JPH096552A - Printing system and printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] The improvement of the processing capacity of the host is reflected in the printing efficiency. [Structure] In the host 3010, the distribution band creating means 101 divides one page of data into bands.
After that, while expanding the first band into image data, the second band is transferred to the printer in parallel. When the expansion of the first band is completed, the direct print instructing unit 102 causes the first band to be printed without the processing of the printer. Upon receiving the second band data, the printer 1510 develops the second band data into image data, and in parallel with this, the printing unit control unit 114
Switch the input source of to the input means 113 with a counter,
Print the first band image data from the host. The image data developed by the printer is printed thereafter. By repeating the above operation for one page, the printing efficiency can be improved by reflecting the processing capability of the host.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing system and a printing method such as a printer connected to a host computer, and more particularly to a printing system and a printing method in which printing of a first page cannot be stopped halfway.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional printer using a parallel interface, a page description format command at the time of printing is expanded into image data within a page and then the printing is performed. The only part of the host computer that can make full use of the ability of the host computer to reduce the printing time until the actual printed matter is output is the time for creating the printing command and data. Therefore, it is not possible to shorten the time required to create the print image data in the printing unit in the printing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a conventional printer control system.

In the figure, reference numeral 3000 denotes a host computer, which executes a document processing in which graphics, images, characters, tables (including spreadsheets) and the like are mixed based on a document processing program stored in the program ROM 32.
And each device connected to the system bus 4 is
U1 has overall control. Also, RO for this program
The M32 stores a control program of the CPU 1 and the like, the font ROM 31 stores font data and the like used when performing the document processing, and the data ROM 33 stores various data (for example, physical address of each controller).
Is stored. Reference numeral 2 denotes a RAM, which functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like of the CPU 1. A keyboard controller (KBC) 5 controls a key input from a keyboard 9 or a pointing device (not shown). A CRT controller (CRT) 6 controls the display on the CRT display 10. 7 is a disk controller (DKC)
It controls access to an external memory 11 such as a hard disk (HD) or a floppy disk (FD) for storing a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, edit files and the like. A print controller (PRTC) 8 is connected to the printer 1500 via a predetermined interface 21 and executes communication control processing with the printer 1500.

In the printer 1500, reference numeral 12 denotes a printer CPU, which serves as various devices connected to the system bus 15 based on a control program or the like stored in the program ROM 131 or a control program or the like stored in the external memory 14. The access is comprehensively controlled, and an image signal as output information is output to the printing unit (printer engine) 17 connected via the printing unit interface 16. Further, this program ROM 132 has a CPU
Twelve control programs and the like are stored. ROM for font
131 stores font data and the like used when generating the output information, and the data ROM 133 stores information and the like used on the host computer in the case of a printer that does not have an external memory 14 such as a hard disk. I remember. The CPU 12 can perform communication processing with the host computer via the host interface 18, and can notify the information in the printer to the host computer 3000. Reference numeral 19 denotes a RAM that functions as a main memory, a work area, etc. of the CPU 12, and is configured so that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown).
The RAM 19 is used for an output information development area, an environment data storage area, an NVRAM, and the like. Access to the external memory 14 such as the hard disk (HD) or IC card described above is controlled by a disk controller (DKC) 20. The external memory 14 is optionally connected, and includes front data, emulation program,
Stores form data and the like. An operation panel 1501 is provided with switches for operation and an LED display. Further, the above-mentioned external memory is not limited to one, but at least one external memory is provided, and in addition to the built-in font, it is possible to connect a plurality of external memories that store programs for interpreting printer control languages with different language systems. It may be done. Further, an NVRAM (not shown) may be provided to store the printer mode setting information from the operation panel 1501.

FIG. 11 shows an operation flow of the host computer 3000 side when printing with a conventional printer. When the operator inputs a print start command, a print command and data are created (step 20). Step 30
Command or data transfer in step 40, wait for processing on the printing device side in step 40, check in step 50 whether there is the next command or data, and if there is the next command or data, return to step 30 Alternatively, the data transmission is repeated until there is no next command or data. When there is no next command or data, the printing operation is completed.

FIG. 12 shows a printing operation flow on the conventional printer 1500 side.

When a print command or data is received (step 120), processing of the received command or data is started (step 130). If the command is not the print start command in step 140, the process returns to step 120, and the command and data reception and processing are repeated until the print start command is sent. When the print start command is sent, the printing unit 17 is activated to output the expanded image data in the printer.

Now, let us consider a change in the time from the print start input to the print end depending on the processing capacity of the host computer when one printed matter is printed by the conventional printing method. On a host with a processing capacity of 2, the time of step 20 in FIG.
The time of step 30 of FIG. 20 or step 120 of FIG. 21 is 1, the time of step 40 of FIG. 20 or step 160 of FIG. 21 is 10, and the total time from the print start input to the print output end is 41. To do. If the processing time of the host is proportional to its processing capacity, the capacity of the host having the processing capacity of 10 is quintuple, so the time of step 20 in FIG.
Of step 30 of FIG. 21 or step 120 of FIG. 21 is 1, step 40 of FIG. 20 or step 13 of FIG.
0 is 15 and step 160 in FIG. 21 is 10
Therefore, the total time from the print start input to the print output end is 29.

Further, in a host having a processing capacity of 100, FIG.
Step 20 time is 0.3, Step 30 of FIG.
Alternatively, the time of step 120 in FIG. 21 is 1, the time of step 40 in FIG. 20 or step 130 in FIG. 21 is 1
5, the time of step 160 in FIG. 21 is 10, and the total time from the print start input to the print output end is 26.3.
Therefore, it cannot be said that high processing capability is exhibited from the viewpoint of the entire printing operation.

[0011]

In the conventional printing system described above, even if a host computer having a high processing capability is used, the time for creating the printing image data cannot be shortened during the printing operation, and the printing process can be performed by the host. It was not possible to increase the speed by commensurate with the performance of.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, and by utilizing the high processing capacity of the host computer even at the time of creating print image data, from the start of printing to the output of the actual printed matter. The purpose is to reduce the time.

[0013]

A printing system of the present invention that achieves the above object has the following configuration. That is, a printing system that includes a host device and a printing device and prints out on a page-by-page basis, and divides print data for one page into bands of a predetermined size; First expansion means for expanding the band 1 into image data, transfer means for transferring the band 1 to the printing apparatus in parallel with the expansion of the image data by the first expansion means, and expansion by the first expansion means A host device having a direct print instruction means for instructing to print out one band of the image data thus produced from the printing device; and a second expansion means for expanding the band transferred by the transfer means into image data. A direct printing control means for controlling printing of the image data to be printed by the direct printing means in parallel with the development of the image data by the second developing means,
And a printing device that prints out the image data expanded by the second expanding device.

Alternatively, there is provided a printing system which includes a host device and a printing device and prints out in page units,
A dividing unit that divides print data for one page into bands of a predetermined size, a first expanding unit that expands the bands divided by the dividing unit into image data in order from the top of the page, and the first expanding unit. In parallel with the expansion of the image data by the means, transfer means for transferring the band not expanded by the first expansion means to the printing device from the end of the page, and one band expanded by the first expansion means. A host device having direct print instruction means for instructing to print out image data from the printing device; and a band for expanding the band transferred by the transfer means into image data
In parallel with the expansion means, the expansion of the image data by the second expansion means, the direct printing control means for controlling the printing of the image data to be printed by the direct printing means, and the expansion by the second expansion means. And a printing device having a printing means for printing out image data.

The printing method of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, it is a printing method that prints out in page units, and is a dividing step of dividing print data of one page into bands of a predetermined size, and one of the bands divided by the dividing step is expanded into image data. A first expansion step, a transfer step of transferring band 1 in parallel with the expansion of the image data by the first expansion step, and a printout of the image data for one band expanded by the first expansion step. A direct printing step to be performed, a second expanding step of expanding the band transferred by the transferring step into print image data in parallel with the print output by the direct printing step, and image data expanded by the second expanding step And a step of performing print output subsequent to the print output by the direct printing step.

Alternatively, it is a printing method of printing out in page units, and a dividing step of dividing print data for one page into bands of a predetermined size, and the bands divided by the dividing step from the top of the page. A first expanding step of sequentially expanding the image data, and a transfer step of transferring bands not expanded by the first expanding step in order from the end of the page in parallel with the expanding of the image data by the first expanding step, The direct printing step of printing out the image data of the band developed by the first developing step and the band transferred by the transfer step are expanded into print image data in parallel with the print output of the direct printing step. A second developing step, and a step of printing out the image data developed by the second developing step, following the print output by the direct printing step. .

[0017]

With the above configuration, when the print start is input, the host computer creates a print command and data. After that, the commands and data created according to the capabilities of the host and the printer are distributed and divided into bands.

With respect to the bands thus created, the host develops one band into image data and, in parallel with this, transfers the subsequent bands to the printer. This operation is repeated every two bands until the image data for one page is completely processed.

On the other hand, in the printer, when the transfer data from the host is received and the band which has not been expanded is received, it is stored in a predetermined memory, and when the reception is completed, expansion to image data is started. If the received data is a direct print instruction of the image data of the band expanded by the host, the transfer data of the host is printed as it is. These processes proceed in parallel.

[0020]

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 shows an embodiment 1 using the printing method of the present invention.
The block diagram of is shown. The same components as those used in FIG. 2 are given the same numbers.

The transfer band designating means 103 of the host computer 3010 is a means for indicating a band being transferred to the printer 1510 or a band number already transferred, and even if a part of the memory such as the RAM 2 or the external memory 11 can be read and written. Anything is fine.

The band referred to in the present embodiment is one page of image data divided according to the sequence in which the printer forms an image. For example, in a laser beam printer that forms an image in raster scan order. , The scanning line, that is, each of the image data divided in dot row units along the dot row. In the case of a serial type inkjet printer, the head width (the number of dots to be printed in parallel is measured along the scanning direction of the head. ) Indicates each image data divided in units.

The expansion band instructing means 104 is a means for indicating the expanded or expanded band number in the host computer. If the band number can be read and written, a part of the memory such as the RAM 2 or the external memory 11 can be used. Good. The direct print instructing unit 102 can recognize the size of the expanded data in the host computer and can calculate the number of times the data is transferred.
Anything can be used as long as it can directly notify the number of times of transfer of the printing image data, and it may be a program for operating the CPU 1. The host capacity storage means 106 may be a part of a memory such as the RAM 2 or the external memory 11 as long as it can read and write the expansion processing capacity of the print command of the host computer 3010. The printer capacity storage unit 107 may be a part of a memory such as the RAM 2 or the external memory 11 as long as it can read and write the print command expansion processing capacity of the printer 1510. The distribution band creating means 101 outputs print commands and data from the capability values from the host capacity storage means 106 and the printer capacity storage means 107, (host band expansion time) ≧ (printer band transfer time) (host band direct printing time) ≧ It may be anything as long as it can be divided into n bands so as to be (printer band development time), and may be a program for operating the CPU 1. Note that the host band expansion time is the time required for the host to expand an image for each band, and the printer band transfer time is the time for transferring the band before expanding the image data from the host to the printer. This is the time it takes. Direct printing is a process in which image data sent from the host to the printer is output directly from the engine without going through the processing on the printer side.Host band direct printing time is the band transferred from the host to the printer. This is the time required to directly print the image data for each. The printer band development time is the time required to develop undeveloped image data for one band in the printer. The above inequality is a condition for starting the processing of the left side and the right side of the same at the same time and performing them in parallel, and guaranteeing that the processing of the right side is completed when the processing of the left side is completed. By doing so, it is possible to simplify the processing for confirming the synchronization of the processing on the left side and the processing on the right side, but if the processing is performed, it is not necessary to satisfy the above conditions. Further, the closer the values on the left side and the right side are, the more efficiently parallel processing can be performed, so it is desirable that the values on both sides are equal.

The final band storage means 110 may be a part of the memory such as the RAM 2 or the external memory 11 as long as it can read and write the number of bands divided by the distribution band creating means 110.

On the other hand, in the printer 1510, the direct print control means 100 can recognize the direct print instruction from the host computer, and can recognize the direct print end notification from the input means 113 with the counter for the number of direct print data transfers. Anything can be used as long as the output destination of the counter-equipped input means 113 can be designated and the input destination of the selector-equipped printing unit control means 114 can be designated. The counter-equipped input unit 113 can recognize the number of times the direct print data has been transferred by the notification from the direct print control unit 100, and notify that the count of the data has ended, and the output destination of the transfer data from the host. To C
Any host interface that can switch to the PU 12 and the printing unit control means 114 with a selector may be used.
It may be built in TTL or may be a custom IC like GA. Printing unit control means 114 with selector
Need only be able to switch the input destination of the data to be output to the printing unit 17 between the CPU 12 and the counter-equipped input unit 113 under the control of the direct print control unit 100.
It may be assembled in L or a custom IC like GA
But it doesn't matter. <Operation of Host Computer> Next, the operation will be described. First, the case where the image development processing capability of the host computer 3010 is 2 will be described. When there is a main print start input from the host computer shown in FIG. 3, a print command and data are created (step 220). The processing time of this step is 15 minutes. Based on the capability values stored in the host capability storage unit 106 and the printer capability storage unit 107, the distribution band creation unit 101 determines the bandwidth of the input command data. In this embodiment, it is divided into 5 bands (step 230).
The number of bands distributed here should have a relationship of (host band expansion time) ≥ (printer band transfer time) (host band direct printing time) ≥ (printer band expansion time) with the processing capabilities of the host and printer. For example, it may be an odd number of bands or an even number of bands.

Next, the final band storage means 110 stores the number of bands 5 created in step 230 as the final band number n, substitutes the initial value 1 as the expanded band number k in the expanded band instructing means, and specifies the transfer band. 2 is substituted into the means as the initial value of the transfer band number m (step 23)
5). That is, the host transfers the m-th band to the printer while expanding the k-th band as image data, but the printer prints the data of the k-th band expanded by the host and transfers the unexpanded transfer of the m-th band. In order to perform expansion and print out the data following the kth band, consecutive bands are selected with m = k + 1. Since the band transfer operation is an interrupt operation here, the transfer operation is enabled (step 240). When an interrupt is generated, interrupt processing is performed, but when there is no interrupt, main operation is performed.

After enabling the transfer interrupt, the k-th band is expanded as the main operation (step 25).
0) When the development of the kth band is completed, the print instruction unit 102 is directly notified of the development data size of the kth band.
When the direct print instructing means 102 recognizes the notification, the direct print instructing means 102 calculates and stores the number of transfers of the expansion band. When that is finished, 2 is added to the expanded band number k to prepare for the expansion processing of the one band left (step 260). At the same time, a print command is directly transmitted to the printer 1510 to print the expanded band (step 270), and the image data of the expanded band, in this case, the image data of the first band is transferred (step 280). Next, it is confirmed whether the band number indicated by the expanded band number k is larger than the final band number n (step 290).

In this case, since the expanded band number k contains 3 and the final band number n contains 5, the comparison result is false and the process returns to step 240. In this way, the operations from steps 240 to 290 are repeated until the expanded band number k becomes larger than the final band number n.

Thus, when the comparison result in step 290 becomes true, and when the expansion band number k becomes larger than the final band number n, the printing operation on the host computer side ends (step 300).

Band transfer, which is an interrupt routine performed in parallel with the development of image data, is shown in the flow chart of FIG. The interrupt generation factor of the band transfer operation is to recognize the transferable status on the printer 1510 side from the PRTC 8.

In FIG. 4, when an interrupt occurs, the command or data for drawing the image data of the transfer band number m stored in the transfer band instruction means 103 is transferred to the printer 1510 (step 360). Since 2 is set as the initial value of the transfer band number m in step 235, the drawing command or data at the beginning of the second band is first transferred from the PRTC 8 to the printer 1510. If there is a drawing command or data to be continuously transferred, the command or data is prepared in the PRTC 8 (step 380), and the next interrupt generation is waited (step 400).

When an interrupt occurs (step 350), the command or data prepared for transfer is transferred to the printer 1510 (step 360). 1 to transfer
The above operation is repeated until there are no commands or data for the band.

When there are no commands or data to be transferred, the band transfer interrupt is disabled (step 385), 2 is added to the transfer band number m to prepare for the next band transfer (step 390), and the interrupt routine is ended. (Step 400). <Printer Operation> Next, the operation of the printer 1510 will be described. FIG. 5 shows a main printing operation flowchart of the printer 1510.

In FIG. 5, after the printer 1510 has been reset (step 410), the I / F status is set to a state indicating that it is ready to receive (step 420), and the printer 1510 prepares to receive transfer data from the host computer 3010.

When the transfer data is received from the host computer (step 430), the I / F status is disabled (step 440), and the received transfer data is stored in a predetermined memory (step 450).

If the received transfer data is not a direct print instruction command (step 460), the I / F status is set to indicate that it can be received (step 420), and a process for preparing for the next transfer data reception from the host computer is performed. repeat. For example, when a drawing command or data is received (step 430), the I / F status is disabled (step 440), the received transfer data is stored in a predetermined memory (step 450), and a direct print command is issued. It is confirmed whether or not (step 460). The operations from step 420 to step 460 are repeated until the direct print command is sent. During the repetition, all the print commands or data of the m-th (= 2) th band for printer expansion are transferred to the printer 1510.

On the other hand, if the received data is a direct print command, transfer data direct printing from the host computer 3010 is started. The direct print control means 100 confirms the number of times the direct print data is transferred from the direct print instruction means 102, and sets it in the counter of the input means with counter 113 (step 470). The direct printing control unit 100 further sets the output destination of the host data of the counter-equipped input unit 113 to the selector-equipped printing unit control unit 114, and sets the print-data input destination of the selector-equipped printing unit control unit 114 to the counter-equipped input unit 113. Set (Step 47)
1). Here, when the input means with counter 113 finishes the above setting, the start of direct print data transfer to the host computer 3010 is an I / F meaning that data can be input.
It is realized by setting the status. However, the method is not limited to this method, and a special signal may be used as long as the host computer can directly recognize the start of printing, or a special I / F status may be set.

Further, the printing section control means 114 with a selector is provided.
Confirms that the printing unit 17 is printing, and if printing is in progress, outputs the print image data from the input unit with counter 113 to the printing unit. If the printing unit 117 is not printing, a predetermined print start operation is performed, and then the printing image data from the counter-equipped input unit 113 is output to the printing unit.

Now that the direct printing of the first band has started, the printing unit control means with selector 114 activates the printing unit 17 which has not been activated. The printing unit 17 starts the printing operation by a predetermined print starting method, and the input unit with counter 1
The input data from 13 is printed out. When the direct printing operation is activated, the printer 1510 starts developing the image data of the second band sent as the drawing command and the data. Input means with counter 1 for direct printing
13 and the CPU 1 for the printing unit control means 114 with selector
2 can not access, but RAM19, ROM13
1 to 133, the disk controller (DKC) 20, and other resources necessary for expanding the drawing command or data are effective, the printer 1510 is not ready while the image data of the band that has been expanded by the host is being printed. The expansion band can be expanded to image data.

When the expansion processing is completed, the direct printing end notification from the counter-equipped input means 113 is awaited, and when the notification is recognized, the direct printing control means 100 switches the host data output destination of the counter-equipped input means 113 to the CPU 12 side. The input destination of the printing data of the printing unit control means 114 with a selector is switched to the CPU 12 side (step 47).
3). The interruption of the image data output of the m-th band (initially m = 2) developed together with this is enabled (step 480), and the process returns to step 420 to prepare for the next command or data input from the host.

