JPH11208056A - Image processing method, processor therefor and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To output image at high rate using a minimum necessary memory by determining a band memory size appropriately at the time of delivering an image data, e.g. a character or a figure, generated from an application software to a printer in raster image. SOLUTION: When an application software requires a printer driver to deliver an output to a printer 200, the printer driver determining the memory size of a band memory from the empty memory size in a computer system, or the like. After delivering a previously generated image data to the printer 200, the printer driver ends the processing operation for one band. On the printer 200 side, a transferred image data being divided by the printer driver is coupled by a coupling means 202 and delivered from arm output means 203. Since the band memory size can be determined appropriately, image can be outputted at high rate using a minimum necessary memory.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing method and apparatus for developing image data such as characters and graphics created by application software or the like into a raster image and transmitting it to an image output device. The present invention relates to a storage medium used for a processing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when image data such as characters and graphics created by application software or the like is output as a raster image to an image output device, the image data is first expanded in a virtual page memory on a host computer and then output to the image output device. Output.

At this time, in order to improve the memory efficiency of the host computer, the virtual page memory is divided into several bands and processed, and the image data is expanded to the band memory for each band, and the image data is output to the image output device. Output.

[0004]

However, in the conventional example described above, if the size of the band memory is large, the processing time for each band becomes longer, and there is no data to be output to the image output device, and the computer has The number of wait states for waiting for print data from the printer increases. In addition, in multitask processing in which a plurality of processes are simultaneously processed, the use of memory of another process is restricted, and the possibility of virtual memory swapping out increases, resulting in a decrease in performance.

[0005] However, when the band size is reduced, overhead is generated because determination of which band all print data is to be output to and data processing over the band are performed a plurality of times. In particular, in the past, bands were always divided vertically or horizontally,
If the band size is small, the possibility that the same data extends over a plurality of bands increases, and this overhead increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and a first object of the present invention is to enable high-speed image output with a minimum memory. It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple image processing method and apparatus.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide a storage medium capable of smoothly controlling the above-described image processing apparatus.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing method for developing print data in a memory and outputting the print data to an external device as image data. A size determination step of determining the size of the development area based on the size of the memory; a width determination step of determining the width in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction of the development area determined by the size determination step; A developing processing step of developing print data in the memory into image data based on the width of the developing area determined in the determining step.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing method according to the first aspect, wherein the image data expanded in the expansion processing step is transmitted to the external device. It has an output step of outputting.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing method according to the first aspect, wherein the width determining step comprises the step of determining the number of bands in the horizontal direction of the development area. A horizontal bandwidth calculation step of obtaining a horizontal bandwidth based on the vertical bandwidth calculation step of obtaining a vertical bandwidth based on the horizontal bandwidth and the size of the development area determined by the size determination step. And a process.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image processing method according to the third aspect, wherein the image processing method is based on the horizontal bandwidth and the vertical bandwidth. The method further comprises a horizontal bandwidth setting step of setting a horizontal bandwidth.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing method according to the fourth aspect, wherein the horizontal bandwidth setting step comprises the step of setting the horizontal bandwidth and the horizontal bandwidth. Including a determining step of determining whether the difference with the vertical bandwidth is within a threshold value,
When the difference between the horizontal bandwidth and the vertical bandwidth is determined to be larger than a threshold value in the determining step, the number of bands in the horizontal direction is set to be increased.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing method according to the third aspect, wherein the number of horizontal bands is initialized. It is characterized by having a process.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing method for achieving the first object.
In the image processing method described above, the horizontal direction is a scanning line direction.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing method comprising the steps of:
In the above-described image processing method, the vertical direction is a sheet conveyance direction.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing method for achieving the first object.
In the image processing method described above, the external device is a printing device.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing method according to the ninth aspect, wherein the printing apparatus combines and prints the image data. It is characterized by the following.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus for developing print data in a memory and outputting the print data as image data to an external device. Size determining means for determining the size of the development area based on the size of the expansion area; width determination means for determining the width in the horizontal and vertical directions of the development area determined by the size determination means; and determination by the width determination means. Expansion processing means for expanding the print data in the memory into image data based on the width of the expanded area.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the eleventh aspect, the image data expanded by the expansion processing means is transmitted to the external device. It has an output means for outputting.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the width determining means may determine the number of bands in the horizontal direction of the development area. Horizontal bandwidth calculating means for obtaining a horizontal bandwidth based on the vertical bandwidth calculating means for obtaining a vertical bandwidth based on the horizontal bandwidth and the size of the development area determined by the size determining means. Means.

