JPH10187385A - Device for controlling printing and method therefor and storage medium for storing program readable by computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily obtain an output result with high picture quality by converting communication data originally being an image data output into PDL data. SOLUTION: Communication data received from a facsimile equipment 2000 are analyzed, and whether or not the received communication data can be converted into data based on prescribed page description language is judged by a CPU 130. The received communication data are transferred to a host computer 3000 based on the judged result, the converted data transferred to the host computer 3000 and converted into data based on the prescribed page description language which can be printed by a printer engine 120 are received by an outside interface 133, and the printing of the printer engine 120 is controlled based on the received converted data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print control apparatus, a print control method, and a computer readable program for controlling a composite image processing by a printing unit by communicating with an external device or an external communication device via a predetermined communication medium. The present invention relates to a storage medium storing a program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, a composite function (multifunction) for outputting printer data to a printer engine by processing data from an external device such as a host computer or processing communication data received from an external communication device such as a facsimile has been developed. A print control device (hereinafter referred to as an MFP control device) provided with a control unit for executing has been put to practical use.

In this type of print control apparatus, communication data received from an external communication device such as a facsimile is compressed by image data generated by a sender using a freehand or word processing device or the like. Are decompressed by the control means and output to the printer engine.

[0004]

In the above-described conventional print control apparatus, the communication data received in the above-mentioned printing apparatus is the data created by a device owned by the sender except for the data created by the sender freehand on the sending side. , The quality of the received data may not be very good.

[0005] In this case, if the recipient places importance on the print quality of the received data while being facsimile data,
Since the data received by the receiver is copied and printed by the device owned by the receiver and printed again by the output device, a complicated operation is required until a desired result is obtained, and there is a problem that the burden on the operator is heavy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and it is an object of the first to thirteenth inventions according to the present invention that communication data received by an external communication device is transmitted to a PD.
It is determined whether the data can be converted to L data, and the communication data received based on the determination result is received as PDL data that can be analyzed by the printing unit by utilizing the conversion resources of the external device. By providing a print control device and a print control method that can easily obtain high-quality output results by converting communication data to be output into PDL data, and a storage medium that stores a computer-readable program. is there.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control apparatus capable of communicating with an external device or an external communication device via a predetermined communication medium. Determining means for analyzing the communication data to determine whether it can be converted to data based on a predetermined page description language; and transfer means for transferring the received communication data to the external device based on a determination result of the determination means. Receiving means for receiving conversion data transferred to the external device and converted into data based on a predetermined page description language that can be printed by a printing unit; and the printing unit based on the conversion data received by the receiving unit. And control means for controlling the printing of.

[0008] A second invention according to the present invention is a print control apparatus capable of communicating with an external device or an external communication device via a predetermined communication medium, wherein the communication data received from the external communication device together with management data. Accumulating means for sequentially accumulating; instructing means for selecting and instructing desired communication data from a communication data group accumulated in the accumulating means; analyzing the desired communication data instructed by the instructing means to describe a predetermined page Determining means for determining whether the data can be converted into data based on a language; transferring means for transferring the received communication data to the external device based on the determination result of the determining means; and a printing unit for transferring the communication data to the external device. Receiving means for receiving converted data converted into data based on a predetermined page description language which can be printed, and receiving the converted data based on the converted data received by the receiving means. In which a control means for controlling the printing of the printing portion Te.

A third invention according to the present invention is a print control apparatus capable of communicating with an external device or an external communication device via a predetermined communication medium, wherein the communication data received from the external communication device is transmitted together with management data. A storage unit for sequentially storing, and analyzing whether desired communication data selected and instructed from the communication data group stored in the storage unit from the external device is analyzed and whether it can be converted to data based on a predetermined page description language is determined. Determining means, a transfer means for transferring the received communication data to the external device based on the determination result of the determining means, and a predetermined page description language which is transferred to the external device and can be printed by a printing unit. Receiving means for receiving the converted data converted into data, and control means for controlling printing of the printing unit based on the converted data received by the receiving means. It is intended to.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the control means outputs the communication data from the printing unit when the determination means determines that the communication data cannot be converted into data based on a predetermined page description language. It is to let.

A fifth invention according to the present invention has a setting means for setting an output resolution for the communication data received from the external communication device, and the control means sets the output resolution to the output resolution set by the setting means. The presence or absence of determination by the determination means is controlled based on the determination.

In a sixth aspect according to the present invention, the external device is a host computer.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the external communication device is a facsimile machine.

An eighth invention according to the present invention is a printing control method for controlling a printing process of a printing unit by communicating with an external device or an external communication device via a predetermined communication medium. A determining step of analyzing the received communication data to determine whether it can be converted into data based on a predetermined page description language, and a transferring step of transferring the received communication data to the external device based on the determination result, A receiving step of receiving conversion data transferred to the external device and converted into data based on a predetermined page description language that can be printed by a printing unit, and an output output from the printing unit based on the received conversion data And a process.

A ninth invention according to the present invention is a storage medium storing a computer readable program for communicating with an external device or an external communication device via a predetermined communication medium and controlling a printing process of a printing unit. A determining step of analyzing communication data received from the external communication device to determine whether the data can be converted to data based on a predetermined page description language; and determining the received communication data based on the determination result. A transfer step of transferring the converted data to a device, a receiving step of receiving the converted data transferred to the external device and converted into data based on a predetermined page description language that can be printed by a printing unit, and And an output step of outputting from the printing unit. The computer-readable program is stored in a storage medium.

