JP2778523B2 - Printer device and document creation device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer and a document creating apparatus, and more particularly, to a document creating apparatus for transmitting control data for developing processing of a developing section of the printer to the printer, and a method for creating the document. The present invention relates to a printer device that performs a development process based on transmitted control data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in updating control data (control program) of a printer, there has been a method of supplying new control data from a ROM cassette mounted on the printer. There has also been a method of transferring (downloading) desired control data previously selected by an operator from a host device of a printer system to a printer device. The control data of the printer device is updated, for example, when the latest control data is developed, or when a defect is found in the current control data and new control data for improving the defect is developed. .

At this time, the printers to be updated with control data are currently used by users, and the number thereof is enormous. Generally, a specialized worker goes to a customer site to perform an update operation, and on the other hand, a medium such as a ROM cassette or a floppy disk on which control data for update is recorded is distributed to the customer site. In some cases, the operator at the customer site performs an update operation according to a procedure manual.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, it takes enormous amount of time, labor, and cost to update all the target devices in the work by the specialized worker. There was an inconvenience. On the other hand, when an operator at the customer site performs an update, the operator must recognize the version number of the control data currently installed, and then perform an update operation by an unfamiliar operation from a higher-level device. However, there has been a problem that the control data cannot be updated correctly due to an operational error. In this case, a state where printing is not performed normally occurs.

[0005] In addition, if an expensive ROM cassette is used as a medium to be distributed to a customer, there is a disadvantage that a huge cost is required.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides such a conventional example improving the disadvantages possessed by, in particular, Ki only de be reliably updated if the control data for the development processing of the printer needed to, and
New control data can be distributed at a low cost and collectively.
To provide a printer device and a document creation device off, and an object.

[0007]

Therefore, according to the present invention, as a first means, a developing unit for developing print data from a document creating device into image data based on predetermined control data, and a developing unit for developing the image data by the developing unit A printing unit that prints out the output image data, and a control data storage unit that stores control data in advance. In addition, the control data storage unit stores a model number indicating the type of the printer device or its development unit.
A control data information storage unit that stores information and a download control data storage unit that stores control data received from the document creation device are provided side by side. Furthermore, expansion unit, the control data and the model number notification function of the information storage unit model number information in sending the document creation apparatus, download control data control data transmitted from the document creation apparatus depending on the model number information A control data receiving function to be stored in the storage unit, and a first control data selection function to select control data stored in the download control data storage unit when control data is stored in the download control data storage unit And a printer device having such a configuration.

Here, the model number information of the developing unit refers to model number information indicating the type of the printer device, and the control data type information refers to the type and version (version) of the control data.

As a second means, a configuration is adopted in which the download control data storage section of the first means is a nonvolatile memory.

[0010] As a third means, in addition to the structure of the first means, the developing unit is provided with a second control data selection function of selecting control data based on an external command.

As a fourth means, there is provided a data input section for inputting data consisting of a document or a figure, and a printer driver for converting data from the data input section into print data and transmitting the print data to a printer. . This printer driver is provided with a download data storage unit that stores a plurality of types of control data used for the expansion processing of the printer device.
Of model number information and control data indicating the type of expanded part of
Function to receive the type information indicating the
And a control data transmission function to selectively sends control data in the download data storing unit to the printer device based on the type information, takes the document creating device configuration that. This is desirably used in combination with the printer as the first means.

As a fifth means, in addition to the structure of the fourth means, a printer driver is provided with a model number information from a printer.
Stored in the download data storage unit based on the
Control data corresponding to the model number information from the control data
It has a control data selection function for each model number to be selected.
I'm taking it.

As a sixth means, in addition to the structure of the fifth means,
For example, the printer driver checks the type information from the printer device.
Than the control data specified in the type information based on the
New control data is stored in the download data storage
The new control data is selected.
Equipped with a configuration control data selection function
I have.

The present invention seeks to achieve the above-mentioned object by means having the same industrial application fields.

[0015]

The printer device according to the first means updates control data for rasterization processing separately from normal print output. This is first expanded portion, the model number notification function, model number information of the expansion portion that is stored in the control data information storage unit
Is transmitted to the document creation device by the fourth means. Then
Response Ji control data to the model number information from the document creating device is transmitted. The expansion unit uses the control data reception function to
The control data transmitted from the document creation device is stored in the download control data storage unit.

[0016] When the control data received from the document creation device is stored in the download control data storage unit, the developing unit selects the control data in the download control data storage unit by the first control data selection function. . Then, when the print data is transmitted from the document creating device, the developing unit expands the print data into image data based on the control data in the download control data storage unit. This image data is printed out by the printing unit.

