JP2001010125A - Print controller, print control method and storage medium storing computer readable program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform printing efficiently by processing the write information of each page in a short time while switching the writing destination thereof. SOLUTION: When write information based on analysis of print information on the main print processing section 103 side is transferred to the sub-writing section 115 and written, writing time of the write information being transferred to the sub-writing section 115 is predicted with reference to the prestored writing time predicted for each type of write information. A decision is then made whether the predicted writing time is shorter than the time required for transferring a page of information from a second write processing means to the main print processing section 103. Based on the decision results, transfer of the write information stored in the first storage section to the sub-writing section 115 is limited and write processing is performed preferentially on the main print processing section 103 side.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print control apparatus and a print control method including a plurality of drawing processing systems for generating drawing information obtained by analyzing input printing information into image information that can be printed by a printing unit. The present invention relates to a storage medium storing a computer-readable program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional print control apparatus, analysis of print data received from a host device such as a host computer is performed to create drawing information, and from the created drawing information, image data (bit) The generation processing of map image data) and the printing processing of one-page image data have been performed by one CPU.

[0003]

However, when high-speed printing is performed, the processing is performed by one CPU despite two independent operations, that is, analysis of print data and formation of an image. Therefore, there is a problem that when one of them is performed, the other work cannot be performed.

If the analysis of the print data and the generation of the image are to be divided into separate independent processing units for processing, the drawing information for generating the image is sent without a fixed size. The capacity varies greatly depending on the print data.

[0005] For this reason, there is a problem in that when the drawing data is transferred to the drawing unit and the page image is transferred from the drawing unit, the processing speed may be slower than when the processing is performed by one CPU. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide drawing information based on analysis of print information on a first drawing processing means side by a second drawing processing means. Side, and when performing drawing processing on image information,
The drawing time of the drawing information to be transferred to the second drawing processing means, which is determined with reference to the predicted drawing time for each type of the drawing information stored in advance, is predicted, and the predicted drawing time is calculated as the second drawing time. It is determined whether the transfer time is shorter than the transfer time for one page transferred from the drawing processing means to the first drawing processing means, and the drawing information stored in the first storage unit is determined based on the determination result. By limiting the transfer to the second drawing processing means and performing the drawing processing on the first drawing processing means side, each drawing page can be adapted to a longer or shorter drawing processing time according to the content of the input drawing information. A print control device and a print control method capable of processing drawing information of each page in a short time and efficiently performing printing processing while switching drawing processing destinations for drawing information of the same, and a program storing a computer-readable program. It is to provide the media.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first storage unit (main drawing information storage device shown in FIG. 1) for storing drawing information obtained by analyzing input print information. 111), a first drawing unit (main drawing device 110 shown in FIG. 1) that generates image information printable by a printing unit based on the drawing information stored in the first storage unit, A first image storage unit (main page image storage device 112 shown in FIG. 1) for storing the image information drawn by the drawing unit
A first drawing processing unit (main print processing unit 103 shown in FIG. 1) having the following, and a second storage unit (sub-printing unit shown in FIG. 1) for storing the drawing information transferred from the first drawing processing unit. A drawing information storage device 120) and a second drawing unit (sub-drawing device 119 shown in FIG. 1) that generates image information printable by a printing unit based on the drawing information stored in the second storage unit.
A second image processing unit (shown in FIG. 1) having a second image storage unit (sub-page image storage device 121 shown in FIG. 1) for storing the image information drawn by the second drawing unit. A sub-rendering unit 115); and a transfer time storage unit (see FIG. 1) for storing a transfer time required to transfer image information in page units stored in the second image storage unit to the first image storage unit. Drawing time prediction database 109)
Predicted time storage means (drawing time prediction database 109 shown in FIG. 1) for storing the predicted drawing time required for the drawing process by the first drawing unit for each drawing type, and the drawing stored in the first storage unit A prediction unit (a drawing time prediction device 124 shown in FIG. 1) for predicting a drawing time required for drawing information by the first drawing unit based on the predicted drawing time stored in the predicted time storage unit; Judgment means for judging whether or not the predicted drawing time predicted by the prediction means is shorter than the transfer time stored in the transfer time storage means (the CPU 104 shown in FIG. 1 executes a control program stored in the ROM 106 or the like) And comparing the predicted drawing time and the transfer time with each other), and the drawing information stored in the first storage unit based on the result of the determination by the determining means. The first transfer control means for controlling the transfer to the second drawing processing means (CPU shown in FIG. 1
104 executes a control program stored in the ROM 106 or the like to control transfer of drawing information stored in the main drawing information storage device 111).

According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the first transfer control means determines that the transfer time is longer than the transfer time by the determination means, the first transfer control means stores the data in the first storage unit. It is determined that the transfer of the drawing information to the second drawing processing means is not executed.

In a third aspect according to the present invention, the first drawing unit is configured to execute the first drawing control unit when the first transfer control unit determines not to transfer the drawing information to the second drawing processing unit. And drawing the drawing information stored in the first storage unit into image information that can be printed by the printing unit.

A fourth invention according to the present invention is such that the first drawing processing means and the second drawing processing means can execute drawing processing in parallel.

A fifth invention according to the present invention has a second transfer control means for transferring image information drawn by the second drawing processing means to the first drawing processing means.

According to the sixth and eleventh aspects of the present invention, a first storage section (main drawing information storage device 111 shown in FIG. 1) for storing drawing information obtained by analyzing input print information.
A first drawing unit (main drawing device 110 shown in FIG. 1) that generates image information printable by a printing unit based on the drawing information stored in the first storage unit; A first image storage unit (a main page image storage device 112 shown in FIG. 1) for storing the image information drawn by the unit (first print processing unit 10 shown in FIG. 1).
3), a second storage unit for storing the drawing information transferred from the first drawing processing unit (the sub drawing information storage device 120 shown in FIG. 1), and a second storage unit for storing the drawing information. A second drawing unit (a sub-drawing device 119 shown in FIG. 1) that generates image information that can be printed by the printing unit based on the drawing information; and a second drawing unit that stores the image information drawn by the second drawing unit. A print control method in a print control device including second image processing units (sub-image drawing units 115 illustrated in FIG. 1) having two image storage units (sub-page image storage devices 121 illustrated in FIG. 1). Alternatively, a first storage unit that stores drawing information obtained by analyzing input print information, and image information that can be printed by the printing unit based on the drawing information stored in the first storage unit A first drawing unit, the first drawing unit;
A first memory for storing the image information drawn by the drawing unit of FIG.
A first drawing processing unit having an image storage unit, a second storage unit for storing the drawing information transferred from the first drawing processing unit, and a drawing stored in the second storage unit. A second drawing unit that generates image information that can be printed by the printing unit based on the information, and a second image storage unit that stores the image information drawn by the second drawing unit
A storage medium storing a computer-readable program for controlling the printing control device in the printing control device having the drawing processing means, wherein the drawing information stored in the first storage unit is stored in the first storage unit. A prediction step (step S205 shown in FIG. 8) of predicting a drawing time required for drawing by the drawing unit based on the predicted drawing time stored in the predicted time storage means; A determination step of determining whether the estimated rendering time required for the rendering process by the first rendering unit is shorter than the transfer time stored in the predicted time storage unit that stores the estimated rendering time for each rendering type (step shown in FIG. 8). S205), and controlling the transfer of the drawing information stored in the first storage unit to the second drawing processing means based on the result of the determination in the determining step. Those having a first transfer control step (step S206 or step S209 shown in FIG. 8).

According to a seventh and twelfth aspect of the present invention, the first transfer control step (step S209 shown in FIG. 8)
Determining that the transfer of the drawing information stored in the first storage unit to the second drawing processing unit is not performed when it is determined in the determining step that the transfer time is longer than the transfer time. is there.

According to an eighth and a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the first drawing section determines that the first drawing control step does not execute the transfer of the drawing information to the second drawing processing means. In this case, the drawing unit stores the drawing information stored in the first storage unit in image information that can be printed by the printing unit.

According to ninth and fourteenth aspects of the present invention, the first drawing processing means and the second drawing processing means can execute drawing processing in parallel, respectively.

The tenth and fifteenth aspects of the present invention have a second transfer control step of transferring image information drawn by the second drawing processing means to the first drawing processing means. is there.

[0017]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a printing system to which a printing control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention can be applied.
1 and the host computer 102 can correspond to a case where print data, control data, and the like can be communicated by a predetermined protocol via a predetermined communication medium.

In the printing apparatus 101, a main print processing unit 103 is located inside the printing apparatus 101 and can perform all printing processes. A CPU 104 controls the main print processing unit 103.

Reference numeral 105 denotes a RAM, which functions as a work area used when the CPU 104 operates. 106 is R
The OM stores a program of the CPU 104 and the like. An I / O interface (I / O) 107 receives print data from the host computer 102.

Reference numeral 108 denotes a print data analyzer, which is an I / O 1
The print data input in 07 is analyzed. A drawing time prediction database 109 is a main drawing information storage device 111.
The information for estimating the execution time when processing the drawing information stored in is stored. Reference numeral 110 denotes a main drawing device, which generates an image for one image surface based on drawing information obtained by analyzing print data.

Reference numeral 111 denotes a main drawing information storage device which stores drawing information for one image surface analyzed by the print data analysis device 108.

A main page image storage device 112 stores a page image of one page. A printing unit 113 receives a page image of one page from the main page image storage device 112 and actually performs printing. Reference numeral 114 denotes a main printing unit internal bus for exchanging data inside the main printing processing unit 103.

Reference numeral 115 denotes a sub-rendering unit which operates independently of the main print processing unit 103 in the printing apparatus 101 and exclusively performs image generation based on the drawing information transferred from the main print processing unit 103. A CPU 116 controls the entire sub-drawing unit 115. A RAM 117 functions as a work area used when the CPU 116 operates. Reference numeral 118 denotes a ROM in which a program of the CPU 116 and the like are stored.

Reference numeral 119 denotes a sub-rendering device, which performs drawing based on the drawing information stored in the sub-rendering information storage device 120. 12
A sub drawing information storage device 0 stores the drawing information transferred from the main print processing unit 103.

Reference numeral 121 denotes a sub-page image storage device which stores the image generated by the sub-drawing device 119 for one page. 12
Reference numeral 2 denotes an internal bus for exchanging data inside the sub drawing unit 115. A memory transfer device 123 transfers the drawing information of the sub drawing information storage device 120 from the main drawing information storage device 111 and the page image of the main page image storage device 112 from the sub page image storage device 121.

Reference numeral 124 denotes a drawing time prediction device, which obtains a predicted drawing execution time from the drawing time prediction database 109 and the drawing information stored in the main drawing information storage device 111.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrams showing examples of output images based on print data received from the host computer 102 shown in FIG. 1, and show the first page (FIG. 2) based on the print data input to the I / O 107. And the second page (corresponding to FIG. 3).

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of drawing data for drawing the output image example shown in FIG.

In the drawing, reference numerals 601 to 612 denote respective drawing elements, for example, a line drawing element and a circle drawing element.
Each drawing coordinate is set. Reference numeral 610 indicates that a plurality of displays in the middle are omitted.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of drawing data for drawing the output image example shown in FIG.

In the drawing, reference numerals 701 to 705 denote respective drawing elements, which are constituted by, for example, a straight line drawing element and a circle drawing element, and the respective drawing coordinates are set.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of internal data of the drawing information prediction database 109 shown in FIG. Note that the units of the numerical values “500”, “5”, and “8” in the drawing are seconds.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 801 denotes a page transfer time when data is transferred from the sub-page image storage device 121 to the main page image storage device 112 using the memory transfer device 123. Reference numeral 802 denotes a predicted drawing process time when a straight line is drawn, and reference numeral 803 denotes a predicted drawing time when a circle is drawn.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the predicted execution processing time calculated based on the contents of the main drawing information storage device 111 and the information of the drawing time prediction database 109 shown in FIG. It is a numerical example calculated inside the drawing time prediction device 124. Note that the numerical values “671” and “2” in FIG.
The unit of “8” is seconds.

In the figure, reference numeral 901 denotes a predicted execution processing time, which is the time predicted by the drawing time prediction device 124 to be required for drawing the drawing elements 601 to 612 shown in FIG.

Reference numeral 902 denotes a predicted execution processing time, which is the time predicted by the drawing time prediction device 124 which will be required to draw the drawing elements 701 to 705 shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the first data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to the data processing procedure by the main print processing unit 103 shown in FIG. In addition, S201 to S210 indicate each step.

The main print processing unit 103 of the printing apparatus 101
In step S201, the host computer 102
Waits for print data to be input to I / O 107 from
If the CPU 104 determines that the print data has been input to the I / O 107, the CPU 104 proceeds to step S 202.
Transfers the received data input to the I / O 107 to the print data analyzer 108 and analyzes the print data. Note that I
The image of the first page based on the print data input to / O107 is as shown in FIG.

The print data is analyzed by the print data analysis device 108, and the analysis result is stored in the main drawing information storage device 111 as drawing information. The drawing information stored in the main drawing information storage device 111 is the drawing elements 601 to 612 shown in FIG.

When the analysis of the print data for one page is completed, the CPU 104 proceeds to step S203.
Then, it is determined whether or not the sub-drawing unit 115 has been commanded to draw. In this case, since the analysis of the first page has been completed, no rendering has been instructed to the sub-rendering unit 115, and the process proceeds to step S204.

In step S204, the end of the print data is determined. In this case, it is determined that there is drawing information, and the process proceeds to step S205, where the CPU 104 stores the contents of the main drawing information storage device 111 in the sub drawing information storage device 12.
The determination as to whether the data should be transferred to 0 is made as follows.

Here, the CPU 104 transmits the drawing information composed of the drawing elements 601 to 612 stored in the main drawing information storage device 111 to the drawing time prediction device 124, and instructs the drawing time prediction device 124 to calculate the prediction of the drawing time. Drawing time prediction device 1
Reference numeral 24 denotes the drawing information storage device 1 transmitted from the CPU 104.
11 is calculated based on the configuration of the drawing information stored in the drawing information 11 and the predicted drawing time of the drawing information stored in the drawing information prediction database 109. CPU 10
Tell 4

More specifically, the calculation of the drawing prediction time device 124 is as follows.

In the drawing information shown in FIG. 4, although the detailed contents are omitted, the total number of straight lines to be drawn is "123".
It is assumed that the total number of circles to be drawn is “7”.

Thus, in the case of the image shown in FIG.
Referring to the values shown in FIG. 6, for the straight line drawing process,
The drawing prediction time is calculated as 5 seconds × 123 = 615 seconds, and the drawing prediction time is calculated as 8 seconds × 7 = 56 seconds for the circle drawing processing, and the total drawing prediction time is 671 seconds.

In step S205, the CPU 104
Since the predicted drawing time is “671” and the page transfer time 801 is “500”, the predicted drawing time is longer, and the drawing information stored in the main drawing information storage device 111 is stored in the sub drawing unit. The CPU 104 determines that the processing efficiency is better if the processing is transferred to the main drawing information storage 115 and the CPU 104 proceeds to step S206.
That is, the drawing elements 601 to 612 are transferred to the memory transfer device 1
The data is transferred to the sub-rendering information storage device 120 through 23, and the process proceeds to step S202 to start analyzing the print data of the next page.

On the other hand, in step S202, the CPU
104 analyzes print data of the second page.

At this time, similarly to the processing of the first page,
The print data based on the image shown in FIG.
The drawing information composed of the drawing elements 701 to 705 shown in (1) is stored in the main drawing information storage device 111.

Then, in step S203, the CP
Since U104 has instructed the sub-drawing unit 115 to draw, the determination in this step is YES, and step S2 is performed.
In step 07, the process waits until the drawing by the sub drawing unit 115 is completed.

Then, in step S207, the CP
U104 stores the image data drawn from the sub drawing unit 115 via the memory transfer device 123 in the main page image storage device 1
12, the process moves to step S208, where the CPU
104 transfers the image data stored in the main page image storage device 112 to the printing unit 113, prints one page, moves to step S204, and the CPU 104 renders the drawing elements 701 to 705 resulting from the analysis in step S204.
Is transmitted to the drawing time prediction device 124 to obtain a drawing prediction time 902 (28 seconds in the example of FIG. 7).

Thus, the host computer 102
The print data transferred from is completed in the printing process, and the print output shown in FIG. 2 can be obtained.

