KR101174802B1 - Printer driver for converting printing data into common file and printer controlling apparatus using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A printer driver capable of converting print data into a common file and a printer control device using the same are disclosed. The printer control apparatus of the present invention includes a printer driver including a determining unit which determines whether a common file conversion option is selected and a conversion unit which converts the inputted print data into a shared file when the common file conversion option is selected. A communication interface unit for transmitting a file to the printer and a storage unit for storing the converted public file. By printing the print data to a common file, not only the printer can be printed but also the contents of the original can be viewed without installing a separate application program for viewing the original of the print data.

Common Files, Print, HTML, XML, XAML, XPS

Description

Printer driver for converting printing data into common file and printer controlling apparatus using the same}

1 is a flowchart illustrating a method of printing to a conventional file;

2 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a printing system including a printer control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a flowchart illustrating a printing method according to an embodiment of the present invention, and

4 is a diagram illustrating a user interface for setting a print file conversion option according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on main parts of drawing

100: printer control device 110: printer driver

120: determination unit 130: conversion unit

140: storage unit 150: communication interface unit

200: printer

The present invention is a printer driver that can convert print data into a common file, and a printer control device using the same. More particularly, by printing the print data to a common file, not only can be printed by a printer but also the original of the print data can be viewed. The present invention relates to a printer driver capable of converting print data into a common file and a printer control device using the same, without having to install a separate application program.

The conventional method for printing print data includes the following methods.

There is a method in which the printer driver converts the print data into a language that can be interpreted by the printer, and then transmits it to the printer for printing, and a method for printing in a prn file that is a printer file. Printing to a file means converting and storing a prn file, which is a printer file.

1 is a flowchart illustrating a method of printing to a conventional file.

Referring to FIG. 1, the printer driver converts the print data into a prn file and stores the data (S10). When the file is to be printed on the printer, the prn file stored in the step S10 is sent to the printer for printing (S11). However, if there is no original document file of this prn file or there is no application program that can view the original document file, there is a problem that the contents of the original file cannot be viewed without printing the prn file to the printer.

In addition, there is a method of printing to a file provided by a specific application such as a PDF file, which is also inconvenient to see the original document with a specific application.

The present invention is to solve the above problems, the object of the present invention, by printing the print data to a common file, not only can be printed by a printer, but also without installing a separate application program for viewing the original of the print data The present invention provides a printer driver capable of converting print data into a common file and a printer control device using the same.

The printer driver according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object, a determination unit for determining whether the common file conversion option is selected, and if the common file conversion option is selected, the conversion for converting the inputted print data into a common file Contains wealth.

Preferably, the determining unit may further determine whether the printer file conversion option is selected, and the conversion unit may convert the inputted print data into the printer file when the printer file conversion option is further selected.

The common file is preferably any one of HTML, XML, XAML, and XPS.

On the other hand, the printer control apparatus includes a printer driver for receiving print data and converting it into a common file and a communication interface unit for transmitting the converted common file to a printer.

Preferably, the apparatus may further include a storage unit for storing the converted public file.

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings will be described in detail the present invention.

2 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a printing system including a printer control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printing system includes a printer control device 100 and a printer 200. The printer control apparatus 100 is an apparatus for controlling the printer 200 to print. For example, the printer control apparatus 100 may be a host.

The printer control apparatus 100 includes a printer driver 110 and a communication interface unit 150. Preferably, the storage unit 140 further includes. The printer driver 110 includes a determiner 120 and a converter 130.

The determination unit 120 determines whether the conversion option selected through the user interface (not shown) is a common file conversion option. Preferably, the determination unit 120 may also determine whether the common file conversion option is selected or the printer file conversion option is selected. 4 is a diagram illustrating a user interface for setting a print file conversion option according to an embodiment of the present invention. In operation 400 of FIG. 4, when "Print to public file" is selected, it may be determined that the common file conversion option is selected, and when "Print to printer file" is selected, it may be determined that the printer file conversion option is selected.

As used herein, the term "public file" refers to a file that is commonly open in most environments. For example, Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) or Extensible Markup Language (XML), Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML), XPS, and the like. HTML is a generation language used to create home pages for the World Wide Web (WWW), the Internet's information retrieval system. XML is a page description language that is being standardized by a group called the World Wide Web Consorsium to replace HTML. XAML is an XML-based Markup Language developed by Microsoft. XPS is called Metro and is the language that will be applied to Windows Vista along with XAML. HTML and XML can be viewed in a browser such as Explorer or Netscape Navigator, which is provided by the operating system, so there is no need to install a separate application.

When the determination unit 120 determines that the common file conversion option is selected, the conversion unit 130 converts the inputted print data into the common file. In addition, when the determination unit 120 determines that the printer file conversion option is selected, the conversion unit 130 converts the print data received as a prn file, which is a printer file, as conventionally.

The storage 140 stores the converted public file. In addition, the converted printer file can be stored. By saving it as a common file, you can check its contents without printing the common file to the printer, unless you have a separate application that can view the original document.

The communication interface unit 150 transmits the converted public file to the printer 200. When the public file stored in the storage 140 is to be printed, the communication interface unit 150 transmits the public file to the printer. The printer 200 receives the common file, converts it into bitmap data, and prints it.

The method of converting the input print data into the common file in the conversion unit 130 is as follows. The application passes the print data to the Graphic Device Interface (GDI) of the Windows operating system. GDI calls each function of the printer driver to pass this print data to the printer driver. The printer driver converts the print data received through GDI into a format of a common file rather than a printer description language (PDL).

Print data received through GDI can be classified into three types: information related to document format, information related to vectors and fonts, and information related to bitmaps. The information related to the format of the document may be, for example, print paper size or orientation. The vector may represent information about a graphic such as a figure, and the font may represent information about a character. Since the GDI passes the print data using each function of the printer driver, the GDI transfers the print data to a format that can be recognized by the printer driver among the vectors, fonts, and bitmaps, and the conversion unit 130 of the printer driver provides information related to the format of the document. Converts vector and font related information and bitmap related information to HTML or XML, XAML and XPS command formats.

An example of converting print data received through GDI to HTML, a common file, is explained.

When print data is a function such as DrvStartDoc (), DrvStartPage (), DrvEndDoc (), or DrvEndPage (), and displays information related to the document format, first, the basic structure of HTML is created as follows. Thereafter, the document is converted into the format of an HTML command indicating the size or orientation of the print paper.

<HTML>

<HEAD> <TITLE> </ TITLE> </ HEAD>

<BODY> </ BODY>

</ HTML>

You can insert the name of the document you want to print between <TITLE> and </ TITLE> above, and insert information related to vectors, fonts, or bitmaps between <BODY> and </ BODY>.

If the print data is a function such as DrvTextOut () and represents font related information, it can be converted into the following HTML command format. This command allows you to specify the font size, color, and font of the text entered between the start and end tags.

<FONT> </ FONT>

If the print data is a function such as DrvBitBlt () and represents bitmap related information, it can be converted into the following HTML command format. In "", write the filename of the bitmap to be linked.

<A HREF=" "> </A>

3 is a flowchart illustrating a printing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The printer driver determines whether the common file conversion option is selected (S300). As an example, when "print to a public file" is selected in the user interface as shown in FIG. 4, it may be determined that a common file conversion option is selected.

If it is determined that the common file conversion option is not selected (S300: N), the printer driver may convert the print data into a language understood by the printer and transmit it to the printer, or convert it into a prn file and store the data. .

If it is determined that the common file conversion option is selected (S300: Y), the printer driver receives the print data (S310). First, after receiving the print data (S310), it may be determined whether the common file conversion option is selected (S300).

The received print data is converted into a common file format (S320, S330, S340). As described above, the information related to the format of the document, the information related to the vector and the font, and the information related to the bitmap are converted into the format of a command of a common file such as HTML or XML, XAML, XPS, or the like.

The converted public file is stored (S350). By saving it as a common file, you can check its contents without printing the common file to the printer, unless you have a separate application that can view the original document.

As described above, according to the present invention, by printing the print data to a common file, not only can be printed by the printer, but also the contents of the original can be viewed without installing a separate application program for viewing the original of the print data.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (8)

delete delete delete A printer driver that receives the print data and converts the print data into a common file; And And a communication interface unit for transmitting the converted public file to a printer. The printer driver, And a printer control apparatus for receiving the information related to the format of the document, the vector related to the font, the information related to the font, and the information related to the bitmap in a format that can be recognized by the printer driver. The method of claim 4, wherein And a storage unit for storing the converted common file. The method of claim 4, wherein The printer driver, A determination unit determining whether a common file conversion option is selected; And And a converting unit converting the inputted print data into a common file, when the common file converting option is selected. The method according to claim 6, The determination unit further determines whether the printer file conversion option is selected, And the converting unit converts the inputted print data into a printer file when the printer file converting option is selected. The method according to claim 6, The common file is a printer control device, characterized in that any one of HTML, XML, XAML and XPS.

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