JP2011194851A - Image processor, image forming system, and image processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor, image forming system and image processing program, in which standby time of an image forming apparatus can be shortened when time required for image processing is longer than output time required for outputting an image.SOLUTION: The image processor includes: a first processing time calculation part 32a that calculates a first processing time required for image processing based on an inputted first printing job; a second processing time calculation part 32b that calculates a second processing time required for image processing based on a second printing job, when a first output time based on the first printing job is longer than the first processing time and when the second printing job following the first printing job is inputted; and an execution control part 32c that makes DRP to be unused carry out image processing based on the second printing job, when the second output time based on the second printing job is equal to or shorter than the second processing time, and when there is DRP to be unused in the first printing job.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image forming system, and an image processing program.

  In the image forming apparatus, for example, an image forming apparatus including a photoconductor, an exposure device, a charging device, a transfer device, and the like is mounted. Since the image forming apparatus forms an image through the above-described configuration using the image information subjected to the image processing, a certain output time is required.

  When a print job is continuously input to the image processing apparatus, the image processing apparatus completes image processing based on the previous print job, and then completes image processing based on the subsequent print job. The image forming apparatus outputs each piece of image information on which image processing has been performed. However, for example, when the output process based on the previous print job is completed and the image process based on the subsequent print job is performed, the image forming apparatus continues the output process based on the subsequent print job. May not be possible. In other words, there is a case where the waiting time occurs in the image forming apparatus after the output process based on the previous print job is completed and before the output process based on the subsequent print job is performed.

  The following Patent Document 1 is known as a technique for shortening the output time. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-133867 predicts a processing time of processing related to output preparation in order to shorten the time for the first output, and creates a schedule for shortening the time from the predicted value to the start of output. Is disclosed.

JP 2001-270199 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus, an image forming system, and an image processing program capable of reducing the standby time of an image forming apparatus when the processing time required for image processing is longer than the output time required for outputting an image. And

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the first calculation means for calculating the first processing time required for the image processing based on the input first print job, and the first output time based on the first print job are the first processing time. A second calculation means for calculating a second processing time required for image processing based on the second print job when a second print job following the first print job is input, and When the second output time based on the print job is equal to or shorter than the second processing time and there is a DRP that is not used in the first print job, image processing based on the second print job is used for the DRP that is not used And an execution control means for executing the image processing apparatus.

  According to a second aspect of the invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the first and second calculation means perform the first and second processing based on the size of the image information of the first and second print jobs. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein time is calculated.

  According to a third aspect of the invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the first and second calculation means are configured to determine the first and second values based on the number of pages of image information of the first and second print jobs. Two processing times are calculated.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the execution control means causes the DRP to execute image processing based on the first and second print jobs in parallel. It is characterized by.

  According to a fifth aspect of the invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the execution control means causes the DRP that is not used to execute image processing based on the second print job. The processing result is stored in the storage means until the printing process based on the second print job is started.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the execution control means performs the first print job when the first output time is equal to or shorter than the first processing time. It is characterized in that the DRP performs image processing based on it.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, an output apparatus that outputs first and second print jobs to the image processing apparatus, and an output of the image processing apparatus. And an image forming system that forms an image according to a result on a recording medium.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the computer calculates first processing time required for image processing based on the input first print job, and first output time based on the first print job is first. A second calculating means for calculating a second processing time required for image processing based on the second print job when a second print job following the first print job is being input when the processing time is longer than the first print job; When the second output time based on the second print job is equal to or shorter than the second processing time and there is a DRP that is not used in the first print job, the image based on the second print job in the DRP that is not used An image processing program for causing an execution control unit to execute processing.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the processing time required for image processing is longer than the output time required for image output, the standby time of the image forming apparatus is shortened.

