JP2000301783A - Printer, printing system, method for controlling printing and memory device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent waste of paper by a discharging operation for a paper having a missing character when a character of which character pattern is not present is designated, thereby obtaining the printed result having no missing character and to use an additional character without changing a printing job, thereby preventing printing of a character by an unexpected character pattern. SOLUTION: This printer prohibits a paper discharge operation when detecting a character used in a printing job of which the character code dose not have a character pattern and the printer notifies a host computer 3000 of the character not having the character pattern. The printer comprises a CPU 12 that uses a character set downloaded from the host computer 3000 via a transmission line prior to a built-in character set and executes again an output operation of the printing job in an external memory 14 after downloading the character set.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a printing system, a printing control method, and a storage medium. More particularly, the present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing method suitable when a character having no character pattern can be specified. The present invention relates to a system, a print control method, and a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A printing apparatus is generally used as a device for taking in data supplied from a host computer and outputting the data in a predetermined form. Among these types of printing devices, there is a printing device having a function of replacing characters used in a host computer with characters built in the printing device and printing out.

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned prior art has the following problems. That is, as described above, when the characters used in the host computer are replaced or replaced with the characters used in the printing device, and the characters used in the host computer are added or changed, When output processing is performed using a character pattern built in the apparatus, there is a problem that characters may be missing and printed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and when a character having no character pattern is designated, it is possible to omit waste of paper without performing a discharge process in which a character missing occurs. A printing device that enables to obtain a print result without occurrence of character omission, enables use of a character pattern added without changing a print job, and prevents printing by an unintended character pattern; It is an object to provide a printing system, a printing control method, and a storage medium.

[0005]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus for performing printing based on a print job transmitted from an external device. Character detection means for detecting a character having no character pattern in a character code to be executed; discharge control means for prohibiting paper discharge processing when the character detection means detects a character having no character pattern; Communication means for notifying the external device of a character that does not exist, and character priority use means for preferentially using a character set without the character pattern transmitted from the external device based on the notification by the communication means over a built-in character set And output control means for outputting the print job again after receiving the character set from the external device.

In order to achieve the above object, according to a second aspect of the present invention, a storage unit for storing the print job in a storage unit, and the print job is transmitted from the external device based on the notification by the communication unit. Download means for downloading the character set without the character pattern, wherein the character preferential use means preferentially uses the character set without the character pattern downloaded by the download means over the built-in character set, The output control unit may output the print job stored in the storage unit again after the download of the character set by the download unit.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to a third aspect of the present invention is directed to an information processing apparatus which displays correspondence between a character type of a font built in a printing device and a character type of a font used on the external device side in the external device. Is held.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the external device can selectively designate a character pattern for a character type of a font searched by the external device. I do.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing system having an external device and a printing device for performing printing based on a print job transmitted from the external device. The apparatus includes a character detection unit that detects a character having no character pattern in a character code used in the print job, and a paper discharge unit that prohibits a paper discharge process when the character detection unit detects a character without the character pattern. Control means, communication means for notifying the external device of the character without the character pattern, and a character set without the character pattern transmitted from the external device based on the notification by the communication means has priority over a built-in character set. And a control unit for outputting the print job again after receiving the character set from the external device. The features.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the printing apparatus further comprises: a storage unit for storing the print job in a storage unit; and the external device based on the notification by the communication unit. Download means for downloading the character set without the character pattern transmitted from the device, wherein the character preferential use means gives priority to the character set without the character pattern downloaded by the download means over the built-in character set The output control unit performs the output processing of the print job stored in the storage unit again after the download of the character set by the download unit.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, preferably, the external device associates a character type of a font built in the printing device with a character type of a font used on the external device side. Characterized by holding the information shown.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the external device has a designating means for selectively designating a character pattern for a character type of a font searched by the external device. It is characterized by the following.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control system for a printing system having an external device and a printing device for performing printing based on a print job transmitted from the external device. A method for detecting a character having no character pattern in a character code used in the print job, the method comprising: detecting a character having no character pattern in the character detecting step; A paper discharge control step of prohibiting paper processing, a communication step of notifying the external device of the character without the character pattern, and the character without the character pattern transmitted from the external device based on the notification by the communication step A character priority use step of using the set in preference to the built-in character set; and, after receiving the character set from the external device, And having an output control step of outputting processing job again.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the printing apparatus further comprises a storage step of storing the print job in a storage means, and the external device based on the notification by the communication step. A download step of downloading the character set without the character pattern transmitted from the device, wherein in the character priority use step, the character set without the character pattern downloaded in the download step is prioritized over the built-in character set. In the output control step, after the character set is downloaded in the download step, the print job stored in the storage unit is output again.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, preferably, the external device associates a character type of a font built in the printing device with a character type of a font used on the external device side. Characterized by holding the information shown.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, wherein the external device has a designation step of selectively designating a character pattern for a character type of a font searched by the external device. It is characterized by the following.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a print control system applied to a printing system having an external device and a printing device for performing printing based on a print job transmitted from the external device. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing the method, wherein the print control method includes a character detection step of detecting a character having no character pattern in a character code used in the print job; A discharge control step of prohibiting a discharge process when the character without the character pattern is detected in the step; a communication step of notifying the character without the character pattern to the external device; and Use the character set without the character pattern sent from the external device based on the internal character set A character emption step that, said after receiving from the external device of the character set, and having an output control step of outputting processing the print job again.

