JP2000207153A - Printing system and printer control method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system capable of easily changing and updating a printer program, with which various parts connected to a printer can be easily dealt with and the control of devices is facilitated as well. SOLUTION: A parts check program in a host computer 1 requests parts information to a printer 2. In response to that request, a parts information transmission program in the printer 2 transmits the information of parts connected to the printer 2 at present to the host computer 1. Then, the parts check program in the host computer 1 downloads a parts driver for operating the parts connected to the printer 2 to the printer 2. The downloaded parts driver program is installed in the printer 2 and activated by the boot program of the parts driver in the printer 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus.

[0002] The present invention relates to a printer having a controller unit and an engine unit connected to a host computer.
For example, the present invention relates to a printing system including a page printer.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printer is provided with a ROM as storage means. A printer program stored in the ROM is set in advance on a RAM as temporary storage means, and then the program is started. ing.

[0004]

However, according to the above-mentioned prior art, there is a bug in the printer program once written in the ROM, it is not possible to cope with the upgrade of the hardware, or in accordance with the user's request. If not, it was necessary to replace the ROM itself.

On the other hand, various parts are often connected to the printer via an interface unit. Examples of the parts include a speaker, a scanner, a fax receiving part, and a fax transmitting part. On the other hand, the printer program directly controls and manages various parts. From the viewpoint of the printer program, the control of the parts is strict and very complicated in terms of the program operation. In addition, in this form, the connection between the printer program and the parts is very strong, and when the parts are improved, the printer program itself must be strictly checked and improved. In other words, the printer program and the parts must necessarily be dedicated products.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. It is an object of the present invention to easily cope with various parts connected to a printer and to control parts easily. Another object of the present invention is to provide a printing system which can easily change and update a simple printer control program.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a print system including a host computer and a printer, wherein the host computer controls parts connectable to the printer. And a transmitting unit that downloads the part driver program to a printer. The printer receives the part driver program from the transmitting unit of the host computer. Receiving means, a second storage means for storing the parts driver program received by the receiving means, and a control means for executing the parts driver program stored in the second storage means. .

Here, the host computer requests the printer for parts identification information for identifying the parts connected to the printer, and a parts identification for receiving the parts identification information from the printer. Information receiving means, wherein the transmitting means downloads a part driver program corresponding to control of each part to a printer based on the part identification information, wherein the printer is provided with the host computer. And a part identification information transmitting means for transmitting the part identification information to the host computer in response to a request for the part identification information from the host computer.

[0009] The parts driver program may include:
A driver program for controlling a fax transmission part connectable to a printer, wherein the host computer further includes data transmission means for transmitting print data to the printer, wherein the printer has a facsimile transmission means as a part; And print data receiving means for receiving the print data from the data sending means, wherein the second storage means analyzes the print data received by the data receiving means, expands the print data, and generates facsimile data. The control means executes the facsimile transmission program stored in the second storage means.

[0010] A printer control method according to the present invention is a method of controlling a printer by a host computer, wherein the host computer transmits a parts driver program for controlling parts connectable to the printer to the printer. A transmitting step, a storing step of storing the parts driver program transmitted in the transmitting step in a storage unit of a printer, and a parts controlling step of executing the parts driver program stored in the storing step. Features.

A requesting step of requesting the printer from the host computer for part identification information for identifying parts connected to the printer; and requesting the part identification information from the host computer. And the printer further includes a part identification information transmitting step of transmitting the part identification information to the host computer, wherein the transmitting step includes transmitting the part identification information to the host computer in the part identification information transmitting step. A part connected to the printer is identified based on the identification information, and the part driver program for controlling the part is downloaded to the printer.

A first computer-readable memory according to the present invention is a computer-readable memory storing a printer control program downloaded from a host computer to a printer, wherein the printer control program comprises:
The printer includes a part driver program for controlling parts connectable to the printer.

A second computer readable memory according to the present invention is a computer readable memory storing a control program for controlling a printer, wherein the control program is connectable to the printer from a host computer. It is characterized by including a download program for downloading a part driver program for controlling parts, and the part driver program downloaded by the download program.

Here, the printer control program includes:
The printer includes a main printer program that operates mainly in the printer.

Further, the printer control program includes a parts check program for checking parts connected to the printer.

[0016]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the relative arrangement of components described in this embodiment, formulas, numerical values, etc., unless otherwise specified,
It is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to them.

(Embodiment) A printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with respect to its configuration, operation, and its effects.

[Configuration] FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the entire print system according to the present embodiment. 1 is a personal computer as a host computer. When the user creates and edits a document and instructs printing, the document data is converted into a command of the printer to create print data, which is transferred to the printer. Reference numeral 2 denotes a printer as a “download printer”.

Further, the host computer 1 in the present embodiment is a storage location of a part driver program file of a part device (hereinafter, a part) connected to the printer 2 and a main printer program file. The program file is downloaded to the printer 2 as needed.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a controller in the printer, and reference numeral 4 denotes an engine in the printer. Controller part 3
Receives print data sent from the host computer 1, generates a page image from the received data, generates a video signal based on the page image,
It is responsible for sending to. The engine unit 4 has a function of transferring the video signal received from the controller unit 3 to a sheet, printing the sheet, and discharging the sheet.

The printer 2 is a “download printer”
In order to operate as a computer, a part driver program and a main printer program are downloaded from the host computer 1 and the RAM 32 of the controller unit 3 is downloaded.
Set it on the top and start the set program.

The host computer 1 is a personal computer, and its structure as hardware is publicly known, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted. However, the host computer 1 in the present embodiment has a peripheral device check program 11, a document application 12, and an installed program group 13 as software 10.

When the user turns on the printer 2 and then turns on the host computer 1, the peripheral device check program 11 on the host computer 1 automatically starts up. Then, peripheral devices including the printer 2 connected to the host computer 1 are checked, and if necessary, initialization work and the like are performed.

The initialization operation or the like includes, for example, requesting a user for a removable external storage medium when there is no driver program or the like for operating a peripheral device on the host computer 1. In particular,
If there is no printer driver program for the printer 2, the user is prompted to send a CD-ROM containing the printer driver programs 29 and 30 to the CD-ROM drive 20.
The user is prompted to insert M21, and when an appropriate CD-ROM 21 is inserted, the installation is executed. Then, the printer driver programs 29 and 30 installed as a part of the installed program group 13 on the hard disk of the host 1 are started.

Since the printer 2 is a download printer, a parts check program 22, a parts driver A23, a parts driver B24, a parts driver C25, a printer program download program 26, a printer program A27, and a printer program B28 for operating the download printer are provided. The installation of the printer driver A29, the printer driver B30, etc. on the hard disk and the download to the printer 2 are also executed as the initialization work.

The document application 12 is a program that allows a user to edit a document on the host computer 1 and instruct printing. At the time of printing, the document data is converted into print data via the printer drivers 29 and 30 and sent to the printer 2.

The installed program group 13 is a group in which various program files installed by the peripheral device check program 11 are set in the host computer 1.

