JP5614084B2 - Information processing apparatus and information processing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing technique using a page description language (PDL).

  The printer's print command (also called a control command or control code) is, for example, a PDL output format that performs main image processing on the printer side, and an image output format (GDI (Graphic Device) that performs main image processing on the host computer side). Interface) format.)).

  Examples of PDL output format print commands (hereinafter also referred to as PDL commands) include, for example, Seiko Epson ESC / P-Page and EJL, Hewlett-Packard PCL and PJL, and Adobe System PostScript (registered). Trademark) and the like. Also, the image output format print commands (hereinafter also referred to as image output commands and GDI commands) are classified into, for example, Seiko Epson ESC / PR, ESC / P-Raster, and Remote. be able to.

  The PDL command is often used in, for example, a laser printer (LP). In the PDL output format, a PDL command is generated based on data to be printed in a host computer such as a PC and sent to a printer. In the printer, PDL command interpretation, RGB data generation, CMYK color conversion, print image data generation, and the like are performed, and printing by the print engine is executed.

  The image output command is often used in, for example, an inkjet printer (IJP: Ink Jet Printer). In the image output format, in a host computer such as a PC, a print command including CMYK data (hereinafter also referred to as CMYK command) or a print command including RGB bitmap data (hereinafter referred to as “CMYK command”) based on data to be printed. Are sometimes called RGB commands) and sent to the printer. The printer interprets the image output command, generates print image data, etc., and executes printing by the print engine.

  Another print command format is an intermediate language (also called intermediate code) output format (for example, Patent Document 1). In the intermediate language output format, in a host computer such as a PC, an intermediate language print command (hereinafter also referred to as an intermediate language command) is generated based on data to be printed and sent to the printer. Then, in the printer, interpretation of intermediate language commands, generation of print image data, and the like are performed, and printing by the print engine is executed.

JP 2009-166450 A

  Incidentally, IJP is also required to support a print command in the PDL output format. For example, in business IJP used in an office or the like, the convenience of the user is higher when the PDL output format is supported.

  Here, in order to support the PDL in the IJP that supports the print command in the image output format, for example, a method of adding a function for interpreting the PDL command to the firmware of the IJP can be considered. However, the image output format IJP generally does not have sufficient processing capability such as CPU and memory to interpret PDL commands and perform image processing. Therefore, the method of simply adding the PDL function to the firmware has a large processing load and is not suitable for practical use.

  Further, in order to improve the processing capability, a method of replacing the image output format IJP CPU, memory, etc. with a higher performance one is also conceivable. However, with this method, development / manufacturing costs and the like are increased.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to support a PDL output format while keeping the cost low in a printer having an image output format printer as a basic configuration.

One embodiment of the present invention for solving the above-described problem is an information processing apparatus connected to a network, and an inkjet print engine that performs printing based on print image data, and an IJP that controls IJP functions. A module and an LP module for controlling the function of the LP, wherein the IJP module receives a PDL command from the network and a PDL command received by the command receiving means to the LP module. First communication means for transferring, and first command interpreting means for generating the print image data by interpreting the RGB command transferred from the LP module, wherein the LP module is transferred from the IJP module. Interpret the PDL command to convert RGB bitmap data Second command interpretation means for outputting interpretation data, command processing means for processing the interpretation data and outputting it as the RGB command, and transferring the RGB command output by the command processing means to the IJP module. 2 communication means.

  In the information processing apparatus, the IJP module and the LP module may each include a CPU and a memory, and each of the above-described units may be realized by a predetermined program.

  Also, in any one of the above information processing apparatuses, the IJP module and the LP module are connected to each other by USB, and the first communication means and the second communication means transfer commands via the USB. It may be characterized by doing.

  In any one of the information processing apparatuses described above, at least one of ESC / P-Page, PostScript, PCL, PJL, and EJL is used as the PDL command, and ESC / P- At least one of R and Remote may be used.

