JP2860201B2 - Output device and method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an output apparatus and method, and more particularly to an output apparatus and method for interpreting input information to generate and output output information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a printing apparatus that supports a plurality of types of print control codes in order to correspond to various external apparatuses (host computers) or to correspond to application software operating on the host computer. .

[0003] In general, which printing control code system is to be instructed through an operation panel is used, but in some cases, it is switched by a control command from an external device.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, it is necessary to know whether or not the printing apparatus has selected the wrong control code system every time printing is actually performed. Otherwise, problems such as unexpected print results may occur.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above prior art, and efficiently determines an appropriate interpreting section for input information without giving a special instruction and outputs an intended output. The aim is to provide an output device and a method that make it possible to obtain a result.

In order to solve this problem, for example, the output device of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, a first selection unit that selects a corresponding interpretation unit by analyzing the input information according to a first determination criterion from among a plurality of interpretation units for interpreting input information and generating output information, If there is no interpreting unit for interpreting the input information by the first selecting means, and the selection is not possible, the input information is analyzed according to a second criterion lower than the first criterion, and the corresponding interpreting unit is analyzed. And output means for causing the interpretation unit selected by the first and second selection means to interpret the input information, generate output information, and output the information.

[0007]

In the configuration of the present invention, the first selecting means analyzes the input information in accordance with the first criterion to select a corresponding interpreting section. Here, when there is no interpreting unit corresponding to the first criterion and the selection cannot be made, the second selecting means analyzes the input information according to the second criterion lower than the first criterion, and Select the interpreter to perform. In this way, the input information is interpreted by the selected interpreter, output information is generated, and the output means outputs the information.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[Description of Laser Beam Printer (FIG. 4)] Before describing the configuration of this embodiment, the configuration of a laser beam printer to which this embodiment is applied will be described with reference to FIG.

In the figure, 100 is the LBP main body,
While inputting and storing print information (character codes, etc.), form information, macro instructions, etc., supplied from an externally connected host computer, create a corresponding character pattern, form pattern, etc. according to the information, An image is formed on a recording paper as a recording medium. 1
Reference numeral 01 denotes an operation panel on which switches for operation and an LED display are arranged, and 1 denotes a printer control unit that controls the entire LBP 100 and analyzes character information supplied from a host computer. The printer control unit 1 mainly converts character information into a video signal of a corresponding character pattern and outputs the video signal to the laser driver 102.

The laser driver 102 is a semiconductor laser 10
3 for driving the laser light 1 emitted from the semiconductor laser 103 in accordance with the input video signal.
04 is turned on / off. The laser beam 104 is swung right and left by a rotating polygon mirror 105 to form an electrostatic drum 106.
The upper side is exposed by scanning. As a result, an electrostatic latent image of a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 106. This latent image is developed by a developing unit 107 provided around the electrostatic drum 106 and then transferred to a recording sheet. A cut sheet is used as the recording paper, and the cut sheet recording paper is stored in a paper cassette 108 mounted on the LBP 100, taken into the apparatus by a paper feed roller 109 and transport rollers 110 and 111, and Supplied to

[Explanation of Printer Control System (FIG. 1)] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the processing flow of the printer control unit 1. In the figure, reference numeral 2 denotes an external device serving as a print data generation source, 3 denotes an input unit, 4 denotes a control code discriminating unit, 5.6.7 denotes a control code analyzing unit, 8 denotes a developing unit, 9 denotes a frame memory,
Reference numeral 10 denotes an output unit, 11 denotes an output mechanism, and 12 denotes a recording medium.

The data transferred from the external device 2 is temporarily stored in the input unit 3. If the amount of data stored in the input unit 3 reaches a predetermined reference value, or if a certain period of time has elapsed after storing the last data even if the data amount does not reach the reference value, the data stored in the input unit 3 Is sent to the control code discriminating unit 4 to perform a discriminating process.

Here, there is a reason why the discrimination processing is performed after a certain amount of print data is stored. In other words, using only one control code is dangerous to determine the code system of the data after that, and it is more reliable to process a certain number of control codes as judgment targets. Because it can be higher.
Ideally, it is desirable to determine the contents after receiving all the print data of a single print job sent from the external storage device 2. However, in this case, it takes time until printing is completed. Is a problem. Therefore, in the embodiment, when a few hundred bytes of data are received, or when the print data itself is small, a predetermined time has elapsed since the last data was received.

[0015] When the data for this determination is stored in the input unit 3, the control code determination unit 4 determines which control code analysis unit corresponds to the control code in the data. As a result, one of the corresponding control code analysis units 5 to 7 is selected and the received print data is transmitted. The information processed by one of the control code analysis units 5 to 7 is sent to the expansion unit 8, and an output image is generated on the frame memory 9 in the form of, for example, a bit map memory for one page. The output unit 10 performs on / off control of the laser beam for the output mechanism 11 in accordance with the frame memory to thereby control the output of the recording medium 1 such as paper.
2 records the print result.

Here, the control code discriminating section 4 of the embodiment will be described in more detail. The control code discrimination criterion in the control code discrimination unit 4 is divided into the following three stages.
Here, the first stage is the strictest criterion, and the feature is that the criterion becomes looser as the stage progresses.

First stage: There is a unique feature that can be determined to be a control code of the analysis unit. Or, there is an obvious feature that can be determined not to be the analysis unit.

Second stage: Although not specific to the analysis unit,
There is a feature that the control code can be almost determined as the control code of the analysis unit. Alternatively, there is a feature that it can be determined that it is not almost the analysis unit.

Third stage: It can be determined that there is no problem even if printing is performed by the analysis unit.

In order to realize the above judgment, the control code discriminating section 4 is provided with a memory for storing the entire control code system (or a part thereof) used in each of the control code analyzing sections 5-7. Among them, a control code unique to each analysis unit itself (or a control code that cannot be analyzed by another analysis unit) is determined so as to be distinguished therefrom (for example, a flag is set).

Actually, in the first stage, it is determined whether there is a control code unique to each analysis unit in the data stored in the input unit 3. If it is not possible to narrow down to a specific analysis unit by the first-stage determination process, the determination level is lowered and the second-stage determination process is performed. Here, the determination process in the second stage is as described above, but the specifics are as follows. That is, the connection relation of a series of control codes is examined. That is, the control code A
And the control code B are common to the respective analysis units, but the control code B is continuous after the control code A, or the control code B is not continuous after the control code A.
Investigate the case of having a specific connection relationship.
Therefore, in addition to the above-mentioned information, the control code discriminating section 4 also stores, for each control code analyzing section, information on the relationship between control codes used by the control code analyzing sections. By the way, if you were not able to narrow down by the judgment of this second stage,
The judgment level is further lowered (at the third stage), and the judgment is made. Here, it is determined only whether each control code analysis unit can analyze the input control codes. If it is determined that data that cannot be analyzed by any of them has been sent, the print data is passed to a preset analysis unit.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the algorithm of the operation process of the control code discriminating unit 4 in this embodiment to realize the above-described process. Less than,
It will be described step by step.

The control code discriminating section 4 first sets the discriminating criterion to the strictest first step in step S1. In the next step S2, as an initial state, it is assumed that all of the control code analysis units 5 to 7 are valid for analysis. As will be described before and after, the control code analyzers 5 to 7 in the embodiment have a preset analysis priority (here, the control code analyzers 5, 6, and 7 have higher priorities). Therefore, for example, when it is determined that the control code analysis unit 6 performs the analysis process, the determination process for the control code analysis unit 7 is omitted.

In step S3, the control code analyzer 5 determines whether or not it is currently valid. Step S
When the process shifts from 2, all the analysis units are valid, and the process proceeds to step S4 here. When the process proceeds to step S4, the data stored in the input unit 3 is examined to determine whether the data is for the control code analysis unit 5. Here, if it can be determined that the data is for the control code analysis unit 5, step S5
Then, the control code analyzing unit 5 determines the analysis processing of the received print data.

If it is determined at the current determination level that the received print data cannot be processed by the control code analysis unit 5, the process proceeds to step S6, where it can be determined that the data is not the control code analysis unit 5. Find out what. If the control code analysis unit 5 determines that the data is not analyzed, the process proceeds to step S7, where the control code analysis unit 5 is set to the invalid state.

Next, the process proceeds to a processing step S8, where the same processing as the above-described steps S3 to S7 is performed on the control code analyzing unit 6. Then, the control code analysis unit 6
If it cannot be determined to be the same, the same processing is performed on the control code analysis unit 7 (steps S13 to S1).
7).

If the control code analysis unit 7 cannot determine, the process proceeds to step S18 to determine whether the current determination level is the third level. In the third stage, that is, when it is determined that the level cannot be lowered any more, the process proceeds to step S15, where a preset analysis unit is selected, and the process is continued. If the current level is the first or second stage, the process proceeds to step S20,
The level is lowered, and the process returns to step S3 to execute the above-described processing. It should be noted that the determination process is not performed on the control code analyzer that has already been determined (invalidated) not to be the analyzer in the previous stage (step S).
3, S8, S13). This eliminates the need for performing unnecessary determination processing, thereby shortening the determination processing time.

Here, the printer control unit 1 of the embodiment
3 is shown in FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a printer control unit of the embodiment, and 2 denotes an external device for outputting print information. Reference numeral 21 denotes an input interface for inputting print information from the external device 2, and reference numeral 22 denotes a CPU that controls the entire control unit 1. A ROM 23 stores an operation processing procedure of the CPU 22 (a program related to the flowchart in FIG. 2) and also stores a character font pattern and the like, 24 a work area of the CPU 22, an external device 2
RA used to store a reception buffer for storing received print data and page data for constructing an output image for one page from the received print information.
M. Reference numeral 25 denotes a frame memory for developing an output image, which is also constituted by a RAM. Reference numeral 26 denotes an output interface for outputting an output image to the output unit 10 that actually performs printing. These components are connected to the system bus 31.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in a printing apparatus having a plurality of control code analysis units, it is possible to analyze a control code from an external device and select a control code analysis unit to be automatically used. Therefore, there is no need to set the control code analysis unit used by the user using the operation panel in advance or to set the control code analysis unit using a dedicated command from the external device. This facilitates the connection operation with the external device.

The control code has a plurality of criteria for discriminating the control code, and the discriminating process is performed in the order of the stricter criteria. This makes it possible to easily realize a control code discrimination process with a very high probability, and to shorten the discrimination processing time.

In the above embodiment, the criterion for the control code discriminating section 4 is not limited to three steps but may be any number. Also, the control code analysis units 5 and 6
7 is not limited to three types, but may be two types or four or more types. Further, by treating the control code analysis unit and the corresponding control code discrimination unit as one program unit and freely combining them, a printing apparatus with excellent expandability can be obtained.

Although the embodiment has been described with respect to an example in which the present invention is applied to the printing apparatus itself, the apparatus of the present invention may be an independent apparatus located between the host computer and the printing apparatus. In this case, the image data developed in the frame memory 25 shown in FIG. 3 may be output to the subsequent printer. In some cases, the received data may be converted and output for a subsequent printer. Therefore, the present invention is not limited by the printing method of the printer described above.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently determine an appropriate interpreting section for input information without giving a special instruction, and obtain an intended output result. .

[0034]

[0035]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a processing flow of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a process in a control code determining unit.

FIG. 3 is a specific configuration diagram of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing an internal structure of the laser beam printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer control unit 2 External device 3 Input part 4 Control code discrimination part 5-7 Control code analysis part 8 Development part 9 Frame memory 10 Output part 11 Output mechanism 12 Recording medium

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-2-178725 (JP, A) JP-A-59-167745 (JP, A) JP-A-5-11943 (JP, A) JP-A-5-104826 (JP) JP-A-2-156325 (JP, A) JP-A-3-142271 (JP, A) JP-A-5-138995 (JP, A) JP-A-5-75762 (JP, A) 5-177885 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B41J 29/38 B41J 5/30 G06T 11/00 G06F 3/12

Claims (10)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first selection unit that selects a corresponding interpretation unit by analyzing input information according to a first determination criterion from among a plurality of interpretation units for interpreting input information and generating output information. Means, there is no interpreting unit for interpreting the input information by the first selecting means, and if the input information cannot be selected, the input information is analyzed in accordance with a second criterion lower than the first criterion, and Second selecting means for selecting an interpreting section to be executed; and output means for causing the interpreting section selected by the first and second selecting means to interpret the input information, generate output information, and output the information. An output device, comprising: 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first selection unit sequentially determines whether the input information can be interpreted by each of the interpretation units based on the first determination criterion. The output device according to claim 1, wherein a corresponding interpretation unit is selected. 3. The second selecting unit, when the corresponding interpreting unit cannot be specified by the first selecting unit, allows each interpreting unit to interpret the input information according to the second determination criterion. 3. The output device according to claim 1, wherein the output device is determined in order, and when it is determined that there is an interpreter that can be interpreted, the corresponding interpreter is selected. 4. 4. The output device according to claim 1, wherein the output unit outputs the output information to a predetermined printing unit. 5. The output device according to claim 4, further comprising a printing unit for outputting by said output unit. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first criterion is:
Whether or not print control information unique to one interpreting unit is included, and the second criterion is whether or not the arrangement order of the control information is specific to one interpreting unit. The output device according to claim 1, wherein 7. A first selection for selecting a corresponding interpretation unit from a plurality of interpretation units for interpreting input information and generating output information by analyzing the input information according to a first determination criterion. And if there is no interpreting unit for interpreting the input information in the first selecting step, and the input information cannot be selected, the input information is analyzed according to a second criterion lower than the first criterion,
A second selecting step of selecting a corresponding interpreting section, an output step of causing the interpreting section selected by the first and second selecting steps to interpret the input information, generate output information, and output the information. An output method, comprising: 8. The first selecting step sequentially determines whether or not the input information can be interpreted by an individual interpreting unit based on the first criterion, and when it is determined that there is an interpreting unit that can be interpreted, 8. The output method according to claim 7, wherein a corresponding interpreter is selected. 9. In the second selecting step, when the corresponding interpreting section cannot be specified by the first selecting step, each interpreting section can interpret the input information according to the second criterion. The output method according to claim 7, wherein the output method is determined in order, and when it is determined that there is an interpreter that can be interpreted, the corresponding interpreter is selected. 10. The output method according to claim 7, wherein the output step outputs the output information to a predetermined printing unit.