JP4652892B2 - Printer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer that develops and prints print data into bitmap image data based on font data, and more particularly to a printer that performs print processing based on font data stored in an external recording medium.

  Some conventional printers have an external recording medium such as a compact flash (registered trademark) card in which font data is stored in the main body, and perform print processing based on the font data stored in the external recording medium. is there. In these printers, font data corresponding to print data supplied from a host such as a personal computer is read from an external recording medium to perform print processing.

  Since the font data stored in the external recording medium has property value and it is not desirable to copy it illegally, a password area for recording the password is provided in the external recording medium, and the external password and memory Unauthorized copying is prevented by permitting access to the main memory, that is, font data only when the passwords recorded therein match.

However, although the conventional technology has a certain prevention effect against unauthorized copying of font data stored in an external recording medium, it cannot completely prevent unauthorized copying, and illegally copied font data. When an external recording medium storing is stored in a printer, there is a problem that it is used without any problem.
JP 2001-5729 A

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and the object of the present invention is to provide an external recording medium when an external recording medium storing illegally copied font data is mounted on a printer. An object of the present invention is to provide a printer that determines that reading of illegally copied font data from a medium is impossible and prevents the use of illegally copied font data.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration.
A printer for printing by expanding the print data based on the font data stored in the instrumentation wearing the external recording medium into a bitmap image data, and the internal recording unit nor disappear contents when the power is turned off, external Download list creation means for creating a download list for specifying the font data downloaded from the host connected to the interface; writing the download list into the internal recording means; and downloading the download list and the font data to the external Download list writing means for writing to a recording medium, and the download list stored in the external recording medium is read out and compared with the download list stored in the internal recording means, and only the matched font data is stored in the external recording medium. Read from It resides in the printer, characterized by comprising a download list comparison means for determining that was allowed.
Also , a printer for developing print data into bitmap image data based on font data stored in an attached external recording medium and printing, the internal recording means whose contents do not disappear even when the power is turned off, Download list creation means for creating a download list for specifying the font data downloaded from a host connected to an external interface; writing the download list into the internal recording means; and downloading the download list and the font data Download list writing means for writing to an external recording medium, and the download list stored in the external recording medium is read out and compared with the download list stored in the internal recording means. The outside Be provided with a download list comparison means for determining the Call reads all of the font data stored in the recording medium lies in characteristics and to pulp printer a.
The front SL Download list creation means resides in features and to pulp printer that is described a type of the font data downloaded from the host to the download list.

  The printer of the present invention creates a download list for specifying font data downloaded from a host connected to an external interface, writes the download list to internal recording means whose contents do not disappear even when the power is turned off, and an external recording medium The download list and the font data are written in, the download list stored in the external recording medium is read and compared with the download list stored in the internal recording means, and only the matched font data is determined to be readable from the external recording medium. If the external recording medium storing the illegally copied font data is installed in the printer, it becomes impossible to use font data other than the font data stored via the printer. Unauthorized copying from an external recording medium It can be judged that disable the reading of Ontodeta, an effect that it is possible to prevent the use of illegally copied font data.

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

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the embodiment of the printer according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit shown in FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 1, the printer 100 according to the present embodiment includes a platen roller 1 and a thermal head 2 having a heating element formed on a surface facing the platen roller 1, and a plurality of labels are attached to the mount. By temporarily superimposing the printing medium 3 such as a label continuous body, which is temporarily attached, and the ink ribbon 4 between the platen roller 1 and the thermal head 2, the heating element of the thermal head 2 is selectively heated. The ink is transferred from the ink ribbon 4 to the printing surface of the print medium 3 so that desired characters, barcodes, and the like are printed.

  The print medium 3 is rotatably supported by the paper supply unit 5 while being wound in a roll, and is supplied between the platen roller 1 and the thermal head 2 from the paper supply unit 5. Further, the ink ribbon 4 is stretched between the ribbon supply unit 6 and the ribbon take-up unit 7, and the ink ribbon 4 supported in a state of being wound around the ribbon supply unit 6 in a roll shape is the platen roller 1. The ink ribbon 4 that is supplied between the thermal head 2 and the thermal head 2 is taken up by the ribbon take-up unit 7.

  A sensor 8 for detecting an eye mark (black rectangular mark) formed by printing or the like on the back surface of the print medium 3 and outputting an eye mark detection signal is provided on the back surface side of the print medium 3. Yes. The eye mark detection signal is input from the sensor 8 to the control unit 10, and the control unit 10 drives the thermal head 2 and the drive motor 9 that rotationally drives the platen roller 1 at a printing timing based on the eye mark detection signal. Control and print.

