JPH0976597A - Page output device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To print out output data from output paper by converting output image to page image coinciding with the output paper without lowering output image and taking a processing time. SOLUTION: A judge part 1a performs the shape comparison of the output demand size shown by a print job (j) and the output paper size outputted from printers 8-10 before the developing processing by decomposers 2-4 and a conversion matrix forming part 1b forms a conversion matrix performing the processing of expansion/contraction or rotation housed in an output paper size on the basis of the shape comparison result and a job output control part 1 is sues the command to the decomposer selecting this conversion matrix. The selected decomposer uses this conversion matrix to convert the image data of an output command size to develop the same on bit map data and this bit map data of a page unit is outputted from a printer control part and the printer connected thereto.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a page output device for outputting a page image suitable for the size of a print sheet when printed out page by page based on image information requested for output page by page.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a page output method such as a page printer which outputs output-requested image information in page units, output data is created by expanding output-requested image information in the output-requested page size. However, the created output data is printed out on the output paper as it is.

In such a page output method, it is necessary to always output in the same size and direction. Therefore, for example, output data (data reduced to 81%) that enables the page image of B4 to be output on the sheet of A4,
When trying to print out on the paper of B5, the page image does not fit in the paper of B5, so the page image runs off the paper of B5. In this case, to fit the page image on the B5 paper, 70
Data reduced to% is required. That is, the conventional page output method has a problem that it is not always properly printed on a desired sheet.

On the other hand, there is a page output method in which, when a page image for one page is created, the created bitmap data is enlarged / reduced or rotated.

According to this page output method, since the page image is converted so as to fit on the output paper,
You can always print out in conformity with the output paper.

However, since the bitmap data expanded into the page image is enlarged / reduced, the dots of the original page image may be lost, or the enlarged / reduced page image may be jagged. As a result, the output quality is deteriorated, and the bitmap data is subjected to enlargement / reduction processing, which causes a problem that it takes a long processing time.

In order to solve this problem, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-2
In Japanese Patent Publication No. 4301, the print data sent from the host computer is converted into an intermediate code including information such as enlargement / reduction, and when the intermediate code is converted, an appropriate size of paper is selected. The automatic paper selection method described above is described.

According to this, since the processing such as enlargement / reduction is performed by using the intermediate code instead of the bitmap data, the output quality is not deteriorated, but the processing for newly creating the intermediate code is required. Therefore, it takes processing time.

[0009]

As described above, in the conventional page output method, it is not always possible to print out with an appropriate output paper, and even if this page output method is improved, the output quality is improved. However, there is a problem that the processing time is lowered or the processing time is increased.

Therefore, the present invention eliminates such problems, does not deteriorate the output quality, and does not take a processing time,
An object of the present invention is to provide a page output device capable of converting a page image that matches an output sheet and printing output data from the output sheet.

[0011]

According to the present invention, there is provided a page output device for outputting image information of an output request size on a sheet of a predetermined output paper size in page units, the output request size before the expansion processing of the image information. And a comparison means for performing a shape comparison between the output paper size and the output paper size, and based on the comparison result of the comparison means, the image information of the output demand size is converted into the image information of the output demand size so that the image information of the output demand size is contained Conversion matrix generating means for generating a conversion matrix to be applied,
It is characterized by further comprising: expansion processing means for expanding the image information of the output request size into bitmap data using the conversion matrix.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a job output device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the job output device includes a job output controller 1 connected to a network (not shown), and a plurality of decomposers 2a connected to the job output controller 1.
To 2c, a plurality of printer control units 3a to 3c, and a printer 4 connected to the printer control units 3a to 3c, respectively.
a to 4c.

The job output control unit 1 interprets the input print job J and selects an appropriate decomposer capable of developing the print job J into image data, that is, bitmap data, from the decomposers 2a to 2c. Then, the expansion processing is instructed. Further, the job output control unit 1 selects an appropriate printer capable of outputting the expanded bitmap data from the printers 4a to 4c, and controls the selected printer.
Instruct a to 3c to output the bitmap data.

The job output control unit 1 compares and judges the page size instructed by the print job J and the size of the paper actually printed out based on the interpretation result of the input print job J. It has a unit 1a and a conversion matrix generation unit 1b that generates an appropriate conversion matrix based on the determination result of the determination unit 1a, and instructs the selected decomposer on the generated conversion matrix. Further, the job output control unit 1 gives an instruction to output the bitmap data generated by the decomposer from the printer connected to the printer control unit via the selected printer control unit.

The decomposers 2a to 2c perform a process of expanding the bitmap data based on the print data as an interpretation result of the print job J input via the job output control unit 1. Each decomposer has an interpreter 2a and an imager 2b. Interpreter 2a
Interprets print data, and the imager 2b generates bitmap data as a page image based on the interpretation result. At this time, the conversion matrix is input together with the print data, and bitmap data to which this conversion matrix is added is generated.

The expansion processing by the decomposers 2a to 2c may be a combination of different expansion processings, or may include the same expansion processings.

The printer control units 3a to 3c, based on the output instruction from the job output control unit 1, develop the page-wise bitmap data for the printers 4a to 4c by the decomposers 2a to 2c. Output control.

The decomposers 2a to 2c, the printer control units 3a to 3c, and the printer 4 corresponding to each of them.
Each of a to 4c has three configurations, but of course 3
The number is not limited to one and may be one or any number.

Next, the page output processing procedure of the job output device will be described with reference to the flow charts of FIGS.

In FIG. 2, first, the job output control unit 1
When a print job of document data described in, for example, page description language (PDL) is input from a network (not shown), the job output control unit 1 prints the paper size (width W, height H) of the printer. Is acquired (step 101). After that, the job output control unit 1 acquires the page size (width w, height h) of the print data based on the page size information in the print job (step 102). After that, the determination unit 1a of the job output control unit 1
Determines the type of processing based on the acquired paper size and page size (step 103). That is, processing division is performed. Furthermore, the conversion matrix generation unit 1b generates a corresponding conversion matrix for each processing section (step 10).
4).

After that, the job output controller 1 acquires a page buffer for the decomposing process (step 1
05), together with the input print data, the generated transform matrix and the acquired page buffer are instructed to the decomposer (step 106).

Thereafter, the instructed decomposer performs decomposing processing using the instructed page buffer based on the print data and the conversion matrix (step 10).
7). After that, the job output control unit 1 gives an instruction to print out the decomposed page image from the printer via the printer control unit, and the decomposed image data is printed out from the printer (step 108).

After that, the job output control unit 1 judges whether or not the printing of all pages is completed (step 109),
If printing of all pages has not ended, the process proceeds to step 102 and the above-described processing is repeated, and if printing of all pages has ended, this processing ends.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The process type determination process in step 103 will be described.

First, the judgment unit 1a determines the page size width w.
And the width W of the paper size are equal, and the height h of the page size is equal to the height H of the paper size (step 201). Here, when it is determined that both the width and the height of the page size and the paper size are equal,
It is determined that the type of processing is "no enlargement / reduction processing" (step 202), and the process returns to step 103. That is,
When both the width and height of the page size and the paper size are the same, it is naturally judged that it is not necessary to perform the enlargement / reduction processing or the rotation processing.

On the other hand, if it cannot be said in step 201 that the page size and the paper size have the same width and the page size and the paper size have the same height, the page size width w and the paper size height H are further determined. Are equal, and the height h of the page size and the width W of the paper size are equal (step 203). Here, if the page size width w and the paper size height H are equal, and the page size height h and the paper size width W are equal, it is determined that the type of processing is "rotation processing" (step 204),
The process returns to step 103.

If it cannot be said in step 203 that the page size width w is equal to the paper size height H and the page size height h is equal to the paper size width W, then the page size width is further increased. A ratio A1 of the width W of the paper size to w and a ratio A2 of the height H of the paper size to the height h of the page size are obtained (step 205). Then, it is determined whether the ratio A1 is equal to or less than the ratio A2 (step 206). When it is determined that the ratio A1 is not less than the ratio A2, the variable A is set to the value of the ratio A2 (step 207), and when it is determined that the ratio A1 is not more than the ratio A2, the variable A is set to the value of the ratio A1. (Step 208).

Further, a ratio B1 of the paper size width W to the page size height h and a ratio B2 of the paper size height H to the page size width w are obtained (step 2).
09). Then, it is determined whether the ratio B1 is equal to or less than the ratio B2 (step 210). If it is determined that the ratio B1 is not less than the ratio B2, the variable B is set to the value of the ratio B2 (step 211), and if it is determined that the ratio B1 is less than the ratio B2, the variable B is set to the value of the ratio B1. (Step 21
2).

Then, it is judged whether or not the value of the variable A is equal to or more than the value of the variable B (step 213). If it is determined that the value of the variable A is greater than or equal to the value of the variable B, the type of processing is determined to be "enlargement / reduction processing" (step 21).
4) If it is determined that the value of the variable A is not greater than or equal to the value of the variable B, the type of processing is determined to be "enlargement / reduction rotation processing" (step 215), and the process returns to step 103.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The conversion matrix generation processing in step 104 will be described.

In the conversion matrix generation processing, corresponding conversion matrices are generated based on the result of the determination of the type of processing in step 103.

That is, first, it is determined whether or not the type of processing is "no enlargement / reduction rotation" (step 301). Here, when the type of processing is "no scaling rotation", a conversion matrix that does not perform scaling processing and rotation processing is generated (step 302), and the process returns to step 104. That is, a conversion matrix without any conversion processing is generated.

If the type of processing is not "no enlargement / reduction rotation" in step 301, it is further determined whether the type of processing is "rotation processing" (step 303). If the type of processing is "rotation processing", a conversion matrix that causes this rotation is generated (step 304), and the process returns to step 104.

If the processing type is not "rotation processing" in step 303, the processing type is "enlargement / reduction processing".
Or not (step 305). When the type of processing is "enlargement / reduction processing", a conversion matrix for performing this enlargement / reduction is generated (step 306), and the process returns to step 104.

If the type of processing is not "enlargement / reduction processing" in step 305, a conversion matrix for performing the corresponding enlargement / reduction processing and rotation processing is generated (step 307), and the process returns to step 104.

Next, a concrete conversion matrix generation process will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 5 shows the processing type "no scaling rotation".
It is a figure which shows the specific example of the conversion matrix in the case of. FIG.
, The width w of the page size is "200", the value of the height h is "300", the width W of the paper size to be actually printed is "200", and the height H is "300". Is. Therefore, A transformation matrix of 3 rows and 3 columns having the following array is generated.

Next, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a concrete example of the conversion matrix in the case of the processing type “rotation processing”. In FIG. 6, the width w and the height h of the page size are “200” and “300”, respectively, as in FIG. In contrast,
The width and height of the paper size are inversely related to the width and height of the page size. That is, the value of the width W of the paper size is "300", and the value of the height H is "200". Therefore, the center of the lower left vertex of the original page image is 9
A conversion matrix that rotates 0 degrees and further translates this rotated page image in the X direction by a value “300” of height W is generated. That is, A transformation matrix of 3 rows and 3 columns is generated.

Next, FIG. 7 shows the type of processing "enlargement / reduction processing".
It is a figure which shows the specific example of the conversion matrix in the case of. Here, FIG. 7A shows an example when the paper size is smaller than the original page size, and FIG. 7B shows an example when the paper size is larger than the original page size. ing.

In FIG. 7A, the page size width w
And the height h are “200” and “3”, respectively, as in FIG.
00 ”. On the other hand, the width W of the paper size is “10
The height H is “0” and the height H is “200”. Therefore, step 2
The value of the ratio A1 obtained in 05 is width W / width w = “10
Since it is "0" / "200", it becomes "1/2", and the ratio A
The value of 2 is “2/3” because the height H / height h = “200” / “300”. The value of the ratio B1 obtained in step 209 is the height H / width w = “200” /
Since it is “200”, it becomes “1”, and the value of the ratio B2 is “1 / W” because width W / height h = “100” / “300”.
3 ". Therefore, the smaller ratio is the ratio A
1 and the ratio B2. Then, comparing the magnitudes of this ratio, the ratio A1 (= 1/2)> the ratio B2 (= 1/3), so only the enlargement / reduction process is performed without performing the rotation process.

In this case, a conversion matrix that is reduced to 1/2 is generated, but if the width of the reduced page image is w'and the height is h ', there is a margin in the height direction (Y direction). Occurs. The height of this margin is height H-height h ', and in order to equally divide this margin in the vertical direction, the page image is (height H-height h') / 2 in the Y direction, that is, "25". Generate a transformation matrix that translates by the size of. In addition, parallel movement processing associated with rotational movement is also performed. As a result, the following transformation matrix is generated. That is, It is.

FIG. 7B shows the case where the enlargement processing is performed, and the width w and the height h of the page size are "200" and "300", respectively, as in FIG. In contrast,
The width W of the paper size is “300” and the height H is “500”. Therefore, the value of the ratio A1 obtained in step 205 is width W / width w = “300” / “200”,
It becomes "3/2", and the value of ratio A2 is height H / height h =
Since it is "500" / "300", it becomes "5/3". Also, the value of the ratio B1 obtained in step 209 is
Since the height H / width w = “500” / “200”,
It becomes "5/2", and the value of the ratio B2 is the width W / height h = "3".
Since it is "00" / "300", it becomes "1". Therefore, the smaller ratio is the ratio A1 and the ratio B2, respectively.
Then, comparing the magnitudes of this ratio, the ratio A1 (= “3 /
2 ”)> ratio B2 (=“ 1 ”), the rotation process is not performed and only the enlargement / reduction process is performed.

In this case, a conversion matrix that expands to 3/2 is generated, but as in the case of FIG. 7A, the parallel movement processing in consideration of the margin of the page image is simultaneously performed. This translation is (height H−height h ′) / 2, that is, “25” in the Y direction. In addition, processing of parallel movement associated with rotational movement is also performed. Therefore, the final transformation matrix is as follows. That is, Becomes

Next, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a specific example of the conversion matrix in the case of the processing type “enlargement / reduction rotation processing”.
Here, FIG. 8A shows an example when the paper size is smaller than the original page size, and FIG. 8B shows an example when the paper size is larger than the original page size. ing.

In FIG. 8A, the page size width w
And the height h are “200” and “3”, respectively, as in FIG.
00 ”. On the other hand, the width W of the paper size is “20
0 "and the height H are" 100 ". Therefore, step 2
The value of the ratio A1 obtained in 05 is width W / width w = “20
Since it is “0” / “200”, it becomes “1”, and the value of the ratio A2 becomes “1/3” because the height H / height h = “100” / “300”. The value of the ratio B1 obtained in step 209 is the height H / width w = “100” / “2”.
Since it is "00", it becomes "1/2", and the value of the ratio B2 is
Since width W / height h = “200” / “300”,
It becomes "2/3". Therefore, the smaller ratio is
The ratio becomes A2 and B1. When comparing the magnitudes of this ratio, the ratio is A2 (= 1/3) <B1 (= 1/2). Therefore, the rotation process of 90 degrees and the enlargement / reduction process are performed.

In this case, a conversion matrix reduced to 1/2 is generated, but in order to divide the margin of the reduced page image equally, (width W-width w ') / 2, that is, in the X direction. A parallel movement process with a size of "25" is also performed. Of course, 9
A parallel movement process for changing the origin associated with the 0 ° rotation process is also performed. As a result, the following transformation matrix is generated. That is, It is.

FIG. 8B shows the case where the enlargement process is performed, and the width w and the height h of the page size are "200" and "300", respectively, as in FIG. In contrast,
The width W of the paper size is “500” and the height is “300”. Therefore, the value of the ratio A1 obtained in step 205 is width W / width w = “500” / “200”,
It becomes “5/2”, and the value of the ratio A2 is height H / height h =
Since it is "300" / "300", it becomes "1". The value of the ratio B1 obtained in step 209 is the height H
/ Width w = “300” / “200”, so “3 /
2 ”, and the value of the ratio B2 is width W / height h =“ 500 ”
Since it is / “300”, it becomes “5/3”. Therefore,
The smaller ratios are ratio A2 and ratio B1, respectively. Then, comparing the magnitudes of this ratio, the ratio A2 (= 1) <the ratio B
Since it is 1 (= 3/2), the rotation processing of 90 degrees and the enlargement / reduction processing are performed.

In this case, a conversion matrix that expands to 3/2 is generated, but in order to divide the margin of the expanded page image into equal parts, (width W-width w ') / 2, that is, " Two
A parallel movement process of 5 "is also performed. Of course, the parallel movement process for changing the origin associated with the 90 ° rotation process is also performed. As a result, the following transformation matrix is generated. That is, It is.

The conversion matrix thus generated is sent to the decomposer, and the conversion matrix is used at the time of the decompose processing, and the expansion processing for simultaneously performing the scaling processing or the rotation processing is executed. . As a result, the processing time associated with the enlargement / reduction processing or the rotation processing for matching the paper size is shortened, and the paper of the size matching the paper size is always selected and printed out.

Of course, the paper size does not have to be rectangular, and in the extreme case where the paper size is circular, it is only necessary to generate a conversion matrix for converting into a circle, and the advantage of using a conversion matrix But also. In the case of a circular paper size, the maximum rectangular area inscribed in the circle may be detected and the page image may be printed out in the rectangular area.

In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the conversion matrix is always generated, but the print job includes the designation information indicating that the conversion matrix is not generated.
As a result, the conversion matrix is not generated, and it is possible to combine the adaptive printout and the faithful printout that does not use the conversion matrix, depending on the presence or absence of this designation information.

Further, "no scaling rotation" shown in FIG.
In this case, the conversion matrix is also generated, but in this case as well, the conversion matrix may not be generated and unnecessary processing may not be performed.

[0055]

As described above, in the present invention, when the image information of the output request size is output page by page on the paper of the predetermined output paper size, the comparing means outputs the image information before the expansion processing of the image information. The shape comparison between the requested size and the output paper size is performed, and the conversion matrix generation means converts the image information of the output requested size into the image information of the output requested size so as to fit within the output paper size based on the shape comparison result. A conversion matrix to be applied is generated, and using the generated conversion matrix, expansion processing means expands the image information of the output request size into bitmap data, and this bitmap data is converted into paper of the output paper size. Since I am trying to print out, I do not always reduce the output quality,
Moreover, there is an advantage that a page image that matches the output paper size can be output without spending processing time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a job output device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a page output processing procedure of the job output device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a detailed processing procedure of processing type determination processing in step 103.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a detailed processing procedure of conversion matrix generation processing in step 104.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a specific example of a conversion matrix when the processing type is “no scaling rotation”.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a specific example of a conversion matrix in the case of a processing type “rotation processing”.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a specific example of a conversion matrix in the case of the processing type “enlargement / reduction processing”.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a specific example of a conversion matrix in the case of the processing type “enlargement / reduction rotation processing”.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Job output control section 1a ... Judgment section 1b ... Conversion matrix generation section 2-4 ... Decomposer 2a ... Interpreter 2b ... Imager 5-7 ... Printer control section 8-10 ... Printer J ... Print job

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A page output device for outputting image information of an output request size on a sheet of a predetermined output paper size in page units, wherein the output request size and the output paper size are shaped before the image information expansion processing. Based on a comparison result of the comparison means and the comparison result of the comparison means, a conversion matrix applied to the image information of the output request size is generated so that the image information of the output request size fits within the output paper size. A page output device comprising: a conversion matrix generation unit; and a development processing unit that develops image information of the output request size into bitmap data using the conversion matrix.