Patent Application
20120320423
The present application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-136543, filed Jun. 20, 2011, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, to which plural host apparatuses are connected via a network.
2. Description of the Related Art
Today, printing systems are used, in which host apparatuses such as host computers and a printing apparatus such as a printer and a so-called combined machine are connected to each other through a network. In the printing systems, the printing apparatus receives print data from plural host apparatuses connected thereto through the network and prints the received data.
In the printing apparatus, for example, an interface controller (hereinafter, “I/F controller”) receives the print data (PDL (Page Description Language)) from the host apparatuses and converts the received data, for example, into raster image data of a format, which can be transferred to an printer engine.
To convert the print data into the raster image data, a Raster Image Processor (RIP) is used. This converting process generates the raster image data and outputs pixel data in real time, but the converting process applies much load to CPU installed in the printing apparatus and consumes almost all of the power of CPU.
Therefore, in the printing apparatus, which is able to simultaneously receive the print data from plural host apparatuses, CPU falls in lack of power, and can not meet performance of a printer engine.
To solve the above disadvantage, the printing apparatus executes RIP process on only one of the plural pieces of received print data, and with respect to the remaining pieces of received print data, the printing apparatus just holds them in a data-receiving buffer within said printing apparatus.
In order to execute the data receiving process and RIP process effectively, the I/F controller of the printing apparatus performs the data-receiving process and the RIP process out of synchronization, and exchanges the print data between the two processes with use of the data-receiving buffer.
Japanese Patent No. Hei11-331530 A discloses a system, in which peripheral apparatuses including a printing apparatus for printing images, a scanning apparatus for reading images, and a facsimile apparatus for transferring/receiving data, are connected to each other through the network, and RAM is used in the case where a high speed access is required and a large storing capacity is not needed so much and a hard disk drive is used in the case where a large storing capacity is required and a high speed access is not needed so much, and data is exchanged among the above peripheral apparatuses.
However, in the case where RAM is used as the data-receiving buffer, RAM is better in a data access speed but has a disadvantage that is not enough in a memory capacity to hold the print data.
Meanwhile, in the case where the hard disk drive is used as the data-receiving buffer, hard disk drive is enough in the data storing capacity to hold the print data but has a disadvantage that is not better in the data access speed.
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a printing apparatus for printing on a print medium print data received from plural host apparatuses, the printing apparatus, which comprises a first memory unit which stores the print data received from one of the plural host apparatuses, a second memory unit of a data access speed lower than the first memory unit, which stores the print data received from another one of the plural host apparatuses when the first memory unit is in use for storing the print data received previously, a receiving unit which receives the print data in parallel from the plural host apparatuses, a judging unit which judges whether the first memory unit is in use, and a storing-process controlling unit which starts a first storing process for storing first received print data in the first memory unit, when the judging unit determines that the first memory unit is not in use, and which starts a second storing process for storing second received print data in the second memory unit, when the first storing process is in process and the judging unit determines that the first memory unit is in use.
According to another aspect of the invention, therein provided a printing apparatus for printing on a print medium print data received from plural host apparatuses, the printing apparatus which comprises a first memory unit which stores the print data received from one of the plural host apparatuses, a second memory unit of a data access speed lower than the first memory unit, which stores the print data received from another one of the plural host apparatuses when the first memory unit is in use for storing the print data received previously, a receiving unit which receives the print data in parallel from the plural host apparatuses, a judging unit which judges whether the first memory unit is in use, a storing-process controlling unit which starts a first storing process for storing first received print data in the first memory unit, when the judging unit determines that the first memory unit is not in use, and which starts a second storing process for storing second received print data in the second memory unit, when the first storing process is in process and the judging unit determines that the first memory unit is in use, and a memory changing unit which changes a memory area for storing print data from the second memory unit to the first memory unit, when the judging unit has determined that the first memory unit is freed while the print data is being stored in the second memory unit.
According to still another aspect of the invention, there is provided a printing apparatus for printing on a print medium print data received from plural host apparatuses, the printing apparatus, which comprises a first memory unit which stores the print data received from one of the plural host apparatuses, a second memory unit of a data access speed lower than the first memory unit, which stores the print data received from another one of the plural host apparatuses when the first memory unit is in use for storing the print data received previously, a receiving unit which receives the print data in parallel from the plural host apparatuses, a judging unit which judges whether the first memory unit is in use, a storing-process controlling unit which starts a first storing process for storing first received print data in the first memory unit, when the judging unit determines that the first memory unit is not in use, and which starts a second storing process for storing second received print data in the second memory unit, when the first storing process is in process and the judging unit determines that the first memory unit is in use, a processing order determining unit which determines a processing order of the received print data, a memory determining unit which determines a memory area for storing print data, based on the decision made by the judging unit of whether the first memory unit is in use and the decision made by the processing order determining unit, and a memory changing unit which changes a memory area for storing print data from the second memory unit to the first memory unit, when the memory determining unit has determined to change the memory while the print data is being stored in the second memory unit, and which changes the memory area from the first memory unit to the second memory unit, when the memory determining unit has determined to change the memory while the print data is being stored in the first memory unit.
Now, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The host computers PC1 to PC3 convert print data generated in accordance with application software into print data (PDL data) with use of a printer driver and sends the print data (PDL data) to the printing apparatus 1. When the receiving unit 2 receives the print data sent from the host computers PC1 to PC3, the printing apparatus 1 sends a receiving-start signal to the controlling unit 3. The receiving unit 2 is capable of simultaneously receiving the print data sent from plural host computers PC1 to PC3.
The receiving unit 2 receives the print data sent from the host computers PC1 to PC3 and sends the received print data to the hard disk drive 7 or RAM 8. RAM 8 has a memory area for storing the print data, for example, of several pages, and stores the print data input through the receiving unit 2. The hard disk drive 7 has a storage area for storing plural pieces of print data, and stores the print data input through the receiving unit 2.
Upon receipt of the receiving-start signal from the receiving unit 2, the controlling unit 3 gives the receiving unit 2 a response of a receiving-start allowance and searches through all the records registered in the state table 9, performing various controlling operations to be described later.
As described above, the printing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the invention is capable of simultaneously receiving the print data from plural host computers, and one example of the printing apparatus 1 will be described hereinafter.
The host computer PC1 generates print data “a” in accordance with the application software, and divides the print data “a” into plural packets “a1” to “an” and then sends these packets “a1” to “an” to the printing apparatus 1 via the network (LAN). In addition to content data, the packets “a1” to “an” contain information of an originating host computer, and information of a packet sequence, which are required at packet combining. In the same manner, the host computer PC2 generates print data “b” in accordance with the application software, and divides the print data “b” into plural packets “b1” to “bn” and then sends these packets “b1” to “bn” to the printing apparatus 1 via the network (LAN).
The receiving unit 2 receives the mixed packets “a1” to “an” and “b1” to “bn” (print data), which are sent via the network (LAN) and combines the received packets in accordance with the information of the originating host computers and the information of the packet sequence, reproducing original print data “a” and “b”. The print data “a” and “b” received at the same time as described above are sent to the hard disk drive 7 or RAM 8 to be stored therein.
For instance, the host-information recording area 9a records information of the host computers PC1 to PC3, which have sent the print data, and the buffer-condition recording area 9b records information of the hard disk drive 7 or RAM 8, which stores the print data. Further, the address/file-name recording area 9c records addresses or file names of the print data, and the data-size recording area 9d records data sizes of the print data. The RIP condition recording area 9e records driving conditions of the RIP unit 4. For instance, while the RIP unit 4 is in operation, information representing “RIP in operation” is recorded in the RIP-condition recording area 9e, and while the RIP unit 4 is out of operation, information representing “no” is recorded in the RIP-condition recording area 9e.
In the state table 9 at the initial time, all records in the host-information recording area 9a are reset to a condition of “empty”, and all records in the buffer-condition recording area 9b are reset to a condition of “empty”. Further, all records in the address/file-name recording area 9c are reset to a condition of “no”, all records in the data-size recording area 9d are reset to “−1” and all records in the RIP-condition recording area 9e are reset to a condition of “no”.
Upon receipt of the receiving-start signal from the receiving unit 2, the controlling unit 3 sequentially searches through the records in the state table 9 from the record number 1, and stores the host information in the host-information recording area 9a of the first record, which is now in the condition of “empty”.
In accordance with an instruction from the controlling unit 3, the RIP unit 4 reads the print data from the hard disk drive 7 or RAM 8, and analyzes a command to convert the print data into drawing data. The drawing data converted by the RIP unit 4 is expanded on the image memory 10.
When a predetermined amount of drawing data is expanded, the transferring unit 5 reads the drawing data from the image memory 10 and transfers the data to the printer engine 6. The printer engine 6 performs a printing process on recording medium (for example, a printing paper) based on the transferred print data.
A processing operation to be performed by the printing apparatus 1 having the configuration described above will be described hereinafter. Before describing the processing operation by the printing apparatus 1, it is assumed that information shown in
As described above, the information of the print data sent from the host computer PC1 is recorded in the state table 9 of the record number 1, and for example, since the print data is stored in RAM 8 and information of “RIP in operation” is recorded in the RIP-condition recording area 9e of the record number 1, it is represented that the RIP unit 4 is in operation and analyzes the print data stored in RAM 8.
In a similar manner, in the host-information recording area 9a of the record number 2 is recorded information of “PC2”, which represents that the print data is sent from the host computer PC2, and in the buffer-condition recording area 9b of the record number 2 is recorded information of “HDD”, which represents that the print data is stored in the hard disk drive 7. In the address/file-name recording area 9c of the record number 2 is stored information of “RCV00001”, which represents that a file name of print data is “RCV00001”, and in the data-size recording area 9d of the record number 2 is recorded information of “−1”, which represents that information of a data size has not been set. As described above, the information recorded in the state table 9 of the record number 2 represents that the print data having the file name of “RCV00001” is sent from the host computer PC2 and is being subjected to a storing process into the hard disk drive 7.
At the time when the process starts, the description will be made hereinafter on the assumption that the remaining records in the state table 9 are set to the initial conditions, respectively.
The receiving unit 2 judges at step S1 in the flow chart of
Hereinafter, the following description will be made on the assumption that the print data has been already input to the receiving unit 2 from the host computers PC1 and PC2 and new print data will be input to the receiving unit 2 from the host computer PC3, as indicated by the state table 9 shown in
Upon receipt of the receiving-start signal from the receiving unit 2, the controlling unit 3 starts a processing in accordance with the flow chart shown in
In the state table 9 shown in
Therefore, RAM 8 is in use at present (NO at step ST3), and the controlling unit 3 creates a new file name of the print data stored in the hard disk drive 7 (step ST4), and sets the file name in the corresponding area of the state table 9 (step ST5). For instance, in the state table shown in
Thereafter, the controlling unit 3 gives the receiving unit 2 a response of a receiving-start allowance (step ST6). Upon receipt of the response of a receiving-start allowance from the controlling unit 3 (YES at step S3 in
Then, the receiving unit 2 judges whether data has been received (step S5). When it is determined that the print data has been received (YES at step S5), the receiving unit 2 judges a buffer condition (step S6) to execute a writing process of the print data. In the case of the state table 9 shown in
While receiving the print data (YES at step S5), the receiving unit 2 successively stores the received print data in the hard disk drive 7 (steps S5 to S8). When having finished receiving the print data (NO at step S5), the receiving unit 2 gives the controlling unit 3 notice of completion of print data receiving (step S9).
Upon receipt of the notice of completion of print data receiving (YES at step ST1 in
After giving the receiving unit 2 the response of a receiving-start allowance (step ST6), the controlling unit 3 searches through the records in the state table 9 (step ST7) to judge whether it is possible for the RIP unit 4 to execute a RIP process (step ST8). The judgment is made by referring to a record registered in the RIP-condition recording area 9e of the state table 9 shown in
In other words, at this time, the RIP unit 4 is executing the RIP process on the print data in accordance with the records registered in the state table 9 of the record number 1, and judges whether any external notice has been given (step STP1 in the flow chart of
More specifically, the RIP unit 4 judges whether there is left any data to be read or any data which has not yet been subjected to the RIP process (step STP3). When there is left in RAM 8 the print data registered in the record number 1 (YES at step STP3), the RIP unit 4 judges the buffer condition (step STP4), and reads the print data from RAM 8, executing a command analyzing process of the print data (step STP5).
The RIP unit 4 renews the reading size of accumulating data (step STP7). For instance, the RIP unit 4 judges whether image data of one page has been completed (step STP8), and when the image data of one page has not been completed (NO at step STP8), the RIP unit 4 repeatedly executes the above processes (steps STP3 to SIPS, and steps STP7 to STP9).
During these processes, the image data is successively expanded on the image memory 10 and when the image data of one page has been completed (YES at step STP8), the RIP unit 4 gives the transferring unit 5 notice of data transfer (step STP9). Thereafter, the RIP unit 4 judges whether there is left in RAM 8 the print data to be processed (step STP3). When it is determined that no print data is left in RAM 8 (NO at step STP3), the RIP unit 4 gives the controlling unit 3 notice of completion of the RIP process (step STP10).
Upon receipt of the notice of completion of the RIP process from the RIP unit 4 (YES at step ST1 in
In consideration of new print data input to RAM 8, when the RIP process has not been completed on the data in RAM 8 (not completed at step ST13), the controlling unit 3 gives the RIP unit 4 notice of proceeding with the RIP process (step ST13′).
After performing the deleting process at step ST14, the controlling unit 3 judges whether the RIP process is possible for the RIP unit 4 to execute (step ST15). When it is determined that the RIP process is possible for the RIP unit 4 to execute (YES at step ST15), the controlling unit 3 searches through the records in the state table 9 (step ST16) to judge whether any record of “not empty” is found in the buffer condition (step ST17). When a record of “not empty” is found in the buffer condition (YES at step ST17), for instance, when information of “HDD” is registered in the buffer-condition recording area 9b of the record number 2 as shown in
In this case, the RIP unit 4 reads the print data of the file name “RCV00001” from the hard disk drive 7, which is registered in the buffer-condition recording area 9b of the record number 2 in the state table 9 of
Meanwhile, when it is determined that the RIP process is not possible for the RIP unit 4 to execute (NO at step ST15 in
As described above, in the case where the print data is already stored in RAM 8, new input print data will be stored in the hard disk drive 7. Even if RAM 8 should be brought empty while the print data is being stored in the hard disk drive 7, the print data is kept being stored in the hard disk drive 7.
In the case that RAM 8 is kept empty and the information of “RAM” is not registered in the buffer-condition recording area 9b, upon receipt of the receiving-start signal from the receiving unit 2 (YES at step ST1 in
In the present embodiment of the invention, in the case that RAM 8 is not empty, new print data is stored in the hard disk drive 7, and in the case that RAM 8 is empty, new print data is stored in RAM 8. While receiving the print data, the receiving unit 2 does not change the medium for storing the print data from the hard disk drive 7 to RAM 8 and vice versa. Therefore, even if plural pieces of print data are input to the receiving unit 2, a load to be applied on CPU is reduced and the printing process is effectively performed.
Now, the second embodiment of the invention will be described.
With use of a printer driver the host computers PC1 to PC3 convert data produced in accordance with application software into print data (PDL data) and sends the print data (PDL data) to the printing apparatus 11. When the receiving unit 2 receives the print data sent from the host computers PC1 to PC3, the printing apparatus 11 sends the receiving-start signal to the controlling unit 13. The receiving unit 12 receives the print data sent from the host computers PC1 to PC3 and sends the received data to the hard disk drive 17 or RAM 18. The receiving unit 12 is capable of simultaneously receiving the print data sent from plural host computers. In other words, the receiving unit 12 is capable of simultaneously receiving two pieces of print data “a” and “b”, as shown in
Upon receipt of the receiving-start signal from the receiving unit 12, the controlling unit 13 gives the receiving unit 12 a response of a receiving-start allowance and searches through all the records in the state table 19, performing various controlling operations to be described later.
For instance, the host-information recording area 19a stores information of the host computers PC1 to PC3, which have sent the print data, the RAM buffer-condition recording area 19b records information representing that the print data is stored in RAM 18, and the HDD buffer-condition recording area 19c records information representing that the print data is stored in the hard disk drive 17. Further, the RAM address recording area 19d records information of addresses where the print data is stored in RAM 18.
The HDD file-name recording area 19e records file names of the print data stored in the hard disk drive 17, the RAM data-size recording area 19f records data sizes of the files stored in RAM 18, the HDD data-size recording area 19g records data sizes of the files stored in the hard disk drive 17, and the RIP condition recording area 19h records driving conditions of the RIP unit 14. For instance, while the RIP unit 14 is in operation, information representing “RAM in RIP operation” and/or “HDD in RIP operation” are recorded in the RIP condition recording area 19h.
In the state table 19 of the initial condition as shown in
The processing operation of the printing apparatus 11 having the configuration described above will be described hereinafter. Before describing the processing operation by the printing apparatus 11, it is assumed that information shown in
As described above, the information of the print data sent from the host computer PC1 is recorded in the state table 19 of the record number 1, and the information of “RAM in RIP operation” is recorded in the RIP condition recording area 19h of the record number 1, which represents that the RIP unit 14 is in operation and analyzing the print data stored in RAM 18.
In a similar manner, in the host-information recording area 19a of the record number 2 is recorded the information of “PC2”, which represents that the print data has been sent from the host computer PC2, and in the HDD buffer-condition recording area 19c of the record number 2 is recorded information of “data”, which represents that the print data is stored in the hard disk drive 17. In the HDD file-name recording area 19e of the record number 2 is recorded the information of “RCV00001”, which represents that the file name of print data is “RCV00001”.
At the time when the process starts in the second embodiment of the invention, it is assumed that the remaining records in the state table 19 are set to the initial conditions, respectively.
The receiving unit 12 judges whether the print data has been received from any of the host computers PC1 to PC3 connected to the network (step X1 in the flow chart of
Hereinafter, the second embodiment of the invention will be described on the assumption that the print data has been already input to the receiving unit 12 from the host computers PC1 and PC2 and new print data will be input to the receiving unit 12 from the host computer PC3, as indicated in the state table 19 shown in
Upon receipt of the receiving-start signal from the receiving unit 12, the controlling unit 13 judges whether any external notice has been received (step Y1 in the flow chart shown in
In the state table 19 shown in
Therefore, RAM 18 is in use at present and it is determined NO at step Y3. Then, a HDD file-name is created (step Y4) and the file name is set to the corresponding area in the state table 19 (step Y5). For instance, in the state table 19 shown in
Upon receipt of the response of a receiving-start allowance from the controlling unit 13 (YES at step X3 in FIG. 11), the receiving unit 12 judges whether the response of a receiving-start allowance is to RAM 18 or to the hard disk drive 17. Since the response of a receiving-start allowance is to the hard disk drive 17, the receiving unit 12 initializes the storing size of data accumulating in the hard disk drive 17 (step X4).
The receiving unit 12 judges whether any data has been received (step X5). When it is determined that data (print data) has been received (YES at step X5), the receiving unit 12 judges whether notice of switching the buffer for receiving data has been given (step X6). For example, notice of switching the buffer for receiving data is given at the time when RAM 18 is brought empty while the print data is being stored in the hard disk drive 17.
When notice of switching the buffer for receiving data is not given (NO at step X6), the receiving unit 12 writes the print data into the hard disk drive 17 (step X7) and renews the storing size of accumulating data in the hard disk drive 17 (step X8). Thereafter, the receiving unit 12 repeatedly performs the above processes (steps X5, X6, X7 and X8) to write the print data into the hard disk drive 17. When no more print data is input to be written into the hard disk drive 17 (NO at step X5), the receiving unit 12 gives the controlling unit 13 notice of completion of print data receiving (step X9). The above processes are performed while notice of switching the buffer for receiving data is not given.
Meanwhile, the controlling unit 13 performs the following controlling operation at the same time and therefore RAM 18 can be brought empty. In other words, giving a response of a receiving-start allowance to the receiving unit 12 (step Y6 in
Even if the information of “RAM in RIP operation” is not registered in the RIP condition recording area 19h of the record number 1 (YES at step Y8), data is stored in RAM 18 (YES at step Y9). The controlling unit 13 records the information of “RAM in RIP operation” in the RIP condition recording area 19h in the state table 19 (step Y10) and gives the RIP unit 14 notice of starting of the RIP process to be performed on the print data memorized in RAM 18 (step Y11). Meanwhile, even if the print data is not stored in RAM 18 (NO at step Y9), the controlling unit 13 records the information of “HDD in RIP operation” in the RIP condition recording area 19h (step Y31) when the print data is stored in the hard disk drive 17, and gives the RIP unit 14 notice of starting of the RIP process to be performed on the print data in the hard disk drive 17 (step Y32).
