have been printed, etc.) is stored, and if the information can be restored, it is temporarily deleted, and Temporarily save the job inside. After the temporary saving process for the job being printed is completed, the process continues to step S203.
[0090]
In step S203, it is determined whether or not a store instruction job priority release notification has been received from the printer engine 105 monitoring task described above with reference to FIG. Here, if there is a store-instruction job priority release notification, the process of the store-instruction job priority processing task ends, and if there is no store-instruction job priority release notification, the process proceeds to step S204. When the processing of the store instruction job priority processing task is completed, the processing of the store instruction job priority release processing task is started by activation from the printer engine 105 monitoring task. The saved job is restarted in the processing of the store instruction job priority release processing task.
[0091]
In step S <b> 204, it is determined whether an unprocessed job in the job queue of the printer 102 includes a job with a store instruction. If there is no store instruction job, the process returns to the determination process of step S203. If there is a store instruction job, the process continues to step S205.
[0092]
In step S205, according to the job order of the job queue of the printer 102, if there is a store-instructed job among the unprocessed jobs, the processing of the job is prioritized, and the drawing object generation processing and the image development processing are performed. The store processing to 311 is performed.
[0093]
In step S205, when the storing process of one priority job is completed, the process returns to step S203, and the same process is repeated until the abnormality of the engine is eliminated.
[0094]
As described above, even when the printer engine 105 is in an abnormal state, by giving priority to the processing of the store instruction job, the time required to process the store instruction job after the abnormality is cleared can be reduced, and the new job is received. Processing of the print job can be started earlier.
[0095]
III. Processing procedure of store instruction job priority release processing
FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a store instruction job priority release processing task started when the abnormality of the printer engine 105 is released.
[0096]
In the drawing, the store-instruction job priority release processing task determines whether or not there is a printing job temporarily saved in the store-instruction job priority processing task (step S301).
[0097]
In step S301, if there is no temporarily saved print job, the process proceeds to step S303. If there is a temporarily saved print job, the process proceeds to step S302.
[0098]
In step S302, the temporarily saved print job is restored to the state at the time of interruption, and printing (image output) processing is restarted. After the printing (image output) process of the temporarily saved print job is restarted, the process continues to step S303.
[0099]
In step S303, it is determined whether there is a store instruction job priority notification from the printer engine 105 monitoring task described above with reference to FIG. Here, if there is a store instruction job priority notification, the processing of the store instruction job priority release processing task is ended, and if there is no store instruction job priority notification, the process proceeds to step S304. When the processing of the store instruction job priority release processing task is completed, the processing of the store instruction job priority release processing task is started by activation from the printer engine 105 monitoring task.
[0100]
In step S304, it is determined whether there is an unprocessed job in the job queue of the printer 102. If there is no unprocessed job, the process returns to the determination process in step S303. If there is an unprocessed job, the process continues to step S305.
[0101]
In step S305, according to the job order of the job queue of the printer 102, the job mode is set according to the job mode, such as a print process for a print instruction job, a store process for a store instruction, and a load print process for a load print process. Predetermined processing is performed.
[0102]
When the processing of one job is completed in step S305, the process returns to step S303, and the same processing is repeated until an abnormality occurs in the engine.
[0103]
If the job in the process of being stored by the store instruction job priority notification has not completely completed the processing at the time of the store instruction job priority release notification, the job is forcibly terminated as a store process temporary save job holding the processing state, The print job temporarily saved by the store instruction job priority notification may be resumed, or the store instruction job that was being processed may be completely terminated, and then the temporarily saved print job may be resumed. Is also good.
[0104]
IV. Specific example of store instruction job priority processing
Next, with reference to the block diagrams of FIGS. 13 and 14, a description will be given below of how a store instruction job is processed with priority when an abnormality occurs in the printer engine 105.
[0105]
FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating an example of registration in the job queue, and illustrates an example in which a job to be processed by the printer 102 is registered in the job queue.
[0106]
In the figure, in a job queue 1101, a job A 1102, a job B 1103, a job C 1104, a job D 1105, and a job E 1106 are registered as jobs to be processed. The job mode of each job is set as follows, and each job is in the following processing state.
