JPH08110841A - Computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] An object of the present invention is to provide a computer that can reduce the time from the user issuing a print command to the end of the printing operation, and a printer that outputs information from the computer. [Configuration] Command generating means 22 on the computer 21 side
, Status decoding means 23, bidirectional communication means 36, input means 35, CPU 34, font storage means 32, bitmap font storage means 33, image memory 25, application software 30, timer, printer driver 27, background image expansion designation. The printer 3 is provided with a means 28, an image data change part information data storage means 26, and a print data transfer interval time storage means 29.
Command decoding means 39 and status generation means 42 on the 8 side
And a bidirectional communication means 41, a reception buffer 40 for storing received data, a CPU 43, an image memory 44, and a printer engine 45.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a computer (hereinafter, referred to as a computer system) for producing print data by a computer and printing out by a printer, and a printer for outputting information of the computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional system for developing image data by a computer and printing by a printer will be described. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional computer system, and FIGS. 10 and 11 are flowcharts of the same operation. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 1 is a computer, which is a command generating means 2, a status decoding means 3, an image file 4,
It comprises an image memory 5, a printer driver 6, application software 7, a font storage means 8, a CPU 9, an input means 10 such as a keyboard and a mouse, and a bidirectional communication means 11. Reference numeral 13 is a printer, which includes a command decoding unit 14, a reception buffer 15, and a bidirectional communication unit 1.
6, a status generating means 17, a CPU 18, an image memory 19, and a printer engine 20. 1
2 is a cable.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIGS. File 4 to print when the user prints
Is opened from the application software 7 (step 1). Next, the user operates the input means 1 of the computer 1.
The print item is selected by the application software 7 using 0, and printing is executed (step 2). At this time, the application software 7 activates the printer driver 6 (step 3). The printer driver 6 expands the data of the image file 4 into image data and stores it in the image memory 5 (step 4). Next, the computer 1 confirms through the bidirectional communication means 11 whether the printer 13 is ready for printing (step 5). When the printer 13 is not in the printable state, it waits until it becomes ready (step 6). If it is in the printable state, the computer 1 takes out a command for notifying that the image data is sent from the command generating means 2 and sends it to the printer 13 (step 7). The printer 13 receives the image data once in the reception buffer 1
5 and then stores it in the image memory 19 (step 8). Next, when the data is collected in the image memory 19, a start command is issued to the printer engine 20 (step 9). At this time, it is checked whether the printer engine 20 can print immediately (step 10). If printing is not possible immediately, wait until printing is possible. If printing is possible, the printer 13 sends image data to the printer engine 20 (step 11). Printer engine 2
0 prints based on the image data and ends (step 12).

[0004]

When the user prints in the conventional computer 1 and the printer 13 for outputting information of the computer 1 as described above, the page is displayed after the application software 7 receives a print command from the user. It is necessary to expand the whole to bitmap data,
It has a problem that it takes time to print.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a computer system capable of shortening the printing time.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a command generating means for confirming the status of the printer on the computer side and a status decoding means for decoding the contents of the status from the printer. A bidirectional communication means for enabling bidirectional communication with a printer, an input means, a CPU, a font storage means for storing character outline information, an image memory for storing image data, an application software for creating an image, and a timer. Creates image data in the background while the printer driver and application are running, and specifies the background image development specifying means for specifying that the image data should be sent to the printer and the information for the part changed during application execution. Image data change part Information data storage means and change part are constant Equipped with print data transfer interval time storage means for storing the time for changing to image data for each interval and sending the image data to the printer, and the command decoding means for decoding the command on the printer side and the printer status. It is provided with a status generating means for generating, a bidirectional communication means, a receiving buffer for storing received data, a CPU, an image memory for storing image data, and a printer engine for printing.

[0007]

With the above-described structure of the present invention, the user can shorten the printing time.

[0008]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a computer system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 are flowcharts of the operation of the computer system. In FIG. 1, 21 is a computer, 22
Is command generating means, 23 is status decoding means, 24
Is an image file, 25 is an image memory, 26 is image data changed portion information data storage means, 27 is a printer driver, 28 is background image development designation means, 29 is print data transfer interval time storage means, 30 is application software, 31 is a timer, 32 is a font storage means, 33 is a bitmap font storage means,
34 is a CPU, 35 is an input means, 36 is a bidirectional communication means, 37 is a cable, 38 is a printer, 39 is a command decoding means, 40 is a reception buffer, 41 is a bidirectional communication means, 42 is status generation means, and 43 is A CPU, 44 is an image memory, and 45 is a printer engine.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIGS. When the user prints, the user specifies the image file 24 to be printed and activates the application software 30 (step 1). The user uses the background image expansion designating means 28 of the application software 30 (designating the background to activate the printer driver 27 to create image bitmap data and sending it to the printer 38) and the printer data transfer interval time 29 (every interval time). The image change data is sent to the printer) is set from the input means 35 (step 2). The application software 30 activates the printer driver 27 in the background (step 3).

The printer driver 27 develops the data of the image file 24 into bitmap data in the background, stores it in the image memory 25, and sends the data to the printer 38 using the bidirectional communication means 36 (step 4). Next, the application software 30 checks whether the interval time has come (step 5). When the interval time has come, the application software 30 checks whether or not there is change data in the image data change part information data storage means 26 (step 6). If there is no change data, the process proceeds to step 12. If there is change data,
The printer driver 27 develops only the changed portion into bitmap data in the background on the basis of the changed data in the image data changed portion information data 26 and stores it in the image memory 25.
(Step 7). The computer 21 sends a command of information about the changed part to the command generating means 2
2 to the printer 38 using the two-way communication means 36 (step 8). The printer 38 decodes the sent command by the command decoding means 39 and waits for the changed data (step 9). The printer driver 27 reads the changed data from the image memory 25 and sends it to the printer 38 (step 10). The printer 38 receives the changed data and stores it in the image memory 44 (step 11), and proceeds to step 12. If the interval time is not reached,
The application software 30 checks whether the image file 24 has been changed by the user (step 12).
If there is no change, go to step 14. If there is a change, the application software 30 stores the location information of the changed portion in the image data changed portion information data storage means 26 (step 13). Next, it is checked whether the user has issued a print command (step 14).

If the print command is not issued, step 5
Return to When the print command is issued, it is checked whether or not there is change data in the image data change portion information data storage means 26 (step 15). If there is no change data, the computer 21 sends the command of the print start command to the printer 3
8 (step 17). The printer 38 issues a start command to the printer engine 45 (step 18),
Go to step 24. If there is changed data in step 15, the printer driver 27 develops only the changed portion into bitmap data in the background based on the changed data in the image data changed portion information data storage means 26 and stores it in the image memory 25 (step). 16). The computer 21 transfers the command of information regarding the changed portion from the command generating means 22 to the printer 38 using the bidirectional communication means 36 (step 19). Printer 38
Decodes the sent command by the command decoding means 39 and waits for change data (step 20). The computer 21 reads the change data from the image data and sends it to the printer 38 (step 21). The printer 38 receives the changed data and stores it in the image memory 44 (step 2).
2). When the data is collected in the image memory 44, a start command is issued to the printer engine 45 (step 2).
3). It is checked whether the printer engine 45 can print immediately (step 24). If printing is not possible immediately, wait until printing is possible. The printer 38 sends the image data to the printer engine 45. The printer 38 sends the image data to the printer engine 45 (step 25). The printer engine 45 prints based on the image data and ends the printing operation.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. 5 to 8 are flowcharts of the operation of the computer system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The configurations of the computer and the printer are the same as those of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

When the user prints, the user specifies the image file 24 to be printed, and the application software 3
0 is activated (step 1). The user uses the background image expansion designating means 28 of the application software 30.
(Specify that the printer driver 27 is activated in the background to create image bitmap data and send it to the printer 38) and the print data transfer interval time storage means 29 (send the changed data to the printer 38 at every interval time). It is set from the input means 35 (step 2). The application software 30 activates the printer driver 27 in the background (step 3).
The printer driver 27 expands the data of the image file 24 into bitmap data in the background and stores it in the image memory 25. When the image data contains a font, the character bitmap data is stored in the bitmap font storage means 33. (Step 4). Data is sent to the printer 38 using the bidirectional communication means 36 (step 5). Next, the application software 30 checks whether the interval time has come (step 6). When the interval time has come, it is checked whether or not there is change data in the image data change part information data storage means 26 (step 7). If there is no changed data, step 17
Proceed to. If there is change data, it is checked whether or not there is a character in the change data (step 8). If there are no letters,
Go to step 12. If there is a character, it is checked whether or not the character exists in the bitmap font storage means 33 (step 9). If the character is in the bitmap font storage means 33, the character is extracted from the bitmap font storage means 33 and stored in the image memory 25 (step 10). If the character is not in the bitmap font storage means 33, the character is taken out from the font storage means 32, developed into bitmap data in the background, and stored in the image memory 25 (step 1).
1). Next, the printer driver 27 develops only the changed portion excluding the character portion into bitmap data in the background based on the changed data in the image data changed portion information data storage means 26 and stores it in the image memory 25 (step 12). . The computer 21 transfers the command of information regarding the changed portion from the command generating means 22 to the printer 38 using the bidirectional communication means 36 (step 13). The printer 38 decodes the sent command by the command decoding means 39 and waits for the changed data (step 14). The computer 21 reads the change data from the image memory 25 and sends it to the printer 38 (step 1).
5). The printer 38 receives the changed data and stores it in the image memory 44 (step 16), and proceeds to step 17. The application software 30 checks whether the image file 24 has been changed by the user (step 1
7). The application software 30 stores the location information of the changed portion in the image data changed portion information data storage means 26.
(Step 18). The application software 30 checks whether the user has issued a print command (step 19). If there is no print command, the process returns to step 6.
When there is a print command, it is checked whether or not there is change data in the image data change part information data storage means 26 (step 20). If there is no change data, the computer 21
Sends a print start command to the printer 38 (step 26). The printer 38 issues a start command to the printer engine 45 (step 27), and proceeds to step 33. If there is change data, it is checked whether or not there are characters in the change data (step 21). If there are no characters, go to step 25. If there is a character, it is checked whether the character exists in the bitmap font storage means 33 (step 22). If the character is in the bitmap font storage means 33, the character is retrieved from the bitmap font storage means 33 and stored in the image memory 25 (step 2
3), go to step 25. If the character is not in the bitmap font storage means 33, the character is taken out from the font storage means 32, developed into bitmap data in the background, and stored in the image memory 25 (step 2).
4). Next, the printer driver 27 develops only the changed portion excluding the character portion into bitmap data in the background based on the changed data in the image data changed portion information data storage means 26 and stores it in the image memory 25 (step 25). . Next, the computer 21 transfers the command of information regarding the changed portion from the command generating means 22 to the printer 38 using the bidirectional communication means 36 (step 28). The printer 38 decodes the sent command by the command decoding means 39 and waits for the changed data (step 29). The computer 21 reads the changed data from the image memory 25 and sends it to the printer 38 (step 30). The printer 38 receives the changed data and stores it in the image memory 44 (step 31). Image memory 4
When all the data are stored in 4, the start command is issued to the printer engine 45 (step 32). Check if the printer engine 45 can print immediately (step 3)
3). If printing is not possible, wait until printing is possible.
When the printer 38 is ready for printing, the printer 38 sends image data to the printer engine 45 (step 34). The printer engine 45 performs printing based on the image data and ends the printing operation (step 35).

[0014]

As described above, according to the present invention, the time from the user issuing a print command to the end of the print operation is shortened, and the print result can be obtained immediately.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a computer system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the operation of the computer system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the computer system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the operation of the computer system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the operation of the computer system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the operation of the computer system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the operation of the computer system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the operation of the computer system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional computer system.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the operation of a conventional computer system.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the operation of a conventional computer system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 21 Computer 22 Command Generation Means 23 Status Decoding Means 24 Image File 25 Image Memory 26 Image Data Change Part Information Data Storage Means 27 Printer Driver 28 Background Image Expansion Designation Means 29 Print Data Transfer Interval Time Storage Means 30 Application Software 31 Timer 32 Font storage means 33 Bitmap font storage means 34 CPU 35 Input means 36 Bidirectional communication means 38 Printer 39 Command decoding means 40 Reception buffer 41 Bidirectional communication means 42 Status generation means 43 CPU 44 Image memory 45 Printer engine

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Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A command generating means for confirming the status of the printer on the computer side, a status decoding means for decoding the contents of the status from the printer, and a bidirectional communication means for enabling bidirectional communication with the printer. Input means, CPU, font storage means for storing character outline information, image memory for storing image data, application software for creating an image, timer, printer driver, and image data are created in the background while the application is operating. , Background image expansion designating means for designating sending of image data to the printer and image data changed portion information data storing means for storing information of a portion changed during execution of the application and the changed portion at regular time intervals Change to image data and send image data to printer Print data transfer interval time storing means for storing the time, and command decoding means for decoding the command on the printer side, status generating means for generating the status of the printer, bidirectional communication means, and received data. And a CPU for storing image data, an image memory for storing image data, and a printer engine for printing. 2. The computer system according to claim 1, further comprising a bitmap font storage means for storing a bitmap font created from the character outline information on the computer side.