JPH08230284A - Re-output method of image output device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a re-output method whereby data once outputted can be simply and speedily re-outputted. SOLUTION: Data received from a PC 2 is once stored in an input buffer 8, then converted to bit map data and stored in an output buffer 16. The bit map data in the output buffer 16 is sent from an engine interface 18 to an engine part 20 and outputted from the engine part. After the data is outputted, data stored last in the input buffer 8 is left as it is to enter a standby state waiting for a re-output command from a control panel 6 or the PC 2. When the re-output command is generated, the data left in the input buffer 8 is converted, sent through the output buffer 16 to the engine part 20 and outputted. The labor of selecting and transmitting again data to be re-outputted by the PC 2 is eliminated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image output apparatus capable of page-by-page output, and particularly when such an image output apparatus once outputs an image such as a character or a graphic and then re-outputs the image. Regarding the re-output method of.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an image output device capable of outputting image data in page units, at present, a page printer and a multifunction device (m
ultifunction product), facsimile, etc. For example, in order to re-output a page once output by a page printer, data corresponding to the page already output must be re-selected and re-transmitted in an external device such as a computer connected to the printer. That is, even when the printer is set again due to incorrect paper orientation, the data corresponding to the already output page must be reselected and transmitted by the external device.

[0003]

As described above, in the present situation,
In order to re-output the page once output, the external device connected to the image output device must be reset and the same data must be retransmitted. It is quite annoying because it requires time to store in. Therefore, the present invention provides a re-outputting method for an image output device that enables simpler and quicker image re-outputting.

[0004]

In order to achieve such an object, it is conceivable to leave the data once output (that is, the data that has been output) in the image output device. When a re-output command is input from an external device such as a personal computer or an operation panel provided in the image output device, the remaining data is output in response to the input. In this case, to reduce the memory capacity, 1
In the case of an image output device having only a capacity equivalent to a page, it is disadvantageous to leave all the data of two pages or more because it increases the memory capacity and is costly. Therefore, the data is output according to the memory capacity in the device. Try to keep the data on the last page. At this time, of course, if the data to be re-output is one page, there is no problem, and even if there are two or more pages, for example, the first page is the cover page of the letter and the text is on the second page, and only the second page is added. This is useful when you want to output.

[0005]

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration example in which the present invention is applied to a typical page printer as an image output device for each page. It goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to the image output device such as the above-mentioned compound device or facsimile.

The PC 2 is a personal computer capable of transmitting image output data page by page to a printer.
Data is generally exchanged via the PC interface unit 4 provided inside the printer. The PC interface unit 4 generates an interrupt signal INTR when any data is transmitted from the PC 2 and informs the printer control unit. In the figure, the portion excluding the PC interface unit 4 and the engine unit 20 corresponds to the printer control unit.

In the printer controller, the central processing unit (CP
U) 10 controls the entire output operation of the printer according to the operation program stored in the program ROM 14. The input buffer 8 is a first storage unit having a memory capacity capable of storing at least one page of data input via the PC interface unit 4. In this printer, a predetermined output operation can be set by the OP panel (operation panel) 6, and thus the output state of the printer can be changed. The output state value set by the OP panel 6 is stored in the EEPROM 12.

The output buffer 16 is controlled by the central processing unit 10 based on the output state stored in the EEPROM 12,
It is a second storage means for storing the converted data obtained by converting one page of data stored in the input buffer 8 into actual output form data. Then, this output buffer 16
The converted data stored in is transmitted to the engine unit 20 including the engine control unit and the engine through the engine interface 18, and is output to the record carrier.

2 and 3 show flow charts of the output operation in this embodiment. The output operation performed under the control of the central processing unit 10 will be described below with reference to this, taking as an example the case where data for five pages is input from the PC 2 and is output.

First, the output operation for outputting all five pages will be described from the time when the power is turned on. When the power is turned on, the printer is initialized and enters a standby state (steps 30 and 32). In this standby state, the input of the re-output selection key provided on the OP panel 6 is confirmed (steps 34 and 36). If it is judged in step 36 that the re-output selection key has not been input, generation of the above-mentioned interrupt signal INTR is checked (step 38). That is, if data is input from the PC 2 at the stage of step 38, the data input to the printer is confirmed by the interrupt signal INTR generated from the PC interface unit 4. And the interrupt signal I
When the NTR occurs, the reception of the data sent from the PC 2 is started (step 40).

At this time, the data of the first page out of the five pages is input, that is, the data received at this time is not the re-output command, so the process proceeds from step 42 to step 44. In step 44, it is further confirmed whether the received data is a FORM FEED command. This form feed command indicates that the data feed for one page has been completed. In this case, the data for the first page is being received, so step 5
Then, the routine proceeds to step 2, where it is confirmed whether or not the start flag is set to "1". This start flag is set to "0" at the time of printer initialization and output start, and is set to "1" after outputting the last page data. That is, the start flag is set to "1" only when the output-completed data remains in the input buffer 8. Therefore, by checking the state of the start flag, it is possible to check whether the output last page data remains in the input buffer 8.

In this case, since the output is the first output after the power is turned on, it is confirmed that the start flag is "0" (step 52), and the data of the first page is written in the input buffer 8 (step 56). Then, if one page of data is stored in the input buffer 8, it is read (step 58), converted into bit map data according to the output state value stored in the EEPROM 12 (step 60), and this is converted. Write to the output buffer 16 (step 62). The bitmap data written in the print buffer 16 is transmitted to the engine unit 20 via the engine interface 18 (step 64), and the first page is output (step 66). The input buffer 8
The data writing and reading operations for the output buffer 16 and the output buffer 16 are controlled according to the write signal WR and the read signal RD by the central processing unit 10.

When the data output of the first page is executed, the process proceeds to step 44. At this time, since the form feed command is transmitted from the PC 2, this time the process proceeds to step 46 and it is confirmed that the interrupt signal INTR is generated. To be done.
If the data of the second page is continuously sent, the interrupt signal I
Since NTR is generated, if this is confirmed, the input buffer 8 storing the output first page data is initialized (step 48), and the second page data is transferred from the start area of the input buffer 8. Be sure to write. After initializing this input buffer 8, the process proceeds to step 40,
Steps 42 → 44 → 52 → 56 → 58 → 60 → 62 →
The data of the second page is output via 64 → 66. After receiving all the data of the second page, a data feed command is input and sensed in step 44, so step 46 → 4
Proceed to 8. Such an operation is similarly performed for each data output of the subsequent third page, fourth page, and fifth page. That is, if the same process as the second page is repeated 4 times, 5
If the output for pages is repeated 9 times, the output for 10 pages is performed.

When the data of the fifth page, which is the last page, is output, the generation of the interrupt signal INTR is not confirmed in step 46. In this case, therefore, the input buffer 8 is not initialized but is stored. The start flag is set to "1" while leaving the data of the fifth page as it is (step 50). When the newly output data is input from the PC 2, the start flag is set to "1" because the previously output data is stored in the input buffer 8 when the new output is started. It also means that the buffer 8 needs to be initialized.

That is, when new data for image output is input from the PC 2 after the above output is completed, the received data is not a re-output command or a form feed command, so the process proceeds to step 52. , It is confirmed that the start flag is “1”. If the start flag is set to "1", the input buffer 8 is initialized to output new data and the start flag is set to "0".
(Step 54). As a result, new data is written from the start area of the input buffer 8 after initialization (step 56). Then, when the data of consecutive pages is continuously input, the start flag is not set to "1" even if the input buffer 8 is initialized in step 48, and therefore step 54 is skipped, and the succeeding pages are skipped. Data are sequentially written in the input buffer 8 (step 56) and output (steps 58 to 66).

Next, the operation of re-outputting the fifth page data, which is the final page, will be described. Put simply,
After outputting all the input data, the last page of the output data remains in the input buffer 8. At this time, if the re-output command is input from the PC 2 (not limited to the one that has sent the output-completed data), or if the re-output is selected by the key operation from the OP panel 6 of the printer, the central processing unit 10 is
The data of the last page stored in the input buffer 8 is converted according to the state value stored in the EEPROM 12 and stored in the output buffer 16. Then, this bitmap data is sent out through the engine interface 18 and output by the engine unit 20.

Specifically, first, when the data output of the fifth page is completed, the data of the fifth page is left in the input buffer 8 and the start flag is set to "1". (Step 50). After this step 50, the printer naturally goes into the standby state of step 32, and steps 34 to 38 are prepared in preparation for new output.
Is running. During this time, if there is an input for re-output selection from the OP panel 6 in step 36 or there is data reception from the PC 2 and it is confirmed in step 42 that this is a re-output command, the process proceeds to step 68. .
In step 68, the data of the last page left in the input buffer 8 is read. Then, the read data is converted into bitmap data according to the state value stored in the EEPROM 12 (step 70) and written in the output buffer 16 (step 72). Next, data is transmitted from the output buffer 16 to the engine unit 20 via the engine interface 18 and output (step 7).
4,76). After this, the process returns to the standby state of step 32.

When the re-output is started, the value of the start flag is checked, and if the start flag is "0", this means that there is no data remaining in the input buffer 8. Therefore, it is possible to control not to re-output. Further, it will be understood that a plurality of pages of data can be retained as long as the buffer has a sufficient memory capacity, without needing to particularly explain.

According to the re-output method according to this embodiment,
This is especially useful when re-outputting, when trying to obtain an output result different from the last page output previously. For example, in the printer adopting the toner saving function as described in US Pat. No. 08 / 022,197, the output state value (stored in the EEPROM 12) is set to the normal mode for the final page once output in the toner saving mode. This is convenient when you want to reprint and output again. Also, HEWLETT
This is also effective when it is desired to check the output result when the resolution is increased with a printer adopting the resolution increasing technology of PACKARD. Further, when the re-output command is input from the PC 2 to perform the re-output, if the data for specifying the format such as the top margin of the page, the line spacing, and the font is input and the re-output can be performed based on the data, When you want to check the format of the result, you can deal with it quickly and easily.

Alternatively, for example, in the above-described embodiment, the data of the final page left in the input buffer 8 is converted into bitmap data, and the engine section 20 re-outputs the data through the output buffer 16. However, it is also possible to leave the bitmap data of the last page in the output buffer 16 and output it again. this is,
This is especially useful when it is desired to obtain the same output as the last page output previously, in which case the re-output time can be considerably shortened. Further, in the above embodiment, the input buffer 8 is initialized in step 48 and step 54, but it is also possible to omit step 48 and step 52 and perform the initialization in step 54.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention, the data once output is left in the printer, and the remaining data can be output according to the re-output designation from the operation panel or the external device. When re-outputting the data once output, re-selection and re-transmission of the same data by an external device can be omitted, and image re-output can be remarkably simplified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a page printer to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a re-output method according to the present invention.

3 is a flowchart connected to A and C in FIG. 2 and a flowchart connected to B in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 PC (personal computer) 4 PC interface section 6 OP panel 8 input buffer (buffer memory) 10 central processing unit 12 EEPROM 14 ROM 16 output buffer (buffer memory) 18 engine interface 20 engine section

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A method of re-outputting an image output device, which outputs data sent from an external device in page units, wherein the output data is retained in the image output device. A re-output method characterized in that the remaining data is output in response to input of a predetermined re-output command. 2. The re-output method according to claim 1, wherein a re-output command is input from an operation panel provided in the image output device. 3. The re-output method according to claim 1, wherein the re-output command is input from an external device connected to the image output device. 4. A first storage means for storing data received from an external device, and a second storage means for storing converted data obtained by converting the data stored in the first storage means into output form data. A method for re-outputting an image output apparatus, comprising: a storage means for outputting an image on a page-by-page basis, wherein the output-finished data is retained in the first storage means, and a predetermined re-output is performed. A re-outputting method, wherein when a command is input, the data left in the first storage means is converted and stored in the second storage means, and the data is output. 5. The re-output method according to claim 4, wherein a re-output command is input from an operation panel provided in the image output device. 6. The re-output method according to claim 4, wherein the re-output command is input from an external device connected to the image output device. 7. A first storage means for storing data received from an external device, and a second storage means for storing the converted data obtained by converting the data stored in the first storage means into output form data. A method of re-outputting an image output device, comprising: a storage means for outputting an image on a page-by-page basis, wherein data that has been output is retained in the second storage means and re-outputted in a predetermined manner. A re-outputting method, wherein the data left in the second storage means is output when an instruction is input. 8. The re-output method according to claim 7, wherein a re-output command is input from an operation panel provided in the image output device. 9. The re-output method according to claim 7, wherein the re-output command is input from an external device connected to the image output device.