JPH0683917A - Image storage - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] A mass storage device provided in a printer or an image filing system is used from a host like an ordinary external storage device. [Structure] The host 108 transmits data and commands to the normal image forming apparatus 10 via the I / F 107 and receives a response. As this command, "Access mode start"
The CPU 101a switches the connection destination of the selector 105 from the buffer memory 103 to the host 108.
After that, the host 108 can use the disk 106, which is a resource of the image forming apparatus 10, as if it were its own external storage.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image storage device, such as an image storage device having a large capacity storage for temporarily storing data and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an apparatus having image storage such as a printer or an image filing system, a storage apparatus such as a hard disk or a magneto-optical disk is provided on the apparatus side, and data sent from a host computer is stored in the storage apparatus. A device devised so as to efficiently output by ringing or to file read image data and transfer the data based on an instruction from a host computer has been put into practical use.

[0003]

However, in such a device, as the data to be handled becomes large like an image, the load on the communication path with the host computer becomes heavy and the time required for the transfer also increases. Increase. Furthermore, since large data is temporarily held in the host computer side and the device side in duplicate, it is inefficient in terms of effective use of the storage device. These problems have become particularly prominent as devices handle higher resolution image data.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional example, and an object thereof is to provide an image storage device which reduces the load on the communication path at the time of data transfer and realizes effective use of the storage device. To do.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] and

To achieve the above object, the image storage device of the present invention has the following structure. And a receiving unit for receiving instruction data, an input / output unit for inputting / outputting image data, a storage unit for storing data, and a switching unit for switching an input / output destination of the storage unit based on the instruction data. The switching unit switches the input / output destination of the storage unit between the source of the instruction data and the input / output unit.

A storage means for storing image data,
Receiving means for receiving instruction data and image data, first analyzing means for analyzing the instruction data received by the receiving means with a first grammar, and instruction data received by the receiving means with a second grammar. Second analyzing means for analyzing; means for reading and writing image data in the storing means based on the analysis result by the second analyzing means; and the first based on the instruction data received by the receiving means. And a means for switching between the first analysis means and the second analysis means.

[0007]

EXAMPLE An image filing system will be described as an example of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows the main circuit configuration of the image filing system of the embodiment. In the figure, 10 is an image forming apparatus connected to the host computer 108.
Reference numeral 101 is a microcomputer for controlling each unit, 101-a is a central processing element (CPU), 101-b
Is a ROM that stores a program to be executed, 101-c is a RAM used as a work memory, 102 is a scanner that inputs an image, 103 is a buffer memory that stores image data, 104 is a laser beam printer, 105 is a selector, and 106 is 106 A hard disk 107 is a communication interface. The original image data read by the scanner 102 is transferred to the printer 10 via the buffer memory 103.
4 and the image is formed on a storage paper, an OHP sheet, or the like, and can be stored in the hard disk 106 via the selector 105. After the image data stored in the hard disk 106 is read, the image is formed by the printer 104 via the buffer memory 103 via the selector 105. In such a series of operations, the microcomputer 101 controls each unit to execute a predetermined operation.

Various commands sent from the host computer 108, responses returned to the host computer 108, etc. are communicated between the microcomputer 101 and the host computer 108 via the communication interface 107.

When the image data stored in the hard disk 106 needs to be exchanged with the host computer 108, the control is performed according to the procedure shown in FIG.
This procedure is performed by the microcomputer 101 in the ROM 1
It is realized by executing the program stored in 01b.

First, the host computer 108 issues a command for entering the access mode to the microcomputer 101. The access mode is a mode in which the host computer 108 can access the hard disk 106 in the same manner as the internal disk device without being aware of the external device. The command is received by the communication interface 107 (S31), and if the command read by the microcomputer 101 from the interface 107 enters the access mode (S32), the selector 105 is switched to move the hard disk 106 to the host computer 108 side. The connection is set (S33). Here, the hard disk 106
In the present embodiment, is for connecting to a SCSI bus, which is very common as an external storage device for a small computer. The host computer 108 is S
If CSI is supported, the host computer 108 can freely access the hard disk 106 after connecting to the host computer 108 side by the selector by a method that is completely the same as a normal external storage device. That is, it is possible not only to freely read and write the file storing the image data, but also to freely use it as a normal external storage device for work or the like, if necessary. Also, during this time,
Other resources of the image filing system can also operate under the control of the microcomputer 101.

When the host computer 108 completes the work of using the hard disk 106 such as using the necessary image data or creating new image data, the host computer 108 issues a command to release the access mode. . Upon receiving the command via the communication interface 107, the microcomputer 101 determines whether the command cancels the access mode (S34), and if so, switches the selector 105 to disconnect the hard disk 106 from the host computer 108 and buffer it. Memory 103
Etc. to the inside of the image forming apparatus 10.

Thereafter, the printing operation and the like are executed according to the instruction sent from the host computer 108.

