JPH02113325A - Printer controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily know the state of a printer without checking it directly by adding an identification code assigned to each host or terminal to a message indicating the printer state. CONSTITUTION:For a printer which is shared by plural hosts or terminals, identification codes are assigned to the respective hosts or terminals and when the state (e.g. error state) of the printer is sent as a message, its message identification code is added. Consequently, the state of the printer to one host or terminal which uses the printer currently is known without being checked directly, so only an object user can make necessary settings for the printer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a printer control device that prints data sent from a data processing device such as a host computer.

(Prior Art) In general, data sent from a host computer or the like to a printer consists of print data indicating an actual print pattern and control data for controlling a printing method and mode of a print engine. A printer control device (hereinafter simply referred to as a controller) processes this data, converts it into a dot image to be actually printed, and supplies it to a print engine that performs printing.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In recent years, electrophotographic printers such as laser printers have become quite popular due to their high printing speed, high quality fonts, and relatively quiet operating noise during printing. On the other hand,
Electrophotographic printers are still quite expensive, and it is impossible for most users to provide a dedicated printer for each host such as a personal computer or word processor. In addition, although inkjet printers and wire dot printers are cheaper than electrophotographic printers, providing a dedicated printer for each host may be wasteful in terms of cost if the printer's operating rate is low. Not a few.

Therefore, in many cases, these printers are not connected to one host at a time, but are shared, such as multiple hosts connected to one printer via a multiplexer, etc. is the current situation.

In addition, in consideration of costs from the beginning, there are multi-user compatible systems in which personal computers, word processors, etc. are provided with a plurality of terminals for one main host from the beginning.

In this system as well, the printer is connected to the main host, and the users of each terminal use the printer via the main host, so that the printer is shared.

In all of the above usage patterns, each terminal is often far away from the printer, and in order to check the status of the printer, it is necessary to go to the printer to check. To solve this problem, a printer control device can be considered that returns a status code indicating the printer status to the main host and sends the status code from the main host to each terminal. Since the multiplexer in the former case and the main host in the latter case cannot distinguish which terminal the status code is for, in the end the status code is for a specific terminal. There was a problem that it was never sent to.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to support multi-user applications, such as when one printer is connected to multiple hosts via a multiplexer, or when one printer is connected to the main host. In a system where multiple terminals are connected to the main host, the status of the printer can be immediately known to the host or terminal that is using the printer without directly checking the printer. An object of the present invention is to provide a printer control device that can perform the following functions.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, a printer control device according to the present invention is connectable to one or more hosts or terminals, and print data and data are stored in advance for each host or terminal. Selectively input the assigned identification code and control data including the print mode setting values necessary to print the print data for each host or terminal,
a two-way communication means for selectively outputting data to a host or a terminal; an identification code storage means for storing an identification code; a print control means for controlling printing of print data according to print mode settings; A response means that determines the state of the control means and responds according to the state; and control so that an identification code stored in the identification code storage means is added to the response from the response means and output from the communication means. The invention is characterized by comprising a communication control means.

(Function) For printers that are shared by multiple hosts or terminals, each host or terminal is assigned an identification code to identify the printer's status (for example, error status).
When sending a message, an identification code is added to the message.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(a) Configuration of electrophotographic printer First, the schematic configuration of the printer and the control device will be explained.

FIG. 1 shows a printer system lO which is an embodiment of the present invention.
The configuration of the processing system and its application examples are shown.

Data from the plurality of data processing devices IA, IB, and IG is temporarily stored in an external file multiplex buffer 2 and then output to the printer system IO in order to improve throughput. The file multiplex buffer 2 includes a plurality of data processing devices IA, IB,
It also functions as a multiplexer for connecting each IG to one printer.

The printer system IO consists of a bitmap type data processing device 3, a print engine 4 using an electrophotographic process and a laser, and accessory devices such as an external paper feed unit 5 and a sorter 6.

FIG. 2 shows the external appearance of the printer system 10. The print engine 4 incorporates the bitmap type data processing device 3, and can be connected to an external paper feed unit 5 and a sorter 6 as accessories. In addition, on the upper front side of the print engine 4, there is an operation panel 4 with a display showing the system status and keys for performing simple operations.
4 is installed.

FIG. 3 is a central sectional view showing the paper passing path of the printing system, showing three removable paper feed cassettes (51, 52,
Paper is selectively fed from 53). After the toner is removed by the cleaner 406 in the print engine 4, the charger 404 and the eraser lamp 405
As a result, the photosensitive drum 401 is uniformly charged and receives image exposure from the optical system 409. And the developing device 402
A toner image is formed on the photoreceptor drum 401, transferred onto the paper fed by the transfer charger 403, conveyed to the paper fixing device 408 by the conveyor belt 407, and subjected to the fixing process by the fixing device 408. After that, it is stored in the sorter 6.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of the printer system IO.

The bitmap type data processing device 3 includes a bitmap control unit (BMC) 30 (see FIG. 5), a bitmap RAM (BM-RAM) 32 for bitmaps, and a bitmap RAM (BM-RAM) 32 for bitmaps.
Bitmap writing section (BM
W) Consists of 31 and 7 ont parts 33. The font section 33 consists of a ROM section in which a predetermined 7 fonts are stored in advance, and a RAM section that can also store fonts downloaded from the outside. Connection with the print engine 4 is made through a bus B3 for control data (number of sheets, accessory control, etc.) and a bus B4 for image data.

The print engine 4 is mainly composed of three control devices. First, the interface control section (FC) 40 processes control data from the bitmap control section 30, controls the operation panel, and controls the timing of the entire printer through the internal bus B5. The electrophotographic control section 41 controls the electrophotographic processing section 45 in accordance with data sent from the interface control section 40 through the internal bus B5.

The print head control section 42 controls the print head section according to information sent from the interface control section 40 via the internal bus B5 in order to write the image data sent from the bitmap writing section 31 via the internal bus B4 onto the photoreceptor l. It controls the light emission of the semiconductor laser 43 and the rotation of a polygon motor (not shown).

In addition, the external paper feed unit 5 and the sorter 6 are also connected to the internal bus B5.
It is controlled from the interface control W40 through the interface control W40.

The printer system IO described above is a bitmap type laser printer. Data processing device IA
, IB, and Ic (mostly represented by codes) are sent to the bitmap processing device 3.
The image is developed as an actual print image on the BM-RAM 32 of the printer, and is output to the print engine 4. The print engine 4 modulates the laser beam according to the data from the bitmap data processing device 3, records the data on the photoreceptor, and further transfers it onto recording paper.

The data sent from the data processing devices IA, IB, and IC includes not only print data but also codes for format control and engine mode setting.

The bitmap type data processing device 3 analyzes these protocols in addition to the print data, controls the format, and issues instructions for feeding paper to the print engine 4, changing the optional mode, etc. as necessary.

In addition to the recording control described above, the print engine 4 performs associated electrophotographic control, recording paper timing control, and processing synchronized with paper feeding to other options.

Control of the print engine 4 is similar to that of an electrophotographic copying machine except for the scanning system.

(b) Bitmap Control Section FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the bitmap control section 30. The bitmap control unit 30 is composed of several blocks connected by an internal bus B30. BM-CPU
301 is a control unit which is the central part of the bitmap type data processing device 3, and a control unit 301 which is the central part of the bitmap type data processing device 3;
It communicates with any of the data processing devices IA, IB, and IC and the file multiplex buffer 2 through 08, converts print data, and controls the bitmap writing unit 31 through the bitmap writing unit interface 306. and controls the print engine 4 through the print engine interface 307. S.Y.
The S-ROM 302 stores programs for the BM-CPU 301. SYS-RAM303 is BM-CPU3
This is the working storage area of 01 and is used to store the stack and basic flags.

The R-buffer 304 is connected to an external (data processing device IA, I
B, lc and file multiplex buffer 2), and its purpose is to enable communication between the processing program of the 8 MCPU 301 and the data processing device 1 even asynchronously.

Bucket buffer (hereinafter abbreviated as P-buffer) 305
The data from the data processing devices IA, IB, Ic,
It is stored as an intermediate code (hereinafter referred to as a packet) that can be easily drawn on the BM-RAM 32, which is converted from the font attributes.

The actual drawing of the font is performed by the bitmap writing unit 31, but as information to the bitmap writing unit 31, it is necessary to calculate parameters such as the font pattern built-in address and the drawing address to the BM-RAM 32. .

This takes a certain amount of time. Therefore, BM-RAM3
By pre-processing the data for the next page while printing the second page data, processing speed is increased.

Therefore, the movement of data in the P-buffer 305 is F
IFO (first in, first out).

The print engine interface 307 is an interface with the print engine 4, and exchanges JOB control commands such as print commands with the print engine 4 interface via the bus B3.

(C) Flow of Bitmap Control The operation of this system will now be explained with reference to flowcharts.

7 to 17 are flowcharts showing the processing of the bitmap control section 30.

In FIG. 7, first, when the power is turned on (step S1, hereinafter steps are omitted), internal initialization is performed (S2), and the R-buffer 304, P-buffer 305, and BM-RAM 32 are cleared. After performing (S3), parameters are initialized (S4).

The function of each parameter is as follows.

JOBACT: Indicates that a certain page is being printed (printing of the set number of sheets has not been completed).

BMWWRITE: Indicates whether any data has been written to the BM-RAM32.

Indicates a JOBEJT niblint activation request.

LPWRITE: Indicates that temporary editing of page data (image) has started.

ENBANS: Indicates that sending a message to the data processing device is permitted.

ENB ID: I for message to data processing device
Indicates that a D code is added.

IDC0DE: Indicates the ID code setting value.

Further, initial values are also set for the user table (hereinafter referred to as USERTBL) (S5). USERTBL is the 6th
As shown in the figure, this is a storage area for saving various printer setting values for each user ID. USER
TBL is simply a save area, and when actually used, the contents of USERTBL of each ID code are transferred to a current table (hereinafter referred to as CURRTBL) for use. This is because complex arithmetic processing such as address conversion can be omitted and processing speed can be increased. In this embodiment, this USERTBL is provided in the SYS-RAM 303, and is preferably backed up by a battery so that its contents are retained even when the power of the printer is turned off.

Note that the font mounting information in CURRTBL in Figure 6 is read when the power is turned on, but the cassette mounting information is
If there is a change in the status, the information is sent from the IFC 40 and updated by an interrupt routine (not shown).

Then, interrupts are enabled (S6), and font attributes used for editing print data are read and stored in the SYS-RAM 303 as font implementation information (S7). After initial setting of the paper feed cassette (S8), the actual processing loop (S9 to S512) is entered.

The actual processing loop can be roughly divided into the following four processes.

0 Received data processing (SCI): Processes received data from a data processing device and converts it into a packet.

01FC command processing (SIO): Processes data from the print engine 4.

0 packet processing (S l 1): BM according to the packet
- Perform drawing processing to the RAM 32.

0 print sequence processing (S12): IFC4
Process the print sequence with 0.

In order to improve communication efficiency, data sent from the data processing device is temporarily stored in the R-buffer 304, which is a reception buffer, by reception interrupt processing described later.

The received data is processed as R- in the received data processing (S9).
It is taken out from the buffer 304 and converted into a packet, P-
It is stored once in the buffer 305.

Thereafter, the packet processing (Sll) takes out the corresponding font, and the bitmap writing section 31 stores the corresponding font in the BM-RAM.
32. When a print request code (PAGE, EJECT) is detected in the received data, actual printing is started by print sequence processing (S l 2, see FIG. 11).

<Received data processing> The flow of received data processing (S9) is shown in Fig. 8 (a) and (b).
).

In FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b), received data is converted in advance into packets that can be easily output to the bitmap writing section 31, and stored in the P-buffer 305. This is to improve throughput by converting the received data output from the BM-RAM 32 in parallel even during printing.

First, confirm that there is space in the P-buffer 305 (521), and further, if data has been received in the R-buffer 304 (YES in S22), the process continues.

If the received data is a character code to be printed (
570 to 573) convert it into a packet according to the current font code on CURRTBL and the font attribute read at power-on (S72). As a specific conversion procedure, first, the font address of the pattern corresponding to the character code is output to the P-buffer 305, and then the write address to the BM-RAM 32 is sequentially outputted to the P-buffer 305.
It is output to the buffer 305, and the write mode to the bitmap writing section 31 is output. And finally, depending on the size of this 7 ont, etc., select the BM-RA of the next font.
Update the write address to M32 (S73)
. This process determines the final print result format. This process can be said to be virtual editing, unlike actual editing and drawing to the BM-RAM 32. Further, when drawing the first character of the page (YES in S70), the LPWRITE flag indicating the start of temporary editing is set to 1 at the same time (S71).

The interface control unit-related hood (r
FC related code) (YES in S24), in order to synchronize the processing in the character packet processing (sll),
P-buffer 305 with packets in a format different from characters.
(S25). Additionally, CURRTBL is also updated (S26).

Not an IFC related code (No in S24), PAGE,
If it is an EJECT code (YES in S30), this code indicates the end of one page of data, and is a code that starts printing during packet processing,
When the previous characters are written into the BM-RAM 32, printing is started. This code is also output to the P-buffer 305 in order to synchronize processing with the preceding and following characters (S3
1).

At this time, in preparation for temporary editing of the next page, LPWRIT
The E flag is reset (S32).

PAGE in S30, not EJECT code (NO),
If it is a format control code (YES in S35), the write address to the BM-RAM 32 is changed corresponding to each code, and CURRTBL is updated for changes in margin settings, etc. (S36).

If the format control code is not selected in S35 (No) and the cassette is selected (YES in S40), the cassette is selected according to the specified mode (S41, see FIG. 12).

If the cassette selection is not selected at 540 (No) and the font selection is selected (YES at S45), the font selection is performed in the same manner as above (S46, see FIG. 13).

Steps 350 to S53 are related to the embodiment of the present invention, and are processes for setting an answer mode for notifying the data processing device of the processing status in the printer system IO. If the answer mode designation code is to be notified to the data processing device (YES in S50), and if the answer mode is permission designation (YES in S51), ENBANS is used to permit message transmission to the data processing device. Set the flag (552), and if the answer mode is not specified as permission (
551 (No), reset the ENBANS flag (
S53). When this ENBANS7 lag is set, it becomes answer mode and the printer status (e.g.
In this embodiment, the BM-C
The PU 301 makes a judgment and outputs a code or message according to the state to the outside via the data processing device interface 308.

The processes from 355 to S69 are carried out by the shared printer system lO.
This relates to the processing of identification codes (ID codes) of users who use the .

ID mode using ID code is specified (Y in S55).
ES), if permission is specified (YES in 556), set the ENB ID flag indicating that the ID mode has been entered 557), if permission is not specified (No in S56), I
The ENB I D7 lag is reset to indicate that it is not the D mode (S58). Here, if both the ID mode and the answer mode are specified, an operation is performed to add an ID to a message sent to an external data processing device according to the present invention. Furthermore, parameters such as editing conditions will be managed for each user.

The processes from 360 to S69 are processes related to setting an ID code and changing parameter setting values according to the set ID code.

If the ID code is specified (YES in S60), ID mode is not allowed (NO in S61), or even if it is allowed (YES in S61), unless the user changes it. (NO in S62), ignored. If there is a change in the user and the data of the user before the change is in the temporary editing state (S63)
= 1), PAGE, E to prevent this temporary edited data from being attached as garbage to the first page of the user after the change.
The JECT code is output to the P-buffer 305 to be forcibly ejected (printed) (S64), and the LPWRITE flag is reset (S65). Regardless of whether the user's data before the change is in a temporary editing state, after saving the various parameters of the user before the change from CURRTBL (S66), the various parameters of the user after the change are saved.
The corresponding ID code is returned from USERTBL (see Figure 6) to CURRTBL (S67), and the ID
C0DE is also updated (S68). Then, a reset process (S69, see FIG. 14) is performed, and various settings such as the print engine IO of the user after the change are made.

<IFC Command Processing> FIG. 9 is a flowchart of command processing (SIO) from the interface control unit (IFC) 40.

The EXP, END command (5101) is a command to synchronize the print sequence with the interface control mg (IFC) 40, and indicates that the print engine 4 has finished laser exposure of one print.

This command is valid only during printing, so JO
If BACT=1, return as is and JOB
If ACT=0, the process moves to 5103 (S I O2).

8MC for multiple prints on the same image
At step 30, the next print start flag is set at this timing (S104). For single print or the last of multi print (NO in S I O3)
, resets the JOBACT flag indicating the print status (5105), clears the BM-RAM 32, and clears the BMWRITE indicating the drawing status to the BM-RAM 32 (5106) to prepare for the next image. These two types of judgment are EXP, END command JOBE
Performed by ND7 lag (S l 03). This is because the interface control unit 40 controls the number of sheets for multi-printing, etc.

Packet processing> In the packet processing (Sll) flow shown in Figure 1θ,
The packets stored in the P-buffer 305 are processed. The packet includes a packet for characters to be printed,
There is a control packet. To change BM-RAM32,
Since the process cannot be performed until the printout of the previous image is completed, the process is not performed in the print state (JOBACT-1) (7) (NO in S121). Also, if there is no packet, that is, the P-buffer is empty (S12
3 (YES) also does not perform any processing.

In the case of a text packet (YES in S l 24),
The data is output to the bitmap writing section 31 (S125).

The bitmap writing section 31 analyzes the packet and draws a pattern from the 7-ont section 33 to the BM-RAM 32 according to the font address. While one packet is being processed, the next packet cannot be processed (s126), so the process returns. If this character is the first (BMWRITE=
If YES in O, S126), the BMWRITE flag is set (S127).

In the case of a control packet other than a character packet (NO in S124), first, JOBSTA indicating the start of a print operation is sent.
If it is an RT code (YES in S130), output the JOBSTART code to IFC (S l 31).
. The IFC-related code (YES in S135) mainly specifies the number of multi-print sheets, the paper feed cassette, and the operation mode of the accessory, and is output to the IFC 40 (S136).

PAGE and EJECT (YES in S140) indicate page breaks, and before this code, the BM-RAM
The image drawn at 32 is output. for that,
First, set the JOBACT flag, switch to the copy state, prohibit further drawing to the BM-RAM 32, set the print start request flag JOBEJT, thio<(
S l 41).

This flag is used to print the print sequence (see Figure 11).
It was judged that IFC40 print command FPR
NCMD is output, and a 5TART command requesting the IFC to start the print engine section is output (S
l42).

J OBE J T is reset (S l 65) after being recognized in print sequence processing, but JO
The BACT is reset by a command (not shown) sent from the IFC when the print engine unit completes copy processing, etc.

In the case of size information (YES in Sl 45), the bitmap writing unit 3 changes the mode for writing into the BM-RAM 32 by the bitmap writing unit 31.
1 (S l 46).

The mode changed here includes, for example, the memory capacity per image line.

<Print sequence> In the flow of print sequence processing (S12) shown in FIG. 11, the JOB control flag (JOBEJT),
Depending on the state of the bitmap writing section 31, printing is actually started.

Print startup is performed at the time of print startup request (JOBEJT-
1,5161″cYES) i: Row, bitmap writing unit 31 is processing the last packet (S l 62
(No) cannot be started.

If printing can be started, after switching the bitmap writing unit 31 to print mode (3163), the IFC 40
A print command (PRNCM) that requests the start of exposure
D) is output (S164), and the JOBEJT flag is reset (S165).

<Cassette Selection> FIG. 12 is a flowchart of cassette selection processing. Cassette selection is valid only at the beginning of each page (specifically, before print data is received, at LPWRITE-0).
S l 81). This is to ensure the layout of the temporarily edited image. There are two modes for specifying a cassette: specification by paper size and specification by cassette position.

In both modes, if the mode is already the same as the specified value, the process is omitted (YES in S183゜5186) First, in the case of size specification (YES in S l 82),
A cassette of the corresponding size is searched from the stored cassette information (S l 84). If found (818
If 5 is YES), check if paper is also included (
S I 88), update (S I 89-519
2).

On the other hand, in the case of specifying the cassette position (No in S I 82)
), please check if the corresponding cassette is installed.31
86), update if available.

At this time, the data processing device is notified whether the command has been processed correctly. If the processing is correct, ACK processing (S193, see FIG. 15) is performed, and if the processing is not correct, NAK processing (S194, see FIG. 16) is performed.

Select font FIG. 13 is a processing flow for font selection.

First, let's analyze the specified 7 ont attributes (5201),
Next, check the font implementation information (S202), and if the corresponding font is found (YES in S203), update the 7 onts in use (5204) and perform ACK processing (S204).
05). If the corresponding font does not exist, perform NAK processing (
s 206).

Resetting> FIG. 14 shows the flow of the resetting process. The resetting process is performed when the printer is switched to a certain user, the settings have been made for that user, and then the CU
Performs resetting including the print engine, etc., which is impossible by just restoring RRTBL.

The same process as that specified by a normal data processing device is used for resetting. At this time, since the process of notifying the data processing device of the result is included, the current ENBANS flag is saved to 0 so that unnecessary messages are not returned to the data processing device. Transmission is prohibited (S211.S212).

Next, the cassette setting values are retrieved from CURRTBL (5213), and cassette selection processing is performed (S214).

Regarding font settings, font attributes are similarly extracted from CURRTBL (5215) and font selection processing is performed (321B).

Then, the current IFC related information is directly stored in the P-buffer 3
5217), and the ENB that was last evacuated
The ANS flag is restored (S218).

<ACK/NAK Processing> FIGS. 15 and 16 respectively show an ACK process to notify the data processing device that the process was performed correctly, and a NAK process to notify the data processing device that the process was not performed correctly.

In both cases, when the ENBANS flag is 1 (S221.
5231 (YES), the process is performed. Also, EN
B ID flag becomes 1 (S222.5232),
In the ID mode, the current ID code is first sent to the data processing device (S223.5233), and then the A
In the case of CK processing, send an ACK message (S224),
In the case of NAK processing, a NAK message is sent to the data processing device (S234).

<Receiving Interrupt> The flow shown in FIG. 17 is processing of an interrupt request from the data processing device interface 308.
If there is data input (S241), the R-buffer 30
4 (S242).

In this embodiment, the received data is output to the P-buffer 305 after being converted into a -H packet, but the present invention is not limited to this.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, it is possible to select whether or not to add an identification code, but this means that even if the system supports multiple users, only one host or terminal is used. If it is clear that
This is to eliminate unnecessary burden on the control device since there is no need to add it.

It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but can be modified in various ways within the scope of the claims.

(Effect) When a printer is shared by multiple hosts or terminals, by adding an identification code assigned to each host or terminal to a message indicating the printer status, it is possible to determine which host or terminal the message is directed to. Since the user can determine whether the printer is a problem or not, only the target user can take necessary actions on the printer.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an electrophotographic printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the printer system. FIG. 3 is a central sectional view of the printer system. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the bitmap data processing device and print engine. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the bitmap control section. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing a user table and a current table. FIG. 7 is a main 70-chart of printer operation. FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) are 70-charts of received data processing according to the present invention, respectively. FIG. 9 is a flowchart of command processing by the interface control unit. FIG. 11O is a flowchart of packet processing. FIG. 11 is a 70-chart of print sequence processing. FIG. 12 is a 70-chart of the cassette selection process. FIG. 13 is a flowchart of font selection geography. FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the resetting process. FIG. 15 is a 70-chart of ACK processing. FIG. 16 is a flowchart of NAK processing. Figure m17 is a flowchart of reception interrupt. LA, IB, IC...data processing device, 2...
File multiplex buffer, 3...Bitmap type data processing device, IO...Printer system, 30...Bitmap control unit, 301...BM-CPU. 302...SYS-ROM. 303...SMS-RAM. 304...R-buffer, 305...P-buffer. 1st prisoner Fig. 2 Fig. 4g 3 Hi-gamma map method 7 Theta Ku C reward a/\4 Fig. Fig. Fig. 13 Fig. 14

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) Can be connected to one or more hosts or terminals, and includes print data, an identification code assigned to each host or terminal in advance, and print mode setting values necessary to print the print data. a two-way communication means for selectively inputting control data to each host or terminal and selectively outputting data to the host or terminal; an identification code storage means for storing an identification code; and a print mode setting value. a print control means for controlling printing of print data according to the print control means; a response means for determining the state of the print control means and responding according to the state; and an identification code storage means for storing a response from the response means. 1. A printer control device comprising: communication control means for controlling output from communication means by adding an identified identification code.