JPH05104822A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a printer capable of performing printing in a short time based on a correct emulation, even if a selected emulation is improver. CONSTITUTION:A printer 22 is composed of a storage part which stores emulation programs and data memory which allows storage of the files of data for printing received from a print information source. If a selected emulation is improper, a manual switch provided on a control panel 41 is operated to process data under an appropriate emulation program using an appropriate data for printing stored in data memory.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer device for printing data sent from a print information source such as a host computer, and more specifically, when an emulation unsuitable for the sent data is selected, The present invention relates to a printer device for convenience of printing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 8 shows a general connection relationship between a host computer as an example of a print information source and a printer. The host computer 11 and the printer device 12 are connected by a communication cable 13, and image data and various control codes are transmitted through the communication cable 13. A controller 14 and a printing unit 15 as a printing mechanism are arranged in the printer device 12. The controller 14 is configured to perform an image development process for printing and to control printing of the printing unit 15.

In such a printing system, if the host computer 11 and the printer device 12 are manufactured by the same maker in the same era and both are sold as a set, they are supplied from the host computer 11. There is no particular problem when the printer device 12 prints the image data.

However, in reality, the host computer 1
In many cases, the manufacturers of 1 and the printer device 12 are not the same, or even those related to the manufacture of the same manufacturer have different dates of manufacture. Even in such a case, it is necessary for the controller 14 of the printer device to correctly decode the control code sent from the host computer 11 side and perform the printing operation.

Therefore, conventionally, there has been a printer apparatus in which a plurality of emulations and a changeover switch for these are arranged in a controller. In such a printer device, an appropriate emulation is selected by switching the switch depending on the type of the host computer of the connection destination. Here, the emulation means simulating control codes (machine language instructions) used by different devices by using a microprogram. By such emulation by the controller 14 in FIG. 8, it is possible to decode the control codes of different models and perform the printing operation by the printing unit 15.

However, in the printer device which switches the emulation by the switch as described above, it is necessary to operate the switch each time the host computer is changed, which is not only troublesome but also causes the printer device to malfunction if the switch operation is mistaken. There was a problem that printing could not be performed at all.

In order to solve such a problem, a printer device has been proposed in which the switching of emulation is automated. Among them, in the printing device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-314177, a plurality of emulations are arranged inside the device, and a control command code received from the outside is collated with these plural types of emulations. There is. Then, the most suitable emulation is automatically selected and the control command is converted.

Also in the computer terminal device described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-156325, a plurality of emulations are arranged in the device. With respect to these emulations, the number of non-correspondences in the escape sequence table and the character set is counted, and the emulation judged to be the most appropriate because of the small number of these is automatically selected.

Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-178725, information sent from a host computer or a CPU (central processing unit) is analyzed and divided into control commands and print data, and a specific control obtained as an analysis result. A print control device is disclosed in which a plurality of emulation print output models having different control command systems or data output processing systems are automatically selected using commands and information.

[0010]

However, in the conventional device in which the compatibility with each emulation is compared and the optimum emulation is selected, the amount of data for comparison is increased. Otherwise, there was a problem that the accuracy in selecting the optimum emulation would not increase. Therefore, there is a problem that it is unsuitable for emulation that is described only by printable characters other than emulation of a code system that can be immediately determined as a control code such as an escape sequence.

In recent years, the number of emulations has increased, and a page description language that can describe only printable characters without using an escape sequence has become common, and the emulation is always selected accurately by automation. Things are getting harder. For this reason, you may choose an incompatible emulation. However, even in such a case, if data processing is performed using the selected emulation program, the data is erased from the viewpoint of effective use of memory and the need to increase the throughput of the printer device. Therefore, if the emulation incompatibility is confirmed at the printing stage, it is necessary to send the printing data again from the destination workstation, etc., until the correct printing is finally performed. There was a problem that it took a relatively long time.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a printer device capable of executing printing by correct emulation in a short time even when an unsuitable emulation is selected.

[0013]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a storage unit storing a plurality of emulation programs and printing data sent from a print information source such as a host device are analyzed to create an emulation program. Selection means for selecting one of them and processing it, and when printing data is sequentially stored and the storage amount exceeds a predetermined capacity, re-selection of the emulation program from among the stored data is most necessary. A data memory for replacing the evaluated data with new data, and an emulation program other than the one selected by the selecting means after the processing of the desired data among the printing data held in the data memory by the selecting means. The printer device is equipped with a manual switch for processing. The manual switch is not limited to the switch for directly specifying the emulation, but may be a manual switch for automatically selecting the emulation with the next highest probability after the previously selected emulation.

That is, according to the first aspect of the invention, the printing data sent from the print information source such as the host device is stored in a relatively large capacity data memory. When the amount of data stored in this data memory exceeds a predetermined capacity, new data is sequentially replaced from the stored data that is evaluated as having a low possibility of resetting emulation. To do so. As a result, the print data, which is highly likely to be incompatible with the emulation, is preferentially stored, and it is possible to deal with the reuse of the data when the emulation is reset.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a storage unit storing a plurality of emulation programs and printing data sent from a print information source such as a host device are analyzed to select one of the emulation programs. The selecting means to be processed, the data memory for holding the printing data for a predetermined period even after the processing of the selecting means, and the emulation program other than the one selected by the selecting means for the printing data held in the data memory. The printer device is equipped with a manual switch for processing after selection. The manual switch is not limited to the switch for directly specifying the emulation, but may be a manual switch for automatically selecting the emulation with the next highest probability after the previously selected emulation.

That is, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the printing data sent from the print information source such as the host device is held for a predetermined time even after the processing of the emulation program, and if it is within this time, it is manually operated. The data for printing can be reprocessed by reselecting the emulation by the switch, and the time can be shortened by performing the process without retransmitting the data.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the storage unit storing a plurality of emulation programs and the print data sent from the print information source such as the host device are analyzed to select one of the emulation programs. Selection means to be processed, erasing instruction means for instructing erasing of printing data, data memory for holding this printing data even after processing of the selecting means until instructed by erasing instruction, and holding in data memory The printer device is provided with a manual switch for processing the selected print data by the emulation program other than the one selected by the selection means. The manual switch is not limited to the switch for directly specifying the emulation, but may be a manual switch for automatically selecting the emulation with the next highest probability after the previously selected emulation.

That is, according to the third aspect of the present invention, the printing data sent from the print information source such as the host device is retained until the deletion instruction is given even after the processing of the emulation program, and the deletion instruction is given. If it is before, the data for printing can be reprocessed by reselecting the emulation by the manual switch, and the time can be shortened by performing the process without retransmitting the data.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the storage unit storing a plurality of emulation programs and the printing data sent from the print information source such as the host device are analyzed to select one of the emulation programs. The selection means to be processed, the data memory for storing the printing data in the order of reception and replacing the oldest stored data with the new data when the storage amount exceeds the predetermined capacity, and this data memory The printer device is provided with a manual switch for processing desired data among the held printing data by the emulation program other than the one selected by the selecting means after the processing by the selecting means. The manual switch is not limited to the switch for directly specifying the emulation, but may be a manual switch for automatically selecting the emulation with the next highest probability after the previously selected emulation.

That is, according to the fourth aspect of the invention, the print data sent from the print information source such as the host device is stored in a relatively large capacity data memory in the order of reception thereof. When the amount of data stored in the data memory exceeds a predetermined capacity, the oldest stored data is replaced with new data. As a result, this data memory stores some of the earliest sets of printing data. Therefore, it becomes possible to read the printing data for which the emulation is not suitable from the data memory and perform data processing by proper emulation.

[0021]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to examples.

FIG. 2 shows an outline of a printing system using a printer device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The communication cable 21 forming the ring-shaped network includes a plurality of printer devices 22 ₁ , 22 ₂ , ...
22 _N and a plurality of workstations 23 ₁ , 23
₂ , ... 23 _M is connected. In this print system, the documents edited by these workstations 23 ₁ , 23 ₂ , ... 23 _M as print information sources are stored in any _one of the printer devices 22 ₁ , 22 ₂ , ... 22 _N. It is sent to a table and printed out here.

