JPH08263238A - Printing controller, printer and printing control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To exactly execute the automatic switching control of a desired EM by preparing a control code group by extracting a common item from peculiar control codes stored in a first storage means, and classifying the control codes stored in a second storage means by judging which control code group the control code belongs to. CONSTITUTION: A ROM stores first and second command tables EM-A and EM-B concerning two EMs and stores a third table EM-C concerning the EM stored in an EM unit. Besides, a RAM prepares and stores the respective peculiar commands and common command of 1st-3rd tables EM-A, EM-B and EM-C. Then, the respective peculiar commands, common command and fully common command are prepared and stored in the RAM as 2nd and 3rd EM discrimination tables CMT-B and CMT-C. Based on a command from a CPU, the RAM decides any one of 1st and 3rd EM to be selected.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing control device, a printing device and a printing control method, and more particularly to a printing control device for converting print data into a predetermined printing format and outputting the printing data, and the printing control device. And a printing control method for the printing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a printer connected to a host computer receives print data such as character codes and control codes from the host computer, converts the print data into a predetermined print format, and prints the desired data. Are doing.

In this case, the protocol for data communication executed between the printing apparatus and the host computer must be the same, which limits the model of the host computer connected to the printing apparatus. Become.

Therefore, in order to realize a general-purpose printing device that can be used by connecting to a plurality of host computers, conventionally, communication data of host computers having different protocols is converted so as to be compatible with a desired printing device. A print control program (emulation program: hereinafter referred to as EM) is provided to supply desired document data to the printing apparatus via the EM.

Further, the printing apparatus has a plurality of built-in EMs or supplies the EMs to the printing apparatus via an external storage device or the like to extract a command from the host computer or a control code peculiar to the control data group received from the host computer. By doing so, the EM is automatically switched to perform printing. As a result, multiple host computers can be connected to an input switching device or LAN (internal network; local
It can be used by simultaneously connecting to a printing apparatus via an area network or the like.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional printing apparatus, a specific EM is obtained by extracting the command from the host computer or the control code peculiar to the control data group received from the host computer as described above. Since the EM is automatically switched by selecting, the EM cannot be selected when the peculiar control code is not stored in the buffer unit in the printing apparatus, and the printing process can be executed. There was a problem that it could not be done.

Further, when the EM is supplied from the external storage device, the EM selection logic must be a logic assuming all kinds of EM supplied by the external storage device, and therefore the above-mentioned assumption will be made later. EM other than
However, there is a problem in that it is impossible to provide the data by an external storage device.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and avoids a state in which EM cannot be specified in the EM automatic switching process, and at the same time, an EM from an external storage device is used.
Desired E even when combined with built-in EM
An object of the present invention is to provide a printing control device, a printing device, and a printing control method capable of accurately executing M automatic switching control.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a print control apparatus according to the present invention stores a plurality of print control programs different from each other and has the print control programs included in the plurality of print control programs. First storage means for storing a control code peculiar to each of
Code group creating means for creating a plurality of control code groups by extracting a common term from the unique control code stored in the first storage means, and storing control data input from an arbitrary external device. No. 2 storage means, and a classification means for classifying the control data by determining which of the plurality of control code groups the control data stored in the second storage means belongs to. And a program selection means for selecting a print control program to be executed based on the classification result of the classification means.

Further, the print control device according to the present invention is connected to at least one or more print control programs and a detachable external storage device in which control data peculiar to the print control programs is stored, if necessary. Instead of the code group creating means, a code group creating means for creating a plurality of code groups by extracting a common term from the unique control code stored in the first storage means and the external storage device is provided. It is characterized by being.

A printing apparatus according to the present invention is characterized by including the print control apparatus.

Further, in the print control method according to the present invention, a plurality of print control programs different from each other and a control code peculiar to each of the plurality of print control programs are stored in advance and inputted from an external device. After storing control data and extracting a common term of the control codes stored in advance to create a plurality of control code groups, it is determined whether the control data belongs to which code group. The control data is classified for each control code group, and the print control program to be executed is selected based on the classification result.

