JPH08161133A - Device and method for controlling printing - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a printing controlling device capable of preventing the output of an erroneous printed result from occurring from a printer due to the unloading of a data converting means and setting up an environment capable of processing the printing data of various format by one printer. CONSTITUTION: At the time of judging that a data conversion processing program corresponding to printing data from a host computer has been loaded when an inquiry message is received from the host computer (step S504), a response message indicating that the printing data can be converted into the data of a format to be interpreted by a printer is transmitted to the host computer (step S505) and then printing data transmitted from the host computer are received (step S506). Then the printing data received by the corresponding data conversion processing program are converted into the data of a format to be interpreted by the printer.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention receives print data including a print character code and print control code from an external device such as a host computer, and enables the print data to be printed by a printing device which is an output destination. The present invention relates to a print control device and a print control method that perform print control processing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a document created by an external device such as a host computer is output from a printing device connected to the external device. The external device converts the created document into print data including a print character code and a print control command, and the print data is given to the printing device via the print control device.

The print control device performs print control processing so that print data from an external device can be printed by a printing device which is an output destination. This print control processing includes conversion processing for converting print data from an external device into a data format that can be interpreted by the printing apparatus. This conversion processing is a format that the print data from the external apparatus can be interpreted by the printing apparatus. Data conversion means for converting the data into the data. The print data converted by the print controller is given to the printer,
The printing device performs a printing operation based on the given print data.

Usually, the data conversion means installed in the print control device is selected in advance so as to correspond to the print data of a predetermined format output from the external device. The print data is output on the assumption that the corresponding data conversion unit is installed in the print control device.

[0005]

However, the external device is
Since the print data is output on the assumption that the data conversion means corresponding to the print data is installed in the print control device, the external device outputs the print data in a format different from the predetermined format corresponding to the data conversion means. Then, the print data from the external device is not converted into data in a format interpretable by the printing device, and the desired printing result cannot be obtained from the printing device.

In order to deal with print data of different formats from an external device, a method is conceivable in which a data conversion means associated with each print data format preset in the print control device is selectively mounted. There is. With this method, it is possible to handle a plurality of print data of different formats, that is, it is possible to set an environment in which print data of various formats can be reliably processed. If the corresponding data conversion means is not installed, the print data output from the external device on the assumption that the corresponding data conversion means is installed is a data in a format interpretable by the printing device, as described above. Therefore, the desired printing result cannot be obtained from the printing device.

A first object of the present invention is to provide a print control apparatus and a print control method capable of preventing the output of an erroneous print result from a printing apparatus due to the absence of data conversion means. It is in.

A second object of the present invention is to prevent output of an erroneous print result from a printing device due to the non-installation of data conversion means and to process print data of various formats. To provide a print control device and a print control method capable of setting various environments.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A print control that receives print data including a print character code and a print control code from an external device such as a host computer, and performs print control processing on the print data so that the print data can be printed by a printing device that is an output destination. In the apparatus, data conversion means for converting print data in a set format into data in a format interpretable by the printing apparatus, and the print data transmitted from the external apparatus can be interpreted by the printing apparatus. Receiving means for receiving an inquiry message as to whether the data can be converted into data, and judging means for judging whether or not the data converting means is a data converting means corresponding to print data from the external device in response to the inquiry message. When the data conversion unit is a data conversion unit corresponding to print data from the external device, Transmitting means for transmitting a response message indicating that the print data can be converted into data interpretable by the printing device, to the external device that has transmitted the matching message; Data for activating the data conversion unit corresponding to the print data transmitted from the external device when the response message is transmitted, and converting the print data from the external device into data in a format interpretable by the printing device. And a conversion processing unit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the print control apparatus according to the first aspect, the inquiry message includes print data format information indicating a format of print data from the external device, and the determination means includes: It is characterized in that whether or not the data conversion unit is a data conversion unit corresponding to the print data from the external device is determined based on the print data format information.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the print control apparatus according to the first aspect, the inquiry message includes transmission source information for specifying an external device that has transmitted the inquiry message. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, print data including a print character code and a print control code is received from an external device such as a host computer, and the print data can be printed by a printing device which is an output destination. In a print control device that performs print control processing on the print data, the print data is installed in association with each print data of a preset format, and the print data of the preset format is converted into data of a format interpretable by the printing device. A plurality of data converting means for converting, a receiving means for receiving an inquiry message transmitted from the external device as to whether the print data can be converted into data interpretable by the printing device; and a receiving means for the inquiry message A determination unit that determines whether or not a data conversion unit corresponding to print data from the external device is installed; A response indicating that the print data can be converted into data interpretable by the printing device to the external device that has transmitted the inquiry message, when the data conversion means corresponding to the print data from the device is installed. When a transmission unit for transmitting a message and a response message from the transmission unit to the external device are transmitted, the data conversion unit corresponding to the print data transmitted from the external device is activated and the external device transmits the message. Data conversion processing means for converting print data into data in a format interpretable by the printing device.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the print control apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the inquiry message includes print data format information indicating a format of print data from the external device, and the determination means includes: Based on the print data format information, it is determined whether or not a data conversion unit corresponding to print data from the external device is installed.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the print control apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the inquiry message includes transmission source information for specifying an external device that has transmitted the inquiry message. .

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, print data including a print character code and a print control code is received from an external device such as a host computer, and the print data can be printed by a printing device which is an output destination. In a print control method for performing print control processing on the print data, a step of mounting data conversion means for converting print data of a set format into data of a format interpretable by the printing device; A step of receiving an inquiry message as to whether the print data can be converted into data interpretable by the printing device, and data corresponding to the print data from the external device by the data conversion means in response to the inquiry message. A step of determining whether or not it is conversion means, and the data conversion means is for printing data from the external device. And transmitting a response message indicating that the print data can be converted into data interpretable by the printing device, to the external device that has transmitted the inquiry message, when the corresponding data conversion means is included, When the response message is transmitted to the external device, the data conversion unit corresponding to the print data transmitted from the external device is activated, and the print data from the external device is converted into data in a format interpretable by the printing device. And a step of converting to.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the print control method according to the seventh aspect, the inquiry message includes print data format information indicating a format of print data from the external device, and the determination is the above-mentioned. It is characterized in that it is performed based on the print data format information.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the print control method according to the seventh aspect, the inquiry message includes transmission source information for specifying an external device that has transmitted the inquiry message. .

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, print data including a print character code and a print control code is received from an external device such as a host computer, and the print data can be printed by a printing device which is an output destination. In a print control method for performing print control processing on the print data,
A step of mounting a plurality of data conversion means for converting print data of the set format into data of a format interpretable by the printing device in association with print data of a preset format; Receiving an inquiry message transmitted from an external device as to whether the print data can be converted into data interpretable by the printing device, and a data conversion unit corresponding to the inquiry message and the print data from the external device. The step of determining whether or not the print data is installed, and when the data conversion means corresponding to the print data from the external device is installed, the print data can be interpreted by the print device to the external device that transmitted the inquiry message. Sending a response message indicating that the data can be converted into data, and a response message to the external device When the transmission is performed, a step of activating data conversion means corresponding to the print data transmitted from the external device and converting the print data from the external device into data in a format interpretable by the printing device is included. It is characterized by

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the print control method according to the tenth aspect, the inquiry message includes print data format information indicating a format of print data from the external device, and the determination is made as the above-mentioned. It is characterized in that it is performed based on print data format information.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the print control method according to the tenth aspect, the inquiry message includes transmission source information for specifying an external device that has transmitted the inquiry message. .

