JP3536904B2 - Printer, print system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printer and a print system connected to a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A serial printer such as a page printer such as a laser printer or an ink-jet printer (hereinafter collectively referred to as a "printer") receives print job data transmitted from a host computer in accordance with a print instruction, and performs print processing. I do. That is, the host computer delivers document data from an application program such as a word processor to a printer driver according to a print instruction given by a user, converts the document data into print job data, and transmits the print job data to the printer. The printer interprets print job data transmitted from the host computer by a processor inside the printer to generate raster-format image data, and temporarily stores the generated image data in an image memory (sometimes called a “frame buffer”). )). After that, the printer supplies the developed image data to the print engine,
Realize printing.

[0003]

As described above, a conventional printer receives print job data from a host computer every time a print instruction is issued, generates image data, and then performs printing as it is. For this reason, the printer merely generates image data necessary for supplying to the print engine each time and develops the image data in the image memory.

[0004] Further, the user selects an application program in accordance with the purpose such as document creation, spreadsheet calculation, and figure creation, and creates a document. For this reason,
When one final document is composed of individual documents created by a plurality of application programs, the user creates the document by pasting a document created by another application program into one specific application program. Was. In such a case, it is convenient for the user if the user can directly edit the generated image data on the screen of the computer.

Further, before giving a print instruction and causing the printer to execute printing, the user often performs a so-called print preview for checking the printing state in advance on the screen of the host computer. In such a print preview, for example, when a unique font installed in a printer is used, the print preview screen may not always faithfully represent an actual print result.

[0006] On the other hand, recently, color-compatible printers have been spreading. This color compatible printer is RG
After converting the B-system document data into CMYK-system data and generating image data for each of the CMYK colors, a toner image based on the image data for each of these colors is superimposed, transferred to printing paper, and printed. It is to realize. That is, even if the printer superimposes the toner images one by one CMYK, the CMY
To obtain image data of any one of K colors, RG
Since all the information B is required, a large capacity memory is required as compared with a monochrome compatible printer.

Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to provide a printer which can edit generated image data.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a printer whose print preview screen can faithfully represent an actual print result.

It is a fourth object of the present invention to provide a printer capable of performing color printing with a small-capacity image memory equivalent to a monochrome compatible printer.

[0010]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is specified as follows.

That is, the present invention is a printer for performing printing by supplying image data to a print engine, wherein the printer generates the image data based on print data transmitted from a host computer, and generates the image data. Is stored in a remote file system on a network. Here, the print data refers to data of a document to be printed, and includes print job data.

Further, the present invention writes image data generated based on print job data sent from a host computer to a storage device of the host computer, and prints the image data based on the image data read from the storage device of the host computer. The printer performs the following.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a storage unit for storing image data constituting a predetermined unit page (or a predetermined bandwidth), and a generation unit for generating the image data based on print data transmitted from a host computer. Access means for reading the image data stored in the storage means and writing the image data in the storage device of the host computer; reading the image data stored in the storage device of the host computer and writing the image data in the storage means; And a control unit for reading image data stored in the unit and supplying the read image data to a print execution unit for performing printing on a print recording medium.

Here, it is preferable that the access means writes or reads the image data constituting the predetermined unit page in a storage device of the host computer in a predetermined file format.

It is preferable that the access unit reads the second image data from a storage device of the host computer every time the control unit supplies the first image data to the print execution unit.

Further, when it is determined that the image data generated by the generating means forms the first page, the control means forms the first page generated by the generating means and stored in the storage means. Preferably, the image data is supplied to the print execution unit, and the access unit reads out the image data constituting the page next to the first page in order.

The present invention is also a color-compatible printer which supplies image data for each color component to a print engine, and performs color printing by superimposing images formed for each color component.
Generating image data for each color component based on print data sent from the host computer,
The printer stores the generated image data for each color component in a remote file system on a network.

Further, according to the present invention, image data for each color component generated based on print data sent from a host computer is written to a storage device of the host computer, and the color data is sequentially stored for each color component from the storage device of the host computer. The printer performs color printing based on the read image data.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a generating means for sequentially generating image data constituting a predetermined page for each color component based on print data sent from a host computer; Storage means for storing image data of one color component; image data of any one color component stored in the storage means being read and written in a storage device of the host computer, and stored in a storage device of the host computer An access unit that reads out the image data of any one of the color components and writes the image data into the storage unit, and prints the image data of any one of the color components stored in the storage unit on a print recording medium Control means for supplying the print execution means. .

Here, it is preferable that the access unit sequentially reads out image data constituting a predetermined page stored in the storage device of the host computer for each color component and writes the image data in the storage unit.

