JP4359031B2 - System controller - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a system controller, and in particular, can notify a host device of processing capability, distribute processing between the host device, and improve processing capability without depending on memory capacity. Related to system controller.
[0002]
[Prior art]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-7-200195
Various devices such as a scanner, a printer, a composite device, a facsimile device, and a computer perform necessary arithmetic processing using a memory by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) in order to perform the operation processing.
[0003]
For example, a color printer controller that sequentially performs a print control operation for CMYK for color printing has a color reproduction characteristic of CMYK ink unique to the printer. Therefore, to correct each color, the original RGB or CMY color data is used. Are stored in the buffer memory in units of pages, and the CMY3 term matrix operation is performed by reading the three colors simultaneously or by referring to the conversion table data of each color, thereby generating CMYK data optimum for the printer.
[0004]
However, in order to correct color characteristics, 8 bits of CMY data are required per pixel. In a color printer that prints CMYK planes sequentially, CMY 8 bits of data are stored in memory in units of pages, and CMY 8 bits of data are stored. Must be read simultaneously. If the buffer memory is a bitmap memory, for example, if the document is A4 size and has a resolution of 400 dpi, the capacity is 48 megabytes, and a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) or the like is used as the buffer memory. Even if used, it becomes quite expensive.
[0005]
Therefore, conventionally, a receiving unit that receives print data from a host, a status transmitting unit that transmits a printer status to the host, a holding unit that holds correction data for correcting a unique color characteristic of the printer, and the holding unit A color printer controller having correction data transmission means for transmitting the held correction data to the host side has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).
[0006]
In other words, this conventional technique attempts to reduce the memory capacity in order to improve the processing capacity of the apparatus, and to improve the processing capacity by using a memory with a sufficient margin.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in such a conventional technique, the memory capacity is reduced, and the processing capacity is improved by a memory having a sufficient margin.
[0008]
However, if the memory capacity of the originally installed memory is small, there is a problem that it is difficult to expect a large improvement in processing capacity.
[0009]
Therefore, the present invention provides a system controller capable of notifying the host device of the processing capability, distributing the processing with the host device, and improving the processing capability without depending on the memory capacity. It is an object.
[0018]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  The system controller of the invention according to claim 1 is:In a system controller that performs various processes in a mounted device in response to a processing request from a host device, a control unit that executes a program and information that the control unit has to know performance characteristics of the control unit A register for storing,SaidhostFrom the deviceControl meansprocessing powerThemeasurementTo doProgramsas well asReceive dataWhatSaidBy control meansProcess the program and dataFrom the registerObtainedThe results calculated based on the informationMeasurement results of processing capacityAs the host deviceNotifyThen, based on the calculation result of the processing capacity, the host device is assigned to perform processing performed by the system controller.The above-mentioned purpose is achieved.
[0020]
  In this case, for example, as described in claim 2,The measurement result of the processing capacity is a result obtained by calculating the number of integer arithmetic instructions or the number of floating point arithmetic instructions per unit time based on the information obtained from the register.Also good.
[0022]
  For example, as described in claim 3,A non-volatile memory, and the control means stores the measurement result of the processing capacity in the non-volatile memory.Also good.
[0024]
  Further, for example, as described in claim 4,Resource change detection means for detecting whether there is a change in system resources in the system controller,
The control means measures the processing capability only when the resource change detection means detects that the system resource has changed in response to a processing request from the host device, The measurement result may be overwritten on the nonvolatile memory..
[0034]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below are preferred embodiments of the present invention, and thus various technically preferable limitations are given. However, the scope of the present invention is particularly limited in the following description. As long as there is no description which limits, it is not restricted to these aspects.
[0035]
1 to 4 are diagrams showing a first embodiment of a system controller according to the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a main part of a printer controller 1 to which the first embodiment of the system controller according to the present invention is applied. It is a circuit block block diagram.
[0036]
In FIG. 1, a printer controller 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 2, a main memory 3, a flash memory 4, an IC card I / F (interface) 5, a network controller 6, and an operation panel I. / F 7, operation panel 8, engine I / F 9, NVRAM (Nonvolatile Random Access Memory) 10, I / O 11, and the like, and the main components are connected by a bus 12. For example, the printer controller 1 is connected to a host device as a host device, and is applied to a printer as a device that performs print processing in response to a print request (processing request) from the host device.
[0037]
The flash memory 4 is a non-volatile and electrically rewritable memory for storing a basic control program as the printer controller 1, an index notification processing program to be described later, and various data necessary for executing these programs. The main memory 3 is used as a work memory for the CPU 2, an input buffer for input data, a page memory for print data, and the like.
[0038]
The CPU 2 uses the main memory 3 as a work memory based on a program in the flash memory 4 to control each part of the printer controller 1 and to control the operation of the printer to which the printer controller 1 is applied. The index notification process is executed.
[0039]
The CPU 2 is a CPU capable of high-speed processing, and is mounted with a register (performance counter register) capable of knowing the performance characteristics when executing a program.
[0040]
An IC card (not shown) is detachably connected to the IC card I / F 5, and the IC card I / F 5 reads out data and programs from the connected IC card and transfers them to the IC card under the control of the CPU 2. Write data and programs. In particular, the IC card I / F 5 is loaded with an IC card that stores a rewriting program to be booted and executed when a program stored in the flash memory 4 is rewritten.
[0041]
A LAN (Local Area Network) is connected to the network controller 6, and the network controller 6 interfaces with the LAN.
[0042]
An operation panel 8 is connected to the operation panel I / F 7, and the operation panel 8 includes a display unit for displaying a printer status and the like, an operation button for setting a printer to which the printer controller 1 is applied, and the like. Is provided. The operation panel I / F 7 exchanges signals with the operation panel 112.
[0043]
Although not shown, the engine I / F 9 is connected to a printer engine that prints an image on paper by a predetermined printing method, for example, an electrophotographic method, an ink ejection method, and the like. Communicates commands, status, print data, etc.
[0044]
The NVRAM 10 generally stores initial setting values of each function, and stores various data necessary for the operation of the printer controller 1 under the control of the CPU 2.
[0045]
The host device (not shown) is connected to the I / O 11, and the I / O 11 interfaces with the host device.
[0046]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. The printer controller 1 according to the present embodiment notifies the host device of an index indicating the processing capability, so that processing can be performed on the printer controller 1 side in order to perform overload processing on the host device side. There is the feature in performing.
[0047]
That is, the CPU 2 is a CPU capable of high-speed processing, and is mounted with a register (performance counter register) that can know the performance characteristics when executing a program. For example, a P6 architecture CPU known as Pentium (registered trademark) or the like implements MSRs (Model Specific Registers) as performance counter registers, and events (see FIGS. 2 and 3) when a program is executed. You can know the occurrence. An index for measuring the processing capability of the printer controller 1, which is a system controller, can be calculated from the frequency of occurrence of these events.
[0048]
One of the indexes is the number of integer arithmetic instructions (MIPS: Million Instructions Per Second) that can be executed per unit time. The index MIPS is calculated, for example, by dividing the number of instruction decodes of event number 52 in FIG. 3 by the execution time of a program for measuring processing capacity.
[0049]
One of the indexes for measuring the processing capability is the number of floating point arithmetic instructions (FLOPS: Floating Operations Per Second) that can be executed per unit time. The index FLOPS is calculated, for example, by dividing the number of executions of the floating-point operation instruction of event number 42 in FIG. 3 by the execution time of the program that measures the processing capacity.
[0050]
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the printer controller 1 according to the present embodiment notifies the host device of an index indicating the processing capability, so that overloading processing is performed in order to perform processing on the printer controller 1 side. Distributed processing is performed on the host device side.
[0051]
That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the printer controller 1 first downloads a program and data (processing capacity measurement program file) necessary for measurement from the host device (step S101). This data is described in, for example, a Postscript language.
[0052]
Next, the CPU 2 executes a processing capacity measurement program for drawing the downloaded data in the page memory of the main memory 3, and calculates the performance data by calculating the index value of the processing capacity from the information of the performance counter at this time. Obtain (step S103).
[0053]
The CPU 2 notifies the performance data of the calculation result to the host device (step S103).
[0054]
At this time, for example, the CPU 2 acquires a result calculated based on information obtained from a performance counter register mounted when the processing capacity measurement program and data are processed, as a processing capacity measurement result. Further, the CPU 2 obtains the result of calculating the number of integer arithmetic instructions per unit time based on the information obtained from the performance counter register mounted when the processing capacity measurement program and data are processed as the measurement result of the processing capacity. In addition, the number of floating-point arithmetic instructions per unit time is calculated based on information obtained from the performance counter register installed when the processing capacity measurement program and data are processed, and obtained as a measurement result of the processing capacity. . For example, in a printer, since the standard printer language is processed only with integer arithmetic instructions, the result of calculating the number of integer arithmetic instructions per unit time is obtained as a measurement result of the processing capability, thereby applying the printer controller 1. Therefore, it is possible to predict the processing capability more accurately for each emulation executed by the printer, and to distribute the processing for each emulation. Further, since the Postscript language uses not only integer arithmetic instructions but also floating point arithmetic instructions, the printer-side processing capability to which the printer controller 1 is applied can be obtained as a quantitative numerical value.
[0055]
Then, the host device determines the processing capability of the printer from the notification result of the performance data from the printer to which the printer controller 1 is applied, for example, by changing the processing in the printer driver installed in the host device, Adjust the processing in the printer so that the processing in the printer is not overloaded.
[0056]
As described above, the printer controller 1 according to the present embodiment includes the CPU 2 on which the performance counter register is mounted. When performing various processes in response to processing requests from the host apparatus that is the host apparatus, the printer controller 1 has a processing capability. The CPU 2 receives the measurement program and data, processes the processing capacity measurement program and data, and notifies the host apparatus of the measurement result of the obtained processing capacity.
[0057]
Therefore, it is possible to predict the processing capability of the printer that is the device to which the printer controller 1 is applied on the host device side, and to perform processing that is overloaded on the printer side on the host device side. Even if it is low, the processing capability of the entire system can be improved, and the processing capability can be stably improved without depending on the installed memory capacity.
[0058]
Further, the system controller 1 of the present embodiment uses the result calculated by the CPU 2 based on information obtained from the performance counter register mounted when the processing capacity measurement program and data are processed as the processing capacity measurement result. Have acquired.
[0059]
Therefore, the processing capacity of the printer can be predicted quantitatively, and the processing capacity of the entire system can be further improved by distributing more detailed processing between the host device and the device. The processing capability can be improved more stably without depending on the memory capacity.
[0060]
Furthermore, the system controller 1 of the present embodiment calculates the number of integer arithmetic instructions per unit time based on information obtained from the performance counter register that is mounted when the CPU 2 processes the processing capacity measurement program and data. The result is acquired as a measurement result of the processing capacity.
[0061]
Therefore, it is possible to predict the processing capacity more accurately for each emulation executed by the printer, to distribute the processing for each emulation, and to further improve the processing capacity of the entire system. A more stable processing capability can be improved without depending on the installed memory capacity.
[0062]
In addition, the system controller 1 according to the present embodiment calculates the number of floating point arithmetic instructions per unit time based on information obtained from the performance counter register that is mounted when the CPU 2 processes the processing capacity measurement program and data. And it is acquired as a measurement result of processing capacity.
[0063]
Therefore, for example, the processing capability on the printer side can be obtained as a quantitative numerical value for not only the integer arithmetic instruction used in the Postscript language but also the floating point arithmetic instruction so that the processing capability on the printer side can be grasped in more detail. Therefore, the processing capability of the entire system can be further improved, and the processing capability can be improved more stably without depending on the mounted memory capacity.
[0064]
5 and 6 are diagrams showing a second embodiment of the system controller of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a main portion of a printer controller 20 to which the second embodiment of the system controller of the present invention is applied. It is a circuit block block diagram.
[0065]
The present embodiment is applied to a printer controller similar to the printer controller 1 of the first embodiment. In the description of the present embodiment, the printer controller of the first embodiment. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
[0066]
In FIG. 5, a printer controller 20 includes a CPU 2, a main storage memory 3, a flash memory 4, an IC card I / F 5, a network controller 6, an operation panel I / F 7, the same as the printer controller 1 of the first embodiment. In addition to the operation panel 8, the engine I / F 9, the NVRAM 10, and the I / O 11, a cache memory 21, a resource change detection unit 22, and the like are provided.
