JP6946771B2 - Image processing device, job processing control program and job processing control method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image processing device, a job processing control program, and a job processing control method, and in particular, an image processing device that rasterizes a job and outputs it to a printing engine, saves a job in the image processing device, and prints the saved job. The present invention relates to a job processing control program to be controlled and a job processing control method.

When printing a document with a printer based on a job, the controller that controls the printer rasterizes the job using software that executes the functions of RIP (Raster Image Processor) (hereinafter abbreviated as RIP software) and rasterizes it. Generate an image and send the generated raster image to the printer to instruct printing.

Here, there are various types of jobs input to the controller. For example, some jobs are described in PS (PostScript), some jobs are in PDF (Portable Document Format), and the language of the job (PDL (Page Description)). The rasterization process performed by the RIP software differs depending on the format of Language). Therefore, the controller often has two or more RIP software (for example, CPSI (Configurable PostScript Interpreter) that can interpret PS jobs and APPE (Adobe PDF Print Engine) that can interpret PDF jobs). These are switched according to the language of the job input by the user, and a raster image for sending to the printer is generated.

Regarding the technique for selecting such RIP software, for example, Patent Document 1 below describes an information processing apparatus that creates drawing data using a print job including print data and setting information, and creates a plurality of drawing data. A print job that outputs a print job to the means, the drawing data creating means determining means for determining the drawing data creating means corresponding to the printing instruction of the print data, and the drawing data creating means determined by the drawing data creating means determining means. A configuration including an output means is disclosed, and the drawing data creating means determining means inquires of a plurality of the drawing data creating means of the function required by the printing instruction, and the drawing data creating means responds with the function. It is disclosed that the drawing data creating means corresponding to the print data is determined by comparing the functions required by the print instruction.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-187843

The RIP software is configured to generate the preview image expressed on the manuscript creation application running on the computer as a print image as it is, but the expression of each object that composes the manuscript is described for each RIP software. The method of achieving this may be different. For example, CPSI, which can interpret PS jobs, and APPE, which can interpret PDF jobs, have different methods for realizing transparent expressions.

Specifically, PDF has "transparency" as a linguistic expression, but PS does not have "transparency" as a linguistic expression. Therefore, for example, when superimposing a "transparent" image object on a text object, In PS, an image in which transparency is already expressed (that is, a composite image in which a text object and a translucent image object are combined) is embedded. As a result, in the PS job, it is not possible to change the print resolution of one of the objects constituting the composite image, or to perform processing such as "thinning" on the text object.

Therefore, when the job saved on the controller is allowed to insert pages from another job, there are pages formed by different RIP software in one job, and each page is formed by different RIP software. When there are objects with different expressions depending on the RIP software on the page, there arises a problem that the appearance of the print result is different even though the expressions are the same.

In response to this problem, Patent Document 1 selects RIP software based on the job configuration in order to obtain an appropriate output for the input job. However, Patent Document 1 is based on the premise that the language of the job is single (the case where there are a plurality of RIP software that interprets PDF and generates an image), and the page insertion operation after saving the job is performed in a plurality of languages. In the case where the described page is included in one job, the above problem cannot be solved because it is not considered that the drawing result differs depending on the specifications of each language itself.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its main purpose is to combine a plurality of jobs when printing a combined job, even if both jobs have different languages. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus, a job processing control program, and a job processing control method capable of maintaining a unified feeling of printing results of each page of a job.

One aspect of the present invention is an image processing device that rasterizes a job and outputs it to a printing engine. A plurality of RIP units that rasterize a plurality of PDL format jobs according to the PDL format, and save and save the job. The job management unit includes a job management unit that controls printing of the executed job, and the job management unit saves and saves the submitted job in one or more PDL formats including the original PDL format when the submitted job is saved. When printing a merged job that combines multiple jobs, the original PDL format of the multiple jobs is different, and the merged job contains a predetermined object whose print result is affected by the difference in rasterization according to the PDL format. determines whether contained, based on the determination result are those select RIP unit for rasterizing the combined job, the plurality of PDL format, and a PS and PDF, the predetermined object is defined in PDF When the combined job is composed of a PS job and a PDF job, the job management unit determines whether the PDF job includes the transparent object, and determines whether the transparent object is included in the PDF job. When the transparent object is included in the job, a RIP unit capable of rasterizing the PS job is selected as one RIP unit for rasterizing the combined job .

One aspect of the present invention is a job processing control program that operates in an image processing device that rasterizes a job and outputs it to a printing engine, and uses the image processing device to perform a plurality of PDL format jobs according to the PDL format. It functions as a plurality of RIP units to rasterize, a job management unit that performs job saving processing and printing processing of saved jobs, and in the saving processing, the job is included in the original PDL format when the submitted job is saved. When printing a merged job that is saved in one or more PDL formats and the saved plurality of jobs are combined, the original PDL format of the plurality of jobs is different, and the combined job is in the PDL format. It is determined whether or not a predetermined object whose print result is affected by the difference in rasterization according to the above is included, and based on the determination result, the RIP unit for rasterizing the combined job is selected , and the plurality of PDL formats are PS. And PDF, the predetermined object is a transparent object defined by PDF, and in the printing process, when the combined job is composed of a PS job and a PDF job, the PDF job is used. It is determined whether or not the transparent object is included, and if the transparent object is included in the PDF job, a RIP unit capable of rasterizing the PS job is selected as one RIP unit for rasterizing the combined job. , Characterized by.

