JPH08166920A - Peripheral device and its control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To permit a user to easily learn the change of an option article by judging whether a change occurs in the option article based on information stored in a storage means. CONSTITUTION: NVRAM 21 stores printer mode setting information from a console panel 1012 and information (option information) such as the type and the number of mounted options. CPU 12 checks the type and the number of the options which are mounted at present and compares them with previous option information stored in NVRAM 21. When a difference exists as the result, the effect is noticed to an external information processor such as a host computer from an input part 18 through a bi-directional interface 21. Option information is updated and it is stored in NVRAM 21. Thus, the user can easily learn the change of the option article.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a peripheral device connected to an information processing device via, for example, a bidirectional interface and a control method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when an optional product such as a memory or a hard disk is added to a peripheral device, there is usually no means for a user to automatically know the changed contents.

[0003]

Therefore, there is a problem that the user does not notice the change of the optional product, especially in the case of the peripheral device existing on the network.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a peripheral device and a control method thereof for allowing a user to easily know the change of an optional product.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the peripheral device of the present invention has the following configuration.

In other words, a peripheral device connected to the information processing device via the bidirectional interface, storing means for storing information on an optional product mounted on the peripheral device, and storing in the storage means. Determining means for determining whether or not an optional item has been changed based on the information obtained, and notifying means for notifying the information processing device via an interactive interface in accordance with the result of the determination made by the determining means. Have and.

In order to achieve the above object, the method of controlling a peripheral device according to the present invention has the following steps.

That is, a method of controlling a peripheral device connected to an information processing device via a bidirectional interface, in which information on an optional product mounted on the peripheral device is stored and stored in the stored information. Based on the result of the determination, whether or not the optional item has changed is notified, and according to the result of the determination, the information processing apparatus is notified via the bidirectional interface.

[0009]

With this configuration, the user can easily know the change of the optional item, and the operability is improved.

[0010]

EXAMPLES Before describing the configuration of this example,
Configurations of a laser beam printer and an inkjet printer suitable for applying the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. A laser beam printer or an inkjet printer will be described as an example, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to these and can be applied to printers of other printing methods.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing the structure of a printer to which the present invention is applicable, for example, a case of a laser beam printer (LBP).

In the figure, reference numeral 1000 denotes an LBP main body, which inputs and stores print information (character code, etc.), form information, macro commands, etc. supplied from an externally connected host computer, and also stores those information. A corresponding character pattern, form pattern, or the like is created according to the above, and an image is formed on a recording paper or the like that is a recording medium.

An operation panel unit 1012 is provided with switches for operation and an LED display. 1
A control unit 001 controls the LBP main body 1000. The control unit 1001 mainly converts character information into a video signal of a corresponding character pattern and outputs the video signal to the laser driver 1002. The laser driver 1002 switches on / off the laser light 1004 emitted from the semiconductor laser 1003. The laser beam 1004 is shaken in the left-right direction by the rotary polygon mirror 1005, and an electrostatic latent image of a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 1006. The electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing unit 1007 arranged around the electrostatic drum 1006, and then transferred to the recording paper. A cut sheet is used for this recording paper, and the cut sheet is stored in a paper cassette 1008 mounted on the LBP main body 1000, and is taken into the apparatus by a paper feed roller 1009, a conveyance roller 1010, and a conveyance roller 1011, and then the sheet is quietly placed. It is supplied to the electric drum 1006. Also,
The LBP main body 1000 is provided with at least one or more card slots (not shown) so that an optional font card and a control card (emulation card) having a different language can be connected in addition to the built-in font.

FIG. 2 is an external view showing the structure of another printer to which the present invention is applicable, for example, the case of an ink jet recording apparatus (IJRA).

As shown in the drawing, the driving force transmitting gears 5011 and 5009 are interlocked with the forward and reverse rotations of the driving motor 5013.
Lead screw 5005 spiral groove 50 rotating through
The carriage HC associated with 04 has a pin (not shown) and is reciprocated in the directions of arrows a and b. An inkjet carriage IJC is mounted on this carriage HC. A paper pressing plate 5002 presses the paper against the platen 5000 in the carriage movement direction. Reference numerals 5007 and 5008 denote photocouplers, which function as home position detecting means for confirming whether or not the lever 5006 of the carriage exists in this area and switching the rotation direction of the motor 5013. Fifty
Reference numeral 16 is a member for supporting the cap member 5022 on the entire surface of the recording head, and 5015 is a suction means for sucking the inside of the cap to perform suction recovery of the recording head through the opening 5023 in the cap. A cleaning blade 5017 can be moved in the front-rear direction by a member 5019. 5018
Is a main body supporting plate which supports the above 5017 and 5019.
5012 is a lever for starting suction for suction recovery,
The cam 5020 moves in accordance with the movement of the cam 5020 that engages with the carriage, and the driving force of the driving motor is controlled by known transmission means such as clutch switching.

The capping, cleaning, and suction recovery are performed so that desired processing can be performed at their corresponding positions by the action of the lead screw 5005 when the carriage home position side area is reached. May be configured to perform a desired operation.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of the printer control system according to this embodiment. Here, a laser beam printer (FIG. 1) will be described as an example. In addition, as long as the functions of the present invention are executed, the present invention can be applied to a single device, a system including a plurality of devices, or a system in which processing is performed via a network such as a LAN. It goes without saying that the invention can be applied.

In the figure, reference numeral 3000 denotes a host computer, which performs document processing in which graphics, images, characters, tables (including spreadsheets, etc.) are mixed based on a document processing program stored in the program ROM of the ROM 3. The CPU 1 has a CPU 1 that executes the program, and the CPU 1 generally controls a plurality of devices connected to the system bus 4.

The program ROM of the ROM 3
4 stores a control program of the CPU 1 as shown in the flowchart of FIG.
Stores the font data and the like used in the document processing, and the data ROM of the ROM 3 stores various data used in the document processing and the like. 2 is R
It is an AM and functions as a main memory and a work area of the CPU 1. A keyboard controller (KBC) 5 controls inputs from the keyboard 9 and a pointing device (not shown). 6 is a CRT controller (CR
TC) and controls the display on the CRT display (CRT) 10. A memory controller (MC) 7 includes a hard disk (HD) and a floppy disk (F) for storing a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, edit files and the like.
Control access to the external memory 11 such as D). A printer controller (PRTC) 8 is connected to the printer 1000 via a predetermined bidirectional interface (interface) 21 and executes communication control processing with the printer 1000. The CPU 1 is, for example, R
The outline font is expanded (rasterized) to the display information RAM set on AM2, and CRT is executed.
It enables WYSIWYG on 10.

Further, the CPU 1 described above opens various windows registered on the basis of commands designated by a mouse cursor (not shown) on the CRT 10 and executes various data processing.

In the printer 1000, 12 is a printer CPU, and various devices connected to the system bus 15 based on a control program stored in the program ROM of the ROM 13 or a control program stored in the external memory 14. Access to the printer is comprehensively controlled, and an image signal as output information is output to a printer (printer engine) 17 connected via a printer interface (I / F) 16. The program ROM of the ROM 13 stores the control program of the CPU 12 as shown in the flowchart of FIG. ROM1
The font ROM of No. 3 stores font data used when generating output information, and the data ROM of the ROM 13 is used on the host computer 3000 in the case of a printer having no external memory 14 such as a hard disk. It stores the information to be displayed. CPU 12 is the input unit 1
It is possible to perform communication processing with the host computer 3000 via 8 and to notify the host computer 3000 of information in the printer. Also, 1
Reference numeral 9 denotes a RAM that functions as a main memory, a work area, etc. of the CPU 12, and is configured so that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown).

The RAM 19 is used as an output information expansion area, environment data storage area, NVRAM and the like. Access to the external memory 14 such as the hard disk (HD) or IC card described above is controlled by the memory controller (MC) 20. The external memory 14 is connected as an option and stores font data, emulation programs, form data and the like. In addition, the operation panel 1
012 is provided with a switch for performing an operation, an LED display, and the like. An NVRAM 21 stores printer mode setting information from the operation panel 1012 and information (hereinafter referred to as option information) such as the type and number of installed options.

The external memory 11 is not limited to one, but at least one is provided, and in addition to the built-in font, an optional font card and a plurality of external memories storing programs for interpreting printer control languages of different languages are provided. It may be configured to be connectable.

In the printer control system configured as described above, the operation of notifying the change of option information will be described.
A description will be given below according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

Normally, after the option product is changed, the power is input again, so in this embodiment, the processing shown in FIG. 4 is executed after the power is turned on.

First, in step S1, the CPU 12
Checks the type and number of currently installed options and compares them with the previous option information stored in the NVRAM 21. As a result, if there is a difference, step S2
Then, the input unit 18 notifies the external information processing apparatus such as the host computer of the fact via the bidirectional interface 21. Then, the process proceeds to step S3, the option information is updated, stored in the NVRAM 21, and the process ends.

<Modification> In the present embodiment, the external information processing device such as the host computer is notified in step S2 described above.
It may be recorded on paper by sending to 7 and printing.

Further, instead of notifying the external information processing device such as the host computer in step S2 described above, the change history of the option information may be saved by storing it in a log file. Further, maintenance history can be improved by printing the change history information in response to a request from the outside or notifying the requesting external information processing device.

The present invention may be applied to a system including a plurality of devices or an apparatus including a single device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to the case of being achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By automatically notifying the information processing apparatus or the like when the option item is changed, the user can easily know the change of the option item.

Further, when the option product is changed, there is an effect that the change information of the option product can be recorded by automatically printing the information.

Further, by automatically recording the information in the log file when the option item is changed, there is an effect that the change history of the option item can be obtained.

[0033]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a laser beam printer in this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an external view showing the configuration of the inkjet printer in this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of a printer control system according to this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of changing option information according to this embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CPU 2 RAM 3 ROM 4 System Bus 12 CPU 13 ROM 19 RAM 1000 Printer 3000 Host Computer

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A peripheral device connected to an information processing device via a bidirectional interface, the storage device storing information on an optional product mounted on the peripheral device, and the storage device storing the information. Determination means for determining whether or not an optional item has been changed based on the determined information, and notification means for notifying the information processing device via the interactive interface in accordance with the determination result by the determination means. And a peripheral device. 2. The peripheral device according to claim 1, further comprising a printing unit, wherein the printing unit prints the change information of the optional item to notify the user. 3. The peripheral device according to claim 1, further comprising a non-volatile recording unit, wherein the history is recorded by recording change information of the optional item in the recording unit. 4. A method for controlling a peripheral device connected to an information processing device via a bidirectional interface, comprising storing information on an optional product mounted on the peripheral device, and storing the information in the stored information. Based on the result of the determination, whether or not the optional product has been changed is determined, and according to the result of the determination, the information processing device is notified of that effect through the bidirectional interface. Control method. 5. The method of controlling a peripheral device according to claim 4, wherein the user is notified by printing change information of the optional item by the printing means. 6. The method of controlling a peripheral device according to claim 4, wherein the history is recorded by recording the change information of the optional item in the non-volatile recording means.