The output of the image data expanded in this way is realized as an interrupt process. That is, while the drawing command or data of the fourth band to be developed by the printer next is being transferred to the printer, the output of the image data of the second band which has been developed by the above procedure ends as an interrupt process.

Next, the operation of outputting the image data of the band developed by the printer will be described. FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of an interrupt operation for outputting image data developed by the printer.

In FIG. 6, when there is a print image data input request from the printing unit control means with selector 114 to the printing unit 17, an interrupt occurs. The input destination of the printing unit control means 114 with selector is the bus 1 by the direct print control means 100.
5, the CPU 12 inputs the image data subjected to the expansion processing from the predetermined memory (RAM 19) to the printing unit control means 114 with a selector (step 510). The printing unit control unit 114 with a selector outputs the input image data to the printing unit 17 to obtain an actual print image.

Next, it is confirmed that there is next data to be printed out (step 520). If there is next data, the next data is set (step 525) and the process returns to the main operation (step 540) to wait for the next interrupt request.
If there is no next data, disable the interrupt (step 5
30) and return to the main operation (step 540).

While the second band is printed out by the above interrupt operation, the transfer of the fourth band printing command or data to the printer 1510 is completed. When the transfer of the drawing command or data of the fourth band is completed, the host sends a direct printing command of the third band, and the printing of the third band is started. During this time, the fourth band is developed in the printer. When the direct printing of the third band is completed, the expanded fourth band is printed as an interrupt process. Further, in parallel with this, the host side develops the fifth band. Since the fifth band is the last band, the sixth band is not transferred to the printer. Then, when the direct printing of the fifth band is finished, the printing of one page is finished. This is the end of the creation of the print image data this time.

Regarding processing time, TIME1; print command and data creation time in the host.

TIME2: time for creating a distribution band in the host.

TIME3: Development time of the first band in the host and transfer time to the printer of the second band in parallel with it.

TIME4; first from host to printer
Direct band printing and second band deployment time in parallel printers.

TIME5; printing time of the second band in the printer, development of the third band in the host, and transfer time to the printer in the fourth band in parallel therewith.

TIME6; third from host to printer
Direct printing of the band and deployment time of the fourth band on the parallel printer.

TIME7; printing time of the fourth band in the printer and developing time of the fifth band in the host.

TIME8; fifth from host to printer
Direct printing time of the band. The above total is the time required to print one page.
The above time is illustrated in FIG. Circled numbers are band numbers to be processed. The time from TIME4 to TIME8, that is, the time required to print one page is determined by the performance of the printing unit 17, and is 10 here.

TIME1 to TIME3 are waiting times until printing is started and are determined by the processing capability of the host.
If the host has a capacity of 2, TIME1
Was 15, TIME2 was 10, and TIME3 was 2.5. Therefore, the total printing time was 37.5.

When the capacity of the host is 10, the processing time at the host becomes 2/10 = 1/5, and TIME1
Is 3, TIME 2 is 2, and TIME 3 is 0.5. Therefore, the total printing time is 15.5. Furthermore, in a host with a processing capacity of 100, TIME1 is 0.3, TIME
Since 2 is 0.2 and TIME3 is 0.05, the total printing time is 10.55.

As described above, one page is divided into a plurality of bands, and the image data is developed and transferred by the host in parallel with the print processing by the printer, so that the time is determined depending on the printer performance. Data transfer from the host to the printer is performed in parallel with print output, and the ratio of the part where the processing time is determined depends on the performance of the host. As a result, the time from the start of print command creation to the start of print output can be shortened depending on the performance of the host.

[0057]

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of a second embodiment using the printing method of the present invention. The same blocks as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are indicated by the same numbers.

In FIG. 7, the host computer 302
The transfer band instructing means 103 in 0 is a means for indicating a band being transferred to the printer 1520 or a band number already transferred, and may be a part of a memory such as the RAM 2 or the external memory 11 as long as the band number can be read and written. The expansion band instructing means 104 is a means for indicating the expanded or expanded band number in the host computer, and may be any part of the memory such as the RAM 2 or the external memory 11 as long as the band number can be read and written. The direct print instructing unit 102 can recognize the size of the expanded data in the host computer, can calculate the transfer count of the data, and can directly notify the printer 1520 of the transfer count of the print image data.
It may be a program that operates 1. The simple band creating means 115 may be anything as long as it can divide the printing command and data into n bands, and may be any program for operating the CPU 1.

On the other hand, in the printer 1520, the direct print control means 100 can recognize the direct print instruction from the host computer, can notify the input means 113 with the counter of the number of times the direct print data has been transferred, and the input means 113 with the counter can output. Anything can be used as long as it can directly recognize the end notification of the input means, can specify the output destination of the input means 113 with the counter, and can specify the input of the printing section control means 114 with the selector, or a program for operating the CPU 12. The input means 113 with a counter is used for the direct print control means 100.
It is possible to directly recognize the number of times of transfer of print data by the notification from the host, count the number of times of transfer of the data, and notify that the count has ended. The output destination of the transfer data from the host is the CPU 12 and the printing with the selector. Department control means 114
Any host interface that can be switched to and may be used, and may be built in TTL or may be a custom IC such as GA. The printing unit control means 114 with a selector has only to be able to switch the input destination of the data to be output to the printing section 17 between the CPU 12 and the input means 113 with a counter under the control of the direct printing part control means 100. Okay, even a custom IC like GA is fine.

Next, the operation will be described. It is assumed that the processing capacity of the host computer 3020 is 2.

First, when there is a print start input for the main print operation of the host computer shown in FIG. 8, a print command and data are created (step 560). The processing time for this takes 15 minutes. The command and data are n by the simple band creating means 115 (5 in this embodiment).
To transfer the fifth band, the transfer band number m stored in the transfer band instruction means 103 is n =
5 is substituted (step 570).

Since the band transfer operation is an interrupt operation here, the transfer operation is enabled. When an interrupt occurs, interrupt processing is performed, but when there is no interrupt, the main operation is performed. After enabling the transfer operation as the main operation, 1 is assigned to the expanded band number k stored in the expanded band instructing means 10 for expanding the first band (step 580). The first band is expanded (step 590), and when it is completed, the direct print instruction means 102
Notify the expansion area of the first band to. When the direct print instructing means 102 recognizes the notification, it calculates and stores the number of transfers of the expansion band, and adds 1 to the expansion band number k (step 600). Then, it is confirmed that the expanded band number k is smaller than the transfer band number m (step 610). Initially, the expanded band number k is 2 because 1 is added to the initial value 1 in step 600, and is smaller than the transfer band number m = 5. Therefore, it waits until the transfer band number m becomes smaller than the expansion number k (step 620).
Since the transfer band number m is a value that is subtracted along with the transfer of the band processed by the interrupt, the value changes during the loop at step 620.

When the condition of step 620 is satisfied, band transfer is disabled, the transfer band number m is increased by 1, and the expanded band number k is decreased by 1 (step 590).
In this operation, the expanded band number and the transferred band number are expanded band instruction means 104 and transfer band instruction means 10.
3 are adjusted so that they are stored respectively. Since the expansion capability of the host computer 3020 is as low as 2, while the host computer 3020 is expanding the first band of the five bands, the printer 1520 transfers the fifth band, the fourth band, and the third band. The expansion processing is performed and the transfer up to the second band is completed.

Here, the band transfer operation will be described. FIG. 9 shows the band transfer operation of the host computer of the second embodiment. The band transfer interrupt factor is PRTC
8 to recognize the transferable status on the printer 1520 side. When an interrupt occurs, the band with transfer band number m is transferred to the printer 1520 (step 71).
0). Therefore, first, the first command or data for transfer in the fifth band is transferred from the PRTC 8 to the printer 1520. If there is a next command or data, the next transfer command or data is prepared in the PRTC 8 (step 725), and the next interrupt generation is waited for (step 740).
When the next interrupt occurs (step 700), the prepared next transfer command or data is sent to the printer 1520.
(Step 710). The above operation is repeated until there is no command or data for the next transfer (step 720).

When there is no command or data for the next transfer, that is, when the transfer of the fifth band is completed, the transfer band number m = 5 is decremented by 1 to transfer the fourth band (step 730), and the transfer band number m. Is greater than the expanded band number k (step 732). Here, since the expansion band number k is 1 and the transfer band m is 4, the expansion processing start is notified to the printer 1520 (step 734) and the next interrupt is awaited (step 740). When the transfer band number m is larger than the expansion band number k, the above operation is repeated. As described above, since it is assumed that the transfer has been completed up to the fifth and second bands while the first band is being expanded, when the transfer band number m becomes 1, the expanded band number k (= 1) Is equal to Since the transfer band number m is not larger than the expansion band number k, the interrupt routine is ended.

When the expansion band and the transfer band collide with each other (step 620-Y), the band transfer is disabled in the main operation (step 630), and the band transfer ends. Here, the transfer operation is completed after transferring to the second band. When the transfer is completed, it returns to the main operation.

After expanding the first band, the second to the fifth
When the transfer up to the band is completed, the first band of the printing image data for one page is transferred to the host computer 3020.
The printers 152 are the third to fifth bands.
It is expanded to 0, and the second band is transferred to the printer 1520. In the main processing, the command of the direct print instructing means 102 indicating the number of times of transfer of the expanded data of the first band prepared in the host computer 3020 is transferred to the printer 1520 (step 640). The developed image data (first band) is transferred to the printer 1520 (step 650). From the start of step 640, the printing unit 17 in the printer 1520 starts to make an actual printed matter from the printing image data. When the transfer ends, the host side printing operation ends.

Next, the operation of the printer 1520 will be described. FIG. 10 shows a flowchart of the main printing operation of the printer of the second embodiment. The steps having the same contents as those in the flowchart of FIG. 5 have the same numbers.

