JP4663140B2

JP4663140B2 - Data processing apparatus and method, storage medium and program

Info

Publication number: JP4663140B2
Application number: JP2001055562A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 雅成戸田
Original assignee: Canon Inc
Current assignee: Canon Inc
Priority date: 2001-02-28
Filing date: 2001-02-28
Publication date: 2011-03-30
Anticipated expiration: 2021-02-28
Also published as: JP2002259999A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、データ処理装置および方法ならびに記憶媒体およびプログラムに関するものであり、特に、ホスト・コンピュータからの印刷情報を受けて動作する印刷装置と、その印刷装置のためにホスト・コンピュータ側で印刷情報を生成するプリンタ・ドライバ、デバイス・ドライバなどと呼ばれるソフトウェア・モジュール群をあわせた印刷データ処理装置の制御方法に特徴を有するものである。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来の印刷システムにおける印刷制御方法および処理の流れについてまず説明する。
【０００３】
一般的には、セントロニクスインターフェースといったパラレル通信手段やネットワーク通信手段を介してホスト・コンピュータと印刷装置とが接続され印刷システムを構成している。
【０００４】
ホスト・コンピュータ側では、ワードプロセッサや表計算のようなアプリケーションソフトウェア（以下アプリと略称）がＷｉｎｄｏｗｓ（米国Ｍｉｃｒｏｓｏｆｔ社の登録商標）のようないわゆる基本ソフト（ＯＳ）の上で動作している。このアプリにおいて印刷を行う場合は、そのプログラム内から、基本ソフトが提供するいくつかのサブシステムのうち、グラフィック・サブ・システムの機能を用いて行う。このグラフィック・サブ・システムは、例えばＷｉｎｄｏｗｓでは、ＧＤＩ（ＧｒａｐｈｉｃＤｅｖｉｃｅＩｎｔｅｒｆａｃｅ）と呼ばれておりディスプレイやプリンタに対する画像情報の処理を司っている。このＧＤＩは、ディスプレイやプリンタといった各デバイス毎の依存性を吸収するためにデバイスドライバと呼ばれるモジュールを動的にリンクし、それぞれのデバイスに対する出力処理を行う。プリンタに対するこのモジュールはプリンタ・ドライバと呼ばれる。このプリンタ・ドライバでは、その能力や機能などに応じてあらかじめデバイスドライバに実装することが決められているＤＤＩ（ＤｅｖｉｃｅＤｒｉｖｅｒＩｎｔｅｒｆａｃｅ）と呼ばれる関数群を用意する必要がある。アプリのＡＰＩ（ＡｐｐｌｉｃａｔｉｏｎＰｒｏｇｒａｍｉｎｇＩｎｔｅｒｆａｃｅ）コールをＧＤＩがデバイスドライバ用にデータ変換を行い、このＤＤＩ関数群が適宜ＧＤＩからコールされ所定の印刷処理が実行されるような仕組みになっている。ＧＤＩでは、このようにプリンタ・ドライバを介してアプリからの印刷要求をシーケンシャルに処理している。
【０００５】
このプリンタドライバの処理系は、ＰＤＬタイプとイメージタイプの２つに大別できる。
【０００６】
ＰＤＬタイプとは、印刷装置側にＰＤＬ（ＰｒｉｎｔｅｒＤｅｓｃｒｉｐｔｉｏｎＬａｎｇｕａｇｅ）と呼ばれる制御コマンドを処理可能なコントローラを搭載するもの向けで、システムからＤＤＩ関数を介して渡される描画命令をＰＤＬのコマンドに変換する処理を中心に行う。
一方、イメージタイプでは、印刷装置側では高度な描画処理は行わず、ＤＤＩ関数から受け取った描画命令をプリンタドライバ側で印刷イメージにまで展開し、生成したイメージデータを印刷装置に送って印刷するものである。
【０００７】
前述したようにＰＤＬモード、イメージモードとも、システムからＤＤＩ関数を介して描画を指示され描画処理が実施されている。
【０００８】
ＤＤＩ関数は、大きく分けると「文字系」「グラフィックス系」「イメージ系」の３種類に分類される。ここではＭｉｃｒｏｓｏｆｔのＷｉｎｄｏｗｓシステムの、グラフィックス系描画関数について説明を行う。プリンタドライバ初期化時には、ＯＳがプリンタドライバの描画能力を聞いてくる。この時の答え方でコールされるＤＤＩ関数が変化する。例えばグラフィックス系描画処理における比較的能力が高い描画命令は、パス点列を使った描画命令であるが、能力を低く答えると、連続矩形を使った描画命令、矩形を使った描画命令というように、よりプリミティブな描画命令が渡されることになる。一般的に、同じ図形を描画するならば無駄な点列の少ないパス点列を使ったほうが、コマンドサイズが少なく高速な処理が可能である。しかし、パス点列を使った描画処理は、解析して座標空間にマッピングするアルゴリズムがアプリケーションメーカの想定していたものと異なっていると、描画不正に繋がる。
【０００９】
こうした問題点を解決する目的で、描画領域を左上、右下の座標点で指示する矩形描画命令がよく使われている。関数コール回数を減らす目的で、連続矩形を一度に渡してくる描画指定方法も存在している。
【００１０】
図３の模式図を用いて、上記連続矩形からパス点列を使った描画命令を生成する一つの方法を説明する。
【００１１】
（ａ）は、３つの接した矩形Ａ１，Ａ２、Ａ３の頂点座標を最右上点ａから時計回りに取得し、その順に並べたものである。
【００１２】
（ｂ）に示すように、垂直、または水平直線上に複数存在する無駄な点は、読み飛ばすことで、点列数を容易に減らすことが可能である。
【００１３】
生成した点列をパス点列とすることで、塗りつぶし、クリッピングが可能となる。
【００１４】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
しかしながら上記手法で連続矩形からパス点列を生成した場合、次のような問題が存在する。
【００１５】
すなわち、垂直、水平線上の座標点しか省略できないため、簡単な図形でも点列数が多いと言う問題であり、これは、データサイズが大きいと言うことであり、さらに描画処理にかかる時間が大であると言うことである。
【００１６】
そこで、本発明の目的は、以上のような問題を解消したデータ処理装置および方法ならびに記憶媒体を提供することにある。
【００１９】
請求項１に記載の発明は、データ処理装置であって、互いに接した複数の矩形領域で、塗り、またはクリッピングを指定する画像形成要求に応じて、互い接した複数の矩形領域の輪郭の頂点の座標を抽出する抽出手段と、出力解像度に応じて抽出した輪郭の頂点の座標の一部を間引く間引手段と、間引いた後の輪郭の頂点の座標点列から、指定された塗り、またはクリッピングを指定する印刷命令データを生成する手段とを具え、間引手段は、基準点の次の二点の座標点Ａ，Ｂを読み込んだときの変化が、Ａ点はＸ軸方向にプラス、Ｂ点はＹ軸方向にプラスで、基準点とＡとの間のＸ方向の変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下，または基準点とＢとの間のＸまたはＹ方向変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下の時で、さらにＢ点の次の座標点Ｃ，Ｄ点間の変化量がＡ，Ｂ間の変化量と同じでない時は、Ａ点を間引き、Ｂ点を登録し、間引手段は、Ｙ座標の最小点から一方向回りに基準点の次の二点の座標点Ａ，Ｂを読み込んだときの変化が、Ａ点はＸ軸方向にプラス、Ｂ点はＹ軸方向にプラスで、基準点とＡ間のＸ方向の変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下，または基準点とＢ間のＹ方向変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下の時で、さらにＢ点の次の座標点Ｃ，Ｄ点間の変化量がＡ，Ｂ間の変化量と同じ時は、Ａ点及びＢ点を間引くことを特徴とする。
【００２０】
請求項４の発明は、請求項１において、前記間引手段は、Ｙ座標の最小点から一方向回りに二点の座標点Ａ，Ｂを読み込んだときの変化が、Ａ点はＸ軸方向にプラス、Ｂ点はＹ軸方向にマイナスで、Ａ，Ｂ間のＸまたはＹ方向変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下の時は、Ａ点を間引くことを特徴とする。
【００２１】
請求項３に記載の発明は、データ処理装置であって、互いに接した複数の矩形領域で、塗り、またはクリッピングを指定する画像形成要求に応じて、互い接した複数の矩形領域の輪郭の頂点の座標を抽出する抽出手段と、出力解像度に応じて抽出した輪郭の頂点の座標の一部を間引く間引手段と、間引いた後の輪郭の頂点の座標点列から、指定された塗り、またはクリッピングを指定する印刷命令データを生成する手段とを具え、間引手段は、基準点の次の二点の座標点Ａ，Ｂを読み込んだときの変化が、Ａ点はＸ軸方向にプラス、Ｂ点はＹ軸方向にマイナスで、基準点とＡとの間のＸ方向の変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下，または基準点とＢとの間のＸまたはＹ方向変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下の時で、さらにＢ点の次の座標点Ｃ，Ｄ点間の変化量がＡ，Ｂ間の変化量と同じでない時は、Ａ点を間引き、Ｂ点を登録し、間引手段は、Ｙ座標の最小点から一方向回りに基準点の次の二点の座標点Ａ，Ｂを読み込んだときの変化が、Ａ点はＸ軸方向にプラス、Ｂ点はＹ軸方向にマイナスで、基準点とＡ間のＸ方向の変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下，または基準点とＢ間のＹ方向変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下の時で、さらにＡ点及びＢ点の次の座標点Ｃ，Ｄ点間の変化量がＡ，Ｂ間の変化量と同じ時は、Ｂ点を間引くことを特徴とする。
【００２２】
請求項６の発明は、請求項１において、前記間引手段は、Ｙ座標の最小点から一方向回りに二点の座標点Ａ，Ｂを読み込んだときの変化が、Ａ点はＸ軸方向にマイナス、Ｂ点はＹ軸方向にマイナスで、Ａ，Ｂ間のＸまたはＹ方向変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下の時は、Ａ点を間引くことを特徴とする。
【００２３】
請求項５に記載の発明は、データ処理装置において、互いに接した複数の矩形領域で、塗り、またはクリッピングを指定する画像形成要求に応じて、互い接した複数の矩形領域の輪郭の頂点の座標を抽出する抽出手段と、出力解像度に応じて抽出した輪郭の頂点の座標の一部を間引く間引手段と、間引いた後の輪郭の頂点の座標点列から、指定された塗り、またはクリッピングを指定する印刷命令データを生成する手段とを具え、間引手段は、基準点の次の二点の座標点Ａ，Ｂを読み込んだときの変化が、Ａ点はＸ軸方向にマイナス、Ｂ点はＹ軸方向にマイナスで、基準点とＡとの間のＸ方向の変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下，または基準点とＢとの間のＸまたはＹ方向変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下の時で、さらにＢ点の次の座標点Ｃ，Ｄ点間の変化量がＡ，Ｂ間の変化量と同じでない時は、Ａ点を間引き、Ｂ点を登録し、間引手段は、Ｙ座標の最小点から一方向回りに基準点の次の二点の座標点Ａ，Ｂを読み込んだときの変化が、Ａ点はＸ軸方向にマイナス、Ｂ点はＹ軸方向にマイナスで、基準点とＡ間のＸ方向の変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下，または基準点とＢ間のＹ方向変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下の時で、さらにＡ点及びＢ点の次の座標点Ｃ，Ｄ点間の変化量がＡ，Ｂ間の変化量と同じ時は、Ｂ点を間引くことを特徴とする。
【００２４】
請求項８の発明は、請求項１において、前記間引手段は、Ｙ座標の最小点から一方向回りに二点の座標点Ａ，Ｂを読み込んだときの変化が、Ａ点はＸ軸方向にマイナス、Ｂ点はＹ軸方向にプラスで、Ａ，Ｂ間のＸまたはＹ方向変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下の時は、Ａ点を間引くことを特徴とする。
【００２５】
請求項７に記載の発明は、データ処理装置において、互いに接した複数の矩形領域で、塗り、またはクリッピングを指定する画像形成要求に応じて、互い接した複数の矩形領域の輪郭の頂点の座標を抽出する抽出手段と、出力解像度に応じて抽出した輪郭の頂点の座標の一部を間引く間引手段と、間引いた後の輪郭の頂点の座標点列から、指定された塗り、またはクリッピングを指定する印刷命令データを生成する手段とを具え、間引手段は、基準点の次の二点の座標点Ａ，Ｂを読み込んだときの変化が、Ａ点はＸ軸方向にマイナス、Ｂ点はＹ軸方向にプラスで、基準点とＡとの間のＸ方向の変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下，または基準点とＢとの間のＸまたはＹ方向変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下の時で、さらにＢ点の次の座標点Ｃ，Ｄ点間の変化量がＡ，Ｂ間の変化量と同じでない時は、Ａ点を間引き、Ｂ点を登録し、間引手段は、Ｙ座標の最小点から一方向回りに基準点の次の二点の座標点Ａ，Ｂを読み込んだときの変化が、Ａ点はＸ軸方向にマイナス、Ｂ点はＹ軸方向にプラスで、基準点とＡ間のＸ方向の変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下，または基準点とＢ間のＹ方向変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下の時で、さらにＡ点及びＢ点の次の座標点Ｃ，Ｄ点間の変化量がＡ，Ｂ間の変化量と同じ時は、Ｂ点を間引くことを特徴とする。
【００２８】
請求項８に記載の発明は、データ処理装置に実行させるデータ処理方法であって、互いに接した複数の矩形領域で、塗り、またはクリッピングを指定する画像形成要求に応じて、互い接した複数の矩形領域の輪郭の頂点の座標を抽出する抽出ステップと、出力解像度に応じて抽出した輪郭の頂点の座標の一部を間引く間引ステップと、間引いた後の輪郭の頂点の座標点列から、指定された塗り、またはクリッピングを指定する印刷命令データを生成する生成ステップとを具え、間引ステップは、基準点の次の二点の座標点Ａ，Ｂを読み込んだときの変化が、Ａ点はＸ軸方向にプラス、Ｂ点はＹ軸方向にプラスで、基準点とＡとの間のＸ方向の変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下，または基準点とＢとの間のＸまたはＹ方向変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下の時で、さらにＢ点の次の座標点Ｃ，Ｄ点間の変化量がＡ，Ｂ間の変化量と同じでない時は、Ａ点を間引き、Ｂ点を登録し、間引ステップは、Ｙ座標の最小点から一方向回りに基準点の次の二点の座標点Ａ，Ｂを読み込んだときの変化が、Ａ点はＸ軸方向にプラス、Ｂ点はＹ軸方向にプラスで、基準点とＡ間のＸ方向の変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下，または基準点とＢ間のＹ方向変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下の時で、さらにＢ点の次の座標点Ｃ，Ｄ点間の変化量がＡ，Ｂ間の変化量と同じ時は、Ａ点及びＢ点を間引くことを特徴とする。
【００２９】
請求項１３の発明は、請求項１０において、前記間引ステップは、Ｙ座標の最小点から一方向回りに二点の座標点Ａ，Ｂを読み込んだときの変化が、Ａ点はＸ軸方向にプラス、Ｂ点はＹ軸方向にマイナスで、Ａ，Ｂ間のＸまたはＹ方向変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下の時は、Ａ点を間引くことを特徴とする。
【００３０】
請求項１０に記載の発明は、データ処理装置に実行させるデータ処理方法であって、互いに接した複数の矩形領域で、塗り、またはクリッピングを指定する画像形成要求に応じて、互い接した複数の矩形領域の輪郭の頂点の座標を抽出する抽出ステップと、出力解像度に応じて抽出した輪郭の頂点の座標の一部を間引く間引ステップと、間引いた後の輪郭の頂点の座標点列から、指定された塗り、またはクリッピングを指定する印刷命令データを生成する生成ステップとを具え、間引ステップは、基準点の次の二点の座標点Ａ，Ｂを読み込んだときの変化が、Ａ点はＸ軸方向にプラス、Ｂ点はＹ軸方向にマイナスで、基準点とＡとの間のＸ方向の変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下，または基準点とＢとの間のＸまたはＹ方向変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下の時で、さらにＢ点の次の座標点Ｃ，Ｄ点間の変化量がＡ，Ｂ間の変化量と同じでない時は、Ａ点を間引き、Ｂ点を登録し、間引ステップは、Ｙ座標の最小点から一方向回りに基準点の次の二点の座標点Ａ，Ｂを読み込んだときの変化が、Ａ点はＸ軸方向にプラス、Ｂ点はＹ軸方向にマイナスで、基準点とＡ間のＸ方向の変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下，または基準点とＢ間のＹ方向変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下の時で、さらにＢ点の次の座標点Ｃ，Ｄ点間の変化量がＡ，Ｂ間の変化量と同じ時は、Ａ点及びＢ点を間引くことを特徴とする。
【００３１】
請求項１５の発明は、請求項１０において、前記間引ステップは、Ｙ座標の最小点から一方向回りに二点の座標点Ａ，Ｂを読み込んだときの変化が、Ａ点はＸ軸方向にマイナス、Ｂ点はＹ軸方向にマイナスで、Ａ，Ｂ間のＸまたはＹ方向変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下の時は、Ａ点を間引くことを特徴とする。
【００３２】
請求項１２に記載の発明は、データ処理装置に実行させるデータ処理方法であって、互いに接した複数の矩形領域で、塗り、またはクリッピングを指定する画像形成要求に応じて、互い接した複数の矩形領域の輪郭の頂点の座標を抽出する抽出ステップと、出力解像度に応じて抽出した輪郭の頂点の座標の一部を間引く間引ステップと、間引いた後の輪郭の頂点の座標点列から、指定された塗り、またはクリッピングを指定する印刷命令データを生成する生成ステップとを具え、間引ステップは、基準点の次の二点の座標点Ａ，Ｂを読み込んだときの変化が、Ａ点はＸ軸方向にマイナス、Ｂ点はＹ軸方向にマイナスで、基準点とＡとの間のＸ方向の変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下，または基準点とＢとの間のＸまたはＹ方向変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下の時で、さらにＢ点の次の座標点Ｃ，Ｄ点間の変化量がＡ，Ｂ間の変化量と同じでない時は、Ａ点を間引き、Ｂ点を登録し、間引ステップは、Ｙ座標の最小点から一方向回りに基準点の次の二点の座標点Ａ，Ｂを読み込んだときの変化が、Ａ点はＸ軸方向にマイナス、Ｂ点はＹ軸方向にマイナスで、基準点とＡ間のＸ方向の変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下，または基準点とＢ間のＹ方向変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下の時で、さらにＢ点の次の座標点Ｃ，Ｄ点間の変化量がＡ，Ｂ間の変化量と同じ時は、Ａ点及びＢ点を間引くことを特徴とする。
【００３３】
請求項１７の発明は、請求項１０において、前記間引ステップは、Ｙ座標の最小点から一方向回りに二点の座標点Ａ，Ｂを読み込んだときの変化が、Ａ点はＸ軸方向にマイナス、Ｂ点はＹ軸方向にプラスで、Ａ，Ｂ間のＸまたはＹ方向変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下の時は、Ａ点を間引くことを特徴とする。
【００３４】
請求項１４に記載の発明は、データ処理装置に実行させるデータ処理方法であって、互いに接した複数の矩形領域で、塗り、またはクリッピングを指定する画像形成要求に応じて、互い接した複数の矩形領域の輪郭の頂点の座標を抽出する抽出ステップと、出力解像度に応じて抽出した輪郭の頂点の座標の一部を間引く間引ステップと、間引いた後の輪郭の頂点の座標点列から、指定された塗り、またはクリッピングを指定する印刷命令データを生成する生成ステップとを具え、間引ステップは、基準点の次の二点の座標点Ａ，Ｂを読み込んだときの変化が、Ａ点はＸ軸方向にマイナス、Ｂ点はＹ軸方向にプラスで、基準点とＡとの間のＸ方向の変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下，または基準点とＢとの間のＸまたはＹ方向変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下の時で、さらにＢ点の次の座標点Ｃ，Ｄ点間の変化量がＡ，Ｂ間の変化量と同じでない時は、Ａ点を間引き、Ｂ点を登録し、間引ステップは、Ｙ座標の最小点から一方向回りに基準点の次の二点の座標点Ａ，Ｂを読み込んだときの変化が、Ａ点はＸ軸方向にマイナス、Ｂ点はＹ軸方向にプラスで、基準点とＡ間のＸ方向の変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下，または基準点とＢ間のＹ方向変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下の時で、さらにＢ点の次の座標点Ｃ，Ｄ点間の変化量がＡ，Ｂ間の変化量と同じ時は、Ａ点及びＢ点を間引くことを特徴とする。
【００３５】
請求項１５に記載の発明は、互いに接した複数の矩形領域で、塗り、またはクリッピングを指定する画像形成要求に応じて、互い接した複数の矩形領域の輪郭の頂点の座標を抽出する抽出手順と、出力解像度に応じて前記抽出した輪郭の頂点の座標の一部を間引く間引手順と、間引いた後の輪郭の頂点の座標点列から、指定された塗り、またはクリッピングを指定する印刷命令データを生成する生成手順とをコンピュータに実行させるためのプログラムを記憶したコンピュータ読み取り可能な記憶媒体であって、間引手順は、基準点の次の二点の座標点Ａ，Ｂを読み込んだときの変化が、Ａ点はＸ軸方向にプラス、Ｂ点はＹ軸方向にプラスで、基準点とＡとの間のＸ方向の変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下，または基準点とＢとの間のＸまたはＹ方向変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下の時で、さらにＢ点の次の座標点Ｃ，Ｄ点間の変化量がＡ，Ｂ間の変化量と同じでない時は、Ａ点を間引き、Ｂ点を登録し、間引手順は、Ｙ座標の最小点から一方向回りに基準点の次の二点の座標点Ａ，Ｂを読み込んだときの変化が、Ａ点はＸ軸方向にプラス、Ｂ点はＹ軸方向にプラスで、基準点とＡ間のＸ方向の変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下，または基準点とＢ間のＹ方向変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下の時で、さらにＢ点の次の座標点Ｃ，Ｄ点間の変化量がＡ，Ｂ間の変化量と同じ時は、Ａ点及びＢ点を間引くことを特徴とする。
【００４６】
請求項１６に記載の発明は、互いに接した複数の矩形領域で、塗り、またはクリッピングを指定する画像形成要求に応じて、互い接した複数の矩形領域の輪郭の頂点の座標を抽出する抽出手順と、出力解像度に応じて前記抽出した輪郭の頂点の座標の一部を間引く間引手順と、間引いた後の輪郭の頂点の座標点列から、指定された塗り、またはクリッピングを指定する印刷命令データを生成する生成手順とをコンピュータに実行させるためのプログラムであって、間引手順は、基準点の次の二点の座標点Ａ，Ｂを読み込んだときの変化が、Ａ点はＸ軸方向にプラス、Ｂ点はＹ軸方向にプラスで、基準点とＡとの間のＸ方向の変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下，または基準点とＢとの間のＸまたはＹ方向変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下の時で、さらにＢ点の次の座標点Ｃ，Ｄ点間の変化量がＡ，Ｂ間の変化量と同じでない時は、Ａ点を間引き、Ｂ点を登録し、間引手順は、Ｙ座標の最小点から一方向回りに基準点の次の二点の座標点Ａ，Ｂを読み込んだときの変化が、Ａ点はＸ軸方向にプラス、Ｂ点はＹ軸方向にプラスで、基準点とＡ間のＸ方向の変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下，または基準点とＢ間のＹ方向変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下の時で、さらにＢ点の次の座標点Ｃ，Ｄ点間の変化量がＡ，Ｂ間の変化量と同じ時は、Ａ点及びＢ点を間引くことを特徴とする。
【００４８】
請求項１８に記載の発明は、互いに接した複数の矩形領域で、塗り、またはクリッピングを指定する画像形成要求に応じて、互い接した複数の矩形領域の輪郭の頂点の座標を抽出する抽出手順と、出力解像度に応じて前記抽出した輪郭の頂点の座標の一部を間引く間引手順と、間引いた後の輪郭の頂点の座標点列から、指定された塗り、またはクリッピングを指定する印刷命令データを生成する生成手順とをコンピュータに実行させるためのプログラムであって、間引手順は、基準点の次の二点の座標点Ａ，Ｂを読み込んだときの変化が、Ａ点はＸ軸方向にプラス、Ｂ点はＹ軸方向にマイナスで、基準点とＡとの間のＸ方向の変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下，または基準点とＢとの間のＸまたはＹ方向変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下の時で、さらにＢ点の次の座標点Ｃ，Ｄ点間の変化量がＡ，Ｂ間の変化量と同じでない時は、Ａ点を間引き、Ｂ点を登録し、間引手順は、Ｙ座標の最小点から一方向回りに基準点の次の二点の座標点Ａ，Ｂを読み込んだときの変化が、Ａ点はＸ軸方向にプラス、Ｂ点はＹ軸方向にマイナスで、基準点とＡ間のＸ方向の変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下，または基準点とＢ間のＹ方向変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下の時で、さらにＢ点の次の座標点Ｃ，Ｄ点間の変化量がＡ，Ｂ間の変化量と同じ時は、Ａ点及びＢ点を間引くことを特徴とする。
【００５０】
請求項２０に記載の発明は、互いに接した複数の矩形領域で、塗り、またはクリッピングを指定する画像形成要求に応じて、互い接した複数の矩形領域の輪郭の頂点の座標を抽出する抽出手順と、出力解像度に応じて前記抽出した輪郭の頂点の座標の一部を間引く間引手順と、間引いた後の輪郭の頂点の座標点列から、指定された塗り、またはクリッピングを指定する印刷命令データを生成する生成手順とをコンピュータに実行させるためのプログラムであって、間引手順は、基準点の次の二点の座標点Ａ，Ｂを読み込んだときの変化が、Ａ点はＸ軸方向にマイナス、Ｂ点はＹ軸方向にマイナスで、基準点とＡとの間のＸ方向の変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下，または基準点とＢとの間のＸまたはＹ方向変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下の時で、さらにＢ点の次の座標点Ｃ，Ｄ点間の変化量がＡ，Ｂ間の変化量と同じでない時は、Ａ点を間引き、Ｂ点を登録し、間引手順は、Ｙ座標の最小点から一方向回りに基準点の次の二点の座標点Ａ，Ｂを読み込んだときの変化が、Ａ点はＸ軸方向にマイナス、Ｂ点はＹ軸方向にマイナスで、基準点とＡ間のＸ方向の変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下，または基準点とＢ間のＹ方向変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下の時で、さらにＢ点の次の座標点Ｃ，Ｄ点間の変化量がＡ，Ｂ間の変化量と同じ時は、Ａ点及びＢ点を間引くことを特徴とする。
【００５２】
請求項２２に記載の発明は、互いに接した複数の矩形領域で、塗り、またはクリッピングを指定する画像形成要求に応じて、互い接した複数の矩形領域の輪郭の頂点の座標を抽出する抽出手順と、出力解像度に応じて前記抽出した輪郭の頂点の座標の一部を間引く間引手順と、間引いた後の輪郭の頂点の座標点列から、指定された塗り、またはクリッピングを指定する印刷命令データを生成する生成手順とをコンピュータに実行させるためのプログラムであって、間引手順は、基準点の次の二点の座標点Ａ，Ｂを読み込んだときの変化が、Ａ点はＸ軸方向にマイナス、Ｂ点はＹ軸方向にプラスで、基準点とＡとの間のＸ方向の変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下，または基準点とＢとの間のＸまたはＹ方向変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下の時で、さらにＢ点の次の座標点Ｃ，Ｄ点間の変化量がＡ，Ｂ間の変化量と同じでない時は、Ａ点を間引き、Ｂ点を登録し、間引手順は、Ｙ座標の最小点から一方向回りに基準点の次の二点の座標点Ａ，Ｂを読み込んだときの変化が、Ａ点はＸ軸方向にマイナス、Ｂ点はＹ軸方向にプラスで、基準点とＡ間のＸ方向の変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下，または基準点とＢ間のＹ方向変化分が出力解像度の最小単位以下の時で、さらにＢ点の次の座標点Ｃ，Ｄ点間の変化量がＡ，Ｂ間の変化量と同じ時は、Ａ点及びＢ点を間引くことを特徴とする。
【００５３】
【発明の実施の形態】
本発明の実施例の構成を説明する前に、本実施例を適用する印刷システムの印刷を担うカラーレーザービームプリンタ（以下「カラーＬＢＰ」と記述）の構成について図１を参照しながら説明する。
【００５４】
図１は、６００ドット／インチ（ｄｐｉ）の解像度を有し、各色成分各画素が８ビットで表現された多値データに基づいて画像記録を行うカラーＬＢＰの構造を示す側断面図である。図において、１００はカラーＬＢＰ本体であり、外部に接続されているホスト・コンピュータなどから供給されるプリントデータ（文字コードや画像データ等）及び制御コードから成る印刷情報を入力して記憶するとともに、それらの情報に従って対応する文字パターンやイメージ等を作成し記録媒体である記録紙上に像を形成する装置である。
【００５５】