[0067]
The cache memory 21 is connected to the CPU 2 and has a predetermined capacity for speeding up the execution of instructions of the CPU 2.
[0068]
The resource change detection unit (resource change detection means) 22 detects a change in system resources such as a change in the bus clock frequency of the main memory 3 or the capacity of the cache memory 21 and notifies the CPU 2 of the change.
[0069]
As described above, the NVRAM (nonvolatile memory) 10 generally stores initial setting values of each function, and stores various data necessary for the operation of the printer controller 1 under the control of the CPU 2. In the embodiment, performance data that is an index value of the measured processing capability is stored.
[0070]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. The printer controller 20 according to the present embodiment stores the measurement result of the processing capability in the NVRAM 10, and when there is a processing capability measurement request, the measurement result stored in the NVRAM 10 is not measured for each request. Is notified to the host device, and the processing capacity is measured only when the system resource is changed.
[0071]
In other words, when there is a download request for a program and data (processing capacity measurement program file) necessary for measurement from the host device (step S201), the printer controller 20 checks whether the resource has been changed (step S202). .
[0072]
This resource change is determined by the CPU 2 based on the detection result of the resource change detection unit 22, and the CPU 2 determines, among the system resources, resources that particularly affect the processing capability of the printer controller 1, such as main memory. 3, it is determined whether or not there is a resource change such as a change in the bus clock frequency or a change in the capacity of the cache memory 21.
[0073]
When there is a resource change in step S202, the CPU 2 downloads a program and data (processing capacity measurement program file) necessary for measurement from the host device (step S203), and downloads the downloaded data to a page of the main memory 3. The processing capacity measurement program for drawing in the memory is executed in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and the performance data is obtained by calculating the index value of the processing capacity from the information of the performance counter at this time ( Step S203).
[0074]
The CPU 2 writes the performance data of the calculation result in the NVRAM 10 which is a nonvolatile memory (step S205), and notifies the host device of the performance data of the calculation result (step S206).
[0075]
Then, the host device determines the processing capability of the printer from the notification result of the performance data from the printer to which the printer controller 1 is applied, for example, by changing the processing in the printer driver installed in the host device, Adjust the processing in the printer so that the processing in the printer is not overloaded. For example, if the host controller changes the bus clock frequency or the capacity of the cache memory 21 on the printer controller 20 side, the host device determines the processing capability according to the change, and performs the processing in the printer and the host device. Properly distribute processing.
[0076]
If there is no resource change in step S202, the CPU 2 calculates whether or not the performance data is already stored in the NVRAM 10 by calculating the index value of the processing capacity (step S207), and if the performance data is not stored in the NVRAM 10 In step S203, the processing capacity measurement program and data are downloaded from the host device, and the processing capacity measurement program is executed to acquire performance data and store it in the NVRAM 10 as described above. Then, processing for notifying the host device is performed (steps S203 to S206).
[0077]
If the performance data is already stored in the NVRAM 10 in step S207, the CPU 2 reads the performance data from the NVRAM 10 (step S208) and notifies the host device of the performance data (step S206).
[0078]
As described above, in the printer controller 20 of the present embodiment, the CPU 2 stores the measurement result of the processing capability in the NVRAM 10 that is a nonvolatile memory.
[0079]
Therefore, it is possible to notify the measurement result in the NVRAM 10 in response to a processing request from the host device, to promptly notify the measurement result, to further improve the processing capability, and to implement the installed memory capacity The processing capability can be improved stably without depending on the above.
[0080]
Further, in the printer controller 20 of the present embodiment, the resource change detection unit 22 that detects whether the CPU 2 has changed the system resource of the printer controller 20 in response to a processing request from the host device has changed the system resource. The processing capacity is measured only when it is detected.
[0081]
Therefore, it is possible to omit measurement of unnecessary processing capacity in response to a processing request from the host device, promptly notify the measurement result, and further improve the processing capacity. By appropriately performing optimum processing load distribution, it is possible to stably improve the processing capability without depending on the mounted memory capacity.
[0082]
Further, in the printer controller 20 of the present embodiment, the resource change detection unit 22 detects a change in the memory bus frequency as a change in system resources.
[0083]
Therefore, it is possible to omit measurement of unnecessary processing capacity in response to a processing request from the host device, promptly notify the measurement result, and further improve the processing capacity. By appropriately distributing the optimum processing load with respect to the change, it is possible to stably improve the processing capability without depending on the mounted memory capacity.
[0084]
Further, in the printer controller 20 of the present embodiment, the resource change detection unit 22 detects a change in the capacity of the cache memory 21 as a change in system resources.
[0085]
Therefore, it is possible to omit measurement of unnecessary processing capacity in response to a processing request from the host device, promptly notify the measurement result, and further improve the processing capacity. It is possible to appropriately improve the processing load without depending on the installed memory capacity by appropriately performing the optimum processing load distribution for the capacity change.
[0086]
The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say.
[0087]
【The invention's effect】
According to the system controller of the first aspect of the present invention, the system controller has a CPU on which a performance counter register is mounted, and when performing various processes in response to processing requests from the host apparatus, Since the CPU receives the data, processes the processing capacity measurement program and data, and notifies the higher level apparatus of the obtained processing capacity measurement result, the upper side apparatus predicts the processing capacity of the apparatus, Overload processing can be processed on the host device side, and even if the device side processing capacity is low, the processing capacity of the entire system can be improved and it depends on the installed memory capacity The processing capability can be improved stably.
[0088]
  Claim2According to the system controller of the described invention,The CPU calculates the number of floating-point arithmetic instructions per unit time based on the information obtained from the performance counter register installed when processing the processing capacity measurement program and data, and obtains it as the measurement result of the processing capacity For example, the processing capability of the device side can be obtained as a quantitative numerical value for not only the integer arithmetic instruction used in the Postscript language but also the floating point arithmetic instruction so that the processing capability of the device side can be grasped in more detail. Thus, the processing capability of the entire system can be further improved, and the processing capability can be improved more stably without depending on the mounted memory capacity.
[0089]
  Claim3According to the system controller of the described invention, CSince the PU stores the measurement result of the processing capacity in the non-volatile memory, it can notify the measurement result in the non-volatile memory in response to the processing request from the host device, and can promptly notify the measurement result. The capability can be further improved, and the processing capability can be stably improved without depending on the mounted memory capacity.
[0090]
  Claim4According to the system controller of the described invention,The resource change detection means detects a change in the memory bus frequency as a system resource change, so it is possible to omit measurement of unnecessary processing capacity in response to a processing request from a host device, and promptly obtain the measurement result. Not only can the processing capacity be improved further, but the optimal processing load distribution for the change of the memory bus frequency is appropriately performed, and the processing capacity can be stably increased without depending on the installed memory capacity. Can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of a main part of a printer controller to which a first embodiment of a system controller of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of events and event numbers when a program is executed.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the continuation of the event and event number of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing index notification processing by the printer controller of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a circuit block diagram of a main part of a printer controller to which a second embodiment of a system controller of the present invention is applied.
6 is a flowchart showing index notification processing by the printer controller of FIG. 5;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Printer controller
2 CPU
3 Main memory
4 Flash memory
5 IC card I / F
6 Network controller
7 Operation panel I / F
8 Operation panel
9 Engine I / F
10 NVRAM
11 I / O
12 Bus
20 Printer controller
21 Cache memory
22 Resource change detector

Claims (4)

In the system controller that performs various processes in the mounted device in response to processing requests from the host device,
Control means for executing the program;
The control means has a register for storing information for knowing the performance characteristics of the control means,
Calculating from said host device, upon processing the program and the data by the control means I receive a program and data for measuring the processing power of the control means, based on said information obtained from said register A system controller that notifies the host device of the processing result as a measurement result of the processing capability, and causes the host device to share the processing to be performed by the system controller based on the calculation result of the processing capability .   2. The measurement result of the processing capacity is a result obtained by calculating the number of integer arithmetic instructions or the number of floating point arithmetic instructions per unit time based on information obtained from the register. System controller described in.   The system controller according to claim 1, further comprising: a nonvolatile memory, wherein the control unit stores the measurement result of the processing capability in the nonvolatile memory. Resource change detection means for detecting whether there is a change in system resources in the system controller,
  The control means measures the processing capability only when the resource change detection means detects that the system resource has changed in response to a processing request from the host device, The system controller according to claim 3, wherein a measurement result is overwritten in the nonvolatile memory.

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