BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field
[0001] The invention relates to a data processing
5 apparatus that processes recording data, a recording apparatus
and a control method of the data processing apparatus.
2 . Related Art
[0002] In the related art, a receipt printer of a POS
system and a printer for business use such as label printer
10 that prints a goods label, a label for delivery and the like
have been used. In the printer and a printer system, it is
needed to improve an output expression performance of a
printed material that is made by the existing apparatus
introduced already, in many cases, for a poor output
15 expressing performance of the existing apparatus. For example,
there are needs to colorize a monochrome printed material. In
this case, when replacing the whole system, the cost and time
are consumed and the replacing may interfere in the business.
Therefore, it is required to establish a system by using the
20 existing system.
[0003] Regarding the improvement on the system, following
technologies have been suggested. JP A-5-328790 discloses a
technology enabling a print to be simply colorized using
monochrome text data. Also, US 7,460,252 B2 discloses a
25 printing system capable of adding a graphic effect to a print
* 1
output of a POS printer.
According to the technology disclosed in JP A-6-328790,
a colorization target is the character or image that already
exists. Also, it is not possible to change an output form of
5 the whole printed material, such as addition of a new image
object and designation of a whole color or background image.
[0004] Also, according to the technology disclosed in US
7,4 6 0,252 B2, when a predetermined character string included
in the original print data is detected, for example, an
10 addition of a graphic effect is carried out for the character
string that is a processing target. Since the target may be a
receipt, this technology does not have an idea to change the
output form of the whole printed material. Also, when the
predetermined character string or a completely matched
15 character string is not detected in the original print data,
the processing is not executed. Therefore, a case where the
graphic effect can be added is restricted.
SUMMARY
20 [0005] An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to
provide a data processing apparatus capable of appropriately
changing an output form of a whole printed material by using
print data of an existing system. Specifically, an image
processing apparatus for changing an output form of a printed
25 material, a recording apparatus and a control method of the
data processing apparatus are provided.
[0006] According an aspect of the invention, a data
processing apparatus includes a processing unit that
distinguishes a command of a first command system including
5 commands designating attributes of a printing form and a
command of a second command system including commands
designating attributes that are not defined in the first
command system. When a recording instruction including an
instruction designating the printing form by a command of the
10 first command system and data arranged in accordance with the
printing form designated by the command of the first command
system are input, the processing unit arranges the data
included in the recording instruction in accordance with a
printing form designated by the command of the second command
15 system to generate recording data. In the recording data
generation processing, the processing unit acquires the second
template including a command of the commands included in the
second command system which designates an attribute not
defined in the first command system from the storage unit and
20 generates the recording data in accordance with the second
template acquired.
In this aspect, the data processing apparatus further
includes a storage unit that stores one or more first
templates defining the printing form by the command of the
25 first command system and one or more second templates defining
the printing form by the command of the second command system.
When the recording instruction including an instruction
designating the first template and data arranged in accordance
with the first template are input, the processing unit
5 arranges the data included in the recording instruction in
accordance with the second template to generate the recording
data. In the recording data generation processing, the
processing unit acquires the second template including a
command of the second command system which designates an
10 attribute not defined in the first command system from the
storage unit and generates the recording data in accordance
with the second template acquired.
According to the above aspect of the invention, when an
instruction of the first command system and data are input, it
15 is possible to generate the recording data using the second
command system having a command designating an attribute not
defined in the first command system. For example, when an
instruction of a command system for monochrome printing having
no command designating a recording color and data are input,
20 it is possible to generate recording data for color printing
by using a command system corresponding to a color printing.
Thereby, it is possible to introduce a recording apparatus
capable of performing a recording that cannot be performed in
the apparatus of the related art and corresponding to a
25 command system different from the apparatus of the related art.
without changing a configuration of the apparatus outputting a
recording instruction and data. Also, the template that
defines a printing form by the command of the second command
system is stored and the recording data corresponding to the
5 second command system is generated using the template.
Therefore, it is possible to generate the recording data of an
appropriate printing form, based on the instruction of the
first command system and the data.
[00 07] In The data processing apparatus above, when the
10 recording instruction including the instruction designating
the first template and the data arranged in accordance with
the first template are input, the processing unit selectively
executes processing for generating the recording data by
acquiring the designated first template from the storage unit
15 and arranging the data and the recording data generation
processing.
According to the above aspect of the invention, it is
possible to execute the processing of performing the
conversion from the first command system to the second command
20 system to thus generate the recording data corresponding to
the second command system and the processing of generating the
recording data corresponding to the first command system.
Therefore, when updating the recording apparatus, it is
possible to generate both the recording data that can be
25 executed by the apparatus of the related art and the recording
data that can be executed by a new recording apparatus
corresponding to a command system different from the apparatus
of the related art. Hence, it is possible to increase the
degree of freedom of the configuration of the recording
5 apparatus.
[0 0 08] In the data processing apparatus above, in the
recording data generation processing, the processing unit
acquires the second template which emulates the printing form
of the first template designated by the input recording
10 instruction from the storage unit.
According to the above aspect of the invention, it is
possible to generate the recording data corresponding to a
different command system while suppressing a change in the
printing form such as a size of a recording medium and a
15 character size, for example.
[00 0 9] In the data processing apparatus above, the storage
unit stores the second templates in association with the first
templates, respectively, and when the recording instruction
including the instruction designating the first template and
20 the data arranged in accordance with the first template are
input, the processing unit arranges the data included in the
recording instruction in accordance with the second template
stored in association with the first template.
According to the above aspect of the invention, when the
25 first template is designated, it is possible to select an
appropriate second template. For example, when the second
template is used which implements a printing form close to a
case where the first template designated is used, it is
possible to perform the conversion from the first command
5 system to the second command system without changing the
printing form. Thereby, it is possible to replace a recording
apparatus corresponding to the first command system into a
recording apparatus corresponding to a separate command system
without changing a configuration of the apparatus outputting a
10 recording instruction and data. Also, while keeping a part of
attributes of the printing form, it is possible to change the
other attributes. Hence, it is possible to arbitrarily change
the printing form.
[0010] In the data processing apparatus above, the first
15 command system is a command system in which a command defining
a recording color is one or less and the second command system
is a command system for color printing including two or more
commands defining recording colors, and in the recording data
generation processing, the processing unit acquires the second
20 template including the commands designating the recording
colors of the second command system from the storage unit.
According to the above aspect of the invention, it is
possible to replace a recording apparatus performing
monochrome printing into a recording apparatus corresponding
25 to a command system for color printing without changing a
configuration of the apparatus outputting a recording
instruction and data, so that it is possible to implement the
colorization of a printed material that is being printed in
the monochrome manner.
5 [0011] In the data processing apparatus above, the data
processing apparatus is connected to a host computer and a
recording apparatus, and when the recording instruction
including the instruction designating the first template and
the data arranged in accordance with the first template are
10 input from the host computer, the processing unit executes the
recording data generation processing and outputs the recording
data to the recording apparatus.
According to the above aspect of the invention, it is
possible to replace a recording apparatus into a recording
15 apparatus corresponding to a different command system without
changing configurations of software and hardware of the host
computer. Thus, it is possible to implement the colorization
of a printed material that is being printed in the monochrome
manner.
20 [0012] According to another aspect of the invention, a
recording apparatus executes a recording operation in response
to a command input from a host computer. The recording
apparatus includes a processing unit that distinguishes a
command of a first command system including commands
25 designating attributes of a printing form and a command of a
second command system including commands designating
attributes that are not defined in the first command system,
and a recording unit that executes a recording operation in
response to the command of the second command system. When a
5 recording instruction including an instruction designating the
printing form by a command of the first command system and
data arranged in accordance with the printing form designated
by the command of the first command system are input, the
processing unit arranges data included in the recording
10 instruction, in accordance with a printing form designated by
the command of the second command system to generate recording
data and output the generated recording data to the recording
unit.
In this aspect, the recording apparatus further includes
15 a storage unit that stores one or more first templates
defining the printing form by the command of the first command
system and one or more second templates defining the printing
form by the command of the second command system. When the
recording instruction including an instruction designating the
20 first template and data arranged in accordance with the first
template are input, the processing unit arranges the data
included in the recording instruction, in accordance with the
second template to generate recording data and output the
generated recording data to the recording unit. In the
25 recording data generation processing, the processing unit
10
acquires the second template including a command of the second
command system which designates an attribute not defined in
the first command system from the storage unit and generates
the recording data in accordance with the second template
5 acquired.
According to the above aspect of the invention, when the
host computer outputs an instruction of the first command
system and data, it is possible to generate the recording data
using the second command system having a command designating
10 an attribute not defined in the first command system. For
example, when an instruction of a command system for
monochrome printing having no command designating a recording
color and data are input, it is possible to generate recording
data for color printing by using a command system
15 corresponding to a color printing. Thereby, it is possible to
introduce a recording apparatus capable of performing a
recording that cannot be performed in the apparatus of the
related art and corresponding to a command system different
from the apparatus of the related art, without changing a
20 configuration of the host computer. Also, the template that
defines a printing form by the command of the second command
system is stored and the recording data corresponding to the
second command system is generated using the template.
Therefore, it is possible to generate the recording data of an
25 appropriate printing form, based on the instruction of the
11
first command system and the data.
[0 013] In the recording apparatus above, the first command
system is a command system in which a command defining a
recording color is one or less and the second command system
5 is a command system for color printing including two or more
commands defining recording colors. In the recording data
generation processing, the processing unit generates the
recording data by acquiring the second template including the
commands designating the recording colors of the second
10 command system from the storage unit. Tthe recording unit
executes a color printing in accordance with the recording
data.
According to the above aspect of the invention, it is
possible to replace a recording apparatus performing
15 monochrome printing into a recording apparatus corresponding
to a command system for color printing without changing a
configuration of the host computer, so that it is possible to
implement the colorization of a printed material that is being
printed in the monochrome manner.
20 [0014] According to another aspect of the invention, a
control method of a data processing apparatus including a
processing unit that distinguishes a command of a first
command system including commands designating attributes of a
printing form and a command of a second command system
25 including commands designating attributes that are not defined
12
in the first command system, the method includes generating
the recording data by arranging data included in the recording
instruction in accordance with a printing form designated by a
command of the second command system when a recording
5 instruction including an instruction designating the printing
form by a command of the first command system and data
arranged in accordance with a command of the first command
system are input.
In the above aspect, the data processing apparatus
10 further includes a storage unit that stores one or more first
templates defining the printing form by the command of the
first command system and one or more second templates defining
the printing form by the command of the second command system.
The control method further includes generating the recording
15 data by arranging data included in the recording instruction
in accordance with the second template when a recording
instruction including an instruction designating the first
template and data arranged in accordance with the first
template are input and acquiring the second template including
20 a command of the second command system which designates an
attribute not defined in the first command system from the
storage unit, and generating the recording data in accordance
with the second template acquired in the acquiring step.
According to the invention, when an instruction of the
25 first command system and data are input, it is possible to
13
generate the recording data using the second command system
having a command designating an attribute not defined in the
first command system. For example, when an instruction of a
command system for monochrome printing having no command
5 designating a recording color and data are input, it is
possible to generate recording data for color printing by
using a command system corresponding to a color printing.
Thereby, it is possible to introduce a recording apparatus
capable of performing a recording that cannot be performed in
10 the apparatus of the related art and corresponding to a
command system different from the apparatus of the related art,
without changing a configuration of the apparatus outputting a
recording instruction and data. Also, the template that
defines a printing form by the command of the second command
15 system is stored and the recording data corresponding to the
second command system is generated using the template.
Therefore, it is possible to generate the recording data of an
appropriate printing form, based on the instruction of the
first command system and the data.
20 [0015] According to the invention, it is possible to
introduce a recording apparatus capable of performing a
recording that cannot be performed in the apparatus of the
related art and corresponding to a command system different
from the apparatus of the related art, without changing a
25 configuration of the apparatus outputting a recording
14
instruction and data. Therefore, for example, it is possible
to implement the colorization of a printed material that is
being printed in the monochrome manner.
5 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The invention will be described with reference to
the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like
elements.
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a printing
10 system according to an exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 2 illustrates operations relating to template
conversion processing.
FIG. 3 illustrates a sequence of the template conversion
processing.
15 FIG. 4 illustrates operations relating to printing
processing.
FIG. 5 illustrates a sequence of the printing processing.
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
20 [0017] Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the
invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a
configuration of a printing system 1 according to an exemplary
embodiment.
25 As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system 1 is configured
15
by connecting a host computer 2 outputting a printing
instruction (recording instruction), a printer 3 (recording
apparatus) and a template terminal 5 via a network 4. FIG. 1
includes a printer 6 that the printing system does not include
5 for illustrative purposes.
[0018] The host computer 2 is a computer having a CPU that
executes a program, a ROM that stores a basic control program
to be executed or data to be processed by the CPU, a RAM that
temporarily stores the executed program or the processed data
10 by the CPU, a non-volatile storage device that stores the
program or data, and the like. The host computer 2 has an
application program 21 for executing processing such as
document creation and outputs a printing instruction for a
printer to print data prepared by the application program 21.
15 In this exemplary embodiment, an example is described in which
a character or image is printed on a label sheet having an
adhesive material on a backside thereof, which is a cut sheet
having a predetermined size. The application program 21 is an
application program having functions of arranging a character
20 or image in correspondence to a size of the label to prepare a
print image and instructing a printing execution.
[0019] The host computer 2 has a device driver 23 that
controls the printer. The device driver 23 is a program for
controlling the printer 6, which is made in correspondence to
25 hardware and software specifications of the printer 6. When
16
the application program 21 instructs a printing execution, the
device driver 23 prepares and outputs a printing instruction
including a command of a command system (hereinafter, referred
to as first command system) that can be interpreted by the
5 printer 6, based on the print image prepared by the
application program 21. The printing instruction that is
generated by the device driver 23 includes text data and/or
image data of the print image prepared by the application
program 21 and a command that designates an arrangement of the
10 text or image. The command included in the printing
instruction is a command that is defined by the first command
system.
[0020] The printing system 1 does not actually have the
printer 6. The printing instruction that is transmitted from
15 the host computer 2 is received and executed by the printer 3.
As described below, the printer 3 emulates a function of the
printer 6, analyzes the printing instruction described with
the first command system, and prints a label in a printing
form similar to a case where the printer 6 prints a label.
20 That is, the printing system 1 is a system that removes the
printer 6 from a system combining the host computer 2 and the
printer 6 and connects the printer 3 instead of the printer 6.
In this exemplary embodiment, an example is described in which
the printer 6 performing a monochrome printing is replaced
25 with the printer 3 capable of performing a color printing.
17
Also, the application program 21 and the device driver
23 of the host computer 2 are not changed from a state where
the printer 6 is used.
[0021] The network 4 is a network connecting the host
5 computer 2, the printer 3 and the template terminal 5 so that
they performs communication each other, and is configured by a
wired or wireless LAN based on the Ethernet (registered
trademark) standard.
Also, the host computer 2 and the printer 3 may be
10 connected to perform communication via an interface based on
the USB or RS-232C standard. In this case, the host computer 2
and the printer 3 perform one-to-one communication in printing
processing that will be described later. When the printer 3 is
connected to the host computer 2 instead of the printer 6, if
15 a network interface of the printer 3 is made to have the same
network address as the network address of the interface of the
printer 6 before the replacement, it is not necessary to
change information designating a printer of a communication
destination in the host computer 2. Also, when the printer 6
20 is connected to the host computer 2 by the USB or RS-232C, if
the printer 3 is connected to the host computer 2 by the same
connection method, it is not necessary to change information
designating a printer of a communication destination in the
host computer 2. By doing so, it is possible to replace the
25 printer 6 with the printer 3 without making any changes for
the host computer 2.
[0022] The printer 3 has a print executing unit 3 9 having
hardware that executes a printing, such as printing head and
conveyance roller, and a controller that controls the hardware,
5 and performs printing on a label sheet and outputs a label by
the print execution unit 39.
Also, the printer 3 has a control unit 3 0 that controls
respective units of the printer 3. The control unit 30 has a
template conversion processing unit 31 that executes template
10 conversion processing in response to a request from the
template terminal 5 and an emulator 32 that, when a printing
instruction including a command of the first command system is
transmitted from the host computer 2, analyzes and executes
the command in the printing instruction.
15 Also, the printer 3 has a storage unit 33 (storage
means) that non-volatilely stores the program or data. A
storage area of the storage unit 33 is provided with a first
template storage part 34, a second template storage part 35
and a basic template storage part 36. Also, the storage unit
20 33 stores therein a label printing program 37. The label
printing program 3 7 is a program that operates in the same
manner as the program that is executed by a controller (not
shown) of the printer 6, and is used so that the emulator 3 2
emulates the operation of the printer 6.
25 [0023] The template is a set of information designating a
19
printing form (printing form) of a printed material (label, in
this exemplary embodiment) that is printed and output by the
printer 3 or printer 6. Specifically, the template is a set of
commands respectively designating attributes such as a label
5 size, a text position in the label, the number of charters per
line, the number of lines, a decoration of a text, a font size,
a font type, an image size, an image position, margins of
upper, lower, left and right parts and the like. Also, the
template may include a text or image data. The text or image
10 data configures a part of the template together with the
attributes of the data.
The command of at least a part included in the template
includes a parameter indicating a setting value of a
corresponding attribute. In the printing system 1, a plurality
15 of templates corresponding to the printing form of the label
is used. When the template is designated by the application
program 21 of the host computer 2, the device driver 23
outputs a printing instruction including the command
designating the template and the printer 3 arranges a text or
20 image in the template designated by the printing instruction,
based on the text data and/or image data that is output
together with the printing instruction, and performs a
printing.
That is, the printing instruction that is generated by
25 the device driver 23 may include a command for designating the
20
template, instead of the command designating the arrangement
of the text or image.
[0024] The first template storage part 34 of the printer 3
stores a first template configured by a command of the first
5 command system. The first template is provided for each
printing form of the label that has been printed by the
printer 6. When the printer 6 is replaced with the printer 3,
all the templates that are used by the printer 6 are copied
into the first template storage part 34.
10 The second template storage part 3 5 stores a second
template that is described by a command of a second command
system different from the first command system. The second
command system may be a command having compatibility with the
first command system or a command that is not compatible with
15 the first command system. The second command system includes,
as a command designating the printing form, a command about an
attribute that is not defined in the command of the first
command system. In this exemplary embodiment, since the first
command system includes commands for monochrome printing, the
20 first command system does not include commands designating
printing colors other than black and gray scale. The second
command system includes commands that correspond to 16 color,
256 colors, 65536 colors or 16.77 million colors and designate
printing colors other than black and gray scale. Also, the
25 second template may include text or image data, like the first
21
template.
[0025] The second template that is stored in the second
template storage part 3 5 is associated with any one of the
first templates stored in the first template storage part 34
5 and is set to print a label in the same printing form as the
corresponding first template. More specifically, the first
templates stored in the first template storage part 34 are
respectively given with names. The second templates stored in
the second template storage part 3 5 are respectively given
10 with the same names as the corresponding first templates.
Therefore, the templates having the same names are stored in
the first template storage part 34 and the second template
storage part 35. The templates having the same names are
templates for implementing the printing form corresponding to
15 each other.
[0026] In the meantime, when an attribute that is defined
with the command of the second command system is also defined
with the command of the first command system, for example when
there is a command that is not used in the first templates
20 stored in the first template storage part 34, the invention
can be applied. For example, when a command designating a
printing color is included in the first command system and a
command designating a color other than black is not used in
the template stored in the first template storage unit 34, it
25 can be said that a command designating the printing color is
22
not defined in the first command system.
[0027] The basic template storage part 36 stores a basic
template that the printer 3 uses as a default template. When
the host computer 2 outputs a printing instruction that does
5 not include the information designating a template and the
emulator 32 receives the printing instruction, the emulator 32
arranges the text or image in accordance with the basic
template that is stored in the basic template storage part 36.
[0028] The template terminal 5 is a terminal device for
10 editing a template that designates a printing form of a label,
and is configured by a PC, for example.
[0029] FIG. 2 illustrates operations relating to template
conversion processing and schematically shows a data flow in
the printing system 1. Also, FIG. 3 illustrates a sequence of
15 the template conversion processing, in which (A) side shows
operations of the template terminal 5 and (B) side shows
operations of the template conversion processing unit 31. In
the below, the template conversion processing is described
based on FIGS. 2 and 3.
20 In the template conversion processing, the template
terminal 5 and the printer 3 transmits and receives the data
each other. The template conversion processing unit 31
executes a function of a Web server, for example, and the
template terminal 5 executes a function of a Web client, for
25 example. In this case, the template conversion processing unit
23
31 transmits data of a WEB page for template processing in
response to an access of the template terminal 5 and the
template terminal 5 transmits a request to the printer 3,
based on the data of the WEB page.
5 [003 0] The template terminal 5 requests the template
conversion processing unit 31 of the printer 3 to transmit the
first template in response to an operation of a user or
operation of a preset program (step SIX) . Here, the template
terminal 5 may designate any one of the first templates stored
10 in the first template storage part 34 or may request all the
first templates. The template conversion processing unit 31
reads out the first template from the first template storage
part 34 (step S12) and transmits the same to the template
terminal 5 (step S13) . As shown in FIG. 2, as an example, the
15 first template having a name "Fragile" is transmitted to the
template terminal 5.
[0031] The template terminal 5 receives the first template
transmitted from the printer 3 and sets an attribute that is
not defined in the first template (step S14) . For example, the
20 template terminal 5 designates an attribute indicating a
printing color of a text or whether or not to color print an
image for each of an arrangement frame of the text and an
arrangement frame of the image arranged in the first template.
Also, when the first template of a processing target includes
25 the text or image data, the template terminal 5 edits the text
24
data, replaces the image data and the like. When the attribute
that should be set for the first template under the processing
is decided (step S15) , the template terminal 5 requests the
printer 3 to preserve a new template including the designated
5 attribute (step S16). Here, the template terminal 5 transmits
the command to request the preservation of the template and
data (including the command) designating the attribute newly
designated to the command configuring the first template to
the printer 3 (step S16) . In step S16, the template terminal 5
10 may also transmit the first template for which the processing
of designating the attribute has been performed. Also, when an
edit of the text data or an edit or a replace of the image
data is performed, the template terminal 5 transmits the
processed text data and/or image data.
