JP3054172B2 - Output control device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an output control device that superimposes input data and a form and outputs the data from an output unit.

[Prior art]

In a conventional printing apparatus such as a printer, one page of print information is bit-mapped to an image memory or the like based on print data received from a host computer, and the expanded result is converted into, for example, a video signal. To the printer mechanism. Further, such a printer is capable of receiving form information from a host computer or the like in advance and registering the form information separately from the print data, and superimposing the registered form on the print data to print out. is there. In this case, if form information is transmitted from the host computer to the printer for each page, the data transfer time from the host computer becomes longer. Therefore, if the form to be overlaid on each page is the same, the form information is transferred to the printer in advance and registered before transmitting the print data, and only the form to be overlaid in the print data is designated ( Usually, the name of the registered form is designated) and the print data and the form can be easily superimposed and output. Note that the form information once registered in this manner is retained in the printer until a deletion instruction is given from the host computer or the power of the printer is turned off. Further, by adding a secondary storage device (non-volatile memory) such as a hard disk to the printer and registering the form information in such a secondary storage device, various types of form information can be registered in the printer. As well as
Even when the power of the printer is turned off, the registered form information can be retained. As a result, the form information once registered in the secondary storage device continues to be held regardless of whether the power is turned on or off. Thus, the host computer can easily print the print data and the registered form easily by simply specifying the form name to be overlaid in the print data.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

In a printer having such a secondary storage device, when the host computer instructs to output a form registered in the secondary storage device and print data in a superimposed manner, the secondary storage device is searched. Then, the designated form is read, the read form information is developed into a bit map, and combined with print data. By the way, when such form information is transmitted from the host computer to the printer and registered, even if the form information is very similar, each form information must be registered as individual form information. For example, if there are two pieces of form information, and even if only one of these pieces of form information is different, these form information are given separate names and registered as independent form information. I had to do it. For this reason, in the case of form information composed of a large amount of data, if other form information almost equal to this form information is registered, a plurality of almost the same form information is stored in the memory or the secondary storage device in the printer. As a result, the memory area is wasted. Further, when registering form information from a host computer to a printer, there is a case where it is desired to register form information in which certain information is added to already registered form information. Even in such a case, the host computer needs to re-create the form information to which the information has been added, transfer the form information to the printer, and register it. As described above, conventionally, (1) when there is a plurality of pieces of form information, even if only one of these pieces of form information is different, it is necessary to register each form independently. When the data is composed of data, there is a problem that the data occupies the memory area in the printer or the memory area of the secondary storage device even though they are almost the same data. (2) When registering form information from a host computer to a printer, even if a part of the form information is added to an already registered form, the host computer re-creates the form information again. I had to send it to the printer. For this reason, the processing on the host computer side is complicated, and the time required for the creation processing and transmission is not negligible. The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional example, and stores a plurality of independent forms as a combined form with a single file name, and designates the file name to store a plurality of independent forms. It is an object of the present invention to provide an output control device capable of superimposing and outputting input data.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

In order to achieve the above object, an output control device of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, an output control device that superimposes input data and a form and outputs the form from an output unit, a storage unit that stores a plurality of types of independent forms with a file name as a combined form, and stores the input data together with the input data. Selecting means for selecting a combined form to be superimposed based on the input file name; reading out the combined form selected by the selecting means from the storage means, and independently selecting the plurality of types included in the combined form Control means for superimposing the completed form on the input data and outputting the form from an output unit. [Operation] With the above-described configuration, a plurality of types of independent forms are each stored as a combined form in a storage unit with a file name, and a combined form to be superimposed is selected based on the file name input together with the input data. The selected form is read from the storage means, and a plurality of independent forms included in the combined form are superimposed on the input data and output from the output unit.

