JP2001236193A - Information processing system and its processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accelerate the processing speed of the plotting processing of image data. SOLUTION: Deformed plotting range subjected to expansion or reduction and plotting processing is acquired as plotting range information, the plotting necessity of plotting information held in a page unit is decided on the basis of the acquired plotting range information, and plotting processing is performed in accordance with the decided plotting necessity in the case of performing plotting processing in a band area unit.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an information processing system and an information processing method for processing and outputting data, such as transferring data processed by a host computer to a printer for printing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A printing control method and a processing flow in a conventional printing system will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0006] As shown in FIG. 6, a printing system is generally configured by connecting a host computer 200 and a printing apparatus 100 via parallel communication means such as a Centronics interface or network communication means.

On the host computer 200 side, application software 201 (hereinafter abbreviated as an application) such as a word processor or a spreadsheet is executed on Windows (Micro USA).
It operates on so-called basic software (basic OS), such as a registered trademark of Soft Corporation.

When printing is performed from such an application, the function of the graphic subsystem 202 among several subsystems provided by the basic software is used from within the program.

[0006] For example, in Windows, this graphic subsystem is a GDI (Graphic Device Interface).
The image processing unit 2021 processes image information for the display 220 and the printing apparatus 100.

The GDI 2021 is connected to the display 22
In order to absorb the dependence of each device such as the printer driver 100 and the printing apparatus 100, a module called a device driver is dynamically linked, and an output process is performed for each device. This module for a printer is called a printer driver 2022.

In the printer driver 2022, a DDI (Device Driver Interface) that is determined in advance to be installed in a device driver in accordance with the capability and function of the printer driver 2022 is determined.
It is necessary to prepare a group of functions called rface).

Application API (Application Programming)
Interface) call, the GDI 2021 performs data conversion for the device driver, and this DDI function group
It is configured to be called from I2021 to execute a predetermined print process. The GDI 2021 sequentially processes print requests from the application via the printer driver as described above.

The processing system of the printer driver is a PDL.
Mode type (2023) and image mode type (2
024-2026).

The PDL mode type refers to the printing apparatus 100.
Side is equipped with a controller capable of processing a control command called PDL (Page Description Language). The printer driver converts the information passed from the system via the DDI into a PDL command as soon as it is converted.
It is sent to the printing apparatus 100 via the DI 2028.

The processing of the printer driver merely generates a command from the data received by the DDI, so it can be said that the processing is light for the driver. As a feature of the PDL mode type, if the printer has a high ability to analyze PDL commands, it can receive data with a high degree of abstraction from the GDI 2021 and send it out as it is, so that the data size to be transferred can be reduced in normal page printing. is there.

[0013]

On the other hand, in the image mode type, a print image is developed on a memory space secured by a printer driver so that a high-level drawing process is not performed on the printing apparatus 100 side. The converted data is converted into a format that can be directly printed by the printing apparatus 100, and the converted data is sent to the printing apparatus 100 and printed.

The processing of the printer driver includes PDL
Similarly to the mode type, the image mode printer drivers 2024 to 2026 are connected to the band memory 20 by using data passed from the GDI via the DDI interface.
27, and performs bitmap data to the printing apparatus 100 via the GDI 2028.

As a feature of the image mode, the drawing process of a high-resolution color image or complicated graphics data is performed at a high speed.

However, there is a problem that high-speed printing is not good because image data of the entire page is transmitted even for characters and simple figures.

In order to perform a drawing process in the image mode (also in the PDL mode), a memory area is required.
In addition, in the case of a color printer, 96 Mbytes are required to secure a memory for 600 DPI and A4 full pages with 8 bits for each color of RGB. At present, it is difficult to secure such a memory area even in the host machine.

(Drawing Process Using Band Memory) The drawing process of the color printer is performed in the output format of YMC.
By using a color space of 1 or 2 bits for each color of K and using a band memory in which a page is divided into several areas, the memory for drawing processing is reduced.

As described above, dividing a page into a plurality of bands and performing drawing processing using the band memory is called banding processing. In the banding process, the OS or the printer driver holds a drawing command for one page and processes only a printing command necessary for each band, thereby realizing a drawing process for each band.

When the printer driver performs the banding process, each drawing command of one page is associated with a band to be drawn. In accordance with the association, for each band, only the rendering command associated with the band is subjected to the rendering process, thereby realizing the rendering process for each band.

Then, such a band memory 2027
In the case of enlargement / reduction printing using, each drawing is drawn while being enlarged or reduced in the drawing process for each band.

After the drawing process for one band is completed, the entire band memory 2027 is scanned, the outermost edge of the drawing area in each band is obtained, and the bitmap data in that range is transferred to the printing apparatus 100 as a print command.

Referring to FIG. 7 as an example, image data 5001 and 500 in a drawing area 500 before processing shown in FIG.
The drawing object actually relates to the three bands shown in the band memory 2027 in FIG. 7B, and the data 5051 to 5053 are transferred as a print command.

In the drawing processing using the band memory 2027 as described above, in the case of reduced printing, each drawing is reduced and drawn. At that time, as a result of the reduction, a print command is generated in which the drawing is superimposed and the drawing result does not appear on the surface.

As an example, an image 601 shown in FIG.
Is reduced by half, and all the drawings are reduced and drawn. As a result, an image 602 shown in FIG. 8B is obtained.

As another example, an image 60 shown in FIG.
When 3 is reduced to 1/2 and printed, an image 604 is obtained. As a result, the image 604 becomes the image 60
It is the same as 2.

As a result, in order to obtain an image 604, FIG.
0, which is not related to the actual drawing process, as shown in FIG.
It is necessary to draw even the drawing area 05.

As described above, in the conventional print processing accompanied by a scaling command such as enlargement / reduction, drawing processing is performed for all drawing commands, so that unnecessary drawing must be processed. There is a problem that high-speed processing cannot be performed.

An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus and a processing method capable of performing a drawing process at high speed.

[0030]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an information processing system for outputting data processed by an information processing device by an output device, wherein the information processing device converts image information into drawing information. A spool unit for holding the converted drawing information in a predetermined area unit; an analyzing unit for performing data analysis based on the converted drawing information; and the holding drawing information based on a result of the data analysis. Selecting means for selecting a device driver for performing a drawing process, and, when holding the converted drawing information in a predetermined area unit, dividing the drawing information in the predetermined area unit into a plurality of drawing areas for drawing. Registering means for registering as the range information; determining means for determining a drawing band area to be used for drawing processing from the registered drawing range information; Using the combining device that links the plurality of divided drawing areas to the drawing band area, and drawing the linked plurality of drawing areas on the drawing band area in band units using the selected device driver. Drawing means for processing, and data output means for generating output data based on the data drawn in the drawing band area and the registered drawing range information, and outputting the output data to the output device. Thus, an information processing system is configured.

The present invention is an information processing method for outputting data processed by an information processing device by an output device, wherein the information processing device converts image information into drawing information, and converts the converted drawing information. Based on a spooling step of holding in a predetermined area unit and the converted drawing information,
An analyzing step of performing data analysis, a selecting step of selecting a device driver for performing a drawing process on the held drawing information based on a result of the data analysis, and a conversion of the converted drawing information in a predetermined area unit. When holding
A registration step of dividing the drawing information in a predetermined area unit into a plurality of drawing areas and registering the drawing information as drawing range information; and a determining step of determining a drawing band area to be used for drawing processing from the registered drawing range information. Connecting the plurality of divided drawing areas to the determined drawing band area; and using the selected device driver to connect the plurality of linked drawing areas to the drawing band. A drawing step of performing a drawing process on an area in band units; and an output for generating output data based on the data processed in the drawing band area and the registered drawing range information, and outputting the generated output data to the output device. By providing the steps, an information processing method is provided.

According to the present invention, there is provided a medium recording a control program for causing a computer to output data processed by an information processing device by an output device,
In the information processing apparatus, the control program causes a computer to convert image information into drawing information, hold the converted drawing information in a predetermined area unit, and perform data analysis based on the converted drawing information. And causing the device driver to select a device driver for performing a drawing process on the held drawing information based on a result of the data analysis, and holding the converted drawing information in a predetermined area unit. The unit of drawing information is divided into a plurality of drawing areas, registered as drawing range information, a drawing band area used for drawing processing is determined from the registered drawing range information, and the determined drawing band area is determined. The plurality of divided drawing areas, and using the selected device driver, the plurality of linked drawing areas. The drawing device performs drawing processing in the drawing band area in band units, and generates output data based on the data drawn in the drawing band area and the registered drawing range information. To provide a medium in which the information control program is recorded.

The present invention is a printing system for printing data processed by a data processing device by a printing device, wherein the data processing device converts image information into drawing information, and converts the converted drawing information in page units. A spooling means for holding the data, an analyzing means for performing data analysis based on the converted drawing information, and a printer driver for performing drawing processing of the held drawing information based on a result of the data analysis. A registering unit that divides the page-based drawing information into a plurality of drawing areas and registers the drawing information as drawing range information when holding the converted drawing information in page units; Determining means for determining a drawing band area to be used for drawing processing from the range information; and Combining means for linking a plurality of drawing areas; drawing means for drawing the linked plurality of drawing areas to the drawing band area in band units using the selected printer driver; and A printing system is configured by including data output means for generating print data based on the data drawn in the band area and the registered drawing range information and outputting the print data to the printing apparatus.

The present invention relates to a printing method for printing data processed by a data processing device by a printing device,
The data processing device converts the image information into drawing information,
A spooling step of holding the converted drawing information in page units; an analyzing step of performing data analysis based on the converted drawing information; and a storing step of storing the held drawing information based on a result of the data analysis. A selection step of selecting a printer driver for performing a drawing process, and, when holding the converted drawing information in units of pages, dividing the drawing information in units of pages into a plurality of drawing regions and registering the information as drawing range information A registration step, a determination step of determining a drawing band area to be used for a drawing process from the registered drawing range information,
A combining step of linking the plurality of divided drawing areas, and a drawing step of drawing the linked plurality of drawing areas to the drawing band area in band units using the selected printer driver; An output step of generating print data based on the data subjected to the drawing process in the drawing band area and the registered drawing range information, and outputting the print data to the printing apparatus. I do.

The present invention is a medium in which a control program for printing data processed by a data processing device by a computer by a printing device is recorded. In the data processing device, the control program stores the image information in a computer. Is converted into drawing information, the converted drawing information is held in page units, data analysis is performed based on the converted drawing information, and the held drawing is performed based on the result of the data analysis. When a printer driver for drawing information is selected and the converted drawing information is held in page units, the drawing information in page units is divided into a plurality of drawing areas and registered as drawing range information, From the registered drawing range information, a drawing band area to be used for drawing processing is determined. The plurality of divided drawing areas are linked to the drawn band area, and the linked plurality of drawing areas are drawn in the drawing band area in band units using the selected printer driver. Processing, based on the data subjected to the drawing process in the drawing band area and the registered drawing range information, to generate print data and output the print data to the printing apparatus. provide.

At the time of registering the drawing range information, the necessity of drawing the drawing information held in page units is determined, and the drawing area is determined according to the determined drawing necessity. It is registered as drawing range information.

When the drawing range information is registered, a deformed drawing range in which the drawing process is performed by enlarging or reducing the size based on the enlargement ratio designation is acquired as the drawing range information.

In determining the drawing necessity of the drawing information, the necessity of drawing the drawing information held in the predetermined area unit is determined based on the obtained drawing range information.

At the time of the drawing process in the unit of the band area, the drawing process is performed according to the determined drawing necessity.

[0040]

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

(System Configuration) Before describing the main configuration of the present invention, a schematic configuration when the information processing system of the present invention is applied to a printing system will be described.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a host computer 300 and a printing apparatus 100 which constitute the printing system.

(Printing Apparatus) First, a schematic configuration of the printing apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, as the printing apparatus 100, a color laser beam printer (hereinafter, referred to as a color laser beam printer)
This will be described using color LBP as an example. The description of the same parts as those of the conventional example described above is omitted,
The same reference numerals are given.

FIG. 5 shows 600 dots / inch (dpi).
Color LBP1 which has an image resolution and performs image recording based on multi-valued data in which each pixel of each color component is represented by 8 bits
00 shows the structure of 00.

The color LBP 100 receives and stores print data (character codes, image data, and the like) and control information supplied from an externally connected host computer 300 and the like.
A corresponding character pattern, image, or the like is created according to the information, and an image is formed on a recording sheet as a storage medium.

Reference numeral 110 denotes a formatter control unit which analyzes print information supplied from the host computer 300 to generate a print image and controls the color LBP main body 100.

The formatter control unit 110 is provided with an operation unit including a switch for operating the user and notifying the user of the status, an LED display, and the like.
It is connected to a panel section 120, and this panel section is provided as a part of the exterior of the color LBP 100.

The final print image generated by the formatter control unit 110 is sent to the output control unit 130 as a video signal, and the output control unit 130
With the status input from various sensors (not shown) of 00,
A control signal is output to the optical unit 140 and various drive system mechanisms to control the printing process of the printing apparatus 100. Reference numeral 150 denotes a printer engine that executes a printing process.

In the color LBP 100 shown in FIG. 5, the paper P fed from the paper feed cassette 161 is
The leading end is held by the gripper 154f, and is held on the outer periphery of the transfer drum 154.

The photosensitive drum 15 is controlled by the optical unit 140.
The latent images of the respective colors formed on the developing drum 1 are developed by respective color developing units Dy, Dm, Dc and Db of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (B), and are transferred to a transfer drum. The image is transferred a plurality of times to the outer peripheral paper to form a multicolor image.

Thereafter, the paper P is separated from the transfer drum 154, fixed by the fixing unit 155, and
From 59, the paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray unit 160.

Here, the developing units Dy, Dm, Dc,
Db has rotatable support shafts at both ends thereof, and is held by the developing device selection mechanism 152 so that each can be rotated about the shaft.

Thus, each developing unit Dy, Dc, D
b and Dn are used to select a developing device.
Even if 2 rotates about the rotation shaft 152a, the posture can be maintained constant. After the selected developing device is moved to the developing position, the developing device selecting mechanism 152 is integrated with the developing device, and the selecting mechanism holding frame 153 is moved around the fulcrum 153b by the solenoid 153a.
It is configured to be pulled in the direction of 51 and moved in the direction of the photosensitive drum 151 to perform the developing process.

Next, the photosensitive drum 1 is charged by the charger 156.
51 is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity. The print information developed as an image in the formatter control unit 110 is converted into a video signal of a corresponding pattern, output to the laser driver, and drives the semiconductor laser 141.

The laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser 141 in accordance with the input video signal is controlled to be turned on and off. Further, the laser light is swung right and left by a polygon mirror 142 rotating at high speed by a scanner motor 143, and reflected by a polygon lens 134. Photosensitive drum 151 via mirror 144
The upper side is exposed by scanning. As a result, an electrostatic latent image of an image pattern is formed on the photosensitive drum 151.

Next, for example, an M (magenta) color electrostatic latent image is developed by an M (magenta) color developing unit Dm, and a first M (magenta) toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 151. It is formed.

On the other hand, the transfer paper P is fed at a predetermined timing, a transfer bias voltage of the opposite polarity (for example, positive polarity) to the toner is applied to the transfer drum 154, and the first toner image on the photosensitive drum 151 is formed. While being transferred to the transfer paper P, the transfer paper P is electrostatically attracted to the surface of the transfer drum 154.

Thereafter, the photosensitive drum 151 is connected to the cleaner 1
57 removes the remaining M (magenta) color toner and prepares for the next color latent image formation and development process. Hereinafter, C (cyan), Y (yellow), Bk
The transfer of the second, third, and fourth color toner images is performed in the order of (black).

However, when transferring each color, the transfer drum 1
The difference is that a bias voltage higher than the previous one is applied to 54. When the leading end of the transfer paper P on which the four color toner images are superimposed and transferred approaches the separation position, the separation claw 158 approaches and the leading end contacts the surface of the transfer drum 154, and the transfer paper P is transferred from the transfer drum 154. Separated. Transfer paper P separated
Is transported to a fixing unit 155, where the toner image on the transfer paper is fixed and discharged onto a discharge tray 160.

The color laser beam printer of this embodiment outputs an image at a resolution of 600 dots / inch (dpi) through the above-described image forming process. The printer to which the present invention can be applied is not limited to the color LBP, but may be a color printer of another printing method such as an ink jet printer or a thermal printer.

Next, the configuration inside the formatter control section 110 in the color LBP 100 will be described.

The format control unit 110 is usually called a PDL controller or the like. The format control unit 110 controls an interface (I / F) unit 111 serving as a means for connecting to the host computer 300 to receive data and the like. Receive buffer 112 for temporarily holding and managing
1, a transmission buffer 1122 for temporarily storing and managing transmission data and the like, a command analysis unit 113 for analyzing print data, a print control processing execution unit 114, a drawing processing execution unit 115, a page memory 116, and the like. I have.

The interface (I / F) unit 111
Communication means for transmitting and receiving print data to and from the host computer 300. The communication protocol is IEEE
This enables communication conforming to -1284.

In the present invention, however, the present invention is not limited to this communication means, and may be connected by various protocols via a network.
4 may be used. The print data received through the interface unit 111 is stored in a reception buffer 11 serving as a storage unit for temporarily storing the data.
And stored in the command analysis unit 11 as needed.
3 or by the drawing processing execution unit 115.

The command analysis unit 113 is constituted by a control program conforming to each PDL command system and print job control language. The analysis result of print data relating to drawing of character printing, figures, images, etc. An instruction other than drawing, such as a paper feed selection or a reset instruction, is given to the print control processing execution unit 11.
4 is instructed and processed.

The rendering processing execution unit 115 is a renderer that sequentially develops each rendering object such as a character or an image in the page memory 116. In FIG. 1, it is necessary to send page data in MCYK plane order to the above-described color LBP 300. However, in the standard state, not all the memory required for this is secured, and one plane (1 or 2 bit / A memory is secured as a band area that is a fraction of a pixel (pixel), and the band area is reused to process an image in synchronization with the engine speed.

Normally, the page memory 116 is managed by the development processing by the YMCK renderer and the tracking of the video signal shipping to the printer engine, that is, the banding control. An area where the minutes can be expanded may be secured.

Generally, the formatter controller 11
Reference numeral 0 denotes a computer system using a central processing unit (CPU), a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), and the like. Further, the processing of each unit may be processed in a time-sharing manner under a multitask monitor (real-time OS), or a dedicated controller / hardware may be prepared for each function to independently execute the processing. The configuration to be processed may be used.

The operation panel 120 is for setting and displaying various states of the printing apparatus as described above. The output control unit 130 converts the content of the page memory 116 into a video signal, and
The image is transferred to 50. Printer engine 150
Is a printing mechanism for forming a permanent visible image of the received video signal on recording paper. The printing apparatus 100 has been described above.

(Host Computer) Next, a schematic configuration of the host computer 300 constituting the printing system will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 200 denotes a host computer for outputting print information including print data and control codes to the printing apparatus 100. The host computer 300 is configured as a single computer system including a keyboard 310 as an input device, a mouse 311 as a pointing device, and a display monitor 320 as a display device.

The host computer 300 is a Windows
It is assumed that it is operated by a basic OS such as NT.
On the host computer 300 side, focusing only on the functional parts related to the present invention and broadly classifying the functions on the basic OS, the application software 30
1, a spool subsystem 303 including a graphic subsystem 302, a print information storage unit, and a communication unit with a printing apparatus.

The application software 301 is
For example, it refers to application software that operates on basic software such as a word processor or a spreadsheet. The graphic subsystem 302 includes a Graphic Device Interface (hereinafter referred to as GDI) 3021 which is a part of the function of the basic OS, and a printer driver 302 which is a device driver dynamically linked from the GDI.
And 2.

The printer driver 3022 is the GDI 30
21 is called via a DDI (Device Driver Interface) interface, and performs processing according to the device for each drawing object. In this system, the information passed to the DDI function is
The spool is spooled as F3031 (page data file). At this time, by calling a pre-check (PreChek) module 3023 which is a module for checking the type, size, and drawing range of the drawing object from the printer driver 3022, Perform data analysis of The result of the check is GDI
Save as PCF (actually on RAM or hard disk) (precheck file) through 3021.

The spool subsystem 303 is a subsystem unique to a printer device located downstream of the graphic subsystem 302, and is called a despooler.

The despooler is a PDF 3031 as a print information storage unit, and a PC which is a check result of each page.
F3032, and a driver (3034 to 3034) that processes the PDF 3031 based on the result of the PCF 3032.
37), and the despooling process is performed by the determined driver.

At this time, the drawing necessity judging unit 3040 judges whether the drawing command is necessary for the print result, and passes it to the drivers (3034 to 3037) to determine whether to draw.

The selected drivers 3034 to 3037
In the image mode, the image is expanded using the band memory 3038, and in the PDL mode, the spool file is converted into the PDL command.
The data is sent to the printer via the I / F 3039.

Depending on the basic OS, the above-mentioned names and functional frameworks may be slightly different. However, as long as the modules are capable of realizing the technical means of the present invention, the names and frameworks of the present invention are different from those of the present invention. Not a big problem.

For example, what is called a spooler or a spool file can be realized by incorporating a process into a module called a print queue by another OS.

Generally, the host computer 300 including these functional modules includes a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a hard disk drive (HDD), Under the hardware such as various input / output control units (I / O), software called basic software controls the control, and under the basic software, each application software and sub-system process are function modules. It is supposed to work. (Processing of Host-side Printer Driver) In order to realize the present invention, it is necessary to obtain a drawing range from drawing information for one page. For this purpose, the information passed to the DDI function is spooled once, the drawing range is checked at that time, and after the drawing area check of all the drawing objects is completed, the drawing processing of the spooled data is performed according to the drawing area information. is necessary.

Therefore, in order to realize the present invention, the printer driver operating on the host machine needs at least the following functions. 1) Spool processing of drawing data 2) Processing for obtaining a drawing range after deformation 3) Invalid drawing discrimination processing 4) Processing of an image driver supporting variable banding The processing of each unit will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

1) Drawing Data Spool Processing The spool processing using the PDF 3031 shown in FIG. 2 will be described. Here, Windows NT 4.0 is taken as an example.

In Windows NT 4.0, GDI3
The following are examples of the drawing DDI function called from 021.

DrvCopyBits (), DryBitBlt (), DrvStretchBl
t (), DrvStrokePath (), DrvFillPath (), DrvStrokeAndFil
lPath (), DrvPaint (), DrvTextOut () The drawing object is passed from the GDI 3021 to these functions via arguments.

For example, an image drawing processing function Dr
The argument of vCopyBits () is BOOL DrvCopyBits (SURFOBJ ^* psoDest, // handle connected to drawing destination memory SURFOBJ ^* psoSrc, // handle connected to source data CLIPOBJ ^* pco, // handle of clip information XLATEOBJ ^* pxlo, // color conversion Information handle RECTL ^* prclDest // destination rectangular area POINTL ^* pptlSrc // upper left coordinates of source data)

In the image mode, psoDest and prclDest
It is only necessary to copy the image indicated by psoSrc and pptlSrc to the area indicated by pco first, as indicated by.

First, spool data is held in page units (step S1).

Therefore, the PDF 3031 shown in FIG. 2 has, as a header, page information PageInfo 802 holding the page size, data size, the number of stored objects, and the like, following the page ID 801 for specifying the page.

Subsequently, a number 803 indicating the drawing function called by the DDI function is entered. Here, DrvCopyBits will be described as an example.

Datasize 804 is the size of the spool of DrvCopyBits.

The SoDset 805 is psoDest indicating the surface information of the drawing destination passed to the DrvCopyBits () function, and stores information that can be obtained.

SoSrc 806 is psoDest indicating the source surface information passed to the DrvCopyBits () function,
Stores information that can be obtained.

[0094] The source image data 807 is the actual state of the source image data that can be obtained from psoSrc.

The Co 808 stores information that enables the clip information of the drawing destination passed to the DrvCopyBits () function to be obtained from pco.

If clip data exists,
After that, the clip data 809 is stored.

Xlo 810 is pxol indicating color conversion information passed to the DrvCopyBits () function, and stores obtainable information.

RclDest 811 is a prclDest indicating a rectangle on the drawing destination surface passed to the DrvCopyBits () function.
Stores information obtainable from.

The PtlSrc 813 stores information that can be obtained from pptlSrc that indicates to which position on the source surface the drawing is to be performed and that is passed to the DrvCopyBits () function.

Thereafter, spooling of data required for each drawing function continues for one page.

At the time of despooling, by returning the spooled information to the DDI function of the selected driver by the despooler 3033 and passing it, the printer driver operation up to now can be performed with the DDI function specification.

2) Post-Modification Drawing Range Acquisition Processing The post-transformation drawing range acquisition unit 3041 extracts the drawing range from the drawing information spooled as a PDF file (step S2).

For example, the argument co (808) of DrvCopyBits (), which is a drawing processing function for a stored image, is DrvCopyBit
Indicates the clip information of the drawing destination that is passed to the s () function.
Since est (811) indicates the rectangle on the drawing destination surface passed to the DrvCopyBits () function, Dr.
The drawing area of vCopyBits () can be calculated.

Further, based on the enlargement ratio specified separately by the setting from the application to the driver, the drawing range after the enlargement / reduction is calculated.

3) Invalid Drawing Determination Processing The drawing necessity determination unit 3040 includes the post-deformation drawing range acquisition unit 3
The drawing area acquired in step 041 is checked, and when the height or width is smaller than 1, it is determined to be invalid (step S3).

Note that the drawing necessity determining unit 3040 and the transformed drawing range acquiring unit 3041 divide the drawing information in page units into a plurality of drawing regions when holding the converted drawing information in page units. It is configured as a registration unit 3000 that registers as drawing range information.

Also, when the overwriting process is continuously performed on the same position, it is determined that only the last drawing is valid and the other drawing is invalid (step S4).

4) Banding compatible image driver process (despooling process) The drawing information spooled as a PDF file is reconstructed.

Therefore, first, the band number of the band memory 3038 overlapping the spooled drawing range is calculated (step S5).

At this time, the processing contents are different depending on whether the number of bands (devbndno) is one or more.

When the number of hands is one, the spooled drawing information may be drawn in the order of spooling. At this time, the necessity of the drawing command is directly determined by the drawing necessity determining unit 3040, and only the drawing to be drawn is processed.

If the number of bands is one or more, the band for drawing the spooled drawing command is set to DevBandInf [devbndcn
t] .BandRectL checks whether it is between top and bottom, and creates a list in which drawing objects related to each band are reconnected in drawing order. At this time, the necessity of the drawing command is determined by the drawing necessity determining unit 3040, and only the drawing to be drawn is registered in the list (step S6).

When one page of PDF data is linked to the band list, DevBandInf [0].
Drawing processing is performed with vBandInf [devbndno] .BandRectL as a band area in order.

The band subjected to the drawing process corresponds to the corresponding Ba
The bitmap data in the drawing range held in ndInf []. RendRectL is converted into a print command and transferred to the printing device 100.

Next, the processing according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

1) In the drawing data spooling process,
As shown in FIG. 4A, the spool data is A, B,
C is assumed to be composed of three.

2) In the post-deformation drawing range acquisition process,
A drawing range acquisition process is performed based on a 1/2 reduction command for spool data of A, B, and C. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4 (b), by performing a process of 縮小 reduction in the vertical direction (X direction), A as shown in FIG.
Obtain C data.

3) In the invalid drawing determination processing,
As shown in (d), the data of A and C are determined to be valid,
It is determined that the data of B is invalid.

4) In the processing of the variable banding compatible image driver, as shown in FIG. 4 (e), A and C which are determined to be valid by using the result of determination of the necessity of drawing are described.
Is transferred to the printing apparatus 100. Since the rendering processing of the invalidated data is not performed, high-speed processing can be performed.

The present invention can be applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, and a printer).
The present invention may be applied to an apparatus including two devices (for example, a copying machine and a facsimile machine).

Further, it is needless to say that 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. Then, a storage medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the present invention is supplied to a system or an apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or M) of the system or the apparatus is supplied.
(PU) reads out and executes the program code stored in the storage medium, so that the effects of the present invention can be enjoyed.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM
(A mask ROM, a flash EEPROM, or the like) can be used.

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

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion port inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0126]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Obtain a drawing range after deformation, which has been subjected to drawing processing by enlarging or reducing, as drawing range information, and based on the obtained drawing range information, determine drawing necessity of drawing information held in page units, For drawing processing in units of area,
Since the drawing process is performed according to the determined drawing necessity, the drawing process can be reduced in the drawing process in the image mode in which the drawing process is performed, thereby increasing the speed of the drawing process of the image data. It becomes possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a basic configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a structure of a print information spool file (PDF) at the time of spooling according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of creating a band list during despooling according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a flow of a drawing process according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the structure of a laser beam color printer applicable to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a conventional printing system.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing band processing at the time of despooling in a conventional printing system.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a drawing process at the time of reduction.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the drawing process at the time of reduction.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an area that is invalidated in the drawing processing of FIG. 9;

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 100 printing device (LBP) 110 formatter control unit 111 interface 1121 reception buffer 1122 transmission buffer 113 PDL analysis unit 114 print control processing execution unit 115 drawing processing execution unit (renderer) 116 page memory 120 operation panel 130 output control unit 131 laser driver 140 Printer engine unit 200 Host computer 201 Application software 202 Graphic subsystem 2021 GDI 2022 Printer driver 2023 PDL translator 2024 Monochrome IBPP image mode 2025 YMCK4BPP image mode 2026 RGB24BPP image mode 2027 Image mode band memory area 2028 GDI 2029 Interf Base 300 Host computer 301 Application software 302 Graphic subsystem 303 Spool subsystem 800 PDF (page data file) 801 PageID (number specifying page) 802 PageInfo (settings required for drawing processing such as page size and setting mode) 803 Drawing function specification command (specify DrvCopyBits) 804 dataSize (spool size applied to this drawing command) 805 soDest (information obtained from psoDest) 806 soSrc (information obtained from psoSrc) 807 Source image data (source indicated by psoSrc) 808 co (clip information indicated by pco) 809 clip data (data required for clip processing) 810 xlo (color conversion information indicated by pxlo) 811 rclDest (drawing destination rectangular position information indicated by prclDest) 812 pilSrc (information indicating the position of source data) 813 drawing function designation command (designate DrvTextOut) 3000 registration unit 3021 GDI 3022 printer driver 3023 precheck system 3031 PDF (print data file) 3032 PCF (precheck file) 3033 despooler 3034 PDL translator 3035 Monochrome IBPP image mode 3036 YMCK4BPP image mode 3037 RGB24BPP image mode 3038 Image mode hand memory area 3039 Interface 3040 Drawing necessity determination unit 3041 Drawing range acquisition unit after deformation

Claims (30)

[Claims] 1. An information processing system for outputting data processed by an information processing device by an output device, wherein the information processing device converts image information into drawing information, and converts the converted drawing information into a predetermined drawing information. A spool unit that holds the image data on a region-by-region basis, an analyzing unit that performs data analysis based on the converted drawing information, and a device driver that performs a drawing process on the held drawing information based on the result of the data analysis Selecting means for selecting, and, when holding the converted drawing information in a predetermined area unit, registering means for dividing the drawing information in the predetermined area unit into a plurality of drawing areas and registering it as drawing range information Determining means for determining a drawing band area to be used for drawing processing from the registered drawing range information; Coupling means for linking the plurality of divided drawing areas; drawing means for drawing the linked plurality of drawing areas to the drawing band area in band units using the selected device driver; Data processing means for generating output data based on the data subjected to the drawing processing in the drawing band area and the registered drawing range information, and outputting the output data to the output device. system. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the registration unit includes a determination unit configured to determine a drawing necessity of the drawing information held in the predetermined region unit, and determines the drawing region according to the determined drawing necessity. 2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the information is registered as the drawing range information. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the registration unit includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire, as drawing range information, a deformed drawing range obtained by performing a drawing process by performing enlargement or reduction based on a designated enlargement ratio. 3. The information processing system according to 1 or 2. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the determination unit determines the necessity of drawing the drawing information held in the predetermined area unit based on the obtained drawing range information. system. 5. The drawing unit according to claim 2, wherein the drawing unit performs the drawing process in accordance with the drawing necessity determined by the determining unit when performing the drawing process in the unit of the band area. An information processing system according to any of the above. 6. An information processing method for outputting data processed by an information processing device by an output device, wherein the information processing device converts image information into drawing information, and converts the converted drawing information into a predetermined drawing information. A spooling step of holding the area on a unit basis, an analyzing step of performing data analysis based on the converted drawing information, and a device driver for performing a drawing process of the held drawing information based on a result of the data analysis. And a registration step of, when holding the converted drawing information in a predetermined area unit, dividing the drawing information in the predetermined area unit into a plurality of drawing areas and registering it as drawing range information. A determining step of determining a drawing band area to be used for drawing processing from the registered drawing range information; A combining step of linking the plurality of drawn areas, and a drawing step of drawing the linked plurality of drawing areas to the drawing band area in band units using the selected device driver; An information processing method, comprising: an output step of generating output data based on data subjected to a drawing process in a drawing band area and the registered drawing range information, and outputting the generated output data to the output device. 7. The registration step includes a judging step of judging the necessity of drawing the drawing information held in the predetermined area unit, and determining the drawing area in accordance with the judged drawing necessity. 7. The information processing method according to claim 6, wherein the information is registered as the drawing range information. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the registering step includes an acquiring step of acquiring, as drawing range information, a deformed drawing range obtained by performing a drawing process by enlarging or reducing based on an enlargement ratio designation. 8. The information processing method according to 6 or 7. 9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein, in the determining step, the necessity of drawing the drawing information held in the predetermined area unit is determined based on the obtained drawing range information. Method. 10. The drawing process according to claim 7, wherein, in the drawing process in the unit of the band area, the drawing process is performed according to the drawing necessity determined in the determining process. The information processing method according to any one of the above. 11. A medium in which a control program for causing a computer to output data processed by an information processing device by an output device is recorded, wherein the control program stores image information in the computer. The converted drawing information is stored in a predetermined area unit, the data is analyzed based on the converted drawing information, and the converted information is stored based on a result of the data analysis. When a device driver for performing drawing processing of drawing information is selected and the converted drawing information is held in a predetermined area unit, the drawing information in the predetermined area unit is divided into a plurality of drawing areas and a drawing range is divided. Information, and from the registered drawing range information, determine a drawing band area to be used for drawing processing. The plurality of divided drawing areas are linked to the determined drawing band area, and the plurality of linked drawing areas are linked to the drawing band area using the selected device driver. An information control program for generating output data based on the data subjected to the drawing process in the drawing band area and the registered drawing range information, and outputting the generated data to the output device. Medium on which is recorded. 12. When registering the drawing range information, the drawing necessity of the drawing information held in the predetermined region unit is determined, and the drawing region is determined according to the determined drawing necessity. The medium according to claim 11, wherein the information control program is registered as the drawing range information. 13. The method according to claim 11, wherein, when registering the drawing range information, a deformed drawing range obtained by performing a drawing process by enlarging or reducing the size is acquired as drawing range information based on a designated enlargement ratio. Or a medium recording the information control program according to 12. 14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, when judging the necessity of drawing the drawing information, determining the necessity of drawing the drawing information held in the predetermined area unit based on the acquired drawing range information. Item 14. A medium recording the information control program according to item 13. 15. The drawing process according to claim 12, wherein, in the drawing process in the unit of the band area, the drawing process is performed according to the drawing necessity determined in the determining process. A medium on which the information control program according to the above is recorded. 16. A printing system for printing data processed by a data processing device by a printing device, wherein the data processing device converts image information into drawing information, and holds the converted drawing information in page units. A spooling unit that performs data analysis based on the converted drawing information; and a selection unit that selects a printer driver for performing a drawing process on the held drawing information based on a result of the data analysis. Means for registering the converted drawing information in page units, dividing the drawing information in page units into a plurality of drawing areas, and registering the divided drawing information as drawing range information; and the registered drawing range information. Determining means for determining a drawing band area to be used for the drawing process; and Combining means for linking the drawing areas, drawing means for drawing the linked plurality of drawing areas into the drawing band areas in band units using the selected printer driver, and the drawing band. A printing system, comprising: data output means for generating print data based on data subjected to a drawing process in an area and the registered drawing range information and outputting the print data to the printing apparatus. 17. The registering means includes a judging means for judging the necessity of drawing the drawing information held in the page unit, and determining the drawing area according to the judged drawing necessity. 17. The printing system according to claim 16, wherein the information is registered as drawing range information. 18. The method according to claim 18, wherein the registration unit includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire, as the drawing range information, a deformed drawing range in which the drawing process is performed by enlarging or reducing based on an enlargement ratio designation. 18. The printing system according to 16 or 17. 19. The printing system according to claim 18, wherein the determination unit determines the necessity of drawing the drawing information held in page units based on the obtained drawing range information. 20. The drawing device according to claim 17, wherein the drawing unit performs the drawing process in accordance with the drawing necessity determined by the determining unit when performing the drawing process in the unit of the band area. The printing system according to any one of the above. 21. A printing method for printing data processed by a data processing device by a printing device, wherein the data processing device converts image information into drawing information and holds the converted drawing information in page units. A spooling step for performing a data analysis based on the converted drawing information; and a selection for selecting a printer driver for performing a drawing process on the held drawing information based on a result of the data analysis. A step of, when holding the converted drawing information in page units, registering the page-based drawing information into a plurality of drawing areas and registering the information as drawing range information; and the registered drawing range information. A determining step of determining a drawing band area to be used for a drawing process; and determining the plurality of divided band areas in the determined drawing band area. A combining step of linking image areas; a drawing step of drawing the linked plurality of drawing areas into the drawing band areas in band units using the selected printer driver; and the drawing band area. An output step of generating print data based on the data subjected to the drawing process and the registered drawing range information, and outputting the generated print data to the printing apparatus. 22. The registration step includes a judging step of judging the necessity of drawing the drawing information held in the page unit, and determining the drawing area in accordance with the judged drawing necessity. The printing method according to claim 21, wherein the printing method is registered as drawing range information. 23. The method according to claim 23, wherein the registering step includes an acquiring step of acquiring, as drawing range information, a deformed drawing range obtained by performing a drawing process by enlarging or reducing based on an enlargement ratio designation. 23. The printing method according to 21 or 22. 24. The printing method according to claim 23, wherein, in the determining step, the necessity of drawing the drawing information held in page units is determined based on the obtained drawing range information. 25. The drawing process according to claim 22, wherein in the drawing process in the unit of the band area, the drawing process is performed according to the drawing necessity determined in the determination process. Crab printing method. 26. A medium recording a control program for printing, by a printing apparatus, data processed by a data processing apparatus by a computer, wherein the control program draws image information on the computer. The converted drawing information is stored on a page basis, and the converted drawing information is analyzed based on the converted drawing information.Based on the result of the data analysis, the stored drawing information is When a printer driver for performing a drawing process is selected and the converted drawing information is held in units of pages, the drawing information in units of pages is divided into a plurality of drawing regions and registered as drawing range information. The drawing band area used for the drawing process is determined from the drawn drawing range information. Drawing a plurality of divided drawing areas to a drawing band area, and using the selected printer driver, drawing the linked plurality of drawing areas to the drawing band area in band area units. A print control program for generating print data based on the data drawn in the drawing band area and the registered drawing range information and outputting the print data to the printing apparatus. . 27. When registering the drawing range information, the drawing necessity of the drawing information held in page units is determined, and the drawing area is determined according to the determined drawing necessity. 27. A medium recording a print control program according to claim 26, wherein the medium is registered as range information. 28. The image forming apparatus according to claim 26, wherein, at the time of registering the drawing range information, a deformed drawing range obtained by performing a drawing process by enlarging or reducing is acquired as drawing range information based on an enlargement ratio designation. Or a medium recording the print control program according to 27. 29. The method according to claim 29, wherein, at the time of determining the necessity of drawing the drawing information, the necessity of drawing the drawing information held in the predetermined area unit is determined based on the obtained drawing range information. Item 30. A medium recording the print control program according to item 28. 30. The print control program according to claim 27, wherein at the time of the drawing process in the unit of a band area, a drawing process is performed according to the determined drawing necessity. Medium on which is recorded.