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SPECIFICATION
I n f o r m a t i o n p r o c e s s i n g d e v i c e , c o n t r o l method of an i n f o r m a t i on
p r o c e s s i n g d e v i c e , and s t o r a g e medium s t o r i n g a p r o g r am e x e c u t e d by
a c o n t r o l u n i t of t h e i n f o r m a t i o n p r o c e s s i n g d e v i ce
BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field
[0001]
The present invention relates to an information processing
device that can connect to a recording device that can record based
on a template, to a method of controlling the information processing
device, and to a storage medium storing a program for controlling the
information processing device.
2. Related Art
[0002]
Recording devices that record using predefined templates are
known from the literature. See, for example, Japanese Unexamined
Patent Appl. Pub. JP-A-2012-048415. This type of recording device
connects to a control device, and records based on a template as
controlled by the control device.
[0004]
The recording device that records based on a template may be
replaced by another new recording device. If the new recording device
can record using the template even though the recording device being
replaced and the new recording device are configured (structured)
differently, replacing the recording device is simple and user
convenience can be improved.
SUMMARY
When a recording device that records based on a template is
replaced with a new recording device, the invention enables recording
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with the new recording device based on the template.
[0005]
One aspect of the invention is an information processing device
connectable to a first recording device that stores first template
data related to a first template and records according to the first
template, including: a control unit that acquires the first template
data from the first recording device, generates second template data
related to a second template based on the acquired first template data,
and stores the second template in a second recording device. The
control unit acquiring the first template data from the first
recording device and generating the second template data byprocessing
the first template data according to a difference in the
structure of the first recording device and second recording device.
Based on first template data acquired from a first recording
device, the information processing device in this aspect of the
invention processes the first template data according to a difference
in the structure of the first recording device and second recording
device, and generates second template data. As a result, when the
recording device connected to the control device for recording
changes from a first recording device to a second recording device,
and the structures of the recording devices differ, the second
recording device can record according to the template of the first
recording device based on the generated second template data.
[0006]
In an information processing device according to another aspect
of the invention, the first recording device and the second recording
device are devices with different recording resolutions; and the
control unit processes the first template data and generates the
second template data according to the difference in the recording
resolutions of the first recording device and second recording
device.
When the recording device connected to the control device for
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recording changes from a first recording device to a second recording
device, the second recording device can record according to the
template of the first recording device based on the generated second
template data even if the recording resolutions of the recording
devices differ.
[0007]
In an information processing device according to another aspect
of the invention, the second recording device can record at a
plurality of recording resolutions; and the control unit processes
the first template data according to the differences in the recording
resolutions of the first recording device and second recording device,
and generates second template data for each of the plural recording
resolutions of the second recording device.
Even when the second recording device can record at a plurality
of resolutions, this aspect of the invention enables the second
recording device to record appropriately according to the template
at any of the plural resolutions because second template data is
generated for each of the plural recording resolutions of the second
recording device according to the differences in the structures of
the first and second recording devices.
[0008]
In an information processing device according to another aspect
of the invention, the first recording device and the second recording
device are devices with different recording methods; and the control
unit processes the first template data and generates the second
template data according to the difference in the recording methods
of the first recording device and second recording device.
A recording method as used here is determined according to the
recording principle of the printer, such as inkjet, dot impact, and
thermal.
When the recording device connected to the control device for
recording changes from a first recording device to a second recording
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device, the second recording device can record according to the
template of the first recording device based on the generated second
template data even if the recording methods of the recording devices
differ.
[0009]
In an information processing device according to another aspect
of the invention, either the first recording device or the second
recording device is a device that records by moving the recording head
relative to the recording medium, and the other is a device that
records by moving the recording medium relative to the recording head;
and the control unit processes the first template data and generates
the second template data according to the difference in the recording
operations of the first recording device and second recording device.
When the recording device connected to the control device for
recording changes from a first recording device to a second recording
device, the second recording device can record according to the
template of the first recording device based on the generated second
template data even if the recording operations of the recording
devices differ.
[0010]
Another aspect of the invention is a control method of an
information processing device connectable to a first recording device
that stores first template data related to a first template and
records according to the first template, including steps of:
acquiring first template data from the first recording device; and
generating and storing second template data related to a second
template in a second recording device that records according to a
second template by processing the first template data according to
a difference in the structure of the first recording device and the
second recording device.
Based on first template data acquired from a first recording
device, the information processing device using the control method
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in this aspect of the invention processes the first template data
according to a difference in the structure of the first recording
device and second recording device, and generates second template
data. As a result, when the recording device connected to the control
device for recording changes from a first recording device to a second
recording device, and the structures of the recording devices differ,
the second recording device can record according to the template of
the first recording device based on the generated second template
data.
[0011]
Another aspect of the invention is a computer-readable storage
medium storing a program executed by a control unit that controls an
information processing device connectable to a first recording device
that stores first template data related to a first template and
records according to the first template, the program causing the
control unit to execute steps including: acquiring first template
data from the first recording device; and generating and storing
second template data related to a second template in a second
recording device that records according to a second template byprocessing
the first template data according to a difference in the
structure of the first recording device and the second recording
device.
Based on first template data acquired from a first recording
device, the information processing device executing the program in
this aspect of the invention processes the first template data
according to a difference in the structure of the first recording
device and second recording device, and generates second template
data. As a result, when the recording device connected to the control
device for recording changes from a first recording device to a second
recording device, and the structures of the recording devices differ,
the second recording device can record according to the template of
the first recording device based on the generated second template
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data.
Effect of the Invention
[0012]
When a recording device that records according to a template is
replaced with a new recording device, the invention enables the new
recording device to also record according to the template.
Other objects and attainments together with a fuller
understanding of the invention will become apparent and appreciated
by referring to the following description and claims taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration
of a control system.
FIG. 2 shows an example of a template.
FIG. 3 shows the data structure of a second template database.
FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of a template
terminal.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0014]
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described
below with reference to the accompanying figures.
FIG. 1 is a function block diagram showing the configuration of
a control system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, a control system 1 according to this
embodiment of the invention includes a host computer 2 (control
device) and a second printer 3 (second recording device) that connects
to the host computer 2 through a network 4 and records images on a
recording medium as controlled by the host computer 2. More
specifically, label paper having adhesive labels cut to a specific
size affixed on a continuous web is loaded into the second printer
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3, and the second printer 3 records an image based on a template
(second template) on a label affixed to the web.
The network 4 is a wired LAN or wireless LAN network conforming
to a specific standard such as Ethernet (R) . Network devices using
the USB or RS-232C protocol may also be connected to the network 4 .
A first printer 6 (first recording device) was connected to the
host computer 2 and the host computer 2 controlled the first printer
6 to record images on the labels based on a template (first template)
before replacing the first printer 6 with the second printer 3 for
recording. An object of the control system 1 according to this
embodiment of the invention is to enable recording with the second
printer 3 that replaced the first printer 6 based on the template that
was used by the first printer 6 before being replaced even when there
are differences in the structures (configuration) of the first
printer 6 and second printer 3.
As shown in FIG. 1, a template terminal 5 (information processing
device) described below can also connect to the network 4. More
specifically, the template terminal 5 can communicate over the
network 4 with both the first printer 6 and second printer 3.
[0015]
The host computer 2 includes a host-side control unit 18 and a
host-side storage unit 19.
The host-side control unit 18 includes CPU, RAM, ROM, and other
peripheral circuits, and centrally controls parts of the host
computer 2.
The host-side storage unit 19 includes memory that stores data
nonvolatilely, and stores at least an application program 21 and a
device driver 23 .
To record an image on a label with the second printer 3, the
application program 21 generates and outputs information related to
the image to be recorded on the label ("label image information"
below) to the device driver 23.
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The device driver 23 is a program for controlling the first
printer 6, and is written according to the hardware and software
specifications of the first printer 6. When label image information
is input from the application program 21, the device driver 23
generates and outputs control commands written in the command
language used to control the first printer 6 (the command set of the
first printer 6) to the second printer 3. Using the method described
below, the second printer 3 records an image on a label according to
the template based on the control commands written in the command set
of the first printer 6.