In order to achieve the first object, an image processing apparatus according to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention is the image processing apparatus according to the thirteenth aspect, wherein the image processing apparatus is based on the horizontal bandwidth and the vertical bandwidth. It has a horizontal bandwidth setting means for setting a horizontal bandwidth.

In order to achieve the first object, an image processing apparatus according to claim 15 is the image processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the horizontal bandwidth setting means is configured to determine the horizontal bandwidth and the horizontal bandwidth. And determining means for determining whether a difference between the vertical bandwidth and the vertical bandwidth is within a threshold value. The determination means determines a threshold between the horizontal bandwidth and the vertical bandwidth. When it is determined that the value is larger than the value, the number of bands in the horizontal direction is set to be increased.

In order to achieve the first object, an image processing apparatus according to claim 16 is the image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the number of bands in the horizontal direction is initialized. It is characterized by having means.

In order to achieve the first object, the image processing apparatus according to claim 17 is the image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the horizontal direction is a scanning line direction. It is characterized by.

In order to achieve the first object, an image processing apparatus according to claim 18 is the image processing apparatus according to claims 11 to 15 or 16, wherein the vertical direction is a sheet conveying direction. It is characterized by.

In order to achieve the first object, an image processing apparatus according to claim 19 is the image processing apparatus according to claims 11 to 17 or 18, wherein the external device is a printing apparatus. Features.

In order to achieve the first object, an image processing apparatus according to claim 20 is the image processing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the printing apparatus combines and outputs the image data. It is characterized by the following.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage medium storing a control program for controlling an image processing apparatus for developing print data in a memory and outputting the print data as image data to an external device. A storage medium that determines the size of the development area based on the size of the memory, determines the widths in the horizontal and vertical directions of the determined development area, and determines the width of the determined development area based on the determined width of the development area. And storing a control program having a control module of a step of controlling to expand the print data in the memory into image data.

In order to achieve the second object, the storage medium according to claim 22 is the storage medium according to claim 21, wherein the control program outputs the developed image data to the external device. And a control module for the step of performing control.

In order to achieve the second object, the storage medium according to the twenty-third aspect of the present invention is the storage medium according to the twenty-first aspect, wherein the control program is configured to execute the control program based on the number of bands in the horizontal direction of the development area. A control module for obtaining a directional bandwidth and controlling to obtain a vertical bandwidth based on the horizontal bandwidth and the size of the development area.

In order to achieve the second object, a storage medium according to claim 24 is the storage medium according to claim 23, wherein the control program is configured to store the horizontal bandwidth, the vertical bandwidth, And a control module for controlling to set a horizontal bandwidth based on the control module.

Further, in order to achieve the second object, the storage medium according to claim 25 is the storage medium according to claim 22, wherein the control program controls so as to initialize the number of bands in the horizontal direction. And a control module for performing the steps.

[0033]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printer system provided with an image processing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. This printer system comprises an image processing apparatus 100 according to this embodiment, The printer 200 is an external device.

The image processing apparatus 100 includes a CPU (central processing unit) 101 and a RAM (random access memory).
102, an FD (floppy disk) 103, an FD drive 104, an HD (hard disk) 105, an HD drive 106, an input device 107, and a display 108.

The CPU 101 controls the entire apparatus. The RAM 102 reads an application program and a driver program. The FD 103 records a driver program and related data. FD
The drive 104 operates the FD 103. HD105
Is an OS (operating system) to be written. The HD drive 106 operates the HD 105.

The input device 107 is for the operator to input various data and information. Display 108
Displays various data and information.

The printer 200 outputs image data on a sheet of paper. As shown in FIG. 2, a CPU 201 for controlling the entire printer 200, a combining unit 202 for combining image data, and printing out the combined image data. An output unit 203 and a driving unit 204 for driving the output unit 203 are provided.

The HD 105 and the FD 103 correspond to the storage medium of the present invention.

This system operates when the CPU 101 executes an OS (operating system), application programs, and printer driver programs. The OS is read when the power of the host computer is turned on. The application program and the printer driver program are stored in the HD 105 by user operation.
Is set in the HD drive 106, the data is read from the HD 105 into the RAM 102, and the operation is started.

In this embodiment, the printer driver program and related data shown in FIG.
It is recorded in D103, and the configuration of the recorded content is shown in FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes volume information, 302 denotes directory information, 303 denotes a printer driver execution file, 304 denotes a printer driver data file, and 305 denotes file position information.

The printer driver program and related data stored in the FD 103 are stored in the FD 1 as shown in FIG.
03 can be loaded into the computer system 400 through the FD drive 104. This FD103
Is set in the FD drive 104, the printer driver program and related data are stored in the FD drive 104 under the control of the OS.
The data is read from the memory 103, loaded into the RAM 102, and becomes operable.

FIG. 5 shows that the printer driver program is R
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a memory map in a state where the memory map is loaded into the AM 102 and becomes executable. In the figure, 501 is an OS,
Reference numeral 502 denotes an application, 503, a printer driver, and 504, a band memory.

In the present embodiment, the printer driver program and related data are directly
2 and executed, but in addition to this, FD
The printer driver program and related data are temporarily stored (installed) in the HD 105 from the HDD 103, and when the printer driver program is operated, the HD 10
5 may be loaded into the RAM 102. As a storage medium for storing the printer driver program, CD-ROM, CD-R,
It may be a VD, EC memory card, or the like.

The present embodiment is a program code based on a flowchart shown in FIG. 8 described later. When the application software outputs image data created in response to an operator request from the input device 107 to the printer 200, the image data is output to the printer 200 using a printer driver program. In the case of a so-called dumb printer or video printer, a graphic is developed as an image in a band memory in a host computer in accordance with the resolution of a recording device and then sent to a printer 200, a page image is usually formed as shown in FIG. Reference numeral 601 decomposes the image into a plurality of band images 602, expands the image in the band memory 504, and outputs the image to the printer 200.

The size of the band memory 504 greatly affects the speed. If the size of the band memory 504 is large, the time for performing the processing for each band becomes long, and the time in the wait state for waiting for print data from the host computer without the print data in the printer 200 increases. This possibility is particularly high at the start of printing. Also,
In a multitasking process in which a plurality of processes are simultaneously processed, the use of memory of another process is restricted, and the possibility of virtual memory swapping out increases, resulting in a decrease in performance.

However, when the band size is reduced, overhead is generated because it is necessary to determine to which band all print data is to be output and to perform data processing over the bands a plurality of times.

The conventional band is divided vertically as shown in FIG. 7A (when the data is rotated by 90 degrees and output, it is divided horizontally as shown in FIG. 7B). I was When dividing vertically, the pixels H in the vertical direction are determined from the band memory size S and the memory amount M per pixel W in the horizontal direction (= S / (M × W)). If it is small, the vertical direction H of the band memory area becomes small, and each object spans many bands. In particular, when a vertically long sheet is divided in the horizontal direction or when a horizontally long sheet is divided in the vertical direction, the band extends over more bands.

Since the object has to be processed for each band, the performance is degraded. For example, when attention is paid to the triangle in FIG.
Must be processed, and when divided horizontally, 7
In order to straddle the band, the processing must be performed seven times.

However, even when the band memory size S is small, not only the band is arranged vertically or horizontally but also as shown in FIG.
When the object is divided in the vertical and horizontal directions, the band memory size over which each object spans can be reduced. Also, the triangle in FIG. 7 extends over only two bands.

Therefore, in the present invention, an image can be output at high speed with a minimum memory by appropriately determining the band memory size.

Here, the vertical direction is the paper transport direction, and the horizontal direction is the scanning direction.

Next, the operation of the band memory area determining apparatus according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step S801, when the application software requests the printer driver 503 to output to the printer 200, the printer driver 50
3 determines the memory size of the band memory 504 from the free memory size in the computer system 400 and the like.
Next, in step S802, the number Nb of bands in the horizontal direction is set to an initial value. Next, in step S803, the printer driver 503 divides the paper width W by the number Nb of bands in the horizontal direction to obtain the band width Wb (= W / Nb).

Next, in step S804, step S8 is performed.
01, the band height Hb is obtained from the band memory size S, the number of pixels W, the memory amount M per pixel, and the band width Wb (= S / (M × Wb)). Next, in step S805, it is determined whether the difference between the bandwidth Wb and the band height Hb is smaller than a threshold Th. The difference between the band width Wb and the band height Hb is equal to the threshold T.
If h is smaller than h, the printer driver 5 converts the characters, images, and graphics created by the user using the input device 107 in the next step S806 according to the resolution of the recording device.
03 is developed as an image in the band memory 504 in the host computer.

Next, in step S807, the printer driver 503 outputs the image data created in step S806 to the printer 200, and ends the processing operation for one band. On the printer 200 side, the image data divided and transferred by the printer driver 503 in step S807 is combined with the combining unit 20.
2 and output by the output means 203.

On the other hand, if the difference between the band width Wb and the band height Hb is larger than the threshold value Th in step S805, the number of bands Nb in the horizontal direction is determined in step S808.
Is further increased, the flow returns to step S803, and the bandwidth Wb is obtained again.

By performing the above processing, the number of bands to be processed by each object is reduced even if the memory size of the bands is the same.

Table 1 below shows how many bands each object spans when divided in the vertical, horizontal, and vertical and horizontal directions.

[0060]

[Table 1] As is apparent from Table 1, when the image is divided in both the vertical and horizontal directions, the number of bands straddling many objects is reduced, and the processing time of each object is reduced.

[0061]

As described in detail above, according to the image processing method and apparatus of the present invention, when image data such as characters and graphics created by application software or the like is output to a printer as a raster image, the band memory size is reduced. By appropriately determining, it is possible to output an image at high speed with a minimum memory.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer system including an image processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer in the printer system shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a storage medium in which a program and the like of the printer system illustrated in FIG. 1 are stored.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing that a program 1 and the like of the printer system shown in FIG. 1 are provided to a computer system from a storage medium.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a memory map when a program of the printer system shown in FIG. 1 operates.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a processing state of dividing a page image into a plurality of bands in the printer system shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 shows a vertical direction in the printer system shown in FIG.
It is a figure showing the processing state which divides a band to both the horizontal and vertical and horizontal directions.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the image processing apparatus in the printer system shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 100 image processing device 101 CPU (central processing unit) 102 RAM (random access memory) 103 FD (floppy disk) 104 FD drive 105 HD (hard disk) 106 HD drive 107 input device 108 display 200 printer 201 CPU (central processing unit) ) 202 coupling means 203 output means 204 driving means

Claims (25)

[Claims] 1. An image processing method for developing print data in a memory and outputting it as image data to an external device, comprising: a size determining step of determining a size of a development area based on a size of the memory; A width determination step of determining the width of the development area in the horizontal and vertical directions determined by the step; and developing the print data of the memory into image data based on the width of the development area determined by the width determination step. An image processing method comprising: 2. The image processing method according to claim 1, further comprising an output step of outputting the image data expanded in the expansion processing step to the external device. 3. The width determination step is determined by a horizontal bandwidth calculation step of obtaining a horizontal bandwidth based on the number of horizontal bands of the development area, and the horizontal bandwidth and the size determination step. 2. The image processing method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of calculating a vertical bandwidth based on the size of the developed area. 4. The image processing method according to claim 3, further comprising a horizontal bandwidth setting step of setting a horizontal bandwidth based on the horizontal bandwidth and the vertical bandwidth. 5. The horizontal bandwidth setting step includes a determination step of determining whether a difference between the horizontal bandwidth and the vertical bandwidth is within a threshold value,
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein when the difference between the horizontal bandwidth and the vertical bandwidth is determined to be larger than a threshold value, the number of bands in the horizontal direction is increased. Image processing method. 6. The image processing method according to claim 3, further comprising a horizontal band number initialization step of initializing a horizontal band number. 7. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal direction is a scanning line direction. 8. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the vertical direction is a sheet conveyance direction. 9. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the external device is a printing device. 10. The image processing method according to claim 9, wherein the printing device combines and prints the image data. 11. An image processing apparatus for developing print data in a memory and outputting the print data as image data to an external device, comprising: a size determining unit configured to determine a size of a development area based on a size of the memory; Width determining means for determining the width in the horizontal and vertical directions of the development area determined by the means; and developing the print data in the memory into image data based on the width of the development area determined by the width determination means. An image processing apparatus comprising: 12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising an output unit that outputs the image data expanded by the expansion processing unit to the external device. 13. The width determining means is determined by a horizontal bandwidth calculating means for obtaining a horizontal bandwidth based on the number of bands in the horizontal direction of the development area, and the horizontal bandwidth and the size determining means. 12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising vertical bandwidth calculating means for obtaining a vertical bandwidth based on the size of the developed area. 14. The image processing apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a horizontal bandwidth setting unit configured to set a horizontal bandwidth based on the horizontal bandwidth and the vertical bandwidth. 15. The horizontal bandwidth setting unit includes a determination unit configured to determine whether a difference between the horizontal bandwidth and the vertical bandwidth is within a threshold. 15. The image according to claim 14, wherein when the difference between the horizontal bandwidth and the vertical bandwidth is determined to be larger than a threshold value, the number of bands in the horizontal direction is increased. Processing equipment. 16. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for initializing the number of bands in the horizontal direction.
3. The image processing device according to 3. 17. The image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the horizontal direction is a scanning line direction. 18. The image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the vertical direction is a sheet conveying direction. 19. The image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the external device is a printing device. 20. The image processing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the printing apparatus combines and outputs the image data. 21. A storage medium for storing a control program for controlling an image processing apparatus for developing print data in a memory and outputting the image data as image data to an external device, wherein the size of the development area is determined based on the size of the memory. Decide,
A control module for determining the horizontal and vertical widths of the determined development area and controlling the print data in the memory to be developed into image data based on the determined width of the development area. A storage medium storing a control program. 22. The storage medium according to claim 21, wherein the control program has a control module for controlling to output the developed image data to the external device. 23. The control program according to claim 1, wherein the control program determines a horizontal bandwidth based on the number of bands in the horizontal direction of the development area, and calculates a vertical bandwidth based on the horizontal bandwidth and the size of the development area. 22. The storage medium according to claim 21, further comprising a control module for controlling. 24. The control program according to claim 24, wherein the control program includes a control module for controlling to set a horizontal bandwidth based on the horizontal bandwidth and the vertical bandwidth. 23. The storage medium according to 23. 25. The storage medium according to claim 22, wherein the control program has a control module for performing control so as to initialize the number of bands in the horizontal direction.