JPH03113641A - Data processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the processing speed of a data transfer processing by detecting that a processing operation is interrupted based on a code to be processed in a data processing means and judging whether the interruption is caused by the transfer of a code which is not the object of processing or not. CONSTITUTION:A host computer 21 generates data from a first code and a second code, and a transfer means transfers it to a peripheral equipment. The data processing means, a printer 25, for example, executes the prescribed processing operation (printing) based on the first code in transfer data and stops the printing operation by the transfer of the second code. When the printing operation stops in the data processing means 25, a stop signal is generated and whether the generation of the stop signal is caused by the transfer of the second code or not is judged. If it is, a corresponding processing is executed in the host computer 21 and the transfer of data is resumed. Thus, the transfer processing in a host processor is simplified and the processing speed is improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to an improvement in a data processing system, such as a word processor, in which printing is performed between document editing processes.

<Prior Art> The following types of conventional data processing systems have been known.

For example, when printing a document created using a word processor, printing is performed by background processing, that is, by interrupt processing with respect to the main routine of a control program for document editing processing. This allows printing processing to be performed at the same time as document editing.

Note that data is sent from the word processor to the printer, allowing the printer to perform printing processing.

FIG. 9 shows the relationship between the time required for this editing process and the time required for the sending process in the CPU of this word processor. That is, an interrupt is generated in the middle of foreground processing, background processing is not performed, and foreground processing is performed again. Therefore, if the background processing time (data sending processing time to the printer) is shortened, the overall processing time of the CPU is shortened.

The text created with this word processor is printed on the printer as follows.

First, in a word processor, the text is expanded and stored as print data in a dedicated buffer (a part of the RAM) for sending to the printer.

Next, a special control code, for example, a special control code for page break, is inserted at the top position of the page of this developed print data.

Next, in background processing, the CPU reads data character by character from its dedicated buffer and checks whether or not this character is a special control code. If it is not a special control code, send the read data to the printer.

In the case of a page break code, which is a special control code, predetermined processing such as displaying on the display and waiting for an action from the operator is performed in accordance with the code.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, in such conventional word processors, when driving a printer as a background job, print data is transmitted from the dedicated buffer to the printer by an interrupt; All data is checked before being transferred, and this interrupt has the problem of not being able to improve the efficiency of printing processing, and furthermore, foreground job processing takes time. In other words, 90% of the total data to be transmitted is print data, and there is no need to check it with the word processor's CPU before transmitting it to the printer, but checking this requires extra time. This was wasted on the CPU.

Therefore, the present invention detects that a processing operation is interrupted based on a code to be processed in a data processing means (printer), and determines whether or not this interruption is due to the transfer of a code not to be processed. The purpose of this invention is to provide a data processing system that also improves the processing speed of data transfer processing.

<Means for Solving the Problems> The present invention provides a host computer that creates data from a first code and a second code, a transfer means that transfers data from the host computer to a peripheral device, and a system for transmitting the transferred data. A data processing system comprising: a data processing means for executing a predetermined processing operation based on the first code and stopping the predetermined processing operation based on the first code when the second code is transferred; a signal generating means for generating a stop signal when a predetermined processing operation based on the first code is stopped in the means; and a determining means for determining whether the generation of the stop signal is caused by the transfer of the second code. If the problem is caused by the second code, the host computer performs a process corresponding to the second code, then resumes data transfer and performs a predetermined process based on the first code of the data processing means. and control means for resuming operation.

<Operation> In the data processing system according to the present invention, the host computer creates data from ζ, the first code, and the second code. This data is then transferred to the peripheral device by the transfer means. The data processing means, for example, a printer, executes a predetermined processing operation (printing) based on the first code in the transferred data, and stops this printing operation when the second code is transferred.

In this data processing means, a stop signal is generated when the printing operation is stopped, and it is determined whether or not the generation of this stop signal is due to the transfer of the second code. If so, the host computer performs corresponding processing and resumes data transfer.

Therefore, when transmitting code data using a transfer means,
There is no need to judge the code data before transfer, and the processing speed is improved.

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

1 to 8 show an embodiment of a data processing system according to the present invention.

In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a word processor.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a word processor, a printer, etc. according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In this figure, 21 indicates a CPU of a word processor, to which a ROM 22, a RAM 23, and a timer 24 for issuing an interrupt are connected via a bus.

Rani, printer 25, display (CRT) 26,
A floppy disk drive (FDD) 27 and a keyboard 28 connect to the CPU 2 through their respective interfaces.
Connected to 1.

