Abstract:
A printing processing device that includes an analyzing unit that analyzes the components of print data. Based on the analysis results, a first raster processing unit performs raster processing at a first resolution for the print data of a portion of the components of the print data other than an optically read printing portion. Similarly, based on the analysis results, a second raster processing unit that performs raster processing at a second resolution higher than the first resolution, for the print data of the optically read printing portion of the components of the print data. Further, the printing processing device includes a resolution conversion unit that converts the print data that has been processed by the first raster processing unit into the second resolution and a synthesizing unit that synthesizes the print data that has been converted into the second resolution by the resolution conversion unit and the print data that has been processed by the second raster processing unit.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention pertains to a printing processing apparatus, method, and system and a computer readable recording medium, and to a printing processing apparatus, method, and system and a computer readable recording medium utilizing low resolution data as a resource. 
     2. Related Art 
     In recent years, a charge collection service which is conducted by a cashier of a convenience store using a payment form with a barcode that is issued by an enterprise under a contract concluded with the convenience store has been being performed. For the charge collection service in the convenience store, a barcode, and the like, are printed in the payment form on the basis of customer information. However, conventionally, print data which allows the optically read printed portion to be printed finer than other portions has not been able to be obtained. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, a printing processing apparatus comprises analyzing means which analyzes the components of print data; first raster processing means which, on the basis of the analysis result of the analyzing means, performs raster processing at a first resolution for the print data of the portion of the components of the print data other than the optically read printing portion; second raster processing means which, on the basis of the analysis result of the analyzing means, performs raster processing at a second resolution higher than the first resolution for the print data of the optically read printing portion of the components of the print data; resolution conversion means which converts the print data which has been processed by the first raster processing means into the second resolution; and synthesizing means which synthesizes the print data which has been converted into the second resolution by the resolution conversion means and the print data which has been processed by the second raster processing means. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a printing system pertaining to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating the analysis processing for print data; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a printing system pertaining to a second embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating the analysis processing for print data. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinbelow, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 
     First Embodiment 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a printing system pertaining to a first embodiment of the present invention. The printing system comprises a host computer  10  which outputs print data, and a printing apparatus  20  which carries out printing on the basis of the print data from the host computer  10 . 
     The printing apparatus  20  comprises a data analysis section  21  which analyzes the components of print data; a first raster section  22  which performs raster processing at 240 dpi; a bitmap memory (BMM)  23  which temporarily stores bitmap data; a resolution conversion section  24  which performs resolution conversion from 240 dpi to 600 dpi; and a bitmap memory (BMM)  25  which temporarily stores resolution converted data. 
     The printing apparatus  20  further comprises a second raster section  26  which performs raster processing at 600 dpi; a bitmap memory (BMM)  27  which temporarily stores bitmap data; a synthesizer  28  which synthesizes the bitmap data; and a printing section  29  which prints the synthesized bitmap data at 600 dpi. 
     In the printing system configured as above, the host computer  10  transmits print data of 240 dpi including components such as a character, a figure, an image, an overlay, a barcode, and an OCR font (a font which can be read with an optical reading apparatus), to the printing apparatus  20 . In the present embodiment, the barcode and the OCR font correspond to the resolution of 240 dpi, but it is prescribed that they be subjected to raster processing at the resolution of 600 dpi. When the printing apparatus  20  receives the above-mentioned print data from the host computer  10 , it implements the subsequent processing. 
     The data analysis section  21  of the printing apparatus  20  inputs print data of 240 dpi as shown in  FIG. 2  (at step S 1 ), and analyzes the components of the print data. Examples of the components include a character, a figure, an image, an overlay, a barcode, an OCR font. 
     The data analysis section  21  determines whether the components of the print data include a component (such as a barcode or an OCR font) which is optically read (as a piece of optical information) by a barcode reader, a scanner, or the like, after the printing (at step S 2 ). Then, when a print data component of a barcode or an OCR font is given, the data analysis section  21  supplies it to the second raster section  26  (at step S 3 ), then proceeding to the next step S 4 , and also when no barcode or OCR font component is given, the data analysis section  21  proceeds to the next step S 4 . Next, the data analysis section  21  supplies the character, the figure, the image, and the overlay, which are the other components of the print data, to the first raster section  22  (at step S 4 ). 
     The first raster section  22  performs raster processing at 240 dpi for the components of the print data supplied from the data analysis section  21  to generate bitmap data, and stores this bitmap data in the bitmap memory  23 . 
     The resolution conversion section  24  reads out the bitmap data from the bitmap memory  23  for performing the process of resolution conversion from 240 dpi to 600 dpi, and stores the resolution converted bitmap data in the bitmap memory  25 . 
     On the other hand, the second raster section  26  performs raster processing at 600 dpi for the components of the print data supplied from the data analysis section  21  to generate bitmap data, and stores this bitmap data in the bitmap memory  27 . In this way, the second raster section  26  performs raster processing at a high resolution of 600 dpi for the print data of the optically read printing portion. 
     The synthesizer  28  reads out the bitmap data of 600 dpi from the bitmap memories  25  and  27 , respectively, for synthesizing (OR outputting) the bitmap data read out. Then, the printing section  29  carries out printing on the basis of the bitmap data synthesized by the synthesizer  28 . Thereby, the barcode and the OCR font are printed with high definition. 
