JP2827838B2 - Print data transmission method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print data transmitting method capable of replacing at least a part of image data in print data created by a computer and transmitting the data to a print control device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of print data transmission method, image data arranged in print data cannot be replaced with other image data. Therefore, the arranged image data is replaced with other image data. When I wanted to, I had to recreate the print data again.

[0003]

However, when recreating print data, if the amount of arranged image data is huge, it takes a lot of time for the created application to read the print data, and the image data is replaced. It took a lot of time to save and save. Therefore, it takes a lot of time to recreate the print data file, and the work efficiency has been significantly reduced. Also, depending on the application, print data cannot be re-created, and some applications need to be created from scratch.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and provides a print data transmission method capable of easily replacing image data existing in print data created by a computer. It is intended to be.

[0005]

In order to achieve this object, a print data transmitting method according to the present invention is provided for converting print data created by a computer into image data present in the print data and print data associated with each image data. a print data division step of dividing into the arrangement data representing the position or the like, the print data division
Replace image data divided in stages with other image data
In order to obtain the respective image data of the image data for replacement, or the image data selection step of selecting from among the storage means other than the image data of the stored image data selected by the image data selecting step Resolution or
Transmits a print position correcting step of correcting the layout data based on the size , the image data selected in the image data selecting step, and the layout data corrected in the print position correcting step to a print control device. And transmitting step.

[0006]

According to the print data transmission method of the present invention having the above-described configuration, first, the print data created by the computer is stored in the form of the image data present in the print data and the print position associated with each of them. is divided into the data, then those
Replace the divided image data with other image data
In order to replace the image data for replacement, each of the image data,
Alternatively, the user selects one of the storage means for storing other image data, and selects the resolution or the resolution of the selected image data.
After the layout data is corrected based on the size , the selected image data and the corrected layout data are transmitted to the print control device.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the print data transmitting method of the present invention is embodied as a part of a printing system will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a connection state of a print control device to which an external device is applied, to which the print data transmission method of the present invention is applied. The print data transmission method of the present invention is included in the computer 100.

Computer 100 and print control device 300
The external connector 101 of the computer 100 and the interface connector A are connected by a cable A401 so that a print command can be transferred between them. In addition, the print control device 300 sends the information to the inkjet printer 20.
The interface connector B302 and the interface connector 201 are connected by a cable B402 so that raster image data can be transmitted to the interface connector B0.

Next, referring to FIG.
0 and the procedure of print data transmission will be described in detail. C
A ROM 105 in which a program for controlling a print data transmission procedure is stored is connected to the PU 103.
Furthermore, an interface circuit 102 to which an external connector 101 for sending print data is connected and a RAM 104 for temporarily storing work data are connected via a bus 106.

[0010] In addition, print control data,
Hard disk drive 1 for storing image data
08 is a hard disk drive interface circuit 1
07, desired data is sequentially read out according to an instruction from the CPU 103, and data is transmitted from the external connector 101 to the print control device 300 through the interface circuit 102. Further, a keyboard 111 for data input is provided on the bus 106.
And a CRT display 110 for data display via a video interface 109.

Next, referring to FIG. 1 to FIG.
5 will be described in detail. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a part for controlling a print data transmission procedure. The print data is read from the hard disk device 108 according to the procedure of the print data input unit 501, and is stored in the image data file management mechanism 5 described later.
00, an image data file to be transmitted is determined, and print control data is sent from the external connector 101 to the print control device 30 in accordance with the procedure of the print control data output unit 506 according to the procedure of the print control data output unit 507.
Sent to 0.

Here, the image data is data including bitmap data read by an image scanner or the like (hereinafter referred to as image data) or data including graphic data such as straight lines and curves, and data including character data ( Below EPS
The print control data file is a file including a group of instructions for controlling the print control device 300. For printing one page, there is usually one print control data file, but there are many image data files in many cases.

The image data file management mechanism 500 includes a print data division unit 502 and an image data print position calculation unit 5
03, an image data file name acquisition unit 504, and an image database search unit 505. The print data dividing unit 502 is a procedure for performing file division when analyzing and dividing print data and removing image data. For each image data of the print data, the position of the image data to be printed,
This is a procedure for dividing a file (hereinafter, referred to as an arrangement file) including size, color, window, rotation, and the like into image data.