Further, in the print control method according to the present invention, a plurality of print control programs different from each other and a control code peculiar to each of the plurality of print control programs are stored in advance and input from an external device. A plurality of control code groups for storing control data and extracting a common term between the control code stored in advance and a control code supplied from an external storage device in which at least one print control program is stored. After creating the control data, it is determined which code group the control data belongs to, the control data is classified for each control code group, and the print control program to be executed is selected based on the classification result. It is also preferable to be characterized.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an internal structural view of a laser beam printer as an embodiment of a printing apparatus according to the present invention. The laser beam printer 1 includes an operation panel 3 provided on an upper surface of an apparatus body 2. A print main body 4 that performs a predetermined print operation, and a print control device 5 that analyzes the input character data, control data, and the like to control the print operation of the print main body 4.
It consists of and.

The printing main body portion 4 stores predetermined recording paper (cut paper) and supplies the recording paper through a paper feed cassette 7 having a paper feed roller 6 and an appropriate number of transport rollers 8. The electrostatic drum 9, an optical system 10 for irradiating the electrostatic drum 9 with a laser beam, a developing device 11 for accommodating toner of a predetermined color and arranged around the electrostatic drum 9, Fixing device 1 for fixing the toner image developed by developing device 11
2 and the discharge roller 1 for the document data etc. printed on the recording paper
3 and a sheet discharge section 14 that discharges the sheet to the outside of the apparatus.

The optical system 10 includes a semiconductor laser 15 for emitting a laser beam having a predetermined wavelength, and the semiconductor laser 1.
Laser driver 17 for driving 5 and rotary polygon mirror 18
And a reflecting mirror 1 for reflecting the laser light entering through the rotary polygon mirror 18 and supplying the laser light onto the electrostatic drum 9.
9 and 9.

In the laser beam printer 1 thus constructed, the video signal from the print controller 5 is input to the laser driver 17, and the laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser 15 is turned on / off in response to the video signal. Switch off. The laser light is oscillated in the left-right direction by the rotary polygon mirror 18 to scan the electrostatic drum 9, an electrostatic latent image such as a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 9, and the electrostatic latent image is formed. It is developed via the developing device 11. Then, the toner image attached on the electrostatic drum 9 is transferred to the recording paper fed from the paper feeding cassette 7, and then the toner image is fixed on the recording paper by the fixing device 12, and the recording paper is discharged. Laura 1
The sheet is discharged to the sheet discharge unit 14 via the sheet 3.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a printing system including the laser beam printer 1, and the print control device 5 of the laser beam printer 1 is shown.
Is connected to the first host computer 21 and the second host computer 22 via the input switching device 20,
A first host computer 21 or a second host computer 22 is operated by operating the input switching device 20.
Input information from either one of the above is supplied to the print control device 5. Further, the EM unit 23 is detachably attached to the print control device 5, and the EM from the EM unit 23 can be supplied to the laser beam printer 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the details of the print control device 5. The print control device 5 is connected to the input switching device 20 and is connected to the first and second host computers 21 and 22. Between the first main body (IF1) 24 for performing a predetermined interface operation and a second interface (I1) connected to the print main body portion 4 for performing a predetermined interface operation
F2) 25, a third interface (IF3) 26 connected to the EM unit 23 and performing a predetermined interface operation with the EM unit 23, and
A read-only memory (ROM) 27 in which a command table for M determination and a predetermined control program are stored, and control data input from the first and second host computers 21 and 22, and the ROM 27 and the EM unit 23. A readable / writable random access memory (RAM) 28 for storing an EM determination table created based on the control code stored in the control data and the control data;
A central processing unit (CPU) 29 having a logic circuit such as a clock pulse generating circuit, a delay circuit, a gate circuit, etc., and these respective constituent elements are connected via a bus 30.
Each component such as the ROM 27 and the RAM 28 is controlled by the CPU 29.

In this embodiment, the ROM 27 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), the first and second EM determination command tables EM-A and EM-B for the two EMs are stored, and the EM unit 23 is stored as shown in FIG. , The third about the EM stored in the EM unit 23
EM determination command table EM-C is stored.

