JPS63139751A - Printing method in printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the printing speed and to facilitate the alteration of an attribute by outputting printing data itself of a character or an image to be actually printed and its attribute data separately from a host apparatus to a printer, dividing them in a memory of the printer while concerning them with each other, and storing in a hierarchical manner. CONSTITUTION:A host apparatus 1 first outputs page description information of a page to be printed from now to a printer 2. Then, it outputs block description information as to first block BL1, then outputs printing data description information to the first block BL1, and eventually outputs printing data itself. In the printer 2, when inputting, an processor 21a translates a command, stores, in case of page description information, simultaneously input/output page attribute data n0-ni in page description information storage area PM obtained in an RAM21c, and registers the head address of the area in page information table PT obtained in the RAM21c as a pointer. Printing information is stored in a predetermined data structure in the RAM 21c similarly as to the other second - fourth blocks BL2-BL4.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial Utilization> The present invention relates to a printing method in a printing system, and in particular, in addition to character information and image information from a host device, the arrangement of these characters and images within one page, The present invention relates to a printing method in a printing system that sends print information including attribute information such as vertical writing/horizontal writing to a printer device to perform printing.

<Prior Art> In a printing system, printing information created by a host device is usually sent to a printer device, which is a terminal, to perform desired printing. In this printing system, when printing text and images together on one page, the printing information includes not only the print data of the characters and images themselves that are actually printed, but also where on the page the characters and images are printed. It is necessary to specify various attributes such as layout, vertical/horizontal writing, etc.

<Problems to be solved by the invention> Conventionally, these attribute specifications have been mixed and integrated into character information and image information, and as a result, one page of printed information has a complicated structure. There are problems in that the burden of creating print information on the host device side and the burden of deciphering the print information on the printer device side are large, the print processing speed deteriorates, and it is difficult to change attributes.

In light of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing method in a printing system that can improve the printing processing speed and can also easily change attributes.

Means for Solving Problems> FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system including a printer device and a host device according to the present invention.

1 is a host device, and 2 is a printer device. Further, 21 is a printer controller, and 22 is a printer.

In the blink controller 21, 21a is a processor, 21b is a ROM, and 21c is a RAM.

21d is a host communication block (interface), and 21e is an input/output port.

Function> The host device 1 provides (I) block attributes indicating the arrangement and size of the block within the page for each block obtained by dividing one page to be printed into blocks, and (ii) allocation to the corresponding four blocks. The printer device W2 prints print information that is divided into types of print data (text, images, etc.), print data attributes such as postcard writing/horizontal writing, and (to) the print data itself.
send to

The processor 21a of the printer device 2 stores the print information input from the host device 1 in the RAM 21c with block attributes and
The print data attributes and print data are stored while being associated with each block.

Next, the processor 21a specifies the position on the page buffer area PGB provided in the RAM 2ic for each block according to the attribute data of the cough block, develops the print data of the block in the page buffer, and edits the print image. conduct.

After editing is completed, the page buffer PCB is sent to the printer 22.
Send and print the data.

<Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system including a host device and a printer device embodying a printing method in a printing system according to the present invention.

A host device 1 and a printer device 2 are connected by a cable 3. The host 1-1 has functions such as creating print information for the printer 2 to print, and this print information includes print data for the characters and images that are actually printed, as well as one page. Contains information such as the arrangement of characters and images in the text, the type of character font, etc. Specifically, page attribute data such as size of 1 page, left alignment, right alignment, etc., and (11) l of the page to be printed in which characters or images are arranged.
Or divide it into multiple blocks (block BLI in Figure 2)
~BL4), block size for each block,
G11) Block attribute data such as position within the page; G11) Attribute data of print data such as the type of print data allocated to the block, type of character font, character spacing, and line spacing; and (VI print data itself) The information is output as print information.

It is assumed that image data is classified into two types: bit image data and graphic data.

The printer device 2 includes a printer controller 21 and a printer 22.

The printer controller 21 includes a processor 21a, a ROM 2lb that stores a control program, a RAM 21c that has a print information storage area PIM, a page buffer area PG'B, etc., and a host computer that exchanges data with the host device 1. 1 block (interface) 21d, and an input/output coupler 1-21e for exchanging data with the printer 22. Note that the printer 22 is a laser printer.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the overall processing of the printer device 2, and FIG. 4 is a data structure diagram of print information stored in the RAM 21c.

Next, the overall operation of the above embodiment will be explained according to FIGS. 1 to 4.

When the host device 1 wants the printer device 2 to print a page containing characters and image blocks BLI to BL4 as shown in FIG. 2, it first determines the size of the page to be printed, left alignment, right alignment, etc. Output page description information, which is attribute data.

Next, for the first block BLI, block description information, which is block attribute data such as block size and position within the page, is output, and then the type of print data (character information, image information , graphic information), character font type, vertical/horizontal writing distinction, character spacing, line spacing, and other attribute data, and finally, the print data itself is output.

Thereafter, in the same manner, the second block BL2 to the fourth block B
Regarding L4, each descriptive information and data are also output.

On the printer device 2 side, first, in step 100, the host!
- The processor 21a is waiting for an input from the device 1, and when there is an input, the processor 21a interprets the command (step 10).
2) In the case of page description information, simultaneously input and output page attribute data n0 to n are stored in the page description information storage area PM secured in the RAM 21c, and the start address of this area is stored in the page secured in the RAM 21c. Information table PT
Pointer to (*pptr in this example...see Figure 4)
(Steps 104 and 106).

On the other hand, in the case of the block description information of the first block BLI, the attribute data m0 to m of the blocks input at the same time are R
AM21 Store in the first block description information storage area BM secured during c, and point the start address of this area to the page information table PT (*bptrl)
In the case of the print data description information of the first block BLI, the attribute data e of the print data input at the same time. a-e, RAM
21 Store it in the first print data description information storage area DM secured during c, register the start address of this area as a pointer (*daptr) to the start address of the first block description information storage area BM, and print. In the case of data description information, the print data input at the same time is stored in the first print data storage area PDM secured in the RAM 21c, and the start address of this area is set as the start address of the first print data description information storage area DM. is registered as a pointer (*dptr) (step 116.1'18).

Similarly, print information for the other second blocks BL2 to fourth blocks BL4 is stored in the RAM using a predetermined data structure.
21c.

By storing print information in a hierarchical manner in the RAM 21c in this manner, the hierarchical data and print data at each stage can be read out from the RAM 21c and changed easily at high speed.

Next, when you input the print execution command, the print processor 21
In order to perform printing, a is the page attribute disk n at the address 9 below indicated by the pointer *pptr that was stored at the top address of the page information table PT. The page position in the area is specified based on ~n1 (step 120), and the first block attribute data mo~m after the address indicated by the pointer *dptrl stored in the second address of the page information table PT is specified. The position in the page buffer area PGB corresponding to the block BLI is specified (step 122).

Next, based on the attribute data 〇-lk of the print data after the address indicated by the pointer *daptr stored in the first address of the first block description information storage area BM, if the print data is a character, the font type is determined. Performs character processing such as selection and character position setting at a specified block position on the page buffer area PGB. And R.A.
The first print data description information storage area is located in the range corresponding to the first block BLI of the page buffer area in M21c.
The character font obtained by converting the character code after the address indicated by the DM head address pointer *dptr is developed (steps 124 to 130 above).

On the other hand, if the print data is image data, the image data is expanded as it is in the range corresponding to the first block BLI of the page buffer area PCB (step 132).
), if the print data is graphic data (for example, in the case of a straight line, a straight line symbol, start point, and end point coordinates), it is expanded while being converted into drawing bit data (step 134).

Thereafter, in the same manner, the second to fourth blocks BL2 to 13L4
The print data will also be expanded.

Then, when editing of the print image in the page buffer area PCB is completed, the processor 21a outputs the edited print image for one page to the laser printer 22, and causes the laser printer to print it out (steps 136 to 13). 138)
. In addition, character block BLII and image block B are shown in Figure 5.
An example of printing a page having L12 is shown.

In addition, each block within one page is allowed to overlap,
If the first block 13L1' to which characters are assigned and the second block BL2' to which images are assigned completely overlap, the positions of the font block and image block are set to overlap in the page buffer area, Character font and image data are also developed in an overlapping manner.

Also, among the print information outputted last time to the printer device 2, some attributes, for example, characters are assigned to the second block BL2,
If you have specified vertical writing as one of the attributes of the print data and now want to change it to horizontal writing, you can print the second block BL2 from the host device 1 or if the printer device [2 has a change command means, then print the second block BL2. The processor 21a sends a command to change the vertical writing/horizontal writing attribute of data description information.
, the processor 21a searches the RAM 21c for the address where the attribute is stored by referring to a pointer such as a page information table, and changes the attribute (step 1).
40). And then if the execution command is given,
Develop the print data and perform print processing again. in this way,
Changes to print information such as attribute changes can be made extremely easily and quickly.

<Effects of the Invention> According to the present invention, print information is outputted from the host device to the blink device separately without mixing and integrating the print data of characters and images actually printed and their attribute data, In addition, since the information can be stored in the memory of the printer device in a separate and hierarchical manner while being associated with each other,
It is easier to form print information on the host device side, and it is also easier to change the attribute data sent to the printer device, and moreover, the print data can be stored after specifying the position on the page buffer where the print data should be placed based on the attribute data. , the print image can be edited quickly and the printing processing speed is improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system including a printer device and a host Ijl according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of dividing pages into blocks to be printed, and FIG. 3 is an overall process of the printer device 2. FIG. 4 is a data structure diagram of print information stored in the RAM 21c, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of characters and images to be printed. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Host device, 2...Printer device, 21...Printer controller, 21a--Processor, 21b--ROM. 21c...RAM. 22...Printer patent applicant Alps Electric Co., Ltd. agent Patent attorney Chiki Saito Figure 2'

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a printing method in a printing system that sends print information from a host device to a printer device, allocates print data of characters and images on one page, and performs printing, the host device divides one page into one or For each block divided into a plurality of blocks, the attribute data of the block, the attribute data of the print data allocated to the block, and the print data allocated to the block are output separately to the printer device, and the printer device outputs the input data to the printer device. The attribute data and print data of the printed print information are respectively stored in the print information storage means with correspondence regarding blocks, and the block position on the page buffer is specified according to the attribute data stored in the print information storage means for each block. A printing method in a printing system, characterized in that a print image is edited by expanding print data of the block, and the print image is printed after editing is completed.