JP2006244247A - Printing system with font adding method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To positively use resource data not stored in a device without relying on memory capacities of respective printers. <P>SOLUTION: In an inexpensive printer not having an HDD, when resource data necessary for a printing process is not in possession, a warning is given to a user, encrypted resource data is downloaded by a host from a network and stored in an external storage medium, and the printing process is resumed by attaching the external storage medium to the printer, and reading and using the decrypted resource data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that prints an electronic document or image file using resource data corresponding to a received code, and particularly for resource data that is necessary when using a resource that is not held in the device. The present invention relates to a printing system using a printing apparatus with limited memory.

  A conventional printing apparatus has resources necessary for printing in the printing apparatus. When an electronic document or an image file is received as print data, a character image is generated using resource data corresponding to the received code. Etc. to be printed out. However, not all resources necessary for printing are stored in the device. In this case, there is a printing apparatus having an alternative function of outputting by replacing with another resource held in the device, but this cannot expect a more accurate printed matter desired by the user.

  Therefore, some of the printing apparatuses have a function for exchanging or adding resource data as well as resource data built in the device. If this function is used, specified resource data can be used.

  Here, there are two means for adding resource data.

  The first is a method of downloading resource data from a host PC that is a host device. In this method, the downloaded resource data is stored in a resource data memory area in the device such as a hard disk (hereinafter referred to as HDD) or a Random Access Memory (hereinafter referred to as RAM).

  The second method is a method of physically mounting media such as Read Only Memory (hereinafter referred to as ROM) or HDD in which resource data is stored in advance. In this method, after the medium is loaded, the addition of the resource data can be recognized by examining the contents of the medium loaded at the timing of power-on or the like.

As a conventional example, for example, Patent Document 1 can be cited.
JP-A-7-164688

  By using the above-described method, even if the print data uses resource data that is not held in the device, it is possible to obtain a more accurate printed matter by adding necessary resource data.

  On the other hand, with the generalization of information processing systems in recent years, not only high-speed and high-performance printing apparatuses but also low-cost printing apparatuses with some restrictions on devices such as not having an HDD have been desired. Yes.

  In such a printing apparatus, in the method of downloading the resource data, the resource data cannot be stored in the HDD, and the storage area is limited to a part of a volatile memory such as a RAM. For this reason, if the memory capacity is insufficient, the download is interrupted, and it is difficult to reliably add resource data. Even if the data can be downloaded to the RAM, all the registered data will be lost if the power is turned off because of the volatile memory. Therefore, even if the resource data to be used is the same data every time, every time the same power is turned on, it must be downloaded again.

  Therefore, as a means for expanding the resource data regardless of the memory limitation, there is a method of mounting the second medium. In this method, since memory and resource data are also physically added, resource data can be added without worrying about memory limitations of individual printing apparatuses, and time for downloading resource data can be shortened.

  However, this method has a problem that only fixed resource data can be used because resource data stored in advance is determined. Also, since it is reflected as registered data for the first time when the power is turned on again, if missing resource data is found during printing, the current job is discarded and the job is re-submitted after restarting. I must fix it.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a printing system according to the present invention is a printing apparatus that prints an electronic document or an image file using resource data in a device corresponding to a received code. Warning notification means for warning the user when resource data is not held, means for downloading encrypted resource data on a PC connected to the network, and downloading the downloaded resource data to the PC Means for storing in an external storage medium attached to the apparatus, means for attaching the external storage medium to the printing apparatus and decrypting the encrypted resource data, and a decryption key required for decryption. Means for inputting and reading the decrypted resource data from the storage medium and restarting the printing process; Characterized in that it comprises a.

  As described above, according to the present invention, even in an inexpensive printing apparatus that does not have an HDD, an external storage medium is used so that the printing apparatus can be held in the device without depending on the memory capacity of each printing apparatus. No resource data can be reliably used.

  In addition, for resource data that can be used, by adding or deleting resource data as appropriate, the data required for printing can be used reliably without being fixed to fixed data, and the printing process can also be turned on. It is possible to resume from the point of warning without making any corrections or resubmitting the job.

  Furthermore, since unnecessary resource data can be deleted on the PC, the operation is simple and the memory of the media can be used effectively.

(First Example)
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  Before describing the configuration of the present embodiment, the configuration of a printing system that is optimal for applying the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Needless to say, the printing apparatus to which this embodiment is applied is not limited to a laser beam printer and an ink jet printer, but may be a printer of another printing system or a digital multifunction machine having a facsimile function and a scanner function.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a printing system to which the present invention is applied.

  The printing system includes a host computer (hereinafter referred to as a host PC) 200 connected to the printing apparatus 100 via a network 300.

  The host PC 200 is connected to the network 300 via the network I / F 203 and creates an electronic document 201 using the application 202 on the basic OS.

  The host PC 200 includes hardware such as a central processing unit (CPU), ROM, RAM, HDD, and various input / output control units (I / O) (not shown). The hardware is basic software (basic OS). It is controlled by.

  The USB memory 230 attached to the host PC is used for storing the user's electronic document 201, other data, tools, and the like, and can be removed. The USB memory 230 can be replaced as long as it is a removable external storage medium including a CD-RW, a flexible disk (FD), and the like.

  On the other hand, the printing apparatus 100 includes a printer controller unit 110 and an operation panel 120 connected to the printer controller unit 110. The printer controller unit 110 includes a network interface unit (Network I / F) 111 that is a connection unit with the network 300, a reception buffer 1121 that temporarily stores and manages the received electronic document 201 and print data, and data to be transmitted. A transmission buffer 1122 that temporarily stores and manages; an electronic document analysis unit / PDL analysis unit 113 that analyzes and controls the electronic document 201 and PDL data; a print control processing execution unit 114 that executes print processing; The image processing apparatus includes a drawing process execution unit 115 that performs image expansion processing, a page memory 116 that stores the expanded electronic document 201, and a storage device such as a RAM. The output control unit 130, the printer engine 140, and a USB A connector 150 is provided.

  The operation panel 120 changes settings of the printing apparatus 100 or displays a status, and includes a display screen called a user interface (UI panel), an LED display, a switch for operation, and the like.

  The printing apparatus 100 receives an electronic document 201 and PDL-coded print data (print information including character code, image data, control code, and the like) from a host PC 200 connected via the network 300, and performs predetermined processing. In addition to being stored in the memory, corresponding character patterns, print images, and the like are created according to the codes of the print data, and images are formed on the recording paper. At this time, a character pattern stored in a predetermined memory in the printing apparatus is used as the character pattern.

  The printer controller unit 110 includes hardware such as a central processing unit (CPU), ROM, RAM, and various input / output control units (I / O) (not shown), and the hardware is controlled by basic software (basic OS). Has been.

  The printer controller unit 110 also performs print processing by analyzing the control processing of the printing apparatus 100 main body, the electronic document 201 and print data supplied from the host PC 200, and the like. The printer controller unit 110 may include a dedicated controller / hardware for each function, and they may perform processing independently.

  The printer controller unit 110 converts the received electronic document 201 and print data into a video signal having a corresponding pattern, and an electrostatic drum (not shown) is generated by laser light emitted from a semiconductor laser (not shown) according to the video signal. ) An electrostatic latent image is formed by performing scanning exposure on the surface, developed by a developing unit (not shown) disposed around the electrostatic drum, and then transferred to a recording sheet.

  The network I / F 111 is a communication unit that transmits and receives the electronic document 201 and print data to and from the host PC 200 via the network 300, and can perform communication conforming to various network protocols such as TCP / IP. The reception buffer 1121 sequentially stores the electronic document 201 and print data received via the network I / F 111.