The part check program 22 is started by the peripheral device check program 11, checks the parts connected to the printer 2 connected to the host computer 1, and checks the parts 71,7.
Parts driver programs 23, 24, and 25 necessary for operating the printers 2 and 73 on the printer 2
To download. Parts driver 23, 24, 25
Once the download is completed, on the host computer 1,
The printer program download program 26 is started.

The printer program download program 26 checks whether or not the printer programs 27 and 28 have been downloaded to the printer 2 after startup. If it is found that the printer programs 27 and 28 have not been downloaded, the default printer program A27 Is downloaded to the printer 2.

Thereafter, the printer programs 27 and 28 selected by the user are downloaded to the printer 2 each time according to the user's instruction.

After the printer programs 27 and 28 are downloaded to the printer 2, they are activated in the printer,
Thereafter, the printer 2 starts operating as a printing device or a device that performs processing other than printing.

When the user instructs printing of document data from the document application 12 on the host computer 1, the user selects printer drivers 29 and 30 corresponding to the types of printer programs 27 and 28 downloaded to the printer 2. Then, a print process must be instructed. That is, the print data created by the printer drivers 29 and 30 converting the document data into printer commands must be able to be analyzed on the printer 2 side.

For example, if the printer program downloaded to the printer is the printer program A27,
The user sets the printer driver to the printer driver A29.
Must be instructed to print. If the printer program B28 has been downloaded, the printer driver must select the printer driver B30.

The controller 3 is a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as a CPU) 3 for controlling the entire controller 3.
1. Random access memory (hereinafter, referred to as RAM) 32, read-only memory (hereinafter, referred to as ROM) 33, print data received from the host computer 1, and a received buffer in the RAM 32 A receiving unit 34 to be set at 41; a video transfer circuit 35 for converting page image data in the printer 2 into a video signal and transferring the video signal to the engine unit 4; a transmitting unit for transmitting various information to the host computer 1 side 36,
An interface unit 37 for connecting the various parts 71, 72, 73 to the printer 2.

The ROM 33 contains six programs, and the interface program 51 controls the interface unit 37 to exchange data with various parts 71, 72, 73 connected to the interface unit 37. Execute Here, data exchange refers to processing such as writing or reading of a port address on a data bus for each byte.

The product name transmission program 52 is a program for answering "download printer" when the peripheral device check program 11 on the host computer 1 asks for the product name of the connected peripheral device.

The part information transmission program 53 is executed by the parts check program 22 on the host computer 1.
For the printer 2, the parts 7 connected to the printer
This is a program for transmitting the information to the host computer 1 when inquiring about the presence / absence and type of 1, 72, 73.

The presence / absence of a printer program is transmitted when the printer program download program 26 operating on the host computer 1 asks whether the printer program is downloaded in the printer 2. Is transmitted to the host computer 1.

Boot program 55 for parts driver
Receives and sets the part driver programs 23, 24, and 25 downloaded from the host computer 1 in the part driver area 44, and, when the setting is completed, sets the part driver program 2 just set.
Activate 3, 24, 25. Thereafter, the part drivers 23, 24, 25
1. Various parts and parts 7 via the interface unit 37
1, 72 and 73 are controlled.

Boot program 5 of printer program
The printer 6 receives and sets the printer program downloaded from the host computer 1 in the printer program area 45 on the RAM 32, and when the setting is completed, starts the printer program just set. Thereafter, the controller unit 3 of the printer 2 operates according to the activated printer program.

In the case where the downloaded printer program is already operating in the controller unit 3, when a new request for downloading another type of printer program is received from the host computer, the boot program 51 first After stopping the operation of the running printer program, the download process of a new printer program is started. Then, when the download of the new printer program is completed, the program is started. This avoids confusion between download programs. The boot program 56 of the printer program performs only the above-described download and start-up processes, and the overall control of the printer 2 is based on the printer program started after the download.
Everything will be left to you.

Here, in order to save the capacity of the RAM, only one printer program operates on the controller unit 3 at a time as a printer program. However, if the capacity of the RAM 32 is sufficient, a plurality of printer programs are downloaded and set in the wide printer program area 45, and the boot program 56 of the printer program is used as needed. May be provided with a switching function for starting the printer program. In this case, the necessity of downloading the printer program from the host computer 1 is reduced, and the operation as a printer becomes more agile.

On the other hand, the parts drivers 23, 24, 25
Are downloaded to the part driver area 44 and activated by the number of types of the parts connected to the printer 2. That is, it is assumed that a plurality of downloads are made. Of course, if no part parts are connected to the printer 2, the part drivers 23, 24, 25
Are not downloaded to the printer 2 at all.

On the RAM 32, the host computer 1
Buffer 41 for storing print data from the printer, a frame memory 42 for developing a page image as a result of analyzing the print data, a work area 43 used during operation of the printer program, and a part driver area 44 for setting a part driver. A printer program area 45 for setting a printer program,
Etc. exist.

The frame memory 42 on the RAM 32 has a size of one page. Depending on the printer program to be downloaded, two or more band memories are provided instead of the frame memory. In some cases. The size of the band memory is much smaller than the size of the frame memory, thus saving RAM capacity. Here, the reason why two band memories are necessary is that, for example, assuming that there are band memories A and B, while the image in the band memory A is being transferred to the engine unit 4 by the video transfer circuit 35, Memory 8
The image of the band memory B is immediately transferred to the engine unit 4 by the video transfer circuit 35 immediately after the video transfer of the band memory A is completed.
This is because the transfer can be started. During video transfer of the band memory 8, image data is set in the band memory A.

As described above, by alternately repeating the development of the image data and the video transfer using the two band memories, the video transfer of the page image of one page can be completed without interruption.

Next, the engine unit 4 will be described. The engine unit 4 also has a CPU 61 and a memory 62. The memory 62 has a ROM containing a control program for the engine unit 4.
63 and a RAM 64 as a work area of the program. The video receiving unit 65 receives a video signal from the controller unit 3 and transfers an image to a sheet by the developing / fixing unit 67. The paper supply unit 66 takes in unused white paper from a paper cassette or the like, and the developing and fixing unit 67
The image is transferred and fixed on the sheet, and the printed sheet is ejected in the sheet ejection section 68.

The thick arrows in FIG. 1 indicate the flow of print data and page image data, the flow of video signals, or the flow of paper in the engine unit 4.
Further, thin arrows indicate control exchange between the respective parts. CPU 31 of controller unit 3 and engine unit 4
Also exchange information with each other. This is information related to timing control of print processing such as video transfer and paper conveyance.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the exchange of information between the host computer 1 and the printer 2.

First, the user turns on the power of the printer 2 and then turns on the power of the host computer 1. Then, the peripheral device check program 11 in the host computer 1 requests the printer 2 for a product name. In response, the product name transmission program 52 in the printer 2 replies to the host computer 1 with "download printer" as the product name.

If the peripheral device check program 11 in the host computer 1 determines that the “download printer” program group is not installed in the host computer 1, the CD-ROM drive 20
Is installed from the CD-ROM disk 21. Then, the part check program 22, which is one of the programs, is started.

The parts check program 22 requests the printer 2 for parts information. In response,
The parts information transmission program 53 in the printer 2 transmits to the host computer 1 information about the parts currently connected to the printer 2.

