JP2000207159A - Printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically add distribution destination information to a printed matter, without incurring cost increase for system construction. SOLUTION: For this printing system, the distribution destination information of the printed matter and the inserting spot of the distribution destination information on the printed matter are inputted by an input means 201, combined data, in which the distribution destination information is inserted in the inserting spot on the printed matter, are prepared from the distribution destination information, the data of the inserting spot and print data by data combining means 102 and 201 and on the basis of the combined data, printing is executed by a printing means 202.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printing system, and more particularly to a system capable of automatically adding distribution destination information to printed matter.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, it is often necessary to hard copy a prepared manuscript and distribute it to a plurality of persons. In this case, after copying for the number of people in advance, the distribution destination is written on each first page, handed over, mailed, or sent using a facsimile machine, but the work is extremely complicated. is there.

On the other hand, there has been proposed a printing system in which print data is transmitted to a printer corresponding to each distribution destination based on distribution destination information from a host computer at the time of printing, and printing is performed (for example, see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. HEI 10-157556). JP-A-7-20020
8, JP-A-7-261959, JP-A-7-261
323616, etc.).

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional printing system, not only a special printer capable of processing a print job from a host computer is required as a distribution destination, but also a plurality of printers are connected via a network line or the like. There has been a problem that the connection has to be connected, resulting in a considerably expensive environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a printing system in which different distribution destinations are printed on each printed material at the time of printing.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, a printing system according to the present invention is directed to a printing system in which print data is transmitted from a data processing device to a printing device and printing is performed. Input means for inputting the insertion point of the distribution destination information, and data synthesizing means for creating composite data in which the distribution destination information is inserted at the insertion point of the printed matter from the input distribution destination information, the insertion point data and the print data And transmission means for transmitting the combined data, and printing means for receiving the transmitted combined data and executing printing based on the combined data.

One of the features of the present invention is that the distribution information and the data of the insertion point are combined with the print data, the combined data is transmitted to the printing apparatus, and the printed matter in which the distribution information is inserted at the desired insertion point is printed. The point is to print. Thus, necessary distribution destination information can also be printed at the time of completion of printing, and the complicated work of filling in the distribution destination as in the related art can be eliminated. In addition, instead of transmitting print data, a process of creating and transmitting composite data is performed.
It can be realized by only partially changing the existing technology, and there is no increase in cost for constructing the system.

When transmitting composite data having distribution destination information, if there are a plurality of distribution destinations, it is necessary to continuously transmit a plurality of composite data. That is, the total number of transmitted pages is the number of pages × the number of copies. However, when the number of copies is specified in advance on the user setting screen, the total number of copies is calculated by multiplying the number of copies designated by the user by the distribution destination. Therefore, if the printing device creates the composite data, the amount of data to be transmitted can be reduced, while the printing device uses the distribution destination information based on the distribution destination information.
Calculate the total number of print copies, print the top page of each copy with distribution information corresponding to the designated position based on the distribution destination information, and so on. This is repeated for the calculated number of print copies. If the number of copies is specified in the transmitted data in advance, the total number of copies is
This is the calculation of the distribution destination.

In a printing system according to the present invention, in a printing system in which print data is transmitted from a data processing apparatus to a printing apparatus and printing is performed, distribution destination information of the printed matter and an insertion point of the distribution destination information in the printed matter are inserted. Input means for inputting the distribution destination information and the data of the insertion location together with the print data; and receiving the transmitted distribution destination information and the data of the insertion location and the print data, and A data synthesizing unit that generates synthetic data in which distribution information is inserted at the insertion point of the printed matter from the destination information and the data of the insertion position and the print data; and a printing unit that performs printing based on the synthetic data. It is characterized by the following.

The data processing device may be any device that processes signals and outputs print data.
Generally, a host computer is used. One or more data processing devices may be used. In addition, the number of printing devices may be one or more. The data processing device and the printing device may be connected by any means, for example, by a network line. Although the printing apparatus includes a discharge bin, the discharge bin may be one or plural.

[0011]

According to the present invention, according to the present invention, composite data including print data and distribution destination information and data of the insertion place is created and transmitted, or print data and distribution destination information and data of the insertion place are created. To create the composite data and execute printing based on the composite data, so that when the printing is completed, the necessary distribution destination information can also be printed on the printed matter, and the complicated work of filling in the distribution destination Is also unnecessary.

