JP2008226120A - Image forming apparatus, direct print utility program, and storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily perform direct printing with respect to an image forming apparatus, a direct print utility program, and a storage device. <P>SOLUTION: When a PDL conversion program is stored in an external storage device 30 connected to a connection terminal 23 of a printer 20, the PDL conversion program stored in the external storage device 30 is executed to convert a print file stored in the external storage device 30 into image data (rasterized data) and to print the image data. Consequently, even when the printer to which the external storage device 30 is connected is not adaptive to the print file (specific PDL form) stored in the external storage device 30, direct printing can easily be performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a direct print utility program, and a storage device.

In recent years, with the spread of digital cameras, image forming apparatuses having a direct printing function for directly printing image data stored in an external storage device such as a so-called USB memory or SD card (registered trademark) without using a computer. It has been commercialized (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2005-138531 A

  However, in the image forming apparatus described above, if the file stored in the external storage device is an image file in the BMP (Bit MaP) format, JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) format, or the like, printing (direct) is performed. However, a file created by application software such as a word processor cannot usually be directly printed without going through a computer.

  That is, in order to print a file created by application software, the file to be printed is usually converted into print data in PDL format by a program such as a printer driver incorporated in the computer 10 and converted into the PDL format. This is executed by transmitting the converted print data to the image forming apparatus. Therefore, as long as the print file is obtained by outputting the print data in the PDL format as a file, in principle, direct printing can be performed by the image forming apparatus alone without using a computer.

  However, the PDL (Page Description Language) format refers to a specific format that can be executed by the image forming apparatus. The PDL format may differ depending on the type of image forming apparatus or the image forming apparatus manufacturer.

  If the detailed specifications of the PDL format are different for each image forming apparatus as described above, even if the file stored in the external storage device is a print file in the PDL format, the external storage device If the mounted image forming apparatus does not support the PDL format, direct printing cannot be performed.

  This can be solved if the image forming apparatus has a program for converting all PDL format print files into image data. However, in this solution, the program is stored. This increases the manufacturing cost of the image forming apparatus.

  In view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to facilitate direct printing.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connection terminal to which an external storage device is detachably connected and a program for converting a print file in PDL format into image data. Determination means for determining whether or not the data is stored in the external storage device connected to the connection terminal, and print execution for printing a print file stored in the external storage device by executing a program stored in the external storage device Means.

  Thus, according to the first aspect of the present invention, even if the image forming apparatus to which the external storage device is connected does not support the print file (PDL format) stored in the external storage device, Direct printing can be easily executed.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the display unit displays a print file that can be printed by executing at least a program stored in the external storage device among the print files stored in the external storage device. It is characterized by having.

Thus, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the user can recognize a file that can be directly printed, so that the convenience of the user can be improved.
In the invention according to claim 3, the print execution means prints the selected print file when any one of the print files displayed by the display means is selected by the user. It is characterized by that.

Thereby, in the invention according to claim 3, it is possible to prevent the file unnecessary for the user from being printed.
In the invention according to claim 4, the computer having a connection terminal to which the external storage device is detachably connected has a capacity sufficient to store a program for converting a PDL format print file into image data. Determining means for determining whether or not to remain in the external storage device connected to the memory, and writing means for storing the program in the external storage device when it is determined by the determining means that there is sufficient capacity to store the program It is made to function as.

Thus, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the program can be easily written in the external storage device, direct printing can be easily executed.
The invention according to claim 5 is a storage device that can be connected to a computer and an image forming apparatus, and stores a program for converting a print file in PDL format into image data.

  Thus, if the storage device according to the fifth aspect is used as an external storage device, direct printing can be easily executed.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
1. Overview of Printing System FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of a printing system 1 according to the present embodiment, FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a computer 10, and FIG. 1C is a printer. It is a schematic diagram which shows the schematic structure of 20.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the printing system 1 includes a computer 10 and a printer 20 connected via a network line such as Ethernet (registered trademark), a serial port, or a parallel port.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, the computer 10 includes a storage device such as a CPU 11, a RAM 12, a ROM 13, an HDD 14, and a network interface such as a NIC (Network Interface Card) 15. Yes.

  Further, the computer 10 is provided with a connection terminal 16 to which the external storage device 30 is detachably connected. In this embodiment, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard connection terminal (interface) is adopted as the connection terminal 16, but the present embodiment is not limited to this, and other standards. It may be a connection terminal.

  Further, the external storage device 30 may be any storage means having an interface connectable to the connection terminal 16, and specifically, a USB memory or an SD memory configured by a nonvolatile semiconductor storage device such as a flash memory. (Registered trademark) or a magnetic storage device such as an HDD is considered as the external storage device 30.

  The computer 10 incorporates (installs) a direct print utility program (hereinafter abbreviated as a program) according to an embodiment of the present invention, and this program is an OS (Operating System) of the computer 10. Operate in cooperation.

  In the present embodiment, Windows (registered trademark) is used as the OS, and hereinafter, terms having no particular explanation (definition) are used in a general meaning in Windows (registered trademark).

  As shown in FIG. 1C, the printer 20 includes a recording unit 21 that forms an image on a recording medium such as recording paper, a network interface such as a NIC (Network Interface Card) 22, and an external storage device 30. A connection terminal 23 that is detachably connected, a display unit 24 that displays various information, and a control circuit 25 that controls the recording unit 21 and the like are configured.

  The control circuit 25 is configured by a known microcomputer including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like, and controls the recording unit 21 and the like according to a program stored in the ROM. Incidentally, in this embodiment, a USB standard connection terminal is adopted as the connection terminal 23, but the present embodiment is not limited to this, and a connection terminal of another standard may be used.

  The printer 20 has a function of directly printing a print file or the like stored in the external storage device 30 connected to the connection terminal 23 without going through the computer 10 (hereinafter, this printing is referred to as direct printing). Have.

  The print file refers to data in a specific format that can be executed by the printer 20 such as a page description language (PDL) format. The printer 20 according to the present embodiment includes a BMP (Bit MaP) in addition to the print file. Image files in formats and JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) formats can also be printed directly.

2. 2. Characteristic operation of printer according to this embodiment 2.1. Direct printing pre-processing control (see Fig. 2)
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an outline of control when displaying on the display unit 24 a print file that can be directly printed out of print files stored in the external storage device 30 connected to the connection terminal 23 of the printer 20. Yes, this control flow is activated when the printer 20 recognizes the external storage device 30.

  When this control flow is started, first, a print file is searched from the files stored in the external storage device 30 connected to the connection terminal 23 (S1), and when the print file is found. (S5: YES), it is determined whether or not the found print file is a PDL format print file that can be directly printed by the printer 20 in which this control flow is activated (S10). .

  Here, whether or not the print file is a printable PDL format file is determined by converting the PDL processing program incorporated in the printer in advance, that is, print data in PDL format into image data (rasterization). It is determined based on whether or not the print file can be converted into image data by a program for printing by converting the data into the image data.

  Therefore, for example, when the printer 20 supports only a specific PDL format, if the print file is in the PDL format, it is determined that the print file can be printed, and the PDL is different from the PDL format. If it is a format print file, it is determined as a print file that cannot be printed.

  In this embodiment, a print file having a specific extension (for example, “prn”), that is, it is not output to the printer 20 as print data in PDL format via a program such as a printer driver. It is determined whether a print data file in PDL format output (saved) as a file is a file that can be printed by a PDL processing program incorporated in advance in the printer.

  At this time, when it is determined that the print file is a printable PDL format print file (S10: YES), the print file is recognized as printable and the file name is displayed on the display unit 24. Thereafter (S15), it is determined whether or not the search has been completed for all the files stored in the external storage device 30 (S20).

  If it is determined that the search has been completed for all the files stored in the external storage device 30 (S20: YES), this control flow is terminated, and is stored in the external storage device 30. If it is determined that the search has not been completed for all the files (S20: NO), the process returns to S1 to search for the next file.

  If it is determined in S10 that the found print file is not a printable PDL format print file, that is, depending on the PDL processing program incorporated in the printer in advance, image data (rasterized (S10: NO), a program for converting the print file into image data (hereinafter, this program is referred to as a PDL conversion program). Is stored in the external storage device 30 connected to the connection terminal 23 (S25).

  In this embodiment, whether or not the PDL conversion program is stored in the external storage device 30 is determined (S25) whether or not a file having a specific file name including an extension is stored in the external storage device 30. It is determined based on whether or not. Incidentally, the PDL conversion program according to the present embodiment is an interpreter program.

  If it is determined that the PDL conversion program is stored in the external storage device 30 (S25: YES), the print file is also recognized as printable and the file name is displayed on the display unit 24 ( S15), it is determined whether or not the search has been completed for all the files stored in the external storage device 30 (S20).

  If it is determined that the PDL conversion program is not stored in the external storage device 30 (S25: NO), or if a print file is not found in S5 (S5: NO), the display unit 24 It is determined whether or not the search has been completed for all the files stored in the external storage device 30 without displaying the file name (S20).

2.2. Direct printing control (see Fig. 3)
FIG. 3 shows a control flow executed when one of the print files displayed on the display unit 24 in S15 (see FIG. 2) is selected by the user and direct printing is instructed. It is a flowchart to show.

  When this control flow is activated, the PDL format of the print file selected by the user is identified (S50), and the PDL format can be printed by the printer 20 in which this control flow is activated. It is determined whether or not it is a format, that is, whether or not it is a PDL format that can be converted into image data by a PDL processing program incorporated in advance in the printer (S55).

  In this embodiment, whether or not the PDL format is printable is output (saved) as a print data file via a program such as a printer driver in the same manner as S10 (see FIG. 2). The determination is performed on a print file having the specified extension (for example, “prn”).

  At this time, if it is determined that the PDL format is not printable by the printer 20 (S55: NO), the PDL conversion program stored in the external storage device 30 is read (S60). By executing the PDL conversion program, the selected print file is converted into image data (rasterized data) that can be directly printed by the printer 20, and then printing is executed (S65).

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the PDL format can be printed by the printer 20 (S55: YES), a PDL processing program built in the printer 20 (preinstalled in the printer) is installed. By executing, the selected print file is converted into image data (rasterized data), and then printing is executed (S70).

3. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of a direct print utility program (hereinafter abbreviated as a utility program) for automatically writing a PDL conversion program to the external storage device 30. Is installed in the computer 10 and is activated when an activation instruction is given by the user.

  Incidentally, if the utility program according to the present embodiment is instructed to start in a state where the external storage device 30 is not connected to the connection terminal 16, a warning that the external storage device 30 is not connected to the connection terminal 16. After is issued to the user, it is terminated without starting.

  When the utility program is started, first, the free space that can be stored in the external storage device 30 connected to the connection terminal 16 is acquired (S100), and the PDL conversion program is saved in the free space. It is determined whether or not it is possible (S110).

  At this time, if it is determined that the PDL conversion program can be saved (S110: YES), after the PDL conversion program is written in the external storage device 30 (S120), the utility program is terminated. When it is determined that the PDL conversion program cannot be saved (S110: NO), a warning is issued to the user that there is not enough free space to write the PDL conversion program to the external storage device 30. Later (S130), the utility program ends.

4). Features of the present embodiment In the present embodiment, when the PDL conversion program is stored in the external storage device 30 connected to the connection terminal 23 of the printer 20, the PDL conversion program stored in the external storage device 30 is stored. Is executed to convert the print file stored in the external storage device 30 into image data and print it, so that the printer to which the external storage device 30 is connected prints the print file stored in the external storage device 30 ( Even if it is not compatible with a specific PDL format, direct printing can be easily executed.

  In the present embodiment, in addition to the print file that can be directly printed using the PDL processing program built in the printer 20, the direct printing is executed by causing the PDL conversion program stored in the external storage device 30 to be executed. Since the print file that can be displayed is also displayed on the display unit 24, the user can recognize a file that can be directly printed, and the convenience of the user can be improved.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, since the print file selected by the user among the print files displayed on the display unit 24 is printed, it is possible to prevent the file unnecessary for the user from being printed.

  Further, in the utility program according to the present embodiment, the PDL conversion program is stored in the external storage device 30 when it is determined that the capacity sufficient to store the PDL conversion program remains in the external storage device 30, so the PDL conversion program Can be easily written in the external storage device 30, and direct printing can be easily executed.

  In this embodiment, the user writes the PDL conversion program in the external storage device 30 using the utility program. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the external storage in which the PDL conversion program is written in advance. If the apparatus 30 is used, direct printing can be easily executed.

5. Correspondence Relationship between Invention Specific Items and Embodiment The connection terminal 23 corresponds to the connection means described in claim 1, S25 corresponds to the determination means described in claim 1, and S50 to S70 correspond to claim 1. S110 corresponds to the determination unit described in claim 4, S120 corresponds to the writing unit described in claim 4, and the printer 20 is described in the claims. This corresponds to the image forming apparatus.

(Other embodiments)
In the above-described embodiment, only the print file selected by the user among the print files displayed on the display unit 24 is directly printed, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  In the above-described embodiment, the print file that can be directly printed by the PDL conversion program stored in the external storage device 30 is displayed on the display unit 24. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

  In the above-described embodiment, the utility program is executed by the computer 10, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the printer 20 may be provided with the same function as the utility program.

In the above-described embodiment, the PDL conversion program is an interpreter system, but the present invention is not limited to this.
In addition, the printer 20 is not limited to the one shown in the above-described embodiment, and may be a multi-function machine having a facsimile function, a scanner function, and the like.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as long as it matches the gist of the invention described in the claims.

1A is a schematic diagram of a printing system 1 according to the embodiment, FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a computer 10, and FIG. 2C is a schematic diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printer 20. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of control executed when a print file that can be directly printed by the printer 20 is displayed on the display unit 24; It is a flowchart which shows the control flow performed when direct printing is instruct | indicated. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of a direct print utility program for automatically writing a PDL conversion program to an external storage device 30.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printing system, 10 ... Computer, 16 ... Connection terminal, 20 ... Printer,
21 ... Recording unit, 23 ... Connection terminal, 24 ... Display unit, 25 ... Control circuit,
30: External storage device.

Claims (5)

A connection terminal to which the external storage device is detachably connected;
Determining means for determining whether a program for converting a print file in PDL format into image data is stored in an external storage device connected to the connection terminal;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a print execution unit that executes the program stored in the external storage device and prints the print file stored in the external storage device.   It comprises a display means for displaying a print file that can be printed by executing at least the program stored in the external storage device among the print files stored in the external storage device. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   The print execution unit prints the selected print file when any one of the print files displayed by the display unit is selected by the user. The image forming apparatus described. A computer having a connection terminal to which an external storage device is detachably connected;
A determination unit that determines whether or not a capacity sufficient to store a program for converting a print file in a PDL format into image data remains in an external storage device connected to the connection terminal; and A direct print utility program that functions as a writing unit for storing the program in the external storage device when it is determined that there is sufficient capacity to store the program. A storage device connectable to a computer and an image forming apparatus,
A storage device storing a program for converting a print file in PDL format into image data.

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