FIG. 1 shows an outline of a printer apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printer device 22 includes a CPU 31 which is the center of various controls. The CPU 31 has a ROM 33 and a RAM 3 via a bus 32 such as a data bus.
4, a non-volatile memory (NVM) 35, a network interface (I / F) unit 36, a panel control unit 37, an engine control unit 38, and a cartridge control unit 39.

ROM (Read Only Memory)
The printer device 22 includes a control program 33
A processing program for the native printer control language of is written. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 34 has a role as a working memory for storing data temporarily required for the CPU 31 to execute various controls, and also for expanding image data. It also serves as a page memory and an input data buffer for storing the received printing data. Here, the image data is printed by the engine control unit 3 for printing.
7 is data to be sent. Further, in this embodiment, the RAM 34 having a relatively large capacity is used so that a plurality of print data can be stored. The memory area that can be used as an input data buffer is controlled by the CPU 31 so that the maximum memory area of the RAM 34 is 20% so as not to interfere with other data processing.

Next, the non-volatile memory 35 used in the present embodiment is a rewritable non-volatile memory, and here, a plurality of emulation programs that are commonly used and a selection of these emulation programs are used. The emulation table used for is stored. Since this memory is non-volatile, its contents are saved even when the power is turned off. As a rewritable non-volatile memory, flash electrical erase R
OM (Flash E ² PROM) and electrical erase ROM (E ² PROM)
A PROM) or a hard disk storage device is typical. In this embodiment, a flash electric erase ROM is used as a non-volatile memory. A RAM backed up by a battery can also be used as a non-volatile memory.

The network interface section 36 is prepared to serve as an interface for communication with the network. Network interface unit 3
6 is a workstation 23 ₁ , 23 ₂ , ... 23 _M
The data transmitted from the CPU 31 is taken in through the communication cable 21 so that the CPU 31 can process the data. Although not shown in the figure, the network interface unit 36 includes a FIFO (first in first
(Out) Memory is arranged to absorb the difference in data transfer rate. The panel control unit 37 is connected to a control panel 41, and controls input / output of data with respect to various keys and a liquid crystal display.

FIG. 3 shows the arrangement of these keys and the like on the control panel. A liquid crystal display 43 is arranged above the control panel 41, and eight keys 44 _{1 to} 44 ₈ are arranged below the liquid crystal display 43. Of these, the liquid crystal display 43 displays the status of the printer device 22, and the keys 44 ₁ ...
The contents of the function corresponding to 44 ₈ are displayed. Here, ONLINE (EPRIN
The T) key 44 ₁ is adapted to switch the printer device 22 between an online state and an offline state. This ONLINE (EPRIN
T) key 44 ₁ to CONTINUE (SIFT) key 4
When pressed at the same time as 4 _5, the mode for reprinting the same print data by different emulation is entered as described later.

[0028] FONT (ORIENTATION) key 44 ₂ is used to enter the mode for setting in the information sent from the workstation 23, the font type to be used when there is no information about the fonts used Is the key. This FONT (ORIENT
ACTION) key 44 ₂ to CONTINUE (SIF
If you press at the same time as T) key 44 _5, it enters a mode for setting the direction of the printing paper and image. MODE
The (EMULATION) key 44 ₃ is used to enter a mode for setting various printer operation modes. When pressed simultaneously with the CONTINUE (SIFT) key 44 ₅ , the emulation (EMULATI)
It is adapted to enter the emulation selection mode for setting the (ON) state.

△ (TEST) key 44_FourIs the setting mode
Used to select an item when entering the code. C
ONNTUE (SIFT) key 44_FivePressed at the same time
In case you're going into a mode to run various tests
Growling. CONTINUE (SIFT) key 4
Four_FiveIs a non-fatal error when an error occurs.
Used to ignore the error and perform the desired action
It Also, another key 44 ₂~ 44_Four, 44₆~ 44₈When
Press at the same time to perform another function of these keys.
Let go. That is, the shift key on a normal keyboard
The same action as ENTER (COPY) key 4
Four₆Sets the item selected in each setting mode.
Used when CONTINUE (SIFT) key
44_FiveIf pressed at the same time, one image data
Setting for how many printouts
Enter the first mode. FORM FEED (FEEDE
R) key 44₇Has information that triggers the print operation.
A part of the RAM 34 described above is received without reaching from the device.
When image data remains on the page memory to be configured
It is used to print out this. CON
TINUE (SIFT) key 44_FiveWhen pressed at the same time
Is a mode for setting the tray for feeding print paper.
Enter ▽ (RESET) key 44₈Is the setting mode
It is used to change the item in the command. CONTI
NUE (SIFT) key 44_FiveWhen pressed at the same time
Enter a mode to perform various reset functions.
It

FIG. 4 shows a hierarchy for emulation selection in the emulation selection mode. As described above, MODE (EMULATIO
N) key 44 ₃ and CONTINUE (SIFT) key 4
When 4 ₅ are pressed simultaneously, the emulation selection mode is entered. At this time, the liquid crystal display 43 displays the characters "EMULATION = AUTO" for selecting the emulation in the auto (AUTO) mode. If the operator automatically selects emulation, select EN to select this motor.
The TER (COPY) key 44 ₆ will be pressed.

On the other hand, when selecting one of the first to fourth emulations that can be used in the current printer, the ▽ (RESET) key 44 ₈ or Δ
Press the (TEST) key 44 ₄ to display the target hierarchy shown in FIG. 4 and enter ENTER (COPY) in this state.
The key 44 ₆ is pressed to select the displayed emulation. For example, on the liquid crystal display 43, "EM
When the character "ULATION = AUTO" is displayed and the ▽ (RESET) key 44 ₈ is pressed once, the character "EMULATION = first EMU" is displayed and the first emulation is displayed. Then, in this state, pressing the ENTER (COPY) key 44 ₆ completes the selection of the first emulation, and similarly, pressing the ▽ (RESET) key 44 ₈ twice causes the second
Is displayed, and the third emulation is displayed when pressed three times. The same applies below, and
If the Δ (TEST) key 44 ₄ is pressed before the R (COPY) key 44 ₆ is pressed, the displayed content is one layer higher. With the desired emulation displayed, enter (CO
By pressing the (PY) key 44 ₆ , the emulation selection is confirmed.

Note that it is not necessary to display the emulations and the auto modes to be selected one by one on the liquid crystal display 43 in this way. For example, all layers as shown in FIG. RESET) key 44 ₈
Each time the or (TEST) key 44 ₄ is pressed, the display of the selected mode may be reversed in black and white, or blinking may be performed.

Returning to FIG. 1, the description will be continued. An engine unit 46 is connected to the engine control unit 38. The engine unit 46 is a printing unit of the printer device 22, and in the present embodiment, it is composed of basic components as a laser printer. The engine unit 46 receives the print signal read from the page memory, modulates the laser beam, and exposes and scans the photosensitive drum (not shown) to form an electrostatic latent image. Then, this electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing device (not shown) to create a toner image, which is transferred onto a printing sheet, fixed, and discharged as a printed sheet onto a tray (not shown). Cartridge control unit 3
An emulation cartridge 47 is detachably attached to the device 9. The emulation cartridge 47 is a memory that stores emulation programs used in addition to a plurality of emulation programs stored in the non-volatile memory 35 and their emulation tables. The emulation cartridge 47 is divided into several types, and the workstations 23 ₁ , 23 ₂ , ...
It is possible to select the most suitable one corresponding to the print information source such as 23 _M and install it in the printer device.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are for explaining the operation of this device. In this embodiment, the RAM 34 has three
Up to 3 input data files can be stored. First, the CPU 31 shown in FIG. 1 uses the latest file number Nf set in a predetermined area of the RAM 34,
Save codes F ₁ to F corresponding to each input data file
Each value indicating ₃ is initially set to "0" (step S101).

It should be noted that among the storage codes F _{1 to} F ₃ , "0"
In the storage area of the file corresponding to, the file of the input data already stored therein can be erased and a new file of the input data can be written. That is, in the printer apparatus of the present embodiment, a storage code having a predetermined value is given to each of the maximum three files stored, and when the storage code is sequentially subtracted and becomes "0", another The input data file of can be replaced.