The RIP unit 14 judges whether any external notice has been given and starts the RIP process (step Z1 in the flow chart shown in
In this case, since the print data whose record is registered in the record number 1 is left in RAM 18 (YES at step Z3), the RIP unit 14 reads the print data from RAM 18 to execute the RIP process thereon (step Z4). The RIP unit 14 renews the reading size of the accumulating data (step Z5), and judges whether image data of one page has been completed (step Z6). When it is determined that the image data of one page has not yet been completed (NO at step Z6), the RIP unit 14 repeatedly performs the above processes (steps Z3 to Z6).
When the image data is successively expanded on the image memory 20 and the image data of one page has been completed (YES at step Z6), the RIP unit 14 gives the transferring unit 15 notice of data transfer (step Z7). Thereafter, the RIP unit 14 judges if there is left the print data in RAM 18 (step Z3). When it is determined that no print data is left in RAM 18 (NO at step Z3), the RIP unit 14 gives the controlling unit 13 notice of completion of the RIP process on the data in RAM 18 (step Z8).
Meanwhile, when the print data stored in RAM 18 is read therefrom and an empty area is born in RAM 18, it is possible for the receiving unit 12 to store the print data of the hard disk drive 17 in such empty area of RAM 18.
Upon receipt of the notice of completion of the RIP process performed on data in RAM 18 from the RIP unit 14, the controlling unit 13 performs a process “B” shown in
After deleting the information corresponding to the record number 1 (step Y14), the controlling unit 13 judges whether the RIP process is possible for the RIP unit 14 to execute (step Y15). When it is determined that the RIP process is possible for the RIP unit 14 to execute (YES at step Y15), the controlling unit 13 searches through the records in the state table 19 (step Y16). When it is determined that data is left in RAM 18 (YES at step Y17), the controlling unit 13 sets the state table 19 accordingly (step Y18) and gives the RIP unit 14 notice of starting of the RIP process on the print data stored in RAM 18 (step Y19).
Meanwhile, when it is determined that no data is found in RAM 18 (NO at step Y17), the controlling unit 13 judges whether data is left in the hard disk drive 17 (step Y20). When it is determined that data is found in the hard disk drive 17 (YES at step Y20), the controlling unit 13 sets the state table 19 accordingly (step Y21). In the case of the state table 19 shown in
Further, the controlling unit 13 searches through the records in the state table 19 (step Y23) to judge whether it is possible to switch the buffer for receiving data (step Y24). In this case, since the print data has been already read from RAM 18, it is possible to switch the buffer for receiving data (YES at step Y24). Accordingly, the table setting process is performed on the state table 19 (step Y25) to set from that shown in
Upon receipt of the notice of switching the buffer for receiving data, the receiving unit 12 determines that it has received the notice of switching the buffer for receiving data (YES at step X6 in
The receiving unit 12 gives the controlling unit 13 notice of resuming the receiving operation of the print data (step X12 in
Upon receipt of the above response (YES at step X3 in
As described above, for example, the print data sent from the host computer PC3 is initially stored in the hard disk drive 17 but is halfway changed to be stored in RAM 18, and thereafter the remaining print data is stored in RAM 18.
In the second embodiment described above, when the print data previously stored in RAM 18 is read therefrom and an empty area is prepared in RAM 18 after the process has started once of storing the print data in the hard disk drive 17, the print data can be stored in the empty area of RAM 18 thereafter, which allows the RIP unit 14 to transfer the print data at a high rate.
In the second embodiment described above, the print data output from the host computer PC3 is stored in the hard disk drive 17 and RAM 18, the RIP unit 14 performs the RIP process on the data in the hard disk drive 17 in response to the notice of starting of the RIP process.
The state table 19 shown in
When it is determined that the image data of one page has been completed (YES at step Z13), the RIP unit 14 gives the transferring unit 15 notice of data transfer (step Z14). Then, the RIP unit 14 judges whether any print data is left in the hard disk drive 17 (step Z10). When it is determined that no print data is left in the hard disk drive 17 (NO at step Z10), the RIP unit 14 gives the controlling unit 13 notice of completion of the RIP process on the data in the hard disk drive 17 (step Z15).
After completing the above processes, the controlling unit 13 performs a process “C” shown in
As described above, since the print data sent from the host computer PC3 is stored in the hard disk drive 17 and RAM 18, the controlling unit 13 gives the RIP unit 14 notice of proceeding with the RIP process on the data in hard disk drive 17 (step Y35). The RIP unit 14 reads the print data from the hard disk drive 17 to read the initial print data sent from the host computer PC3, and executes the RIP process on the read data in the same manner as described above. Then the RIP unit 14 outputs the processed data from the transferring unit 15 to the printer engine 16 (steps Z9 to Z14 in
After performing the RIP process on the print data (NO at step Z10, step Z15), the RIP unit 14 gives the controlling unit 13 notice of the notice of completion of the RIP process (step Z15). Upon receipt of the notice of completion of the RIP process from the RIP unit 14, the controlling unit 13 judges whether the RIP unit 14 has finished performing the RIP process on the print data in the hard disk drive 17 (step Y34 in
The controlling unit 13 sets the state table 19 accordingly (step Y37) and gives the RIP unit 14 notice of performing the RIP process on the print data in RAM 18 (step Y38). The RIP unit 14 performs the RIP process on the print data in RAM 18 (steps Z2 to Z7 in
In the second embodiment described above, when the RIP process is performed on the print data previously stored in RAM 18 and an empty area is produced in RAM 18 after the process has started once of storing the print data in the hard disk drive 17, the print data can be stored in such empty area RAM 18 thereafter, which allows the RIP unit 14 to execute the RIP process at a high rate, whereby the printing operation can be performed at a high speed.
