JP2001146047A - Printing control device, printing data processing method thereof and memory medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To construct printing environment reduced in the generation ratio of print overrun to the utmost at a low cost by maximally utilizing the memory resources of a printing control device without increasing memory resources. SOLUTION: A CPU 206 divides the printing data corresponding to one page received from a host computer 201 into a plurality of bands to control the same and a rendering time estimating part 211 estimates a rendering required time at every band converting printing data at every divided band to bit map data and a band height determining part 212 and the CPU 206 alter and control the height of a band to be divided on the basis of the rendering required time at every estimated band.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print control apparatus for converting print data received from a data processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium into a bit map and outputting the converted data to the printing apparatus, a print data processing method of the print control apparatus, and a print control method. It relates to a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, print data is received from a host computer or the like, and a bitmap to be actually output is formed (hereinafter referred to as rendering) based on the print data. Printing devices of the shipping or shipping type are widely used.

[0003]

In the case of directly shipping the result of rendering by a printing apparatus of this type, when processing complicated print data or a large amount of print data, the time required for the rendering processing is reduced to the shipping processing. It takes longer than the bitmap data transfer time to be performed, and printing cannot be performed normally (hereinafter, this phenomenon is referred to as print overrun).

For this reason, there is a printing apparatus of the type which performs a shipping process after rendering an output bitmap for one page. However, in this case, a storage device for holding the bitmap for one page is required, and the output resolution is high. In a printing apparatus or the like, there is a problem that the capacity of the storage device must be increased, so that the apparatus becomes very expensive.

Also, one page is divided into smaller units (hereinafter referred to as bands), and after rendering for one band is completed, shipping is performed, and rendering of the next band is performed in parallel with the shipping processing (banding processing). There is also a printing device of the type, but in this case, if the rendering time of the next band performed in parallel becomes longer than the shipping time of the previous band, there is still a problem that a print overrun phenomenon occurs. there were.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the first to eighteenth inventions according to the present invention is to provide one page of print data received from a data processing device. Is divided into one or a plurality of bands, the rendering time required for bitmap conversion of the print data of each of the divided bands is predicted for each band, and the rendering time required for each of the bands is estimated based on the predicted rendering time required for each band. By changing the height of the band to be divided, the storage environment of the apparatus is maximized without increasing the storage resources such as the raster memory, and the printing environment in which the occurrence rate of the print overrun is reduced as much as possible. To provide a print control device, a print data processing method of the print control device, and a storage medium which can be constructed at a low cost.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, print data received from a data processing device (host computer 201 shown in FIG. 2) via a predetermined communication medium is converted into a bit map and printed. In a print control device for outputting to a device (laser beam printer 1000 shown in FIG. 1), print data for one page received from the data processing device is converted into one or a plurality of bands (402 shown in FIG. 4).
To 416), and a dividing unit (intermediate data creating unit 203, CPU 206 shown in FIG. 2) for dividing the print data of each band divided by the dividing unit into bitmaps. Prediction means for predicting (rendering time prediction unit 211 shown in FIG. 2)
A control unit (band height determination unit 212, CPU 206 shown in FIG. 2) for changing and controlling the height of the band to be divided by the dividing unit based on the required rendering time for each band predicted by the prediction unit; It has.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the control means changes the height of the band divided by the dividing means by two times based on the rendering time required for each band predicted by the predicting means. Is what you do.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the control apparatus, when the rendering time required for each band predicted by the predicting means is longer than the printing time for each band of the printing apparatus, the dividing means performs the dividing. The height of the band to be doubled.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the control means increases the height of the band divided by the dividing means by a factor of two based on the rendering time required for each band predicted by the predicting means. It is changed one by one.

In a fifth aspect according to the present invention, the control means is configured such that, when the height of the band is halved, the rendering time required for each band predicted by the prediction means is determined for each band of the printing apparatus. If the printing time is shorter than the printing time, the height of the band to be divided by the dividing means is halved.

In a sixth aspect according to the present invention, the prediction means predicts a rendering time of the print data divided by the division means according to a data type.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in a print data processing method of a print control device for performing bit map conversion of print data received from a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium and outputting the converted data to a printing device, A dividing step of dividing print data for one page received from the data processing apparatus into one or a plurality of bands and managing the divided bands (step S in FIG. 7).
702 and S703) and a prediction step of predicting the rendering time required for bitmap conversion of the print data of each of the divided bands for each band (step S704 in FIG. 7).
Steps S801 to S806 in FIG. 8 and a change step (step S706 in FIG. 7 and step S706 in FIG. 11) of changing the height of the band divided by the division step based on the predicted required rendering time for each band. Step S110
1 to S1105, steps S1201 to S120 in FIG.
5).

An eighth invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the changing step (steps S1101 to S1105 in FIG. 11) is divided by the dividing step based on the rendering time required for each band predicted by the predicting step. The height of the band is changed by two times.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the changing step (steps S1102 to 1S1105 in FIG. 11), the rendering time required for each band predicted by the predicting step is the printing time for each band of the printing apparatus. When the length is longer, the height of the band to be divided by the dividing step is doubled.

In a tenth aspect according to the present invention, the change step (steps S1201 to S1205 in FIG. 12) is divided by the division step based on a rendering time required for each band predicted by the prediction step. The band height is changed by a factor of two.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the changing step (steps S1201 to S1204 in FIG. 12), rendering for each band predicted by the prediction step when the height of the band is halved When the required time is shorter than the printing time for each band of the printing apparatus, the height of the band divided by the dividing step is halved.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the prediction step (steps S802 to S804 in FIG. 8), the rendering time required for the print data divided in the division step is predicted according to a data type. is there.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control apparatus for performing bit map conversion of print data received from a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium and outputting the converted data to a printing device, A dividing step of dividing the print data of one page into one or a plurality of bands and managing the divided data (steps S702 and S703 in FIG. 7); and a rendering time required for converting the print data of each of the divided bands into a bitmap. For each band (step S704 in FIG. 7, steps S801 to S801 in FIG. 8).
S806), and a changing step of changing the height of the band divided by the dividing step based on the predicted required rendering time for each band (step S70 in FIG. 7).
6, steps S1101 to S1105 in FIG. 11, FIG.
(Steps S1201 to S1205) are stored in a storage medium in a computer-readable manner.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the changing step (steps S1101 to S1105 in FIG. 11) is divided by the dividing step based on the rendering time required for each band predicted by the predicting step. The height of the band is changed by two times.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the changing step (steps S1102 to S1105 in FIG. 11), the rendering time required for each band predicted by the prediction step is the printing time for each band of the printing apparatus. When the length is longer, the height of the band to be divided by the dividing step is doubled.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, the changing step (steps S1201 to S1205 in FIG. 12) is divided by the dividing step based on the rendering time required for each band predicted by the predicting step. The band height is changed by a factor of two.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the changing step (steps SS1201 to 1204 in FIG. 12), rendering for each band predicted by the prediction step when the height of the band is halved When the required time is shorter than the printing time for each band of the printing apparatus, the height of the band divided by the dividing step is halved.

According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in the prediction step (steps S802 to S804 in FIG. 8), the rendering time of the print data divided in the division step is predicted according to a data type. is there.

[0025]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment <Description of Apparatus> Before describing the configuration of the present embodiment, a laser beam printer (page printer) suitable for applying a print control apparatus of the present invention will be described. The configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

The printing apparatus to which the printing control apparatus of the present invention is applied is not limited to an electrophotographic printing apparatus such as a laser beam printer, but may be another printing apparatus such as an ink jet printer, a thermal transfer printer, or a sublimation printer. It goes without saying that a printing apparatus of a printing system may be used.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a printing apparatus to which the printing control apparatus of the present invention can be applied, for example, a case of a laser beam printer (LBP).

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1000 denotes an LBP main body (hereinafter, referred to as a printing apparatus), which is print data (character codes, character codes, etc.) supplied from an externally connected host computer.
A printer language such as a page description language including control codes, etc.) and form information or macro instructions are input and stored, and bitmap data such as character patterns and form patterns are created and recorded according to the information. An image is formed on a medium such as recording paper.

Reference numeral 1012 denotes an operation panel on which switches for operation, an LED display, and the like are arranged. A printer control unit 1001 controls the entire printing apparatus 1000 and analyzes print data and the like supplied from a host computer.

The printer control unit 1001 mainly converts character information (character code) into a video signal having a corresponding character pattern and outputs the video signal to the laser driver 1002.

The laser driver 1002 is the semiconductor laser 1
003 is a circuit for driving a laser beam 1004 that is emitted from the semiconductor laser 1003 in accordance with an input video signal.

The laser beam 1004 is swung right and left by a rotary polygon mirror 1005 to scan and expose an electrostatic drum 1006.

Thus, an electrostatic latent image of a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 1006. This latent image is developed by a developing unit 1007 disposed around the electrostatic drum 1006, and then transferred to a recording sheet.
Here, the rotation speed of the electrostatic drum 1006 is constant.

A cut sheet is used as the recording paper, and the cut sheet recording paper is stored in a paper cassette 1008 mounted on the printing apparatus 1000, and is fed by a paper feed roller 1009, a transport roller 1010, and a registration roller 1011.
It is taken into the device and supplied to the electrostatic drum 1006.

The printing apparatus 1000 has a card slot (not shown) so that an optional font card and a control card (emulation card) having a different printer language can be connected in addition to the built-in font.

<Structure Block Diagram> FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer control system to which a print control device according to an embodiment can be applied. Here, the laser beam printer shown in FIG. 1 is described as an example, and the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

As long as the functions of the present invention are executed, a system in which processing is performed via a network such as a LAN, whether it is a single device or a system including a plurality of devices. However, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied.

Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 201 denotes a host computer which is connected to the printing apparatus 1000 via a predetermined interface (for example, a bidirectional interface such as USB or Centronics, or a network such as Ethernet) to execute communication processing.

Reference numeral 202 denotes an input unit, which is a host computer 2
01 to perform communication processing with the host computer 2
First, a process for receiving print data is performed. Here, if necessary, a process of transmitting information on the printing apparatus 1000 to the host computer 201 may be performed.

Reference numeral 203 denotes an intermediate data creating unit which performs processing for converting print data into intermediate data which can be easily handled inside the printing apparatus.

A RAM 204 is an example of a storage device.
Then, it holds the intermediate data derived from the print data received by the input unit 202, holds a temporary buffer area necessary for other processing, and holds various processing statuses.

A ROM 205 stores data processing of the present invention and other processing programs executed by the printing apparatus 1000.

Reference numeral 206 denotes a CPU which controls the printing apparatus 1000 based on a program stored in the ROM 205 or another storage medium (not shown). The actual data processing is performed.

A rendering unit 209 is a RAM 204
A print image to be actually printed out is created (bitmap conversion) in accordance with the contents of the intermediate data stored in.
Reference numeral 210 denotes a band raster, which stores an image created by the rendering unit 209. The band raster 210 can store images of two or more bands at the same time.

A printing unit 213 prints out a print image (bitmap converted) created by the band raster 210 on, for example, an actual paper surface.

Reference numeral 211 denotes a rendering time prediction unit which predicts the time at which the rendering unit 209 renders intermediate data of each band. 212 is a band height determining unit,
The band height necessary to avoid the print overrun is determined based on the value predicted by the rendering time prediction unit 211. The CPU 206 determines the band height determining unit 2
The band height is changed and controlled to the band height determined in step S12. Reference numeral 208 denotes an internal bus that connects each unit of the printing apparatus 1000.

The data flow from when the printing apparatus 1000 to which the printing control apparatus according to the present invention is applicable receives print data and prints out it will be described. Will be described with reference to a time chart. After that, the actual processing will be described with a flowchart.

<Data Flow> Referring to FIG.
The flow of print data in the print control device of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the flow of data from the time when print data is received to the time when print data is output by the printing apparatus 1000 to which the print control apparatus of the present invention can be applied.

First, print data output from the host computer 201 is received by the input unit 202, and is converted by the intermediate data creation unit 203 into intermediate data that can be easily handled inside the printing apparatus 1000 for each band, and
4 is stored. The intermediate data and the band will be described later in detail with reference to FIG.

Then, the intermediate data is stored in the RAM 2 for one page.
04, they are stored in the rendering unit 209.
Renders.

This rendering is performed in band units.
First, the rendering unit 209 renders the first band, and stores the obtained output image in the first band raster 306 in the band raster 210. Note that the band raster 210 shown in FIG. 2 includes a first band raster 306 and a second band raster 307.

After that, the printing unit 213 prints out the image of the first band raster 306 on the paper surface. In parallel with this, the rendering unit 209 renders the next band, and this time the second band raster 30 in the band raster 210 is rendered.
7 is stored.

Further, while the printing unit 213 prints out the image of the second band from the second band raster 307 following the first band raster 306, the rendering unit 209 outputs the intermediate data of the third band. Render on the first band raster 306.

In this way, rendering and print output are alternately performed in band units, and one page of intermediate data is printed out.

Hereinafter, the intermediate data structure and bands processed by the print control apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

<Structure of Intermediate Data> FIG. 4 is a view for explaining the structure and management format of the intermediate data of the print control apparatus of the present invention.

As described above, the printing apparatus according to the embodiment based on the printing control apparatus of the present invention divides one output page into several small areas (bands), renders and prints each band. Output is performed simultaneously in parallel processing. Therefore, in this embodiment, in order to manage the print data in band units, the CPU 206 manages the print data in an easy-to-manage format called intermediate data.

First, reference numeral 401 denotes one page of output paper, which is divided into bands named band 1 and band 2 respectively. The band is arranged so as to be perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction as shown in the figure. Further, since each band is divided so as to have the same area, the electrostatic latent image forming time of the band at the time of paper output is constant.

Here, the printing apparatus 1000 determines that the output paper 4
As shown at 01, one character “A” and an oblique straight line 1
If print data for drawing a book is received, the intermediate data has the following structure.

First, the intermediate data is connected to an intermediate data management table indicated by 402 to 404. There are intermediate data management tables 402 to 404 corresponding to the number of bands, and holds intermediate data to be drawn in each band in a link structure.

Here, since the character "A" is a character to be drawn in band 2, the intermediate data 405 to 408 are connected to the intermediate data management table 403 of band 2. The structure holds an area indicating the type of the intermediate data, an area indicating the drawing position, and other information related to the drawing as necessary according to the type of the intermediate data.

The intermediate data of the character “A” is 405 indicating that the type of the intermediate data is a character, a drawing position 406 at which “A” is drawn, and a character code 407 indicating that the character to be drawn is “A”. , Character modification information 408 relating to a character modification method such as a capital letter, a bag character, and a character color.

Since the straight line drawn on the paper 401 is drawn over the bands 2 and 3,
Two pieces of intermediate data are created and connected to the intermediate data management table 403 of band 2 and the intermediate data management table 404 of band 3 respectively.

The intermediate data of the straight line in the band 2 includes a line 409 indicating that the type of the intermediate data is a straight line, a start position 410 at which the drawing of the straight line is started, and an ending position 411 at which the drawing of the straight line is ended. , And a line type 412 related to the line type and width of a straight line such as a broken line.

Similarly, the intermediate data of the straight line in the band 3 includes a line 413 indicating that the type of the intermediate data is a straight line, a start position 414 at which a straight line is drawn, and an end position 415 at which a straight line is ended. , A dotted line, a dashed line, etc., and a line type 416 relating to the line type and width.

The intermediate data managed in this manner is rendered for each band at the time of print output and printed.

The format of the intermediate data is not limited to the format shown in FIG.
09, other formats that are easy to process, other formats that reduce the size of intermediate data, and other formats that speed up the processing of intermediate data. It may be in a good format.

<Method of avoiding print overrun>
A method for avoiding print overrun in the print control apparatus of the present invention will be described.

First, the printing output processing of banding will be described with reference to a time chart in FIG. 5, and an example will be given of a case where print overrun occurs at the same time. next,
An example in which print overrun is prevented by the present invention for the same print data as in FIG. 5 will be described with reference to FIG.

<Banding Timing> FIG.
5 is a timing chart showing the respective processing contents of the rendering unit 209 and the printing unit 213 shown in FIG. 5, and the temporal change in the output images held by the first band raster 306 and the second band raster 307. Represents the passage of time. This figure corresponds to the case where the band 4 has undergone a print overrun. Reference numerals 501 to 521 indicate respective processes.

Hereinafter, the figure will be described along the time axis (vertical axis).

First, at time t0 to t1, the rendering unit 2
In step 09, rendering is performed on band 1, which is the uppermost portion of the sheet that is printed and output first (501), and the resulting output image is stored in the first band raster 306 (508).

Next, the rotation of the electrostatic drum 1006 is started at t1 (hereinafter, referred to as the start of printing output).

After time t1, rendering processing and print output processing are performed in parallel. Here, since the area of each band is constant and the rotation speed of the electrostatic drum 1006 is also constant, the print output time (time t2-t1, time t3-t2,..., Time t8-t7) of each band is obtained. Constant,
The print output time (ship time) is determined by the rotation speed of the electrostatic drum 1006.

At time t1 to t2, the printing unit 213 prints out the print image of band 1 already stored in the first band raster 306 (515), and the rendering unit 209 stores it in the intermediate data storage area. Renders the intermediate data of band 2 (502),
Processing for storing a print image in the band raster 307 (5)
Step 12) is performed in parallel.

Similarly, at time t2 to t3, band 2 is printed out (516), intermediate data of band 3 is rendered (503), and band 3 is converted to the first band raster 306.
The output image is developed (509).

Thereafter, these are repeated until the time t
From 7 to t8, print output of band 7 is performed (521), 1
Complete printing of pages.

Here, rendering of band 4 (50
Paying attention to 4), the rendering time of this band is longer than the time t4 to t3.

The rendering start time of the band 4 is determined by storing the rendering result in the second band raster 307 after printing the output image of the band 2.
That is, it must be after t3.

Therefore, the actual rendering is as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, the print output start time of band 4 is t4.
The print output (518) may be started before the required output image is completely obtained, that is, a print overrun may occur.

Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 6, the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
An example in which the print overrun of the print data shown in FIG.

<Banding Timing to Avoid Print Overrun> In the present invention, when a print overrun occurs, intermediate data is concatenated two bands at a time from the first band, and this is rendered on a double band raster. , And simultaneously renders the output images for the two bands and renders the intermediate data for the next two bands. That is, banding processing is performed by connecting two bands at a time to form one band. FIG. 6 shows a timing chart in this case.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing the banding timing when a print overrun occurs, and the vertical axis indicates the passage of time. 601
615 indicate each process.

First, at time t0 to t1, the rendering unit
Rendering of a band obtained by connecting band 1 and band 2 is performed (601 and 602), and the resulting output image is stored in the first band raster 306 (608).
Here, the time t1-t0 required for rendering is the time indicated by the time 601 required for the previous band 1 and band 2 and 6
The length is obtained by adding the time indicated by 02.

Next, print output is started at t1.

From t1, the band obtained by connecting the previous bands 3 and 4 is rendered on the second band raster 307 (603, 604, 610), and at the same time, the output image of the first band raster 306 is printed out (61).
2).

Here, the rendering time of the band 3 and the band 4 which has been overprinted in FIG.
This is the sum of the time indicated by 603 and the time indicated by 604. In the present embodiment, since this time falls within the time from t3 to t1, the band 4 does not overprint.

Therefore, it is not necessary to perform pre-rendering of band 4 with complicated control.

<Processing Procedure of the Present Invention> As shown in FIG. 6, in the embodiment according to the present invention, the occurrence of print overrun is prevented by connecting the bands and increasing the band height.

Hereinafter, a processing procedure of the present embodiment for realizing these processes will be described with reference to flowcharts.

