JPH03114857A - Printer data management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the generation of error stop by waiting the formation of a blank due to the completion of the printing of a document preceding a plurality of documents when capacity is insufficient in a memory for holding picture information. CONSTITUTION:The development of data of a plurality of documents to the intermediate-data holding memories is managed by a document management table. The number of documents which are printed continuously is compared with the number of documents which are obtained from the document management table, and a state of stand-by is brought when the blank area in the memory areas of an intermediate-data holding memory is filled during development to intermediate data, and the formation of the blank area is waited. Accordingly, when the intermediate data of a plurality of the documents must be edited before printing data are output, the generation of an error due to the shortage of the capacities of the intermediate-data holding memories is prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a data management system in a character generator of a printer.

(Prior Art) A printer prints a text or graphic document received from a host (such as a host computer). A character generator (controller) in a printer converts character data, etc. into a dot image based on character data, graphic data, various commands, etc. received from a host, stores it in a memory, and prints the dot image.

Conventionally, a character generating device of a printer has a bitmap memory for one page, and develops all dot images for one page on the bitmap memory based on character data and graphic data received from a host. When the development for one sheet is completed, the dot image data is sent to the printing section. This eliminates problems caused by the difference in timing between developing a dot image on the bitmap memory and sending data to the printing section.

In this method, when data is transferred to the printing section, all image data for one page to be output is developed in the bitmap memory. Therefore, the dot image data is transferred to the printing section at high speed in synchronization with the printer output, and the printing section performs printing.

In order to output data to the printing section at high speed, it is necessary to reduce the time required to develop the image into the bitmap memory as much as possible. However, in general, processing graphic data involves a large amount of data, so it takes time to receive the data, and vector graphic data in particular takes a very long time to analyze commands and develop images.

Therefore, it may be possible to increase the speed by using a dedicated LSI for image development, but this increases the cost.

On the other hand, in the case of software processing, high-speed output cannot be achieved if all processing of command analysis and image development is attempted to be performed in synchronization with the time of output to the printing section.

In order to reduce the burden as much as possible when developing the data received from the host into a bit image, intermediate processing is performed, such as editing (converting) it into intermediate data and storing it in the intermediate data holding memory. .

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) A method for developing image data in a character generating device of a printer is to divide one page of document into n bands (n is a positive integer) in the sub-scanning direction, and perform data processing. It is conceivable to perform this on a band-by-band basis. In this method, one l/n
Equipped with two band memories (partial bitmap memories) with a storage capacity of . This is n
When printing is performed alternately on two image memories for each band, printing of one document is completed.

Even in this method, the dot image development process to the band memory must precede the data output to the printing section, so the data output speed to the printing section is limited by the dot image development speed to the band memory. Therefore, in order to perform dot image development at high speed, it is advisable to once edit (convert) the data received from the host into intermediate data. This intermediate data consists of information (size, source address, etc.) of character data and graphic data to be loaded into the band memory.

In this type of character generator, it is necessary to perform dot image development for each band memory at high speed, so it is necessary to create one page's worth of intermediate data required for development before printing. It is desirable to access intermediate data to the band memory as continuously as possible. Therefore, it is necessary to secure a memory area for holding intermediate data for each band within one document.

However, with the method of allocating the memory area for holding intermediate data equally for each band in the intermediate data holding memory, in the case of a document where the print data exists in uneven positions, depending on the memory capacity, the print data may A situation may arise in which intermediate data for a band with a large amount of print data cannot be held, while more holding area than necessary is secured for a band with a small amount of print data. Furthermore, securing more holding areas than necessary for bands with little or no print data reduces memory usage efficiency. Therefore, in order to improve the efficiency of data management, it is necessary to secure a large holding area each time for a band with a large amount of print data. However, simply increasing the holding area for each piece of data requires processing time to search for the holding area, which is not preferable.

Therefore, in another application, the present applicant proposed a minimum capacity (for example, 2 characters) required for data management for each band in an intermediate data holding memory that stores intermediate data.
A basic block and an extended block of a certain capacity (for example, 200 characters) are provided, and a data management method is disclosed in which the extended block is reserved for that band when the number of intermediate data exceeds the capacity of the basic block. . In this method, the range of the area for intermediate data secured in the intermediate data holding memory varies depending on the number of intermediate data. In this way, memory usage efficiency is improved.

When a plurality of documents are printed, the fluctuation of the fluctuation data in this intermediate data area becomes even larger.

When printing a plurality of documents, it may be necessary to perform intermediate data conversion for the plurality of documents before outputting print data. For example, in the case of double-sided printing in which printing is performed on both sides of one sheet of paper, data editing for two sheets must be performed before printing.

In that case, an error may occur due to insufficient memory in the intermediate data holding memory, and the printer may stop operating. Therefore, the error handling must be considered.

An object of the present invention is to improve the capacity of the intermediate data holding memory when it is necessary to edit the intermediate data of multiple documents before outputting print data in a data management system in which the intermediate data holding area in the intermediate data holding memory changes. An object of the present invention is to provide a printer data management method that can prevent errors caused by shortages.

(Means for Solving the Problems) A data management system according to the present invention divides one document into a plurality of bands in the sub-scanning direction, and includes two image memories each having a memory capacity for one band. In order to quickly develop the print data from the host as a dot image in the image memory, the print data is converted to intermediate data and held in the intermediate data holding memory, and the intermediate data is developed as a dot image in the image memory and sent to the printing unit. A printer character generator that outputs data alternately to two image memories, and when intermediate data is generated for each band, the intermediate data holding memory first generates a basic block with the minimum capacity necessary for data management of that band. hold in
Furthermore, when the intermediate data of the band exceeds the capacity of the basic block, an expansion block capable of holding a certain amount of data is secured for the band in the intermediate data holding memory, and the intermediate data is held in the expansion block. An intermediate data management table is provided for associating used blocks with bands, and a document management table corresponding to the number of documents to be managed is further provided for associating the above packet management table with multiple documents. When there is no more free space, stop expanding to intermediate data, and if the number of documents waiting to be printed out exceeds the number of documents that should be printed out continuously, a free area will be created in the intermediate data holding memory by printing out. It is characterized by waiting for.

Margin below (function) The development of data in the intermediate data holding memory of multiple documents is managed using the document management table.

Number of documents to be printed continuously (for example, 2 for double-sided printing)
is compared with the number of documents waiting to be printed out obtained from the document management table, and if there is no free area in the memory area of the intermediate data holding memory while expanding to intermediate data, the process enters a standby state and waits until a free area becomes available. .

Margin below (Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(a) Overall configuration of a character generation device for a printer FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a character generation device for a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, the interface unit 1 transfers received data (protocol data) from a host such as a host computer or an image league to the reception buffer 2. The reception buffer 2 is a buffer memory that stores data received from the host. The protocol analysis section 3 analyzes the received data, identifies printing section interface control commands, printing data, etc., and sends them to the printing section interface control section 4 and editing control section 5, respectively. The printing unit interface control unit 4 controls the printing sequence of the printing unit that performs printing in an electrophotographic process and controls the LED display on the operation panel.

The editing control unit 5 calculates the cursor position from the received data, creates bucket data (intermediate code) that is information such as characters (size, source address, etc.), and sends it to the bucket buffer 76. In this embodiment, the editing control unit 5 controls printer character generation. Font control section 7
7 manages the ROM fonts and downloaded fonts in the ont memory 8. Video buffer control section 9 controls video buffer IO. Also, based on the packet data of the bucket buffer 6, the video buffer l
Expand the image to O. The video buffer IO is a buffer memory that stores dot images and the like.

The protocol data received from the host is character data,
Graphic data, download data (font)
, and control commands.

The data flow is as shown in FIG.

For character data, packet data is created based on the storage address of the bitmap data corresponding to the character code and the virtual address on the print paper corresponding to the print position, and is written into the bucket buffer 6.

Graphic data includes vector graphic data and raster graphic data.

Graphic data is written to the video buffer IO through the video buffer control unit 9. Furthermore, packet data is created based on the written address and the address of the print position, and is written into the bucket buffer 6.

Font download data is written into the video buffer 10 through the video buffer control section 9. In addition, the written 7-ont management data is registered in the font management table.

Regarding the control commands, commands for controlling the printing section are sent to the printing section, and other commands are used to set internal parameters thereof.

(b) Conversion to intermediate data and data management method The data management method in this embodiment can manage up to six documents. The image data received from the host is first edited (converted) into packet data, which is intermediate data, and the packet data is stored in the bucket buffer 76, as will be explained later. This packet data is usually 1
Once the packet data of the document is stored, it is then converted to bit data and stored in the video buffer IO. The writing and output of this bit data is performed when one document is divided into multiple bands (five in this example) in the sub-scanning direction (paper feeding direction for printing) as shown in Figure 3. Perform this in order for each band. The video buffer 10 does not have a bit map memory for one page, but has two areas with a capacity for 115 pages, and bit data is alternately written and output in these two areas.

In this way, one sheet is divided into five bands and bit data is written and read, so that printing is performed sequentially from the top of the paper. Therefore, in order to print character data or graphic data, it is usually necessary to edit data for one sheet in advance at the printing position. Therefore, print data for one sheet is converted into packet data and stored in the packet buffer 6. Corresponding to printing being performed in units of bands, packet data is also stored in units of bands as shown in FIG. The actual printing process is
After the editing of one sheet of packet data is completed, dot images are sequentially developed in two band buffers alternately using the packet data starting from the first band.

Conversion of character data and raster graphic data into packet data is normally performed continuously in a fixed direction. However, since vector graphic data may exist across multiple bands, for example in the case of linear data, it may be stored in multiple packet areas. Therefore, packet data is not necessarily developed in the order of bands. As explained later, graphic data is stored in units of cells, which are small units within a band, so in the case of a straight line spanning multiple bands, vector graphic data is stored as packet data corresponding to multiple cells in multiple bands. and stored in the associated packet area.

Packet data is written to the packet buffer 6 in a packet area provided for each band. Since the number of characters written in the l-band is not constant, if the capacity number of the packet area per l-band is fixed, the usage efficiency of the packet buffer 76 will deteriorate. Therefore, for each band, we first start with the minimum capacity required for data management (for example, 2
Secure an area for registering packet data (for characters), and when writing characters beyond this, add a new packet data registration area for a certain number of characters (for example, 200 characters), and then write 200 characters. A packet registration area will be secured for each unit. (The reason why the minimum capacity is set to 2 characters is due to the determination of the presence or absence of data and the possibility of the existence of characters across multiple bands.) Therefore, the packet area is made up of several characters, as shown in Figure 5. It is divided into a basic packet area with a capacity of minutes (2 characters in this example) and an extended packet area with a capacity of many characters (200 characters in this example). Basic packet area P,,P1,
..., P4 is provided in advance for all bands, but the extended packet area P Sr P In...
* is added and assigned as necessary when there is data from the third character onwards in each band.

1 packet consists of 4 words as shown in FIG. Here, the source address is the start address of the data to be written to the video buffer IO, the video buffer address is the start address (offset) of the video buffer 710 to which the data is written, and the cell width is the width of the data to be written. The cell height is the height of the data to be written, and the 7 lag l is the control flag (
Source related).

The amount of data managed by an l packet is, for example, one character for character data, and a 160×160 dot square area (called a cell) for raster graphic data.

Graphic data is stored in a video buffer of 10 cells.
stored in the graphics holding area.

Here, l cell means, as shown in Fig. 7, the paper size specified by the host is divided into a specific size of m x 1 (
In this embodiment, the cells are divided into 4×7) areas, and a serial number is added to each cell.

As shown in the memory map of the video buffer lO in FIG. 8, the band buffer and graphics holding area are
They are provided on the same video buffer IO, and their capacities vary depending on the paper size and data. Therefore,
Memory is managed using a management table that will be explained later.

The graphic holding area starts from the last address on the video buffer lO (GRRASDNAD), and each time a registration area is secured, the holding area end pointer (
GRRAS BOT) and the end holding area of the corresponding document in the B table described below.

FIG. 9 shows an address table in which linear addresses on the graphic holding area for cells divided into specific sizes are registered. Each cell on the cell map corresponds to 1 to 1, and a cell whose registration area is not secured in the holding area contains "00".

Now, in the cell map shown in Figure 7, if the corresponding cell number is initially 3 based on the absolute coordinate position within one sheet of graphic data, then the relative address on the video buffer lO can be calculated as shown in Figure 8. At the same time, the registration area in cell "3" is secured and data is written, and the holding area end pointer (GRRAS BOT) is updated. Correspondingly, the registration area in cell "3" is A linear address is registered.

Furthermore, in order to overwrite a cell that has been registered twice, the address value corresponding to the number is determined to obtain the address value to be written onto the video memory.

When securing a graphic holding area on the video buffer IO, a packet is created for cell data to be registered on the video buffer IO. That is, the packet data of graphic data is processed in units of cells. When graphic data is expanded into band memory by creating a packet, it is treated the same as character data.

Three tables are used in the editing control unit 5 to manage documents, packet data, and graphic holding areas.

The A table shown in FIG. 1θ is a document management table for the number of sheets whose images need to be held in the printer. For each document, the start point and end point of the B table (described below) that manages basic packet numbers corresponding to bands from band 0 to the bottom margin band, and the start point and end point of the graphic holding area used for that document. Register.

FIG. 11 shows packet buffer 6 (
This is a table for managing packet data stored in (see FIG. 5). It consists of a basic packet management table that manages basic packet areas for six documents, and an extended packet management table that manages extended packet areas that are added as necessary.

The structure of each packet management table is as shown in FIG. For each band, the currently used divided packet No. (used only for basic packets), the next used divided packet) No., the number of currently stored patterns,
Character specifications for each band, the first address and segment of the packet, and the next address and segment to be used for the packet are stored in sequence. Here, for the divided packet number currently in use, an end code is written when there are no more usable divided packets. If the next used divided packet No. 1 is the end of band data in that packet, '0' is written. The end of the currently used divided packet is detected by comparing and matching 1w and 2nd time.

In the printing process, when packet data is output to the video buffer control unit 9, packets are successively transferred based on the above-mentioned next usage divided packet number. The final data of each band is detected by counting the number of 1W patterns in the printing process.

The C table shown in FIG. 13 is an overall management table for documents, packets, and holding areas, and manages document numbers for which processing such as ejection has been detected and document numbers that are being edited (packets are being created). It consists of a page pointer, a start pointer and an end pointer that manage the extension packet number in use, and a start pointer and end pointer that also manage the holding area address in use. Therefore, the number of the document being managed, the extended packet area used by the document being managed, and the holding area for graphic data used by the document being managed are managed.

(c) Flow of editing control FIG. 14 schematically shows the main CPU 70- that constitutes the editing control section 5. In this flow, initialize the CPU and peripheral circuits at power-on (#201)
, clear the work area, packet buffer 6, and video buffer IO (#202), and clear the initial settings (page counter PG) according to the deep switch and default settings.
-0) (#203). Next, initialize the tables (A, B, C) for managing packets (#20
4).

As an initial setting for each document, first determine whether there is enough room for the maximum number of managed documents (6 in this example), which is determined by the basic performance of the printer #205)
If it is not possible (No), the process waits until the processing of the documents already under management is completed. If it is possible to start editing data from the host (YES), update the current page pointer (table C) (#206), and update table A.
Set the parameters for the corresponding document number (start B table, end B table, start holding area) (#
207). Next, determine whether there is an unused extended packet area in bucket buffer 6 at that point #208
), if not (No), wait until an empty packet area is created.

As shown in FIG. 15, data received from the host is asynchronously received at the interface l (#101),
It is output to reception buffer 2 (#102).

Returning to Figure 814 and continuing the explanation, read and analyze the received data held in the receive buffer 2 (#209)
, if it is print data (#210'tl'yES), each packet creation process is performed (#212, #213) depending on whether it is graphic data (vector and raster) or character data (#211).

If the received data is a control command (No in #210), the corresponding processing is performed (#214). Next, it is determined whether or not it is a paper discharge request (#215), and if not, the process returns to #209 to continue analyzing the received data.

If the data to be processed is a paper ejection request (YES in #215)
), increment the page counter PG #21
6), it is determined whether the continuous processing determination condition (for example, 2 for double-sided copying) is met (#217). If no, #2
Returning to step 05, the data of the next document is processed.

When the continuous processing judgment condition is reached, the print unit is activated, and also performs print control processing to develop dot image data to the band buffer and output the data (#218), and resets the page counter PG. (#219). Then, return to #205,
Process data for the following documents.

FIG. 16 shows timer interrupt processing 70-.

This process is performed at specific time intervals, and the first
The parameters determined in #205 and #208 of 70- in Figure 4 are updated here. First, various flags such as error occurrence are read (#251), and if the end of the document is detected (YES in #252), the video buffer is cleared.
Clear the graphic data held on O #253), update the extended packet pointer (C table) #254), delete the corresponding document section of B table #255), end page pointer (C table) (#256).

Figure 17 shows the graphic packet creation process (14th
Figure #212) shows the flow. The character generating device according to this embodiment divides one sheet into a specific number of lines n in the sub-scanning direction,
It has two bitmap memories (band buffers) for the 1242 bits, and a bucket buffer 6 holds packet data that is a temporary edit of data to be printed for each band. The packet structure is the same as the character packet (6th
figure).

Graphic data includes vector graphic data and raster graphic data, and vector graphic data drawing instruction command〉 (straight line, circle, etc.) +
Raster graphic data is transmitted from the host in the form of <parameters> (coordinates, size, etc.), and in the form of <command>+<data length>+1 line raster data>, for example.

Therefore, first, perform command analysis processing (#301)
. As a result, calculate the absolute coordinate position of each dot on one document when the figure is expanded into dots #302).
Search the cell map for the cell corresponding to the coordinate position (#303), and if the registration area for the corresponding cell is secured in the holding area (see Figure 8) located on the same memory 10 as the band buffer (#304). YES), calculate the relative address in the corresponding cell #305), and write the data (#306). If there is no registration area (#3
04 (NO), the presence or absence of empty packets (memory free space in the basic packet area and the already allocated extended packet area) (1308), and the presence or absence of extended packet areas (#309), and if there is no free space in either Error processing (#314, see FIG. 19) is performed and the system waits until a free area is available. If the extended packet area can be secured (YES in #309), the B and C tables are updated and the extended packet area is allocated.

If the packet area to be registered can be secured, check the remaining capacity of the empty video buffer #311), and if there is an empty area (YES), secure the registration area.
312), calculates the start address, width, height, and expanded address of the cell, creates and registers a packet, and updates the B table (#313). If the registration area cannot be secured (NO in #311), perform error processing (#
309).

The above processing (1302 to #314) is repeated for unprocessed target data (if YES in #307). The held packet data is expanded into the band buffer through the video buffer control unit 9 when each band is expanded during print control processing (#218 in FIG. 14).
Figure 3).

Figure 18 shows the character packet creation process (#212 in Figure 14).
) shows the flow. The character generating device according to this embodiment includes 1
A sheet is divided into a specific number of lines n in the sub-scanning direction, and there are two bitmap memories (band buffers) for the n lives, and the packet buffer 6 stores the temporarily edited data to be printed for each band. It is held in If there is space in the packet area of the band corresponding to the cursor position (YES in #401), calculate the font address and linear address when expanding to the video buffer 10, create packet data, and register it in the packet area. and update the B table, which is its management table (#
402). If there are no empty packets and there is an unused extended packet area (YES in #403), B and C
The table is updated and an extended packet area is assigned to the target band (#404). As with the graphic packet, if there is no empty packet and no empty extended packet area, error processing (see FIG. 19) is performed (#405) and the process ends.

Figure 19 shows the extended packet area and video buffer I.
Error handling when O is insufficient during editing process (No. 17)
The flow shown in FIG. #314 and FIG. 18 #405 is shown. For example, when the printer prints a plurality of documents on one sheet of paper, the number of sheets is set in the initial setting (#203 in FIG. 14) as a condition for determining continuous processing. The continuity determination condition is determined by conditions such as the structure of the printer. For example, in the case of double-sided printing, it is 2. If the difference between the document number currently being edited in which an error occurred in the C table and the document number for which processing has been completed is less than the continuous processing judgment condition (#110
1 (YES), it means that there is absolutely insufficient memory for editing multiple documents for that paper, and an error is displayed for waiting (#1103). If the difference is greater than the continuous processing judgment condition, the paper is ejected,
Wait until the extended packet buffer and video buffer IO become empty by updating the processing end (#11
04, #1105). When memory becomes available, the error display is erased (#1106).

Margins Below (Effect of the Invention) In a printer character generator that needs to hold the image information of multiple documents, if the memory for holding the image information runs out of capacity, the multiple documents By waiting for a space to become available due to the completion of printing of the previous document, the printer enters a standby state and prevents an error stop.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a character generating device of a printer. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the flow of data. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing one document divided into five bands. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the development of character and graphic data into bit images. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the area configuration of the packet buffer. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the structure of packet data. FIG. 7 is a diagram of a cell map. FIG. 8 is a diagram of a video memory map. FIG. 9 is a diagram of the address table. FIG. 1O is a diagram of the document management table A. FIG. 11 is a diagram of the packet management table B. FIG. 12 is a diagram of each packet management data in the packet management table shown in FIG. 11. FIG. 13 is a diagram of the overall management table C. FIG. 14 is a 70-chart of the control of the editing control unit. FIG. 15 is a flowchart of data reception processing. FIG. 16 is a 70-chart of timer interrupts. FIG. 17 is a 70-chart of the graphic packet creation process. FIG. 18 is a flowchart of character packet creation processing. FIG. 19 is a flowchart of error processing.
Editing control unit, 6... Bucket buffer, 10... Video buffer.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) One document is divided into multiple bands in the sub-scanning direction, two image memories with memory capacity for one band are provided, and print data from the host is quickly stored in the image memory as dot image data. Edit the print data into intermediate data for development and store it in the intermediate data holding memory, develop the dot image of the intermediate data held in the intermediate data holding memory into the image memory, and output the data to the printing unit for each band. This is a character generator for printers that alternately inputs data into two image memories, and when editing intermediate data, when intermediate data is generated for each band, the intermediate data holding memory first stores data necessary for data management of that band. Intermediate data is held in the basic block with the minimum capacity, and when intermediate data for that band exceeds the capacity of the basic block, an expansion block that can hold a certain amount of data is secured for that band in the intermediate data holding memory. The intermediate data is stored in the extended block, and an intermediate data management table is provided that associates the blocks used in the intermediate data retention memory with bands. A document management table corresponding to each document to be printed is further provided, and when there is no free space in the intermediate management data holding memory, expansion to the intermediate data is stopped, and the number of documents waiting to be printed is equal to the number of documents that should be printed continuously. In the above case, the printer data management method is characterized in that it waits until a free area becomes available in the intermediate data holding memory by printout.