JP5679123B2 - Print control device, print control program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a print control apparatus and a print control program that perform variable image generation.

  For each page to be printed, the form part consisting of many objects such as text, line drawings, images, etc. uses the same data, and replaces only the part that changes each time it is printed, such as the customer name. There is a technique called variable image generation for printing.

  If every object is RIP (Raster Image Processor) every time an image for printing is rendered, it takes a lot of time for mass printing. Therefore, as an aspect in variable image generation (that is, variable data processing), an object that appears multiple times (reusable object) and an object that is used only once (single-use object) are distinguished, and a reusable object. RIP is performed only for the first time, the image data is cached, the image data is read from the cache after the second time, the RIP is omitted, and the object used once is RIPed each time.

  FIG. 12 shows a schematic flow of a conventional variable image generation process performed by the print control apparatus. First, after checking the grammar of variable data by schema processing (schema check), RIP of each object, page processing that caches image data obtained by RIP when necessary, arrangement information of image data of each object A page composition process for arranging and composing in the page memory is executed. When the composition of image data for one page is completed, the image data of the page is transferred to a printing apparatus (or print engine).

  Normally, in conventional page processing, each object is RIP in the order defined in the variable data, and reusable objects are cached in the RIP order.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing in more detail a portion related to page processing of the conventional variable image generation (variable data processing) conceptually shown in FIG. FIG. 13 shows processing until image generation for the first page is performed.

  First, a schema check is performed on the entire variable data (step S101). Thereafter, the processing pointer is moved to the head of the page description (step S102), and the objects are processed in the order defined in the variable data. That is, an object is searched in order from the top of the variable data, an object to be processed next is specified, and it is checked whether or not this object is a reusable object (reusable object) (step S103). If the object to be processed next is a reusable object and is not RIP, RIP this, cache the image data obtained by the RIP (step S104), and proceed to step S106. On the other hand, if the object to be processed next is a reuse object that has already been RIPed, image data corresponding to this reuse object is read from the cache (step S104), and the process proceeds to step S106. If the object to be processed next specified in step S103 is a one-time use object, it is RIPed (step S105), and the process proceeds to step S106.

  In step S106, page composition processing is performed. In the page composition process, the image data obtained by RIP or reading from the cache in the process of step S104 or step S105 is arranged and synthesized at a corresponding position in the page according to the arrangement information. If the composition process for one page has not been completed (step S107; No), the process returns to step S103 to continue the process. When the composition process for one page is completed (step S107; Yes), the combined image data for one page is transferred to the printing apparatus (step S108), and the process ends. By repeating this process flow for each page, the entire variable data is printed.

  By the way, since the size of the cache area is limited, it is important to use the cache area effectively.

  As a technique for improving the usage efficiency of a cache, for example, in Patent Document 1 below, a form composed of reusable objects is compressed and stored in a cache memory, and objects other than the form are compressed into the compressed form. A technique for enabling direct synthesis in a form is disclosed.

  Also, in Patent Document 2 below, the possibility of being reused is determined based on the type of file extension, etc., and a file that has a low possibility of being reused and has a large capacity is not stored in the cache memory. Technology is disclosed.

  Patent Document 3 below discloses a technique for determining whether or not an object to be reused is stored in a cache memory in units of pages.

US Pat. No. 6,134,018 JP 2007-334687 A JP 2010-128941 A

  In the conventional processing method shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, in which RIP is performed in the order defined in the variable data, and the reusable objects are also cached by RIP in the above defined order, all the reusable objects are excluded from the cache capacity limit. If the image data cannot be cached, the image data of the reusable object located behind in the definition order is not cached. In this case, depending on the order of definition, the reuse object that has a small number of appearances but is positioned earlier in the definition order is cached, and the reuse object that has a large number of appearances, such as appearing on all pages, is positioned behind in the definition order. There may be cases where objects are not cached.

  In addition, in a configuration in which the cache memory of the semiconductor memory and the hard disk device are used together as the cache area, the cache memory is preferentially used as a cache destination, and if it cannot be stored in the cache memory, a process such as saving to the hard disk device is performed. Is called. In this configuration, since the hard disk device has a large capacity, there may not be a problem that the entire cache capacity is insufficient. However, since the hard disk device has a slower access speed than the semiconductor memory, the image of the reusable object is stored in the hard disk device. When data is cached, it takes more time to read out the image data than when cached in a semiconductor memory. Therefore, in the above-described method of performing RIP or caching in the order of definition, a reusable object that appears only a few times but is early in the order of definition is cached in the semiconductor cache memory, and a reusable object with a slow definition order that appears in all pages There may be a case where read efficiency decreases due to being cached in the hard disk device.

