US20070211276A1 - Information processing apparatus with print preview function - Google Patents
Information processing apparatus with print preview function Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20070211276A1 US20070211276A1 US11/683,320 US68332007A US2007211276A1 US 20070211276 A1 US20070211276 A1 US 20070211276A1 US 68332007 A US68332007 A US 68332007A US 2007211276 A1 US2007211276 A1 US 2007211276A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- job
- preview
- information
- printer
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
- G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
- G06F3/1278—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to adopt a particular infrastructure
- G06F3/1285—Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
- G06F3/1288—Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server in client-server-printer device configuration
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F15/00—Digital computers in general; Data processing equipment in general
- G06F15/16—Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
- G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
- G06F3/1202—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect
- G06F3/1203—Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management
- G06F3/1205—Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
- G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
- G06F3/1202—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect
- G06F3/1203—Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management
- G06F3/1207—Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management resulting in the user being informed about print result after a job submission
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
- G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
- G06F3/1202—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect
- G06F3/1203—Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management
- G06F3/1208—Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management resulting in improved quality of the output result, e.g. print layout, colours, workflows, print preview
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
- G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
- G06F3/1202—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect
- G06F3/1211—Improving printing performance
- G06F3/1212—Improving printing performance achieving reduced delay between job submission and print start
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
- G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
- G06F3/1223—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to use a particular technique
- G06F3/1229—Printer resources management or printer maintenance, e.g. device status, power levels
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
- G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
- G06F3/1223—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to use a particular technique
- G06F3/1237—Print job management
- G06F3/1253—Configuration of print job parameters, e.g. using UI at the client
- G06F3/1256—User feedback, e.g. print preview, test print, proofing, pre-flight checks
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
- G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
- G06F3/1223—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to use a particular technique
- G06F3/1275—Print workflow management, e.g. defining or changing a workflow, cross publishing
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
- G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
- G06F3/1278—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to adopt a particular infrastructure
- G06F3/1284—Local printer device
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
- G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
- G06F3/1278—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to adopt a particular infrastructure
- G06F3/1285—Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
- G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
- G06F3/1278—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to adopt a particular infrastructure
- G06F3/1285—Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
- G06F3/1286—Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server via local network
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
- G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
- G06F3/1223—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to use a particular technique
- G06F3/1237—Print job management
- G06F3/1267—Job repository, e.g. non-scheduled jobs, delay printing
Definitions
- the present invention relates to, for example, an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer or the like which transmits print data to a printer and, more particularly, to an information processing apparatus which displays a preview based on print data at the time of a print instruction.
- a preview scheme that displays a print result on an information processing apparatus such as a host computer or the like before execution of printing roughly includes two schemes.
- an information processing apparatus generates and displays a preview image by simulating processing to be executed by a printer so as to allow the user to confirm a finishing result upon using a function such as stapling or the like (for example, see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-67347).
- an information processing apparatus sends print instructions to a printer, the printer sends back image data which has undergone RIP processing (rasterize processing) to a host, and the host displays the image data (for example, see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-030410).
- Some printers as computer peripheral devices support a Print On Demand (to be abbreviated as POD hereinafter) service, and have advanced functions such as complete bookbinding.
- POD Print On Demand
- printers with advanced functions plural pieces of information associated with print results such as a finishing result, color determination result, blank page determination result, and the like that the user should know before actual printing are complicated, and functions which do not allow for mistakes are increasing. Since these pieces of information are different for respective printers, respective print instructions, and respective pages, it becomes difficult for a computer to completely simulate them.
- the present invention has been made in consideration of the above prior art, and has as its object to provide a printer apparatus which can implement an accurate preview display that reflects processing to be executed by the printer. It is another object of the present invention to provide a printer apparatus which allows the user to change print settings while displaying a preview window and can accurately reflect changes of the print setting in the preview and printouts.
- the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is, there is provided a printer apparatus comprising:
- reception unit adapted to receive print job from a host apparatus
- a preview information generation unit adapted to generate, when a job type corresponding to the print job is preview, preview information which indicates layouts of logical pages and finishing processing for respective physical pages to be printed in accordance with job control information and print data included in the print job;
- a transmission unit adapted to transmit the preview information to the host apparatus.
- the present invention can implement an accurate preview display that reflects the states of output materials by the printer.
- the present invention allows the user to change print settings while displaying a preview window, and can accurately reflect the changes of the print settings on a preview and printouts.
- FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the arrangement of a print control apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a typical print system of a host computer to which a printer is connected;
- FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a print system which temporarily spools an intermediate code before it converts print instructions from an application into printer control commands;
- FIG. 4 is a sectional view for explaining a printer according to the present invention.
- FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing in a spooler 302 ;
- FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the print control in a spool file manager 304 ;
- FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing in a despooler 305 ;
- FIG. 8 shows an example of a print setting window of a printer driver
- FIG. 9 shows an example of a list display window of a spool file
- FIG. 10 shows an example of preview information (JDFP).
- FIG. 11 shows an example of a preview window
- FIG. 12 shows an example of a preview job
- FIG. 13 shows an example of a preview job
- FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining the preview processing of a previewer
- FIGS. 15A and 15B are flowcharts for explaining the preview processing and print processing of a printer
- FIG. 16 is a chart showing the flow of the overall conventional preview processing system
- FIG. 17 is a chart showing the flow of the overall preview processing system according to the present invention.
- FIG. 18 shows an example of a print instruction job
- FIG. 19 shows an example of a print cancel job.
- FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a printer control system according to one embodiment of the present invention.
- the present invention can be applied to any of a standalone device, a system including a plurality of devices, and a system in which devices are connected via a network such as a LAN, WAN, or the like to execute processing, as long as the functions of the present invention can be implemented.
- a host computer 3000 comprises a CPU 101 .
- the CPU 101 systematically controls respective devices connected to a system bus 104 .
- the CPU 101 controls document processing, print processing, and the like of documents that include any combinations of graphics data, image data, text data, table data (including a spreadsheet), and the like together, based on a document processing program and the like stored in a program ROM of a ROM 103 or an external memory 111 .
- the program ROM of the ROM 103 or the external memory 111 stores an operating system program (to be referred to as an OS hereinafter), and programs of the procedures shown in FIGS. 5 , 6 , 7 , and 14 .
- OS operating system program
- a font ROM of the ROM 103 or the external memory 111 stores font data and the like used in the document processing.
- a data ROM of the ROM 103 or the external memory 111 stores various data used upon executing the document processing and the like.
- a RAM 102 serves as a main memory, work area, and the like of the CPU 101 .
- a keyboard controller (KBC) 105 controls key inputs from a keyboard 109 and a pointing device (not shown).
- a CRT controller (CRTC) 106 controls a display on a CRT display (CRT) 110 .
- a disk controller (DKC) 107 controls access to the external memory 111 such as a hard disk (HD), flexible disk (FD), or the like.
- the external memory 111 such as the hard disk or the like stores programs and data such as a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, edit files, a printer control command (or to be referred to as a PDL command) generation program (to be referred to as a printer driver hereinafter), and the like.
- a printer controller (PRTC) 108 is connected to a printer 2000 via a network 121 , and executes communication control processing with the printer 2000 .
- the printer (printing apparatus) 2000 is often connected to a network such as Ethernet® or the like.
- the CPU 101 executes rasterize processing of a print preview image on a display information RAM assured on, e.g., the RAM 102 to display a preview on the CRT 110 .
- the CPU 101 opens various registered windows based on commands instructed by a mouse cursor or the like (not shown) on the CRT 110 , and executes various kinds of data processing in accordance with operations by the operator.
- the user opens a window associated with print settings, and can set a printer and a print processing method for a printer driver as well as selection of a print mode.
- the user can also call and display the window for the print settings (also called print attributes) from a preview display window, and can change the settings from the windows for the print settings.
- print setting information is, for example, a structure called DEVMODE in Windows®.
- the print setting information is changed by the printer driver, is passed to a spooler for each print job, and is saved as the print settings of that job. This information which is stored in the spooler and indicates the print settings for each job is called job setting information.
- a printer CPU 112 controls the printer 2000 .
- the printer CPU 112 outputs an image signal as output information to a printer engine 2010 connected to a system bus 115 via a printer engine interface 118 based on control programs and the like stored in a program ROM of a ROM 113 or an external memory 2011 .
- the program ROM of the ROM 113 stores control programs and the like of the CPU 112 .
- a font ROM of the ROM 113 stores font data and the like used upon generating the output information.
- a data ROM of the ROM 113 stores information and the like used on the host computer in case of a printer which has no external memory 2011 such as a hard disk or the like.
- the printer CPU 112 can execute communication processing with the host computer via an interface unit 2001 , and can send information and the like in the printer to the host computer 3000 .
- a RAM 119 serves as a main memory, work area, and the like of the printer CPU 112 , and can expand its memory capacity by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown). Note that the RAM 119 can also be used as an output information rasterize area, environmental data storage area, NVRAM, and the like.
- a disk controller (DKC) 120 controls access to the external memory 2011 such as a hard disk (HD), IC card, or the like.
- the external memory 2011 is connected as an option, and stores font data, emulation programs, form data, and the like.
- the printer CPU 112 executes the program of the procedure shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B , and rasterizes print data received from the computer 3000 to print it on a paper sheet.
- the printer CPU 112 generates preview information which reflects layouts and the like for respective pages, and finishing processing based on the job setting Information received from the computer 3000 , and transmits the generated preview information to the computer 3000 .
- the number of external memories 2011 is not limited to one, and a plurality of external memories may be connected.
- a plurality of external memories including an optional font card in addition to built-in font data, an external memory which stores a program that interprets a printer control language of a different language system, and the like may be connected.
- the printer may comprise an NVRAM (not shown), and may store printer mode setting information from an operation panel 2020 .
- FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a color laser beam printer which has a double-sided print function, as an example of the printer 2000 .
- the printer 2000 scans, via a polygon mirror 31 , a photosensitive drum 15 with a laser beam, which is modulated by image data for each color obtained based on print data input from the host computer 3000 , thus forming an electrostatic latent image.
- the printer 2000 develops this electrostatic image by each toner to obtain a visible image of a given color, and multiple-transfers visible images for all the colors onto an intermediate transfer member 9 , thus forming a color visible image.
- An image forming unit which makes the aforementioned control comprises a drum unit having the photosensitive drum 15 , a primary charger having a contact charger roller 17 , a cleaning unit, a developing unit, the intermediate transfer member 9 , a paper feed unit including a paper cassette 1 and various rollers 3 , 4 , 5 , and 7 , a transfer unit including a transfer roller 10 , and a fixing unit 25 .
- a drum unit 13 is configured by integrating the photosensitive drum (photosensitive body) 15 and a cleaner container 14 which also serves as a holder of the photosensitive drum 15 and has a cleaning mechanism.
- This drum unit 13 is detachably supported by a printer main body, and is easily exchanged by another unit in correspondence with the service life of the photosensitive drum 15 .
- the photosensitive drum 15 is formed by applying an organic photoconductor layer on the outer circumferential surface of an aluminum cylinder, and is rotatably supported by the cleaner container 14 .
- the photosensitive drum 15 is rotated by the driving force transmitted from a drive motor (not shown), which rotates the photosensitive drum 15 counterclockwise in correspondence with the image forming operation.
- An electrostatic latent image is formed by selectively exposing the surface of the photosensitive drum 15 .
- a modulated laser beam is reflected by the polygon mirror 31 , which rotates in synchronism with a horizontal sync signal of an image signal by a motor 31 a , and strikes the photosensitive drum via a lens 32 and reflecting mirror 33 .
- the developing unit has an arrangement comprising three color developers 20 Y, 20 M, and 20 C used to develop yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C), and one black developer 21 B used to develop black, so as to visualize the electrostatic latent image.
- the color developers 20 Y, 20 M, and 20 C and the black developer 21 B respectively comprise sleeves 20 YS, 20 MS, and 20 CS, and 21 BS, and application blades 20 YB, 20 MB, 20 CB, and 21 BB, which are respectively in press contact with the outer circumferential surfaces of these sleeves 20 YS, 20 MS, and 20 CS, and 21 BS.
- the three color developers 20 Y, 20 M, and 20 C respectively have application rollers 20 YR, 20 MR, and 20 CR.
- the black developer 21 B is detachably attached to the printer main body, and the color developers 20 Y, 20 M, and 20 C are detachably attached to a developing rotary 23 , which rotates about a rotation shaft 22 .
- the sleeve 21 BS of the black developer 21 B is located to have a small gap of about 300 ⁇ m from the photosensitive drum 15 .
- the black developer 21 B feeds toner using a built-in feeding member, and gives an electric charge to the toner by frictional electrification so as to apply the toner on the outer circumferential surface of the sleeve 21 BS, which rotates clockwise, using the application blade 21 BB.
- a developing bias to the sleeve 21 BS, an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 15 is developed by black toner to form a visible image on the photosensitive drum 15 .
- the three color developers 20 Y, 20 M, and 20 C rotate upon rotation of the developing rotary 23 in image formation, and the predetermined sleeve 20 YS, 20 MS, or 20 CS opposes the photosensitive drum 15 to have a small gap of about 300 ⁇ m.
- the predetermined color developer 20 Y, 20 M, or 20 C stops at a developing position that opposes the photosensitive drum 15 , thus forming a visible image on the photosensitive drum 15 .
- the developing rotary 23 rotates upon completion of a color developing process for a component color on the intermediate transfer member 9 .
- the developing processes are done in the order of the yellow developer 20 Y, magenta developer 20 M, cyan developer 20 C, and black developer 21 B.
- visible images of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners are sequentially formed, thus consequently forming a full-color visible image on the intermediate transfer member 9 .
- the intermediate transfer member 9 contacts the photosensitive drum 15 , and rotates upon rotation of the photosensitive drum 15 .
- the intermediate transfer member 9 rotates clockwise and receives four visible images multiple-transferred from the photosensitive drum 15 upon color image formation.
- the transfer roller 10 contacts the intermediate transfer member 9 to clamp and convey the transfer material 2 upon image formation, thus simultaneously multiple-transferring the color visible image on the intermediate transfer member 9 onto the transfer material 2 .
- a TOP sensor 9 a and RS sensor 9 b used to detect the positions associated with the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer member 9 , and a density sensor 9 c used to detect the density of a toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer member are located around the intermediate transfer member.
- the transfer roller 10 comprises a transfer charger supported to be movable toward or away from the intermediate transfer member 9 .
- the transfer roller 10 is formed by warping a medium resistance foamed elastic body on a metal shaft.
- the transfer roller 10 moves away downward so as not to disturb color visible images while the color visible images are multiple-transferred onto the intermediate transfer member 9 , as indicated by the solid line in FIG. 4 .
- the transfer roller 10 is located at an upper position indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 4 by a cam member (not shown) in synchronism with the transfer timing of the multi-color visible image onto the transfer material 2 .
- the transfer roller 10 is brought into press contact with the intermediate transfer member 9 at a predetermined pressure via the transfer material 2 , and is applied with a bias voltage, thus transferring the multi-color visible image onto the transfer material 2 .
- the fixing unit 25 fixes the transferred multi-color visible image while conveying the transfer material 2 , and comprises a fixing roller 26 which heats the transfer material 2 , and a pressure roller 27 which makes the transfer material 2 pressure-contact the fixing roller 27 .
- the fixing roller 26 and pressure roller 27 have a hollow shape, and respectively incorporate heaters 28 and 29 . That is, the transfer material 2 which holds the multi-color visible image is conveyed and applied with heat and pressure by the fixing roller 26 and pressure roller 27 , thus fixing the toner image on its surface.
- the transfer material 2 is exhausted onto an exhaust unit 37 by exhaust rollers 34 , 35 , and 36 , thus ending the image forming operation.
- the cleaning unit cleans the residual toner on the photosensitive drum 15 and intermediate transfer member 9 , and the cleaner container 14 stores waste toner after the toner visible image formed on the photosensitive drum 15 is transferred onto the intermediate transfer member 9 or after the four color visible images formed on the intermediate transfer member 9 are transferred onto the transfer material 2 .
- a transfer material (print sheet) 2 to be printed is picked up from the paper cassette 1 by a pickup roller 3 , and is conveyed while being clamped between the intermediate transfer member 9 and transfer roller 10 . Then, a color toner image is transferred to the transfer material 2 , and is fixed via the fixing unit 25 .
- a guide 38 forms a conveyance path to guide the print sheet to the exhaust unit at an upper position.
- the guide 38 forms a path to guide the print sheet to a double-sided unit at a lower position.
- the print sheet guided to the double-sided unit is temporary fed to a portion under the paper cassette 1 (a convey path indicated by the two-dashed chain line) by convey rollers 40 , and is then conveyed in a reverse direction to be fed to a double-sided tray 39 .
- the double-sided tray 39 On the double-sided tray 39 , the obverse and reverse faces of the print sheet are reversed from those placed on the paper cassette 11 , and the leading and trailing ends of the convey direction are reversed. In this state, by transferring and fixing toner images again, the double-sided print mode can be attained.
- FIG. 2 shows the configuration of typical print processing in the host computer to which the printing apparatus such as a printer or the like is connected directly or via a network.
- An application 201 , graphic engine 202 , printer driver 203 , and system spooler 204 exist as files saved in the external memory 111 . These files are executed after they are loaded onto the RAM 102 by the OS or modules that use those of the OS.
- the application 201 and printer driver 203 can be added to the HD of the external memory 111 via the FD or a CD-ROM (not shown) of the external memory 111 , or a network (not shown).
- the application 201 when print processing is executed from the application 201 to the printer 2000 , the application 201 outputs rendering data using the graphic engine 202 which is similarly loaded onto the RAM 102 and is ready to run.
- the graphic engine 202 as rendering means of the OS is generally called a GDI (Graphic Device Interface), and the application outputs rendering data called GDI functions to the GDI serving as the graphic engine.
- the graphic engine 202 similarly loads onto the RAM 102 the printer driver 203 , which is prepared for each printing apparatus, from the external memory 1 l.
- the graphic engine 202 then converts the CDI functions output from the application 201 into DDI (Device Driver Interface) functions based on a library and outputs the DDI functions to the printer driver 203 .
- the printer driver 203 converts the DDI functions received from the graphic engine 202 into control commands that can be recognized by the printer, e.g., PDL (Page Description Language) commands.
- the converted PDL commands are output to the printer 2000 as print data included in a print job via the system spooler 204 , which is loaded onto the RAM 102 by the OS, and the interface 121 .
- the preview print system proposed by Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-067347 is implemented by providing a configuration that temporarily spools print data from the application as intermediate code data in addition to the print system which includes the printer and host computer shown in FIG. 2 .
- FIG. 3 shows a system obtained by enhancing that shown in FIG. 2 , and adopts a configuration that temporarily generates a spool file 303 including intermediate codes upon sending print instructions from the graphic engine 202 as the rendering means of the OS to the printer driver 203 . Since intermediate codes are temporarily generated, a previewer loads the contents of the intermediate codes of the spool file 303 and allows the user to preview and to change the print settings.
- the system shown in FIG. 2 is enhanced to spool as intermediate code data, as shown in FIG. 3 .
- the user In order to change the settings of print data, the user normally makes settings from a window provided by the printer driver 203 , which saves the setting contents on the PAM 102 or external memory 111 .
- a dispatcher 301 receives print instructions output from the graphic engine 202 . If the print instructions (DDI functions) received from the graphic engine 202 are those (GDI functions) issued from the application 201 , the dispatcher 301 loads the spooler 302 stored in the external memory 111 onto the RAM 102 . Also, the dispatcher 301 sends the received print instructions (GDI functions) to the spooler 302 in place of the printer driver. In order to allow the dispatcher 301 to determine the source of print instructions, a method of appending an ID of a process as a transmission source of print instructions to those print instructions or the like is available.
- the spooler 302 interprets the received print instructions, converts them into intermediate codes in a predetermined format, which allows easy modifications, for respective pages, and outputs the converted intermediate codes to store them in the spool file 303 .
- the spool file of the intermediate codes stored for each page is called a page rendering file (or Unified Display List: UDL).
- UDL Unified Display List
- the spooler 302 acquires print setting information set using the printer driver 203 from it, and saves the acquired print setting information in the spool file 303 as a setting file for each job.
- the print setting file stored for each job is called a job setting file.
- the job setting file is also called a JDF (Job Definition Format). This job setting file will be described later.
- Print setting items that can be set using the printer driver include an Nup setting used to lay out, e.g., N pages on one page in a reduced scale, double-/single-sided setting, staple setting, color/monochrome setting, and the like.
- the spooler 302 loads a spool file manager 304 stored in the external memory 111 onto the RAM 102 , and notifies the spool file manager 304 of the generation state of the spool file 303 .
- the spool file manager 304 determines that print processing is ready to be executed using the intermediate data stored in the spool file 303 , it loads a despooler 305 stored in the external memory 111 onto the RAM 102 .
- the spool file manager 304 instructs the despooler 305 to execute print processing of page rendering files described using the intermediate codes (UDL) described in the spool file 303 .
- the spool file manager 304 loads a previewer 306 stored in the external memory 111 onto the RAM 102 , and notifies it of the job ID to set the previewer 306 in the standby state.
- the despooler 305 re-generates GDI functions in accordance with the contents of the page rendering files of the intermediate codes included in the spool file 303 and the job setting information included in the spool file 303 .
- the re-generated GDI functions are output via the graphic engine 202 as the rendering means of the OS once again.
- the dispatcher 301 If the print instructions (DDI functions) received by the dispatcher 301 from the graphic engine 202 are those (GDI functions) issued by the despooler 305 , the dispatcher 301 passes the print instructions to the printer driver 203 .
- the printer driver 203 generates printer control commands in a page description language (PDL) or the like based on the print instructions (DDI functions) acquired from the graphic engine 202 , and sends the generated commands to the printer 2000 via the system spooler 204 as a print job.
- PDL page description language
- a preview attribute is appended to the PDL commands, which are transmitted to the printer.
- the preview attribute is appended to information (job control information) associated with a job as a unit of print processing, and that information is transmitted to the printer.
- the printer 2000 does not print the print job appended with the preview attribute onto paper sheets, but it generates preview information associated with the job ID and transmits the generated information to the computer 3000 .
- the preview information includes information required to display a preview such as layout information indicating the layout of pages which are to be actually printed on paper sheets and are stored in the spool file 303 , staple positions of respective physical pages, and the like. Note that a paper sheet which is to actually undergo printing is also called a sheet or physical page. Also, a page stored in the spool file 303 is also called a logical page.
- the preview information includes a blank page determination result (blank page information) indicating whether or not a page of interest is a blank page, and color mode information indicating one of monochrome and color.
- the previewer 306 configures a preview unit 310 together with a setting change editor 307 .
- the previewer 306 Upon reception, from the printer (printing apparatus), of the preview information corresponding to the job ID received from the spool file manager 304 , the previewer 306 stores the received preview information in the spool file 303 .
- the previewer 306 pops up a window of the spool file manager, and displays, as a list, job IDs associated with the preview information spooled in the spool file 303 on the window.
- the preview information is also called “JDFP” (Job Definition Format For Preview) for short.
- the user can set to display a preview by providing a user interface window shown in, e.g., FIG. 8 .
- a user interface window shown in, e.g., FIG. 8 .
- the user In order to display a print preview and to change the print settings, the user must designate “store” from a pull-down menu (also called output method selection means) 803 as means for “designating an output destination” on the property window of the printer driver shown in FIG. 8 .
- output method selection means also called output method selection means
- FIG. 9 shows a display example of the print state when one print job is spooled.
- the user can manipulate a job.
- the manipulations that the user can make using the menu bar 901 are the same as those that he or she can make using the menu icons 902 the manipulations include “print”, “save & print”, “preview”, “delete”, “copy”, “edit job”, “change order”, and the like.
- Print is a manipulation for making the printer 2000 print a print job selected from a list 903 .
- “Save & print” is a manipulation for making the printer print the print job selected from the list 903 while leaving the spool file of the intermediate codes of that print job intact.
- Preview is a manipulation for displaying a preview of the print job selected from the list 903 while reflecting the print settings.
- Delete is a manipulation for deleting the spool file of the intermediate codes of the print job selected from the list 903 .
- Copy is a manipulation for copying the spool file of the intermediate codes of the print job selected from the list 903 .
- Job edit is a manipulation for changing the print settings (layout setting, finishing setting, and the like) of the job selected from the list 903 .
- Change order is a manipulation for changing the print order of jobs.
- the spool file manager 304 When the user selects a certain print job and designates its preview on the window ( FIG. 9 ) of the spool file manager 304 , the spool file manager 304 loads the previewer 306 stored in the external memory 111 onto the RAM 102 . The spool file manager 304 designates the previewer 306 to execute preview processing of the job of the intermediate codes described in the spool file 303 .
- the previewer 306 Upon reception of the designation, the previewer 306 receives the preview information from the printer, and sequentially reads out page rendering files (UDL) of the corresponding intermediate codes included in the spool file 303 .
- the previewer 306 modifies the page rendering files in accordance with the setting information for respective pages included in the preview information (JDFP), re-generates GDI functions based on the modified intermediate data (page rendering files), and outputs the re-generated GDI functions to the graphic engine 202 .
- a client area of the previewer 306 i.e., a display device is designated as the output destination.
- the graphic engine 202 which received the GDI functions outputs DDT functions for the display device, a display output onto the screen can be attained.
- the preview information and page rendering files can be associated with each other using the job ID of the print job. Since the job ID is included in both the preview information and spool file, the preview information and spool file having the same job ID can be associated with each other as information pertaining to an identical print job.
- the graphic engine 202 can perform appropriate rendering in accordance with the designated output destination.
- the display device and printing apparatus have different resolutions.
- the graphic engine 202 acquires attribute information such as the resolution of the designated output destination and the like from, e.g., a database or the like managed by the OS, and executes rendering using the acquired information.
- the previewer 306 can be implemented by the method of modifying the intermediate codes included in the spool file 303 in accordance with the preview information (JDFP) and outputting the modified intermediate codes using the graphic engine 202 .
- the printer 2000 receives printer control commands such as PDL commands or the like from the host computer 3000 , and temporarily stores them in a reception buffer 2003 .
- a command interpreter 2007 interprets the printer control commands such as the PDL commands.
- a rendering processing execution unit 2005 rasterizes image data in accordance with the print settings of the print job of interest, and temporarily stores the image data in an HD 2011 .
- an output controller 2008 converts the image data into a video signal in synchronism with engine rotations (ship processing), and passes the video signal to a printer engine 2010 .
- the printer engine 2010 forms images on sheets in accordance with the video signal.
- the job includes a series of printer control commands delimited by a job start command.
- the job setting information indicating the print settings is transmitted from the host computer 3000 to the printing apparatus 2000 after, e.g., the job start command.
- Whether one job is a print job or preview job is indicated by, e.g., the value of a “job type” field in the job setting information.
- the value of the “job type” field in the job setting information may be copied to the job start command, so that the job start command indicates the job type.
- the rendering processing execution unit 2005 rasterizes image data in accordance with the designated settings in the same manner as in the print job.
- the rasterized image data is temporarily stored in the HD 2011 together with the job ID.
- the rendering processing execution unit 2005 associates detailed preview information (JDFP) for respective physical pages generated during the process for rasterizing image data to process it to a state immediately before printing, and the temporarily stored image data, and saves them as a set.
- JDFP detailed preview information
- the generated preview information is returned to the previewer 306 of the host computer 3000 as the transmission source of the job.
- the generation time of the preview information JDFP
- JDFP generation time of the preview information
- the previewer 306 sends, to the printer, print instructions with a preview attribute generated by the printer driver 203 based on the job setting information (JDF) and page rendering files (UDL).
- the printer executes the same processing as actual print processing, and generates accurate preview information (JDFP) as in actual printing.
- the preview information generated by the printing apparatus has the same data format as that of the job setting information. However, unlike the job setting information, the preview information is generated for each physical page. Also, the preview information includes items different from the job setting information.
- the job setting information and preview information will be described later with reference to FIGS. 12 , 13 , and the like.
- the previewer 306 modifies data of the spooled page rendering files (UDL) based on the preview information (JDFP) received from the printer, and outputs the modified data to the display. In this way, an accurate preview display can be attained.
- the previewer 306 displays previews as large as printouts that reflect the job settings included in the spool file 303 on the screen, as shown in FIG. 11 .
- the previewer 306 is closed, and the control shifts to the spool file manager 304 .
- the spool file manager 304 displays a window ( FIG. 9 ).
- the user Upon executing job setting/print processing displayed on the previewer, the user designates “print” or “save & print” on the window of the spool file manager 304 to issue a print request to the graphic engine 202 . If the print settings are not to be changed, the user can designate the job ID in the print request.
- the printer which received the printer control commands of the print request via the graphic engine 202 and the like can output images which correspond to the designated job ID and have already undergone RIP (have already been rasterized to image data) at high speed.
- the setting change editor 307 edits the job setting information (JDF) corresponding to the preview job saved in the spool file 303 in accordance with the contents of the changed print settings.
- the despooler 305 reads out the edited job setting information from the spool file 303 , and passes it to the printer driver 203 together with the job ID via the graphic engine 202 and the like.
- the printer driver 203 generates printer control commands corresponding to differences from the printer control commands of the already transmitted job, and outputs them to the printing apparatus 2000 .
- the differences are limited to those in the job setting information. Therefore, for example, new printer control commands required to transmit the job setting information to the printing apparatus 2000 are generated, and are transmitted to the printing apparatus 2000 together with the job ID.
- This job ID is the same as that of the preview job which was transmitted first to the printing apparatus 2000 .
- FIG. 16 shows an example of the processing flow of the overall conventional preview processing system.
- the printer driver 203 Upon reception of a print instruction from the application 201 , the printer driver 203 generates intermediate codes (processing step 1601 ). The generated intermediate codes are saved in a spool file.
- a preview utility generates an image to be displayed by loading the intermediate codes, and displays a preview on the screen of a personal computer (processing step 1602 ). If the display result has no problem, the user presses a print button to call the printer driver 203 .
- the printer driver 203 generates PDL commands (printer control commands) (processing step 1603 )
- PDL commands printer control commands
- a printer 600 starts print processing from PDL command interpretation (processing step 1604 ).
- the preview utility of the host computer generates and displays a preview image using the intermediate codes.
- FIG. 17 shows an example of the processing sequence of the overall system of this embodiment.
- the printer driver 203 Upon reception of a print instruction from the application 201 , the printer driver 203 generates intermediate codes (processing step 1701 )
- the spooler 302 saves the intermediate codes in the spool file 303 .
- the preview unit 310 loads the spooled intermediate codes, and issues a print instruction to the printer driver 203 .
- this print instruction includes information indicating preview.
- information indicating preview is described in the job setting information.
- the print instruction including information indicating preview is referred to as a preview instruction in this invention.
- the printer driver 203 Upon reception of the print instruction (i.e., preview instruction), the printer driver 203 generates PDL commands (processing step 1702 ).
- the printer driver 203 appends a preview attribute to the generated PDL commands, and transmits them as print instructions with the preview attribute to the printer 2000 .
- the print instruction send to the printer 2000 from the printer driver 203 is referred to as a print job.
- the print job with the preview attribute is referred to as a preview job.
- the printer 2000 interprets the PDL commands to generate preview information (JDFP), and returns the generated preview information to the host computer (processing step 1703 ).
- a final recipient of the preview information in the host computer is the preview unit 310 .
- the printer 2000 also executes RIP processing of the print job with the preview attribute received after interpretation of the PDL commands to generate image data.
- the generated image data are stored in the hard disk together with the preview information in association with the job ID (processing step 1705 ).
- this RIP processing the same RIP processing as that upon reception of the print job is executed to generate image data to be printed. If the PDL commands are also saved, only information associated with differences may be received after the settings have been changed. Hence, it is desirable to store the PDL commands. In this embodiment, the received PDL commands are also stored.
- the preview unit 310 loads the spooled intermediate codes, and makes preview display in accordance with the preview information (JDFP) received from the printer 2000 (processing step 1704 ).
- the spooled intermediate codes include image information for respective pages such as objects to be rendered for respective physical pages, and the like.
- the preview information includes information associated with the print settings such as the layout for each physical page, finishing information, and the like.
- the preview unit 310 rasterizes the intermediate codes to those for display, lays out logical pages in accordance with the print settings described in the preview information, and appends image objects according to output materials.
- the image objects to be appended include those which represent punch holes, staples, a watermark, character strings of tab sheets, and the like.
- a finisher When a finisher has an inserter function, image objects that represent sheets such as a front cover sheet, back cover sheet, tab sheets, and the like to be inserted by an inserter, and objects such as character strings, images, and the like written on these sheets to be inserted are inserted in accordance with the preview information. If a finisher having a bookbinding function is added to the printer 2000 , the preview unit 310 also appends identification objects indicating the bookbinding positions and the like. In this way, preview images are generated and displayed in accordance with the preview information.
- the preview unit 310 When the user changes the print settings, the preview unit 310 reflects the changed print settings in the job setting information. Also, the preview unit 310 sends a print instruction to the printer driver 203 via the graphic engine 202 .
- the printer driver 203 generates difference PDL commands (processing step 1710 ). Since information changed by the preview unit 310 is limited to the job setting information, new PDL commands are generated as difference PDL commands.
- the difference PDL commands are transmitted to the printer 2000 together with the job ID. This job ID is the same as that of the preview job which was transmitted to the printer 2000 first.
- the printer 2000 Upon reception of the difference PDL commands, the printer 2000 generates preview information again with reference to its job ID (processing step 1707 ).
- the printer 2000 substitutes the job setting information received as the difference PDL commands with that in the PDL commands stored in association with that job ID.
- the printer 2000 then generates preview information based on the substituted PDL commands.
- the printer 2000 transmits the generated preview information to the preview unit 310 as the request source of the preview information.
- the printer 2000 executes RIP processing using the changed job setting information to reflect the changed print settings in image data, thus updating the stored image data (processing step 1709 ).
- This RIP processing may be executed for only a changed part if the settings are partially changed. However, since the changed part in job setting information influences all the pages included in the job of interest even when settings are changed partially, it is desirable to execute the RIP processing for the entire job again.
- the preview unit 310 generates and displays preview images using the received preview information and the spooled intermediate codes and accepts the print button (processing step 1708 ).
- the preview unit 310 sends the print instruction to the printer driver 203 .
- the printer driver 203 generates difference PDL commands, and sends a print job to the printer 2000 (processing step 1710 ).
- the print job to be transmitted to the printer 2000 at this time need only include information indicating that the job is a print job, and the job ID.
- the printer 2000 prints out the images generated in processing step 1709 . If the stored PDL commands are changed, the printer 2000 generates and prints image data that reflect the changes (processing step 1711 ). Image data obtained by applying RIP processing to only the changed part may be printed in place of the image data with the same job ID, but the entire job may undergo the RIP processing again.
- the printer driver works as a print instruction transmission means that generates, when a preview instruction of data is issued, printer control commands according to print data together with a job type indicating preview, and transmit the generated printer control commands to the printer.
- the previewer works as a preview means that generates and displays a preview image based on preview information which is generated by the printer 2000 in accordance with the printer control commands and which indicates layouts and finishing processing for respective physical pages.
- the printer driver works as a setting change means that generates, when the print settings are changed, print instructions associated with a changed part.
- FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the storage processing of the intermediate codes for respective pages in generation of the spool file 303 . This processing is executed after the dispatcher 301 accepts DDI functions as rendering data output from the graphic engine 202 and passes this rendering data to the spooler 302 upon reception of a print request from the application.
- the spooler 302 accepts a print request issued by the application from the dispatcher 301 via the graphic engine 202 .
- the application 201 displays a dialog used to input the print settings, as shown in FIG. 8 , before a print instruction, and the printer driver 203 passes job setting information indicating the print settings input from this dialog to the spooler 302 .
- the setting input dialog shown in FIG. 8 includes setting items 801 used to determine the number of logical pages to be laid out per physical page, and the like.
- the spooler 302 checks in step 502 if the accepted print request is a job start request. If the spooler 302 determines in step 502 that the accepted print request is a job start request, the process advances to step 503 - 1 , and the spooler 302 generates a spool file 303 used to temporarily store intermediate data on the PAM 102 (or on the hard disk). Subsequently, the spooler 302 receives print setting information (corresponding to DEVMODE of Windows®) from the printer driver 203 , and stores job setting information (JDF) in the spool file 303 (step 503 - 2 ). After that, the spooler 302 notifies the spool file manager 304 of the progress of print processing.
- print setting information corresponding to DEVMODE of Windows®
- the spooler 302 sends a preview notification to the spool file manager 304 ; if the job is a print job, the spooler 302 sends a print start notification to the manager 304 (step 504 ).
- step 505 a page counter managed by the spooler 302 is reset to 1 .
- the spool file manager 304 loads job information for the job, the print processing of which has started, and job setting information as modification settings from the job setting file of the spool file 303 .
- step 506 the process advances to step 506 .
- the spooler 302 checks in step 506 if the accepted request is a job end request. If the spooler 302 determines that the accepted request is not a job end request, the process advances to step 507 , and the spooler 302 checks if the accepted request is a new page request. If the spooler 302 determines in step 507 that the accepted request is a new page request, the process advances to step 508 - 1 to increment the page counter. In step 508 - 2 , the spooler 302 notifies the spool file manager 304 of the progress of print processing. In this case, the spooler 302 notifies the spool file manager 304 of reception of the new page request as the progress information. At the same time, the spooler 302 may notify the page counter value.
- step 507 the process advances to step 509 , and the spooler 302 prepares for extraction of intermediate codes (UDL) to each page rendering file.
- step 510 the spooler 302 converts rendering data such as text data, graphic data, image data, and the like passed together with the print request into intermediate data to be stored in the spool file 303 .
- step 511 the spooler 302 writes the print request which is converted into a storable format (intermediate data) in step 510 in each page rendering file (UDL) of the spool file 303 .
- the process returns to step 501 to accept a print request from the application again.
- the spooler 302 repeats a series of processes in steps 501 to 511 until it received a job end request (End Doc) from the application.
- End Doc job end request
- the spooler 302 acquires print setting information such as modification settings and the like stored in the DEVMODE structure (i.e., print setting information) from the printer driver 203 , and stores it as job setting information (JDF) in the spool file 303 .
- JDF job setting information
- the spooler 302 determines in step 506 that the print request from the application is a job end request, all print requests from the application end. Hence, the process advances to step 512 , and the spooler 302 closes the spool file.
- the spooler 302 notifies the spool file manager 304 of the progress of print processing (job end notification in this case), thus ending the processing.
- FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing details of control between the spool file 303 generation process and a print data generation process (to be described later) in the spool file manager 304 .
- the spool file manager 304 accepts a progress notification or report of print processing from the spooler 302 or despooler 305 .
- the spool file manager 304 checks in step 602 if the progress notification is a preview or print start notification sent from the spooler 302 in step 504 above. If the accepted notification is a preview or print start notification, the process advances to step 603 , and the spool file manager 304 acquires a job ID to start job management.
- the spool file manager 304 can acquire the job ID from a job ID generation counter or the like used to assign serial numbers in turn.
- the process advances to step 604 .
- the spool file manager 304 checks in step 604 if the progress notification is a new page notification sent from the spooler 302 in step 508 above, i.e., a processing end notification of one logical page. If the accepted notification is a processing end notification of one logical page, the process advances to step 605 , and the spool file manager 304 stores page information for this page.
- the page information includes, e.g., a page ID (physical page and logical page), information indicating association between the logical and physical pages, and the like.
- the spool file manager 304 determines a page number to be printed every time print instructions (intermediate codes) corresponding to one physical page are spooled, and sends to the despooler a processibility notification indicating that the physical page of interest is ready to process.
- the processibility notification includes a page ID of the physical page which is ready to output. For example, when a plurality of logical pages are laid out on one physical page, the spool file manager 304 receives a new page notification from the spooler every time it receives a logical page to be laid out on that one physical page. If data of all logical pages to be laid out on one physical page are not spooled yet, the processibility notification is not output in step 606 . Only after data for one physical page are spooled, the processibility notification is output. Note that printing in this case includes preview processing.
- step 601 The process then returns to step 601 , and the spool file manager 304 waits for the next notification.
- print processing can start even when spooling of the entire print job is not completed after print data for one physical page are spooled.
- step 607 if the spool file manager 304 determines in step 604 that the accepted notification is not a print end notification for one logical page, the process advances to step 607 .
- the spool file manager 304 check in step 607 if the received notification is a job end notification sent from the spooler 302 in step 512 above. If the received notification is a job end notification, the process advances to step 606 above. On the other hand, if the received notification is not a job end notification, the process advances to step 608 , and the spool file manager 304 checks if the accepted notification is a print end (output end) notification for one physical page from the despooler 305 . If the accepted notification is a print end notification for one physical page, the process advances to step 609 to check if print processing of the entire job is complete.
- step 610 the process advances to step 610 , and the spool file manager 304 sends a print end notification to the despooler 305 . If the spool file manager 304 determines that the print processing is not complete yet, the process returns to step 606 . Assume that the number of pages for which the despooler 305 of this embodiment can simultaneously execute print processing (output processing) is 1.
- step 608 determines in step 608 that the input notification is not a print end notification for one physical page from the despooler 305
- the process advances to step 611 .
- the spool file manager 304 check in step 611 if the input notification is a print end notification from the despooler 305 . If the spool file manager 304 determines that the input notification is a print end notification from the despooler 305 , the processing ends. On the other hand, if the input notification is not a print end notification from the despooler 305 , the process advances to step 612 to execute another normal processing, and the spool file manager 304 waits for the next notification.
- the stored information is converted into a reusable format to issue a processibility notification. If the stored information is not reusable, an implementation method which uses a high-speed medium such as a shared memory or the like to overwrite a despooled physical page in turn, and saves the resources may be adopted.
- the delimiter of one physical page is determined with reference to the job setting information.
- FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing details of the print data generation process in the despooler 305 .
- the despooler 305 generates print data by reading out necessary information (page rendering files (UDL) and job setting information (JDF)) from the spool file 303 in accordance with a print request from the spool file manager 304 .
- the method of transferring the generated print data to the printer is as described above using FIG. 3 .
- the despooler 305 checks if the input job is a preview job (S 701 ). If the input job is a preview job, the despooler 305 launches the preview unit 310 by notifying it of the job ID to be processed in step 702 .
- the job type indicating a preview job or print job can be determined by referring to the job type field of the job setting information.
- step 703 the despooler 305 accepts a notification from the spool file manager 304 . If a notification is input, the process advances to step 704 .
- the despooler 305 checks in step 704 if the input notification is a job end notification. If the input notification is a job end notification, the process advances to step 705 to set an end flag. The process then advances to step 707 .
- step 704 determines in step 704 that the input notification is not a job end notification
- the process advances to step 706 , and the despooler 305 checks if the input notification is a processibility notification in step 606 in FIG. 6 . If the despooler 305 determines in step 706 that the input notification is not a processibility notification, the process advances to step 708 to execute another error processing. The process then returns to step 701 to wait for the next notification.
- step 707 determines in step 706 that the input notification is a processibility notification
- the process advances to step 707 , and the despooler 305 stores a page ID in the processibility notification which notifies that the print processing is ready to start.
- the despooler 305 then checks in step 709 if the output processing for all the pages of the physical page IDs stored in step 707 is complete. If the processing of all the pages is complete, the process advances to step 710 to check if an end flag is set. If the end flag is set, the despooler 305 determines that the print processing of the job is complete, and sends a processing end notification to the spool file manager 304 , thus ending the processing. If the despooler 305 determines in step 710 that the end flag is not set, the process returns to step 701 to wait for the next notification.
- step 709 the despooler 305 determines in step 709 that pages which can undergo output processing still remain, the process advances to step 711 .
- step 711 the despooler 305 reads out a physical page ID to be processed in turn from the stored physical page IDs.
- the despooler 305 loads information required to generate print data of a physical page corresponding to the readout physical page ID from the spool file, and executes print processing (output processing).
- the despooler 305 converts print request instructions (UDL) and job setting information (JDF) stored in the spool file 303 into a format that the graphic engine 202 can recognize, e.g., into GDI functions in the Windows® OS.
- the despooler 305 transfers these GDI functions to the graphic engine 202 .
- the despooler 305 sends a print data generation end notification to the spool file manager 304 in step 712 .
- the process returns to step 709 , and the despooler 305 repeats print processing for all the physical page IDs stored in step 707 .
- the despooler converts spooled intermediate codes into print instructions (GDI functions), and outputs them for each physical page.
- FIGS. 15 A and 1 SB are flowcharts showing details of the process of the printer which receives print instructions with a preview attribute generated in step 711 .
- step 1501 the type of a job included in the received PDL commands is checked. If it is determined in step 1502 that the received job is a preview job, the process advances to step 1503 .
- step 1503 the received PDL commands are interpreted to collect information required to display a preview. If the information required to display a preview includes information such as the paper cassette, exhaust destination, staple positions, and the like of respective physical pages, the information can be collected by interpreting the job setting information without executing RIP processing (rasterize processing to bitmap data) that takes much time. If the information required to display a preview includes that which requires the RIP processing such as blank page determination, color/monochrome determination, and the like, the RIP processing is executed in this step to collect information.
- step 1504 preview information (JDEP) is generated based on the information collected in step 1503 , and the generated preview information is returned to the request source (host computer 3000 in this embodiment) of the preview job in step 1505 .
- step 1506 it is checked in step 1506 if the received PDL commands are those for the already registered job.
- “Already registered” means that print data and preview information associated with a job with the same job ID as that of the received PDL commands are registered in the printer 2000 . If the received PDL commands belong to an unregistered job, the rendering processing execution unit 2005 of the printer 2000 executes RIP processing in step 1510 .
- the generated image data are stored in the HD 2011 together with the preview information (JDFP) generated in step 1504 , original data, and job ID, thus ending the processing.
- JDFP preview information
- step 1506 If it is determined in step 1506 that the PDL commands are those for a BOX already registered job, the print settings of the already registered job are compared with those of the received job by referring to their job setting information in step 1507 .
- the print settings of the already registered job are compared with those of the received job by referring to their job setting information in step 1507 .
- these commands include job control information or print data of a certain page, that job control information is compared with that of the already stored preview information. If information stored in the printer is preview information, the preview information may be compared after preview information is generated based on the received PDL commands and is converted into the same format.
- step 1508 If it is determined in step 1508 that the print settings are different, RIP processing of a part influenced by the changed settings is executed, and image data are stored in the HD 2011 together with newly generated preview information (JDFP) in step 1509 , thus ending the processing. That is, if image data which are left unchanged still remain, newly generated image data are merged with the already stored image data. If no image data which are left unchanged remain, the newly generated image data may be overwritten.
- JDFP newly generated preview information
- step 1502 If it is determined in step 1502 that the received job is not a preview job, the job IDs registered in the HD 2011 are searched for that of the received PDL commands in step 1511 . If a hit occurs, since the job ID of the received PDL commands has already been registered, the process branches to step 1512 . If it is determined in step 1512 that the job of received PDL commands is a print cancel job, the process branches to step 1518 ; if it is a print job, the process branches to step 1513 .
- step 1513 the print settings of the already stored job are compared with those of the received job by referring to their job setting information. If it is determined in step 1514 that the print settings are different, RIP processing of a part influenced by the changed settings is executed, and newly generated image data are stored in the HD 2011 in step 1515 . The newly generated and stored image data are merged with already stored image data. In step 1516 , the merged image data are transferred to the printer engine 2010 , thus executing print processing. The process advances to step 1518 in response to a print end notification from the printer engine 2010 .
- step 1514 If it is determined in step 1514 that the print settings are not different, data that have already undergone the RIP processing and are stored in the HD 2011 are printed in step 1516 , and the process advances to step 1518 , thus ending the processing.
- step 1511 If it is determined in step 1511 that the job of interest is not stored in the HD 2011 , RIP processing is executed in step 1517 to store generated image data in the HD 2011 .
- step 1516 the stored image data are transferred to the printer engine 2010 to execute print processing.
- the file of the print job whose print processing is complete is deleted from a BOX in step 1518 , thus ending the processing.
- the host computer 3000 upon reception of a print processing completion notification from the printer 2000 , the host computer 3000 deletes the file of the corresponding print job in the spool file 303 .
- FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing details of the preview process in the preview unit 310 .
- the previewer 306 waits for an event from the printer in step 1401 after the despooler 305 is launched. An event is transmission of preview information in the example of FIG. 14 . If an event is returned from the printer, the previewer 306 loads the received preview information (JDFP) in step 1402 .
- JDFP received preview information
- step 1403 the previewer 306 reads out the page rendering files (UDL) of a job ID which corresponds to (matches) that of the preview information from the spool file 303 .
- step 1404 the previewer 306 executes preview rendering processing of the page rendering files (UDL) in accordance with the preview information (JDFP) (preview display).
- step 1405 the previewer 306 waits for an event from the user. If it is determined that the user has input a print processing continuation instruction without changing the settings of the preview display, the previewer 306 generates a print instruction and issues it to the printer in step 1407 , and the process branches to step 1412 .
- the print instruction is generated by the printer driver in accordance with a request from the previewer. This print instruction is a simple one including only a job ID without any changes in print settings, since it is issued to make the printer print the stored job intact.
- step 1408 it is determined whether the user has instructed the previewer on modification of the print settings or cancellation of the print job. If it is determined that the user has instructed the previewer on cancellation of the print processing of the job in step 1408 , the previewer 306 generates a print cancel instruction in step 1409 , and the process then branches to step 1412 .
- step 1408 If it is determined that the user has changed the print settings in step 1408 , the process branches to step 1410 . If the user has changed the print settings, job setting information (JDF) is generated from the preview information (JDFP) received in step 1402 , and print instructions are sent again to the printer using the despooler 305 in step 1410 . In this case, the processing time can be shortened by sending only a changed part.
- the setting change editor 307 executes this step.
- step 1401 If the user issues a re-preview request, the process branches to step 1401 according to the determination result in step 1411 . If the user does not issue any re-preview request, the previewer 306 deletes the preview information (JDFP) and page rendering files (UDL) in the spool file 303 , thus ending the processing.
- JDFP preview information
- UDL page rendering files
- the preview job includes job setting information (JDF) 1201 and print instructions ( 1202 to 1206 ).
- the preview job is transmitted as PDL commands to the printer.
- FIG. 12 illustrates the job setting information and print instructions included in the preview job.
- the job setting information (JDF) 1201 includes 10 records in FIG. 12 , whose item names (indices) and their contents are delimited by tabs, and respective records are given as a text file delimited by, e.g., line feed codes.
- the job setting information (JDF) 1201 includes a job type 1201 a indicating a type, i.e., preview or print, a job name (job ID) 1201 b , and print settings copied from the print setting information.
- the settings can be changed in the middle of the job like L3 is A5 portrait, L4 is A4 landscape, L5 is A4 portrait, and so forth after L1 and L2 starting from A4 portrait.
- Preview information 1001 in FIG. 10 is an example of preview information (JDFP) generated by the printer 2000 which receives the job setting information 1201 and print instructions ( 1202 to 1206 ).
- the preview information includes the job setting information and physical page information.
- the physical page information includes finishing information indicating finishing processing such as stapling or the like which appears on each physical page, and configuring logical page information which includes a layout of logical pages that configure that physical page.
- the implication of the preview information 1001 is expressed by pages 1002 , 1003 , 1004 , and 1005 . That is, L1, L2, L3, L4, and L5 are assigned to respective 2-up divided regions on the two faces of A3 landscape paper sheets. In this way, using the preview information, output materials to be printed can be re-configured.
- the configuring logical page information 1010 should be noted.
- the printer which generates the preview information describes a layout of logical pages. That is, this information includes logical page IDs, sizes, rotation angle, sizes after scaling (or scaling factors), reference position coordinates, and the like of logical pages included in one physical page. With reference to this configuring logical page information, the same physical page as that to be printed by the printer can be re-configured.
- the preview information includes staple position information, blank page determination information, and accounting determination information for each page.
- the staple position information is referred to so as to re-configure the staple positions
- the blank page determination information is referred to so as to indicate the presence/absence of an image in a page.
- preview information 1301 in FIG. 13 is also an example of preview information (JDFP) which is generated by the printer that receives the job setting information 1201 and print instructions ( 1202 to 1206 ) in FIG. 12 and is different from FIG. 10 .
- the rotation angles of logical pages included in configuring logical page information 1310 express that images on the reverse face are upside down to those on the obverse face.
- the preview information represents that an L4 page has a layout which is reduced in scale to the width of an A4 sheet in the landscape direction.
- the printer generates preview information that includes information of the layout of logical pages and finishing processing which are to be made according to the interpretation of the job setting information for each printer.
- Job setting information 1801 in FIG. 18 is print instruction information generated when the previewer that receives the preview information 1001 changes the print settings on the reverse face of the first page to those on the reverse face of the first page in the preview information 1301 .
- the setting change editor 307 generates job setting information and print instructions shown in FIG. 18 for a physical page whose settings have been changed, and transmits them to the printer driver.
- the printer driver converts these print instructions into PDL commands, and transmits the converted commands to the printer.
- the printer driver converts the job setting information 1201 and print instructions associated with L3 and L4 pages into PDL commands, and transmits them to the printer.
- the printer stores the received difference to be merged with the already stored print data, and generates new preview information.
- the printer transmits the new preview information to the host computer 3000 .
- the printer 2000 executes RIP processing to generate image data and stores the generated image data. The difference is merged with data of the stored job.
- a message 1901 in FIG. 19 indicates a print cancel instruction generated by the previewer 306 which receives the preview information 1001 .
- the print cancel instruction includes a job type and the job ID to be canceled. If the job type in FIG. 19 is changed to “print”, a print instruction when the print settings are not changed is generated.
- an accurate preview display which reflects the states of output materials by the printer can be implemented. Furthermore, the user is allowed to change the print settings while displaying a preview window, and the changed print settings can be accurately reflected in the preview and printouts.
- the present invention may be applied to either a system constituted by a plurality of devices (e.g., a host computer, interface device, reader, printer, and the like), or an apparatus consisting of a single equipment (e.g., a copying machine, facsimile apparatus, or the like).
- the objects of the present invention are also achieved by supplying a recording or storage medium, which records a program code of a software program that can implement the functions of the above-mentioned embodiments to the system or apparatus, and reading out and executing the program code stored in the storage medium by a computer (or a CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus.
- the program code itself read out from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-mentioned embodiments, and the storage medium which stores the program code constitutes the present invention.
- the present invention also includes a case wherein the functions of the above-mentioned embodiments are implemented not only by executing the readout program code by the computer but also by some or all of actual processing operations executed by an operating system (OS) running on the computer on the basis of an instruction of the program code. Furthermore, the present invention is applied to a case wherein the program code read out from a storage medium is written in a memory of an expansion card or a function expansion unit which is inserted in or connected to the computer. In this case, the functions of the aforementioned embodiments are implemented by some or all of actual processes executed by a CPU or the like arranged in the function expansion card or unit based on the instruction of that program code.
- OS operating system
Abstract
A printer apparatus of this invention includes a reception unit which receives print job from a host apparatus, a preview information generation unit which generates preview information that indicates layouts of logical pages and finishing processing for respective physical pages to be printed in accordance with job control information and print data included in the print job, when a job type corresponding to the print job is preview, and a transmission unit which transmits the preview information to the host apparatus.
Description
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to, for example, an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer or the like which transmits print data to a printer and, more particularly, to an information processing apparatus which displays a preview based on print data at the time of a print instruction.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- Conventionally, a preview scheme that displays a print result on an information processing apparatus such as a host computer or the like before execution of printing roughly includes two schemes.
- In one preview scheme, an information processing apparatus generates and displays a preview image by simulating processing to be executed by a printer so as to allow the user to confirm a finishing result upon using a function such as stapling or the like (for example, see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-67347).
- In the other preview scheme, an information processing apparatus sends print instructions to a printer, the printer sends back image data which has undergone RIP processing (rasterize processing) to a host, and the host displays the image data (for example, see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-030410).
- Some printers as computer peripheral devices support a Print On Demand (to be abbreviated as POD hereinafter) service, and have advanced functions such as complete bookbinding. Upon using printers with advanced functions, plural pieces of information associated with print results such as a finishing result, color determination result, blank page determination result, and the like that the user should know before actual printing are complicated, and functions which do not allow for mistakes are increasing. Since these pieces of information are different for respective printers, respective print instructions, and respective pages, it becomes difficult for a computer to completely simulate them.
- The present invention has been made in consideration of the above prior art, and has as its object to provide a printer apparatus which can implement an accurate preview display that reflects processing to be executed by the printer. It is another object of the present invention to provide a printer apparatus which allows the user to change print settings while displaying a preview window and can accurately reflect changes of the print setting in the preview and printouts.
- In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is, there is provided a printer apparatus comprising:
- a reception unit adapted to receive print job from a host apparatus;
- a preview information generation unit adapted to generate, when a job type corresponding to the print job is preview, preview information which indicates layouts of logical pages and finishing processing for respective physical pages to be printed in accordance with job control information and print data included in the print job; and
- a transmission unit adapted to transmit the preview information to the host apparatus.
- The present invention can implement an accurate preview display that reflects the states of output materials by the printer. The present invention allows the user to change print settings while displaying a preview window, and can accurately reflect the changes of the print settings on a preview and printouts.
- Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.
-
FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the arrangement of a print control apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a typical print system of a host computer to which a printer is connected; -
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a print system which temporarily spools an intermediate code before it converts print instructions from an application into printer control commands; -
FIG. 4 is a sectional view for explaining a printer according to the present invention; -
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing in aspooler 302; -
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the print control in aspool file manager 304; -
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing in adespooler 305; -
FIG. 8 shows an example of a print setting window of a printer driver; -
FIG. 9 shows an example of a list display window of a spool file; -
FIG. 10 shows an example of preview information (JDFP); -
FIG. 11 shows an example of a preview window; -
FIG. 12 shows an example of a preview job; -
FIG. 13 shows an example of a preview job; -
FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining the preview processing of a previewer; -
FIGS. 15A and 15B are flowcharts for explaining the preview processing and print processing of a printer; -
FIG. 16 is a chart showing the flow of the overall conventional preview processing system; -
FIG. 17 is a chart showing the flow of the overall preview processing system according to the present invention; -
FIG. 18 shows an example of a print instruction job; and -
FIG. 19 shows an example of a print cancel job. - Embodiments to which the present invention can be suitably applied will be described hereinafter.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a printer control system according to one embodiment of the present invention. Note that the present invention can be applied to any of a standalone device, a system including a plurality of devices, and a system in which devices are connected via a network such as a LAN, WAN, or the like to execute processing, as long as the functions of the present invention can be implemented. - Referring to
FIG. 1 , ahost computer 3000 comprises aCPU 101. TheCPU 101 systematically controls respective devices connected to asystem bus 104. TheCPU 101 controls document processing, print processing, and the like of documents that include any combinations of graphics data, image data, text data, table data (including a spreadsheet), and the like together, based on a document processing program and the like stored in a program ROM of aROM 103 or anexternal memory 111. The program ROM of theROM 103 or theexternal memory 111 stores an operating system program (to be referred to as an OS hereinafter), and programs of the procedures shown inFIGS. 5 , 6, 7, and 14. A font ROM of theROM 103 or theexternal memory 111 stores font data and the like used in the document processing. A data ROM of theROM 103 or theexternal memory 111 stores various data used upon executing the document processing and the like. ARAM 102 serves as a main memory, work area, and the like of theCPU 101. - A keyboard controller (KBC) 105 controls key inputs from a
keyboard 109 and a pointing device (not shown). A CRT controller (CRTC) 106 controls a display on a CRT display (CRT) 110. A disk controller (DKC) 107 controls access to theexternal memory 111 such as a hard disk (HD), flexible disk (FD), or the like. Theexternal memory 111 such as the hard disk or the like stores programs and data such as a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, edit files, a printer control command (or to be referred to as a PDL command) generation program (to be referred to as a printer driver hereinafter), and the like. A printer controller (PRTC) 108 is connected to aprinter 2000 via anetwork 121, and executes communication control processing with theprinter 2000. The printer (printing apparatus) 2000 is often connected to a network such as Ethernet® or the like. - Note that the
CPU 101 executes rasterize processing of a print preview image on a display information RAM assured on, e.g., theRAM 102 to display a preview on theCRT 110. TheCPU 101 opens various registered windows based on commands instructed by a mouse cursor or the like (not shown) on the CRT 110, and executes various kinds of data processing in accordance with operations by the operator. Upon execution of printing, the user opens a window associated with print settings, and can set a printer and a print processing method for a printer driver as well as selection of a print mode. The user can also call and display the window for the print settings (also called print attributes) from a preview display window, and can change the settings from the windows for the print settings. In this embodiment, various settings for printing are called print settings, and information including the print settings together is called print setting information. The print setting information is, for example, a structure called DEVMODE in Windows®. The print setting information is changed by the printer driver, is passed to a spooler for each print job, and is saved as the print settings of that job. This information which is stored in the spooler and indicates the print settings for each job is called job setting information. - A
printer CPU 112 controls theprinter 2000. Theprinter CPU 112 outputs an image signal as output information to aprinter engine 2010 connected to asystem bus 115 via aprinter engine interface 118 based on control programs and the like stored in a program ROM of aROM 113 or anexternal memory 2011. The program ROM of theROM 113 stores control programs and the like of theCPU 112. A font ROM of theROM 113 stores font data and the like used upon generating the output information. A data ROM of theROM 113 stores information and the like used on the host computer in case of a printer which has noexternal memory 2011 such as a hard disk or the like. - The
printer CPU 112 can execute communication processing with the host computer via aninterface unit 2001, and can send information and the like in the printer to thehost computer 3000. ARAM 119 serves as a main memory, work area, and the like of theprinter CPU 112, and can expand its memory capacity by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown). Note that theRAM 119 can also be used as an output information rasterize area, environmental data storage area, NVRAM, and the like. A disk controller (DKC) 120 controls access to theexternal memory 2011 such as a hard disk (HD), IC card, or the like. Theexternal memory 2011 is connected as an option, and stores font data, emulation programs, form data, and the like. On theoperation panel 2020, switches, LED indicators, and the like used to operate the printer are arranged. Theprinter CPU 112 executes the program of the procedure shown inFIGS. 15A and 15B , and rasterizes print data received from thecomputer 3000 to print it on a paper sheet. In case of a preview job, theprinter CPU 112 generates preview information which reflects layouts and the like for respective pages, and finishing processing based on the job setting Information received from thecomputer 3000, and transmits the generated preview information to thecomputer 3000. - The number of
external memories 2011 is not limited to one, and a plurality of external memories may be connected. A plurality of external memories including an optional font card in addition to built-in font data, an external memory which stores a program that interprets a printer control language of a different language system, and the like may be connected. Furthermore, the printer may comprise an NVRAM (not shown), and may store printer mode setting information from anoperation panel 2020. -
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a color laser beam printer which has a double-sided print function, as an example of theprinter 2000. Theprinter 2000 scans, via apolygon mirror 31, aphotosensitive drum 15 with a laser beam, which is modulated by image data for each color obtained based on print data input from thehost computer 3000, thus forming an electrostatic latent image. Theprinter 2000 develops this electrostatic image by each toner to obtain a visible image of a given color, and multiple-transfers visible images for all the colors onto anintermediate transfer member 9, thus forming a color visible image. Furthermore, theprinter 2000 transfers this color visible image onto a transfer material (e.g., a sheet of paper) 2, and fixes the color visible image on thetransfer material 2. An image forming unit which makes the aforementioned control comprises a drum unit having thephotosensitive drum 15, a primary charger having acontact charger roller 17, a cleaning unit, a developing unit, theintermediate transfer member 9, a paper feed unit including apaper cassette 1 andvarious rollers transfer roller 10, and a fixingunit 25. - A
drum unit 13 is configured by integrating the photosensitive drum (photosensitive body) 15 and acleaner container 14 which also serves as a holder of thephotosensitive drum 15 and has a cleaning mechanism. Thisdrum unit 13 is detachably supported by a printer main body, and is easily exchanged by another unit in correspondence with the service life of thephotosensitive drum 15. Thephotosensitive drum 15 is formed by applying an organic photoconductor layer on the outer circumferential surface of an aluminum cylinder, and is rotatably supported by thecleaner container 14. Thephotosensitive drum 15 is rotated by the driving force transmitted from a drive motor (not shown), which rotates thephotosensitive drum 15 counterclockwise in correspondence with the image forming operation. An electrostatic latent image is formed by selectively exposing the surface of thephotosensitive drum 15. In ascanner unit 30, a modulated laser beam is reflected by thepolygon mirror 31, which rotates in synchronism with a horizontal sync signal of an image signal by amotor 31 a, and strikes the photosensitive drum via alens 32 and reflectingmirror 33. - The developing unit has an arrangement comprising three
color developers black developer 21B used to develop black, so as to visualize the electrostatic latent image. Thecolor developers black developer 21B respectively comprise sleeves 20YS, 20MS, and 20CS, and 21BS, and application blades 20YB, 20MB, 20CB, and 21BB, which are respectively in press contact with the outer circumferential surfaces of these sleeves 20YS, 20MS, and 20CS, and 21BS. The threecolor developers - The
black developer 21B is detachably attached to the printer main body, and thecolor developers rotary 23, which rotates about arotation shaft 22. The sleeve 21BS of theblack developer 21B is located to have a small gap of about 300 μm from thephotosensitive drum 15. Theblack developer 21B feeds toner using a built-in feeding member, and gives an electric charge to the toner by frictional electrification so as to apply the toner on the outer circumferential surface of the sleeve 21BS, which rotates clockwise, using the application blade 21BB. By applying a developing bias to the sleeve 21BS, an electrostatic latent image on thephotosensitive drum 15 is developed by black toner to form a visible image on thephotosensitive drum 15. - The three
color developers rotary 23 in image formation, and the predetermined sleeve 20YS, 20MS, or 20CS opposes thephotosensitive drum 15 to have a small gap of about 300 μm. In this way, thepredetermined color developer photosensitive drum 15, thus forming a visible image on thephotosensitive drum 15. - Upon forming a color image, the developing
rotary 23 rotates upon completion of a color developing process for a component color on theintermediate transfer member 9. The developing processes are done in the order of theyellow developer 20Y,magenta developer 20M, cyan developer 20C, andblack developer 21B. After four rotations of theintermediate transfer member 9, visible images of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners are sequentially formed, thus consequently forming a full-color visible image on theintermediate transfer member 9. - The
intermediate transfer member 9 contacts thephotosensitive drum 15, and rotates upon rotation of thephotosensitive drum 15. Theintermediate transfer member 9 rotates clockwise and receives four visible images multiple-transferred from thephotosensitive drum 15 upon color image formation. Also, the transfer roller 10 (to be described later) contacts theintermediate transfer member 9 to clamp and convey thetransfer material 2 upon image formation, thus simultaneously multiple-transferring the color visible image on theintermediate transfer member 9 onto thetransfer material 2. ATOP sensor 9 a andRS sensor 9 b used to detect the positions associated with the rotation direction of theintermediate transfer member 9, and adensity sensor 9 c used to detect the density of a toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer member are located around the intermediate transfer member. - The
transfer roller 10 comprises a transfer charger supported to be movable toward or away from theintermediate transfer member 9. Thetransfer roller 10 is formed by warping a medium resistance foamed elastic body on a metal shaft. - The
transfer roller 10 moves away downward so as not to disturb color visible images while the color visible images are multiple-transferred onto theintermediate transfer member 9, as indicated by the solid line inFIG. 4 . After the four color visible images are formed on theintermediate transfer member 9, thetransfer roller 10 is located at an upper position indicated by the dotted line inFIG. 4 by a cam member (not shown) in synchronism with the transfer timing of the multi-color visible image onto thetransfer material 2. In this way, thetransfer roller 10 is brought into press contact with theintermediate transfer member 9 at a predetermined pressure via thetransfer material 2, and is applied with a bias voltage, thus transferring the multi-color visible image onto thetransfer material 2. - The fixing
unit 25 fixes the transferred multi-color visible image while conveying thetransfer material 2, and comprises a fixingroller 26 which heats thetransfer material 2, and apressure roller 27 which makes thetransfer material 2 pressure-contact the fixingroller 27. The fixingroller 26 andpressure roller 27 have a hollow shape, and respectively incorporateheaters transfer material 2 which holds the multi-color visible image is conveyed and applied with heat and pressure by the fixingroller 26 andpressure roller 27, thus fixing the toner image on its surface. - After the visible image is fixed, the
transfer material 2 is exhausted onto anexhaust unit 37 byexhaust rollers - The cleaning unit cleans the residual toner on the
photosensitive drum 15 andintermediate transfer member 9, and thecleaner container 14 stores waste toner after the toner visible image formed on thephotosensitive drum 15 is transferred onto theintermediate transfer member 9 or after the four color visible images formed on theintermediate transfer member 9 are transferred onto thetransfer material 2. - A transfer material (print sheet) 2 to be printed is picked up from the
paper cassette 1 by apickup roller 3, and is conveyed while being clamped between theintermediate transfer member 9 and transferroller 10. Then, a color toner image is transferred to thetransfer material 2, and is fixed via the fixingunit 25. In a single-sided print mode, aguide 38 forms a conveyance path to guide the print sheet to the exhaust unit at an upper position. However, in a double-sided print mode, theguide 38 forms a path to guide the print sheet to a double-sided unit at a lower position. - The print sheet guided to the double-sided unit is temporary fed to a portion under the paper cassette 1 (a convey path indicated by the two-dashed chain line) by convey
rollers 40, and is then conveyed in a reverse direction to be fed to a double-sided tray 39. On the double-sided tray 39, the obverse and reverse faces of the print sheet are reversed from those placed on thepaper cassette 11, and the leading and trailing ends of the convey direction are reversed. In this state, by transferring and fixing toner images again, the double-sided print mode can be attained. -
FIG. 2 shows the configuration of typical print processing in the host computer to which the printing apparatus such as a printer or the like is connected directly or via a network. Anapplication 201,graphic engine 202,printer driver 203, andsystem spooler 204 exist as files saved in theexternal memory 111. These files are executed after they are loaded onto theRAM 102 by the OS or modules that use those of the OS. Theapplication 201 andprinter driver 203 can be added to the HD of theexternal memory 111 via the FD or a CD-ROM (not shown) of theexternal memory 111, or a network (not shown). However, when print processing is executed from theapplication 201 to theprinter 2000, theapplication 201 outputs rendering data using thegraphic engine 202 which is similarly loaded onto theRAM 102 and is ready to run. Note that the following explanation will be given using the Windows® OS available from Microsoft Corporation. In Windows®, thegraphic engine 202 as rendering means of the OS is generally called a GDI (Graphic Device Interface), and the application outputs rendering data called GDI functions to the GDI serving as the graphic engine. - The
graphic engine 202 similarly loads onto theRAM 102 theprinter driver 203, which is prepared for each printing apparatus, from the external memory 1l. Thegraphic engine 202 then converts the CDI functions output from theapplication 201 into DDI (Device Driver Interface) functions based on a library and outputs the DDI functions to theprinter driver 203. Theprinter driver 203 converts the DDI functions received from thegraphic engine 202 into control commands that can be recognized by the printer, e.g., PDL (Page Description Language) commands. The converted PDL commands are output to theprinter 2000 as print data included in a print job via thesystem spooler 204, which is loaded onto theRAM 102 by the OS, and theinterface 121. The preview print system proposed by Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-067347 is implemented by providing a configuration that temporarily spools print data from the application as intermediate code data in addition to the print system which includes the printer and host computer shown inFIG. 2 . - A preview print system of this embodiment will be described below using
FIG. 3 .FIG. 3 shows a system obtained by enhancing that shown inFIG. 2 , and adopts a configuration that temporarily generates aspool file 303 including intermediate codes upon sending print instructions from thegraphic engine 202 as the rendering means of the OS to theprinter driver 203. Since intermediate codes are temporarily generated, a previewer loads the contents of the intermediate codes of thespool file 303 and allows the user to preview and to change the print settings. - For these purposes, the system shown in
FIG. 2 is enhanced to spool as intermediate code data, as shown inFIG. 3 . In order to change the settings of print data, the user normally makes settings from a window provided by theprinter driver 203, which saves the setting contents on thePAM 102 orexternal memory 111. - Details of
FIG. 3 will be described below. The same reference numerals inFIG. 3 denote the same blocks as those inFIG. 2 . As shown inFIG. 3 , in this enhanced processing system, adispatcher 301 receives print instructions output from thegraphic engine 202. If the print instructions (DDI functions) received from thegraphic engine 202 are those (GDI functions) issued from theapplication 201, thedispatcher 301 loads thespooler 302 stored in theexternal memory 111 onto theRAM 102. Also, thedispatcher 301 sends the received print instructions (GDI functions) to thespooler 302 in place of the printer driver. In order to allow thedispatcher 301 to determine the source of print instructions, a method of appending an ID of a process as a transmission source of print instructions to those print instructions or the like is available. - The
spooler 302 interprets the received print instructions, converts them into intermediate codes in a predetermined format, which allows easy modifications, for respective pages, and outputs the converted intermediate codes to store them in thespool file 303. The spool file of the intermediate codes stored for each page is called a page rendering file (or Unified Display List: UDL). Thespooler 302 acquires print setting information set using theprinter driver 203 from it, and saves the acquired print setting information in thespool file 303 as a setting file for each job. The print setting file stored for each job is called a job setting file. The job setting file is also called a JDF (Job Definition Format). This job setting file will be described later. The operator changes the print settings on the printer driver in advance before he or she issues a print instruction from the application. Print setting items that can be set using the printer driver include an Nup setting used to lay out, e.g., N pages on one page in a reduced scale, double-/single-sided setting, staple setting, color/monochrome setting, and the like. - The
spooler 302 loads aspool file manager 304 stored in theexternal memory 111 onto theRAM 102, and notifies thespool file manager 304 of the generation state of thespool file 303. After that, if thespool file manager 304 determines that print processing is ready to be executed using the intermediate data stored in thespool file 303, it loads adespooler 305 stored in theexternal memory 111 onto theRAM 102. Thespool file manager 304 instructs thedespooler 305 to execute print processing of page rendering files described using the intermediate codes (UDL) described in thespool file 303. In this case, thespool file manager 304 loads apreviewer 306 stored in theexternal memory 111 onto theRAM 102, and notifies it of the job ID to set thepreviewer 306 in the standby state. - The
despooler 305 re-generates GDI functions in accordance with the contents of the page rendering files of the intermediate codes included in thespool file 303 and the job setting information included in thespool file 303. The re-generated GDI functions are output via thegraphic engine 202 as the rendering means of the OS once again. - If the print instructions (DDI functions) received by the
dispatcher 301 from thegraphic engine 202 are those (GDI functions) issued by thedespooler 305, thedispatcher 301 passes the print instructions to theprinter driver 203. - The
printer driver 203 generates printer control commands in a page description language (PDL) or the like based on the print instructions (DDI functions) acquired from thegraphic engine 202, and sends the generated commands to theprinter 2000 via thesystem spooler 204 as a print job. In this embodiment, if a preview mode is designated from a user interface or the like of the printer driver, a preview attribute is appended to the PDL commands, which are transmitted to the printer. For example, the preview attribute is appended to information (job control information) associated with a job as a unit of print processing, and that information is transmitted to the printer. Theprinter 2000 does not print the print job appended with the preview attribute onto paper sheets, but it generates preview information associated with the job ID and transmits the generated information to thecomputer 3000. The preview information includes information required to display a preview such as layout information indicating the layout of pages which are to be actually printed on paper sheets and are stored in thespool file 303, staple positions of respective physical pages, and the like. Note that a paper sheet which is to actually undergo printing is also called a sheet or physical page. Also, a page stored in thespool file 303 is also called a logical page. In addition, the preview information includes a blank page determination result (blank page information) indicating whether or not a page of interest is a blank page, and color mode information indicating one of monochrome and color. - The
previewer 306 configures apreview unit 310 together with a settingchange editor 307. Upon reception, from the printer (printing apparatus), of the preview information corresponding to the job ID received from thespool file manager 304, thepreviewer 306 stores the received preview information in thespool file 303. At the same time, thepreviewer 306 pops up a window of the spool file manager, and displays, as a list, job IDs associated with the preview information spooled in thespool file 303 on the window. Note that the preview information is also called “JDFP” (Job Definition Format For Preview) for short. - The user can set to display a preview by providing a user interface window shown in, e.g.,
FIG. 8 . In order to display a print preview and to change the print settings, the user must designate “store” from a pull-down menu (also called output method selection means) 803 as means for “designating an output destination” on the property window of the printer driver shown inFIG. 8 . When the user wants to display only a preview, he or she selects “preview” from the pull-down menu 803 as designation of the output destination. -
FIG. 9 shows a display example of the print state when one print job is spooled. By pressing one ofmenu bar items 901 or one ofmenu icons 902 immediately below the menu bar, the user can manipulate a job. The manipulations that the user can make using themenu bar 901 are the same as those that he or she can make using themenu icons 902 the manipulations include “print”, “save & print”, “preview”, “delete”, “copy”, “edit job”, “change order”, and the like. “Print” is a manipulation for making theprinter 2000 print a print job selected from alist 903. “Save & print” is a manipulation for making the printer print the print job selected from thelist 903 while leaving the spool file of the intermediate codes of that print job intact. “Preview” is a manipulation for displaying a preview of the print job selected from thelist 903 while reflecting the print settings. “Delete” is a manipulation for deleting the spool file of the intermediate codes of the print job selected from thelist 903. “Copy” is a manipulation for copying the spool file of the intermediate codes of the print job selected from thelist 903. “Job edit” is a manipulation for changing the print settings (layout setting, finishing setting, and the like) of the job selected from thelist 903. “Change order” is a manipulation for changing the print order of jobs. - When the user selects a certain print job and designates its preview on the window (
FIG. 9 ) of thespool file manager 304, thespool file manager 304 loads thepreviewer 306 stored in theexternal memory 111 onto theRAM 102. Thespool file manager 304 designates thepreviewer 306 to execute preview processing of the job of the intermediate codes described in thespool file 303. - Upon reception of the designation, the
previewer 306 receives the preview information from the printer, and sequentially reads out page rendering files (UDL) of the corresponding intermediate codes included in thespool file 303. Thepreviewer 306 modifies the page rendering files in accordance with the setting information for respective pages included in the preview information (JDFP), re-generates GDI functions based on the modified intermediate data (page rendering files), and outputs the re-generated GDI functions to thegraphic engine 202. In this case, a client area of thepreviewer 306, i.e., a display device is designated as the output destination. In this manner, since thegraphic engine 202 which received the GDI functions outputs DDT functions for the display device, a display output onto the screen can be attained. Note that the preview information and page rendering files can be associated with each other using the job ID of the print job. Since the job ID is included in both the preview information and spool file, the preview information and spool file having the same job ID can be associated with each other as information pertaining to an identical print job. - The
graphic engine 202 can perform appropriate rendering in accordance with the designated output destination. For example, the display device and printing apparatus have different resolutions. Thegraphic engine 202 acquires attribute information such as the resolution of the designated output destination and the like from, e.g., a database or the like managed by the OS, and executes rendering using the acquired information. As described above, thepreviewer 306 can be implemented by the method of modifying the intermediate codes included in thespool file 303 in accordance with the preview information (JDFP) and outputting the modified intermediate codes using thegraphic engine 202. - The operation of the printer (printing apparatus) 2000 shown in
FIG. 3 will be described below. Theprinter 2000 receives printer control commands such as PDL commands or the like from thehost computer 3000, and temporarily stores them in areception buffer 2003. Acommand interpreter 2007 interprets the printer control commands such as the PDL commands. As a result of interpretation, if the received printer control commands are print commands, a renderingprocessing execution unit 2005 rasterizes image data in accordance with the print settings of the print job of interest, and temporarily stores the image data in anHD 2011. After the image data that can be output is stored, anoutput controller 2008 converts the image data into a video signal in synchronism with engine rotations (ship processing), and passes the video signal to aprinter engine 2010. Theprinter engine 2010 forms images on sheets in accordance with the video signal. Note that the job includes a series of printer control commands delimited by a job start command. The job setting information indicating the print settings is transmitted from thehost computer 3000 to theprinting apparatus 2000 after, e.g., the job start command. Whether one job is a print job or preview job is indicated by, e.g., the value of a “job type” field in the job setting information. Alternatively, the value of the “job type” field in the job setting information may be copied to the job start command, so that the job start command indicates the job type. - In this embodiment, if the job received by the
printing apparatus 2000 is a preview job, the renderingprocessing execution unit 2005 rasterizes image data in accordance with the designated settings in the same manner as in the print job. The rasterized image data is temporarily stored in theHD 2011 together with the job ID. The renderingprocessing execution unit 2005 associates detailed preview information (JDFP) for respective physical pages generated during the process for rasterizing image data to process it to a state immediately before printing, and the temporarily stored image data, and saves them as a set. - The generated preview information is returned to the
previewer 306 of thehost computer 3000 as the transmission source of the job. In order to speed up the preview processing, the generation time of the preview information (JDFP) may be shortened by simplifying the processing for rasterizing to an image, and after the preview information is returned to the previewer, image data to be printed may be rasterized. - The
previewer 306 sends, to the printer, print instructions with a preview attribute generated by theprinter driver 203 based on the job setting information (JDF) and page rendering files (UDL). As a result, the printer executes the same processing as actual print processing, and generates accurate preview information (JDFP) as in actual printing. The preview information generated by the printing apparatus has the same data format as that of the job setting information. However, unlike the job setting information, the preview information is generated for each physical page. Also, the preview information includes items different from the job setting information. The job setting information and preview information will be described later with reference toFIGS. 12 , 13, and the like. Thepreviewer 306 modifies data of the spooled page rendering files (UDL) based on the preview information (JDFP) received from the printer, and outputs the modified data to the display. In this way, an accurate preview display can be attained. - As a result of the above preview processing, the
previewer 306 displays previews as large as printouts that reflect the job settings included in thespool file 303 on the screen, as shown inFIG. 11 . After that, if the user instructs to clear the displayed contents, thepreviewer 306 is closed, and the control shifts to thespool file manager 304. Thespool file manager 304 displays a window (FIG. 9 ). - Upon executing job setting/print processing displayed on the previewer, the user designates “print” or “save & print” on the window of the
spool file manager 304 to issue a print request to thegraphic engine 202. If the print settings are not to be changed, the user can designate the job ID in the print request. The printer which received the printer control commands of the print request via thegraphic engine 202 and the like can output images which correspond to the designated job ID and have already undergone RIP (have already been rasterized to image data) at high speed. - Upon changing the print settings, the user changes the print settings such as the layout, paper orientation, print order, paper cassette to be used, and the like from the print setting window provided by the
previewer 306, and settles the changes. The settingchange editor 307 edits the job setting information (JDF) corresponding to the preview job saved in thespool file 303 in accordance with the contents of the changed print settings. Thedespooler 305 reads out the edited job setting information from thespool file 303, and passes it to theprinter driver 203 together with the job ID via thegraphic engine 202 and the like. Theprinter driver 203 generates printer control commands corresponding to differences from the printer control commands of the already transmitted job, and outputs them to theprinting apparatus 2000. In this case, the differences are limited to those in the job setting information. Therefore, for example, new printer control commands required to transmit the job setting information to theprinting apparatus 2000 are generated, and are transmitted to theprinting apparatus 2000 together with the job ID. This job ID is the same as that of the preview job which was transmitted first to theprinting apparatus 2000. - The processing flow of the conventional preview scheme will be described below using
FIGS. 2 and 16 .FIG. 16 shows an example of the processing flow of the overall conventional preview processing system. Upon reception of a print instruction from theapplication 201, theprinter driver 203 generates intermediate codes (processing step 1601). The generated intermediate codes are saved in a spool file. A preview utility generates an image to be displayed by loading the intermediate codes, and displays a preview on the screen of a personal computer (processing step 1602). If the display result has no problem, the user presses a print button to call theprinter driver 203. Theprinter driver 203 generates PDL commands (printer control commands) (processing step 1603) Upon reception of the print job including the PDL commands from theprinter driver 203, aprinter 600 starts print processing from PDL command interpretation (processing step 1604). The preview utility of the host computer generates and displays a preview image using the intermediate codes. -
FIG. 17 shows an example of the processing sequence of the overall system of this embodiment. Upon reception of a print instruction from theapplication 201, theprinter driver 203 generates intermediate codes (processing step 1701) Thespooler 302 saves the intermediate codes in thespool file 303. Thepreview unit 310 loads the spooled intermediate codes, and issues a print instruction to theprinter driver 203. Note that this print instruction includes information indicating preview. For example, information indicating preview is described in the job setting information. The print instruction including information indicating preview is referred to as a preview instruction in this invention. Upon reception of the print instruction (i.e., preview instruction), theprinter driver 203 generates PDL commands (processing step 1702). Theprinter driver 203 appends a preview attribute to the generated PDL commands, and transmits them as print instructions with the preview attribute to theprinter 2000. The print instruction send to theprinter 2000 from theprinter driver 203 is referred to as a print job. The print job with the preview attribute is referred to as a preview job. Upon reception of the print job with the preview attribute, theprinter 2000 interprets the PDL commands to generate preview information (JDFP), and returns the generated preview information to the host computer (processing step 1703). A final recipient of the preview information in the host computer is thepreview unit 310. Theprinter 2000 also executes RIP processing of the print job with the preview attribute received after interpretation of the PDL commands to generate image data. The generated image data are stored in the hard disk together with the preview information in association with the job ID (processing step 1705). However, as this RIP processing, the same RIP processing as that upon reception of the print job is executed to generate image data to be printed. If the PDL commands are also saved, only information associated with differences may be received after the settings have been changed. Hence, it is desirable to store the PDL commands. In this embodiment, the received PDL commands are also stored. - The
preview unit 310 loads the spooled intermediate codes, and makes preview display in accordance with the preview information (JDFP) received from the printer 2000 (processing step 1704). The spooled intermediate codes include image information for respective pages such as objects to be rendered for respective physical pages, and the like. The preview information includes information associated with the print settings such as the layout for each physical page, finishing information, and the like. Thepreview unit 310 rasterizes the intermediate codes to those for display, lays out logical pages in accordance with the print settings described in the preview information, and appends image objects according to output materials. The image objects to be appended include those which represent punch holes, staples, a watermark, character strings of tab sheets, and the like. When a finisher has an inserter function, image objects that represent sheets such as a front cover sheet, back cover sheet, tab sheets, and the like to be inserted by an inserter, and objects such as character strings, images, and the like written on these sheets to be inserted are inserted in accordance with the preview information. If a finisher having a bookbinding function is added to theprinter 2000, thepreview unit 310 also appends identification objects indicating the bookbinding positions and the like. In this way, preview images are generated and displayed in accordance with the preview information. - When the user changes the print settings, the
preview unit 310 reflects the changed print settings in the job setting information. Also, thepreview unit 310 sends a print instruction to theprinter driver 203 via thegraphic engine 202. Theprinter driver 203 generates difference PDL commands (processing step 1710). Since information changed by thepreview unit 310 is limited to the job setting information, new PDL commands are generated as difference PDL commands. The difference PDL commands are transmitted to theprinter 2000 together with the job ID. This job ID is the same as that of the preview job which was transmitted to theprinter 2000 first. Upon reception of the difference PDL commands, theprinter 2000 generates preview information again with reference to its job ID (processing step 1707). Inprocessing step 1707, for example, theprinter 2000 substitutes the job setting information received as the difference PDL commands with that in the PDL commands stored in association with that job ID. Theprinter 2000 then generates preview information based on the substituted PDL commands. Theprinter 2000 transmits the generated preview information to thepreview unit 310 as the request source of the preview information. After that, theprinter 2000 executes RIP processing using the changed job setting information to reflect the changed print settings in image data, thus updating the stored image data (processing step 1709). This RIP processing may be executed for only a changed part if the settings are partially changed. However, since the changed part in job setting information influences all the pages included in the job of interest even when settings are changed partially, it is desirable to execute the RIP processing for the entire job again. - The
preview unit 310 generates and displays preview images using the received preview information and the spooled intermediate codes and accepts the print button (processing step 1708). When the user has depressed the print button after he or she confirms the preview images, thepreview unit 310 sends the print instruction to theprinter driver 203. Theprinter driver 203 generates difference PDL commands, and sends a print job to the printer 2000 (processing step 1710). However, if the print settings are not changed, since there is no difference information to be sent, the print job to be transmitted to theprinter 2000 at this time need only include information indicating that the job is a print job, and the job ID. - If the stored PDL commands are not changed, the
printer 2000 prints out the images generated inprocessing step 1709. If the stored PDL commands are changed, theprinter 2000 generates and prints image data that reflect the changes (processing step 1711). Image data obtained by applying RIP processing to only the changed part may be printed in place of the image data with the same job ID, but the entire job may undergo the RIP processing again. - As described above, the printer driver works as a print instruction transmission means that generates, when a preview instruction of data is issued, printer control commands according to print data together with a job type indicating preview, and transmit the generated printer control commands to the printer. In addition, the previewer works as a preview means that generates and displays a preview image based on preview information which is generated by the
printer 2000 in accordance with the printer control commands and which indicates layouts and finishing processing for respective physical pages. Moreover, the printer driver works as a setting change means that generates, when the print settings are changed, print instructions associated with a changed part. -
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the storage processing of the intermediate codes for respective pages in generation of thespool file 303. This processing is executed after thedispatcher 301 accepts DDI functions as rendering data output from thegraphic engine 202 and passes this rendering data to thespooler 302 upon reception of a print request from the application. - In
step 501, thespooler 302 accepts a print request issued by the application from thedispatcher 301 via thegraphic engine 202. As described above, theapplication 201 displays a dialog used to input the print settings, as shown inFIG. 8 , before a print instruction, and theprinter driver 203 passes job setting information indicating the print settings input from this dialog to thespooler 302. Note that the setting input dialog shown inFIG. 8 includes settingitems 801 used to determine the number of logical pages to be laid out per physical page, and the like. - The
spooler 302 checks instep 502 if the accepted print request is a job start request. If thespooler 302 determines instep 502 that the accepted print request is a job start request, the process advances to step 503-1, and thespooler 302 generates aspool file 303 used to temporarily store intermediate data on the PAM 102 (or on the hard disk). Subsequently, thespooler 302 receives print setting information (corresponding to DEVMODE of Windows®) from theprinter driver 203, and stores job setting information (JDF) in the spool file 303 (step 503-2). After that, thespooler 302 notifies thespool file manager 304 of the progress of print processing. In this case, if the job designated by the user is a preview job, thespooler 302 sends a preview notification to thespool file manager 304; if the job is a print job, thespooler 302 sends a print start notification to the manager 304 (step 504). - Next, in step 505 a page counter managed by the
spooler 302 is reset to 1. Note that thespool file manager 304 loads job information for the job, the print processing of which has started, and job setting information as modification settings from the job setting file of thespool file 303. - On the other hand, if the
spooler 302 determines instep 502 that the accepted print request is not a job start request, the process advances to step 506. Thespooler 302 checks instep 506 if the accepted request is a job end request. If thespooler 302 determines that the accepted request is not a job end request, the process advances to step 507, and thespooler 302 checks if the accepted request is a new page request. If thespooler 302 determines instep 507 that the accepted request is a new page request, the process advances to step 508-1 to increment the page counter. In step 508-2, thespooler 302 notifies thespool file manager 304 of the progress of print processing. In this case, thespooler 302 notifies thespool file manager 304 of reception of the new page request as the progress information. At the same time, thespooler 302 may notify the page counter value. - If the
spooler 302 determines instep 507 that the accepted print request is not a new page request, the process advances to step 509, and thespooler 302 prepares for extraction of intermediate codes (UDL) to each page rendering file. In step 510, thespooler 302 converts rendering data such as text data, graphic data, image data, and the like passed together with the print request into intermediate data to be stored in thespool file 303. In step 511, thespooler 302 writes the print request which is converted into a storable format (intermediate data) in step 510 in each page rendering file (UDL) of thespool file 303. After that, the process returns to step 501 to accept a print request from the application again. Thespooler 302 repeats a series of processes insteps 501 to 511 until it received a job end request (End Doc) from the application. - At the same time, the
spooler 302 acquires print setting information such as modification settings and the like stored in the DEVMODE structure (i.e., print setting information) from theprinter driver 203, and stores it as job setting information (JDF) in thespool file 303. On the other hand, if thespooler 302 determines instep 506 that the print request from the application is a job end request, all print requests from the application end. Hence, the process advances to step 512, and thespooler 302 closes the spool file. In step 513, thespooler 302 notifies thespool file manager 304 of the progress of print processing (job end notification in this case), thus ending the processing. -
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing details of control between thespool file 303 generation process and a print data generation process (to be described later) in thespool file manager 304. Instep 601, thespool file manager 304 accepts a progress notification or report of print processing from thespooler 302 ordespooler 305. - The
spool file manager 304 checks instep 602 if the progress notification is a preview or print start notification sent from thespooler 302 instep 504 above. If the accepted notification is a preview or print start notification, the process advances to step 603, and thespool file manager 304 acquires a job ID to start job management. Thespool file manager 304 can acquire the job ID from a job ID generation counter or the like used to assign serial numbers in turn. - On the other hand, if the
spool file manager 304 determines instep 602 that the accepted notification is not a preview or print start notification from thespooler 302, the process advances to step 604. Thespool file manager 304 checks instep 604 if the progress notification is a new page notification sent from thespooler 302 in step 508 above, i.e., a processing end notification of one logical page. If the accepted notification is a processing end notification of one logical page, the process advances to step 605, and thespool file manager 304 stores page information for this page. The page information includes, e.g., a page ID (physical page and logical page), information indicating association between the logical and physical pages, and the like. Instep 606, thespool file manager 304 determines a page number to be printed every time print instructions (intermediate codes) corresponding to one physical page are spooled, and sends to the despooler a processibility notification indicating that the physical page of interest is ready to process. The processibility notification includes a page ID of the physical page which is ready to output. For example, when a plurality of logical pages are laid out on one physical page, thespool file manager 304 receives a new page notification from the spooler every time it receives a logical page to be laid out on that one physical page. If data of all logical pages to be laid out on one physical page are not spooled yet, the processibility notification is not output instep 606. Only after data for one physical page are spooled, the processibility notification is output. Note that printing in this case includes preview processing. - The process then returns to step 601, and the
spool file manager 304 waits for the next notification. In this embodiment, print processing can start even when spooling of the entire print job is not completed after print data for one physical page are spooled. - On the other hand, if the
spool file manager 304 determines instep 604 that the accepted notification is not a print end notification for one logical page, the process advances to step 607. Thespool file manager 304 check instep 607 if the received notification is a job end notification sent from thespooler 302 instep 512 above. If the received notification is a job end notification, the process advances to step 606 above. On the other hand, if the received notification is not a job end notification, the process advances to step 608, and thespool file manager 304 checks if the accepted notification is a print end (output end) notification for one physical page from thedespooler 305. If the accepted notification is a print end notification for one physical page, the process advances to step 609 to check if print processing of the entire job is complete. - If the print (output) processing is complete, the process advances to step 610, and the
spool file manager 304 sends a print end notification to thedespooler 305. If thespool file manager 304 determines that the print processing is not complete yet, the process returns to step 606. Assume that the number of pages for which thedespooler 305 of this embodiment can simultaneously execute print processing (output processing) is 1. - On the other hand, if the
spool file manager 304 determines instep 608 that the input notification is not a print end notification for one physical page from thedespooler 305, the process advances to step 611. Thespool file manager 304 check instep 611 if the input notification is a print end notification from thedespooler 305. If thespool file manager 304 determines that the input notification is a print end notification from thedespooler 305, the processing ends. On the other hand, if the input notification is not a print end notification from thedespooler 305, the process advances to step 612 to execute another normal processing, and thespool file manager 304 waits for the next notification. - If information required for executing print processing for one physical page is sequentially stored in a file in
steps step 606. In this case, the number of times of notification is saved by adopting the notification contents indicating that a plurality of or all physical pages are ready to print, in accordance with the progress on the despooler side. -
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing details of the print data generation process in thedespooler 305. Thedespooler 305 generates print data by reading out necessary information (page rendering files (UDL) and job setting information (JDF)) from thespool file 303 in accordance with a print request from thespool file manager 304. The method of transferring the generated print data to the printer is as described above usingFIG. 3 . In the print data generation process by thedespooler 305, thedespooler 305 checks if the input job is a preview job (S701). If the input job is a preview job, thedespooler 305 launches thepreview unit 310 by notifying it of the job ID to be processed instep 702. The job type indicating a preview job or print job can be determined by referring to the job type field of the job setting information. - In
step 703, thedespooler 305 accepts a notification from thespool file manager 304. If a notification is input, the process advances to step 704. Thedespooler 305 checks instep 704 if the input notification is a job end notification. If the input notification is a job end notification, the process advances to step 705 to set an end flag. The process then advances to step 707. - On the other hand, if the
despooler 305 determines instep 704 that the input notification is not a job end notification, the process advances to step 706, and thedespooler 305 checks if the input notification is a processibility notification instep 606 inFIG. 6 . If thedespooler 305 determines instep 706 that the input notification is not a processibility notification, the process advances to step 708 to execute another error processing. The process then returns to step 701 to wait for the next notification. On the other hand, if thedespooler 305 determines instep 706 that the input notification is a processibility notification, the process advances to step 707, and thedespooler 305 stores a page ID in the processibility notification which notifies that the print processing is ready to start. - The
despooler 305 then checks instep 709 if the output processing for all the pages of the physical page IDs stored instep 707 is complete. If the processing of all the pages is complete, the process advances to step 710 to check if an end flag is set. If the end flag is set, thedespooler 305 determines that the print processing of the job is complete, and sends a processing end notification to thespool file manager 304, thus ending the processing. If thedespooler 305 determines instep 710 that the end flag is not set, the process returns to step 701 to wait for the next notification. - On the other hand, if the
despooler 305 determines instep 709 that pages which can undergo output processing still remain, the process advances to step 711. Instep 711, thedespooler 305 reads out a physical page ID to be processed in turn from the stored physical page IDs. The despooler 305 loads information required to generate print data of a physical page corresponding to the readout physical page ID from the spool file, and executes print processing (output processing). - In the print processing, the
despooler 305 converts print request instructions (UDL) and job setting information (JDF) stored in thespool file 303 into a format that thegraphic engine 202 can recognize, e.g., into GDI functions in the Windows® OS. Thedespooler 305 transfers these GDI functions to thegraphic engine 202. Upon completion of print processing, thedespooler 305 sends a print data generation end notification to thespool file manager 304 instep 712. The process returns to step 709, and thedespooler 305 repeats print processing for all the physical page IDs stored instep 707. - With the above sequence, the despooler converts spooled intermediate codes into print instructions (GDI functions), and outputs them for each physical page.
- FIGS. 15A and 1SB are flowcharts showing details of the process of the printer which receives print instructions with a preview attribute generated in
step 711. - In
step 1501, the type of a job included in the received PDL commands is checked. If it is determined instep 1502 that the received job is a preview job, the process advances to step 1503. Instep 1503, the received PDL commands are interpreted to collect information required to display a preview. If the information required to display a preview includes information such as the paper cassette, exhaust destination, staple positions, and the like of respective physical pages, the information can be collected by interpreting the job setting information without executing RIP processing (rasterize processing to bitmap data) that takes much time. If the information required to display a preview includes that which requires the RIP processing such as blank page determination, color/monochrome determination, and the like, the RIP processing is executed in this step to collect information. - In
step 1504, preview information (JDEP) is generated based on the information collected instep 1503, and the generated preview information is returned to the request source (host computer 3000 in this embodiment) of the preview job instep 1505. - Next, it is checked in
step 1506 if the received PDL commands are those for the already registered job. “Already registered” means that print data and preview information associated with a job with the same job ID as that of the received PDL commands are registered in theprinter 2000. If the received PDL commands belong to an unregistered job, the renderingprocessing execution unit 2005 of theprinter 2000 executes RIP processing instep 1510. The generated image data are stored in theHD 2011 together with the preview information (JDFP) generated instep 1504, original data, and job ID, thus ending the processing. - If it is determined in
step 1506 that the PDL commands are those for a BOX already registered job, the print settings of the already registered job are compared with those of the received job by referring to their job setting information instep 1507. Upon reception of the PDL commands in association with the already registered job, if, for example, these commands include job control information or print data of a certain page, that job control information is compared with that of the already stored preview information. If information stored in the printer is preview information, the preview information may be compared after preview information is generated based on the received PDL commands and is converted into the same format. - If it is determined in
step 1508 that the print settings are different, RIP processing of a part influenced by the changed settings is executed, and image data are stored in theHD 2011 together with newly generated preview information (JDFP) instep 1509, thus ending the processing. That is, if image data which are left unchanged still remain, newly generated image data are merged with the already stored image data. If no image data which are left unchanged remain, the newly generated image data may be overwritten. - If it is determined in
step 1502 that the received job is not a preview job, the job IDs registered in theHD 2011 are searched for that of the received PDL commands instep 1511. If a hit occurs, since the job ID of the received PDL commands has already been registered, the process branches to step 1512. If it is determined instep 1512 that the job of received PDL commands is a print cancel job, the process branches to step 1518; if it is a print job, the process branches to step 1513. - In
step 1513, the print settings of the already stored job are compared with those of the received job by referring to their job setting information. If it is determined instep 1514 that the print settings are different, RIP processing of a part influenced by the changed settings is executed, and newly generated image data are stored in theHD 2011 instep 1515. The newly generated and stored image data are merged with already stored image data. Instep 1516, the merged image data are transferred to theprinter engine 2010, thus executing print processing. The process advances to step 1518 in response to a print end notification from theprinter engine 2010. - If it is determined in
step 1514 that the print settings are not different, data that have already undergone the RIP processing and are stored in theHD 2011 are printed instep 1516, and the process advances to step 1518, thus ending the processing. If it is determined instep 1511 that the job of interest is not stored in theHD 2011, RIP processing is executed instep 1517 to store generated image data in theHD 2011. Instep 1516, the stored image data are transferred to theprinter engine 2010 to execute print processing. In response to a print end notification from theprinter engine 2010, the file of the print job whose print processing is complete is deleted from a BOX instep 1518, thus ending the processing. On the other hand, upon reception of a print processing completion notification from theprinter 2000, thehost computer 3000 deletes the file of the corresponding print job in thespool file 303. -
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing details of the preview process in thepreview unit 310. Thepreviewer 306 waits for an event from the printer instep 1401 after thedespooler 305 is launched. An event is transmission of preview information in the example ofFIG. 14 . If an event is returned from the printer, thepreviewer 306 loads the received preview information (JDFP) instep 1402. - In
step 1403, thepreviewer 306 reads out the page rendering files (UDL) of a job ID which corresponds to (matches) that of the preview information from thespool file 303. Instep 1404, thepreviewer 306 executes preview rendering processing of the page rendering files (UDL) in accordance with the preview information (JDFP) (preview display). - In
step 1405, thepreviewer 306 waits for an event from the user. If it is determined that the user has input a print processing continuation instruction without changing the settings of the preview display, thepreviewer 306 generates a print instruction and issues it to the printer instep 1407, and the process branches to step 1412. The print instruction is generated by the printer driver in accordance with a request from the previewer. This print instruction is a simple one including only a job ID without any changes in print settings, since it is issued to make the printer print the stored job intact. - If it is determined that the print processing of the job is not to be continued in
step 1406, the process branches to step 1408. Instep 1408, it is determined whether the user has instructed the previewer on modification of the print settings or cancellation of the print job. If it is determined that the user has instructed the previewer on cancellation of the print processing of the job instep 1408, thepreviewer 306 generates a print cancel instruction instep 1409, and the process then branches to step 1412. - If it is determined that the user has changed the print settings in
step 1408, the process branches to step 1410. If the user has changed the print settings, job setting information (JDF) is generated from the preview information (JDFP) received instep 1402, and print instructions are sent again to the printer using thedespooler 305 instep 1410. In this case, the processing time can be shortened by sending only a changed part. The settingchange editor 307 executes this step. - If the user issues a re-preview request, the process branches to step 1401 according to the determination result in
step 1411. If the user does not issue any re-preview request, thepreviewer 306 deletes the preview information (JDFP) and page rendering files (UDL) in thespool file 303, thus ending the processing. - The procedures of the print preview processing and print processing using the
dispatcher 301,spooler 302,spool file manager 304,despooler 305,printer 2000, andpreviewer 306 have been described. - A preview job will be described below with reference to
FIG. 12 . In this example, the preview job includes job setting information (JDF) 1201 and print instructions (1202 to 1206). The preview job is transmitted as PDL commands to the printer.FIG. 12 illustrates the job setting information and print instructions included in the preview job. The job setting information (JDF) 1201 includes 10 records inFIG. 12 , whose item names (indices) and their contents are delimited by tabs, and respective records are given as a text file delimited by, e.g., line feed codes. As the contents of the records, the job setting information (JDF) 1201 includes ajob type 1201 a indicating a type, i.e., preview or print, a job name (job ID) 1201 b, and print settings copied from the print setting information. - In a Windows® printing system, since the settings set by the print settings on a printer driver are applied to the entire job, one setting data is generated for the entire job like the
job setting information 1201. - However, as for print instructions defined by PDL commands or the like, the settings can be changed in the middle of the job like L3 is A5 portrait, L4 is A4 landscape, L5 is A4 portrait, and so forth after L1 and L2 starting from A4 portrait.
-
Preview information 1001 inFIG. 10 is an example of preview information (JDFP) generated by theprinter 2000 which receives thejob setting information 1201 and print instructions (1202 to 1206). The preview information includes the job setting information and physical page information. The physical page information includes finishing information indicating finishing processing such as stapling or the like which appears on each physical page, and configuring logical page information which includes a layout of logical pages that configure that physical page. - The implication of the
preview information 1001 is expressed bypages logical page information 1010 should be noted. In this information, the printer which generates the preview information describes a layout of logical pages. That is, this information includes logical page IDs, sizes, rotation angle, sizes after scaling (or scaling factors), reference position coordinates, and the like of logical pages included in one physical page. With reference to this configuring logical page information, the same physical page as that to be printed by the printer can be re-configured. - In addition, the preview information includes staple position information, blank page determination information, and accounting determination information for each page. The staple position information is referred to so as to re-configure the staple positions, and the blank page determination information is referred to so as to indicate the presence/absence of an image in a page.
- On the other hand,
preview information 1301 inFIG. 13 is also an example of preview information (JDFP) which is generated by the printer that receives thejob setting information 1201 and print instructions (1202 to 1206) inFIG. 12 and is different fromFIG. 10 . Unlike thepreview information 1001 inFIG. 10 , the rotation angles of logical pages included in configuringlogical page information 1310 express that images on the reverse face are upside down to those on the obverse face. Also, the preview information represents that an L4 page has a layout which is reduced in scale to the width of an A4 sheet in the landscape direction. - In this way, the printer generates preview information that includes information of the layout of logical pages and finishing processing which are to be made according to the interpretation of the job setting information for each printer.
-
Job setting information 1801 inFIG. 18 is print instruction information generated when the previewer that receives thepreview information 1001 changes the print settings on the reverse face of the first page to those on the reverse face of the first page in thepreview information 1301. The settingchange editor 307 generates job setting information and print instructions shown inFIG. 18 for a physical page whose settings have been changed, and transmits them to the printer driver. The printer driver converts these print instructions into PDL commands, and transmits the converted commands to the printer. In the example ofFIG. 12 , the printer driver converts thejob setting information 1201 and print instructions associated with L3 and L4 pages into PDL commands, and transmits them to the printer. The printer stores the received difference to be merged with the already stored print data, and generates new preview information. The printer then transmits the new preview information to thehost computer 3000. After that, theprinter 2000 executes RIP processing to generate image data and stores the generated image data. The difference is merged with data of the stored job. - A
message 1901 inFIG. 19 indicates a print cancel instruction generated by thepreviewer 306 which receives thepreview information 1001. The print cancel instruction includes a job type and the job ID to be canceled. If the job type inFIG. 19 is changed to “print”, a print instruction when the print settings are not changed is generated. - In this way, the output results of printers are of great variety depending on models, manufacturers, and the like, even if the application outputs identical data with identical print settings. According to this embodiment, a perfect preview that reflects different operations depending on models can be implemented.
- Furthermore, since print instructions are already sent to the printer upon preview, the time required from determination of print processing to the end of the print processing can be shortened.
- That is, according to the print system of this embodiment, an accurate preview display which reflects the states of output materials by the printer can be implemented. Furthermore, the user is allowed to change the print settings while displaying a preview window, and the changed print settings can be accurately reflected in the preview and printouts.
- Note that the present invention may be applied to either a system constituted by a plurality of devices (e.g., a host computer, interface device, reader, printer, and the like), or an apparatus consisting of a single equipment (e.g., a copying machine, facsimile apparatus, or the like). The objects of the present invention are also achieved by supplying a recording or storage medium, which records a program code of a software program that can implement the functions of the above-mentioned embodiments to the system or apparatus, and reading out and executing the program code stored in the storage medium by a computer (or a CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus. In this case, the program code itself read out from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-mentioned embodiments, and the storage medium which stores the program code constitutes the present invention.
- The present invention also includes a case wherein the functions of the above-mentioned embodiments are implemented not only by executing the readout program code by the computer but also by some or all of actual processing operations executed by an operating system (OS) running on the computer on the basis of an instruction of the program code. Furthermore, the present invention is applied to a case wherein the program code read out from a storage medium is written in a memory of an expansion card or a function expansion unit which is inserted in or connected to the computer. In this case, the functions of the aforementioned embodiments are implemented by some or all of actual processes executed by a CPU or the like arranged in the function expansion card or unit based on the instruction of that program code.
- While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.
- This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent No. 2006-068272, filed Mar. 13, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Claims (5)
1. A printer apparatus comprising:
a reception unit adapted to receive a print job from a host apparatus;
a preview information generation unit adapted to generate, when a job type corresponding to the printer control commands is preview, preview information which indicates layouts of logical pages and finishing processing for respective physical pages to be printed in accordance with job setting information and print data included in the print job; and
a transmission unit adapted to transmit the preview information to the host apparatus.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a storage unit adapted to store, when the job type is preview, the job setting information and the print data included in the print job received by said reception unit;
a rendering unit adapted to generate image data for respective physical pages based on the print setting information and the print data;
an image storage unit adapted to store, when the job type is preview, the image data generated by said rendering unit; and
a merge unit adapted merge, when a job identifier corresponding to the print job received by said reception unit matches a job identifier of a job stored in said storage unit, the job setting information and the print data included in the received print job with already stored job setting information and print data.
3. A printer apparatus comprising:
a reception unit adapted to receive print job from a host apparatus;
a preview information generation unit adapted to generate, when a job type corresponding to the print job is preview, preview information which indicates sizes, orientations, and scaling information of configuring pages in accordance with job control information and print data included in the print job; and
a transmission unit adapted to transmit the preview information to the host apparatus.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising:
a storage unit adapted to store images based on the print job received by said reception unit; and
a print unit adapted to print image data stored in said storage unit in response to a print designation from the host apparatus.
5. A printer apparatus comprising:
a reception unit adapted to receive print job from a host apparatus;
a generation unit adapted to generate, when a job type corresponding to the print job is preview, preview information and image data in accordance with the print job;
a transmission unit adapted to transmit the preview information generated by said generation unit to the host apparatus;
a storage unit adapted to store the image data generated by said generation unit; and
a print unit adapted to print the image data stored in said storage unit in response to a print designation from the host apparatus.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2006068272A JP4693664B2 (en) | 2006-03-13 | 2006-03-13 | Printer apparatus, program, and printing method |
JP2006-068272 | 2006-03-13 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20070211276A1 true US20070211276A1 (en) | 2007-09-13 |
Family
ID=38122507
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/683,346 Expired - Fee Related US8276068B2 (en) | 2006-03-13 | 2007-03-07 | Information processing apparatus with print preview function |
US11/683,320 Abandoned US20070211276A1 (en) | 2006-03-13 | 2007-03-07 | Information processing apparatus with print preview function |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/683,346 Expired - Fee Related US8276068B2 (en) | 2006-03-13 | 2007-03-07 | Information processing apparatus with print preview function |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US8276068B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1835393A3 (en) |
JP (1) | JP4693664B2 (en) |
KR (1) | KR100928747B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN100535847C (en) |
Cited By (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20060092459A1 (en) * | 2004-11-01 | 2006-05-04 | Fujicopian Co., Ltd. | Image forming system, image forming device employing the same, and external terminal control program |
US20070211296A1 (en) * | 2006-03-13 | 2007-09-13 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Information processing apparatus with print preview function |
US20070226692A1 (en) * | 2006-03-24 | 2007-09-27 | Takumi Nozawa | Image processing apparatus and image processing method |
US20090217161A1 (en) * | 2008-02-25 | 2009-08-27 | Ricoh Company, Ltd. | Apparatus system and method of print processing |
US20110026077A1 (en) * | 2009-07-29 | 2011-02-03 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Data processing apparatus, data processing method, and storage medium |
US10021267B2 (en) | 2016-11-21 | 2018-07-10 | Xerox Corporation | Dynamic print job previewer with automatic stock adjustment |
US20190129585A1 (en) * | 2017-11-01 | 2019-05-02 | Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha | Information processing apparatus, non-transitory recording medium storing control program, and control method |
US10474404B2 (en) | 2015-03-17 | 2019-11-12 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Image forming system in which a mobile terminal sets print setting information and transmits a print instruction to an image forming apparatus, and related image forming apparatus and image forming method |
US11662963B2 (en) * | 2017-10-16 | 2023-05-30 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Control method for acquiring data |
Families Citing this family (42)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
KR101345342B1 (en) * | 2007-07-18 | 2013-12-27 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Image forming apparatus for setting emulation addition functions and image processing method thereof |
JP5061145B2 (en) * | 2008-04-29 | 2012-10-31 | 株式会社東芝 | Image processing apparatus and image processing method |
JP4567771B2 (en) * | 2008-07-07 | 2010-10-20 | シャープ株式会社 | Document reading apparatus, and image transmission apparatus and image forming apparatus provided with document reading apparatus |
JP4621759B2 (en) * | 2008-07-30 | 2011-01-26 | シャープ株式会社 | Image processing apparatus and preview display method |
US8083129B1 (en) * | 2008-08-19 | 2011-12-27 | United Services Automobile Association (Usaa) | Systems and methods for electronic document delivery, execution, and return |
JP2010079792A (en) * | 2008-09-29 | 2010-04-08 | Seiko Epson Corp | Printing setting application program, printing control program, printing setting application device and printing setting application method |
JP2010120231A (en) * | 2008-11-19 | 2010-06-03 | Oki Data Corp | Print device and print control program |
JP5210208B2 (en) * | 2009-03-03 | 2013-06-12 | キヤノン株式会社 | Management apparatus, management method, and program |
US9058140B2 (en) * | 2009-03-10 | 2015-06-16 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Print control apparatus and method utilizing a paper saving print setting |
JP2011096100A (en) * | 2009-10-30 | 2011-05-12 | Fuji Xerox Co Ltd | Setting change device and program |
JP5602424B2 (en) * | 2009-12-24 | 2014-10-08 | キヤノン株式会社 | Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program |
JP2011211641A (en) | 2010-03-30 | 2011-10-20 | Canon Inc | Image forming system, image forming apparatus, image forming method, and program |
JP5553662B2 (en) * | 2010-03-30 | 2014-07-16 | キヤノン株式会社 | Image forming apparatus, image forming apparatus control method, and program |
JP5761923B2 (en) * | 2010-04-28 | 2015-08-12 | キヤノン株式会社 | Printing system, information processing apparatus and method |
JP5630072B2 (en) | 2010-05-24 | 2014-11-26 | 富士ゼロックス株式会社 | Print management apparatus, print management system, and program |
JP5656455B2 (en) * | 2010-05-28 | 2015-01-21 | キヤノン株式会社 | Printing system, data creation device, storage device, and control method thereof |
JP2012033024A (en) * | 2010-07-30 | 2012-02-16 | Sharp Corp | Output system, creation device, display device, output method, output instruction method, computer program and recording medium |
JP2012083921A (en) * | 2010-10-08 | 2012-04-26 | Canon Inc | Image formation apparatus and processing method thereof |
JP5671930B2 (en) * | 2010-10-13 | 2015-02-18 | カシオ電子工業株式会社 | Printing system |
US9203983B2 (en) * | 2010-12-08 | 2015-12-01 | Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha | Image forming apparatus and image data processing method |
JP5669569B2 (en) * | 2010-12-27 | 2015-02-12 | キヤノン株式会社 | Image reading apparatus, information processing apparatus, control method thereof, and program |
JP5732867B2 (en) * | 2011-01-21 | 2015-06-10 | セイコーエプソン株式会社 | Print control server, print control method, and print control program |
JP5732874B2 (en) * | 2011-01-31 | 2015-06-10 | セイコーエプソン株式会社 | Print control server, print control method, and print control program |
JP5353933B2 (en) * | 2011-03-25 | 2013-11-27 | ブラザー工業株式会社 | Information processing program, information processing apparatus, and information processing method |
JP5917016B2 (en) | 2011-05-10 | 2016-05-11 | キヤノン株式会社 | Information processing apparatus, control method thereof, and control program |
US9047026B2 (en) * | 2011-08-16 | 2015-06-02 | Ricoh Company, Ltd. | Labeling inserted pages within print previews of a print job |
JP5782950B2 (en) * | 2011-09-20 | 2015-09-24 | ブラザー工業株式会社 | Image processing program |
TWI494847B (en) * | 2011-10-05 | 2015-08-01 | Cal Comp Electronics & Comm Co | Apparatus, method and system for previewing printing |
CN103049226B (en) * | 2011-10-13 | 2016-02-03 | 泰金宝电通股份有限公司 | There is the method for the system of print preview function, printing equipment and print preview |
JP2013169675A (en) * | 2012-02-20 | 2013-09-02 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Image forming apparatus, image forming system, method for controlling image formation, and program for controlling image formation |
CN102968244B (en) * | 2012-10-29 | 2016-03-30 | 小米科技有限责任公司 | The acquisition methods of resource pre-review figure, device and equipment |
JP5705193B2 (en) * | 2012-11-29 | 2015-04-22 | キヤノン株式会社 | Image forming apparatus, image forming apparatus control method and program |
JP5900803B2 (en) * | 2013-09-18 | 2016-04-06 | コニカミノルタ株式会社 | DATA GENERATION DEVICE, DATA GENERATION PROGRAM, AND DATA GENERATION METHOD |
JP6337748B2 (en) * | 2013-11-29 | 2018-06-06 | 株式会社リコー | Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program |
JP6117122B2 (en) * | 2014-01-24 | 2017-04-19 | 京セラドキュメントソリューションズ株式会社 | Pull print system |
JP6418754B2 (en) * | 2014-02-25 | 2018-11-07 | キヤノン株式会社 | Image processing apparatus and image processing apparatus control method |
JP6446928B2 (en) * | 2014-09-11 | 2019-01-09 | 富士ゼロックス株式会社 | Image processing program and image processing apparatus |
JP6458427B2 (en) * | 2014-09-29 | 2019-01-30 | ブラザー工業株式会社 | Information processing apparatus, recording system, and program |
US9990169B2 (en) * | 2016-05-23 | 2018-06-05 | Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. | Print controller, print control method and non-transitory computer readable recording medium for executing test print |
CN111625207B (en) * | 2020-04-29 | 2022-12-23 | 中石化江汉石油工程有限公司测录井公司 | Method for printing ultra-long drawing by using limited-length printer |
JP2022086329A (en) * | 2020-11-30 | 2022-06-09 | セイコーエプソン株式会社 | Information processing apparatus, image processing method, and image processing program |
JP2023006640A (en) * | 2021-06-30 | 2023-01-18 | コニカミノルタ株式会社 | Printing support device, printing support method, and printing support program |
Citations (57)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5960162A (en) * | 1994-01-31 | 1999-09-28 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Image processing apparatus which converts multi-value density data and outputs the converted data |
US5991783A (en) * | 1996-10-01 | 1999-11-23 | Warp 10 Technologies Inc. | System and method for generating, storing and transmitting graphical data |
US5991793A (en) * | 1995-12-21 | 1999-11-23 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Resource allocation method in computer system |
US6160629A (en) * | 1998-10-26 | 2000-12-12 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Multiple copy printer with print job retention |
US6181436B1 (en) * | 1997-04-28 | 2001-01-30 | Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Print managing system and print managing method |
US6285461B1 (en) * | 1997-04-24 | 2001-09-04 | Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Image output system having preview function and method of displaying preview image in image output system |
US20010056449A1 (en) * | 2000-04-27 | 2001-12-27 | Hirokazu Kawamoto | Information processing apparatus, print control apparatus, method of controlling an information processing apparatus, method of controlling a print control apparatus, and storage medium |
US20020026453A1 (en) * | 2000-08-22 | 2002-02-28 | Yasuo Mori | Information processing apparatus and method for creating print data and storage medium |
US20020042798A1 (en) * | 2000-10-06 | 2002-04-11 | Hajime Takei | Printing system, and print server and computer program used in said printing system |
US20020078101A1 (en) * | 2000-11-20 | 2002-06-20 | Chang William Ho | Mobile and pervasive output client device |
US20020085230A1 (en) * | 2000-12-22 | 2002-07-04 | Katsuhito Kitahara | Method for generating a print data file, method for storing print data, a data storage medium therefor, and an apparatus for generating a data storage file |
US20030002056A1 (en) * | 2001-05-22 | 2003-01-02 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Printing apparatus and pre-printing information estimating method |
US20030002063A1 (en) * | 2001-06-28 | 2003-01-02 | Hiroshi Oomura | Printing control apparatus and printing control method capable of accurately printing embedded font |
US20030030846A1 (en) * | 2001-07-17 | 2003-02-13 | Yasuo Mori | Information processing apparatus, information processing system, preview control method, and storage medium storing program for implementing the method |
US20030038959A1 (en) * | 1997-12-16 | 2003-02-27 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Data processing apparatus capable of communicating with output apparatus and its data processing method |
US6556310B1 (en) * | 2000-01-18 | 2003-04-29 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Method and apparatus for using animated graphics to represent two-sided printing |
US20030098987A1 (en) * | 2001-11-28 | 2003-05-29 | Scott Fiske | Image data caching |
US20030103221A1 (en) * | 2001-11-30 | 2003-06-05 | Hideo Natori | Print control apparatus and method |
US20030142325A1 (en) * | 2002-01-31 | 2003-07-31 | Leslie Sara Lynn | True print preview method and apparatus |
US6623190B1 (en) * | 2002-05-03 | 2003-09-23 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | Methods and apparatus for managing a print job among a processor, an image producing device, and an external storage device |
US20040021905A1 (en) * | 2002-08-01 | 2004-02-05 | Holmstead Stanley Bruce | System and method for managing printable assets |
US20040125407A1 (en) * | 2002-12-20 | 2004-07-01 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Billing control in print system |
US6796730B2 (en) * | 2002-01-17 | 2004-09-28 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Printing system and printing apparatus |
US20040190057A1 (en) * | 2003-03-27 | 2004-09-30 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Image forming system, method and program of controlling image forming system, and storage medium |
US20040207859A1 (en) * | 2003-04-17 | 2004-10-21 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Information processing apparatus and print preview display method |
US6833925B1 (en) * | 1999-10-21 | 2004-12-21 | Xerox Corporation | Composite job tickets to support proofing |
US20050010860A1 (en) * | 2000-02-23 | 2005-01-13 | Yuval Weiss | Systems and methods for generating and providing previews of electronic files such as Web files |
US20050030334A1 (en) * | 2003-08-08 | 2005-02-10 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Data processing apparatus, print control method, computer-readable storage medium, and program stored therein |
US20050060639A1 (en) * | 2003-09-11 | 2005-03-17 | Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd. | Content inspection for input print data file |
US20050114767A1 (en) * | 2003-11-21 | 2005-05-26 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Image processing system, image processing method, image processing apparatus, program for implementing the method, and storage medium |
