JPH0662214A - Method and device for outputting image data - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten the required time until the output of image data by preparing the image data based on answer data expressing output resolution calculated by inquiry from a data processor to an output device, and transferring the image data to the output device. CONSTITUTION:Plural data processors 21 and 22 are connected to a data communication channel 1, and plural output devices 31 and 32 are connected. The devices 31 and 32 are provided with mutually different output resolution. In such a case, the processors 21 and 22 wait the preparing instruction of image data, inquire the output resolution to any one of the devices 31 and 32 enabling the reception of an output instruction and prepare the image data based on the answer data expressing the output resolution. The prepared image data are transferred through the data communication channel 1 to the relevant device 31 or 32, and a series of processing is completed. Thus, the required time until the output of image data can be shortened.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image data output method and an apparatus therefor, and more specifically, to any data processing in a network system in which a data processing device, an output device and the like are connected to a data communication line. The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for transferring image data from a device to any output device and outputting the image data on paper or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, network systems have been adopted in various fields in view of the advantage that resource saving can be achieved by sharing a small number of input / output devices by a plurality of data processing devices. By the way, since it is general that output devices having various output resolutions are connected to such a network system, when image data created by a data processing device is to be output, for example, In the processing device, information (output resolution, etc.) of all output devices connected to the data communication line is set in advance, an output device having an output resolution suitable for the created image data is selected, and the selected output is performed. Transfer the image data to the device. Therefore, even if image data corresponding to different output resolutions is created in each data processing unit, the size of the image output on the paper can be reduced by transferring the image data to the output device having an appropriate output resolution. It is possible to prevent inconvenience that the output resolution changes due to inadequacy.

[0003]

In the network system having the above configuration, the output resolution of the output device is selected based on the image data created by the data processing device. Therefore, the same output resolution is selected for a plurality of data processing devices. When the image data that must use the output device of No. 1 is created and the number of output devices of the corresponding output resolution is extremely small, the output of the image data created by any of the data processing devices There is an inconvenience that another data processing device has to wait for the transfer of the image data until the processing is completed.
In particular, since the image data generally has a remarkably large amount of data, the waiting time in the other data processing device becomes remarkably long and the moving efficiency of the network system as a whole is remarkably lowered.

If the number of output devices having the same output resolution is increased, the above inconvenience can be solved, but the number of output devices becomes extremely large in the entire network system, and resource saving can be almost achieved. It's gone. In addition, when the number of output devices connected to the network system increases or decreases, or when an output device with a different output resolution is replaced, reset the information regarding the increase or decrease or replacement of output devices in all data processing devices. Will be required. Since this work must be performed individually in each data processing device, the required time becomes extremely long, and if the setting work in any of the data processing devices is forgotten, the corresponding data processing device When outputting the created image data, there arises a disadvantage that the output device having the optimum output resolution cannot be selected.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the waiting time of the data processing means even when the output of image data which requires the use of the output means of the same output resolution competes with each other. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image data output method and an apparatus thereof that can significantly reduce the number of times, and can easily deal with increase / decrease and replacement of the output apparatus.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, in the image data output method according to claim 1, the data processing means inquires of the output means about the output resolution, and the data is returned from the output means. In this method, image data matching the output resolution is generated based on the reply result and transferred to the output means.

According to another aspect of the image data output device of the present invention, the data processing means makes an inquiry about the output resolution of the output means, a receiving means for receiving the reply result returned from the output means, and a received reply result. Image data generation means for generating image data matched to the output resolution, and the output means includes response means for transmitting response data indicating its own output resolution in response to the inquiry by the inquiry means.

[0008]

According to the image data output device of claim 1, when the image data is transferred from the data processing means connected to the data communication line to the output means connected to the data communication line, the data processing is performed. The means inquires of the output means about the output resolution, and based on the reply result returned from the output means, the image data matched with the output resolution is generated and transferred to the output means. The output resolution of the output means that can be obtained is obtained by making an inquiry to the output means, image data is created based on the obtained output resolution, and the image data is transferred to the corresponding output means to obtain a desired image of a desired size. Can be output with. Therefore, even when it is desired to output the image data by using the output unit that has already been instructed to output the image data, it is not necessary to wait until the output of the image data by the corresponding output unit is completed, and Since the image data can be output using the output means,
As a whole, the time required to output image data can be greatly reduced. Further, even when the number of output devices of the network system is increased, decreased, or changed, it is not necessary to set the output resolution of the output device that has been increased, decreased, or changed to all the data processing devices, and the output of the network system is output. It is possible to significantly reduce the amount of work involved in increasing / decreasing or changing the device.

According to the image data output device of claim 2,
When the image data is transferred from the data processing means connected to the data communication line to the output means connected to the data communication line, the inquiry means of the data processing means makes an inquiry about the output resolution to the output means. In response to the inquiry by the inquiry means, the output means sends the reply data indicating its own output resolution by the reply means. This reply data is received by the receiving means of the data processing means. Then, in the image data generating means of the data processing means, image data matching the output resolution is generated based on the received reply result and transferred to the output means through the data communication line. Therefore, even when it is desired to output the image data by using the output unit that has already been instructed to output the image data, it is not necessary to wait until the output of the image data by the corresponding output unit is completed, and Since the image data can be output using the output means, the time required for outputting the image data can be greatly reduced as a whole. Further, even when the number of output devices of the network system is increased, decreased, or changed, it is not necessary to set the output resolution of the output device that has been increased, decreased, or changed to all the data processing devices, and the output of the network system is output. It is possible to significantly reduce the amount of work involved in increasing / decreasing or changing the device.

[0010]

Embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings showing embodiments. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a network system to which the image data output method of the present invention is applied. A plurality of data processing devices 2 are provided for a data communication line 1.
1 and 22 are connected (however, only two are shown in FIG. 1), and a plurality of output devices 31 and 32 are connected (however, only two are shown in FIG. 1). Exist). The output devices 31 and 32 have different output resolutions.

FIG. 1 is a flow chart for explaining an embodiment of the image data output method of the present invention. Step SP
In step SP2, the output resolution is queried with respect to any output device capable of accepting the output instruction, and in step SP3.
In step SP4, image data is created based on the reply data indicating the output resolution, and the created image data is output correspondingly through the data communication line 1 in step SP5. The data is transferred to the device, and the series of processing ends.

The process in step SP4 is, for example, a process of changing the roughness of the linear interpolation according to the output resolution. When the output resolution is high, the number of pixels obtained by the linear interpolation is increased, and conversely the output is performed. If the resolution is low, the number of pixels obtained by linear interpolation will be reduced. Of course, instead of changing the roughness of the linear interpolation,
The length of the straight line to be linearly interpolated may be changed.

By performing the above processing, for example, when the output resolution in the width direction is too high, the line segment shown by the broken line in FIG. 2 is output, and when the output resolution in the width direction is too low, it is shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. Even when the line segment is output, since the image data is created according to the output resolution of the output device, the line segment shown by the solid line in FIG. 2 can be output.

[0014]

[Embodiment 2] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the image data output device of the present invention, and shows only one data processing device 21 and one output device 31. The data processing device 21 responds to an instruction to output image data by outputting an inquiry unit 2a that outputs data indicating an inquiry about the output resolution, and a response from the output device 31 in response to the data output by the inquiry unit 2a. The receiving unit 2b that waits for the supply of data, the image data creating unit 2c that creates image data based on the received data indicating the output resolution in response to receiving the reply data from the receiving unit 2b, and the created image data. Output device 31 through data communication line 1
The image data transfer unit 2d for transferring to

The output device 31 transfers the reply data indicating its own output resolution to the data processing device 21 through the data communication line 1 in response to receipt of the inquiry data, and the image data is transferred. In response to this, it has an output unit 3b for outputting on paper. The operation of the image data output device configured as described above is as follows.

In response to an instruction to output image data by a keyboard input (not shown) or the like, the inquiry unit 2a makes an inquiry about the output resolution to the output device 31.
In the output device 31, in response to receiving the inquiry data, the reply unit 3a transfers the reply data indicating its own output resolution to the data processing device 21. Here, since the data processing device 21 can recognize the output resolution of the corresponding output device 31, the image data creation unit 2c creates image data in accordance with the output resolution, and the image created by the image data transfer unit 2d. The data is transferred to the output device 31. In the output device 31, the output unit 3b performs output on paper based on the transferred image data.

Therefore, it is not necessary for the data processing device side to recognize the resolution of the output device in advance, and by creating the image data based on the reply data to the inquiry, it is possible to create the image data that matches the output resolution.
Images of the size and layout that the operator intended can be output on paper. The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the above inquiry is performed after the image data is created, and when the output resolution of the output device is appropriate, the image data is directly transferred and output. The image data can be recreated in accordance with the output resolution only when the resolution is inappropriate, and various design changes can be made within the range in which the paper of the present invention is not changed.

[0018]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, even when it is desired to output the image data by using the output means which has already been instructed to output the image data, the image by the corresponding output means is output. Since it is not necessary to wait until the data output is completed and the image data can be output using another output means, the time required for the image data output as a whole can be greatly reduced, and the network system Even if the number of output devices is increased, decreased, or changed, it is not necessary to set the output resolution of the output device that is increased, decreased, or changed to all the data processing units, and the number of output devices of the network system is increased or decreased. It has a unique effect that the amount of work involved in the change can be significantly reduced.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, even when it is desired to output the image data by using the output means which has already been instructed to output the image data, the output of the image data by the corresponding output means is completed. Since it is possible to output image data using other output means without waiting until, it is possible to significantly reduce the time required for image data output as a whole, and increase or decrease the number of output devices of the network system. Even if it is changed, it is not necessary to set the output resolution of the output means that has been increased, decreased, or changed to all data processing means, and work accompanying the increase or decrease or change of the output device of the network system There is a unique effect that the amount can be significantly reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of an image data output method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a line segment output with an appropriate output resolution and a line segment output with an inappropriate output resolution.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image data output device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a network system to which the image data output method of the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Data Communication Line 21, 22 Data Processing Device 31, 32 Output Device 2a Inquiry Unit 2b Receiving Unit 2c Image Data Creating Unit 3a Response Unit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. Image data from data processing means (21) (22) connected to a data communication line (1) to output means (31) (32) connected to a data communication line (1). In the system for transferring data, the data processing means (21) (22) inquires of the output means (31) (32) about the output resolution, and the output means (31)
Based on the reply result returned from (32), image data matching the output resolution is generated and output means (31) (3
A method for outputting image data, characterized in that the image data is transferred to (2). 2. Image data from the data processing means (21) (22) connected to the data communication line (1) to the output means (31) (32) connected to the data communication line (1). In the system for transferring data, the data processing means (21) (22) is provided with output means (31) (32).
Inquiry means (2)
a), a receiving means (2b) for receiving the reply result returned from the output means (31) (32), and an image data generating means (2c) for generating image data matched with the output resolution based on the received reply result. ) And output means (31)
(32) An image data output device, characterized in that it includes reply means (3a) for sending reply data indicating its own output resolution in response to the inquiry by the inquiry means (2a).