JP2000289297A - Printer and printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively prevent wasteful printing such as garbage printing or the like by setting a data garbage mode of scrapping printing data received from a host without analyzing the data in addition to a normal printing mode, and moving to the data garbage mode when an error is generated or the like. SOLUTION: For example, when a user turns on a reset switch 26, a character string-searching/mode-converting part 24 moves a printer 10 to a data garbage mode. Data received by a receiving register 22A of a data-receiving part 22 is latched by a receiving buffer 22B. The character string-searching/mode- converting part 24 searches for a predetermined identification character string from the data latched by the receiving buffer 22B, moves the printer 10 from the data garbage mode to a normal mode when the character string is recognized, and transfers the data after the character string is recognized to an input buffer memory part 31 of a printing part 30 from the receiving buffer 22B. On the contrary, when the predetermined identification character string is not recognized, the part continues the data garbage mode and scraps (erases) the data latched in the receiving buffer 22B.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printer and a printing system, and more particularly to a printer and a printing system control technique for enabling a printer to correctly receive data from a host computer or the like.

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional printer and printing system,
The print data output from the host is usually
The data is received by a data receiving unit provided in a host interface in the printer via a connector or the like, and the print data is sent from the data receiving unit to the printing unit, where the printing data is interpreted and expanded as image data. Then, printing is executed.

However, in the conventional printer and printing system, the print data output from the host is once received by the data receiving unit in the printer, but is sent to the printing unit as it is for printing. Is executed. As a result, for example, when the cable connecting the host and the printer is disconnected, or when the printer is reset by the user, the printer is in standby for a while after the reconnection or reset, so that the printer is not connected. Since the data received during normal operation is printed, so-called dust print data is printed, which is useless for the user. In such a case, consumables such as printing paper and ink are not only wasted, but also the user has to wait for the end of dust printing, which is uneconomical in terms of time. An object of the present invention is to discard unnecessary data such as conventionally processed as garbage printing before printing, thereby preventing printing paper, ink, etc. from being wastefully consumed, and providing a user with It is to provide a very comfortable printer and printing system.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the present invention, in addition to a normal print mode, a printer can take a data discard mode in which print data received from a host is discarded without being analyzed. Then, when an error occurs, the mode shifts to the data discard mode. This prevents unnecessary data from being printed even if the printer is on standby after an error. That is, the printer according to claim 1 includes both a data discarding mode in which print data received from the host is discarded without analysis and a normal mode in which the print data received from the host is analyzed and developed into image data before printing. It is characterized by having. In the printer according to the second aspect, the transition from the data discarding mode to the normal mode is performed by recognizing a predetermined identification unit in the print data received from the host. Further, in the printer according to the third aspect, the transition from the normal mode to the data discarding mode is automatically performed when a predetermined trouble occurs in the printer. Claim 4
The printer according to claim 1, further comprising a data receiving unit that receives print data output from a host, and a printing unit that analyzes the print data sent from the data reception unit, expands the data into image data, and prints the image data. In the above, the data receiving unit discards the print data without sending it to the printing unit until recognizing a predetermined identification unit in the print data, and prints only the data after recognizing the predetermined identification unit. It is sent to the department. In the printer according to the fifth aspect, the data receiving unit is provided in a host interface unit in the printer. In the above-described printer, it is preferable that the predetermined identification unit is formed of a character string including a combination of characters and the number of characters in which a similar character string does not appear at least in print data received from the host. . Alternatively, in a printer that receives data by a packet communication method, the predetermined identification means may be provided at the beginning of a packet. On the other hand, a printing system according to claim 8 includes a host that creates and outputs print data, and a printer that performs printing based on the print data created by the host, wherein the printer receives the print data. And a printing unit that analyzes the print data sent from the data receiving unit, expands the data into image data, and prints the image data, wherein the host includes a predetermined identification unit in the created print data. The data receiving unit of the printer receives the print data while searching only for the predetermined identification means, discards the received data without recognizing the predetermined identification means, and discards the received data. Only when the unit is recognized, the data received after the predetermined identifying unit is sent to the printing unit, and the printing unit of the printer is connected to the data receiving unit. And performing printing on the developed data only received after the predetermined identification means sent al analyzed the image data. In the printing system according to the ninth aspect, the host includes the predetermined identification unit in the print data by adding the predetermined identification unit to the head of a print job. The