[0016]
The second printer 3 has a second recording unit 3 9 including
hardware such as a recording head and conveyance rollers needed to
record an image, and a controller that controls the hardware, and the
second recording unit 39 records an image on a label of the label
paper.
The second printer 3 has a printer-side control unit 30 including
CPU, RAM, and ROM, and centrally controls parts of the second printer
3 . The command set that controls the second printer 3 may be different
from the command set of the first printer 6. The printer-side control
unit 3 0 includes a recording control unit 32 that, when a control
command in the command set of the first printer 6 is received from
the host computer 2, interprets the control command and records the
image with the second recording unit 39. The function of the recording
control unit 3 2 is achieved by the cooperation of hardware and
software, such as the CPU of the printer-side control unit 3 0 reading
and running a firmware program. This function enables the second
printer 3 to record an image based on a control command in the command
set of the first printer 6 even when the command set that controls
the second printer 3 differs from the command set of the first printer
6.
The second printer 3 also has a second-printer storage unit 33
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that nonvolatilely stores a program and data. A second template
database 35 (second template data) as further described below is
stored in the storage area of the second-printer storage unit 33.
The first printer 6 has a first recording unit 61 including the
mechanisms used for recording, and a first-printer storage unit 62
that stores data. A first template database 63 (first template data)
as described below is stored in the first-printer storage unit 62.
[0017]
The template terminal 5 includes a control unit 51, display unit
52, input unit 53, and storage unit 54.
The control unit 51 includes CPU, ROM, RAM, and centrally
controls the template terminal 5.
The display unit 52 has an LCD panel or other display panel, and
displays information on the display panel as controlled by the control
unit 51.
The input unit 53 is an input device such as a mouse or keyboard,
detects operation of the input device, and outputs to the control unit
51.
The storage unit 54 includes a hard disk drive or other
nonvolatile memory device, and stores data nonvolatilely. Adedicated
tool 55, which is a software tool, is installed to the template
terminal 5. The control unit 51 executes the processes described below
using a function of the dedicated tool 55.
[0018]
The second printer 3 according to this embodiment of the
invention records an image on a label according to a template as
controlled by the host computer 2.
A template is information describing rules for recording an
image in the recording area of the label, and in this embodiment
includes the layout (pattern) of fields (areas) that can be printed
in the recording area of the label. The recording area of a label is
the maximum size of the space in which images can be recorded (dots
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can be placed) on one label. The recording area is segmented into
fields (areas) according to the content of the image (information)
to be recorded. Plural templates with different layouts of fields in
the recording area are prepared in advance in this embodiment, and
the second printer 3 can record images on labels based on any one of
the templates.
FIG. 2 shows one template Tl of the plural previously configured
templates. As shown in FIG. 2, the template Tl has three rectangular
fields, fields Al to A3, formed sequentially from top to bottom.
[0019]
The information related to each field in the template is defined
in a second template database.
FIG. 3 shows an example of the data structure of the second
template database. FIG. 3 shows the record for the template Tl shown
in FIG. 2. The second template database in the example in FIG. 3 is
a relational database, but the second template database is not so
limited.
The template name Dl field contains the name (identifier)
uniquely assigned to the template.
The field name D2 fields contain the names (identifiers) of the
fields included in the template. As shown in FIG. 2, template Tl has
three fields Al to A3 . As shown in FIG. 3 , the second template database
therefore contains three field records, one for each of the three
fields Al to A3, related to template Tl, and each record stores an
appropriate name in the field name D2 field.
The field reference coordinates D3 field contains the
coordinates of a reference point for the field in a coordinate system
of which the origin is a specific position in the recording area of
the label. Any desired position in the recording area of the label
can be specified using coordinates in this coordinate system. In this
embodiment, the shape of each field in the recording area is a
rectangle having two sides parallel to the short axis YJ1 of the label,
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and two sides parallel to the long axis Y J2, as shown in FIG. 2. The
origin of a field denotes a specific one of the four vertices of the
field frame. As indicated by vertex PI of field Al in FIG. 2 and vertex
P2 of field A2 in FIG. 2, the vertex at the top left of the four corners
of each frame is the origin in this embodiment.
The size D4 field contains information indicating the length W
of the field on the short axis YJ1, and the length H of the field on
long axis YJ2. For example, information denoting length W2 and length
H2 is stored in the size D4 of field A2 in FIG. 2. Because the fields
are rectangular as described above, the position, shape, and size of
each field in the recording area can be uniquely determined using the
field reference coordinates D3 and the size D4.
[0020]
The default image information D5 field contains information
related to the image ("default image" below) that is recorded in the
corresponding field regardless of an instruction from the host
computer 2. The default image information D5 field includes image
reference coordinates D51 and recording image information D52 fields.
The image reference coordinates D51 field contains the coordinates
of the origin of the default image in the above coordinate system.
The recording image information D52 field contains information about
the default image to be recorded.
For example, image Gl is recorded as the default image in the
top of the field Al in FIG. 2. In this instance, image data GDI, which
is the image data (such as a bitmap image) for the image Gl recorded
in field Al in FIG. 2, is stored in the recording image information
D52 field of the record for field Al as shown in FIG. 3.
As also shown in the bottom of field A3 in FIG. 2, in image G2
composed of the phrase THANK_YOU (where the underscore (_) character
denotes a space) is recorded as a default image in field A3. In this
instance, information indicating the phrase THANKJYOU, information
indicating the font size of the phrase, or other information
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identifying the default text image is stored in the recording image
information D52 field of the record for field A3 as shown in FIG. 3.
The frame information D6 field contains information describing
the color of the frame around the area. If the second printer 3 is
a color printer, a frame color can be specified for each field, and
the frame will be recorded on the label in the specified color. Note
that the color of the frame or the background described below can also
be set to "none," that is, the frame is not recorded or color is not
added to the background.
The background information D7 field contains information
identifying the color of the background in the field. When the second
printer 3 is a color printer, a background color can be specified for
each field. For example, if the information stored in the background
information D7 is blue, the entire corresponding field will be printed
blue.
The field attribute D8 field contains information about a
specific field attribute . A field attribute is information expressing
a feature, characteristic, or content, for example, of the image
(information) recorded in the corresponding field.
[0021]
The control unit 51 of the template terminal 5 has a function
for generating the records in the second template database based on
a first template database 63 stored in the first printer 6. A
corresponding record is therefore created in the second template
database for each template that can be used by the first printer 6,
and the second printer 3 can record images based on the templates used
by the first printer 6.
More specifically, the template name, the name of each field in
the template, location and size information for each field, and
information about the default image to be recorded in each field are
relationally stored for each template that can be used by the first
printer 6 in the first template database 63 stored by the first printer
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6. For the template on which template Tl is based, the first template
database 63 relationally stores template Tl as the template name,
fields Al to A3 as the field names, information denoting the position
and size of each of the fields Al to A3, and information related to
the default image to be recorded in each field.
The control unit 51 of the template terminal 5 communicates over
the network 4 with the first printer 6 and requests transmission of
the first template database 63. In response to this request, the first
printer 6 sends the first template database 63 to the template
terminal 5.
[0022]
Based on the received first template database 63, the control
unit 51 of the template terminal 5 then generates the appropriate
records in the second template database 35. The control unit 51 of
the template terminal 5 also accesses the second template database
35 over the network 4 and creates records by storing the appropriate
information in the appropriate fields of the database. This process
is a process of acquiring first template data from the first recording
device, and generating second template data registered in a second
recording device based on the acquired first template data.
More specifically, for each template that can be used by the
first printer 6, the control unit 51 generates a record in the second
template database 35 for each field in the template. For each
generated record, the control unit 5.1 stores the name of the template
stored in the first template database 6 3 directly in the template name
Dl field. For each generated record, the control unit 51 also stores
the name of each field stored in the first template database 63
directly to the field name D2 field. As a result, the template name
and field names managed in the first template database 63 of the first
printer 6 will directly match the template name stored in the template
name Dl field of the template managed in the second template database
35 of the second printer 3, and the names of the fields indicated in
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the field name D2 fields.
