JP2785777B2 - Printer system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printer system, and more particularly to a printer system for printing out image information using a standard document.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a fixed form (fixed form data) and image data are printed, a portion where the form is described by a host device and the position of the image data are adjusted in accordance with the coordinates of the form. The designated portion and the image data portion are combined to form print data.

The host device transmits the print data to the printer device, and in the printer device, the developing unit expands the form portion based on the designation of the print data, and converts the image data according to the resolution of the printer device. Was drawing to the frame buffer.

[0004]

However, in order to create mixed data of a document and a figure in a host device, a complicated application must be used, and it is only necessary to position a scanned image on a standard document and print it. However, complicated operations in multiple steps were required.

Further, when the conventional example is viewed from the viewpoint of data transfer, there is a waste that the same fixed document portion data is transmitted between the host device and the printer device every time.
Further, in the printer device, since this fixed form document is repeatedly developed for each print data and further for each page, the processing is duplicated.

[0006] Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei.
In Japanese Patent No. 161427, registered data including an original extended control code and subsequent print data is stored in a nonvolatile memory of a printer device, and corresponds to data transmitted from a host through a one-way interface. A method for executing a registered data processing program in a ROM if an extension code is included is disclosed.

However, in this method, it is necessary to perform management for avoiding duplication of data in the nonvolatile memory, particularly, extension codes. In addition, there is a disadvantage that a method for identifying whether the extension control code is valid and an instruction system of the extension code itself are required.

In addition, since the registration data processing program is required separately, the number of processing steps in the printer is increased by one, which causes a disadvantage that the printing processing is delayed.

On the other hand, in recent years, GDI (Graphic D)
A simple and multi-functional OS (Operati) that not only appeals visually using the device interface
ngSystem) is also provided to general users, and accordingly, various requests are also required for setting of a printing environment. That is, functions such as printing image data pasted on a fixed-form document are complicated, and operability is required.

[0010]

An object of the present invention is to improve the disadvantages of the conventional example. In particular, when image data is pasted on a standard document and printed , operations such as positioning of the image data are easy.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer system capable of performing print processing at high speed without performing redundant processing.

[0011]

Therefore, in the present invention, a sentence
From the host device that creates the certificate data
A printer device for printing predetermined print data to be transmitted;
It has.

In addition, the host device transmits the image data and the
Application that creates document data consisting of type data
And the document data created with this application.
A display that shows, the document data into print data
Printer driver to be changed.

Further, the printer driver stores the image data.
Printer uses fixed data as print data before sending
Data transmission function to send to
Image data combined with the standard data sent by the function
Image data to be transmitted to the printer as print data.
Data transmission function.

Then, the printer device is sent from the host device.
Expand transmitted print data into bitmap data
Expander and bitmap expanded by this expander
A frame buffer for storing data and this frame buffer
Print out the bitmap data stored in the buffer
And a printing unit.

[0015] Further , the developing unit transmits the fixed form data.
Pre-deployment function that sometimes expands to fixed bitmap data
When the image data is sent,
Data stored in the data storage unit and the image data.
And a compositing function to draw on the frame buffer
I have.

In such a printer system, a book
Especially in the invention, the printer driver prints fixed data
When changing to data and sending it to the printer,
Store the standard data before the change in the printing data in the host device.
It has a fixed data storage function.

[0017] The application is an image data
Is stored by the standard data storage function when creating
Data that controls the display of the fixed data on the display
The display control function is provided. this
Thus, the above-mentioned object is achieved.

Here, the printer driver is used to
Printer do so before sending the data to standard data as the print data
To the device. Then, the expansion unit recognizes this fixed form data.
Only beforehand. On the other hand, on the host device side,
Change fixed data to print data by data storage function
To the print data when sending to the printer
The fixed form data before the update is stored in the host device. Applique
Image data by the standard data display control function.
When creating data, use the standard data storage function.
Display control of the stored standard data on the display.
Therefore, the user can read the image data while looking at the standard data.
create.

After that , the printer driver
Image data output from the
Send to printer. The unfolding part is composed by
Fixed bitmap data when image data is sent
Combines the data stored in the storage unit with the image data
To draw in the frame buffer. In addition, the printing unit
Bitmap data stored in the frame buffer
Is printed out.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a printer system according to the present invention. The printer system includes a host device 1 that creates document data, and a printer device 2 that prints out the document data.

The host device 1 has an application 23 for creating document data composed of image data and standard data.
And a printer driver 22 for changing the document data into print data.

Further, the printer driver 22 has a fixed data transmission function of transmitting fixed data as print data to the printer device 2 before transmitting image data, and image data to be synthesized with the fixed data transmitted by the fixed data transmission function. And an image data transmission function of transmitting image data to the printer device. The image data transmission function edits the image data output from the application 23 into print data corresponding to the resolution of the printer device 2 and transmits the print data to the printer device.

On the other hand, the printer device 2 includes a developing unit 26 for developing print data transmitted from the host device 1 into bitmap data, and a frame buffer 29 for storing the bitmap data developed by the developing unit 26.
And a printing unit 15 that prints out the bitmap data stored in the frame buffer 29.

Further, the developing unit 26 stores the fixed data stored in the fixed data storage unit 28A and the fixed data stored in the fixed data storage unit 28A. A fixed bitmap data storage unit 28B for storing bitmap data is also provided.

Further, the expanding section 26 has a pre-expanding function of expanding into standard bitmap data when the standard data is transmitted, and a data stored in the standard bitmap data storage section 28B when the image data is transmitted. And a synthesizing function for synthesizing the image data with the image data and drawing the image data in a frame buffer.

This will be described in detail.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing details of the printer system shown in FIG.

The application 23 includes a general application 23 such as a word processor for creating document data, DTP software, or software for controlling a scanner, and an environment setting application for setting a printing environment such as creation of standard data.

The environment setting application 21 edits fixed data (secondary information). The template data edited here is sent to the printer driver 22 and changed to image data that can be identified by the interpreter 27 of the printer device. Further, the environment setting application 21 converts the standard data into a data format that can be read by a general application, and stores the standard data in the standard data file storage unit 24 as the standard data file 24 (standard data storage function). This standard data file is read by the general application 23 and displayed on the display. This is used for positioning or the like at the time of image editing (standard data display control function). The standard data includes a form-like portion and format information such as a header, a footer, and a margin. Further, image data such as a mark to be printed on a letterhead may be included.

The printer driver 22 converts the image data created by the application 23 into print data based on a page description language that can be analyzed by the interpreter 27. Further, the printer driver 22 transmits the standard data output from the environment setting application 21 to the printer device 2.

When the general application 23 selects the printer driver 22, the printer driver 22
First, the non-volatile memory 12 of the printer is
Is inquired as to what type of standard data exists, and the contents of the standard data are displayed to the user based on the returned response and the standard data. This display is performed by outputting to a display or the like provided with the host device.

On the other hand, the printer has a receiving section 25 for receiving print data transmitted from the printer driver. Further, an interpreter 27 for analyzing print data is provided in the developing unit 26. The expansion unit 26 expands the print data transmitted from the printer driver 22 according to the analysis of the interpreter 27, and draws the generated data. If only the standard data is developed, it is drawn in the standard bitmap data storage unit 28B. If it is image data, it is synthesized with the standard bitmap data and drawn in the frame buffer 29.

The fixed-form data storage unit 28A and the fixed-form bitmap data storage unit 28B are secured in the nonvolatile memory 28. When handling a plurality of fixed data, registration of fixed data is accepted up to the capacity of the nonvolatile memory.

When a plurality of fixed data is handled, the expansion unit 2
6, a number stored in the fixed-form bitmap data storage unit 28B by assigning a number designated to the fixed-form data to the expanded fixed-form bitmap data when the fixed-form data stored in the fixed-form data storage unit 28A is developed. It is preferable that the printer driver 22 be provided with a function of assigning fixed image data or a fixed image data when transmitting image data or fixed image data to the printer device.

In this case, the data is synthesized with the image data in the developing section 26 based on the fixed number. Also, when the image data is created by the application 23, the template data is displayed according to the template number.

FIG. 3 shows a flow of data exchanged between the host device 1 and the printer 2.

When the printer driver 22 is selected on the host device 1, the printer driver 22 requests fixed data (fixed data request function). Then, in the printer device 2, the developing unit 26 searches for the fixed data in the non-volatile memory 28, and transfers the list information of the fixed data as the search result to the printer driver 22 (fixed data information transfer function).

After the fixed data is selected by the user of the application software, the host device 1 transfers the selected fixed data 33, and the printer that has received the data performs pre-deployment of the fixed data (fixed data transmission function). , And renders a bitmap image in the fixed bitmap data storage unit 28B (pre-expansion function).

Thereafter, if image data other than the standard data is transferred (image data transmission function), the bitmap data of the standard data described above and the result of developing the image data are combined and stored in the frame buffer 29. Store (synthesis function). This is repeated for a plurality of pages.

In the present embodiment, since the data in which the image is pasted on the standard data is printed, the following effects are obtained. First, when the creation of the image data is completed, the fixed data has already been transmitted to the printer device, so that the data transfer amount after the print request is generated is reduced. further,
Since the standard data is pre-expanded, the time required for the standard data expanding process is not required. The fixed bitmap data is stored in the fixed bitmap data storage unit 28B, and the developing unit combines the image data with the image data by the combining function. There is no needless processing of deploying multiple times. As described above, the transfer amount of data after the print request is issued is reduced, and the same data is not duplicated and developed many times, so that the printing process can be performed at high speed.

Also, since the standard data is transmitted to the printer in advance, the application does not need to combine the standard data and the image data as print data together with detailed unit designation. According to the present embodiment, even if a document has a layout that cannot be created without using complicated DTP software, the image read from the scanner is simply converted into a file of a predetermined size, and the image is converted into a fixed format. Printing can be performed. Therefore, a printed material having a complicated layout can be realized by an easy operation.

[Embodiment] With reference to FIG. 4, an overall hardware configuration of a printer apparatus to which the present invention is applied and its surrounding environment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 4, the printer device includes an image processing unit (including a developing unit) 3 for forming a bitmap image from image information transmitted from the host device 1 and a physical device based on the bitmap image. Printer engine (printing unit) 15 which performs various outputs.

The image processing section 3 is realized by the CPU 4 which performs most of the actual processing. The CPU is connected via an internal bus to a ROM 5 storing control program codes, page description language interprinter codes 27, and font data.

The data bus is used to communicate image information and fixed data between the extended memory I / F 6 for performing memory information when the initial video RAM 10 runs short and the host device 1. Host I / F7 and CPU
4 and access to each unit in the printer when accessing each unit in the printer, and DMA (Direct Memory Access).
ss) is connected to the transfer controller 8.

The transfer controller 8 includes a DRAM 11
Is connected to the bus. The storage area of the DRAM 11 includes a RAM (reception buffer) 9 for temporarily storing image data sent from the host device 1 and a video RAM for storing a bitmap image while the image data is being developed.
(Frame buffer) 10.

The transfer controller 8 is connected to a non-volatile memory 28 for storing fixed data and a video I / F 13 for serially transferring a bitmap image to the printer engine 15 and receiving information on the printer engine. .

RAM 9 and video RAM in DRAM 11
Does not have a fixed boundary line, and changes dynamically with the value of a register in the transfer control controller 8. The transfer control controller 8 includes a counter for recording a physical area such as a left margin, a top margin, the number of lines per page, and the number of dots per line, and the image data is developed in accordance therewith. . These pieces of information in the nonvolatile memory 12 are rewritten only once when setting information is sent from the host.

The fixed data in the non-volatile memory 12 includes headers, footers, and page decorations, which are identified by the page description language interpret code 27 included in the ROM 5. It is described in the format.

Upon receiving a request for fixed data from the host device, the host I / F generates an interrupt request signal to the CPU 4, and the CPU 4 checks the interrupt resource. When it is recognized that the interruption has occurred due to communication from the host device 1, the transfer of the fixed data is executed as exception processing.

If the received information is an inquiry about fixed data, the CPU 4 searches the data in the non-volatile memory 12 to answer the inquiry, and returns information on the data to the host device 1.

On the other hand, if it is image data, it is saved in the RAM 9 via the transfer controller 8. When the reception of all the image data is completed and the saving to the RAM 9 is completed, first, the presence or absence of the fixed image data in the non-volatile memory 12 is checked, and if there is, the image is developed in the video RAM 10. After that, the image data in the RAM 9 is expanded.

The bit map image developed from the image data by the data developing unit 26 is drawn on the frame buffer 29 of the video RAM 10 until the development of one page is completed.
Printer engine 1 in the form of serial data through
Output to 5

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a basic and common portion in the image information sent from the host is sent to the printer in advance, and the secondary information is previously sent while waiting for the image information from the host of the printer. By transferring information, the host,
As a result, the amount of transfer between printers can be reduced, and wasteful time during transfer of image information can be saved, and a smooth bitmap image can be developed.

[0056]

Since the present invention functions is constructed as described above, according to this, expansion unit, the synthesis function, data in which image data is stored in the fixed form bit map data storage unit when it is transmitted The image data is combined with the image data and drawn in the frame buffer, so that printing can be performed in a fixed format without receiving fixed data when a print request is generated. Therefore, data transfer after a print request is generated Since the amount is reduced and the standard data is pre-expanded in advance, the time required for the expansion processing of the standard data is not required. In addition, the standard data display control function
When the application creates image data
The fixed data stored by the fixed data storage function
Is displayed on the display. Therefore, the position of the image
It becomes easy to match. Change standard data to print data
To the print data when sending to the printer
In order to store the previous fixed data in the host device,
Without duplicating processing, image data can be added to standard documents.
Operations such as image positioning can be performed when pasting and printing.
It is possible to provide an unprecedented excellent printer system that is easy and can perform printing processing at high speed .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the printer system shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation example in the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of hardware resources of the printer shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Host device 2 Printer device 15 Printing unit (printer engine) 22 Printer driver 23 Application (general application) 26 Developing unit 28 Non-volatile memory 29 Frame buffer

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B41J 5/30 G06F 3/12 G06F 15/20 566

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A host device for creating document data;
Prints the specified print data sent from the host
Printer device, and the host device comprises image data and standard data.
An application that creates document data and this application
Display that displays the document data created by the application
And a printer that changes the document data into print data
A driver for transmitting the image data.
The fixed form data is sent to the printer device as print data.
The standard data transmission function to communicate and the standard data transmission function
Image data combined with the standard data sent by
Image data to be transmitted to the printer device as print data
A printer transmitting function, wherein the printer device is configured to transmit a mark transmitted from the host device.
A developing unit for developing printing data into bitmap data;
Accumulates bitmap data expanded by the expansion unit
Frame buffer to be stored and accumulated in this frame buffer
And a printing unit that prints out the output bitmap data.
And the expanding unit, when the fixed form data is transmitted,
Pre-expansion function to expand to fixed bitmap data, and
When the image data is transmitted, the standard bitmap is transmitted.
The data stored in the data storage unit and the image data
A combining function of combining and drawing in the frame buffer.
In the printer system provided with, the printer driver converts the fixed data into print data.
When sending to the printer device after changing to
Store fixed data before change to data in the host device
The application generates the image data.
The fixed data stored by the fixed data storage function
Data display to control data display on the display
A printer system having a control function .