JP2697980B2 - Wireless printer server - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wireless printer server in which a plurality of information processing apparatuses share one printer via a wireless line, and more particularly, to a case where outputs from a plurality of information processing apparatuses are substantially simultaneous. This also relates to a receiving adapter configuration that can prevent printing in an incorrect format.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to effectively use a printer, a wireless printer server system has been realized in which a plurality of information processing apparatuses share one printer via a wireless line.

FIG. 2 shows the overall configuration of such a wireless printer server system. In FIG. 2, a plurality of information processing apparatuses 11 to 1n have transmission adapters 21 to 2n, respectively, and output data to be given to the printer 1 to the transmission adapters 21 to 2n. Each of the transmission adapters 21 to 2n modulates or amplifies power of given data and radiates the data from the transmission antennas 31 to 3n. The radiated radio waves are captured by the receiving antenna 3 and provided to the receiving adapter 2. The reception adapter 2 performs demodulation processing and the like on the received signal, and processes the information processing devices 11,.
The data is returned to the output state of n and given to the printer 1. Thus, the printer 1 performs printing.

In practice, a plurality of information processing apparatuses may output data almost simultaneously. Now, the three information processing apparatuses 11, 12, and 13 try to transmit the data files “Irohanihohettilinu”, “Aueokakikukeko”, and “Akasatanahamayarawa” to the printer 1, respectively. Here, each of the information processing apparatuses 11, 12, 13
In some cases, the processing speed of the data editing program, so-called application program, cannot keep up with the output processing speed of the data file, so that all of the data file cannot be output at once. In such a case, output of data is stopped at a page break or the like. That is, one data file is divided into a plurality of message blocks and transmitted. Normally, first-come-first-served control is performed, so that when an output operation of one information processing device is interrupted, another information processing device interrupts.

FIG. 3 shows an example of such a print data transmission flow. It is assumed that the information processing device 12 stops sending by sending out the message block M1 including a part of the print data “Iueo” due to the difference between the editing processing speed and the output processing speed described above. At this time, the information processing apparatus 11 which has generated the transmission request next is selected, and the reception adapter 2 receives a part of the data block M2 of the print data “Irohaniho”. Hereinafter, similarly, the information processing apparatus 13
Is the message block M3 of the print data "Akasatana", the information processing device 12 prints the message block M4 of the print data "Kakikukeko", the information processing device 13 prints the message block M5 of the print data "Hamayawa", and the information processing device 11 prints. The figure shows a case where the message block M6 of the data "hettilinu" is output in this order. In addition, as also shown in FIG.
Each of the information processing apparatuses 11, 12, and 13 adds an instruction code to the printer 1 other than print data called a header at the head of the first message block relating to the data file and transmits the header.

The header also includes so-called format control information such as character types (Katakana, Kanji, English characters, Hiragana) to the printer 1, line feed pitch, character pitch, enlargement instruction, reduction instruction, and the like. That is, each information processing device 11,
The printers 12 and 13 transmit the format control information to control the printer 1 in order to print in the format intended by the own device.
In general, the same format is often applied to one data file throughout, and in such a case, only the first block contains format control information.

FIG. 4 shows an example in which the printer 1 prints based on the print data block shown in FIG. Since the printer 1 performs printing in the order in which the message blocks are received, the printer 1 performs printing of the print data in the order shown in FIG. 4 regardless of the type of the information processing apparatus of the transmission source.

[0008]

However, in the conventional wireless printer server, when print data is sent from a plurality of information processing devices almost in parallel, printing in an incorrect format occurs. was there.

The above problem will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. The receiving adapter 2 sends format control information to the printer 1 only when receiving a message block including the format control information, and the printer 1 sends the format control information until new format control information is given. Print in the format according to.

Now, the information processing apparatus 11 outputs print data relating to a data file “Irohanihohetchirinu” whose character type is katakana, and the information processing apparatus 12 relates to a data file “Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, Japan” whose character type is kanji. It is assumed that the print data is output and the information processing apparatus 13 is going to output the print data relating to the data file “ABCDEFGHIJ” whose character type is English. Also in this case, it is assumed that each information processing device divides the data file and transmits the print data due to the difference between the editing processing speed and the output processing speed in the information processing device, and eventually "Japan Tokyo", "Irohaniho""ABCDE","Ikebukuro,Toshima-ku","FGHI
Suppose that the transmission was performed in the order of the message blocks including the print data of “J” and “hettilinu”. In this case, the information processing device 12 clarifies that the character type is kanji in the message block of the print data “Tokyo, Japan”, and includes information that clarifies the character type in the message block of the print data “Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku”. Not. Similarly, the information processing device 11 clarifies that the print data is only the first message block of “Irohaniho” and the character type is katakana, and the information processing device 13 is that the print data is only the first message block of “ABCDE” and the character type is Clarify that is an alphabetic character.

Accordingly, the printer 1 prints the print data "Tokyo, Japan" as a Chinese character, prints the print data "Irohaniho" as katakana, and prints the print data "ABCDE" as English characters. But,
The print data "Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku" given in a state in which the character type of the format is controlled to English characters is originally a kanji character, so it is garbled and erroneously printed, and the subsequent print data "FG
HIJ "is printed correctly, and the print data" Hetchirinu "is originally katakana, and is garbled and erroneously printed.

As described above, the problem of garbled characters will be described. If the pitch between characters and the line feed pitch output by a plurality of information processing apparatuses are different, print data output from some of the information processing apparatuses is Printing is performed at the interval pitch or line feed pitch.

In order to prevent printing in such an erroneous format, it is necessary that the formats of a plurality of information processing apparatuses that start up the printer 1 almost at the same time be aligned.
The wireless printer server can be realized only by including the information processing device on which the same type of application program runs.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and can be used even when outputs from a plurality of information processing apparatuses are almost parallel without unifying format control information among the information processing apparatuses. Another object of the present invention is to provide a wireless printer server capable of preventing printing in an incorrect format.

[0015]

According to the present invention, a receiving adapter of a wireless printer server in which a plurality of information processing apparatuses share one printer via a wireless line is provided by the present invention. Was provided.

That is, the received message is monitored and the
Format control information extracting means for extracting format control information contained in the header or print data area ; format control information storing means for storing the extracted format control information in association with each information processing apparatus; when sending a message, its
Each information and formatting information reproducing means for reproducing the latest formatting control information, the formatting information reproduced from the received message in association with the information processing apparatus according to the delivery message stored in the format control information storage means A format control information sending means for sending the data to the printer in front of the data block excluding the identification information of the processing device is provided.

In the present invention, the format control information extracting means monitors a received message provided from any one of the information processing devices, and extracts the format control information contained in the header or print data area of the received message. . The format control information storage unit stores the format control information extracted in this way in association with each information processing device. When sending a message to the printer, the format control information reproducing means relates to the sent message.
Reproducing the latest format control information stored in the format control information storage means in association with the information processing apparatus . And
The format control information sending means outputs the reproduced format control information
The message is sent to the printer in front of a data block obtained by removing the identification information of each information processing apparatus from the received message .

As a result, all the message blocks provided to the printer include the format control information.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the information processing device, the transmission adapter, the transmission antenna, the reception antenna, and the printer have the same configuration as the conventional one, and only the configuration of the reception adapter is different from the conventional one. Therefore, description will be made focusing on the configuration and processing of the receiving adapter.

FIG. 7 shows a detailed configuration of the receiving adapter according to this embodiment. In FIG. 7, the receiving adapter 40 includes a wireless receiving unit 41, a main processor 4
2. It is composed of a data decomposing unit 43, a data memory 44, a program memory 45, and a printer driving unit 46.

The radio receiving section 41 demodulates the received signal from the receiving antenna 3 and returns it to digital data.

The main processor 42 processes such digital data in accordance with the program (see FIG. 1) stored in the program memory 45 while using the data memory 44 as appropriate.

The data decomposing unit 43 includes the main processor 4
Under the control of 2, the data obtained by demodulation by the wireless receiving unit 41 is decomposed into ID data indicating the source information processing apparatus, a header (including format control information), and print data. In the case of this embodiment, the data memory 44 stores a format control information table FMTBL for each information processing device that stores the latest format control information and a print data buffer area DTAR for each information processing device that stores print data. The format control information table FMTBL and the print data buffer area DTAR which are provided and are determined by the decomposed ID data
The format control information and the print data obtained by the disassembly are stored.

The main processor 42 reconstructs an electronic message block from the format control information and the print data stored as described above and supplies the electronic message block to the printer driving unit 46, and the printer driving unit 46 outputs this to the printer 1. Data memory 44
Has a buffer area BUF1 for assembling format control information and a JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) code buffer area BUF2 as buffer areas used when reconstructing a message block.

Here, in the case of this embodiment, as will be described later, the reconstructed message block is not subjected to format control even if the message block provided from the information processing apparatus does not include format control information. Contains information.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the processing executed by the main processor 42 (stored in the program memory 45). Hereinafter, the processing of the main processor 42 will be described with reference to FIG.

When the power of the receiving adapter 40 is turned on, the main processor 42 starts the processing shown in FIG. 1 and waits for an ID code from the data decomposing unit 43 (step 100). When receiving the ID code, the format control information table FMTBL corresponding to the ID code is received.
Is opened (step 101). Then, in accordance with the format control information stored in this format control information table FMTBL, JIS-coded format control information (header of an output message block) to be given to the printer 1 is formed and sent to the printer 1 (step 102). . The details of step 102 are shown in FIG. 1B and will be described later.

