JP4113663B2 - Printer control apparatus and method, and recording medium storing program for controlling computer of printer control apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
【Technical field】
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for controlling a printer for printing an image, and a recording medium storing a program for controlling such an apparatus.
[0002]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When printing an image, a printer is connected to a printer control device such as a personal computer. A desired image is selected in the personal computer, and image data representing the selected image is transmitted to the printer and printed.
[0003]
The size of the image printed by the printer depends on the resolution of the printer as well as the size of the selected image itself. If printing is performed without considering the size of the selected image itself and the resolution of the printer, the image may be printed larger than the paper of the printer, or may be printed smaller.
[0004]
In order to print an image of an appropriate size, it is necessary to adjust the size of the image in a personal computer, but the adjustment process is relatively troublesome.
[0005]
Also, when printing an image using a printer, it is necessary to specify the size of the paper to be used. This designation is also relatively troublesome.
[0006]
In addition, when multiple printers are connected to a personal computer or the like and printed simultaneously using multiple printers, if the resolution of the printer is different, the image will be printed unless the image size is adjusted for each printer. The size of the image will be different for each printer.
[0007]
As described above, the setting performed by the user when printing an image using a printer is relatively troublesome.
[0008]
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is characterized by relatively simplifying the setting performed by the user when printing an image using a printer.
[0009]
According to a first aspect of the present invention, in a printer control apparatus for controlling a plurality of types of printers each having a different resolution, an image selection means for selecting an image to be printed from a plurality of images, and an image selected by the image selection means Based on the number of pixels and the resolution, a printer determination unit that determines a printer to be used from the plurality of types of printers, and a printer determined by the printer determination unit is selected by the image selection unit The image processing apparatus includes a transmission unit that transmits image data representing an image.
[0010]
The first invention also provides a method suitable for the above apparatus. In other words, this method selects an image to be printed from a plurality of images in a printer control apparatus that controls a plurality of types of printers each having a different resolution, and sets the number of pixels of the selected image and the resolution described above. Based on the above, a printer to be used is determined from the plurality of types of printers, and image data representing the selected image is transmitted to the determined printer.
[0011]
The first invention also provides a recording medium storing a program for executing the above method.
[0012]
According to the first invention, an image to be printed is selected from a plurality of images. Based on the number of pixels of the selected image and the resolutions of a plurality of types of printers each having a different resolution, a printer to be used is determined from the plurality of types of printers. Image data representing the determined image is transmitted to the determined printer.
[0013]
According to the first invention, even when there are a plurality of types of printers having different resolutions, a printer suitable for image printing is determined without setting the printer by the user.
[0014]
You may further provide the receiving means which receives the data showing the printer characteristic transmitted from each of the said multiple types of printer. In this case, the printer determination unit is configured to select the plurality of types based on the number of pixels of the image selected by the image selection unit and the resolution obtained based on the data indicating the printer characteristics received by the reception unit. The printer to be used will be determined from the printers.
[0015]
The image processing apparatus may further include an adjusting unit that adjusts the size of the selected image from the number of pixels of the image selected by the image selecting unit and the resolution of the printer determined by the printer determining unit. In this case, the transmitting means will transmit image data representing the image whose size has been adjusted by the adjusting means to the printer determined by the printer determining means.
[0016]
A second invention is an image selection means for selecting an image to be printed from a plurality of images in a printer control device for controlling a printer (one or a plurality of printers) capable of printing on paper of different sizes. Size determining means for determining the size of the paper to be used from among the different sizes of paper based on the number of pixels of the image selected by the image selecting means and the size of the paper, and the size Printer control means is provided for controlling the printer so as to print the image selected by the image selection means on a sheet of a size determined by the determination means.
[0017]
The second invention also provides a method suitable for the above apparatus. In other words, this method selects an image to be printed from a plurality of images in a printer control device that controls printers that can print on paper of different sizes, and selects the number of pixels of the selected image and the size of the paper. Based on the above, the size of the paper to be used is determined from among the different sizes of paper, and the printer is controlled to print the selected image on the determined size of paper. is there.
[0018]
The second invention also provides a recording medium storing a program for executing the above method.
[0019]
According to the second invention, an image to be printed is selected. The size of the paper to be used is determined based on the paper of a size different from the number of pixels of the selected image. The selected image is printed on the determined paper.
[0020]
According to the second aspect, it is possible to determine a sheet having a size suitable for the selected image among the sheets having different sizes.
[0021]
You may further provide the receiving means which receives the data which show the printer characteristic transmitted from each of the said multiple types of printer. In this case, the size determining means may determine the plurality of types based on the number of pixels of the image selected by the image selecting means and the size of the paper obtained from the data indicating the printer characteristics received by the receiving means. The size of the paper to be used will be determined from among the printers.
[0022]
The image processing apparatus may further include an adjusting unit that adjusts the size of the selected image from the number of pixels of the image selected by the image selecting unit and the size of the paper determined by the size determining unit. In this case, the transmitting means will transmit image data representing the image whose size has been adjusted by the adjusting means to the printer.
[0023]
A printer control apparatus that determines both the printer and the paper size may be configured by combining the first invention and the second invention.
[0024]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer control apparatus for controlling a plurality of types of printers each having a different resolution, a selection means for selecting a desired size of paper from different sizes of paper, and a print target image to be printed The size of the printed image when the image to be printed is printed in each of the plurality of types of printers based on the number of pixels, the size of the paper selected by the selection means, and the different resolutions. Adjusting means for adjusting the size of the print target image so as to correspond to the plurality of types of printers, and a printer corresponding to image data representing the print target image whose size has been adjusted by the adjusting means It is characterized by having a transmission means for transmitting to.
[0025]
The third invention also provides a method suitable for the above apparatus. That is, in this method, in a printer control apparatus that controls a plurality of types of printers each having different resolutions, a paper having a desired size is selected from papers having different sizes, and pixels of a print target image to be printed are selected. Based on the number, the size of the selected paper, and the different resolutions, the size of the printed image is the same when the print target image is printed in each of the plurality of types of printers. The size of the print target image is adjusted corresponding to the plurality of types of printers, and image data representing the print target image whose size has been adjusted is transmitted to the corresponding printer.
[0026]
The third invention also provides a recording medium storing a program for performing the above method.
[0027]
According to the third invention, a sheet having a desired size is selected from sheets having different sizes. Based on the size of the selected paper and the resolution of each of the plurality of types of printers, the size of the printed image is the same when the selected image is printed on each of the plurality of types of printers. Then, the size of the selected image is adjusted. Image data representing an image whose size has been adjusted is transmitted to the corresponding printer and printed.
[0028]
According to the third invention, even when there are a plurality of printers having different resolutions, an image having the same size can be printed using the plurality of printers.
[0029]
[Explanation of Examples]
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention and shows the overall configuration of a printer control system.
[0030]
The printer control system includes a printer control device 1, a monitor display device 40, and printers 50A to 50C. Each of the printers 50A to 50C is given a product ID, which is an identification code unique to each printer, as will be described later. The product IDs of the printers 50A, 50B, and 50C are “PR-100”, “PR-105”, and “PR-210”, respectively.
[0031]
The printer controller 1 has a memory card slot 17 for inserting a memory card 34, a magneto-optical disk slot 18 for inserting a magneto-optical disk 35, and a magnetic disk 36 for inserting a magnetic disk 36 on the front surface. A magnetic disk slot 19 is formed. The memory card 34, the magneto-optical disk 35, and the magnetic disk 36 store image data representing images owned by the user.
[0032]
The printer control device 1 reads image data recorded on the memory card 34, the magneto-optical disk 35, or the magnetic disk 36, and selects a desired image. Image data representing the selected image is transmitted from the printer 50A to one or more of the printers 50C and printed.
[0033]
In the printer control system according to this embodiment, among the printers 50A to 50C, a printer suitable for the selected image is automatically selected, and printer automatic selection printing processing for printing using the selected printer and the size of the paper to the user are performed. Can be selected, and batch printing processing can be performed in which printing is performed using all the printers 50A to 50C so that an image of a certain size is printed with the selected paper size. Details of these automatic printer selection print processing and batch print processing will be described later.
[0034]
FIG. 2 shows an operation panel provided on the upper surface of the printer control apparatus 1.
[0035]
On the operation panel, a menu selection button 21, a size selection button 22, a numeric keypad 23, and an image of one frame are displayed on the entire display screen of the monitor display device 40 for selecting automatic printer selection print processing, batch print processing, etc. One-screen selection button 24 pressed by the user at the time of selection, all selection button 25 for selecting all of a plurality of images displayed on the monitor display device 40, clear button 26, cursor key 27 (to cursor key 27) Includes a previous page button 28 for turning a page to the previous page and a next page button 29 for turning a page to the next page), a decision button 30 and a print button 31.
[0036]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the printer control apparatus 1.
[0037]
The overall operation of the printer control device 1 is controlled by the CPU 12.
[0038]
Image data recorded on the memory card 34 is read out by the memory card interface 2, and image data recorded on the magneto-optical disk 35 is read out by the magneto-optical disk driver 3, and the magnetic disk The image data recorded in 36 is read by the magnetic disk driver 4.
[0039]
If the read image data is compressed, the image data is decompressed by the image data decompression circuit 5, given to the frame memory 6, and temporarily stored. If the read image data is not compressed, it simply passes through the image data expansion circuit 5 and is given to the frame memory 6 to be temporarily stored. The image data temporarily stored in the frame memory 6 is read by the frame memory controller 7 and given to the monitor display device 40 via the 75 ohm driver 9. An image represented by the image data read from the frame memory 6 is displayed on the display screen of the monitor display device 40. The printer control device 1 also includes an OSD (On Screen Display) circuit 8. The OSD circuit 8 outputs data representing a character to be displayed on the image, and is supplied to the monitor display device 40 via the 75 ohm driver 9. The image on which the character is displayed is displayed on the display screen of the monitor display device 40.
[0040]
The printer control apparatus 1 includes a SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) interface 10, and printers 50 </ b> A to 50 </ b> C are connected via the SCSI interface 10. Commands from the operation panel described above are input to the printer control apparatus 1 from the operation interface 11.
[0041]
The printer control device 1 further includes a program storage memory 13 in which an execution program is stored, a work DRAM 14, a work SRAM 15, and a nonvolatile memory 16.
[0042]
The printer control device 1 may be provided with an optical disk driver 20. An optical disc 33 in which a program is stored is prepared. The program stored on the optical disk 33 is read by the optical disk driver 20 and stored in the program storage memory 13. The printer control device 1 will operate according to the program stored in the program storage memory 13.
[0043]
FIG. 4 is a table showing printer specifications.
[0044]
The printer specification table is stored in the nonvolatile memory 16. The printer specification table stores the specifications of major printers in advance.
[0045]
The printer specification table stores the DPI (dots per inch) value of the printer, the paper size of the paper that can be printed by the printers 50A to 50C, and the number of print pixels corresponding to the product ID. By knowing the product ID, it is possible to know the DPI value of the printer specified by the product ID, the paper size, and the number of print pixels.
[0046]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the printer automatic selection printing process.
[0047]
As described above, the printer automatic selection print processing determines a printer and a paper size suitable for printing a print target image when an image to be printed is selected by the user (the selected image is referred to as a print target image). Then, the image to be printed is printed using the determined printer and paper size.
[0048]
When the printer controller 1 is turned on (step 61) and the printer automatic selection print process is selected by the menu button 21, all printers 50A to 50C connected to the printer controller 1 from the printer controller 1 are selected. An INQUIRY command is sent to (step 62).
[0049]
When the printer 50A to 50C receives an INQUIRY command, data indicating the product ID is transmitted to the printer control device 1 in response to the INQUIRY command.
[0050]
In the printer control apparatus 1, data indicating the product ID transmitted from the printers 50A to 50C is received (step 63).
[0051]
A medium in which image data representing an image to be printed is stored in the printer controller 1 among the memory card 34, the magneto-optical disk 35, and the magnetic disk 36 by the user. The image data recorded on the media loaded in the printer control device 1 is read and displayed as a list on the display screen of the monitor display device 40. The user selects an image to be printed while viewing the image displayed on the display screen of the monitor display device 40 (step 64).
[0052]
Thereafter, the user presses the print button 31 (step 65).
[0053]
When the print target image is selected, the number of pixels of the selected print target image is compared with the number of print pixels of all the printers 50A to 50C connected to the printer control apparatus 1 (step 66). For example, if the image to be printed is wider than the frame represented by the number of print pixels, the number of pixels in the vertical direction is compared, and the image to be printed is longer than the frame represented by the number of print pixels. In this case, the number of pixels in the horizontal direction is compared.
[0054]
Based on the comparison result, the printer to be used and the paper size among the printers 50A to 50C are determined (step 67). Specifically, the printer and paper size are determined as follows. In step 66, the ratio of the number of pixels compared is calculated. The paper size and printer with the smallest ratio are suitable for the print target image. For example, it is assumed that the print target image has 1000 pixels in the horizontal direction and 500 pixels in the vertical direction as shown in FIG. Since the print target image is longer than the frame represented by the number of print pixels, the number of pixels in the vertical direction of the print target image is compared with the number of print pixels in the vertical direction, and the magnification is calculated as follows. (Magnification = number of pixels in the vertical direction of the number of print pixels / number of pixels in the vertical direction of the print target image).
[0055]
Product ID “PR-100”
Paper size A6: 750/500 = 1.5 times Paper size A5: 1000/500 = 2 times
Product ID “PR-105”
Paper size A6: 1500/500 = 3 times Paper size A5: 2000/500 = 4 times
Product ID “PR-210”
Paper size A6: 2250/500 = 4.5 times Paper size A5: 3000/500 = 6 times
The printer and paper size that are the smallest of the calculated magnifications (1.5 times in this case) are the printer and paper sizes suitable for the selected print target image. In this example, it is determined that printing on A6 size paper using the printer 50A with the product ID “PR-100” is most suitable for the selected target image. A frame indicated by the number of print pixels of the paper size A5 of the product ID “PR-100” is shown in FIG.
[0059]
Subsequently, the image to be printed is resized so as to match the size of the selected paper (step 68). Specifically, if the image to be printed is horizontally longer than the frame represented by the number of print pixels, the image to be printed is resized using the vertical magnification, and if it is vertically long, the image to be printed is used using the horizontal magnification. Resized. That is, a print target image after resizing is obtained by multiplying the vertical direction and the horizontal direction of the print target image by 1.5. As shown in FIG. 8, the resized print target image has 750 (= 500 × 1.5) pixels in the vertical direction and 1500 (= 1000 × 1.5) pixels in the horizontal direction. As a result, the vertical pixels coincide with the vertical pixels of the number of print pixels. Since the number of pixels in the horizontal direction is larger than the number of pixels in the horizontal direction, printing will be omitted for the protruding portion. Of course, it may be resized by other methods.
[0060]
When the print target image is resized, image data representing the resized print target image and a print command are transmitted from the printer control device 1 to the determined printer 50A (step 69). Needless to say, the printer to which the image data and the print command are to be transmitted can be recognized according to the product ID received from the printer as described above. In addition, the printer control device 1 transmits to the printer 50A so as to print using the determined paper.
[0061]
According to this embodiment, printing can be performed using a printer and paper suitable for the image selected by the user.
[0062]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing batch print processing.
[0063]
As described above, the batch print process is to print an image of the same size on a sheet selected by the user using a plurality of printers 50A to 50C. Even when a large number of sheets are printed, since a plurality of printers 50A to 50C are used, printing can be performed quickly. Moreover, even if the images are printed from different printers, the images have the same size.
[0064]
The power is turned on by the user (step 71), and batch print processing is selected. The size selection button 22 is pressed to determine the size of the paper to be printed (step 72). When the size selection button 22 is pressed, characters for selecting A5 or A6 appear on the display screen of the monitor display device 40, and either size is selected.
[0065]
Subsequently, a medium such as a memory card 34 storing image data representing an image to be printed is loaded into the printer control apparatus 1. Image data stored in the loaded medium is read and displayed in a list on the display screen of the monitor display device 40. An image to be printed is selected from the displayed images (step 73). Then, the print button 31 is pressed by the user (step 74).
[0066]
Thereafter, according to the selected paper size, the size of the print target image selected by the user is resized so as to be suitable for each printer (step 75). For example, if the paper size selected by the user is A6, a frame of 1000 pixels in the horizontal direction, a frame of 750 pixels in the vertical direction, a frame of 2000 pixels in the horizontal direction, 1500 pixels in the vertical direction, and 3000 pixels in the horizontal direction of the print pixels. Resizing processing suitable for each printer is performed in a manner similar to the processing in step 68 in FIG. 5 so as to match the frame of the pixels in the vertical direction 2250.
