Document processing with flexible resolution and output style

Abstract

There is provided a document processing system in which a print image is stored into a memory and can be handled as output data by forming a document. The system comprises: a memory to store document data in a bit map style; a converter for converting the document data including characters, figures, images, etc., based on the result of the document formation into data of bit map style to be stored into the memory; an image output device corresponding to a page description language; and a circuit for making the data of bit map style stored in the memory correspond to the data format of the page description language, suitable for the particular image output device. With this system, data of substantially the same style as that in the local printing characters can be obtained from an external printing system in accordance with a request of the user.

1. An information processing apparatus which  that transfers print data to a printer, said apparatus comprising:
 determining means for determining whether the print data is to be transferred to the printer in a first mode or in a second mode; and  
 control means for causing said information processing  apparatus to convert the print data into bit map data and to transfer the converted bit map data to the printer when said determining means determines that the print data is to be transferred in the first mode, and to convert the print data into print data which can be interpreted by the printer and to transfer the converted data to the printer when said determining means determines that the print data is to be transferred in the second mode,  
 wherein the converted data in the second mode includes information indicative of a data type, and wherein the first mode is a mode in which said apparatus controls an output style of the print data and the second mode is a mode in which the printer controls an output style of the print data.  
 
     
     
       2. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the print data comprises a character code and a control code written in a page description language. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the printer prints the bit map data transferred by said apparatus. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the printer interprets the print data transferred by said apparatus, converts the interpreted data into bit map data, and prints the converted bit map data. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for setting the first or the second mode. 
     
     
       6. An information processing apparatus which  that transfers print data to a printer, said apparatus comprising:
 determining means for determining whether the print data is to be transferred to the printer in a first mode or in a second mode; and  
 first conversion means for converting the print data into bit map data;  
 second conversion means for converting the print data into print data which can be interpreted by the printer, wherein the data resulting from the second conversion means includes information indicative of a data type; and  
 control means for causing said information processing  apparatus (1) to control either said first conversion means or said second conversion means to convert the print data in response to a determination made by said determining means and (2) to transfer the converted bit map data or the converted print data,  
   wherein the first mode is a mode in which said apparatus controls an output style of the print data and the second mode is a mode in which the printer controls an output style of the print data .  
 
     
     
       7. An apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the print data comprises a character code and a control code written in a page description language. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the printer prints the bit map data transferred by said apparatus. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the printer interprets the print data transferred by said apparatus, converts the interpreted data into bit map data, and prints the converted bit map data. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising means for setting the first or the second mode. 
     
     
       11. A computer-executed method of processing information carried out in an information processing apparatus which  that transfers print data to a printer, said method comprising the steps of:
 determining whether the print data is to be transferred to the printer in a first mode or in a second mode; and  
 converting the print data into bit map data and transferring the converted bit map data to the printer when said determining step determines that the print data is to be transferred in the first mode, and converting the print data into print data which can be interpreted by the printer and transferring the converted data to the printer when said determining step determines that the print data is to be transferred in the second mode,  
 wherein the converted data in the second mode includes information indicative of a data type, and wherein the first mode is a mode in which the apparatus controls an output style of the print data and the second mode is a mode in which the printer controls an output style of the print data.  
 
     
     
       12. A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the print data comprises a character code and a control code written in a page description language. 
     
     
       13. A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising the step of controlling the printer to print the bit map data transferred in said converting and transferring step. 
     
     
       14. A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising the step of controlling the printer to interpret the print data transferred in said converting and transferring step, convert the interpreted data into bit map data, and print the converted bit map data. 
     
     
       15. A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising the step of setting the first or the second mode. 
     
     
       16. A computer-executed method of processing information carried out in an information processing apparatus which  that transfers print data to a printer, said method comprising the steps of:
 determining whether the print data is to be transferred to the printer in a first mode or in a second mode;  
 converting the print data using either a first conversion process for converting the print data into bit map data or a second conversion process for converting the print data into print data which can be interpreted by the printer in response to a determination made in said determining step, wherein the data resulting from the second conversion process includes information indicative of a data type; and  
 transferring the converted bit map data or the converted print data to the printer,  
   wherein the first mode is a mode in which the apparatus controls an output style of the print data and the second mode is a mode in which the printer controls an output style of the print data .  
 