One aspect of the present invention is a job processing control method in a system including an image processing device that rasterizes a job and outputs it to a printing engine, and the image processing device performs a plurality of PDL format jobs according to the PDL format. It is provided with a plurality of RIP units for rasterizing and a job management unit for saving a job and printing a saved job. In the saving process, when the submitted job is saved, the job is stored in the original PDL format. In the printing process, when printing a combined job in which a plurality of saved jobs are combined, the original PDL format of the plurality of jobs is different, and the combined job is combined with the combined job. It is determined whether or not a predetermined object whose print result is affected by the difference in rasterization according to the PDL format is included, and based on the determination result, the RIP unit for rasterizing the combined job is selected , and the plurality of PDL formats are selected. , PS and PDF, and the predetermined object is a transparent object defined by PDF. In the printing process, when the combined job is composed of a PS job and a PDF job, the PDF It is determined whether the job includes the transparent object, and if the job of the PDF includes the transparent object, a RIP unit capable of rasterizing the PS job is provided as one RIP unit for rasterizing the combined job. It is characterized by selecting.

According to the image processing device, the job processing control program, and the job processing control method of the present invention, when printing a combined job in which a plurality of jobs are combined, even if the languages of both jobs are different, the combined job can be printed. It is possible to maintain a sense of unity in the print results of each page.

The reason is that the image processing device that rasterizes the job and outputs it to the print engine has multiple RIP units that rasterize multiple PDL format jobs according to the PDL format, and saves the job and prints the saved job. A job management unit for controlling is provided, and when a submitted job is saved, the job management unit saves the job in one or more PDL formats including the original PDL format, and combines the saved multiple jobs. When printing a merged job, it is determined whether the original PDL format of multiple jobs is different and the merged job contains a predetermined object whose print result is affected by the difference in rasterization according to the PDL format. This is because control is performed to select the RIP unit for rasterizing the join job based on the result.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the printing system which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the other structure of the printing system which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the print instruction apparatus which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image processing apparatus which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image forming apparatus which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a schematic diagram explaining the save operation at the time of job input in the printing system which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a schematic diagram explaining the reprint operation of the save job in the printing system which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a schematic diagram explaining the job combination operation which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation (job saving process) of the image processing apparatus which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the operation when the input job in the image processing apparatus which concerns on one Example of this invention is PS. It is a schematic diagram which shows the operation when the input job in the image processing apparatus which concerns on one Example of this invention is PDF. It is a flowchart which shows the operation (job saving process) of the image processing apparatus which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation (reprint process of a combination job) of the image processing apparatus which concerns on one Example of this invention. This is an example of a table (difference point enumeration table) used in image processing according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is an example of a table (difference determination result list) used in image processing according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation (difference point influence presence / absence determination processing) of the image processing apparatus which concerns on one Example of this invention. This is an example of a table (list of connectable devices) used in image processing according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation (job transfer processing to another image forming apparatus) of the image processing apparatus which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the save operation at the time of job input in a conventional printing system. It is a schematic diagram which shows the reprint operation of the save job in the conventional printing system. It is a figure explaining a transparent object. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of inserting a page in a different language.

As shown in the background technology, the controller that processes the job often has two or more RIP software (for example, CPSI that can interpret the PS job, APPE that can interpret the PDF job, etc.). These are switched according to the language of the job input by the user, and a raster image for sending to the printer is generated.

19 and 20 are schematic views of a conventional printing system, and an image processing device (here, an image forming device having a printing engine) has a plurality of RIP software (here, RIP software 1 and RIP software 2). .. In addition, it has a non-volatile storage area such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and is configured to be able to store a plurality of jobs submitted by the user. Then, the page insertion operation can be performed between the saved jobs, and the saved / edited job can be printed out again.

At the time of submitting a job in this printing system, as shown in FIG. 19, the job (PDL data and job ticket) transmitted from the print instruction device is saved in the HDD, and RIP software (here, RIP) corresponding to the PDL format is stored. Rasterize using software 1) to generate a raster image, and print with a printing engine. Further, at the time of reprinting, as shown in FIG. 20, the job instructed by the print instruction device is read from the HDD and rasterized with RIP software (here, RIP software 1) corresponding to the PDL format to generate a raster image. Print with a print engine.

Here, when only jobs having the same PDL format are transmitted from the print instruction device, rasterization processing may be performed using RIP software corresponding to the PDL format, but jobs having different PDL formats such as PS and PDF. Is transmitted, the appearance changes depending on the page due to the difference in PDF format. For example, since a transparent object is defined in PDF, as shown in FIG. 21 (a), when a transparent object (a star-shaped image object indicated by hatching) is superimposed on a character object, the character object and the transparent object are transparent. Can be treated separately from objects. However, since the transparent object is not defined in PS, as shown in FIG. 21 (b), the entire area including the star-shaped image object (the area surrounded by the thick solid line in the figure) is treated as an image object. , It is not possible to change the print resolution of one of the objects or perform processing such as "thinning" on the text object, and the appearance of characters may change inside and outside the above area ( Here, the characters in the area are shown with thick lines).

As a result, as shown in FIG. 22, when pages are inserted from the PDF job for the PS job, and each page is a transparent object (not defined in PS, but transparent here for convenience of explanation). In the case where an object (called an object) exists, when it is printed out again, due to the difference in transparent expression between PS / PDF, even though it is the same job, it depends on the page (P1 to P3 and P6 to P8). And P4 and P5) there is a problem that the appearance changes.

Such a problem occurs when a plurality of PDL format jobs including a specific expression are mixed in a specific expression in manuscript creation when the realization method differs between PDL formats (or between RIP software). , It is considered that the cause is to select the RIP software that matches the original PDL format.

Therefore, in one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of RIP units that rasterize a plurality of PDL format jobs according to the PDL format and save the jobs in an image processing device that rasterizes the jobs and outputs them to the printing engine. A job management unit that controls printing of the saved job is provided, and the job management unit saves the submitted job in one or more PDL formats including the original PDL format and saves the submitted job. When printing a merged job that combines multiple jobs, the original PDL format of the multiple jobs is different, and the merged job contains a predetermined object whose print result is affected by the difference in rasterization according to the PDL format. The RIP unit for rasterizing the join job is selected based on the determination result. For example, if the original PDL format of multiple jobs is different and the join job contains a predetermined object, one RIP that rasterizes the join job from among the multiple RIP parts by referring to the table stored in advance. A unit is selected, and the selected RIP unit rasterizes the combined job in a PDL format that the RIP unit can rasterize and outputs it to the printing engine.

In other words, it is possible to insert a page from another job for the save job, and in an image processing device equipped with two or more types of RIP software (CPSI / APPE, etc.), the PDL format is used for the save job and another job. In different cases, considering the difference in basic drawing performance between RIP software according to the PDL format, the job can maintain a unified print result between the save job page and the insert page of another job. Controls saving and printing of saved jobs. For example, if it is determined that the image quality of the same expression is different for the same expression due to the functional difference of each PDL type on each page in the job, the RIP software / PDL type that can be unified in terms of image quality is appropriately selected. Select and perform rasterization processing with the selected RIP software to achieve consistent image quality inside the job.

Explaining the case as shown in FIG. 22 (when PS / PDF are mixed in a job including a transparent object), there are two possible ways of RIPing the entire job with PS or PDF. In the first place, there is no information itself called "transparent object", and even if it is RIPed as PDF, the expected output cannot be obtained. On the other hand, PDF can be converted to PS and RIP as PS. Therefore, although there is a possibility that the image quality of the PDF page may deteriorate in the transparent expression, the consistency with other pages is emphasized and RIP is performed as PS.

In order to explain one embodiment of the present invention in more detail, the image processing apparatus, the job processing control program, and the job processing control method according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 18. do. 1 and 2 are schematic views showing the configuration of the printing system of this embodiment, and FIGS. 3 to 5 are block diagrams showing the configurations of a printing instruction device, an image processing device, and an image forming device, respectively. .. 6 to 8 are schematic views showing a schematic operation of the printing system of this embodiment, and FIGS. 9, 12, 13, 13, 16 and 18 are operations of the image processing apparatus of this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows. 10 and 11 are schematic views showing a schematic operation of the image processing apparatus, and FIGS. 14, 15, and 17 are examples of tables used in the image processing of this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the printing system of this embodiment, a print instruction device 10, an image processing device (controller) 20, and an image forming device 30 that can be connected by a communication network 40 are arranged on an intranet, respectively. In FIG. 1, the printing system is composed of a print instruction device 10, an image processing device 20, and an image forming device 30, but as shown in FIG. 2, the image processing device 20 is built in the image forming device 30. It may be configured as such. Ethernet (registered trademark) or the like can be used as the standard of the communication network 40, but IEEE1394, Parallel, or the like can be used for data transfer from the image processing device 20 to the image forming device 30 in addition to Ethernet (registered trademark). It is possible. Hereinafter, each device will be described in detail.

[Print instruction device]
The print instruction device 10 is a computer device such as a personal computer, and as shown in FIG. 3A, is composed of a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, a network I / F unit 13, a display unit 14, an operation unit 15, and the like. Will be done.

The control unit 11 is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11a and memories such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) 11b and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 11c, which are connected via a bus. The CPU 11a reads the program from the ROM 11b and the storage unit 12, expands the program into the RAM 11c, and executes the program to control the entire print instruction device 10.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, the control unit 11 (CPU 11a) executes an OS (Operating System) 16, a manuscript creation application 17, a printer driver 18, a job operation application 19, and the like.

The OS 16 is Windows (registered trademark), Mac OS (registered trademark), Android (registered trademark), or the like, and enables the manuscript creation application 17, the printer driver 18, and the job operation application 19 to operate on the print instruction device 10.

The manuscript creation application 17 is software that performs document creation, table calculation, image processing, etc., reads the printer driver 18 at the time of printing instruction, and transfers the manuscript data created by the manuscript creation application 17 to the printer driver 18.

The printer driver 18 converts the manuscript data created by the manuscript creation application 17 into a job (PS or PDF PDL data) in a language that can be interpreted by the image processing device 20. The output setting information (job ticket) set on the output setting screen of the printer driver 18 is added to this job. In this embodiment, PS and PDF are exemplified as PDL data, but PCL (Printer Control Language), XPS (XML Paper Specification), and the like can also be used.

The job operation application 19 enables operations (operations such as editing and reprinting of a saved job) of job data stored in the image processing device 20. When the image processing device 20 has a function as a Web server that provides a Web service, the job operation application 19 functions as a Web client, and a job stored in the image processing device 20 using a Web browser or the like. You can manipulate the data.

The storage unit 12 is composed of an HDD, an SSD (Solid State Drive), or the like, and stores a program for the CPU 11a to control each unit, data necessary for executing the program, manuscript data, job data, and the like.

The network I / F unit 13 is composed of a NIC (Network Interface Card), a modem, or the like, and connects the print instruction device 10 to the communication network 40 so that a job can be transmitted to the image processing device 20.

The display unit 14 is composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display, or the like, and has a screen for creating a document, a screen for setting output conditions of the document, and job data stored in the image processing device 20. Display the screen to operate. The operation unit 15 is composed of a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel integrated with the display unit 14, etc., and enables creation of a document, setting of output conditions, operations on job data stored in the image processing device 20, and the like. ..

[Image processing device]
The image processing device 20 is a computer device, and has a function of performing rasterization processing on a job and generating image data (raster image) in a format that can be output by the image forming device 30, and saves a received print job. It has functions such as editing and reprinting. As shown in FIG. 4A, the image processing device 20 includes a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, a network I / F unit 23, a printer I / F unit 24, a display unit 25, an operation unit 26, and the like. NS.

The control unit 21 is composed of a CPU 21a and a memory such as a ROM 21b or a RAM 21c, and these are connected via a bus. The CPU 21a controls the entire image processing apparatus 20 by reading a program from the ROM 21b or the storage unit 22, deploying the program in the RAM 21c, and executing the program. Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, the control unit 21 functions as a job management unit 27, a RIP unit 28, and the like.

The job management unit 27 controls job saving, reprinting of the saved job, and the like. Specifically, when the submitted job is saved, the job is saved in one or a plurality of PDL formats including the original PDL format. For example, the submitted job is saved in the original PDL format, and is converted into all other PDL formats that can be rasterized by a plurality of RIP units described later and saved. Also, when the job to be combined is specified from the saved jobs at the time of submitting the job, the PDL formats of the submitted job and the job to be combined are compared, and the PDL formats of both jobs are different ( Alternatively, if the PDL formats of both jobs are different and at least one job contains a predetermined object whose print result is affected by the difference in rasterization according to the PDL format), the submitted job is used as the original. In addition to saving in the PDL format of, convert it to the PDL format of the job to be combined and save it. Further, when reprinting a combined job in which a plurality of saved jobs are combined, it is determined whether the original PDL format of the plurality of jobs is different and the combined job includes the above-mentioned predetermined object, and based on the determination result. Then, select the RIP part that rasterizes the join job. For example, if the original PDL format of a plurality of jobs is different and the join job contains a predetermined object, the join job is rasterized from the plurality of RIP parts described later by referring to the table stored in advance. One RIP unit to be used is selected, and the selected RIP unit is instructed to rasterize the join job. When saving the submitted job, if only saving is performed without printing the job, the job is printed for the first time, but in this embodiment, the saved job is printed again. Called printing.

When the image processing device 20 functions as a Web server that provides a Web service, the job management unit 27 creates a Web screen for operating the job data stored in the image processing device 20 on the Web. It is provided to the print instruction device 10 that operates as a client, and job saving and reprinting of the saved job are executed according to the instruction from the print instruction device 10.

The RIP unit 28 analyzes the input job and the save job, generates intermediate data, renders the data, and generates a raster image according to the instruction of the job management unit 27 (this series of processes is called rasterization process). Then, the generated raster image is output to the image forming apparatus 30 to instruct printing. The RIP unit 28 is composed of a plurality of RIP units (RIP software). In this embodiment, a first RIP unit (RIP software for PS) 28a that performs rasterization processing for a job in the first PDL format (PS in this embodiment) and a second PDF format (PDF in this embodiment). ), It has a second RIP unit (RIP software for PDF) 28b that performs rasterization processing for the job.

The job management unit 27 and the RIP unit 28 (the first RIP unit 28a and the second RIP unit 28b) may be configured as hardware, or the control unit 21 may function as the job management unit 27 and the RIP unit 28. It may be configured as a control program and the job processing control program may be executed by the CPU 21a.

The storage unit 22 is composed of an HDD, an SSD, or the like, and stores a program for the CPU 21a to control each unit, data necessary for executing the program, job data, a raster image after rasterization processing, and the like.

The network I / F unit 23 is composed of a NIC, a modem, or the like, connects the image processing device 20 to the communication network 40, and makes it possible to receive job data or the like from the print instruction device 10. The printer I / F unit 24 is a dedicated interface for connecting to the image forming apparatus 30, and makes it possible to transmit a raster image or the like to the image forming apparatus 30.

The display unit 25 is composed of an LCD, an organic EL display, or the like, and displays a print instruction screen or the like for the image forming apparatus 30. The operation unit 26 is composed of a mouse, a keyboard, and the like, and enables various operations on the print instruction screen.

[Image forming device]
The image forming apparatus 30 is a printing apparatus such as an MFP (Multi-Functional Peripherals), and as shown in FIG. 5, a control unit 31, a storage unit 32, a controller I / F unit 33, a display operation unit 34, and a print processing unit. It is composed of 35 and the like.

The control unit 31 is composed of a CPU 31a and memories such as a ROM 31b and a RAM 31c, which are connected via a bus. The CPU 31a controls the entire image forming apparatus 30 by reading a program from the ROM 31b or the storage unit 32, developing the program in the RAM 31c, and executing the program.

The storage unit 32 is composed of an HDD, an SSD, or the like, and stores a program for the CPU 31a to control each unit, data necessary for executing the program, a raster image acquired from the image processing device 20, and the like.

The controller I / F unit 33 is a dedicated interface for connecting to the image processing device 20, and makes it possible to receive a raster image or the like from the image processing device 20.

The display operation unit 34 is a touch panel (the display unit and the operation unit are separated from each other) provided with a pressure-sensitive operation unit (touch sensor) in which transparent electrodes are arranged in a grid pattern on a display unit such as an LCD or an organic EL display. It is also possible to display various screens related to the printing process and enable various operations related to the printing process.

The print processing unit 35 is an element necessary for image formation using an image forming process such as an electrophotographic method or an electrostatic recording method, that is, a charging device, a photoconductor drum, an exposure device, a transfer roller, a transfer belt, and a fixing device. It consists of devices and the like. Specifically, the photoconductor drum charged by the charging device is irradiated with light corresponding to the raster image from the exposure device to form an electrostatic latent image, and the toner charged by the developing device is adhered and developed. The toner image is transferred to a paper medium via a primary transfer roller and a secondary transfer belt and fixed by a fixing device.

Note that FIGS. 1 to 5 are examples of the printing system of this embodiment, and the configuration and functions of each device can be changed as appropriate. For example, in FIG. 4, the control unit 21 of the image processing device 20 is configured to function as the job management unit 27 and the RIP unit 28, but in the case of the printing system of FIG. 2, the control unit 31 of the image forming device 30 is used as a job. It may be made to function as a management unit and a RIP unit (the CPU 31a may execute the job processing control program).

Hereinafter, the job processing control method of this embodiment will be described. First, with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8, a save operation, a reprint operation, and a job combination operation at the time of submitting a job of the printing system of this embodiment will be described. do.

[Save operation when submitting a job]
As shown in FIG. 6, the user can specify whether or not to save the job at the time of submitting the job from the print instruction device to the image processing device. Jobs specified for saving and submitted are saved in a non-volatile storage area such as an HDD inside the image processing device. The submitted job is stored in the image processing apparatus as job data consisting of at least a PDL generated based on the manuscript created by the user, output setting information (job ticket) specified by the user, and job data. There are several formats (languages) in PDF, and in this embodiment, two types, PS and PDF, are assumed.

[When reprinting a save job]
As shown in FIG. 7, the user can instruct editing or reprinting of the job stored in the image processing device. The job for which editing or reprinting is instructed is subjected to rasterization processing based on the current output settings, and printing is performed by transmitting the generated raster image to the image forming apparatus. The image processing device is equipped with RIP software that performs multiple rasterization processes, but usually, RIP software that can interpret the PDL language type included in the job to be instructed is selected. become.

[Job join operation]
The user can insert a page included in a job saved separately for a job saved in the image processing device (this is called job combination). FIG. 8 is an example of a job combination operation. Here, a specific page (here, P2 and P3) of job B whose PDF format is PDF is inserted (job combination) into job A whose PDL format is PS. At this time, job A is called a main job and job B is called a sub job. After the job combination operation, job A becomes a job consisting of two PDL format pages, PS and PDF.

Next, the operation of the image processing device 20 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 18. The CPU 21a executes the processing of each step of FIGS. 9, 12, 13, 16, 16 and 18 by expanding and executing the job processing control program stored in the ROM 21b or the storage unit 22 in the RAM 21c. Here, job saving, reprinting of combined jobs, and job forwarding will be described in order.

[Save Job]
The main feature of this embodiment is that a job having a different PDL format for each page created by a job combination operation is rasterized according to one of the PDL formats at the time of reprinting. In order to realize this, the following two methods are proposed with the essential element of converting to the PDL format required when submitting a job and saving it.

The first method is a case where a job is submitted without specifying a job to be combined, and the submitted job is saved in a plurality of PDL formats. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11. 9 is a flowchart showing the overall operation, FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic operation when the input job is PS, and FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic operation when the input job is PDF. Is.

As shown in FIG. 9, when the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) receives the input job from the print instruction device 10 (S101), the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) determines the PDL format of the input job (S102).

When the input job is PS (see FIG. 10), the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) saves the PS job in the storage unit 22 or the like (PS data and a job described in PJL (Printer Job Language)). It is determined that it should be saved as PDF, which is another PDL format, together with (S103).

Next, if print execution is specified at the same time when the job is submitted, the control unit 21 (RIP unit 28) performs rasterization processing on the submitted job, generates a raster image, and outputs the raster image to the print engine. (S104). Further, the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) extracts the job settings described inside the PDF data of the PS, and based on the extracted job settings and the PJL (job ticket) specified at the time of submitting the job. , Generate a job setting (job setting of JDF (Job Definition Format)) as a PDF job (S105). Further, the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) converts the PS data in the job data into PDF and generates PDF data (S106). Then, the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) saves the PDF data and the JDF job settings in the storage unit 22 or the like as a part of the job data (S107).

On the other hand, when the input job is PDF (see FIG. 11), the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) saves the PDF job in the storage unit 22 or the like (saves the PDF data and the JDF job settings). Together with (S108), it is determined that it should be saved as PS, which is another PDF format.

Next, if print execution is specified at the same time when the job is submitted, the control unit 21 (RIP unit 28) performs rasterization processing on the submitted job, generates a raster image, and outputs the raster image to the print engine. (S109). Further, the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) converts the PDF / JDF data in the job data into the PS / PJL format (S110), and stores the PS data and the PJL job settings as a part of the job data. It is stored in a unit 22 or the like (S111).

The second method is a case where a job to be combined is specified and a job is submitted. The PDL format of the submitted job is compared with the PDL format of the job to be combined, and the job is submitted based on the comparison result. A method of saving a job in one or more PDL formats. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the user inputs a job while selecting a job (job to be combined) scheduled to be combined for the job on the print instruction device 10, the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) submits the input job. Is received and the selection operation of the job to be combined is accepted (S201). Then, the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) acquires the PDL format of the input job (S202), and acquires the PDL format of the combined target job selected at the time of submitting the job (S203).

Next, the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) saves the input job in the storage unit 22 or the like in the original PDL format (S204), compares the PDL formats of the respective jobs acquired in S202 and S203, and both are used. It is determined whether or not the PDL formats of the above are the same (S205). If the PDL formats of both are different (No in S205), the PDL format is different between the input job and the job to be combined, so the input job is converted to the PDL format of the job to be combined and saved in the storage unit 22 or the like (No). S206).

In FIG. 12, when the PDL formats of the input job and the merge target job are different, the PDL format of the input job is converted and saved, but the PDL formats of the input job and the merge target job are different, and at least one of them is used. When the job includes an object (for example, a transparent object) that is affected by the difference in rasterization according to the PDL format, the PDL format of the input job may be converted and saved.

[Reprint merge job]
The main feature of this embodiment is that, by the job combination operation, a job having a different PDL format for each page is rasterized according to one of the PDL formats at the time of reprinting. Here, on the premise that the jobs saved by the first method shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 are combined, the operation from the request for reprinting to the execution will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 13 and 14. do.

First, the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) receives the reprint instruction by the user (S301), and determines whether the job for which the reprint is instructed is a combined job (S302). If the job instructed to be reprinted is not a combined job (No in S302), the control unit 21 (RIP unit 28) re-rasterizes the job instructed to be reprinted in the PDL format at the time of input, and the image forming apparatus. A raster image is output to 30 to instruct reprinting (S308).

On the other hand, if the job for which reprinting is instructed is a combined job (Yes in S302), the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) determines that a difference determination may be necessary and includes the target job. It is determined whether or not the PDL format at the time of submitting each job is the same (S303). If the PDL format at the time of inputting each job is the same (Yes in S303), the control unit 21 (RIP unit 28) re-rasterizes the target job in the PDL format at the time of input and outputs a raster image to the image forming apparatus 30. And instruct reprinting (S308).

On the other hand, if the PDL format at the time of inputting each job is different (No in S303), it is determined that the difference determination is necessary, and the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) is a table listing the differences between PS / PDF. The process of S305 is repeatedly executed for each item. Specifically, a determination process (described later) is performed to determine whether or not there is a part affected by the difference point in the main job / sub job, and the determination result is added to the “difference determination result list” (S305). FIG. 14 is a configuration example of the difference point enumeration table, and describes, for example, the name of the object in which the difference occurs and how the object is represented by PS / PDF. Further, FIG. 15 shows a configuration example of the difference determination result list, for example, the name of the object in which the difference occurs, the presence or absence of the object in the job, the rasterization method for each PDL format at the time of input to the object, and the rasterization method. The effect of reprinting is described.

After that, the control unit 21 (RIP unit 28) re-rasterizes the target job based on the result of the difference point influence presence / absence determination performed in S304 to S306, outputs the raster image to the image forming apparatus 30, and reprints. Instruct (S307).

Next, the process of determining the presence or absence of the influence of the difference point in S305 will be described by taking a transparent object as an example.

As shown in FIG. 16, the processes S402 to S404 are repeatedly executed for all the pages of the target job. Specifically, the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) determines whether or not the PDL format at the time of inputting the current page is PDF (S402). Since the expression of the transparent object does not exist in PS, the judgment target is only the PDF page. Therefore, if the PDL format at the time of input is PS (No in S402), the process proceeds to the next page.

If the PDL format at the time of inputting the current page is PDF (Yes in S402), the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) confirms whether or not a transparent object exists in the page (S403). As a result of confirmation, if the transparent object does not exist on the page (No in S404), the next page is processed, and if the transparent object does not exist on all pages, the effect of the difference in the job regarding the transparent expression Is evaluated, and it is determined that all pages should be rasterized by the same method as at the time of input (S406).

On the other hand, if there is a transparent object on the current page (Yes in S404), the loop is terminated and the transparent object is used on at least one page, so the effect of the difference on the transparent object on the PS / PDF page. Is evaluated, and it is determined that all pages should be rasterized as PS (S407). It should be noted that there is a possibility because there is a difference when the PS side is also transparent, but there is no concept of transparency in the PS and it cannot be detected.

[Job transfer to another image forming device]
When a plurality of image processing devices 20 are connected to the printing system and the predetermined image processing device 20 can set and manage another image processing device 20 as a group of image processing devices in advance, as a reprint operation, another It is also possible to transfer the job to the image processing device 20 of the above, and select a device that can obtain a desired result after comparing with the capability information of the transfer destination device based on the difference determination result list shown in FIG. You can transfer the job.

In that case, the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) of the predetermined image processing device 20 extracts another image processing device 20 having the RIP unit selected for the combined job, and the extracted other image processing device 20. Is displayed on the display unit 25 or the like and presented to the user, and control is performed to transfer the combined job to another image processing device 20 selected from the list.

Hereinafter, the operation of the predetermined image processing device 20 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that this job transfer is based on the reprinting process of the combined job shown in FIG. 13, and is a process of extracting transfer candidates, notifying the user of the extraction result, and instructing the transfer destination selected by the user to reprint. ..

First, when the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) receives a reprint instruction from the user (S501), the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) acquires a list of connectable devices stored in advance (S502). FIG. 17 is an example of a list of connectable devices, and includes at least an identifier on the communication network 40 of the device and information on the rasterization process of the device.

Next, the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) determines whether the job for which reprinting is instructed is a combined job (S503). If the job for which reprinting is instructed is not a combined job (No in S503), the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) is instructed to reprint by referring to the information regarding the rasterization process of the connectable device list. Extract the transfer destinations that can be re-rasterized and reprinted in the PDL format at the time of submitting the job (S505), present the list of extracted transfer destinations to the user, and reprint on the device selected by the user. Transfer the instructed job (S510).

On the other hand, if the job for which reprinting is instructed is a combined job (Yes in S503), the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) determines that a difference determination may be necessary and includes the target job. It is determined whether or not the PDL format at the time of inputting each job is the same (S504). If the PDL format at the time of submitting each job is the same (Yes in S504), the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) selects a transfer destination capable of re-rasterizing / reprinting the target job in the PDL format at the time of submission. Extracted (S505), present the extracted list of transfer destinations to the user, and transfer the target job to the device selected by the user (S510).

On the other hand, if the job for which reprinting is instructed is a combined job consisting of a plurality of PDF formats (No in S504), the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) determines that a difference determination may be required. Then, the process of S507 is repeatedly executed for each item of the table in which the differences between PS / PDF are listed. Specifically, as in S305 of FIG. 13, a determination process (FIG. 16) is performed to determine whether or not there is a part affected by the difference point in the main job / sub job, and the determination result is "difference determination result list". "(S507). Then, the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) extracts transfer destinations capable of re-rasterizing and reprinting the combined job based on the difference determination result (S509), and presents the extracted transfer destination list to the user. Then, the join job is transferred to the device selected by the user (S510).

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and its configuration and control can be appropriately changed as long as it does not deviate from the gist of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, the case where the RIP unit 28 has two RIP software of the first RIP unit 28a and the second RIP unit 28b has been described, but when the RIP unit 28 has three or more RIP software for three or more languages. Against this, the job processing control method of the present invention can be applied in the same manner.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where two saved jobs are combined and reprinted is illustrated, but even when three or more jobs are combined and reprinted, the job processing of the present invention is performed. The control method can be applied in the same way.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the job data is stored in the storage unit 22 of the image processing device 20 is illustrated, but the job data may be stored in a server or the like connected to the communication network 40.

The present invention is an image processing device that rasterizes a job and outputs it to a printing engine, a job processing control program that controls saving of a job in the image processing device and reprinting of the saved job, and a record that records the job processing control program. It can be used for media and job processing control methods.

10 Printing instruction device 11 Control unit 11a CPU
11b ROM
11c RAM
12 Storage unit 13 Network I / F unit 14 Display unit 15 Operation unit 16 OS
17 Manuscript creation application 18 Printer driver 19 Job operation application 20 Image processing device 21 Control unit 21a CPU
21b ROM
21c RAM
22 Storage unit 23 Network I / F unit 24 Printer I / F unit 25 Display unit 26 Operation unit 27 Job management unit 28 RIP unit 28a 1st RIP unit 28b 2nd RIP unit 30 Image forming device 31 Control unit 31a CPU
31b ROM
31c RAM
32 Storage unit 33 Controller I / F unit 34 Display operation unit 35 Print processing unit 40 Communication network

Claims (20)