According to the second means, the control data is stored in the download control data storage section, and even if the power of the printer is turned off, the download control data storage section is a nonvolatile memory. Holds control data downloaded from the creation device.

In the third means, when a plurality of control data are transmitted from the document creating apparatus according to the sixth means, for example, control data for performing emulation is transmitted and stored in a download control data storage unit. If there is, the expansion unit selects one of the plurality of control data in the download control data storage unit based on the external command by the second control data selection function. For this reason,
When receiving the model number and printer description language name of the printer device to be emulated as an external command, the developing unit performs a developing process based on the control data corresponding to the external command.

[0019] In the fourth means, the printer driver receives the model number information from the printer according to the first means, the control data transmission function, based on the model number information, the control data in the download data storing unit Select and send to printer. Therefore, the distribution of control data
Cloth provides multiple types of control for multiple types of printer devices
This can be performed in a state where data is mixed. Also,
When the printer driver receives data including a document or a graphic from the data input unit, the printer driver changes the data into print data and transmits the print data to the printer device.

In the sixth means, when the model number information and the type information are received from the printer device by the first means, the type-specific control data selecting function uses the control data designated by the type information based on the type information. Also, when new control data is stored in the download data storage unit, the new control data is selected. Further, the control data transmission function transmits the control data selected by the type-specific control data selection function to the printer.

In the fifth means, when the model number information and the type information are received from the printer device by the third means, the plurality of model data stored in the download data storage section based on the model number information are selected by the model number control data selecting function. A plurality of control data corresponding to the model number information is selected from the control data. Further, the control data transmission function transmits the control data selected by the type-specific control data selection function to the printer.

[0022]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printer according to this embodiment. The printer 1 expands print data from the document creating apparatus 2 into image data based on predetermined control data (control program).
4, a printing unit (printing mechanism) 16 for printing out the image data, and a control data storage unit 12 storing control data in advance.

Moreover, the control data storage unit 12A stores the model number information of the developing unit 14 and the type information of the control data in the control data information storage unit 11A, and the download control that stores the control data received from the document creation device 2 A data storage unit 11 is also provided.

This will be described in detail. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a detailed configuration. Deployer 14
Is a model number notifying function 14A for transmitting the model number information and the type information in the control data information storage unit 11A to the document creating apparatus.
And a control data receiving function 14B for storing control data transmitted from the document creation device 2 in accordance with the model number information and type information in the download control data storage unit 11, and control data stored in the download control data storage unit 11. And a first control data selection function 14C that performs print data expansion processing based on the control data.

In this embodiment, the download control data storage section 11 is constituted by a nonvolatile memory.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the structure of the document creation device 2 used by being connected to the printer device 1 shown in FIG. The document creation device 2 includes a data input unit 25 to which data composed of a document or a graphic is input, and a printer driver 22 that converts the data from the data input unit 25 into print data and transmits the print data to a printer. . Further, the printer driver 22 is provided with a download data storage unit 23 in which a plurality of types of control data used for developing the printer device are stored.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the printer driver 22. As shown in FIG. 4, the printer driver 22 has a control data transmission function 22A for selecting control data in the download data storage unit 23 based on the model number information and type information from the printer device 1 and transmitting the control data to the printer device 1. Have. Further, based on the type information from the printer device 1, the printer driver 22 stores the new control data when the control data newer than the control data specified in the type information is stored in the download data storage unit 23. Is provided with a type-specific control data selection function 22B.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the printer device 1 and the document creation device 2 shown in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the printer device 1 has a bidirectional interface 13 for bidirectional communication with the document creation device.
It has. The interface 13 includes the developing unit 1
4 is connected. CPU
14 is provided with a RAM 17.
Reference numeral 7 includes a reception buffer for temporarily storing print data transmitted from the document creation device, a drawing memory for drawing image data, and an area for reading predetermined control data.

In the example shown in FIG. 5, the control program storage memory 11 is used as the download control data storage unit 11.
Is equipped. This control program storage memory 1
1 is a rewritable nonvolatile memory. The nonvolatile memory is not limited to a semiconductor memory such as an EPROM or a flash memory, but can be realized by a recording medium such as a floppy disk, a hard disk, and a magneto-optical disk.

The control data provided at the time of manufacturing the printer 1 is stored in a ROM as a control data storage unit 12.
Is stored in This ROM stores a program in which the execution procedure of various functions of the expansion unit 14 shown in FIG. 2 is described, and model number information of the apparatus. CPU14
Reads a program from the ROM 12 when the power is turned on, and operates according to the program.

Further, a font memory 15 storing dot fonts created in accordance with the resolution of the printing unit (printing mechanism) 16 is provided in the CPU 14. CPU14
Reads the dot font corresponding to the character code specified in the print data from the font memory 15 and stores the dot font in the drawing memory. Also, depending on the function of the developing unit 14, an outline font may be stored in the font memory 15.

In the control data information storage section 11A, first, the type information and the model number information of the original control data at the time of manufacture are recorded in the ROM 12. Further, the type information of the control data downloaded from the document creation device 2 is recorded in a specific area in the control program storage memory. For this reason, when transmitting the control data information to the document creation device 2, the CPU 14 reads out each information from each storage area and then transmits it.

On the other hand, the document creation device 2 here uses a computer. The data input unit 25 is application software such as word processing software or spreadsheet software. The document creation device 2 includes a bidirectional interface 24 for performing bidirectional communication with the printer device 1.
The interface 22 is connected to a CPU 22 that functions as a data input unit 25 and a printer driver 22. The CPU 22 is provided with a memory 21 including a ROM, a RAM, and a hard disk, and stores various programs and data.

The CPU 22 has an input / output unit F
D drive is connected. In the example shown in FIG.
The control data to be downloaded to the printer device 2 is FD
(Floppy disk), and this FD is
Data is reproduced by the drive. In addition, the control data may be downloaded not only from the FD but also from other recording media or control data uploaded from a network via a telephone line.

Next, an example of operation in the configuration shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the updating process of the printer device 1. First, the download program is started in the document creation device 2 (step S).
01). Then, the printer driver 22 reads the FD 23 containing a plurality of download control data.

Next, the printer driver 22 requests control data information from the printer device 1. Then, in the printer device 1, the developing unit 14 reads out the model number information and the type information of the control data, and reads out the interfaces 13 and 24.
To the document creation device 2 via the. Then, the printer driver 22 acquires the control data information (step S02).

First, the printer driver 22 checks whether or not the corresponding control data is stored in the FD based on the model number information (step S03). When the corresponding control data is stored in the FD, the new and old control data are compared based on the type number (step S0).
4).

When the control data stored in the FD 23 is newer than the control data stored in the ROM 12 or the control program storage memory 11 of the printer 1, the printer driver 22 stores the control data in the FD 23. The transferred control data is transferred to the printer device 1 (step S05). As described above, since the new and old model number information and type information are compared in steps S03 to S04, it is possible to avoid a problem that a new control program is rewritten with an old control program.
Unnecessary data that is not suitable for the printer 1 is not transmitted to the printer 1.

On the other hand, when receiving the data transmitted from the document creating apparatus, the printer 1 determines whether the transmitted data is print data or control data.
As a determination method, a two-byte determination code is used as a basic control command of the printer device 1 from the beginning.
This is stored in M12, and only when the transmission data is control data, the determination is made by adding a determination code to the head of the data.

If the data determination result is print data, the process proceeds to the printing process as usual, and printing is performed. on the other hand,
If the determination result is control data, the process does not proceed to the printing process,
Initializes the nonvolatile memory for storing the control program and prepares for downloading the control program.

After the preparation is completed, the download data transmitted from the document creation device is stored in the control program storage memory 11.
Are written in sequence. After the writing operation, the control program storage memory 11 is rewritten with the new control program. Then, when the power of the printer device 1 is turned on again, the CPU 14 operates based on the newly downloaded control program.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the memory for storing the control program in the printer can be rewritten with new control data, and the information of the printer can be obtained from the document creating apparatus by bidirectional communication. Since there is no inconvenience that the control program existing in the apparatus is overwritten with old data due to a user's erroneous operation, the printer apparatus can always hold the latest control data. Also, since the document creation device can determine whether the control program of the printer is new or old,
Before sending the data, it can be determined whether a download is required. Further, since the model number of the printer device (developing unit) can be compared, the download data of another model is
D and can be distributed on one storage medium,
For this reason, control data can be distributed all at once at a reduced cost when upgrading.

Next, an embodiment in which the printer 1 updates the control data for emulation separately from the normal control data will be described. When emulation is performed in the above-described first embodiment, each control data has a configuration including a plurality of program parts for emulation. In the second embodiment, one control data is used for one emulation. The configuration uses data.

In this embodiment, the developing unit 14 of the printer 1 selects the control data based on an external command.
Control data selection function 14D. Further, in the document creation device 2, the printer driver 22 selects the control data corresponding to the model number information from the plurality of control data stored in the download data storage unit 23 based on the model number information from the printer device 1. A control data selection function 22C is provided.

The operation will be described. The document creation device 2
When the model number information and the type information are received from the printer device, a plurality of control data corresponding to the model number information is selected from a plurality of control data stored in the download data storage unit based on the model number information. This is control data for emulating the printer designated by the model number. Since the control data is specified by the model number information, all the specified control codes can be executed by the printer device 1.