１１０はホスト・コンピュータから供給される印刷情報を解析し印刷イメージの生成処理を行うとともにカラーＬＢＰ本体１００の制御を行うフォーマッタ制御部である。また、フォーマッタ制御部１１０は、ユーザによる操作およびユーザに対する状態通知のためのスイッチおよびＬＥＤ表示器等が配されているオペレーション・パネル部１２０と接続されており、そのパネル部は印刷装置１００の外装の一部として配設されている。フォーマッタ制御部１１０において生成された最終的な印刷イメージはビデオ信号として出力制御部１３０に送出され、出力制御部１３０は印刷装置１００の不図示の各種センサからの状態入力とともに光学ユニット１４０および各種駆動系機構部に対し制御信号を出力し印刷装置１００としての印刷処理の制御を司るものである。
【００５６】
図１に示す印刷装置において、給紙カセット１６１から給紙された用紙Ｐはその先端をグリッパ１５４ｆにより狭持されて、転写ドラム１５４の外周に保持される。光学ユニット１４０により感光ドラム１５１上に形成された各色の潜像は、イエロー（Ｙ），マゼンタ（Ｍ），シアン（Ｃ），ブラック（Ｂ）の各色現像器Ｄｙ，Ｄｍ，Ｄｃ，Ｄｂにより現像化されて、転写ドラム外周の用紙に複数回転写されて多色画像が形成される。その後、用紙Ｐは転写ドラム１５４より分離されて、定着ユニット１５５で定着され、排紙部１５９より排紙トレー部１６０に排出される。ここで各色の現像器Ｄｙ，Ｄｍ，Ｄｃ，Ｄｂは、その両端に回転支軸を有し、各々がその軸を中心に回転可能となるように現像器選択機構部１５２に保持される。これによって、各現像器Ｄｙ，Ｄｃ，Ｄｂ，Ｄｎは、図１に示すように現像器選択のために現像器選択機構部１５２が回転軸１５２ａを中心にして回転しても、その姿勢を一定に維持できる構成をとっている。選択された現像器が現像位置に移動後、現像器選択機構部１５２は現像器と一体で支点１５３ｂを中心にして、選択機構保持フレーム１５３がソレノイド１５３ａにより感光ドラム１５１方向へ引っ張られ、感光ドラム１５１方向へ移動し現像処理が行われるように構成されている。次に、帯電器１５６によって感光ドラム１５１が所定の極性に均一に帯電される。フォーマッタ制御部１１０において画像イメージとして展開された印刷情報は、対応するパターンのビデオ信号に変換されレーザドライバに出力され半導体レーザ１４１を駆動する。入力されたビデオ信号に応じて半導体レーザ１４１から発射されるレーザ光はオンオフ制御され、さらにスキャナモータ１４３によって高速回転するポリゴンミラー１４２で左右方向に振らされ、ｆθレンズ１４４、反射鏡１４５を介して感光ドラム１５１上を走査露光する。これにより、感光ドラム１５１上には画像パターンの静電潜像が形成されることになる。次に、例えば、Ｍ（マゼンタ）色の静電潜像がＭ（マゼンタ）色の現像器Ｄｍにより現像され、感光体ドラム１５１上にＭ（マゼンタ）色の第１のトナー像が形成される。一方、所定のタイミングで転写紙Ｐが給紙され、トナーと反対極性（例えばプラス極性）の転写バイアス電圧が転写ドラム１５４に印加され、感光体ドラム１５１上の第１トナー像が転写紙Ｐに転写されると共に、転写紙Ｐが転写ドラム１５４の表面に静電吸着される。その後、感光ドラム１５１はクリーナー１５７によって残留するＭ（マゼンタ）色トナーが除去され、次の色の潜像形成及び現像行程に備える。以下同様の手順によってＣ（シアン）、Ｙ（イエロ）、Ｂｋ（ブラック）の順で第２，３，４色目のトナー像の転写が行われる。但し、各色の転写時には、転写ドラム１５４には前回よりも高いバイアス電圧が印加される点は異なる。４色のトナー像が重畳転写された転写紙Ｐの先端部が分離位置に近づくと、分離爪１５８が接近してその先端が転写ドラム１５４の表面に接触し、転写紙Ｐを転写ドラム１５４から分離させる。分離された転写紙Ｐは定着ユニット１５５に搬送され、ここで転写紙上のトナー像が定着されて排紙トレイ１６０上に排出される。本実施例のカラーレーザビームプリンタは、以上のような画像形成過程を経て６００ドット／インチ（ｄｐｉ）の解像度で画像出力を行う。なお、本発明を適用可能なプリンタは、カラーＬＢＰに限られるものではなく、インクジェットプリンタやサーマルプリンタ等、他のプリント方式のカラープリンタでもよい。
【００５７】
次に、印刷装置１００におけるフォーマッタ制御部１１０について図２を用いて説明する。このフォーマット制御部は、通常はＰＤＬコントローラなどとも呼ばれている部分であり、ホスト・コンピュータとの接続手段であるところのインタフェース（Ｉ／Ｆ）部１１１と、受信データ等を一時的に保持管理するための受信バッファ１１２１、送信データ等を一時的に保持管理するための送信バッファ１１２２、印刷データの解析を司るコマンド解析部１１３、印刷制御処理実行部１１４、描画処理実行部１１５、ページメモリ１１６、中間言語格納メモリ１１７等より構成されている。
【００５８】
インタフェース（Ｉ／Ｆ）部１１１は、ホスト・コンピュータ２００との印刷データの送受信を行う通信手段あり、通信プロトコルとして、ＩＥＥＥ−１２８４に準拠した通信を可能とするものである。但し本発明では、この通信手段に限定するものでなく、ネットワークを介しての様々なプロトコルによる接続であってもよいし、ＩＥＥＥ−１３９４に準じた通信手段であってもよい。このインタフェース部１１１を通して受信した印刷データは、そのデータを一時的に保持する記憶手段である受信バッファ１１２１に逐次蓄積され、必要に応じてコマンド解析部１１３によって読み出され処理される。
【００５９】
コマンド解析部１１３は、各ＰＤＬコマンド体系や印刷ジョブ制御言語に準じた制御プログラムにしたがって処理を実行するものであって、文字印字、図形、イメージなどの描画に関する印刷データの解析結果は、中間言語という描画処理実行部１１５が描画処理する直前のデータ形式に変換され、中間言語格納メモリ１１７に保持される。また、コマンド解析部１１３は、給紙選択やリセット命令などの描画以外のコマンドに関しては、印刷制御処理実行部１１４に指示を出し処理する。
【００６０】
描画処理実行部１１５は、中間言語格納メモリ１１７に保持されている文字やイメージの各中間言語をページメモリ１１６に逐次展開して行くレンダラとして動作する。図１で前述したカラーＬＢＰに対しては、ＭＣＹＫの面順次でページデータを送出する必要があるが、標準状態では、そのために必要なメモリをすべて確保するわけではなく、１プレーン（１ｏｒ２ｂｉｔ／ｐｉｘｅｌ）の数分の１のバンド領域としてメモリが確保され、そのバンド領域を使いまわして画像をエンジン速度に同期して処理するするように構成されている。通常はこのようにＹＭＣＫレンダラによる展開処理とプリンタエンジンへのビデオ信号のシッピングの追いかけっこ、つまりバンディング制御によってページメモリ１１６は管理されているが、十分なメモリがある場合は１ページ分が展開可能な領域を確保しても良い。なお、一般的に、プリンタエンジン１４０を除くフォーマッタ制御部１１０は、中央演算処理装置（ＣＰＵ）、リードオンリーメモリ（ＲＯＭ）、ランダムアクセスメモリ（ＲＡＭ）などを用いたコンピュータ・システムによって構成されており、コマンド解析部１１３，印刷制御処理実行部１１４，描画処理実行部１１５，出力制御部１３０の機能は、ＲＯＭ内のプログラムをＣＰＵが実行することによって実現される。また、各部の処理は、マルチタスクモニタ（リアルタイムＯＳ）のもとでタイムシェアリングに処理される構成てあっても良いし、各機能ごとに専用のコントローラ・ハードウェアを用意して独立して処理される構成であってもかまわない。
【００６１】
オペレーション・パネル１２０は、前述した通り印刷装置の各種状態を設定・表示するためのものである。出力制御部１３０は、ページメモリ１１６の内容をビデオ信号に変換処理し、プリンタ・エンジン部１５０へ画像転送を行う。プリンタ・エンジン部１５０は受け取ったビデオ信号を記録紙に永久可視画像形成するための印刷機構部であり、図１において前述したものである。
【００６２】
以上、印刷装置１００について説明したが、次にホスト・コンピュータ２００を含む本実施例の印刷システムの全体構成について説明を加える。図２において２００はホスト・コンピュータであり、プリントデータ及び制御コードから成る印刷情報を印刷装置１００に出力するものである。ホスト・コンピュータ２００は、入力デバイスであるところのキーボード２１０やポインティングデバイスであるところのマウス２１１と、表示デバイスであるディスプレイ・モニタ２２０を合わせた一つのコンピュータ・システムとして構成されている。ホスト・コンピュータ２００は、ＷｉｎｄｏｗｓＮＴ（登録商標）などの基本ＯＳによって動作しているものとする。
【００６３】
ホスト・コンピュータ側について、本発明に関する機能的な部分にのみ注目し、基本ＯＳ上での機能を大きく分類すると、アプリケーションソフトウェア２０１、グラフィック・サブ・システム２０２、印刷情報格納手段および印刷装置との通信手段を含むスプール・サブ・システム２０３に大別される。
【００６４】
アプリケーションソフトウェア２０１は、例えば、ワープロや表計算などの基本ソフトウェア上で動作する応用ソフトウェアを指すものである。グラフィック・サブ・システム２０２は、基本ＯＳの機能の一部であるＧｒａｐｈｉｃＤｅｖｉｃｅＩｎｔｅｒｆａｃｅ（以後、ＧＤＩと記す）２０２１とそのＧＤＩから動的にリンクされるデバイスドライバであるところのプリンタ・ドライバ２０２２によって構成されており、このプリンタ・ドライバ２０２２に図１３〜図１５に示す如き制御手順が含まれている。Ｄｉｓｐａｔｃｈｅｒ２０２３は、プリンタドライバ２０２２の入り口に位置するモジュールであり、ユーザーが選択したグラフィックスモードに応じて、ＰＤＬトランスレータ２０２４、イメージモードトランスレータ２０２５〜２０２７を切り替えてロードし、変換処理や、描画処理を実行するものである。イメージモード系トランスレータ２０２４〜２０２６は、バンドメモリ２０２８を利用することで描画処理を行う。
【００６５】
変換または描画した結果は、印刷コマンドとしてＧＤＩ２０２９に再度返されると、Ｉ／Ｆ２０３を通って印刷装置１００に送出される。
【００６６】
基本ＯＳによって、上述したこれらの名称や機能的な枠組みは若干異なる場合があるが、本発明で言う各技術的手段が実現できるモジュールであれば、それらの名称や枠組みは本発明にとってあまり大きな問題ではない。なお一般的に、これらの各機能モジュールを含むホスト・コンピュータ２００は、中央演算処理装置（ＣＰＵ）、初期化プログラム等を記憶したリードオンリーメモリ（ＲＯＭ）、各プログラムがロードされ、ＣＰＵの動作によるデータ等の一時記憶領域を提供するランダムアクセスメモリ（ＲＡＭ）、基本ＯＳ、アプリケーションソフトウエア、プリンタドライバ等を記憶したハードディスクドライブ（ＨＤＤ）、各種入出力制御部（Ｉ／Ｏ）などのハードウェアのもとで、基本ソフトと呼ばれるソフトウェアがその制御を司り、その基本ソフトの元で、それぞれの応用ソフト、サブ・システム・プロセスが機能モジュールとして動作するようになっている。以上、図１、図２をもとに本発明を構成する各構成要素について説明をした。
【００６７】
本発明は、上記ＰＤＬトランスレータ２０２４に渡された連続矩形領域塗りつぶし、またはクリッピング命令から、コマンドサイズを圧縮しつつ、正常な印字を行うことを実現するものである。
【００６８】
次に本発明の動作について、図４以降の模式図を用いて処理の流れの概要を説明する。
【００６９】
図４は、本発明でデータサイズの圧縮を行う連続矩形を示す模式図である。
【００７０】
図４に示すように、描画オブジェクトは多数の矩形で構成されるため、矩形の頂点を集めて作った輪郭線はＸ軸、またはＹ軸と平行な直線で囲まれた形になる。
本発明では、図４のような図形をＹ座標が最小、Ｘ座標が右端の点を開始点とし、時計回りに外周の点列の取得を行う。その際、Ｘ方向がプラス、Ｙ方向がプラス変化量時の処理を「右下方向ルール」、Ｘ方向がマイナス、Ｙ方向がプラス変化量の時処理を「左下方向ルール」、Ｘ方向がマイナス、Ｙ方向がマイナス変化量時の処理を「左上方向ルール」、Ｘ方向がプラス、Ｙ方向がマイナス変化量時の処理を「右上方向ルール」と定義し、以下説明を進める。
【００７１】
図５、６を使い、「右下方向ルール」時のデータ圧縮方法について説明する。
【００７２】
図５の（ａ）は、右下方向ルールの基本系を説明するための図である。右下方向ルールとは、Ｙ軸方向のプラス方向に変化した点のデータを現在位置を示す変数である基準点ｌａｓｔＰｏｓ（既に登録済み黒丸で表現）とした時、次の点を示す変数（ｐｏｓ１）にセットしたデータがＸ軸方向にプラス方向に変化し（変化量＝ｎｏｗＷ）、さらにその次の点を示す変数（ｐｏｓ２）にセットしたデータがＹ軸方向にプラスに変化した（変化量＝ｎｏｗＨ）場合を示す。このとき、ｐｏｓ１，ｐｏｓ２にセットしたデータの登録を行う（登録点斜め線丸で表現）。
【００７３】
図５の（ｂ）は、右下方向ルール時、ｎｏｗＷまたはｎｏｗＨが出力解像度サイズで１以下の時には、ｐｏｓ１の座標点データを間引くことを示している（白抜き丸で表現）。この例ではｎｏｗＷが１の時に、ｌａｓｔＰｏｓからｐｏｓ２まで直線を引いた場合もｐｏｓ１を描画座標点とした時と同じピクセルが描画されている。
【００７４】
図６の（ａ）は、右下方向ルール時、ｎｏｗＷまたはｎｏｗＨが１以下の時、さらに次の２点が同一変化量だった時にｐｏｓ２（白抜き丸）の座標点データを間引くことを示している。
【００７５】
この例では、ｎｏｗＷ，ｎｏｗＨと次の２点によって求められるｎｅｘｔＷ，ｎｅｘｔＨの値が等しい時に、ｐｏｓ１に続きｐｏｓ２の座標点データを間引いてもｌａｓｔＰｏｓとｎｏｗＰｏｓを結ぶことで必要なピクセルが塗りつぶされている。
【００７６】
当然、本ルールを適用することで続く点列が同じ変化量の間は読み飛ばし処理が繰り返される。
【００７７】
図６の（ｂ）は、左下方向ルールの次の座標点ｐｏｓ１，ｐｏｓ２が右方向に変化した時のルールを示している。Ｐｏｓ１の座標値を登録した後、右下方向ルールに切替えるために、既にｐｏｓ２にセットしてある値を、ｐｏｓ１にセットする。次の座標点をｐｏｓ２にセットする。Ｐｏｓ１，ｐｏｓ２の座標点は、右下方向ルールに従い登録を行う。
【００７８】
図７、８は左下方向ルール、図９、１０は左上方向ルール、図１１、１２は右上方向ルール時の間引きルールを示す模式図である。間引きルールは基本的に右下方向ルールと同じなので詳細な説明は割愛する。
【００７９】
図１３のフローチャートは、本発明のプリンタドライバ内で行われる連続矩形データから間引かれたパス座標点列を生成する処理の概要を示す物である。
Ｓ（ステップ）１３０１：連続矩形座標データから右回りで輪郭点を求め、座標点の配列にしてＳ１３０２へ進む。
Ｓ１３０２：右側データの座標点圧縮処理を行い、Ｓ１３０３へ進む。
Ｓ１３０３：左側データの座標点圧縮処理を行い、処理終了する。
【００８０】
次に図１４のフローチャートを用いて、右側データの座標点圧縮処理の流れを説明する。
Ｓ１４０１：最上部矩形の右側に対応する最初の２点をパス点列として登録し、ｌａｓｔＰｏｓに２点目のデータをセットＳ１４０２へ進む。
Ｓ１４０２：次座標点データを取得し、ｐｏｓ１にセットし、ｐｏｓ１のＸ座標値からｌａｓｔＰｏｓのＸ座標値を引きｎｏｗＷにセットしＳ１４０３へ進む。
Ｓ１４０３：ｎｏｗＷ＞０ならば「右下方向ルール」のＳ１４１５へ進み、０以下なら「左下方向ルール」のＳ１４０４へ進む。
Ｓ１４０４：ｐｏｓ１のデータを登録し、それをｌａｓｔＰｏｓにセットしＳ１４０５へ進む。
Ｓ１４０５：次座標点データを取得し、それをｐｏｓ１にセットし、ｐｏｓ１のＹ座標値からｌａｓｔＰｏｓのＹ座標値を引きｎｏｗＨにセットしＳ１４０６へ進む。
Ｓ１４０６：ｎｏｗＨ＞０ならばＳ１４０７へ進み、それ以外はＳ１４２１へ進む。
Ｓ１４０７：次座標点データを取得し、それをｐｏｓ２にセットし、ｐｏｓ２のＸ座標値からｌａｓｔＰｏｓのＸ座標値を引きｎｏｗＷにセットしＳ１４０８へ進む。
Ｓ１４０８：ｎｏｗＷ＜０ならば「左下方向ルール」のＳ１４０９へ進み、それ以外ならＳ１４１４へ進む。
Ｓ１４０９：ｎｏｗＨ＝１またはｎｏｗＷ＝−１ならＳ１４１０へ進み、違う時は、Ｓ１４１２へ進む。
Ｓ１４１０：次、その次の座標点の変化量ｎｅｘｔＷ，ｎｅｘｔＨを求め、Ｓ１４１１へ進む。
Ｓ１４１１：ｎｅｘｔＷ，ｎｅｘｔＨがｎｏｗＷ，ｎｏｗＨと同じならばＳ１４０５に戻る。どちらか一方が違ったらＳ１４１３へ進む。
Ｓ１４１２：ｐｏｓ１（右下）のデータを登録し、Ｓ１４１３へ進む。
Ｓ１４１３：ｐｏｓ２（左下）のデータを登録し、それをｌａｓｔＰｏｓにセットしＳ１４０５へ進む。
Ｓ１４１４：ｐｏｓ１を登録し、ｐｏｓ１にｐｏｓ２のデータをセットし、Ｓ１４１５へ進む。
Ｓ１４１５：次座標点データを取得し、それをｐｏｓ２にセットし、ｐｏｓ２のＹ座標値からｌａｓｔＰｏｓのＹ座標値を引きｎｏｗＨにセットし、Ｓ１４１６へ進む。
Ｓ１４１６：ｎｏｗＨ＝１またはｎｏｗＷ＝１ならＳ１４１７へ進み、どちらかが違っていたらＳ１４１９へ進む。
Ｓ１４１７：次、その次の座標点の変化量ｎｅｘｔＷ，ｎｅｘｔＨを求め、Ｓ１４１８へ進む。
Ｓ１４１８：ｎｅｘｔＷ，ｎｅｘｔＨがｎｏｗＷ，ｎｏｗＨと同じならばＳ１４０２に戻り、どちらか一方が違ったらＳ１４２０へ進む。
Ｓ１４２０：ｐｏｓ２のデータを登録し、それをｌａｓｔＰｏｓにセットしＳ１４０２へ進む。
Ｓ１４２１：ｐｏｓ２を登録し、それをｌａｓｔＰｏｓにセットする。
【００８１】
次に図１５のフローチャートを用いて、左側データの座標点圧縮処理の流れを説明する。
Ｓ１５０１：次座標点データを取得し、それをｐｏｓ１にセットし、ｐｏｓ１のＸ座標値からｌａｓｔＰｏｓのＸ座標値を引いた値をｎｏｗＷにセットしＳ１５０２へ進む。
Ｓ１５０２：ｎｏｗＷ＜０ならば「左上方向ルール」のＳ１５１４へ進み、それ以外なら「右上方向ルール」のＳ１５０３へ進む。
Ｓ１５０３：ｐｏｓ１を登録し、それをｌａｓｔＰｏｓにセットしＳ１５０４へ進む。
Ｓ１５０４：次座標点データを取得し、それをｐｏｓ１にセットし、ｐｏｓ１のＹ座標値からｌａｓｔＰｏｓのＹ座標値を引きｎｏｗＨにセットしＳ１５０５へ進む。
Ｓ１５０５：座標点データ終了ならばＳ１５２１へすすみ、まだあればＳ１５０６へ進む。
Ｓ１５０６：次座標点データを取得し、それをｐｏｓ２にセットし、ｐｏｓ２のＸ座標値からｌａｓｔＰｏｓのＸ座標値を引きｎｏｗＷにセットしＳ１５０７へ進む。
Ｓ１５０７：ｎｏｗＷ＞０ならば「右上方向ルール」のＳ１５０８へ進み、それ以外はＳ１５１３へ進む。
Ｓ１５０８：ｎｏｗＨ＝−１またはｎｏｗＷ＝１ならＳ１５０９へ進み、違う時は、Ｓ１５１１へ進む。
Ｓ１５０９：次、その次の座標点の変化量ｎｅｘｔＷ，ｎｅｘｔＨを求め、Ｓ１５１０へ進む。
Ｓ１５１０：ｎｅｘｔＷ，ｎｅｘｔＨがｎｏｗＷ，ｎｏｗＨと同じならばＳ１５０４に戻り、どちらか一方が違ったらＳ１５１２へ進む。
Ｓ１５１１：ｐｏｓ１を登録し、Ｓ１５１２へ進む。
Ｓ１５１２：ｐｏｓ２を登録し、それをｌａｓｔＰｏｓにセットしＳ１５０４へ進む。
Ｓ１５１３：ｐｏｓ１のデータを登録し、ｐｏｓ１にｐｏｓ２のデータをセットし、Ｓ１５１４へ進む。
Ｓ１５１４：次座標点データを取得し、それをｐｏｓ２にセットし、ｐｏｓ２のＹ座標値からｌａｓｔＰｏｓのＹ座標値を引きｎｏｗＨにセットし、Ｓ１５１５へ進む。
Ｓ１５１５：ｎｏｗＨ＝−１またはｎｏｗＷ＝−１ならＳ１５１６へ進み、どちらかが違っていたらＳ１５１８へ進む。
Ｓ１５１６：次、その次の座標点の変化量ｎｅｘｔＷ，ｎｅｘｔＨを求め、Ｓ１５１７へ進む。
Ｓ１５１７：ｎｅｘｔＷ，ｎｅｘｔＨがｎｏｗＷ，ｎｏｗＨと同じならばＳ１５２０へ進み、どちらか一方が違ったらＳ１５１９へ進む。
Ｓ１５１８：ｐｏｓ１のデータを登録し、Ｓ１５１９へ進む。
Ｓ１５１９：ｐｏｓ２のデータを登録し、それをｌａｓｔＰｏｓにセットする。
Ｓ１５２０：点列データ終了ならば、Ｓ１５２１へ進み、まだあればＳ１５０１に戻る。
Ｓ１５２１：ｐｏｓ１のデータを登録する。
【００８２】
【発明の効果】
以上説明したように、本発明によれば、複数の連続した矩形領域の塗りまたはクリッピングのコマンドサイズを削減して描画処理時間を短縮することができ、かつ正常な印字も得ることが可能となる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明を適用可能なレーザビームカラープリンタの構造を示す側断面図である。
【図２】本発明の実施例である印刷システム全体の基本構成を示すブロック図である。
【図３】従来の連続矩形の輪郭点を取り出す方法について説明する図である。
【図４】本発明を説明する上で必要な言葉の定義を示す図である。
【図５】本発明の実施形態を説明するための模式図（右下方向ルール）である。
【図６】本発明の実施形態を説明するための模式図（右下方向ルール）である。
【図７】本発明の実施形態を説明するための模式図（左下方向ルール）である。
【図８】本発明の実施形態を説明するための模式図（左下方向ルール）である。
【図９】本発明の実施形態を説明するための模式図（左上方向ルール）である。
【図１０】本発明の実施形態を説明するための模式図（左上方向ルール）である。
【図１１】本発明の実施形態を説明するための模式図（右上方向ルール）である。
【図１２】本発明の実施形態を説明するための模式図（右上方向ルール）である。
【図１３】本発明の１つの連続した矩形領域を圧縮する手順を示したフローチャートである。
【図１４】本発明の右側点を下方向に圧縮していく手順を示したフローチャートである。
【図１５】本発明の左側点を上方向に圧縮していく手順を示したフローチャートである。
【符号の説明】
１００印刷装置（ＬＢＰ）
１１０フォーマッタ制御部
１１１インタフェース
１１２１受信バッファ
１１２２送信バッファ
１１３ＰＤＬ解析部
１１４印刷制御処理実行部
１１５描画処理実行部（レンダラ）
１１６ページメモリ
１１７中間言語格納メモリ
１２０オペレーション・パネル
１３０出力制御部
１３１レーザドライバ
１４０プリンタエンジン部
１４１半導体レーザ
１４２レーザ光
１４３ポリゴンミラー
１４４静電ドラム
１４５現像ユニット
１４６給紙カセット
１４７給紙ローラ
１４８搬送ローラ
１４９搬送ローラ
２００ホスト・コンピュータ
２０１アプリケーション・ソフト
２０２グラフィック・サブ・システム
２０２１ＧＤＩ
２０２２プリンタ・ドライバ
２０２３ディスパッチャー
２０２４ＰＤＬトランスレータ
２０２５モノクロレンダラー
２０２６高速カラーレンダラー
２０２７高精細カラーレンダラー
２０２８バンドメモリ
２０２９ＧＤＩ
２０３インターフェース
２１０キーボード
２１１マウス
２２０ディスプレイ・モニタ[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a data processing apparatus and method, a storage medium, and a program, and in particular, a printing apparatus that operates in response to printing information from a host computer, and print information on the host computer side for the printing apparatus. Is characterized by a method for controlling a print data processing apparatus that includes a group of software modules called a printer driver, a device driver, and the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
First, a printing control method and processing flow in a conventional printing system will be described.
[0003]
In general, a host computer and a printing apparatus are connected via a parallel communication means such as a Centronics interface or a network communication means to constitute a printing system.
[0004]
On the host computer side, application software (hereinafter abbreviated as application) such as a word processor or spreadsheet is operating on so-called basic software (OS) such as Windows (registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation, USA). When printing is performed with this application, the function of the graphic subsystem is used from among the several subsystems provided by the basic software from within the program. This graphics subsystem is called GDI (Graphic Device Interface) in Windows, for example, and manages image information processing for a display or a printer. The GDI dynamically links modules called device drivers in order to absorb the dependence of each device such as a display and a printer, and performs output processing for each device. This module for the printer is called a printer driver. In this printer driver, it is necessary to prepare a function group called DDI (Device Driver Interface), which is determined to be installed in the device driver in advance according to its capability and function. GDI performs data conversion for an application API (Application Programming Interface) of an application for a device driver, and this DDI function group is appropriately called from GDI to execute a predetermined printing process. In this way, the GDI sequentially processes print requests from applications via the printer driver.
[0005]
The processing system of this printer driver can be broadly divided into two types: PDL type and image type.
[0006]
The PDL type is for a printer equipped with a controller capable of processing a control command called PDL (Printer Description Language) on the printing apparatus side, and converts a drawing command passed from the system through a DDI function into a PDL command. Mainly.
On the other hand, the image type does not perform advanced drawing processing on the printing device side, develops the drawing command received from the DDI function to the print image on the printer driver side, and sends the generated image data to the printing device for printing. It is.
[0007]
As described above, in both the PDL mode and the image mode, drawing is instructed from the system via the DDI function, and drawing processing is performed.
[0008]
DDI functions are roughly classified into three types: “character system”, “graphics system”, and “image system”. Here, a graphics drawing function of the Microsoft Windows system will be described. When the printer driver is initialized, the OS asks for the drawing capability of the printer driver. The DDI function called by the answer method at this time changes. For example, a drawing command with relatively high capability in graphics drawing processing is a drawing command that uses a pass point sequence, but if the answer is low, a drawing command that uses a continuous rectangle, a drawing command that uses a rectangle, etc. In this case, a more primitive drawing command is passed. In general, if the same figure is drawn, the use of a pass point sequence with less useless point sequences can reduce the command size and perform high-speed processing. However, the drawing process using the path point sequence leads to fraudulent drawing if the algorithm for analyzing and mapping to the coordinate space is different from that assumed by the application manufacturer.
[0009]
In order to solve these problems, a rectangular drawing command that designates a drawing area with upper left and lower right coordinate points is often used. In order to reduce the number of function calls, there is also a drawing specification method that passes a continuous rectangle at a time.
[0010]
One method for generating a drawing command using a pass point sequence from the continuous rectangle will be described with reference to the schematic diagram of FIG.
[0011]
(A) is obtained by acquiring the vertex coordinates of the three contact rectangles A1, A2, and A3 clockwise from the upper right point a and arranging them in that order.
[0012]
As shown in (b), it is possible to easily reduce the number of point sequences by skipping unnecessary points existing on a vertical or horizontal straight line.
[0013]
Filling and clipping are possible by using the generated point sequence as a pass point sequence.
[0014]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when a path point sequence is generated from a continuous rectangle by the above method, the following problem exists.
[0015]
In other words, since only the coordinate points on the vertical and horizontal lines can be omitted, there is a problem that even a simple figure has a large number of point sequences. This means that the data size is large, and the time required for drawing processing is also large. It is to say.
[0016]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a data processing apparatus and method, and a storage medium that solve the above-described problems.
[0019]
The invention according to claim 1 is a data processing apparatus, wherein a plurality of rectangular areas in contact with each other and the apexes of the outlines of the plurality of rectangular areas in contact with each other in response to an image formation request specifying painting or clipping Extraction means for extracting the coordinates of the above, thinning means for thinning out a part of the coordinates of the vertexes of the contour extracted according to the output resolution, and the specified paint from the coordinate point sequence of the vertexes of the contour after thinning, or Means for generating print command data for designating clipping, and the thinning-out means changes when the two coordinate points A and B next to the reference point are read. Point B is positive in the Y-axis direction, and the change in the X direction between the reference point and A is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, or the change in the X or Y direction between the reference point and B is the output resolution. Coordinate point C next to point B when it is below the minimum unit When the amount of change between points D is not the same as the amount of change between A and B, point A is thinned out and point B is registered, and the thinning-out means follows the reference point around one direction from the minimum point of the Y coordinate. When the two coordinate points A and B are read, point A is positive in the X-axis direction, point B is positive in the Y-axis direction, and the change in the X direction between the reference point and A is the output resolution. When the change in the Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, the amount of change between the coordinate points C and D next to point B is also the change between points A and B. When it is the same as the quantity, the points A and B are thinned out.
[0020]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the thinning means changes when the two coordinate points A and B are read around one direction from the minimum point of the Y coordinate. The point B is negative in the Y-axis direction, and when the change in the X or Y direction between A and B is less than the minimum unit of output resolution, the point A is thinned out.
[0021]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the data processing device, wherein the apexes of the outlines of the plurality of rectangular regions that are in contact with each other in response to an image formation request that specifies painting or clipping in the plurality of rectangular regions that are in contact with each other Extraction means for extracting the coordinates of the above, thinning means for thinning out a part of the coordinates of the vertexes of the contour extracted according to the output resolution, and the specified paint from the coordinate point sequence of the vertexes of the contour after thinning, or Means for generating print command data for designating clipping, and the thinning-out means changes when the two coordinate points A and B next to the reference point are read. Point B is negative in the Y-axis direction, the change in the X direction between the reference point and A is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, or the change in the X or Y direction between the reference point and B is the output resolution. The coordinate point next to point B when it is below the minimum unit When the change amount between points A and B is not the same as the change amount between A and B, the point A is thinned out and the point B is registered, and the thinning means moves the reference point around one direction from the minimum point of the Y coordinate. Changes when the next two coordinate points A and B are read are: point A is positive in the X-axis direction, point B is negative in the Y-axis direction, and the change in the X direction between the reference point and A is output. Less than the minimum unit of resolution, or when the change in the Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of output resolution, the amount of change between the coordinate points C and D next to the points A and B is A, When the amount of change between B is the same, point B is thinned out.
[0022]
A sixth aspect of the present invention is the method according to the first aspect, wherein the thinning means changes when the two coordinate points A and B are read around one direction from the minimum point of the Y coordinate. The point B is negative in the Y-axis direction, and the point A is thinned out when the change in the X or Y direction between A and B is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution.
[0023]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the data processing device, the coordinates of the vertexes of the outlines of the plurality of adjacent rectangular areas in response to an image formation request specifying painting or clipping in the plurality of rectangular areas adjacent to each other Extraction means for extracting, thinning means for thinning out some of the coordinates of the extracted contour vertices according to the output resolution, and the specified fill or clipping from the coordinate point sequence of the vertices of the contour after thinning Means for generating print command data to be designated, and the thinning means changes when the coordinate points A and B of the next two points of the reference point are read, the point A is negative in the X-axis direction, the point B Is negative in the Y-axis direction, the change in the X direction between the reference point and A is less than the minimum unit of output resolution, or the change in the X or Y direction between the reference point and B is the minimum unit of output resolution At the following time, the next coordinates of point B When the amount of change between points C and D is not the same as the amount of change between points A and B, point A is thinned out, point B is registered, and the thinning means is a reference point around one direction from the minimum point of the Y coordinate. The change when the next two coordinate points A and B are read is that the point A is negative in the X-axis direction, the point B is negative in the Y-axis direction, and the change in the X direction between the reference point and A is When the output resolution is less than the minimum unit or when the change in the Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, the amount of change between the coordinate points C and D next to point A and point B is A , B is the same as the amount of change, the point B is thinned out.
[0024]
The invention of claim 8 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the thinning means changes when the two coordinate points A and B are read around one direction from the minimum point of the Y coordinate, and the point A is in the X-axis direction. The point B is positive in the Y-axis direction, and when the change in the X or Y direction between A and B is less than the minimum unit of output resolution, the point A is thinned out.
[0025]
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, in the data processing device, the coordinates of the vertexes of the outlines of the plurality of rectangular regions that are in contact with each other in response to an image formation request that specifies painting or clipping in the plurality of rectangular regions that are in contact with each other Extraction means for extracting, thinning means for thinning out some of the coordinates of the extracted contour vertices according to the output resolution, and the specified fill or clipping from the coordinate point sequence of the vertices of the contour after thinning Means for generating print command data to be designated, and the thinning means changes when the coordinate points A and B of the next two points of the reference point are read, the point A is negative in the X-axis direction, the point B Is positive in the Y-axis direction, the change in the X direction between the reference point and A is less than the minimum unit of output resolution, or the change in the X or Y direction between the reference point and B is the minimum unit of output resolution At the following time, the coordinate point next to point B When the change amount between points A and B is not the same as the change amount between A and B, the point A is thinned out and the point B is registered, and the thinning means moves the reference point around one direction from the minimum point of the Y coordinate. When the next two coordinate points A and B are read, the change in point A is negative in the X-axis direction, point B is positive in the Y-axis direction, and the change in the X direction between the reference point and A is output. Less than the minimum unit of resolution, or when the change in the Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of output resolution, the amount of change between the coordinate points C and D next to the points A and B is A, When the amount of change between B is the same, point B is thinned out.
[0028]
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data processing method to be executed by a data processing apparatus, wherein a plurality of adjacent areas are in response to an image formation request specifying painting or clipping in a plurality of adjacent rectangular areas. From the extraction step of extracting the coordinates of the vertices of the outline of the rectangular region, the thinning-out step of thinning out the coordinates of the vertices of the extracted outline according to the output resolution, and the coordinate point sequence of the vertices of the outline after thinning out, A generation step for generating print command data for designating the specified fill or clipping, and the thinning-out step has a change when the coordinate points A and B of the next two points of the reference point are read at point A Is positive in the X-axis direction, point B is positive in the Y-axis direction, and the change in the X direction between the reference point and A is less than the minimum unit of output resolution, or X or Y between the reference point and B Directional change is output resolution If the amount of change between the coordinate points C and D next to point B is not the same as the amount of change between points A and B when the value is less than the minimum unit, point A is thinned out, point B is registered, and thinned out In the step, the change when the two coordinate points A and B next to the reference point are read in one direction from the minimum point of the Y coordinate, the point A is positive in the X-axis direction, and the point B is in the Y-axis direction. Plus, when the amount of change in the X direction between the reference point and A is less than the minimum unit of output resolution, or the amount of change in the Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of output resolution, When the amount of change between the coordinate points C and D is the same as the amount of change between A and B, the points A and B are thinned out.
[0029]
According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the tenth aspect, the thinning-out step changes when the two coordinate points A and B are read around one direction from the minimum point of the Y coordinate. The point B is negative in the Y-axis direction, and when the change in the X or Y direction between A and B is less than the minimum unit of output resolution, the point A is thinned out.
[0030]
