Method of printing with a host based printer using an internal font

• US 6,166,822 A
• Filed: 01/20/1998
• Issued: 12/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Inventors: Mayo, Randall David, Harrington, Paul III
• Primary Examiner(s): COUSO, YON JUNG
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cooperrider, F. E.
• Application Number:
  US09/009,114
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 395/110, 395/112, 358/1.11, 358/1.13
• US Class Current: 358/1.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/02 using printers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0002 Handling the output data
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0011 characterised by a particular command or data flow, e.g. Page Description Language, configuration commands

Abstract

A method of printing a print image on a print medium using a printer includes providing a text printing mode, wherein a first predetermined number of bits identify a selected character to be printed. A host based printing mode is provided wherein selected bits each indicate whether a corresponding pixel should be printed. The printer is initialized to print in either one of the text printing mode and the host based printing mode. A second predetermined number of bits of a data stream associated with the print image to be printed are received within the printer. The second predetermined number of bits is examined to determine a presence of a command therein. The printer is enabled to print in an enabled printing mode. The enabled printing mode includes either the text printing mode or the host based printing mode, dependent upon the examination of the second predetermined number of bits. The printer is used to print on the print medium in the enabled printing mode.

Claims

1. A method of printing a print image on a print medium using a printer, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a text printing mode, wherein a first predetermined number of bits identify a selected character to be printed;

providing a host based printing mode, wherein a group of bits indicates whether a corresponding pixel should be printed, said group including at least one bit;

resetting an internal flag in the printer, initializing printing in said text printing mode;

receiving within the printer a second predetermined number of bits of a data stream associated with the print image to be printed;

examining said second predetermined number of bits to determine a presence of a command therein, wherein upon determining the presence of the command, said text printing mode is disabled and in the absence of the command, said text printing mode and said host based printing mode remain enabled;

enabling the printer to print in an enabled printing mode, said enabled printing mode comprising one of said text printing mode and said host based printing mode, said enabling step including switching the printer to said host based printing mode if said second predetermined number of bits include a command to print in said host based printing mode;

printing on the print medium using the printer in said enabled printing mode;

counting a number of characters printed without an intervening carriage restore/line feed in said data stream; and

switching the printer to said host based printing mode if said number of characters printed without an intervening carriage restore/line feed exceeds a first predetermined value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first predetermined value equals 264.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said switching step includes setting said internal flag in the printer, thereby disabling printing in said text printing mode and enabling printing in said host based printing mode.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of counting a number of characters includes the sub-steps of:

resetting a character counter; and

incrementing said character counter.

5. A method of printing a print image on a print medium using a printer, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a text printing mode, wherein a first predetermined number of bits identify a selected character to be printed;

providing a host based printing mode, wherein a group of bits indicates whether a corresponding pixel should be printed, said group including at least one bit;

resetting an internal flag in the printer, initializing printing in said text printing mode;

receiving within the printer a second predetermined number of bits of a data stream associated with the print image to be printed;

examining said second predetermined number of bits to determine a presence of a command therein, wherein upon determining the presence of the command, said text printing mode is disabled and in the absence of the command, said text printing mode and said host based printing mode remain enabled;

enabling the printer to print in an enabled printing mode, said enabled printing mode comprising one of said text printing mode and said host based printing mode;

printing on the print medium using the printer in said enabled printing mode;

counting a number of forced line wraps without an intervening carriage restore/line feed in said data stream; and

shifting the printer to said host based printing mode if said number of forced line wraps without an intervening carriage restore/line feed exceeds a second predetermined value.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said second predetermined value equals 66.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said shifting step includes setting said internal flag in the printer, thereby disabling printing in said text printing mode and enabling printing in said host based printing mode.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of counting a number of forced line wraps includes the sub-steps of:

resetting a line wrap counter; and

incrementing said line wrap counter.