JPH03148743A - Multitask processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To suitably display the error message of paper jamming etc., for example, to be generated at the time of a print processing with simple configuration by providing a control memory to be shared by plural tasks. CONSTITUTION:An interruption requesting means 1 activates time-sharingly the plural tasks such as to execute a document preparation processing and the print processing, etc., in a word processor, for example, and a control means 2 processes time-sharningly and in parallel the document preparation processing and the print processing. In such a case, when paper jamming or the lack of paper, etc., is detected during the print processing, message requesting data are generated for informing such a state and temporarily stored in a storing means 3 for task control to be shared by the respective tasks. After the operation is temporarily set on standby until a current processing state can respond to the request, the message is displayed and outputted. Thus, with the simple configuration only to provide the control memory to be shared by the respective tasks, the error message of paper jamming, etc., for example, can be suitably displayed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Application in Industrial Technology] The present invention relates to a multitask processing method in which a plurality of tasks are activated in a time-sharing manner and processed in parallel. [Summary of the Invention e] This invention provides a simple configuration in which a management memory shared between each task is provided in a word processor or the like, for example, when document creation processing and printing processing are activated in parallel in a time-divided manner. For example, error messages such as paper jams that occur during printing can be appropriately displayed. [Prior Art 1] Conventionally, in a word processor 2, a print command is given during a document creation process. It is known that a single CPU can execute document creation processing and printing processing in parallel. FIG. 5 shows a time chart in this case, in which document creation processing (main processing) and printing processing are performed in a time-sharing manner alternately in response to the interrupt request INT. In other words, the document creation process and the print process are not independently related to each other and are executed alternately at regular intervals. [Solved by the invention 138] By the way, when a paper jam, paper shortage, ribbon shortage, etc. occurs during printing processing, or when a forced print stop command, etc. is detected in the data, a notification to that effect is provided. A message will be displayed for the purpose. However, the document creation process and the print process are independent of each other, and the display and other controls are managed by another task (main task) that performs the sentence 1 creation process, so the message display cannot be performed in the print process or in the main task. Even if it needed to be done, it could not be shown. Therefore, when there is a request to display a message, the message may be displayed under the control of the main task, but this may cause problems such as the current display screen being corrupted by the message data. Furthermore, in the case where each task is managed by an operating system, the entire system becomes complicated and expensive, making it unsuitable for a word processor that is easy to use. The problem of this invention is that when multiple tasks are started in a time-sharing manner and processed in parallel, error messages such as paper jams can be appropriately displayed using a simple configuration that requires only a shared management memory between each task. This is how it was done. [Means for Solving the Problems 1 Hereinafter, the means of the present invention are as follows. The interrupt requesting means l (see the functional block diagram in FIG. 1; the same applies hereinafter) is an interval timer or the like for starting multiple tasks in a time-sharing manner, such as tasks such as document creation processing and printing processing in a word processor. . The control means 2 is a single CPU or the like that controls time-sharing processing of each task in response to an interrupt request from the interrupt request means 1. Storage means 3 is R for task management shared between each task.
When message request data is generated in each task as task management data in AM or the like, this message request data is temporarily stored. [Operation 1 The operation of the means of this invention is as follows. Assume that a print command is given while a task for performing document creation processing is activated in a word processor. As a result, a plurality of tasks, that is, document creation processing and printing processing, are activated in a time-sharing manner in response to the interrupt request signal generated from the interrupt request means 1. In response to this, the control means 2 processes the document creation process and the print process in parallel in a time-sharing manner. At this time, if a paper jam or paper shortage T is detected during the printing process, and message request data is generated to notify that fact, this message request data is shared between each task. It is temporarily stored in the storage means 3 for use. If the message request data is stored in the storage means 3 in the task currently being processed (task for document creation processing), the system temporarily waits until the current processing state becomes such that it can respond to the request, and then Display and output a type of message according to message request data. Here, until the current processing state reaches a state in which the request can be met, for example, when there is a request to display a message, a window is opened and the message is displayed. If there is a message request from the print process while the window is being opened in the document creation process, and the process to open the window is started in response to that request, the message will be displayed in the window of either process. In cases where it is unclear which data should be displayed, etc., the system waits until the current processing state becomes such that it can respond to a message request, and then displays and outputs the type of message that corresponds to the request. Therefore, when multiple tasks are started in a time-sharing manner and processed in parallel, error messages such as paper jams can be displayed appropriately with a simple configuration that requires only a shared management memory between each task. [Example] Hereinafter, an example will be described with reference to 2g to 5g. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of a word processor. The CPU II controls various operations of this word processor according to the main control program and print control program stored in the ROM 12.
The UII activates the main all programs in the ROM 12 to perform document creation processing. That is, the CPU 11 takes in the document data input from the key human power section 13, displays it on the display section 14, or stores it in the text memory 15-1 in the RAM 15. When a conversion command is given, the Kana character string inputted from the key human power section 13 is converted into a character string containing kana and kanji, and the key human power section 13 makes corrections.
When an editing command such as deletion is given, the document data in the text memory 15-1 is edited accordingly. Also. When the CPU II is given a print command from the key power section 13, it reads out the document data in the text memory tS- and prints it out from the printing section 16, but this printing process is performed according to the print control program in the ROM 12. . Also. The word processor of this embodiment employs a multitask processing method that processes document creation processing and printing processing in parallel in a time-sharing manner. That is, when the CPU 11 receives a print command from the key human power section 13 during normal document creation processing, the CPU 11 executes a process in the ROM 12 in response to an interrupt request signal INT inputted from the interval timer 17 via the interrupt controller 18. The main control program and the printing control program are activated alternately at regular intervals to process document creation processing and printing processing in parallel in a time-sharing manner (No. 51111
(see 1). Note that key manual control and display control are managed on the document creation processing task, and display control and key manual control are not performed on the print processing task. In addition to the text memory 15-1, the RAM 15 also has
A management memory 15-2 is provided which is shared between each task. This management memory 15-2 includes a request flag area MRA in which a message request flag is stored when a paper jam or paper shortage occurs during printing processing, and a request flag area MRA that is operated as needed after checking the message type and message. The configuration includes an error management area HMA for storing and managing the types of keys to be used. Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the document creation process executed when the main control program in the ROM 12 is started, and FIG. 3 shows the print process executed when the print control program in the RAM1Z is started. This is a flowchart. Now, when a print command is given from the key human power section 13 during document creation processing, the CPU II executes the main control program at regular intervals in response to the interrupt request signal INT inputted from the interval timer 17 via the interlat controller 18. Document creation processing and printing processing are time-divisionally processed in parallel while activating the computer and print control program alternately. Therefore, the document creation process and the print process are executed sequentially at intervals divided by time division. First, in the document creation process, the task management area 15-
The request flag area MRA of No. 2 is monitored. Check whether the message request flag is turned on in this request flag area MRA (step AI),
Here, if the message request flag is turned off, the key scanning operation is performed as usual (step A2).
), check whether there is key human power or not (step A3); if there is no key human power, return to step AI. In other words, it monitors the message request flag while waiting for key personnel. Here, if there is key manual power, key manual processing is performed in the same way as usual (step A4), and as a result, input is created in the text memory 15-1. The document data in the text memory 15-1 is edited. On the other hand, when the printing process starts, the text memory 15-
Convert the document data in ROM 12 into a printing pattern and store it in ROM 12.
While performing printing control such as niimoeru (STEP, BL),
If no errors are detected during printing, check whether all the document data to be printed has been printed (step B3), and continue to step B1 until all data has been printed. return. If an error such as a paper jam, paper shortage, or ribbon shortage occurs during printing, or if a print stop command is detected in the data, this will be detected in step B2, and the process will proceed to step B4, where the request flag will be set. The message request flag in the area MRA is turned on, and if necessary, data indicating the type of message is set in the auxiliary manager's area HMA.Then, the system waits until the message request flag is turned on (step B5). ). In normal processing, the message request flag is monitored as described above (step AI), and when it is detected that this request flag is turned on, step A5
The process proceeds to check whether the current processing state is such that the request can be met. Here, for example, in the case where a window is opened to display a message when a message request is received, if the window opening process is not performed, the process returns to step A2 until the message request can be responded to. Now, the current processing status is parallel, and when the message request can be responded to, the auxiliary manager reads the type of message from the rear HMA and displays and outputs the message according to the type (step 86). The key is waiting for human power (step A7). Here, the contents of the message are visually confirmed, and after the cause of the error, such as a paper jam or shortage of paper, has been resolved, a predetermined release key, execution key, etc. is operated depending on the type of error. Also. If the message is displayed when a print stop command is detected in the data, press the execution key. Therefore, in the state of waiting for key human power in step A7,
When the execution key or release key is operated. In order to inform the print processing task which key has been operated, the key code is set in the auxiliary manager area HMA, and the message request flag is turned off (step A8). On the other hand, the print processing task waits until the message request flag is turned off (step B5).
, When the request flag is turned off, the key code in the auxiliary management area EMA is referred to as necessary, and post-processing is performed accordingly (step B6), and step B3
to continue printing, or to stop printing. In this way, if a paper jam occurs and the execution key is operated to fix the paper jam and start printing again, is this execution key operated in connection with the statement Δ creation process? , there will be no misunderstanding whether the print process has been manipulated or not. [Effect of the invention 1] This invention has a simple configuration that only provides a management memory shared among each task when multiple tasks are started at time M and processed in parallel, and can prevent error messages such as paper jams. Since it can be displayed appropriately, the current display screen will not be corrupted by the message data, and moreover, it will be ideal for a simple word processor or the like.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1181 is a block diagram of the present invention, FIGS. 2 to 5 show embodiments, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of a word processor, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing document creation processing, FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing print processing, and FIG. 5 is a time chart showing a state in which document creation processing and printing processing are performed alternately in time division in response to an interrupt request. 11...CPU, 12...-ROM, 15
-...RAM, 15-2...Task management memory, 17...Interval timer, 1g.
-... Interrupt controller patent applicant Casio Computer Co., Ltd. 717' □ B3- jk4 Trowel 1 Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3

Claims (1)

[Claims] Interrupt request means for starting a plurality of tasks in a time-sharing manner; control means for controlling processing of each task in response to an interrupt request from the interrupt request means; shared among the tasks; storage means for task management, when message request data is generated in each task, the message request data is temporarily stored in the storage means, and the message request data is temporarily stored in the storage means in the task currently being processed. If message request data is stored, a multitasking process characterized by temporarily waiting until the current processing state becomes a state in which the request can be met, and then displaying and outputting a message of a type according to the message request data. method.