JPH11298717A - Printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the loads imposed on a printer and to accelerate a printing speed as well by superimposing and compositing a watermark and an image to be printed before sending the data to the printer. SOLUTION: A printer driver 3 generates the bit map data of a watermark in a property setting processing part 7. Also, in an image generation processing part 5, the bit map data of the image to be printed are generated. A superimposing processing part 9 superimposes the image to be printed on the watermark, and thereafter the data are sent to the printing part 11 of the printer 4 through a data transmission processing part 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing system having a function of printing an image such as a document on a ground pattern to be printed on paper in advance.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, for example, when distributing a document treated as "confidential", a stamp indicating "confidential" is pressed on each page of the document. However, when a document printed by a word processor or a computer is transmitted by e-mail, it is impossible to actually press a stamp after printing the document. Therefore, control data for printing such a stamp image is incorporated in the digitized data itself. This mark such as "Confidential" is called a watermark.

[0003] In the case of printing a document with a watermark, first, the application sends a command for printing a watermark to the printer. continue,
The application sends bitmap data of the document to be printed to the printer. The printer uses the built-in font to generate bitmap data of the watermark, and prints it by superimposing it with the bitmap data of a document sent later.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned prior art has the following problems to be solved.
When printing a document with a watermark, the printer develops a built-in font to generate bitmap data of the watermark and then starts printing. Therefore, there is a drawback that the print waiting time becomes long. Further, a printer without a built-in font cannot support such a watermark printing command.
Therefore, printing of the watermark is ignored. Also,
In addition to the watermark, there are many requests for printing a document after printing various marks, frames, and patterns (hereinafter, collectively referred to as ground patterns) on paper. It is desired to develop a printing system that performs such processing smoothly and efficiently.

[0005]

The present invention employs the following structure to solve the above problems. <Structure 1> A ground pattern setting processing unit that specifies bitmap data of a ground pattern to be printed on paper in advance, and an optional part to be printed on the paper on which the ground pattern is printed so as to overlap the ground pattern An image generation processing unit that generates bitmap data of the image of the image, the bitmap data of the ground pattern output by the ground pattern setting processing unit, and the bitmap data of the image output by the image generation processing unit are overlapped. A printing system, comprising: a superposition processing unit for supplying the printing unit.

<Structure 2> A ground pattern setting processing unit for designating bitmap data of a ground pattern to be printed in advance on a sheet of paper in a printer driver for supplying print data to a printer; An image generation processing unit that generates bitmap data of an arbitrary image to be printed on the ground pattern on the ground paper, bitmap data of the ground pattern output from the ground pattern setting processing unit, A printing system comprising: a superimposition processing unit that superimposes bitmap data of an image output from a generation processing unit and supplies the superimposed data to a printer.

<Structure 3> The printing system according to Structure 2, wherein the designation of the ground pattern in the ground pattern setting processing section is performed by property setting of a printer driver.

<Structure 4> The printing system according to Structure 2, wherein the ground pattern setting processing section expands and contracts the bitmap data of the ground pattern in accordance with the paper size.

<Structure 5> In the printing system according to Structure 2, the ground pattern setting processing unit expands and contracts the bitmap data of the ground pattern in accordance with the size of the designated print area of the paper. And printing system.

<Structure 6> In the printing system according to Structure 2, the superimposition processing section performs a whitening process on an outline portion of the bitmap data of the image superimposed on the bitmap data of the ground pattern. Characteristic printing system.

<Structure 7> A printer driver for supplying printing data to a printer, a ground pattern setting processing function for designating bitmap data of a ground pattern to be printed on paper in advance, and printing of the ground pattern An image generation processing function for generating bitmap data of an arbitrary image to be printed on the ground pattern on the formed paper; a bitmap data of the ground pattern output by the ground pattern setting processing unit; A computer-readable recording medium storing a computer program having a superposition processing function of superimposing bitmap data of an image output from an image generation processing unit and supplying the superimposed bitmap data to a printer.

<Structure 8> An application which operates in a user mode, a printer user interface driver which is activated by the application and operates in a user mode, and a printer graphic driver which operates in a kernel mode are provided. The printer user interface driver creates print document data composed of a document, and the printer user interface driver prints the print document data based on the driver property set in response to the print request of the print document data so as to overlap with the print document data. The printer graphic driver interprets a group of functions input in response to a print request of the application and generates document bitmap data corresponding to the print document data. In both cases, a predetermined call processing function included in the function group accepts and stores bitmap data corresponding to the ground pattern generated by the user interface driver based on the device information in the buffer, and further stores the bitmap data in the buffer. A printing system for superposing the bitmap data on the document and the bitmap data for a document and supplying the processed data to a printer.

<Structure 9> In the printing system according to Structure 8, the printer graphic driver is included in a group of functions input in response to a print request from an application.
A user interface driver is called by a function for hooking a print event, the user interface driver generates bitmap data of a ground pattern from device information by an application program interface, and the printer graphic driver executes the above according to a request from the user interface driver. A buffer for storing bitmap data corresponding to the ground pattern is prepared, the user interface driver outputs the bitmap data of the ground pattern to the buffer, and the printer graphic driver sends the bitmap data to the buffer according to a request from the user interface driver. A printing system characterized in that bitmap data of a ground pattern and the bitmap data for a document are overlapped by a logical OR process and supplied to a printer. Beam.

<Structure 10> In the printing system according to Structure 8, when the rotation angle is designated when the ground pattern is drawn, the user interface driver determines the own pattern corresponding to the rotation angle from the device information based on the device information. A printing system which calculates a drawing area and a drawing start position, and sequentially outputs the generated bitmap data to a printer graphic driver.

<Configuration 11> An application which operates in a user mode, a printer user interface driver which is activated by the application and operates in a user mode, and a printer graphic driver which operates in a kernel mode are provided. The printer user interface driver creates print document data composed of a document, and the printer user interface driver prints the print document data based on the driver property set in response to the print request of the print document data so as to overlap with the print document data. The printer graphic driver generates device information for drawing the document, and interprets a function group input in response to a print request from the application to generate document bitmap data corresponding to the print document data. A predetermined call processing function included in the function group accepts and stores bitmap data corresponding to the ground pattern generated by the user interface driver based on the device information in a buffer, and further stores the bitmap data in the buffer. A computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a computer program having a function of superimposing the above-mentioned bitmap data and the above-mentioned document bitmap data and supplying them to a printer. A ground pattern setting processing unit that specifies bitmap data of a ground pattern to be printed on paper in advance; and a bit of an arbitrary image to be printed on the ground pattern-printed paper over the ground pattern. An image generation processing unit that generates map data, a bitmap data of a ground pattern output by the ground pattern setting processing unit, and a bitmap data of an image output by the image generation processing unit are superimposed and supplied to a printing unit. A printing system comprising:

<Structure 2> A ground pattern setting processing unit that specifies bitmap data of a ground pattern to be printed on paper in advance in a printer driver that supplies print data to a printer; An image generation processing unit that generates bitmap data of an arbitrary image to be printed on the ground pattern on the ground paper, bitmap data of the ground pattern output from the ground pattern setting processing unit, A printing system comprising: a superimposition processing unit that superimposes bitmap data of an image output from a generation processing unit and supplies the superimposed data to a printer.

<Structure 3> The printing system according to Structure 2, wherein the ground pattern is designated in the ground pattern setting processing section by property setting of a printer driver.

<Structure 4> The printing system according to Structure 2, wherein the ground pattern setting processing unit expands and contracts the bitmap data of the ground pattern in correspondence with the paper size.

<Structure 5> In the printing system according to Structure 2, the ground pattern setting processing section expands and contracts the bitmap data of the ground pattern in accordance with the size of the designated print area of the paper. And printing system.

<Structure 6> In the printing system according to Structure 2, the superposition processing unit performs a whitening process on an outline portion of the bitmap data of the image superimposed on the bitmap data of the ground pattern. Characteristic printing system.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below using specific examples. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a specific example of a printing system according to the present invention. In the system shown in the figure, an application 1
Is supplied to the printer driver 3 through the graphic device interface 2 and supplies the data to the printer 4 for printing.

The application 1 creates an arbitrary document or the like and supplies document data to the graphic device interface 2. Graphic device interface 2
Is a well-known module for converting graphics drawing functions to output device dependent outputs.
The printer driver 3 is a module that generates print data depending on an output device and transmits the print data. Here, the printer 4 as an output device has a function of printing a watermark 13 and an image 14 to be superimposed on the watermark 13 on the paper 12 in the printing unit 11.

The printer driver 3 includes an image generation processing unit 5, an image buffer 6, a property setting processing unit 7, a watermark information storage unit 8, a superposition processing unit 9, and a data transmission processing unit 10. The image generation processing unit 5 is a unit that generates bitmap data from a graphic drawing command generated by the graphic device interface 2. This bitmap data is temporarily stored in the image buffer 6.