     In the first embodiment, the data analysis section  21  supplies the barcode and the OCR font of the components of the print data to the second raster section  26 . However, in a case where, as a print data component, a convenience store charge collection service barcode is included, this convenience store charge collection service barcode may be supplied to the second raster section  26 . 
     In addition, in the first embodiment, the barcode and the OCR font have been described as being required to be subjected to raster processing at a resolution of 600 dpi; however, even if, for example, there is no need for raster processing at a resolution of 600 dpi, the barcode and the OCR font may be rasterized by the second raster section  26 . 
     Second Embodiment 
     Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The same component parts as those in the first embodiment are provided with the same numerals, and duplicated description is omitted. 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a printing system pertaining to a second embodiment of the present invention. The printing system pertaining to the second embodiment comprises a host computer  10  which outputs print data, and a printing apparatus  20 A which carries out printing on the basis of the print data from the host computer  10 . The printing apparatus  20 A comprises a selector switch  31  and a printing section  32  which carries out printing at 240 dpi, in addition to the configuration shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The selector switch  31  is set at a terminal “a” or a terminal “b” according to the analysis result of the data analysis section  21 . When the selector switch  31  is set at the terminal “a”, it supplies the bitmap data stored in the bitmap memory  23  to the printing section  32 , and when the selector switch  31  is set at the terminal “b”, it supplies the bitmap data stored in the bitmap memory  23  to the resolution conversion section  24 . 
     The printing section  32  carries out printing at a resolution of 240 dpi on the basis of the bitmap data supplied from the selector switch  31 . In other words, the printing apparatus  20 A comprises the printing section  29  which carries out printing at a resolution of 600 dpi, and the printing section  32  which carries out printing at a resolution of 240 dpi, thus it converts the resolution for carrying out the printing. 
     In the printing system configured as above, the host computer  10  transmits print data of 240 dpi. The components of the print data may include a convenience store charge collection service barcode besides those described in the first embodiment. When the printing apparatus  20 A receives print data of 240 dpi from the host computer  10 , it implements the subsequent processing. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the data analysis section  21  of the printing apparatus  20 A inputs print data of 240 dpi (at step S 11 ); analyzes the components of the print data; and determines whether the components of the print data include a convenience store charge collection service barcode (at step S 12 ). 
     (A case when no convenience store charge collection service barcode is included in print data) 
     When the components of the print data include no convenience store charge collection service barcode, the data analysis section  21  supplies all the inputted print data to the first raster section  22  (at step S 13 ). At this time, the selector switch  31  is set at the terminal “a”. 
     The first raster section  22  performs raster processing at 240 dpi for all the print data supplied from the data analysis section  21  to generate bitmap data, and stores this bitmap data in the bitmap memory  23 . The bitmap data stored in the bitmap memory  23  is supplied to the printing section  32  through the selector switch  31 . The printing section  32  carries out printing at a resolution of 240 dpi on the basis of the bitmap data read out from the bitmap memory  23  through the selector switch  31 . 
     Therefore, when no convenience store charge collection service barcode is included in the print data supplied from the host computer  10 , the printing apparatus  20 A carries out printing at a low resolution of 240 dpi. 
     (In case where convenience store charge collection service barcode is included in print data) 
     When the components of the print data include a convenience store charge collection service barcode (when an affirmative determination is given at step S 12  as shown in  FIG. 4 ), the data analysis section  21  supplies from the components of the print data components to be optically read by a scanner, or the like, at the time of printing (such as a convenience store charge collection service barcode, an ordinary barcode, or an OCR font) to the second raster section  26 , and supplies the other components (such as a character, a figure, an image, or an overlay) to the first raster section  22  (at step S 14 ). At this time, the selector switch  31  is set at the terminal “b”. 
     The first raster section  22  performs raster processing at 240 dpi for the components of the print data supplied from the data analysis section  21  to generate bitmap data, and stores this bitmap data in the bitmap memory  23 . 
     The resolution conversion section  24  reads out the bitmap data from the bitmap memory  23  through the selector switch  31  for performing the process of resolution conversion from 240 dpi to 600 dpi, and stores the resolution converted bitmap data in the bitmap memory  25 . 
     On the other hand, the second raster section  26  performs raster processing at 600 dpi for the components of the print data supplied from the data analysis section  21  to generate bitmap data, and stores this bitmap data in the bitmap memory  27 . 
     The synthesizer  28  reads out the bitmap data of 600 dpi from the bitmap memories  25  and  27 , respectively, for synthesizing the bitmap data read out. Then, the printing section  29  carries out printing on the basis of the bitmap data synthesized by the synthesizer  28 . Thereby, the convenience store charge collection service barcode, the barcode and the OCR font are printed with high definition. 
     As described above, the printing apparatus  20 A carries out printing at a low resolution of 240 dpi for the print data of low resolution that includes no convenience store charge collection service barcode. In addition, for the print data of low resolution that includes a convenience store charge collection service barcode, the printing apparatus  20 A performs raster processing of the convenience store charge collection service barcode, and the like, at a high resolution of 600 dpi, and for the print data other than the convenience store charge collection service barcode, and the like, the printing apparatus  20 A performs raster processing at a low resolution of 240 dpi before performing the resolution conversion, and these are then synthesized for printing. The printing apparatus  20 A may perform raster processing of only the convenience store charge collection service barcode from the components of the print data at a resolution of 600 dpi, and the other components at a resolution of 240 dpi. 
     The foregoing description of the embodiments of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.