JP5651767B2 - Print data processing apparatus, program, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a print data processing apparatus and program for analyzing print data, and an image forming apparatus.

  When printing a document or image created on a computer, it is common to generate print data in a predetermined PDL (page description language) and output it to the printer to instruct printing. is there. In the printer, print data can be analyzed by a PDL analysis unit (print data processing apparatus) and printed out through drawing processing or the like.

  As PDL used for print data, PostScript and PCL (Printer Control Language) have been mainstream, but in recent years, PDF (Portable Document Format), which is an electronic document format, HTML (HyperText Markup Language), which is a markup language, In addition to XML (Extensible Markup Language), XPS (XML Paper Specification) which is a new electronic document format is also used.

  In such a situation where there are various types of PDL, it is necessary to prepare a plurality of PDL analysis units corresponding to each PDL and switch them according to the PDL of the print data.

  Switching of the PDL analysis unit has been supported by automatically setting based on print data and by setting PDL (emulation) of the printer main body from the operation panel.

  However, when setting the PDL of the printer main body from the operation panel, the PDL that can be analyzed is fixed, and an analysis error occurs for print data by other PDL.

  In the case of an analysis error, a garbage output or the like in which print data information is printed as text is generated. Garbage output often becomes large as the PDL analysis unit analyzes until the end of the print data.

  On the other hand, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for switching to another PDL analysis unit when an error occurs in any of a plurality of PDL analysis units.

  However, this technique cannot be applied until the PDL analysis unit is fixed. That is, there is a problem in that error page output such as garbage output cannot be suppressed without switching the PDL analysis unit.

JP 2003-280839 A

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is that error page output cannot be suppressed without switching the print data processing apparatus.

  In order to suppress error page output without switching the print data processing apparatus, the present invention analyzes an analysis processing unit that analyzes print data of a specific language among a plurality of page description languages, and at the time of analysis by the analysis processing unit A text counter that counts the number of processed codes outside the character allocation range during text processing based on the character code group, and the analysis of the print data is interrupted when the count at the text counter exceeds a first threshold An interrupting unit, a command counter that counts the number of processed commands other than the text processing in the specific language at the time of the analysis, and when the number of processed commands is counted, the count in the command counter is a second threshold value A reset unit that resets the count of the text counter. The most important feature that was.

  According to the present invention, error page output such as garbage output can be suppressed without switching the print data processing apparatus based on the number of codes processed outside the character allocation range.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a main part of an image forming apparatus having a PDL analysis unit (Example 1). FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a PDL analysis unit in FIG. 1 (Example 1). 6 is a chart showing ASCII codes (Example 1). 10 is a flowchart illustrating an analysis process of PDL data by a PDL analysis unit (Example 1). 6 is a flowchart illustrating command processing (Example 1).

  The purpose of suppressing error page output without switching the print data processing device is to print data when the number of processed codes outside the character allocation range reaches a predetermined threshold during text processing based on character code groups. It was realized by interrupting the analysis for.

  As an embodiment, there is application to an image forming apparatus having a plurality of print data processing apparatuses, but it is also possible to apply to an image forming apparatus having only a single print data processing apparatus.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[Image forming apparatus]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a main part of an image forming apparatus having a PDL analysis unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus 1 in FIG. 1 includes at least a printer such as a digital multifunction peripheral having a print output function, and performs print output based on PDL data as input print data. The image forming apparatus 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a data acquisition unit 3, an operation panel 5, and a control unit 9.

  The data acquisition unit 3 is an interface that receives PDL data from other devices.

  The operation panel 5 includes a touch panel type liquid crystal display screen and the like, and displays an operation input and an operation status for the image forming apparatus 1.

  The control unit 9 is a control element such as a CPU (Central Process Unit) and executes various programs of the image forming apparatus 1 by executing a program in a storage unit (not shown) such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a hard disk. Have work done.

  In this embodiment, the control unit 9 executes the print data processing program stored in the storage unit, so that the PDL switching unit 11, PDL analysis units 13 a, 13 b, 13 c,. Unit 15 and drawing processing unit 17 are provided as functional configurations.

  The PDL switching unit 11 switches and activates the PDL analysis units 13a, 13b, 13c,... 13n. The PDL switching unit 11 performs fixed switching of the PDL analysis unit according to the setting from the operation panel 5, or analyzes the header of the input PDL data and selectively switches to the corresponding PDL analysis unit.

  The PDL analysis units 13a, 13b, 13c,... 13n correspond to different PDLs and read and analyze the PDL data upon activation. Each PDL analysis unit generates intermediate data from the analyzed PDL data and outputs the intermediate data to the drawing processing unit 17. Details of the PDL analysis units 13a, 13b, 13c,... 13n will be described later.

  The drawing processing unit 17 performs a drawing process for forming a bitmap-format drawing image from the input intermediate data according to a command from the PDL analysis units 13a, 13b, 13c. From the drawn image, a final output image is formed through screen processing or the like, and the output image is printed out by the output engine unit.

The device control unit 15 sets a device such as a tray to be used for print output according to an instruction from the PDL analysis units 13a, 13b, 13c,.
[PDL analysis unit]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the PDL analysis unit of FIG. The PDL analysis units 13a, 13b, 13c,... 13n have the same functional configuration except for the corresponding PDL. Therefore, only the details of the PDL analysis unit 13a will be described.

  During text processing based on a character code table (character code group) of PDL data, the PDL analysis unit 13a is configured to store a code outside the character range of the character (hereinafter referred to as “out-of-range code”) than the normal analysis processing. When the number of processes is large, the analysis process is interrupted because there is an analysis error.

  The analysis error in this embodiment is that the PDL analysis unit 13a analyzes the non-supported PDL PDL data. That is, when non-compatible PDL data is analyzed, the appearance rate of out-of-range codes increases due to the fact that the information of PDL data is processed as text as it is, and this becomes an analysis error.

  The PDL analysis unit 13 a includes an analysis processing unit 19, a text counter 21, an interruption unit 23, a command counter 25, a reset unit 27, an error display unit 29, and a selection unit 31.

  The analysis processing unit 19 reads and analyzes PDL data, and can analyze PDL data based on a specific PDL (corresponding PDL).

  At the time of analysis, text processing based on the character code table is performed on the character code of the PDL data, and the text is processed through command processing (for example, start of image processing) which is the execution of a specific command (for example, image processing start command). Processing other than processing (for example, image processing) is performed. As the character code table, there are various character code tables such as Shift_JIS and ASCII. In this embodiment, description will be made using the ASCII table shown in FIG.

  The text counter 21 counts the number of out-of-range codes processed during text processing during PDL data analysis.

  In the ASCII table of FIG. 3, 0 × 00 to 0 × 1F are control codes, and no characters are assigned. In this ASCII table, no character is assigned even after 0x80.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, these codes are out-of-range codes, and the text counter 21 counts the number of processes.

  The interruption unit 23 interrupts the analysis on the PDL data when the count number in the text counter 21 reaches a predetermined threshold value. As described above, the threshold value is set in a range in which it is possible to detect that the number of out-of-range code processes is larger than that in the normal analysis process, and can be set to 100, for example. However, the threshold value is arbitrary and can be appropriately changed according to the processing speed of the analysis processing unit 19 and the PDL.

  The command counter 25 counts the number of command processes during PDL data analysis.

  The reset unit 27 resets the count number of the text counter 21 when the count number of the command counter 25 reaches a predetermined threshold value. That is, in the case of normal analysis processing, the count number of the text counter 21 is reset.

  The determination that the analysis process is a normal analysis process is based on the high possibility that the PDL data and the PDL analysis unit 13a correspond to each other when the command process (command execution) can be performed.

  For example, when processing an image, a command for starting the image processing is required. The fact that the command has been executed means that the PDL data has been correctly processed, and therefore there is a low possibility that there is an error in the combination of the PDL data and the PDL analysis unit.

  The threshold value of the reset unit 27 can be set to 1 or more because it can be determined that the command processing is performed once even if it is a normal analysis processing. However, in consideration of the error range and the processing speed of the analysis processing unit 19, it is set to about 20, for example.

  The error display unit 29 displays an analysis error on the operation panel 5 of the image forming apparatus 1 when the analysis of PDL data is interrupted.

The selection unit 31 causes the operation panel 5 to select the suspension or continuation of the suspended analysis according to the display of the analysis error by the error display unit 29.
[Operation of PDL analysis unit]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing PDL data analysis processing (analysis procedure) by the PDL analysis unit.

  The flowchart of FIG. 4 starts when the PDL switching unit 11 activates any of the PDL analysis units 13a, 13b, 13c,... 13n in accordance with the setting on the operation panel 5 of FIG.

  In step S1, “read PDL data” is performed. That is, in the activated PDL analysis unit, the analysis processing unit 19 reads PDL data and starts analysis. Thereby, the process proceeds to step S2.

  In step S2, “text processing?” Is performed. In this processing, the command counter 25 detects whether or not PDL data command processing has been performed by the analysis processing unit 19.

  If command processing is not performed, text processing of PDL data is performed (YES), and the process proceeds to step S3. On the other hand, when command processing is performed, since processing other than text processing based on the command processing is performed (NO), the process proceeds to command processing.

  In step S3, "out-of-range code?" Processing is performed (text counting procedure). In this process, the text counter 21 detects whether or not the character code being processed is a code outside the range of 0 × 00 to 0 × 1F or 0 × 80 or later.

  If the code is out of range (YES), the process proceeds to step S4. If the code is not out of range (in-range code) (NO), the process proceeds to step S6.

  In step S4, "out-of-range code counting" is performed (text counting procedure). In this process, the out-of-range code detected by the text counter 21 is counted, and the process proceeds to step S5.

  In step S5, “out-of-range code count is below threshold?” Is performed (interruption procedure). In this process, the interruption unit 23 determines whether or not the count number by the text counter 21 is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value. If it is equal to or less than the threshold, the process proceeds to step S6, and if it exceeds the threshold, the process proceeds to step S7.

  In step S6, a “drawing process” is performed. That is, the analysis processing unit 19 performs a process for generating intermediate data for the character code being processed.

  On the other hand, in step S7, “analysis interruption” is performed (interruption procedure). That is, the interruption unit 23 determines that an analysis error has occurred in which the number of out-of-range codes is larger than that in the normal analysis process, and interrupts the analysis process for the PDL data in the analysis processing unit 19. Thereby, step S7 is completed and it transfers to step S8.

  In step S8, “job cancel?” Is performed (error display procedure and selection procedure). In this process, the error display unit 29 displays an analysis error of PDL data on the operation panel 5 of the image forming apparatus 1. In response to this, the selection unit 31 causes the user to select on the operation panel 5 to cancel or continue the interrupted analysis process.

  If the user selects cancel (YES), the print job using the PDL data is canceled (the analysis process is stopped), and the flowchart of FIG. 4 ends. Thereby, error page output such as garbage output can be suppressed.

  On the other hand, if continuation is selected (NO), the process proceeds to step S6 in accordance with the user's intention and the “drawing process” is performed.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing command processing.

  The flowchart of FIG. 5 starts by shifting from step S2 of FIG. 4 to command processing.

  First, in step S21, “command count” is performed. In this process, the command process detected by the command counter 25 is counted and the process proceeds to step S22.

  In step S22, “command count is below threshold?” Is performed. In this process, the reset unit 27 determines whether or not the count number by the command counter 25 is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value.

  If it is equal to or less than the threshold (NO), the process proceeds to step S6 in FIG. 4 to perform “drawing processing” based on command processing. On the other hand, when exceeding a threshold value (YES), it transfers to step S23.

  In step S23, “count number reset of out-of-range code” is performed. That is, the reset unit 27 determines that it is a normal analysis process and resets the count number of the text counter 21. Thereby, even if the out-of-range code is counted during the next text processing, it is possible to prevent the analysis processing from being interrupted by mistake.

Thus, step S23 is completed, and the process proceeds to step S6 in FIG. 4 to perform “drawing processing” based on command processing.
[Effect of Example 1]
The PDL analysis unit 13a (13b, 13c... 13n) of the present embodiment includes an analysis processing unit 19 that can analyze PDL data of a specific PDL, and a text based on a character code table at the time of analysis by the analysis processing unit 19. A text counter 21 that counts the number of processed codes outside the character allocation range (out-of-range code) during processing, and an interruption that interrupts the analysis of PDL data when the count value in the text counter 21 exceeds a predetermined threshold Part 23.

  That is, in this embodiment, when the number of out-of-range codes exceeds the threshold, it is determined that an analysis error having more out-of-range codes than in the normal analysis processing has occurred, and the analysis processing unit 19 analyzes the PDL data. Processing can be interrupted. With this interruption, error page output such as garbage output can be suppressed without switching the PDL analysis unit.

  In addition, the PDL analysis unit 13a of this embodiment counts the command counter 25 that counts the number of PDL data commands processed at the time of analysis, and counts the text counter 21 when the count number at the command counter 25 exceeds a predetermined threshold. And a reset unit 27 for resetting the number.

  That is, in this embodiment, when the number of PDL data commands processed exceeds a predetermined threshold, it is determined that the analysis processing is normal, and the count number of the text counter 21 can be reset. For this reason, even if an out-of-range code is counted during the next text processing, the analysis processing can be prevented from being interrupted by mistake, and the processing can be facilitated.

  Further, the PDL analysis unit 13a of the present embodiment includes a selection unit 31 that selects whether to stop or continue the analysis of the interrupted PDL data.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the analysis of the PDL data is finally stopped and the error page output can be surely suppressed, but the error page output can be performed according to the user's intention. Can be improved.

  In this embodiment, an error display unit 29 that displays an analysis error when analysis of PDL data is interrupted is provided, and the selection unit 31 selects whether to stop or continue according to the display of the error.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to make the user select whether to stop or continue the analysis while confirming that an analysis error has occurred, thereby improving the convenience of the user while improving the certainty of selection. can do.

13a, 13b, 13c... 13n PDL analysis unit (print data processing apparatus)
19 Analysis processing unit 21 Text counter 23 Interruption unit 25 Command counter 27 Reset unit 29 Error display unit 31 Selection unit

Claims (5)

An analysis processing unit that analyzes print data of a specific language among a plurality of page description languages;
At the time of analysis in the analysis processing unit, a text counter that counts the number of codes processed outside the character allocation range during text processing based on a character code group;
An interrupting unit for interrupting the analysis of the print data when the count number in the text counter exceeds a first threshold;
A command counter that counts the number of processed commands other than the text processing in the specific language during the analysis;
A reset unit that resets the count number of the text counter when the command counter count count exceeds a second threshold when the command counter count is counted;
A print data processing apparatus. The print data processing apparatus according to claim 1,
A selection unit for selecting whether to stop or continue the interrupted analysis;
A print data processing apparatus. The print data processing apparatus according to claim 2,
An error display unit that displays an error of the analysis when the analysis of the print data is interrupted,
The selection unit causes the selection to be performed according to the display of the error.
A print data processing apparatus. An analysis processing procedure for analyzing print data in a specific language among a plurality of page description languages;
A text counting procedure for counting the number of codes processed outside the character allocation range during text processing based on a character code group in the analysis processing procedure;
An interruption procedure for interrupting the analysis of the print data when the count in the text counting procedure exceeds a first threshold;
A command counting procedure for counting the number of processed commands other than the text processing in the specific language at the time of the analysis;
When the processing number of the command is counted, if the count number in the command count procedure exceeds a second threshold, the computer is caused to execute a reset procedure for resetting the count number in the text count procedure.
A print data processing program. A plurality of print data processing devices each corresponding to a different page description language;
A switching unit for switching the print data processing device to a print data processing device corresponding to a specified specific language among a plurality of page description languages,
The plurality of data processing devices are:
An analysis processing unit that analyzes the print data of the specific language upon activation;
At the time of analysis in the analysis processing unit, a text counter that counts the number of codes processed outside the character allocation range during text processing based on a character code group;
An interrupting unit for interrupting the analysis of the print data when the count number in the text counter exceeds a first threshold;
A command counter that counts the number of processed commands other than the text processing in the specific language during the analysis;
A reset unit that resets the count number of the text counter when the command counter count count exceeds a second threshold when the command counter count is counted;
An image forming apparatus.