JPH076005A - Device and method for print control - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable a desired image file to be accessed from a distant place by turning on the device once a storage means is accessed through a communication line and then outputting accessed file information. CONSTITUTION:When an RDY signal is inputted from a calling line part 102 by user's access and electric power is supplied, a CPU 103 waits for a file number to be sent from the calling line part 102 and switches a system bus to an external storage device 109 when the file number is registered in an EEPROM 112 to check its data, thereby searching for data corresponding to the file number. Once the file is found, the file is read in order from its head and sent to a video controller 107 by using a DMA controller 105. Then when the printing of data is instructed, the video controller 107 outputs the video data to a printer engine 110.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print control apparatus and method for controlling the printing of image information by connecting a printer apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A print control device is known in which a printer device is connected, and image data is transferred to the printer device for printing. In such a printer control device, at least an operation unit is connected to a storage device that stores a plurality of image data and a printer device. Then, when the operator uses this operation section to instruct desired image data in the image data stored in the storage device, the instructed image data is read from the storage device and output to the printer device. , Is configured to print the image data.

[0003]

In such a conventional example, when an operator reads out desired image data from an arbitrary image file of a storage device connected to the print control device and prints the desired image data, When the operator is far away from the print control device, he / she cannot perform an instruction operation from the operation unit, which causes a problem that such an operation cannot be performed.

When printing with a printer, there is no problem if the paper size set in the printer matches the size of the image data to be printed. For example, the size of the image data is A4. If the size of the loaded paper is A3 size and you print it as it is, the image data will always be printed from the position based on the upper left corner of the paper, and you can freely change the printing position. could not.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional example, and an object of the present invention is to provide a print control apparatus and a method thereof in which an operator can access and print a desired image file even from a distant position.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a print control apparatus and method capable of arranging and printing image data at an arbitrary position on a recording medium.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the print control apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, in a print control device connected between a communication line and a printer device, a storage unit that stores a plurality of file information and a plurality of file information stored in the storage unit through the communication line are stored. Access means for accessing either one; power-on means for turning on the power of the apparatus by the access from the access means to make the apparatus operable; and file information accessed by the access by the access means for the printer device Alternatively, it has an output means for outputting to the communication line.

In order to achieve the above object, the print control method of the present invention comprises the following steps. That is, it is a control method in a print control device for outputting image information to a printer device to print on a recording medium, which includes a step of instructing the arrangement of the print image on the recording medium, and the arrangement of the instructed print image. A step of calculating vertical and horizontal offset positions on the recording medium based on the above, a step of controlling bitmap expansion of image information according to the calculated offset positions, and image information expanded in the bitmap Is output to a printer device.

[0009]

In the above structure, when any one of the file information stored in the storage means for storing a plurality of file information is accessed through the communication line, the access turns on the power of the device to operate the device. In addition to enabling the status, it operates to output the accessed file information to the printer device or the communication line.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. [First Embodiment] FIGS. 1 to 3 are views for explaining a print control apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a controller for controlling the entire print control apparatus of this embodiment, which has a configuration described below. A calling line unit 102 exchanges messages and data with a user via a telephone line, and executes interface control with the user in the controller 101. A CPU 103 controls the overall operation of the controller 101, and includes a RAM used as a work area. 10
A ROM 4 stores a control program of the CPU 104, various data, and the like. Reference numeral 105 denotes a DMA controller, which is used to DMA transfer the data read from the external storage device 109 to the video controller 107 or transfer the data by DMA transfer when writing the data to the external storage device 109. A video controller 107 converts the DMA transferred data into serial video data and transfers the serial video data to the printer engine 110. A converter 108 frequency-modulates the video data output from the video controller 107, and can send the data to the telephone line via the calling line unit 102.

An operation unit 106 is used to confirm the data registered in the file of the external storage device 109 and to select the data stored in the external storage device 109. The external storage device 109 stores, in a nonvolatile manner, a plurality of file data items to be printed by the print control device of this embodiment. A printer engine 110 receives video data serially output from the controller 101 and prints it on a recording medium. 111 is P
The HP (peripheral device) / I / F performs interface control between the calling line unit 102 and the controller 101, exchanges control signals with the CPU 103, and outputs the frequency from the converter 108. Outputs modulated video data. 112 is EEP
ROM (electrically erasable ROM), which is an external storage device 10
The file number stored in 9 is registered.

FIG. 2 shows the calling line unit 102 and the CPU 10.
3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a control signal with respect to FIG.

In FIG. 2, V _CC and GND indicate a power supply line (V _CC ) and a ground line (ground). RD
Y is a ready signal output from the calling line unit 102 to the CPU 103. When this signal is input, power supply in the controller 101 is started, and the CPU 103 becomes operable. The RDY signal is output to the CPU 103 when the ID number input by the user matches the ID number registered in the calling line unit 102. ACK is sent from CPU 103 to call line unit 10
When the calling line unit 102 receives this signal, it requests the user to input the next message (file number) or instructs the user to wait for processing. RD is a signal output from the calling line unit 102 to the CPU 103. For example, a file number input by the user is transferred to the CPU 103. TD indicates transfer data, and the data frequency-modulated by this TD is transferred to the telephone line side through the calling line unit 102.
DIR is a signal output from the calling line unit 102 to the CPU 103, and indicates a mode of input from the user to the calling line unit 102 or an output mode from the calling line unit 102 to the user. BSY signal is the calling line 1
A signal output from 02 to the CPU 103 is a signal indicating whether the calling line unit 102 is ready to receive and transmit video data (whether there is a free space in the buffer).

Next, the operation of the print control apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the calling line unit 102, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the CPU 103.

First, in step S1, it is determined whether or not the user has called from the outside to access the calling line section 102, and if there is an access by the user, the process proceeds to step S2, and it is performed by, for example, a pager. "Please put a message" is returned to the user. In step S3, the user waits for input, and for example, when the user inputs a message next to "*" (this message is preferably a fax number considering that it is to be transmitted by facsimile (FAX) later), step S4.
Then, it is determined whether or not the number registered in advance in the calling line unit 102 and the message (number) input by the user in step S3 match. If they do not match, the process proceeds to step S5 to instruct the user to display an error message.

In step S4, when the registered number and the input number match, the process proceeds to step S6, where R
Turn on the DY signal and the CPU from PHP I / F111
Output to 103. As a result, power is supplied to the controller 101, and the CPU 103 causes the RDY of PHP / I / F to operate.
After confirming that the signal is turned on, the ACK signal is returned to the calling line unit 102. Therefore, the input of the ACK signal is waited in step S7, and when the ACK signal is input, the process proceeds to step S8 to request the user to input the file number. Thus, when the file number is input in step S9, the process proceeds to step S10, and it is checked whether or not the ACK signal is input within a predetermined time. If the ACK signal is not input, the corresponding file number does not exist for the user. An error signal or the like indicating that is output. When the ACK signal is received, the video data of the corresponding file number sent from the CPU 103 next is received.

Next, referring to the flow chart of FIG.
The processing by the PU 103 will be described. First, step S11
Then, when the RDY signal is input from the calling line unit 102 and power is supplied, the process proceeds to step S12, and the ACK signal is output to the calling line unit 102. Next step S1
In step 3, it waits for the file number to be sent from the calling line unit 102, and when the file number is sent, the process proceeds to step S14, and it is determined whether or not the number is stored in the EEPROM 112. If the number is not registered in the EEPROM 112, the process proceeds to step S15, and a message indicating an error is output to the calling line unit 102. On the other hand, if registered, the process proceeds to step S16, the system bus is switched to the external storage device 109 side, and ACK is sent to the PHP I / F 111.
Output the signal again. Then, the CPU 103 checks the data in the external storage device 109 to find the data corresponding to the file number input in step S13 (at that time, the file in the external storage device 109 has a checksum corresponding to the file number at the beginning of the file). R to manage with a proper numerical value
Program in OM105). When the corresponding file is found in this way, the process proceeds to step S17, the file is sequentially read from the beginning, and the DMA controller 1
Video controller 10 by DMA transfer using
Send to 7. Thus, for example, when the operation unit 106 or the like instructs to print this data, the process proceeds from step S17 to step S18, and the video controller 107 outputs the video data to the printer engine 110. On the other hand, when the user is instructed to perform facsimile transmission, the process proceeds to step S19, where the video data is frequency-modulated by the converter 108, and then the telephone (FAX) used by the user is sent via the calling line unit 102. ) Send data to the line and send the necessary files to the user by facsimile transmission.

At the time of this facsimile transfer, the user first calls the FAX number as a message and calls the line unit 1.
Since it is input to 02 (step S2), if it is stored, it is possible to dial using the FAX number at the time of this facsimile transmission.

In the flow chart of FIG. 2 in the above-described embodiment, when the user does not input data to the calling line unit 102 for a certain period of time, the power of the calling line unit 102 is turned off, and RDY is accompanied with this.
Since the signal is also turned off, the power of the controller 101 is turned off and the operation ends.

In the above-described embodiment, the file selected by the user is output by the printer such as LBP, so that the file information is not delivered to the user, but the LBP or the like connected to the print control device is not delivered. There is an effect that can be printed with.

The external storage device 109 may be a flash memory that can be rewritten for each block instead of a hard disk. As a result, the amount of files does not increase as much as when a hard disk is used, but since the chip itself is small, it can be easily incorporated in this print control device, and the system space can be reduced.

In the above-described embodiment, when the operation unit 106 is deleted and files are registered, the files created earlier in time are allocated to the EEPROM 112. When printing, the contents of the EEPROM 112 are sent to the user as a list by facsimile transmission. The user can refer to this list to confirm the file number and then instruct the file number again to request the data to be printed. Thus, when registering a file, the user does not know which file number is registered because the file number is not specified by the operation unit 106. However, when a print command is issued, the file is sent as a list. You can check the number.

The calling line section 102 may have a telephone function as well as a pager function. Thus, when a call is made by the user, the operator of this print control device picks up the receiver, confirms the number or the like by telephone, and follows the user's operation unit 1
You can use 06 to select the indicated file and fax it to the user.

Furthermore, the user inputs a message,
When it matches the number registered in the calling line unit 102, not only the power supply to the controller 101 is started, but also the power supply to the main body (the printer engine 110 and the print control device) can be turned on. . As a result, the power supply to the printer engine 110 is stopped when the printer is not used, so that there is an effect that wasteful power consumption can be suppressed.

As described above, according to the first embodiment,
The call line unit 102 is attached to the controller 101, the files registered in the external storage device 109 are stored in the EEPROM 112, and a desired file among these files can be selected, so that the user can contact the print control device. Even if you do not, you can read and print any file registered through the telephone line. [Second Embodiment] FIG. 5 is a view showing the schematic arrangement of a print control apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a view for explaining this second embodiment. Note that, in FIG. 5, portions common to FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 5, 201 is a controller for controlling the entire print control apparatus. A host computer 200 outputs print data to the controller 101. Reference numeral 110 is a printer engine, and 106 is an operation unit including a key for externally designating an operation mode of the controller 101 and a display unit for displaying the key.

The CPU 103 controls the operation of the controller 101, and the ROM 104a stores a control program, data, etc. for managing the operation of the print control apparatus for a specified operation mode. . Two
A data buffer 02 stores print data and the like sent from the host computer 200. A bus controller 203 outputs data from a local bus to a bus (AD bus) directly connected to the CPU 103. The video controller 107 converts the DMA transferred data into serial video data and outputs the serial video data to the printer engine 110. An address decoder 204 decodes an address input from the AD bus and the A bus to generate an I / O signal for setting data of various registers. Reference numeral 205 denotes a DRAM controller, which is a bitmap memory (DRAM) 206 for reading and writing data from the bitmap memory 206.
It controls the address bus and data bus. The DMA controller 105 DMA-transfers the data read from the bitmap memory 206 to the video controller 107. The bitmap memory 206 can store print data from the host computer 200 in page units.

Numerals 211 to 216 are various registers which are characteristic parts of this print control apparatus, and numeral 211 designates the upper end of the vertical offset address of the print data for the recording paper (recording medium) set in the printer. An upper end offset address register, 212 a lower end offset address register that specifies the lower end of the vertical offset address of the print data on the recording paper, and 213 a print data line register that specifies the number of lines of the print data (the vertical address number). Reference numeral 214 denotes a left end offset address register that specifies the left end of the horizontal offset address of the print data for the recording paper, and 215 denotes a right end offset address register that specifies the right end of the horizontal offset address of the print data for the recording paper.
A print data dot register 16 designates the number of dots (address number) of the print data (the number of dots in the horizontal direction / the number of bits to be DMA-transferred at one time).