【Example】

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. <Description of Printing Apparatus (FIG. 1)> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic functional configuration of the printing apparatus of the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a print information developing unit which receives print data transmitted from the host computer and develops it into bit map information for one page. Reference numeral 102 denotes a form expansion unit, for example, a form storage unit 104 such as a secondary storage device.
Is read out, and the bit map information is developed as a form for one page. Note that, when a form information combining command is input, the form expanding section 102 can also expand the form information for overlay into bit map information. Reference numeral 103 denotes a form management unit which registers form information (including a form information combining command) transmitted from the host computer in a form storage unit 104 such as a secondary storage device, and manages the registered form information. doing. 104 is a form storage unit which stores form information (including a combined form) transmitted from the host computer or the like;
Register as is. A superimposing unit 105 superimposes a bit map of the print data expanded by the print information expanding unit 101 and a bit map of the form information expanded by the form expanding unit 102, and prints one page. I am creating a bitmap for output. Reference numeral 106 denotes an output unit representing an actual printing mechanism, which prints on a recording medium, such as recording paper, based on the print data created by the overlapping unit 105. Next, the basic concept of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of superposition of print data and form information. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 201 denotes print data developed by the print information developing unit 101 into a bit map of one page based on the print data transmitted from the host computer. Reference numeral 202 denotes form information registered in the form storage unit 104. Each of 203-205 is
The form information registered in the form storage unit 104 is
This shows a state where the data is expanded to a bit map for one page by the form expanding unit 102. Further, reference numeral 206 denotes a state in which bit maps of the respective forms 203 to 205 are superimposed by the form developing unit 102. Reference numeral 207 denotes a bitmap 201 of print data;
The superimposed form information 206 is superimposed by the superimposition unit 105, and represents a print result that is actually output. <Description of Printing Apparatus (FIGS. 3 and 4)> FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a general configuration of the printing apparatus of the present embodiment. Here, reference numeral 301 denotes a host computer for outputting various print data and various form information to the printing apparatus of the present embodiment, and 302, 303 and 304 denote the printing apparatus of the present embodiment. Here, reference numeral 302 denotes a control unit of the printing apparatus, and 303 denotes a secondary storage unit such as a hard disk built in the printing apparatus. Reference numeral 304 denotes a mechanism for printing out. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the control unit 302. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 401 denotes a central processing unit (CPU) for controlling the entire control unit 302 according to a control program stored in a program memory 402, and 402 stores a program for controlling the printing apparatus of the present embodiment. Program memory, and is composed of, for example, a ROM or the like. A font memory 403 stores font information for developing character codes into bitmaps corresponding to the code information. A work memory (RAM) 404 is used as a work area of the CPU 401 and can temporarily store various data. An input interface (I / F) circuit 405 controls data input / output from the host computer 301. 406
A hard disk interface (I / F) circuit controls data transfer between a secondary storage device (303) such as a hard disk and the control unit 302. Reference numeral 407 denotes an image memory in which image data (bit map for one page) to be output to the printing mechanism unit 304 is developed into a bit map. Reference numeral 408 denotes a data output interface circuit for connecting the control unit 302 and the printing mechanism unit 304, and 409 synchronizes with the printing mechanism unit 304 to transfer the printing mechanism unit 304 from the image memory 407.
Image signal generator for generating a video signal for use. Reference numeral 410 denotes an internal bus connecting each memory, I / F circuit, CPU 401, and the like. Next, the management of form information in the printing apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. Before that, the conventional management of form information will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. The method will be briefly described. The form information received from the host computer is stored in a form file 504a-504d such as a hard disk or the like.
It is stored in the next storage unit. Various form files 504a to 504d stored on the hard disk are managed by a form management file 501, and the form management file 501 itself is stored on the hard disk. Five
02 is the management record 503 of each form file 504a to 504d
Is a table in which is stored. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a data format of the management record 503. Reference numeral 601 denotes an identification flag for identifying whether the management record 503 is valid or invalid. When the management record 503 is on, it indicates that the management record 503 is valid. Reference numeral 602 denotes a form name, which indicates the name of the form designated by the host computer when registering this printer. 603
Represents a file name when the form information received from the host computer is stored on the hard disk. As described above, conventionally, each form file has been processed as a single file. <Description of Form Management in Printing Apparatus of Embodiment (7th Embodiment)
Next, a procedure for managing form information in the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. First, the form information transmitted from the host computer 301 is stored in the hard disk 303 as form files 704a to 704c. Each of these form files has the same configuration as each of the form files 504a to 504d in FIG. Reference numeral 701 denotes a form management file 701 for managing these form files. 705 is a combined form file, which is a host computer 3
When it is instructed to connect form files from 01, the form information is stored in the hard disk 303 as a combined form file. The combined form file 705 stores the chain information to the actual form files 704a to 704c as shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 703 denotes a management record for managing each of these form files, and reference numeral 702 denotes a file management table for storing a management record of each file including a combined file. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing details of chain information in the combined form file 705 of the embodiment. Reference numeral 801 denotes a file management table of the combined form file 705, and reference numeral 802 denotes a management record storing the combined form file 705 and chain information for the form files 704a to 704c, in which a form file name is set. . Here, an example of transmission data when registering the combined form information from the host computer 301 is shown in FIG. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 901 denotes a command identifier indicating that this transmission data is a registration command of a combined form;
Reference numeral 902 denotes a form name of the combined form to be registered. This form name is registered in the management record 703 of the form management file 701. Reference numerals 903a to 903c denote form names of registered forms used in the combination form. These form names are form files 70
The form names correspond to the names of 4a to 704c, and the number of form names corresponding to the number of form files to be combined is set. An end mark 904 indicates the end of the registration command. The form management file 701 is searched based on the form names instructed to be combined, and the actual form file name corresponding to each form name is set in the management record 802, thereby registering the combined form. As described above, when the combined form registration command is received from the host computer 301, the combined form file 70
In 5, the names of the form files 704a to 704c to be combined are registered. As a result, when printing the print data, the combined form information is superimposed and output. <Description of Operation (FIGS. 10 and 11)> Next, referring to the flowcharts of FIGS. 10 (A) and (B) and FIG. 11, registration of a combined form file in the printing apparatus of the present embodiment. The operation of the print data expanding process using these form files will be described. A control program for executing this control is stored in the program memory 402.
Is stored in First, referring to FIGS. 10 (A) and 10 (B), the registration process of the combined form in the printing apparatus of the present embodiment will be described. First, when the combined form registration data (for example, the combined form command in FIG. 9) transmitted from the host computer 301 is received in step S1, it is fetched. Next, proceed to step S2, and from this combination form command,
A management table 801 including a management record 802 as shown by 801 in FIG. 8 is created. The processing in step S2 will be described later in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Next, in step S3, the combined form information created by this information creation processing is stored in the hard disk 303 as a combined form file. Next, the management record 703 for the combined form file 705 stored by the above-described processing is created, registered in the form management table 702, and the processing is terminated. Next, with reference to FIG. 10 (B), a procedure for creating the combined form information 801 in step S2 of FIG. 10 (A) will be described. Here, the registration command received from the host computer 301 is assumed to be a command as shown in FIG.
Then, the form names 903a to 904c in the command are searched in the form management file 701, and a combined form file 705 instructed to be combined is created. First, in step S11, it is checked whether or not the form name is the end mark 904, that is, whether or not the command is finished. If it is not an end mark in step S11, a search is made in the form management file 701 with those form names (step S12). Next, in step S13, as a result of this search, the names of the form files 704a to 704c corresponding to the form names 903a to 904c of the registration command are extracted from the management record 703 in the form management file 701, and the management table of the combined form file 705 is obtained. 801 management record 80
Assume 2. Then, the process returns to step S11 for processing the form name in the next command. In this manner, a combined form file 705 is created in the printing apparatus in accordance with the combined form registration command transmitted from the host computer 301. Next, a procedure for creating print data based on the combined form registered in the hard disk 303 and developing it into bit map data to be actually printed will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. At this time, it is assumed that the host computer 301 designates the print data and its combined form name. First, based on the combined form name specified in the print information transmitted from the host computer 301, it is determined whether or not the combined file name corresponding to the combined form file 705 registered in the hard disk 303 of this printing apparatus is registered. View. This is performed by searching the form management record 703 of the form management table 702. When the combined file is searched in this way, step S22
To check if all the form management records 802 of the combined form file table 801 have all been bit-mapped. Here, if all the form files registered in the table 801 have been expanded, the expansion processing of the combined form file 705 ends. If not, the process proceeds to step S23, the form file name of the actual form is extracted from the form management record 802, and then in step S24, the form file is developed on the bit map in the same manner as the conventional form development technology. Next, the process proceeds to step S25, and it is checked in the image memory 407 whether another form file of the combined form file 705 has already been developed into one or more bit maps. This is because when another form file has already been bit-mapped, the image memory 407 must be written with a logical OR instead of overwriting it. For this reason, if the data has not been expanded, the bit-mapped data is written in the image memory 407 as it is, and the flow advances to step S22. In step S25, if another form file has already been bit-mapped to the image memory 407, the
Proceeding to step 26, the bit map of the developed form and the bit map of the developed form are overlapped. Then, the process returns to step S22 to check the next form management record 802. This process will be described with reference to FIG. 2 described above. In the management record 802 of the form management table 801 of the combined form file 705, names corresponding to each of the form files 704a to 704c are registered. The form information of each of these form files 704a to 704c is
It corresponds to each of the form information 203, 204, and 205 shown in the figure. When instructed to superimpose these three form files as a combined form file 705, in step S26, superimposed bit map expanded form information as shown by 206 in FIG. 2 is created.
The form information created by this combination is the print data 20
The print data is superimposed on 1 to form print data 207. In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the form information is stored on the hard disk has been described. However, the present embodiment can be realized using only a memory (for example, a RAM) other than the hard disk. Further, in this embodiment, the combined form has been described as a chain to the form file in only one stage, but as shown in FIG. 12, another registered form is further registered in the management record 802 of the combined form file 705. The combination form 1201 may be designated. That is, the combined form file 70
5 may be chained in any number of stages. Further, in the present embodiment, a hard disk is used as the secondary storage device. However, the present embodiment can be realized with a readable / writable secondary storage device, for example, a floppy disk, a magneto-optical disk, or the like. As described above, according to this embodiment, form information can be created by superimposing a plurality of form information registered independently. Thus, for example, when very similar forms are registered, the common part of each form is registered as one form, and different parts are registered as another form, and the form is registered in accordance with the connection instruction from the host computer. Then, it is possible to obtain the bit map information of the target form by developing these common parts and individual form information parts into bit maps and superimposing the developed bit map information. By performing such processing, it is possible to eliminate the complexity of the conventional form registration process and obtain the memory required for the form registration and the memory area in the secondary storage device while maintaining the same print result. Can be smaller.

【The invention's effect】

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of independent forms are stored with a single file name as a combined form, and the plurality of independent forms and input data are stored by designating the file name. Has the effect of being able to overlap and output.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic functional configuration of the printing apparatus of the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a view showing the concept of overlay of print data and a combined form in the printing apparatus of the present embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a schematic configuration of an example printing apparatus and connection to a host computer. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit in the printing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a conventional form file management method. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a detailed format of a form management record of a conventional form management file, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing form information (combined form and general form) registered in the printing apparatus of this embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a combined form file in FIG. 7, and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of a connection form file from a host computer to a printing apparatus of this embodiment. FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B are flow charts for explaining a combined form registration process in the embodiment, and FIG. 11 is a printout of the present embodiment. FIG. 12 is a flow chart for explaining the process of developing a combined form in the printing process in the apparatus. In the figure, 101: print information developing unit, 102: form developing unit, 103: form management unit, 104: form storage unit,
105: Overlapping unit, 106: Output unit, 301: Host computer, 302: Control unit, 303: Secondary storage unit (hard disk), 304: Printing mechanism unit, 401: CPU, 402
…… Program memory, 403… Font memory, 404…
... Work memory, 407 ... Image memory, 409 ... Image signal generator, 701 ... Form management file, 702 ... Form management table, 703 ... Form management record, 704
a to 704c ... form file, 705 ... combined form file.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An output control apparatus for superimposing input data and a form and outputting the form from an output unit, comprising: a storage unit for storing a plurality of types of independent forms with a file name as a combined form; Selecting means for selecting a combined form to be superimposed based on the file name input together with the input data; reading out the combined form selected by the selecting means from the storage means; and selecting the plurality of types included in the combined form Control means for causing the independent form to be superimposed on the input data and outputting it from an output unit.