For each field in the template, the control unit 51 calculates
the field reference coordinates D3 and size D4 based on the field
position and size information contained in the original template data
(the template data used by the recording device that is replaced) ,
and stores the calculated values in the field reference coordinates
D3 and size D4 fields of the generated database record.
Note that the dedicated tool 55 also contains a program with an
algorithm for outputting the field reference coordinates D3 and size
D4 information based on the input field position and size information
contained in the original template data, and calculates the field
reference coordinates D3 and size D4 information for each field using
a function of the program.
Operation of the template terminal 5 when storing information
in the default image information D5 field is described below.
[0023]
After storing appropriate information in the corresponding
template name Dl, field name D2, field reference coordinates D3, size
D4, and default image information D5 fields of the record generated
for each field contained in a template, the control unit 51 stores
default values in the frame information D6, background information
D7, and field attribute D8 fields. The default values to be stored
can be predefined by the user.
The control unit 51 of the template terminal 5 can also update
specific information in specific records of the second template
database as instructed by the user. More specifically, the dedicated
tool 55 also has a function for communicating with the printer-side
control unit 3 0 of the second printer 3, accessing the second template
database stored in the second-printer storage unit 33, and acquiring
content therefrom, and a function for displaying the content from the
second template database on the display panel together with a user
interface enabling the user to update specific information in a
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specific record. The user can refer to the user interface on the
display panel and operate an input device of the input unit 53 to
update specific information.
[0024]
The basic operation of the host computer 2 and second printer
3 when recording an image on a label according to a template is
described next.
As described above, to record an image on a label, the
application program 21 of the host computer 2 first generates and
outputs label image information to the device driver 23 . Based on the
label image information, the device driver 23 then generates and
outputs a control command instructing recording an image on a label
to the second printer 3.
This control command is a command in the command set of the first
printer 6, an'd includes information specifying the name of the
template to use, and related information for each field in the
template specifying the name of the field and the image to be recorded
in the field identified by the field name.
When the control command is input, the recording control unit
32 of the second printer 3 analyzes the control command and extracts
the name of the specified template. As described above, the template
names managed by the first printer 6 exactly match the names stored
in the template name Dl field of the second template database managed
by the second printer 3. The recording control unit 32 references the
second template database 35, and extracts the record storing the name
of the extracted template in the template name Dl field. The extracted
record is a record of the template to be used to record an image on
the label. Based on the extracted record, the recording control unit
32 then records images in each field of the template while managing
the position, shape, default image to be recorded, and image position
based on the field reference coordinates D3, size D4, and default
image information D5 fields of each template field. If color printing
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is possible, the recording control unit 32 also records a frame and
background based on the color information contained in the frame
information D6 and background information D7 database fields. While
recording, the recording control unit 32 analyzes the commands in the
command set of the first printer 6 to manage the image and the position
of the image to be recorded in each template field, and record the
appropriate image specified by the control command in the appropriate
position of each template field. Note that the firmware includes a
function for analyzing control commands in the command set of the
first printer 6 .
[0025]
The operation whereby the control unit 51 of the template
terminal 5 stores information in the default image information D5
field of the second template database 3 5 based on the first template
database 63 is described next in detail.
Information indicating the position of the default image, and
the source image data for recording the default image (bitmap data
or other data storing information for each pixel in the image), is
stored relationally to the information about any one template field
in the first template database 63. In this instance, the control unit
51 extracts the image reference coordinates D51 based on the
information indicating the position of the default image from the
first template database 63, and stores the information from the image
reference coordinates D51 field in the image reference coordinates
D51 field of the corresponding record in the second template database
35.
The control unit 51 also stores the image data in the recording
image information D52 field based on the image data related to the
default image in the first template database 63.
