JP4522006B2 - Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and printer driver program - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generates print data for an image forming apparatus such as a printer in accordance with a print instruction such as application software. Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and Printer driver program About.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a conventional printing system including a printer as an image forming apparatus and a host computer as an information processing apparatus that controls the printer.
[0003]
As shown in the drawing, the host computer 200 is connected to the printer 100 via a centronics interface, a parallel interface such as IEEE1284, a serial interface such as USB and IEEE1394, and a network interface 600 such as 10 / 100BASE-T. Connected to the host computer 200 are a display monitor 300 such as a CRT or LCD, and a keyboard 400 and a mouse 500 as input devices.
[0004]
In the host computer 200, application software 201 (hereinafter referred to as an application) that can use the printer 100, such as a word processor or spreadsheet, on so-called basic software (OS) such as Windows (registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States). It is working. When the user of these applications instructs printing, the application performs printing by using the function of the graphic subsystem 202 among several subsystems provided by the basic software.
[0005]
For example, when the basic software is Windows, this graphic subsystem is called GDI (Graphic Device Interface) 203 and controls drawing processing for a display and a printer. This GDI (203) dynamically links a module called a device driver corresponding to an output device designated by an application in order to absorb the dependency for each device such as a display and a printer, and outputs to each device. Process.
[0006]
A device driver for a printer is called a printer driver. The printer driver 204 has a function group called DDI (Device Driver Interface) that is determined in advance to be installed in the device driver in accordance with the capability and function of the corresponding printer, and the GDI (203) Printing processing is performed by using this DDI.
[0007]
That is, in the example of FIG. 9, when there is a print instruction (API (Application Programming Interface) call to GDI (203)) from the application, the GDI (203) dynamically links the printer driver 204 corresponding to the printer 100. At the same time, the API call from the application is converted into a format using a DDI function group included in the printer driver 204. Then, a predetermined printing process is executed by calling a DDI function group from the GDI (203). As described above, the GDI (203) uses the printer driver 204 to sequentially process print requests from applications.
[0008]
The printer driver 204 generates and outputs data in a format printable by the printer 100 from data transferred from the GDI (203) via the DDI. At this time, print data is generated using a plurality of print data generation units corresponding to the capabilities and functions of the printer 100, and is output to the printer 100 via the spool subsystem 210.
[0009]
The print data format output to the printer 100 is roughly classified into two types, that is, a control command called a printer language such as a page description language (PDL) and image data (bitmap). The despooler 250 included in the printer driver 204 selects one of the plurality of print data generation units (205 to 208) that output data in a predetermined format, and executes the printing process.
[0010]
In FIG. 9, a print data generation unit (205-208) outputs a PDL (hereinafter referred to as PDL type) first print data generation unit 205, and outputs image data (hereinafter referred to as image type) second. To fourth print data generation units (206 to 208). Of the second to fourth print data generation units (206 to 208) that output image data, the second image data generation unit 206 outputs monochrome (mono 1 BPP: 1 bit per pixel) image data to the third image data. The image data generation unit 207 outputs 1-bit YMCK (YMCK 4BPP) color image data for each color, and the fourth image data generation unit 208 outputs 8-bit RGB (RGB 24BPP) image data for each color.
[0011]
The first print data generation unit 205 can be used when the printer 100 is equipped with a controller capable of processing PDL. When the first print data generation unit 205 is used, the despooler 250 uses the GDI (203) to the DDI. Is transferred to the first print data generation unit 205, converted into a PDL command, and then sent to the printer 100 via the spool subsystem 210. In this case, the processing of the despooler 250 can be said to be a light processing because it only transfers the data received via the DDI to the first print data generation unit 205 and generates a PDL command.
[0012]
When a PDL type print data generation unit is used, data with high abstraction can be received from the GDI (203) and sent out in the format of a PDL command. Therefore, the size of print data to be transferred can be reduced in normal page printing. It is.
[0013]
On the other hand, the image type print data generation unit (206 to 208) expands the print image in the memory space secured by the host computer 200 by the printer driver 204 so that the printer 100 does not need to perform advanced drawing processing. The image data is converted into an image data format that can be directly printed by the printer 100 and then transferred to the printer 100.
[0014]
Specifically, as with the PDL type print data generation unit, the despooler 250 included in the printer driver 204 receives the data passed from the GDI (203) via the DDI, and the image type print data generation unit (206 to 208). ). Then, the print data generation unit performs a drawing process on the band memory 209 based on the received data, and sends the bitmap data to the printer 100 via the spool subsystem 210 when the drawing process for one band is completed. The printer 100 directly outputs the received bitmap data.
[0015]
When an image type print data generation unit is used, it is necessary to perform drawing processing in the host computer 200, and when a PDL type print data generation unit is used, it is necessary to perform drawing processing. In order to perform the drawing process, it is necessary to secure a memory space, but the memory space required to perform the drawing process for 600 DPI (dot per inch), A4 full page with 8 bits for each RGB color requires 96 Mbytes, At present, it is difficult to secure either the host computer 200 or the printer 100.
[0016]
Therefore, in general, drawing processing of a color printer, in which the amount of data is particularly large, is performed in a band unit obtained by dividing one page into a plurality of horizontal directions, and a memory used for this drawing processing is called a band memory.