The property setting processing section 7 is a section for setting a paper size, a printing direction, and other attributes used for printing. In the present invention, the attribute of the watermark is set simultaneously by the property setting processing unit 7. In this specific example, superimposition of a watermark and an arbitrary image will be described. However, other ground patterns other than the watermark, which are printed as an underlay on paper in advance, are also set here.

When the property of the watermark is set, the property setting processing unit 7 extracts necessary image processing data from a font memory (not shown) or a pattern memory storing data for generating a ground pattern. Generate bitmap data. The watermark bitmap data thus generated is temporarily stored in the watermark information storage unit 8.

The superimposition processing section 9 superimposes the bitmap data of the image to be printed read out from the image buffer 6 and the bitmap data of the watermark read out from the watermark information storage section 8 and superimposes the data transmission processing section. 10 is a part for performing processing for transmitting to the. The data transmission processing unit 10 is an interface that transmits data to the printer 4.

In this specific example, the watermark is printed without using the built-in font of the printer. For this purpose, a watermark is generated on a computer from the font provided by the graphics system.
That is, the bitmap data of the watermark is not generated by the printer at the time of printing, but is generated by the printer driver 3 before printing starts. Further, in a state where bitmap data such as a document to be printed and a watermark are superimposed, the data is supplied to a printer.

FIG. 2 shows an operation flowchart of the property setting processing section. Application 1 shown in FIG.
Sets the watermark by calling the property setting processing unit 7 of the printer driver 3. The printer driver 3 is, for example, a program that operates as an interface between an operating system of a personal computer and a printer. That is, when the application 1 requests the printer driver 3 to perform printing, a message for property setting processing is sent to the printer driver 3, and the printer driver 3 starts upon receiving this message. Here, the printer driver 3 executes a process as shown in FIG.

First, in step S1, when the property setting process is started, a window for controlling a printer driver is displayed on a screen of a personal computer, for example. Here, when the setting of the watermark is designated, the process proceeds to step S2, and a watermark designation screen is displayed. The watermark designation screen has the contents as shown on the right side of FIG.

The property input screen 16 enables input of, for example, the resolution of watermark bitmap data, a character string to be displayed as a watermark, the rotation angle of the watermark when printed on paper, the density, and the like. I do. If the resolution displayed by default here is different from the actual resolution of the printer, this part is changed according to the resolution of the printer. The watermark can be expanded or contracted by changing the setting of the resolution in accordance with the paper size. This will be described in more detail in Example 2.

As the character string, a character such as "confidential" for calibrating the watermark is specified. FIG. 2B is an explanatory diagram of the rotation angle. As shown in the figure, when the watermark 13 is printed on the paper with a fixed angle α, the rotation angle α is designated. The broken line is drawn in parallel with the main scanning direction of the sheet.

FIG. 3C shows an example of the density. When printing a watermark, each dot constituting the bitmap data is, for example, as shown in FIG.
In the case of expressing by a 4 × 4 matrix, the matrix M1
Paints all these dots black. In this case, the density is set to 100%. Then, the matrix M2 in which only half of the dots in the 4 × 4 matrix are filled has a density of 50%. The overall density of the watermark is adjusted by such a ratio of the filled area, and the watermark is prevented from being confused with characters or other data to be printed.

In step S3 of FIG. 2, the format of the watermark is designated by such an operation. And
If it is determined in step S4 that there is no designation error, the process proceeds to step S5, where the property setting processing unit 7 shown in FIG. 1 creates watermark bitmap data,
It is stored in the watermark information storage unit 8.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printer driver according to the first embodiment. The overall operation of the printer driver 3 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. First,
In step S1, when a graphic drawing command is received from the graphic device interface 2,
The image generation processing unit 5 generates bitmap data from the graphic drawing command and generates an image buffer 6.
To be stored.

Next, in step S2, it is determined whether to add a watermark. If there is no need to add a watermark, the process jumps to step S5. If it is determined that a watermark is to be added, the process proceeds to step S3, and it is determined whether a watermark image actually exists in the watermark information storage unit 8. If there is, the process proceeds to step S4, and the bitmap data of the watermark is read from the watermark information storage unit 8.

Then, the bitmap data of the image to be printed is read out from the image buffer 6, and the superposition processing section 9 executes the superposition processing. Specifically, the operation of the superposition processing unit 9 is based on superposition processing by a logical sum operation of two images. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S5, where the data transmission processing unit 10 transmits the data to the printing unit 11 of the printer 4. Step S
If it is determined in step 3 that there is no watermark image, the process proceeds to step S5 without adding a watermark, and normal printing is performed.
If there is no corresponding font or the like even when an attempt is made to create a watermark, this corresponds to this.

<Effects of Specific Example 1> As described above, the printer driver superimposes the image to be printed on the watermark and then supplies the watermark to the printing unit of the printer. There is no need to expand the mark font,
Printing speed is improved. Further, even when the font is not present on the printer side, printing including the watermark can be performed.

<Specific Example 2> In some cases, the size of a sheet on which a document is to be printed is not constant, and a document in which a part of a sheet of a different size is included is printed. In such a case, if the processing described above is performed, a watermark of a fixed size is always printed on the paper.For example, when the paper size is reduced to half, a part of the watermark protrudes and the normal There is also a problem that printing cannot be performed. In this specific example, an example will be described in which a watermark can be satisfactorily printed even when the paper size varies.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printer driver according to the second embodiment. The processing from step S1 to step S3 in this figure is the same as the operation in FIG. In step S4 in the figure, it is determined whether the reference paper size of the watermark itself and the current paper size are the same. This is based on the paper size that the watermark is originally adjusted for, the paper size specified for the actual printing in the application, and the paper size prepared by the printer. Is determined.

If the reference paper size of the watermark does not match the actual paper size, step S
From step 4, the process proceeds to step S7, in which the bitmap data of the watermark is enlarged or reduced by the ratio between the reference paper size and the current paper size, and is superimposed on the bitmap data of the print document.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the resolution of the watermark is set to 72 dpi. That is, it is assumed that the bitmap data of the watermark is prepared such that the size becomes exactly the right size when printed at a resolution of 72 dpi on A4 size paper. If this is printed in A4 size at 300 dpi, the number of dots is not enough, so that the image is printed in a reduced size. Therefore, the bitmap data is actually enlarged five times so that a watermark having a size of approximately 300 dpi can be printed.

If the watermark reference paper size is the same as the current paper size, the flow advances to step S5, and then to step S6. The processes in steps S5 and S6 are the same as those in the specific example 1, and duplicate description will be omitted.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of expanding and contracting the watermark. Another expansion / contraction processing of the watermark will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 5A, for example, it is assumed that the reference sheet size is the sheet 12 having the horizontal size X1 and the vertical size Y1. Here, the watermark 13 is printed in a predetermined size. However, for example, FIG.
Suppose that the current paper size to be printed is horizontal X2 and vertical Y2 as shown in FIG. On the other hand, if the watermark 13 is printed in the same size as in FIG.

Therefore, a reduction process as shown in FIG. Actually, the reduction factor of X2 / X1 is multiplied to the watermark 13 of the original size on the left side shown in (c). As a result, the size is changed to match the current paper size.

For example, when the font sizes P1 and Q1 of the original watermark 13 and the font sizes P2 and Q2 in consideration of the paper to be actually printed are known, the ratio is reduced in consideration of these ratios. It is also possible. In this case, more accurate reduction can be performed by performing reduction calculation in consideration of the inclination of the watermark in the document and the like.

Further, an area where a watermark can be printed may be designated. This may be a partial area on the paper, or may be, for example, a central portion excluding a blank portion of the paper. In such a case, if the size of the print area can be set on the watermark property setting screen shown in FIG. 2, for example, the watermark enlargement / reduction processing can be performed reliably.

<Effect of Specific Example 2> As described above, in consideration of the paper size and the size of the watermark on the printer driver side, the watermark corresponding to the paper size or the size of the print area is used. Since the bitmap data is generated and processed, it is possible to print a watermark of an appropriate size in response to a change in the size of the sheet or a change in various situations.

<Example 3> Characters of a document to be printed directly are superimposed on the watermark. Therefore,
In some cases, both images may interfere with each other and make it difficult to see the print result. In this specific example,
An example excluding such interference will be described. Specifically, the superimposition processing unit 9 shown in FIG. 1 performs a blanking process on the outline portion of the bitmap data of the image that is overlaid on the bitmap data of the watermark. That is, when a character or a figure is superimposed on the watermark, the watermark is blanked for a portion corresponding to the outline of the character or the figure. Therefore, the boundary between the character and the watermark becomes clear, and the character or the like becomes easy to read.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of such whitening processing. First, in FIG. 6, it is assumed that a character pattern in an image to be printed, for example, the character "", overlaps a watermark serving as a ground pattern. At this time, as shown in (b) of the figure, the character pattern is shifted in the X direction and the Y direction by two bits at a time, and an area traced by dots for displaying “no” is obtained.

This is a substantially rhombic area including the white dots and the black dots in FIG. Then, a mask pattern covering this area is generated as shown in FIG. All the dots shown in FIG. 6B are black dots, and those surrounding the black dots and the portions included in a certain rectangular area are white dots.

Next, a watermark, which is a ground pattern, is taken out, and is made into a ground pattern as shown in FIG.
Then, NAND (negation of logical product) of the mask pattern shown in (c) and the mask pattern shown in (d) is performed. As a result, a white pattern as shown in FIG. When the logical sum of the outline pattern and the character pattern shown in FIG. 11A is calculated, an output as shown in FIG.

<Effect of Specific Example 3> From the above, "no"
Since the outline portion of the character is blanked, it is possible to prevent the character superimposed on the watermark from being difficult to read. When the property of the watermark is set, the property setting processing unit 7 generates the bitmap data of the watermark by using appropriate font data and the like as needed. However, for example, when a watermark is composed of only image data for displaying a watermark in the same manner as general font data, and is developed into bitmap data, it is only necessary to arrange the data at a predetermined printing position. By doing so, the load on the property setting processing unit 7 is sufficiently reduced.

When a watermark is stored as font data, this can be realized with a sufficiently smaller memory capacity than when a watermark image that covers the entire paper is stored. Use is planned. Further, the property setting processing unit 7
, The speed of the watermark generation process by the printer driver 3 and the speed of the data superimposition process by the printer driver 3 before the start of printing are also increased.

In the above specific examples, the property setting processing unit, the image generation processing unit, and the superimposition processing unit are provided in the printer driver of the host device. However, they may be provided in any part between the host device that supplies the image data and the printer.
Further, a configuration in which only the overlay processing unit is provided on the printer side is also possible. The present invention is suitable for printing a document as described above by a printer having no font such as a watermark, but may be used for controlling a printer having a built-in font.

Further, in each of the above specific examples, the description has been made by taking the watermark as an example. However, the same processing can be performed on various ground patterns to be printed in advance on a sheet in addition to the watermark.

<Specific Example 4> The watermark processing described above is performed by Microsoft's GDI (Graphics Device In) operating system (Windows NT 4.0).
terface) has the following problems. The equivalent of Microsoft's operating system (Windows 3.1) printer driver is:
In WindowsNT4.0, it is a GDI and a printer graphic driver. In this Windows NT 4.0, the GDI and the printer graphic driver operate in the kernel mode.

Therefore, it is difficult to implement a function of creating drawing data such as a watermark for the GDI. Similarly, it is also difficult to implement a function such that the printer graphic driver itself creates drawing data. The reason that the user can freely compose the application is limited to the user mode portion. Also,
A method of generating both the document data and the watermark in the user mode and storing them in a file to create print data is also conceivable. However, a printer graphic driver operating in the kernel mode does not have a function of opening a file, so that this cannot be realized.
Therefore, a configuration as in the following specific example is adopted.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a printing system according to the fourth embodiment. The block shown above the thick line 20 in the figure is a part that operates in the user mode. The application 1 is a program for creating an arbitrary document and issuing a print request. Printer user interface driver 21
Is a driver provided by the operating system to the user for executing a print condition of a printer, a dialog display for setting a print document, and the like.

Here, a property setting processing unit 22 for setting various printing conditions such as a paper type, a print page, a font, and the like, and a watermark creation processing unit for creating bitmap data of a watermark required in the present invention. 2
3 are provided. The print document data created by the application 1 is temporarily stored in the print document memory 24.

The printer user interface driver 21 draws a ground pattern such as a watermark to be printed by being superimposed on the print document data based on the driver property set in accordance with the print request of the print document data. Are temporarily stored in the device information memory 25 as device information. This device information
It is composed of a group of code data necessary to generate bitmap data of the watermark.

GDI32.DLL, WinSpool.DLL module 26
Is a program module called by an application to print a print document. This module is
Provides graphics rendering functions independent of output device. A portion that operates in the kernel mode is provided with a graphic device interface 30 and a printer graphic driver 31, and print data generated by the graphic device interface 30 is supplied to the printer 4.

Graphic device interface 30
Accepts the drawing function input from the spooler 26,
This part generates print data depending on the output device. The printer graphic driver 31 includes an image generation processing unit 32, an image buffer 33, a watermark superimposition processing unit 34, a data transmission processing unit 35
And

The image generation processing section 32 is a section for generating bitmap data based on print data input from the graphic device interface 30.
The image buffer 33 is a portion for temporarily storing the watermark bitmap data transferred from the printer user interface driver 21 as described later.

The watermark superposition processing section 34
Is a part for superimposing the output of the image generation processing unit 32 and the watermark stored in the image buffer 33. The data transmission processing unit 35 is a part that performs an operation of transferring the output of the watermark superimposition processing unit 34 to the printer 4.

In the printing system having the above-described configuration, similarly to the first embodiment, a ground pattern such as a watermark is generated on a computer as a higher-level device without using a built-in font of a printer. The generation of the watermark is performed not by the printer graphic driver 31 operating in the kernel mode but by the printer user interface driver 21 operating in the user mode. Hereinafter, the operation of the system shown in FIG. 1 will be described in order.

First, the application 1 creates print document data including an arbitrary document. This print document data is stored in the print document memory 24 in a file format as described above. Next, when the user issues a print request by operating the application 1, the printer user interface driver 21 displays a dialog for setting predetermined print conditions. Here, the user inputs the number of pages to be printed and other properties while viewing the dialog. This process is performed by the property setting processing unit 22 by a known method.

Next, when overlay printing of a watermark is to be performed, a watermark is designated on a similar screen in the same manner as described in the first embodiment. FIG. 8 shows an operation flowchart for specifying a watermark by the printer user interface driver. First, in step S1, a watermark designation screen is displayed. A menu screen for selecting the type and size of the character of the watermark is displayed here.
This is the same as in the first embodiment. The user specifies the format of the watermark according to the screen (step S
2).

The specified contents are automatically checked. If there is a specified error, the process returns from step S3 to step S2 to complete the format specification. When the format designation is completed, the process proceeds from step S3 to step S4, where the watermark information is stored as device information. That is, information corresponding to specific properties of the watermark is stored in the device information memory 25 shown in FIG. 1 as device information. Specifically, fonts, font sizes, and the like, which are setting information necessary for creating watermark print data, are stored in the device information memory 25.

When the setting of the properties according to the print request is completed, the application 1 requests the start of printing. Upon start of printing, the printer user interface driver 21 opens the print document data file in the print document memory 24, and outputs a group of functions operating in the user mode to the spooler 26 through the application 1.

FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of the subsequent print data generation operation. First, in step S1, a print execution program is started by an application. The function group is input to the graphic device interface 30, and processes the functions as shown in steps S2, S3, and S4 in FIG. These processes are preliminary processes for the device context creation process. Next, the graphic device interface 30 converts the device-independent data input from the spooler 26 into data that depends on the output device (step S5). That is, the command is converted into a command group suitable for the printer to be controlled.

Next, in step S6, a print event is hooked. That is, normally, when the printing operation is started, the printer graphic driver converts print data created by the graphic device interface 30 into bitmap data, and sequentially transfers the bitmap data to the printer in order.

However, it was made optional here.
If the DrvDocumentEvent () function is defined in the program, the print event can be temporarily stopped and the process specified by the user can be inserted. Here, the graphic device interface 30 calls the printer user interface driver 21 and requests the printer user interface driver 21 to perform a watermark generation process. That is, here, the watermark creation processing unit 23 shown in FIG. 1 is called and the operation is started.

In the user mode, a Win32 API (application program interface) can be used. This Win32 API is a command that requests the operating system to perform various processes. This command assembles a program for creating a watermark. The program is executed by the watermark creation processing unit 23 of the printer user interface driver 21.

If it is determined in step S7 in FIG. 9 that processing for adding a watermark is necessary, the process proceeds to step S8. The printer user interface driver 21 reads the device information from the device information memory 25 and creates bitmap data of a watermark that matches the content. That is, since the printer graphic driver 31 does not have a function of reading a file, the printer user interface driver 21
Reads the device information from the device information memory 25 and creates the watermark bitmap data using the content.

Next, the printer user interface driver 21 calls a custom escape function (step S9). With this function, the printer graphic driver 31 is called. Upon receiving the custom escape function, the printer graphic driver 31 prepares a watermark buffer in step S10. Step S10 and step S10
The mark * attached to 13 is a mark for clarifying that the processing is executed by the printer graphic driver instead of the printer user interface driver 21. Other processes shown in the flowchart on the right side of the figure are executed on the printer user interface driver side.

By the process in step S10, the process shown in FIG.
A predetermined image buffer 33 is set in the printer graphic driver 31 shown in FIG. Then, the watermark creation processing unit 23 of the printer user interface driver 21 transfers the watermark bitmap data to the image buffer 33 (step S11). Next, in step S12, the custom escape function is called again.

Up to this point, the processing of the watermark creation processing section 23 in the printer user interface driver 21 is substantially completed. Thereafter, the process is passed to the printer graphic driver 31, and the process proceeds to step S13 in FIG.
Of the watermark print data and the original data.

That is, the watermark superposition processing section 34 shown in FIG. 1 is activated, and the bitmap data of the print document data generated by the image generation processing section 32 and the bitmap data of the watermark stored in the image buffer 33 are stored. Are transferred to the data transmission processing unit 35. It should be noted that the watermark is processed as data that makes the portion other than the portion corresponding to the watermark transparent. By performing a logical OR operation on the two, an image is obtained in which the print document data is superimposed on the watermark.

Thus, steps S14, S15, S1
6 is performed. These processes are post-processes for creating a device context. Thereafter, by the operation of the device transmission processing section 35, the created bitmap data is transferred to a printer (not shown) and printed.

<Rotation of Watermark> In the above-described processing, there is a case where it is desired to give a proper inclination to the watermark. This is also a property setting process 22 of the printer user interface driver 21 shown in FIG.
It can be executed by setting to.

FIG. 10 shows a processing flowchart for turning a rotated character into a watermark. This process is a process executed in step S8 in FIG. Therefore, the bitmap data of the rotated watermark is
After the generation, it is transferred to the image buffer 33 of the printer graphic driver 31 as it is. First, step S1
In the printer user interface driver 2
1 recalls the device information already created by the watermark setting process from the device information memory 25. Note that this device information is data including properties for general printing. The watermark information is extracted from here. Then, in step S2, a font object is created. That is, arithmetic processing for creating actual font data is performed based on information such as a character code and a font size for a watermark. This calculation process is for obtaining the actual size of the watermark and predicting the size after rotation and the like.

In step S3, the size of the character string is calculated. In step S4, a drawing area when the character is rotated at the set rotation angle is calculated. Then, in step S5, a drawing start position is calculated. Step S3, S
FIG. 11 specifically illustrates the processing of Steps S4 and S5.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the calculation of the drawing start point by rotating the watermark character string. In the figure, paper 1
2 and the image of the watermark 13 are displayed. As shown in this figure, the watermark “character string” is inclined at an angle θ. When designating the printing of such a watermark, the font of the watermark 13 is designated in advance, and the inclination of the watermark 13 is designated on the property setting screen.

In the process of creating the font object described in step S2 of FIG. 10, as shown in FIG.
An actual image of the watermark 13 is obtained by arithmetic processing. The size of the character string, as shown in the figure,
The height is LL and the width is LW. The drawing range of the watermark 13 is a region having a height DL and a width DW. The relationship among DW, DL, LL, and LW can be obtained by a simple trigonometric function using Equations 1 and 2 in the figure. Further, the drawing start point SP (X, Y) can be obtained by Expressions 3 and 4 in the drawing.

That is, when the inclination of the watermark is set by the device property, the device information is read out from the device information memory 25 while FIG.
By performing the arithmetic processing shown in (1), the watermark can be drawn with a predetermined inclination as it is. The bitmap data thus drawn is sent to the graphic device interface 3 via the spooler 26 as it is.
Transfer to 0.

<Effect of Specific Example 4> As described above, WindowsN
Even in the case of T4.0, the bitmap data of the watermark can be freely processed in the user mode, and DrvDocumen
Printer graphic driver 3 by tEvent () function
1 and the printer user interface driver 21 can cooperate with each other to superimpose a ground pattern such as a watermark on print document data and supply the print document data to the printer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation flowchart of a property setting processing unit.

FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of the printer driver according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart of the printer driver according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an expansion / contraction processing operation of a watermark.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of a blanking process.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a printing system according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an operation flowchart of the printer user interface driver.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a print data generation operation.

FIG. 10 is a processing flowchart for turning a rotated character into a watermark.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of calculating a drawing start point by rotating a watermark character string.

[Description of Signs] 1 application 2 graphic device interface 3 printer driver 4 printer 5 image generation processing unit 7 property setting processing unit 9 superposition processing unit 10 data transmission processing unit 12 paper 13 watermark 14 image to be printed

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A ground pattern setting processing unit for designating bitmap data of a ground pattern to be printed on paper in advance, and a ground pattern is to be printed on the ground pattern printed paper on the paper. An image generation processing unit that generates bitmap data of an arbitrary image; a bitmap data of the ground pattern output by the ground pattern setting processing unit; and a bitmap data of an image output by the image generation processing unit. And a superposition processing section for supplying the printing section to the printing section. 2. A ground pattern setting processing unit for designating bitmap data of a ground pattern to be printed on paper in a printer driver for supplying printing data to a printer, and a paper on which the ground pattern is printed. An image generation processing unit that generates bitmap data of an arbitrary image to be printed on the ground pattern, a bitmap data of the ground pattern output from the ground pattern setting processing unit, and the image generation processing A superimposition processing unit that superimposes bitmap data of an image output from the unit and supplies the superimposed image data to a printer. 3. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein the designation of the ground pattern in the ground pattern setting processing section is performed by property setting of a printer driver. 4. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein the ground pattern setting processing unit expands and contracts the bitmap data of the ground pattern in correspondence with a paper size. 5. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein the ground pattern setting processing unit expands and contracts the bitmap data of the ground pattern in accordance with the size of the designated print area of the paper. Printing system. 6. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein the superimposition processing unit performs a whitening process on an outline portion of bitmap data of an image superimposed thereon in the bitmap data of the ground pattern. And printing system. 7. A printer driver for supplying print data to a printer, comprising: a ground pattern setting processing function for designating bit map data of a ground pattern to be printed on paper in advance; An image generation processing function for generating bitmap data of an arbitrary image to be printed over the ground pattern on paper; a bitmap data of the ground pattern output by the ground pattern setting processing unit; A computer-readable recording medium which records a computer program having a superposition processing function of superimposing bitmap data of an image output by a processing unit and supplying the superimposed bitmap data to a printer. 8. An application which operates in a user mode, a printer user interface driver which is activated by the application and operates in a user mode, and a printer graphic driver which operates in a kernel mode. The printer user interface driver draws a ground pattern to be printed by being superimposed on the print document data based on a driver property set according to a print request of the print document data. The printer graphic driver interprets a function group input in response to a print request of the application to generate document bitmap data corresponding to the print document data. By a predetermined call processing function included in the function group,
The user interface driver receives and stores bitmap data corresponding to the ground pattern generated based on the device information in the buffer, and further superimposes the bitmap data stored in the buffer and the bitmap data for the document. A printing system for processing and supplying the processed data to a printer. 9. The printing system according to claim 8, wherein the printer graphic driver calls a user interface driver by a function for hooking a print event included in a function group input in response to a print request from the application. The interface driver generates bitmap data of the ground pattern from the device information by the application program interface. The printer graphic driver prepares a buffer for storing the bitmap data corresponding to the ground pattern according to a request from the user interface driver. A user interface driver that outputs the bitmap data of the ground pattern to the buffer; Accordingly, the bit map data and the document bit map data of the background pattern superimposed by ORing, printing system and supplying to the printer. 10. The printing system according to claim 8, wherein the user interface driver draws a self-pattern corresponding to the rotation angle from device information when the rotation angle is designated when the ground pattern is drawn. A printing system which calculates an area and a drawing start position, and sequentially outputs the generated bitmap data to a printer graphic driver. 11. An application which operates in a user mode, a printer user interface driver which is activated by the application and operates in a user mode, and a printer graphic driver which operates in a kernel mode, wherein the application is provided from an arbitrary document. The printer user interface driver draws a ground pattern to be printed by being superimposed on the print document data based on a driver property set according to a print request of the print document data. The printer graphic driver interprets a function group input in response to a print request of the application and generates document bitmap data corresponding to the print document data. In addition, by a predetermined call processing function included in the function group,
The user interface driver receives and stores bitmap data corresponding to the ground pattern generated based on the device information in the buffer, and further superimposes the bitmap data stored in the buffer and the bitmap data for the document. A computer-readable recording medium that records a computer program having a function of processing and supplying the processed program to a printer.