JP2002278719A - Printer, its control method and control program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To print the latest data contents regarding a change of data on a network corresponding to stored bitmap image data even when the data on the network are changed after creating and updating the bitmap image data. SOLUTION: In this printer having a function of creating and storing the bitmap image data based on the data acquired from the network and printing it later, when a printing instruction of the stored bitmap image data is made, presence/absence of the change of the data corresponding to the bitmap image data is discriminated and when the change of the data is discriminated to be made, the data regarding the change are acquired, the bitmap image data are recreated and printed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus for printing data on a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a printing apparatus which is connected to a network and has a function of printing data on the network. In this type of printing apparatus, there are a case where data is transmitted from a host computer or the like on the network to the printing apparatus to instruct printing, and a case where the printing apparatus accesses and prints data on the network.

In the latter case, data on a network is accessed at the time of actual printing, and this data is converted into bitmap image data so as to be printable and printed.

[0004]

However, depending on the method of use of the printing apparatus, even if bitmap image data is created, the bitmap image data is not immediately printed but stored in an image storage device, etc. Printing may be performed in response to the instruction.

In such a usage pattern, if the data on the network is updated after the bitmap image data is stored in the image storage device, the actually printed data content and the latest data content on the network are updated. Was different.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to make a change even if data on a corresponding network is changed after bitmap image data is created and stored. The purpose is to make it possible to print the latest data contents.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention creates and stores bitmap image data based on data obtained from a network,
In a printing apparatus having a function of performing printing later, when a print instruction of the stored bitmap image data is given, a determination unit configured to determine whether or not data corresponding to the bitmap image data has been changed; And printing control means for acquiring data relating to the change, regenerating bitmap image data, and printing when the data is determined to have been changed by the means.

According to the present invention, there is provided a control method of a printing apparatus having a function of creating and storing bitmap image data based on data obtained from a network and performing printing later. When printing of image data is instructed, it is determined whether or not data corresponding to the bitmap image data has been changed, and when it is determined that data has been changed, data relating to the change is obtained and bit It is configured so that the map image data is recreated and printed.

Further, the present invention is a control program for a printing apparatus having a function of creating and storing bitmap image data based on data obtained from a network, and performing printing later. When printing of the bitmap image data is instructed, it is determined whether or not the data corresponding to the bitmap image data has been changed, and when it is determined that the data has been changed, the data relating to the change is acquired. The bitmap image data is recreated and printed.

[0010]

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

According to the present embodiment, in a printing apparatus having a network function, bitmap image data for each page is created based on data obtained from a network, and then temporarily stored for all pages and used later. Even when printing is performed collectively in accordance with the instruction of the user, the latest data content changed after the bitmap image data is created can be printed.

First, the drawings will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the overall structure of a printing system applied to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a printing apparatus;
Is a host computer that stores data to be referenced by the printing apparatus 101. The printing apparatus 101 and the host computer 102 are connected to a local area network (hereinafter, referred to as LAN) 1 configured by Ethernet.
08.

Reference numeral 103 in the printing apparatus 101 denotes the printing apparatus 1
The CPU 104 controls the RA 104 used as a work area when the CPU 103 executes the program.
M and 105 are ROMs for storing programs executed by the CPU 103 and table data, and 106 is an I / O for inputting and outputting data to and from the outside of the printing apparatus 101.
/ O, 107 is a printing unit that actually performs printing.

A print data storage device 109 stores print data input to the printing device 101 via the I / O 106. A print data analysis device 110 analyzes print data stored in the print data storage device 109. A data analyzer 111 is a character pattern generator for creating character pattern data (bitmap image data), and 112 is a non-volatile storage device such as a hard disk, for each page stored in a page image storage device 113 or the like. The print image storage device 113 stores the bitmap image data of the character pattern as an aggregate of pages in an arbitrary page configuration. The bitmap image data 113 such as characters and figures created by the character pattern generator 111 and the like is temporarily stored in the print image storage device 113. This is a page image storage device that functions as a buffer for storing.

Reference numeral 119 denotes a reference destination information storage device that stores a reference destination of data accessed externally by the printing apparatus 101 and a change time of the data of the reference destination.
0 indicates that the user of the printing apparatus 101
Is a print instruction input device for inputting a print instruction for an image stored in the printer.

[0016] 114 in the host computer 102
CPU for controlling the host computer 102, 11
5 is a RAM used as a work area when the CPU 114 executes the program, 116 is a ROM for storing a program executed by the CPU 114, 1
Reference numeral 17 denotes an I / O for inputting and outputting data to and from the LAN 108.
Reference numerals O and 118 denote reference number storage devices configured with a hard disk or the like and storing the number of references from the network as an example of data accessed from the printing apparatus 101.

The host computer 102 periodically monitors whether the data (reference number) stored in the reference number storage device 118 has been changed on the network.
Each time it is changed, the corresponding data in the reference number storage device 118 is replaced with the changed data (including the last change time).

FIG. 2 shows that the printing apparatus 101 creates a print image (bitmap image data), and
3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure until transfer to No. 2;

FIG. 3 is an excerpt from FIG. 1 to show a route in which the printing apparatus 101 and the host computer 102 are connected by the LAN 108 and access network data.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a print image printed from the print unit 107, which is also an example of a one-page image in the page image storage device 113. 401 is a page bitmap image of the entire sheet to be printed, 402 is a bitmap image of characters,
Reference numeral 403 denotes bitmap images of characters read from the reference number storage device 306, respectively.

FIG. 5 shows print data for creating the page bitmap image 401. Reference numeral 501 denotes a character print command; 502, a character string printed by printing 501 characters; 503, a network data reference command;
Indicate the locations of the networks referred to by the 503 network data reference instruction, and in this embodiment, refer to the reference number storage device 118.
Reference numeral 505 denotes a sheet ejection command for terminating the creation of the page image.

FIG. 6 shows the contents of the file stored in the reference number storage device 118 and the last file change time, which is the file attribute. Reference numerals 601 and 605 denote file contents. Reference numerals 602 and 606 denote character strings (here, last file change time) indicating the file attributes of the files 601 and 605, respectively.

Reference numeral 603 denotes a part of the contents of the file 601 and indicates a character print command. 6
04 is a part of the file 601 and indicates a character string. Reference numeral 607 denotes a part of the contents of the file 605, which indicates a character print command. 608 is a part of the file 605 and indicates a character string. The file 601 and the file 605 indicate the same file, but have different last file change times 602 and 606, and do not exist at the same time. That is, the file 601 and the file 605 indicate the contents before and after the change of the file data.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a conventional printing apparatus for retrieving a print image from the print image storage apparatus 112 to the page image storage apparatus 113, transferring the print image to the printing unit 107, and performing printing.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the network reference data included in the print data is updated, which is an operation procedure of the printing apparatus unique to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the entire print image stored in the print image storage device 112.
Reference numeral 901 denotes the entire print image information. Reference numeral 902 denotes a print image that has already been created. If the reference destination of the network data has not been updated, the print image 902 is printed by the print unit 107.

Reference numeral 903 denotes a reference storage area for storing all data referenced from the print image information 901 on the network. Reference numeral 904 denotes the address of the network data being referred to, and reference numeral 905 denotes a time stamp indicating the time when the network data address 904 was referred to. Reference numeral 906 denotes an area for storing print data used when the print image 902 is created.
908, 909, and 910 correspond to 501 and 5 in FIG.
02, 503, and 504.

FIG. 10 shows that the latest information was printed based on the result of the update verification according to the present embodiment.
401, 402, and 403.

FIG. 11 shows the update of the file 601 included in the print data of the printing apparatus 101 and stored in the reference number storage unit 118 together with the time.
2 is the execution time of 1101, 1104 is the execution time of 1103, 1106 is the execution time of 1105, 1108 is 110
7 shows the execution time.

Next, the processing procedure of the printing apparatus 101 will be described with reference to FIG.
A description will be given based on the flowchart of FIG.

In step S 201, the CPU 103 of the printing apparatus 101 sends the print data 501 stored in the print data storage 109 from the host computer 102 to the print data analyzer 110 one by one via the LAN 108 and the I / O 106. Send and analyze print data. Here, it is assumed that the content stored in the print data storage device 109 is the content shown in FIG.

The CPU 103 includes a print data analyzer 11
As a result of the analysis at 0, it is determined whether the print data 501 is a network reference command (step S202). Here, since the print data 501 is not a network reference command, the process proceeds to step S204. In step S204, the CPU 103 determines whether the print data 501 is a character print command. Since the print data 501 is a character print command as shown in FIG. 5, the process proceeds to step S205. In step S205, the CPU 103 creates a bitmap image 402 corresponding to the print data 502 using the character pattern generator 111, stores the bitmap image 402 in the page image storage device 113, and proceeds to step S208.

In step S208, the CPU 103
It is determined whether all the print data stored in the print data storage device 109 has been processed. At this point, since the print data 503 and the print data 504 still remain, the process proceeds to step S201. In step S201,
The CPU 103 processes the print data 503 in the same manner as described above, and proceeds to step S202. In step S202, the CPU 103 moves to step S203 because the print data 503 is a network reference print command.

In this step S203, the CPU 103
Indicates the print data 504 as a UR for network data reference.
The file 601 is interpreted as L and the file 601 stored in the reference number storage device 118 in the host computer 102 is read. At this time, the CPU 103 also reads the last file change time 602 at the same time, stores the URL, which is the content of the print data 504, and the last file change time 602 in the reference information storage device 119, and reads the read file 601.
Is stored in the print data storage device 109. Then, the CPU 103 analyzes the print data 603, which is the content of the file 601, by the print data analyzer 110, and proceeds to step S204.

The CPU 103 determines in step S204
It is determined whether or not the analyzed print data 603 is a character print command. Here, since the print data 603 is a character print command, the process proceeds to step S205. In step S205, the CPU 103 performs the same processing as described above. That is, a bitmap image 403 of a character string corresponding to the print data 604 is created using the character pattern generation device 111, stored in the page image storage device 113, and proceeds to step S208.

In step S208, the CPU 103 determines whether or not print data remains in the print data storage device 109. Here, the print data storage device 1
Since what is left in 09 is the sheet ejection command 505, the process proceeds to step S209.

In step S209, in the conventional processing, only the page bitmap image 401 is stored in the print image storage device 112 as a print image, but this embodiment is different from this processing. That is, in the present embodiment, in step S209, the CPU 103 stores the page bitmap image 401, which is the content of the page image storage device 113, in the print image storage device 112 and, as shown in FIG. The content stored in the print image information 9 is referred to as reference information 903.
01 is stored. Further, print data shown in FIG. 5 is stored as print data 906 as information constituting the print image information 901 so that the print image can be redrawn. The CPU 103 sets the print image information 9
01 is stored in the print image storage device 112, and the print image generation process ends.

Next, a conventional operation when a printing instruction is input from the printing instruction input device 120 by the user of the printing apparatus will be described.

Conventionally, the CPU 103 performs the processing in step S701
In step S702, the print image stored in the print image storage device 112 is read out to the page image storage device 113.
And transferred from the page image storage device 113 to the printing unit 107 to obtain a print output 401.

Since the printing apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment is assumed to be capable of printing a large number of copies at high speed, unlike a LBP or the like which is directly connected to a personal computer, creation and execution of a print image are performed. This is for processing in the printing apparatus as performed by separate instructions. In the case of such a printing apparatus, the information of the reference destination may be updated after the time when the print image is created and before the time when the print instruction is executed.

FIG. 11 shows respective times and contents in such a case. That is, in the conventional processing, after the image print information 901 is created, the state 605 is reached. Therefore, the image print information 901 should normally be output as 1001. It looks like output.

In the present embodiment, in order to solve this problem, the URL 904 of the reference destination and the last file update time 905 are included in the image print information 901 as the reference information 903.
By storing the print data 906 for redrawing, information for recreating a print image is prepared, and when a print instruction is given by the print instruction input device 120, according to the flowchart shown in FIG. , The latest image can be printed even when the network data 601 is updated.

The printing process unique to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When a print instruction command 1107 is input from the print instruction input device 120 at time 1108, the CPU 103
In step S801, the print image storage device 11
2, the print image information 901 is read out, and the process proceeds to step S80.
Move to 2. In step S802, the CPU 103
The last update time of the file of the RL 904 is referred to. At the print instruction input time 1108, the reference destination URL 904
Is the last file change time 60
6 and is determined to be newer than the last file change time 602 of the network reference file at the print image creation time 1104 stored in the print image information 901, and the process proceeds to step S 803.

In step S803, the CPU 103
The print data 906 is stored in the print data storage device 109, and a print image is created again. Steps S803 to S81
1 is the same process as steps S201 to S208, and the description is omitted here.

In this way, the CPU 103 creates a bitmap image such as the page image 1101 in the page image storage device 113, and transfers the contents of the page image storage device 113 to the printing unit 107 in step S812. A print output 1001 can be obtained.

As described above, in the present embodiment, bitmap image data for each page is created based on data acquired from the network, and then temporarily stored for all pages, and later, in accordance with a user's instruction. When printing is performed in a lump, information indicating the position of the data corresponding to the created bitmap image data on the network and the last change time are stored in the printing apparatus 101, and the host computer 102 It monitors whether or not the data on the network corresponding to the bitmap image data has been changed. If a change has been made, the last change time is stored together with the changed data, and when a print instruction is issued, printing is performed. The last change time of the bitmap image data stored in the device and the last change time stored in the host computer If it is determined by comparison that the data has been changed after the last change time of the bitmap image data, the bitmap image data is re-created based on the changed data and printed. Therefore, it is possible to always obtain a print output based on the contents of the latest file.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and that the printing apparatus normally waits longer for printing instructions than for printing. Therefore, for example, the data change monitoring function and the change data storage function by the host computer may be mounted on the printing apparatus, and the data change monitoring processing and the change data storage processing may be performed during the standby time. Alternatively, when the printing apparatus is equipped with a microprocessor capable of high-speed processing, the data change monitoring processing and the change data storage processing may be performed in parallel with the print processing by time division control or the like. .

Further, without monitoring the presence or absence of data change by the host computer or the printing apparatus, when a print instruction is issued, data access is performed based on the position information of the data to confirm the presence or absence of data change. If a change has been made, the bitmap image data may be re-created and printed based on the changed data. However, in this case, since it takes a long time to obtain a print output, it is not suitable for data in which data is frequently changed.

[0050]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Even if the corresponding data on the network is changed after the bitmap image data is created and stored, it is possible to print the latest data content related to the change.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printing system to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure from when a printing apparatus creates a print image and transfers the print image to a print image storage device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a path through which a printing apparatus and a host computer access network data.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print image printed by a printing unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of print data for creating a page bitmap image.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the contents of a file stored in a reference number storage device and the last file change time which is a file attribute thereof.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of an operation of the printing apparatus that retrieves a print image from the print image storage apparatus again to the page image storage apparatus, transfers the print image to the printing unit, and performs printing.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure when network reference data included in print data is updated.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an entire print image stored in a print image storage device.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing that printing was performed with the latest information based on the result of data update verification.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing updates of files stored in a reference number storage device along with time.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101: printing device 102: host computer 103, 114: CPU 104, 115: RAM 105, 116: ROM 107: printing unit 108: network 112: print image storage device 113: page image storage device 118: reference number storage device 119: Reference information storage device

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. Creating and storing bitmap image data based on data obtained from a network,
A printing device having a function of performing printing later; determining means for determining whether or not data corresponding to the stored bitmap image data has been changed when an instruction to print the stored bitmap image data is issued; A printing control unit that, when it is determined that the data has been changed, obtains the data related to the change, regenerates the bitmap image data, and prints the bitmap image data. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a first storage unit configured to store a last change time of the corresponding data at the time when the bitmap image data is created. The device has a second storage unit for monitoring the change status of the data corresponding to the bitmap image data and making a change when the change is made by the device, the data relating to the change together with the last change time thereof, The determining means determines whether or not data corresponding to the bitmap image data has been changed by comparing the last change time stored in the first storage means and the last change time stored in the second storage means. The printing device according to claim 1. 3. The print control unit according to claim 1, wherein the print control unit acquires data relating to the change from the device.
The printing device according to the above. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first storage unit stores a last change time of the corresponding data when the bitmap image data is created, and a change status of the data corresponding to the bitmap image data. And a second storage unit that stores data relating to the change together with the last change time when the change is made by monitoring
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a comparison is made between the last change time stored in the first storage means and the last change time stored in the second storage means to determine whether data corresponding to the bitmap image data has been changed. Printing equipment. 5. Creating and storing bitmap image data based on data obtained from a network,
In a control method of a printing apparatus having a function of performing printing later, when a print instruction of the stored bitmap image data is issued, it is determined whether or not data corresponding to the bitmap image data has been changed, and A control method for a printing apparatus, wherein when it is determined that a change has been made, data relating to the change is obtained, bitmap image data is re-created and printed. 6. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first storage unit configured to store a last change time of the corresponding data when the bitmap image data is created. The device has a second storage means for monitoring the status of change of the data corresponding to the bitmap image data by the device and when the change is made, the device stores the data relating to the change together with the last change time thereof, 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein a comparison is made between the last change time stored in the first storage means and the last change time stored in the second storage means to determine whether data corresponding to the bitmap image data has been changed. A method for controlling a printing device. 7. The control method according to claim 5, wherein data relating to the change is obtained from the device, and bitmap image data is recreated and printed. 8. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus stores a last change time of the corresponding data at the time of creating the bitmap image data, and a change status of the data corresponding to the bitmap image data. And a second storage means for storing the data relating to the change together with the last change time when the change is made and the last stored in the first storage means and the second storage means. 6. The control method according to claim 5, wherein whether the data corresponding to the bitmap image data has been changed is determined by comparing the change times. 9. Creating and storing bitmap image data based on data obtained from a network,
A control program for a printing apparatus having a function of performing printing later, wherein when a print instruction for the stored bitmap image data is issued, it is determined whether or not data corresponding to the bitmap image data has been changed. A control program characterized in that, when it is determined that data has been changed, the control program has contents for obtaining data relating to the change, regenerating bitmap image data, and printing. 10. The control program according to claim 9, wherein the control program is supplied to the printing apparatus by a medium readable by the printing apparatus.