Further, the RAM 28 stores the first to third E
M determination command table EM-A, EM-B, EM-
Create and store each unique and common command for C. That is, as shown in FIG.
Centering around the first EM determination command table EM-A, a unique command that only EM-A has, a common command that both EM-A and EM-B have, and an EM-
A common command that both A and EM-C have, and E
All common commands of any of MA, EM-B, and EM-C are extracted and tabulated, and stored as a first EM determination table CMT-A (FIG. 5A). Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C, a special command and a common command centering on the second EM determination command table EM-B and the third EM determination command table EM-C, respectively. And all common commands are created, and the second and third EM determination tables CMT-B and CMT-
It is stored in the RAM 28 as C.

Further, the RAM 28 creates an EM selection table for deciding which of the first and third EMs should be selected according to a print processing procedure which will be described later based on a command from the CPU 29.

That is, the EM selection table is, as shown in FIG. 6, specifically, the respective unique commands AAm, BBm, and CCm (m = 1 to 9) for each EM, and the contents for each EM. Common commands ABm and AC common to the two
m and BCm (m = 1 to 9), all common commands AXm (m = 1 to 9) common to all EMs, and the above Es.
The commands are classified into uninterpretable commands that do not belong to any of M and tabulated, and the classification of each command is weighted. That is, the weighting coefficient is set to "2" for the special command, "1" for the common command, "0" for all common commands, and "-2" for the uninterpretable commands, and prioritizes the EMs to be selected. . Each time the control data input to the RAM 28 and the command of the command classification run match, the count value of the command classification run is incremented, the weighted count is multiplied by the counted up value, and then each EM type is counted. Is added, the total value is compared, and the specific EM is selected. Incidentally, in the initial state immediately after the power is turned on, as shown in FIG. 6, the count value of each command classification run is set to "0".

In the print control device 5, however, the control data received at the time of printing is analyzed, and whether the control data matches any of the EM control codes stored in the ROM 27 or the EM unit 23. , The EM is selected and the control is transferred to the specific EM, while the bitmap data is expanded in the page buffer area of the RAM 28 based on the received document data and the like, and the bitmap data is output to the printing main body unit 4. Then, a predetermined printing process is executed. That is, the first host computer 21
Alternatively, while storing the control data and character information (character code) supplied from the second host computer 22,
An EM corresponding to the control data is selected, a character pattern or the like is created based on the character information or the like, and an image is formed on the recording paper.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a print processing procedure executed by the print control device 5. In this program, print data from the first or second host computer 21 or 22 is transmitted via the input switching device 20. It is started when the input is made to the first interface 24 of the print control device 5.

In step S1, the control data input from the first or second host computer 21, 22 is RA
Store in the input buffer of M28. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, for example, AB1, BC2, ..., BC2,
The control data is stored in the input buffer as in END. Next, in step S2, for each command of each command group (see FIG. 5) stored in the first to third EM determination command tables EM-A, EM-B, and EM-C,
Whether or not the command also exists in another command group is searched, and whether or not the command is included in any of the other EM determination command tables, or the first to third EM determination command tables EM. -A, EM-B, EM-C common command is included, whether it is unique to the command and is not included in other EM determination command table, etc. Classify, first to third
EM determination tables CMT-A, CMT-B, CMT
-C is created and stored in the RAM 28. As a result, a plurality of control code groups will be created.

Next, in step S3, after the first EM determination table CMT-A is stored in the pointer P1,
A subroutine (SUB-SCAN) is executed (step S4).

FIG. 9 is a subroutine (SUB-SCAN).
In the step S11, the control data "AB" stored at the head address of the input buffer is displayed.
1 ”is stored in the pointer P2.

Next, in step S12, the pointer P2
The control data "AB1" indicated by is read, and in the following step S13, it is determined whether the read control data is "END". In this case, since it is not "END", the determination result of step S13 is negative (No), the process proceeds to step S14, and the control data "AB1" of the input buffer.
Is in the CMT-A table indicated by the pointer P1. Then, in this case, it is detected that "AB1" is present as the common command for A and B in the CMT-A table, and the process proceeds to step S15.

In step S15, as shown in FIG. 10, "1" is written as the count value of ABm in the EM selection table, and then the process proceeds to step S16 and the pointer P
The control data pointed to by 2 is incremented by "1" and the process returns to step S12.

That is, the pointer P2 reads the control data "BC2" located at the next address of the input buffer. In this case, step S13 and step S
Since the determination result of 14 is negative (No), step S
After proceeding to step 17 and rewriting the count value of the uninterpretable command to "1", the control data pointed to by the pointer P2 is advanced by "1" to the next address, the process returns to step S12 again, and the above-mentioned processing is repeated.

Thereafter, the same processing is repeated, and the pointer P2
Reads "END" from the input buffer, step S1
The determination result of 3 is negative (No), the process returns to the main routine (FIG. 7) and proceeds to step S5.

FIG. 11 shows the state of the EM selection table at the end of step S4. That is, the first
In the EM determination command table EM-A, there are two ABm, AB1 and AB2, in the input buffer,
There is only one ACm AC1 and AXm 1 AX3.
Only exist. Also, as an uninterpretable command,
4 of BC2, BC1, BC3, BC2 in the input buffer
Exist individually.

In the next step S5, the second EM determination table CMT-B is stored in the pointer P1 and the second
9 is executed for the EM determination table CMT-B (step S).
6). That is, the count value is written for each of EM-B, and the process proceeds to step S7.

Subsequently, in step S7, the third EM determination table CMT-C is stored in the pointer P1, and then the subroutine (SUB-SCAN) of FIG. 9 is executed for the third EM determination table CMT-C. (Step S
8). That is, the count value is written for each of EM-B, and the process proceeds to step S9.

Then, in step S9, as shown in FIG. 12, each count value in the EM selection table is multiplied by each weighting coefficient, and then each value is added for each EM type to calculate a total value. In the present embodiment, the total value is the first E
For the M determination command table EM-A, "-
5 ”, and“ 4 ”for the second EM determination command table EM-B, and the third EM determination command table EM.
-C is calculated as "1". As a result, the second EM determination command table EM-B is the largest, and thus the second EM determination command table EM-B is selected, and the second EM determination command table EM-B is executed in step S10. Then, the processing ends. That is, the printing process is executed based on the second EM determination command table EM-B.

As described above, in the above embodiment, it is determined which command code (control data group) in the input buffer matches with the control code of which EM command. In addition, the EM automatic switching can be easily and accurately performed even in the printing system in which both the externally mounted EM and the EM built-in group are combined.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. Although the above embodiment has described the case where the EM unit 23 has two built-in EMs and one externally mounted EM unit 23, the same applies to the case where a plurality of EMs are stored in the EM unit 23. Needless to say.

[0040]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the control code for executing the print control program is stored in the second storage means or the external storage device built in the print control device, and Common items of these control codes are extracted to create a plurality of control code groups, and the control data input from an external device such as a host computer is classified into a plurality of control code groups and executed based on the classification result. Since the print control program that should be used is selected, it is possible to prevent the print control program from entering an unspecified state.

Moreover, since the control code group can be created even when both the control code stored in the external storage device and the control code stored in the print control device are mixed, any print control program can be created. Even if is input from an external device, it is possible to select and execute a desired print control program.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an internal structural diagram of a laser beam printer as an example of a printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a printing system in which the printing apparatus of the present invention is installed.

FIG. 3 is a block configuration diagram showing a print control apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a command table diagram for EM determination.

FIG. 5 is a table for EM determination.

FIG. 6 is a table diagram showing an initial state of an EM selection table.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a main routine of a print control method of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a control data group stored in an input buffer.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of the print control method of the present invention.

10 is an EM selection table showing an example of a command count value set during execution of step S4 of the flowchart of FIG. 9.

11 is an EM selection table showing an example of a command count value set at the end of execution of step S4 in the flowchart of FIG.

12 is an EM selection table showing an example of a command count value set at the end of execution of step S8 in the flowchart of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Laser Beam Printer (Printing Device) 5 Printing Control Device 20 Input Switching Device (Switching Unit) 21 First Host Computer (External Device) 22 Second Host Computer (External Device) 23 EM Unit (External Storage Device) 27 ROM (First and second storage means) 28 RAM (third storage means, code group classification means) 29 CPU (program selection means)

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. A first storage unit for storing a plurality of different print control programs and a control code unique to each of the print control programs included in the plurality of print control programs, and the first storage. Code group creating means for creating a plurality of control code groups by extracting a common term from the unique control code stored in the means, and second storage means for storing control data input from an arbitrary external device. A classifying unit that classifies the control data by determining which of the plurality of control code groups the control data stored in the second storage unit belongs to, and the classifying unit. And a program selection unit that selects a print control program to be executed based on the classification result of 1. 2. The program selecting means includes a counting means for counting the number of the control data for each control code group to which the control data belongs, a weighting means for weighting the counting result of the counting means, and the weighting. 2. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: totalizing means for totalizing numerical values weighted by the means for each print control program, and selecting the print control program based on the totalized result of the totalizing means. 3. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a switching unit capable of switching input paths from a plurality of the external devices. 4. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the external device is a host computer. 5. A removable external storage device storing at least one or more print control programs and control data specific to the print control programs, and stores a plurality of print control programs different from each other. First storage means storing a unique control code of each of the plurality of print control programs, and common items are extracted from the unique control codes stored in the first storage means and the external storage device. Code group creating means for creating a plurality of code groups, second storage means for storing control data input from an arbitrary external device, and control data stored in the second storage means are the plurality of codes. A classification unit that classifies the control data by determining which code group it belongs to, and a print control program to be executed based on the classification result of the classification unit. A print control apparatus comprising: a program selecting unit that selects a program. 6. The program selecting means includes a counting means for counting the number of the control data for each code group to which the control data belongs, a weighting means for weighting the counting result of the counting means, and the weighting means. 6. The print control apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: totalizing means for totalizing the weighted numerical values for each print control program, and selecting the print control program based on the totalized result of the totalizing means. 7. The print control apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a switching unit capable of switching input paths from a plurality of the external devices. 8. The print control device according to claim 5, wherein the external device is a host computer. 9. A printing apparatus comprising the print control apparatus according to claim 1. 10. A printing apparatus comprising the print control apparatus according to claim 2. 11. A printing apparatus comprising the print control apparatus according to claim 3. 12. A printing apparatus comprising the print control apparatus according to claim 4. 13. A printing apparatus comprising the print control apparatus according to claim 5. 14. A printing apparatus comprising the print control apparatus according to claim 6. 15. A printing apparatus comprising the print control apparatus according to claim 7. 16. A printing apparatus comprising the print control apparatus according to claim 8. 17. A plurality of print control programs different from each other and a control code peculiar to each of the plurality of print control programs are stored in advance, and control data input from an external device is stored in advance. After extracting the common items of the control codes set aside to create a plurality of control code groups, it is determined which of the code groups the control data belongs to, and the control data is set for each control code group. A printing control method characterized by classifying and selecting a printing control program to be executed based on the classification result. 18. After classifying the control data for each control code group, the number of the control data is counted for each control code group to which the control data belongs, and a print control program is selected based on the counting result. 18. The printing control method according to claim 17, wherein 19. A plurality of print control programs different from each other and a control code peculiar to each of the plurality of print control programs are stored in advance, and control data input from an external device is stored in advance. After the common term of the stored control code and the control code supplied from the external storage device in which at least one print control program is stored is extracted to create a plurality of control code groups, the control data is A print control method characterized by determining which code group it belongs to, classifying the control data for each control code group, and selecting a print control program to be executed based on the classification result. 20. After classifying the control data for each control code group, the number of the control data is counted for each control code group to which the control data belongs, and a print control program is selected based on the counting result. 20. The printing control method according to claim 19, wherein: