JPH0628124A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To effectively utilize the resource of the processor and the time when an image is outputted. CONSTITUTION:When a specified output time is inputted from an operation part 110, the specified time information is sent to an image output means side through an image signal control part 130 together with image data stored in a memory part 140. The data are developed in a memory part 250 and once the specified time matches the time indicated by a timer part 260, the image is read out of the memory part 250 and outputted from a print part 240.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for generating and outputting image data, for example.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image processing apparatus comprising an image generating means such as a host computer or a word processor and a printer connected to the image generating means, an image signal is sent to the printer when a printing operation is performed by the image generating means. It was sent and was output as a visible image on the printer. These series of operations were continuously performed if no paper was run out or an error occurred. Further, when there are a plurality of print commands from a plurality of image generators connected to the printer, or when two or more print commands are continuously sent to the printer from a single image generator, the printer receives the print commands. If there is a memory for printing, the printer commands are accumulated and sequentially printed out. These operations were also continuously performed if no paper was run out or an error occurred.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, when a print command is issued, the print operation is immediately started, and when a plurality of print commands are issued, the print operations are continuously performed in the order in which the print commands are issued. If it takes a lot of time because of the large number of pages to be output, etc., the subsequent print instruction was executed after waiting for that much time. Further, if this printer is a compound machine with a copying machine or a facsimile, it cannot be used as a copying machine or a facsimile when used as a printer.

The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional example, and is characterized by providing an image processing apparatus capable of efficiently operating the resources and time of the apparatus.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] and

The image generating means for generating an image, the designating means for designating a desired time, the determining means for determining that the time designated by the designating means has been reached, and the determination result by the determining means Image output means for outputting the image generated by the image generation means as a visible image.

[0006]

【Example】

[Embodiment 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 110, 12
Reference numerals 0, 130 and 140 are components of an image generating means such as a host computer, 110 is an operation unit, and 120 is a CP.
U and 130 are image signal control units, and 140 is a memory unit.
Reference numerals 210, 220, 230, 240, and 250 are components of image output means such as a printer, and 210 is an operation unit, 2
20 is a CPU, 230 is an image signal control unit, 240 is a memory, 250 is a printing unit, and 260 is a clock unit. Communication such as image data transfer and output control is performed between the image generating means and the image output means.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a part of the operation unit 110 of the image generating means.

It is assumed that image information is currently stored in the memory section 140. Various settings for output are made on the operation unit 110. Among them, reference numeral 112 in FIG. 2 is a key for giving an instruction for immediate output, and 113 is an instruction for giving an output by designating a time. Key, 114 is a ten-key for designating the output time, and 115 is a display of the designated time.

When the immediate output key 112 is pressed here, the image information stored in the memory section 140 is converted into an image signal for output by the image signal control section 130, and the image signal control section 230 on the image output means side is converted. Sent. The received image signal is first stored in the memory unit 240, immediately expanded into an image for output by the image signal control unit, and output as a visible image from the printing unit 250.

The following operation is performed when the time is designated and output. This operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This flowchart is a procedure of a program stored in the memory 140 and executed by the CPU 120.

First, the time output by the operator is set by the ten keys 114. If there is an input from the operation unit 114, it is determined whether it is an input from the numeric keypad (S4
1), the input time is displayed on the display unit 115 (S4)
2).

Next, when the time designation output key 113 is pressed (S43-YES), the image information stored in the memory section 140 is converted into an image signal for output by the image signal control section 130 and input from the ten-key pad. The output time is also converted into an output signal and sent together with the image signal to the image signal control section 230 on the image output means side (S44).

In the image output means that has received the signal, the image signal is first stored in the memory section 240. The designated output time received together with the image is also stored in the memory unit 240. When the time of the clock unit 260 matches the designated output time, the image signal control unit develops the image for output and outputs it as a visible image from the printing unit 250. The designated time may be constantly monitored by the CPU, but if the time is set in a timer and the designated time is notified by an interrupt or the like, the load on the CPU is reduced.

As described above, according to this embodiment, by providing the means for designating the output time on the image generating means side, the time can be designated and output only by the operation on the image generating means side. Therefore, a desired time can be designated and output according to the congestion status of the output data, and the time and system resources can be effectively used.

[0015]

[Other Examples]

[Embodiment 2] This embodiment will also be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. In this embodiment, the output time is set in advance as the environment setting on the image output means side. The procedure will be described below. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a part of the operation unit 210 of the image output means. Reference numeral 211 is a display of a designated output time, 212 is a ten-key for designating the time, and 213 is a key for validating the designation of the output time. is there. First, the output time is set with the ten keys 212. The set time is displayed in 211. When the time designation output key 213 is pressed here, the designation of the output time becomes valid. The procedure up to this point is almost the same as the procedure in FIG. 4, but in the present embodiment, the set time is stored in the memory 250 in order to set the time by the image output means, but the time is set in the timer. It may be possible to recognize that the designated time has been reached by performing processing such as performing. .

Next, an output operation is performed on the image generating means side, but this operation is a normal output operation, and an operation relating to time designation is not performed. When the output operation is performed,
The image information stored in the memory unit 140 is converted into an image signal for output by the image signal control unit 130, sent to the image signal control unit 230 on the image output means side, and the image signal is stored in the memory 240. When the time of the clock unit 260 matches the time previously set by the operation unit 210, the CPU 22
An output instruction is sent to the image signal control unit 230 from 0, and the image signal stored in the memory unit 240 is output to the image signal control unit 2
An image for output is developed at 30 and is output as a visible image from the print unit 250.

As described above, by providing means for designating the output time on the image output means side, in addition to the advantages of the first embodiment, the mechanism for executing this function on the image generation means side is also provided. There is an advantage that the operation is not necessary.

The present invention may be applied to a system including a plurality of devices or an apparatus including a single device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0019]

As described above, the image processing apparatus according to the present invention has an effect that system resources and time can be efficiently used.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image processing system embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a part of an operation unit 110 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a part of an operation unit 210 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure for designating an output time in the image processing system embodying the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 110 ... Operation unit of image generation unit, 120 ... CPU of image generation unit, 130 ... Image signal control unit of image generation unit, 140 ... Memory unit of image generation unit, 210 ... Operation unit of image output unit, 220 ... Image output CPU ... 230 ... Image signal control unit of image output unit, 240 ... Memory unit of image output unit, 250 ... Print unit of image output unit, 260 ... Clock unit of image output unit.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image generating means for generating an image, a designating means for designating a desired time, a determining means for determining that the time designated by the designating means has been reached, and a determination result by the determining means. And an image output unit that outputs the image generated by the image generation unit as a visible image based on the image processing unit. 2. The image generation means and the image output means are connected to each other, further comprising a transmission means for transmitting the image generated by the image generation means to the image output means as an image signal, and designated by the designation means. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the generated time is transmitted to the output unit together with the image signal.