Now, the third embodiment of the invention will be described.
Similarly, with use of a printer driver the host computers PC1 to PC3 convert data produced in accordance with application software into print data (PDL data) and sends the print data (PDL data) to the printing apparatus 21. When the receiving unit 22 receives the print data sent from the host computers PC1 to PC3, the printing apparatus 21 sends the receiving-start signal to the controlling unit 23. The receiving unit 22 receives the print data sent from the host computers PC1 to PC3 and sends the received data to the hard disk drive 27 or RAM 28. The receiving unit 22 is capable of simultaneously receiving the print data sent from plural host computers.
Upon receipt of the receiving-start signal from the receiving unit 22, the controlling unit 23 gives the receiving unit 22 a response of a receiving-start allowance and searches through all the records in the state table 29 to perform various controlling operations to be described later.
For instance, the host-information recording area 29a records information of the host computers PC1 to PC3, which have sent the print data, the RAM buffer-condition recording area 29b records information representing whether the print data is stored in RAM 28, and the HDD buffer-condition recording area 29c records information representing whether the print data is stored in the hard disk drive 27. Further, the RAM address recording area 29d records addresses of the print data stored in RAM 28.
The HDD file-name recording area 29e records file names of the print data stored in the hard disk drive 27, the RAM data-size recording area 29f records data sizes of the files stored in RAM 28, the HDD data-size recording area 29g records data sizes of the files stored in the hard disk drive 27, and the RIP condition recording area 29h records driving conditions of the RIP unit 24. For instance, while the RIP unit 24 is in operation, information of “RAM in RIP operation” and/or “HDD in RIP operation” are recorded in the RIP condition recording area 29h.
At the initial stage of the state table 29 as shown in
The processing operation of the printing apparatus 21 with the configuration described above will be described hereinafter. Before describing the printing operation by the printing apparatus 21, it is assumed that information shown in
As described above, the information of the print data sent from the host computer PC1 is recorded in the state table 29 of the record number 1, and the information of “RAM in RIP operation” is stored in the RIP condition recording area 29h of the record number 1. Accordingly, it will be understood from the state table 29 that the RIP unit 24 is in operation and analyzing the print data stored in RAM 28.
In the similar manner, in the host-information recording area 29a of the record number 2 is recorded the information of “PC2”, which represents that the print data has been sent from the host computer PC2, and in the HDD buffer-condition recording area 29c of the record number 2 is recorded information of “data”, which represents that the print data is stored in the hard disk drive 27. In the HDD file-name recording area 29e of the record number 2 is recorded the information of “RCV00001”, which represents that the file name of print data is “RCV00001”.
At the time when the process starts in the third embodiment of the invention, it is assumed that the remaining records in the state table 29 are set to the initial conditions, respectively.
The receiving unit 22 judges whether the print data has been received from any of the host computers PC1 to PC3 connected to the network (step U1 in the flow chart of
Hereinafter, the third embodiment of the invention will be described on the assumption that the print data has been already input to the receiving unit 22 from the host computers PC1 and PC2 and new print data will be input to the receiving unit 2 from the host computer PC3, as indicated in the state table 29 shown in
Upon receipt of the receiving-start signal from the receiving unit 22, the controlling unit 23 judges whether any external notice has been received (step V1 in the flow chart shown in
In the state table 29 shown in
Therefore, RAM 28 is in use at present and it is determined that RAM 28 is not available (NO at step V3). Then, a HDD file-name is created (step V4) and the file name is set to the corresponding area in the state table 29 (step V5). For instance, in the state table 29 shown in
Upon receipt of the response of a receiving-start allowance from the controlling unit 23 (YES at step U3 in
The receiving unit 22 judges whether any data has been received (step U5). When it is determined that data (print data) has been received (YES at step U5), the receiving unit 22 judges whether notice of switching the buffer for receiving data has been given (step U6). In the third embodiment of the invention, the notice of switching the buffer is output, for instance, when an instruction of interruption-process is given, as will be described.
When notice of switching the buffer is not given (NO at step U6), the receiving unit 22 writes the print data into the hard disk drive 27 (step U7) and renews the storing size of data accumulating in the hard disk drive 27 (step U8). Thereafter, the receiving unit 22 repeatedly performs the above processes (steps U5, U6, U7 and U8) to write the print data into the hard disk drive 27. When no more print data is input to the receiving unit 22 (NO at step U5), the receiving unit 22 gives the controlling unit 23 notice of completion of print data receiving (step U9). Upon receipt of the notice of completion of print data receiving, the controlling unit 23 sets the state table 29 (step V12 in
The above processes are performed in a period, in which notice of switching the buffer is given to the receiving unit 12, that is, in which no instruction of interruption-process is given.
Meanwhile, an input process is simultaneously performed to input the print data into RAM 28 from the host computer PC1. In the input process, upon receipt of the notice of a receiving-start allowance, the receiving unit 22 initializes the storing size of accumulating data in RAM 28 (step U10), judges whether the data is received (step U11), judges whether notice of switching the buffer for receiving data is given (step U12), and writes the print data into RAM 28 (step U13). Further, the receiving unit 22 renews the storing size of accumulating data in RAM 28 (step U14). The receiving unit 22 repeatedly performs the above processes (steps U11, U12, U13 and U14) to write the print data into RAM 28. When the input of the print data into RAM 28 has completed (NO at step U11), the receiving unit 22 gives the controlling unit 23 notice of completion of print data receiving (step U15). This process is performed when no notice of switching the buffer for receiving data is given.
The controlling unit 23 gives the receiving unit 22 a response of a receiving-start allowance (step V6 in
Meanwhile, when it is determined that the information of “RAM in RIP operation” is not registered in the RIP condition recording area 29h of the record number 1 (YES at step V8) and data is stored in RAM 28 (YES at step V9), the controlling unit 23 registers the information of “RAM in RIP operation” in the RIP condition recording area 29h of the state table 29 (step V10), and gives the RIP unit 24 notice of starting of the RIP process on the data in RAM 28 (step V11). Even when no print data is stored in RAM 28 (NO at step V9) but the print data is stored in the hard disk drive 27, the controlling unit 23 registers the information of “HDD in RIP operation” in the RIP condition recording area 29h of the state table 29 (step V13), and gives the RIP unit 24 notice of starting of the RIP process on the print data in the hard disk drive 27 (step V14).
The RIP unit 24 judges whether any external notice has been given and starts the RIP process (step W1 in the flow chart shown in
Then, the RIP unit 24 judges if there is left in RAM 28 data to be subjected to the RIP process (step W3). When it is determined that the print data is left in RAM 28 (YES at step W3), the RIP unit 24 reads the print data from RAM 28 to execute the RIP process thereon (step W4). The RIP unit 14 renews the reading size of the accumulating data (step W5), and judges whether image data of one page has been completed (step W6). When it is determined that the image data of one page has not yet been completed (NO at step W6), the RIP unit 24 repeatedly performs the above processes (steps W3 to W6).
When the image data is successively expanded on the image memory 30 and the image data of one page is completed (YES at step W6), the RIP unit 24 gives the transferring unit 25 notice of data transfer (step W7). Thereafter, the RIP unit 24 judges if notice of ceasing the RIP process has been given from RAM 28 (step W8). The notice of ceasing the RIP process is given when the instruction of interruption-process is given. When no notice of ceasing the RIP process is given (NO at step W8), the RIP unit 24 keeps performing the RIP process. When no print data is left in RAM 28 (NO at step W3), the RIP unit 24 gives the controlling unit 23 notice of completion of the RIP process (step W9).
Meanwhile, plural pieces of information of the print data registered in the state table 29 shown in
For instance, in the case where the instruction of interruption is given to perform a printing operation of printing first the print data corresponding to the information registered in the record number 3, the controlling unit 23 executes a process for changing a priority order in the state table (YES at step V1 and step V15 in
Then, the controlling unit 23 gives the RIP unit 24 notice of ceasing the RIP process (step V17 in
Upon receipt of the notice of ceasing the RIP process from the controlling unit 23 (YES at step W8 in
Then, the controlling unit 23 gives the receiving unit 22 notice of switching the buffer for receiving data (step V19 in
Upon receipt of the notice of switching the buffer for receiving data (YES at step U12 in
Upon receipt of a notice of resuming data-receiving from the receiving unit 22 (YES at step V1 in
Thereafter, the print data sent from the host computer PC1 is stored with the file name of “RCV00003” in the hard disk drive 27.
Further, the controlling unit 23 gives the receiving unit 22 notice of switching the buffer for receiving the print data sent from the host computer PC3 (step V21). In other words, the controlling unit 23 gives the receiving unit 22 notice of switching the buffer for receiving the print data, which are stored in the hard disk drive 27 in the processes of steps U4 to U8 in
Upon receipt of the notice of switching the buffer from the controlling unit 23 (YES at step U6 in
Upon receipt of the notice of resuming print data receiving from the receiving unit 22 (YES at step V1 in
Thereafter, the receiving unit 22 stores in RAM 28 the print data sent from the host computer PC3 (steps U11 to U14), and gives the controlling unit 23 notice of completion of data receiving when no print data is input from the host computer PC3 (step U15).
In the above processes, the print data sent, for example, from the host computer PC3 and stored in the hard disk drive 27 is stored in RAM 28 after the instruction of interruption-process is given, and the print data sent, for example, from the host computer PC1 and stored in RAM 28 is stored in the hard disk drive 27 after the instruction of interruption-process is given. Therefore, even if the instruction of interruption-process is given, the medium where the print data is to be stored is quickly switched and the print data can be stored in the hard disk drive 27 or in RAM 28.
In this case, the RIP process is in a suspended state, which is to be executed on the data which are stored in RAM 28 before the instruction of interruption-process has been given, and the RIP unit 24 executes the RIP process first on data, to which the instruction of interruption-process is given, to print and output said data, first.
Thereafter, the RIP unit 24 performs the RIP process first on the print data sent from the host computer PC3, to which the instruction of interruption-process is given, and then starts performing the RIP process on the data in the hard disk drive 27 in accordance with the instruction of starting the RIP process given by the controlling unit 23 (step V23).
The RIP unit 24 initializes the reading size of accumulating data (step W12 in
When the image data of one page has been completed (YES at step W16), the RIP unit 24 gives the transferring unit 25 notice of data transfer (W17). Thereafter, the RIP unit 24 repeatedly performs the above process (step W13 to W18) until the notice is received of ceasing the RIP process to be performed on the print data sent from the hard disk drive 27. Further, the RIP unit 24 judges whether there is left the print data in the hard disk drive 27 (step W13). When it is determined that no print data is left in the hard disk drive 27 (NO at step W13), the RIP unit 24 gives the controlling unit 23 notice of completion of the RIP process to be performed on the print data in the hard disk drive 27 (step W21).
Upon receipt of the notice of completion of the RIP process from the RIP unit 24, the controlling unit 23 performs a process “J” in
The controlling unit 23 sets the state table 29 (step V30), and gives the RIP unit 24 the instruction of performing the RIP process on the print data in RAM 28 (step V31). The RIP unit 24 executes the RIP process on the print data of the host computer PC3 left in RAM 28 (steps W2 to W9 in
When the RIP process has been completed by the RIP unit 24, the controlling unit 23 advances to a process “H” (shown in
The controlling unit 23 deletes the information registered in the record number 1 from the state table 29 (step V37 in
Then, the controlling unit 23 judges whether the RIP process is possible (step V42). When the controlling unit 23 searches through the records in the state table 29 (step V43), it is determined that the RIP process is possible, because the information of the record number 1, concerning the print data sent from the host computer PC1 has been already deleted, as described above. Therefore, confirming that the print data is left in RAM 28 (YES at step V44), the controlling unit 23 sets the state table 29 (step V45). Then, the controlling unit 23 gives the RIP unit 24 notice of starting of the RIP process to be executed on the print data of the host computer PC1 left in RAM 28 (step V46).
Upon receipt of the notice of resuming the RIP process (YES at step W11 in
Meanwhile, the controlling unit 23 searches through the records in the state table 29 (step V47 in
In the third embodiment described above, when the instruction of interruption-process is given while the RIP unit 24 is executing the RIP process on the print data of the host computer PC1 stored in RAM 28 (YES at step W8 in
More specifically, the controlling unit 23 determines that a record of “HDD out of RIP operation” is registered in the state table 29 (step V51 in
Upon receipt of the notice of resuming the RIP process (YES at step W20 in
In the printing apparatus described above, even if the instruction of interruption-process should be given during the process of receiving the print data into the hard disk drive 27 or RAM 28, the records in state table 29 are promptly arranged so as to response the interruption process applied to the print data, whereby the printing process is executed first on the print data to which the interruption process has been applied. Thereafter, the print data, on which the RIP process was suspended, is subjected to the printing process, whereby the printing process can be performed promptly and effectively in response to the instruction of interruption-process.
As RAMs 8, 18 and 28 used in the first to third embodiment of the invention can be used a ring buffer of a fixed size, but for instance, other type of buffer such as a double buffer can be employed as RAM in place of the ring buffer.
In the first embodiment to third embodiment of the invention, RAMs 8, 18 and 28, which have small memory capacities and allow high speed data access, and the hard disk drives 7, 17 and 27, which have large memory capacities and allow low speed data access are used as the buffers for receiving data. But any devices can be used as the buffer for receiving data in the printing apparatus according to the embodiments of the invention, as far as they are used in combination of a receiving buffer, which has a small memory capacity and allows relatively high speed access and a receiving buffer, which has a large memory capacity and allows relatively low speed access.
In the first embodiment to third embodiment of the invention, RAMs 8, 18 and 28 each are described as a single element, but plural elements can be used as each of RAMs 8, 18 and 28 depending on available RAM size.
In the state tables 9, 19 and 29, the records are controlled in record-number order but can be controlled in priority order, which is decided separately. Further, the number of record numbers is fixed as “5” in the state tables 9, 19 and 29, but the larger number of record numbers can be used.
In the third embodiment of the invention, the display-operating unit 31 can be arranged to watch the state table 29 at regular intervals. Further another arrangement can be made in which, when the state table 23 is changed, the controlling unit 23 gives the display-operating unit 31 notice to that effect, and upon receipt of the notice, the display-operating unit 31 displays the changed state table.
In the third embodiment of the invention, an amendment can be made, in which, in addition to the information (host information) registered in host-information recording area 29a, a name of the user and dates, on which the printing process is executed are contained in the state table 29 and displayed on the display-operating unit 31.
In the third embodiment of the invention, the operation buttons 31b is operated to change the priority order of printing the host information displayed on the display-operating unit 31. But a device of a touch panel system and/or an input device of a voice-input system can be used in place of the operation buttons 31b.
In the third embodiment of the invention, the priority order of printing the records corresponding to the host information designated by operation of the operation buttons 31b is changed very first, but the priority order of other items can be changed.
The processes performed in accordance with the flowcharts shown in the embodiments of the invention can be written as a computer program into a recording medium such as a magnetic disk, optical disk, and semi-conductor memory, and such recording medium with the computer program written therein can be mounted on various apparatuses and also such computer program can be transferred to various apparatuses via a communication medium. When such computer program is run by a computer in the apparatus on which such recording medium is mounted, substantially the same effects can be realized as those in the embodiments of the present invention. The computer is not limited to that built in the embodiments of the invention, but any computer can be used, which is able to read the above described computer program stored in the recording medium and is provided with CPU that works in accordance with the read computer program.
Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing detailed description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions can be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the scope of the invention. The following claims are intended to encompass all such modifications.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-136543 | Jun 2011 | JP | national |
