JP2792214B2 - Printer system controller - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention uses a printer system, in particular, a printer such as a xerography printer, which causes a time lag until the printer becomes substantially offline after an offline command. The present invention relates to an implementation of a control device in a printer system that suitably controls a printer operation after an offline command.

[Prior Art] With the recent networking of workstations and personal computers, a printer, which is one of the final output devices, is also connected between a plurality of users through a dedicated service device called a printer server. It is increasingly used in common.

On the other hand, on the other hand, demands for printing speed and printing quality for printers have been increasing, and so-called xerography printers that have actively adopted xerography technology have recently been able to respond to such demands. , Has been attracting attention.

By the way, this xerography printer also has satisfactory performance in terms of printing speed and printing quality, but it is a technology that makes it difficult to stop a series of processing operations halfway, such as xerography technology. For example, when an off-line (disconnection of logical connection on a network) command is issued through the printer server or the like, if any processing is continued at that time, the It is not possible to respond immediately, and as described above, a time lag that cannot be ignored is caused until the device goes to the offline state.

Incidentally, in such a xerographic printer, (A) the paper being printed is discharged until the printer is substantially brought to an offline state.

(B) Perform an abnormality check inside the machine.

(C) Refresh the memory (printer buffer memory) in preparation for receiving the next job.

(D) If there is no job, the power save mode is set. That is, the xerographic laser power supply and the fixing device power supply are temporarily turned off.

Must be completed, and only after all of these processes have been completed does the actual offline state be reached.
During this time, it takes about several seconds to several tens of seconds, and in the worst case, that is, when none of these processes has been completed when the offline command is issued, the time lag also reaches about several seconds to several tens of seconds. .

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] As described above, in a xerographic printer,
In many cases, there is a time lag that cannot be ignored from when the offline command is issued to when the offline state is substantially attained. However, it can be said that this is inevitable to some extent as the fate of adopting xerography technology.

However, conventionally, during this period, that is, the period from when the printer server or the like issues an offline command to the printer until the printer is substantially brought to the offline state, the time between the server and the printer is limited. Since no agreement has been made regarding the control, the operation between the server and the printer during this period has been extremely ambiguous for about several seconds to several tens of seconds.

For example, immediately after the off-line command is issued, if a feed command for starting the same printer is issued, the response on the printer side is extremely vague, and sometimes the printer is started or not started. Sometimes it goes offline.

Also, if a printer error such as a jam (paper jam) occurs after the above-mentioned offline command is issued (these errors that occur during printer operation should not be possible because they are offline). In Although,
If there is a time lag described above, it may actually occur), the status indicating that the error has occurred may be returned to the server side normally, or it may stop without any report. .

Such an ambiguous relationship between the server and the printer is often associated with serious trouble, especially when the printer is shared by multiple users via a network as described above. But these problems are also serious.

Usually, these servers and printers are often developed by different persons or organizations, respectively. Therefore, after the above-mentioned "offline command is issued from the server or the like to the printer, the printer is substantially The behavior of these servers and printers in the period until the device goes offline is also different for each model, and the actual situation is that "what happens will not be known" until something actually occurs.

In addition to the above-described xerographic printer, a printer system using a printer that causes a time lag until it goes offline after an off-line command generally has such a situation.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is possible to manage the behavior between a server and a printer after the occurrence of an off-line command in the above-described printer system, and to suitably control the operations thereof, and It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer system control device that can significantly improve the efficiency of development of these servers and printers and system adjustment.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In the present invention, the above-mentioned “period from when a server or the like issues an offline command to the printer to when the printer is substantially in the offline state” is newly referred to as “going offline”. , The information transfer mode between the server and the printer during the “going offline” period, and the individual behavior based on the transferred information are newly defined. For example,
The first control means is a control means on the server side, which mainly outputs various commands to the target printer. The control means, which returns a status indicating the status of the printer on the printer side and responds to the above-mentioned command. When the control means mainly performing direct control of each section of the printer is defined as the second control means, the second control means includes: (a) a command for instructing the printer to go offline from the first control means; Is issued, the first status (going offline status) that defines the printer status during the period from the issuance of this offline command command until the printer substantially goes offline, that is, the “going offline” period, is changed to the first status. Means for returning to the first control means.

