JP3472064B2 - Printing equipment - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus,
In particular, the present invention relates to a printing apparatus capable of performing multiple-page layout printing. 2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the development of information processing apparatuses (hereinafter, referred to as hosts) such as personal computers and workstations, a network to which these hosts are directly or directly connected. Printing devices, such as laser printers and inkjet printers, that perform printing based on print data sent via the printer, have become widespread. Note that this type of printing apparatus is sometimes referred to as a network printer. In this type of printing apparatus, transmitted print data is developed as page data in a drawing memory such as a RAM, and when all the print data for one page has been developed as page data, A so-called page printing method for printing the page-developed print data all at once is widely used. [0004] Among the printing apparatuses capable of printing pages of this type, a conventional printing apparatus develops a page of print data for one page into a drawing memory, and transfers the data after the development to a printing unit. Output has been performed, but recently, as shown in FIG. 5, a so-called 2-in-1 layout function for reducing print data of two pages into one page and printing the data, and printing data of four pages in one page Printing apparatuses having a so-called 4-in-1 layout function for printing in reduced size have also appeared. These assignment functions are very useful functions for test printing of an unfinished document and for creating an abstract used for searching for a printed matter of a completed document at a later date. For example, in a printing apparatus in which 4-in-1 layout is set, if 17 pages of print data are processed, 5 pages (4 pages + 4 pages + 1 page + 4 pages + 1 page + 4 pages + 1 page) (One sheet) is printed. [0005] However, the allocation function used in the conventional printing apparatus is performed for each print job data which is a set of independent print data. Layout printing over print job data has not been performed. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG.
In a printing device to which 4-in-1 layout is set, 1
When four pieces of print job data having print data for a page are transmitted, four pieces of print job data are separately printed, and as a result, four sheets are printed, and the layout function is not used at all. In some cases, the desired print result could not be obtained. On the other hand, even if layout printing can be performed over a plurality of print job data to solve this problem, as shown in FIG. 7, print job data from a plurality of users or print data from a plurality of hosts are used. In some cases, print job data, etc. may be allocated and printed on the same page, and there are inconveniences such as splitting the print document later and copying for the mixed users, and the contents of the print document. Security issues also arise. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and has as its object to provide a printing apparatus capable of appropriately performing layout printing over a plurality of print job data. In order to achieve this object, a printing apparatus according to the present invention expands print data transmitted from a host device and stores a plurality of drawing memories for storing generated drawing data. A printing apparatus that stores the drawing data in at least one of the plurality of drawing memories, wherein the user of the transmission source of the print data transmitted from the higher-level device is provided.
Print data attribute determining means for determining an attribute for identifying a user, etc., and drawing for selecting a drawing memory in which to store the drawing data generated by the expansion processing based on a result determined by the print data attribute determining means. Memory selection means ;
A drawing memory selected by the drawing memory selecting means
The drawing data stored in the
The specified page to allocate as data for the page
Assignment position setting means for setting the assignment position of minute data
And characterized in that: That is, when storing the developed and generated drawing data in any of the plurality of drawing memories, the drawing memory selecting means sets the drawing data based on the result determined by the print data attribute determining means. A drawing memory in which the drawing data is to be stored is selected. And the above-mentioned rate
The attaching position setting means is provided by the drawing memory selecting means.
Print the drawing data stored in the selected drawing memory
Allocated as data for a given page in one page of paper
In order to set the data allocation position for the predetermined page,
You. An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a printing apparatus 30 according to the present embodiment. The printing device 30 includes an interface unit 12 for receiving print job data from a host device 10 such as a computer connected via a network, a reception buffer 14 for storing the received print job data, and a reception buffer 14 for receiving the print job data. The print job data stored in the drawing memory 22 is read out and expanded, and the expanded result is stored in the drawing memory 22.
, A plurality of drawing memories 22 for storing data expanded by the expansion processing unit 20, and a printing unit 24 for printing out the expanded data stored in the drawing memory 22. Is provided. The printing device 30 further includes a print data attribute determining unit 16 for analyzing and determining the attribute of the print job data.
A specific drawing memory 2 in which the data expanded by the expansion processing unit 20 is to be stored from among the plurality of drawing memories 22 based on the determined print data attribute.
The print data attribute determination unit 16 and the drawing memory selection unit 18 are both connected to the development processing unit 20. As shown in FIG. 2, an actual hardware configuration of the printing apparatus 30 having the above-described configuration includes a CPU 50 for controlling the entire printing apparatus 30 and a control program for controlling each section of the printing apparatus 30. ROM 54 storing data necessary for printing, such as font data and font data;
M52, a clock 64 used for recording the reception time of print job data, synchronizing the operation timing of each unit of the printing apparatus 30, and the like, and an input / output interface for communicating with a computer 60 connected via a network 56
, A printer engine interface 58 that communicates with the printer engine 62, a hard disk 70 that is a large-capacity external storage device, and an external device interface 68 that communicates with the hard disk 70.
And a bus 66 interconnecting them. The control programs stored in the ROM 54 include a program for controlling the printer engine 62,
An emulation program for interpreting the print job data and converting it into data of a bitmap type or a run-length type, and storing the result in the drawing memory 22, and the like. Based on the function of the print data attribute discriminating section 16 for analyzing and discriminating the attributes of the job data and the drawing memory selecting section 18 for selecting the drawing memory 22 in which the data subjected to the expansion processing is to be stored based on the discriminated print data attributes A program for realizing the function is also included. Therefore, in the functional block diagram of FIG. 1, the function of the print data attribute discriminating section 16, the function of the drawing memory selecting section 18, and the function of the developing section 20 are the same as those of the ROM 54.
Is executed by the CPU 50 executing the control program stored in the CPU 50. The area of the RAM 52 includes a receiving buffer 14 for storing print job data sent from a computer 60 or the like connected via a network, in addition to a work area used when executing the emulation program.
Area for the drawing memory 22 and an area for the drawing memory 22.
It is used as an area for storing the attributes of the assigned page data stored in each drawing memory 22 in association with each drawing memory 22. The hard disk 70 stores font data and the like used by the emulation program, and a print job data storage area for storing print job data that does not fit in the reception buffer 14 in the RAM 52. A page data storage unit or the like that stores expanded data of print job data exceeding the capacity allocated to the drawing memory 22 is allocated. The printing unit 24 in the functional block diagram of FIG. 1 corresponds to the printer engine 62, and corresponds to, for example, a recording engine such as a laser printer or an ink jet printer. Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The flow of processing of print job data in the printing apparatus 30 will be described. This processing example shows a flow of processing in which the drawing memory 22 to which the data after development is allocated is switched according to a change in the attribute of the print job data.
In this processing example, the computer that is the source of the print job data is used as the attribute type. In step (hereinafter referred to as S) 10, the layout print mode is set. That is, the number of allocated pages per page (2 in 1 or 4 in 1),
Attributes of the print job data serving as a reference for switching of the drawing memory 22 (the computer that transmits the print job data,
Settings such as the type of the user. In step S12, parameters for allocation, the contents stored in the drawing memory 22, and the like are initialized. At S14, the input / output interface 5 determines whether or not new print job data has been sent.
6 and if new data is available (S14: yes
s) In step S16, the print job data is received.
It is stored in the reception buffer 14 in M52. If new data has not arrived (S14: no), the process returns to S14. That is, S14 forms a loop that waits for reception of new print job data. In step S16, the print job data is received, and RA
After storing the data in the reception buffer 14 in the M52, in S18, it is checked whether or not the print job data is a command to end the layout printing.
s), the process proceeds to S22. If it is not the layout printing end command (S18: no), the process proceeds to S20. If it is determined in step S18 that the command is for ending the layout printing (S18: yes), in step S22, the contents of all the pages allocated to all the drawing memories 22 are printed out. That is, the allocated page development data stored in the drawing memory 22 or the page data storage unit in the hard disk 70 is transferred from the page data storage unit in the RAM 52 and the hard disk 70 to the printer engine 62 via the printer engine interface 58. Transfer and print out all the page data being allocated. In S20, the attributes of the received print job data are checked. Normally, data for specifying the transmission source computer is added to the print job data transmitted through the network, so that the transmission source computer of the print job data can be specified by the data. In S24, the attribute of the page data already allocated stored in the plurality of drawing memories 22 in the RAM 52 is compared with the attribute of the print job data determined in S20, and is stored in the drawing memory 22. If there is page data of the same transmission source as the transmission source of the print job data received this time among the plurality of allocated page data, it is determined that the drawing memory 22 having the same attribute exists (S2).
4: yes), the process proceeds to S26. If the plurality of allocated page data stored in the drawing memory 22 does not include the same page data as the source computer of the new print job data (S24: n)
o), the process proceeds to S28. In S26, the drawing memory 22 corresponding to the same transmission source as the currently received print job data is selected. In S32, it is checked whether or not the print job data is a compulsory print command for the page data in the middle of the layout, and if it is a compulsory print command (S32: yes)
s), the process proceeds to S34. If it is not a forced print command (S32: no), the process proceeds to S38. In S32, if the print job data is a compulsory print command for the page data in the middle of layout (S32: yes), in S34, the page data in the middle of layout in the drawing memory 22 selected in S26. Is transferred to the printer engine 62 via the printer engine interface 58, and the page is printed out. Then, after the printing is completed, the drawing memory 22 set in S26 is released. By this release, the attribute associated with the drawing memory 22 on which the forced printing has been performed is deleted. In S24, when it is determined that none of the allocated page data stored in the drawing memory 22 corresponds to the same transmission source as the print job data received this time (S24: no) ), In S28,
The current print job data is processed, and the drawing memory 22 to be allocated and stored as page data as a result is newly secured from the RAM 52. If there is no unused area in the RAM 52 sufficient to secure an area for the new drawing memory 22, the drawing memory 22 corresponding to another transmission source is used.
Can be temporarily saved in the page data storage section of the hard disk 70, and the resulting open area in the RAM 52 can secure an area for the drawing memory 22 corresponding to the new attribute. As described above, after the area for the drawing memory 22 allocated to the new attribute is secured in the RAM 52, in S30, the number of pages of the data allocated to the drawing memory 22 is counted. Is initialized, and the process proceeds to S38. In S38, a parameter for allocating data of a predetermined page to one page of printing paper is set. For example, in the case of 4-in-1 layout, it is necessary to reduce the page size of the print job data from 40% to 50%. Therefore, a parameter (magnification etc.) for reduction processing is set, and four Location (top left,
It is necessary to set parameters for moving to the upper right, lower left, lower right). Then, referring to the page counter, the parameters are set so that the first page is assigned to the upper left, the second page is assigned to the upper right, the third page is assigned to the lower left, and the fourth page is assigned to the lower right. In the case of 2-in-1 allocation, parameters for rotating 90 degrees clockwise are also set. In step S40, referring to the parameter set in step S38 for allocation, one of the print job data is referred to.
Perform page expansion processing. In this development processing, the print job data is interpreted and converted into bitmap type or run length type data, and the result is stored in the drawing memory 22 selected as the storage destination. Then, after the development process for one page is completed, the page counter is incremented by one in S42. At S44, the page counter is set to S3
It is checked whether or not the number of allocated pages set in step 8 has been reached. If the page counter has reached the number of allocated pages per page (S44: yes), the page data being allocated is stored in the RAM 52 in step S46. Is transferred from the drawing memory 22 to the printer engine 62 via the printer engine interface 58 to perform page printing, the page counter is initialized in S48, and the process proceeds to S50. If the page counter has not reached the number of allocated pages per page in S44 (S44: n
o), the process directly proceeds to S50 without performing page printing. In S50, it is determined whether there is any unprocessed print job data. If all the print job data has been processed (S50: yes), the process returns to S14. If it is determined in S50 that there is still unprocessed print job data (S50: no), the process proceeds to S38. Then, the processing flow from S38 to S50 is repeated until all the print job data is processed. FIG. 4 shows an example in which a plurality of print job data are actually processed by 4-in-1 allocation. FIG. 4 shows two computers, computer1 and computer, on the network.
This is an example of a case where the processing of the print job data sent from No. 2 is performed. In addition, the part which becomes the main part of this invention is demonstrated, referring to each step in the flowchart of FIG. 3 as needed. When print job data job1 having two pages of data is received from computer1,
By the process of S28, one drawing memory 22 stores "c
The first page of “output1” is assigned to the first page, and two pages of the print job data job1 are allocated to the drawing memory 22. In this case, since page data for four pages has not been allocated to the drawing memory 22 yet, it is not printed out yet (S44: no) and remains stored in the drawing memory 22. Next, print job data job2 having five pages of data is received from computer2. The attribute "computer2" of the print job data job2 is the attribute "computer1" of the page data stored in the drawing memory 22.
(S24: no), the print job data job2 from computer2 is newly added in S28.
The drawing memory 22 is reserved, and the page is developed and allocated there. At this time, after four pages of data are allocated to the drawing memory 22, the data is printed out (S
44: yes → S46), the page counter of the drawing memory 22 having the attribute of “computer2” is initialized (S48), and the fifth page of the print job data job2 is allocated to the first page of the drawing memory 22.
Since the drawing memory 22 has not finished allocating four pages, the process ends with the fifth page of the print job data job2 stored. Next, print job data job3 having data for three pages is received from computer1. The print job data job3 is composed of compu
Since the job data is transmitted from ter1, it is determined that the print job data has the same attribute as print job data job1 (S24: yes), and two pages of print job data job1 are determined by drawing memory selection unit 18. The assigned drawing memory 22 is selected, and the first two pages of the print job data job3 are assigned to the drawing memory 22 (S26 → S32 → S38 →
(S40 → S42) When four pages of data are accumulated, printout is performed (S44 → S46). The third page of the print job data job3 is a new drawing memory 2
2, and the processing for the print job data job3 ends. At this time, the third page of the print job data job3 and the fifth page of the print job data job2 are allocated in the two drawing memories 22, respectively. Subsequently, print job data job4 having data for six pages is received. Print job data j
Since ob4 is transmitted from the computer2, it is determined that the job4 has the same attribute as the job data job2 (S24: yes), and is added to the drawing memory 22 to which the fifth page of the print job data job2 is allocated.
The first three pages of the print job data job4 are allocated and printed out, and the print job data job4
The fifth and sixth pages are allocated to the drawing memory 22 in which the page counter has been initialized through S48, and the processing for the print job data job4 ends. As described above, page data is allocated to different drawing memories 22 for each print job data having the same attribute, and a predetermined number of pages are accumulated, and each time the layout is completed, each drawing memory 22 is stored in each drawing memory 22. The stored drawing data is printed out. The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, in the above embodiment, 4i
In the case of n1 layout, page printing was performed when layout of print job data for four pages was completed.
If there is enough free space in the RAM 52 or the hard disk 70, it is possible to accumulate a plurality of drawing memories 22 to which four pages have been allocated, and to collectively print data having the same attribute later. In the above-described embodiment, the printing apparatus has a printer controller unit and a printing unit, each of which has a main configuration according to the present invention, integrally formed. However, the present invention is not limited to this. You may comprise separately from a printing part. As apparent from the above description,
According to the printing apparatus of the present invention, when layout printing is performed over a plurality of print job data, if the attribute of the print job data (for example, the computer or user name of the transmission source of the print job data) changes, the attribute is changed. By switching the drawing memory every time and storing the results of the allocation and development processing of print job data, it is possible to avoid that print job data of different users or print job data of computers of different transmission sources are allocated to the same page. Can be. Therefore, it is possible to provide a printing apparatus that can appropriately perform the layout printing over a plurality of print job data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a hardware configuration of the printing apparatus. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing in the printing apparatus. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an operation example of the printing apparatus. FIG. 5 is a diagram for schematically explaining layout printing. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a problem of layout printing by a conventional printing apparatus. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating another problem of layout printing by a conventional printing apparatus. [Description of Signs] 10 Host device 12 Interface unit 14 Receive buffer 16 Print data attribute discriminating unit 18 Drawing memory selecting unit 20 Expansion processing unit 22 Drawing memory

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 3/12 B41J 5/30

Claims (1)

(57) [Claim 1] A plurality of drawing memories for storing drawing data generated by expanding print data transmitted from a host device, and at least one of the plurality of drawing memories In a printing apparatus that stores the drawing data, a user or the like of the transmission source of the print data transmitted from the higher-level device
And print data attribute determining means for determining an attribute for specifying, based on the result of the determination by the print data attribute determination unit, a drawing memory selection means for selecting drawing memory to be stored the drawing data, the drawing memory Drawing memory selected by selection means
The drawing data stored in the
The specified page to allocate as data for the page
Assignment position setting means for setting the assignment position of minute data
Printing apparatus characterized by comprising, when.