A tenth invention according to the present invention is a printing control method for controlling a printing process of a printing unit by communicating with an external device or an external communication device via a predetermined communication medium. A storage step of sequentially storing the received communication data in the memory together with the management data, an instruction step of selecting and instructing desired communication data from the accumulated communication data group, and analyzing the instructed desired communication data. A determining step of determining whether the data can be converted to data based on a predetermined page description language; a transferring step of transferring the received communication data to the external device based on the determination result; A receiving step of receiving conversion data converted into data based on a predetermined page description language that can be printed by the section, and from the printing section based on the received conversion data. In which an output step of force.

An eleventh invention according to the present invention is a storage medium storing a computer-readable program for controlling a printing process of a printing unit by communicating with an external device or an external communication device via a predetermined communication medium. A storage step of sequentially storing communication data received from the external communication device together with management data in a memory, an instruction step of selecting and instructing desired communication data from the stored communication data group,
A determining step of analyzing the instructed desired communication data to determine whether it can be converted into data based on a predetermined page description language; and transferring the received communication data to the external device based on the determination result A receiving step of receiving converted data transferred to the external device and converted to data based on a predetermined page description language that can be printed by a printing unit; and performing the printing based on the received converted data. And a computer-readable program including an output step of outputting from a unit.

A twelfth invention according to the present invention is a print control method for controlling a printing process of a printing unit by communicating with an external device or an external communication device via a predetermined communication medium. A storage step of sequentially storing received communication data in a memory together with management data; and analyzing desired communication data selected and instructed from a group of communication data stored in the memory from the external device and converting the communication data into a predetermined page description language. A determining step of determining whether the received communication data can be converted into data based on the determination result; a transferring step of transferring the received communication data to the external device based on the determination result; Receiving the converted data converted to data based on the page description language, and outputting the data from the printing unit based on the received converted data. And it has a door.

A thirteenth invention according to the present invention is a storage medium storing a computer-readable program for communicating with an external device or an external communication device via a predetermined communication medium and controlling a printing process of a printing unit. An accumulation step of sequentially accumulating communication data received from the external communication device in a memory together with management data; and analyzing desired communication data selected and instructed from a communication data group accumulated in the memory from the external device. A determining step of determining whether the data can be converted into data based on a predetermined page description language;
Transferring the received communication data to the external device based on the determination result; andconverting the converted data transferred to the external device and converted to data based on a predetermined page description language that can be printed by a printing unit. A computer-readable program, which includes a receiving step of receiving and an output step of outputting from the printing unit based on the received conversion data, is stored in a storage medium.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Before describing the present embodiment, the configurations of a laser beam printer and an ink jet printer suitable for applying the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

The printer to which this embodiment is applied is as follows.
It is needless to say that the printer is not limited to the laser beam printer and the ink jet printer, but may be a printer of another printing method.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of an output device to which the present invention can be applied, and shows, for example, the case of a laser beam printer (LBP).

In the figure, 100 is an LBP main body,
Print information (character codes, etc.) and form information or macro instructions supplied from an externally connected host computer are input and stored, and corresponding character patterns, form patterns, etc. are created according to the information. Then, an image is formed on a recording medium such as recording paper.

Reference numeral 300 denotes a switch and an LE for operation.
An operation panel on which a D display and the like are arranged, 101 is an LBP
This is a control unit for the entire main body 100. The printer control unit 101 mainly converts character information into a video signal having a corresponding character pattern and outputs the video signal to the laser driver 102. The laser driver 102 switches on / off the laser light 104 emitted from the semiconductor laser 103. The laser light 104 is swung in the left and right direction by the rotating polygon mirror 105, so that an electrostatic latent image of a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 106. This electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing unit 107 provided around the electrostatic drum 106 and then transferred to a recording sheet. A cut sheet is used for the recording paper, and the cut sheet recording paper is
0, a paper feed roller 109, a transport roller 110, and a transport roller 111 stored in the paper cassette 108.
As a result, it is taken into the apparatus and supplied to the electrostatic drum 106.

The LBP body 100 is provided with at least one or more card slots (not shown) so that an optional font card and a control card (emulation card) having a different language system can be connected in addition to the built-in font.

FIG. 2 is an external view showing the configuration of a second output device to which the present invention can be applied, and shows, for example, the case of an ink jet recording device (IJRA).

In the figure, a lead screw 5005, which rotates through driving force transmission gears 5009 to 5011 in conjunction with forward and reverse rotation of a driving motor 5013, a spiral groove 500
4 has a pin (not shown) and engages a guide roller 5003 with arrows a and b.
It is reciprocated in the direction. An ink cartridge IJC including an ink tank IT and an inkjet head IJH is mounted on the carriage HC. A paper pressing plate 5002 presses the paper against the platen 5000 in the carriage movement direction. 5007,500
Reference numeral 8 denotes a photocoupler, which functions as a home position detecting means for confirming the presence of the carriage lever 5006 in this area and switching the rotation direction of the motor 5013.

Reference numeral 5016 denotes a member for supporting the entire surface of the recording head for the cap member 5022. Reference numeral 5015 denotes suction means for sucking the inside of the cap member 5022.
The suction recovery of the recording head is performed via 023. 5017
Is a cleaning blade, which can be moved in the front-rear direction by a member 5019. Reference numeral 5018 denotes a main body support plate that supports the cleaning blade 5017 and the member 5019. Reference numeral 5012 denotes a lever for starting suction for suction recovery. The lever 5012 moves with the movement of the cam 5020 that engages with the carriage HC, and the driving force of the driving motor 5013 is controlled by a known transmission means such as clutch switching. .