print data transmission / reception method according to claim 10, wherein the print data transmission / reception method between a host that creates and outputs print data and a printer that performs printing based on the print data created by the host. Outputting the print data including a predetermined character string in the print data created by the host; receiving the print data while the printer searches only the predetermined character string; and Discarding the received data without identifying a predetermined character string; the printer identifying the predetermined character string; and the printer receiving only the data received after the identified predetermined character string. And printing based on the information. The recording medium according to claim 11 is a recording medium on which a program readable by a host computer is recorded, wherein print data in a format that can be interpreted by a printer when a print job occurs in the host, including the print job. A program for generating a program for executing a process of adding a predetermined character string that can be identified by a printer to the head of the print job is recorded. The recording medium according to the present invention can be embodied in the form of a so-called printer driver installed in a host computer. The recording medium according to claim 12 is
A recording medium on which a program readable by a CPU in a printer is recorded, a process of receiving print data from a host while searching for only a predetermined character string, and a process of receiving data without identifying the predetermined character string. Executing a process of deleting the predetermined character string, a process of identifying the predetermined character string, and a process of analyzing data received after identifying the predetermined character string, expanding the image data into image data, and executing printing. The program is characterized by recording a program to be executed.
The recording medium according to the present invention can be embodied in the form of a ROM or the like provided in a main control unit of a printer.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a basic configuration of a printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 10 of the present embodiment includes an interface control unit 20 for transmitting and receiving data to and from a host (not shown), and a printing unit 30. The interface control unit 20 includes a data receiving unit 22
And a character string search / mode conversion unit 24.
Although not shown in the interface control unit 20,
A data transmission unit and the like are also provided. The printer 10
Is provided with a reset switch 26. For example, the user turns on the reset switch 26.
Then, a predetermined signal is sent to the character string search / mode converter 24, and the character string search / mode converter 24
To the data discard mode. Also, even if the detection unit 28 detects, for example, disconnection of the cable connecting the host (not shown), a predetermined signal is similarly sent from the detection unit 28 to the character string search / mode conversion unit 24, and the character string The search / mode converter 24 shifts the printer 10 to the data discard mode. The data receiving unit 22 includes a reception register 22A and a reception buffer 22B. The reception register 22A is a first-stage circuit that includes a shift register having a predetermined number of bits and receives serial print data transmitted from the host. The reception buffer 22B is a buffer provided next to the reception register 22A for latching data received by the reception register 22A. The character string search / mode conversion unit 24
A predetermined identification character string described later is searched from the data latched in 2B, and when this is recognized, the printer 10 is shifted from the data discard mode to the normal mode, that is, as shown by an arrow NM in FIG. The data after the character string recognition is controlled to be DMA-transferred from the receiving buffer 22B to the input buffer memory 31 of the printing unit 30. Conversely, if the predetermined identification character string is not recognized, the above-described data discard mode is continued until it is recognized.
That is, as shown by the arrow AM in FIG.
Control is performed so that the data latched in B is discarded (erased). The printing unit 30 includes the input buffer memory unit 3
1, data reading unit 33, data analysis / conversion unit 35,
It has a data development unit 37 and a print processing unit 39. The input buffer memory unit 31 includes an R buffer provided in the printing unit 30.
It is formed on the AM and temporarily stores data input via the data receiving unit 22 in the interface control unit 20. That is, the data latched in the receiving buffer 22B of the data receiving unit 22 is stored in the input buffer memory unit 31.
DMA transfer is performed, the data is read out as needed, and a required printing process is executed. Data reading unit 3
3 sequentially reads the data stored in the input buffer memory unit 31. The data analysis / conversion unit 35 analyzes the print data in the read data, and converts the print data into a predetermined data format. The data expanding section 37 expands the data converted by the data analyzing / converting section 35 into image data. The print processing unit 39 performs a print process based on the developed image data. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the contents of print data including an identification character string received by the printer 10 in the first embodiment. As described above, the transition from the normal mode to the data discarding mode is automatically performed when a predetermined trouble occurs in the printer. That is, when the connection with the host is disconnected due to disconnection of the cable or the like, or when the panel of the printer 10 is reset by the user, the data portion 201 to be printed with dust is generated as described in the related art. . However, the host adds an identification character string 202 of a predetermined length (for example, 30 to 40 characters, several tens of bytes) to the head of the print job 203 to be output to the printer, and transmits the print job 203 to the printer 10. FIG. 2 illustrates a configuration for transmitting data by a so-called packet. Each of these packets 204 also has an identifier 20 at the beginning of the data 205.
In the present embodiment, an identification character string 202 different from the identifier 206 of the packet is set. Note that the identification character string 202 is
It is desirable that the data be composed of a combination of characters and the number of characters so that a similar character string does not appear at least in print data (dust print data) received from the host. FIG.
5 is a flowchart showing a series of operations of the printer 10 including a transition between a normal mode and a discard mode. First, when a predetermined trouble (error) such as disconnection of a cable occurs in the printer (S301), the mode is automatically shifted from the normal mode to the data discarding mode (S302). The data output from the host is received by the data receiving unit 22 as described above (S303). Then, it is determined whether the predetermined identification character string 202 (see FIG. 2) has been recognized in the received data (S304). Unless this is recognized (No in S304), the reception of the print data is continued (S303). The received data is discarded as described in FIG. When a predetermined identification character string 202 (see FIG. 2) is recognized in the received data (Yes in S304)
In s), the mode shifts from the data discard mode to the normal mode (S305). It is received in this normal mode (S30
6) The data is transferred and written to the input buffer memory unit 31 (S307), command analysis and data development are performed (S308), and printing is performed (S309).
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a basic configuration of a printing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the printing system of the present embodiment includes a host 40 and a printer 10.
And both are configured to be capable of bidirectional communication via an interface connector and a connection cable (not shown). A printer driver 42 is installed in the host 40. The printer driver 42 converts print data created by, for example, an application on the host 40 into a format that can be interpreted by the printer 10 and outputs the data to the printer 10. . The printer driver 42 according to the present embodiment includes, in addition to the above-described normal processing for generating print data in a format that can be interpreted by the printer 10 including a print job when a print job occurs in the host 40, A process of adding a predetermined character string that can be identified by the printer 10 at the beginning is executed. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, the identification character string 202 having a predetermined length is added to the head of the print job 203 and transmitted to the printer 10. The configuration of the printer 10 is shown in FIG.
And the operation is exactly the same as the flow of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3, and the description thereof is omitted. Hereinafter, a method of transmitting and receiving data between the host 40 and the printer 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a sequence chart showing a procedure for transmitting and receiving data between the host 40 and the printer 10. In the following description, T1 to T5 indicate processing steps.
When the host 40 and the printer 10 are connected by a printer cable or the like, the host 40
It is assumed that print data is transmitted based on a certain print job (T1). Here, for example, when the panel of the printer 10 is reset by the user, the data transmitted from the host 40 to the printer 10 thereafter becomes dust print data that cannot be normally printed by the printer 10 (T
However, since the printer 10 shifts to the data discarding mode, the dust print data is discarded without being printed even if it is received. Thereafter, for example, even if a signal requesting permission of data transmission is transmitted from the host 40 to the printer 10 (T3), if the printer 10 is not in a standby state, there is no response from the printer 10 (T4). Is also continued. Thereafter, for example, it is assumed that the printer 10 is on standby and a normal connection state with the host 40 is established. Printer driver 42 of host 40
Executes a process of adding a predetermined character string that can be identified by the printer 10 to the beginning of the new print job 1, and adds the identification character string 202 to the new print job 1 and transmits it to the printer 10 (T
5). When the data receiving unit of the printer 10 recognizes the identification character string 202, the printer 10 shifts to the normal mode, and thereafter, the data of the print jobs 1 and 2 is transferred from the data receiving unit to the printing unit, and is printed properly. Is done. that's all,
Although the present invention has been described with respect to particular embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be applied to other embodiments within the scope of the appended claims. For example, in the above embodiment, an example has been described in which a predetermined identification character string is added to the beginning of a print job. However, in a printing system or the like in which data is transmitted and received in the packet communication system, for example, Provide identification data,
It is conceivable to control the transition between the normal mode and the data discard mode depending on whether or not the identification data is received.

As described above, according to the present invention, in addition to the normal print mode, the printer can take a data discard mode in which print data received from the host is discarded without analysis. By shifting to the data discarding mode when an error occurs, it is possible to effectively prevent wasteful printing such as dust printing. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the printing paper, the ink, and the like from being wasted, and to provide a printer and a printing system that are comfortable for the user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a configuration of a printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating contents of print data including an identification character string received by a printer in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a basic configuration of a printing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sequence chart showing a procedure of data transmission and reception performed between a host and a printer in the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 printer 20 interface control unit 30 printing unit 22 data receiving unit 24 character string search / mode conversion unit 26 reset switch 28 detection unit 31 input buffer memory unit 33 data reading unit 35 data analysis / conversion unit 37 data development unit 39 print processing unit 40 Host 42 Printer Driver 201 Dust Print Data 203 Print Job 202 Identification String 204 Packet 205 Packet Data 206 Packet Identifier

Continued on front page F term (reference) 2C061 AS02 HH13 HJ06 HJ10 HK05 HN04 HN06 HN15 HN21 HP01 HQ20 HV02 HV05 HV19 HV35 HV44 HV58 2C087 AB05 BA01 BB01 BB20 BD01 BD13 DA01 DA09 5B021 AA01 BB09 BB01

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A data discard mode for discarding print data received from a host without analyzing the data, and a normal mode for analyzing the print data received from the host and developing the image data before printing. And the printer. 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the transition from the data discarding mode to the normal mode is performed by recognizing a predetermined identification unit in print data received from a host. Printer. 3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the transition from the normal mode to the data discarding mode is automatically performed when a predetermined trouble occurs in the printer. 4. A printer having a data receiving unit for receiving print data output from a host, and a printing unit for analyzing the print data sent from the data receiving unit, developing the data into image data, and printing the image data. In the above, the data receiving unit discards the print data without sending it to the printing unit until recognizing a predetermined identification unit in the print data, and prints only the data after recognizing the predetermined identification unit. A printer to be sent to a printer. 5. The printer according to claim 4, wherein the data receiving unit is provided in a host interface unit in the printer. 6. The printer according to claim 1, wherein
The printer, wherein the predetermined identification unit is a character string including a combination of characters and the number of characters in which a similar character string does not appear at least in print data received from the host. 7. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the data is received by a packet communication method, wherein the predetermined identification unit is provided at the head of the packet. 8. A host for creating and outputting print data,
A printer for printing based on the print data created by the host, the printer analyzing the print data sent from the data receiving unit and the print data sent from the data receiving unit, and developing the data into image data. A printing unit having a printing unit for performing printing by the host, wherein the host outputs the created print data including a predetermined identification unit, and the data receiving unit of the printer searches only the predetermined identification unit. Receiving the print data, discarding the received data without recognizing the predetermined identification unit, and printing the data received after the predetermined identification unit only when the predetermined identification unit is recognized. The printing unit of the printer analyzes only data received after the predetermined identification unit sent from the data receiving unit and performs image analysis. Printing system and performs printing on expanded into over data. 9. The printing system according to claim 8, wherein
The printing system, wherein the host includes the predetermined identification unit in the print data by adding a predetermined character string to a head of a print job. 10. A method of transmitting and receiving print data between a host that creates and outputs print data and a printer that performs printing based on the print data created by the host, the method comprising: Outputting the print data including the predetermined character string; receiving the print data while the printer searches only the predetermined character string; and receiving the print data without identifying the predetermined character string. Discarding the identified data; the printer identifying the predetermined character string; and the printer performing printing based only on the data received after the identified predetermined character string. A method for transmitting and receiving print data between a host and a printer, the method comprising: 11. A recording medium storing a program readable by a host computer, wherein when a print job occurs in the host, the program generates print data in a format interpretable by a printer including the print job. And a program for executing a process of adding a predetermined character string identifiable by a printer to the head of the print job. 12. A recording medium on which a program readable by a CPU in a printer is recorded, a process of receiving print data from a host while searching for only a predetermined character string, and identifying the predetermined character string. Erasing received data without identifying the character string; identifying the predetermined character string; analyzing data received after identifying the predetermined character string, developing the image data into image data, and executing printing A program for causing a printer to execute the above.