JP5949006B2 - CONTROL DEVICE, CONTROL SYSTEM, CONTROL DEVICE CONTROL METHOD, AND PROGRAM - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a control device connectable to a recording apparatus, the control apparatus and a control system including the recording apparatus, a control method for the control apparatus, and a program for controlling the control apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a system in which a control device (host device) and a recording device (printer) are connected via a communication cable, and the control device and the recording device communicate via a communication cable and cooperate to record on a recording medium. It is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-123318 A

Here, as in the above-described system, in the case where the control device and the recording device communicate and cooperate to perform recording on the recording medium, after the control device instructs the recording device to record on the recording medium, There is a need to make the time required for completing the recording as short as possible.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and from the point that recording is instructed to the completion based on the characteristic that the control device and the recording device communicate and cooperate to perform recording on a recording medium. The purpose is to shorten the time required for.

To achieve the above object, the present invention queries the recorder compression method to be unpacked in the recording apparatus, the images data and the data to generate the compressed image data based on the relevant thawing possible compression method before recording system, thawed the compressed image data to generate image data, generates a control command to record the images on record medium on the basis of those said image data, and transmits to the recording device records A control unit is provided.
Here, in the above configuration, when the image is recorded on the recording medium, the control command is transmitted from the control device to the recording device. If the size of the control command can be reduced, the time required for communication can be shortened. The time required for recording can be shortened. In the control command for instructing image recording, the image data included in the control command is relatively large data.
Based on the above, according to the above configuration, the recording control unit of the control device can compress the image data by a plurality of compression methods, and the compression method supported by the recording device before transmitting the control command. Inquire. Here, on the recording device side, the compression method that can be decompressed may differ depending on the status of the version of the control program such as firmware, and the function addition / deletion status. By inquiring about the compression method in advance, the image data can be compressed by a compression method supported by the recording apparatus. In addition, since the recording control unit can perform data compression using a plurality of different compression methods, it is possible to increase the possibility that the data can be compressed by a compression method supported by the recording apparatus. Further, according to the above configuration, the recording control unit compresses the image data having a large size among the data included in the control command by a compression method that the recording apparatus can reliably handle. For this reason, the size of the control command can be effectively reduced, and the time required for communication can be effectively reduced and the time required for recording can be reduced accordingly.

Further, the present invention, the recording control unit, when the pre-recording system is more capable compression method decompression, for each compression method to generate compressed image data by compressing the images data, respectively The compressed image data having the smallest size is identified by comparing the sizes of the compressed image data, and the control command including the identified compressed image data is generated and transmitted to the recording apparatus.
Here, when image data is compressed by a plurality of different compression methods, the compression method used to reduce the size of the image data is different depending on the mode of the image data. According to the above configuration, when there are a plurality of compression methods supported by the recording device, the recording control unit actually compresses the image data by each compression method to generate compressed image data, and the size is the largest. Include small compressed image data in the control command. Thereby, the size of the control command can be reduced as much as possible, and the time required for communication can be shortened more effectively and the time required for recording can be shortened accordingly.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the recording control unit changes whether or not to compress the image data included in the control command according to a communication method performed with the recording apparatus. .
Here, the communication method is a method for sending bits such as serial communication or parallel communication, a physical method for transmission / reception such as wired or wireless, and a more specific protocol such as Ethernet (registered trademark) or USB. This is a concept including all communication methods that affect the communication speed, such as the method according to the above. As is well known, the communication speed varies depending on the communication method.
According to the above configuration, the recording control unit changes whether or not to compress the image data included in the control command according to a communication method performed with the recording apparatus. It is possible to prevent the compression of the image data when the time required for recording can be shortened without performing the compression rather than the data compression of the image data sufficiently fast.

The present invention, by the function of Jo Tokoro application, the application execution unit for outputting information of the images, the functions of the printer driver, based on the information of the images to the application execution unit has output the control generates a command, and a printer driver execution unit to be transmitted to the recording apparatus, the recording control unit functions, characterized in that it is mounted on the printer driver.
Here, there are various types of applications on the control device, and there are many cases where the user makes fine settings according to their own needs. There is a need not to make any modifications. According to the above configuration, since the function of the recording control unit is implemented in the printer driver, the image information output from the application execution unit to the printer driver execution unit implements each function of the recording control unit. It is the same before and after, and no modification to the application is required.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a control system comprising a recording device that records an image on a recording medium, and a control device connectable to the recording device, wherein the control device includes the recording device. query device is thawed possible compression method to the recording device, to generate a compressed image data to image picture data to data compression by the said decompression possible compression method, before recording system, decompress the compressed image data by to generate image data, generates a control command to record the images on record medium on the basis of those said image data, a recording control unit to be transmitted to the recording apparatus, the recording apparatus, the query In response to the compression method that can be decompressed, the compressed image data included in the received control command is decompressed to generate image data, and an image is recorded on the recording medium based on the image data. Characterized in that it comprises a printer-side controller to print the.
According to this configuration, the recording control unit of the control apparatus can compress the image data by a plurality of compression methods, and inquires about the compression method supported by the recording apparatus before transmitting the control command. Here, on the recording device side, the compression method that can be decompressed may differ depending on the status of the version of the control program such as firmware, and the function addition / deletion status. By inquiring about the compression method in advance, the image data can be compressed by a compression method supported by the recording apparatus. In addition, since the recording control unit can perform data compression using a plurality of different compression methods, it is possible to increase the possibility that the data can be compressed by a compression method supported by the recording apparatus. Further, according to the above configuration, the recording control unit compresses the image data having a large size among the data included in the control command by a compression method that the recording apparatus can reliably handle. For this reason, the size of the control command can be effectively reduced, and the time required for communication can be effectively reduced and the time required for recording can be reduced accordingly.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides control method of controlling an control device, query the recording apparatus can decompress a compression method to the recording apparatus, images depending on the thawing possible compression method the data is data to generate the compressed image data, before recording system, thawed the compressed image data to generate image data, control to record images on record medium on the basis of those said image data A command is generated and transmitted to the recording apparatus.
According to this control method, the recording control unit of the control apparatus can compress the image data by a plurality of compression methods, and inquires about the compression method supported by the recording apparatus before transmitting the control command. Here, on the recording device side, the compression method that can be decompressed may differ depending on the status of the version of the control program such as firmware, and the function addition / deletion status. By inquiring about the compression method in advance, the image data can be compressed by a compression method supported by the recording apparatus. In addition, since the recording control unit can perform data compression using a plurality of different compression methods, it is possible to increase the possibility that the data can be compressed by a compression method supported by the recording apparatus. Further, according to the above configuration, the recording control unit compresses the image data having a large size among the data included in the control command by a compression method that the recording apparatus can reliably handle. For this reason, the size of the control command can be effectively reduced, and the time required for communication can be effectively reduced and the time required for recording can be reduced accordingly.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a program executed by a control unit that controls a control device connectable to a recording device that records on a recording medium, wherein the recording device decompresses the control unit. The recording device is inquired about a possible compression method, the compressed image data is generated by compressing the image data of the image by the decompressable compression method, and the compressed image data is decompressed by the recording device. to generate, based on those said image data to generate a control command to record the images on record medium, characterized in that to function as a recording control unit that transmits to the recording device.
If this program is executed, the recording control unit of the control apparatus can compress the image data by a plurality of compression methods, and inquires about the compression method supported by the recording apparatus before transmitting the control command. Here, on the recording device side, the compression method that can be decompressed may differ depending on the status of the version of the control program such as firmware, and the function addition / deletion status. By inquiring about the compression method in advance, the image data can be compressed by a compression method supported by the recording apparatus. In addition, since the recording control unit can perform data compression using a plurality of different compression methods, it is possible to increase the possibility that the data can be compressed by a compression method supported by the recording apparatus. Further, according to the above configuration, the recording control unit compresses the image data having a large size among the data included in the control command by a compression method that the recording apparatus can reliably handle. For this reason, the size of the control command can be effectively reduced, and the time required for communication can be effectively reduced and the time required for recording can be reduced accordingly.

