JP2018161761A - Image forming device and image formation program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily register print control information in a nonvolatile memory device. A communication control unit 114 receives print data described in a page description language including print control information (font data and/or macro data), and a panel operation control unit 119 receives a print control information HDD 106. Alternatively, the registration to the SSD is accepted, the interpreter unit 117 interprets the page description language of the print data, the print control information is registered in the HDD 106 or the SSD, and the system control unit 121 causes the panel operation control unit 119 to control the print control information. When the registration of the print control information in the HDD 106 or SSD is accepted, the interpreter unit 117 is instructed to register the print control information in the HDD 106 or SSD. [Selection diagram] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming program for forming an image using font data and / or macro data which are print control information.

  For example, in an image forming apparatus which is an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) such as a multi-function printer or a multifunction machine, there are models equipped with a print function, a copy function, a FAX function, a data transmission / reception function via a network, and the like. By the way, when the image forming apparatus receives print data described in, for example, a page description language from a host terminal connected to a network such as an in-house LAN (Local Area Network), the image forming apparatus interprets the print data and generates an image. A print image is generated by processing, and the image is printed on paper. In the image processing, a print image is generated using font data stored in a nonvolatile memory device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive).

  In recent years, it has become possible to register macro data that can render a fixed format such as a letter header or table in a nonvolatile memory device such as an HDD. In this case, when the image forming apparatus receives the letter text from the host terminal or the print data of only the numerical value or character string for filling the table, the image forming apparatus generates a print image by combining the print data and the macro data.

  Incidentally, font data registered in a nonvolatile memory device such as an HDD generally uses first and second level character codes defined by JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards) in many cases. When a special font or the like is required, font data that can draw a special font is newly registered in a nonvolatile memory device such as an HDD. Also, for macro data, a macro that can execute a macro if macro data that can execute the macro indicated by the print data described in the page description language from the host terminal is not registered in a nonvolatile memory device such as an HDD. Data is newly registered.

  However, in an environment in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected to a network such as an in-house LAN, for example, when it is necessary to register font data that can draw a special font or new macro data, Therefore, the registration process becomes necessary, and the registration work becomes complicated.

  In order to eliminate such inconvenience, for example, it is conceivable to apply an integrated business network system disclosed in Patent Document 1. This integrated business network system is equipped with functions for realizing a printing system in the print server machine as print server software, and each user can use menu software that can be used from his / her workstation. Communicates with the print server software via the administrator menu software that can be used from a specific workstation, and outputs data via the printer.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-266517

  In the above-described integrated business network system disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, font data and / or macro data as print control information can be downloaded from a print server machine, and therefore, an environment in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected to the network. Even so, it becomes easy to register font data and / or macro data in a nonvolatile memory device such as an HDD in each image forming apparatus.

  However, in this integrated business network system, it is easy to register font data and / or macro data as print control information, but new font data and / or macro data is registered in a nonvolatile memory device such as an HDD. As a result, the use area of the nonvolatile memory device increases and the free area decreases. That is, for example, when the latest standard font data defined in JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards) is registered in a nonvolatile memory device such as an HDD, all the latest standard font data is registered. As for macro data, all of the latest data is registered.

  In this case, print data described in a page description language including font data and / or macro data as print control information is received from a host terminal connected to the network described above, and the font data and / or macro data is received. After expanding to a volatile memory device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), and further generating a print image by image processing using font data and / or macro data, the font data and / or macro data is transferred to an HDD or the like. It is conceivable to register for a non-volatile memory device. However, at the end of the page description language, there is an erase command in order to avoid a load on a volatile memory device such as a RAM. For this reason, after a print image is generated by image processing, font data and / or macro data cannot be registered in a nonvolatile memory device such as an HDD.

  In this case, it may be possible to register font data and / or macro data expanded in a volatile memory such as a RAM in a nonvolatile memory device such as an HDD before generating a print image by image processing. However, since font data developed in a volatile memory such as a RAM is mixed with character data, a process of cutting out the font data is necessary, and the process becomes complicated. .

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming program capable of solving the above problems.

An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a communication control unit that receives print data described in a page description language including print control information, a panel operation control unit that receives registration of the print control information in a nonvolatile memory device, and Interpreting the page description language of the print data and registering the print control information in the nonvolatile memory device, and the panel operation control unit accepting registration of the print control information in the nonvolatile memory device And a system control unit that instructs the interpreter unit to register the print control information in the nonvolatile memory device.
An image processing unit, and the interpreter unit expands and registers the print control information in the nonvolatile memory device, and the image processing unit stores the print expanded in the nonvolatile memory device. The control information is used to perform image processing on the print data.
The interpreter unit includes: a volatile memory device that expands the print control information; and an image processing unit that performs image processing on the print data using the print control information expanded on the volatile memory device. Expands the print control information to the volatile memory device, and registers the print control information in the nonvolatile memory device.
When the print control information included in the print data is not already registered in the nonvolatile memory device, the interpreter unit expands the print control information to the volatile memory device, and The control information is registered in the non-volatile memory device, and the image processing unit performs image processing on the print data using the print control information developed in the volatile memory device, and includes the print data included in the print data. When print control information is already registered in the non-volatile memory device, the interpreter unit develops the registered print control information in the non-volatile memory device, and the image processing unit Image processing is performed on the print data using the print control information developed in the memory. And wherein the door.
Further, the print control information is font data and / or macro data.
In the image forming program of the present invention, the communication control unit receives print data described in a page description language including print control information, and the panel operation control unit transfers the print control information to the nonvolatile memory device. The panel operation control unit, the interpreting unit interpreting the page description language of the print data, registering the print control information in the nonvolatile memory device, and the system control unit. A step of instructing the interpreter unit to register the print control information in the nonvolatile memory device upon receiving registration of the print control information in the nonvolatile memory device; It is made to perform.
In the image forming apparatus and the image forming program of the present invention, the communication control unit receives print data described in a page description language including the print control information, and the panel operation control unit receives the print control information nonvolatile memory device. The interpreter unit interprets the page description language of the print data, registers the print control information in the non-volatile memory device, and the system control unit causes the panel operation control unit to store the print control information in the non-volatile memory. When registration to the device is accepted, the interpreter unit is instructed to register the print control information in the nonvolatile memory device.
This eliminates the need to cut out the print control information developed in, for example, the volatile memory device before the generation of the print image by image processing, for example.

  According to the image forming apparatus and the image forming program of the present invention, it is not necessary to cut out print control information developed in, for example, a volatile memory device before generating a print image by image processing. It is possible to easily register the print control information included in the described print data in the nonvolatile memory device.

1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment in which an image forming apparatus of the present invention is applied to an MFP. 3 is a flowchart for explaining image forming processing by the MFP of FIG. 1.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. An example of the image forming apparatus in the following description is, for example, an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) which is a complex peripheral device equipped with a print function, a copy function, a FAX function, a data transmission / reception function via a network, and the like. Shall.

  First, as shown in FIG. 1, the MFP 100 is connected to a host terminal 200 via a network 300 such as the Internet or an in-house LAN (Local Area Network). The host terminal 200 transmits, for example, print data described in a page description language including font data and / or macro data as print control information to the MFP 100. Note that the MFP 100 and the host terminal 200 are not limited to one, but may be a plurality.

  The MFP 100 includes a scanner unit 101, a printer unit 102, a FAX unit 103, an I / F (interface) 104, a panel unit 105, and a control unit 110 that controls operations of the HDD 106.

  The scanner unit 101 is a device that converts a document image (not shown) read by an image sensor (not shown) into digital image data and inputs the digital image data. The printer unit 102 is a device that prints an image on a sheet (not shown) based on print data output from the control unit 110. The FAX unit 103 is a device that transmits data output from the control unit 110 to a facsimile as a counterpart through a telephone line, and receives data from the counterpart facsimile and inputs the data into the control unit 110.

  The I / F 104 is connected to the host terminal 200 via the network 300. The I / F 104 may be in charge of communication with other MFPs and host terminals (not shown) or may be in charge of communication with a content server, a web server, etc. (not shown). The panel unit 105 is a device such as a touch panel that performs a print function, a copy function, a FAX function, a data transmission / reception function via the network 300, and various settings. Further, the panel unit 105 accepts whether or not to register font data and / or macro data, which is print control information included in the print data described in the page description language from the host terminal 200, in the HDD 106, for example. A registration acceptance screen (not shown) showing the contents is displayed. The registration destination of the font data and / or macro data that is the print control information is not limited to the HDD 106 but may be a non-volatile memory device such as an SSD (Solid State Drive).