Further, according to the present invention, in a print system including a host computer having a file system and a printer, the host computer executes a predetermined process based on a file access request to the file system sent from the printer. Generating means for generating image data based on print job data sent from the host computer, storing means for storing image data generated by the generating means, In order to read out the image data stored in the storage means and write it in the storage device of the host computer, and read out the image data stored in the storage device of the host computer and write it in the storage means, And a control unit for supplying the image data stored in the storage unit to a print execution unit for printing on a print recording medium. It is.

Incidentally, the invention of the above-mentioned object is realized as an invention of a method.

[0023]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a schematic configuration of a print system according to the present embodiment. In the figure, a printer 1 is connected to a host computer 2 via a network N (only one is shown in the figure). The host computer 2 executes various application programs such as a word processor and a graphic editor, various drivers such as a printer driver, and other programs under the control of an operating system (hereinafter, referred to as “OS”) to realize predetermined functions. . The host computer 2 has a file system 3 as an auxiliary storage device, and stores document data and the like handled by an application program as a predetermined file structure. The file system 3 is configured to function as a local file system (local disk) of the host computer 2 and also function as a remote file system (remote disk) of the printer 1.

In this embodiment, the printer 1 generates image data based on print job data sent from the host computer 2 and converts the image data into a file system that is a remote file system (that is, a local file system of the host computer 2). 3, the image data is read from the file system 3 and supplied to the print engine.
Note that the printer 1 generates image data.
It is preferable to mount a dedicated processor called a RIP (Raster Image Processor).

That is, when a printing instruction is given from a user or the like, the host computer 2 executing the application program transfers the document data handled by the application program to the printer driver to generate print job data. This is sent to the printer 1 (in the figure). When receiving the print job data from the host computer 1, the printer 1 interprets the print job data, generates image data in a raster format, and writes the image data in a file system 3 which is a remote file system (in the figure). The printer 1 reads a file of the file system 3 in accordance with a predetermined event such as completion of preparation for printing or the like, and expands the file in the image memory (in the figure). Then, the printer 1 supplies the image data developed in the image memory to the print engine according to the operation state of the print engine, thereby realizing printing (in the figure). When receiving the print preview instruction instead of the print instruction, the host computer 2 displays the image data by executing an application such as a graphic editor when the image data is written to the file system 3. And may be able to edit it.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the host computer 2 according to the present embodiment. The host computer 2 is connected to be able to communicate with the network N. The host computer 2 has a file system 3 as an auxiliary storage device realized by, for example, a hard disk device or a DVD-RAM. The host computer 2 executes various programs under the control of the OS, and realizes predetermined functions.

An application program (hereinafter referred to as an “application”) A is an execution module such as a word processor that handles document data composed of text data and vector-format graphic data, for example, and an application B is an execution module such as a graphic editor. It is. It is preferable that the application B can edit the image data in the bitmap format.

The printer driver 21 generates a print job data based on the document data when, for example, a print instruction is given to the application A and the application A transfers the document data and various parameters necessary for printing. . The print job data is a printer interpretation language prepared for each printer. After generating the print job data, the printer driver 21 sends the print job data to the communication unit 22.

The communication unit 22 includes a network N such as a LAN.
To communicate with the printer 1 and other host computers. The communication unit 22 includes various hardware, a LAN driver, and the like.

The file management unit 23 performs a process in response to a request for file access (file operation) such as reading or writing to the file system 3, and returns a processing result to the request source. The file management unit 23
Accepts a file access request from a client (in the present embodiment, the printer 1 corresponds to the file system 3) that has a relationship with the remote file system. That is, the file management unit 23 provides a file sharing function such as a network file system (NFS) to realize file sharing. Here, NFS refers to a system that provides a wide range of functions for remotely accessing a file system on a network, and includes a distributed file system (DFS).
d File System). Accordingly, when a file access request to the file system 3 is received from a client (not shown) via the application A or B or the network N, the file management unit 23 performs a process according to the request, and sends a processing result to the request source. reply.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the printer 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 includes a communication unit 31, a work memory 32, an image data generation unit 33, an image memory 34, an image data management unit 35, a mount information storage unit 36, an engine control unit 37, and a print engine 38. Prepare.

The communication unit 31 includes a network N such as a LAN.
And for communication with the host computer 2. The communication unit 31 includes various hardware, a LAN driver, and the like.

The work memory 32 temporarily stores print job data sent from the host computer 2.

The image data generator 33 generates raster image data based on the printer job data stored in the work memory 32,
Write to 4. When the generation of the image data for one page is completed, the image data generation unit 33 notifies the image data management unit 35 of the completion, waits for the notification of the completion of reading from the image data management unit 35, and waits for the image for the next page. Start generating data.

