JP3195102B2 - Print control apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing control apparatus and method for controlling a general-purpose printer for outputting data from a data input source such as a computer system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional computer system,
A printer receives data such as a character code and a control code from a host computer as a connected data input source and performs printing. For that purpose, the data communication protocol between the printer and the host computer needs to be the same. . Therefore, the types of host computers that can be connected to a single printer are limited.

In order to realize a general-purpose printer that can be used by connecting to a plurality of types of host computers, a protocol converter (a unit incorporating emulation software for emulating a host protocol,
(Hereinafter, referred to as EM).

In such a method, when directly connected to one host computer and used, an E for adapting to the protocol of the host computer first is used.
I just connected M to the printer, but LAN
(Local area network) or a plurality of types of host computers simultaneously connected and used via a printer mode switching device having a plurality of built-in EMs, each time the type of host computer requesting printing changes. EM is replaced or EM
The user has to perform a complicated operation such as changing a switch for changing the setting.

In order to eliminate such complicated work, a plurality of EMs are built in, and when data sent from the host to the printer is received, which host computer is automatically determined by a method such as table search or weighting evaluation. A method has been considered in which a protocol conversion is executed by judging whether the protocol conforms to the protocol.

[0006]

However, when an EM is incorporated, it is impossible to replace or add an EM, and it is not possible to change the means for specifying the EM, and to flexibly cope with a change in the protocol. There was a problem.

If the data sent to the printer is common to all the connected host computers, there is a problem that the protocol conversion program to be executed cannot be specified.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a print control apparatus and method capable of flexibly and accurately responding to a protocol of a connected data input source.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a print control apparatus according to the present invention has the following configuration.

[0010] A print control device for specifying a protocol corresponding to input data and performing protocol conversion, wherein a protocol conversion unit storing a program for performing protocol conversion and specific information for specifying a protocol corresponding to the program is stored. Connection means for detachably connecting the connection means, acquisition means for acquiring the specific information from the protocol conversion unit connected to the connection means, based on the specific information and the input data acquired by the acquisition means Deciding means for deciding the protocol conversion unit used for the protocol conversion of the input data.

[0011] A print control device for performing a protocol conversion of input data, wherein the protocol control means converts the plurality of protocol conversions based on one of a plurality of protocol conversion means respectively corresponding to a plurality of protocols and a plurality of determination methods. Determining means for determining which one of them is to be used, instruction means for instructing a determining method used by the determining means, and conversion for converting the input data into a protocol by the protocol converting means determined by the determining means. Control means.

Further, the printing control method of the present invention has the following configuration.

[0013] A print control method in a print control apparatus for detachably connecting a protocol conversion unit storing a program for performing protocol conversion and specific information for specifying a protocol corresponding to the program, the print control method comprising: An obtaining step of obtaining the specific information from a converting unit, and a determining step of determining, based on the specific information and the input data obtained by the obtaining unit, the protocol converting unit used for protocol conversion of the input data. And

A printing control method for performing protocol conversion of input data, the method comprising a plurality of protocol conversion steps respectively corresponding to a plurality of protocols, and a plurality of protocol conversion steps based on one of a plurality of determination methods. A determination step to determine whether to use any of the plurality of protocol conversions, an instruction step to specify a determination method used in the determination step, and the protocol conversion determined by the determination step,
Converting the input data into a protocol.

[0015]

According to the above construction, the protocol conversion means can be separated and the corresponding protocol can be specified by the specific information in the protocol conversion means. Therefore, the protocol to be converted is determined based on the input data and the specific information, and the protocol conversion is performed. It can be carried out.

[0016]

【Example】

<First Embodiment> An embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printing system according to the present embodiment includes a host computer 1 and a host computer 2 for sending print data, an input switching device 3 having two input ports for each computer and one output port for a print control device, and a print control device. It is composed of an apparatus 4 and a printing apparatus main body 5.

When the host computer 1 or 2 sends print data consisting of character codes and control codes according to the respective protocols to the input switching device 3, the input switching device 3 validates only the input port that has detected the input. And input data from the output port to the print controller 4
Transfer to Then, the print control device 4 converts the print data into print data conforming to the protocol of the printing device main body 5 and sends it to the printing device main body 5, and the printing device main body 5 executes printing.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the print control device 4 of FIG.

In the figure, an interface 41 is connected to a host computer to receive print data, and an interface 42 is connected to a printing apparatus main body and sends out print data.

The central processing unit (CPU) 43 is in the form of a microprocessor, for example, a clock pulse generating circuit,
It is configured in the form of a sequential circuit having a delay circuit, a gate circuit, other logic circuits, and the like.

The read-only memory (ROM) 44 stores C
When the PU 43 supplies a control signal to each unit, for example, FIG.
A microinstruction group necessary for describing the control procedure as shown in (1) is stored. This group of microinstructions is CP
This is executed by U43.

The readable / writable random access memory (RAM) 45 has an area for storing an operation state of the apparatus and a storage area for reading information for specifying each EM from an externally connected EM, which will be described later. Also,
An area for storing input data and an area for temporarily storing data after protocol conversion are also stored in the RAM. However, the RAM for these data may be provided separately from the RAM 45.

The bus line 46 connects the CPU 43, the interfaces 41 and 42, the ROM 44, the RAM 45, and a plurality of externally connected EMs, and is used to transfer memory addresses and data.

The EMs 47 and 48 are EMs in the form of a memory card storing a control program and a character code, and are connected to the bus line 46 via a connector or the like so as to be removable. Therefore, it can be easily attached to and detached from the device.

Next, an example of the operation of the system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 3, which shows a control processing procedure of the print control device 4 when print data is received. The flowchart of FIG. 3 shows that a program described by a microinstruction group stored in the ROM 44 is
This is realized by executing the PU 43.

First, when the power of the print control device 4 is turned on, in steps S1 and S2, connected EMs are recognized, and a command table or the like, which is specific information, is read from all connected EMs. In terms of specification, any information may be used as long as it is stored in the memory in the EM and can specify which protocol the EM is for.

Next, in step S3, step S
1 and the specific information read in step S2.
In a predetermined area.

When print data is sent from the host computer 1 or 2, it is input to the interface 1 of the print control device 4 via the input switching device 3. Then, in step S4, a table search or the like is performed from the input data in step S3 to determine the print control code used, and the respective E control stored in the RAM 45 is performed.
It is determined which EM is to be executed based on the specific information of M. The content of the process for determining EM is as follows:
This is known as the prior art.

Next, in step S5, step S4
The EM determined in step is selected, and the process branches to the next process.

In step S6 or step S7, the control program stored in the selected EM is executed to execute protocol conversion.

The print data subjected to the protocol conversion is input to the printing apparatus main body 5, where it is printed out.

As described above, a plurality of control programs for protocol conversion and a memory card storing character codes are simultaneously connected to the outside, and specific information specific to each protocol conversion is read in advance from them, and the It decides which protocol conversion to perform and uses it. Thus, even if the memory card or the like storing the control program and the character code is exchanged or added, the control program and the character code required for the processing can be automatically specified without any consideration from the host computer side. It is possible. <Second Embodiment> In the second embodiment, when one of a plurality of prepared protocol conversion procedures is selected in a printing system having the same configuration as that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a method of selection may be further selected. It is possible.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process for selecting a protocol conversion procedure in the configuration shown in FIGS.

First, when the power of the print control device 4 is turned on,
In step S501, ROM is used as a protocol determination method.
For example, a predetermined method is selected, such as stored in 44. Here, the selection means that a flag or the like is prepared in the RAM 45 and the selected method can be identified thereby.

Thereafter, in step S502, a test is performed to determine whether a protocol determination method has been selected. This selection is performed by an operator through an input from an input panel (not shown) of the print control device or a host computer. The operator determines a determination method having a higher matching rate than the currently selected determination method based on a condition such as a frequently used print control command. If a selection input has been made, the process proceeds to step S503, and if not, the process proceeds to step S504.

Next, in step S503, the protocol determination method is switched according to the instruction in step S502. This switching is performed by, for example, rewriting the flag set in step S501 so as to conform to the selected method. When actually performing the protocol determination, the CPU 3 may execute a program in which the selected method is described according to the flag. As a determination method, a known method such as a method based on weighting or a method based on table search is prepared, and the user is made to select from these methods.

When print data is input from the host computer via the input switching device 3 after the protocol determination method is selected in this way, in step S504, the print data is determined based on the input data. The protocol is determined according to the method.

According to the result of this determination, step S50
5. In step S507, protocol conversion is performed by EM1 or EM2, and the converted data is input to the printing apparatus and printed out.

In this embodiment, EM1 · EM
Reference numeral 2 denotes a card or the like which is not freely connected and disconnected, but may be a fixed one.

As described above, since a desired method can be selected from a plurality of methods as a method for determining which protocol conversion is to be performed, the protocol actually used and the protocol conversion procedure to be selected can be selected. Can be improved.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0043]

As described above, the printing control apparatus and method according to the present invention has an effect that it can flexibly and accurately cope with the protocol of the connected data input source.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a print control apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a signal processing process of the print control device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a signal processing process of the print control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 host computer 1, 2 host computer 2, 3 input switching device, 4 printing control device, 5 printing device main body, 41 input interface (IF1), 42 output interface (IF2), 43 central processing unit (CPU), 44 Read-only memory (ROM), 45 readable / writable memory (RAM), 46 address and data bus line (BUS), 47 control program 1 (EM1), 48 control program 2 (EM2).

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A protocol corresponding to input data is specified.
A print control device for performing protocol conversion, wherein a program for performing protocol conversion is associated with the program.
A specific information that identifies the corresponding protocol
Connecting means for detachably connecting the protocol conversion unit, before the connected to the connection means the protocol conversion unit
The input acquisition means for acquiring the serial identification information, the specific information acquired by the acquisition unit
Based on the data, conversion of the input data protocol
And a determining means for determining the protocol conversion unit used in the printing control apparatus. 2. A program for performing protocol conversion, and
Specific information that identifies the protocol supported by the program and
A print control method in a printing control apparatus for detachably connecting a protocol conversion unit storing a specific information, wherein the specific information is obtained from the connected protocol conversion unit.
An acquisition step of Tokusuru, on the basis of the said specific information acquired by the acquiring means and said input data, converting the input data protocol
A determination step for determining the protocol conversion unit used for
Printing control method characterized by comprising a-up. 3. A print control apparatus for performing protocol conversion of input data , wherein said plurality of protocol conversion means respectively correspond to a plurality of protocols, and said plurality of determination methods based on one of a plurality of determination methods.
The determining means for determining whether to use any of the protocol conversion, and instruction means for instructing the determination method used in the determination unit, by the protocol converter 60 determined by the determination means, the input data And a conversion control unit for performing protocol conversion. 4. A print control method for performing protocol conversion of input data, the method being adapted to each of a plurality of protocols.
Based on one of a plurality of protocol conversion steps and one of a plurality of decision methods.
Multiple protocol conversion modules for each protocol
A decision step of deciding whether to use any of these, and an instruction for instructing a decision method used in the decision step
A step, wherein the protocol conversion determined by the determination step
A conversion step for converting the input data into a protocol.
Printing control method characterized by comprising a-up.