JPH1016298A - Information processor and processing method, printer and printing method, information processing system and memory medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor, a printer and a memory medium in which deficiency of memory capacity can be eliminated at the time of printing the image data of a computer. SOLUTION: A host computer 1020 comprises a memory 1024 for storing the image data of a 16 gray level data and a 256 gray level data, a CPU 1021 for arranging the 16 gray level data and the 256 gray level data in the order of gray level starting from the 16 gray level data, and a transmitting/receiving interface section 1022 for transmitting the 16 gray level data and the 256 gray level data thus arranged in the order of gray level starting from the 16 gray level data to a printer. An LBP 1000 comprises a transmitting/receiving interface section 1002 for receiving the 16 gray level data and the 256 gray level data in the order of gray level starting from the 16 gray level data from the host computer 1020, a page butter memory 1004 for storing the data in the order of gray level starting from the 16 gray level data, and an engine controller 1006 for printing the data in the order of gray level starting from the 16 gray level data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method, a printing apparatus and method, an information processing system, and a storage medium which communicate with each other bidirectionally.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional information processing system comprises a computer and a printer connected to each other via, for example, a bidirectional Centronics interface. The printer analyzes the data received from the computer, develops bitmap data, scans the laser beam on the photosensitive drum based on the developed data, and records the data on the photosensitive drum. This computer has a higher resolution and a higher gradation with the improvement of graphic capabilities in recent years, and the same can be said for a printer. That is, the computer handles high-resolution and high-gradation data such as CAD (computer-aided design), CG (computer graphics), design, and DTP (desktop publishing) fields in business, and the printer handles the high-resolution and high-gradation data. Of data is printed. This, without recovery, increases the amount of data to be processed by the computer or printer, and consequently reduces the transfer rate from the computer to the printer and the printing speed of the printer in inverse proportion to the increase in data amount.

[0003]

However, in a conventional computer, an increase in data having a high gradation causes a situation in which a memory capacity shortage occurs because a large amount of the memory capacity of the printer is used, and printing cannot be performed. In such a case, in order to enable printing of unprintable data, it is necessary to change the setting of the printer for lowering the gradation or to increase the memory capacity in order to solve the memory capacity shortage. In addition, since text data including only characters does not need to be printed with a high gradation, the gradation can be changed to a low gradation depending on the situation even in a printer capable of printing with a high gradation.

[0004] Further, there is a conventional computer and a conventional printer which communicate print data bidirectionally with each other. In this case, data other than the print data stored in the memory of the printer includes: Since bidirectional communication cannot be performed, the printer is resident in the memory of the printer, causing a shortage of memory capacity and causing a situation in which printing cannot be performed.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus and method, a printing apparatus and method, an information processing system, and an information processing method capable of solving a shortage of memory capacity when printing is performed by a printer using image data of a computer. It is to provide a storage medium.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises a storage means for storing image data including low image information level data and high image information level data; Sorting means for sorting the image data into the low image information level data and the high image information level data, and sorting the sorted low image information level data and high image information level data from the low image information level data. Arranging means for arranging the image information levels in order of image information level, and transmitting means for transmitting the arranged low image information level data and high image information level data to the printing apparatus in order of image information level from the low image information level data. Characteristic information processing device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus of the first aspect, the image information level comprises a gradation.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus of the first aspect, the image information level comprises a resolution.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the information processing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the data stored in the printing apparatus and the printing to be executed by the printing apparatus is performed. A temporary storage unit for temporarily storing unnecessary data, and a transfer unit for transferring the temporarily stored unnecessary data to the printing apparatus after executing the printing.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus of the fourth aspect, storage means for adding the index to the temporarily stored unnecessary data and storing the information management table using the index. Management means for managing unnecessary data created and indexed in the information management table.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the printing apparatus receives at least the low image information level data of the low image information level data and the high image information level data stored in the information processing apparatus in the order of the image information levels from the low image information level data. Receiving means for storing the received at least low image information level data in order of image information level from the low image information level data; and storing the stored at least low image information level data in the low image information. And printing means for printing in order of image information level from the level data.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus of the sixth aspect, the image information level comprises a gradation.

The printing apparatus according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the printing apparatus according to the sixth aspect, wherein the image information level comprises a resolution.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to any one of the sixth to eighth aspects, unnecessary data transmission means for transmitting data unnecessary for printing to the information processing apparatus before executing the printing. And unnecessary data receiving means for receiving data unnecessary for the printing after the execution of the printing.

A printing apparatus according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is the printing apparatus according to the ninth aspect, wherein the receiving unnecessary data is stored with an index added thereto, and an information management table is created using the index. Management means for managing the indexed data in the information management table.

An information processing system according to an eleventh aspect is characterized by comprising the information processing apparatus according to the first aspect and the printing apparatus according to the sixth aspect.

In the information processing method according to a twelfth aspect, a storing step of storing image data including low image information level data and high image information level data, and storing the image data in the low image information level data and the high image information level. A sorting step of sorting the low image information level data and the high image information level data from the low image information level data in the order of the image information level; and an arrayed low image information level. Transmitting the data and the high image information level data to the printing apparatus in order from the low image information level data to the image information level.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing method comprising:
In the information processing method, the image information level includes a gradient.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the information processing method according to the twelfth aspect.
In the information processing method, the image information level includes a resolution.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the information processing method according to the twelfth aspect.
15. The information processing method according to any one of items 1 to 14,
A temporary storage step of temporarily storing data unnecessary for printing to be executed by the printing apparatus, the data being unnecessary in the printing apparatus, and the unnecessary data temporarily stored after the execution of the printing. And a transfer step of transferring the print data to the printing apparatus.

[0021] The information processing method according to claim 16 is based on claim 15.
In the information processing method described, a storing step of storing the temporarily stored unnecessary data with an index,
A management step of creating an information management table using the index and managing unnecessary data with the index in the information management table.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the printing method, at least the low image information level data of the low image information level data and the high image information level data stored in the information processing apparatus is received in order from the low image information level data to the image information level. Receiving, storing the received at least low image information level data in order of image information level from the low image information level data, and storing the stored at least low image information level data in the low image information. And a printing step of printing in order of image information level from the level data.

In a printing method according to an eighteenth aspect, in the printing method according to the seventeenth aspect, the image information level comprises a gradation.

A printing method according to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention is the printing method according to the seventeenth aspect, wherein the image information level comprises a resolution.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, in the printing method according to any one of the seventeenth to nineteenth aspects, unnecessary data transmission for transmitting data unnecessary for the printing to the information processing apparatus before executing the printing. And an unnecessary data receiving step of receiving data unnecessary for the printing after the execution of the printing.

In a printing method according to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, in the printing method according to the twentieth aspect, a storing step of storing the received unnecessary data with an index, and an information management table is created using the index, And a management step of managing the indexed data in the information management table.

A storage medium according to claim 22 is a storage module for storing image data including low image information level data and high image information level data in a memory, and storing the image data in the low image information level data and the low image information level data. A sorting module of a sorting step of sorting into high image information level data, and an array of an arraying step of arranging the sorted low image information level data and high image information level data in order of image information level from the low image information level data. A program having a module and a transmission module of a transmission step of transmitting the arranged low image information level data and high image information level data to the printing apparatus in order of image information levels from the low image information level data. Features.

According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, the storage medium receives at least the low image information level data of the low image information level data and the high image information level data stored in the information processing device in the order of the image information levels from the low image information level data. A receiving module of the receiving step, a storing module of a storing step of storing the received at least the low image information level data in a memory in the order of the image information levels from the low image information level data, and the stored at least low image A program having a printing module for a printing step for printing the information level data in order of the image information level from the low image information level data by the printing apparatus is stored.

[0029]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a printing apparatus and an information processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a printing apparatus and an information processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The printing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as LBP) in this embodiment
Reference numeral 1000 denotes a photographic printing apparatus, which includes an engine controller 1006 as a printing unit and a printer controller 1010.
The printer controller 1010 has a ROM 1001A
And a CPU 1001 including a RAM 1001B, a transmission / reception interface unit 1002 as a receiving unit, a font memory 1003, a page buffer memory 1004 as a storage unit, and a bitmap memory 1005. The host computer 1020 as an information processing apparatus includes a CPU 1021, a transmission / reception interface unit 1022 as a transmission unit, a disk controller 1023, a storage device 1024 as a storage unit, and a CRT controller 1025. Here, the CPU 1021 constitutes sorting means and arranging means in the information processing apparatus of the present invention.

The CPU 1001 includes a transmission / reception interface unit 1002, a font memory 1003, a page buffer memory 1004, a bit map memory 1005
And the engine controller 1006.

The CPU 1021 includes a transmission / reception interface unit 1022, a disk controller 1023,
It is connected to the RT controller 1025. The disk controller 1023 is connected to the storage device 1024. CRT controller 1025 is CRT 1026
, And the transmission / reception interface unit 1022 is connected to the transmission / reception interface unit 1002.

The CPU 1001 controls the LBP 1000 and performs processing described later. R included in CPU 1001
The OM 1001A stores a program for performing processing described later, and the RAM 1001B is a work area necessary for executing the program. The transmission / reception interface unit 1002 performs transmission / reception with the host computer 1020, and the font memory 1003 stores font data. The page buffer memory 1004 stores image data in page units, and the bitmap memory 1005 expands one page of image data.
The engine controller 1006 stores the bitmap memory 1
Printing processing is performed based on the image data developed in 005. With these configurations, the LBP 1000 outputs a print result 1009 on paper.

The CPU 1021 is connected to the host computer 1
At 020, a process described later is performed. The transmission / reception interface unit 1022 transmits / receives image data to / from the transmission / reception interface unit 1002 of the LBP 1000. The disk controller 1023 controls the storage device 1024, and the storage device 1024 stores image data. C
The RT controller 1025 is a CRT that is a display device.
1026 is controlled. The CRT 1026 displays image data.

When a print command is issued by the CPU 1021, the image data is called from the storage device 1024 via the disk controller 1023, and the called image data is sent to the transmission / reception interface unit 1022.
Is sent to the LBP1000.
It is sent to the transmission / reception interface unit 1002 in the inside. The print data sent to the transmission / reception interface unit 1002 is sent to the page buffer memory 10 via the CPU 1001.
04 is temporarily stored in page units. After that, one page of image data is developed by the bitmap memory 1005, and printing processing is performed based on the image data developed by the engine controller 1006. CRT1
Numeral 026 displays image data.

Hereinafter, the LBP1000 will be described with reference to FIG.
Will be described. FIG. 2 shows the internal structure of LBP1000.

In FIG. 2, an LBP 1000 includes an operation panel 2001, a printer control unit 2002, a laser driver 2003, a semiconductor laser 2004 for emitting a laser beam 2005, a rotating mirror body 2006, an electrostatic drum 2007, and a developing device. A unit 2008, a paper cassette 2009, a paper feed roller 2010, and a transport roller 2011 are provided.

The printer controller 1010 in the block diagram of FIG. 1 is included in the printer control unit 2002.

The LBP 1000 forms an image on a recording paper as a storage medium based on a supplied character pattern or the like. The operation panel 2001 has switches for operation and LEDs for display, and the printer control unit 2002 has LB
The entire control of P1000 and character pattern information are analyzed. The laser driver 2003 is a semiconductor laser 2004
Control. The semiconductor laser 2004 is a laser beam 2005
Fire. The emitted laser beam 2005 is scanned on the electrostatic drum 2007 via the rotating mirror body 2006 to form an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic drum 2007. The developing unit 2008 develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrostatic drum 2007. The paper cassette 2009 stores cut recording paper, and includes a paper feed roller 2010 and a transport roller 201.
1 supplies the cut recording paper to the electrostatic drum 2007.

The laser driver 2003 receives the input image data, and switches on / off the laser light 2005 emitted from the semiconductor laser 2004 based on the image data. Launched laser light 200
Numeral 5 is swung in the left-right direction by the rotating mirror body 2006 and is scanned on the electrostatic drum 2007 to form an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic drum 2007. This electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing unit 2008 around the electrostatic drum 2007 and then transferred to a recording sheet. The recording paper is stored in a paper cassette 2009, and is supplied with a paper feed roller 2010 and a transport roller 201.
1 to the electrostatic drum 2007. With such a mechanism, given image data is output on recording paper.

Hereinafter, data representing the gradation of one dot in the transmission image data transmitted from the transmission / reception interface unit 1022 to the transmission / reception interface unit 1002 in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
Here, FIG. 3A is an explanatory diagram of data representing the gradation of one dot in the transmission image data. FIG.
The data representing the gradation of one dot in the transmission image data of (A) will be described only for the 256 gradation data section and the 16 gradation data section, but the present invention is not limited to these gradation data sections.

In FIG. 3A, data representing the gradation of one dot in the transmitted image data is composed of a 256 gradation data section 3000. 256 gradient data section 30
00 includes a 16-gradation data section 3001 and a complementary gradation data section 3002. Complementary gradient data section 30
02 is obtained by removing the 16-gradation data section 3001 from the 256-gradation data section 3000.

The 16-gradation data section 3001 stores the first
It is composed of a bit 3011, a second bit 3012, a third bit 3013, and a fourth bit 3014. The complementary gradient data section 3002 includes a fifth bit 3015 and a sixth bit 3015.
It is composed of a bit 3016, a seventh bit 3017, and an eighth bit 3018. Therefore, data representing the gradation of one dot in the transmission image data of FIG. 3A is composed of eight bits. The 256-gradation data section 3000 is divided into a 16-gradation data section 3001 and a gradation data section 3002.

When the 16-gradation data section 3001 is set to h = {0, 1, 2,..., 15}, the complementary gradation data section 3002 is set to m = {0, 1, 2,. The expression of the gradient is obtained by the following equation. In the case of 16 gradations In the case of gradation = h 256 In the case of gradations Gradation = h × 16 + m When the normal image data is divided by gradation by expressing the gradation of one dot as described above, it is divided. The data amount of the transmission image data does not increase.

Hereinafter, the transmitted image data for one page will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 3B is an explanatory diagram of the transmission image data for one page.

The transmitted image data for one page includes a header section 3003, a 16-gradation data section 3004,
Gradient data section end command 3005, 256-gradation data section 3006, 256-gradation data section end command 3
007. The header part 3003 includes the resolution, print size, and
Includes data capacity, setting change instructions, etc. The 16-gradation data section 3004 is obtained by collecting the 16-gradation data section 3001 for one page. End instruction 3 for 16-gradation data section
Reference numeral 005 denotes a DMA corresponding to reception using the CPU 1001 and a DMA (Direct Memory Accesses).
s) An instruction corresponding to at least one of instructions corresponding to transfer. The 256-gradation data section 3006 is obtained by collecting data of the 256-gradation data section 3000 for one page. The end instruction 3007 of the 256 gradation data section is C
One corresponding to reception using PU 1001 and DMA
(Direct Memory Access) This is an instruction corresponding to at least one of transfer and a one-page end instruction. The transmission image data for one page includes a header 3003, a 16-gradation data section 3004, and a 16-gradation data section end instruction 300.
5, 256 gradation data section 3006, 256 gradation data section are transmitted from the host computer to the printing apparatus in the order of termination command 3007.

As described above, the data representing the gradation of one dot in the transmission image data of FIG. 3A is composed of eight bits, but the data representing the gradation of one dot is at least one bit. What is necessary is just to be comprised. The 256-gradation data section 3000 is divided into a 16-gradation data section 3001 and a complementary gradation data section 3002 at one place, but in order to provide a plurality of gradation data sections, there is at least one section. Good. FIG.
In (A), the magnitude of the gradation of the data representing the gradation of one dot in the transmission image data is 256 gradations, but in order to provide a plurality of gradation data sections, at least 4 gradations are sufficient.

Hereinafter, the LBP1000 will be described with reference to FIG.
Will be described. Here, FIG.
6 is a flowchart showing a printing process of FIG.

First, at step S4000, LBP 100
When the power is turned on to 0, it is determined in step S4001 whether an initialization button has been pressed on the operation panel 2001 or a user's request to change the set gradation has been received from the operation panel 2001. Step S4001
In the determination of (1), when the initialization button is pressed on the operation panel 2001 or when there is a request from the operation panel 2001 to change the set gradation, the set gradation is changed (step S4002).

Next, in step S4003, the host computer 1020 sends the LBP 1000
It is determined whether or not at least one page of transmission image data shown in (B) has been transferred. Step S4003
Is determined by the host computer 1020 from the LB
If the transmission image data is transferred to P1000,
Proceeding to step S4004, the header section 300 shown in FIG.
At 3, it is determined whether or not an instruction to change the set gradient has been received. If it is determined in step S4003 that the transmission image data has not been transferred from the host computer 1020 to the LBP 1000, the process proceeds to step S4001.
To the step S4003.

In step S4004, header unit 3
If a command to change the set gradation is received in 003, the set gradation is changed according to the received command (step S4005). In step S4004, if the command to change the set gradient has not been received in the header section 3003, the process of step S4005 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S4006. In step S4005, the highest priority is given to the one set in the header section 3003, but if the transmitted image data has only one gradation from the beginning and the set gradation cannot be changed,
The initial setting of the printer in step S4001 may be given the highest priority.

Next, in step S4006, the amount of data included in the header section 3003 is compared with the current memory capacity to determine whether printing is possible with the current memory capacity. If printing is not possible with the current memory capacity,
A memory securing process is performed (step S4007), and the process proceeds to step S4008. If printing is possible with the current memory capacity, reception processing of the transmission image data is performed, and the transmission image data is stored in the page buffer memory 1004 (step S4008).
004 is developed in the bitmap memory 1005, and the engine controller 100
6 and perform printing (step S4009). By this printing, a print result 1009 is output. In this case, the image data stored in the page buffer memory 1004 is not expanded in the bitmap memory 1005, and the engine controller 1006 performs processing such as direct compression / expansion.
Can also be forwarded directly to

Next, in step S4010, it is determined whether to download the setting information saved in the memory securing process in step S4007. When downloading, the setting information saved in the memory securing process is received and the information is reset (step S4011), and the process proceeds to step S4012. If the download is to be performed in step S4010, the process proceeds to step S4012. In step S4012, it is determined whether to power off the LBP 1000. If the power of the LBP 1000 is not shut off, the process returns to step S4004, and the LBP 1000
If the power supply of is turned off, this process is immediately terminated.

Hereinafter, the information management table used in the memory securing process of FIG. 4 will be described with reference to FIG.
Here, FIG. 5 is an example of the information management table.

The information management table 5001 includes at least one index 5002. This index5
002 is font information 5003 and overlay information 5
004 and cache information 5005. Font information 5003 is font data necessary for printing.
The overlay information 5004 is information necessary for improving the efficiency of the memory, and the cache information 5005 is information necessary for increasing the printing speed. Information management table 50
01 is the font information 5 using the index 5002.
003, overlay information 5004, and cache information 5005. The information management table 5001 is stored only in the host computer 1020. still,
The information management table 5001 is stored in the host computer 102
0 and LBP1000.

Hereinafter, step S40 will be described with reference to FIG.
07 memory reservation processing will be described. Here, FIG.
5 is a flowchart showing details of a memory securing process in step S4007 in FIG.

FIG. 6 illustrates a case where only the host computer has a management table. Step S400
In step 6, when printing is not possible with the current memory capacity of the LBP 1000, a memory securing process in step S4007 is executed.

LBP 1000 is an LBP that is not necessary for printing
The information stored in the memory 1000 (not shown) is selected and sent to the host computer 1020 (step S6001). In step S6002, it is determined whether the selected information is managed in the information management table 5001. If it is determined in step S6002 that the information is not managed in the information management table 5001, the selected information is transferred to the host computer 1020 with a new index attached (step S6003). Transfers the index to the host computer 1020 (step S6004).

Thereafter, the host computer is notified that the information indicated by the index has been temporarily stored (step S6005). The memory area used to store the temporarily stored information is released (step S6).
006), and ends the memory securing processing.

Hereinafter, a flowchart showing the details of the receiving process in step S4008 in FIG. 4 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 7 shows step S400 in FIG.
8 is a flowchart illustrating a reception process of FIG.

When the host computer 1020 operates as an LBP
When data is transferred to 1000, LBP100
If 0 can be received, the reception process is started. The host computer 1020 first transfers the header section 3003 to the transmission / reception interface section 1002. Step S7
In step 001, it is determined whether or not a setting change command indicating a change in the gradient is included in the transferred header section 3003. If a setting change command is included in step S7001, the setting is changed and the header section 3
003 is stored in the page buffer memory 1004 (step S7002). If the setting change command is not included in step S7001, step S70
Go to 03.

The host computer 1020 transmits the 16-gradation data section 3004 to the transmission / reception interface section 10.
02, and the LBP 1000 transmits the 16-gradation data section 30 transmitted to the transmission / reception interface section 1002.
04 is transferred using the CPU 1001 or DMA (Dir
(Eject Memory Access) transfer to the page buffer memory 1004 (step S70).
03).

Next, in step S7004, L
BP1000 is an end instruction 3005 of the 16-gradation data section.
It is determined whether or not the termination instruction 3005 of the 16-gradation data part has not been received.
Steps 7003 and S7004 are repeated. In step S7004, the end instruction 3 of the 16-gradation data section
If 005 has been received, the process advances to step S7005 to determine whether the set gradient is 16 gradients.

In step S7005, the set gradient is 16
If it is the gradation, the data part 3006 of the 256 gradation transferred from the host computer 1020 is not received (step S7008), and the step S7009 is performed.
It is determined whether or not the end command 3007 of the 256 gradation data section is received, and the end command 3 of the 256 gradation data section is determined.
If 007 is received, this process is immediately terminated. If it is determined in step S7009 that the termination instruction 3007 of the 256-gradation data part has not been received, step S70
Step 08 is repeated.

In step S7005, the set gradient is 16
If it is not the gradation, the data section 3006 of 256 gradations transferred from the host computer 1020 to the transmission / reception interface section 1002 is transferred using the CPU 1001 or DMA (Direct Memory A).
access) page buffer memory 1004
(Step S7006), and Step S7007
Proceed to. In step S7007, it is determined whether an end command 3007 of the 256-gradient data section has been received,
If the end instruction 3007 of the gradient data part has not been received, the process of step S7006 is repeated, and
If the end instruction 3007 of the 6-gradation data section has been received, this processing is immediately ended.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when low-gradation printing is performed using transmitted image data having high-gradation information, only data having low-gradation information is received and printed. Therefore, printing can be performed at high speed with a small memory. Further, by temporarily storing data unnecessary for printing in the host computer 1020, a memory (not shown) of the printing apparatus can be used to the maximum, and printing can be performed with a small amount of memory.

Hereinafter, a printing apparatus and an information processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the configuration of the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment of the present invention described with reference to FIGS. The operation in the present embodiment conforms to the operation in the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS. However, in the description of the operation, “gradation” is “resolution”, “16 gradations” is “300 dpi”, and “256 gradations” is “600 dpi”.
"i".

In the first embodiment, the image data is sorted for each gradation. In the present embodiment, the image data is sorted for each resolution.

Hereinafter, data representing the resolution of one dot in the transmission image data transmitted from the transmission / reception interface unit 1022 to the transmission / reception interface unit 1002 in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
Here, FIG. 8A is an explanatory diagram of data representing the resolution of one dot in the transmission image data. FIG.
The data representing the resolution of one dot in the transmission image data of (A) is 600 dpi data and 300 dpi.
A description will be given only for data, but it is not necessary to limit to such resolution data.

In FIG. 8A, the data representing the resolution of one dot in the transmission image data is 600 dpi.
It consists of data 8001. 600 dpi data 8001
Are the first bit 8011, the second bit 8012, the third bit 8013, the fourth bit 8014, the fifth bit 8015, the sixth bit 8016, and the seventh bit 8016.
17 and an eighth bit 8018, which is a total of eight bits. A first bit 8011 and a third bit 8013
, The fifth bit 8015, and the seventh bit 8017,
300 dpi data, the second bit 8012,
The fourth bit 8014, the sixth bit 8016, and the eighth bit 8018 are composed of 600 dpi data. 60
Eight bits of 0 dpi data 8001 are 300d
It consists of four bits of pi data and four bits of 600 dpi data, and is divided for each resolution.

Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 8B, FIG.
The data representing the resolution of one dot in the transmission image data of FIG. Here, FIG. 8B is an explanatory diagram in which data representing the resolution of one dot in the transmission image data of FIG. 8A is divided for each resolution.

Data representing the resolution of one dot in the transmission image data shown in FIG. 8B is divided for each resolution and includes a 300 dpi data section 8002 and a 600 dpi data section 8003. 300 dpi data section 80
02 is a first bit 8011 and a third bit 8013
, A fifth bit 8015, and a seventh bit 8017, and the 600 dpi data portion 8003
012, the fourth bit 8014, and the sixth bit 8016
And an eighth bit 8018.

When the data is divided in this way, depending on the data, the case where the data created at 300 dpi is printed from the beginning and the case where the data created at 600 dpi are printed at 300 dpi
Although there may be a difference in the print result when printing as the data of i, there is an advantage that the resolution of the data can be changed without increasing the data amount.

Hereinafter, the transmitted image data for one page will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 8C is an explanatory diagram of the transmission image data for one page.

The image data for one page includes a header portion 8004, a 300 dpi data portion 8005,
End instruction 8006 of the dpi data section, 800 dpi data section 8007, and end instruction of the 600 dpi data section 8
008.

The header section 8004 contains the gradation, print size, data capacity, setting change command and the like when all the data of this page is received. A 300 dpi data section 8005 is a collection of 800 dpi 300 dpi data for one page. The end instruction 8006 of the 300 dpi data section is C
One corresponding to reception using PU and DMA (Direct
t Memory Access) is an instruction corresponding to at least one of the instructions corresponding to the transfer. 600dp
The i-data portion 8007 collects data for converting one 8003 into 600 dpi for one page, and the end instruction 8008 of the 600 dpi data portion also serves as a one-page end instruction in the present embodiment. This end instruction 8008
And DMA corresponding to reception using the CPU 1001
(Direct Memory Access) There is an instruction corresponding to at least one of the instructions corresponding to the transfer.
The image data for one page is stored in the header 800
4, 300 dpi data section 8005, 300 dpi data section end instruction 8006, 600 dpi data section 800
7. The host computer transmits to the printing apparatus in the order of the end instruction 8008 of the 600 dpi data section.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when low-resolution printing is performed using image data having high-resolution information, only data having low-resolution information can be received and printed. Therefore, printing can be performed at high speed with a small amount of memory. Further, by temporarily storing data unnecessary for printing in the host computer 1020, a memory (not shown) of the printing apparatus can be used to the maximum, and printing can be performed with a small amount of memory.

Further, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to an information processing apparatus, a printing apparatus, and an information processing system. In this case, by reading a storage medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the present invention into the device or the system, the device or the system can enjoy the effects of the present invention. In this case, an external storage device can be connected to the host computer or the printing device of the above-described embodiment, and the external storage device can read a program or the like stored in a storage medium.

FIG. 9 shows a storage medium used in the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a memory map of a program executed in 21. The programs executed by the CPU 1021 include “directory information”, “storage module”,
It consists of a “sorting module”, an “array module”, and a “transmission module”. The directory information indicates a storage location where each module is stored. Each module has the following functions. That is, the storage module is a program module for storing image data including low image information level data and high image information level data in the memory. The sorting module is a program module that sorts image data into low image information level data and high image information level data. The arrangement module is a program module that arranges the sorted low image information level data and high image information level data in order from the low image information level data to the image information level. The transmission module is a program module that transmits the arranged low image information level data and high image information level data to the printing apparatus in order from the low image information level data to the image information level.

FIG. 10 shows a storage medium used in the printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a memory map of a program executed in 1. The programs executed by the CPU 1001 include “directory information”, “reception module”,
It consists of a “storage module” and a “printing module”. The directory information indicates a storage location where each module is stored. Each module has the following functions. That is, the receiving module is a program module that receives at least the low image information level data of the low image information level data and the high image information level data stored in the information processing device in order from the low image information level data to the image information level. The storage module is a program module for storing at least the received low image information level data in the memory in the order from the low image information level data to the image information level. The printing module is a program module for causing the printing apparatus to print at least the stored low image information level data in the order of the low image information level data and the image information levels.

As the storage medium, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, or the like can be used.

[0082]

As described above in detail, according to the apparatus of the first aspect and the method of the twelfth aspect, the image data including the low image information level data and the high image information level data is converted to the low image information level data. The image data is sorted into high image information level data, and the sorted low image information level data and high image information level data are arranged in order from the low image information level data to the image information level, and the arranged low image information level data and high image Since the information level data is transmitted to the printing apparatus in the order of the image information levels, the memory of the printing apparatus can be used efficiently, and the printing of the low image information level data can be performed at high speed.

According to the apparatus of the fourth aspect and the method of the fifteenth aspect, data unnecessary for printing to be executed by the printing apparatus stored in the printing apparatus is temporarily stored, and the temporarily stored unnecessary data is printed. Since the data is transferred to the apparatus, data unnecessary for printing is temporarily stored in the information processing apparatus, so that the memory of the printing apparatus can be used efficiently and printing can be performed at high speed.

According to the apparatus of the fifth aspect and the method of the sixteenth aspect, the unnecessary data temporarily stored is added with an index and stored, and an information management table is created using the index, and the information management table is created. Thus, since the unnecessary data is managed, the operability of the printing apparatus and the information processing apparatus can be improved, the memory of the printing apparatus can be used efficiently, and printing can be performed at high speed.

According to the apparatus of claim 6 and the method of claim 17, at least the low image information level data of the low image information level data and the high image information level data stored in the information processing apparatus is converted from the low image information level data. Since at least the received low image information level data is received in order of the image information level, the received at least low image information level data is stored in order from the low image information level data, and the stored at least low image information level data is printed in the image information level order from the low image information level data. ,
The memory can be used efficiently, and printing at a low image information level can be performed at high speed.

According to the apparatus of the ninth aspect and the method of the twentieth aspect, data unnecessary for printing is transmitted to the information processing apparatus before execution of printing, and data unnecessary for printing is received after execution of printing. By temporarily storing data unnecessary for printing in the information processing device, the memory can be used efficiently and printing can be performed at high speed.

According to the apparatus of the tenth aspect and the method of the twenty-first aspect, the received unnecessary data is stored with an index attached thereto, and an information management table is created using the index. Since unnecessary data is managed, the operability of the information processing device and the printing device can be improved, and the memory can be used efficiently and printing can be performed at high speed.

According to the information processing system of claim 11,
Since the information processing apparatus includes the information processing apparatus according to the first aspect and the printing apparatus according to the sixth aspect, it is possible to efficiently use a memory of the printing apparatus and perform low-gradation printing at a high speed. In addition, it is possible to suppress an increase in cost due to efficient use of memory.

According to the storage medium of claim 22, a storage module in a storage step of storing image data including low image information level data and high image information level data in a memory, and storing image data in low image information level data and high image information level data. A sorting module of a sorting step of sorting into image information level data, and an array module of an arraying step of sorting the sorted low image information level data and high image information level data in order from the low image information level data to the image information level, A program having a transmission module in a transmission step of transmitting the arranged low image information level data and high image information level data to the printing apparatus in order from the low image information level data to the image information level is stored, so that versatile information is stored. It can be applied to a processing device.

According to the storage medium of claim 23, at least the low image information level data of the low image information level data and the high image information level data stored in the information processing apparatus are received in order from the low image information level data to the image information level. A receiving module in the receiving step, a storing module in a storing step of storing at least the received low image information level data in the memory in the order of the image information levels from the low image information level data, Since a program having a printing module of a printing process for printing by a printing device in order of image information level from image information level data is stored, the program can be applied to a versatile printing device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus and an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an internal structure of the LBP 1000 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3A is an explanatory diagram of data representing the gradation of one dot in the transmitted image data, and FIG. 3B is an explanatory diagram of transmitted image data for one page.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the overall processing flow of the LBP 1000;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an information management table used in a memory securing process in S4007.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing details of a memory securing process in S4007 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing details of the receiving process in S4008 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8A is an explanatory diagram of data representing the resolution of one dot in transmission image data. (B) is FIG.
FIG. 3A is an explanatory diagram in which data representing the resolution of one dot in the transmission image data of FIG. (C)
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of one page of transmission image data.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a memory map of a program executed by the CPU 1021 shown in FIG. 1 in a storage medium used in the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a memory map of a program executed by the CPU 1001 shown in FIG. 1 in a storage medium used in the printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1000 LBP (printing device) 1001, 1021 CPU 1002, 1022 Transmission / reception interface unit 1003 Font memory 1004 Page buffer memory 1005 Bitmap memory 1006 Engine controller 1020 Host computer 1023 Disk controller 1024 Storage device 1025 CRT controller 1026 CRT

Claims (23)

[Claims] 1. A storage means for storing image data including low image information level data and high image information level data, and a sorting means for sorting said image data into said low image information level data and said high image information level data. Arranging means for arranging the sorted low image information level data and high image information level data in the order from the low image information level data to the image information level; and the arranged low image information level data and high image information level. Transmitting means for transmitting data to the printing apparatus in order from the low image information level data to the image information level. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image information level comprises a gradient. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image information level comprises a resolution. 4. Temporary storage means for temporarily storing data that is stored in the printing apparatus and that is unnecessary for printing to be executed by the printing apparatus, The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a transfer unit configured to transfer data to the printing apparatus. 5. A storage means for storing the temporarily stored unnecessary data with an index, and an information management table created using the index, and the unnecessary data with the index added in the information management table. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a management unit configured to manage the information. 6. A receiving means for receiving at least the low image information level data of the low image information level data and the high image information level data stored in the information processing apparatus in the order of the image information level from the low image information level data; Storage means for storing the received at least the low image information level data in the order of the image information level from the low image information level data; and storing the stored at least the low image information level data from the low image information level data to the image information level. A printing device for sequentially printing. 7. The printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the image information level comprises a gradation. 8. The printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the image information level comprises a resolution. 9. An unnecessary data transmitting means for transmitting data unnecessary for printing to the information processing apparatus before executing the printing,
The printing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising an unnecessary data receiving unit configured to receive unnecessary data for the printing after the printing is performed. 10. A storage unit for storing the received unnecessary data with an index, and an information management table is created by using the index, and the indexed data is managed in the information management table. The printing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a management unit configured to perform the management. 11. An information processing system comprising the information processing apparatus according to claim 1 and the printing apparatus according to claim 6. 12. A storing step of storing image data including low image information level data and high image information level data, and a sorting step of sorting the image data into the low image information level data and the high image information level data. Arranging the sorted low image information level data and high image information level data in order of image information level from the low image information level data; and arranged low image information level data and high image information level data. And transmitting to the printing apparatus in order from the low image information level data to the image information level. 13. The information processing method according to claim 12, wherein said image information level comprises a gradient. 14. The information processing method according to claim 12, wherein said image information level comprises a resolution. 15. A temporary storage step of temporarily storing data stored in the printing apparatus and unnecessary for printing to be executed by the printing apparatus before executing the printing, and temporarily storing the data after executing the printing. 15. The information processing method according to claim 12, further comprising: a transfer step of transferring the unnecessary data to the printing apparatus. 16. A storing step of adding an index to the temporarily stored unnecessary data, and creating an information management table using the index, and creating an unnecessary data indexed in the information management table. 16. A management step of managing
The information processing method described. 17. A receiving step of receiving at least the low image information level data of the low image information level data and the high image information level data stored in the information processing apparatus in the order of the image information level from the low image information level data; Storing the received at least low image information level data in the order of the image information level from the low image information level data; and storing the stored at least the low image information level data from the low image information level data to the image information level. A printing step of sequentially printing. 18. The printing method according to claim 17, wherein said image information level comprises a gradation. 19. The printing method according to claim 17, wherein said image information level comprises a resolution. 20. An unnecessary data transmitting step of transmitting data unnecessary for the printing to the information processing apparatus before the execution of the printing, and an unnecessary data receiving step of receiving data unnecessary for the printing after the execution of the printing. The printing method according to any one of claims 17 to 19, comprising: 21. A storage step of storing the received unnecessary data with an index, creating an information management table using the index, and managing the indexed data in the information management table. 21. The printing method according to claim 20, further comprising a management step of performing printing. 22. A storage module for storing image data including low image information level data and high image information level data in a memory, wherein said image data is stored in said low image information level data and said high image information level data. A sorting module of a sorting step of sorting into a sorting step; an array module of an sorting step of sorting the sorted low image information level data and high image information level data in order from the low image information level data to the image information level; A transmission module for transmitting a low image information level data and a high image information level data to a printing apparatus in order from the low image information level data to the image information level. 23. A receiving module in a receiving step of receiving at least the low image information level data of the low image information level data and the high image information level data stored in the information processing device in the order of the image information level from the low image information level data. A storage module of a storage step of storing the received at least the low image information level data in the memory in the order of the image information levels from the low image information level data; and storing the stored at least the low image information level data in the low level. A storage medium storing a program having a printing module of a printing process for printing by a printing apparatus in order of image information level from image information level data.