JP2001249780A - Printing device and system and method for setting printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing device for allowing each user to recognize the state of a printing device through the display of a remote controller by owning the remote controller, and to set the state of the printing device by operating the remote controller. SOLUTION: A printing device 1 is constituted of a CPU 2, an ROM 3, an RAM 4, a display part 8 for displaying the state of the printing device, and a transmitting and receiving part 9 for transferring data between the printing device 1 and a remote controller 10. The remote controller 10 is constituted of a CPU 11, an ROM 12 for storing a program for operating state setting by the remote controller 10, an RAM 13 for storing various data, a display part 15 for displaying the set state set by the remote controller 10 or the using state of the main body, and a transmitting and receiving part 16 for communicating with the remote controller 10 and the printing device 1. Thus, it is possible to recognize the state of the printing device 1, or to set the state of the printing device 1 by the remote controller 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing device used as an output device of a personal computer or the like, and more particularly, to a status setting and a status display of a printing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a printing apparatus connected to a host computer and used as an output device, printing of print data received from the host computer includes, for example, paper size, character font type, character size, The state of the printing unit such as the printing direction can be set. In order to set the status of these printing units, a status setting switch fixed on the outer surface of the printing apparatus is operated, or a status setting control code is transmitted from the host computer. Further, the set state can be known by a display fixed to the outer surface of the printing apparatus.

[0003]

However, when the above-described conventional printing apparatus is connected to a plurality of host computers and used by a plurality of users, the user uses the host computer at a position away from the printing apparatus. In some cases, the state of the printing apparatus cannot be known from the position of the user. In such a case, in order to bring the printing device to the desired state, it is necessary to stand up to the printing device and operate a switch fixed on the outer surface of the printing device, or transmit a control code from the host computer. There is.

However, when an application is being executed, it may be necessary to end the application, transmit a control code, and execute the application again, which is extremely complicated. Further, even if the printing apparatus is already in a desired state, there is no means for knowing it from a position of a user far away since there is only a display on the outer surface of the printing apparatus. Even if the setting has been made before, the setting may have been changed by another user, so the setting must be made every time printing is performed, which is extremely complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem. When a user holds a remote control device at hand, the state of the printing device can be immediately changed by a display attached to the remote control device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus which can be set by simply operating a remote control device at hand even if the host computer is in any state when it is desired to set the state.

[0006]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus for performing printing based on print data received from a host computer, wherein setting information of the printing apparatus is provided. Out of a plurality of remote control devices having input means for inputting the setting information, display means for displaying setting information, and transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving setting information to / from the printing apparatus Receiving means for receiving the setting information transmitted from the printer, updating means for updating the setting state of the printing apparatus based on the setting information received by the receiving means, and setting of the printing apparatus after being updated by the updating means Transmission means for transmitting setting information indicating the status to another remote control device.

When the receiving means receives the setting information transmitted from one remote control device, the updating means updates the setting state of the printing apparatus based on the setting information received by the receiving means, and the transmitting means is updated by the updating means. After that, the setting information indicating the setting state of the printing apparatus is transmitted to another remote control apparatus. The display means of the remote control device displays the set setting information.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus setting system, comprising: input means for inputting setting information of a printing apparatus;
A plurality of remote controllers having display means for displaying setting information, transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving setting information to / from the printing apparatus, and printing for performing printing based on print data received from a host computer A receiving unit for receiving setting information transmitted from one remote control device; an updating unit for updating a setting state of the printing apparatus based on the setting information received by the receiving unit; and an updating unit. And a transmission unit for transmitting setting information indicating the updated setting state of the printing apparatus to another remote control apparatus.

When the receiving means receives the setting information transmitted from one remote control device, the updating means updates the setting state of the printing apparatus based on the setting information received by the receiving means, and the transmitting means is updated by the updating means. After that, the setting information indicating the setting state of the printing apparatus is transmitted to another remote control apparatus. The display means of the remote control device displays the set setting information.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus setting system according to the second aspect, the printing apparatus transmits a signal indicating a printing state by a printing unit and a signal indicating that printing has been completed to the remote controller. The remote control device is configured to determine whether the printing device is in a printing state or a standby state based on a signal received from the printing device, and to transmit the setting information in a standby state.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus setting method, comprising:
Using a plurality of remote control devices having input means for inputting setting information of the printing apparatus, display means for displaying setting information, and transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving setting information to / from the printing apparatus A setting method of a printing apparatus for setting a printing apparatus by receiving setting information transmitted from one remote control apparatus, updating a setting state of the printing apparatus based on the received setting information, and updating the setting state of the printing apparatus. The setting information indicating the setting state of the printing device is transmitted to another remote control device.

