JPH113184A - Print controller, print control method and storage medium in which program readable by computer is stored - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the burden of error processing when a plotting object is generated and to efficiently process transferred print data by providing the printer with information capable of discriminating a data conversion processing error at a side of a printer when a data conversion processing of data to be transferred to the printer is performed and enabling the printer to select a generation processing of different kinds of plotting objects according to the information. SOLUTION: The occurrence of the error accompanied with a specified data conversion processing is judged in advance by a printer driver 213 of a host computer 200 and a control command capable of discriminating a control command to restrict the execution of the specified data conversion processing to generate the same error and other control commands is outputted to the printer 100. In addition, the plotting object of a first form to which the specified data conversion processing is performed is generated by analyzing the received control command by a plotting object generation part 203a. Consequently, the control command is efficiently generated as the plotting object of the first form.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print control apparatus, a print control method, and a computer which can communicate with a printing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium or with a data processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium. The present invention relates to a storage medium storing a possible program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an output control device receives and interprets a print command described in a page description language or the like from a host-side printer driver, generates a raster image corresponding to the print command, and outputs the raster image to a printer engine. In this case, bitmap data expressing an image image or a font pattern is received by ON / OFF of a bit, and is temporarily registered in a storage device such as a RAM, and then is subjected to a drawing process for outputting a raster image, that is, an intermediate code. (Hereinafter, referred to as a drawing object).

In such an image output device, in order to increase the efficiency of use of the RAM, after performing a compression process on the bitmap data, the registration process is performed, and the bitmap data in the compression format is converted into a drawing object. It is often configured to be able to process as.

On the other hand, command output means (for example, a printer driver) for outputting a print command described in a page description language in accordance with a print instruction of an application running on a host computer mainly reduces the time required for transfer processing. As a special purpose, there is a case where the compression processing is performed so as to keep the size of the compression format bitmap data as small as possible, and the compressed bitmap data is output as the compression format bitmap data.

Of course, in the above case, it is needless to say that the connected image output apparatus is configured to be able to receive and interpret the print command in the compressed format.

In the above command output means,
When the data size after the compression process is larger than the size of the bitmap data before the compression process, or when an attempt is made to compress bitmap data that cannot be expressed by the compression format (hereinafter, error in the compression process) Is described), it is general that the bit map data before compression is output as a print command as it is.

[0007]

However, the above conventional example has the following problems. That is, when the command output unit performs the compression process, an error occurs as described in the conventional example, and even when the bitmap data before compression is output, the image output device again performs In some cases, similar compression processing is performed, and it takes time to generate a drawing object.

That is, in an image output apparatus capable of receiving and interpreting both non-compressed / compressed bitmap data and performing compression processing on the non-compressed bitmap data, It is not possible to determine whether uncompressed bitmap data was input due to an error during compression by the command output means, or was input as bitmap data without performing any compression processing. The same compression processing as the output means is performed.

Therefore, there is a problem that an error occurs again in the compression processing, and the processing time for unnecessary compression processing is increased.

In particular, processing requirements for an image output system that outputs and interprets a page description language have become more and more complicated in recent years, and various resources such as font patterns other than image images are processed as bitmap data. Has been increasing, and it has been demanded to solve the problems described above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method for converting a data to be transferred to a printing apparatus into a predetermined data conversion process. Confirming the occurrence, notifying the printing apparatus of information capable of identifying a data conversion processing error of the printing apparatus with respect to the data to be transferred, and selecting the generation processing of a drawing object of a different type according to the notified information. In this way, when performing a predetermined data conversion process to the printing apparatus and transferring the control command, the same data conversion processing error may be caused by the drawing object generation accompanying the control command received by the printing apparatus. Judge
A printing control apparatus, a printing control method, and a computer-readable program capable of reducing a load of error processing at the time of generating a drawing object on a printing apparatus and freely preparing a print processing environment capable of efficiently processing transferred print data. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a storage medium having stored therein.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control apparatus capable of communicating with a printing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, wherein a data type to be output to the printing apparatus is analyzed. Converting means for performing predetermined data conversion processing on output data, determining means for determining an occurrence state of a conversion processing error by the converting means, and generating different control commands based on the determination result of the determining means The printing apparatus includes a generation unit and an output unit that outputs each control command generated by the generation unit to the printing apparatus.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the determination means determines that no conversion processing error has occurred by the conversion means, the generation means outputs the predetermined data conversion data to the output data. This is to generate a first control command including the converted data that has been processed.

