JP3199544B2 - Printing apparatus and printing control 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 apparatus and a printing control method for generating and outputting output information based on input information input from a host device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional output devices, for example, printing devices,
When transmitting print data to a printing device under an environment shared by a plurality of operators and a plurality of higher-level devices, it is necessary to always confirm the printing environment state of the printing device.

[0003]

However, when print data is transmitted without confirmation, an unexpected print result of the operator may be output.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems,
An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus and a printing control method capable of confirming a printing environment state.

[0005]

A printing apparatus according to the present invention is a printing apparatus that performs printing based on input information received from an information processing apparatus, and stores a value of an environment variable in the printing apparatus. Means for changing the value of the environment variable stored in the storage means; and when the value of the environment variable is changed by the change means, the value of the environment variable is notified to the information processing apparatus. And a notifying means. A print control method according to the present invention is a print control method for a printing apparatus that has a storage unit for storing a value of an environment variable and performs printing based on input information received from an information processing apparatus. And a notifying step of notifying the information processing device of the value of the environment variable when the value of the environment variable is changed by the changing step. It is characterized by.

[0006]

[0007]

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

<First Embodiment> FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention. This is an example of a laser beam printer (hereinafter abbreviated as LBP), and its internal structure is shown in FIG. This L
The BP can register a character pattern and a fixed format (form data) from a data source (not shown). In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1000 denotes an LBP main body, which inputs and stores character information (character code), form information, macro instructions, and the like supplied from an externally connected host computer, and responds according to the information. A character pattern, a form pattern, and the like are created, and an image is formed on recording paper, which is a recording medium. Reference numeral 1012 denotes an operation panel on which switches for operation and an LED display are arranged, and 1001 denotes a printer control unit for controlling the entire LBP 1000 and analyzing character information supplied from a host computer. This control unit 1
001 mainly converts character information into a video signal of a corresponding character pattern and outputs the video signal to the laser driver 1002.
The laser driver 1002 is a circuit for driving the semiconductor laser 1003, and a laser beam 1004 emitted from the semiconductor laser 1003 according to an input video signal.
Switch on and off. The laser 1004 is swung right and left by a rotary polygon mirror 1005 to scan on an electrostatic drum 1006. As a result, an electrostatic latent image of a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 1006. This latent image is developed by a developing unit 1007 around the electrostatic drum 1006 and then transferred to a recording sheet. A cut sheet is used as the recording paper, and the cut sheet recording paper is stored in a paper cassette 1008 mounted on the LBP 1000,
09 and the conveyance rollers 1010 and 1011, are taken into the apparatus and supplied to the electrostatic drum 1006.

Reference numeral 202 denotes input means for inputting various information from the host device 201 via the bidirectional signal line 211 and for notifying information from the printing device to the host device via the bidirectional signal line 211. A reception buffer 203 temporarily stores various information input via the input unit 202.
Reference numeral 204 denotes a notification buffer for temporarily storing notification information from the printing apparatus to the host apparatus. 205 is LB
A CPU for controlling the entire control system of the BP1000.
The entire device is controlled by a control program of the CPU 205 stored in the OM 206.

Reference numeral 207 denotes a page buffer which analyzes information stored in the reception buffer 203 and stores it as intermediate data before expansion. A frame buffer 208 stores at least one page of pattern information developed into a character pattern for a print image.
209, an output interface unit;
08, a video signal corresponding to the pattern information is generated,
A printing unit that inputs a video signal from the interface unit 209 to the printing unit 210 and prints image information based on the video signal. An operation panel 213 is for rewriting the printing environment.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are conceptual diagrams showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows an example in which the print environment is changed by a command from a higher-level device. In the figure, reference numeral 305 denotes a printing device, and 301 to 304 denote host devices connected to the printing device. Now, the printing apparatus 305 is
When the print environment change command is received from the printer, the print environment is changed, and the changed information is notified to the upper devices 301 to 304.

FIG. 4 shows an example in which the printing environment is changed by the operator through the operation unit. In the figure, reference numeral 405 denotes a printing device, and 401 to 403 denote host devices connected to the printing device. Now, in the printing apparatus 405, the operator 404 issues a print environment change instruction from the operation unit,
After the print environment has been changed, the changed information is sent to 401-4.
03 is notified to the host device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the outline of the main processing procedure of the printing apparatus.

In the main processing, first, in step 5
In step 01, the status of the printing apparatus, such as out of paper, paper jam, door open, etc., is checked (details are not described in this specification). Is not specified), it is checked in step 503 whether data has been input to the reception buffer, and if there is no input data, the process returns to step 501. If there is, at step 504, processing of each print language is performed (details are not described in this specification).
It returns to the process of 01.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, an area 1002 for judging the presence or absence of a change is added to the set value storage area 1001 of each print environment setting item. Further, a flag 1003 for determining whether or not there is a change is provided.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a control program stored in the ROM 206 shown in FIG.

At step 601, an engine status check (not specified in this specification) is performed. Next, step 6
At 02, a panel state check is performed. In the present invention, in addition to the conventional panel processing, processing for leaving a notice that the environment has been changed is added (described later with reference to FIG. 8). In step 603, the presence / absence of input data in the reception buffer is checked. If not, the process proceeds to step 605. If present, processing step 604 for each print language
Move on to In the present invention, a process for leaving a notice that the environment has been changed is added to the conventional print language process (described later with reference to FIG. 9).

When the processing of each print language is completed, the process returns to the main routine, and at step 605, a change flag is checked. If it is determined that a change has been made, the process proceeds to environment change information notification processing in step 606 (described later with reference to FIG. 7).

After the notification to the host device, step 601 is performed again.
Is repeated.

Next, an environment change information notification processing procedure will be described with reference to FIG.

In step 701, the change determination flag 1003 is referred to, and if there is no change, the process exits. If there is a change, step 702 to step 7
In the processing up to 05, it is checked which environment variable has been changed. For example, in step 702, the environment variable 1 is referred to the change presence / absence determination area, and if there is a change, the environment variable name and its set value are stored in the notification temporary buffer 212. The same processing is performed for all environment variables, and the result is written to the notification I / F buffer 204. Thereafter, the change determination flag and the change presence / absence determination area of each environment variable are cleared, and the process ends.

Next, a panel state check processing procedure will be described with reference to FIG.

In step 801, switch depression information is detected. Next, in step 802, it is determined whether or not an operation of changing an environment variable has been performed at the time of the above-described pressing operation. If there is a change operation, an environment change process is executed in step 803, and the environment is set in the change presence / absence determination area of the changed environment in step 804.
To set the change presence / absence flag, and ends this processing.

Next, a print language processing procedure will be described with reference to FIG.

In step 901, the received data is analyzed. If there is an environment change instruction command, the environment change processing is performed in step 903, the corresponding change presence / absence determination area is set in step 904, and the change is performed in step 905. Set presence flag.

Then, in step 906, the print data other than the environment change instruction command is developed in the frame buffer, and in step 907, the data in the frame buffer is output to the printing unit. If the input information has been completed, the present process ends.

<Second Embodiment> In the first embodiment, an example has been described in which the change information notification processing is performed collectively in the main processing. However, the change information is simultaneously notified at the timing of changing the environment. It can also be realized by a processing method of writing to the. According to this method, the present invention can be realized without using a change presence / absence flag, a change presence / absence determination area, and the like. This will be described below with reference to FIGS. The main processing is shown in FIG.
(The description is omitted because of the above).

In the panel state checking process of FIG. 11, steps 1101 to 1102 are the same as in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted. Step 1103
After the environment change processing is completed, in step 1104, the contents of the change are written in the notification buffer directly in this processing.
Then, the panel state check processing ends.

Next, in the print language processing of FIG. 12, steps 1201 and 1202 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted. After performing the environment change processing in step 1203, the changed contents are written in the notification buffer in step 1204. Steps 1205 to 1207 are the same as in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In a printing apparatus shared by a plurality of operators, print environment change information is notified to all connected higher-level apparatuses, so that data to be output from now on can be printed out from previously output data. Since it is possible to check in advance whether the environment is affected, it is possible to prevent a print result that the user does not expect from being obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an internal structure of the laser printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of a main processing procedure of the printing apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a control program stored in a ROM 206 shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an environment change information notification processing procedure;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a panel state check processing procedure;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a print language processing procedure.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a change presence / absence determination area, a set value storage area, and a change presence / absence determination flag.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a panel state check processing procedure;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a print language processing procedure.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 201 Upper device 202 Input means 203 Receive buffer 204 Notification I / F buffer 205 CPU 206 ROM 207 Page buffer 208 Frame buffer 209 Output interface unit 210 Printing unit

Claims (10)

(57) [Claims] 1. A printing apparatus for performing printing based on input information received from an information processing apparatus, comprising: storage means for storing a value of an environment variable in the printing apparatus; A change unit that changes the value of the environment variable; and a notifying unit that notifies the information processing device of the value of the environment variable when the value of the environment variable is changed by the change unit. Printing device. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: input means for allowing an operator to change a value of the environment variable, wherein the change means changes the value of the environment variable in the storage means according to the change of the environment variable by the input means. A printing apparatus characterized in that the printer is changed. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the input unit is an operation panel. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a command receiving unit that receives a change command for changing a value of the environment variable from the information processing device, wherein the change unit receives the change command received by the command receiving unit. Wherein the value of the environment variable is changed according to the following. 5. The storage unit according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores a plurality of values of the environment variables, and the notifying unit is changed among the plurality of environment variables of the storage unit. A printing apparatus for notifying only the value of the environment variable. 6. A print control method for a printing apparatus, comprising: storage means for storing a value of an environment variable, wherein printing is performed based on input information received from an information processing apparatus. A changing step of changing the value of the environment variable, and a notifying step of notifying the information processing device of the value of the environment variable when the value of the environment variable is changed by the changing step. Printing control method. 7. The printing control method according to claim 6, wherein the changing step changes the value of the environment variable in accordance with an environment variable change by an input unit for changing the value of the environment variable. 8. The print control method according to claim 7, wherein said input means is an operation panel. 9. The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a command receiving step of receiving a change command for changing the value of the environment change from an information processing apparatus, wherein the changing step is performed according to the change command received by the command receiving step. And changing a value of an environment variable in the storage unit. 10. The method according to claim 6, wherein the notifying step includes, when a plurality of environment variables are stored in the storage unit, among the plurality of stored environment variables.
A print control method, wherein only a value of a changed environment variable is notified.