JP2010214785A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To optimize the method of generating a thumbnail image by properly using the preview functions in the user's MFP. <P>SOLUTION: In order to generate the thumbnail image of print data for preview on the UI of the MFP, two means for generating a thumbnail image are provided. A switching means for properly using them are also provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a print control method for controlling a drawing processing unit for drawing a thumbnail image used for preview display of print data in a printing apparatus, and a program for executing a printing system.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when printing with a printing system, there is application software for connecting a multi function printer (hereinafter referred to as MFP) to a host computer and displaying a document, a drawing, an image, or the like on the host computer. Therefore, by using the application software, the user can confirm the contents of the print data before printing.

  In recent years, a mechanism for printing print data stored in an external storage medium without using a host computer has been prepared, and the contents of the print data in the external storage device can be previewed on the UI on the printing device. It has become possible.

  As described above, when a print data preview is displayed on the UI of the printing apparatus, it is necessary to generate an image having a size suitable for the preview display inside the printing apparatus. Therefore, the drawing processing of the print data is performed in a size suitable for the preview display by the drawing processing unit inside the printing apparatus. In general, an image (hereinafter referred to as a thumbnail image) displayed as a preview on a UI on the printing apparatus has a smaller image size than an image printed on a paper medium from the printing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a print image).

Therefore, when generating a thumbnail image,
(1) A method for generating thumbnail images by creating intermediate data suitable for the size of thumbnail images in advance from print data and applying a drawing process to the intermediate data (hereinafter referred to as thumbnail priority mode)
(2) Create intermediate data suitable for a print image from print data, apply a rendering process to the intermediate data, generate a print image, and then reduce the print image to generate a thumbnail image. Generation method (hereinafter referred to as print priority mode)
Is mentioned.

JP 2008-67266 A

  In the thumbnail priority mode method, when a thumbnail image is created, an image with a small image size is drawn and created, and the time required for drawing the thumbnail image is short. Therefore, there is an advantage that the time required for the preview display does not cause stress to the user. However, when the thumbnail image in the preview display is enlarged and displayed as shown in FIG. 14, it takes time to generate the thumbnail image again. In addition, when printing is performed, the size of the print image and the size of the thumbnail image are different, so the data used when generating the thumbnail image cannot be used as a cache. Therefore, it takes a time equivalent to the time required for the original printing in the printing after the preview. There are two disadvantages. Therefore, the thumbnail image generation method in the thumbnail priority mode prints only a small amount of print data or confirms the contents of the print data using the preview function, rather than printing a large amount of print data stored in the external storage device after previewing. It can be said that it is suitable for.

  In the print priority mode method, when creating a thumbnail image, the print image is generated at the time when the thumbnail image is generated, so that the user does not feel stress when printing after the preview display. . Further, even when the thumbnail image in the preview display is enlarged and displayed, it is only necessary to reduce the print image again to the desired image size, so that it does not take much time. However, when many thumbnail images are displayed on one preview screen as shown in FIG. 15, since the thumbnail image is generated after the print image is generated, there is a disadvantage that it takes time to display the preview. Therefore, it can be said that the thumbnail image generation method in the print priority mode is suitable for confirming the details of print data using the preview function and printing a large amount of print data after preview.

  The above items are summarized as shown in FIG.

  However, the usage of the preview function of the user's MFP is not shifted to either one. For this reason, as a method for generating a thumbnail image for preview mounted in the MFP, it is desirable that the thumbnail priority mode and the print priority mode be switched for each user usage.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to optimize the method of generating thumbnail images by using the preview function in the user's MFP.

  In order to solve the above problem, as shown in FIG. 16, two thumbnail image generating means are provided for generating a thumbnail image necessary for previewing with the UI on the MFP. One is a means for generating a thumbnail image from the print data, and the other is a means for generating a print image from the print data and generating a thumbnail image by performing reduction processing on the print image. Then, a switching means for properly using these is provided.

  When printing is performed after the user uses the preview function on the MFP, it is possible to generate a preview thumbnail image that is optimal for the user's purpose of use.

Printing system configuration diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention Controller configuration diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention Flowchart for thumbnail image generation method in thumbnail priority mode Flow chart for thumbnail image generation method in print priority mode Flowchart in the first embodiment Flowchart in the second embodiment Flowchart in the third embodiment Flowchart in the case where the initial setting of the thumbnail image generation method is the thumbnail priority mode in the fourth embodiment Flowchart when the initial setting of the thumbnail image generation method is the print priority mode in the fourth embodiment FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a preview display screen on the UI on the MFP. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a menu screen for switching a thumbnail image generation method on the UI on the MFP according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a menu screen for switching a thumbnail image generation method on the UI on the MFP according to the second embodiment. The figure which showed the example in which the generation method of the thumbnail image in Example 3 switches The figure which shows an example of the enlarged display of the thumbnail image which can be performed in print priority mode The figure which shows an example of a display of many thumbnail images which can be performed in thumbnail priority mode The figure which showed the relationship of the time concerning the preview display and printing in thumbnail priority mode and print priority mode Diagram showing the outline of the present invention

  Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an outline of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of a printing system applied to the present invention.

  Reference numeral 100 denotes an MFP that performs print processing in accordance with a print instruction from the host PC 110. Reference numeral 101 denotes a UI, which is an interface between the user and the MFP that performs an input operation for instructing the MFP 100 of a user-desired operation and provides information desired by the user. A print controller 102 controls the operation of the MFP 100. When print data is received from the host PC 110 and the external storage device 120, a raster image is drawn. Reference numeral 103 denotes an external I / F, which is an interface that receives information from the host PC 110 to the MFP 100 via the LAN 111. An image spooler 104 stores a raster image created by the print controller. The raster image stored in the image spooler 104 is sent to the print engine 105 for printing output or sent to the UI 101 for preview display. Reference numeral 105 denotes a print engine, which performs a process of outputting the raster image sent from the image spooler 104 to a paper medium and discharges the paper. Reference numeral 104 denotes an external I / F, which is an interface for transmitting information to and from the external storage device 120. Reference numeral 120 denotes an external storage device. The user can instruct the MFP 100 to select the print data 121 stored in the external storage device 120 from the UI 101, draw it with the print controller 102, and print it out with the print engine 105.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of the print controller 102 applied to the present invention. The print controller 102 includes a CPU 203, a bus 206, a ROM 210, a RAM 220, and interfaces 201, 202, 204, and 205 that handle input / output signals with an external module in order to control the MFP 100. The UI I / F unit 201 handles input / output of signals between the UI 101 and the print controller 102. The UI I / F unit 201 is an interface between the UI 101 and the CPU 203. Upon receiving a signal transmitted from the UI 101, the UI I / F unit 201 stores the signal in the operation information storage unit 226 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU. Also, a thumbnail image for preview display is acquired from the thumbnail image storage unit 221 and sent to the UI. The host I / F unit 202 is an interface between the external device and the CPU 203. A print instruction command from the host PC 110 is transmitted to the CPU 203 via the host I / F unit. The engine I / F unit 204 is an interface between the print engine 105 and the CPU 203. When the CPU 203 causes the MFP engine 105 to perform print output, the CPU 203 supports the print output via the engine I / F 204. The data I / F 205 is an interface between the external storage device 120 and the CPU. When acquiring the print data 121 stored in the external storage device 120, the CPU 203 acquires the print data 121 via the data I / F 205. When the UI receives a preview instruction for the print data 121 stored in the external storage device 120 from the user, the CPU 203 first sends a preview instruction from the user to the operation information storage unit 226 via the UI I / F 201. Stores relevant information. The information related to the preview instruction is information for determining which intermediate data to create, whether to create thumbnail image intermediate data or print intermediate data. In addition, the CPU 203 acquires the print data 121 from the external storage device 120 via the data I / F 205 and stores it in the print data storage unit 225. The CPU 203 sends information stored in the operation information storage unit 226 and the print data storage unit to the switching processing unit 211. The switching processing unit 211 determines which of the thumbnail image intermediate data creation unit 212 or the print image intermediate data creation unit 213 is to send the print data. When intermediate data is created by the thumbnail image intermediate data creation unit 212, the intermediate data is stored in the thumbnail image intermediate data storage unit 222, subjected to drawing processing by the drawing processing unit 214, and stored in the thumbnail image storage unit 221. Stored. The thumbnail image stored in the thumbnail image storage unit 221 is transmitted to the UI via the UI / IF unit 201. On the other hand, when intermediate data is created by the print image intermediate data creation unit 213, the intermediate data is stored in the print image intermediate data storage unit 223, the drawing processing unit 214 performs drawing processing, and the print image is stored. Stored in the unit 224. The print image stored in the print image storage unit 224 is converted into a thumbnail image by the image reduction processing unit 215 and stored in the thumbnail image storage unit 221. The thumbnail image stored in the thumbnail image storage unit 221 is transmitted to the UI via the UI / IF unit 201.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of a display configuration when a thumbnail image is preview-displayed on the UI applied to the present invention. Reference numerals 1001, 1002, and 1003 denote tab menus. Reference numeral 1001 indicates copying, 1002 indicates mail transmission, and 1003 indicates printing. In the figure, a printing tab 1003 is selected. Reference numeral 1004 denotes a print data preview screen in the print tab. Reference numeral 1005 denotes a thumbnail image of a print data rendering result, 1006 denotes a print data file name, and 1007 denotes a check box, which is used to select whether to print data in units of thumbnail images. Reference numeral 1008 denotes a frame for informing the user which thumbnail image the UI is currently pointing to. Reference numerals 1009, 1010, 1012, and 1013 denote push buttons for changing the preview display screen. Reference numeral 1009 denotes a first screen, 1010 denotes a previous screen, 1012 denotes a next screen, and 1013 denotes a push button for displaying the last screen. Reference numeral 1011 denotes a numerical value input unit that informs the user of what preview screen the currently displayed preview screen is and what number screen is displayed in response to an input instruction from the user. A push button 1014 is used by the user when returning from the preview screen.

  FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of drawing a thumbnail image in the thumbnail priority mode applied to the present invention. In S301, the MFP creates intermediate data for thumbnail images from the print data. In S302, the MFP performs a drawing process on the intermediate data to generate a thumbnail image. In step S <b> 303, the MFP stores the thumbnail image in the thumbnail image storage unit 221.

  FIG. 4 shows a flowchart for drawing thumbnail images in the print priority mode applied to the present invention. In S401, the MFP creates intermediate data for a print image from the print data. In S402, the MFP performs a drawing process on the intermediate data to create a print image. In step S403, the print image is stored in the print image storage unit 224. In S404, the print image is reduced to generate a thumbnail image. In S405, the thumbnail image is stored in the thumbnail image storage unit 221.

  One embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5 and 11.

  FIG. 11 is a screen for determining whether to preview the print data displayed on the UI. When a preview is executed with a push button 1101, when the user selects the push button 1101, the screen on the UI is immediately changed to the preview screen. Reference numeral 1105 denotes a radio button which can determine whether the preview display is performed in the print priority mode or the thumbnail priority mode. Reference numeral 1104 denotes a push button. When printing is performed, the user selects the push button 1104 to immediately perform printing. Here, it is assumed that data to be printed is limited to data in which a check mark 1103 is entered in the check box 1102.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing performed by the MFP as a result of selecting the radio button 1105. In step S <b> 501, the MFP allows the UI to receive a mode selection (selection of thumbnail priority mode or print priority mode) related to preview display from the user. In S502, it is controlled that the processes from S503 to S507 are repeatedly performed until the data stored in the external storage device is read all at once. In step S503, one piece of data stored in the external storage device is read. In S504, it is determined whether to execute S505 or S506 depending on whether the selection result in S501 is the thumbnail priority mode or the print priority mode. If the thumbnail priority mode is selected in S501, the MFP performs a thumbnail image drawing process in the thumbnail priority mode in S505. If the print priority mode is selected in S501, the MFP performs a thumbnail image drawing process in the print priority mode in S506. In S507, the MFP transmits a thumbnail image to the UI.

  One embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 6 and 12.

