JPH02234194A - Output device provided with save memory - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To exclude a font and a pattern whose use is expected from a deletion and to make an efficient use of a save memory and a high speed call compatible by providing a means for giving an undeletable attribute to the specific font and pattern from the outside. CONSTITUTION:A generated character pattern is stored in a storage area of a bit map character pattern store device 6, and a 'call mark' setting device 11 puts a 'call mark' to a designated character pattern group in accordance with a setting command 4b from a CPU 4. A bit map character pattern deleting device 12 issues a deleting command 12a to the bit map character pattern store device 6 in accordance with a store bit map character pattern deleting command 4c received from the CPU 4, and in this case, when the 'call mark' is set, such a processing as the pattern is excluded from an object to be deleted is executed. In such a way, that which is necessary actually is saved, and the character pattern can be outputted efficiently and effectively.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an output device equipped with a storage memory such as a cache memory. [Prior Art] Conventionally, in accordance with a character pattern output command received from a host system, etc., a new bitmap format character pattern is created in an output device based on the design information of the corresponding character pattern, and then the new character pattern is output. Output devices that output are known. The method of creating a new bitmap character pattern (for example, outline font) from this design information is based on the relationship that the design information itself is formed in the form of relative position information, so the size can be changed by setting the scale. Deformation of the pattern by changing or setting the coordinate system is 1
This method has the advantage that it can be easily performed from one piece of pattern information, and the amount of pattern data itself to be prepared can be reduced compared to the method of preparing character patterns in the form of bitmaps from the beginning. For convenience, this method is called the first conventional method.
However, in this first conventional method, a new bitmap character pattern is created each time it is output, which inevitably makes the process of developing it complicated, requiring a considerable amount of time to develop the character pattern, and reducing efficiency. It also has the disadvantage of causing a decline. To solve this problem, recently, character patterns in bitmap format created using this method are stored in a storage area such as RAM, and when outputting the same character pattern again, Instead of creating a character pattern again, a method has been put into practical use that uses this stored character pattern for output. This method of storing character patterns in bitmap format in RAM etc. and reusing them makes the process simple, as the character pattern is output simply by transferring the already completed bitmap character pattern to the output area. The processing speed is also fast, and it supplements the character pattern creation process, which has many problems in terms of speed. For convenience, this method is called the second conventional method. FIG. 7 shows the flow of data processing by these methods. In the figure, 141 is the first conventional method in which a character pattern is always created every time a character pattern is output, and 142 is the first conventional method. This is an example of the second conventional method in which character patterns once created are stored and reused. In the figure, the part 143 represents the first output process, 1
A character pattern is created and stored for each character. However, as shown in 144, in the second and subsequent output processing of the same character pattern, in the second conventional method, the previously stored character pattern can be reused, so the creation process of the character patterns rAJ rBJ rCJ This makes it possible to omit the steps, which improves processing efficiency. However, if character patterns created one after another are stored in the storage memory according to the second conventional method, the size of the unused memory decreases by the amount of storage. If there is a shortage of unused memory, not only will it be impossible to store the created character patterns, but it may also cause problems with the character pattern creation process itself and all other processes, making it impossible to perform the output task. Therefore, it is considered that the stored character patterns can be deleted according to the usage status of the storage memory to secure the memory necessary for each control. In other words, when there is a shortage of unused memory or when one output is completed, all character patterns stored at that point are deleted, and a new corresponding character pattern is created again for subsequent character pattern output. Then, the data is stored in memory again. By doing this, even in small to medium-sized output devices with a small total storage memory capacity, efficient character pattern creation and generation processing can be realized, such as creating a character pattern, storing it in memory, and using it again. ing. [Problems to be solved by the invention] However, these conventional methods still have some insufficiencies. In other words, in the method of deleting unused patterns according to the usage status, character symbol patterns that are used less frequently are generally deleted according to the usage frequency, but the importance of font patterns does not necessarily depend on the usage frequency. This is not a simple matter, and as a result, what is truly needed is often deleted from storage memory when it is needed for output.
This problem will be explained in more detail in the case of a character symbol with a so-called "call mark" and the case of "r page overlay". A "call mark" is as follows. When outputting character patterns, a collection of character patterns with various designs of different sizes and shapes are selected and used properly to output character patterns with the design desired by the user. However, in order to select a group of character patterns, the user must specify each design feature, such as ``12 point size'' or ``thick characters'', and the user must It is necessary to send as many complex attribute specification commands for the character pattern group you want to select to the output device as there are attributes.
It requires considerable effort. To solve this problem, we added "3" to frequently used character patterns, etc., for example.
A method of selecting by adding a ``call mark'' such as ``number character pattern group'' is often used. When selecting a group of character patterns with this "call mark" set, there is no need to select using complicated attributes.
By specifying only this "call mark", you can easily select a group of character patterns. This allows for more efficient selection using simple commands compared to specifying attributes. By the way, if you think about it the other way around, it is possible to consider that character patterns with this "call mark" are frequently used character patterns. By the way, in such conventional output devices, when a bitmap character pattern stored in the storage memory is deleted, the frequently used character pattern is also deleted. Deleted character patterns must be recreated, which takes time. Figure 8 illustrates this inconvenience. In the figure, reference numeral 151 indicates a case in which the created character pattern is not stored (the first conventional method described above), and reference numeral 152 indicates a case in which it is stored (the second conventional method described in "a").

Of these, character pattern group X is frequently used, so
Assume that "call mark" is set. In the second and subsequent output processing, it is sufficient to use the character pattern stored as described above, and therefore the processing is simplified (see section 154 in the figure). However, at part 153, the stored character pattern is deleted due to a memory shortage or one of the outputs being completed. For this reason, all the character patterns that have been held are deleted, and as shown in 155, the process of creating and storing character patterns must be performed again. Although this deletion itself is generally a necessary process, there is no problem even if the most frequently used character pattern group X is not deleted. However, in this conventional method, up to character pattern group X is re-created, and as a result, the pattern is forced to be re-created, which is inefficient. This is a specific disadvantage when deleting a pattern of characters/symbols marked with a so-called "call mark."

Next, specific problems when performing "r page overlay" will be explained below. A huge amount of data is often used to perform one output process, and output in the same format is often used many times. For example, the layout of the output is determined according to a certain format, such as a tally sheet, and only a portion of it is slightly different in each output. For parts that are output exactly the same every time, such as ruled lines on tally sheets or standard characters, there is no need to send the output data every time you output it, but you can send it only once at the beginning and have it memorized. It is possible to combine and output a standard output part and a non-standard output part that changes each time. This is commonly referred to as a "page overlay".
Call the process. It is also possible to simply store the output content for reuse without performing page overlay processing. Storing these output contents is an effective means to reduce output data, improve processing speed, and achieve efficient output. By the way, the character patterns used in these memorized outputs can be considered to be frequently used character patterns. However, in the conventional output device described above, when deleting a bitmap character pattern stored in memory, this character pattern that is considered to be used frequently is also deleted. Deleted character patterns must be recreated, which takes time. Figure 9 illustrates this inconvenience. In the figure, 251 is the case where the created character pattern is not stored (the first conventional method)
, 252 indicates the case in which the same output is repeated each time (the second conventional method), and a "routine processing declaration" is set, and the output data is not stored. Suppose that In the example of FIG. 9, the characters "A" and "B" are characters related to standard processing.

As shown in Figure 9, in the second output process,
Processing can be simplified by using stored character patterns (section 254 in the figure). However, at part 253, the stored character pattern is deleted due to a memory shortage or one of the outputs being completed. For this purpose, all the character patterns that have been maintained have been deleted, and as a result, the patterns for the characters "A." and "B" that are necessary for standard processing have also been deleted. Therefore, as shown in 255, it is necessary to perform the character pattern rAJ rBJ creation and storage process again. Although this deletion itself is a necessary process,
There is no problem even if frequently used character patterns used in the data stored in the output data storage are not deleted. However, even the character patterns used in this output data storage are recreated, which is inefficient. This is the specific inconvenience related to ``Bage Saiichi Ballet''. The present invention was proposed to solve the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art, and when deleting unused patterns in the storage memory according to usage conditions, it forcibly stores what is truly necessary. The purpose of this paper is to propose an output device equipped with a storage memory that can realize efficient and effective character pattern output. [Means and operations for achieving the object] The configuration of the present invention for achieving the above object includes an internal storage memory,
This is an output device that stores font patterns such as characters/symbols in bitmap format in this storage memory, reads out the font patterns as necessary, and reproduces and outputs them as visible images, depending on the usage status of the storage memory. Accordingly, the deletion means includes means for deleting a specific font pattern, and means for externally giving a non-deletable attribute to the particular font pattern according to a rule not directly related to the frequency of use, and the deletion means, when deleting the font pattern, The present invention is characterized in that the font pattern to which the attribute that cannot be deleted is added is not deleted.

Font patterns that are expected to be used in the future are excluded from deletion by the deletion means, by means of externally assigning a non-deletable attribute to a specific font pattern according to rules that are not directly related to frequency of use. [Example] Two examples (a first example and a second example) to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, in the first embodiment, it is determined in a pseudo manner that the character pattern is frequently used based on the "call mark", and when deleting the character pattern stored in the memory, the "call mark" is added to the character pattern. By excluding deleted character patterns from deletion targets, efficient and effective character pattern output is achieved. In addition, the second example is
The memory processing declaration mark of the output content (page overlay) is used to pseudo-determine that the character pattern is frequently used, and when deleting the character pattern stored in memory, the memory processing declaration of the output content is executed. By excluding marked character patterns from deletion targets, this method aims to achieve efficient and effective character pattern output. First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a page printer device according to the first embodiment. Here, l is a host computer, which generates data such as letters, numbers, and symbols (hereinafter simply referred to as character data) and various control commands, and also generates "call marks" to streamline the selection of character patterns. ” is generated and inputted to the character generation control unit 2, which is the main part of the output device. IO is the recording unit of a laser beam printer, etc. In the character generation control unit 2, 3 is an input buffer;
Temporarily stores character data input from the host computer, various control data, "call mark" setting commands, etc. 4 is a CPU composed of, for example, a general-purpose microprocessor. The CPU 4 analyzes the input data stored in the input buffer 3 and performs the corresponding processing according to a program stored in the ROM 4-1 and corresponding to a processing procedure (FIG. 3) to be described later. Also, this CPU
4 generates a character code 4a when the input data is character data. On the other hand, if a "call mark" setting command is input, a "call mark" setting instruction 4b is generated. Furthermore, a stored bitmap character pattern deletion command 4c is issued, for example, at the time of one output break or when memory becomes insufficient. 5 is a character pattern generator, which generates a corresponding character pattern 5c according to the character code 4a received from the CPU 4. The process for generating this character pattern 5c is executed as follows according to the storage state of the character pattern at that time. First, the character pattern generator 5 sends a character pattern search command 5a to the bitmap character pattern storage 6 to search for whether a character pattern corresponding to the character code 4a is already stored internally in bitmap format. ．． The bitmap character pattern storage 6 that received this stores R
A search is made to see if a corresponding character pattern is stored in the form of a bitmap in a storage area constituted by an AM, etc., and when a corresponding character pattern is found, the character pattern generator 5 uses it as a bitmap character pattern 6a.
Send it back to If the corresponding character pattern is not found in the character pattern storage 6, a character pattern creation command 6a is issued to the character pattern generator 7 to create the corresponding character pattern. Character pattern generator 7
Now, according to this command, a corresponding character pattern is created based on the character pattern design information 7-1. The created character pattern 7c is sent back to the character pattern generator 5 as a bitmap character pattern 7b. Furthermore, this created character pattern is also sent to the bitmap character pattern storage 6 as a bitmap character pattern 7d, and when the same character pattern is requested to be output again, the character pattern creation process is not performed this time. Then, the stored character pattern is stored in that storage area so that it can be reused. 8 is an output page buffer, which temporarily stores the character pattern 5c received from the character pattern generator 5. The stored dot image 8a is then sent to the printer interface unit 9. The printer interface section 9 receives a video signal 9 corresponding to the dot image stored in the output page buffer 8.
a is sent to the recording section 10, which is composed of, for example, a laser beam printer. Reference numeral 11 denotes a "call mark" setting device according to this example, which sends a "call mark" setting command in order to attach a "call mark" to a specified character pattern group according to the "call mark" setting command 4b received from the CPU 4. Issue 11a to a character pattern storage, etc. This "call mark" setting command 11a temporarily "
A character pattern group with a "call mark" can be easily selected using the "call mark" later when performing character pattern group selection processing. Reference numeral 12 denotes a bitmap character pattern deleter according to the present example, which deletes bitmap characters according to the stored bitmap character pattern deletion command 4C received from the CPU 4, for example, at the time of one output break or when memory is insufficient. A bitmap character pattern deletion command L2a is issued to the pattern storage 6. However, at this time, the character pattern to be deleted is checked to see if a "call mark" is set, and if so, it is removed from the deletion target. As a result, character patterns that are considered to be used frequently and have been set with "call marks" will remain even in the character pattern deletion process, and will be re-created one by one in the character pattern creation process the next time they are used. Character patterns can be output efficiently without any problems. Figure 2 shows one aspect of the character pattern generation process according to this example. In the figure, reference numeral 22 indicates an example of the output processing portion of the second shift. Among these, the character rA belonging to the character pattern group
Since J and rBJ are frequently used, it is assumed that "call marks" have been set for them. In the second and subsequent output processing,
The process can be simplified by using the stored character patterns as described above. Note that part 21 shows the processing mode of the conventional method of creating and storing character patterns one by one, and is included here for comparison with part 22.

However, at part 23 in the figure, the stored character pattern is deleted due to a memory shortage or one of the outputs being completed. For this reason, all character patterns that have been saved will be deleted. However, since character pattern group X has a "call mark" set and is considered to be frequently used, it is excluded from deletion targets. As a result, as shown at 24, even after the stored character pattern is deleted, the character pattern can be output without creating and storing the character pattern again. Furthermore, as shown at 25 in the figure, the character pattern group Y for which a "call mark" is not set is interpreted as being used infrequently and is correctly deleted, thus avoiding failures caused by insufficient memory, etc. ．． FIG. 3 shows an example of the procedure for character pattern creation processing according to the above embodiment. When printing starts, it is first determined whether the currently stored character pattern needs to be deleted (S1).

This judgment can be made in various cases, such as insufficient memory or completion of output.5If it is not necessary, the data code is sent to the host computer using 1, and the CPU 3 reads this input data one unit at a time ( S2), and determines whether the input data is character data (S2).
3). In the case of character data, it is determined whether the specified character pattern is stored in the bitmap character pattern storage 6 (S4), and if the corresponding bitmap character pattern is stored, the storage The selected bitmap character pattern is selected (S5) and outputted (S7). If the corresponding bitmap character pattern is not stored, based on the design information of the corresponding character pattern,
Create a new bitmap character pattern (S6)
．． The character pattern is then printed (S7). If the input data is not character data,
Determine whether the data is an instruction specifying "call mark" setting (SS). If not, perform other printing/control processing (S9), r call mark.”
If it is a setting command, the "call mark" is set by the "call mark" setting device 1l according to this example.
Sets the "call mark" for the character pattern group targeted by the setting command (SIO). This set "call mark" is used when efficiently selecting the aforementioned character pattern group.

When output processing progresses and a large amount of memory is used,
In step St, it is determined that the stored character pattern must be deleted. When deletion is instructed, the bitmap character pattern deleter 12 according to this example executes deletion processing only for character pattern groups for which no "call mark" is set. As a result, frequently used character patterns for which "call marks" have been set remain even when the character pattern is deleted, and the next time they are used, they are not recreated one by one in the character pattern creation process, making it more efficient. Character patterns can be output. Through the above processing, when an operator performs an operation to generate and output a character pattern, the operator can take into account the frequency of use of the character pattern used in the output, and manage the memory used in the character pattern output in the best way. Therefore, it is possible to create an optimal character pattern, which could not be achieved if memory was managed without taking this into account, and achieve the efficient character pattern output desired by the user. This makes it possible. Although the first embodiment described above describes the case where the present invention is applied to a page printer, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be applied to printers of other types or output devices such as CRTs. Of course, it can also be easily applied to 2nd Embodiment> Fig. 4 shows the configuration of the second embodiment, and the reference numerals in the figure that are the same as in Fig. 1 indicate the same components as in the first embodiment. ．． This second embodiment is intended to improve the efficiency of outputting standard processing such as page overlay.

Specifically, a page overlay is something like a "letterhead," and because such overlays are used frequently, the entire overlay is stored as a stylized output. In the second embodiment, the characters included in this Saiichi Valley are the characters to be excluded from deletion. This is because even if even one such character is deleted, the overlay itself cannot be used unless the deleted character is recreated. To this end, in FIG. 4, the host computer 1 generates an output content storage processing declaration command, and the input buffer 3 receives this command together with other character data, various control data, etc. 104b is a storage processing setting instruction issued by the CPU 4 to the output data storage device 10l. The storage of character patterns in the bitmap character pattern storage 6, the search of the storage 6, and the process of creating and storing character patterns when the desired pattern cannot be found even after searching are the same as in the first embodiment. be. 101 is an output data storage device, which has two roles.
One is to store the sent data for reuse according to the storage processing setting instruction 104b. Second, a storage processing declaration mark setting command 101a is issued to the character pattern storage 6 in order to attach an output content storage processing declaration mark to the character pattern used in the output data to be stored. 102 is a bitmap character pattern deleter;
As in the embodiment, an attempt is made to delete unnecessary character patterns from the storage 6 based on instructions from the host computer 1. At the time of deletion, if a memory processing declaration mark for output content has been set for this character pattern, it is excluded from the deletion target.

FIG. 5 has the same gist as FIG. 2, and the portion 122 shows the mode of processing according to the second embodiment. l2
Compared to 1, in the part 122, the characters rAJ rBj included in the standard overlay are excluded from character pattern deletion at the time of 123, so in the part 124, the trouble of recreating the character pattern is relieved. It has been done. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the control procedure according to the second embodiment, including step SIOI, step S108,
The flowchart of the first embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment (FIG. 3) except for step S110. That is, step 310B-
...In step Sl 10, host competition 1
If the command from is a command to set memory processing for output content, the procedure is to set an memory processing declaration mark on the character pattern used as the storage target for the output data. The character pattern with this mark is set in step 8.
It is not deleted by 111. In this way, frequently used character patterns with amnestic declaration marks set in the output content are excluded from deletion, and the next time the same overlay is used, this overlay is output quickly. Ru. The present invention can be modified in various ways without departing from its spirit. For example, in the first and second embodiments, the present invention is applied to a page printer. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can of course be easily applied to other types of printers or output devices such as CRTs. In addition, although the storage memory is a semiconductor storage device such as a RAM in the above embodiment, other storage devices or
For example, bubble memory, hard disk, etc. may be used. Furthermore, although the host computer is supposed to perform the setting of the "call mark" and the storage of the fixed form, the operator may also perform the setting. [Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the configuration of the present invention has an internal storage memory, stores font patterns such as characters/symbols in bitmap format, and saves font patterns such as characters/symbols in the storage memory as needed. An output device that reads a pattern and reproduces and outputs it as a visible image, depending on the usage status of the storage memory.
A means for deleting a specific font pattern, and a means for externally assigning an attribute of non-deletable to the specific font pattern according to a rule not directly related to frequency of use; The font pattern to which the attribute of is added is not deleted.

In other words, font patterns that are expected to be used in the future can be created by externally assigning non-deletable attributes to specific font patterns according to rules that are not directly related to frequency of use.
Since they are excluded from deletion by the deletion means, font patterns can be recalled quickly for future use.On the other hand, since truly unnecessary font patterns are deleted by the deletion means, efficient use of storage memory and fast recall can be achieved. compatible.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a page printer device as a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing improved character pattern generation processing according to the same embodiment, and FIG. Flowchart showing the operation of the printer device of the same embodiment; FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the page printer device of the second embodiment; FIG. 5 is a plan view showing improved character pattern generation processing according to the second embodiment. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printer device of the same embodiment, and FIGS. 7 to 9 are diagrams explaining the prior art. In the figure, 1... host computer, 2... character generation control unit, 3... input buffer, 4... CPU, 5...
...Character pattern generator, 6...Bitmap character pattern storage, 7...Character pattern generator, 8...
Output page buffer, 9... Printer interface section, 10... Recording section, l1... "Call mark" setting device, 12, 102... Bitmap character pattern deletion device, 101... Output It is a data storage device. 1st
figure

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) An output device that has an internal storage memory, stores font patterns such as characters/symbols in bitmap format, reads out the font patterns as necessary, and reproduces and outputs them as visible images. A means for deleting a specific font pattern according to the usage status of storage memory, and a means for externally giving a non-deletable attribute to a specific font pattern according to rules that are not directly related to frequency of use. An output device equipped with a storage memory, characterized in that, when deleting a font pattern, the deleting means does not delete the font pattern to which the non-deletable attribute is added. (2) The output device equipped with a storage memory according to claim 1, wherein the specific character symbol etc. given the non-deletable attribute is a collection of specific character patterns. (3) The storage memory according to claim 2, wherein the collection of specific character patterns is a collection of character symbols that have the same character symbol but different fonts or sizes. Equipped with an output device. (4) The output device equipped with a storage memory according to claim 2, wherein the collection of specific character patterns is a collection of character symbols in a fixed form overlay.