Then, a parts check program 22 in the host computer 1 includes a parts driver 23 for operating the parts connected to the printer 2,
24 and 25 are downloaded to the printer 2. Although there are several types of part drivers, only the type of part driver corresponding to the part component actually connected to the printer 2 is downloaded to the printer 2.

The downloaded part driver programs 23, 24, and 25 are set in the printer 2 and started by the boot program 55 of the part driver in the printer 2.

On the other hand, when the download of the part drivers 23, 24, and 25 is completed, the part check program 22 activates the printer program download program 26 on the host computer 1.

The printer program download program 26 requests the printer 2 for information as to whether the printer program already exists. Then
The presence / absence of a printer program in the printer 2 is transmitted by the transmission program 54 to the host computer 1.
The information on the presence or absence of the printer program in the printer is transmitted.

If there is no printer program in the printer 2, the printer program download program 26 on the host computer 1 downloads a default printer program A 27 to the printer 2. On the printer side, the boot program 56 of the printer program sets the downloaded printer program in the printer 2 and starts up.

Thereafter, the user operates the host computer 1
If printing is instructed by the above document application, the print data is transferred to the printer 2 via the printer driver A29.
Will be sent to The printer program of the printer 2 analyzes the received print data, develops it into a page image, converts it into a video signal, and converts it into a video signal.
, The engine unit 4 transfers the video signal to paper,
The paper is discharged and the printing operation is completed.

FIG. 3 illustrates the general internal structure of the printer program.

The receiving program 81 starts up at the same time as the activation of the printer program, and receives print data from the host computer 1 and sets the received data in the receiving buffer 41. The actual receiving operation is performed in cooperation with the receiving unit 34.

First, when the print data arrives at the receiving section 34, the receiving section 34 notifies the receiving program 81 of the arrival of the print data. Upon receiving the notification, the receiving program 81 checks whether there is a continuous free area in the receiving buffer 41, and if not, cleans up the receiving buffer or completes the analysis of the received data and deletes the received data. Create a continuous free area by waiting and waiting for free space.

Then, the reception buffer 34
Instructs direct writing of received data to the above continuous free area.

As a result, the setting of the received print data in the reception buffer 41 proceeds. After that, if there is a notification from the receiving section 34 that "the writing to the continuous free area has become full", the receiving program Reference numeral 81 re-arranges the reception buffer, or creates a continuous free area by waiting for the reception data to be deleted after the analysis of the received data is completed and the free space is created.

The above operation is repeated to advance the print data receiving operation.

The analysis / expansion program 82 also starts up at the same time as the activation of the printer program, and the reception program 8
1. Check whether the print data received by the operation of the receiving unit 34 is in the reception buffer 41, and if so, analyze each printer command in the print data, and in accordance with the instruction of the command, Characters, graphics, images, and the like are developed on the frame memory 42 as page images. The size of the frame memory 42 is large enough to develop a raw page image for one page.

When the analysis of the printer command for one page is completed, the output program 83 is called to execute the printing process of the page image on the frame memory 42.

The print data on the reception buffer 41 that has been analyzed is deleted each time. As a result, a space is left on the reception buffer 41, and the next print data from the host computer 1 can be received.

The output program 83 is called from the analysis / expansion program 82 as described above, converts the page image on the frame memory 42 into a video signal using the video transfer circuit 35, and transfers the video signal to the engine unit 4. .

The engine unit 4 transfers and fixes the received video signal for one page to a sheet, discharges the sheet, and completes the printing operation of the page.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing various request commands from the host 1 to the controller 3.

Reference numeral 91 denotes a “product name request command”. When the controller unit 3 receives this command, the product name transmission program 52 transmits the product name information of the printer 2 to the host 1 via the transmission unit 36. Is done.

Reference numeral 92 denotes a “parts information request command”. When the controller 3 receives this command, it is connected to the host 1 and the printer 2 via the transmitter 36 by the operation of the parts information transmission program 53. Information on the parts 71, 72, and 73 is transmitted.

Reference numeral 93 denotes a "printer program presence / absence request command". When the controller unit 3 receives this command, the printer program 27 or 28 is downloaded to the printer program area 45 by the operation of the printer program presence / absence transmission program 54. Information as to whether or not the transmission has been completed is transmitted to the host 1 via the transmission unit 36.

FIG. 5 explains the data structure when the part driver 23, 24, or 25 is downloaded from the host computer 1 to the printer 2.

At the top is a download start command 101 for the part driver.
02, followed by the data of the part driver body 103.

In operation, the processing proceeds as follows. First, when the receiving unit 34 first receives a part driver download start command, it notifies the boot program 55 of the part driver that “parts driver download has started”. Then, the boot program 55 requests data of the size 102 of the part driver.

In response, the receiving unit 34 receives the data of the size of the parts driver from the host computer 1 and notifies the data of the size 102 to the boot program 55.

Then, the boot program 55 instructs the receiving unit 34 to receive the part driver and to write the data into the part driver area 44. The writing size is the “parts driver size 102” described above.

Thereafter, when the writing of the part driver by the receiving unit 34 is completed, the boot program 55 activates the received part driver, and the download operation is completed.

The number of parts drivers is equal to the number of parts connected to the printer 2 in the part driver area 44.
Is set to For example, the printer 2 has a part A7
1, if the part B72 and the part C73 are connected, the part driver A
23, parts driver B24, parts driver C25,
Is downloaded and set.

Since the receiving unit 34 determines the arrival of the “parts driver download start command 101”, the “download start command 101” has a unique format different from printer commands of any kind of printer program.

FIG. 6 illustrates the data structure when the printer program is downloaded from the host computer 1 to the printer 2.

At the top is a download start command 111 for the printer program, followed by the data of the size 111 of the download program, followed by the data of the download program body 113. Here, the download program indicates the printer program 27 or 28 to be downloaded.

In operation, the processing proceeds as follows. First, the receiving unit 34 first sets the download start command 1
When 11 is received, the boot program 56 of the printer program is notified that "downloading of the printer program has started". Then, the boot program 56 requests the download program, that is, data of the size 112 of the printer program to be downloaded.

In response, the receiving unit 34 receives the data of the size 112 of the download program from the host computer 1 and notifies the boot program 56 of the data of the size 112.

Then, the boot program 56 instructs the receiving unit 34 to receive the download program, that is, the printer program 113 to be downloaded, and to write it in the printer program area 45. The size to be written is as described above in “Download program size 1
12 ".

Thereafter, when the writing of the printer program by the receiving unit 34 is completed, the boot program 56 activates the received printer program, and the download operation is completed.

When the “download start command 111” arrives during the operation of the previous printer program, the “download start command 111” is not taken into the reception buffer 41. When the “download start command 111” arrives at the receiving unit 34, the boot program 56 is notified directly from the receiving unit 34, and the boot program 56 stops the operation of the previous printer program, and Thus, the following printer program download processing is performed.

Since the receiving unit 34 determines the arrival of the “download start command 111”, the “download start command 111” has a peculiar format different from printer commands of any kind of printer program.

FIG. 7 explains the structure of print data for a general printer program.