[0021]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control device, which is provided with data conversion means for converting print data in a set format into data in a format interpretable by the printing device, and is transmitted from an external device by a receiving means. The inquiry device receives the inquiry message as to whether the print data can be converted into data interpretable by the printing device, and the data conversion device responds to the inquiry message by the determination device by the data conversion device corresponding to the print data from the external device. If it is determined by the transmitting means that the data converting means is the data converting means corresponding to the print data from the external device, the printing device can interpret the print data to the external device that transmitted the inquiry message. A response message indicating that the data can be converted is transmitted, and the data conversion processing unit transmits the response message to the external device. When the transmission of the response message is performed, into data of the printing device can interpret the format of print data from the external device to start the data conversion means corresponding to the print data transmitted from the external device.

In the print control apparatus according to the second aspect, the inquiry message includes print data format information indicating the format of the print data from the external apparatus, and the determining unit causes the data converting section to operate based on the print data format information. It is determined whether or not the data conversion unit corresponds to the print data from.

In the print control device according to the third aspect, the inquiry message includes the transmission source information for specifying the external device that transmitted the inquiry message.

In the print control device according to the present invention, a plurality of data conversion means for converting print data in a preset format into data in a format interpretable by the print device is print data in a preset format. It is installed in association with each
The receiving means receives an inquiry message transmitted from the external device as to whether the print data can be converted into data interpretable by the printing device, and the determining means converts the data corresponding to the print data from the external device in response to the inquiry message. When the transmission unit is equipped with a data conversion unit corresponding to the print data from the external device, the printing device can interpret the print data to the external device that has transmitted the inquiry message. When a response message indicating that data can be converted is transmitted, and the data conversion processing unit transmits the response message to the external device, the data conversion processing unit responds to the print data transmitted from the external device. The print data from the external device is converted into data in a format interpretable by the printing device.

According to another aspect of the print control apparatus of the present invention, the inquiry message includes print data format information indicating the format of the print data from the external apparatus, and the determining unit determines the print data from the external apparatus based on the print data format information. It is determined whether or not the data conversion means corresponding to is installed.

In the print control apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the inquiry message includes the transmission source information for specifying the external apparatus that transmitted the inquiry message.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data control means for converting print data of a set format into data of a format interpretable by a printing device, which is transmitted from an external device. Receiving an inquiry message as to whether or not the print data can be converted into data interpretable by the printing device, it is determined whether or not the data conversion means is a data conversion means corresponding to the print data from the external device in response to the inquiry message, When the data conversion means is the data conversion means corresponding to the print data from the external device, it indicates to the external device that transmitted the inquiry message that the print data can be converted into data interpretable by the printing device. When the response message is sent and the response message is sent to the external device, the print data sent from the external device is processed. To start the data conversion means, for converting the print data from the external device printing device is data format that can be interpreted.

In the print control method according to the eighth aspect, the inquiry message includes print data format information indicating the format of print data from the external device, and the determination is made based on the print data format information.

In the print control method according to the ninth aspect, the inquiry message includes the transmission source information for specifying the external device that transmitted the inquiry message.

In the print control method according to the tenth aspect, the print data in the preset format is converted into data in a format interpretable by the printing device in association with each print data in the preset format. Equipped with multiple data conversion means, it receives an inquiry message sent from an external device as to whether the print data can be converted into data interpretable by the printing device, and responds to the inquiry message with the print data from the external device. Data that can be interpreted by the printing device to the external device that sent the inquiry message when the data conversion device corresponding to the print data from the external device is installed. When the response message to the external device is sent, the response message indicating that it can be converted to Start data conversion means corresponding to the print data transmitted from the device, it converts the print data from the external device printing device is data format that can be interpreted.

According to the eleventh aspect of the print control method, the inquiry message includes print data format information indicating the format of print data from the external device, and the determination is made based on the print data format information.

In the print control method according to the twelfth aspect, the inquiry message includes the transmission source information for specifying the external device that transmitted the inquiry message.

[0033]

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a printing system in which an embodiment of the printing control apparatus of the present invention is used.
2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the print control apparatus of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of an inquiry message output from the host computer of FIG. 1 and a configuration of a response message output from the print control apparatus, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of the printing apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system includes a plurality of host computers 101 and 102, a print control device 103 connected to each host computer 101 and 102, and a printing connected to the print control device 103. And the device 104.

