JP2005321957A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor without deteriorating the whole productivity. <P>SOLUTION: The image processor is connected to a plurality of image forming devices, and receives image data to be processed and an image forming instruction and selectively make a designated image forming device specified by the image forming instruction among the plurality of image forming devices to form the image data. In this processor, information on the operation states of the plurality of image forming devices is acquired, the load of generation processing for formation processing images based on the received image data is estimated as a processing load, and when it satisfies a predetermined condition, the generation processing for formation processing images based on the image data is assigned to image forming devices other than the designated image forming device. The predetermined condition includes the condition that the estimated processing load is smaller than a predetermined reference value. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that performs processing while sharing processing among a plurality of printers, image forming apparatuses, and the like.

  As printers become more sophisticated and printed documents become higher definition, the time required for printing becomes longer. In this time, a large proportion of processing (so-called RIP processing) for drawing and generating bitmap data for forming processing from image data described in a page description language such as PostScript (registered trademark) is large. .

Therefore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-151867 discloses a printing system that can print a complex document while maintaining the productivity by distributing the load of a print job in the printing system, and a method for using the resource.
JP 2003-196058 A

  However, in the above-described conventional print system, the processing is only shared or the sharing is executed when the received processing load is large. Absent. In addition, since processing that requires sharing from other devices is always heavy processing, if the processing addressed to itself is accepted during the sharing processing, the start of the processing addressed to itself is delayed. On the other hand, there was a problem that the overall productivity may be lowered.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in the printing system disclosed in Patent Document 1, conditions for sharing are determined so as not to reduce the overall productivity. An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus.

  The present invention for solving the problems of the above conventional example is connected to a plurality of image forming apparatuses, receives image data to be processed and an image forming instruction, and among the plurality of image forming apparatuses, An image processing apparatus that selectively forms the image data with respect to a designated image forming apparatus specified by an image forming instruction, the state detecting means for acquiring information relating to operating states of the plurality of image forming apparatuses, Means for estimating the load of the generation processing image generation process based on the received image data as a processing load, and when an image forming apparatus other than the designated image forming apparatus satisfies a predetermined condition, Control means for sharing the generation processing of the image for formation processing based on the image data, and the predetermined condition is a condition that the estimated processing load is smaller than a predetermined reference value It is characterized in that it comprises.

  By adopting a method for sharing image processing with a small processing load in this way, it is possible to suppress an increase in image processing burden on the side that accepts the sharing. That is, one of the characteristic features of the present invention is that the conditions for sharing are determined so as not to lower the overall productivity.

  Here, the image processing apparatus of the present invention can be realized as, for example, a print server, a printer, a multifunction peripheral, a computer connected to a network, or the like.

  Further, the predetermined condition is that the estimated processing load amount is smaller than a predetermined reference value, and the current processing load of the designated image forming apparatus is determined from information on a current operating state of the designated image forming apparatus. The condition may be that the amount is larger than a predetermined limit load amount. Further, the predetermined condition is that the estimated processing load amount is smaller than a predetermined reference value, and the current unprocessed state of the designated image forming apparatus is determined from information on a current operating state of the designated image forming apparatus. The image data processing load amount may be larger than a predetermined limit standby amount.

  Furthermore, the present invention for solving the problems of the conventional example uses a computer connected to a plurality of image forming apparatuses, receives image data and image forming instructions to be processed, and Among the image forming apparatuses, an image processing method for selectively forming the image data on a designated image forming apparatus specified by an image forming instruction, and acquiring information on operating states of the plurality of image forming apparatuses An image forming apparatus other than the designated image forming apparatus when a predetermined condition is satisfied, and a process, a process of estimating a load of the generation processing image generation process based on the received image data as a processing load A step of sharing the generation processing of the image for forming processing based on the image data, and the predetermined condition is the estimated processing. Load is characterized in that it comprises a condition smaller than the predetermined reference value.

  Furthermore, a program according to another aspect of the present invention uses a computer connected to a plurality of image forming apparatuses, receives image data to be processed and an image forming instruction, and includes the plurality of image forming apparatuses. A program for selectively forming the image data with respect to a designated image forming apparatus specified by an image forming instruction, a procedure for obtaining information on operating states of the plurality of image forming apparatuses, and the received image A procedure for estimating the load amount of the image forming process for forming processing based on the data as the processing load amount, and the image data for an image forming apparatus other than the designated image forming apparatus when a predetermined condition is satisfied And causing the computer to execute a process for sharing the generation processing of the image for forming processing based on the predetermined condition. It is characterized in that it comprises a condition smaller than the reference value.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, an image processing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected to a plurality of image forming apparatuses 2 and a user side apparatus 3 via a network. Here, the user side device 3 is a personal computer or the like, and performs creation, editing, and data processing of a document by the user. The image forming apparatus 2 prints image data transmitted by the personal computer. Specifically, the user apparatus 3 performs processing such as application software and printer driver software in accordance with an instruction input from the user. That is, image data for the image forming apparatus 2 designated by the user is created and transferred to the designated image forming apparatus 2 (hereinafter referred to as a designated image forming apparatus) via the image processing apparatus 1. At this time, the document to be printed is converted into image data described in a page description language such as PostScript (registered trademark) by the processing of the printer driver, and the image data is transferred.

  The image forming apparatus 2 is, for example, a copier, a multifunction peripheral (a copier having a FAX or printer function), a printer, or the like. The image forming apparatus 2 accepts image data described in a page description language, and forms processing. Bitmap data for drawing is generated by drawing and developing, and an image for the forming process is formed on the recording medium.

  In the present embodiment, the image processing apparatus 1 includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, a storage unit 13, and a network interface (I / F) 14, as shown in FIG. The control unit 11 can be realized by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and performs processing according to a program stored in the storage unit 12. Specifically, the control unit 11 operates as a print server, receives image data and an image formation instruction that are processing targets from the user-side device 3, and stores them in the storage unit 13 as a job database. Then, the control unit 11 transfers the image data to the designated image forming apparatus 2 specified by the received image forming instruction among the plurality of image forming apparatuses 2 and causes the image data forming process to be executed.

  In addition, the control unit 11 estimates the load amount of the state detection process for acquiring information related to the operation states of the plurality of image forming apparatuses 2 and the generation process of the image for forming process based on the received image data as the process load amount. Control processing that causes the image forming apparatus 2 other than the designated image forming apparatus 2 to share the generation processing of the image for forming processing based on the image data when the acquired information satisfies a predetermined condition And execute. Each of these processes will be described in detail later.

  The storage unit 12 stores a program executed by the control unit 11. The storage unit 12 includes a ROM and a RAM. The storage unit 12 also operates as a work memory for the control unit 11.

  The storage unit 13 is realized by a hard disk or the like. The storage unit 13 stores the received image data and the image formation instruction in association with each other as a job database. As described above, the image forming instruction includes information for specifying the designated image forming apparatus 2 that should perform image formation of the associated image data. The job database is stored for each image forming apparatus 2. The data may be classified and stored in order of reception time.

  The network I / F 14 is connected to the image forming apparatus 2 and the user side apparatus 3 via the network. The network I / F 14 transmits various data such as image data to a designated destination (the image forming apparatus 2 or the like) in accordance with an instruction input from the control unit 11. The network I / F 14 receives data transmitted from the image forming apparatus 2 or the user side apparatus 3 via the network and outputs the data to the control unit 11.

[Status detection processing]
Here, the specific content of the process by the control part 11 is demonstrated. The control unit 11 acquires information related to operating states of the plurality of image forming apparatuses 2 as the state detection process. Specifically, the information regarding the operating state may be information regarding power on / off of each image forming apparatus 2, presence / absence of a job waiting for processing (or the number of jobs), and the like.

  For example, information regarding power on / off can be detected by receiving a notification from the image forming apparatus 2 side. That is, the image forming apparatus 2 transmits a signal indicating that the power is turned on to the image processing apparatus 1 via the network when the power is turned on, and via the network when the power is turned off. Then, a signal indicating that the power is turned off is transmitted to the image processing apparatus 1. These signals include information for specifying the image forming apparatus 2 such as a network address of the image forming apparatus 2. Further, when transmitting a signal indicating that the power is turned on, the image forming apparatus 2 receives information relating to the performance of the RIP processing (for example, the amount of installed memory and the type and operating frequency of the CPU used for the processing). For example), information indicating a page description language that can be handled, for example, information specifying Postscript (registered trademark) or other languages.

