JP2008234506A - Printing system and host device for use in this system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system connected to a host device such as a personal computer (PC) to carry out print processing of compressed XPS document data. <P>SOLUTION: The printing system and the host device for use in the system are provided for recording information such as data CRS information in a predetermined area of a file header part when a predetermined flag of the file header part is set ON by a filter driver of the host device, and carrying out parallel processing of print data receiving processing, extension processing, rendering, and the like to shorten a print processing time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system that is connected to a host device such as a personal computer (PC) and performs processing for printing compressed XPS document data, and a host device used in the system.

  In recent years, personal computers (PCs) in which a new OS (operating system) is introduced are commercially available. The computer is designed to introduce a new user experience and ensure that information can be displayed, searched, organized, and controlled in the computing environment. For example, it is a configuration in which a print job setting method can be properly recognized and more efficient print data transmission processing can be performed by communication technology incorporating a print subsystem.

  For example, print data created by a personal computer (PC) equipped with a new OS is created by an XPS (XML Paper Specification) document based on XML (extensible markup language). The XPS document data is usually compressed in the Zip format, and the compressed file is composed of a file header portion for recording individual file information and a directory record portion at the rear end portion of the file. For example, when a predetermined flag in the file header portion is set to ON, specific information is not stored in the data CRC information, the compressed size, and the decompressed size information.

On the other hand, Patent Document 1 is an invention in which when document data created in XML is transferred to an external medium, security information is added to the document data, and whether or not image data can be transferred is controlled based on the security information. is there.
JP 2006-215927 A

  The XPS document data having the above configuration is usually compressed in the Zip format, and the compressed file is composed of the file header portion for recording individual file information and the directory record portion at the rear end of the file as described above. Yes. For example, when a predetermined flag in the file header portion is set to ON, specific information is not stored in the data CRC information, the compressed size, and the decompressed size information.

  For this reason, when such compressed data is transmitted to the printing apparatus, all the compressed data is taken into the buffer (the information in the directory record portion at the rear end of the file is taken into the buffer), and then the process proceeds to the expansion process. For this reason, for example, in the case of XPS document data having a large file size, it takes time for the printing process.

  Therefore, the present invention records information such as data CRC information in a predetermined area of the file header portion when the predetermined flag of the file header portion is set to ON by the filter driver of the host device, and receives print data. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing system that performs parallel processing of decompression processing, drawing processing, and the like to shorten the printing processing time, and a host device used in the system.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a host device connected to a printing apparatus via a network, the host device creating XPS document data, and a compressed file comprising a file header portion and a directory record portion. Print data creation means for creating the data, flag detection means for searching the file header portion and detecting a predetermined flag, and detecting the flag, the data CRC information, the compressed size, and the decompressed size information are Writing means for reading from the directory record portion and writing to a predetermined area of the file header portion, and printing the compressed file in which the data CRC information, the compressed size, and the decompressed size information are written in the file header portion The invention is achieved by providing a host device having a transmission means for transmitting to a device. It can be.

  Further, according to the second invention, the above object can be achieved by providing a host device characterized in that the compressed file is a Zip format compressed file.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing system in which a host device and a printing apparatus are connected via a network. The host device creates XPS print data, and also includes a file header portion and a directory record. Print data creation means for creating a compressed file composed of a number of parts, flag detection means for searching the file header part and detecting a predetermined flag, and detecting the flag, data CRC information, compressed size, and decompressed data Write means for reading the size information from the directory record portion and writing it in a predetermined area of the file header portion, and the data CRC information, the compressed size, and the decompressed size information are written to the file header portion Transmission means for transmitting a compressed file to the printing apparatus, and the printing apparatus A printing system comprising: a receiving unit that receives the compressed file; a decompressing unit that decompresses the compressed file; and a print control unit that performs a printing process on a recording medium based on the decompressed XPS document data. Can be achieved.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a host device connected to a printing apparatus via a network, which creates XPS document data and creates a compressed file comprising a file header portion and a directory record portion. Print data creation processing, flag detection processing for searching the file header portion to detect a predetermined flag, and detection of the flag, data CRC information, compressed size information, and decompressed size information are stored in the directory record portion. And writing to the predetermined area of the file header portion, and sending the compressed file in which the data CRC information, the compressed size information, and the decompressed size information are written in the file header portion to the printing device By providing a print data creation method that performs transmission processing That.

