Printer emulator capable of emulating a plurality of printers which operate in different modes

A printer emulator having a function of emulating a plurality of types of printers which operate in respective operation modes, said printer emulator being operable according to print data in a selected one of said operation modes of said plurality of printers, said printer emulator comprising:

• print data memory means for storing said print data consisting of a plurality of job units each of which represents a printing job, said print data comprising control codes which includes at least one mode-determinative code which determines an effective operation mode in which each of said plurality of job units of said print data is executed, said control codes of said print data further including a plurality of unit-determinative codes which determine said each job unit of said print data, said plurality of unit-determinative codes comprising at least one of a combination of a plurality of said control codes, the number of which is larger than a predetermined value, and a combination of a plurality of said control codes which appear in said print data in a predetermined order;
• unit detecting means for detecting each of said plurality of job units of said print data on the basis of said plurality of unit-determinative codes;
• mode determining means, operable on the basis of said at least one mode-determinative code after each of said plurality of job units of said print data has been detected by said unit detecting means, for determining said effective operation mode for each of said plurality of job units of said print data, wherein said mode determining means determines said effective operation mode if said at least one mode-determinative code is sufficient for said mode determining means to be able to determine, as said effective operation mode, one of a plurality of candidate modes of said operation modes of said plurality of printers;
• and
• compulsory mode selection means for selecting, as said effective operation mode, one of said candidate modes according to a predetermined rule, if said at least one mode-determinative code is sufficient for said mode determining means to be able to limit said effective operation mode to a plurality of said candidate modes but insufficient to limit said effective operation mode to one of said candidate modes;
• time measuring means for measuring an operation time of said mode determining means, and commanding said compulsory mode selection means to operate when said operation time measured by said time measuring means exceeds a predetermined limit;
• and
• printing means, responsive to said mode determining means, for performing said printing job according to each of said plurality of job units of said print data in said effective operation mode determined by said mode determining means.

A printer emulator having a function of emulating a plurality of types of printers which operate in respective operation modes, said printer emulator being operable according to print data in a selected one of said operation modes of said plurality of printers, said printer emulator comprising:

• print data memory means for storing said print data consisting of a plurality of job units each of which represents a printing job, said print data comprising control codes which influence said printing job to be performed according to said job unit of said print data;
• said control codes of said print data including a plurality of mode-determinative codes which determine an effective operation mode in which each of said plurality of job units of said print data is executed, said plurality of mode-determinative codes comprising at least one of a combination of a plurality of said control codes the number of which is larger than a first predetermined value, and a combination of a plurality of said control codes which appear in said print data in a first predetermined order;
• said control codes of said print data further including a plurality of unit-determinative codes which determine said each job unit of said print data, said plurality of unit-determinative codes comprising at least one of a combination of a plurality of said control codes the number of which is larger than a second predetermined value, and a combination of a plurality of said control codes which appear in said print data in a second predetermined order;
• unit detecting means for detecting each of said plurality of job units of said print data on the basis of said plurality of unit-determinative codes;
• mode determining means, operable on the basis of said plurality mode-determinative codes after each of said plurality of job units of said print data has been detected by said unit detecting means, for determining said effective operation mode for each of said plurality of job units of said print data;
• and
• printing means, responsive to said mode determining means, for performing said printing job according to each of said plurality of job units of said print data in said effective operation mode determined by said mode determining means.

A printer emulator having a function of emulating a plurality of types of printers which operate in respective operation modes, said printer emulator being operable according to print data in a selected one of said operation modes of said plurality of printers, said printer emulator comprising:

• print data memory means for storing said print data consisting of a plurality of job units each of which represents a printing job, said print data comprising control codes which influence said printing job to be performed according to each said job unit of said print data;
• said control codes of said print data including a plurality of mode-determinative codes which determine an effective operation mode in which each of said plurality of job units of said print data is executed, said plurality of mode-determinative codes comprising at least one of a combination of a plurality of said control codes the number of which is larger than a first predetermined value, and a combination of a plurality of said control codes which appear in said print data in a first predetermined order;
• said control codes of said print data further including a plurality of unit-determinative codes which determine said each job unit of said print data, said plurality of unit-determinative codes comprising at least one of a combination of a plurality of said control codes the number of which is larger than a second predetermined value, and a combination of a plurality of said control codes which appear in said print data in a second predetermined order;
• unit detecting means for detecting each of said plurality of job units of said print data on the basis of said plurality of unit-determinative codes;
• mode determining means, operable on the basis of said plurality mode-determinative codes after each of said plurality of job units of said print data has been detected by said unit detecting means, for determining said effective operation mode for each of said plurality of job units of said print data, wherein said mode determining means determines said effective operation mode if said plurality of mode-determinative codes are sufficient for said mode determining means to be able to determine, as said effective operation mode, one of a plurality of candidate modes of said operation modes of said plurality of printers;
• compulsory mode selection means for selecting, as said effective operation mode, one of said candidate modes according to a predetermined rule, if said plurality of mode-determinative codes are sufficient for said mode determining means to be able to limit said effective operation mode to a plurality of said candidate modes but insufficient to limit said effective operation mode to one of said candidate modes;
• time measuring means for measuring an operation time of said mode determining means, and commanding said compulsory mode selection means to operate when said operation time measured by said time measuring means exceeds a predetermined limit;
• and
• printing means, responsive to said mode determining means, for performing said printing job according to each of said plurality of job units of said print data in said effective operation mode determined by said mode determining means.