JP2000301803A - Printing system, printing data-processing apparatus, method for processing printing data, and memory medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system which can improve a printing-processing speed. SOLUTION: When a first page is operated in an image mode and a second page is operated in a PDL mode for a printing document having a character 'a' between the first and second pages, a printing indicative command-analyzing means 2704 registers the 'a' of the first page to a glyph caching means 2707 by a glyph registration command. According to a registered glyph printing command, a rendering means 2708 forms the 'a' of the first page as image data upon receipt of an ID designation printing command. When the 'a' of the second page is not registered yet to a transmitted cache-managing means 2709, a printing indicative command-analyzing means 2706 obtains a glyph of the 'a' from the glyph caching means 2707 and issues together with a glyph registration command for registering the 'a' to the printing apparatus a registered printing command in which the 'a' is ID designated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing system including a printing data processing device and a printing device, a printing data processing device, a printing data processing method, and a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a printing system, a print data processing device for creating print information, and a printing device communicably connected to the print data processing device and performing printing based on the print information created by the print data processing device There are those that are composed of

First, the configuration of the printing system will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional printing system.

In a conventional printing system, as shown in FIG. 4, print data is transmitted via I / Fs (interfaces) 204 and 111 composed of parallel communication means such as a Centronics interface and communication means such as a network. The processing device 200 and the printing device 100 are connected.

[0005] In the print data processing apparatus 200, application software (hereinafter abbreviated as an application) 201 such as a word processor or a spreadsheet operates on so-called basic software such as Windows (registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States). . If you print on this app,
From within the program, GSS (Graphics Sub System;
The function of the graphic subsystem 202 is used. The GSS 202 includes an interface for processing image information for a display or a printer. For example, in Windows, the interface is a GDI (Graphic
vice interface) 2021. The GDI 2021 dynamically links modules called device drivers in order to absorb the dependence of each device such as a display and a printer, and performs output processing for each device. The module for the printer is called a printer driver 2022. The printer driver 2022 prepares a function group called DDI (Device Driver Interface) which is determined in advance to be implemented in a device driver according to its capabilities and functions, and prepares an API (Application Programming I / O) of the application.
GDI 2021 converts the call into device driver data, and this DDI function group
21 and is configured to execute a predetermined printing process. The GDI 2021 sequentially processes a print request from an application via the printer driver 2022 as described above.

The printing apparatus 100 includes a formatter control unit 1
10, a formatter control unit 110 includes an I / F 111 for connecting the print data processing device 200, a PDL analysis unit 113 for analyzing print data, a print control processing execution unit 114, a drawing processing execution unit 115, a page memory 11
6, a cache memory 1117 and the like.

[0007] The I / F 111 is connected to the print data processing device 20.
Communication means for transmitting / receiving print data to / from the printer. The print data received via the I / F 111 is processed by the PDL analysis unit 113 or the drawing processing execution unit 115 as necessary. The PDL analysis unit 113 analyzes the print data described in the PDL, and the print data relating to drawing of character prints, graphics, images, and the like obtained by the analysis is given to the drawing processing execution unit 1115 and processed.
Commands other than drawing, such as a paper feed selection and a reset command, obtained by the above analysis are sent to the print control processing execution unit 11.
4 and processed. A series of operations in which print data is analyzed in this way and data obtained as a result of the analysis are processed by corresponding blocks will be referred to as an operation in the PDL mode.

[0008] The drawing processing execution unit 115 sequentially develops each object of characters and images in the page memory 116. At this time, it is possible to assign a number to an arbitrary drawing object and register it in the cache memory 117, and thereafter to specify drawing by number. Further, of the print data received via the I / F 111, data that can be written directly to the page memory 116 can be directly processed by the drawing processing execution unit 115. Printing device 10 in this case
The operation of 0 is referred to as an operation in the image mode.

The output control unit 130 includes a page memory 116
Is converted into a video signal, and this video signal is transferred to the printer engine 140. Printer engine 140
Is a printing mechanism for forming an image by visualizing a received video signal and transferring it to recording paper.

Next, the processing of the printer driver 2022 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing processing contents of the printer driver 2022 in the printing system of FIG.

As described above, the operation of the printing apparatus 100 performs the operation in the PDL mode and the operation in the image mode, and the printer driver 2022 is set so that at least one of the PDL mode and the image mode can be executed. ing.

In the PDL mode, the printing apparatus 100
This mode can be executed when a controller capable of processing print data described in L (Printer Description Language) is installed, and mainly focuses on processing for converting a call to the GDI 2021 of the system into PDL print data. Do.

On the other hand, in the image mode, advanced printing processing cannot be performed on the printing apparatus 100 side, and a print image is developed on the printer driver 2022 side.
The image is sent to the printing apparatus 100 and printed.

For example, in a character printing process, GDI
The print command issued by the printer 2021 is processed by the print command analyzer 2701, and the character processor 2702 generates a print command for the printing apparatus 100. The generated print instruction command is stored in the intermediate information storage unit 2.
703 is stored. The print instruction command stored in the intermediate information storage unit 2703 is
05, and the print operation mode determination means 2705
The operation mode of the printer driver 2022 is determined based on the print instruction command.

If the printing operation mode determination unit 2705 determines that the operation mode is the PDL mode, the printing instruction command analysis unit 2706 performs printing using the font built in the printing device 100. 10
0 for the printer driver 2 in advance.
On the 022 side, a unique identification number (ID) is assigned to the developed character pattern as necessary, and an instruction to register the character pattern in the cache memory 117 in the printing apparatus 100 is generated. Generate a character print command.

If it is determined that the operation mode is the image mode, the print instruction command analyzing unit 2704 expands the character by the rendering unit 2708, and when the drawing processing for one band or full page is completed, the printing apparatus 1
For 00, the contents of the drawing memory are output as image data. Which operation mode is more appropriate depends on the configuration and performance of the printing apparatus 100 and the content of the document to be printed.
In, which operation mode is appropriate is determined based on selection of an operation mode by a user who performs printing or analysis of intermediate information stored in the intermediate information storage unit 2703.

Care must be taken when using the other operation mode while one document is being printed in one operation mode.
When issuing an instruction for 0, the instruction is generated depending on a print instruction instruction of the same document before the print processing. For example, in the PDL mode, if a registered glyph print command is issued by designating a certain ID, the glyph registration command of that ID must be issued before that in order to perform printing correctly. Therefore, if the glyph registration instruction of the ID is processed in the image mode, the glyph registration instruction of the ID is not issued to the SSS (Spool Sub System; spool subsystem) 203, and as a result, the character is printed. Unauthorized printing occurs. In order to avoid this, conventionally, a glyph registration command required in the PDL mode is generated irrespective of the operation mode of the printer driver 2022.

Similarly, when a registered glyph print command is issued by specifying an ID in the image mode, the glyph registration command of that ID is processed in the image mode before that in order to print correctly. It must be stored by the glyph caching means 2707 in the printer driver 2022. Therefore, conventionally, registration in the glyph caching means 2707 required in the image mode is also executed irrespective of the operation mode of the printer driver 2022.

The above-mentioned print instruction command analyzing means 2704, 2
The processing of 706 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 shows the print instruction command analyzing means 2704 of FIG.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure in the image mode 2706. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of processing in a PDL mode of 704 and 2706. FIG.

Here, on the first page and the second page, "a"
The first page of the print document having the characters “image mode”
The second page will be described by taking as an example a case where it is determined that it is appropriate to operate in the PDL mode.

First, in the character processing means 2702, 1
Regarding the printing of “A” on the page, a glyph registration command for registering the glyph of “A” (actual form to be printed) in the printing apparatus 100 and a number (ID) indicating the registered “A” are designated. A registered glyph print command for instructing printing is generated. However, for printing “A” on the second page, only the registered glyph print command is generated by specifying the number indicating the registered “A”.

The print instruction instruction analyzing means 2 receiving the instruction
At 704, as shown in FIG. 6, since the glyph registration command is first received as described above, the process proceeds to step S302 via step S301, where the first page “A” is registered in the glyph caching unit 2707, and the subsequent step S3
At 03, a glyph registration command is issued to register the glyph in the cache memory 117 of the printing apparatus 100. Then, the process exits.

Next, since a registered glyph print command is received, the process proceeds to step S305 via steps S301 and S304, and the first page “A” is acquired from the glyph caching unit 2707 by the registered glyph print command specified by ID. In the following step S306,
“A” on the first page is created as image data by the rendering unit 2708. Then, the process advances to step S307 to issue image data, and the process exits.

Regarding “A” on the second page, the operation mode is switched from the image mode to the PDL mode when it is determined that the PDL mode is appropriate.

Here, in the printing of "A" on the second page,
Since only the registered glyph print command is generated by specifying the registered number indicating “A”, in this PDL mode,
As shown in FIG. 7, step S401 and step S401
The process proceeds to step S405 via 404, a registered glyph print command is issued, and the process exits. In the printing apparatus 100, printing is performed by rendering means (not shown) in the printing apparatus 100 using “A” already registered in the cache memory 117.

[0026]

However, in the above-described conventional example, it is not possible to judge whether character data will be used later or not at the time of operation in the image mode. A glyph registration command must be issued and transmitted to the printing apparatus 100, so that the amount of information to be transmitted to the printing apparatus 100 increases and the time required for information transmission increases. As a result, the overall printing speed is reduced.

The PDL analysis unit 1 in the printing apparatus 100
13, the number of processes increases, and the required processing time increases. As a result, the overall printing speed is reduced.

By registering unnecessary character glyphs in the cache memory 117 in the printing apparatus 100, the printing apparatus 1
Thus, the cache memory 117 of No. 00 is pressed, and hardware resources are wasted.

An object of the present invention is to provide a print system, a print data processing device, a print data processing method, and a storage medium that can improve the print processing speed.

[0030]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
In a printing system including a print data processing device that creates print information, and a printing device that is communicably connected to the print data processing device and that performs printing based on the print information created by the print data processing device, Print processing mode selection means for switchably selecting a print processing mode according to the printing apparatus, provided in the printing apparatus;
Print information storage means for temporarily storing print information transmitted from the print data processing apparatus, transmission information management means for managing print information stored in the print information storage means of the printing apparatus, and transmission information management Determining means for determining print information required in the print processing mode by referring to print information managed by the means, and transmitting the print information to the printing apparatus in accordance with the determination result of the determination means. It is characterized by controlling.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printing system according to the first aspect, the printing apparatus has character pattern generating means for generating a character pattern by a rasterizing process, and the print data processing apparatus has a character pattern by a rasterizing process. The printing apparatus has a character pattern generating unit that generates a pattern as a bitmap image, and the print processing mode selecting unit performs printing using the character pattern generated by the character pattern generating unit of the printing apparatus as the print processing mode. A switchable one of a first mode and a second mode in which printing is performed using the bitmap image generated by the character pattern generation unit of the print data processing apparatus is selected. And

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printing system according to the second aspect, the print processing mode selecting means includes:
The print processing mode is switched based on a print command included in the print information.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the printing system of the second aspect, the print processing mode is changed from one of the first mode and the second mode to the other for the same print information. When switching and executing, the discrimination means refers to the print information managed by the transmission information management means to discriminate print information required in the post-switch print processing mode, and determines only the necessary print information. Is transmitted to the printing apparatus.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in a print data processing apparatus which is communicably connected to a printing apparatus and generates print information which can be processed by the printing apparatus, a print processing mode corresponding to the printing apparatus can be switched. A print processing mode selecting means, a transmission information management means for managing print information stored in a print information storage means of the printing apparatus, and a print information managed by the transmission information management means. A determination unit configured to determine print information required in the print processing mode, wherein transmission of the print information to the printing apparatus is controlled according to a determination result of the determination unit.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the print data processing apparatus of the fifth aspect, there is provided a character pattern generating means for generating a character pattern as a bitmap image by a rasterizing process, and the print processing mode selecting means comprises As the print processing mode, one of a first mode and a second mode is switchably selected, and the first mode uses a character pattern generated by a rasterizing process on the printing apparatus side. Wherein the second mode is a mode in which printing is performed using the bitmap image generated by the character pattern generating means.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the print data processing apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the print processing mode selecting means switches the print processing mode based on a print command included in the print information. Features.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the print data processing apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the print processing mode is changed from one of the first mode and the second mode for the same print information. When switching to the other and executing
The determination unit refers to the print information managed by the transmission information management unit to determine print information required in the switched print processing mode, and transmits only the required print information to the printing apparatus. It is characterized by doing.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print data processing apparatus for creating print information, and communicatively connected to the print data processing apparatus for performing printing based on the print information created by the print data processing apparatus. In a print data processing method used for a printing system including a printing apparatus, a step of switchingably selecting a printing processing mode corresponding to the printing apparatus, and a step of transmitting to the printing apparatus according to the printing processing mode. Managing the print information; determining the print information required in the print processing mode with reference to the managed print information; and transmitting the print information to the printing apparatus according to the determination result And a step of controlling

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the print data processing method according to the ninth aspect, one of the first mode and the second mode is switchably selected as the print processing mode. The first mode is a mode in which printing is performed using a pattern generated by the rasterizing process on the printing device side, and the second mode is a mode generated by the rasterizing process on the print data processing device side. A mode in which printing is performed using a bitmap image.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the print data processing method according to the tenth aspect, the print processing mode is switched based on a print command included in the print information.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the print data processing method of the tenth aspect, the print processing mode is changed from one of the first mode and the second mode for the same print information. When switching to the other mode and executing, the print information managed by the transmission information management means is referred to, print information required in the print processing mode after the switch is determined, and only the required print information is determined. The information is transmitted to a printing device.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the storage medium storing a program for constructing a print data processing device that is communicably connected to a printing device and creates print information that can be processed by the printing device, A print processing mode selection module for switchably selecting a print processing mode according to the printing apparatus; a transmission information management module for managing print information stored in print information storage means of the printing apparatus; A determination module that determines print information required in the print processing mode by referring to print information managed by a transmission information management module; and a determination module that determines the print information according to the determination result of the determination module. And a transmission control module for controlling transmission.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the storage medium according to the thirteenth aspect, the program has a character pattern generating module for generating a character pattern as a bitmap image by a rasterizing process, and the print processing mode selecting module. Selects one of a first mode and a second mode so as to be switchable as the print processing mode, and the first mode is a pattern generated by a rasterization process on the printing apparatus side. And the second mode is a mode in which printing is performed using a bitmap image generated by a rasterization process in the character pattern generation module.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the storage medium of the fourteenth aspect, the print processing mode selection module switches the print processing mode based on a print command included in the print information. I do.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the storage medium of the fourteenth aspect, the print processing mode is changed from one of the first mode and the second mode to the other for the same print information. When switching and executing, the determination module refers to the print information managed by the transmission information management module to determine print information required in the print processing mode after the switch, and the transmission control module Only the printing information determined to be necessary is transmitted to the printing apparatus.

[0046]

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

FIG. 1 is a diagram conceptually showing a configuration of a printer driver in a print data processing apparatus in the printing system of the present invention. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the same functional blocks as those of the conventional configuration, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The printing system of the present embodiment has the same configuration as the conventional printing system (shown in FIG. 4), and the printing system registers the printing object registered in the printing apparatus 100 in the printer driver 2522 with the conventional printing system. The difference is that a transmitted cache management unit 2709 for managing is provided, and only the necessary and sufficient print objects are registered in the apparatus using the transmitted cache management unit 2709.

First, the configuration of the printer driver 2522 will be specifically described with reference to FIG.

The printer driver 2522 includes, as shown in FIG.
02, intermediate information storage means 2703, print operation mode determination means 2705, print instruction command analysis means 2704, 270
6, glyph caching means 2707, rendering means 2708, and transmitted cache management means 270
9

Next, the processing of the print instruction command analyzing means 2704 and 2706 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the image mode by the print instruction command analyzing means 2704 in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the PDL mode by the print instruction command analyzing means 2706 in FIG.

In the process in the image mode by the print instruction command analyzing unit 2704, as shown in FIG. 2, first, in step S101, the command issued by the character processing unit 2702 is converted to a character glyph (actual form to be printed). Is a glyph registration command for registering a glyph in the printing apparatus 100. If the command is a glyph registration command, the process proceeds to step S102, where the designated character is registered in the glyph caching means 2707, and the process exits.

On the other hand, if the command is not a glyph registration command, the flow advances to step S103 to determine whether the command is a registered glyph print command. If the command is a registered glyph print command, Step S
In step S104, the designated character is acquired from the glyph caching unit 2707, and in step S105, the acquired character is created as image data by the rendering unit 2708. Then, the process proceeds to step S106, the image data is issued, and the process exits.

If this command is not a registered glyph print command, the process skips step S104 and proceeds to step S105.

PD by print instruction command analyzing means 2706
In the processing in the L mode, as shown in FIG. 3, first, in step S201, it is determined whether or not the instruction issued by the character processing unit 2702 is a glyph registration instruction. If the command is a glyph registration command, the process proceeds to step S202, where the glyph of the designated character is registered in the glyph caching unit 2707, and the process proceeds to step S20.
In step 3, the transmitted cache management unit 2709 is notified that the glyph registration command is transmitted. Then, in step S204, a glyph registration command is issued to the printing apparatus 100, and the process exits.

If this command is not a glyph registration command, the flow advances to step S205 to determine whether this command is a registered glyph print command. If this command is a registered glyph print command, the process proceeds to step S206, where it is determined whether or not the glyph registration command to the printing apparatus 100 has been transmitted. If the glyph registration command to the printing apparatus 100 has not been transmitted, In step S207, the glyph of the designated character is acquired from the glyph caching unit 2707, and in step S208, a glyph registration command is issued. Then, the process proceeds to step S209, in which a registered glyph print command is issued, and the process exits.

On the other hand, if the glyph registration command to the printing apparatus 100 has been transmitted, the process proceeds to step S20.
Steps S209 and S208 are skipped.
Proceed to.

If it is determined in step S205 that the command is not a registered glyph print command, step S210.
To issue a print command for graphics etc., and exit this processing.

Here, in the same manner as in the conventional example, for a print document having the character “A” on the first and second pages, the first page is set to the image mode, The case where it is determined that it is appropriate for the page to operate in the PDL mode will be described.
For printing, a glyph registration command for registering the glyph "A" (actual form to be printed) in the printing apparatus and a registered glyph for designating a number (ID) indicating the registered "A" to instruct printing A print command is generated. However, for the printing of “A” on the second page, only the registered glyph print command is generated by specifying the number indicating the registered “A”.

The print instruction command analyzing means 2 receiving this
In 704, the glyph registration command issues the glyph registration command to register the first page “A” in the glyph caching unit 2707 (steps S101 and S102).

Next, when a registered glyph print command is received, a print command specified by ID is received, and the first page “A” is received.
Is created as image data by the rendering means 2708 (steps S101, S103 to S106). Regarding “A” on the second page, the operation mode is switched from the image mode to the PDL mode by determining that the PDL mode is appropriate.

Next, for the printing of “A” on the second page, a registered glyph print command specifying a number indicating the registered “A” is generated. In response to this, the print instruction instruction analyzing unit 2706 determines that “A” on the second page is specified by the print instruction specified by the ID, and determines whether “A” has been registered in the transmitted cache management unit 2709. Confirm (step S205). Here, since the glyph “A” is acquired from the glyph caching unit 2707 (step S207), a glyph registration command is issued to register “A” in the printing apparatus 100, and the “A” Is issued (step S209).

In the printing apparatus 100, printing is performed by using the rendering means (not shown) in the printing apparatus 100 using the already registered "A".

This eliminates the need to transmit glyphs that do not need to be registered in the printing apparatus 100. For example, 1
In the case of printing a document in which “A” is written on the page and “A” is written on the second page, both “A” and “I” are registered in the printing apparatus 100 in the conventional example. Then, only "A" is registered, and it is not necessary to transmit a registration command for "I" which is not printed on the second page. Therefore, the printer driver 2522 only needs to generate information necessary for printing.

Next, the transmitted cache management means 270
9 will be described in detail.

The transmitted cache management means 2709
It has a function of responding to “registration command transmission notification” and “registered glyph inquiry request” issued by the print instruction command analysis unit 2706, and the transmitted cache management unit 2709 identifies the glyph that has received the registration command transmission notification. Recording means (not shown) for recording a number (ID) is provided. When the printer driver 2022 issues a glyph registration instruction to the printing apparatus 100, it always issues a "registration instruction transmission notification" to the transmitted cache management unit (202210). In the transmitted cache management unit 2709,
Upon receiving the "registration command transmission notification", the recording unit records the identification number (ID) of the target glyph, and upon receiving the "registered glyph inquiry request" together with the identification number (ID) of the target glyph, searches the recording unit. Then, a response is made as to whether a registration command for the target glyph has been transmitted to the printing apparatus 100 (issued to the SSS 2031) in the past. The print instruction command analyzing unit 2706 that has received the response issues a registered glyph print instruction to the printing apparatus 100 when the registered response is received, and otherwise, the glyph caching unit 2706.
After acquiring the glyph from 707 and issuing a glyph registration instruction to the printing apparatus 100 and notifying the transmitted cache management unit 2709 of the registration instruction transmission, the registered glyph print instruction is transmitted to the printing apparatus 100 again. Issue.

As described above, by providing the transmitted cache management unit 2709 for managing the glyph registration command transmitted to the printing apparatus 100 in the printer driver 2022, the printing necessary for registering the glyph in the printing apparatus 100 is performed. The communication amount between the data processing device 200 and the printing device 100 can be reduced, and the communication time can be reduced. As a result, it is possible to realize a printing process that is faster than in the past. Further, since the number of glyph registration commands to the printing apparatus 100 is reduced, the processing time can be shortened, and higher-speed printing processing can be realized as compared with the related art.

By not performing unnecessary glyph registration, the cache memory 117 in the printing apparatus 100 can be saved, and as a result, the cache memory 11 can be saved.
7 can be used for other purposes, and the cache memory 117 can be effectively used.

In this embodiment, it is proposed to improve the efficiency of character printing processing by taking character drawing as an example. However, the present invention is applicable not only to characters but also to graphic objects and other drawing objects. Needless to say, By doing so, it becomes possible to appropriately distribute the development processing of the graphics drawing command between the print data processing apparatus 200 and the printing apparatus 100. In this case, the same object needs to be represented by the same identification number (ID) in the image mode and the PDL mode.

Further, in the present embodiment, at the time of processing in the PDL mode, the rendering processing execution unit 115 in the printing apparatus 100 is assumed as a renderer, but this is a RIP (Raster Image Processor) operating on another personal computer.
It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which data processing is performed by using a module called a network via a network. When the processing capacity of the print data processing apparatus 200 is sufficiently high,
When printing is performed by the printing apparatus 100 having no renderer (drawing processing execution unit), the present invention can be realized by the above-described configuration.

[0071]

As described above, according to the printing system of the present invention, the print processing mode selecting means for switchably selecting the print processing mode according to the printing apparatus, and the print data provided in the printing apparatus, A print information storage unit for temporarily storing print information transmitted from the processing device, a transmission information management unit for managing print information stored in the print information storage unit of the printing device, and a print information storage unit. Determining means for determining print information required in the print processing mode by referring to the print information; and controlling transmission of the print information to the printing apparatus in accordance with a result of the determination by the determiner. Can be achieved.

According to the print data processing apparatus of the present invention, the print processing mode selecting means for switchably selecting the print processing mode according to the printing apparatus, and the print information stored in the print information storage means of the printing apparatus. A transmission information management unit that manages the print information, and a determination unit that determines print information required in the print processing mode with reference to the print information managed by the transmission information management unit, and performs printing in accordance with a determination result of the determination unit. Since the transmission of the print information to the apparatus is controlled, the print processing speed can be improved.

According to the print data processing method of the present invention, a step of switchably selecting a print processing mode according to a printing apparatus, and a step of managing print information transmitted to the printing apparatus according to the print processing mode. And a step of determining the print information required in the print processing mode by referring to the managed print information, and a step of controlling transmission of the print information to the printing apparatus according to the determination result. Can be improved.

According to the storage medium of the present invention, the program includes a print processing mode selection module for switchably selecting a print processing mode according to the printing apparatus, and print information stored in print information storage means of the printing apparatus. Information management module that manages print information, a determination module that determines print information required in the print processing mode with reference to print information managed by the transmission information management module, and a printing apparatus that determines printing information in accordance with the determination result of the determination module And a transmission control module for controlling transmission of the print information to the
The print processing speed can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram conceptually illustrating a configuration of a printer driver in a print data processing device in a printing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in an image mode by a print instruction command analyzing unit 2704 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing P by a print instruction command analyzing unit 2706 in FIG. 1;
9 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure in a DL mode.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a conventional printing system.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing processing contents of a printer driver 2022 in the printing system of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a process in an image mode of a print instruction command analyzing unit 2704 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a PDL of the print instruction command analysis unit 2706 in FIG. 5;
It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a process in the mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 100 printing device 110 formatter control unit 111, 204 interface 113 PDL analysis unit 114 print control processing execution unit 115 drawing processing execution unit (renderer) 117 cache memory 200 print data processing device 2522 printer driver 2701 print command analysis unit 2702 character processing unit 2703 Intermediate information storage unit 2704, 2706 Print instruction command analysis unit 2705 Print mode determination unit 2707 Glyph caching unit 2708 Rendering unit 2709 Sent cache management unit

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat II (reference) 9A001 F term (reference) 2C061 BB10 BB33 HJ06 HJ10 HK03 HK11 HN05 HQ17 2C087 AB05 BA01 BA02 BA03 BC03 BC05 BD01 BD13 BD43 BD46 BD53 DA03 EA26 EA 2H027 FA35 FB01 FD08 ZA07 5B009 NG01 RA15 RC01 RC11 TB14 5C062 AA05 AA13 AB20 AB38 AB42 AB46 AC30 AC41 AC58 AF00 BA04 9A001 BZ04 EE02 HH33 JJ35 KK42

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A print data processing device for creating print information, and a printing device communicably connected to the print data processing device and performing printing based on the print information created by the print data processing device. A print processing mode selecting means for switchably selecting a print processing mode corresponding to the printing device, and a print system provided in the printing device and temporarily storing print information transmitted from the print data processing device. Print information storage means for storing, transmission information management means for managing print information stored in the print information storage means of the printing apparatus, and the print processing mode with reference to print information managed by the transmission information management means Determining means for determining print information required by the controller, and controlling transmission of the print information to the printing apparatus according to the determination result of the determiner. And a printing system. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a character pattern generating unit configured to generate a character pattern by a rasterizing process.
The print data processing device has a character pattern generation unit that generates a character pattern as a bitmap image by a rasterization process, and the print processing mode selection unit generates the character pattern as the print processing mode by the character pattern generation unit of the printing device. One of a first mode in which printing is performed using the selected character pattern and a second mode in which printing is performed using the bitmap image generated by the character pattern generating unit of the print data processing apparatus. 2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein one of the printing systems is switchably selected. 3. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein the print processing mode selection means switches the print processing mode based on a print command included in the print information. 4. When the print processing mode is switched from one of the first mode and the second mode to the other for the same print information and executed, the discriminating means controls the transmission information management. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the print information required by the switching print processing mode is determined by referring to the print information managed by the means, and only the required print information is transmitted to the printing apparatus. The printing system as described. 5. A print processing mode which is communicably connected to a printing apparatus and generates print information which can be processed by the printing apparatus, wherein a print processing mode corresponding to the printing apparatus is switchably selected. A selection unit, a transmission information management unit that manages print information stored in a print information storage unit of the printing apparatus, and a print processing mode required by referring to the print information managed by the transmission information management unit. Determining means for determining print information to be transmitted, and controlling transmission of the print information to the printing apparatus according to a determination result of the determination means. 6. A character pattern generating means for generating a character pattern as a bitmap image by a rasterizing process, wherein said print processing mode selecting means includes a print processing mode selected from a first mode and a second mode. The first mode is a mode in which printing is performed using a character pattern generated by a rasterizing process on the printing device side, and the second mode is a mode in which the character 5. The print data processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the mode is a mode in which printing is performed using the bitmap image generated by the pattern generation unit. 7. The print data processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the print processing mode selection unit switches the print processing mode based on a print command included in the print information. 8. When the print processing mode is switched from one of the first mode and the second mode to the other for the same print information and executed, the discriminating means controls the transmission information management. 7. The printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the print information managed by the means is referred to, and the print information required in the print processing mode after the switching is determined, and only the required print information is transmitted to the printing apparatus. The print data processing device according to the above. 9. A print data processing apparatus for creating print information, and a printing apparatus communicably connected to the print data processing apparatus and performing printing based on the print information created by the print data processing apparatus. A print data processing method used in a printing system, wherein a step of switchably selecting a print processing mode according to the printing device;
Managing the print information transmitted to the printing apparatus according to the print processing mode; determining the print information required in the print processing mode by referring to the managed print information; Controlling the transmission of the print information to the printing apparatus in accordance with the result. 10. A print processing mode in which one of a first mode and a second mode is switchably selected, and the first mode is generated by a rasterizing process on the printing apparatus side. The second mode is a mode in which printing is performed using a bitmap image generated by a rasterizing process on the print data processing apparatus side. The print data processing method according to claim 9. 11. The print data processing method according to claim 10, wherein the print processing mode is switched based on a print command included in the print information. 12. When the print processing mode is switched from one of the first mode and the second mode to the other for the same print information and executed, the print processing mode is managed by the transmission information management means. 11. The print data according to claim 10, wherein necessary print information in the print processing mode after the switching is determined with reference to the print information, and only the necessary print information is transmitted to the printing apparatus. Processing method. 13. A storage medium which is communicably connected to a printing apparatus and stores a program for constructing a print data processing apparatus for creating print information which can be processed by the printing apparatus, wherein the program comprises the printing apparatus A print processing mode selection module for switchably selecting a print processing mode in accordance with a print information mode, a transmission information management module for managing print information stored in print information storage means of the printing apparatus, and management by the transmission information management module. A discrimination module for discriminating print information required in the print processing mode with reference to the print information that has been transmitted, and transmission control for controlling transmission of the print information to the printing apparatus according to the discrimination result of the discrimination module A storage medium comprising a module. 14. The program has a character pattern generation module for generating a character pattern as a bitmap image by a rasterization process, and the print processing mode selection module includes:
One of the first mode and the second mode is switchably selected, and the first mode is a mode in which printing is performed using a pattern generated by a rasterizing process on the printing apparatus side. 14. The storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the second mode is a mode in which printing is performed using a bitmap image generated by a rasterization process in the character pattern generation module. 15. The storage medium according to claim 14, wherein the print processing mode selection module switches the print processing mode based on a print command included in the print information. 16. When the print processing mode is switched from one of the first mode and the second mode to the other for the same print information and executed, the discrimination module performs the transmission information management. The print control module refers to the print information managed by the module, determines the print information required in the print processing mode after the switching, and the transmission control module transmits only the print information determined to be necessary to the printing apparatus. The storage medium according to claim 14, wherein: