JP3618828B2 - Information processing apparatus and information processing method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus such as a host computer that downloads fonts to a printing apparatus, and an information processing method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, the host computer has a mechanism for generating character image data, and the same design as the characters displayed on the display by creating and transferring character image data suitable for each resolution to the display and printer. In this way, an environment called WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) for printing on a printer is realized. In such a printing environment, it is necessary to transfer character image data to the printer. Conventionally, when printing in this environment, a method of transferring character image data for each character (character image drawing), or storing character image data once transferred in a printer and printing the same character A method (character image download) of reusing image data stored in some cases has been used.
[0003]
In this method of printing by downloading a character image, a group of characters having the same character attributes (font name, character size, cell size, character modification, etc.) is made into one character set, and the characters included in the character set are character codes. The management method identified by is common. In this case, one character image data is expressed by a combination of a character set and a character code.
[0004]
In order to manage character printing by downloading from the host computer side, data indicating whether or not the character image data of the character to be printed has already been downloaded is required. For this reason, data indicating whether or not each character has been downloaded is managed for each character set. Hereinafter, the data area for storing data indicating whether or not the data has been downloaded is referred to as a registered character code management table. This data usually requires at least one bit indicating whether it has been downloaded or not for each character code. Alternatively, there is a method in which all characters included in the character set are downloaded in advance, but the character code set in which the character code is expressed by a plurality of bytes makes the data amount enormous, which is not realistic. Therefore, the management is necessary to download Japanese characters.
[0005]
The downloaded management memory required on the host to achieve this is a minimum of 1 bit for each character, but the number of bits corresponding to all character codes (from thousands in the case of Japanese) (10,000 thousands bits) is prepared for each character set, it puts pressure on the memory on the host side. Actually, when printing is performed by downloading, since the RAM capacity for storing on the printer is generally limited, the number of characters that can be normally registered is limited. For this reason, conventionally, a maximum number of registered characters is set for each character set, a memory for storing character codes for the number of characters is prepared, and downloaded character codes are stored in a list as a list. Has been done. Each time a character image is downloaded, data indicating that the character image has been downloaded is recorded in the registered character code management table. Conventional printing has been performed by switching to a printing method (for example, image drawing) for output, or by deleting already downloaded data and downloading the vacant part.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, with this conventional method, there has been a problem that image data of frequently used characters cannot be newly downloaded after reaching the upper limit of the number of characters that can be registered.
[0007]
In addition, since the downloaded character codes are managed in a list, there is a problem that it takes a long time to search for and determine whether or not the character has been downloaded even if it is a frequently used character.
[0008]
In addition, if a character registration management table is created so that the maximum number of characters that can be downloaded for each character set can be stored, the memory size on the host to be used becomes large and may not be secured. there were.
[0009]
The present invention has been made to solve these problems, and an object of the present invention is to always enable downloading of frequently used characters.
[0010]
It is another object of the present invention to reduce the time required to determine whether or not a frequently used character has been downloaded or recorded.
[0011]
Another object is to reduce the memory size required for the registered character code management table.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the information processing apparatus of the present invention provides:
Storage means for storing a first table for managing registered characters for frequently used characters and a second table for managing registered characters for infrequently used characters;
Determining means for determining whether font data corresponding to a character to be printed is registered in the printing apparatus based on the first table or the second table;
If it is determined by the determining means that the font data corresponding to the character to be printed is registered in the printing apparatus, a registered character print command for printing the registered font data corresponding to the character to be printed is created. A character registration command for registering font data corresponding to the character to be printed when the determination means determines that the font data corresponding to the character to be printed is not registered in the printing device. Registration to create and send to the printing device, update the first table or the second table according to the character corresponding to the character to be printed, and print the registered font data corresponding to the character to be printed And a transmission means for generating a character print command and transmitting it to a printing apparatus.
[0013]
In addition, the information processing method of the present invention includes:
An information processing method using a first table for managing registered characters for frequently used characters and a second table for managing registered characters for less frequently used characters,
A determination step of determining whether or not font data corresponding to a character to be printed is registered in the printing apparatus based on the first table or the second table;
If it is determined in the determination step that font data corresponding to the character to be printed is registered in the printing apparatus, a registered character print command for printing the registered font data corresponding to the character to be printed is created. A character registration command for registering the font data corresponding to the character to be printed when it is determined in the determination step that the font data corresponding to the character to be printed is not registered in the printing device. Registration to create and send to the printing device, update the first table or the second table according to the character corresponding to the character to be printed, and print the registered font data corresponding to the character to be printed A transmission step of generating a character print command and transmitting the character print command to the printing apparatus.
[0015]
【Example】
Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0016]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a print control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As long as the functions of the present invention are executed, the present invention can be used for a single device, a system composed of a plurality of devices, or a system in which processing is performed via a network such as a LAN. It goes without saying that the invention can be applied.
[0017]
In the figure, reference numeral 3000 denotes a host computer that performs document processing in which graphics, images, characters, tables (including spreadsheets), etc. are mixed based on a document processing program stored in the ROM 3 program ROM or the external memory 11. The CPU 1 includes a CPU 1 to be executed, and the CPU 1 comprehensively controls each device connected to the system bus 4.
[0018]
The ROM 3 program ROM or external memory 11 stores an operating system program (hereinafter referred to as OS) which is a control program of the CPU 1, and the ROM 3 font ROM or external memory 11 stores the above-mentioned document processing. The font data to be used is stored, and the data ROM of the ROM 3 stores various data used when the document processing is performed. Reference numeral 2 denotes a RAM which functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 1. A keyboard controller (KBC) 5 controls key input from a keyboard 9 or a pointing device (not shown). Reference numeral 6 denotes a CRT controller (CRTC) which controls display on a CRT display (CRT) 10. A disk controller (DKC) 7 stores a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, edit files, a character image data generation program (hereinafter referred to as font writer), a printer control command generation program (hereinafter referred to as printer driver), and the like. The access to the external memory 11 such as a hard disk (HD) or floppy disk (FD) to be controlled is controlled. A printer controller (PRTC) 8 is connected to the printer 1500 via a predetermined bidirectional interface (interface) 21 and executes communication control processing with the printer 1500. The CPU 1 executes, for example, an outline font development (literalization) process on the display information RAM set on the RAM 2 to enable WYSIWYG on the CRT 10. The CPU 1 opens various windows registered based on commands instructed by a mouse cursor (not shown) on the CRT 10 and executes various data processing.
[0019]
In the printer 1500, reference numeral 12 denotes a printer CPU, which is a printing unit (printer engine) 17 connected to the system bus 15 based on a control program stored in the program ROM of the ROM 13 or a control program stored in the external memory 14. An image signal is output as output information. Further, the control program of the CPU 12 and the like are stored in the program ROM of the ROM 13. The font ROM of the ROM 13 stores font data used when generating the output information, and the ROM 13 data ROM is used on the host computer in the case of a printer without the external memory 14 such as a hard disk. Information to be stored is stored. The CPU 12 can communicate with the host computer via the input unit 18 and is configured to notify the host computer 3000 of information in the printer. Reference numeral 19 denotes a RAM that functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like of the CPU 12, and is configured such that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown). The RAM 19 is used as an output information expansion area, environment data storage area, NVRAM, and the like. Access to the above-described external memory 14 such as a hard disk (HD) or IC card is controlled by a memory controller (MC) 20. The external memory 14 is connected as an option and stores font data, an emulation program, form data, and the like. Reference numeral 1501 denotes a switch for operation on the operation panel described above, an LED display, and the like.
[0020]
Further, the number of external memories is not limited to one, but at least one external memory is provided so that an optional font card and a plurality of external memories storing programs for interpreting printer control languages with different language systems can be connected in addition to built-in fonts. It may be configured. Furthermore, an NVRAM (not shown) may be provided to store printer mode setting information from the operation panel 1501.
[0021]
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail using a flowchart showing a control program executed by the CPU 1.
[0022]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a general processing procedure in the printer driver that downloads character image data. First, the outline of the processing procedure shown in FIG. 2 will be described. In step 2.1, print data is received from an operating system (OS) or an application on the host computer that controls the printer driver. In step 2.2, it is determined whether the character image data indicated by the print data acquired in step 2.1 has already been registered in the printer. If it is determined that the registration has been completed, the process proceeds to processing for generating a command for printing the registered characters (step 2.7). If it is determined that it has not been registered, character image data is obtained from the font ROM based on the print data obtained in step 2.1 (step 2.3). In step 2.4, a printer command for registering the character image acquired in step 2.3 in the printer is generated (step 2.4) and transferred to the printer (step 2.5). In step 2.6, a flag indicating that the character indicated by the print data has already been registered in the printer is set. In step 2.7, a command for printing characters already registered in the printer is generated and transferred to the printer (step 2.8).
[0023]
Of these series of processing procedures, the character image data management method embodying the present invention is implemented in the determination processing in step 2.2 and the set of registered flags in step 2.6.
[0024]
Next, the part where the present invention is implemented will be described in detail. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for determining whether or not registration has been completed in step 2.2 in FIG. In this processing, a character registration management table managed by a printer driver that implements the present invention is used. Here, a font environment is assumed in which a character is determined by Code, FaceName, Style, and Point. However, it is sufficient that data sufficient to specify a character is included depending on the environment. Here, an example in which all of FaceName, Style, and Point match is managed as one character set, and one character registration management table is used for characters belonging to the same character set. One character registration management table is configured in the RAM 2 with the following contents having some data related to the character set in addition to the registered character code management table.
[0025]
Character registration management table: FaceName Point Style Table_ATable_B (Data 1)
FaceName: Font face name Point: Character size Style: Character modification data Table_A: Registered character code management table for frequently used characters Table_B: Registered character code management table for less frequently used characters In step 3.1, this process is performed. Initialize variables used in. In step 3.2, it is checked whether or not the last character registration management table has been reached. In step 3.3, it is checked whether the FaceName, Style, and Point of the character registration management table Table [i] match the FaceName, Style, and Point of the print data acquired in Step 2.1. It is determined whether or not the character code indicates a frequently used character (step 3.4). Here, however, Code is a shift JIS code, and 8240h-82FFh is assumed to be a frequently used character code area. If it is determined that the frequency of use is high, Table_A [Code 8240h] is checked (step 3.6). If it is ON, it is determined that it has been registered, and the process ends. If it is OFF, it is determined that it is not registered, and the process is terminated. If it is determined in step 3.4 that the frequency of use is low, it is checked whether Table_B [x] whose value is Code is present in Table_B (step 3.7). To finish the process. If it does not exist, it is determined that it has not been registered, and the process is terminated. If the data of Table [i] is different from the print data in step 3.3, the process proceeds to the processing relating to the next character registration management table (step 3.5). If there is no matching data among the data up to the last character registration management table, it is determined as unregistered (step 3.8).
[0026]
Here, Table_A and Table_B will be described in more detail. These tables indicate whether the image data of each character has already been registered in the printer. The contents are shown in FIG. The table is composed of a part Table_A that is registered with 1 bit for each character code and expresses unregistered, and a part Table_B that is added with the downloaded character code and is registered and expresses unregistered. Table_A is a portion in which one bit is allocated to a frequently used character. Here, in the example of the shift JIS code, 192 consecutive characters of character codes from 8140h to 81FFh including full-width alphanumeric hiragana are assigned to Table_A. In general, hiragana is frequently used in Japanese documents, and character types such as hiragana are assigned to consecutive character code areas in many character code systems. Therefore, the present invention can be applied to any character code system as long as frequently used characters are present in a continuous character code area. Moreover, although hiragana was mentioned as an example, it cannot be overemphasized that it can implement also about character types, such as katakana and a symbol (a punctuation mark etc. are included). It is also possible to assign a 1-byte code to the Table_A area and a 2-byte (or more) code to the Table_B area. Table_B is an area for recording that character image data of a character code that does not belong to Table_A is downloaded. For example, if used for a 2-byte code in Japanese, a value appropriate for the code system (for example, 0) is used. The area of Table_B is initialized, and the downloaded character code list is created by adding the downloaded character code to the empty part of Table_B. Note that the size of this area is set so that the number of characters managed by Table_A and Table_B can be downloaded for each character set.
