JP2010244277A - Printer driver and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer for estimating time required for printing as a part of the processing of a printer. <P>SOLUTION: A printer driver makes a computer achieve a function of generating print job data for making the printer execute the printing from application data generated by a predetermined application program. The printer driver makes the computer achieve a data generation means for generating drawing data from page data constituting the application data, a processing time calculating means for calculating the processing time required for generating the drawing data, and a printing time predicting means for multiplying the coefficient according to the printing capability of the printer in the calculated processing time and calculating the time required for printing by the printer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that predicts and displays a time required for printing, and more particularly to a printing apparatus that predicts the time by a printer driver.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printing apparatus that predicts a time required for printing in a printing apparatus and displays the predicted time is known. For example, when a user prints multiple documents, the printing device displays the time required for printing, so that the user can check the displayed time and complete other tasks. It becomes possible to raise.

  As an example of the printing apparatus, in a printing system including a host server and a printer connected to the host server via a network, a time required for printing is determined from application data recorded on the host server. What is displayed is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-63014 A

  Conventional printers determine the time required for printing from application data stored in memory, etc., and do not process the time required for printing as part of the printer, for example, processing inside the printer driver. It was.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a printer driver and a printing apparatus capable of predicting the time required for printing as part of processing of the printing apparatus.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a printer driver that realizes a function of causing a computer to generate print job data for causing a printing apparatus to execute printing from application data created by a predetermined application program. A data creation means for creating drawing data from page data constituting the application data; a processing time calculation means for calculating a processing time required to create the drawing data; and the calculated processing time. Is multiplied by a coefficient corresponding to the printing capability of the printing apparatus, and a printing time predicting means for calculating a time required for the printing apparatus to perform printing is realized.

In the invention configured as described above, the computer causes the printer driver to generate data creation means for creating drawing data from the page data constituting the application data, and processing for calculating the processing time required to create the drawing data A time calculation unit and a print time prediction unit that calculates a time required for the printing apparatus to perform printing by multiplying the calculated processing time by a coefficient corresponding to the printing capability of the printing apparatus are realized.
Therefore, since it is possible to predict the time required for printing from the time required to create the drawing data, it is possible to predict the printing time using some functions of the printer driver. .

Further, the printer driver according to the present invention assumes not only single-sided printing with respect to a printing medium, but also double-sided printing or layout printing that allocates a plurality of page data. Therefore, the data creation means may be configured to combine a plurality of the page data to generate one drawing data.
Here, in the present invention, “combining” is a concept including the meaning of processing page data when executing the above-described double-sided printing or layout printing.

The print time prediction unit may change the coefficient according to the type of combination when the page data is combined.
In the invention configured as described above, even when the printing method of the printing apparatus is different, it is possible to predict the time required for printing more optimally according to this printing method.

As an example of the case where the drawing data creation means combines page data, the data creation means, when performing combination that allocates a plurality of page data, generates an intermediate code based on the print image after the allocation. It is good also as a structure which creates and draws new drawing data based on this created intermediate code, and the said processing time calculation means calculates the said processing time based on the created said new drawing data.
In the invention configured as described above, when a plurality of page data is allocated on the same surface of the printing medium, the time required to print the allocated print image can be predicted more accurately. Here, “print image” means an image that can be expressed by new data generated by processing page data, and is a concept including an image displayed on a UI screen, for example.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to a printer driver, but can be applied to a printing apparatus having the functions of the present invention.

1 is a block configuration diagram for explaining a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block configuration diagram for explaining functions of a printer driver 72. FIG. 10 is a flowchart for describing processing executed by a user operation input when a user operates an icon on the screen to display a printing property dialog box. 3 is a diagram illustrating a print image created by a printer driver 72. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a print image created by a printer driver 72. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a print image created by a printer driver 72. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing executed by the printer driver 72 in step S3 in FIG. 3 in the first embodiment. As an example, it is a diagram illustrating a required time displayed on the screen of the host PC 80 by the UI module 72a. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing executed by the printer driver 72 in step S5 in FIG. 3 in the second embodiment. 9 is a flowchart for describing processing executed by the printer driver 72 in step S260 in FIG. 8 according to the third embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in the following order with reference to the drawings.
1. First embodiment:
1.1. Example 1:
1.2. Example 2:
1.3. Example 3:
2. Second embodiment:
3. Other embodiments:

1. First embodiment:
Hereinafter, a first embodiment according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a printing apparatus according to the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the printing apparatus 100 is configured by connecting a printer 90 and a host PC 80 via a network. In the printing apparatus 100, the time required for printing is displayed on the screen of the host PC by the printer driver 72 provided in the host PC 80.

  The main part of the printer 90 includes an input IF 91 for receiving a print request generated by the host PC 80, a controller 92 for performing main control, and a print processing unit 93 for performing print processing using the received application data. Composed.

  The main part of the host PC 80 is configured by connecting a CPU 81, an HDD 82, an input / output IF 83, a RAM 84, and a user interface 85 including a keyboard and a display device via a bus 86. The input / output IF 83 of the host PC 80 is connected to the input IF 91 of the printer 90 via a network, and outputs a print request to the printer 90 through this network.

  The CPU 81 executes predetermined processing according to the functions of the operation system (hereinafter referred to as OS) stored in the HDD 82, the application program 70, and the printer driver 72. In addition, the host PC 80 is running a timer 73 for the CPU to measure the processing time, and the CPU 81 can use this timer 73 to measure time.

  The application program 70 is a program for generating application data that is the basis of the print drawing data generated by the printer driver 72. The application program 70 is, for example, word processing software for creating texts or presentation material creation software, and creates application data using operations input via the user interface 85 and various functions of the OS. .

  The OS 71 is basic software for managing the operation of the host PC 80 and providing an operating environment to the user. In the present embodiment, as part of the function of the OS 71, GDI (Graphics Device Interface) 71a for performing graphic processing and print job data created by the printer driver 72 are transmitted according to the reception status on the printer 90 side. A spooler 71b appears.

  The printer driver 72 is a program for converting application data created by the application program 70 into print job data. The print job data created by the printer driver 72 is transmitted from the input / output IF 83 to the input IF 91 of the printer 90 via a spooler that is a part of the OS function.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the function of the printer driver 72. The UI module 72a is a module for providing a user interface (UI) visible on the screen to the user. The intermediate code creation module 72b is a module that converts a drawing command input from the GDI 71a into an intermediate code. The drawing module 72c is a module for creating drawing data from the intermediate code. The print output module 72d is a module for converting drawing data so that the print processing unit 93 can print. In addition, the drawing module 72c can calculate “processing time: T _t ” required for creating drawing data.
The intermediate code creation module 72b and the drawing module 72c implement the data creation means of the present invention. The drawing module 72c implements the processing time calculation means of the present invention.

  The combining module 72e is a module used for combining application data created by different application programs 70. Therefore, the printer driver 72 creates a print image corresponding to the page data constituting the application data from application data created by a single application program 70, and also creates application data created by a plurality of application programs 70. Can be combined to create a print image.

The print time prediction module 72f is a module used for predicting print processing executed by the print processing unit 93 based on input application data. Specifically, the printing time prediction module 72f predicts the printing time by multiplying “processing time: T _t ” calculated by the drawing module 72c by a predetermined coefficient.
The printing time prediction module 72f implements the printing time prediction means of the present invention.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining processing executed by a user operation input when the user operates an icon on the screen to display a printing property dialog box. First, when the user selects a combination of application data created by a plurality of application programs 70 on the property dialog box displayed on the screen of the host PC 80 (step S1), according to the selected combination contents (step S1). In step S2), the printer driver 72 executes different processes (steps S3, 5, 6).

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a print image created by the printer driver 72. The print image shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the UI screen when the user does not select the combination of application data in step S2. This print image is composed only of page data created by a single application program 70.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a print image created by the printer driver 72. The print image shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the UI screen when the user selects combination of print images and “Double-sided printing” is selected as the combination content in Step S2 (Step S4). In this print image, page data created by a plurality of application programs 70 is arranged on pages corresponding to the front and back sides of a sheet.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a print image created by the printer driver 72. The print image shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the UI screen when the user selects the combination of print images in step S2 and selects “single-sided layout” as the combination content (step S4). This print image is configured by allocating page data created by a plurality of application programs 70 to the same page.

  In addition, when the user performs an operation input to display the time required for printing in steps S3, S5, and S6, the print time prediction module 72f takes the time required to print the print image shown in FIGS. (A total time when a plurality of sheets are printed at once) is calculated, and the calculated data is transmitted to the UI module 72a.