[0014] In a third aspect of the present invention, the generation means, when the determination means determines that a conversion processing error has occurred by the conversion means, the output data and the conversion processing error A second control command to which information indicating presence / absence is added is generated.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the predetermined data conversion processing is processing for compressing predetermined bitmap data in a predetermined data format.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the predetermined bitmap data is font data, bitmap image data, or form data to be registered in the printing apparatus.

A sixth invention according to the present invention is a printing control device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, and analyzing a control command of a different type received from the data processing device. First and second object generating means for generating drawing objects of different formats; error determining means for determining whether predetermined error information is added to the control command; and error determining means for determining whether or not predetermined error information is added to the control command. Control means for selecting either the first or second object generation means.

In a seventh aspect according to the present invention, the first object generating means generates a first format drawing object to which a predetermined data conversion process is performed by analyzing the received control command. is there.

In an eighth aspect according to the present invention, the second object generating means analyzes the received control command and generates a second format drawing object which is not subjected to a predetermined data conversion process. .

In a ninth aspect according to the present invention, the control means controls the first object generation means when the error determination means determines that predetermined error information is not added to the control command. If the selected error information is determined by the error determination means to have given predetermined error information to the control command, the second object generation means is selected.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the predetermined data conversion processing is processing for compressing predetermined bitmap data in a predetermined data format.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drawing object of the third format, in which a control command received from the data processing device is analyzed and data conversion processing is performed in a format different from the type of the data processing device. And a third object generating means for generating the second object or the third object when the control means determines that predetermined error information is added to the control command by the error determining means. This selects one of the generating means.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing control method capable of communicating with a printing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium. A conversion step of performing a predetermined data conversion process, a determining step of determining an occurrence state of the conversion processing error, a generating step of generating a different control command based on the determination result, and And outputting to the printing device.

A thirteenth invention according to the present invention is a storage medium storing a computer-readable program for controlling a printing process by communicating with a printing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, wherein the printing apparatus stores the program. A conversion step of analyzing a data type to be output and performing a predetermined data conversion process on the output data; a determination step of determining an occurrence state of the conversion processing error; and generating different control commands based on the determination result And a computer-readable program including a generating step of outputting the generated control commands to the printing apparatus.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control method capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium. The print control method analyzes different types of control commands received from the data processing device. First and second object generating steps for generating drawing objects of different formats, an error determining step for determining whether predetermined error information is added to the control command, and the first and second object generating steps based on the determination result. Or a selection step of selecting one of the second object generation steps.

A fifteenth invention according to the present invention is a storage medium storing a computer-readable program for controlling a printing process by communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, First and second object generation steps for analyzing different types of control commands received from the apparatus to generate different types of drawing objects, and for determining whether predetermined error information is added to the control commands. A computer-readable program including a determination step and a selection step of selecting one of the first and second object generation steps based on the determination result is stored in a storage medium.

[0027]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Before describing the configuration of the present embodiment, a configuration of image processing suitable for applying the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the internal structure of an image processing apparatus to which the present invention can be applied, for example, in the case of a laser beam printer (hereinafter, LBP). Note that the image processing apparatus to which the present invention can be applied is not limited to the LBP, and it goes without saying that a printer apparatus of another printing method may be used.

In the figure, reference numeral 100 denotes an LBP main body (printer), which is character information (character code and the like) and graphic information supplied in a page description language format from an externally connected host computer (200 in FIG. 2). , Fixed format data (form data) or other macro instructions are input and stored, and corresponding character patterns and graphic patterns are created in accordance with the information to form an image on recording paper as a recording medium. .

Reference numeral 112 denotes an operation panel on which switches for operation, an LED display, and the like are arranged. A printer control unit 101 controls the entire LBP main body 100 and analyzes character information and the like supplied from a host computer. The printer control unit 101 mainly converts character information into a video signal having a corresponding character pattern and outputs the video signal to the laser driver 102.

The LBP can also register character patterns and bitmap patterns and register form data from a data source (host computer) (not shown). Similarly, the LBP can be converted into a video signal according to print data and converted into a video signal. Output to 102. The laser driver 102 is a circuit for driving the semiconductor laser 103, and turns on / off a laser beam 104 emitted from the semiconductor laser 103 according to an input video signal.

The laser beam 104 is swung right and left by a rotary polygon mirror 105 and scans an electrostatic drum 106. Thus, an electrostatic latent image of a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 106. This latent image is developed by a developing unit 107 around the electrostatic drum 106 and then transferred to a recording sheet. A cut sheet is used for the recording paper, and the cut sheet recording paper is a paper cassette 10 mounted on the LBP body 100.
8, the paper feed roller 109 and the transport roller 11
0 and 111, the electrostatic drum 1
06.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a basic configuration of an image output system to which an output control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention can be applied. In the case of a beam printer (the internal configuration of the printer control unit 101 of the image processing apparatus in FIG. 1)
And the command output device is a printer driver operating on the host computer.

As long as the functions of the present invention are executed, a single device or a system in which processing is performed via a network such as a LAN may be used.

In FIG. 1, the printer 100 is connected to an external host computer 200 via a predetermined interface 208, and is configured to execute a predetermined printing process according to print data sent from the host computer 200. . The print data received from the host computer 200 is temporarily stored in the reception buffer 207.

Reference numeral 201 denotes a printer CPU (CPU), and a system bus 206 based on a control program 203 stored in a ROM 202 which is a read-only memory.
, And comprehensively controls access to various devices connected thereto, interprets the print data stored in the reception buffer 207, and generates a drawing object for one page (generated by the drawing object generation unit 203a). Then, one page (or 1 page) based on the drawing object
A raster image of (one band obtained by dividing a page into a plurality of bands) is generated (generated by the drawing object drawing unit 203b), and the printing unit 210 is output via the printing unit I / F 209.
A video signal is output to a (printer engine) by turning on / off the bits of the raster image (the output of the video signal is hereinafter referred to as “ship”).

The printing section 210 prints an image on the recording paper 211 based on the video signal received from the CPU 201.

When a memory for storing a raster image is not prepared for one page, but a memory corresponding to an area obtained by dividing a page into bands (at least for two bands) is prepared (hereinafter, referred to as a memory). The band raster) is configured to perform the generation of the raster image and the shipping operation in parallel. That is, a video signal is output to the printing unit 210 by drawing a drawing object belonging to the other band raster while shipping one of the band rasters already drawn (hereinafter referred to as drawing by banding). .

A printing unit 2 such as a laser beam printer
10 is required to receive a video signal at a constant speed due to its mechanism.
It is necessary to complete the drawing processing of the next band in a time shorter than the time required for outputting the video signal of the band raster of the band.

The control program 203 is composed of the following programs in addition to the above configuration. That is, when the print data described in the page description language in the reception buffer 207 is a bitmap registration command or a font pattern registration command, the coding unit 203c for coding the bitmap pattern, the coding / non-coding The bitmap data stored in the bitmap storage unit 205b in the RAM 205 (to be described later)
And a decoding unit 203d for reading out the bitmap data when the bitmap drawing command is received, a decoding unit 203d for decoding when the readout bitmap data is encoded, An error check unit 203f that checks the presence and content of error information given as a parameter of the map registration command and controls the processing of the bitmap registration / read unit 203e according to the result.

The drawing object generator 203a also includes a font scaler (not shown) for generating a font pattern corresponding to character data (font, size, character code).

In addition to the control program 203, the ROM 202 includes a font RO, which is composed of a dot font and a scalable font used for character output and is also used as a memory for storing font data.
M204 is provided.

Reference numeral 205 denotes a RAM, which functions as a main memory, a work memory, and the like of the CPU 201, and is configured so that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an additional port (not shown). A RAM 205 stores a drawing object storage unit 2 for storing the drawing object.
05a (including a font cache registration memory for caching character patterns developed based on the scalable data in the font memory 204), and a work memory 2 temporarily used by the control program 203.
05d, 2 of a band area obtained by dividing one page into a band
A page memory 205c for storing a raster image corresponding to a surface (or a raster image for one page), a bitmap storage unit 205b for registering and storing received bitmap data, and a printing environment data storage memory (not shown) Used for etc. The LBP main body 100 is supplied with power from a power supply (not shown).

Also, the components constituting the output control device have been described as being supplied as a program stored in the ROM 202. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The components are supplied by a medium such as a floppy disk or a hard disk, and are stored in a RAM before execution. It may be configured to be executed after being loaded into the file.

On the other hand, on the host computer 200,
Command output means is configured as a printer driver 213 that generates and outputs a print command according to a print instruction from the application 212. The printer driver 213 includes an encoding unit that performs the same compression processing as the encoding unit 203c, an error determination unit that checks an error state during encoding, and an encoded bitmap command generation unit that generates encoded bitmap data. , Bitmap command generating means for generating uncoded bitmap data.

Hereinafter, a characteristic configuration of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

A print control device (printer driver 213 of the host computer 200) that can communicate with the printing device (printer 100) via the predetermined communication medium configured as described above, and should output to the printing device. Conversion means (function processing by the printer driver 213 of the host computer 200) for analyzing a data type and performing predetermined data conversion processing on output data; and determination means ( Function processing by the printer driver 213 of the host computer 200) and generating means (function processing by the printer driver 213 of the host computer 200) for generating different control commands based on the determination result of the determination means
Output means (host computer 2) for outputting each control command generated by the generation means to the printing apparatus.
00, a control command for limiting the execution of a predetermined data conversion process that generates the same error by determining in advance the occurrence of an error associated with the predetermined data conversion process, It is possible to output to the printing device a control command that can be distinguished from other control commands.

Further, since the predetermined data conversion process is a process of compressing predetermined bitmap data in a predetermined data format, the amount of data to be transferred to the printing apparatus is reduced, and the transfer processing time is greatly reduced. Can be shortened.

Since the predetermined bitmap data is font data or bitmap image data or form data to be registered in the printing apparatus, the occurrence of an error accompanying the transfer of the font data or form data is predicted, and Font data or form data can be efficiently transferred.

Further, the present invention is a print control device capable of communicating with a data processing device (host computer 200) via a predetermined communication medium, and analyzes different types of control commands received from the data processing device to obtain different types of control commands. First and second object generating means for generating a drawing object (the drawing object generating unit 203a generates a different drawing object), and error determining means for determining whether predetermined error information is added to the control command (Error checking unit 203f) and control means (CPU 2) for selecting either the first or second object generation means based on the determination result of the error determination means.
01 performs a selection process based on a control program in the ROM 203), and identifies a control command that causes an error in accordance with a predetermined data conversion process and other control commands to reduce the load of the object generation process. Can be reduced.

The drawing object generation unit 203a
Analyzes a received control command and generates a first format drawing object on which a predetermined data conversion process is performed. Therefore, the control command identifies a control command that does not cause an error in the predetermined data conversion process, and Commands can be efficiently generated as drawing objects of the first format.

Further, the drawing object generation unit 203a
Analyzes a received control command and generates a second-format drawing object that is not subjected to a predetermined data conversion process. Therefore, the control command that identifies an error in the predetermined data conversion process is identified, and Can be efficiently generated as a drawing object of the second format by restricting the data conversion processing for.

When the CPU 201 determines that predetermined error information has not been added to the control command by the error determining means, the drawing object generating section 203 functioning as the first object generating means.
is selected, and when the error determination unit determines that predetermined error information is added to the control command, the drawing object generation unit 203a functioning as the second object generation unit is selected. By discriminating between control commands that cause an error in the data conversion process and other control commands, an object generation unit having an appropriate data format can be selected, and the burden of object generation can be reduced.

Further, since the predetermined data conversion process is a process of compressing predetermined bitmap data in a predetermined data format, bitmap data transfer efficiency can be improved.
It is possible to transfer predetermined bitmap data in a short time.

Next, the processing procedure of the bitmap data in the image output system having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a first data processing procedure in the output control apparatus according to the present invention. The printer driver operating on the host computer 200 operates when a print instruction is issued from the application 212. , Bitmap command generation procedure. Note that (1) to (9) indicate each step.

First, a print instruction from the application 212 is checked to determine whether or not an image is to be drawn (1). If it is determined that the image is to be drawn, a command code (bitmap drawing command) of a page description language and a non- The bitmap data in the compression format is output (2), and the process ends. The parameters of the bitmap drawing command include the print position, drawing width, and height of the image, as well as the data size of the bitmap data.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (1) that the print instruction is not an image drawing, it is determined whether the print instruction is a font registration instruction (3), and the print instruction is not a font registration instruction. Is a font pattern output instruction (various printing instructions such as movement of a printing position, font setting, graphic drawing, etc.), a corresponding page description language print command is output (4), and the process ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (3) that the print instruction is a font pattern registration instruction,
The font pattern is compressed (5). Subsequently, it is checked whether an error has occurred in the compression processing (6). That is, when the data size after compression becomes larger than the size of bitmap data before compression,
If an attempt is made to compress bitmap data that cannot be expressed in the compression format, it is determined that an error has occurred.

If it is determined that no error has occurred, the command code representing the bitmap data in the compressed format and the compressed data are output (7), and the process ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (6) that an error has occurred, a parameter of the bitmap drawing command is output to output a command code (bitmap drawing command) of a page description language representing bitmap drawing. In addition to normal width and height information, error information (a flag is set) in the compression processing is added (8), and bitmap data in an uncompressed format is added (9),
Output as a print command and end the process.

Hereinafter, the characteristic structure of this embodiment will be further described with reference to FIG.

A printing control method capable of communicating with a printing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium configured as described above, or a computer for controlling printing processing by communicating with the printing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium Is a storage medium storing a readable program, and performs a predetermined data conversion process on output data by analyzing a data type to be output to the printing apparatus (step (5) in FIG. 3).
A determination step (step (6) in FIG. 3) for determining the occurrence state of the conversion processing error; and a generation step (step (7) or step (FIG. 3) in FIG. 3) for generating a different control command based on the determination result. 8), (9)) and an output step (step (7) or (9) in FIG. 3) for outputting the generated control commands to the printing apparatus. The occurrence of the accompanying error is determined in advance, and a control command that can identify a control command that restricts the execution of a predetermined data conversion process that generates the same error and another control command can be output to the printing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an example of a second data processing procedure in the output control device according to the present invention. In the case where a print command sent from the printer driver 213 of the host computer 200 is received, This corresponds to the processing on the image output device (LBP body 100) side.
In addition, (1) to (15) indicate each step.

First, the control program 203 checks whether or not the print data sent from the host computer 200 exists in the reception buffer 207 (1). If it is determined that the print data does not exist, the control program 203 ends the processing.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (1) that print data exists, the print data being processed is analyzed in order to analyze the print data. (Including print data that may cause a paper ejection operation, such as exceeding the bottom edge of the page being printed) (2). If it is determined that the command is not a paper ejection command, the following steps (3) and subsequent steps are performed. Continue analyzing print data. In step (2), it has been described that, for simplicity, it is checked whether or not the command is a paper ejection command (form feed command). Also, in the case of print data that can cause a paper discharging operation, the determination in step (2) can be YES.

As described above, if it is determined in step (2) that the received print data is not a discharge command, it is checked whether the received print data is a bitmap registration command (3).
If it is determined that the command is a bitmap registration command, error information is read from the command parameter (4).

Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the parameter has error information (5). If it is determined that the error information has not been given to the parameter, the number of bits from the reception buffer corresponding to the data size indicated in the parameter is determined. The map data is read and compression processing is performed (6), and it is checked whether an error has occurred in this compression processing (7). If it is determined that no error has occurred, a bitmap object in a compression format is generated (8), and the process returns to step (1) to interpret the next print command.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (7) that an error has occurred, an uncompressed bitmap object is generated based on the uncompressed bitmap data (10). Similarly, the process returns to step (1) to read the next print command from the reception buffer 207.

In step (6), the size of the bitmap data to be read is received as a parameter, but the data size may be calculated from the width of the bitmap data.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (5) that error information has been added, the contents of the error information are checked. The error information determines whether or not an error has occurred (9). If it is determined that an error has occurred, even if the bitmap data is in the non-compressed format, the bitmap data is uncompressed without performing compression processing. A compressed bitmap object is generated (10), and the process returns to step (1).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (9) that no error has occurred, the processing from step (6) is performed as in the case where no error information is added. When the object has been generated, the process returns to step (1) to read the next print command.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (3) that the print data is not a bitmap registration command, it is determined whether a compressed bitmap is registered (13). If YES, the compressed data is registered. (14), and returns to step (1). If NO, a drawing object generation process corresponding to the print command is performed (1).
5) Similarly, return to step (1) to read the next print command.

That is, in step (15), for example, if the print data is a character print command, it is first checked whether or not the corresponding font pattern has been registered in the font cache area. Character information (font information, size,
Font information corresponding to the character code
The font pattern is read out from the OM 204, a corresponding dot pattern (= drawing object) is generated by a font scaler, and the font pattern is written together with information necessary for drawing on a page raster such as print position information, width, height, and drawing logic. It is stored in the drawing object storage unit 205a.

Further, the font pattern is registered in a font cache area. When the font pattern is registered in the font cache area, a compression process may be performed.

In the case of graphic data or image data other than characters, an intermediate code corresponding to each print command is similarly generated.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (2) that the print command is a discharge command (or a command corresponding to the discharge command), the generated drawing object is changed by one band. Reading from the storage unit 205a, the drawing object drawing unit 203b sequentially draws on the band raster (11), and at the same time as the drawing process, repeats the process of shipping the band raster to the printer engine until one page ends (12). When the drawing ship of the drawing object for one page is completed,
The process returns to step (1) to read the print command of the next page.

In the drawing object storage unit 205a, drawing information necessary for drawing on a band raster is created for each band in association with each drawing object. In other words, the print position (bit offset value from the upper left corner) within the band, the drawing height of the drawing object,
Drawing logic (AND / OR / overwrite, etc.) with the band raster, the start address of the corresponding drawing object, the offset amount (number of lines) for skipping the drawing object when the drawing object is drawn in the middle of the band,
The start address of the next drawing information (the link end is assumed to be NULL) and the like are included (each piece of information only needs to have at least the number of bits capable of expressing the designated paper at the designated resolution).

In step (11) of FIG.
In the process of drawing the drawing object for each band, the drawing information is sequentially read, and the drawing object is drawn according to the print position information and the like in each drawing information.

Hereinafter, the characteristic configuration of this embodiment will be further described with reference to FIG.

A printing control method capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium configured as described above, or controlling a printing process by communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer-readable program, the method comprising analyzing different types of control commands received from the data processing device to generate different types of drawing objects.
Second object generation step (step (8) in FIG. 4)
(10)), an error determining step (step (5) in FIG. 4) for determining whether predetermined error information is added to the control command, and the first or second processing based on the determination result. A selection step of selecting one of the object generation steps (step (7) to step (8) in FIG. 4 or step (7) to step (1) in FIG. 4)
0)), it is possible to identify a control command that causes an error in a predetermined data conversion process and other control commands, thereby reducing the load of the object generation process.

[Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment,
It was determined only whether or not encoding should be performed according to the error information.However, when the error information indicates that an error has occurred, a different type of encoding means than the encoding means performed by the printer driver is used. Compression may be attempted.

For this purpose, in the present embodiment, the error information is configured to indicate which type of encoding means has caused the error, and the image processing means has a coding means indicated by the error information. Choose a different means.

Specifically, a control object received from the data processing device (host computer 200) is analyzed, and a third format drawing object is subjected to data conversion processing in a format different from the type of the data processing device. If the CPU 201 determines that predetermined error information has been added to the control command by the error confirmation unit 203f, the above-described processing is performed. Since either the second object generation means or the third object generation means (not shown) is selected, even if a conversion processing error occurs in the data conversion processing on the data processing device side, another data conversion processing is attempted. Generate drawing objects according to control commands transferred with as little memory resources as possible. Can.

The configuration of a data processing program readable by an image output system to which the output control device according to the present invention can be applied will be described below with reference to a memory map shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a memory map of a storage medium for storing various data processing programs readable by an image output system to which the output control device according to the present invention can be applied.

Although not shown, information for managing a group of programs stored in the storage medium, such as version information and a creator, is also stored, and information dependent on the OS or the like on the program reading side, such as a program, An icon or the like for identification display may also be stored.

Further, data dependent on various programs is also managed in the directory. In addition, a program for installing various programs on a computer or a program for decompressing a program to be installed when the program to be installed is compressed may be stored.

The functions shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in this embodiment may be executed by a host computer by a program installed from the outside. And in that case, CD-ROM, flash memory, FD
The present invention is applicable even when a group of information including a program is supplied to an output device from a storage medium such as the above or from an external storage medium via a network.

As described above, the storage medium storing the program code of the software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiment is supplied to the system or the apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MP) of the system or the apparatus is supplied.
It goes without saying that the object of the present invention is also achieved when U) reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

Examples of a storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, and C
DR, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, RO
M, EEPROM and the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) And the like perform part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, The CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

According to each of the above embodiments, a print control device (host side) that outputs both uncompressed / compressed bitmap data, and a non-compressed bitmap that can receive and interpret the data. A bitmap data (form data or font data to be registered) is sent to the print control device (printing device side) configured to perform compression processing on the data without performing compression processing in the command output unit. When the command output unit performs compression processing, the data size after compression exceeds the data size before compression, or the compression format is not used. If an error such as an attempt to compress unrepresentable bitmap data occurs and bitmap data in the uncompressed format is output , In the printing apparatus side, against incompressible bitmap data, without performing again the same compression processing, it is not necessary to take useless time generation processing of the drawing object.

[0096]

As described above, the first embodiment according to the present invention is described.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control device capable of communicating with a printing device via a predetermined communication medium, wherein a data type to be output to the printing device is analyzed, and a predetermined data Conversion means for performing conversion processing, and determination means for determining an occurrence state of a conversion processing error by the conversion means,
Since there are a generating unit that generates different control commands based on the determination result of the determining unit, and an output unit that outputs each control command generated by the generating unit to the printing device, By determining in advance that an error has occurred, it is possible to output to the printing apparatus a control command capable of discriminating a control command for restricting the execution of a predetermined data conversion process that generates the same error from another control command.

According to the fourth aspect, the predetermined data conversion process is a process of compressing predetermined bitmap data in a predetermined data format. Therefore, the amount of data to be transferred to the printing apparatus is reduced. Transfer processing time can be greatly reduced.

According to the fifth aspect, since the predetermined bitmap data is font data, bitmap image data, or form data to be registered in the printing apparatus, an error associated with the transfer of the font data or form data occurs. , And font data or form data in an optimal format can be efficiently transferred.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, the control device analyzing different types of control commands received from the data processing device, and executing a different format. First and second object generating means for generating a drawing object, error determining means for determining whether predetermined error information is added to the control command, and Control means for selecting either the first or the second object generation means,
By discriminating between a control command that causes an error with a predetermined data conversion process and other control commands, it is possible to reduce the load of the object generation process.

According to the seventh aspect, the first object generating means analyzes the received control command and generates a first format drawing object to which a predetermined data conversion process is performed. By identifying a control command that does not cause an error in the data conversion process, the control command can be efficiently generated as a first format drawing object.

According to the eighth aspect, the second object generating means analyzes the received control command and generates the second format drawing object which is not subjected to the predetermined data conversion processing. A control command in which an error occurs during the conversion process is identified, the data conversion process for the control command is limited, and a drawing object of the second format can be efficiently generated.

According to the ninth aspect, when the error determining means determines that predetermined error information is not added to the control command, the control means sets the first command to the first command.
If the error determination means determines that predetermined error information has been added to the control command, the second object generation means is selected. By discriminating between a control command that causes an error and a control command other than that, an object generation unit having an appropriate data format can be selected, and the object generation load can be reduced.

According to the tenth aspect, since the predetermined data conversion process is a process of compressing predetermined bitmap data in a predetermined data format, the transfer efficiency of bitmap data is increased, and the predetermined data conversion process is performed in a short time. Bitmap data can be transferred.

According to the eleventh aspect, a control command received from the data processing device is analyzed to generate a third format drawing object to be subjected to data conversion processing in a format different from the type of the data processing device. A third object generation unit that determines that predetermined error information has been added to the control command by the error determination unit. Therefore, even if a conversion processing error occurs in the data conversion processing on the data processing apparatus side, another data conversion processing is attempted, and the drawing object according to the control command transferred with the least possible memory resources is used. Can be generated.

According to the twelfth and thirteenth aspects, there is provided a print control method capable of communicating with a printing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, or by communicating with a data processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium for printing. A conversion step of analyzing a data type to be output to the printing apparatus and performing a predetermined data conversion process on output data, wherein the conversion step is a storage medium storing a computer-readable program for controlling the processing; The method includes a determination step of determining the occurrence state of a processing error, a generation step of generating a different control command based on the determination result, and an output step of outputting each generated control command to the printing apparatus. A control command that limits the execution of a predetermined data conversion process that generates the same error by determining in advance the occurrence of an error that accompanies the data conversion process, and other controls It is possible to output a control command capable of identifying and command to the printing apparatus.

According to the fourteenth and fifteenth aspects, there is provided a print control method capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, wherein a control command of a different type received from the data processing device is analyzed. First and second object generating steps of generating drawing objects of different formats by using
The method includes an error determining step of determining whether predetermined error information is added to the control command, and a selecting step of selecting one of the first and second object generating steps based on the determination result. In addition, it is possible to identify a control command that causes an error due to a predetermined data conversion process and a control command other than the control command, thereby reducing the load of the object generation process.

Therefore, when performing a predetermined data conversion process to the printing apparatus and transferring the control command, the same data conversion processing error occurs as the drawing object generated by the control command received by the printing apparatus. This makes it possible to reduce the load of error processing at the time of generating a drawing object on the printing apparatus, and to provide a print processing environment capable of efficiently processing transferred print data.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an internal structure of an image processing apparatus to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a basic configuration of an image output system to which the output control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a first data processing procedure in the output control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a second data processing procedure in the output control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by an image output system to which the output control device according to the present invention can be applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 LBP main body 200 Host computer 201 CPU 202 ROM 203 Control program 204 Font ROM 205 RAM 207 Receive buffer 210 Printer engine 212 Application 213 Printer driver

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A printing control device capable of communicating with a printing device via a predetermined communication medium, wherein the printing control device analyzes a data type to be output to the printing device and performs a predetermined data conversion process on output data. Converting means; determining means for determining an occurrence state of a conversion processing error by the converting means; generating means for generating different control commands based on the determination result of the determining means; and each control command generated by the generating means Output means for outputting to the printing device. 2. The output unit includes, when the determination unit determines that no conversion processing error has occurred by the conversion unit, the output data including the conversion data obtained by executing the predetermined data conversion process. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print control apparatus generates a first control command. 3. The output unit adds the output data and information indicating whether or not the conversion processing error has occurred when the determination unit determines that a conversion processing error has occurred by the conversion unit. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print control apparatus generates a second control command. 4. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined data conversion processing is processing for compressing predetermined bitmap data in a predetermined data format. 5. The printing control device according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined bitmap data is font data, bitmap image data, or form data to be registered in the printing device. 6. A print control device capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, wherein the control device analyzes different types of control commands received from the data processing device and generates different types of drawing objects. First and second object generation means, error determination means for determining whether predetermined error information is added to the control command, and the first or second object generation means based on a determination result of the error determination means. And a control unit for selecting one of the object generation units. 7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said first object generating means analyzes the received control command and generates a first format drawing object to which a predetermined data conversion process is performed. Print control device. 8. The printing method according to claim 6, wherein said second object generating means analyzes the received control command and generates a second format drawing object on which a predetermined data conversion process is not performed. Control device. 9. The control means selects the first object generation means when the error determination means determines that predetermined error information is not added to the control command, and the control means selects the first object generation means. 7. The print control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein when it is determined that predetermined error information is added to the control command, the second object generation unit is selected. 10. The print control apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined data conversion processing is processing for compressing predetermined bitmap data in a predetermined data format. 11. A third object generation for analyzing a control command received from the data processing device and generating a third format drawing object to be subjected to data conversion processing in a format different from the type of the data processing device. Means for selecting one of the second or third object generation means when the control means determines that predetermined error information is added to the control command by the error determination means. 7. The printing control device according to claim 6, wherein: 12. A print control method capable of communicating with a printing device via a predetermined communication medium, wherein a data type to be output to the printing device is analyzed, and a predetermined data conversion process is performed on output data. A converting step; a determining step of determining an occurrence state of the conversion processing error; a generating step of generating a different control command based on the determination result; and an outputting step of outputting the generated control commands to the printing apparatus. And a print control method. 13. A storage medium storing a computer-readable program that communicates with a printing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium to control a printing process, and analyzes a data type to be output to the printing apparatus. A conversion step of performing a predetermined data conversion process on the output data by performing a conversion process error; a determining step of determining the occurrence state of the conversion processing error; a generating step of generating a different control command based on the determination result; An output step of outputting each control command to the printing apparatus. 14. A print control method capable of communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, wherein a different type of control command received from the data processing device is analyzed to generate a drawing object of a different format. First and second object generation steps; an error determination step of determining whether predetermined error information is added to the control command; and a first or second object generation step based on the determination result. And a selecting step of selecting any one of them. 15. A storage medium storing a computer readable program for controlling a printing process by communicating with a data processing device via a predetermined communication medium, wherein different types of control received from the data processing device are provided. First and second object generating steps of analyzing a command to generate drawing objects of different formats; an error determining step of determining whether predetermined error information is added to the control command; Selecting one of the first and second object generation steps based on the first and second object generation steps on the basis of the computer-readable program.