     
     
       17. A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the print data comprises a character code and a control code written in a page description language. 
     
     
       18. A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising the step of controlling the printer to print the bit map data transferred in said transferring step. 
     
     
       19. A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising the step of controlling the printer to interpret the print data transferred in said transferring step, convert the interpreted data into bit map data, and print the converted bit map data. 
     
     
       20. A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising the step of setting the first or the second mode. 
     
     
       21. A memory medium storing a program which  that, when loaded into and executed by a programmable apparatus, causes the apparatus to perform a method of processing information carried out in an information processing apparatus which transfers print data to a printer, said method comprising the steps of:
 determining whether the print data is to be transferred to the printer in a first mode or in a second mode; and  
 converting the print data into bit map data and transferring the converted bit map data to the printer when said determining step determines that the print data is to be transferred in the first mode, and converting the print data into print data which can be interpreted by the printer and transferring the converted data to the printer when said determining step determines that the print data is to be transferred in the second mode,  
 wherein the converted data in the second mode includes information indicative of a data type, and wherein the first mode is a mode in which the apparatus controls an output style of the print data and the second mode in which the printer controls an output style of the print data.  
 
     
     
       22. A memory medium according to  claim 21 , wherein the print data comprises a character code and a control code written in a page description language. 
     
     
       23. A memory medium according to  claim 21 , wherein the memory further comprises the step of controlling the printer to print the bit map data transferred in said converting and transferring step. 
     
     
       24. A memory medium according to  claim 21 , wherein the method further comprises the step of controlling the printer to interpret the print data transferred in said converting and transferring step, convert the interpreted data into bit map data, and print the converted bit map data. 
     
     
       25. A memory medium according to  claim 21 , wherein the method further comprises the step of setting the first or the second mode. 
     
     
       26. A memory medium storing a program which  that, when loaded into and executed by a programmable apparatus, causes the apparatus to perform a method of processing information carried out in an information processing apparatus which  that transfers print data to a printer, said method comprising the steps of:
 determining whether the print data is to be transferred to the printer in a first mode or in a second mode;  
 converting the print data using either a first conversion process for converting the print data into bit map data or a second conversion process for converting the print data into print data which can be interpreted by the printer in response to a determination made in said determining step, wherein the data resulting from the second conversion process includes information indicative of a data type; and  
 transferring the converted bit map data or the converted print data to the printer,  
   wherein the first mode is a mode in which the apparatus controls an output style of the print data and the second mode is a mode in which the printer controls an output style of the print data .  
 
     
     
       27. A memory medium according to  claim 26 , wherein the print data comprises a character code and a control code written in a page description language. 
     
     
       28. A memory medium according to  claim 26 , wherein the method further comprises the step of controlling the printer to print the bit map data transferred in said transferring step. 
     
     
       29. A memory medium according to  claim 26 , wherein the method further comprises the step of controlling the printer to interpret the print data transferred in said transferring step, convert the interpreted data into bit map data, and print the converted bit map data. 
     
     
       30. A memory medium according to  claim 26 , wherein the method further comprises the step of setting the first or the second mode. 
     
     
       31. A program product which, when loaded into and executed by a programmable apparatus, causes the apparatus to perform a method of processing information carried out in an information processing apparatus which  that transfers print data to a printer, said method comprising the steps of:
 determining whether the print data is to be transferred to the printer in a first mode or in a second mode; and  
 converting the print data into bit map data and transferring the converted bit map data to the printer when said determining step determines that the print data is to be transferred in the first mode, and converting the print data into print data which can be interpreted by the printer and transferring the converted data to the printer when said determining step determines that the print data is to be transferred in the second mode,  
 wherein the converted data in the second mode includes information indicative of a data type, and wherein the first mode is a mode in which the apparatus controls an output style of the print data and the second mode is a mode in which the printer controls an output style of the print data.  
 
     
     
       32. A program product according to  claim 31 , wherein the print data comprises a character code and a control code written in a page description language. 
     