Further, the printer 25 has its own CPU 29.

FIG. 2 shows, in block form, the configuration of a microcomputer (including the CPU 29 and an interface) for controlling the printer 25.

In this figure, 31 is the CPU of the word processor mentioned above.
This is an I10 boat connected to a No. 21 printer boat by a connector. The control CPU 29 exchanges data with a ROM 33 having a control program and a RAM 34 for buffer work.

Further, 35 is an I10 boat for data exchange between each part of the printer and the CPU 32, and 36 is a character pattern ROM.
are shown respectively.

Furthermore, 37 is a sensor for detecting carriage return, no paper, etc., and 38 is a motor driver. This motor driver 38 controls a head motor 39 and a paper feed motor 40. Note that 41 indicates a driver section that drives the print head 42.

Here, FIG. 3 shows the dedicated buffer of the CP TJ 21, which contains text data expanded and stored in this RAM 23.
The information is held in page units as shown as the first page, second page to nth page.

In addition, FIG. 4 shows the state in which this data has been developed into a dedicated buffer on the RAM 23. is inserted at the beginning of each page. This special code [PCI indicates a page break.

When this special code [PCI is sent to the printer 25,
The printer 25 is unable to process this special code and enters an undefined code error state, and returns an undefined code error status signal to the host CPU 21.

The CPU 21 checks this code in response to the undefined code error status signal, determines that this code indicates a page break, displays a predetermined display for a page break on the CRT 26, and informs the user. to confirm whether the next paper is set in the printer. Whether or not confirmation is required is determined by key personnel.

In the word processor and printer having the above configuration, when printing a document after editing, printing is performed using a method called background printing that uses an interrupt.

With this method, even during printing, the word processor CPU 21 can simultaneously perform other processing, such as editing processing.

FIG. 5 shows the main routine of the program executed in CP tJ 21.

First, in step 5601, the CPtJ 21 creates and edits the text shown in FIG. 3, for example, by editing processing.

Then, in the next step 5502, it is determined whether the created or edited text is to be printed. When printing (YES in step 5502), directly print the text to printer 2.
5, and is temporarily stored in the buffer of the RAM 23 (step 5503). The storage process is shown in the flowchart of FIG.

After storing, the process advances to step 5504 to check whether the tree program is to be terminated, as in the case of no printing.

If the process does not end, the process returns to the editing process.

If the printing is to be completed, the next step 5505 is to determine whether printing is in progress. If printing is not in progress, the process ends immediately.

If printing is in progress (YES in step 5505), the process advances to step 5506, where it is determined whether or not to stop printing. If the process is not to be canceled, the process returns to the editing process; if the process is to be canceled, the process is terminated.

The storage processing routine will be explained with reference to FIG.

First, text data is stored in page units, so
It is checked whether there is data in units of pages (step 5601).

If there is data (YES in step 5601), a special code [PG] to request the user to confirm whether the next paper is set in the printer is set in the buffer of the RAM 23 in step 5602 ( (See Figure 4).

Next, in step 8603, it is checked whether there is data within the page.

And if there is data (YES in step 5603)
, and set the data in the buffer of the RAM 23 (step 5604).

Repeat these operations (steps 5603 to 604)
), process all page-based data.

After this process is completed (No in step 5603), the process continues in steps 5601 to 5 until all pages are processed.
Repeat the loop of 604.

If all pages have been processed (No in step 5601), the timer 24 for interrupt processing is set in step 5605, and the storage processing is ended. Through the above processing, all data is stored in the buffer of the RAM 23 in the state shown in FIG.

After the storage process is completed, the timer 24 uses an interrupt to perform the sending process.

A timer 24 for starting this interrupt handling routine.
has an internal counter, and if the desired time for interrupt processing is set (step S605), the interrupt processing routine is automatically started when that time elapses.

Note that until the timer interrupt occurs, the CPU 21 performs other operations such as editing to create a new text, waiting until printing is finished, and finishing the work, as shown in the main routine. is being processed.

FIG. 7 shows the sending processing routine. When the sending processing routine is started by a timer interrupt, step 5701
Then, the data stored by the storage process is taken out from the buffer of the RAM 23 in units of bytes.

Then, send the retrieved data to the printer 25 (
Step 5702).

The operation of the printer will be explained with reference to FIG. The printer 25 receives data sent from the word processor (step S801). Then, it is determined whether the sent data is print data or control data (for example, carriage return coat) defined on the printer side (step 5802). If it is determined that the data is defined on the printer side (step 5802
(YES), the data is temporarily stored in a buffer on the RAM 34 (step 5803). The data stored in this buffer is sent line by line to the print head and printed (
Step 5804).

On the other hand, if the received data is an undefined code (No in step 5802), the printer 25 stops its processing operation (step 5805). Then, a reception error status is issued (step 5806). Wait until the error caused by the undefined code is resolved on the word processor side (step 5807), and then repeat the above operations.

After the receiving operation of the printer 25 is completed, the word processor CPU 21 checks the status of the printer 25 (step 57).
03). If the printer 25 is not operating normally (an error occurred in step 8703), the code is checked to determine whether the information returned by the printer 25 is an error due to an undefined code (step 5704).

If it is not an undefined code error (N in step 5704)
o), perform the process corresponding to the error code (step 5705). For example, there is a ribbon end, and in this case, an error status is issued in step 8806 in Figure 8, and the word processor side displays on the display that an error has occurred on the printer side, and the operator checks the printer. I'll have to change the ribbon.

(YES in step 5704 in case of undefined code error due to PCI), special processing is performed (step 5
706). In other words, “Printer 2” appears on the screen of the CRT 26.
Please put paper in 5.'' A message such as ``Press any key when you are ready'' is displayed.

And wait for key personnel.

If the key is available, a check is made to see if there is still data in the buffer in the RAM 23 (step 5707).

If there is data in the buffer, the time until the next interrupt occurs is set in the timer 24, and the process ends (step 5708).

Then, this series of processing is repeated.

When all the data has been processed, the process ends without setting anything in the timer 24, and in step 5709, the sending process ends.

As mentioned above, in the sending processing routine of the CPU 21,
Before data is transferred to the printer 25, the presence or absence of an undefined code is not determined. Therefore, it is omitted to check whether the print data, which accounts for 90% of the total data, is to be sent out one by one at the time of transfer. As a result, the processing time for both the sending processing routine and the execution of the entire program is reduced.

For example, if there is 500 bytes of data for one page, the processing time (5ms) will be reduced by one step (frame) for 450 bytes of print data (including the defined control code). It is something that In the case of 450×5 ms, data transfer for one page is shortened by 2250 m5.

Note that in the above embodiment, [a special code of PGI is used, but this undefined code [a code that is set in the buffer next to the undefined code rather than assigning a process directly corresponding to PCI] Another method is to assign a code that requires special processing to a code, and when an undefined error occurs, extract the next code and perform the corresponding processing.

Further, in this embodiment, only one data is processed by one interrupt, but several data can be sent.

By doing so, the data transfer processing time can be further shortened.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the data transfer to the printer as background processing in the word processor shown in the above embodiment, but also data transfer as foreground processing or data transfer for copying to a floppy disk, and further, It is also effective in data transmission for personal computer communications.

<Effects> As explained above, according to the present invention, when performing data transfer processing, the code of the data to be sent is not checked one by one and only the codes that can be processed by the peripheral device are sent, but the code that can be processed by the peripheral device is When a code that cannot be processed by the local processor is sent, the status of the unprocessable code is displayed, and the host processor processes the special code only in that case, making the transfer process in the host processor easier. Therefore, the processing speed can be improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a data processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a printer control microcomputer according to an embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a developed text used as an embodiment of the invention, FIG. 4 is a diagram developed from the text into a buffer, and FIG. 5 is a main routine of the control program showing the processing procedure in the CPU according to the embodiment. Flowchart, FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the storage method in the control program, FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the data sending process to the printer, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the reception processing routine by the printer's CPU. FIG. 9 is a time chart for explaining the prior art. 21・・φ・・−・ψCP U. 22 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・
ROM, 23...RAM, 25...Printer, 29...Control CPU.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A host computer that creates data from a first code and a second code, a transfer means that transfers data from the host computer to a peripheral device, and executes a predetermined processing operation based on the first code of the transferred data. and a data processing system that includes a data processing means that stops a predetermined processing operation based on the first code when the second code is transferred, wherein the data processing means stops the predetermined processing operation based on the first code. a signal generating means for generating a stop signal when the stop signal is stopped; a determining means for determining whether or not the generation of the stop signal is caused by the transfer of the second code; and control means for causing a host computer to perform processing corresponding to the second code, and then restarting data transfer and causing the data processing means to resume a predetermined processing operation based on the first code.