Print data supply apparatus, printing apparatus, print system and print data transmission method

A print data providing apparatus for providing an external device with a print document comprised of a plurality of print data files described in different formats, said print data providing apparatus comprising:

• an archiving unit operable to archive the plurality of the print data files into an archived file;
• and
• an output unit operable to output the archived file to the external device,
• wherein said archiving unit archives one print data file of the plurality of the print data files in a specified position in the archived file, the one print data file being a Top Page print data file, and the specified position being a predetermined position for allowing a printing apparatus to identify a print data file as the Top Page print data file,
• wherein the Top Page print data file is a predetermined print data file in the print document which is firstly required by the printing apparatus in order to print the print document, and
• wherein the printing apparatus interprets the Top Page print data file and places bit map data obtained by rasterization based on data of each of the print data files that the Top Page print data file references.

A print data providing apparatus for providing a printing apparatus connected to said print data providing apparatus via a transmission line with a print document comprised of a plurality of print data files described in different formats, said print data providing apparatus comprising

• a sequential transmission unit operable to sequentially transmit to the printing apparatus the plurality of the print data files accompanied by information indicating that the plurality of the print data files to be transmitted are the print data files composing the print document,
• wherein said sequential transmission unit transmits sequentially the plurality of the print data files accompanied by information on a total number of the plurality of the print data files composing the print document and a transmitting order of the plurality of the print data files composing the print document,
• wherein one of the plurality of print data files is a Top Page print data file, the Top Page print data file being a predetermined print data file in the print document which is firstly required by the printing apparatus in order to print the print document,
• wherein the printing apparatus interprets the Top Page print data file and places bit map data obtained by rasterization based on data of each of the print data files that the Top Page print data file references, and
• wherein the printing apparatus is able to identify the Top Page print data file on a basis of the transmitting order of the plurality of the print data files.

A print data providing apparatus for providing a printing apparatus connected to said print data providing apparatus via a transmission line with a print document comprised of a plurality of print data files described in different formats, said print data providing apparatus comprising

• a sequential transmission unit operable to sequentially transmit to the printing apparatus the plurality of the print data files accompanied by information indicating that the plurality of the print data files to be transmitted are the print data files composing the print document,
• wherein one of the plurality of print data files is a Top Page print data file, the Top Page print data file being a predetermined print data file in the print document which is transmitted to the printing apparatus first out of the plurality of print data files composing the print document,
• wherein the printing apparatus interprets the Top Page print data file and places bit map data obtained by rasterization based on data of each of the print data files that the Top Page print data file references, and
• wherein said sequential transmission unit transmits the plurality of the print data files accompanied by a flag indicating a completion of the transmission, the flag being attached to one print data file to be transmitted to the printing apparatus last out of the plurality of the print data files composing the print document.

A printing apparatus for acquiring a print document from a print data providing apparatus connected to said printing apparatus via a transmission line, and for printing the acquired print document, said printing apparatus comprising:

• an acquisition unit operable to acquire an archived file from the print data providing apparatus, the archived file being an archive of a plurality of print data files described in different formats, the plurality of the print data files composing a print document;
• an expansion unit operable to expand the acquired archived file into each of the plurality of the print data files;
• and
• a print unit operable to print a print document, the print document being a combination of each of the expanded print data files,
• wherein the plurality of the print data files are archived into the archived file after a name of one print data file of the plurality of the print data files is changed to a specified name, the one print data file being a Top Page print data file, and the specified name being a predetermined name for allowing said printing apparatus to identify a print data file as the Top Page print data file,
• wherein the Top Page print data file is a predetermined print data file in the print document which is firstly required by said printing apparatus in order to print the print document, and
• wherein said printing apparatus interprets the Top Page print data file and places bit map data obtained by rasterization based on data of each of the print data files that the Top Page print data file references.

A printing apparatus for acquiring a print document from a print data providing apparatus connected to said printing apparatus via a transmission line, and for printing the acquired print document,

• wherein the print document is comprised of a plurality of print data files described in different formats, and
• said printing apparatus comprises:
• a sequential acquisition unit operable to sequentially acquire, from the print data providing apparatus, the plurality of the print data files accompanied by information indicating that the plurality of the print data files compose the print document;
• and
• a print unit operable to detect, based on the information, that the acquisition of the plurality of the print data files composing the single print document is complete, and print the print document, the print document being a combination of each of the acquired print data files,
• wherein said sequential acquisition unit sequentially acquires the plurality of the print data files accompanied by information on a total number of the print data files composing the print document and a transmitting order of the plurality of the print data files composing the print document,
• wherein one of the plurality of print data files is a Top Page print data file, the Top Page print data file being a predetermined print data file in the print document which is firstly required by said printing apparatus in order to print the print document,
• wherein said printing apparatus interprets the Top Page print data file and places bit map data obtained by rasterization based on data of each of the print data files that the Top Page print data file references, and
• wherein said printing apparatus is able to identify the Top Page print data file on a basis of the transmitting order of the plurality of the print data files.

