Image processing apparatus, data processing method and computer-readable memory medium for storing program

A data processing method, for an image processing apparatus that during image processing simultaneously performs multiple functions while employing an image memory that is used by a printer and a scanner to perform digital copying, said data processing method comprising:

• an acquisition step of acquiring, in the image memory, a data storage area for each individual function of the multiple functions that are being performed and a common area that is used in common by the individual functions;
• a determination step of determining, during a printing process performed by the printer, whether in addition to the data storage area acquired in the image memory, a print buffer area for one page is obtainable in the common area;
• a first development/output step of, when it is ascertained at said determination step that a print buffer area for one page is not obtainable in the common area, accessing the data storage area for the image memory, and developing print data for one page and employing the printer to print resultant data;
• and
• a second development/output step of, when it is ascertained at said determination step that a print buffer area for one page is obtainable in the common area, accessing the data storage area and the common area in the image memory, and developing print data for one page and employing the printer to print resultant data.

A computer-readable memory medium that stores a program for implementing a data processing method in an image processing apparatus that during image processing simultaneously performs multiple functions while employing an image memory that is used by a printer and a scanner to perform digital copying, the method comprising:

• an acquisition step of acquiring, in the image memory, a data storage area for each individual function of the multiple functions that are being performed and a common area that is used in common by the individual functions;
• a determination step of determining, during a printing process performed by the printer, whether in addition to the data storage area acquired in the image memory, a print buffer area for one page is obtainable in common area;
• a first development/output step of, when it is ascertained at said determination step that a print buffer area for one page is not obtainable in the common area, accessing the data storage area for the image memory, and developing print data for one page and employing the printer to print resultant data;
• and
• a second development/output step of, when it is ascertained at said determination step that a print buffer area for one page is obtainable in the common area, accessing the data storage area and the common area in the image memory, and developing print data for one page and employing the printer to print resultant data.

A digital copier comprising:

• a first page print buffer;
• a common memory used for a plurality of applications;
• means for compressing image data and for storing compressed image data;
• means for, before printing, decompressing the stored image data and for developing resultant image data;
• determination means for determining, before printing, whether in addition to said first page print buffer a second page print buffer for one page is available in real time in said common memory;
• and
• control means for, when the second page print buffer is available for printing, alternately developing the decompressed image data for one page in said first page print buffer and the second page print buffer and printing resultant image data, and for, when the second page print buffer is not available, developing the image data only in said first page print buffer and printing resultant image data.

An image processing apparatus comprising

• an inputter, arranged to input data,
• a printer, arranged to print an image based on data inputted by said inputter,
• a print buffer, arranged to be used for printing by said printer;
• a common memory, arranged to be used for printing and another function;
• a determiner, arranged to determine, in a case where printing is to be performed by said printer, whether or not said common memory is usable for the printing;
• and
• a controller, arranged to control said printer to perform the printing by using said print buffer and said common memory, if it is determined by said determiner that said common memory is usable for the printing, and to perform the printing by using said print buffer without using said common memory, if it is determined by said determiner that said common memory is not usable for the printing.

An image processing method comprising:

• an inputting step of inputting data;
• a printing step of printing by a printer an image based on data inputted in said inputting step, wherein the printer includes a print buffer used for the printing in said printing step and a common memory used for the printing and another function;
• a determining step of determining, in a case where the printing is performed in said printing step, whether or not the common memory is usable for the printing;
• and
• a controlling step of controlling said printing step to perform the printing by using the print buffer and the common memory, if it is determined in said determining step that the common memory is usable for the printing, and to perform the printing by using the print buffer without using the common memory, if it is determined in said determining step that the common memory is not usable for the printing.

A computer-readable program product embodying a program for implementing an image processing method, the method comprising:

• an inputting step of inputting data;
• a printing step of printing by a printer an image based on data inputted in said inputting step, wherein the printer includes a print buffer used for the printing in said printing step and a common memory used for the printing and another function;
• a determining step of determining, in a case where the printing is performed in said printing step, whether or not the common memory is usable for the printing;
• and
• a controlling step of controlling said printing step to perform the printing by using the print buffer and the common memory, if it is determined in said determining step that the common memory is usable for the printing, and to perform the printing by using the print buffer without using the common memory, if it is determined in said determining step that the common memory is not usable for the printing.