Thereafter, the main processor 42 waits for reception of data following the ID code, and upon reception, determines whether the data is format control information or print data (steps 103 and 104).

If the received data is the format control information, all or part of the contents of the open format control information table FMTBL is updated to the received format control information.
The received format control information is sent to the printer 1 (steps 105 and 106). On the other hand, if the received data is print data, the print data is immediately sent to the printer 1 (step 107).

The processing according to the type of the received data is repeated after confirming that the data from the information processing apparatus currently targeted is not completed, and returns to the idle state when the received data is completed. (Step 108).

The format control information table FMTBL for a certain information processing device in which the format control information is stored or read out by the above processing has the configuration shown in FIG. That is, an address is prepared for each element of the format control information (character type instruction, line feed pitch, character pitch, enlargement instruction, reduction instruction, etc.), and a JIS code (character) describing the contents of the element is provided therein. The value of the parameter x in the column (represented by a code or control code) is stored. In FIG. 8, the data of the parameter x to be stored is represented not by JIS code characters but by JIS code hexadecimal notation. More specifically,
Each element constituting the format control information includes two control codes “ESC,%” indicating that the elements are elements of the format control information.
A character representing the element type (character type instruction, line feed pitch, inter-character pitch, enlargement instruction, reduction instruction, etc.) and a character x as a parameter for specifying the content of the element type
The content of the parameter x is stored. FIG. 8 means that the character type is English, the line feed pitch is 1/6 inch, the pitch between characters is 24/180 inch, the enlargement instruction is the same magnification, the reduction instruction is the same magnification, and so on.

Next, such a format control information table F
JI given to printer 1 using the contents stored in MTBL
Details of the processing in step 102 in which the S-coded format control information is formed and transmitted to the printer 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

When this process is started, the main processor 42 sets the head address of the format control information table FMTBL related to the current target information processing device, and extracts the data of that address (steps 120 and 121).
As described above, the format control information includes a character type, a line feed pitch, a character pitch, an enlargement instruction, a reduction instruction, and the like. One address of the format control information table FMTBL corresponds to each element of the format control information. ing. The element data thus taken out is stored in the assembling buffer area B.
It is stored in a predetermined area of UF1, then converted into JIS code and stored in JIS code buffer area BUF2 (steps 122 and 123). Thereafter, the address of the format control information table FMTBL is incremented by one, and it is determined whether or not the processing for all the element data has been completed (steps 124 and 125). here,
If a negative result is obtained, the process returns to step 121 and returns to the retrieval of the next element data. On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained, the format control information stored in the JIS code buffer area BUF2 is sent to the printer 1 and the process returns to the main routine shown in FIG. 1A (step 126).

FIG. 9 shows the format control information table FMTBL and the assembly buffer area BUF1 in this processing.
And JIS code buffer area BUF2.

Next, the above-described processing will be specifically described assuming that the data stream (telegram block sequence) shown in FIG. 10 is given from a certain information processing apparatus. That is, FIG.
As shown in the figure, one data file has ID
A case will be described in which a message is transmitted by n number of message blocks to which a code is added, and the first message block is transmitted with a header including format control information added to the head thereof. In the case of this example, only some elements of the format control information are changed in the middle of the print data, as shown by hatched portions EL1 and EL2 in the first and second blocks. It should be noted that such a thing has actually occurred many times.

FIG. 11 shows an example of the detailed structure of the first block in FIG. 10. The first line shows the meaning of the data, and the second line shows the data in JIS code characters (control codes). And the third line shows the data in hexadecimal notation of JIS code.

The header includes two control codes "SYN" for communication control, an ID code, a character type instruction, a line feed pitch, an inter-character pitch, an enlargement instruction, a reduction instruction, and the like. This is followed by the print data “ABCD”. In the example of the header shown in FIG. 11, the character type is English, the line feed pitch is 1/6 inch, the pitch between characters is 24/180 inch, the enlargement instruction means the same size, the reduction instruction means the same size, and so on.

When the power of the receiving adapter 40 is turned on, the format control information tables FMTBL for all the information processing apparatuses are initialized. In this embodiment, the character type is katakana, Is 1/3 inch, character pitch is 24/180 inch,
The enlargement instruction is initially set to the same magnification, the reduction instruction is initially set to the same magnification, and so on. It is assumed that the information processing apparatus that outputs the data stream in FIG. 10 has not performed the output before this, and the format control information table FMTBL is in the initial setting state at time t0 in FIG.

FIG. 12 shows a change in the storage contents of the format control information table FMTBL when such a data stream is received. Time point t before reception as described above
The content of 0 is the content initialized as shown in FIG. FIG. 13 shows data supplied to the reception adapter 40 (having the same contents as in FIG. 10 but shown repeatedly) and data output from the reception adapter 40.

In the idle state, the first block I
Upon receiving the D code, the main processor 42
Format control information table FM for D code shown in FIG.
Open TBL. The contents stored at this time are shown in FIG.
Since this is the initial state shown in FIG. 2A, it is assembled into a header HD1 according to JIS and output to the printer 1. Subsequently, when the header HDR1 of the first block is received, the contents of the format control information table FMTBL are updated as shown in FIG. When the print data of the first half of the first block is received, it is output to the printer 1 as it is. When the element EL1 of the format control information sandwiched between the print data in which the character type is katakana is received, the format control information table FMTB as shown in FIG.
L and update the contents of the
Output to When the latter half of the print data is received, it is output to the printer 1 as it is.

After a while, the I in the second block is
When the D code is received, J is determined according to the contents stored in the format control information table FMTBL at this time shown in FIG.
It is assembled into a header HD2 according to IS and output to the printer 1. When the print data of the first half of the second block is received,
This is output to the printer 1 as it is. Element EL2 of format control information sandwiched between print data, with the character type being alphabetic
Is received, the contents of the format control information table FMTBL are updated as shown in FIG. When the latter half of the print data is received, it is output to the printer 1 as it is.

Similarly, a message in which headers HD3,..., HDn created in accordance with the contents stored in the format control information table FMTBL at the time of receiving the ID code are added to the portion of the received block data excluding the ID code. The block is output to the printer 1. If the received block data contains only one element of the format control information, the content stored in the format control information table FMTBL is updated accordingly.

Thus, the receiving adapter 40 is configured as shown in FIG.
When the message block sequence shown in FIG.
3B is output to the printer 1.

Although the processing at the time of receiving a message block from one information processing apparatus has been described above, the reception adapter operates similarly when message blocks are received from a plurality of information processing apparatuses almost in parallel. .

Therefore, according to the above-described embodiment, the receiving adapter 40 always outputs a message block including format control information to the printer 1, so that message blocks from a plurality of information processing apparatuses are mixed. Receiving adapter 4
Even when 0 is given, printing can be performed in the format intended by each information processing device. That is, garbled characters, incorrect line feed pitch, and the like do not occur.

As a result, there is no need to unify the data editing programs of a plurality of information processing apparatuses in the wireless printer server so as to adopt the same format.
The use environment of this system is significantly improved.

Although the above embodiment has been described with reference to a wireless printer server having a printer that also prints kanji, the present invention can be applied to a wireless printer server having a printer whose printable character type is other than the above embodiment. Naturally can be applied.

In the above embodiment, the case of transmitting and receiving data in accordance with JIS has been described. However, the present invention can be applied to those adopting other code systems.

[0049]

As described above, according to the present invention, the format control information is always included at the head of the message block given to the printer, so that the format control information among the information processing devices is not unified. In addition, even when outputs from a plurality of information processing devices are substantially parallel, printing in an incorrect format can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a reception adapter according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration of a wireless printer server.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which message blocks from a plurality of information processing apparatuses are mixed and transmitted;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a printing example in the case of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of sending a message block in which a garbled character occurs in a conventional wireless printer server.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of garbled printing by a conventional wireless printer server.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a receiving adapter according to the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration example of a format control information table according to the embodiment;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the contents stored in a table and a buffer area when reconstructing the format control information according to the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a message block string output by a certain information processing apparatus.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing details of the first block.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a change in the storage content of a format control information table when the message block sequence shown in FIG. 10 is received.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a message block from the information processing apparatus to the reception adapter and a message block from the reception adapter to the printer corresponding to the message block;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printer, 40 ... Receiving adapter, 41 ... Wireless receiving part, 42 ... Main processor, 43 ... Data decomposing part, 4
4 Data memory, 45 Program memory, 46 Printer drive unit.

Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Kiyotaka Negishi 1-7-12 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-2-113323 (JP, A) JP-A-2- 128882 (JP, A) JP-A-63-288317 (JP, A) JP-A-2-89676 (JP, A)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] In a wireless printer server in which a plurality of information processing apparatuses share a single printer via a wireless line, a receiving adapter provided in a preceding stage of the printer monitors a received message and headers the received message . Or print data area
Format control information extracting means for extracting format control information included in the area, format control information storing means for storing the extracted format control information in association with each of the information processing apparatuses, and sending a message to a printer when, on according to the sending message
Serial and format control information reproduction means for reproducing the latest formatting information in association with the information processing apparatus is stored in said format control information storage unit, the formatting information reproduced, the respective information processing from a received message
A format control information transmitting means for transmitting to a printer a data block preceding the data block excluding the identification information of the processing device .