A print system comprising a print data providing apparatus and a printing apparatus mutually connected via a transmission line,

• wherein the print data providing apparatus includes:
• an archiving unit operable to archive a plurality of print data files described in different formats into an archive file, the plurality of the print data files composing a print document;
• and
• a transmission unit operable to transmit the archived file to the printing apparatus,
• wherein the printing apparatus includes:
• an acquisition unit operable to acquire, from the print data providing apparatus, the archived file being an archive of the plurality of the print data files described in different formats, the plurality of the print data files composing the print document;
• an expansion unit operable to expand the acquired archived file into each of the plurality of the print data files;
• and
• a print unit operable to print the print document, the print document being a combination of each of the expanded print data files,
• wherein the archiving unit archives the plurality of the print data files into the archived file after changing a name of one print data file of the plurality of the print data files to a specified name, the one print data file being a Top Page print data file, and the specified name being a predetermined name for allowing the printing apparatus to identify a print data file as the Top Page print data file,
• wherein the Top Page print data file is a predetermined print data file in the print document which is firstly required by the printing apparatus in order to print the print document, and
• wherein the printing apparatus interprets the Top Page print data file and places bit map data obtained by rasterization based on data of each of the print data files that the Top Page print data file references.

A print system comprising a print data providing apparatus and a printing apparatus mutually connected via a transmission line,

• wherein the print data providing apparatus includes:
• a sequential transmission unit operable to transmit, to the printing apparatus, a plurality of print data files accompanied by information indicating that the plurality of the print data files to be transmitted compose a single print document,
• wherein the printing apparatus includes:
• a sequential acquisition unit operable to sequentially acquire the plurality of print data files described in different formats accompanied by the information indicating that the plurality of the print data files compose a single print document;
• and
• a print unit operable to print the print document, the print document being a combination of each of the acquired print data files, after all of the plurality of the print data files composing a single print document are acquired,
• wherein the sequential transmission unit transmits sequentially the plurality of the print data files accompanied by information on a total number of the plurality of the print data files composing the single print document and a transmitting order of the plurality of the print data files composing the single print document,
• wherein one of the plurality of print data files is a Top Page print data file, the Top Page print data file being a predetermined print data file in the print document which is firstly required by the printing apparatus in order to print the print document,
• wherein the printing apparatus interprets the Top Page print data file and places bit map data obtained by rasterization based on data of each of the print data files that the Top Page print data file references, and
• wherein the printing apparatus is able to identify the Top Page print data file on a basis of the transmitting order of the plurality of the print data files.

A print data transmission method for a print system comprising a print data providing apparatus and a printing apparatus mutually connected via a transmission line,

• wherein the print data providing apparatus performs the steps of:
• archiving a plurality of print data files described in different formats into an archived file, the plurality of the print data files composing a print document;
• and
• transmitting the archived file to the printing apparatus,
• wherein the printing apparatus performs the steps of:
• acquiring, from the print data providing apparatus, the archived file being an archive of the plurality of the print data files described in different formats, the plurality of the print data files composing a print document;
• expanding the acquired archived file into each of the print data files;
• and
• printing the print document being a combination of each of the expanded print data files,
• wherein the archiving step comprises archiving the plurality of the print data files into the archived file after changing a name of one print data file of the plurality of the print data files to a specified name, the one print data file being a Top Page print data file, and the specified name being a predetermined name for allowing the printing apparatus to identify a print data file as the Top Page print data file,
• wherein the Top Page print data file is a predetermined print data file in the print document which is firstly required by the printing apparatus in order to print the print document, and
• wherein the printing apparatus interprets the Top Page print data file and places bit map data obtained by rasterization based on data of each of the print data files that the Top Page print data file references.