  In this embodiment, it is possible to compare the magnitude relationship between the number n of thumbnail images to be displayed on one preview screen designated by the user and a predetermined threshold value N. From the comparison result of the magnitude relation, it is determined whether the thumbnail image is drawn in the thumbnail priority mode or the print priority mode.

  This solves the problem that if n specified by the user is a large number, generating a thumbnail image in print priority mode would take too much time and give the user a long waiting time. To do. On the other hand, when n is a small numerical value, a thumbnail image is drawn in the print priority mode, and the print waiting time after the preview display is reduced.

  FIG. 12 is a screen for determining whether or not to preview the print data displayed on the UI. Here, since 1201, 1203, 1204, and 1205 overlap with 1101, 1104, 1102, and 1103 in FIG. A numerical value input unit 1202 determines how many thumbnail images are displayed per preview screen by the user. In response to an input from the user, the MFP controls how many thumbnail images are displayed per one preview screen.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of processing performed in the MFP as a result of the user inputting a numerical value in 1202. In step S601, the MFP receives the number n of thumbnail images to be displayed on one screen in the preview display input by the user on the UI. In S602, it is controlled that the processes from S603 to S607 are repeatedly performed until the data stored in the external storage device is read all at once. In step S603, one piece of data stored in the external storage device is read. In S604, the magnitude relationship between the predetermined threshold values N and n is checked. If n ≧ N, a thumbnail image drawing process is performed in the thumbnail priority mode in S605. If n <N, the thumbnail image is drawn in the print priority mode in S606. In S607, the MFP transmits a thumbnail image to the UI.

  The embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the magnitude relationship is compared between the data size d of the print data and a predetermined threshold value D. Then, depending on the result of comparing the magnitude relation, it is determined whether to render the thumbnail image in the thumbnail priority mode or the print priority mode for each piece of print data. This is a method derived from the fact that the large data size is one factor that takes time for drawing processing.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing whether thumbnail images are drawn in the thumbnail priority mode or the print priority mode based on the data size of the print data. In S701, it is controlled that the processing from S702 to S706 is repeatedly performed until the data stored in the external storage device is read. In S702, one piece of data stored in the partial storage device is read. In step S703, the magnitude relationship between the data size d of the print data and a predetermined threshold value D is compared. If d ≧ D, a thumbnail image drawing process is performed in the thumbnail priority mode in S704. On the other hand, if d <D, in S705, the thumbnail image is drawn in the print priority mode. In S706, the MFP transmits a thumbnail image to the UI.

  The embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  In this embodiment, (1) when there is a large amount of print data that the user has selected to print even though the thumbnail image is generated in the thumbnail priority mode by default on the UI preview screen It is about.

  Or, (2) on the UI preview screen, when the thumbnail image is generated in the print priority mode with the default setting, but the print data that the user has selected to print is small. .

  First, in the case of (1), as shown in FIG. 13, the MFP determines that the user is more conscious of printing rather than confirming the contents of the print data, and enters the print priority mode from when the next preview screen is displayed. Switch. In the case of (2), the MFP determines that the user is more conscious about confirming the contents than printing the print data, and switches to the thumbnail priority mode from the transition to the next preview screen. .

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart of processing performed by the MFP in the case (1). In step S <b> 801, when the UI receives a preview display from the user, the MFP performs initial setting so that a thumbnail image is generated in the thumbnail priority mode. In step S802, the MFP generates a thumbnail image for one preview display screen in the thumbnail priority mode and displays it on the UI. In step S803, the MFP counts the number t of data that the user has selected to print on the UI. In step S804, the MFP accepts transition of the preview screen from the user. In S805, the magnitude relation is compared between the number t of data selected for printing and a predetermined threshold T. If t ≧ T, the MFP switches the thumbnail image generation method from the thumbnail priority mode to the print priority mode in step S806. In S807, it is controlled to repeat the processing from S808 to S812 until the print data for one preview screen is read from the external storage device.

  In S808, one piece of data stored in the external storage device is read. In step S809, it is checked whether the thumbnail priority mode or the print priority mode is currently set. If the thumbnail priority mode is selected, in S810, a thumbnail image is generated in the thumbnail priority mode. On the other hand, if the print priority mode is selected, a thumbnail image is generated in the print priority mode in S811. In S812, the MFP transmits the thumbnail image to the UI.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart of processing performed by the MFP in the case of (2). Since steps S801 to S804 and S807 to S812 in the flowchart of FIG. 8 and flowcharts S901 to S904 and S907 to S912 of FIG. In step S905, the size relationship is compared between the number t of data selected for printing and a predetermined threshold T. When t <T, in S906, the MFP switches the thumbnail image generation method from the print priority mode to the thumbnail priority mode.

Claims (14)

First thumbnail image generation means (S505) for generating a thumbnail image from the print data;
Second thumbnail image generation means (S506, S606) for generating a print image from the print data and generating a thumbnail image by reducing the print image;
Display means (101) for displaying the thumbnail images generated by the first or second thumbnail image generation means;
Input information setting means (S501, S601) for receiving thumbnail image display method setting information input by the user;
In a printing apparatus having
By using the input information setting means, the user inputs the display method setting information in advance,
Based on the display method setting information, there is provided a switching means (S504, S604) of thumbnail image generation means for displaying the thumbnail image on the display unit using the first or second thumbnail image generation means. A printing apparatus characterized by the above.   The information received by the input information setting means is a result (1105) of the user selecting whether to generate a thumbnail image by the first thumbnail image generating means or the second thumbnail image generating means. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information received by the input information setting unit is a number (1202) of thumbnail images to be displayed on one screen of the display unit (101) desired by a user.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thumbnail image is a low-resolution image.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print image is a high-resolution image. First thumbnail image generation means (S704) for generating a thumbnail image from the print data;
A second thumbnail image generating means (S705) for generating a print image from the print data and generating a thumbnail image by performing a reduction process on the print image;
Display means (101) for displaying the thumbnail images generated by the first or second thumbnail image generation means;
In a printing apparatus having
If the data size of the print data is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold, the first thumbnail image generation means generates a thumbnail image from the print data,
If the data size of the print data is less than a predetermined threshold, the second thumbnail image generation means generates a thumbnail image from the print data,
A printing apparatus comprising: a switching unit (S703) for thumbnail image generation means for displaying the thumbnail image on the display unit.   The printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the thumbnail image is a low-resolution image.   The printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the print image is a high-resolution image. First thumbnail image generation means (S810) for generating a thumbnail image from the print data;
Second thumbnail image generation means (S811, S911) for generating a thumbnail image by generating a print image from the print data and reducing the print image;
Display means (101) for displaying thumbnail images generated by the first or second thumbnail image generation means;
In a printing apparatus having input information setting means (1007) for selecting a thumbnail image displayed on the display unit,
A print selection number counting means (S803) for counting the number of print data selected by the user on the preview screen;
A thumbnail image is generated by the first thumbnail image generating means, and includes a preview screen for displaying the thumbnail image,
Switching means for switching the generation of the thumbnail image to be displayed on the next preview screen to the second thumbnail image generating means when the value held by the print selection number counting means is equal to or greater than the threshold (S805).
A printing apparatus comprising:   The printing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the thumbnail image is a low-resolution image.   The printing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the print image is a high-resolution image. First thumbnail image generation means (S910) for generating a thumbnail image from the print data;
A second thumbnail image generating means (S911) for generating a print image from the print data and reducing the print image to generate a thumbnail image;
Display means (101) for displaying the thumbnail images generated by the first or second thumbnail image generation means;
In a printing apparatus having input information setting means (1007) for selecting a thumbnail image displayed on the display unit,
A print selection number counting means (S903) for counting the number of print data selected by the user on the preview screen;
A thumbnail image is generated by the first thumbnail image generating means, and includes a preview screen for displaying the thumbnail image,
Switching means for switching the generation of the thumbnail image to be displayed on the next preview screen to the second thumbnail image generating means when the value held by the print selection number counting means is equal to or greater than the threshold (S905).
A printing apparatus comprising:   The printing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the thumbnail image is a low-resolution image.   The printing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the print image is a high-resolution image.