JP2595978B2 - Font management device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a font management device of a character generator for generating a character based on a selected font.

(Prior Art) In a character generation device, a plurality of sets of fonts storing font data are managed by a font management device in order to enable generation of characters by various fonts.

In the case where the printer has such a character generating device, when the user creates a text at the host terminal, the data (code data) of the text is sent to the character generating device of the printer. The character generator converts the data into a bit image by referring to the font data of the font, outputs the bit image to the print engine, and prints the text. In a font management device of a character generation device that manages a plurality of sets of fonts, a font to be used is selected from a plurality of sets of fonts managed by the management device, and characters are generated based on font data of the selected font.

(Problems to be Solved and Used by the Invention) In such a font management device, the fonts to be managed can be exchanged so as to correspond to various sentences. When this operation is performed, the management information and the like of the currently selected font are changed, so that it is necessary to select the font again.

Conventionally, this re-selection requires the user to make a re-selection, which is cumbersome.

 The present invention aims to solve the above disadvantages.

(Means for Solving the Problems) A font management device of the present invention is a font management device of a character generation device that generates characters based on a selected font, and includes a font storage device that stores a plurality of sets of fonts. A font management information storage means for storing font attributes stored in the font storage means, an input means for inputting font specification information for specifying a font to be used for character generation, and a font specification information input by the input means. Font specification information storage means to be stored; selection means for selecting a font specified by font specification information by referring to font attributes stored in the font management information storage means; and change of font stored in the font storage means Is detected, the attribute of the font stored in the font storage means is read out, and the font management information is stored. Updating means for updating the font attribute stored in the means, and referring to the updated font attribute in the font management information storage means,
Reselection means for reselecting a font specified by the font specification information stored in the font specification information storage means.

(Operation) The font designation information input from the input means is stored in the font designation information storage means. When the change of the font stored in the font storage unit is detected, the font attribute stored in the font storage unit is read and the font attribute stored in the font management information storage unit is updated. The font specified by the stored font specification information is selected again with reference to the updated font attribute.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in the following order with reference to the accompanying drawings.

a. Configuration of electrophotographic printer b. Font cartridge and font c. Font selection d. Character image editing and initial setting e. Font selection control The embodiments related to the present invention are described in sections (b) and (c). In addition, steps # 11, # 12, # 15 to # 19 in section (d) (first
Figure).

(A) Configuration of Electrophotographic Printer FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a processing system using a printer system 10 capable of graphic drawing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Data from a data processing device 1 such as a general-purpose computer is temporarily stored in an external file buffer 2 and then output to a printer system 10 in order to improve the throughput of the data processing device 1.

The printer system 10 includes a bitmap type data processing unit (BMU) 3, a print engine 4 using an electrophotographic process and a laser, and auxiliary devices such as an external paper supply unit 5 and a sorter 6.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of the printer system 10.

The bitmap type data processing device 3 includes a bitmap control component (BMC) 30 (see FIG. 4), a bitmap RAM (BM-RAM) 32 for bitmap, and a bitmap writing for performing drawing in the BM-RAM 32. Section (BMW) 31 and font section 33
Consisting of The connection with the print engine 4 is performed by a bus B3 for control data (number of sheets, accessory control, etc.) and a bus B4 for image data.

The print engine 4 is composed mainly of three controllers. First, the interface controller (IFC) 40
Performs processing of control data from the bitmap control unit 30, control of the operation panel 44, and control of the timing of the entire printer 4 through the internal bus B5. Electrophotographic control unit 41
Controls the electrophotographic process unit 45 in accordance with the data sent from the interface control unit 40 via the internal bus B5.

The print head control unit (PHC) 42 is sent from the interface control unit 40 through the internal bus B5 to write the image data sent from the bitmap writing unit 31 through the internal bus B4 to the photoconductor of the electrophotographic process unit. The light emission of the semiconductor laser of the print head unit 43 and the rotation of the polygon motor are controlled in accordance with the received information.

The external paper feed unit 5 and the sorter 6 are also connected to the internal bus B5.
Through the interface control unit 40.

The printer system 10 described above is a bitmap laser printer. The print data (mostly represented by a code) sent from the data processing device 1 is developed as an actual print image on the BM-RAM 32 of the bitmap type processing device 3 and output to the print engine 4. The print engine 4 modulates the laser beam according to the data from the bitmap type data processing device 3, records the modulated laser beam on the photoconductor, and transfers the modulated laser beam to recording paper.