[0107]
The job mode of the job A 1102 is “print” (print instruction), and the job A 1102 is in a print processing state. The job B 1103 has the job mode “print” (print instruction) and is in an unprocessed state. The job C 1104 has the job mode “print” (print instruction) and is in an unprocessed state. The job D 1105 has a job mode of “store” (store instruction) and is in an unprocessed state. The job E 1106 has a job mode of “store” (store instruction) and is in an unprocessed state.
[0108]
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of registration in the job queue, and shows that a store instruction job is preferentially processed with respect to FIG. 13 by a store instruction job priority notification.
[0109]
The job queue 1201 in FIG. 14 is obtained by changing the processing priority of the job in the job queue from the state of the job queue 1101 in FIG. 13 by the store instruction job priority notification. Accordingly, job A 1102, job B 1103, job C 1104, job D 1105, and job E 1106 correspond to job A 1202, job B 1203, job C 1204, job D 1205, and job E 1206, respectively. .
[0110]
In the above, jobs A and D have a change in the processing state of the job. The job A is temporarily saved by the store instruction job priority process, and has been changed from the state of the printing process in FIG. 13 to the state of the saving in FIG. This is because printing (image output) processing cannot be performed due to an engine abnormality, and the store processing of a subsequent job is prioritized. Further, the job D is changed from the unprocessed state in FIG. 13 to the storing state in FIG. 14 by giving priority to the processing by the store instruction job priority processing. This is because the store processing has priority and is the first job to be stored among the jobs registered in the job queue.
[0111]
As described above, in the present embodiment, when an error occurs in the printer engine 105 and image output cannot be performed, processing is not interrupted and processing is performed. Is processed with priority, after the printer engine 105 recovers from an error, the total processing time of the job can be reduced by the amount processed during the occurrence of the error.
[0112]
[Second embodiment]
In the first embodiment, when an error occurs in the printer engine 105, of the plurality of jobs to be processed by the printer, only the succeeding job whose job mode specified by the user is the store instruction is given priority. However, in the second embodiment, a subsequent job in which the job mode specified by the user is a print instruction will be described.
[0113]
In the case of a print instruction job, an image cannot be output if an error has occurred in the printer engine 105. However, the print instruction job is transferred to the hard disk 311 after image development processing according to FIG. 7 of the first embodiment. A job for performing a store process, a job for reading (loading) image information stored in the hard disk 311 from the hard disk 311 according to FIG. If the stored image information (job information) is divided into a job to be deleted and a job to be deleted, even if an abnormality occurs in the printer engine 105, the job of the store process can be executed.
[0114]
Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16.
[0115]
<Process when abnormality occurs in printer engine 105>
I. Processing procedure for store instruction job priority processing
FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a store instruction job priority processing task that is started when an error occurs in the printer engine 105, and is a modification of FIG. 11 in the first embodiment.
[0116]
In the figure, the store instruction job priority processing task first determines whether there is a job being printed (step S401).
[0117]
In step S401, if there is no print job, the process proceeds to step S403. If there is a print job, the process proceeds to step S402.
[0118]
In step S402, the state of the job being printed which has been interrupted due to an engine abnormality (for example, how many pages have been printed) is stored, and if the information is restorable, it is temporarily deleted and the printing is performed. Temporarily save the job inside. After the temporary saving process for the job being printed is completed, the process continues to step S403.
[0119]
In step S403, it is determined whether there is a store instruction job priority release notification from the printer engine 105 monitoring task described above with reference to FIG. 10 of the first embodiment. Here, if there is a store-instruction job priority release notification, the process of the store-instruction job priority processing task is ended. If there is no store-instruction job priority release notification, the process proceeds to step S404. When the processing of the store instruction job priority processing task is completed, the processing of the store instruction job priority release processing task is started by activation from the printer engine 105 monitoring task. The saved job is restarted in the processing of the store instruction job priority release processing task.
[0120]
In step S404, if there is a job having a storable element, the job is divided into element processing units. For example, according to FIG. 7 of the first embodiment, the job of the print instruction is a job for storing the print data in the hard disk 311 after the print data interpretation process and the image expansion process, and the print job is stored in the hard disk 311 according to FIG. The stored image information is read out (loaded) from the hard disk 311 and divided into a print (image output) processing job and a job for deleting the image information (job information) stored in the hard disk 311. it can. The division processing in step S404 may be performed on a job having the first storable element in the processing order of unprocessed jobs. If there is no job to be divided or the division processing is completed, the processing proceeds to step S405. Continue.