The capping, cleaning, and suction recovery are configured so that desired operations can be performed at the corresponding positions by the action of the lead screw 5005 when the carriage HC comes to the home position side area. The desired operation at the timing described above may be performed.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the control configuration of the output device shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 1700 denotes an interface for inputting a recording signal; 1701, an MPU; 1702, a ROM for storing a control program executed by the MPU 1701 and host print information; The recording data supplied to the head is stored. Reference numeral 1704 denotes a gate array for controlling the supply of output data to the print head 1708. The interface 1700, the MPU 1701, and the DRAM 17
It also controls the transfer of data during 03.

Reference numeral 1710 denotes a carrier motor for conveying the recording head 1708, 1709 denotes a conveying motor for conveying the recording paper, 1705 denotes a head driver for driving the recording head, and 1706 denotes the conveying motor 1709.
Is a motor driver for driving the carrier motor 1710.

In the above-described recording apparatus, when input information is input from a host computer 100 to be described later via the interface 1700, the input information is output between the gate array 1704 and the MPU 1701 as output information for printing. Is converted to Then, the motor drivers 1706 and 1707 are driven, and the recording head is driven according to the output information sent to the head driver 1705 to execute printing.

The MPU 1701 is the interface 1
Communication processing with the host computer 100 described below is possible via the network 700, and memory information and resource data relating to the DRAM 1703 and host print information in the ROM 1702 can be communicated to the host computer 100 described later. It is configured to be able to communicate with any device.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a print control apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a laser beam printer having a facsimile function as a composite function will be described as an example. 1 except for the printer engine 120 corresponds to the control unit 101 in FIG. In addition, if the function is executed by the present invention, L or not, even if it is a single device or a system including a plurality of devices,
It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to a system in which processing is performed via a network such as an AN.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 100 denotes a printer;
The apparatus includes a CPU 130 as main control means.
ROM 131, external interface 1
33 and a printer engine interface 136 are connected via a system bus 137 including a data bus, an address bus, and a control bus.
1 controls communication with an external device via the external interface 133 and output of printer data to the printer engine 120 via the printer engine interface 136 based on the control program stored in the printer 1.

Further, the CPU 130 has a RAM 132 for storing data necessary for the operation of the CPU 130 and data such as character pattern data obtained by calculation, and an EEPRO which is an electrically rewritable memory (non-volatile memory).
M134, HDD that can store large-capacity font data
The operation panel 135 on which the user operates the printer 100 and an external storage device such as
7 are connected.

A host computer 3000 is connected to the printer 100 as an external device. This connection is made via a Centronics interface 121 for transmitting and receiving data in parallel in order to transmit data at high speed and in both directions.

Further, a facsimile machine 2000 as an external communication device is connected to the printer 100 via a communication line 122.

Hereinafter, the correspondence between this embodiment and each means of the first to seventh inventions and the operation thereof will be described with reference to FIG.

The first invention is a print control device capable of communicating with an external device (host computer 3000) or an external communication device (facsimile machine 2000) via a predetermined communication medium (interface, network). Judgment means for analyzing communication data received from a communication device to determine whether the data can be converted into data based on a predetermined page description language (the CPU 130 executes a control program stored in a memory resource such as the ROM 131 or an external storage device, Transfer means (CPU 130 executes a control program stored in a memory resource such as ROM 131 or an external storage device) for transferring the received communication data to the external device based on the determination result of the determination means. Transfer process), a predetermined page that is transferred to the external device and can be printed by the printing unit. A receiving means for receiving the converted data converted into data based on the di description language (external interface 133), control means for controlling the printing of the printing unit based on the converted data received by the receiving means (CP
U130 executes and executes a control program stored in a memory resource such as a ROM 131 or an external storage device). The CPU 130 analyzes communication data received from the facsimile machine 2000, and the CPU 130 uses a predetermined page description language. The host computer 3 determines whether the received communication data can be converted into data or not based on the determination result.
000 and then transferred to the external interface (external I /
F) 133 receives the converted data transferred to the host computer 3000 and converted into data based on a predetermined page description language that can be printed by the printer engine 120,
Since the printing of the printer engine 120 is controlled based on the received conversion data, even if the communication data is received from an external communication device, if the data can be converted to PDL, the conversion resource of the external device is used. The conversion process into PDL data is substituted, and high-quality output using the function of the printing unit based on the converted PDL data is enabled.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control apparatus capable of communicating with an external device (host computer 3000) or an external communication device (facsimile apparatus 2000) via a predetermined communication medium (interface, network). Storage means for sequentially storing communication data received from the communication device together with management data (external storage device 138)
Instruction means (operation panel 135) for selecting and instructing desired communication data from the communication data group stored in the storage means; analyzing the desired communication data instructed by the instruction means to describe a predetermined page Judgment means (CP
U130 executes the control program stored in the memory resources such as the ROM 131 and the external storage device to determine)
Transfer means for transferring the received communication data to the external device based on the determination result of the determination means (the CPU 130 executes and transfers a control program stored in a memory resource such as the ROM 131 or an external storage device); A receiving unit (external interface 133) for receiving the converted data transferred to the external device and converted to data based on a predetermined page description language that can be printed by a printing unit, and based on the converted data received by the receiving unit Control means (the CPU 130 executes and controls a control program stored in a memory resource such as the ROM 131 or an external storage device) to control the printing of the printing unit.
The communication data received from 00 is sequentially stored in the external storage device 138 together with the management data, and when the desired communication data is selected and selected from the stored communication data group by the operation panel 135, the specified desired data is displayed. The CPU 130 analyzes the communication data to determine whether the data can be converted into data based on a predetermined page description language, and transfers the received communication data to the host computer 3000 based on the determination result. Printer engine 1 transferred to 3000
When the CPU 130 receives the converted data converted into the data based on the predetermined page description language that can be printed, the CPU 130 controls the printing of the printer engine 120 based on the received converted data. When the user selects and instructs desired communication data from a communication data group stored in the memory from a panel or the like, the communication data
If the data can be DL-converted, it is possible to substitute the conversion processing of PDL data by using the conversion resources of the external device, and to achieve high-quality output using the function of the printing unit based on the converted PDL data. I do.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control apparatus capable of communicating with an external device (host computer 3000) or an external communication device (facsimile apparatus 2000) via a predetermined communication medium (interface, network). Storage means for sequentially storing communication data received from the communication device together with management data (external storage device 138)
Determining means (CPU 130) for analyzing desired communication data selected and instructed from the communication data group stored in the storage means from the external device to determine whether the communication data can be converted to data based on a predetermined page description language Is ROM13
1, by executing a control program stored in a memory resource such as an external storage device, etc.) and a transfer unit (CPU 130 for transferring the received communication data to the external device based on the determination result of the determination unit). A control program stored in a memory resource such as the ROM 131 or an external storage device is executed and transferred), and converted into data based on a predetermined page description language that can be printed by the printing unit and transferred to the external device. Receiving means (external interface 133) for receiving data, and control means for controlling printing of the printing unit based on the conversion data received by the receiving means (CPU 130 is stored in a memory resource such as ROM 131 or an external storage device) The communication data received from the facsimile apparatus 2000 as management data. At the same time, the data is sequentially stored in the external storage device 138, and the desired communication data selected and instructed from the stored communication data group is analyzed to determine whether the CPU 130 can convert the data into data based on a predetermined page description language. The received communication data is transferred to the host computer 3000 based on the determination result, and the external interface 133 is transferred to the host computer 3000 and converted into data based on a predetermined page description language that can be printed by the printer engine 120. Upon receiving the converted data, the CPU 130 based on the received converted data
Controls the printing of the printer engine 120. When the user selects and instructs desired communication data from a group of communication data received from the external communication device and stored in the memory from the graphical user interface of the external device, the communication data is If the data can be converted to PDL, the conversion process to PDL data is substituted by using the conversion resources of the external device,
Based on the converted PDL data, high-quality output using the function of a printing unit is enabled.

According to a fourth aspect, when the CPU 130 determines that the communication data cannot be converted into data based on a predetermined page description language, the communication data is output from the printer engine 120 as an image. Can be output as

The fifth invention has a setting means (operation panel 135) for setting an output resolution for the communication data received from the external communication device (facsimile apparatus 2000), and the CPU 130 is set by the operation panel 135. P based on output resolution
Since it controls whether to determine the possibility of conversion to DL data,
If a high-resolution setting is made, print output using PDL data can be automatically switched to a print output using image data based on communication data if other resolution settings are made.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the external device is the host computer 3000, it is possible to easily perform high image quality processing using the conversion resources provided in the computer without imposing any processing load on the printer. it can.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, since the external communication device is a facsimile apparatus 2000, even if the data is received by facsimile communication, the host computer 30
It is possible to easily obtain a PDL data output using the conversion resource No. 00.

Hereinafter, the operation of the print control apparatus according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the first data processing procedure of the print control apparatus of the present invention. Note that (1) to (6) indicate each step.

First, it is determined whether the facsimile fine mode is set in the EEPROM 134 by operating the operation panel 135 of the printer 100 (1), and if NO, the process proceeds to step (6), and YES
If so, communication data is received from the external communication device 2000 via the communication circuit 122 (2) and stored in the RAM 132. The CPU 130 refers to the EEPROM 134 and
Characters and graphics of the data are recognized from the program stored in M131 by a known recognition process, and it is determined whether or not character conversion is possible (3). The image data is output to the printer engine 120 as it is.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (3) that the received data can be converted, the CPU 130 transmits the data to the host computer 3000 via the Centronics interface 121 (4). The host computer 3000 converts the received image data into PDL data, and outputs command data to the printer 100 again through the Centronics interface 121 (5). C
The PU 130 reads the command, performs image conversion, outputs the command to the printer engine 120 (6), and ends the processing.

Thus, when the resolution mode for the facsimile apparatus 2000 is set to “fine”, instead of outputting an image based on the communication data, if the communication data is characters or the like, the conversion on the host computer 3000 side is performed. PD using resources such as OCR resources
Since the print data is converted into L data and the print processing is performed based on the PDL data, the print processing can be performed with the same character quality as the PDL data from the host computer 3000. Also, desired printing conditions (constrained based on printing resources (paper size, color printing, etc.)) can be set in the printer driver of the host computer 3000 from the GUI. For example, enlargement / reduction and multiple pages can be set within one page. An instruction such as printing can also be given, and the printing process can be performed as if the communication data was received as print data.

Hereinafter, the correspondence between this embodiment and the respective steps of the eighth and ninth inventions and the operation thereof will be described with reference to FIG.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, a printing unit (printer engine 1) communicates with an external device (host computer 3000) or an external communication device (facsimile machine 2000) via a predetermined communication medium (network, interface).
20) A print control method for controlling a print process, wherein a determination step of analyzing communication data received from the external communication device to determine whether the data can be converted into data based on a predetermined page description language (FIG. 5). Step (3)), a transfer step of transferring the received communication data to the external device based on the determination result (Step (4) of FIG. 5), and a print unit that transfers the received communication data to the external device and is capable of printing. Receiving the converted data converted into data based on a predetermined page description language (step (5) in FIG. 5), and outputting from the printing unit based on the received converted data (FIG. 5). The step 130 of (5) and the
By executing the control program stored in the storage device 131 and converting the communication data received from the external communication device into PDL data using the conversion resources of the external device, if the communication data is data that can be converted into PDL. Substitute the converted P
High-quality output using the function of the printing unit based on DL data is enabled.

