JPH11175301A - Image processor, data processing method for image processor and storage medium storing program readable by computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To freely rewrite a safety factor even when an unintended overrun based on a band plotting processing exceeding carriage limit time calculated from an initially set safety factor is generated. SOLUTION: After the safety factor required for the calculation of the carriage limit time for judging the plotting processing state of a plotting object stored in a ROM 13 and an external memory 14 or the like is set to a RAM 19, a CPU 12 judges an overrun generation state accompanying the plotting processing to the band memory of the plotting object. In the case that the overrun is generated, the safety factor set to the RAM 19 is rewritten and a band for plotting the plotting object for which the overrun is generated is printer-rendered.

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 and a data processing method for an image processing apparatus, which divides a page object which is received by communicating with a data processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium into bands and controls output. And a storage medium storing a computer-readable program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printing apparatus provided with a print control apparatus for performing output control by dividing a page object converted from print information received by communicating with a data processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium into a band, As the resolution and the multi-value of the drawing information increase, the drawing memory required to develop the drawing information into a bitmap image tends to increase. However, simply increasing the memory is generally difficult due to cost.

For example, in a printing apparatus such as a laser beam printer, a bitmap image for one page is not stored in a memory, but a band on a strip obtained by dividing a page perpendicularly to a transport direction in a drawing process. Classify, secure the capacity of two bands on the memory, hold the drawing information as intermediate data called drawing objects, carry the paper, and draw on one of the bands secured on the memory, The other band that has already been drawn is sent to the printer engine, and after the paper has been conveyed for the band, the band that draws and the band that is sent to the engine are exchanged, and the band process of drawing and sending the engine in parallel is performed. By repeating the processing in real time, the drawing process is performed without having a memory for the bit image of one page.

However, a prerequisite for performing the above-described band processing is that the drawing processing on the band must be completed within the time for carrying the paper for the band, and if this condition is not satisfied. Causes a phenomenon (hereinafter referred to as overrun) in which an incomplete drawing result is sent to the printer engine because drawing cannot be performed in time.

Therefore, the drawing time for the band is accumulated while predicting the drawing time at the stage of generating the drawing object, and the drawing time for the band is determined to exceed the time required to carry the distance corresponding to the band height of the paper. For this, a bitmap memory for the band size is separately secured, and the band is drawn beforehand to start paper conveyance to generate a bitmap image (hereinafter, referred to as pre-rendering).

[0006] If it is determined that the drawing processing time does not exceed the time required to convey a distance corresponding to the height of the paper band after the start of paper conveyance, one of the bands is transferred to the engine. The pre-rendered band performs drawing while transferring the already drawn bitmap image to the engine. By performing the above processing, overrun can be avoided.

[0007]

However, the prediction of the drawing time for the band at the stage of generating the drawing object is the time when only drawing is performed, and in the actual processing, the interrupt processing such as engine control is performed. The difference from the predicted time. For this reason, a safety coefficient is prepared for the predicted time. For example, when the predicted time reaches 80% of the time available for the drawing process (paper transport time for the band of the engine), the band processing is disabled and the memory for the band is disabled. Is secured and deployed.

The value of 80% is used as a safety factor,
Usually, it is stored on a program ROM. However, if there is a case where it is not possible to cope with the problem even if the safety coefficient is provided and the prediction time has a margin, an overrun occurs as described above, and a correct output image cannot be obtained. And usually, no matter how many times the same image is output,
The results are often the same.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a transfer restriction calculated from an initially set safety coefficient when an unintended overrun occurs due to band drawing processing. By rewriting the time to the safety coefficient and making the overrun target band pre-renderable, even if an unintended overrun based on the band drawing processing exceeding the transport limit time calculated from the initially set safety coefficient occurs, The safety coefficient can be freely rewritten, avoiding the overrun occurrence state caused by the safety coefficient, and re-entering the print data of the same page even if the page has an overrun, so that the printing can be performed normally. Image processing apparatus, data processing method for image processing apparatus, and computer-readable program And to provide the stored storage medium.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a drawing object for drawing on a band memory is generated from input information received by communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium. Generating means for generating a bitmap image to be drawn on the band memory from the generated drawing object, and a prediction means for predicting a drawing time required for each band, and a data transfer limit time for a preset band. Storage means for storing a safety coefficient for correcting the correction factor, holding means for holding the safety coefficient read from the storage means, and the drawing time predicted by the prediction means corrected by the safety coefficient held by the holding means First drawing means for pre-drawing a drawing object in a band exceeding the specified data transfer time limit;
A second drawing unit for sequentially drawing a bitmap image on a band memory based on the drawing object generated by the generation unit, and transferring the bitmap image drawn by the first or second drawing unit to an output unit Transferring means for determining whether or not an overrun state in which the band drawing end timing by the second drawing means is delayed from the timing at which a bitmap image should be transferred to the output unit during transfer by the transfer means. And a rewriting means for rewriting the safety coefficient held in the holding means when the judgment means judges that the overrun state has occurred.

In a second aspect of the present invention, the rewriting means stores the rewritten safety coefficient held in the holding means in the storage means when redrawing of the page in which the overrun state has occurred is completed. It is to be rewritten to the safety factor.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the rewriting means initializes the storage means at power-on or hard reset, or every time a predetermined time set after rewriting elapses, when the storage means is initialized. The rewritten safety coefficient held in the holding means is rewritten to the safety coefficient stored in the storage means at any time when a rewrite command is input.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the rewriting means rewrites the safety coefficient held in the holding means to a value smaller than the safety coefficient stored in the storage means.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a discriminating means for discriminating a data type of the print information transferred from the data processing device, wherein the rewriting means is configured to execute the discrimination based on the data type discrimination result of the discriminating means. Thus, the safety coefficient held by the holding means is rewritten.

In a sixth aspect according to the present invention, the storage means is constituted by a nonvolatile storage medium.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the storage means can store a plurality of safety factors.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the holding means holds a safety coefficient for each data type determined by the determining means.

A ninth invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the first and second drawing means redraws a drawing object for a page in which the overrun state has occurred in a bitmap image after rewriting the safety coefficient. Is what you do.

A tenth invention according to the present invention has a first notifying means for notifying the data processing device or the operation panel that the security coefficient has been rewritten by the rewriting means.

An eleventh invention according to the present invention is directed to the data processing device or the data processing device, wherein the drawing object for the page in which the overrun state has occurred is redrawn on the bitmap image due to the rewriting of the safety coefficient by the rewriting means. It has a second notification means for notifying the operation panel.

[0021] In a twelfth aspect according to the present invention, the rewriting means, upon receiving a predetermined rewriting command input from a plurality of data processing devices via a predetermined communication medium, executes the rewriting held in the holding means. The safety coefficient is rewritten to the safety coefficient stored in the storage means.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, when the determination means determines that the overrun state has occurred, the determination information includes processing information of the drawn print information and internal information based on the print information. An overrun information notifying unit for notifying the data processing device of the overrun information is provided.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, when the determination means determines that the overrun state has occurred, the processing information of the drawn print information and the internal information based on the print information are retained. And information reading control means for notifying the operation panel or the data processing device of the processing information or the internal information held in the information holding means based on an input read request.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data processing apparatus for generating a drawing object for drawing on a band memory from input information received by communicating with a data processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium. Processing method,
A prediction step of predicting a drawing time required to generate a bitmap image to be drawn in the band memory from the received drawing object in band units, and data transfer for a preset band read from the first memory A holding step of holding a safety coefficient for correcting the time limit in the second memory; and a data transfer time limit corrected by the safety coefficient held by the second memory in the drawing time predicted by the prediction step. A first drawing step of preceding drawing of a drawing object in a band exceeding the band, a second drawing step of sequentially drawing bitmap images in a band memory based on the generated drawing object, and the first or second drawing A transfer step of transferring the bitmap image drawn in the step to the output unit; A determining step of determining whether or not an overrun state in which the band drawing end timing in the second drawing step is delayed from the timing at which the bitmap image is to be transferred to the output unit has occurred; And rewriting the safety coefficient held in the second memory when it is determined that the error has occurred.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, an image processing apparatus for generating a drawing object for drawing on a band memory from input information received by communicating with a data processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium is controlled. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer-readable program,
A prediction step of predicting a drawing time required to generate a bitmap image to be drawn in the band memory from the received drawing object in band units, and data transfer for a preset band read from the first memory A holding step of holding a safety coefficient for correcting the time limit in the second memory; and a data transfer time limit corrected by the safety coefficient held by the second memory in the drawing time predicted by the prediction step. A first drawing step of preceding drawing of a drawing object in a band exceeding the band, a second drawing step of sequentially drawing bitmap images in a band memory based on the generated drawing object, and the first or second drawing A transfer step of transferring the bitmap image drawn in the step to the output unit; A determining step of determining whether or not an overrun state in which the band drawing end timing in the second drawing step is delayed from the timing at which the bitmap image is to be transferred to the output unit has occurred; And rewriting the safety coefficient held in the second memory when it is determined that the error has occurred.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the rewriting step, when redrawing of the page in which the overrun state has occurred is completed, the rewritten safety coefficient held in the second memory is stored in the first memory. Is rewritten to the safety coefficient stored in the memory of the above.