  Thereafter, the printer driver 72 transmits print job data corresponding to the generated print image to the printer 90, and causes the printer 90 to execute print processing (step S7). Hereinafter, specific processing in steps S3, S4, S6 will be described based on the first to third embodiments.

1.1. Example 1:
Hereinafter, as a first embodiment, a case where the print image illustrated in FIG. 4 is generated and the print process is executed will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the process executed by the printer driver 72 in step S3 of FIG. 3 in the first embodiment.

  The intermediate code creation module 72b converts the drawing command input from the GDI 71a into an intermediate code (step S105). Here, the intermediate code is an instruction code obtained by temporarily converting a drawing command input from the GDI 71a into a drawing code convenient for drawing by the drawing module 72c.

  The intermediate code creation module 72b stores the created intermediate code in the intermediate code file 87 (step S110).

  The drawing module 72c creates drawing data based on the intermediate code stored in the intermediate code file 87 (step S115). Specifically, the drawing module 72c reads the intermediate code stored in the intermediate code file 87, and determines the drawing command specified by this intermediate code, thereby creating drawing data.

Further, the drawing module 72c calculates the time required to create the drawing data as the processing time: T _t (step S120). Specifically, the drawing module 72 c uses the timer 73 to calculate the time required to create drawing data.

  The drawing module 72c associates the drawing data created in step S120 with the processing time calculated in step S120 and stores it in the image data file 88 (step S125).

  The processes in steps S105 to S125 are executed for all page data (step S130).

When an instruction to display the time required for printing is input from the user (step S135), the print time prediction module 72f uses the “processing time: T _t ” stored in the image data file 88 in association with the drawing data to are shown (equation 1) printing estimated time required to print one page data using: calculating a T _p (step S140).
T _p = T _t × F (Formula 1)

Here, the coefficient F is a value used to approximately calculate the time required to print page data. That is, when the drawing module 72c creates drawing data, the drawing data is created from the intermediate code on the RAM 84. At this time, since the drawing data developed in the RAM 84 is substantially the same data as that used for printing by the printer 90, in the present invention, the time required for printing by the printer 90 is set to this “processing time: T _t ”. Approximate with multiple.
For example, the time for the print output module 72d of the printer driver 72 to convert the drawing data to raster data, the time for the printer 90 to convert the raster data from digital to analog, and generate the drive voltage, and the printer 90 drive each mechanism. The coefficient: F is calculated based on a value obtained by approximately adding together the time for printing on the paper.

  In the first embodiment, the coefficient F is a value determined based on the time required for the printer 90 to print one page of data on one side. The coefficient F is a value that changes depending on the printing capability of the printer 90.

The print time prediction module 72f totals the print prediction time per sheet calculated in step S140: T _p by the number of all page data using (Equation 2) shown below, and the “total print prediction required for printing”. Time: T _ap ”is calculated (step S145).
T _ap = ΣT _t (Expression 2)

Thereafter, the printing time prediction module 72f is estimated printing time calculated in step _S145: the data corresponding to the _{T ap} outputs to the UI module 72a (step S150). Therefore, the UI module 72a displays the required time on the screen of the host PC 80 according to the received data.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the required time displayed on the screen of the host PC 80 by the UI module 72a as an example. As shown in FIG. 8, the time required for printing is displayed on the screen. Thereafter, the print output module 72d generates raster data from the drawing data (step S155).

1.2. Example 2:
Hereinafter, as a second exemplary embodiment, a case where the print image illustrated in FIG. 4 is generated and the print process is executed will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the process executed by the printer driver 72 in step S5 of FIG. 3 in the second embodiment.

  When the user performs “double-sided printing” by printing print images created by different application programs 70 on the property dialog on one side of one sheet as shown in FIG. 5, first, the intermediate code creation module 72b The drawing command input from the GDI 71a is converted into an intermediate code (step S205). Further, the intermediate code creation module 72b stores the created intermediate code in the intermediate code file 87 (step S210).

The drawing module 72c creates drawing data based on the intermediate code stored in the intermediate code file 87 (step S215). Further, the drawing module 72c calculates the time required to create the drawing data as a processing time: T _t (step S220). Then, the drawing module 72c associates the drawing data with “processing time: T _t ” and stores them in the image data file 88 (step S225).