  Even if it is possible to synthesize in a compressed state as in the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, if the amount of compressed data to be stored is large, some of the data cannot be cached or transferred to the hard disk device. There are cases where a reusable object with a large number of uses is not cached or cached in a hard disk device.

  In the method disclosed in Patent Document 2, there is a low possibility that the file will be reused based on the extension type of the file, and a large capacity file is not stored in the cache memory. It is difficult to accurately determine the possibility of reuse. Since the method disclosed in Patent Document 3 determines whether or not to store objects to be reused in the cache memory in units of pages, if objects with a small number of reuses are mixed in a page determined to be cached, Objects that have a small number of reuses are also cached, and the cache may not be used effectively enough.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide a print control apparatus and a print control program capable of preferentially caching image data of an object that is frequently reused. .

  The gist of the present invention for achieving the object lies in the inventions of the following items.

[1] An input unit for inputting variable format print data including a reusable object and a one-time use object that can be distinguished from each other;
A development unit that develops an object included in the print data to generate image data;
A preprocessing unit that examines the number of uses of each reusable object included in the print data input from the input unit, and instructs the development unit to deploy reusable objects in descending order of the number of uses;
A cache storage unit;
Every time generation of image data of a reusable object based on an instruction from the preprocessing unit is completed in the expansion unit, the reusable object image data is stored in a free space necessary for the cache storage unit. A storage management unit for storing in the cache storage unit if it can be stored;
The image data for each page corresponding to the print data input from the input unit is stored in the cache storage unit, which operates after the development of the reusable object based on the instruction of the preprocessing unit is completed. Image data that is not generated is generated and acquired by the expansion unit, image data stored in the cache storage unit is read out, and a combining unit that generates and combines them;
An output unit that outputs image data for each page generated by the synthesis unit to a printing apparatus.

  In the inventions according to [1] and [6] below, the usage frequency of each reusable object included in the variable format print data is checked, and the development unit develops the image data in the order of the highest usage frequency. (RIP) is indicated. The storage management unit caches the image data of the reuse object in the order in which the RIP is completed if the free space of the cache storage unit is sufficient. In the page composition process, an uncached object RIPs each time to obtain image data, and the image data of the cached object is read from the cache storage unit, and these image data are synthesized to cover one page. Image generation is performed. RIP reusable objects in order of frequency of use, and cache the image data obtained by the RIP in the order of completion of RIP, so that image data of reusable objects with high frequency of use is given priority to the cache memory. Save to. As a result, the cache rate of an object that is frequently used is increased, and a variable image can be generated with high processing efficiency.

[2] The cache storage unit includes a cache memory and an auxiliary storage device having a lower access speed than the cache memory.
The storage management unit preferentially stores image data to be stored in the cache memory, and stores the image data to be stored in the auxiliary storage device when the cache memory has insufficient free space. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print control apparatus is a print control apparatus.

  In the inventions according to [2] and [7] below, when the free space of the cache memory is insufficient for storing the image data to be stored, the image data to be stored is stored in the auxiliary storage device. Image data of a reuse object that is frequently used is preferentially stored in a cache memory having a high access speed.

[3] A compression / decompression unit that compresses / decompresses image data,
The storage management unit stores compressed data obtained by compressing the image data by the compression / decompression unit, although the free space of the cache memory is insufficient to store the image data to be stored in an uncompressed state. The print control apparatus according to [2], wherein the compressed data is stored in the cache memory when it is sufficient.

  In the inventions according to the above [3] and [8] below, the image data that has been compressed and cached is required to be decompressed at the time of reuse as compared with the case of non-compressed caching, and the processing time is accordingly increased. When the image data is stored in the cache memory, the image data is stored uncompressed if it can be stored in a capacity. If the image data to be stored cannot be stored uncompressed due to insufficient free space in the cache memory, the data is compressed and stored in the cache memory. If the data cannot be stored in the cache memory even after being compressed, the data is cached in the auxiliary storage device in a compressed state, for example.

[4] The pre-processing unit extracts reusable objects that can be reused on all pages from reusable objects included in the print data, and sets a set of the extracted reusable objects. A reusable object included in the form object is excluded from reusable objects that are targets for instructing expansion to the expansion unit in the descending order of the number of uses, and the form object is converted to the expansion unit To expand the image data in page units,
The storage management unit stores image data in units of pages obtained by expanding the form object in the expansion unit as form data in the auxiliary storage device,
The composition unit reads out the form data from the auxiliary storage device and composes the image data for each page corresponding to the print data, either [2] or [3] The printing control apparatus according to item 1.

  In the inventions according to [4] and [9] below, reusable objects used in all pages are extracted from variable data, made into form objects, and image data obtained by RIPing the form objects Is cached as page-size form data and used when composing pages. As a result, when there are multiple reusable objects common to all pages, the page composition of those image data can be performed collectively as form data for each page, and the corresponding page composition processing The burden can be reduced.

[5] A conversion unit that converts PPML data in INTERNAL_DATA format into PPML data in EXTRNAL_DATA format,
When the print data input from the input unit is INTERNAL_DATA format PPML data, the conversion unit converts the print data into EXTRNAL_DATA format PPML data, and the converted data is converted by the preprocessing unit and the synthesis unit. The printing control apparatus according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein processing is performed.

  In the inventions according to [5] and [10] below, when the input variable format print data is PPML data in INTERNAL_DATA format, the data is converted into PPML data in EXTRNAL_DATA format. Subsequent processing such as processing for checking and sorting the usage frequency makes it easier to analyze the object arrangement information and the like, and the processing efficiency is higher than when processing is performed with PPML data in the INTERNAL_DATA format.

[6] An information processing apparatus including a cache storage unit is provided.
An input unit for inputting variable-format print data including a reusable object and a one-time use object that can be distinguished from each other;
A development unit that develops an object included in the print data to generate image data;
A preprocessing unit that examines the number of uses of each reusable object included in the print data input from the input unit, and instructs the development unit to deploy reusable objects in descending order of the number of uses;
Every time generation of image data of a reusable object based on an instruction from the preprocessing unit is completed in the expansion unit, the reusable object image data is stored in a free space necessary for the cache storage unit. A storage management unit for storing in the cache storage unit if it can be stored;
The image data for each page corresponding to the print data input from the input unit is stored in the cache storage unit, which operates after the development of the reusable object based on the instruction of the preprocessing unit is completed. Image data that is not generated is generated and acquired by the expansion unit, image data stored in the cache storage unit is read out, and a combining unit that generates and combines them;
A printing control program that operates to function as an output unit that outputs image data for each page generated by the combining unit to a printing apparatus.

[7] The cache storage unit includes a cache memory and an auxiliary storage device having an access speed slower than that of the cache memory.
The storage management unit preferentially stores the image data to be stored in the cache memory, and saves the image data to be stored in the auxiliary storage device when the cache memory has insufficient free space. The print control program according to [6], wherein the print control program is fulfilled.

[8] The information processing apparatus further functions as a compression / decompression unit that compresses / decompresses image data,
The storage management unit stores compressed data obtained by compressing the image data by the compression / decompression unit, although the free space of the cache memory is insufficient to store the image data to be stored in an uncompressed state. The print control program according to [7], wherein if necessary, the function of saving the compressed data in the cache memory is achieved.

[9] The preprocessing unit extracts reusable objects that can be reused on all pages from reusable objects included in the print data, and sets a set of the extracted reusable objects. A reusable object included in the form object is excluded from reusable objects that are targets for instructing expansion to the expansion unit in the descending order of the number of uses, and the form object is converted to the expansion unit In order to expand the image data page by page,
The storage management unit fulfills a function of storing image data in page units obtained by expanding the form object in the expansion unit as form data in the auxiliary storage device,
[7] or [8], wherein when combining image data for each page corresponding to the print data, the form data is read from the auxiliary storage device and combined. Print control program described in 1.

[10] When the print data input from the input unit is PPML data in INTERNAL_DATA format, the information processing apparatus further functions as a conversion unit that converts the data into PPML data in EXTRNAL_DATA format.
The preprocessing unit and the synthesizing unit process data after the conversion when the conversion is performed by the conversion unit. The method according to any one of [6] to [9], Print control program.

  According to the printing control apparatus and the printing control program according to the present invention, it is possible to preferentially cache image data of a reusable object that is frequently used in variable data printing, thereby improving processing efficiency.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a print control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a print control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the concept of the variable data processing of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the variable data processing of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process which extracts a form object. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a cache process. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process at the time of changing the file of variable data into the format which is easy to take out an object. 6 is a flowchart showing the first half of the flow of processing performed by the image forming apparatus when variable data is received. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the second half of the flow of processing performed by the image forming apparatus when variable data is received. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the utilization frequency calculation process of a reuse object. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process until it creates the list | wrist of the reuse object except a form object, counts the utilization frequency, and sorts. It is explanatory drawing which shows the concept of the conventional variable data processing. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the conventional variable data processing.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a print control system 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The print control system 5 includes a print control device 10 and a printer unit 20. The print control apparatus 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 that controls the operation of the print control apparatus 10, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12 connected to the CPU 11, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, and a nonvolatile memory. 14, a hard disk device 15, a network I / F unit 16, an image processing unit 17, and a printer output unit 18.

