JP2002032848A - Information processing vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing vending machine for printing an image photographed by a digital camera, capable of performing proper control for printing-signified information, shortening the printing time of a vending machine printer and reducing the cost of the device by properly constructing a main controller, a printing controller, a memory, etc., for the vending machine printer provided in the vending machine. SOLUTION: The main controller 6 reads a one-picture image out of media. The read image data is transmitted to a printing controller 10. Then, a printing order is given from the main controller 6 to the printing controller 10 for printing operation. The memory 9 is connected to a slave communication controller 8. The slave communication controller 8 handles a reception divided into printing data and printing control commands.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine, and more particularly to a vending machine type printer which prints images taken by a user with a digital camera or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various vending machines such as vending machines for drinking water have been marketed. One of them,
There is a vending machine type printer (hereinafter, referred to as a vending machine printer). In this device, a medium (for example, a PC card, Compact Flash (registered trademark), etc.) storing an image photographed by a digital camera or the like is directly inserted into a vending machine printer, and print data of the storage medium is printed. And a predetermined printing fee.

The vending machine printer has two internal configurations: a main controller that controls the entire vending machine printer, such as reading of a recording medium and I / F control with a user, and a print controller that performs print processing itself. Can be divided. Since the main controller and the print controller are physically far apart, for example, they transmit and receive print data and transmit and receive print control commands by serial communication.

Further, when printing is performed by a vending machine printer,
First, the main controller reads an image for one screen from the medium. Then, the read image data is transmitted to the print controller. Thereafter, a print command is sent from the main controller to the print controller, and printing is performed.

[0005] Further, since image data for one screen has a large data capacity, a method often used is a method using a DMA controller. FIG. 5 shows a conventional DMA.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration when a controller is used. The main controller 16 controls the entire vending machine printer, controls user I / F, reads storage media, and the like. The master communication controller 17 is configured to take charge of communication with the main controller 16. The slave communication controller 18 communicates with the master communication controller 17 and communicates with the main controller 16.
This is a configuration in which print data and print control commands are received from the printer, and processing suitable for each is performed.

[0006] The memory 19 is mainly used for storing image data sent from the main controller 16, and the print controller 20 is used for storing the main controller 1.
In accordance with the instruction from No. 6, all the printing processes are performed.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION However, DMA
In the method using a controller, a control command to the print controller 20 cannot be mixed during transmission of image data.

As one of the methods for reducing the printing time in a print vending machine, there is a method in which, while printing one screen, parallel processing is performed so that data transfer of the next screen is performed in the background. When this parallel processing is performed, a control command related to printing by a vending machine printer may be mixed with current printing during data transfer of the next image. Therefore, control is complicated in the conventional method using the DMA controller.

On the other hand, in a proposal in which the print controller performs communication processing without using the DMA controller, the processing of the print controller becomes heavy, and a high-speed CPU is inserted into the print controller in order to shorten the printing time. Required, leading to increased costs.

[0010] In general, it is not possible to determine whether information transmitted by communication is print data or a print control command. In this case, a dedicated CPU for performing the control is required, and the cost is increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and by appropriately configuring a main controller, a print controller, a memory, and the like in a vending machine printer, control suitable for information can be performed. The printing time of the vending machine printer can be shortened, and the cost of the apparatus can be reduced.

[0012]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a total control means for controlling the entire apparatus,
An information processing vending machine having storage means for storing image information, printing means for printing the information, and communication control means for controlling communication between the printing means and the total control means, wherein the storage means is This can be achieved by providing an information processing vending machine characterized by being connected to communication control means.

With such a configuration, a DMA controller or the like of a print controller is not used, and
Since the image data can be communicated without the print controller controlling the communication, and the print controller can be dedicated to the print control, the control of the print controller can be easily made. Further, since communication can be performed irrespective of the print controller, communication of the next print data can be performed during printing, so that the printing time of the vending machine printer can be shortened.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the above object is provided.
It has a total control unit for controlling the entire apparatus, a storage unit for storing image information, a printing unit for printing the information, and a communication control unit for performing communication control between the printing unit and the total control unit. In the information processing vending machine, there is provided an information processing vending machine characterized in that the communication control means distinguishes the image information and printing operation control information for controlling a printing operation and can perform a process suitable for the information. Can be achieved by:

With this configuration, when the slave communication controller uses the received data as the print data, the print controller control command, or the slave communication controller control, the processing is performed. Communication that mixes print data and control commands that can be complicated can be performed.
In the main controller of the vending machine printer, production software can be created without considering the relationship between image data transmission and print control. In other words, image data transmission,
Print control can be processed as a completely separate process, and control software can be designed very easily.

The above object is achieved according to the third aspect of the present invention.
3. The communication control unit according to claim 1, wherein the communication control unit is divided into two communication control units, a master communication control unit connected to the total control unit and a slave communication control unit connected to the printing unit. Can be achieved by providing an information processing vending machine.

With this configuration, the master communication control means determines whether or not the information returned from the slave communication control means matches the information previously transferred to the slave communication control means. If they match, a function of transferring the next predetermined unit of information from the total control means to the slave communication control means is provided. The slave communication control means includes image information transferred from the master communication control means and a printing operation. Control information, the print operation control information is transferred to the printing means, and the image information is written to the designated area of the storage means. Costs can be reduced.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the above object is provided.
3. The information processing vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit is connected to a slave communication control unit of the communication control unit.

With such a configuration, the load on the print controller is reduced, and the cost of the print controller can be reduced.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 shows the appearance of a vending machine printer (information processing vending machine) to which the present invention is applied.
In FIG. 1, a storage medium insertion slot 1 is a place where a medium in which an image that a user wants to print is recorded is inserted.
The display touch panel 2 is an I / F (interface) with a user or an operator, displays a screen requesting an operation of the user or the operator, and receives a key input.

The fee insertion / return port 3 is a place for collecting and returning a printing fee and paying out change, and the issued receipt is also discharged from the fee insertion / return port 3. The return lever 4 is a lever used when returning the inserted fee. The photo outlet 5 is a box for outputting a printed print (photo), and a user takes out a photo output to the photo outlet 5.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the vending machine printer according to this embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a communication operation when the present invention is applied. First, FIG.
In, the main controller 6 controls the entire vending machine printer, controls user I / F, reads storage media, and the like. The master communication controller 7
Is a circuit in charge of communication of the main controller 6. The slave communication controller 8 communicates with the master communication controller 7, receives print data and print control commands from the main controller 6, and performs processing suitable for each.

On the other hand, the slave communication controller 8
It also controls the I / F (interface) of the memory 9,
It also responds to an access request to the memory 9 from the print controller 10. The memory 9 includes a main controller 6
It is mainly used to store the image data sent from.

The print controller 10 performs all of the printing processing in accordance with an instruction from the main controller 6.
The communication between the master side and the slave side will be described as asynchronous serial communication (for example, RS-422) in the description of this example.

Next, the processing operation in the vending machine printer having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. First, the user inserts a storage medium into the storage medium insertion slot 3 of the vending machine printer. Here, it is assumed that the user has issued a print order for two images.

The main controller 6 first reads out the first image data (one image data) from the image data to be printed from the storage medium. And the main controller 6
When reading of one image data is completed, the transmission of the image data for a predetermined time or more to the slave communication controller 8 via the master communication controller 7 is continued. This is performed by keeping the communication path at High (Mark).

Then, the slave communication controller 8 sets High (Mark) on the communication path for a predetermined time or more.
Continues, it is determined that a command to reset the print controller 10 connected to the slave communication controller 8 has been sent from the master communication controller 7, and the reset terminal (/ rs) of the print controller 10
t) is set to LOW and reset. Note that the predetermined time may be set to a time sufficiently longer than the time for one communication packet. In this example, one packet is 20
Bits, and much longer, for example,
It may be set to 256 bits.

When the reset of the print controller 10 is completed, the main controller 6 transmits a control command (for example, 0xFFFF) requesting a reset of the memory address register of the slave communication controller 8.

The slave communication controller 8 having received this determines that the received information is a control command, and further determines that the received information is a direct control command to the slave communication controller 8, and determines the internal Reset the value of the memory address register held in.

Next, when the reset is completed, the completion of the reset is notified to the main controller 6 via the master communication controller 7. The reset completion notification is configured so that the slave controller 8 returns what it has received as it is. The transmission and reception of the reset command are performed between the master communication controller 7 and the slave communication controller 8, and the print controller 10
Is not involved. Therefore, even when the print controller 10 goes out of control or the power of the print controller 10 is turned off, communication is performed, so that it can be used as an ENQ (inquiry).

The main controller 6 which has received the reset completion notice then sends the master communication controller 7
, The first image data (for one image) read into the slave communication controller 8 is transmitted in predetermined units. The predetermined unit is, for example, 2 bytes.

Next, the slave communication controller 8 receiving this data determines that the received data is print image data. If it is determined that the data is image data, the received data is written into the memory 9.
If it is determined that the received data is image data, the received data is sent back to the main controller 6 via the master communication controller 7 at the same time as writing, and the internal memory address register is incremented.

On the other hand, after transmitting the image data in the predetermined unit, the main controller 6 waits for the data transmitted from the slave communication controller 8 to be sent back. Then, when the data is returned, it is determined whether or not the data is the same as the transmitted data.

When it is determined that the returned data is not the same, there is a possibility of a communication failure. Therefore, a control command (0xAAA) for instructing the slave communication controller 8 to decrement the memory address register is provided.
Send A).

The slave communication controller 8 decrements the memory address register when it determines that the received command is a control command and further a memory address decrement command. When the decrement is completed, the slave communication controller 8 outputs a control command (0xA) to indicate that the decrement has been completed.
AAA) as it is. When the main controller 6 receives this, the immediately preceding data is retransmitted.

By repeating the above processing, one screen of print data of the first sheet is transmitted from the main controller 6 to the memory 9, and the main controller 6 further transmits the data via the master communication controller 7 to the slave communication controller 8. , A print start command (0x1111) is transmitted to the print controller 10.

The slave communication controller 8 having received the command determines that the received command is a control command and further a command to the print controller 10.
The received data is decoded and only the information part is notified to the print controller 10. Upon receiving this, the print controller 10 starts the printing process. The print controller 10 first reads out all data in the memory 9 via the slave communication controller 8. When all data has been read, ACK (0x1) indicating reception of a print start command is sent to the main controller 6.
010). When receiving the ACK from the print controller 10, the main controller 6 reads the second image.

Then, similarly to the first sheet, a memory address reset command (0xFFFF) is transmitted to the slave communication controller 8, and subsequently, image data is transmitted. While this is being performed, the print controller 10 continues the printing process. Therefore, the main controller 6 sends a control command (0x2222) for requesting a status to the slave side in order to grasp the print execution state of the print controller 10 even during transmission of image data and the like. I do. Even in such a case, since the slave communication controller 8 determines whether the received data is print data or a control command, the slave communication controller 8 can appropriately process the received data. That is, if the received command is a status request command, it is not stored in the memory 9.
The print controller 10 is notified.

When the print controller 10 receives the status request command, it sends a status response to the master via the slave communication controller 8. In the master communication controller 7 as well, whether the received data is print data returned by the slave side,
It determines whether the response is a command response or not, and notifies the main controller 6 of the determination result. The main controller 6 captures a status response, transmits and retransmits image data using the determination result.

On the other hand, during this time, the print controller 10 finishes printing the first image, and furthermore,
Since the print image data of the second sheet is stored in the memory 9, a print start command is sent from the main controller 6 and printing is started in the same manner as the first sheet. Then, the main controller 6 transmits a status request command,
Printing is completed while monitoring the printing status. Thus, all printing is completed. By the way, in the above description, it has been described that the print data and the control command are determined by the slave communication controller 8. However, this is because if the “command explicit bit” is embedded in the communication data, the slave communication The controller 8 can easily determine.

Further, among the control commands, there are a command for the print controller 10 and a command for the slave communication controller 8. Also, it can be said that there are few commands that directly act on the slave communication controller 8 in actual operation. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a bit or the like for specifying, and to divide by the value of communication data. ing. However, an explicit bit may be prepared.

Here, for reference, FIG. 4 shows a communication format of the present embodiment. In this figure, it is assumed that communication is performed by asynchronous serial communication. The start bit 11 is 1 bit, the information data portion 12 is 16 bits, the command explicit bit 13 is 1 bit, the parity bit 14 is 1 bit, and the stop bit 15 is 15 bits. Is composed of one bit.

As for the parity bit 14, 1
There is no need to use bits, and a general error detection code or error correction code may be used. However, even if the parity bit 14 is set to one bit as described in this embodiment, in this embodiment, print data and control commands to the slave communication controller 8 return data received on the slave side to the master side as it is. This ensures the reliability of the communication data.

By the way, regarding the control commands to the print controller 10, the control commands expected by the print controller 10 in each processing stage of the print controller 10 are limited, and if a control command that does not meet the expectation is transmitted. If the command is retransmitted to the master side, no problem occurs even if an error occurs in the communication path and the control command becomes abnormal.

For print data, if a checksum or the like is used, communication reliability is further improved. In this case, if the value of the memory address register of the slave communication controller 8 can be seen from the print controller 10 on the slave side, the capacity (number of bytes) of the print data transmitted from the master side is printed. The controller 10 can check.

Further, since the processing is devised to simplify the processing as described above, the master communication controller 7 and the slave communication controller 8 can be housed in a single package to form an LSI.

[0047]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the information processing vending machine does not use the DMA controller or the like of the print controller 10 and does not cause the print controller 10 to control the communication of the image data. Communication with the print controller 1
Since 0 can be dedicated to print control, control of the print controller 10 can be easily made. Further, since communication can be performed irrespective of the print controller 10, communication of the next print data can be performed during printing, so that the printing time of the vending machine printer can be shortened.

Further, since the memory 9 is directly connected to the slave communication controller 8, the slave communication controller 8 can perform processing relating to communication of image data, and the load on the print controller 10 can be reduced. Since the weight is reduced, the cost of the print controller 10 can be reduced.

Further, the slave communication controller 8
If the received data is print data, a control command for the print controller 10, or a control for the slave communication controller 8, the print data and the control command that complicate the processing are mixed. Communication can be performed, making it possible for the main controller 6 of the vending machine printer to create production software without considering the relationship between image data transmission and print control. In other words, image data transmission and print control can be processed as completely separate processes,
Control software can be designed very easily.

Commands processed by the slave communication controller 8, such as writing of print data to the memory 9, memory address reset, and decrement, transmit received data to the master as it is. The processing performed by the slave communication controller 8 can be simplified. That is, if a response to the data processed by the slave communication controller 8 is transmitted to the master as another communication data, the processing of the slave communication controller 8 becomes complicated. It's easy.

Further, since the received print data is sent back to the master as it is, even if the error detection code or the like is simplified, the data reliability can be ensured. Further, the internal processing of the slave communication controller 8 can be simplified.

The master communication controller 7 and the slave communication controller 8 are contained in a single package to form an LSI.
There is no need to make the two types I and I, and cost reduction due to the effect of mass production can be expected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a vending machine printer according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram in the vending machine printer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram illustrating the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a communication format according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a system configuration diagram in a conventional vending machine printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Storage-medium insertion slot 2 Display touch panel 3 Charge insertion / return slot 4 Return lever 5 Print photo take-out port 6, 16 Main controller 7, 17 Master communication controller 8, 18 Slave communication controller 9, 19 Memory 10, 20 Print controller 11 Start bit 12 Information data part 13 Command explicit bit 14 Parity bit 15 Stop bit

Claims (4)

[Claims] A control unit that controls the entire apparatus; a storage unit that stores image information; a printing unit that prints the information; and a communication that controls communication between the printing unit and the total control unit. An information processing vending machine comprising: a control unit; and the storage unit is connected to the communication control unit. 2. A total control unit for controlling the entire apparatus, a storage unit for storing image information, a printing unit for printing the information, and a communication for controlling communication between the printing unit and the total control unit. An information processing vending machine comprising: an information processing vending machine comprising: an information processing vending machine, wherein the communication control means distinguishes the image information and printing operation control information for controlling a printing operation, and can perform processing suitable for the information. vending machine. 3. The communication control means is divided into two communication control means, a master communication control means connected to the total control means and a slave communication control means connected to the printing means. Item 1. An information processing vending machine according to item 1 or 2. 4. The information processing vending machine according to claim 1, wherein said storage means is connected to a slave communication control means of said communication control means.