JPH10254657A - Image formation device and communication method for image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image formation device capable of quickly executing an image formation processing and the communication method of the image formation device. SOLUTION: An LBP slightly narrows the printing guarantee band of a widest level (step S306) in the case that the printing guarantee band of the widest level can not be secured (NO of step S305) and receives printing data from a host computer by asynchronous communication (step S309) in the case that the narrowed printing guarantee band of the widest level is narrower that the printing guarantee band of a narrowest level (NO of step S307), that is in the case that the printing data can not be received from the host computer by synchronous communication.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a communication method of the image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus connected to a network and a communication method of the image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a host computer and an image forming apparatus connected to each other via a network,
Receives data in page units from the host computer,
By developing character codes and graphic codes in the page unit data into bitmap data, or developing image data, external character fonts, logos, or the like, bitmap data is created in page units and image forming processing is performed. Such an image forming apparatus has been proposed.

The data transfer between the image forming apparatus and the host computer has been performed by asynchronous communication. In recent years, however, new technologies such as ATM and IEEE1394 which can execute data transfer by synchronous communication on a network have been developed. Is being developed.

[0004]

However, when performing data transfer by synchronous communication on a network using the above-described new technologies such as ATM and IEEE1394,
In some cases, the image forming apparatus waits until a band required for data transfer by synchronous communication can be secured. During this time, data transfer cannot be performed, so that image forming processing cannot be performed quickly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming method capable of quickly executing an image forming process.

[0006]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus, comprising: connecting means for connecting to a network; and an image forming guaranteed band required for image forming on the connected network. A determination unit that determines to perform one of synchronous communication and asynchronous communication of image forming data with a host computer connected to the network in the secured image formation guaranteed band. Communication means for performing the communication determined by the determination.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect is characterized in that the securing means determines the width of the guaranteed image forming bandwidth secured on the network.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the communication unit suspends the communication until the securing unit secures the narrowest image formation guaranteed band. It is characterized by the following.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the image forming apparatus selects the image forming data optimal for the communication in the image forming guaranteed band. It is characterized by comprising means.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the fourth aspect, the selecting means selects the image forming data in order of increasing communication speed.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the communication means causes the host computer to execute at least one of resolution and gradation of the image forming data. Is communicated to the effect that the frequency is lowered.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication method for an image forming apparatus, comprising: a connecting step of connecting the image forming apparatus to a network; A determining step of determining whether to perform one of synchronous communication and asynchronous communication of image forming data with a host computer connected to the network in the secured image formation guaranteed band, and A communication step of performing the communication determined in the determining step.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the communication method of the image forming apparatus according to the seventh aspect, it is preferable that the width of the guaranteed image formation band secured on the network in the securing step is determined. Features.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the communication method of the image forming apparatus according to the seventh or eighth aspect,
The communication is suspended in the communication step until the narrowest image formation guaranteed band is secured in the securing step.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, a communication method of the image forming apparatus comprises:
10. The communication method for an image forming apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a selecting step of selecting the image forming data optimal for the communication in the image forming guaranteed band.

The communication method of the image forming apparatus according to claim 11 is
11. The communication method for an image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the selecting step selects the image forming data in ascending order of the communication speed.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, a communication method for an image forming apparatus comprises:
12. The communication method for an image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the communication step includes communicating to the host computer that at least one of resolution and gradation of the image forming data is reduced. It is characterized by.

[0018]

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a laser beam printer (hereinafter referred to as "LBP") as one of image forming apparatuses according to a first embodiment of the present invention. First, FIG.
LBP 100 is connected to a host computer (not shown) via a network (not shown), and receives and stores print data (character codes, etc.), form data, macro instructions, and the like supplied from the host computer. At the same time, a corresponding character pattern, form pattern, or the like is created according to the data, and an image is formed on a recording sheet.

The LBP 100 has an operation panel 120 having switches for operation and LEDs for display, and an LB
A printer control unit 101 that controls the entire P100 and analyzes character pattern data and the like is provided.

The LBP 100 further includes a laser driver 1
The laser driver 102 receives image data input from the printer control unit, and based on the image data, the semiconductor laser 103
Is switched on / off. The emitted laser beam 104 is horizontally swung by the rotating mirror 105 and scanned on the electrostatic drum 106 to form an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic drum 106. This electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing unit 107 around the electrostatic drum 106 and then transferred to a recording sheet. The recording paper is stored in a paper supply cassette 108 and supplied to an electrostatic drum 106 by a paper supply roller 109 and transport rollers 110 and 111. By such a mechanism, given image data is output on a recording sheet.

The LBP 100 has at least one or more card slots (not shown) so that an optional font card and a control card (emulation card) of a different language can be connected in addition to the built-in font.

FIG. 2 shows a circuit configuration of the LBP 100.
The LBP 100 is roughly divided into two parts, the controller unit 21.
0 and the engine unit 220.

The controller section 210 is connected to a host computer via a network capable of synchronous communication or asynchronous communication. The controller 210
Receives print data, control commands, and the like supplied from a host computer connected to a network, creates bitmap data according to the print data, and transmits the data to the engine unit 220 as a video signal.

The engine unit 220 includes a controller 21
From 0, the video signal is received and the signal is formed as a visible image on a recording sheet. Further, the controller unit 210
Communicates with the engine unit 220 to communicate the status of the engine unit 220 to the host computer,
Also, overall control of 20 is performed.

Next, the controller 210 will be described in detail. The controller unit 210 includes a host interface 21 as a connection unit connected to the bus 218.
1, a CPU 212, a secondary storage device 213, a video interface 214, a ROM 216, a RAM 216, and an operation panel 120.

The host interface 211 is connected to a host computer and transmits and receives data.
The CPU 212 controls the LBP 100, analyzes a page description language, reads and writes data in the secondary storage device 213, creates bitmap data, and the like. Also, the CPU 212
Constitutes securing means, communication means, determining means, and selecting means. The video interface 214 is the engine unit 2
20 for transmitting and receiving data to and from the engine unit 220. The ROM 215 stores programs for controlling the LBP 100, various printer control languages, various page description language processing programs, font data, and the like. RAM21
Reference numeral 6 denotes a work area for data processing, a temporary storage area for data from the host interface 211, and a secondary storage device 2.
13 is used for temporary data storage such as use as an input / output buffer area. The operation panel 120 sets, changes, and displays printing environment parameters.

FIG. 3 shows a program for the reception processing of the print data supplied from the host computer by the LBP 100.

First, the host computer transmits a print start request to the LBP 100 via the network (step S301). Next, the host computer transmits the request to the LBP 100 to secure the narrowest guaranteed print band in order to transmit the print data to the LBP 100 by synchronous communication and immediately execute the printing (step S30).
2), the LBP 100 transmits data to the effect that a print guarantee band of the narrowest level has been secured to the host computer (step S303).

Next, the LBP 100 attempts to secure the widest level print guarantee band that is set in advance or automatically detected (step S304). afterwards,
In step S305, the LBP 100 determines whether the widest-level guaranteed print bandwidth has been secured.

In step S305, the LBP 100
If the print guarantee band of the widest level can be secured, data to that effect is transmitted to the host computer, synchronous communication is performed with the secured print guarantee band, and print data is received from the host computer ( Step S311),
On the other hand, if the LBP 100 cannot secure the widest level print guaranteed bandwidth while ending this process, the LBP 100 slightly narrows the widest level print guaranteed bandwidth (step S306).

Next, in step S307, it is determined whether the narrowed maximum print guarantee band is wider than the narrowest print guarantee band, and the narrowed wide print guarantee band is determined to be the narrowest print guarantee band. If the print guarantee band is wider than the print guarantee band, the process returns to step S305. If the narrowed print guarantee band is narrower than the narrowest print guarantee band, the process proceeds to step S308.

In step S308, the LBP 100
Determines whether or not the setting has shifted to the asynchronous communication setting,
In a case where 100 has shifted to the setting of the asynchronous communication, the print data is received from the host computer by the asynchronous communication (step S309), and the process is terminated, while the LBP 10 is terminated.
If “0” has not shifted to the setting of asynchronous communication, the process waits until a print guarantee band of the narrowest level can be secured (step S310), performs synchronous communication with the secured print guarantee band, and sends print data from the host computer. Upon reception (step S311), the present process ends.

By reducing the resolution or gradation of the print data, printing can be performed even when the print guarantee band is narrow, and the printing speed can be increased.

Further, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the LBP 100 is used as one of the image forming apparatuses. However, a printer of another printing system such as an ink jet printer or a copying machine may be used.

As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, when the LBP 100 cannot secure the widest level of guaranteed print bandwidth (NO in step S305).
The print guarantee band of the widest level is slightly narrowed (step S3
06) If the narrowed maximum print guarantee band is narrower than the narrowest print guarantee band (step S307)
NO), that is, when the print data cannot be received from the host computer by the synchronous communication, the print data is received by the asynchronous communication from the host computer (step S3).
09), the image forming process can be executed quickly.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
A process of receiving print data supplied from a host computer by a laser beam printer (hereinafter, referred to as “LBP”) 100 as one of the image forming apparatuses according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 shows a program for a process of receiving print data supplied from the host computer by the LBP 100. Note that the LBP 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention
The configuration of the LBP 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention
0, the description is omitted.

First, a host computer connected to a network capable of synchronous communication or asynchronous communication transmits a print start request to the LBP 100 connected to the network (step S401).

Next, in order for the host computer to transmit the print data to the LBP 100 by synchronous communication and immediately execute printing, the host computer transmits a request to the LBP 100 to secure a guaranteed print band (step S402). The LBP 100 transmits data to the effect that the guaranteed print bandwidth has been secured to the host computer (Step S403).

Next, the host computer inquires of the LBP 100 about the type of print data having a high communication speed in synchronous communication within the secured print guarantee band (step S404).
The LBP 100 notifies the host computer of the type of print data having a high communication speed of the synchronous communication in the secured print guarantee band (step S405).

In accordance with this notification, the host computer transmits the print data in the order of the print data having the higher communication speed of the synchronous communication in the secured print guarantee band in the order of the LBP 100.
(Step S406). For example, the image data is transmitted to the LBP 100 in the order of a raster image, a compressed raster image, internal intermediate data, and a page description language.

Next, the LBP 100 receives the print data transmitted from the host computer (step S40).
7), end this processing.

In step S402, the host computer may transmit a request to secure a limited print guarantee band in consideration of the processing capability of the LBP 100.

Further, by lowering the resolution or gradation of the print data, printing can be performed even when the print guarantee band is narrow, and the printing speed can be increased.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, the LBP 100 is used as one of the image forming apparatuses. However, a printer of another printing method such as an ink jet printer may be used.
Further, a copying machine may be used.

As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the LBP 100 notifies the host computer of the type of print data having a high communication speed in synchronous communication within the secured print guarantee band (step S405). In accordance with this notification, the host computer transmits the print data to the LBP 100 in the order of the print data having the higher communication speed of the synchronous communication in the secured print guarantee band (step S4).
06), the image forming process can be executed quickly.

[0046]

As described above in detail, according to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, when the image forming data cannot be received from the host computer by the synchronous communication, the communication means performs the asynchronous communication from the host computer by the asynchronous communication. Since the image forming data can be received, the image forming process can be executed quickly.

According to the communication method of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the image forming data cannot be received from the host computer by the synchronous communication, the image forming data is received from the host computer by the asynchronous communication in the communication step. This makes it possible to quickly execute the image forming process.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an LBP as one of image forming apparatuses according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of the LBP 100.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of receiving print data supplied from a host computer by the LBP 100;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of receiving print data supplied from the host computer by the LBP 100;

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 LBP 101 Printer control unit 102 Laser driver 103 Semiconductor laser 104 Laser light 105 Rotating mirror 106 Electrostatic drum 107 Developing unit 108 Paper feed cassette 109 Paper feed roller 110, 111 Transport roller 120 Operation panel

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04M 11/00 302 H04L 11/00 320 H04N 1/32 11/20 102C

Claims (12)

[Claims] A connection unit for connecting to a network; a securing unit for securing an image formation guaranteed band required for image formation on the connected network; and a connection unit connected to the network with the secured image formation guaranteed band. And a communication unit that performs the communication determined by the determination, which determines whether to perform one of the synchronous communication and the asynchronous communication of the image forming data with the host computer. Forming equipment. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the securing unit determines whether the image formation guaranteed bandwidth secured on the network is wide or narrow. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit suspends the communication until the securing unit secures the narrowest image formation guaranteed band. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a selection unit that selects the image forming data optimum for the communication in the image forming guaranteed band. 5. An image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said selecting means selects said image forming data in order of increasing communication speed of said communication. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit communicates to the host computer that at least one of the resolution and the gradation of the image forming data is to be reduced. Image forming apparatus. 7. A connection step of connecting an image forming apparatus to a network, a securing step of securing an image formation guaranteed band required for image formation of the image forming apparatus on the connected network, and the secured image A decision step of deciding to perform any one of a synchronous communication and an asynchronous communication of image forming data with a host computer connected to the network in the formation guaranteed band, and communication for performing the communication decided in the decision step And a communication method for the image forming apparatus. 8. The communication method for an image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said securing step determines whether the image formation guaranteed bandwidth secured on said network is wide or narrow. 9. The communication method for an image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the communication is stopped in the communication step until the narrowest image formation guaranteed band is secured in the securing step. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a selecting step of selecting the image forming data optimum for the communication in the image forming guaranteed band. Communication method. 11. The communication method for an image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein in said selecting step, said image forming data is selected in ascending order of communication speed of said communication. 12. The communication method according to claim 7, wherein the communication step includes communicating to the host computer that at least one of the resolution and the gradation of the image forming data is to be reduced. Communication method of the image forming apparatus.