JP2001067300A - Printing system where communication protocol is switchable - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system capable of automatically switching logical protocol communications in a printing system in which logical protocol communications are executed on an ECP mode. SOLUTION: At the time of receiving a device ID request from a host device 2, a printer device 1 informs the host device 2 of device ID information prepared by a device ID information generating part 9. The host device 2 recognizes that the printer device 1 supports a logical protocol from logical protocol support information in the device ID information, and also recognizes ECP channel information at the time of using the logical protocol in the device ID information. The host device 2 designates the ECP channel recognized from the device ID, and starts communication using the logical protocol. The printer device 1 recognizes the designation of the ECP channel from the host device 2 by an ECP mode controlling part 12, and communicates the recognition through a centronics I/F physical protocol controlling part 8 to a host I/F controlling part 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printing system capable of switching communication protocols, and more particularly, to a bidirectional communication according to the IEEE 1284 standard using a Centronics-compliant interface as an interface with a higher-level device, and further to a data communication in a packet format. The present invention relates to a printing system capable of switching a communication protocol for performing a printing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the prior art, the bidirectional communication processing in the Centronics-compliant interface is based on IEEE12.
84 rules (physical protocol) are used. As data communication protocols on the physical protocol, there are a logical protocol using packet data and a communication protocol using only a physical protocol based on non-packet data (continuous data).

[0003] When a host device and a printer are connected, the communication protocol of the printer must be preliminarily selected and initialized according to the host device to be connected, and the communication protocol can be automatically switched. Did not.

In the technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-031643, an information processing apparatus capable of processing packet data and non-packet data in a mixed manner is provided. Then, IEEE1
The packet data and the non-packet data are determined by using the Centronics-compliant interface signal used in the 284 standard in a method different from the standard. Therefore, it cannot be used in a printing system using the IEEE 1284 standard.

[0005]

A first problem in the prior art is that a printer device, a host device that performs data communication using a logical protocol using a packet format, and a data communication that does not use a packet format are used. When connecting to a higher-level device to be performed, the communication method of the printer device must be reset and initialized each time according to the higher-level device to be connected.

A second problem is that when a printer which does not support data communication using the packet format is connected to a higher-level device which performs data communication using the packet format, the data communication becomes invalid and erroneous printing is performed. That is to do. The reason is that it is not possible for the host device and the printer device to recognize each other's supported communication protocols and to automatically switch the protocols.

An object of the present invention is to provide a means by which a higher-level device can recognize the type of communication protocol supported by a printer device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means for automatically switching the communication protocol of the printer device based on the recognition of the communication protocol.

Another object of the present invention is to connect a higher-level device having a different communication protocol system to a printer device.
An object of the present invention is to provide means for avoiding occurrence of erroneous printing.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided a print system capable of switching communication protocols, a compatible mode control unit for performing communication with a host device in a compatible mode defined by IEEE1284, and a nibble mode defined by the compatible mode control unit. A nibble mode control unit 11, an ECP mode control unit 12 for performing the prescribed ECP mode, and device ID information generation for creating device ID information to which logical protocol support information and channel information in the ECP mode when the logical protocol is used are added And a device ID information generating unit 9, a compatible mode control unit 10, a nibble mode control unit 11, and an ECP mode control unit 12.
Centronics I / F physical protocol control unit 8 for controlling communication with the host device 2, a logical protocol control unit 13 for performing packet communication processing based on a logical protocol, and ECP when using the logical protocol created by the device ID information generation unit 9. A protocol switching determining unit that determines switching between a logical protocol and a physical protocol based on channel information in the mode and channel information in the ECP mode requested by the higher-level device 2 recognized by the ECP mode control unit 12; A host I / F control unit 7 that communicates with the logical protocol control unit 13 or the Centronics I / F physical protocol control unit 8 according to the above, an analysis unit 3 that analyzes data received from the host I / F control unit 7, and an analysis unit Convert the data analyzed in step 3 to image data A printing control unit 4, an output control unit 5 to print the image data prepared, the host I / F control section analyzing unit 3 on the basis of the received data from 7 and print control section 4
And a basic control unit 6 for controlling the output control unit 5. The communication protocol is automatically switched by specifying the ECP mode channel from the host device 2.

Further, the printing system capable of switching communication protocols according to the present invention provides an ECP when a logical protocol is used.
A user I / F unit 15 capable of changing channel information in a mode by a user, and a channel information storage area 16 for storing the channel information are provided.

[0012]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1 showing a block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention, a printing system capable of switching communication protocols according to this embodiment performs communication with a host device 2 in a compatible mode defined by IEEE1284. A compatible mode control unit 10 to perform, a nibble mode control unit 11 to perform in the specified nibble mode, an ECP mode control unit 12 to perform in the specified ECP mode, and support information of the logical protocol and the ECP mode when the logical protocol is used. Manages a device ID information generating unit 9 for generating device ID information to which channel information is added, a device ID information generating unit 9, a compatible mode control unit 10, a nibble mode control unit 11, and an ECP mode control unit 12,
Centronics I / F physical protocol control unit 8 for controlling communication with the host device 2, a logical protocol control unit 13 for performing packet communication processing based on a logical protocol, and ECP when using the logical protocol created by the device ID information generation unit 9. A protocol switching determining unit 14 for determining whether to switch between a logical protocol and a physical protocol based on channel information in the mode and ECP mode channel information requested by the host device 2 recognized by the ECP mode control unit 12; According to the judgment of the logical protocol control unit 13 or the Centronics I /
A host I / F control unit 7 that communicates with the F physical protocol control unit 8, an analysis unit 3 that analyzes data received from the host I / F control unit 7, and data analyzed by the analysis unit 3 into image data. A print control unit 4 for conversion, an output control unit 5 for printing the created image data, and an analysis unit 3, a print control unit 4, and an output control unit 5 based on data received from the host I / F control unit 7. And a basic control unit 6 for controlling

In response to a device ID request from the host device 2, the printer 1 notifies the host device 2 of the device ID information created by the device ID information generation unit 9. The host device 2 recognizes from the logical protocol support information in the device ID information that the printer device 1 supports the logical protocol, and also recognizes the ECP channel information when the logical protocol is used in the device ID information. The higher-level device 2 specifies the ECP channel recognized by the device ID and starts communication using the logical protocol. The printer device 1 recognizes the designation of the ECP channel from the host device 2 by the ECP mode control unit 12 and notifies the host I / F control unit 7 through the Centronics I / F physical protocol control unit 8. The host I / F control unit 7 passes the notified ECP channel information to the protocol switching determining unit 14, and the protocol switching determining unit 14 compares the notified ECP channel information with the device ID created by the device ID information generating unit 9. Compare with the ECP channel information, and if they are equal, select the logical protocol, and
Notify the F control unit 7 and start the logical protocol communication.

The operation of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 1 which are flowcharts showing the operation of the first embodiment.

First, the host device 2 checks the physical protocol supported by the printer device 1 (2 in FIG. 2).
1). It is determined from the result whether the ECP mode can be used (22 in FIG. 2). At this time, if the ECP mode cannot be used, it is determined that the logical protocol cannot be used (23 in FIG. 2). When the ECP mode is available, the host device 2 requests the printer device 1 for device ID information. The printer device 1 creates information indicating that the logical protocol is supported and physical channel information in the ECP mode for executing the logical protocol as device ID information at the time of startup by turning on the power supply (25 in FIG. 2). Device ID request from the device 2 (FIG. 2
24), the created device ID information is notified. The host device 2 determines from the acquired device ID information whether the printer device 1 supports the logical protocol (26 in FIG. 2). If not, the host device 2 determines that the logical protocol cannot be used (FIG. 2). 27). If it is determined that the communication is supported, the logical protocol communication is started on the ECP mode using the ECP physical channel for the logical protocol notified by the device ID information (28 in FIG. 2) (2b in FIG. 2). . The printer device 1
The physical channel information specified in the ECP mode is compared with the physical channel information in the ECP mode at the time of the logical protocol of the device ID information created by the printer device 1 (FIG. 2).
29), if they do not match, it is determined that the logical protocol is unusable (2a in FIG. 2). If they match, the data sent on the specified ECP mode physical channel is thereafter transmitted for the logical protocol. Data is transmitted to start logical protocol communication (2c in FIG. 2).

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described using a specific example.

In FIG. 3, the host device 2 sends the printer 1
This figure shows the operation of confirming the supported physical protocols. First, the host device 2 has the printer device 1 as the IEEE.
In order to confirm whether or not the nibble mode specified in E1284 is supported, a request for reverse communication in the nibble mode is made (31 in FIG. 3). If the printer device 1 supports the nibble mode, a normal response is made to the request from the host device 2 (32 in FIG. 3). At this time, when the nibble mode is not supported, it indicates that the nibble mode is not supported by not responding to the request from the higher-level device 2. Thereby, the host device 2 can confirm whether or not the printer device 1 supports the nibble mode (33 in FIG. 3). If the nibble mode is not supported, it is determined that the ECP mode is not supported, since the support of the nibble mode is indispensable when the bidirectional communication is supported, as defined in the IEEE1284 standard. After the support of the nibble mode is confirmed, the host device 2 sends an EC
A request for reverse communication in the P mode is made (34 in FIG. 3).
If the printer device 1 supports the ECP mode, a normal response is made to the request from the host device 2 (35 in FIG. 3). At this time, if the ECP mode is not supported, a negative response (nibble mode response) is performed in accordance with the IEEE 1284 standard to indicate that the ECP mode is not supported. Thereby, the host device 2 can confirm whether or not the printer device 1 supports the ECP mode (36 in FIG. 3).

FIG. 4 shows the operation of recognizing the logical protocol support information and the ECP physical channel information at the time of the logical protocol from the device ID information from the printer device 1 in the host device 2. The printer device 1 creates device ID information at the time of startup when the power is turned on. In the device ID information, CMD key information exists as information indicating a command system supported by the printer. This information is such that a supported command system is added after "CMD:" such as "CMD: NPDL, ECP;". Here, the command system that supports the logical protocol is defined as “NMLC”, and device ID information is created as “CMD: NPDL, ECP, NMLC;” to indicate that the logical protocol is supported. In addition, E which performs a logical protocol
NMLKEY is used as channel information in the CP mode.
Key information is newly defined and set. Here, the ECP mode channel for the logical protocol is set to “0x0F”, and device ID information is created as “NMLKEY: 0F;” (41 in FIG. 4). The host device 2 requests device ID information from the printer device 1 in order to confirm whether the printer device 1 supports the logical protocol and to check the ECP channel information for the logical protocol (4 in FIG. 4).
2), the printer device 1 has a device ID from the host device 2
In response to the request, the created device ID information is notified (43 in FIG. 4). The upper device 2 receives the device ID
From the information, logical protocol support information and logical protocol ECP channel information are recognized. The logical protocol support information determines that the logical protocol is supported when “NMLC” exists in the CMD key information of the device ID information, and determines that the logical protocol cannot be used when “NMLC” does not exist. . The ECP channel information for the logical protocol is recognized from the channel information of the NMLKEY key information of the device ID information. In this case, since "NMLKEY: 0F;", the ECP channel is determined to be "0x0F" (FIG. 4).
44).

FIG. 5 shows an operation of starting logical protocol communication using the logical protocol ECP channel information recognized by the host device 2. The upper-level device 2 starts communication in the ECP mode by specifying the ECP channel (0x0F) for the logical protocol recognized by the device ID information from the printer device 1 (51 in FIG. 5),
The logical protocol data is transmitted to the printer device 1 on the CP channel (52 in FIG. 5). The printer device 1 compares the started channel information in the ECP mode with the ECP channel information for the logical protocol notified by the device ID, and if they match, starts internal switching to logical protocol communication (53 in FIG. 5). ). At this stage, the data received from the higher-level device 2 is only 1 byte of the channel data (0x0F) in the ECP mode, and does not continuously receive the logical protocol data. When the switching to the logical protocol in the printer device 1 is completed, the logical protocol communication becomes possible (5 in FIG. 5).
4), start the logical protocol by starting the reception of the logical protocol data sent from the higher-level device 2 (5 in FIG. 5).
5).

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 6, which is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention, a printing system capable of switching communication protocols according to this embodiment is a logical protocol E system.
It has a channel information storage area 16 of a non-volatile RAM for storing the settings of the CP channel, and a user I / F unit 15 for allowing the user to change the settings of the ECP channel for the logical protocol and to store the settings in the channel information storage area. Different in that. The device ID information generation unit 9 reads the stored channel information from the channel information storage area 16 and creates a device ID. The protocol switching determining unit 14 determines the channel information storage area 1
From 6, the stored channel information is read to determine the switching of the logical protocol.

The operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 6, which are flow charts showing the operation of the second embodiment.

The user operates the user I / F unit 15 to change the channel information (71 in FIG. 7), and stores the changed channel information in the channel information storage area 16 (72 in FIG. 7). When creating the device ID information, the device ID information generation unit 9 reads out the stored channel information from the channel information storage area 16 (73 in FIG. 7), and outputs the NMLKEY of the device ID information.
Key information is created (74 in FIG. 7). In the case of recognizing the ECP channel for switching the logical protocol, the protocol switching determination unit 14 reads out the stored channel information from the channel information storage area 16 (75 in FIG. 7), and executes the ECP mode performed by the host device 2. The ECP channel information in communication and the read channel information are compared (76 in FIG. 7). If they do not match, it is determined that the logical protocol cannot be used (78 in FIG. 7). Switching to the protocol is performed, and the logical protocol is started (77 in FIG. 7).

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described using a specific example.

FIG. 8 shows a case where a user inputs an EC for a logical protocol.
The operation when the P channel is changed is shown. When "0x0A" is designated as the channel designation by the user (84 in FIG. 8), the channel information designated by the user I / F unit 15 is written into the channel information storage area 16 (83 in FIG. 8). ). At this time, the channel information stored in the channel information storage area 16 was “0x0F” (81 in FIG. 8), but “0x0F”
A "(82 in FIG. 8).

FIG. 9 shows an operation at the time of creating device ID information. When the channel information stored in the channel information storage area is “0x0A” (9 in FIG. 9)
1) When the NMLKEY key information in the device ID information is created, the device ID information generation unit 9 reads the stored channel information from the channel information storage area 16 and reads the NMLKEY key information from the read channel information “0x0A”. As "NMLKEY:
OA; ”(92 in FIG. 9). The host device 2 issues a device ID request (93 in FIG. 9) to the printer device 1, and sends the device ID information notification (94 in FIG. 9) from the printer device 2 to “NMLC” of the CMD key information in the device ID information. The support of the logical protocol is determined based on the presence or absence of the ECP channel, and the ECP channel for the logical protocol is recognized as “0x0A” from the NMLKEY key information.

FIG. 10 shows the operation at the time of switching the logical protocol at the time of communication by specifying the ECP channel for the logical protocol. When the channel information stored in the channel information storage area 16 is “0x0A” (101 in FIG. 10), the host device 2 sends the logical protocol ECP recognized by the device ID information from the printer device 1.
The communication in the ECP mode is started by designating the channel (0x0A) (102 in FIG. 10), and the logical protocol data is transmitted to the printer device 1 on the ECP channel (103 in FIG. 10). The printer device 1 compares the started channel information “0x0A” in the ECP mode with the channel information “0x0A” read from the channel information storage area, and if they match, starts internal switching to logical protocol communication (FIG. 104 of 10)

[0029]

As described above, the first effect of the present invention is that, in a printing system that performs logical protocol communication in the ECP mode, whether or not the printer device supports the logical protocol is automatically determined by the communication. That is to be able to recognize. The reason is that by adding the support information of the logical protocol to the device ID information created by the printer device, it becomes possible for the host device to acquire and recognize the device ID of the printer device.

A second effect is that in a printing system that performs logical protocol communication in the ECP mode, switching to logical protocol communication can be automatically performed. The reason is that the device I created by the printer device
By adding the ECP channel information for the logical protocol to the D information, the device ID of the printer device can be
Is acquired, the ECP channel for the logical protocol is recognized, and the ECP mode is started using the channel, whereby the printer device can recognize the start of the logical protocol.

A third effect is that even when a channel used as an ECP channel for a logical protocol is used for another protocol or another purpose, an operation can be realized on a different channel. It is. The reason is that the user can change the logical protocol ECP channel.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of recognizing a physical protocol according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of generating a device ID according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of switching a logical protocol according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation of saving channel information according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation when a device ID is generated according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of switching a logical protocol according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 printer device 2 host device 3 analysis unit 4 print control unit 5 output control unit 6 basic control unit 7 host I / F control unit 8 Centronics I / F physical protocol control unit 9 device ID information generation unit 10 compatible mode control unit 11 nibble Mode control unit 12 ECP mode control unit 13 Logical protocol control unit 14 Protocol switching judgment unit 15 User I / F unit 16 Channel information storage area

Claims (6)

[Claims] An IEEE 1284 communication with a host device 2 is performed.
Compatible mode control unit 10 performing in the specified compatible mode, nibble mode control unit 11 performing in the specified nibble mode, ECP mode control unit 12 performing in the specified ECP mode, logical protocol support information and use of logical protocol To create device ID information with channel information added in ECP mode at the time
A Centronics I / F physical protocol that manages the D information generation unit 9, the device ID information generation unit 9, the compatible mode control unit 10, the nibble mode control unit 11, and the ECP mode control unit 12, and controls communication with the host device 2. A control unit 8, a logical protocol control unit 13 for performing packet communication processing according to a logical protocol, and a device ID information generation unit 9
A protocol switching determining unit 14 for determining whether to switch the logical protocol and the physical protocol from the channel information in the ECP mode when the logical protocol is used and the channel information in the ECP mode requested by the higher-level device 2 recognized by the ECP mode control unit 12 A host I / F control unit 7 that communicates with the logical protocol control unit 13 or the Centronics I / F physical protocol control unit 8 according to the determination of the protocol switching determination unit 14;
An analysis unit 3 for analyzing data received from the control unit 7; a print control unit 4 for converting data analyzed by the analysis unit 3 into image data; an output control unit 5 for printing the created image data; A basic control unit for controlling the analysis unit, the print control unit, and the output control unit based on data received from the I / F control unit;
A communication system capable of switching communication protocols, wherein the communication protocol is automatically switched by specifying a P-mode channel. 2. In response to a device ID request from the higher-level device 2, the printer 1 notifies the higher-level device 2 of the device ID information created by the device ID information generator 9, and the higher-level device 2 The printer 1 recognizes from the logical protocol support information that the printer 1 supports the logical protocol, recognizes the ECP channel information when the logical protocol is used in the device ID information, and the upper device 2 recognizes the ECP channel recognized by the device ID. , The communication using the logical protocol is started, and the printer device 1 recognizes the designation of the ECP channel from the host device 2 by the ECP mode control unit 12, and the Centronics I /
The host I / F control unit 7 notifies the host I / F control unit 7 through the F physical protocol control unit 8, the host I / F control unit 7 passes the notified ECP channel information to the protocol switching determination unit 14, and the protocol switching determination unit 14 receives the notification. ECP
The channel information and the ECP channel information of the device ID created by the device ID information generation unit 9 are compared, and if they are equal, a logical protocol is selected, notified to the host I / F control unit 7, and the logical protocol communication is started. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the communication protocol is switchable. 3. First, the host device 2 checks the physical protocol supported by the printer device 1 and determines whether or not the ECP mode can be used based on the result. If the logical protocol is determined to be unavailable and the ECP mode is available,
The host device 2 requests the printer device 1 for device ID information, and when the printer device 1 is started up by turning on the power, the information indicating that the logical protocol is supported and the ECP mode for performing the logical protocol are used. Create physical channel information as device ID information,
The created device ID information is notified in response to a device ID request from the host device 2, and the host device 2 determines whether or not the printer device 1 supports the logical protocol based on the obtained device ID information and supports the logical device. If not, it is determined that the logical protocol is unusable. If it is determined that the logical protocol is supported, the ECP physical channel for the logical protocol notified by the device ID information is used.
The logical protocol communication is started in the ECP mode, and the printer device 1 compares the physical channel information specified in the ECP mode with the ECP mode physical channel information in the logical protocol of the device ID information created in the printer device 1. If not, it is determined that the logical protocol cannot be used.
2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein data transmitted for the P-mode physical channel is converted into data for a logical protocol and logical protocol communication is started. 4. First, as for the host device 2, the printer device 1
In order to confirm whether or not the nibble mode specified by EEE1284 is supported, a request for reverse communication in the nibble mode is made. If the printer 1 supports the nibble mode, a request from the host device 2 is issued. If the upper-level device 2 does not support the nibble mode, it does not respond to the request from the higher-level device 2 to indicate that the upper-level device 2 is not supported. Can check whether the printer device 1 supports the nibble mode. If the printer 1 does not support the nibble mode, it is necessary to support the nibble mode if bidirectional communication is supported. Is not supported, and after confirming that nibble mode is supported, E
In order to confirm the support of the CP mode, the host device 2 requests the printer device 1 for the reverse communication in the ECP mode, and when the printer device 1 supports the ECP mode, the host device 2 If the ECP mode is not supported at this time and the ECP mode is not supported, a negative response (nibble mode response) is performed to indicate that the ECP mode is not supported. 2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printer can check whether the printer device supports the ECP mode. 5. A system according to claim 1, further comprising: a user I / F section for enabling a user to change channel information in an ECP mode when a logical protocol is used; and a channel information storage area for storing the channel information. The print system according to claim 1, wherein the communication protocol is switchable. 6. When a user operates a user I / F unit 15 to change channel information, stores the changed channel information in a channel information storage area 16 and creates device ID information, the device ID information The generation unit 9 reads the stored channel information from the channel information storage area 16 and stores the NM of the device ID information.
In the case of creating LCKEY key information and recognizing the ECP channel for switching the logical protocol, the protocol switching determining unit 14 reads the stored channel information from the channel information storage area 16 and performs the ECP The ECP channel information in the mode communication is compared with the read channel information. If they do not match, the logical protocol is determined to be unusable. If they match, switching to the logical protocol is performed and the logical protocol is started. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the communication protocol is switchable.