JP2000094760A - Printing controller, data-processing method for the same, and recording medium storing program readable by computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a checking operation by a user after the finish of a printing process in the case some of a plurality of pages are processed and printed at low resolution, distinguish easily between the page printed at the low resolution and other pages, and evaluate easily and surely the result of the printing. SOLUTION: In the printing controller in the case a CPU 2005 recognizes the occurrence of image quality degradation in an arbitrary page, the resolution of band encodement expression data is decreased, and the fact about the occurrence of the image quality degradation in the page is stored onto a RAM 2010. After the finish of the printing of all the pages, the information about the page having the occurrence of the image quality degradation is newly printed by an engine 2011 as information about the result of the printing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print control apparatus for analyzing image data received by communicating with an external device via a predetermined communication medium and developing the raster image into a raster image, and a data processing method of the print control apparatus. And a storage medium storing a computer-readable program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus called a page printer such as a laser beam printer, an image is formed by holding raster data for one page in a raster memory. Raster data as such an image processing device handles not only text but also all kinds of images from simple figures to images such as photographs.

In recent years, the resolution of these image forming apparatuses has been improved. For example, at a resolution of 600 dpi, a memory of 4 Mbytes is required to create an image for one page of A4 size. Also, the resolution is from 600 dpi to 1
There is a tendency to increase to 200 dpi, and the gray scale conventionally expressed by 2 gray scales (1 bit) per pixel is also increasing from 16 gray scales (4 bits) to 256 gray scales (8 bits). With the improvement in image quality, a huge amount of raster memory has been required.

In recent years, color data has often been handled. When color data is converted into a YMCK space, four times as much memory as monochrome data is required. As described above, the resolution and gradation of the input data are moving toward higher image quality, but the amount of memory mounted is increasing in proportion thereto.

However, since memory resources are limited, it is necessary to perform drawing according to the amount of memory mounted. For example, when data is complicated in an arbitrary page, it is necessary to reduce the amount of information and reduce the image quality to perform printing. In this case, as a method for notifying the user that the image quality has deteriorated, there is a warning by a panel.

[0006]

However, when the image quality deteriorates in the middle of a plurality of pages during printing, it is often unclear which page the image quality deteriorated during processing. Since it is necessary to check the print result one by one after the printing is completed, there is a problem that the confirmation work after printing is complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to store, in a case where the image quality is degraded on any page, the fact that the image quality has been degraded on that page. After printing of all pages is completed, information on what page the image quality has deteriorated is printed as print result information, or the information on the page where the image quality has deteriorated is printed. Is automatically added with identification information indicating that a print operation has been performed at a low resolution on any one of a plurality of pages, and the user performs a check operation after the print processing is completed. Print control apparatus and print control capable of easily distinguishing a page printed at the low resolution from other pages and easily and reliably evaluating the print result Location of a data processing method and a computer is to provide a storage medium storing a readable program.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control apparatus capable of communicating with an external device via a predetermined communication medium, and receiving image data in a predetermined page description language. Receiving means (host interface 200
4) a translating means (the CPU 2005 operates the ROM 2006) to translate the image data in the predetermined page description language received by the receiving means into band-encoded expression data.
Or executing a control program stored in an external memory (not shown) to perform translation processing) and generating means for generating a raster image based on the band-encoded expression data translated by the translating means (the CPU 2005 reads the ROM
2006 or a control program stored in an external memory (not shown) is executed and generated on the RAM 2010).
Determining means for determining, for each page, whether a bitmap image generated and developed by the generating means can be stored in a page development area reserved in advance.
005 executes the control program stored in the ROM 2006 or an external memory (not shown) to perform the determination processing.)
And resolution reducing means (CPU 2005 determines whether or not the image data can be stored in the expansion area by reducing the resolution of the band-encoded expression data.
2006 or a control program stored in an external memory (not shown) to perform a reduction process) and a storage unit (secured on the RAM 2010) for storing page information determined by the determination unit to be unable to be stored in the development area. Storage and management in the area), and causes the printing unit to output the raster image of each page generated by the generation unit,
Control means for reading out the page information stored in the storage means and outputting it from the printing unit every time output of all pages is completed (CPU 2005 executes a control program stored in ROM 2006 or an external memory (not shown) to perform output processing) And

