JP2000215011A - Unit and method for print control and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a print control unit which prints print data according to layout data and also prints respective pieces of print data of high quality on different sheets of paper by deciding whether or not different-paper print request information is present and printing out the image data included in the print data at the different-paper print request independently of the document data. SOLUTION: A flag F is set (to 1) so as to record the presence of 'FOH' at the head of the print data (S3). According to the layout data of the received print data, the print data are expanded into bit map data for printing and stored in a memory for printing, and the data stored in the memory for printing are transferred to a printer main body and printed (S4). When the flag F is set, the flag F is reset (to 0) first and then specified image data in the received print data are expanded into a print bit map image, which is transferred to the printer and printed out (S6).

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, a print control method, and a computer having a function of receiving and printing print data in which character data and image data are mixed and print data including a plurality of image data. It concerns a readable program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional printing apparatus used as a computer output apparatus, when print data in which character data and image data received from a host are mixed is printed out,
(1) receiving and printing data in which the received data has already been developed into print bitmap image data; or (2) receiving character data, layout data, and image data, respectively, and then converting the image data according to the layout data. Determines the print size, converts the resolution of the image data to print resolution and develops it into print bitmap image data, and combines the result of expanding character data into print bitmap image data to produce the final print bitmap Image data was created, and the created bitmap image data was printed.

[0003]

In the case of printing out by the conventional technique, even if the received image data is high-resolution data, if it is laid out on one page according to the layout data, it is enough to be reduced and printed. There is a problem that a high image quality cannot be obtained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems. In addition to printing received print data including image data in accordance with layout data, each image data is printed on a separate sheet in accordance with a user's instruction. A print control device for printing is provided.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a print control apparatus which processes input layout data, text data, and print data including image data, and causes a printing apparatus to execute printing. Means for expanding the print data into print bitmap image data based on layout data included in the print data and storing the print bitmap image data in a print memory; and a printing device for storing the stored print bitmap image data. A print execution unit that sends the image data to the main body and performs printing; and a determination unit that determines whether there is separate sheet print request information that requests the image data to be printed on a separate sheet. A print control apparatus for printing out image data included in print data independently of document data.

When there is separate sheet print request information, the print control apparatus prints image data and text data based on the resolution according to the designated print size, and separately prints out the image data with the resolution according to the print size. It is characterized by the following.

[0007] The separate sheet print request information is added as a flag to the head of the print data, and the data structure of the image data is constructed by layering the same image as data of a plurality of resolutions. More specifically, the data structure of the image data is a flash pix file format.

[0008] Further, an aspect of the present invention is a print control method for processing print data including input layout data, text data, and image data, and causing a printing apparatus to execute printing. Determining whether there is separate sheet print request information requesting printing, and, if there is a separate sheet print request, printing out image data included in the print data independently of the document data. The printing control method.

Still further, according to an aspect of the present invention, a print control program for processing input print data including layout data, text data, and image data and causing a printing apparatus to execute printing is stored in a computer-readable manner. A storage medium, wherein the print control program determines whether there is separate sheet print request information requesting that image data be printed on a separate sheet, and, if a separate sheet print request is made, converts the image data into document data. And a step of printing and outputting independently from the storage medium.

[0010]

(Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as an example.

<Structure> FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of a printing apparatus 50 and a printing control apparatus 40 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The printing device 50 is the printing device main body 2
0, an LCD 9, a keyboard 10, and a print control device 40, and are connected to the host computer 30 via the interface IF4.

The printing apparatus 50 of FIG. 1 is controlled by a central processing unit (CPU) in the form of a microprocessor indicated by reference numeral 1. The CPU 1 includes, for example, a clock pulse generation circuit (not shown), a delay circuit, a gate circuit, a sequential circuit including other logic circuits, and the like.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a read-only memory (RO)
M), when the CPU 1 controls the printing apparatus 50, the processing procedure of the CPU 1 when supplying the control signal to each unit, and the microinstruction necessary for sequentially informing the CPU 1 of the control signal required for the CPU 1 This is a storage unit for storing groups.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a readable / writable random access memory (RAM), which has an area for storing the operation status of each apparatus and a storage area (storage buffer) for storing input print data. When the power is turned on, the contents of the RAM 3 are all initialized to "0".

Reference numeral 8 denotes a bus line, which is the CPU 1 and interfaces (IF1 to I2) indicated by reference numerals 4 to 7.
F4) and a signal line for electrically connecting the ROM 2 and the RAM 3 and transferring memory addresses and data. In addition,
The interface 4 (IF1) functions as an output interface for connecting to the printing apparatus main body 20 and transmitting print data for printing.

An interface 5 (IF2) is connected to an LCD display device on the operation panel to transmit a display control signal and control display.

The interface 6 (IF3) receives a key input signal on the operation panel and transmits it to the CPU.

The interface 7 (IF4) functions as an input / output interface for inputting and outputting data by connecting to the host computer 20.

<Output Device> FIG. 10 shows a laser beam printer (LB) which is an example of an output device to which the present invention can be applied.
It is a figure which shows the cross section of P).

In FIG. 10, reference numeral 1500 denotes an LBP main body, which inputs and stores print information (character codes and the like) supplied from an externally connected host computer, and corresponding character patterns in accordance with the information. And an image pattern are formed, and an image is formed on a recording medium such as a printing paper.

Reference numeral 1501 denotes an operation panel on which an LCD and a keyboard are arranged. The LCD shown in FIG.
9 and the keyboard 10.

Reference numeral 1000 denotes a printer control unit.
Corresponds to the print control device including the CPU 1, the ROM 2, the RAM 3, the interface 4, the interface 5, the interface 6, the interface 7, and the bus 8.

The printer control unit 1000 is an LBP
Control of entire body 1500 and host computer 30
Analyze character information and the like supplied from. The printer control unit 1000 mainly converts the video signal into a video signal of a character pattern corresponding to the character information,
Output to

The laser driver 1502 is the semiconductor laser 1
This is a circuit for driving the laser beam 503, and switches on / off a laser beam 1504 emitted from the semiconductor laser 1503 according to an input video signal.

The laser beam 1504 is swung right and left 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.

The latent image formed on the electrostatic drum 1506 is developed by a developing unit 1507 disposed around the electrostatic drum 1506, and then transferred to a recording sheet.

A cut sheet is used as the recording paper. 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 by a transport path 1510 and a transport roller 1511. And supplied to the electrostatic drum 1506. <Operation> Next, an operation example of the present embodiment will be described. The procedure of each control of the printing apparatus 50 is stored in the ROM 2, and the printing apparatus 50 operates according to the control procedure.

An image to be printed out is output from an input device such as a scanner or a digital camera (not shown) as an image.
After the host computer 30 shown in FIG. 1 captures the captured image data and pastes the captured image data on a document created by application processing in the host computer 30, the image data separate sheet print mode designation code is added to the document data including the image data. Attached, transferred to print control device and printed.

The procedure of the operation processing will be described in detail with reference to the reference drawings of FIGS. 2 to 7 and the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 2 shows an example of print data including image data created by the host computer 30 shown in FIG. 1 (also an example of a first page of print output).

FIG. 3 shows an example of the data format of the print data shown in FIG. 2 stored in the host computer.

FIGS. 4 to 7 show four image data (a, b, c, d) in the print data shown in FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a result of developing and printing each in a size of one page.

First, the printing process is performed by the host computer 30 shown in FIG. 1 for each image (a, b, c,
d) is read from the scanner, and characters are input using a character input application program or the like.

Here, the host computer 30 extracts only the image data from the print data and prints it on a recording paper different from the print data (the whole of FIG. 2). As shown in the figure, print data is created with the code "F0H" displayed at the top of the display designating separate sheet print output. Next, the host computer 30 creates a file header section, a layout data section, a text data section, and image data 1 to 4, and transmits the data to the print control apparatus as print data.

When the print data is sent from the host computer 30, the printing apparatus 50 performs the receiving and printing control processing as follows in accordance with the processing flowchart of FIG.

In step S1, the host computer 30
It is detected that the transmitted print data has been received, and the process proceeds to step S2. In step S2, it is checked whether "F0H" is added to the head of the received print data. If not, the process proceeds to step S4. If “F0H” is added to the beginning of the print data, the process proceeds to step S
Proceed to 3. If you have specific data to print here,
For example, if there is image designation information of F0H (image data 1) as shown in the figure, in step 3, further image designation is performed.

In step S3, the flag F is set (set to 1) in order to record that "F0H" is at the head of the print data. In step S4, according to the layout data of the received print data shown in FIG. 3, the print data is developed into print bitmap data and stored in the print memory, and the data stored in the print memory is transmitted to the printer main body 20. Transfer and print. Step S
In step 5, it is detected that the flag F is set, and if the flag F is not set, the process proceeds to step S1. If the flag F is set, the process proceeds to the next step S6. In step S6, after the flag F is first reset (set to 0), the designated image data data in the received print data is developed into a print bitmap image of a designated print paper size, and print control is performed. Transfer to the device and execute printout. If no image is specified, all the image data is expanded into a print bitmap image of a print paper size, and the printout is executed. Therefore, all or some of the print results shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 are obtained.

In the above description, when the image data is to be printed out separately, as shown in FIG. 3, the print data added with the code "F0H" at the top of the display for designating the print out separately from the host computer 30 as shown in FIG. Although it has been described that the print job is created and transmitted to the printing device 50, the print job may be input by the operator, for example, from the keyboard 10 before printing is started.
According to this configuration, the control advances to S2-1 following S2 in the step of FIG. 9 to determine a separate sheet print request from the keyboard. If there is a request, the process proceeds to step S3, where F = 1
Is set to prepare a separate output of the image.

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the print control device prints print data including image data according to layout data, and prints each image data on a separate sheet in accordance with a user's instruction with high quality. A print control device is provided.

(Second Embodiment) In the description of the first embodiment, the image data pasted on the document data is described as being stored in a normal image data storage format. The invention is not limited to this, and Flashpix (FlashPi
x: a registered trademark of Kodak) file format called Eastman Kodak, Hewlett Packard, Live Picture, Microsoft (Micr)
By applying an image format jointly developed by four US companies (Osoft), it is possible to obtain higher quality printing results faster.

In the image format of the Flashpix file format, one image image is hierarchically configured as a plurality of resolution image images composed of image images sequentially reduced in resolution. By reading and using the data with the optimum resolution that allows the printing capability of the printing apparatus to be maximized, effects can be obtained in both processing speed and print quality.

In the first embodiment, the operation control of the printing apparatus 50 shown in FIG. 1 is described as being executed by the control program in the read-only memory of the ROM 2, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is needless to say that a control program stored in an external storage device (not shown) can be read into the built-in RAM 3 and executed.

(Other Embodiments) The memory map shown in FIG. 8 is for explaining a configuration example of a memory map of a storage medium for storing a data processing program, which can be read by the print control device 40 to which the present invention can be applied. FIG.

The memory map includes directory information,
For example, it is composed of a program code group for performing a process as shown in the flowchart of FIG. Although not particularly shown, for example, version information, which is information for managing a group of programs stored in the storage medium, a creator, and the like are also described. Further, information depending on the OS from which the program is read (for example, an icon for identifying and displaying the program) may be stored.

Further, data dependent on various programs is also managed in the directory. When a program for installing various programs on a computer is compressed, a program for decompressing the program may be stored.

In the present embodiment, the functions of the processing shown in FIG. 9 may be performed by a host computer by a program installed from the outside. In this case, the present invention is applicable even when a group of information including a program is supplied to an 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. is there.

As described above, the storage medium storing the program codes of the software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or the apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or the apparatus is provided.
It is needless to say that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code read from the storage medium itself 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, a hard disk, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, an EEPROM
OM or 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 an OS or the like running on the computer operates based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where some or all of the actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is also included.

Further, the program code read from the storage medium executes a part or all of the actual processing by a CPU or the like provided in a function expansion board inserted or mounted in a computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. Needless to say, the case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When the received print data is printed together with the character data according to the specified layout information, even if the print quality of the image data is degraded due to reduced printing,
In accordance with an instruction from the user, high-quality printing can be performed without reducing only the image data on a separate sheet, so that an effect that maximum information can be obtained from the image data is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of data including image data created by a host computer 30 and a print result.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a structure of print data transmitted from a host computer 30 to a print control device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a print example when one image data in the received print data is printed.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a print example when one image data in the received print data is printed.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a print example when one image data in the received print data is printed.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a print example when one image data in the received print data is printed.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a memory map of a storage medium according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a processing operation of the print control apparatus described in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 shows a printing apparatus main body (2) in the printing apparatus shown in FIG.
It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of 0).

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A print control apparatus that processes print data including input layout data, text data, and image data, and causes a printing apparatus to execute printing. Means for developing the print data into print bitmap image data and storing the print data in a print memory; print execution means for transmitting the stored print bitmap image data to a printing apparatus main body to execute printing; and image data. Means for determining whether or not there is separate sheet print request information requesting that the separate sheet be printed on a separate sheet, and when a separate sheet print request is made, image data is printed out independently of the document data. Printing control device. 2. When there is separate sheet print request information, image data and text data are printed based on the resolution according to the designated print size, and the image data is separately printed out with the resolution according to the print size. The print control device according to claim 1. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the separate sheet print request information is added as a flag to the head of the print data. 4. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data structure of the image data is constructed by layering the same image as data of a plurality of resolutions. 5. The print control device according to claim 3, wherein the data structure of the image data is a flash pix file format. 6. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said print data includes separate sheet print request information for requesting printing of image data on separate sheets. 7. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said separate sheet print request information further includes designation information for designating print data. 8. A print control method for processing print data including input layout data, text data, and image data and causing a printing apparatus to execute printing, wherein the request is to print the image data on a separate sheet. Determining whether there is separate sheet print request information, and if there is a separate sheet print request, prints the image data included in the print data independently of the document data. 9. The print control method according to claim 8, wherein whether or not separate print request information for requesting printing of the image data on separate paper is present in the print data. 10. Processing print data including input layout data, text data, and image data,
A storage medium storing a print control program for causing a printing apparatus to perform printing in a computer-readable manner, wherein the print control program determines whether or not there is separate sheet print request information requesting printing of image data on a separate sheet. A storage medium comprising: a determination step; and a step of printing out image data independently of document data when a separate sheet printing request is made.