Information processing apparatus, information processing method, storage medium, and program

• US 6,963,412 B1
• Filed: 06/27/2000
• Issued: 11/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Toda, Masanari
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAHIMI, IRAJ A
• Application Number:
  US09/605,008
• Time in Patent Office: 1,960 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.1, 358/1.2, 358/1.5, 358/1.15, 358/1.16, 358/1.17, 358/1.13
• US Class Current: 358/1.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1211 Improving printing performance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1247 by conversion to printer ready format
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/125 Page layout or assigning input pages onto output media, e.g. imposition
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1284 Local printer device

Abstract

Selection of an optimum print data conversion is provided such that: in a first conversion, print data is converted into image data, in a second conversion, the print data is converted into code data which is used by a printer to generate the image data; predictions are made as regards a printing time using the image data converted in the first conversion and a printing time using the code data converted in the second conversion, a determination is made whether the printing time using the image data is shorter than the printing time using the code data, and the first conversion is selected when it is determined that the printing time using the image data is shorter and the second conversion is selected when it is determined that the printing time using the image data is not shorter.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

first converting means for converting print data into image data;

second converting means for converting the print data into code data for allowing a printer to generate the image data;

predicting means for predicting a printing time, including a data processing time and a data transmission time, using the image data converted by said first converting means and a printing time, including a data processing time and a data transmission time, using the code data converted by said second converting means;

discriminating means for discriminating whether the printing time using the image data is shorter than the printing time using the code data or not on the basis of a prediction result by said predicting means; and

selecting means for selecting said first converting means when it is determined by said discriminating means that the printing time using the image data is shorter and selecting said second converting means when it is determined by said discriminating means that the printing time using the image data is not shorter.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said predicting means predicts the printing time on the basis of a processing time and a transmission time on a host computer side and a processing time on the printer side.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing time using the image data includes a drawing time, a transmission time, and a processing time of the printer, and the printing time using the code data includes a command generation time and a subclosing time.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing time using the image data includes a drawing time, a transmission time, an intermediate data generation time, and a shipping time, and the printing time using the code data includes a command generation time, a transmission time, a shipping preparation time, and a shipping time.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said selecting means selects the converting means on a logical page unit basis.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

discriminating means for discriminating whether a subclose occurs in the printer if a printing is performed by the data converted by the converting means selected by said selecting means or not; and

means for degrading a gradation of the data converted by said converting means when it is determined by said discriminating means that the subclose occurs.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising judging means for judging whether an improper drawing occurs or not by checking the print data,

and wherein said selecting means selects said first converting means when it is determined by said judging means that the improper drawing occurs, and selects said second converting means when it is determined by said judging means that the improper drawing does not occur.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

third converting means for converting the print data into image data;

judging means for judging whether an improper drawing occurs or not by checking the print data; and

discriminating means for discriminating whether a time which is required for processing by the code data is longer than a time which is required for processing by the image data or not when it is determined by said judging means that the improper drawing does not occur,

and wherein said selecting means selects said third converting means when it is determined by said discriminating means that the time which is required for processing by the code data is longer than the time which is required for processing by the image data, and selects said second converting means when it is determined by said discriminating means that the time which is required for processing by the code data is not longer than the time which is required for processing by the image data.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said first converting means performs a logical operation by RGB and said third converting means performs a logical operation by YMCK.

10. An information processing method using first converting means for converting print data into image data and second converting means for converting the print data into code data for allowing a printer to generate the image data, comprising:

a predicting step of predicting a printing time, including a data processing time and a data transmission time, using the image data converted by said first converting means and a printing time, including a data processing time and a data transmission time, using the code data converted by said second converting means;

a discriminating step of discriminating whether the printing time using the image data is shorter than the printing time using the code data or not on the basis of a prediction result by said predicting step; and

a selecting step of selecting said first converting means when it is determined by said discriminating step that the printing time using the image data is shorter and selecting said second converting means when it is determined by said discriminating step that the printing time using the image data is not shorter.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein in said predicting step, the printing time is predicted on the basis of a processing time and a transmission time on a host computer side and a processing time on the printer side.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein the printing time using the image data includes a drawing time, a transmission time, and a processing time of the printer, and the printing time using the code data includes a command generation time and a sublosing time.

13. A method according to claim 10, wherein the printing time using the image data includes a drawing time, a transmission time, an intermediate data generation time, and a shipping time, and the printing time using the code data includes a command generation time, a transmission time, a shipping preparation time, and a shipping time.

14. A method according to claim 10, wherein in said selecting step, the converting means is selected on a logical page unit basis.

15. A method according to claim 10, further comprising:

a discriminating step of discriminating whether a subclose occurs in the printer if a printing is performed by the data converted by the converting means selected by said selecting step or not, and

a step of degrading a gradation of the data converted by said converting means when it is determined by said discriminating step that the subclose occurs.