  According to the present invention, based on the characteristic that the control device and the recording device communicate and cooperate to perform recording on the recording medium, the time required from the start to the completion of the recording is shortened.

It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the control system which concerns on this embodiment. The flowchart which shows operation | movement of a host computer and a printer.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the control system 1.
The control system 1 is a system that is applied to a store such as a supermarket or a convenience store, and issues a receipt in response to payment for a customer who has visited the store. As shown in FIG. 1, a host computer 10 (control device) And a printer 11 (recording device).

The host computer 10 includes a control unit 15, a display unit 16, an input unit 17, an interface unit (I / F) 18, and a storage unit 19.
The control unit 15 centrally controls each unit of the host computer 10 and includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and other peripheral circuits. As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 15 includes an application execution unit 20 and a printer driver execution unit 21, which will be described later.
The display unit 16 includes a display panel such as a liquid crystal display panel, and displays various types of information on the display panel under the control of the control unit 15. The input unit 17 is connected to various input devices such as a keyboard and a mouse, and outputs an output signal of the input device to the control unit 15. The interface unit 18 performs communication based on the communication standard with the printer 11 under the control of the control unit 15. The storage unit 19 includes a hard disk, a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM, and stores various data in a rewritable manner.

On the other hand, the printer 11 transports the thermal roll paper (recording medium) wound in a roll shape from the transport mechanism 24 and applies heat to the recording surface of the thermal roll paper by the line thermal head 25 provided with a heating element. This is a thermal head type recording apparatus that issues a receipt by recording an image and then cutting the thermal roll paper at a predetermined position by the cutter unit 26.
As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 11 includes a printer-side control unit 28, a printer-side display unit 29, a printer-side input unit 30, a mechanical mechanism 31, a printer-side storage unit 32, and an interface unit (I / F). 33).
The printer-side control unit 28 centrally controls the printer 11 and includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and other peripheral circuits. The printer-side display unit 29 includes a display panel that displays various types of information such as the operating state of the printer 11, LEDs, and the like, and displays various types of information under the control of the printer-side control unit 28. The printer-side input unit 30 is connected to an operation switch provided in the printer 11, detects an operation on the operation switch, and outputs it to the printer-side control unit 28.
The mechanical mechanism 31 includes at least a transport mechanism 24, a line thermal head 25, and a cutter unit 26. The printer-side control unit 28 controls the line thermal head 25 while appropriately transporting the thermal roll paper by the transport mechanism 24 while monitoring the detection values of various sensors such as a paper edge sensor and a paper remaining amount sensor (not shown). Then, an image is recorded on the thermal roll paper, and a receipt is issued by operating the cutter drive motor for driving the cutter included in the cutter unit 26 at an appropriate timing to cut the thermal roll paper on which the image is recorded. . The transport mechanism 24 includes a platen roller provided opposite to the line thermal head 25, other rollers, a roller drive motor for driving these rollers, and other mechanisms and devices for transporting other thermal roll paper. ing.
The interface unit 33 performs communication based on the communication standard with the printer 11 under the control of the printer-side control unit 28. The printer-side storage unit 32 includes a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM and stores various data in a rewritable manner.

Next, the operation when the control system 1 issues a receipt will be described through the description of the application execution unit 20 and the printer driver execution unit 21.
When issuing a receipt, first, the application execution unit 20 executes an application pre-installed in the host computer 10 to generate image information data including information on an image to be recorded on the thermal roll paper, and execute the printer driver. To the unit 21. In addition to information indicating an image, the image information data includes information necessary for recording an image, such as information on a position where an image should be recorded on a thermal roll paper, information on decoration to be applied to the image, and the like. ing. The printer driver execution unit 21 generates a control command corresponding to the command specification of the printer 11 based on the image information data input from the application execution unit 20 by executing a printer driver installed in the host computer 10 in advance. To the printer 11. The control command is a group of commands for causing the printer 11 to perform various operations related to the receipt issuance. The command for instructing the image recording, the command for instructing the conveyance of the thermal roll paper, and the thermal roll. Various commands such as a command for instructing cutting of paper are included.
Control commands transmitted from the host computer 10 to the printer 11 are sequentially stored in a reception buffer (not shown). The printer-side control unit 28 of the printer 11 sequentially reads and executes the control commands stored in the reception buffer, thereby controlling various mechanisms of the mechanical mechanism 31 and executing various operations related to the receipt issuance. .

By the way, in the control system 1, there is a need to reduce as much as possible the time required from the host computer 10 instructing the printer 11 to issue a receipt until the receipt issuance is completed. This is because by shortening the time, the waiting time of the customer who should receive the receipt can be reduced, and the customer satisfaction can be improved, and the work related to the cash register can be made more efficient. If the size of the control command transmitted from the host computer 10 to the printer 11 is reduced when issuing a receipt, the time required for communication can be shortened, and the time required for issuing a receipt (time required for recording) can be reduced. Shortening can be achieved.
Based on these things, each apparatus of the control system 1 which concerns on this embodiment performs the following operation | movement.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the host computer 10 and the printer 11 when recording an image on a thermal roll paper at the time of issuing a receipt, where (A) shows the operation of the host computer 10 and (B) shows the operation. The operations of the printer 11 are shown.
In FIG. 2, the operation of each apparatus will be described by taking as an example a case where image data of an image to be recorded on a receipt is transmitted from the host computer 10 to the printer 11 and the printer 11 records an image based on the image data. Image data is data such as bitmap data that holds information relating to various pixels such as gradation values representing density for each pixel constituting the image. As is well known, the size of the image data is very large compared to the instruction code constituting the control command and various parameters.
In the following description, the recording control unit 21a is realized by cooperation of hardware and software, such as a CPU reading and executing a printer driver.

Referring to FIG. 2, first, the application execution unit 20 of the host computer 10 generates image information data including information on an image to be recorded on a receipt, and outputs the image information data to the printer driver execution unit 21 (step SA1). Of the image information in the image information data, the information representing the image itself may be image data or PDL (page description language) indicating the image. It shall be.
The recording control unit 21a of the printer driver execution unit 21 to which the image information data has been input detects the communication method between the host computer 10 and the printer 11 (step SA2). Here, in the present embodiment, the host computer 10 and the printer 11 communicate with each other according to the RS232C standard, the USB standard, the Ethernet standard, and the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard. It is configured to be communicable by any one of communication conforming to the standard. In step SA2, the recording control unit 21a detects which of the four standards is used as the communication method. The detection may be performed using the function of the OS, or may be performed by the recording control unit 21a communicating with a predetermined chip of the network card using the function of the printer driver. That is, any existing technique may be used for detection.
Next, the recording control unit 21a determines whether or not the communication standard (communication method) detected in step SA2 corresponds to a standard predetermined as a standard for performing data compression (described later) of image data. (Step SA3). As will be apparent later, in this embodiment, the recording control unit 21a is configured to be able to compress the image data included in the control command, but the image data is compressed and the data is not compressed. When the communication speed is high enough that there is almost no difference in time required for communication, data compression is not necessary, so that the data compression is not performed. From this point of view, in the present embodiment, the RS232C standard and the Bluetooth standard are standards for performing image data data compression, while the USB standard and the Ethernet standard are for compressing image data. As a standard not to be performed, it is determined in advance and defined on a program corresponding to the printer driver.

In step SA3, if the communication standard detected in step SA2 is not a standard for data compression of image data, that is, if it is a USB standard or an Ethernet standard (step SA3: NO), recording control is performed. The unit 21a generates a control command and transmits it to the printer 11 according to a normal procedure (step SA4). Details of the operation in step SA4 are omitted.
On the other hand, in step SA3, when the communication standard detected in step SA2 is a standard for data compression of image data, that is, the RS232C standard and the Bluetooth standard (step SA3: YES), The recording control unit 21a inquires of the printer 11 by communication about the types of compression methods that can be decompressed by the printer 11 (step SA5). Hereinafter, the type of compression method of data compression that can be performed by the host computer 10 is appropriately expressed as the type of compression method that the host computer 10 supports, and the compression method that the printer 11 can decompress. Is expressed as the type of compression method supported by the printer 11. The recording control unit 21a is configured to be able to compress data by a plurality of different types of compression methods. The effect of data compression by a plurality of compression methods will be described later.
In response to the inquiry in step SA5, the printer-side control unit 28 of the printer 11 responds with all types of compression methods that can be decompressed by itself (step SB1). The firmware of the printer 11 according to the present embodiment basically has a function of decompressing data compressed by the host computer 10. However, depending on the type of firmware, the version of firmware, the function addition / deletion status in the firmware, the type of compression method that can be decompressed may differ depending on the printer 11, and the compressed data depends on the printer 11. It may not have a function to decompress. The inquiry by the host computer 10 and the response to the inquiry by the printer 11 are performed according to a predetermined protocol.
The recording control unit 21a that has received the response in Step SB1 determines whether or not there is a compression method supported by the printer 11 (Step SA6). In other words, the recording control unit 21a determines whether or not there is a type of compression method that can be decompressed by the printer 11 among the types of compression methods that can be applied in data compression.
If there is no compression method type that the printer 11 supports (step SA6: NO), the recording control unit 21a proceeds to step SA4 described above. In accordance with a normal procedure, a control command is generated and output to the printer 11.
On the other hand, if there is a compression method type that the printer 11 supports (step SA6: YES), the recording control unit 21a further corresponds to the printer 11 type. It is determined whether or not there are a plurality of types of compression methods supported by itself among the types of compression methods that are present (step SA7).
When there are not plural (step SA7: NO), the recording control unit 21a uses the one compression method corresponding to the printer 11 and the image data included in the image information data input from the application executing unit 20, Compressed image data is generated by data compression (step SA8). Thereafter, the recording control unit 21a moves the processing procedure to Step SA9.
On the other hand, when there are a plurality (step SA7: YES), the recording control unit 21a is included in the image information data input from the application execution unit 20 by each of a plurality of compression methods corresponding to the printer 11 and itself. The image data is compressed, and compressed image data corresponding to each compression method is generated (step SA10). Next, the recording control unit 21a compares the data sizes of the compressed image data generated in step SA10 (step SA11). Next, the recording control unit 21a identifies one compressed image data having the smallest size based on the comparison result of step SA11 (step SA12). Thereafter, the recording control unit 21a moves the processing procedure to Step SA9.
Here, when image data is compressed by a plurality of different compression methods, the compression method used to reduce the size of the image data is different depending on the mode of the image data. For example, when the image data is monochrome binary bitmap data, the compression method is most suitable when the data is compressed depending on how the white dots appear continuously. Smaller but different. In this embodiment, in steps SA10 to SA12, when there are a plurality of compression methods supported by the printer 11, the recording control unit 21a actually compresses the image data by each compression method and generates compressed image data. Then, the compressed image data having the smallest size is specified as data included in the control command. Thereby, the size of the control command can be reduced as much as possible, and the time required for communication can be shortened more effectively and the time required for recording can be shortened accordingly.

In step SA9, the recording control unit 21a generates a control command including the compressed image data generated in step SA8 or the compressed image data specified in step SA12 according to the command system of the printer 11. This control command causes the printer 11 to decompress the compressed image data to generate image data, and to record an image on the thermal roll paper based on the generated image data. Next, the recording control unit 21a transmits the generated control command to the printer 11 (step SA13).
Upon receiving the control command, the printer-side control unit 28 of the printer 11 reads and analyzes the control command stored in the reception buffer, and extracts compressed image data included in the control command according to various commands of the control command. The extracted compressed image data is decompressed by a decompression method corresponding to the compression method related to the compressed image data to generate image data (step SB2). Next, the printer-side control unit 28 develops the decompressed image data in an image buffer (not shown), and controls various mechanisms of the mechanical mechanism 31 based on the image data developed in the image buffer so that the image is printed on the thermal roll paper. Record.
As described above, in the present embodiment, the recording control unit 21a compresses large-size image data among the data included in the control command by a compression method that the printer 11 reliably supports. For this reason, the size of the control command can be effectively reduced, and the time required for communication can be effectively reduced and the time required for recording can be reduced accordingly. In the present embodiment, the function of the recording control unit 21a in FIG. 2 is implemented in the printer driver. For this reason, the image information data output from the application execution unit 20 to the printer driver execution unit 21 is the same before and after the installation of each function of the recording control unit 21a, and there is no need to modify the application. Here, there are various types of applications on the host computer 10 and there are many cases where the user performs fine settings according to his / her needs. Although there is a need not to change the setting or the like, the above configuration can appropriately meet such a need.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the recording control unit 21a of the printer driver execution unit 21 of the control unit 15 of the host computer 10 is configured to be capable of data compression by a plurality of different compression methods. When recording an image on the thermal roll paper by the printer 11, the recording control unit 21a inquires the printer 11 about a compression method that can be decompressed, and compresses the image data of the image by compressing the image data using the decompressable compression method. Control for generating image data, including the compressed image data, causing the printer 11 to decompress the compressed image data to generate image data, and recording the image on a thermal roll paper based on the generated image data A command is generated and transmitted to the printer 11.
According to this configuration, the recording control unit 21a can compress the image data by a plurality of compression methods, and inquires about the compression method supported by the printer 11 before transmitting the control command. Here, the compression method that can be decompressed may differ depending on the printer 11 depending on the status of the version of the firmware or the status of addition or deletion of the function. However, the recording control unit 21a uses the compression method that the printer 11 supports. , The image data can be compressed by a compression method supported by the printer 11. Further, since the recording control unit 21a can perform data compression by using a plurality of different compression methods, the possibility that the data can be compressed by a compression method supported by the printer 11 can be increased. Further, according to the above configuration, the recording control unit 21a compresses large-size image data among the data included in the control command by a compression method that the printer 11 reliably supports. For this reason, the size of the control command can be effectively reduced, and the time required for communication can be effectively reduced and the time required for recording can be reduced accordingly.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, when the recording control unit 21a causes the printer 11 to record an image on the thermal roll paper, when the printer 11 has a plurality of compression methods that can be decompressed, the recording control unit 21a Compress the image data of the image to generate compressed image data, compare the size of each compressed image data to identify the smallest compressed image data, and generate a control command that includes the identified compressed image data Send to the printer 11.
According to the above configuration, the size of the control command can be reduced as much as possible, and the time required for communication and the time required for recording can be reduced more effectively.

In the present embodiment, the recording control unit 21a changes whether or not to compress the image data included in the control command according to the standard (communication method) of communication performed with the printer 11.
According to this configuration, the recording control unit 21a changes whether or not to compress the image data included in the control command according to the standard (communication method) of communication performed with the printer 11. When the communication speed is sufficiently fast and the time required for recording can be shortened without performing the data compression of the image data, the compression can be prevented from being performed.

In the present embodiment, the function of the recording control unit 21a is implemented in the printer driver.
According to this configuration, since it is not necessary to change the image information data output from the application execution unit 20 to the printer driver execution unit 21 before and after the installation of each function of the recording control unit 21a, the application needs to be modified. Absent.

The above-described embodiment is merely an aspect of the present invention, and can be arbitrarily modified and applied within the scope of the present invention.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, four different communication standards are given as an example of the communication method. However, the communication method is a method for sending bits such as serial communication or parallel communication, or a wired communication method. This is a concept that includes all communication methods that affect the communication speed, such as a physical transmission / reception method such as wireless communication.
Further, for example, each functional block shown in FIG. 1 can be arbitrarily realized by cooperation of hardware and software, and does not suggest a specific hardware configuration. Further, the function of each functional block of the host computer 10 may be provided in another device externally connected to the host computer 10. Further, the host computer 10 may execute various operations including the operation according to the flowchart of FIG. 2 by executing a program stored in an externally connected storage medium.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Control system, 10 ... Host computer (control apparatus), 11 ... Printer (recording apparatus), 15 ... Control part, 20 ... Application execution part, 21 ... Printer driver execution part, 21a ... Recording control part.

Claims (8)

A control device connectable to the recording device,
According to the method of communication performed with the recording device, determine whether to compress image data,
If it is determined to perform the compression of the image data, queries to the recording apparatus for the recording apparatus method capable decompression compression,
When the recording device has one decompressable compression method, the recording device compresses the image data using a decompressable compression method , and sends a control command including the compressed image data to the recording device. ,
When there are a plurality of compression methods that can be decompressed by the recording device, the image data is compressed by each compression method, and the size of the image data compressed by each compression method is compared, and the compression is performed with the smallest size. A recording control unit that identifies the image data and transmits a control command including the identified image data to the recording apparatus ;
The control device is a command for causing the recording device to decompress the compressed image data and recording an image on a recording medium based on the decompressed image data . An application execution unit that outputs image information by a function of a predetermined application;
A printer driver execution unit that generates the control command based on the image information output by the application execution unit according to the function of the printer driver, and transmits the control command to the recording apparatus;
The function of the recording control unit, the control device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is mounted on the printer driver. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the recording device is a receipt printer that issues a receipt. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data is bitmap data. The recording control unit
5. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data is determined to be compressed when wireless communication or serial communication is performed with the recording apparatus. A control system comprising a recording device for recording an image on a recording medium, and a control device connectable to the recording device,
The controller is
According to the method of communication performed with the recording device, determine whether to compress image data,
If it is determined to perform the compression of the image data, queries to the recording apparatus for the recording apparatus method capable decompression compression,
The recording device comprises:
Responding to the inquiry with the decompressable compression method,
The controller is
When the recording device has one decompressable compression method, the recording device compresses the image data using a decompressable compression method , and sends a control command including the compressed image data to the recording device. ,
When there are a plurality of compression methods that can be decompressed by the recording device, the image data is compressed by each compression method, and the size of the image data compressed by each compression method is compared, and the compression is performed with the smallest size. Identifying the image data, sending a control command including the identified image data to the recording device;
The recording device comprises:
A control system, comprising: decompressing the compressed image data included in the received control command, and printing an image on the recording medium based on the decompressed image data. A control method of a control device connectable to a recording device for recording on a recording medium ,
According to the method of communication performed with the recording device, determine whether to compress image data,
If it is determined that the image data is to be compressed, the recording apparatus is inquired about a compression method that can be decompressed,
When the recording device has one compression method that can be decompressed, the recording device compresses the image data with a decompression method that can be decompressed, and includes the compressed image data, and decompresses the compressed image data. A control command for recording an image on the recording medium based on the decompressed image data is transmitted to the recording device;
When there are a plurality of compression methods that can be decompressed by the recording device, the image data is compressed by each compression method, and the size of the image data compressed by each compression method is compared, and the compression is performed with the smallest size. A control method for a control apparatus, characterized by specifying the image data and transmitting the control command including the specified image data to the recording apparatus . A program executed by a control unit that controls a control device connectable to a recording device that records on a recording medium,
The control unit
According to the method of communication performed with the recording device, determine whether to compress image data,
If it is determined that the image data is to be compressed, the recording apparatus is inquired about a compression method that can be decompressed,
When the recording device has one compression method that can be decompressed, the recording device compresses the image data with a decompression method that can be decompressed, and includes the compressed image data, and decompresses the compressed image data. A control command for recording an image on the recording medium based on the decompressed image data is transmitted to the recording device;
When there are a plurality of compression methods that can be decompressed by the recording device, the image data is compressed by each compression method, and the size of the image data compressed by each compression method is compared, and the compression is performed with the smallest size. A program that functions as a recording control unit that specifies the image data and transmits the control command including the specified image data to the recording apparatus .

Images