The image data print position calculation unit 503 is a procedure for calculating numerical data transmitted at the same time as inserting a control command designating the position, size, color, and the like for printing image data into the print control data. . When the user replaces the image data file and performs printing, if the size differs due to a difference in resolution from the image data file, the position and size of the arrangement file are adjusted, and the format of the image data to be replaced is different (for example, EPS). (Data and image data) is activated in order to match the arrangement file to the format of the image data to be replaced. The image data file name acquisition unit 504 is a procedure for acquiring the image data file name described in the print control data file and storing the image data file name in the hard disk device 108 or the RAM 104. If the image data file name is given by another method, it will not be activated. The image database search unit 505
This is a procedure for searching for image data corresponding to the file name stored by the image data file name acquisition unit. The print data output unit 506 is a procedure for transmitting each layout file and image file in a form that the print control device can understand.

Next, the procedure of the image data management mechanism will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. When the print data file is received, the print data dividing unit 50 sequentially starts from the top of the file.
2, a portion including the image data is searched for (S10). When image data is found, the data up to that point is set as an arrangement file (S11). Then, the image data file name acquisition unit 504 displays the file name on the CRT display 110, and causes the user to determine whether or not the file can be transmitted (S12). If the user wants to replace the image data file with another image data file, the user inputs a replacement file name in S12.

Next, an image database search is performed using the input image data file name (S13). If a corresponding file is found, the process proceeds to S15.
Return to (S14). In S15, the arrangement file and the image data are deleted from the print data file. In step S16, the image data print position calculation unit 503 is used to compare the image data file with the image data file to be replaced. If the resolution or size is different, the image file is changed so that the image file in which the print magnification of the layout file has been replaced is exactly included. . If the position shifts at that time, the arrangement file is changed taking that into consideration. If the data formats of the two image data files are different, the data reading format of the layout file is changed so that the data is correctly printed in accordance with the image data file to be replaced.

Next, returning to S10, the image data is searched again from the remaining portion obtained by removing the arrangement file and the image file from the print file. Thus, an arrangement file and an image data file are created for each image data. If no image data is found up to the end of the file in S10, the remaining part of the print file is made into one file as a print command file in S17. Then S
At 18, the arrangement file and the print instruction file are arranged in order, a print control file is created, and the print control file is transmitted to the print control device. At this time, a comment is put after each arrangement file so as to be associated with the image data.

Next, the image data file replaced in S19 is transmitted. At this time, if the format conversion of the image data is necessary, the image data file is converted into a format that can be received by the print control device 300. For example, when the print control device 300 can receive only the image data in the dot sequential format, it is necessary to convert all the image data into the dot sequential format. Then, the converted image data file is transmitted.

Next, the relationship between the files at this time will be described with reference to FIG. F1 is a print data file created by the computer, and F4 and F5 are a print control file and an image data file to be transmitted to the print control device.

The created print data includes some image data (F1). The configuration file is F
2 is a portion divided by image data. The last part is a print command file. Placement data is changed by the image data printing position calculating unit, the image data is Ru been replaced with those retrieved from the database (F3). The arrangement data is sent to the print control device as print control data together with the print instruction data, and the image data is changed to the reception format of the print control device and sent to the print control device (F4).

Referring next to FIG. 6, print control device 300
Will be described in more detail. Interface connector A to which print data from computer 100 is input
The interface 301 is connected to an interface circuit A303 that receives the data. Further, the interface circuit A303 includes a reception data file storage unit 32.
0 is connected, and the received data is stored in the hard disk drive 309. Similarly, an interface circuit B350 is connected to the interface connector B302 so that data can be transmitted. A bus A 313 is connected to the other ends of both interface circuits so that data can be exchanged with the CPU-A 305.

The bus A 313 has a dynamic memory A 306 for storing data, an interface circuit C 307 for interfacing with the hard disk drive 309, and a CPU-B to be described later.
A first port of a dual-port memory 308 having two ports for performing communication with the memory 310 and capable of accessing the same memory cell from both ports, and a DMAC 31 for performing direct memory transfer between the devices.
4 are connected. The procedure for interpreting the print control command and the procedure for synthesizing the image data with the raster image data are stored in the hard disk drive 309 in advance.

On the other hand, the bus B 312 of the CPU-B 310 is connected to the above-mentioned second port of the dual port memory 308 and a dynamic memory B 311 for storing data. It should be noted that various control signals such as an address bus and a chip select signal are not specifically shown in FIG.

When the interface circuit A303 receives the print data, as shown in FIG. 7, the received data file storage means 320 regards the first received print data as print control data, and uses a file name "PRINT.Data". Thereafter, the received print data is regarded as image data, image data numbers are assigned in ascending order, and "IMAGE_
000 "," IMAGE_001 ", ...," IMA
Write and store in the hard disk drive 309 with a file name of “GE_nnn”.