  Further, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for use in a host device connected to a printing apparatus via a network, creating XPS document data, and compressing a file header portion and a directory record portion. Print data creation processing for creating a file, flag detection processing for searching the file header portion to detect a predetermined flag, and detection of the flag, data CRC information, compressed size information, and decompressed size information are obtained. A writing process of reading from the directory record portion and writing to a predetermined area of the file header portion, and a compressed file in which the data CRC information, the compressed size, and the decompressed size information are written to the file header portion Has a function to execute at least transmission processing to be transmitted to the printing device It can be achieved by providing a program.

  According to the means for solving the above problem, when the predetermined flag of the file header portion in the compressed file is set to ON, the data CRC information, the compressed size information, and the decompressed size information are read from the directory record portion. Since it is output and written in the file header section, it is possible to perform parallel processing of print data reception processing, compressed data expansion processing, post-expansion XPS document data analysis processing, and drawing processing in the printing apparatus. It becomes.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram of a printing system using the printing apparatus of the present invention.

  In the figure, a personal computer (PC 1) which is a host device 1 and a printing apparatus 2 are connected via a network such as a LAN. The host device 1 is installed with an application program for creating a print document, browser software, an explorer program, and the like. The printing apparatus 2 is connected to the host device 1 via the network and is connected to the host device 3 via a USB interface or a parallel interface.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer driver in the host device 1. The application 5 includes a printing API (Application Program Interface) 6, a spooler 7, a filter driver 8, an XML spool 9, and a port monitor 10. The application 5 is a word processor, spreadsheet software, graphic processor, and the like, and is a program for creating data to be printed as an XPS (XML Paper Specification) document, which is a document / print format developed by Microsoft Corporation in the United States. Use to create print data.

  The spooler 7 generates the XPS document as a spool file. The spooler 7 requests the filter driver 8 to process the generated spool file.

  The filter driver 8 searches for the spool file sent to the spooler 7 and performs a file conversion process described later. The converted data is read by the port monitor 10 and output from the port monitor 10 to the printing apparatus 2 as print data.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the printing apparatus 2. In the figure, the printing apparatus 2 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a timer 14, and various interfaces. The CPU 11 performs print processing according to the program stored in the ROM 12, and uses the RAM 13 as a work area to perform print control.

  For example, the host device 3 is connected to a host interface (hereinafter referred to as a host I / F) 15 through a USB interface or a parallel interface, and print data (XML document data) supplied from the host device 3 is received. Printing processing is performed by the CPU 11 or the like.

  Further, the above-described host device 1 is connected to a network interface card (NIC) I / F 16 via a network, and print data (XML document data) supplied from the host device 1 is printed by the CPU 11 or the like. .

  Further, the video I / F 17 performs input / output control of video data, and the engine I / F 18 exchanges control signals with the engine unit and outputs image data to the engine unit. An external storage device is connected to the printing apparatus 2 via an external storage device connection I / F 19.

  In the above configuration, the processing of this example will be described below.

  First, print data created by the application 5 of the host device 1 is created in the XPS document format, compressed in the Zip format, and held in the spooler 7 as a spool file. FIG. 4 shows the file structure, which consists of a file header part and a directory record part.

  The file header part is composed of [local file header 1] to [local file header n], and [local file header] is composed of [file data] and [data descriptor]. The specific configuration of each [local file header] is [local file header signature], [version needed to extract], [general purpose bit flag], [compression method], [last mod file time], [last mod file date], [crc-32], [compressed size], [uncompressed size], [file name length], [extra field length], [file name (version size)], [extra field (version size)] It consists of

  The directory record part is composed of areas after [archive decryption header], for example, [zip64 end of central directory record], [zip64 end of central directory locator], and [end of central directory record]. directory record] is described.

  In the above configuration, the data described in [crc-32] (data CRC (cyclic redundancy check) information), [compressed size] (compressed size), and [uncompressed size] (size after decompression) are not necessarily described in the Zip file specification. The description can be omitted by setting [general purpose bit flag] ([crc-32], [compressed size], and [uncompressed size] can be set to “0”).

  Also, the “0” setting for [crc-32], [compressed size], and [uncompressed size] differs for each [local file header] in the file header, and the file in the Zip format depends on the filter driver 8 of this example. The printing apparatus 2 is allowed to perform the sequential decompression process as stream data. Hereinafter, processing of the filter driver 8 will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of this example, and particularly for explaining the processing by the filter driver 8. In the figure, first, a processing target record number is initialized (step (hereinafter, indicated by S) 1). Specifically, “1” is set in a register (recno) for storing the record number to be processed.

  Next, scanning of the file header portion is started, and information on [local file header] recorded in the register (recno) is acquired (S2). Here, it is determined whether there is a corresponding record (S3). In this case, first, the register (recno) is “1”. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 4, the file information of [local file header 1] corresponds (S3 is YES), and [general purpose bit flag] is set (ON) (S4).

  If [general purpose bit flag] is not on (S4 is NO), [crc-32], [compressed size], and [uncompressed size] contain specific data. The processing target record is updated to search for the next processing target record (S7). On the other hand, if [general purpose bit flag] is on (S4 is YES), the descriptions of [crc-32], [compressed size], and [uncompressed size] are omitted, and the corresponding information from the directory record part is displayed. get.

  Specifically, first, the same [central directory record] as the file name in [local file header] is acquired (S5), and the corresponding data CRC information, compressed size information, and decompressed size information are acquired from this record. Then, data is written in the corresponding [crc-32], [compressed size], and [uncompressed size] (S6). For example, in the case of [local file header 1], the corresponding data CRC information, compressed size, and decompressed size information are obtained from the same [central directory record 1] as this file name, and [crc-32], [ Write data to [compressed size] and [uncompressed size].

  Thereafter, update processing of the next processing target record number is performed (register (recno = recno + 1), S7), and the processing returns to the above-described processing (S2). Thereafter, the above processing is repeated, and data CRC information corresponding to [crc-32], [compressed size], and [uncompressed size], and compression are applied to the records whose [general purpose bit flag] is set to ON. The writing process of information on the completed size and the size after expansion is repeated (S2 to 7).

  When the above processing for all records is completed (S3 is NO), the XPS document data subjected to the above processing is sent from the XML spool 9 to the port monitor 10 and output from the port monitor 10 to the printing apparatus 2 as print data. Is done.

  When the print data is input, the printing apparatus 2 performs processing according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, it waits for a print request (step (hereinafter referred to as ST) 1). When the print data is input and there is a print request, the drawing information for one page of XPS document data (print data) is analyzed (STP2). ). Then, an image for one page is drawn (ST3), and an image for one page is output to the engine unit (ST4). This process is repeatedly executed to perform print processing for all XPS document data (ST5 is NO, ST1 to ST4, and ST5 is YES).

  During this time, the XPS document data is compressed in the Zip format as described above, and the printing apparatus 2 performs a printing process based on the XPS document data while decompressing the compressed data in the Zip format. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, received data (print data) compressed in the Zip format is received and decompressed 20 and the decompressed XPS document data is written to the external storage device 21, and further the external storage device 21. The XPS document data read from is output to the engine unit as drawing data by the print control process 22 including the drawing analysis process described above.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart for specifically explaining the above process. First, a data reception completion flag (rcvflg) is initialized (step (hereinafter referred to as STP) 1), and a data expansion completion flag (endflg) is initialized (STP2). Specifically, “0” is set to the data reception completion flag (rcvflg), and “0” is set to the data expansion completion flag (endflg). The data reception completion flag (rcvflg) is set by setting the least significant bit 0 of a shown in FIG. 8 to “1” when reception is completed and “0” when reception is not completed. Further, the data expansion completion flag (endflg) is set by setting “1” when expansion is completed and “0” when expansion is not completed in the least significant bit 0 of b shown in FIG.

  Next, data reception is waited in this state (STP3). Here, when the XPS document data is received (STP4), it is first determined whether or not the data expansion processing is incomplete (STP5).

  The XPS document data supplied from the host device 1 is compressed data in the Zip format as described above, and the data expansion completion flag (endflg) is set to “0” as described above. Therefore, the first determination (STP5) is YES.

  The CPU 11 searches from the file header portion to perform decompression processing, and when [local file header] is detected (YES in STP6), the file data is restored according to the data described in the [local file header] (STP7). For example, when [local file header 1] is first detected, the signature of the file creator is confirmed by the description of [local file header signature] included in [local file header 1], and the file name is verified by [version needed to extract]. Check the version information.

  [Compression method] describes the Zip format compression method, [last mod file time] and [last mod file date] describe the file creation time and date, and [crc-32] The data CRC information is acquired from the description of, the compressed size information is acquired from [compressed size], and the decompressed size information is acquired from [uncompressed size]. In addition, data such as a file name and a maximum file length is acquired, and decompression processing of XPS document data is performed.

  The XPS document data expanded in this way is written in the external storage device 21 as described above, and when the XPS document data processing request is made to the print control processing 22 (STP8), the print control processing 22 The above drawing analysis process is performed.

  The above processing is executed each time a local file header is detected (STP14 is NO, STP4 to STP8), and decompression processing is sequentially performed in the order of [local file header 2], [local file header 3],. After being written in the external storage device 21, the above-described drawing analysis processing is performed.

  Thereafter, when the detection of [local file header] is completed in the above-described determination (STP6) (NO in STP6), it is further determined whether the read information is [data descriptor] (STP9). Here, when the read data is [data descriptor] (YES in STP9), the information of [data descriptor] is read and discarded (STP10). On the other hand, when the read data is not [data descriptor] (NO in STP9), “1” is set to the data expansion completion flag (endflg) on the assumption that the data expansion processing has been completed (STP11).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the data reception process is complete. At this time, it is still (rcvflg = 0), and the process returns to the process (STP4) again. In this case, the next data decompression completion flag (endflg) is changed to “1” as described above (STP5 is NO), and it is further determined whether the next information is [end of central directory record] (STP12). ). This [end of central directory record] is the information described at the end of the directory record part, and when this information is [end of central directory record] (STP12 is YES), the information received up to the end of the Zip file The data reception completion flag (rcvflg) is set to “1” (STP13).

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not data reception is complete (STP14). At this time (rcvflg = 1) (STP14 is YES), the process is terminated.

  The XPS document data that has been subjected to the decompression process is subjected to the above-described drawing analysis process by the print control process 22 as described above, the drawing data is output to the engine unit, and the printing process to paper is performed. .

  As described above, according to this example, when the [general purpose bit flag] in the Zip file is set to ON by the filter driver 8 of the host device 1 in advance, [crc-32], [compressed size], [ In the uncompressed size], specific data is described and transmitted to the printing apparatus 2 as print data. Therefore, the printing apparatus 2 receives the compressed data in the Zip format, decompresses the Zip file, and decompresses the XPS document data after decompression. Analysis processing and drawing processing can be executed in parallel, and the print processing time can be shortened.

  Note that FIG. 9 (a) describes the data ([crc-32], [compressed size], [uncompressed size]) missing from the file header as described above, and XPS compressed in the Zip format. Although the method for transmitting the document data to the printing apparatus 2 has been described, the file header portion and the directory record portion may be switched and transmitted by the filter driver 8 as shown in FIG.

  With this configuration, the printing apparatus 2 can first refer to the information of the directory record, and knows the information of [crc-32], [compressed size], and [uncompressed size] included in the Zip file. The file header portion received later can be decompressed. For example, information on [crc-32], [compressed size], and [uncompressed size] can be recorded in the RAM 13 or the like in advance, and can be used as necessary to perform decompression processing.

It is a figure explaining the structure of a host apparatus. 1 is a system configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system. It is a figure which shows the structure of a printing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structure of the Zip file which compressed the XPS document data. It is a flowchart explaining the processing operation on the host device side. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing operations on the printing apparatus side. FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram illustrating processing operations on the printing apparatus side. It is a flowchart explaining an expansion | extension process. (A) is a figure which shows typically the process of this embodiment, (b) is a figure which shows typically the modification of this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Host apparatus 2 ... Printing apparatus 5 ... Application 6 ... Printing API
7 ... spooler 8 ... filter driver 9 ... XML spool 10 ... port monitor 11 ... CPU
12. ROM
13. RAM
14. ・ Timer 15 ・ ・ Host I / F
16. ・ NICI / F
17. Video I / F
18. Engine I / F
19..External storage device connection I / F
20 .. Reception decompression processing 21 .. External storage device 22 .. Print control processing

Claims (5)

A host device connected to a printing device via a network,
The host device creates XPS document data and print data creation means for creating a compressed file including a file header portion and a directory record portion;
A flag detection means for searching the file header portion and detecting a predetermined flag;
When the flag is detected by the flag detection means, the data CRC information, the compressed size, and the decompressed size information are read from the directory record portion and written to a predetermined area of the file header portion;
Transmitting means for transmitting to the printing apparatus a compressed file in which the data CRC information, the compressed size, and the decompressed size information are written in the file header portion;
A host device characterized by comprising:   The host device according to claim 1, wherein the compressed file is a Zip format compressed file. A printing system in which a host device and a printing device are connected via a network.
The host device is
Print data creation means for creating XPS print data and creating a compressed file comprising a file header portion and a directory record portion;
A flag detection means for searching the file header portion and detecting a predetermined flag;
When detecting the flag, writing means for reading the data CRC information, the compressed size, and the decompressed size information from the directory record portion, and writing them in a predetermined area of the file header portion;
Transmitting means for transmitting to the printing apparatus a compressed file in which the data CRC information, the compressed size, and the decompressed size information are written in the file header portion;
The printing apparatus includes:
Receiving means for receiving the compressed file;
Decompression means for decompressing the compressed file;
Print control means for performing print processing on a recording medium based on the decompressed XPS document data;
A printing system characterized by that. A host device connected to a printing device via a network,
Print data creation processing for creating XPS document data and creating a compressed file comprising a file header portion and a directory record portion;
A flag detection process for searching the file header portion and detecting a predetermined flag;
When the flag is detected, the data CRC information, the compressed size, and the decompressed size information are read from the directory record part and written to a predetermined area of the file header part;
A transmission process for transmitting to the printing apparatus a compressed file in which the data CRC information, the compressed size, and the decompressed size information are written in the file header portion;
A method for creating print data. A program used for a host device connected to a printing device via a network.
Print data creation processing for creating XPS document data and creating a compressed file comprising a file header portion and a directory record portion;
A flag detection process for searching the file header portion and detecting a predetermined flag;
When the flag is detected, the data CRC information, the compressed size, and the decompressed size information are read from the directory record part and written into a predetermined area of the file header part;
A transmission process for transmitting to the printing apparatus a compressed file in which the data CRC information, the compressed size, and the decompressed size information are written in the file header portion;
A program having a function of executing at least.