JP2000280582A - Data-processing apparatus and method for processing data and recording medium with data-processing control program recorded - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data-processing apparatus in which a logic channel can communicate, without interruption even when one interface is cut off. SOLUTION: There are provided a plurality of interface parts 102 and 103 in conformity with an equal or different communication protocols. Print data or the like transmitted from a host is received by the interface parts 102 and 103, temporarily stored in FIFO memories 202 and 204 of a multiple logic channel communication control part 104, and specified by channel identification parts 201 and 203 as to which of logic channels the data is. Communication data is accompanied with information related to the logic channels. Buffer selection parts 1042A and 1042B select a buffer 0-2 (105-107) corresponding to the specified logic channel and connects output signals of the FIFO memories 202 and 204 to an input signal of the selected buffer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data processing apparatus for performing data communication on a plurality of logical channels, a data processing method, and a recording medium on which a data processing control program is recorded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A logical channel is also called a logical communication path, and refers to a logical communication path (virtual line) established between a data transmitting apparatus and a data receiving apparatus in data transmission. The multiplex logical channel communication in which data transmission / reception processing is performed using a plurality of logical channels is performed in a LAN (local area network) in which a large number of terminals and a center device are connected.
Network).

Further, with the recent improvement in the functions of personal computers, especially network functions, not only personal computers but also peripheral devices connected to the personal computers, in particular, recording devices such as printers, have multiple logical channel communication. IEEE P1 which is an interface widely used for connection between a personal computer and a printer for which functions are required.
IEEE P1 assuming operation on 284
284.4 (draft 1.70 on April 13, 1998)
Issued) multiple logical channel communication protocol has also been proposed.

[0004]

On the other hand, in a conventional recording apparatus, all data transmitted by a host computer is controlled by control commands, print data (also referred to as print data or print data) due to cost restrictions. In many cases, the data is stored in the reception buffer at any time without distinction.

By the way, the above-mentioned IEEE P1284.4
Not only communication in accordance with, but also in multiple logical channel communication, multiple logical channels do not block each other,
Although it must be guaranteed that communication is possible independently, there is a possibility that a logical channel is interrupted and data communication is interrupted by a communication error due to a physical disconnection of an interface cable or a disconnection of a connector.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide a data processing apparatus and a data processing method capable of performing communication without interruption of a logical channel even if one interface is shut down. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium recording a method and a data processing control program.

[0007]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data processing apparatus for performing data communication on a multiple logical channel, comprising: a plurality of interface units for controlling external communication; A read / write buffer provided for each logical channel for storing data received by the plurality of interface units, wherein the plurality of interface units each receive data transferred from the outside. Means, a logical channel identifying means for identifying a logical channel of the received data from the data received by the data receiving means, a buffer selecting means for selecting the buffer according to an identification result of the logical channel identifying means, and a buffer selecting means. For the selected buffer, the logical channel identification means is used for logical channel identification. And receiving data writing means capable of writing data received from data receiving means of an interface unit other than the used data writing means.

Here, at least one of the plurality of interface units conforms to a communication protocol different from that of the other interface units.

Further, all of the plurality of interface units conform to the same communication protocol.

[0010] Further, the plurality of interface units may be characterized by comprising a first interface unit and a second interface unit.

[0011] The received data may include print data.

[0012] In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that a plurality of interface sections for controlling external communication,
A data processing method for a data processing device, comprising: a read / write buffer provided for each logical channel for storing data received by the plurality of interface units, and performing data communication of a multiplex logical channel through the plurality of interface units. A data receiving step of receiving data transferred from outside through one of the plurality of interface units, and a logical channel for identifying a logical channel of the received data from the data received in the data receiving step An identification step, a buffer selection step of selecting the buffer according to the identification result in the logical channel identification step, and the buffer selected in the buffer selection step is used for the logical channel identification in the logical channel identification step. Receive data And having a reception data writing step of writing the data.

In the receiving data writing step, the buffer selected in the buffer selecting step may include a data received through an interface other than the one used for the logical channel identification in the logical channel identification step. Can also be written.

In order to achieve the above object, a tenth aspect of the present invention provides a plurality of interface sections for controlling external communication, and a plurality of interface sections provided for each logical channel for storing data received by the plurality of interface sections. A read / write buffer, and a recording medium recording a control program for controlling a data processing device that performs data communication of multiple logical channels through the plurality of interface units by a computer, wherein the control program is provided to the computer. Receiving data transferred from outside through any one of the plurality of interface units, identifying a logical channel of the received data from the received data, selecting the buffer according to the identification result, and selecting the selected buffer. Logical buffer identification for the buffer Characterized in that to write the received data used for.

Here, the control program causes the computer to write, into the selected buffer, data received through another interface unit other than the one used for the logical channel identification. Can be.

[0016]

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

FIG. 1 shows a circuit configuration of a control system of a printing apparatus (printer) according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As the recording apparatus, for example, an ink jet printer, a thermal transfer printer, a laser beam printer, or the like can be used, and the type of the printing method is not particularly limited. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a microprocessor (also referred to as a microcomputer), which controls the entire recording apparatus of the present embodiment. Also, the first and second interface units 10
Reference numerals 2 and 103 control connection between the printing apparatus and an external device (not shown) such as a host computer. Print data and control commands transmitted from an external host computer are received by the interface units 102 and 103. Are stored in one of the buffers 0 to 2 (105 to 107) via the multiplex logical channel communication control unit 104.

As an example, in the present embodiment, three channels of multiplex logical channel communication are performed between the two interface units 102 and 103, and a channel for managing multiplex logical channel communication of the interface (hereinafter referred to as channel 0) is stored in buffer 0 (10
5), all the data of the print data channel (hereinafter referred to as channel 1) are stored in the buffer 1 (10).
6), data of a channel (hereinafter referred to as channel 2) for controlling the printing apparatus other than print data is stored in the buffer 2.

A print buffer (also referred to as a print buffer) 112 is a buffer for storing an amount of print data necessary for one printing (printing), and a buffer 1 (105) by the microprocessor 101.
Are sequentially stored.

Print control unit (also called print control unit) 1
Reference numeral 13 denotes transfer of print data to the print head 114, reads print data from the print buffer 112 according to a print control signal from the microprocessor 101, and prints the read print data in accordance with a predetermined drive timing. To the memory 114.

In the above configuration, the microprocessor 101 lends the print control unit 113 to the recording head 1.
14 and a CR motor 110, LF via a CR (carriage) motor driver 108.
(Transport) LF motor 11 via motor driver 109
1 is controlled to form an image according to the print data on a recording medium such as a sheet.

FIG. 2 shows an internal configuration of the multiplex logical channel communication control unit 104 shown in FIG. In the multiplex logical channel communication control unit 104, one data receiving unit 1041A
Is composed of a channel identification unit 201 and a FIFO (flip-flop) memory 202, and similarly, the other data reception unit 1041B is also composed of a channel identification unit 203 and a FIFO memory 204. The data that has passed through the interface units 102 and 103 is temporarily stored in the respective FIFO memories 202 and 204, and the channel identification units 201 and 203 specify which logical channel the data is.

In multiplex logical channel communication, communication data always includes information about a logical channel. For example, communication data has a structure as shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b). In this case, the logical channel can be specified from the first two bits of data (logical channel number).

FIG. 3C shows the above-mentioned IEEE standard.
P1284.4 shows the data structure specified in this case. In this case, a logical channel can be specified from a combination of the first socket ID and the second socket ID.

The data receiving units 1041A, 1041
Each of the FIFO memories 202 and 204 of B must have at least a size (storage capacity) capable of storing a data amount necessary to specify a logical channel. Therefore, if the data structure of the communication data is the case shown in FIG. 3A, the FIFO memories 202 and 204 each have at least two bits, and
In the case of 1284.4 compliant (FIG. 3C), a size of at least 2 bytes (16 bits) is required.

The channel identification units 201 and 203
When the logical channel of the received data is specified, the buffer selection units 1042A and 1024B transmit one of the buffers 0 to 2 (10
5 to 107), and the FIFO memories 202 and 204 are selected.
Is connected to the input signal of the selected buffer.

Here, since the logical channels identified by the channel identification units 201 and 203 are common regardless of the interface, the interface units 102 and 203
If the data received by 103 specifies the same logical channel, the received data is stored in a common buffer set for each logical channel. Note that the buffer write units 1043A and 1043B are connected to the FIFO memory 202,
It exists to control the data transfer from 204 to the selected buffer. Specifically, the buffer writing unit 104
Reference numerals 3A and 1043B are used to store in the buffers 0 to 2 (105 to 107) the contents of the FIFO memories 202 and 204 from which information used to specify a logical channel has been removed.

The microprocessor 101 controls each buffer (each channel) according to a predetermined time schedule.
Are read and sequentially processed.

With the above configuration, the data amount (communication amount)
Logical channel for print data with many data (channel 1)
And other logical channels (channel 0, channel 2)
Can be completely separated, the data processing for printing by the microprocessor 101 is interrupted for some reason, the buffer for channel 1 becomes full, and print data cannot be received any more (that is, channel 1 ) Is not affected by the other logical channels (channel 0, channel 2).

The two interface units 102,
103 conforms to different communication protocols (eg,
Centronics interface and USB (Universa
l Serial Bus)), even if a communication error such as disconnection of a cable or disconnection of a connector occurs in one of the interface sections and data communication becomes impossible, the other interface section conforms to a different communication protocol. Since the logical channels are linked, communication can be performed without interruption of the logical channels.

Here, as a specific example, when the host computer has two interfaces,
Even if one interface loses data communication, the recording apparatus can use the other interface to receive the continuation of the data and store it in the same buffer.

Alternatively, in such a case, the recording apparatus can clear the data stored in the buffer and request the host computer to retransmit the data or to suspend or delay the data reception.

(Other Embodiments) In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, a mechanism for performing multiplex logical channel communication is not particularly provided for transmission from the recording apparatus to an external host computer.
1 performs multiplex logical channel communication processing,
Since the amount of data transmitted from the recording device to the external host computer is extremely small and the possibility of blocking the logical channel is low, there is no practical problem even with the configuration of the present embodiment.

It is apparent that the present invention can be applied in the same manner as described above even if the number of the two interface units in the embodiment of the present invention is three or more.

The present invention can be applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.).
The present invention may be applied to a device including two devices (for example, a printer, a copier, a facsimile device, etc.).

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system or apparatus with a recording medium (storage medium) in which a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded, and the computer of the system or apparatus is provided. Needless to say, the present invention is also achieved when the CPU (or the CPU or the MPU) reads out and executes the program code stored in the recording medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the recording medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the recording medium on which the program code is recorded constitutes the present invention.

As a recording medium for recording the program code and for recording variable data such as a table, for example, a floppy disk (FD), hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, A nonvolatile memory card (IC 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 operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that an operating system) may perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0040]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, a recording device such as a printer is provided with a data communication function of a multiplex logical channel and a plurality of interface units. Even if the interface is interrupted, communication can be performed without interruption of the logical channel.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a multiplex logical channel communication control unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a format diagram showing an example of a data structure of communication data used in multiplex logical channel communication.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 Microprocessor 102 Interface Unit 103 Interface Unit 104 Multiple Logical Channel Communication Control Unit 105 Buffer 0 106 Buffer 1 107 Buffer 2 108 CR Motor Driver 109 LF Motor Driver 110 CR Motor 111 LF Motor 112 Print Buffer 113 Print Control Unit 114 Recording Head C 1041A, 1041B Data receiving unit 1042A, 1042B Buffer selecting unit 1043A, 1043B Buffer writing unit 201 Channel identifying unit 202 FIFO memory 203 Channel identifying unit 204 FIFO memory

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Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A data processing device for performing data communication of multiple logical channels, comprising: a plurality of interface units for controlling external communication; and data provided for each logical channel and received by the plurality of interface units. A plurality of interface units, each of which includes a data receiving unit that receives data transferred from the outside, and a logical channel of received data from the data received by the data receiving unit. Logical channel identifying means for identifying; buffer selecting means for selecting the buffer according to the identification result of the logical channel identifying means; and logical channel identifying means for the buffer selected by the buffer selecting means. Data receiving means of other interface parts other than the one used for And a receiving data writing unit capable of writing the received data. 2. The data processing device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of interface units conforms to a communication protocol different from other interface units. 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein all of the plurality of interface units conform to the same communication protocol.
A data processing device according to claim 1. 4. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of interface units comprise a first interface unit and a second interface unit. 5. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the received data includes print data. 6. A read / write buffer provided for each logical channel and configured to store data received by the plurality of interface units, the plurality of interface units managing communication with the outside, wherein the plurality of interface units are provided. A data processing method of a data processing device performing data communication of a multiplex logical channel through a unit, comprising: a data receiving step of receiving data transferred from outside through any one of the plurality of interface units; A logical channel identifying step of identifying a logical channel of the received data from the data received in the receiving step; a buffer selecting step of selecting the buffer according to the identification result in the logical channel identifying step; and the buffer selected in the buffer selecting step For the buffer, Serial data processing method characterized by having a reception data writing step of writing the received data used in the logical channel identified by a logical channel identification step. 7. In the receiving data writing step, data received through an interface unit other than that used for logical channel identification in the logical channel identification step is written to the buffer selected in the buffer selection step. 7. The data processing method according to claim 6, wherein writing can be performed. 8. The communication device according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the plurality of interface units conforms to a communication protocol different from that of the other interface units.
The data processing method described in 1. 9. The system according to claim 6, wherein all of the plurality of interface units conform to the same communication protocol.
Or the data processing method according to 7. 10. A plurality of interface units, comprising: a plurality of interface units for controlling external communication; and a readable / writable buffer provided for each logical channel for storing data received by the plurality of interface units. A recording medium recording a control program for controlling, by a computer, a data processing device that performs data communication of a multiplex logical channel through a unit, the control program instructs a computer to execute any one of the plurality of interface units. Received data transferred from the outside through the control unit, identified the logical channel of the received data from the received data, selected the buffer according to the identification result, and used the selected buffer for logical channel identification. Write received data Recording medium recording the data processing control program characterized. 11. The control program causes a computer to write, into the selected buffer, data received through another interface unit other than the interface unit used for the logical channel identification. A recording medium on which the data processing control program according to claim 10 is recorded.