JP3221319B2 - Printing apparatus and printing control method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing control method capable of communicating with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of printing apparatus is provided with an expansion slot for mounting a communication control board in order to cope with networking, so that a printer sharing environment can be freely constructed.

[0003] In this case, if it is desired to know information on the communication control board mounted in the expansion slot, the name of the board that can be mounted is character information in the test print mode, and the presence / absence information is itemized. It was printed to the extent that it was listed.

[0004]

Since the conventional printing apparatus is configured as described above, hardware information such as a network board can be obtained only by a test print of the printing apparatus. However, it was not possible to determine what the external shape of the network board and the arrangement of the components were.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to receive a command from an information processing device, and receive the received command from the communication control board. When determining whether the command is a command for instructing the output of the resource information, if it is determined that the command is a command for instructing the output of the resource information, from the communication control board, the memory resource of the communication control board Acquiring the resource information indicating the hardware configuration, transferring the acquired resource information indicating the hardware configuration of the memory resources of the communication control board to the information processing apparatus, and transferring the transferred memory of the communication control board to the information processing apparatus; On the information processing device side, based on the resource information indicating the hardware configuration of the resource, the resource information indicating the hardware configuration of the memory resource of the communication control board is displayed. By analyzing the command from the information processing device, the printing device obtains resource information indicating the hardware configuration of the memory resource from the communication control board of the printing device as necessary, and analyzes the command from the information processing device. And a printing control method capable of displaying the details of the resource information indicating the hardware configuration of the memory resources on the information processing apparatus side.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus capable of communicating with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, comprising: a communication control board connected to the printing apparatus; Receiving means for receiving a command from the information processing device, and the command received by the receiving means,
A determining unit that determines whether the command is a command to output the resource information of the communication control board; and a command to output the resource information from the information processing device based on the determination by the determining unit. If it is determined that
An acquisition unit that acquires, from the communication control board, resource information indicating a hardware configuration of a memory resource of the communication control board; and a resource that indicates a hardware configuration of the memory resource of the communication control board acquired by the acquisition unit. Transfer means for transferring information to the information processing device side, the information processing device side based on resource information indicating the hardware configuration of the memory resources of the communication control board transferred by the transfer means. And displaying resource information indicating a hardware configuration of a memory resource of the communication control board.

A second invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the displayed resource information is a design image and a configuration diagram image of a memory resource of the communication control board.

A third invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the configuration diagram image is a circuit layout image configuring the communication control board.

A fourth invention according to the present invention is a printing apparatus capable of communicating with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, comprising a communication control board connected to the printing apparatus, and a command from the information processing apparatus. Receiving means for receiving the command, the determining means to determine whether the command received by the receiving means is a command instructing the output of the resource information of the communication control board, by the determination by the determining means, Acquiring means for acquiring, from the communication control board, a version number of a program stored in the communication control board, if the command is determined to be a command instructing output of the resource information from the information processing apparatus side; Transfer means for transferring the version number of the program stored in the communication control board acquired by the acquisition means to the information processing apparatus side. The information processing apparatus side displays the version number of the program stored in the communication control board based on the version number of the program stored in the communication control board transferred by the transfer unit. Features.

A fifth invention according to the present invention is a print control method for a printing apparatus which can communicate with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium and has a communication control board connected thereto. A receiving step of receiving the command, a determining step of determining whether the command received in the receiving step is a command instructing output of resource information of the communication control board, and determining by the determining step Accordingly, when it is determined that the command is a command for instructing output of the resource information from the information processing apparatus, resource information indicating a hardware configuration of a memory resource of the communication control board is acquired from the communication control board. Obtaining the resource information indicating the hardware configuration of the memory resources of the communication control board obtained in the obtaining step; And a transfer step of transferring to the information processing device side, based on the resource information indicating the hardware configuration of the memory resources of the communication control board transferred in the transfer step, the information processing device side, The resource information indicating the hardware configuration of the memory resources of the communication control board is displayed.

A sixth invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the displayed resource information is a design image and a configuration diagram image of a memory resource of the communication control board.

A seventh invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the configuration diagram image is a circuit arrangement image configuring the communication control board.

An eighth invention according to the present invention is a print control method in a printing apparatus which can communicate with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium and has a communication control board connected thereto. A receiving step of receiving the command, a determining step of determining whether the command received in the receiving step is a command instructing output of resource information of the communication control board, and determining by the determining step An acquisition step of acquiring a version number of a program stored in the communication control board from the communication control board when it is determined that the command is a command instructing output of the resource information from the information processing apparatus. The version number of the program stored in the communication control board obtained in the obtaining step, And a transfer step of transferring to the device side, based on the version number of the program stored in the communication control board transferred in the transfer step, the information processing device side, stored in the communication control board And displaying the version number of the program.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, before describing the configuration of the present embodiment,
The configurations of a laser beam printer and an ink jet printer suitable for applying this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The printer to which the present embodiment is applied is not limited to a laser beam printer and an ink jet printer, and it goes without saying that a printer of another printing method may be used.

FIG. 1 is an external view for explaining the configuration of a first output device to which the present embodiment can be applied, and shows, for example, the case of an ink jet recording apparatus (IJRA).

In the figure, a spiral groove 5004 of a lead screw 5005 which rotates through driving force transmission gears 5011 and 5009 in conjunction with forward and reverse rotation of a driving motor 5013.
The carriage HC that engages with a pin (not shown)
And is reciprocated along the rail 5003 in the directions of arrows a and b. This carriage HC has an ink tank I
An inkjet cartridge IJC having a T and an inkjet head IJH is mounted.

Reference numeral 5002 denotes a paper pressing plate, which presses the paper P against the platen 5000 in the carriage moving direction. Reference numerals 5007 and 5008 denote photocouplers, which function as home position detecting means for confirming the presence of the lever 5006 of the carriage HC in this region and switching the rotation direction of the drive motor 5013. 50
16 is a cap member 5 for capping the entire surface of the recording head.
Reference numeral 5015, a member for supporting 022, is suction means for sucking the inside of the cap, and performs suction recovery of the recording head through the opening 5023 in the cap.

Reference numeral 5017 denotes a cleaning blade which can be moved in the front-rear direction by a member 5019. Reference numeral 5018 denotes a main body support plate, and the cleaning blade 5017, the member 5
019. Reference numeral 5012 denotes a lever for starting suction for recovery of suction, which moves with movement of the cam 5020 which engages with the carriage HC, and whose movement is controlled by a known transmission means such as clutch switching, etc., from the driving force from the drive motor 5013. . The capping, cleaning, and suction recovery are configured such that desired operations can be performed at the corresponding positions by the action of the lead screw 5005 when the carriage HC comes to the home position side area, but at a known timing. What is necessary is just to be comprised so that operation | movement of this may be performed.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration of a second output device to which the present embodiment can be applied. This corresponds to, for example, a laser beam printer. , A character pattern and a fixed format (form data) can be registered.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1500 denotes a laser beam printer (LBP) main body (hereinafter simply referred to as a main body);
Character information (character code), form information, macro instructions, and the like supplied from an external device such as a host computer 101 shown in FIG. 3 which will be described later are input and stored, and according to the information. A corresponding character pattern, form pattern, or the like is created, and an image is formed on a recording sheet that is a recording medium. Fifteen
Reference numeral 01 denotes an operation panel on which switches for operation and an LED display for displaying the status of the printer are provided.
Reference numeral 00 denotes a printer control unit that controls the entire LBP 1500 and analyzes character information and the like supplied from the host computer.

The printer control unit 1000 mainly converts character information into a video signal of a corresponding character pattern and outputs the video signal to a laser driver 1502. The laser driver 1502 is a circuit for driving the semiconductor laser 1503, and switches on / off a laser beam 1504 emitted from the semiconductor laser 1503 according to an input video signal.

As a result, an electrostatic latent image of a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 1506. This latent image is developed by a developing unit 1507 around the electrostatic drum 1506 and then transferred to a recording sheet. A cut sheet is used as the recording paper, and the cut sheet is stored in a paper cassette 1508 mounted on the main body 1500, and the paper feed roller 1
509 and transport rollers 1510 and 1511 are taken into the apparatus and supplied to the electrostatic drum 1506.
Reference numeral 1505 is a polygon mirror.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a printing system to which the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

The printing system according to the present embodiment includes a host computer 101, a printing apparatus main body 104, a network 102, and a network board 103 for connecting the printing apparatus main body 104. Print-related information such as a print command based on a description language is transmitted to the printing apparatus main body 1.
04, and causes the printing apparatus main body 104 to perform a printing process.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the network board 103 shown in FIG.

In the figure, reference numeral 201 denotes a network interface unit, which is physically connected to the network 102. A control unit 202 controls the inside of the network board 103. A bus 203 inside the network board 103 connects the devices. A memory unit 204 temporarily stores a program for controlling the network board 103 and transmission / reception data, and stores hardware information of each network board in advance. A printer interface 205 exchanges data signals with the printing apparatus main body 104. 206
Is a printer interface bus for communicably connecting to a printer controller (not shown).

In this embodiment, the control unit 202
A central processing unit (CPU) is used, and the control unit 202 controls the operation of the entire apparatus, such as reading / writing information from / to each component.

FIG. 5 shows the printing apparatus main body 104 shown in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of FIG.

The printer controller of the printing apparatus main body 104 is composed of a microprocessor system including a read-only memory (ROM) and a random access memory (RAM). Board unit 301 for controlling the printer, a control unit 302 for controlling the entire printing apparatus, a bus 304 inside the printing apparatus main body,
An analysis unit 305 for analyzing print data and a print command from the host computer 101, a pattern development unit 306 for developing data such as characters and graphics into a memory, and the like. An output unit 307 that forms a permanent visible image thereon and an operation panel unit 303 that can be used to set various parameters for controlling printing
It has.

Note that a central processing unit (CPU) is used as the control unit 302, and the control unit 302 controls the operation of the entire apparatus, such as reading / writing information from / to each component. The pattern development unit 306 includes a readable / writable memory such as a random access memory (RAM).

Although the command analysis unit 305 is shown as a hardware configuration, it may be configured to perform command analysis by software processing of the control unit 302,
Instead of software processing, a decoder (signal decoder) may be used.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a command format input from the host computer 101 shown in FIG. 3, and corresponds to, for example, a network board hardware information print command.

As shown in the figure, a command input from the host computer 101 is composed of a command number and a command, and the control unit 302, the command analysis unit 305, and the like analyze the command to execute various controls. Is done.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing one embodiment of the resource information output method of the printing apparatus according to the present invention. Note that (1) to (7) indicate each step, and correspond to processing from processing of a command sent from the host computer 101 to completion of printing.

First, in step (1), some command is received from the host computer 101 via the network board 103, and in the following step (2),
The command analysis unit 305 in the printing apparatus main body 104 analyzes the received command. Then, in step (3), as a result of analyzing the command, it is determined whether the command is a network board hardware information print command (see FIG. 6), and if it is determined that the command is a network board hardware information print command, Proceeding to step (4), the control unit 302 in the printing apparatus main body 104 instructs the network board 103 to print the hardware information from the memory unit 204 in the network board, and acquires (loads) the hardware information. .

Next, in step (5), the acquired (loaded) hardware information is subjected to pattern development by the pattern development unit 306 in the printing apparatus main body 104 to draw a hardware configuration diagram (drawing process). 6)
An output unit 307 outputs the drawn hardware configuration diagram data.
More printout is performed, and the process ends. As a result, a hardware configuration diagram corresponding to the hardware information of the network board shown in FIG. 8 described below is printed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (3) that the command is not a network board hardware information print command, for example, if a command for the printing apparatus main body 104 is received, the process proceeds to step (7), and other processing is performed. And terminate the process.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a print example of the hardware information of the network board output from the output unit 307 shown in FIG.

In the figure, P is a recording paper, and M1 to M13 are hardware modules printed on the recording paper P in accordance with the hardware information. (CPU, ROM, ASIC, etc.).
Note that, among the modules, particularly, regarding the module M9 serving as a storage element, the version number of the stored program may be output together with the device name.

As shown in this figure, in the present embodiment, by the processing shown in FIG. 7, the chip configuration of the network board 103 shown in FIG. The pattern can be developed by the pattern developing unit 306 and printed out from the output unit 307.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the hardware information of the network board in the printing apparatus main body can be clearly understood by the command from the host computer.

[Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment, the case where hardware information of the network board 103 in the printing apparatus main body 104 is printed by a command sent from the host computer 101 has been described. Control may be performed so as to output a hardware configuration diagram of the network board 103 in the printing apparatus main body 104 based on a hardware information print instruction from the operation panel unit 303 shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 shows the operation panel unit 303 shown in FIG.
It is a top view which shows an example.

In the operation panel section 303, an LCD display section 303A displays the state of the printer engine and the data processing state, the contents of instructions from the keys 303B to 303F, and the like. Reference numeral 303G denotes a display such as an LED, which indicates a power-on state of the printer.

The key 303F functions as a key for issuing a hardware information print instruction, and it is determined in step (3) shown in FIG. 7 whether or not the key 303F has been pressed. By doing so, the hardware configuration diagram shown in FIG. 8 can be printed on the recording paper P.

[Third Embodiment] In the first embodiment, in the printing apparatus main body 104,
The case where the resource information stored in the memory unit 204 of the network board 103 is acquired and the design image is printed has been described, but the design image developed and developed in step (5) shown in FIG. Transfer to the host computer 101 and the host computer 10
The display device (not shown) may be configured to display the design image.

[Fourth Embodiment] In the third embodiment, the host computer 10
1 has described the case in which the design image is acquired from the printing apparatus main body 104 and displayed, the control of the acquisition and display of the design image is stored in a storage medium (not shown) of the host computer 101, for example, a hard disk or the like.
The printer driver loaded on M may be configured to be executed. The storage medium stores a program code for executing an acquisition step and a display step, which will be described later. Further, the present embodiment includes a case where the storage medium is configured by an FD or the like.

In each of the above embodiments, the case where all the resource information of the extension device is printed has been described. However, among the resources of the extension device, printing is performed for each resource such as control resources and memory resources. You may. Alternatively, control may be performed so that only resources related to each function process of the expansion device are printed.

Hereinafter, the configuration of a data processing program readable by the printing system according to the present invention will be described with reference to a memory map shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a view for explaining a memory map of a storage medium for storing various data processing programs which can be read by the printing system according to the present invention.

Although not shown, information for managing a group of programs stored in the storage medium, for example, version information, a creator, etc. are also stored, and information dependent on the OS or the like on the program reading side, for example, a program is stored in the storage medium. An icon or the like for identification display may also be stored.

Further, data dependent on various programs is also managed in the directory. In addition, a program for installing various programs on a computer or a program for decompressing a program to be installed when the program to be installed is compressed may be stored.

The functions shown in FIG. 7 in this embodiment may be performed by a host computer by a program installed from the outside. In this case, the present invention is applied even when a group of information including a program is supplied to the output device from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or an FD, or from an external storage medium via a network. Things.

As described above, the storage medium storing the program code of the software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiment is supplied to the system or the apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MP) of the system or the apparatus is supplied.
It goes without saying that the object of the present invention is also achieved when U) reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, C
DR, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, RO
M, EEPROM and the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code. ) And the like perform part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, The CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

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. In this case, by reading a storage medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the present invention into the system or the apparatus, the system or the apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention. .

Further, by downloading and reading out a program represented by software for achieving the present invention from a database on a network by a communication program, the system or apparatus can be
It is possible to enjoy the effects of the present invention.

[0062]

As described above, the first embodiment according to the present invention is described.
According to the eighth aspect, when a command from the information processing device is received, and it is determined whether the received command is a command for instructing output of resource information of the communication control board, If it is determined that the command instructs the output of the resource information, from the communication control board,
Acquiring resource information indicating the hardware configuration of the memory resources of the communication control board, transferring the acquired resource information indicating the hardware configuration of the memory resources of the communication control board to the information processing device side, On the information processing apparatus side, based on the transferred resource information indicating the hardware configuration of the memory resources of the communication control board, the resource information indicating the hardware configuration of the memory resources of the communication control board is displayed. By analyzing the command from the printer device, the printing device obtains resource information indicating the hardware configuration of the memory resource from the communication control board of the printing device as necessary, transfers the resource information to the information processing device side, and In addition, the information processing device can display the details of the resource information indicating the hardware configuration of the memory resources.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view illustrating a configuration of a first output device to which the present embodiment can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a second output device to which the embodiment can be applied.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system to which the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a network board illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the printing apparatus main body illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a command format input from the host computer shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a resource information output method of the printing apparatus according to the present invention.

8 is a diagram illustrating a print example of hardware information of a network board output from the output unit illustrated in FIG. 5;

9 is a plan view illustrating an example of the operation panel unit illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by the printing system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 101 Host computer 103 Network board 104 Printer main body 201 Network interface unit 202 Control unit 204 Memory unit 205 Printer interface unit 301 Network board interface unit 302 Control unit 303 Operation panel unit 305 Command analysis unit 306 Pattern development unit 307 Output unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI G06F 3/12 G06F 3/12 N

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. A printing device capable of communicating with an information processing device via a predetermined communication medium, comprising: a communication control board connected to the printing device; a receiving unit for receiving a command from the information processing device; Determining means for determining whether or not the command received by the receiving means is a command for instructing output of resource information of the communication control board; and determining from the information processing apparatus side by the determination by the determining means. When it is determined that the command is a command for instructing output of resource information, an acquisition unit for acquiring, from the communication control board, resource information indicating a hardware configuration of a memory resource of the communication control board; Transfer means for transferring resource information indicating a hardware configuration of a memory resource of the communication control board to the information processing device side; The information processing device side displays resource information indicating the hardware configuration of the memory resources of the communication control board based on the resource information indicating the hardware configuration of the memory resources of the communication control board transferred by the transmission unit. A printing apparatus for performing the following. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displayed resource information is a design image, and is a configuration diagram image of a memory resource of the communication control board. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the configuration diagram image is a circuit layout image configuring the communication control board. 4. A printing device capable of communicating with an information processing device via a predetermined communication medium, comprising: a communication control board connected to the printing device; a receiving unit for receiving a command from the information processing device; Determining means for determining whether or not the command received by the receiving means is a command for instructing output of resource information of the communication control board; and determining from the information processing apparatus side by the determination by the determining means. When it is determined that the command instructs the output of the resource information, from the communication control board, an acquisition unit that acquires a version number of a program stored in the communication control board, and the acquisition unit acquires the Transfer means for transferring the version number of the program stored in the communication control board to the information processing device side, wherein the transfer means Transferred based on the version number of the program stored in the communication control board,
A printing apparatus, wherein the information processing apparatus displays a version number of a program stored in the communication control board. 5. A printing control method in a printing apparatus communicable with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium and having a connected communication control board, comprising: a receiving step of receiving a command from the information processing apparatus; A determining step of determining whether the command received in the receiving step is a command for instructing output of resource information of the communication control board; and determining from the information processing apparatus by the determination in the determining step. An acquisition step of acquiring, from the communication control board, resource information indicating a hardware configuration of a memory resource of the communication control board, when it is determined that the command is a command instructing output of the resource information. The obtained resource information indicating the hardware configuration of the memory resources of the communication control board is transferred to the information processing apparatus. And a transfer step of transferring the memory resources of the communication control board based on the resource information indicating the hardware configuration of the memory resources of the communication control board transferred in the transfer step. A print control method characterized by displaying resource information indicating a hardware configuration. 6. The printing control method according to claim 5, wherein the displayed resource information is a design image, and is a configuration diagram image of a memory resource of the communication control board. 7. The printing control method according to claim 6, wherein the configuration diagram image is a circuit layout image configuring the communication control board. 8. A print control method in a printing apparatus communicable with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium and having a communication control board connected thereto, comprising: a receiving step of receiving a command from the information processing apparatus; A determining step of determining whether the command received in the receiving step is a command for instructing output of resource information of the communication control board; and determining from the information processing apparatus by the determination in the determining step. Obtaining a version number of a program stored in the communication control board from the communication control board, if it is determined that the command is a command to output the resource information, A transfer module for transferring a version number of a program stored in the communication control board to the information processing apparatus. The information processing device side, based on the version number of the program stored in the communication control board transferred in the transfer step, has a version number of the program stored in the communication control board. A print control method characterized by displaying the following.