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data processing method to be executed by a data processing apparatus, wherein a plurality of adjacent areas are in response to an image formation request specifying painting or clipping in a plurality of adjacent rectangular areas. From the extraction step of extracting the coordinates of the vertices of the outline of the rectangular region, the thinning-out step of thinning out the coordinates of the vertices of the extracted outline according to the output resolution, and the coordinate point sequence of the vertices of the outline after thinning out, A generation step for generating print command data for designating the specified fill or clipping, and the thinning-out step has a change when the coordinate points A and B of the next two points of the reference point are read at point A Is positive in the X-axis direction, B is negative in the Y-axis direction, and the change in the X direction between the reference point and A is less than the minimum unit of output resolution, or X or Y between the reference point and B Direction change is output solution When the change amount between the coordinate points C and D next to the point B is not the same as the change amount between the points A and B when the degree is less than the minimum unit, the point A is thinned out and the point B is registered. In the thinning-out step, changes when the coordinate points A and B of the next two points of the reference point are read in one direction from the minimum point of the Y coordinate, the point A is positive in the X axis direction, and the B point is the Y axis When the change in the X direction between the reference point and A is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution or the change in the Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution when the direction is negative, When the amount of change between the next coordinate points C and D is the same as the amount of change between A and B, the points A and B are thinned out.
[0031]
According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the tenth aspect, the thinning-out step changes when the two coordinate points A and B are read around one direction from the minimum point of the Y coordinate. The point B is negative in the Y-axis direction, and the point A is thinned out when the change in the X or Y direction between A and B is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution.
[0032]
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data processing method to be executed by a data processing apparatus, wherein a plurality of adjacent areas are in response to an image formation request for specifying painting or clipping in a plurality of adjacent rectangular areas. From the extraction step of extracting the coordinates of the vertices of the outline of the rectangular region, the thinning-out step of thinning out the coordinates of the vertices of the extracted outline according to the output resolution, and the coordinate point sequence of the vertices of the outline after thinning out, A generation step for generating print command data for designating the specified fill or clipping, and the thinning-out step has a change when the coordinate points A and B of the next two points of the reference point are read at point A Is negative in the X-axis direction, point B is negative in the Y-axis direction, and the change in the X direction between the reference point and A is less than the minimum unit of output resolution, or X or Y between the reference point and B Direction change output If the change amount between the coordinate points C and D next to point B is not the same as the change amount between points A and B when the image intensity is below the minimum unit, point A is thinned out and point B is registered. In the thinning-out step, the change when the two coordinate points A and B next to the reference point are read in one direction from the minimum point of the Y coordinate, the point A is negative in the X-axis direction, and the point B is Y B point when the change in the X direction between the reference point and A is less than the minimum unit of output resolution or the change in the Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of output resolution. When the amount of change between the next coordinate points C and D is the same as the amount of change between A and B, the points A and B are thinned out.
[0033]
According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the tenth aspect, the thinning-out step changes when the two coordinate points A and B are read around one direction from the minimum point of the Y coordinate. The point B is positive in the Y-axis direction, and when the change in the X or Y direction between A and B is less than the minimum unit of output resolution, the point A is thinned out.
[0034]
According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data processing method to be executed by a data processing apparatus, wherein a plurality of adjacent areas are in response to an image formation request specifying painting or clipping in a plurality of adjacent rectangular areas. From the extraction step of extracting the coordinates of the vertices of the outline of the rectangular region, the thinning-out step of thinning out the coordinates of the vertices of the extracted outline according to the output resolution, and the coordinate point sequence of the vertices of the outline after thinning out, A generation step for generating print command data for designating the specified fill or clipping, and the thinning-out step has a change when the coordinate points A and B of the next two points of the reference point are read at point A Is negative in the X-axis direction, point B is positive in the Y-axis direction, and the change in the X direction between the reference point and A is less than the minimum unit of output resolution, or X or Y between the reference point and B Direction change is output solution When the change amount between the coordinate points C and D next to the point B is not the same as the change amount between the points A and B when the degree is less than the minimum unit, the point A is thinned out and the point B is registered. In the thinning-out step, the change when the coordinate points A and B of the next two points of the reference point are read in one direction from the minimum point of the Y coordinate, the point A is minus in the X axis direction, and the B point is the Y axis When the change in the X direction between the reference point and A is less than the minimum unit of output resolution, or when the change in the Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of output resolution, When the amount of change between the next coordinate points C and D is the same as the amount of change between A and B, the points A and B are thinned out.
[0035]
According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the plurality of rectangular areas in contact with each other, an extraction procedure for extracting the coordinates of the vertices of the outlines of the plurality of rectangular areas in contact with each other in response to an image formation request that specifies painting or clipping And a thinning procedure for thinning out a part of the coordinates of the extracted contour vertices according to the output resolution, and a print command for designating the specified paint or clipping from the coordinate point sequence of the contour vertices after the thinning A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a generation procedure for generating data, and the thinning-out procedure is performed when two coordinate points A and B next to a reference point are read Of point A is positive in the X-axis direction, point B is positive in the Y-axis direction, and the change in the X direction between the reference point and A is less than the minimum unit of output resolution, or the reference point and B X between Is when the amount of change in the Y direction is less than the minimum unit of output resolution, and when the amount of change between the coordinate points C and D next to point B is not the same as the amount of change between points A and B, the point A is thinned out. The point B is registered, and the thinning-out procedure changes when the coordinate points A and B of the next two points after the reference point are read in one direction around the minimum point of the Y coordinate. Plus, point B is plus in the Y-axis direction, and the change in the X direction between the reference point and A is less than the minimum unit of output resolution, or the change in the Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of output resolution. When the change amount between the coordinate points C and D next to the B point is the same as the change amount between the A and B points, the points A and B are thinned out.
[0046]
According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the plurality of rectangular areas in contact with each other, the extraction procedure for extracting the coordinates of the vertices of the outlines of the plurality of rectangular areas in contact with each other in response to an image formation request that specifies painting or clipping And a thinning procedure for thinning out a part of the coordinates of the extracted contour vertices according to the output resolution, and a print command for designating the specified paint or clipping from the coordinate point sequence of the contour vertices after the thinning A program for causing a computer to execute a generation procedure for generating data, and the thinning-out procedure is the change when the coordinate points A and B of the next two points after the reference point are read. Plus the direction, point B is plus in the Y-axis direction, the change in the X direction between the reference point and A is less than the minimum unit of output resolution, or the change in the X or Y direction between the reference point and B Is less than the minimum unit of output resolution When the change amount between the coordinate points C and D next to the B point is not the same as the change amount between the A and B points, the A point is thinned out and the B point is registered. The change when the next two coordinate points A and B of the reference point are read around one direction from the minimum point of point A is positive in the X-axis direction and B is positive in the Y-axis direction. When the change in the X direction between A and A is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, or the change in the Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, the coordinate points C and D next to the B point When the amount of change between points is the same as the amount of change between A and B, the points A and B are thinned out.
[0048]
According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in the plurality of rectangular areas in contact with each other, an extraction procedure for extracting the coordinates of the vertices of the outlines of the plurality of rectangular areas in contact with each other in response to an image formation request for specifying painting or clipping And a thinning procedure for thinning out a part of the coordinates of the extracted contour vertices according to the output resolution, and a print command for designating the specified paint or clipping from the coordinate point sequence of the contour vertices after the thinning A program for causing a computer to execute a generation procedure for generating data, and the thinning-out procedure is the change when the coordinate points A and B of the next two points after the reference point are read. Plus the direction, B is minus in the Y-axis direction, the change in the X direction between the reference point and A is less than the minimum unit of output resolution, or the change in the X or Y direction between the reference point and B Is less than the minimum unit of output resolution If the change amount between the coordinate points C and D next to the B point is not the same as the change amount between the A and B points, the A point is thinned out and the B point is registered. Changes when the next two coordinate points A and B of the reference point are read in one direction from the minimum coordinate point. The point A is positive in the X-axis direction and the point B is negative in the Y-axis direction. When the change in the X direction between the point and A is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, or when the change in the Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, the coordinate points C, When the amount of change between points D is the same as the amount of change between points A and B, the points A and B are thinned out.
[0050]
The invention according to claim 20 is an extraction procedure for extracting the coordinates of the vertices of the outlines of a plurality of adjacent rectangular areas in response to an image formation request specifying painting or clipping in the plurality of rectangular areas adjacent to each other. And a thinning procedure for thinning out a part of the coordinates of the extracted contour vertices according to the output resolution, and a print command for designating the specified paint or clipping from the coordinate point sequence of the contour vertices after the thinning A program for causing a computer to execute a generation procedure for generating data, and the thinning-out procedure is the change when the coordinate points A and B of the next two points after the reference point are read. Minus direction, B point minus Y axis direction, X direction change between reference point and A is less than the minimum unit of output resolution, or X or Y direction change between reference point and B Is less than the minimum unit of output resolution When the change amount between the coordinate points C and D next to the B point is not the same as the change amount between the A and B points, the A point is thinned out and the B point is registered. Changes when reading the next two coordinate points A and B of the reference point around one direction from the minimum point of the Y coordinate, point A is negative in the X axis direction, point B is negative in the Y axis direction, When the change in the X direction between the reference point and A is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, or the change in the Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, the coordinate point C next to the B point When the change amount between points A and B is the same as the change amount between points A and B, the points A and B are thinned out.