On the other hand, in step S204, the CPU
104 determines the end of the print data. In this case, since there is data of the second page, the process proceeds to step S205.

Then, in step S205, the CP
U104 determines whether the drawing information of the second page should be transferred to the sub-drawing unit 115 as in the case of the first page. The drawing information of the second page stored in the main drawing information storage device 111 is the drawing elements 701 to 705 shown in FIG. Similarly to the first page, the CPU 104 sends the configuration of the main drawing information storage device 111 to the drawing time prediction device 124 and instructs the drawing time prediction device 124 to predict the drawing time.

The drawing time prediction device 124 calculates the drawing prediction time as follows by referring to the configuration of the drawing information transmitted from the CPU 104 and the numerical values of the processing prediction time 802 and the processing prediction time 803 shown in FIG. .

That is, referring to the values shown in FIG. 6, the drawing predicted time is calculated as 5 seconds × 4 = 20 seconds for the straight line drawing process, and 8 seconds × 4 seconds for the circle drawing process. The predicted drawing time is calculated as 1 = 8 seconds, and the total predicted drawing time is 28 seconds.

As described above, the CPU 104 determines that the predicted drawing time 901 is 28 seconds and the page transfer time 801 is 5 seconds.
Since the drawing prediction time is shorter than 00 seconds, it is better to draw in the main print processing unit 103 without transferring the drawing information stored in the main drawing information storage device 111 to the sub drawing unit 115. It is determined that the processing efficiency is high, and step S209
Move on to

Then, in S209, the CPU 104
Transfers the drawing element 701 stored in the main drawing information storage device 111 to the main drawing device 110 to generate an image, and stores the image in the main page image storage device 112. Step S
In step 209, the CPU 104 executes the drawing elements 701 to 70
After the generation of the images of all the drawing information up to 5, the process proceeds to step S210.

Then, in step S210, the CP
U104 transfers the page image of one page stored in the main page image storage device 112 to the printing unit 113, and
The printing process of the page is completed.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the second data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to the data processing procedure by the sub-rendering unit 115 shown in FIG. In addition, S301 to S303 indicate each step.

First, the CPU 116 of the sub drawing unit 115
In step S301, the CPU 116 waits until the drawing data is transferred from the main print processing unit 103. When the drawing information is transferred from the main print processing unit 103 to the sub drawing information storage device 120 via the memory transfer device 123, the CPU 116 proceeds to step S301. Move to S302.

Then, in S302, the CPU 116
Transfers the drawing information stored in the sub-drawing information storage device 120 to the sub-drawing device 119 in order from the drawing element 601 to perform drawing. Then, the image generated based on each of the drawing elements 601 to 612 is stored in the sub-page image storage device 121.

Then, the CPU 116 proceeds to step S302.
When the generation of the image for one page from the drawing element 601 to the drawing element 604 ends, the process proceeds to step S303.

Then, in step S303, the CP
U116 transfers the image for one page stored in the sub-page image storage device 121 to the main page image storage device 112 via the memory transfer device 123, and proceeds to step S301. Wait for it to be transferred.

As described above, the host computer 102
In a printing apparatus that distributes the processing of the print data sent from the printer to the main printing unit 103 that is in charge of analyzing the print data and performing the printing process and the sub-drawing unit 115 that processes the drawing exclusively, the main print processing unit 103 performs the drawing process. The processing is instructed to the sub-drawing unit 115 only when the drawing time is longer than the data transfer time with the sub-drawing unit 115 by predicting the necessary time, and when the drawing prediction time is shorter than the data transfer time. By preventing the sub-rendering unit 115 from drawing only by the main print processing unit 103, the overhead of data transfer with the sub-rendering unit 115 is not included in the print processing time.

In the above embodiment, the case where one memory transfer device 123 is provided has been described. However, as shown in FIG.
By having a total of 1024, the drawing information and the created page image can be transferred at the same time so that higher-speed printing processing can be performed.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram for explaining the arrangement of a recording control apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the same elements as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The difference from FIG. 1 is that, as described above, two memory transfer devices, ie, the memory transfer devices 1023 and 1024, are provided.