[0121]
In step S <b> 405, it is determined whether or not an unprocessed job in the job queue of the printer 102 includes a job with a store instruction (including a job that is divided and becomes a job with a store instruction). If there is no store instruction job, the process returns to the determination process of step S403. If there is a store instruction job, the process continues to step S405.
[0122]
In step S406, according to the job order of the job queue of the printer 102, if there is a store-instructed job among the unprocessed jobs, the processing of the job is prioritized, and the drawing object generation processing and the image development processing are performed. The store processing to 311 is performed.
[0123]
In step S406, when the storing process of one priority job is completed, the process returns to step S403, and the same process is repeated until the abnormality of the engine is cleared.
[0124]
II. Specific example of store instruction job priority processing
FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing an example of registration in the job queue, and shows that a store instruction job is preferentially processed with respect to FIG. 13 in the first embodiment by a store instruction job priority notification. .
[0125]
In the job queue 1301 in the figure, the job contents in the job queue and the processing priority of the job are changed from the state of the job queue 1101 in FIG. 13 of the first embodiment by the store instruction job priority notification. Therefore, job A 1102 is divided into job A 1302, job B 1103 is divided into processing elements, and job B1 1303, job B2 1304 and job B3 1305, job C 1104 is job C 1306, and job D 1105 is job D At 1307, job E 1106 corresponds to job E 1308, respectively.
[0126]
In the above, the job A and the job B change in the processing state of the job. Job A is temporarily saved by the store instruction job priority process, and is changed from the status during the printing process in FIG. 13 of the first embodiment to the status during the saving process in FIG. 16. This is because print (image output) processing cannot be performed due to engine abnormality, and processing of a succeeding job that can be stored is prioritized. Further, the job B is a job having the first storable element among the succeeding jobs, and “store” (store processing), “load-print” is performed by the store instruction job priority processing task described above with reference to FIG. "(Load print processing) and" delete "(delete processing). This means that, in the processing of job B1 1303, image development processing and storage processing to the hard disk 311 are performed, and if image output is possible, image information of job B1 1303 stored in the hard disk 311 is read from the hard disk 311 by job B2 1304. (Load) and print (image output) processing, and delete the image information (job information) of the job B1 1303 stored in the hard disk 311 in the job B3 1305. Further, of the divided job B1 1303, job B2 1304, and job B3 1305, the job B1 1303, which is a store instruction job, is given higher priority by the store instruction job priority process, and is not shown in FIG. 13 of the first embodiment. The state of the processing has been changed to the state of the store processing in FIG.
[0127]
As described above, in the present embodiment, even if the job mode instructed by the user is not a job instructing to store, if the job has a storable element, the job is divided into element processing units inside the printer. It can be handled as a target job of the store instruction job priority processing. Therefore, when the printer engine 105 is in an abnormal state, by prioritizing and processing the job of the store instruction including the divided job, it is possible to complete more image development processing and to execute the store instruction after the abnormality is cleared. It is possible to reduce the time required for processing a job, and to start processing a newly received print job earlier.
[0128]
[Third embodiment]
In the first and second embodiments, when an error occurs in the printer engine 105, a job that can be stored among a plurality of jobs to be processed by the printer is preferentially processed. When the printer engine 105 starts an initialization process at the time of power-on or the like, not only when an error occurs in the printer engine 105, but also when the printer engine 105 is a color printer engine 105, the calibration for the printer engine 105 to perform color correction. When the image recording apparatus goes offline, the job that can be stored is given priority when the image recording apparatus goes offline, for example, when the image processing apparatus is started offline or when the operator intentionally goes offline by panel operation. May be switched. In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which the image recording apparatus goes offline.
[0129]
FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for determining whether to give priority to the processing of a storable job when the image recording apparatus goes offline in the third embodiment of the present invention. Is a modification of FIG. 10.
[0130]
In the same figure, the CPU 309 determines whether the printer engine 105 has become in an unprintable state, such as during initialization or calibration, in a task of monitoring the printer engine 105, and has gone offline, or has a panel I / F unit. In 301, it is determined whether or not an offline state according to an instruction from the operator has been detected (step S501).
[0131]
In step S501, if the image recording apparatus 102 is not in the offline state, that is, if the printer engine 105 is in a printable state and the image recording apparatus 102 is in the online state, the process of step S501 is repeated every predetermined time, If the image recording apparatus 102 is off-line, the process proceeds to step S502.
[0132]
In step S502, a notification for activating the store instruction job priority processing task is performed so that the store processing is preferentially performed. The processing content performed in the store instruction job priority processing task has been described in the description of FIG. 11 in the first embodiment or FIG. 15 in the second embodiment.
[0133]
When the store instruction job priority notification is performed in step S502, it is determined whether or not the image recording apparatus 102 is online while the printer engine 105 is in a printable state (step S503).
[0134]
In step S503, the printer engine 105 is not in a printable state or the image recording apparatus 102 is not in an online state. That is, if the image recording apparatus 102 remains offline, the process of step S503 is repeated every predetermined time, and if the image recording apparatus 102 is online while the printer engine 105 is in a printable state, the process proceeds to step S504. Following processing.
[0135]
In step S504, a print (image output) process is enabled, and a notification for activating the store instruction job priority canceling process task is performed so as to return to the normal process. The processing content performed in the store instruction job priority release processing task has been described in the description of FIG. 12 in the first embodiment.
[0136]
After the store instruction job priority release notification is issued in step S504, the process returns to step S501, and the process of determining whether or not the image recording apparatus 102 has gone offline is repeated.
[0137]
In the first embodiment, the second embodiment, and the third embodiment, the case where the job that can be stored is processed with priority is performed when an abnormality occurs in the printer engine 105 or the image recording apparatus is in the offline state. Although the case is limited, the user who uses the image recording apparatus or the administrator of the image recording apparatus may be able to select in which case the job that can be stored is preferentially processed.
[0138]
For example, if the administrator of the image recording apparatus sets the case where a jam occurs due to an abnormality of the printer engine 105 and the case where the printer engine 105 starts calibration as the store instruction job priority processing mode, The recording apparatus activates the store instruction job priority processing task as described above with reference to FIGS. 11 and 15 of the first embodiment and FIG. Will be done.
[0139]
Further, in each of the above embodiments, the storage destination in the store processing is the hard disk 311. However, the storage destination is not limited to the hard disk 311 and may be any medium capable of storing a large amount of information. Any device that can be accessed may be used.
[0140]
The above-described control method can be realized by storing a program according to the flowcharts of FIGS. 10 to 13, 15, and 17 in, for example, the ROM 304 and operating the program.
[0141]
The present invention is not limited to the device of the above-described embodiment, and may be applied to a system including a plurality of devices or an apparatus including one device. A storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium. It goes without saying that it will be completed by doing so.
[0142]
In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the function 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 (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk 311, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, and a ROM are used. be able to. When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS or the like running on the computer performs actual processing based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where some or all of the functions are performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is also included.
[0143]
Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the expansion is performed based on the instruction of the next program code. It goes without saying that a CPU or the like provided in an expansion board or an expansion unit performs processing and performs a part or all of actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.
[0144]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, when the image cannot be output, priority is given to the processing of the print data instructed to be stored in the storage unit among the print data to be processed. Since the processing is performed, the total processing time can be reduced by the amount of the processing performed during the state where the image cannot be output. In other words, even in a state where image output is not possible, for example, by performing print data interpretation processing and image expansion processing, the image output processing is not performed until print image interpretation is performed only when image output is possible. The processing time spent until output can be reduced.
[0145]
Furthermore, even in a state in which image output is not possible, by giving priority to processing of print data instructed to be stored in the storage unit, new print data is received from the data processing device for the processed amount. Therefore, the operation rate of the image recording apparatus can be improved.
[0146]
Further, when it is determined that there is no print data instructing the storage processing in the storage means, the printing processing capable of performing the storage processing in the storage means by performing the interpretation processing of the interpretation means and the development processing of the development means. On the condition that the print data is data, the print data is divided and the process up to the storage process in the storage unit is prioritized, so that there is no print data instructing the storage process in the storage unit. Also, if the print data can be stored in the storage unit, the above-described effects can be obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a system configuration of an image recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a tandem type printer.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a video interface and a printer engine.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a video controller.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a print job.
FIG. 6 is a data flow diagram illustrating a flow of print data in a normal print processing mode.
FIG. 7 is a data flow diagram showing a flow of print data in a store processing mode.
FIG. 8 is a data flow diagram showing a flow of print data in a load print processing mode.
FIG. 9 is a data flow diagram showing a flow of print data in a temporary store print processing mode.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure relating to determination of a store instruction job priority process.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a store instruction job priority processing task.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure relating to a store instruction job priority release processing.
FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating an example of registration in a job queue according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating another example of registration in the job queue according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a store instruction job priority processing task according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating an example of registration in a job queue according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of priority determination when the image recording apparatus according to the third embodiment is in an offline state.
[Explanation of symbols]
101 Data processing device
102 Image recording device
103 Video Controller
104 Panel
105 Printer Engine
150 Engine control unit
151 Paper Size Detector
152 Paper Feed Port Detector
153 Option Research Department
154 Transport control unit
155 Optical system controller
156 Fixing unit temperature controller
157 Option control unit
158 Sensor unit
202 Operation panel
203 Board storage
204a, 204b, 204c, 204d Image recording unit
220 paper cassette
301 Panel I / F
302 Host I / F section
303 Image Data Generation Unit
304 ROM
305 Image memory
306 Engine I / F
307 RAM
308 DMA control unit
309 CPU
310 EEPROM
311 Hard disk
401 Receive buffer
402 Drawing object storage
403 Image transmission buffer
404 Stored job data
501 print job

Claims (21)

In an image recording device that records an image based on print data supplied from a data processing device,
Storage means capable of storing the print data, or image data generated based on the print data,
Output possible state determination means for determining whether the state of the image recording apparatus is a state in which image output is possible,
When the output possible state determination unit determines that the image cannot be output and the storage unit is in a storable state, the print data to be processed by the image recording apparatus is stored in the storage unit. A store priority means for giving priority to the processing of the print data instructed by the processing;
When the output possible state determining unit determines that the image can be output, the process of the store priority unit is interrupted, and a predetermined process is performed according to the reception order of the print data transmitted from the data processing device. An image recording apparatus comprising: a store priority canceling unit for returning a processing order. The store priority means,
A printing determination means for determining whether or not print data being printed exists in the image recording apparatus; and if the printing data determination section determines that print data being printed exists, the printing is performed. Evacuation means for temporarily storing the print data in progress together with information about the printing state in a predetermined area, and instructing the storage means for the subsequent print data to be processed by the image recording apparatus. Store instruction determining means for determining whether print data exists,
When the printing determination unit determines that there is no print data being printed, or when the evacuation unit completes the evacuation process, the storage instruction determination unit instructs storage processing to the storage unit. When it is determined that there is print data to be processed, the processing of the print data is given priority,
The store priority canceling means,
An evacuation determination unit that determines whether or not there is print data saved by the evacuation unit; and Restart means for reading the print data being saved and restarting the process from the state before the save,
When the evacuation determining unit determines that there is no print data being saved or when the resuming unit completes the resuming process, the evacuation determining unit determines the print data according to the reception order of the print data transmitted from the data processing device. 2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing is performed. Interpreting means for interpreting the print data supplied from the data processing device, and expanding means for expanding the data after the interpretation processing by the interpreting means into image data, and recording the image data expanded by the expanding means. In an image recording device,
Storage means for storing the print data, or the image data after the development,
Output possible state determination means for determining whether the state of the image recording apparatus is a state in which image output is possible,
When the output possible state determination unit determines that the image cannot be output and the storage unit can store the image, the interpretation unit interprets the print data to be processed by the image recording apparatus. Processing, store priority means for giving priority to the expansion processing by the expansion means and the storage processing by the storage means,
When it is determined that the image can be output by the output possible state determining unit, the process of the store priority unit is interrupted, and a predetermined process related to image recording is performed in accordance with the reception order of the print data transmitted from the data processing device. An image recording apparatus comprising: a store priority canceling unit for returning a processing order so as to perform the processing. The store priority means,
A printing determination means for determining whether or not print data being printed exists in the image recording apparatus; and if the printing data determination section determines that print data being printed exists, the printing is performed. Evacuation means for temporarily storing the print data in progress together with information about the printing state in a predetermined area, and instructing the storage means for the subsequent print data to be processed by the image recording apparatus. Store instruction determining means for determining whether print data exists,
When the print-in-progress determination unit determines that the print data being printed does not exist, or when the evacuation unit completes the evacuation process, the store instruction determination unit executes the storage process in the storage unit. When it is determined that there is print data to instruct, the processing of the print data is prioritized, and when it is determined that there is no print data to instruct storage processing in the storage means, the interpretation processing of the interpretation means and the On condition that the print data can be stored in the storage unit by performing the expansion process of the expansion unit, the process up to the storage process in the storage unit is performed by dividing the print data into processes. Configured to take precedence,
The store priority canceling means,
An evacuation determination unit that determines whether or not there is print data saved by the evacuation unit; and Restart means for reading the print data being saved and restarting the process from the state before the save,
When the evacuation determining unit determines that there is no print data being saved or when the resuming unit completes the resuming process, the evacuation determining unit determines the print data according to the reception order of the print data transmitted from the data processing device. 4. The image recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the processing is performed. Having a printer engine for recording the image data on a recording medium by electrophotography,
Whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the printer engine is to be determined by the output possible state determining means, and when an abnormality has occurred in the printer engine, the processing is switched to processing by the store priority means, and the abnormality in the printer engine is released. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing is switched to the processing by the store priority canceling unit when the processing is performed. Having a printer engine for recording the image data on a recording medium by electrophotography,
Whether or not the printer engine has entered a calibration execution state for correcting the image quality of a recorded image is determined by the output available state determination unit. 5. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing is switched to the processing by the store priority canceling unit when the printer engine is released from the calibration state. Having a printer engine for recording the image data on a recording medium by electrophotography,
Whether the output state of the printer engine is in the initialized state is determined by the output possible state determination unit, and when the printer engine is in the initialized state, the process is switched to processing by the store priority unit, and the printer engine performs the initialization process. 5. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing is switched to the processing by the store priority canceling unit when the processing is completed. Having a printer engine for recording the image data on a recording medium by electrophotography,
Whether the printer engine is abnormal, whether the printer engine is in a calibration state, or whether the printer engine is in an initialized state is determined by the output possible state determining means, and when an abnormality occurs in the printer engine. When the printer engine is in the calibration state or in the initialization state, the processing is switched to the processing by the store priority means, and when the printer engine is no longer abnormal, the printer engine is not being calibrated. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing is switched to the processing by the store priority canceling unit in the case or when the initialization state is lost. When the image recording apparatus goes offline, the process is switched to processing by the store priority means, and the image recording apparatus is brought online. 5. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the image recording apparatus is ready to output an image, the processing is switched to the processing by the store priority canceling unit. 5. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a determination condition for switching to the processing by the store priority means and the processing by the store priority release means can be set in advance. 11. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit is a mass storage device. A method for controlling an image recording apparatus that records an image based on print data supplied from a data processing apparatus,
A storage unit capable of storing the print data or image data generated based on the print data is provided,
An output possible state determination step of determining whether the state of the image recording apparatus is a state in which an image can be output;
When it is determined by the output possible state determination process that the image cannot be output and the storage unit is in a storable state, the print data to be processed by the image recording apparatus is stored in the storage unit. A store priority process for giving priority to the processing of print data for which processing has been instructed;
When it is determined by the output possible state determination step that the image can be output, the processing of the store priority step is interrupted, and a predetermined process is performed according to the reception order of the print data transmitted from the data processing device. And a store priority canceling step for returning the processing order. The store priority process,
A printing determination step for determining whether or not print data being printed exists in the image recording apparatus; and performing the printing when the printing determination step determines that print data being printed exists. The evacuation process for temporarily storing the print data in the middle together with the information about the printing state and storing the print data in a predetermined area, and instructing the storage means for the subsequent print data to be processed by the image recording apparatus in the storage means. Having a store instruction determining step of determining whether print data exists,
When it is determined that the print data being printed does not exist by the determination process during printing, or when the evacuation process is completed by the evacuation process, the storage instruction determination process instructs the storage unit to perform the storage process. When it is determined that print data to be executed exists, processing of the print data is prioritized,
