JP4732624B2 - Printing apparatus and printing method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printing system including a host and a printing apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a printing system including a host and a printing apparatus, when a print request is made from an application to the printer driver in the host, the printer driver creates print data and sends it to the printing apparatus. In the printing apparatus, the received print data is expanded into bit data and printed on paper.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When printing is performed, an abnormality may occur when printing is performed using a printer driver that is not compatible with the printing apparatus. In addition, an abnormality may occur due to an abnormality in the printer driver or the printing apparatus itself or an inappropriate combination of both. In such a case, not only the expected printing result is not obtained, but also meaningless printing may continue. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent abnormal printing.
One countermeasure for preventing printing abnormality is described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-185292. The contents set by the user using the printer driver (print environment data such as paper size) are sent separately to the printing device prior to the print data, and the printer side analyzes the print data. Judge whether there is. The printer will report any abnormalities to the host. In this way, the presence or absence of an abnormality is checked based on the setting by the printer driver.
[0004]
An object of the present invention is to prevent unnecessary printing.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to detect a printing error due to an abnormality in the host printer driver or the printing apparatus itself or an inappropriate combination of both with high accuracy and prevent unnecessary printing, the abnormality is detected based on the printing rate of the paper. Here, the printing rate is determined based on the state converted into the actual printer language. This makes it possible to quantify the processing results of the printer driver and the printing device on a unified scale called the print rate without depending on the user settings. Is realized.
[0006]
Specifically, engaging Ru printing apparatus according to the present invention, the print data, and a first printing ratio for each page obtained by analyzing the print data, a reception unit that receives from the image processing apparatus, the print data received by the receiving unit, an image creating unit that developed into dot image data representing a dot image to be printed, for the dot image data developed by the image creating unit and the second printing ratio of each page comprising a printing rate calculation unit that calculates for, and the first abnormality determination unit that determines whether the comparison abnormally the second printing ratio.
[0009]
Printing method according to the present invention is a printing method in a system consisting of an image processing apparatus and a printing apparatus, in the image processing apparatus converts the printing device data received from the application to print data that can be understood, the printing Data is analyzed to calculate a first printing rate for each page, and the print data and the first printing rate are transmitted to the printing apparatus. Further, in the printing apparatus receives said print data and said first printing ratio from the image processing apparatus, the print data received, expanded into a dot image data representing a dot image to be printed, the for expanded dot image data to calculate the second printing ratio of each page to determine the presence or absence of an abnormality by comparing the first and second printing ratio.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This printing system includes a host computer 100 and a printing apparatus 200. In the host computer 100, as in a normal computer, the CPU 102 that controls the entire system includes a ROM 104 that stores programs, a RAM 106 that is used as a work area, a hard disk device 108 that is a storage device, a keyboard 110 and a mouse that serve as input means. 112, a display device 114 and a communication device 116. A program executed by the computer is recorded on a recording medium such as the ROM 104 and a hard disk (not shown) in the hard disk device 108.
[0015]
The host computer 100 has an application 120 that performs printing. A printing request is sent from the application 120 to the printer driver 130 and data is transmitted in response to a user's print command. The printer driver 130 includes a PDL conversion unit 132 that converts print data received from an application into a page description language (PDL) (such as postscript) that can be understood by the printing apparatus 200, and a print that calculates a print rate simultaneously with the conversion to PDL. A rate calculation unit 134 is included. The print objects included in the calculation of the printing rate include all objects to be printed such as character strings, figures such as rectangles and circles, straight lines and curves, and bitmap data of photographs. Here, the page printing rate is a ratio of a portion printed or drawn by a recording material such as toner in the paper. That is, the printing rate = [cumulative area of the printed portion] / [area of the entire printed paper]. When the conversion to PDL is completed, the printer driver 130 transmits the converted data to the printing apparatus 200.
[0016]
The printing apparatus 200 includes a printer controller 202 that processes received print data, a printer engine 240 that performs printing, and an operation panel 250 that inputs and displays various data. The printer controller 202 includes a CPU 204 that controls the whole, a ROM 206 that stores programs, a RAM 208 that is used as a work area, and a communication device 210. A program executed by the printing apparatus is recorded in the ROM 206. In the printer controller 202, the PDL analysis unit 220 performs analysis to develop the received print data (PDL) into an image, and the image creation unit 222 creates a dot image to be transmitted to the printer engine. Further, the printing rate calculation unit 224 calculates the printing rate, and the abnormality determination unit 226 compares the printing rate received from the printer driver 130 with the printing rate calculated by the printing rate calculation unit 224 of the printing apparatus. Determine the presence or absence. If there is no abnormality, the print data expanded into a dot image is sent to the printer engine 240, where printing is performed. Note that some printing apparatuses 200 support a plurality of PDLs, and a PDL analysis unit 220 is prepared for each PDL. The image creation unit 222 is common to each PDL.
[0017]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the printing rate calculation operation of the printing rate calculation unit 112 of the printer driver 130. The printer driver 104 analyzes the print data received from the application 102 and sequentially converts it into a page description language (PDL). The page description language is described by an operator for drawing characters and figures, although the format differs depending on each language. In this flow, in step S10, the print data is converted into operators one by one. Subsequent to the conversion operation to the operator, in step S12, the operator calculates how much printing is performed on the sheet at the parameter given as an argument. Here, in the case of a character code or a vector code, a table for conversion of printing rate is prepared. Among character codes, vector codes, and bitmap codes, errors occur particularly in font conversion. In step S14, it is determined whether or not the converted operator indicates the end of the page. If not, steps S10 and S12 are repeated. The printing rate is added for each operator. If the conversion for one page is completed, the printing rate of the corresponding page is temporarily stored in the memory at that time. In step S16, every time conversion for one page is completed, it is determined whether or not the page is the last page of the entire print data. If it is not the last page, steps S10 to S14 are repeated again. If it is the last page, exit this loop.
[0018]
In step S18, the print rate of each page stored in the memory is added to the header portion of the print data that has been converted to PDL. The above processing is performed in the printer driver 130, and print data including a print rate is sent to the printing apparatus 200.
[0019]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the printing rate calculation process of the printing rate calculation unit 224 of the printer controller 202 in the printing apparatus 200. In the printer controller 202, the received print data is analyzed by the PDL analysis unit 220 adapted to the PDL, and is developed into a dot image by the image creation unit. In step S20, the print data analyzed by the PDL analysis unit 220 is developed into a dot image. In step S22, 0n / 0ff of each dot of the developed dot image is determined, and the printing rate is calculated. In this flow, the dot rate for all the pages in one page is created in step S20, and then the print rate is obtained. This is a procedure in which one page is divided into several regions (bands) and the print rate is determined for each region. It is also possible to use a procedure in which one page is added up. In step S24, the print rate calculated by the printer driver attached to the print data is compared with the print rate calculated in step S22. If the printer driver and the printing apparatus function correctly with each other, the printing rate when the printer driver converts to PDL and the printing rate developed by the printing device into a dot image based on the PDL should match.
[0020]
If the printing rate is the same, the process proceeds to step S26, and if different, the process proceeds to step S30. If the printing rates are the same, first, in step S26, the dot image is transmitted to the printer engine 240. Thus, the printing apparatus executes printing with the printer engine. Next, in step S28, it is determined whether or not the process up to step S26 is for the last page. If it is not the last page, the process returns to step S20, and the process for the next page is continued. If it is the last page, the process is terminated.
[0021]
On the other hand, if the printing rates are different in step S24, error processing is executed in step S30, and then the printing process is terminated. The error process includes a process of notifying (displaying) an error on the display device. As countermeasures against errors, for example, conversion to the raster mode or use of another driver suitable for the printing apparatus may be considered.
[0022]
This flow shows that the entire printing process is interrupted at a page where an abnormality has occurred. However, only the printing of the page may be stopped, and the process may be continued by executing step S20 and subsequent steps for subsequent pages.
In addition, in the comparison of the printing rates in step S24, it may be possible to set the degree (threshold value) of how much they match. The value may be set on either the printer driver side or the printing apparatus side.
[0023]
Next, a second embodiment will be described. The first embodiment is a printing system in which a function for calculating a printing rate is added to each of a host side and a printing apparatus side. On the other hand, this embodiment is a printing system in which image data is developed on the host computer side, and has two printing rate calculation functions only on the printer driver side, and brings about the same effect. The difference between the first embodiment and abnormality detection is that the printer driver determines whether there is a difference between the analyzed result and the actually printed result (dot image).
[0024]
FIG. 4 shows a printing system of this embodiment in which a printing rate calculation function is added only to the printer driver side. This printing system includes a host computer 300 and a printing apparatus 400. In the host computer 300, as in a normal computer, a CPU 302 that controls the entire system includes a ROM 304 that stores programs, a RAM 306 that is used as a work area, a hard disk device 308 that is a storage device, a keyboard 310 and a mouse that serve as input means. 312, a display device 314 and a communication device 316. A program executed by the computer is recorded on a recording medium such as a ROM 304 and a hard disk (not shown) in the hard disk device 308.
[0025]
The host computer 300 has an application 320 that performs printing. A printing request is sent from the application to the printer driver 330 according to a user's print command, and data is sent. The printer driver 330 analyzes the print data received from the application 320 by the PDL analysis unit 332, and calculates the print rate for each print object (character string, graphic, etc.) at that time by the first print rate calculation unit 334. . The image creating unit 336 develops the analyzed data into a dot image. At that time, the second printing rate calculation unit 338 calculates the printing rate from 0n / 0ff of each dot. The abnormality determination unit 339 compares the print rate calculation results of the first print rate calculation unit 334 and the second print rate calculation unit 338. If they are the same, the printer driver 330 transmits data to the printing apparatus 400, and printing is performed by the printer engine 440 via the printer controller 402.
[0026]
The printing apparatus 400 includes a printer controller 402 that processes received print data, a printer engine 440 that performs printing, and an operation panel 450 that inputs and displays various data. The printer controller 402 includes a CPU 404 that controls the whole, a ROM 406 that stores programs, a RAM 408 that is used as a work area, and a communication device 410. A program executed by this printing apparatus is recorded in the ROM 406. In the printer controller 402, the PDL analysis unit 420 analyzes the received print data (PDL) to develop it into an image, and the image creation unit 422 creates a dot image to be transmitted to the printer engine.
[0027]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The first embodiment is a printing system in which a function for calculating the printing rate is added to each of the host side and the printing device side. In this embodiment, only the printing device side has two printing rate calculation functions. To detect printing errors.
[0028]
FIG. 5 shows a system of this embodiment in which a printing rate calculation function is added only to the printing apparatus side. This printing system includes a host computer 500 and a printing apparatus 600. In the host computer 500, as in a normal computer, a CPU 502 that controls the entire system includes a ROM 504 that stores programs, a RAM 506 that is used as a work area, a hard disk device 508 that is a storage device, a keyboard 510 and a mouse that serve as input means. 512, connected to a display device 514 and a communication device 516. A program executed by the computer is recorded in a recording medium such as a ROM 504 and a hard disk (not shown) in the hard disk device 508.
[0029]
The host computer 500 has an application 520 that performs printing. A print request is sent from the application to the printer driver 530 and data is transmitted in response to a user's print command. The printer driver 530 converts the print data received from the application 520 into PDL using the PDL conversion unit 532, and transmits the converted data to the printing apparatus 600.
[0030]
The printing apparatus 600 includes a printer controller 602 that processes received print data, a printer engine 640 that performs printing, and an operation panel 650 that inputs and displays various data. The printer controller 602 includes a CPU 604 that controls the whole, a ROM 606 that stores programs, a RAM 608 that is used as a work area, and a communication device 610. A program executed by this printing apparatus is recorded in the ROM 606.
[0031]
In the printing apparatus 600, the PDL analysis unit 620 analyzes the received print data (PDL) to develop it into an image, and the image creation unit 222 creates a dot image to be transmitted to the printer engine. In the analysis, the first printing rate calculation unit 622 calculates the first printing rate for each operator. The image creation unit 622 develops the data analyzed by the PDL analysis unit 620 into a dot image. At that time, the second printing rate calculation unit 626 calculates the second printing rate from 0n / 0ff of each dot. The abnormality determination unit 628 compares the two printing rate calculation results of the first printing rate calculation unit 624 and the second printing rate calculation unit 426 to determine whether there is an abnormality. If they are the same, the printer controller 602 transmits the image data to the printer engine 640 to perform printing.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
By adding a function for calculating the printing rate to the image processing device and / or the printing device, it is possible to detect the abnormality with high accuracy by judging the printing rate based on the output data. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent unnecessary printing when printing is performed using a printer driver that is not compatible with the printing apparatus or when the printer driver or the printing apparatus cannot be processed correctly due to some abnormality. Further, since the mechanism of the printing apparatus does not depend on the page description language, no change is necessary even if the corresponding page description language increases in the future.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a printing system according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for calculating a printing rate of a printer driver. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for calculating a printing rate of a printer controller. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a printing system according to the second embodiment in which a printing rate calculation function is added to the printing apparatus. Explanation of]
100 host computer, 102 CPU, 130 printer driver, 200 printing apparatus, 202 printer controller, 300 host computer, 302 CPU, 330 printer driver, 400 printing apparatus, 402 printer controller, 500 host computer, 502 CPU, 530 printer driver, 600 Printing device, 602 printer controller.

Claims (2)

And print data, and a first printing ratio for each page obtained by analyzing the print data, a reception unit that receives from the image processing apparatus,
The print data received by the receiving unit, an image creating unit that developed into dot image data representing a dot image to be printed,
For the dot image data developed by the image creation unit and the printing rate calculation unit for calculating a second printing ratio of each page,
A printing apparatus comprising: an abnormality determining unit that compares the first and second printing rates to determine whether there is an abnormality. A printing method in a system comprising an image processing device and a printing device,
In the image processing apparatus,
Convert the data received from the application into print data that can be understood by the printer,
By analyzing the print data to calculate the first printing of each page,
Sending the print data and the first print rate to the printing device;
In the printing apparatus,
Receiving the print data and the first print rate from the image processing apparatus;
The received print data is expanded into dot image data indicating a dot image to be printed ,
Calculating a second printing rate of each page for the developed dot image data ;
Determining the presence or absence of an abnormality by comparing the first and second printing ratio,
A printing method characterized by the above .

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