  Also, for information such as the presence / absence of a job waiting to be processed, the image processing apparatus 1 makes an inquiry to the image forming apparatus 2, and the number of jobs that the image forming apparatus 2 is currently waiting in response to the inquiry. And so on. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, information such as the occurrence of an error may be included as the operating state information. In other words, the image forming apparatus 2 may transmit to the image processing apparatus 1 information requesting error or maintenance such as a paper jam, toner replacement, drum replacement, or the like. In this case, the image processing apparatus 1 stores the error information in the operating state information.

  The control unit 11 manages the information on the operating state for each image forming apparatus 2 that is the transmission source or the like. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the control unit 11 stores the operation state information in the storage unit 13 as an operation state database in association with information (such as a network address) that identifies the image forming apparatus 2.

[Load estimation processing]
The control unit 11 also performs a load estimation process for estimating the load amount of the generation processing image generation processing based on the received image data as the processing load amount. That is, the control unit 11 refers to the content of the received image data, and outline information of the image data such as the designated resolution, the type of drawing command used, and the size of the image data itself (drawing processing of image data). The amount of processing load is calculated from the information obtained without). Specifically, in order to calculate the processing load amount, a table in which element processing load values are associated in advance for each type of drawing command is stored in the storage unit 12 or the storage unit 13, and image data is referenced while referring to this table. The processing load amount can be calculated.

  Further, when calculating the processing load amount, the control unit 11 specifies information relating to the RIP processing performance of the designated image forming apparatus 2 designated as the image forming apparatus 2 that processes the image data (for example, the amount of installed memory or Information such as the type and operating frequency of the CPU used for the processing may be used. That is, a predetermined coefficient is calculated according to the type and operating frequency of the CPU, and this coefficient is multiplied by the processing load amount of the image data (in the case of a coefficient that becomes smaller as the CPU capable of high-speed processing). It is possible to calculate the processing load amount used for the determination of the sharing control process described in (1).

[Share control process]
After performing the load estimation process, the control unit 11 satisfies at least one of the information on the operating state of the image forming apparatus 2 acquired in advance or the processing load amount calculated by the estimation process. In this case, the image forming apparatus 2 other than the designated image forming apparatus 2 is assigned to the image forming process image generation process based on the image data. One characteristic of the present embodiment is that the predetermined condition includes a condition that the calculated processing load amount is smaller than a predetermined reference value.

  For example, the predetermined condition is that the calculated processing load amount is smaller than a predetermined reference value and the current processing of the designated image forming apparatus 2 is determined from information on the current operating state of the designated image forming apparatus 2. A condition that the load amount (for example, the current number of jobs) is larger than a predetermined limit load amount can be set.

  Further, the predetermined condition is that the calculated processing load amount is smaller than a predetermined reference value, and the current unprocessed state of the designated image forming apparatus 2 is determined from information on a current operating state of the designated image forming apparatus 2. It may be a condition that the processing load amount (total amount, etc.) of the image data is larger than a predetermined limit standby amount.

  These limit load amount and limit standby amount are arbitrarily determined by the system administrator according to the calculation method such as the processing load amount of the image forming apparatus 2 to be compared and the processing load amount of unprocessed image data. Can be set.

  For example, the predetermined reference value may be arbitrarily set by the system administrator as a value that increases the overall processing efficiency by sharing the processing (instead of the system reference). You may make it calculate adaptively according to the whole operation rate). Increasing the predetermined reference value increases the possibility that the image forming apparatus 2 that has not been designated will be used. As a result, the amount of communication of information related to the sharing process increases, and the load on the network increases. That is, the throughput of file transfer and mail transmission / reception using the network is reduced. On the other hand, if the predetermined reference value is reduced, the opposite is true. The system administrator sets a value that is considered appropriate for each system.

  This sharing control process will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the sharing control process. After the load estimation process is performed, the control unit 11 starts the process illustrated in FIG. 3. First, the result of the load estimation process and the current state of the designated image forming apparatus 2 relating to the image data to be processed are processed. It is determined whether or not the operating state information satisfies a predetermined condition (S1). Here, when the predetermined condition is not satisfied, for example, when the calculated processing load amount is larger than the predetermined reference value, the image data subjected to the processing is transmitted to the designated image forming apparatus 2 (S2). ), The process is terminated. In this case, the image data is RIP processed by the designated image forming apparatus 2 as usual.

  On the other hand, when the predetermined condition is satisfied in the processing S1, for example, when the calculated processing load amount is smaller than the predetermined reference value, the designated image forming apparatus 2 is first searched from the operating state database stored in the storage unit 13. In other image forming apparatuses 2, the image forming apparatus 2 in the operating state (powered on) is selected as the primary assignment candidate image forming apparatus (S3).

  Further, the control unit 11 selects the image forming apparatus 2 corresponding to the page description language used in the image data from the primary shared candidate image forming apparatus, and generates a list of shared candidate image forming apparatuses (S4). . At this time, not only the page description language used in the image data but also the number of jobs currently being processed is less than a predetermined number of jobs (for example, “1”) as a shared candidate image forming apparatus. A list of sharing candidate image forming apparatuses may be selected and generated.

  The control unit 11 determines whether or not one or more image forming apparatuses 2 are included in the list of sharing candidate image forming apparatuses (S5), and if not included (request destination of sharing processing that matches the condition) If not, the process proceeds to step S2 and continues. Also in this case, the image data is RIP processed by the designated image forming apparatus 2 as usual.

  On the other hand, in the process S5, when one or more image forming apparatuses 2 are included in the list of sharing candidate image forming apparatuses, the control unit 11 selects one image forming apparatus 2 from the list of sharing candidate image forming apparatuses. Is selected as a sharing process request destination (S6). This selection may be made, for example, based on the processing capability information of the image forming apparatus 2 included in the list of sharing candidate image forming apparatuses. In addition, if the priority order of selection is set in advance by the user, the priority order may be selected.

  Then, the control unit 11 transmits image data to the image forming apparatus 2 selected as the sharing processing request destination, and requests RIP processing (S7). Then, the image for forming process as a result of the RIP process is received from the image forming apparatus 2 selected as the sharing process request destination (S8), and the image for forming process is transmitted to the designated image forming apparatus 2 (S9). The process ends. In step S7, information such as the resolution of the designated image forming apparatus 2 may be transmitted together.

  That is, when the image forming apparatus 2 according to the present embodiment receives image data (or resolution information, etc.) together with a request for RIP processing, the image forming apparatus 2 performs RIP processing based on the image data and generates a bitmap as a forming processing image. Perform drawing development on data. The bitmap data is not printed, but is transmitted to the image processing apparatus 1 that is a request source of the RIP processing.

  In addition, when the image forming apparatus 2 receives image data without a request for RIP processing (which may be accompanied by a print request or the like), the image forming apparatus 2 performs RIP processing on the image data as a formation processing image. Drawing development to bitmap data or the like is performed, and the bitmap data is formed on a recording medium such as paper. On the other hand, when bitmap data is received as an image for forming processing after RIP processing, the bitmap data is formed on a recording medium such as paper.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the image processing apparatus 1 estimates the processing load amount of the image data received from the user side apparatus 3. When a predetermined condition is satisfied, for example, when this processing load amount is less than a predetermined reference value, the image processing apparatus 1 performs a process of determining a sharing process request destination, and image formation of the determined sharing process request destination An RIP processing request for image data is transmitted to the apparatus 2.

  Then, the image forming apparatus 2 to which the sharing process is requested performs RIP processing on the image data, generates bitmap data, and sends it back to the image processing apparatus 1. The image processing apparatus 1 receives the bitmap data and transmits the received bitmap data to the designated image forming apparatus 2 designated by the user as the transmission destination of the original image data.

  On the designated image forming apparatus 2 side, this bitmap data is received and included in the queue of unprocessed jobs. When the order comes, image formation based on the bitmap data is performed to form an image on the recording medium.

  In the present embodiment, the smaller the processing load is assigned to other devices. For this reason, on the side where sharing is requested, processing with a small load is always shared, and even when the processing addressed to the self is accepted during the sharing processing, the start of the processing addressed to the self is started. The amount of delay is small. For this reason, the overall productivity is not lowered even in an environment where the image forming apparatus is frequently used as a whole.

  The image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment has been described as a print server here, but may be the same as the image forming apparatus 2 (that is, a printer or a multifunction machine) or connected to a network. It may be a computer.

  In the description so far, an example of performing the entire RIP process has been shown as an aspect of the process sharing, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, only the portion related to the drawing of text in the image data is drawn and developed to generate primary RIP data, and the portion of the image data that is not related to the drawing of text is extracted as non-text portion data. A process for generating data including the text partial data (primary formation processing image) may be performed by the sharing process request destination.

  In this case, the image processing apparatus receives the primary forming processing image from the sharing processing request destination and distributes it to the designated image forming apparatus 2 side. On the designated image forming apparatus 2 side, RIP processing related to the non-text partial data is performed in the primary forming processing image, and the result is combined with the primary RIP data to generate overall RIP data.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention and an example of a connection state thereof. It is explanatory drawing showing the example of the content of an operation state database. It is a flowchart figure showing the process example of the image processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image processing apparatus, 2 Image forming apparatus, 3 User side apparatus, 11 Control part, 12 Storage part, 13 Storage part, 14 Network interface part

Claims (5)

Receives image data and an image formation instruction that are connected to a plurality of image forming apparatuses, and selects a specified image forming apparatus specified by the image formation instruction from the plurality of image forming apparatuses. An image processing apparatus for forming the image data automatically,
State detecting means for acquiring information on operating states of the plurality of image forming apparatuses;
Means for estimating a load amount of the generation processing image generation processing based on the received image data as a processing load amount;
A control unit that, when a predetermined condition is satisfied, causes an image forming apparatus other than the designated image forming apparatus to share a generation process of an image for forming processing based on the image data;
Including
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition includes a condition that the estimated processing load amount is smaller than a predetermined reference value.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition is determined from information on a current operating state of the designated image forming apparatus, wherein the estimated processing load amount is smaller than a predetermined reference value. An image processing apparatus characterized in that a current processing load amount of the designated image forming apparatus is larger than a predetermined limit load amount.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition is determined from information on a current operating state of the designated image forming apparatus, wherein the estimated processing load amount is smaller than a predetermined reference value. An image processing apparatus characterized in that the processing load amount of currently unprocessed image data of the designated image forming apparatus is larger than a predetermined limit standby amount. A designated image forming apparatus specified by an image forming instruction among the plurality of image forming apparatuses, using a computer connected to the plurality of image forming apparatuses, receiving image data to be processed and an image forming instruction. An image processing method for selectively forming the image data with respect to
Obtaining information on operating states of the plurality of image forming apparatuses;
Estimating a load amount of the generation processing image generation processing based on the received image data as a processing load amount;
When a predetermined condition is satisfied, an image forming apparatus other than the designated image forming apparatus shares a process for generating an image for forming processing based on the image data; and
To the computer,
The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition includes a condition that the estimated processing load amount is smaller than a predetermined reference value. A designated image forming apparatus specified by an image forming instruction among the plurality of image forming apparatuses, using a computer connected to the plurality of image forming apparatuses, receiving image data to be processed and an image forming instruction. For selectively forming the image data,
A procedure for acquiring information relating to operating states of the plurality of image forming apparatuses;
A procedure for estimating a load amount of the generation processing image generation processing based on the received image data as a processing load amount;
A procedure for sharing the generation processing of the image for forming processing based on the image data with respect to an image forming apparatus other than the designated image forming apparatus when a predetermined condition is satisfied;
To the computer,
The predetermined condition includes a condition that the estimated processing load amount is smaller than a predetermined reference value.

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