A second invention according to the present invention is a printing control apparatus capable of communicating with an external device via a predetermined communication medium, wherein the receiving means (host interface 2004) receives image data in a predetermined page description language. ) And translation means for translating the image data in the predetermined page description language received by the reception means into band-encoded expression data (the CPU 2005 executes the control program stored in the ROM 2006 or an external memory (not shown) for translation). Processing means), and generating means for generating a raster image based on the band-encoded expression data translated by the translating means and transferring the raster image to a printing unit (the CPU 2005 outputs the RO image).
M2006 or a control program stored in an external memory (not shown) to execute the generation processing), and determine whether the bitmap image generated and developed by the generation means can be stored in a page development area reserved in advance for each page. Judgment means (the CPU 2005 uses a ROM
2006 or a control program stored in an external memory (not shown) is executed to perform the determination process), and when the determination unit determines that the image cannot be stored in the development area,
Resolution lowering means for lowering the resolution of the band-encoded expression data (the CPU 2005 executes a control program stored in the ROM 2006 or an external memory (not shown) to perform the lowering processing); Creation means (CP) for creating identification information (predetermined mark image) to be printed on each determined page
U2005 executes a control program stored in the ROM 2006 or an external memory (not shown) to perform the creation processing), and the identification information created by the creation means when the raster image of each page created by the creation means is printed. Control means (the CPU 2005 executes a control program stored in the ROM 2006 or an external memory (not shown) and performs output processing) for overwriting the raster image and outputting it from the printing unit.

[0010] A third invention according to the present invention is a data processing method of a print control device capable of communicating with an external device via a predetermined communication medium, and a receiving step of receiving image data in a predetermined page description language. (Pre-process of step (1) in FIG. 3) and a translation process of translating the image data in the predetermined page description language received in the receiving process into band-encoded expression data (step (2) in FIG. 3, A step (1) in FIG. 5) and a generation step (steps (1) to (4) in FIG. 6) for generating a raster image based on the band-encoded expression data translated by the translation step.
A determination step (step (3) in FIG. 3) for determining, for each page, whether or not the bitmap image generated and developed by the generation step can be stored in a page development area reserved in advance; If it is determined that the image data cannot be stored in the expansion area, the resolution is reduced by lowering the resolution of the band-encoded expression data (steps (1) to (5) in FIG. 8). A holding step (step (4) in FIG. 3) for holding the generated page information in a memory resource, and a first output step (FIG. 3) for outputting a raster image of each page generated in the generation step from a printing unit. (5)) reading the page information held in the memory resource every time the raster image output of each page is completed in the first output step. A second output step of outputting from the printing unit put out are those having a (step of FIG. 3 (8)).

[0011] A fourth invention according to the present invention is a data processing method of a print control device capable of communicating with an external device via a predetermined communication medium, and a receiving step of receiving image data in a predetermined page description language. (Pre-process of step (1) in FIG. 3) and a translation process of translating the image data in the predetermined page description language received in the receiving process into band-encoded expression data (step (2) in FIG. 3, A step (1) in FIG. 5) and a generation step (steps (1) to (4) in FIG. 6) for generating a raster image based on the band-encoded expression data translated by the translation step.
A determination step (step (3) in FIG. 3) for determining, for each page, whether or not the bitmap image generated and developed by the generation step can be stored in a page development area reserved in advance; If it is determined that the image data cannot be stored in the expansion area, the resolution is reduced by lowering the resolution of the band-encoded expression data (steps (1) to (5) in FIG. 8). Creation step of creating identification information to be printed on each of the pages (step (4) in FIG. 9)
And an output step of overwriting the raster image with the identification information created in the creation step and outputting the raster image from the printing unit when printing the raster image of each page created in the creation step (step (5) in FIG. 9). And

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage medium storing a computer-readable program for controlling a printing apparatus capable of communicating with an external device via a predetermined communication medium. Receiving process of receiving image data in language (process before step (1) in FIG. 3)
A translation step (step (2) in FIG. 3 and step (1) in FIG. 5) for translating the image data in the predetermined page description language received in the reception step into band-encoded expression data; A generating step (steps (1) to (4) in FIG. 6) for generating a raster image based on the band-encoded expression data translated by the step, and a bitmap image generated and developed by the generating step is secured in advance A determination step (step (3) in FIG. 3) for determining for each page whether or not the image data can be stored in the expanded area, and the band-encoded representation when the determination step determines that the image cannot be stored in the expanded area. A resolution lowering step (steps (1) to (5) in FIG. 8) for lowering the resolution of the data and a determination that the data cannot be stored in the development area by the determination step. A holding step (step (4) in FIG. 3) for holding the generated page information in a memory resource, and a first output step (FIG. 3) for outputting a raster image of each page generated in the generation step from a printing unit. Step (5)) and a second output step (see FIG. 3) in which the page information held in the memory resource is read out and output from the printing unit every time the raster image output of each page in the first output step is completed. And (8) storing a computer readable program in a storage medium.

A sixth invention according to the present invention is a storage medium storing a computer-readable program for controlling a printing apparatus capable of communicating with an external device via a predetermined communication medium, comprising a predetermined page description. Receiving process of receiving image data in language (process before step (1) in FIG. 3)
A translation step (step (2) in FIG. 3 and step (1) in FIG. 5) for translating the image data in the predetermined page description language received in the reception step into band-encoded expression data; A generating step (steps (1) to (4) in FIG. 6) for generating a raster image based on the band-encoded expression data translated by the step, and a bitmap image generated and developed by the generating step is secured in advance A determination step (step (3) in FIG. 3) for determining for each page whether or not the image data can be stored in the expanded area, and the band-encoded representation when the determination step determines that the image cannot be stored in the expanded area. A resolution lowering step (steps (1) to (5) in FIG. 8) for lowering the resolution of the data and a determination that the data cannot be stored in the development area by the determination step. A generation step of generating identification information to be printed on each page that is (step in FIG. 9 (4)),
An output step (step (5) in FIG. 9) of overwriting the raster image with the identification information created in the creation step and outputting it from the printing unit when the raster image of each page created in the creation step is printed. Computer-readable program stored in a storage medium.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Before describing the configuration of this embodiment, a configuration of a laser beam printer suitable for applying this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In addition,
The printer to which this embodiment is applied is not limited to a laser beam printer, and it goes without saying that a printer of another printing method may be used.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the configuration of a printing apparatus to which the present invention can be applied, for example, a case of a laser beam printer (LBP).

Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 1500 denotes an LBP main body, which inputs and stores print information (character codes, etc.), form information, macro instructions, and the like supplied from an externally connected host computer, and stores the information. , A corresponding character pattern, form pattern, or the like is created, and an image is formed on a recording medium such as recording paper.

Reference numeral 1512 denotes a switch for scanning and L
An operation panel 1501 on which an ED display and the like are arranged is a printer control unit, which controls the entire LBP body 1500 and analyzes character information and the like supplied from the host computer. The printer control unit 1501 mainly converts character information into a video signal of a corresponding character pattern and outputs the video signal to a laser driver 1502.

The laser driver 1502 is a semiconductor laser 1
A circuit for driving the laser beam 503 switches on / off a laser beam 1504 emitted from the semiconductor laser 1503 according to an input video signal. Laser light 15
Numeral 04 is rotated left and right by a rotary polygon mirror 1505 to scan and expose an electrostatic drum 1506. As a result, an electrostatic latent image of a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 1506. This latent image is developed by a developing unit 1507 arranged around the electrostatic drum 1506,
Transferred to recording paper.

A cut sheet is used as the recording paper, and the cut sheet recording paper is stored in a paper cassette 1508 mounted on the LBP main body 1500, and is taken into the apparatus by a paper feed roller 1509 and transport rollers 1510 and 1511. And supplied to the electrostatic drum 1506.
The LBP body 1500 is provided with at least one or more card slots (not shown) so that an optional font card and a control card (emulation card) having a different language system can be connected in addition to the built-in fonts.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a print control apparatus according to the present embodiment. An external device 2001 such as a host computer and a printer controller 2002 communicate with a predetermined communication medium. It corresponds to the case where communication is possible via.

In the printer controller 2002, reference numeral 2003 denotes an address data bus, and reference numeral 2004 denotes a host I / F, which includes a buffer for temporarily storing received information. A CPU 2005 controls the entire printer controller 2002 based on a control program stored in the ROM 2006.

The ROM 2006 stores programs to be executed by the printer controller 2002, font data, and the like.

Reference numeral 2007 denotes a DMA unit for performing memory access to the RAM 2010. 2008 is a panel part,
A key for setting various modes and a display such as an LCD for displaying a printer status are provided. An I / F circuit unit 2009 includes an output buffer unit for storing video data to be sent to the engine 2011. In addition,
The RAM 2010 is configured so that its capacity can be expanded by the option RAM.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a first data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present embodiment. (1) to (8) indicate each step.

External device 200 such as a host computer
When image data in a page description language is input to the host I / F unit 2004 from Step 1, it is determined in Step (1) whether a page to be created exists. If it is determined, a page creation process is performed in step (2) based on a flowchart shown in FIG.

Next, in step (3), step (2)
In the page creation process in, whether or not image quality has deteriorated is investigated and determined. If it is determined that image quality has not deteriorated, the process directly proceeds to step (5),
If it is determined that the image quality has deteriorated, the page number where the image quality has deteriorated is stored in the RAM in step (4).
Store on the work area of 2010, step (5)
Then, the page created in step (2) is sent to the engine 2011 shown in FIG. 2 as a video signal, printing is performed, and after printing is completed, the process returns to step (1).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (1) that the page to be created no longer exists, in step (6), it is checked in step (4) whether there is a stored page number. In (7), it is determined whether or not there is any page whose image quality has deteriorated. If it is determined that the page number is not stored, the process ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (7) that there is a page whose image quality has deteriorated, step (8)
Then, the image quality reduction information is printed in a list format as shown in FIG. 4, and the process is terminated.

FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a print result of the image quality reduction information in the print control apparatus according to the present embodiment. For example, the total number of pages of the image quality reduction information and the corresponding page numbers of the image quality reduction are listed. Corresponds to the case of printing with.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the second data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present embodiment, and corresponds to the detailed procedure of the page creation processing shown in FIG. Note that (1) to (4) show each step. In the example of FIG. 5, a full paint processing method will be described as an example for simplification of the description.

First, in step (1), the page description language is translated into a band coded expression. Note that, in the present embodiment, the band-encoded representation refers to a “bitmap”, “run-length”, “trapezoid”, “box”, “high-speed boundary-encoded bitmap”, etc. This is a general term for drawing objects, background patterns, and drawing logic when drawing them in a raster memory.

The details of the band coded expression are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-87251.

Next, in step (2), it is checked whether or not a memory capable of being fully painted can be acquired on the RAM 2010. In the present embodiment, the “full-painting process” means that one page of raster memory is acquired,
This is a general term for creating a raster image for one page before transferring it to the engine.

If it is determined in step (2) that a memory capable of full painting can be obtained, a "full painting process" is performed in step (3) based on a flowchart shown in FIG. , And the process ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (2) that a memory capable of full painting cannot be obtained, then in step (4), "resolution lowering processing" based on the flowchart shown in FIG. And terminate the process.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the third data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present embodiment, and corresponds to the detailed procedure of the full paint processing shown in FIG. Note that (1) to (4) show each step.

First, in step (1), the memory determined to be obtainable in step (2) of FIG. 5 is obtained in the RAM 2010 with the data structure shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining the data structure of the memory area obtained on the RAM 2010 shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, in this embodiment, the RA
The memory area obtained on M2010 is divided into band units, and a memory area is allocated so as to correspond to each band. In the example shown in FIG. 7, a continuous memory space is used for ease of explanation. However, the memory space need not be a continuous memory space, and there is no need to arrange bands in order.

Here, returning to FIG. 6, in step (2),
The parameter n indicating the number of the current band is initialized to “0”. The band numbers are “0” to “n_max”.

In step (3), it is determined whether the current band exceeds the final band "n_max" by checking whether the current band exceeds the final band "n_max".
If it is determined that the value exceeds "x", the full-painting process ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (3) that the current band does not exceed the final band, the allocated memory area stores n bands of the band coded expression of step (1) shown in FIG. The eyes are rasterized into the memory area allocated to the nth band (4), and the process returns to step (3), and the same processing is performed until the last band is completed. To end.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the fourth data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present embodiment, and corresponds to the detailed procedure of the resolution lowering process shown in FIG. In addition, (1) to (5) indicate each step.

First, in step (1), the resolution of the band coded expression created in step (1) shown in FIG.

For example, assuming that the band-encoded expression is generated at 600 dpi in step (1) shown in FIG. 5, the band-encoded expression is reduced to 300 dpi in step (1) shown in FIG. Perform

Next, in step (2), a memory for the full paint is acquired with the data structure shown in FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the image data is divided into band units based on the band size after the resolution is reduced, and a memory area is allocated so as to correspond to each band. Although FIG. 7 shows a continuous memory space for ease of explanation, the memory space need not be a continuous memory space, and there is no need to arrange bands in order.
However, it is assumed that the same memory size as the full paint after the resolution is reduced is guaranteed in advance, and the full paint memory can always be obtained after the resolution is reduced.

Next, in step (3), a parameter n indicating the number of the current band is initialized to "0". However, the band numbers are “0” to “n_max”.

Next, in step (4), it is determined whether the current band exceeds the final band (n_max) by checking whether the current band exceeds the final band (n_max). If it is determined that the current band exceeds the final band (n_max), Ends the resolution reduction process.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (4) that the current band does not exceed the last band, the band encoding of step (1) shown in FIG. 5 is stored in the memory area allocated in step (2). Figure 8 with reduced resolution
In step (1), the n-th band in the band-coded representation is rasterized into a memory allocated to the n-th band (5), and the process returns to step (4). Until the final band is reached, and the resolution lowering process ends.

In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described where the resolution is reduced as a case where the image quality is reduced when the content of the object to be rendered is complicated and the rendering processing cannot be performed with the mounted memory resources. The tone may be reduced.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, when the content of an object to be rendered is complicated and rendering processing cannot be performed with a mounted memory resource, the resolution is reduced or the gradation is reduced as a case of reducing the image quality. Although the description has been given of the case in which the resolution and the gradation are not changed, it may be configured such that only the data amount is thinned out and the original resolution or gradation is reproduced.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the image quality is reduced when the content of the object to be rendered is complicated and rendering processing cannot be performed with a mounted memory resource. When the band process cannot complete the drawing process within the specified time based on the paper transport time of the engine, that is, when a so-called print overrun occurs, when switching to the full paint process, the image quality is reduced, that is, the full paint process is performed. You may comprise so that page information may be printed.

Although the above embodiment deals with the case where the image quality is degraded, it may be the case that some error occurs instead of the image quality degrading.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the full-painting mode for performing the full-painting processing from the band processing at the time of the image quality reduction processing has been described, but the full-painting mode may be employed.

In the above embodiment, when the memory required for full paint conversion is insufficient, the image quality is immediately reduced. However, the full paint area is coded (compressed) to reduce the coding rate. The configuration may be such that the image quality is degraded when the memory becomes insufficient.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the resolution of the band coded expression is reduced is taken as an example, but the case where the image quality of the raster itself is reduced may be used.

[Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment,
In the drawing area that can be acquired on the mounted memory resources, the case where the drawing information in the received print information cannot be expanded and the page information (page number, total number of pages) with reduced image quality is printed separately is described. Alternatively, control may be performed so that a predetermined identification mark is added to the page information whose image quality has been reduced and printing is performed. As a result, it is possible to suppress paper consumption at the time of low-quality printing, and to easily compare the low-quality page with the print result.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the fifth data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present embodiment. In addition, (1) to (5) indicate each step.

External device 200 such as a host computer
When image data in a page description language is input to the host I / F unit 2004 from Step 1, in Step (1), it is determined whether there is a page to be created by checking whether there is a page to be created. If it is determined, the process ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (1) that there is a page to be created, in step (2), page creation processing based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 is performed.

Next, in step (3), step (2)
In the page creation processing in, whether or not image quality has deteriorated is investigated and determined. If it is determined that image quality has not deteriorated, the process directly proceeds to step (5),
If it is determined that the image quality has deteriorated, a mark indicating the image quality deterioration is created in a predetermined area of the already created page, for example, at the end of the print area, in step (4), and created in step (2). In step (5), the page created in step (4) is sent to the engine 2011 shown in FIG. 2 as a video signal, and printing is performed.
Return to

In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which an arbitrary mark is added to the edge of the sheet and printing is performed so that the mark can be identified. However, a mark that cannot be recognized in the print result may be used.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the resolution is reduced when the image quality is reduced has been described. However, the configuration may be such that the gradation is reduced.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, when the image quality is reduced, the case where the resolution or the gradation is lowered has been described as an example. And the original gradation may be reproduced.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the image quality is reduced when the content of the object to be rendered is complicated and the rendering process cannot be performed with the mounted memory resources has been described as an example. If so-called print overrun occurs, in which band processing cannot complete drawing processing within a prescribed time based on the paper transport time of the engine, the page information may be printed.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the image quality is reduced is dealt with.
For example, a case where an image processing apparatus other than the printing apparatus occurs may be used.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the full-painting mode for performing the full-painting processing from the band processing at the time of the image quality reduction processing has been described. However, the mode may not be the full-painting mode.

In the above embodiment, when the memory required for full paint conversion is insufficient, the image quality is immediately reduced. However, the full paint area is coded (compressed) to reduce the coding rate. The configuration may be such that the image quality is degraded when the memory becomes insufficient.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the resolution of the band-coded representation is reduced is taken as an example. However, the case where the image quality of the raster itself is reduced may be used.

Hereinafter, the configuration of a data processing program that can be read by a printing system to which the print control device according to the present invention can be applied will be described with reference to a memory map shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a view for explaining a memory map of a storage medium for storing various data processing programs which can be read by a printing system to which the print control apparatus according to the present invention can be applied.

Although not shown, information for managing a group of programs stored in the storage medium, for example, version information, a creator, etc. are also stored, and information dependent on the OS or the like on the program reading side, for example, a program is stored in the storage medium. An icon or the like for identification display may also be stored.

Further, data dependent on various programs is also managed in the directory. In addition, a program for installing various programs on a computer or a program for decompressing a program to be installed when the program to be installed is compressed may be stored.

The functions shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, FIG. 8, and FIG. 9 in this embodiment may be executed by a host computer by a program installed from the outside. In this case, the present invention is applied even when a group of information including a program is supplied to the output device from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or an FD, or from an external storage medium via a network. Things.

As described above, the storage medium storing the program code of the software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiment is supplied to the system or the apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MP) of the system or the apparatus is supplied.
It goes without saying that the object of the present invention is also achieved when U) reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, C
DR, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, RO
M, EEPROM and the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) And the like perform part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, The CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

According to the above-described embodiment, when the image quality is reduced or an error occurs during printing, the image quality is reduced or error information is printed or added to the print result, so that the print result can be viewed without the print result. You can easily grasp the printing status just by looking at the printing information.

[0081]

As described above, the first embodiment according to the present invention is described.
According to the invention, there is provided a print control apparatus capable of communicating with an external device via a predetermined communication medium, wherein the receiving means receives image data in a predetermined page description language; Translation means for translating the image data in the page description language into band-encoded expression data, generation means for generating a raster image based on the band-encoded expression data translated by the translation means, and generation by the generation means Determining means for determining, for each page, whether or not a bitmap image to be expanded can be stored in a page expansion area secured in advance; and, when the determination means determines that the bitmap image cannot be stored in the expansion area, the band-coded representation Resolution reducing means for reducing the resolution of the data, and the determination means determines that the data cannot be stored in the development area. Storage means for storing the generated page information, and causing the printing unit to output the raster image of each page generated by the generation means, and reading out the page information stored in the storage means every time the output of all pages is completed. Control means for outputting from the printing unit, if any one of the plurality of pages is processed and printed at a low resolution, the page information printed at the low resolution is printed as a management report. Therefore, by referring to the management report, the corresponding page that has been subjected to the low-resolution processing in the printed print result can be extracted and easily checked, and the visual check burden on the conventional user can be greatly reduced. it can.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control apparatus capable of communicating with an external device via a predetermined communication medium, comprising: a receiving unit for receiving image data in a predetermined page description language; A translating means for translating the received image data in the predetermined page description language into band-encoded expression data; and generating a raster image based on the band-encoded expression data translated by the translating means and printing the raster image on a printing unit. Generating means for transferring, determining means for determining for each page whether or not a bitmap image generated and developed by the generating means can be stored in a page development area reserved in advance; When it is determined that, resolution reducing means for reducing the resolution of the band encoded representation data,
Creating means for creating identification information to be printed on each page determined not to be stored in the development area by the determining means; and creating means for creating the raster image of each page generated by the creating means when printing the raster image. Control means for overwriting the raster image with the raster image and outputting the raster image from the printing unit, so that if any one of the plurality of pages is processed and printed at a low resolution, Since the identification information indicating that the page information is printed is automatically added and printed, it is possible to easily extract and check the corresponding low-resolution processed page in the print result printed without wasting paper. It is possible to greatly reduce the visual check burden on the conventional user.

According to the third and fifth aspects of the present invention, there is provided a data processing method of a print control device capable of communicating with an external device via a predetermined communication medium, or communicating with an external device via a predetermined communication medium. A storage medium storing a computer-readable program for controlling a printing apparatus capable of controlling the printing apparatus, the receiving step of receiving image data in a predetermined page description language, and the predetermined page description language received in the receiving step A translation step of translating the image data into band-encoded expression data, a generation step of generating a raster image based on the band-encoded expression data translated by the translation step, and bits generated and developed by the generation step A determination step for determining, for each page, whether a map image can be stored in a page development area reserved in advance; When the determination step determines that the image cannot be stored in the development area, a resolution lowering step of reducing the resolution of the band-encoded expression data; and the page information determined to be unstorable in the development area by the determination step is a memory resource. A first output step of outputting, from a printing unit, a raster image of each page generated by the generation step, and a completion of the raster image output of each page by the first output step. A second output step of reading out the page information held in the memory resources and outputting the read out from the printing unit, so that when any one of the plurality of pages is processed at a low resolution and printed, Because the page information printed at the low resolution is printed as a management report,
By referring to the management report, the corresponding page that has been subjected to the low-resolution processing in the printed print result can be extracted and easily checked, and the conventional visual check burden on the user can be greatly reduced.

According to the fourth and sixth aspects of the present invention, there is provided a data processing method for a print control device capable of communicating with an external device via a predetermined communication medium, or a method for communicating with an external device via a predetermined communication medium. A storage medium storing a computer-readable program for controlling a printing apparatus capable of controlling the printing apparatus, the receiving step of receiving image data in a predetermined page description language, and the predetermined page description language received in the receiving step A translation step of translating the image data into band-encoded expression data, a generation step of generating a raster image based on the band-encoded expression data translated by the translation step, and bits generated and developed by the generation step A determination step for determining, for each page, whether a map image can be stored in a page development area reserved in advance; When it is determined in the determination step that the image cannot be stored in the development area, a resolution lowering step of reducing the resolution of the band-encoded expression data, and printing is performed on each page that is determined to be unable to be stored in the development area in the determination step. A creation step of creating identification information to be output; and an output step of, when printing the raster image of each page generated by the generation step, overwriting the raster image with the identification information created by the creation unit and outputting the raster image from a printing unit. Therefore, if the resolution is processed at a low resolution on any one of the plurality of pages and printed, identification information indicating that the page information is printed at the low resolution is automatically added. Because it is printed, it is possible to extract the relevant page that has been processed with low resolution from the print result printed without waste of paper and easily check it, It is possible to significantly reduce the visual confirmation burden due to come of the user.

Therefore, when any one of a plurality of pages is processed at a low resolution and printed, the user's confirmation work after the end of the printing process is reduced, and printing is performed at the low resolution. It is possible to easily distinguish a page from other pages and easily and reliably evaluate the print result.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a print control apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a first data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print result of image quality deterioration information in the print control apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a second data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a third data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of a memory area obtained on a RAM shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a fourth data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a fifth data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by a printing system to which the print control device according to the present invention can be applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2001 External device 2002 Printer controller 2005 CPU 2006 ROM 2010 RAM 2011 Engine

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A printing control device capable of communicating with an external device via a predetermined communication medium, comprising: a receiving unit for receiving image data in a predetermined page description language; Translation means for translating image data in a page description language into band-encoded expression data; generation means for generating a raster image based on the band-encoded expression data translated by the translation means; and generation and development by the generation means Determining means for determining, for each page, whether or not a bitmap image to be stored can be stored in a page development area reserved in advance; and when the determination means determines that the bitmap image cannot be stored in the development area, the band-encoded expression data Resolution lowering means for lowering the resolution of the image, and determining that the image cannot be stored in the development area by the determining means. Storage means for storing the specified page information; and a printing unit for outputting the raster image of each page generated by the generation means from the printing unit, and reading out the page information stored in the storage means every time the output of all pages is completed. And a control unit for causing the printing unit to output the print data. 2. A print control device capable of communicating with an external device via a predetermined communication medium, comprising: a receiving unit for receiving image data in a predetermined page description language; Translation means for translating image data in a page description language into band-encoded expression data; generating means for generating a raster image based on the band-encoded expression data translated by the translation means and transferring the raster image to a printing unit; Determining means for determining, for each page, whether or not the bitmap image generated and developed by the generating means can be stored in a page development area secured in advance; and when the determination means determines that the bitmap image cannot be stored in the development area, Resolution lowering means for lowering the resolution of the band-encoded expression data; and Creating means for creating identification information to be printed on each page determined to be unstorable; and identifying information created by the creating means when the raster image of each page generated by the generating means is printed on the raster image. Control means for overwriting and outputting from a printing unit. 3. A data processing method for a print control device capable of communicating with an external device via a predetermined communication medium, comprising: a receiving step of receiving image data in a predetermined page description language; A translation step of translating the image data in the predetermined page description language into band-encoded expression data; a generation step of generating a raster image based on the band-encoded expression data translated by the translation step; A determination step of determining whether a bitmap image generated and developed by the step can be stored in a page development area reserved in advance for each page; and, if the determination step determines that the bitmap image cannot be stored in the development area, the band A resolution lowering step of lowering the resolution of the encoded expression data; and A holding step of holding the page information determined to be unstorable in a memory resource, a first output step of outputting a raster image of each page generated in the generation step from a printing unit, and a first output step. A second output step of reading out the page information held in the memory resources and outputting the read out page information from the printing unit every time the raster image output of each page is completed. 4. A data processing method of a print control device capable of communicating with an external device via a predetermined communication medium, comprising: a receiving step of receiving image data in a predetermined page description language; A translation step of translating the image data in the predetermined page description language into band-encoded expression data; a generation step of generating a raster image based on the band-encoded expression data translated by the translation step; A determination step of determining whether a bitmap image generated and developed by the step can be stored in a page development area reserved in advance for each page; and, if the determination step determines that the bitmap image cannot be stored in the development area, the band A resolution lowering step of lowering the resolution of the encoded expression data; and A creation step of creating identification information to be printed on each page determined to be unstorable; and, when printing the raster image of each page created by the creation step, the identification information created by the creation step to the raster image. An output step of overwriting and outputting from a printing unit. 5. A storage medium storing a computer readable program for controlling a printing apparatus capable of communicating with an external device via a predetermined communication medium, the receiving medium receiving image data in a predetermined page description language. Translating the image data in the predetermined page description language received in the receiving step into band-encoded expression data; and a raster image based on the band-encoded expression data translated in the translation step. A determination step of determining, for each page, whether a bitmap image generated and developed by the generation step can be stored in a previously secured page development area, and stored in the development area by the determination step. A resolution that reduces the resolution of the band-encoded expression data if it is determined that the A lowering step, a holding step of holding, in a memory resource, page information determined not to be stored in the development area in the determining step, and a first step of outputting a raster image of each page generated in the generating step from a printing unit. And a second output step of reading out the page information held in the memory resource and outputting the read out page information from the printing unit every time the raster image output of each page is completed in the first output step. A storage medium storing a computer-readable program as a feature. 6. A storage medium storing a computer-readable program for controlling a printing apparatus capable of communicating with an external device via a predetermined communication medium, wherein the storage medium receives image data in a predetermined page description language. Translating the image data in the predetermined page description language received in the receiving step into band-encoded expression data; and a raster image based on the band-encoded expression data translated in the translation step. A determination step of determining, for each page, whether a bitmap image generated and developed by the generation step can be stored in a previously secured page development area, and stored in the development area by the determination step. A resolution that reduces the resolution of the band-encoded expression data if it is determined that the A lowering step; a creating step of creating identification information to be printed on each page determined not to be stored in the development area by the determining step; and the creating step when printing a raster image of each page generated by the creating step. An output step of overwriting the raster image with the identification information created by the means and outputting the raster image from a printing unit, wherein: a storage medium storing a computer-readable program.