[0018]

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

[First Embodiment] Before describing the first embodiment of the present invention, the first embodiment of the present invention to which the present invention is applied will be described.
The configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 by taking a laser beam printer as an example of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment. It should be noted that the printer to which the present invention is applied is not limited to a laser beam printer, and it goes without saying that a printer of another printing method such as an ink jet printer may be used.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a laser beam printer (LBP) as an example of a printing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The laser beam printer (LBP) according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes an LBP main body 1.
The printer control unit 1000, laser driver 1502, semiconductor laser 1503, rotating polygon mirror 1505, electrostatic drum 1506, developing unit 150
7, paper cassette 1508, paper feed roller 1509, transport rollers 1510 and 1511, operation unit (operation panel) 15
01 is provided. In the figure, P indicates a recording medium such as recording paper.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, and in the second and third embodiments described later, a laser beam printer shown in FIG. 2 will be described as an example of a printing apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to a laser beam printer, and may be applied to various printers such as an ink jet printer such as a bubble jet printer, a thermal transfer printer, a thermal printer, an electrostatic printer, and a discharge breakdown printer. Needless to say, this is also applicable.

The components of the above components will be described in detail. The LBP body 1500 includes the printer control unit 1000, laser driver 1502, semiconductor laser 1503, rotary polygon mirror 1505, electrostatic drum 1506, developing unit 15
07, a paper cassette 1508, a paper feed roller 1509, transport rollers 1510 and 1511, an operation panel 1501, etc., and print information (character codes) supplied from a host computer 3000 (see FIG. 1) connected to the outside. ), Form information, macro instructions, and the like, are input and stored, and corresponding character patterns, form patterns, and the like are created in accordance with the information, and an image is formed on recording paper as a recording medium.

The printer control unit 1000 is an LBP
Control of entire body 1500 and host computer 300
It analyzes character information and the like supplied from 0, and mainly converts the character information into a video signal of a corresponding character pattern and outputs the video signal to the laser driver 1502. The laser driver 1502 is a circuit for driving the semiconductor laser 1503, and switches on / off a laser beam 1504 emitted from the semiconductor laser 1503 according to an input video signal. The semiconductor laser 1503 emits a laser beam 1504 toward the rotary polygon mirror 1505 based on driving by the laser driver 1502.

The rotary polygon mirror 1505 is driven to rotate by a motor 1512, and oscillates a laser beam 1504 emitted from a semiconductor laser 1503 in the left-right direction. Electrostatic drum 15
06 is reflected by the rotating polygon mirror 1505 and further reflected by the reflecting mirror 15.
The surface of the drum is scanned and exposed by the laser beam 1504 reflected at 13. As a result, an electrostatic latent image of a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 1506.
The developing unit 1507 is provided around the electrostatic drum 1506, and develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrostatic drum 1506. This electrostatic latent image is transferred to the developing unit 15
After being developed at 07, it is transferred to recording paper.

The paper cassette 1508 includes the LBP main body 15.
00, which is detachably mounted, and accommodates a large number of recording papers. The paper feed roller 1509 takes in the recording paper stored in the paper cassette 1508 one by one into the apparatus by a driving mechanism (not shown). Transport roller 1
Reference numerals 510 and 1511 denote a recording sheet fed by a feed roller 1509 by a driving mechanism (not shown).
It is transported and supplied to the 506 side. Operation unit (operation panel) 150
1 is provided with a switch for operation and display means such as an LED (light emitting diode) display. The recording paper P on which printing has been completed is discharged outside the apparatus.

The LBP body 1500 has 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 can be connected in addition to the built-in fonts. I have.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer control system including a laser beam printer capable of bidirectional communication and a host computer according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment of the present invention and a second embodiment described later, the laser beam printer shown in FIG. 2 will be described as an example. Note that, as long as the functions of the present invention are executed, whether a single device or a system including a plurality of devices is used, a LAN (Local Arrangement) may be used.
Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a system in which processing is performed via a network such as ea Network).

The printer control system according to the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a host computer 3 as an external device.
000 and a laser beam printer (LB
(P body) 1500 via a bidirectional interface 21.

The host computer 3000 of the printer control system includes a CPU 1, a RAM 2, a ROM 3, a system bus 4, a keyboard controller (KBC) 5, and a CR.
T controller (CRTC) 6, memory controller (MC) 7, printer controller (PRTC) 8, keyboard (KB) 9, CRT display (CRT) 1
0, an external memory 11 is provided. 2 in the figure
000 indicates a host computer control unit (control unit).

A laser beam printer (LBP main body) 1500 of the printer control system includes a CPU 12, a RAM 1
9, a ROM 13, a system bus 15, an input unit 18, a printing unit interface (I / F) 16, a memory controller (MC) 20, a printing unit (printer engine) 17, an operation unit (operation panel) 1501, and an external memory 14. It has a configuration. In the figure, reference numeral 1000 denotes a printer control unit (control unit).

The configuration of each part of the host computer 3000 will be described in detail. The CPU 1 can store figures, images, characters, tables (including spreadsheets, etc.) based on a document processing program or the like recorded in the program ROM 3b of the ROM 3. The mixed document processing is executed, and each device connected to the system bus 4 is comprehensively controlled. The CPU 1 executes, for example, a process of developing (rasterizing) the outline font in the display information RAM set on the RAM 2 and outputs
WYSIWYG (What Y
ou See Is What You Get: a function that can print as it is on the screen. Also, CP
U1 opens various registered windows based on commands specified by a mouse cursor (not shown) or the like on the CRT display 10 and executes various data processing. Further, the CPU 1 executes the processes shown in the flowcharts of FIG. 4 (first embodiment) and FIG. 6 (second embodiment).

The RAM 2 functions as a main memory of the CPU 1, a work area, and the like. ROM3 is RO for fonts
M3a, ROM 3b for program, ROM 3c for data
It has. The font ROM 3a stores font data and the like used in the document processing. In the program ROM 3b, FIG. 4 (first embodiment)
A control program of the CPU 1 and the like as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 (second embodiment) are stored. The data ROM 3c stores various data used when performing the document processing and the like.

The keyboard controller (KBC) 5
It controls key input from a keyboard (KB) 9 and a pointing device (not shown). A CRT controller (CRTC) 6 controls display on a CRT display 10. The memory controller (MC) 7 controls access to the external memory 11. The printer controller (PRTC) 8 has a predetermined bidirectional interface 21.
Via a laser beam printer (LBP body) 1500
The communication control process is performed.

The keyboard (KB) 9 has various keys for the operator to input various data and give various instructions. The CRT display (CRT) 10 controls graphics, characters, and the like under the control of a CRT controller (CRTC) 6.
Display a table or the like. Note that the display method is not limited to the CRT, but may be another display method such as a liquid crystal display. The external memory 11 is a hard disk (H) that stores a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, edit files, and the like.
D), a floppy disk (FD) or the like.

The above laser beam printer (LBP body)
1500 In detail, the configuration of each unit is as follows.
Based on a control program stored in the program ROM 13b of the M13 or a control program stored in the external memory 14, access to various devices connected to the system bus 15 is comprehensively controlled, and the printing unit interface (I / F) to output an image signal as output information to a printing unit (printer engine) 17 connected thereto. Further, the CPU 12 executes the processes shown in the flowcharts of FIG. 3 (first embodiment) and FIG. 5 (second embodiment).

The RAM 19 functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like for the CPU 12, and is configured so that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an additional port (not shown).
The RAM 19 is used for an output information development area, an environment data storage area, a character bitmap image data storage area, and the like. The ROM 13 includes a font ROM 13a, a program ROM 13b, and a data ROM 13c. The font ROM 13a stores font data and the like used when generating the output information.
The control program for the CPU 12 as shown in the flowcharts of FIG. 3 (first embodiment) and FIG. 5 (second embodiment) is stored in the program ROM 13b. In the case of a printer without the external memory 14 such as a hard disk, information used on the host computer 3000 is stored in the data ROM 3c.

The input unit 18 is a bidirectional interface 2
1 to control communication with the host computer 3000. The printing unit interface (I / F) 16 is a CPU
A signal is transmitted and received between the printer 12 and the printing unit (printer engine) 17. Memory controller (MC) 20
Controls access to the external memory 14. The printing unit (printer engine) 17 performs a printing operation based on an image signal as output information output from the CPU 12.
As described above, the operation unit (operation panel) 1501 is provided with operation switches and display means such as an LED display. The external memory 14 has a hard disk (H
D), an IC card, and the like. Access is controlled by a memory controller (MC) 20 and stores a print job, a download font, and the like transmitted from the host computer 3000.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing an example in which the program and related data of the present invention are supplied from a storage medium to the apparatus. The program and related data of the present invention are supplied by inserting a storage medium 81 such as a floppy disk or a CD-ROM into a storage medium drive insertion slot 83 provided in the device 82. Thereafter, the program of the present invention is executed by temporarily installing the program and the related data of the present invention from the storage medium 81 to the hard disk and loading the data from the hard disk to the RAM, or by directly loading the program and the related data into the RAM without installing the hard disk. It becomes possible.

The first embodiment of the present invention and a second embodiment described later
When the program of the present invention is executed in the printer control system according to the embodiment, the program of the present invention and related data are transmitted to the printer control system (host computer 3000, printer 1500) according to the procedure shown in FIG. Supply or printer control system (host computer 3000, printer 1500)
By storing the program of the present invention and related data in advance, the program can be executed.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration example of the storage contents of a storage medium storing the program and related data of the present invention. The storage medium of the present invention stores, for example, volume information 7
1, directory information 72, program execution file 7
3. It is composed of storage contents such as a program-related data file 74. The program according to the present invention includes the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 (first embodiment), and FIGS.
This is program-coded based on the flowchart of (Second Embodiment).

The correspondence relationship between each component in the claims of the present invention and each unit in the printer control system according to the first embodiment of the present invention and the second embodiment described below is as follows. It is on the street. The storage unit, the character detection unit, the paper discharge control unit, the download unit, the character priority use unit, and the output control unit are the C of the laser beam printer 1500.
The storage means corresponds to the external memory 14, and the communication means corresponds to the program executed by the PU 12 and the CPU 12.
Communication control function of PU 12 and bidirectional interface 21
Corresponding to The printing device is a laser beam printer 1
500, and the external device is a host computer 300.
0, and the designation means of the external device corresponds to the CRT display 10 and the keyboard 9 of the host computer 3000.