(B) After returning the first status, the first command that can be normally executed in the printer state during the "going offline" period is jeopardized with the first command that can be issued from the first control means. A second status (rejection) in which the command is executed when the first command is received, and the execution of the commanded control is rejected when the second command is received. Means for returning (status) to the first control means.

The first control means includes: (c) for the command in which the second status is returned after the first status is returned, on the condition that the printer is online. Means to resend.

Is provided.

[Operation] When the off-line command command is issued, at least the means (a) on the printer side recognizes that the printer has transitioned to the “going offline” state, and changes the first status to the first status. Will be returned to the control means.

Also, the first control means recognizes that the target printer has transitioned to the “going offline” state by returning the first status.

Therefore, thereafter, both the first and second control means execute the newly defined “going offline”.
The control mode can be shifted to a new control mode based on the period. In particular, if the operation of the printer is defined as the control mode based on the classification of the command through the means (b), the printer can operate even during the same period. The obscure behavior of the printer is at least avoided, and even if there is a command rejected through the means (b), the command retransmission control by the means (c) causes the printer to go into the "going offline" state. As a result, the occurrence of an abnormal command on the server side, the lack of command information, and the like caused by the error can be satisfactorily avoided.

Note that, even during such a “going off-line” period, a jam or other unrecoverable error may occur in the printer as described above. In order to cope with such an error, (d) after returning the first status to the second control means, when an irrecoverable error occurs in the printer, the operation of the printer is reset. Means for stopping and returning a third status indicating this to the first control means.

May be provided. As a result, even during such a “going offline” period, an abnormality on the printer side can be reliably grasped on the server side, and a major trouble can be prevented from occurring.

In any case, when the second control means issues a command to instruct the printer to go offline from the first control means, the occurrence of the off-line command command causes the printer to go to an offline state substantially. A specific status (going off-line status) that defines the printer status during the period up to is generated. During the period in which the specific status thus generated is valid, the first and second control units operate in the same printer status. If the function of shifting to a specific control mode in order to define various operations in is basically provided as a control device of the printer system, the above-mentioned ambiguous operation between the server and the printer can be avoided.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a printer system to which the present invention is applied, and an example of a control device thereof.

As shown in FIG. 1, this printer system is largely constituted by a printer server 10 connected to a network NW together with workstations WS1, WS2, etc., and a xerographic printer 20. I have.

The printer server 10 includes a printer control program 11a in which a basic printer control procedure as a printer server is described, and a `` going offline '' newly defined in the present invention, that is, from the server 10 to the printer 20. A program memory mainly storing a GOFL (Going OFf Line) program 11b in which a printer control procedure for a period from when an off-line command is issued until the printer 20 becomes substantially off-line is described. And a server controller 12 for executing various processes and controls required for the printer server 10, such as sending various commands to the printer 20 while reading out a program stored in the program memory 11. And mainly exchange data with the above network NW A communication IF (interface) 13, a data memory 14 for temporarily storing the exchanged data, a decoding of operation contents of the keyboard 17, a transmission of the decoding contents to the server controller 12, and the server controller 12 Data exchange between the console control unit 15 which mainly performs display control of the information on the display 16 and the like based on the display command of various information by the printer and the service target printer 20 (mainly, transmission of commands and reception of status) The printer server 10 basically comprises a printer IF (interface) 18. The printer server 10 transmits printer control commands based on the operation of the server itself, as well as the communication IF.
13, printer control commands based on the operations of the workstations WS1, WS2, etc. can be interpreted and the corresponding commands can be sent to the service target printer 20. . In this case, various statuses returned from the printer 20 are also returned to the workstation.

On the other hand, the printer 20 is a state management program 21a in which a basic state management procedure as a xerographic printer and a direct control procedure of each part of the printer according to the managed state are described. A program memory 21 mainly storing a GOFL (Going OFf Line) program 21b in which the same state management procedure, control procedure, and the like for the “going offline” period described above are described.
A printer that executes various processes and controls required for each time inside the printer, including returning various statuses indicating the status of the printer to the printer server 10 while reading out programs stored in the printer. The internal controller 22 and a server IF 23 that cooperates with the printer IF 18 to exchange data (mainly, accept commands and return statuses) with the printer server 10 and are transmitted via the server 10. Data buffer 24 for temporarily storing print data (print data for one page), a xerographic unit, a fixing device, sensors for detecting the state of each unit, a display (usually a liquid crystal type), a keyboard ( It is usually connected to a printer main body 26 equipped with a numeric keypad as a main unit), an offline switch, and the like. An internal IF (interface) 25 for exchanging various necessary data with the internal controller 22 is basically provided.