Another aspect of the present invention for solving the above problem is an information processing method in an information processing apparatus connected to a network, wherein the information processing apparatus is an ink jet system that performs printing based on print image data. A command receiving step in which the IJP module receives a PDL command from the network. The information processing method includes: a print engine; an IJP module that controls an IJP function; and an LP module that controls an LP function. A first communication step in which the IJP module transfers the PDL command received in the command receiving step to the LP module; and the LP module interprets the PDL command transferred from the IJP module. Output interpretation data including RGB bitmap data A first command interpretation step, a command processing step in which the LP module processes the interpretation data and outputs it as an RGB command, and the LP module outputs the RGB command output in the command processing step to the IJP module. A second communication step of transferring, and a second command interpreting step of generating the print image data by interpreting the RGB command transferred from the LP module by the IJP module.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of hardware of a printer 1 that is an example of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the printer 1. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a printer 1c that does not have the characteristics of the present embodiment.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of hardware of a printer 1 which is an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

  In this embodiment, the printer 1 is based on an IJP hardware configuration corresponding to an image output command, and additionally uses an LP component (LP controller 40) corresponding to a PDL command. The printer 1 functions not as an image output command but as a dedicated machine for PDL commands.

  The printer 1 is connected to a host computer 2 such as a PC via a network 3 such as a LAN. Of course, the host computer 2 may be connected to the host computer 2 by USB or the like.

  The host computer 2 is installed with a printer driver program for controlling the printer 1. Then, the host computer 2 generates a PDL command based on data to be printed instructed by an application or the like using this printer driver, and transmits the PDL command to the printer 1.

  Upon receiving a PDL command from the host computer 2, the printer 1 converts it into an RGB command, generates print image data based on the RGB command, and executes printing. The processing of the printer 1 will be described later in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 includes an IJP controller (module board) 10, an operation panel 20, a print engine 30, and an LP controller (module board) 40.

  The IJP controller 10 is a main controller that controls various functions of the printer 1. On the other hand, the LP controller 40 additionally uses parts of other LP products in order to process PDL commands.

  The IJP controller 10 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a memory control ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 14, a network interface (I / F) 15, a USB interface (I / F) 16, and input / output (I / O) A control ASIC 17 is provided.

  The CPU 11 is an arithmetic device that executes a predetermined program and controls the printer 1 in an integrated manner. The ROM 12 is a nonvolatile memory that stores data, programs, and the like, and is, for example, a flash memory. The ROM 12 may be connected to the I / O control ASIC 17 instead of the memory control ASIC 14. The RAM 13 is a volatile memory that temporarily stores data, programs, and the like, and is, for example, a DDR-SDRAM.

  The memory control ASIC 14 is a unit that controls access to the ROM 12 and the RAM 13. The memory control ASIC 14 sends, for example, data sent from the host computer 2 via the network I / F 15 and the I / O control ASIC 17 to the CPU 11 or stores it in the RAM 13. For example, data acquired from the CPU 11 or the RAM 13 is output to the print engine 30.

  The network I / F 15 is a unit that communicates with an external device on the network 3 such as the host computer 2. The network I / F 15 includes, for example, an Ethernet (registered trademark) network controller, a network connector, and the like.

  The USB I / F 16 is a unit that performs USB communication with the LP controller 40. The USB I / F 16 includes, for example, a USB controller, a USB connector, and the like. The USB I / F 16 is connected to the USB I / F 46 of the LP controller 40 in advance (for example, during manufacturing). In the present embodiment, the IJP controller 10 functions as a USB host and the LP controller 40 functions as a USB device.

  The I / O control ASIC 17 is a unit that controls the input / output device and the interface device. In this embodiment, the I / O control ASIC 17 is connected to an operation panel 20 as an I / O device, and a network I / F 15 and a USB I / F 16 as I / F devices. Of course, a hard disk drive, a parallel I / F, etc. may be connected. For example, the I / O control ASIC 17 transfers data received via the network I / F 15 or the USB I / F 16 to the RAM 13 or the CPU 11, or transmits data transmitted from the RAM 13 or the CPU 11 to the host computer 2 or the LP controller 40. Or transfer. Further, for example, a signal output from the operation panel 20 is transferred to the RAM 13 or the CPU 11, and drawing data sent from the RAM 13 or the CPU 11 is transferred to the operation panel 20.

  Of course, the IJP controller 10 is not limited to the above configuration, and may include a dedicated print control ASIC that generates data that can be processed by the print engine 30 and controls printing by the print engine 30. The print control ASIC generates print data by executing predetermined image processing (for example, color conversion, compression, expansion, binarization) instead of the CPU 11 or in cooperation with the CPU 11.