The store priority cancellation process includes:
The evacuation determination step for determining whether or not there is print data that has been evacuated by the evacuation step, and when the evacuation determination step determines that the print data being evacuated exists, A restart process of reading out the print data being saved and restarting the process from the state before the save,
When the evacuation determination step determines that there is no evacuation print data, or when the resumption process completes the resumption processing, a predetermined process is performed in accordance with the reception order of the print data transmitted from the data processing device. 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the processing is performed. An interpreting process for interpreting the print data supplied from the data processing device, and a developing process for developing the data after the interpreting process in the interpreting process into image data, and recording the image data after the developing in the developing process. A method for controlling an image recording device, comprising:
A storage unit for storing the print data or the image data after the development is provided,
An output possible state determination step of determining whether the state of the image recording apparatus is a state in which an image can be output;
If it is determined by the output possible state determination step that the image cannot be output and the storage unit is capable of storing the image data, the print data to be processed by the image recording apparatus is interpreted by the interpretation step. Processing, a store priority process for giving priority to the expansion process by the expansion process and the storage process by the storage means,
When it is determined by the output possible state determination process that the image can be output, the process of the store priority process is interrupted, and a predetermined process related to image recording is performed in accordance with the reception order of the print data transmitted from the data processing device. And a store priority canceling step of returning the processing order so as to be performed. The store priority process,
A printing determination step for determining whether or not print data being printed exists in the image recording apparatus; and performing the printing when the printing determination step determines that print data being printed exists. The evacuation process for temporarily storing the print data in the middle together with the information about the printing state and storing the print data in a predetermined area, and instructing the storage means for the subsequent print data to be processed by the image recording apparatus in the storage means. Having a store instruction determining step of determining whether print data exists,
When it is determined that the print data being printed does not exist in the printing determination step, or when the evacuation processing is completed in the evacuation step, the storage processing to the storage unit is performed by the store instruction determination step. When it is determined that there is print data to be instructed, the processing of the print data is prioritized, and when it is determined that there is no print data to instruct storage processing in the storage unit, the interpretation process of the interpretation step and the On condition that the print data can be stored in the storage unit by performing the expansion process of the expansion process, the print data is divided into processes and the processes up to the storage process in the storage unit are performed. Priority,
The store priority cancellation process includes:
The evacuation determination step for determining whether or not there is print data that has been evacuated by the evacuation step, and when the evacuation determination step determines that the print data being evacuated exists, A restart process of reading out the print data being saved and restarting the process from the state before the save,
When the evacuation determination step determines that there is no evacuation print data, or when the resumption process completes the resumption processing, a predetermined process is performed in accordance with the reception order of the print data transmitted from the data processing device. The method according to claim 14, wherein the processing is performed. A storage unit capable of storing print data or image data generated based on the print data is provided, and a control method of an image recording apparatus that records an image based on the print data supplied from a data processing device is executed. Medium for providing a control program for
The control program includes:
An output possible state determining step of determining whether the state of the image recording apparatus is a state in which an image can be output,
When it is determined in the output possible state determination step that the image cannot be output and the storage unit is in a storable state, the storage unit stores the print data to be processed by the image recording apparatus in the storage unit. A store priority step for giving priority to the processing of the print data whose processing has been instructed;
When it is determined that the image can be output by the output possible state determination step, the processing of the store priority step is interrupted, and a predetermined processing is performed according to a reception order of the print data transmitted from the data processing apparatus. And a storage priority canceling step for returning a processing order. The store priority step includes:
A printing determination step for determining whether or not print data being printed exists in the image recording apparatus; and if the printing determination step determines that print data being printed exists, the printing is performed. A save step of temporarily storing the print data in progress together with information about the print state in a predetermined area, and instructing the subsequent print data to be processed by the image recording apparatus to perform storage processing in the storage unit. A store instruction determining step of determining whether print data exists,
When the print-in-progress determination step determines that print data being printed does not exist, or when the evacuation step completes the evacuation processing, the storage instruction determination step instructs storage processing to the storage means. When it is determined that print data to be executed exists, processing of the print data is prioritized,
The store priority canceling step includes:
