JPH10233877A - Information processing system, information processor and information processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide simple and inexpensive information processing system, information processor and information processing method, which do not require a complicated circuit and the memory of large capacity as much as possible, by preventing an overrun and executing desired printing. SOLUTION: Printing data transferred from a host computer 3000 to a printer 1500 are stored in a picture memory 24 and idle information on idle capacity is calculated while the capacity of stored data is monitored in a memory monitoring part 25 at any time. An idle information is informed to the host computer 3000 by a notice means 27. The host computer 3000 selects the resolution of data which is transferred next and data of prescribed selected resolution is transferred to the printer 1500 so as to execute printing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an information processing system such as a printer connected to a host computer via an interface, an information processing apparatus, and an information processing method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, with the rapid improvement in the performance of personal computers, image data composed of dot matrices is expanded on a computer, and the expanded image data is subjected to processing such as compression, and then sent to a printer. A type of device has appeared. Such a type of device does not require a complicated circuit such as image data compression and decompression and a large-capacity page memory in the printer, and therefore can be commercialized at a very low price.

[0003]

However, a printer of the above-described type has a smaller amount of print data transferred between a computer and a printer than a printer of a printing system using a printer description language, for example. The printer has a large number of band memories and a band memory that is smaller than the memory capacity required for printing one page, so the print data is complicated or the transfer speed of the print data is slow. A phenomenon occurs in which the data transfer speed cannot keep up with the drum speed in the engine section. In such a case, there is a problem that an overrun occurs and a desired printing result cannot be obtained.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive information processing system and information processing system which does not require a complicated circuit and a large-capacity memory as much as possible by performing desired printing while preventing overrun. An object of the present invention is to provide a processing device and an information processing method.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided an information processing system for exchanging image data between a first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus. An image memory for storing the transferred image data, monitoring means for monitoring the data capacity of the image data stored in the image memory, and calculating free information on the free space; and Notifying means for notifying information to the host-side device; means provided in the first information processing device for expanding the image data into data composed of a dot matrix; and free space notified by the notifying means. An information processing system can be configured by including a resolution selection unit that selects a resolution of image data to be transmitted next from information.

The present invention is also an information processing system for receiving printing data transferred from a host computer by a printer and performing printing, provided in the printer, and storing the transferred data. Image memory,
Monitoring means for monitoring the data capacity of the data stored in the image memory, and calculating free information on the free capacity;
Notifying means for notifying the calculated free information to the host computer; means provided in the host computer for expanding the printing data into image data composed of a dot matrix; and notified by the notifying means. An information processing system can be configured by including a resolution selecting unit that selects the resolution of the print data to be transmitted next from the available information.

The present invention is also an information processing apparatus for printing data for printing by using printing data developed into image data composed of a dot matrix transferred from an external device, An image memory for storing the data for printing, monitoring means for monitoring the data capacity of the data for printing stored in the image memory, and calculating free information related to free space; and The information processing apparatus can be configured by including the notification unit that notifies the external apparatus.

The present invention also relates to an information processing apparatus for transferring printing data developed into image data composed of a dot matrix to a printer, wherein the free information relates to the free space of a memory in the printer. The information processing apparatus can be configured by including a resolution selection unit that selects the resolution of the next print data to be transferred based on.

The present invention is also an information processing method for exchanging image data between a first information processing device and a second information processing device, wherein the first information processing device includes Expands the data into data composed of a dot matrix, and converts the expanded image data to the second
Of the image data stored in the image memory, and while monitoring the data capacity of the image data stored in the image memory, calculates the free information related to the free space. Of the image data to be transmitted next from the notified free information, and transfers the image data having the selected predetermined resolution to the second information processing apparatus. Can be output.

The present invention is also an information processing method for receiving printing data sent from a host computer by a printer and performing printing, wherein the host computer converts the printing data from a dot matrix. Developing the data to be composed, transferring the expanded printing data to the printer, storing the data in the image memory, and monitoring the data capacity of the printing data stored in the image memory, while checking the free space. Calculating the free space information, notifying the calculated free space information to the host computer, selecting the resolution of the next print data to be transmitted from the notified free space information, and selecting the selected predetermined resolution. Can be transferred to the printer and printed.

[0011] The image memory may be composed of a band memory smaller than the memory capacity of one page of the transferred data.

[0012]

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

First, the configuration of a laser beam printer suitable for applying the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The printer applied to the present embodiment is not limited to a laser beam printer, but may be another printer, for example, an inkjet printer.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the configuration of an output device applicable to the present invention, and here shows a laser beam printer (LBP).

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 1500 denotes an LBP main body. The LBP body 1500 receives and stores recording information, form information, macro instructions, and the like supplied from a host computer 3000, which will be described later, which is connected to the outside, and according to the information, corresponding character patterns and form patterns. Is formed, and an image is formed on a recording medium such as recording paper.

Reference numeral 1501 denotes an operation panel on which switches for operation, an LED display, and the like are arranged. 10
Reference numeral 00 denotes a printer control unit that controls the entire LBP body 1500 and analyzes character information and the like supplied from the host computer 3000. The printer control unit 1000 mainly converts a character pattern corresponding to character information into a video signal and outputs the video signal to the laser driver 1502.

A laser driver 1502 is a circuit for driving the semiconductor laser 1503, and switches on / off a laser beam 1504 emitted from the semiconductor laser 1503 according to an input video signal.

The laser beam 1504 is applied to a rotary polygon mirror 1505
And scans and exposes the surface of the electrostatic drum 1506. As a result, an electrostatic latent image of a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 1506. This latent image is developed by a developing unit 1507 disposed around the electrostatic drum 1506, and then transferred to a recording sheet.
A cut sheet is used as the recording paper, and the cut sheet recording paper is stored in a paper cassette 1508 mounted on the LBP 1500, and is supplied with a paper feed roller 1509 and a transport roller 151.
0 and the transport roller 1511, the toner is taken into the apparatus and supplied to the electrostatic drum 1506.

The LBP body 1500 is provided with at least one or more card slots (not shown) so that an optional font card and a control card (emulation card) of a different language can be connected in addition to the built-in fonts. .

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printer control system of the present invention. If the functions of the present invention are executed, a system in which processing is performed via a network such as a LAN, whether it is a single peripheral device or a system including a plurality of peripheral devices. Also, the present invention can be applied.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 3000 denotes a host computer. This host computer 3000 has R
A CPU 1 is provided for executing document processing in which graphics, images, characters, tables (including spreadsheets) and the like are mixed based on a document processing program or the like stored in a program ROM of the OM3. As a result, the CPU 1 controls the devices connected to the system device 4 as a whole.

The program ROM 3a of the ROM 3
Stores a control program of the CPU 1 and the like.
The font ROM 3b of the ROM 3 stores font data and the like used in the above-described document processing. RO
The M3 data ROM 3c stores various data used when performing the document processing and the like. 2 is RA
M, which functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like of the CPU 1. Reference numeral 5 denotes a keyboard controller (KBC) which controls key input from a keyboard 9 or a pointing device (not shown).

Reference numeral 6 denotes a CRT controller (CRTC), which controls display on a CRT display (CRT) 10. 7 is a disk controller (DKC).
The disk controller 7 has a hard disk (H) that stores a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, edit files, and the like.
D), an external memory 11 such as a floppy disk (FD)
And control access. Reference numeral 8 denotes a printer controller (PRTC). This printer controller 8
Predetermined bidirectional interface (interface)
The printer 21 is connected to the printer 1500 via the printer 21 and executes a communication control process with the printer 1500.

The host computer 3000 has:
Resolution selection means 30 is provided. The resolution selecting unit 30 determines whether the next printer 1 is available based on the memory free information in the image memory 24 notified from the printer 1500.
Select the resolution of the print data to be sent to the 500.

The CPU 1 executes, for example, a process of developing (rasterizing) the outline font on the display information RAM set on the RAM 2 and executes WYSIWYG on the CRT display 10 (for example, the CRT display 10 on the host computer 3000 side). A function of creating a figure by an application and printing the created figure on the printer 1500 side is possible. Further, the CPU 1 opens various registered windows based on commands specified by a mouse cursor or the like (not shown) on the CRT display 10 and executes various data processing.

In the printer 1500, 21
Is a host interface (I / F) that can receive print data transmitted from the host computer 3000 and notify the host computer 3000 of the status of the printer 1500. Reference numeral 22 denotes a control unit having a register and the like for controlling the memory to store print data in the image memory 24 and for storing the internal state of the printer 1500. Reference numeral 23 denotes a printing unit interface (I / F) for outputting image information as output information to a printing unit (printer engine) 26.

Reference numeral 24 denotes an image memory for storing print data. As the image memory 24, for example,
A band memory smaller than the memory capacity required for printing one page can be used. Reference numeral 25 denotes a memory monitoring unit for monitoring a data storage state in the image memory 24. The memory monitoring unit 25 determines the data amount of the print data received from the host computer 3000 and the printing unit interface (I / F) 2 from the image memory 24.
3 is always compared with the print data output to calculate the free space information on the free space in the image memory 24. 27
Is notification means. This notifying means 27 sends the empty information through the host interface (I / F) 21
The host computer 3000 can be notified.

Next, the resolution selection procedure by the resolution selection means 30 of the host computer 3000 will be described with reference to FIG.

First, when a print command is issued, the host computer 3000 starts generating appropriate image data to be transferred to the printer 1500 in accordance with the setting of the user. As a result, image data expanded to data composed of a dot matrix is generated. When the generation of the image data is completed, the output of the print data to the printer 1500 is started. (Step S1). At this time,
The amount of print data to be output is determined by the host computer 3000.
And determines whether or not to end printing (step S2). When the print data is exhausted, the print operation ends, but the print data remains (during data transmission)
Proceeds to step S3.

In this step S3, the printer 1500
When the free space information is obtained from the memory monitoring unit 25 in the inside, and the print data capacity of the image memory 24 is sufficient,
Returning to step S1, data transmission is continued as it is. However, if there is not much data left, it is determined that there is a risk of overrun, and the process proceeds to step S4. In step S4, in order to reduce the amount of data to be sent to the printer 1500, a process for lowering the data resolution is performed, and then the process returns to step S1 to send data again.

In this embodiment, the image memory 24 is
Although the band memory is taken as an example, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the amount of print data is extremely large, a memory required for printing one page or a memory having a larger capacity may be used. The same processing can be performed by using the same.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, the case where the transfer speed of the print data cannot catch up with the speed of the drum in the engine section of the printer is predicted, and the resolution of the print data is changed. It is possible to reduce the transfer amount of the print data and improve the transfer speed, thereby preventing the overrun and outputting a desired print result, and thus, a complicated circuit or a memory having a large capacity. An inexpensive device and system that do not require a device can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a resolution selection process according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a printer applicable to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 24 image memory 25 monitoring means 27 notifying means 30 resolution selecting means 1500 printer (information processing device) 3000 host computer (information processing device)

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An information processing system for exchanging image data between a first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus, wherein the information processing system is provided in the second information processing apparatus, and An image memory for storing image data, a monitoring unit for monitoring a data capacity of the image data stored in the image memory, and calculating free information on free space, and transmitting the calculated free information to the host-side device. Notifying means for notifying; means provided in the first information processing apparatus for expanding the image data into data composed of a dot matrix; and an image to be transmitted next from the free information notified by the notifying means. An information processing system comprising: resolution selection means for selecting a resolution of data. 2. An information processing system for receiving printing data transferred from a host computer by a printer and performing printing, comprising: an image memory provided in the printer for storing the transferred data; A monitoring unit that monitors the data capacity of the data stored in the image memory, and calculates free information on free space; a notifying unit that notifies the host computer of the calculated free information; and Means for expanding the print data into image data composed of a dot matrix; and resolution selection means for selecting the resolution of the next print data to be transmitted from the free information notified by the notification means. An information processing system, comprising: 3. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the image memory comprises a band memory smaller than a memory capacity of one page of the transferred data. 4. An information processing apparatus for printing data for printing by using printing data developed into image data composed of a dot matrix transferred from an external device, wherein the printing data is An image memory for storing data, monitoring means for monitoring the data capacity of the print data stored in the image memory, and calculating free information relating to free space; and notifying the external device of the calculated free information. An information processing apparatus comprising: 5. An information processing apparatus for transferring data for printing expanded into image data composed of a dot matrix to a printer, based on free information on free space in a memory in the printer. An information processing apparatus comprising: resolution selection means for selecting the resolution of print data to be transferred next. 6. An information processing method for exchanging image data between a first information processing device and a second information processing device, wherein the first information processing device converts the image data into a dot matrix. The image data is transferred to the second information processing device and stored in the image memory. While monitoring the data capacity of the image data stored in the image memory, Calculating free space information on free space, notifying the calculated free space information to the first information processing apparatus, selecting a resolution of image data to be transmitted next from the notified free space information, Transferring the image data having the predetermined resolution to the second information processing apparatus and outputting the image data. 7. An information processing method for receiving print data sent from a host computer by a printer and performing printing, wherein the host computer converts the print data to a data composed of a dot matrix. The developed print data is transferred to the printer and stored in the image memory, and while monitoring the data capacity of the image data stored in the image memory, the free space information on the free space is calculated. Notifying the calculated free information to the host computer, selecting a resolution of print data to be transmitted next from the notified free information, and selecting the print data having the selected predetermined resolution. To
An information processing method, wherein the information is transferred to the printer and printed. 8. The information processing method according to claim 6, wherein the image memory comprises a band memory smaller than a memory capacity of one page of the transferred data.