[0027]
By creating the character registration management table in this way, for frequently used characters, when checking data (flag) indicating whether the character image data has been downloaded to the printer, all downloaded character codes are stored in the memory. Compared to the conventional method of storing, since the flag is uniquely obtained from the character code, the time required for the determination can be shortened. In addition, since the flag of frequently used characters is 1 bit each, the total memory usage for download management can be reduced as compared with the case where memory for storing character codes is used for the number of downloadable characters. . Regarding Table_B, it is necessary to search for a character code as usual. In this part, the character code is regarded as a numerical value, and a hash function or the like, which is a known technique, is applied to perform a high-speed search. If a hash function is used at the time of search, it is necessary to store a character code in Table_B using the hash function when recording the downloaded data.
[0028]
In step 2.6 in FIG. 2, the character flag registered in the printer in step 2.5 is set in the character registration management table. FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of this process. In step 5.1, variables necessary for this process are initialized. In step 5.2, it is checked whether or not the last character registration management table has been reached. In step 5.3, it is checked whether the FaceName, Style, and Point of the character registration management table Table [i] all match the FaceName, Style, and Point of the print data acquired in Step 2.1. Is a frequently used character (step 5.4). Here, however, Code is a shift JIS code, and 8240h-82FFh is assumed to be a frequently used character code area. If it is determined that the usage frequency is high, ON is set in Table_A [Code 8240h] indicating whether or not the character represented by Code has been registered (step 5.6), and the process is terminated. If it is determined in step 5.4 that the frequency of use is low, Code is added as an entry in Table_B of the character registration management table Table [i] (step 5.7), and the process ends. When adding an entry in step 5.7, it is necessary to search for an empty entry as in the conventional case. Also in this case, an entry is added by performing a high-speed search using a hash function or the like. When a hash function is used when adding an entry, Table_B is searched using the hash function also in the process of determining whether the download has been completed in step 3.7.
[0029]
When the data of Table [i] is different from each data of the print data in Step 5.3 of Table [i], the process proceeds to the processing relating to the next character registration management table (Step 5.5). If there is no matching data among the data up to the last character registration management table, a new character registration management table is created (step 5.8), step 5.4, step 5.6, step Similar to the process of 5.7, the character registration flag Table_A [Code-8240h] indicated by Code in the character registration management table is set to ON (step 5.11), or Code is added as an entry to Table_B. (Step 5.10), the process is terminated.
[0030]
Here, in the process of step 5.7, there may be a situation in which new character image data cannot be downloaded. This is the case when Table_B is already filled with the downloaded character code. In this case, the printer driver switches the printing by downloading to another printing method (for example, image drawing), or performs processing, or downloads instead of any entry of Table_B. In the latter case, it is necessary to notify the printer of deletion of character image data and download new character image data. However, with regard to frequently used characters, download management is performed with Table_A, and there is no situation where downloading is not possible.
[0031]
In this way, for frequently used characters, when setting a flag indicating that the character image data has already been downloaded to the printer, compared to the conventional method of storing all downloaded character codes in memory. Since the flag is uniquely obtained from the character code, the time required for setting the flag can be shortened. In addition, the frequently used characters can always be downloaded.
[0032]
In the font rasterizer that creates character image data from outline data or the like on a computer, the present invention also applies to cache data management when character image data once rasterized is stored (cached) in a memory. Is applicable.
[0033]
In addition, the present invention can be applied to cache data management when the scaled character image data is cached in a memory with a scalable font defined by outline data etc. built in the printer. is there.
[0034]
Further, regarding the character code, the present invention can be applied not only to the shift JIS code shown in the embodiment but also to JIS, UNICODE, and other character codes represented by a plurality of bytes.
[0035]
Further, the language is not limited to Japanese shown in the embodiment, and the present invention can be applied to any language in which a character code is expressed by a plurality of bytes.
[0036]
The download data to be managed is not limited to the character image data shown in the embodiment, and the present invention can also be applied to character outline data expressed by Beziers, splines, or the like.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, there is an effect that fonts that are frequently used can always be downloaded.
[0038]
Further, as described above, according to the present invention, there is an effect that it is possible to shorten the time required for determining whether or not the download has been completed.
[0039]
Further, as described above, according to the present invention, there is an effect that the memory size required for the registered management table can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing system using a character image data download management method embodying the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure in a printer driver that performs character image download.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for determining whether or not a character image download management method embodying the present invention has been registered;
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a registered code table that records that image data of each character has been downloaded.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for recording registration in the character image download management method embodying the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 CPU
2 RAM
3 ROM
4 System bus 12 CPU
13 ROM
19 RAM
1500 Printer 3000 Host computer

Claims (12)

Storage means for storing a first table for managing registered characters for frequently used characters and a second table for managing registered characters for infrequently used characters;
Determining means for determining whether font data corresponding to a character to be printed is registered in the printing apparatus based on the first table or the second table;
If it is determined by the determining means that the font data corresponding to the character to be printed is registered in the printing apparatus, a registered character print command for printing the registered font data corresponding to the character to be printed is created. A character registration command for registering font data corresponding to the character to be printed when the determination means determines that the font data corresponding to the character to be printed is not registered in the printing device. Registration to create and send to the printing device, update the first table or the second table according to the character corresponding to the character to be printed, and print the registered font data corresponding to the character to be printed An information processing apparatus comprising: a transmission unit that creates a character print command and transmits the command to a printing apparatus. The first table expresses whether or not one bit corresponding to each character code of a frequently used character has been registered,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second table expresses whether or not registration is performed by storing a character code of a registered character. The determining means determines whether or not it is registered according to the state of the bit at the position corresponding to the character code of the character to be printed in the first table,
2. The information according to claim 1, wherein the determining means determines whether or not a character code corresponding to a character to be printed is stored in the second table. Processing equipment. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the font data includes image data. Determining means for determining whether or not a character code of a character to be printed is a predetermined value or less;
Selecting means for selecting the first table when the determining means determines that the value is less than or equal to a predetermined value; and selecting the second table when the determining means determines that the value is not less than or equal to the predetermined value. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of tables including the first table and the second table exist corresponding to a typeface. An information processing method using a first table for managing registered characters for frequently used characters and a second table for managing registered characters for less frequently used characters,
A determination step of determining whether or not font data corresponding to a character to be printed is registered in the printing apparatus based on the first table or the second table;
If it is determined in the determination step that font data corresponding to the character to be printed is registered in the printing apparatus, a registered character print command for printing the registered font data corresponding to the character to be printed is created. A character registration command for registering the font data corresponding to the character to be printed when it is determined in the determination step that the font data corresponding to the character to be printed is not registered in the printing device. Registration to create and send to the printing device, update the first table or the second table according to the character corresponding to the character to be printed, and print the registered font data corresponding to the character to be printed An information processing method comprising: a transmission step of creating a character print command and transmitting the character print command to a printing apparatus. The first table expresses whether or not one bit corresponding to the character code of each frequently used character has been registered,
8. The information processing method according to claim 7, wherein the second table expresses whether or not the registration is completed by storing a character code of a registered character. In the determination step, it is determined whether or not it is registered according to a bit state at a position corresponding to a character code of a character to be printed in the first table,
8. The information according to claim 7, wherein the determining step determines whether or not a character code corresponding to a character to be printed is stored in the second table. Processing method. The information processing method according to claim 7, wherein the font data includes image data. A determination step of determining whether or not a character code of a character to be printed is a predetermined value or less;
A selection step of selecting the first table when the determination step determines that the value is less than or equal to a predetermined value, and selecting the second table when the determination step determines that the value is not less than the predetermined value. The information processing method according to claim 7. The information processing method according to claim 7, wherein a plurality of tables including the first table and the second table exist in correspondence with a typeface.

Images