Printing system having control language command and raster pixel image data processing capability

Abstract

A host computer includes a processor, a first memory for storing a bit map representation of an image to be printed, and a second memory for storing a control language representation of an image to be printed. The host computer further includes a printer driver for enabling dispatch of the bit map representation to a connected printer. The printer includes a print engine, a printer processor and control memory for storing bit map control code which controls the printer processor to render the print engine able to print an image defined by a bit map representation. The control memory further includes control language code for controlling the printer's processor to render the print engine able to print an image defined by a control language representation. Within the host computer is an interface module, controlled by the host printer driver, for interrogating status information from the printer. When the printer is under control of the control language code and a bit map representation is to be transmitted to the printer by the host computer, the interface module terminates a bilateral communication protocol and transmits a command to the printer, enabling operation of the bit map control code contained within the printer's control memory. The printer's processor disables the control language code and enables the bit map control code, thereby enabling the printer to receive and process the bit map data.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.