According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in the rewriting step, when redrawing of the page in which the overrun state has occurred is completed, the rewritten safety coefficient held in the second memory is stored in the first memory. A computer readable program which is rewritten with the safety coefficient stored in the memory of the computer is stored in a storage medium.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in the rewriting step, at the time of power-on or a hard reset,
Alternatively, the rewritten safety coefficient held in the second memory is updated every time a predetermined time set after rewriting elapses, when the first memory is initialized, or when a predetermined rewriting command is input. 1 is rewritten to the safety coefficient stored in the memory No. 1.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, in the rewriting step, at the time of power-on or a hard reset,
Alternatively, the rewritten safety coefficient held in the second memory is updated every time a predetermined time set after rewriting elapses, when the first memory is initialized, or when a predetermined rewriting command is input. 1 is a computer-readable program that is rewritten with the safety coefficient stored in the memory 1 and stored in a storage medium.

According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, in the rewriting step, the safety coefficient stored in the second memory is rewritten to a value smaller than the safety coefficient stored in the first memory. is there.

In a twenty-second invention according to the present invention, in the rewriting step, the computer for rewriting a safety coefficient held in the second memory to a value smaller than a safety coefficient stored in the first memory is provided. A readable program is stored in a storage medium.

A twenty-third invention according to the present invention has a discriminating step of discriminating a data type of print information transferred from the data processing device, wherein the rewriting step is performed based on a data type discrimination result of the discriminating step. Thus, the safety coefficient stored in the second memory is rewritten.

[0033] A twenty-fourth invention according to the present invention has a discriminating step of discriminating a data type of the print information transferred from the data processing device, and the rewriting step is performed based on a data type discrimination result of the discriminating step. The security coefficient stored in the second memory is rewritten and stored in a computer-readable program storage medium.

According to a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, in the holding step, a safety coefficient is held in a second memory for each data type determined in the determining step.

In a twenty-sixth aspect according to the present invention, in the holding step, a computer-readable program for holding a safety coefficient in a second memory for each data type determined in the determining step is stored in a storage medium. It was done.

According to a twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention, the first,
In the second drawing step, after rewriting the safety coefficient, the drawing object for the page in which the overrun state has occurred is redrawn on the bitmap image.

According to a twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect,
In the second drawing step, after rewriting the safety coefficient, a computer-readable program for redrawing a drawing object for the page in which the overrun state has occurred in a bitmap image is stored in a storage medium.

According to a twenty-ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first notifying step of notifying the data processing device or the operation panel that the safety coefficient has been rewritten in the rewriting step.

According to a thirtieth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium having a first notifying step of notifying the data processing device or the operation panel that the safety factor has been rewritten in the rewriting step. Is stored in.

According to a thirty-first aspect of the present invention, the data processing device or the data processing device re-draws a drawing object for a page in which the overrun state has occurred as a result of rewriting a safety coefficient in the rewriting step in a bitmap image. It has a second notification step of notifying the operation panel.

A thirty-second invention according to the present invention is directed to the data processing device or the data processing device, wherein the drawing object for the page in which the overrun state has occurred is redrawn on the bitmap image due to the rewriting of the safety coefficient in the rewriting step. A computer-readable program having a second notification step of notifying an operation panel is stored in a storage medium.

According to a thirty-third aspect of the present invention, in the rewriting step, when a predetermined rewriting command input from a plurality of data processing devices via a predetermined communication medium is received, the rewriting step is held in the second memory. The rewritten safety coefficient is stored in the first
Is rewritten to the safety coefficient stored in the memory of the above.

According to a thirty-fourth aspect of the present invention, in the rewriting step, when a predetermined rewriting command input from a plurality of data processing devices via a predetermined communication medium is received, the rewriting step is held in the second memory. The rewritten safety coefficient is stored in the first
A computer readable program which is rewritten with the safety coefficient stored in the memory of the computer is stored in a storage medium.

According to a thirty-fifth aspect of the present invention, when it is determined in the determining step that the overrun state has occurred, the information includes processing information of the drawn print information and internal information based on the print information. An overrun information notifying step of notifying the data processing apparatus of overrun information is provided.

According to a thirty-sixth aspect of the present invention, when it is determined in the determining step that the overrun state has occurred, the information includes processing information of the drawn print information and internal information based on the print information. A computer-readable program having an overrun information notifying step of notifying the data processing device of overrun information is stored in a storage medium.

According to a thirty-seventh aspect of the present invention, when it is determined in the determining step that the overrun state has occurred, the processing information of the drawn print information and the internal information based on the print information are stored in the second information. And a read notification step of notifying the operation panel or the data processing device of the processing information or internal information held in the third memory based on an input read request. Have

According to a thirty-eighth aspect of the present invention, when it is determined in the determining step that the overrun state has occurred, the processing information of the drawn print information and the internal information based on the print information are converted to the second information. An information holding step of holding the information in the third memory, and a read notification step of notifying the operation panel or the data processing device of the processing information or the internal information held in the third memory based on an input read request; Is stored in a storage medium.

[0048]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Before describing the configuration of the present embodiment, the configuration of a laser beam printer in a printer control system suitable for applying the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The printer to which the present embodiment is applied is not limited to a laser beam printer, but may be an inkjet printer or a printer of another printing method.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the structure of an output device to which the present invention can be applied, and shows, for example, the case of a laser beam printer (LBP).

In the figure, reference numeral 1000 denotes an LBP main body (printer) for inputting print information (character information, graphic drawing, image drawing, etc.), form information, macro instructions, etc., supplied from an externally connected host computer. In addition to the information, a corresponding character pattern and other images are created according to the information, and an image is formed on a recording medium such as recording paper. Reference numeral 1012 denotes an operation panel on which switches for operation, an LED display, and the like are arranged. Reference numeral 1001 denotes a printer control unit.
00 and analyzes the information and the like supplied from the host computer.

The printer control unit 1001 converts, for example, character information into a video signal having a corresponding character pattern and outputs the video signal to the laser driver 1002. The laser driver 1002 is a circuit for driving the semiconductor laser 1003, and turns on / off a laser beam 1004 emitted from the semiconductor laser 1003 in accordance with an input video signal.
Perform modulation by switching off. The modulated laser beam 1004 is oscillated in the left-right direction by a rotating polygon mirror 1005 and scans and exposes an electrostatic drum 1006.

Thus, an electrostatic latent image of a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 1006. This latent image is developed by a developing unit 1007 disposed around the electrostatic drum 1006, and then transferred to a recording sheet.
A cut sheet is used as the recording paper, and the cut sheet recording paper is a paper cassette 1008 mounted on the printer 1000.
And the paper feed roller 1009 and the transport roller 10
The toner is taken into the apparatus by the transfer roller 10 and the transport roller 1011 and supplied to the electrostatic drum 1006.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a printing system to which an image processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention can be applied. Here, a laser beam printer (FIG. 1) will be described as an example. Note that, as long as the functions of the present invention are executed, the present invention is applicable to a single device, a system including a plurality of devices, and a system in which processing is performed via a network such as a LAN. It goes without saying that the invention can be applied.

In the figure, reference numeral 3000 denotes a host computer which executes document processing in which graphics, images, characters, tables (including spreadsheets, etc.) are mixed based on a document processing program or the like stored in a program ROM of the ROM 3. C
The CPU 1 has a PU 1 and controls each device connected to the system bus 4 as a whole.

The program ROM of the ROM 3
Stores a control program of the CPU 1 and the like.
The font ROM stores font data and the like used in the document processing, and the data ROM of the ROM 3 stores various data used in the document processing and the like.

Reference numeral 2 denotes an expandable RAM, which functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like for the CPU 1. A keyboard controller (KBC) 5 controls a key input from a keyboard 9 or a pointing device (not shown).

Reference numeral 6 denotes a CRT controller (CRTC).
The display of the CRT display (CRT) 10 is controlled.
Reference numeral 7 denotes a memory controller (MC) which controls access to an external memory 11 such as a hard disk (HD) or a floppy disk (FD) for storing a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, edit files, and the like.

8 is a printer controller (PRTC)
A predetermined bidirectional interface (interface)
The communication device 21 is connected to the printer 1000 via the printer 21 and executes communication control processing with the printer 1000.

The CPU 1 executes, for example, a process of developing (rasterizing) the outline font on the display information RAM set on the RAM 2, and outputs the W on the CRT 10.
YSIWYG is possible. Further, the CPU 1
Various registered windows are opened based on a command specified by a mouse cursor or the like (not shown) on the RT 10,
Perform various data processing.

In the printer 1000, reference numeral 12 denotes a printer CPU (CPU) which
M or the external memory 1
4 to control overall access to various devices connected to the system bus 15 based on a control program and the like stored in the printer 4 and output to a printing unit (printer engine) 17 connected via a printing unit interface 16. An image signal as information is output. The program ROM of the ROM 13 stores a control program of the CPU 12 and the like as shown in flowcharts shown in FIGS.

The font ROM of the ROM 13 stores font data and the like used when generating the output information. In the case of a printer having no external memory 14 such as a hard disk in the data ROM of the ROM 13, The information used on the host computer 3000 is stored.

The CPU 12 is capable of communicating with the host computer 3000 via the input unit 18.
The information and the like in the printer 1000 are stored in
00 is configured to be notified.

Reference numeral 19 denotes a RAM, which is a main memory of the CPU 12,
It functions as a work area and the like, and is configured so that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an additional port (not shown).

Reference numeral 20 denotes a memory controller (MC) for controlling memory access to the external memory 14 such as the hard disk (HD) and IC card. In addition,
The external memory 14 is connected as an option, and is configured to be able to store font data, an emulation program, form data, and the like. Reference numeral 1012 denotes the above-described operation panel, on which switches for operation, an LED display, and the like are arranged.

The above-mentioned external memory is not limited to one, and at least one external memory is provided. In addition to the built-in fonts, an optional font card and a plurality of external memories storing programs for interpreting printer control languages of different languages are continued. It may be configured to be able to. Further, an NVRAM (not shown) may be provided so that the printer mode setting information from the operation panel 1012 can be stored in a nonvolatile manner.

FIG. 3 is a view for explaining a memory map of the RAM 19 shown in FIG.

In the figure, BUF is a reception buffer area for temporarily storing received data. The SYM is a system memory area for storing various information about the system. RM is a drawing memory area in which a work memory required for drawing is secured in advance. SM is a free memory area, and is used as a work area for work and other purposes, such as registration and command interpretation.

The details of the drawing memory area RM are a band memory area, an area for storing drawing objects, an area for additionally securing a band memory for pre-rendering, and other work areas. The area other than the band memory area is secured variably according to the situation, and the area is reused.

A conventional drawing procedure in the printing system configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the band drawing processing state by the printing system shown in FIG. 2. Hereinafter, the drawing processing of the conventional system will be described.

The host computer 3000 shown in FIG.
Is sent to the printer 1000 via the PRTC 8 and the bidirectional interface 21 as a printer control command.

The printer 1000 temporarily stores data in the reception buffer area BUF in the RAM 19 via the input unit 18, and the CPU 12 sends the data using the control command analysis program in the program ROM in the ROM 13. Also, printer control commands such as ellipse drawing and filling are converted as internal information that is easy to draw, and R
It is stored in the drawing object storage area in AM19.

When the drawing objects for one page have been generated, the total time is calculated while estimating the time required to develop the drawing objects to be drawn in each band into a bitmap image, and the total is output on the output paper. Compared with the time for the printing unit 17 to convey one band, if the drawing is not completed within the paper conveyance time, the drawing becomes invalid and the paper is ejected, and if the drawing cannot be completed within the paper conveyance time. For the determined band, a bitmap area for the band is secured in the RAM 19, data stored as a drawing object is read, expanded, and stored in the band area.

When the comparison and development processing is completed for all the bands, the band memory area for two bands to be transferred to the printing unit 17 is utilized, and the data is developed in one of the band memories or already developed as a bitmap image. While transferring the data, the image in the other band memory area is printed by the printing unit 17 via the printing unit I / F 16.
Send to

However, when the CPU 12 performs a process of developing the drawing object into a bitmap image, the CPU 12 transfers the bitmap image to the printing unit 17 or the host computer 30 via the bidirectional interface 21.
Communicating with 00.

Also, interrupt processing from the operation panel 1012 must be performed in parallel with the above-mentioned communication processing. These factors are unpredictable, so that the processing time for developing the bit map image must be set in advance. Overestimate. In practice, the same effect is achieved by estimating the paper transport time rather than overestimating the development processing time.

Using the short estimated ratio as a safety factor,
The data is stored in the data ROM of the ROM 13, and the CPU 12 performs the calculation using this value.

Hereinafter, the characteristic configuration of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

Data processing device (host computer 3000) via a predetermined communication medium configured as described above
From the input information received by communication with the band memory (RAM
Generating means for generating a drawing object (intermediate code) to be drawn on (secured on the CPU 19) (the CPU 12 executes a control program stored in the ROM 13 to generate the drawing object); Prediction means for predicting the drawing time required to generate a bitmap image to be drawn in the band memory in band units (the CPU 12 executes a control program stored in the ROM 13 to perform prediction processing); Storage means (stored in the ROM 13 or the external memory 14) for storing the safety coefficient for correcting the data transfer time limit for the band, and holding means (a predetermined area of the RAM 19) for holding the safety coefficient read from the storage means The drawing time predicted by the predicting means. First drawing means (the CPU 12 executes a control program stored in the ROM 13 to perform drawing processing) for pre-drawing a drawing object in a band exceeding the data transfer time limit corrected by the safety coefficient held by the CPU. A second drawing unit (CPU 12 is configured to read a bitmap image in the band memory sequentially based on the drawing object generated by the generation unit;
Executing the control program stored in the CPU to perform drawing processing)
Transfer means (CPU 1) for transferring a bitmap image drawn by the first or second drawing means to an output unit.
2 executes the control program stored in the ROM 13 and performs the transfer process to the printing unit 17). During the transfer by the transfer unit, the band drawing end timing by the second drawing unit sets the bitmap image to the output unit. Determining whether or not an overrun state that is delayed from the timing at which the data is to be transferred to the
Executes the control program stored in the memory and performs the judgment processing)
Rewriting means (CPU 1) for rewriting the safety coefficient held in the holding means when the judgment means judges that the overrun state has occurred.
2 executes the control program stored in the ROM 13 to perform the rewriting process), so that the expected band within the data transfer time limit calculated based on the read safety coefficient is not changed during the printing process. Even if an overrun situation occurs, the safety coefficient can be rewritten, so when reprinting the overrun page after that, it will be drawn as a pre-rendering target band without overrun again. In addition, it is possible to reliably avoid the occurrence of the overrun caused by the safety coefficient and to print the page normally.

When the redrawing of the page in which the overrun state has occurred is completed, the CPU 12
19 (for example, “7
0 ”) is rewritten to the safety coefficient (for example,“ 80 ”) stored in the data ROM area of the ROM 13, so that a large memory resource for storing the printer rendering band in accordance with the rewriting of the safety coefficient is regarded as the overrun page. During the rendering process of the pages after the overrun page, the memory area secured on the RAM 19 is released to make the best use of the memory resources, and the print processing efficiency after the overrun page is delayed. It can be avoided reliably.

Further, the CPU 12 rewrites the safety coefficient held in the RAM 19 to a value smaller than the safety coefficient stored in the ROM 13, so that the overrun band can be reliably rendered by the printer.

Further, the ROM 13 and the external memory 14
Since it is constituted by a non-volatile storage medium, at the time of initial setting, the safety coefficient intended at the time of design can always be set without the safety coefficient value fluctuating.

The first and second drawing means (CPU
12) Since the drawing object for the page in which the overrun state has occurred is redrawn on the bitmap image after the rewriting of the safety coefficient, even if the overrun occurs, the normal printing result on the page can be obtained in the shortest time. Thus, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the printing process of the subsequent page due to overrun is delayed.

Further, since the CPU 12 notifies the host computer 3000 or the operation panel 1012 that the safety coefficient has been rewritten, the occurrence of overrun is clearly indicated to the user, and the situation where the band drawing processing load on the printing apparatus has changed is recognized. In addition to this, the data processing environment can be changed so that the print data transferred by the data processing device side is data in which overrun is less likely to occur.

Further, the CPU 12 informs the host computer 3000 or the operation panel 101 that the drawing object for the page in which the overrun state has occurred has been redrawn in the bitmap image due to the rewriting of the safety coefficient.
2, the user can confirm that the overrun occurrence page has been redrawn and output normally.

Next, a detailed description will be given with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 5 for calculating a method of estimating a drawing time related to a band. This process is called after all drawing objects used in the page have been created.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a first data processing procedure in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention. Note that (1) to (11) indicate each step.

In step (1), the parameter ob
“ject” is initialized to “0”. Note that the variable obj
ect is a number starting from “0” and is associated with the drawing object.

Next, in step (2), the variable ban
d is initialized to “0”. The variable band is a number indicating the band being processed.

Next, in step (3), the variable ob
whether or not the subject straddles (includes) the variable band;
That is, it is determined whether or not the object straddles between adjacent bands. If it is determined in step (3) that the object straddles (is included), in step (4), the variable object is drawn in the variable band. Is substituted for the variable endTime, and in step (5), is added to the drawing time of the variable band.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (3) that the user does not straddle (include), the process moves to step (8) without doing anything.

Next, in step (6), it is determined whether or not the drawing time of the variable band is longer than the paper transport time obtained by multiplying the safety factor by the transport time of the band distance in the paper transport. If it is determined, in step (7), the variable band is registered as one that performs pre-rendering, and the process proceeds to step (8), where "1" is added to the variable band in order to investigate the next band.

Next, in step (9), the variable ba
It is checked whether or not nd exceeds the maximum number of bands. If it is determined that nd exceeds the maximum number of bands, it is determined that the investigation has been completed for all the bands, and the process proceeds to step (10). Return to step (3) to investigate the band.

Next, in step (10), "1" is added to the variable object to investigate the next object, and in step (11), the variable ob
It is determined whether or not “ject” exceeds the final object, and the processing is completed assuming that investigation has been completed for all objects.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (11) that the last object is not exceeded, the process returns to step (2) to investigate the next object.

Hereinafter, the safety coefficient functioning as the pre-rendering start reference value in the present embodiment will be described.

For example, when the printing unit 17 carries a sheet,
The time for transporting the distance of the band is defined as “100”, and for example, the ratio of the safety coefficient is “80”. As described in the above description of the prediction method, when the sum of the drawing prediction time of the band exceeds 80% of the sheet conveyance time, the band is registered as the pre-rendering.

The operation of setting the safety coefficient value employed in this embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing an example of the second data processing procedure in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to the processing focusing on the safety coefficient from the time when the power is turned on to the time when the power is turned off. Note that (1) to (6) indicate each step.

First, in step (1), the safety coefficient stored in the data ROM in the ROM 13 is copied to the RAM 19. Then, in step (2), it waits for some action to occur. Here, if the power is turned off, the information on the RAM 19 is erased, and the process ends.

On the other hand, if there is a hard reset control command or an input from the operation panel 1012 in step (3), the process goes to step (1), and the safety coefficient in the ROM 13 is copied to the RAM 19 again.

On the other hand, in step (3), if data other than the control command of the hard reset, for example, print data is actually input, in step (4) the drawing prediction is performed by referring to the safety coefficient stored in the RAM 19. The value and the paper transport time are compared, and the image output and print processing are performed.

Then, in step (5), the drawing prediction fails, and it is determined whether or not an overrun has occurred. If it is determined that an overrun has occurred, the process proceeds to step (6) and the safety coefficient of the RAM 19 is reduced. And return to step (2). For example, if the previous safety coefficient was “80”, it is rewritten to “70”. Then, when the next data in which the overrun has occurred is retransmitted, the data is correctly output by performing the pre-rendering.

Further, with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, data processing involving rewriting of the safety coefficient will be described.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing an example of a third data processing procedure in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to processing focusing on a safety coefficient from power-on to power-off. (1) to (8) indicate each step.

First, in step (1), the safety coefficient (as an initial value or a default value) in the data ROM in the ROM 13 is copied to the RAM 19.

Then, in step (2), waiting for some action to occur, and when the power is turned off, the information (including the safety coefficient) on the RAM 19 is erased and the data processing ends.

On the other hand, if any action occurs in step (2), it is determined in step (3) whether it is a hard reset control command or an input from the operation panel 1012, and a hard reset control command or operation is performed. If it is determined that the input is from the panel 1012, the process proceeds to step (1), and the
Is copied to the RAM 19.

On the other hand, in step (3), when it is determined that the data other than the control command of the hard reset or the input from the operation panel 1012, that is, the print data is actually input, the RAM 19 is stored in the RAM 19 in step (4). With reference to the stored safety coefficient, the predicted drawing value is compared with the paper transport time to perform image output and print processing.

Then, in step (5), the drawing prediction fails, and it is determined whether or not overrun has occurred. If it is determined that overrun has occurred, the process proceeds to step (6), and the operation is performed first. A message (or a status code) indicating that an overrun has occurred is displayed on the panel portion of the panel 1012 as a character string such as "overrun occurrence reprocessing". At this point, it is also effective to wait for input.

Then, in step (7), the safety coefficient stored in the RAM 19 is reduced as described above. Then, the data in which the overrun has occurred is reprocessed in step (8).

As a result, the pre-rendering is performed, so that the output is correctly performed because the safety coefficient decreases. With the above procedure, the user can reliably obtain the target output image. Of course, the display of the overrun occurrence is not a panel but the host computer 3
000 using a bidirectional I / F, and can be displayed on a host computer.

Hereinafter, the characteristic configuration of the present embodiment will be further described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

The data processing method of the image processing apparatus for generating a drawing object for drawing on the band memory from the input information received by communicating with the data processing apparatus via the predetermined communication medium configured as described above. A computer-readable program that controls an image processing apparatus that generates a drawing object for drawing on a band memory from input information received or communicated with a data processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium A prediction process for predicting, for each band, a rendering time required to generate a bitmap image to be rendered on the band memory from the received rendering object (steps (3) to (6) in FIG. 5). )) To correct the data transfer time limit for a preset band read from the first memory. A holding step (step (1) in FIG. 7) for holding the safety coefficient in the second memory, and data corrected by the safety coefficient held in the second memory in the drawing time estimated in the prediction step A first drawing step (step (4) in FIG. 7) for pre-drawing a drawing object in a band exceeding the transfer time limit, and a second drawing step for sequentially drawing a bitmap image in a band memory based on the generated drawing object. (Step (4) in FIG. 7), a transfer step (step (4) in FIG. 7) of transferring the bitmap image drawn by the first or second drawing step to an output unit, An overrun state in which the band drawing end timing in the second drawing step is delayed from the timing at which a bitmap image should be transferred to the printing unit during transfer in the transfer step. Determination step of determining whether the generated (step in FIG. 7 (5))
A rewriting step of rewriting the safety coefficient held in the second memory when the overrun state is determined to have occurred in the determining step (FIG. 6)
(6)), even if a predicted band within the paper transport limit time calculated based on the read safety coefficient is overrun during the printing process, the safety coefficient Can be rewritten, so when reprinting a page that has been overrun thereafter, it will be rendered as a band to be pre-rendered without overrun again, and the occurrence of overrun due to the safety factor is ensured. And the page can be printed normally.

Further, the rewriting step includes, at the end of redrawing of the page in which the overrun state has occurred, rewriting the rewritten safety coefficient held in the second memory into the safety factor stored in the first memory. To rewrite
During the overrun page processing, the situation in which the memory resources are reserved for storing the printer rendering band with the rewriting of the safety factor can be limited, and during the drawing processing of the pages subsequent to the overrun page, the secured memory area is released. As a result, it is possible to avoid the situation in which the print processing efficiency after the overrun page is delayed by making the best use of the memory resources.

In the rewriting step, the safety coefficient stored in the second memory is rewritten to a value smaller than the safety coefficient stored in the first memory. Printer rendering is possible.

In the first and second drawing steps, the drawing object for the page in which the overrun state has occurred is redrawn on the bitmap image after rewriting the safety coefficient. Also, a normal print result for the page can be obtained in the shortest time, and a situation in which the printing process of the subsequent page due to overrun is delayed can be avoided.

Further, since there is a first notification step of notifying the data processing device or the operation panel of the rewriting of the safety coefficient in the rewriting process, the occurrence of overrun is clearly indicated to the user, and the band drawing on the printing device side is performed. In addition to being able to recognize a situation in which the processing load has changed, the data processing environment can be changed so that the print data transferred by the data processing device is data in which overrun is less likely to occur.

Further, a second notification is made to the data processing device or the operation panel that the drawing object for the page in which the overrun state has occurred has been redrawn on the bitmap image due to the rewriting of the safety coefficient in the rewriting step. Since the notification step is provided, the user can confirm that the page in which the overrun has occurred is redrawn and output normally.

[Second Embodiment] In the description of the first embodiment, the case where the safety coefficient is stored in the RAM 19 has been described. However, the safety coefficient is stored in a non-volatile storage area (not shown) and stored even when the power is turned off. It is also possible to return to the original safety coefficient after a certain period of time. In this case, the time of rewriting is stored in a non-volatile storage area by a timer function (not shown), and if a certain period of time, for example, three days here, 24 hours × 3 days elapses, The coefficient is read from the ROM 13 to return to the original value.

Of course, it is needless to say that the elapse of time can be determined by a different method. The fixed time usually considers the range of time during which the same data is retransmitted,
The specific time may be stored in a program in the ROM 13, or may be configured to be externally controllable or specified from the operation panel 1012. As a designation method, not only a method of inputting a time but also a configuration of selecting from several set values (time) is possible.

The non-volatile storage area for storing the safety coefficient may also be used as an area for storing panel settings, for example. In this case, the storage area is initialized after a certain time has elapsed. In addition, the configuration may be such that the safety coefficient is initialized by the panel setting initialization processing.

Hereinafter, the characteristic configuration of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In the image processing apparatus having the configuration shown in the first embodiment, when the power supply is turned on or when a hard reset is performed, or when a predetermined time set after rewriting has elapsed, the RAM 12 has been initialized. When the rewriting command is input, the rewritten safety coefficient stored in the RAM 19 is rewritten to the safety coefficient stored in the ROM 13, so that the safety coefficient can be rewritten to the original safety coefficient at a time intended by the user. it can.

The rewriting step may be performed when the power is turned on, when a hard reset is performed, every time a predetermined time set after rewriting has elapsed, when the first memory is initialized, or when a predetermined rewriting command is input. Then, the rewritten safety coefficient held in the second memory is stored in the first memory.
Can be rewritten to the original safety coefficient at the appropriate time intended by the user.

[Third Embodiment] In the first embodiment, the rewriting process of the safety coefficient has been described to be performed by the printer 1000.
The instruction to return the read value from the OM 13 may be performed by a control command from the host computer 3000. Hereinafter, the embodiment will be described.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the fourth data processing procedure in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention. Note that (1) to (9) indicate each step.

First, in step (1), the safety coefficient stored in the data ROM in the ROM 13 is read out and R
Copy to a predetermined area of AM19. Then, in step (2), the safety factor is notified to the host computer 3000 via the bidirectional interface 21. Then, it waits for any action to occur in step (3).

Here, when the power is turned off, R
All the information on the AM 19 is erased, and the process ends.

On the other hand, if any action occurs in step (3), it is determined in step (4) whether it is a hard reset control command or an input from the operation panel 1012. If it is determined that the input is from the panel 1012, the process proceeds to step (1), and the
Is copied to the RAM 19.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (4) that the data other than the control command of the hard reset or the input from the operation panel 1012, for example, the print data is actually input, the input is performed in step (5). It is determined whether the received data is a safety coefficient setting command or a safety coefficient inquiry command from the host computer 3000. If it is determined that the data is a safety coefficient setting command or a safety coefficient inquiry command, the process proceeds to step (1). Rewriting the safety coefficient stored in the RAM 19 to the safety coefficient specified by the command, or
The safety coefficient stored in the RAM 19 is notified to the host computer 3000 using the bidirectional interface 21.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (5) that the input data is print data other than the safety coefficient setting command or the safety coefficient inquiry command from the host computer 3000, the flow advances to step (7). Image output and print processing are performed using the safety coefficient stored in the RAM 19.

Then, in step (8), it is determined whether or not the drawing prediction has failed and an overrun has occurred.
If it is determined that an overrun has not occurred, the process returns to step (3). If it is determined that an overrun has occurred, the process proceeds to step (9), where it is determined that an overrun has occurred in the host computer 3000. Notice.

In response to such movement of the printer 1000, the host computer 3000 side
When the CPU 1 receives an overrun status from the CPU 00 via the bidirectional interface 21, the RA
A control command for lowering the safety coefficient stored in M19 is sent to printer 1000, and data that could not be output correctly due to overrun is resent.

Further, by giving an instruction to restore the safety coefficient or setting a new value, a correct output of the data in which the overrun has occurred can be obtained without affecting other data. At this time, the host computer 3000
Indicates that the data is to be retransmitted, via CRTC6.
Display at T10.

As described above, by supporting only the safety coefficient rewriting command on the printer 1000 side, it is possible to configure the host computer 3000 to obtain a correct output result.

Hereinafter, the characteristic configuration of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the image processing apparatus having the configuration shown in the first embodiment, when the CPU 12 receives a predetermined rewrite command input from a plurality of data processing apparatuses via a predetermined communication medium, the CPU 12 Since the safety coefficient is rewritten to the safety coefficient stored in the ROM 13, even in a printing system sharing a printing apparatus in a network environment, the data is stored in the printing apparatus before transferring data to the printing apparatus or after receiving an overrun notification. It is possible to freely construct an environment in which the safety coefficient to be set is set in advance or afterwards to the intended safety coefficient.

In the rewriting step, when a predetermined rewriting command input from a plurality of data processing devices via a predetermined communication medium is received, the rewritten safety coefficient held in the second memory is stored in the first memory. Since it is rewritten to the safety coefficient stored in the memory of the printing system, even in a printing system sharing a printing device in a network environment, before transferring data to the printing device or after receiving an overrun notification,
It is possible to freely construct an environment in which the safety coefficient held in the printing apparatus is set in advance or afterwards to the intended safety coefficient.

[Fourth Embodiment] In the above embodiment, when the host computer 3000 rewrites the safety factor and manages its setting state, only the data in which the overrun has occurred is correctly output and the data processing is terminated. Although the case has been described, the present invention is not limited to this processing, and it is also possible to store information on the OS or application used by the data in which the overrun has occurred, and to use the information to prevent the overrun. . Hereinafter, the embodiment will be described.

For example, when printing data created by a combination of an OS and an application in which an overrun has occurred last time, the safety coefficient is lowered, and otherwise, the safety coefficient is restored. Of course, when the overrun occurs by adding the information of the used OS or the used application to the header information of the data instead of the host computer 3000,
By operating the safety coefficient on the printer 1000 side and storing information on the OS and application at that time, it is also possible to determine and process the next data input.

Further, by storing and managing a plurality of safety factors for each application or OS in which an overrun has occurred, it is possible to switch between the actually used safety factors and use them.

Further, when the printer 1000 is connected to a predetermined network, it is managed by a printer server (not shown) on the network so that the information is reflected on all printers on the network. By notifying each printer or the host computer, it is possible to operate the printer flexibly applicable to the user's environment.

For example, when the CPU 12 of the printer 1000 is configured to be upgradeable, the safety coefficient can be increased as the processing capacity of the CPU 12 increases. By doing so, it is possible to output without shifting to pre-rendering, and an improvement in throughput can be expected.

At this time, as an upgrade procedure, when the CPU 12 is upgraded, an appropriate safety coefficient is set while the CPU 12 is used by rewriting the safety coefficient in ascending order.

Hereinafter, the characteristic configuration of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In the image processing apparatus configured as shown in FIG. 2, the discriminating means (CPU 12) for discriminating the data type of the print information transferred from the host computer 3000.
Executes the control program stored in the ROM 13 to perform the discrimination processing), and the CPU 12 rewrites the safety coefficient held in the RAM 19 based on the data type discrimination result. However, if the data is likely to cause an overrun, the safety coefficient can be automatically rewritten to avoid occurrence of an overrun during the processing of the drawing object.

Further, since the ROM 13 and the external memory 14 can store a plurality of safety factors, it is possible to prepare an environment for automatically setting a security factor specific to the OS or application that has processed the input data.

Further, since the RAM 19 holds a safety coefficient for each data type determined by the CPU 12, when data of the same type is input, the security coefficient is automatically rewritten and an overrun during drawing object processing is performed. Occurrence can be avoided.

Further, the method further comprises a discriminating step of discriminating a data type of the print information transferred from the data processing device, wherein the rewriting step holds the data in the second memory based on the data type discrimination result of the discriminating step. Since the safety coefficient is rewritten, even if the safety coefficient rewriting instruction is not input, if the data is likely to cause an overrun, the safety coefficient can be automatically rewritten to avoid the occurrence of the overrun during the drawing object processing. .

In the holding step, the safety coefficient is stored in the second memory for each data type determined in the determining step. Therefore, when data of the same type is input,
By automatically rewriting the safety coefficient, it is possible to avoid occurrence of overrun during processing of the drawing object.

[Fifth Embodiment] The printer 1000
In the case where an overrun has occurred, in addition to storing information on data sent from the host computer 3000, not only safety factors, but also drawing factors for which the overrun has occurred, band height information, interrupt processing, and the like. Information such as the status is transmitted to the host computer 3000, or stored in the RAM 19 in the printer 1000, and read out from the RAM 19 when the user needs it, or output from the CRT 10 of the host computer 3000.
It is also possible to configure so as to be displayed.

In the host computer 3000,
Improving control data to be transmitted to the printer 1000 using information as data with less overrun, and using information in the printer 1000 to change the height of a band, for example, so that overrun does not occur. Improvements such as changing the prediction time are also possible.

Hereinafter, the characteristic configuration of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In the image processing apparatus configured as shown in FIG. 2, when the determination section determines that the overrun state has occurred, the image processing apparatus performs processing based on the processing information of the drawn print information and the print information. An overrun information notifying means for notifying the data processing device of overrun information including internal information (the CPU 12 has the ROM 13, the external memory 14
Notification processing based on the control program stored in the
Therefore, the processing information of the drawn print information notified by the host computer 3000 and the overrun information including the internal information based on the print information are analyzed so that the occurrence of the overrun can be avoided in the subsequent data transfer. The data transfer process can be changed freely.

If the CPU 12 determines that the overrun condition has occurred, the CPU 12 transfers the processing information of the print information drawn on the information holding means such as the RAM 19 and the external memory 14 and the internal information based on the print information. And the CPU 12 sets R based on a read request input.
The AM 19 notifies the operation panel 1012 or the host computer 3000 of the processing information or the internal information held in the external memory 14. Therefore, based on the processing information of the drawn print information notified by the data processing apparatus side and the print information. The overrun information including the internal information is read out at the timing intended by the user, and the data transfer process can be freely changed so as to avoid occurrence of overrun in the subsequent data transfer.

If it is determined in the determining step that the overrun state has occurred, the overrun information including the processing information of the drawn print information and the internal information based on the print information is sent to the data processing device. Since there is an overrun information notifying step of notifying, the processing information of the drawn print information notified by the data processing device side, the overrun information including the internal information based on the print information is analyzed,
In the subsequent data transfer, the data transfer processing can be freely changed so as to avoid occurrence of overrun.

When it is determined in the determining step that the overrun state has occurred, the information storage for storing the processing information of the drawn print information and the internal information based on the print information in a third memory. And a read notification step of notifying the operation panel or the data processing device of the processing information or the internal information held in the third memory based on an input read request. The processing information of the drawn print information to be notified and the overrun information including the internal information based on the print information are read out at the timing intended by the user, and the data transfer processing is performed so as to avoid occurrence of overrun in the subsequent data transfer. It can be changed freely.

Hereinafter, the configuration of a data processing program that can be read by a printing system to which the image processing apparatus according to the present invention can be applied will be described with reference to a memory map shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by a printing system to which the image processing apparatus according to the present invention can be applied.

Although not shown, information for managing a group of programs stored in the storage medium, for example, version information, a creator, etc. are also stored, and information dependent on the OS or the like on the program reading side, for example, a program is stored. An icon or the like for identification display may also be stored.

Further, data dependent on various programs is also managed in the directory. In addition, a program for installing various programs on a computer or a program for decompressing a program to be installed when the program to be installed is compressed may be stored.

The functions shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 in this embodiment may be performed by a host computer by a program installed from the outside. And in that case, CD-ROM, flash memory, FD
The present invention is applicable even when a group of information including a program is supplied to an output device from a storage medium such as the above or from an external storage medium via a network.

As described above, the storage medium storing the program codes of the software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or the apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MP) of the system or the apparatus is supplied.
It goes without saying that the object of the present invention is also achieved when U) reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, C
DR, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, RO
M, EEPROM and the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) And the like perform part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, The CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

According to the above embodiments, when an overrun occurs, the safety coefficient can be rewritten, and a correct image can be obtained when the same data is output again.

Also, since data in which overruns occur is rare, the safety factor is optimized so that the security factor can be optimized for normal data in order to save memory and to prevent a decrease in throughput. In addition to rewriting, the value can be returned to the original value automatically, when a command is input by the user, when an operation panel is instructed, or the like.

[0171]

As described above, the first embodiment according to the present invention is described.
According to the invention, generating means for generating a drawing object for drawing on the band memory from input information received by communicating with the data processing device via a predetermined communication medium,
A prediction unit for predicting a drawing time required for generating a bitmap image to be drawn in the band memory from the generated drawing object in band units, and a safety coefficient for correcting a data transfer time limit for a preset band Storage means for storing the safety coefficient read from the storage means, and the data transfer restriction corrected by the safety coefficient held by the storage means, wherein the drawing time predicted by the prediction means is stored in the storage means. A first drawing unit for precedingly drawing a drawing object in a band exceeding time, a second drawing unit for sequentially drawing a bitmap image in a band memory based on the drawing object generated by the generation unit, Transfer means for transferring the bitmap image drawn by the first or second drawing means to the output unit; Determining means for determining whether or not an overrun state in which the band drawing end timing by the second drawing means is delayed from the timing at which a bitmap image should be transferred to the output unit during transfer by the transfer means; Rewriting means for rewriting the safety coefficient held in the holding means when the overrun state is determined to have occurred by the judgment means, Even if a predicted band within the data transfer time limit calculated by the above becomes overrun during the printing process, the safety coefficient can be rewritten. Will be processed as a band to be pre-rendered without overrun again, To avoid the occurrence of overrun can be reliably printing the page correctly.

According to the second invention, the rewriting means comprises:
At the end of redrawing for the page in which the overrun state has occurred, the rewritten safety coefficient held in the holding means is rewritten to the safety coefficient stored in the storage means. The situation in which memory resources are reserved for storage can be limited during the overrun page processing, and during drawing processing of pages after the overrun page, the secured memory area is released to maximize the use of the memory resources. As a result, it is possible to reliably avoid a situation where the print processing efficiency after the overrun page is delayed.

According to the third invention, the rewriting means comprises:
At the time of power-on or hard reset, or every time a predetermined time set after rewriting elapses, when the storage means is initialized, or at the time of inputting a predetermined rewrite command, the rewritten data held in the holding means is rewritten. Since the safety coefficient is rewritten to the safety coefficient stored in the storage means, the safety coefficient can be rewritten to the original safety coefficient at a time intended by the user.

[0174] According to the fourth invention, the rewriting means comprises:
Since the safety coefficient held in the holding means is rewritten to a value smaller than the safety coefficient stored in the storage means, the overrun band can be reliably rendered by the printer.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a discriminating means for discriminating the data type of the print information transferred from the data processing device, and the rewriting means is configured to determine the data type based on the data type discrimination result of the discriminating means. Since the safety coefficient held in the holding means is rewritten, even if the instruction to rewrite the safety coefficient is not input, if the data is likely to cause an overrun, the safety coefficient is automatically rewritten to avoid the occurrence of the overrun during the processing of the drawing object. can do.

According to the sixth aspect, since the storage means is constituted by a non-volatile storage medium, the safety coefficient intended at the time of design can always be set without changing the safety coefficient value at the time of initial setting.

According to the seventh aspect, since the storage means can store a plurality of security factors, an environment for automatically setting a security factor specific to the OS or application that has processed the input data is prepared. be able to.

According to the eighth aspect, the holding unit holds the safety coefficient for each data type determined by the determining unit. Therefore, when the same type of data is input,
By automatically rewriting the safety coefficient, it is possible to avoid occurrence of overrun during processing of the drawing object.

According to the ninth aspect, the first and second drawing means redraw the drawing object for the page in which the overrun state has occurred, on the bitmap image after rewriting the safety coefficient. Even if an overrun occurs, a normal print result for the page can be obtained in the shortest time, and a situation in which the printing process of the subsequent page due to the overrun is delayed can be avoided.

According to the tenth aspect, there is provided the first notifying means for notifying the data processing device or the operation panel that the safety coefficient has been rewritten by the rewriting means.
The overrun occurrence can be clearly indicated to the user so that the situation that the band drawing processing load on the printing apparatus has changed can be recognized, and the print data transferred by the data processing apparatus should be data that is less likely to cause overrun. The processing environment can be changed.

[0181] According to the eleventh aspect, the drawing object for the page in which the overrun state has occurred is redrawn on the bitmap image due to the rewriting of the safety coefficient by the rewriting means. Is provided, the user can confirm that the page in which the overrun has occurred is redrawn and output normally.

[0182] According to the twelfth aspect, the rewriting means, when receiving a predetermined rewriting command input from a plurality of data processing devices via a predetermined communication medium, stores the rewritten safety coefficient held in the holding means. Is rewritten to the safety coefficient stored in the storage means, so that even in a printing system sharing a printing device in a network environment, the data is stored in the printing device before transferring data to the printing device or after receiving an overrun notification. It is possible to freely construct an environment in which a safety coefficient is set to an intended safety coefficient in advance or afterwards.

According to the thirteenth aspect, when the determination unit determines that the overrun state has occurred, the overrun information including the processing information of the drawn print information and the internal information based on the print information is provided. Is provided to the data processing apparatus to analyze the processing information of the drawn print information notified by the data processing apparatus and the overrun information including the internal information based on the print information. In this data transfer, the data transfer processing can be freely changed so as to avoid occurrence of overrun.

According to the fourteenth aspect, when the determining means determines that the overrun state has occurred, the processing information of the drawn print information and the information holding the internal information based on the print information are stored. Holding means, and read control means for notifying the operation panel or the data processing device of the processing information or the internal information held in the information holding means based on the input read request, so that the data processing device side The processing information of the drawn print information to be notified and the overrun information including the internal information based on the print information are read out at the timing intended by the user, and the data transfer processing is performed so as to avoid occurrence of overrun in the subsequent data transfer. It can be changed freely.

