Information processing apparatus

Abstract

The present invention allows a printing process to be released from application software earlier. At the start of printing, the size of an available area in a RAM 11 is obtained. It is determined whether or not the size of total print data transmitted from a handheld computer to a color printer is the obtained size of the available area. If it is determined that the size of the total print data is larger, the size of an available area in a memory card is obtained. It is then determined whether or not the obtained size of the available area is larger than the size of the total print data. If it is determined that the size of the available area is larger, the total print data is created on the available area in the memory card. Then, the created total print data is transmitted to the color printer.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An information processing apparatus which has storage means and removable external storage means and to which a printing apparatus printing print data is connected, said information processing apparatus comprising: 
 first obtaining means for obtaining the size of an available area in said storage means at the start of printing;    first determining means for determining whether or not the size of total print data transmitted from said information processing apparatus to said printing apparatus is larger than the size of the available area in said storage means obtained by said first obtaining means;    second obtaining means for obtaining the size of an available area in said external storage means if the first determining means determines that the size of said total print data is larger than the size of the available area in said storage means;    second determining means for determining whether or not the size of the available area in said external storage means obtained by said second obtaining means is larger than the size of said total print data; and    processing means for creating said total print data on the available area in said external storage means and transmitting the created total print data to said printing apparatus if the second determining means determines that the size of the available area in said external storage means is larger than the size of said total print data.    
     
     
         2 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein if said second determining means determines that the size of said total print data is larger than the size of the available area in said external storage area, said processing means creates part of said total print data on the available area in said storage means and then transmits the created print data to said printing apparatus.  
     
     
         3 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein after transmitting print data to said printing apparatus, said processing means repeats a process of creating a next part of said total print data and then transmitting the created print data to said printing apparatus.  
     
     
         4 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising second display control means for displaying a message indicating that the available area in said external storage means is insufficient if said second determining means determines that the size of said total print data is larger than the size of the available area in said external storage means.  
     
     
         5 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the second display control means displays a continuance selection button and a halt selection button and further comprises: 
 continuing means for creating, in response to selection of said continuance selection button, part of said total print data on the available area in said storage means and transmitting the created print data to said printing apparatus to continue a printing process, and    halting means for halting the printing process in response to selection of said halt selection button.    
     
     
         6 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein if said first determining means determines that the size of the available area in said storage means is larger than the size of said total print data, said processing means creates said total print data on the available area in said storage means and then transmits the created total print data to said printing apparatus.  
     
     
         7 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said total print data has a print instruction for directly controlling said printing apparatus or an intermediate print command that can create a print instruction.  
     
     
         8 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising first display control means for displaying a message indicating that the available area in said storage means is insufficient if said first determining means determines that the size of said total print data is larger than the size of the available area in said storage means.  
     
     
         9 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein said first display control means displays a continuance selection button and a halt selection button and further comprises: 
 continuing means for checking, in response to selection of said continuance selection button, the size of the available area in said storage means to continue a printing process; and    halting means for halting said printing process in response to selection of said halt selection button.    
     
     
         10 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising arbitrating means for giving top priority to determination made by said first determining means if concurrent determinations are made by said first and second determining means.  
     
     
         11 . An information processing apparatus which has storage means and removable external storage means and to which a printing apparatus printing print data is connected, said information processing apparatus comprising: 
 first obtaining means for obtaining the size of an available area in said storage means at the start of printing;    first determining means for determining whether or not the size of total print data transmitted from said information processing apparatus to said printing apparatus is larger than the size of the available area in said storage means obtained by said first obtaining means;    second obtaining means for obtaining the size of an available area in said external storage means if said first determining means determines that the size of said total print data is larger than the size of the available area in said storage means;    second determining means for determining whether or not the size of the available area in said external storage means obtained by said second obtaining means is larger than the size of said total print data;    total size obtaining means for obtaining the total size of the size of the available area in said storage and the size of the available area in said external storage means if said second determining means determines that the size of said total print data is larger than the size of the available area in said external storage means;    third determining means for determining whether or not said total area size obtained by said total size obtaining means is larger than the size of said total print data; and    processing means for utilizing the available area in said storage means or the available area in said external storage means to create said total print data as divided total print data composed of a plurality of data groups and transmitting the created divided total print data to said printing apparatus if said third determining means determines that said total area size is larger than the size of said total print data.    
     
     
         12 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein if said third determining means determines that the size of said total print data is larger than said total area size, said processing means utilizes the available area in said storage means to create part of said total print data and transmits the created print data to said printing apparatus.  
     
     
         13 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein after transmitting print data to said printing apparatus, said processing means repeats a process of creating a next part of said total print data and then transmitting the created print data to said printing apparatus.  
     
     
         14 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 12 , further comprising third display control means for displaying a message indicating that the available area in said storage means or said external storage means is insufficient if said third determining means determines that the size of said total print data is larger than said total area size.  
     
     
         15 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein said third display control means displays a continuance selection button and a halt selection button and further comprises: 
 continuing means for creating, in response to selection of said continuance selection button, part of said total print data on the available area in said storage means and transmitting the created print data to said printing apparatus to continue a printing process; and    halting means for halting the printing process in response to selection of said halt selection button.    
     
     
         16 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein if said first determining means determines that the size of the available area in said storage means is larger than the size of said total print data, said processing means creates said total print data on the available area in said storage means and then transmits the created total print data to said printing apparatus.  
     
     
         17 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said total print data has a print instruction for directly controlling said printing apparatus or an intermediate print command that can create a print instruction.  
     
     
         18 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising first display control means for displaying a message indicating that the available area in said storage means is insufficient if said first determining means determines that the size of said total print data is larger than the size of the available area in said storage means.  
     
     
         19 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein said first display control means displays a continuance selection button and a halt selection button and further comprises: 
 continuing means for checking, in response to selection of said continuance selection button, the size of the available area in said storage means to continue a printing process; and    halting means for halting said printing process in response to selection of said halt selection button.    
     
     
         20 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising arbitrating means forgiving top priority to determination made by said first determining means if concurrent determinations are made by said first and second determining means.  
     
     
         21 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said divided total print data has a first data group created utilizing the available area in said storage means and a second data group created utilizing the available area in said external storage means, and 
 said processing means gives higher priority to said first data group than to said second data group in transmitting said divided total print data to said printing apparatus.    
     
     
         22 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein in transmitting said divided total print data to said printing apparatus, said processing means transmits said first data group, then moves part or all of said data from said second data group to said storage means to create a new data group, and transmit the created new data group to said printing apparatus.  
     
     
         23 . An information processing apparatus which has storage means and removable external storage means and to which a printing apparatus printing print data is connected, said information processing apparatus comprising: 
 total size obtaining means for obtaining the total size of the available area in said storage and the size of the available area in said external storage means;    determining means for determining whether or not the total area size obtained by said total size obtaining means is larger than the size of the total print data transmitted from said information processing apparatus to said printing apparatus; and    processing means for creating said total print data in the available area in said storage means and in the available area in said external storage means as divided total print data composed of a plurality of data groups and transmitting the created divided total print data to said printing apparatus if said determining means determines that the total area size is larger than the size of said total print data.    
     
     
         24 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein said processing means gives top priority to creation of the divided total print data in the available area in said storage means.  
     
     
         25 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein after transmitting print data to said printing apparatus, said processing means stores, in said storage means, at least part of the divided total print data stored in said external storage means, and then transmits the stored print data to said printing apparatus.  
     
     
         26 . A printing method for transmitting a print data from a information processing apparatus to a printing apparatus, wherein said information processing apparatus has storage means and removable external storage means, said printing method comprising the step of: 
 obtaining the size of an available area in said storage means at the start of printing;    determining whether or not the size of total print data transmitted from said information processing apparatus to said printing apparatus is larger than said obtained size of the available area in said storage means;    obtaining the size of an available area in said external storage means if the size of said total print data is larger than the size of the available area in said storage means;    determining whether or not said obtained size of the available area in said external storage means is larger than the size of said total print data; and    creating said total print data on the available area in said external storage means and transmitting the created total print data to said printing apparatus if the size of the available area in said external storage means is larger than the size of said total print data.    
     
     
         27 . A printing method for transmitting a print data from a information processing apparatus to a printing apparatus, wherein said information processing apparatus has storage means and removable external storage means, said printing method comprising the step of: 
 obtaining the size of an available area in said storage means at the start of printing;    determining whether or not the size of total print data transmitted from said information processing apparatus to said printing apparatus is larger than said obtained size of the available area in said storage means;    obtaining the size of an available area in said external storage means if the size of said total print data is larger than the size of the available area in said storage means;    determining whether or not the size of said obtained available area in said external storage means is larger than the size of said total print data;    obtaining the total size of said obtained size of the available area in said storage and said obtained size of the available area in said external storage means if the size of said total print data is larger than said obtained size of the available area in said external storage means;    determining whether or not said obtained total area size is larger than the size of said total print data; and    utilizing said obtained available area in said storage means or said obtained available area in said external storage means to create said total print data as divided total print data composed of a plurality of data groups and transmitting the created divided total print data to said printing apparatus if said total area size is larger than the size of said total print data.    
     
     
         28 . A printing method for transmitting a print data from a information processing apparatus to a printing apparatus, wherein said information processing apparatus has storage means and removable external storage means, said printing method comprising the step of: 
 obtaining the total size of the available area in said storage and the size of the available area in said external storage means;    determining whether or not said obtained total area size is larger than the size of the total print data transmitted from said information processing apparatus to said printing apparatus; and    creating said total print data in the available area in said storage means and in the available area in said external storage means as divided total print data composed of a plurality of data groups and transmitting the created divided total print data to said printing apparatus if the total area size is larger than the size of said total print data.    
     
     
         29 . A computer program product for executing a printing method in a information processing apparatus which has storage means and removable external storage means and to which a printing apparatus printing print data is connected, said computer program product comprising: 
 a first program code means for obtaining the size of an available area in said storage means at the start of printing;    a second program code means for determining whether or not the size of total print data transmitted from said information processing apparatus to said printing apparatus is larger than said obtained size of the available area in said storage means;    a third program code means for obtaining the size of an available area in said external storage means if the size of said total print data is larger than the size of the available area in said storage means;    a forth program code means for determining whether or not said obtained size of the available area in said external storage means is larger than the size of said total print data; and    a fifth program code means for creating said total print data on the available area in said external storage means and transmitting the created total print data to said printing apparatus if the size of the available area in said external storage means is larger than the size of said total print data.    
     
     
         30 . A computer program product for executing a printing method in a information processing apparatus which has storage means and removable external storage means and to which a printing apparatus printing print data is connected, said computer program product comprising: 
 a first program code means for obtaining the size of an available area in said storage means at the start of printing;    a second program code means for determining whether or not the size of total print data transmitted from said information processing apparatus to said printing apparatus is larger than said obtained size of the available area in said storage means;    a third program code means for obtaining the size of an available area in said external storage means if the size of said total print data is larger than the size of the available area in said storage means;    a forth program code means for determining whether or not the size of said obtained available area in said external storage means is larger than the size of said total print data;    a fifth program code means for obtaining the total size of said obtained size of the available area in said storage and said obtained size of the available area in said external storage means if the size of said total print data is larger than said obtained size of the available area in said external storage means;    a sixth program code means for determining whether or not said obtained total area size is larger than the size of said total print data; and    a seventh program code means for utilizing said obtained available area in said storage means or said obtained available area in said external storage means to create said total print data as divided total print data composed of a plurality of data groups and transmitting the created divided total print data to said printing apparatus if said total area size is larger than the size of said total print data.    
     
     
         31 . A computer program product for executing a printing method in a information processing apparatus which has storage means and removable external storage means and to which a printing apparatus printing print data is connected, said computer program product comprising: 
 a first program code means for obtaining the total size of the available area in said storage and the size of the available area in said external storage means;    a second program code means for determining whether or not said obtained total area size is larger than the size of the total print data transmitted from said information processing apparatus to said printing apparatus; and    a third program code means for creating said total print data in the available area in said storage means and in the available area in said external storage means as divided total print data composed of a plurality of data groups and transmitting the created divided total print data to said printing apparatus if the total area size is larger than the size of said total print data.    
     
     
         32 . A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions which perform a printing method in a information processing apparatus which has storage means and removable external storage means and to which a printing apparatus printing print data is connected, said printing method comprising the step of: 
 obtaining the size of an available area in said storage means at the start of printing;    determining whether or not the size of total print data transmitted from said information processing apparatus to said printing apparatus is larger than said obtained size of the available area in said storage means;    obtaining the size of an available area in said external storage means if the size of said total print data is larger than the size of the available area in said storage means;    determining whether or not said obtained size of the available area in said external storage means is larger than the size of said total print data; and    creating said total print data on the available area in said external storage means and transmitting the created total print data to said printing apparatus if the size of the available area in said external storage means is larger than the size of said total print data.    
     
     
         33 . A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions which perform a printing method in a information processing apparatus which has storage means and removable external storage means and to which a printing apparatus printing print data is connected, said printing method comprising the step of: 
 obtaining the size of an available area in said storage means at the start of printing;    determining whether or not the size of total print data transmitted from said information processing apparatus to said printing apparatus is larger than said obtained size of the available area in said storage means;    obtaining the size of an available area in said external storage means if the size of said total print data is larger than the size of the available area in said storage means;    determining whether or not the size of said obtained available area in said external storage means is larger than the size of said total print data;    obtaining the total size of said obtained size of the available area in said storage and said obtained size of the available area in said external storage means if the size of said total print data is larger than said obtained size of the available area in said external storage means;    determining whether or not said obtained total area size is larger than the size of said total print data; and    utilizing said obtained available area in said storage means or said obtained available area in said external storage means to create said total print data as divided total print data composed of a plurality of data groups and transmitting the created divided total print data to said printing apparatus if said total area size is larger than the size of said total print data.    
     
     
         34 . A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions which perform a printing method in a information processing apparatus which has storage means and removable external storage means and to which a printing apparatus printing print data is connected, said printing method comprising the step of: 
 obtaining the total size of the available area in said storage and the size of the available area in said external storage means;    determining whether or not said obtained total area size is larger than the size of the total print data transmitted from said information processing apparatus to said printing apparatus; and    creating said total print data in the available area in said storage means and in the available area in said external storage means as divided total print data composed of a plurality of data groups and transmitting the created divided total print data to said printing apparatus if the total area size is larger than the size of said total print data.