An image processing device that rasterizes a job and outputs it to a printing engine.
Multiple RIP (Raster Image Processor) units that rasterize multiple PDL (Page Description Language) format jobs according to the PDL format,
It is equipped with a job management unit that controls the saving of jobs and the printing of saved jobs.
The job management unit
When saving the submitted job, save the job in one or more PDL formats including the original PDL format.
When printing a merged job that combines a plurality of saved jobs, the original PDL format of the plurality of jobs is different, and the print result is affected by the difference in rasterization according to the PDL format for the merged job. determines include object, based on the determination result, which selects the RIP unit of rasterizing the merged job,
The plurality of PDF formats include PS (Postscript) and PDF (Portable Document Format).
The predetermined object is a transparent object defined in PDF.
The job management unit
When the combined job is composed of a PS job and a PDF job, it is determined whether the PDF job includes the transparent object, and when the PDF job includes the transparent object, the combined job is included. As one RIP unit for rasterizing a job, a RIP unit capable of rasterizing the PS job is selected.
An image processing device characterized by this. The job management unit
When the original PDL format of the plurality of jobs is different and the join job includes the predetermined object, the join job is selected from the plurality of RIP units by referring to the table stored in advance. Select one RIP part to rasterize,
The selected RIP unit rasterizes the combined job in a PDL format that the RIP unit can rasterize and outputs it to the printing engine.
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. The job management unit
The submitted job is saved in the original PDL format, and the plurality of RIP units are converted into all other PDL formats that can be rasterized and saved.
The image processing apparatus according to claim 2. The job management unit
When the job to be combined is specified from the saved jobs at the time of submitting the job, the PDL formats of the submitted job and the job to be combined are compared, and the PDL formats of both jobs are different. Saves the submitted job in the original PDL format, and also converts and saves the submitted job in the PDL format of the job to be combined.
The image processing apparatus according to claim 2. The job management unit
If the PDL formats of both jobs are different and the predetermined object exists in at least one job, the submitted job is saved in the original PDL format and the PDL format of the job to be combined is created. Convert to and save
The image processing apparatus according to claim 4. When one or more other image processing devices capable of transferring jobs are connected to the image processing device,
The job management unit
The other image processing device having the RIP unit selected for the combined job is extracted, a list of the extracted other image processing devices is presented, and the other image processing device selected from the list is used. Transfer the join job,
The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The image processing device is an image forming device including the printing engine.
The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the image processing apparatus is characterized by the above. A job processing control program that runs on an image processing device that rasterizes a job and outputs it to a printing engine.
The image processing device
Multiple RIP (Raster Image Processor) units that rasterize multiple PDL (Page Description Language) format jobs according to the PDL format.
It functions as a job management unit that saves jobs and prints saved jobs.
In the save process, when the submitted job is saved, the job is saved in one or more PDL formats including the original PDL format.
In the printing process, when printing a combined job in which a plurality of saved jobs are combined, the original PDL format of the plurality of jobs is different, and the print result is different in the combined job due to the difference in rasterization according to the PDL format. It is determined whether or not a predetermined object to be affected is included, and based on the determination result, the RIP unit for rasterizing the combined job is selected .
The plurality of PDF formats include PS (Postscript) and PDF (Portable Document Format).
The predetermined object is a transparent object defined in PDF.
In the printing process,
When the combined job is composed of a PS job and a PDF job, it is determined whether the PDF job includes the transparent object, and when the PDF job includes the transparent object, the combined job is included. As one RIP unit for rasterizing a job, a RIP unit capable of rasterizing the PS job is selected.
A job processing control program characterized by this. In the printing process,
When the original PDL format of the plurality of jobs is different and the join job includes the predetermined object, the join job is selected from the plurality of RIP units by referring to the table stored in advance. One RIP unit to be rasterized is selected, and the selected RIP unit is made to rasterize the combined job in a PDL format that can be rasterized by the RIP unit.
The job processing control program according to claim 8. In the preservation process,
The submitted job is saved in the original PDL format, and the plurality of RIP units are converted into all other PDL formats that can be rasterized and saved.
The job processing control program according to claim 9. In the preservation process,
When the job to be combined is specified from the saved jobs at the time of submitting the job, the PDL formats of the submitted job and the job to be combined are compared, and the PDL formats of both jobs are different. Saves the submitted job in the original PDL format, and also converts and saves the submitted job in the PDL format of the job to be combined.
The job processing control program according to claim 9. In the preservation process,
If the PDL formats of both jobs are different and the predetermined object exists in at least one job, the submitted job is saved in the original PDL format and the PDL format of the job to be combined is created. Convert to and save
The job processing control program according to claim 11. The image processing device is an image forming device including the printing engine.
The job processing control program according to any one of claims 8 to 12 , wherein the job processing control program is characterized in that. A job processing control method in a system that includes an image processing device that rasterizes a job and outputs it to a printing engine.
The image processing device is
Multiple RIP (Raster Image Processor) units that rasterize multiple PDL (Page Description Language) format jobs according to the PDL format,
It is equipped with a job management unit that performs job saving processing and printing processing of saved jobs.
In the save process, when the submitted job is saved, the job is saved in one or more PDL formats including the original PDL format.
In the printing process, when printing a combined job in which a plurality of saved jobs are combined, the original PDL format of the plurality of jobs is different, and the print result is different in the combined job due to the difference in rasterization according to the PDL format. It is determined whether or not a predetermined object to be affected is included, and based on the determination result, the RIP unit for rasterizing the combined job is selected .
The plurality of PDF formats include PS (Postscript) and PDF (Portable Document Format).
The predetermined object is a transparent object defined in PDF.
In the printing process,
When the combined job is composed of a PS job and a PDF job, it is determined whether the PDF job includes the transparent object, and when the PDF job includes the transparent object, the combined job is included. As one RIP unit for rasterizing a job, a RIP unit capable of rasterizing the PS job is selected.
A job processing control method characterized by this. In the printing process,
When the original PDL format of the plurality of jobs is different and the join job includes the predetermined object, the join job is selected from the plurality of RIP units by referring to the table stored in advance. Select one RIP part to rasterize,
The selected RIP unit rasterizes the combined job in a PDL format that the RIP unit can rasterize and outputs it to the printing engine.
The job processing control method according to claim 14. In the preservation process,
The submitted job is saved in the original PDL format, and the plurality of RIP units are converted into all other PDL formats that can be rasterized and saved.
The job processing control method according to claim 15. In the preservation process,
When the job to be combined is specified from the saved jobs at the time of submitting the job, the PDL formats of the submitted job and the job to be combined are compared, and the PDL formats of both jobs are different. Saves the submitted job in the original PDL format, and also converts and saves the submitted job in the PDL format of the job to be combined.
The job processing control method according to claim 15. In the preservation process,
If the PDL formats of both jobs are different and the predetermined object exists in at least one job, the submitted job is saved in the original PDL format and the PDL format of the job to be combined is created. Convert to and save
The job processing control method according to claim 17. When one or more other image processing devices capable of transferring jobs are connected to the image processing device,
In the printing process,
The other image processing device having the RIP unit selected for the combined job is extracted, a list of the extracted other image processing devices is presented, and the other image processing device selected from the list is used. Transfer the join job,
The job processing control method according to any one of claims 14 to 18. The image processing device is an image forming device including the printing engine.
The job processing control method according to any one of claims 14 to 19, wherein the job processing control method is characterized.

Images