  The print control apparatus 10 RIPs each object included in variable format print data (hereinafter referred to as variable data) and synthesizes the image data for each page to create an external printing apparatus (in this example, the printer unit 20). The function to transfer to. The variable data includes the contents and arrangement information of various objects such as characters, figures, and images that are the print contents. In addition, the objects included in the variable data include a one-time use object that is used only once and a reuse object that is used a plurality of times in the same page or on a plurality of pages. Information indicating whether or not the object is a reuse object is included.

  The CPU 11 is based on an OS program, on which middleware and application programs are executed. Various programs are stored in the ROM 12, and each function of the print control apparatus 10 is realized by the CPU 11 executing processing according to these programs.

  The RAM 13 is used as a work memory that temporarily stores various data and a memory that stores image data when the CPU 11 executes a program. A part of the RAM 13 is used as a cache memory 19. In this example, an area of a predetermined size is secured as the cache memory 19.

  The nonvolatile memory 14 is a rewritable memory (flash memory) that can retain memory even when the power is turned off. The nonvolatile memory 14 stores device-specific information and various setting information. The hard disk device 15 is a large-capacity nonvolatile storage device, and stores an OS program, various application programs, image data, and the like. When the cache memory 19 runs out of free space, it is also used as a cache storage area.

  The network I / F unit 16 is a NIC (Network Interface Card) that communicates with other external devices connected through a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network).

  The image processing unit 17 performs processing such as image enlargement / reduction and rotation, rasterization processing for changing print data to image data, and image data compression / decompression processing.

  The printer output unit 18 transfers the generated image data for each page to the printer unit 20.

  When the printer unit 20 receives the image data transferred from the printer output unit 18 of the print control apparatus 10, the printer unit 20 functions to form an image corresponding to the image data on a recording sheet. Here, the printer unit 20 includes a recording paper conveyance device, a photosensitive drum, a charging device, a laser unit, a developing device, a transfer separation device, a cleaning device, and a fixing device. It is configured as a so-called laser printer that forms an image by a process. The image formation may be an ink jet method or other methods.

  FIG. 2 is a functional configuration diagram of the print control apparatus 10. The print control apparatus 10 includes functions of a preprocessing unit 39, a development unit 35, a reuse object management unit 36, a page composition processing unit 37, and a raster image engine transfer unit 38. The preprocessing unit 39 functions as a variable data interpretation unit 31, a form extraction processing unit 32, a reuse object usage frequency calculation unit 33, and a usage frequency sorting unit 34.

  The variable data interpretation unit 31 performs a schema check (determining whether the grammar is correct) or the like on the input variable data to determine whether it is correct as variable data. The contents of the data are analyzed, and processing for issuing an RIP instruction and an instruction for creating composite image data is performed.

  The form extraction processing unit 32 extracts a reusable object used for all pages to be printed from reusable objects included in the variable data. Then, a set of the extracted reuse objects is used as a form object, and the form object is RIPed to create form data which is image data for one page and save (cache) it in the hard disk device 15.

  The reuse object usage frequency calculation unit 33 calculates the usage frequency of the reuse object that has not been extracted by the form extraction processing unit 32, and creates and stores a list representing the number of times each reuse object is used.

  The usage frequency sorting unit 34 sorts the reuse objects registered in the list created by the reuse object usage frequency calculation unit 33 in descending order of usage frequency, and reuses them in the order after sorting with respect to the expansion unit 35. Issue RIP indication for object.

  The expansion unit 35 RIPs the reuse objects in the order instructed by the usage frequency sorting unit 34, and creates image data (raster image) of the reuse objects. In addition, when performing page composition processing, RIP is performed on an object that is not cached, such as a one-time use object.

  The reusable object management unit 36 caches (saves) reusable object image data obtained by RIP in the expansion unit 35 and manages each cache destination. The reuse object management unit 36 determines whether to store the image data to be stored in the cache memory 19 or the hard disk device 15 according to the free space of the cache memory 19. Whether the image data is stored after being compressed or not is determined according to the free space of the cache memory 19. Basically, priority is given to storage in the cache memory 19, and storage in the hard disk device 15 is performed when the free space of the cache memory 19 becomes insufficient. Since the image data stored in the cache memory can be read out faster than the image data stored in the hard disk, the former takes less time to read out the image data. When image data is stored in the cache memory 19, uncompressed storage is prioritized. This is because image data can be acquired and synthesized quickly because no expansion process is required. Note that the compressed image data is always stored when the data is cached in the hard disk device 15.