As described above, in the control device of the printer system according to this embodiment, both the printer server 10 and the printer 20 have new control or management modes on the server side or the printer side during the “going offline” period, respectively. GOFL programs 11b and 21b described
Once the offline command is issued and the "going offline" period defined here is reached, the printer server 10 and the printer 20 follow the contents defined by these GOFL programs 11b and 21b. A new printer control operation is started.

In the printer 20, it is assumed that the printer body 26 itself is generally known as a xerographic printer, and detailed illustration and description thereof are omitted.

Further, a normal printer control algorithm between the xerographic printer and the printer server is also known, and the detailed description thereof is omitted here.

FIG. 2 shows the contents of the procedure mainly described in the GOFL program 11b, and FIG.
Procedure contents mainly described in the GOFL program 21b described above are exemplified.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the program 11b, which is a GOFL program on the side of the printer server 10, responds to the presence or absence of “OFL (offline: OFf Line) status” from the printer internal controller 22 (see FIG. 2). If the OFL status is not returned, the flag F1 is set on condition that the "GOFL (going offline) status" is returned (steps S120, S140 and S141 in FIG. 2). , OFL
Until the status is returned, a numeric key status (status indicating that the keyboard arranged on the printer main body 26 is operated) from the printer 20 is returned, or a printer self-diagnosis instruction from any user on the network. Or a printer online instruction, and further, when there is a printer feed instruction accompanying a processing request such as the double-sided printing request, stapling request, punching specification request, sorter bin specification request, or paper tray specification request, etc.
Basically, commands corresponding to these instruction contents are transmitted (steps S123 to S130 in FIG. 2). During this time, for example, a "low temperature error", a "high temperature error", or a "jam" If there is a reply of "emergency stop status" due to the occurrence of an error that cannot be immediately recovered such as "(paper jam)" or a reply of "reject status" rejecting command acceptance (steps S121 and S122 in FIG. 2), The corresponding transmission command is stored in the data memory 14 or an internal register or the like as appropriate in queue registration (queue registration) or the like (step S131 in FIG. 2) to prepare for the next online processing.

Is a program that mainly describes such procedures. As a special case, when the online instruction is given during the “going offline” period, only a flag operation such as setting a flag F2 is performed (step S12 in FIG. 2).
8) After receiving the above “OFL (offline) status” from the printer 20, the “ONL (online:
ON Line) command ”to enter online processing (steps S110, S111, S112 and FIG. 2).
S113). Also, in FIG. 2, steps S150 to S180 show processing related to normal printer control defined in the printer control program 11a.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the program 21b, which is a GOFL program on the printer 20, has a condition that an “OFL (offline) command” is sent from the server controller 12 (step S210 in FIG. 3). GO
FL (going offline) status "to the server controller 12 (step S220 in FIG. 3),
Thereafter, if the numeric key of the printer 20 is depressed until the above-mentioned offline condition of the printer main body 26 is satisfied (step S251 in FIG. 3), the status ("numeric key status") indicating the same is changed. A reply is sent to the server controller 12 (step S252 in FIG. 3), and when a “numeric display command” is issued from the server controller 12 based on the reply (step S253 in FIG. 3), the display of the printer 20 is displayed on the display. The contents of the instruction are displayed (step S254 in FIG. 3), and when a “self-diagnosis command” corresponding to the self-diagnosis instruction is issued from the server controller 12 (step S255 in FIG. 3), In response, the self-diagnosis process of the printer 20 is executed (step S256 in FIG. 3), and the printer feed instruction is received from the A command such as a "feed command", a "double-sided printing command", a "staple stop command", a "punching command", a "sorter bin command", or a "tray specifying command" corresponding to the above various requests was issued. In this case (step S257 in FIG. 3), the “reject status” is returned to the server controller 12. However, during this time, if an error that cannot be recovered immediately occurs in the printer 20 (step S230 in FIG. 3), the printer main body 26 is emergency stopped (step S23 in FIG. 3).
1) The "emergency stop status" indicating this is returned to the server controller 12 (step S232 in FIG. 3), and when the offline condition of the printer 20 is satisfied without error (FIG. 3) In step S240, the “OFL (offline) status” is returned to the server controller 12 (step S241 in FIG. 3).

