JP2000177186A - Device and method for controlling printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a printing operation time period for reprinting. SOLUTION: Data formed by an application software 10 in a host computer is developed to printing data by a data developing section 13 in a printing control device 11 and is transferred to a printer 12 by a data transferring section 14. At that time, the same printing data is stored in a memory medium 18 and the printing data is used for reprinting when the reprinting is instructed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printer control device for controlling a printer and a printer control method for reprinting the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a printer system including a printer device and a printer control device, if a jam or blurring due to ink exhaustion or the like occurs in the printer device during printing, the job recovery processing is performed by the recovery of the printer body. Depends on features. Further, when the paper is not normally fed and printing cannot be performed at a correct position on the paper, there is no means for recovering the job.

[0003] Therefore, when printing cannot be performed normally due to a problem on the printer device side, it is necessary to give a reprint instruction again from application software installed in a host computer (server, personal computer, or the like). As application software, those having a print instruction function such as word processing software and drawing software are well known.

[0004]

As described above, in the conventional printer system, when printing is not normally performed, it is almost always necessary to issue a reprint command again from the application software. Was. For this reason, there is a problem that the user has to start up the application software again, open the printed file, specify a necessary page, and perform printing again.

Further, there is another problem that a process of expanding a file to be printed into a printer language such as PostScript must be performed again, and the reprinting takes the same time as the first printing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem, and it is possible to cause a printer device to print only a specified page again after printing is completed without restarting application software. And a method for reprinting the same.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, data to be printed is received from a host computer, and converted into print data for a printer device. In a printer control device for transferring to a device, a data storage unit for storing print data to be transferred to the printer device when receiving an instruction to execute the reprint function from the outside and receiving an instruction to execute the reprint function from the outside, Control means for causing the printer device to execute reprinting by transferring the print data stored in the data storage device to the printer device when a reprint instruction is received from outside. I do.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printer control device according to the first aspect, the instruction as to whether or not the reprint function is to be executed and the instruction to reprint are issued from the host computer.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printer control device according to the second aspect, the instruction as to whether or not to execute the reprint function is performed prior to printing.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the printer control device according to the second aspect, the instruction as to whether or not the reprint function is to be performed and the instruction to reprint are respectively performed by a graphical user interface of the host computer. It is characterized by the following.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the printer control apparatus according to the first aspect, a designation of a page to be reprinted is received in association with the reprint instruction, and the control means sends the designated page to the designated page. It is characterized in that corresponding print data is read from the data storage means and transferred to the printer device.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the printer control device according to the first aspect, the printer device is capable of performing double-sided printing.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the printer control device according to the first aspect, when an instruction for copy printing for printing a plurality of copies of the same data is received from the outside, the control unit transmits the print data. The data is stored in the data storage unit, and the plurality of portions and the stored data are read and transferred.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer control method for receiving data to be printed from a host computer in a printer control device, converting the data into print data for a printer device, and transferring the print data to the printer device. When an instruction to execute the reprint function is received from the outside, the print data to be transferred to the printer device is stored when the instruction to execute the reprint function is received, and when the instruction to execute the reprint is received from the outside, By transferring the stored print data to the printer, the printer is caused to execute reprinting.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the printer control method according to the eighth aspect, the instruction as to whether or not to execute the reprint function and the instruction to reprint are issued from the host computer.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the printer control method according to the ninth aspect, the instruction as to whether or not to execute the reprinting function is performed prior to printing.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the printer control method according to the ninth aspect, the instruction as to whether or not the reprint function is to be performed and the instruction to reprint are respectively performed by a graphical user interface of the host computer. It is characterized by the following.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the printer control method according to the eighth aspect, designation of a page to be reprinted is received in association with the reprint instruction, and print data corresponding to the designated page is received. Is read out from the stored print data and transferred to the printer device.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the printer control method according to the eighth aspect, the printer is capable of performing double-sided printing.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the printer control method according to the eighth aspect, when a copy print instruction for printing a plurality of copies of the same data is received from outside, the print data is stored. It is characterized in that a plurality of portions, the stored data are read and transferred.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a printer control device of a printer system according to an embodiment of the present invention and a flow of data during normal printing. Reference numeral 10 denotes application software for creating information to be printed, which is executed by a host computer such as a server or a personal computer. A printer control device 11 controls the printer device 12. The printer control device is built in the host computer and is a printer driver. A printer device 12 performs printing.

Reference numeral 13 denotes the application software 10
Is a data expansion unit that expands data received from the printer device 12 into a language of the printer device 12. A data transfer unit 14 transfers the data created by the data development unit 13 to the printer device 12. Reference numeral 15 denotes a data storage processing unit that stores the expanded data in a storage medium.

Reference numeral 16 denotes storage medium storage data created by the data storage processor 15 and divided into page units. Reference numeral 17 denotes a data reading processing unit for reading the storage medium storage data 16 in the printer control device 11.

The data sent from the application software 10 is first passed to a data developing unit 13 in the printer control device 11 and developed into a language executed by the printer device 12. Reference numeral 19 denotes a control unit that controls the entire apparatus.

Next, when the start of the reprint function is specified in the data sent from the application, the data storage processing unit 15 uses the same data as the data sent to the data transfer unit 14 as the storage medium storage data 16. Is stored in a storage medium 18 such as a memory or a hard disk.
The data is transferred from the data expanding unit 13 to the data transfer unit 14 regardless of whether the reprint function is activated. Next, the transferred data is transferred from the data transfer unit 14 to the printer device 12. The printer device 12 that has received the data starts printing based on the received data.

FIG. 2 shows a data flow at the time of reprinting in the printer system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, a request for reprinting from a user 20 and a page designation for reprinting are specified by a printer controller 11.
Is received, the data read processing unit 17 in the printer control device 11 reads the page in the storage medium storage data 16 stored in the storage medium and delivers it to the data transfer unit 14. The data transfer unit 14 transfers the passed data to the printer device 12. The printer device 12 that has received the data starts printing based on the received data.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a graphical user interface for designating activation of the reprint function in the printer control device 11.

This graphical user interface is incorporated in a printer control device which is a printer driver. When a print menu in the application software is selected, a window screen shown in FIG. 3 is displayed.
In FIG. 3, reference numeral 30 denotes a graphical user interface (window screen) for specifying reprinting. Reference numeral 31 denotes an item button for activating the reprint function. By designating the item button by operating the mouse, it is possible to reprint only the page desired by the user at the end of the normal printing. This item can be specified in advance by the user before printing.

The contents set in FIG. 3 are transferred from the application software 10 to the printer control device 11 when a file is designated in the same manner as in the prior art.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a graphical user interface that provides a method for specifying a page at the time of reprinting in the printer control device 11. This graphical user interface is displayed after the end of normal printing with reprinting specified. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 40 denotes a graphical user interface for designating a page at the time of reprinting, and reference numeral 41 denotes an item button for designating printing of all pages at the time of reprinting. Reference numeral 42 denotes an item button for specifying that only the specified page is to be printed at the time of reprinting. Reference numeral 43 denotes an input field for specifying a page to be reprinted when the mode for printing only the specified page is selected. It is. The user operates the item buttons by operating the mouse to specify the item.

Printer control device 11 having the above configuration
Will be described in detail below with reference to the flowcharts of FIG.

The flowchart of FIG. 5 shows the contents of the control processing of the control unit 19 of the printer control device 11 at the time of printing.

First, the application software 10
Upon receiving a print command from the printer controller 11, the printer controller 11 obtains one page of data to be printed from the application software 10 (S501). Data expansion unit 1
3 prints the data acquired in S501 on the printer 12
(S502).

Next, in step S503, the control unit 1
No. 9 determines whether or not an item 31 for enabling reprinting has been designated.

If the determination in step S503 is YES, the developed data is stored as storage medium storage data 16 on the storage medium 18 in case that reprinting needs to be performed (S504). Therefore, using this data, it is possible to perform each subsequent reprinting process. Thereafter, the procedure proceeds to step S505. If the determination in step S503 is NO, the procedure proceeds to step S5
In step S505, the developed data is transferred to the printer device 12.

In step S506, it is determined whether the printing process for all pages has been completed. Step S5
If 06 is NO, the process returns to S501, and the data development and transfer processing of the next page is performed as described above. If the determination in step S506 is YES, step S507
In, the control unit 19 determines whether or not an item 31 for enabling reprinting is specified.

If the determination in step S507 is YES, processing relating to reprinting is performed (S508), and the processing in FIG. 5 ends. The processing related to reprinting in step S508 will be described later with reference to FIG. If the determination in step S507 is NO, the processing in FIG. 5 ends.

FIG. 6 shows details of the processing of the processing unit S508 relating to reprinting in FIG.

In step S601, the control unit 19 determines whether or not the user has requested reprinting via the application software.

If the determination in step S601 is YES, the user interface 40 shown in FIG. 4, which provides a method for specifying a page at the time of reprinting, is displayed on the computer equipped with the application software (S
602). In the displayed user interface 40, a page number for reprinting is specified by a user input (S603).

The control unit 19 receives a page (specific page or all pages) specified by the user (S604).
Next, the control unit 19 transfers the designated page to the data reading processing unit 17 and stores the storage medium storage data 16 on the storage medium 16.
Reads the data of the specified page from one page (S
605).

The data transfer unit 14 in the printer control device 11 transfers the data read by the read processing unit 17 to the printer device 12 (S606).

In step S607, the control unit 19 determines whether the printing process for all the specified pages has been completed. If step S607 is NO, the process returns to step S605, and similarly processes the next specified page. On the other hand, the determination in step S607 is YES
If so, the processing procedure returns to step S601, and it is determined again whether the user has requested reprinting. If the determination is NO in step S601,
The data storage processing unit 15 deletes all the storage medium storage data 16 on the storage medium 18 and ends the processing in FIG. This makes it possible to print again only the specified page without starting the application again.

(Embodiment 2) In Embodiment 1 described above,
The reprint of a specific page in the printer system has been described. Next, a second embodiment that enables reprint processing for copy printing in which a plurality of copies of the same content of print data are printed
Will be described with reference to FIG.

In the first printing, the storage medium 18
It is assumed that print data is stored in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

In FIG. 7, when the printer control device 11 receives a copy print request from the user 70, the data reading processing unit 17 in the printer control device 11 executes the user operation in the storage medium storage data 16 stored in the storage medium. Reads the designated page and is passed to the data transfer unit 14. The data transfer unit 14 transfers the passed data to the printer device 12. The printer device 12 that has received the data starts printing based on the received data. By repeating this for the designated number of copies, a copy print function is realized.

When an instruction for reprinting at the end of copy printing is given, the control unit 19 receives a page to be printed, and controls the data storage processing unit 15 to read the specified page from the storage medium 18.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a graphical user interface that provides a method for designating copy printing in the printer control device 11. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 80 denotes a user interface for designating copy printing, and reference numeral 81 denotes an item for enabling copy printing. By designating this item with a mouse or the like, it becomes possible to copy and print only the page desired by the user at the end of normal printing. This item can be specified in advance before printing.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a graphical user interface that provides a method of specifying a page for copy printing in the printer control device 11 and a method of specifying the number of copies. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 90 denotes a user interface for designating pages and the number of copies at the time of copy printing. Reference numeral 91 denotes an item for designating that the same number of copies of all pages are printed during copy printing. Reference numeral 92 denotes an item for designating the number of copies when an item 91 for designating that the same number of copies of all pages are printed at the time of copy printing is selected.

Reference numeral 93 denotes an item for designating that only the designated page is to be printed by the designated number of copies at the time of copy printing.
Is an item for specifying the number of pages when the item 93 for specifying that only the specified page is to be printed by the specified number of copies is selected. An item 95 specifies how many copies of each specified page are to be printed.

The operation of the present embodiment in the above configuration is as follows.
The details will be described below with reference to the flowcharts in FIG. The flowchart in FIG. 10 is generally related to the control processing of the control unit 19 of the printer control device 11 during printing. First, the application software 10
, One page of data is obtained from the application software 10 in response to a print command from the user (S100).
1).

Next, the data acquired in step S1001 is developed into a language for the printer device 12 (S10).
02).

Next, in step S1003, it is determined whether an item 81 for enabling copy printing has been designated. If the determination in step S1003 is YES, the developed data is stored on the storage medium 18 as storage medium storage data 16 (S100).
1004). Using this data, it is possible to perform each subsequent process of copy printing.

If the determination in step S1003 is NO, the following processing is performed. The developed data is transferred to the printer device 12 (S1005).

In step S1006, it is determined whether the printing process for all pages has been completed.

If the determination in step S1006 is NO, the procedure returns to step S1001, and the process for the next page is similarly performed.

On the other hand, the judgment in step S1006 is YES
If so, it is determined in step S1007 whether or not an item 81 for enabling copy printing has been designated. The determination in step S1007 is YE
If the answer is S, processing related to copy printing is performed (S10
08), the process of FIG. 10 ends. Step S1007
If the determination is NO, the process ends.

The flowchart of FIG. 11 shows details of the processing related to copy printing in step S1008 of FIG. In FIG. 11, in a branch S1101, it is determined whether or not there is a copy print request by the user via the application software.

If the determination in step S1101 is YES, a page for copy printing and a user interface 90 for providing a method for designating the number of copies are displayed on the display screen of the computer on which the application software is installed (S1102). .

In the displayed user interface 90 for providing a method of specifying the page and the number of copies at the time of copy printing, the page number and the number of copies at the time of copy printing are specified by the user (S110).
3). This makes it possible to copy and print the page desired by the user for each of the designated number of copies. The page number specified by the user to perform copy printing and the designated number of copies are acquired by the printer control device 11 (S1104).

The data reading processor 17 of the printer controller 11 reads one page of data of the designated page from the storage medium storage data 16 on the storage medium 18 (S1105). In the data transfer unit 14 of the printer control device 11, the read data is transferred to the printer device 12 as rasterized data (S1106). In step S1107, it is determined whether the process has been completed for the designated number of copies.

If the determination in step S1107 is NO, the procedure returns to S1106, and the data is once transferred to the printer device 12. Thereby, copy printing for the designated number of copies can be performed. If the determination in step S1107 is YES, the following processing is performed. Step S
At 1108, it is determined whether the printing process for all the designated pages has been completed.

If the determination in step S1108 is NO, the procedure returns to step S1105, and the process of the next designated page is similarly performed. On the other hand, if the determination in step S1108 is YES, the procedure returns to step S1101 to determine whether the user has again issued a copy print request.

If NO in step S1101, all the storage medium storage data 16 on the storage medium 18 is deleted, and the processing in FIG. 11 ends. This makes it possible to print the specified page for the specified number of copies without starting the application again.

(Embodiment 3) In Embodiment 1 described above,
Although the specific page is reprinted in the printer system, it is possible to easily reprint only one side at the time of double-sided printing by setting the page designation method to odd-numbered pages and even-numbered pages.

The configuration and data flow of the printer control device of the printer system in this embodiment can be the same as in the first embodiment. FIG. 12 shows the printer control device 1.
1 shows an example of a user interface that provides a method for designating a page at the time of reprinting in No. 1. In FIG. 12, reference numeral 120 denotes a user interface for specifying a page at the time of reprinting, and reference numeral 121 denotes an item for specifying that only odd pages are printed at the time of reprinting. Reference numeral 122 denotes an item for designating that only even-numbered pages are printed at the time of reprinting.

In this embodiment, the page designation method at the time of double-sided printing is different from that of the first embodiment, and a detailed description of the processing procedure will not be required.

[0070]

As described above, according to the first to fourteenth aspects of the present invention, the printer control device located between the host computer that generates data to be printed and the printer device that actually performs printing performs the printing. Focusing on converting (developing) the data into print data to be used by the printer device and storing the print data in the print control device, reprinting by the printer device becomes possible. In addition, by instructing in advance whether or not the reprint function is to be executed, it is possible to selectively use the same print processing as before and the reprint processing.

Further, by designating whether or not the reprint function is to be executed from the host computer equipped with application software such as word processing software for generating data to be printed, a remote printer can be reprinted. You can give instructions.

Further, by providing a reprint function for double-sided printing and copy printing, the processing time for reprinting can be greatly reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer control device of a printer system according to Embodiments 1, 2, and 3 of the present invention, and a flow of data during normal printing.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a data flow at the time of reprinting of the printer system in the first and third embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a (graphical) user interface that provides a method of specifying reprinting according to the first and third embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a (graphical) user interface that provides a method of specifying a page when reprinting according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating processing during printing according to the first and third embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing related to reprinting in the first and third embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a data flow at the time of copy printing in the printer system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a (graphical) user interface that provides a method of designating copy printing according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a (graphical) user interface that provides a method for designating a page and the number of copies in copy printing according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing during printing according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating processing related to copy printing according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a user interface that provides a method of designating a page at the time of reprinting according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 11 printer control device 13 data development unit 14 data transfer unit 18 storage medium

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A printer control device that receives data to be printed from a host computer, converts the data into print data for a printer device, and transfers the print data to the printer device. A data storage unit for storing print data to be transferred to the printer device when an instruction to execute a reprint function is received; and a print data stored in the data storage unit when a reprint instruction is received from outside. Control means for causing the printer device to execute reprinting by transferring the data to the printer device. 2. The printer control device according to claim 1, wherein the instruction as to whether or not to execute the reprint function and the instruction to reprint are issued from the host computer. 3. The printer control device according to claim 2, wherein the instruction as to whether or not to execute the reprint function is issued prior to printing. 4. The printer control device according to claim 2, wherein the instruction as to whether or not to execute the reprint function and the instruction to reprint are respectively issued by a graphical user interface of the host computer. Printer control device. 5. The printer control device according to claim 1, wherein a designation of a page to be reprinted is received in association with the reprint instruction, and the control unit transmits print data corresponding to the designated page. A printer control device for reading from the data storage means and transferring the data to the printer device. 6. The printer control device according to claim 1, wherein said printer device is capable of performing double-sided printing. 7. The printer control device according to claim 1, wherein when a copy print instruction for printing a plurality of copies of the same data is received from outside, the control unit stores the print data in the data storage unit. A printer control device for storing, reading the plurality of portions and the stored data, and transferring the read data. 8. A printer control method for receiving data to be printed from a host computer in a printer control device, converting the data into print data for the printer device, and transferring the print data to the printer device, wherein the printer control device has a reprint function. An instruction for the execution or non-execution is received from outside, and the print data to be transferred to the printer device is stored when the instruction to execute the reprint function is received. And causing the printer device to execute reprinting by transferring the image data to the printer device. 9. The printer control method according to claim 8, wherein the instruction as to whether or not to execute the reprint function and the instruction to reprint are issued from the host computer. 10. The printer control method according to claim 9, wherein the instruction as to whether or not to execute the reprint function is issued prior to printing. 11. The printer control method according to claim 9, wherein the instruction as to whether or not the reprint function is to be executed and the instruction to reprint are respectively performed by a graphical user interface of the host computer. Printer control method. 12. The printer control method according to claim 8, wherein designation of a page to be reprinted is received in association with the reprint instruction, and print data corresponding to the designated page is stored. Read from the data,
A printer control method, wherein the data is transferred to the printer device. 13. The printer control method according to claim 8, wherein the printer device is capable of performing double-sided printing. 14. The printer control method according to claim 8, wherein when a copy print instruction for printing a plurality of copies of the same data is received from outside, the print data is stored and the plurality of copies are stored. A printer control method for reading and transferring the read data.