Information processing device, control method for information processing device, and program

Abstract

To provide an image forming apparatus described in the specification of the present application that allows the image forming apparatus to receive data converted into an appropriate format for processing in the image forming apparatus according to the details of the data even if the data can be processed in the image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus described in the present specification is an information processing apparatus that transmits print data to an image forming apparatus, and has: receiving means that receives, from the image forming apparatus, information indicating processing that can be executed in the image forming apparatus; determination means that, based on the received information, determines whether to convert the print data to print data in a predetermined format; conversion means that, based on the determination, converts the print data to the print data in the predetermined format not including predetermined processing of the processing that can be executed in the image forming apparatus; and transmission means that transmits the print data after the conversion to the image forming apparatus.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device, a control method for the information processing device, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] When print data is sent from a client terminal such as a mobile terminal to an image forming device and the image forming device interprets and prints the print data, it is necessary for the client terminal to send print data in a format that can be interpreted by the image forming device. Therefore, the client terminal image forming device acquires capability information indicating which format of image data it can interpret, generates data in a format based on the acquired capability information, and transmits it to the image forming device. For example, if the image forming device cannot interpret data in PDF format, the client terminal performs rendering processing, generates data in raster data format, and transmits it to the image forming device. On the other hand, if the image forming device can interpret data in PDF format, it generates data in PDF format, transmits it to the image forming device, and performs rendering processing in the image forming device (Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-185549 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Depending on the rendering method and data interpretation method that the image forming device can execute, the image forming device may take a long time to interpret and render the data including a specific drawing process sent from a client. Also, depending on the process, the image forming device may perform alternative processing, resulting in an output that is different from the intended image.

[0005] In view of the above problems, the present invention aims to enable an image forming device to receive data that can be processed by the image forming device, but that has been converted into a format suitable for processing by the image forming device depending on the content of the data. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The information processing apparatus described in this specification is an information processing apparatus that transmits print data to an image forming apparatus, the information processing apparatus comprising: a receiving unit that receives information indicating a process that the image forming apparatus can execute from the image forming apparatus; When the print data includes a command that requires a specific process among processes that the image forming apparatus can execute, converting the print data into print data in a predetermined format; and A determination means for determining the command and a transmission means for transmitting the print data converted into the predetermined format to the image forming apparatus. The predetermined process includes at least an alternative process that is executed for a predetermined object when the predetermined object is included in the print data. It is characterized by: Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the above configuration, even if the data is capable of being processed by the image forming device, the image forming device can receive data that has been converted into a format suitable for processing by the image forming device depending on the content of the data. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration in the present embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of hardware blocks of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware block of a client terminal in the present embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a software module of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 5]FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of software modules of a client terminal in the present embodiment. [Figure 6] 5 is a sequence diagram showing a series of processes from searching for an image forming apparatus to printing in the present embodiment. FIG. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart showing a device search process executed by a client terminal in the present embodiment. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart of a print data optimization process executed by a client terminal in the present embodiment. [Figure 9] 11 is a flowchart of a PDF load analysis process executed by a client terminal in the first embodiment. [Figure 10] 13 is a flowchart of a print setting influence analysis process executed by a client terminal in the first and second embodiments. [Figure 11] 11 is a flowchart showing a process in which the image forming apparatus sets device capabilities in the first embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a device capability information table managed by a client terminal in the first embodiment. [Figure 13] 13 is a flowchart of a PDF load analysis process executed by a client terminal in the second embodiment. [Figure 14] 13 is a flowchart of a device capability calculation process executed by an image forming apparatus in a second embodiment. [Figure 15] 13 is a device capability information table managed by a client terminal in the second embodiment. [Figure 16] 13 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the client terminal 102 in the third embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of an alternative process performed by an image forming apparatus in a fourth embodiment. [Figure 18] 13 is a flowchart of a device capability calculation process executed by an image forming apparatus in a fourth embodiment. [Figure 19]13 is a device capability information table managed by a client terminal in the fourth embodiment. [Figure 20] 13 is a flowchart showing a process executed by a client terminal in the fourth embodiment. [Figure 21] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a process executed by a client terminal to determine whether or not to perform format conversion in the fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] <Example 1> Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] In the printing system according to the embodiment of the present invention, the processing performance of the image forming device to which the print job is submitted is defined as a processing allowance attribute in the controller of the image forming device and the processing allowance attribute is stored internally. When the image forming device is referenced from the client terminal to transmit the print job, the client terminal obtains the processing allowance attribute from the image forming device and references it when transmitting the print job.

[0011] The client terminal estimates the drawing processing cost of the image forming device when print data is input as a print job in PDF format, by referring to the processing allowance attribute acquired from the image forming device. The processing allowance attribute stores information required for estimating the drawing processing cost. In this embodiment, object placement information that increases the processing load of the rendering process and object type information that increases the processing load of the interpreting process are stored in the processing allowance information. The details of the drawing processing cost estimation method will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. 9. If the result of estimating the drawing processing cost indicates that the drawing-related processing will not be able to keep up with the printing speed if the print job is executed in PDF format, the client terminal controls switching of the data format so as to generate the print job in raster format.

[0012] Furthermore, even if it is estimated that the processing load is smaller when executed in raster format, depending on the print settings applied to the print job, the client terminal may generate the print job using the PDF format. For example, when print settings such as blank page saving, object type image processing, and edge emphasis are applied to raster format data, image processing in raster format imposes a higher processing load than image processing in PDF format. In such a case, the client terminal generates a print job in PDF format instead of raster format and sends it to the image forming device.

[0013] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0014] <System configuration diagram> An example of the configuration of a system according to the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 1. The system according to this embodiment has an image forming apparatus 101 and a client terminal 102. The image forming apparatus 101 is connected to a plurality of client terminals 102 via a network 103.

[0015] The image forming apparatus 101 is a multifunction machine having various functions such as scanning, faxing, printing, and copying, or a printer having only a printing function.

[0016] The client terminal 102 is an information processing device owned by a user, such as a PC, a mobile phone, a PDA, a multi-function mobile phone (hereinafter, a smartphone), a tablet, etc. The client terminal 102 transmits print data to the image forming apparatus 101 via a network 103.

[0017] The network 103 is a wireless or wired network configured as a WAN or LAN.

[0018] <Hardware block diagram of image forming apparatus> Fig. 2 is a hardware block diagram for explaining the configuration of the image forming apparatus 101 of this embodiment. In Fig. 2, reference numeral 200 denotes a controller unit that controls input and output of image signals and device information.

[0019] A central processing unit (CPU) 201 reads out a program stored in an auxiliary storage device 203 into a main storage device 202 and executes the program. The central processing unit 201 is composed of one or more processors. The central processing unit 201 performs overall control of each device connected to a system bus 212.

[0020] The main storage device 202 functions as a main memory and a work memory for the central processing unit 201 .

[0021] The auxiliary storage device 203 is also used for the purpose of temporarily or long-term storage of large amounts of data.

[0022] The RIP 204 is a software module or dedicated hardware that expands intermediate print data into a raster image, and is capable of processing intermediate print data generated on the main storage device 202 by the central processing unit 201 at high speed.

[0023] A network I / F 205 is connected to the network 103, and is responsible for inputting and outputting print data and device information from and to the outside of the image forming apparatus.

[0024] The operation unit I / F 206 is an interface with the operation unit 208, and outputs image data to be displayed on the operation unit 208 to the operation unit 208. The operation unit I / F 206 also transmits information input by a user of the present apparatus from the operation unit 208 to the central processing unit 201.

[0025] The device I / F 207 outputs image signals, issues device operation instructions, and receives device information based on instructions from the central processing unit 201. The controller unit 200 is connected to a printer engine 209 via the device I / F 207.

[0026] The operation unit 208 includes a liquid crystal panel and a sound source as output devices, and includes a touch panel, hard keys, and a microphone as input devices.

[0027] The printer engine 209 is a module that outputs an image signal from the controller unit 200 onto a medium. In this specification, the printer engine 209 may form an image using either an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method.

[0028] <Client terminal hardware block diagram> FIG. 3 is a hardware block diagram for explaining the configuration of the client terminal 102 of this embodiment.

[0029] A central processing unit (CPU) 301 reads out a program stored in an auxiliary storage device 303 into a main storage device 302 and executes the program. The central processing unit 301 is composed of one or more processors. Furthermore, the central processing unit 301 comprehensively controls each device connected to a system bus 307.

[0030] The main memory device 302 functions as a main memory and a work memory for the central processing unit 301 .

[0031] The auxiliary storage device 303 stores the operating system (OS) and various control program bodies. The auxiliary storage device 303 is also used for the purpose of temporarily or long-term storage of large-capacity data, so print documents transmitted to the image forming device 101 are stored in this area.

[0032] The network I / F 304 is connected to the network 103 and connects the client terminal 102 to an external information terminal via a wired or wireless network.

[0033] The operation unit I / F 305 is an interface with the operation unit 306, and outputs image data to be displayed on the operation unit 306 to the operation unit 306. 3 05 transmits information input by the user of this apparatus via the operation unit 306 to the central processing unit 301 .

[0034] The operation unit 306 includes a liquid crystal panel and a sound source as output devices, and includes a touch panel, hard keys, and a microphone as input devices.

[0035] In addition to the above modules, disk drives for portable disk recording media such as CDs and DVDs, memory readers / writers for portable non-volatile recording media such as flash memory and microSD may also be connected to the system bus 307.

[0036] <Image forming device software module diagram> 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of software modules of the image forming apparatus 101 in this embodiment. Each software module shown in FIG. 4 is stored as a program in the auxiliary storage device 203, loaded into the main storage device 202, and executed by the central processing unit 201.

[0037] The transmission / reception unit 401 receives print data from the network I / F 205 .

[0038] The data interpretation unit 402 reads the print data received from the transmission / reception unit 401 via the control unit 403, mark The drawing information of the print data is interpreted. The drawing information extracted as a result of this data interpretation process is sent to the renderer 404 via the control unit 403 and is used for rendering processing.

[0039] The control unit 403 is responsible for overall control of various processes in this embodiment, including reception of print data, data interpretation, image rendering, management of terminal information and print setting information (to be described later), and remote setting screen control.

[0040] A renderer 404 generates a bitmap image using the RIP 204 from the drawing information sent from the data interpretation unit 402. The generated bitmap image is sent to the printer engine via the device I / F 207, and image formation processing is performed on printing paper.

[0041] Capability Information Management Department 4 The capability information management unit 405 holds and manages information on processing allowance attributes, which are performance indicators of the image forming apparatus, as described below, as capability information. In response to a capability response communication request from the client terminal, the capability information management unit 405 transmits capability information to the client terminal. Note that this capability information includes the content of the processing that the image forming apparatus 101 can execute, setting information of the image forming apparatus 101, etc.

[0042] <Client terminal software module diagram> Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of software modules of the client terminal 102 in this embodiment. Each software module shown in Fig. 5 is stored as a program in the auxiliary storage device 303, loaded into the main storage device 302, and executed by the central processing unit 301.

[0043] The transmission / reception unit 501 transmits print data via the network I / F 205 .

[0044] A print data generating unit 507 generates print data in PDF format based on a user operation to start printing.

[0045] A data conversion unit 502 converts the print data in PDF format generated by a print data generation unit 507 into print data in raster format based on the calculation result of a processing load calculation unit 504. After the data conversion, the print data is transmitted from a transmission / reception unit 501 to the image forming apparatus 101 via a control unit 503.

[0046] The control unit 503 is responsible for overall control of each process in this embodiment, from receiving device capability information, to holding and managing capability information, to processing load calculation and data conversion control according to the result.

[0047] A processing load calculation unit 504 references the capability information of the target image forming apparatus from a capability information management unit 505, and estimates the processing load when print data is executed in PDF format or raster format.

[0048] A capability information management unit 505 holds and manages the allowable processing attributes of the image forming apparatus 101 registered in the client terminal 102 as capability information, which will be described later. Note that the capability information also includes information on the settings of the image forming apparatus 101, and is managed here.

[0049] The device search unit 506 searches for devices capable of communicating with the client terminal 102. For example, the device search unit 506 controls the OS of the client terminal 102 or software installed in the client terminal, and detects image forming devices connected to the same network as the client terminal 102. Although the present embodiment describes the detection of image forming devices connected to the same network, the device search unit 506 may detect devices connected to different networks as long as the devices are capable of communicating with the client terminal 102.

[0050] <Sequence diagram of this embodiment> Next, the overall sequence from transmission and reception of device capability information, processing load calculation, print data optimization, transmission and reception of print data, and execution of print processing in this embodiment between the client terminal 102 and the image forming apparatus 101 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0051] First, in S101, the client terminal 102 searches for the image forming device 101 connected to the same network. The client terminal 102 searches for the image forming device 101 using a search function of the OS or a search function of the software installed in the client terminal.

[0052] Next, in S102, the image forming apparatus 101 returns a response to the client terminal 102 indicating that they are connected within the same network.

[0053] Next, in S103, the client terminal 102 requests device capability information, which is a processing allowance attribute indicating the processing performance of the image forming apparatus 101, from the image forming apparatus 101 that returned the connection response.

[0054] Next, in S104, the image forming apparatus 101 sets device capabilities. The device capabilities include object arrangement information that causes a large rendering processing load and object type information that causes a high interpreter processing load. The object arrangement information that causes a large rendering processing load is set based on the rendering method adopted by the image forming apparatus 101. Furthermore, the object type information that causes a high interpreter processing load is set based on the interpreter method adopted by the image forming apparatus 101. Note that, in this embodiment, this process is performed in association with a device capability information request from the client terminal 102, but the timing is not limited to this. For example, the device capabilities may be calculated internally during an initial startup sequence when the image forming apparatus 101 is powered on for the first time, and then stored.

[0055] Next, in step S105, the image forming apparatus 101 transmits the set capability information to the client terminal .

[0056] Next, in S106, the client terminal 102 registers the information of the image forming device 101 including the received capability information in a registration list of image forming devices managed by the client terminal 102.

[0057] When the user operates the client terminal 102 and issues a print instruction from an application installed on the client terminal 102, the processes from S107 onwards are executed.

[0058] Next, in S107, the client terminal 102 converts the print data to be printed into a PDF in order to execute the print job. Note that this sequence diagram is expressed in a form in which the image forming device registration sequence (S101 to S106) and the print job submission sequence (S107 to S111) are separated. However, this may be implemented as a single sequence. If the image forming device registration and the print job submission are performed in succession, no predetermined period occurs between S106 and S107.

[0059] Next, in S108, the client terminal 102 analyzes the contents of the generated PDF print data, and estimates the processing load and drawing processing cost by referring to the capability information of the image forming apparatus 101 to which the data is to be input.

[0060] Next, in S109, the client terminal 102 determines whether to adopt the PDF format or the raster format for the print data based on the processing load estimation result in S108, and optimizes the data format.

[0061] Next, in S110, the client terminal 102 transmits a print job including the generated print data to the image forming apparatus 101.

[0062] Next, in S111, the image forming apparatus 101 executes a print job based on the received print data.

[0063] Through the above sequence, the client terminal 102 and the image forming apparatus 101 transmit and receive device capability information in this embodiment, calculate the processing load, optimize print data, transmit and receive print jobs, and perform print processing.

[0064] <Details of processing load and drawing processing cost estimate> As described above, the processing allowance attributes stored in the Capability information indicating the processing performance of the image forming apparatus 101 store information required for the client terminal 102 to estimate the drawing processing cost. In this invention, an example is described in which object placement information that increases the processing load of rendering processing and object type information that increases the processing load of interpretation processing are stored in the processing allowance attributes.

[0065] The object placement information that increases the processing load of the rendering process is the maximum number of objects permitted on one page, or the maximum number of overlaps between objects permitted on one page.

[0066] In this embodiment, the rendering process will be described using two types of methods, the scanline method and the painter's method, as examples. The scanline method is a method in which the drawing target area is divided into scanline areas, and the overlapping of objects contained in the areas is calculated to perform rendering processing on only the display area. Since the scanline method is a method in which only the display area is rendered, it is not assumed that the processing load will increase depending on the number of objects contained in one page. On the other hand, the more overlapping objects there are, the longer the calculation processing time will be. Therefore, when the scanline method is selected in the image forming device 101, the client terminal 102 determines whether the rendering processing load in the image forming device is high or not based on the number of overlapping objects.

[0067] On the other hand, the Painter's method is a method in which all objects included in one page are rendered on an object-by-object basis, starting with the object with the lowest overlap level. The Painter's method has a simple algorithm, and is less affected by the number of overlaps between objects included in one page. On the other hand, in the Painter's method, the number of objects included in one page is related to the processing speed of the image forming device 101. Therefore, when the Painter's method is selected in the image forming device 101, the client terminal 102 determines whether the rendering processing load in the image forming device is high or not based on the number of objects included in one page.

[0068] As for the object type information that increases the processing load of the interpretive process, the object type corresponding to the interpretive process method set in the image forming apparatus 101 is set.

[0069] In this embodiment, the interpretation process of PDF data will be described using two types of methods, PDFtoPS and DirectPDF, as examples. The PDFtoPS method is a method in which PDF data is converted to PS (PostScript) format once and then processed by a PS interpreter. When converting PDF data to PS format, it takes time to convert objects of types not supported by the PS format. For example, in order to convert a transparent drawing object not supported by the PS format to PS format, a drawing process is required to reproduce the transparent drawing in a pseudo manner, which takes time. In addition, it also takes time to convert an ICCBased color space object in the PDF format, which is not supported by the PS format, to a CIEBased color space object in the PS format. When the PDFtoPS method is adopted as the interpretation process, the client terminal 102 judges whether the interpretation process load in the image forming device is high or not based on the number of transparent objects and ICCBased color space objects.

[0070] On the other hand, in the DirectPDF method, which directly interprets PDF format data, it takes time to process ICCBased color space objects with transparency attributes. Therefore, when the DirectPDF method is adopted as the interpreter processing method, the client terminal 102 determines whether the interpreter processing load in the image forming device is high based on the number of ICCBased color space objects with transparency attributes.

[0071] In addition, in an OS adopted in a highly functional mobile terminal such as a smartphone, which is assumed as an embodiment of a client terminal of the present invention, control of a print job sequence using IPP attributes is performed in a standard print function. In this embodiment, an example of an IPP attribute that handles the processing allowable attribute and capability information described in the present invention is “pdf-fe a The specifications of these IPP attributes are assumed to be extensions of "print-content-supported" and "print-content-optimize." The specifications of these IPP attributes are extended to store object placement information that increases the processing load of the rendering process, object type information that increases the processing load of the interpretation process, and the like, to control the print job sequence.

[0072] <Flowchart of device search process> Next, the flow of device search processing of the client terminal 102 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0073] By registering in advance various information about the image forming device 101 to which a job is to be submitted when printing image data, the client terminal 102 is able to select the image forming device to be used for printing when the print job is submitted. Therefore, the client terminal 102 searches for image forming devices that exist within the same network, receives device capability information related to the detected image forming device, and registers it in the internal list. If the process from device search to registration has been performed once before the job is executed, it will not be performed thereafter.

[0074] This flow starts when the client terminal 102 starts searching for an image forming device in the same network. The program for executing the flow chart shown in Fig. 7 is realized by the central processing unit 301 executing a program stored in the main storage device 302 or the auxiliary storage device 303 of the client terminal 102.

[0075] First, in S1001, the device search unit 506 starts searching for an image forming device within the same network. The device search unit 506 runs the OS of the client terminal 102 or an application installed in the client terminal 102, and searches for an image forming device that the client terminal 102 can use for printing. Note that the device search in S1001 only needs to detect an image forming device that the client terminal 102 can use for printing, and an image forming device on a network different from that of the client terminal 102 may be detected.

[0076] Next, in S1002, the device search unit 506 determines whether or not an image forming device has been detected. If an image forming device has been detected, the device search unit 506 advances the process to S1003. If an image forming device has not been detected, the device search unit 506 returns the process to S1001 and repeats the process.

[0077] In S1003, the capability information management unit 505 transmits a request for device capability information to the image forming apparatus detected by the search, and receives the device capability from the image forming apparatus. The device capability received here describes the types of image processing and post-processing that the image forming apparatus can execute. Furthermore, the device capability describes parameters and thresholds for determining the processing load according to the interpretation method in the image forming apparatus, and object types and thresholds for high loads according to the rendering method. In this embodiment, by acquiring the parameters for determining the processing load and the types of objects with high processing loads, the client terminal 102 can determine the format of image data to be transmitted to the image forming apparatus 101.

[0078] In step S1004, the capability information management unit 505 registers the device capability information received from the image forming apparatus in an internal list. The device capability received by the client terminal 102 is managed, for example, in a table described later with reference to FIG.

[0079] When the registration process of the image forming apparatus is completed, this flow ends.

[0080] Through the above process, the device search process of the client terminal 102 is executed.

[0081] In this embodiment, device search is performed when the image forming apparatus 101 is registered in the client terminal 102. Device search may be performed every time a print instruction is issued from an application of the client terminal 102, and information on the image forming apparatus to which the client terminal 102 can connect may be obtained.

[0082] <Flowchart of device capability generation process> Here, the process in which the image forming apparatus generates the device capability acquired in S1003 in Fig. 7 will be described with reference to Fig. 11. The flowchart shown in Fig. 11 is started when the image forming apparatus 101 receives a request to acquire the device capability from the client terminal 102. Moreover, a program for executing the process shown in Fig. 11 is stored in the main storage device 202 and the auxiliary storage device 203, and is realized by the central processing unit 201 executing the program.

[0083] In S5001, the capability information management unit 405 determines whether the rendering method that the image forming apparatus 101 can execute is the scanline method or the painter's method. Note that the rendering method that the image forming apparatus 101 can execute is a method that is set at the time of shipment from the factory and cannot be changed by the user. If the rendering method is the scanline method, the capability information management unit 405 advances the process to S5002. If the rendering method is the painter's method, the capability information management unit 405 advances the process to S5003.

[0084] In S5002, the capability information management unit 405 sets the number of overlapping objects as a parameter for determining the rendering processing load and the number of objects as a threshold in the device capability. Note that the threshold set here is a predetermined value.

[0085] In S5003, the capability information management unit 405 sets the number of objects included in one page as a parameter for determining the rendering processing load and sets the threshold value in the device capability. Note that the threshold value set here is a predetermined value.

[0086] In S5004, the capability information management unit 405 determines whether the interpretation method of the image data received from the client terminal 102 is the PDFtoPS method or the DirectPDF method. The interpretation method is a method that the user can set by operating the operation unit of the image forming apparatus 101. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the user sets the interpretation method, but the interpretation method may be determined at the time of shipment from the factory and cannot be changed by the user. If the interpretation method is the DirectPDF method, the capability information management unit 405 advances the process to S5005. If the interpretation method is the PDFtoPS method, the capability information management unit 405 advances the process to S5006.

[0087] In S5005, the capability information management unit 405 sets an ICCBased color space object having a transparent attribute as an object with a high processing load of interpretation processing in the device capability. Furthermore, when there is an object of the above type, the capability information management unit 405 sets a threshold value for determining whether or not the processing load is high in the device capability. The threshold value is a predetermined value.

[0088] In S5006, the capability information management unit 405 sets an object having a transparent attribute and an ICCBased color space object as objects having a high processing load of interpretation processing in the device capability. Furthermore, when there are objects of the above types, the capability information management unit 405 sets a threshold value for determining whether or not the processing load is high in the device capability. The threshold value is a predetermined value.

[0089] In S5007, the capability information management unit 405 determines whether or not the blank page save function is enabled. The blank page save function is a function that prevents blank pages in image data from being output, and is a function that the user can set to be enabled or disabled. If the blank page save function is set to be enabled, the capability information management unit 405 adds, in S5008, to the device capability that the blank page save function is set to be enabled. If the blank page save function is set to be disabled, the capability information management unit 405 adds, in S5009, to the device capability that the blank page save function is set to be disabled.

[0090] In S5010, the capability information management unit 405 determines whether or not per-object image processing is enabled. Per-object image processing is a function that changes the image processing used in a document that contains a mixture of photographs, text, and graphics according to the attributes of each of them. If per-object image processing is enabled, in S5011 the capability information management unit 405 adds to the device capability that per-object image processing is enabled. If per-object image processing is disabled, in S5012 the capability information management unit 405 adds to the device capability that per-object image processing is disabled.

[0091] In S5013, the capability information management unit 405 determines whether edge emphasis is enabled. Edge emphasis processing is processing for enhancing the edges of characters and objects. If edge emphasis processing is enabled, in S5014 the capability information management unit 405 adds information that edge emphasis is enabled to the device capability. If edge emphasis processing is disabled, in S5015 the capability information management unit 405 adds information that edge emphasis is disabled to the device capability.

[0092] S5007~S501 5 By performing the process described above, it is possible to add, to the device capability, capability information required for determining whether or not the image processing device will take a long time to process image data in raster format when the image processing device receives the image data.

[0093] S501 6 In step S203, the capability information management unit 405 determines the device capability information as the print setting information.

[0094] S501 7 In step S204, the capability information management unit 405 transmits the determined device capability information to the requesting client terminal 102. When the device capability information transmission process is completed, this flow ends.

[0095] Through the above process, the image forming apparatus 101 executes the device capability calculation process in this embodiment.

[0096] In this embodiment, the process shown in Fig. 11 is started based on the reception of a request to acquire device capabilities from the client terminal 102. The process shown in Fig. 11 may be executed periodically or at a predetermined timing such as when the image forming apparatus is turned on or returns from sleep mode.

[0097] <Device Capability Information Table> Next, the data structure of the device capability information table in this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 12. The table shown in Fig. 12 is a table for the client terminal 102 to manage the device capabilities received from the image forming apparatus 101.

[0098] The device capability information table in FIG. 12A is a table that manages a list for each printer name of an image forming device, and stores information that is referenced to determine whether or not to calculate a rendering processing load.

[0099] The "Printer Name" is the name of the image forming device that sent the device capability. The Printer Name may be an identification number unique to each image forming device. The "parameter (threshold) for determining the processing load" is a parameter for determining whether the processing load is high or not, which is determined based on the rendering method of each image forming device, and the parentheses indicate the threshold. In this embodiment, the number of overlapping objects on one page or the number of objects included in one page is used as a parameter according to the rendering processing method of the image forming device. For example, in the case of Printer A, if the maximum number of overlapping objects on one page exceeds 10, the print data is determined to be data with a high processing load due to rendering. The "high-load object (threshold)" is a type of object with a high processing load, which is determined based on the interpreting method of the printer, and the parentheses indicate the threshold. For example, in the case of Printer A, if the number of ICCBased objects with a transparent attribute included in one page exceeds five, the print data is determined to be data with a high load due to interpreting. Note that, in the case of Printer B, when multiple types of objects are set as types of objects with high loading, the threshold for the total number of the multiple types of objects is described in parentheses.

[0100] The device capability information table in FIG. 12(B) is managed in a list for each printer name of the image forming device, and is used to determine whether the processing load is likely to increase when the print data is converted to a raster format. FIG. 12(B) is also set based on the device capability acquired from the image forming device 101. "Printer Name" is the name of each image forming device as in FIG. 12(A), and may be the identification number of each image forming device. "Blank paper saving" indicates whether the blank paper saving function is enabled in the image forming device. "Image processing by object" indicates whether image processing by object is enabled in the image forming device. "Edge emphasis" indicates whether edge emphasis processing is enabled in the image forming device. In this way, FIG. 12(B) stores the respective setting values ​​for the setting items of the image forming device.

[0101] <Flowchart of Print Data Optimization Processing> Next, the print data optimization process executed when the client terminal 102 accepts a print instruction will be described with reference to FIG. 8. When the client terminal receives a print request from a user, it generates print data in PDF format. It estimates the drawing processing load in PDF format from the drawing object structure and device capability information of the converted PDF data, and judges whether the PDF processing load can keep up with the print speed of the image forming device. If the PDF processing load cannot keep up with the print speed of the image forming device, the client terminal judges whether the image forming device is set to a high processing load for image data in raster format. If the processing load is not set to a high processing load, the client terminal converts the PDF data into raster format and sends it to the image forming device.

[0102] A program for executing the processing described in this flowchart is stored in the main storage device 302 or the auxiliary storage device 303, and the processing is realized by the central processing unit 301 executing the program.

[0103] When the client terminal 102 receives a print request from a user, this flow starts.

[0104] In step S2001, the print data generating unit 507 generates print data in PDF format based on the document data to be printed and print settings.

[0105] In S2002, the processing load calculation unit 504 estimates the processing load when the PDF data generated in S2001 is processed. The details of this process will be described later with reference to Fig. 9. In S2002, the processing load calculation unit 504 executes the process shown in Fig. 9 and calculates the predicted processing time for each page.

[0106] In S2003, the processing load calculation unit 504 checks whether the maximum value of the predicted processing time calculated in S2002 is equal to or exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Is it more than or equal to It is determined whether the processing load of the PDF data is within a certain threshold. That's all. If so, the processing load calculation unit 504 advances the process to S2004. less than If so, the processing load calculation unit 504 advances the process to S2007.

[0107] In S2004, the processing load calculation unit 504 performs a setting analysis process of the image forming device based on the device capability to determine whether the image forming device is configured to take a long time to analyze image data in raster format. The process performed by the processing load calculation unit 504 in S2004 will be described later with reference to FIG.

[0108] In S2005, the processing load calculation unit 504 determines whether to perform conversion to the raster format based on the determination result of S2004. If it is determined that the setting of the image forming apparatus 101 is a setting that takes time to process raster format data, the processing load calculation unit 504 determines not to perform the conversion process to the raster format and proceeds to S2007. If it is determined that the setting of the image forming apparatus 101 is not a setting that takes time to analyze raster format data, the processing load calculation unit 504 determines to perform the conversion to the raster format and proceeds to S2006.

[0109] In S2006, the data conversion unit 502 converts the PDF format image data generated in S2001 into the format of print data in the raster format. Here, the data in PDF format is rasterized and reconverted into the raster format, but if the original image data can be referenced, it may be possible to generate raster format image data without going through the PDF format. By generating raster format print data in S2006, it is possible to prevent the print data transmitted to the image forming apparatus from including drawing commands with a high load on the drawing process in the image forming apparatus.

[0110] In S2007, the transmission / reception unit 501 transmits a print job including the generated print data to the image forming apparatus 101. When the transmission process of the print job is completed, this flow ends.

[0111] Through the above processing, the print data optimization process of the client terminal 102 in this embodiment is executed. By doing so, even when the image forming apparatus supports PDF format data, when the interpretation process and rasterization process in the image forming apparatus take time, the rasterization process can be performed on the client terminal.

[0112] <Flowchart of PDF load analysis process> Next, the flow of the PDF load analysis process by the client terminal 102 in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 9. Before inputting a print job to an image forming apparatus, the client terminal 102 performs internal syntax analysis of print data created in PDF format by preflight to analyze what attributes, how many objects are included, and in what arrangement. Based on information extracted from the PDF data and device capability acquired from the image forming apparatus, the client terminal 102 determines whether the PDF data is PDF data that will take a long time to process in the image forming apparatus. This flow starts when the client terminal 102 starts the process of S2002 in FIG. 8. The process described in FIG. 9 is realized by the central processing unit 301 of the client terminal 102 executing a program stored in at least one of the main storage device 302 and the auxiliary storage device 303.

[0113] In S3001, the processing load calculation unit 504 performs internal syntax analysis of the PDF data generated in S2001 by preflight. The processing load calculation unit 504 identifies the type and number of objects included in the PDF data from drawing commands included in one page of PDF data.

[0114] In S3002, the processing load calculation unit 504 refers to the device capability information of the image forming apparatus to which the print job is to be submitted, which information was acquired during the device search process in FIG.

[0115] In S3003, the processing load calculation unit 504 judges whether or not the page has a high processing load for rendering processing based on the result of the preflight internal structure analysis of the PDF data in S3001. The processing load calculation unit 504 judges whether or not the page has a high processing load based on the parameters and thresholds for judging the processing load shown in the table shown in FIG. 12A. For example, in the case of Printer A shown in FIG. 12A, it is judged whether or not the number of overlapping objects in one page exceeds 10. If the number of overlapping objects exceeds 10, the processing load calculation unit 504 judges that the page has a high processing load. On the other hand, if the number of overlapping objects is 10 or less, the processing load calculation unit 504 judges that the page does not have a high processing load. Also, in the case of Printer C, if the number of objects in one page exceeds 15, the processing load calculation unit 504 judges that the page has a high processing load. On the other hand, if the number of objects included in one page is 15 or less, the processing load calculation unit 504 judges that the page does not have a high processing load. If the page has a high processing load, the processing load calculation unit 504 advances the process to S3004. If the page does not have a high processing load, the processing load calculation unit 504 advances the process to S3005.

[0116] In S3004, the processing load calculation unit 504 calculates the predicted processing time for a page determined to have a high processing load. The processing load calculation unit 504 calculates the predicted processing time for the page by multiplying the processing time per object included in the device capability information by the number of objects extracted in S3001. For example, assume that there are 20 overlapping objects in Printer A. If the device capability specifies that each object requires 3 seconds, the processing load calculation unit 504 calculates that the processing time is 3*20 = 60 seconds. Note that the time estimated to be required to process one object is a value determined in advance based on a simulation or the like. Note that the calculation of the predicted processing time for a page determined to have a high processing load is not limited to the above method, and other known methods may be used.

[0117] In S3005, the processing load calculation unit 504 calculates, from the result of the preflight internal structure analysis of the PDF data in S3001, whether the number of objects with a high processing load for the interpreting process is greater than or equal to a threshold value. Exceed Then, the processing load calculation unit 504 determines whether the number of objects of the type specified by the device capability in the page is greater than the threshold value specified by the device capability. In S3005, the processing load calculation unit 504 determines whether the PDF data includes a command corresponding to the object of the type notified by the device capability. Furthermore, the processing load calculation unit 504 compares the number of drawing commands included in the PDF data with the threshold value notified by the device capability. If the interpretation method adopted by the target image forming device is the PDFtoPS method, the processing load calculation unit 504 compares the number of objects having a transparent attribute and objects in the ICCBased color space with the threshold value. If the interpretation method adopted by the target image forming device is the DirectPDF method, the processing load calculation unit 504 compares the objects having a transparent attribute and in the ICCBased color space with the threshold value. If the total number of objects of the type with a high processing load exceeds the threshold value, the processing load calculation unit 504 advances the process to S3006. If the total number of objects with high processing loads is equal to or less than the threshold, the processing load calculation unit 504 advances the process to S3007. For example, in the case of Printer A in FIG. 12A, if the number of ICCBased objects with a transparency attribute exceeds five, the processing load calculation unit 504 advances the process to S3006. On the other hand, if the number of ICCBased objects with a transparency attribute is five or less, the processing load calculation unit 504 advances the process to S3007. 3 Move on to 007.

[0118] In S3006, the processing load calculation unit 504 calculates the predicted processing time for the rendering process. The processing load calculation unit 504 calculates the predicted rendering process time by multiplying the processing time per object of the type having a high processing load included in the device capability information by the number of objects extracted in S3001. For example, assume that the processing time per rendering process for Printer A is 4 seconds, and there are 20 objects of the type having a high processing load. The processing load calculation unit 504 calculates 4*20=80 seconds as the predicted processing time. Note that the time estimated to be required to process one object is a value determined in advance based on a simulation or the like. Note that the method of calculating the predicted processing time is not limited to the above method, and a known method may be used.

[0119] In S3007, the processing load calculation unit 504 calculates the processing time per page from the processing time calculated in S3004 and S3006. The processing load calculation unit 504 calculates the predicted processing time for one page by adding the predicted processing time calculated in S3004 and the predicted processing time calculated in S3006 together. In this embodiment, the sum of the predicted times calculated in S3004 and S3006 is the predicted processing time for one page, but the calculation method for the predicted processing time for one page is not limited to the above. For example, in S3004 and S3006, the predicted processing time is calculated using the results of simulating the processing time of an image forming apparatus with a standard hardware configuration. In S3007, the processing load calculation unit 504 may estimate the processing time taking into account the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus. For example, when the device capability describes that the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus performs processing at 1.2 times the speed of the standard hardware configuration, the processing load calculation unit 504 predicts the processing time by the following method. The processing load calculation unit 504 divides the sum of S3004 and S3006 by 1.2 to predict the processing time per page.

[0120] In S3008, the processing load calculation unit 504 determines whether or not there is an unprocessed page. If there is an unprocessed page, the processing load calculation unit 504 returns the process to S3001, and executes the processes of S3001 to S3007 for the next page. If there is no unprocessed page, the processing load calculation unit 504 ends the process shown in Fig. 9. By executing the process shown in Fig. 9, it is possible to obtain the predicted processing time for each page. Note that in S2003 in Fig. 8, the maximum value of the predicted processing time obtained in Fig. 9 is compared with a threshold value.

[0121] Through the above-described processing, the PDF load analysis processing of the client terminal 102 in this embodiment is executed. The processing time per object used in S3004 and S3006 may be stored in advance in the information processing device, or may be notified by the image forming device in the device capability.

[0122] <Print setting impact analysis process flowchart> Next, the flow of print setting influence analysis processing by the client terminal 102 in this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 10. In this invention, when the data structure of PDF data generated for a print job is such that the processing load of the image forming device is high, rendering is performed on the client terminal side and the print job of the raster image is input to the image forming device. However, there are settings of the image forming device, such as blank page saving, object type image processing, and edge emphasis function, which require pixel calculation processing for drawing object discrimination processing when input in raster format, and which actually increase the processing load. The client terminal refers to the settings of the image forming device and decides whether or not to convert to raster format.

[0123] This flow starts when the client terminal 102 starts the process of S2004. The process described in this flow chart is realized by the central processing unit 301 of the client terminal 102 executing a program stored in at least one of the main storage device 302 and the auxiliary storage device 303.

[0124] In S4001, the processing load calculation unit 504 refers to the setting information of the image forming apparatus included in the device capability information.

[0125] In S4002, the processing load calculation unit 504 determines whether blank page save is disabled in the setting information. If it is disabled, the process proceeds to S4003. If it is enabled, the process proceeds to S4005.

[0126] In S4003, the processing load calculation unit 504 determines whether the object type image processing is disabled. If it is disabled, the process proceeds to S4004. If it is enabled, the process proceeds to S4005.

[0127] In S4004, the processing load calculation unit 504 determines whether the edge emphasis function is disabled. If it is disabled, the processing ends. If it is enabled, the processing proceeds to S4005.

[0128] In S4005, the processing load calculation unit 504 stores that the image forming apparatus is set to take a long time to process raster images. In this way, when the image forming apparatus is set to take a long time to process raster images, it is possible to prevent the client terminal from converting PDF format data to raster format. After S4005, the processing load calculation unit 504 ends the setting analysis process of the image forming apparatus. In FIG. 10, when any one of the blank paper saving function, object-specific image processing, and edge emphasis is set to be enabled, the processing load calculation unit 504 determines that the setting is set to take a long time to process raster images. The processing load calculation unit 504 may determine that the setting is set to take a long time to process raster images only when multiple functions among the above functions are enabled.

[0129] By executing the above process, the PDF format data can be analyzed, and if it is estimated that interpreting or rendering in the image forming device will take a long time, rendering can be performed in the client terminal. mark By converting the format of the print data, interpretation and rendering processes are not performed in the image forming device, and the time required for printing can be reduced.

[0130] <Example 2> In the first embodiment, the image forming apparatus 101 is configured to store, as device capability information, drawing object arrangement and type information that results in a high processing load in the rendering and interpretation method that the image forming apparatus 101 employs, and provide the information to the client terminal 102. However, instead of selecting and setting drawing object arrangement and type information that results in a high processing load as device capability information, the image forming apparatus 101 may simply notify the client terminal 102 of the rendering and interpretation method to be employed. In that case, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained by estimating the processing load by determining the drawing object arrangement and type that results in a high processing load from the rendering and interpretation method information included in the device capability information on the client terminal 102 side.

[0131] Therefore, in the second embodiment, rendering and interpretation method information is stored in the device capability information, and a means for realizing this is described in a configuration in which the processing load is estimated by determining drawing object arrangement and type information that will increase the processing load from that information.

[0132] <Flowchart of device capability calculation process> First, the process shown in FIG. 14, which is executed in place of the process shown in FIG. 11 in the first embodiment, will be described.

[0133] Fig. 14 shows a process for setting a device capability that the image forming apparatus 101 notifies the client terminal 102. This flow starts when the image forming apparatus 101 receives a device capability transmission request from the client terminal 102. Fig. 14 is realized by the central processing unit 201 executing a program stored in at least one of the main storage device 202 and the auxiliary storage device 203. Note that the same processes as in Fig. 11 are denoted by the same reference numerals as in Fig. 11.

[0134] In S5001, the capability information management unit 405 determines whether the rendering method it employs is the scanline method or the painter's method. If it is the scanline method, the capability information management unit 405 advances the process to S5102. If it is the painter's method, the capability information management unit 405 advances the process to S5103.

[0135] In S5102, the capability information management unit 405 determines the rendering method to be the scan line method and sets the rendering method information in the device capability.

[0136] In S5103, the capability information management unit 405 determines the rendering method to be the painter's method and sets the rendering method information in the device capability.

[0137] In S5004, the capability information management unit 405 determines whether the interpretation method it employs is the PDFtoPS method or the DirectPDF method. If it is the DirectPDF method, the capability information management unit 405 advances the process to S5105. If it is the PDFtoPS method, the capability information management unit 405 advances the process to S5106.

[0138] In S5105, the Capability information management unit 405 sets the interpreter algorithm included in the device Capability to DirectPDF.

[0139] In S5106, the Capability information management unit 405 sets the interpreter algorithm included in the device Capability to PDFtoPS.

[0140] S5007 - S501 7 Since it is the same process as that in FIG. 11, the description is omitted.

[0141] Through the above processing, the device Capability calculation process by the image forming apparatus 101 in the present embodiment is executed.

[0142] In S1003 of the device search process shown in FIG. 7, the client terminal 102 receives the device Capability generated in FIG. 14 and stores it in the table shown in FIG. 15(A).

[0143] FIG. 15(A) is a table in which the rendering and interpreter methods adopted by the image forming apparatus 101 are held for each printer name in terms of the renderer algorithm and PDF interpreter algorithm items.

[0144] <Flowchart of PDF load analysis process> Using FIG. 13, the flow of the PDF load analysis process by the client terminal 102 in the present embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, the device Capability information obtained from the image forming apparatus 101 includes what the rendering and interpreter methods are, and does not include the drawing object arrangement and type information that increase the processing load. Therefore, the client terminal 102 sets the drawing object arrangement and type information that increase the processing load from the notified device Capability. Here, the same reference numerals are given to the same processes as those in FIG. 9, and the description of the processes common to FIG. 9 is omitted.

[0145] The program for executing the processing shown in FIG. 13 is stored in the main storage device 302 or the auxiliary storage device 303, and is realized by the central processing unit 301 executing the program.

[0146] This flow starts when the client terminal 102 receives a print instruction from a user.

[0147] In S3002, the processing load calculation unit 504 refers to the device capability information of the image forming apparatus to which the print job is submitted, which information was acquired during the device search process in Fig. 7. The processing load calculation unit 504 refers to the table shown in Fig. 15(A) to identify the rendering algorithm.

[0148] In S3103, the processing load calculation unit 504 determines whether the rendering method adopted by the image forming apparatus 101 to which the input is submitted is the scanline method or the painter's method. If it is the scanline method, the processing load calculation unit 504 advances the process to S3104. If it is the painter's method, the processing load calculation unit 504 advances the process to S3105.

[0149] In S3104, the processing load calculation unit 504 uses the number of overlaps between objects included in one page as a parameter for determining the processing load in the rendering process, and sets a threshold value for that. In S3105, the processing load calculation unit 504 uses the number of objects in one page as a parameter for determining the processing load in the rendering process, and sets a threshold value for that. In S3104 and S3105, the processing load calculation unit 504 refers to a pre-stored table shown in Fig. 15(B) and determines the parameters to be used when determining the processing load and the threshold value for that. In Fig. 15(B), parameters and threshold values ​​to be used when determining whether the processing load is high or not are stored for each rendering method.

[0150] In S3106, the processing load calculation unit 504 determines whether the interpretation method adopted by the image forming apparatus 101 of the input destination is the PDFtoPS method or the DirectPDF method. If it is the DirectPDF method, the processing load calculation unit 504 advances the process to S3107. If it is the PDFtoPS method, the processing load calculation unit 504 advances the process to S3108.

[0151] In S3107, the processing load calculation unit 504 sets the object type having a high processing load as an interpretive process as having a transparent attribute and being an ICCBased color space object. Furthermore, in S3107, the processing load calculation unit 504 sets a threshold value used for determining whether or not the processing load is high. In FIG. 13, an object having a transparent attribute and an ICCBased color space object is described as TYPE A. In S3108, the processing load calculation unit 504 sets the object type having a high processing load as an interpretive process as an object having a transparent attribute or an ICCBased color space object. Furthermore, in S3108, the processing load calculation unit 504 sets a threshold value used for determining whether or not the processing load is high. In FIG. 13, an object having a transparent attribute or an ICCBased color space object is described as TYPE B. S3107 and S3108 are executed based on the table shown in FIG. 15(C) that is stored in advance in the image forming apparatus.

[0152] The processes in S3003 to S3008 are similar to those in the first embodiment, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0153] Through the above processing, the PDF load analysis processing of the client terminal 102 in this embodiment is executed.

[0154] According to the first and second embodiments of the present invention described above, the format of print data can be controlled so that printing can be performed without performing processing with a high processing load on the image forming apparatus.

[0155] <Example 3> In the above-mentioned first and second embodiments, the load coefficient is calculated when the image forming apparatus 101 receives image data in the PDF format generated by the client terminal 102, and if the processing load on the image forming apparatus 101 is deemed high, conversion to a raster image is performed. In the third embodiment, a method for more easily determining whether or not to convert to a raster image is performed will be described. In the third embodiment, the image forming apparatus 101 acquires arrangement information and object type information of objects with high processing loads as device capabilities. The client terminal 102 converts the image data in the PDF format into image data in the raster format if the generated image data in the PDF format satisfies the object arrangement with high processing loads or includes an object of a type with high processing load. Note that the contents shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 7, FIG. 11, and FIG. 12 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0156] Fig. 16 is a flowchart showing the processing performed by the client terminal 102 in the third embodiment. A program for executing each process described in Fig. 16 is stored in at least one of the main storage device 302 and the auxiliary storage device 303 of the client terminal 102, and the central processing unit 301 executes the program to realize the processing. Note that the same processes as those in Figs. 8 and 9 are given the same reference numerals as those in Figs. 8 and 9, and their explanations will be omitted. Note that in the preflight in S3001, the processing load calculation unit 504 obtains the type and number of objects contained and the number of overlapping objects for each page of the generated PDF.

[0157] In S6003, the processing load calculation unit 504 determines whether the number of objects included in one page of the PDF data exceeds a threshold value specified in the device capability. In S6003, if the parameter for determining the processing load is the number of objects on one page, and there is a page on which the number of objects on one page exceeds the threshold value, the processing load calculation unit 504 advances the process to S2006. In S6003, if the standard of the processing load is the number of objects on one page, and the number of objects on one page is equal to or less than the threshold value, the processing load calculation unit 504 advances the process to S6004. Note that, if the number of overlapping objects is specified as a parameter for determining the processing load in the device capability, the processing load calculation unit 504 advances the process to S6004 without comparing the number of objects on one page with the threshold value. Also, the threshold value used in S6003 may be 1.

[0158] In S6004, the processing load calculation unit 504 determines whether the maximum number of overlapping objects per page of PDF data exceeds a threshold. If the number of overlapping objects per page is specified as a parameter for determining the processing load, and there is a page where the number of overlapping objects per page exceeds the threshold, the processing load calculation unit 504 advances the process to S2006. If the number of overlapping objects per page is specified as a parameter for determining the processing load in S6004, and the number of overlapping objects per page is equal to or less than the threshold, the processing load calculation unit 504 advances the process to S6005. Note that if the number of objects is specified as a parameter for determining the processing load in the device capability acquired from the image forming apparatus 101, the processing load calculation unit 504 advances the process to S6005 without making the determination described in S6004.

[0159] Next, the processing load calculation unit 504 determines whether the PDF data includes an object of a type specified in the device capability as an object with a high processing load. If the PDF data includes a drawing command corresponding to an object with a high processing load, the processing load calculation unit 504 advances the process to S6006. If the PDF data does not include an object of a type with a high processing load, the processing load calculation unit 504 advances the process to S2007.

[0160] In S6006, the processing load calculation unit 504 judges whether or not the number of objects of a type having a high load included in one page exceeds a threshold value. If the number of objects of a type having a high load included in one page exceeds the threshold value, the processing load calculation unit 504 advances the process to S2006. If the number of objects of a type having a high load included in one page is equal to or less than the threshold value, the processing load calculation unit 504 advances the process to S2007. Note that the threshold value here may be 1. In this embodiment, after judging in S6005 whether or not the PDF data includes an object having a high processing load in the image forming apparatus, it is judged whether or not the number of the objects exceeds the threshold value. If the judgment in S6006 is not performed and an object having a high load is included, the processing may advance to S2006 regardless of the number of objects.

[0161] By doing this, when there is a possibility that the interpreter process and rendering process in the image forming apparatus 101 will take a long time, it is possible to perform up to the rasterization process in the client terminal and transmit the raster image to the image forming apparatus.

[0162] In the third embodiment, unlike the first and second embodiments, the image forming apparatus does not perform a setting analysis process before performing a conversion process to a raster image. The process described in S2004 of FIG. 8 may be performed before the conversion to the raster format in S2006, and whether or not to perform the conversion to the raster format may be determined according to the result. In the third embodiment, the processes described in S6004 and S6005 may not be performed, and only S6005 and S6006 may be performed. In this case, the client terminal performs the rendering process in the client terminal when the rendering process in the image forming apparatus takes a long time, regardless of whether the interpreting process in the image forming apparatus takes a long time. In the third embodiment, the process determines whether or not the PDF data includes an object of a type with a high processing load in S6005. Then, when it is determined that the PDF data includes an object of a type with a high processing load, it is determined whether or not the number of objects of a type with a high processing load exceeds a threshold. In accordance with the determination that the PDF data includes an object of a type with a high processing load in S6005, regardless of the number of objects, the process may proceed to S2006. In the above case, if the device capability includes an object type that imposes a high processing load on the image forming apparatus, the device capability does not need to include a threshold value.

[0163] In this way, in the third embodiment, it is possible to switch whether or not to perform rasterization processing at the client terminal based on the arrangement and number of objects included in the PDF data, without calculating the load coefficient or the processing time per page.

[0164] <Example 4> In the above-described embodiments, an example was given in which, when performing drawing that takes time in image processing, the client performs the image processing. Among the processes sent from the client terminal, there are processes that the image forming apparatus cannot execute and that convert the process into another process and execute it. If the image processing apparatus substitutes the process, a drawing process different from the drawing assumed by the client apparatus is executed. Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, an object is to suppress the drawing instruction for which the image forming apparatus substitutes the process from being included in the print data sent from the client apparatus.

[0165] In this embodiment, an example focusing on image quality instead of the drawing processing load is given.

[0166] Due to limitations of the hardware installed in the image forming apparatus, etc., the image forming apparatus replaces a specific image processing function with a different process and performs the process. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a process replaced by the image forming apparatus as described above.

[0167] FIG. 17(A) is a diagram showing an alternative process when the received print data, which is PDF data, includes an instruction to draw characters of a font not installed in the image forming apparatus. Here, an alternative process is performed in which drawing of a font not included in the image forming apparatus is replaced with another font installed in the image forming apparatus.

[0168] 601 in FIG. 17(A) shows a drawing result when the PDF data is displayed in the specified font. On the other hand, 602 shows a drawing result when an alternative process is performed using the built-in font of the image forming apparatus. In 602 after the alternative process, the character indicating the parenthesis of the character "year (Heisei)" overlaps with the character "Heisei" in 602. This is because the proportional font with different character widths for each character included in the PDF data is used by the image forming apparatus for the characters ofThis occurs when the PDF data is expanded with a font of the same width. In some cases, the drawing start position of each character may be specified in the PDF data. In this case, the drawing start position of each character included in the PDF data is set based on the font width when the PDF data was generated. However, if the font used by the image forming device for font expansion changes, the width when drawing symbols such as parentheses changes from when the PDF data was generated, and characters and symbols may overlap, as shown in FIG. 17(A). If the PDF data sent by the client terminal includes a font that the image forming device will replace, the client terminal converts the PDF data into raster data and sends it to the image forming device.

[0169] FIG. 17B is a diagram showing an example of a substitution process executed by an image forming apparatus when rendering a transparent object. Normally, the transparency process is before A specified color profile is applied to the color values ​​of the object placed on the front side and the color values ​​of the object placed on the back side to perform color conversion, and then a transparent composition process is performed taking into account the transparency.

[0170] However, since PDF supports a variety of color spaces, such as Device color space, ICCBased color space, and Special color space, the image forming device may not have transparency processing that corresponds to the color space of the received print data. In this case, the image forming device may perform processing to draw a pattern such as 604 instead of transparency processing.

[0171] FIG. 17B shows a case where a 50% transparency attribute is specified for an area 603 where a white rectangle and a black rectangle overlap. In order to simulate a transparent expression, the image forming device arranges white and black rectangles in a checkerboard pattern as shown in 604. 605 is a partially enlarged view of 604. By arranging the rectangles so that the arrangement ratio is 50:50, a 50% transparent expression is simulated. The transparency ratio can be changed in a simulated manner by using a pattern image in which the ratio of white rectangles to black rectangles is changed. When performing printing processing with an image forming device that employs such pseudo-transparency processing, it is more desirable in terms of image quality to perform appropriate transparency synthesis processing on the client terminal side and input the print data to the image forming device in raster format.

[0172] 17C shows an example of color conversion in an alternative color space for an object with a spot color specification. A spot color is a color specified by a special color specification other than the CMYK process colors. For example, a shiny color such as gold or silver.

[0173] In an image forming device that does not have a process for reproducing a spot color in a color that can be output by the image forming device, the process for reproducing the spot color is instead processed by color conversion in a specific default color space. In the above image forming device, a specific color conversion process that the image forming device has is performed on the CMYK signal values ​​specified together with the spot color, and the CMYK values ​​at the time of output are determined.

[0174] 17C shows an object designated with a spot color and the result of substitution processing. 606 and 607 are objects designated with a spot color. 608 and 609 are objects after 606 and 607 have been subjected to substitution processing. As can be seen from 608 and 609, substitution processing can result in the loss of color differences with adjacent objects. Therefore, when printing PDF data containing spot colors, it is more desirable in terms of image quality to perform appropriate spot color matching processing on the client terminal and input the data in raster format to the image forming device.

[0175] In this embodiment, depending on the presence or absence of such an object related to image quality, the data format of the print data is switched between the PDF format and the raster format.

[0176] <Flowchart of device capability generation process> In the fourth embodiment, the sequence from when a client terminal searches for an image forming device to when printing is performed is generally the same as that shown in Fig. 6. In the fourth embodiment, the setting of device capabilities in S104 in Fig. 6 corresponds to the process shown in Fig. 18, and the calculation of the processing load in S108 corresponds to the process shown in Fig. 21.

[0177] First, the process of generating device capabilities by the image forming apparatus in the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 18. This flowchart starts when the image forming apparatus 101 receives a request to acquire device capabilities from the client terminal 102. Programs for executing the processes shown in Fig. 18 are stored in the main storage device 202 and the auxiliary storage device 203, and are realized by the central processing unit 201 executing the programs. Note that the same processes as those shown in Fig. 14 are shown in Fig. 14 The same reference numerals are used and the explanation is omitted.

[0178] In S9001, the capability information management unit 405 determines whether the image forming apparatus 101 is an apparatus that performs alternative spot color processing, which processes an object with a spot color designation in a default color space. If the image forming apparatus 101 is an apparatus that performs alternative spot color processing, the capability information management unit 405 advances the process to S9002. If the image forming apparatus is an apparatus that does not perform alternative spot color processing, the capability information management unit 405 advances the process to S9003. Note that whether the image forming apparatus performs processing to convert spot colors in a default color space may be set in advance for each model, or may be set by the user as a device setting.

[0179] In S9002, the capability information management unit 405 additionally sets the alternative spot color as an item to be executed as an alternative process by the capability information management unit 405 itself in the device capability.

[0180] In S9003, the capability information management unit 405 determines whether the image forming apparatus 101 is an apparatus that performs substitution processing of a transparent object as pseudo-transparency processing. If the image forming apparatus 101 is an apparatus that performs pseudo-transparency processing, the capability information management unit 405 advances the process to S9004. If the image forming apparatus 101 is an apparatus that does not perform pseudo-transparency processing, the capability information management unit 405 advances the process to S9005. Note that whether or not each apparatus performs substitution processing of replacing a transparent object with a pattern image may be set for each model, or may be set by the user after shipment.

[0181] In S9004, the capability information management unit 405 adds pseudo-transparency processing to the device capability as an item to be performed by the capability information management unit 405 as an alternative process.

[0182] In S9005, the capability information management unit 405 determines whether the image forming apparatus 101 is an apparatus that substitutes and replaces non-embedded font objects with printer-resident fonts. If the apparatus is one that performs substitution and replacement processing with printer-resident fonts, the capability information management unit 405 advances the process to S9006. If the apparatus is one that does not perform substitution and replacement processing with printer-resident fonts, the capability information management unit 405 advances the process to S5015. Note that whether or not to perform substitution processing to replace a specific font included in PDF data with a font stored in the image forming apparatus may be set for each model, or may be set by the user.

[0183] In S9006, the capability information management unit 405 adds a font substitution process using a printer-internal font to the device capability as an item to be performed as a substitution process by the capability information management unit 405. Note that in S9006, the capability information management unit 405 adds information indicating a font to be subjected to the substitution process to the device capability.

[0184] S501 6 , S501 7 The process in is the same as that in FIG.

[0185] Through the above process, the image forming apparatus 101 executes the device capability calculation process in this embodiment.

[0186] In this embodiment, the process shown in Fig. 18 is started based on the reception of a request to obtain device capabilities from the client terminal 102. The process shown in Fig. 18 may be executed periodically or at a predetermined timing such as when the image forming apparatus is turned on or returns from sleep mode.

[0187] <Device Capability Information Table> Next, the data structure of the device capability information table in this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 19. The table shown in Fig. 19 is a table for the client terminal 102 to manage the device capabilities received from the image forming apparatus 101.

[0188] The device capability information table in FIG. 19 is a table that manages a list for each printer name of an image forming apparatus, and stores information to be referenced for determining what kind of alternative processing a device is to perform.

[0189] "Printer Name" is the name of the image forming device that sent the device capability. The printer name may be an identification number unique to each image forming device. "Alternative process" holds the alternative process performed by each image forming device for each function.

[0190] 19, Printer A performs font substitution, pseudo-transparency processing, and substitute spot color as substitution processing. Furthermore, Printer A stores information that, when it is described in the PDF data that character code is to be rendered with Font A, the character code is to be rendered with another font.

[0191] Similarly, the table indicates that Printer B performs font substitution and substitute spot color as substitution processes, and Printer C performs pseudo-transparency processing and substitute spot color as substitution processes.

[0192] The client terminal 102 references the information on the alternative processing included in this device capability and determines whether the print data format should be PDF format or raster format. This is determined based on whether a non-embedded font object exists for font substitution, whether a transparency attribute designation object exists for pseudo-transparency processing, and whether a spot color designation object exists for alternative spot color.

[0193] <Flowchart of Print Data Optimization Processing> Next, the print data optimization process executed when the client terminal 102 accepts a print instruction in the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 20. When the client terminal receives a print request from a user, it generates print data in PDF format. It is determined whether there is an object to which alternative processing is applied based on the drawing object structure and device capability information of the converted PDF data. If there is an object to which alternative processing is applied, the client terminal converts the PDF data into a raster format and transmits it to the image forming device.

[0194] A program for executing the processing described in this flowchart is stored in the main storage device 302 or the auxiliary storage device 303, and the processing is realized by the central processing unit 301 executing the program.

[0195] This flow starts when the client terminal 102 receives a print request from a user. Note that the same processes as those in Figures 8 and 9 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in Figures 8 and 9, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0196] The processes in S2001 and S2006 are the same as those in FIG.

[0197] The processing in S3001 and S3002 is shown in Fig. 9 is the same as:

[0198] In S7001, the processing load calculation unit 504 executes a determination process to determine whether or not the generated PDF data includes an object that is to be subjected to substitution processing by the image forming apparatus. The details of the determination process will be described later with reference to FIG.

[0199] In S7002, the processing load calculation unit 504 refers to the determination result of S7001 and determines whether or not an object to which alternative processing is applied exists in the PDF data. If an object to which alternative processing is applied exists, the processing load calculation unit 504 advances the process to S2006. In S2006, a process of converting the generated PDF data into raster data is executed. If an object to which alternative processing is applied does not exist, the processing load calculation unit 504 advances the process to S2007. In this case, the client terminal 102 transmits the generated PDF data to the image forming apparatus as is.

[0200] The process in S2007 is the same as that in FIG.

[0201] FIG. 21 shows the process executed by the processing load calculation unit 504 in S7001 of FIG.

[0202] A program for executing the processing described in this flowchart is stored in the main storage device 302 or the auxiliary storage device 303, and the processing is realized by the central processing unit 301 executing the program.

[0203] In S2101, the processing load calculation unit 504 refers to the device capability of the image forming apparatus to which the image data is to be sent, and determines whether or not the capability is included for substituting another color conversion process for the spot color conversion process. For example, if the printer to be used for printing is "Printer A", the processing load calculation unit 504 refers to the table shown in FIG. 19, and determines whether or not "substitute spot color" is included in the substitution process of Printer A. If the device capability indicates that the color conversion process of the spot color is substituted with another process, the processing load calculation unit 504 advances the process to S2102. If the device capability does not indicate that the color conversion process of the spot color is substituted with another process, the processing load calculation unit 504 returns to S210 3 Proceed to processing.

[0204] In S2102, the processing load calculation unit 504 determines whether or not the PDF data generated in S2001 includes an object that specifies a spot color. The processing load calculation unit 504 refers to the PDF data and determines whether or not the PDF data includes characters and figures that specify a spot color. If it is determined that the PDF data includes an object that specifies a spot color, the processing load calculation unit 504 advances the process to S2107. If the PDF data does not include an object that specifies a spot color, the processing load calculation unit 504 advances the process to S2103.

[0205] In S2103, the processing load calculation unit 504 refers to the device capability of the image forming apparatus to which the image data is to be sent, and determines whether or not the capability is included which indicates that an alternative process is to be performed to replace transparent processing with a pattern image. For example, when the printer to be used for printing is "Printer A", the processing load calculation unit 504 refers to the table shown in FIG. 19, and determines whether or not "pseudo-transparent processing" is included in the alternative processes of Printer A. When the device capability indicates that transparent processing is to be replaced with drawing of a pattern image, the processing load calculation unit 504 advances the process to S2104. When the device capability does not indicate that transparent processing is to be replaced with drawing of a pattern image, the processing load calculation unit 504 advances the process to S2105.

[0206] In S2104, the processing load calculation unit 504 determines whether or not an object for which transparent processing is specified is included in the PDF data generated in S2001. If an object for which transparent processing is specified is included, the processing load calculation unit 504 advances the process to S2107. If an object for which transparent processing is specified is not included, the processing load calculation unit 504 advances the process to S2105.

[0207] In S2105, the processing load calculation unit 504 refers to the device capability of the image forming device to which the image data is to be sent. The processing load calculation unit 504 determines whether the referred device capability includes a capability for performing substitution processing to convert a specific font into another font that the image forming device can convert. For example, when the printer to be used for printing is "Printer A", the processing load calculation unit 504 refers to the table shown in FIG. 19 and determines whether "font substitution" is included in the substitution processing of Printer A. When the capability indicating the substitution processing to convert a specific font into another font that the image forming device can convert is included, the processing load calculation unit 504 advances the process to S2106. When the capability indicating the substitution processing to convert a specific font into another font that the image forming device can convert is not included, the processing load calculation unit 504 ends the flow shown in FIG. 21.

[0208] In S2106, the processing load calculation unit 504 determines whether or not the PDF data generated in S2001 includes a command that specifies a specific font. The specific font is a font specified in the device capability. For example, when the image forming device used for printing is "Printer A", "Font A" specified in the font substitution among the substitution processes corresponding to Printer A in FIG. 19 is the specific font. Note that the specific font may be one or more types. When the PDF data includes a command that specifies a specific font, the processing load calculation unit 504 advances the process to S2107. When the PDF data does not include a command that specifies a specific font, the processing load calculation unit 504 ends the flow described in FIG. 21.

[0209] In S2107, the processing load calculation unit 504 stores a flag indicating that the PDF data contains an object to be alternatively processed by the image forming apparatus in the auxiliary storage device 303. In S7002 of Fig. 20, the processing load calculation unit 504 makes a determination based on the flag stored in S2107.

[0210] Through the above-described processing, the print data optimization processing in the present embodiment is executed by the client terminal 102. In this manner, when the PDF data contains an object to which substitution processing is applied in the image forming device, the rasterization processing can be performed by the client terminal.

[0211] <Other embodiments> In the above embodiment, if it is determined that the processing load is high, it is determined whether the image forming apparatus is set to a setting that takes a long time to process in raster format. However, if it is determined that the processing load in PDF format is high without performing this determination, conversion to raster format may be performed.

[0212] In the above embodiment, the device capabilities are obtained from the image forming device at the timing of device search. The timing of obtaining the device capabilities is not limited to the above timing. For example, the device capabilities may be obtained from the selected image forming device at the timing when the image forming device to be used for printing is selected in the client terminal 102. Also, the device capabilities may be obtained from the image forming device based on an instruction to execute printing from the user in the client terminal 102.

[0213] In the above-mentioned first to third embodiments, the format conversion is performed when the PDF data generated by the client terminal includes an object that imposes a high processing load on the image forming device. In the fourth embodiment, the format conversion is performed when the image forming device is likely to execute a predetermined alternative process on the PDF data generated by the client terminal. The format conversion may be performed when the PDF data generated by the client terminal includes an object that imposes a high processing load on the image forming device or when the PDF data is likely to execute a predetermined alternative process on the image forming device.

[0214] The present invention can also be realized by executing the following process. That is, software (programs) that realize the functions of the above-mentioned embodiments are supplied to a system or device via a network or various storage media, and the computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or device reads and executes the program code. In this case, the computer program and the storage medium on which the computer program is stored constitute the present invention.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus for transmitting print data to an image forming apparatus, a receiving means for receiving information indicating a process that the image forming apparatus can execute from the image forming apparatus; a determining unit that determines to convert the print data into print data of a predetermined format when the print data includes a command that requires a predetermined process among processes that the image forming apparatus can execute; a conversion means for converting the print data into print data of a predetermined format that does not include the command based on the determination by the determination means; a transmitting means for transmitting the print data converted into the predetermined format to the image forming apparatus; having The predetermined process includes at least an alternative process that is executed for a predetermined object when the predetermined object is included in the print data.

23. An information processing apparatus comprising:

2. The information processing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the specified processing includes drawing processing of an object that has a high processing load in the image forming device.

3. 3. The information processing device according to claim 1, further comprising: a determining unit that determines that the print data is a page with a high processing load based on a result of a preflight internal structure analysis of the print data; and determining that the print data is to be converted into print data of a predetermined format.

4. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the page with a high processing load is a page in which the number of commands is equal to or greater than a predetermined number.

5. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the page with a high processing load is a page in which a number of overlapping objects within one page is equal to or greater than a predetermined number.

6. the predetermined format is a raster format, 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conversion means converts the print data in PDF format into print data in raster format.

7. 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the received information is determined based on an interpretation method used by the image forming apparatus to interpret the print data.

8. 8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the received information is information that the image forming apparatus determines based on a renderer algorithm of the print data.

9. The image forming apparatus further includes a search unit for searching for an image forming apparatus.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the receiving unit receives the information from an image forming apparatus detected by the search.

10. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the substitution process is a process of converting characters included in the print data received from the information processing apparatus into a font different from a predetermined font designated in the print data.

11. 2 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the substitution process is a process of replacing a transparent object included in the print data received from the information processing apparatus with a drawing of a pattern image and printing the replaced transparent object.

12. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the substitution process is a process of executing a color conversion process for a color specified in a predetermined format included in the print data received from the information processing apparatus, the color being specified in a format different from the predetermined format.

13. An image forming apparatus capable of communicating with an information processing apparatus, a receiving means for receiving a request for capability information of the image forming apparatus from the information processing apparatus; a transmitting means for transmitting information including information indicating a predetermined process among processes that the image forming apparatus can execute, to the information processing apparatus in response to the received request; a receiving means for receiving print data from the information processing device, the print data not including a command for executing the predetermined process; having The predetermined process includes at least an alternative process that is executed for a predetermined object when the predetermined object is included in the print data.

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

14. 14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the substitution process includes a process of converting characters included in the print data into a font different from a predetermined font designated by the print data.

15. 15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said transmission means transmits information indicating said predetermined font to said information processing apparatus.

16. 14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the substitution process includes a process of replacing a transparent object included in the print data with a drawing of a pattern image and printing the replaced transparent object.

17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that the information indicating the alternative processing includes information indicating that, instead of a color conversion processing for a color specified in a predetermined format included in the print data, a color conversion processing for a color specified in the predetermined format that is different from the predetermined format is performed for the color specified in the predetermined format.

18. 18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the print data not including a command for executing the predetermined process is print data in a raster format.

19. 19. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the print data not including the command is print data generated by the information processing apparatus converting print data including a command for executing the specified processing.

20. A method for controlling an information processing device that transmits print data to an image forming device, comprising: a receiving step of receiving information indicating a process that the image forming apparatus can execute from the image forming apparatus; a determining step of determining that the print data should be converted into print data in a predetermined format when the print data includes a command that requires a predetermined process among processes that the image forming apparatus can execute; a conversion step of converting the print data into print data of a predetermined format that does not include the command based on the determination step; a transmitting means for transmitting the print data converted into the predetermined format to the image forming apparatus; having The predetermined process includes at least an alternative process that is executed for a predetermined object when the predetermined object is included in the print data.

23. A method for controlling an information processing apparatus comprising:

Images