  A host 30 such as a personal computer is connected to the control unit 10 via an external interface (external I / F) 20, and various data and data are exchanged with the host 30 connected to the outside via the external I / F 20. Commands can be sent and received. Further, the control unit 10 includes an input unit 40 for inputting various data and commands and a display unit 50 for displaying input data and various information input from the input unit 40 as an interface (I / F). 21, input data input from the input unit 40 is supplied to the control unit 10 via the I / F 21, and display data corresponding to various information displayed on the display unit 50 is I / F 21. It is supplied from the control unit 10 via. Further, the control unit 10 is connected to a memory card mounting unit 22 to which a memory card 60 in which font data is stored is connected, and writing and reading font data to and from the memory card 60 mounted to the memory card mounting unit 22. Can be done. Note that the memory card 60 is an external recording medium such as a flash memory that can be freely erased and written, and whose contents are not lost even when the power is turned off. The font data stored in the memory card 60 is: Bitmap image data corresponding to print data such as characters, graphics, barcodes, and two-dimensional codes.

  2, the control unit 10 operates in accordance with a ROM (read only memory) 11 that stores a predetermined control program and a control program stored in the ROM 11, and controls a central processing unit (CPU) 12 that controls each unit. A RAM (random access memory) 13 for storing various data necessary for the operation of the CPU 12, a drive control unit 14 for supplying a drive signal such as a pulse signal to the drive motor 9 and rotating the drive motor 9. A print control unit 15 for causing the thermal head 2 to perform a printing operation based on an instruction from the CPU 12 and an eye mark detection signal received from the sensor 8 under the control of the CPU 12 and converted into digital data as a pitch signal. A label detection unit 16 supplied to the CPU 12 and an internal recording unit 17 such as a flash memory whose contents do not disappear even when the power is turned off. It is equipped with a.

Next, the font writing operation in the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the font writing operation in the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a memory configuration example of the memory card shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of data of the download list shown in FIG.

  The printer 100 according to the embodiment is configured to perform printing using font data stored in the memory card 60, but the font data downloaded from the host 30 to the printer 100 is stored in the memory card 60. Remembered.

  First, the font data to be stored in the memory card 60 is taken into the host 30 by the operator, and the font data is downloaded from the host 30 to the printer 100 (step A1). It should be noted that the font data may be taken into the host 30 when the host 30 is connected to a network such as the Internet, or downloaded from a server on the network, or a CD or the like on which font data is recorded. You may make it take in from the recording medium. In addition, the procedure for fetching font data into the host 30 and the procedure for downloading font data from the host 30 to the printer 100 are not disclosed to the user and are restricted in operation by a password or the like.

  When the font data is downloaded from the host 30, the CPU 12 creates a download list (step A2), writes the created download list in the internal recording unit 17 (step A3), and creates it as shown in FIG. The download list and font data are written to the memory card 60 attached to the memory card attachment unit 22 (step A4).

  The download list created in step A2 is a list for specifying font data written to the memory card 60 via the printer 100. Referring to FIG. 5, for example, the download list is written to the memory card 60 via the printer 100. This is a list that lists the types of font data. FIG. 5 shows a download list indicating that “Japanese font data”, “Chinese font data”, and “English font data” have been written to the memory card 60 via the printer 100.

  In this embodiment, it is assumed that there is one font data for each language, and the type of each font data is described in the download list. However, a plurality of types of font data for the same language or a plurality of font data are used. If there is a version, a unique number or unique name is assigned to each font data, and the unique number or unique name is described in the download list.

Next, the font reading operation in the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the font reading operation in the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the download list comparison operation in the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing.

  When the CPU 12 receives the print data transmitted from the host 30 via the external I / F 20, the CPU 12 stores the font data corresponding to the character code included in the received print data in the memory card mounting unit 22. The bitmap image data corresponding to the print data read from the host 60 and transmitted from the host 30 is developed in the drawing area of the RAM 13.

  When reading font data from the memory card 60, the CPU 12 reads the download list from the memory card 60 (step B1), and compares the download list read from the memory card 60 with the download list stored in the internal recording unit 17. By doing so (step B2), whether there is font data that matches between the download list read from the memory card 60 and the download list stored in the internal recording unit 17, that is, the font stored in the memory card 60 It is determined whether there is data written via the printer 100 (step B3).

  If there is matching font data in the download list read from the memory card 60 and the download list stored in the internal recording unit 17 in step B3, the CPU 12 determines that the matched font data can be read out. (Step B4).

  For example, as illustrated in FIG. 7A, a download list including “Japanese font data”, “Chinese font data”, and “English font data” is stored in the internal recording unit 17. When a download list composed of “Japanese font data”, “Chinese font data”, and “English font data” is stored, all match, and therefore “Japanese font data” stored in the memory card 60 is stored. ”,“ Chinese font data ”, and“ English font data ”are considered to be normal data written via the printer 100, and are determined to be readable.

  For example, as illustrated in FIG. 7B, a download list including “Japanese font data”, “Chinese font data”, and “English font data” is stored in the internal recording unit 17, and “Japan” is stored in the memory card 60. In the case where a download list including “English font data”, “English font data”, “Korean font data”, and “Chinese font data” is stored, “Japanese font data” stored in the memory card 60 is stored. ”,“ English font data ”,“ Korean font data ”, and“ Chinese font data ”, the matching“ Japanese font data ”,“ Chinese font data ”, and“ English font data ”correspond to the printer 100. It is thought that it is normal data written via the "Korean font data" Because it does not match the downloaded list of internal recording unit 17, not considered normal data written via the printer 100. Therefore, “Japanese font data”, “Chinese font data”, and “English font data” stored in the memory card 60 are determined to be readable, but “Korean” stored in the memory card 60 are determined. It is determined that “font data” cannot be read.

  If there is no matching font data in the download list read from the memory card 60 and the download list stored in the internal recording unit 17 in step B3, the CPU 12 stores the readable font data in the memory card 60. It is determined that it has not been performed, and a read error is displayed on the display unit 40 (step B5).

  Next, the CPU 12 instructs the print control unit 15 to print the bitmap image data developed in the drawing area of the RAM 13 and also instructs the transport control unit 14 to transport the print medium 3 in the transport direction.

  The print control unit 15 supplies a control signal to the thermal head 2 in accordance with the bitmap image data developed in the drawing area of the RAM 13 based on an instruction from the CPU 12 and performs a printing process. Further, the transport control unit 14 supplies a predetermined drive signal to the drive motor 9 based on an instruction from the CPU 12 to rotate the drive motor 9. As a result, print data is printed on the print medium 3.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, an internal recording unit that creates a download list that specifies font data downloaded from the host 30 connected to the external interface 20 and whose contents do not disappear even when the power is turned off. 17, the download list is written in the memory card 60, the download list and font data are written in the memory card 60, the download list stored in the memory card 60 is read out, and compared with the download list stored in the internal recording unit 17. Since it is possible to use only font data stored in the memory card 60 via the printer 100, it is possible to use only illegally copied font data. Stored memory card When the printer 60 is attached to the printer 100, it can be determined that reading illegally copied font data from the memory card 60 is impossible, and the use of illegally copied font data can be prevented. There is an effect that can be done.

  In the present embodiment, the download list stored in the memory card 60 is read out and compared with the download list stored in the internal recording unit 17, and only matched font data is determined to be readable from the memory card 60. However, if there is font data that does not match, it may be determined that all font data stored in the memory card 60 cannot be read. In this case, it is possible to prevent the use of the memory card 60 that may have been fraudulent, and it is possible to more effectively prevent the use of illegally copied font data.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it is obvious that the embodiments can be appropriately changed within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. In addition, the number, position, shape, and the like of the constituent members are not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be set to a suitable number, position, shape, and the like in practicing the present invention. In each figure, the same numerals are given to the same component.

1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of an embodiment of a printer according to the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control part shown in FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a font writing operation in the printer according to the embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a memory configuration example of the memory card illustrated in FIG. 2. It is a figure which shows the example of data of the download list shown in FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a font reading operation in the printer according to the embodiment of the invention. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the comparison operation | movement of the download list in embodiment of the printer which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Platen roller 2 Thermal head 3 Medium to be printed 4 Ink ribbon 5 Paper supply part 6 Ribbon supply part 7 Ribbon take-up part 8 Sensor 9 Drive motor 10 Control part 11 ROM
12 CPU (download list creation means, download list writing means, download list comparison means)
13 RAM
14 Conveyance control unit 15 Print control unit 16 Label detection unit 17 Internal recording unit 20 External interface (external I / F)
21 Interface (I / F)
22 Memory card mounting unit 30 Host 40 Input unit 50 Display unit 60 Memory card (external recording medium)
100 printer

Claims (3)

A printer that develops print data into bitmap image data based on font data stored in a mounted external recording medium, and prints it.
Internal recording means that does not erase the contents even when the power is turned off,
Download list creating means for creating a download list for specifying the font data downloaded from a host connected to an external interface;
A download list writing means for writing the download list to the internal recording means, and writing the download list and the font data to the external recording medium;
Download list comparing means for reading the download list stored in the external recording medium, comparing it with the download list stored in the internal recording means, and determining that only the matched font data can be read from the external recording medium A printer comprising: A printer that develops print data into bitmap image data based on font data stored in a mounted external recording medium, and prints it.
Internal recording means that does not erase the contents even when the power is turned off,
Download list creating means for creating a download list for specifying the font data downloaded from a host connected to an external interface;
A download list writing means for writing the download list to the internal recording means, and writing the download list and the font data to the external recording medium;
The download list stored in the external recording medium is read and compared with the download list stored in the internal recording means .
Features and to pulp printer that includes a download list comparison means for determining the Call reads all of the font data stored in the external recording medium. 3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the download list creation unit causes the type of the font data downloaded from the host to be described in the download list.

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