At the top, a print data start command 12
1 followed by a body 122 of print data.
The difference from the download data structure described in FIG.
There is no data size item. The print data is received and set on the reception buffer 41 by the operating printer program and the reception unit 34.

[Operation] Next, the operation of the print system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to flowcharts.

FIG. 8 shows the peripheral device check program 11.
5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of FIG. The peripheral device check program 11 starts up when the power of the host computer 1 is turned on, checks the peripheral devices connected to the host computer 1, and if necessary, installs a driver program for controlling the peripheral devices.

First, in step S1, it is checked whether or not the printer 2 is connected to the host computer 1.
If it is ES, in step S2, a command 91 for requesting the product name is transmitted to the printer 2, and the process waits until the product name information arrives from the printer 2. When the product name information returns to the host computer 1, it is checked in step S3 whether the printer 2 is a download printer. If NO, the process proceeds to step S4 after initializing the connected printer 2 in step S4.

The above-described initialization processing means that the printer 2
, A reset signal is sent to the

If YES in step S3, that is, if the printer 2 is a download printer, in step S5,
The host computer 1 checks whether there is a group of installed programs for the download printer. If "YES" here, the process jumps to step S9. If NO, at step S6, the user is prompted to enter the CD-ROM disk 21 containing the program group for the download printer.
Into the CD-ROM drive 20,
In step S8, the program group is installed on the host computer. Then, the process proceeds to step S9. The installation in the above is, specifically, C
This is an operation of transferring a group of programs for the download printer in the D-ROM disk 21 to an external storage device such as a hard disk in the host computer 1.

In step S9, the host computer 1
Parts check program 2 installed inside
2 is started, and the process proceeds to step S10. It should be noted that the part check program 22 operates in a multitasking manner after startup, and the processing proceeds simultaneously and independently of the peripheral device check program 11.

In step S10, it is checked whether peripheral devices other than the printer 2 are connected to the host computer. If NO, the operation of this program is terminated.

If YES, in step S11, initialization processing of the connected peripheral device is performed, and in step S10
And returns to a loop immediately before the operation to check whether or not another peripheral device is connected. If so, the initialization process is repeated, and all the peripheral devices connected to the host computer 1 are connected. Initialization will be completed.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the parts check program 22 in the parts check processing S9 of FIG. This program is started by the peripheral device check program 11, and the parts 71, 72 connected to the download printer 2,
A part driver program 23 for checking the type of 73 and operating the part in the printer 2;
24 and 25 are downloaded to the printer 2.

First, in step S21, the printer 2
A command 92 requesting parts information is sent to the printer 2
Wait for a reply from. If a reply has been received, the process proceeds to step S22, where the number of parts connected to the printer 2 is set in a variable m, and 1 is set in a variable n in step S23.
Is set.

Then, in step S24, the n-th part driver is downloaded to the printer 2, and in step S25, 1 is added to the variable n. In step S26,
It is checked whether the variable n is smaller than the value obtained by adding 1 to the variable m. If YES, the process returns to the step immediately before step S24 to form a loop, and all the parts 71, 72, 73 connected to the printer 2 Each part driver,
The download operation is repeated until the data is downloaded to the printer 2.

If NO in step S26, step S2
At 7, the printer program download program 26 on the host computer 1 is activated to perform a download process, and the operation of the parts check program 22 is terminated.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the printer program download program 26 on the host computer 1.

As described above, the printer program download program 26 is started by the parts check program 22, and according to the user's instruction, downloads one of the printer programs 27 and 28 stored on the host computer 1. Download to printer 2.

First, in step S31, it is checked whether or not the user has turned off the power of the host computer 1. If YES, the operation of this program is terminated. If NO, in a step S32, it is checked whether or not the user has instructed termination of the program, and if YES, the operation of the program is terminated.

If NO in step S32, step S
33, the printer 2 already has the printer program 2
The printer sends a printer program presence / absence request command 93 for checking whether one of the printers 7 and 28 has already been downloaded to the printer, and waits for a response from the printer 2.

If a reply is received, in step S34, if it is determined that the printer programs 27 and 28 have not been downloaded to the printer 2, in step S35, the default printer program A27 is downloaded to the printer 2, The process returns immediately before S31 to form a loop, and waits for the next instruction from the user.

If it is determined in step S34 that one of the printer programs 27 and 28 has already been downloaded to the printer 2, it is checked in step S36 whether the user has instructed to download the specific printer program 27 or 28. Then step S37
Then, the designated printer programs 27 and 28 are downloaded to the printer 2.

After step S37 or if NO in step S36, the process returns to just before step S31 to form a loop, and waits for the next instruction from the user. FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining a general operation of the printer drivers 29 and 30 on the host computer 1.

The printer drivers 29 and 30 are activated from the document application 12 when the user instructs printing from the document application 12.

First, in step S41, document data instructed to be printed is converted into a printer command in accordance with an instruction from the document application 12, and print data to be transferred to the printer 2 is created. And step S
At 42, the created print data is transferred to the printer 2, and the operation is terminated.

FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of the receiving section 34. FIG.

The receiving unit 34 is not a program but an electronic circuit. However, it is easier to explain using a flowchart.

As described above, the receiver 34 starts up at the same time as the power of the printer 1 is turned on, and in accordance with the instructions of the part driver boot program 55, the printer program boot program 56, and the reception program 81, the part drivers 23, 24 , 25 in the parts driver area 44 and the printer programs 27, 28
Is set in the printer program area 45, and the print data is set in the reception buffer 41.

First, in FIG. 12, step S51 is executed.
To check if the user has turned off the printer 2,
If YES, the operation of the receiving unit 34 ends.

If NO, it is checked in step S52 whether the product name request command 91 has arrived. If YES, the product name transmission program 52 is notified in step S53 that the product name request command has arrived.

If NO in step S52, step S5
In step S4, it is checked whether the part information request command 92 has arrived. If YES, the part information transmission program 53 is notified in step S55 that the part information request command has arrived.

If NO in step S54, step S5
In step 6, it is checked whether the printer program presence / absence request command 93 has arrived. If YES, in step S57,
The presence / absence of the printer program request command 93 is notified to the printer program presence / absence transmission program 54.

After steps S53, S55, and S57, a return loop is formed just before step S51 to wait for the next data from the host computer 1 to arrive.

The product name transmission program 52 and the parts information transmission program 5 receiving each request command
3. Printer program presence / absence transmission program 54
According to the request, each information is transmitted to the host computer 1 via the transmission unit 36.

If NO in step S56, it is checked in step S58 whether the download start command 101 of the part driver has arrived. If YES, the boot program 55 of the part driver is checked in step S59.
It notifies that the download start command 101 of the parts driver has arrived, and proceeds to step S74 of FIG. After this, the boot program 5 of the parts driver
5 and the receiver 34, the part drivers 23, 2
4 and 25 are set in the parts driver area 44.

In step S74, a simple loop is formed, and the process waits until there is a request from the boot program 55 of the part driver for information on the size 102 of the part driver. If there is an information request, a simple loop is formed in step S75, and the process waits until the information of the size 102 of the part driver arrives from the host computer 1.

If the information has arrived, in step S76,
Information on the size 102 of the part driver is transmitted to the boot program 55 of the part driver, a simple loop is formed in step S77, and the process waits until a write instruction is issued from the boot program 55 of the part driver.

If a write instruction is given to the receiving unit 34, in step S78, the received part driver main body 103 is written into the part driver area 44. If the write is completed, in step S79, After informing the boot program 55 of the part driver that the writing to the part driver area 44 has been completed, a return loop is formed immediately before step S51 to make the arrival of the next data to the receiving unit 34. I will wait.

If NO in step S58, step S6
At 0, it is checked whether the printer program download start command 111 has arrived at the receiving unit 34, and YES
Then, in step S61, the printer program boot program 56 is notified that the printer program download start command 111 has arrived.
It moves to step S80 of (b).

Thereafter, the printer programs 27 and 28 are set in the printer program area 45 by linking the boot program 56 of the printer program and the receiving section 34.

In step S80, a simple loop is formed, and the process waits until a boot program 56 of the printer program requests information on the size of the printer program.

If there is an information request, a simple loop is formed in step S81, and the process waits until the information of the size 112 of the printer program arrives from the host computer 1. If the size information arrives, the process proceeds to step S82. Then, the information of the size 112 of the printer program is transmitted to the boot program 56 of the printer program.

In step S83, a simple loop is formed, and the boot program 5 of the printer program is executed.
From step 6, wait until there is a write instruction. If there is a write instruction, write to the printer program area 45 of the printer program main body 113 is executed in step S84. If writing is completed, in step S85, the printer program Is notified of the completion of writing.

Then, immediately before step S51, a return loop is formed to wait for the next data from the host computer 1 to arrive at the receiving unit 34.

If NO in step S60, step S6
In step 2, the print data start command 1
Check if 21 has arrived. YE in step S62
If S, the printer program 27 is already stored in the printer program area 45 in step S63 of FIG.
It is checked whether or not 28 has been downloaded and set, and the receiving program 81 in it has started operating.

If "NO" here, the print data start command 121 is skipped and ignored in a step S67.
Thereafter, the process returns to just before step S51 to form a loop and wait for the next data from the host computer 1 to arrive at the receiving unit 34.

If YES in step S63, step S
In step 64, the reception program 81 is notified that the print data start command 121 has arrived.
5 to form a simple loop and wait until the receiving program 81 issues a write instruction to the receiving buffer 41.
If there is a write instruction, in step S66, the work of writing the received data into the continuous area on the reception buffer is started. Thereafter, a return loop is formed just before step S51 to wait for the next data to arrive from the host computer 1.

If NO in step S62, step S6
In step 8, it is determined whether or not the received data is the print data 122. If NO, the process returns to immediately before step S51 to form a loop, and waits for the arrival of the next data from the host computer 1. .

In the step S68, the print data 122
If it can be determined that this is the case, step S6 in FIG.
9, the receiving program 8 is stored in the printer program area 45.
It is checked whether 1 is set and the operation is in progress. If NO, the data is skipped in step S70, and thereafter, a loop is formed immediately before step S51 to receive the next data from the host computer 1. Waiting for arrival at the section 34.

If it is determined in step S69 that the receiving program 81 is operating, it is determined in step S71 whether the receiving buffer 41 is full. If YES, the process proceeds to step S71.
A simple loop is formed at 72, and the process waits until a new writing position is instructed from the receiving program 81, and if there is, the process proceeds to step S73.

If the answer is NO in step S71, the process proceeds to step S73.
1, the writing of the received data is continued in the continuous area, and thereafter, the process returns immediately before step S51 to form a loop, and the next data receiving unit 3 from the host computer 1
Wait for arrival at 4.

FIG. 15A shows the product name transmission program 5
6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of FIG.

The product name transmission program 52 is a printer 2
When the power is turned on, the host computer 1 starts up.
When the product name request command 91 is received from the
Of the product name information to the host computer 1 via the transmission unit 36. This program operates in a multi-task manner in the printer 2, and the processing proceeds in parallel with other programs.

First, in step S91, it is checked whether or not the user has turned off the power of the printer 2, and if YES, the operation of this program ends. If NO, step S92
Then, it is checked whether or not the receiving unit 34 has notified that the product name request command 91 has arrived. If NO, the process returns immediately before step S91 to form a loop and waits for the notification from the receiving unit.

If YES in step S92, step S
At 93, a reply is returned to the host computer 1 via the transmission unit 36 that the product name is "download printer". Thereafter, the process returns immediately before step S91 to form a loop, and waits for the next notification from the receiving unit 34.

FIG. 15B is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the parts information transmission program 53.

When the printer 2 receives the part information request command 92 from the host computer 1, the part information transmission program 53 returns the information of the parts connected to the printer 2 to the host computer 1. This program also operates in a multitask manner in the printer 2, and the processing proceeds in parallel with other programs.

First, in step S101, it is checked whether the user has turned off the power of the printer 2, and if YES, the operation of this program is terminated. If NO, step S1
02, the part information request command 92
Is received from the host computer 1, and if NO, the process returns immediately before step S101 to form a loop and waits for a notification from the receiving unit 34.

If YES, in step S103, information such as the number of parts and the names of the parts connected to the printer 2 is returned to the host computer 1 via the transmission unit. Then, the process returns immediately before step S101 to form a loop, and waits for the next notification from the receiving unit 34.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the printer program presence / absence transmission program 54.

The transmission program 54 is started at the same time when the power of the printer 2 is turned on. When the host computer 1 inquires whether the printer program 27 or 28 has already been downloaded, the transmission program 54 transmits to the host computer 1. , Downloaded printer program 27, or
It has a role of returning information on the presence / absence of 28 to the host computer 1. This program also operates in a multitask manner in the printer 2, and the processing proceeds in parallel with other programs.

First, in step S111, it is checked whether the user has turned off the power of the printer 2, and if YES, the operation of this program is terminated.

If NO, at step S112, the receiving unit 3
4, it is checked whether the printer program presence / absence request command 93 has arrived from the host computer 1. If NO, the process returns immediately before step S 111 to form a loop,
It waits for a notification from the receiving unit 34.

If YES, at step S113,
Information on whether the printer program 27 or 28 has already been downloaded into the printer 2 and is operating is transmitted to the host computer 1 via the transmission unit 36.
Reply to.

Then, the process returns immediately before step S111 to form a loop, and waits for the next notification from the receiving unit 34.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the boot program 55 of the parts driver.

Boot program 55 for parts driver
Has a role of setting the part driver programs 23, 24, and 25 downloaded from the host computer 1 to the printer 2 in the part driver area 44 when the printer 2 is turned on. This program also operates in a multitask manner in the printer 2, and the processing proceeds in parallel with other programs.

First, in step S121, it is checked whether the user has turned off the power of the printer 2, and if YES, the operation of this program is terminated. If NO, step S
At 122, it is checked whether or not the receiving unit 34 has notified that the part driver download start command 101 has arrived. If NO, the process returns immediately before step S121 to form a loop and waits for the notification from the receiving unit 34. become.

If YES, in step S123, the part driver size 102 is obtained from the receiving unit 34, and in step S124, the part driver main body 103 as received data is transmitted to the receiving unit 34 in the part driver area 44. To set. At this time, the length of the data to be set is equal to the size 102 obtained in step S123.
And

Then, a simple loop is formed in step S125, and the process waits until the download operation of the part driver is completed. If the download is completed, the part driver just downloaded is started in step S126.

After that, the process returns to just before step S121 to form a loop, and waits for the next notification from the receiving unit.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the boot program 56 of the printer program.

A boot program for the printer program,
Reference numeral 56 denotes a printer program 2 which starts operating at the same time as power-on, and is downloaded from the host computer 1.
7 or 28 is set in the printer 2 and activated. This program also operates in a multitask manner in the printer 2, and the processing proceeds in parallel with other programs.

First, in step S131, it is checked whether the user has turned off the power of the printer 2, and if YES, the operation of this program is terminated.

If NO, at step S132, the receiving unit 3
4 to check whether the printer program download start command 111 has been received.
If NO, a return loop is formed just before step S131 to wait for notification from the receiving unit 34.

If YES, in step S133, if there is a running printer program 27 or 28,
The operation is stopped, and in step S134, the reception buffer 41 and the frame memory 42 are cleared.
In step S35, the download program, that is, the size 112 of the printer program to be downloaded, is obtained from the receiving unit, and in step S136, the received data is transmitted to the printer program area 45 of the printer program body 113 which is the received data. Instruct the set. At this time, the length to be set is the size 112 obtained in step S135.

After step S136, step S1
A simple loop is formed at 37, and the process waits until the download of the printer program is completed, and if completed, the printer program 27 or 28 just downloaded is started at step S138. Thereafter, a loop is formed by returning immediately before step S131,
It waits for the next notification from the receiving unit 34.

In this case, only one printer program 27 or 28 is downloaded to the printer program area 45, and only one downloaded printer program 27 or 28 is downloaded.
The processing is performed on the premise that only 28 operates.

FIG. 19 shows the parts drivers 23, 24, 2
5 is a flowchart for explaining a general operation of No. 5;

Immediately after being downloaded from the host computer 1 to the printer 2, the part drivers 23, 24, 25 are started by the boot program 55 of the part driver and control the parts 71, 72, 73.
This program also operates in a multitask manner in the printer 2, and the processing proceeds in parallel with other programs.

First, in step S141, it is checked whether the user has turned off the power of the printer 2, and if YES, the operation of this program is terminated.

If NO, the printer program 27 operating in the printer 2 or 2
Check if there is a function call from 8 and if NO,
A return loop is formed immediately before step S141, and the process waits until there is a function call from the printer program 27 or 28.

If YES, the function call from the printer program 27 or 28 is executed in step S143, and then a return loop is formed immediately before step S141, and the printer program 27 or 28 is executed.
Waits for a new function call from.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart for explaining a general operation of the receiving program 81.

The receiving program 81 is one of three types of programs normally included in the general printer programs 27 and 28 operating in the printer 2. It runs on a task, and its processing proceeds in parallel with other programs.

First, in step S151, it is checked whether the user has turned off the power of the printer 2, and if YES, the operation of this program is terminated.

If NO, the process shifts to step S152 to check whether or not an end of the operation is instructed from the boot program 56 of the printer program. If YES, the operation of this program is ended. The boot program 56 of the printer program includes a new printer program 27,
Or, before downloading 28,
The end of the operation is also instructed to the receiving program 81, one of the three types of programs constituting the operating printer program 27 or 28.

If NO in step S152, step S
At 153, it is checked whether or not the receiving unit 34 has notified the arrival of the print data start command 121.
If it is S, in step S154, the receiving unit 34 is notified of the continuous empty area on the receiving buffer 41, and the receiving unit 34 receives the received data, that is, the main data 1 of the print data.
22 is instructed to write to the reception buffer 41. Then, the process returns immediately before step S151 to form a loop and wait for a new notification from the receiving unit 34.

If NO in step S153, step S
At 155, it is checked whether or not the receiving unit 34 has been notified that the receiving buffer 41 is full.
At 56, the receiving buffer 41 is organized, and step S157 is performed.
Then, it is checked whether or not there is a continuous free area, and if YES, the process moves to the step S154 and subsequent steps. That is, the operation of writing the print data body 122 into the reception buffer 41 is started.

If NO in step S157, step S
A return loop is formed just before 156, and the reception buffer 4
1 until a continuous free area is created.

[0178] Also, in the case of NO at step S155, a return loop is formed immediately before step S151, and
It waits for the next notification from the receiving unit 34.

By the way, in step S 156, “the reception buffer 41 is organized”, the print data of the pages that have been skipped and that have not been printed on the reception buffer 41 are transferred to the reception buffer 41. Is to combine them into one area. At the same time as the above-mentioned organizing work, the print data that has been printed on the reception buffer 41 is deleted from the reception buffer 41 by the analysis / expansion program 82. Can be done.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart for explaining the general operation of the analysis / expansion program 82.

The analysis / expansion program 82 is one of the programs normally present in the general printer programs 27 and 28, and analyzes one page of print data set in the reception buffer 41. , Forms a page image on the frame memory 42, and instructs the output program 83 to print out.
This program also operates in a multitask manner in the printer 2, and the processing proceeds in parallel with other programs.

First, in step S161, it is checked whether the user has turned off the power of the printer 2, and if YES, the operation of this program is terminated.

If NO, in a step S162, it is checked whether or not the operation end is instructed from the boot program 56 of the printer program. If YES, the operation of this program is ended. When downloading a new printer program 27 or 28, the boot program 56 of the printer program has to perform one of the three types of programs constituting the operating printer program 27 or 28 in advance. , The analysis / expansion program 82 is also instructed to end the operation.

If NO in step S162, step S
In 163, it is checked whether print data of one page for which reception has been completed exists in the reception buffer 41, and YE
If S, in step S164, the print data in the reception buffer 41 is analyzed, and the page image is developed on the frame memory 42. In step S165, the output program 83 is called to instruct the printing of the page image.
In step S166, the print data for one printed page in the reception buffer 41 is deleted.

After step S166 or if NO in step S163, the process returns to immediately before step S161 to form a loop and wait until print data for the next one page is accumulated in the reception buffer 41. .

In the flowchart of FIG. 21, until print data for one page is accumulated in the reception buffer 41,
Although the analysis processing is waited, the analysis processing is performed when each printer command is received, and the characters, graphics, image rectangles, and the like indicated by each printer command are sequentially stored in the frame memory 42. A form that expands above is naturally conceivable. By doing so, it is not necessary to wait until the reception of the print data for one page is completed, and the analysis process can be performed in advance, so that the printing / discharging process of the first page becomes faster.

FIG. 22 shows a general printer program 2
7 and 28 are flowcharts for explaining the general operation of the output program 83 which is normally present in the output program 83.

This program is called by the analysis / expansion program 82, but returns immediately after processing by the operation of only one step. That is, step S
At 171, the page image on the frame memory 42 is converted into video data by the video transfer circuit 35,
It only instructs the transfer to the engine unit. The engine unit 4 receives this video signal, transfers it to paper, and completes the printing operation.

FIGS. 23 and 24 show examples of a printer program 27 or 28 for outputting document data to a telephone line via a download printer using a part C73 having a fax output function. I have.

The difference from the flowcharts of the programs described so far is that the analysis / expansion program 8 in the printer program 27 or 28 is different.
2 and the output program 83 only.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the analysis / expansion program 82 when outputting a fax.

First, in step S181, it is checked whether the user has turned off the power of the printer 2, and if YES, the operation of this program is terminated. If NO, step S1
At 82, it is checked whether an instruction to end the operation of the program has been given from the boot program 56 of the printer program, and if YES, the operation of this program is ended. N
If O, in step S183, on the reception buffer 41,
Check if there is job data for which reception has been completed, and
If so, the process returns immediately before step S181 to form a loop, and waits for the completion of the reception of the job data.

The job data described above is a group of a plurality of pages of document data which the user intends to fax out from the document application 12 on the host computer 1. After the processing by the printer driver 29 or 30, the print data is converted into print data and sent to the printer 2. When the collection of a plurality of pages has been completely received, the reception of the job data is completed. become.

In step S184, the total number of pages of the received job data is set in a variable m.
At 5, the variable n is set to 1, and at step S186, n is set to n.
The received data of the page is analyzed and stored in the frame memory.
2. Expand the page image.

If it is determined in step S187 that the expanded page is the first page in the job data, the process proceeds to step S187.
At 188, a function for instructing the transmission of the fax number to the destination is called to the parts driver for fax transmission, that is, the parts driver C25, and waits until the destination is connected. If connected, the process moves to step S189.

In the case of NO in step S187, the process jumps to step S189. In step S189, the page data on which the page image has been developed in the reception buffer 41 is deleted, and the output program 83 is called in step S190. Here, conversion of the page image into a fax image and transmission of the fax to the destination are performed.

Thereafter, in step S191, 1 is set to the variable n.
Is checked in step S192 to determine whether the variable n is smaller than the value obtained by adding 1 to the variable m. If YES, the process returns immediately before step S186 to form a loop, and fax transmission of the next page in the job data is performed. Perform processing.

If NO in step S192, step S
In step 193, a function for instructing the fax transmission part driver, that is, the part driver C25, to disconnect the fax connection to the destination is called, and a step S1 is executed.
Returning to just before 81, a loop is formed to wait for reception of the next job data from the host computer 1.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the output program 83 when transmitting a fax.

When the output program 83 is called from the analysis / expansion program 82, in step S201, the part driver for fax transmission, that is, the part driver C
25, a function for instructing that the page image in the frame memory 42 be encoded and converted into fax data and transmitted to the destination by fax. Then, a simple loop is formed in step S202, and the process waits until the parts driver C25 notifies that the fax transmission has been completed.
To return.

FIGS. 25 and 26 show the parts driver C25.
5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of FIG.

The part driver C25 is activated immediately after being downloaded from the host computer 1 to the part driver area 44 in the printer 2, and transmits and receives a fax in combination with the part C73.

First, in step S211, it is checked whether or not the user has turned off the power of the printer 2, and if YES, the operation of this program is terminated. If NO, step S2
In step 12, it is checked whether there is a function call from the printer program 27 or 28. If YES, it is checked in step S213 whether the line connection function to the destination on the telephone line has been called.
At 214, the part C 73 is instructed to execute a call to a destination on the telephone line and a fax connection via the interface program 51, and is executed.

If NO in step S213, step S
In step S215, it is checked whether the function call from the printer program 27 or 28 is a function for disconnecting the fax connection to the destination. If YES, step S216 is performed.
Then, via the interface program 51, the part C
73, the fax connection to the destination on the telephone line
Instruct the user to disconnect and execute.

If NO in step S215, step S
In step 217, it is checked whether the function call from the printer program 27 or 28 is a function for encoding and compressing the image and transmitting the fax to the destination. If YES, in step S218, the function is designated from the printer program 27 or 28. Image data of the specified address
In step S219, the part C73 is instructed to perform fax transmission to the destination on the telephone line via the interface program 51 and executed.

In step S220, the output program 83 is notified that the fax transmission has been completed.

After steps S214, S216, and S220, the process returns immediately before step S211 to form a loop and wait for the next function call from the printer program 27 or 28.

If NO in step S212 or NO in step S217, the process proceeds to step S221. In step S221, it is checked whether a notification that there is a fax call from the other party has been received from part C73, and YES If so, the process moves to the processing of step S222 and subsequent steps in FIG.

[0209] The processing after step S222 is processing of fax reception.

First, in step S222, it is checked whether or not the printer program 27 or 28 has been downloaded to the printer 2 and is operating. If NO, the process returns to immediately before step S211 in FIG. Alternatively, it waits for 28 to be downloaded and to make a function call to the parts driver C25.

If YES in the step S222, in a step S223, the printer program 27 or 2
At step S224, the result is checked. Where YE
If S, that is, the printer program 27, or
If a fax can be received, in step S225, the part C73 is instructed via the interface program 51 to connect to the destination of the fax call and executed.

[0212] In step S226, an instruction is issued to extend the received fax data via the interface program 51 and to write the fax data to the address specified by the printer program 27 or 28, and to execute the command.

Thereafter, in step S227, it is checked whether or not there is a next received page.
In step 229, a simple loop is formed to write the next page of the fax image from the printer program 27 or 28 to the designated address of the fax image. K. Waits until the permission is issued. If the permission is issued, the flow returns to immediately before step S225 to form a loop, and the next page is received by fax.

[0214] In the case of NO in step S227, in step S228, the part C73 is instructed via the interface program 51 to disconnect the facsimile connection with the destination, and is executed.

After step S228 or in the case of NO in step S224, step SS2 in FIG.
Returning to just before 21, a loop is formed to wait for the next function call from the printer program 27 or 28.

If the printer program 27 or 28 does not respond to the inquiry at step S223, the check at step S224 results in NO.
Becomes

The printer of this embodiment has no power switch, and is turned on when the user plugs the outlet of the printer into a power source. Thereafter, the user usually leaves the printer powered on. Therefore, once the driver program and the printer program are downloaded, the driver program and the printer program remain on the RAM and continue to operate. This eliminates the problem that the user has to wait a long time for downloading a program each time the power switch is turned on.

The engine of the printer according to the present embodiment is of a type that performs a heating process only when a printing process is performed, and usually requires very little electric power. Even if the power is always on,
Power consumption does not become excessive.

In the present embodiment, the processing is performed in three stages, ie, the printer program main body → the driver program → the parts part, as the instruction system in the printer. When the processing of the driver itself expands, not only the number of part drivers is increased, but also a higher-level driver program for integrating the parts drivers is required.

The instruction system at this time has four stages: printer program main body → upper driver program → lower driver program → part parts. Furthermore, if it becomes complicated due to the addition of network processing,
There are five and six stages of processing.

Even in such a case, by using the above configuration, the printer program body, the upper driver program, the lower driver program, etc. are all stored in the host computer, and when the printer and the host computer are powered on, The necessary modules can be downloaded from the host computer to the printer.

[Effect] In the present embodiment, a plurality of printer programs are stored in a host computer,
The mechanism is selected by the user, downloaded to the printer, and operated, so that the user can arbitrarily select a printer program from a great variety of printer programs.

In the present embodiment, the processing operations of the printer program include not only “printing on paper” but also
"Processes other than print processing" are also possible.

In the present embodiment, various driver programs for controlling various parts are also stored in the host computer, and when the printer and the host computer are powered on, what kind of parts are connected is checked. Download the required driver program to the printer. That is, the driver program can be automatically downloaded.

Since the downloaded printer program controls various parts through the driver program, it is free from complicated programming when the printer program directly controls the parts.

The part parts and the driver program may be created as a set, and can be created almost independently of the printer program body, so that various types of general-purpose part parts can be connected to the printer.

In this embodiment, even if there is a failure in the printer program, it is only necessary to replace the corrected printer program with the printer program before the countermeasure on the host computer. Can be.

Similarly, in this embodiment, even if there is a failure in the software for controlling the parts, the driver program in which the problem is corrected is simply replaced with the driver program on the host computer before the measures are taken. Therefore, it is very easy to take measures against the failure.

In the present embodiment, since the programs in the ROM in the printer are only the part driver and the boot program of the printer program itself, the capacity of the ROM can be very small. Therefore, the productivity of the entire apparatus can be improved.

In this embodiment, the memory in the printer is an R memory other than a small ROM having a boot program.
AM only. Since an expensive non-volatile memory such as a flash memory is not required, the productivity of the entire apparatus can be improved.

In this embodiment, the receiving unit writes the received data directly into the receiving buffer or the printer program area without passing through the CPU. Therefore, the receiving operation can be performed at a very high speed.

In the present embodiment, a fax transmission part is connected to a printer via an interface unit, and a driver program for the fax transmission part and "print data from the host computer are analyzed and expanded on a host computer". Then, a printer program including a function of “sending the page image by fax” is provided, and these are downloaded to the printer. This makes it possible to fax the print data sent from the host computer to an external destination using the download printer.

(Other Embodiments) In the above embodiment, a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.) has been described. The present invention may be applied to a device including one integrated device.

An object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (or CPU) of the system or apparatus.
And MPU) read and execute the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the flowcharts described above.

[0240]

According to the present invention, there is provided a printing system which can easily change and update a printer control program which can easily cope with various parts connected to a printer and can easily control the parts. Can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an entire printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating exchange of information between a host computer 1 and a printer 2.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an internal structure of a printer program.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing various request commands from the host 1 to the controller unit 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a structure of download data of a part driver from the host computer 1 to the printer 2.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the structure of download data of a printer program.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the structure of print data.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a peripheral device check program.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a parts check program.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a download program for a printer program.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the printer driver.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a receiving unit.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the receiving unit.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a receiving unit.

15A is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a product name transmission program, and FIG. 15B is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a parts information transmission program.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a printer program presence / absence transmission program.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a boot program of a part driver.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the boot program of the printer program.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the part driver.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a receiving program.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of an analysis / expansion program.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of an output program.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the analysis / expansion program.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of an output program.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the parts driver C;

FIG. 26 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the parts driver C;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Host computer 2 Printer 3 Controller part 4 Engine part 11 Peripheral device check program 12 Document application 13 Installed program group 20 CD-ROM drive 21 CD-ROM disk 22 Parts check program 23 Parts driver A 24 Parts driver B 25 Parts driver C 26 Printer Program Download Program 27 Printer Program A 28 Printer Program B 29 Printer Driver A 30 Printer Driver B 31 CPU 32 RAM 33 ROM 34 Receiver 35 Video Transfer Circuit 36 Transmitter 37 Interface 41 Receive Buffer 42 Frame Memory 43 Work Area 44 Parts driver area 45 Printer program area 51 Interface program Gram 52 product name transmission program 53 parts information transmission program 54 presence / absence of printer program transmission program 55 parts driver boot program 56 printer program boot program 61 CPU 62 memory 63 ROM 64 RAM 65 video receiving circuit 66 paper feed unit 67 developing / fixing unit 68 paper discharge unit 71 parts A 72 parts B 73 parts C 81 reception program 82 analysis / expansion program 83 output program 91 product name request command 92 parts information request command 93 printer program presence / absence request command 101 parts driver download start command 102 Parts driver size 103 Parts driver body 111 Printer program download start command 112 Printer program download Body data of the start command 122 print data can of 113 printer program body 121 print data

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A printing system including a host computer and a printer, wherein the host computer stores: a first storage unit for storing a part driver program for controlling parts connectable to the printer; Transmitting means for downloading the program to a printer, the printer comprising: a receiving means for receiving the parts driver program from the transmitting means of the host computer; and a storing means for storing the parts driver program received by the receiving means. 2. A print system comprising: a storage unit; and a control unit that executes the parts driver program stored in the second storage unit. 2. The host computer, comprising: a request unit for requesting the printer for parts identification information for identifying a part connected to the printer; and parts identification information for receiving the parts identification information from the printer. Receiving means, wherein the transmitting means downloads a part driver program corresponding to control of each part to a printer based on the part identification information, wherein the printer receives the part driver program from the host computer. 2. The print system according to claim 1, further comprising a part identification information transmitting unit that transmits the part identification information to the host computer in response to the request for the part identification information. 3. The parts driver program includes a driver program for controlling a facsimile transmission part connectable to a printer, wherein the host computer further includes data transmission means for transmitting print data to the printer. The printer further includes: a fax transmission unit as a part; and a print data reception unit that receives the print data from the data transmission unit. The second storage unit stores the print data received by the data reception unit. The facsimile transmission program for analyzing, expanding and transmitting data as facsimile data is stored therein, and the control means executes the facsimile transmission program stored in the second storage means. Print system as described. 4. A method of controlling a printer by a host computer, wherein the host computer transmits to the printer a part driver program for controlling parts connectable to the printer, and the transmitting step. A printer control method, comprising: a storage step of storing the part driver program transmitted in (1) in storage means of a printer; and a part control step of executing the part driver program stored in the storage step. 5. A requesting step of requesting part identification information for identifying parts connected to the printer from the host computer to the printer, and requesting the part identification information from the host computer. Responding, the printer transmits the part identification information to the host computer, further comprising: a part identification information transmission step, wherein the transmission step comprises: transmitting the part identification information to the host computer in the part identification information transmission step. 5. The printer control method according to claim 4, wherein a part connected to the printer is identified based on the identification information, and the part driver program for controlling the part is downloaded to the printer. 6. A computer-readable memory storing a printer control program downloaded from a host computer to a printer, wherein the printer control program includes a parts driver program for controlling parts connectable to the printer. A computer-readable memory characterized by the following. 7. A computer-readable memory storing a control program for controlling a printer, wherein the control program downloads a part driver program for controlling parts connectable to the printer from a host computer to the printer. A computer-readable memory, comprising: a download program for downloading the part program; and the part driver program downloaded by the download program. 8. The computer-readable memory according to claim 6, wherein the printer control program includes a main printer program that operates mainly in the printer. 9. The computer-readable memory according to claim 6, wherein the printer control program includes a parts check program for checking parts connected to the printer.