The data sent from the data processing device 1 includes codes for controlling the format and setting the mode of the engine in addition to the print data.

The bitmap data processor 3 also analyzes these protocols in addition to the print data, and controls the format and issues an instruction to the print engine 4 such as passing a paper or changing an optional mode to the print engine 4 as necessary. In addition to the above-described recording control, the print engine 4 performs control of an electrophotographic system accompanying the recording control, timing control of recording paper, and processing synchronized with paper passing to another option. Print engine 4
Is the same as that of the electrophotographic copying machine except for the scanning system.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the bitmap control unit 40. The bitmap control unit 30 is composed of several blocks connected by an internal bus B301. The BM-CPU 301 is a central control unit of the bitmap type data processing device 3, communicates with the data processing device 1 and the external file buffer 2 through the data processing device interface 308, converts print data, Bitmap writer 3 through bitmap writer interface 306
1 and the print engine 4 via the print engine interface 307. SYS-ROM 302 is B
The program of the M-CPU 301 is stored. SYS-RAM303 is BM
-A working storage area of the CPU 301, which is used for storing stacks and basic flags.

The R-buffer 304 is a buffer for communication with the outside (the data processing device 1 and the file buffer 2), and the BM-CPU 3
The object of the present invention is to enable processing between the processing program of No. 01 and the data processing device 1 to be processed even asynchronously.

Packet buffer (hereinafter abbreviated as P-buffer) 30
Reference numeral 5 stores data from the data processing device 1 as an intermediate code (hereinafter, referred to as a packet) converted from font attributes and easily drawn on the BM-RAM 32.

The font section 33 can mount eight font cartridges, and each font cartridge stores pattern data of up to eight types of fonts, as described later. Among the plurality of fonts, the data processing device 1 selects a font as described later.

 Fonts can be exchanged during character image editing.

The actual drawing of the font is performed by the bitmap writing unit 31. The information to the bitmap writing unit 31 includes the pattern built-in address of the font selected by the data processing device 1 and the drawing to the BM-RAM 32. It is necessary to calculate parameters such as addresses. This takes a certain amount of time.
Therefore, while printing the data of the BM-RAM 32, the data of the next page is pre-processed and stored in the P-buffer 305, thereby speeding up the processing. Therefore, the movement of data in the P-buffer 305 is FIFO (first-in first-out).

A print engine interface 307 is an interface with the print engine 4, and sends JOB information such as the number of prints and JOB control commands such as print commands to the interface of the print engine 4 and the bus B3.
Interact through.

(B) Font cartridge and font management (font management information (FCB), directory registration area (D-BAN)
K), Font Registration Information (VFCB)) Configuration of Font Cartridge FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the font in the font cartridge. The memory area occupied by one cartridge is called a slot SLOT, and each slot has eight banks F-
It is divided into small sections of ROM or RAM called BANKφ to F-BANK7. Each font is stored across one or more banks. Multiple banks are used for large fonts such as kanji. However, 1
One bank contains two or more fonts,
A font does not span multiple slots.

For example, in slot No. 1, four fonts FONT1,
FONT2, FONT3, and FONT4 are the banks F-BANKφ, F, respectively.
-BANK1 and F-BANK2, F-BANK3, F-BANK4 to F-BANK6
Is stored in Bank F-BANK7 is empty. Each of the fonts FONT1 to FONT4 has an internal logical code φ, 1,2,3 corresponding to the font and an F-
BANK No.φ, 1,3,4 correspond.

 The same applies to other slots.

This slot No. (slot number) and F-BANK No.
(F-BANK number) can be used for selecting a font, as described later.

The font ROM is stored in the memory inside the font cartridge.
And rewritable and removable font RAM. The font RAM is used as a memory for downloading fonts from a host computer or the like, and may or may not have font data already downloaded. Font RAMs include those with a backup power supply and those with an external input switch (capable of storing font data) and those without.
As will be described later, the first byte of the font RAM is used as identification information. Font RAMs for which font data has been determined to have been written based on external input switches or management information (FCB) are registered as loaded RAMs (see FIG. 16).

Font global data (see FIG. 8), directories, and dot patterns are stored at predetermined positions for each font.

The font global data includes an ASCII 6-byte font name. This font name can be used for font selection, as described below.

FIG. 6A shows the structure of the character type code in the font global data. The upper three bits indicate a major classification, and the lower five bits indicate a minor classification. The major classification is the highest identification information in font management, and an example is shown in the table.

FIG. 6 (b) shows a small classification configuration of a JIS kanji code font (large classification code = 4) as an example of the small classification. It consists of upper 3 bits of typeface code and lower 2 bits of combination information. Here, ANK indicates alphabets and kana characters.

 The minor classification configuration has a format specific to each major classification.

Font global data, as explained later,
It is read when the power is turned on or when the font cartridge is replaced (# 3 in FIG. 1, # 73 in FIG. 15), and the font information is registered (FIG.
At the time of FIG. 77), it is stored in the font management information (hereinafter, also referred to as FCB) of the SYS-RAM 303.

The font management information (FCB) bitmap control unit 30, as described later,
The basic management is performed by the internal logical code which is the registration reference number of.

FIG. 7A shows the structure of font management information (FCB). As shown in FIG. 7B, one set of FCBs is stored in the SYS-RAM 303 for each font currently mounted. Each set includes FCB status, FCB information, physical position information, cartridge information, and logical font attributes. The logical font attribute is the font installed in the slot (or the built-in font)
This attribute is registered in the font management information, and is the same as the global information stored in the virtual font attribute of the VFCB described later.

FIG. 8 shows the structure of the font management information (FCB) in more detail. The FCB includes FCB status, FCB information, physical position information, cartridge information, and logical font attributes.
The data of the addresses φ1 to 1FH relating to the former three are created at the time of font selection. The slot number (address 2) and the bank number in the slot (addresses 18H to 19H)
Are used for font selection, respectively.
The data below the address 20H is font global data (cartridge information) read from the font cartridge.

First, the FCB status indicates the status of various flags.
Flags include FCB registered flag BUILD, font flag FONT indicating font style, and RO
Flag indicating M or RAM ROM / RAM Kanji flag KANZI, Download flag DOWNLO indicating that it is a font cartridge for downloading system programs, etc.
AD, flag READY indicating the font selectable state, RAM
Flag LO indicating whether the font has been loaded into the font
There are ADED, directory registration flag FDIR, and SPESIAL indicating that the font is special.

The FCB information includes a slot number, a font address set as a linear address in the slot, a font directory registration top bank number, a D-BANK number which is the number of font directory registration banks, an F-BANK size indicating the number of font banks, and a slot. There is a kanji font pattern start address that indicates the start address of the kanji font pattern in the font, a font size that indicates the number of bytes in the font pattern configuration, a maximum character code that indicates the maximum character code in the directory, and a total number of font bytes that indicates the total font capacity .

The logical position information includes a bank offset indicating a bank offset value at the time of generating a font access address, and an F-BANK number indicating a bank number in a slot.

The cartridge information (font global information) includes a font style indicating a font usage type, a font type indicating a font character type, a font name used when selecting a font by name, a font maximum character code, and a font cell width indicating a maximum character width. , A flag cell height indicating the maximum character height, a baseline position, a font revision number indicating a product rearrangement number, font capacity information indicating combination information and bank size information, and font capacity information indicating a bank size coefficient.

The logical font attribute area is located next to the cartridge information and is not shown in FIG. 8, but the logical font attribute data includes a code for each application and a character type as shown in the VFCB diagram in FIG. , Character type, character pitch, character height, character style, and character weight.

Directory registration area (D-BANK) The font directory is management information corresponding to each character in the font ROM. However, if the font ROM is accessed for each character, parallel processing with character drawing is impossible, so throughput is low. descend. Therefore, processing time is reduced by loading the selected font into the SYS-RAM 303. In the SYS-RAM 303, the directory registration area is provided after the FCB area, and as shown in FIG. 9A, eight banks D-BANKφ to D-BANK7 of a ring buffer configuration (one bank = 2K).
Byte) is prepared. D-BANK is a subsection of the directory registration area.

At the time of registration, as in the case of F-BANK, a plurality of banks are used according to the directory size. FIG. 9 (b)
FIG. 7A shows a state in which directories of four kinds of fonts are registered from a state in which there are eight valid empty banks (a hatched portion indicates a bank used for registration). The top bank No. and directory size (number of banks) are determined for each directory. The directory top bank No. and directory bank size are registered at addresses 7 and 8 of the FCB, respectively (see FIG. 8). The FCB status (address 0) includes a directory registration flag indicating that the directory is registered in the D-BANK and a status valid flag indicating the validity of the font management information on the FCB.

It should be noted that each D-BANK is provided with a D-BANK flag indicating presence / absence of directory information.

FIGS. 10 (a), (b) and (c) show the operation of the BANK pointer when updating the font directory. While the empty bank in FIG. 10 (a) is one bank,
Next, when the font F5 (capacity of 3 banks) is selected, the font F5 is not registered in the directory, and requires a capacity of 3 banks to download.
-The D-BANK flags of BANK Nos.
(FIG. 10B), a directory is downloaded from D-BANK No. 7 (FIG. 10C).

Font Registration Area (VFCB) When a user specifies a font number by ID number, information on the font is stored in a font registration area (hereinafter referred to as VFCB) on the SYS-RAM 303.

When a font is selected by ID number, even if the font corresponding to the ID number registration is removed, if there is a font having a similar attribute, the font is selected and the logical font code in the VFCB is updated. Since the VFCB may not correspond to a specific font like a logical font code, it is also called a virtual font. Note that the ID number may be called a VFCB code or a virtual font code.

FIG. 11A shows the configuration of a font (VFCB) registration area. VFCB is set on SYS-RAM 303 (see FIG. 4). It takes an area of 32 bytes in consideration of expandability.
As shown in FIG. 11 (b), one set of VFCB is stored for each font currently mounted.

The VFCB has a VFCB status, a logical font code, and a virtual font attribute corresponding to the ID number setting. VF
The CB status includes a flag indicating that the VFCB is registered and valid. The logical font code is a registration number for font management in internal processing, and represents an FCB area in which each font is registered. The virtual font attribute is a font attribute with the VFCB set by the user in accordance with the protocol of the data processing device 1. As shown in detail in FIG. 12, the application-specific code, character type, character type, and character pitch are arranged in the order of priority. , Character height, character style,
There are character weights, each corresponding to the global data shown. The virtual font attribute has the same configuration as the FCB logical font attribute.

(C) Font selection As will be described in detail later, image editing processing (FIG. 1)
, There are three stages for performing a font selection process. Initial font selection at power-on, font selection based on a protocol from the data processing apparatus 1, and font selection processing after font cartridge replacement.

When the power of the printer is turned on, nothing is selected from the data processing device 1. Therefore, the printer is initialized (#
There is a default value for 4), but font selection is one of them, and font selection processing is performed according to the default value of font selection.

As shown in FIG. 13, there are the following three methods for selecting a font by a protocol from the data processing device 1 after the power is turned on.

Slot and Bank Select As shown in FIG. 5, the slot number and the F-BANK number are assigned to the installed font cartridge in reading the font attributes (# 3 in FIG. 1), and the FCB is assigned. Registered in. Therefore, the font can be directly selected by designating the slot in which the font cartridge is mounted and the bank number in each slot from the data processing device 1 (see FIG. 24).

Font Name Select The global information (FIG. 8) of the FCB contains the name of the font. Thus, the font can be indirectly selected by designating the font name from the data processing device 1 (see FIG. 25).

ID Select The user can freely set the ID number for each font. Therefore, the font can be selected by specifying a linear number irrelevant to the slot or bank from the data processing apparatus 1 (see FIG. 27).

When a font is selected, the internal logical code (logical font code, slot number, bank number, font name, ID number, etc.) of the font (or the font closest to the font if the font is not installed) ) Is selected. Select information
As shown in FIG. 14, each of these select values and the last select mode are constituted. Then, a select mode for each mode is set in an area corresponding to the code of the last select mode. In the update of the select information at the time of font selection, this last select mode and
The corresponding select value is changed.

After replacing the font cartridge, downloading the font, and reselecting the font when selecting with various emulators, read the font attributes again and then read the last select mode before font cartridge replacement etc. (see Fig. 14) The font is selected by the corresponding select value (FIG. 1, # 15 to # 17). If this selection is not possible, the default font is selected as when the power was turned on.

 The font RAM is handled as follows.

In the case of font RAM without a backup power supply, fonts that are not registered in the FCB have not been downloaded yet or have been removed and inserted in the RAM when updating.
Registered as

Font R for font RAM with backup power supply
Like OM, it may be added at the time of font exchange,
In this case, since it has not been registered in the FCB, it is determined whether or not downloading has been performed based on information set from the external input switch of the font RAM.

(D) Image Editing and Initial Setting Image editing by the bitmap type character generator according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flow of the CPU 301 in FIG.