Each host computer 101, 102
It has a document creation function, and when printing the created document, it converts the document to print data containing print character codes and print control commands, generates print data, and sets the print data as its output destination. An inquiry message for inquiring whether or not the printing device 104 can print (interpret) is generated.

The format of print data output from the host computer 101 and the format of print data output from the host computer 102 are different from each other.

As an example of the generated inquiry message, there is an inquiry message 301 as shown in FIG.
Indicates the inquiry identification header that indicates an inquiry message, the data mode that indicates the format of print data, the host identification that indicates the sender by the host address, the printer identification that indicates the destination by the destination address, and the end of the inquiry message. It consists of the terminator shown. The inquiry message is transmitted prior to the output of print data.

As shown in FIG. 2, the print control device 103 includes an interface (hereinafter referred to as IF) 201 for receiving an inquiry message and print data from each of the host computers 101 and 102. Inquiry messages and print data from the host computers 101 and 102 are sent to the CPU 20 via the bus 206.
3 is supplied.

The CPU 203 executes calculation and processing based on the control program stored in the ROM 204, and the result of the calculation and processing is temporarily stored in a work area secured in the ROM (random access memory) 205. It

The control program stored in the ROM 204 includes a plurality of data conversion processing programs (data conversion means) associated with each print data format, print data and inquiry messages from the respective host computers 101 and 102. And a transmission / reception control program for transmitting a response message to the inquiry message from each host computer 101, 102, and a response message for analyzing the inquiry message from each host computer 101, 102 and creating a corresponding response message A creation program and a print control processing program for executing print control processing on print data from the respective host computers 101 and 102 are included.

Each data conversion processing gram is a program for converting the print data of the corresponding format into the data of the format that the printing device 104 can process.

The transmission / reception control program is a program for selecting a connection with each of the host computers 101 and 102 via the IF 201, receiving print data and an inquiry message from the host computer, and transmitting a response message to the host computer. Is.

The response message creating program analyzes the inquiry message from each of the host computers 101 and 102, and identifies the format of the print data, the host computer that is the sender of the inquiry message, and the printing device that is the destination of the print data. At the same time, it is determined whether the data conversion processing program corresponding to the data mode is installed, and if the data conversion processing program corresponding to the print data of the inquired format is installed, the Print data to printing device 1
In 04, a response message indicating that the data can be converted into a format that can be interpreted is created. If the data conversion processing program corresponding to the inquired format print data is not installed, no response message is created.

As an example of the created response message, as shown in FIG. 3B, the response message 302
As shown in FIG. 3B, the response message 302 includes a response identification header indicating that it is a response message, a data mode indicating the format of print data that can be processed by the data conversion processing program, and a printer. It is composed of a printer identification indicating an origin by an address, a host identification indicating a destination by a destination address, and a terminator indicating an end of a response message. This response message is sent to the IF 20 by executing the transmission / reception control program.
1 to the corresponding host computer.

The print control processing program, when the response message to the inquiry message is transmitted,
The data conversion processing program corresponding to the received print data from the host computer is activated to convert the print data into data in a format printable by the printing apparatus 104, and the data is transferred to the printing apparatus 104 via the bus 206 and the IF 202. It is a program for sending.

The printing device 104 inputs the data including the print character code and the print control code supplied from the print control device 103, stores the data, and creates a corresponding character pattern based on the data,
An image is formed on a recording sheet which is a recording medium.

For example, as the printing apparatus 104, a laser beam printer 401 is used as shown in FIG. The laser beam printer 401 includes a printer control unit 403 for controlling the entire apparatus and analyzing print data supplied from the print control apparatus (shown in FIG. 1), a switch for operation, a liquid crystal display and an LED display. The operation panel 402 is provided.

The printer control unit 403 mainly converts the character information into a video signal of a corresponding character pattern, and outputs this video signal to the laser driver 406.

The laser driver 406 is the semiconductor laser 4
A circuit for driving 07 is provided, and this circuit performs on / off switching for the laser beam 405 emitted from the semiconductor laser 407 according to the input video signal.
The laser beam 405 is swung in the left-right direction by the rotary polygon mirror 404 to scan and expose the electrostatic drum 408. By this scanning exposure, an electrostatic latent image of a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 408. The electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing unit 409 arranged around the electrostatic drum 408.
After being developed by, it is transferred to the recording paper 414.

The recording paper 414 on which the image is transferred is sent to the fixing unit 415, and the fixing unit 425 transfers the recording paper 41.
Fix the image on 4. Recording paper 414 on which the image is fixed
Is discharged by a discharge roller 416 to a discharge receiver 413 provided outside.

A cut sheet is used as the recording paper 414, and the cut sheet recording paper 414 is housed in a paper feed cassette 412 mounted on the laser beam printer 401.

The recording paper in the paper feed cassette 412 is taken into the apparatus by the paper feed roller 411 and the carry roller 410 and is carried toward the electrostatic drum 408.

Next, the processing operation of the print control apparatus 103 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the print control apparatus of FIG.

Referring to FIG. 5, first, a message is received from either the host computer 101 or the host computer 102 (step S501), and it is determined whether or not the received message is an inquiry message (step S501). Step S502). This judgment is
This is performed depending on whether or not the message has the inquiry identification header. If the inquiry identification header exists, the received message is determined to be the inquiry message.

If the received message is not an inquiry message, the message is skipped to the terminator (step S509), and the process ends.

If the received message is an inquiry message, the description content of the data mode in the inquiry message is checked and the format of the print data from the host computer is specified (step S503).

Next, it is determined whether or not the data conversion processing program corresponding to the specified format print data is installed (step S504). When the data conversion processing program (data conversion means) corresponding to the print data of the specified format is not installed, the processing ends.

When the data conversion processing program corresponding to the print data of the specified format is installed, it indicates that the print data of the inquired format can be converted into the data of the format that can be processed by the printing device 104. Is generated, and this response message is transmitted to the host computer indicated by the host identification of the inquiry message (step S505).

After the response message is transmitted, the print data transmitted from the host computer which issued the inquiry message is received (step S506).

Next, the specified data conversion means (the data conversion processing program specified in step S503) is activated, and the print data received by this data conversion processing program is in a format that the printing device 104 can print (interpret). Converted to data (step S50)
7).

After the data conversion processing, the data converted into the printable format by the printing device 104 is supplied to the printing device 104, and the printing device 104 performs the printing process on the data.

As described above, each host computer 10
In an environment in which print data of different formats are printed from the host computers 101 and 102,
Data conversion for converting print data from each host computer 101, 102 into data in a format interpretable by the printing device 104 in response to an inquiry from each host computer 101, 102 when printing the print data from the host computer 2. Since a data conversion process is performed on the print data from the host computer after giving a response indicating that the processing program is installed, it is possible to reliably obtain a correct print result for the print data from the host computer from the printing apparatus 104. Printing device 104 that is capable of printing data and does not include a data conversion processing program corresponding to print data.
It is possible to prevent an incorrect print result from being output from the printer.

Further, it becomes possible for one printing device 104 to perform printing processing on print data of a number equal to the number of data conversion processing programs, and one printing device 104 processes print data of different formats. It can be regarded as a plurality of possible printing devices, and thus, it is possible to easily set an environment in which one printing device 104 prints print data of different formats from each host computer.

In this embodiment, one printing device 10 is used.
Although the example of the printing system in which the two host computers 101 and 102 are connected to the four computers has been described, the number of the host computers is not limited to this.

Further, in this embodiment, the print control device 103
Is used for a printing system in an environment in which print data of different formats is printed from each host computer 101, 102, but can be used for other printing systems.

For example, the print control apparatus of the present invention may be used in a print system including a minimum combination of one host computer capable of outputting print data of a plurality of different formats and one print apparatus. it can. In this printing system, if the host computer and the print control device are connected via a one-to-one interface, the host identification and the printer identification in the inquiry message from the host computer can be omitted, and the host computer can be connected to the print control device. By mounting a plurality of data conversion processing programs respectively corresponding to print data in a format that can be output, one printing device can handle one host computer that outputs print data in a plurality of different formats. It will be possible.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a plurality of data conversion processing programs are installed in the print control apparatus, but it is also possible to configure a print control apparatus in which one data conversion processing program is installed. This print control device is used in a printing system including a plurality of printing devices for printing print data from a plurality of host computers. In this printing system, each printing device prints print data of one format corresponding to each printing device. Is set. When each host computer selects the printing device that is the output destination of the print data, in response to an inquiry from each host computer, the print data from each host computer is converted into a format that the printing device can interpret. After the response indicating that the data conversion processing program is installed, the data conversion processing for the print data from the host computer is performed, so the data corresponding to the print data due to the host computer selecting the printing device by mistake. It is possible to prevent the output of an incorrect print result from the printing device due to the installation of the conversion processing program.

[0069]

According to the print control apparatus of the first aspect,
Data conversion means for converting the print data in the set format into data in a format interpretable by the printing device is installed, and the print data transmitted from the external device by the receiving means can be interpreted by the printing device. Receiving an inquiry message as to whether or not the data can be converted into different data, the determining unit determines whether or not the data converting unit is the data converting unit corresponding to the print data from the external device in response to the inquiry message, and the transmitting unit outputs the data. When the conversion unit is a data conversion unit corresponding to the print data from the external device, a response indicating to the external device that transmitted the inquiry message that the print data can be converted into data interpretable by the printing device. When the message is transmitted and the data conversion processing unit transmits the response message from the transmitting unit to the external device, Since the data conversion means corresponding to the print data transmitted from the device is activated to convert the print data from the external device into data in a format interpretable by the printing device, It is possible to prevent the erroneous printing result output.

According to the print control device of the second aspect, the inquiry message includes the print data format information indicating the format of the print data from the external device, and the determination means causes the data conversion means based on the print data format information. Since it is determined whether the data conversion unit corresponds to the print data from the external device, it is sure to determine whether the data conversion unit is the data conversion unit corresponding to the print data from the external device. You can

According to the print control apparatus of the third aspect, since the inquiry message includes the sender information for specifying the external apparatus that has sent the inquiry message, the inquiry destination external apparatus can easily identify the inquiry message. You can

According to the print control apparatus of the fourth aspect, a plurality of data conversion means for converting the print data of the preset format into the data of the format interpretable by the printing apparatus are of the preset format. The print data is loaded in association with each other, and the receiving unit receives an inquiry message transmitted from the external device as to whether the print data can be converted into data interpretable by the printing device. Whether the data conversion unit corresponding to the print data from the device is installed is determined, and when the transmission unit is equipped with the data conversion unit corresponding to the print data from the external device, the external device that transmitted the inquiry message Send a response message indicating that the print data can be converted into data that can be interpreted by the printing device, and perform the data conversion process. In stage, the transmission of the response message to the external device is performed from the transmission means, to start the data conversion means corresponding to the print data transmitted from the external device,
Since the print data from the external device is converted into data in a format interpretable by the printing device, it is possible to prevent the output of an incorrect print result from the printing device due to the lack of the data conversion means. It is possible to set an environment in which print data of various formats can be processed by one printing device.

According to the print control apparatus of the fifth aspect, the inquiry message includes the print data format information indicating the format of the print data from the external apparatus, and the determining means sends the print data format information from the external apparatus based on the print data format information. Since it is determined whether the data conversion unit corresponding to the print data is installed, it is possible to reliably determine whether the data conversion unit corresponding to the print data from the external device is installed.

According to the print control apparatus of the sixth aspect, since the inquiry message includes the sender information for specifying the external apparatus that has transmitted the inquiry message, the inquiry destination external apparatus can be easily identified. You can

According to the print control method of the seventh aspect, the data conversion means for converting the print data of the set format into the data of the format interpretable by the printing device is mounted and transmitted from the external device. , Receives an inquiry message as to whether the print data can be converted into data interpretable by the printing device, and determines whether or not the data conversion unit is a data conversion unit corresponding to the print data from the external device in response to the inquiry message. However, when the data conversion unit is a data conversion unit corresponding to the print data from the external device, the print data can be converted into data that can be interpreted by the printing device to the external device that transmitted the inquiry message. Print message sent from the external device when a response message indicating the Start the corresponding data conversion means,
Since the print data from the external device is converted into data in a format interpretable by the printing device, it is possible to prevent the printing result from being output erroneously from the printing device due to the lack of the data conversion unit.

According to the print control method of the eighth aspect, the inquiry message includes the print data format information indicating the format of the print data from the external device, and the determination is made based on the print data format information. It is possible to reliably determine whether or not the unit is the data conversion unit corresponding to the print data from the external device.

According to the print control method of the ninth aspect, since the inquiry message includes the transmission source information for specifying the external apparatus that has transmitted the inquiry message, the inquiry destination external apparatus can easily identify the inquiry message. You can

According to the print control method of the tenth aspect,
Corresponding to each print data of a preset format, it is equipped with a plurality of data conversion means for converting the print data of the preset format into data of a format interpretable by the printing device, and transmitted from an external device. In response to the inquiry message, whether the print data can be converted into data that can be interpreted by the printing device is received, it is determined whether the data conversion means corresponding to the print data from the external device is installed, A response message indicating that it is possible to convert the print data into data that can be interpreted by the printing device to the external device that transmitted the inquiry message when the data conversion means corresponding to the print data from the device is installed. Is sent and a response message is sent to the external device, the data corresponding to the print data sent from the external device is sent. Since the conversion means is activated and the print data from the external device is converted into data in a format interpretable by the printing device, it is possible to prevent output of an incorrect print result from the printing device due to the lack of the data conversion means. In addition, it is possible to set an environment in which one printer can process print data of various formats.

According to the print control method of claim 11,
Since the inquiry message includes the print data format information indicating the format of the print data from the external device, and the judgment is made based on the print data format information, whether the data conversion means corresponding to the print data from the external device is installed. Whether or not it can be surely determined.

According to the print control method of claim 12,
The inquiry message includes sender information for identifying the external device that sent the inquiry message. The external device of the inquiry destination can be easily identified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing system in which an embodiment of a printing control apparatus of the present invention is used.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the print control apparatus of FIG.

3 is a diagram showing a configuration of an inquiry message output from the host computer in FIG. 1 and a configuration of a response message output from the print control apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of the printing apparatus of FIG.

5 is a flowchart showing a processing operation of the print control apparatus of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101, 102 Host computer 103 Print control device 104 Printing device 201, 202 IF (interface) 203 CPU 204 ROM 301 Inquiry message 302 Response message

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A print control for receiving print data including a print character code and a print control code from an external device such as a host computer, and printing the print data so that the print device as an output destination can print the print data. In a print control device that performs processing, a data conversion unit for converting print data in a set format into data in a format interpretable by the printing device, and the print data transmitted from the external device to the print data. Receiving means for receiving an inquiry message as to whether or not the data can be interpreted by the apparatus, and determining whether or not the data converting means is a data converting means corresponding to print data from the external device in response to the inquiry message. And a data converting means corresponding to the print data from the external device. When transmitting the inquiry message, a transmission unit that transmits a response message indicating that the print data can be converted into data that can be interpreted by the printing device to the external device that has transmitted the inquiry message; When the response message is transmitted to the device, the data conversion unit corresponding to the print data transmitted from the external device is activated, and the print data from the external device is converted into data in a format interpretable by the printing device. A print control apparatus comprising: a data conversion processing unit for converting. 2. The inquiry message includes print data format information indicating a format of print data from the external device, and the determination unit is configured to cause the data conversion unit to transmit the print data format information from the external device based on the print data format information. 2. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether or not the data conversion unit corresponds to the print data of. 3. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inquiry message includes transmission source information for specifying an external apparatus that has transmitted the inquiry message. 4. A print control for receiving print data including a print character code and a print control code from an external device such as a host computer, and printing the print data so that the print device as an output destination can print the print data. In a print control device that performs processing, a plurality of print data of a preset format is mounted in association with each other, and a plurality of data for converting the print data of the preset format into data of a format interpretable by the printing device. Data conversion means, reception means for receiving an inquiry message transmitted from the external device as to whether the print data can be converted into data interpretable by the printing device, and printing from the external device in response to the inquiry message. Judgment means for deciding whether or not the data conversion means corresponding to the data is installed, and the print data from the external device. When a corresponding data conversion unit is installed, a response message indicating that the print data can be converted into data interpretable by the printing device is transmitted to the external device that transmitted the inquiry message. And a response message from the transmitting unit to the external device, the data converting unit corresponding to print data transmitted from the external device is activated to print the print data from the external device. A print control apparatus comprising: a data conversion processing unit that converts data into a format that can be interpreted by the apparatus. 5. The inquiry message includes print data format information indicating a format of print data from the external device, and the determination unit corresponds to the print data from the external device based on the print data format information. 5. The print control apparatus according to claim 4, wherein it is determined whether or not a data conversion unit for performing the printing is installed. 6. The print control apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the inquiry message includes transmission source information for specifying an external apparatus that has transmitted the inquiry message. 7. A print control for receiving print data including a print character code and a print control code from an external device such as a host computer, and printing the print data so that the print device as an output destination can print the print data. In a print control method for performing a process, a step of mounting data conversion means for converting print data in a set format into data in a format interpretable by the printing device, and printing the data transmitted from the external device. Receiving an inquiry message as to whether the data can be converted into data interpretable by the printing device, and whether the data conversion device responds to the inquiry message by the data conversion device corresponding to the print data from the external device. Whether the data conversion means corresponds to print data from the external device. And a step of transmitting a response message indicating that the print data can be converted into data interpretable by the printing device to the external device that transmitted the inquiry message; A step of activating a data conversion unit corresponding to the print data transmitted from the external device when the response message is transmitted, and converting the print data from the external device into data in a format interpretable by the printing device. A print control method comprising: 8. The inquiry message includes print data format information indicating a format of print data from the external device, and the determination is performed based on the print data format information. The print control method described. 9. The print control method according to claim 7, wherein the inquiry message includes transmission source information for specifying an external device that has transmitted the inquiry message. 10. A print control for receiving print data including a print character code and a print control code from an external device such as a host computer so that the print data can be printed by a printing device as an output destination. In a print control method for performing processing, a plurality of data conversions are performed so that print data of a preset format is associated with each other and the print data of the preset format is converted into data of a format interpretable by the printing apparatus. And a step of receiving an inquiry message transmitted from the external device as to whether the print data can be converted into data interpretable by the printing device, and a step of receiving an inquiry message from the external device. A step of determining whether or not a data conversion unit corresponding to the print data is installed, and a step of dealing with the print data from the external device. A step of transmitting a response message indicating that the print data can be converted into data interpretable by the printing device, to the external device that has transmitted the inquiry message, when the corresponding data conversion means is mounted. When a response message is transmitted to the external device, the data conversion means corresponding to the print data transmitted from the external device is activated to interpret the print data from the external device by the printing device. And a step of converting the data into format data. 11. The inquiry message includes print data format information indicating a format of print data from the external device, and the determination is performed based on the print data format information. The print control method according to claim 10. 12. The print control method according to claim 10, wherein the inquiry message includes transmission source information for specifying an external device that has transmitted the inquiry message.