  The electronic document analysis unit / PDL analysis unit 113 includes an electronic document analysis program that directly analyzes the electronic document 201 or a control program that complies with each PDL command system and print job control language, and stores the electronic document stored in the reception buffer 1121. The document 201 and print data are analyzed. Also in the present invention, the drawing command is analyzed by the electronic document analysis unit / PDL analysis unit 113.

  The print control processing execution unit 114 processes the electronic document 201 and the print data by a command other than drawing, such as paper feed selection and a reset command.

  The drawing process execution unit 115 processes the electronic document 201 and the print data based on the analysis result of the print data related to the drawing of characters, figures, images, and the like.

  The USB connector 150 is a general purpose connector used for attaching an external storage medium or an accessory device as necessary. Also in the present invention, it is assumed that the USB memory 230 attached to the host PC 200 can be attached.

  In the printing system configured as described above, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described according to the flowchart of FIG. 2 and the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 and 4 constituting the same.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing font addition and printing processing according to the present invention. In addition, (S201)-(S209) in a figure shows each step.

  According to the method of claims 1 and 4, the printing apparatus 100 first receives print data from the host PC 200 (S 201), inputs it to the electronic document analysis unit / PDL analysis unit 113, and analyzes the print data. . Thereafter, the analysis result is input to the drawing processing execution unit 115, and it is searched whether the character analysis result and the designated font are in the printing apparatus (S202). If there is a designated font, the font is read (S207), and normal printing processing is performed (S208). If not, the processing is temporarily interrupted, and the user is notified of the lack of fonts (S203).

  The means for notifying the user may be on the host PC 200 or the operation panel 120 of the printing apparatus 100.

  Subsequently, the user performs a font saving process in the owned USB memory 230 (S204). According to claim 3, the external storage medium is a USB memory, but the invention is not limited to this. The USB memory 230 used here may be a dedicated product or a general-purpose product. The font storing process S204 in the USB memory 230 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the font saving / deleting process. In addition, (S301)-(S312) in a figure shows each step.

  The user attaches the USB memory 230 to the host PC 200 (S301). When adding a font (YES in S302), it is confirmed whether there is an empty area in the memory (S303). If there is not enough memory, delete the font (described later) or replace it with another USB memory. If there is a memory area, the following processing is performed. First, necessary fonts are searched and selected on the network (S304). Next, the selected font is encrypted and downloaded on the host PC 200 (S305). At this time, a decryption key (described later) used in the printing apparatus 100 is also acquired (S306). Also, the encryption method in S305 is not particularly limited, but it is assumed to match the decryption method determined in advance by the printing apparatus.

  Subsequently, the encrypted font is stored in the USB memory 230 attached in S301 (S307). It is confirmed whether there is any other font to be stored (S311), and if there is, the font addition processing (S302 to S307) is repeated. When the addition process is completed (YES in S311), the USB memory 230 is removed (S312). This completes the font saving process.

  The USB memory 230 that has saved the font in S204 is then attached to the printing apparatus 200 whose processing is interrupted in S203 (S205). Then, in order to use the font data stored in the USB memory 230, the font data is decrypted (S206).

  The font data decoding process S206 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a font data decoding process. Note that (S401) to (S411) in the figure indicate each step.

  First, when the USB memory 230 is attached in S205, the printing apparatus 100 recognizes a new device, and a “USB” button is displayed on the UI panel 120 (S401). Subsequently, when this button is pressed (S402), a screen for inputting a decryption key is displayed on the UI panel 120 (S405). FIG. 6 is an image diagram of a decryption key input screen. On this screen, the decryption key acquired in S306 is input using the panel key (S406). When the input is completed and the "OK" button is pressed, it is determined whether or not the input is a correct decryption key (S407). If the decryption key is correct, the font is decrypted (S410), and the decryption process of the font data ends. However, if it is wrong, a message “Decryption key is wrong” is displayed on the screen (S408), and the key input count n is counted up (S409). Then, the decryption key input determination process (S405 to S407) is repeated, but when the number of inputs n is greater than 3 (three consecutive mistakes = NO in S404), the message “could not be decrypted” Is displayed (S411), and the process is terminated without decoding the font.

  Returning to FIG. 2 again, after the font data decoding process (S206), if the font can be decoded normally, the process temporarily suspended in S203 is resumed, the decoded font is read (S207), and the rest The printing process is performed (S208). If the font could not be decoded in S206, it is replaced with a substitute font as before, and printing processing is performed.

  Then, it is confirmed whether the processing has been completed to the end of the data (S209). If not, the print processing is performed while repeatedly adding fonts (S202 to S208). When the processing is completed to the end of the data, this job is completed. It becomes.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, when the font designated by the print command does not exist in the device, the font is stored in the USB memory in S204, and the USB memory is attached to the printing apparatus (S205). It is possible to print with the specified font without fail. Incidentally, since this method uses an external memory, it goes without saying that the printing apparatus itself does not have to have memory resources.

  In addition, when a shortage of fonts occurs, the processing can be resumed by temporarily suspending the processing and mounting the USB memory, so that it does not take time to turn on the power again or re-enter the job.

(Second embodiment)
In the output system having the configuration shown in FIG. 1, a second embodiment according to the second aspect of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  The second embodiment relates to a font deletion process for deleting a font that is no longer necessary in the process of adding a font to the USB memory described in the first embodiment.

  In FIG. 3, the user first attaches the USB memory 230 to the host PC 200 (S301). When adding a font (YES in S302), it is confirmed whether there is an empty area in the memory (S303). If there is not enough memory, it is selected whether to delete the font (S308). When performing the font deletion process (YES in S308), an unnecessary font is selected from the fonts stored in the USB memory (S309), and the selected fonts are collectively deleted (S310).

  Thereafter, when saving processing is performed, it is confirmed again whether there is an empty area in the memory (S303), and the font addition / deletion processing (S302 to S311) is repeated.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, even when a font is added, even if there is no free space in the USB memory, it is possible to add more fonts by deleting unnecessary fonts. In addition, even if the font has been saved once, it can be deleted immediately when it is no longer needed, so the usable font is not fixed.
Furthermore, since the font deletion process can be performed on the host PC, the process can be easily realized.

(Third embodiment)
In the output system having the configuration shown in FIG. 1, a third embodiment according to the invention described in claims 5 and 7 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The third embodiment relates to a use restriction process for each printing apparatus and a font selection process to be validated in the font data decoding process described in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing device usage restriction and validation font selection processing in the font data decoding processing. In addition, (S501)-(S514) in a figure shows each step.

  First, it is assumed that “device ID” indicating the printing apparatus 100 to which the USB memory 230 is mounted is specified in the font addition processing described in the first embodiment.

  First, when the USB memory 230 with fonts added is installed in the printing apparatus 100 in S205, the printing apparatus 100 recognizes a new device and displays a screen for inputting a device ID on the UI panel 120 (S503). FIG. 7 is an image diagram of a device ID input screen. On this screen, using the panel key, the device ID designated in the font addition process is input (S504). When the input is completed and the “OK” button is pressed, it is determined whether the input ID is the ID of the printing apparatus (S505). If the ID is wrong, a message “Device ID is wrong” is displayed on the screen (S506). FIG. 8 is an image diagram of a screen when the device ID is wrong. Then, the ID input count n is counted up (S507), and the device ID input determination process (S502 to S505) is repeated. NO), a message “Cannot be used with this device” is displayed (S508), and the font data decoding process is terminated without decoding the font. The subsequent processing in this case is the same “print processing with replacement with substitute font” as in the case where the font could not be decoded in the font data decoding processing S206 described in the first embodiment.

  If the device IDs match, the font data decoding process (FIG. 4) described in the first embodiment is performed.

  According to the method of claim 7, when the font is decoded, the font to be activated is selected. First, when the decryption key input in S407 is correct, a screen for selecting a font to be activated is displayed on the UI panel (S509). FIG. 9 is an image diagram of a font selection screen to be activated. In this screen, when individually selecting the fonts to be activated (NO in S510), the fonts to be activated are pressed and selected on the UI panel (S511). The number of fonts that can be selected at this time is 0 to all. If all fonts are to be validated (YES in S510), the “collective selection” button may be pressed on the screen in S509 (S512). When the font selection is completed individually or collectively, the “OK” button is pressed (S513). Thus, the font to be activated is determined, and only the selected font is decoded (S514).

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, it is possible to specify a printing apparatus to which a font is added by setting use restrictions for each printing apparatus in the font data decoding process. This avoids abuse of font data.

  In addition, by selecting a font to be activated in S511 and S512, unused fonts are not registered in the font list, so that the number of fonts to be searched during printing processing can be reduced to a minimum.

(Fourth embodiment)
According to the method of claim 8, when the font shortage notification is made, the series of font addition processing shown in the first embodiment is executed, or the font data is added as in the case where the font could not be decoded. Select whether to replace the font before printing, or cancel the temporarily interrupted print processing.

  That is, when the user gives priority to speed and outputs, the series of processing of the first embodiment is not executed, and the font is replaced and output. If the user gives priority to the accuracy of the printed matter, the series of processes of the first embodiment is executed, and the font is added and output.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a printing system to which the present invention is applied. It is a flowchart which shows the font addition and printing process of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows a font preservation | save / deletion process. It is a flowchart which shows the decoding process of font data. It is a flowchart which shows a device use restriction | limiting and the selection process of an effective font in a font data decoding process. It is an image figure of the input screen of a decryption key. It is an image figure of the input screen of device ID. It is an image figure of a screen when device ID is mistaken. It is an image figure of the font selection screen to validate.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Printing apparatus 110 Printer controller part 111,203 Network interface part 1121 Reception buffer 1122 Transmission buffer 113 Electronic document analysis part and PDL analysis part 114 Print control process execution part 115 Drawing process execution part 116 Page memory 120 Operation panel (UI panel)
130 Output Control Unit 140 Printer Engine 150 USB Connector 200 Host Computer (Host PC)
201 Electronic Document 202 Application 210 Keyboard 211 Mouse 220 Display Monitor 230 USB Memory

Claims (8)

In a printing apparatus that prints an electronic document or image file using resource data in the device according to the received code, when the printing apparatus does not have resource data necessary for printing processing,
A notification means for interrupting the printing process and notifying the user of insufficient fonts;
Download means for downloading resource data in a host computer connected to the network;
Data storage means for storing the downloaded resource data in an external storage medium attached to the host computer;
A data validation unit that attaches an external storage medium storing the resource data to the printing apparatus and validates the resource data;
A printing system comprising: means for reading the validated resource data from the storage medium and resuming the printing process.   The host computer includes means for deleting the download data stored in the external storage medium by the data storage means, and further, means for selecting a batch or a part of the deletion range, and free space on the external storage medium created by the deletion means 2. The printing system according to claim 1, further comprising means for newly storing data in the area.   3. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the external storage medium is a USB memory, and the resource data is font data.   The resource data downloaded by the download means is encrypted resource data, and the data validation means includes means for decrypting the encrypted resource data with a decryption key. The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   The download means comprises means for designating an ID of a printing apparatus that uses the resource data, and means for releasing the use restriction for each printing apparatus by inputting the ID on the printing apparatus. The printing system according to claim 1.   6. The printing according to claim 1, wherein the data validation means and the use restriction releasing means comprise means for inputting a decryption key and a printing device ID on the UI panel of the printing device. system.   7. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the data validation unit includes a unit for selecting all or individual resource data to be validated.   In the notification means, the resource data is temporarily suspended and resource data is added from the external storage medium, or the data is replaced and output without adding the resource data, or the suspended printing process is canceled, or the subsequent processing is performed. The printing system according to claim 1, further comprising means for selecting.

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