The image memory 34 stores image data for one page of printing paper. Image memory 34
Is realized by, for example, a DRAM or an SRAM.

Upon receiving the notification from the image data generation unit 33 that the generation of one page of image data has been completed, the image data management unit 35 stores the name of the host computer that sent the print job data and the mount information storage unit 36. According to the stored mount information, a process for writing the image data expanded in the image memory 34 to the file system 3 in a file format is performed.
Further, the image data management unit 35 issues a read request for image data to the host computer 2 in accordance with a predetermined event, and stores the image data in a file format transmitted from the host computer 2 in response to this request in the image memory 34. expand.

The mount information storage unit 36 stores mount information necessary for the printer 1 to mount the file system 3. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a format example of the mount information stored in the mount information storage unit 36. In the figure, the first field shows a remote host name and a path name to a mount point of a file system managed by the remote host. The second field indicates the location of the printer on which the remote file system is mounted. The third field indicates a mount format such as NFS, and the fourth field indicates, for example, file attribute information. The mount information stored in the mount information storage unit 36 is
May be configured to be input from an operation panel (not shown) or the like, or may be configured to be input from the host computer 2 via the communication unit 31.

The engine control unit 37 includes the image memory 3
When the image data is developed in the image data controller 4 and a notification to that effect is received from the image data controller 35, the raster image data developed in the image memory is sequentially read out while controlling the print engine 38, and is read out by the print engine. 38.

The print engine 38 prints on printing paper. The print engine 38 includes, for example, a laser irradiation mechanism, a photosensitive drum, a heat fixing mechanism, a paper feeding mechanism, and the like in the case of a laser printer.

Next, the operation of the printing system according to this embodiment configured as described above will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an operation example of the print system according to the present embodiment.

That is, when receiving a print instruction from a user or the like, the host computer 2 delivers the document data to the printer driver 21. The printer driver 21 generates printer job data based on the document data (in the figure). The host computer 2 sends the printer job data generated by the printer driver 21 to the printer 1 (in the figure).

Upon receiving the print job data from the host computer 2, the printer 1 generates image data and expands the image data in the image memory 34 (in the figure). When the printer 1 generates one page of image data, the printer 1 writes the image data in a predetermined file format to the file system 3 that is related to the remote file system. To store the image data in the file system 3 (in the figure). When writing of the file for one page is completed, the printer 1 generates image data of the next page, and similarly writes the image data to the file system 3.

When the printer 1 receives, for example, an instruction to start printing at a predetermined timing, the file system 3
A read request is sent to the device (in the figure). The host computer 2 reads the image data from the file system 3 based on the read request and sends it to the printer 1 (in the figure). The printer 1 loads the image data read from the file system 3 into the image memory 34 (in the figure). When one page of image data is developed in the image memory 34, the printer 1 supplies the image data to the print engine 38 and performs printing (in the figure). The printer 1 similarly sends a read request to expand the image data for the next page into a free area in the image memory 34 generated by supplying the image data to the print engine 38. The printer 1 repeats the above operation until all pages have been completed. When the host computer 2 accepts a print preview instead of a print instruction, the graphic editor is activated when the image data is stored in the file system 3, and the image data is read into the graphic editor. You may comprise so that display and edit are possible. In this case, when a print instruction is given from the graphic editor, the image data is sent to the printer 1 as it is, and the printer 1 expands the image data in the image memory 34 and supplies it to the print engine 38. You may do so.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the printer can store the image data generated based on the print job data sent from the host computer in the remote file system. Therefore, the user can display the image data stored in the file system as a print preview screen by reading out the image data in an application program such as a graphic editor.
You will be able to edit this.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the image data generated by the printer is displayed as a print preview screen. Therefore, even when a font unique to the printer is used, for example, the print result is displayed. Will be faithfully reproduced.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the printer does not need to hold the print data to be printed, and holds the information on the storage location of the print data waiting to be printed, and if necessary, the print data. (Image data).

In this embodiment, the printer 1
Is to temporarily store all the generated image data in the file system 3, but the image data corresponding to the first page may be read by the engine control unit 37 as it is. By doing so, it is not necessary to read the image data for the first page from the file system 3, and the network load is reduced.

In the present embodiment, the printer 1 develops image data for a predetermined unit page in the image memory and supplies it to the print engine. However, for example, in the case of a serial printer such as an ink jet printer, Alternatively, one line of image data may be partially read from the file system 3.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a case of a color compatible printer will be described. That is, in the present embodiment, the generated CM
The image data for each of the Y, M, and K components is temporarily stored in a remote file, and when supplied to the print engine, the image data for each of the C, M, Y, and K components is sequentially read from the remote file and printed.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the printer according to this embodiment. In the figure, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same function realizing means as in the above embodiment.

