JP5929126B2 - Print data receiving apparatus, image processing apparatus, and program - Google Patents

Description

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

  When a PC sends a document file such as a PDF file to a printer without converting it to print data, information to be accessed at the start of analysis of the document file is extracted from the document file to be printed and sent to the printer. A technique is known in which predetermined data in the document file is extracted and transmitted to the printer each time it is requested from the printer (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  The PC extracts the cross reference table and trailer from the PDF file to be printed, transmits the extracted cross reference table and trailer to the printing apparatus first, and then transmits the body of the PDF file, and then the printing apparatus. Receives the cross-reference table and trailer from the PC, then receives the body, and uses the received cross-reference table and trailer to print the PDF file without waiting for the completion of the reception of the body. A technique for starting is also known (for example, see Patent Document 2).

  The image forming apparatus divides the image into XPS FixedPage units in advance, and the PC or the image forming apparatus determines the size that can be processed by the image forming apparatus from the memory availability of the image forming apparatus and the size of the divided XPS file. A technique is also known in which files divided based on the determination are combined or successively transmitted from a PC to an image forming apparatus (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

JP 2004-171204 A JP 2007-257592 A JP 2008-305267 A

  An object of the present invention is to shorten the time until printing based on transmitted print data is started without changing the function of an apparatus that transmits print data.

The invention described in claim 1 includes printing including arrangement data in which a plurality of elements are arranged in an order not related to the processing order, and management data for managing a plurality of positions where the plurality of elements are arranged. First request means for requesting transmission of the file fragment by designating a predetermined position and size as the position and size of the file fragment including the management data to the print data transmitting apparatus for transmitting data A first receiving unit that receives the file fragment transmitted in response to a request from the first requesting unit, a specifying unit that specifies an acquisition order of the plurality of elements, and a print data transmitting apparatus the position and size of the plurality of elements is determined based on the management data contained in the file fragments received by the first receiving means, especially by the specifying means The second request means for sequentially requesting transmission of the plurality of elements, and the plurality of elements sequentially transmitted in response to the request by the second request means A print data receiving apparatus comprising: a second receiving unit.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the specifying unit specifies at least one element to be acquired from the plurality of elements, and the second requesting unit sends the print data transmitting apparatus to the print data transmitting apparatus. Sequentially specifying the position and size of the at least one element determined based on the management data included in the file fragment received by the first receiving means, and requesting transmission of the at least one element. The print data receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second receiving unit sequentially receives the at least one element sequentially transmitted in response to a request from the second requesting unit. .
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a receiving unit that receives a processing order of a plurality of logical units set for the arrangement data, and the plurality of logical units and the plurality of the plurality of logical units for the print data transmitting apparatus. Designating the position and size of the correspondence information with the element, the third request means for requesting transmission of the correspondence information, and the correspondence information transmitted in response to the request by the third request means are received. A third receiving means, wherein the specifying means is based on the processing order of the plurality of logical units received by the receiving means and the correspondence information received by the third receiving means. The print data receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition order is specified.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided reception means for receiving necessity of printing of a plurality of logical units set for the arrangement data, and the plurality of logical units and the print data transmitting apparatus. Specifying the position and size of the correspondence information with a plurality of elements, and requesting the transmission of the correspondence information, the correspondence information transmitted in response to the request by the third request means And a third receiving means for receiving, wherein the specifying means determines whether or not printing of the plurality of logical units received by the receiving means and the correspondence information received by the third receiving means. The print data receiving apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the at least one element is specified based on the following.
The invention according to claim 5, wherein the first request unit, when the management data is not included in a complete form to the received the file fragments by the first receiving means, said predetermined 5. The transmission of the file fragment is requested again by designating the position and size after changing at least one of the position and size. Print data receiving apparatus.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the management data included in the file fragment received by the first receiving unit and the plurality of elements received by the second receiving unit are stored in the first. And a plurality of second positions respectively indicating the positions of the plurality of elements in the print data, and storing the first position information indicating the position of the management data in the print data in association with the management data 6. The print data receiving apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising second storage means for storing information in association with each of the plurality of elements.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, based on the first position information stored in the second storage unit, the position in the first storage unit corresponding to the position of the management data in the print data is set. A plurality of the first storage means corresponding to the positions of the plurality of elements in the print data based on the plurality of second position information stored in the second storage means and writing the management data The print data receiving apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising writing means for writing the plurality of elements at the positions.
The invention according to claim 8 is a print including arrangement data in which a plurality of elements are arranged in an order not related to the processing order, and management data for managing a plurality of positions where the plurality of elements are arranged. First request means for requesting transmission of the file fragment by designating a predetermined position and size as the position and size of the file fragment including the management data to the print data transmitting apparatus for transmitting data A first receiving unit that receives the file fragment transmitted in response to a request from the first requesting unit, a specifying unit that specifies an acquisition order of the plurality of elements, and a print data transmitting apparatus the position and size of the plurality of elements is determined based on the management data contained in the file fragments received by the first receiving means, especially by the specifying means The second request means for sequentially requesting transmission of the plurality of elements, and the plurality of elements sequentially transmitted in response to the request by the second request means Second management means and the management data contained in the file fragment received by the first reception means are stored in a position corresponding to the position of the management data in the print data, and the second reception Each of the plurality of elements received by the means is managed by storage means that stores the plurality of positions corresponding to the positions of the plurality of elements in the print data, and the management data stored in the storage means. And an imaging means for imaging the plurality of elements respectively stored at the plurality of positions.
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, arrangement data in which a plurality of elements are arranged in an order not related to the processing order, management data for managing a plurality of positions at which the plurality of elements are arranged, and A print data transmitting apparatus that transmits print data including the first requesting the transmission of the file fragment by designating a predetermined position and size as the position and size of the file fragment including the management data. A request function, a first reception function for receiving the file fragment transmitted in response to a request in the first request function, a specifying function for specifying an acquisition order of the plurality of elements, and the print data to the transmission device, the position and size of the plurality of elements is determined based on the management data contained in the file fragment is received by the first receiving function, the specific machine A second request function for sequentially requesting the transmission of the plurality of elements, and the plurality of elements sequentially transmitted in response to a request in the second request function. This is a program for realizing the second reception function of sequentially receiving.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, until the printing based on the transmitted print data is started without changing the function of the apparatus that transmits the print data, as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided. Can be shortened.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the capacity of the print data to be transmitted can be reduced without changing the function of the apparatus that transmits the print data, as compared to the case without this configuration. .
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the printing based on the transmitted print data is performed in consideration of the processing order of a plurality of logical units set in the print data, as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided. The time until the start can be shortened.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the capacity of the print data to be transmitted is compared with the case of not having this configuration while considering the necessity of printing of a plurality of logical units set in the print data. Can be reduced.
According to the invention of claim 5, management data for managing the position of the element in the print data can be received even if at least one of the position and the size of the management data is unknown.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the processing for the management data and elements in the print data can be executed in the original processing order.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the processing for the management data and elements in the print data can be executed in the original processing order without changing the processing.
According to the invention of claim 8, until the printing based on the transmitted print data is started without changing the function of the apparatus for transmitting the print data, as compared with the case where this configuration is not provided. Can be shortened.
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, no change is made to the function of the apparatus that transmits print data, and printing is started based on the transmitted print data as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided. Can be shortened.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a cloud print system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. 1 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the figure which showed typically about the division | segmentation download of the PDF file in embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed typically about the processing method of the data obtained by the division | segmentation download of the PDF file in embodiment of this invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a flow of processing when the image forming apparatus acquires file configuration information in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a PDF file used for explaining a flow of processing when the image forming apparatus acquires file configuration information in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a PDF file used for explaining a flow of processing when the image forming apparatus acquires file configuration information in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a processing flow when the image forming apparatus acquires an object in the embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the image forming apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 shows an example of the overall configuration of a cloud print system to which the present embodiment is applied.
As shown in the drawing, in this cloud print system, a client terminal 10, image forming apparatuses 30a, 30b, and 30c, and a cloud print server 50 are connected to a network 90.
Although the image forming apparatuses 30a, 30b, and 30c are shown in the drawing, they are referred to as the image forming apparatus 30 when it is not necessary to distinguish them. Although only three image forming apparatuses 30 are shown in the figure, four or more image forming apparatuses 30 may be provided.

  The client terminal 10 selects an electronic document file (hereinafter simply referred to as “document file”) stored in the cloud print server 50 according to a user operation, and the image forming apparatus 30 prints the document file on the cloud print server 50 is a computer device. Here, as the client terminal 10, a PC (Personal Computer), a mobile terminal, a mobile phone, or the like may be used.

  The image forming apparatus 30 is an apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium such as paper and outputs it as a printing medium. Here, as the image forming apparatus 30, an apparatus having only a printer function may be used, or an apparatus having other image processing functions such as a scanner function and a facsimile function may be used in addition to this. In the present embodiment, an image forming apparatus 30 is provided as an example of a print data receiving apparatus and an image processing apparatus.

  The cloud print server 50 uses various devices as the client terminal 10 and provides a service (cloud print service) that enables the document file to be printed by the image forming apparatus 30 installed at home, office, public place, or the like. It is a server computer. Specifically, when generation of print instruction information for instructing printing of a document file in the image forming apparatus 30 is requested from the client terminal 10, the print instruction information is generated and transmitted to the image forming apparatus 30. Instruct printing. In the present embodiment, a cloud print server 50 is provided as an example of a print data transmission apparatus.

  The network 90 is a communication unit used for information communication between the client terminal 10 and the cloud print server 50 and between the image forming apparatus 30 and the cloud print server 50, and is, for example, the Internet.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the image forming apparatus 30.
As illustrated, the image forming apparatus 30 includes a CPU 31, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 32, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 33, an HDD 34, an operation panel 35, an image reading unit 36, and an image forming unit 37. And a communication I / F 38.

The CPU 31 implements various functions to be described later by loading various programs stored in the ROM 33 and the like into the RAM 32 and executing them.
The RAM 32 is a memory used as a working memory for the CPU 31.
The ROM 33 is a memory that stores various programs executed by the CPU 31.
The HDD 34 is, for example, a magnetic disk device that stores image data read by the image reading unit 36, image data used for image formation in the image forming unit 37, and the like.
The operation panel 35 is, for example, a touch panel that displays various types of information and receives operation inputs from the user.

  The image reading unit 36 reads an image recorded on a recording medium such as paper. Here, the image reading unit 36 is, for example, a scanner, and a CCD method in which reflected light with respect to light irradiated from a light source to a document is reduced by a lens and received by a CCD (Charge Coupled Devices), or an LED light source is sequentially irradiated onto a document. It is preferable to use a CIS system that receives reflected light with respect to the received light with a CIS (Contact Image Sensor).

The image forming unit 37 forms an image on a recording medium. Here, the image forming unit 37 is, for example, a printer, and forms an image by transferring the toner attached to the photosensitive member to a recording medium to form an image, or ejecting ink onto the recording medium. An ink jet type may be used.
The communication I / F 38 transmits / receives various information to / from other devices via the network.

By the way, in the cloud print system of FIG. 1, the document file that the client terminal 10 has instructed to print on the image forming apparatus 30 is converted into a document file in a format that can be reproduced in a different environment with the same appearance as the original document, and is stored. Often.
However, some document files in such a format, such as a PDF (Portable Document Format) file (hereinafter, referred to as “PDF file”), cannot be sequentially analyzed. In general, in order to print a document file that cannot be sequentially analyzed from the beginning by the image forming apparatus 30, the entire document file is temporarily stored in a memory in the image forming apparatus 30 and then the analysis process is started. In this case, the print throughput is reduced by the time required for file transfer compared to the case of printing data that can be sequentially analyzed from the beginning, for example, described in PDL (Page Description Language).
In addition, a document file that cannot be sequentially analyzed from the beginning may include data unnecessary for printing that is used for various purposes because of its nature, as is the case with a PDF file. When a document file including data unnecessary for printing is printed by the image forming apparatus 30, there may be inconveniences such as a long time required for file transfer and insufficient memory for storing the file.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the document file including data unnecessary for printing cannot be sequentially performed from the top and the image forming apparatus 30 prints the data necessary for printing out of the divided data of the document file. Are downloaded from the cloud print server 50 in the order in which they are used. Further, since the cloud print server 50 is an external server for the image forming apparatus 30 and it is difficult to add a division download function, such division download is performed by the image forming apparatus 30 with respect to the cloud print server 50. This is done by specifying and requesting the position and size of the data.

First, the schematic operation of the present embodiment will be described. Here, a PDF file is taken as an example of a document file that cannot be sequentially analyzed from the beginning and a document file that includes data unnecessary for printing.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the image forming apparatus 30 downloads the data obtained by dividing the PDF file from the cloud print server 50 in the order in which it is used.
As illustrated, the cloud print server 50 stores a PDF file.
The PDF file includes a header 510, a body 520, a cross reference table 530, and a trailer 540. The body 520 includes objects A, B, and C. A PDF file is an example of print data, and objects A, B, and C are examples of elements. The body 520 is an example of arrangement data in which a plurality of elements are arranged in an order not related to the processing order, and the cross-reference table 530 is a management that manages a plurality of positions where the plurality of elements are arranged. It is an example of data.
When processing this PDF file, the header 510, trailer 540, and cross-reference table 530 are accessed in this order. Since the cross reference table 530 manages which object exists at which position in the PDF file, by referring to the cross reference table 530, the objects in the body 520 are used in the order in which they are used. It is possible to access.

Therefore, the operation when downloading the data obtained by dividing the PDF file is also as follows.
First, the image forming apparatus 30 requests the cloud print server 50 to download the header 510, and acquires the header 510 from the cloud print server 50 (D1).
Next, the image forming apparatus 30 requests the cloud print server 50 to download data composed of the cross reference table 530 and the trailer 540, and acquires this data from the cloud print server 50 (D2).

Here, the image forming apparatus 30 analyzes the cross reference table 530 acquired in D2, and among the objects in the body 520, the object A and the object C are print targets, and the object C and the object A are used in this order. It shall be recognized that
Then, the image forming apparatus 30 first requests the cloud print server 50 to download the object C, and acquires the object C from the cloud print server 50 (D3). Next, the cloud print server 50 is requested to download the object A, and the object A is acquired from the cloud print server 50 (D4).

Here, among the objects in the body 520, the object B is not recognized as an object to be printed, so the image forming apparatus 30 does not request the cloud print server 50 to download the object B. The object B is not acquired from the cloud print server 50.
The figure also shows a position information table 301 in which data obtained by dividing a PDF file and the position of the data in the original PDF file are associated with each other.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the image forming apparatus 30 stores data downloaded from the cloud print server 50 in order to generate an image.
First, the image forming apparatus 30 writes the header 510 downloaded from the cloud print server 50 in a position in the virtual file 302 corresponding to the position of the header 510 in the original PDF file (E1).
Next, the image forming apparatus 30 writes the data composed of the cross-reference table 530 and the trailer 540 downloaded from the cloud print server 50 at a position in the virtual file 302 corresponding to the position of this data in the original PDF file. (E2).

  Next, the image forming apparatus 30 writes the object C downloaded from the cloud print server 50 in a position in the virtual file 302 corresponding to the position of the object C in the original PDF file (E3). Then, the object A downloaded from the cloud print server 50 is written in the position in the virtual file 302 corresponding to the position of the object A in the original PDF file (E4).

  Note that the writing of each data to the virtual file 302 is performed with reference to the position information table 301. That is, the image forming apparatus 30 specifies the position in the original PDF file of each data downloaded from the cloud print server 50 by referring to the position information table 301. Then, each data is written at a position in the virtual file 302 corresponding to the specified position.

  In the drawing, as one of the functions of the image forming apparatus 30, an image generation unit 303 as an example of an imaging unit is also illustrated. The image generation unit 303 is also called a RIP (Raster Image Processor), a decomposer, or the like, and is a functional unit that converts data or a PDF file described in PDL into a raster image for each page.

Since the data obtained by dividing the PDF file is downloaded in the order in which it is used, the image generation unit 303 starts a process of generating an image before the download of all the data is completed.
In addition, since the downloaded data is arranged in the virtual file 302 in the same manner as the original PDF file, the image generation unit 303 accesses the header 510, the trailer 540, and the cross reference table 530 in this order as usual. By analyzing the cross reference table 530, each object in the body 520 can be accessed in order.
Note that if the data writing to the virtual file 302 is not in time for the processing of the image generation unit 303, the processing of the image generation unit 303 may be made to wait.

  Next, the flow of processing centering on the download request from the image forming apparatus 30 to the cloud print server 50 and the download from the cloud print server 50 to the image forming apparatus 30 in the present embodiment will be described. In this case as well, a PDF file is taken as an example of a document file that cannot be sequentially analyzed from the beginning and a document file that includes data unnecessary for printing.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flow of processing from when the image forming apparatus 30 receives a print request until it acquires file configuration information. The file configuration information corresponds to a header 510, a cross reference table 530, and a trailer 540 in the case of a PDF file.

First, the image forming apparatus 30 receives a print request from a user (S1). Here, the print request is accompanied by a print setting that is a setting relating to printing. In this example, the print setting designates a print range in which pages 9 to 10 are printed.
Then, the image forming apparatus 30 requests the file information such as the file size and type (hereinafter referred to as “file information”) from the cloud print server 50 (S2).
Thereby, file information such as type “PDF” and size “xx bytes” is sent from the cloud print server 50 to the image forming apparatus 30 (S3).

  Next, the image forming apparatus 30 requests the cloud print server 50 to download a file fragment including the header 510 by designating an offset “0 byte” and a size “yy byte” from the head (S4). . In the PDF file, since the size of the header 510 is variable, a predetermined size is used as the size “yy bytes” that the header 510 will fit.

  As a result, the file fragment including the header 510 is sent from the cloud print server 50 to the image forming apparatus 30 (S5). If the header 510 does not fit in this file fragment, for example, an offset “yy byte” and a size “yy byte” may be specified and the download of the file fragment may be requested again.

  Next, the image forming apparatus 30 designates the offset “(xx-zz) bytes” and the size “zz bytes” from the head for the cloud print server 50, and includes a file fragment including the cross reference table 530 and the trailer 540. Is requested to be downloaded (S6). In the PDF file, since the sizes of the cross reference table 530 and the trailer 540 are variable, a size that is predetermined as a size that the cross reference table 530 and the trailer 540 will fit is used as the size “zz bytes”. Since the file fragment including the cross reference table 530 and trailer 540 is searched from the end of the file, the offset is a value obtained by subtracting the size of the cross reference table 530 and trailer 540 (zz bytes) from the size of the file (xx bytes). It has become.

  Accordingly, the file fragment including the cross reference table 530 and the trailer 540 is sent from the cloud print server 50 to the image forming apparatus 30 (S7). If the cross-reference table 530 and the trailer 540 do not fit in this file fragment, for example, the offset “(xx-zz * 2) bytes” and the size “zz bytes” are specified, and the download of the file fragments is requested again.

  The image forming apparatus 30 accumulates the file fragments downloaded in S5 and S7, and accumulates the positions of these file fragments in the original PDF file in the position information table 301 (S8). Specifically, for the file fragment downloaded in S5, the correspondence between the information indicating that the file fragment includes the header 510 and the offset from the beginning of the original PDF file of the file fragment is stored in the position information table 301. accumulate. Further, for the file fragment downloaded in S7, the position information table shows the correspondence between the information indicating that the file fragment includes the cross-reference table 530 and the trailer 540 and the offset from the beginning of the original PDF file of the file fragment. 301 accumulates. In the figure, these accumulation processes are collectively shown in S8. However, the file fragments downloaded in S5 and their positions are accumulated immediately after S5, and the file fragments downloaded in S7 and their positions are accumulated immediately after S7. You may make it do.

  Thereafter, the image forming apparatus 30 analyzes the print settings received in S1 and the file configuration information (header 510, cross-reference table 530, trailer 540) in the data accumulated in S8, and print object, The download order of the print target object and the position of the print target object in the original PDF file are determined (S9).

Here, the above process will be described in detail with reference to a specific description of the PDF file.
6 is a diagram showing a specific description of the header 510 included in the file fragment downloaded in S5 of FIG. 5 and the trailer 540 included in the file fragment downloaded in S7 of FIG. Since the cross reference table 530 is used in the process of S9, it will be described in detail in the description of the process.

As shown, the header 510 includes descriptions 511 and 512. A description 511 indicates that the file format is PDF, and a description 512 indicates that the PDF version is 1.4.
With the description of the header 510, when the image forming apparatus 30 downloads the file fragment including the header 510 in S5, the document file to be printed is a PDF file, and the PDF version is “1.4”. Make sure that

  Trailer 540 also includes descriptions 541-546. A description 541 indicates that the following is the trailer 540, a description 542 indicates the number of objects in the PDF file, and a description 543 indicates an object ID of a root object 521 (described later) in the body 520. The description 544 indicates that the offset value to the cross reference table 530 is described in the next line, the description 545 indicates the offset value to the cross reference table 530, and the description 546 indicates the end of the PDF file. Show.

  In S7 of FIG. 5, the image forming apparatus 30 downloaded the file fragment including the cross reference table 530 in addition to the trailer 540, but first downloaded the file fragment including the trailer 540, and thereafter, the description 545 indicates. The cross-reference table 530 may be downloaded from the position where it is stored. The image forming apparatus 30 also determines the position of a route object 521 (described later) based on the description of the trailer 540.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the process of determining the print target object, the download order of the print target object, and the download position of the print target object in S9 of FIG.