Reference numeral 207 denotes a line counter, which counts the number of lines in the vertical direction printed on the recording paper, and prints lines for masking the bit map memory 206 (lines in which one line is all "0") and print data. Used to identify the line to print. 208 is a comparator,
The output of the line counter 207 is compared with the value written in the print data line register 213, and the DRAM controller 205 outputs a control signal for controlling writing to the bitmap memory 206. A dot counter 209 counts the number of dots (addresses) in the horizontal direction, and a dot (address) position for masking data writing to the bitmap memory 206 and a dot (address) position for writing print data. Used to identify the. 210 is a comparator, which is a dot counter 209
And the value written in the print data dot register 216 are compared, and a control signal for controlling writing to the bitmap memory 206 is output to the DRAM controller 205.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the printing state based on the ratio of print data size to recording paper (hereinafter referred to as usage rate). Here, the data to be printed is the recording paper 6.
7 (centering).

Here, the recording paper 67 has a lateral length of A.
(Dot), the length in the vertical direction is set to B (line). Reference numeral 60 denotes an area to be printed, 61 is a left end offset address, 62 is an upper end offset address, 63 is a right end offset address, and 64 is a lower end offset address. Now, assuming that the horizontal and vertical usage rates for the recording paper size (G) are X% and Y%, respectively, the offset address 6 at the left end is set.
1 becomes (1-X / 100) A / 2, and the offset address 63 at the right end becomes (1 + X / 100) A / 2.
Similarly, also in the vertical direction, the offset address 62 at the upper end is (1-Y / 100) B / 2 and the offset address 64 at the lower end is (1 + Y / 100) B / 2.

The above-mentioned left and right offset addresses can be changed based on the width of the DMA transfer executed by the DMA controller 105. For example, D
When MA transfer is performed in units of 16 bits, the addresses at the left and right ends are represented by (quotient + 1) from (dot number) / 16 = quotient ... (remainder). The dots corresponding to (remainder) are masked (write data “0”) on the left side and printed on the right side.

The operation of the apparatus based on the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. Incidentally, FIG. 7 shows the CPU 10.
3 is a flowchart showing a process of expanding bitmap data in the bitmap memory 206, which is executed by
A control program for executing this process is stored in the ROM 104a.

First, in step S21, it is checked whether the bitmap conversion mode is set by the operation unit 106.
That is, does the operator develop the print data sent from the host computer 200 into bitmap data of the size of the print data (without bitmap conversion)?
It is designated whether to convert into bitmap data and expand the bitmap data according to the recording paper of a size larger than the size designated by the print data (with bitmap conversion). When the bitmap conversion is designated here, it is necessary to designate the size G of the recording paper to be printed and the print size S of the print data. Further, the ratio (usage rate) of the print size S of the print data to the size G of the recording paper is set in each of the vertical direction and the horizontal direction (step S22).
Here, as described above, the horizontal usage rate is X% and the vertical usage rate is Y%. At this time, the position on the recording paper where the print data of the usage rate is to be arranged is specified for each of the vertical direction and the horizontal direction (top alignment, center,
(Lowering) (described later with reference to FIG. 8).

When the operation unit 106 is instructed to start the execution of the processing after all of the above setting processing is completed, the CPU 103 reads the R from the set information.
Based on the information stored in the OM 104a, the left end offset address 61, the upper end offset address 62, the right end offset address 63, the lower end offset address 64, and the number of dots to be printed in the horizontal direction (X · A /
100) and the number of dots printed in the vertical direction (BY / 10
0) is calculated and obtained, and each of these values is stored in the corresponding registers of the registers 211 to 216 (step S23).

When the calculation and the register setting process are completed, the process proceeds to step S24, and the host computer 2
The print data is sent from 00. Since the bitmap conversion is performed here, the size of the bitmap memory 206 is first set to the size G of the recording paper, and the vertical offset address “0” of the bitmap of that size is stored in the upper end offset address register 211. The data up to the value -1), the data "0" is forced.
Is written (step S25). This is CPU103 D
This is performed by controlling the RAM controller 205 (this causes the bit map data corresponding to the upper portion of the printed area 60 to be "0", which is in a masked form).

Thus, the dots of the line ({(1-Y / 100) B / 2} -1 in FIG. 6) (value stored in the upper edge offset address register 211) (this is all "0"). After completing the expansion of, the DRAM controller 205 sets 0 to the reset terminal of the line counter 207.
The dot development end signal 212 is output to clear the line counter 207 to zero. Then, the process proceeds to step S26, and the line of (value stored in the upper end offset address register 211) ((1-Y / 100) B /
In 2), the address (dot) from the horizontal offset address "0" (left end) to (the value stored in the left end offset address register 214-1) ({(1-X / 100) in FIG. 6]. The data of A / 2} -1) is "0"
(Thus, the bitmap data corresponding to the left side portion of the print area 60 is masked with “0”).

Then, the first line of the print data is expanded from the address (value stored in the left end offset address register 214) ((1-X / 100) A / 2 in FIG. 6). As a result, the print data is expanded into the bitmap in the area of the bitmap memory 206 corresponding to the print area 60.

Then, by the comparator 210, the value of the print data dot register 216 (X.A in the example of FIG. 6).
When it is detected that the value of the dot counter 209 is larger than / 100), the print data to be written in the subsequent addresses is set to "0" (this corresponds to the right side portion of the print area 60). Bitmap data is masked with "0"). In this way, the print image in which the left and right offset portions are “0” and the print data is written during that time is displayed in the bitmap memory 206.
Is formed.

When one line of bitmap data (print data) has been developed in this way, the DRAM controller 205 outputs a scan end signal to count up the previously cleared line counter 207, and
The dot counter 209 is cleared.

This operation is repeated in step S27 until the number of lines becomes equal to the value of the print data line register 213 (Y · B / 100 in the example of FIG. 6), and the comparator 208 matches the number of print data lines. When it is detected, the process proceeds to step S28. Step S28
Then, it is considered that the development of the print data into the bitmap is completed, and "0" is forcibly written in the print data of the subsequent lines (thus, the bitmap data corresponding to the lower part of the print area 60 is " It becomes a masked form with 0 ").

In this way, when the data has been expanded into the entire bitmap area corresponding to the size of the recording paper, the process proceeds to step S29, where the print control device transfers the data in the bitmap memory 206 to the video controller 107 through the DMA controller 105. DMA transfer to. Then, video is transferred to the printer engine 110 at the timing of outputting the video data of the designated recording paper size, and printing is performed in step S30.

When the bit map conversion mode is not designated in step S21, the process proceeds to step S31, print data is received from the host computer 200, and in step S32, it is expanded in the bit map memory 206 as it is. Then, in step S29, printing is performed. In this case, if the recording paper size is larger than the print data size, the print data is printed on the left side of the recording paper.

As described above, according to the second embodiment,
When printing on a recording paper having a size larger than the print data size, the size and arrangement of the print data printed on the recording paper can be set arbitrarily. [Third Embodiment] In the above-described second embodiment, the position on the recording paper where the print data is to be arranged is determined by the operation unit 106 such as vertical and horizontal positions, and top, center, and bottom alignment. In addition, the size of the print data is specified by the operation unit 106 using the recording paper size specified by the host computer 200. However, in this third embodiment, the arrangement of print data in the vertical and horizontal directions and the size and usage rate of the print data can be arbitrarily changed (however, a step of about 10% seems to be sufficient for actual use). It is characterized by being able to.

The structure of the operation unit 106 in this case is shown in FIG. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 81 is various operation keys, and 82 is a display unit such as a liquid crystal display for displaying a message to the operator and information indicating various states. Further, here, a display 80 provided with a grid-shaped grid is prepared so that the arrangement of print data on the recording paper can be selected more finely.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an input screen display example of various mode settings displayed on the display unit 82 of the operation unit 106. Whether or not bitmap conversion is performed, recording paper size designation, print data size designation, After sequentially instructing the vertical usage rate and the horizontal usage rate, the display 80 and the cursor movement key can be used to specify the area to print the data. In the example of FIG. 9, bitmap conversion is “performed”,
The recording paper size is set to "A4", the print data size is "free size", the vertical usage rate is "80%", and the horizontal usage rate is "80%". Here, when the size of the recording paper and the size of the print data are defined by the normal paper size, the usage rate is automatically determined according to the size of these recording papers. For example, if the data size is A4 and the recording paper size is A3, the usage rate is 70 based on the information stored in the ROM 104a.
It is determined as a percentage.

In this way, the size of the print data can be freely selected (however, the print data from the host computer 200 is once enlarged or reduced and stored in the selected free-size bitmap, and the bitmap is further stored. As in the second embodiment, it must be stored as bitmap data according to the size of the recording paper, and must newly have an enlargement / reduction function at an arbitrary magnification and a double page buffer function). .

FIG. 10 shows an example of each value set in the registers 211 to 216 at this time.

In FIG. 10, 71 indicates a left end offset address, 72 indicates an upper end offset address, 73 indicates a right end offset address, and 74 indicates a lower end offset address. Here, as in the case of FIG. 6 described above, the horizontal usage rate of the print data 70 is X%, and the vertical usage rate is Y%. Further, the number of dots in the horizontal direction of the recording paper 67 is A, the number of lines in the vertical direction is B, the position where printing is started is P% in the horizontal direction, and Q% is in the vertical direction.

As a result, the leftmost offset address is A
・ P / 100, right end offset address is A (P + X)
/ 100, the top offset address is G · B / 100,
The lower end offset address is B (Q + Y) / 100. The horizontal length of the print data 70 is A · X / 1.
00 (dots), and the length in the vertical direction is B · Y / 100 dots. As described above, as compared with FIG. 6, only the values stored in the various registers are different, and the point of expanding the print data into the bitmap in accordance with the size of the recording paper is the same as in the first embodiment described above. . [Fourth Embodiment] In the fourth embodiment, the data stored in the ROM 104a is referred to for the number of dots and the number of lines similar to the size of the recording paper from the size of the designated print data instead of the above-mentioned usage rate. And then register 2
The values to be stored in 11 to 216 are calculated. This is characterized in that the bitmap expansion of the print data is controlled.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the fourth embodiment, in which the size of the recording paper 67 is set with A dots in the horizontal direction and B lines in the vertical direction, and the print data size is C dots in the horizontal direction, and the print data size is in the vertical direction. It is set by the D line in the direction. Here, the case where the print data is printed in the center of the recording paper 67 is shown. As a result, the leftmost offset address 75
Is set to (A-C) / 2, the right end offset address 77 is set to (A + C) / 2, the upper end offset address 76 is set to (BD) / 2, and the lower end offset address 78 is set to (B + D) / 2. To be done.

The process at this time is shown in the flow chart of FIG. 12, which is almost the same as the flow chart of FIG. 7 is different from the flowchart of FIG. 7 in that the size (A dot, B line) of the recording paper 67 and the size (C dot, D line) of the print data are input in step S42, and the step is performed based on the size information. The point is that the offset addresses of the left and right ends and the offset addresses of the upper and lower ends are obtained in S42. Further, in the flowchart of FIG. 7, the end of the expansion of the print data is determined by whether the number of lines is B · Y / 100 in step S27, whereas the number of expanded lines is specified in step S42. It is judged whether it is equal to the D line. The other processing is the same as that in FIG. 7, and therefore its explanation is omitted here.

As is clear from the above description, the register 2
Since it is easier to calculate the values to be stored in 11 to 216 as compared with the above-mentioned embodiment, there is an effect that the amount of program data stored in the ROM 104a can be small. However, the number of dots indicating the size of print data,
Since the number of lines is required, the size of the print data is limited to the normal size, and there is a disadvantage that a free-size recording paper cannot be used. [Fifth Embodiment] In the fifth embodiment as well, similarly to the above-described embodiments, the number of dots and the number of lines similar to the size of the recording paper are calculated from the specified print data size from the ROM 106, and the value to be stored in the register from that. Is calculated, which controls the bitmap. It is characterized in that the print data can be arranged at any position on the bitmap of the size of the recording paper.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the fifth embodiment. Here, the size of the recording paper (A dot, B line), the size of the print data 90 (C dot, D line).
The area for printing data is designated as P% in the horizontal direction A and Q% in the vertical direction B. As a result, the offset address 91 at the left end is P · A / 100, the offset address 93 at the right end is (P · A / 100) + C, the offset address 92 at the upper end is Q · B / 100, and the offset address 94 at the lower end is (Q ・ B / 10
0) + D. The value thus obtained is
The registers are set in the corresponding registers 211 to 216, respectively. The subsequent bit map expansion is the same as that of the above-mentioned embodiment, and therefore its explanation is omitted.

In the above-described embodiment, a hard disk may be newly provided in the controller 201, and the data of the bitmap memory 206 expanded in the second embodiment may be stored once in the hard disk. As a result, when data to be newly added to the data on the hard disk is created, the data to be added is expanded in the bitmap memory 206, the data on the hard disk is downloaded from there, and the logical sum is written and written. Since the masked area can be printed with new data added, a plurality of data can be edited in various ways.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the designated print data can be arranged and printed at any position on the designated recording paper within the defined range.

Thus, the layout of the data on the recording paper can be easily set / changed. In addition, by writing "0" in the margin area when expanding the bitmap on the recording paper of a size larger than the size of the print data,
There is an effect that data can be edited by including a plurality of masked areas.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program for implementing the present invention to a system or an apparatus.

[0060]

As described above, according to the present invention, the operator can access and print a desired image file even from a distant position.

According to another invention, there is an effect that image data can be arranged and printed at an arbitrary position on the recording medium.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a print control apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an interface signal of a PHP / I / F unit of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the calling line unit of the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control operation by a CPU of the controller of this embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a print control apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between recording paper and print data according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control operation by a CPU of the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an operation unit of the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a display example on the operation unit.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a relationship between recording paper and print data according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a relationship between recording paper and print data according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a control operation by a CPU according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a relationship between recording paper and print data according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 67 Recording Paper 80 Display 81 Operation Key 82 Display Unit 101 Controller 102 Calling Line Unit 103 CPU 104, 104a ROM 105 DMA Controller 106 Operation Unit 107 Video Controller 108 Converter 109 External Storage Device 110 Printer Engine 111 PHP / I / F 112 EEPROM 207 Line counter 209 Dot counter 208, 210 Comparator 211 Upper edge offset address register 212 Lower edge offset address register 213 Print data line register 214 Left edge offset address register 215 Right edge offset address register 216 Print data dot register

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A print control device connected between a communication line and a printer device, the storage device storing a plurality of file information, and a plurality of storage devices stored in the storage device through a communication line. Access means for accessing any of the file information; power-on means for turning on the power of the device by the access from the access means to bring the device into an operable state; and file information accessed by the access by the access means. A printing control device comprising: the printer device or an output unit for outputting to the communication line. 2. A control method in a print control device connected between a communication line and a printer device, wherein any one of a plurality of file information of a storage means for storing a plurality of file information through the communication line. A step of accessing, a step of turning on the power of the apparatus to make the apparatus operable by the access, and a step of outputting the file information accessed by the access to the printer apparatus or the communication line. And a print control method. 3. A print control device for outputting image information to a printer device to print on a recording medium, the instructing device instructing an arrangement of a print image in the recording medium, and the instructing device instructing the arrangement. Calculation means for calculating the vertical and horizontal offset positions on the recording medium based on the arrangement of the print image; and control means for controlling the bitmap expansion of the image information according to the offset positions calculated by the calculation means. An output unit for outputting the image information expanded in the bitmap to a printer device. 4. The print control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the instructing unit instructs a size of the recording medium and a size of the image information. 5. The print control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the instruction unit issues an instruction with a ratio of the image information on the recording medium in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction. 6. A control method in a print control device for outputting image information to a printer device to print on a recording medium, comprising: a step of instructing the arrangement of a print image on the recording medium; and the instructed printing. A step of calculating vertical and horizontal offset positions on the recording medium based on the arrangement of the images, a step of controlling the bitmap expansion of the image information according to the calculated offset positions, and the bitmap expansion to the bitmap. And a step of outputting the image information to a printer device.