  The processes in steps S205 to S220 are executed until the drawing module 72c converts all the page data into drawing data (step S230). That is, in the second embodiment, drawing data corresponding to page data created by a different application program 70 input to the printer driver 72 via the GUI is stored in the image data file 88.

  When all the drawing data are stored in the image data file 88, the UI module 72a displays a UI screen on the screen of the host PC 80 that allows the user to select a sheet for combining application data (step S235). At this time, the UI module 72a expands the drawing data stored in the image data file 88 and displays a UI screen.

  The UI module 72a accepts an input for selecting page data to be combined by the user (step S240). Hereinafter, as shown in FIG. 5, the user selects the “second sheet” of the print image created by the first application and the “second sheet” of the print image created by the second application on one sheet of paper. Assume that you have chosen to combine pages to print on the front and back.

  The combining module 72e associates a plurality of drawing data and the intermediate code corresponding to the drawing data with respect to the page data to be combined selected by the user, and stores them in the storage file 89 (step S245). As an example, the combining module 72e stores the associated intermediate code and drawing data in the storage file 89 in association with the storage destination addresses.

  For a print image that is not to be combined by the user, the combining module 72e associates the drawing data with the intermediate code corresponding to the drawing data on a one-to-one basis and saves it in the save file 89 (step S245). ).

  Then, the combination module 72e outputs drawing data to the UI module 72a based on the association stored in the save file 89, and causes the UI module 72a to update the UI screen (step S250). Therefore, the UI module 72a updates the associated application data and displays the UI screen shown in FIG.

When an instruction to display the time required for printing is input from the user (step S255), the print time prediction module 72f multiplies the processing time associated with the storage file 89 by a coefficient: F to obtain “print prediction. Time: T _p ”is calculated (step S260).

Here, when the processing time is the drawing data to be combined, the combining module 72e multiplies the “processing time” corresponding to the related drawing data by the coefficient F ′ when performing double-sided printing. . That is, in Example 2, "Processing time: T _t" of the drawing data corresponding to the print image to be printed on both sides with respect to the coefficients in the case of double-sided printing: multiplying F '.

On the other hand, when the processing time is drawing data that is not to be combined, the combining module 72e multiplies “processing time: T _t ” corresponding to the drawing data by a coefficient F for performing single-sided printing.

The print time prediction module 72f sums the print prediction time per page data calculated in step S265: T _p by the number of all drawing data using the equation shown in the above (Equation 2), and the “total printing required for printing” “Predicted time: T _ap ” is calculated (step S265).

Thereafter, the print time prediction module 72f outputs data corresponding to the print prediction time: T _ap totaled in step S275 to the UI module 72a (step S270). Therefore, the UI module 72a displays the required time on the screen of the host PC 80 according to the received data.

  Further, when the user performs an operation input for confirming the combined application data on the UI screen, the combining module 72e displays the intermediate code stored in the intermediate file in accordance with the association stored in the save file 89. Is updated (step S275). Therefore, the drawing module 72c creates drawing data according to the updated intermediate code, and outputs the created drawing data to the print output module 72d. Then, the print output module 72d generates raster data (step S280). The processing according to the second embodiment has been described above.

1.3. Example 3:
Hereinafter, as a third embodiment, a case where the print image illustrated in FIG. 6 is generated and the print process is executed will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the process executed by the printer driver 72 in step S260 of FIG. 8 in the third embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 6B, when a plurality of page data are allocated, the time required for printing does not approximate a multiple of “processing time: T _t ” required for generating drawing data. For example, since the printer 90 handles a print image to which a plurality of images are assigned as only one print image, strictly speaking, the process in which the printer driver 72 assigns a plurality of drawing data on the RAM 84 is performed by the printer 90. Does not affect printing time. Therefore, in the third embodiment, “processing time: T _t ” is calculated again from the assigned drawing data, and the time required for printing is calculated based on the calculated “processing time: T _t ”. Hereinafter, description of the same processing as that of the second embodiment will be omitted, and specific processing according to the third embodiment will be described.

  When the user combines a predetermined print image on the UI screen displayed in step S235, the combining module 72e includes a plurality of drawing data to be combined with the page to be combined selected by the user, The intermediate code corresponding to the drawing data is associated and stored in the storage file 89 (step S240).

If the user inputs an instruction to display the time required for printing (step S255), a new “processing time: T _t ” is created according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  That is, the combining module 72e creates an intermediate code corresponding to a new print image after allocation from the intermediate code stored in the intermediate code creating module 72b in accordance with the association stored in the save file 89 (step S305) (step S305). S310). Therefore, the intermediate code creation module 72b creates an intermediate code corresponding to a print image in which two print images are assigned to one side of the paper. For print images that are not assigned,

Further, the combining module 72e causes the drawing module 72c to create drawing data in accordance with the new intermediate code (step S315). Then, the combining module 72e causes the drawing module 72c to calculate a new “processing time: T _t ” (step S320). The processing time calculated in step S320 is the time required for the drawing module 72c to create drawing data corresponding to this print image when the plurality of assigned print images are regarded as one print image. .

Then, the combining module 72e updates the storage file 89 so as to associate the created drawing data with the processing time _Tt (step S325). Therefore, a newly created processing time: T _t is associated with the storage file 89. Note that the save file 89 is not updated for drawing data that is not to be combined.

Further, the printing time prediction module 72f calculates a coefficient “F” for the calculated processing time: T _t and calculates “print prediction time: T _p ” (step S330).
Hereinafter, 8 on the UI screen by the processing up to step S265~S280 of FIG. 8 "total print expected _{time: T ap"} is displayed. The example 3 has been described above.

2. Second embodiment:
Further, the expected printing time may be displayed on the printer 90 instead of the screen of the host PC 80. In this case, in the host PC 80, the print time prediction module adds “total expected print time: T _ap ” to the header portion of the data corresponding to the drawing data generated by the drawing module 72c. Further, in the printer 90, the "total anticipated print time: T _ap" receives, it may be configured as to display it on a display unit such as LCD.

3. Other embodiments:
There are various embodiments of the present invention.
The page data generated by the printer driver 72 may be a combination of the page data shown in FIGS.
Further, the coupling module 72e may be realized by another program instead of a part of the printer driver.

  Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. That is, the mutually replaceable members and configurations disclosed in the above embodiments are applied by changing their combinations as appropriate. The members and configurations disclosed in the examples can be replaced with the members and configurations interchangeable with each other as appropriate, and the combination thereof is changed and applied. It is one of the present invention that a person skilled in the art can appropriately substitute the members and configurations that can be assumed as substitutes for the members and configurations disclosed in the above-described embodiments based on the above, and change the combination to apply. It is disclosed as an example.

70 ... Application program, 71 ... OS, 71a ... GDI, 71b ... Spooler, 72 ... Printer driver, 72a ... UI module, 72b ... Intermediate code creation module, 72c ... Drawing module, 72d ... Print output module, 72e ... Combination module, 72f ... print time prediction module, 73 ... timer, 80 ... host PC, 81 ... CPU, 82 ... HDD, 83 ... input / output IF, 84 ... RAM, 85 ... user interface, 86 ... bus, 87 ... intermediate code file, 88 ... Image data file 89 ... Save file 90 ... Printer 91 ... Input IF 92 ... Controller 93 ... Print processing unit 100 ... Printing device

Claims (5)

A printer driver for realizing a function of causing a computer to generate print job data for causing a printing apparatus to execute printing from application data created by a predetermined application program,
On the computer,
Data creating means for creating drawing data from page data constituting the application data;
A processing time calculation means for calculating a processing time required to create the drawing data;
Printing time predicting means for multiplying the calculated processing time by a coefficient corresponding to the printing capability of the printing apparatus and calculating a time required for the printing apparatus to perform printing, Printer driver to use.   The printer driver according to claim 1, wherein the data creation unit generates a single drawing data by combining a plurality of the page data.   3. The printer driver according to claim 2, wherein when the page data is combined, the printing time predicting unit changes the coefficient according to a type of the combination. The above data creation means creates an intermediate code on the basis of the print image after the assignment when creating a combination of assigning a plurality of page data, and creates new drawing data based on the created intermediate code. And
The printer driver according to claim 2, wherein the processing time calculation unit calculates the processing time based on the created new drawing data. Printing means for executing a printing process based on the drawing data;
Data creation means for creating drawing data from application data created by a predetermined application program;
A processing time calculation means for calculating a processing time required to create the drawing data;
A printing time prediction unit that multiplies the calculated processing time by a coefficient corresponding to the printing capability of the printing unit to calculate a time required for the printing apparatus to perform printing;
And a display unit that displays the calculated time.

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