16. A method according to claim 10, further comprising a judging step of judging whether an improper drawing occurs or not by checking the print data,

and wherein in said selecting step, said first converting means is selected when it is determined by said judging step that the improper drawing occurs, and said second converting means is selected when it is determined by said judging step that the improper drawing does not occur.

17. A method using third converting means for converting the print data into image data according to claim 10, further comprising:

a judging step of judging whether an improper drawing occurs or not by checking the print data; and

a discriminating step of discriminating whether a time which is required for processing by the code data is longer than a time which is required for processing by the image data or not when it is determined by said judging step that the improper drawing does not occur,

and wherein in said selecting step, said third converting means is selected when it is determined by said discriminating step that the time which is required for processing by the code data is longer than the time which is required for processing by the image data, and said second converting means is selected when it is determined by said discriminating step that the time which is required for processing by the code data is not longer than the time which is required for processing by the image data.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein said first converting means performs a logical operation by RGB and said third converting means performs a logical operation by YMCK.

19. A storage medium which stores a program using first converting means for converting print data into image data and second converting means for converting the print data into code data for allowing a printer to generate the image data, wherein said program comprises:

a predicting step of predicting a printing time, including a data processing time and a data transmission time, using the image data converted by said first converting means and a printing time, including a data processing time and a data transmission time, using the code data converted by said second converting means;

a discriminating step of discriminating whether the printing time using the image data is shorter than the printing time using the code data or not on the basis of a prediction result by said predicting step; and

a selecting step of selecting said first converting means when it is determined by said discriminating step that the printing time using the image data is shorter and selecting said second converting means when it is determined by said discriminating step that the printing time using the image data is not shorter.

20. A medium according to claim 19, wherein in said predicting step, the printing time is predicted on the basis of a processing time and a transmission time on a host computer side and a processing time on the printer side.

21. A medium according to claim 19, wherein the printing time using the image data includes a drawing time, a transmission time, and a processing time of the printer, and the printing time using the code data includes a command generation time and a subclosing time.

22. A medium according to claim 19, wherein the printing time using the image data includes a drawing time, a transmission time, an intermediate data generation time, and a shipping time, and the printing time using the code data includes a command generation time, a transmission time, a shipping preparation time, and a shipping time.

23. A medium according to claim 19, wherein in said selecting step, the converting means is selected on a logical page unit basis.

24. A medium according to claim 19, wherein said program further comprises:

a discriminating step of discriminating whether a subclose occurs in the printer if a printing is performed by the data converted by the converting means selected by said selecting step or not; and

a step of degrading a gradation of the data converted by said converting means when it is determined by said discriminating step that the subclose occurs.

25. A medium according to claim 19, wherein said program further comprises a judging step of judging whether an improper drawing occurs or not by checking the print data,

and in said selecting step, said first converting means is selected when it is determined by said judging step that the improper drawing occurs, and said second converting means is selected when it is determined by said judging step that the improper drawing does not occur.

26. A medium which stores a program using third converting means for converting the print data into image data according to claim 19, wherein said program further comprises:

a judging step of judging whether an improper drawing occurs or not by checking the print data; and

a discriminating step of discriminating whether a time which is required for processing by the code data is longer than a time which is required for processing by the image data or not when it is determined by said judging step that the improper drawing does not occur,

and in said selecting step, said third converting means is selected when it is determined by said discriminating step that the time which is required for processing by the code data is longer than the time which is required for processing by the image data, and said second converting means is selected when it is determined by said discriminating step that the time which is required for processing by the code data is not longer than the time which is required for processing by the image data.

27. A medium according to claim 26, wherein said first converting means performs a logical operation by RGB and said third converting means performs a logical operation by YMCK.

28. A computer having a PDL mode, in which a drawing command is converted into a PDL data and the converted PDL data is transmitted to a printer, and an image mode, in which a drawing command is converted into image data and the converted image data is transmitted to the printer, said computer comprising:

a first computing unit computing a processing time, including a data processing time and a data transmission time, in the image mode;

a second computing unit computing a processing time, including a data processing time and a data transmission time, in the PDL mode; and

a selection unit selecting the PDL mode when the processing time in the image mode computed by said first computing unit is longer than the processing time in the PDL mode computed by said second computing unit, and selecting the image mode when the processing time in the image mode computed by said first computing unit is not longer than the processing time in the PDL mode computed by said second computing unit.

29. A computer according to claim 28, further comprising a judging unit judging whether an improper printing occurs in the PDL mode, wherein if said judging unit judges that an improper printing occurs in the PDL mode, said selection unit selects an RGB image mode, and if said judging unit judges that an improper printing does not occur in the PDL mode, said selection unit selects the PDL mode when the processing time in the image mode computed by said first computing unit is longer than the processing time in the PDL mode computed by said second computing unit, and selects a YMCK image mode when the processing time in the image mode computed by said first computing unit is not longer than the processing time in the PDL mode computed by said second computing unit.

30. A computer according to claim 28, wherein the processing time in the PDL mode includes a subclosing time in the event that a band processing is impossible.

31. A computer according to claim 28, wherein the processing time in the PDL mode includes a PDL command generation time, a transmission time, a shipping preparation time and a shipping time, and the processing time in the image mode includes a drawing time, a transmission time and a shipping time.

32. A computer that has a PDL mode, in which a drawing command is converted into a PDL data and the converted PDL data is transmitted to a printer, and an image mode, in which a drawing command is converted into an image data and the converted image data is transmitted to the printer, said computer comprising:

a judging unit judging whether an improper printing occurs in the PDL mode; and

a selection unit selecting the image mode when said judging unit judges that an improper printing occurs in the PDL mode, and selecting the PDL mode when said judging unit judges that an improper printing does not occur in the PDL mode.

33. A print method based on a printer driver that has a PDL mode, in which a drawing command is converted into a PDL data and the converted PDL data is transmitted to a printer, and an image mode, in which a drawing command is converted into an image data and the converted image data is transmitted to the printer, said method comprising:

a first computing step computing a processing time in the image mode;

a second computing step computing a processing time, including a data processing time and a data transmission time, in the PDL mode; and

a selection step selecting the PDL mode when the processing time in the image mode computed in said first computing step is longer than the processing time in the PDL mode computed in said second computing step, and selecting the image mode when the processing time in the image mode computed in said first computing step is not longer than the processing time in the PDL mode computed in said second computing step.

34. A method according to claim 33, further comprising a judging step judging whether an improper printing occurs in the PDL mode, wherein if said judging step judges that an improper printing occurs in the PDL mode, said selection step selects an RGB image mode, and if said judging step judges that an improper printing does not occur in the PDL mode, said selection step selects the PDL mode when the processing time in the image mode computed in said first computing step is longer than the processing time in the PDL mode computed in said second computing step, and selects a YMCK image mode when the processing time in the image mode computed in said first computing step is not longer than the processing time in the PDL mode computed in said second computing step.

35. A method according to claim 33, wherein the processing time in the PDL mode includes a subclosing time in the event that a band processing is impossible.

36. A method according to claim 33, wherein the processing time in the PDL mode includes a PDL command generation time, a transmission time, a shipping preparation time and a shipping time, and the processing time in the image mode includes a drawing time, a transmission time and a shipping time.

37. A print method based on a printer driver that has a PDL mode, in which a drawing command is converted into a PDL data and the converted PDL data is transmitted to a printer, and an image mode, in which a drawing command is converted into an image data and the converted image data is transmitted to the printer, said method comprising:

a judging step judging whether an improper printing occurs in the PDL mode; and

a selection step selecting the image mode when said judging step judges that an improper printing occurs in the PDL mode, and selecting the PDL mode when said judging step judges that an improper printing does not occur in the PDL mode.

38. A computer-executable program stored on a computer-readable medium, the computer program having a PDL mode, in which a drawing command is converted into a PDL data and the converted PDL data is transmitted to a printer, and an image mode, in which a drawing command is converted into an image data and the converted image data is transmitted to the printer, said program comprising:

a first computing step computing a processing time in the image mode;

a second computing code computing a processing time, including a data processing time and a data transmission time, in the PDL mode; and

a selection step selecting the PDL mode when the processing time in the image mode computed in said first computing step is longer than the processing time in the PDL mode computed in said second computing step, and selecting the image mode when the processing time in the image mode computed in said first computing step is not longer than the processing time in the PDL mode computed in said second computing step.

39. A computer-executable program stored on a computer-readable medium according to claim 38, further comprising a judging step judging whether an improper printing occurs in the PDL mode, wherein if said judging step judges that an improper printing occurs in the PDL mode, said selection step selects an RGB image mode, and if said judging step judges that an improper printing does not occur in the PDL mode, said selection step selects the PDL mode when the processing time in the image mode computed in said first computing step is longer than the processing time in the PDL mode computed in said second computing step, and selects a YMCK image mode when the processing time in the image mode computed in said first computing step is not longer than the processing time in the PDL mode computed in said second computing step.

40. A computer-executable program stored on a computer-readable medium method according to claim 38, wherein the processing time in the PDL mode includes a subclosing time in the event that a band processing is impossible.

41. A computer-executable program stored on a computer-readable medium according to claim 38, wherein the processing time in the PDL mode includes a PDL command generation time, a transmission time, a shipping preparation time and a shipping time, and the processing time in the image mode includes a drawing time, a transmission time and a shipping time.

42. A computer-executable program stored on a computer-readable medium, the computer program having a PDL mode, in which a drawing command is converted into a PDL data and the converted PDL data is transmitted to a printer, and an image mode, in which a drawing command is converted into an image data and the converted image data is transmitted to the printer, said program comprising:

a judging step judging whether an improper printing occurs in the PDL mode; and

a selection step selecting the image mode when said judging step judges that an improper printing occurs in the PDL mode, and selecting the PDL mode when said judging step judges that an improper printing does not occur in the PDL mode.