A print data transmission method for a print system comprising a print data providing apparatus and a printing apparatus mutually connected via a transmission line,

• wherein the print data providing apparatus performs a sequential transmission step of sequentially transmitting, to the printing apparatus, a plurality of print data files accompanied by information indicating that the plurality of print data files to be transmitted compose a single print document, and
• the printing apparatus performs the steps of:
• acquiring sequentially, from the print data providing apparatus, the plurality of the print data files described in different formats accompanied by information indicating that the plurality of the print data files compose a single print document;
• printing the print document, the print document being a combination of each of the acquired print data files, after all of the plurality of the print data files composing a single document are acquired,
• wherein the sequential transmission step comprises transmitting sequentially the plurality of the print data files accompanied by information on a total number of the plurality of the print data files composing the single print document and a transmitting order of the plurality of the print data files composing the single print document,
• wherein one of the plurality of print data files is a Top Page print data file, the Top Page print data file being a predetermined print data file in the print document which is firstly required by the printing apparatus in order to print the print document,
• wherein the printing apparatus interprets the Top Page print data file and places bit map data obtained by rasterization based on data of each of the print data files that the Top Page print data file references, and
• wherein the printing apparatus is able to identify the Top Page print data file on a basis of the transmitting order of the plurality of the print data files.

A computer-readable medium having a program stored thereon for causing a print data providing apparatus to execute a method for providing an external device with a print document comprised of a plurality of print data files described in different formats, the method comprising:

• archiving the plurality of the print data files into an archived file;
• and
• outputting the archived file to the external device,
• wherein said archiving comprises archiving the plurality of the print data files into the archived file after changing a name of one print data file of the plurality of the print data files to a specified name, the one print data file being a Top Page print data file, and the specified name being a predetermined name for allowing a printing apparatus to identify a print data file as the Top Page print data file,
• wherein the Top Page print data file is a predetermined print data file in the print document which is firstly required by the printing apparatus in order to print the print document, and
• wherein the printing apparatus interprets the Top Page print data file and places bit map data obtained by rasterization based on data of each of the print data files that the Top Page print data file references.

A computer-readable medium having a program stored thereon for causing a data providing apparatus to perform a method for providing an external device with a print document comprised of a plurality of print data files described in different formats, the method comprising

• a sequential transmission step of sequentially transmitting, to the external device, the plurality of the print data files accompanied by information indicating that the plurality of the print data files to be transmitted compose the print document,
• wherein said sequential transmission step comprises sequentially transmitting the plurality of the print data files accompanied by information on a total number of the print data files composing the print document and a transmitting order of the plurality of the print data files composing the print document,
• wherein one of the plurality of print data files is a Top Page print data file, the Top Page print data file being a predetermined print data file in the print document which is firstly required by the printing apparatus in order to print the print document,
• wherein the printing apparatus interprets the Top Page print data file and places bit map data obtained by rasterization based on data of each of the print data files that the Top Page print data file references, and
• wherein the printing apparatus is able to identify the Top Page print data file on a basis of the transmitting order of the plurality of the print data files.

A computer-readable medium having a program stored thereon for causing a printing apparatus to execute a method for acquiring a print document from a print data providing apparatus connected to the printing apparatus via a transmission line, and for printing the acquired document, the method comprising:

• acquiring, from the print data providing apparatus, an archived file being an archive of a plurality of print data files described in different formats, the plurality of the print data files composing a print document;
• expanding the acquired archived file into each of the plurality of the print data files;
• and
• printing the print document being a combination of each of the expanded print data files,
• wherein the plurality of the print data files are archived into the archived file after a name of one print data file of the plurality of the print data files is changed to a specified name, the one print data file being a Top Page print data file, and the specified name being a predetermined name for allowing the printing apparatus to identify a print data file as the Top Page print data file,
• wherein the Top Page print data file is a predetermined print data file in the print document which is firstly required by the printing apparatus in order to print the print document, and
• wherein the printing apparatus interprets the Top Page print data file and places bit map data obtained by rasterization based on data of each of the print data files that the Top Page print data file references.

A computer-readable medium having a program stored thereon for causing a printing apparatus to execute a method for acquiring a print document from a print data providing apparatus connected to the printing apparatus via a transmission line, and for printing the acquired print document, wherein the print document comprises a plurality of print data files described in different formats, the method comprising:

• acquiring sequentially, from the print data providing apparatus, the plurality of the print data files accompanied by information indicating that the plurality of the print data files compose a single print document;
• and
• detecting, based on the information that the acquisition of the plurality of the print data files composing the single print document is complete, and printing the print document being a combination of each of the acquired print data files,
• wherein the plurality of the print data files acquired sequentially from the print data providing apparatus are accompanied by information on a total number of the plurality of the print data files composing the single print document and a transmitting order of the plurality of the print data files composing the single print document,
• wherein one of the plurality of print data files is a Top Page print data file, the Top Page print data file being a predetermined print data file in the print document which is firstly required by the printing apparatus in order to print the print document,
• wherein the printing apparatus interprets the Top Page print data file and places bit map data obtained by rasterization based on data of each of the print data files that the Top Page print data file references, and
• wherein the printing apparatus is able to identify the Top Page print data file on a basis of the transmitting order of the plurality of the print data files.