US6924826B1 (en) * | 1999-11-02 | 2005-08-02 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and storage medium storing computer-readable program |
US6927865B1 (en) * | 1999-06-23 | 2005-08-09 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Information processing apparatus and method utilizing print previews, and computer-readable storage medium |
US20050243371A1 (en) * | 2004-04-16 | 2005-11-03 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Document processing apparatus and method |
US6963412B1 (en) * | 1999-06-29 | 2005-11-08 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Information processing apparatus, information processing method, storage medium, and program |
US20050248811A1 (en) * | 1999-11-02 | 2005-11-10 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Print control method and apparatus |
US6976730B2 (en) * | 2004-03-26 | 2005-12-20 | Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc. | Vehicle body structure |
US20050283721A1 (en) * | 1995-06-07 | 2005-12-22 | R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company | Imposition process and apparatus for variable imaging system |
US20050286100A1 (en) * | 2004-06-25 | 2005-12-29 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Printing control apparatus and printing control method |
US20060066899A1 (en) * | 2004-09-30 | 2006-03-30 | Takuya Yoshida | Printing control apparatus and computer readable information recording medium |
US20060152758A1 (en) * | 2005-01-13 | 2006-07-13 | Sharp Laboratories Of America, Inc. | Systems and methods for changing settings for selected objects within a print job |
US20060168520A1 (en) * | 1999-05-25 | 2006-07-27 | Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd | Method of network publishing |
US7092111B2 (en) * | 2000-09-12 | 2006-08-15 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Information processing apparatus, print data forming method, print control program, and memory medium |
US20060221085A1 (en) * | 2005-03-30 | 2006-10-05 | Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Information processing apparatus and program |
US7161702B2 (en) * | 2002-02-28 | 2007-01-09 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Method and apparatus for generating a print command capable of generating improved stable throughput |
US20070021129A1 (en) * | 2005-07-21 | 2007-01-25 | Sony Corporation | Information processing apparatus, processing method therefor, program allowing computer to execute the method |
US20070057978A1 (en) * | 2005-09-12 | 2007-03-15 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Printer and printing method |
US20070113164A1 (en) * | 2000-05-17 | 2007-05-17 | Hansen David R | System and method for implementing compound documents in a production printing workflow |
US20070121144A1 (en) * | 2001-12-03 | 2007-05-31 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Information processing apparatus and information processing method |
US20070127055A1 (en) * | 2005-12-01 | 2007-06-07 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Information processing apparatus and information processing method |
US20070211296A1 (en) * | 2006-03-13 | 2007-09-13 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Information processing apparatus with print preview function |
US20070240042A1 (en) * | 2000-09-21 | 2007-10-11 | Tomotoshi Sato | Virtual print previewing |
US20080267512A1 (en) * | 2007-04-26 | 2008-10-30 | Xerox Corporation | Automatic review of variable imaging jobs |
US20080301549A1 (en) * | 2007-05-30 | 2008-12-04 | Xerox Corporation | Production environment CRM information gathering system for VI applications |
US20090009552A1 (en) * | 2001-04-19 | 2009-01-08 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Print control apparatus, information processing apparatus, print control method, control method of information processing apparatus, and programs |
US7584242B2 (en) * | 2001-11-30 | 2009-09-01 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Printing control apparatus, system and method |
US20110249294A1 (en) * | 2004-11-24 | 2011-10-13 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Information processing apparatus, printing system, and control method therefor |
US20110310426A1 (en) * | 2000-04-27 | 2011-12-22 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Print control apparatus and method, and print system |
Family Cites Families (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPH0830410A (en) | 1994-07-14 | 1996-02-02 | Canon Inc | Output device, preview system, and confirming method for output image |
EP0933692A3 (en) | 1998-01-31 | 2000-08-30 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Previewing printer output |
JP2000112691A (en) * | 1998-10-07 | 2000-04-21 | Seiko Epson Corp | Network printing system, network printer and network printing method |
JP2003054066A (en) * | 2001-05-22 | 2003-02-26 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Printer and method of estimating printing preview information |
JP2003076512A (en) * | 2001-08-31 | 2003-03-14 | Canon Inc | Information processor, printer, data processing method, storage medium and program |
JP2003091408A (en) * | 2001-09-14 | 2003-03-28 | Canon Inc | Information managing device, information processor, information processing system, information processing method, recording medium and its program |
JP2003162396A (en) | 2001-11-26 | 2003-06-06 | Canon Inc | Image output system, information processor and image output program |
JP3700695B2 (en) * | 2002-11-08 | 2005-09-28 | セイコーエプソン株式会社 | Printing system, printing apparatus, and printing apparatus control program |
JP4211360B2 (en) | 2002-11-12 | 2009-01-21 | セイコーエプソン株式会社 | Print preview image generation device |
JP2004276459A (en) * | 2003-03-17 | 2004-10-07 | Kyocera Mita Corp | Image forming apparatus and image forming system |
JP2005070862A (en) | 2003-08-27 | 2005-03-17 | Canon Inc | Print control device, data processor, print system, print control method, storage medium storing computer-readable program, and program |
EP1526442B8 (en) | 2003-09-25 | 2018-08-29 | Ricoh Company, Ltd. | Printer driver user interface for multimedia data |
KR100544199B1 (en) * | 2003-10-24 | 2006-01-23 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Method and apparatus for previewing font or form of printer |
-
2006
- 2006-03-13 JP JP2006068272A patent/JP4693664B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2007
- 2007-03-05 EP EP07103494A patent/EP1835393A3/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2007-03-07 US US11/683,346 patent/US8276068B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2007-03-07 US US11/683,320 patent/US20070211276A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2007-03-13 CN CNB2007100056897A patent/CN100535847C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2007-03-13 KR KR1020070024615A patent/KR100928747B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Patent Citations (64)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5960162A (en) * | 1994-01-31 | 1999-09-28 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Image processing apparatus which converts multi-value density data and outputs the converted data |
US20050283721A1 (en) * | 1995-06-07 | 2005-12-22 | R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company | Imposition process and apparatus for variable imaging system |
US5991793A (en) * | 1995-12-21 | 1999-11-23 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Resource allocation method in computer system |
US5991783A (en) * | 1996-10-01 | 1999-11-23 | Warp 10 Technologies Inc. | System and method for generating, storing and transmitting graphical data |
US6285461B1 (en) * | 1997-04-24 | 2001-09-04 | Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Image output system having preview function and method of displaying preview image in image output system |
US6181436B1 (en) * | 1997-04-28 | 2001-01-30 | Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Print managing system and print managing method |
US20030038959A1 (en) * | 1997-12-16 | 2003-02-27 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Data processing apparatus capable of communicating with output apparatus and its data processing method |
US6160629A (en) * | 1998-10-26 | 2000-12-12 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Multiple copy printer with print job retention |
US20060168520A1 (en) * | 1999-05-25 | 2006-07-27 | Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd | Method of network publishing |
US20110261377A1 (en) * | 1999-06-23 | 2011-10-27 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Information-processing apparatus, information-processing method, and computer-readable storage medium containing programs |
US20100064211A1 (en) * | 1999-06-23 | 2010-03-11 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Information-processing apparatus, information-processing method, and computer-readable storage medium containing programs |
US20050206953A1 (en) * | 1999-06-23 | 2005-09-22 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Information processing apparatus and method utilizing print previews, and computer-readable storage medium |
US6927865B1 (en) * | 1999-06-23 | 2005-08-09 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Information processing apparatus and method utilizing print previews, and computer-readable storage medium |
US6963412B1 (en) * | 1999-06-29 | 2005-11-08 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Information processing apparatus, information processing method, storage medium, and program |
US6833925B1 (en) * | 1999-10-21 | 2004-12-21 | Xerox Corporation | Composite job tickets to support proofing |
US6924826B1 (en) * | 1999-11-02 | 2005-08-02 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and storage medium storing computer-readable program |
US20050248811A1 (en) * | 1999-11-02 | 2005-11-10 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Print control method and apparatus |
US7464335B2 (en) * | 1999-11-02 | 2008-12-09 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and storage medium storing computer-readable program |
US6556310B1 (en) * | 2000-01-18 | 2003-04-29 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Method and apparatus for using animated graphics to represent two-sided printing |
US20050010860A1 (en) * | 2000-02-23 | 2005-01-13 | Yuval Weiss | Systems and methods for generating and providing previews of electronic files such as Web files |
US20010056449A1 (en) * | 2000-04-27 | 2001-12-27 | Hirokazu Kawamoto | Information processing apparatus, print control apparatus, method of controlling an information processing apparatus, method of controlling a print control apparatus, and storage medium |
US20110310426A1 (en) * | 2000-04-27 | 2011-12-22 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Print control apparatus and method, and print system |
US20070113164A1 (en) * | 2000-05-17 | 2007-05-17 | Hansen David R | System and method for implementing compound documents in a production printing workflow |
US20020026453A1 (en) * | 2000-08-22 | 2002-02-28 | Yasuo Mori | Information processing apparatus and method for creating print data and storage medium |
US7092111B2 (en) * | 2000-09-12 | 2006-08-15 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Information processing apparatus, print data forming method, print control program, and memory medium |
US20070240042A1 (en) * | 2000-09-21 | 2007-10-11 | Tomotoshi Sato | Virtual print previewing |
US20020042798A1 (en) * | 2000-10-06 | 2002-04-11 | Hajime Takei | Printing system, and print server and computer program used in said printing system |
US20020078101A1 (en) * | 2000-11-20 | 2002-06-20 | Chang William Ho | Mobile and pervasive output client device |
US20020085230A1 (en) * | 2000-12-22 | 2002-07-04 | Katsuhito Kitahara | Method for generating a print data file, method for storing print data, a data storage medium therefor, and an apparatus for generating a data storage file |
US20090009552A1 (en) * | 2001-04-19 | 2009-01-08 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Print control apparatus, information processing apparatus, print control method, control method of information processing apparatus, and programs |
US20030002056A1 (en) * | 2001-05-22 | 2003-01-02 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Printing apparatus and pre-printing information estimating method |
US20030002063A1 (en) * | 2001-06-28 | 2003-01-02 | Hiroshi Oomura | Printing control apparatus and printing control method capable of accurately printing embedded font |
US20030030846A1 (en) * | 2001-07-17 | 2003-02-13 | Yasuo Mori | Information processing apparatus, information processing system, preview control method, and storage medium storing program for implementing the method |
US20030098987A1 (en) * | 2001-11-28 | 2003-05-29 | Scott Fiske | Image data caching |
US20030103221A1 (en) * | 2001-11-30 | 2003-06-05 | Hideo Natori | Print control apparatus and method |
US7584242B2 (en) * | 2001-11-30 | 2009-09-01 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Printing control apparatus, system and method |
US20080151282A1 (en) * | 2001-11-30 | 2008-06-26 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Print control apparatus and method |
US20070121144A1 (en) * | 2001-12-03 | 2007-05-31 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Information processing apparatus and information processing method |
US6796730B2 (en) * | 2002-01-17 | 2004-09-28 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Printing system and printing apparatus |
US20030142325A1 (en) * | 2002-01-31 | 2003-07-31 | Leslie Sara Lynn | True print preview method and apparatus |
US7161702B2 (en) * | 2002-02-28 | 2007-01-09 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Method and apparatus for generating a print command capable of generating improved stable throughput |
US6623190B1 (en) * | 2002-05-03 | 2003-09-23 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | Methods and apparatus for managing a print job among a processor, an image producing device, and an external storage device |
US20050076298A1 (en) * | 2002-05-03 | 2005-04-07 | Lutz Todd Alexander | Methods and apparatus for managing a print job among a processor, an image producing device, and an external storage device |
US20040021905A1 (en) * | 2002-08-01 | 2004-02-05 | Holmstead Stanley Bruce | System and method for managing printable assets |
US20040125407A1 (en) * | 2002-12-20 | 2004-07-01 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Billing control in print system |
US20040190057A1 (en) * | 2003-03-27 | 2004-09-30 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Image forming system, method and program of controlling image forming system, and storage medium |
US20040207859A1 (en) * | 2003-04-17 | 2004-10-21 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Information processing apparatus and print preview display method |
US20050030334A1 (en) * | 2003-08-08 | 2005-02-10 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Data processing apparatus, print control method, computer-readable storage medium, and program stored therein |
US20050060639A1 (en) * | 2003-09-11 | 2005-03-17 | Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd. | Content inspection for input print data file |
US20050114767A1 (en) * | 2003-11-21 | 2005-05-26 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Image processing system, image processing method, image processing apparatus, program for implementing the method, and storage medium |
US6976730B2 (en) * | 2004-03-26 | 2005-12-20 | Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc. | Vehicle body structure |
US20050243371A1 (en) * | 2004-04-16 | 2005-11-03 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Document processing apparatus and method |
US20050286100A1 (en) * | 2004-06-25 | 2005-12-29 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Printing control apparatus and printing control method |
US20100046048A1 (en) * | 2004-06-25 | 2010-02-25 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Printing control apparatus and printing control method |
US20060066899A1 (en) * | 2004-09-30 | 2006-03-30 | Takuya Yoshida | Printing control apparatus and computer readable information recording medium |
US20110249294A1 (en) * | 2004-11-24 | 2011-10-13 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Information processing apparatus, printing system, and control method therefor |
US20060152758A1 (en) * | 2005-01-13 | 2006-07-13 | Sharp Laboratories Of America, Inc. | Systems and methods for changing settings for selected objects within a print job |
US20060221085A1 (en) * | 2005-03-30 | 2006-10-05 | Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Information processing apparatus and program |
US20070021129A1 (en) * | 2005-07-21 | 2007-01-25 | Sony Corporation | Information processing apparatus, processing method therefor, program allowing computer to execute the method |
US20070057978A1 (en) * | 2005-09-12 | 2007-03-15 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Printer and printing method |
US20070127055A1 (en) * | 2005-12-01 | 2007-06-07 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Information processing apparatus and information processing method |
US20070211296A1 (en) * | 2006-03-13 | 2007-09-13 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Information processing apparatus with print preview function |
US20080267512A1 (en) * | 2007-04-26 | 2008-10-30 | Xerox Corporation | Automatic review of variable imaging jobs |
US20080301549A1 (en) * | 2007-05-30 | 2008-12-04 | Xerox Corporation | Production environment CRM information gathering system for VI applications |
Cited By (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20060092459A1 (en) * | 2004-11-01 | 2006-05-04 | Fujicopian Co., Ltd. | Image forming system, image forming device employing the same, and external terminal control program |
US20070211296A1 (en) * | 2006-03-13 | 2007-09-13 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Information processing apparatus with print preview function |
US8276068B2 (en) | 2006-03-13 | 2012-09-25 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Information processing apparatus with print preview function |
US20070226692A1 (en) * | 2006-03-24 | 2007-09-27 | Takumi Nozawa | Image processing apparatus and image processing method |
US20090217161A1 (en) * | 2008-02-25 | 2009-08-27 | Ricoh Company, Ltd. | Apparatus system and method of print processing |
US20110026077A1 (en) * | 2009-07-29 | 2011-02-03 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Data processing apparatus, data processing method, and storage medium |
US8773711B2 (en) * | 2009-07-29 | 2014-07-08 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Data processing apparatus, data processing method, and storage medium for controlling display setting screen based on selected printer driver |
US10474404B2 (en) | 2015-03-17 | 2019-11-12 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Image forming system in which a mobile terminal sets print setting information and transmits a print instruction to an image forming apparatus, and related image forming apparatus and image forming method |
US10021267B2 (en) | 2016-11-21 | 2018-07-10 | Xerox Corporation | Dynamic print job previewer with automatic stock adjustment |
US11662963B2 (en) * | 2017-10-16 | 2023-05-30 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Control method for acquiring data |
US20190129585A1 (en) * | 2017-11-01 | 2019-05-02 | Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha | Information processing apparatus, non-transitory recording medium storing control program, and control method |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CN100535847C (en) | 2009-09-02 |
EP1835393A3 (en) | 2012-04-25 |
US8276068B2 (en) | 2012-09-25 |
US20070211296A1 (en) | 2007-09-13 |
JP4693664B2 (en) | 2011-06-01 |
EP1835393A2 (en) | 2007-09-19 |
KR100928747B1 (en) | 2009-11-25 |
KR20070093370A (en) | 2007-09-18 |
CN101038533A (en) | 2007-09-19 |
JP2007249301A (en) | 2007-09-27 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US8276068B2 (en) | Information processing apparatus with print preview function | |
US8085429B2 (en) | Information processing apparatus and method for generating print data for a book with a cover sheet | |
US6616359B1 (en) | Print control method and apparatus | |
US9052852B2 (en) | Print control method and apparatus | |
US6965440B1 (en) | Print control method and apparatus | |
US7161711B2 (en) | Information processing apparatus and method for creating print data and storage medium | |
US7161691B2 (en) | Method and apparatus for multiple media printing | |
JP3619087B2 (en) | Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and storage medium storing computer-readable program | |
US7535591B2 (en) | Print control method, apparatus and program for displaying a preview image | |
US6961135B1 (en) | Print preview display method of displaying pages in an electronic document | |
US7301656B1 (en) | Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and storage medium storing computer-readable program therein | |
US7307757B2 (en) | Print control method and apparatus | |
JP4328823B2 (en) | Information processing apparatus, control method, and storage medium storing computer-readable control program | |
US7362465B2 (en) | Information processing apparatus and control method therefor | |
JP2004157610A (en) | Information processor |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, JAPAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:TODA, MASANARI;REEL/FRAME:019021/0066 Effective date: 20070302 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |