JP2004021925A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the reuse of printing data and the universal applicability of a printer driver by allowing output to any printer irrespective of a printer driver-objective printer. <P>SOLUTION: An image processor 3 outputs the printing data to the output-objective printer 2 by using a page image in which the printing data prepared by means of a host computer 1 are prepared by means of the rasterizer 4a of the printer driver 4. The image processor 3 saves image data in a storage means 5, and uses the saved page image as displaying data of the display means of the host computer 1 and confirms state information on a connected printer 2's and the propriety of the printing output of the page image from the printer driver 4 to obtain the image data meeting the processing capability of the printer 2', and executes banding processing meeting processing capability of image data buffer capacity, the resolution and color depth conversion of the page image, and expansion/reduction/rotation processing of the page image. The printing output is available even if the printer is not for the printer driver-objective printer for preparing the page image. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus which is applied to a print output apparatus such as a digital copying machine and a facsimile which includes a printer and has a printing function and which generalizes a printer description language and reuses print information. It is.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In order to print out print data created by an application program running on the host computer, for example, parallel communication means such as a Centronics interface, TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol), etc., between the host computer and the printer. And output from the printer driver of the host computer.
[0003]
In general, data transmitted from a PDL type printer driver expresses pictures and characters as page components as vector data, and the printer converts (rasterizes) the data into bitmap data in page units, performs printing processing, and specifies the data. Since the printer description language (PDL) depends on the printer language, the printer performs a high-load process of interpreting the data and creating a page image.
[0004]
Further, since the above-described PDL type print data is intended for output to a printer, storage of the print data in a file format and reuse of the print data file are not considered. For example, when browsing stored print data as an image on a host computer, a rasterization process performed by a printer driver is emulated on the host computer.
[0005]
On the other hand, in a method of creating a page image in a printer driver on a host computer called an image type, the load on the printer side can be reduced, and image data of a page image bit-mapped by a rasterizer belonging to the printer driver can be obtained. Created.
[0006]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-200161 describes that print data is created and print data is reused by using a combination of PDL type and image type processing methods.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in a printer driver that performs image processing with such a configuration, a PDL type that depends on a specific printer language needs a high-load process of interpreting the data and creating a page image. It is difficult to reduce the cost of the controller, and in order to reuse the print data stored in a file, browsing images on the host computer requires emulation of the rasterization process to be performed once in the host computer. bad. The image type is bitmap data and can be easily viewed on the host computer. However, since a page image is formed into a bitmap by a rasterizer, there is a problem that the data is dependent on a printer. Was.
[0008]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to solving the problems of the related art, and an image processing apparatus having a data editing function such as resolution conversion or color depth conversion is provided to a host computer by an image type printer driver for creating a page image. Between the printer and the printer, the printer driver can output to any printer regardless of the target printer type, making print data convenient, effective reuse, and versatility of the printer driver. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing device for improving the image processing.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve this object, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a host computer having a printer driver that develops print data requested to be printed out, and prints out the developed print data from the printer driver. Means for converting bitmap data, which has been image-developed for printing out from a printer driver to a printer, provided between the printer and the printer driver. It is characterized by performing processing for storing in a storage means for use, processing for displaying on a display means of a host computer, and processing for printing out to a printer.
[0010]
Further, the bitmap data to be printed out is subjected to banding processing for dividing the bitmap data in accordance with the processing capacity of the target printer and sequentially outputting the divided bitmap data. Means for performing, further, means for performing a process for changing to a resolution corresponding to the processing capability of the target printer, means for performing a process for changing to a color depth, and a bit corresponding to a paper size and a paper direction of the target printer. It is characterized by comprising means for performing rotation / enlargement / reduction processing of map data.
[0011]
Also, using the bitmap data stored in the storage means, a plurality of stored bitmap data or a combination of the stored bitmap data and newly input bitmap data to form one bitmap data Is provided.
[0012]
According to the above configuration, it is possible to perform optimal print output even if the printer is not the target printer of the printer driver that created the page image (bitmap data), and is suitable for the processing capability of the target printer. The printout and the page image stored in the storage unit can be reused, and the display and the combination processing can be performed on the display unit.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0014]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration in which an image processing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is mounted on a host computer. As shown in FIG. 1, print data of a print request created by the host computer 1 is printed by a printer driver. The conversion and creation of the page image (bitmap data) is performed by the fourth rasterizer 4a. Using the created page image, the image processing apparatus 3 outputs the page image as print data by an image transmission command to the printer 2 to be output, for example, to a target printer of a printer driver so that printing is possible. I do.
[0015]
Further, the image processing device 3 performs a process for storing the image data in the storage unit 5 when the print data is set to be reused. For example, a page image output from the image processing apparatus 3 is stored in an empty area of a storage unit provided in the host computer 1, and the stored page image is used as display data on a display unit (display) of the host computer 1. It is possible to perform display without having to perform conversion processing again by the rasterizer 4a as in the case of the PDL type, thereby facilitating the processing.
[0016]
In the image processing apparatus 3, status information (processing capability information such as resolution and paper size) of the connected printer 2 which is normally acquired by connection with the host computer 1, and whether a page image can be printed out from the printer driver 4. Is confirmed, and processing for converting the image data into image data corresponding to the processing capacity of the printer 2 is performed. For example, the image data is divided into a plurality of areas in the row direction of one page, which is performed according to the processing capacity such as the capacity of the image data buffer of the output destination printer 2, and the areas are sequentially transferred to the printer one by one. And perform banding processing for printing. Further, in a state where a plurality of printers are connected via a network communication unit, if there is image data that has been subjected to banding processing according to the processing capacity of the printer, for example, when designation of a printer of a print output destination is changed, etc. Perform banding processing again.
[0017]
Similarly, if the resolution and color depth of the page image created by the printer driver 4 in the status information of the printer 2 ′ are not suitable for the processing capability of the target printer 2 ′ that performs print output, resolution conversion and color Performs depth conversion and enlarge / reduce / rotate page images. As a result, a printer connected via the above-described network communication means can perform print output even if the printer is not the target of the printer driver that created the page image. Further, when the page image stored in the storage unit 5 is reused, the page image can be printed out to a different printer 2 ′, and printing suitable for the processing capability of the printer 2 ′ can be performed.
[0018]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration in which an image processing apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention is mounted on a printer. Here, components having the same functions as those of the components described in FIG. 1 showing the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 2, when the rasterized and created page image is transmitted to the target printer 2 by the printer driver 4 of the host computer 1, the image processing device 3 converts the received page image to the processing capability of the printer 2. In response, the printer engine performs resolution, color depth conversion according to the data format of the page image, enlargement / reduction / rotation processing of the page image according to the paper size and print direction specified for printing. 7, and printout suitable for the printing ability can be performed.
[0020]
As in the first embodiment, a storage unit 5 is connected to the image processing apparatus 3 so that the page image can be stored and reused, and can be used when printing out again in addition to a request from the host computer 1. In response, the stored page image can be called and transmitted to the host computer 1 and displayed and output by the display means. Further, even if a page image created by a printer driver that is not compatible with the printer is received, the above-described conversion processing is performed and a printout suitable for the capability of the printer 2 can be performed.
[0021]
In particular, in a configuration in which a plurality of different types of printers are connected via network communication means, the host computer 1 does not require a printer driver 4 for each printer 2 and is suitable for a printer 2 designated for print output. Print output can be performed.
[0022]
Further, the image processing device 3 performs a combining process with the received page image using the page image stored in the storage unit 5 or performs a combining process with a plurality of page images stored in the storage unit 5. For example, it is possible to superimpose or combine the page images to form one page image and print out (see FIG. 3). At this time, the newly created page image may be stored in the storage unit 5 so as to be reusable, or may be displayed on the display unit to confirm the combination processing.
[0023]
Through the above processing, the page image stored in the storage unit can be efficiently reused.
[0024]
In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the image processing apparatus is provided in the host computer or the printer has been described as an example. However, the image processing apparatus is connected between the host computer and the printer, and has an independent configuration that does not belong to either of them. Is also good.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform optimal print output even if the printer is not the target of the printer driver that created the page image, and furthermore, it is possible to perform print output suitable for the capability of the printer. In addition, it is possible to efficiently reuse the page image stored in the storage unit.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration in which an image processing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a host computer. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration in which an image processing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a printer. FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a process of synthesizing a page image stored in a storage unit in an image processing apparatus mounted on a host computer and FIG. 3B.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Host computer 2, 2 'Printer 3 Image processing device 4 Printer driver 4a Rasterizer 5 Storage means 6 Display means 7 Printer engine

Claims (7)

A printer is provided between a host computer having a printer driver for developing the print data requested to be printed out as an image and a printer for printing out the print data developed from the printer driver, and printing from the printer driver to the printer. An image processing apparatus comprising: means for converting bitmap data into which an image has been developed for output. In the means for converting the bitmap data, a process of storing the bitmap data in a storage unit for reuse, a process of displaying the bitmap data on a display unit of the host computer, and a process of printing out to the printer The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing is performed. Means for performing banding processing of dividing the bitmap data to be printed and output in order according to the processing capacity of the target printer, and performing banding processing again on already banded data The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a unit configured to perform a process of changing the bitmap data to be printed out to a resolution corresponding to a processing capability of a target printer. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a unit configured to perform a process of changing the bitmap data to be printed and output to a color depth according to a processing capability of a target printer. 3. A printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for rotating, enlarging, and reducing the bitmap data according to a sheet size and a sheet direction of the target printer. An image processing apparatus as described in the above. Using the bitmap data stored in the storage means, the stored plurality of bitmap data, or the stored bitmap data and newly input bitmap data are combined to form one bitmap data. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

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