JPH04322363A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To increase the character output speed by comparing the size of vector font data with the total sum of font image data generated from vector font data and allowing smaller data to exist on a composite cache device. CONSTITUTION:At the time or receiving a character output request, a controller 20 outputs font image data 80 as it is if this data 80 exists in a cache memory 10. if it does not exist there, vector font data 70 of the character is read out from a primary storage device 40 and is expanded to font image data 80 and is outputted, and this font image data 80 is made effective in the cache memory 10. At this time, the data volume of read vector font data 70 and the total volume of data which can be generated from vector font data 70 out of font image data 80 registered in the cache memory 10 are compared with each other, and smaller one of these data is stored in the cache memory 10.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus equipped with a vector font character output system that stores vector font data and font image data developed from the vector font data in a cache system.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, vector fonts have been increasingly used in information processing devices in order to obtain higher quality character output.

The font cache method of a conventional character output system using vector fonts will be explained with reference to FIG.

The system is composed of a secondary storage device 40, a raster expansion device 30, a character output control device 20, and an image data cache device 12.

In order to output characters, the character output control device 20 requests font image data 80 from the image data cache device 12 by specifying information 60 such as character code, font, character size, and character style.

The secondary storage device 40 stores various vector font files such as Mincho and Gothic. The stored various information is configured such that vector font data 70 of a specific character can be read by specifying the character type and character code.

[0007] The raster expansion device 30 has a secondary storage device 40.
It has a function of generating font image data 80 from the vector font data 70 and information such as character size, character style, etc. read from the font. The generated font image data 80 is then output to the image data cache device 12.

In response to a request from the character output control device 20, the image data cache device 12 obtains predetermined font image data 80 from the above-mentioned raster development device 30 and secondary storage device 40, and stores it. The character output device 20
It is configured to output to. The image data cache device 12 also has a function of holding font image data 80 once obtained. If the request from the character output control device 20 is for the font image data 80 already held, the font image data 80 already held is output as is. be. Explain the operation.

When the character output control device 20 requests font image data 80, the image data cache device 12 reads the vector font data 70 from the secondary storage device 40. Then, this is transferred to the raster development device 30 for raster development and converted into font image data 80. Thereafter, the image data cache device 12 returns the font image data 80 to the character output control device 20. At the same time, the image data cache device 12 itself holds the font image data 80 together with information 60 such as character codes, fonts, character sizes, and character styles.

[0010] Therefore, when the same font image data 80 is requested from next time onwards, the image data
The cache device 12 returns the font image data 80 registered therein to the character output control device 20.

That is, the frequency of read processing from the secondary storage device 40 and raster development processing in the raster development device 30 is reduced to increase the character output speed.

[0012] Such a font cache device is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 63-228195 and 1-88660.

[0013]

The main purpose of the conventional font cache system described above is to cache font image data resulting from raster expansion to reduce the frequency of raster expansion.

However, if a faster raster expansion device is available and the raster expansion time becomes relatively negligible, the frequency of reading vector font data from the secondary storage device will dominate the speed of the entire system. I come to do it. In other words, in order to speed up character output, it is more important to reduce the frequency of reading vector font data from the secondary storage device 40 than to reduce the frequency of raster expansion.

By the way, the amount of data required to display a certain character is constant regardless of the size of the character in vector fonts. On the other hand, in the case of font image data, the amount of data required increases as the characters become larger, even if the characters are the same. Therefore, the amount of data required to display a certain character is smaller for font image data when the character size is small, but when the character size becomes large, vector font is smaller. becomes smaller. Furthermore, font image data requires separate data for each character size even for the same character.

Therefore, with the conventional method of registering font image data in the cache, only a small amount of font data can be registered in the cache for applications that frequently use large fonts.
Cache efficiency did not improve.

The present invention improves the caching efficiency of font data for a wide range of applications in an environment where a high-speed raster expansion device is available, that is, holds more font information and stores it from an external storage device. An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing device that reduces the frequency of reading vector font data and speeds up character output.

[0018]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention has been made to achieve the above object, and is an information processing device that is used in connection with a secondary storage means that stores vector font data. a cache memory for temporarily storing font data; a decompression means for decompressing vector font data into font image data and outputting the data; - the read vector font data is expanded by the expansion means, but if the font data does not exist in the cache memory, the vector font data is extracted from the secondary storage means. - control means for reading the vector font data and causing the development means to develop the vector font data, and storing the read vector font data in the cache memory.

The control means stores the font image data developed by the development means for some characters in the cache memory, and before reading out the vector font data from the cache memory. Then, the cache memory is searched for the font image data corresponding to the above output request, and the font image data is
If the font image data is found, the font image data
It is preferable to output the vector font data as is and not to read the vector font data.

[0020] The control means also controls vector font data and font image data for one character.
Preferably, only one of the data and the data is valid in the cache memory.

In this case, when the vector font data read from the secondary storage means is expanded, the control means determines the data amount of the vector font data;
The font image stored in the cache memory above
Among the vector font data, the total amount of font image data that can be generated from the vector font data and the font image data created by the expansion are compared,
It is preferable to make only the one with the smaller amount of data effective in the cache memory.

Another aspect of the present invention is to calculate the amount of vector font data read from the secondary storage means and the total amount of font image data that can be generated from the vector font stored in the cache memory. A font data caching method is provided that compares the amount of data and makes only the one with the smaller amount of data valid in the cache memory.

[0023]

[Operation] When the control means receives a request to output characters, it determines whether or not image data corresponding to the output request exists in the cache memory. If it exists,
The font image data is output as is. on the other hand,
If the corresponding font image data does not exist in the cache memory, the vector font data of the character requested to be output is read from a secondary storage means such as a hard disk. Then, the read vector font data is developed into font image data by the development means, and this is output. Further, the control means makes the font image data valid in the cache memory.

Furthermore, the control means determines the data amount of the vector font data read from the secondary storage means and the vector font data among the font image data registered in the cache memory. - Compare the total amount of data that can be generated from the data. As a result, if the amount of vector font data is smaller, the font image data stored in the cache memory is deleted,
Instead, the vector font data is stored. In this case, the process may be such that only the vector font data is made valid without performing any process such as erasing.

After this, when there is a request to output a character corresponding to the vector font data, the vector font data stored in the cache memory is output to the expansion means, and the Reading from the next storage means is not performed. On the other hand, if the vector font data has a larger amount of data, the vector font data is not considered valid.

[0026]

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0027] The hardware of the information processing device of the present invention includes:
As shown in Figure 1, CPU 1, keyboard 2, RAM
3. Secondary storage device 40 such as ROM 4, disk drive, etc.
, CRT 5, printer 6, etc. The function as a cache device is that of the RAM3, ROM
This is achieved by the CPU 1 executing a program stored in the CPU 1.

FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration of the software for achieving the function of the cache device.

In this embodiment, the composite cache device 10
includes a vector data cache device 11 that stores vector font data 70, and a vector data cache device 11 that stores vector font data 70;
The image data cache device 12 stores font image data 80 expanded from 0.

When the composite cache device 10 receives information 60 about character type, character code, character code, font, character size, character style, etc. from the character output device 20, it generates a font image that meets the conditions. - font image data is retrieved from the image data cache device 12 and output as font image data 80.

[0031] Also, the corresponding font image data 8
0 is not registered in the image data cache device 12, if the vector font data 70 that is the source of the character being searched for is registered in the vector data cache device 11, the vector Font data 7
0 is processed by the raster expansion device 30 to generate the currently required font image data 80. and,
This is configured to be output to the character output device 20.

On the other hand, the image data cache device 12
If the necessary data cannot be found in both the vector font data 7 and the vector data cache device 11, vector font data 7 of the corresponding character is retrieved from the secondary storage device 40.
The configuration is such that the font image data 80 is obtained by reading 0 and developing it in the raster development device 30. Note that details such as the order of the processing will be given in the operation description.

Furthermore, the composite cache device 1 of this embodiment
0 holds only either vector font data or font image data that can be generated from the vector font data for one character, and does not hold any redundantly.

The composite cache device 10 is configured to perform this by the following method.

As shown in FIG. 3, font image data A1 to An of any size can be generated from vector font data A0. In addition, here, A
1 to An-1 are font image data that already exist in the composite cache device 10. Further, An is font image data newly generated at that time in response to a request from the character output control device 20.

When the composite cache device 10 reads the vector font data 70 from the secondary storage device 40 and creates font image data, the composite cache device 10 converts the font image data into image data. Register in the cache device 12. At the time of this registration, the composite cache device 10:
It is configured to check the following conditions.

[0037] Size of A0 ≦ Sum of sizes of A1 to An, that is, the vector font data read at this time.
Data amount of data A0 and image data cache device 1
Among the font image data already registered in 2, font image data (A1 to An-1) that can be created from the vector font data (A0) and newly created fonts. The image data (An) is compared with the total amount of data.

[0038] If the above conditions do not hold,
The newly created font image data (An) is registered as is in the image data cache device 12. A0 read from the secondary storage device 40 is not registered.

On the other hand, if the above conditions are met, the vector font data A0 is made to exist in the vector data cache device 11. Then, all the font image data (A1 to An) created up to that time and registered in the image data cache device 12 are deleted.

In other words, the composite cache device 10
The configuration is such that the one with the smaller amount of data is selected and only one is retained. As a result, characters that are used in extremely large sizes, or characters that are often used with various fonts, sizes, etc., will eventually be retained as vector font data. It has become.

The composite cache device 10 has a cache data management table 15 shown in FIG. 4 for managing data. This cache data management table 15 registers vector font data 70 and/or font image data 80. The registration has a configuration in which font image data 70 having the same character type and character code are connected in a list structure.

The structure shown in FIG. 2 is a logical structure, and the vector data cache device 1
1 and the image data cache device 12 may actually be integrated.

Further, in this embodiment, the composite cache device 10 is configured by software, but it is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that it may be configured by hardware. .

The character output control device 20 has a function of outputting information 60 such as the character code, type, size, and style of output characters to the composite cache device 10 and requesting font image data 80 .

The raster expansion device 30 rasterizes the vector font data 70 read from the vector data cache device 11 and/or the secondary storage device 40 at an extremely high speed based on information 60 such as character size and character style. , and has a function of generating font image data 80. Note that the raster expansion device 30 may be realized by hardware or software.

The secondary storage device 40 is configured to store various vector font files such as Mincho and Gothic. These pieces of information stored in the secondary storage device 40 can be changed by specifying the character type and character code.
The configuration is such that vector font data 70 of a desired character can be read out.

Next, the operation will be explained.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating data access to the composite cache system configured in this embodiment. 5 and 6 are flowcharts showing the operation of the composite cache device 10.

First, explanation will be given using FIGS. 4 and 5.

When the character output control device 20 requests font image data 80 by specifying character type, character code, character size, and character style information 60 (step 101), first, the character type and character code information 61 is entered as a key. The entry in the cache data management table is searched for using the hash technique (step 102). The search results are determined (step 103), and if an entry is found, it is then determined whether the entry is vector font data (step 104). If it is vector font data 70, the vector font data 70 is transferred to the raster development device 30 to generate font image data 80 (step 105). The generated font image data 80 is then returned to the character output control device 20 (step 106).

On the other hand, in step 104, if the entry is font image data, the data connected in the list structure on the cache data management table 15 is converted into font image data using font size and font style information. Search using linear search technique using 62 as a key (
Step 107). As a result, if the required font image data is found, it is returned to the character output control device 20 as font image data 80 (step 109).

Note that if no entry exists in step 103, the process shown in FIG. 6 is executed (
Step 111). Also, even if the font image data sought in step 108 does not exist,
Similarly, the process shown in FIG. 6 is executed (step 110).

Next, FIG. 6 will be explained.

This figure is an operation flowchart when both the phone image data and vector font data required in the cache data management table 15 do not exist.

The character type and character code are specified, and the vector font data A0 of the character is read from the secondary storage device 40 (step 121). Next, the vector font data A0 is transferred to the raster development device 30 along with the character size and character style information, and the font image data An is transferred to the raster development device 30.
is generated (step 122).

