JP2748438B2 - Computer system - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a computer system such as a workstation, and more particularly, to a computer system in which a processor transfers graphic data to a printer.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, when transferring graphic data to a printer, a processor unit of a computer system has performed a drawing process for converting the graphic data into commands that can be interpreted by the printer for each graphic.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, when many figures are included in the figure data, that is, in the case of a complicated figure, there is a problem that the above-described drawing processing is complicated and the processing time is long.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the related art, and provides a computer system capable of simplifying a drawing process when graphic data includes many figures and shortening a processing time. With the goal.

[Means and actions for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a processor for requesting printing of print data including at least graphic data, and a printer for expanding and printing the print data requested to be printed by the processor in a first bitmap memory. In the computer system having:
A second bitmap memory having a smaller memory capacity than the first bitmap memory; and, when requesting printing of the print data, reducing and expanding graphic data included in the print data to the second bitmap memory. The image processing apparatus further comprises a reduction / expansion means and an enlargement processing means for enlarging the image data reduced / expanded in the second bitmap memory when transmitting the graphic data to the printer. Therefore, the memory capacity of the processor can be reduced.

〔Example〕

A first embodiment of the graphic data processing method according to the present invention will be described.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a computer system for implementing the graphic data processing method according to the present invention. The computer system includes a processor 1 for performing drawing processing of graphic data, a display 2 for displaying characters, figures, or input data, a keyboard 3 for inputting instructions and data to the processor, and a laser printer or the like. And a printer 4.

The above-described processor 1 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 11 that controls the entire system and performs data arithmetic processing, a main storage device 12 provided with a bitmap buffer for drawing graphic data, , 1
When the drawing processing for the page is completed, the image processing apparatus 13 transfers the graphic data in the bitmap buffer to the printer.

FIG. 1 is a detailed block diagram showing the configuration of the image processing apparatus 13. The image processing device 13 is a processor for image processing, and includes a data classification unit 21 that sorts input character / graphic data into character data and graphic data.
A character print processing unit 22 that calculates and specifies the output position of character data and outputs character data to a printer; a graphic drawing processing unit 23 that draws graphic data in a bitmap buffer, which will be described later; And a bit map print processing unit 24 for performing calculation and designation of the image data and outputting graphic data to the printer. 25 is the main storage device
12 is a bitmap buffer provided in the device. The bitmap buffer 25 is secured in the main storage device by the same size as the number of dots of the printer 4. For example,
For a laser printer equipped with A4 size paper at 240 DPI (dots / inch), 210 mm x 297 mm 1984 (dots) x 2806 (do
ts) bitmap buffers are set.

Next, a case where a printing example as shown in FIG. 4 is transferred to the printer 4 by the above-described image processing device 13 will be described. The print data of the print example shown in FIG. 4 is represented by the following command sequence.

1… (MOVETO 200,2000) 2… (PRINT “ABCDEFGHIJKLMN”) 3… (DROWLINE 200 200 1800 2500) 4… (DROWCIRCLE 800 1300 500) 5… (MOVETO 200,1000) 6… (PRINT “OPQRSTU”) 7 ... (DRAWSQUAR 700 700 1500 1500) 8 ... (NEWPAGE) The meaning of each command described above is shown below.

1: Set the coordinates to (200, 2000).

2 Print “ABCDEFGHIJKLMN”.

3. Draw a straight line from (200,200) to (1800,2500).

4. Draw a circle with a radius of 500 centered on (800 1300).

5. Set the coordinates to (200,1000).

6 Print “OPQRSTU”.

7 Draw a square with (700,700) and (1500,1500) as diagonals.

8 ... Page break.

Now, when such print data is input from the main storage device 12 or from the user side to the image processing device 13 in FIG. 1, the print data is sorted into character data and graphic data in the data classification unit 21. The character data is sent to the character print processing unit 22, where the output position of the character data is calculated and the output position is specified.
Transferred to On the other hand, the graphic data is developed in the bitmap buffer 25 in the main storage device 12 by the graphic drawing processing unit 23. In the graphic drawing processing unit 23, the graphic data is sequentially read and drawn in the bitmap buffer 25. No data is sent from the bitmap buffer 25 until the processing of the graphic data for the minute is completed. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, when the processing of the graphic data for one page is completed, the graphic data is sent to the bitmap print processing unit 24. The bitmap print processing unit 24 calculates the output position of the graphic data. Is specified, and the graphic data is transferred to the printer 4 as raster data.

The processing procedure in the image processing apparatus 13 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When reading the print data (step 101), the image processing device 13 determines whether the data includes a page feed symbol (step 102).

If no page feed symbol is included, it is determined whether the read data is graphic data (step 103). If the read data is graphic data, a graphic is drawn in the bitmap buffer 25 (step 104), and it is determined whether or not there is next data (step 106). If there is, the process returns to step 101, and the above-described processing is repeated until one page of data is drawn. Step 103
If the data read in is not graphic data,
The character data is transferred to the printer 4 (step 105), and the process proceeds to step 106.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 102 that the read data includes a page feed symbol, it is determined whether there is a graphic in the bitmap buffer 25 (step 10).
7) If there is a figure, the figure data for one page drawn in the bitmap buffer 25 is transferred to the printer 4 (step 108). Then, after clearing all the data in the bitmap buffer 25 (step 109), the process proceeds to step 106. If there is no figure in the bitmap buffer 25 in step 107,
Move to 106.

In the first embodiment, the bitmap buffer corresponding to the bitmap for one page of the printer 4 is used.
25 is provided in the main storage device, and when drawing a graphic on the printer 4, the graphic data is expanded in the bit map buffer 25 and the graphic data for one page is sent to the printer 4 collectively. Drawing processing of figures can be performed easily and at high speed. Note that the drawing process in the bitmap buffer 25 can be made common with the drawing process on the display 2, so that the configuration of the system can be simplified.

Next, a description will be given of a second embodiment of the graphic data processing method according to the present invention.

In the second embodiment, the bitmap print processing unit 24
The apparatus configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment described above, except that a bitmap buffer is newly provided at the preceding stage of the first embodiment and is used as a bitmap buffer for an enlarging operation described later.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the basic configuration of the bitmap buffer in the first embodiment described above. In the figure, reference numeral 31 denotes a bitmap buffer secured in the main storage device 12, in which print data as indicated by oblique lines is written. Reference numeral 32 denotes a bitmap buffer for holding print data, which is mounted in the printer, and holds the transferred print data.

Usually, the resolution of a laser printer is several times better than that of a CRT display. Therefore, when the data displayed on the CRT display is printed on a laser printer at a size close to the same size,
In the graphic data processing method according to the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, a bit map buffer 31 is provided in which one dot in a laser printer corresponds to one bit. The image is drawn in an enlarged manner in the direction, and is transferred as it is to perform the printing process.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a basic configuration of a bitmap area in a second embodiment of the graphic data processing method of the present invention. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 33 denotes a bitmap buffer for the above-described enlargement operation, and the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 6 denote equivalent parts.

In FIG. 7, the size of the bitmap area 31 is
Compared to the case of the figure, the length and width are one-half of an integer (1/2 in this example). The image is drawn in the buffer 31. Then, the data drawn to be reduced to a fraction of an integer is taken out every 1 bit in the vertical direction and 4 bits in the horizontal direction. It is drawn in the map buffer 33. The graphic data is further extracted every 1 bit in the vertical direction and 8 bits in the horizontal direction, and the same data is transferred twice, shifted by 1 bit in the vertical direction, and is stored in the printer 4 as a bit map buffer 32 for holding print data. Is drawn on.

The procedure of the data enlarging process in the image processing apparatus 13 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. 8 with reference to the explanatory diagram of FIG.

First, the image processing apparatus 13 and the bitmap buffer
The vertical start position of bitmap buffer 32 is inserted into Y1 while the vertical start position of bitmap buffer 32 is inserted into Y0 (step
201) Further, the horizontal start position of the bitmap buffer 31 is set to X0, and the horizontal start position of the bitmap buffer 32 is set to X1 (step 202). Then, the 4-bit data at the position of (X0, Y0) is enlarged twice in the horizontal direction to enlarge the bitmap buffer 33 for enlargement operation.
(Step 203). Next, after transferring the data of the bitmap buffer 33 for enlargement operation to the position of (X1, Y1) as it is (step 204), the same data is transferred to the position of (X1, Y1 + 1 bit) as it is (step 204). 205). Then, it is determined whether (X0 + 4 bits) = n bits (step 206). If (X0 + 4 bits) is not n bits, X0 + 4 bits are put in X0, and X1 + 8 bits are put in X1 (step 207).
The processing from step 203 is repeated. On the other hand, in step 206, if (X0 + 4 bits) = n bits, (Y0 +
It is determined whether (1 bit) = n bits (step 20)
8). Here, when (Y0 + 1 bit) = n bits is not set, Y0 + 1 bit is put in Y0 and Y1 + 2 bit is put in Y0.
Y1 is entered (step 209), and the processing from step 202 is repeated. If (Y0 + 1 bit) = n bits, the process ends.

In the second embodiment described above, a bitmap buffer for performing the drawing process is one-in-one in both the vertical and horizontal directions.
Is secured in the main storage device, and the graphic data is reduced to an integral number for drawing, and is enlarged to an integral multiple when transferred to the printer. The bitmap buffer can be reduced to a fraction. Therefore, even when the storage area in the main storage device is small, the area dedicated to the bitmap buffer for drawing processing can be minimized, and the storage area in the main storage device can be used effectively. In the second embodiment, the size of the bitmap buffer is reduced to half in both the vertical and horizontal directions, so that the buffer can be reduced by three quarters as a whole. Further, the reduction ratio of the bitmap buffer is not limited to the above embodiment, and it goes without saying that the reduction ratio can be changed as appropriate according to the size of the storage area of the main storage device.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, the present invention provides the second bitmap memory having a smaller memory capacity than the first bitmap memory of the printer.
When the print data is requested to be printed, the graphic data included in the print data is reduced and expanded in the second bitmap memory, and when the graphic data is transmitted to the printer, the second bit map memory is used. Since the image data reduced and expanded in the map memory is configured to be enlarged, the following effects can be obtained.

1) The memory capacity of the bit map memory provided in the main memory of the processor can be reduced.

2) The processor can effectively use the main storage device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a detailed block diagram showing the configuration of an image processing apparatus, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a computer system, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a printing example, and FIG. 4 is drawn on a bitmap buffer. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a printed image. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the image processing apparatus.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the basic configuration of the bitmap buffer in the first embodiment, FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the basic configuration of the bitmap buffer in the second embodiment, and FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of an expansion process. 11 Central processing unit (CPU) 12 Main storage unit 13 Image processing unit 21 Data classification unit 22 Character print processing unit 23 Graphic drawing processing unit 24 Bitmap print processing unit, 25 ... Bitmap buffer.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A computer system comprising: a processor for requesting printing of print data including at least graphic data; and a printer for expanding print data requested to be printed by the processor in a first pit map memory for printing. A second bitmap memory having a smaller memory capacity than the first bitmap memory; and a graphic data included in the print data when the print data is requested to be printed. And a magnification processing means for enlarging the image data reduced and developed in the second bitmap memory when transmitting the graphic data to the printer. system.