JP2006256016A - Printing device, printing data encoding method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing device which permits the extraction of information to be encoded from among printing data without depending on an electronic copy preparation software and a form, and a printing data encoding method and a program. <P>SOLUTION: When printing data is prepared by a documentation application software by operating a PC 1A, an object of encoding included in the printing data is edited red and the printing data is sent to a monochrome printer 2, the monochrome printer 2 extracts the object of encoding from the printing data on the basis of encoding attribute information in a color attribute extraction section 28, encodes the extracted information into machine-readable codes in an encryption section 24, and performs the process of combining two-dimensional codes obtained by the encoding with data generated by a raster image generation section 22 in a combination section 25, and an image output section 26 performs printing on the basis of printing data by the combination section 25. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a print data encoding method, and a program for printing print data transmitted from an upper apparatus such as a personal computer (PC) according to printing conditions specified by the upper apparatus, and more particularly to an electronic document. The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a print data encoding method, and a program capable of extracting information to be encoded from print data without depending on creation software or a form.

For example, in an image processing apparatus typified by a copy machine, an information processing apparatus (higher level apparatus) such as a PC or CAD (Computer Aided Design) is connected to be systematized so that a copy operation can be performed from the information processing apparatus side. is there.

  In addition, copiers are multifunctional. For example, attribute information and the like are added to a document or drawing as a machine-readable code such as a barcode, and the document or drawing is organized by using the machine-readable code. There is something that can be used to search.

  For example, it has a means to freely generate a new document form that can be automatically processed even if the order, arrangement, name and number of form fields are changed on the completed form. There is known one that allows a user to freely define or redefine the format of a document form without requiring reprogramming of a data processor that collects and uses data (see, for example, Patent Document 1). .)

In addition, information input to an electronic document (electronic form) from an information input terminal such as a PC is encoded and combined with the electronic document. For example, by transferring print data created on a PC to a printer and printing the print data by combining a two-dimensional code such as a barcode, QR (Quick Response) code (DENSO WAVE registered trademark) with the print data, The printed paper can be classified and searched for each two-dimensional code.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-096276

  However, according to the conventional image processing apparatus, the field position where the processing target information is stored needs to be specified in advance, and the character string to be encoded cannot be freely set. Also, the method of encoding information input to an electronic document and synthesizing it with the electronic document requires specifying in advance which information is embedded in which position of the form, and lacks versatility.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus, a print data encoding method, and a program capable of extracting information to be encoded from print data without depending on electronic document creation software or a form. is there.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides encoding attribute information set as encoding target attribute information in a printing apparatus that prints print data transmitted from an upper apparatus in accordance with printing conditions specified by the upper apparatus. A storage unit for storing, an extraction unit for extracting the encoding target from the print data based on the encoding attribute information, and a code for encoding the encoding target extracted by the extraction unit into a machine-readable code A printing apparatus comprising: a converting unit; a combining unit that combines the machine-readable code and the print data; and a printing unit that prints the combined data obtained by combining the combining unit on paper. provide.

  According to the printing apparatus, the encoding target having the encoding attribute information can be extracted from the print data simply by setting the encoding target attribute information as the encoding attribute information.

  “Print data” is mainly document data, and may include photographs and the like. The “encoding target” is a character string, and a plurality of encoding targets may exist in one print data. “Encoding attribute information” is, for example, character attribute information, and a plurality of encoding attribute information may be set for one encoding target. In this case, only the encoding target having a plurality of encoding attribute information is encoded. “Machine-readable code” means a code that can be read by a reading device such as a barcode reader such as a barcode or a two-dimensional code, a CCD camera, an image scanner, or a camera-equipped mobile phone.

  The storage unit preferably stores color attribute information as encoded attribute information. According to this configuration, since the encoding target can be identified by color, setting of the encoding attribute information becomes easy.

  The color attribute information may be red. Since red is a more conspicuous color than other colors, it is easier to recognize the encoding attribute information.

  The color attribute information may use a color other than the designated color. When the number of color attribute information to be encoded is larger than the number of color attribute information of print data other than the encoding target, setting of the encoding attribute information becomes easy.

  A raster image generating unit that generates a raster image from the print data, and the raster image generating unit changes the color attribute information to be encoded on the print data to the color attribute information that the print data other than the encoding target has; Good. According to this, when the color attribute information included in the print data other than the encoding target is black, as the encoding target color attribute information, for example, even if red is set, the encoding target is printed in black. Printing is also possible with a black and white printer.

  The printing unit may have a configuration capable of color printing, and may print the encoding target with a color corresponding to the color attribute information even when the printing condition is monochrome printing. As a result, the encoding target can be printed with a color corresponding to the color attribute information without specifying color printing.

  The extraction unit may have a configuration for extracting the encoding target from the monochrome print data based on the color attribute information. Accordingly, print data can be transmitted to the printing apparatus without being conscious of the monochrome printer or the color printer.

  The extraction unit may have a configuration for extracting the encoding target from the print data for color based on the color attribute information. In this case, it can be easily realized by using a normal host device and a color printer as the printing device.

  The encoding attribute information may use a character type or a character size in addition to the color attribute information. The encoding target can also be extracted depending on the character type and the character size.

  The synthesizing unit may synthesize the machine-readable code at a predetermined position of the print data. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the document other than the encoding target from overlapping with the machine-readable code.

  The combining unit may execute the combining when there is an instruction from the host device. This allows the user to decide whether to print the machine readable code.

  The combining unit may combine the print data with the print data so that the machine-readable code is printed on a sheet with a certain size. By printing the machine-readable code on a sheet with a certain size, the machine-readable code on the sheet can be reliably read by the reader.

  The print data transmitted from the host device is obtained by adding color attribute information to print data for a monochrome printer, and the printing unit may print the composite data on a sheet in black and white. According to this, by adding color attribute information to print data for a monochrome printer, the encoding target can be easily specified.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention extracts the encoding target from print data based on the encoding attribute information set as the encoding target attribute information, and the extracted encoding target is machine-readable code. A print data encoding method is provided.

  According to the print data encoding method, the encoding target having the encoding attribute information can be extracted from the print data simply by setting the encoding target attribute information as the encoding attribute information.

  The extraction of the encoding target may be performed using the encoding attribute information transmitted together with the print data from the upper apparatus. Thereby, the encoding attribute information can be arbitrarily determined on the host device side.

  The extraction of the encoding target may be performed using the color attribute information as the encoding attribute information. Since the encoding target can be identified by color, setting of encoding attribute information becomes easy.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a program for causing a computer to execute the above print data encoding method.

  According to the above program, the encoding target having the encoding attribute information can be automatically extracted from the print data simply by setting the encoding target attribute information as the encoding attribute information.

  According to the present invention, information to be encoded can be extracted from print data without depending on electronic document creation software or a form.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 shows an image processing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The image processing system 100 includes a personal computer (PC) 1 as a host device, a monochrome printer 2 as a printing device, and a LAN 3 that connects the PC 1A and the monochrome printer 2.

  The PC 1A has a communication function by the LAN 3, and stores document creation application software (electronic manuscript creation software) for creating a document and the like, and a printer driver according to the present invention.

  The monochrome printer 2 includes a communication unit 21 that communicates with the PC 1A, a raster image generation unit 22 that generates a raster image for print data from the PC 1A, and a code set as attribute information to be encoded. Encoding attribute information, for example, an encoding attribute information storage unit 27 that stores red attribute information, a color attribute extraction unit 28 that extracts an encoding target from print data from the PC 1A based on the encoding attribute information, and a color attribute extraction An encoding unit 24 that encodes the encoding target extracted by the unit 28 into a machine-readable code such as a two-dimensional code; a synthesis unit 25 that combines the output of the raster image generation unit 22 and the output of the encoding unit 24; An image output unit 26A as a printing unit that prints the combined data obtained by the combining unit 25 on paper in black and white, and a control unit (not shown) that controls each unit of the black and white printer 2 Obtain.

  The raster image generating unit 22 is configured to generate a raster image by converting the color attribute information to black having the original density even if the encoding target is included in the print data.

  The image output unit 26A can use various printing methods such as an electrophotographic method, an ink jet method, and a thermal transfer method. The image output unit 26A may be a display such as a liquid crystal display, a CRT display, or a plasma display.

  The color attribute extraction unit 28 extracts a part of print data having color attribute information, for example, red attribute information, as encoding attribute information stored in the encoding attribute information storage unit 27 from the print data from the PC 1A. . Normally, in the case of a monochrome printer, color information is not added to the attribute of the print data sent from the PC. However, in this monochrome printer 2, when the PC 1A instructs the encoding output, the color attribute is added to the print data. In addition, the data is sent, and the printer 4 reads it as black and white and outputs it.

  FIG. 2 shows the configuration of print data. The print data 30 is data transmitted from the PC 1A to the monochrome printer 2, and includes text data 31 including information such as font and size, line drawing data 32 based on vector information, photo data 33 based on image data, and red text 34. However, not all of them are included, and there are cases where only text or only photographs are included.

  For example, the red text 34 is obtained by setting the encoding attribute information in red as encoding target attribute information such as a document ID number.

(Operation of the first embodiment)
Next, the operation of the image processing system 100 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of an electronic document created by the PC 1A, FIG. 4 shows a setting screen for determining whether or not to generate a two-dimensional code on the PC 1A, and FIG. 5 shows a printed paper surface on which the two-dimensional code is printed. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image processing system 100. In FIG. 6, S represents a step.

  First, the user creates an electronic manuscript using the document creation application software of the PC 1A (S101).

  FIG. 3 shows an image of the electronic document. The electronic manuscript 40 includes a code creation unit 41 to be encoded, that is, a red character text 34, and a general document area 42 by text.

  For this electronic document 40, the user edits the ID number ("AB1256") corresponding to the code creation unit 41 in red (S102).

  Next, when the user operates the PC 1A and gives an instruction to print the electronic document 40 edited as described above (S103), the printer driver of the PC 1A sets whether to generate a two-dimensional code. The screen is displayed on the display of the PC 1A.

  FIG. 4 shows a setting screen for determining whether or not to generate the two-dimensional code. The setting screen 50 includes a printer setting column 51 for setting a printer to be used for printing, a check column 52 for determining whether or not to generate a two-dimensional code (QR code), a number setting column 53 for specifying the number of copies to be printed, and the like. Is done.

  Here, the user checks the check field 52 and makes necessary settings, and gives an instruction to generate a two-dimensional code (S104). In response to this instruction, the PC 1A searches the electronic document 40 for the portion edited in red (S105), and stores the red character portion, that is, the portion of the document ID number as another layer (S106). The black layer of the document part and the color layer of the document ID number part are combined into one data file (S107). On the other hand, when setting is made not to generate a two-dimensional code in step S104, the color attribute is deleted and a data file is generated (S108).

  Next, the PC 1A transmits the data file created in step S107 or S108 to the monochrome printer 2 (S109).

  The monochrome printer 2 receives the data file sent from the PC 1A via the communication unit 21. A control unit (not shown) determines whether or not there is an instruction to generate a two-dimensional code (S110). When it is determined that “two-dimensional code is not generated”, the raster image generation unit 22 creates a raster image for the data file. (S115). The color attribute extraction unit 28 extracts the presence or absence of a red character portion in the data file, and determines whether or not a two-dimensional code is generated based on whether or not the code creation unit 41 exists.

  On the other hand, for the determination “Generate two-dimensional code”, the raster image generation unit 22 creates a raster image for the document area 42 in FIG. 3 (S110), and then the color attribute extraction unit 28 performs encoding. Based on the red attribute information stored in the attribute information storage unit 27, a red character part (code generation unit 41) is extracted from the red layer in the data file, and the encoding unit 24 encodes the code generation unit 41 to perform two-dimensional A code is generated (S112).

  Next, the synthesizing unit 25 synthesizes the image created by the raster image generating unit 22 and the image of the two-dimensional code by the encoding unit 24 (S113). Regarding this synthesis, the two-dimensional code is inserted at a predetermined position so as not to overlap the document area 42. The image output unit 26A prints the composite image obtained by the composition of the composition unit 25 on a sheet (S114).

  FIG. 5 shows a printed paper surface on which the two-dimensional code is printed. A document ID number 61, a document 62, and a two-dimensional code 63 are printed on the print sheet 60.

(Effects of the first embodiment)
According to the first embodiment, the user can easily specify the encoding target simply by editing the information to be encoded in the print data for the monochrome printer in red.

  In addition, since it is possible to extract the information to be encoded without depending on the electronic manuscript creation software and the form, it is not necessary to previously determine the area in which the information to be encoded is recorded for each form as in the prior art. .

  For example, there is no need to change word processor software or form software to software that supports 2D code encoding, and it is only necessary to change the characters you want to 2D code into, for example, red and output them to a printer. Can be improved. Moreover, printing can be performed by a monochrome output device that is widely spread and possessed by many users.

  Further, in the above embodiment, by enabling the above functions only when the function activation instruction is given by a check box of the printer driver or the like, a user who does not want to encode can use a normal printer. Can be used.

  Usually, when the character color is changed on the monitor of the PC 1A, the luminance changes, and the black and white density generated from the luminance is far from the original information. However, the original brightness ( Since processing is performed so as to retain (density) information, it is possible to prevent the printed encoding target from becoming difficult to see.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 7 shows an image processing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment, the image processing system 100 is obtained by replacing the PC 1A with a general-purpose PC 1B and replacing the monochrome printer 2 with a color printer 4 as a printing apparatus. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment. It is the same as the form.

  The color printer 4 includes a communication unit 21 that communicates with the PC 1B, a raster image generation unit 22 that generates a raster image for color print data from the PC 1B, and an encoding attribute information storage unit 27 that stores encoding attribute information. And encoding target information extracting unit 23 that extracts information to be encoded from color print data from PC 1B based on the encoding target information, and encoding the information extracted by encoding target information extracting unit 23 An encoding unit 24 to perform, a combining unit 25 that combines the output of the raster image generation unit 22 and the output of the encoding unit 24, and an image output unit 26B that prints the combined data obtained by the combining unit 25 in color on paper. With.

  The image output unit 26B can use various printing methods such as an electrophotographic method, an ink jet method, and a thermal transfer method. The image output unit 26B may be a display such as a liquid crystal display, a CRT display, or a plasma display.

  The encoding target information extraction unit 23 includes an attribute determination unit 23a that determines encoding attribute information to be encoded such as a document ID number, and information such as characters that are determined to be encoding targets as a result of determination by the attribute determination unit 23a. And an information extraction unit 23b for extracting the information.

(Operation of Second Embodiment)
Next, the operation of the image processing system 100 according to the second embodiment will be described. First, the user creates the electronic document 40 as shown in FIG. 3 using the document creation application software of the PC 1B. For this electronic document 40, the user edits the ID number ("AB1256") corresponding to the code creation unit 41 in red.

  Next, when the user operates the PC 1B and gives an instruction to print the electronic document 40 edited as described above, the printer driver of the PC 1B generates the two-dimensional code as shown in FIG. The setting screen 50 of whether or not is displayed on the display of the PC 1B.

  Here, the user checks the check field 52 and makes necessary settings to give an instruction to generate a two-dimensional code. In response to this instruction, the PC 1B transmits to the color printer 4 a command for converting the character information of a predetermined color, for example, red, into two-dimensional code together with the color print data.

  The color printer 4 receives the color print data sent from the PC 1B via the communication unit 21. After the raster image generation unit 22 converts the document area 42 in FIG. 3 into a raster image, the attribute determination unit 23a of the encoding target information extraction unit 23 determines the presence / absence of encoding attribute information, and the information extraction unit 23b The red character portion (code creation unit 41) in the data file is extracted as an encoding target.

  Next, the synthesizing unit 25 synthesizes the image created by the raster image generating unit 22 and the image of the two-dimensional code by the encoding unit 24. Regarding this synthesis, the two-dimensional code is inserted at a predetermined position so as not to overlap the document area 42. The image output unit 26B performs color printing on the sheet of the combined image from the combining unit 25.

(Effect of the second embodiment)
According to the second embodiment, since it is possible to extract the information to be encoded without depending on the electronic manuscript creation software and the form, the area in which the information to be encoded is recorded as in the prior art. There is no need to decide in advance for each form. Also, a general-purpose printer corresponding to a color printer can be used as the printer driver of the PC 1B.

[Other embodiments]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from or changing the technical idea of the present invention. For example, the information to be encoded may be red, but conversely, the information to be encoded may remain black and other information portions such as a document area may be red, for example.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an image processing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of print data. It is an image figure which shows the electronic original produced with PC using document preparation application software. It is a screen figure which shows the setting screen for producing | generating a two-dimensional code. FIG. 5 is a print sheet view printed by a color printer when a check box is checked in the setting screen of FIG. 4. It is a flowchart which shows the process of an image processing system. It is a block diagram which shows the image processing system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1A, 1B PC (personal computer)
2 Black and white printer 4 Color printer 3 LAN
21 Communication unit 22 Raster image generation unit 23 Encoding target information extraction unit 23a Attribute determination unit 23b Information extraction unit 24 Encoding unit 25 Composition unit 26A, 26B Image output unit 27 Encoding attribute information storage unit 28 Color attribute extraction unit 30 Printing Data 31 Text data 32 Line drawing data 33 Photo data 34 Red text 40 Electronic manuscript 41 Code creation section 42 Document area 50 Setting screen 51 Printer setting field 52 Check field 53 Copies setting field 60 Print paper 61 Document ID number 62 Document 63 Two-dimensional Code 100 Image processing system

Claims (18)

In the printing apparatus that prints the print data transmitted from the upper apparatus according to the printing conditions specified by the upper apparatus,
A storage unit for storing encoding attribute information set as attribute information to be encoded;
An extraction unit that extracts the encoding target from the print data based on the encoding attribute information;
An encoding unit that encodes the encoding target extracted by the extraction unit into a machine-readable code;
A combining unit that combines the machine-readable code and the print data;
A printing apparatus comprising: a printing unit that prints composite data obtained by the synthesis of the synthesis unit on paper.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores color attribute information as the encoding attribute information.   The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the color attribute information is red.   The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the color attribute information is a color other than a designated color. A raster image generating unit that generates a raster image from the print data;
The printing according to claim 2, wherein the raster image generation unit changes the color attribute information of the encoding target on the print data to color attribute information included in print data other than the encoding target. apparatus.   3. The printing unit according to claim 2, wherein the printing unit has a configuration capable of color printing, and prints the encoding target in a color corresponding to the color attribute information even when the printing condition is monochrome printing. Printing device.   The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the extraction unit extracts the encoding target from the monochrome print data based on the color attribute information.   The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the extraction unit extracts the encoding target from the print data for color based on the color attribute information.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores a character type as the encoding attribute information.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores a character size as the encoding attribute information.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the synthesizing unit synthesizes the machine-readable code at a predetermined position of the print data.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the combining unit executes the combining when there is an instruction from the host apparatus.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the synthesizing unit synthesizes the print data with the print data so that the machine-readable code is printed on the sheet with a certain size. The print data transmitted from the host device is obtained by adding the color attribute information to print data for a monochrome printer,
The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the printing unit prints the composite data on the paper in black and white. Extracting the encoding target from the print data based on the encoding attribute information set as the encoding target attribute information;
A print data encoding method, wherein the extracted encoding target is encoded into a machine-readable code.   16. The print data encoding method according to claim 15, wherein the extraction of the encoding target is performed using the encoding attribute information transmitted together with the print data from a host device.   16. The print data encoding method according to claim 15, wherein the encoding target is extracted using color attribute information as the encoding attribute information.   A program for causing a computer to execute the print data encoding method according to any one of claims 15 to 17.