[0017]
The data format finally transferred to the printer 100 is not the RGB (brightness) format used in the display device, but the YMCK format representing the density of the toner used by the printer 100. In the YMCK format, one bit for each color. Since it is often 2 bits (or 4 bits), the amount of data is smaller than the RGB format of each color of 8 bits. Therefore, in the processing after the printer driver 204, the data is generally handled in the YMCK format. It is. Some image-type print data generation units transfer 1-bit, 2-bit, or 4-bit data of each color of YMCK to the printer 100, thereby reducing the transfer data size and reducing the load on the printer 100. .
[0018]
For example, when printing a polygonal figure, the PDL type print data generation unit transfers the vertex coordinates and line width of the polygon, line color information, paint color information in the figure, and the like as commands. This command is analyzed, and drawing processing is performed using 1-band memory space for 1-bit, 2-bit, or 4-bit data of each color of YMCK provided in the printer, and developed into bitmap data in an output form .
[0019]
When a PDL type print data generation unit is used, the data transferred to the printer is a PDL command and generally has a smaller size than the data generated by the image type print data generation unit. However, the number of PDL commands per page is not limited, and theoretically, there is a possibility that the transfer data is larger than that of the image type print data generation unit. Also, when a PDL type print data generation unit is used, it is necessary to perform drawing processing on the printer side. However, even when drawing processing for a band memory, all PDL commands for one page must be received. The drawing process cannot be started. In recent years, the number of print commands output by applications has been steadily increasing, and the number of PDL commands constituting one page has also increased. This has been a cause of a decrease in processing speed in printers with a small memory capacity.
[0020]
In such a case, the printer driver 204 running on the host computer 200 having a sufficient memory capacity compared to the printer secures drawing memory for each band or full page, and draws using the image type print data generation unit. If the processing is performed and the bitmap data is transferred to the printer, the throughput of the entire printing process is improved. In the example of FIG. 9, a band memory 209 is used.
[0021]
As described above, the print data generation unit performs drawing processing on the output device-dependent color space of 1, 2, and 4 bits for each color of YMCK in order to save memory for both the PDL type and the image type. ) Calls the DDI function group during the logical operation drawing process, the color format used is not the YMCK format but the RGB format, and thus drawing fraud may occur. For this reason, when logical operation processing occurs in order to avoid drawing fraud, the data converted into the YMCK format in the printer driver 204 is returned to RGB values (inverse UCR (Under Color Remove) processing), and then logical operation processing However, it does not guarantee complete drawing processing, and causes a reduction in processing speed.
[0022]
As described above, the time required for the entire printing process varies depending on many factors such as the content to be printed, the type of print data generation unit used in the printer driver 204, and hardware resources on the printer side.
[0023]
However, a method for automatically selecting an appropriate processing method in consideration of such factors has not been realized at present. Therefore, the user of the application normally selects a PDL type print data generation unit that is likely to be processed at high speed (actually, the “speed priority” is set by the GUI provided by the application or the printer driver 204 or the like) When the print mode such as “high-speed printing” is selected, the despooler 250 selects and processes the first print data generation unit 205 of the PDL type), and the output takes too much time. Similarly, the mode is switched to the high-speed image mode (the despooler 250 selects the second print data generation unit that outputs 1-bit image data of each color of YMCK) and outputs again. If an illegal output result is obtained, select a print mode such as “image quality priority” or “high definition” in the same way (the despooler 250 selects a third print data generation unit that outputs 8-bit image data of each RGB color). ) And output again.
[0024]
In other words, at present, the selection of the print data generation unit used by the printer driver 204 is left to the application user, and the user decides the optimum print mode for the document or the like he / she wants to print. Therefore, the optimum mode cannot be understood unless printing is actually performed in all modes and the output or output time is compared. When a document having a plurality of pages is printed, pages of different types such as a page suitable for the PDL type and a page suitable for the image type may be included in the same document. When printing such a document, if all pages are processed in the same print mode (print data generation unit), there may be a problem that it takes an output time or an illegal output page is mixed.
[0025]
In order to solve such a problem, as shown in FIG. 6, according to the advantages and disadvantages of each print data generation unit that can be used by the printer driver 204, print processing is performed using only the advantages of each print data generation unit. There is a need for an automatic switching technique of a print mode (print data generation unit) that can perform the above.
[0026]
A printer driver that can realize automatic print mode switching requires at least the following functions.
1) Spool driver function
In order to realize the automatic switching of the print mode, it is necessary to know the drawing information for one page, determine the optimum processing mode, and then execute the despooling process. Therefore, a function of spooling DDI function call information for one page in a data format that can be processed by any print data generation unit held by the despooler.
[0027]
2) Print mode determination function
A function that checks the DDI function call for one page and determines which print data generation unit held by the despooler generates print data is optimal.
3) Despooler function
A function of processing drawing information for one page spooled by the spool driver function using an optimum print data generation unit determined by the print mode determination function.
[0028]
FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of the host computer 200 having a printer driver having such a function. In FIG. 5, the spool driver 211, the print mode determination unit 212, and the despooler 215 realize the functions 1) to 3) described above. The PDF storage unit 213 is an area where the spool driver 211 spools drawing information for one page, and the PCF storage unit 214 is an area where the print mode determination unit 212 temporarily stores a DDI function call for one page.
[0029]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By using the printer driver 260 having the configuration shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of print data generation units can be automatically switched to perform print processing. However, a plurality of print data generation units can be switched to perform one print process. When this is performed, a new problem occurs regarding character drawing.
[0030]
That is, the character drawing command in the printing process is mainly
1. String information
The character code of the document that the character drawing is trying to express
2. Font attributes
Character glyph information represented by a bit pattern or path corresponding to the character code
3. Drawing information
Character drawing start position, position information such as character width, character color
Of these, the font attribute may not be able to be taken out of the host due to copyright or the like.
[0031]
For this reason, when the environment in which the document is created is different from the environment in which printing is performed, it is necessary to perform a character drawing process including font attributes that do not exist in the host computer that performs the printing operation.
[0032]
As a solution in such a case, each print data generation unit including the spool driver 211 has a function of replacing a non-existent font attribute with a font attribute that exists in the host computer (hereinafter referred to as such print data). Font attribute replacement processing that is not in the processing execution environment is called "font replacement"). In order to distinguish between the font before and after replacement, the font before replacement (replacement target) is called a logical font, and the font after replacement (used for replacement) is called a physical font. In the present embodiment, when the logical font exists on the host that executes printing, the font replacement process is not performed.
[0033]
As described above, the font replacement process is a function provided for each print data generation unit, and the print data generation unit performs a font replacement process optimal for each process. For example, a printer is incorporated for speeding up. Depending on the specifications of the print mode, such as preferential replacement with the current font, the physical font may differ depending on each print data generation unit. Therefore, the following problems exist.
[0034]
1. Since the print data generation unit is automatically switched for each page, there is a possibility that the page is replaced with a different physical font for each page. In such a case, there is a possibility that the print result may be uncomfortable.
2. The character glyph range information in the spool driver and the physical font replaced by each print data generator for the character-related additional drawing such as underline and frame line that the application determines by acquiring the character range from the printer driver. The character glyph range information does not match, and there is a possibility that drawing consistency with the character-related additional drawing cannot be taken.
[0035]
In the printer driver 260 shown in FIG. 5, an outline of the operation when the physical font used for replacement is different for each print data generation unit will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG.
As an example, it is assumed that a document including a document drawing including the logical font attribute “line font A” is printed. It is assumed that the font “line typeface A” does not exist in the host computer 200 on which the printer driver 204 operates.
[0036]
When an application instructs printing of a document or the like using “line font A”, the logical font information “line font A” is spooled in the PDF storage unit 213 by the spool driver 211.
The print mode determination unit 212 checks the type and number of drawing commands included in one page of spool data from the data spooled in the PDF storage unit by the spool driver 211, and stores it in the PCF storage unit 214.
[0037]
The despooler 215 analyzes all the instructions for one page stored in the print mode determination unit 212, and based on the conditions determined based on the characteristics of each print data generation unit shown in FIG. The print data generation unit determined to be optimal for the page is determined, and the data spooled in the PDF storage unit 213 is delivered to the determined print data generation unit.
[0038]
In this case, conventionally, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4, the despooler 215 directly registers the logical font (“line typeface A”) in the print data generation unit determined by the print mode determination unit (step S21). The print data generation unit that has received the character has replaced the “line font A”, which is a font that does not exist in the host computer 200, with a physical font determined according to a preset font replacement rule, and has performed character drawing processing (step S1). S22).
[0039]
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, a physical font is set according to a rule for each print data generation unit, and for example, “line typeface A” included in a page using the first print data generation unit 205 that outputs PDL is used. The used portion is replaced with “Mincho”, and in the page where the second print data generation unit 205 is used, it is replaced with “MP Mincho”. There was a possibility.
[0040]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printer driver that outputs print data by using a plurality of print data generation units having a font replacement function for each page. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer driver capable of unifying physical fonts used for font replacement in all print data generation units.
[0041]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
That is, the gist of the present invention is to provide a plurality of print data generation means that can generate print data that can be printed by a printing apparatus in a one-to-one correspondence with a print mode, and a plurality of processing means that receive drawing commands passed from the basic software. Spool driver means for converting data into a format that can be processed by the printer, print mode determination means for analyzing drawing commands and generating print mode determination information, storage means for holding data generated by the spool driver means, and printing A print mode determination storage unit that holds the print mode determination information generated by the mode determination unit, and a print mode using the print mode determination information. Per page Decide Corresponds to the determined print mode among the plurality of print data generation means The data generated by the spool driver means is sent to the print data generation means. Per page Supplying despooler means and Have In the information processing apparatus, The spool driver means notifies the despooler means of the designated font if the font designated by the data stored in the storage means exists in the information processing apparatus, and the designated font is sent to the information processing apparatus. If not, notify the despooler means of a predetermined font existing in the information processing device, Despooler means Is , The font notified by the spool driver means is registered as a logical font in the print data generating means corresponding to the determined print mode, and each of the print data generating means corresponding to the determined print mode is set for each page by the despooler means. Print data using the data supplied to the printer and the logical font registered by the despooler It exists in the information processing apparatus characterized by doing.
