JP2003150367A - Print controller, print control method, storage medium and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To continuously perform reverse output of the respective pages in a job without interruption within capacity of a job storage area to be secured even when a print controller is lapsed into a condition of shortage of memory resources that a reverse print processing can not be continued within the capacity of the job storage area. SOLUTION: The print controller is constituted so as to divide a job into a plurality of jobs and to transfer the jobs to printers 504, 505, 507 when reverse printing is specified to the job and when the state of the shortage of memory that all the pages can not be stored in the memory resources is determined to be generated while printing control parts 523, 533, 543 store the respective pages in the job to be outputted from corresponding system spool parts 522, 532, 542 respectively.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that generates drawing information based on a drawing command from application software, and the generated drawing information is provided with a face-up paper discharging mechanism via a system spool unit. The present invention relates to a print control device, a print control method, a storage medium, and a program that are transferred.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printing apparatus such as a printer using an electrophotographic process or an ink spraying process is constructed as shown in FIG. 22 in a network environment.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a network printing system to which this type of printing apparatus can be applied.

In FIG. 22, 301, 302, 303
Is a general host computer system, such as a motherboard, a hard disk connected to the motherboard, a RAM, a display, a keyboard, an I / F for data transfer, and a network board or network adapter 307 capable of controlling a network protocol compatible with the network 300. , 308, 309 and the like.

On the other hand, reference numerals 304, 305 and 306 denote printing apparatus main bodies, which are video controllers 310 and 31, respectively.
1, 312 and engine controllers 313, 314,
315 or a controller in which a video controller and an engine controller are integrated.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of page ejection processing in this type of printing apparatus. FIG. 23 (a) shows the ejected page order in normal order printing, and FIG. 23 (b) shows the ejected page in reverse order printing. Indicates page order.

Conventionally, when a document having a plurality of pages is printed by a printing apparatus having a face-up paper ejection mechanism, if the first page to the last page are output in a normal order as shown in FIG. Since the page arrangement of the printed matter is reversed, it takes time and effort to rearrange the pages manually after the printing is completed.

In order to solve this problem, various proposals have heretofore been made as a control method on the printing apparatus side, and the host side can complete the face-down printing by only specifying the reverse order printing. There is.

On the other hand, as a processing method on the host computer side for transferring drawing data to the printing apparatus when the printing apparatus side cannot support reverse order printing, a printer driver on the host computer side prints all pages to be printed. Print information is temporarily reserved and drawing data in page units is transferred to the printing device in reverse order ((b) in FIG. 23), or the drawing function outputs the drawing data to the printer driver in reverse order as a function of the application. Such a method was taken.

[0010]

However, in recent years, the form of the printing apparatus has a large-capacity storage medium and has only a printing apparatus capable of storing a large amount of drawing data from the host computer and a small storage medium. However, in order to achieve further cost reduction and size reduction, the tendency toward bipolarization of the printing apparatus, which can store only a very small number of sheets in the discharge tray itself, is being spurred.

When the reverse printing is performed in the former printing apparatus, various control methods have already been proposed as mentioned in the above conventional technique.

However, in the latter printing apparatus, it is necessary to realize the reverse order printing by the printing system on the host computer side. However, there is no effective method in the past, and it depends on the function of the application or (b) in FIG. There was only reverse order transfer of all pages like.

However, as the capacity of memory resources installed in the host computer has increased in recent years, the amount of memory resources consumed by applications and other software installed in the host computer has become extremely large, and conversely. In many cases, the memory resources that can be used by the printing system that actually performs the printing process are limited.

In the case of the reverse printing process on the host side, when the host computer runs out of memory, the printing is normally stopped, and there is a problem that efficient reverse printing cannot be realized. .

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to generate drawing information based on a drawing command from application software, and to generate the drawing information. Each page in the job output from the system spool unit when reverse printing is specified for the job in a print control device that transfers to a printing apparatus having a face-up paper ejection mechanism via the system spool unit If it is determined that a shortage of memory cannot be stored in memory resources when storing all pages in the memory resources in reverse order as spooling data, divide the job into multiple jobs By transferring, the reverse printing process continues within the capacity of the job storage area that can be secured in the memory resources that fluctuate according to the system status. Even if you run into an insufficient memory resource situation, you can freely create a highly convenient print processing environment that allows you to continue outputting the pages in a job in reverse order within the reserved job storage area without stopping them. A print control device, a print control method, a storage medium, and a program that can be constructed are provided.

[0016]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, drawing information is generated based on a drawing command from application software, and the generated drawing information is stored in a system spool section (shown in FIG. 3). System spool 52
2, 532, 542) to a printing device having a face-up paper discharging mechanism, and when reverse printing is designated for the job, the output from the system spool unit is performed. Each page in the job has memory resources (RAM 2, external memory 12 shown in FIG. 2).
(Corresponding to the above) in the reverse order to store as spooling data (system spool units 522 and 53 shown in FIG. 3).
2, 542, and the print control units 523, 533, and 543), and during the job accumulation process for the accumulation unit,
A determination unit (corresponding to the print control units 523, 533, and 543 shown in FIG. 3) that determines whether or not a memory shortage condition occurs in which all pages cannot be stored in the memory resource, and a memory shortage condition occurs by the determination unit. If it is determined that the job is divided into a plurality of jobs and transferred to the printing apparatus, the control unit (the print control unit 52 shown in FIG. 3).
3,533,543, communication control units 524,534,54
(Corresponding to 4) and.

The second aspect of the present invention is to print the drawing information based on the drawing command from the application software, and to print the generated drawing information via the system spool unit with the face-up paper discharging mechanism. When reverse printing is designated for a job in the print control device that transfers the data to each device, each page in the job output from the system spool unit is stored as a memory resource (RAM2 shown in FIG. Storage means (system spool sections 522, 53 shown in FIG. 3) for storing in reverse order.
2, 542, and print control units 523, 533, and 543), and an acquisition unit (print control units 523 and 53 illustrated in FIG. 3) that acquires the maximum discharge capacity of the discharge unit from the printing apparatus.
3, 543) and divides the job into a plurality of jobs based on the maximum discharge capacity acquired by the acquisition unit and transfers the divided jobs to the printing apparatus (FIG. 3).
Print control units 523, 533, 543, and communication control units 524, 534, 544).

A third aspect of the present invention is to generate drawing information based on a drawing command from application software, and print the generated drawing information via a system spool unit with a face-up paper discharging mechanism. When reverse printing is designated for a job in the print control device that transfers the data to each device, each page in the job output from the system spool unit is stored as a memory resource (RAM2 shown in FIG. Storage means (system spool sections 522, 53 shown in FIG. 3) for storing in reverse order.
2, 542, and the print control units 523, 533, and 543), and a specifying unit (the print control unit 5 illustrated in FIG. 3) that specifies the reference number of divided prints that is a reference for division during reverse printing.
23, 533, 543) and the divided printing reference number designated by the designating means, and divides the job into a plurality of jobs and transfers the divided jobs to the printing apparatus (print controller shown in FIG. 3). 523, 533, 543, and the communication control units 524, 534, 544).

A fourth invention according to the present invention is characterized by having a delimiter processing means for generating and outputting a delimiter page at the time of division printing.

In a fifth aspect of the present invention, the memory upper limit value used when the determination means determines the memory shortage condition is used to generate a separator page based on paper information and resolution information included in spooling data. In addition, the first calculation means (corresponding to the print control units 523, 533 and 543 shown in FIG. 3) for calculating the necessary and sufficient memory capacity is provided.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the memory upper limit value used when the determination means determines the memory shortage state is determined by the system spool section based on the sheet information and resolution information included in the spooling data. A second calculating unit (print control units 523 and 53 shown in FIG. 3) that calculates from the memory capacity necessary and sufficient to acquire the input page data.
(Corresponding to 3,543).

A seventh invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the control means updates the page range in the divided block generated by the division control of the spooling data every time the page data is acquired. .

An eighth invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the control means updates the number of divisions in a divided block generated by the division control of the spooling data every time the page data is divided. .

A ninth invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the control means generates delimiter page information for printing the page range on the delimiter page and transfers it to the printing device.

A tenth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the control means generates delimiter page information for printing all division numbers on the delimiter page and transfers the delimiter page information to the printing device. .

An eleventh invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the control means transfers a paper discharge command for rotating the page data for each divided block and discharging the page data to the printing device.

A twelfth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the control means determines whether or not the rotation processing is possible, based on the paper feed port information acquired from the printing device.

A thirteenth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the user can select whether or not to rotate the page data.

A fourteenth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the control means does not generate and print a separator page when rotating the page data.

A fifteenth invention according to the present invention has condition designating means for designating printing of a plurality of copies or copy units, and the control means specifies a plurality of copies by the condition designating means.
In addition, when printing in units of copies is not designated, page data temporarily reserved as divided blocks for sequentially printing the designated number of copies from the reverse page is transferred to the printing apparatus.

In a sixteenth invention according to the present invention, the control means, in the case where a plurality of copies are designated by the condition designating means, and printing in units of copies is designated, in a reverse order in divided block units. It is characterized in that the page data temporarily reserved as a divided block for repeatedly printing a specified number of times is transferred to the printing apparatus.

A seventeenth invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the control means transfers a command for printing the number of copies on the separator page to the printing device.

An eighteenth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a storage destination for storing a page division block for reverse order printing can be changed for each storage device which can be secured in the memory resource. .

A nineteenth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the size of the page division block is based on the free capacity of each memory device in the memory resource.

A twentieth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the control means notifies the user of execution or non-execution of division printing when division printing is performed during reverse order printing.

The twenty-first aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the control means enables the user to select whether or not to execute the divided printing when the divided printing is performed in the reverse order printing. .

A twenty-second aspect of the present invention is for printing drawing information based on a drawing command from application software and printing the generated drawing information through a system spool section with a face-up paper discharging mechanism. In a print control method in a print control device for transferring to a device,
A storage step (step S908 shown in FIG. 6) of storing each page in the job output from the system spool unit as spooling data in reverse order when reverse printing is designated for the job. , A determination step (step S910 shown in FIG. 6) of determining whether or not a memory shortage state in which all pages cannot be stored in the memory resource occurs during the job accumulation processing for the accumulation step, and a memory shortage is determined by the determination step. When it is determined that a state occurs, the job is divided into a plurality of jobs and transferred to the printing apparatus (steps S911 to S915 shown in FIG. 6).

A twenty-third aspect of the present invention is to generate drawing information based on a drawing command from application software, and print the generated drawing information via a system spool unit with a face-up paper discharging mechanism. In a print control method in a print control device for transferring to a device,
An accumulation step (step S1208 shown in FIG. 12) of accumulating each page of the job output from the system spool unit in the memory resource in the reverse order when the reverse printing is designated for the job; Has an acquisition step (step S1207 shown in FIG. 12) for acquiring the maximum paper discharge capacity of the paper discharge unit, and divides the job into a plurality of jobs based on the maximum paper discharge capacity acquired by the acquisition step. And a control step (steps S1210 to S1215 shown in FIG. 12) for transferring to the printing apparatus.

The twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention is to print the drawing information based on the drawing command from the application software, and to print the generated drawing information via the system spool unit with a face-up paper discharging mechanism. In a print control method in a print control device for transferring to a device,
A storage step (step S2308 shown in FIG. 16) of storing each page of the job output from the system spool section in reverse order in the memory resource when reverse order printing is specified for the job; A step of designating a standard number of divided prints as a standard for division (step S2307 shown in FIG. 16), and the job is divided into a plurality of jobs based on the standard number of divided prints designated by the designating step. Control steps for transferring to the device (steps S2310 to S23 shown in FIG. 16)
15) and are included.

A twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that it has a delimiter processing step of generating and outputting a delimiter page during divided printing.

In the twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, the memory upper limit value used in the determination step for determining the memory shortage state is generated as a separator page based on the sheet information and resolution information included in the spooling data. The first calculation step (FIG. 17) for calculating the necessary and sufficient memory capacity for
Steps S1506 and S1518) are included.

In a twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention, the memory upper limit value used in the determination step for determining the memory shortage state is determined by the system spool section based on the sheet information and resolution information included in the spooling data. A second calculation step (step S150 in FIG. 17) of calculating from the memory capacity necessary and sufficient to acquire the input page data.
6, S1518).

The twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the control step updates the page range in the divided block generated by the division control of the spooling data every time the page data is acquired. .

The twenty-ninth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the control step updates the number of divisions in the divided blocks generated by the division control of the spooling data every time the page data is divided. .

A thirtieth invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the control step generates delimiter page information for printing the page range on the delimiter page and transfers the delimiter page information to the printing device.

The thirty-first invention of the present invention is characterized in that, in the control step, delimiter page information for printing all division numbers on the delimiter page is generated and transferred to the printing device. .

A thirty-second invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the control step transfers, to the printing apparatus, a paper discharge instruction for rotating the page data for each divided block and discharging the page data.

The thirty-third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the control step determines whether or not the rotation processing is possible, based on the paper feed port information acquired from the printing device.

A thirty-fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the user can select whether or not to rotate the page data.

A thirty-fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the control step does not generate and print a separator page when rotating the page data.

A thirty-sixth aspect of the present invention comprises a condition designating step for designating printing of a plurality of copies or a set of copies, and the control step specifies a plurality of copies by the condition designating step and When the printing is not specified, the page data temporarily reserved as the divided blocks for sequentially printing the specified number of copies from the reverse order page is transferred to the printing apparatus.

In a thirty-seventh aspect of the present invention, in the control step, when a plurality of copies are designated by the condition designating step and printing in units of copies is designated, the control step is performed in divided block units in reverse order. It is characterized in that the page data temporarily reserved as a divided block for repeatedly printing a specified number of times is transferred to the printing apparatus.

The thirty-eighth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the control step, a command for printing the number of copies on the separator page is transferred to the printing device.

A thirty-ninth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a storage destination for storing a page division block for reverse order printing can be changed for each storage device which can be secured in the memory resource.

A fortieth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the size of the page division block is based on the free capacity of each memory device in the memory resource.

The forty-first aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the control step, when the reverse printing is performed and the divided printing is performed, the user is notified of whether or not the divided printing is performed.

The forty-second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the control step enables the user to select whether or not to execute the divided printing when the divided printing is performed in the reverse order printing. .

A forty-third aspect of the present invention is a computer-readable storage medium that stores a program for implementing the print control method according to any of the twenty-second to the forty-second aspects.

A forty-fourth invention according to the present invention is characterized by being a program for realizing the print control method according to any one of the twenty-second to the forty-second aspects.

[0060]

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the structure of a printing apparatus to which a printing control apparatus according to the present invention can be applied, and shows a case of a monochrome laser beam printer as an example. The printing apparatus to which the present embodiment is applied is not limited to a monochrome laser beam printer, and may be a color laser beam printer or a laser beam printer or other printing method printer such as an inkjet printer. Needless to say. The configuration and operation will be described below.

In FIG. 1, the laser beam printer main body 100 is connected to an external device such as a host computer system, and based on drawing data such as control codes, character codes, graphic data or bitmap data sent from the host computer. Print.

The operation panel 101 is provided with switches (keys) for operation, an LED display, and an LCD display, and is used for setting the environment of the printing apparatus.
In recent years, these environmental settings are often performed by an external device such as a host computer system, and are not essential for the laser beam printer main body 100.

The video controller 102 controls the entire laser beam printer main body 100 and analyzes drawing data supplied from the host computer, expands the drawing data into bit map data in a memory, converts the drawing data into a video signal, and laser driver 103. Output to.

The laser driver 103 is the semiconductor laser 1
This is a circuit for driving 04, and switches on / off the laser beam 105 emitted from the semiconductor laser 104 in accordance with the input video signal. Then, the laser beam 105 is swung in the left-right direction by the rotary polygon mirror 106 to scan the electrostatic drum 107. As a result, the electrostatic drum 1
An electrostatic latent image of a drawing pattern is formed on 07. This latent image is developed by the developing unit 108 around the electrostatic drum 107.
And then transferred to a recording paper.

A cut sheet is used as the recording paper. That is, the cut sheet recording paper is stored in the paper cassette 109 mounted on the laser beam printer main body 100, taken into the apparatus by the paper feed roller 110 and the conveyance roller 111, and supplied to the electrostatic drum 107.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the schematic arrangement of an image output system to which the print control apparatus according to the present invention can be applied. The image output system is a host computer 25.
0 and an image output device (printer) 260 such as a laser beam printer are connected via a bidirectional interface 270.

In FIG. 2, the host computer 250
Is a control unit 2 for controlling the host computer body
It is equipped with 51. This control unit 251 is a CPU
1, RAM 2, ROM 3, timer 4, keyboard controller (KBC) 5, display controller (DS
PC) 6, disk controller (DKC) 7 and I /
It is composed of an O controller (IOC) 8.

The CPU 1 executes a boot program, an application program, etc. stored in the ROM 3 and the external memory 12, and controls the respective devices connected to the system bus 9 as a whole.

The RAM 2 functions as the main memory and work area of the CPU 1. Keyboard controller 5
Controls key input from the keyboard 10 or a pointing device (not shown). The display controller 6 controls the display on the CRT display, the liquid crystal display 11, or the like. The disk controller 7 controls access to a hard disk (HD) capable of storing a boot program, various application programs, font data, user files and the like, a flexible disk (FD), and an external memory 12 such as a flash PROM.

The I / O controller 8 is connected to the printer 260 via a predetermined bidirectional interface (hereinafter, simply referred to as an interface) 270 and executes communication control with the printer 260.

The I / O controller 8 may be connected to the printer 260 via a device built in the control unit 251 in advance, or an I / O controller 8 connected to a bus slot may be an additional device (such as an ECP board or a network). It is possible to execute communication control by connecting to the printer 260 via a board, a network adapter or the like).

On the other hand, the printer 260 has a printer control unit 261. The printer control unit 261 has a function of controlling the entire printer body, controlling the entire printer including the duplex unit when a duplex unit (not shown) is installed, and analyzing image information supplied from the host computer 250. With, CPU2
1, a RAM 22, a ROM 23, an NVRAM 24, a communication control unit 25, a printing unit I / F 26, a panel control unit 27, and a disk controller (DKC) 28.

The printer CPU (CPU) 21 is a ROM
23 or access control to the various devices connected to the system bus 29 based on a control program or the like stored in the external memory 32.
An image signal as output information is output to the engine controller 30 connected via 26.

Further, the ROM 23 receives a key interrupt from a switch through a panel control section 27 having a device driver for controlling a switch arranged on the operation panel, an LED display, an LCD as a message display device and the like. It stores a program for controlling the turning on / off, blinking of the LED, displaying and changing the message character string on the LCD.

Further, the CPU 21 is capable of communicating with the host computer 250 via the communication control unit 25, and is configured to notify the host computer 250 of information in the printer 260. In addition, RAM22
Is an optional RA that functions as a main memory, work area, etc. of the CPU 21 and is connected to an expansion port (not shown).
The memory capacity can be expanded by M. The NVRAM 24 is used to store printer environmental data and the like.

The configuration of the printer 260 is the same as that of a host-based printer (a printer in which most of the analysis processing and control processing of characters, drawing codes, etc. are performed on the host computer side), which is often seen in recent years. The present invention can be applied to a configuration in which the memory 32 and the operation unit panel 31 are omitted, or the cost is reduced by combining the CPU 21 and the ASIC, which are not so sophisticated.

Further, it goes without saying that the communication control unit 25 is not limited to the Centronics I / F, and can be applied to the present invention even if it has a configuration capable of controlling USB, IEEE 1394, or various network protocols.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional processing configuration in a printing system to which the printing control device according to the present invention can be applied. The configuration and operation will be described below.

In FIG. 3, when the printing process is executed according to the present invention, the following series of processes are performed in the storage areas of the host computer systems 501 to 503 (RA shown in FIG. 2).
It is implemented in a printing system stored in M2 or external memory 12).

The user selects the host computer system 50.
1 to 503, the application software 520, 53
When printing from 0, 540, first, when the user gives a print instruction from a user interface (not shown) of the application software, the application software and the drawing processing unit (not shown) that operates in cooperation with the application according to the print instruction draws the drawing data. And a data generation unit 52 of the printing system software.
The drawing data is transferred to 1, 531 or the data generation unit 541 (also referred to as a printer device driver).

Then, the data generators 521, 531 or the data generator 54 that have received the transferred drawing data.
Reference numeral 1 is a system spool unit 52 which is converted into drawing data which can be interpreted by a printing apparatus and incorporated in an OS (operating system) of the host computer system.
2, 532 or the system spool unit 542 includes the drawing data (also referred to as job data, one or a plurality of page data. Normally, in the case of a plurality of pages, the first page to the last page are included in order. Are transferred in page order.

The system spool units 522, 532 or the system spool unit 542 in the case where the spooling process is executed in the network environment (connected by the network 500) are the same as those of the host computer system of the data generation unit of the printing system. The spooling unit may be used, or the system spool units of both host computer systems may be used in cooperation with the system spool units of other host computer systems that are print servers.

Each host computer system 501-5
In 03, data is output via the system spool unit to an output destination to which a network connection has been established in advance, for example, a printer name or network address connected to a network, or a host computer name or port name to be a print server. It has become so.

Further, the print control units 523, 533 or the print control unit 543 are a part of the printing system, acquire drawing data spooled by the system spool unit (also referred to as spool data), and store the spooled data in the spool data. The print job is controlled based on the print control information and the drawing information for each page, the printing apparatus connected to the network is managed, and the reverse printing is also controlled.

The print control unit also has a function as a print server for managing the user name or computer name of the spooled job, and after controlling various jobs, the communication control unit 524, 534
Alternatively, the job data can be transferred in the order of pages to the output destination to be transferred via the communication control unit 544, and a plurality of spool data from another host computer can be controlled and managed.

Furthermore, there is also provided means for displaying the print job information on the display (11 in FIG. 2) in the print status window (not shown) via the display control units 515, 535 or the display control unit 545 and notifying the user. Have

From the print control unit to the printing device 50,
4, 505, or data transfer to the printing device 506,
Communication control units 524, 5 having port control programs and the like
34 or via the communication control unit 544.

Printing device 504, 505 or printing device 5
06 is a video controller 510, 511 or a video controller 512 from the host computer system.
(Printer control unit 261 in FIG. 2, 102 in FIG. 1)
Upper communication control unit 550, 560 or communication control unit 570
2 is temporarily stored in the RAM 22 or the external memory 32 of FIG. 2, and the print control program stored in the ROM 23 or the RAM 22 or the external memory 32 of FIG.
The print data is expanded into video data.

The further expanded data is the engine controller (controlling the charging, exposure, development, transfer, fixing, paper conveyance, etc., mainly relating to the electrophotographic process, or controlling the nozzles and the ink spraying). It is sent to the engine control unit) 513, 514 or the engine controller 515 (engine controller 30 in FIG. 2) to complete the actual printing on the recording medium.

The ROM 23 or the RAM 2 shown in FIG.
2 or the print control program stored in the external memory 32, the presence or absence of the double-sided unit in the printing device, jam information and the presence or absence of printing completion, the status information of the printing device such as the door open, the maximum discharge stackable storage of the printing device It has a function of notifying management information such as quantity to the host computer via the communication control unit.

[First Embodiment] In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG.
An example will be described in which the print control unit 523 in the printing system of the host computer system 501 shown in FIG. 2 performs reverse order printing, and if the memory resources of the host computer 501 are insufficient, divided printing is performed.

Now, when the user wants to perform reverse printing, the application software 520 installed in the host computer system 501 opens the user interface dialog shown in FIG. Opens the setup dialog.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface dialog displayed on the display 11 shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the reverse order division printing processing state in the print control apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 5A shows the discharged page order at the time of reverse order division printing, and FIG.
(C) shows a delimiter page at the time of discharged page processing at the time of reverse sequential division printing.

The setup dialog, an example of which is shown in FIG. 4, includes a data generation unit 521, a print control unit 523, which are a part of the printing system software, or the connected printers 504 and 505 or the printer 5.
It is possible to set various information to be notified to 06, and the information is displayed using the display control function (display control unit 515) on the display 11 of FIG.

The user can specify the reverse printing by checking (selecting) the "reverse printing" check box in the setup dialog.

Next, the application software 52
When printing is instructed from the application user interface dialog opened at 0, the application 520 sequentially outputs drawing data from the first page to the data generation unit 521, and the data generation unit 521 specifies the printing data in the setup dialog of the printing system. FIG. 23 shows various information such as “reverse order” information and “paper” information and drawing data from the application.
As shown in the conceptual diagram of (a), the data is sequentially output (spooling) from the first page to the system spool unit 522 in a regular order. The print control unit 523 uses the system spool unit 52.
Drawing data spooled in 2 (hereinafter referred to as spooling data. Also, 1 unit of output data including drawing data from the first page to the last page and control data is job data) is sequentially acquired, and the host computer Memory (RAM 2 or external memory 1 shown in FIG. 2)
Store in 2).

If the memory does not run out, the spooling data is sequentially transferred from the last page to the printing device 504 as shown in FIG. 23B, and a series of reverse printing is completed, but the memory runs out. In this case, the spool data for the pages stored before the memory shortage is printed first in reverse order, and the delimiter page on which the number of pages printed in reverse order is printed is ejected.

Next, after releasing the memory required for the reverse order printing, the subsequent pages are stored in the memory again and the remaining pages are printed in reverse order, whereby the normal order array divided into a plurality of blocks is formed. The output result can be obtained. An example of this discharged state is conceptually shown in FIG.

In this example, when pages 1 to N are printed in reverse order, the memory becomes insufficient when I pages are stored in the memory, and after pages 1 to I are first discharged in reverse order, the subsequent pages from J to the last page are printed. When the memory shortage does not occur during the storage of up to N pages in the memory, as a result, it is possible to obtain the discharge result of the normal order array divided into two.

Therefore, the user can obtain the same output result as the normal face-down printing by removing the page separating the two pages and overlapping them once.
This means that we can save a lot of time. Note that an example of the delimiter page is shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C.

The reverse order print processing operation in the print controller 523 will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the first data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention. Note that S900 to S915 indicate each step.

The program of the print control unit 523 in the printing system of the present embodiment acquires / analyzes the job data from the system spool unit 522 (S90).
0), when the job start control information is detected, for example, as shown in FIG.
The spool management table and job management table shown in FIG.
2) Generate and initialize.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the spool management table generated on the RAM 2 or the external memory 12 shown in FIG. 2, where (a) corresponds to the case where page division does not occur, and (b). Corresponds to the case where page division occurs.

7A or 7B, the spool management table SPMT has information such as the name of the connected printing device and the port name of the output destination, and the memory upper limit value and the memory upper limit value when determining whether the memory is insufficient. It has a pointing address and the like to a job management table that manages information about jobs from the system spool unit.

Further, the job management table JMT stores various information regarding input job data. The job name may be the document name of the input job data or a unique name given by the print control unit 523.

The reverse order information, the paper information, the resolution information, the copy unit information, and the copy number information are the information set and input in the above-mentioned application user interface dialog or the setup dialog included in the printing system. The all page counter is the system spool section 522.
Is a counter for counting the page data acquired from the first page to the last page, and the initial value is "0".

The division identification information is information indicating whether or not the division processing has been executed for the job data, and the initial value is "OFF", and when the division is executed, it is "ON". It goes without saying that this identification information may be expressed by a numerical value such as an initial value "0" and a value "1" when it is executed.

The page start number and the page end number store the number of pages to be written in the delimiter page. For example,
In the example of FIG. 5A, the page start number is “1” and the page end number is “I” when the storage of the block BL1 in the memory is completed, and the page is stored at the storage time of the block BL2. The start number is “J” and the page end number is “N”. The job end identification information is the step S9 in FIG.
00 indicates whether or not the job end control information is detected. The initial value is "OFF", and when detected, it is "ON".

Now, it is assumed that the job data of pages 1 to N shown in FIG. 23A are sequentially acquired from the system spool section 522. As described above, if the data such as the job start information is acquired in step S900, the data is analyzed and the data shown in FIG.
Spool management table SPM, an example of which is shown in (a) of FIG.
T, the job management table JMT is generated and initialized.

In step S901, the reverse order identification information of the job management data is referred to, it is determined whether the reverse order printing is performed, and if it is determined that the reverse order printing is not performed (when it is determined that the forward order printing is performed), The acquired page data is sequentially transferred from the first page to the Nth page to the connected printing apparatus via the communication control unit 524, and the normal order printing is completed (S902).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S901 that the reverse printing was performed, the job end identification information of the job management data is determined in step S903, and whether the page data accumulated in the memory is ejected, that is, the final If it is determined that the page is the last page and it is determined that the page is the last page, the division identification information of the job management table JMT shown in FIG. 7 is “ON” in step S904.
It is determined from either the state or the “OFF” state whether the divided printing is performed, and it is determined whether the divided printing or the normal reverse order printing is performed.

The determination in step S904 may use the division identification information or the number of divisions. In the case of normal reverse order printing, the division number is “1”, and if the division number is “2” or more, it is synonymous with division printing.

If it is determined in step S904 that the printing is not divided printing, normal reverse printing is performed, that is, (b) in FIG.
The page data stored in the memory is sequentially transferred from the Nth page to the first page to the connected printing device via the communication control unit 524 (S905), and the reverse order printing is completed and used for storage as shown in FIG. The memory (the RAM 2 in FIG. 2 or the external memory 12) that was being used is released (S90
6).

The memory may be released in a batch after it is transferred to the printing apparatus for all pages, or may be released in page units each time the page data is transferred to the printing apparatus.

Then, in step S906, the spool management table and job management table generated in step S900 may be released, or only the job management table JMT may be released, and both information may be released without releasing both tables. It does not matter if the process of initializing is.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S904 that the printing was divided printing, divided printing to be described later in step S904.
Proceed to 911 or later.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S903 that the page is not the final page, the process proceeds to step S907, and when the process reaches step S907, step S907 has already been performed.
At 900, page data to be stored in the memory has been acquired.

Therefore, in step S907, the memory capacity required for a separator page to be generated in the case of division printing is estimated from the paper information and resolution information of the job management table JMT, and a sufficient capacity is calculated. The value is stored in a value, and the capacity of the page data to be input next is estimated with a sufficient margin, and the capacity is added to the memory upper limit value and stored.

Next, in step S908, step S
The page data acquired in 900 is stored in the memory (RAM in FIG. 2).
2 or stored in the external memory 12). And
In step S909, the page count is updated. Here, the total page counter is updated, and the page start number and the page end number are updated.

Then, in step S910, step S
The memory upper limit value stored in 907 is compared with the free memory capacity of the memory of the host computer system 501, and it is determined whether there is sufficient memory. If it is determined that there is sufficient memory, the process proceeds to step S900. Acquisition of return data and analysis are repeated.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S910 that the memory is insufficient, or if it is determined in the last page that the divided printing is performed in step S904, the divided printing processing in step S911 and subsequent steps is started. . The divided printing process will be described below with reference to FIG.

In step S900, the page data is sequentially acquired from the first page and stored in the memory. The I-th page is acquired, and the all page counter is "I" and the page start number is "1" in step S909. If the number of page ends is updated to "I" and it is determined in the next step S910 that the free memory is insufficient, the division identification information is turned ON and the division number (division information) is incremented to "2" in step S911. To update.

Then, in step S912, for example, a delimiter page capable of printing the page range shown in FIG. 5B is generated, and in step S913, from "1" to "I" pages stored in the memory. Data is printed in reverse order from the "I" page to the "1" page.

Then, in step S914, step S
The separator page generated in step 912 is printed, and step S9 is performed.
In step 15, the memory storing the pages "1 to I" and the memory required for the delimiter page are released.

When step S915 ends,
Again, returning to step S900 data acquisition, the page data from the J page after the I-th page for which the reverse order printing has ended to the final page is acquired.

FIG. 5A shows an example in which the page shortage of J to N pages is not stored in the memory while the page data is stored in the memory. In this case, J is stored in the memory of the host computer 501.
~ N pages of data are accumulated, and if it is determined in step S903 whether or not division printing is performed, the division identification information in the job management table is already ON (because the number of divisions is 2,
There is no problem even if it is determined by the number of divisions. ), The process proceeds to the division information updating step of step S911, the number of divisions is incremented to 3, and then the job management table is referred to (see an example of the job management table at this point (see FIG. 7). b).) Page range (J ~
N) is generated, and at the same time, the data from J to N pages stored in the memory are printed in reverse order from N page to J page in step S913. In step S914, the separator page generated in step 912 is printed, in step S915 the used memory is released, and the division printing in reverse order printing is completed. After the printing is completed, the process returns to step S900 to wait for the input of the next job data.

The delimiter page generated in step S912 is a block obtained by subtracting "1" from the division number of the job management table updated in step S911, as shown in FIG. 5C. It may be printed as a number to assist the user in the superimposing work.

[Second Embodiment] The second embodiment is an example in which vertical printing and horizontal printing are alternately repeated for each divided block, and the print control unit 523 determines whether the number of divisions is an odd number or an even number. This is an example in which rotation processing is performed on one of the divided blocks and printing is performed. Note that the processing flow is steps S912 to S91 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 in the first embodiment.
The process of No. 5 is performed in steps S1000a to S10 shown in FIG.
The processing is replaced with the processing of 06a.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing an example of the second data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention. Note that S1000a to S1006a indicate each step. Further, regarding the same processing as the steps shown in FIG. 6, only the step numbers are shown, and the description of the procedure is omitted.

After updating the division number in the job management table JMT shown in FIG. 7 in step S911 shown in FIG. 6, it is determined in step S1000a whether the division number is odd or even. Here, if it is determined that the number of divisions is not an odd number, steps S912 to S915 shown in FIG.
Steps S1001a and S1002 that are the same processing as
a, S1005a, and S1006a are sequentially processed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1000a that the number of divisions is odd, then step S100
In 3a, a delimiter page that has been rotated by 90 degrees or 270 degrees is generated, and in step S1004a, page data stored in the memory is rotated by 90 degrees or 270 degrees, and reverse order printing is executed.

In step S1005a, the rotation delimiter page generated in step S1003a is printed, and in step S1006a, the memory of the page data for which the reverse printing is completed and the memory required for the delimiter page are released.

As a result, the printed output sheet is discharged as shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a page output state in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the printing apparatus has two or more sheet feeding ports capable of vertically and horizontally feeding sheets. However, the number of sheet feeding ports on the printing apparatus side, Acquires whether or not the number of paper feed ports is two or more and the ability to switch between portrait / landscape printing and output is available. If there is one paper feed port or if there are two or more paper feed ports. Also, if the portrait / landscape printing cannot be switched, the drawing information divided into blocks may not be rotated.

Further, when the rotation process is performed in the block division, the delimiter page generation process and the generated delimiter page may not be printed. Further, it may be configured such that the user can specify in advance the presence / absence of generation of a separator page or rotation processing by using a dialog box or the like (not shown).

[Third Embodiment] In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, when the user specifies the presence / absence of copy printing and the number of copies to be 2 or more, the print control unit 523 displays the specified information. This is an example in which reverse printing is repeated accordingly.

The processing flow is the step S in the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 in the first embodiment.
The processing of 912 to S915 is performed in step S1 shown in FIG.
The processing is replaced with 000b to S1008b.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the third data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention. Note that S1000b to S1008b indicate steps. Further, regarding the same processing as the steps shown in FIG. 6, only the step numbers are shown, and the description of the procedure is omitted.

In the following description of the present embodiment, the number of copies is set to 2 and the page data stored in the memory for reverse order printing is from page 1 to page I.

After the division number in the job management table JMT shown in FIG. 7 is updated in step S911 shown in FIG. 6, the job management table JM is updated in step S1000b.
By referring to the copy unit area of T, if it is not copy printing, a separator page is generated in step S1001b, and reverse printing is performed according to the value set in the number of copies of the job management table JMT in step S1002b.

That is, in this embodiment, I, I, I-1,
I-1, I-2, I-2 ... 2, 2, 1, and 1 page are sequentially printed.

Therefore, in step S1003b, the separator page generated in step S1001b is printed, and in step S1008b, the page data stored in the memory for reverse printing is released.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a print output result in the print control apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 11A corresponds to an example in which the number of copies is printed on a separator page, and FIG. 11B shows the total number of copies on the separator page. This corresponds to the example of printing the number of copies.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1000b that copy printing is performed, a delimited page is generated in step S1004b, and only one copy is printed in step S1005b.
The reverse order printing is performed up to 1, and in step S1006b,
The separator page generated in step S1004b is printed.

In step S1007b, the number of copies set in the job management table JMT is referred to, and it is determined whether the set number of copies have been printed.

In this embodiment, since the number of copies is two, the process returns to step S1004b, and again step S1004b.
~ 1006b is repeated, and step S10 is repeated.
It is determined in 07b whether or not the number of copies has been printed, and after it is determined that two copies have been printed, the used memory is released in step S1008b.

As the information to be printed on the separator page, information indicating the designated total number of copies or information indicating what number of divided blocks may be printed. An example of the separator page in that case is shown in FIG. As shown in b).

[Fourth Embodiment] In the fourth embodiment, the maximum discharge capacity of the printing apparatus (the printer 260 shown in FIG. 2, the printers 504, 505 or printer 506 shown in FIG. 3) This is an example in which the host computer obtains the number of sheets of paper that can be ejected), and when the print control unit 523 performs reverse order printing, if the maximum ejection capacity is exceeded, division printing is performed.

The reverse order printing process in the print control unit 523 will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing an example of a fourth data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention. Note that S1200 to S1215 indicate each step.

The program of the print control unit 523 in the printing system acquires / analyzes the job data from the system spool unit 522 (S1200), and when the control information for starting the job is detected, the spool management table and the job management shown in FIG. Table memory (Figure 2
It is generated and initialized in the RAM 2 or the external memory 12) shown in FIG. The spool management table has various information storage areas including an area for storing the maximum number of ejected sheets of the connected printing apparatus, and the job management table has a division for sequentially counting the number of pages in one divided block. It has an area for storing various kinds of information including a number of sheets counter (initial value “0”).

Then, in step S1201, the reverse order identification information of the job management data is referred to, and if the reverse order printing is not performed (if the order is normal), the acquired page data is sequentially transferred from page 1 to page N in the communication control unit 524. The normal order printing is completed by transferring the print data to the connected printing device via the (S1202).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1201 that the printing is in reverse order, the job management table J
Based on the setting state of the MT job end identification information, it is determined whether the page data accumulated in the memory is discharged, that is, whether it is the last page (S1203), and if it is the last page, step S1204. In step 1, it is determined whether the setting state of the division identification information of the job management table JMT is “ON” or “OFF”, and it is determined whether to perform the division printing or the normal reverse order printing.

The determination in step S1204 may utilize the division identification information or the number of divisions. In the case of normal reverse printing, the number of divisions is 1,
If the number of divisions is two or more, it is synonymous with division printing.

If it is determined in step S1204 that the printing is not divided printing, normal reverse printing, that is, FIG.
As shown in an example in (b) of FIG.
It is transferred to the connected printing device via S24 (S120
5) When the reverse printing is completed, the memory (RAM 2 in FIG. 2 or the external memory 12) used for storage is released (S1206).

The memory may be released in a batch after it is transferred to the printing apparatus for all pages, or may be released in page units every time the page data is transferred to the printing apparatus. Also, in step S1206, step S1
The spool management table and the job management table generated in 200 may be released, only the job management table may be released, or the process of initializing each information without releasing both tables may be used. .

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1204 that the printing has been divided, the flow advances to the divided printing step after step S1211.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1203 that the page is not the final page, step S1
In step 207, the maximum paper discharge capacity information is acquired from the printing device that outputs the data, and the spool management table S shown in FIG.
Stored in the maximum number of discharged sheets area of PMT.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the spool management table generated in the RAM shown in FIG. 2 or the external memory.

Then, in step S1208, the page data acquired in step S1200 is stored in the memory (RAM 2 in FIG. 2 or the external memory 12), and in step S1209, the page count is updated.

Here, the all page counter is updated, the page start number and the page end number are updated, and the divided number counter is also updated.

Next, step S1210 is step S12.
The maximum number of discharged (allowable) sheets stored in 1207 is compared with the value of the divided sheet counter to determine whether they match,
If it is determined that they do not match, step S120.
Return to 0 and repeat data acquisition and analysis.

On the other hand, in step S1210, when both are the same or the last page is determined and it is determined in step S1204 that division printing is performed,
The process proceeds to the divided printing step after step S1211.
The divided printing step will be described below with reference to FIG.

When the maximum number of ejected sheets of the printing apparatus to be printed is X (X is stored as the maximum number of ejected sheets in step S1207), 1 is set in step S1200.
When the page data is sequentially acquired from the page number and stored in the memory, the all page counter is updated to I, the page start number is 1, and the page end number is I for the I page in step S1209, and the next step S1210 is performed. And "X =
If it is determined to be "I", the division identification information is set to "ON" in step S1211, and the division number is incremented to 2.

Then, in step S1212, a delimiter page capable of printing the page range, an example of which is shown in FIG. 5B, is generated, and in step S1213, the data from page 1 to page I stored in the page I Printing is performed in reverse order from page 1 to page 1.

Next, in step S1214, step S
The separator page generated in 1212 is printed, and the step S
At the same time as releasing the memory storing the pages 1 to I and the memory required for the delimiter page at 1215, FIG.
The division number counter of the job management table JMT shown in is reset to "0".

When step S1215 is completed, the process returns to step S1200 to acquire the page data from the page J to the final page after page I, which has been printed in reverse order.

As a result, for example, in the case of the example of FIG. 5A, since "NI <= X" is an example, data of pages J to N are stored in the memory of the host computer 501. When it is determined in step S1204 whether or not division printing is performed, the division identification information in the job management table is already ON (the division number is "2", so determination may be made based on the division number), so division printing is performed. Then, the process proceeds to the division information updating step of step S1211, the division number is incremented to “3”, and then a delimiter page capable of printing the page range (J to N) is generated by referring to the job management table JMT. Together with step S1213
The data from J to N pages stored in the memory are printed in reverse order from N pages to J pages.

Then, in step S1214, the delimiter page generated in step 1212 is printed, in step S1215 the used memory is released, and the division printing in reverse order printing is completed. After printing is completed, step S12 is performed again.
The process returns to 00 to wait for the input of the next job data.

Note that in this embodiment, step S120.
Although the maximum number of discharged sheets is acquired and stored in step S7, the maximum number of discharged sheets is not limited to step S1207. For example, the maximum number of discharged sheets may be acquired and stored in step S1200 when the job start control information is detected. Absent.

[Fifth Embodiment] The fifth embodiment is an example in which the user can arbitrarily specify the number of sheets to be divided when performing division printing in reverse order printing.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a setup dialog in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

The setup dialog shown in FIG.
It is possible to set various kinds of information to be notified to the data generation unit 521 which is a part of the printing system software, the print control unit 523, or the connected printing device (printer 504, 505 or printer 506), and A display control function (display control unit 5) is mainly provided to the display 11 shown in FIG.
It is displayed by using 15).

The user checks (selects) the "reverse order printing" check box in the setup dialog box and sets the desired number of sheets in the "divided sheet number" to specify the divided reverse order printing for any number of sheets. The printing procedure is the first
It is started by instructing printing from the application user interface dialog opened by the application software 520 as in the embodiment, and the application 520 sequentially outputs drawing data to the data generating unit 521 from the first page by the printing instruction, and the data generating unit 521 A reference numeral 521 outputs various information such as "reverse order" information and "divided number" information specified in the setup dialog of the printing system, and drawing data from the application to the system spool unit 522 in a forward order (spooling). .

FIG. 15 shows a spool management table and a job management table used for the reverse order printing in the print control unit 523 thereafter. Further, FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the fifth data processing procedure in the printing apparatus according to the present invention, and steps S2300 to S2315 thereof are shown.
12 is the same as the step of FIG. 12 in the fourth embodiment except step S2300 or S2307, and the maximum discharge number X of the fourth embodiment can be explained by replacing it with the division reference number X, and therefore the description thereof is omitted. To do. here,
The step S in the fifth embodiment is the most different from the fourth embodiment.
Only 2300 and step S2307 will be described.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of the spool management table generated in the RAM shown in FIG. 2 or the external memory.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing an example of the fifth data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention. Note that S2300 to S2315 indicate each step.

In the fourth embodiment, the maximum number of ejected sheets of the spool management table SMPT shown in FIG. 13 is obtained and set from the printing apparatus in step S1207 or step S1200, whereas in the fifth embodiment. , The user specifies in the setup dialog shown in FIG. 14, the number of divided spooled spools in step S
In step 2307 or step S2300, FIG.
It is realized by setting the divided reference number of sheets in the spool management table SMPT shown in FIG. The number of divided sheets set by the user may be stored in the spool management table via the spooling data as described above, or may be stored in advance in the memory of the host computer 501 (RAM2 in FIG. 2).
Alternatively, an area for storing the number of divided sheets designated by the user may be secured in the external memory 12) and a desired number may be set in the maximum number of discharged sheets area of the spool management table via the storage area.

[Sixth Embodiment] A sixth embodiment is an example in which an area for storing drawing data for reverse order printing is divided and printed according to the type of device in the storage area of the host computer. Hereinafter, as a preferred example of the present embodiment, an example in which a RAM device having a high processing speed and a hard disk (hereinafter referred to as HD) device used as a swapping area and having a slightly inferior processing speed are separately used and processed will be shown. .

In this example, when only the RAM device is used, the processing speed is fast, but the number of divisions increases and the HD
When using a device, the processing speed is slow but the number of divisions is reduced.

When executing the reverse printing, the user specifies in advance in a dialog box (not shown) whether to use only the RAM or the HD area as the storage destination of the drawing data. As a result, desired values are set in the device division information areas of the spool management table and the job management table (an example is shown in FIG. 15) used by the print control unit 523. In the present embodiment, the case of using only RAM is referred to as "OF
F ”and the case where the HD area is also used are set to“ ON ”. The initial value of the HD usage information in the job management table is OFF, which means that the HD usage information is not used.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart showing an example of the sixth data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention. Note that S1500 to S1527 indicate the respective steps, and the description of the same procedure as the steps shown in FIG. 6 will be omitted. Further, FIG. 18 shows the RA shown in FIG.
It is a figure which shows an example of the spool management table produced | generated on M or an external memory.

As a first example, a case where the user uses only the RAM area and attaches importance to speed will be described. The processing flow is the same as that of the first embodiment, that is, steps S1500 to S1504 include step S9 shown in FIG.
The processing is the same as the processing of 00 to S904.

In the next step S1505, it is determined whether the content is "ON" or "OFF" by referring to the HD usage information of the job management table JMT shown in FIG. Always "OFF" when using
Therefore, the processing always proceeds to step S1506. Steps S1506 to S1509 are step S9 shown in FIG.
07 to S910, and in the present embodiment, only the RAM area is accessed.

Then, in step S1510, FIG.
By referring to the device division information of the spool management table SPMT shown in, it is determined whether to use HD (ON) or to process only in the RAM area (OFF).
When only the AM area is used, the content of the device division area is “OFF”, and therefore the process always proceeds to step S1511. Then, steps S1511-S1515 are similar to those in FIG.
Corresponding to steps S911 to S915, and the used RAM area is released in step S1515.

Further, the processing of steps S1528 and S1529 when it is determined in step S1503 that the page is the last page and the step S1504 is not divided printing corresponds to the processing of steps S905 and S906 shown in FIG. 6, and in step S1529. The RAM area is released.

If division printing is performed in step S1504, step S150 is performed in step S1527.
5, the determination is made by referring to the HD usage information in the job management table JMT shown in FIG. 18. However, when only the RAM area is used, since it is always “OFF”, the process proceeds to step S1511. . This is the same as the step of proceeding from step S904 to S911 shown in FIG. The above is the processing steps when only the RAM area is used.

On the other hand, the processing when the HD area is also used is as follows.

First, during the accumulation of drawing data in the step RAM area, it is determined in step S1509 whether the RAM area is sufficient. If it is determined that the RAM area is insufficient, the process proceeds to step S1510, and The device division information of the spool management table SPMT shown in 18 is determined. When the HD area is also used, since the device division information is “ON” in advance, the process always proceeds to step S1516.
The HD usage information of the job management table JMT shown in 8 is updated from the initial value "OFF" to "ON".

Then, in step S1517, R
The drawing data for the pages accumulated in the AM area is made into a temporary file, which is no longer needed when the file is created.
The AM area is released and the process returns to step S1500.

After that, when page data is acquired in step S1500 and it is determined in step S1503 that the page is not the final page, it is always determined in step S1505 whether HD printing is performed, and the flow advances to step S1518.

That is, in step S1505, the HD usage information of the job management table JMT shown in FIG. 18 is referred to, but since it has already been updated to ON in step S1516 of the previous step, the process always proceeds to step S1518. Become.

Then, in step S1518, the memory capacity required for a separator page to be generated in the case of divided printing is estimated from the paper information and resolution information of the job management table, and a sufficient capacity is calculated to determine the memory upper limit value of the spool management table. The page data capacity input next is added to the memory upper limit value and stored.

Then, in step S1519, the page data acquired in step S1500 is accumulated, filed, and stored. At this time, the page data to be stored may be archived in a file for the page data temporarily stored in step S1517 to be integrated into one file, or may be separately filed.

Next, step S1520 is a step of updating the page count. Here, the total page counter is updated, and the page start number and the page end number are updated. Step S1521 is step S15.
The upper limit memory value stored in 18 and the host computer 5
01 is compared with the free HD capacity, and it is determined whether the HD capacity is sufficient. If it is determined in step S1521 that the HD capacity is sufficient, the process returns to step S1500 to repeat the acquisition and analysis of data.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1521 that the HD capacity is insufficient, or it is the final page, and it is determined in step S1504 that the printing is divided printing, and in step S1527 that the printing is HD printing. In this case, the process proceeds to the divided printing step after step S1522.

Then, in step S1522, FIG.
The division identification information of the job management table JMT shown in is set to "ON" and the division number is incremented.

Next, in step S1523, a separator page is generated, and in step S1524, the page data file stored in the HD is printed in reverse order.

In step S1525, the delimiter page generated in step S1523 is printed. In step S1526, the page data stored in the HD and printed in reverse order is deleted and the memory required for the delimiter page is released.

Then, when step S1526 is finally completed, the process returns to step S1500 again to acquire subsequent page data.

On the other hand, when the RAM area is insufficient but the HD capacity is not insufficient, that is, after the HD utilization information is updated to ON in step S1516, step S150.
The final page data is detected in step 3, and step S15
When it is determined that the division identification information is “OFF” in 04,
After the page data accumulated in the HD is printed in reverse order in step S1528, the page data is deleted from the HD and the process returns to step S1500 to enter a data input waiting state.

[Seventh Embodiment] In the seventh embodiment, in the case of division printing in reverse order printing, an example of processing to notify the user of division printing, or whether to execute division printing or not This is an example in which the user can select.

19 and 20 are views showing an example of a message box in the print control apparatus according to the present invention, which is displayed on the display 11 shown in FIG.

For example, to notify the user of divided printing, step S911 shown in FIG. 6, step S1211 shown in FIG. 12, or step S shown in FIG.
In 1511 and step S1522, the message box shown in FIG. 19 may be displayed using the display control function (display control unit 515) on the display 11 shown in FIG.

When the user selects whether or not to execute the divided printing, for example, step S911 shown in FIG. 6, step S1211 shown in FIG. 12, and FIG.
In step S2311 shown in FIG. 6 or step S1511 or step S1522 shown in FIG.
A dialog box showing an example is displayed in FIG.

Here, if the user presses the OK button, steps S912, S1212, and S2, respectively.
The process proceeds to steps 312, S1512, and S1523.

On the other hand, when Cancel is selected, steps S912 to S914 and S1212 to S1 are performed, respectively.
214, S2312 to S2314, S1512 to S15
14, the processing of S1523 to S1525 is skipped, and the subsequent input page data becomes unnecessary, so that the system spooler may be notified of the job cancellation.

The present invention is not applied only to a so-called single-function printing apparatus having only the printer function shown in FIG. 2, and for example, a copy function, a facsimile function, a scanner function, etc. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied even to a multi-function device having.

The configuration of the data processing program that can be read by the printing system to which the printing control apparatus according to the present invention can be applied will be described below with reference to the memory map shown in FIG.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by a printing system to which the print control apparatus according to the present invention can be applied.

Although not particularly shown, information for managing the program group stored in the storage medium, such as version information, creator, etc. is also stored, and information depending on the OS or the like on the program reading side, such as the program, is stored. In some cases, an icon or the like for identification and display is also stored.

Further, data subordinate to various programs is also managed in the above directory. In addition, a program for installing various programs in a computer, or a program for decompressing the program to be installed when it is compressed may be stored.

The functions shown in the present embodiment may be performed by the host computer according to a program installed from the outside. And in that case, CD-
With storage media such as ROM, flash memory, and FD,
Alternatively, the present invention is applicable even when an information group including a program is supplied to an output device from an external storage medium via a network.

As described above, the storage medium recording the program code of the software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MP of the system or apparatus is supplied.
It goes without saying that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by U) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM,
CD-R, magnetic tape, non-volatile memory card, RO
M, EEPROM or the like can be used.

Further, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by executing the program code read by the computer, but also the OS (operating system) running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code. It goes without saying that this also includes the case where the above) performs a part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, The CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs a part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that the processing includes the case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized.

According to each of the above-described embodiments, in the host-based printing system or the printing system including the PDL-equipped printing device having no large-capacity storage medium, when performing reverse order printing, for example, the memory on the host computer side is used. Even if the resources are insufficient, the reverse printing can be completed without stopping the processing.

Therefore, after the printing is completed, the user can surely get the printed matter in the normal order with a minimum of effort.

Further, since the storage destination of the divided page block can be divided and stored according to the device of the host computer, the user prints with emphasis on speed or by reducing the number of divisions in division printing by reverse order printing. It is possible to perform reverse order printing according to the user's request.

Furthermore, since it is possible to specify the number of divided sheets at the time of divided printing by the maximum number of ejected sheets on the printing apparatus side or user input, it is possible to jam the ejected sheets accumulated in the ejection port on the printing apparatus side. There is also an effect that the occurrence of can be suppressed as much as possible.

[0226]

As described above, the first aspect of the present invention
According to the inventions of to 44, printing is performed in which the drawing information is generated based on the drawing command from the application software, and the generated drawing information is transferred to the printing apparatus having the face-up paper discharging mechanism via the system spool unit. When reverse printing is specified for a job in the control device, all pages in the job output from the system spool unit are stored in memory resources in reverse order as spooling data, and all pages are stored. When it is determined that a memory shortage condition cannot be stored in the memory resources, the job is divided into multiple jobs and transferred to the printing device, so job storage that can be secured in the memory resources that fluctuates depending on the system status Even if the reverse order printing process cannot be continued within the capacity of the area and there is a shortage of memory resources, the reserved job storage area An effect that can be to construct a printing environment with excellent usability which allows continued without cease reverse order output of each page of the job in an amount freely.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a printing apparatus to which a printing control apparatus according to the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image output system to which a print control device according to the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional processing configuration in a printing system to which the print control apparatus according to the present invention can be applied.

4 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface dialog displayed on a display 11 shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a reverse order division printing processing state in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a first data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a spool management table generated in the RAM shown in FIG. 2 or an external memory.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a second data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a page output state in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a third data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a print output result in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of a fourth data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a spool management table generated in the RAM shown in FIG. 2 or an external memory.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a setup dialog in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a spool management table generated in the RAM shown in FIG. 2 or an external memory.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of a fifth data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an example of a sixth data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a spool management table generated in the RAM shown in FIG. 2 or an external memory.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of a message box in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a message box in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by a printing system to which the print control apparatus according to the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a network printing system to which this type of printing apparatus can be applied.

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an example of page ejection processing in this type of printing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,21 CPU 2,22 RAM 3,23 ROM 4 timer 5 Keyboard controller (KBC) 6 Display controller (DSPC) 7 Disk controller (DKC) 8 I / O controller (IOC) 24 NVRAM 25 Communication controller 26 Printing Department I / F 27 Panel control unit 28 Disk Controller (DKC) 250 host computer 260 printer 270 bidirectional interface

Claims (44)

[Claims] 1. A printing control device for generating drawing information based on a drawing command from application software and transferring the generated drawing information to a printing device having a face-up paper discharging mechanism via a system spool section. A storage unit that stores each page of the job output from the system spool unit in the memory resource in the reverse order as spooling data when reverse printing is specified for the job; A determination unit that determines whether or not a memory shortage condition occurs in which all pages cannot be stored in the memory resource during processing; A control unit that divides the job and transfers it to the printing apparatus. . 2. A printing control device for generating drawing information based on a drawing command from application software and transferring the generated drawing information to a printing device having a face-up paper discharging mechanism via a system spool section. When the reverse printing is specified for the job, a storage unit that stores each page of the job output from the system spool unit in the memory resource in the reverse order, and a maximum discharging unit of the discharge unit from the printing apparatus. And a control unit for dividing the job into a plurality of jobs and transferring the plurality of jobs to the printing apparatus based on the maximum sheet discharge capacity acquired by the acquisition unit. Characteristic print control device. 3. A print control device for generating drawing information based on a drawing command from application software and transferring the generated drawing information to a printing device having a face-up paper discharging mechanism via a system spool section. When reverse printing is designated for a job, a storage unit that stores each page of the job output from the system spool unit in a memory resource in reverse order, and a division printing that is a division reference during reverse printing It is characterized by further comprising: designating means for designating a reference number of sheets; Print control device. 4. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a delimiter processing unit that generates and outputs a delimiter page during divided printing. 5. The memory upper limit value used when the determination unit determines the memory shortage state is calculated from the memory capacity necessary and sufficient to generate a separator page based on paper information and resolution information included in spooling data. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first calculating unit that performs the following. 6. A page upper limit value used by the determination unit to determine a memory shortage state is obtained from page spool data input next from the system spool unit based on sheet information and resolution information included in spooling data. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second calculation unit that calculates the necessary and sufficient memory capacity. 7. The control unit updates a page range in a divided block generated by dividing control of the spooling data every time page data is acquired. The printing control device described in 1. 8. The control unit updates the division number in a divided block generated by the division control of the spooling data every time the page data is divided. The printing control device described in 1. 9. The print control apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control unit generates delimiter page information for printing the page range on the delimiter page and transfers the delimiter page information to the printing apparatus. 10. The printing control apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control unit generates delimiter page information for printing all division numbers on the delimiter page and transfers the delimiter page information to the printing apparatus. . 11. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the control unit transfers, to the printing apparatus, a paper discharge command for rotating the page data for each divided block and discharging the page data. Print control device. 12. The print control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the control unit determines whether or not the rotation processing is possible based on the paper feed port information acquired from the printing apparatus. 13. The print control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a user can select whether or not to rotate the page data. 14. The print control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the control unit does not generate and print a separator page when rotating the page data. 15. A condition specifying unit for specifying printing of a plurality of copies or a set of copies is provided, and the control unit specifies a plurality of copies by the condition specifying unit and does not specify printing of each set. In this case, page data temporarily reserved as divided blocks for sequentially printing a specified number of copies from the reverse order page is transferred to the printing device. . 16. The control means, in the case where a plurality of copies are designated by the condition designating means and printing in units of copies is designated, in order to repeatedly print a designated number of copies in a divided block unit in reverse order. 4. The print control device according to claim 1, wherein page data temporarily reserved as a divided block is transferred to the printing device. 17. The print control apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the control unit transfers a command for printing the number of copies on the separator page to the printing apparatus. 18. A storage destination for storing a page division block for reverse order printing can be changed for each storage device that can be secured in the memory resource. The print control device described. 19. The size of the page division block is
19. The print control apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the print control apparatus is based on a free capacity of each storage device in the memory resource. 20. The printing according to claim 1, wherein the control unit notifies the user of whether or not to perform the divided printing when the divided printing is performed in the reverse order printing. Control device. 21. The control unit enables a user to select whether or not to execute the divided printing when the divided printing is performed in the reverse order printing. The printing control device described in 1. 22. A print control device for generating drawing information based on a drawing command from application software and transferring the generated drawing information to a printing device having a face-up paper discharging mechanism via a system spool section. In the print control method, when reverse order printing is designated for a job, a step of accumulating each page in the job output from the system spool unit in memory resources in reverse order as spooling data; A determination step of determining whether or not a memory shortage state in which all pages cannot be stored in the memory resource occurs during job accumulation processing for the step; and the determination step determines that a memory shortage state occurs, A control step that divides a job into multiple jobs and transfers the jobs to the printing device. And a print control method. 23. A print control device for generating drawing information based on a drawing command from application software and transferring the generated drawing information to a printing device having a face-up paper discharging mechanism via a system spool section. In the print control method, when reverse order printing is specified for a job, a step of accumulating each page of the job output from the system spool unit in a reverse order in a memory resource; And a control step of dividing the job into a plurality of jobs and transferring the plurality of jobs to the printing device, based on the maximum paper discharge capacity acquired in the acquisition step. A print control method comprising: 24. A printing control device for generating drawing information based on a drawing command from application software and transferring the generated drawing information to a printing device having a face-up paper discharging mechanism via a system spool section. In the print control method, when reverse order printing is specified for a job, a step of accumulating each page of the job output from the system spool section in reverse order in a memory resource, and a division criterion for reverse order printing And a control step of dividing the job into a plurality of jobs and transferring the divided jobs to the printing device based on the divided print reference number designated by the designation step. And a print control method. 25. The print control method according to claim 22, further comprising a delimiter processing step of generating and outputting a delimiter page during divided printing. 26. A memory upper limit value used in the determination step for determining a memory shortage state is calculated from a memory capacity necessary and sufficient to generate a separator page based on paper information and resolution information included in spooling data. 3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising a first calculation step for
2. The print control method described in 2. 27. The memory upper limit value used in the determination step for determining a memory shortage condition is obtained as page data to be input next from the system spool unit based on paper information and resolution information included in spooling data. 23. The print control method according to claim 22, further comprising a second calculation step of calculating from a necessary and sufficient memory capacity. 28. The control step updates the page range in a divided block generated by dividing control of the spooling data every time page data is acquired. The printing control method described in. 29. The control step updates the division number in a divided block generated by the division control of the spooling data every time the page data is divided. The printing control method described in. 30. The print control method according to claim 28, wherein the control step generates break page information for printing the page range on the break page and transfers the break page information to the printing device. 31. The print control method according to claim 28, wherein the control step generates separator page information for printing all the division numbers on the separator page and transfers the separator page information to the printing device. . 32. The control step transfers, to the printing device, a paper discharge command for rotating the page data for each divided block and discharging the page data.
4. The print control method according to any one of 4 above. 33. The print control method according to claim 32, wherein the control step determines whether or not the rotation processing is possible, based on the paper feed port information acquired from the printing device. 34. The print control method according to claim 32, wherein a user can select whether or not to rotate the page data. 35. The print control method according to claim 32, wherein the control step does not generate and print a separator page when rotating the page data. 36. A condition designating step for designating printing of a plurality of copies or a set of copies, wherein the control step designates a plurality of copies by the condition designating step, and does not designate printing of a set of copies. In this case, the page data temporarily reserved as divided blocks for sequentially printing a specified number of copies from the reverse order page is transferred to the printing device.
The printing control method according to any one of 2 to 24. 37. The control step, in the case where a plurality of copies are specified by the condition specifying step and printing in units of copies is specified, in order to repeatedly print a specified number of copies in a divided block unit in reverse order. 25. The print control method according to claim 22, wherein page data temporarily reserved as a divided block is transferred to the printing device. 38. The printing control method according to claim 37, wherein the control step transfers a command for printing the number of copies on the separator page to the printing device. 39. The storage destination for storing a page division block for reverse order printing can be changed for each storage device that can be secured in the memory resource. The print control method described. 40. The size of the page division block is
40. The print control method according to claim 39, wherein the print control method is based on a free capacity of each storage device in the memory resource. 41. The control step comprises:
25. The print control method according to claim 22, further comprising notifying the user of whether or not to execute the division printing when the division printing is performed. 42. The control step comprises:
23. When divided printing is performed, the user can select whether or not to execute divided printing.
25. The print control method according to any one of 24. 43. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for implementing the print control method according to claim 22. 44. A program for realizing the print control method according to claim 22.