Further, a plurality of control data selected by the type-specific control data selection function are transmitted to the printer 1 by the control data transmission function. Then, the printer device 1 stores the plurality of control data in the download control data storage unit 11. Further, the printer device 1
When a plurality of pieces of control data are stored in the download control data storage unit 11 as described above, the developing unit 14
The control data selection function 14D selects one of the plurality of control data in the download control data storage unit 11 based on an external command. Therefore, the developing unit 1
When the printer 4 receives a model number or a printer description language name of a printer device to be emulated as an external command, it performs a developing process based on control data according to the external command.

In the second embodiment, after the use of the printer device is started, it is necessary to emulate the printer device in accordance with the update of the operating system of the document creation device or the introduction of new application software. Then, control data enabling the emulation can be transmitted to the printer device.

In the first or second embodiment, a very advantageous effect is obtained when a plurality of printers are connected to one network. This means that the document creation apparatus receives the model number information of each printer and the type information of the control data from each printer, and thus updates the necessary control data from one FD to each printer once. This can be performed in a process, and there is no need to perform any complicated research such as checking the model number of each printer device or checking the version of control data.

Further, the printer driver 22 generates print data according to the model number of the printer device and the type of control data. Therefore, when installing an operating system or some application software in the document creation device,
An operation for specifying a printer to be used is required. However, in this embodiment, since the model number information and the type information of the control data are received from the printer device, the process of specifying the printer device to be used can be automatically performed based on the control data information.

[0051]

Since the present invention is constructed and functions as described above, according to this, the printer device notifies the model number information and the type information to the document creation device, and the document creation device
Since the control data corresponding to the model number information and the type information is transmitted to the printer device, only the necessary control data can be downloaded. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent a problem caused by unnecessary download of the control data. In addition, since control data is downloaded based on the model number information, even if control data for various types of printers is mixed, control data corresponding to the printer can be automatically selected. Can and therefore
New control data can be distributed collectively at low cost.
Can Ru. As described above, it is possible to provide an unprecedented superior printer device and document creation device that can easily and reliably update control data for rasterization processing of the printer device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a developing unit illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a document creation device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a printer driver illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the printer device illustrated in FIG. 1 and the document creation device illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation example in the configuration shown in FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 printer device 11 download control data storage unit (control program storage memory) 11A control data information storage unit 12 control data storage unit (ROM) 14 rasterization unit (CPU) 16 printing unit (printing mechanism) 2 document creation device 22 printer driver (CPU) 23 Download data storage unit (FD) 25 Data input unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B41J 5/30 G06F 3/12

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] A developing unit that develops print data from the document creating apparatus into image data based on predetermined control data; a printing unit that prints out the image data developed by the developing unit; A printer device comprising a control data storage unit stored in advance, wherein the control data storage unit stores the printer device or the control device.
Wherein the control data information storing unit for the model number information remembers that indicates the type of expansion unit, features and download control data storage unit for storing control data received from the document creation apparatus, the development unit, the control of the and model notification function for sending the model number <br/> information in the data information storage unit before SL document creation device, response Ji is Ru system <br/> control transmitted from the document creation apparatus on the model number information A control data receiving function of storing data in the download control data storage unit, and selecting control data stored in the download control data storage unit when control data is stored in the download control data storage unit A printer device comprising a first control data selection function. 2. The download control data storage section,
The printer device according to claim 1, wherein the printer device is a nonvolatile memory. 3. The printer device according to claim 1, wherein the developing unit has a second control data selection function of selecting the control data based on an external command. 4. A document creating apparatus comprising: a data input unit to which data consisting of a document or a graphic is input; and a printer driver for changing data from the data input unit to print data and transmitting the print data to a printer device. The printer driver is provided with a download data storage unit that stores a plurality of types of control data used for the expansion processing of the printer device.
Model number information indicating the type of opening and the version of the control data
Function to receive the type information indicating the
Document creating apparatus characterized by comprising a control data transmission function for transmitting to the printer device by selecting the control data in the download data storing unit on the basis of said type information. 5. The printer driver according to claim 1 , wherein
The download is performed based on the model number information transmitted from the device.
From a plurality of control data stored in the
Selects control data corresponding to model number information.
The document creation device according to claim 4, further comprising a data selection function . 6. The printer driver according to claim 1 , wherein
Based on the type information sent from the device,
Control data newer than the specified control data is
Download data stored in the download data storage unit.
Type-specific control data selector for selecting the new control data
6. The document creation apparatus according to claim 5, wherein
Place.