  The page composition processing unit 37 follows the image composition instruction from the variable data interpretation unit 31 and the form data stored in the hard disk device 15 by the form extraction unit 32 and the image of the reuse object cached by the reuse object management unit 36. The data is read from the storage destination and acquired. The once-used object RIPs the expansion unit 35 to acquire the image data, and the image data is arranged on the page memory to synthesize the images for each page.

  The raster image engine transfer unit 38 functions as the printer output unit 18 that transfers the image data for each page combined by the page combination processing unit 37 to the printer unit 20.

  FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of variable data print processing performed by the print control apparatus 10 of the present invention, and FIG. 4 shows a flow of processing procedures of variable data print processing performed by the print control apparatus 10 of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows processing until image generation for the first page is performed. The process of FIG. 4 will be described with reference to the conceptual diagram of FIG.

  In the variable data printing process, a schema check is first performed (step S201), and then a form object extraction process is performed (step S202). In the form object extraction process, if there are reusable objects that are used on all pages in the printing of variable data, those sets are extracted as form objects for each page. Then, image data for one page obtained by RIPing the form object is used as form data, which is compressed and cached (saved) in the hard disk device 15 (see FIG. 3). Details of the form object extraction processing will be described later.

  Thereafter, a reuse object is extracted from the variable data excluding the reuse object extracted as a form object, and a list of the extracted reuse objects is created. Then, the number of uses of each reuse object registered in the list is checked, the list is sorted in descending order of the number of use, and RIP instructions for the reuse objects are issued in the sorted order (step S203).

  The reusable objects are RIPed in the order instructed in step S203 (step S204), and the image data of the reusable objects is cached in the order of completion of the RIP (step S205). Details of this cache processing will be described later. Steps S203 to S205 correspond to the reuse object process of FIG.

  Next, the processing pointer is moved to the top of the page description (step S206), and the image data of the object is acquired in the order of definition in the variable data (step S207). For obtaining image data, if an object to be processed is a one-time use object, the image data is obtained by RIPing the object. If the object to be processed is a reuse object, the image data of the reuse object is read and acquired from the cache (storage) destination. The image data of the object acquired in this way is arranged in the page memory according to the arrangement information of the object and a page composition process is performed (step S208).

  If the page composition process is not completed (step S209; No), the process returns to step S207 and continues. When the composition process for one page is completed (step S209; Yes), the image data of the combined page is transferred to the printer unit 20 (step S210), and the process ends. By repeating the processing of steps S207 to S208 for each page, the entire variable data is printed. In this embodiment, the form object is not subject to the above steps S207 to S209, and the process of writing the form data to the page memory is performed at the beginning of the page composition process of each page. However, as another embodiment of the present invention, the form object may be handled in the same manner as other reuse objects, and may be the target of steps S207 to S209. In this case, the form object extraction process in step S202 is not necessary.

  In the present invention, in the variable data printing process, the process for calculating the number of reused objects and the process for sorting the reused objects in the descending order of the number of times used are performed. Compared to conventional processes that do not perform these processes. Of course, it takes extra processing time. However, since the amount of processing changes depending on the variable data, the amount of increase in processing time cannot be calculated generally. However, generally, the ratio of the increased processing time to the total processing time of each variable data is 0.19% to It has been confirmed by experience that it is within 1%, and the increase in the processing time hardly affects the overall performance.

  FIG. 5 shows details of the form object extraction process performed in step S202 of FIG. In the form object extraction process, first, a reusable object that is reused in all pages is extracted from reusable objects included in the variable data (step S601). A set of reuse objects extracted here is a form object.

  If there is no reusable object to be reused on all pages and no form object is extracted (step S602; No), the process ends. When the form object is extracted (step S602; Yes), the form object obtained by the extraction is RIPed to create image data (form data) having a size for one page (step S603). Specifically, a zero-cleared page memory is prepared, and image data obtained by RIPing each reusable object included in the form object is arranged on the page memory according to the arrangement information of each object and synthesized. Thereby, image data for one page is created as form data.

  Next, the form data is compressed and saved (cached) in the hard disk device 15 (step S604), and the process is terminated.

  FIG. 6 shows the details of the cache processing of the reuse object image data performed in step S205 of FIG. In the cache process, first, the size (data amount) of the image data to be cached is extracted (step S501). If the free capacity of the cache memory is larger than the size of the image data (step S502; Yes), the image data is stored in the cache memory without being compressed (step S503), and the process is terminated.

  If the free capacity of the cache memory is smaller than the size of the image data (step S502; No), the image data is compressed (step S504), and the size (data amount) of the compressed image data is extracted (step S505). If the free capacity of the cache memory is larger than the size of the compressed image data (step S506; Yes), the compressed image data is stored in the cache memory (step S507), and the process ends. If the free space of the cache memory is smaller than the size of the compressed image data (step S506; No), the compressed image data is stored in the hard disk device 15 (step S508), and the process is terminated.

  When image data is cached, whether the storage location is the cache memory 19 or the hard disk device 15 and whether the image data is compressed and stored or not is greatly affected by the processing efficiency of combining the image data of each page. Affect. In order to use image data stored in a compressed state in page composition, it is necessary to perform decompression processing in addition to reading out the image data. It takes the shortest time to acquire the image data for page composition when “uncompressed and stored in cache memory”, followed by “compressed and stored in cache memory” and “compressed hard disk” "Save to" will take the longest time. Note that when the image data is stored in the hard disk, the above-described time is shorter when the image data is stored in the compressed state than in the uncompressed state. At present, the length of time that the time for reading from the hard disk device is shortened by reducing the amount of data due to compression is longer than the time for decompression processing.

  FIG. 7 shows an outline of processing for aligning the format of variable data. This process is performed after the schema check and before the form object extraction process or the like is performed.

  In this example, the variable data is PPML (Personalized Print Markup Language) data. The PPML data includes an EXTRNAL_DATA format in which image data and an arrangement file (PPML file) are separately provided, and an INTERRNAL_DATA format in which the image data and the arrangement file are included in the same file. Examples of the format of individual image data include XML (Extensible Markup Language), TIFF (Tagged Image File Format), PS (PostScript), and EPS (Encapsulated PostScript). Those files may be archived by ZIP.

  There are two types of EXTRNAL_DATA format: a format in which each piece of image data is held as an individual file (EXTRNAL_DATA), and a format in which a plurality of image data is held in one file as an external file such as PDF (EXTRNAL_DATA_ARRAY). In the latter type, for example, an image file of a plurality of pages in which one image is one page is used. The format (INTERNAL_DATA) having the image data and the arrangement file in the same file is stored in the arrangement file as unencoded characters of the image data.

  Here, before the reusable object is extracted from the variable data, the format of the variable data is converted into a format that allows efficient subsequent processing. First, if the file is ZIP, unzip it. In the case of the EXTRNAL_DATA format and the case of the EXTRNAL_DATA_ARRAY format, it can be left as it is and is not converted.

  In the case of the INTERNAL_DATA format, it is possible to extract the image data from there as it is, but since the image data is included in one file together with the arrangement file, the enormous volume for extracting the image data every time the image data is extracted. Must be done. Further, when examining the usage frequency of each object, it is necessary to search the entire INTERNAL_DATA format variable data including the image data, and processing time is required compared to the case of searching for a file containing only arrangement information.

  Therefore, first, all the image data is extracted, and the extracted image data is converted into an external file format, thereby converting the INTERNAL_DATA format file into the EXTRNAL_DATA format. As a result, in subsequent processing, it is possible to efficiently perform processing such as retrieving object arrangement information, creating a list of reusable objects, and examining usage frequency, and processing with PPML data in INTERNAL_DATA format. The processing efficiency is higher than when it is performed.

  8 and 9 show a detailed flow of processing when the print control apparatus 10 receives variable data and performs variable printing.

  When receiving the variable data, the print control apparatus 10 first performs schema processing (step S301), and performs form object extraction processing (step S302). The form object extraction process is the same as that described with reference to FIG. Then, the usage frequency calculation processing of the reuse object other than the reuse object extracted as the form object is performed (step S303). Details of the reuse object usage frequency calculation process will be described later.

  The expansion unit 35 is instructed to RIP reuse objects other than the reuse object extracted as the form object in the order of the usage frequency (number of times of use) calculated in step S303 (step S304). In accordance with the instruction, the reusable object is RIPed to create image data of the reusable object (step S305). Thereafter, the image data created by the expansion unit 35 is cached (step S306). For the cache processing, the processing described in FIG. 6 is performed. Then, the processing pointer is moved to the top of the page description (step S307).

  Thus, the page processing shown in the conceptual diagram of FIG. 3 is entered. In page processing, images are generated page by page. In step S308, it is checked whether the form object form data is stored in the hard disk device 15 (step S308). If the form data is not stored (step S308; No), the page memory is cleared (step S310), and the process proceeds to step S311. If there is form data (step S308; Yes), the form data is written in the page memory (step S309), and the process proceeds to step S311.

  In the processing after step S311, image data of each object is acquired in accordance with the definition order in the variable data, and the page is synthesized. First, an object to be processed next is specified according to the definition order, and image data of the object is acquired (step S311). Specifically, if this object is a one-time use object, RIP is performed to obtain the image data. If the object is a reuse object, the image data of the reuse object cached in step S306 is obtained. Is read from the cache. Next, page composition processing is performed using the image data acquired in step S311 (step S312). That is, the image data of the object is written into the page memory and synthesized according to the arrangement information of the object. It is checked whether or not the page combining process for one page is completed. If it is not completed (step S313; No), the process returns to step S311 to continue the process. When the composition process for one page is completed (step S313; Yes), the image data of the page for which the composition process has been completed is transferred to the printer unit 20 (step S314).

  Subsequently, it is checked whether or not the transfer of the image data of all pages instructed to print with the variable data is completed. If not completed (step S315; No), the process returns to step S308. When the transfer of all pages is completed (step S315; Yes), the process ends.

  FIG. 10 shows details of the reuse object usage frequency calculation processing performed in step S303 of FIG. 8, and FIG. 11 creates a list of reuse objects other than form objects and sorts them by usage frequency (usage frequency). An overview of the situation is shown. FIG. 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, all the names of reusable objects other than reusable objects extracted as form objects are extracted from the variable data, and a list of extracted reusable objects is created (step S401). In FIG. 11, the reuse objects 1 to 10 are listed. In the list at this stage, reusable objects are registered in the definition order (appearance order) in the variable data.

  Next, the processing pointer is moved to the top of the page description (step S402), and reusable objects are extracted in the order defined in the variable data (step S403). It is determined whether or not the extracted reuse object is the reuse object described in the list created in step S401 (step S404). If it is determined that the extracted reuse object is not the reuse object described in the list (step S404). S404; No), the process proceeds to step S406. If it is determined that the object is a reuse object described in the list (step S404; Yes), the value of the number of the corresponding reuse object in the list is counted up (step S405), and the process proceeds to step S406.

  If all the reuse objects except the form object have not been extracted (step S406; No), the process returns to step S402 and the process is continued. When extraction of all the reuse objects excluding form objects is completed (step S406; Yes), the list reuse objects are sorted in descending order of the number counted in step S405 (step S407), and the process is terminated. .

  In FIG. 11, after the sorting, the reusable object 6 (50 times) has moved to the top of the list because it has the highest number of times. Under the reuse object 6 (50 times), the reuse object 8 (30 times), the reuse object 10 (11 times),... Then, RIP instructions are issued in order from the top for the reusable objects in the sorted list. Reusable objects are RIPed and cached in this indicated order.

  Specifically, one RIP instruction is issued, and when the RIP is completed, the next RIP instruction is issued. If there are a plurality of expansion units that perform RIP processing, RIP instructions are issued to the plurality of expansion units in order of frequency of use.

  In the variable data printing process of the present invention, when image data of reusable objects is cached, RIP instructions are issued in order from reusable objects that are frequently used, and the image data of reusable objects is cached in the order of completion of RIP. Therefore, the image data of the reuse object that is frequently used is preferentially stored in the cache memory. This makes it possible to generate a variable image with high processing efficiency.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to that shown in the embodiment, and there are changes and additions within the scope of the present invention. Are also included in the present invention.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the printer unit 20 is provided outside, but an apparatus integrated with the print control apparatus 10 may be used.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the image data of the reuse object that could not be saved in the cache memory 19 was saved in the hard disk device 15, but the image data of the reuse object that could not be saved in the cache memory 19 was not saved. Good.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the form object extraction process is performed before creating a list of reuse objects. After creating a list of all reuse objects, a reuse object to be a form object is extracted from the list. May be.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the variable data file is PPML, but other types of files may be used. It is desirable that the file format can separate the image data and the arrangement file.

5 ... Print control system 10 ... Print control device 11 ... CPU
12 ... ROM
13 ... RAM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 ... Non-volatile memory 15 ... Hard disk device 16 ... Network I / F part 17 ... Image processing part 18 ... Printer output part 19 ... Cache memory 20 ... Printer part 31 ... Variable data interpretation part 32 ... Form extraction process part 33 ... Reuse object Usage frequency calculation unit 34 ... Usage frequency sorting unit 35 ... Development unit 36 ... Reuse object management unit 37 ... Page composition processing unit 38 ... Raster image engine transfer unit 39 ... Pre-processing unit

Claims (10)

An input unit for inputting variable-format print data including a reusable object and a one-time use object that can be distinguished from each other;
A development unit that develops an object included in the print data to generate image data;
A preprocessing unit that examines the number of uses of each reusable object included in the print data input from the input unit, and instructs the development unit to deploy reusable objects in descending order of the number of uses;
A cache storage unit;
Every time generation of image data of a reusable object based on an instruction from the preprocessing unit is completed in the expansion unit, the reusable object image data is stored in a free space necessary for the cache storage unit. A storage management unit for storing in the cache storage unit if it can be stored;
The image data for each page corresponding to the print data input from the input unit is stored in the cache storage unit, which operates after the development of the reusable object based on the instruction of the preprocessing unit is completed. Image data that is not generated is generated and acquired by the expansion unit, image data stored in the cache storage unit is read out, and a combining unit that generates and combines them;
An output unit that outputs image data for each page generated by the synthesis unit to a printing apparatus. The cache storage unit includes a cache memory and an auxiliary storage device having an access speed slower than that of the cache memory.
The storage management unit preferentially stores image data to be stored in the cache memory, and stores the image data to be stored in the auxiliary storage device when the cache memory has insufficient free space. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print control apparatus is a print control apparatus. A compression / decompression unit that compresses and decompresses image data
The storage management unit stores compressed data obtained by compressing the image data by the compression / decompression unit, although the free space of the cache memory is insufficient to store the image data to be stored in an uncompressed state. The print control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the compressed data is stored in the cache memory when it is sufficient. The pre-processing unit extracts reusable objects that can be reused on all pages from reusable objects included in the print data, and sets the extracted set of reusable objects as form objects. The reusable object included in the form object is excluded from the reusable objects to be instructed to be expanded to the expansion unit in the descending order of the number of uses, and the form object is paged by the expansion unit. To the image data of
The storage management unit stores image data in units of pages obtained by expanding the form object in the expansion unit as form data in the auxiliary storage device,
4. The composition unit according to claim 2, wherein the composition unit reads the form data from the auxiliary storage device and composes the image data for each page corresponding to the print data. The printing control apparatus according to 1. A conversion unit for converting PPML data in INTERRNAL_DATA format into PPML data in EXTRNAL_DATA format;
When the print data input from the input unit is INTERNAL_DATA format PPML data, the conversion unit converts the print data into EXTRNAL_DATA format PPML data, and the converted data is converted by the preprocessing unit and the synthesis unit. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing control apparatus performs processing. An information processing apparatus including a cache storage unit is provided.
An input unit for inputting variable-format print data including a reusable object and a one-time use object that can be distinguished from each other;
A development unit that develops an object included in the print data to generate image data;
A preprocessing unit that examines the number of uses of each reusable object included in the print data input from the input unit, and instructs the development unit to deploy reusable objects in descending order of the number of uses;
Every time generation of image data of a reusable object based on an instruction from the preprocessing unit is completed in the expansion unit, the reusable object image data is stored in a free space necessary for the cache storage unit. A storage management unit for storing in the cache storage unit if it can be stored;
The image data for each page corresponding to the print data input from the input unit is stored in the cache storage unit, which operates after the development of the reusable object based on the instruction of the preprocessing unit is completed. Image data that is not generated is generated and acquired by the expansion unit, image data stored in the cache storage unit is read out, and a combining unit that generates and combines them;
A printing control program that operates to function as an output unit that outputs image data for each page generated by the combining unit to a printing apparatus. The cache storage unit includes a cache memory and an auxiliary storage device having a slower access speed than the cache memory.
The storage management unit preferentially stores the image data to be stored in the cache memory, and saves the image data to be stored in the auxiliary storage device when the cache memory has insufficient free space. The print control program according to claim 6, wherein the print control program is executed. Further causing the information processing apparatus to function as a compression / decompression unit that compresses / decompresses image data;
The storage management unit stores compressed data obtained by compressing the image data by the compression / decompression unit, although the free space of the cache memory is insufficient to store the image data to be stored in an uncompressed state. The print control program according to claim 7, wherein if necessary, the print control program has a function of storing the compressed data in the cache memory. The pre-processing unit extracts reusable objects that can be reused on all pages from reusable objects included in the print data, and sets the extracted set of reusable objects as form objects. The reusable object included in the form object is excluded from the reusable objects to be instructed to be expanded to the expansion unit in the descending order of the number of uses, and the form object is paged by the expansion unit. The function to expand to the image data of
The storage management unit fulfills a function of storing image data in page units obtained by expanding the form object in the expansion unit as form data in the auxiliary storage device,
9. The function according to claim 7, wherein when combining image data for each page corresponding to the print data, the form data is read from the auxiliary storage device and combined. Print control program. When the print data input from the input unit is PPML data in INTERNAL_DATA format, the information processing apparatus further functions as a conversion unit that converts the print data into PPML data in EXTRNAL_DATA format.
The printing according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the preprocessing unit and the synthesis unit process data after the conversion when the conversion is performed by the conversion unit. Control program.

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