Is a program that mainly describes such procedures. In FIG. 3, steps S260 to S270
Shows processing before the above-mentioned “OFL (offline) command” is issued, that is, processing related to normal printer management and control defined in the state management program 21a.

In such a printer system, the method of issuing the off-line request is usually (a) the off-line switch mounted on the printer main body 26 is operated.

(B) A command is input through the keyboard 17 of the printer server 10.

(C) An instruction is given via a workstation or the like connected to the network NW.

In any of these cases, the printer control program 11 is interpreted to that effect through the server controller 12 and stored in the program memory 11.
As one procedure of a, an "OFL (offline) command" is issued.

Therefore, for example, now (*) many print request jobs are issued to the printer server 10 by each workstation or the like on the network NW (FIG. 1).

(*) In the printer server 10, these print request jobs are queued in the data memory 14 or the like (waiting for the processing order).

(*) The N-th job designating the number of sheets to be printed is started, and three sheets are present in the printing process (sheet transport path) in the printer body 26 at present.

(*) Since before, the printer 20 has issued a status indicating that the amount of remaining toner is low, and the operator who has confirmed this status through the monitor screen (display 16) of the workstation or the printer server 10 has determined at this time that Then, an off-line switch mounted on the printer 20 was pressed to supply toner. At this time, the job being printed has completed discharging one sheet of paper, and three sheets of printing paper are being processed inside the printer.

(*) When the above-mentioned offline switch is pressed, a status to that effect is immediately sent to the server controller 12, and
Further, the server controller 12 receiving this stops the transmission of the “feed command” for instructing the printer 20 to supply the fifth sheet based on the printer control program 11a stored in the program memory 11, and Sent the above “OFL (offline) command”.

Then, the control device of this embodiment recognizes the generation of the OFL command through the printer internal controller 22 (step S210 in FIG. 3), and then controls the printer internal controller.
A "GOFL (going offline) status" is returned to the server controller 12 through the server 22 (step S2 in FIG. 3).
20) Transition to a control mode for the above “going offline” period (hereinafter, this control mode is referred to as “going offline” mode).

Then, in the control device that has shifted to the “going offline” mode, thereafter, the GOFL program 11b (second
Based on FIG. 21 and FIG. 21b (FIG. 3), the operation control of the server 10 and the printer 20 is started in the mode shown in FIG. 4 (a) or FIG. 4 (b). By the way, the fourth
The figure shows the above GOFL programs 11b of the control device of this embodiment.
And the control algorithm described and defined in FIGS. 21b and 21b is shown as a time chart for convenience.

First, FIG. 4 (a) schematically shows these control procedures when an error that cannot be immediately recovered on the printer 20 side occurs during the above-mentioned "going offline" period. As described above, the control device sends (1) an OFL (offline) command to the printer internal controller 22 through the server controller 12 in response to the offline request (t11).

(2) In response to this, a GOFL (going offline) status is returned to the server controller 12 through the printer internal controller 22 (t12).

The procedure shifts to the "going off-line" mode through such a procedure. Thereafter, the sensor of the printer main body 26 detects the improper recovery such as "low temperature error" or "high temperature error" of the fixing device or "jam (paper jam)". On condition that the occurrence of a possible error has been detected (t13), (3) the operation of the printer main body 26 is stopped immediately,
A status indicating this is returned to the server controller 12 via the printer internal controller 22, and at the same time, the printer 20 is brought into an offline state (t14).

Such control is executed through the GOFL programs 11b and 21b.

In this case, the above-mentioned operator takes necessary measures according to the error content displayed on the display of the printer 20.

FIG. 4 (b) classifies and shows control procedures for dealing with the various commands that may be issued in the "going offline" mode. In response to the request, the server controller 12 sends an OFL (offline) command to the printer internal controller 22 (t21).