  The operation panel 20 is a unit provided in the casing of the printer 1 as an input / output interface between the user and the printer 1. The operation panel 20 includes, for example, a display such as a liquid crystal display and an organic EL display (Electro-Luminescence Display), a touch panel, a hard switch, and the like.

  The print engine 30 is a unit that performs printing on a print medium based on the print image data supplied from the IJP controller 10. The print engine 30 is, for example, an inkjet method. Of course, the printer 1 is not limited to the ink jet method, and may be any other printing method as long as the basic configuration of the printer 1 is a printer corresponding to a print command in the image output format.

  The LP controller 40 includes a CPU 41, a ROM 42, a RAM 43, a memory control ASIC 44, a network I / F 45, a USB I / F 46, and an I / O control ASIC 47.

  The CPU 41 is an arithmetic device that controls the LP controller 40 by executing a predetermined program. The ROM 42 is a nonvolatile memory that stores data, programs, and the like, and is, for example, a flash memory. The ROM 42 may be connected to the I / O control ASIC 47 instead of the memory control ASIC 44. The RAM 43 is a volatile memory that temporarily stores data, programs, and the like, and is, for example, a DDR-SDRAM.

  The memory control ASIC 44 is a unit that controls access to the ROM 42 and the RAM 43. The memory control ASIC 44 sends, for example, data sent from the IJP controller 10 via the USB I / F 46 and the I / O control ASIC 47 to the CPU 41 or stores it in the RAM 43. Further, for example, data acquired from the CPU 41 or the RAM 43 is output to the IJP controller 10 via the I / O control ASIC 47 and the USB I / F 46.

  The USB I / F 46 is a unit that performs USB communication with the IJP controller 10. The USB I / F 46 includes, for example, a USB controller, a USB connector, and the like.

  The I / O control ASIC 47 is a unit that controls the interface device. In this embodiment, the I / O control ASIC 47 is connected to a USB I / F 46 as an I / F device. For example, the I / O control ASIC 47 transfers data received via the USB I / F 46 to the RAM 43 and the CPU 41, and transfers data transmitted from the RAM 43 and the CPU 41 to the IJP controller 10.

  The host computer 2 includes, for example, a CPU that performs various operations, a RAM that stores programs and data executed by the CPU, a ROM that stores programs and data necessary for startup, and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). ) And SSD (Solid State Drive), etc., a network interface (I / F) for communication by connecting to a network such as a wired LAN, a USB interface (I / F) for communication by USB, A media reading device that reads information from a portable storage medium having portability such as a CD-ROM, a display device such as an LCD that displays a user interface (UI) screen, and an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse are provided.

  Further, the printer driver program can be downloaded from a server on a network such as the Internet and installed or updated in the host computer 2. It may be read from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM by a media reading device, or read from a storage medium such as a flash ROM by a USB interface, and installed or updated in the host computer 2.

  The configurations of the printer 1 and the host computer 2 described above are the main configurations in describing the features of the present invention, and are not limited to the configurations described above. Further, the configuration of a general printer and a host computer is not excluded. For example, the printer 1 and the host computer 2 may communicate via a wireless LAN, USB, or the like. Further, the IJP controller 10 and the LP controller 40 may be integrated with a substrate.

  Next, a characteristic operation of the present embodiment realized by the above-described printer 1 will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the printer 1.

  The printer 1 includes a command receiving unit 100, an RGB command interpreting unit 110, a PDL command interpreting unit 400, and an RGB command processing unit 410.

  The command receiving unit 100 and the RGB command interpreting unit 110 are realized by the IJP controller 10 by executing a predetermined program (for example, a part of IJP firmware) loaded from the ROM 12 to the RAM 13 by the CPU 11. Of course, part or all of the processing of these functional units may be realized by ASIC or other hardware of the IJP controller 10.

  For example, the predetermined program is written in the ROM 12 at the time of manufacture, and is downloaded from a server on the network and updated after the manufacture. Of course, it may be recorded in advance on a portable recording medium, read from the recording medium, and installed in the printer 1 or updated.

  The PDL command interpretation unit 400 and the RGB command processing unit 410 are realized by the LP controller 40 by, for example, executing a predetermined program (for example, a part of LP firmware) loaded from the ROM 42 to the RAM 43 by the CPU 41. Of course, part or all of the processing of these functional units may be realized by the ASIC of the LP controller 40 or other hardware.

  The predetermined program is written in the ROM 42 at the time of manufacture, for example, and is downloaded from a server on the network and updated after the manufacture. Of course, it may be recorded in advance on a portable recording medium, read from the recording medium, and installed in the printer 1 or updated.

  The command receiving unit 100 receives the PDL command and transfers it to the PDL command interpreting unit 400. Specifically, the command receiving unit 100 receives a PDL command transmitted from the host computer 2 via the network I / F 15. The received PDL command is transmitted to the LP controller 40 via the USB I / F 16. At this time, the command receiving unit 100 bypasses the LP controller 40 without interpreting or processing the PDL command.

  The PDL command interpretation unit 400 receives the PDL command, interprets the PDL, generates RGB bitmap data, and outputs it to the RGB command processing unit 410. Specifically, the PDL command interpretation unit 400 receives the PDL command transmitted from the IJP controller 10 via the USB I / F 46. Also, RGB bitmap data is generated based on the received PDL command. Then, the data is output to the RGB command processing unit 410.

  Note that the PDL command may include control data related to control of the print engine, such as double-sided printing and layout printing, in addition to the portion describing the print data to be printed. In this case, the PDL command interpretation unit 400 performs processing for converting print data into RGB bitmap data, and outputs control data together with the RGB bitmap data to the RGB command processing unit 410.

  The RGB command processing unit 410 receives the PDL control data and RGB bitmap data, interprets the PDL, processes the data into image output format data, and transmits the data to the RGB command interpretation unit 110. Specifically, the RGB command processing unit 410 receives PDL control data and RGB bitmap data from the PDL command interpretation unit 400. Also, the data is converted into image output format data (RGB command) based on the received PDL control data and RGB bitmap data. Then, the data is transmitted to the IJP controller 10 via the USB I / F 46.

  In the present embodiment, for example, ESC / PR, Remote, etc. can be used as the RGB command. As the PDL command, for example, ESC / P-Page, PostScript, PCL, EJL, PJL, or the like can be used. Of course, the command format is not limited to these.

  The RGB command interpretation unit 110 receives the RGB command, interprets the RGB command, generates print image data, and outputs the print image data to the print engine 30. Specifically, the RGB command interpretation unit 110 receives the RGB command transmitted from the LP controller 40 via the USB I / F 16. Also, based on the received image output format control data and RGB bitmap data, for example, print image data is generated by performing processes such as CMYK color conversion, enlargement / reduction, and binarization. Then, the print image data is output to the print engine 30 to execute printing on the print medium.

  The above components are classified according to main processing contents in order to facilitate understanding of the configuration of the printer 1. The present invention is not limited by the way of classification and names of the constituent elements. The configuration of the printer 1 can be classified into more components depending on the processing content. Moreover, it can also classify | categorize so that one component may perform more processes. Further, the processing of each component may be executed by one hardware or may be executed by a plurality of hardware.

  For reference, a general printer that does not have the characteristics of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the printer 1c that does not have the characteristics of the present embodiment.

  The printer 1c is a general image output format IJP. Therefore, the printer 1 c includes the IJP controller 10 c and the print engine 30. An operation panel may be provided. In the IJP controller 10c, a command receiving unit 100c and a command interpreting unit 110c are constructed.

  The command receiving unit 100c receives the print command in the image output format and transfers it to the command interpreting unit 110c. As the print command, for example, a CMYK command including CMYK data such as ESC / P-Raster or an RGB command including RGB data such as ESC / P-R can be received.

  The command interpreter 110c receives an RGB or CMYK print command from the command receiver 100c. In the case of an RGB command, for example, print image data is generated by performing processes such as CMYK color conversion, enlargement / reduction, and binarization. In the case of the CMYK command, print image data is generated as it is, or print image data is generated by performing necessary processing. Then, the print image data is output to the print engine 30 to execute printing on the print medium.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described above. According to the present embodiment, in a printer having an image output format printer as a basic configuration, the PDL output format can be supported while further reducing costs.

  That is, in this embodiment, a part of the existing LP controller and firmware is used for IJP. The RGB command is used as an interface between IJP and LP, and a function for processing the interpretation result of the PDL command into an RGB command is added to the LP firmware. For the PDL interpretation function of the LP firmware and the IJP firmware, a small modification (change of command transmission / reception destination, etc.) is performed using the existing one.

  This configuration reduces the number of design changes compared to a method that simply adds a function for interpreting PDL commands to the IJP firmware and a method that replaces the CPU and memory of the IJP controller. Cost can be reduced.

  In addition, since the PDL command of LP can be used in IJP, there is no need for the user to newly replace a printer driver dedicated to IJP when replacing the LP with IJP. That is, a common driver or the like can be used continuously.

  The above-described embodiments of the present invention are intended to illustrate the gist and scope of the present invention and are not intended to be limiting. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

  For example, when the printer has a basic configuration of an LFP (Large Format Printer) corresponding to A1 size paper, the LP controller is configured to process a PDL command into an LFP print command. It may be. That is, the RGB command processing unit 410 is replaced with the LFP command processing unit. In addition, the RGB command interpretation unit 110 is replaced with an LFP command interpretation unit. In this way, not only the image output format command system described above but also the LFP command system can be handled. That is, in a printer having a basic configuration of an LFP printer, the PDL output format can be supported while further reducing the cost.

  Similarly, for example, in a printer having a basic configuration of an SIDM (Serial Impact Dot Matrix) printer, a function for processing a PDL command into a print command for SIDM may be configured in the LP controller. In this way, the printer with the basic configuration of the SIDM printer can support the PDL output format while keeping the cost low.

  The present invention can be applied not only to printers but also to printing apparatuses such as copiers and multifunction machines having a printer function.

1: Printer, 2: Host computer, 3: Network, 10: IJP controller, 11: CPU, 12: ROM, 13: RAM, 14: Memory control ASIC, 15: Network I / F, 16: USB I / F, 17: I / O control ASIC, 20: operation panel, 30: print engine, 40: LP controller, 41: CPU, 42: ROM, 43: RAM, 44: memory control ASIC, 46: USB I / F, 47: I / O control ASIC, 100: command receiving unit, 110: RGB command interpreting unit, 400: PDL command interpreting unit, 410: RGB command processing unit, 1c: printer, 10c: IJP controller, 100c: command receiving unit, 110c: Command interpreter

Claims (5)

An information processing apparatus connected to a network,
An inkjet print engine that performs printing based on print image data;
An IJP module that controls IJP functions;
An LP module for controlling the function of the LP;
Have
The IJP module
Command receiving means for receiving a P DL command from the network;
First communication means for transferring a PDL command received by the command receiving means to the LP module ;
A first command interpreting means for generating the print image data by interpreting the RGB command transferred from the LP module,
Have
The LP module
Second command interpretation means for interpreting the PDL command transferred from the IJP module and outputting interpretation data including RGB bitmap data;
Command processing means for processing the interpretation data and outputting the RGB commands;
A second communication means for transferring the RGB command output by the command processing means to the IJP module,
Having
An information processing apparatus characterized by that. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
The IJP module and the LP module each have a CPU and a memory, and realize each of the above means by a predetermined program.
An information processing apparatus characterized by that. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 ,
The IJP module and the LP module are connected to each other by USB,
The first communication means and the second communication means transfer commands via the USB.
An information processing apparatus characterized by that. An information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
As the PDL command, at least one of ESC / P-Page, PostScript, PCL, PJL, and EJL is used.
As the RGB command, at least one of ESC / PR and Remote is used.
An information processing apparatus characterized by that. An information processing method in an information processing apparatus connected to a network,
The information processing apparatus includes:
An inkjet print engine that performs printing based on print image data;
An IJP module that controls IJP functions;
An LP module for controlling the function of the LP;
Have
The information processing method includes:
A command receiving step in which the IJP module receives a PDL command from the network;
The IJP module includes a first communication step of transferring the PDL command received by said command receiving step to the LP module,
A first command interpretation step in which the LP module interprets the PDL command transferred from the IJP module and outputs interpretation data including RGB bitmap data;
A command processing step in which the LP module processes the interpretation data and outputs it as an RGB command;
A second communication step in which the LP module transfers the RGB command output in the command processing step to the IJP module ;
The IJP module, a second command interpreting step of generating the print image data by interpreting the RGB command transferred from the LP module,
including,
An information processing method characterized by the above.

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