JPH07329402A - Printing apparatus and printing time estimating method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To select precise printing or high speed printing by selecting a printing mode by performing the estimate operation of the total printing time transmitted to a printer and setting a printing time operation mode displaying the operated total printing time to either one of validity and invalidity. CONSTITUTION:In a printing system having a data processing apparatus consisting of a display device PL, an input device and the printer driver PD corresponding to a printer PR, a setting means performing the estimate operation of the total printing time of sent printing data and setting a printing time operation mode displaying the total printing time to either one of validity and invalidity is provided to the printer driver PD. The setting means of the printer driver PD judges the printing mode setting and indicating input from an input device to perform the estimate operation of the total printing time of the printing data sent to the printer PR and sets the printing time operation mode to either one of validity and invalidity to enable the execution of the operation and display of the total printing time due to the printer driver PD by the selection of a user.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that prints on a recording medium by reciprocally scanning a print head, and in particular, predicts and calculates the total printing time in advance, and starts printing after the user confirms printing. The present invention relates to a printing system and a printing time predicting method for the printing system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to change the print mode and then print again, generally, it is only to estimate the print time by starting printing once and looking at the position of the head that is actually printed. , There was no way to redo it except to force it to quit.

Conventionally, since the print data capacity and resolution are small and it is not a problem that must be dealt with urgently, there has been no method using a fixed technique.

[0004]

However, with the advent of Windows (trade name), the demand for high-resolution, large-capacity image printing has rapidly increased, and it may take several tens of minutes to print one sheet. Came. In particular, the data capacity has been expanding due to the progress of colorization of printing devices.

As a result, the total printing time does not decrease at all despite the improvement of the hardware performance, and further, the result is that the user is provided with the result that the work efficiency is lowered.

That is, it is possible to immediately estimate the estimated printing time before starting the printing operation so that the printing mode can be selectively used according to the convenience of the user and printing can be performed at high speed even if it is rough, or delicately printing at low speed. There was a problem that I could not do.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and predicts and calculates the total printing time of the print data transferred to the printing device, and displays the calculated total printing time on the display device. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a user-friendly printing system and a printing time predicting method for the printing system, in which the user can appropriately select the printing mode of the print data and select whether to perform high-definition or high-speed printing. .

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a display device, an input device, print data are accumulated, and
In a printing system having an information processing device capable of activating a printer driver that converts the accumulated print data into a dedicated code corresponding to a connected printing device and transfers the printer driver, the printer driver transfers the print data to the printing device. A setting unit is provided for predicting and calculating the total print time of the print data and setting the print time calculation mode for displaying the calculated total print time on the display device to either valid or invalid.

A second invention according to the present invention is a display device,
In a printing system having an input device and an information processing device capable of activating a printer driver for accumulating print data, converting the accumulated print data into a dedicated code corresponding to a connected printing device, and transferring the printer driver, A storage unit that stores a predetermined operation speed value corresponding to the printing apparatus, an inspection unit that inspects the print data according to a predetermined print data format in parallel with the accumulation of the print data, and an inspection result of the inspection unit. A calculation unit that predicts and calculates a total printing time until the print device finishes printing the print data from the predetermined operation speed value stored in the storage unit, and the total printing time calculated by the calculation unit. A first display control means for displaying on the display device is provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the printer driver is configured to release the information processing device after the print data has been stored.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, after the total printing time is displayed on the display device by the first display control means, the printing start request instruction input state from the input means is judged to determine the printing device. The first control means is provided for starting either the printing by the method or the prediction recalculation of the total printing time by the calculation means.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided second control means for monitoring the printing state based on the print data transferred to the printing device and updating the predetermined operating speed value stored in the storage means. It is a thing.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is a display device for estimating the remaining printing time from the transfer rate of the print data and the remaining capacity of the print data, and the remaining printing time estimated by the estimating means. And a second display control means for displaying.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the second display control means causes the display device to subtractly display the remaining amount print time estimated by the estimation means every time one scanning printing by the printing means is completed. It is composed.

An eighth invention according to the present invention is a display device,
Printing in a printing system having an input device and an information processing device capable of activating a printer driver that stores print data, converts the stored print data into a dedicated code corresponding to a connected printing device, and transfers the dedicated code In the time prediction method, the print data is stored based on an inspection step of inspecting the print data according to a predetermined print data format in parallel with the storage of the print data, and the inspection result and a predetermined operation speed value stored in advance. The method includes a calculation step of predicting and calculating a total printing time until the printing is completed by the printing device, and a display step of displaying the calculated total printing time on the display device.

[0016]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the setting means of the printer driver determines the print mode setting instruction input from the input device, predicts and calculates the total printing time of the print data transferred to the printing device, and calculates the total printing time. The print time calculation mode for displaying the total print time on the display device is set to either valid or invalid, and the calculation and display of the total print time by the printer driver can be appropriately executed according to the user's selection instruction.

In the second invention, the inspection result of the inspection means for inspecting the print data according to the predetermined print data format in parallel with the storage of the print data and the predetermined operation speed value stored in the storage means. From the calculation means to predictively calculate the total print time until the print data is printed by the printing device, and the calculated total print time is displayed on the display device by the first display control means and accumulated. It is possible to indicate to the user the total print time required to complete the printing of the print data by the connected printing device before starting the printing.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the printer driver releases the information processing apparatus after the print data has been stored, so that the printer driver can shift to another process without waiting for the end of the total print time calculation display.

In the fourth invention, after the total print time is displayed on the display device by the first display control means, the print start request instruction input state from the input means is judged to determine the first control means. Starts either the printing by the printing device or the prediction recalculation of the total printing time by the calculation means, promptly starts printing in response to the print start request instruction from the user, or the prediction recalculation of the total printing time is started. This makes it possible to appropriately select and execute.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the printing state based on the print data transferred to the printing device is monitored, and the second control means updates the predetermined operating speed value stored in the storage means to update the printing device. It is possible to accurately calculate and display the total printing time according to the current state of the printing apparatus even if the secular change occurs.

In the sixth invention, the second display control means causes the display device to display the remaining print time estimated by the estimating means for estimating the remaining print time from the transfer rate of the print data and the remaining capacity of the print data. It is possible to display and estimate and display the remaining printing time with respect to the total printing time calculated from the start of printing by the printing device.

In the seventh invention, the second display control means subtracts and displays on the display device the remaining printing time estimated by the estimating means every time one scanning printing by the printing means is completed, and the printing started. The remaining print time until the end of the data can be subtracted and displayed for the user.

In the eighth invention, the print data is inspected in accordance with a predetermined print data format in parallel with the storage of the print data, and the print data is obtained from the inspection result and a predetermined operation speed value stored in advance. By performing a predictive calculation of the total print time until the printing is completed by the printing device, displaying the calculated total print time on the display device, and ending the printing of the accumulated print data by the connected printing device. It is possible to suggest the total printing time required to the user before starting printing.

[0024]

【Example】

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is an external view showing a configuration of a printing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A corresponds to a printing apparatus incorporated in a portable computer system.
(B) corresponds to a printing device applied to a general-purpose desktop computer system connected using a parallel port, and displays the calculated total estimated printing time, which will be described later, or displays the remaining time during printing. A display device for real-time display is provided.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the control configuration of the printing system shown in FIG. 1. The host computer PC, the printing device (printer) PR, and the panel display device PL.
It is composed of three types of blocks. A keyboard or the like may be attached to the panel display device (display device) PL.

The display device PL may be a display on the host side or a panel attached to the printing device side (hereinafter, simply referred to as a display device). Also,
The host computer PC includes a system program such as an operating system (OS) and a printer driver PD, and the printer driver PD outputs a printer code, a bitmap, a control code, etc. to the printer PR. That is, the print data is translated into a dedicated command system, and a dedicated storage area not shown (for example, the main body RAM
Alternatively, it is stored in a hard disk (HD), and at the same time, the print data format is analyzed in the print data format of FIG. Further, in the printer driver PD, the operating speed value of the printer PR (see FIG. 5) is stored and managed in a hard disk (HD) or the like (the printer driver PD may be pre-installed as dedicated code information). The expected total print time is calculated from the print data format and the operation speed value as described later. In addition, the host computer P
It goes without saying that the C, the printing device PR and the like are provided with a controller unit (not shown) and are provided with a CPU, a RAM and a ROM.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 2-1 denotes a process, which corresponds to the process of transmitting the printability information from the printer PR to the host computer PC. A process 2-2 corresponds to a process of transmitting print data from the host computer PC to the printing apparatus PR. A process 2-3 corresponds to a process of displaying print information from the printing device PR on the display device PL. A process 2-4 corresponds to a process of urgently terminating the process of the printing apparatus in the case of a printing error or the like.

A process 2-5 corresponds to a process of displaying the result data obtained by simulating the printing time on the display device PL and urging whether or not to execute the printing. 2-6
Corresponds to a process for permitting the process 2-1 to be executed by the host if the command is issued in the process 2-5, fixing the print mode, and repeating the process 2-5 again. Correspondence between the present embodiment and each step of the eighth invention and its operation will be described below with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the eighth aspect of the present invention is a display device PL, an input device (see FIG. 1), print data that is stored, and the print device PR to which the stored print data is connected.
An information processing device (host computer P that can start a printer driver that converts and transfers a dedicated code corresponding to
C) and a printing time predicting method for a printing system having an inspection step of inspecting the print data according to a predetermined print data format in parallel with the storage of the print data (FIG. 3).
Step (3)) and a calculation step of predicting and calculating a total printing time until the print data is printed by the printing device from the inspection result and a predetermined operation speed value stored in advance (step of FIG. 3). (4)) and the display step (step (5) in FIG. 3) for displaying the calculated total printing time on the display device, and the accumulated print data is printed by the connected printing device. It is possible to indicate to the user the total printing time required to finish printing before printing starts.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing an embodiment of the printing time predicting method of the printing system according to the present invention. Note that (1) to (7) indicate each step. Further, in the present embodiment, the printer driver PD that performs engine control generally controls the processing.

In step (1), the host computer PC issues a print data transfer start command. here,
Once, the print data is stored on the host computer side,
It is not directly transferred to the printing device PR.

The printer driver PD prompts the start of transfer after setting a print mode such as color / monochrome selection or delicate / draft printing selection.

In step (2), the user is asked whether or not to simulate the total printing time, which is ignored and immediately
Printing can also be initiated as in step (7). Here, when simulating the total printing time, the print format is inspected and recorded in all the print data in parallel with accumulating the print data in step (3).

In step (4), the printer driver P
D calculates the total printing time from the print format and the operating speed value of the printing device stored in step (3) (the print format of the print data and the operating speed value of the printing device will be described later).

In step (5), the calculated total estimated printing time is displayed on the panel on the printer side or the display on the host computer side to notify the user.

In step (6), the user is urged whether or not to retransfer the print data after changing the print mode based on the estimated total print time. If the process is to be restarted, the process is restarted from step (1). If so, the actual process starts in step (7).

As a result, in this system, the optimum printing mode can be set according to the convenience of the user by performing a simulation prior to the actual printing.

However, the printing time cannot be simulated by a different printing device by substituting the printer driver PD. If the printer drivers corresponding to the connectable printers are stored in advance, the above exception may occur.

From here, a serial printer will be described as an example of a general printing apparatus. When the print data is transmitted from the host computer PC, the printer driver PD translates the print data into a dedicated command system and transfers it to a printing device PR such as a serial printer, for example, an inkjet printer. Here, the printing device PR is used.
The data is stored in a dedicated storage area (RAM or hard disk) before being transferred to and the format of print data is checked at the same time.

As shown in FIG. 4, the format of this print data is directly related to the printing operation. As for the speed of the print head, one scan width W, one scan length L,
The sheet feed width Wlf, the sheet size Lp, and the sheet vertical margin Um are related to the scanning start point O, the scanning number C, and the scanning direction D in relation to the sheet feeding speed.

The printer driver PD inspects all the print data transferred by the host computer PC in accordance with the print data formats of the above eight items, and checks the eight parameters in a dedicated work area (RAM or the like not shown).
The simulation becomes possible when the print data is stored and stored.

The printer driver PD stores the operating speed value of the printing device PR in advance, and the total printing time is calculated from the print data format.

As shown in FIG. 5, the operating speed value of the printer PR includes the scanning speed Csp of the print head and the paper feed speed L.
It retains Fsp.

However, if the paper feed speed LFsp operates simultaneously with the return of the print head, it is excluded from the simulation.

The print head recovery processing time C2sp is a non-print processing time which is performed independently of the printing operation in order to maintain the quality of the head.

When the transfer speed of the print data is slower than the operating speed of the print head, the print data waiting time Wait
Therefore, it has a great weight in the simulation.

The printer driver PD holds these four operating speed values as model-dependent values.

The printer driver PD calculates the expected total printing time only when all the above values are acquired. The calculation is basically based on the following mathematical formula 1, but in the case of bidirectional printing and optimization of printing, it will be calculated after considering each evaluation.

Total print time, approximate value of Tprint

[0050]

[Equation 1] Correspondence between the present embodiment and each means of the first to fourth inventions and their functions will be described below with reference to FIGS.

The first aspect of the present invention stores a display device PL, an input device (keyboard (not shown)) and print data,
An information processing device (host computer PC) capable of activating a printer driver that converts the accumulated print data into a dedicated code corresponding to the connected printing device PR and transfers the code.
In a printing system including: a print time calculation mode in which the printer driver predicts and calculates a total print time of print data transferred to the printing device and displays the calculated total print time on a display device. Setting means (configured as means for executing a program incorporated in the printer driver by a CPU (not shown)), and the setting means of the printer driver PD is operated from an input device (for example, the keyboard shown in FIG. 1). The print time calculation mode in which the print mode setting instruction input is determined, the total print time of the print data transferred to the printer PR is predicted, and the calculated total print time is displayed on the display PL is enabled or disabled. Any of the above can be set, and the total print time can be calculated and displayed by the printer driver PD according to the user's selection instruction. To.

A second aspect of the present invention stores a display device PL, an input device (keyboard (not shown)) and print data,
An information processing device (host computer PC) capable of activating a printer driver that converts the accumulated print data into a dedicated code corresponding to the connected printing device PR and transfers the code.
In a printing system having: an inspection means for inspecting the print data in accordance with a predetermined print data format in parallel with the accumulation of the print data (configured as means for executing a program incorporated in a printer driver by a CPU (not shown)) An arithmetic unit (embedded in a printer driver) that predicts and calculates a total printing time until the printing of the print data by the printing apparatus is completed from the inspection result of the inspection unit and the predetermined operation speed value stored in the storage unit. And a first display control means for displaying the total printing time calculated by the calculation means on the display device (a CPU not shown in the figure for a program to be incorporated in the printer driver). And is configured as a means for executing), and stores the print data in parallel. From the inspection result of the inspection means for inspecting the print data in accordance with the print data format and the predetermined operation speed value stored in the storage means (storage device of the host computer PC), the calculation means of the printer driver PD (printer driver) The built-in program is configured as a means to be executed by a CPU (not shown)) to predictively calculate a total print time until the print data is printed by the printing device, and the calculated total print time is used as a first display control. Means (configured as a means for executing a program installed in the printer driver by a CPU (not shown)) is displayed on the display device PL, and the total printing required until printing of the stored print data is completed by the connected printing device. It is possible to suggest the time to the user before starting printing.

In the third invention, the printer driver PD is
After the print data is stored, the information processing device (host computer PC) is released so that the process can be shifted to another process without waiting for the end of the total print time calculation display.

In a fourth aspect of the invention, after the total print time is displayed on the display device PL by the first display control means of the printer driver PD, the state of inputting the print start request instruction from the input device (for example, keyboard) is changed. Judge and print device PR
The printer driver PD for starting either the printing by the printer driver or the predictive recalculation of the total printing time by the calculating means of the printer driver PD is provided, and the first display control means (as a means for executing a program incorporated in the printer driver by a CPU (not shown)) After the total printing time is displayed on the display device PL by the configuration), the state of inputting the print start request instruction from the input device is determined, and the first control unit (a program incorporated in the printer driver PD is not shown in C).
Is configured as a means executed by the PU) is a printing device PR
Either the printing by the user or the prediction recalculation of the total printing time by the calculation means is started, and the printing is promptly started in response to the print start request instruction from the user, or the prediction recalculation of the total printing time is started as appropriate. Can be selected and executed. [Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment, the operating speed value of the printer PR held by the printer driver PD changes with the aging of the printer PR.

Therefore, when the initial operation speed value is continuously used, it is considered that the simulated total printing time gradually changes. The cause is
Wear of mechanical parts and deterioration of motor performance are considered.

Therefore, in order to eliminate this problem, the printer driver PD has a learning function and constantly rewrites the operation speed value acquired in the previous printing process so as to be used as the value for the next simulation. To Correspondence between the present embodiment and each means of the fifth invention and its operation will be described below with reference to FIG.

A fifth aspect of the present invention monitors the printing state based on the print data transferred to the printer PR and updates the predetermined operating speed value stored in the storage means (hard disk (HD) of the host computer PC). Second control means (configured as means for executing a program incorporated in the printer driver PD by a CPU (not shown))
Even if the printer device PD updates the predetermined operating speed value stored in the storage unit by monitoring the printing state based on the print data transferred to the printing device PR and the aging of the printing device occurs, the current It is possible to accurately calculate and display the total printing time according to the state of the printing apparatus.

As a result, the printer driver PD can always perform simulation with the updated operating speed value without reducing the accuracy of the estimated total printing time.

Even when no simulation is performed,
The operation of the printer is always acquired and the operation speed value is rewritten. By doing so, simulation accuracy can be maintained. The rewritten data is stored in a backup RAM or a hard disk (HD).

That is, when the printer driver PD is used in another printer equipped with an emulator, the expected total printing time may not be calculated accurately, but printing is possible.

However, in this case, it is necessary to prevent the operating speed from being revised in other models so that the operating speed value is not rewritten. Printer driver P of this embodiment
In order to make full use of the D print time calculation function, the printer PR corresponding to the printer driver 1: 1 is used.
It must be However, hard disk (HD)
There is no problem as long as the dedicated printer drivers corresponding to the printer groups connectable to each are stored and the connected printer is selected. The present invention can also be applied to a printing apparatus or printing system configured to transfer a printer driver from an external storage device and incorporate it in a system program. [Third Embodiment] As a function for extending the expected total printing time calculation function of the first and second embodiments, the present embodiment describes a case where the remaining printing time is displayed during the printing process. Less than,
Correspondence between the present embodiment and each means of the sixth and seventh inventions and their operation will be described with reference to FIG.

A sixth aspect of the invention is a means for estimating the remaining printing time from the transfer rate of the print data and the remaining capacity of the print data (means for executing a program incorporated in the printer driver PD by a CPU (not shown)). )
And the remaining printing time estimated by this estimating means is displayed on the display device P.
Second display control means for displaying on L (configured as means for executing a program incorporated in the printer driver PD by a CPU (not shown)) is provided, and residual amount printing is performed based on the transfer speed of the print data and the remaining capacity of the print data. The printer driver PD causes the display device PL to display the remaining printing time estimated by the estimation means for estimating the time, and the remaining printing time relative to the total printing time calculated from the start of printing by the printing device PR is estimated and displayed. Is possible.

A seventh aspect of the present invention is a second display control means (C which is not shown in the figure is a program incorporated in the printer driver PD.
The PU is configured as a means to execute)
The remaining amount printing time estimated by the estimating means is displayed on the display device in a subtracted manner every time one scanning printing by R is completed, and the remaining amount printing time until the end of the print data that has started printing is subtracted and displayed to the user. It is possible.

FIG. 6 is a view showing the remaining printing time display state of the printing apparatus showing the third embodiment of the present invention.
This corresponds to the case where the remaining printing time on the operation panel of (1) is subtracted and displayed according to the elapsed printing time.

As shown in FIG. 6, the expected total printing time described in the previous embodiments is subtracted from the ratio of the print data capacity transmitted to the printer PR to the total capacity, and displayed.

The display device PL is a host computer PC.
It may be a display or a panel built in the printer, but as a result, a simple printing device management system can be constructed.

FIG. 7 shows an example of variable values required for calculation of the remaining printing time.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of variable values necessary for calculating the remaining printing time in the printing apparatus according to the present invention.

The calculation formula is calculated based on the following formula (1).

Approximate value of remaining printing time (Trest)

[0071]

## EQU00002 ## Trest to Ttotal.times. (Ctotal-Cend) / Ctotal ... (1) [Fourth Embodiment] In the first to third embodiments, the simulation of the total printing time of the printing apparatus PR has been described.
If you want to issue a print execution command without using this function, the situation is bad.

Therefore, when the total printing time calculation function is not used at all, an ON / OFF flag setting of the total printing time calculation function is added to the printer driver PD so that the print data can be immediately transferred to the printer by issuing a print command. To do.

Only when the ON flag is set, the first to third embodiments can be enabled, that is, whether or not to use the function is left to the user.

If a dialog box for total print time simulation is prepared for the option setting of the printer driver PD and this is selected, the above-described embodiments can be validated.

The printer driver PD enables this setting if it confirms that the printing device PR is a compatible model, and disables the setting of the total print time simulation if it confirms that the printer PR is a different model. Therefore, as described in the second embodiment, it is possible not to execute a meaningless simulation in a different model.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

As described above, according to each of the above-described embodiments, the function of simulating the printing time before starting the actual printing is provided so that the user can be notified and the print mode can be reset. It is possible to improve the mode and then execute printing or re-simulation. As a result, there is an effect that the printing is optimized according to the convenience of the user and the time is effectively utilized.

Further, the printer driver PD is provided with a hardware speed parameter, and information of the print data to be transmitted, mainly the moving speed of the carriage, the print scan width, the print scan length, the total print scan number to the total actual print time. Is displayed on the display / printer panel immediately before the actual printing process is started, so that the user can be informed at this stage while canceling the printing process and starting over from resetting the printing mode. Further, there is an effect that the print digestion rate can be easily seen when a plurality of pages are continuously printed by providing a means for displaying the remaining printing time in real time even during the actual printing process.

[0079]

As described above, the first aspect of the present invention
According to the invention, the setting means of the printer driver judges the input of the print mode setting instruction from the input device, predictively calculates the total printing time of the print data transferred to the printing device, and calculates the calculated total printing time. Since the print time calculation mode for displaying on the display device is set to either valid or invalid,
The total print time can be calculated and displayed by the printer driver according to the user's selection instruction.

According to the second invention, the inspection result of the inspection means for inspecting the print data according to the predetermined print data format in parallel with the storage of the print data and the predetermined operation speed value stored in the storage means. From the above, the calculation means predictively calculates the total print time until the print data is printed by the printing device, and the calculated total print time is displayed on the display device by the first display control means. The user can be informed of the total print time required to complete the printing of the generated print data by the connected printing device before the start of printing.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the printer driver releases the information processing device after the completion of the print data accumulation, so that it is possible to shift to another process without waiting for the end of the total print time calculation display.

According to the fourth invention, after the total print time is displayed on the display device by the display control means, the print start request instruction input state from the input means is judged, and the first control means prints. Either the printing by the device or the prediction recalculation of the total printing time by the calculation means is started, so that the printing is promptly started or the prediction recalculation of the total printing time is started in response to the print start request instruction from the user. That can be selected and executed as appropriate.

According to the fifth aspect, the printing state based on the print data transferred to the printing device is monitored and the second control means updates the predetermined operation speed value stored in the storage means. Even if the device ages, the total printing time according to the current state of the printing device can be accurately calculated and displayed.

According to the sixth invention, the second display control means causes the second display control means to display the remaining print time estimated by the estimating means for estimating the remaining print time from the transfer rate of the print data and the remaining capacity of the print data. In this case, the remaining printing time can be estimated and displayed with respect to the total printing time calculated from the start of printing by the printing device.

According to the seventh invention, the second display control means subtracts and displays the remaining amount printing time estimated by the estimation means on the display device every time one scanning printing by the printing means is completed, so that the printing is started. The remaining print time until the end of the print data can be subtracted and displayed to the user.

According to the eighth invention, the print data is inspected in accordance with a predetermined print data format in parallel with the storage of the print data, and the print data is determined from the inspection result and a predetermined operation speed value stored in advance. Is calculated and the calculated total printing time is displayed on the display device, so that the accumulated print data is printed by the connected printing device. The total printing time required for printing can be suggested to the user before printing starts.

Therefore, there is an effect that the user can appropriately select the print mode of the print data and select whether to perform high-definition printing or high-speed printing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing a configuration of a printing system showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the printing system illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a printing time prediction method for a printing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a print data format required for calculating a print time in the print system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing printer operating speed values held by a printer driver in the printing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a remaining printing time display state of the printing system showing the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of variable values required when calculating the remaining printing time in the printing system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 PC host computer PD printer driver PR printer PL display

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. Information capable of starting a display device, an input device, a printer driver that stores print data, converts the stored print data into a dedicated code corresponding to a connected printing device, and transfers the code. In a printing system having a processing device, the printer driver determines a print mode setting instruction input from an input device, predicts and calculates a total printing time of print data transferred to the printing device, and calculates the total calculated time. A printing system comprising a setting means for setting a print time calculation mode for displaying a print time on a display device to either valid or invalid. 2. A display device, an input device, and printer driver information for accumulating print data, converting the accumulated print data into a dedicated code corresponding to the connected printing device, and transferring the printer driver. In a printing system including a processing device, a storage unit that stores a predetermined operation speed value corresponding to the printing device, and an inspection unit that inspects the print data according to a predetermined print data format in parallel with the accumulation of the print data. Calculating means for predicting the total printing time until the printing of the print data by the printing device is completed from the inspection result of the inspection means and the predetermined operation speed value stored in the storage means; And a first display control unit for displaying the total printing time calculated by the unit on the display device. 3. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein the printer driver releases the information processing device after the accumulation of print data is completed. 4. After the total print time is displayed on the display device by the first display control means, the state of inputting the print start request instruction from the input means is judged, and printing by the printing device or total printing by the computing means is performed. The printing system according to claim 2, further comprising a first control unit that starts any one of the time prediction recalculations. 5. A second control means is provided for monitoring a print state based on print data transferred to the printing device and updating a predetermined operation speed value stored in the storage means. 2. The printing system described in 2. 6. A second display control for estimating the remaining printing time from the transfer rate of the print data and the remaining capacity of the printing data, and the remaining printing time estimated by this estimating means on a display device. 3. The printing system according to claim 2, further comprising means. 7. The second display control means causes the display device to subtractly display the remaining amount print time estimated by the estimation means each time one scan printing by the printing means is completed. Printing system. 8. A display device, an input device, and printer driver activation information for accumulating print data, converting the accumulated print data into a dedicated code corresponding to a connected printing device, and transferring the printer driver. In a method of predicting a printing time of a printing system having a processing device, an inspection step of inspecting the print data according to a predetermined print data format in parallel with the accumulation of the print data, and a predetermined operation stored in advance with the inspection result. A calculation step of predicting and calculating a total printing time from the speed value to the end of printing the print data by the printing device, and a display step of displaying the calculated total printing time on the display device are provided. A method for predicting printing time of a characteristic printing system.