[0012] In addition, instead of transmitting the print data, composite data including the distribution destination information and the data of the insertion location is created and transmitted, or the distribution destination information and the data of the insertion location are transmitted together with the print data, Create synthetic data,
Since printing is performed based on such composite data, a system can be constructed by only partially changing existing data processing, and there is no increase in cost.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to specific examples shown in the drawings. 1 to 4 show a preferred embodiment of a printing system according to the present invention. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the printing system of the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, a host computer unit (data processing device) 100 and a printer unit (printing device) 200 are connected by signal lines, and print data is transmitted from the host computer unit 100 to the printer unit 200 for printing. ing.

The host computer unit 100 includes an application unit (input means) 101 and a printer driver unit 10
The application unit 101 manages the original data of the document and the number of pages. Printer driver unit (data synthesizing unit, transmitting unit) 102
Receives data from the application unit 101,
While calculating the total number of pages to be printed based on the information, it converts the data received from the application unit 101 into a language that can be interpreted by the controller unit 201 of the printer unit 200, and converts the data to the distribution destination set on the distribution destination setting screen. The converted data is copied for the number of copies, the process of adding distribution destination information to the user-specified position of each first page is performed, and the data is transmitted to the printer.

On the other hand, the printer unit 200 includes a controller unit 210 and an engine unit 202. The controller unit 201 interprets the data received from the printer driver unit 102, performs processing as instructed, converts the data into a data format that can be interpreted by the engine unit 202, and transmits the data to the engine unit 202. The engine unit (printing unit) 202 performs a sheet transport process and the controller unit 20.
The print data sent from the printer 1 is printed on paper.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a user setting screen of the host computer section 100. On the user setting screen, the number of copies, paper size, distribution destination, and distribution destination insertion position are set. The setting is the host computer 1
This can be performed using a 00 keyboard or the like. In the example of FIG. 2, the number of copies is “1”, the paper size is “A4”, the distribution destination (To) “Suzuki-sama”, and the simultaneous distribution destination (Cc) “Sato-san, Miyake-sama” are set. , Font “Gothic”, number of points “10”, X position “2”
0 "and Y position" 20 "are set, and the insertion position on the sheet is shown.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of a control process of the printer driver unit 102 of the host computer unit 100. When the process is started, the document data is received from the application unit 101 (step S100), and the number of copies and the paper size setting information are added to the document data and converted into a language that can be interpreted by the controller unit 201 of the printer unit 200. (Step S101). It is determined whether or not there is a setting for the distribution destination (step S102). If there is no setting for the distribution destination, the conversion data A is transmitted to the printer unit 200 (step S103), and the process is terminated.

If there is a setting of the distribution destination, the conversion data A is stored in the memory (step S104), and the number N of all the distribution destinations set is counted.
After assigning N2, N3,... (Step S10
5) The image data B for distribution destination data is created based on the font designation (step S106), and the value of CNT is set to 1 (step S107).

Next, the distribution destination NCNT of the image data B
(At first, the character portion corresponding to (N1) is converted to emphasized characters, and at the same time, an underline is inserted to create image data B1 for N1 corresponding to the distribution destination N1 (step S1).
08) The image data B for N1 is added to the first page of the conversion data A stored in the memory based on the setting of the insertion position of the distribution destination.
1 to create composite data A1 (step S1).
09), and transmits the synthesized data A1 to the printer unit 200 (step S110).

When the transmission of the composite data A1 to the distribution destination N1 is completed, 1 is added to the value of CNT (step S111), and the same processing is performed on the distribution destination N2 to perform the composite data A2.
Is created and transmitted to the printer unit 200 (step S10).
8 to S110), synthetic data ACNT to all distribution destinations N
After the same processing is repeated until the transmission of the conversion data A is completed, the conversion data A stored in the memory is cleared (step S11).
2, S113), and the process ends.

On the other hand, in the printer unit 200, when the controller unit 201 receives the converted data A or the synthesized data ACNT, the controller unit 201 interprets the data, performs processing as instructed, converts the data into a data format that can be interpreted by the engine unit 202, and converts the data into a data format that the engine unit 202 can interpret. The print job is transmitted to the engine unit 202.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a printed matter created as described above. In FIG. 4, the names of Mr. Suzuki, Mr. Sato, and Mr. Miyake are described in each printed material. Miyake-sama's name is underlined in the printed version. As described in this example, each distribution destination is described in all distribution destinations, and only the pertinent destination may be distinguished by emphasized characters, underline, etc. Not all recipients need be listed.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show another embodiment. In this example, the synthesis data is created not by the host computer 100 but by the printer 200. That is, in the host computer unit 100, the application unit 101 manages the original data and the number of pages of the original, the print driver unit 102 receives the raw data from the application unit 101, and converts the raw data into a language that can be interpreted by the controller unit 201 of the printer unit 200. At the same time, distribution destination information and distribution destination information insertion position information set on the distribution destination setting screen are added and transmitted to the printer unit 200.

On the other hand, in the printer unit 200, the controller unit 201 interprets the data received from the printer driver unit 102, performs processing as instructed, and copies the received data for the number of distribution destinations based on the distribution destination information. At each top page, the distribution destination information corresponding to each distribution destination is added to the location specified by the distribution destination information insertion position information,
The engine unit 202 performs a paper transport process and prints the image data sent from the controller on the paper.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of a control process of the printer driver unit 102 of the host computer unit 100. When the process is started, original data is received from the application unit 101 (step S200), and the number of copies and paper size setting information are added to the original data and converted into a language that can be interpreted by the controller unit 201 of the printer unit 200. (Step S201). It is determined whether or not there is a setting of the distribution destination (step S202). If there is no setting of the distribution destination, the conversion data A is transmitted to the printer unit 200 (step S204). If there is a setting, distribution setting information, distribution font setting information, and distribution position information are added to the conversion data A (step S203), and these are transmitted to the printer unit 200 (step S204), and the process is terminated.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of a control process of the controller unit 201 of the printer unit 100. When the process is started, data from the printer driver unit 102 is received (step S300), and it is determined whether or not there is a distribution destination setting (step S301). The data is converted into map data and transmitted to the engine unit 202 (step S302), and the process ends.

If there is a setting, the received data C is stored in the memory (step S303), the number N of all set distribution destinations is counted, and N1, N2, N are assigned to each distribution destination.
(Step S304), image data D for distribution destination data is created based on the font designation (step S305), and the value of CNT is set to 1 (step S306).

Next, the distribution destination NCNT of the image data D
(At first, the character portion corresponding to (N1) is converted to emphasized characters, and at the same time, an underline is inserted to create image data D1 for N1 corresponding to the distribution destination N1 (step S3).
07) The image data D1 for N1 is added to the first page of the converted data D stored in the memory based on the setting of the insertion position of the distribution destination.
1 to create composite data C1 (step S3).
08), the combined data C1 is converted into bitmap data and transmitted to the engine unit 202 (step S309).

When the transmission of the composite data C1 to the distribution destination N1 is completed, 1 is added to the value of CNT (step S310), and the same processing is performed for the distribution destination N2 to perform the composite data C2.
And convert it to bitmap data,
02 (steps S307 to S109), and repeats the same processing until transmission of the composite data CCNT to all the distribution destinations N is completed.
Is cleared (steps S311 and S312), and the process ends.

On the other hand, the conversion data C
Alternatively, when the bitmap data of the composite data CCNT is received, printing is executed based on the data.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a preferred embodiment of a printing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user setting screen in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates a printer driver unit 1 according to the embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a control process of No. 02.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a printed matter in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates a printer driver 1 according to another embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a control process of No. 02.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a control process of a controller unit 201 in the embodiment. REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 host computer (data processing device) 101 application unit (input unit) 102 printer driver unit (data combining unit, transmitting unit) 200 printer (printing device) 201 controller (data combining unit) 202 non-engine (printing unit)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A printing system in which print data is transmitted from a data processing device to a printing device to perform printing, and input means for inputting distribution destination information of a printed matter and an insertion point of the distribution destination information in the printed matter, A data synthesizing unit that creates synthetic data in which the distribution destination information is inserted at the insertion location of the printed matter from the input distribution destination information, the insertion point data, and the print data; a transmission unit that transmits the synthetic data; A printing unit that receives the combined data and executes printing based on the combined data. 2. A printing system in which print data is transmitted from a data processing device to a printing device to perform printing, wherein input means for inputting distribution destination information of the printed matter and an insertion point of the distribution destination information in the printed matter, Transmitting means for transmitting the input distribution destination information and the data of the insertion location together with the print data; receiving the transmitted distribution destination information and the data of the insertion location and the print data; A printing system, comprising: data synthesizing means for creating synthetic data in which distribution destination information is inserted into a place where a printed matter is inserted from print data; and printing means for executing printing based on the synthetic data.