JPH01120657A - Input/output controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize the remote control of an input/output device at the side of a CPU by inputting control data via a control means for remote control of the input/output device and outputting the control data to the input/output device. CONSTITUTION:When the output data on personal computers 5a-5z are printed by a printer 6 of an input/output controller 20, various setting actions are carried out to the printer 6 via control boxes 8a-8z. The controller 20 selects a personal computer having an output request for input of the output data and at the same time selects the control boxes for input of the control data for remote control of the printer 6. This control data is stored in a memory part 7. Then the controller 20 performs various setting actions of the printer 6 and outputs the output data to the printer 6 via a multiplexing part 2 and a connection part 4 when the printer 6 is set under a ready state. Thus the output data are printed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field 1] The present invention relates to an input/output control device for an input/output device (such as a printer) that selectively outputs data from a plurality of central processing units (such as a personal computer).

[Prior Art] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a conventional input/output control device, and in the figure, (la), (lb), -=, (lz
) is an input interface connection part, (2) is an interface multiplexing part, and the input interface connection part (1a
) to (1z) are connected. (3) is a control section, which is connected to the interface multiplexing section (2).

(4) is a device level interface connection section, which is connected to the interface multiplexing section (2).

(10) is the input interface connection part (1a) to (1z
), an interface multiplexing section (2), a control section (3), and a device level interface connection section. Also, (5a), (5b)
,..., (5z) is the input interface connection part (1a
) to (IZ) are connected, and (6) is a printer connected to the device level interface connection section (4).

The conventional input/output control device is configured as described above, and outputs data from the personal computers (5a) to (5z) to the printer (6).
When printing with the printer (6), the input/output control device (
10) selects the personal computers (5a) to (5z) to which an output request has been made via the interface multiplexing unit (2) and input interface connection units (1m) to (IZ), and inputs the output data. The input/output control device (10) then sends the output data to the printer (6) via the interface multiplexer (2) and the device level interface connector (4) when the printer (6) is in the Ready state. Output and print.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] With the conventional input/output control device as described above, there is a problem in that even if the settings of the printer differ depending on the computer, the settings of the printer cannot be operated from the computer side. was there.

The present invention was made to solve these problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an input/output control device that allows various settings of a printer to be remotely controlled from a personal computer.

[Means for Solving the Problems] An input/output control device according to the present invention includes a first connection means for inputting and outputting data to and from a central processing unit, a remote control device for remotely controlling the input/output device, and a control device. a second connecting means for inputting and outputting data; a third connecting means for inputting and outputting the data and the control data to and from the input/output device;
When there is an input/output request for the remote control device via the third connection means, the control data for remotely controlling the input/output device is inputted from the remote control device, and the control data is transmitted via the third connection means. and a control means for outputting the control data to the input/output device.

[Operation] In the present invention, the control means inputs control data from a remote control device on the central processing unit side for remotely operating the input/output device, and outputs this control data to the input/output device. By doing so, the input/output device can be remotely controlled from the central processing unit side.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
(la), (lb)-・-1(lz), (2), (4
), (5a), (5b), ..., (5z), (6) are (1
a) to (1z) are first connection means, and in this embodiment, input interface connection parts (9a), (9b),
..., (9z) is the second connection means, which in this embodiment is the control box input/output interface connection section, and (4) is the third connection means, which is the device level interface connection in this embodiment. Part, (2), (3)
and (7) are control means, and in this embodiment, (2
) are the input interface connection parts (1a) to (1 and 2) and the control box input/output interface connection part (9).
a) an interface multiplexing unit to which (9z) and the device level interface connection unit (4) are connected;
(3) is a control section connected to the interface multiplexing section (2), and (7) is a storage section connected to the control section (3). (20) is the input interface connection part (1a)
- (1z), control box input/output interface connection section (9a) - (9z), interface multiplexing section (2), control section (3), device level interface connection section (4), and storage section (7). It is an input/output control device that is In addition, (5a) to (5z) are the personal computers connected to the input interface connection parts (1a) to (1z), and (8a) to (8Z) are the control box input/output interface connection parts (9a) to (9Z). ) is connected to the control box, and (6) is a printer connected to the device level interface connection section (4).

In the input/output control device configured as above, the output data from the personal computers (5a) to (5Z) is transferred to the printer (6).
When printing with a control box (5z) compatible with the computer (5a) to (5z), set various settings such as the number of consecutive prints, print magnification (full-width/half-width, etc.), online connection/disconnection, cancellation, etc. of the printer (6). 8a) to (8Z), the input/output control device (20) is an interface multiplexer (
2) and input interface connection parts (1a) to (1z
), the output request is sent to the computers (5a) to (
5z) and input the output data, and control corresponding to the personal computers (5a) to (5z) via the interface multiplexing section (2) and control box input/output interface connection sections (9a) to (9Z). Select boxes (8a) to (8z) and select printer (6)
Control data for remotely controlling the various settings described above is input and stored in the storage section (7). First, the input/output control device (20) outputs the control data to the printer (6) via the interface multiplexing section (2) and the device level interface connection section (4).
), the output data is transferred to the interface multiplexer (2) when the printer (6) is in the Ready state.
) and the device level interface connection section (4) to the printer (6) for printing. After that, repeat the operation to select the next computer.

FIG. 2 is a front external view showing a control box used in an embodiment of the present invention, in which (81a) is an online connection button, (stb) is an online connection indicator light, (81a) is an online connection button, (81a) is an online connection button, (81a) is an online connection indicator light, and (81a) is an online connection button.
2a) is the copy button, (82b) is the copy indicator light, (83
m) is a cancel button, (83b) is a cancel indicator light,
(84a) is a count button, (84b) is a count number indicator, (85) is an A3 paper indicator light, (86) is an A4 paper indicator light, and (87) is a Busy/Ready indicator light.

When it is desired to connect the personal computers (5a) to (5Z) to the printer (6) online, when the online connection button (81a) is pressed, the online connection indicator light (81b) lights up.

If you want to print using the printer (6), press the copy button (82a)
When is pressed, the copy indicator light (82b) lights up. If you want to cancel printing with the printer (6), press the cancel button (8).
When 3a) is pressed, the cancel indicator light (83b) lights up. If you want to print continuously with printer (6), count j
Each time you press D (84a), the count number display (84b
) is incremented by 1 to display a number indicating the number of prints. The A3 paper indicator light (85) and the A4 paper indicator light (86) are lit in accordance with the size of the paper set in the printer (6). Busy/Ready indicator light (
87) indicates whether the printer (6) is busy or ready.
For example, in this embodiment, Busy
Lights up when the status is present.

In the above embodiment, the input/output control device (20) selects the personal computers (5a) to (5Z) to which an output request is issued via the input interface connections (1a) to (1z), and inputs the output data. At the same time, select the control box (8a) to (8Z) that is compatible with the personal computer (5a) to (5z) via the control box input/output interface connection part (9a) to (9Z), and connect the printer (6).
I was inputting control data to remotely control the various settings mentioned above, but even if I directly select the control boxes (8a) to (8z) that are requesting input/output and input the control data, the desired results cannot be obtained. Needless to say, the purpose can be achieved.

Incidentally, in the above description, a case has been described in which a printer is connected as an input/output device, but it goes without saying that other input/output devices such as a display device, a drawing device, etc. can be connected.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the present invention includes a first connection means for inputting and outputting data with the central processing unit, a remote control device for remotely controlling the input/output device, and a first connecting means for inputting and outputting control data. a second connection means, a third connection means for inputting and outputting the data and the control data to and from the input/output device; when an input/output request is made to the remote control device via the second connection means, the remote controller The control means inputs the control data for remotely controlling the input/output device from the operating device and outputs the control data to the input/output device via the third connection means, on the central processing unit side. This has the advantage that the input/output device can be remotely controlled from the input/output device.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of this invention, Fig. 2 is a front external view showing a control box used in an embodiment of this invention, and Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing a conventional input/output control device. It is a diagram. In the figure, (1a) to (IZ) are input interface connection units (first connection means), (2) are interface multiplexing units, (3) are control units, and (4) are device level interface connection units (first connection means). 3), (7) is a storage section, (9a) to (9z) are control box input/output interface connection sections (second connection means), and (10). (20) is an input/output control device, (5a) to (5Z) is a personal computer (central processing bag N), (6) is a printer (input/output device), (8), (8a) to (8Z) is a control box (remote control device). Note that the same reference numerals in each figure indicate the same or corresponding parts. 0;) (JJ (JJ

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) A first connection means for inputting and outputting data with the central processing unit; a second connection means for inputting and outputting control data with a remote control device for remotely controlling the input/output device; When there is an input/output request for the remote control device via the third connection means for inputting and outputting the data and the control data, and the second connection means, the remote control device remotely controls the input/output device. An input/output control device comprising: a control means for inputting the control data for the purpose of controlling the input/output device, and outputting the control data to the input/output device via the third connection means. (2) When the control means receives an input/output request from the central processing unit via the first connection means, it inputs control data for remotely controlling the input/output device from a remote control device corresponding to the central processing unit. An input/output control device according to claim 1, characterized in that: (3) The first connection means is an input interface connection section, the second connection means is a control box input/output interface connection section, the third connection means is a device level interface connection section, and the control means is an interface connection section. 3. The input/output control device according to claim 1, comprising a multiplexing section, a control section, and a storage section. (4) The input/output control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the central processing unit is a personal computer, and the input/output device is a printer, display device, or drawing device. .