Printing apparatus, information processing apparatus, data processing method for use in such an apparatus, and storage medium storing computer-readable program
AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorSHIGERU UEDA
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Print data including text or graphics data is transferred from a host computer to a printer. The printer develops the received data on band basis. When data processing to be performed by the printer is expected to fail due to shortage of the memory area size, the host computer cancels the data which has already been sent to the printer, and develops the text or graphics data to form image data. The image data thus formed is sent to the printer. Image data is transferred in a hierarchical manner. Disclosed also is a method which makes it possible to eliminate as much as possible any data processing failure in the printer attributable to shortage of memory capacity.
Claims39
A printing apparatus communicable with an information processing apparatus through a predetermined communication medium, comprising:
- first conversion means for converting page-basis printing information received from said information processing apparatus into predetermined intermediate code information, the conversion being executed on a predetermined band basis;
- first storage means for storing, in a first storage area of a memory resource, said intermediate code information obtained through conversion performed by said first conversion means;
- second conversion means for converting said intermediate code information into image data on a predetermined band basis;
- second storage means for storing, in a second storage area of said memory resource, a plurality of bands of said image data obtained through conversion performed by said second conversion means;
- first judging means for judging whether or not the intermediate code information corresponding to one page has been stored in said first storage area;
- and
- first memory control means operative based on the result of judgment conducted by said first judging means so as to cause said second conversion means to convert said intermediate code information stored in said first storage area on said predetermined band basis into image and to develop the image in said second storage area, thereby forming a vacant area in said first storage area.
An information processing apparatus communicable with a printing apparatus through a predetermined communication medium, comprising:
- transfer means for transferring to said printing apparatus the page printing information except for image data in the page;
- inquiry means for inquiring, after the data transfer performed by said transfer means, about the size of vacancy in an intermediate code information storage area preserved in a memory resource of said printing apparatus;
- and
- transfer control means for comparing the size of said image data with the size of the vacancy informed by said printing apparatus in response to the inquiry made by said inquiry means, and for controlling the size of the image data to be transferred, based on the result of the comparison.
A printing apparatus communicable with an information processing apparatus through a predetermined communication medium, comprising:
- first conversion means for converting page-basis printing information received from said information processing apparatus into predetermined intermediate code information, the conversion being executed on a predetermined band basis;
- first storage means for storing, in a first storage area of a memory resource, said intermediate code information obtained through conversion performed by said first conversion means;
- second conversion means for converting said intermediate code information into image data on a predetermined band basis;
- second storage means for storing, in a second storage area of said memory resource, a plurality of bands of said image data obtained through conversion performed by said second conversion means;
- and
- informing means for informing said information processing apparatus of the size of vacancy formed in said first storage area after conversion performed by said first conversion means, in response to an inquiry made by said information processing apparatus about the vacancy size.
A printing system comprising an information processing apparatus and a printing apparatus communicable with each other through a predetermined communication medium,
- wherein said printing apparatus comprises:
- first conversion means for converting page-basis printing information received from said information processing apparatus into predetermined intermediate code information, the conversion being executed a on predetermined band basis;
- first storage means for storing, in a first storage area of a memory resource, said intermediate code information obtained through conversion performed by said first conversion means;
- second conversion means for converting said intermediate code information into image data on predetermined band basis;
- second storage means for storing, in a second storage area of said memory resource, a plurality of bands of said image data obtained through conversion performed by said second conversion means;
- and
- informing means for informing said information processing apparatus of the size of vacancy formed in said first storage area after conversion performed by said first conversion means, in response to an inquiry made by said information processing apparatus about the vacancy size;
- and
- wherein said information processing apparatus comprises:
- transfer means for transferring page printing information except for image data in the page;
- inquiry means for inquiring, after the data transfer performed by said transfer means, about the size of vacancy in an intermediate code information storage area preserved in said memory resource of said printing apparatus;
- and
- transfer control means for comparing the size of the image data with the size of the vacancy informed by said printing apparatus in response to the inquiry made by said inquiry means, and for controlling the size of the image data to be transferred, based on the result of the comparison.
A data processing method for use in a printing apparatus communicable with an information processing apparatus through a predetermined communication medium, said method comprising:
- a first converting step for converting page-basis printing information received from said information processing apparatus into predetermined intermediate code information, the conversion being executed on a predetermined band basis;
- a first storing step for storing, in a first storage area preserved in a memory resource, said intermediate code information obtained through the conversion;
- a second converting step for converting said intermediate code information stored in said first storage area into image data on a predetermined band basis;
- a second storing step for storing, in a second storage area preserved in said memory resource, a plurality of bands of said image data obtained through the conversion performed in said second converting step;
- a first judging step for judging whether or not the intermediate code information corresponding to one page has been stored in said first storage area;
- and
- a third storing step conducted based on the result of judgment conducted by said first judging means, so as to cause said intermediate code information stored on the predetermined band basis in said first storage area to be developed into image in said second storage area, thereby preserving vacant area in said first storage area, and to store subsequent intermediate code data into the vacant area.
A data processing method for use in a printing system comprising an information processing apparatus and a printing apparatus communicable with each other through a predetermined communication medium, said method comprising:
- a first transferring step for transferring first printing information formed by removing image data from one-page printing information to be transferred;
- a first converting step for converting, on a predetermined band basis, the first printing information received from said information processing apparatus into a predetermined intermediate code information;
- a first storing step for storing said intermediate code information obtained through the conversion in a first storage area preserved in a memory resource;
- and
- an informing step for informing, after the storage of said intermediate code information in said first storage area, said information processing apparatus of the size of vacancy in said first storage area, in response to an inquiry given by said information processing apparatus.
A storage medium storing a computer-readable program, said computer-readable program comprising:
- a first converting step for converting page-basis. printing information received from an information processing apparatus into predetermined intermediate code information, the conversion being executed on a predetermined band basis;
- a first storing step for storing, in a first storage area preserved in a memory resource, said intermediate code information obtained through the conversion;
- a second converting step for converting said intermediate code information stored in said first storage area into image data on a predetermined band basis;
- a second storing step for storing, in a second storage area preserved in said memory resource, a plurality of bands of said image data obtained through the conversion performed in said second converting step;
- a first judging step for judging whether or not the intermediate code information corresponding to one page has been stored in said first storage area;
- and
- a third storing step conducted based on the result of judgment conducted by said first judging means, so as to cause said intermediate code information stored on the predetermined band basis in said first storage area to be developed into image in said second storage area, thereby preserving vacant area in said first storage area, and to store subsequent intermediate code data into the vacant area.
A storage medium storing a computer-readable program, said computer program comprising:
- a first transferring step for transferring first printing information formed by removing image data from one-page printing information to be transferred;
- a first converting step for converting, on a predetermined band basis, the first printing information received from said information processing apparatus into a predetermined intermediate code information;
- a first storing step for storing said intermediate code information obtained through the conversion in a first storage area preserved in a memory resource;
- and
- an informing step for informing, after the storage of said intermediate code information in said first storage area, said information processing apparatus of the size of vacancy in said first storage area, in response to an inquiry given by said information processing apparatus.
An information processing apparatus capable of performing, through a predetermined communication medium, band communication with a printing apparatus having a memory resource divided to provide band areas each of which being capable of developing an image therein, said information processing apparatus comprising:
- developing means for acquiring memory resource use status information delivered by said printing apparatus and for developing printing information which has been transferred to said printing apparatus into image data of a form which can be outputted by said printing apparatus;
- and
- transfer control means for transferring the image data developed by said developing means to said printing apparatus.
A printing apparatus communicable with an information processing apparatus through a predetermined communication medium, comprising:
- first storage means for dividing printing information received from said information processing apparatus into a plurality of bands of data and for storing the bands of data;
- and
- first informing means for informing said information processing apparatus of the status of use of said first storage means.
A printing apparatus communicable with an information processing apparatus through a predetermined communication medium, comprising:
- compression means for compressing, in accordance with a predetermined compression protocol, image data received from said information processing apparatus;
- second storage means for storing the compressed image data formed by said compression means;
- expansion means for expanding, in accordance with a predetermined expansion protocol, the compressed image data stored in said second storage means;
- and
- printing means for printing the image data which has been expanded by said expansion means.
A printing system comprising an information processing apparatus and a printing apparatus having a memory resource divided to provide band areas each of which being capable of developing an image therein, said information processing apparatus and said printing apparatus being capable of band-communicating with each other through a predetermined communication medium,
- wherein said information processing apparatus comprises:
- developing means for acquiring memory resource use status information delivered by said printing apparatus and for developing printing information which has been transferred to said printing apparatus into image data of a form which can be outputted by said printing apparatus;
- and
- transfer control means for transferring the image data developed by said developing means to said printing apparatus;
- and
- wherein said printing apparatus comprises:
- first storage means for dividing printing information received from said information processing apparatus into a plurality of bands of data and for storing the bands of data;
- first informing means for informing said information processing apparatus of the status of use of said first storage means;
- compression means for compressing, in accordance with a predetermined compression protocol, image data received from said information processing apparatus;
- second storage means for storing the compressed image data formed by said compression means;
- expansion means for expanding, in accordance with a predetermined expansion protocol, the compressed image data stored in said second storage means;
- and
- printing means for printing the image data which has been expanded by said expansion means.
A data processing method for use in an information processing apparatus capable of performing, through a predetermined communication medium, band communication with a printing apparatus having a memory resource divided to provide band areas each of which being capable of developing an image therein, said method comprising:
- a developing step for acquiring memory resource use status information delivered by said printing apparatus and for developing printing information which has been transferred to said printing apparatus into image data of a form which can be outputted by said printing apparatus;
- and
- a first transferring step for transferring the image data developed by said developing means to said printing apparatus.
A data processing method for use in printing apparatus communicable with an information processing apparatus through a predetermined communication medium, said method comprising:
- first storing step for dividing printing information received from said information processing apparatus into a plurality of bands of data and for storing the bands of data in first storage means;
- and
- first informing step for informing said information processing apparatus of the status of use of said first storage means.
A data processing method for use in printing apparatus communicable with an information processing apparatus through a predetermined communication medium, said method comprising:
- a compressing step for compressing, in accordance with a predetermined compression protocol, image data received from said information processing apparatus;
- a second storing step for storing the compressed image data formed in said compressing step in a second storage means;
- a second informing step for informing said information processing apparatus of the status of use of said second storage means;
- an expanding step for expanding, in accordance with a predetermined expansion protocol, the compressed image data stored in said second storage means;
- and
- a printing step for printing the image data which has been expanded by said expansion means.
A storage medium storing a computer-readable program, said computer program comprising:
- a developing step for acquiring memory resource use status information delivered by said printing apparatus and for developing printing information which has been transferred to said printing apparatus into image data of a form which can be outputted by said printing apparatus;
- and
- a first transfer step for transferring the image data developed by said developing means to said printing apparatus.
A storage medium storing a computer-readable program, wherein said computer program further comprises:
- first storing step for dividing printing information received from said information processing apparatus into a plurality of bands of data and for storing the bands of data in first storage means;
- and
- first informing step for informing said information processing apparatus of the status of use of said first storage means.
A storage medium storing a computer-readable program, wherein said program comprises:
- a compressing step for compressing, in accordance with a predetermined compression protocol, image data received from said information processing apparatus;
- a second storing step for storing the compressed image data formed in said compressing step in a second storage means;
- a second informing step for informing said information processing apparatus of the status of use of said second storage means;
- an expanding step for expanding, in accordance with a predetermined expansion protocol, the compressed image data stored in said second storage means;
- and
- a printing step for printing the image data which has been expanded by said expansion means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.