JP3178578B2 - PRINTING APPARATUS AND PRINTING SYSTEM USING THE APPARATUS - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing device which is an output device of a network computer system (including a stand-alone), and a printing system including the printing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a computer system in which computer devices, printers, and the like are connected via a network, a printer connected to the network is a printer itself or an external device connected to the printer. Using a decompression program stored in a storage device or the like in advance, decompressed compressed data sent from a computer device is converted into a print image and printing is performed.

[0003]

In the above prior art,
Since the data decompression program provided in the printer device is fixed, a computer device connected to the network can compress print information only by a method corresponding to the decompression method of the printer device. That is,
In order to eliminate such problems and print, connect a printer device that can support the compression method in the computer device, or transmit data to the printer device in a data format that is not compressed by the computer device and print. There was no other way but to do it. However, if uncompressed data is transmitted to the printer, a large amount of data must be transmitted, and the time required for the transmission is enormous, and the printing time is enormous, which is extremely inefficient.

The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional example, and a program for expanding compressed data is downloaded to a printer, and the printer expands the data using the downloaded expansion program. An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of printing and a printing system using the printing apparatus.

Further, by providing a device for expanding compressed print information between the printing device and the computer device, the printing device can print without considering the type of compression of the print information. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus and a printing system using the same.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a printing apparatus according to the present invention has the following arrangement. That is, a printing apparatus connected to an external device for receiving and printing compressed print information sent from the external device, and a storage device for receiving and storing a decompression program sent from the external device. Means for receiving the print information, decompressing by executing a decompression program stored in the storage means, and printing means for printing based on the print information decompressed by the decompression means.

In order to achieve the above object, a printing system according to the present invention has the following arrangement. That is, a printing system including an external device and a printing device connected to the external device and receiving and printing print information, wherein the external device has a transmission unit that transmits a data decompression program to the printing device, A storage unit that receives and stores a decompression program sent from the external device; and a decompression unit that receives the print information and executes and decompresses the decompression program stored in the storage unit. And printing means for printing based on the print information expanded by the expansion means.

[0008]

In the above arrangement, the decompression program sent from the external device is received and stored in the storage means. When the compressed print information is received from the external device, the decompression program stored in the storage means is received. The program is decompressed by executing the program, and operates to print based on the decompressed print information.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numerals 1 and 2 denote host computers which are connected to each other via a network 13 and to the printer 15 of the embodiment via the network 13.

Next, the configuration of the printer device 15 of this embodiment will be described.

The printer device 15 includes a print control unit 14
And an output unit 12 including a printer engine and the like. Here, the output unit 12 may be any of a printer engine unit such as a laser beam printer or a printer engine unit such as an ink jet printer or a thermal printer. Next, the configuration of the print control unit 14 will be described.

Reference numeral 3 denotes an interface unit which controls communication with the host computer 1 or 2 to transmit and receive data. Reference numeral 4 denotes a reception buffer which stores print information received from the host computer 1 or 2. A control unit 5 has a CPU including a ROM and a RAM, and controls the operation of the entire printer device 15. Reference numeral 6 denotes a data decompression control unit which decompresses the compressed print information received from the host computer 1 or 2 in accordance with the control program stored in the data decompression program storage unit 10. A command analysis unit 7 analyzes print data and control codes received from the host computer 1 or 2, control information indicating a compressed data decompression method, and the like. Reference numeral 8 denotes a pattern developing unit that develops print data such as characters and images included in print information.

A communication control unit 9 manages transmission and reception of print information based on a communication protocol performed between the host computer 1 and the host computer 2 via the network 13. The data decompression program storage unit 10 stores a compressed data decompression method transmitted from the host computer 1 or 2. These units are connected to each other via an internal bus 11 and operate under the control of the control unit 5.

Next, the operation of the entire apparatus having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a process in which the printer device 15 connected to the network 13 receives data from the host computer 1 or 2. A program for executing this process is stored in the control unit 5, and It is executed under the control of the CPU of the unit 5.

In step S1, data from the host computer 1 or 2 is received under the control of the interface unit 3 and the communication control unit 9, and the received data is received under the control of the communication control unit 9. The data is stored in the buffer 4. Next, the process proceeds to step S3, where it is determined whether or not the data stored in the reception buffer 4 is a decompression program for decompressing the compressed print information transmitted from the host computer. If it is a decompression program, the process proceeds to step S4, where the decompression program stored in the reception buffer 4 is stored in the data decompression program storage unit 10.

If it is determined in step S3 that a decompression program has not been received, the flow advances to step S5 to execute a process corresponding to the received process.

In this manner, the decompression program is downloaded from the host computer to the printer device 15.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing in the printer device 15 when receiving compressed print information from the host computer 1 connected to the network 13. The control shown in this flowchart is also executed under the control of the control unit 5.

First, in step S11, the compressed print information stored in the reception buffer 4 is analyzed. In step S12, whether or not a decompression program for decompressing the print information is stored in the data decompression program storage unit 10. Judge. If it is stored, the process proceeds to step S13, where the data is stored in the reception buffer 4 using the decompression program corresponding to the compressed print information among the decompression programs stored in the data decompression program storage unit 10. Decompress print information. In step S14, the expanded print information is expanded into pattern information by the pattern expansion unit 8, and in step S15, the print image in which the pattern has been expanded is output to the output unit 12 and printed.

If it is determined in step S12 that the decompression program corresponding to the received print information does not exist in the data decompression program storage unit 10, the process proceeds to step S16, where the print information is sent to the host computer that transmitted the print information. Request a decompression program to decompress.
Thus, when the corresponding decompression program is sent from the host computer, the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG.
, The received data decompression program is stored.

In the above-described first embodiment, the compressed data decompression program is stored in the storage medium (data decompression program storage unit 10) in the print control unit 14. However, an external auxiliary storage medium (for example, , Or an external hard disk).

<Second Embodiment> FIGS. 4 and 5 are block diagrams showing the configuration of a printing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In this second embodiment, the printing system of the network 28
The host computers 21 to 25 and the printer 27 are connected via a network board 29 connected to the printer.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a printing system mainly showing the configuration of the network board 29 according to the second embodiment. Portions common to those in FIG.
A description thereof will be omitted.

The network board 29 has a CPU including a ROM and a RAM, a control unit 5a for controlling the entire apparatus, an interface unit 3 used for receiving data with the host computers 21 to 25, A communication control unit 9 for managing transmission and reception of data based on a communication protocol with a host computer via a network 28; a data expansion control unit 6 for expanding compressed print data transmitted from the host computer; And an interface unit 30 used for input / output with the printer main body, and these are connected via an internal bus 31. A printer transfer buffer 32 stores print data transferred to the printer 26 via the interface unit 30.

FIG. 7 shows a network board 2 of the second embodiment.
9 is a flowchart showing a control process performed in Step 9, a control program for executing this process is stored in the control unit 5a, and is executed under the control of the control unit 5a.

First, in step S21, print information transmitted from the host computer is received, and in step S22
Then, the received print information is stored in the reception buffer 4. Next, the process proceeds to step S23, where the print information stored in the reception buffer 4 is expanded. In step S24,
The decompressed print data is transferred to the printer transfer buffer 32.
And the data stored in the printer transfer buffer 32 is transferred to the printer device 26 in step S25.

Thus, since the printer can always receive and print the decompressed print data, no decompression program for decompressing the compressed print information output from the host computer is stored in the printer. , It is possible to prevent the occurrence of troubles such as printing failure.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a modification of the second embodiment. In this case, the data decompression control unit 6 is separated from the network board 29 and connected via the interface unit 41 to be transmitted from the host computer. Even if the data compression method of the incoming print information is changed, it can be dealt with by changing the data decompression control unit 6 to a board having a corresponding decompression program. In addition, 5b is
The controller 5b controls the network board 29 of this embodiment.

As described above, according to the second embodiment,
By performing the data decompression processing performed by the printer main body on the network board 29, a printer having no function of decompressing the compressed data can perform printing based on the compressed print data.

Further, even if the compression method is changed, it can be dealt with simply by replacing the network board 29 instead of the printer main body, which is economical.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. The present invention can also be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program for implementing the present invention to a system or an apparatus.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the compressed data decompression program is downloaded from the host computer to the printer device, and the print information is decompressed on the printer device side in accordance with the downloaded program. It can also respond to printed information.

Further, by providing a network board for decompressing data between the host computer and the printer, a printer having no decompression function can receive print information from the host computer and print. Can be.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, a program for decompressing compressed data is downloaded to a printer, and the printer decompresses the data using the downloaded decompression program and prints. There are effects that can be done.

By providing a device for expanding compressed print information between the printing device and the computer device, the printing device can print without considering the type of compression of the print information. There is.

[0039]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a print system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a process of downloading a data decompression program from a host computer to a printer in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process in the printer device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a print system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a connection between a network and a network board according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a network board and a network system according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating data decompression processing in a network board according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a modification of the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2, 21 to 25 Host computer 4 Receive buffer 5, 5a, 5b Control unit 6 Data decompression control unit 7 Command analysis unit 8 Pattern development unit 9 Communication control unit 10 Data decompression program storage unit 12 Output unit 15, 26, 27 Printer 29 Network board 32 Printer transfer buffer

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 5/30 B41J 29/38 G06F 3/12 G06T 9/00 H03M 7/30

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A printing control device connected to an external device, which receives print data compressed by a predetermined data compression method by the external device and causes the printing unit to print the data, and a storage means for storing a decompression program. A data receiving means for receiving compressed print data having information indicating a decompression method from the external device; and analyzing the information indicating the decompression method to obtain the compressed print data received by the data reception means. the determination means and said determining means for determining whether decompression program for decompressing is stored in the storage means, is received by the data receiving means
The said extension program for decompressing the compressed print data is determined not to be stored in the storage unit Runoni
In response, the decompression program for decompressing the compressed print data and program acquisition means for acquiring from the external device, and a storage control unit for storing a decompression program acquired by the program acquisition means to said storage means, said storage Executing the decompression program stored in the means,
And a decompression means for decompressing the compressed print data received by the data reception means. 2. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the program acquisition unit transmits a command requesting the decompression program to the external device. 3. The print control device according to claim 1, wherein the print control device is connected to the external device via a network. 4. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit includes a printer engine of a laser beam printer.
The print control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 5. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit includes a printer engine of an ink jet printer.