<Printing Procedure of One Page> FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a first processing procedure of the printing control apparatus according to the present invention. Corresponding to the example shown in FIG.
U206 is executed based on a program stored in the ROM 205 or another storage medium (not shown). In addition,
S701 to S707 indicate each step.

(Data Reception) In step S701, print data is received by the input unit 203 from the host computer 201. Then, in step S702, the received print data is sent to the intermediate data creation unit 204 to be band-divided and converted into intermediate data.
Store it in AM 204.

(Calculation for Avoiding Print Overrun) Next, in step S704, calculation for processing for avoiding print overrun is performed.

In step S704, step S703
Calculates (predicts) the time required for the rendering processing of the intermediate data stored in step (1), and totals the calculated time for each band, thereby predicting the rendering time in band units. The rendering time calculation (prediction) will be described later in detail with reference to FIG.

Next, in step S705, it is determined whether the processing of one page of print data has been completed. If the page has not been completed yet, the processing is repeated from step S702 for the next print data, and
If all page processing has been performed, the process advances to step S706.

(Print Overrun Avoidance) When one page of print data has been processed, print overrun avoidance processing is performed in step S706.

In the print overrun avoidance processing, based on the rendering time for each band calculated (predicted) in step S704, the bands are connected so that the print overrun does not occur, and the band height is increased (step S704).
The height of the band is changed and controlled based on the rendering time for each band predicted in 704). The band height determination processing will be described later in detail with reference to FIG.

(Print Output) Then, based on the band height determined in step S706, print output is performed on actual paper in step S707.

<Rendering Time Calculation> FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a second processing procedure of the print control apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to an example of the processing of calculating the rendering time in band units performed in step S704 of FIG. The rendering time obtained here is used to determine the band height in step S706 in FIG. 7, and the rendering time prediction unit 211 or the CPU 206 shown in FIG.
Is executed based on a program stored in the ROM 205 or another storage medium (not shown). Note that S801
S806 indicates each step.

After initializing the rendering time of the entire band, first, in step S801, the type of intermediate data is determined, and a rendering time calculation method is selected according to the determined type of intermediate data.

For example, when the type (type) of the intermediate data is of a type in which the rendering time is fixed (such as a bitmap font), for example, the intermediate data already stored in the table The process advances to step S802 to perform processing such as obtaining the rendering time from the rendering time correspondence table, and the rendering time is searched from the table shown in FIG.
Proceed to step S805.

In the case of intermediate data of a type in which the rendering process is simply a copy of the contents of a memory, such as an image bitmap, the rendering time to be calculated is a process of obtaining the size of the intermediate data in step S803. Then, the rendering time is calculated from the size, and the process proceeds to step S805.

Further, in the case of intermediate data of a type (compressed image, image rotated at an arbitrary angle, etc.) for which the rendering time is not known unless rendering is actually performed, the rendering process is actually performed for time measurement. The process proceeds to step S804, which is a process to be executed, the rendering time is actually measured by the process illustrated in FIG. 10 described below, and the process proceeds to step S805.

Next, in step S805, the calculated time is added to the rendering time of the entire band to update the rendering time of the entire band.
Proceed to 6.

Next, in step S806, it is determined whether or not the rendering time calculation processing according to the types of various intermediate data of the entire band has been completed. If it is determined that the rendering time calculation has not been completed, the process proceeds to step S801. Returning to the processing, if it is determined that the processing has been completed, the processing is completed.

Note that the branching according to the type of the intermediate data shown in step S801 and the processing for acquiring each rendering time shown in steps S802 to S804 may use other types of time calculation algorithms other than those shown here. Needless to say.

<Rendering Time Calculation (Fixed Table Method)> FIG. 9 is a view showing an example of a rendering time correspondence table for intermediate data types for obtaining a fixed rendering time used in step S802 in FIG.

In the figure, reference numerals 901, 903, and 905 denote intermediate data types, 902, 904, and 906 denote fixed rendering times corresponding to the intermediate data types 901, 903, and 905. There are as many sets of data as the number of intermediate data types.

As described above, for the intermediate data type for which the rendering time is fixedly known in advance, as shown in the figure, the rendering time is searched from the correspondence table of the type of the intermediate data and the corresponding rendering time. .

The rendering time correspondence table for this intermediate data type is stored in the ROM 20 shown in FIG.
5 or another storage medium (not shown).

<Rendering Time Calculation (Actual Measurement Method)> FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a third processing procedure of the print control apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to an example of the rendering time actual measurement processing in step S804 in FIG. The rendering time prediction unit 211 or the CPU 206 shown in FIG.
It is executed based on a program stored in M205 or another storage medium (not shown). In addition, S1001 to S100
1003 shows each step.

First, in step S1001, a timer inside the printing apparatus is started, and in step S1002, intermediate data to be measured is rendered in the same manner as actual rendering. Then, as soon as the rendering is completed, in step S1003, the timer is stopped, and the time taken during that time is set as the rendering time. Note that the timer is a timer in the CPU 206 or a timer (not shown).

<Determination of Band Height> FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a fourth processing procedure of the print control apparatus according to the present invention. The band height determination processing of step S705 in FIG. 7 (to prevent print overrun from occurring). The band height determining unit 212 or the CPU 206 shown in FIG. 2 executes the processing based on a program stored in the ROM 205 or another storage medium (not shown). In addition, S1101 to S1105 indicate each step.

First, in step S1101, it is checked whether or not the number of bands of a page is two or more. If one page consists of only one band because the paper is small, etc., as described in FIG. 5 and the like, the rendering of that band is performed before the start of print output, so there is no print overrun. The process ends.

Next, in step S1102, the time required for rendering for each band is compared with the time required for shipping of one band, and it is determined whether the rendering time is longer, that is, whether there is any band that overprints.

The print output time (ship time) with respect to the band height is calculated by the CPU 206 based on a program stored in the ROM or another storage medium (not shown).

If it is determined in step S1102 that there is no print overrun band (the rendering time of each band is not longer than the one band shipping time), the processing is terminated. .

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1102 that there is a band for print overrun (the rendering time for each band is longer than the shipping time for one band), step S11 is performed.
At 03, the band height is doubled by connecting the intermediate data every two bands from the first band.

Then, in step S1104, the rendering time is also added by two bands. As a result, the band height is doubled, and in step S1105, the time required for shipping is also doubled and step S1105 is performed.
Returning to 1101, the comparison between the rendering time and the shipping time is repeated.

In this way, the band height is repeatedly doubled until there are no bands that cause print overrun. If one page finally becomes one band, the print overrun can be surely eliminated.

As described above, in the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment, print overrun can be avoided by increasing the height of the band raster. In this method, it is impossible to completely prevent the print overrun in a printing apparatus (for example, a low-priced machine) having a small resource (raster memory) that cannot increase the band size to one entire page. This embodiment has an advantage unique to the present embodiment in that the resources (raster memory) of the apparatus can be used to the maximum and the print overrun can be prevented to the maximum.

In the present embodiment, a configuration has been described in which the band height is repeatedly doubled until the band does not overprint, but the change control of the band height is not limited to double. The present invention includes any configuration in which the band height is controlled to increase until the band no longer performs print overrun.

[Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment,
The configuration has been described in which the intermediate data is divided into small bands and the band height is repeatedly doubled until the bands do not overprint. However, first, the intermediate data is created with one band per page, and then the print overrun does not occur. The print overrun may be avoided by halving the band in the range.
Hereinafter, the embodiment will be described.

The block diagram, the data flow, the intermediate data structure, the one-page printing procedure, and the rendering time calculation of the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment are shown in FIGS. 4, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, and therefore the description is omitted, and only the band height determination processing which is a feature of the present embodiment will be described.

<Band Height Determination> FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the fifth processing procedure of the print control apparatus of the present invention. The band height determination processing of step S705 in FIG. 7 (to prevent print overrun from occurring). The band height determining unit 212 or the CPU 206 shown in FIG. 2 executes the processing based on a program stored in the ROM 205 or another storage medium (not shown). S1201 to S1205 indicate each step.

As described above, the intermediate data is 1
It is assumed that the entire page is created as one band, and the rendering time is calculated based on that.

First, in step S1201, if one band is divided into two equal parts and the band height is reduced to half, it is checked whether or not there is a band in which the rendering time exceeds the shipping time and the print rerun is overrun. .

The print output time (ship time) with respect to the band height is calculated by the CPU 206 based on a program stored in a ROM or another storage medium (not shown).

In step S1201, if print overrun occurs (when it is determined that the rendering time when one band is divided into two and the band height is halved) exceeds the ship time, Since the band cannot be divided into two equal parts, the process ends.

On the other hand, in step S1201, it is determined that there is no band for print overrun (the rendering time in the case where one band is divided into two and the band height is halved) does not exceed the ship time. )
In step S1202, the intermediate data is divided into two links so that the band is actually divided into two equal parts.

In step S1203, the rendering time of each band is also distributed (recalculated) for each of the intermediate data of the bisected bands.

[0133] Finally, in step S1204, the time required for the ship is also reduced to 1/2, and the process returns to step S1201 to examine whether the height of the band can be further reduced to 1/2.

In this way, the minimum band height at which the divided bands do not overprint is determined.

As described above, in the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment, print overrun can be avoided by reducing the height of the band raster.
In addition, this method is effective for a printing apparatus in which band division processing takes a long time or a printing apparatus in which it is more efficient to divide intermediate data as much as possible, for example, a printing apparatus mainly handling a large image, and the like. This embodiment has an advantage unique to the present embodiment in that the print overrun can be prevented by the minimum necessary division without subdividing the data by the minimum band height.

Although the present embodiment has been described with respect to a configuration in which the band height is repeatedly reduced to で within a range in which print overrun does not occur, the control for changing the band height is limited to 倍. The invention is not limited to this, and any configuration may be included in the present invention as long as the band height is reduced and controlled within a range in which the band does not overprint.

Therefore, one print data for one page is
Or, it is divided into two or more bands and managed, the rendering time of the print data is predicted for each band, and based on the rendering time, the band height is varied so as to prevent a print overrun, By performing the band height variable processing twice based on the rendering time, it is possible to avoid overrun and to use a resource-less printing apparatus (for example, a low-priced machine) in which the band size cannot be increased to an entire page. This has the effect that print overrun can be prevented as much as possible even if it is completely impossible.

The print data for one page is divided into one or two or more bands and managed, the rendering time of the print data is estimated for each band, and the printing time is determined based on the rendering time. The band height is changed so as to prevent overrun, and the band height changing process halves based on the rendering time, thereby avoiding print overrun and subdividing print data from the beginning. There is an effect that the print overrun can be prevented by the minimum necessary division without making the image division.

Hereinafter, the configuration of a data processing program readable by the print control apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to a memory map shown in FIG.

FIG. 13 is a view for explaining a memory map of a storage medium for storing various data processing programs which can be read by the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

Although not shown, information for managing a group of programs stored in the storage medium, for example, version information, a creator, etc. are also stored, and information dependent on the OS or the like on the program reading side, for example, a program is stored in the storage medium. An icon or the like for identification display may also be stored.

Further, data dependent on various programs is also managed in the directory. Also, if the programs and data to be installed are compressed,
A program for decompressing may also be stored.

FIGS. 7, 8, 10 to 10 in this embodiment.
The functions shown in FIG. 12 may be performed by a host computer by a program installed from the outside. In this case, the present invention is applied even when a group of information including a program is supplied to the output device from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or an FD, or from an external storage medium via a network. Things.

As described above, the storage medium storing the program codes of the software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or the device, and the computer (or CPU or MP) of the system or the device is supplied.
It goes without saying that the object of the present invention is also achieved when U) reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, C
DR, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, RO
M, EEPROM, silicon disk, and the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) And the like perform part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to 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, The CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

Further, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, by reading a storage medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the present invention into the system or the apparatus, the system or the apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention. .

Further, by reading and reading a program represented by software for achieving the present invention from a database on a network by a communication program, the system or apparatus can be
It is possible to enjoy the effects of the present invention.

[0151]

As described above, the first embodiment according to the present invention is described.
According to the invention, in a print control device that performs bitmap conversion of print data received from a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium and outputs the converted data to a printing device, print data for one page received from the data processing device Is divided into one or a plurality of bands by a dividing unit, and the predicting unit predicts, for each band, a rendering time required for bitmap conversion of print data of each band divided by the dividing unit. The control means controls the change of the height of the band to be divided by the dividing means on the basis of the rendering time required for each band predicted by the above. Therefore, it is possible to prevent print overrun from occurring as much as possible without increasing storage resources. be able to.

According to the second and third inventions, the control means changes the height of the band divided by the dividing means by two times based on the rendering time required for each band predicted by the predicting means. Therefore, even in a printing apparatus (for example, a low-priced machine) with a small storage resource (raster memory) or the like in which the band size cannot be increased to one whole page,
It is possible to prevent the occurrence of the print overrun as much as possible by making the best use of the storage resources of the apparatus.

According to the fourth and fifth aspects, the control means increases the height of the band divided by the dividing means by half based on the rendering time required for each band predicted by the predicting means. Even if the printing device is more efficient not to divide the intermediate data, such as a printing device that mainly handles large images, the printing efficiency is reduced by the minimum necessary division without subdividing the print data from the beginning. The occurrence of print overrun can be prevented without any problem.

According to the sixth aspect, the predicting unit predicts the rendering time of the print data divided by the dividing unit in accordance with the data type, so that the rendering time of the print data can be accurately and efficiently calculated. Can be predicted.

According to the seventh and thirteenth aspects,
One page of print data received from the data processing device is divided into one or a plurality of bands and managed, and the rendering time required for bitmap conversion of the divided print data for each band is predicted for each band. Since the height of the band divided by the dividing step is changed based on the predicted required rendering time for each band, it is possible to prevent print overrun from occurring as much as possible without increasing storage resources. .

According to the eighth and ninth inventions and the fourteenth and fifteenth inventions, the changing step includes the step of dividing the band divided by the dividing step based on the required rendering time for each band predicted by the prediction step. Since the height of each page is changed twice, even in a printing apparatus (for example, a low-priced machine) having a small storage resource (raster memory) in which the band size cannot be increased to one entire page, the storage resources of the apparatus are maximally used. Thus, the occurrence of print overrun can be prevented to the maximum.

According to the tenth and eleventh inventions and the sixteenth and seventeenth inventions, the changing step is performed based on the required rendering time for each band predicted by the prediction step.
Since the height of the band divided by the dividing step is changed by ２, the print data is subdivided from the beginning even in a printing apparatus that does not divide the intermediate data, such as a printing apparatus mainly handling a large image. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of print overrun with the minimum necessary division without reducing the printing efficiency.

According to the twelfth and eighteenth aspects of the invention, the prediction step predicts the rendering time of the print data divided by the division step according to the data type. Can be accurately and efficiently predicted.

Therefore, it is possible to construct a low-cost printing environment in which the occurrence rate of print overrun is reduced by maximizing the use of the storage resources of the apparatus without increasing the storage resources. Play.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus to which a printing control apparatus according to the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer control system to which the print control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a flow of data from when print data is received to when a print device receives a print output, to which a print control device according to the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the structure and management format of intermediate data of the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

5 is a timing chart showing processing contents of each of a rendering unit and a printing unit shown in FIG. 3, and a temporal change in an output image held by a first band raster and a second band raster.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing banding timing when a print overrun occurs.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a first processing procedure of the print control apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a second processing procedure of the print control apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a rendering time correspondence table for intermediate data types for obtaining a fixed rendering time used in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a third processing procedure of the print control apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a fourth processing procedure of the print control apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a fifth processing procedure of the print control apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by the print control device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 201 Host Computer 202 Input Unit 203 Intermediate Data Creation Unit 204 RAM 205 ROM 206 CPU 208 Internal Bus 209 Rendering Unit 210 Band Raster 211 Rendering Time Prediction Unit 212 Band Height Determination Unit 213 Printing Unit 1000 Printing Device

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A print control apparatus for performing bitmap conversion of print data received from a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium and outputting the converted data to a printing device, comprising the steps of: A dividing unit that divides and manages the print data of each of the bands divided by the dividing unit into a bitmap, and a rendering unit that predicts a rendering time required for performing a bitmap conversion for each band; A control unit for changing and controlling the height of the band to be divided by the dividing unit based on the predicted required rendering time for each band. 2. The control unit according to claim 1, further comprising:
2. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the height of the band divided by the dividing unit is changed twice. 3. The control unit, if the rendering time required for each band predicted by the prediction unit is longer than the printing time for each band of the printing apparatus, double the height of the band divided by the dividing unit. 3. The printing control device according to claim 2, wherein: 4. The control means, based on a rendering time required for each band predicted by the prediction means,
2. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dividing unit changes the height of the band to be divided by half. 5. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control unit reduces the height of the band to １ ／.
If the rendering time required for each band predicted by the predicting means is shorter than the printing time for each band of the printing apparatus, the height of the band divided by the dividing means is reduced by half. The print control device according to claim 4, wherein 6. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the prediction unit predicts a rendering time of the print data divided by the division unit in accordance with a data type. . 7. A print data processing method of a print control device for converting print data received from a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium into a bitmap and outputting the converted data to a printing device, comprising the steps of: receiving one page from the data processing device; Dividing the print data into one or a plurality of bands, and managing the divided print data; and predicting the rendering time required for bitmap conversion of the print data for each of the divided bands for each band. And a changing step of changing the height of the band divided by the dividing step based on the rendering time required for each band. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the changing step is performed based on a rendering time required for each band predicted by the prediction step.
8. The print data processing method for a print control device according to claim 7, wherein the height of the band divided by the dividing step is changed by twice. 9. The changing step, when the rendering time required for each band predicted by the prediction step is longer than the printing time for each band of the printing apparatus, doubling the height of the band divided by the dividing step. 9. The print data processing method for a print control device according to claim 8, wherein: 10. The changing step sets the height of the band divided by the dividing step to 1 / based on the rendering time required for each band predicted by the predicting step.
8. The print data processing method for a print control device according to claim 7, wherein the print data is changed twice. 11. The changing step includes reducing the height of the band by 1 /
If the required rendering time for each band predicted by the prediction step is shorter than the printing time for each band of the printing apparatus when the number is set to 2, the height of the band divided by the division step is halved. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein
0. The print data processing method of the print control device according to 0. 12. The method according to claim 7, wherein the predicting step predicts a rendering time of the print data divided by the dividing step according to a data type.
The print data processing method of the print control device according to any one of the above. 13. A print control device that converts print data received from a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium into a bit map and outputs the converted data to a printing device, the print data for one page received from the data processing device. A dividing step of dividing and managing one or a plurality of bands; a predicting step of predicting, for each band, a rendering time required for bitmap conversion of the print data of each of the divided bands; A computer-readable storage medium for storing a program for executing a changing step of changing a height of a band divided by the dividing step based on a rendering required time. 14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the changing step changes the height of the band divided by the dividing step by twice based on the rendering time required for each band predicted by the predicting step. Item 14. The storage medium according to Item 13. 15. The changing step, if the rendering time required for each band predicted by the predicting step is longer than the printing time per band of the printing apparatus, doubling the height of the band divided by the dividing step. The storage medium according to claim 14, wherein: 16. The changing step sets the height of the band divided by the dividing step to 1 / based on the rendering time required for each band predicted by the predicting step.
14. The storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the storage medium is changed twice. 17. The step of changing the height of the band by 1 /
If the required rendering time for each band predicted by the prediction step is shorter than the printing time for each band of the printing apparatus when the number is set to 2, the height of the band divided by the division step is halved. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein
6. The storage medium according to 6. 18. The method according to claim 13, wherein the prediction step predicts a rendering time of the print data divided by the division step according to a data type.
8. The storage medium according to any one of 7.