Next, the first embodiment of the present invention configured as described above is described.
In the printer control system according to the embodiment, the processing operations of the printer control unit (control unit) 1000 of the laser beam printer 1500 and the host computer control unit (control unit) 2000 of the host computer 3000 will be described with reference to flowcharts of FIGS. This will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the printer control unit (control unit) 1000 of the laser beam printer 1500 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 3, upon receiving data transmitted from the host computer 3000, the laser beam printer 1500 stores the received print job in the external memory 14 in step S11. Next, in step S12, it is detected whether or not a character code which is built in the laser beam printer 1500 and has no character pattern is designated by the font designated in the print job. If a character having no character pattern is not detected in step S12, the print job stored in the external memory 14 is processed and a sheet discharging process is performed in step S13, and the process ends.

If a character without a character pattern is detected in step S12, the character type and character code of the font without the character pattern specified in the print job are determined in step S14.
Notify.

The host computer 300 notified of the character type and character code of the font having no character pattern specified in the print job from the laser beam printer 1500
The operation of 0 is described as follows.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the host computer control unit (control unit) 2000 of the host computer 3000 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In this case, the host computer 3000
Is assumed to have, as information, correspondence between the character types of the fonts built in the laser beam printer 1500 and the character types of the fonts used on the host computer 3000 side.

In FIG. 4, in step S21, the laser beam printer 1500 searches for the character type used in the host computer 3000 from the character type of the font notified in the processing step S14 in FIG. In addition, the character code notified from the laser beam printer 1500 is used to search whether the character pattern exists in the character type of the searched font. In step S22, it is determined whether the search for the character type or character pattern of the font in step S21 has succeeded or failed.

If the search has failed, step S2
At 3, an error is notified to the laser beam printer 1500. If the search is successful, step S24
In step (1), the character type of the searched font on the host computer 3000 is converted into data downloadable to the laser beam printer 1500. At this time, data is created so that the character set name of the downloaded font is the font character set name of the built-in font of the laser beam printer 1500. In step S25, the converted download font is transmitted to the laser beam printer 1500.

The operation of the laser beam printer 1500 to which the converted download font is transmitted from the host computer 3000 will be described as follows.

In FIG. 3, in step S16, it is determined whether the data transmitted from the host computer 3000 is error information or a downloaded font. If the data transmitted from the host computer 3000 is error information, in step S13, the external memory 14
Then, the print job stored in is processed and a paper discharge process is performed, followed by terminating the present process.

If the data transmitted from the host computer 3000 is a download font, the download data is stored in the external memory 14 in step S17 so that the download font can be used. In addition, the download font is used preferentially over the font character set of the same name built in the laser beam printer 1500. As an implementation method, fonts may be handled using a font management table or the like, and the font management table for specifying a built-in font may be replaced with a downloaded font.

In step S13, the external memory 14
Then, the print job stored in is processed, a paper discharge process is performed, and this process ends. For the print job, a font downloaded from the host computer 3000 in which no character missing occurs will be used instead of the font in the laser beam printer 1500 in which the character missing has occurred.

As described above, according to the printer control system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the laser beam printer 1500 includes the host computer 3000.
Storage function for storing the print job sent from the external memory 14, a character detection function for detecting a character having no character pattern in a character code used in the print job, and discharging when a character having no character pattern is detected. A paper discharge control function for prohibiting processing, a communication control function for notifying a character without a character pattern to the host computer 3000, a download function for downloading a character set without a character pattern transmitted from the host computer 3000, and a downloaded character set. It has a CPU 12 having a character priority use function that is used in preference to the built-in character set and an output control function of outputting the print job stored in the external memory 14 again after downloading the character set. Function and effect.

In the above-described configuration, when a character having no character pattern is specified from the host computer 3000 with respect to the font built in the laser beam printer 1500, the laser beam printer 1500 does not perform the sheet discharging process and the host computer 3000 does not perform the discharge process. By processing the print job stored again by the download function of (1), a print result without character omission is output.

Therefore, in the first embodiment of the present invention, when a character having no character pattern is specified, the paper discharge processing that causes a character missing is not performed, so that waste of paper can be reduced. effective. In addition, by notifying the host computer 3000 of a character type having no character pattern and downloading the character type, it is possible to obtain a print result in which no character omission occurs. Further, when a character type is downloaded to the laser beam printer 1500 or is supported as an additional font, the added character pattern can be used without changing the print job transmitted from the host computer 3000. There is an effect that can be.

[Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment of the present invention, the character pattern is detected by font search or character code search in step S22 of FIG. If not, the stored print job is output as it is, and the process is terminated. This is based on the determination that a character pattern that has not been detected by the host computer 3000 should normally be invisible on the display, and that the output result can be left without characters.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, another process will be described in which the user can selectively select a character type for a font for which a font search has failed in the host computer 3000.

A laser beam printer (LBP), which is an example of a printing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, includes a printer control unit 1501 in each part of the LBP main body 1500 as in the first embodiment. , Laser driver 1
502, semiconductor laser 1503, rotating polygon mirror 1505,
Electrostatic drum 1506, developing unit 1507, paper cassette 1508, paper feed roller 1509, transport roller 151
0, 1511 and an operation unit (operation panel) 1501 (see FIG. 2).

Further, in the printer control system according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the host computer 3000 includes a CPU 1 and a RAM, as in the first embodiment.
2, ROM 3, system bus 4, keyboard controller (KBC) 5, CRT controller (CRTC) 6,
A memory controller (MC) 7, a printer controller (PRTC) 8, a keyboard (KB) 9, a CRT display (CRT) 10, and an external memory 11;
The laser beam printer (LBP body) 1500 is a CP
U12, RAM 19, ROM 13, system bus 15,
It is configured to include an input unit 18, a printing unit interface (I / F) 16, a memory controller (MC) 20, a printing unit (printer engine) 17, an operation unit (operation panel) 1501, and an external memory 14 (see the above figure). 1).

The internal structure of a laser beam printer 1500, which is an example of a printing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and the electrical configuration of the laser beam printer 1500 and the host computer 3000 are described in the first embodiment. The description is omitted because it has been described in detail in the embodiment.

Next, the second embodiment of the present invention configured as described above
In the printer control system according to the embodiment, the processing operations of the printer control unit (control unit) 1000 of the laser beam printer 1500 and the host computer control unit (control unit) 2000 of the host computer 3000 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. It will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the printer control unit (control unit) 1000 of the laser beam printer 1500 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The operations in steps S31 to S37 in FIG. 5 are the same as the operations in steps S11 to S17 in FIG. However, in the second embodiment of the present invention, it is assumed that there is no processing corresponding to the processing in step S16 corresponding to the error processing in FIG.

In FIG. 5, upon receiving the data transmitted from the host computer 3000, the laser beam printer 1500 first stores the received print job in the external memory 14 in step S31. Next, in step S32, it is detected whether or not a character code which is built in the laser beam printer 1500 and has no character pattern is designated by the font designated in the print job. If a character having no character pattern is not detected in step S32, the print job stored in the external memory 14 is processed and a sheet discharging process is performed in step S33, and the process ends.

If a character having no character pattern is detected in step S32, in step S34, the character type and character code of the font having no character pattern specified in the print job are read from the host computer 3000.
Notify.

The host computer 300 notified of the character type and character code of the font having no character pattern specified in the print job from the laser beam printer 1500
The operation of 0 is described as follows.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the host computer control unit (control unit) 2000 of the host computer 3000 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In this case, the host computer 3000
Is assumed to have, as information, correspondence between the character types of the fonts built in the laser beam printer 1500 and the character types of the fonts used on the host computer 3000 side. This information not only has a one-to-one correspondence between the character type of the font incorporated in the laser beam printer 1500 and the character type of the font used on the host computer 3000 side, but also the character type of the font on the host computer 3000 side. It is assumed that all fonts that can be displayed are included.

In FIG. 6, in step S41, the character type used in the host computer 3000 is searched from the character type of the font notified in the processing step S34 of FIG. 5 in the laser beam printer 1500. In addition, the character code notified from the laser beam printer 1500 is used to search whether the character pattern exists in the character type of the searched font. In step S42, a character pattern is displayed on the CRT display 10 for all the character types of the searched font, and the selection wait state is set.

In step S43, according to the character pattern selection input by the user with the keyboard 9 or the mouse or the like, in step S44, the font is converted and downloaded. In step S45, the converted download font is transmitted to the laser beam printer 1500, and the process ends.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, the user performs a process of selecting a character pattern displayed on the CRT display 10 of the host computer 3000. It is also possible to create a character pattern by inputting a dot pattern with a mouse or the like.

As described above, according to the printer control system according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the laser beam printer 1500 includes the host computer 3000.
Storage function for storing the print job sent from the external memory 14, a character detection function for detecting a character having no character pattern in a character code used in the print job, and discharging when a character having no character pattern is detected. A paper discharge control function for prohibiting processing, a communication control function for notifying a character without a character pattern to the host computer 3000, a download function for downloading a character set without a character pattern transmitted from the host computer 3000, and a downloaded character set. A CPU 12 having a character priority use function to be used in preference to the built-in character set, and an output control function to output the print job stored in the external memory 14 again after downloading the character set;
In addition, since the host computer 3000 includes the CRT display 10 and the keyboard 9 that allow the user to selectively specify a character pattern, the following operations and effects are provided.

In the above configuration, when a character having no character pattern is specified from the host computer 3000 with respect to the font built in the laser beam printer 1500, the laser beam printer 1500 does not perform the sheet discharging process and the host computer 3000 does not perform the paper discharging process. By processing the stored print job again by the download function of (1), a print result with no missing characters is output. In addition, a function that allows the user to selectively specify a character pattern prevents printing with an unintended character pattern.

Therefore, in the second embodiment of the present invention, as in the first embodiment, it is possible to reduce waste of paper and obtain a print result free from character omission. In addition to the effect that the added character pattern can be used without changing the print job, the user can selectively specify a character pattern when a character without a character pattern is specified. There is an effect that printing by an unintended character pattern can be prevented.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. A storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or an apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or the apparatus executes the program code stored in the storage medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by executing reading.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, 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, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

The computer executes the readout program code to realize the functions of the above-described embodiment. In addition, the OS or the like running on the computer is actually executed based on the instructions of the program code. It goes without saying that a part or all of the above-described processing is performed, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

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, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0079]

As described above, the printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the printing system according to claims 5 to 7, the printing control method according to claims 9 to 11, and the storage medium according to claim 13. According to this, when a character without a character pattern is specified, the paper ejection process that causes a character missing is not performed.
There is an effect that waste of paper can be omitted. In addition, by notifying and downloading a character type having no character pattern to an external device, there is an effect that a print result in which no character omission occurs can be obtained. Furthermore,
When character types are downloaded to the printing device or supported as additional fonts, the effect is that the added character pattern can be used without changing the print job sent from the external device. is there.

A printing apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention,
According to the printing system described above, the user can selectively specify a character pattern when a character having no character pattern is specified,
There is an effect that printing by an unintended character pattern can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer control system according to first and second embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating an internal structure of a laser beam printer as an example of a printing apparatus according to first and second embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating control processing in the laser beam printer of the printer control system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a control process in a host computer of the printer control system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating control processing in a laser beam printer of a printer control system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control process in a host computer of a printer control system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of storage contents of a storage medium storing a program and related data of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a conceptual example in which a program and related data of the present invention are supplied from a storage medium to an apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 9 keyboard 10 CRT display 12 CPU 14 external memory 21 bidirectional interface 1500 laser beam printer 3000 host computer

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) 9A001 F term (Reference) 2C087 AB05 BA09 BD44 BD45 BD46 CB02 EA10 EA17 2H027 EK03 FD08 5B009 RA12 RA14 RC01 VC01 5B021 AA02 BB05 BB10 CC05 CC06 EE01 JJ08 5C062 AA05 AA13 AB22 AB35 AB38 AB42 AC58 AE08 AE16 BA00 9A001 BB04 HZ34 JJ35 KK42

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus for performing printing based on a print job transmitted from an external device, comprising: a character detection unit that detects a character having no character pattern in a character code used in the print job; A discharge control unit for prohibiting a discharge process when a character without the character pattern is detected, a communication unit for notifying the external device of the character without the character pattern, and based on the notification by the communication unit. A character priority use unit that preferentially uses the character set without the character pattern transmitted from the external device over the built-in character set, and further outputs the print job after receiving the character set from the external device. A printing apparatus, comprising: output control means. 2. A storage unit for storing the print job in a storage unit, and a download unit for downloading the character set without the character pattern transmitted from the external device based on the notification by the communication unit. The character preferential use means uses the character set without the character pattern downloaded by the download means in preference to the built-in character set, and the output control means downloads the character set by the download means And outputting the print job stored in the storage unit again.
The printing device according to the above. 3. The external device according to claim 1, wherein information indicating a correspondence between a character type of a font built in the printing device and a character type of a font used on the external device side is stored. The printing device according to the above. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the external device is capable of selectively designating a character pattern for a character type of the font searched by the external device. 5. A printing system comprising: an external device; and a printing device that performs printing based on a print job transmitted from the external device, wherein the printing device converts a character pattern with a character code used in the print job. Character detection means for detecting missing characters;
A discharge control unit for prohibiting a discharge process when the character without the character pattern is detected by the character detection unit; a communication unit for notifying the external device of the character without the character pattern; A character priority use unit that preferentially uses a character set without the character pattern transmitted from the external device based on the notification over a built-in character set, and, after receiving the character set from the external device, executes the print job. A print control unit for performing output processing again. 6. The printing apparatus further comprises: storage means for storing the print job in a storage means; and a character set without the character pattern transmitted from the external device based on the notification by the communication means. A character set having no character pattern downloaded by the download means in preference to a built-in character set, and the output control means includes: 6. The printing system according to claim 5, wherein after the character set is downloaded, the print job stored in the storage unit is output again. 7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the external device holds information indicating a correspondence between a character type of a font built in the printing device and a character type of a font used on the external device side. Or the printing system according to 6. 8. The external device according to claim 5, wherein the external device has a designation unit capable of selectively designating a character pattern for a character type of a font searched by the external device. Printing system. 9. A print control method applied to a printing system having an external device and a printing device that performs printing based on a print job transmitted from the external device, wherein the printing device is used in the print job. A character detection step of detecting a character having no character pattern in a character code to be executed; a discharge control step of prohibiting a discharge process when a character having no character pattern is detected in the character detection step; A communication step of notifying the external device of a character that does not exist, and a character priority use step of using a character set without the character pattern transmitted from the external device based on the notification by the communication step in preference to a built-in character set And an output control step of outputting the print job again after receiving the character set from the external device. Printing control method, characterized in that. 10. The printing apparatus further comprising: a storing step of storing the print job in a storage unit; and a character set having no character pattern transmitted from the external device based on the notification by the communication step. A character set without the character pattern downloaded in the download step is used in preference to a built-in character set, and in the output control step, 10. The print job stored in the storage unit is output again after downloading the character set.
The print control method described in the above. 11. The external device according to claim 9, wherein the external device holds information indicating a correspondence between a character type of a font built in the printing device and a character type of a font used on the external device side. Or the print control method according to 10. 12. The external device according to claim 9, further comprising a designation step of selectively designating a character pattern for a character type of a font searched by the external device. Print control method. 13. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing a print control method applied to a printing system having an external device and a printing device that performs printing based on a print job transmitted from the external device. The print control method further comprises: a character detecting step of detecting a character having no character pattern in a character code used in the print job; and excluding a character having no character pattern in the character detecting step. A paper discharge control step of prohibiting paper processing, a communication step of notifying the external device of the character without the character pattern, and the character without the character pattern transmitted from the external device based on the notification by the communication step A character priority use step of using the set in preference to the built-in character set; and After receiving the character set, storage media, characterized in that an output control step of outputting processing the print job again.