     
       33. A program product according to  claim 31 , wherein the memory further comprises the step of controlling the printer to print the bit map data transferred in said converting and transferring step. 
     
     
       34. A program product according to  claim 31 , wherein the method further comprises the step of controlling the printer to interpret the print data transferred in said converting and transferring step, convert the interpreted data into the bit map data, and print the converted bit map data. 
     
     
       35. A program product according to  claim 31 , wherein the method transferring step, convert the interpreted data into bit map data, and print the converted bit map data further comprises the step of setting the first or the second mode. 
     
     
       36. A program product which  that, when loaded into and executed by a programmable apparatus, causes the apparatus to perform a method of processing information carried out in an information processing apparatus which  that transfers print data to a printer, said method comprising the steps of:
 determining whether the print data is to be transferred to the printer in a first mode or in a second mode;  
 converting the print data using either a first conversion process for converting the print data into bit map data or a second conversion process for converting the print data into print data which can be interpreted by the printer in response to a determination made in said determining step, wherein the data resulting from the second conversion process includes information indicative of a data type; and  
 transferring the converted bit map data or the converted print data to the printer,  
   wherein the first mode is a mode in which the apparatus controls an output style of the print data and the second mode is a mode in which the printer controls an output style of the print data .  
 
     
     
       37. A program product according to  claim 36 , wherein the print data comprises a character code and a control code written in a page description language. 
     
     
       38. A program product according to  claim 36 , wherein the method further comprises the step of controlling the printer to print the bit map data transferred in said transferring step. 
     
     
       39. A program product according to  claim 36 , wherein the method further comprises the step of controlling the printer to interpret the print data transferred in said transferring step, convert the interpreted data into bit map data, and print the converted bit map data. 
     
     
       40. A program product according to  claim 36 , wherein the method further comprises the step of setting the first or the second mode. 
     
     
       41. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein, in the first mode, the print data is provided in a page description language.  
     
     
       42. An apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein, in the first mode, the print data is provided in a page description language.  
     
     
       43. A method according to  claim 11 , wherein, in the first mode, the print data is provided in a page description language.  
     
     
       44. A method according to  claim 16 , wherein, in the first mode, the print data is provided in a page description language.  
     
     
       45. A memory medium according to  claim 21 , wherein, in the first mode, the print data is provided in a page description language.  
     
     
       46. A memory medium according to  claim 26 , wherein, in the first mode, the print data is provided in a page description language.  
     
     
       47. A program product according to  claim 31 , wherein, in the first mode, the print data is provided in a page description language.  
     
     
       48. A program product according to  claim 36 , wherein, in the first mode, the print data is provided in a page description language.  
     
     
       49. A system comprising an information processing apparatus and a printer, wherein said information processing apparatus transfers print data to the printer and includes:
   a determiner for determining whether the print data is to be transferred to the printer in a first mode or in a second mode; and        a controller, arranged for causing said information processing apparatus to convert the print data into bit map data and to transfer the converted bit map data to the printer when said determiner determines that the print data is to be transferred in the first mode, and for causing said information processing apparatus to convert the print data into print data which can be interpreted by the printer and to transfer the converted print data to the printer when said determiner determines that the print data is to be transferred in the second mode,        wherein the converted print data in the second mode includes information indicative of a data type, and        wherein the first mode is a mode in which said information processing apparatus controls an output style of the print data and the second mode is a mode in which the printer controls an output style of the print data.      
     
     
       50. A system comprising an information processing apparatus and a printer, wherein said apparatus transfers print data to the printer and includes:
   a determiner for determining whether the print data is to be transferred to the printer in a first mode or in a second mode;        a first converter, arranged for converting the print data into bit map data;        a second converter, arranged for converting the print data into converted print data that is interpretable by the printer, wherein the converted print data includes information indicative of a data type; and        a controller, arranged for causing said apparatus to  (   1   )  control either said first converter or said second converter to convert the print data in response to a determination made by said determiner, and  (   2   )  transfer the converted bit map data or the converted print data to the printer, depending on whether said first converter or said second converter is controlled,        wherein the first mode is a mode in which said information processing apparatus controls an output style of the print data and the second mode is a mode in which the printer controls an output style of the print data.