  According to the second aspect of the invention, the first and second processing times are calculated based on the sizes of the image information of the first and second print jobs.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the first and second processing times are calculated based on the number of pages of the image information of the first and second print jobs. Further, the first and second processing times are calculated more accurately than in the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the DRP executes image processing based on the first and second print jobs in parallel.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when image processing based on the second print job is executed by the non-use DRP, the processing result is stored until the print processing based on the second print job is started. Stored in the means.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the DRP performs image processing based on the first print job when the output time based on the first print job is equal to or shorter than the first processing time.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, when the processing time required for image processing is longer than the output time required for image output, the standby time of the image forming apparatus is shortened.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, when the processing time required for image processing is longer than the output time required for image output, the standby time of the image forming apparatus is shortened.

1 is an example of a configuration diagram of an image forming system. It is a block diagram of a controller. 2 is a hardware configuration of an image processing apparatus. It is a block diagram of DRP. It is a functional block diagram of an image processing apparatus. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of operations of a CPU and an image forming apparatus. It is a conceptual diagram which concerns on the comparative example which shows an image process and an output process simply. It is a conceptual diagram which concerns on the comparative example which shows an image process and an output process in detail. It is a conceptual diagram which concerns on embodiment which shows an image process and an output process in detail.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an example of a configuration diagram of an image forming system.
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system includes an image forming apparatus 1, a preprocessing device 3, buffer devices 4 and 5, a postprocessing device 6, a controller 10, and an input device 20. The image forming apparatus 1 includes, for example, a photoreceptor, an exposure device, a charging device, a transfer device, and the like. In addition to such an electrophotographic system, an inkjet system may be used. The controller 10 includes an image processing device 12.

  The image forming apparatus 1 forms an image corresponding to image information on a sheet 7 as a recording medium based on control by the controller 10. An example of the image forming apparatus 1 is a printer. Image information is output from the image processing device 12.

The preprocessing device 3 sends the paper 7 that has not been printed to the image forming device 1. The pretreatment device 3 holds the paper 7 wound in a roll shape.
The post-processing device 6 receives the paper 7 sent out from the image forming apparatus 1 and winds it up in a roll shape.
The buffer devices 4 and 5 absorb the difference between the conveyance speed of the sheet 7 in the pre-processing apparatus 3 and the post-processing apparatus 6 and the conveyance speed of the sheet 7 in the image forming apparatus 1. The buffer devices 4 and 5 maintain a constant tension on the sheet 7 and suppress the sagging of the sheet 7.

The output device 20 generates a print job for causing the image forming apparatus 1 to form an image on the paper 7 based on an operation by the user. The output device 20 outputs a print job to the image processing device 12 via the network NW. An example of the output device 20 is a personal computer.
The controller 10 receives the print job output from the output device 20. The controller 10 converts the print job into raster format image information that can be formed by the image forming apparatus 1. The controller 10 outputs image information to the image forming apparatus 1. The controller 10 may be configured inside the image forming apparatus 1.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the controller 10.
As shown in FIG. 2, the controller 10 includes a print job receiving unit 11, an image processing device 12, and a print data output unit 13.

The print job receiving unit 11 receives a print job output from the output device 20.
The image processing apparatus 12 performs image processing on the print job received by the print job receiving unit 11, converts it into raster format image information required by the image forming apparatus 1, and performs various image processing. When the print job includes character information and image information, the image processing device 12 separates the character information and the image information.
The print data output unit 13 outputs image information subjected to image processing to the image forming apparatus 1 as print data.

FIG. 3 shows a hardware configuration of the image processing apparatus 12.
The image processing apparatus 12 includes RAMs 33a, 71 to 76, such as a CPU 32, SRAM (Static Random Access Memory), DRAM (Dynamic RAM), SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM), NVRAM (Non Volatile RAM), DDR2 SDRAM (Double Data Rate 2 SDRAM). ROM (Read Only Memory) 33b such as flash memory, HDD (Hard Disc Drive) 33c, DRP (Dynamic Reconfigurable Processor, hereinafter simply referred to as DRP) 61-66, and external I / F (Interface) 31. The CPU 32 and DRP 61-66 are connected by a PCI Express bus. The DRPs 61 to 66 may be connected in a daisy chain, for example.

  When a print job is input, the CPU 32 as a computer causes the DRPs 61 to 66 to be executed. This execution is realized by the CPU 32 reading a required program stored in the storage device 33 such as the ROM 33b or the HDD 33c and performing an operation according to the program. The program may be a program according to a flowchart described later. The program may be stored in a transportable storage medium such as a CD-ROM and provided to the CPU 32.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the DRP 62. Since the DRPs 61 and 63 to 66 have the same configuration, the description thereof is omitted.
The DRP 62 includes a control unit 62a, an image processing unit 62b, a direct I / O 62c, a high-speed bus switch 62d, a PCI Express interface 62e, and a RAM interface 62f.

The control unit 62a operates based on the control from the CPU 32.
The image processing unit 62b rewrites the PE matrix based on the control of the control unit 62a to realize various image processing functions. A circuit related to image processing to be realized is stored in the circuit storage unit of the image processing unit 62b.
The direct I / O 62c receives image information from the DRP 61 and outputs the image information to the image processing unit 62b. The direct I / O 62c also outputs the image information subjected to image processing by the image processing unit 62b to the DRP 63. The direct I / O 62c directly transfers image information by a pipeline processing method. As a result, image processing is sequentially performed on the image information by each of the DRPs 61 to 64.

The high-speed bus switch 62d is a bus switch for switching an information path among the control unit 62a, the image processing unit 62b, the PCI Express interface 62e, and the RAM interface 62f at high speed.
The PCI Express interface 62e is an interface for transmitting and receiving information between other circuits connected to the outside.
The RAM interface 62f is an interface for transmitting / receiving information to / from the RAM 72.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the image processing apparatus 12.
The CPU 32 implements a first processing time calculation unit 32a, a second processing time calculation unit 32b, and an execution control unit 32c. The first processing time calculation unit 32a, the second processing time calculation unit 32b, and the execution control unit 32c are realized by a program based on a flowchart described later.

The first processing time calculation unit 32a calculates the first processing time required for image processing based on the input first print job based on the size of the image information and the number of pages.
When the first output time based on the first print job is longer than the first process time and the second print job following the first print job is input, the second processing time calculation unit 32b The second processing time required for image processing based on two print jobs is calculated based on the size of the image information and the number of pages.

  The first processing time, the second processing time, the first output time, and the second output time are calculated by a calculation method disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-268082. For example, for the first output time and the second output time, the first processing time calculation unit 32a and the second processing time calculation unit 32b obtain printing speed information (for example, 100 pages / minute) from the image forming apparatus 1, and the image information Is calculated by dividing the number of pages by the printing speed information.

The execution control unit 32c is not used when the second output time based on the second print job is equal to or shorter than the second processing time and there are DRPs 61 to 66 that are not used in the first print job. The DRPs 61 to 66 are caused to execute image processing based on the second print job.
Examples of image processing include JPEG expansion / reduction processing, color conversion processing, tone correction processing, tone reproduction processing, screen processing, page generation processing, page rotation processing, and the like. is there. The output includes printing on the paper 7 and transferring to a transfer body.

In FIG. 5, DRPs 61 to 66 realize a color conversion processing unit, a TRC processing unit, and a screen processing unit. These are sequentially switched by a control signal from the execution control unit 32c.
For example, when image information is input to the DRPs 61 to 66, the DRPs 61 to 66 first realize a color conversion processing unit. Accordingly, color conversion processing is performed on the image information. When the color conversion process for the image information is completed, the DRPs 61 to 66 implement a TRC processing unit after a predetermined switching time has elapsed. The image information subjected to the color conversion processing is stored in the corresponding RAMs 71 to 76 and the HDD 33c during the switching time.

  Next, TRC processing is performed on the image information subjected to the color conversion processing stored in the RAMs 71 to 76. When the TRC process for the image information is completed, the DRPs 61 to 66 implement a screen processing unit after a predetermined switching time has elapsed. The image information subjected to the TRC process is again stored in the corresponding RAMs 71 to 76 during the switching time. Next, screen processing is performed on the image information subjected to TRC processing stored in the RAMs 71 to 76 and output to the CPU 32.

The storage device 33 implements an image information storage unit 33x. The image information storage unit 33x is realized by the above-described ROM 32b or HDD 32c.
The image information storage unit 33x stores image information. The image information is called from the CPU 32 and passed to each DRP 61-66.

  Next, operations of the image processing apparatus 12 and the image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of operations of the CPU 32 and the image forming apparatus 1.
When the first print job is input, the first processing time calculation unit 32a calculates the first processing time required for image processing based on the first print job based on the size of the image information and the number of pages (step S1). .

  Next, the second processing time calculation unit 32b determines whether or not the first output time based on the first print job is equal to or shorter than the first processing time (step S2). If the second processing time calculation unit 32b determines that the first output time is equal to or shorter than the first processing time (step S2: YES), the execution control unit 32c performs image processing based on the first print job as DRP61. To 66 (step S3). When the DRPs 61 to 66 complete the image processing, the image forming apparatus 1 performs output processing based on the first print job (step S4).

  On the other hand, if the second processing time calculation unit 32b determines that the first output time is not less than or equal to the first processing time (step S2: NO), the second processing time calculation unit 32b follows the first print job. It is determined whether a second print job has been input (step S5). That is, when the first output time is longer than the first processing time, the determination process in step S5 is performed.

  When the second processing time calculation unit 32b determines that the second print job is input (step S5: YES), the second processing time calculation unit 32b sets the second processing time required for the image processing based on the second print job to the size of the image information and the page. The number is calculated based on the number (step S6). On the other hand, when it is determined that the second print job has not been input (step S5: NO), the processes of steps S3 and S4 described above are performed. Therefore, if there is no second print job that is continuous with the first print job, the processes after step S6 are not performed.

  When the second processing time is calculated, the execution control unit 32c determines whether or not the second output time based on the second print job is equal to or shorter than the second processing time (step S7). That is, in the second print job following the first print job, it is determined whether the output time required for image output is shorter than the processing time required for image processing.

  If the execution control unit 32c determines that the second output time is equal to or shorter than the second processing time, the execution control unit 32c further determines whether any of the DRPs 61 to 66 are not used in the first print job. (Step S8). The execution control unit 32c continues the determination process until it is determined that there are DRPs 61 to 66 that are not used in the first print job. If it is determined that there are DRPs 61 to 66 that are not used in the first print job (step S8: YES), the DRPs 61 to 66 that are not used are allocated for the second print job (step S9). Which DRP among the DRPs 61 to 66 is not used is determined based on the command content of the first print job. For this reason, image processing based on the second print job is performed in the DRPs 61 to 66 which are scheduled to be unused.

  When the execution control unit 32c assigns the unused DRPs 61 to 66 for the second print job, the execution control unit 32c then causes the first print job and the second print job to be processed in parallel by the DRPs 61 to 66 (step S10). The job processing result is stored in the HDD 33c (step S11). Accordingly, a part of the image information of the second print job is subjected to image processing in advance. If there are enough DRPs 61 to 66 that are not used, the DRPs 61 to 66 may perform all image processing of the second print job.

  Next, the execution control unit 32c determines whether or not the output of the first print job has been completed (step S12). If the execution control unit 32c determines that the output of the first print job is completed (step S12: YES), the image forming apparatus 1 performs the output process of the second print job (step S13). Part of the processing result of the second print job is stored in the HDD 33c. For this reason, the image forming apparatus 1 sequentially performs output processing from the image information extracted from the HDD 33c. When there is no processing result in the HDD 33c, the remaining processing result of the second print job is acquired from the image processing apparatus 12, and output processing is performed. I do. Therefore, the processing result obtained by performing the image processing in advance is stored in the HDD 33c until the output processing based on the second print job is started.

  Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram according to a comparative example that simply shows image processing and output processing.
The <Image processing> stage shown in FIG. 7 indicates that continuous print jobs “print job 1”, “print job 2”, and “print job 3” are input to the image processing apparatus 12. Print job 2 requires more processing time for image processing than print job 1. The print job 3 requires less image processing time than the print job 1. The image processing apparatus 12 sequentially processes these print jobs 1 to 3 and outputs them to the image forming apparatus 1.

  The <output processing> stage shown in FIG. 7 indicates that image information 1 based on the print job 1, image information 2 based on the print job 2, and image information 3 based on the print job 3 are input to the image forming apparatus 1. ing. The output of the image information 1 is started with a delay from the start of image processing for the print job 1. That is, image output is started sequentially from image information 1 corresponding to the completion of image processing for print job 1.

  Further, in the print job 1, the processing time for the image processing for the print job 1 does not require as much time as the output time for the image information 1. That is, the output time for the image information 1 requires more time than the image processing time for the print job 1. For example, if the print job 1 relates to a monochrome image and does not require a lot of image processing, the output time takes more time than the processing time. The same applies to print job 3.

  On the other hand, in the print job 2, the processing time of the image processing for the print job 2 takes longer than the output time for the image information 2. That is, the output time for the image information 2 does not require as much time as the image processing time for the print job 2. For example, if the print job 2 relates to a color image and requires a lot of image processing, the processing time takes more time than the output time. The output of the image information 2 is also started with a delay from the start of image processing for the print job 2. That is, image output is started sequentially from the image information 2 corresponding to the completion of image processing for the print job 2. However, since a long time is required for the image processing, the output processing cannot be started smoothly. For this reason, even if the output process for the image information 1 is completed, the output process for the image information 2 is not continuously performed, and a waiting time occurs in the image forming apparatus 1.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram according to a comparative example showing in detail image processing and output processing.
In FIG. 8, print job 1, print job 2, image information 1 and image information 2 correspond to print job 1, print job 2, image information 1 and image information 2 described with reference to FIG.

  Further, in the <image processing> stage shown in FIG. 8, it is indicated that the print job 1 is a print job having image information in which a monochrome image and a color image are mixed. The print job 2 indicates that the print job has image information composed only of color images. For the sake of explanation, the characters “J1: P1” are attached to the image information of the print jobs 1 and 2, respectively. For example, the characters “J1: P1” indicate the first page of print job 1. The character “J2: P3” indicates the third page of the print job 2.

  Further, FIG. 8 shows that the above-described image processing for the print job 1 is executed by ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits) 1 to 3. The image processing for the print job 2 described above is executed by SW (Software) in addition to the ASICs 1 to 3. The ASICs 1 to 3 and SW are shown in the <output processing> stage shown in FIG. 8 for convenience, but the ASICs 1 to 3 and SW execute image processing.

  Here, as an example, the ASIC 1 performs color conversion processing. The ASIC 2 performs TRC processing. The ASIC 3 performs screen processing. Functions lacking in ASICs 1 to 3 are realized by SW. For example, SW performs JPEG expansion processing. Further, since the print job 1 has image information in which a monochrome image and a color image are mixed, for example, image processing such as color conversion processing, TRC processing, and screen processing is performed. Since the print job 2 has image information composed only of color images, for example, image processing such as color conversion processing, TRC processing, screen processing, and JPEG expansion processing is performed.

  First, the image processing of the image information “J1: P1” of the print job 1 will be described. Since the image information is a color image, color conversion processing is first performed by the ASIC 1. Next, TRC processing is performed by the ASIC 2. Finally, screen processing is performed by the ASIC 3. Then, the image processing is completed. The same applies to the image information “J1: P4” and “J1: P7”.

  Next, the image processing of the image information “J1: P2” of the print job 1 will be described. Since the image information is a black and white image, the color conversion processing is not performed by the ASIC 1 and the TRC processing is not performed by the ASIC 2. Then, screen processing is performed by the ASIC 3, and image processing is completed. Therefore, the ASICs 1 and 2 are not used for the image information “J1: P2”. The same applies to the image information “J1: P3”, “J1: P5”, “J1: P6”, “J1: P8”, and “J1: P9”.

  Next, the image processing of the image information “J2: P1” of the print job 2 will be described. Since the image information is a color image, first, JPEG expansion processing is performed by SW. Next, color conversion processing is performed by the ASIC 1. Next, TRC processing is performed by the ASIC 2. Finally, screen processing is performed by the ASIC 3. Then, the image processing is completed. The same applies to the image information “J2: P2”,..., “J2: P9”.

  As described above, the print job 2 performs more image processing than the print job 1. Further, since image processing by software as well as image processing by a hardware resource called ASIC is included, processing time is longer than that of the print job 1. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, a waiting time occurs in the output process.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram according to an embodiment showing in detail image processing and output processing.
9, print job 1, print job 2, image information 1 and image information 2 correspond to print job 1, print job 2, image information 1 and image information 2 described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 9 shows that the above-described image processing for the print jobs 1 and 2 is executed by DRP 1 to 3. DRP 1 to 3 realize JPEG decompression processing, color conversion processing, TRC processing, and screen processing in order to reconfigure the image processing function under the control of the CPU 32.

  Here, as an example, the DRP 1 first performs color conversion processing. The DRP 2 first performs TRC processing. The DRP 3 first performs screen processing. As described above, since the print job 1 has image information in which a monochrome image and a color image are mixed, the image processing is completed if there is color conversion processing, TRC processing, and screen processing. Further, since the print job 2 has image information composed only of color images, the image processing is completed if there is color conversion processing, TRC processing, screen processing, and JPEG expansion processing.

  First, the image processing of the image information “J1: P1” of the print job 1 will be described. Since the image information is a color image, first, color conversion processing is performed in DRP1. Next, TRC processing is performed in DRP2. Finally, screen processing is performed in DRP3. Then, the image processing is completed. It is also possible to perform image processing using only DRP1 while reconfiguring DRP1. In this case, since DRP2 and DRP3 are vacant, it is possible to insert J1: P1 image processing there.

  Next, the image processing of the image information “J1: P2” of the print job 1 will be described. Since the image information is a black and white image, no color conversion processing is performed in DRP1, and no TRC processing is performed in DRP2. Then, screen processing is performed in DRP3. Therefore, DRP 1 and 2 are not used for the image information “J1: P2”.

  Here, the CPU 32 causes the unused DRPs 1 and 2 to perform image processing of the image information “J2: P1”. The CPU 32 reconfigures the image processing functions of the DRPs 1 and 2. First, DRP1 implements JPEG expansion processing. Next, DRP 2 implements color conversion processing. As a result, DRP1 performs JPEG expansion processing on the image information “J2: P1”. Next, the DRP 2 performs a color conversion process on the image information “J2: P1” for which the JPEG expansion process has been completed. The processing result of completing the image processing is stored in the HDD 33c.

  The screen processing for the image information “J1: P2” by DRP3 and the JPEG expansion processing or color conversion processing for the image information “J2: P1” by DRP1 or DRP2 are performed in parallel. That is, JPEG expansion processing or color conversion processing is performed by DRP1 or DRP2 while screen processing is performed by DRP3.

  Further, the image processing of the image information “J1: P3” of the print job 1 will be described. Since the image information is also a monochrome image, the color conversion process is not performed in DRP1, and the TRC process is not performed in DRP2. Then, screen processing is performed in DRP3, and image processing is completed. For this reason, the DRP 1 and 2 are not used again for the image information “J1: P3”.

  Here, the CPU 32 causes the unused DRPs 1 and 2 to execute image processing of the image information “J2: P1” stored in the HDD 33c. Specifically, subsequent image processing is performed. The CPU 32 reconfigures the image processing functions of the DRPs 1 and 2. First, DRP1 implements TRC processing. Next, DRP 2 implements screen processing. As a result, DRP1 performs TRC processing on the image information “J2: P1” stored in the HDD 33c. Next, the DRP 2 performs screen processing on the image information “J2: P1” for which the TRC processing has been completed. The processing result of the completion of the image processing is stored again in the HDD 33c and waits for completion of the output processing of the print job 1.

  Next, the image processing of the image information “J1: P4” of the print job 1 will be described. Since the image information is a color image of the print job 1, first, color conversion processing is performed in the DRP1. For this reason, the CPU 32 reconfigures the image processing function of the DRP 1 into color conversion processing. Next, TRC processing is performed in DRP2. Therefore, the CPU 32 reconfigures the DRP2 image processing function to TRC processing. Finally, screen processing is performed in DRP3. The CPU 32 does not need to reconfigure the DRP3 image processing function. Then, the image processing is completed.

  As described above, when there is an unused DRP, the CPU 32 completes the image processing required for the subsequent print job in advance. As a result, the processing time of the image processing required for the subsequent print job is shortened. Accordingly, in the output process, the occurrence of the standby time is suppressed, and the standby time of the image forming apparatus 1 is shortened. Furthermore, the overall printing time in the image forming apparatus 1 is shorter than in the comparative example. Also, DRP hardware resources are effectively utilized.

The image information “J1: P5”,..., “J1: P9” of the print job 1 is the same as described above.
Further, in the image processing of the print job 2, as shown in FIG. 9, the image information “J2: P1”, “J2: P2”, “J2: P3” is subjected to image processing in advance, so that the image of the print job 1 As soon as the processing is completed, the image information “J2: P4” is started. Then, the image processing of the print job 2 is completed with the image information “J2: P9”. When the output processing of the print job 1 is completed, the output processing is sequentially performed from the image information “J2: P1” to “J2: P3” stored in the HDD 33c. When these output processes are completed, the image information “J2: P4” to “J2: P9” are sequentially output.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments according to the present invention, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.・ Change is possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 10 Controller 12 Image processing apparatus 20 Output device 32 CPU
32a 1st processing time calculation part 32b 2nd processing time calculation part 32c Execution control part 61-66 DRP
33 storage device 33x image information storage unit

Claims (8)

First calculation means for calculating a first processing time required for image processing based on the input first print job;
Based on the second print job when the first output time based on the first print job is longer than the first processing time and the second print job following the first print job is input. Second calculation means for calculating a second processing time required for image processing;
When the second output time based on the second print job is equal to or shorter than the second processing time and there is a DRP that is not used in the first print job, the DRP that is not used is set to the second DRP that is not used. Execution control means for executing image processing based on two print jobs;
An image processing apparatus.   The said 1st and 2nd calculation means calculates the said 1st and 2nd processing time based on the magnitude | size of the image information of the said 1st and 2nd print job, The said 1st and 2nd calculation time is characterized by the above-mentioned. Image processing device.   The first and second calculation units calculate the first and second processing times based on the number of pages of image information of the first and second print jobs, respectively. The image processing apparatus described.   4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the execution control unit causes the DRP to execute image processing based on the first and second print jobs in parallel. 5.   The execution control unit stores the processing result in the storage unit until the print processing based on the second print job is started when the unused DRP is caused to execute image processing based on the second print job. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is configured to perform the above-described processing.   The execution control unit causes the DRP to execute image processing based on the first print job when the first output time is equal to or shorter than the first processing time. The image processing apparatus according to item 1. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
An output device for outputting the first and second print jobs to the image processing device;
A forming apparatus for forming an image according to an output result of the image processing apparatus on a recording medium;
An image forming system. Computer
First calculation means for calculating a first processing time required for image processing based on the input first print job;
Based on the second print job when the first output time based on the first print job is longer than the first processing time and the second print job following the first print job is input. Second calculating means for calculating a second processing time required for image processing;
When the second output time based on the second print job is equal to or shorter than the second processing time and there is a DRP that is not used in the first print job, the DRP that is not used is set to the second DRP that is not used. 2. An image processing program for causing an execution control unit to execute image processing based on a print job.

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