JP4335852B2 - Print control apparatus, print control method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a print control apparatus, a print control method, and a program in a system including an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer and an output apparatus such as a printer.

  When printing data in which the inside of a figure such as a rectangle or circle is filled with a pattern, the graphic information and a bitmap having the pattern are passed from the application to the print controller, and the figure is printed by the printing device based on the passed figure information. The drawing of the shape is drawn and the inside is filled with the passed bitmap. Hereinafter, a bitmap having this pattern is referred to as a “pattern bitmap”.

  However, this pattern is distorted and moire due to the difference in resolution between the image display device and the printing device, the specifications and limitations of the information processing device and the printing device, and the printing result is different from what the user expects. Sometimes.

In Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-222152), when distortion or moire occurs due to a difference in resolution between an image display apparatus and a printing apparatus or enlargement / reduction processing by an information processing apparatus, each element of a pattern is appropriately sized. A technique is disclosed that makes it possible to obtain a print result expected by the user by expanding the image to
JP 2000-222152 A

  Here, in most printing apparatuses, the maximum size of the pattern bitmap that can be processed at one time is determined due to physical limitations of the apparatus. When printing is performed using such a printing apparatus, if the size of the pattern bitmap passed from the application exceeds the maximum size that can be processed by the printing apparatus, the pattern bitmap is printed as it is. If processing is to be performed by the apparatus, the processing may not be performed properly, and the printing result may be invalid, or printing may not be performed.

  In order to avoid this phenomenon, the printing control device or printing device simply cuts out the portion that fits in the maximum size that can be processed by the printing device from the pattern bitmap passed from the application, and reduces it to the size of the pattern bitmap. Technology is known. However, as a result of applying this technique, distortion or moire may occur in the printing result.

  For example, although the printing apparatus can process only a pattern bitmap having a size of 10 × 10 at the maximum (hereinafter, the unit is Pixel), the application may receive a pattern bit having a size of 20 × 20 as indicated by 501 in FIG. Assume that a map is passed and a drawing request is made to fill the inside of the rectangle with the pattern bitmap as in 502.

  FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a pattern bitmap transmitted from the application to the printer driver.

  At this time, in order to reduce the pattern bitmap to a size that can be processed by the printing apparatus in the printing control apparatus or the printing apparatus, a 10 × 10 portion from the upper left of the pattern bitmap passed from the application is set as 503. When cutting and drawing processing is performed using this pattern bitmap, distortion and moire are generated in the print result as indicated by reference numeral 504.

  As described above, Patent Document 1 is a technique for correcting a pattern bitmap so that distortion and moire do not occur.

  However, since this technology does not consider the maximum size that can be processed by the printing device, if the size of the pattern bitmap passed from the application exceeds the maximum size that can be processed by the printing device, Distortion and moire may occur.

  In addition, even if the size of the pattern bitmap passed from the application is smaller than the maximum size that can be processed by the printing device, if the elements of the pattern bitmap are expanded by applying this technology, the size of the pattern bitmap will also increase Thus, when the size after the enlargement exceeds the maximum size that can be processed by the printing apparatus, there is a problem that distortion and moire may occur in the same manner.

Therefore , an object of the present invention is a size that can be processed by the printing apparatus when the pattern bitmap included in the drawing request received from the application exceeds the maximum size that can be processed by the printing apparatus, and to provide a print control apparatus and printing control method and program you to create a pattern bit map as never pattern pattern collapses when drawn in the printing apparatus can be realized.

The present invention provides a print control apparatus including a printer driver that generates print data that can be processed by a printing apparatus based on a drawing request from an application, from the printing apparatus serving as an output destination of the printer driver to the printing apparatus. size acquiring means for acquiring information relating processable size limits, the size of the first pattern image included in the drawing request output from the application to the printer driver, the information about the size limit obtained by the size acquiring means is determined, the size determining means for determining whether more than a pattern image size that can be processed by the printing apparatus, a size of the first pattern image by the size determining means can be processed by the printing device If it is determined to exceed the pattern image size, An acquisition unit that acquires pixel values of each row and each column of the first pattern image, and a configuration specification that specifies a configuration of continuous pixel values repeated in each row and column from the pixel values acquired by the acquisition unit And a second for outputting to the printing apparatus not exceeding a pattern image size that can be processed by the printing apparatus according to a width of successive pixel values repeated in each row and column specified by the configuration specifying means . creating a pattern image, and the partial pattern image generating means for generating a partial pattern image as a basis, a second pattern image that the partial pattern image the printing apparatus integral multiple does not exceed the pattern image size that can be processed in Second pattern image creating means for performing, and a mark including the second pattern image And having a print drawing request output means for outputting a drawing request.

According to the present invention, pattern bit map included in the drawing request received from the application, if it exceeds the maximum size that can be processed by the printing apparatus, a size that can be processed by the printing apparatus, and printing By creating a pattern bitmap that does not break the pattern when drawn by the apparatus and outputting the pattern bit map to the printing apparatus, it is possible to obtain the print result expected by the user.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  The present invention particularly relates to a print control apparatus.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus control system to which a printing control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

  As long as the functions of the present invention are executed, a single device or a system composed of a plurality of devices is connected and processed via a network such as a LAN or WAN. The present invention can be applied even to a system. That is, the configuration of various terminals connected in the embodiment is an example, and it is needless to say that there are various configuration examples depending on applications and purposes.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 3000 denotes a host computer. The ROM 103 or the external memory 111 includes a BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) or an operating system program (hereinafter referred to as OS) that is a control program for the CPU 101, and execution of each server or each PC Various programs described below necessary for realizing the function to be performed are stored. The OS used in this embodiment is assumed to be, for example, Windows (registered trademark) XP (manufactured by Microsoft Corporation), but is not limited thereto.

  The RAM 102 functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 101. The CPU 101 implements various operations and functions by loading a program necessary for execution of processing from the ROM 103 or the external memory 111 to the RAM 102 and executing it.

  An input controller (input C) 105 controls input from a keyboard (KB) 109 or a pointing device such as a mouse (not shown). A video controller (VC) 106 controls display on a display device such as a CRT display (CRT) 110. The display device is not limited to the CRT, but may be another display device such as a liquid crystal display. These are used selectively by the administrator as needed. The present invention is not directly related.

  The memory controller (MC) 107 is an adapter to a hard disk (HD), flexible disk (FD), or PCMCIA card slot that stores a boot program, browser software, various applications, font data, user files, editing files, various data, and the like. Is used to control access to an external memory 111 such as a CompactFlash (registered trademark) memory connected via the network.

  A communication I / F controller (communication I / FC) 108 connects and communicates with an external device via a network, and executes communication control processing in the network. For example, Internet communication using TCP / IP or data transmission / reception with the printer 1500 is possible.

  Note that the CPU 101 enables display on the CRT 110 by executing outline font rasterization processing on a display information area in the RAM 102, for example. In addition, the CPU 101 controls display of a mouse cursor (not shown) on the CRT 110 to enable a user instruction from a pointing device such as a mouse (not shown).

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the printer 1500 will be described.

  In the printer 1500, the printer CPU 112 outputs to a printing unit (printer engine) 117 connected to the system bus 115 based on a control program stored in the program ROM of the ROM 113b or a control program stored in the external memory 114. An image signal as information is output. Further, a control program of the CPU 112 is stored in the program ROM of the ROM 113b. The font ROM of the ROM 113a stores font data used when generating the output information, and the data ROM of the ROM 113c is used on the host computer in the case of a printer having no external memory 114 such as a hard disk. Information to be stored is also stored.

  The CPU 112 can communicate with the host computer via the input unit 118 and can notify the host computer 3000 of information in the printer. A RAM 119 is a main memory of the CPU 112 and functions as a work area. The RAM 119 is configured such that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown).

  The RAM 119 is also used for an output information expansion area, an environment data storage area, NVRAM, and the like. Access to the above-described external memory 114 such as a hard disk (HD) or IC card is controlled by a memory controller (MC) 120. The external memory 114 is connected as an option and stores font data, an emulation program, form data, and the like. Reference numeral 118 denotes a switch for operation on the operation panel described above, an LED display, and the like.

  Further, the number of external memories is not limited to one, and at least one external memory is provided. In addition to the built-in font, an optional font card and a plurality of external memories storing programs for interpreting printer control languages of different language systems can be connected. May be. Further, an NVRAM (not shown) may be provided to store printer mode setting information from the operation panel 1501.

In this embodiment, it is assumed that the page description language (hereinafter referred to as PDL) supported by the printer 1500 is a relatively advanced PDL such as an LBP Image Processing System (manufactured by Canon Inc., hereinafter referred to as LIPS). However, it is not limited to this.

  A printing device control program (hereinafter referred to as a printer driver) for realizing the present invention is recorded in the external memory 111, and the CPU 101 reads it from the external memory 111 as needed and loads it into the RAM 102 for execution. Furthermore, the definition file and various information tables used by the printer driver according to the present invention are stored in the external memory 111, and a detailed description thereof will be described later.

  The printing unit 117 is a laser beam method, an electrophotographic method other than the laser beam method (for example, an LED method), a liquid crystal shutter method, an ink jet method, a thermal transfer method, a sublimation method, or any other printing method. The present invention is also applicable.

  FIG. 2 is a main functional block diagram showing a flow when transmitting print job data from the host computer 3000 shown in FIG. 1 to the printer 1500.

  An application program (hereinafter referred to as an application) 201, a graphic engine 202, a printer driver 203, and a print subsystem 204 in the host computer 3000 exist as files stored in the external memory 111 shown in FIG. The program module is loaded into the RAM 102 and executed by the OS or a module using the module.

  The application 201 and the printer driver 203 can be added to the hard disk (HD) of the external memory 111 via an FD of the external memory 111, a CD-ROM (not shown), or a network described later.

  The application 201 stored in the external memory 111 is loaded into the RAM 102 and executed by the CPU 101. When printing is performed from the application 201 to the printer 1500, output (rendering) is performed using the graphic engine 202 that is similarly loaded into the RAM 102 and executed by the CPU 101.

  The graphic engine 202 activates a printer driver 203 prepared for each printing apparatus (the printer driver 203 is loaded from the external memory 111 to the RAM 102 and executed by the CPU 101). The graphic engine 202 uses the printer driver 203 to convert the output of the application 201 into a printer control command by PDL.

  The printer control command converted by the printer driver 203 is output to the printer 1500 via the communication subsystem 221 via the print subsystem 204.

  The print subsystem 204 is started up by the OS, loaded from the external memory 111 to the RAM 102 and executed by the CPU 101, scheduling of print jobs, connection control with the host computer with the printer, and printer status. Management.

  The printer driver 203 generates a printer control command in response to the output of the printing or drawing command instructed from the application 201 and instructs the printer to reflect it in the print output. And a function for performing settings for controlling the functions of the printer 1500 (hereinafter referred to as a user interface), a function for storing the settings, and a function for providing information about the capabilities of the printer driver 203 and the printer 1500 to the application and the OS. A function that generates a printer control command when the function set in the user interface is a function that the printer has, and a function that is performed by the printer driver when the function set in the user interface is an original function Has functions etc.

  FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of a printing system to which the host computer 3000 and the printer 1500 shown in FIG. 1 can be applied.

  In FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes a network to which a plurality of host computers 3000, a printer 1500, and a print server computer 4000 are connected.

  In this case, the communication I / F controller 108 of the host computer 3000 has a function of a network interface card (NIC). The printer 1500 is directly connected to the network 301 even when connected to the print server computer 4000 via the local interface 302 such as Centronics or USB and connected to the network 3000 via the print server 4000. It may be a form. Note that the input unit 118 of the printer 1500 directly connected to the network 301 has a function of a network interface card (NIC).

  When a print job is transmitted from each client computer 3000 to the printer 1500 connected to the network 301 via the print server computer 4000, first, each client computer 3000 prints to the print server computer 4000 via the print subsystem 204. Submit the job.

  The print server computer 4000 transmits the print job transmitted from each client computer 3000 to the printer 1500 via a print subsystem on the print server computer 4000 (not shown). Thus, each client computer 3000 can transmit a print job to the printer 1500 via the print server computer 4000.

  When a print job is transmitted from each client computer 3000 to the printer 1500 directly connected to the network 301, each client computer 3000 sends a print job to the printer 1500 directly connected to the network 301 via the print subsystem 204. Send.

  Next, the basic processing flow of the printer driver 203 suitable for applying the present invention will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a status diagram showing the flow of basic processing when printing is performed in the print control apparatus of the present invention, and particularly corresponds to the processing of the application 201, graphic engine 202, and printer driver 203 shown in FIG. To do. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same thing as FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the application 201 does not directly communicate with the printer driver 203 but via the graphics engine 202 of the OS. Therefore, the application 201 itself is actually connected to the graphics engine 202. Communicate. The graphic engine 202 receives an instruction from the application 201 and instructs the printer driver 203.

  First, the application 201 notifies the graphic engine 202 of settings for printing such as single-sided / double-sided setting and the number of copies setting via the memory secured in the RAM 102, and the printer driver 203 receives the print setting from the graphic engine 202. In response to the print settings, the printer driver 203 receives a request for initializing a memory area newly secured in the RAM 102 for storing information necessary for printing (S401). As a result, the printer driver 203 secures a memory area for holding information (printer driver information) necessary for the printer driver 203 to perform print processing, and initializes the memory area in accordance with the print settings.

  When the printer driver 203 completes the necessary processing by receiving the initialization processing request for the information memory referred to by the printer driver 203, the printer driver 203 notifies the graphic engine 202 of the printing capability of the printer driver 203 according to the print setting received in step S401. To do. The application 201 acquires, from the graphic engine 202, a handle value necessary for associating a print job that is finally transmitted to the printer 1500 and a print setting that is reflected in the print job (S402).

  Next, when the application 201 makes a print start request to the graphic engine 202, the printer driver 203 receives the print start request from the graphic engine 202 (S403). Accordingly, the printer driver 203 starts PDL generation processing, and first, the printer 1500 generates a printer command necessary for starting printing. However, the process of generating a printer command necessary for the printer 1500 to start printing starts when the printing process for the first page (first page) is started (when the drawing instruction for the first page from the application is received). There may be.

  The application 201 issues a drawing instruction for realizing drawing of a drawing object such as a character or an image to the graphic engine 202. The printer driver 203 receives the drawing instruction from the graphic engine 202 (S404). As a result, the printer driver 203 appropriately generates a printer control command reflecting a specified drawing object, a page break, and a request for changing print settings (not shown) in the middle, and outputs the printer control command to the printer 1500. Note that the number of pages to be printed depends on the designation from the application 201.

  Next, when the application 201 makes a print end request to the graphic engine 202, the printer driver 203 receives the print end request from the graphic engine 202 (S405). As a result, the printer driver 203 generates a printer command necessary for the printer 1500 to end printing, and ends the PDL generation processing.

  Next, the application 201 notifies the graphic engine 202 of the handle value discard request acquired in step S402, and the printer driver 203 stores information necessary for the printer driver 203 to perform print processing from the graphic engine 202. A request to discard information (printer driver information) in the memory area to be received is received. As a result, the printer driver 203 discards the printer driver information (S406).

  One job for transmission to the printer 1500 is generated by the processing of steps S403 to S405 described above.

  Next, a print control process by the printer driver 203 corresponding to the control process procedure in the first embodiment of the print control apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a first control processing procedure in the print control apparatus of the present invention, and corresponds to the print control processing by the printer driver 203. Note that the processing of this flowchart is realized by the CPU 101 shown in FIG. 1 loading a program (printer driver program) stored in the external memory 111 or the like on the RAM 102 and executing it. In the figure, S1301 to S1304 indicate each step.

  As illustrated in FIG. 4, when the application 201 issues a drawing instruction for realizing drawing of a drawing object such as a character, an image, or a graphic to the graphic engine 202, the printer driver 203 displays the drawing instruction as a graphic. Received from the engine 202 (S404). The processing of this flowchart corresponds to the processing performed when the drawing instruction received by the printer driver 203 in step S404 in FIG.

  When the printer driver 203 (executed by the CPU 101) receives an instruction to draw a graphic (S1301), the process proceeds to step S1302.

  Next, in step S1302, the printer driver 203 determines whether the drawing instruction received in step S1301 is a drawing instruction using a pattern bitmap. When the printer driver 203 receives a graphic drawing instruction from the graphic engine 202, the printer driver 203 sets information necessary for drawing the graphic (hereinafter referred to as drawing information) in the memory area secured in the RAM 102 together with the graphic drawing instruction. In such a form, the graphic engine 202 is passed. This information includes information on whether or not to use a pattern bitmap and information on the pattern bitmap itself (pattern image, pattern bitmap width, height, total size, etc.). Based on this information, the printer driver 203 determines whether or not the received drawing instruction is a drawing instruction using a pattern bitmap.

