JPH0291723A - Hard copy control system by multiport console - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make record easy to see by outputting only print unit lines where message information is detected on a printer together with an equipment identifier indicating corresponding equipment. CONSTITUTION:A buffer part 27 outputs an internally held message from a CPU 10-1 to a multiplexer 36 when receiving an output permit signal from an exclusive control part 37 and further when data is inputted from a keyboard 32 to a window for CPU 10-1, outputs the message together with the CPU number (#1) of the CPU 10-1 at the head of this series of data. Consequently, the message is printed out all together (not dispersedly) by the number of print unit lines indicated with the parameter value of a specific escape sequence command from the CPU 10-1 even if messages are transferred from other CPUs 10-2 and 10-3 in parallel to the transfer of the respective messages. Therefore, hard copy operation is performed in CPU units by messages consisting of an optional number of lines. Consequently, the recording contents become easy to read.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a hard copy control system in a multi-board console that can be used by connecting a plurality of devices such as computers.

(Prior Art) In a so-called composite computer system in which a plurality of computers are used in combination, one system console is required for each computer.

However, as the scale of the system increases, due to reasons such as the installation space (occupied area), a system console that can accommodate multiple computers (hereinafter referred to as a multi-board console) is used. This is becoming more and more common.

Now, when recording the contents displayed on the Multi-Boat Console, that is, when making a hard copy, conventionally the data is sent to a hard copy printer common to each computer in the order in which the data is input to the Multi-Boat Console (in chronological order). It was outputting data (message). At this time, it was common to distinguish which computer the message came from by adding a computer number (identifier) assigned by the system.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, conventionally, when making a hard copy of the display contents on the multi-board console, the data is sent to one printer in the order in which the data is input to the multi-board console.
Messages) were output, so messages that spanned multiple lines for each computer were sometimes recorded in a dispersed manner, resulting in a problem that the records were difficult to read.

Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to enable messages from a plurality of devices such as computers connected to a multi-board console to be recorded in multiple lines for each device without being affected by the input order.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) This invention provides a command for setting the number of lines per unit of printing that is transferred from a corresponding device in a multi-board console for each device connected to the console, and a command for setting the number of lines per printing unit, which is transferred from a corresponding device. The message information to be displayed in the corresponding multi-window including the message text transferred subsequently is received sequentially, and the number of lines to be printed in the hard copy specified by the number of lines to be printed and included in the message information is specified by the print unit line number setting command. a decoding means for detecting a specific code indicating a line break that is detected by the decoding means; and a hardcopy for starting a hard copy operation when the number of specific codes detected by the decoding means matches the number of printing unit lines detected by the decoding means. An activation means is provided, and when the hard copy printer is activated by the hard copy activation means and the hard copy printer is in a ready state, the message information is sent to the device indicating the compatible device by the number of print unit lines detected above. It is characterized in that it is output to a printer with an identifier attached thereto.

(Operation) According to the above configuration, message information including message text from devices connected to the multi-board console is
The number of print lines specified by the print unit line number setting command transferred from the same device prior to the above message text is recorded together with the same device identifier, so it is unique to the same device. It is easier to see than in the conventional method, in which messages spanning multiple lines may be recorded and scattered among messages from other devices.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a multi-boat console according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The multi-boat console in Figure 1 has three CPs.
This is an example in which it is connected to U 10-1 to 10-3.

In FIG. 1, 20-1 to 20-8 are CPU to
This is a multi-board console interface (hereinafter simply referred to as an interface) provided corresponding to -1 to 10-3. The interface 20-1 is a CPU
The input/output port 21 exchanges data with the CPU 10-1 at a signal level, and the number of print unit lines and carriage specified by a specific escape sequence command, which will be described later, in response to messages etc. from the CPU 10-1. Decoder 22 for detecting a return code (“CR” code)
and a hard copy starting section 23. This hard copy starting unit 23 includes a register 24 in which the number of print unit lines detected by the decoder 22 is set, a counter 25 that counts the number of "CR" codes detected by the decoder 22, and a register 24 that counts the number of "CR" codes detected by the decoder 22. A comparator 26 is provided which compares the count value of the counter 25 and outputs a coincidence detection signal for starting the hard copy when the two match. The interface 20-1 further includes a CPU 10-1 and a keyboard 3 to be described later.
It has a buffer unit 27 for storing data from 2. This buffer section 27 is connected to the hard copy starting section 2.
If the printer 34, which will be described later, is in the READY state, data for the number of print unit lines already stored is sent to the CPU 10-1. It has a function of attaching an identifier (CPU number) and outputting it to the printer 34 side. Interfaces 20-2 and 20-3 also have the same basic configuration as interface 20-1. However, in Figure 1,
The configuration of the interfaces 20-2 and 20-3 is omitted.

31 is the display monitor of the multi-board console, 32 is the keyboard of the multi-board console, and 33 is each cp
It supports multi-windows secured on the display monitor 31 corresponding to tr to-t to 10-3, and controls message input from each CPU 10-1-10-3 and data input from the keyboard 32. It is a controller. 34 is a printer used for hard copying, etc., and 35 is an output port for transmitting data at a signal level to the printer 34. 3B is interface 20
-1 to 20-3 (buffer section 27) to output port 3
The multiplexer 37 connected to the multiplexer 5 is an exclusive control section that controls the multiplexer 3B and prohibits switching to another buffer until the output operation of the buffer section of one interface is completed.

Next, the operation of the configuration shown in FIG. 1 will be explained.

Information including message texts is asynchronously transferred from the CPUs 10-1 to 1O-3 to the interfaces 20-1 to 20-3 of the multi-board console. When requesting a hard copy of a message, this information includes a specific escape sequence command (print line number setting command) for instructing the number of lines to be printed on the hard copy, as shown in Figure 2. It consists of the number of print unit lines, which is a parameter value of the command, and a message text including line feed ("LF") code + message + "CR" code, etc. for the number of lines. The "LF" code is used as a screen/print control code, and this code moves the display cursor/print head to the next line. “C
R” code is also used as a screen/print control code, and this code moves the display cursor/print head to the left end (start of line).
This is a character code string that expresses error information from the system, system status, etc.

Now, if we focus on CPU 10-1, CPU 10
-1 to interface 20-1, the escape sequence command, its parameter value, the number of print unit lines, and the message text are transferred in order to input/output port 2.
1 and output from the same port 21 to the decoder 22. The decoder 22 first determines the printing unit line number setting instruction from the first escape sequence command, and then sets the parameter value in the register 24 in the hard copy starting section 23 as the printing unit line number. Subsequently, the decoder 22 detects the CR'' code in the message that is input after the parameter value, and the counter 25
While counting up the message, the input message (character code composing the message) is output to the controller 33 and the buffer section 27. The controller 33 displays the message output from the decoder 22 in a multi-window corresponding to the CPU 10-1 of the display monitor 31. Further, the buffer unit 27 internally holds messages outputted from the decoder 22 in order.

The above operation is also performed on the interface 20-2.20-3 in response to messages from the CPU 10-2.10-1.
This is done in the same way.

By the way, the user can use the CPU 10- of the display monitor 31.
I am looking at a message displayed in a multi-window corresponding to CPU 10-1.
If an input waiting (input request) message is displayed on the multi-window, the user operates the keyboard 32 to input necessary data (character data). When character data is input from the keyboard 32 to the multi-window for the CPU 10-1, the controller 33 displays the same data at a position subsequent to the message waiting for input on the multi-window for the CPU 10-1, and Data is transferred to the interface 20- for the CPU 10-1.
The signal is output to a decoder 22 and a buffer section 27 provided at the terminal 1. When the decoder 22 receives input data from the keyboard 32 output from the controller 33, the decoder 22
The decoding process is performed in the same manner as when the message from P U 10-1 is received. And the decoder 22 is
Each time a "CR" code is detected, the input data is transferred to the CPU 10-1 via the input/output port 21 while counting up the counter 25.

The above operation also applies to input data from the keyboard 32 to the multi-window for CPU 10-2, 10-3, controller 83 and interface 2.
0-2. The same is done in 20-3.

Eventually, when the count value of the counter 25 comes to match the setting contents of the register 24, that is, when the number of "CR" codes detected by the decoder 22 comes to match the number of print unit lines set in the register 24, , comparator 2B
A match detection signal indicating a match is output from the . This signal is guided to the buffer section 27 as a hard copy activation signal. When the buffer section 27 receives the coincidence detection signal from the comparator 2B, it issues an output request to the exclusive control section 37. When the exclusive control unit 37 receives an output request from the buffer unit 27 of the interface 20-1, it checks the status of the output port 35, and if it is in a busy state (BUSY), that is, if output to the printer 34 is in progress, then other The interface returns a wait (WAIT) request to the buffer section 27 assuming that the printer 34 is currently in use (hard copy in progress).

On the other hand, if it is in the READY state, the printer 34 returns output permission to the buffer section 27, and switches the multiplexer 36 to the interface 20-1 (buffer section 27) side.

Upon receiving the output permission from the exclusive control unit 37, the buffer unit 27 receives the internally held message from the CPU 10-1, and further outputs the message from the CPU 10-1 from the keyboard 32.
If there is data input to the multi-window for -1, the input data is placed at the beginning of this series of data.
The CPU number (#1) of P U 10-1 is attached and output to the multiplexer 3B. Note that the buffer section 27
Instead of adding a number, for example, when the decoder 22 determines the specific escape sequence conflict command, the decoder 22 sends c p tr to
It is also possible to output the CF'U number of -t and store this CPU number in the buffer section 27 so as to be positioned at the beginning of the subsequent message.

Now, when data is output from the buffer section 27 of the interface 20-1 to the multiplexer 36, the multiplexer 36 is switched to the buffer section 27 side, so the output data from the buffer section 27 is output to the output port 35. Output selected to. The output port 35 outputs the output data from the buffer unit 27 to the printer 34 at a signal level.
and causes the printer 34 to perform a 7% copy operation. During this time, other interfaces 20-2.20
Even if an output request is issued from the buffer section 20-2 and 20-3, a wait request is returned from the exclusive control section 37 to the same buffer section, and the output requests from the buffer sections 20-2 and 20-3 are made to wait.

As a result of the above, messages for the number of print unit lines indicated by the parameter value of the specific escape sequence command from CPU10-1 are transferred to other CPUs to-2 and 10-3 in parallel with the transfer of these messages. Even if messages are transferred from the server, they are output all at once (without being distributed) to the printer. Therefore, by adding the above-mentioned specific escape sequence command to the beginning of a message with an arbitrary number of lines, it becomes possible to hard copy each message with an arbitrary number of lines in units of CPUs.

When the 71-tocoby of the multi-line message corresponding to cPU 10-1 is completed, the state of the output port 35 becomes ready again. As a result of (2), if an eight request has been issued from the exclusive control unit 37 to the interface 20-2 or the buffer unit of 20-2, the request is switched to output permission, and this time the CPU 10-2 or 10
A hard copy of the multi-line message corresponding to -3 is made.

As a result of the above, for example, as shown in FIG.
It is possible to obtain a hard copy recorded in units of messages of multiple lines corresponding to to-t to 10-3. In addition, in FIG. 3, 40-1 to 40-3 are CPU 1
C for distinguishing messages from 0-1 to 10-3
This is the PU number (identifier). Also, 41 is a message waiting for input, and after that, the keyboard 32 indicated by a 0 mark
The input characters from continue (as per the screen image).

The hard copy control in a multi-port console or console to which multiple CPUs are connected has been described above, but the present invention uses a multi-port console as a host device, and the CPU
If U is a device such as a terminal connected to the host device,
It can also be applied to hard copy control of this type of system.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the present invention, messages from multiple devices such as computers connected to a multiport console can be recorded in multiple lines for each device without being affected by the input order. , the recorded contents are easy to read. Moreover, the number of message lines to be recorded at once can be specified for each corresponding message group.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the structure of a message transferred from the CPU shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing an example of a hard copy. It is. 1O-1 to 10-3...CPU, 20-1 to 20-3
...Interface, 22...Decoder, 23...
・Hard copy starting section, 24...Register, 25...
- Counter, 26... Comparator, 27... Buffer section, 31... Display monitor, 32... Keyboard, 33
...Controller, 34...Printer, 36...
Multiplexer, 37...exclusive control section. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 2 2j S1 Figure O: Characters input from the keyboard Figure 3

Claims (1)

[Claims] Supports multi-windows corresponding to multiple devices,
In a multi-port console equipped with a controller that displays message texts transferred from each of the above devices and user input data input from the keyboard as appropriate in response to the message texts in the corresponding multi-window, A message to be displayed in the corresponding multi-window, including a print unit line number setting command that instructs the print unit line number of the hard copy transferred from the above-mentioned device, and a message text that is transferred subsequent to the same command. a decoding means that sequentially receives information and performs decoding processing, and detects the number of lines to be printed specified by the above-mentioned print unit line number setting command and a specific code indicating a line break included in the above-mentioned message information; hard copy starting means for counting the number of detected specific codes and starting a hard copy operation when the counted value matches the number of print unit lines detected by the decoding means; and this hard copy starting means. If the hard copy printer is in a ready state, the message information to be decoded by the decoding means is appended with a device identifier indicating the corresponding device for the number of print unit lines. and means for outputting the message information to the printer, the message information displayed in each of the multi-windows is summarized by the number of print unit lines specified by the corresponding device, and a corresponding device identifier is attached. A hard copy control method in a multi-port console characterized by making a hard copy.