JPH091875A - Image output apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To save the time of expanding to bit map data by reusing the font expanded to the bit map data for outputting an image as much as possible. CONSTITUTION: The image output apparatus comprises a corresponding table 32 for storing the character and address of bit map data stored in an image outputting page memory 17, in addition to a font cache memory 16 for storing the bit map data expanded by using a font memory 15 of high frequency. Accordingly, if the character not hit by the memory 16 is once expanded in the memory 17, the bit map data can be copied in the memory 17, thereby accelerating the process.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image output device which develops bitmap data based on image data and outputs an image. The present invention relates to an image output device that can be used.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Many image output devices receive image data representing characters and the like as code information such as character codes from a document creation device such as a host computer.
Therefore, in an image output device that outputs an image in page units, it is necessary to generate a bit pattern from a font memory based on a character code and write the bit pattern in the page memory.

FIG. 10 shows an example of such a conventional image output apparatus. CPU (central processing unit)
Reference numeral 11 is connected to each unit in the apparatus through a bus 12 such as a data bus. Of these, the ROM 13 is a read-only memory that stores programs for performing various controls of the device. The work memory 14 is a random access memory that temporarily stores data necessary for various controls. The font memory 15 is a read-only memory that stores bitmap data of fonts of various characters. The font cache memory 16 is a random access memory that stores bitmap data for characters that are likely to be used next. The page memory 17 is a memory that stores bitmap data in page units. The communication control device 18 uses the communication cable 19
It is connected to a document creating apparatus such as a host computer (not shown) via the so as to receive supply of image data. The printer control device 21 controls the printing of the printer 22 connected thereto. The bitmap data expanded in the page memory 17 is used for printing.

FIG. 11 shows the contents of the font cache memory. Font cache
The memory 16 includes a table unit 31 and a bitmap data storage unit 32. The bitmap data storage unit 32 sequentially stores font bitmap data for each unit address area. Table part 31
The stored IDs of the fonts, that is, the character codes, and the addresses (font addresses) where the bitmap data is stored in the bitmap data storage unit 32 are stored as a comparison table.

[0005]

In order to store each font as bitmap data on the page memory 17 at high speed, it is necessary to save the time for developing the bitmap data. For this purpose, the font cache is required. -It is necessary to store bitmap data of many fonts in the memory 16. However, if the font cache memory 16 has a large capacity, the cost of the image output device increases accordingly.

Therefore, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-293093, the size of the expanded bitmap data in the vertical direction is determined. If this is less than 64 bits, for example, the size of the font to be stored is small, so the font cache memory is directly used. Otherwise, the bitmap data is compressed and stored in the font cache memory in other cases. This can increase the number of fonts stored in the font cache memory. However, the compression of bitmap data is not always performed efficiently, and fonts with a size smaller than a predetermined size are directly stored in the font cache.
Since it is stored in memory, the number of fonts that can be stored is still limited.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a font developed into bitmap data for image output,
An object of the present invention is to provide an image output device that can reuse this as much as possible and save the time for developing it into bitmap data.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, (a) image data inputting means including code information of each character for outputting an image and (b) outputting an image. An output memory area, and (c) an image expansion / storing means for converting code information in the image data into bitmap data and storing the converted data in a corresponding portion of the output memory area;
Converted to identification data that identifies each character stored in the output memory area, the output memory area storage character table that stores the storage location of these characters, and (e) Bitmap data of the character corresponding to the code information Before the operation, the determination means for searching the output memory area storage character table and determining whether or not the bit pattern of the character is stored in the output memory area, and (f) this determination means corresponds to the output memory area. When it is determined that the bit pattern is stored, the image output apparatus is provided with an inter-page bit pattern copying means for copying the bit pattern from a corresponding portion of the output memory area to a portion to be expanded.

That is, according to the first aspect of the invention, the font cache memory itself is not used, but the page memory for expanding the bit map data or the band memory itself is used as a cache memory, and the page cache appears even once. The bitmap data of the selected character is registered in the output memory area storage character table, and when the character is used again, the location of the output memory area such as page memory or band memory from this table After knowing whether the bitmap data was stored, I decided to copy the bitmap data at this location to the relevant location. Therefore, unlike the case of using the font cache memory, once the bitmap data has appeared, it can be used without re-expanding within the page or band, and the time for expanding to the bitmap data is greatly saved. Therefore, the output of the image can be speeded up.

According to a second aspect of the invention, (a) image data input means for outputting the image, which includes code information of each character, and (b) an output memory area for outputting the image, (C) Image expansion / storing means for converting the code information in the image data into bitmap data and storing it in the corresponding part of the output memory area; and (d) Among the bit patterns of characters stored in this output memory area. The font cache memory that stores at least the identification information of characters that appear relatively frequently, and (e) the font cache memory that stores the bit pattern of each character stored in the output memory area. Output memory that stores the identification data of those that do not exist and their bit patterns stored in the output memory area in association with each other The area cached character table and (f) the font cache memory is searched before converting the characters forming the image data input from the input means into a bit pattern based on the code information, and the bit pattern of the corresponding character is searched. If the character exists, it is used. If it does not exist, the output memory area storage character table is searched to determine whether the character is expanded in the output memory area, and (g) this output means When it is determined that the bit pattern of the corresponding character is stored in the output memory area, the bit pattern for the same page for copying the bit pattern from the corresponding portion of the output memory area to the portion to be expanded is output as an image. Prepare for the device.

That is, according to the second aspect of the invention, the font cache memory and the character table for storing the output memory area are provided in two sets, and the font cache memory has a bit pattern of characters to be stored in the output memory area. At least the identification information of the character having a relatively high appearance frequency is stored. Here, "at least" is sufficient if the information indicating the address is stored for the character storing the bitmap data in the output memory area, and if not, the bitmap data is also included (others). It means that it needs to be stored). According to the second aspect of the invention, the font cache memory is searched first for the font of the character having a relatively high appearance frequency, so that the search efficiency is improved. For those that do not exist in the font cache memory, the output memory area storage character table that is prepared for the output memory area such as page memory or band memory is searched, so it is stored once in the output memory area. The bitmap data can be used without re-expansion, and the processing speed can be increased.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, (a) image data input means including code information for outputting an image, and (b) an output memory area for outputting an image,
(C) Image expansion / storing means for converting the code information of the image data into bitmap data and storing it in the corresponding part of the output memory area, and (d) the bit pattern of characters not stored in this output memory area. Among them, a font cache memory for preliminarily storing a predetermined one of the characters together with the character identification information, and (e) a font cache for the bit pattern of each character stored in the output memory area.
An output memory area storage character table in which the identification data of those not stored in the memory and their bit patterns are stored in the output memory area in association with each other, and (f) input from the input means. Before converting the characters that make up the image data into bit patterns based on the code information, the output memory area storage character table is searched, and the bit patterns of the corresponding characters are stored in this output memory area. When it is determined that there is a bit pattern for the same page that copies this bit pattern from the corresponding portion of the output memory area to the portion to be expanded, and (g) stores the bit pattern of the corresponding character in the output memory area. When it is determined that it is not, the font cache memory is searched and the bit pattern of the corresponding character is searched. Causes and a bit pattern transferring means for storing it in the appropriate locations of the output memory area to the image output apparatus when the over down there.

That is, according to the third aspect of the invention, the bitmap data appearing in the output memory area such as the page memory or the band memory is stored in the output memory area storage character table in principle, and other appearances occur. Bitmap data of predictable characters will be registered in the font cache memory. Therefore, the output memory area storage character table is searched first, and if there is no corresponding one, the font
The cache memory can be searched to supplement the bitmap data. Further, since it is not always necessary to move the data from the output memory area storage character table to the font cache memory, the processing load can be reduced in this sense as well, and the overall processing of the image output apparatus can be reduced. It can contribute to speeding up.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, (a) image data input means for outputting an image containing code information of each character, and (b) one by one are designated in order, and the bitmap data is in that order. And a plurality of output memory areas prepared for outputting the images in that order,
(C) Image expansion storage means for converting the code information of the image data into bitmap data and storing it in the corresponding portion of the output memory area where writing of the current bitmap data is instructed; and (d) current bitmap data. Of at least the output memory area for which writing of the character is instructed and the other output memory area for which the bitmap data has been written immediately before, and each character stored in each of the output memory areas. Character table for storing memory area for output that stores the identification data for identifying and the storage location for these characters, and (e) Before converting to the bitmap data of the character corresponding to the code information Look up the table and see if the bit pattern for that character is stored in one of these output memory areas Discriminating means for discriminating emergence, (f)
When the determination means determines that the bit pattern corresponding to any of the output memory areas is stored, the bit pattern data is stored from the corresponding location of the output memory area corresponding to the bit pattern. The image output device is provided with a bit pattern copying means for copying from a corresponding point of the memory area for use as a starting point.

That is, in the invention described in claim 4, a plurality of output memory areas including a page memory or a band memory are prepared, and these are sequentially used to store bitmap data and output image data after storage. I'm trying to do. If there is only one output memory area, the contents will be cleared and the next bitmap data will be stored if no measures are taken, so the previously stored bitmap data for each character will be lost. You will be destroyed. However, since the present invention has a plurality of output memory areas, if the bitmap data is written in the output memory before the output memory area currently storing the bitmap data, it is possible to cope with this. By searching the output memory area storage character table, the bit map data of the character existing in this can be used. This makes it possible to avoid the inconvenience of temporarily increasing the bitmap data expansion processing when switching pages and the like, and it is possible to speed up the processing.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, (a) image data input means including code information of each character for outputting the image, and (b) an output memory area for outputting the image, (C) Image expansion storing means for converting the code information of the image data into bitmap data and storing it in the corresponding part of the output memory area, and (d) specifying each character stored in the output memory area. An output memory area storage character table storing identification data and storage locations of these characters, (e) counting means for counting the frequency of each character appearing in the output memory area, and (f) for the output memory area A phone that stores a bit pattern of frequently-used characters from the counting result of the counting means together with identification data for identifying those characters when the storage of the bitmap data is completed. - and the cache memory, (g)
When expanding the characters forming the image data input from the input means, a determining means for searching the font cache memory and the output memory area storage character table and determining whether the corresponding bitmap data exists,
(H) When the discriminating means discriminates that the corresponding bitmap data exists, the image output device is provided with a bit pattern copying means for copying the bitmap data from the corresponding portion of the output memory area to the portion to be developed. .

That is, according to the fifth aspect of the invention, the bitmap data of the character having a relatively high appearance frequency in the output memory such as the page memory or the band memory in which the writing of the bitmap data is completely completed is font-printed. Even if the image output device is not provided with a plurality of output memories as in the invention described in claim 4 by storing in the cache memory, the hit rate of bitmap data is increased and the processing speed is increased. We are trying to improve Of course, even if the device has a plurality of output memories,
When used in combination with the font cache memory, the processing speed can be improved by searching the font cache memory before searching the output memory area storage character table of another output memory. .

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an image output apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, the same parts as those in FIG. 10 are designated by the same reference numerals, and their description will be appropriately omitted. The image output apparatus of this embodiment includes a ROM 31 storing various programs for this apparatus on the bus 12, a work memory 14, a font memory 15, a font cache memory 16, a page memory 17, a communication control apparatus 18, The printer control device 21, the correspondence table section 32 for associating the storage location of the bitmap data in the page memory 17, and the control for copying the bitmap data of a predetermined area in the page memory 17 to another area are performed. It is connected to a DMAC (direct memory access) control circuit 33.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of the correspondence table section. The correspondence table unit 32 is configured in, for example, a nonvolatile memory backed up by a battery, and IDs of all fonts stored as bitmaps in the page memory 17 and their sizes, rotation angles, decorative information, typefaces, etc. The attribute P, the address A stored in the page memory 17, the appearance frequency F, and the last access time T as the most recently accessed time are stored. In the present embodiment, the page memory 17 has a structure of only one page, and therefore, for all fonts developed in the one page, such information is stored in such a structure that these fonts do not overlap.

FIG. 3 shows an example of fonts stored in the page memory. For example, font ID
_{If 1} is a font of the character "love" and its size is 9 points and it is stored from the position of address A ₁ , the corresponding data is stored in the correspondence table section 32. Similarly, font ID ₂ is a font of the character "dream", and its size is 14 points and address A
Assuming that the data is stored from the position _2, the corresponding data is stored in the correspondence table section 32. Even if the character font itself is the same, if the attributes are different, in order to save the trouble of modifying the expanded bitmap data,
It is stored in the correspondence table unit 32 as separate data.

FIG. 4 shows the control at the time of receiving the image data in the image output apparatus of this embodiment. First, the work memory 14 received at the first stage is initialized (step S101). Then, it waits for print data as image data to be sent from a host computer (not shown) (step S102), and when it is sent (Y), it is received in a predetermined buffer memory (step S103). And the working memory 1
It is checked whether or not there is an area for storing this in step 4 (step S104), and the print data stored in the buffer memory is stored in a predetermined area of the working memory 14 (step S105). Then, ACK (acknowledge) that the print data is received by the host computer.
Is returned (step S106). When there is no extra area in the work memory 14 (step S104;
N) Then, the printing operation proceeds and the operation memory 14 waits until an area for receiving new print data is created.

FIG. 5 shows an outline of the work for printing. When there is a print instruction, the value of the variable N stored in the work memory 14 (FIG. 1) is first initialized to "0" (step S201), and it is checked whether print data is stored in the work memory 14. Yes (step S202). If there is print data (Y), a predetermined unit is taken out from the work memory 14 (step S20).
3). Then, the bitmap data of the corresponding font is stored in the corresponding portion of the page memory (step S204). This will be described in detail later.

When the process of step S204 is completed, 1
It is checked whether or not the processing of the print data for the page is completed (step S205), and if not completed, the process returns to step S202 and the processing of the next print data is executed. The same applies hereinafter. When the data for one page is completed (step S205; Y), the image for one page is transferred to the printer control device 21 (step S206). After this, it is judged whether or not there is a subsequent page (step S207), and if there is no subsequent page, the font cache memory 16 and the page memory 1 are determined.
The contents of 7 are cleared (step S208), and the process is ended (END). If there is a subsequent page (step S207; Y), the cache is organized (step S209), the contents of the page memory 17 and the correspondence table unit 32 are cleared (step S210), and the process returns to step S202 to proceed to the next step. Will start processing the page.

FIG. 6 specifically shows the processing of the bitmap data shown in step S204 of FIG. First, it is checked whether the bitmap data corresponding to the print data to be processed is registered in the font cache memory 16 (step S301). If it is registered (Y), the bitmap data located at the address corresponding to the "address where the bitmap data exists" registered in the table portion of the font cache memory 16 is read out, and this is read. It is transferred to the page memory 17 and stored in the corresponding position (step S302). And the font
The numerical value indicating the frequency of use written in the table portion of the cache memory 16 is incremented by "1" and the final access time is changed to the current time (step S30).
3).

On the other hand, if the bitmap data of the corresponding font is not registered in the font cache memory 16 (step S301; N), it is checked whether or not it is registered in the correspondence table section 32. (Step S304). If it does not exist in the correspondence table section 32 (N), the bit pattern of the font is read from the font memory 15 (in the case of the outline font, the data for generating bitmap data is read to generate bitmap data). ), And stores it in the corresponding area of the page memory 17 (step S305). In this case, the bitmap data is registered so that it can be reused later (step S306).

FIG. 7 shows the flow of registration processing of new bitmap data. The new bitmap data is registered in the correspondence table section 32 for the time being (step S401). This registration is the font ID, the attribute P, and the address A in the page memory 17 as described in FIG. The depth of use (appearance frequency) F is initialized to "1".

Returning to FIG. 6, the description will be continued. Step S3
When it is determined in 04 that the bitmap data is registered in the correspondence table unit 32 (Y), the DMAC 33 reads the bitmap data stored in the page memory 17, and stores it in the same page memory 17 this time. The expansion is copied to the designated area (step S307).
Then, the appearance frequency of the character in the correspondence table unit 32 is incremented by "1" and the final access time is updated to the current value (step S308).

FIG. 8 shows how the font cache memory shown in step S208 of FIG. 5 is organized. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the page memory 17 has only one page. Therefore, when the bitmap data for one page is expanded, the contents of the page memory 17 are cleared for the next expansion work, and the contents of the correspondence table section 32 are also invalidated. Therefore, it is necessary to organize the font cache memory 16. First, the CPU 11 shown in FIG.
The amount of memory 16 used is calculated (step S50).
1). If this is a predetermined P%, for example 50% or less (step S502; Y), the font cache
Store until memory 16 is full (step S50)
3). When there are a plurality of objects having the same appearance order, the one having the latest last access time T is preferentially stored in the font cache memory 16.

That is, when a plurality of pages are continuously printed, the font cache memory 16 is not actually used for the first first page, and the fonts already stored in the page memory 17 are used. Bitmap data of is used. When the processing of the first page is completed (step S205; Y in FIG. 5), the font cache memory 16 is organized (step S209).
At this time, the bitmap data is moved from the page memory to the font cache memory 16 within the capacity of the font cache memory 16 in descending order of appearance frequency among the fonts of the first page (step S50).
3) After that, the contents of the page memory 17 are cleared (step S210).

As for the second and subsequent pages, the font data frequently appearing on the previous page is stored in the font cache memory 16, so the bitmap data of these fonts is stored in the font cache memory 16 as well.
Will be read from. When the bitmap data directly read from the font memory 15 or expanded by other means is stored in the page memory 17, the corresponding table section 32 corresponding to the bitmap data is created.

When the usage amount of the font cache memory 16 is calculated on the second and subsequent pages (step S501), the usage amount is usually P% or more (step S502; N). . In this case, the contents of the font cache memory 16 are deleted in order from the one with the lowest appearance frequency, and the remaining amount is P% or less as a whole (step S504). When there are a plurality of objects with the same appearance frequency, the older the last access time T is, the deletion target is given priority. This is because the probability of reappearing in relation to the page is low.

As described above, in this embodiment, the page memory 17
Since this is used as a kind of cache memory, the bitmap data of the same attribute that appears once in the page can be used without expanding it again. Moreover, DM
Since the AC 33 is used, the load on the CPU 11 is light and the processing speed is high. In addition, since the font cache memory 16 is also used in the embodiment, even if the page memory 17 exists for only one page, it is possible to expand the characters that have appeared relatively frequently in the past page into bitmap data. It can be omitted.

Deformability

The present invention can be modified in various ways. First,
As described in claim 1, the font cache memory 16 is not always necessary. Page memory 17 is 1
This is because even if there are only pages, the bitmap data that once appeared on that page can be reused to speed up the process.

FIG. 9 shows an essential part of control when printing is performed by continuously using a plurality of page memories. The CPU 11 (FIG. 1) first searches the correspondence table section 32 corresponding to the page memory 17 of the page currently being processed to check whether or not the bit pattern of the character requested to be expanded exists in the page memory (step). S
601). If it exists (Y), the bitmap data stored in the page memory 17 of the page is read and copied to the designated position, as described above (step S602). It is natural that the CPU 11 may directly perform this work if the DMAC 33 does not exist.

As a result of checking the correspondence table section 32 of the current page, if it is determined that the corresponding bit pattern does not exist in the page memory 17 of the current page (step S601; N), does the previous page exist? It is checked (step S603), and if it exists, it is checked whether or not the bit pattern of the character exists in the correspondence table section 32 of the page (step S604). In an information processing device such as a high-speed printer, images of multiple pages may be developed, and the contents of the page memory of the page before the page being developed may be saved due to a request for jam (paper jam) processing. Many. Therefore,
In this example, the contents of the page memory of the immediately preceding page are used. Further, the correspondence table section 32 of the page memory 17 of the previous page may be searched and the bitmap data of these pages may be utilized.

If it is found from the search result of the correspondence table section 32 of the previous page that the corresponding bit map data is stored in the page memory 17 of the page, the process proceeds to step S602 and the bit map data between pages. Will be copied. When the content of the page memory 17 of the previous page is erased, the page memory of the previous page does not exist (step S603; N), or the corresponding table does not exist in the correspondence table section 32 of the previous page. (Step S604; N), FIG.
Similar to step S305 in step S305, the bitmap data of the character is taken out from the font memory 15 and stored in the designated location in the page memory 17 (step S605).

Further, in the embodiment, the font cache,
Although the memory 16 and the correspondence table unit 32 are provided separately, the correspondence table portions may be provided integrally.
Further, the font IDs or the character codes in these may be rearranged appropriately in the order of appearance frequency or last access time. As a result, it is possible to shorten the time required to find the corresponding character. In the embodiment, the font cache memory 16 is searched first, and then the correspondence table 32 corresponding to the page memory 17 is searched. However, the search order may be reversed. Good.

In the embodiment, the font cache,
Although it has been decided to store the bitmap data of the mode characters prior to the current page in the memory 16, at least the corresponding information indicating the storage location of the current page having a high appearance frequency is appropriately stored. You may do it. By doing this, the font cache
By searching the memory 16 first, the time until a hit can be shortened. Of course, by rearranging the appearance frequency information in the correspondence table unit 32 in order of frequency, it is possible to shorten the time until the corresponding character is hit.

Further, although the program is stored in the ROM in the embodiment, it may be stored in an external storage device (not shown) such as a magnetic disk and read out to the RAM area for use. Further, in the embodiment, the bit map data for one page is expanded in the page memory, but the bit map data may be expanded sequentially in the band memory in a form in which the page memory is divided. In this case, when switching from one band memory to the next band memory, if the history of the previous band memory is to be left, the cache memory is prepared as described above and the history of the band memory is stored in it. It should be noted.

[0042]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the font cache memory itself is not used, but the page memory for expanding the bitmap data or the band memory itself is used as a cache memory. Then, register the bitmap data of the character that appears even once in the output memory area storage character table, and if that character is used again, use this table to output the page memory or band memory. After knowing where in the memory area the corresponding bitmap data is stored, we decided to copy the bitmap data at this location to the corresponding location. Therefore, unlike the case of using the font cache memory, once the bitmap data has appeared, it can be used without re-expanding within the page or band, and the time for expanding to the bitmap data is greatly saved. Therefore, the output of the image can be speeded up.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the font cache memory and the output memory area storage character table are provided in two sets, and the font cache memory has a bit pattern of characters to be stored in the output memory area. At least the identification information of the character having a relatively high appearance frequency is stored. Therefore, since the font of the character having a relatively high appearance frequency is first searched in the font cache memory, the search efficiency is improved. For those that do not exist in the font cache memory, the output memory area storage character table that is prepared for the output memory area such as page memory or band memory is searched, so it is stored once in the output memory area. The bitmap data can be used without re-expansion, and the processing speed can be increased.

Further, according to the third aspect of the invention, in principle, the bitmap data appearing in the output memory area such as the page memory or the band memory is stored in the output memory area storage character table. Bitmap data of characters whose appearance can be predicted will be registered in the font cache memory. Therefore, the output memory area storage character table is searched first, and if there is no corresponding one, the font
The cache memory can be searched to supplement the bitmap data. Further, since it is not always necessary to move the data from the output memory area storage character table to the font cache memory, the processing load can be reduced in this sense as well, and the overall processing of the image output apparatus can be reduced. It can contribute to speeding up.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of output memory areas including a page memory or a band memory are prepared, and these are sequentially used to store the bitmap data and the image data after the storage. I am trying to output. As described above, since the present invention has a plurality of output memory areas, if the bitmap data is written in the output memory before the output memory area in which the bitmap data is currently stored, the By searching the corresponding output memory area storage character table, it is possible to use the bitmap data of the characters existing in this. This makes it possible to avoid the inconvenience of temporarily increasing the bitmap data expansion processing when switching pages and the like, and it is possible to speed up the processing.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 5, the bitmap data of the character whose appearance frequency is relatively high in the output memory such as the page memory or the band memory in which the writing of the bitmap data is completely completed at present. Will be stored in the font cache memory.
Therefore, even if the image output device does not have a plurality of output memories as in the invention described in claim 4,
The hit rate of bitmap data can be increased and the processing speed can be improved. Of course, even if the device has multiple output memories, if it is used together with the font cache memory, the font cache memory can be used to search the output memory area storage character table of another output memory. It is possible to improve the processing speed by searching in advance.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image output device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a correspondence table section of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of fonts stored in a page memory.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing control at the time of receiving image data in the image output apparatus of this embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an outline of a printing operation of the apparatus of this embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing details of the processing of the bitmap data shown in step S204 of FIG.

FIG. 7 shows step S209 or step S309.
6 is a flow chart showing how to organize the font cache memory shown in FIG.

8 is the font shown in step S208 of FIG.
6 is a flowchart showing how the cache memory is organized.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a main part of control when printing is performed by continuously using a plurality of page memories.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventional image output device.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of a font cache memory used conventionally.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... CPU, 13 ... ROM, 14 ... Work memory, 1
5 ... Font memory, 16 ... Font cache,
Memory, 17 ... Page memory (output memory area), 2
2 ... printer, 32 ... correspondence table section, 33 ... DMAC

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Sugita 3-7-1 Fuchu, Iwatsuki City, Saitama Prefecture Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Iwatsuki Office

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image data input means including code information of each character for outputting an image, an output memory area for outputting an image, and code information of the image data is bitmap data. Image expansion and storage means for converting to and storing in a corresponding portion of the output memory area, output memory area storing identification data for identifying each character stored in the output memory area and storage location of these characters The stored character table and the output memory area storage character table are searched before converting into the bitmap data of the character corresponding to the code information, and it is determined whether the bit pattern of the character is stored in the output memory area. And a bit that the determination means determines when a bit pattern corresponding to the output memory area is stored. An image output apparatus characterized by comprising a bit pattern copying means between the same page to copy turn portion to be deployed from a corresponding portion of the output memory area. 2. An image data input means including code information of each character for outputting an image, an output memory area for outputting an image, and code information of the image data is bitmap data. And an image expansion / storing means for converting the data into a corresponding portion of the output memory area, and a font / character for storing at least the identification information of the character of the bit pattern of the character stored in the output memory area, which has a relatively high appearance frequency. A cache memory, and among the bit patterns of each character stored in the output memory area, those identification data and those bit patterns of those not stored in the font cache memory are the output memory area. An output memory area storing character table in which the locations stored in The font cache memory is searched before converting the characters forming the image data input from the above into the bit pattern based on the code information, and when the bit pattern of the corresponding character exists, it is used. If not, the determination means for searching the output memory area storage character table and determining whether the character is expanded in the output memory area, and the determination means determines the bit pattern of the character corresponding to the output memory area. An image output device comprising: an inter-page bit pattern copy means for copying the bit pattern from a corresponding portion of the output memory area to a portion to be expanded when it is determined that the bit pattern is stored. 3. An image data input means including code information for outputting an image, an output memory area for outputting an image, and code information of the image data is converted into bitmap data. An image expansion / storing means for storing in a corresponding portion of the output memory area and a font cache for preliminarily storing a predetermined bit pattern of characters not stored in the output memory area together with character identification information. A memory, identification data of bit patterns of each character stored in the output memory area, which are not stored in the font cache memory, and their bit patterns are stored in the output memory area. The output memory area storage character table that stores the associated locations and the image input from the input means. Before converting the characters that make up the data to bit patterns based on the code information, search this output memory area storage character table and determine that the bit patterns of the corresponding characters are stored in this output memory area. And a bit pattern copy means for copying the same page from the corresponding portion of the output memory area to a portion to be expanded, and it is determined that the bit pattern of the corresponding character is not stored in the output memory area. And a bit pattern transfer means for searching the font cache memory for storing the bit pattern of the corresponding character and storing the bit pattern of the corresponding character in the corresponding portion of the output memory area. Output device. 4. An image data inputting means including code information of each character for outputting an image, and bit map data is stored in the order specified one by one, and the image is output in that order. A plurality of output memory areas prepared for this purpose, and an image to be stored in a corresponding portion of the output memory area for which the code information of the image data is converted into bitmap data and writing of the current bitmap data is instructed. At least the expansion storage means, the output memory area for which the writing of the bitmap data is currently instructed, and the other output memory area for which the bitmap data has been written immediately before are prepared, and the respective outputs are provided. For identifying each character stored in the memory area for output and the memory area for output that stores the storage location of these characters The character storage table and these output memory area storage character tables are searched before conversion into the bit map data of the character corresponding to the code information, and the bit pattern of the character is stored in one of these output memory areas. And a corresponding portion of the output memory area corresponding to the bit pattern when the determination means determines that a bit pattern corresponding to any of the output memory areas is stored. To a bit pattern copying means for copying from a corresponding point of the output memory area where the bitmap data is currently stored to the starting point. 5. An image data input means including code information of each character for outputting an image, an output memory area for outputting an image, and code information of the image data is bitmap data. Image expansion and storage means for converting to and storing in a corresponding portion of the output memory area, output memory area storing identification data for identifying each character stored in the output memory area and storage location of these characters A storage character table, a counting unit that counts the frequency of each character that appears in the output memory area, and when the storage of bitmap data in the output memory area is completed, the count result of the counting unit is high. A font cache memory for storing bit patterns for characters together with identification data for identifying those characters; Determining means for searching the font cache memory and the output memory area storage character table when expanding the characters forming the image data input from the input device, and determining whether the corresponding bitmap data exists. An image output, comprising: a bit pattern copying means for copying the bitmap data from a corresponding portion of the output memory area to a portion to be expanded when the determining means determines that the corresponding bitmap data exists. apparatus.