When storing the image data in the recording image information
D52 field, the control unit 51 in this embodiment first appropriately
processes the image data according to the differences in the
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configuration of the first printer 6 and second printer 3 .
[0026]
FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of the template
terminal 5 when processing the original image data (the image data
before being processed, referred to below as the original image data)
of an image recorded in the first template database 63 for storing
in the recording image information D52 field of the corresponding
record in the second template database 35.
The control unit 51 of the template terminal 5 first acquires
the resolution, method, and type of the recording method used by the
first printer 6 (step SA1).
The recording method identifies whether the printer records
using an inkjet, dot impact, thermal, or other recording method. The
recording type identifies, for example, whether the printer is a
serial printer that records images on the recording medium with the
recording medium held stationary while a serial head moves over the
recording medium, or is a line printer that records with a stationary
recording head while moving the recording medium past the recording
head.
The control unit 51 can acquire the recording resolution, method,
and type in step SA1 as described below, for example.
For example, the control unit 51 communicates with the first
printer 6 according to a specific protocol to request transmission
of the recording resolution and other information, and gets the
resolution and other information based on the information received
in response to the request. This method requires first defining the
communication protocol, and the first printer 6 being compatible with
that protocol.
Alternatively, using a function of the dedicated tool 55, the
control unit 51 displays an appropriate user interface on the display
panel of the display unit 52 for the user to input the resolution and
other information about the first printer 6, and gets the resolution
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and other information based on the information input by the user
through the user interface.
Further alternatively, the resolution and other information
could be stored related to the model or product name of the first
printer 6, and the control unit 51 could prompt the user to input the
model or product name of the first printer 6 through the user interface,
and acquire the resolution and other information about the first
printer 6 based on the user input.
[0027]
Next, the control unit 51 gets the recording resolution,
recording method, and recording type of the second printer 3 (step
SA2) . This information can be acquired in the same way as described
in step SA1.
Next, the control unit 51 processes the original image data
according to the differences in recording resolution and other
structural differences, and generates new image data (image data
after being processed, referred to below as the new image data) (step
SA3) .
Specific examples of processing image data based on these
structural differences is described below.
Different recording resolution
In this example the first printer 6 records at 3 00 dpi, and the
second printer 3 can record at 180 dpi, 360 dpi, or 720 dpi. The
original image data in the first template database 63 is therefore
image data for recording with a 3 00 dpi printer. For brevity, the
recording method and style of both printers are the same.
In this event, the control unit 51 generates new image data at
180 dpi, 360 dpi, and 720 dpi using an existing resolution conversion
algorithm based on the original image data for printing at 300 dpi.
In this example, the recording image information D52 field of the
second template database 3 5 stored in the second printer 3 has a data
structure enabling appropriately storing new image data at each
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resolution.
[0028]
Recording method and type are different
In this example the first printer 6 is a thermal line printer,
and the second printer 3 is a serial inkjet printer. A thermal line
printer is a recording device that records an image (forms dots) using
a stationary thermal line printhead, and has the recording element
(heat element line) disposed transversely to the conveyance direction
of the recording medium. A serial inkjet printer is a recording device
that records an image (forms dots) by ejecting ink at the appropriate
timing while the inkjet head scans in a primary scanning direction
over the stationary recording medium, and has the recording elements
(nozzle line) disposed in the conveyance direction of the recording
medium (perpendicularly to the primary scanning direction).
The original image data in this example is binary data for a
thermal printer.
In this instance the control unit 51 converts the value of each
dot of the binary original image data to a specific gradation value
that can be converted to a volume of ink, and generates the new image
data by appropriately rearranging and converting the dots in the
original image data for a line head having the recording elements
arrayed perpendicularly to the recording medium conveyance direction
to data for a serial head having the recording elements arrayed in
the recording medium conveyance direction by a known data process.
Other necessary image processes are also executed appropriately.
[0029]
After generating the new image data, the control unit 51 accesses
the second template database 3 5 of the second printer 3 through the
network 4, and stores the generated new image data in the appropriate
format to the recording image information D52 field of the
corresponding record in the database (step SA4).