(2) A GOFL (going off-line) status is returned to the server controller 12 through the printer internal controller 22 receiving this (t 22).

In the control device that has shifted to the “going offline” mode through such a procedure, when the numeric keypad of the printer body 26 is subsequently operated, for example, (3) the server controller 12 is sent to the server controller 12 through the printer internal controller 22. The "numeric key status" is sent (t23).

(4) In response to this, a “numeric display command” is sent to the printer internal controller 22 through the server controller 12.
Is transmitted (t 24).

(5) The transmitted "number display command" is determined to be a command that can be executed even in the "going offline mode", and the content is displayed on the display of the printer main body 26 through the printer internal controller 22. I do.

Is executed through the GOFL programs 11b and 21b, or when a self-diagnosis request or an online request is made to the printer 20, (6) a corresponding “self-diagnosis command” is transmitted through the server controller 12. Or an "ONL (online) command" to the printer internal controller 22 (t24).

(7) These sent commands are also determined to be executable commands during the "going offline mode", and the printer internal controller 22 is caused to execute the required commands.

Such control is executed through the respective GOFL programs 11b and 21b.

However, as described above with reference to FIG. 2, the “ONL (online) command” is
After the "going off-line" mode ends, the commanded control is executed again (t 2
7). Alternatively, when the "ONL (online) command" is transmitted, the "going offline mode" may be interrupted and the content may immediately shift to the "online" state.

In the "going offline" mode, a processing request such as a double-sided printing request, a stapling request, a punching specification request, a sorter bin specification request, or a paper tray specification request is issued to the printer 20 together with the activation request. In this case, the control device includes: (8) a “feed command” for instructing activation,
“Duplex printing command”, “staple stop command”, “drilling specification command”,
A command such as a "sorter designation command" or a "tray designation command" is sent to the printer internal controller 22 through the server controller 12 (t24).

However, in the case of these commands, it cannot always be executed normally in the printer state related to the “going off-line”. (9) “Reject status” which rejects acceptance of these commands through the printer internal controller 22 Is returned to the server controller 12 (t25).

Is executed through the GOFL program 21b,
At the same time, for the server 10 side: (10) If this "reject status" is received, the command which has received the "reject status" is paired with the above "feed command", The command pair is temporarily stored (registered in a queue) in a register 14 or the inside of the server controller 12, and thereafter, when the above-mentioned “online” state is reached, the command pair is retransmitted.

Such control is executed through the GOFL program 11b.

In parallel with these processes, the control device monitors the status of the printer main body 26, and when the status becomes substantially the above-mentioned offline status, that is, (A) ejects the paper being printed.

(B) Perform an abnormality check inside the machine.

(C) Refresh the memory (printer buffer memory) in preparation for receiving the next job.

(D) If there is no job, the power save mode is set.

When all the processes are completed, the “OFL (offline) status” is sent through the printer internal controller 22.
Is returned to the server controller 12 (t26).

Thereby, between the server 10 and the printer 20,
Go to a virtual offline state. Of course, the above “OFL
Even if immediately after the (offline) command is issued, as long as the conditions for such an offline state on the printer 20 side are satisfied, the “OFL (offline) status” is transmitted through the printer internal controller 22.
Is returned, and the transition to the offline state between the server 10 and the printer 20 is completed.

Once the transition to the offline state is completed,
The operator confirms the off-line display displayed on the display almost simultaneously with the stop of the printer 20, and then replaces the toner.

Thereafter, when the operator depresses an online switch (not shown: for example, an off-line switch and a toggle switch) of the printer 20, the printer status management and control is thereafter performed based on the status management program 21 a. A key online status, that is, a status indicating that the online switch has been pressed, is sent to the server controller 12 through the printer internal controller 22 which will execute the command. The predetermined printer control is executed based on the printer control program 11a, and an "online command" is transmitted according to the key online status, and the job (the Nth job) is restarted. To start the delivery of stopping the serial sending "feed command".

As described above, according to the embodiment control device, even if a command is transmitted during the “going off-line” period, these transmitted commands are transmitted during the “going off-line” period. Commands that can be executed even if they are present and commands that cannot be executed normally are classified in advance, and whether or not they can be executed is specified so that there is no inconvenience. In addition, since the procedure and the countermeasure are clearly defined, the ambiguous behavior between the server 10 and the printer 20 after the off-line command is issued can be eliminated.

In the above embodiment, a command whose normal execution is at risk during the “going offline” period is also sent from the server controller. Alternatively, the server may determine whether the command transmission is appropriate or not, and may prohibit the transmission of these commands. In short, during the period when the above-mentioned "going offline status" is valid, the operation of the server and the printer is uniquely determined so long as an agreement is made on the operations of both of them, as described above, The same effect can be obtained.

In some printer systems, when an offline switch is operated on the printer side, an "offline command" is directly generated in the printer without going through the server controller. The control device according to the invention can be applied.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a printer system using a xerographic printer is assumed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a printer system using a printer that causes a time lag until it becomes substantially offline after an offline command is issued. If so, the control device according to the present invention can be applied to any other system.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, after the offline command is issued from the server or the like to the printer, the period until the printer is substantially set to the offline state is newly referred to as “going offline”. ", And the information transfer mode between the server and the printer during the" going offline "period, and the individual behavior based on the transferred information are newly defined. Also, ambiguous behavior between printers is avoided, and the reliability of the printer system is significantly improved.

In addition to defining the “going offline” period for the server and the printer in this way, and newly defining each operating condition or operating sequence in the period, the synchronization between the server and the printer during the synchronization is defined. The operation and behavior will also be generalized, and as a result, many operation tests and adjustment work that have been repeated so far in the development of these devices and new introduction into the system will be eliminated or simplified. Become. This means that the efficiency of the development and system adjustment of these servers and printers is also greatly improved through the control device according to the present invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a control device of a printer system according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control procedure on the server side in a “going offline” mode of the control device of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a control procedure on the printer side in the “going offline” mode of the control device of the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a time chart generally showing an operation in a “going offline” mode of the control device of the embodiment. 10: Printer server, 11: Program memory, 11a
... Printer control program, 11b GOFL (going offline) program, 12 Server controller, 13 Communication IF (interface), 14 Data memory, 15 Console control unit, 16 Display, 17 …… Keyboard, 18… Printer IF (interface), 20… Printer, 21 …… Program memory,
21a: State management program, 21b: GOFL (going offline) program, 22: Printer internal controller, 23: Server IF (interface), 24: Data buffer, 25: Internal IF (interface), 26
... The printer itself.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B41J 5/30 B41J 21/30 B41J 29/38 G06F 3/12

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] A first control means externally connected to a printer as a printer server to mainly output various commands to the printer, and a status return provided in the printer main body and indicating a status of the printer. And second control means for mainly performing direct control of each section of the printer in accordance with the command. The operation of the printer through transmission and reception of commands and status between the first and second control means. In the control device of the printer system that executes the control, when the second control means issues a command to instruct the printer to go offline from the first control means, the printer is controlled by the off-line command command. A first status defining a printer status during a period up to a substantially offline status is set to a first control method. And a command issued from the first control unit after returning the first status to a first command that can be normally executed in a printer state related to the first status. The command is classified into a second command whose normal execution is jeopardized, and executes the control instructed when the first command is accepted, and rejects the execution of the commanded control in accepting the second command. Means for returning a second status to the first control means, the first control means comprising: a command for returning the second status after returning the first status. And a means for resending the print data on condition that the printer is online. 2. When the printer returns an error that cannot be recovered after returning the first status, the second control means stops the operation of the printer and gives an indication to that effect. 3. The printer system control device according to claim 1, further comprising means for returning the status of No. 3 to the first control means. 3. A first control means externally connected to a printer as a printer server for mainly outputting various commands to the printer, and a status return provided in the printer main body and indicating a status of the printer. And second control means for mainly performing direct control of each section of the printer in accordance with the command. The operation of the printer through transmission and reception of commands and status between the first and second control means. In the control device of the printer system for performing the control, the second control means, when a command for commanding the printer offline is issued from the first control means, the printer is controlled from the generation of the offline command command. Raises a specific status that defines the printer status until it is effectively offline, Produced the particular period status is valid, the first and second control means, the control device of a printer system to shift to a specific control mode for defining the various operations in the printer status.