JP6264978B2 - Printing control apparatus, printing system, and printing control method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a print control apparatus, a print system, and a print control method.

  Conventionally, a system for controlling a printing apparatus by a command is known. In this type of system, when a command is transmitted from the control-side device to the printing device, the printing device executes the commands in the order received. By the way, among the processes executed by the printing apparatus, there is a process with high priority. When such a process is executed, a control-side apparatus that transmits a command may perform control such as transmitting a command indicating a process with high priority first (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2013-201566 A

When transmitting a command having a high priority and a command having a low priority as in the conventional system described above, it is necessary for the control-side device to finely control the command transmission order. This complicates the operation of the control-side device.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to control the execution order of commands in a printing apparatus when the apparatus that controls the printing apparatus controls the printing apparatus with commands. To do.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a printing control apparatus connected to a printing apparatus, a transmission section that transmits a command to the printing apparatus, and a reception section that receives a response transmitted from the printing apparatus. And when the printer transmits a plurality of commands including a first command executed by the printing device and a second command executed by the printing device in preference to the first command, A response request command is transmitted before the second command is transmitted, and a response to the response request command is received by the receiving unit, and then the second command is transmitted.
According to the present invention, by transmitting a response request command during an operation of transmitting a plurality of commands having different priorities, it is possible to control the printing apparatus to execute the commands in the order of transmission. Thereby, the execution order of the commands in the printing apparatus can be appropriately controlled.

According to the present invention, in the print control apparatus, a command generation unit that instructs transmission of the first command and the second command, and the first command and the second command are transmitted by the command generation unit. A transmission control unit that determines a command transmission order and generates the response request command and places the response request command before the second command when transmission of a plurality of commands is instructed. To do.
According to the present invention, when a plurality of commands having different priorities are transmitted to the printing apparatus, the execution order of the commands in the printing apparatus can be easily controlled by generating a response request command.

In the print control apparatus, the present invention further includes a program execution unit that executes a program, and the command generation unit instructs the printing apparatus to perform printing based on data output from the program execution unit. 1 command is generated, and the second command related to the setting of the printing apparatus is generated.
According to the present invention, when printing data generated by executing a program is printed on a printing apparatus, the setting of the printing apparatus can be executed by a command, and the execution order of the setting and the printing operation can be appropriately controlled.

In the printing control apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the transmission control unit may receive a response transmitted from the printing apparatus in response to the first command or the second command. In addition, when data corresponding to the received response is output to the command generation unit and a response transmitted from the printing apparatus in response to the response request command is received by the reception unit, the command of the data The output to a production | generation part is not performed, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.
According to the present invention, the response execution command is used to control the execution order of the commands of the printing apparatus, and the influence of this control can be prevented from being given to other functional units. For this reason, the function part which controls the execution order of the command of a printing apparatus can be mounted independently of another function part.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a printing system in which a printing apparatus and a printing control apparatus are communicably connected, and the printing control apparatus includes a transmission unit that transmits a command to the printing apparatus. A receiving unit that receives a response transmitted from the printing apparatus, and a first command that the printing apparatus executes, and a second command that the printing apparatus executes in preference to the first command Are transmitted before the second command is transmitted, a response to the response request command is received by the receiving unit, and then the second command is transmitted. The printing apparatus receives a command transmitted from the print control apparatus, and analyzes the commands received by the command receiving section in the order received. A command analysis unit that executes a command, and the command analysis unit analyzes the command received by the command reception unit and outputs the command to the command execution unit. A printing system capable of analyzing a next command during execution and transmitting a response to the response request command to the printing apparatus when the response request command is analyzed.
According to the present invention, it is possible to control the printing apparatus to execute the commands in the order of transmission by transmitting the response request command during the operation of transmitting the plurality of commands having different priorities. Thereby, the execution order of the commands in the printing apparatus can be appropriately controlled.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a printing control method for transmitting a command to a printing apparatus and executing the command, and receiving a response transmitted from the printing apparatus. When a plurality of commands including one command and a second command executed by the printing apparatus with priority over the first command are transmitted, a response request command is transmitted before the second command is transmitted. The second command is transmitted after transmitting and receiving a response to the response request command.
According to the present invention, by transmitting a response request command during an operation of transmitting a plurality of commands having different priorities, it is possible to control the printing apparatus to execute the commands in the order of transmission. Thereby, the execution order of the commands in the printing apparatus can be appropriately controlled.

  According to the present invention, when a plurality of commands having different priorities are transmitted, the execution order of the commands in the printing apparatus can be appropriately controlled.

1 is a functional block diagram of a printing system according to an embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of a host computer. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a printer. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the printing system according to the embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a printing system according to a reference example.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a printing system 8 according to the first embodiment.
The printing system 8 is configured by connecting a printer 5 (printing apparatus) and a host computer 1 (printing control apparatus) that controls the printer 5.
The printing system 8 is a system in which the host computer 1 outputs a print command and print data to the printer 5 by an operator's operation, and the printer 5 prints on a print medium based on the print command and print data.

The host computer 1 includes a host control unit 45 that controls each unit of the host computer 1. The host control unit 45 includes an application execution unit 45a, a printer driver execution unit 45b, and a print monitor unit 45c.
The application execution unit 45a (program execution unit) executes an application program such as a document creation program, an image editing program, a POS application, or a label creation program. The application execution unit 45a generates and outputs print data for printing the created document or image when printing execution is instructed by an operator's operation. The printer driver execution unit 45 b executes a device driver program for controlling the printer 5. The printer driver execution unit 45b (command generation unit) controls the operation of the printer 5 by generating and outputting a command for controlling the printer 5 and data related to the command. For example, the printer driver execution unit 45b generates a print command and print data for instructing the printer 5 to print based on the print data output from the application execution unit 45a. The device driver program executed by the printer driver execution unit 45b is not limited to a program optimized for the printer 5, but may be a general-purpose device driver program. Further, it may be a device driver program for other types of printers. In this case, the printer 5 may be configured to be able to process commands and data output from the printer driver execution unit 45b corresponding to printers of other models.

  Further, the printer driver execution unit 45 b has a function of displaying a setting user interface on the host display unit 46 in response to an operation of the host input unit 47. In this user interface, for example, registration of an image in the printer 5 and settings relating to a printing function including a printing speed and a printing resolution can be performed. The printer driver execution unit 45b generates a setting command for setting the function of the printer 5 according to the content input through the user interface.

  The print monitor unit 45c (transmission unit, reception unit, transmission control unit) executes a monitor program for monitoring the printer 5. The print monitor unit 45 c detects the operation state of the printer 5, and performs transmission control of a command generated by the printer driver execution unit 45 b and control of monitoring a response of the command transmitted to the printer 5.

Specifically, the print monitor unit 45 c sequentially acquires commands output from the printer driver execution unit 45 b and transmits them to the printer 5. When transmitting a plurality of commands to the printer 5, the print monitor unit 45 c adjusts the command transmission order and transmission timing in order to cause the printer 5 to execute the commands in a predetermined order. In this case, the print monitor unit 45c performs control such as transmitting a command to the printer 5 and receiving a response to the command and then transmitting the next command, for example.
When the application execution unit 45a outputs a command, the print monitor unit 45c acquires this command and performs transmission control in the same manner as the command output by the printer driver execution unit 45b.
Furthermore, when the print monitor unit 45c transmits the command generated by the printer driver execution unit 45b to the printer 5 and receives a response from the printer 5, the print monitor unit 45c returns the received command to the generation source of the original command. Therefore, the printer driver execution unit 45b can acquire a response to the generated command. Further, the printer driver execution unit 45b can return a response to the application execution unit 45a when receiving a response of the command generated by the instruction of the application execution unit 45a from the print monitor unit 45c. In this case, the application execution unit 45a can acquire the result of the instruction output to the printer driver execution unit 45b.

Incidentally, the printer driver execution unit 45b may generate a plurality of commands and output them to the print monitor unit 45c. For example, a print command may be generated based on an instruction from the application execution unit 45a, and a command related to setting of the printer 5 may be generated in accordance with an operation of a user interface. As described above, when the printer driver execution unit 45b generates a plurality of commands, the print monitor unit 45c can collectively transmit the plurality of commands to the printer 5, and can also transmit the commands individually. . In this case, the print monitor unit 45c performs command transmission control so that the printer 5 executes a plurality of commands in an appropriate order. The contents of this transmission control will be described later.
The print monitor unit 45c generally executes a program module called an LM (Language Monitor) or a port monitor to perform the above control. The print monitor unit 45c may be a module constituting a part of the operating system of the host computer 1 or the printer driver execution unit 45b.

  The host computer 1 includes a host display unit 46 that displays various information, a host input unit 47 that detects an operation on a connected input device, a host storage unit 48 that stores various data, and a communication interface ( I / F) 49. The host display unit 46 and the host input unit 47 are provided for operator operation. The host storage unit 48 stores various programs such as control programs, application programs, and device driver programs executed by the host control unit 45, and data related to these programs in a nonvolatile manner.

  The printer 5 of this embodiment shows an inkjet printer as an example. The printer 5 includes a line inkjet head 12 (printing unit) having nozzles that eject ink. The line inkjet head 12 is a line head in which nozzles are arranged in rows over the entire printing range in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction. The line inkjet head 12 has nozzle rows for each of four colors of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K), and can print on a print medium in full color. . Further, the line inkjet head 12 may be configured to use more multi-colored inks, or may be configured to use two-color or monochrome inks.

The printing medium used in the printer 5 is a cut sheet or a continuous sheet cut into a predetermined size. These sheets are made of paper or synthetic resin, and may be subjected to surface processing. The continuous sheet is, for example, roll paper or fanfold paper. In the present embodiment, an example will be described in which the printer 5 uses label paper and roll paper in which a standard-sized label with a pressure-sensitive adhesive on the back surface is placed on a release paper (mounting paper) and wound in a roll shape.
There are a plurality of types of label paper and roll paper used in the printer 5. Examples include plain paper, fine paper, plain paper label, fine paper label, synthetic paper label, and glossy paper label. The plain paper and the plain paper label have a printing surface of plain paper, and the fine paper and the fine paper label are fine paper excellent in ink absorption and fixing ability. The synthetic paper label is a label paper configured using a synthetic resin sheet. A glossy paper label is a label paper using glossy paper that is excellent in ink absorbability, fixability, and color developability and has gloss even after absorbing ink.

  The printer 5 includes a printer control unit 27 that controls each unit of the printer 5. The printer control unit 27 includes a CPU as a calculation execution unit (not shown), a ROM, a RAM, and the like. In the ROM of the printer control unit 27, firmware that can be executed by the CPU, data related to the firmware, and the like are stored in a nonvolatile manner. The RAM temporarily stores data related to firmware executed by the CPU. The printer control unit 27 may include other peripheral circuits.

In addition to the line inkjet head 12 described above, the printer control unit 27 is connected to the paper feed motor 36, the printer display unit 39, the printer input unit 40, the communication interface 41, the black mark sensor 42, and the printer storage unit 50. Is done.
The printer display unit 39 includes an LED indicator and a liquid crystal display panel that display the operation state of the printer 5 under the control of the printer control unit 27. The printer input unit 40 includes various switches, and outputs a signal corresponding to the operation of these switches to the printer control unit 27. The communication interface 41 is connected to the host computer 1. The black mark sensor 42 is provided on a transport path through which the print medium (label paper and roll paper) is transported inside the printer 5 and detects an alignment black mark (not shown) attached to the print medium. It is a light sensor. A communication interface (I / F) 41 (interface) performs communication based on a predetermined protocol with the host computer 1 under the control of the printer control unit 27.

  The paper feed motor 36 rotates the transport roller (not shown) under the control of the printer control unit 27 to transport the label paper 14. The paper feed motor 36 is configured by, for example, a stepping motor, and the printer control unit 27 can control the rotation amount and the rotation direction of the paper feed motor 36. A paper feed motor 36 may be included in the printing unit along with the line inkjet head 12. The black mark sensor 42 detects a black mark during conveyance of the label paper 14 and outputs a detection value to the printer control unit 27.

The printer control unit 27 includes a command reception unit 27a, a command analysis unit 27b, a setting unit 27c, a print control unit 27d, and an image processing unit 27e as execution units that execute functions. These execution units correspond to functions realized when the CPU executes firmware. A reception buffer 27f and a print buffer 27g (buffer memory) are provided in a storage area of a RAM (not shown) constituting the printer control unit 27. Either or both of the reception buffer 27f and the print buffer 27g can be provided in the printer storage unit 50 or in a RAM externally connected to the printer control unit 27.
The printer storage unit 50 includes a semiconductor storage element such as an EEPROM or a flash memory, or a storage medium such as a hard disk, and stores various data in a rewritable manner. The printer storage unit 50 stores various data such as a program executed by the printer control unit 27 and font data processed by the printer control unit 27.

The command receiving unit 27a receives commands and data transmitted from the printer 5 via the communication interface 41 and stores them in the reception buffer 27f. The reception buffer 27f is provided with a write pointer indicating the write position of the command reception unit 27a. The command receiving unit 27a moves the write pointer and writes the received command and data to the reception buffer 27f. As a result, the commands and data received by the command receiving unit 27a are accumulated in the order of reception.
The command analysis unit 27b moves the read pointer according to the address in the reception buffer 27f, sequentially reads and analyzes the data stored in the reception buffer 27f, and detects a command. Since commands and data are stored in the reception buffer 27f in the order of reception, these commands and data are analyzed by the command analysis unit 27b in the order of reception. The command analysis unit 27b identifies an execution unit that executes the detected command and processes data. For example, if the analyzed command is a command to be executed by the setting unit 27c, the command analysis unit 27b passes the command to the setting unit 27c. Further, for example, the command analysis unit 27b passes a command for setting a resolution to be described later to the setting unit 27c and causes the setting unit 27c to execute the command. When the detected command is a command to be executed by the print control unit 27d, the command analysis unit 27b passes the command and data to the print control unit 27d. When the detected command is a command to be executed by the image processing unit 27e, the command analysis unit 27b passes the command and data to the image processing unit 27e. The setting unit 27c, the print control unit 27d, and the image processing unit 27e correspond to a command execution unit.

The setting unit 27c executes setting related to the printing operation of the printer 5 in accordance with the command input from the command analysis unit 27b. The setting unit 27c updates the setting data 50a stored in the printer storage unit 50 according to the command. In addition, when an image registration is instructed by a command, the setting unit 27c stores the instructed image data in the printer storage unit 50 as registered image data 50b. In the printing system 8, image data can be registered in the printer 5 in advance. After the image is registered, when the host computer 1 instructs printing of the registered image, the image data can be printed using the registered image data without transmitting / receiving each time. With regard to this function, the setting unit 27 c can store image data in the printer storage unit 50.
The print control unit 27d executes the command passed from the command analysis unit 27b and processes the data. Specifically, the print control unit 27d executes a print operation according to the print command, and prints characters and images based on the print data. In the printing operation, the print control unit 27d controls the paper feed motor 36 to convey the label paper 14, and drives the line inkjet head 12 to eject ink.
The print control unit 27d calls the image processing unit 27e when processing the print data input from the host computer 1. The image processing unit 27e develops the print data as raster data in the print buffer 27g. The print buffer 27g is a storage area formed in accordance with the print resolution of the line inkjet head 12 and the size of the printable area of the printer 5.

  The printer storage unit 50 (storage unit) includes a semiconductor storage element such as an EEPROM or a flash memory, or a storage medium such as a hard disk, and stores various data in a rewritable manner. The printer storage unit 50 stores various data such as a program executed by the printer control unit 27 and font data processed by the printer control unit 27. The storage area of the printer storage unit 50 stores setting data 50a indicating setting values for various setting items related to the printing operation of the printer 5. The printer storage unit 50 stores registered image data 50b.

Here, commands transmitted and received by the printing system 8 will be described.
A command used in the printing system 8 of the present embodiment includes <prefix character>, <command identifier>, and <parameter>.
The prefix character is composed of, for example, a single ASCII code, and indicates a command classification. The printing system 8 can use two types of commands: a format command and a control command. The format command is a command for instructing the printing mode and printing operation that the printer 5 prints. The control command is a command related to control of the printer 5. Here, the prefix character of the control command is “/” and the prefix character of the control command is “*”.

  The command identifier indicates the type of command and is composed of, for example, 1 to 3 ASCII codes. The parameter is a value that controls the function of the command. For example, the value is specified by an ASCII code of one or more characters. The parameter corresponds to the type of command, and when using a numerical value, when using a character, both a character and a numerical value may be used. For numeric parameters, the upper and lower limits are determined according to the type of command. When the parameter value exceeds the upper limit, the command analysis unit 27b considers that the upper limit value has been designated, and when the parameter value is smaller than the lower limit, the command analysis unit 27b assumes that the lower limit value has been designated. If a parameter is omitted, the command analysis unit 27b assumes that a default parameter has been specified.

For example, a command for specifying a correction parameter in the printing system 8 can be defined by both a format command and a control command. Here, taking a command for specifying a correction parameter when printing a barcode as an example, a format command is represented by the following formula (1), and a control command is represented by the following formula (2).
/ FDCX (parameter) (1)
* HDX (parameter) (2)
In this example, the parameter is a numerical value indicating a correction parameter.
In addition, the printing system 8 can use a command for instructing printing, a command for designating a printing start position on a label, a command for instructing registration of image data, and the like.

The format command has a defined syntax, and can be described in the form of a command group having a label format start code at the beginning and a code indicating the end of the label format at the end. In this command group, a plurality of commands including <prefix character>, <command identifier>, and <parameter> can be arranged between the first code and the last code. A plurality of commands can be transmitted from the host computer 1 to the printer 5 according to this syntax.
For example, when a command for specifying the start position of the barcode printing range (field), a command for specifying the barcode, and a command for specifying the end of the printing range are described, the printer 5 analyzes the command. Print the barcode. Furthermore, a command “/ FDXX (parameter)” for designating a barcode correction parameter can be described between the first code and the last code. In this case, the setting unit 27c updates the setting data 50a based on the correction parameter specified by the command, and the print control unit 27d causes the barcode to be printed based on the updated setting data 50a.
Further, when receiving a format command, the command receiving unit 27a receives commands in a command group described between the first code and the last code in the order of description and stores them in the reception buffer 27f. Therefore, the commands described between the first code and the last code are analyzed in the order described in the command group by the command analysis unit 27b.
Of course, it is possible to send only one command from the host computer 1 to the printer 5 and execute it using the syntax of the format command.

On the other hand, there is no syntax definition in the control command, and the command is transmitted from the host computer 1 to the printer 5 alone. For example, when the print monitor unit 45 c transmits a command specifying a correction parameter as a control command, “* HDX (parameter)” is transmitted from the host computer 1 to the printer 5 alone. In this case, the command receiving unit 27a stores one command in the receiving buffer 27f, and the command analyzing unit 27b detects the “* HDX (parameter)” command and passes this command to the setting unit 27c for setting.
In this way, the printing system 8 can make settings related to printing together with a command for instructing printing by using a format command. In addition, settings can be made at any time by a control command.

  By the way, in the printing system 8, the priority of each command can be set, and a command having a higher priority is executed by the printer 5 with priority over other commands. Specifically, the priority of the format command (first command) and the control command (second command) format command is different, and the printer 5 executes the control command with priority over the format command. Therefore, when the host computer 1 continuously transmits a control command and a format command to the printer 5, the printer 5 sequentially executes the commands according to the priority. Such a difference in priority is useful because it can quickly reflect, for example, settings related to the printing operation of the printer 5.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printing system 8 as a reference example, where (A) shows the operation of the host computer 1 and (B) shows the operation of the printer 5.
In the reference example, when the user instructs printing of the document generated by the application execution unit 45a, the printer driver execution unit 45b generates a print command, and the user interface of the printer driver execution unit 45b instructs image registration Indicates. The print monitor unit 45c acquires a print command from the printer driver execution unit 45b (step SA21), and then acquires an image registration command (step SA22). The print monitor unit 45c arranges the plurality of commands acquired from the printer driver execution unit 45b in the order of acquisition (step SA23), and transmits them to the printer 5 in the arrangement order (step SA24). Here, the print monitor unit 45c transmits a print command to the printer 5 as a format command, and then transmits an image registration command to the printer 5 as a control command. The print command includes, for example, character data to be printed, data such as the number of labels to be printed, data indicating the name of an image to be printed among the registered image data 50b, and the like. The image registration command is accompanied by data such as an image registration name and image data.

The printer 5 receives the command transmitted from the host computer 1 by the command reception unit 27a and stores it in the reception buffer 27f (step SB21). When the command analysis unit 27b analyzes the command in the reception buffer 27f and detects a print command (step SB22), it passes the print command and data to be printed to the print control unit 27d, and the print control unit 27d starts printing (step). SB23).
The command analysis unit 27b analyzes the reception buffer 27f even after the print control unit 27d is executing printing after passing the print command and data to the print control unit 27d. That is, the command analysis unit 27b is released by passing the command and data to the print control unit 27d, and is ready to analyze the next command. For this reason, the command analysis unit 27b detects the next command while the print control unit 27d is performing a printing operation or while the image processing unit 27e develops an image in the print buffer 27g in preparation for printing. There is also.
When the command analysis unit 27b detects an image registration command in the reception buffer 27f (step SB24), it passes the image registration command and the image data to be registered to the setting unit 27c. Here, the setting unit 27c performs processing for storing the image data in the printer storage unit 50 as the registered image data 50b (step SB25).

Even when the print control unit 27d calls the image processing unit 27e, the image processing unit 27e acquires the registered image data 50b, or the image processing unit 27e develops an image, the setting unit 27c The process of step SB25 can be executed. Therefore, the registered image data 50b is newly stored in the printer storage unit 50. If the registered name specified by the image registration command is the same name as the registered image data 50b already stored in the printer storage unit 50, the printer storage unit 50c overwrites and updates the registered image data 50b.
In this reference example, the registered image data 50b may be updated to another image data during the printing operation of the print control unit 27d. Therefore, when the print control unit 27d prints a label using the registered image data 50b, the registered image data 50b is changed before the image processing unit 27e acquires the registered image data 50b, and an image that is not intended by the user. May be printed.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the print monitor unit 45c included in the host computer 1 causes the printer 5 to execute commands in an appropriate order by using response request commands when transmitting a plurality of commands.
The response request command is described in the form of a control command, for example, as in the following formula (3).
* HF (parameter) (3)
The parameter is an arbitrary numerical value and character, and the upper limit number of digits of the parameter is determined.
When this response request command is transmitted to the printer 5, the command analysis unit 27 b detects the response request command, generates a response command, and transmits it to the host computer 1. At this time, the command analysis unit 27b generates a response command including the same parameters as the parameters included in the response request command. Therefore, when the print monitor unit 45c receives a response command from the printer 5, the print monitor unit 45c can identify which response request command is the response to the parameter.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the host computer 1, and particularly shows the operation when the print monitor unit 45c transmits a command.
When the print monitor unit 45c acquires a command from the printer driver execution unit 45b (step S11), the print monitor unit 45c determines whether to send a plurality of commands to the printer 5 (step S12). For example, when a plurality of commands are acquired from the printer driver execution unit 45b within a preset time, the print monitor unit 45c performs a process of transmitting the plurality of commands together.
When one command is transmitted to the printer 5 (step S12; No), the print monitor unit 45c transmits the acquired command to the printer 5 (step S13), and this process ends.

  When transmitting a plurality of commands (step S12; Yes), the print monitor unit 45c determines whether or not commands having different priorities are mixed among the plurality of commands to be transmitted (step S14). If there is no difference in priority (step S14; No), the print monitor unit 45c transmits the acquired plurality of commands to the printer 5 (step S15), and ends this process. In step S15, the print monitor unit 45c may transmit a plurality of control commands in order, or may transmit a plurality of format commands as a command group.

If there is a difference in priority among the plurality of commands to be transmitted (step S14; Yes), the print monitor unit 45c arranges the commands in the execution order (step S16). The command execution order refers to the order in which commands are acquired from the printer driver execution unit 45b. If the command execution order is specified separately, this specification is followed.
Next, the print monitor unit 45c inserts a response request command between the format command and the control command (step S17). That is, when a command with a higher priority is arranged next to a command with a lower priority, a response request command is inserted between them. The print monitor unit 45c extracts commands from the top command to the response request command from the commands arranged in the execution order (step S18), and transmits the command to the printer 5 (step S19). In step S19, a control command may be transmitted in order, a plurality of format commands may be transmitted as a command group, or a control command and a format command may be transmitted in order.

  The print monitor unit 45c waits until a response to the response request command transmitted in step S19 is transmitted from the printer 5 (step S20). When the response request command is received, the print monitor unit 45c may determine whether or not the response command corresponds to the response request command transmitted in step S19 based on the response command parameter.

When the response command corresponding to the response request command transmitted in step S19 is received (step S20; Yes), the print monitor unit 45c extracts the remaining commands extracted in step S18 (step S21). The print monitor unit 45c transmits the extracted command to the printer 5 (step S22), and ends this process.
When the print monitor unit 45c receives a response command to the response request command transmitted in step S19, the print monitor unit 45c does not output data related to reception of the response command to the printer driver execution unit 45b.
As described above, when the print monitor unit 45c receives the response from the printer 5 when the command generated by the printer driver execution unit 45b is transmitted to the printer 5, the print monitor unit 45c returns the received command to the printer driver execution unit 45b. However, since the response request command is a command generated by the print monitor unit 45c, the response to the response request command is not output to the printer driver execution unit 45b. Therefore, the printer driver execution unit 45b is not affected by the function of the print monitor unit 45c generating the response request command. Therefore, even if the host computer 1 is equipped with a general-purpose printer driver execution unit 45b, the print monitor unit 45c can have a response request command generation function to realize the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printer 5, and particularly shows the operation when a command is received from the host computer 1.
The command receiving unit 27a stores a command or data from the host computer 1 in the reception buffer 27f each time it receives a command or data. This operation is as described above.
The command analysis unit 27b detects the command by moving the read pointer of the reception buffer 27f (step S31). The command analysis unit 27b determines whether or not there is an unprocessed command (step S32), and if there is no unprocessed command in the reception buffer 27f (step S32; No), the process ends.

  When an unprocessed command is detected in the reception buffer 27f (step S32; Yes), the command analysis unit 27b specifies the type of the detected command and the execution unit that executes the command (step S33). The command analysis unit 27b determines whether or not the detected command is a response request command (step S34), and if it is a response request command (step S34; Yes), generates a response command and transmits it to the host computer 1. (Step S35). In step S35, the command analysis unit 27b sets the same parameter as the response request command parameter in the response command.

On the other hand, when the command detected in the reception buffer 27f is not a response request command (step S34; No), it is determined whether or not it is a control command (step S36).
When the detected command is a format command with low priority (step S36; No), the command analysis unit 27b outputs the command and data to the execution unit identified in step S33 (step S38). The command analysis unit 27b instructs the execution unit that has output the command and data, that is, the setting unit 27c, the print control unit 27d, or the image processing unit 27e (step S38) to execute the command. (Step S39). Thereafter, the command analysis unit 27b returns to step S31 and continues to detect the command.

  If the detected command is a control command with a high priority (step S36; Yes), the command analysis unit 27b outputs the command and data to the execution unit identified in step S33 (step S40). The command analysis unit 27b instructs the execution unit that has output the command and data to execute the command in preference to the command executed by the other execution unit (step S41). An instruction to be executed in preference to a command executed by another execution unit is an instruction to start execution of the command without waiting for completion of execution of the other execution unit. Thereby, the command is executed (step S39), and the command analysis unit 27b returns to step S31 and continues to detect the command.

FIG. 4 shows a sequence in which the operations of FIGS. 2 and 3 are summarized. 4A shows the operation of the host computer 1, and FIG. 4B shows the operation of the printer 5. FIG. 4 shows a specific example similar to the reference example of FIG. In this example, when the user instructs printing of the document generated by the application execution unit 45a, the printer driver execution unit 45b generates a print command, and registration of an image is instructed by the user interface of the printer driver execution unit 45b Indicates.
The print monitor unit 45c acquires a print command from the printer driver execution unit 45b (step SA11), and then acquires an image registration command (step SA12). The print monitor unit 45c arranges a plurality of commands acquired from the printer driver execution unit 45b in the order of acquisition (step SA13).
Here, the print command is a format command, and the image registration command is a control command. For this reason, the print monitor unit 45c inserts a response request command between the print command and the image registration command (step SA14).

  The print monitor unit 45c transmits the print command and response request command acquired from the printer driver execution unit 45b to the printer 5 (step S15), and waits until a response command is received (step SA16).

On the other hand, the command receiving unit 27a of the printer 5 receives the command transmitted from the host computer 1 by the command receiving unit 27a and stores it in the reception buffer 27f (step SB11). The command analysis unit 27b detects a print command from the reception buffer 27f (step SB12), passes the print command and data to the print control unit 27d, and starts printing (step SB13).
The command analysis unit 27b detects the response request command from the reception buffer 27f after passing the print command and data to the print control unit 27d (step SB14). The command analysis unit 27b generates a response command and transmits it to the host computer 1 (step SB15).

The print monitor unit 45c receives the response command transmitted from the printer 5 (step SA16; Yes), and transmits an image registration command to the printer 5 (step S17).
The command receiving unit 27a receives the image registration command transmitted from the host computer 1 and stores it in the reception buffer 27f (step SB16).
Then, the command analysis unit 27b detects the image registration command from the reception buffer 27f (step SB17), passes the detected image registration command and data to the setting unit 27c, and the setting unit 27c stores the registered image data 50b ( Step SB18). At this time, since the print control unit 27d and the image processing unit 27e have started printing, the registered image data 50b has already been read. Therefore, even if the setting unit 27c stores or updates the registered image data 50b, the print result by the print control unit 27d is not affected.

  As described above, the printing system 8 according to this embodiment includes the host computer 1 connected to the printer 5. The host computer 1 includes a print monitor unit 45 c that transmits a command to the printer 5 and receives a response transmitted from the printer 5. The print monitor unit 45c can transmit a format command (first command) executed by the printer 5 and a control command (second command) executed by the printer 5 with priority over the format command. When a plurality of commands including a format command and a control command are transmitted, a response request command is transmitted before the control command, and a control command is transmitted after receiving a response command that is a response to the response request command. . Thereby, the execution order of the commands in the printer 5 can be appropriately controlled so that the printer 5 executes the commands in the order of transmission.

The host computer 1 also includes a printer driver execution unit 45b that generates a format command and a control command. When the printer driver execution unit 45b instructs the transmission of a plurality of commands including a format command and a control command, the print monitor unit 45c determines the command transmission order and generates and arranges a response request command. As described above, when a plurality of commands having different priorities are transmitted to the printer 5, the command execution order in the printer 5 can be easily controlled by generating a response request command.
The host computer 1 includes an application execution unit 45a. The printer driver execution unit 45b generates a print command that is a format command based on the data output from the application execution unit 45a, and generates a control command related to the setting of the printer 5. For this reason, when data generated by executing the program is printed on the printer 5, the setting of the printer 5 can be executed by a command, and the execution order of the setting and the printing operation can be appropriately controlled.

Further, when the print monitor unit 45c receives a response transmitted from the printer 5 after executing the command, the print monitor unit 45c can also output data corresponding to the received response to the printer driver execution unit 45b. Further, when the print monitor unit 45c receives a response command to the response request command, the print monitor unit 45c does not return the command to the printer driver execution unit 45b. For this reason, it is possible to control the execution order of the commands of the printer 5 using the response request command, and to prevent the influence of this control from being given to the printer driver execution unit 45b. For this reason, the print monitor unit 45c that controls the command execution order of the printer 5 can be implemented independently of the printer driver execution unit 45b.
In the above embodiment, the command analysis unit 27b of the printer 5 generates a response command and transmits it to the host computer 1, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the response transmitted by the printer 5 is not limited to the response command format, and may be, for example, a command format response command, a status notification format, or other types of data. These may be included. Accordingly, the print monitor unit 45c only needs to receive at least one of a response command, a notification of status, etc., or other types of data as a response.

The above-described embodiment is merely an aspect of the present invention, and can be arbitrarily modified and applied within the scope of the present invention.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the priority of the control command and the format command is different has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the priority may be set based on the function corresponding to the command regardless of whether it is a format command or a control command. For example, the command relating to the function setting of the printer 5 may be set to a high priority regardless of whether it is a format command or a control command. The command parameter may include a parameter indicating the priority of the command. In this case, the priority level of the command can be determined and specified by the printer driver execution unit 45b.

  Each functional block shown in FIG. 1 can be arbitrarily realized by cooperation of hardware and software, and does not suggest a specific hardware configuration. Further, each function of the host computer 1 and the printer 5 may be provided in another device externally connected to these devices. Further, the host computer 1 and the printer 5 may execute various operations by executing a program stored in an externally connected storage medium. In addition, the printer 5 is not limited to an ink jet printer, and the present invention is also applied to various printing apparatuses such as a dot impact type, a laser type, a thermal type, and a multi-function machine incorporating this type of printing unit. Is possible.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Host computer (printing control apparatus), 5 ... Printer (printing apparatus), 8 ... Printing system, 12 ... Line inkjet head, 14 ... Label paper, 27 ... Printer control part, 27a ... Command receiving part, 27b ... Command analysis 27c: Setting unit (command execution unit), 27d ... Print control unit (command execution unit), 27e ... Image processing unit (command execution unit), 27f ... Reception buffer, 27g ... Print buffer, 41 ... Communication interface, 45 ... host control unit, 45a ... application execution unit (program execution unit), 45b ... printer driver execution unit (command generation unit), 45c ... print monitor unit (transmission unit, reception unit, transmission control unit), 50 ... printer storage unit .

Claims (6)

A printing control device connected to the printing device,
A transmission unit for transmitting a command to the printing apparatus;
A receiving unit for receiving a response transmitted from the printing apparatus;
When transmitting the first command before Symbol printing apparatus executes a plurality of commands and a second command that the printing device is executed with priority than the first command, the by the transmitting unit first to transmit the response request command before sending the second command, a response to the response request command waits to receive said reception unit, from the reception unit receives the response, the second by the transmission unit A control unit for transmitting the command of 2 ;
A printing control apparatus characterized by the above. The controller is
A command generator for instructing transmission of the first command and the second command;
If the transmission of the plurality of commands including a first command and the second command is instructed by the command generating unit, determines the transmission order of the command, the generated the response request command first A transmission control unit arranged before the command of 2;
The print control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The controller is
A program execution unit for executing the program;
The command generating unit generates the first command for instructing printing to the printing device based on the data the program execution unit is output, and generates the second command according to a setting of the printing device Generating the response request command when attempting to send the second command after the first command ;
The print control apparatus according to claim 2. The transmission control unit, a different response sent from the printing apparatus in response to the first command or the second command, when received by the reception unit, corresponding to the different responses received Output data to the command generator,
The response sent from the printing apparatus in response to the response request command, when received by the receiver, it does not output to the command generating unit of the data,
The print control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the print control apparatus is a print control apparatus. A printing system in which a printing device and a printing control device are connected to be communicable,
The print control device includes:
A transmission unit for transmitting a command to the printing apparatus;
A receiving unit for receiving a response transmitted from the printing apparatus;
When transmitting the first command before Symbol printing apparatus executes a plurality of commands and a second command that the printing device is executed with priority than the first command, the by the transmitting unit first to transmit the response request command before sending the second command, a response to the response request command waits to receive said reception unit, from the reception unit receives the response, the second by the transmission unit A control unit for transmitting the command of 2,
The printing apparatus includes:
A command receiving unit that receives the command transmitted from the print control apparatus,
A command analysis unit for analyzing the command received by the command receiving unit in the order received,
And a command execution unit for executing the command,
When the command analyzing unit outputs the command executing unit analyzes the command received by the command receiving unit, said command execution unit is capable analyzing the next command while executing the command,
When said command analysis unit has analyzed the response request command, it comprises a response transmission unit that transmits the response to the response request command by the command execution unit to the printing apparatus,
A printing system featuring. A printing control method for sending a command to a printing device to execute it and receiving a response sent from the printing device,
The second command is transmitted when a plurality of commands including a first command executed by the printing apparatus and a second command executed by the printing apparatus with priority over the first command are transmitted. it sends a response request command before, after receiving the response to the response request command, and transmits the second command,
A printing control method characterized by the above.

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