JP2007001041A - Printer and its interruption control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer arranged to control interruption of print processing for a file recorded on an external recording medium by detecting reception thereof, and to provide its interruption control method. <P>SOLUTION: In response to insertion of an external recording medium 30 during print processing operation of print data received from a host terminal 20, or the like, at a general data input section 16, a printer 10 interrupts print processing under execution and starts print processing for a file recorded on the external recording medium 30. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that executes a printing process on a file recorded on an external recording medium and an interrupt control method thereof, and more specifically, detects that an external recording medium has been received and records the information in the medium. The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and an interrupt control method for interrupting print processing for a file that has been processed.

  In general, in a printing apparatus such as a printer, a queue is used to manage jobs, and print processing is executed in order starting from the job stored in the queue. For example, according to the control by such a queue, when a printing apparatus is shared and used by a plurality of users, there arises a problem that another user waits for a long time due to mass printing by a certain user.

  Therefore, conventionally, a printing apparatus having interrupt control has been proposed. In other words, by performing a required operation from the operation panel or the like of the printing apparatus main body, it is possible to perform interrupt control such that the printing process being executed is interrupted and another printing to be prioritized is executed first. For example, control is performed such that the processing is interrupted during mass printing, a small amount of printing to be prioritized is interrupted, and the suspended mass printing is resumed after the printing is completed.

  In recent years, with the rapid spread of digital cameras and the like, printing using a printing apparatus by a user who does not have a personal computer is increasing. Under such a background, there is a technology for directly outputting image data taken by a digital camera by connecting the digital camera and a printing apparatus.

  According to this technique, it is necessary to send image data from a digital camera or the like to the printing apparatus. Therefore, an interface apparatus such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) is provided in a printing apparatus corresponding to such a technique. The USB is not limited to a digital camera, and an external recording medium such as a hard disk can be inserted in addition to a USB memory and various memory cards.

As a technique related to this type of printing apparatus, for example, one described in Patent Document 1 is known. According to the invention of this Patent Document 1, a technique is mentioned in which a user can easily store image data (file to be printed) taken with a digital camera or the like with a title of the data in a mass storage device. ing.
JP 2004-358723 A

  However, in the invention of Patent Document 1 described above, interrupt control is not considered. Therefore, during execution of mass printing, printing from the external recording medium is awaited until the processing is completed.

  In such a case, even though the user bothered to have a digital camera, a USB memory, etc. and went to the place where the printing apparatus was installed, the user could not perform printing, There was a possibility of waiting for hours.

  Conventionally, it has been generally performed to select an interrupt target job from an operation panel provided in the printing apparatus and issue an interrupt instruction. However, the user operation is complicated, and an erroneous job is interrupted. There was also a possibility that an erroneous operation such as would occur.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and detects that an external recording medium has been received, and controls the interruption of printing processing for a file recorded in the medium. It is an object to provide a printing apparatus and an interrupt control method thereof.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a first input means for receiving an external recording medium in which a file to be printed is recorded, and a second input means for receiving an input of print data from the outside. In response to detection of acceptance of the external recording medium by the detection means, the external recording medium is detected in response to detection of acceptance of the external recording medium by the detection means. Control means for controlling an interrupt of a printing process for the file recorded on the medium.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the control unit interrupts the execution of the printing process if the printing process is being performed on the print data input from the second input unit. Then, a print process is performed on the file recorded on the external recording medium, and the interrupted print process is resumed after the print process is completed.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, in response to detection of acceptance of the external recording medium by the detection means, printing is desired from the file recorded on the external recording medium. The image processing apparatus further includes display control means for displaying a selection screen for selecting a file on a display device, and the control means performs interrupt control of print processing for the file selected from the selection screen.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus comprising: a first input unit that receives an external recording medium on which a file to be printed is recorded; and a second input unit that receives input of print data from the outside. In the interrupt control method, the detection unit detects that the external recording medium is received by the first input unit, and the external recording medium corresponds to the detection of the reception of the external recording medium by the detection unit. The control unit controls the interruption of the printing process for the file recorded in the file.

  According to the present invention, it is configured to detect that an external recording medium in which a file to be printed is recorded is received, and to control the interruption of the printing process for the file recorded in the medium. It does not happen that the user who comes to the side of the printing apparatus waits for a long time because another printing process is being executed.

  In addition, since printing from an external recording medium directly connects the external recording medium to the printing apparatus, the possibility of file leakage to a third party is low, and security can be maintained.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a printing apparatus and an interrupt control method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printer 10 to which a printing apparatus according to the present invention is applied.

  The printer 10 receives print data from the host terminal 20 or the like, and executes print processing based on the data. Further, when the external recording medium 30 in which a file to be printed is recorded is inserted, the printer 10 can also perform a printing process on the file recorded in the medium.

  The printer 10 has an interrupt control function, and performs printing on a file recorded in the medium together with insertion of the external recording medium 30 with priority over other printing processes. As will be described in detail later, when the external recording medium 30 is inserted during execution of print processing for print data from the host terminal 20 or the like, a selection for selecting a file desired to be printed from the files recorded in the medium A screen is displayed on the display unit 11 to prompt the user to select a file. When the user selects a file, the printing process being executed is interrupted, and the printing process for the selected file is started.

  The printer 10 includes, as its configuration, a display unit 11 that is a display device such as a liquid crystal display, an operation unit 12 that is an input device such as operation buttons, and control signals from a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 14 that will be described later. An ASIC 13 that is an integrated circuit that performs image processing based on the ASIC 13, a CPU 14 that performs overall control of operations of each unit, a photosensitive drum, a transfer belt, and a driving unit thereof, and the like. And an general data input unit 16 and an external data input unit 17 as an interface device for receiving print data and the like.

  The printer 10 includes a general data input unit 16 and an external data input unit 17 as an interface device for receiving print data and the like (including files). The general data input unit 16 includes a Centronics 16a, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) 16b, a LAN (Local Area Network) 16c, a wireless LAN 16d, and other interface devices are used to receive print data mainly from a personal computer such as the host terminal 20.

  On the other hand, the external data input unit 17 is realized by an interface device such as a USB 17a or a memory card reader 17b, and an external recording medium 30 such as a USB memory or various memory cards is inserted therein. By inserting the external recording medium 30 in which a file desired to be printed is inserted into the external data input unit 17, a printing process for the data can be performed by the printer 10.

  Further, as described above, the printing process for the file input from the external data input unit 17 is performed in preference to the printing process for the print data input from the general data input unit 16. That is, when the external recording medium 30 is inserted into the external data input unit 17 during the execution of the printing process for the print data input from the general data input unit 16, the printing process being executed is interrupted and the external recording is performed. By interrupting the printing process for the file input from the medium 30, the printing process from the external data input unit 17 is preferentially executed.

  Therefore, in order to print the file recorded on the external recording medium 30, the user who comes to the side of the printer 10 does not have to wait for a long time because another printing process is being executed.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a part of the functional configuration of the ASIC 13 described in FIG. Here, only the constituent elements according to the present invention will be described.

  The ASIC 13 includes a recording medium detection unit 41, a selection screen display control unit 42, a data processing unit 43, a job buffer 44, a print processing execution control unit 45, and an interrupt control unit 46 as various processing function units. It is provided and configured.

  The recording medium detection unit 41 detects that the external recording medium 30 has been inserted into the external data input unit 17. Here, the interrupt control is started with the detection of the insertion of the external recording medium 30 as a trigger.

  When the insertion of the external recording medium 30 is detected by the recording medium detection unit 41, the selection screen display control unit 42 displays a selection screen for selecting a file to be printed from the files recorded in the medium. 11 is displayed. For example, when the display unit 11 is a graphic base, a selection screen as shown in FIG. 3A is displayed to prompt the user to select a file. When the display unit 11 is character-based, a selection screen as shown in FIG. 3B is displayed.

  If no file to be printed is recorded in the external recording medium 30, for example, only an execution file (Exe file) is recorded, or there is no recorded data, this selection screen is not displayed and the allocation screen is not displayed. It is also possible not to perform the embedding control.

  The data processing unit 43 performs predetermined processing (interpretation of print data, image development, etc.) on the print data and file input from the general data input unit 16 or the external data input unit 17 and uses the data as a job. Store in the job buffer 44.

  The job buffer 44 manages jobs in a queue. That is, in principle, the jobs are managed so that they are executed in order from the previously stored job.

  The print process execution control unit 45 executes the job stored in the job buffer 44 and controls the operation of the engine unit 15 to control the print process. When the print process execution control unit 45 receives an instruction to interrupt printing from the interrupt control unit 46 during execution of the print process, the print process execution control unit 45 interrupts the print process at a page break.

  The interrupt control unit 46 performs overall control of control related to interrupt processing. The various processing function units described above operate according to instructions from the interrupt control unit 46. The interrupt control unit 46 controls input / output of data generated between the processing function units.

  When the external recording medium 30 is inserted, the interrupt control unit 46 instructs the print processing execution control unit 45 to suspend printing, interrupts the job being executed, and applies to the file recorded on the external recording medium 30. Instructs execution of print processing. When this print processing is completed, the print processing execution control unit 45 is instructed to resume the interrupted job. The above is the description of the various processing function units of the ASIC 13 according to the present invention.

  Here, the operation of the printer 10 to which the printing apparatus according to the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the external recording medium 30 is inserted into the printer 10 and this is detected by the recording medium detection unit 41 (YES in step S101), this process is started. When this process is started, the selection screen display control unit 42 displays a selection screen for selecting a file to be printed from the files recorded in the medium on the display unit 11 (step S102).

  When the selection screen is displayed, the user selects a file desired to be printed from the selection screen. If no file is selected because there is no file to be printed (NO in step S103), the process ends.

  When a file to be printed is selected from the selection screen (YES in step S103), predetermined processing is performed in the data processing unit 43, and a job for printing the file is stored in the job buffer 44. The When this process ends, the interrupt control unit 46 determines whether another print process (print process for print data input from the general data input unit 16) is being executed (step S104).

  If no other print process is being executed (NO in step S104), the print process execution control unit 45 starts the print process for the file selected in step S102 as it is (step S105). This process is continuously executed until all the printing processes for the file selected in step S102 are completed (NO in step S106). When all the printing processes are completed (YES in step S106), the process is terminated. .

  If another print process is being executed in step S104 (YES in step S104), the interrupt control unit 46 controls the interrupt of the print process for the file selected in step S102. . That is, the print processing execution control unit 45 is instructed to interrupt printing being executed, and is also instructed to execute print processing for the file selected in step S102.

  Upon receiving this instruction, the print process execution control unit 45 interrupts the print process being executed at a page break (step S107) and starts executing the print process for the file selected in step S102 (step S108). ). This process is continuously executed until all the printing processes for the file selected in step S102 are completed (NO in step S109). When all the printing processes are completed (YES in step S109), the interrupted printing process is performed. The process is resumed (step S110), and this process ends.

  As described above, in the present invention, since the external recording medium 30 is inserted into the printer 10 as a trigger, the interrupt of the printing process for the file recorded on the external recording medium 30 is controlled. It does not happen that the user who has reached 10 is kept waiting for a long time because another printing process is being executed.

  In addition, since printing from the external recording medium 30 connects the external recording medium 30 directly to the printer 10, the possibility of file leakage to a third party is low, and security can be maintained.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the interrupt control processing of the present invention is performed by the printer 10 to which the printing apparatus according to the present invention is applied has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the printer, and the present invention is not limited to a USB memory or various memory cards. The present invention can be applied to all printing apparatuses including an interface device for receiving input from the external recording medium 30 such as the above. For example, the present invention can be applied to a copying machine, a multifunction machine, a fax machine, etc. having a printing function.

  The external recording medium 30 corresponds to a recording medium capable of recording a file to be printed, such as a USB memory, various memory cards, a hard disk, a digital camera, and the like.

  Further, the printer 10 may be provided with an infrared light receiving unit, and an input of a file to be printed recorded in the medium from the external recording medium 30 through infrared rays may be received. In this case, a connection request or the like via infrared rays from the external recording medium 30 is detected, and the interruption of the printing process for the file recorded on the external recording medium is controlled.

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown above and shown in the drawings, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications within a range not changing the gist thereof.

  The printing apparatus and its interrupt control method of the present invention can be applied to all printing apparatuses equipped with an interface device for receiving input from an external recording medium 30 such as a USB memory or various memory cards. Can be used effectively in offices (businesses, government offices), schools, etc. that share and use printing devices.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printer 10 to which a printing apparatus according to the present invention is applied. It is a figure which shows a part of functional structure of ASIC13 demonstrated in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen layout of a selection screen. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the printer 10 to which the printing apparatus according to the present invention is applied.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Printer 11 Display part 12 Operation part 13 ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit)
14 CPU (Central Processing Unit)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Engine part 16 General data input part 17 External data input part 20 Host terminal etc. 30 External recording medium 41 Recording medium detection part 42 Selection screen display control part 43 Data processing part 44 Job buffer 45 Print processing execution control part 46 Interrupt control part

Claims (4)

In a printing apparatus having a first input unit that receives an external recording medium in which a file to be printed is recorded, and a second input unit that receives an input of print data from the outside.
Detecting means for detecting that the external recording medium is received by the first input means;
And a control unit that controls an interrupt of a printing process for the file recorded on the external recording medium in response to detection of acceptance of the external recording medium by the detecting unit. The control means includes
If print processing is being executed for the print data input from the second input means, the execution of the print processing is interrupted, the print processing for the file recorded on the external recording medium is executed, and the print The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interrupted printing process is resumed after the process is completed. Corresponding to detection of acceptance of the external recording medium by the detection means, display control means for displaying on the display a selection screen for selecting a file desired to be printed from the files recorded on the external recording medium. In addition,
The control means includes
The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein interrupt control of a printing process is performed on a file selected from the selection screen. In an interrupt control method for a printing apparatus, comprising: a first input unit that receives an external recording medium in which a file to be printed is recorded; and a second input unit that receives an input of print data from the outside.
The detecting means detects that the external recording medium has been received by the first input means,
In response to detection of acceptance of the external recording medium by the detecting means, the control means controls the interruption of the printing process for the file recorded on the external recording medium. Method.

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