First, the printer 1520, after RESET (step 410), sets the I / F status to a state indicating that it can be received (step 420), and the host computer 3
Prepare to receive transfer data from 020. When the transfer data is received (step 430), the I / F status is disabled (step 440), and the received transfer data is stored in a predetermined memory (step 450). If the received transfer data is not the direct print instruction command (step 460), it is confirmed that it is the expansion processing start command (step 462). If it is not the expansion processing command, the process returns to step 420. The operation is repeated until the expansion processing command comes.

If it is the expansion processing start command, the expansion processing of the stored command and data is performed (step 46).
4) Return to step 420. In step 420, I
The / F status is set to a state in which it is ready to receive, and the next transfer data is received from the host computer. When the next command or data is received (step 43)
0), the I / F status is made unreceivable (step 440), the received transfer data is stored in a predetermined memory (step 450), and it is confirmed whether it is a direct print command (step 460). If it is not the direct print command, it is confirmed that it is the expansion processing start command (step 462). If it is not the expansion processing start command, the process returns to step 420. The operation is repeated until the expansion processing command comes. If the command is the expansion process start command, the stored command and data are expanded (step 464), and the process returns to step 420. The operations of steps 420 to 464 are repeated until the direct print command is sent. During this repetition, the commands and data for the band other than the band sent last among the bands for printer expansion are expanded in the printer, and the printing command or data for the last transferred band is stored. .

If the received data is a direct print command, direct transfer data printing from the host computer is started. The direct print control means 100 recognizes the number of times the direct print data has been transferred from the direct print instruction means 102, and sets it in the counter of the input means with counter 113 (step 470). The direct printing control unit 100 further sets the output destination of the host data of the counter-equipped input unit 113 to the selector-attached printing unit control unit 114, and sets the print-data input destination of the selector-attached printing unit control unit 114 to the counter-attached input unit 113. (Step 471). Here, when the above setting is completed in the counter-equipped input means 113, the start of print data transfer is directly set in the host computer 3020 by setting an I / F status which means that data can be input. However, the method is not limited to this method, and a special signal may be used as long as the host computer can directly recognize the start of printing, or a special I / F status may be set. The printing unit control means 114 with a selector performs a predetermined print starting operation on the printing unit 17, and then the input means 11 with a counter.
The printing image data from No. 3 is output to the printing unit 17.

When the direct printing operation is activated, the printer 15
20 starts the process of developing the printer developing band. At the time of direct printing, the input means 113 with a counter and the printing section control means 114 with a selector cannot be accessed.
Since the resources necessary for expanding the print command or data such as the PU 12, the RAM 19, the ROM 13 and the disk controller (DKC) 20 are valid, the printer 1520 was last transferred while printing the host expanded data. The deployment of the stored printer deployment band can be started. When the expansion processing is completed, a direct print end notification from the counter-equipped input means 113 is waited for, and when the notification is recognized, the direct print control means 100 makes the host data output destination of the counter-equipped input means 113 CP
Switching to U12 side, printing unit control means 11 with selector
The input destination of the print data of No. 4 is switched to the CPU 12 side (step 473). After the switching is completed, the interruption of the output of the developed image data in the printing device is enabled (step 480).

After that, the process returns to step 420 and the I / F status is set to the receivable state to prepare for the next command or data input from the host. While the command or data for the next printer expansion band is being transferred, the output of the image data for the expanded band in the printing device ends as an interrupt process.

Next, the interrupting operation of outputting the expanded image data in the printing apparatus will be described. Since the operation is the same as that of the first embodiment, it will be described with reference to FIG. When there is a print image data input request from the printing unit control means 114 with a selector to the printing unit 17, an interrupt occurs. The input destination of the printing unit control unit with selector 114 by the direct printing control unit 100 is the CPU 12 side, and the expanded image data in the printing device, which is processed by the CPU 12, is controlled from a predetermined memory (RAM 19) to the printing unit with selector. Input to the means 114 (step 5)
10). The printing unit control means 114 with a selector outputs the data to the printing unit 17 to obtain an actual print image. It is confirmed that the next data exists (step 520). If there is next data, the next data is set (step 525) and the process returns to the main operation (step 540) to wait for the next interrupt request. If there is no next data, disable the interrupt (step 530) and return to the main operation (step 54).
0). If a command or data for printing the next page to the printer 1520 is transferred during the above interrupt operation, the command or data can be received. This is the end of the print operation for this page.

Regarding processing time, TIME1; print command and data creation time in the host.

TIME2: Band creation time in the host.

TIME3: expansion processing of the first band in the host, transfer of the second to fifth bands from the host to the printer in parallel therewith, and expansion time of the third to fifth bands in the printer in parallel therewith.

TIME4: Direct printing of the first band and development processing time of the second band in the printer in parallel with the direct printing.

TIME5: Time for printing expanded data from the second to the fifth. The time of TIME4 to TIME5 is determined by the performance of the printing unit, and is 10 here. TIME1
~ TIME3 is determined by the processing capacity of the host, and when the host capacity is 2, TIME1 is 15, TIME2 is 1, and TIME3 is 10. Therefore, the total printing time was 36. FIG. 14 illustrates this.

When the processing capacity of the host computer is 10, TIME1 is 3, TIME2 is 0.2, and TIM is
E3 was 3 and TIME4 + TIME5 was 10, so the total printing time was 16.2.

The processing capacity of the host computer is 1
If 00, TIME1 is 0.3, TIME2 is 0.02, TIME3 is 0.3, and TIME4 + T.
Since IME5 was 10, the total printing time was 10.62.

As described above, by dividing the image of one page into bands and processing the bands in parallel by the host and the printer, the faster processing can process new bands one after another. It is possible to combine the speedup of either one with the speedup of the entire process.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

As described above, according to the printing apparatus and the printing method of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the printing time from the input of the print start to the creation of the printing image data due to the processing capacity of the host computer. Also, if one page is appropriately divided and processed according to the processing capacities of the host computer and the printer, the load can be ideally distributed according to the ratio of the processing capacity of the host computer and the processing capacity of the printer. The fastest printing is possible.

[0084]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment using a printing method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a conventional printer control system.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a main print operation of the host computer according to the first embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 4 is a band transfer operation flowchart of the host computer according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 5 is a main printing operation flowchart of the printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an interrupt operation flowchart of the printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a second embodiment using the printing method of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a main printing operation of the host computer according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a band transfer operation of the host computer according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a main printing operation of the printer according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a host computer printing operation flowchart of a conventional printing method.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a printing operation of a printer according to a conventional printing method.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a processing sequence of the first embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a processing sequence of a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3000 conventional way computer 3001 host computer (not shown) 3010 host computer according to the first embodiment of the present invention 3020 host computer according to the second embodiment of the present invention 2000 host computer main body 1 CPU 2 RAM 3 ROM 4 system voice 5 keyboard controller ( KBC) 6 CRT controller (CRTC) 7 Disk controller (DKC) 8 Printer controller (PRTC) 9 Keyboard 10 CRT display 11 External memory 12 Printer CPU 13 ROM 14 External memory 15 System bus 16 Printing unit interface 17 Printing unit (printer engine) 18 Host Interface 19 RAM 21 Interface 1500 Conventional Printer 1510 Printer 1 of Embodiment 1 of the Present Invention 15 0 Printer of Embodiment 2 of the present invention 1501 Operation panel 100 Direct printing control means 101 Sorting band creating means 102 Direct printing instructing means 103 Transfer band instructing means 104 Expansion band instructing means 106 Host capacity storing means 107 Printer capacity storing means 110 Final band Storage unit 113 Input unit with counter 114 Printing unit control unit with selector

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A printing system which includes a host device and a printing device and prints out in page units, wherein a dividing unit divides print data for one page into bands of a predetermined size, and the dividing unit First expansion means for expanding one of the divided bands into image data, and in parallel with the expansion of the image data by the first expansion means,
A host device having a transfer unit for transferring band 1 to the printing device; and a direct print instruction unit for instructing to print out the image data for one band expanded by the first expansion unit from the printing device, A second expansion means for expanding the band transferred by the transfer means into image data, and in parallel with the expansion of the image data by the second expansion means,
A direct printing control means for controlling printing of image data to be printed by the direct printing means; and a printing device having a printing means for printing out the image data expanded by the second expanding means. Characteristic printing system. 2. A printing system which includes a host device and a printing device and prints out in page units, wherein a dividing unit divides print data for one page into bands of a predetermined size, and the dividing unit First expanding means for expanding the divided bands into image data in order from the top of the page, and in parallel with the expanding of the image data by the first expanding means,
Transfer means for transferring the band not expanded by the first expanding means to the printing device from the end of the page, and image data for one band expanded by the first expanding means is printed out from the printing device. A host device having direct printing instruction means for instructing, a second expansion means for expanding the band transferred by the transfer means into image data, and a parallel expansion of the image data by the second expansion means,
A direct printing control means for controlling printing of image data to be printed by the direct printing means; and a printing device having a printing means for printing out the image data expanded by the second expanding means. Characteristic printing system. 3. A printing method for printing out in page units, wherein a dividing step of dividing print data for one page into bands of a predetermined size, and 1 of the bands divided by the dividing step is image data. In parallel with the first expansion step of expanding the image data in the first expansion step,
A transfer step of transferring 1 of the band, a direct printing step of printing out the image data for one band expanded by the first expanding step, and a band transferred by the transfer step by the direct printing step. A second developing step of developing the print image data in parallel with the print output, and a step of printing the image data developed by the second developing step subsequent to the print output of the direct printing step. Characteristic printing method. 4. A printing method for printing out in page units, comprising a dividing step of dividing print data for one page into bands of a predetermined size, and a band divided by the dividing step from the top of the page. A first expanding step of expanding the image data in order, and in parallel with the expanding of the image data by the first expanding step,
A transfer step of sequentially transferring the bands not expanded by the first expanding step from the end of the page; a direct printing step of printing out the image data of the bands expanded by the first expanding step; A second expansion step of expanding the transferred band into print image data in parallel with the print output of the direct printing step, and the image data expanded by the second expansion step to the print output of the direct printing step. A printing method comprising the step of continuously printing and outputting.