JP2003316529A - Information processor, print controller, print system, data processing method, computer readable storage medium and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically realize the transition of a printer whose print processing is temporarily stopped to a printer whose print processing can be started adaptively to processing to resume the transfer of the predetermined quantity of print information to the printer while the print processing in the printer is temporarily stopped. <P>SOLUTION: At transferring print information including print data and a control command to a printer 2001, print information to be transferred by a CPU 1002 is compared with printer status information received from the printer, and when it is decided that the print processing should be temporarily stopped, a print stop command is inserted just before the part where the print processing of the print data is temporarily stopped, and the print information is transferred. Then, the transfer of the print information to the printer 2001 is resumed based on the received printer status information while the print processing is temporarily stopped by the printer 2001. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a printer via a predetermined communication medium, a print control apparatus for controlling the printer by communicating with the information processing apparatus, and the information processing apparatus and print control. The present invention relates to a printing system including an apparatus, a data processing method, a computer-readable storage medium, and a program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a host computer has been connected,
In a printer that receives image recording data (print data) transferred from the host computer and prints an image according to the image recording data, generally, an interface for receiving the print data and the control command transferred from the host computer is simultaneously provided. Only one can be used.

Since print data and control commands transferred from the host computer efficiently perform communication processing,
The data is once stored in a reception buffer secured in the memory on the printer side, sequentially extracted from there, analyzed, and processing such as printing is performed according to the contents.

All the data received by the printer are processed in the order of arrival. For example, when it is desired to temporarily stop the print processing at any time during the data transfer from the host computer, It is possible to suspend the printing process by inserting a command to suspend the printing in the printer and transferring it to the printer. However, when the suspended printing is resumed, a command to resume the printing is sent in the same way. Even if you try to do so, the printer will not process the command to restart printing until all the print data and control commands stored in the reception buffer have been processed before that, so the printing is paused. Other print data between the time the command is sent and the time the command to restart printing is sent. If etc. sent the may not be able to resume printing at a desired point in time.

Therefore, when it is desired to temporarily stop the printing process, it is common not to send the print data after the portion to be stopped to the printer.

Conventionally, a printer has an interface capable of bidirectionally communicating printer status information such as the type of print head mounted in the printer body, the type of ink, and the size of paper in response to a request from a host computer. Some have the function of returning to the host computer through.

For example, when the color print head of the printer body is mounted, the color print head mounting information is set, and when A4 size paper is set, A4 size paper is set. It operates so as to return the information indicating that it is in accordance with the predetermined format data.

For such a printer as described above, a data transfer control program for detecting the printer configuration on the host computer and controlling the data transfer in accordance with the printer configuration and the content of the data to be printed is a host computer. It is provided as a part of the function of the printer driver that operates on the computer, and automatically detects the incompatibility between the printer configuration and the data to be printed, temporarily stops the transfer of the incompatible data to the printer, In some cases, it is possible to restart the transfer after the non-conformance state is resolved, and to avoid printing while the non-conformance state remains.

A printer for printing data transferred from a host computer is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-161.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 481, the printer detects an incompatibility between the print data and the printer configuration, and if there is an incompatibility, printing is not performed even if a print start instruction is given, and printing not intended by the user. Have been proposed that can avoid that.

Further, as a device for controlling data transfer to a printer, as disclosed in JP-A-11-353130, printer configuration information is acquired from the printer,
If the configuration information is incompatible with the print data to be transferred to the printer, it is possible to suspend transfer of the incompatible print data and avoid printing that is not intended by the user.

[0011]

However, the above-mentioned data transfer control program and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-353130 have been proposed.
In the method disclosed in the publication, when the configuration of the printer and the content of the data to be printed are incompatible, the data transfer itself is stopped or held for control, so the printer does not wait until the incompatible state is resolved. No processing related to printing is performed, and after the nonconformity is resolved, the series of processing required for printing must be performed for the first time, such as receiving data, analyzing the received data, and expanding compressed data. There was a problem that was bad.

Further, in the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-161481, the decision as to whether or not to suspend printing is made on the printer side after the print data has been transferred, so printing is performed only based on the factors on the host computer side. There was a problem that it could not be dealt with if you wanted to suspend the processing.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and a first object of the present invention is to transfer print information including print data and control commands to a printer. Immediately before the point at which the print processing of the print data is temporarily stopped when it is determined that the print processing at the printer is to be suspended by comparing the print information to be performed with the printer status information received from the printer. After the print stop command is inserted to transfer the print information to the printer,
Based on the received printer status information, by restarting the transfer of an appropriate amount of print information so that the printer resumes the paused print process, the printer is notified while the print process is paused. An information processing device and a printing device capable of efficiently performing a series of print controls for adapting to the process of resuming the transfer of a fixed amount of print information and automatically shifting the printer in the suspended state to a state where the print process can be started at an optimum timing. A system, a data processing method, a computer-readable storage medium, and a printer are provided.

A second object is to receive the print information including the print data and the control command sent from the information processing device, temporarily store the print information in the receive buffer, and then print the print information from the receive buffer. If the print information obtained by sequentially extracting and analyzing the contents is the print stop command, the print processing corresponding to the print data to be analyzed after the print stop command is temporarily stopped, and the print processing is temporarily stopped. When the usage rate of the reception buffer reaches a specified usage rate according to the print information transferred from the information processing apparatus, the print processing is stopped from the information processing apparatus side by canceling the suspension state of the printing process. Suspend the print processing status stopped by the command by catching the change in the print information transferred from the information processing device to the receive buffer Series of print control for optionally printing processing resumes efficiently perform print control apparatus and and printing system and a data processing method and a computer to provide a storage medium and a printer can read.

[0015]

A first aspect of the present invention is an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a printer via a predetermined communication medium, and requests and receives printer status information from the printer. Status receiving means (corresponding to the data input / output controller 1006 shown in FIG. 1) and the print information to be transferred and the printer received from the printer when the print information including the print data and the control command is transferred to the printer. A determination unit (corresponding to the CPU 1002 shown in FIG. 1) that determines whether or not the printing process in the printer is to be suspended by comparing with the status information, and a state in which the printing process is to be suspended by the determination unit. If it is determined that there is a command, a command insertion command that inserts a print stop command immediately before the point at which the print processing of the print data is temporarily stopped. Means (corresponding to the CPU 1002 shown in FIG. 1), and data / command transfer means (corresponding to the data input / output controller 1006 shown in FIG. 1) for transferring control commands including print data and the print stop command to the printer. The data / command transfer means includes an appropriate amount for canceling the temporary stop state of the printing process by the printer based on the received printer status information while the printer is temporarily stopping the printing process. It is characterized by restarting the transfer of print information.