  If the printer driver 203 determines in step S1302 that the drawing instruction received in step S1301 is not a drawing instruction that uses a pattern bitmap, the process proceeds to step S1304, and normal drawing processing is performed. That is, the printer driver 203 generates a printer control command that reflects the drawing information received from the graphic engine 202 and controls to output the printer control command to the printer 1500.

  On the other hand, if the printer driver 203 determines in step S1302 that the drawing instruction received in step S1301 is a drawing instruction using a pattern bitmap, the process proceeds to step S1303.

  In step S1303, the printer driver 203 executes a pattern bitmap optimization drawing process. Details of this processing are shown in FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a second control processing procedure in the print control apparatus of the present invention, and corresponds to the pattern bitmap optimized drawing processing shown in step S1303 of FIG. Note that the processing of this flowchart is realized by the CPU 101 shown in FIG. 1 loading a program (printer driver program) stored in the external memory 111 or the like on the RAM 102 and executing it. In the figure, S1401 to S1408 indicate steps.

  First, in step S1401, the printer driver 203 determines the maximum size of the pattern bitmap that can be processed by the printer 1500. This maximum size is determined as the width and height in pixels. Then, the determined maximum size (width, height) of the pattern bitmap that can be processed by the printer 1500 is stored in a memory area managed by the printer driver 203 as indicated by reference numeral 701 in FIG. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a memory image of a memory area managed by the printer driver 203 secured in the RAM 102 shown in FIG.

  When the size limit in the printer 1500 is provided in units of pixels of width and height that can be processed by the printer 1500, this information is determined as the maximum size. In addition, when the size limit in the printer 1500 is provided not by the pixel unit but by the total number of bytes that can be processed by the printer 1500, the total number of bytes corresponding to the size limit based on information such as the color depth. Is converted to pixel width and height to determine the maximum size. Note that the information such as the color depth is included in the above-described drawing information.

  In addition, as described above, the maximum size may be determined based on the information regarding the size that can be processed by the printer 1500, or conversely, based on the information regarding the size that cannot be processed by the printer 1500. You may do it. In this case, it is assumed that the printer driver 203 determines the maximum width and height information that does not exceed the information regarding the size that cannot be processed by the printer 1500 as the maximum size.

  Note that the information regarding the size limit in the printer 1500 may be acquired by the printer driver 203 from information stored in the external memory 111 and loaded into the RAM 102 by the printer driver 203 itself. The driver 203 may be acquired by making an inquiry to the printer 1500 via the communication I / F controller 108 and the network.

  These processes are performed at the time of initialization of the printer driver information in step S401 shown in FIG. 4, the time when the print start request is made in step S403, and the printing process of the first page (first page). For example, the printer driver 203 may store the maximum size information acquired at that time in the printer driver information in the memory area secured in the RAM 102. In this case, in step S1401, the printer driver 203 acquires the maximum size information from the information held in the printer driver information, and determines the acquired value as the maximum size of the pattern bitmap that can be processed by the printer 1500. It shall be.

  In step S1402, the printer driver 203 compares the maximum size of the pattern bitmap that can be processed by the printer 1500 determined in step S1401 with the size of the pattern bitmap to be processed by the printer 1500. Note that the pattern bitmap to be processed by the printer 1500 usually refers to the pattern bitmap itself received from the application 201 via the graphic engine 202. However, if some processing such as the technique of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-222152 has been performed on the pattern bitmap by the printer driver before step S1402, this indicates the pattern bitmap after processing. become. In either case, the pattern bitmap to be processed by the printer 1500 is hereinafter referred to as a “reception pattern bitmap”.

  As described above, the drawing information passed from the graphic engine 202 includes information on the pattern bitmap itself, and this information includes information on the width and height of the pattern bitmap. Therefore, the size of the reception pattern bitmap is calculated based on such information. However, as described above, some processing is applied to the pattern bitmap by the printer driver before step S1402, and information such as the width, height, and size of the pattern bitmap after processing is separately provided. If it exists in the printer driver information in the memory area secured on the RAM 102, the calculation is performed based on the information.

  As a result of the comparison, if the printer driver 203 determines in step S1402 that the received pattern bitmap does not exceed the maximum size of the pattern bitmap that can be processed by the printer 1500, the process advances to step S1408. Transition processing.

  In this case, distortion and moire do not occur due to the limitation on the maximum size that can be processed by the printer 1500. Accordingly, in step S1408, the printer driver 203 performs control so as to perform a reception pattern bitmap drawing process as usual. In other words, the printer control command is generated using the received pattern bitmap as it is, and is controlled to be output to the printer 1500. Then, when the process of step S1408 ends, the process ends.

  On the other hand, if the printer driver 203 determines in step S1402 that the received pattern bitmap exceeds the maximum size of the pattern bitmap that can be processed by the printer 1500, the process proceeds to step S1403.

  In steps S1403 to S1405, the printer driver 203 performs a process of determining whether or not the size of the received pattern bitmap can be optimized without destroying the pattern.

  First, in step S1403, the printer driver 203 performs horizontal optimum determination processing. Details of this processing will be described below with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a third control processing procedure in the printing control apparatus of the present invention, and corresponds to the horizontal optimum determination process shown in step S1403 of FIG. Note that the processing of this flowchart is realized by the CPU 101 shown in FIG. 1 loading a program (printer driver program) stored in the external memory 111 or the like on the RAM 102 and executing it. In the figure, S1501 to S1508 indicate steps.

  First, in step S1501, the printer driver 203 determines, based on the pixel width of the received pattern bitmap, a pixel width that can optimize the received pattern bitmap in the horizontal direction without destroying the pattern (hereinafter, optimization). Width) candidate value group is calculated.

  The calculation of the candidate value group is performed as follows, for example.

  Due to the nature of the pattern, the optimized width must be a positive divisor of the pixel width of the received pattern bitmap. Therefore, the printer driver 203 first calculates a positive divisor of the pixel width of the reception pattern bitmap. The divisor is calculated by, for example, a method in which the divisor information of each value is held by the printer driver 203 stored in the external memory 111 and a necessary value is obtained from the information loaded in the RAM 102. The information held by the printer driver 203 itself is only information on the radix, and the value of the pixel width of the reception pattern bitmap is divided by the radix, and which radix is a divisor depending on whether there is a remainder. It may be a method of judging. Also, other general divisor calculation methods may be employed.

  Next, from the divisors calculated as described above, the printer driver 203 extracts only those that fall within the maximum width of the pattern bitmap that can be processed by the printer 1500. Then, the printer driver 203 determines a candidate value group of the above-described optimization width) from the extracted values. All the extracted divisors may be set as candidate values, or only some values in the extracted divisors may be set as candidate values.

  Next, in step S1502, the printer driver 203 acquires one candidate value from the candidate value group calculated in step S1501. This value is held in a memory area managed by the printer driver 203 (for example, 705 in FIG. 7). Note that the candidate value acquisition process in step S1502 is repeated thereafter until the optimization width is determined, but the acquisition order may be from the smallest value to the largest value. Or any order. However, it is necessary to determine whether or not the value has already been acquired. At the same time, such information is held in a memory area managed by the printer driver 203 and is determined using this.

  Next, in step S1503, the printer driver 203 obtains the color configuration information of the portion whose pixel width is the candidate value acquired in step S1502 and whose pixel height is 1 from one row of the reception pattern bitmap. get. Specifically, first, the printer driver 203 acquires one line of the reception pattern bitmap, divides the acquired line using the candidate value acquired in step S1502 as a width, and starts from one of the divided parts. Get color composition information. Then, the acquired color configuration information is stored in a memory area (704 in FIG. 7) managed by the printer driver 203. The color configuration information acquisition process in step S1503 is repeated thereafter until the optimization width is determined, but the acquisition order may be from the top row of the reception pattern bitmap. , It may be from the bottom row or from any row. However, it is necessary to determine whether or not the line has already been acquired. At the same time, such information is held in a memory area managed by the printer driver 203 and is determined using this.

  Next, in step S1504, the printer driver 203 determines whether the entire row for which the color configuration information has been acquired in step S1503 is a list of the color configuration information acquired in step S1503.

  That is, for the line acquired from the reception pattern bitmap, it is determined whether all the parts other than the part from which the color configuration information is acquired in step S1503 have the same color configuration as the part acquired in step S1503. In other words, it is determined whether one entire row acquired from the reception pattern bitmap is a repetition of the color configuration acquired in step S1503. As shown in FIG. It is determined whether or not it is repeated. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a method for determining the repetition of the color configuration in the print control apparatus of the present invention.

  If the printer driver 203 determines in step S1504 that the entire line from which the color configuration information has been acquired in step S1503 is an enumeration (repetition) of the color configuration information acquired in step S1503, the process proceeds to step S1505. Let

  In step S1505, the printer driver 203 determines whether the color configurations of all the rows of the reception bitmap have been compared (that is, whether the processing in steps S1503 and S1504 has been performed on all the rows of the reception bitmap). To do. Note that it is possible to determine whether or not the processing of S1503 and S1504 has been performed on all the rows (S1505) by holding the information of the row from which the color configuration information is acquired in step S1503 in the memory area.

  If it is determined in step S1505 that the printer driver 203 has not yet compared the color configurations of all the rows of the reception bitmap, the process proceeds to step S1506 to change the target to the reception pattern bitmap. Move to the next line, and control to repeat the processing of steps S1503 and S1504 for all lines of the reception pattern bitmap.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1505 that the printer driver 203 has already compared the color configurations of all rows of the received bitmap, the printer driver 203 shifts the processing to step S1507. In this case, as shown in FIG. 9, it is determined that all the rows of the reception pattern bitmap are repeated with the same color configuration. That is, even if the received pattern bitmap is optimized in the horizontal direction with the candidate values used for this determination, it means that the pattern pattern does not collapse. In other words, it means that horizontal optimization is possible.

  Accordingly, in step S1507, the printer driver 203 stores the candidate value at this time as an optimization width in the memory area (702 in FIG. 7) managed by the printer driver 203, and returns the processing to the flowchart of FIG. The printer driver 203 may store in the memory area (705 in FIG. 7) that the horizontal optimization is possible, separately from the optimization width information. good.

  On the other hand, while repeating the processing of steps S1503 and S1504, in step S1504, the entire line from which the printer driver 203 has acquired the color configuration information in step S1503 is not an enumeration (repetition) of the color configuration information acquired in step S1503. If it is determined that the printer driver 203 determines, the process proceeds to step S1508. In this case, if the received pattern bitmap is optimized in the horizontal direction with the candidate value at this time, it means that the pattern pattern is destroyed. Therefore, in this case, using another candidate value in the candidate value group, similarly, it is determined whether or not all the rows of the reception pattern bitmap have the same color configuration.

  That is, in step S1508, the printer driver 203 determines whether the color configurations have been compared with all candidate values in the calculated candidate value group (the processing in steps S1503 and S1504 has been performed). Note that it is possible to determine whether or not the same processing has been performed for all candidate values (S1508) by holding the candidate value information acquired in step S1502 in a memory area.

  If it is determined in step S1508 that the printer driver 203 has not yet compared the color configurations with all candidate values, the process returns to step S1502 to perform processing using the next candidate value. To control.

  On the other hand, if the printer driver 203 determines in step S1508 that the color configurations have been compared with all the candidate values in the calculated candidate value group, any received value bitmap can be used regardless of which candidate value in the candidate value group is used. This means that these lines do not repeat the same color composition, meaning that horizontal optimization is not possible.

  Therefore, in this case, the printer driver 203 returns the processing to the flowchart of FIG. 6 without saving the candidate value as the optimization width in the memory area (702 in FIG. 7) managed by the printer driver 203. Note that the printer driver 203 may store in the memory area (705 in FIG. 7) that the printer driver 203 manages that horizontal optimization is impossible.

  In addition, while repeating the processing of steps S1502 to S1506 using various candidate values, the same processing is omitted for candidate values that clearly prove that any row cannot be repeated with the same color configuration. Also good. For example, if it is determined that one row can be optimized with 3 pixels and another row is determined to be optimized with 4 pixels, the pattern bitmap is a multiple of 12 pixels that is the least common multiple of 3 and 4. There is a possibility that it can be optimized, but other values cannot be optimized. Therefore, the same processing may be omitted for those values.

  The above is the processing in step S1403 in FIG. 6 for determining whether or not the received pattern bitmap can be optimized in the horizontal direction without destroying the pattern.

  Returning to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the horizontal optimality determination process in step S1403 ends, the printer driver 203 shifts the process to step S1404 to perform vertical optimality determination processing. Details of this processing will be described below with reference to FIG. In the vertical optimum determination process shown in FIG. 10, the same process as the horizontal optimum determination process shown in FIG. 9 is performed in the vertical direction. That is, the processing in S1601 to S1608 in FIG. 10 corresponds to the processing in steps S1501 to S1508 in FIG. That is, the processing performed using “width” and “row” in the processing in the horizontal direction in FIG. 9 is performed using “height” and “column” in the processing in the vertical direction in FIG. As a result of this process, if a candidate value is found that is determined to be the same color composition in all columns, this means that the candidate value at this time can be optimized in the vertical direction. The candidate value is stored as an optimized height in a memory area (703 in FIG. 7) managed by the printer driver 203. At this time, the fact that optimization in the vertical direction is possible may be stored in a memory area (705 in FIG. 7) managed by the printer driver 203 separately from the information on the optimization height.

  On the other hand, if the same processing is performed using all candidate values, and it is determined that any column is not a repetition of the same color configuration for any candidate value, vertical optimization is performed. It means impossible. Here, the fact that optimization in the vertical direction is impossible may be stored in a memory area (705 in FIG. 7) managed by the printer driver 203. This will be described in detail below.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a fourth control processing procedure in the print control apparatus of the present invention, and corresponds to the vertical optimum determination processing shown in step S1404 of FIG. Note that the processing of this flowchart is realized by the CPU 101 shown in FIG. 1 loading a program (printer driver program) stored in the external memory 111 or the like on the RAM 102 and executing it. In the figure, S1601 to S1608 indicate steps.

  First, in step S1601, the printer driver 203 determines, based on the pixel height of the received pattern bitmap, a pixel height that can optimize the received pattern bitmap in the vertical direction without destroying the pattern pattern (hereinafter, referred to as “pattern height”). A candidate value group (optimized height) is calculated.

  The calculation of the candidate value group is performed as follows, for example.

  Due to the nature of the pattern, the optimized high sum must be a positive divisor of the pixel height of the received pattern bitmap. Therefore, the printer driver 203 first calculates a positive divisor of the pixel height of the reception pattern bitmap. The divisor is calculated by, for example, a method in which the divisor information of each value is held by the printer driver 203 stored in the external memory 111 and a necessary value is obtained from the information loaded in the RAM 102. The information held by the printer driver 203 itself is only radix information, and the value of the pixel height of the received pattern bitmap is divided by the radix, and which radix is a divisor depending on whether there is a remainder. It may be a method of determining whether or not. Also, other general divisor calculation methods may be employed.

  Next, from the divisors calculated as described above, the printer driver 203 extracts only those that fall within the maximum height of the pattern bitmap that can be processed by the printer 1500. Then, the printer driver 203 determines a candidate value group of the above-described optimized height) from the extracted value. All the extracted divisors may be set as candidate values, or only some values in the extracted divisors may be set as candidate values.

  In step S1602, the printer driver 203 acquires one candidate value from the candidate value group calculated in step S1501. This value is held in a memory area managed by the printer driver 203 (for example, 705 in FIG. 7). Note that the candidate value acquisition process in step S1602 is repeated thereafter until the optimization height is determined, but the acquisition order may be from the smallest value to the largest. Or any order. However, it is necessary to determine whether or not the value has already been acquired. At the same time, such information is held in a memory area managed by the printer driver 203 and is determined using this.

  Next, in step S1603, the printer driver 203 obtains color configuration information of a portion whose pixel height is the candidate value acquired in step S1602 and whose pixel width is 1 from one column of the reception pattern bitmap. get. Specifically, first, the printer driver 203 acquires one column of the reception pattern bitmap, divides the acquired column using the candidate value acquired in step S1602 as a height, and selects one of the divided portions. Get color composition information from Then, the acquired color configuration information is stored in a memory area (704 in FIG. 7) managed by the printer driver 203. Note that the color configuration information acquisition process in step S1603 is repeated thereafter until the optimization height is determined, but the acquisition order may be from the leftmost column of the reception pattern bitmap. From the rightmost column, it may be from any column. However, it is necessary to determine whether or not the column has already been acquired. At the same time, such information is held in a memory area managed by the printer driver 203 and is determined using this.

  Next, in step S1604, the printer driver 203 determines whether the entire column for which the color configuration information has been acquired in step S1603 is an enumeration of the color configuration information acquired in step S1603.

  That is, for the column acquired from the reception pattern bitmap, it is determined whether all the portions other than the portion for which the color configuration information has been acquired in step S1603 have the same color configuration as the portion acquired in step S1603. In other words, it is determined whether one entire column acquired from the reception pattern bitmap is a repetition of the color configuration acquired in step S1603. As shown in FIG. It is determined whether or not it is repeated. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a determination method of color configuration repetition in the print control apparatus of the present invention.

  If the printer driver 203 determines in step S1604 that the entire column for which color configuration information has been acquired in step S1603 is an enumeration (repetition) of the color configuration information acquired in step S1603, the process transitions to step S1605. Let

  In step S1605, the printer driver 203 determines whether the color configurations of all the columns of the reception bitmap have been compared (that is, whether the processing in steps S1603 and S1604 has been performed for all the columns of the reception bitmap). To do. Note that it is possible to determine whether or not the processing of S1603 and S1604 has been performed on all the columns (S1605) by holding the column information for which the color configuration information has been acquired in step S1603 in the memory area.

  If it is determined in step S1605 that the printer driver 203 has not yet compared the color configurations of all the columns of the reception bitmap, the process proceeds to step S1606 to change the target to the reception pattern bitmap. Control is performed so as to move to the next column and repeat the processes in steps S1603 and S1604 for all columns of the reception pattern bitmap.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1605 that the printer driver 203 has already compared the color configurations of all the columns of the received bitmap, the printer driver 203 shifts the processing to step S1607. In this case, as shown in FIG. 11, it is determined that all the columns of the reception pattern bitmap are repeated with the same color configuration. That is, even if the received pattern bitmap is optimized in the vertical direction with the candidate values used for this determination, it means that the pattern pattern does not collapse. In other words, it means that vertical optimization is possible.

  Accordingly, in step S1607, the printer driver 203 saves the candidate value at this time as the optimized height in the memory area (703 in FIG. 7) managed by the printer driver 203, and returns the processing to the flowchart of FIG. It should be noted that the printer driver 203 stores the fact that vertical optimization is possible, separately from the optimized height information, in a memory area (705 in FIG. 7) managed by the printer driver 203. Also good.

  On the other hand, while the processes in steps S1603 and S1604 are repeated, the entire column for which the printer driver 203 has acquired the color configuration information in step S1603 in step S1604 is not an enumeration (repetition) of the color configuration information acquired in step S1603. If it is determined that the printer driver 203 determines, the process proceeds to step S1608. In this case, if the received pattern bitmap is optimized in the vertical direction with the candidate value at this time, it means that the pattern pattern is destroyed. Therefore, in this case, using another candidate value in the candidate value group, similarly, it is determined whether all the columns of the reception pattern bitmap have the same color configuration.

  That is, in step S1608, the printer driver 203 determines whether the color configurations have been compared with all the candidate values in the calculated candidate value group (the processing in steps S1603 and S1604 has been performed). Note that it is possible to determine whether or not the same processing has been performed for all candidate values (S1608) by holding the candidate value information acquired in step S1602 in a memory area.

  If it is determined in step S1608 that the printer driver 203 has not yet compared the color configurations with all candidate values, the process returns to step S1602 to perform processing using the next candidate value. To control.

  On the other hand, if the printer driver 203 determines in step S1608 that the color configurations have been compared with all candidate values in the calculated candidate value group, any received value bitmap can be used regardless of which candidate value in the candidate value group is used. This means that these columns do not repeat the same color composition, meaning that vertical optimization is not possible.

  Therefore, in this case, the printer driver 203 returns the processing to the flowchart of FIG. 6 without saving the candidate value as the optimized height in the memory area (703 in FIG. 7) managed by the printer driver 203. Note that the printer driver 203 may store in the memory area (705 in FIG. 7) that the vertical optimization is impossible.

  In addition, while repeating the processing of steps S1602 to S1606 using various candidate values, the processing is omitted for candidate values that clearly prove that any column cannot be repeated with the same color configuration. Also good. For example, if it is determined that one column can be optimized with 3 pixels and another column is determined to be optimized with 4 pixels, the same pattern bitmap is a multiple of 12 pixels that is the least common multiple of 3 and 4. There is a possibility that it can be optimized, but other values cannot be optimized. Therefore, the same processing may be omitted for those values.

  The above is the processing of step S1404 in FIG. 6 for determining whether or not the received pattern bitmap can be optimized in the vertical direction without destroying the pattern pattern.

  Returning to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the vertical optimum determination process in step S1404 is completed, the printer driver 203 shifts the process to step S1405.

  In step S1405, the printer driver 203 determines whether the reception pattern bitmap can be optimized as a result of the determinations in steps S1403 and S1404. This determination is made as a result of steps S1403 and S1404 based on whether or not information on the optimization width and the optimization height is stored in the memory area (702 and 703 in FIG. 7) managed by the printer driver 203. However, information on whether horizontal optimization is possible and information on whether vertical optimization is possible are separately stored in a memory area (705 in FIG. 7) managed by the printer driver 203. If it is stored, it may be determined using that.

  If the printer driver 203 determines in step S1405 that the reception pattern bitmap cannot be optimized (cannot be optimized in either the horizontal direction or the vertical direction), the process proceeds to step S1408, and The pattern bitmap drawing process is performed as usual. In other words, the printer control command is generated using the received pattern bitmap as it is, and is controlled to be output to the printer 1500.

  On the other hand, if the printer driver 203 determines in step S1405 that the received pattern bitmap can be optimized (either in the horizontal direction or in the vertical direction), the process proceeds to step S1406. .

  In step S1406, the printer driver 203 determines the size (width, height) of the received pattern bitmap based on the optimized width stored in the memory area managed by the printer driver 203, the optimized height, or both. )) And a pattern bitmap (hereinafter referred to as an optimized pattern bitmap) is created in which the pattern does not collapse.

  More specifically, the printer driver 203 stores only the optimized width in the memory area managed by the printer driver 203. If the optimized height is not saved, the saved optimized width and the received pattern bit are stored. A memory area having a size capable of storing a bitmap having the height of the map is secured in the RAM 102, the size portion is copied from the received pattern bitmap, and a new pattern bitmap is generated.

  Also, the printer driver 203 stores only the optimization height in the memory area managed by the printer driver 203, and if the optimization width is not stored, the width of the received pattern bitmap and the stored optimization. A memory area having a size capable of storing a bitmap having a height is secured in the RAM 102, the size portion is copied from the received pattern bitmap, and a new pattern bitmap is generated.

  In addition, when the optimization width and the optimization height are stored in the memory area managed by the printer driver 203, the printer driver 203 is a bitmap having the stored optimization width and optimization height. Is stored in the RAM 102, the size portion is copied from the received pattern bitmap, and a new pattern bitmap is generated.

  In other words, the printer driver 203 creates a partial pattern image of the received pattern image that can form a received pattern image by arranging a plurality of them as an optimized pattern image.

  Next, in step S1407, the printer driver 203 generates a printer control command using the optimization pattern bitmap created in step S1406 and performs control so that the printer control command is output to the printer 1500. After the output, the memory area secured at the time of creating the optimization pattern bitmap in step S1406 is discarded.

  The above corresponds to the processing in step S1303 of FIG.

  Through a series of these processes (the processes shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 8, and 10), even when the reception pattern bitmap exceeds the maximum size that can be processed by the printer 1500, distortion and moire are reduced. The printing result expected by the user can be obtained without generating it.

  For example, a drawing instruction for filling a rectangle using a reception pattern bitmap of 20 × 20 (hereinafter, the unit is Pixel) as indicated by reference numeral 501 in FIG. 19 is received in step S1301 in FIG. 5, and step S1401 in FIG. Consider the case where the size of the pattern bitmap that can be processed by the printer 1500 determined in step 10 is 10 × 10.

  In this case, the candidate values calculated in step S1501 in FIG. 8 and step S1601 in FIG. 10 are either 1, 2, 4, 5, 10 or all of them in both width and height. Here, a case where all of them are set as candidate values will be described.

  When the printer driver 203 acquires the candidate values acquired in step S1502 in FIG. 8 and step S1602 in FIG. 10 in ascending order, step S1403 and step S1404 determine the repetition of the color configuration in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, both the optimization width and the optimization height are determined to be 4 pixels.

  FIG. 9 compares the color configuration of the optimization width candidate value (here, 4 Pixel) with the color configuration of each row, and repeats from the first row to the last row to determine the optimization width (size in the horizontal direction). The state (determined as 4 Pixel here) is shown. Further, FIG. 11 compares the color configuration of the optimization height candidate value (here, 4 Pixel) and the color configuration of each column, and repeats from the first column to the final column, and the optimized height (vertical direction) (Size) is determined (here, determined as 4 Pixel).

  Therefore, the optimization pattern bitmap created by the printer driver 203 in step S1406 in FIG. 6 is a 4 × 4 bitmap as indicated by 1001 in FIG. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a pattern bitmap in the print control apparatus of the present invention and an example of a drawing result when the inside of a rectangle is filled using the pattern bitmap.

  In step S1407 in FIG. 6, the printer driver 203 generates a printer control command using the optimization pattern bitmap (1001 in FIG. 12), and outputs the printer control command to the printer 1500.

  Then, a print result by the printer 1500 is as indicated by 1002 in FIG. This is consistent with that indicated by 502 in FIG. 19, and it can be seen that the print result expected by the user can be obtained without causing distortion or moire.

  In the above example, the color configuration is determined based on binary values of “white” and “black”. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is needless to say that it can be determined based on color (multi-value).

  As described above, when the drawing request is a pattern image drawing request, and the size of the pattern image requested for drawing exceeds the pattern image size that can be processed by the printing device, the printing device can process it. A partial pattern image of the pattern image requested to be drawn so as not to exceed a certain pattern image size is created. Further, when creating the partial pattern image, the drawing is performed by arranging a plurality of the partial pattern images. By creating the requested pattern image as a configurable partial pattern image, printing is possible even if the size of the pattern bitmap to be processed by the printing device exceeds the maximum size that can be processed by the printing device. When it is a size that can be processed by the device and is drawn by the printer It is possible to create a pattern bitmap that does not break the pattern and output it to the printing device. As a result, it is possible to obtain the printing result expected by the user without causing distortion or moire. It becomes.

  In this embodiment, in step S1501 in FIG. 8 and step S1601 in FIG. 10, the candidate values for the optimization width and the optimization height are calculated as divisors of the width and height of the reception pattern bitmap, respectively. As described above, the present invention can also be realized by calculating the optimization width and optimization height candidate value groups as integers greater than or equal to 1 below the maximum width and height that can be processed by the printer 1500. Needless to say, it is possible.

  Further, the series of processes shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 8, and 10 described above may be always performed when printing is performed, or these series of processes may be enabled or disabled. A selection means such as a user interface (shown in FIG. 16 to be described later) for determining whether or not to perform is prepared in the printer driver 203, and based on the setting, whether to perform the above-described series of processing may be determined. Good. In addition, this embodiment is shown as 3rd Embodiment mentioned later.

[Second Embodiment]
Considering the drawing efficiency of the printer 1500, a larger size of the pattern bitmap is more efficient. However, the optimization pattern bitmap created in the first embodiment does not necessarily guarantee the maximum optimization pattern bitmap. Depending on the selection order of candidate values, an optimization pattern bitmap that is not maximum may be created. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the optimization pattern bitmap created by the method shown in the first embodiment is expanded to an integral multiple within a range that does not exceed the maximum size that can be processed by the printer 1500. Configure to increase drawing efficiency. The embodiment will be described below.

  First, the configuration of the printing device control system showing the embodiment of the present invention, the flow when transmitting print job data, the configuration of the system, and the basic processing flow of the printer driver 203 suitable for applying the present invention are as follows: The configuration is the same as that shown in the first embodiment.

  The series of processing performed by the printer driver 203 is almost the same as that in the first embodiment, but the difference is that there is an optimum between step S1406 and step S1407 in FIG. 6 shown in the first embodiment. This is a point of performing processing (S1701 to S1702 in FIG. 14) for enlarging the normalized pattern bitmap by an integral multiple.

  Hereinafter, a print control process by the printer driver 203 corresponding to the control process procedure in the second embodiment of the print control apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a fifth control processing procedure in the print control apparatus of the present invention, corresponding to the pattern bitmap optimized drawing processing shown in step S1303 of FIG. 5 in the second embodiment of the present invention. To do. Note that the processing of this flowchart is realized by the CPU 101 shown in FIG. 1 loading a program (printer driver program) stored in the external memory 111 or the like on the RAM 102 and executing it. In the figure, S1401 to S1409 indicate steps. The same steps as those in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same step numbers.

  When the printer driver 203 creates the optimization pattern bitmap in step S1406, in step S1409, the printer driver 203 executes the integer pattern enlargement process of the optimization pattern bitmap shown in FIG. 14, and shifts the process to step S1407.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of a sixth control processing procedure in the print control apparatus of the present invention, and corresponds to the integer pattern enlargement process of the optimization pattern bitmap shown in step S1409 of FIG. Note that the processing of this flowchart is realized by the CPU 101 shown in FIG. 1 loading a program (printer driver program) stored in the external memory 111 or the like on the RAM 102 and executing it. In the figure, S1701 and S1702 indicate steps.

  First, in step S <b> 1701, the printer driver 203 determines whether or not the optimization pattern bitmap can be expanded by an integral multiple within a range that does not exceed the maximum size of the pattern bitmap that can be processed by the printer 1500. In this determination, for example, the optimization width and the optimization height are each multiplied by a positive integer to determine whether there is an integer that does not exceed the maximum width and the maximum height that can be processed by the printer 1500. .

  If the printer driver 203 determines in step S1701 that the optimized pattern bitmap can be enlarged by an integral multiple within a range not exceeding the maximum size of the pattern bitmap that can be processed by the printer 1500, the process proceeds to step S1702. Transition.

  In step S1702, the printer driver 203 calculates the maximum integer magnification that does not exceed the maximum width and the maximum height that can be processed by the printer 1500, and the printer driver 203 manages the pixel width and pixel height at that time. Are stored in memory areas (702 and 703 in FIG. 7). Furthermore, the optimization pattern bitmap is controlled to be enlarged to the size having the saved pixel width and pixel height, and the process returns to the flowchart of FIG. That is, a memory area having a size capable of storing a bitmap having a pixel width and a pixel height stored in a memory area managed by the printer driver 203 is secured in the RAM 102, and bitmap information is obtained from the original optimization pattern bitmap. Is copied to create a new pattern bitmap. Also, after copying, the memory area secured when creating the original optimization pattern bitmap is discarded.

  On the other hand, if the printer driver 203 determines in step S1701 that the optimized pattern bitmap cannot be expanded by an integral multiple within a range that does not exceed the maximum size of the pattern bitmap that can be processed by the printer 1500, it remains as it is. The processing returns to the flowchart of FIG.

  After the above processing, in step S1407 in FIG. 13, the printer driver 203 determines that the optimization pattern bitmap (if newly created in step S1702, the new optimization pattern bitmap, on the other hand, in step S1702). If it has not been created, a printer control command is generated using the original optimization pattern bitmap) and output to the printer 1500. After the output, if a new optimization pattern bitmap has been created in step S1702, the memory area reserved for the optimization pattern bitmap is discarded.

  Through these series of processes, even when the received pattern bitmap exceeds the maximum size that can be processed by the printer 1500, without generating distortion and moire and increasing the drawing efficiency in the printer 1500, Printing control can be performed so as to obtain a printing result expected by the user.

  For example, in the example shown in the first embodiment, the optimization pattern bitmap created in step S1406 in FIG. 6 is, for example, the 4 × 4 bitmap of 1001 in FIG. The optimization pattern bitmap expanded in steps S1701 and S1702 is an 8 × 8 bitmap as indicated by 1201 in FIG. FIG. 15 shows an example of an optimization pattern bitmap created by the printing control apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and an example of a drawing result when the inside of a rectangle is filled using the optimization pattern bitmap. It is a schematic diagram which shows.

  Accordingly, when the printer driver 203 generates a printer control command using this optimization pattern bitmap and outputs it to the printer 1500 in step S1407 in FIG. 13, the print result in the printer 1500 is shown by 1202 in FIG. It becomes like this. This is consistent with the print results shown in 502 of FIG. 19 and 1002 of FIG. 12, and prints that the user expects without causing distortion or moire and increasing the drawing efficiency of the printer 1500. It turns out that a result is obtained.

  As described above, even if the size of the pattern bitmap to be processed by the printing device exceeds the maximum size that can be processed by the printing device, the size can be processed by the printing device. By drawing a pattern bitmap with good drawing efficiency in the printing device and outputting it to the printing device, the user expects it without causing distortion or moire. It becomes possible to obtain the printing result efficiently.

  In this embodiment, in step S1409 of FIG. 13, the optimization pattern bitmap created in step S1406 is subjected to integer multiple enlargement processing within a range that does not exceed the maximum size that can be processed by the printer 1500, thereby improving drawing efficiency. The configuration for creating a good optimization pattern bitmap has been described. In step S1501 in FIG. 8 and in step S1601 in FIG. 10, the maximum value that can be processed by the printer 1500 for the optimization width and optimization height candidate value group. It is calculated as an integer greater than or equal to 1 less than or equal to the width and height, and the candidate values obtained in step S1502 in FIG. 8 and step S1602 in FIG. 10 are acquired in descending order from the candidate value group. May be. This makes it possible to create the maximum optimized pattern bitmap within a range that does not exceed the maximum size that can be processed by the printer 1500.

  Therefore, even when the size of the pattern bitmap to be processed by the printing device exceeds the maximum size that can be processed by the printing device, the size can be processed by the printing device. By creating a pattern bitmap with high drawing efficiency in the printing device and outputting it to the printing device without causing the pattern pattern to collapse, the printing results expected by the user can be efficiently generated without causing distortion or moire. It can be obtained well.

  Further, the above-described series of processing may be always performed when printing is performed, or a user interface for determining whether to enable or disable the series of processing (see FIG. 16 described later). A selection unit (shown) may be prepared in the printer driver 203, and based on the setting, it may be configured to determine whether or not to perform the above-described series of processing. In addition, this embodiment is shown as 3rd Embodiment mentioned later.

[Third Embodiment]
In this embodiment, a selection means such as a user interface for determining whether to enable or disable the series of processes shown in the first embodiment and the second embodiment is prepared in the printer driver 203 and the setting is made. Based on this, it is configured to determine whether or not to perform the above series of processing.

  Hereinafter, a print control process by the printer driver 203 corresponding to the control process procedure according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print setting screen of the printer driver 203 in the print control apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  This print setting screen is displayed on the display device such as the CRT 110 by the CPU 101 in response to an instruction input using an input device such as a KB 109 or a pointing device (not shown) from the user.

  In FIG. 16, reference numeral 1101 denotes a check box for instructing whether or not to optimize the pattern bitmap. The user can set the optimization of the pattern bitmap by instructing the check box 1101 to be checked using the KB 109 or an input device such as a pointing device (not shown).

  A radio button 1102 exclusively selects whether to prioritize transfer efficiency or rendering efficiency when optimizing a pattern bitmap. The user can select and set whether to give priority to the transfer efficiency or the drawing efficiency by giving an instruction to select the radio button 1102 using the KB 109 or an input device such as a pointing device (not shown).

  In other words, by selecting whether to give priority to transfer efficiency or drawing efficiency, an optimized pattern bitmap is created and output to the printing device, or the optimized pattern bitmap is multiplied by an integer. It is possible to change the method of re-creating the optimization pattern bitmap.

  Reference numeral 1103 denotes an OK button, and the user can validate the setting on the print setting screen by instructing the user to press the OK button 1103 using the KB 109 or an input device such as a pointing device (not shown). This setting is controlled by the CPU 101 (printer driver 203) so as to be stored in the memory area (705 in FIG. 7) managed by the printer driver 203 or in the external memory 111.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an example of a seventh control processing procedure in the print control apparatus of the present invention, and corresponds to the print control processing by the printer driver 203 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Note that the processing of this flowchart is realized by the CPU 101 shown in FIG. 1 loading a program (printer driver program) stored in the external memory 111 or the like on the RAM 102 and executing it. In the figure, S1301, S1302, and S1304 to S1308 indicate respective steps. The same steps as those in FIG. 5 are given the same step numbers.

  In step S1302, if the printer driver 203 determines that the drawing instruction received in step S1301 is a drawing instruction using a pattern bitmap, the process proceeds to step S1305.

  In step S1305, the printer driver 203 determines whether or not the setting of the printer driver 203 is a setting for optimizing the pattern bitmap. This setting is set on the setting screen shown in FIG. 16 and stored in the memory area (705 in FIG. 7) or the external memory 111 managed by the printer driver 203.

  If the printer driver 203 determines in step S1305 that the setting of the printer driver 203 is not a setting for optimizing the pattern bitmap, the process proceeds to step S1304.

  On the other hand, if the printer driver 203 determines in step S1305 that the setting of the printer driver 203 is a setting for optimizing the pattern bitmap, the process proceeds to step S1306.

  In step S1306, the printer driver 203 determines whether the setting of the printer driver 203 has priority on transfer efficiency. This setting is set on the setting screen shown in FIG. 16 and stored in the memory area (705 in FIG. 7) or the external memory 111 managed by the printer driver 203.

  If the printer driver 203 determines in step S1306 that the setting of the printer driver 203 has priority on transfer efficiency, the process proceeds to step S1307.

  In step S1307, the printer driver 203 performs control so as to execute the pattern bitmap optimization drawing process (first pattern bitmap optimization drawing process) described in the first embodiment. That is, the process is shifted to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, if the printer driver 203 determines in step S1306 that the setting of the printer driver 203 does not give priority to transfer efficiency (priority to drawing efficiency), the process proceeds to step S1308.

  In step S1308, the printer driver 203 performs control so as to execute the second pattern bitmap optimization drawing process (second pattern bitmap optimization drawing process) described in the second embodiment. That is, the process is shifted to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  As described above, even if the size of the pattern bitmap to be processed by the printing device exceeds the maximum size that can be processed by the printing device, the size can be processed by the printing device. By creating a pattern bitmap that has good drawing efficiency or transfer efficiency in the printing device and outputting it to the printing device without drawing patterns when drawing, communication traffic, drawing performance of the printing device, etc. It is possible to efficiently obtain the print result expected by the user without making a selection and generating distortion or moire.

  In the case where priority is given to drawing efficiency, priority is given to transfer efficiency so that candidate values obtained in step S1502 in FIG. 8 and step S1602 in FIG. 10 are acquired in descending order from the candidate value group. Alternatively, the acquisition of candidate values performed in step S1502 in FIG. 8 and step S1602 in FIG. 10 may be configured to be acquired in ascending order from the candidate value group.

  That is, when priority is given to drawing efficiency, the maximum partial pattern image is created as an optimized pattern image among the partial pattern images that can constitute a received pattern image by arranging a plurality of patterns, while giving priority to drawing efficiency. In such a case, the smallest partial pattern image may be created as the optimized pattern image among the partial pattern images that can configure the received pattern image by arranging a plurality of patterns.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the configuration in which the printer driver 203 performs the series of processing shown in the above flowchart has been described. However, the optimization pattern bitmap is converted to the printer driver by performing similar processing using the application 201, the graphic engine 202, and the like. It may be configured to output to 203. Further, the same process may be executed by a print control program executed by the CPU 112 in the printer 1500, and a print command based on the optimized pattern bitmap may be output to the printing unit 117. Further, the same processing may be performed on the print server 4000 shown in FIG.

  In addition, the size of the pattern bitmap to be created may be adjusted by the same processing according to the performance of the information processing apparatus, print server, or other peripheral device on which the printer driver or the like operates. This makes it possible to reduce the time required for printing even when the performance of the printing control device, printing device, information processing device, and other peripheral devices is low.

  Further, the present invention provides a case where the size of the pattern bitmap to be processed by the printing device exceeds the maximum size that can be processed by the printing device when generating print data to be output by the printing device (printing unit). Is a size that can be processed by the printing device, and explained the configuration that creates a pattern bitmap that does not break the pattern when drawn by the printing device and outputs it to the printing device. When a pattern bitmap as described above is output to a device, the size of the output device is a size that can be processed by the output device according to the performance of the output device, and the pattern pattern collapses when output by the output device. The present invention also includes a control for generating a pattern bit map having no data and outputting it to the apparatus.

  As a result, the size of the pattern bitmap to be created can be adjusted according to the performance of the output device other than the printing device, and the time required for output and the addition of the output device can be reduced.

  Needless to say, the contents of the pattern bitmap described above are not limited to this, and may be configured in various configurations and contents depending on the application and purpose.

  Although one embodiment has been described above, the present invention can take an embodiment as, for example, a system, apparatus, method, program, or recording medium, and specifically includes a plurality of devices. The present invention may be applied to a system including a single device.

  The configuration of a data processing program that can be read by the print control apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the memory map shown in FIG.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a recording medium (storage medium) that stores various data processing programs readable by the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

  Although not specifically shown, information for managing a program group stored in the recording medium, for example, version information, creator, etc. is also stored, and information depending on the OS on the program reading side, for example, a program is identified and displayed. Icons may also be stored.

  Further, data depending on various programs is also managed in the directory. In addition, when a program or data to be installed is compressed, a program to be decompressed may be stored.

  The functions shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 8, 10, 13, 14, and 17 in this embodiment may be performed by a host computer by a program installed from the outside. In this case, the present invention is applied even when an information group including a program is supplied to the output device from a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or an FD, or from an external recording medium via a network. Is.

  As described above, a recording medium in which a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded is supplied to the system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus is stored in the recording medium. It goes without saying that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the recording medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the recording medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  As a recording medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, DVD-ROM, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, EEPROM, A silicon disk or the like can be used.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) or the like running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

  Furthermore, after the program code read from the recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted in the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the case where the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  Further, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. It goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or apparatus. In this case, by reading a recording medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the present invention into the system or apparatus, the system or apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention.

  Furthermore, by downloading and reading out a program represented by software for achieving the present invention from a server, database, etc. on a network using a communication program, the system or apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention. It becomes.

  In addition, all the structures which combined each embodiment mentioned above and its modification are also included in this invention.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus control system to which a printing control apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention can be applied. FIG. 2 is a main functional block diagram showing a flow when transmitting print job data from a host computer shown in FIG. 1 to a printer. FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram illustrating an example of a printing system to which the host computer and the printer illustrated in FIG. 1 can be applied. FIG. 6 is a status diagram illustrating a flow of basic processing when printing is performed in the print control apparatus of the present invention. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a first control processing procedure in the print control apparatus of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a second control processing procedure in the print control apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a memory image of a memory area managed by a printer driver secured in a RAM illustrated in FIG. 1. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a third control processing procedure in the print control apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a method for repeatedly determining a color configuration in the print control apparatus of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the 4th control processing procedure in the printing control apparatus of this invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a determination method of color configuration repetition in the print control apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an optimized pattern bitmap created by the print control apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and an example of a drawing result when the inside of a rectangle is filled using the optimized pattern bitmap. It is. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the 5th control processing procedure in the printing control apparatus of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the 6th control processing procedure in the printing control apparatus of this invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a pattern bitmap in the print control apparatus of the present invention and an example of a drawing result when the inside of a rectangle is filled using the pattern bitmap. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print setting screen of a printer driver 203 in a print control apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the 7th control processing procedure in the printing control apparatus of this invention. It is a figure explaining the memory map of the recording medium (storage medium) which stores the various data processing program which can be read by the printing control apparatus which concerns on this invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a pattern bitmap transmitted from an application to a printer driver.

Explanation of symbols

1500 Printer 1501 Operation unit 3000 Host computer (client computer)
4000 print server computer 101 CPU
102 RAM
103 ROM
104 System Bus 105 Input Controller 106 Video Controller 107 Memory Controller 108 Communication I / F Controller 109 Keyboard 110 CRT (Monitor)
111 External memory (HD, FD)
112 CPU

Claims (4)

In a print control apparatus including a printer driver that generates print data that can be processed by a printing apparatus based on a drawing request from an application ,
A size acquisition unit that acquires information on a size limit that can be processed by the printing apparatus from the printing apparatus that is an output destination of the printer driver;
Size of the first pattern image included in the drawing request is output to the printer driver from the application, the determined by information about the size limit obtained with size acquisition means, the pattern image size that can be processed by the printing device A size determination means for determining whether or not it exceeds ,
When it is determined by the size determination means that the size of the first pattern image exceeds the pattern image size that can be processed by the printing apparatus, the pixel values of each row and each column of the first pattern image are set. Acquisition means for acquiring;
Configuration specifying means for specifying the configuration of successive pixel values repeated in each row and column from the pixel values acquired by the acquiring means;
The second pattern image to be output to the printing apparatus that does not exceed the pattern image size that can be processed by the printing apparatus according to the width of successive pixel values repeated in each row and column specified by the configuration specifying means. of, and the partial pattern image creation means for creating a partial pattern image which is the original,
A second pattern image creating means for creating a second pattern image that does not exceed a pattern image size that can be processed by the printing apparatus obtained by multiplying the partial pattern image by an integer;
Print drawing request output means for outputting a print drawing request including the second pattern image;
Print control apparatus characterized by having a. A transfer efficiency setting that increases the transfer efficiency of print data to the printing apparatus by using the partial pattern image, and a drawing that increases the drawing efficiency of print data by the printing apparatus by using the second pattern image Selection instruction means capable of instructing selection of efficiency setting,
The print drawing request output means outputs a print drawing request using the partial pattern image when the selection instruction means accepts the selection of the transfer efficiency setting, and accepts the selection of the drawing efficiency setting by the selection instruction means. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a print drawing request is output using the second pattern image. In a print control method in a print control apparatus including a printer driver that generates print data that can be processed by a printing apparatus based on a drawing request from an application ,
A size acquisition step of acquiring information relating to a size limit that can be processed by the printing apparatus from the printing apparatus that is an output destination of the printer driver;
Size determining means, the size of the first pattern image included in the drawing request output from the application to the printer driver, the determined by information about the size limit obtained with the size obtaining step, can be processed by the printing device Size determination step for determining whether or not the pattern image size is exceeded ,
When it is determined by the size determination step that the size of the first pattern image exceeds the pattern image size that can be processed by the printing apparatus, the acquisition unit determines each row and each column of the first pattern image. An acquisition step for acquiring a pixel value;
A configuration specifying step for specifying a configuration of continuous pixel values repeated in each row and column from the pixel values acquired in the acquiring step;
The partial pattern image creating means outputs to the printing apparatus which does not exceed the pattern image size that can be processed by the printing apparatus in accordance with the width of successive pixel values repeated in each row and column specified in the configuration specifying step. a second pattern image, the partial pattern image creation step of creating a partial pattern image as a basis for,
A second pattern image creating step in which a second pattern image creating means creates a second pattern image that does not exceed a pattern image size that can be processed by the printing apparatus by multiplying the partial pattern image by an integer;
A print drawing request output unit for outputting a print drawing request including the second pattern image;
Print control method, which comprises a. In a program executed by a print control apparatus including a printer driver that generates print data that can be processed by the printing apparatus based on a drawing request from an application,
The printing control device;
A size acquisition step of acquiring information relating to a size limit that can be processed by the printing apparatus from the printing apparatus serving as an output destination of the printer driver;
The size of the first pattern image included in the drawing request output from the application to the printer driver is determined based on the size restriction information acquired in the size acquisition step. A size determination means for determining whether or not it exceeds,
When it is determined by the size determination means that the size of the first pattern image exceeds the pattern image size that can be processed by the printing apparatus, the pixel values of each row and each column of the first pattern image are set. Acquisition means to acquire,
Configuration specifying means for specifying the configuration of successive pixel values repeated in each row and column from the pixel values acquired by the acquiring means;
The second pattern image to be output to the printing apparatus that does not exceed the pattern image size that can be processed by the printing apparatus according to the width of successive pixel values repeated in each row and column specified by the configuration specifying means. Partial pattern image creation means for creating the original partial pattern image,
Second pattern image creation means for creating a second pattern image that does not exceed a pattern image size that can be processed by the printing apparatus obtained by multiplying the partial pattern image by an integer;
A program for functioning as a print drawing request output unit for outputting a print drawing request including the second pattern image .

Images