JPH04332079A - External character converter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to register a foreign character consisting of a dot pattern to be used for printing or display without overlapping it or convert the constitution of dots. CONSTITUTION:This external character converter is provided with character pattern files 21A, 21B for storing the dot patterns of external characters and code files 22A, 22B for storing external character codes corresponding to the stored external characters. When a certain external character code is sent through communication control parts 16A, 16B, whether an external character corresponding to the code exists or not is judged, and when no corresponding external character exists, the code and the character pattern of the external character are supplied and stored in the code files 22A, 22B and the character pattern files 21A, 21B with correspondence.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an external character conversion device used for printing or displaying external characters registered in one device on another device.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art When printing document data created by an information processing device such as a Japanese word processor or computer, a dot pattern representing each character as a dot image is often used. In such devices, when it is necessary to display or print unique symbols or special kanji characters, such dot patterns are created and registered as external characters. Once created, the dot pattern of a custom character can usually be copied as a dot pattern with the same dot configuration on another device of the same type.

0003

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, with conventional devices, even if a custom character is created, it is difficult to determine whether the custom character code, such as a kanji code, to be assigned to the custom character is already in use. There were cases where it was not possible to register the external characters that had been created with great effort. In addition, the same external character may be registered twice, resulting in the problem of wasting memory.

Furthermore, when copying a created custom character to another device, the same code may be assigned a different custom character on each device, so check the correspondence between the custom character codes. It was necessary to copy the dot pattern of the external characters to another device. Furthermore, there is a restriction that once created external characters cannot be used for other devices between devices with different dot pattern configurations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a custom character conversion device that can register custom characters without duplication.

Another object of the present invention is to specify a dot configuration of a character pattern of a custom character so that only when a dot pattern of that configuration does not exist, a dot pattern of another configuration is converted to a dot pattern of that configuration. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a user-defined character conversion device.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The invention according to claim 1 provides a character pattern file storing dot patterns of custom characters, a code file storing custom character codes associated with the custom characters stored in the character pattern file, and the like. a communication control unit for communicating with the device; a determining means for determining whether or not a custom character with the same custom character code exists when a custom character code is transmitted from another device via the communication control unit; a reply means for sending a reply to the other device mentioned above via the communication control section when the private character of the specified character code does not exist; The external character conversion device is provided with a storage means for storing character patterns in a code file and a character pattern file in correspondence with each other when character patterns are sent.

[0008] Here, the private character conversion device includes a search means for searching for a vacant private character code when a private character code and the character pattern of the private character are sent from the other device mentioned above as a response, and a search means for searching for a vacant private character code, and It may also include a storage means for storing the character pattern of the external character in a character pattern file in association with the code (claim 2).

That is, in the external character conversion device according to claim 1, when a character code is transmitted from another device via the communication control section, it is first checked whether or not the external character code exists in the own device; If it does not exist, the combination of external character code and character pattern is registered by replying to that effect. This prevents duplicate registration. In the invention described in claim 2, when the same external character code is assigned to all the characters, it is possible to allocate and register another external character code.

In the invention according to claim 3, there is provided a character pattern file storing dot patterns of external characters, a code file storing external character codes associated with the external characters stored in this character pattern file, and a dot configuration of the external character codes and the external characters. an input means for specifying a custom character code, and a determining means for determining whether the dot configuration of a custom character corresponding to a custom character code input by this input means is the same as the specified configuration, and if the dot configuration is not the same, The external character conversion device is equipped with a search means for searching a character pattern file for the same character with different dot configurations, and a conversion means for converting the searched character pattern into a dot pattern with a designated dot configuration.

That is, in the invention according to claim 3, by specifying a custom character code and a desired dot configuration, it is checked whether a dot pattern of a custom character with that dot configuration exists, and if it does not exist, a dot pattern of another configuration is selected. A dot pattern with a desired configuration is obtained from the above. This dot pattern may be newly registered if necessary.

0012

EXAMPLES The present invention will be explained in detail with reference to Examples below.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a system for using custom characters using a custom character conversion device according to an embodiment of the present invention. This system consists of two external character conversion devices A and B. These external character conversion devices A and B have basically the same configuration as a normal information processing device equipped with a printer and a display.

Of these, the external character conversion device A includes a processing section 11A.
It is equipped with The processing section 11A includes a CPU (central processing unit), not shown, and is configured to perform various processes of this device. This processing section 11A is connected to a keyboard control section 12A, a screen control section 13A, a conversion control section 14A, an input/output control section 15A, and a communication control section 16A.

[0015] Here, the keyboard control section 12A is connected to the keyboard 18A, and is adapted to control data inputted by the keys. The screen control unit 13A is a CRT19
It is connected to A and controls the display of data on it. The conversion control section 14A is connected to the character pattern file 21A and the code file 22A, and is configured to control input and output of each file. The input/output control unit 15A is configured to control the file 23A and printer 24A. The communication control unit 16A is connected to the other party's device (in this case, the external character converter B) via the transmission path 26.

The external character conversion device B basically has the same configuration as the external character conversion device A. Therefore, external character conversion device B
Regarding parts that are substantially the same as those in the external character converting device A, the reference numeral "B" is given in place of the reference numeral "A" given to each part of the external character converting device A, and the description thereof will be omitted. In addition, in this Figure 1, the character pattern files 21A and 21B
, code files 22A, 22B and file 23A
, 23B are accommodated in a storage medium such as a magnetic disk, although not particularly shown.

[0017] In this system for using external characters, the external character conversion device A
A case will be described in which a dot image of a non-standard character existing in the internal character is transferred to the non-standard character conversion device B. The operator uses keyboard 1
Enter the existing external character code from 8A. This external character code is input from the keyboard control section 12A to the processing section 11A. The processing unit 11A adds information indicating that it will be displayed on the CRT 19A, for example, and passes this external character code to the conversion control unit 11A. The conversion control unit 11A detects the external characters for display on the CRT 19A based on this external character code, passes this to the screen display unit 13A via the processing unit 11A, and converts the external characters to the CRT 19A.
Display on RT19A.

The external character code is also passed from the communication control unit 16A on the external character conversion device A side to the communication control unit 16B on the external character conversion device B side. The code is then sent to the conversion control unit 14B via the processing unit 11B, where external characters of the same code are detected. As a result, if external characters with the same code exist, the contents are displayed on the CRT 19B, written to the file 23B, or output to the printer 24B.

[0019] If the external character of the corresponding external character code does not exist, this fact is sent to the communication control unit 1 on the external character conversion device B side.
6B through the communication control unit 16A of the external character conversion device A side,
The processing unit 11A is notified. In response to this, the processing unit 11A searches the character pattern file 21A in the conversion control unit 14A, and transfers the character pattern along with the external character code to the external character conversion device B through the same route. In the external character conversion device B, the conversion control unit 14B converts and registers the character pattern, and searches for an empty external character code. Then, register it in association with this code. In this way, with this system for using external characters, all external characters are automatically converted and registered online.

FIG. 2 shows another configuration of the external character conversion device. This external character conversion device C is designed to process external characters off-line. The external character conversion device C shown in FIG. 2 includes a processing section 11C. Processing part 1
1C is equipped with a CPU (not shown) and is configured to perform various processes of this device. The processing unit 11C includes a keyboard control unit 12C, a screen control unit 13C, and a conversion control unit 1.
4C, an input/output control section 15C, and a communication control section 16C.

[0021] Here, the keyboard control section 12C is connected to the keyboard 18C and is adapted to control data inputted by the keys. The screen control unit 13C is a CRT19
It is connected to C and controls for displaying data on it. The conversion control section 14C is connected to the character pattern file 21C and the code file 22C, and is configured to control input and output of each file. The input/output control unit 15C is configured to control files 23C and 31C. Here, character pattern file 21C and code file 22
C and the file 23C are stored in a storage medium such as a magnetic disk, although not particularly shown. Further, other files 31C are stored on a floppy disk.

In the case of the external character conversion apparatus shown in FIG. 2, the operator inputs the external character code and data specifying the configuration of the dot pattern to be outputted from the keyboard 18C. Based on these data, the processing unit 11
C is character pattern file 21C and code file 22
Search for C. If a custom character with the corresponding dot configuration exists, it is displayed on the CRT 19C or output to the files 23C and 31C.

On the other hand, if the external character with the corresponding dot configuration does not exist, the code file 22C is searched for a character with a different dot configuration. Then, convert the dot pattern of this character into a dot pattern with the desired dot configuration, and then display this on the CRT19C, or
Output to files 23C and 31C. Conversion to a dot pattern with a different configuration is performed by a well-known method such as dot thinning or interpolation. When the dot pattern is converted to the desired dot configuration, it is also registered in the character pattern file 21C if necessary. In this way, if a custom character is created for a dot pattern with one dot configuration, it becomes possible to convert it to a dot pattern with a different dot configuration.

[0024]

As explained above, according to the inventions set forth in claims 1 and 2, it is possible to transfer a custom character between two custom character conversion devices, and moreover, it is possible to prevent duplicate registration of a custom character. . Furthermore, according to the invention as claimed in claim 3,
If a character pattern with one of the dot configurations is prepared, the effect is that the same external character can be used without creating character patterns with other dot configurations one by one.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system for using custom characters using a custom character conversion device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a non-standard character conversion device in another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

11A, 11B, 11C Processing units 14A, 14B, 14C Conversion control units 16A, 16B
Communication control unit 18C keyboard

Claims (3)

[Claims] [Claim 1] A character pattern file that stores dot patterns of custom characters, a code file that stores custom character codes that are associated with the custom characters stored in this character pattern file, and a communication control unit for communicating with other devices. ,
A determination means for determining whether or not a custom character with the same custom character code exists when a custom character code is transmitted from another device via this communication control unit, and a notification indicating that the custom character with the corresponding custom character code does not exist. a response means for replying to the other device via the communication control unit, and when a custom character code and a character pattern of the custom character are sent from the other device as a result of this reply, the code is associated with the character pattern of the custom character and the code is sent to the other device. An external character conversion device comprising: a file; and storage means for storing in a character pattern file. 2. A search means for searching for a vacant private character code when a private character code and a character pattern of the private character are sent from the other device as a result of the response; 2. The external character conversion device according to claim 1, further comprising storage means for storing the character pattern of the external character in a character pattern file. [Claim 3] A character pattern file storing a dot pattern of a custom character, a code file storing a custom character code associated with the custom characters stored in the character pattern file, and an input means for specifying the custom character code and the dot configuration of the custom character. , a determination means for determining whether the dot configuration of the external character corresponding to the external character code inputted by this input means is the same as the specified configuration, and if the dot configuration is not the same, a determination means for determining whether the dot configuration of the external character corresponding to the external character code input by this input means is the same as the specified configuration, and if the dot configuration is not the same, the dot configuration is different. 1. A non-standard character conversion device comprising: a search means for searching the character pattern file for a character pattern of the same character; and a conversion means for converting the searched character pattern into a dot pattern with a designated dot configuration.