[0067]
When resizing processing suitable for each printer is performed, image data representing a print selection image after resizing and a print command are transmitted to the corresponding printer (step 76). In each printer, a print selection image of the same size is printed on the selected paper. Even when printing is performed using different printers, an image having the same size can be printed on a sheet designated by the user. Needless to say, data indicating the sheet designated by the user is also transmitted from the printer control apparatus 1 to the printers 50A to 50E, and the sheet to be used in each printer is determined based on the data indicating the sheet.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 shows a printer control system.
FIG. 2 shows an operation panel of the printer control apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of a printer control apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a table showing printer specifications.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating printer automatic selection processing.
FIG. 6 shows the number of pixels in the vertical and horizontal directions of the image to be printed.
FIG. 7 shows the number of pixels in the vertical and horizontal directions of an image printed by a printer.
FIG. 8 shows the number of pixels in the vertical and horizontal directions of the image to be printed after resizing.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating batch printing processing.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Printer Controller 2 Memory Card Interface 3 Magneto-Optical Disk Driver 4 Magnetic Disk Driver
10 SCSI interface
12 Operation interface
13 Program storage memory
16 Non-volatile memory
20 Optical disk driver
33 Optical disc
34 Memory card
35 magneto-optical disk
36 magnetic disk
40 Monitor display device
50A-50C printer

Claims (5)

In a printer control device for controlling a plurality of types of printers each having a different resolution,
Image selection means for selecting an image to be printed from a plurality of images;
Based on the number of pixels of the image selected by the image selection means and the resolution, a printer determination means for determining a printer to be used from the plurality of types of printers, and a printer determined by the printer determination means. , Transmission means for transmitting image data representing the image selected by the image selection means,
With
The printer determination means is
When the image selected by the image selection means is longer than the image printed by the printer, the number of pixels in the vertical direction is compared, and the image selected by the image selection means is compared by the printer. If the image is vertically longer than the image to be printed, the number of pixels in the horizontal direction is compared, (the number of pixels in the vertical or horizontal direction of the image to be printed) / (the vertical direction of the image selected by the image selection means or The magnification obtained from the number of pixels in the horizontal direction) is calculated for the plurality of printers, and the printer having the smallest magnification among the obtained magnifications is determined as the printer to be used.
The printer controller. Receiving means for receiving data representing printer characteristics transmitted from each of the plurality of types of printers;
The printer determination means is
Based on the number of pixels of the image selected by the image selecting means and the resolution obtained based on the data indicating the printer characteristics received by the receiving means, a printer to be used is selected from the plurality of types of printers. To decide,
The printer control apparatus according to claim 1. Adjusting means for adjusting the size of the selected image based on the number of pixels of the image selected by the image selecting means and the resolution of the printer determined by the printer determining means;
The transmission means is
Image data representing an image whose size has been adjusted by the adjusting means is transmitted to the printer determined by the printer determining means;
The printer control apparatus according to claim 1. In a printer control method of a printer control apparatus for controlling a plurality of types of printers each having a different resolution,
Select an image to print from multiple images,
Based on the number of pixels of the selected image and the resolution, the printer to be used is determined from the above-mentioned plural types of printers.
The determined printer, a pulp printer control method to transmit image data representing an image that has been selected,
If the selected image is wider than the image printed by the printer, the number of pixels in the vertical direction is compared. If the selected image is longer than the image printed by the printer, Compares the number of pixels in the horizontal direction, and calculates the magnification obtained from (the number of pixels in the vertical or horizontal direction of the image to be printed) / (the number of pixels in the vertical or horizontal direction of the selected image). , And determine the printer to be used as the printer with the smallest magnification obtained.
Printer control method. A program for controlling a computer of a printer control device that controls a plurality of types of printers each having a different resolution,
Select an image to print from multiple images,
Based on the number of pixels of the selected image and the resolution, the printer to be used is determined from the plurality of types of printers.
Send the image data representing the selected image to the determined printer ,
If the selected image is longer than the image printed by the printer, the number of pixels in the vertical direction is compared. If the selected image is longer than the image printed by the printer, Compares the number of pixels in the horizontal direction, and calculates the magnification obtained from (the number of pixels in the vertical or horizontal direction of the image to be printed) / (the number of pixels in the vertical or horizontal direction of the selected image). A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for controlling the computer of the printer control apparatus so that the printer having the smallest magnification among the obtained magnifications is determined as the printer to be used .

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