  As illustrated, the body 520 includes a root object 521. Here, the root object 521 is a special object including the number and order of pages included in the PDF file and a list of object IDs of objects in each page. In the figure, only the 9th and 10th pages related to the description are extracted, and a list of object IDs for these pages is shown. Specifically, for the ninth page, description 522 indicates an object with object ID “6”, and description 523 indicates an object with object ID “128”. For the tenth page, description 524 indicates an object with object ID “5”, description 525 indicates an object with object ID “20”, and description 526 indicates an object with object ID “21”.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the print range from the ninth page to the tenth page is set as the print setting, the object with the object ID “6” and the object with the object ID “128” are described by the description of the root object 521. The object with the object ID “5”, the object with the object ID “20”, and the object with the object ID “21” are the print target objects, and the order of the objects is the download order of the print target objects.

  The cross reference table 530 includes descriptions 531 to 537. The description 531 indicates that the following is the cross reference table 530. The description 532 indicates the object with the object ID “5”, and the description 533 indicates that the offset value to the object is “16”. The description 534 indicates the object with the object ID “6”, and the description 535 indicates that the offset value to the object is “32”. The description 536 indicates the object with the object ID “128”, and the description 537 indicates that the offset value to the object is “1024”.

  In S9 of FIG. 5, the image forming apparatus 30 analyzes the cross reference table 530, divides the body 520 into blocks of an arbitrary size based on the offset values for each object, and indexes these blocks. Specifically, a correspondence table in which the object ID, the offset value from the file head, and the block size are associated with each other is created. Although not shown in FIG. 5, this correspondence table is also included in the position information table 301 and stored.

Thereafter, the image forming apparatus 30 sequentially determines the offset value and the size of the block corresponding to the object to be downloaded with reference to the correspondence table in accordance with the previously determined download order.
In the example of the figure, the offset value and size of the block associated with the object ID “6” in the correspondence table, the offset value and size of the block associated with the object ID “128” in the correspondence table, and the object ID in the correspondence table. The offset value and size of the block associated with “5”, the offset value and size of the block associated with the object ID “20” in the correspondence table, and the block value associated with the object ID “21” in the correspondence table The offset value and size are used as download positions in this order.

  Here, the object download order is determined based on the page processing order determined by the print settings. However, the object download order may be determined in consideration of the processing time for the object. As a method for determining such a download order, for example, when the image generation unit 303 (see FIG. 4) can perform processing on a plurality of objects in parallel, a large-capacity image or the like is included in the print target object. If there is an object that requires time for the above processing, a method of speeding up the order of downloading the object can be considered.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a processing flow from when the image forming apparatus 30 determines a print target object to when the download of the print target object is completed.
First, the image forming apparatus 30 acquires the print target object determined in S9 of FIG. 5, the download order of the print target object, and the position of the print target object in the original PDF file (S10).

Next, the image forming apparatus 30 requests the cloud print server 50 to download the file fragment including the object on the ninth page by specifying the offset “aa bytes” and the size “bb bytes” from the head. (S11). Here, the offset and size from the top may be determined based on the offset value and block size associated with the object ID of the object in the correspondence table described with reference to FIG.
As a result, the file fragment including the object on the ninth page is sent from the cloud print server 50 to the image forming apparatus 30 (S12).
Note that the download request in S11 is repeated for all objects on the ninth page while changing the offset and size, as shown in parentheses. Accordingly, the download in S12 is repeated for all objects on the ninth page.

Next, the image forming apparatus 30 requests the cloud print server 50 to download the file fragment including the object on the 10th page by designating the offset “cc bytes” and the size “dd bytes” from the top ( S13). Here, the offset and size from the top may be determined based on the offset value and block size associated with the object ID of the object in the correspondence table described with reference to FIG.
Thereby, the file fragment including the object on the 10th page is sent from the cloud print server 50 to the image forming apparatus 30 (S14).
The download request in S13 is repeated for all objects on the 10th page while changing the offset and size, as shown in parentheses. Accordingly, the download in S14 is repeated for all objects on the 10th page.

  Finally, the image forming apparatus 30 confirms that all objects on the ninth and tenth pages have been downloaded (S15).

  Next, the functional configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus 30 that performs the above processing will be described in detail. Until now, PDF files have been taken as examples of document files that cannot be sequentially analyzed from the beginning, and document files that contain data that is not necessary for printing. Explain without limitation.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the image forming apparatus 30.
As illustrated, the image forming apparatus 30 includes an operation receiving unit 40 and a print setting storage unit 41. In addition, a transmission unit 42, a reception unit 43, a file information analysis unit 44, a download data storage unit 45, a file configuration information analysis unit 46, and a position information storage unit 47 are provided. Further, a page processing order determination unit 48 and a download order determination unit 49 are provided.

The operation reception unit 40 receives a user operation on the operation panel 35, particularly a print request operation for requesting printing of a document file. Here, the print request includes information (such as a URL) for specifying a document file to be printed stored in the cloud print server 50, and print settings that are various settings for printing. In addition to the print range (page range to be printed) shown in FIG. 5, the print settings include a print order (order of pages to be printed), booklet print (designation of print for creating a booklet), and the like. is there.
The print setting storage unit 41 stores the print setting designated by the operation of the print request received by the operation reception unit 40.

  When the operation accepting unit 40 accepts a print request operation, the sending unit 42 sends information requesting file information (type, size, etc.) of a document file to be printed to the cloud print server 50. If the document file type is a specific type and the size of the document file is equal to or greater than a threshold, information requesting a file fragment including file configuration information is transmitted to the cloud print server 50. Further, when the download target object and the download order of the download target object are determined, information requesting a file fragment including the download target object is transmitted to the cloud print server 50 according to the download order. In the present embodiment, as an example of a first requesting unit that requests transmission of management data, a second requesting unit that requests transmission of at least one element to be acquired from among a plurality of elements or a plurality of elements. A transmission unit 42 is provided.

  The receiving unit 43 receives file information (type, size, etc.) sent from the cloud print server 50 in response to information requesting file information (type, size, etc.) of the document file. In addition, a file fragment sent from the cloud print server 50 is received in response to information requesting a file fragment including file configuration information. Further, in response to the information requesting the file fragment including the download target object in accordance with the download order, the file fragments sent from the cloud print server 50 are sequentially received. In this embodiment, as an example of a first receiving unit that receives management data, a plurality of elements, or a second receiving unit that sequentially receives at least one element to be acquired from among a plurality of elements, a receiving unit 43 is provided.

  The file information analysis unit 44 receives the file information (type, size, etc.) of the document file from the reception unit 43, and determines whether the type of the document file is a specific type and whether the size of the document file is greater than or equal to a threshold value. The determination is made and the determination result is transmitted to the transmission unit 42. Whether the document file type is a specific type may be determined based on the MIME type sent from the cloud print server 50.

  The download data storage unit 45 stores a file fragment including the file configuration information received by the reception unit 43 and a file fragment including each object. In the present embodiment, a download data storage unit 45 is provided as an example of a storage unit that stores management data and a plurality of elements, and a first storage unit.

  The file configuration information analysis unit 46 generates a first table in which the file configuration information stored in the download data storage unit 45 is associated with position information indicating the position of the file configuration information in the original document file. Based on the first table, the file structure information is written at a position in the download data storage unit 45 corresponding to the position of the file structure information in the original document file. Further, the file structure information stored in the download data storage unit 45 is analyzed, and a second table in which each object in the document file is associated with position information indicating the position of each object in the original document file is generated. Based on the second table, the plurality of objects are written in the plurality of positions in the download data storage unit 45 respectively corresponding to the positions of the plurality of objects in the original document file. In this embodiment, the first table is used as an example of the first position information indicating the position of the management data in the print data, and a plurality of second positions indicating the positions of a plurality of elements in the print data, respectively. A second table is used as an example of information. In addition, a file configuration information analysis unit 46 is provided as an example of a writing unit that writes management data and a plurality of elements.

  The position information storage unit 47 stores a position information table composed of the first table and the second table generated by the file configuration information analysis unit 46. In the present embodiment, the position information storage unit 47 is provided as an example of a second storage unit that stores the first position information and the plurality of second position information.

  The page processing order determination unit 48 is based on the print settings stored in the print setting storage unit 41, and the page processing order that is the order of processing the print target pages of the document file and the print target pages when printing the document file. And decide. For example, if the print settings stored in the print setting storage unit 41 indicate that the print range is from the first page to the third page and the print order is reversed, the page processing order is the third page, the second page The first page. Further, if the print settings stored in the print setting storage unit 41 indicate that the print range is from the first page to the eighth page and booklet printing is performed, the page processing order is the first page, the eighth page, 7th page, 2nd page, 3rd page, 6th page, 5th page, 4th page. In this embodiment, a page is used as an example of a logical unit, and a page processing order determination unit 48 is provided as an example of a reception unit that receives the processing order of a plurality of logical units or the necessity of printing. .

  The download order determining unit 49 includes a download target object and a download target object based on the print target page and the page processing order determined by the page processing order determining unit 48 and the correspondence between the page and the object given in advance. Determine the download order. Further, with reference to the position information table stored in the position information storage unit 47, the position information corresponding to the download target object is acquired, and this position information is transmitted to the transmission unit 42 according to the download order. In the present embodiment, the download order determination unit 49 is provided as an example of a specifying unit that specifies the acquisition order of a plurality of elements and an specifying unit that specifies at least one element to be acquired from the plurality of elements. .

  Here, the correspondence between the page and the object is given in advance. However, the correspondence may be included in the document file stored in the cloud print server 50 and downloaded. (The correspondence in this case corresponds to, for example, the root object 521 shown in FIG. 7). That is, the transmission unit 42 transmits information requesting download of the file fragment by designating the offset and size from the head of the file fragment including the correspondence relationship to the cloud print server 50, and transmitting the information accordingly. The received file fragment may be received by the receiving unit 43. In this case, the correspondence between the page and the object is an example of correspondence information between a plurality of logical units and a plurality of elements, and the transmission unit 42 is an example of a third request unit that requests transmission of correspondence information. Yes, the receiving unit 43 is an example of third receiving means for receiving correspondence information.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the image forming apparatus 30.
As shown in the drawing, in the image forming apparatus 30, the operation receiving unit 40 first receives a print request operation specifying a document file on the operation panel 35 (step 401).

When the operation accepting unit 40 accepts the print request operation in this way, the transmitting unit 42 sends information requesting the type and size of the designated document file to the cloud print server 50, and is sent in response thereto. The receiving unit 43 receives the type and size of the received document file (step 402).
Then, the file information analysis unit 44 determines whether or not the type of the document file received in Step 402 is a specific type (Step 403). Here, the specific type is a file type predetermined as a type that can be divided and downloaded by dividing the document file in the image forming apparatus 30. When realizing the operation examples shown in FIGS. 3 to 8, this specific type may be PDF.

  As a result, if it is determined that the type of the document file received in step 402 is not a specific type, the file information analysis unit 44 notifies the transmission unit 42 to that effect and batch download is performed (step 412). That is, the transmission unit 42 transmits information requesting batch download to the cloud print server 50, and the reception unit 43 receives the print data transmitted in response thereto.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the type of the document file received in step 402 is a specific type, the file information analysis unit 44 determines whether the size of the document file received in step 402 is greater than or equal to a threshold ( Step 404).

  Here, if it is determined in step 402 that the size of the document file received is less than the threshold, printing is started at an early stage without performing divided download. Therefore, the file information analysis unit 44 notifies the transmission unit 42 to that effect and batch download is performed (step 412). That is, the transmission unit 42 transmits information requesting batch download to the cloud print server 50, and the reception unit 43 receives the print data transmitted in response thereto.

  If it is determined in step 402 that the size of the document file received is greater than or equal to the threshold value, the file information analysis unit 44 informs the transmission unit 42 to that effect and downloads the file fragment including the file configuration information (step). 405). That is, the transmission unit 42 transmits information requesting download of the file fragment by designating the offset and size from the head of the file fragment including the file configuration information to the cloud print server 50, and according to this. The receiving unit 43 receives the transmitted file fragment. If the file configuration information is not included in the complete file fragment received by the receiving unit 43, one or both of the offset and the size are changed, and the transmission of the file fragment including the file configuration information is requested again. . The downloaded file fragment is stored in the download data storage unit 45, and the correspondence between the identification information of the file fragment and the offset of the file fragment in the original document file is stored in the position information storage unit 47 as a position information table.

  When the file fragment including the file configuration information is stored in the download data storage unit 45 in this way, the file configuration information analysis unit 46 extracts and analyzes the file configuration information from the file fragment, and acquires the offset and size of each object. (Step 406). At this time, the correspondence between the object ID, the offset, and the size is also stored in the position information storage unit 47 as a position information table.

  In addition, since the file configuration information includes information indicating that the document file is in a state where it cannot be divided and downloaded, the file configuration information analysis unit 46 determines whether the document file is based on the presence or absence of such information. It is determined whether or not can be divided and downloaded (step 407). Here, the information indicating that the document file is in a state where it cannot be divided and downloaded includes information indicating that the portion where the object is arranged in the document file is encrypted.

  As a result, if it is determined that the document file cannot be divided and downloaded, the file structure information analysis unit 46 notifies the transmission unit 42 to that effect and batch download is performed (step 412). That is, the transmission unit 42 transmits information requesting batch download to the cloud print server 50, and the reception unit 43 receives the print data transmitted in response thereto.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the document file can be divided and downloaded, the page processing order determination unit 48 specifies the print target page based on the print settings stored in the print setting storage unit 41, and sets the page processing order. Determine (step 408).

  Next, the download order determining unit 49 determines the download target object and the download order of the download target object based on the page processing order and the correspondence between the page and the object given in advance (step 409). ). At this time, the download order determining unit 49 refers to the position information table stored in the position information storage unit 47 to obtain the offset and size corresponding to the object ID of the object to be downloaded, and the transmitting unit 42 according to the download order. Give it to.

Thereby, the file fragment including the object is downloaded according to the download order (step 410). That is, the transmission unit 42 transmits information requesting download of the file fragment by designating the offset and size from the head of the file fragment including the object in accordance with the download order to the cloud print server 50. The receiving unit 43 receives the file fragment transmitted accordingly. If the object is not completely included in the file fragment received by the receiving unit 43, one or both of the offset and the size are changed, and the transmission of the file fragment including the object is requested again. The downloaded file fragment is stored in the download data storage unit 45.
Thereafter, the transmission unit 42 determines whether or not downloading of all the file fragments including the object is completed (step 411). If not completed, step 410 is repeated, and if completed, the process ends. .

On the other hand, when downloading of data to the download data storage unit 45 is started, the image forming apparatus 30 instructs the image generation unit 303 to start processing. As a result, the image generation unit 303 continues processing asynchronously with the data download status. At this time, if the data necessary for the processing of the image generation unit 303 is not available in the download data storage unit 45, the image forming apparatus 30 performs control so that the image generation unit 303 waits for data to be read.
Then, the image forming apparatus 30 completes the image processing by repeating such data download and image generation processing.

  In the above description, on the assumption that the offset and size of the file configuration information are not known, a file fragment including the file configuration information is requested by designating a predetermined offset and size. However, when the offset and size of the file configuration information are known according to the format of the document file, the known offset and size may be specified to request the file configuration information. Further, if the offset and size of an object determined to be a download target by analyzing the file configuration information are known, the known offset and size may be specified and requested.

  Also, in the above, a document file that cannot be sequentially analyzed from the beginning and includes data that is not necessary for printing is processed, but it cannot be sequentially analyzed from the beginning, but does not include data that is not necessary for printing. A document file or a sequential analysis process can be performed from the beginning, but a document file that does not include data unnecessary for printing may be processed.