As described above, the host computer 108
By configuring the hard disk 106 to be connected to the host computer 108 by a command from, the hard disk 106 inside the image forming apparatus 10 can be freely accessed. Generally, when handling image data, a large-capacity external storage device is required, but the hard disk 106 provided inside the image forming apparatus 10 is used instead of the hard disk conventionally provided on the host computer 106 side. Therefore, the hardware resources can be efficiently used, and the time required for transferring a large amount of image data that is normally required between the host computer 108 and the image forming apparatus 10 can be omitted. It will be possible.

In the present embodiment, the file management format in the hard disk 106 shared with the host computer is made to match the file storage format used by the OS (operating system) on the host computer side so that the host can read and write data. Configure so that writing is not hindered.

In this embodiment, the SCSI type hard disk has been described as an example of the storage means. However, this is an example, and a GPIB (general-purpose interface) type hard disk device is preferable depending on the type of the host computer. In some cases, any format that matches the host computer may be used. Further, the storage device itself is not limited to the hard disk, and a device that can be used as a file system from the host computer, such as a RAM disk or a magneto-optical disk device, does not affect the essence of the present invention.

[0017]

[Other Embodiments] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a computer system having a laser beam printer embodying the present invention. In the figure, the same components as those in the previous embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. Reference numeral 20 is a printer device. Reference numeral 201 denotes a laser diode, which is driven by data sent from the buffer memory 103 and exposes a photoconductor (not shown) to form a latent image. A desired image can be formed on the recording medium by developing the latent image with toner or the like. Hard disk 10
6 is also used for a normal printer application such as storing font data or spooling data to be recorded. In addition, in the present embodiment, the microcomputer 101 transparently receives the command / data received from the host computer 108 by receiving a predetermined command specifying the access mode from the host computer 108 via the communication interface 107. 106, and again hard disk 1
Similarly, a mode is entered in which the response from 06 is transparently passed to the host computer. When viewed from the host computer 108, the printer device 20 that has entered this mode behaves as if it were an external hard disk device, and can generate a file containing output data from the host computer 108 directly on the hard disk 106 inside the printer device 20. it can. Of course, other than generating output data, it can be used as a normal external storage device in a work area or the like.

When a file containing the data to be output is generated in this way, a command for canceling the access mode is issued from the host computer 108. In response to this, the microcomputer 101 stops the transparent data transfer between the host computer 108 and the hard disk 106, and returns to the normal operation. When it is confirmed that there is data to be output by receiving a predetermined recording start command from the microcomputer 101 or by scanning a predetermined file area, the microcomputer 101 changes the output data to the actual image data. The image is formed in the buffer memory 103 while being converted into.

The above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
This flowchart is realized by the microcomputer 101 executing the program stored in the ROM 101b.

First, when a command / data is received from the host 108 (S41), it is tested whether it is an access mode end command (S42). That is, in this case, only the access mode end command is not transparent. If the access mode has ended, a flag or the like indicating that is operated to end the access mode (S43).

On the other hand, if it is not the access mode end command, it is judged whether or not it is the current access mode by the same flag as the operation target in step S43 (S44), and if it is the access mode, the disk access command is emulated. The hard disk 106 is read / written (S45).

If it is not the access mode, the received command is analyzed, and the process according to the analysis result is performed (S4).
6). A command to enter the access mode, a recording start command, etc. are processed in this step.

By thus creating large data including image data generated by the host computer directly on the hard disk inside the printer, it is possible to save the trouble of transferring the data to the printer again. Furthermore, it is also possible to record the image data to be output once on the hard disk, read it directly by setting the access mode from the host computer side, and check the image data to be output in advance.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0025]

As described above, the image storage device according to the present invention has the effects of reducing the load on the communication path during data transfer and realizing effective use of the storage device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image filing system showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a computer system that is another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of access mode start / end processing by the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of processing in an access mode by a printer device according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 ... Microcomputer, 102 ... Scanner, 103 ... Buffer memory, 104 ... Printer, 105 ... Selector, 106 ... Hard disk, 107 ... Communication interface, 108 ... Host computer, 201 ... Laser diode.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A receiving unit for receiving instruction data, an input / output unit for inputting / outputting image data, a storage unit for storing data, and a switching unit for switching an input / output destination of the storage unit based on the instruction data. And an image storage device, characterized in that the input / output destination of the storage means is switched between the source of the instruction data and the input / output means by the switching means. 2. Storage means for storing image data, receiving means for receiving instruction data and image data, first analyzing means for analyzing the instruction data received by the receiving means with a first grammar, Second analysis means for analyzing the instruction data received by the reception means with a second grammar, and means for reading and writing image data in the storage means based on the analysis result by the second analysis means An image storage device comprising: a means for switching between the first analysis means and the second analysis means based on the instruction data received by the reception means. 3. The image storage device, further comprising means for printing out the image data stored in the storage means.