JP2014004805A - Firmware updating method for printer and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a firmware updating method for a printer that can quickly start to update firmware of a print control section on the basis of an updating instruction input to the print control section irrespective of an execution state of a print job.SOLUTION: A print control section 11 of a printer 2 sequentially prints printing data 8 received from a communication control section 10. Upon receiving an updating instruction of firmware 36 via an external communication interface 30 while the print control section 11 is receiving the entire printing data 8 from the communication control section 10, the print control section 11 stops printing the printing data 8 performed thereby and starts to update the firmware 36 on the basis of the updating instruction. More specifically, updating of the firmware 36 has priority over printing of the printing data 8 in the print control section 11.

Description

The present invention relates to a firmware update method capable of promptly updating firmware of a print control unit in a printer having a communication control unit that controls communication and a print control unit that controls printing, and a firmware update method using the firmware update method. The present invention relates to a printer that updates wear.

Patent Document 1 discloses a POS system in which a printer for issuing a coupon or the like is connected to a print client via a network. In Patent Document 1, a printer is connected to a network via a print server that is communicably connected to the printer. Patent Document 1 describes a configuration in which a print server is provided in a printer as a part of the printer.

A method for updating firmware of a printer used in such a business system is described in Patent Document 2. In Patent Document 2, a printer downloads update firmware from a server that is one of print clients via a network, and updates itself using the acquired firmware. Here, since the printer cannot update itself during the printing operation, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-228688, when a print job for printing print data is performed by the printer when the firmware is downloaded, this printing is performed. The firmware update start is postponed until the job is completed.

JP 2008-171303 A JP 2007-69368 A

Here, if the printer has a communication interface that can communicate with an external device without going through the print server, the firmware from the external device connected via the communication interface An update command for instructing update and firmware for update may be directly input to the printer. For example, when it is necessary to quickly update the firmware of a specific printer connected to the network, the operator uses a communication interface to connect the printer and personal computer locally without going through the network. An update command and update firmware are input to the printer from the personal computer to update the firmware.

In such a case, it is desirable that the firmware update be started promptly based on the update command and update firmware input (direct input) to the printer through a local connection. If the update start of the firmware based on the update command input directly to the printer is postponed until the end of the print job being executed, as in the case of Patent Document 2, the update can be started immediately. This is because the firmware update work is delayed.

In view of the above, the problem of the present invention is to quickly start updating the firmware of the print control unit based on the update command input to the print control unit regardless of the execution state of the print job. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer firmware update method and a printer that updates the firmware by the firmware update method.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the firmware update method for a printer according to the present invention is configured to receive print data by a communication control unit, transmit the received print data from the communication control unit to the print control unit, and When the control unit is transmitting the print data to the print control unit, the print control unit receives an update command instructing to update the firmware of the print control unit without going through the communication control unit The firmware of the print control unit is updated based on the update command regardless of the transmission status of the print data from the communication control unit to the print control unit.

According to the present invention, when an update command is directly input to the print control unit, firmware update in the print control unit starts regardless of the transmission status of print data from the communication control unit to the print control unit. In other words, in the present invention, the update of the firmware has priority over the printing of the print data transmitted from the communication control unit to the print control unit. Therefore, the firmware update work in the print control unit is not delayed.

In the present invention, it is preferable that when the print control unit receives the update command, the printing unit controlled by the print control unit stops printing the print data. In this way, since the firmware update in the print control unit starts without waiting for the end of the print job, the firmware update operation can be performed quickly.

Here, while the firmware is being updated, the print control unit cannot print the print data. Therefore, if the communication control unit receives new print data while the firmware is being updated, the print data may be lost without being printed. In order to prevent or suppress such loss of print data, when the print unit stops printing the print data, the print control unit transmits a print stop to the communication control unit, and print It is preferable that the communication control unit that has received the cancellation of the printing stops the reception of the print data.

Next, the printer of the present invention includes a first communication unit that receives print data, a communication control unit that includes a print data transmission unit that transmits print data received via the first communication unit, and firmware update A second communication unit that receives a command; a print control unit that includes a control unit that executes the firmware and performs print control of the print data transmitted from the print data transmission unit of the communication control unit; and the print A printing unit that performs printing based on the control of the control unit of the control unit, and the control unit of the print control unit includes the printing unit when the second communication unit receives the firmware update command. Printing is stopped and the firmware is updated.

According to the present invention, when an update command is directly input to the print control unit, the firmware update has priority over printing of print data, and the print control unit does not wait for the end of the print job being executed. Firmware update begins. Therefore, the firmware update work in the print control unit is not delayed.

Here, while the firmware is being updated, the print control unit cannot print the print data. Therefore, if the communication control unit receives new print data while the firmware is being updated, the print data may be lost without being printed. In order to prevent or suppress such loss of print data, when the control unit of the print control unit stops printing of the print unit, the print control unit transmits information on print stop to the communication control unit, It is preferable that the communication control unit stops receiving the print data in the first communication unit when receiving the print cancellation information.

In the present invention, the first communication unit receives the print data via a network,
The second communication unit may be locally connected to a terminal that stores firmware to be updated and receive the update command. In this way, it is possible to quickly update the firmware performed at the place where the printer is installed.

According to the present invention, when an update command is directly input to the print control unit, firmware update in the print control unit is started without waiting for the end of the print job being executed. Therefore, the firmware update work in the print control unit is not delayed.

1 is a schematic system configuration diagram of a POS system including a printer of the present invention. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation for restricting reception of print data in a communication control unit. It is a time chart which shows firmware update operation | movement.

  Embodiments of a printer to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(POS system)
FIG. 1 is a schematic system configuration diagram of a POS system including a printer to which the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the POS system 1 includes a printer 2 and an LA
1 to 3 print clients 4, 5, 6 connected via a network 3 such as N. Each of the print clients 4, 5, and 6 is a computer system and includes a network communication unit 7 that performs communication via a network. Each print client 4, 5, 6 holds print data 8 for printing a coupon. One of the print clients is a POS server that manages the POS system 1. In this example, the network communication unit 7 performs communication using TCP / IP.

The printer 2 includes a communication control unit 10 that performs communication with a print client, and a print control unit 11 that is communicably connected to the communication control unit 10. The communication control unit 10 is a device that manages communication via the network 3. The print control unit 11 is a device that controls printing. The communication control unit 10 and the print control unit 11 are housed in one housing, and constitute the printer 2 as a whole.

The communication control unit 10 includes a network communication unit (first communication unit) 12 that performs communication via the network 3. The communication control unit 10 transmits the print data 8 received from each print client 4, 5, 6 to the print control unit 11 via the network communication unit 12. The print control unit 11 sequentially prints the print data 8 received from the communication control unit 10 and issues a coupon.

(Communication control unit)
The communication control unit 10 is configured around a first central control unit 13. The first central control unit 13 is connected to a network communication unit 12, a serial communication interface 14 that performs bidirectional serial communication with the print control unit 11, a nonvolatile RAM 15, and a RAM 16. The first central control unit 13 includes a print port establishment unit 17, a print data transmission unit 18, and a reception restriction unit 19.

The network communication unit 12 communicates with each print client 4, 5, 6 using TCP / IP. More specifically, the network communication unit 12 includes each print client 4,
Three print request waiting ports 20 established for receiving print requests from 5 and 6 are provided. The network communication unit 12 is also provided with a print port 21 for receiving the print data 8 based on the print request received by the print request waiting port 20.

The serial communication interface 14 is USB. Nonvolatile RAM (NVRAM) 1
5 stores and holds setting information of the communication control unit 10 and software read by the first central control unit 13. The RAM 16 temporarily holds the print data 8 received via the network communication unit 12.

The print port opening unit 17 opens a print port 21 for receiving the print data 8 in the network communication unit 12 based on the print request received by each print request waiting port 20.

The print port opening unit 17 prints data 8 from the communication control unit 10 to the print control unit 11.
When the print port 21 is opened based on the print request, the print data 8 received via the print port 21 is transferred from the communication control unit 10 to the print control unit 11 via the serial communication interface 14. When transmission becomes possible, a transmission request for the print data 8 is transmitted to the print clients 4, 5, 6 that are the transmission source of the print request. For example, if the print data 8 is not transmitted from the communication control unit 10 to the print control unit 11 when the print port 21 is opened, the print data 8 received via the print port 21 is printed from the communication control unit 10. The print port opening unit 17 transmits a transmission request for the print data 8 to the transmission source of the print request. On the other hand, when other print data 8 is transmitted from the communication control unit 10 to the print control unit 11 when the print port 21 is opened, the communication control unit 10 transmits the print data 8 received via the print port 21. Cannot be transmitted to the print control unit 11, the print port opening unit 17 waits until the print data 8 is transmitted from the communication control unit 10 to the print control unit 11 until the end, and when the transmission is completed, the print data 8 transmission request is transmitted. It should be noted that before the print port opening unit 17 transmits a print request, a reception restricting unit 19 described later.
When the print port 21 established by the above is closed, the print port establishment unit 17 does not transmit a transmission request for the print data 8.

When the print data transmission unit 18 receives the print data 8 from each of the print clients 4, 5, 6 via the print port 21, the print data transmission unit 18 transmits the print data 8 to the print control unit 11 via the serial communication interface 14. . Here, the print data transmission unit 18 is connected to the print control unit 11.
When transmission of the print data 8 is started, transmission of the print data 8 is transmitted to the print control unit 11 to the end without being interrupted.

When receiving the print stop information indicating that printing of the print data 8 has been stopped from the print control unit 11, the reception restriction unit 19 stops receiving new print data 8 via the network communication unit 12.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the reception restriction operation of the print data 8 performed by the reception restriction unit 19. As shown in FIG. 2, when the communication control unit 10 receives the print stop information from the print control unit 11, the reception restriction unit 19 closes all the print request waiting ports 20 and stops receiving a new print request (step ST1). ). If there is print data 8 being printed from the communication control unit 10 to the print control unit 11 (step ST2), the print data transmission unit 18 waits for completion of transmission of the print data 8 (step ST3). Thereafter, when the transmission of the print data 8 is completed,
The number of print ports 21 opened at this time is confirmed (step ST4), and if there are any open print ports 21, they are closed (step ST5). Further, by repeating step ST4 and step ST5, all the established print ports 21 are closed.
Thereby, reception of new print data 8 is stopped. Here, when the print port 21 is closed, the reception restriction unit 19 notifies the print clients 4, 5, 6 of the print request transmission source that the print port 21 is closed.

(Print control unit)
As shown in FIG. 1, the print control unit 11 is configured around a second central control unit 25.
The second central control unit 25 includes a printing mechanism unit 26 that performs a printing operation, a serial communication interface 27 that performs bidirectional serial communication with the communication control unit 10, a ROM 28, a RAM 29, and an external communication interface 30 (first interface). 2 communication units) are connected. The second central control unit (control unit) 25 includes a printing unit 31, an update command monitoring unit 32, an update execution unit 33, and a print stop information transmission unit 34.

The printing mechanism unit 26 is a print head that performs printing on coupon paper fed out of roll paper,
In addition, a paper feed motor that transports the coupon paper along a paper transport path via the print head is provided.

The serial communication interface 27 is a communication interface corresponding to the serial communication interface 14 of the communication control unit 10. That is, the serial communication interface 27 is a USB, and the serial communication interface 27 and the serial communication interface 14 of the communication control unit 10 are connected by a USB cable 35.

The ROM 28 stores firmware 36 that drives and controls the printing mechanism unit 26. The firmware 36 is updated by rewriting the firmware 36 stored and held in the ROM 28 with the update firmware 40.

The RAM 29 is a print buffer that temporarily holds the print data 8 supplied to the print control unit 11. In the RAM 29, the data portion of the print data 8 received from the communication control unit 10 is sequentially held, and the data portion of the print data 8 that has been printed by the printing mechanism unit 26 is sequentially deleted.

The external communication interface 30 is a communication interface that performs communication between the print control unit 11 and an external device. The external communication interface 30 is used for local connection at the place where the printer 2 is installed. In this example, a serial communication interface 27 such as a USB is employed. Here, as shown in FIG. 1, an update client 9 that updates the firmware 36 of the print control unit 11 is connected to the print control unit 11 via the external communication interface 30. The update client 9 is, for example, a personal computer that includes a communication interface 41 corresponding to the external communication interface 30. The print control unit 1 via the external communication interface 30 of the print control unit 11
1, the update client 9 is connected to the print control unit 11 from the update client 9.
In addition, an update command for instructing the update of the firmware 36 of the printer 2 and the update firmware 40 are input.

The printing unit 31 drives and controls the printing mechanism unit 26 to sequentially print the print data 8 received from the communication control unit 10 via the serial communication interface 27. Update command monitoring unit 32
Monitors the reception of the update command via the external communication interface 30. Update execution unit 33
Updates the print control unit 11 based on the update command. The print stop information transmitting unit 34 transmits print stop information to the communication control unit 10 when the update command monitoring unit 32 detects the reception of the update command. The print stop information is information indicating that the print unit 31 is in a print stop state in which printing of the print data 8 is stopped. From the operation state in which the print control unit 11 can print the print data 8, It shows that the firmware 36 has been changed to an updatable state for updating. When the print control unit 11 is in an updatable state, the print data 8 cannot be printed by the printing unit 31.

Here, when the print stop information transmitting unit 34 transmits the print stop information to the communication control unit 10, the print unit 31 stops printing the received print data 8 and enters a print stop state. In other words, the print unit 31 receives an update command from the update client 9 connected via the external communication interface 30 while the print control unit 11 receives the print data 8 from the communication control unit 10. Then, printing of the received print data 8 is stopped and the print is stopped. Further, when printing is stopped, the printing unit 31 discards the unprinted data portion of the print data 8 that has not been printed at the time of printing stop without printing. That is, the print data transmission unit 1 of the communication control unit 10
No. 8, since the print data 8 is transmitted to the end regardless of the operation state of the print control unit 11, the print unit 31 discards the unprinted data portion of the print data 8 that cannot be printed due to the print stop state. In this example, the printing unit 31 prints the unprinted data portion of the print data 8 temporarily held in the RAM 29 when printing is stopped and the print control unit 11 receives from the communication control unit 10 after the printing stop time. The unprinted data portion of data 8 is discarded without printing.

The update execution unit 33 starts updating the firmware 36 based on the update command when the printing unit 31 enters a print stop state when the update command monitoring unit 32 detects reception of the update command. More specifically, the update execution unit 33 stops the printing of the print data 8 being received by the printing unit 31 and discards the unprinted data portion, and then the update client connected via the external communication interface 30 9 transmits a transmission request for requesting transmission of the firmware 40 for update. Thereafter, the update firmware 40 is updated from the update client 9.
Is received, the firmware 36 on the ROM 28 is rewritten using the firmware 40 for updating. The update execution unit 33, when the update command monitoring unit 32 detects that the update command is received via the external communication interface 30, the print unit 31 is not printing the print data 8. Assuming that the printing unit 31 is in the print stop state, the firmware 36 is updated based on the update command.

(Firmware update operation)
FIG. 3 is a time chart showing the firmware 36 update operation. As shown in FIG.
The network communication unit 12 of the communication control unit 10 is connected in advance to each print client 4, 5, 6.
A print standby port for receiving a print request from is established (step ST11).
Further, as shown in FIG. 1, an update client 9 is connected to the print control unit 11 via an external communication interface 30.

When the communication control unit 10 receives a print request from the first print client 4 via the print standby port (step ST12), the print port opening unit 17 receives the print data 8 from the first print client 4 based on the print request. A printing port 21 is established for this purpose. Also,
The print port opening unit 17 transmits a transmission request for the print data 8 to the first print client 4 (
Step ST13).

When the print data 8 is transmitted from the first print client 4 that has received the transmission request (step ST14), the communication control unit 10 receives the print data 8 via the print port 21 and communicates the acquired print data 8. Transmission to the control unit 10 is started (step ST15).
Thereby, the print control unit 11 sequentially prints the print data 8 (step ST16).

Here, when the print control unit 11 receives the update command for the firmware 36 from the update client 9 while the print control unit 11 is receiving the print data 8 (step ST17), the communication control unit from the print control unit 11 The print stop information is transmitted to 10 (step ST18).

When the communication control unit 10 receives the print stop information, the reception restriction unit 19 stops receiving new print data 8 via the first communication unit. In other words, the reception restriction unit 19 closes all the open print request waiting ports 20 and stops receiving new print requests (step ST).
19). Further, the reception restriction unit 19 closes the already-opened print port 21 after the transmission of the print data 8 from the communication control unit 10 is completed.

When print stop information is transmitted from the print control unit 11 to the communication control unit 10 in step ST18, the printing unit 31 stops printing the print data 8 from the communication control unit 10 in parallel with step ST19. As a result, the printing unit 31 enters a printing stopped state, and the printing control unit 11.
Becomes an updatable state in which the firmware 36 can be updated. Here, when the printing unit 31 stops printing the print data 8, the unprinted data portion that is not printed at the time when the printing unit 31 stops printing in the print data 8 is discarded (step ST20).

When the printing unit 31 is in a print stop state and transmission of the print data 8 from the communication control unit 10 to the print control unit 11 is completed (step ST21), the update execution unit 33 of the print control unit 11 sends an update client 9 for update. The transmission request of the firmware 40 is transmitted (step ST22).
) Waits for transmission of the update firmware 40 from the update client 9. After that, when the update execution unit 33 acquires the update firmware 40 (step ST23), the firmware 36 on the ROM 28 is rewritten by the update firmware 40. That is, the firmware 36 is updated in the print control unit 11 (step ST2
4).

In the example shown in FIG. 3, after the print control unit 11 receives the update command from the update client 9 in step ST17, a print request is transmitted from the third print client 6 to the communication control unit 10 (step ST31). . However, when the communication control unit 10 receives a print request from the third print client 6, print stop information is transmitted from the print control unit 11 to the communication control unit 10, and as a result, printing by the communication control unit 10 is performed. All the request waiting ports 20 are closed (step ST19). Accordingly, reception of the print request from the third print client 6 is rejected by the communication control unit 10 (step ST32).

As described above, the printer 2 can avoid receiving the print data 8 from the third print client 6 when the printing unit 31 is in the print stopped state. Further, the third print client 6 can know that the printer 2 cannot print the print data 8 due to the rejection of the print request in step ST32. In other words, the third print client 6 can know that the printer 2 cannot print the print data 8 before transmitting the print data 8 to the printer 2.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, the print control unit 11 receives a print request from the second print client 5 before step ST17 in which the print control unit 11 receives an update command from the update client 9 (step S17). ST41). Therefore, at the time of step ST17 when the print control unit 11 receives the update command from the update client 9, the print port 2 that receives the print data 8 from the second print client 5 to the network communication unit 12 by the print port opening unit 17 is provided.
1 has been established. The print port opening unit 17 waits for the transmission of the print data 8 from the first print client 4 from the communication control unit 10 to the print control unit 11 and completes the second printing when the transmission is completed. A request to send print data 8 is sent to the client 5.

Here, in the example illustrated in FIG. 3, the communication control unit 10 performs the printing control unit 11 before the print data 8 from the first print client 4 is transmitted from the communication control unit 10 to the printing control unit 11 to the end. The print stop information is received (step ST18). Therefore, when the transmission of the print data 8 to the print control unit 11 is completed, all the print ports 21 established by the print port establishment unit 17 are closed by the reception restriction unit 19 (steps ST4 and ST5 in FIG. 2). reference). Accordingly, the transmission request for the print data 8 by the print port opening unit 17 is not transmitted. Instead, the second print client 5 is notified of the closure of the print port 21 from the reception restriction unit 19 (step ST42).

As described above, the printer 2 can avoid receiving the print data 8 from the second print client 5 when the printing unit 31 is in the print stop state. Further, the second print client 5 can know that the printer 2 cannot print the print data 8 by the notification in step ST42. In other words, the second print client 5 can know that the printer 2 cannot print the print data 8 before sending the print data 8 to the printer 2.

According to this example, when the update command is directly input to the print control unit 11, the update of the firmware 36 is prioritized over the printing of the print data 8 without waiting for the end of the print job being executed. Updating of the firmware 36 in the print control unit 11 is started. Therefore, the update operation of the firmware 36 in the print control unit 11 is not delayed.

In this example, when the printing unit 31 stops printing the print data 8, the unprinted data portion of the print data 8 that has not been printed at the time of printing stop is discarded without being printed. As a result, since the process for the unprinted data portion is performed quickly, the update of the firmware 36 is started more quickly.

Here, while the firmware 36 is being updated, the print control unit 11 cannot print the print data 8. Therefore, if the communication control unit 10 receives new print data 8 while the firmware 36 is being updated, the print data 8 may be lost without being printed. In contrast, in this example, when the print control unit 11 receives the firmware 36 update command, the print control unit 11 transmits print stop information to the communication control unit 10 and receives the print stop information. In 10, the reception of new print data 8 is stopped. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent or suppress the communication control unit 10 from receiving the print data 8 while the firmware 36 is being updated.

(Other embodiments)
In the above example, when the printing unit 31 stops printing, the unprinted data portion of the print data 8 is read and discarded. However, the unprinted data portion of the print data 8 held in the RAM 29 when the printing is stopped, and the printing stop time. Thereafter, the unprinted data portion of the print data 8 received by the print control unit 11 from the communication control unit 10 is stored and held in a rewritable nonvolatile memory or the like, and after the update of the firmware 36 in the print control unit 11 is completed. The unprinted data portion stored and held may be printed.

1 .... POS system 2 .... Printer 3 .... Network 4 .... 5 6 .... Print client 7 .... Network communication unit 8 .... Print data 9 .... Update client 10 .... Communication Control unit 11... Print control unit 12... Network communication unit (first communication unit) 13.. First central control unit 14. Serial communication interface 15 Nonvolatile RAM 16 RAM, 17 .... print port opening part, 18 .... print data transmission part,
19..Reception restriction section, 20..Print request waiting port, 21..Print port, 25 ..
Second central control unit (control unit) 26 .. Printing mechanism unit 27 27 Serial communication interface 28 ROM ROM 29 RAM 30 external communication interface (second communication unit) 31 Print unit 32 Update command monitoring unit 33 Update execution unit 34 Print stop information transmission unit 35 USB cable 36 Firmware 40 Update firmware 41 ..Communication interface

Claims (6)

Receive the print data at the communication control unit,
The received print data is transmitted from the communication control unit to the print control unit,
When the communication control unit is transmitting the print data to the print control unit, the print control unit receives an update instruction that instructs to update the firmware of the print control unit without going through the communication control unit In this case, the firmware of the print control unit is updated based on the update command regardless of the transmission status of the print data from the communication control unit to the print control unit. Update method. The printer firmware update method according to claim 1, wherein when the print control unit receives the update command, the printing unit controlled by the print control unit stops printing the print data. When the printing unit cancels printing of the print data, the print control unit transmits a print cancellation to the communication control unit,
The printer firmware update method according to claim 2, wherein the communication control unit, which has received a print stop message, stops receiving print data. A communication control unit having a first communication unit that receives print data, and a print data transmission unit that transmits print data received via the first communication unit;
A second control unit that receives a firmware update command, and a print control unit that executes the firmware and controls the print data transmitted from the print data transmission unit of the communication control unit When,
A printing unit that performs printing based on the control of the control unit of the print control unit,
The printer, wherein the control unit of the print control unit stops printing of the printing unit and updates the firmware when the second communication unit receives the firmware update command. When the control unit of the printing control unit stops printing of the printing unit, the printing control unit transmits printing stop information to the communication control unit,
The printer according to claim 4, wherein the communication control unit stops receiving the print data in the first communication unit when receiving the print cancellation information. The first communication unit receives the print data via a network;
The printer according to claim 4, wherein the second communication unit is locally connected to a terminal that stores firmware to be updated and receives the update command.

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