Next, the cache data management table 15 is created using the hash technique using the character type and character code as keys.
Find the font data entry in (step 123).

The data amount of the font image data (An) as a result of raster expansion and the data of the font image data (A1 to An-1) having the same character type and character code that already exist in the cache data management table 15. - and the total amount of data (step 124). Note that, as described above, font image data having the same character type and the same character code information form a list structure starting from the entry found in step 123. In this case, the method of calculating the sum is not particularly limited, and even if the amount of data for each list structure is stored in advance in the cache data management table 15 described above, You may do so.

Next, the amount of vector font data read in step 121 is compared with the total amount of font image data (A1 to An) calculated in step 124 (step 125). As a result, if the font image data is larger, step 123
The list structure starting from the entry determined in step 126 is scanned and all font image data (A1 to An-1) are deleted (step 126). Then, the vector font data A0 read in step 121 is registered at the entry position found in step 123 (step 127
).

Thereafter, the font image data An generated in step 122 is returned to the character output control device 20 (
Step 128).

On the other hand, if the total amount of font image data (A1 to An) is smaller in step 125, the font image data An generated in step 122 is registered in the cache data management table 15 ( Step 129). In this case, the list structure A1 of font image data for the character in question is
If ~An-1 exists, font image data An is registered so as to be connected to this list structure.

Then, the font image data An generated in step 122 is returned to the character output control device 20 (step 130).

As explained above, in the above embodiment, it is more likely that the font image data necessary for character output can be prepared in a shorter time, and as a result, faster character output is possible. Further, as a result, it is possible to provide an information processing device with excellent response and good operability.

In this embodiment, an information processing device such as a personal computer has been explained as an example, but the information processing device is not limited to this, and can be applied to any device that requires character output, as well as printers. Needless to say, it can be applied.

[0064]

As described above, according to the present invention, higher font cache efficiency can be achieved in a vector font character output system. Furthermore, in an environment where a high-speed raster expansion device can be used, high-speed character output can be made possible.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the hardware configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a software configuration diagram of a composite font cache device.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the relationship between vector font data and font image data generated from the data.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of font data access to the composite cache device.

FIG. 5 is an operational flowchart showing font data search processing of the composite cache device.

FIG. 6 is an operation flow diagram when desired font data does not exist in the composite cache device.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional font cache method.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: CPU 2: Keyboard 3: RAM 4: ROM 5: CRT 6: Printer 10: Complex cache device 11: Vector data cache device 12: Image data cache device 15: Cache data management table 20: Character output control Device 30: Raster development device 40: Secondary storage device 60: Information on character type, character code, character size, character style, etc. 61: Information on character type, character code 62: Information on character size, character style, etc. 70: Vector font data 80: Font image data A0: Vector font data for one character of expansion source A1
~An: Font image data A1 generated from A0
~An-1: Font-like image data already registered in the composite cache device 10

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An information processing device used in connection with a secondary storage means storing vector font data, the information processing device comprising:
a cache memory for temporarily storing font data; a decompression means for decompressing vector font data into font image data and outputting the data; - the read vector font data is expanded by the expansion means, but if the font data does not exist in the cache memory, the vector font data is extracted from the secondary storage means. - control means for reading the vector font data, causing the expansion means to expand the vector font data, and storing the read vector font data in the cache memory. 2. The control means stores font image data developed by the development means for some characters in the cache memory, and before reading the vector font data from the cache memory. Then, the cache memory is searched for the font image data corresponding to the above output request, and the font image data is
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the font image data is found, the font image data is output as is, and the vector font data is not read. [Claim 3] The control means, for one character, is configured to:
3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein only one of vector font data and font image data is made valid in the cache memory. 4. When the vector font data read from the secondary storage means is expanded, the control means determines the amount of vector font data and the amount of vector font data stored in the cache memory. Compare the total amount of font image data that can be generated from the vector font data and the font image data created by the expansion. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein only the one with a smaller amount of data is made effective in the cache memory. 5. Compare the amount of vector font data read from the secondary storage means and the total amount of font image data that can be generated from the vector font stored in the cache memory. However, the font data with only the smaller amount of data is valid in the cache memory.
Takash method.