JPH09288549A - Data processor, data processing method of the same and storage medium storing program which computer can read - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily add a function for saving the consumption of developer in a printing device by executing different data work to plotting image data generated for the respective types of printing commands. SOLUTION: When any analysis means discriminates a prescribed printer language which can be analyzed, CPU 206 executes different data work to plotting images generated for the respective types of the printing commands which the discriminated analysis means analyzes. Analysis is executed by permitting CPU 206 to execute an analysis program stored in ROM 207 or loaded from a control card 212. Data work is executed by the work program loaded from the control card 212 and the like by CPU 206. Thus, a printing mode processing for outputting respective plotting image data whose output intensity differs from printing information received from an external unit 201 for the respective types of data is added.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data processing device and data for analyzing print information based on a predetermined printer language received from a host computer to generate an output image and outputting the generated output image to a printer engine. The present invention relates to a processing method and a storage medium storing a computer-readable program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an output device equipped with a data processing device of this kind, especially a printing device, is equipped with a printing mode in which the amount of toner used is reduced from the viewpoint of resource saving. It also has a print mode (toner saving mode) that prints in black by lowering the gradation where it is printed in black, and toner consumption is suppressed by this print mode, making trial printing (draft) easy. There is a merit that you can do it.

[0003]

However, in the conventional model that does not have such a print mode, there is no means for effectively suppressing the toner consumption amount, and therefore the received print information is uniformly printed with uniform density. Will be done. Even with a model that can use the toner-saving mode, white printing and gray printing of characters are executed without determining the data type, so the print result obtained as draft printing is not always visually easy to see. I can not say. Further, in the case of toner-saving processing for color data, there is a problem in that if the density is simply lowered for each color, both the plate and the character become visually difficult to see.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the first to fifteenth inventions of the present invention is to provide drawing image data generated for each type of print command. By performing different data processing or performing predetermined density reduction processing when the received print information is image data, a print processing function that saves developer consumption in the printing apparatus is easily added to the printing apparatus. A data processing apparatus and a data processing method capable of generating data capable of visually identifying data to be printed in a printing apparatus having a print processing function for reducing developer consumption, and a memory storing a computer-readable program It is to provide a medium.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in a data processing device for processing print information received from a data source and outputting print data to a printing device, printing based on a predetermined printer language is performed. A plurality of analyzing means for analyzing the command to generate a drawn image; a determining means for determining whether or not the print information received from the data source corresponds to a predetermined printer language that can be analyzed by any of the analyzing means; When the determination means determines that the printer language is a predetermined printer language that can be analyzed by any of the analysis means, different data processing is performed on the drawing image data generated for each type of print command analyzed by the determined analysis means. And a first data processing means for performing drawing and generating drawing image data.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the first data processing means changes the coating pattern so that the density level is equal to or lower than a density level set in a density level settable for a predetermined printer engine. The drawing image data is redrawn.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in a data processing device for processing print information received from a data source and outputting the print data to a printing device, a print command based on a predetermined printer language in the print data is transmitted. A plurality of analyzing means for analyzing and generating a drawn image; a determining means for determining whether the print information received from the data source corresponds to a predetermined printer language that can be analyzed by any of the analyzing means;
Based on the designation state by the designating unit, when the designating unit determines that the received print information is processed as image data, and the determining unit determines that the analyzing unit does not have a predetermined printer language that can be analyzed. And a second data processing means for performing a predetermined filtering process for reducing the density of the image data.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the designating means is
The input is specified by the command from the data source.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the designating means is
The input is designated from the operation unit of the printing apparatus.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the predetermined filtering process is a feature extraction process for the image data.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the discriminating means discriminates whether or not any of the analyzing means corresponds to a printer language that can be analyzed by extracting characteristic data from the received print information. .

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in a data processing device for processing print information received from a data source and outputting the print data to a printing device, a color for text data output from the printing device is designated. When the color designation unit, the first type determination unit that determines whether the print information is image data, and the first type determination unit determines that the print information is image data, the image And a setting means for substituting the output color of the data with a color different from the color of the text designated by the color designating means.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in a data processing device for processing print information received from a data source and outputting the print data to a printing device, it is determined whether the print information is multicolor image data. A second type determining means for determining, and a single color image data for outputting the multicolor image data from the printing device in a single color when the second type determining means determines that the print information is multicolor image data. And a third data processing means for processing to.

In a tenth aspect of the present invention, the third data processing means processes multicolor image data into monochromatic gradation image data.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, an inquiry means for inquiring printer language type data of print information sent from the data source, and the data source according to the inquiry by the inquiry means. It has an acquisition means for acquiring the printer language type data and a holding means for holding the acquisition means.

A twelfth aspect of the present invention has a plurality of analyzing means for analyzing a print command based on a predetermined printer language to generate a drawn image, and the print information received from a data source is stored in any one of the above. Whether the print information received from the data source corresponds to a predetermined printer language that can be analyzed by any of the analyzing means in the data processing method of the data processing device that performs the analysis processing by the analyzing means and outputs the print data to the printing apparatus. And a determination step for determining whether the printer language is a predetermined printer language that can be analyzed by any of the analysis means, and performs different data processing for each type of print command analyzed by the determined analysis means. , And a first data processing step of generating drawing image data.

In a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of analyzing means for analyzing a print command based on a predetermined printer language to generate a drawn image and a designation for processing the received print information as image data are provided. In a data processing method of a data processing device, which has a designating means and analyzes print information received from a data source by any one of the analyzing means and outputs print data to a printing device, print information received from a data source. A determination step that determines whether any of the analysis means corresponds to a predetermined printer language that can be analyzed, and a determination step that determines whether the received print information is designated to be processed as image data. If it is determined that one of the analysis means is not a predetermined printer language that can be analyzed by the determination, the determination results in the image data. In which a second data processing step of performing predetermined filter processing to reduce the concentration to the other.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, a print medium received from a data source is stored in a storage medium storing a program used by a computer for analyzing print information received from the data source by any of the analyzing means. Is a predetermined printer language that can be analyzed by any of the analysis means, and a determination program code of a determination step that determines whether any of the analysis means corresponds to a predetermined printer language that can be analyzed. In such a case, the computer can read the processing program code of the first data processing step that performs different data processing for each type of print command analyzed by the determined analysis unit and generates drawing image data. The program is stored in a storage medium.

A fifteenth aspect of the present invention is a print medium received from a data source in a storage medium storing a program used by a computer for analyzing print information received from a data source by any of the analysis means. Determination program code of a determination step of determining whether any of the analysis means corresponds to a predetermined printer language that can be analyzed, and determination of whether the received print information is designated to be processed as image data A determination program code of the process and a predetermined filtering process for reducing the density of the image data by the determination when it is determined by the determination that one of the analysis means is not a predetermined printer language that can be analyzed. Computer readable, including processing program code for two data processing steps It is obtained by storing the program in a storage medium.

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a laser beam printer (hereinafter abbreviated as LBP) applied to the present embodiment. This LBP is used for registering character patterns from a data source (not shown). You can register fixed form (form data).

In the figure, reference numeral 1000 denotes an LBP main body, which inputs and stores character information (character code) supplied from an externally connected host computer (201 in FIG. 2), form information, or a macro command. At the same time, a corresponding character pattern, form pattern, or the like is created according to the information, and an image is formed on the recording paper, which is a recording medium. An operation panel 1012 is provided with switches for operation and an LED display.
A printer control unit 01 controls the entire LBP 1000 and analyzes character information and the like supplied from the host computer.

The printer control unit 1001 mainly converts character information into a video signal of a corresponding character pattern and outputs it to the laser driver 1002. The laser driver 1002 is a circuit for driving the semiconductor laser 1003, and switches on and off a laser beam 1004 emitted from the semiconductor laser 1003 according to an input video signal. The laser beam 1004 is swung right and left by the rotary polygon mirror 1005 to scan on the electrostatic drum 1006.

As a result, an electrostatic latent image having a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 1006. This latent image is developed by a developing unit 1007 around the electrostatic drum 1006 and then transferred to a recording sheet. A cut sheet is used as this recording sheet, and the cut sheet recording sheet is stored in a sheet cassette 1008 attached to the LBP 1000, and is taken into the apparatus by a sheet feeding roller 1009 and conveying rollers 1010 and 1011 and is then transferred to an electrostatic drum 1006. Supplied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the data processing apparatus showing the first embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals. The printer control unit 1001 inputs print information mainly from an external device (host) 201 such as a host computer, creates image data such as a corresponding character pattern according to the information, and outputs the image data to the printer engine 20.
2 and causes the printer engine 202 to form an image on a recording medium such as paper or an OHP sheet.

In the figure, reference numeral 203 denotes an input interface (input I / F) which receives print data from the host 201. An operation panel 204 is provided with switches for operation and a display (liquid crystal display or the like).

Reference numeral 205 is a system bus for communication inside the controller. A CPU 206 controls the entire apparatus including the printer control unit 1001.
Host (external device) via the input interface 203
Communication processing with 201 is possible. 207 is RO
M stores a control program of the CPU 206 and the like. A font memory (font ROM) 208 stores outline font data and the like. A RAM 209 is used as a main memory or a work area of the CPU 206, and is connected to one or more expansion ports (not shown). The RAM 209 is used as an output information expansion area, environment data storage area, NVRAM, and the like. Reference numeral 210 denotes the printer engine 2 for forming the image data.
02 output interface (output I /
F).

Reference numeral 211 denotes an external interface (external I /
In F), various cards such as a control card 212 or a font card and an emulation card can be connected, and are stored in the control card 212, which will be described later with reference to FIGS.
By loading the control program shown in FIG. 7 and the like onto the RAM 209, even if the toner saving mode is not supported, the function processing can be easily added later to improve the function. The control programs shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 6, FIG. 7 and the like may be downloaded from the external device 201 as a host device and read into the RAM 209.

Correspondence between the present embodiment and each means of the first to eleventh inventions and their functions will be described with reference to FIG.

The first invention is a data source (external device 20
In a data processing device that processes print information received from 1) and outputs print data to a printing device, a plurality of analysis means (stored in a ROM 207) that analyzes a print command based on a predetermined printer language to generate a drawing image. Or the analysis program loaded from the control card 212
(PU206 executes the analysis) to determine whether the print data received from the data source corresponds to a predetermined printer language that can be analyzed by any of the analysis means (the CPU 206 determines). When the determining unit determines that the printer language is one that can be analyzed by any of the analyzing units, different data processing is performed for each type of print command analyzed by the determined analyzing unit,
A first data processing unit (processing by a processing program loaded from the control card 212 by the CPU 206) for generating drawing image data.
When it is determined that is a predetermined printer language that can be analyzed by any of the analysis means, different data processing is performed on the drawing image data generated for each type of print command analyzed by the determined analysis means, The print information received from the external device 201 can be added with a print mode process for outputting each drawing image data whose output density is different for each data type.

In a second invention, the first data processing means (by the CPU 206) is a predetermined printer engine 2
02, the painting pattern is redrawn so as to be equal to or lower than the density level set in the density level settable to 02, and the data source (external device 201)
It is possible to add a print mode process in which the output density is lower than that of the print information received from the printer, and output as each drawing image data that is different for each data type.

A third invention is a data source (external device 20
In a data processing device that processes print information received from 1) and outputs print data to a printing device (printer engine 202), a print command based on a predetermined printer language in the print data is analyzed to generate a drawing image. A plurality of analysis means (analysis programs stored in the ROM 207 or loaded from the control card 212 are used by the CPU 206
Is executed by the printer) and the print information received from the data source determines whether the print information corresponds to a predetermined printer language that can be analyzed by any of the analysis means (by the CPU 206). In the case where the designating means (by a command from the operation panel 204 or the external device 201) for designating the processing of the print data as the image data and the discriminating means discriminates that the analyzing means is not a predetermined printer language that can be analyzed. And a second data processing unit (by the CPU 206) for performing a predetermined filtering process for reducing the density on the image data based on the state designated by the designation unit.
When the CPU 206 determines that one of the analyzing means is not a predetermined printer language that can be analyzed, the print information received based on the state designated by the designating means is regarded as the image data and a predetermined filtering process is performed to reduce the density. It is possible to add the print mode processing for outputting the image information to be printed as solid print by regarding the received print information as image data.

The fourth aspect of the invention is to specify means (external device 20
1) is specified by the command from the data source,
A command from the external device 201 makes it possible to add a print mode process for outputting data for trial printing of solid image output of image information as low-density image information.

The fifth aspect of the present invention is to specify means (operation panel 20
4) is to add a print mode process for outputting data for making a trial print as solid image output of image information as low-density image information by input designation from the operation unit of the printing apparatus and a panel operation instruction from the user. It is possible.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the predetermined filter processing is processed into line image data in which features such as contours of the image data are extracted, and an image which is originally solid black and output and a large amount of developer is consumed. It is possible to output information as image information capable of saving printing in which the developer is not consumed.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention, the discriminating means extracts characteristic data from the received print information, discriminates whether any of the analyzing means corresponds to a printer language that can be analyzed, and judges the received print information. It is possible to easily determine whether or not the printer language corresponds to the parsable printer language.

An eighth aspect of the present invention is a data processing device for processing print information received from a data source and outputting the print data to a printing device, wherein a color designating means (designating a color for the text data output from the printing device). CPU206
Specifies the color specified in advance by the initialization process)
A first type discriminating means (by the CPU 206) for discriminating whether or not the print information is image data; and, if the first type discriminating means discriminates that the print information is image data, A setting unit (the CPU 206 sets based on a program stored in the ROM 207) that substitutes the output color of the image data to a color different from the color of the text designated by the color designating unit;
When the CPU 206 determines that the print information is image data, the output color of the image data is set to a color different from the specified color of the text, and the output color of the text and the output of the image are visually recognized. It is possible to generate print data that can be output as print data that can be easily identified.

A ninth invention is a data processing device for processing print information received from a data source and outputting the print data to a printing device. The second invention is for judging whether the print information is multicolor image data. Type determination means (CPU 20
6)), and the second type determination means determines that the print information is multicolor image data, the third color processing unit processes the multicolor image data into single color image data to be output in a single color from the printing device. Data processing means (the CPU 206 processes based on a control program stored in the ROM 207 or a control program loaded from the control card 212 or the like), and the CPU 206 determines that the print information is multicolor image data. In this case, it is possible to process the multi-color image data into mono-color image data to be output in a single color from the printing device, and generate print data capable of visually identifying a multi-color image from the printing device that outputs a single color. And

In a tenth aspect of the present invention, the third data processing means (by the CPU 206) processes the multicolor image data into monochromatic gradation image data so that the multicolor image can be visually identified as a monochromatic image. It is possible to generate print data that can be output.

An eleventh aspect of the invention is an inquiry unit (by the CPU 206) for inquiring the printer language type data of the print information sent from the data source, and the data source for the inquiry according to the inquiry by the inquiry unit. Acquisition means (by the CPU 206) for acquiring the printer language type data, and holding means (RAM2) for holding the acquisition means.
09 is held in a predetermined area).
When the printer language type data is acquired from the data source in response to the inquiry of the printer language type data of the print information sent by the data source 6 according to 6, the acquired printer language type data is held in the holding unit. do it,
The printer language of the print information received from the data source can be easily identified.

An embodiment of the data processing method of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing an embodiment of the data processing method of the data processing apparatus of the present invention. Note that (1) to (7) indicate each step.

When data is received from the host 201 via the input interface 203, the process is started. The received data is discriminated by the data type discriminating process in step (1) to judge whether the received data is in the printer language or not. Then, it is checked whether the received data determined in step (2) is a known printer language (for example, Postscript, LIPS, etc.) that can be interpreted by the printing device. If it is known, the command is executed in step (3). And the drafting process according to the procedure shown in FIG. 4 described later is executed in step (4).

Next, if it is determined in step (5) that the analysis of all commands has been completed, the processing is terminated, and in other cases, the process returns to step (3) to execute the command analysis.

On the other hand, if the received data is not determined to be a known printer language in step (2), it is determined based on a determination criterion whether all the data received in step (6) is regarded as image data. . In the present embodiment, the determination criteria are means such as automatic read setting at the time of booting NVRAM in advance in initialization processing not shown, manual setting from the operation panel 204, and host 201.
It is assumed that it has been set by means of a control command or the like.

When it is determined in step (6) that all the received data are regarded as image data, the toner is read while maintaining the readability of the image data by applying a shape extraction filter such as edge extraction in step (7). It reduces the density of the surface, which tends to be consumed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (6) that the image data is not regarded as image data, that is, if the data processing is not performed, the received data is passed through without being processed. The data after the above processing is treated as equivalent to the received data in the normal processing procedure in the printer of this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an example of the drafting processing procedure shown in FIG. In addition, (1)-
(7) shows each step.

Upon receiving the command of the known printer language, the process of the flow is started, and step (1)
If the category of the command in the printer language is discriminated with, and it is determined that the category of the command is a character-related command, the process proceeds to step (3). If it is determined that the command is a graphic-related command, the step is performed. When it is determined that the command is an image-related command, the process proceeds to step (7).
If it is any other command, the process ends without processing.

If it is judged in the above step (1) that the command is a character-related command, in step (3)
It is checked whether or not the character to be printed is an outline character, and if it is not applicable, outline processing is executed in step (4).

In the present embodiment, the outline conversion is a process of changing an instruction for using the outline font data possessed by the printer, for example, to change the character type to outline and specify the internal painting pattern. .

On the other hand, when the outline character is designated to be used in step (3), or after the outline conversion processing is executed in step (4), the paint pattern inside the character is darker than a certain level in step (5). Whether or not it is determined based on a predetermined determination criterion.

In the present embodiment, the above-mentioned judgment criterion is beforehand set in advance by means such as automatic reading setting at the time of starting the NVRAM in the initialization processing (not shown) and the operation panel 2.
It is assumed that the setting has been made manually by means of 04 or by means such as a control command from the host 201. Also,
The level that serves as a criterion may be any level from the maximum density to the minimum density that can be designated for the printer.

If it is determined in step (5) that the pattern density is higher than the designated level, the coating pattern is set to have the density designated in step (6) or the density is constant. The processing is ended by setting the density pattern to be lower than the density pattern serving as the determination standard by a method such as decreasing the ratio.

On the other hand, after the change of the paint pattern and when the density of the paint pattern satisfies the standard, the drafting process is ended.

On the other hand, if it is judged in step (1) that the command is a figure-related command, it is judged in step (3) whether the command is a surface drawing command, and if not, the process ends. If it is applicable, the painting pattern changing process of the step (6) is executed, and then the process ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (1) that the command is an image-related command, filter processing is performed on the image data as in step (7) of FIG. 3 (7), and the process ends. .

On the other hand, in step (1), if the command is another command, that is, a command other than characters / graphics / images (for example, paper size designation), the process is terminated.

Correspondence between the present embodiment and each step of the twelfth to fifteenth inventions and their actions will be described with reference to FIG.

A twelfth aspect of the invention is to analyze a print command based on a predetermined printer language to generate a drawing image by a plurality of analysis means (the analysis program stored in the ROM 207 or loaded from the control card 212 into the CPU 206).
A data processing method of a data processing device for analyzing print information received from a data source by any one of the analyzing means and outputting print data to a printing device. A determination step (steps (1) and (2) in FIG. 3) for determining whether the print information received from the printer corresponds to a predetermined printer language that can be analyzed by any analysis means, and one of the determination steps When the analyzing unit determines that the printer language is a predetermined printer language that can be analyzed, different data processing is performed for each type of print command analyzed by the determined analyzing unit to generate drawing image data. (Steps (3) and (4) in FIG. 3) are executed to obtain drawing image data whose output density differs from the print information received from the data source for each data type. It makes it possible to automate the process of adding the print mode processing of outputting.

A thirteenth aspect of the invention is to analyze a print command based on a predetermined printer language to generate a drawing image by a plurality of analysis means (the analysis program stored in the ROM 207 or loaded from the control card 212 to the CPU 206.
By executing the above) and specifying that the received print information is processed as image data (designation by the operation panel 204 or external device 201).
(From the data source), the print information received from the data source is analyzed by any one of the analysis means and the print data is output to the printing device. A determination step (steps (1) and (2) in FIG. 3) of determining whether the received print information corresponds to a predetermined printer language that can be analyzed by any analysis means, and the received print information is imaged. A determination step (step (6) in FIG. 3) for determining whether the data is designated to be processed, and the determination is made when it is determined that one of the analysis means is not a predetermined printer language that can be analyzed by the determination step. The second data processing step (step (7) in FIG. 3) of performing a predetermined filtering process for reducing the density on the image data by When the print information is image data, it makes it possible to automate the process of adding the print mode processing for outputting the image information to be solid printing as the low density of printed information.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the invention, in a storage medium storing a program used by a computer for analyzing print information received from a data source by any of the analyzing means, any print information received from the data source is stored. Discrimination program code (steps (1) and (2) in FIG. 3) of the discrimination step for discriminating whether or not the analyzing means corresponds to a predetermined printer language that can be analyzed, and any of the analyzing means can analyze by the discrimination. When it is determined that the printer language is a predetermined printer language, the processing program code of the first data processing step that performs different data processing for each type of print command analyzed by the determined analysis unit and generates drawing image data ( A computer-readable program stored in a storage medium, including steps (3) and (4) in FIG. . That is, an embodiment in which a program code corresponding to the process shown in FIG. 3 is stored in an external storage medium or an internal storage resource described later, and the CPU 206 reads and executes the program code from the storage medium storing the program code is also an embodiment of the present invention. It is included.

In a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in a storage medium storing a program used by a computer for analyzing print information received from a data source by any analysis means, the print information received from the data source is any one. The determination program code (steps (1) and (2) in FIG. 3) of the determination step of determining whether or not the analysis means supports a predetermined printer language that can be analyzed, and the received print information is processed as image data. When the determination program code of the determination step (step (6) in FIG. 3) for determining whether the designation is made and the determination result that one of the analysis means is not a predetermined printer language that can be analyzed,
A computer-readable program including a processing program code (step (7) in FIG. 3) of a second data processing step of performing a predetermined filtering process for reducing the density of the image data according to the determination. It is stored in a storage medium. That is, an embodiment in which a program code corresponding to the process shown in FIG. 3 is stored in an external storage medium or an internal storage resource described later, and the CPU 206 reads and executes the program code from the storage medium storing the program code is also an embodiment of the present invention. It is included.

The coating pattern changing process shown in FIG. 4 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a paint pattern change table stored in the ROM 207 shown in FIG.

As shown in this figure, for example, the case where the shaded pattern numbers "0" to "2", ... Are changed to the density levels "1", "25", "255" ,. To do.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing an example of the shaded drawing command processing in FIG. In addition, (1)-
(4) shows each step.

When a rectangular mesh drawing command is detected in step (1), the density level is converted from the mesh pattern number designated in the command in step (2) using the conversion table shown in FIG. Then, in step (3), it is determined whether or not the level exceeds a specified fixed level. If the density level is higher than the set value, the shaded pattern number specified by the command in step (4). Is changed to a value less than or equal to the set value, and the process ends.

On the other hand, if the density level is lower than the set value in step (3), the pattern setting process is terminated.

According to the first embodiment, the toner-saving mode function processing similar to that of the new model can be easily added to the old model by supplying the software, and the functions of the printing apparatus can be fully utilized. Is possible.

Also, communication means for transmitting and receiving data to and from the host computer, means for inquiring beforehand about the form of the data sent from the host computer, means for processing the received data according to the form obtained by the inquiring means. By configuring the printer to transmit the processed data to the printing device, it is possible to support the toner saving mode which is not supported by the printing device in the related art or which is not supported by the host computer application. Improved operability and full use of printer functions.

[Second Embodiment] In the printing system configured as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in the first embodiment, a monochrome image as shown in FIG. 7 and a color different from text are displayed. Perform the allocation process. An embodiment of the processing procedure of the data processing apparatus of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a second embodiment of the data processing method of the data processing device according to the present invention. In addition, (1) to (12) indicate each step.

The flow is started by receiving the input data, and it is determined whether the data type is image data (1). If it is determined that the data type is not image data, the process proceeds to step (11), If it is determined that the instruction is to change the text color, the set text color is saved (12), and other operations are performed. The process ends without performing.

The text color set in step (12) is referred to when the image color is set in step (6) described later.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (1) that the data is image data, it is determined in step (2) whether the data is compressed, and it is determined that the image data is not compressed image data. In this case, the decoding determination / execution process in the following steps (3) to (5) is skipped and the process proceeds to step (6).

On the other hand, when it is determined in step (2) that the image data is encoded and compressed, it is determined whether the compression format can be processed without decoding (3).
If NO, the process proceeds to step (5) and thereafter, and if YES, the decoding process is performed in step (4), and then the image compression format is stored in step (5).

Next, in step (6), a color different from the currently designated color of the text portion is set as the color of the corresponding image. It should be noted that in the present embodiment, the initial value of the text color is previously set to NVRA in an initialization process (not shown).
It is assumed that it is set by means such as automatic read-out setting at the time of starting M, manual setting from the operation panel 204, control command from the host 201, or the like.

Next, it is determined whether the image is a multicolor image (7). If it is determined that the image is not a single color but a multicolor image, the image is monochromaticized in step (8). .

Any method may be used for the monochromatic processing. For example, the average value of each basic color of the data represented by RGB is taken and converted into gray monochromatic gradation expression, or CI.
There is a method of using only the L ^* term of the data represented by the L ^* a ^* b ^* color system of E.

Next, it is judged whether or not the image has been previously decoded (9). If YES, the image is compressed and stored in the stored compression format, and it is judged that the image has not been decoded. If so, it is output as it is and the process is terminated.

According to the second embodiment, the means for detecting whether or not the image data in the received data exists and the execution of the color designation of the text, and the color of the image data are different from those designated in the text. By providing a unit for designating a single color, a draft mode with excellent layout readability can be realized.

[Third Embodiment] In the first and second embodiments, the case where the data processing device is built in the printer has been described. However, the data processing device is installed in the host 201. It goes without saying that it is possible to exist in the same or independently.

[Fourth Embodiment] In addition, this apparatus is a host 2
It is also possible to execute processing at a location where the processing speed is most advantageous (fast), which exists at a plurality of locations between 01 and the printer.

[Fifth Embodiment] The present invention may be applied to a system including a plurality of devices or an apparatus including a single device.

The present invention also relates to a system or apparatus,
It also applies to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program for implementing the present invention.

[Sixth Embodiment] In the present embodiment, an example of a laser beam printer has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and another printing method such as an ink jet printer or a thermal transfer printer is used. It is also applicable to the printer device of.

[Seventh Embodiment] In addition, the first and second embodiments may be used in combination.

[Eighth Embodiment] In the first embodiment, the image data compression detection, the compressed image decoding, and the recompression in the second embodiment can be applied when the image data is filtered. .

[Ninth Embodiment] Applying the image data compression detection, compressed image decoding and recompression in the second embodiment as in the fifth embodiment when filtering the image data in the third embodiment. You can also In this case, it is obvious that the processes such as compression and decoding of the image data may be combined so that the processes may be performed only once.

[Tenth Embodiment] In the first and second embodiments, the data type received by the printer may be limited and the data type determination process may be omitted.

The configuration of the data processing program readable by the printing system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the memory map shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by the printing system according to the present invention.

Although not particularly shown, information for managing the program group stored in the storage medium, such as version information, creator, etc. is also stored, and information depending on the OS or the like on the program reading side, such as the program, is stored. In some cases, an icon or the like for identification and display is also stored.

Further, data dependent on various programs is also managed in the directory. In addition, a program for installing various programs on a computer or a program for decompressing a program to be installed when the program to be installed is compressed may be stored.

The functions shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 6 and 7 in this embodiment may be performed by the host computer by a program installed from the outside. In this case, the present invention is applied even when a group of information including a program is supplied to the output device from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or an FD, or from an external storage medium via a network. Things.

As described above, the storage medium recording the program code of the software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MP of the system or apparatus is supplied.
It goes without saying that the object of the present invention is also achieved when U) reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, C
DR, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, RO
M, EEPROM and the like can be used.

Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the OS (operating system) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that this also includes the case where the above) performs a part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, The CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs a part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

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 be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, by reading a storage medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the present invention into the system or apparatus, the system or apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention. .

Further, by downloading and reading the program represented by the software for achieving the present invention from the database on the network by the communication program, the system or apparatus can be
It is possible to enjoy the effects of the present invention.

[0103]

As described above, the first embodiment according to the present invention is described.
According to the invention, when the discriminating means discriminates that the predetermined printer language that can be analyzed by any of the analyzing means, the drawing image data generated for each type of print command analyzed by the discriminating analyzing means is On the other hand, since the first data processing means performs different data processing, it is possible to add print mode processing for outputting each drawing image data whose output density is different for each data type from the print information received from the data source.

According to the second invention, the first data processing means changes the painting pattern so as to be equal to or lower than the density level set in the density levels settable for a predetermined printer engine, and the drawing is performed. Since the image data is redrawn, it is possible to add a print mode process in which the output density is lower than that of the print information received from the data source and the image data is output as each drawn image data that is different for each data type.

According to the third aspect of the invention, when the discriminating means discriminates that the analyzing means is not a predetermined printer language that can be analyzed, the image data is determined based on the state designated by the designating means. Since the second data processing means performs a predetermined filter process for reducing the density, when the received print information is image data, the print mode for outputting the image information for solid printing as the print information with the reduced density. Processing can be added.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, since the designating means inputs and designates by a command from the data source, data for making a solid print output of the image information as a low density image information for trial printing by the command from the data source is used. A print mode process for outputting can be added.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, since the designating means inputs and designates from the operating section of the printing apparatus, the solid output of the image information is subjected to the trial printing as the low-density image information by the operating instruction from the operating section by the user. It is possible to add a print mode process for outputting data to be performed.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the predetermined filter processing performs feature extraction such as contour extraction of the image data so as to process the image data with a lower density, so that solid black coating is originally output and a large amount of developer is produced. The consumed image information can be output as image information that can be saved and printed without the developer being consumed.

According to the seventh aspect of the invention, the judging means extracts the characteristic data from the received print information and judges whether any of the analyzing means corresponds to a printer language that can be analyzed. It is possible to easily determine whether the printer language of the information corresponds to the parsable printer language.

According to the eighth invention, when the first type judging means judges that the print information is image data, the setting means specifies the output color of the image data by the color specifying means. Further, since the color different from the color of the text is set as an alternative, it is possible to generate print data that can be output as print data that allows the output color of the text and the output of the image to be visually and easily identified.

According to the ninth invention, when the second type determining means determines that the print information is multicolor image data, the third data processing means processes the multicolor image data in the printing device. Is processed into monochromatic image data for monochromatic output, it is possible to generate print data capable of visually identifying a multicolor image from a monochromatic output printing device.

According to the tenth invention, since the third data processing means processes the multicolor image data into monochromatic gradation image data, the multicolor image can be output as a visually distinguishable monochromatic image. Print data can be generated.

According to the eleventh aspect of the invention, in response to the inquiry by the inquiry means for inquiring the printer language type data of the print information sent from the data source, the obtaining means is arranged to obtain the printer language type data from the data source. When the printer information is acquired, the acquired type data of the printer language is stored in the storage unit, so that the printer language of the print information received from the data source can be easily determined.

According to the twelfth and fourteenth aspects, it is determined whether the print information received from the data source corresponds to a predetermined printer language that can be analyzed by any of the analysis means, and the determination determines which one of them. When the analysis unit determines that the printer language is a predetermined printer language that can be analyzed, different data processing is performed on the drawing image data generated for each type of print command analyzed by the determined analysis unit. It is possible to automate the process of adding the print mode process for outputting each drawing image data whose output density is different from the received print information for each data type.

According to the thirteenth and fifteenth inventions, it is judged whether the print information received from the data source corresponds to a predetermined printer language that can be analyzed by any of the analyzing means, and the received print information is stored. It is determined whether or not the image data is designated to be processed, and if it is determined that one of the analysis means is not a predetermined printer language that can be analyzed by the determination, the determination reduces the density of the image data. Since the predetermined filter process is performed, when the received print information is image data, it is possible to automate the process of adding the print mode process for outputting the image information for solid printing as the print information with the reduced density. .

Therefore, it is possible to easily add the print processing function for reducing the developer consumption in the printing apparatus to the printing apparatus, and to visually display the data to be printed in the printing apparatus having the print processing function for reducing the developer consumption. There is an effect such that data that can be identified can be generated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an internal structure of a laser beam printer applied to this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a data processing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a data processing method of the data processing device of the present invention.

4 is a flowchart showing an example of the drafting processing procedure shown in FIG.

5 is a diagram showing an example of a paint pattern change table stored in the ROM shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of halftone dot drawing command processing in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a second embodiment of the data processing method of the data processing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by the printing system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 201 Host 202 Printer Engine 204 Operation Panel 206 CPU 207 ROM 209 RAM 211 External Interface 212 Control Card

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A data processing device for processing print information received from a data source and outputting print data to a printing device, wherein a plurality of analyzing means for analyzing a print command based on a predetermined printer language to generate a drawn image. A discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the print information received from the data source corresponds to a predetermined printer language that can be analyzed by any of the analyzing means; When it is determined that the language is the printer language, different data processing is performed on the drawing image data generated for each type of print command analyzed by the determined analyzing means, and first data processing means for generating the drawing image data. And a data processing device. 2. The first data processing unit redraws the drawing image data by changing the paint pattern so that the density level is equal to or lower than a density level set in a predetermined printer engine. The data processing device according to claim 1, wherein 3. A data processing device for processing print information received from a data source and outputting the print data to a printing device, wherein a print command based on a predetermined printer language in the print data is analyzed to generate a drawing image. A plurality of analyzing means, a determining means for determining whether the print information received from the data source corresponds to a predetermined printer language that can be analyzed by any of the analyzing means, and the received print information is processed as image data. When the designating means for designating and the discriminating means discriminate that it is not a predetermined printer language that can be analyzed by any of the analyzing means, the density is reduced for the image data based on the designation state by the designating means. A data processing device comprising: a second data processing unit that performs a predetermined filtering process. 4. The data processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the designation means performs input designation by a command from a data source. 5. The data processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the designating means inputs and designates from an operation unit of the printing apparatus. 6. The data processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined filtering process performs a feature extraction process on the image data. 7. The determination unit extracts the characteristic data from the received print information and determines whether any of the analysis units corresponds to a printer language that can be analyzed. Data processing equipment. 8. A data processing device for processing print information received from a data source and outputting the print data to a printing device, and color specifying means for specifying a color for text data output from the printing device, and the print information. A first type determining means for determining whether the print information is image data, and an output color of the image data when the first type determining means determines that the print information is image data. A data processing device, comprising: a setting unit that substitutes a color different from the color of the text designated by the unit. 9. A data processing device for processing print information received from a data source and outputting the print data to a printing device, the second type determining means for determining whether or not the print information is multicolor image data. And third data processing for processing the multicolor image data into single color image data to be output in a single color from the printing device when the second type determination means determines that the print information is multicolor image data. And a data processing device. 10. The data processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the third data processing means processes multicolor image data into monochromatic gradation image data. 11. Inquiry means for inquiring printer language type data of print information transmitted from said data source,
9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires the printer language type data from the data source in response to an inquiry by the inquiry unit, and a holding unit that holds the acquisition unit. The data processing device according to any one of claims 1 and 2. 12. A printer having a plurality of analysis means for analyzing a print command based on a predetermined printer language to generate a drawn image, and prints the print information received from a data source by analyzing the print information by any one of the analysis means. In a data processing method of a data processing device for outputting print data to a device, a determination step of determining whether or not the print information received from the data source corresponds to a predetermined printer language that can be analyzed by any analysis means, When it is determined that the printer language is one that can be analyzed by any of the analysis means,
A data processing method of a data processing device, comprising: a first data processing step of performing different data processing for each type of print command analyzed by the determined analysis means and generating drawing image data. 13. Data comprising: a plurality of analyzing means for analyzing a print command based on a predetermined printer language to generate a drawn image; and a specifying means for designating processing of the received print information as image data. In the data processing method of the data processing device, wherein the print information received from the data source is analyzed by any one of the above-mentioned analysis means to output the print data to the printing device, the print information received from the data source is analyzed by any of the analysis means. A determination step of determining whether or not the printer information corresponds to a possible predetermined printer language, a determination step of determining whether or not the received print information is designated to be processed as image data, and one of the analysis means is determined by the determination. When it is determined that the printer language is not a parsable predetermined printer language, the density is reduced for the image data by the determination. And a second data processing step of performing a predetermined filter process. 14. A storage medium storing a program used by a computer for analyzing print information received from a data source by any of the analyzing means, and the print information received from the data source is analyzed by any of the analyzing means. A discriminating program code of a discriminating step for discriminating whether or not it corresponds to a possible predetermined printer language, and if it is discriminated by the discrimination that one of the analyzing means is a predetermined printer language that can be analyzed, the discriminated analysis A computer-readable program including a processing program code of a first data processing step for performing different data processing for each type of print command analyzed by the means and generating drawing image data. Storage medium. 15. A storage medium storing a program used by a computer for analyzing print information received from a data source by any of the analyzing means, and the print information received from the data source is analyzed by any of the analyzing means. A determination program code of a determination step of determining whether or not it corresponds to a possible predetermined printer language, a determination program code of a determination step of determining whether to process the received print information as image data, When it is determined that one of the analysis means is not a predetermined printer language that can be analyzed by the determination, the processing program of the second data processing step that performs a predetermined filtering process for reducing the density of the image data by the determination. That you have stored a computer-readable program, including code and Characteristic storage medium.