A second invention according to the present invention is a print restart judging means for judging whether or not to restart printing when the printer is in a print stop state based on the printer status information received by the status receiving means. (Corresponding to the CPU 1002 shown in FIG. 1), when the data / command transfer unit determines to restart the print process by the print restart determination unit, the data / command transfer unit receives the print process while the print process is suspended. The transfer of print information to the printer is restarted so that the usage rate of the reception buffer reaches a specified usage rate based on the information of the free space of the reception buffer secured in the printer included in the printer status information. If it is determined that the printing process is not restarted, the reception buffer is Based on the information of the free space of, characterized by resuming the transfer of the print information to the printer to utilization of the receive buffer does not reach the utilization of specified.

A third invention according to the present invention is a print control apparatus capable of processing print information by communicating with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, wherein print data sent from the information processing apparatus and Receiving means for receiving print information including a control command (data input / output controller 2 shown in FIG. 1)
002), a reception buffer (corresponding to the work memory 2006 shown in FIG. 1) for temporarily storing the print information received by the receiving unit, and an analysis for sequentially extracting the print information from the reception buffer and analyzing the contents. And the print information analyzed by the analyzing means is a print stop command, the print stop means for temporarily stopping the print processing corresponding to the print data analyzed after the print stop command (in the CPU 2003 shown in FIG. 1). If the usage rate of the reception buffer reaches a specified usage rate according to the print information transferred from the information processing device while the print processing is temporarily stopped by the print stop means, A print stop canceling means (FIG. 1) for canceling the suspended processing state.
(Corresponding to the CPU 2003 shown in 1)).

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in response to a request from the information processing device, the printer status information including at least information of the free space of the reception buffer and information indicating whether or not printing is stopped is provided as the information. It is characterized by including a status transmission unit (corresponding to the data input / output controller 2002 shown in FIG. 1) for transmitting to the processing device.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the print stop means changes the capacity of the reception buffer when printing is stopped, and the print stop releasing means changes the capacity of the reception buffer when releasing the print stop. Is restored to the capacity before the change.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is a printing system in which an information processing apparatus and a print control apparatus that controls a printer communicate with each other via a predetermined communication medium to perform a printing process. Is a status receiving means for requesting and receiving printer status information from the printer (corresponding to the data input / output controller 1006 shown in FIG. 1).
And when the print information including the print data and the control command is transferred to the printer, the print information to be transferred is compared with the printer status information received from the printer to suspend the print processing in the printer. Judging means (CPU 10 shown in FIG. 1 for judging whether or not it should be
(Corresponding to 02) and a command insertion means for inserting a print stop command immediately before a position where the print processing of the print data is temporarily stopped when the determination means determines that the print processing should be suspended. CPU1 shown in FIG.
002) and a data / command transfer unit (corresponding to the data input / output controller 1006 shown in FIG. 1) that transfers the print data and the control command including the print stop command to the printer. The apparatus is a receiving unit (corresponding to the data input / output controller 2002 shown in FIG. 1) that receives print information including print data and control commands sent from the information processing apparatus.
And a receiving buffer (work memory 2006 shown in FIG. 1 for temporarily storing the print information received by the receiving means).
And an analyzing unit that sequentially extracts print information from the reception buffer and analyzes the contents, and if the print information analyzed by the analyzing unit is a print stop command,
A print stopping means (C shown in FIG. 1) for temporarily stopping the print processing corresponding to the print data analyzed after the print stop command.
(Equivalent to PU2003), and when the usage rate of the reception buffer reaches a specified usage rate in accordance with the print information transferred from the information processing device in a state where the print processing is temporarily stopped by the print stop means. , A print stop canceling means for canceling the temporary stop state of the print processing (the CPU 2 shown in FIG. 1
(Equivalent to 003) and the data / command transfer unit restarts the transfer of the print information to the printer based on the received printer status information while the printer is in the process of temporarily stopping the print processing. Then, the print stop means changes the capacity of the reception buffer when stopping the printing, and the print stop canceling means of the printer returns the capacity of the reception buffer to the capacity before the change when canceling the print stop. It is characterized by

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the information processing apparatus determines whether or not to restart printing when the printer is in a print stop state according to the printer status information received by the status receiving means. A print restart determination unit (corresponding to the CPU 2003 shown in FIG. 1) for making a determination is provided, and when the data / command transfer unit determines to restart the print process by the print restart determination unit, the printer temporarily suspends the print process. During the stop state, the printer is controlled so that the usage rate of the reception buffer reaches a specified usage rate based on the information on the free space of the reception buffer secured in the printer included in the received printer status information. If the printer resumes the transfer of print information and decides not to restart the print process, the printer suspends the print process. During, based on information of the free space of the receiving buffer, characterized in that the utilization of the receive buffer to resume transfer of the print information to the printer so as not reach the utilization of specified.

An eighth invention according to the present invention is a data processing method in an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a printer via a predetermined communication medium, the status receiving requesting and receiving printer status information from the printer. Compare the step (step S4 shown in FIG. 2) with the print information to be transferred and the printer status information received from the printer when the print information including the print data and the control command is transferred to the printer. When a judgment step (step S6 shown in FIG. 2) for judging whether or not the printing process in the printer is to be temporarily stopped and the judgment is made that the printing process is to be temporarily stopped, A command insertion step (Fig. 2) for inserting a print stop command immediately before the position where print processing of print data is temporarily stopped. And a data / command transfer step (steps S15 and S16 shown in FIG. 2) for transferring a print data and a control command including the print stop command to the printer. While the printer is suspending the print processing, the printer resumes the transfer of an appropriate amount of print information based on the received printer status information in order to cancel the print processing suspended state. And

A ninth invention according to the present invention is a print resumption judgment step for judging whether or not to restart printing when the printer is in a print stop state based on the printer status information received in the status reception step. (Step S11 shown in FIG. 2), the data / command transfer step (step S12 or S13 shown in FIG. 2) causes the printer to perform the print processing when the print restart determination step determines to restart the print processing. During the suspension state, the printer is controlled so that the usage rate of the reception buffer reaches a specified usage rate based on the information on the free space of the reception buffer secured in the printer included in the received printer status information. If it is determined that the print information transfer will be restarted and the print processing will not be restarted, While the printing process is suspended, the printer resumes the transfer of the print information to the printer based on the information of the free capacity of the reception buffer so that the usage rate of the reception buffer does not reach the specified usage rate. It is characterized by

A tenth aspect of the present invention is a data processing method in a print control device capable of processing print information by communicating with an information processing device via a predetermined communication medium, the method comprising: Receiving step (step S23 shown in FIG. 3) for receiving the print information including the print data and the control command, and a storing step (step shown in FIG. 3) for temporarily storing the print information received by the receiving step in the receiving buffer. S23), an analysis step (step S39 shown in FIG. 4) of sequentially extracting the print information from the reception buffer and analyzing the contents, and if the print information analyzed by the analysis step is a print stop command, the print A print stop step (step shown in FIG. 4) for temporarily stopping the print processing corresponding to the print data analyzed after the stop command. If the usage rate of the reception buffer reaches a specified usage rate in accordance with the print information transferred from the information processing device in the state where the printing process is temporarily stopped by the printing stop step, The present invention is characterized by having a print stop canceling step (steps S36 and S37 shown in FIG. 4) for canceling the temporary stop state of the printing process.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in response to a request from the information processing apparatus, the printer status information including at least information about the free space in the reception buffer and information indicating whether or not printing is stopped is provided as the information. It is characterized by comprising a status transmission step of transmitting to the processing device.

In a twelfth aspect of the present invention, the printing stop step changes the capacity of the reception buffer when printing is stopped, and the print stop releasing step changes the capacity of the reception buffer when releasing printing. The feature is that the capacity is returned to the capacity before the change.

The thirteenth invention of the present invention is the eighth to first inventions.
It is a storage medium storing a program for realizing the data processing method according to any one of the second aspect of the invention.

The fourteenth invention according to the present invention is the eighth to first inventions.
It is a program for realizing the data processing method according to any one of the second aspect of the invention.

[0029]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a printing system to which an information processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1001 denotes a host computer in the system of the present embodiment, which controls printer data in the same hard disk for data containing mixed characters, figures, and images generated by application programs in the hard disk described later. The program is converted into print data and an image is output to the printer 2001 through the data transfer control program.

A CPU 1002 controls the host computer main body 1100. A RAM 1003 is used to load a program that operates in the host computer 1001 or to be used as a work memory while the program is operating.

A hard disk 1004 stores various programs such as an operating system and application programs, a printer control program and a data transfer control program, and data necessary for each program to operate.

A hard disk controller 1005 reads and writes data and programs on the hard disk 1004. A data input / output controller 1006 transfers commands and data for the printer generated by the printer control program described above to the printer side, and conversely receives data sent from the printer side and temporarily holds the data. However, the printer 2 is connected to the printer 2001 by a bidirectional data communication interface.
Data is transmitted to and received from 001.

A ROM 1007 stores programs and data for various basic operations such as executing various programs on the host computer 1001 and controlling various controllers.

A keyboard controller 1008 is a keyboard 10 connected to the host computer 1001.
Controls key input from 10. A CRT controller 1009 controls display on the CRT 1011 for display.

Reference numeral 2001 denotes a printer in the system of this embodiment described above, and the host computer 10
01 to receive print data and record an image on a recording sheet. Further, the host computer 10
The printer status data of the printer 2001 is transmitted to 01.

In the printer 2001, a data input / output controller 2002 receives print data transferred from the host computer 1001 to the printer 2001, and transfers information from the printer side to the host computer 1001. .

Reference numeral 2003 denotes a CPU, which controls the printer body. Reference numeral 2004 denotes a program ROM that stores a program for performing a series of printer operations such as outputting print data received from the host computer 1001.

A frame memory 2005 holds an image pattern generated by the program in the program ROM 2004. Reference numeral 2006 denotes a work memory, which is used in various processes of image recording such as image data drawing process and communication process with the host computer 1001.

An image recording unit 2007 capable of color recording records the image pattern held in the frame memory 2005 on a sheet.

In the printer 2001, the printer status information is sent to the host computer (information processing device) 10.
The function to send to 01 is supported, and when there is a request to send status information from the host computer,
The type of print head installed in the printer, the size of the paper set in the printer, whether the printer holds printing, the free space in the printer's receive buffer (which is secured in the work memory 2006), etc. It sends information to the host computer.

The data input / output controller 1006 in FIG. 1 constitutes a data / command transmitting means for transmitting print data and control commands to the printer 2001, and a status for acquiring printer status information from the printer 2001. Configure the receiving means,
The CPU 1002 constitutes a judgment means for judging whether or not the printing process of the printer 2001 should be temporarily stopped.

The CPU 1002 is the printer 200.
When the print processing in No. 1 is temporarily stopped, a command insertion unit for inserting the print stop command is provided immediately before a position where the print processing of the print data is temporarily stopped, and
A print restart determination unit that determines whether to restart printing on the printer 2001 is configured.

Further, the data input / output controller 2002 shown in FIG. 1 constitutes a receiving means for receiving print data and control commands transferred from the host computer 1001, and also the host computer 10
A status transmission unit for transmitting printer status information to 01 is configured.

The work memory 2006 is used for the data input / output controller 20 from the host computer 1001.
A reception buffer for temporarily storing the print data and the control command received via 02 up to a predetermined maximum amount is configured.

Further, the CPU 2003 constitutes an analyzing means for sequentially extracting the print data and the control command from the reception buffer and analyzing the contents, and when the analyzed result is a print stop command, the print stop command is issued. A print stop means for temporarily stopping the print processing corresponding to print data to be analyzed thereafter is configured, and the usage rate of the reception buffer reaches a specified usage rate while the print processing is temporarily stopped by the print stop means. In this case, a print stop canceling means for canceling the temporary stop state of the print processing is configured.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing an example of the first data processing procedure in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention. The processing of the data transfer control program for controlling the data transfer processing of the host computer 1001 shown in FIG. Corresponding to the procedure. Note that S1 to S18 indicate each step.

In the print processing on the host computer, data such as a document or an image generally created by an application program is converted into print data by a printer control program called a printer driver, and this print data is provided by the operating system. The print spooler spools.