[0052]
According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, in the plurality of rectangular areas in contact with each other, an extraction procedure for extracting the coordinates of the vertices of the outlines of the plurality of adjacent rectangular areas in response to an image formation request for specifying painting or clipping And a thinning procedure for thinning out a part of the coordinates of the extracted contour vertices according to the output resolution, and a print command for designating the specified paint or clipping from the coordinate point sequence of the contour vertices after the thinning A program for causing a computer to execute a generation procedure for generating data, and the thinning-out procedure is the change when the coordinate points A and B of the next two points after the reference point are read. Minus direction, B point is plus in the Y-axis direction, X direction change between reference point and A is less than minimum unit of output resolution, or X or Y direction change between reference point and B Is less than the minimum unit of output resolution If the change amount between the coordinate points C and D next to the B point is not the same as the change amount between the A and B points, the A point is thinned out and the B point is registered. The change when the next two coordinate points A and B of the reference point are read in one direction from the minimum coordinate point, the point A is negative in the X axis direction, and the B point is positive in the Y axis direction. When the change in the X direction between the point and A is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, or when the change in the Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, the coordinate points C, When the amount of change between points D is the same as the amount of change between points A and B, the points A and B are thinned out.
[0053]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Before describing the configuration of the embodiment of the present invention, the configuration of a color laser beam printer (hereinafter referred to as “color LBP”) responsible for printing in a printing system to which the present embodiment is applied will be described with reference to FIG.
[0054]
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing the structure of a color LBP having a resolution of 600 dots / inch (dpi) and performing image recording based on multi-value data in which each pixel of each color component is expressed by 8 bits. In the figure, reference numeral 100 denotes a color LBP main body, which inputs and stores print data (character code, image data, etc.) and control information supplied from an externally connected host computer and the like, This is an apparatus for creating a character pattern or image corresponding to the information and forming an image on a recording sheet as a recording medium.
[0055]
A formatter control unit 110 analyzes print information supplied from the host computer, generates a print image, and controls the color LBP main body 100. Further, the formatter control unit 110 is connected to an operation panel unit 120 in which switches and LED displays for user operations and status notifications to the user are arranged, and the panel unit is an exterior of the printing apparatus 100. It is arranged as a part of. The final print image generated by the formatter control unit 110 is sent to the output control unit 130 as a video signal. The output control unit 130 receives the status input from various sensors (not shown) of the printing apparatus 100 and the optical unit 140 and various drives. A control signal is output to the system mechanism unit to control printing processing as the printing apparatus 100.
[0056]
In the printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the paper P fed from the paper feed cassette 161 is held at the outer periphery of the transfer drum 154 with its leading edge held between grippers 154 f. The latent images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drum 151 by the optical unit 140 are developed by the color developing devices Dy, Dm, Dc, Db of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (B). And is transferred a plurality of times to the paper on the outer periphery of the transfer drum to form a multicolor image. Thereafter, the paper P is separated from the transfer drum 154, fixed by the fixing unit 155, and discharged from the paper discharge unit 159 to the paper discharge tray unit 160. Here, the developing devices Dy, Dm, Dc, and Db of the respective colors have rotation support shafts at both ends, and are held by the developing device selection mechanism unit 152 so as to be rotatable around the shafts. Accordingly, the postures of the developing devices Dy, Dc, Db, and Dn are fixed even when the developing device selection mechanism 152 rotates around the rotation shaft 152a for selecting the developing device as shown in FIG. It has a configuration that can be maintained. After the selected developing device moves to the developing position, the developing device selection mechanism 152 is integrated with the developing device, the selection mechanism holding frame 153 is pulled in the direction of the photosensitive drum 151 by the solenoid 153a around the fulcrum 153b, and the photosensitive drum It is configured to move in the direction 151 and perform development processing. Next, the charging drum 156 uniformly charges the photosensitive drum 151 to a predetermined polarity. The print information developed as an image image in the formatter control unit 110 is converted into a video signal having a corresponding pattern and output to a laser driver to drive the semiconductor laser 141. The laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser 141 is controlled to be turned on / off in accordance with the input video signal, and is further swung in the horizontal direction by the polygon mirror 142 that rotates at high speed by the scanner motor 143, and passes through the fθ lens 144 and the reflecting mirror 145. Scanning exposure is performed on the photosensitive drum 151. As a result, an electrostatic latent image having an image pattern is formed on the photosensitive drum 151. Next, for example, an M (magenta) electrostatic latent image is developed by an M (magenta) developer Dm, and an M (magenta) first toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 151. . On the other hand, the transfer paper P is fed at a predetermined timing, a transfer bias voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner (for example, plus polarity) is applied to the transfer drum 154, and the first toner image on the photosensitive drum 151 is applied to the transfer paper P. While being transferred, the transfer paper P is electrostatically attracted to the surface of the transfer drum 154. Thereafter, the remaining M (magenta) toner is removed from the photosensitive drum 151 by the cleaner 157 to prepare for the formation and development process of the next color latent image. Thereafter, the second, third, and fourth color toner images are transferred in the order of C (cyan), Y (yellow), and Bk (black) by the same procedure. However, a difference is that a bias voltage higher than the previous time is applied to the transfer drum 154 at the time of transfer of each color. When the leading edge of the transfer paper P onto which the four-color toner images are superimposed and transferred approaches the separation position, the separation claw 158 approaches and the leading edge contacts the surface of the transfer drum 154, and the transfer paper P is removed from the transfer drum 154. Separate. The separated transfer paper P is conveyed to the fixing unit 155 where the toner image on the transfer paper is fixed and discharged onto the paper discharge tray 160. The color laser beam printer of the present embodiment outputs an image with a resolution of 600 dots / inch (dpi) through the image forming process as described above. The printer to which the present invention can be applied is not limited to the color LBP, but may be a color printer of another printing method such as an ink jet printer or a thermal printer.
[0057]
Next, the formatter control unit 110 in the printing apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG. This format control unit is usually called a PDL controller or the like, and temporarily holds and manages an interface (I / F) unit 111 which is a connection means with a host computer and received data and the like. A reception buffer 1121 for holding data, a transmission buffer 1122 for temporarily storing and managing transmission data, a command analysis unit 113 for managing print data, a print control processing execution unit 114, a drawing processing execution unit 115, and a page memory 116 The intermediate language storage memory 117 and the like.
[0058]
The interface (I / F) unit 111 is a communication unit that transmits / receives print data to / from the host computer 200, and enables communication conforming to IEEE-1284 as a communication protocol. However, the present invention is not limited to this communication means, and may be a connection by various protocols via a network, or a communication means conforming to IEEE-1394. The print data received through the interface unit 111 is sequentially accumulated in a reception buffer 1121, which is a storage unit that temporarily stores the data, and is read and processed by the command analysis unit 113 as necessary.
[0059]
The command analysis unit 113 executes processing in accordance with a control program according to each PDL command system and print job control language. The analysis result of print data related to drawing such as character printing, graphics, and images is an intermediate language. The drawing processing execution unit 115 converts the data into a data format immediately before the drawing processing and stores it in the intermediate language storage memory 117. Further, the command analysis unit 113 issues an instruction to the print control processing execution unit 114 for processing other than drawing, such as paper feed selection and a reset command.
[0060]
The drawing process execution unit 115 operates as a renderer that sequentially develops each intermediate language of characters and images held in the intermediate language storage memory 117 in the page memory 116. For the color LBP described above with reference to FIG. 1, it is necessary to send page data in MCYK frame order. However, in the standard state, not all memory required for this is secured, and one plane (1 or 2 bits) is required. Memory is secured as a band area of a fraction of / pixel), and the image is processed in synchronization with the engine speed by reusing the band area. Normally, the page memory 116 is managed by following the expansion processing by the YMCK renderer and the shipping of the video signal to the printer engine, that is, banding control. If there is enough memory, one page can be expanded. May be secured. In general, the formatter control unit 110 excluding the printer engine 140 is configured by a computer system using a central processing unit (CPU), a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), and the like. The functions of the command analysis unit 113, the print control process execution unit 114, the drawing process execution unit 115, and the output control unit 130 are realized by the CPU executing a program in the ROM. The processing of each part may be configured to be time-sharing under a multitask monitor (real-time OS), or a dedicated controller / hardware is prepared for each function independently. It may be a configuration to be processed.
[0061]
The operation panel 120 is for setting and displaying various states of the printing apparatus as described above. The output control unit 130 converts the content of the page memory 116 into a video signal and transfers the image to the printer / engine unit 150. The printer engine unit 150 is a printing mechanism unit for forming a received video signal on a recording sheet to form a permanent visible image, as described above with reference to FIG.
[0062]
The printing apparatus 100 has been described above. Next, the overall configuration of the printing system according to the present embodiment including the host computer 200 will be described. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 200 denotes a host computer that outputs print information including print data and control codes to the printing apparatus 100. The host computer 200 is configured as a single computer system including a keyboard 210 as an input device and a mouse 211 as a pointing device and a display monitor 220 as a display device. It is assumed that the host computer 200 is operated by a basic OS such as Windows NT (registered trademark).
[0063]
On the host computer side, paying attention only to the functional part related to the present invention and roughly classifying the functions on the basic OS, communication with the application software 201, the graphic subsystem 202, the print information storage means, and the printing apparatus It is roughly divided into a spool subsystem 203 including means.
[0064]
The application software 201 indicates application software that operates on basic software such as a word processor or spreadsheet. The graphics sub-system 202 is configured by a graphic device interface (hereinafter referred to as GDI) 2021 which is a part of the function of the basic OS and a printer driver 2022 which is a device driver dynamically linked from the GDI. The printer driver 2022 includes a control procedure as shown in FIGS. The Dispatcher 2023 is a module located at the entrance of the printer driver 2022, and switches between the PDL translator 2024 and the image mode translators 2025 to 2027 according to the graphics mode selected by the user, and executes conversion processing and drawing processing. To do. The image mode translators 2024 to 2026 perform drawing processing by using the band memory 2028.
[0065]
When the converted or drawn result is returned to the GDI 2029 again as a print command, it is sent to the printing apparatus 100 through the I / F 203.
[0066]
These names and functional frameworks described above may differ slightly depending on the basic OS. However, as long as the technical means referred to in the present invention can be realized, those names and frameworks are not a significant problem for the present invention. is not. In general, the host computer 200 including each of these functional modules has a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM) storing an initialization program, etc., loaded with each program, and depends on the operation of the CPU. Hardware such as random access memory (RAM) that provides a temporary storage area for data, etc., hard disk drive (HDD) that stores basic OS, application software, printer driver, etc., and various input / output control units (I / O) Originally, software called basic software manages the control, and under the basic software, each application software and sub-system process operate as functional modules. In the above, each component which comprises this invention was demonstrated based on FIG. 1, FIG.
[0067]
The present invention realizes normal printing while compressing the command size from the continuous rectangular area filling or clipping command passed to the PDL translator 2024.
[0068]
Next, regarding the operation of the present invention, an outline of the flow of processing will be described using schematic diagrams of FIG.
[0069]
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a continuous rectangle for performing data size compression in the present invention.
[0070]
As shown in FIG. 4, since the drawing object is composed of a large number of rectangles, the outline formed by collecting the vertices of the rectangles is surrounded by a straight line parallel to the X axis or the Y axis.
In the present invention, a point sequence on the outer periphery is acquired clockwise starting from a point as shown in FIG. 4 having the minimum Y coordinate and the right end of the X coordinate. At that time, the processing when the X direction is positive and the Y direction is a positive change amount is the “lower right rule”, the processing when the X direction is negative and the Y direction is the positive change amount is the “lower left rule”, and the X direction is negative. The process when the Y direction is a negative change amount is defined as an “upper left direction rule”, the process when the X direction is a positive amount and the process when the Y direction is a negative change amount is defined as an “upper right direction rule”.
[0071]
A data compression method for the “lower right rule” will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0072]
(A) of FIG. 5 is a figure for demonstrating the basic system of a lower right direction rule. The lower right direction rule is a variable (pos1) indicating the next point when the data of the point changed in the positive direction in the Y-axis direction is set as a reference point lastPos (represented by already registered black circles) indicating the current position. ) Changed in the positive direction in the X-axis direction (change amount = nowW), and further, the data set in the variable (pos2) indicating the next point changed positively in the Y-axis direction (change amount = nowH). At this time, the data set in pos1 and pos2 is registered (represented by the diagonal lines of registration points).
[0073]
FIG. 5B shows that the coordinate point data of pos1 is thinned out (represented by a hollow circle) when the rightW rule, when nowW or nowH is 1 or less in the output resolution size. In this example, when nowW is 1, even when a straight line is drawn from lastPos to pos2, the same pixels as when pos1 is used as a drawing coordinate point are drawn.
[0074]
FIG. 6 (a) shows that the coordinate point data of pos2 (outlined circle) is thinned out when the rightW rule, when nowW or nowH is 1 or less, and when the next two points have the same change amount. ing.
[0075]
In this example, when the values of nextW and nextH obtained by the following two points are equal to each other, the necessary pixels are filled by connecting lastPos and nowPos even if the coordinate point data of pos2 is thinned out after pos1. Yes.
[0076]
Of course, by applying this rule, the skipping process is repeated while the sequence of points that continue is the same.
[0077]
FIG. 6B shows a rule when the coordinate points pos1, pos2 next to the lower left direction rule are changed in the right direction. After registering the coordinate value of Pos1, the value already set in pos2 is set in pos1 in order to switch to the lower right direction rule. Set the next coordinate point to pos2. The coordinate points Pos1 and pos2 are registered according to the lower right direction rule.
[0078]
FIGS. 7 and 8 are schematic diagrams showing the lower left direction rule, FIGS. 9 and 10 are the upper left direction rule, and FIGS. 11 and 12 are the thinning rules at the upper right direction rule. Since the thinning rule is basically the same as the lower right rule, a detailed explanation is omitted.
[0079]
The flowchart in FIG. 13 shows an outline of processing for generating a path coordinate point sequence thinned out from continuous rectangular data performed in the printer driver of the present invention.
S (step) 1301: The contour points are obtained clockwise from the continuous rectangular coordinate data, and the coordinate points are arranged, and the process proceeds to S1302.
S1302: The right-point data coordinate point compression process is performed, and the process proceeds to S1303.
S1303: A coordinate point compression process for the left data is performed, and the process ends.
[0080]
Next, the flow of the coordinate point compression process of the right data will be described using the flowchart of FIG.
S1401: The first two points corresponding to the right side of the uppermost rectangle are registered as a pass point sequence, and the second point data is set in lastPos, and the process proceeds to set S1402.
S1402: The next coordinate point data is acquired, set to pos1, the X coordinate value of lastPos is subtracted from the X coordinate value of pos1, set to nowW, and the process proceeds to S1403.
S1403: If nowW> 0, proceed to S1415 of “Right Down Rule”, and if equal to or less than 0, proceed to S1404 of “Left Down Rule”
S1404: Register the data of pos1, set it to lastPos, and proceed to S1405.
S1405: Obtain next coordinate point data, set it to pos1, subtract the Y coordinate value of lastPos from the Y coordinate value of pos1, set it to nowH, and proceed to S1406.
S1406: If nowH> 0, proceed to S1407, otherwise proceed to S1421.
S1407: Obtain next coordinate point data, set it to pos2, subtract the X coordinate value of lastPos from the X coordinate value of pos2, set it to nowW, and proceed to S1408.
S1408: If nowW <0, the process proceeds to S1409 of the “lower left rule”, otherwise the process proceeds to S1414.
S1409: If nowH = 1 or nowW = -1, the process proceeds to S1410. If not, the process proceeds to S1412.
S1410: Next, change amounts nextW and nextH of the next coordinate point are obtained, and the process proceeds to S1411.
S1411: If nextW and nextH are the same as nowW and nowH, the process returns to S1405. If either one is different, the process proceeds to S1413.
S1412: The data of pos1 (lower right) is registered, and the process proceeds to S1413.
S1413: Register data of pos2 (lower left), set it to lastPos, and proceed to S1405.
S1414: pos1 is registered, pos2 data is set in pos1, and the process proceeds to S1415.
S1415: The next coordinate point data is acquired, set to pos2, the Y coordinate value of lastPos is subtracted from the Y coordinate value of pos2, set to nowH, and the process proceeds to S1416.
S1416: If nowH = 1 or nowW = 1, the process proceeds to S1417, and if either is different, the process proceeds to S1419.
S1417: Next, change amounts nextW and nextH of the next coordinate point are obtained, and the process proceeds to S1418.
S1418: If nextW and nextH are the same as nowW and nowH, the process returns to S1402, and if either is different, the process proceeds to S1420.
S1420: Register pos2 data, set it to lastPos, and proceed to S1402.
S1421: register pos2 and set it to lastPos.
[0081]
Next, the flow of the coordinate point compression process for the left data will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
S1501: Obtain next coordinate point data, set it to pos1, set the value obtained by subtracting the X coordinate value of lastPos from the X coordinate value of pos1 to nowW, and proceed to S1502.
S1502: If nowW <0, proceed to S1514 of "upper left direction rule", otherwise proceed to S1503 of "upper right direction rule".
S1503: Register pos1, set it to lastPos, and proceed to S1504.
S1504: Acquire next coordinate point data, set it to pos1, subtract the Y coordinate value of lastPos from the Y coordinate value of pos1, set it to nowH, and proceed to S1505.
S1505: If the coordinate point data is completed, the process proceeds to S1521, and if it is not yet, the process proceeds to S1506.
S1506: Obtain next coordinate point data, set it to pos2, subtract the X coordinate value of lastPos from the X coordinate value of pos2, set it to nowW, and proceed to S1507.
S1507: If nowW> 0, the process proceeds to S1508 in the “upper right direction rule”, otherwise the process proceeds to S1513.
S1508: If nowH = −1 or nowW = 1, the process proceeds to S1509. If not, the process proceeds to S1511.
S1509: Next, change amounts nextW and nextH of the next coordinate point are obtained, and the process proceeds to S1510.
S1510: If nextW and nextH are the same as nowW and nowH, the process returns to S1504, and if either is different, the process proceeds to S1512.
S1511: Register pos1 and proceed to S1512.
S1512: Register pos2, set it to lastPos, and proceed to S1504.
S1513: Register pos1 data, set pos2 data in pos1, and proceed to S1514.
S1514: Obtain next coordinate point data, set it to pos2, subtract the Y coordinate value of lastPos from the Y coordinate value of pos2, set it to nowH, and proceed to S1515.
S1515: If nowH = −1 or nowW = −1, the process proceeds to S1516, and if either is different, the process proceeds to S1518.
S1516: Next, change amounts nextW and nextH of the next coordinate point are obtained, and the process proceeds to S1517.
S1517: If nextW and nextH are the same as nowW and nowH, the process proceeds to S1520, and if either is different, the process proceeds to S1519.
S1518: The data of pos1 is registered, and the process proceeds to S1519.
S1519: Register the data of pos2 and set it to lastPos.
S1520: If the point sequence data is completed, the process proceeds to S1521, and if it is not yet, the process returns to S1501.
S1521: The data of pos1 is registered.
[0082]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the command size for painting or clipping a plurality of continuous rectangular areas to shorten the drawing processing time, and to obtain normal printing. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing the structure of a laser beam color printer to which the present invention can be applied.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a basic configuration of the entire printing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a conventional method for extracting contour points of a continuous rectangle.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing definitions of words necessary for explaining the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram (lower right direction rule) for explaining an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram (lower right direction rule) for explaining an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram (lower left direction rule) for explaining an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram (lower left direction rule) for explaining an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram (upper left direction rule) for explaining the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram (upper left direction rule) for explaining an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram (upper right direction rule) for explaining the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram (upper right direction rule) for explaining the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a procedure for compressing one continuous rectangular area according to the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a procedure for compressing the right point of the present invention downward.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a procedure for compressing the left point of the present invention upward.
[Explanation of symbols]
100 printing device (LBP)
110 Formatter Control Unit
111 interface
1121 Receive buffer
1122 Transmission buffer
113 PDL analyzer
114 Print control processing execution unit
115 Drawing processing execution unit (renderer)
116 page memory
117 Intermediate language storage memory
120 Operation panel
130 Output controller
131 Laser driver
140 Printer Engine Unit
141 Semiconductor laser
142 Laser light
143 polygon mirror
144 Electrostatic drum
145 Development unit
146 Paper cassette
147 Paper feed roller
148 Transport roller
149 Conveying roller
200 Host computer
201 Application software
202 Graphic subsystem
2021 GDI
2022 Printer driver
2023 dispatcher
2024 PDL translator
2025 Monochrome renderer
2026 High-speed color renderer
2027 high-definition color renderer
2028 band memory
2029 GDI
203 interface
210 keyboard
211 mouse
220 Display monitor

Claims

Extracting means for extracting the coordinates of the vertices of the outlines of the plurality of rectangular regions in contact with each other in response to an image formation request specifying painting or clipping in the plurality of rectangular regions in contact with each other;
Thinning means for thinning out some of the coordinates of the extracted contour vertices according to the output resolution;
Means for generating print command data for designating the specified paint or clipping from the coordinate point sequence of the vertices of the contour after the thinning, and
The thinning means changes when the two coordinate points A and B next to the reference point are read. The point A is positive in the X-axis direction and the point B is positive in the Y-axis direction. When the change in the X direction between and the reference point is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, or the change in the X or Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, the coordinates next to the B point When the amount of change between points C and D is not the same as the amount of change between A and B, point A is thinned out, point B is registered,
The thinning-out means changes when the two coordinate points A and B next to the reference point are read in one direction from the minimum point of the Y coordinate. The point A is positive in the X-axis direction and the point B is Y When the amount of change in the X direction between the reference point and A is less than the minimum unit of output resolution or the amount of change in the Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of output resolution. A data processing apparatus characterized by thinning out points A and B when the amount of change between the next coordinate points C and D is the same as the amount of change between A and B.

In claim 1,
When the thinning means reads two coordinate points A and B around one direction from the minimum point of the Y coordinate, the point A is positive in the X-axis direction and the point B is negative in the Y-axis direction. A data processing apparatus that thins out point A when the change in X or Y direction between A and B is less than the minimum unit of output resolution.

Extracting means for extracting the coordinates of the vertices of the outlines of the plurality of rectangular regions in contact with each other in response to an image formation request specifying painting or clipping in the plurality of rectangular regions in contact with each other;
Thinning means for thinning out some of the coordinates of the extracted contour vertices according to the output resolution;
Means for generating print command data for designating the specified paint or clipping from the coordinate point sequence of the vertices of the contour after the thinning, and
The thinning means changes when the next two coordinate points A and B of the reference point are read. The point A is positive in the X-axis direction and the point B is negative in the Y-axis direction. When the change in the X direction between and the reference point is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, or the change in the X or Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, the coordinates next to the B point When the amount of change between points C and D is not the same as the amount of change between A and B, point A is thinned out, point B is registered,
The thinning-out means changes when the two coordinate points A and B next to the reference point are read in one direction from the minimum point of the Y coordinate. The point A is positive in the X-axis direction and the point B is Y A point when the change in the X direction between the reference point and A is less than the minimum unit of output resolution or the change in the Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of output resolution. A data processing apparatus characterized by thinning out point B when the amount of change between coordinate points C and D next to point B is the same as the amount of change between points A and B.

In claim 1,
The thinning means changes when the two coordinate points A and B are read in one direction from the minimum point of the Y coordinate. The point A is negative in the X axis direction and the B point is negative in the Y axis direction. A data processing apparatus that thins out point A when the change in X or Y direction between A and B is less than the minimum unit of output resolution.

Extracting means for extracting the coordinates of the vertices of the outlines of the plurality of rectangular regions in contact with each other in response to an image formation request specifying painting or clipping in the plurality of rectangular regions in contact with each other;
Thinning means for thinning out some of the coordinates of the extracted contour vertices according to the output resolution;
Means for generating print command data for designating the specified paint or clipping from the coordinate point sequence of the vertices of the contour after the thinning, and
The thinning means changes when the next two coordinate points A and B of the reference point are read. The point A is negative in the X-axis direction and the point B is negative in the Y-axis direction. When the change in the X direction between and the reference point is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, or the change in the X or Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, the coordinates next to the B point When the amount of change between points C and D is not the same as the amount of change between A and B, point A is thinned out, point B is registered,
The thinning-out means changes when the two coordinate points A and B next to the reference point are read in one direction from the minimum point of the Y coordinate. The point A is negative in the X-axis direction and the point B is Y A point when the change in the X direction between the reference point and A is less than the minimum unit of output resolution or the change in the Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of output resolution. A data processing apparatus characterized by thinning out point B when the amount of change between coordinate points C and D next to point B is the same as the amount of change between points A and B.

In claim 1,
The thinning means changes when the two coordinate points A and B are read in one direction from the minimum point of the Y coordinate. The point A is negative in the X axis direction and the B point is positive in the Y axis direction. A data processing apparatus that thins out point A when the change in X or Y direction between A and B is less than the minimum unit of output resolution.

Extracting means for extracting the coordinates of the vertices of the outlines of the plurality of rectangular regions in contact with each other in response to an image formation request specifying painting or clipping in the plurality of rectangular regions in contact with each other;
Thinning means for thinning out some of the coordinates of the extracted contour vertices according to the output resolution;
Means for generating print command data for designating the specified paint or clipping from the coordinate point sequence of the vertices of the contour after the thinning, and
The thinning means changes when the two coordinate points A and B next to the reference point are read, the point A is negative in the X-axis direction, the point B is positive in the Y-axis direction, and the reference point and A When the change in the X direction between and the reference point is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, or the change in the X or Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, the coordinates next to the B point When the amount of change between points C and D is not the same as the amount of change between A and B, point A is thinned out, point B is registered,
The thinning-out means changes when the two coordinate points A and B next to the reference point are read in one direction from the minimum point of the Y coordinate. The point A is negative in the X-axis direction and the point B is Y When the amount of change in the X direction between the reference point and A is less than the minimum unit of output resolution, or the amount of change in the Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of output resolution. A data processing apparatus characterized by thinning out point B when the amount of change between coordinate points C and D next to point B is the same as the amount of change between points A and B.

A data processing method to be executed by a data processing device,
An extraction step of extracting the coordinates of the vertices of the outlines of the plurality of rectangular regions that are in contact with each other in response to an image formation request that specifies painting or clipping in a plurality of rectangular regions that are in contact with each other;
A thinning step of thinning out a part of the coordinates of the extracted vertex of the contour according to the output resolution,
A generation step of generating print command data specifying a specified paint or clipping from the coordinate point sequence of the vertices of the contour after the thinning; and
In the thinning-out step, the change when the two coordinate points A and B next to the reference point are read. The point A is positive in the X-axis direction, the point B is positive in the Y-axis direction, and the reference point and A When the change in the X direction between and the reference point is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, or the change in the X or Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, the coordinates next to the B point When the amount of change between points C and D is not the same as the amount of change between A and B, point A is thinned out, point B is registered,
In the thinning-out step, the change when the two coordinate points A and B next to the reference point are read in one direction from the minimum point of the Y coordinate. The point A is positive in the X-axis direction and the point B is Y When the amount of change in the X direction between the reference point and A is less than the minimum unit of output resolution or the amount of change in the Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of output resolution. A data processing method characterized by thinning out points A and B when the amount of change between the next coordinate points C and D is the same as the amount of change between A and B.

In claim 8,
In the thinning-out step, changes when reading two coordinate points A and B around one direction from the minimum point of the Y coordinate are positive in the X-axis direction and negative in the Y-axis direction. A data processing method characterized by thinning out point A when the change in X or Y direction between A and B is less than the minimum unit of output resolution.

A data processing method to be executed by a data processing device,
An extraction step of extracting the coordinates of the vertices of the outlines of the plurality of rectangular regions that are in contact with each other in response to an image formation request that specifies painting or clipping in a plurality of rectangular regions that are in contact with each other;
A thinning step of thinning out a part of the coordinates of the extracted vertex of the contour according to the output resolution,
A generation step of generating print command data specifying a specified paint or clipping from the coordinate point sequence of the vertices of the contour after the thinning; and
In the thinning-out step, the change when the two coordinate points A and B next to the reference point are read. The point A is positive in the X-axis direction and the point B is negative in the Y-axis direction. When the change in the X direction between and the reference point is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, or the change in the X or Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, the coordinates next to the B point When the amount of change between points C and D is not the same as the amount of change between A and B, point A is thinned out, point B is registered,
In the thinning-out step, the change when the two coordinate points A and B next to the reference point are read in one direction from the minimum point of the Y coordinate. The point A is positive in the X-axis direction and the point B is Y A point when the change in the X direction between the reference point and A is less than the minimum unit of output resolution or the change in the Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of output resolution. A data processing method characterized by thinning out point B when the amount of change between coordinate points C and D next to point B is the same as the amount of change between points A and B.

In claim 8,
In the thinning-out step, the change when reading two coordinate points A and B around one direction from the minimum point of the Y coordinate is negative in the X axis direction and the B point is negative in the Y axis direction. A data processing method characterized by thinning out point A when the change in X or Y direction between A and B is less than the minimum unit of output resolution.

A data processing method to be executed by a data processing device,
An extraction step of extracting the coordinates of the vertices of the outlines of the plurality of rectangular regions that are in contact with each other in response to an image formation request that specifies painting or clipping in a plurality of rectangular regions that are in contact with each other;
A thinning step of thinning out a part of the coordinates of the extracted vertex of the contour according to the output resolution,
A generation step of generating print command data specifying a specified paint or clipping from the coordinate point sequence of the vertices of the contour after the thinning; and
In the thinning-out step, the change when the two coordinate points A and B next to the reference point are read, the point A is negative in the X-axis direction, the point B is negative in the Y-axis direction, and the reference point and A When the change in the X direction between and the reference point is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, or the change in the X or Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, the coordinates next to the B point When the amount of change between points C and D is not the same as the amount of change between A and B, point A is thinned out, point B is registered,
In the thinning-out step, the change when the two coordinate points A and B next to the reference point are read in one direction from the minimum point of the Y coordinate. The point A is negative in the X-axis direction and the point B is Y A point when the change in the X direction between the reference point and A is less than the minimum unit of output resolution or the change in the Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of output resolution. A data processing method characterized by thinning out point B when the amount of change between coordinate points C and D next to point B is the same as the amount of change between points A and B.

In claim 8,
In the thinning-out step, changes when reading two coordinate points A and B around one direction from the minimum point of the Y coordinate are negative in the X axis direction and positive in the Y axis direction. A data processing method characterized by thinning out point A when the change in X or Y direction between A and B is less than the minimum unit of output resolution.

A data processing method to be executed by a data processing device,
An extraction step of extracting the coordinates of the vertices of the outlines of the plurality of rectangular regions that are in contact with each other in response to an image formation request that specifies painting or clipping in a plurality of rectangular regions that are in contact with each other;
A thinning step of thinning out a part of the coordinates of the extracted vertex of the contour according to the output resolution,
A generation step of generating print command data specifying a specified paint or clipping from the coordinate point sequence of the vertices of the contour after the thinning; and
In the thinning-out step, the change when the two coordinate points A and B next to the reference point are read, the point A is negative in the X-axis direction, the point B is positive in the Y-axis direction, and the reference point and A When the change in the X direction between and the reference point is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, or the change in the X or Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, the coordinates next to the B point When the amount of change between points C and D is not the same as the amount of change between A and B, point A is thinned out, point B is registered,
In the thinning-out step, the change when the two coordinate points A and B next to the reference point are read in one direction from the minimum point of the Y coordinate. The point A is negative in the X-axis direction and the point B is Y When the amount of change in the X direction between the reference point and A is less than the minimum unit of output resolution, or the amount of change in the Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of output resolution. A data processing method characterized by thinning out point B when the amount of change between coordinate points C and D next to point B is the same as the amount of change between points A and B.

An extraction procedure for extracting the coordinates of the vertices of the outlines of the plurality of rectangular regions that are in contact with each other in response to an image formation request that specifies painting or clipping in a plurality of rectangular regions that are in contact with each other;
A thinning procedure for thinning out a part of the coordinates of the extracted vertex of the contour according to the output resolution,
A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a generation procedure for generating print command data specifying a specified paint or clipping from the coordinate point sequence of the vertices of the contour after the thinning Because
In the thinning-out procedure, the change when the two coordinate points A and B next to the reference point are read. The point A is positive in the X-axis direction and the point B is positive in the Y-axis direction. When the change in the X direction between and the reference point is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, or the change in the X or Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, the coordinates next to the B point When the amount of change between points C and D is not the same as the amount of change between A and B, point A is thinned out, point B is registered,
In the thinning-out procedure, the change when the two coordinate points A and B next to the reference point are read in one direction from the minimum point of the Y coordinate. The point A is positive in the X-axis direction and the point B is Y. When the amount of change in the X direction between the reference point and A is less than the minimum unit of output resolution or the amount of change in the Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of output resolution. A computer-readable storage medium characterized by thinning out points A and B when the amount of change between the next coordinate points C and D is the same as the amount of change between A and B.

An extraction procedure for extracting the coordinates of the vertices of the outlines of the plurality of rectangular regions that are in contact with each other in response to an image formation request that specifies painting or clipping in a plurality of rectangular regions that are in contact with each other;
A thinning procedure for thinning out a part of the coordinates of the extracted vertex of the contour according to the output resolution,
A program for causing a computer to execute a generation procedure for generating print command data specifying a specified paint or clipping from a coordinate point sequence of vertices of a contour after the thinning,
In the thinning-out procedure, the change when the two coordinate points A and B next to the reference point are read. The point A is positive in the X-axis direction and the point B is positive in the Y-axis direction. When the change in the X direction between and the reference point is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, or the change in the X or Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, the coordinates next to the B point When the amount of change between points C and D is not the same as the amount of change between A and B, point A is thinned out, point B is registered,
In the thinning-out procedure, the change when the two coordinate points A and B next to the reference point are read in one direction from the minimum point of the Y coordinate. The point A is positive in the X-axis direction and the point B is Y. When the amount of change in the X direction between the reference point and A is less than the minimum unit of output resolution or the amount of change in the Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of output resolution. A program characterized by thinning out points A and B when the amount of change between the next coordinate points C and D is the same as the amount of change between A and B.

In claim 16,
In the thinning-out procedure, changes when reading two coordinate points A and B around one direction from the minimum point of the Y coordinate are positive in the X-axis direction and negative in the Y-axis direction. , A or B is thinned out when the change in X or Y direction between A and B is less than the minimum unit of output resolution.

An extraction procedure for extracting the coordinates of the vertices of the outlines of the plurality of rectangular regions that are in contact with each other in response to an image formation request that specifies painting or clipping in a plurality of rectangular regions that are in contact with each other;
A thinning procedure for thinning out a part of the coordinates of the extracted vertex of the contour according to the output resolution,
A program for causing a computer to execute a generation procedure for generating print command data specifying a specified paint or clipping from a coordinate point sequence of apexes of a contour after thinning,
In the thinning-out procedure, the change when the two coordinate points A and B next to the reference point are read. The point A is positive in the X-axis direction and the point B is negative in the Y-axis direction. When the change in the X direction between and the reference point is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, or the change in the X or Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, the coordinates next to the B point When the amount of change between points C and D is not the same as the amount of change between A and B, point A is thinned out, point B is registered,
In the thinning-out procedure, the change when the two coordinate points A and B next to the reference point are read in one direction from the minimum point of the Y coordinate. The point A is positive in the X-axis direction and the point B is Y. A point when the change in the X direction between the reference point and A is less than the minimum unit of output resolution or the change in the Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of output resolution. When the change amount between the coordinate points C and D next to the point B is the same as the change amount between the points A and B, the program is characterized by thinning out the point B.

In claim 16,
In the thinning-out procedure, the change when reading two coordinate points A and B around one direction from the minimum point of the Y coordinate is negative in the X axis direction and the B point is negative in the Y axis direction. , A or B is thinned out when the change in X or Y direction between A and B is less than the minimum unit of output resolution.

An extraction procedure for extracting the coordinates of the vertices of the outlines of the plurality of rectangular regions that are in contact with each other in response to an image formation request that specifies painting or clipping in a plurality of rectangular regions that are in contact with each other;
A thinning procedure for thinning out a part of the coordinates of the extracted vertex of the contour according to the output resolution,
A program for causing a computer to execute a generation procedure for generating print command data specifying a specified paint or clipping from a coordinate point sequence of apexes of a contour after thinning,
In the thinning-out procedure, the change when the two coordinate points A and B next to the reference point are read, the point A is negative in the X-axis direction, the point B is negative in the Y-axis direction, and the reference point and A When the change in the X direction between and the reference point is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, or the change in the X or Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, the coordinates next to the B point When the amount of change between points C and D is not the same as the amount of change between A and B, point A is thinned out, point B is registered,
In the thinning-out procedure, the change when the two coordinate points A and B next to the reference point are read in one direction from the minimum point of the Y coordinate. The point A is negative in the X-axis direction and the point B is Y A point when the change in the X direction between the reference point and A is less than the minimum unit of output resolution or the change in the Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of output resolution. When the change amount between the coordinate points C and D next to the point B is the same as the change amount between the points A and B, the program is characterized by thinning out the point B.

In claim 16,
In the thinning-out procedure, the change when reading two coordinate points A and B around one direction from the minimum point of the Y coordinate is negative in the X axis direction and the B point is positive in the Y axis direction. , A or B is thinned out when the change in X or Y direction between A and B is less than the minimum unit of output resolution.

An extraction procedure for extracting the coordinates of the vertices of the outlines of the plurality of rectangular regions that are in contact with each other in response to an image formation request that specifies painting or clipping in a plurality of rectangular regions that are in contact with each other;
A thinning procedure for thinning out a part of the coordinates of the extracted vertex of the contour according to the output resolution,
A program for causing a computer to execute a generation procedure for generating print command data specifying a specified paint or clipping from a coordinate point sequence of apexes of a contour after thinning,
In the thinning-out procedure, the change when the two coordinate points A and B next to the reference point are read, the point A is negative in the X-axis direction, the point B is positive in the Y-axis direction, and the reference point and A When the change in the X direction between and the reference point is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, or the change in the X or Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of the output resolution, the coordinates next to the B point When the amount of change between points C and D is not the same as the amount of change between A and B, point A is thinned out, point B is registered,
In the thinning-out procedure, the change when the two coordinate points A and B next to the reference point are read in one direction from the minimum point of the Y coordinate. The point A is negative in the X-axis direction and the point B is Y When the amount of change in the X direction between the reference point and A is less than the minimum unit of output resolution, or the amount of change in the Y direction between the reference point and B is less than the minimum unit of output resolution. When the change amount between the coordinate points C and D next to the point B is the same as the change amount between the points A and B, the program is characterized by thinning out the point B.