As a result, new image data corresponding to the configuration
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of the second printer 3 (recording resolution, recording method,
recording type) is stored in the recording image information D52 field.
The second printer 3 can then record the default image based on the
image data stored in the recording image information D52 field. The
user also does not need to specifically create image data matching
the second printer 3 configuration (recording resolution, recording
method, recording type) and store the image data in the second
template database 35. User convenience is therefore excellent, and
changing from the first printer 6 to the second printer 3 is simple.
[0030]
As described above, the template terminal 5 (information
processing device) according to this embodiment of the invention has
a control unit 51 that acquires the first template database 63 from
the first printer 6 (first recording device), and based on the
acquired first template database 63 generates a second template
database 35 stored in the second printer 3 (second recording device) .
The control unit 51 acquires the first template database 63 from the
first printer 6, processes the image data for the default image
(original image data) in the first template database 63 based on the
differences in the configurations of the first printer 6 and second
printer 3, and generates and stores the image data (new image data)
in a specific field of the second template database 35.
When the recording device that is connected to the host computer
2 for recording is changed from the first printer 6 to the second
printer 3 and the configurations of the recording devices differ, the
second printer 3 according to this embodiment of the invention can
therefore record the default image based on the image data that was
generated for the default image (new image data), and can record
according to^a template that was used by the first printer 6.
[0031]
When the first printer 6 and second printer 3 are recording
devices with different recording resolutions, the control unit 51 in
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this embodiment of the invention processes the image data for the
default image in the first template database 63 based on the
difference in the recording resolution, and generates and stores the
new image data in the second template database 35.
When the recording device that is connected to the host computer
2 for recording is changed from the first printer 6 to the second
printer 3 and the recording resolutions of the recording devices
differ, the second printer 3 according to this embodiment of the
invention can therefore record according to a template that was used
by the first printer 6 based on the image data (new image data)
generated for the default image.
[0032]
When the second printer 3 can record at plural recording
resolutions, the control unit 51 in this embodiment of the invention
processes the image data (original image data) for the default image
in the first template database 63 based on the differences in the
recording resolutions of the first printer 6 and second printer 3,
and generates and stores image data (new image data) in the second
template database 35 at each of the plural resolutions that can be
used by the second printer 3.
The second printer 3 can therefore record appropriately
according to the template based on the new image data corresponding
to the selected recording resolution.
[0033]
When the recording methods of the first printer 6 and second
printer 3 differ, the control unit 51 in this embodiment of the
invention processes the image data (original image data) for the
default image in the first template database 63 based on the
differences in the recording methods of the first printer 6 and second
printer 3, and generates and stores image data (new image data) in
the second template database 35.
When the recording device that is connected to the host computer
*
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2 for recording is changed from the first printer 6 to the second
printer 3 and the recording methods of the recording devices differ,
the second printer 3 according to this embodiment of the invention
can therefore record the default image based on the image data that
was generated for the default image (new image data) , and can record
according to a template that was used by the first printer 6.
[0034]
In the embodiment described above the first printer 6 is a device
that records by moving the recording medium relative to the recording
head, and the second printer 3 is a device that records by moving the
recording head relative to the recording medium. In this embodiment,
the control unit 51 processes the image data (original image data)
for the default image in the first template database 63 based on the
differences in the recording operations of the first printer 6 and
second printer 3, and generates and stores image data (new image data)
in the second template database 35.
When the recording device that is connected to the host computer
2 for recording is changed from the first printer 6 to the second
printer 3 and the recording operations of the recording devices differ,
the second printer 3 according to this embodiment of the invention
can therefore desirably record the default image based on the image
data that was generated for the default image (new image data) , and
can record according to a template that was used by the first printer
6.
[0035]
The invention is described above with reference to a preferred
embodiment thereof, but the invention is not limited thereto and can
be modified and adapted in many ways without departing from the scope
of the accompanying claims.
For example, the function that generates the second template
database 35 (new image data) based on the first template database 63
(original image data) is rendered by the template terminal 5 in the
- 24 -
embodiment described above, but the device with this function is not
limited to the template terminal 5, and could be the host computer
2 or the second printer 3. In this implementation the host computer
2 or the second printer 3 functions as an information processing
device.
The foregoing embodiment describes processing the image data for
a default image based on differences in the structure of the first
printer 6 and second printer 3, but processing is not limited to the
default image, and any template data that differs because of
structural differences in the devices can be processed appropriately.
The function blocks shown in FIG. 1 can also be desirably
achieved by the cooperation of hardware and software, and do not
suggest a specific hardware configuration. The devices can also
operate by running a program stored on an externally connected storage
medium.
The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that it
may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded
as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all
such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are
intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

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What is claimed is:
1. An information processing device connectable to a first
recording device that stores first template data related to a first
template and records according to the first template, comprising:
a control unit that acquires the first template data from the
first recording device, generates second template data related to a
second template based on the acquired first template data, and stores
the second template in a second recording device,
the control unit acquiring the first template data from the
first recording device and generating the second template data byprocessing
the first template data according to a difference in the
structure of the first recording device and second recording device.
2. The information processing device described in claim 1, wherein:
the first recording device and the second recording device are
devices with different recording resolutions; and
the control unit processes the first template data and generates
the second template data according to the difference in the recording
resolutions of the first recording device and second recording
device.
3. The information processing device described in claim 2, wherein:
the second recording device can record at a plurality of
recording resolutions; and
the control unit processes the first template data according to
the differences in the recording resolutions of the first recording
device and second recording device, and generates second template
data for each of the plural recording resolutions of the second
recording device.
4. The information processing device described in claim 1, wherein:
the first recording device and the second recording device are
t
- 26 -
devices with different recording methods; and
the control unit processes the first template data and generates
the second template data according to the difference in the recording
methods of the first recording device and second recording device.
5. The information processing device described in claim 1, wherein:
either the first recording device or the second recording device
is a device that records by moving the recording head relative to the
recording medium, and the other is a device that records by moving
the recording medium relative to the recording head; and
the control unit processes the first template data and generates
the second template data according to the difference in the recording
operations of the first recording device and second recording device.
6 . A control method of an information processing device connectable
to a first recording device that stores first template data related
to a first template and records according to the first template,
comprising steps of:
acquiring first template data from the first recording device;
and
generating and storing second template data related to a second
template in a second recording device that records according to a
second template by processing the first template data according to
a difference in the structure of the first recording device and the
second recording device.
7. The control method of the information processing device
described in claim 6, wherein:
the first recording device and the second recording device are
devices with different recording resolutions; and
the step of generating and storing the second template data
processes the first template data according to the difference in the
t 1
- 27 -
recording resolutions of the first recording device and second
recording device.
8. The control method of the information processing device
described in claim 7, wherein:
the second recording device can record at a plurality of
recording resolutions; and
the step of generating and storing the second template data
processes the first template data according to the differences in the
recording resolutions of the first recording device and second
recording device, and generates second template data for each of the
plural recording resolutions of the second recording device.
9. The control method of the information processing device
described in claim 6, wherein:
the first recording device and the second recording device are
devices with different recording methods; and
the step of generating and storing the second template data
processes the first template data and generates the second template
data according to the difference in the recording methods of the first
recording device and second recording device.
10. The control method of the information processing device
described in claim 6, wherein:
either the first recording device or the second recording device
is a device that records by moving the recording head relative to the
recording medium, and the other is a device that records by moving
the recording medium relative to the recording head; and
the step of generating and storing the second template data
processes the first template data and generates the second template
data according to the difference in the recording operations of the
first recording device and second recording device.
>
- 28 -
11. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program executed
by a control unit that controls an information processing device
connectable to a first recording device that stores first template
data related to a first template and records according to the first
template, the program causing the control unit to execute steps
including:
acquiring first template data from the first recording device;
and
generating and storing second template data related to a second
template in a second recording device that records according to a
second template by processing the first template data according to
a difference in the structure of the first recording device and the
second recording device.