Patent ID: 6331894
Filing Date: 2001-12-18
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
A printing apparatus which generates print data based on input data described in a predetermined printer control language received from an external apparatus and controls a printer engine to print based on the generated print data, said printing apparatus comprising:first conversion means for converting input image data described in a first printer control language into intermediate image data described in an intermediate language, the first printer control language including a control code for controlling said printing apparatus, the input image data including form designation information designating a form on which the input image data is to be overlayed;second conversion means for converting input form data describing a plurality of forms, and which is described in a second printer control language into intermediate form data described in the intermediate language, the second printer control language being different in type from the first printer control language;form memory means for storing, prior to input of the input image data of the first printer control language, the intermediate form data converted from the input form data by said second conversion means; andcontrol means for (a) reading the intermediate form data stored in said form memory means based on the form designation information included in the input image data and converting the read intermediate form data for the designated form into output form data, (b) converting the intermediate image data converted from the input image data by said first conversion means into output image data, (c) overlaying the output image data on the output form data to create a form overlay pattern and (d) controlling the printer engine to print the form overlay pattern.