JPH0196724A - Image output device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to an image output device.

[Prior Art] In conventional image output devices, printing positions and the like are determined in accordance with control commands in output data from a host computer that generates output data, and character codes are output as images.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, there is a problem in that it is not possible to add or modify control commands on the image output device side.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide an image output device in which control commands can be added and modified.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve these problems, the second aspect of the present invention includes an input means for inputting commands related to printing operations, and a second input means for storing the input commands. a first storage means; a second storage means for storing print information sent from an external device;
It is characterized by comprising a printing means for printing the print information stored in the second storage means based on a command stored in the first storage means.

Another aspect of the present invention includes an input means for inputting commands related to printing operations, a first storage means for storing the input commands, and a second storage means for storing print information sent from an external device. a storage means; a printing means for printing the print information stored in the second storage means based on instructions stored in the first storage means; and a means for displaying the instructions stored in the first storage means. It is characterized by having the following.

[Function] In the present invention, since the command input from the input means is stored in the first storage means, when print information is sent from an external device, the print information is stored in the second storage means. Since the printing means prints the print information based on the command stored in the first storage means, automatic printing can be performed according to the command to be changed. Furthermore, by displaying the command, it is possible to prevent the operator of the image output device from inputting the command incorrectly.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the basic configuration of the present invention. a is an input means for inputting output data including character codes and control commands; b is a separation means for separating control command codes from output data; C;
is an output means for visualizing the control instruction code output from the separation means.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 1 is a host computer that is the source of output data, that is, character codes and control commands, which are sent to the image output device, and 2 is a computer that temporarily stores print data and control commands sent from the host computer 1. This is input buffer memory.

3 is a data analysis function unit that receives character codes and control commands from the input buffer memory 2 and performs analysis processing; 4 is a page buffer memory in which data for printing is stored page by page under the control of the data analysis function unit 3; be.

Reference numeral 5 denotes an output processing function section which performs dot expansion into the image buffer memory 6 based on the code information stored in the page buffer memory 4.

At 7, after the output processing function unit 5 completes dot development for one page into the image buffer memory 6, the printer engine unit 8 is instructed to do so.
This is a printer interface (1/F) section that transfers image information from the image buffer memory 6 to the image buffer memory 6.

IO is an external input unit into which an instruction to change the output method can be input, and the input information is sent to the external input control unit 10. Reference numeral 10 denotes an external input control section that stores the output method in an internal memory.

The central processing unit (CPU) 11 is composed of the above-mentioned data analysis function processing section 3, output processing function section 5, and external input control section 9, and is stored in the internal memory 110M 14 as shown in FIG. A control procedure (program) according to the present invention is stored, and operations described below are performed according to this control procedure. Additionally, a RAM 15 is provided as an internal memory for storing variable information used in the program.

The output data information sent from the host computer 1 is sent to the data analysis function section 3 via the input buffer memory 2.
Parsed by. The operation command input from the external input section 1O is analyzed by the external input control section 9, and the output method is held in the internal memory. Data analysis function section 3
The output method is determined at , and if only the control command is instructed to be output, the character code data is skipped and the control command is written into the page buffer memory 4. .

When one page of data is written to the page buffer memory 4 or until the end of the output data is written, the output processing function unit 5 performs dot expansion to the image buffer memory 6 head. When the dot expansion is completed, the data is transferred to the printer I/F unit 7 to the printer engine unit 8. Instruct video transfer to. Through this series of operations, only the control commands are output as images from the output data.
Images are output until the end of the data.

Next, an example of the operation of the image output device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, in step S1, when output data sent from the host computer 1, which is an information generation source, is taken into the input buffer memory 2, the data analysis function section 3 starts analyzing the output data. In step S2, it is determined whether the data analysis has been completed. If the data analysis has not been completed, the process advances to step S3, and it is determined whether the output method held in the internal memory is output of only control commands or normal print output. If only control commands are to be output or specified, the process proceeds to step S4, where it is determined whether the output data is a control command or a character code. If it is a character code, the process returns to step Sl. If it is a control command, it is written to the page buffer memory 4 as image output data in step S5. Step S determines whether data for one page has been written.
Judging from step 6, if it has not reached one page, go to step S.
Return to 1.

Next, when one page has been created, the process advances to step S7, and the output processing function section 5 is instructed to expand dots from the page puffer memory 4 to the image buffer memory 6. After the dot development is completed, the printer I/F unit 7 is instructed to transfer to the printer 8 in step S8, and the process returns to step S1.

If the output method in step S3 is normal print output, the process advances to step S9. Data analysis is performed here, and the process proceeds to step S5, where the above-described operations are performed.

Next, if the data has been completed in step S2, the process advances to step 310 and it is determined whether one page's worth of data is in the process of being created. If it is in the middle of creation, the process advances to step S7 and outputs the image. If it is not currently being created, the process ends.

In the above description, one central processing unit 11 is used, but it is clear that the same effect can be obtained even if the output processing function section 5 is another central processing unit.

Further, although the information generation source is the host computer 1, the present invention can also be applied to a magnetic tape device or a disk device.

FIG. 4 shows the flow of control information in the second embodiment of the tree invention.

This embodiment is an example in which information input from the outside is automatically printed, and control information instructed from the outside can be confirmed.

Note that the same parts as in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 4, 14 is a ROM in which various programs executed by the CPt 111 are stored in advance. , 14-1 adds format information that defines the print layout to the print information;
This is a layout program for

! 4-2 is a character set program for setting the size of printed characters.

14-3 is a paper feeding program for feeding designated paper. 14-4 is a device control program for controlling each device related to printing.

Since the various programs 14-1-14-4 are well-known programs, detailed explanations will be omitted.

14-5 is a control program that controls the entire system.

15 is a RAM that stores input/output information when the CPII 11 executes the above-mentioned program.

In addition to the work area, the RAM 15 has a print control information table 15 that stores control information and control commands input from the keyboard 1O and the host computer 1 as external inputs, as well as part of the control information stored in the ROM 14. -1.

The CPU 11 uses the external storage device 28 based on the control information and commands stored in the print information table 15-1.
, CRT 27. Print information is output to the printer I/F unit 7.

FIG. 5 is a print control information table 15-1 shown in FIG.
An example of the memory contents is shown below.

In FIG. 5, a print control information table 15-1 includes a layout program and a character set program 14-2.
, the paper control program 14-3, and the device control program 14-4, and can store various control information and initial value data, and can be rewritten with information input from the keyboard 10.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the control procedure of the CPU 11 of the second embodiment of the invention.

The operation of this embodiment will be explained with reference to this control procedure.

In FIG. 6, when the operator inputs control information from the keyboard 10, the contents of the input information are determined by the CPt 111, and the input control information is stored in the print control information table 15-1 of the RAM 15 according to the determination. Information is stored (steps SS1-SS,2).

Next, when the CPt 111 confirms a signal indicating that print information is to be sent prior to sending print information from the outside, the CPU
11 stores the print information sent next in the image buffer memory 6, RAM 150 control information table 15-
The printing information stored in the image buffer memory 6 is instructed to be printed while referring to the control information stored in the image buffer memory 6 (steps SS3 to 5S4).

Regarding this printing process, various programs 14-1 to 14-4 (see FIG. 5) stored in the ROM 14 are
It is executed by I tl.

Further, when outputting a control command sent from the outside, the control procedure shown in FIG. 3 (step S-34) is executed, and an instruction to print only the control command is also given.

In this way, by executing this control procedure (SSI to 5S4), it becomes possible to automatically print the received print information and control commands.

Note that in this embodiment, since automatic printing is performed, steps 5SII to 5S1 are performed so that the operator confirms the control information.
2 processing is added.

When the operator confirms the control information, the operator must use a predetermined command,
That is, the operator inputs a command instructing the CRT display device 27 to display control information. Then this command becomes CP
An interrupt is placed at t111, and the PIJ 11 sequentially reads control information from the head address of the print control information table 15-1 and displays it on the CRT display device 27.

Therefore, the operator can reconfirm the control information input from the keyboard 27, and can also confirm erroneous input. If an incorrect input is found, the control information is re-inputted from the keyboard 10, and the input processing of steps SSt to S82 is executed again, and the stored contents of the control information table are updated.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to set control information related to printing before receiving print information, including data to be output and its control instructions. Automatic printing is possible when printing information is received, so
The operation time of the operator can be shortened. Furthermore, since the set control information and control commands sent as data to be output can be confirmed, erroneous input can be avoided and reliable printing can be performed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operating procedure of the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. An explanatory diagram showing the flow of information in the uninvented second embodiment, FIG. 5 is a print control information table 15-1 shown in FIG.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operating procedure of the second embodiment of the invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Host computer, 2... Input buffer memory, 3... Data analysis function section, 4... Page buffer memory, 5... Output processing function section, 6... Image buffer memory, 7 ...Printer I/F unit, 8...Printer, 9...External input control unit, IO...External input unit, 11...Central processing unit, 14...ROM. 15...RAM. 15-1...Print control information table, 27...
CRT. 28...External storage device. Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) Input means for inputting commands related to printing operations, first storage means for storing the input commands, and second storage means for storing print information sent from external equipment. An image output device comprising: storage means; and printing means for printing print information stored in the second storage means based on a command stored in the first storage means. 2) an input means for inputting commands related to printing operations; a first storage means for storing the input commands; and a second storage means for storing print information sent from an external device; Printing means for printing the print information stored in the second storage means based on the instructions stored in the first storage means; and means for displaying the instructions stored in the first storage means. An image output device characterized by: