JP2003296054A - Page printer, printing system and printer driver - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a page printer to be manufactured by mounting a memory of smaller capacity. <P>SOLUTION: The page printer has a function of generating and storing the block unit compression data as the compression data of a plurality of rotated block unit image data divided in a matrix based on the image data for one page consisting of a plurality of host side band unit image data transmitted from a host device in a time series manner, and generating the image data for printing obtained by rotating the image data transmitted from the host device by 90° or 270° based on the block unit compression data when generation and storage of the block unit compression data for one page is completed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a page printer,
The present invention relates to a printing system including a page printer and a printer driver for the page printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some page printers operate by receiving print data consisting of image data on each page and a simple control command group.

A printer driver for such a page printer converts image data relating to each page into a plurality of image data whose width (length in a predetermined direction) is equal to the image data (usually compressed): ,
Sending to the page printer by dividing it into host side band unit image data (to generate and send compressed / uncompressed host side band unit image data in order to supply one page of image data to the page printer) The process is repeated).

On the other hand, when the page printer receives the image data (a group of image data on the host-side band for one page) generated and transmitted by the printer driver, the image data is used as the image data used for printing. Notated as certain print image data)
As a device for temporarily generating a plurality of image data having the same width (length in the main scanning direction) as the print image data (usually compressed: hereinafter referred to as printer-side band unit image data) Has become.

Further, the page printer uses the printing image data (FIG. 8 (b)) in the same direction as the received image data (FIG. 8 (a)) as the printing image data, as schematically shown in FIG. )), Or the image data for printing (FIG. 8C) obtained by rotating the received image data by 90 degrees (or 270 degrees).

[0006]

In the conventional page printer, when the printing image data as shown in FIG. 8B is generated, the process shown in FIG. 9 (hereinafter referred to as normal printing) is performed. Image data generation process) is performed, and when the printing image data as shown in FIG. 8C is generated, the process whose procedure is shown in FIG. (Referred to as data generation processing) is performed.

That is, in the conventional page printer, when the transmitted image data (a plurality of band unit image data) can be used for printing without changing the direction, as shown in FIG. Process for receiving the band image data on the host side (step S
After step 501), if the received host-side band unit image data is compressed data (step S502; YES), a process of expanding the data (step S503) is performed.

Thereafter, the host side band unit image data which has been made uncompressed by the processing of step S503,
Alternatively, a process for identifying which band on the page printer side the host-side band unit image data (hereinafter, referred to as processing target band unit image data) received in the uncompressed state is (step S50).
4) is performed. Hereinafter, the band specified in step S504 will be referred to as a processing target band. In addition,
Normally, the size of the host-side band unit image data in the height direction does not match the size of the printer-side band unit image data in the height direction, so step S504.
In the process (2), in some cases, two or more bands are each specified as a process target band.

If there is a processing target band for which a corresponding band memory (hereinafter referred to as a processing target band memory) is not secured in the memory (step S50)
5; NO), after the process (step S506) of securing the processing target band memory on the memory is performed, all or part of the processing target band unit image data is stored in one or more processing target band memories. Is written (step S507). If the band memory to be processed has already been secured (step S50)
5; YES), the process of step S507 is performed without performing the process of step S506.

After the completion of the processing of step S507, the data written in the band memory to be processed for which the writing of all the data has been completed (that is,
A process of compressing the uncompressed printer side band unit image data) is performed (step S508).

After that, it is judged whether or not the reception of the host side band unit image data for one page is completed (step S509). If reception of one page of host-side band unit image data has not been completed (step S509: NO), step S50
When the processing from step 1 is executed again and the reception of one page of the host side band unit image data for one page (the generation of one page of the compressed printer side band unit image data) is completed (step S509: NO). Then, the normal print image data generation process is ended.