  The program for realizing the present embodiment can be provided not only by communication means but also by storing it in a recording medium such as a CD-ROM.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Client terminal, 30 ... Image forming apparatus, 40 ... Operation reception part, 41 ... Print setting storage part, 42 ... Transmission part, 43 ... Reception part, 44 ... File information analysis part, 45 ... Download data storage part, 46 ... File configuration information analysis unit 47... Position information storage unit 48. Page processing order determination unit 49 49 Download order determination unit 50. Cloud print server

Claims (9)

To a print data transmitting apparatus that transmits print data including arrangement data in which a plurality of elements are arranged in an order not related to the processing order, and management data for managing a plurality of positions where the plurality of elements are respectively arranged On the other hand, a first request means for requesting transmission of the file fragment by designating a predetermined position and size as the position and size of the file fragment including the management data,
First receiving means for receiving the file fragment transmitted in response to a request by the first requesting means;
A specifying means for specifying an acquisition order of the plurality of elements;
With respect to the print data transmitting apparatus, the specifying unit specifies the positions and sizes of the plurality of elements determined based on the management data included in the file fragment received by the first receiving unit. Second request means for sequentially specifying the acquisition order and requesting transmission of the plurality of elements;
A print data receiving apparatus comprising: a second receiving unit that sequentially receives the plurality of elements that are sequentially transmitted in response to a request from the second request unit. The specifying unit specifies at least one element to be acquired from the plurality of elements,
The second request means sends the print data transmitting apparatus the position and size of the at least one element determined based on the management data included in the file fragment received by the first receiving means. Requesting transmission of the at least one element,
The print data receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second receiving unit sequentially receives the at least one element sequentially transmitted in response to a request from the second requesting unit. Receiving means for receiving a processing order of a plurality of logical units set for the arrangement data;
Third request means for requesting transmission of the correspondence information by designating the position and size of correspondence information between the plurality of logical units and the plurality of elements to the print data transmission device;
A third receiving means for receiving the correspondence information transmitted in response to the request by the third requesting means;
The specifying means specifies the acquisition order based on the processing order of the plurality of logical units received by the receiving means and the correspondence information received by the third receiving means. The print data receiving apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. Accepting means for accepting the necessity of printing a plurality of logical units set for the arrangement data;
Third request means for requesting transmission of the correspondence information by designating the position and size of correspondence information between the plurality of logical units and the plurality of elements to the print data transmission device;
A third receiving means for receiving the correspondence information transmitted in response to the request by the third requesting means;
The specifying unit specifies the at least one element based on the necessity of printing of the plurality of logical units received by the receiving unit and the correspondence information received by the third receiving unit. The print data receiving apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: It said first requesting means, when the management data received the file fragments are not included in a complete form by the first receiving means, at least one of position and size the predetermined 5. The print data receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a position and a size after changing one of the files are designated, and the transmission of the file fragment is requested again. First storage means for storing the management data contained in the file fragment received by the first receiving means and the plurality of elements received by the second receiving means;
First position information indicating the position of the management data in the print data is stored in association with the management data, and a plurality of second position information respectively indicating the positions of the plurality of elements in the print data is stored. 6. The print data receiving apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising second storage means for storing the information in association with each of the elements.   Based on the first position information stored in the second storage means, the management data is written at a position in the first storage means corresponding to the position of the management data in the print data, and the second Based on the plurality of second position information stored in the storage unit, the plurality of elements are placed at a plurality of positions in the first storage unit respectively corresponding to the positions of the plurality of elements in the print data. 7. The print data receiving apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising writing means for writing each. To a print data transmitting apparatus that transmits print data including arrangement data in which a plurality of elements are arranged in an order not related to the processing order, and management data for managing a plurality of positions where the plurality of elements are respectively arranged On the other hand, a first request means for requesting transmission of the file fragment by designating a predetermined position and size as the position and size of the file fragment including the management data,
First receiving means for receiving the file fragment transmitted in response to a request by the first requesting means;
A specifying means for specifying an acquisition order of the plurality of elements;
With respect to the print data transmitting apparatus, the specifying unit specifies the positions and sizes of the plurality of elements determined based on the management data included in the file fragment received by the first receiving unit. Second request means for sequentially specifying the acquisition order and requesting transmission of the plurality of elements;
Second receiving means for sequentially receiving the plurality of elements sequentially transmitted in response to a request by the second request means;
The management data included in the file fragment received by the first receiving means is stored in a position corresponding to the position of the management data in the print data, and the plurality of received data received by the second receiving means. Storage means for storing each of the elements at a plurality of positions respectively corresponding to the positions of the plurality of elements in the print data;
An image processing apparatus comprising: an imaging unit configured to image the plurality of elements respectively stored at the plurality of positions managed by the management data stored in the storage unit. On the computer,
To a print data transmitting apparatus that transmits print data including arrangement data in which a plurality of elements are arranged in an order not related to the processing order, and management data for managing a plurality of positions where the plurality of elements are respectively arranged On the other hand, a first request function for requesting transmission of the file fragment by designating a predetermined position and size as the position and size of the file fragment including the management data,
A first reception function for receiving the file fragment transmitted in response to a request in the first request function;
A specific function for specifying an acquisition order of the plurality of elements;
For the print data transmission device, the position and size of the plurality of elements determined based on the management data included in the file fragment received by the first reception function are specified by the specification function. A second request function that sequentially specifies the acquisition order and requests transmission of the plurality of elements;
A program for realizing a second reception function for sequentially receiving the plurality of elements sequentially transmitted in response to a request in the second request function.

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