Information processing device, program, and information processing method

Abstract

This prevents unnecessary files from reducing the available storage space, which could prevent the system from becoming unusable. [Solution] The printer 120 has a first storage unit 123 that stores multiple candidate files, each with a filename that can identify each of the multiple data selected according to the processing content, and a second storage unit 124 that stores multiple compressed files that store each of the multiple data. When processing, the printer refers to the multiple filenames and selects one or more candidate files from the multiple candidate files according to the processing content. If an empty file is included among the one or more candidate files, the printer decompresses the compressed file corresponding to the empty file to generate an actual file with the same filename as the empty file, and the first storage unit 123 replaces the empty file with the actual file.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus, a program, and an information processing method.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a printing apparatus that performs printing on a printing medium such as paper based on print data has been used. In a printing apparatus, usually, received data is separated into print format information and print data, and these print format information and print data are stored in a memory unit, and then an image indicated by the print data is printed in a format indicated by the print format information (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] A large number of resource files are registered in the memory unit of the printing apparatus. These resource files are not always used and are files that may be used as needed.

[0005] In a conventional printing apparatus, when executing a printing process, a resource file that is not used in the printing process is stored in the memory unit, resulting in a memory full situation, and the printing process may not be executed.

[0006] Therefore, one or more aspects of the present disclosure aim to avoid a situation where the free capacity of the storage unit is reduced by files that do not need to be used, making the processing impossible.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] An information processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure is characterized by comprising: a first storage unit that stores a plurality of candidate files, each assigned a plurality of file names that can identify each of a plurality of candidate data selected according to the processing content of the processing; a second storage unit that stores a plurality of compressed files, each of which stores and compresses the plurality of data; and a control unit that, when performing the processing, selects one or more candidate files from the plurality of candidate files according to the processing content of the processing by referring to the plurality of file names in the first storage unit, and if the one or more candidate files include an empty file with a file size of 0, decompresses the compressed file corresponding to the empty file from the plurality of compressed files to generate an actual file with the same file name as the empty file, and in the first storage unit replaces the empty file with the actual file, and performs the processing using the data stored in the actual file with the free space of the first storage unit as a working area.

[0008] A program according to one aspect of the present disclosure is characterized in that, when performing processing, the computer functions as a control unit that stores a plurality of candidate files, each of which is assigned a plurality of filenames that can identify each of a plurality of candidate data to be selected according to the processing content of the processing; a second storage unit that stores a plurality of compressed files, each of which stores and compresses the plurality of data; and when performing the processing, the first storage unit refers to the plurality of filenames to select one or more candidate files from the plurality of candidate files according to the processing content of the processing, and if the one or more candidate files include an empty file with a file size of 0, it decompresses the compressed file corresponding to the empty file from the plurality of compressed files to generate an actual file with the same filename as the empty file, and the first storage unit replaces the empty file with the actual file, and uses the free space of the first storage unit as a working area to perform the processing using the data stored in the actual file.

[0009] An information processing method according to one aspect of the present disclosure is an information processing device that, when performing processing, stores a plurality of candidate files, each assigned a plurality of file names that can identify each of a plurality of candidate data selected according to the processing content of the processing, and stores a plurality of compressed files that store each of the plurality of data and are compressed, characterized in that, when performing the processing, the first storage unit refers to the plurality of file names and selects one or more candidate files from the plurality of candidate files according to the processing content of the processing, if the one or more candidate files include an empty file with a file size of 0, decompresses the compressed file corresponding to the empty file from the plurality of compressed files to generate an actual file with the same file name as the empty file, and in the first storage unit, replaces the empty file with the actual file and performs the processing using the data stored in the actual file with the free space of the first storage unit as a working area. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to one or more aspects of this disclosure, it is possible to avoid a situation where unnecessary files reduce the available storage space, preventing processing from becoming impossible. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a printing system as an information processing system according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram illustrating the schematic configuration of the printer in the embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a block diagram that schematically shows the first configuration of the memory unit. [Figure 4] This is a block diagram illustrating the second configuration of the memory unit. [Figure 5] This is a block diagram that schematically shows the configuration of the memory management unit. [Figure 6] It is a block diagram schematically showing a third configuration of the memory unit. [Figure 7] (A) and (B) are block diagrams schematically showing hardware configuration examples. [Figure 8] It is a flowchart showing a first operation in the printer according to the embodiment. [Figure 9] It is a flowchart showing a second operation in the printer according to the embodiment.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] Embodiment. FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a printing system 100 as an information processing system according to the embodiment. The printing system 100 includes an upper device 110 and a printer 120 as an information processing device. It is assumed that the printer 120 receives print data, which is processing data from the upper device 110, and the printer 120 processes the print data to perform printing.

[0013] Note that the upper device 110 and the printer 120 are connected to the network 1'01, but the upper device 110 and the printer 120 may be directly connected by a connection I / F (Interface) such as USB (Universal Serial Bus).

[0014] The upper device 110 transmits print data to the printer 120. Here, at the time of printing, the upper device 110 converts an intermediate file (for example, EMF (Enhanced MetaFile)) generated by an application into print data in PDL (Page Description Language), and transmits the print data to the printer 120.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the printer 120 in the embodiment. The printer 120 includes a communication unit 121, a storage unit 122, a control unit 125, and a printer main body 141.

[0016] The communication unit 121 communicates with other devices. Here, the communication unit 121 receives print data from the host device 110 via the network 101. The received print data is provided to the control unit 125.

[0017] The storage unit 122 stores data and applications necessary for processing in the printer 120. The storage unit 122 includes at least a first storage unit 123 and a second storage unit 124.

[0018] The first storage unit 123 stores a plurality of candidate files each attached with a plurality of file names that can identify each of a plurality of data that are candidates to be selected according to the processing content of the processing when functioning as an information processing device, the printer 120. Here, each of the plurality of candidate files is an empty file with a file size of 0 in the initial state when first stored in the printer 120. In other words, the first storage unit 123 stores a plurality of candidate files consisting of empty files in the initial state. Then, as the processing is performed, the plurality of empty files are replaced with actual files having a file size larger than 0 by storing data. For this reason, the plurality of candidate files include at least one of an empty file and an actual file. As described above, the resource file is basically stored as an empty file with a file size of 0, and since the resource file to be used becomes an actual file, a state with ensured capacity can be maintained.

[0019] Also, in the first storage unit 123, an empty area where no data is stored is used as a work area when performing processing.

[0020] Here, since printer 120 functions as an information processing device, the process is printing. In the printing process, resource files are selectively used as selective usage files. Therefore, candidate files will include at least one of either an empty resource file (empty selective usage file) or a real resource file (real selective usage file).

[0021] Resource files store data used in the printing process, such as CMap (Character Map), character codes, fonts, and colors.

[0022] The second storage unit 124 stores compressed files, which are compressed files with reduced file size, obtained by compressing all selected files (actual files). Here, the second storage unit 124 stores a compressed resource file, which is a compressed version of the resource file. In other words, the second memory unit 124 stores multiple compressed files, each containing a different piece of data.

[0023] The specific configuration of the memory unit 122 will be explained in detail using Figure 3.

[0024] The control unit 125 controls the processing performed by the printer 120. For example, when processing, the control unit 125 refers to multiple filenames in the first storage unit 123 and selects one or more candidate files from multiple candidate files according to the processing content. If the selected one or more candidate files include an empty file with a file size of 0, the control unit 125 decompresses the compressed file corresponding to the empty file from among the multiple compressed files stored in the second storage unit 124 to generate an actual file with the same filename as the empty file. Furthermore, the control unit 125 replaces the empty file with the actual file in the first storage unit 123 and processes the data stored in the actual file using the free space in the first storage unit 123 as a working area.

[0025] Furthermore, the control unit 125 detects the free space in the first storage unit 123, and if the free space is less than a predetermined threshold, it performs a free space increase process to increase the free space by replacing at least one actual file among the multiple candidate files stored in the first storage unit 123 with a corresponding empty file.

[0026] The process of increasing available storage space may be performed before processes such as printing are carried out, or it may be performed periodically. If the process of increasing free space is performed before processes such as printing are carried out, then any actual files that are not selected in the processing steps should be replaced with empty files. Furthermore, if the process of increasing free space is performed periodically, it should be done based on the usage history of the candidate files. For example, the candidate file with the oldest last used date and time information, or the candidate file that has been used the fewest times in the past, should be replaced with a free file.

[0027] The control unit 125 comprises a data editing unit 126 and an expansion processing unit 140.

[0028] The data editing unit 126 edits the print data provided by the communications unit 121. The data editing unit 126 comprises a data analysis unit 127, a memory management unit 128, and an editing processing unit 136.

[0029] The data analysis unit 127 analyzes the print data provided by the communication unit 121. For example, the data analysis unit 127 analyzes the print data and obtains the PS (PostScript) operators specified in the print data.

[0030] The memory management unit 128 manages the memory unit 122. The processing in the memory management unit 128 will be described later with reference to Figures 3 and 4.

[0031] Figure 3 is a block diagram that schematically shows the configuration of the memory unit 122. As described above, the memory unit 122 comprises a first memory unit 123 and a second memory unit 124. In conventional technology, if all resource files are stored in the first storage unit 123 and the free space in the first storage unit 123 is used as a workspace for printing, the available workspace space may become insufficient, resulting in a memory full error.

[0032] Therefore, in this embodiment, all compressed resource files CF1, CF2, CF3, CF4, ... are stored in the second storage unit 124. When a resource file is needed for printing, the compressed resource file corresponding to the required resource file is decompressed, and the decompressed resource file, which is the actual resource file, is stored in the first storage unit 123.

[0033] The first memory unit 123 stores the resource file group RG. The resource file group RG initially consists of empty resource files EF1, EF2, EF3, EF4, ..., as shown in Figure 3. Each of the empty resource files EF1, EF2, EF3, EF4, ... uses a resource name, which is resource identification information used to identify the resources assigned to it, as its filename, but it does not actually store any resources; in other words, it is an empty file with a file size of 0 bytes. In short, each of the empty resource files EF1, EF2, EF3, EF4, ... is an empty data file with a filename that identifies the data it is supposed to store.

[0034] The number of empty resource files EF1, EF2, EF3, EF4, ... is the same as the number of compressed resource files CF1, CF2, CF3, CF4, ... and any of the empty resource files EF1, EF2, EF3, EF4, ... corresponds to any of the compressed resource files CF1, CF2, CF3, CF4, ... Here, empty resource file EF1 corresponds to compressed resource file CF1, empty resource file EF2 corresponds to compressed resource file CF2, empty resource file EF3 corresponds to compressed resource file CF3, and empty resource file EF4 corresponds to compressed resource file CF4.

[0035] Based on the analysis results from the data analysis unit 127, the memory management unit 128 generates resource files by decompressing the compressed resource files corresponding to the required resources when resources are needed. The memory management unit 128 then replaces the corresponding empty resource files with the generated resource files as actual resource files and stores them in the first storage unit 123.

[0036] For example, in the storage unit 122#1 shown in Figure 4, the compressed resource files CF3 and CF4 are decompressed and replaced with the empty resource files EF3 and EF4 shown in Figure 3, and the actual resource files RF3 and RF4 are stored in the first storage unit 123#1.

[0037] Here, the filenames of the actual resource files RF3 and RF4 represent the resources stored in each of them, and the filename of the actual resource file RF3 is the same as the filename of the empty resource file EF3, and the filename of the actual resource file RF4 is the same as the filename of the empty resource file EF4. In other words, the filename of an empty resource file is the resource name, which is data identification information that identifies the resource that will be stored in the corresponding actual resource file. The resource name is resource identification information that identifies the resource.

[0038] Figure 5 is a block diagram that schematically shows the configuration of the memory management unit 128. The memory management unit 128 includes a memory capacity detection unit 129 and a resource management unit 131.

[0039] The memory capacity detection unit 129 detects the available capacity of the first storage unit 123. The memory capacity detection unit 129 then determines that the memory is full if the free space in the first storage unit 123 is less than a predetermined threshold.

[0040] The resource management unit 131 manages the resource files stored in the storage unit 122. The resource management unit 131 includes a resource search unit 132, a resource reading unit 133, a new resource addition unit 134, and an actual resource deletion unit 135.

[0041] The resource search unit 132 searches for resource files from the first storage unit 123. For example, if the PS operator included in the print data is a resource search operator, the resource search unit 132 searches the first storage unit 123 for an empty resource file or an actual resource file identified by the resource name of the resource being searched.

[0042] The resource reading unit 133 reads the resource file from the first storage unit 123. For example, if the PS operator included in the print data is a resource read operator, the resource read unit 133 determines whether the resource file identified by the resource name of the resource being read is an empty resource file or an actual resource file. Then, if the resource file to be read is an empty resource file, the resource reading unit 133 identifies the corresponding compressed resource file in the second storage unit 124. Next, the resource reading unit 133 obtains the actual resource file by decompressing the identified compressed resource file. Next, the resource reading unit 133 replaces the empty resource file stored in the first storage unit 123 with the actual resource file by overwriting the empty resource file with the obtained actual resource file.

[0043] The new resource addition unit 134 stores the new resource file in the storage unit 122. For example, the new resource addition unit 134 generates a compressed resource file by compressing the resource file included in the print data when the PS operator included in the print data is the operator for adding new resources. The new resource addition unit 134 then stores the generated compressed resource file in the second storage unit 124. The new resource addition unit 134 also generates an empty resource file, which is an empty file corresponding to the resource file included in the print data, and stores this empty resource file in the first storage unit 123. Furthermore, resource files included in the print data are assumed to have the resource names of the resources stored in those resource files as their filenames. The new resource addition unit 134 can then use these filenames for empty resource files and compressed resource files as well.

[0044] Furthermore, the new resource addition unit 134 also generates a compressed resource file and an empty resource file corresponding to the newly added resource file when it receives an instruction to add a new resource separately from the print data. The new resource addition unit 134 then stores the generated compressed resource file in the second storage unit 124 and stores the generated empty resource file in the first storage unit 123. The new resource addition unit 134 can, for example, obtain instructions to add a new resource and the resource file to be added via the communication unit 121.

[0045] The actual resource deletion unit 135 deletes actual resource files stored in the first storage unit 123 by replacing them with corresponding empty resource files. This allows the actual resource deletion unit 135 to increase the free space in the first storage unit 123. For example, when the memory capacity detection unit 129 determines that the memory is full, the actual resource deletion unit 135 deletes unnecessary actual resource files from among the actual resource files stored in the first storage unit 123 by replacing them with corresponding empty resource files. Specifically, the memory capacity detection unit 129 detects the free space in the first storage unit 123 when executing a specific process (in this case, printing). Therefore, the actual resource deletion unit 135 only needs to determine that actual resource files not used in the content of that specific process are unnecessary actual resource files.

[0046] Then, the memory capacity detection unit 129 can increase the free space of the first storage unit 123 by deleting at least one unnecessary actual resource file as described above. In this example, the memory capacity detection unit 129 only needs to delete all actual resource files that it has determined to be unnecessary. However, this embodiment is not limited to such examples. For example, the memory capacity detection unit 129 may delete unnecessary actual resource files selected according to a predetermined rule until the memory full error is resolved. This predetermined rule may be to sort the unnecessary actual resource files by the length of time they have been unused, or by the size of the files.

[0047] Specifically, in the state of the storage unit 122#1 shown in Figure 4, if the memory capacity detection unit 129 detects that the memory is full and determines that the actual resource file RF4 is an unnecessary actual resource file, the actual resource deletion unit 135 deletes the actual resource file RF4 in the first storage unit 123#2 by replacing it with the corresponding empty resource file EF4, as shown in the storage unit 122#2 shown in Figure 6, thereby increasing the free capacity of the first storage unit 123#2.

[0048] Furthermore, the memory capacity detection unit 129 may periodically monitor the first storage unit 123 and delete actual resource files RF4 by replacing them with the corresponding empty resource files EF4 if the unused period exceeds a predetermined period, thereby increasing the free capacity of the first storage unit 123.

[0049] Returning to Figure 2, the editing processing unit 136 analyzes the print data and performs editing to generate drawing data that draws the image indicated in the print data onto an editing area of ​​the paper size specified in the print data, using the resources indicated in the print data. The generated drawing data is then provided to the unfolding processing unit 140.

[0050] The expansion processing unit 140 expands the image shown in the print data into the available space of the first storage unit 123 by drawing according to the drawing data from the editing processing unit 136. Furthermore, before unpacking the image into the first storage unit 123, the unpacking processing unit 140 causes the memory capacity detection unit 129 to check whether the memory is full.

[0051] The printer body 141 is a print execution unit that prints the image expanded in the first storage unit 123 onto a printing medium.

[0052] Some or all of the control unit 125 described above can be configured, for example, as shown in Figure 7(A), with a memory 10 and a processor 11 such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that executes the program stored in the memory 10. Such a program may be provided via a network or by being recorded on a recording medium. That is, such a program may be provided, for example, as a computer program product.

[0053] Furthermore, part or all of the control unit 125 can also be composed of processing circuits 12 such as a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmable processor, a programmable parallel processor, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), as shown in Figure 7(B). As described above, the control unit 125 can be implemented by a processing circuit network.

[0054] Although not shown in the diagram, the communication unit 121 can be implemented using a communication interface (Interface) such as a NIC (Network Interface Card). Furthermore, at least the first storage unit 123 can be implemented using volatile memory such as RAM (Random Access Memory). The second storage unit 124 may be implemented using RAM that functions as the first storage unit 123, or it may be implemented using non-volatile memory (auxiliary storage device) such as ROM (Read Only Memory), HDD (Hard Disk Drive), SSD (Solid State Drive), or eMMC (embedded Multi Media Card).

[0055] Figures 8 and 9 are flowcharts showing the operation of the printer 120 according to the embodiment. First, the communication unit 121 receives print data from the host device 110 (S10). The received print data is then provided to the data editing unit 126.

[0056] Next, the data analysis unit 127 of the data editing unit 126 analyzes the printed data (S11). The data analysis unit 127 selects one unselected PS operator from the print data according to the analysis results of step S11 (S12).

[0057] The resource search unit 132 of the memory management unit 128 determines whether the PS operator selected in step S12 is a resource search operator (S13). If the selected PS operator is a resource search operator (Yes in S13), the process proceeds to step S14; if the selected PS operator is not a resource search operator (No in S13), the process proceeds to step S15.

[0058] In step S14, the resource search unit 132 searches the first storage unit 123 for a resource file corresponding to the target resource. Then, the process proceeds to step S23. The resource search unit 132 processes operators such as filenameforall or resourceforall to search (enumerate) resource files, and uses filenames as the search target. Therefore, the resource search unit 132 searches only for filenames of empty resource files and actual resource files in the first storage unit 123. For this reason, it is not necessary for actual resource files to be stored in the first storage unit 123 when performing the search; empty resource files may be stored there.

[0059] In step S15, the resource reading unit 133 of the memory management unit 128 determines whether the PS operator selected in step S12 is a resource read operator. If the selected PS operator is a resource read operator (Yes in S15), the process proceeds to step S16; if the selected PS operator is not a resource read operator (No in S15), the process proceeds to step S19.

[0060] In step S16, the resource reading unit 133 of the storage management unit 128 determines whether the file size of the resource file to be read is 0 bytes. If the file size of the resource file to be read is 0 bytes (Yes in S16), the process proceeds to step S17. If the file size of the resource file to be read is not 0 bytes (No in S16), the process proceeds to step S18.

[0061] In step S17, the resource reading unit 133 generates an actual resource file by decompressing the corresponding compressed resource file stored in the second storage unit 124, since the resource file to be read in the first storage unit 123 is an empty resource file. Then, the resource reading unit 133 replaces the corresponding empty resource file in the first storage unit 123 with the generated actual resource file.

[0062] In step S18, the resource reading unit 133 reads the actual resource file, which is the resource file to be read, from the first storage unit 123. Then, the process proceeds to step S23.

[0063] In step S19, the new resource addition unit 134 of the memory management unit 128 determines whether the PS operator selected in step S12 is a resource file addition operator. If the selected PS operator is a resource file addition operator (Yes in S19), the process proceeds to step S20; if the selected PS operator is not a resource file addition operator (No in S19), the process proceeds to step S23.

[0064] In step S20, the new resource addition unit 134 compresses the resource files included in the print data to generate a compressed resource file, and also generates an empty resource file, which is an empty file with the same filename as the resource file. The new resource addition unit 134 then stores the compressed resource file generated in step S20 in the second storage unit 124. Furthermore, the new resource addition unit 134 stores the empty resource file generated in step S20 in the first storage unit 123. Then, the process proceeds to step S23.

[0065] In step S23, the data analysis unit 127 determines whether all PS operators included in the print data have been selected, according to the analysis results in step S11. If all PS operators have been selected (Yes in S23), the process proceeds to step S24 in Figure 9. If there are still PS operators that have not been selected (No in S23), the process returns to step S12. As a result, in step S12, one of the unselected PS operators is selected.

[0066] In step S24 of Figure 9, the editing processing unit 136 analyzes the print data and performs editing to generate drawing data that draws the image indicated in the print data onto an editing area of ​​the paper size specified in the print data, using the resources indicated in the print data. The generated drawing data is then provided to the unfolding processing unit 140.

[0067] Next, the memory capacity detection unit 129 determines whether the memory is full by detecting the available capacity of the first storage unit 123 (S25). If the first storage unit 123 is full (Yes in S25), the process proceeds to step S26; if the first storage unit 123 is not full (No in S25), the process proceeds to step S27.