After the above initialization, the latest file number Nf is incremented by "1" (step S102),
It is checked whether this value is larger than "3" (step S103). When this value is larger than "3" (Y), "3" is subtracted from this value (step S104), the value is returned to "1", and the process proceeds to step S105. If the value is "3" or less in step S103, step S105 is performed as it is.
Will proceed to.

In step S105, the storage code F (Nf) for the latest file number Nf is decremented by "1". Then, it is determined whether or not this result is "0" (step S106). If it is "0" (Y), the file of the input data corresponding to the stored code has become erasable, so the network interface unit 36 is set to a data transferable state (step S107). That is, the state is set such that new input data can be written. On the other hand, if "0" is not obtained in step S106 (N), the process returns to step S102 and the latest file number Nf is further incremented by "1", and the save code for the file of the next input data is stored. F (Nf) is subtracted by "1" to determine whether this value becomes "0". In this way
This operation is repeated until one of the files becomes "0", and the one with the smallest stored code value among the three files is set as the deletion target.

In this way, when it becomes possible to accept a file of new input data in step S107, the CPU 31 causes the network interface unit 36 to operate.
It is checked whether or not there is any data that has not been read in the FIFO memory (step S108). If there is (Y), it is checked whether the FIFO memory is full (step S109). If it is full (Y), data cannot be received. The data transfer is prohibited (step S110). And
One byte of data is read from the FIFO memory (step S111). If the FIFO memory is not full, the data of 1 byte is read from the FIFO memory without performing the operation of step S110.

In the next step S112, the FIFO
A check is made to see if the free area of memory is larger than 8 bytes. If it is larger than 8 bytes (Y), the network interface unit 3
6 is set to a data transferable state (step S113),
If it is within 8 bytes (N), the data transfer prohibited state is held.

In this way, the network interface section 36 controls the permission / prohibition of data transfer, while the data read in step S111 is written in the corresponding file area of the RAM 34 (step S114). After writing, the CPU 31 sets the RAM 3
It is confirmed whether or not the area for one file of 4 has overflowed (step S115). The respective file areas allocated for the three files in the RAM 34 are designed to have a sufficient size to store one file. Therefore, in the case of overflow, it is considered that some abnormality has occurred in data transmission. Therefore, in this case (Y),
The printer device executes a predetermined error process (step S116). As an example of such error processing, it is conceivable that, for example, the liquid crystal display 43 of the control panel 41 displays a message indicating that an error has occurred in the file transfer and aborts the data transfer.

If it is confirmed in step S115 that the file has a sufficient capacity (N), unless a file end notification (EOF) is received (step S117;
N), the process returns to step S108, and the process of repeatedly reading data from the FIFO memory is performed (steps S108 to S117).

In this way, when the end of file transfer for one input data is notified (step S11).
7; Y), it is checked whether the emulation of this printer is set to automatic switching (step S118). If the automatic switching is set (Y), the automatic switching process for setting the optimum emulation is executed (step S11).
9). Then, the contents of the input data are expanded into image data for printing by the switched emulation program (step S1).
20). In the case of manual switching, similar processing is executed using the emulation program selected manually (step S120).

By the way, the CPU 31 counts the number of occurrences of errors when performing the expansion processing to the image data by the set emulation program. And
As the number of errors increases, the possibility of resetting the emulation program increases, so control is performed to increase the value of the save code F (Nf) so that the corresponding file is saved for a long time. .. Therefore, C
The PU 31 first determines whether or not the number of errors at the time of expansion is "0" (step S121). If the number of errors is larger than "0" (N), the value of the save code F (Nf) of the file is increased by "1" (step S122). Then, it is further checked whether the number of errors is larger than "5" (step S12).
3) If the number is large (Y), the value of the save code F (Nf) of the file is further increased by "1" (step S124). That is, the total number of increases in this case is "2". When the number of errors is "0" (step S121; Y), the save code F (Nf) of the file
The value of does not increase. As described above, after adjusting the value of the storage code F (Nf) in three steps according to the number of errors, the process returns to step S102 and the same processing as described above is repeated.

FIG. 7 specifically shows the emulation automatic switching process performed in step S119 of FIG. In the printer apparatus of the present embodiment, the value of the save code F (Nf) is appropriately changed in this automatic switching process as well, and when an emulation program with a low degree of certainty is selected, the corresponding input data is saved. Is controlled for as long as possible.

First, when performing the automatic switching process, the values of P (1) to P (4) corresponding to the four emulation programs prepared by this printer are initialized to "0" (step S201). The storage of these values P (1) to P (4) is performed by the R shown in FIG.
It is allocated to a predetermined memory area of the AM 34. In this initial state, one byte of the input data to be processed stored in the RAM 34 is read (step S202).
Then, the read pointer is moved back by one byte (step S203), and it is determined whether or not it is an escape code (step S204). In the case of the escape code (Y), the next 1-byte data is read from the RAM 34 (step S205), and the content of the register E is set to "1" indicating the first emulation (step S206).

In this state, the CPU 31 searches the control code table in the first emulation to determine whether or not the corresponding code exists (step S207). If it exists, the probability P (E) for the emulation E is incremented by "1" (step S208). Then, in this case, the emulation E is incremented by "1" to change to the next second emulation (step S209). If the corresponding code does not exist in step S207 (N), the process of step S209 is immediately performed.

In step S210, step S209
It is determined whether or not the emulation E exceeds "4" as a result of the processing of. If it does not exceed, the table search for all emulations has not been completed (N), so step S
Returning to 207, the corresponding table is similarly searched. If the emulation E exceeds "4" (step S210; Y), the search for the control code is completed, and the process returns to step S202 to start processing the next 1-byte data.

If the corresponding data does not match the escape code in step S204 (N), the data ends the file (END OF FILE).
Is determined (step S211), and in other cases (N), the process returns to step S202 again to continue the process of searching for the control code.

When it is detected in step S211 that the file to be processed ends (Y), the probabilities P (1) to P (1) to
By comparing (4), the emulation with the largest number of times the control codes match is selected for the processing of this file (step S212). Next, the probabilities P (1) to P (4)
The difference D between the maximum value and the next value at is calculated (step S
213). It seeks to find out how dominant the finally selected emulation was in relation to the next candidate and to deal with the reselection of emulation accordingly.

That is, if the difference D exceeds "10", the CPU 31 does not add the value of the save code F (Nf) for the corresponding file (step S214; Y, S205; N), but If D is "10" or less (step S214; N), the value of the save code F (Nf) for the corresponding file is incremented by "1" (step S216) to prepare for resetting the emulation program. If the difference D is less than “5” (step S215; Y), the storage code F (Nf) is further stored.
The value of is added by "1" (step S217).

As described above, in this embodiment, if the emulation is automatically selected, the emulation program is automatically selected by the process shown in FIG. If the processing of the input data performed by this automatic selection is inappropriate, the emulation that seems to be appropriate is selected from the first to fourth emulations by the switching operation of the emulation described in FIG. In this case, the emulation program manually selected during the process of step S118 of FIG. 6 is executed, and the appropriate process for the input data becomes possible.

In this embodiment, with respect to the input data saving process, the input data storage amount is determined, and the data that is more likely to be reset by emulation according to a predetermined logic is saved for a longer time. Although the data is exchanged, the newest input data may be exchanged in order from the oldest input data. Further, input data deletion instruction means may be provided to delete the input data that the operator judges unnecessary. At this time, for example, a list of currently saved input data may be displayed on the display, and the input data that does not need to be saved may be indicated by operating the keys on the control panel or the pointing device such as the mouse. Conceivable. At this time, displaying the evaluation when the emulation is selected for each input data on the display is also effective as a reference for erasing.

Further, depending on the printer device, the time is measured from the time when the input data is processed, such as the time when one day has passed since the time the input data was processed, and the data is automatically deleted after a predetermined time. On the other hand, those within the time period may be saved so that the emulation can be reset.

In the embodiment, when the selection of emulation is not suitable, the control panel 41 is operated to manually select another emulation to reprocess the input data. However, the present invention is not limited to this. is not. For example, when the operator operates a predetermined key, it is of course possible to automatically select the emulation, which has been listed as a candidate for the next rank, for the input data and reprocess the data. ..

[0055]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the printing data is sequentially stored, and when the storage amount exceeds the predetermined capacity, the emulation program is selected from the stored data. A data memory was prepared in which what was evaluated as requiring the least reselection was replaced with new data. Therefore, not only can the print data be saved for multiple files to be processed again, but the data that needs to be reprocessed by changing the emulation is saved for a relatively long period of time. Therefore, there is an effect that a large-scale data memory is not required.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a data memory for holding the print data for a predetermined period even after the print data is processed is prepared so that the data can be reprocessed by different emulation programs. Therefore, for example, if within the defined period of 1 or 2 days after printing,
The data can be reprocessed without requesting the print information source such as the host device to retransmit the data. As described above, according to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to set the grace period until data reprocessing regardless of the amount of printing data received at that time or the number of files.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, a data memory for holding the printing data even after the processing by the emulation program and an erasing of unnecessary printing data stored in the data memory are performed. The printer device is equipped with an erasing instruction means for instructing. Therefore, the operator can actually confirm the print contents and erase only the data which is determined to have no problem in the selection of the emulation, thus completely eliminating the trouble of having the data source resend the data. There is an advantage that you can.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the print data is stored in the order received, and when the storage amount exceeds the predetermined capacity, the oldest stored data is replaced with new data. A data memory was prepared for the printer device. Therefore, most of the data that needs to be retransmitted can be saved by a simple logic, and there is an advantage that the data processing can be performed again with an optimum emulation program.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a circuit configuration of a printer device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram showing an outline of a print system using the printer device of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an arrangement of keys and the like of a control panel in this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the display contents of a liquid crystal display for selecting two emulation modes.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the first half of how the input data is processed by the printer device of this embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the latter half of the state of processing of input data by the printer device of the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a state of automatic emulation switching processing in the printer apparatus of the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a general connection relationship between a host computer and a printer device.

[Explanation of symbols]

22 ... Printer device, 23 ... Workstation (host device device), 31 ... CPU, 33 ... ROM, 34 ... R
AM (data memory), 35 ... Non-volatile memory, 36 ...
Network interface section, 41 ... Control panel, 47 ... Emulation cartridge

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A storage unit storing a plurality of emulation programs, and data for printing sent from a print information source such as a host device is analyzed to determine 1 of the emulation programs.
Selecting means for selecting and processing one of the data, and when the printing data is sequentially stored and the storage amount exceeds a predetermined capacity, re-selection of the emulation program from among the stored data is most necessary. A data memory adapted to replace the evaluated data with new data, and an emulation other than the desired one of the printing data held in the data memory after the processing of the selecting means. A printer device comprising: a manual switch that is processed by a program. 2. A storage unit storing a plurality of emulation programs, and data for printing sent from a print information source such as a host device is analyzed to determine one of the emulation programs.
Selecting means for selecting and processing one of the two, a data memory for holding the printing data for a predetermined period even after the processing of the selecting means, and the printing data held in the data memory other than that selected by the selecting means. A manual switch which is processed by the emulation program of 1. after being selected. 3. A storage unit storing a plurality of emulation programs, and data for printing sent from a print information source such as a host device is analyzed, and one of the emulation programs is analyzed.
Selecting means for selecting and processing one of them, erasing instruction means for instructing erasing of the printing data, and data for holding the printing data after the processing of the selecting means until instructed by the erasing instruction means A printer device comprising: a memory; and a manual switch for processing the printing data held in the data memory after the selection by an emulation program other than the one selected by the selection means. 4. A storage unit storing a plurality of emulation programs, and data for printing sent from a print information source such as a host device is analyzed to determine one of the emulation programs.
Selecting means for selecting and processing one of the data, and a data memory for storing the printing data in the order of reception and replacing the oldest stored data with new data when the storage amount exceeds a predetermined capacity. And a manual switch for causing desired data among the printing data held in the data memory to be processed by the emulation program other than the one selected by the selecting means after the processing by the selecting means. Printer device.