When the receiving means receives the setting information transmitted from one remote control device, the updating means updates the setting state of the printing apparatus based on the setting information received by the receiving means, and the transmitting means is updated by the updating means. After that, the setting information indicating the setting state of the printing apparatus is transmitted to another remote control apparatus. The display means of the remote control device displays the set setting information.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the printing apparatus. The main body of the printing apparatus 1 includes C as a control unit and an update unit.
The remote control device 10 includes a PU 2, a ROM 3, a RAM 4, a key input unit 5, an interface 6, a printing unit 7 as a printing unit, a display unit 8, a main unit including a transmitting and receiving unit 9 as a receiving unit and a transmitting unit. The ROM 3 stores programs such as a program related to control of the printing unit 7, a program related to state setting of the printing unit 7, and a program related to communication with the remote controller 10, and is connected to the CPU 2. The RAM 4 stores print data received from the host computer, data indicating the set state of the printing unit 7, and the like, and is connected to the CPU 2.

The printing unit 7 includes a video RAM for expanding and storing the print data stored in the RAM 4,
The printing operation is performed under the control of the CPU 2 in accordance with the program 3. The key input unit 5 is used when setting the status of the main body 1, the interface 6 inputs and outputs data between the printing device 1 and the host computer, and the display unit 8 displays the status of the printing device 1. The transmission / reception unit 9 exchanges data between the main body 1 and the remote control device 10 and is connected to the CPU 2.

The remote control device 10 comprises a CPU 11, a ROM
12, a RAM 13, a key input unit 14 as input means,
It comprises a display unit 15 as display means and a transmission / reception unit 16 as transmission / reception means. The ROM 12 stores programs such as a program for setting the state of the remote controller 10, a program for communication with the main body 1, and a program for display, and is connected to the CPU 11. RAM1
The CPU 3 stores data (setting information) indicating the setting state being set by the remote control device 10, data (setting information) indicating the state of the main body 1 received by the transmitting / receiving unit 16, and the like.
It is connected to the. The key input unit 14 is
The display unit 15 includes a key for performing state setting at 0, a key for designating communication with the main body, and the like. The transmission / reception unit 16 performs communication between the remote control device 10 and the main body 1, and is connected to the CPU 11.

Next, the operation of the printing apparatus thus configured will be described. In printing the print data transmitted from the host computer, it is necessary to set a printing state such as a paper size, a character font type, a character size, and a printing direction. There are three ways to do this,
The method of inputting from the key input unit 5 of the main body 1 and the method of transmitting a control code from the host computer via the interface 6 are the same as the conventional method. In any case, the CPU 2 sets the state according to the state setting program in the ROM 3 and writes the state into the RAM 4 to set the state.

As a third method, there is a state setting by the remote control device 10. Key input unit 1 of remote control device 10
By operating the key of No. 4 according to the state setting program in the ROM 12 in the remote control device 10,
The CPU 11 analyzes the set state,
0 is written to the RAM 13. At this time, the key input unit 14
As the is operated, the input state is displayed on the display unit 15 of the remote control device 10 to notify the operator of the operation, thereby preventing an operation error. At this stage, the printing state is only stored in the RAM 13 in the remote control device 10,
The state of the main body 1 has not been changed. Therefore, even if the printing is performed while another user is using the printing apparatus 1, no trouble occurs.

Immediately before the print data is transmitted to the printing apparatus 1 and printing is started, the setting stored in the RAM 13 of the remote controller 10 is operated by operating the setting state transmission key in the key input section 14 of the remote controller 10. The status is transmitted to the main unit via the transmission / reception unit 16. In the main body 1, the state of the printing unit 7 is set by receiving the setting state by the transmission / reception unit 9 and writing the setting state in the RAM 4. Therefore, since the setting state is stored in the RAM 13 in the remote control device 10, when printing is to be performed several times with the same setting, it is not necessary to reset all the settings each time printing is performed, and only transmission is performed.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 2 shows the main body, and FIG. 3 shows the remote control device 1 of the remote control device 10.
It is a flowchart regarding the state setting by 0. Hereinafter, Si (i = 1, 2, 3,...) Indicates each step. The main body checks whether print data has been input from the host computer (S1). If it has not been input (S1: NO), it is checked whether the setting information has been transmitted from any of the remote control devices 10 (S2). If not transmitted (S2: NO), these two determinations are repeated to wait.

If print data has been input from the host computer (S1: YES), the fact that the printer has entered the printing state is transmitted to each remote controller 10 via the transmission / reception unit 9 (S5). Subsequently, a printing process is performed (S6), and when the printing is completed, a printing completion state is sent to each remote control device 10 (S7), and a standby state is entered (S1). When the status setting information is received from the remote control device 10 in a state where printing is not being performed (S1: NO), the status of the printing device 1 is set according to the received information (S2: YES).
3: update step). Thereafter, the set state is transmitted to each remote control device 10 (S4), and the apparatus enters a standby state (S4).
1). That is, since the set state is transmitted to each remote control device 10, it is displayed on another remote control, and another user can easily confirm the update of the setting.

The remote controller 10 checks whether the main body 1 is in a standby state (S10). If not in standby state (S
10: NO), the fact that the printer is in the printing state is displayed on the display unit 15 (S11). If the main body 1 is in the standby state, it is determined whether the setting state transmission key is pressed (S12). If pressed (S12: YES), then the RAM 13
Is transmitted to the main unit 1 via the transmission / reception unit 16 (S13). If not pressed (S1
2: NO) In any case, it is checked whether the setting change key is pressed (S14). If it is pressed (S14: YES), the CPU 11 stores the new setting state in the RAM 13 according to the program in the ROM 12 (S15), and if it is not pressed (S14: NO), the above determination is repeated as it is (S14: NO). S10). That is, since the signal (setting information) for updating the setting state is transmitted only in the standby state, the setting state of the printing apparatus can be reliably updated.

[0022]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the user can immediately know the use state and the setting state of the printing apparatus by holding the remote controller at hand. The state of the printing apparatus can also be set at hand by the remote controller, and the set contents are transmitted to the remote controller of another user, so that the user can use the apparatus easily and work efficiency can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the printing apparatus main body.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the printing apparatus remote controller.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 printing apparatus 10 remote control device 11 CPU 12 ROM 13 RAM 14 key input unit 15 display unit 16 transmission / reception unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus for performing printing based on print data received from a host computer, an input unit for inputting setting information of the printing apparatus,
Receives setting information transmitted from one remote control device among a plurality of remote control devices having a display unit for displaying setting information and a transmitting and receiving unit for transmitting and receiving setting information to and from the printing device. Receiving means for updating the setting state of the printing apparatus based on the setting information received by the receiving means; and setting information indicating the setting state of the printing apparatus updated by the updating means to another remote controller. A printing apparatus, comprising: a transmitting unit that transmits the data to the apparatus. 2. A printer comprising: an input unit for inputting setting information of a printing apparatus; a display unit for displaying setting information; and a transmitting and receiving unit for transmitting and receiving setting information to and from the printing apparatus. A remote control device, a printing device for performing printing based on print data received from a host computer, a receiving device for receiving setting information transmitted from one remote control device, and a setting received by the receiving device A printing apparatus comprising: an update unit configured to update a setting state of the printing apparatus based on the information; and a transmission unit configured to transmit setting information indicating the setting state of the printing apparatus after being updated by the updating unit to another remote control apparatus. Printing device setting system. 3. The printing device is configured to transmit a signal indicating a printing state by a printing unit and a signal indicating that printing has been completed to the remote control device. The printing apparatus setting system according to claim 2, wherein the printing apparatus determines whether the printing apparatus is in a printing state or a standby state based on the received signal, and transmits the setting information when the printing apparatus is in a standby state. 4. A printing apparatus comprising: an input unit for inputting setting information of a printing apparatus; a display unit for displaying setting information; and a transmitting / receiving unit for transmitting / receiving setting information to / from the printing apparatus. A setting method for a printing apparatus, wherein the setting information transmitted from one remote control apparatus is received, and the setting state of the printing apparatus is updated based on the received setting information. A setting method for a printing apparatus, comprising: transmitting setting information indicating a setting state of the printing apparatus after being updated to another remote control apparatus.