[0068] In step S26, the actual resource deletion unit 135 of the memory management unit 128 identifies all actual resource files in the first memory unit 123 that are not used for printing the print data received in step S10 of Figure 8, and deletes all identified actual resource files by replacing them with corresponding empty resource files. Then the process proceeds to step S27.

[0069] In step S27, the expansion processing unit 140 expands the image shown in the print data into the available space of the first storage unit 123 by drawing according to the drawing data from the editing processing unit 136. The printer unit 141 then prints the unfolded image onto the printing medium (S28).

[0070] According to this embodiment, by storing resource files in a compressed form to minimize storage usage, it is possible to reduce storage capacity consumption. Furthermore, it becomes possible to dynamically register necessary resources, enabling appropriate control of available storage space. Increasing storage space reduces the occurrence of PDF memory overflows and allows for the addition of additional resources as needed.

[0071] Although the embodiment has been described above using printer 120, this embodiment is not limited to printer 120. This embodiment may be any image processing device having at least one of the following functions: copy function, scan function, print function, and fax function. [Explanation of symbols]

[0072] 100 Printing system, 110 Higher-level device, 120 Printer, 121 Communication unit, 122 Storage unit, 123 First storage unit, 124 Second storage unit, 125 Control unit, 126 Data editing unit, 127 Data analysis unit, 128 Memory management unit, 129 Memory capacity detection unit, 131 Resource management unit, 132 Resource search unit, 133 Resource reading unit, 134 New resource addition unit, 135 Actual resource deletion unit, 136 Editing processing unit, 140 Expansion processing unit, 141 Printer body.

Claims

1. A first storage unit stores multiple candidate files, each assigned a filename that identifies each of the multiple candidate data selected according to the processing content of the said process, A second storage unit that stores each of the aforementioned multiple data and stores multiple compressed files that are compressed, The control unit, which performs the above processing, includes: a first storage unit that, by referring to the plurality of file names, selects one or more candidate files from the plurality of candidate files according to the processing content of the above processing; if the one or more candidate files include an empty file with a file size of 0, decompresses the compressed file corresponding to the empty file from the plurality of compressed files to generate an actual file with the same file name as the empty file; and a control unit that replaces the empty file with the actual file in the first storage unit, uses the free space of the first storage unit as a working area, and performs the above processing using the data stored in the actual file. An information processing device characterized by the following.

2. Each of the aforementioned candidate files is an empty file with a file size of 0 in its initial state when first stored in the information processing device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by the following:

3. The control unit detects the available space and, if the available space is less than a predetermined threshold, performs a free space increase process to increase the available space by replacing at least one actual file among the plurality of candidate files with a corresponding empty file. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by the following:

4. The control unit performs the free capacity increase process before performing the above process. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, characterized by the following:

5. The control unit determines that the files not selected according to the processing content of the process are the at least one actual file. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, characterized by the above.

6. The control unit periodically performs the free space increase process based on the usage history of the multiple candidate files. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, characterized by the following:

7. The aforementioned process is a printing process that prints an image onto a medium. The actual file is a resource file used in the printing process. An information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by the following:

8. Computers, A first storage unit stores multiple candidate files, each assigned a filename that identifies each of the multiple candidate data selected according to the processing content of the said process. A second storage unit that stores each of the aforementioned multiple data and stores multiple compressed files, and When performing the above processing, the first storage unit refers to the multiple file names and selects one or more candidate files from the multiple candidate files according to the processing content of the above processing. If the one or more candidate files include an empty file with a file size of 0, the first storage unit decompresses the compressed file corresponding to the empty file from the multiple compressed files to generate an actual file with the same file name as the empty file. The first storage unit then replaces the empty file with the actual file and functions as a control unit that uses the free space of the first storage unit as a working area and performs the above processing using the data stored in the actual file. A program characterized by the following.

9. A first storage unit stores multiple candidate files, each assigned a filename that identifies each of the multiple candidate data selected according to the processing content of the said process, An information processing method performed by an information processing device comprising: a second storage unit that stores each of the aforementioned multiple data and stores a plurality of compressed files that are compressed, When performing the above processing, the first storage unit refers to the plurality of file names and selects one or more candidate files from the plurality of candidate files according to the processing content of the above processing, If one or more candidate files include an empty file with a file size of 0, then the compressed file corresponding to the empty file among the multiple compressed files is decompressed to generate an actual file with the same filename as the empty file. In the first storage unit, the empty file is replaced with the actual file, and the free space in the first storage unit is used as a working area to perform the processing using the data stored in the actual file. An information processing method characterized by the following.

Images