  The HDD 106 is a non-volatile memory device that stores application programs for providing various functions of the MFP 100 and font data and / or macro data that are print control information necessary for printing. Also, font data and / or macro data, which is print control information included in the print data described in the page description language from the host terminal 200, is registered in the HDD. The HDD 106 has a user box that stores, for example, a print job registered from the host terminal 200 side and print data in a page description language. Instead of the HDD 106, an SSD may be used.

  Control unit 110 is a processor that controls the overall operation of MFP 100 by executing an application program such as an authentication program, an image forming program, and a control program. The control unit 110 includes a scanner control unit 111, a printer control unit 112, a FAX (Facsimile) control unit 113, a communication control unit 114, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 115, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) 116, and the like. Unit 117, image processing unit 118, panel operation control unit 119, HDD control unit 120, and system control unit 121. These are connected to the data bus 122.

  The scanner control unit 111 controls the reading operation of the scanner unit 101. The printer control unit 112 controls the printing operation of the printer unit 102. The FAX control unit 113 controls data transmission / reception operations by the FAX unit 103. The communication control unit 114 controls transmission / reception of data and the like via the network 300 via the I / F 104. Further, the communication control unit 114 receives print data described in a page description language including font data and / or macro data which is print control information from the host terminal 200.

  The RAM 115 is a work memory for executing a program. The RAM 115 also stores print data (for example, raster data) that has been subjected to image processing by the image processing unit 118. Further, although details will be described later, font data and / or macro data, which is print control information included in the print data described in the page description language from the host terminal 200, is expanded in the RAM 115. The EEPROM 116 stores a control program for checking the operation of each unit.

  The interpreter unit 117 interprets the page description language of the print data, and develops font data and / or macro data, which are print control information, in the RAM 115. In addition, the interpreter unit 117 selects registration of font data and / or macro data which is print control information included in the print data described in the page description language from the host terminal 200 via the panel unit 105. If it is, the font data and / or macro data that is the print control information is registered in the HDD 106. It should be noted that the font data and / or macro data as print control information may be registered in the HDD 106 before the font data and / or macro data is expanded in the RAM 115, or the font data and / or the macro data in the RAM 115. It may be simultaneously with the development of the macro data. The interpreter unit 117 may interpret the page description language in units of pages, or may be performed on all pages at once.

  The image processing unit 118 performs image processing (rasterization) on the image data read by the scanner unit 101. In addition, the image processing unit 118 performs image processing (rasterization) on print data registered in the user box of the HDD 106. Further, the image processing unit 118 performs image processing (rasterization) on the print data in the page description language received from the host terminal 200. Further, the image processing unit 118 performs image processing (rasterization) on the print data using font data and / or macro data developed in the RAM 115.

  The panel operation control unit 119 controls the display operation of the panel unit 105. Further, the panel operation control unit 119 receives the start of printing, copying, FAX, data transmission / reception via the network 300, and the like via the panel unit 105. Further, the panel operation control unit 119 sends, to the panel unit 105, font data and / or macro data that are print control information included in the print data described in the page description language from the host terminal 200. For example, a registration acceptance screen (not shown) indicating the content for accepting whether to register in the HDD 106 is displayed. The panel operation control unit 119 notifies the system control unit 121 when registration is selected on the registration acceptance screen.

  The system control unit 121 controls the cooperative operation of each unit. In addition, when copying or printing is selected via the panel unit 105, the system control unit 121 reads a document by the scanner unit 101 or prints a sheet by the printer unit 102 via the scanner control unit 111 or the printer control unit 112. To control printing. Further, when the system control unit 121 receives a notification from the panel operation control unit 119 indicating that the selection of registration of font data and / or macro data, which is print control information, is received on the registration reception screen of the panel unit 105. The interpreter unit 117 is instructed to register font data and / or macro data, which are print control information in the HDD 106.

  Next, an image forming process performed by the MFP 100 will be described with reference to FIG. Hereinafter, a case will be described in which the print data described in the page description language received by MFP 100 from host terminal 200 includes font data that is print control information. Also, in the following, when registration is selected on a registration acceptance screen (not shown) displayed on the panel unit 105, registration of font data as print control information in the HDD 106 is performed simultaneously with development of font data in the RAM 115. I will explain it. A state where registration is selected on the registration acceptance screen will be described as a registration mode. Hereinafter, a case will be described in which MFP 100 has already received print data described in the page description language from host terminal 200.

(Step S101)
The system control unit 121 determines whether to start printing.
In this case, the system control unit 121 determines that the printing is not started if there is no notification indicating that an instruction to start printing has been received from the panel operation control unit 119 via the panel unit 105 (step S101: No). .
On the other hand, the system control unit 121 determines that the printing is started if there is a notification indicating that an instruction to start printing is received from the panel operation control unit 119 via the panel unit 105 (step S101: Yes), the process proceeds to step S102.

(Step S102)
The system control unit 121 determines whether the registration mode is set.
In this case, if there is no notification from the panel operation control unit 119 that the selection of registration of font data, which is print control information, has been received on the registration acceptance screen of the panel unit 105, the system control unit 119 is in the registration mode. It is determined that there is not (step S102: No).
On the other hand, the system control unit 121 registers if there is a notification from the panel operation control unit 119 indicating that the selection of registration of font data as print control information has been received on the registration reception screen of the panel unit 105. The mode is determined (step S102: Yes), and the process proceeds to step S103.

(Step S103)
The system control unit 121 instructs the registration of font data.
In this case, the system control unit 121 instructs the interpreter unit 117 to register font data.
At this time, the interpreter unit 117 interprets the page description language of the print data, develops the font data in the RAM 115, and registers it in the HDD 106 at the same time. It should be noted that when registering font data in the HDD 106, the interpreter unit 117 may not register or overwrite the corresponding font data if there is already registered font data.

(Step S104)
The system control unit 121 determines whether the font data registration is completed.
In this case, the system control unit 121 determines that the registration of the font data is not completed if there is no notification indicating completion from the interpreter unit 117 (step S104: No).
On the other hand, if there is a notification indicating completion from the interpreter unit 117, the system control unit 121 determines that the registration of font data has been completed (step S104: Yes), and proceeds to step S105.

(Step S105)
The system control unit 121 instructs image processing.
In this case, the system control unit 121 instructs the image processing unit 118 to perform image processing.
At this time, the image processing unit 118 uses the font data expanded in the RAM 115 to perform image processing (rasterization) on the print data.
Further, the system control unit 121 causes the RAM 115 to store print data (for example, raster data) subjected to image processing (rasterization) by the image processing unit 118.

(Step S106)
The system control unit 121 determines whether the image processing is completed.
In this case, the system control unit 121 determines that the image processing has not been completed if there is no notification from the image processing unit 118 indicating that the image processing has been completed (step S106: No).
On the other hand, the system control unit 121 determines that the image processing has been completed if there is a notification from the image processing unit 118 indicating that the image processing has been completed (step S106: Yes), and proceeds to step S107.

(Step S107)
The system control unit 121 instructs printing.
In this case, the system control unit 121 instructs the printer control unit 112 to print.
At this time, the printer control unit 112 controls printing by the printer unit 102 using print data (for example, raster data) stored in the RAM 115.
When the print data page description language delete command is recognized, the interpreter unit 117 deletes the font data developed in the RAM 115. Here, the erase command is usually added to the end of the page description language. As a result, the font data developed in the RAM 115 is deleted when printing is completed.

(Step S108)
The system control unit 121 determines whether printing has been completed.
In this case, the system control unit 121 determines that the printing has not been completed if there is no notification from the printer control unit 112 indicating that the printing has been completed (step S108: No).
On the other hand, the system control unit 121 determines that the printing is completed if there is a notification indicating that the printing is completed from the printer control unit 112 (step S108: Yes), and ends the process.

  In the above procedure, the print control information to be registered in the HDD 106 has been described as font data. However, the same processing as described above is performed even in the case of macro data.

  In step S <b> 103, the interpreter unit 117 may develop and register font data in the HDD 106. In this case, in step S105, the image processing unit 118 may perform image processing (rasterization) on the print data using the font data expanded on the HDD.

  In step S103, the interpreter unit 117 transfers the corresponding font data from the HDD 106 to the RAM 115 and expands it in the RAM 115 when the font data is already registered in the RAM 115. May be.

  In step S <b> 103, the interpreter unit 117 may expand the corresponding font data in the HDD 106 when font data already registered is present when the font data is expanded in the RAM 115. In this case, in step S105, the image processing unit 118 may perform image processing (rasterization) on the print data using the font data expanded on the HDD.

  If the font data is expanded on the HDD 106, the interpreter unit 117 may delete the font data expanded on the HDD 106 when determining that the printing is completed in step S108. Here, the delete command normally added to the end of the page description language of the print data is a command for deleting the font data developed in the RAM 115. Therefore, when the interpreter unit 117 recognizes the delete command, it operates to delete the font data developed in the RAM 115.

  In step S103, the interpreter unit 117 registers in the HDD 106. However, the interpreter unit 117 may register in the SSD instead of the HDD 106. In step S 103, the interpreter unit 117 develops font data in the RAM 115 and registers it in the HDD 106 at the same time. However, the font data may be registered in the HDD 106 and then expanded in the RAM 115.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, the communication control unit 114 receives print data described in a page description language including print control information (font data and / or macro data), and the panel operation control unit 119 receives the print data. Registration of the print control information (font data and / or macro data) in the HDD 106 or SSD (nonvolatile memory device) is accepted, the interpreter unit 117 interprets the page description language of the print data, and print control information (font data) And / or macro data) is registered in the HDD 106 or SSD (nonvolatile memory device), and the system operation unit 121 causes the panel operation control unit 119 to print the print control information (font data and / or macro data) HDD 106 or SSD (nonvolatile). Memory device) Placing only, to interpreter unit 117 instructs the HDD106 or registration to SSD (non-volatile memory device) of the print control information (font data and / or macro data).

  This eliminates the need to cut out print control information (font data and / or macro data) developed in, for example, the RAM 115 (volatile memory device) before generating a print image by image processing, for example. The print control information (font data and / or macro data) included in the print data described in (1) can be easily registered in the HDD 106 or SSD (nonvolatile memory device).

100 MFP
101 Scanner unit 102 Printer unit 103 FAX unit 104 I / F
105 Panel 106 HDD
110 Control Unit 111 Scanner Control Unit 112 Printer Control Unit 113 FAX Control Unit 114 Communication Control Unit 115 RAM
116 EEPROM
117 Interpreter unit 118 Image processing unit 119 Panel operation control unit 120 HDD control unit 121 System control unit 122 Data bus 200 Host terminal 300 Network

Claims (6)

A communication control unit for receiving print data described in a page description language including print control information;
A panel operation control unit that accepts registration of the print control information in a nonvolatile memory device;
Interpreting a page description language of the print data and registering the print control information in the nonvolatile memory device;
When the panel operation control unit receives registration of the print control information in the nonvolatile memory device, a system control unit that instructs the interpreter unit to register the print control information in the nonvolatile memory device; An image forming apparatus comprising the image forming apparatus. An image processing unit,
The interpreter unit develops and registers the print control information for the nonvolatile memory device, and
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing unit performs image processing on the print data using the print control information developed in the nonvolatile memory device. A volatile memory device for developing the print control information;
An image processing unit that performs image processing on the print data using the print control information developed in the volatile memory device;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interpreter unit expands the print control information to the volatile memory device and registers the print control information in the nonvolatile memory device. When the print control information included in the print data is not already registered in the nonvolatile memory device,
The interpreter unit expands the print control information to the volatile memory device, registers the print control information in the nonvolatile memory device,
The image processing unit performs image processing on the print data using the print control information developed in the volatile memory device,
When the print control information included in the print data is already registered in the nonvolatile memory device,
The interpreter unit expands the registered print control information in the nonvolatile memory device,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image processing unit performs image processing on the print data using the print control information developed in the nonvolatile memory.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print control information is font data and / or macro data. Receiving the print data described in the page description language including the print control information by the communication control unit;
A step of accepting registration of the print control information in the nonvolatile memory device by the panel operation control unit;
Interpreting a page description language of the print data by an interpreter unit, and registering the print control information in the nonvolatile memory device;
When the panel operation control unit receives registration of the print control information in the nonvolatile memory device, the system control unit instructs the interpreter unit to register the print control information in the nonvolatile memory device. An image forming program that causes a computer that controls the image forming apparatus to execute the process.

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