The evacuation determination step of determining whether there is print data saved by the evacuation step, and the evacuation determination step determines that the evacuation print data exists. Resuming the print data being saved and restarting the process from the state before the save,
When the evacuation determination step determines that there is no evacuation print data or when the resumption step completes the resumption processing, a predetermined order is determined according to the reception order of the print data transmitted from the data processing device. 17. A medium for providing a control program according to claim 16, wherein: Interpreting means for interpreting the print data supplied from the data processing device, expanding means for expanding data interpreted by the interpreting means into image data, and storage for storing the print data or the expanded image data Means for providing a control program for executing a control method of an image recording apparatus for recording image data after expansion by the expansion means,
The control program includes:
An output possible state determining step of determining whether the state of the image recording apparatus is a state in which an image can be output,
If it is determined in the output possible state determination step that the image cannot be output and the storage unit can store the image, the interpretation unit interprets the print data to be processed by the image recording apparatus. Processing, a store priority step of giving priority to the expansion processing by the expansion means and the storage processing by the storage means,
When it is determined by the output possible state determining step that the image can be output, the process of the store priority step is interrupted, and a predetermined process related to image recording is performed in accordance with the reception order of the print data transmitted from the data processing device. A storage priority canceling step of returning a processing order so as to perform the same. The store priority step includes:
A printing determination step for determining whether or not print data being printed exists in the image recording apparatus; and if the printing determination step determines that print data being printed exists, the printing is performed. A save step of temporarily storing the print data in progress together with information about the print state in a predetermined area, and instructing the subsequent print data to be processed by the image recording apparatus to perform storage processing in the storage unit. A store instruction determining step of determining whether print data exists,
When it is determined that the print data being printed does not exist in the printing determination step, or when the saving process is completed in the saving step, the storing process to the storage unit is performed by the store instruction determining step. When it is determined that there is print data to instruct, the processing of the print data is prioritized, and when it is determined that there is no print data to instruct storage processing in the storage means, the interpretation processing of the interpretation means and the On condition that the print data can be stored in the storage unit by performing the expansion process of the expansion unit, the process up to the storage process in the storage unit is performed by dividing the print data into processes. Priority,
The store priority canceling step includes:
The evacuation determination step of determining whether there is print data saved by the evacuation step, and the evacuation determination step determines that the evacuation print data exists. Resuming the print data being saved and restarting the process from the state before the save,
When the evacuation determination step determines that there is no evacuation print data or when the resumption step completes the resumption processing, a predetermined order is determined according to the reception order of the print data transmitted from the data processing device. 19. The medium for providing a control program according to claim 18, wherein the processing is performed. A control program for executing a control method of an image recording apparatus that has storage means for storing print data supplied from a data processing apparatus or image data generated based on the print data, and which records the image data And
An output possible state determining step of determining whether the state of the image recording apparatus is a state in which an image can be output,
When it is determined in the output possible state determination step that the image cannot be output and the storage unit is in a storable state, the print data to be processed by the image recording apparatus is stored in the storage unit. A store priority step for giving priority to the processing of the print data whose processing has been instructed;
When it is determined that the image can be output by the output possible state determination step, the processing of the store priority step is interrupted, and a predetermined process is performed according to the reception order of the print data transmitted from the data processing device. A store priority canceling step for returning a processing order. Interpretation means for interpreting the print data supplied from the data processing device, expansion means for expanding the data after the interpretation processing by the interpretation means into image data, and storage means capable of storing the image data after expansion. A control program for executing a control method of an image recording apparatus that records image data after expansion by the expansion unit,
An output possible state determining step of determining whether the state of the image recording apparatus is a state in which an image can be output,
If it is determined in the output possible state determining step that the image cannot be output and the storage unit is in a storable state, the interpreting unit interprets the print data to be processed by the image recording apparatus. Processing, a store priority step of giving priority to the expansion processing by the expansion means and the storage processing by the storage means,
When it is determined by the output possible state determining step that the image can be output, the process of the store priority step is interrupted, and a predetermined process related to image recording is performed in accordance with the reception order of the print data transmitted from the data processing device. A store priority canceling step of returning a processing order so as to be performed.

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