The image data generator 33 generates an image based on the printer job data stored in the work memory 32.
Generate GB image data. The RGB image data is data indicating a gradation level of an RGB component of each pixel forming an image. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the RGB image data is represented by 8 bits (that is, 256 gradations) per one pixel component.

The color converter 61 converts RGB image data into CMYK image data. The CMYK image data is data indicating a gradation level of a CMYK component. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that CMYK image data is represented by 8 bits (that is, 256 gradations) per one pixel component. That is, the color conversion unit 61 converts the RGB image data represented by 24 bits per pixel into monochromatic image data for each CMYK component represented by 8 bits per pixel. FIG.
(A) is a diagram showing a relationship between a page and image data for each of CMYK components constituting the page. That is, the color conversion unit 61 receives RGB image data from the image data generation unit 33 four times in order to generate image data of all the CMYK components forming one page. The color conversion unit 62 converts the converted image data of one of the CMYK components into a halftone processing unit 6.
Send to 2.

The halftone processing section 62 includes a color conversion section 61
For example, halftone processing by the screen method is performed on the image data for each of the CMYK components sent from, to generate binarized image data for each of the CMYK components (hereinafter, referred to as “halftone image data”). I do. The screen method is a method of expressing shading by growing halftone dots in a predetermined pattern as the density (gradation) increases. That is, the halftone image data indicates the size of the toner of each color of CMYK to be attached to each pixel. In the present embodiment, the screen method is used as the halftone processing, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an error diffusion method, a dither method, a pattern dither method, or the like may be used. The halftone processing unit 62 writes the generated halftone image data into the image memory 34.

When the halftone data of one page is written in the image memory 34, the image data management unit 35 stores the image data written in the image memory 34 in a file according to the mount information stored in the mount information storage unit 36. A process for writing to the system 3 in a file format is performed. The image data management unit 3
5 sequentially reads the halftone image data for each of the CMYK components from the image data from the file system 3 in accordance with a predetermined event, and expands the halftone image data in the image memory 34. FIG. 7B shows a relationship between image data (halftone image data) for each color component of each page and a file on the file system 3. As described above, the halftone image data for each color component of each page is stored in the file system 3 in a predetermined file format.

The engine control unit 37 stores the image data 3
After the laser pulse is pulse width modulated based on the halftone image data developed in step 4, the laser pulse is supplied to the print engine 38. Thereby, the print engine 38
Is C by a pulse width modulated laser pulse beam.
A toner image is formed for each color of MYK, and the toner images for each color are superimposed and transferred as a color image on a print recording medium to realize color printing.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the printer can store the image data generated based on the print job data sent from the host computer in the remote file system. In particular, in the present embodiment, the image data for each of the CMYK components is stored in the remote file system, and when the image data is supplied to the printer engine, the CMYK components are sequentially read out and developed in the image memory. Can use a small image memory. As a result, it is possible to realize a printer capable of performing color printing with an image memory having the same small capacity as a monochrome compatible printer.

[Third Embodiment] In this embodiment, image data generated based on printer job data sent from a host computer is not specified in the file system of the host computer sending the printer job data, but is specified in advance. Stored in a file system of another host computer.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a print system according to the present embodiment. That is, the host computer 2a executing the application program
When a print instruction is given from a user or the like, the print data is transferred to a printer driver by generating document data handled by the application program, and is sent to the printer 1 (in the figure).
Upon receiving the print job data from the host computer 1, the printer 1 interprets the print job data, generates raster image data, and writes it to the file system 3 of the host computer 2b designated in advance (in the figure).
The printer 1 reads a file of the file system 3 in accordance with a predetermined event such as completion of preparation for printing or the like, and expands the file in the image memory (in the figure). And printer 1
Supplies the image data developed in the image memory to the print engine in accordance with the operation state of the print engine, thereby realizing printing (in the figure). When receiving the print preview instruction instead of the print instruction, the host computer 2a executes an application such as a graphic editor when the image data is written to the file system 3 of the host computer 2b. The image data may be displayed and edited.

[Other Embodiments] Each of the above embodiments is
This is an example for describing the present invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention to only these embodiments. The present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist thereof. For example, although the operation of the function realizing means has been described sequentially, it is not particularly limited to this. Therefore, as long as no inconsistency occurs in the operation, the order of processing may be changed or the operation may be performed in parallel.

In each of the above embodiments, the printer 1 accesses the remote file system by the network file system (NFS).
Access may be made by FTP (File Transfer Protocol).

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the generated image data (in the case of color, image data for each component) is stored in a file system in a file format for each unit page. May be configured as one, and necessary image data may be partially read from this file. Therefore, in the case of a serial printer such as an ink jet printer,
One line of image data may be partially read from the file system 3.

[0063]

According to the present invention, a printer can store image data generated based on print job data sent from a host computer in a file system managed by the host computer.

As a result, the host computer can handle image data generated by the printer in the same manner as other files. In addition, the printer can use the file system of the host computer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a schematic configuration of a print system according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of a host computer 2 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of the printer 1 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a format example of mount information;

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining an operation example of the print system according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer 1 according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining color image data constituting a page;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a print system according to a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1. Printer 2. Host computer 3. File system 21 ... Printer driver 22: Host computer side communication unit 23: File management unit 31 Communication part on printer side 32 ... Work memory 33 ... Image data generation unit 34 ... Image memory 35 ... Image data management unit 36 ... Mount information storage unit 37 ... Engine control unit 38 ... Print engine

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-7-175610 (JP, A) JP-A-6-110626 (JP, A) JP-A-9-198217 (JP, A) JP-A-6-198217 214731 (JP, A) JP 9-50354 (JP, A) JP 11-55501 (JP, A) JP 6-28129 (JP, A) Raman Canna, distributed computing environment-realization And Strategies, Japan, Prentice Hall Publishing Co., Ltd., April 30, 1996, first edition, pages 150-153 (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 3/12 B41J 29 / 38

Claims (11)

(57) [Claims] 1. A printer for performing printing by supplying image data to a print engine, wherein the printer generates image data based on print data sent from a host computer, and generates the image data based on predetermined mount information. Storing in a remote file system on a network according to the following. 2. Writing image data generated based on print data sent from a host computer to a storage device of the host computer in accordance with predetermined mount information, and printing based on the image data read from the storage device of the host computer. A printer. 3. A storage unit for storing image data constituting a predetermined unit page, a generation unit for generating the image data based on print data sent from a host computer, and an image stored in the storage unit. An access unit that reads data, writes the data to a storage device of the host computer according to predetermined mount information, reads image data stored in the storage device of the host computer, and writes the read image data to the storage unit; and an image stored in the storage unit. A control unit that reads data and supplies the read data to a print execution unit that performs printing on a print recording medium. 4. The printer according to claim 3, wherein the access unit writes or reads the image data constituting the predetermined unit page in a storage device of the host computer in a predetermined file format. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the access unit reads out the second image data from the storage device of the host computer every time the control unit supplies the first image data to the print execution unit. The printer according to claim 3 or 4. 6. The control unit configures the first page generated by the generation unit and stored in the storage unit when it is determined that the image data generated by the generation unit configures a first page. The image data is supplied to the print execution unit, and the access unit sequentially reads out image data constituting a page next to the first page.
The printer described. 7. A color-compatible printer which supplies image data for each color component to a print engine, and performs color printing by superimposing images formed for each color component. is the generated image data for each of the color components on the basis of the print data, a predetermined mount the respective image data of each color component thus generated
A printer that stores the information in a remote file system on a network according to network information . 8. An image data for each color component generated based on print data sent from a host computer is written to a storage device of the host computer in accordance with predetermined mount information , and is stored in a storage device of the host computer for each color component. A printer that performs color printing based on sequentially read image data. 9. Generating means for sequentially generating image data constituting a predetermined page for each color component based on print data sent from a host computer;
Storage means for storing the image data of any one of the color components generated by the generation means, and the host computer reading the image data of any one of the color components stored in the storage means and according to predetermined mount information Access means for writing image data of any one of the color components stored in the storage device of the host computer and writing the read image data to the storage means, and any one of the color components stored in the storage means A control unit for supplying the image data to a print execution unit for printing on a print recording medium. 10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the access unit sequentially reads out image data constituting a predetermined page stored in a storage device of the host computer for each color component and writes the read image data into the storage unit. The printer described. 11. A print system comprising a host computer having a file system and a printer, wherein the host computer performs a predetermined process based on a file access request for the file system sent from the printer. A printer for generating image data based on print job data sent from the host computer; a storage for storing the image data generated by the generator; and a storage for the printer. The read image data is read and written to the storage device of the host computer, and the image data stored in the storage device of the host computer is read and written to the storage means. Access means for making a file access request to the file management means, and control means for supplying the image data stored in the storage means to print execution means for printing on a print recording medium. Printing system.