15 [0032] The template conversion processing unit 31
generates and preserves the second template by the command
defined in the second command system, based on the template
preservation request and data transmitted from the template
terminal 5 (step S17) . Specifically, the template conversion
20 processing unit 31 generates the second template that
describes the printing form, which reflects the attribute
added or changed by the processing of the template terminal 5
in the printing form of the first template processed by the
template terminal 5, by the command in the second command
25 system. The second template may also include the text data or
25
image data. That is, when the text data and/or image data is
transmitted together with the template preservation request
from the template terminal 5, the template conversion
processing unit 31 generates the second template including the
5 text data and/or image data. Then, the template conversion
processing unit 31 gives the same name as the first template
processed by the template terminal 5 to the second template
generated and stores the same in the second template storage
part 35. Thereby, it becomes clear that the second template
10 generated in step S17 by the template conversion processing
unit 31 is the template that is used instead of the first
template processed by the template terminal 5.
Like this, it is possible to convert the first template,
which has been used in the printer 6, into the second template
15 by using the template terminal 5 and to preserve the converted
second template in the printer 3. Since the second template is
described with the command of the second command system that
can be executed by the printer 3, it is possible to use the
functions such as color printing that cannot be executed in
20 the printer 3.
[0033] FIG. 4 illustrates operations relating to printing
processing and schematically shows a data flow in the printing
system 1. Also, FIG. 5 illustrates a sequence of the printing
processing, in which (A) side shows operations of the host
25 computer 2 and (B) side shows operations of the emulator 32 of
26
the printer 3 .
In the below, the printing processing is described with
reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.
In the printing processing, the host computer 2 and the
5 printer 3 transmit and receive the data each other. Meanwhile,
when the host computer 2 and the printer 3 are connected oneto-
one by the communication route such as USB or RS-232C, the
printing processing is executed through the communication
route.
10 Steps S32 to S35 of FIG. 5 correspond to the recording
data generation processing of the invention, the emulator 3 2
that executes the processing corresponds to the processing
means and the printer 3 corresponds to the data processing
apparatus.
15 [0034] The printing processing starts as the host computer
2 executes the application program 21 in response to an
operation of a user or operation of a preset program. When the
application program 21 generates print data of a label and
instructs a printing execution, the device driver 23 generates
20 a printing instruction based on the first command system and
transmits the same to the printer 3 together with the print
data (text data and/or image data) (step S31) . The printing
instruction that is transmitted in step S31 includes a command
that designates a template.
25 [0035] The emulator 32 receives the printing instruction
27
and the print data, which are transmitted from the host
computer 2, and reads out the second template, which
corresponds to the template designated by the printing
instruction, from the second template storage part 35 (step
5 S32) . The template that is designated by the printing
instruction transmitted from the host computer 2 is the first
template. Therefore, the emulator 32 reads out the second
template corresponding to the designated first template. In
this exemplary embodiment, each of the second templates is
10 provided with the same name as the corresponding first
template. Hence, the emulator 32 reads out the second template
having the same name as that of the template included in the
printing instruction from the second template storage part 35.
[0036] Here, the emulator 32 determines whether there is
15 the corresponding second template in the second template
storage part 3 5 (step S33) . When there is no corresponding
second template (step S33; No), the emulator reads out the
designated first template from the first template storage part
34 (step S34) . Also, when there is no corresponding first
20 template in the first template storage part 34, the emulator
32 reads out the basic template from the basic template
storage part 36.
After reading out the template from the first template
storage part 34 or basic template storage part 3 6 in step S34
25 and when it is possible to read out the corresponding second
28
template from the second template storage part 35 (step S33;
Yes) , the emulator 32 arranges the text data or image data,
based on the read template, and generates data for printing
(recording data) (step S35) . After that, the emulator 3 2
5 controls the print execution unit 3 9 to print a label, based
on the generated data for printing (step S36).
[003 7] Also, the host computer 2 can prepare a label
design by the functions of the application program 21, without
using the template. In this case, the application program 21
10 outputs a printing instruction including a command (including
a parameter) designating the attribute designated in the
template, the text data and the image data. The device driver
23 transmits a printing instruction, which does not include a
command designating a template, and the print data to the
15 printer 3, based on the command and data output by the
application program 21 (step S41).
[0038] Since the template is not designated by the
printing instruction transmitted from the host computer 2, the
emulator 32 reads out the basic template from the basic
20 template storage part 3 6 (step S42) . Then, the emulator 3 2
arranges the data, based on the basic template, and generates
the data for printing (step S43). After that, the emulator 32
controls the print execution unit 3 9 to thus print a label,
based on the generated data for printing (step S44).