On the other hand, when the transmitted image data cannot be used for printing without changing the direction, the host side band unit image data is received as shown in FIG. Processing (step S6)
If the received host-side band unit image data is compressed after step 01) (step S602; YES), a process of expanding the data (step S603) is performed.

Thereafter, the processing target band relating to the processing target band unit image data (the host side band unit image data which is uncompressed by the processing of step S603 or the host side band unit image data which is received in the uncompressed state) For identifying (step S60
4) is performed. Since the processing target band unit image data when this rotational printing image data generation processing is executed is data relating to all bands (see FIGS. 8A and 8C), S6
When 04 is executed for the first time, the band groups for one page are each specified as the processing target band.

If the band memory to be processed (band memory for the band to be processed) is not secured in the memory (step S605; NO), the band memory group to be processed is secured in the memory (step S605). S60
6) After that, to those band memory groups to be processed,
The processing target band unit image data is 90 degrees (or 2
A process of writing the data after rotating it by 70 degrees (step S607) is performed. If the band memory group to be processed is secured in the memory (step S60
5; YES), the process of step S607 is performed without performing the process of step S606.

Thereafter, it is judged whether or not the reception of one page of the host side band unit image data has been completed (step S608), and the reception of one page of the host side band unit image data has not been completed. In the case of (step S609: NO), the processing from step S601 is performed again.

When the reception of the host-side band-unit image data for one page is completed (step S60)
8: NO), the process of compressing the printer side band unit image data data stored in each band memory in an uncompressed state is performed (step S609), and this rotational printing image data generation process is ended. .

As is apparent from the above description, in the normal printing image data generation process performed by the conventional page printer, one page of compressed printing image data can be stored in the memory. If there is a free storage area, the processing can be executed. on the other hand,
Rotation printing image data generation processing is
The process cannot be executed unless there is a free storage area capable of storing the uncompressed printing image data for one page and one host-side band unit image data.

As described above, since the rotary printing image data generation process requires a larger free memory than the normal printing image data generation process, the conventional page printer is configured to print the print data. In order to make sure that there is a free space in the memory that can execute the image data generation process for rotation printing while in the reception standby state, the device is equipped with a relatively large capacity memory. There is.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation as described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a page printer which can be manufactured by mounting a memory having a smaller capacity, and such a page printer and a host. And a printing system including a device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a printer driver capable of operating a computer as a host device constituting the printing system of the present invention.

[0021]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a page printer of the present invention is provided with image data for one page consisting of a plurality of band unit image data transmitted in time series from a host device. And a compression data generation means for generating a compression data group capable of decompressing each of a plurality of block unit image data, which is image data obtained by dividing the image data in a matrix, and compression generated by the compression data generation means. Printing image data generating means, based on the data group, printing image data generating means for generating printing image data by rotating the printing image data generating means image data transmitted by the host device by 90 degrees, and this printing image. Based on the print image data generated by the data generation means Come, and a print execution means for performing printing,
Prepare

That is, in the page printer of the present invention, the image data for one page, which is transmitted in a time series from the host device and is composed of a plurality of band unit image data, temporarily divides the image data into a matrix. After converting each of the plurality of block unit image data, which is the image data, into a decompressible compressed data group, the compressed image data group is used to generate the printing image data, and the printing image data transmitted by the host device. The generating means has a configuration in which image data for printing is generated by rotating the image data by 90 degrees.

From the compressed data group as described above,
Printing Image Data Generating Unit Transmitted by the Host Device In the process of generating the printing image data by rotating the image data by 90 degrees, the storage area for storing the printing image data for one page is secured in advance. Since this is a process that can be performed without the need, if the configuration of the present invention is adopted, the page printer can be manufactured by mounting a memory having a smaller capacity.

In realizing the page printer of the present invention, the printing image data generating means as the compressed data generating means, the printing image data generating means, the compressed data capable of decompressing each of the plurality of block unit image data as it is. It is also possible to use a means for generating a group or a printing image data generating means for generating a decompressible compressed data group by rotating each of a plurality of block unit image data by 90 degrees. The printing image data generating means included in the page printer according to the present invention rotates the printing image data generating means image data transmitted by the host device 9 clockwise.
The printing image data rotated by 0 degrees may be generated, or the printing image data rotated by 90 degrees counterclockwise may be generated.

Further, the page printer of the present invention is used as a printing image data generating means, a printing image data generating means, a printing image data generating means, and the printing image data generating means image data transmitted by the host device is rotated by 90 degrees. Using the means for generating the compressed print image data in a compressed form, the print image data generating means as the print executing means, the print image data generating means, the compressed print generated by the print image data generating means It may be realized by using a means for expanding and printing the image data for use.

A printing system according to the present invention is a printing system including a page printer and a host device for transmitting print data to the page printer, wherein the printing image data is generated as a host device for printing image data. Generating means Generates a compressed data group capable of decompressing each of a plurality of block unit image data, which is image data obtained by dividing one page of image data to be printed by a page printer into a matrix, and prints print data including them. Image data generation means for use is provided with a device for providing print data transmission means for transmitting to the page printer, and as the page printer, print image data generation means print image data generation means of the host device print data transmitted by the print data transmission means Receiving means for printing Image data generating means for generating image data obtained by rotating the image data by 90 degrees based on a compressed data group for one page included in the print data received by the receiving means for generating image data. And a configuration using a printer including a print executing unit that performs printing based on the image data generated by the print image data generating unit.

That is, the printing system of the present invention is a system in which a part of the processing performed by the page printer of the present invention is performed on the host device side. Therefore, even if this configuration is adopted, the page printer can be manufactured by mounting a memory having a smaller capacity.

In realizing the printing system of the present invention, the printing image data generating means, the printing image data generating means of the page printer, the printing image data generating means as the printing image data generating means, the printing transmitted by the host device. Image data generating means for generating image data by rotating the image data by 90 degrees in a compressed form, image data generating means for printing, image data generating means for page printer Generating means A means for decompressing the compressed image data generated by the printing image data generating means and performing printing can be used.

Then, the printer driver of the present invention includes a plurality of block-unit image data which are image data obtained by dividing the image data for one page to be printed by the page image printer for printing by the computer into a matrix. This printer has a configuration capable of operating as a device that includes a print data transmitting unit that generates a decompressible compressed data group and transmits print data including them to a print image data generating unit page printer. The use of the driver enables the computer to operate as a host device that constitutes the printing system of the present invention.

[0030]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment> FIG. 1 shows the arrangement of a printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the printing system according to the present embodiment comprises a printer 10 and a computer 50 in which a printer driver 20 for the printer 10 is installed from a portable program recording medium 60 or the like. Is.

First, the printer driver 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. When the printer driver 20 used in the printing system is instructed to generate print data, the printer driver 20 sends information specifying the printing conditions (paper size and information indicating the paper feeding device to be used) to the printer 10. For each page to be printed, the processing whose procedure is shown in FIG. 2 is performed.

That is, the printer driver 20 uses the data stored in the spool file (created by the spooler of the OS in this embodiment) as the first band unit for the page to be printed by the printer 10 in this process. Create image data (step S10)
1). Next, the printer driver 20 handles the created band unit image data as image data in which a plurality of block unit image data is arranged in the horizontal direction, and compresses the block unit image data (hereinafter referred to as block unit compressed data). ) Is generated and transmitted to the printer 10 (step S102). The horizontal direction is a direction parallel to the long side of the band unit image data as shown in FIG. 3, and the printer driver 20 transfers the created band unit image data to the last block unit image data. It is created so that the horizontal length of each block-unit image data except for is treated as image data in which the block-unit image data in which the height of the band in the printer 10 is aligned is arranged.

Then, the printer driver 20 determines that the processing for one page has not been completed (step S10).
3; NO), the process from step S101 is executed again, and when the process for one page is completed (step S1).
03; YES), the processing shown in this figure ends.

Next, the structure and operation of the printer 10 will be described.

A printer 10 (see FIG. 1) used in this printing system has a control unit 11 including a CPU, a ROM, an SDRAM, a host I / F circuit and the like, and a print engine 12 as main components. Page printer.

The control unit 11 in the printer 10 prints the print job data, which is started to be received, by rotating the image data included in the data as a block unit compressed data group by 90 degrees (or 270 degrees). If printing cannot be performed without preparing the image data for printing, in order to prepare the image data for printing,
It is configured to execute the process shown in FIG.

That is, the control unit 11 receives the block-unit compressed data and stores it as it is in the state where the reception of the block-unit compressed data for one page is not completed (step S202; NO), and its storage position. Is stored in the received data management table in the form of being associated with the position of the block unit image data represented by the block unit compressed data (step S20).
Repeat 1).

Then, when the reception of the block-unit compressed data group for one page is completed (step S202; YES), the control section 11 performs steps S211 to S217.
By executing the process consisting of, the received block-unit compressed data group for one page is converted into a print band unit image data group (print image data).

Specifically, the control section 11 first determines a processing target band which is a band for generating the printing band unit image data (step S211). Next, in the control unit 11, the band memory for the processing target band (hereinafter referred to as the processing target band memory) is SDR.
It is judged whether it is already secured on the AM (step S
212) Then, the control unit 11 determines that the band memory to be processed has not been secured (step S21).
2; NO), after the band memory to be processed is secured (step S213), the process of step S214 is started. On the other hand, when the band memory to be processed has already been secured (step S212; YES), the control unit 11
Without performing step S213, step S21
The process of 4 is started.

In step S214, the control unit 11 refers to the received data management table to specify the storage position of each block unit compressed data relating to the band to be processed, and the block unit stored in each specified storage position. A process of decompressing the compressed data and rotating the result (that is, block unit image data) by 90 degrees (or 270 degrees) and then storing it in the processing target band memory (in short, the printing band unit image in the processing target band memory). Data writing process).

When the print job data that has started to be received does not need to prepare the rotated print image data, the control unit 11 is essentially the one shown in this figure. The process is the same, but the process corresponding to this step S214 is configured so that the decompression result of each block-unit compressed data is stored in the process target band memory as it is.

The control unit 11 which has finished writing the print band unit image data on the band memory to be processed,
The storage area of each used block-unit compressed data is released (step S215), and the data in the processing target band memory (that is, the printing band-unit compressed data) is compressed (step S216). After that, the control unit 11
It is determined whether the processing for one page is completed (step S217), and if the processing for one page is not completed (step S217; NO), step S21.
The process from 1 is executed again.

Then, when the processing for one page is completed (step S217; YES), the control section 11 finishes the processing shown in this figure, and when the print engine 12 is ready for printing. A process for causing the print engine 12 to actually print is performed using the compressed data of the print band unit image data stored in each process target band memory.

As described above, in the printing system according to the present embodiment, the image data for rotary printing is generated by the processing that requires less free memory than the processing whose procedure is shown in FIG. It is a system. Further, the processing performed by the printer driver 20 to generate the print data is such that the load on the computer 50 is not so different from the processing performed by the existing printer driver.

Therefore, the configuration of the present printing system is such that a printing system having substantially the same printing performance as the existing printing system can be realized by using the printer 10 having a memory having a smaller capacity than that of the existing printer, or It can be said that a printing system having a higher function than that of the existing printing system can be realized by using the printer 10 equipped with a memory having the same capacity as that of the existing printer.

<Second Embodiment> The configuration and operation of the printing system according to the second embodiment will be described below, focusing on the differences from the printing system according to the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 5, the printing system according to the second embodiment includes a printer 30, a printer driver 40 for the printer 10, and a portable program recording medium 61.
A system including a computer 50 installed from the above.

The printer driver 40 used in the present printing system does not transmit print data of a special format like the printer driver 20, but compressed image data in band units as in the existing printer driver. Alternatively, the print data including a plurality of uncompressed band unit image data is transmitted.

The printer 30 includes a CPU, a ROM,
Control unit 31 including SDRAM, host I / F circuit, etc.
And a print engine 32 as main components.

That is, the printer 30 is a device having the same configuration as the printer 10 in terms of hardware, but the control unit 31 of the printer 30 operates differently from the control unit 11.

Specifically, the control unit 31 does not need to prepare print image data obtained by rotating the image data represented by the print job data, the print job data of which reception is started. In this case, the same processing as that performed by the existing page printer described with reference to FIG. 9 is performed. Then, when the print job data that has started to be received has to prepare the print image data obtained by rotating the image data represented by the print job data, the control unit 31 displays the print image data in FIG. It is configured to perform the procedure shown.

That is, the control unit 11 first receives and stores the band unit image data (step S).
301) is performed. If the received band unit image data is compressed, the control unit 31 also performs a process of expanding the compressed band unit image data in step S301.

Next, the control unit 11 handles the band unit image data as received or the band unit image data obtained by expanding the received compressed data as image data in which a plurality of block unit image data are arranged in the horizontal direction. Compressed data of each block unit image data (hereinafter referred to as block unit compressed data) is generated and stored (step S302).

That is, in step S302, an image obtained by dividing the band unit image data into a plurality of block unit image data and rotating each block unit image data by 90 (or 270) degrees as schematically shown in FIG. A process of generating data, generating compressed data of each generated image data (that is, block-unit compressed data) and storing the compressed data is performed. Note that step S
In 302, the control unit 31 sets the received band unit image data to the block unit image data in which the horizontal length of each block unit image data excluding the last block unit image data matches the height of the printer side band unit image data. It is handled as image data in which data are lined up. Further, in step S302, the control unit 31 receives the data indicating the storage position of each block-unit compressed data generated and stored in the form of being associated with the position of the block-unit image data represented by the block-unit compressed data. The process of storing in the data management table is also performed.

Then, the control unit 11 repeats the processing of steps S301 and S302 until the reception of one page of band unit image data is completed, and when the reception of one page of band unit image data is completed (step S303; YES), steps S311 to S3
The processing of 17 is started.

In the processing of steps S311 to S317, the printing band unit image data for one page is converted into the block unit compressed data group by the processing of the procedure essentially the same as the processing of steps S211 to S217 (FIG. 4). Is generated from. However, the block unit compressed data handled by the control unit 11 is the compressed data of the block unit image data which is not rotated, whereas the control unit 31
Since the block-unit compressed data handled by is the compressed data of the block-unit image data that has been rotated, in step S314 corresponding to step S214, the decompression result of each block-unit image data is unchanged (without rotation). ), A process of storing in the band memory to be processed is performed.

As described above, also in the printing system according to the second embodiment, the rotation printing image is processed by the processing that requires less free memory than the processing whose procedure is shown in FIG. It is a system where data is generated.

Therefore, the configuration of the present printing system is such that a printing system having substantially the same printing performance as the existing printing system can be realized by using the printer 30 equipped with a memory having a smaller capacity than that of the existing printer, or It can be said that a printing system having a higher function than the existing printing system can be realized by using the printer 30 equipped with the memory having the same capacity as the existing printer.

<Modifications> The printing system according to each embodiment can be modified in various ways. For example, in each printing system, the host side band unit image data is divided into block unit image data having a width matching the height of the printer side band, and one compressed data is generated for each block unit image data. However, each printing system may be configured so that a plurality of compressed data are generated for one block unit image data. However, if the size for generating the compressed data is reduced, the compression ratio becomes worse. Therefore, as in each embodiment, one compressed data is generated for one block unit image data. It is desirable to set it. Further, the host side band unit image data may be divided into block unit image data having a width that does not match the height of the printer side band, but the time required for processing becomes long. Therefore, as in each embodiment, it is desirable that the host side band unit image data is divided into block unit image data having a width matching the height of the printer side band.

Further, when it is necessary to compress the band unit image data on the printer side (when it can be compressed well)
The printer 10 and the printer 30 may be configured so as to be performed only in the case.

[0063]

According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a page printer which can be manufactured by mounting a memory having a smaller capacity, and a printing system including such a page printer and a host device. Also, according to the printer driver of the present invention, the computer can be operated as a host device that constitutes the printing system of the present invention.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a printing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a process executed by a printer driver used in the printing system according to the first embodiment when generating print data.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the content of processing executed by a printer driver used in the printing system according to the first embodiment when generating print data.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a process executed by the printer used in the printing system according to the first embodiment for print data that needs to generate image data for rotational printing.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a printing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a process executed by the printer used in the printing system according to the second embodiment on print data that needs to generate image data for rotational printing.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the content of a process executed by the printer used in the printing system according to the second embodiment for print data that needs to generate image data for rotational printing.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining image data for printing generated at the time of printing by a conventional page printer.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a normal printing image data generation process performed by a conventional page printer.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart of rotational printing image data generation processing performed by a conventional page printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 30 printer 11, 31 Control unit 12, 32 print engine 20, 40 Printer driver 50 computers 60, 61 program recording medium

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04N 1/41 H04N 1/41 Z F term (reference) 2C187 BF14 BG05 BG12 DB32 DB36 DD03 FC08 5B021 AA01 BB12 DD00 5C076 AA24 AA36 BA06 5C078 BA44 CA01 CA34 DA01 DB11 EA00

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of blocks, which are image data obtained by dividing the image data into a matrix based on image data of one page consisting of a plurality of band unit image data transmitted in time series from a host device. Compressed data generating means for generating a compressed data group capable of restoring each of the unit image data, and rotating the image data transmitted by the host device by 90 degrees based on the compressed data group generated by the compressed data generating means. A page comprising: a printing image data generation unit that generates the printing image data thus generated; and a printing execution unit that performs printing based on the printing image data generated by the printing image data generation unit. Printer. 2. The page printer according to claim 1, wherein the compressed data generating means generates a decompressible compressed data group by rotating each of the plurality of block unit image data by 90 degrees. . 3. The printing image data generating means,
The print image data, which is obtained by rotating the image data transmitted by the host device by 90 degrees, is generated in a compressed form, and the print execution unit is generated by the print image data generation unit and is compressed. The page printer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the printing image data is expanded and printed. 4. A printing system including a page printer and a host device for transmitting print data to the page printer, wherein the host device is a matrix of one page of image data to be printed by the page printer. A plurality of block unit image data which are image data divided into a plurality of blocks, and a print data transmitting unit that generates a compressed data group capable of decompressing the block data and transmits the print data including the compressed data group to the page printer. The printer includes a receiving unit that receives the print data transmitted by the print data transmitting unit of the host device, and 1 included in the print data received by the receiving unit.
A printing image data generation unit that generates printing image data by rotating the image data by 90 degrees based on a compressed data group for pages, and printing image data generated by the printing image data generation unit. A printing system comprising: a printing execution unit that performs printing based on the printing system. 5. The printing image data generating means of the page printer generates the printing image data obtained by rotating the image data transmitted by the host device by 90 degrees in a compressed form, 5. The page printer according to claim 4, wherein the print execution unit decompresses the compressed print image data generated by the print image data generation unit to perform printing. 6. A printer driver for a page printer, wherein each of a plurality of block unit image data, which is image data obtained by dividing a computer into one matrix of image data to be printed by the page printer, is restored. A printer driver, characterized in that it operates as a device including a print data transmitting unit that generates a possible compressed data group and transmits print data including the same to the page printer.