The ninth aspect of the present invention relates to a printing unit (printer engine 1) which communicates with an external device (host computer 3000) or an external communication device (facsimile machine 2000) via a predetermined communication medium (network, interface).
20) A storage medium storing a computer readable program for controlling the printing process, wherein the communication data received from the external communication device is analyzed to determine whether it can be converted into data based on a predetermined page description language. A determination step (step (3) in FIG. 5), a transfer step of transferring the received communication data to the external device based on the determination result (step (4) in FIG. 5), A receiving step (step (5) in FIG. 5) of receiving the converted data that has been transferred and converted into data based on a predetermined page description language that can be printed by the printing unit; and performing the printing based on the received converted data. And a computer-readable program including an output step (step (6) in FIG. 5) for outputting from a unit.
That is, a program code corresponding to the process shown in FIG. 5 is stored in an external storage medium or an internal storage resource described later,
The mode in which the data is read out and executed by 130 is also included in the embodiment of the present invention.

[Second Embodiment] In the above embodiment, when the resolution mode for the communication data received by the facsimile apparatus 2000 as the external communication device is set to "fine", the received communication data is transmitted to a predetermined page. A case has been described where it is determined whether data can be converted into data (PDL data) based on a description language (LIPS, CaPSL, etc.), and if the data can be converted, the data is transferred to the host computer 3000 without being stored in the external storage device 138. The communication data is sequentially stored in the external storage device 138 together with the management data, and the desired communication data is selected based on the selection instruction from the operation panel 135, and it is determined whether or not the selected communication data can be converted into PDL data. If conversion is possible, the data is read from the external storage device 138 and read from the host computer. It may be controlled so as to be transferred to the Yuta 3000. Hereinafter, the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 6.

The block diagram showing the schematic configuration of the second embodiment is the same as the block diagram of the first embodiment, so that the detailed description will be omitted.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the second data processing procedure of the print control apparatus according to the present invention. Note that (1) to (7) indicate each step.

First, communication data is received from the external communication device 2000 via the communication line 122 and output to the engine 120 via the printer engine I / F 136 (1). Next, the printed data is stored in the external storage device 1.
38 (2). Then, the report stored in the RAM 132 or the EEPROM 134 (the transmission destination,
Time, etc.) and select data to be converted to PDL (3).

Next, it is determined whether or not the selected data can be converted to PDL (4). If NO, the process is terminated.
If YES, the target data stored in the external storage device 138 is transmitted via the Centronics I / F 121,
The data is transmitted to the host computer 3000 (5). next,
As in the first embodiment, the host computer 3000 converts the data into PDL (6), outputs the data to the printer 100 after transmission (7), and ends the processing.

Thus, after the communication data received from the facsimile apparatus 2000 is stored in the external storage device 138, when the user specifies an arbitrary communication data file to be output at a high resolution through the operation panel 135, If the communication data is characters or the like instead of the image output based on the stored communication data, the communication data is converted to PDL data by utilizing the OCR resources of the host computer 3000, and printing is performed based on the PDL data. Since processing is performed, P from the host computer 3000
Print processing can be performed with character quality equivalent to DL data. Further, a desired printing condition (constrained based on printing resources (paper size, color printing, etc.)) can be set in the printer driver of the host computer 3000 from the GUI. An instruction such as printing can be given, and the printing process can be performed as if the communication data was received as print data.

Hereinafter, the correspondence between this embodiment and the respective steps of the tenth and eleventh inventions and the operation thereof will be described with reference to FIG.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, a printing unit (printer engine 120) communicates with an external device (host computer 3000) or an external communication device (facsimile machine 2000) via a predetermined communication medium (network, interface). A print control method for controlling processing, comprising:
A storage step of sequentially storing communication data received from the external communication device in a memory together with management data (step (2) in FIG. 6), and an instruction step of selecting and instructing desired communication data from the stored communication data group ( Step (3) in FIG. 6 and a judging step of analyzing the designated desired communication data to determine whether it can be converted into data based on a predetermined page description language (step (4) in FIG. 6).
And a transfer step of transferring the received communication data to the external device based on the determination result (step (5) in FIG. 6).
A receiving step (step (6) in FIG. 6) of receiving converted data transferred to the external device and converted into data based on a predetermined page description language that can be printed by a printing unit; An output step (step (7) in FIG. 6) for outputting from the printing unit based on data is performed by the CPU 13
0 executes a control program stored in the ROM 131 and, when a desired communication data is selected and selected from a panel or the like from a communication data group received from an external communication device and stored in the memory, the communication data can be converted to PDL. If the data is appropriate, the conversion process to the PDL data is substituted using the conversion resources of the external device, and high-quality output using the function of the printing unit based on the converted PDL data is enabled.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, the printing unit (printer engine 120) communicates with an external device (host computer 3000) or an external communication device (facsimile machine 2000) via a predetermined communication medium (network, interface). A storage medium storing a program readable by a computer that controls processing, a storage step of sequentially storing communication data received from the external communication device together with management data in a memory (step (2) in FIG. 6); An instruction step (step (3) in FIG. 6) for selecting and instructing desired communication data from the stored communication data group, and analyzing the instructed desired communication data to obtain data based on a predetermined page description language. (Step (4) in FIG. 6)
And a transfer step of transferring the received communication data to the external device based on the determination result (step (5) in FIG. 6).
A receiving step (step (6) in FIG. 6) of receiving converted data transferred to the external device and converted into data based on a predetermined page description language that can be printed by a printing unit; A computer-readable program including an output step (step (7) in FIG. 6) of outputting from the printing unit based on data is stored in a storage medium. That is, the embodiment of the present invention also includes an embodiment in which a program code corresponding to the process illustrated in FIG. 6 is stored in an external storage medium or an internal storage resource described later, and the CPU 130 reads out and executes the program code from the storage medium storing the program code. Included.

[Third Embodiment] In the second embodiment,
The communication data is sequentially stored in the external storage device 138 together with the management data, desired communication data is selected based on a selection instruction from the operation panel 135, and it is determined whether or not the selected communication data can be converted into PDL data. A case has been described in which, if conversion is possible, the data is read from the external storage device 138 and transferred to the host computer 3000.
Graphical User Interface (GUI)
May be configured to select desired communication data on the basis of the selection instruction by, and determine whether or not the selected communication data can be converted to PDL data. Hereinafter, the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 7.
Note that a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the third embodiment is the same as the block diagram of the first embodiment, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the third data processing procedure of the print control apparatus according to the present invention. Note that (1) to (7) indicate each step.

First, communication data is received from the external communication device 2000 via the communication line 122 and output to the engine 120 via the printer engine I / F 136 (1). Next, the printed data is stored in the external storage device 1.
38 (2). And the host computer 3
000, the facsimile print data stored in the external storage device 138 is referred to, and data to be converted to PDL data is selected (3).

Next, it is determined whether or not the selected data can be converted to PDL data (4). If NO, the process is terminated. If YES, the host computer 3000 deletes the target data stored in the external storage device 138. Withdraw via the Centronics I / F 121 (5). As in the first and second embodiments, the host computer 300
The data is converted to PDL data at 0 (6), output to the printer 100 after transmission (7), and the processing is terminated.

Thus, after the communication data received from the facsimile apparatus 2000 is stored in the external storage device 138, when an arbitrary communication data file desired to be output at a high resolution is instructed by the user via the host computer 3000, If the communication data is characters or the like instead of the image output based on the stored communication data, the communication data is converted into PDL data by utilizing the OCR resources of the host computer 3000, and the printing process is performed based on the PDL data. Is performed, the PD from the host computer 3000
Print processing can be performed with character quality equivalent to that of L data. Further, a desired printing condition (constrained based on printing resources (paper size, color printing, etc.)) can be set in the printer driver of the host computer 3000 from the GUI. An instruction such as printing can be given, and the printing process can be performed as if the communication data was received as print data.

Hereinafter, the correspondence between this embodiment and the respective steps of the twelfth and thirteenth inventions and the operation thereof will be described with reference to FIG.

According to a twelfth aspect, the printing unit (printer engine 120) communicates with an external device (host computer 3000) or an external communication device (facsimile machine 2000) via a predetermined communication medium (network or interface). A print control method for controlling processing, comprising:
A storage step of sequentially storing communication data received from the external communication device in a memory together with management data (step (2) in FIG. 7), and the external device is instructed to select from a group of communication data stored in the memory. A determination step (step (4) in FIG. 7) for analyzing whether desired communication data can be converted into data based on a predetermined page description language, and converting the received communication data based on the determination result A transfer step of transferring to an external device (step (5) in FIG. 7) and a receiving step of receiving converted data transferred to the external device and converted into data based on a predetermined page description language that can be printed by a printing unit (Step (6) in FIG. 7) and an output step of outputting from the printing unit based on the received conversion data (Step (7) in FIG. 7)
The CPU 130 executes the control program stored in the ROM 131, and instructs selection of desired communication data from a group of communication data received from the external communication device and stored in the memory from a graphical user interface (GUI) of the external device. In this case, if the communication data is data that can be converted to PDL data, the conversion processing of the PDL data is substituted by using the conversion resources of the external device, and the printing unit of the printing unit is replaced based on the converted PDL data. Enables high-quality output using functions.

According to a thirteenth aspect, the printing unit (printer engine 120) communicates with an external device (host computer 3000) or an external communication device (facsimile apparatus 2000) via a predetermined communication medium (network, interface). A storage medium storing a program readable by a computer for controlling processing, wherein the storage step sequentially stores communication data received from the external communication device in a memory together with management data (step (2) in FIG. 7); A determination step of analyzing desired communication data selected and instructed from the communication data group stored in the memory from the external device and determining whether the communication data can be converted into data based on a predetermined page description language (step of FIG. 7) (4)) and transferring the received communication data to the external device based on the determination result. A transfer step (step (5) in FIG. 7) and a receiving step (step in FIG. 7) for receiving converted data transferred to the external device and converted into data based on a predetermined page description language that can be printed by a printing unit. (6)) and an output step of outputting from the printing unit based on the received conversion data (step (7) in FIG. 7).
And a program readable by a computer, including: That is, the embodiment of the present invention also includes an embodiment in which a program code corresponding to the process shown in FIG. 7 is stored in an external storage medium or an internal storage resource described later, and the CPU 130 reads out and executes the program code from the storage medium storing the program code. Included.

Hereinafter, the configuration of a data processing program that can be read by a printing system to which the print control apparatus according to the present invention can be applied will be described with reference to a memory map shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining a memory map of a storage medium for storing various data processing programs which can be read by a printing system to which the print control apparatus according to the present invention can be applied.

Although not shown, information for managing a group of programs stored in the storage medium, for example, version information, a creator, etc. are also stored, and information dependent on the OS or the like on the program reading side, for example, a program is stored in the storage medium. An icon or the like for identification display may also be 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 FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7 in this embodiment may be executed by a 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 storing the program codes of the software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or the apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MP) of the system or the 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.

The computer executes the readout program code to realize the functions of the above-described embodiment, and also executes an operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) And the like perform 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 into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, The CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs 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.

[0083]

As described above, the first embodiment according to the present invention is described.
According to the invention, the communication unit receives the external communication device and analyzes the communication data to determine whether the conversion unit can convert the data into data based on a predetermined page description language. After transferring the communication data to the external device, the receiving unit receives the converted data which is transferred to the external device and converted into data based on a predetermined page description language that can be printed by the printing unit, and the received Since the control unit controls the printing of the printing unit based on the conversion data, even if the communication data is received from an external communication device, if the data can be converted to PDL, the PDL is converted using the conversion resource of the external device. Substitute the conversion process to data,
Based on the converted PDL data, high-quality output using the function of a printing unit is enabled.

According to the second aspect, the communication data received from the external communication device is sequentially stored in the storage means together with the management data, and the desired communication data is selected and instructed from the stored communication data group by the instructing means. Then, the instructed desired communication data is analyzed to determine whether or not the determination means can be converted into data based on a predetermined page description language, and the received communication data is transferred based on the determination result. Means for transferring to the external device, and receiving means for receiving the converted data transferred to the external device and converted to data based on a predetermined page description language that can be printed by the printing unit,
Since the control means controls the printing of the printing unit based on the received conversion data, when a desired communication data is selected and selected from a panel or the like from a communication data group received from an external communication device and stored in the memory. , The communication data is PD
If the data can be L-converted, the conversion process of the external device can be used to substitute the conversion process to PDL data, and high-quality output using the function of the printing unit can be performed based on the converted PDL data. I do.

According to the third aspect, the communication data received from the external communication device is sequentially stored in the storage means together with the management data, and the desired communication data selected and instructed from the stored communication data group is stored. The analyzing means determines whether or not the data can be converted into data based on a predetermined page description language, and based on the determination result, the transfer means transfers the received communication data to the external device, Upon receiving the converted data that has been transferred to the device and converted to data based on a predetermined page description language that can be printed by the printing unit,
Since the control means controls the printing of the printing unit based on the received conversion data, the desired communication data from the communication data group received from the external communication device and stored in the memory is displayed on the graphical user interface of the external device. If the communication data is data that can be converted to PDL when a selection instruction is given from PDL, the PDL is converted using the conversion resources of the external device.
The process of converting to data is substituted, and high-quality output using the function of the printing unit based on the converted PDL data is enabled.

According to the fourth aspect, when the determination means determines that the data cannot be converted into data based on a predetermined page description language, the control section causes the printing section to output an image of the communication data. The communication data can be output as image data as usual.

According to the fifth aspect, the control means controls the presence / absence of the determination by the determination means based on the output resolution set by the setting means. Can be automatically switched between print output by the printer and print output by image data based on the communication data if other resolution settings are made.

According to the sixth aspect, since the external device is a host computer, it is possible to easily perform high image quality processing using conversion resources provided in the computer without imposing any processing load on the printer. Can be.

According to the seventh aspect, since the external communication device is a facsimile device, even if the data is received by facsimile communication, PDL data output using the conversion resources of the host computer can be easily obtained. be able to.

According to the eighth and ninth aspects, the communication data received from the external communication device is analyzed to determine whether or not the data can be converted into data based on a predetermined page description language, and based on the determination result, After transferring the received communication data to the external device, receiving the converted data transferred to the external device and converted into data based on a predetermined page description language that can be printed by a printing unit, and Since the data is output from the printing unit based on the data, even if the communication data is received from an external communication device, if the data can be converted into PDL, the conversion process to the PDL data is performed using the conversion resource of the external device. Alternatively, high-quality output using the function of the printing unit based on the converted PDL data is enabled.

According to the tenth and eleventh aspects, communication data received from the external communication device is sequentially stored in a memory together with management data, and desired communication data is selected and instructed from the stored communication data group. Analyzing the instructed desired communication data to determine whether it can be converted to data based on a predetermined page description language, and transferring the received communication data to the external device based on the determination result, Receives the converted data that has been transferred to an external device and converted into data based on a predetermined page description language that can be printed by the printing unit, and outputs the data from the printing unit based on the received converted data. If the user selects and instructs desired communication data from a communication data group received and stored in the memory from a panel or the like and the communication data is data that can be converted to PDL, PD using the conversion resources of an external device
The conversion process to the L data is substituted, and the converted PDL
High-quality output using the function of the printing unit based on data is enabled.

According to the twelfth and thirteenth aspects, communication data received from the external communication device is sequentially stored in a memory together with management data, and a selection instruction is selected from the communication data group stored in the memory from the external device. Analyzes the desired communication data to be converted and determines whether the data can be converted into data based on a predetermined page description language, and transfers the received communication data to the external device based on the determination result. The conversion unit receives the converted data that has been transferred and converted into data based on a predetermined page description language that can be printed by the printing unit, and outputs the data from the printing unit based on the received conversion data. When the user selects and instructs desired communication data from the group of communication data stored in the memory from the graphical user interface of the external device, the communication data If the data is data that can be converted to PDL, the conversion process to the PDL data is substituted by using the conversion resources of the external device, and high-quality output using the function of the printing unit is performed based on the converted PDL data. Make it possible.

Therefore, it is possible to easily convert communication data, which would otherwise be output as image data, to PDL data and obtain a high-quality output result.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an output device to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is an external view showing a configuration of a second output device to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the output device illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a print control apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a first data processing procedure of the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a second data processing procedure of the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a third data processing procedure of the print control apparatus 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 a printing system to which a print control device according to the present invention can be applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 100 printer 120 printer engine 130 CPU 131 ROM 132 RAM 138 external storage device 2000 facsimile device (external communication device) 3000 host computer (external device)

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A print control device capable of communicating with an external device or an external communication device via a predetermined communication medium, wherein the communication data received from the external communication device is analyzed and data based on a predetermined page description language is analyzed. Determining means for determining whether or not conversion is possible; transferring means for transferring the received communication data to the external device based on a result of the determination by the determining means; Receiving means for receiving converted data converted to data based on a predetermined page description language; andcontrol means for controlling printing of the printing unit based on the converted data received by the receiving means. Printing control device. 2. A print control device capable of communicating with an external device or an external communication device via a predetermined communication medium, wherein the storage unit sequentially stores communication data received from the external communication device together with management data; Instructing means for selecting and instructing desired communication data from a communication data group stored in the accumulating means; and analyzing whether the desired communication data instructed by the instructing means can be converted into data based on a predetermined page description language Determining means for determining whether or not the received communication data is transferred to the external device based on the determination result of the determining means; and a predetermined page description transferred to the external device and printable by a printing unit. Receiving means for receiving the converted data converted to data based on a language; and printing the printing unit based on the converted data received by the receiving means. A printing control device, comprising: control means for controlling; 3. A print control device capable of communicating with an external device or an external communication device via a predetermined communication medium, wherein the storage means sequentially stores communication data received from the external communication device together with management data; Determining means for analyzing desired communication data selected and instructed from a communication data group stored in the storage means from an external device to determine whether the communication data can be converted into data based on a predetermined page description language; and Transfer means for transferring the received communication data to the external device based on the determination result, and converting the converted data transferred to the external device and converted into data based on a predetermined page description language printable by a printing unit. Receiving means for receiving, and control means for controlling printing of the printing unit based on the conversion data received by the receiving means. Print control apparatus. 4. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit causes the communication unit to output the communication data as an image when the determination unit determines that the data cannot be converted into data based on a predetermined page description language. The print control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. Setting means for setting an output resolution for the communication data received from the external communication device, wherein the control means determines whether or not the judgment is made by the judgment means based on the output resolution set by the setting means. The print control device according to claim 1, wherein 6. The print control device according to claim 1, wherein the external device is a host computer. 7. The print control device according to claim 1, wherein the external communication device is a facsimile device. 8. A printing control method for communicating with an external device or an external communication device via a predetermined communication medium to control a printing process of a printing unit, comprising analyzing communication data received from the external communication device. A determining step of determining whether conversion to data based on a predetermined page description language is possible; a transferring step of transferring the received communication data to the external device based on the determination result; and a transferring and printing to the external device A receiving unit that receives converted data converted into data based on a predetermined page description language that can be printed by a unit, and an output step that outputs from the printing unit based on the received converted data. Printing control method. 9. A storage medium storing a computer readable program for communicating with an external device or an external communication device via a predetermined communication medium and controlling print processing of a printing unit, wherein the external communication device A determining step of analyzing the received communication data to determine whether it can be converted into data based on a predetermined page description language; and a transferring step of transferring the received communication data to the external device based on the determination result. A receiving step of receiving converted data transferred to the external device and converted into data based on a predetermined page description language that can be printed by a printing unit; and an output output from the printing unit based on the received converted data. And a storage medium storing a computer readable program. 10. A print control method for communicating with an external device or an external communication device via a predetermined communication medium to control a printing process of a printing unit, wherein the communication data received from the external communication device together with management data. An accumulating step of sequentially accumulating in the memory; an instructing step of selecting and instructing desired communication data from the accumulated communication data group; analyzing the instructed desired communication data and data based on a predetermined page description language A determining step of determining whether or not the received communication data can be converted to the external device; and a transferring step of transferring the received communication data to the external device based on the determination result. A receiving step of receiving the converted data converted into data based on the description language; and an output step of outputting from the printing unit based on the received converted data. A print control method, comprising: 11. A storage medium storing a computer-readable program that communicates with an external device or an external communication device via a predetermined communication medium and controls a printing process of a printing unit. A storage step of sequentially storing the received communication data in the memory together with the management data; an instruction step of selecting and instructing desired communication data from the stored communication data group; and analyzing the instructed desired communication data. A determining step of determining whether conversion to data based on a predetermined page description language is possible; a transferring step of transferring the received communication data to the external device based on the determination result; and a transferring and printing to the external device Receiving a converted data converted into data based on a predetermined page description language that can be printed by a copy unit; And a step of outputting from the printing unit based on the program. 12. A printing control method for communicating with an external device or an external communication device via a predetermined communication medium to control a printing process of a printing unit, wherein the communication data received from the external communication device together with management data. A storage step of sequentially storing the data in a memory; and analyzing whether or not the desired communication data selected and designated from the communication data group stored in the memory from the external device can be converted into data based on a predetermined page description language. A determination step of determining; a transfer step of transferring the received communication data to the external device based on the determination result; and a transfer of the received communication data to the external device to data based on a predetermined page description language that can be printed by a printing unit. A receiving step of receiving the converted data; and an output step of outputting from the printing unit based on the received converted data. Print control method to. 13. A storage medium storing a computer-readable program that communicates with an external device or an external communication device via a predetermined communication medium and controls a printing process of a printing unit. A storage step of sequentially storing received communication data in a memory together with management data; and analyzing desired communication data selected and instructed from a group of communication data stored in the memory from the external device, and converting the communication data into a predetermined page description language. A determining step of determining whether or not the received communication data can be converted into data based on the determination result; a transferring step of transferring the received communication data to the external device based on the determination result; Receiving the converted data converted to data based on the page description language of the above, and the mark based on the received converted data And an output step of outputting from the section, the storage medium having a computer is characterized by storing the readable program.