Hereinafter, the configuration of a data processing program that can be read by a printing system to which the print control apparatus according to the present invention can be applied will be described with reference to a memory map shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by a printing system to which the print control device according to the present invention can be applied.

Although not shown, information for managing a group of programs stored in the storage medium, for example, version information, a creator, etc. are also stored, and information dependent on the OS or the like on the program reading side, for example, a program is stored in the storage medium. An icon or the like for identification display may also be stored.

Further, data dependent on various programs is also managed in the directory. In addition, a program for installing various programs on a computer or a program for decompressing a program to be installed when the program to be installed is compressed may be stored.

The functions shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 in this embodiment may be performed by a host computer by a program installed from the outside. And in that case, CD-ROM, flash memory, FD
The present invention is applicable even when a group of information including a program is supplied to an output device from a storage medium such as the above or from an external storage medium via a network.

As described above, the storage medium storing the program codes of the software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or the apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MP) of the system or the apparatus is supplied.
It goes without saying that the object of the present invention is also achieved when U) reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, C
D-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, EEPROM, etc. can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) And the like perform part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, The CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

[0078]

As described above, the first embodiment according to the present invention is described.
According to the fifteenth aspect, the drawing information based on the analysis of the print information on the first drawing processing means side is transferred to the second drawing processing means side and is stored in advance when the drawing processing for the image information is executed. The drawing time of the drawing information to be transferred to the second drawing processing means, which is determined with reference to the predicted drawing time for each type of drawing information, is predicted.
Transferred from the first drawing processing means to the first drawing processing means
It is determined whether the transfer time is shorter than the transfer time for the page, and based on the determination result, the transfer of the drawing information stored in the first storage unit to the second drawing processing means is restricted. The drawing processing means side performs drawing processing preferentially, so that the drawing processing destination for the drawing information for each page is switched while adapting to the drawing processing time that is longer or shorter according to the contents of the input drawing information. There is an effect that the drawing information of the page can be processed in a short time and the print processing can be performed efficiently.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system to which a print control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an output image based on print data received from the host computer shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an output image based on print data received from the host computer shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of drawing data for drawing the output image example shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of drawing data for drawing the output image example shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of internal data of a drawing information prediction database illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a predicted execution processing time calculated based on the contents of the main drawing information storage device shown in FIG. 1 and information of a drawing time prediction database.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a first data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a second data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a recording control device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by a printing system to which a print control device according to the present invention can be applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 101 printing device 102 host computer 103 main print processing unit 104 CPU 105 RAM 106 ROM 108 print data analysis device 109 drawing time prediction database 110 main drawing device 111 main drawing information storage device 112 main page image storage device 113 printing unit 115 sub drawing unit 116 CPU 117 RAM 118 ROM 119 Sub-drawing device 120 Sub-drawing information storage device 121 Sub-page image storage device 123 Memory transfer device 124 Drawing time prediction device

Claims (15)

[Claims] A first storage unit that stores drawing information obtained by analyzing input printing information; and an image that can be printed by the printing unit based on the drawing information stored in the first storage unit. First drawing processing means having a first drawing section for generating information, a first image storage section for storing the image information drawn by the first drawing section, and the first drawing processing A second storage unit that stores the drawing information transferred from the means, and a second drawing unit that generates image information printable by a printing unit based on the drawing information stored in the second storage unit. A second image processing unit having a second image storage unit that stores the image information drawn by the second drawing unit; and image information in page units stored in the second image storage unit. The transfer time required to transfer the data to the first image storage unit. Transfer time storage means for storing, for each drawing type, a predicted drawing time required for the first drawing unit to perform drawing processing; and a drawing time storage unit for storing the drawing information stored in the first storage unit. 1
A prediction unit that predicts a rendering time required for rendering by the rendering unit based on the predicted rendering time stored in the predicted time storage unit; and a predicted rendering time predicted by the prediction unit. Determining means for determining whether the time is shorter than the stored transfer time; and transferring the drawing information stored in the first storage unit to the second drawing processing means based on a result of the determination by the determining means. And a first transfer control unit for controlling the print control. 2. The first transfer control means, when the determination means determines that the transfer time is longer than the transfer time,
The second of the drawing information stored in the first storage unit
2. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein it is determined that the transfer to the drawing processing unit is not executed. 3. The first drawing section stores the drawing information in the first storage section when the first transfer control section determines not to transfer the drawing information to the second drawing processing section. 2. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit draws the stored drawing information on image information that can be printed by the printing unit. 4. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first drawing processing means and said second drawing processing means are capable of executing drawing processing in parallel. 5. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second transfer control unit configured to transfer image information drawn by the second drawing processing unit to the first drawing processing unit. . 6. A first storage unit for storing drawing information obtained by analyzing input printing information, and an image printable by the printing unit based on the drawing information stored in the first storage unit. First drawing processing means having a first drawing section for generating information, a first image storage section for storing the image information drawn by the first drawing section, and the first drawing processing A second storage unit that stores the drawing information transferred from the means, and a second drawing unit that generates image information printable by a printing unit based on the drawing information stored in the second storage unit. A second drawing processing unit having a second image storage unit that stores the image information drawn by the second drawing unit. The drawing information stored in the storage unit is stored in the first
A predicting step of predicting a drawing time required for drawing by the drawing unit based on the predicted drawing time stored in the predicted time storage means; and a predicted drawing time predicted by the predicting step. A determining step of determining whether the estimated rendering time required for the rendering process is shorter than the transfer time stored in a predicted time storage unit that stores the estimated rendering time for each rendering type; and A first transfer control step of controlling transfer of the drawing information stored in the first storage unit to the second drawing processing unit. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first transfer control step determines that the transfer time is longer than the transfer time in the determining step.
The second of the drawing information stored in the first storage unit
7. The print control method according to claim 6, wherein it is determined that the transfer to the drawing processing unit is not executed. 8. The first drawing section, when the first transfer control step determines that transfer of the drawing information to the second drawing processing section is not performed, the first drawing section stores the drawing information in the first storage section. 7. The print control method according to claim 6, wherein the stored drawing information is drawn on image information that can be printed by the printing unit. 9. The print control method according to claim 6, wherein said first drawing processing means and said second drawing processing means can execute drawing processing in parallel. 10. A second image processing device for transferring image information drawn by the second drawing processing means to the first drawing processing means.
7. The print control method according to claim 6, further comprising a transfer control step. 11. A first storage unit for storing drawing information obtained by analyzing input printing information, and an image printable by the printing unit based on the drawing information stored in the first storage unit. First drawing processing means having a first drawing section for generating information, a first image storage section for storing the image information drawn by the first drawing section, and the first drawing processing A second storage unit that stores the drawing information transferred from the means, and a second drawing unit that generates image information printable by a printing unit based on the drawing information stored in the second storage unit. A second image processing unit having a second image storage unit for storing the image information drawn by the second drawing unit; and a computer readable program for controlling a print control device. A storage medium, comprising: Wherein the drawing information stored in the part first
A predicting step of predicting a drawing time required for drawing by the drawing unit based on the predicted drawing time stored in the predicted time storage means; and a predicted drawing time predicted by the predicting step. A determining step of determining whether the estimated rendering time required for the rendering process is shorter than the transfer time stored in a predicted time storage unit that stores the estimated rendering time for each rendering type; and A first transfer control step of controlling transfer of the drawing information stored in the first storage unit to the second drawing processing unit. A storage medium storing a computer-readable program, characterized by: . 12. The first transfer control step, wherein when the determination step determines that the transfer time is longer than the transfer time, the second transfer of the drawing information stored in the first storage unit is performed. 12. The storage medium storing a computer-readable program according to claim 11, wherein it is determined not to execute the transfer to the processing unit. 13. The first drawing unit, when determining in the first transfer control step that transfer of the drawing information to the second drawing processing unit is not to be performed, the first drawing unit
The storage medium according to claim 11, wherein the drawing information stored in the storage unit is drawn as image information printable by the printing unit. 14. The computer readable program according to claim 11, wherein said first drawing processing means and said second drawing processing means are each capable of executing drawing processing in parallel. Storage medium storing. 15. A second method for transferring image information drawn by the second drawing processing means to the first drawing processing means.
The storage medium storing a computer-readable program according to claim 11, further comprising a transfer control step.