25 [0039] As described above, according to the printing
29
system 1 of the exemplary embodiment to which the invention is
applied, the printer 3 has the emulator 32 that distinguishes
the command of the first command system including the command
designating the attribute of the printing form and the command
5 of the second command system including the commands
designating the attributes that are not defined in the first
command system, and the storage unit 3 3 that stores one or
more first templates defining the printing form by the
commands of the first command system and one or more second
10 templates defining the printing form by the commands of the
second command system. When the printing instruction
designating the first template and the print data including
the data, which is arranged in accordance with the first
template, are input, the emulator 32 executes the processing
15 (recording data generation processing) of arranging the data,
which is included in the print data, in accordance with the
second template, to thus generate the print data. In this
processing, the emulator acquires the second template
including a command of the commands included in the second
20 command system, which designates an attribute not defined in
the first command system, from the storage unit 3 3 and
generates the print data in accordance with the second
template acquired. Also, the emulator 32 controls the print
execution unit 3 9 and executes the printing in accordance with
25 the generated print data.
30
Thereby, when the printing instruction including the
command of the first command system corresponding to the
printer 6 before the replacement is input, it is possible to
generate the print data by using the second command system
5 having the command designating the attribute not defined in
the first command system, for example, the attribute about the
printing color. Thereby, it is possible to introduce the
printer 3 capable of performing the printing that cannot be
performed in the printer 6 of the related art, without
10 changing the configuration of the host computer 2. Furthermore,
the second templates are stored in the second template storage
part 35 and the print data corresponding to the second command
system is generated using the second templates. Therefore, it
is possible to generate the print data of the appropriate
15 printing form, based on the printing instruction and data
transmitted from the host computer 2.
[0040] Also, when the instruction designating the first
template and the print data including the data, which is
arranged in accordance with the first template, are input, the
20 emulator 32 selectively executes the processing of acquiring
the designated first template from the storage unit 33 and
arranging the data to thus generate the print data and the
print data generation processing. Therefore, in the
configuration where the printer 6 is replaced with the printer
25 3, it is possible to generate and print the print data by
31
using the first template and to generate and print the print
data by using the second template. Therefore, it is possible
to increase the degree of freedom of the configuration of the
printer 3.
5 Furthermore, the emulator 32 acquires the second
template, which emulates the printing form of the first
template designated by the instruction transmitted from the
host computer 2, from the storage unit 33. That is, the second
template 32 is associated with the first template implementing
10 the same printing form in the storage unit 33. The emulator 32
reads out the second template, which corresponds to the first
template designated by the printing instruction transmitted
from the host computer 2, and generates the data for printing.
Therefore, it is possible to generate the print data
15 corresponding to the other command system without changing the
printing form such as label size. Also, when the first
template is designated, it is possible to select the
appropriate second template. Also, when the printer 6 is used,
it is possible to conform the other attributes such as font
20 size and font type while changing only a part of the
attributes defining the printing form, such as attribute
relating to the printing color. Like this, since it is
possible to prepare the second template by the various
modifications while utilizing the first template, it is
25 possible to implement the various printing forms.
32
[0041] Also, the first command system is the command
system that includes the commands defining only the printing
colors of black and gray scale or does not include the
commands of the printing colors and the second command system
5 is the command system for color printing that includes the
commands defining the printing colors. Therefore, it is
possible to replace the printer 6 performing the monochrome
printing with the printer 3 corresponding to the color
printing, thereby implementing the colorization of the printed
10 material that is printed in the monochrome manner.
[0042] Although the exemplary embodiment of the invention
has been described, the invention is not limited thereto. For
example, in the above exemplary embodiment, the second
template that is stored in the second template storage part 3 5
15 of the printer 3 is provided with the same name as that of the
corresponding first template, so that the first template and
the second template are associated with each other. However,
the invention is not limited thereto. For example, information
defining a correspondence of the first template and the second
20 template may be stored in the storage unit 33. In this case,
the emulator 3 2 may select the second template, which
corresponds to the first template designated by the printing
instruction transmitted from the host computer 2, based on the
information. Also, the names of the templates are not
25 necessarily made to be the same. Also, in the above exemplary
33
embodiment, when the second template, which corresponds to the
first template designated by the printing instruction, is not
stored in the second template storage unit 35, the first
template is acquired from the first template storage part 34
5 and then the data for printing is generated. However, it may
be possible to determine whether to use the first template or
the second template by the content of the data transmitted
together with the printing instruction or the parameter of the
command included in the printing instruction and to
10 selectively use the first template or second template to thus
generate the data for printing.
Also, in the above exemplary embodiment, the label is
printed using the printer 3. However, when recording the other
recorded materials, the invention can be also applied.
15 [0043] Also, the functional blocks shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and
4 are implemented in cooperation with the hardware and the
software. The specific mounting forms of the hardware and the
specification of the software are arbitrary, and the other
detailed configurations can be also arbitrarily changed. Also,
20 the printer 3 is not particularly limited insomuch as it can
execute the printing. For example, a variety of apparatuses
such as a printer of an SIDM type, an Inkjet printer, a
thermal printer, a laser printer and the like can be also
applied. Also, the invention is not limited to the
25 independently useable device. For example, the invention can
34
be also applied to an apparatus that is mounted to the other
devices (ATM (Automated Teller Machine), CD (Cash Dispenser)
and the like). Furthermore, the data processing apparatus of
the invention is not limited to the printer 3 having the
emulator 32 as the processing means. Also, when generating the
data for printing by an apparatus such as a computer
separately provided from the printer 3, the data processing
apparatus of the invention can be also applied to the
apparatus.
35

J
WE CLAIM:
1. A data processing apparatus comprising:
a processing unit that distinguishes a command of a
first command system including commands designating attributes
5 of a printing form and a command of a second command system
including commands designating attributes that are not defined
in the first command system,
wherein when a recording instruction including an instruction
designating the printing form by a command of the first
I 10 command system and data arranged in accordance with the
I
printing form designated by the command of the first command
system are input, the processing unit arranges the data
included in the recording instruction in accordance with a
printing form designated by the command of the second command
15 system to generate recording data.
2. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1
further comprising:
a storage unit that stores one or more first templates
20 defining the printing form by the command of the first command
system and one or more second templates defining the printing
form by the command of the second command system,
wherein when the recording instruction including an
instruction designating the first template and data arranged
25 in accordance with the first template are input, the
36
« *
* »
processing unit arranges the data included in the recording
instruction in accordance with the second template to generate
the recording data, and
in the recording data generation processing, the
5 processing unit acquires the second template including a
command of the second command system which designates an
attribute not defined in the first command system from the
storage unit and generates the recording data in accordance
with the second template acquired.
10
3. The data processing apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein when the recording instruction including the
instruction designating the first template and the data
arranged in accordance with the first template are input, the
15 processing unit selectively executes processing for generating
the recording data by acquiring the designated first template
from the storage unit and arranging the data and the recording
data generation processing.
20 4. The data processing apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein in the recording data generation processing, the
processing unit acquires the second template which emulates
the printing form of the first template designated by the
recording instruction input from the storage unit.
25
37
« •
5. The data processing apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein the storage unit stores the second templates in
association with the first templates, respectively, and
wherein when the recording instruction including the
5 instruction designating the first template and the data
arranged in accordance with the first template are input, the
processing unit arranges the data included in the recording
instruction in accordance with the second template stored in
association with the first template.
10
5. The data processing apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein the first command system is a command system in which
a command defining a recording color is one or less and the
second command system is a command system for color printing
15 including two or more commands defining recording colors, and
wherein in the recording data generation processing, the
processing unit acquires the second template including the
commands designating the recording colors of the second
command system from the storage unit.
20
7. The data processing apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein the data processing apparatus is connected to a host
computer and a recording apparatus, and
wherein when the recording instruction including the
25 instruction designating the first template and the data
38
I
arranged in accordance with the first template are input from
the host computer, the processing unit executes the recording
data generation processing and outputs the recording data to
the recording apparatus.
5
8. A recording apparatus that executes a recording
operation in response to a command input from a host computer,
the recording apparatus comprising:
a processing unit that distinguishes a command of a
10 first command system including commands designating attributes
of a printing form and a command of a second command system
including commands designating attributes that are not defined
in the first command system; and
a recording unit that executes a recording operation in
15 response to the command of the second command system,
wherein when a recording instruction including an
instruction designating the printing form by a command of the
first command system and data arranged in accordance with the
printing form designated by the command of the first command
20 system are input, the processing unit arranges data included
in the recording instruction, in accordance with a printing
form designated by the command of the second command system to
generate recording data and output the generated recording
data to the recording unit.
25
39
^ •
including two or more commands defining recording colors, and
wherein in the recording data generation processing, the
processing unit acquires the second template including the
commands designating the recording colors of the second
5 command system from the storage unit.
21. The control method according to claim 14, wherein
the first command system is a command system in which a
command defining a recording color is one or less and the
10 second command system is a command system for color printing
including two or more commands defining recording colors.