Next, the configuration of the interface circuit B350 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. CPU-A
The data input terminal of the first-in first-out memory device FIFO 351 is connected to the bus A 313 so that data writing from the 305 or the like can be performed. A driver 352 for outputting data to the interface connector B302 is connected to a data output terminal of the FIFO. Also, interface connector B30
2 receives the ready signal from the control circuit 3
A receiver 353 is provided for inputting to the. In order to generate the read signal 359 of the FIFO 351 and the data clock signal 356 output to the interface connector B via the driver 352,
A control circuit 354 is provided, and a clock generation circuit 355 for generating a clock signal 360 for controlling the timing of the control circuit 354 is provided.
Are arranged. The empty flag 357 of the FIFO 351 is input to the control circuit 354.

Next, the structure of the ink jet printer 200 to which the present invention is applied will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. The input data and the data clock signal 221 are input to the interface connector 201 by F
A receiver 202 for inputting data to the data input terminal of the I / F 205 and the interface control circuit 204
Is connected. The same interface connector 2
01 is connected to a driver 203 for outputting a ready signal 220 generated by the interface control circuit 204.

Further, in order to prevent overflow of the FIFO 205, the full flag signal 22 of the FIFO 205
3 is connected to the interface control circuit 204. Further, a write signal 222 from the interface control circuit 204 is connected to write data to the FIFO 205.

The data output terminal of the FIFO 205 has a CPU
A bus 224 is connected so that data can be read from the bus 206. The bus 224 is connected to the bus 224 so that data can be exchanged therebetween.
Data memory A209 for storing print data to be described later
, Data memory B210 and data memory C211
And the data memory D212 are connected to each other. A data output terminal of the data memory A is connected to the head control circuit A 213 so that the print data A can be sent out. To control the reading, a read signal 228 of the data read control circuit 208 is sent to the data memory A 209.
It is connected to the.

On the other hand, the head control circuit A 213 has a head control signal 229 connected to the ink jet head 251 so that the amount of ink ejected from the nozzle 256 can be controlled. In order to supply ink, pipe 26
0 is connected. The connection from the data memory A is the same for the data memories B, C and D. Here, for example, four different inks of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan are supplied through the pipes 260, 261, 262, and 263, respectively.

A drum 269 around which a paper 264 is wound is disposed rotatably around a shaft 265 so as to face the four ink-jet heads. A rotation timing signal is transmitted to a coaxial 265 by a data read control circuit 208. The encoder 266 which can be transmitted to the STA is attached. Further, a belt 268 is wound around the coaxial 265 to transmit the rotation of the motor 267. The four ink jet heads are mounted on one bed (not shown), and are configured to be integrally movable in the axial direction.

A series of printing operations of the printing system having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. CPU-
Upon receiving the print data from the computer 100, the A 305 activates the received data file storage unit, classifies the print data into print control data and image data, and stores it in the hard disk drive 309. At this time, since the print data is not received while being interpreted, the computer 100 can be released from the communication quickly, and further, the print data is stored in the hard disk drive 309, so that the capacity of the dynamic memory 306 for storing the print data can be reduced. When all the print data is input from the computer 100, the CPU-A 305
In step 08, the CPU-B3 reads the print control file and interprets the print control command group described therein.
Write a command to instruct 10.

On the other hand, upon receiving this instruction, the CPU-B 310 reads the instruction group from the hard disk drive 309 and writes an instruction to the CPU-A 305 to write the instruction group to the dual port memory 308 in the same manner. When the instruction group is written to the dual port memory 308, the CPU-B 310 starts interpreting the instruction, and stores the result in the dynamic memory B311.
To be stored. The procedure of the interpretation will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

First, the procedure for interpreting the print control command and the procedure for reading out the procedure for synthesizing image data will be described with reference to FIG. A command requesting that the procedure for interpreting the print control command and the procedure for synthesizing the image data be read from the hard disk 309 is written into the dual port memory 308 (S
1). The CPU-A 305 is a dual port memory 30
8 is read, the procedure for interpreting the print control command and the procedure for synthesizing the image data are read from the hard disk 309 and written into the dual port memory 308 (S2).

The CPU-B 310 reads the procedure for interpreting the print control command and the procedure for synthesizing the image data written in the dual port memory 308 and reads the dynamic memory B
311 (S3). Dynamic memory B31
When the procedure for interpreting the print control command and the procedure for synthesizing the image data are written in 1, the CPU-B 310 starts interpreting the print control command from the start address of the procedure for interpreting the print control command (S4).

Next, the procedure for interpreting the print control command will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. First, one print control command is read (S20). It is determined whether the command is an image insertion command (S21). Then, if it is not an image insertion command, it is understood that the command is a graphic (character) print command, and the graphic (character) data is developed into line segment information 610 (S22). If the command is an image insertion command, the image data number (the file name number assigned by the received data file storage unit 320) is developed into the line segment information 610 (S2).
3). Next, the line segment information 610 is stored in the dynamic memory B3.
11 (S24). Dynamic memory B31
If there is no free space in 1, the hard disk drive 309 is regarded as a virtual memory and stored in the hard disk drive 309.

The storage destination of the line segment information 610 may be the hard disk drive 309 from the beginning. The processes from S20 to S24 are repeated until there is no print control command (S25). One example of line segment information 610 is shown in FIG.
3 is shown. A hatched portion in FIG. 13A indicates a pixel 600 occupied by a straight line obtained by interpreting the graphic data.
The data obtained by developing this into the line segment information 610 is shown in FIG.
It is. When the width direction of the print result is the X coordinate and the height direction is the Y coordinate, the line segment information 610 in the X direction is added to the corresponding position of the Y coordinate. Line segment information 610 is added one after another in a list format. Line segment information 610 includes a line segment start position 602, an end position 603, color information 604,
In the case of image data, the image data number is written at the position of the color information 604. Here, the image data number is a file name number assigned by the received data file storage unit 320,
To distinguish the color data from the color data, for example,
If the value is in the range of 5, a value obtained by adding 256 to the number is written.

When the above interpretation is completed, the CPU-B31
0 issues a command to the dual port memory 308 to notify the start of printing. Upon receiving the command, the CPU-A 305 writes a start command for the inkjet printer 200 in the interface circuit B350. The interface control circuit B350 outputs the ready signal 35
If 8 is true, the command from FIFO 351 is
Data is read out byte by byte and the data clock signal 356 is sent out one pulse at a time. The interface control circuit 204 in the inkjet printer 200 transmits the above command to the FIFO in synchronization with the data clock signal 356.
Import to 205. The above operation is not interrupted until the FIFO 351 in the print control device 300 becomes empty or the FIFO 205 in the inkjet printer 200 becomes full.

The interface control circuit 204 notifies the CPU 206 that data has been input to the FIFO 205. When the CPU 206 sequentially reads the data and recognizes that the command is a start command, the motor 267 is started by a mechanism control circuit (not shown) to rotate the drum 269.

Subsequently, the CPU-B 310 starts the process from the head address of the procedure for synthesizing the image data in the dynamic memory B 311. Here, the procedure of image data synthesis will be described with reference to FIG. First, the line segment information 610 for one raster is read from the dynamic memory B311 (S31), and the line segment information 610 is sequentially taken out one by one from the line information 610 for one raster (S32).
The processes from S33 to S35 are repeated until the line segment information 610 for the raster is lost. Then, the extracted line segment information 6
By looking at the color information 604 of 10, it is determined whether or not the color information 604 is image data (S 33). If not, the line segment information 610 is developed into raster image data (S 3).
4). If it is image data, the image data is read from the image data file indicated by the image data number, and written to the position specified by the line segment information 610 of the raster image data (S35). The CPU-B 310 writes the raster image data on which the image data synthesis has been completed to the dual port memory 308.

The CPU-A 305 has a dual port 30
8 is stored in the dynamic memory 306, and the DMAC 314 is instructed to write the raster image data to the interface circuit B350. At this time, the required capacity of the dynamic memory is a data amount of at least one raster, and may be significantly smaller than a case where one page of raster image data is provided. The DMAC 314 stops writing when the FIFO 351 becomes full, and starts writing again when the FIFO 351 becomes empty. While this direct memory transfer is suspended, the CPU-A 305
Transmits the line information 610 of the next raster to the CPU-B310.
The image data can be transferred from the hard disk drive 309 to the side, and the raster image data that has been developed can be stored in another area of the dynamic memory A306. The CPU-B 310 is connected to the bus 22.
Regardless of whether 4 is in use or not, raster image creation can be continued and high-speed processing is possible.

When the raster image data is written into the FIFO 351 by the DMAC 314, the data is sent to the ink jet printer 200, as described in the transmission of the start command, and the CPU 206 temporarily stores the data in the dynamic memory 207. Store. Further, the CPU 206 sequentially stores only the cyan data component for one raster in the data memory 212, and issues an instruction to cause the data readout control circuit 208 to print one raster when the storing is completed. Upon receiving the instruction, the data read control circuit 208
The content of the data memory D212 is transmitted to the head control circuit D216 in synchronization with the output signal of the data memory D212.

The head control circuit D 216 determines the drive amount based on the data and drives the head 254. The head 254 ejects the ink amount corresponding to the driving amount onto the paper 264. This causes the paper 264 on the drum 269 to
The raster image is printed. Next, the CPU 206 moves the head in the axial direction by one raster, and repeats the above operation for the next cyan raster image. Then, when the head 253 reaches the first cyan raster position, the same is repeated from the next on the magenta and cyan data.

If necessary data is stored in the dynamic memory 2
If not, wait until data is input.
The above is repeated for yellow and black, and further, at the end of the print data, the printing of the raster is stopped sequentially from cyan, so that full-color printing on the paper 264 can be performed. At this time, the capacity required for the dynamic memory 207 in the ink jet printer 200 is the product of the data amount for at most one raster and the maximum number of offset rasters of the head. As a result, the same printed matter can be obtained with an extremely small amount of memory for the raster image memory for one page.

As described above, if an operation of printing while raster image data for one raster is executed for the stored whole line segment information 610, an image printed in full color can be finally obtained. it can.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described in detail above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the printing apparatus may be a sublimation type thermal transfer system, or a magneto-optical disk device or a tape drive device may be used instead of the hard disk drive.

In the case of this embodiment, since the print control device can receive the print control data and the image data file separately, the comment is used for the arrangement file and the files are transmitted separately, but the files cannot be received separately. In this case, the image data whose format has been converted may be directly written in the print control data instead of the comment (F5 in FIG. 3).

The file name of the image data to be replaced is obtained not only by the user inputting from the keyboard but also by specifying a directory in advance.
It suffices if image data intended by the user can be specified, such as specifying a file name or acquiring image data by a link.

[0048]

As is apparent from the above description, the print data transmitting method of the present invention converts the print data created by the computer into each image data existing in the print data.
And layout data representing the printing position, etc., associated with each of them.
Split the divided image data from other image data.
In order to replace the image data for replacement,
Storage where data or other image data is stored
You can select from among the
Modify placement data based on data resolution or size
After that, the selected image data and the corrected
Data can be transmitted to the print control device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a part related to transmission of print data in a print data transmission method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an image data management mechanism in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between files when an image data management mechanism according to the present embodiment operates.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating a connection state of a print control apparatus to which an external apparatus is applied, to which the print data transmission method of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the computer shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an embodiment embodying an electrical configuration of a print control device to which the print data transmission method of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a received data file storage unit in the print control device shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an interface control circuit in the print control device illustrated in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an inkjet printer to which the print data transmission method of the present invention is applied.

10 is a diagram schematically showing an internal configuration of the ink jet printer shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a procedure for downloading a print control instruction and a procedure for synthesizing image data in a dynamic memory in the print data transmission method of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of interpreting a print control command in a print data transmission method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram provided to explain line segment information in an embodiment of the print data transmission method of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for creating raster image data and synthesizing image data in a print control apparatus to which the print data transmission method of the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 301 Interface Connector A 302 Interface Connector B 303 Interface Circuit A 305 CPU-A 306 Dynamic Memory A 307 Interface Circuit C 308 Dual Port Memory 309 Hard Disk Drive 310 CPU-B 311 Dynamic Memory B 313 Bus A 314 DMAC 320 Received Data File Storage Means 350 Interface circuit B

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-3-108574 (JP, A) JP-A 64-32376 (JP, A) JP-A 5-89105 (JP, A) JP-A 63-108 64765 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B41J 5/30 G06F 3/12

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A print data transmission method capable of replacing at least a part of image data in print data created by a computer and transmitting the print data to a print control apparatus, wherein the print data is stored in the print data transmission method. A print data dividing step of dividing each existing image data into arrangement data indicating a print position and the like associated with each of the existing image data, and dividing the image data divided in the print data division step into another
To replace the image data, replace the image data
Wherein the data each image data, or image data selection step of selecting from among the storage means other than the image data of the stored image data selected by the image data selecting step
A print position correcting step of correcting the layout data based on a resolution or a size ; an image data selected by the image data selecting step; and a layout data corrected by the print position correcting step, to a print control device. Transmitting a print data.