The print spooler also activates a data transfer control program to instruct to transfer print data to the printer. The data transfer control program obtains information about the printer configuration (print head type, set paper size, etc.) from the printer, and at the same time analyzes the print data instructed by the print spooler to transfer the contents. When there is no problem, print data is transferred to the printer, and when there is a problem, the user's instruction is obtained. The operations of the printer control program (printer driver) and the print spooler are not directly related to this embodiment, and therefore their explanations are omitted.

The data transfer control program, when loaded and called on the RAM 1003 by the print spooler, first performs initialization processing (S1). here,
Secures the memory area used by the program and initializes variables.

Next, the instruction from the print spooler is received (S2). The print spooler instructs the data transfer program to perform either data transfer or job end processing by calling various functions exported by the data transfer program.

Next, it is determined whether or not the instruction from the print spooler is an instruction to end the job (S3), and if it is determined that the instruction is to end the job, the data transfer control program ends the processing.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S3 that the instruction is not the end of the job, the process proceeds to step S4.
Printer status information is acquired from the printer 2001. The printer status information includes the printer 200
1 includes information on the type of print head mounted on the printer 1 and the size of the set paper.

If the instruction from the print spooler received in step S2 is not job end, the instruction is data transfer to the printer 2001. Since this instruction indicates the memory address of the print data to be transferred to the printer 2001, this print data is acquired and its contents are analyzed in step S5.

Then, as a result of the data analysis, the printer 20
It is judged whether or not the head of one or more pages is included in the data instructed to be transferred to 01 (S
6) If the head of one or more pages is included and the type of print head or the size of paper suitable for printing any one of the pages does not match the one obtained in step S4, then in step S5 It is determined that the analyzed data includes a page that does not match the current configuration of the printer 2001, and the process immediately proceeds to step S7.

On the other hand, in step S6, the print head and the paper size are all set in step S4 for all pages.
If it is determined that the data matches the one acquired in step 1 (determined that normal printing is possible), it is determined that all the data analyzed in step S5 are suitable for the current configuration of the printer 2001, and the process proceeds to step S8.

Then, step S7 is a process when it is determined in step S6 that the data of the page that does not conform to the current configuration of the printer 2001 is included. "Print stop command" at the top of the page transferred to the printer
Is inserted, and the process proceeds to step S8.

If the print data analyzed in step S5 further includes the top portion of the page after the page in which the "print stop command" is inserted at the beginning in step S7, the print stop command is issued in step S7. When the user replaces the print head or the paper to eliminate the incompatibility of the inserted page, this may cause a new incompatibility in the subsequent pages.

In order to avoid this problem, in the data transfer process to the printer 2001 performed in step S8 and subsequent steps, up to the end of the page in which the "print stop command" is inserted at the head of the page in step S7 is transferred to the printer 2001. When the processing is finished, the processing is once returned to the print spooler (the processing from step S2 is repeated).

On the other hand, in step S8, it is determined whether the "print stop command" has already been transmitted to the printer 2001. The transmitted state here is a state in which a "print stop command" has been transmitted to the printer 2001, and the inconsistency between the printer configuration and the print data that caused the transmission of the "print stop command" has been resolved. Say no state. If it is determined that the data has been transmitted, the process proceeds to step S9. If it is determined that the data has not been transmitted,
It proceeds to step S15.

Then, in step S9, the printer 20
The status information is acquired from 01. The status information includes information on the configuration of the printer 2001 (type of mounted head and size of set paper) and free space of the receiving buffer of the printer 2001.

Next, in step S10, data to be transmitted to the printer 2001 in the next data transfer process is set. That is, in the print data obtained from the print spooler and subjected to the series of analysis and command addition processing in steps S5 to S7, the data up to immediately before the next “print stop command” appears is printed by the printer 200.
Set as a target to be transferred to 1. If the “print stop command” is not included, the entire data acquired from the print spooler is set as the target to be transferred to the printer 2001.

This process is to avoid sending another "print stop command" when the "print stop command" has already been sent to the printer 2001.

Next, in step S11, step S9
By referring to the status information of the printer 2001 acquired in step 1, it is determined whether or not the incompatibility between the print data and the printer configuration, which caused the addition of the “print stop command” already transmitted to the printer 2001, has been resolved. If it is determined that it has been resolved, the process proceeds to step S17, and if it is determined that it has not been resolved, step S13.
Proceed to.

Then, in step S17, the printer 2
The status information is acquired from 001, and the process proceeds to step S18. It is assumed that this status information includes information indicating whether or not the printer has stopped printing.

Next, in step S18, step S1
Printer 200 based on the status information acquired in 7.
If 1 determines whether printing is stopped, and if it is determined that printing is stopped, the "print stop command" already sent
Is interpreted by the printer 2001 and indicates that the printing is stopped. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S12 to restart the stopped printing.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S18 that the printing is not stopped, the transmitted "print stop command"
Indicates that it has not yet been interpreted by the printer 2001.

In this case, after the "print stop command" is interpreted and it is confirmed that the printer 2001 is once in the print stop state, data transfer for canceling the print stop must be performed.

Therefore, the process from step S17 is repeated until the printing is stopped and the printing is stopped.

Then, in step S12, step S
The print data to be transmitted to the printer 2001 set in step 10 is transmitted to the printer 2001. At this time, if the size of the set print data is equal to or larger than the free space of the reception buffer of the printer 2001 acquired in step S9, the set print data is processed to be transmitted to the printer 2001 as it is. , The printer 2 whose set print data size is obtained in step S9
If it is smaller than the free space of the receiving buffer of 001,
After the set print data, dummy data (NULL
Column) is added to transmit the entire data so that the reception buffer of the printer 2001 can be filled.

Further, in step S13, step S1
The print data set to 0 and to be transmitted to the printer 2001 is transmitted to the printer 2001. At this time, if the size of the set print data is equal to or larger than the free space of the reception buffer of the printer 2001 acquired in step S9, only the print data up to where the reception buffer is not filled is transmitted, The receive buffer of 2001 is not filled.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S8 that the "print stop command" has not been transmitted to the printer 2001, the process proceeds to step S15, in which the data to be transmitted to the printer 2001 is transmitted in the next data transfer process. Set.

That is, it is obtained from the print spooler,
In the print data that has undergone the series of analysis and command addition processing in steps S5 to S7, the data up to the next “print stop command” that appears next is printed by the printer 2001.
To be transferred to. If the print stop command is not included, the entire data acquired from the print spooler is set as the target to be transferred to the printer 2001.

Then, in step S16, step S
The print data set as data to be transmitted to the printer 2001 in 15 is transferred to the printer 2001,
It proceeds to step S14.

In step S14, it is determined whether all the print data acquired from the print spooler and subjected to the series of analysis and command addition processing in steps S5 to S7 have been transferred to the printer 2001.
If it is determined that all the data has been transferred to the printer 2001, the process proceeds to step S2 to receive a new instruction from the print spooler.

At this time, in response to the previous data transfer instruction, the print spooler returns information on the number of bytes of the print data that has already been transferred. When this number of bytes is smaller than the capacity of the data instructed to be transferred by the print spooler, the print spooler is instructed to transfer again from the continuation of the data which has been transferred.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S14 that the transfer has not been completed yet, the process proceeds to step S8, and the transfer process of the print data that has already been instructed to transfer to the printer is continued.

As already described in step S7, in the print data instructed to be transferred by the print spooler, another page is inserted after the page in which the "print stop command" is inserted at the head of the page in step S7. If the top of the page is included, after the transfer up to the end of the page in which the "print stop command" is inserted at the top of the page is completed in step S7, the process is temporarily returned to the print spooler.

That is, at the time of determination in step S14, the printer 2001 to the end of the page in which the "print stop command" is inserted at the top of the page in step S7
If the transfer has been completed, the print spooler is notified that only the number of bytes up to that point has been transferred, and the process proceeds to step S2.

If it is determined in step S3 that the print spooler has notified the end of the print job, the data transfer process ends.

Next, the processing operations of the data reception process, the reception buffer monitoring process, and the image recording process of the printer 2001 will be described using the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing an example of the first data processing procedure in the printer control apparatus according to the present invention, which corresponds to the data reception processing procedure of the printer 2001. The data receiving process is started when the printer body is started, and is ended when the printer body is finished. Also,
S21 to S25 indicate each step.

When the data receiving process is activated, first, an initialization process is performed (S21). Here, a memory area such as a reception buffer used in the process is secured and variables are initialized.

When the initialization process is completed in this way, it is judged whether or not there is a data reception request from the data input / output controller 1006 of the host computer 1001 to the data input / output controller 2002 of the printer 2001 (S22), and the reception request is issued. If it is determined that there is such a request, a series of processes related to data reception is performed in step S23, and if it is determined that there is no reception request, the process proceeds to step S24.

Then, in step S23, the receiving process of the data requested to be received is performed. Specifically, first, it is confirmed whether or not there is a free space in the reception buffer. If there is a space, 1 byte is received and stored in the reception buffer, and the host computer 1001 is notified that 1 byte has been received.
The process proceeds to step S24. If there is no free space in the reception buffer, the host computer 1001 is notified that the reception buffer is full without receiving data.

Next, in the termination process of the printer 2001, it is determined whether or not a termination request is made for the data reception process (S24). If it is determined that there is a termination request, the process proceeds to step S25, If it is determined that there is no end request, the process proceeds to step S22 in order to confirm whether or not there is a new data reception request, and the processes of steps S22 to S24 are repeatedly executed until there is an end request. Then, in step S25, an ending process of the data receiving process is performed. Here, the memory area secured for the data reception process is released, and the process is terminated.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the second data processing procedure in the printer control apparatus according to the present invention, which corresponds to the monitoring processing procedure for the reception buffer of the printer 2001. In addition, S31 to S42 indicate each step.

First, when the monitoring process for the reception buffer is activated, an initialization process is performed (S31). here,
Secures the memory area used by the process and initializes variables.

Next, in the termination process of the printer 2001, it is determined whether or not a termination request has been issued to the monitoring process for the reception buffer (S32). If it is determined that there is a termination request, the process proceeds to step S33. If it is determined that there is no end request, the process proceeds to step S34 to process the data stored in the reception buffer.

Then, in step S33, a process of ending the monitoring process for the reception buffer is performed. Here, the memory area reserved for the monitoring process for the reception buffer is released, and the process ends.

On the other hand, in step S34, the reception buffer is accessed to determine whether there is data to be processed,
If it is determined that there is data, go to step S35,
When it is determined that there is no data, the processing from step S32 is repeated, and waits for new data to be stored in the reception buffer.

Then, in step S35, the printer 2
The image recording unit 2007 in the frame memory 2005 of 001
In step 1, one or a plurality of image data for image recording are stored, and it is determined whether the status of the image data stored first to be image-recorded is "print stop". It should be noted that this status is always set to "continue printing" except when it is set to "stop printing" in step S41 described later.

Here, when the status of the image data stored for the earliest image recording is "print stop", it means that the printer is not performing the printing process.

If it is determined in step S35 that the printing is stopped, the process proceeds to step S36, and if it is determined that the printing is not stopped, the process proceeds to step S38.

Then, step S36 is a process during printing stop. In this process, the free space of the reception buffer provided on the work memory 2006 is confirmed, and it is determined whether or not the free space satisfies the condition for canceling the print stop.

In this embodiment, if there is no free space in the reception buffer (reception buffer full), it is judged that the condition for canceling the print stop is satisfied. If it is determined that the condition for canceling the print stop is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S37, and if it is determined that the condition is not satisfied, the process proceeds to step S38.

Then, in step S37, the printer 2
The image recording unit 2007 in the frame memory 2005 of 001
Of the image data recorded as the image data for recording the image, the status of the image data stored for the earliest image recording is changed to "continue printing" and the printing is started. Then, the process proceeds to step S38.

Note that after step S38, the printer 2
This is a part that performs processing such as acquiring a command from the reception buffer provided on the work memory 2006 of 001 and recording image data in the frame memory 2005 according to the content thereof.

In step S38, the data for one command is acquired from the reception buffer, and the data is always acquired in command units from the reception buffer. Therefore, the head of the reception buffer is always the head of the command. It has become.

Each command includes data indicating the byte length of the entire command, and the data for one command is acquired based on this byte length data. Data for one command is acquired from the reception buffer, the start address of the reception buffer is moved to the start of the next command, and then the process proceeds to step S39.

Further, in step S39, step S3
The contents of the command acquired in 8 are analyzed. Then, in step S40, it is determined whether or not the result analyzed in step S39 is a print stop command. If the result is a print stop command, the process proceeds to step S41. If it is not the print stop command, the process proceeds to step S42. Proceed.

Then, in step S41, step S
This is the process when the analyzed command is the print stop command as a result of the determination in 40, and the print stop command is always added to the top of the page. In this case, the process at the top of the page is performed. It can be seen that it is.

Therefore, a process of creating image data of a new page in the frame memory 2005 is performed, and the status of this image data is set to "print stop". Then, the process proceeds to step S32.

On the other hand, in step S42, step S4
This is the processing when the analyzed command is not the print stop command as a result of the determination of 0. Here, a process of forming image data on the frame memory 2005 is performed according to the content of the analyzed command.

If the print data has no print stop command added to the beginning of the page, this step S4
In step 2, a process of creating image data of a new page in the frame memory 2005 is performed. In this case, the status of this image data is "printing continues", and printing is performed without stopping. Then, after the process of step S42, the process proceeds to step S32.

The reception buffer monitoring process is performed in step S32.
From the printer 2001 to the step S42,
Repeatedly until the end request from is performed, the print data recorded in the receive buffer is converted into image data, and the image data in the "print stop" status is printed according to the free space in the receive buffer. It is designed to start processing.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an example of a third data processing procedure in the printer control apparatus according to the present invention, which is the frame memory 2005 of the printer 2001.
Corresponds to the processing procedure for transferring the image data of (1) to the image recording device and printing it. Note that S51 to S56 indicate each step.

When the image recording process is started, the initialization process is first performed (S51). Here, a memory area required for processing is secured and variables are initialized.

Next, in step S52, it is determined whether or not there is a request to end the image recording process. If there is an end request, the process is terminated. If it is determined that there is no end request, the process proceeds to step S53. Proceed.

Then, in step S53, it is determined whether the image data is recorded in the frame memory 2005. If it is determined that the image data is recorded, the process proceeds to step S54, and the image data is recorded. If it is determined that the image data is not present, the process returns to step S52, and the same processing is repeated until the image data is recorded in the frame memory 2005.

In step S54, the image data to be printed earliest among the image data recorded in the frame memory 2005 is referred to, and it is determined whether the status is "print stop". If it is determined that "printing is stopped", the process returns to step S52, and the same processing is repeated until the status changes to "continue printing".

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S54 that the status is not "print stop", step S55
Proceed to.

Then, in step S55, the image data to be printed earliest is acquired from the frame memory 2005. Next, the image data acquired in step S55 is transferred to the image recording unit for image recording (S5).
6).

When the image recording of the image data for one page acquired in step S55 is completed, step S5
Then, the processing is moved to 2 and the image recording processing of the next image data is performed.

The image recording unit 2007 is designed so that the print head and the paper can be replaced when the printing is not being performed, and the user can print the print that caused the print stop during the print stop. Operations can be performed to resolve incompatibilities between data and printer configuration.

The host computer 10 executes the above series of processing.
By performing the data transfer processing in 01 and the print processing in the printer 2001, when the incompatibility between the print data and the printer configuration occurs, the data transfer is not stopped on the host computer side, but the incompatible data is also printed by the printer. It is possible to stop the printing after transferring the data to the side and performing the processing up to the conversion into the image data on the frame memory in advance, and it is possible to improve the efficiency of a series of printing processing when the nonconformity occurs. Works like.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a fourth data processing procedure in the printer control apparatus according to the present invention. Correspond. Note that S61 to S68 indicate each step. In addition, S61
Since the processes from S63 to S63 are the same as the processes described in the first embodiment, detailed description will be omitted.

First, in step S64, of the image data recorded in the frame memory 2005, the image data to be printed earliest is referred to, and it is determined whether the status is "print stop". When it is determined that "printing is stopped", the process proceeds to step S65, and when it is determined that the status is not "printing stopped", the process proceeds to step S67.

Then, in step S65, the printer 2
It is determined whether the size of the reception buffer 001 is the normal size set immediately after the printer 2001 is started. If it is determined that the size of the reception buffer is the normal size, the process proceeds to step S66 and the reception buffer If it is determined that the size is not the normal size, the process returns to step S62 and the series of processes described above is repeated.

Then, in step S66, the printer 2
The size of the reception buffer 001 is changed to a size smaller than the normal size set immediately after the printer 2001 is started. This is because the size of the receive buffer is reduced while printing is stopped, and the amount of data that fills the receive buffer to release the print stopped state is reduced. Processing.

Then, in step S67, the image data to be printed earliest is acquired from the frame memory 2005. Next, the image data acquired in step S67 is transferred to the image recording unit for image recording (S6).
8).

When the image recording of the image data for one page acquired in step S67 is completed, step S6
Then, the processing is moved to 2 and the image recording processing of the next image data is performed.

In step S66, when the size of the receiving buffer is to be changed, if the data is stored in the receiving buffer and the size cannot be changed to the predetermined changed size, the size is changed. Is not performed, and when the process of step S66 is performed next, the operation of changing is performed again.

The host computer 10 executes the above series of processing.
By performing the data transfer processing in 01 and the print processing in the printer 2001, when the incompatibility between the print data and the printer configuration occurs, the data transfer is not stopped on the host computer side, but the incompatible data is also printed by the printer. It is possible to stop the printing after transferring the data to the side and performing the processing up to the conversion into the image data on the frame memory in advance, and it is possible to improve the efficiency of a series of printing processing when the nonconformity occurs. Works like.

According to the above embodiment, the print data and the control command transmitted from the host computer are received, the print data and the control command are temporarily stored in the receive buffer, and the print data and the control command are sequentially taken out from the receive buffer and analyzed. , If the analyzed result is a print stop command, the print processing corresponding to the print data to be analyzed after that is paused, and the usage rate of the receive buffer is the specified usage rate while the print processing is paused. If the host computer knows in advance that you want to suspend the printing process, the printer will stop the data transfer and advance the image data generation process without stopping the data transfer. Therefore, there is an effect that it is possible to provide a printing system capable of efficiently performing printing processing.

When transferring data to the printer, the host computer determines whether to suspend the print processing of the data to be transferred in the printer, and determines that the print processing should be suspended. If a situation in which the user wants to suspend print processing is known in advance by inserting a print stop command immediately before the point where print processing of print data is suspended and sending it to the printer, Therefore, there is an effect that the image data generation process in the printer can be advanced in advance without stopping the data transfer, and a printing system can be constructed so that the printing process can be efficiently performed.

Further, in response to a request from the host computer, the printer sends printer status information including at least information indicating the free space in the reception buffer and whether printing is stopped, and the host computer requests the printer. Then, the printer status information is acquired, and if the printer is stopped printing, it is determined whether to restart the printing. If it is determined that the printing is restarted, the free space of the receiving buffer included in the printer status information is determined. Based on the information, the print information is transferred to the printer so that the receive buffer usage rate reaches the specified usage rate, and if it is determined not to resume printing, the free space of the receive buffer included in the printer status information Based on the information, the receive buffer usage should not reach the specified usage rate. Since the print information is transferred to the printer, even if the situation in which the user wants to suspend the print process is known in advance by the host computer side, the image data generation process in the printer is advanced without stopping the data transfer. Therefore, there is an effect that it is possible to construct a printing system that enables efficient printing processing.

Further, in response to a request from the host computer, the printer transmits printer status information including at least information on the free space in the reception buffer to the host computer, and the host computer requests the printer to send the printer status information. If information is acquired, and if a print stop command is sent to the printer, it is determined whether to restart printing. If it is determined that printing should be restarted, the information on the free space in the receive buffer included in the printer status information is displayed. Based on this, the print information is transferred to the printer so that the usage rate of the reception buffer reaches the specified usage rate, and when it is determined not to resume printing, the free space information of the reception buffer included in the printer status information is used. Based on before the usage of the receive buffer does not reach the specified usage rate Since the print information is transferred to the printer, even if the situation in which you want to suspend the print process is known in advance from the host computer side, you can advance the image data generation process in the printer without stopping the data transfer. Therefore, there is an effect that it is possible to construct a printing system that enables efficient printing processing.

Further, since the capacity of the receiving buffer of the printer is changed when the printing is stopped and the capacity of the receiving buffer of the printer is restored when the printing is stopped, the data transfer amount for releasing the printing stopped state is reduced. Thus, there is an effect that the print stop state can be easily released.

The configuration of the data processing program readable by the information processing apparatus and the print control apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the memory maps shown in FIGS.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a memory map of a storage medium which stores various data processing programs readable by the information processing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 8 is read by the print control apparatus according to the present invention. It is a figure explaining the memory map of the storage medium which stores various possible data processing programs.

Although not particularly shown, information for managing the program group stored in the storage medium, such as version information, creator, etc. is also stored, and information depending on the OS or the like on the program reading side, such as the program, is stored. In some cases, an icon or the like for identification and display is also stored.

Further, data subordinate to various programs is also managed in the directory. In addition, a program for installing various programs in a computer, or a program for decompressing the program to be installed when it is compressed may be stored.

The functions shown in FIGS. 2 to 6 in this embodiment may be performed by the host computer by a program installed from the outside. And in that case, CD-ROM, flash memory, FD
The present invention can be applied to a case where an information group including a program is supplied to the output device from a storage medium such as the above or from an external storage medium via a network.

As described above, the storage medium recording the program code of the software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MP of the system or apparatus is supplied.
It goes without saying that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by U) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM,
CD-R, magnetic tape, non-volatile memory card, RO
M, EEPROM or the like can be used.

Further, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by executing the program code read by the computer, but also the OS (operating system) running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code. It goes without saying that this also includes the case where the above) performs a part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

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

[0140]

As described above, the first aspect of the present invention
According to the fourteenth aspect, when the print information including the print data and the control command is transferred to the printer, the print information to be transferred is compared with the printer status information received from the printer, and If it is determined that the print processing of the print data is to be temporarily stopped, the printer temporarily stops the print processing after inserting the print stop command immediately before the position where the print processing of the print data is stopped and transferring the print information. While the printer is stopped, the printer resumes the transfer of an appropriate amount of print information based on the received printer status information so that the printer resumes the suspended print processing. In the meantime, the printer in the paused state prints at the optimal timing by adapting to the process of restarting the transfer of a predetermined amount of print information to the printer A series of print control for automatically migrated sense state capable of starting performed efficiently.

Further, in a state where the print information including the print data and the control command sent from the information processing device is received and the print information is temporarily stored in the receive buffer, the print information is sequentially taken out from the receive buffer and the contents are stored. When the print information obtained by analyzing the print information is a print stop command, the print processing corresponding to the print data analyzed after the print stop command is temporarily stopped, and the information processing is performed while the print processing is temporarily stopped. When the usage rate of the reception buffer reaches the specified usage rate according to the print information transferred from the device, the temporary stop state of the printing process is released, and the printing process is stopped by the print stop command from the information processing device side. The current print processing status was paused by catching the change in print information transferred from the information processing device to the receive buffer. An effect that a series of printing control resuming the printing process performed efficiently.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system to which an information processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a first data processing procedure in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a first data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a second data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a third data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a fourth data processing procedure in the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by the information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1001 host computer 1002 CPU 1003 RAM 1004 hard disk 1006 data input / output controller (host computer) 1007 ROM 1011 CRT 2001 printer 2002 data input / output controller (printer) 2003 printer CPU 2004 program ROM

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a printer via a predetermined communication medium, comprising status receiving means for requesting and receiving printer status information from the printer, and print data and control commands to the printer. When transferring the print information including the print information, the determining means compares the print information to be transferred with the printer status information received from the printer to determine whether or not the print processing in the printer should be temporarily stopped. A command inserting unit that inserts a print stop command immediately before a position where the print process of the print data is temporarily stopped when the determining unit determines that the print process is in a state in which the print process should be temporarily stopped; And command transfer means for transferring print data and control commands including the print stop command. The data / command transfer unit is configured to release an appropriate amount of print information based on printer status information received while the printer is temporarily suspending the print process to cancel the suspend state of the print process by the printer. An information processing device characterized by restarting transfer of data. 2. The data / command transfer further comprises: a print restart judging means for judging whether or not to restart printing when the printer is in a print stop state based on the printer status information received by the status receiving means. If the means determines that the print processing is to be resumed by the print restart determination means, the receiving buffer space reserved for the printer included in the received printer status information while the printer is in the pause state When it is determined that the transfer of print information to the printer is restarted so that the usage rate of the reception buffer reaches a specified usage rate based on the capacity information, and the print processing is not restarted, the printer performs the print processing. During the suspension, the usage rate of the receive buffer is regulated based on the information of the free space of the receive buffer. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein to not reach the utilization, characterized in that to resume the transfer of the print information to the printer. 3. A print control apparatus capable of processing print information by communicating with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, the print information including print data and control commands sent from the information processing apparatus. A receiving unit for temporarily storing the print information received by the receiving unit; an analyzing unit for sequentially extracting the print information from the receiving buffer and analyzing the contents; and a print information analyzed by the analyzing unit. If the command is a print stop command, a print stop unit for temporarily stopping the print process corresponding to the print data analyzed after the print stop command, and a state in which the print process is temporarily stopped by the print stop unit, When the usage rate of the reception buffer reaches the specified usage rate according to the print information transferred from the information processing device, the printing process is temporarily stopped. Print control apparatus characterized by comprising: a print stop canceling means for canceling the state, the. 4. In response to a request from the information processing device,
4. The print control according to claim 3, further comprising a status transmission unit that transmits printer status information including at least information on the free space of the reception buffer and information indicating whether or not printing is stopped to the information processing apparatus. apparatus. 5. The print stop means changes the capacity of the reception buffer when stopping printing, and the print stop canceling means restores the capacity of the reception buffer to the capacity before change when canceling the print stop. The print control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the print control apparatus is a print control apparatus. 6. A printing system in which an information processing apparatus and a print control apparatus that controls a printer communicate with each other via a predetermined communication medium to perform print processing, wherein the information processing apparatus sends printer status information to the printer. A status receiving unit that requests and receives the print information including the print data and the control command, and compares the print information to be transferred with the printer status information received from the printer. Judgment means for judging whether or not the print processing in the printer should be temporarily stopped, and when the judgment means judges that the print processing should be temporarily stopped, the print processing of the print data is temporarily stopped. Command inserting means for inserting a print stop command immediately before the position to be printed, print data for the printer, and the print A data / command transfer unit for transferring a control command including a stop command, wherein the print control device receives the print information including the print data and the control command sent from the information processing device; and the receiving unit. When the print information analyzed by the analyzing unit is a print stop command, a receiving buffer for temporarily storing the print information received by A print stop unit for temporarily stopping the print process corresponding to the print data analyzed after the print stop command; and a print transferred from the information processing device in the state where the print process is temporarily stopped by the print stop unit. When the usage rate of the receive buffer reaches the specified usage rate according to the information, the print processing is suspended. A print stop canceling unit for removing the print information, the data command transfer unit transferring the print information to the printer based on printer status information received while the printer is temporarily stopping the print processing. And the print stop means changes the capacity of the reception buffer when the printing is stopped, and the print stop canceling means of the printer changes the capacity of the reception buffer to the capacity before the change when canceling the print stop. Printing system characterized by returning to. 7. The information processing apparatus comprises a print restart determination means for determining whether or not to restart printing when the printer is in a print stop state based on the printer status information received by the status receiving means. If the data / command transfer unit determines that the printing process is to be resumed by the printing resumption determination unit, the data / command transfer unit secures the printer in the printer status information received while the printing process is suspended. If it is determined that the transfer of print information to the printer is restarted so that the usage rate of the reception buffer reaches a specified usage rate based on the information on the free capacity of the reception buffer, and the printing process is not restarted, , While the printer is in the state of suspending the printing process, the reception is performed based on the information of the free space of the reception buffer. The printing system of claim 6, wherein the utilization of Ffa resumes transfer of the print information to the printer so as not reach the utilization of specified. 8. A data processing method in an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a printer via a predetermined communication medium, comprising a status receiving step of requesting and receiving printer status information from the printer, and print data to the printer. When transferring print information including a control command, the print information to be transferred is compared with the printer status information received from the printer to determine whether the print processing in the printer should be suspended. And a command inserting step of inserting a print stop command immediately before a position where the print processing of the print data is temporarily stopped when it is determined that the print processing is to be temporarily stopped by the determining step, A control command including print data and the print stop command is sent to the printer. And a data command transfer step of transmitting the data command, wherein the data command transfer step is based on printer status information received while the printer is temporarily stopping the printing process. A data processing method characterized by restarting transfer of an appropriate amount of print information in order to cancel a stopped state. 9. A print resumption judgment step for judging whether or not to restart printing when the printer is in the print stop state based on the printer status information received in the status reception step, the data command transfer If the step determines that the print processing is to be resumed by the print restart determination step, the reception buffer space reserved for the printer included in the received printer status information while the printer is in the pause state When it is determined that the transfer of print information to the printer is restarted so that the usage rate of the reception buffer reaches a specified usage rate based on the capacity information, and the print processing is not restarted, the printer performs the print processing. When the reception buffer is in the suspended state, the reception buffer is The data processing method according to claim 8, wherein the utilization of § resumes transfer of the print information to the printer so as not reach the utilization of specified. 10. A data processing method in a print control device capable of processing print information by communicating with an information processing device via a predetermined communication medium, comprising print data and a control command sent from the information processing device. A receiving step of receiving print information; a storing step of temporarily storing the print information received by the receiving step in a receive buffer; an analysis step of sequentially extracting print information from the receive buffer and analyzing the content; When the print information analyzed by the step is the print stop command, the print stop step of temporarily stopping the print processing corresponding to the print data analyzed after the print stop command, and the print processing being temporarily stopped by the print stop step While receiving the print job, the reception bag is transferred according to the print information transferred from the information processing apparatus. If the usage § reached utilization defined, the data processing method characterized by having a print stop release step of releasing the temporary stop state of the printing process. 11. A status for transmitting to the information processing apparatus printer status information including at least information on the free space of the reception buffer and information indicating whether printing is stopped in response to a request from the information processing apparatus. The data processing method according to claim 10, further comprising a transmitting step. 12. The printing stop step changes the capacity of the reception buffer when printing is stopped, and the printing stop cancellation step returns the capacity of the reception buffer to the capacity before the change when canceling printing. The data processing method according to claim 10, wherein: 13. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for implementing the data processing method according to any one of claims 8 to 12. 14. A program that realizes the data processing method according to any one of claims 8 to 12.