JPH04233626A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To repeat and transmit printing information, which is transmitted at a specified frequency by ratio, to another printer by repeating and transmitting the printing information to be transmitted from each external device at the specified frequency by ratio while discriminating and receiving the information. CONSTITUTION:This printer is provided with a repeating means (printing information reception circuit 3 and a transmission circuit 6) which discriminates and receives the printing information transmitted from the respective external devices (host computers H1 and H2) by radio based on the frequency, repeats and transmits the printing information of the specified frequency to the other printer (a printer P2) or the like.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing device capable of receiving information such as characters or graphics for printing from a transmitting device by wireless means.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, printing apparatuses capable of receiving this type of print information wirelessly print by receiving and processing radio waves of a single frequency that transmit the print information to be printed. It is configured. Also, depending on the surrounding situation,
It is possible to vary to some extent the frequency at which the print information that is to be printed is transmitted.

0003

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, in this case, the printing device can only be set within a range where radio waves from the transmitting device can be stably received, and the installation location of the printing device is restricted or otherwise necessary. Accordingly, a dedicated repeater must be prepared between the transmitting device and the printing device and installed at an appropriate location, which poses a problem in that the user is forced to spend money.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and by selectively receiving print information wirelessly transmitted from each external device at a specific frequency and relaying it to other printing devices, An object of the present invention is to obtain a printing device that can relay print information wirelessly transmitted at a specific frequency to another printing device.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a relay means that discriminately receives print information transmitted wirelessly based on frequency and relays print information of a specific frequency to another printing apparatus. It was established.

[0006]

[Operation] In the present invention, when print information is wirelessly transmitted from each external device at a specific frequency, the relay means discriminately receives the print information based on the frequency, and transmits the print information at the specific frequency to other printing devices. This enables relay transmission and wireless transmission of print information to other remotely located printing devices.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a printing apparatus showing one embodiment of the present invention.
This corresponds to the case for a terminal printer.

P1 is a printer capable of wirelessly receiving and relaying print information from two host computers, and is equipped with a printing section 1 that interprets and prints print information using a known technique. Similarly, P2 is a printer that can receive print information from one host computer, and printer P1 is a target for relaying print information. H1,
H2 is a host computer connected to the printer P1 by wireless means, and transmits a print request and print information to the printers P1 and P2 using radio waves of frequencies f1 and f2, respectively, and transmits the print requests and print information to the printer P1 using radio waves of frequencies f3 and f2, respectively. Printer P1,
Receive the status of P2. 2 is the CP which is the control unit
It is U. 3 is a printing information receiving circuit capable of receiving radio waves of frequencies f1 and f2 for receiving transmissions from the host computers H1 and H2, and 4 and 5 are the line connection status and printer operation of the printers P1 and P2, respectively. Frequency f3 for transmitting the status to host computers H1 and H2
, f4 is a transmitting circuit capable of transmitting radio waves of frequencies,
The print information receiving circuit 3 and the transmitting circuits 4 and 5 are controlled by the CPU 2. 6 is a transmitting circuit capable of transmitting radio waves of frequency f5 for relaying print information and retransmitting it to printer P2; 7 is a receiving circuit capable of receiving radio waves of frequency f6 for receiving the status of printer P2. It is. here,
The receiving circuits 3 and 7 include means for detecting received radio waves to generate input signals. In addition, each transmitting circuit 4, 5, 6
includes means for modulating the information to be output and converting it into radio waves of a specific frequency. 8 connects the print information receiving circuit 3 and the printing unit 1 or the transmitting circuit 6 according to the frequency of the print information received by the print information receiving circuit 3, and
A ROM (read-only memory) that stores a control program for operating the machine as a printing device or repeater.
9 is a RAM (RAM) used for primary storage of the CPU 2;
random access memory).

[0009] In the printing apparatus configured as described above,
Each external device (in this example, the host computer H1, H
2), when the print information is wirelessly transmitted at a specific frequency, the relay means (in this embodiment, the print information receiving circuit 3 and the transmitting circuit 6
etc.) receives print information based on the frequency, relays the print information of a specific frequency to other printing devices, and wirelessly transmits the print information to other remotely located printing devices. is possible. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a printing information communication processing procedure in a printing apparatus according to the present invention. Note that (1) to (14) indicate each step.

The CPU 2 loops (1) and (8) while waiting for print requests from the host computers H1 and H2 using radio waves of frequencies f1 and f2. When receiving a print request from H1, the CPU 2 sends a signal at a frequency f4 to the transmitting circuit 5 to the effect that the printer P2 to which the print information of the host computer H2 is output is currently in a disconnected state. Control is performed to transmit radio waves to the host computer H2 (2). After that, connect the output of the print information receiving circuit 3 to the printing section 1 (see Fig. 3) (3)
, the print information sent by the host computer H1 is printed within the printer P1 (4). During printing, the transmitting circuit 4 receives the operating status of the printing unit 1 from the printing unit 1, and transmits the frequency f3.
The data is transmitted to the host computer H1 using radio waves. Once all print information has been processed (5), step (3)
The connection between the printing information receiving circuit 3 and the printing section 1 made in step (6) is cut off (see FIG. 4), and the sending circuit 5 is connected to the printer P to which the printing information of the host computer H2 is output.
2 is controlled to transmit a signal indicating that it is currently connected to the line to the host computer H2 using radio waves of frequency f4 (7).

[0011] In step (8), when receiving a print request from the host computer H2, the CPU 2 sends a signal to the transmitting circuit 4 to the host computer using radio waves of frequency f3 indicating that the line of the printer P1 is disconnected. computer
control to transmit data to data H1 (9). Thereafter, the output of the print information receiving circuit 3 is connected to the transmitting circuit 6 (10), and the print information transmitted by the host computer H2 is relayed and retransmitted to the printer P2 by radio waves of frequency f5 (11). During the relay, the transmitting circuit 5 receives the operating state of the printer P2 from the receiving circuit 7, and transmits it to the host computer H2 using radio waves of frequency f6. After all the print information has been processed (12), the connection between the print information receiving circuit 3 and the transmitting circuit 6 made in step (10) is disconnected (1
3) Control the transmitting circuit 4 to transmit a signal indicating that the printer P1 is connected to the line to the host computer H1 using radio waves of frequency f3 (14).
.

[0012] In this way, while the print information of the frequency to be printed is processed and printed by oneself, the print information of a specific frequency is further processed and printed without changing the content of the print information to be transmitted. By retransmitting to a distant place, it can also function as a repeater.

In the above embodiment, the 1 to be printed by oneself is
In addition to the two frequencies, the number of frequencies to be relayed and retransmitted is one, but it is possible to increase the types of frequencies that the print information receiving circuit 3 can receive, or to provide multiple transmitting circuits 5 and receiving circuits 7, or to transmit multiple frequencies. By enabling reception or transmission, relaying and retransmission to many printing apparatuses becomes possible using a control procedure similar to that of the above embodiment. Also, R.A.
By making part of M9 non-volatile and storing the frequency used for transmission and reception with other host computers and printers, and making it possible to change the contents as necessary, it can be used with other devices that use radio waves. It is possible to avoid interference with In addition, by adding a means for outputting the received contents of the receiving circuit 7 to the transmitting circuit 4, when the printer P1 in the above embodiment cannot print due to paper out, paper jam, or other failure, the relay destination can be used as a substitute. It is also possible to have the printer P2 perform the output.

[0014]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the present invention is provided with a relay means that discriminately receives print information transmitted wirelessly based on frequency and relays print information of a specific frequency to another printing device. , the printing device itself can function as a repeater, and other printing devices that receive print information wirelessly can be installed regardless of the reception status of radio waves from the transmitting device, and a dedicated repeater can be installed. There is no need to set up the printing system, and the cost of constructing the printing system can be saved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a printing apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a printing information communication processing procedure in the printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation during printing information communication processing in the printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an operation during printing information communication processing in the printing apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Printing Department 2 CPU 3 Print information receiving circuit 4 Transmission circuit 5 Transmission circuit 6 Transmission circuit 7 Receiving circuit P1 Printer P2 Printer H1 Host computer H2 host computer

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: In a printing device equipped with a printing unit that receives print information wirelessly transmitted from a plurality of external devices and performs printing processing, the print information that is wirelessly transmitted is selectively received based on frequency, and the print information is identified. A printing device comprising a relay means for relaying frequency print information to another printing device.