[0042]
Another gist of the present invention is an information processing apparatus that generates and outputs print data in a format that can be printed by a printing apparatus based on a drawing command delivered from the basic software. A plurality of print data generation means for generating print data in a format, and a printing apparatus page Drawing commands corresponding to the unit Based on Multiple print data generation means Chi 1 One Per page A selection means to select; When the font attribute of the font existing in the information processing apparatus is detected from the font attribute included in the drawing command group, the font attribute included in the drawing command group is notified, Information processing equipment In place not exist Font When font attributes are detected In , Predetermined existing in the information processing device font Notify the font attribute of For the replacement font determination means and the print data generation means selected by the selection means, Supplied Drawing instruction group Information processing equipment inside In place not exist Font When font attributes are detected In , Replacement font decision means Predetermined font that exists in the information processing device that corresponds to the font attribute notified by An instruction means for instructing to perform print data generation processing using Per page Draw command group corresponding to Choice Means Choice The information processing apparatus includes a supply unit that supplies the print data generation unit.
[0043]
Another aspect of the present invention is that spool data is spooled in a format that can be processed by a plurality of print data generation means. The Based on data Per page Print mode determination means for determining the print mode; Among a plurality of print data generation means, The print data generation unit corresponding to the print mode determined by the determination unit , Spooled data Per page Supplying despooler means and Have In the information processing apparatus, Spool driver means Is From the font information in the spooled data. In place not exist Font When font information is detected In Information processing equipment Exist Exist Of predefined fonts Font information When the font information of the font existing in the information processing apparatus is detected from the font information in the spooled data, the font information in the spooled data is notified to the despooler means. Means notified by spool driver means Font information Before Record Corresponds to the determined print mode Print data generation means Each of the print data generation means corresponding to the determined print mode generates print data using the data supplied for each page by the despooler means and the font information registered in the despooler means. It exists in the information processing apparatus characterized by doing.
[0044]
Another aspect of the present invention is that spool data is spooled in a format that can be processed by a plurality of print data generation means. The Based on data Per page Print mode determination means for determining the print mode; Among a plurality of print data generation means, The print data generation unit corresponding to the print mode determined by the determination unit , Spooled data Per page Supplying despooler means and Have In an information processing method in an information processing apparatus, Spool driver Means for processing information from the font information in the spooled data. In place not exist Font When font information is detected In Information processing equipment Exist Exist Of predefined fonts Font information Is notified to the despooler means, and when the font information of the font existing in the information processing apparatus is detected from the font information in the spooled data, the notice information for notifying the despooler means of the font information in the spooled data. And the despooler means is notified by the spool driver means. Font information Before Record Corresponds to the determined print mode Print data generation means Each of the print data generation means corresponding to the determined print mode, using the data supplied for each page by the despooler means and the font information registered in the despooler means. Generation process to generate It exists in the information processing method characterized by doing.
[0045]
Another gist of the present invention is as follows. An information processing apparatus, A plurality of print data creation means for creating print data to be processed by the printer based on data from the application; Analyzing the data from the application, and supplying the data supplied to one of a plurality of print data creation means for each page based on the result of the analysis, and the font specified by the data from the application is processed If it exists in the device, the specified font is registered as a logical font in the print data creation means that is the data supply destination, and if the font specified by the data from the application does not exist in the information processing device, A predetermined font existing in the information processing apparatus is used as a logical font for the print data creation means that is the data supply destination. Registration means to register, Each of the print data generation means that is the data supply destination includes data supplied by the supply means, Registered by registration means logic font When Using ,mark It exists in an information processing apparatus characterized by generating printing data.
[0046]
Another aspect of the present invention uses a plurality of print data creation means for creating print data to be processed by a printer based on data from an application. In information processing equipment An information processing method, The supply means analyzes the data from the application, and supplies the data to one of a plurality of print data creation means for each page based on the result of the analysis, and the registration means uses the data from the application. If the specified font exists in the information processing device, the specified font is registered as a logical font in the print data creation means that is the data supply destination, and the font specified by the data from the application is the information If it does not exist in the processing device, a predetermined font existing in the information processing device is used as a logical font to the print data creation means that is the data supply destination. Register to register Each of the process and the print data generation means to which the data is supplied are supplied by the supply means; Registered by registration means logic font When Using ,mark Generate print data Generating process It exists in the information processing method characterized by this.
[0047]
Another gist of the present invention is a plurality of print data creation means for creating print data to be processed by a printer based on data from an application, Analyzing data from the application and supplying the data to one of a plurality of print data creation means for each page based on the result of the analysis, and the font specified by the data from the application to the computer If it exists, the specified font is registered as a logical font in the print data creation means that is the data supply destination. If the font specified by the data from the application does not exist in the computer, it exists in the computer. The print data creation means, which is the data supply destination, uses a predetermined font as a logical font. A printer driver program for functioning as a registration means for registration, Each of the print data generation means that is the data supply destination includes data supplied by the supply means, Registered by registration means logic font When Using ,mark It exists in a printer driver program characterized by generating printing data.
[0048]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on its preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a print system to which the printer driver according to the present invention can be applied. As described above, the printer system of FIG. 5 includes the host computer 200 and the printer 100, and both are communicably connected.
[0049]
The printer driver 260 according to the present embodiment is formed across the graphics subsystem 202 and the spool subsystem 210, which are subsystems that can be developed by each printing apparatus manufacturing vendor, provided by the basic software. It has an element for automatic switching.
In the graphics subsystem 202:
Spool driver 211
Print mode determination unit 212
○ In the spool subsystem 210:
Despooler 215
Print data generation unit 205-208
[0050]
Next, each means necessary for realizing automatic print mode switching as the background of the present invention will be described.
1) Spool driver 211
In order to realize automatic print mode switching, it is necessary to know the drawing information for one page, determine the optimum processing mode, and then execute despooling. For this purpose, the data passed to the DDI function must be spooled in one page or more in a data format that can be processed regardless of which print data generation unit is used when despooling.
[0051]
Therefore, in this embodiment, the format shown in FIG. 7 (referred to as PDF format) is used as the data format at the time of spooling. Spool data 900 in PDF format has, as a header, PageInfor (902) that holds the page size, data size, number of stored objects, and the like following pageID (901) for specifying a page.
[0052]
A field 903 following the header stores information indicating a drawing function called by the DDI function. In FIG. 7, the name of a drawing function CopyBits for performing simple bitmap copy is stored.
[0053]
Also, datasize (904) is the size of the copy bit stored in 903, BoundRect (905) is the transfer destination surface information indicating the drawing destination surface information passed to CopyBits, and SoSrc (906) is the copy bit. Transfer source image information indicating transfer source surface information to be transferred is stored.
[0054]
The transfer source image data 907 is a bit string of the transfer source image data. co (908) stores the drawing destination clip information passed to CopyBits. If there are a plurality of clip data, the clip data 909 is stored behind the clip data. xlo (910) is color conversion information between the transfer source and transfer destination surfaces, rclDest (911) is information indicating the rectangular range on the drawing destination surface, and ptlSrc (913) is transfer source origin information on the transfer source surface. Is stored respectively.
[0055]
Thereafter, one page of spools of data necessary for each drawing function is stored.
At the time of despooling, the despooler 215 returns the state to the state of the DDI function, and then delivers it to the print data generation unit determined by the print mode determination means. As a result, the print data generation unit may accept the DDI function and generate the print data as usual.
[0056]
2) Print mode determination unit 212
The print mode determination unit 212 checks the drawing command (drawing function) passed from the GDI (203) spooled by the spool driver 211 to the PDF storage unit 213, and generates a plurality of print data from the data content of one page. The most suitable part is determined.
[0057]
Specifically, this determination is performed by monitoring data spooled in the PDF storage unit 213 by the spool driver 211 and storing information for determination such as the type and frequency of the drawing function included in the data for one page. Based on the results.
[0058]
In the present embodiment, the print mode determination unit 212 stores determination information in a PCF (pre-check file) storage unit 214. At this time, the data structure is stored as shown in FIG.
[0059]
In FIG. 8, the PCF 1000 is a structure starting with a job number (JobID) 1001 and a page number (PageNo) 1002 to which the file belongs, and the corresponding page can be specified by these two values.
[0060]
Then, following the VbandSize (1004) representing the size of the band obtained by dividing the page in the Y-axis direction and the bandCnt (1005) storing the number of band information BandInfo stored in the PCF 1000, information for determination in each band is stored. Bandinfo [0] (1006) to BandInfo [n] to be stored are stored. Each BandInfo has a configuration as indicated by a structure 1030. That is, the PCF 1000 virtually defines an area in which a virtual band having a size indicated by VbandSize (1004) is arranged in bandSize (1005) in pageSize (1003).
[0061]
BandInfo is a structure starting with BandRectL (1010) that holds the area of the virtual band as rectangle information. Used for recording.
Details of the structure 1030 are as follows.
[0062]
The maximum circumscribed rectangular area DrawRectL1011 of the drawing process drawn in the virtual band, the chromatic color area ColorRectL1012 in the drawing area drawn in the band, the area ROPRectL1013 in which illegal printing occurs in YMCK printing, the drawing processing area ImgRectL1014 by the image system function, A drawing area GraphicRectL1014 by a graphics function and a character drawing area TextRectL1016.
In addition to these, the BandInfo structure 1030 also collects information for each DDI function in the fields 1017 to 1020.
[0063]
Description will be made by taking as an example the information of StretchBlt (1019), which is a DDI function that can specify bitmap scaling. StretchBlt (1019) includes a plurality of fields 10191 to 10196. That is, callcnt 10191 that stores the number of calls to the StretchBlt function related in the virtual band region, 1BPPCnt 10192 that stores the number of 1 BPP (1 bit per pixel) images, 1BPPTotalSize 10193 that stores the total data size of 1BPP images, 4BPP, 24BPP Similar information can be stored for images. The other DDI functions are also configured with a data structure that holds information passed to each function I / F, similar to the StretchBlt function.
[0064]
3) Despooler 215
Based on the features of each print data generation unit shown in FIG. 6, the print mode determination unit 212 analyzes the PCF stored in the PCF storage unit 214 and determines the print mode considered to be optimal. The contents of the page description storage unit 213 are printed and reproduced using the print data generation units 205 to 207 corresponding to the determined print mode. Specifically, the PDL mode (first print data generation unit 205) is selected when the absolute number of commands is small, and the monochrome image mode (second print data generation unit 206) is selected when the number of commands is large. The device color mode (third print data generation unit 207) is used when the number of instructions is large and a color image, and the RGB color mode (the fourth print data generation unit 207) is used when there is a large number of instructions and drawing fraud occurs in the YMCK format. For example, the print data generation unit 208) can be selected.
[0065]
Since the data spooled in the PDF storage unit 213 by the spool driver 211 has a PDF format reversible to the DDI function, the despooler 215 has the same print data generation units 205 to 208 as the conventional print data generation unit shown in FIG. It can be used.
[0066]
Next, font replacement processing in the printer driver 260 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Also in the following description, as in the conventional example described with reference to FIG. 3, printing of a document including a document drawing including a logical font attribute “line font A” that does not exist in the host computer 200 in which the printer driver 260 operates is included. Is assumed.
[0067]
1 is different from the conventional configuration (and operation) shown in FIG. 3 in that a logical font “line font” is temporarily stored in the spool driver 211 before the despooler 215 registers the logical font in the print data generation units 205 to 208. A "is registered, a physical font (" MP Mincho ") is obtained in the spool driver 211, and the physical font" MP Mincho "is registered as a logical font to be passed to each print data generation unit 205-207. Is a point.
[0068]
That is, by using the font replacement function of the spool driver 211, a physical font existing in the host computer 200 is obtained in advance, and the physical font is used as a logical font registered in the print data generation unit. Font replacement processing does not occur. Therefore, even if the print data generation unit used for each page is changed, the font output by the print data generation unit is a common physical font.
[0069]
The overall processing in the above-described printer driver of the present invention will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG.
First, when a DDI function call is received from the GDI (203), the spool driver 211 converts the content into the PDF format and spools it in the PDF storage unit 213 (step S100). On the other hand, the print mode determination unit 212 monitors data spooled by the spool driver 211 in the PDF storage unit 213, and stores the PCF in the PCF storage unit 214 (step S110). The PDF spooling process and the PCF storing process are continued until at least one page of the document to be printed is completed (step S120).
[0070]
When the storage of PDF and PCF for one page is completed, the despooler 215 refers to the PCF stored in the PCF storage unit 214 and determines the optimal print mode for the print processing for the page (step S130). Next, the despooler 215 acquires a logical font attribute (referred to as “line font A”) included in the data spooled in the PDF storage unit 213, and registers it in the spool driver 211 (step S140).
[0071]
Since the spool driver 211 is provided with a font replacement function, the spool driver 211 checks whether the registered logical font is a physical font (whether it exists in the host computer 200), and if it is a physical font, the despooler 215. If the logical font attribute registered by is not a physical font as it is, a predetermined physical font attribute is notified to the despooler 215 (step S150). That is, in this example, since “line typeface A” is not a physical font, the attribute of the replacement font (“MP Mincho”) is notified.
[0072]
The despooler 215 creates a logical font attribute “MP Mincho” to be registered in each of the print data generation units 205 to 208 from the physical font “MP Mincho” attribute received from the spool driver 211, and the despooler 215 determines in Step S130. The print data generation unit corresponding to the optimal print mode is registered (step S160).
[0073]
Then, the PDF data spooled in the PDF storage unit 213 is returned to the form of the DDI function and delivered to the print data generation unit (step S170). The print data generation unit generates print data that is PDL or image data using the received DDI function and the logical font registered in step S160 (step S180). The generated print data is transferred to the printer 100 via the interface 600 of the spool subsystem 210 without passing through the band memory 209 via the band memory 209 if it is image data and without passing through the band memory 209 if it is a PDL command. Is done.
[0074]
The first print data generation unit 205 transmits a PDL including a command for designating the MP Mincho and a character code to the printer when the MP Mincho font exists in the printer. When the MP Mincho font does not exist in the printer, the MP Mincho character pattern is generated by the host, the generated character pattern is downloaded to the printer, and the PDL including the character code for specifying the downloaded character pattern is printed to the printer. Send to. If the generated character pattern cannot be downloaded to the printer, a PDL including the generated character pattern and print position information is transmitted to the printer.
[0075]
The second to fourth print data generation units 206 to 208 generate an MP Mincho character pattern at the host, and transmit image data in units of a predetermined area (band) including the generated character pattern to the printer.
[0076]
In the flowchart of FIG. 2, the processing for one page is described in time series for easy understanding. However, the spool (storage) processing in steps S100 to S120, the determination after step S130, and the printing processing. Can be performed independently. That is, the spooling of PDF data by the spool driver 211 and the storage of the PCF data by the print mode determination unit 212 are continuously performed until the processing for all pages to be printed is completed regardless of the processing from step S130. On the other hand, the processing after step S130 can be repeated by referring to the PCF corresponding to the next page when processing for one page is completed.
[0077]
[Other Embodiments]
In the above-described embodiment, the case where MS-Windows (registered trademark of Microsoft) is used as basic software for operating the printer driver has been described. For this reason, the font attribute change process cannot be performed on the spool driver due to the limitation of the graphics subsystem of the basic software, and the despooler performs the font attribute change process. However, when the printer driver according to the present invention operates in an environment in which the spool driver can change the font attribute, a font attribute that does not exist in the environment at the time of spooling in the PDF format is a physical font that exists in the environment. It is possible to achieve the same effect by changing to (1).
[0078]
In this case, in step S100 of FIG. 2, the font attribute in the DDI function is checked before spooling in the PDF format, and the font attribute that does not exist in the host computer 200 is changed to the physical font of the host computer 200 and then spooled. Will do. Then, step S140 and step S150 in FIG. 2 are not necessary, and the logical font registered in step S160 may be performed using the font attribute in the data returned from the PDF format to the DDI function as it is.
[0079]
In the above embodiment, the printer driver has a print data generation unit. However, the print data generation unit is not essential for the printer driver of the present invention. That is, the essence of the present invention is that when a plurality of print data generation units are switched and used, a logical font that does not exist on the host computer in which the printer driver exists is not registered in the print data generation unit, but in advance on the host computer. Is registered in the print data generation unit as a logical font, thereby realizing a print process without using the font replacement function of the print data generation unit, and the print data generation unit itself used is an invention. It has nothing to do with the nature of
[0080]
Note that the present invention can be applied to a system (for example, a copier, a facsimile machine, etc.) consisting of a single device even when applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, interface device, reader, printer, etc.). It may be applied.
[0081]
Another object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium that records software program codes called a printer driver that implements the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and the computer of the system or apparatus (or CPU or MPU). Needless to say, this is also achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.
[0082]
In this case, the program code situation read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.
[0083]
As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.
[0084]
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) 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.
[0085]
Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into 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 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.
[0086]
When the present invention is applied to a storage medium, program code corresponding to the flowchart described above is stored in the storage medium.
[0087]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, in a printer driver that outputs print data by switching a plurality of print data generation units having a font replacement function for each page, the physical font used for font replacement is all print data. A printer driver that can be unified by the generation unit can be realized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a configuration of a printer driver according to an embodiment of the present invention and an operation when replacing a logical font.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a printer driver according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a configuration of a conventional printer driver and an operation at the time of logical font replacement.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining logical font replacement processing by a conventional despooler.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a printing system to which a printer driver according to the present invention can be applied.
FIG. 6 is a diagram comparing features for each print mode.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a data structure in PDF format used in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a PCF format data structure used in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a conventional printing system with a fixed printing mode.
[Explanation of symbols]
100 printer
200 Host computer
201 Application software
202 Graphics subsystem
203 GDI
260 Printer driver
205 First print data generation unit (PDL type)
206 First print data generator (monochrome 1BPP image type)
207 First print data generator (YMCK4BPP image type)
208 1st print data generation part (RGB24BPP image type)
209 band memory
210 Spool subsystem
211 Spool driver
212 Print mode determination unit
213 PDF storage unit
214 PCF storage
215 Despooler
300 Display monitor
400 keyboard
500 mice
600 External interface

Claims (16)

A plurality of print data generation means that can generate print data that can be printed by the printing apparatus in a one-to-one correspondence with the print mode;
Spool driver means for converting a drawing command passed from basic software into data in a format that can be processed by the plurality of processing means;
Print mode determination means for analyzing the drawing command and generating print mode determination information;
Storage means for holding data generated by the spool driver means;
Print mode determination storage means for holding the print mode determination information generated by the print mode determination means;
The print mode determination information is used to determine a print mode for each page, and the data generated by the spool driver unit in the print data generation unit corresponding to the determined print mode among the plurality of print data generation units. In an information processing apparatus having despooler means for supplying the page by page ,
The spool driver means notifies the despooler means of the designated font when the font designated by the data stored in the storage means exists in the information processing apparatus, and the designated spooler means When a font does not exist in the information processing apparatus, a predetermined font present in the information processing apparatus is notified to the despooler means,
The despooler means registers the notified font by said spool drive means, as a logical font to the print data generating means corresponding to the print mode the determined,
Each of the print data generation means corresponding to the determined print mode generates the print data using the data supplied for each page by the despooler means and the logical font registered by the despooler means. An information processing apparatus characterized by the above. An information processing apparatus that generates and outputs print data in a format printable by a printing apparatus based on a drawing command delivered from basic software,
A plurality of print data generation means for generating print data in different data formats from the drawing command;
Selecting means for, based on the drawing commands corresponding to the page unit, selects one Chi caries said plurality of print data generation means by the page unit in the printing apparatus,
Wherein the font property included in the drawing instruction group, in the case where the font font attributes that exist in the information processing apparatus is detected, and notifies the font attributes included in the drawing command group, present in the information processing equipment If the font font attributes that do not is detected, and the replacement font determining means notifies the font font attributes of the predetermined existing in the information processing apparatus,
To print data generating means selected by the selecting unit, if the font font attributes that do not exist in the information processing equipment in the supplied drawing commands is detected, notified by the replacement font determining means Instruction means for instructing to perform print data generation processing using a predetermined font existing in the information processing apparatus corresponding to the font attribute ;
The information processing apparatus characterized by comprising a supply means for supplying the drawing commands corresponding to the page unit in the print data generating means selected by the selecting unit. Spool driver means for spooling data passed from the basic software in a format that can be processed by a plurality of print data generation means;
A print mode determining means for determining a print mode for each page based on the spooled data,
Among the plurality of print data generation unit, the print data generating unit corresponding to the print mode determined by the determining means, in an information processing apparatus and a despooler means for supplying the spooled data for each page,
The spool drive means, from the font information in the spooled data, when detecting a font font information that does not exist in the information processing equipment, the predetermined font exists on the information processing apparatus When the font information of the font existing in the information processing apparatus is detected from the font information in the spooled data, the font information in the spooled data is detected by the despooler means. Inform the means,
The despooler means registers the print data generation unit corresponding font information notified by said spool drive means prior Symbol determined print mode,
Each of the print data generation means corresponding to the determined print mode generates print data using data supplied for each page by the despooler means and font information registered in the despooler means. A characteristic information processing apparatus. Spool driver means for spooling data passed from the basic software in a format that can be processed by a plurality of print data generation means;
A print mode determining means for determining a print mode for each page based on the spooled data,
Among the plurality of print data generation unit, the print data generating unit corresponding to the print mode determined by the determination unit, information processing in an information processing apparatus and a despooler means for supplying the spooled data for each page In the method
The spool drive means, from the font information in the spooled data, when detecting a font font information that does not exist in the information processing equipment, the predetermined font exists on the information processing apparatus When the font information of the font existing in the information processing apparatus is detected from the font information in the spooled data, the font information in the spooled data is detected by the despooler means. A notification step for notifying means;
Said despooler means, a registration step of registering the print data generation unit corresponding font information notified by said spool drive means prior Symbol determined print mode,
A generation step in which each of the print data generation means corresponding to the determined print mode generates print data using data supplied for each page by the despooler means and font information registered in the despooler means. an information processing method characterized by chromatic and. An information processing apparatus,
A plurality of print data creation means for creating print data to be processed by the printer based on data from the application;
Supplying means for analyzing data from the application and supplying the data to one of the plurality of print data generating means for each page based on the result of the analysis;
If the font designated by the data from the application exists in the information processing apparatus, the designated font is registered as a logical font in the print data creation means that is the data supply destination, and the application If the font specified by the data from the information processing apparatus does not exist in the information processing apparatus, a predetermined font existing in the information processing apparatus is registered as a logical font in the print data creation means that is the data supply destination Registration means to
Each of said print data generation means is a supply destination of the data, using the data supplied by said supply means, and a logical font registered by the registration means, and characterized in that to generate the print data Information processing apparatus. 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the print data includes image data and a control command for creating image data by a printer. The print data generating means, and the image data first generating means for generating image data as the print data, according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a second generating means for generating image data as the print data Information processing device. The print data generating means, and the image data first generating means for generating image data as the print data, to include a second creation unit for creating data to create image data in the printer as the print data The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein: An information processing method in an information processing apparatus using a plurality of print data creation means for creating print data to be processed by a printer based on data from an application,
A supplying unit that analyzes data from the application and supplies the data to one of the plurality of print data generating units for each page based on a result of the analysis;
If the font designated by the data from the application exists in the information processing apparatus, the registration means registers the designated font as a logical font in the print data creation means that is the data supply destination. If the font specified by the data from the application does not exist in the information processing apparatus, the print data to which the data is supplied as a logical font using a predetermined font existing in the information processing apparatus A registration process for registering with the creation means ;
Each of said print data generation means is a supply destination of the data, the data supplied by said supplying means, using a logical font registered by the registration unit, and a generation step of generating print data An information processing method comprising: The information processing method according to claim 9 , wherein the print data includes image data and a control command for creating image data by a printer. The print data creation means, wherein which comprises an image data first generating means for generating image data as the print data, and a second generating means for generating data to create an image data as the print data Item 10. The information processing method according to Item 9 . The print data preparation means according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises an image data first generating means for generating image data as the print data, and a second creating means for creating image data by the printer as the print data The information processing method described. Computer
A plurality of print data creation means for creating print data to be processed by the printer based on data from the application;
Supplying means for analyzing data from the application and supplying the data to one of the plurality of print data generating means for each page based on the result of the analysis;
If the font specified by the data from the application exists in the computer, the specified font is registered as a logical font in the print data creation means that is the data supply destination, and the font from the application If the font specified by the data does not exist in the computer, the predetermined font existing in the computer is caused to function as a registration unit for registering as a logical font in the print data generation unit as the data supply destination . A printer driver program for
Each of said print data generation means is a supply destination of the data, using the data supplied by said supply means, and a logical font registered by the registration means, and characterized in that to generate the print data Printer driver program. 14. The printer driver program according to claim 13 , wherein the print data includes image data and a control command for creating image data by the printer. The print data generating means, and the image data first generating means for generating image data as the print data, according to claim 13, characterized in that functions as a second creating means for creating image data as the print data Printer driver program. The print data generating means, and the image data first generating means for generating image data as the print data, to function as a second creating means for creating data to create image data in the printer as the print data 14. A printer driver program according to claim 13, characterized in that:

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