JPH06238990A - Method and apparatus for controlling print - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To develop to print image responsive to print data by providing control means for processing the data by sequentially using a plurality of converting means when the converting means cannot be specified by specific means. CONSTITUTION:Print data is output from a host computer 1 or 2, and input to an interface 11 of a print controller 4 through an input switching unit 3. The data is stored in an input buffer provided in a RAM 15 under the control of a CPU 13. Then, when it is evaluated based on control data stored in the buffer and an emulation is specified, emulations are executed. On the other hand, if the emulation is not specified, provided emulation modes are sequentially executed, and the print data from the computer 1 or 2 can be processed in either mode.

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 and method for inputting print data from an external device and controlling printing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a computer system in which a host computer and a printer device are connected, the printer device receives data such as character codes and control codes from the host computer and performs printing. In that case, the protocol of data communication between the printer device and the host computer must be the same. Therefore, the model of the host computer connected to the printer is limited by the communication protocol of the printer. Therefore, in order to realize a general-purpose printer that can be used by connecting to a plurality of types of host computers, conventionally, a protocol conversion device (emulation A general method is to connect the printer device and various host computers via a unit containing software: EM.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, when directly connected to one host computer for use, it is sufficient to connect the EM for adapting to the protocol of the host computer to the printer. It was However, when a plurality of types of host computers are simultaneously connected and used via a LAN (local area network) or a printer mode switching device incorporating a plurality of EMs, the type of host computer that generates print data changes. Each time, complicated work such as replacing the EM connected to the printer device and switching the changeover switch of the printer device had to be performed.

In order to eliminate this complicated work, the print data sent to the printer device is automatically searched by a table or weighted to determine which print data has a protocol suitable for which host computer. A method of performing data conversion based on the judgment is considered.

However, if the data sent to the printer is data containing a code common to all host computers to be converted, the conversion program to be executed on the printer side cannot be specified. There was a problem such as. Further, when the conversion program cannot be specified, the specific conversion program is executed, so that the original print result may not be obtained.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional example. When a conversion program for processing print data cannot be specified, a print control for sequentially processing print data by sequentially selecting possessed conversion programs is performed. It is an object to provide an apparatus and method.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a print control apparatus and method in which the efficiency of print processing is improved by selecting a conversion program for processing print data at the break of a print job.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the print control apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, a print control device for inputting print data from an external device and performing control for printing, corresponding to a storage unit for storing print data sent from the external device and a type of the print data. A plurality of converting means for analyzing the print data to create a print image and a specifying means for specifying one of the plurality of converting means based on a control code included in the print data stored in the storage means. And processing the print data by the conversion unit specified by the specifying unit, and when the conversion unit cannot be specified by the specifying unit, processes the print data by sequentially using the plurality of conversion units. And control means for controlling.

In order to achieve the above object, the printing control method of the present invention comprises the following steps. That is, it is a print control method for inputting print data from an external device and performing control for printing, and a process of storing print data sent from an external device and a process of storing the print data when switching a print job. And a step of specifying the type of print data based on the control code included in the print data, and a step of analyzing the print data corresponding to the type of the print data to create a print image.

[0010]

With the above arrangement, the print data sent from the external device is stored, and one of the plurality of conversion means is specified based on the control code included in the stored print data. The specified converting means processes the print data, and when the specifying means cannot specify the converting means, the plurality of converting means are sequentially used to process the print data.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printing system according to the present embodiment includes host computers 1 and 2 for sending print data, an input switching device 3 having two input ports and one output port, a print control device 4, and a printing device 5.

The host computer 1 or 2 sends print data consisting of character codes and control codes to the input switching device 3 according to the protocol of each host computer. The input switching device 3 validates the input port that detected the input, and transfers the data input from the input port to the print control device 4. The print control device 4 that receives this data converts the print data into print data that conforms to the protocol of the printing device 5, sends the print data to the printing device 5, and executes printing.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the print control device 4.

In the figure, an interface (IF) unit 11 is connected to the host computer 1 or 2 and executes communication control to receive print data. The interface (IF) unit 12 is connected to the print control device 4 and sends the print data received from the host computer to the print control device 4. A central processing unit (CPU) 13 such as a microprocessor has, for example, a clock pulse generation circuit, a delay circuit, a gate circuit, and other logic circuits. 14 is a read-only memory (R
OM), which stores control programs and various data for the CPU 13 to supply control signals to each unit and execute control of the entire apparatus. Reference numeral 15 denotes a readable / writable random access memory (RAM), which has an area (EMODE) for storing the operating state of each device and a storage area for storing the number of activations of each EM that is necessary when performing the control described below. And so on. A bus line 16 is used to electrically connect the CPU 13, the interface units 11 and 12, the ROM 14 and the RAM 15 and transfer a memory address and data.

Next, the control processing when the print control data is received by the print control apparatus 4 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In this process, print data is output from the host computer 1 or 2 and input to the interface unit 11 of the print control device 4 via the input switching device 2. This print data is sent to the CPU 1
It is started by being stored in the input buffer provided in the RAM 15 under the control of 3.

First, in step S1, a table search or weighted evaluation is performed based on the control data stored in the input buffer to determine which print data from which host computer (1 or 2) the control data is included in. judge. Next, the process proceeds to step S2, the result of the evaluation in step S1 is determined, it is determined whether the EM (emulation unit) is identified, and if it is identified, the process proceeds to step S3. In step S3, the specified emulation mode is stored in the storage area (EMODE) of the RAM 15 and the process proceeds to step S4. In step 4, whether the emulation mode stored in EMODE is EM1 (for host computer 1) or E
It is determined whether it is M2 (for host computer 2). If the determination result is EM1, the process proceeds to step S5 and EM1
Is executed, and if the determination result is EM2, step S
Proceed to step 6 and execute EM2. Then, when the control data is continuously sent, each emulation is executed without changing the current emulation mode.

On the other hand, if the EM is not specified in step S1, the process proceeds from step S2 to step S7.
First, EM1 is executed, and then the process proceeds to step S8, where EM
Execute 2. In this way, when the emulation mode cannot be specified, print data from the host computer can be processed in either mode by sequentially executing the emulation modes provided.

As described above, according to the first embodiment,
If the host computer that outputs the print data can be specified based on the control data included in the input print data by performing table search or weighted evaluation, each emulation program is started. On the other hand, if the host computer that has output the print data cannot be specified based on the input control data,
Since all emulation programs are executed sequentially, it is possible to always obtain a correct print result.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, it is possible to efficiently print by determining the timing of selecting an emulation program suitable for print data based on the job and the break in the job. Since the configurations of the print control device 4 and the printing system of the second embodiment are common to those of the above-described first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the description thereof will be omitted here and the flowchart of FIG. Only the operation based on this will be described.

The operation shown in the flow chart of FIG.
Similar to the case of FIG. 3 described above, the process is started by storing the print data in the input buffer.
Then, in the same manner as in step S1 described above, which host computer the print data is from is determined based on the control data. When the emulation mode is determined in this way, the process proceeds to step S12, and the EM of the RAM 13
The determined result is stored in ODE. Next, in step S13, the mode stored in EMODE is E.
Judge whether it is M1 or EM2. If EM1, step S
If it is EM2, the process proceeds to step 14 to execute EM1, and if it is EM2, the process proceeds to step S15 to execute EM2. Next step S1
In step 6, when a job end, for example, a reset command, a paper discharge command, or a job end command is received, it is determined that the job has ended, and the process returns to step S11 to determine the emulation mode. On the other hand, when the job is not finished, the process returns to step S13 to process the next print data in the same emulation mode.

In this way, print control for determining the emulation mode when the job is cut off can be realized.

The job break determination in the above embodiment may be performed by a reset operation by an operator, a reset signal from the host computer, or when print data is not received from the host computer for a predetermined time.

In the above-described first and second embodiments, the case where there are two host computers has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and when three or more host computers are connected. However, it is also applicable to the case where one host computer is connected and a plurality of control codes are sent from that computer.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the internal structure of a laser beam printer (LBP) 100 applicable as the printing device 5 of this embodiment. This LBP 100 is printed by the host computer 1 or 2 via the print control device 4. It is configured to be able to register a pattern and a fixed form (form data).

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 100 denotes an LBP main body, which inputs and stores print data supplied from the host computer 1 or 2, that is, character information (character code), form information, macro commands and the like. A corresponding character pattern, form pattern, or the like is created according to the information, and an image is formed on a recording paper, which is a recording medium.
Reference numeral 300 is an operation panel on which various switches for operation and LED displays are arranged, and 101 is a printer control unit for controlling the entire LBP 100 and analyzing character information and the like supplied from the host computer. The printer control unit 101 mainly converts character information into a video signal of a corresponding character pattern and outputs it to the laser driver 102.

The laser driver 102 is the semiconductor laser 10.
3 is a circuit for driving the semiconductor laser 3, and switches the semiconductor laser on and off in accordance with the input video signal. The laser light 104 is swung in the left-right direction by the rotary polygon mirror 105 to scan the electrostatic drum 106. As a result, an electrostatic latent image having a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 106. The latent image is formed on the developing unit 107 around the electrostatic drum 106.
And then transferred to a recording paper. A cut sheet is used for this recording paper, and the LBP10 cassette recording paper is used.
The paper feed roller 10
It is taken into the apparatus by the 9 and the conveyance rollers 110 and 111 and is supplied to the electrostatic drum 106.

The printing device 5 of this embodiment can be applied to an ink jet printer described below. <Schematic Description of Apparatus Main Body> FIG. 6 shows a printing apparatus 5 of this embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an inkjet recording apparatus IJRA applicable to the above. In the figure, the carriage HC that engages with the spiral groove 5004 of the lead screw 5005 that rotates via the driving force transmission gears 5011 and 5009 in conjunction with the forward and reverse rotation of the drive motor 5013 has a pin (not shown). Then, it is reciprocated in the directions of arrows a and b. An inkjet cartridge IJC is mounted on the carriage HC. A paper pressing plate 5002 presses the paper against the platen 5000 in the moving direction of the carriage. Reference numerals 5007 and 5008 denote photocouplers, which are home position detecting means for confirming the presence of the carriage lever 5006 in this area and switching the rotation direction of the motor 5013. Reference numeral 5016 is a member that supports a cap member 5022 that caps the front surface of the recording head.
Reference numeral 5015 denotes a suction means for sucking the inside of the cap, which performs suction recovery of the recording head through the opening 5023 in the cap. Reference numeral 5017 is a cleaning blade, and 5019 is a member that allows this blade to move in the front-rear direction, and these are supported by a main body support plate 5018. Needless to say, a well-known cleaning blade can be applied to this example instead of this form. Also, 5012 is
A lever for starting suction for suction recovery, which moves in accordance with the movement of the cam 5020 that engages with the carriage, and the driving force from the driving motor is movement-controlled by known transmission means such as clutch switching.

The capping, cleaning, and suction recovery are configured so that the desired processing can be performed at their corresponding positions by the action of the lead screw 5005 when the carriage comes to the area on the home position side. As long as the desired operation is performed at the timing, any of the above can be applied to this example. <Description of Control Configuration> Next, a control configuration for executing the recording control of the above-described apparatus will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. In the figure showing the control circuit, 1
Reference numeral 700 denotes an interface for inputting a recording signal, 170
Reference numeral 1 is an MPU, 1702 is a program ROM that stores a control program executed by the MPU 1701, and 1703 is a dynamic RAM that stores various data (print data, print data supplied to the head, and the like). 1
A gate array 704 controls the supply of print data to the print head 1708.
00, MPU 1701 and RAM 1703 are also controlled. Reference numeral 1710 is a carrier motor for carrying the recording head 1708, and 1709 is a carrying motor for carrying the recording paper. Reference numeral 1705 denotes a head driver for driving the head, and 1706 and 1707 denote the carry motor 1 respectively.
709, a motor driver for driving the carrier motor 1710.

The operation of the above control structure will be described. When a recording signal is input to the interface 1700, the gate array 1
A recording signal is converted between the 704 and the MPU 1701 to print data for printing. And the motor driver 1
The recording heads 706 and 1707 are driven, and the recording head is driven according to the recording data sent to the head driver 1705 to perform printing.

The ink jet printer as described above can be incorporated as the printing apparatus 5 of the present embodiment,
It is obvious that the present invention can be applied not only to the laser beam printer but also to the above inkjet printer and the like.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Further, the present invention can of course be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program for implementing the present invention to a system or an apparatus.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the conversion program for processing the print data cannot be specified, the conversion programs in possession are sequentially selected to process the print data. It is possible to develop a print image according to print data.

Further, according to the present invention, by selecting the conversion program for processing the print data at the break of the print job, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the print processing speed and improve the printing efficiency.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a print control apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing of the print control apparatus when print data is received in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing of the print control apparatus when print data is received in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a laser beam printer (LBP) applicable as a printing apparatus of this embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an inkjet recording apparatus IJRA applicable to the printing apparatus of this embodiment.

7 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the inkjet printer of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2 host computer 3 input switching device 4 printing control device 5 printing device 11, 12 interface 13 central processing unit (CPU) 14 ROM 15 RAM

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A print control device for inputting print data from an external device and performing control for printing, comprising: storage means for storing print data sent from the external device; and type of the print data. Corresponding to, a plurality of conversion means for analyzing the print data to create a print image and one of the plurality of conversion means based on a control code included in the print data stored in the storage means are specified. The specifying unit and the converting unit specified by the specifying unit processes the print data, and when the specifying unit cannot specify the converting unit, the plurality of converting units are sequentially used to process the print data. A printing control device comprising: 2. A print control device for inputting print data from an external device and performing control for printing, the storage device storing print data sent from the external device, and the type of the print data. Corresponding to the above, a plurality of conversion means for analyzing the print data to create a print image, and a plurality of conversion means based on a control code included in the print data stored in the storage means at the time of switching a print job. A printing control apparatus comprising: a specifying unit that specifies any one of the units; and a control unit that controls the conversion unit specified by the specifying unit to process the print data. 3. A print control method for inputting print data from an external device to perform control for printing, the process comprising storing print data sent from an external device, and storing the print data in the stored print data. A step of specifying the type of the print data based on the included control code, and analyzing the print data corresponding to the type of the print data to create a print image, and when the type of the print data cannot be specified And a step of processing the print data by sequentially using a conversion program that the printer owns, and a print control method. 4. A print control method for inputting print data from an external device and performing control for printing, comprising a step of storing print data sent from an external device, and a step of switching print jobs. A step of specifying the type of print data based on a control code included in the stored print data; and a step of analyzing the print data corresponding to the type of the print data to create a print image. A printing control method characterized by the above.