JP3047893B2 - Print control method and apparatus, recording medium - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a print control technique, and more particularly to a print control technique in which print data to be transferred to a printing apparatus having a receiving buffer exceeds a preset timeout time. The present invention relates to a method for suppressing the occurrence of an alarm in a print control device that generates a predetermined alarm.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an ink jet printer as an example of a printing apparatus, a part of ink stays in the vicinity of an ink discharge port of a head, and the accumulated amount increases with time. Therefore, periodically or when the free space of the receiving buffer of the printer controller becomes equal to or less than a certain value, the mode is automatically shifted to the cleaning mode, the head is positioned outside the printing range, and forced ejection or the like is performed. If the printer has not been used for a long time, the vicinity of the ink discharge port of the head may be clogged due to drying. Therefore, the mode is switched to the cleaning mode when the power is turned on. The cleaning mode may take as long as about 10 minutes, during which the printer engine does not accept print data. In such a state during normal printing, the receiving buffer becomes full immediately, and the transfer of print data from the host computer stops. If the state in which the print data cannot be transferred continues beyond the predetermined time-out period, the host computer recognizes the error as a write error to the printer, and a dialog for allowing the user to retry or cancel the printing. The window is displayed.

However, this write error is automatically restored when the print data in the reception buffer is passed to the printer engine and the full state is released. Therefore,
As described above, it is inherently preferable not to display the dialog window when the operation automatically returns. Therefore, conventionally, when the remaining amount of the reception buffer becomes equal to or less than a certain amount, the mode is automatically shifted to the intermittent printing mode, and the reception rate of the print data is limited, so that the reception buffer is less likely to be full.

[0004]

The intermittent printing mode as described above is an effective means when the transfer rate of print data from the host computer to the printer, that is, when the receiving rate on the printer side is relatively low. Was. However, recently, as a connection interface between a host computer and a printer, for example, a USB (Universal Serial
rial Bas) and IEEE Standard 1394-1995 (IEEE = T
he Institute of Electrical and Electronics Enginee
rs, Inc.) has come to be used. In such a high-speed serial interface, transfer of print data is performed in packet units, that is, 64 bytes or 1024 bytes, and the size of transfer data per one time is relatively large.

The timeout time is a time for writing the entire print data from the host computer to the reception buffer, and this value is conventionally fixed. Therefore, if the host computer inputs print data in units of 4096 bytes and transfers the print data to the printer with a packet size of 64 bytes, if the timeout time is “45 seconds”, the print data is received within the timeout buffer. In order to write the data in the packet, it is necessary to receive the packet at 0.7 seconds (= 45 seconds / (4096 bytes ÷ 64 bytes)). In this case, if the intermittent printing mode is to be continued for 10 minutes (600 seconds) for the above-described cleaning mode, for example, 55 kilobytes (= 64 bytes × 600 seconds ÷ 0.7 seconds) are stored in the reception buffer.
It is necessary to secure capacity. Since the receiving buffer is usually about 64 kilobytes, most of its capacity must be reserved for the intermittent printing mode, and resources cannot be used effectively.

Further, the size of print data in the intermittent printing mode varies depending on the setting of printer properties, and there is no guarantee that the size is the same depending on the version of the operating system (OS). Such a situation is common to other printing apparatuses having a function of generating a write error in the reception buffer, and improvement has been desired.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved print control method that can suppress the occurrence of a write error that can be automatically restored and that can effectively use resources. . Another object of the present invention is to provide a print control device suitable for implementing the print control method and a recording medium for causing a host computer to execute the print control method.

[0008]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control method including a computer device for transferring input print data to a reception buffer of a printing apparatus, the print data being transferred to the reception buffer. The computer
And residence time in the chromatography data system is a print control method in a printing system in which a predetermined alarm is generated in the computer device when it exceeds a predetermined setting time, the initial value of the set time, the lowest of the print data Transfer rate ,
The maximum buffer size to be secured in the receive buffer , and
Determined in based on the maximum value of the unit size of the fine print data,
It is characterized in that the time is set to a time sufficient to suppress the occurrence of the alarm, and the set time is dynamically updated according to the unit size of the input print data or the actual transfer rate. The minimum transfer rate is , for example, a transfer rate in the intermittent print mode, and the initial value is set based on the maximum time during which the intermittent print mode continues.

[0009] The printing control apparatus of the present invention to solve the above other problem is a device for transferring the input print data into the receiving buffer of the printing apparatus, the self of the print data
In those for generating a predetermined alarm when the residence time in the apparatus exceeds a predetermined set time, and detecting means for detecting a unit size or transfer rate of the print data, the initial value of the set time, the print data Based on the minimum transfer rate , the maximum buffer size to be secured in the reception buffer , and the maximum value of the unit size of print data.
Sufficient to suppress the occurrence of the alarm
And a setting time management means for dynamically updating the setting time in accordance with at least one of the unit size and the transfer rate detected by the detection means.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium having a computer-readable recording medium storing a program code for causing a computer for transferring input print data to a receiving buffer of a printing apparatus to execute the following processing. It is a possible recording medium. (1) processing for generating a predetermined alarm when the residence time of the print data in the computer device exceeds a predetermined set time; (2) setting the initial value of the set time to the print data The minimum transfer rate, the maximum buffer size to be secured in the reception buffer, and the maximum unit size of print data
Determined in based on the value, cormorants to suppress the generation of the alarm
Ede sufficient time setting to be processed, (3) a process of detecting the unit size or transfer rate of the print data, (4) the setting time in accordance with at least one of the detected unit size and the transfer rate dynamic Processing to update to.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, an example of a printing system to which the present invention is applied is shown in FIG. This printing system is configured by connecting a host computer 1 and a printer 2 having a reception buffer via a printer cable.

The host computer 1 executes a program, controls and monitors the program through a predetermined system program. More specifically, a CPU (Central processing unit) and RA arranged on a system board (not shown)
M (Randum Access Memory), ROM (Read Only)
Memory) and a physical input / output interface port (I
/ O port) and internal or external hard disk (H
D) 3) and the CPU appropriately converts the required program into H
The data is read from D3 and the required processing or control is executed.
The I / O port includes a parallel port, a serial port, and a USB port. In the following description, it is assumed that the printer 2 is compatible with USB and the printer 2 is connected via a USB port. The HD 3 stores an application program (hereinafter, “AP”) for generating print data, a print control program for realizing the print control device of the present invention, and the like.

The host computer 1 also includes a display device 4 having a monitor screen, a data input device 5 for inputting various setting information, a CD-ROM drive, and an FD.
A media reading device 6 including the communication device D and a communication control device 7 serving as a connection interface with a private network are connected. The display device 4 is configured to display a predetermined dialog window in response to an instruction of a system program, an AP, a print control program, or the like.

A control program for realizing the printing control device is a portable recording medium such as a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk,
It is recorded in a form readable by the host computer 1 on a D-ROM, a CD-R, a DVD, or a magnetic tape, distributed, and installed in the HD 3 through the media reading device 6 when the printer 2 is used. Alternatively, it is installed in the HD 3 from a program server accessible through the communication control device 7. By executing only the control program, not only a function as a print control device is formed, but also an operating system running on the host computer 1 executes actual processing based on an instruction of the control program. A part may be performed, and a function as a print control device may be formed through the processing.

Next, an embodiment of the printing control apparatus of the present invention realized by the host computer 1 reading the printing control program will be described.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a main part of the print control apparatus according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the print control device 10 has a GDI module 11 having a drawing processing function that is not restricted by the type of device, performs overall control of the device related to print control, and receives an instruction from the AP or the data input device 5. Understand the input contents and create a print control code suitable for the printer 2 and convert it into a command code (hereinafter collectively referred to as “print data”) for causing the printer 2 to execute a print process. A print management unit 12, a spool file 13 for spooling print data, a USB device driver 15, a USB host computer controller driver 16, and a USB
It has a USB port monitor 14 that controls a USB port through the controller 17 and establishes a communication channel with the print management unit 12. Actually, in addition to the USB port monitor 14, there are other port monitors such as a local port monitor for controlling the parallel port, but they are not directly related to the embodiment of the present invention, and therefore, the description thereof is omitted here.

The print management unit 12 calls the USB port monitor 14 during the initial operation. US in response to this call
The B port monitor 14 notifies the print management unit 1 of a valid USB port on the host computer 1. Accordingly, the print management unit 12 generates a list of USB ports, holds information indicating which printer is associated with which USB port, and cooperates with the USB port monitor 14 based on the information. Then, the print data is transferred to the printer 2.

The USB port monitor 14 has the functions of a data size detector 141, a timer 142, and a timeout time manager 143, as shown in FIG.

The data size detector 141 detects the unit size of the print data input from the print manager 12 (spool file 13), and the timer 142 measures the residence time of the print data to be transferred to the printer 2. The timeout time management unit 143 sets and updates the timeout time by the timer 142. The stagnation of print data occurs in the above-described cleaning mode, when the printing paper is out of paper, or in other printer abnormalities. If the timer 142 times out due to these causes, the USB port monitor 14 recognizes the error as a write error in the printer 2, and entrusts the display device 4 to the display device 4 through the print management unit 12 to determine whether to retry or cancel printing. Is displayed.

In the print control apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, in order to suppress at least the occurrence of a writing error in the cleaning mode, the initial value of the timeout time is secured by the minimum transfer rate of the print data and the reception buffer of the printer 2. A relatively long time is set based on the maximum buffer size to be set. The lowest transfer rate is assumed to be the transfer rate in the intermittent printing mode in which the mode automatically shifts in the cleaning mode, and the time during which the intermittent printing mode continues is calculated and set as the initial value.

Specifically, assuming that the maximum buffer size is 20 kilobytes and one packet is 64 bytes, the number of packets that can be written to the reception buffer is 31 bytes.
2.5 (= 20 kilobytes / 64 bytes). In order to set the maximum time during which the intermittent printing mode continues (for example, assuming a head cleaning time) to be 10 minutes (= 600 seconds), and to reduce the number of write packets during this time to 312.5 or less, transfer one packet. The time required is about 2 seconds (= 600
Second / 312.5 times), that is, the transfer rate needs to be 64 bytes / 2 seconds.

On the other hand, assuming that the unit size of the input print data is 4096 bytes at the maximum, 64 packets (= 40
96/64), and the transfer speed of each packet is 2 seconds. Therefore, the timeout time for avoiding a write error is at least 128 seconds (= 2 seconds × 64).
Is required. Therefore, by setting 140 seconds obtained by adding a margin of about 10% to this value as the initial value, a writing error does not occur at least when the printer 2 shifts to the cleaning mode.

When printing is actually performed, the print management unit 12
The unit size of the input print data is not fixed and varies depending on the print job from the AP and the properties of the printer 2. Therefore, if the timeout period is left at the initial value in order to avoid a writing error, the original function of the writing error cannot be utilized. Therefore, in the print control apparatus 10, the data size detection unit 141 detects the unit size of the actually input print data, and the timeout time management unit 143 dynamically updates the timeout time according to the detected unit size. I did it.

A new time-out period to be updated can be obtained in the same procedure as the above-mentioned initial value.
For example, when the unit size of the print data is 2048 bytes, the timeout time is reduced to 64 seconds (70 seconds when a 10% margin is added).

Although the above is an example in which only the unit size of print data is used as a variable parameter, the USB port monitor 14 detects the transfer rate to the printer 2 (reception rate at the printer 2). May be provided, and a new timeout period may be obtained based on the detected transfer rate to perform the update. Alternatively, a new timeout time may be obtained by combining the detected unit size and the transfer rate. When the printer 2 notifies that the mode has been switched from the unit size intermittent print mode to the normal print mode, the transfer rate can be recalculated and a new timeout time can be obtained in response to this notification.

As described above, the print control apparatus 1 of the present embodiment
In the case of 0, the initial value of the timeout time is set to be longer, and this is dynamically updated according to the size and transfer rate of the actually input print data. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of a write error that automatically returns while utilizing the function.
Further, since it is not necessary to secure an extra receiving buffer of the printer 2, the resources can be effectively used.

In the present embodiment, a printer having a USB port has been described as an example.
The present invention can be similarly applied to a printer that can be connected to a serial bus conforming to -1995.
Further, the present invention can be similarly applied to other printing apparatuses having a reception buffer. However, in these cases,
It is necessary to prepare a port monitor having the same function as the USB port monitor 14, and various device drivers and controllers that perform the same control as the USB device driver 15, USB host controller driver 16, and USB controller 17.

[0028]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, a write error that can be automatically restored without the need to secure an extra size of the receiving buffer on the printing apparatus side is generated. And a unique effect that resources can be effectively used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a printing system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a main part configuration diagram of a print control apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 has functions of a data size detection unit 141, a timer 142, and a timeout time management unit 143, like the USB port monitor according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Host computer 2 Printer 3 Hard disk 4 Display device 5 Data input device 6 Media reading device 7 Communication control device 10 Printing control device 11 GDI module 12 Print management unit 13 Spool file 14 USB port monitor 15 USB device driver 16 USB host controller driver 17 USB controller 141 Data size detection unit 142 Timer 143 Timeout time management unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-61-294968 (JP, A) JP-A-5-313837 (JP, A) JP-A-8-76944 (JP, A) JP-A-6-294 297812 (JP, A) JP-A-60-534 (JP, A) JP-A-10-109464 (JP, A) JP-A-6-202823 (JP, A) JP-A-1-159262 (JP, A) JP-A-6-131134 (JP, A) JP-A-9-30088 (JP, A) JP-A-5-313836 (JP, A) JP-A-4-71880 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 5/30 B41J 29/38 G06F 3/12

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A computer device for transferring input print data to a reception buffer of a printing apparatus, wherein the computer device transmits print data to the reception buffer.
Those when the residence time in the location exceeds a predetermined set time
A printing control method in a printing system in which a predetermined alarm occurs in the computer system, the initial value of the set time, a minimum transfer rate of the print data, the maximum buffer size to be reserved in the receive buffer, and the Based on the maximum unit size of print data
Sufficient to suppress the occurrence of the alarm
Printing control method characterized by such time may be set to dynamically update the setting time in accordance with the unit size or actual transfer rate of print data input. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the lowest transfer rate is a transfer rate in an intermittent print mode, and the initial value is set based on a maximum time during which the intermittent print mode continues. Print control method. 3. A device for transferring to the receive buffer of the printing apparatus the input print data, the self of the print data
Detecting a unit size or a transfer rate of the print data by generating a predetermined alarm when the residence time in the apparatus exceeds a predetermined set time; and setting an initial value of the set time to the print data. minimum transfer rate, the maximum buffer size to be reserved in the receive buffer, and based on the maximum value of the unit size of the print data
Set a time sufficient to suppress the occurrence of the alarm, and dynamically update the set time according to at least one of the unit size and the transfer rate detected by the detection means. A print control device comprising a set time management unit. 4. The printing control apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising control means for controlling a USB (Universal Serial Bass) port, wherein the print data is transferred to the printing apparatus through the control means. . 5. A control device for controlling a serial bus based on IEEE Standard 1394-1995, further comprising:
4. The printing control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said print data is transferred to said printing apparatus through said control means. 6. A computer-readable recording medium in which a program code for causing a computer device that transfers input print data to a reception buffer of a printing device to execute the following processing is recorded. (1) processing for generating a predetermined alarm when the residence time of the print data in the computer device exceeds a predetermined set time; (2) setting the initial value of the set time to the print data The minimum transfer rate, the maximum buffer size to be secured in the reception buffer, and the maximum unit size of print data
Determined in based on the value, cormorants to suppress the generation of the alarm
Ede sufficient time setting to be processed, (3) a process of detecting the unit size or transfer rate of the print data, (4) the setting time in accordance with at least one of the detected unit size and the transfer rate dynamic Processing to update to.