JP2007164444A - Information processor, composite printing method, program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a function of adding plotting data such as a stamp or composition, etc., when converting original data to print data which can be interpreted in a printer and outputting them to the printer and to provide an information processor or the like for adding different plotting data for each document and each page. <P>SOLUTION: In the information processor 100 provided with a print data generation part 136 for converting the original data to the print data which can be interpreted by the printer, a plotting data combining part 135 for generating composite plotting data to be added to a certain fixed unit (each document or each page) of the original data by referring to at least one of document information and original page information according to a combining condition when combining and printing the original data is provided, and the print data generation part 135 generates the print data of the composite plotting data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a processing method for converting document data into a format that can be interpreted by a printing device (such as a printer) in an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer (PC), a method for combining drawing commands, and the like. is there.

  In an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, the main role of a program (a program module generally called a printer driver) that converts document data into a format that can be interpreted by a printing apparatus (printer) is sent from an application. By converting the received document data into print data that can be interpreted by the printer (generally called PDL (Printer Description Language)), and sending it to the printer, the printed product exactly as displayed on the application is generated. There is to do.

  In addition, various settings of the printer device such as paper feed, paper discharge tray designation, double-sided printing designation, finishing designation, etc. can be made, as well as enlarged printing, reduced printing, multiple original data on one sheet of paper Functions such as aggregate printing can be provided.

  In addition to the functions described above, a stamp function and a watermark function for printing a character string such as "COPY", "CONFIDENTIAL", "DRAFT", and "Mal secret", and image data (drawing data) such as a logo mark on the printed material. In addition, there are many examples in which a composite printing method is provided that allows the printer driver itself to add and compose drawing data to document data created by an application, such as a function for inserting a header / footer of a page.

  For example, a method of adding drawing data to document data by a method as disclosed in Patent Document 1 is considered. However, in the case of such a method that has been implemented in the past, only one drawing data can be designated per document, and therefore drawing data to be added for each page in the document cannot be switched.

  As a specific example, there are usages such as changing the stamps to be added for even pages and odd pages, or changing the stamps to be added for each document size such as A4 and A3. Also, for example, it is impossible to switch the stamp to be added according to the type of document or to forcibly add a stamp.

In response to such a request, Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3 disclose that a document can be divided into units such as books and chapters, and a watermark can be specified for each book or chapter. Although drawing data can be specified within the range of a book or chapter, since it is only possible to specify whether or not printing is to be performed in page units, it is not possible to meet the above requirement with a higher degree of freedom.
JP 2004260852 A Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-141425 JP 2005-141426 A

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to enable rendering additional data such as a stamp to be changed for each document or each page. Specifically, it provides a function for adding drawing data such as stamps and composition when document data is converted into print data that can be interpreted by the printing apparatus and output to the printing apparatus. An object is to provide an information processing apparatus that adds different drawing data.

  To achieve the above object, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus having print data generation means for converting original data into print data that can be interpreted by a printing apparatus. According to the conditions, the print data generating means includes drawing data combining means for generating combined drawing data to be added to a certain unit of the original data by referring to at least one of the document information or the original page information. The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus that generates print data of the composite drawing data.

  Here, the document information is information specific to a print job, application name information, or other information accompanying a print job of document data. Further, the document page information is the size, orientation, page number, and other information associated with each page of each document page.

  Here, the synthesis condition is characterized by designating at least one of a drawing position, a size, a color, and an angle of the synthesized drawing data. The composite drawing data is data relating to an image object, a character object, a table object, a ruled line object, or a combination thereof.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, a composition that is added to a certain unit of the document data by referring to at least one of document information or document page information according to a composition condition when performing composition printing of the document data. The present invention relates to a composite printing method comprising: a drawing data composition step for generating drawing data; and a print data generation step for generating print data interpretable by a printing apparatus from the composite drawing data.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, in an information processing apparatus program that causes a computer to function as print data generation means for converting original data into print data that can be interpreted by the printing apparatus, the original data is combined and printed. According to the compositing conditions at the time, referring to at least one of the document information or the manuscript page information, and functioning as a drawing data synthesizing means for generating synthesized drawing data to be added to a certain unit of the manuscript data, The present invention relates to a program that causes a data generation means to generate print data of the composite drawing data.

  Another aspect of the present invention relates to a recording medium on which the program is recorded.

  The present invention provides a function for adding drawing data such as a stamp, composition, etc., when original data is converted into print data that can be interpreted by the printing apparatus and output to the printing apparatus, and is different for each document and each page. Drawing data can be added.

  The best mode for carrying out the information processing apparatus of the present invention will be described below. In the description, the drawings submitted at the same time as this specification will be referred to as appropriate.

<Constitution>
FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration diagram of an information processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. The manner in which the information processing apparatus 100 transmits print data to be described later to the printer apparatus 200 is also illustrated.

  The information processing apparatus 100 includes an application 110, a printer driver UI (User Interface) unit, a printer driver drawing unit 130, and a synthesis condition setting data storage unit 140. The printer driver drawing unit 130 includes a data reception unit 131, a document information determination unit 132, a page information determination unit 133, a composition condition determination unit 134, a drawing data composition unit 135, and a print data generation unit 136. Although not shown, the information processing apparatus 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that performs central processing control of each unit, and a ROM (Read as a recording medium that stores a program that is read when the CPU performs central processing control. Only memory).

  The application 110 is software as a program that is read by the CPU when performing a printing process (including a composite printing method described later). Document page drawing data (hereinafter also referred to as “document data”), document information, document page information, and print setting information set by the printer driver UI unit 120 are sent to the printer driver drawing unit 130. Send.

  The printer driver UI unit 120 is one software module of the printer driver, and is a graphical user interface that can perform various settings included in the printer device 200 and the printer driver. The set information is called print setting information. Further, when receiving input of synthesis condition setting data (to be described later) from the operator, the data may be managed (held) in the synthesis condition setting data storage unit 140.

  The printer driver drawing unit 130 is a module that receives drawing data from the application 110 and converts it into print data (PDL data) that can be interpreted by the printer apparatus 200.

  In the data receiving unit 131, document data, document information, document page information, and the printer driver UI unit 120 are set from the application 110 by an interface (I / F) defined in advance by an OS (Operating System). Receive print setting information.

  The document information determination unit 132 acquires and manages (holds) various document information accompanying the print job of the document data, such as information specific to the print job and application name information received by the data reception unit 131.

  The page information determination unit 133 acquires the information of the current page received by the data reception unit 131 as various document page information attached to the page such as the size, orientation, and page number of each document page, and manages (holds) the page information determination unit 133. To do.

The composition condition determination unit 134 reads the composition condition from the composition condition setting data held in the composition condition setting data storage unit 140, and the document information managed by the document information determination unit 132 and the page information determination unit 133 The managed manuscript page information is compared and judged.
Here, if it is determined that “drawing data needs to be added”, composite drawing data for addition is created, and the drawing data synthesis unit 135 executes the process. If it is determined that “there is no need to add drawing data”, the process ends. The synthesis condition described in the synthesis condition setting data includes all information specifying the drawing position, size, color, angle, etc. of the synthesized drawing data.

  The drawing data combining unit 135 generates combined drawing data based on the drawing data information generated by the combining condition determining unit 134 and transmits the combined drawing data to the print data generating unit 135. The composite drawing data includes all drawing data such as image objects (image data), character objects (text data), tables and ruled line objects (graphic data).

  The print data generation unit 136 converts the drawing data of the original page transmitted from the data receiving unit 131 and the additional combined drawing data generated by the drawing data combining unit 135 into PDL data to generate print data. To the printer device 200.

  The synthesis condition setting data storage unit 140 manages (holds) the synthesis condition setting condition setting data and is embodied by a storage device such as a hard disk.

  In FIG. 1, the synthesis condition setting data is held in a storage device such as a hard disk outside the printer driver drawing unit 130 and is shown for reference. However, it is not always necessary to be in this position. A format of receiving from the printer driver UI unit 120 via the data receiving unit 131 may be used.

  In addition, the printer driver UI unit 120 is described as a module for setting a value for the synthesis condition setting data. However, this is not necessarily required here. For example, a system other than the printer driver may be set. It is also possible to perform. As a result, it is possible to use such a method that a stamp such as “confidential” is forcibly added to a user or document under certain conditions.

<Operation>
Next, a composite printing method that is an operation process of the information processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process related to the composite printing method of the information processing apparatus 100.

  First, in the printer driver drawing unit 130, the data reception unit 131 sorts document data, document page information, print setting information, and document data received from the application 110 (S01). Among these, the document information and the document page information are transmitted to the document information determination unit 132 and the page information determination unit 133 (S02). The document data is directly sent to the print data generation unit 136, converted into PDL data, and transmitted to the printer apparatus 200 (S03).

  The composition condition determination unit 134 performs composition condition determination processing when processing of drawing data for one page is completed (Yes in S04). For this purpose, the composition condition setting data is read from the composition condition setting data storage unit 140 (S05), and the composition condition is compared with the document information and the original page information (S06). If the combination conditions match (Yes in S07), combined drawing data is generated in accordance with the conditions, sent to the print data generation unit 136, converted into PDL data (S08), and transmitted to the printer apparatus 200 (S09). ). Repeat this process until all jobs are finished

For example, when adding stamps only to odd pages, the following settings are made in the synthesis condition setting data.
StampOrder = Page
StampPageOdd = On
StampPageOddText = "Confidential"
StampPageOddTextColor = Black
StampPageOddTextPosition = Center

This synthesis condition is read by the synthesis condition determination unit 134, and the current page number is acquired from the page information determination unit 133. When the current page number acquired from the page information determination unit 133 is an odd page, the following combined drawing data is sent to the print data generation unit 136.
String = "Confidential"
Color = Black
Position = Center

  If the current page number acquired from the page information determination unit 133 is an even page, the process proceeds to the next page process without adding anything.

Next, when adding different stamps for odd pages and even pages, the following settings are made in the synthesis condition setting data.
StampOrder = Page
StampPageOdd = On
StampPageOddText = "Confidential"
StampPageOddTextColor = Black
StampPageOddTextPosition = Center
StampPageEven = On
StampPageEvenImage = file: Stamp.bmp
StampPageEvenImagePosition = RightBottom

This synthesis condition is read by the synthesis condition determination unit 134, and the current page number is acquired from the page information determination unit 133. When the current page number acquired from the page information determination unit 133 is an odd page, the following combined drawing data is sent to the print data generation unit 136.
String = "Confidential"
Color = Black
Position = Center

When the current page number acquired from the page information determination unit 133 is an even page, the following combined drawing data is sent to the print data generation unit 136.
Image = file: Stamp.bmp
Position = RightBottom

Next, when adding different stamps on the A4 page and the A3 page, the following settings are made in the synthesis condition setting data.
StampOrder = Page
StampPageSizeA4 = On
StampPageSizeA4Image = file: A4Stamp.bmp
StampPageSizeA4ImagePosition = Center
StampPageSizeA3 = On
StampPageSizeA3Image = file: A3Stamp.bmp
StampPageSizeA3ImagePosition = RightTop
StampPageSizeOther = On
StampPageSizeOtherText = "No Stamp Data"
StampPageSizeOtherTextPosition = Center

This synthesis condition is read by the synthesis condition determination unit 134, and the current page size is acquired from the page information determination unit 133. When the current page size acquired from the page information determination unit 133 is A4, the following combined drawing data is sent to the print data generation unit 136.
Image = file: A4Stamp.bmp
Position = Center

When the current page size acquired from the page information determination unit 133 is A3, the following combined drawing data is sent to the print data generation unit 136.
Image = file: A3Stamp.bmp
Position = RightTop

When the current page size acquired from the page information determination unit is other than A4 and A3, the following combined drawing data is sent to the print data generation unit 136.
Text = "No Stamp Data"
Position = Center

Next, when a stamp is added only for the designated application, the following settings are made in the synthesis condition setting data.
StampOrder = Document
StampByApplication = On
StampByApplicationName = Application1
StampByApplicationText = "Application1 Printed"
StampByApplicationTextPosition = Left Top

This composition condition is read by the composition condition determination unit 134, and the name of the application that executed the printing is acquired from the document information determination unit 132. When the application name acquired from the document information determination unit 132 is “Application1”, the following combined drawing data is sent to the print data generation unit 136.
Text = "Application1 Printed"
Position = Left Top

  If the application name acquired from the document information determination unit 136 is other than “Application1”, the process proceeds to the next page process without adding anything.

  By implementing the information processing apparatus of the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. In other words, when converting original data into print data that can be interpreted by the printing device and outputting it to the printing device, it provides a function for adding drawing data such as a stamp, composition, etc. Can be added.

  Further, when different drawing data is added for each document, it is possible to acquire and manage the original document information.

  Further, when different drawing data is added for each page, it is possible to determine and manage the original document page information.

  Further, it is possible to determine the synthesis condition, document information, and document page information set in the synthesis condition setting data.

  In addition, all kinds of drawing data can be designated as the drawing data to be added.

  In addition, it is possible to specify a drawing position, a color, and the like for the drawing data to be added.

  Further, the drawing data can be combined with the drawing data of the document page based on the specified combining condition.

  Further, by converting the printing of the document data and the composite drawing data into the appropriate printing data (PDL data), it is possible to actually perform the printing process on a medium such as paper in the printer device.

  In addition, although the form mentioned above is the best as what implements the information processing apparatus of this invention, it is not the meaning limited to this. Therefore, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The block diagram of the information processing apparatus 100 of this form is illustrated. The operation processing concerning the composite printing method of the information processing apparatus 100 of this form is illustrated as a flowchart.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Information processing apparatus 110 Application 120 Printer driver UI part 130 Printer driver drawing part 131 Data receiving part 132 Document information determination part 133 Page information determination part 134 Composition condition determination part 135 Drawing data composition part 136 Print data generation part 140 Composition condition setting data Storage unit 200 Printer device

Claims (8)

In an information processing apparatus having print data generation means for converting document data into print data interpretable by the printing apparatus,
Drawing data for generating combined drawing data to be added to a certain unit of the document data by referring to at least one of the document information or the document page information in accordance with a composition condition when performing the composite printing of the document data. Having synthesis means,
An information processing apparatus, wherein the print data generation unit generates print data of the composite drawing data.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the document information is information specific to a print job, application name information, or other information accompanying a print job of document data.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the original page information is information accompanying the size, orientation, page number, and other pages of each original page.   The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the synthesis condition specifies at least one of a drawing position, a size, a color, and an angle of the synthesized drawing data.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the combined drawing data is data relating to an image object, a character object, a table object, a ruled line object, or a combination thereof. Drawing data composition for generating composite drawing data to be added to a certain unit of the original data by referring to at least one of the document information or the original page information in accordance with the composition condition when performing the composite printing of the original data Process,
A composite printing method comprising a print data generation step of generating print data interpretable by a printing apparatus from the composite drawing data. On the computer,
In a program for an information processing apparatus that functions as print data generation means for converting document data into print data that can be interpreted by the printing apparatus,
Drawing data for generating combined drawing data to be added to a certain unit of the document data by referring to at least one of the document information or the document page information in accordance with a composition condition when performing the composite printing of the document data. Function as a synthesis means,
A program for causing the print data generation means to generate print data of the composite drawing data.   A recording medium on which the program according to claim 7 is recorded.

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