According to the fifteenth and sixteenth aspects, an image processing apparatus for generating a drawing object for drawing on a band memory from input information received by communicating with a data processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium. A computer that controls a data processing method or an image processing device that generates a drawing object for drawing on a band memory from input information received by communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium. A predicting step of predicting, for each band, a drawing time required to generate a bitmap image to be drawn on the band memory from the received drawing object; and A safety coefficient for correcting a data transfer time limit for a preset band to be read is stored in a second memory. A first holding step of holding a drawing object, and a first drawing of a drawing object in a band exceeding a data transfer time limit corrected by a safety coefficient held by the second memory, the drawing time predicted by the prediction step. A drawing step, a second drawing step of sequentially drawing a bitmap image in a band memory based on a generated drawing object, and transferring the bitmap image drawn in the first or second drawing step to an output unit And whether or not an overrun state in which the band drawing end timing in the second drawing step is delayed from the timing to transfer the bitmap image to the output unit during the transfer in the transfer step. A judging step of judging, and when it is judged that the overrun state has occurred by the judging step, the And a rewriting step of rewriting the security coefficient held in the memory of the memory device, so that a predicted band within the data transfer limit time calculated based on the read safety coefficient is overrun during the printing process. Even if a situation occurs, the safety coefficient can be rewritten, so when reprinting the overrunning page after that, it will be rendered as a pre-rendering target band without overrun again, It is possible to reliably avoid the occurrence of the overrun caused by the safety coefficient and to print the page normally.

According to the seventeenth and eighteenth aspects of the present invention, in the rewriting step, when the redrawing of the page in which the overrun state has occurred is completed, the rewritten safety coefficient held in the second memory is stored. Is rewritten to the safety coefficient stored in the first memory. Therefore, it is possible to limit a situation in which the memory resource is reserved for storing the printer rendering band during the overrun page processing in accordance with the rewriting of the safety coefficient. At the time of drawing processing of the pages subsequent to the page, the secured memory area is released, and the memory resources are effectively used to the maximum extent, so that it is possible to reliably avoid a situation where the print processing efficiency after the overrun page is delayed.

According to the nineteenth and twentieth aspects of the present invention, in the rewriting step, the first memory is initialized at power-on or hard reset, or every time a predetermined time set after rewriting elapses. At this time, when the predetermined rewrite command is input, the rewritten safety coefficient stored in the second memory is rewritten to the safety coefficient stored in the first memory at any time of input of a predetermined rewrite command. The safety coefficient can be rewritten to the original safety coefficient at the timing.

According to the twenty-first and twenty-second inventions according to the present invention, in the rewriting step, the security coefficient held in the second memory is set to a value smaller than the safety coefficient stored in the first memory. Thus, the overrun band can be reliably rendered by the printer.

According to the twenty-third and twenty-fourth inventions according to the present invention, there is provided a discriminating step for discriminating a data type of print information transferred from the data processing device, wherein the rewriting step comprises:
Based on the data type determination result of the determination step, the second
Since the safety coefficient held in the memory is rewritten, even if an instruction for rewriting the safety coefficient is not input, if the data is likely to cause overrun, the safety coefficient is automatically rewritten to avoid occurrence of overrun during drawing object processing can do.

According to the twenty-fifth and twenty-sixth aspects of the present invention, in the holding step, the safety coefficient is stored in the second memory for each data type determined in the determining step.
When data of the same type is input, the safety coefficient can be automatically rewritten to avoid occurrence of overrun during the processing of the drawing object.

According to the twenty-seventh and twenty-eighth aspects of the present invention, in the first and second drawing steps, after rewriting the safety coefficient, the drawing object for the page in which the overrun state has occurred is stored in a bitmap. Since the image is redrawn, even if an overrun occurs, a normal print result for the page can be obtained in the shortest time, and a situation in which the printing process of the subsequent page due to the overrun is delayed can be avoided.

According to the twenty-ninth and thirtieth aspects of the present invention, there is provided the first notifying step of notifying the data processing device or the operation panel that the security coefficient has been rewritten in the rewriting step, so that the occurrence of overrun is prevented. It is possible to explicitly notify the user of the situation where the band drawing processing load on the printing apparatus has fluctuated, and the data processing environment must be configured so that the print data transferred by the data processing apparatus is data that is less likely to cause overrun. Can be changed.

[0193] According to the thirty-first and thirty-second aspects of the present invention, the redrawing of the drawing object for the page in which the overrun state has occurred with the rewriting of the safety coefficient in the rewriting step in the bitmap image is performed. Since the second notification step of notifying the data processing device or the operation panel is provided, the user can confirm that the overrun-generated page has been redrawn and output normally.

According to the thirty-third and thirty-fourth aspects of the present invention, the rewriting step is performed when a predetermined rewriting command input from a plurality of data processing devices via a predetermined communication medium is received. Is rewritten to the safety coefficient stored in the first memory. Therefore, even in a printing system sharing a printing device in a network environment, the data is transferred to the printing device before the data is transferred to the printing device or an overrun notification is issued. After receiving the security coefficient, an environment in which the safety coefficient held in the printing apparatus is set to the safety coefficient intended beforehand or afterwards can be freely constructed.

According to the thirty-fifth and thirty-sixth aspects of the present invention, when it is determined in the determining step that the overrun state has occurred, the processing information of the drawn print information and the print information are used. Since there is provided an overrun information notifying step of notifying the data processing apparatus of overrun information including internal information, processing information of the drawn print information notified by the data processing apparatus and overrun information including internal information based on the print information Is analyzed, and in the subsequent data transfer, the data transfer process can be freely changed so as to avoid occurrence of overrun.

According to the thirty-seventh and thirty-eighth aspects of the present invention, when it is determined in the determining step that the overrun state has occurred, the processing is performed based on the processing information of the drawn print information and the print information. An information holding step of holding internal information in a third memory; and a reading step of notifying the operation panel or the data processing device of the processing information or the internal information held in the third memory based on an input read request. Notification step, the processing information of the drawn print information notified by the data processing apparatus side and the overrun information including the internal information based on the print information are read out at the timing intended by the user, and the data is read out at the time of the subsequent data transfer. The data transfer process can be freely changed so as to avoid occurrence of overrun.

Therefore, even if an unintended overrun occurs due to band drawing processing exceeding the transport limit time calculated from the initially set safety coefficient, the safety coefficient can be freely rewritten, and the overrun caused by the safety coefficient can be rewritten. By avoiding the occurrence state and re-inputting the print data of the same page even in the page where the overrun has occurred, there is an effect that the print processing can be performed normally.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an output device to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system to which the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a RAM shown in FIG. 2;

4 is a diagram illustrating a band drawing processing state by the printing system illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a first data processing procedure in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a second data processing procedure in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a third data processing procedure in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a fourth data processing procedure in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by a printing system to which the image processing apparatus according to the present invention can be applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CPU 2 RAM 3 ROM 8 PRTC 12 CPU 13 ROM 19 RAM 1000 Printer 1001 Printer control unit 3000 Host computer

Claims (38)

[Claims] 1. A generating means for generating a drawing object for drawing on a band memory from input information received by communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, and the band memory based on the generated drawing object. Prediction means for predicting a drawing time required to generate a bitmap image to be drawn on a band-by-band basis; storage means for storing a safety coefficient for correcting a data transfer time limit for a preset band; Holding means for holding the safety coefficient read from the means; and a drawing object in a band exceeding the data transfer time limit corrected by the safety coefficient held by the holding means, wherein the drawing time predicted by the prediction means is stored. A first drawing unit for performing preceding drawing, and a drawing object generated by the generating unit. A second drawing unit that draws a bitmap image in the next band memory; a transfer unit that transfers the bitmap image drawn by the first or second drawing unit to an output unit; Determining means for determining whether or not an overrun state in which the band drawing end timing by the second drawing means is delayed from the timing at which a bitmap image should be transferred to the output unit has occurred; An image processing apparatus, comprising: rewriting means for rewriting the safety coefficient held in the holding means when it is determined that a state has occurred. 2. The rewriting device according to claim 1, wherein when redrawing of the page in which the overrun state has occurred is completed, the rewritten security coefficient stored in the storage device is rewritten to a safety factor stored in the storage device. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The rewriting means, at the time of power-on or hard reset, at the time of elapse of a predetermined time set after rewriting, when the storage means is initialized, or at the time of inputting a predetermined rewriting command. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rewritten security coefficient stored in the storage unit is rewritten to a safety coefficient stored in the storage unit. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rewriting means rewrites a safety coefficient held in said holding means to a value smaller than a safety coefficient stored in said storage means. 5. A printing apparatus comprising: a determination unit configured to determine a data type of print information transferred from the data processing apparatus; and the rewriting unit is stored in the storage unit based on a data type determination result of the determination unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the safety coefficient is rewritten. 6. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage means is constituted by a nonvolatile storage medium. 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage means is capable of storing a plurality of safety factors. 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the holding unit holds a safety coefficient for each data type determined by the determining unit. 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second drawing units redraw the drawing object for the page in which the overrun state has occurred in a bitmap image after rewriting the safety coefficient. 2. The image processing device according to 1. 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first notifying unit for notifying the data processing device or the operation panel that the security coefficient has been rewritten by the rewriting unit.
The image processing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims. 11. A second method for notifying the data processing device or the operation panel that a drawing object for a page in which the overrun state has occurred has been redrawn in a bitmap image with the rewriting of the safety coefficient by the rewriting means. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit. 12. The rewriting means stores the rewritten safety coefficient held in the holding means in the storage means when receiving a predetermined rewriting command input from a plurality of data processing devices via a predetermined communication medium. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the security coefficient is rewritten with the set safety coefficient. 13. When the determination means determines that the overrun state has occurred, processing information of drawn print information and overrun information including internal information based on the print information are sent to the data processing device. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an overrun information notifying unit for notifying. 14. An information holding means for holding processing information of drawn print information and internal information based on the print information when the determination means determines that the overrun state has occurred. Reading control means for notifying the operation panel or the data processing device of the processing information or the internal information held in the information holding means based on a read request to be performed,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: 15. A data processing method of an image processing apparatus for generating a drawing object for drawing on a band memory from input information received by communicating with a data processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, the method comprising: A prediction step of predicting a drawing time required to generate a bitmap image to be drawn in the band memory from the drawn drawing object in band units, and a data transfer limit time for a preset band read from the first memory The second safety factor to correct
A holding step of holding the data in the memory of the second step;
A first drawing step of precedingly drawing a drawing object in a band exceeding a data transfer time limit corrected by the safety coefficient held in the memory of the memory, and sequentially storing a bitmap image in a band memory based on the generated drawing object. A second drawing step of drawing, a transfer step of transferring a bitmap image drawn by the first or second drawing step to an output unit, and a transfer step of transferring the bitmap image by the second drawing step. A determining step of determining whether an overrun state in which the band drawing end timing is delayed from a timing at which a bitmap image is to be transferred to the output unit has occurred, and determining that the overrun state has occurred in the determining step Rewriting the safety coefficient held in the second memory when the A data processing method for an image processing apparatus. 16. A computer readable program that controls an image processing apparatus that generates a drawing object for drawing on a band memory from input information received by communicating with a data processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium. A prediction step of predicting, for each band, a drawing time required to generate a bitmap image to be drawn in the band memory from the received drawing object; The safety factor for correcting the data transfer time limit for the set band is set to the second
A holding step of holding the data in the memory of the second step;
A first drawing step of precedingly drawing a drawing object in a band exceeding a data transfer time limit corrected by the safety coefficient held in the memory of the memory, and sequentially storing a bitmap image in a band memory based on the generated drawing object. A second drawing step of drawing, a transfer step of transferring a bitmap image drawn by the first or second drawing step to an output unit, and a transfer step of transferring the bitmap image by the second drawing step. A determining step of determining whether an overrun state in which the band drawing end timing is delayed from a timing at which a bitmap image is to be transferred to the output unit has occurred, and determining that the overrun state has occurred in the determining step A rewriting step of rewriting the safety coefficient held in the second memory, Storage medium from which a computer stores a readable program, characterized by. 17. The rewriting process according to claim 1, further comprising: when redrawing of the page in which the overrun state has occurred is completed, rewriting the security coefficient stored in the second memory to the security coefficient stored in the first memory. 16. The data processing method for an image processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the data is rewritten as: 18. The method according to claim 18, wherein the rewriting step includes rewriting the rewritten security coefficient stored in the second memory when the redrawing of the page in which the overrun state has occurred is completed. 17. A storage medium storing a computer-readable program according to claim 16, wherein the program is rewritten as: 19. The rewriting process may be performed at the time of power-on or a hard reset, at the time of elapse of a predetermined time set after rewriting, when the first memory is initialized, or at the time of inputting a predetermined rewriting command. Then, the rewritten safety coefficient held in the second memory is stored in the first memory.
16. The data processing method for an image processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the data is rewritten with the safety coefficient stored in the memory of (1). 20. The rewriting step may be performed when the power is turned on, when a hard reset is performed, when a predetermined time set after rewriting has elapsed, when the first memory is initialized, or when a predetermined rewriting command is input. Then, the rewritten safety coefficient held in the second memory is stored in the first memory.
17. The storage medium storing a computer-readable program according to claim 16, wherein the security coefficient is rewritten to a safety coefficient stored in a memory of the computer. 21. The rewriting step according to claim 15, wherein the security coefficient stored in the second memory is rewritten to a value smaller than the safety coefficient stored in the first memory. A data processing method of the image processing device. 22. The method according to claim 16, wherein the rewriting step rewrites a safety coefficient stored in the second memory to a value smaller than a safety coefficient stored in the first memory. A storage medium that stores a computer-readable program. 23. A discriminating step of discriminating a data type of print information transferred from the data processing device, wherein the rewriting step is performed by the second memory based on a data type discrimination result of the discriminating step. 16. The data processing method for an image processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the performed safety coefficient is rewritten. 24. A discriminating step of discriminating a data type of the print information transferred from the data processing device, wherein the rewriting step holds the data in the second memory based on a data type discrimination result of the discriminating step. 17. The storage medium storing a computer-readable program according to claim 16, wherein the safety factor is rewritten. 25. The data processing method according to claim 23, wherein in the holding step, a safety coefficient is held in a second memory for each data type determined in the determining step. 26. The computer-readable program according to claim 24, wherein said holding step holds a safety coefficient in a second memory for each data type determined in said determining step. Storage medium. 27. The method according to claim 27, wherein in the first and second drawing steps, after rewriting the safety coefficient, a drawing object for a page in which the overrun state has occurred is redrawn in a bitmap image. 16. The data processing method of the image processing device according to item 15. 28. The method according to claim 28, wherein in the first and second drawing steps, after rewriting the safety coefficient, a drawing object for the page in which the overrun state has occurred is redrawn in a bitmap image. A storage medium storing the computer-readable program according to claim 16. 29. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first notification step of notifying the data processing device or the operation panel that the security coefficient has been rewritten in the rewriting step.
6. The data processing method of the image processing device according to 5. 30. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first notification step of notifying the data processing device or the operation panel that the security coefficient has been rewritten in the rewriting step.
7. A storage medium storing the computer-readable program according to 6. 31. Notifying the data processing device or the operation panel of redrawing a drawing object for a page in which the overrun state has occurred in a bitmap image with the rewriting of the safety coefficient in the rewriting step. 16. The data processing method according to claim 15, further comprising a notification step. 32. Notifying the data processing device or the operation panel that the drawing object for the page in which the overrun state has occurred has been redrawn in the bitmap image with the rewriting of the safety coefficient in the rewriting step. 17. The storage medium storing a computer-readable program according to claim 16, further comprising a notifying step. 33. The rewriting step, wherein when a predetermined rewriting command input from a plurality of data processing devices via a predetermined communication medium is received, the rewritten safety coefficient held in the second memory is written to the first memory. 20. The data processing method for an image processing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the data is rewritten with the safety coefficient stored in the memory of (1). 34. The rewriting step, wherein when a predetermined rewriting command input from a plurality of data processing devices via a predetermined communication medium is received, the rewritten safety coefficient held in the second memory is written in the first memory. 21. The storage medium storing a computer readable program according to claim 20, wherein the safety coefficient is rewritten with a safety coefficient stored in a memory of the computer. 35. When it is determined in the determining step that the overrun state has occurred, overrun information including processing information of the drawn print information and internal information based on the print information is transmitted to the data processing device. 16. An overrun information notifying step for notifying.
A data processing method for the image processing apparatus according to the above. 36. When it is determined in the determining step that the overrun state has occurred, processing information of drawn print information and overrun information including internal information based on the print information are sent to the data processing device. 17. An overrun information notifying step for notifying.
A storage medium storing the computer-readable program according to the above. 37. An information holding unit that holds, in a third memory, processing information of drawn print information and internal information based on the print information when it is determined in the determining step that the overrun state has occurred. A read notification step of notifying the operation panel or the data processing device of the processing information or internal information held in the third memory based on an input read request;
16. The data processing method for an image processing apparatus according to claim 15, comprising: 38. An information holding unit that holds, in a third memory, processing information of drawn print information and internal information based on the print information when it is determined in the determining step that the overrun state has occurred. A read notification step of notifying the operation panel or the data processing device of the processing information or internal information held in the third memory based on an input read request;
17. The storage medium storing a computer-readable program according to claim 16, comprising: