JP2003312066A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that a file is referenced only by a specific application or under an environment of a specific operating system when the file produced by a computer is referenced. <P>SOLUTION: When a file is printed by a printer, print data is converted to data in a versatile image format by the printer and is returned to a computer. As a result, the file which is only referenced in a specific environment can be converted to the file which can be referenced under any environment irrespective of an operating system or an application. <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 technique useful when applied to a printer connected to a computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional computer, some file is created by using an application, and the created file is transferred to a printer and printed by the printer by using a wired communication means or a wireless communication means.

[0003]

However, in the above operation, when a file created by one computer is referenced by another computer, the file cannot be referenced because it cannot be referenced unless it has the same application or due to a difference in operating system. There are cases.

An object of the present invention is to convert print data sent to a printer into a general-purpose image format that can be displayed by a normal computer, and obtain the converted file by the computer, so that a different computer, The purpose is to provide an operation that allows an original dedicated file to be referred to as a general-purpose image format file between different applications and different operating systems.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a means for converting print data sent from a computer into a general-purpose image format that can be displayed by any computer, and a printer. The converted general-purpose image format file is configured to be sent back to the computer.

It is desirable that a general-purpose image format converted by a printer can be selected. Further, it is preferable that the image format converted by the printer can be simultaneously converted into a plurality of image formats.

Further, the printer may convert the image data into a general-purpose image format and print the received print data.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printer 1A of this embodiment is a printer connected to a network via an Ethernet (registered trademark) board, for example. L
In response to a print request from a computer on the AN, print data is received, and print processing or conversion processing into a general-purpose image format is performed.

Inside the printer 1A, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1 for centrally controlling the apparatus is provided.
2, a communication means 10 for transmitting and receiving data via a network, and a program ROM in which a control program executed by the CPU 12 and control data are recorded.
(Read Only Memory) 15, a reception buffer area for temporarily storing print data, a frame memory area (frame memory means) for storing printable data obtained by expanding print data, and a general-purpose memory converted by a printer. A memory 13 having an area for storing an image format, a printing mechanism 14 for performing actual printing according to raster data developed on the memory 13, and the like are provided. Further, the case of the printer 1A is provided with operation means 11 for setting a paper size and a paper feeding method.

As a normal print process, the printer 1A receives print data sent from a computer via a network, analyzes the print data, and expands the print data into printable data (hereinafter referred to as "printable data"). , And then the actual printing on a printing paper or the like according to the printable data.

The print data sent from the computer is, for example, data coded and commanded in the HPGL language or PostScript language, and printable data (hereinafter referred to as print data) obtained by expanding the print data. The actual printing process (actual printing process) by the printing mechanism 14, which is, for example, raster data or so-called intermediate data located between the raster data and the print data, is stored in a predetermined area of the memory 13. By writing the drawing data, it is automatically performed without the control of the CPU 12. Further, by storing a plurality of drawing data in the drawing data storage area of the memory 13, the drawing data of a plurality of pages are automatically printed in sequence.

In addition to the normal print processing, the program ROM 15 converts the print data into a general-purpose image format when there is a request to convert the print data into a general-purpose image format. Control programs and control data are recorded.

Then, in the control program for converting the print data into a general-purpose image format, there is prepared a routine or a sub-program for executing a process of transferring the converted image format to a computer. Each processing routine or subprogram constitutes means for converting print data into a general-purpose image format, means for transferring the converted image format to a computer, and the like.

Next, a network system 10 in which the printer 1A and the computers 2A and 2B are connected.
0, and the outline of the conversion processing of print data into a general-purpose image format performed in the network system 100 and the image format data transfer processing to a computer will be described.

FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of an example of processing performed in the network system 100. The network system 100 of this embodiment is, for example, a LAN 101.
A plurality of computers 2A and 2B and the printer 1A
And are connected and configured. Although not particularly limited,
This network system 100 is a peer-to-peer network, and each terminal (computer or printer) has a function of transmitting and receiving data on a one-to-one basis.

In the general-purpose image format conversion processing, when one computer (2A) on the network issues a print processing request to the printer (1A), the printer performs printing while the print data is general-purpose. The image format file is converted into a different image format, and the converted image format file is returned to the original computer (2A) or another computer (2B) connected to the network.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2A, when a print request is sent from the computer 2A to the printer 1A, the printer 1A performs a conversion process of print data into a general-purpose image format, and then issues a print request. It is possible to return the general-purpose image format to the computer 2A which performed the operation.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, when a print request is sent from the computer 2A to the printer 1A, the printer 1A converts the print data into a general-purpose image format and then prints the print request. It is possible to return the general-purpose image format to the computer 2B different from the computer that performed the above.

The flow of the printing process executed by the CPU 12 of the printer 1A will be described below in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the general flow of the printing process executed by the CPU 12.

This process is a process which is started after the initial process after the power is turned on in the printer 1A and thereafter repeatedly executed until the power is turned off.

When this process is started, first, in step S1, a branch process is performed to determine whether or not there is received data. Then, if there is received data, the process of determining whether or not to create the general-purpose image format in step S2 is performed, and if the general-purpose image format is to be created, the process proceeds to step S3.

When the process moves to step S3, the print data is converted into a general-purpose image format in the step, the created general-purpose image format is transferred to the computer in step S4, and the process proceeds to step S5. To do.

In step S5, it is determined whether or not printing is performed. If printing is performed in step S5 or if a general-purpose image format is not created in step S3, print processing of print data is performed in step S6. .

That is, according to the general flow of the printing process of FIG. 3, the reception waiting process of step S1 is repeated until the print data is received, and the print data is received from the computer in the reception waiting process. In this case, the processing of steps S2 to S6 and the like are repeatedly performed until the processing is completed.

Although the present invention has been specifically described above based on the embodiments, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be variously modified without departing from the scope of the invention. .

For example, although an Ethernet LAN is shown as a network to which the present invention is applied, a token ring type LAN or a wide area network (WAN: wi) may be used.
Needless to say, it can be applied to various networks such as a de area network) and the Internet. Further, the present invention can be applied not only to a peer-to-peer type network but also to a network system that transmits and receives data via a computer. Further, the present invention can be applied to a communication network that uses radio waves, infrared rays, or the like without using a cable.

[0027]

According to the present invention, all files that can be printed by the printer can be converted into a general-purpose image format by the printer, so that a normal computer does not depend on the application or operating system. The effect is that you can refer to the file.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of processing performed in the network system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing executed by a CPU of the network printer according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1A printer 2A-2B computer 100 network system 101 LAN

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A printer having communication means for communicating with a computer, having a function of converting print data transmitted from the computer into a general-purpose image format that can be displayed by a general-purpose computer. Printer to do. 2. After converting the print data transmitted from the computer into a general-purpose image format that can be displayed by a general-purpose computer, the communication means is used to convert the converted general-purpose image format into a computer. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising a function of returning the printer to the side. 3. The print data transmitted from a computer is converted into a general-purpose image format that can be displayed by a general-purpose computer, and the print data is printed in parallel in parallel. The printer according to 1. 4. When converting print data transmitted from a computer into a general-purpose image format that can be displayed by a general-purpose computer, one or more formats are selected from a plurality of general-purpose image formats. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the printer performs conversion. 5. An image in which specific settings on the printer side are reflected in print data when converting print data transmitted from a computer into a general-purpose image format that can be displayed by a general-purpose computer. The printer according to claim 1, which is converted into a format.