When power is turned on, internal initialization is performed (step #
One. Hereinafter, “step” is abbreviated. ), RAMs 303 and 32 are cleared (# 2), font attributes such as cell size are read from the font section 33 (# 3), initial settings by switches, internal default values (including default values for font selection) Initial setting and initial font selection processing (Fig. 19,
Initial settings such as FIG. 20) are made (# 4). Initial settings by switch setting include resolution (at the time of editing), protocol conversion table (corresponding to various protocols), interface switching (Centronics, RS232C), and the like. Initial settings using internal default values include initial font,
There are margins. Then, the process enters a processing loop for data received from the data processing device 1.

When the font cartridge is replaced (# 11) or when the font is downloaded (# 12), the font mounting state has changed. Therefore, as in the case of power-on, first, font attribute reading processing is performed (# 15, 16th). See figure). The last select mode before replacement (see FIG. 14) is read (# 16), and font selection is performed based on the corresponding select value (# 17). If the selection is possible (# 18), the process is terminated.
The font (default font) of the lowest-numbered bank of the lowest-numbered slot is selected (# 19, see FIG. 19).

Next, the presence or absence of the P-RAM 305 and the existence of data in the R-buffer 304 are checked (# 21, # 22).
Data is read out from the buffer 304 (# 23), and protocol analysis such as format control and font selection and associated processing are performed (# 24). Font selection is performed according to the protocol from the data processing device 1 in FIGS.
This is performed according to the processing procedure shown in FIG. If there is no free space in the P-RAM 305 or no data is received in the R-buffer 304, no processing is performed.

Next, the BM-RAM 32 can be accessed without printing (# 31).
The BACT flag is not set (# 32) and the previous character BM-
When data is not being written into the RAM (# 33), if there is data in the P-RAM 305 (# 34), the data is read out (# 35).
Analysis and processing are performed (# 36). As a result of the analysis, if the data is a control code meaning PAGE EJECT (# 3
7) The JOBACT flag is set (# 41), and the printing operation starts. If not PAGE EJECT (# 37), step # 1
Return to 1 and search for the next data. Even when printing is not being performed (# 32), during BM-RAM writing (# 33), or when there is no data in the P-RAM 305 (# 34), the above processing is not performed. When the JOBACT flag is set (# 41),
The paper feed command PFCMD is output (# 42), the interface of the print head control unit 42 is set to a printable state (# 43), and a print command is output to the interface control unit 40 (# 44), thereby performing a printing operation. Enter. Upon receiving an exposure end command (EXPEND) from the interface control unit 40 (# 45), the number of sheets is managed. When JOBEND indicating the end of the printing of the set number is detected, the JOBACT flag is reset, the print state is released, and the BM-RAM 32 is cleared (# 47).

FIG. 15 shows a flow of reading font attributes from the font cartridge. This processing is performed when the power is turned on (#
3) and when replacing fonts in cartridge form (#
11) is performed to generate font management information for font selection.

First, pre-processing for RAM cartridge (# 61, 16th
Refer to the figure).

Next, each font cartridge is checked. A read / write check of the first byte of the first bank F-BANKφ of the first slot is performed (# 71). If it is not the font RAM (# 72), the font global data is immediately read (# 73). If the font style is φFFH (YES in # 74), it is determined that there is no font cartridge. Otherwise (NO in # 74), the ROM flag of the FCB status is set (# 75), the style status FONT flag (flag indicating the font style) is set (# 76), and the font management information in FIG. (FCB) (# 77).

If it is determined in step # 72 that the font is a RAM, then the FCB status RAM flag is set (# 81), and the
Set the style status in the B status to the special specification (# 82). Next, the font style at the head of the F-BANK (FIG. 8) is re-checked (# 83), and in the status initial setting process (# 61, FIG. 16), clear (#
104, Fig. 16) If not, F
The LOADED flag of the CB status is set (# 84), the global data is read (# 85), and registered in each font management information of FIG. 8 (# 77).

As described above, the font attribute is analyzed for all F-BANK (# 91) and all slots (# 92).

FIG. 16 shows a flow of font status initialization.

When replacing the font ROM, the currently selected font may be removed or moved to another slot, and font data may be destroyed in the font RAM due to the insertion / removal operation. Therefore, according to this flow, processing for updating the font management information necessary in such a case is performed.

First, the FCB pointer indicating the start address of the FCB is initialized (# 101). If it is not a RAM font due to the FCB status in the FCB (NO in # 102), it is a RAM font (# 10
2) If not registered as loaded (# 103), F
-Clear the first byte of BANK (write φFFH) (# 104). If the RAM font is registered as loaded (# 103), it is compared with the global information of all slots and all F-BANKs (# 105). If the same RAM cartridge is not found (# 106), the font is It is determined that the data has been removed, and the first byte of the F-BANK is similarly cleared (# 104). Slot and bank positions are determined by the FCB. There is no problem because the font ROM cannot be cleared. If the same RAM cartridge is found (# 106), no processing is performed. Perform the above processing for the number of fonts that can be registered in the FCB (#
107).

Next, the head of the bank that is not registered as loaded RAM is cleared for all banks (# 108). After that, all FCB areas are cleared (# 109).

By the above processing, φFFH is stored at the head of all the F-BANKs other than the loaded RAM and the font ROM (including empty slots), which is necessary for the font attribute reading processing (see FIG. 15). Is updated.

FIG. 17 shows a flow of font information registration (# 77).
In this embodiment, two types of European Kanji fonts and an overlay cartridge are prepared as shown in the above table. When the global information of the effective font is read, the font information is registered by this flow. First, the font style of the global information is read (# 121). If it is identified as a kanji font (# 122) or special font (# 125), the number of FCBs
The status is set (# 123, # 126). For kanji fonts, along with normal font management information registration,
The management information unique to the kanji font (the top address of the kanji font pattern in the slot in FIG. 12) is registered (# 124).

In the case of the European font, only the information of the FCB is registered (# 127). Finally, the FCB registration flag indicating that the information of the FCB is determined is set to the FCB status (# 128).

With the above processing, font management information (FCB) is stored in the system RAM for fonts installed when the power is turned on.
Registered on 303.

FIG. 18 shows a flow of the font directory registration processing. When only the default font directory is selected at power-on (# 4 in FIG. 1), D-
The number of banks is read (# 141), and each time a font registered from D-BANK No. φ is selected, a directory is registered in an empty bank in the work area of D-BANK (14).
6). Then, the logical number of the used font is attached (# 147), and at the same time, the head bank of the used D-BANK is stored in the FCB (# 148), and the directory corresponding to the format control is taken out.

D-BANK has a ring buffer structure, and when an empty bank runs short (# 142), as shown in FIG.
Except for the bank in use (# 143), it is used again from No. φ. At this time, the selected flag on the FCB status is cleared (# 144), and the directory of the old font becomes invalid (# 145).

FIG. 19 shows the flow of the initial font selection process in the initial setting (# 4 in FIG. 1). As the default font, the font of the slot and the bank of the smallest number among the installed font cartridges is determined.

First, the logical font code is set to 1 (# 161). FCB
A font selection process (# 162, see FIG. 20) is performed for the fonts registered in. If the font is normally selected (# 163), the default mode is stored as the current font selection information (# 164).

If the selectable font is not registered in the FCB (# 163), the font is not set, or the font data cannot be read by the BM-CPU 301 for some reason, so that the printing process cannot be performed. . Therefore, if the font is not the last font (# 165), the logical font code is incremented (# 166), and the font is selected again (# 162). If the last font cannot be selected, error processing such as error display is performed (# 167).

FIG. 20 shows a flow of a font selection process using a logical font code.

First, read the selected logical font code (#
181). If the font is not already selected (# 182)
The FCB pointer is moved by the code (# 183), and the FCB status is read (# 184). If the registered flag is on (# 185) and the font is (# 186),
Next, it is checked whether the directory has already been registered (# 187). If the directory has not been registered, the directory registration process (FIG. 19) is performed (# 188), and then the font cell is set (# 189,
See FIG. 21). Then, the selected flag is turned on (#
190). If the font has already been selected (# 182), the selected flag indicating that the font registered in the FCB has been selected is immediately turned on (# 19).
0).

If the registered flag is not on (# 185) or if it is not a font (# 186), no processing is performed.

FIG. 21 shows a processing flow of setting a font cell (FIG. 20, # 189).

This process is the character space used when moving the cursor in character units (tab processing, CR processing),
The line space is registered.

Since the user can set the space, it is checked whether or not the space is specified (# 200, # 205). If the space is specified, the following space registration processing is not performed. If it is not specified, the maximum character width is read from the FCB font global data shown in FIG. 8 (# 201), and if the double-width character is specified by the protocol from the data processing device 1 (# 202), it is changed to 2 Double (# 203) and register as a character space (# 204).

Next, the maximum character height is read from the font global data (# 206).
7) Then, it is doubled (# 208) and registered as a line space (# 209).

FIG. 22 shows a virtual font update processing flow of the VFCB area. This processing is performed at the time of turning on the power or replacing the font cartridge in order to always deal with the optimum font.
First, the VFCB pointer is moved to the head of the VFCB area (# 221). If the VFCB has not been registered in the VFCB (# 222), the logical font code is registered in the VFCB (# 223). The above processing is performed for all VFCBs (# 224).

FIG. 23 shows a flow of the logical font code registration process (# 223) in the VFCB. Here, the font closest to the attribute of each VFCB is made to correspond. First applicable
The status at the head of the VFCB area is read (# 241). If registered (# 242), find the closest font from the FCB as a valid VFCB.

First, the nearest font code LFNO and its matching depth MAX_MATCH are initialized (# 243). Then, the logical font attribute is read from the registered first FCB (# 2
44), a parameter MATCH representing the depth of matching of the virtual font attribute and the logical font attribute shown in FIG.
Is initialized (# 245).

The comparison with the logical attribute is performed sequentially from the use-specific code to the character weight. The VFCB virtual font attribute is read (# 246), compared with the logical attribute (# 247), and if they match, the MATCH is incremented by one (# 248). The comparison method is usually effective when the codes are exactly the same,
For pitch and height, the closest font is valid.

If the comparison is completed for the seven font attributes (# 24
9) If both are closer than the previous LFNO MAX_MATCH (# 250), both parameters are updated (# 251).

The same is compared with the logical attribute of the next FCB. Attribute comparison is performed for all registered fonts (# 252), MAT
The logical font code of the FCB with the largest CH is registered as the logical font code of the VFCB (# 253).

(E) Font reselection When font selection is instructed from the data processing device 1, as described in section (b), processing is performed on the selected fonts for the three fonts.

FIG. 24 shows a processing flow of font selection by slot and bank. The slot select and the bank select are prepared as separate commands from the data processing device 1. For the slot select, the font of the first bank of the slot is selected, and for the bank select, the font of the F-BANK No. in the corresponding slot of the currently selected slot is selected.

Font selection based on a command from the data processing device 1 is performed by analysis of received data (# 24, FIG. 1).

First, the currently selected slot (bank) number is read (# 271). If it is the same as the slot (bank) number specified by the command of the data processing device 1 (# 272), it has already been selected and the following search processing is not performed.

If not selected, the maximum number of font types that can be registered as a loop counter for search processing is set (# 273), and the FCB
Of the FCB pointer, which is the start address of, is initialized (= φ) (# 274). At the time of slot selection processing (YES in # 277), the slot number is read (# 275),
During bank select processing (NO in # 277), slot No.
(# 275) and the F-BANK No. in the slot (# 278) are sequentially read and compared with the designated slot number and the F-BANK No. in the designated slot from the data processing device 1 (# 276,
# 279). Search until the font is found.
In the case of the slot select command, all slots are to be searched, and in the case of the bank select command, all banks in one slot are to be searched.

If there is no corresponding slot and F-BANK, or if the corresponding slot and F-BANK in the slot are not registered in the FCB, the process ends (# 280).

Next, the FCB status of the searched font is read (# 281). If the font flag FONT is set, the font is recognized (# 282), and if the management information is registered in the FCB (# 283), it is regarded as a valid font. Next, looking at the directory registration flag FDIR, if it is not registered (# 284), the directory registration process (first
(See Fig. 8)) (# 285). The directory contains information on each character (character size, address of corresponding dot pattern, etc.).

Next, a font cell setting process (see FIG. 21) is performed.
Update character space and line space for format control according to the selected font (# 28
6) Turn on the selected flag (# 287). Finally, the selection information is updated (# 288). Here, the last recover mode, the slot and / or the bank are updated according to the selection method.

If the font is not recognized (# 282) and the font is not registered in the FCB (# 283), the processing of step # 284 and thereafter is not performed.

Font Selection by Font Name FIG. 25 shows the processing flow of font selection by font name.

The processing procedure is the same as the above-described font selection based on the slot and bank number (FIG. 24), except that the search condition and the select information are six-character font names.

First, the currently selected font name is read (# 301). If the font name is the same as the font name specified by the command of the data processing device 1 (# 302), it is already selected, and the following search processing is skipped.

If not selected, FCB which is the start address of FCB
The pointer is set to an initial value (= φ) (# 303). Then, the font name of the FCB is read (# 304) and compared with the font name from the data processing device 1 (# 30).
Five). Search until the font is found.

If there is no corresponding font name up to the last font, the process ends (# 306).

Next, the FCB status of the found font is read (# 311). If the font flag FONT is set, it is registered in the FCB (# 312), and if the font is recognized (# 313), it is regarded as a valid font.
Next, looking at the directory registration flag FDIR, if it is not registered (# 314), a directory registration process (see FIG. 18) is performed (# 315). The directory contains information on each character (character size, address of corresponding dot pattern, etc.).

Next, a font cell setting process (see FIG. 21) is performed.
Update character space and line space for formatting according to the selected font (# 31
6) Turn on the selected flag (# 317). Finally, the selection information is updated (# 318).

If the font has not been registered in the FCB (# 312) and the font has not been recognized (# 312), the processing after step # 314 is not performed.

Font selection by ID number When the user sets the ID number from the data processing device 1,
It is registered in the analysis and processing of received data (FIG. 1, # 24). Then, the font can be changed by the ID number.

FIG. 26 shows a flow of the font ID registration process. First, enter the specified ID number (VFCB code) (# 33
1) The currently selected logical font code is registered in the designated VFCB (# 332), the logical font attribute is also registered (# 333), and the VFCB registered flag is turned on (# 33).
Four).

FIG. 27 is a processing flow of font selection using the VFCB created by the above ID registration processing (FIG. 26). When ID selection is specified by a command from the data processing device 1, the ID number of the font selection is read (# 351), and the presence or absence of the font registered in the VFCB is searched by that number (# 352), and the corresponding logical font is searched. Load the code (# 3
53), a font selection process is performed by the method shown in FIG. 20 (# 354), and the select information is updated (# 35).
Five). Here, the ID mode and the ID number are updated.

In this embodiment, the registration of the ID number is made to correspond to the selected font at the time of registering the ID number. However, the ID number may be registered in combination with a specific attribute such as a font name. However, since the protocol is complicated in this method, it is possible in this embodiment to use it together with another font selection protocol.

(Effect of the Invention) In the present invention, the font designation information input from the input means is stored in the font designation information storage means. When the change of the font stored in the font storage unit is detected, the font attribute stored in the font storage unit is read and the font attribute stored in the font management information storage unit is updated. The font specified by the stored font specification information is selected again with reference to the updated font attribute. Therefore, font reselection is automatically performed according to the font change, and the user does not need to reselect.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of image editing. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the printer system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a bitmap data processing device and a print engine. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a bitmap control unit. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration inside the font cartridge. 6 (a) and 6 (b) are diagrams each showing the structure of the character type code of the font global data. FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b) are diagrams each showing the configuration of the FCB. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the configuration of the FCB in detail. FIGS. 9 (a) and 9 (b) are diagrams showing how a directory is registered in a directory registration area. FIGS. 10 (a), (b), and (c) are diagrams sequentially showing how font directories are updated. 11 (a) and 11 (b) are diagrams each showing a configuration of a VFCB. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the configuration of the VFCB in detail. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a flow of a font selection process from the data processing device. FIG. 14 is a diagram of select information. FIG. 15 is a flowchart of reading font attributes. FIG. 16 is a flowchart of font status initialization. FIG. 17 is a flowchart of font information registration. FIG. 18 is a flowchart of the font directory registration process. FIG. 19 is a flowchart of the initial font selection process. FIG. 20 is a flowchart of font selection by a logical font code. FIG. 21 is a flowchart for setting a font cell. FIG. 22 is a flowchart of updating a virtual font. FIG. 23 is a flowchart of the VFCB registration process. FIG. 24 is a flowchart of font selection by slot and bank. FIG. 25 is a flowchart of font selection by font name. FIG. 26 is a flowchart of font ID number registration. FIG. 27 is a flowchart of font selection by ID number. 1 Data processing device 3 Bitmap type character generator 30 Bitmap control unit 33 Font unit 301 BM-CPU 303 SYS-RAM (storage means) 308 … Data processing device interface.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A font management device for a character generator for generating a character based on a selected font, storing a plurality of sets of fonts, and capable of changing a storage font during editing of a character image. Font storage means; font management information storage means for storing font attributes stored in the font storage means; input means for inputting font specification information for specifying a font to be used for character generation; Font designation information storage means for storing font designation information; selection means for selecting a font designated by the font designation information by referring to font attributes stored in the font management information storage means; and font information stored in the font storage means. When the font change is detected, the font attribute stored in the font storage unit is read out, and the font is changed. Updating means for updating the font attributes stored in the font management information storage means, and specifying the font specification information stored in the font specification information storage means by referring to the updated font attributes in the font management information storage means. Reselection means for reselecting a font to be used.