Method and apparatus for directly printing out image files for printer
First Claim
1. A method for printing out an image file for a printer connected to a host computer, comprising the steps of:
- determining whether data are inputted to said printer, through a computer interface of said printer, as inputted data from said computer;
determining whether a command mode is present at said printer, said command mode establishing a command input containing information regarding an operation of said printer;
when a command mode is determined to be present at said printer and said inputted data are inputted to said printer from said host computer, determining whether said command mode is a Direct Image File Printing System mode, said Direct Image File Printing System mode permitting direct printing of said image file without executing an application program for reading said host computer and without establishing a printer driver for printing said image file;
when no command mode is determined to be present at said printer, establishing a command mode at said printer and establishing said image file;
after said step of determining whether said command mode is a Direct Image File Printing System mode, when said command mode of said printer is said Direct Image File Printing System mode, converting said inputted data into converted data of a first type among types of converted data, said converted data of said first type being of an image form to be outputted to print in dependence upon an image file type mode;
after said step of determining whether said command mode is a Direct Image File Printing System mode, when said command mode of said printer is not said Direct Image File Printing System mode, converting said inputted data into converted data of one of said types of converted data in accordance with said command mode; and
after said steps of converting said inputted data, printing said converted data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for printing provides for direct printing out of image files received from a system that is external to the printer. The method includes the step of determining whether or not a command mode of the printer at present is a Direct Image File Printing System mode, if data are inputted to the printer from a host computer that is external to the printer. The method may also include the step of converting the inputted data into an image form which can be outputted so as to print them out depending on the image file type mode. This step may occur if the command mode of the printer at present is found to be the Direct Image File Printing mode upon a result of the examination.
77 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for printing out an image file for a printer connected to a host computer, comprising the steps of:
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determining whether data are inputted to said printer, through a computer interface of said printer, as inputted data from said computer; determining whether a command mode is present at said printer, said command mode establishing a command input containing information regarding an operation of said printer; when a command mode is determined to be present at said printer and said inputted data are inputted to said printer from said host computer, determining whether said command mode is a Direct Image File Printing System mode, said Direct Image File Printing System mode permitting direct printing of said image file without executing an application program for reading said host computer and without establishing a printer driver for printing said image file; when no command mode is determined to be present at said printer, establishing a command mode at said printer and establishing said image file; after said step of determining whether said command mode is a Direct Image File Printing System mode, when said command mode of said printer is said Direct Image File Printing System mode, converting said inputted data into converted data of a first type among types of converted data, said converted data of said first type being of an image form to be outputted to print in dependence upon an image file type mode; after said step of determining whether said command mode is a Direct Image File Printing System mode, when said command mode of said printer is not said Direct Image File Printing System mode, converting said inputted data into converted data of one of said types of converted data in accordance with said command mode; and after said steps of converting said inputted data, printing said converted data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for printing out an image file for a printer connected to a host computer, comprising:
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means for determining whether data are inputted to said printer from said computer; means for determining whether a command mode is present at said printer, said command mode establishing a command input containing information regarding an operation of said printer; means for determining whether said command mode is a Direct Image File Printing System mode when a command mode is at said printer and said inputted data are inputted to said printer from said host computer, said Direct Image File Printing System mode permitting direct printing of said image file without executing an application program for reading said host computer and without establishing a printer driver for printing said image file; means for establishing a command mode at said printer and establishing said image file when no command mode is present at said printer; means for converting said inputted data into converted data of a first type among types of converted data after determining that said command mode of said printer is said Direct Image File Printing System mode, said converted data of said first type being of an image form to be outputted to print in dependence upon an image file type mode; means for converting said inputted data into converted data of one of said types of converted data in accordance with said command mode after determining that said command mode of said printer at present is not said Direct Image File Printing System mode; and means for printing said converted data after converting said inputted data. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A printing apparatus for printing out an image file sent from a host computer to a printer, comprising:
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a computer interface for receiving inputted data from said computer and for transmitting commands keyed by a user to said computer; a video control section for determining whether a command mode is present at said printer, said command mode establishing a command input containing information regarding an operation of said printer, and for determining whether said command mode is a Direct Image File Printing System mode when a command mode is determined to be present at said printer and said inputted data are inputted to said printer from said host computer, said Direct Image File Printing System mode permitting direct printing of said image file without executing an application program for reading said host computer and without establishing a printer driver for printing said image file; an engine interface for receiving converted data from said video control section upon converting of said inputted data into said converted data of a first type among types of converted data when, after determining that said command mode of said printer is said Direct Image File Printing System mode, said converted data of said first type being of an image form to be outputted to print in dependence upon an image file type mode; and an engine controller for receiving said converted data and for controlling printing of said converted data after converting said inputted data. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification