JPH07281846A - Printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent unreasonable printing operation even if the version of a program incorporated in a device main body does not match the version of a program in the control ROM of an EMC. CONSTITUTION:When the power source is turned on, versions 300 and 400 for jump table generation which are set as objects of comparison by a module 1 are compared with each other, and an instruction 303 for jumping to the internal module having the new version is copied to an instruction RAM as an instruction 200 for jumping to the module 1. To execute an EMC control RAM module 1 execution instruction 500, a jump to an instruction 410 for jumping to the jump table module 1 in the instruction RAM in the EMC control ROM is made first. Then, a jump to an instruction 200 for jumping to the module in the instruction RAM is made by the said instruction, and a jump from this instruction to a module 1 501 in the internal control RAM is made to execute the instruction.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer which is connected to a host device such as a host computer and performs a printing operation in accordance with print information sent from the host device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A printing device is a driven device which is connected to a host device such as a host computer and performs a printing process in accordance with print information from the host device. In order to connect a wide variety of higher-level devices to this printing device and to provide versatility, the basic operation control program of the printing device is stored in the built-in system ROM, and the transfer of the higher-level device to be connected is performed. Programs for handling various incoming information are stored in a ROM in a so-called emulation cartridge (EMC) that is detachably and replaceably attached to the printing apparatus, and is stored according to the connected higher-level apparatus. This EMC is replaced and the corresponding printing operation is performed.

Further, the built-in ROM has only a basic control program (BOS) commonly used for all models even if the emulation model is changed, and the control program corresponding to the higher-level device is equipped with the EMC. There is a built-in emulation upper firmware (APL) corresponding to one upper model that is supposed to be connected in advance, and you should rely on the installation of EMC only when connecting to other than the basic model. There is one configured.

[0004]

By the way, in the conventional printer, even if the same emulation program exists in the built-in ROM and the EMC, either one of them is fixed (depending on the setting of the hardware jumper or the like). Or, the EMC side is always prioritized.

Generally, the built-in ROM cannot be upgraded unless the ROM chip or the substrate is replaced, so that the version cannot be easily changed. On the other hand, the EMC is not always sold as a set with the main body of the printing apparatus, so that the EMC can be independently upgraded. Therefore, there is a high possibility that the upgraded EMC is mounted on the printing apparatus. Therefore, when the user later purchases the EMC separately from the main body of the printing apparatus and mounts it on the printing apparatus and uses it, the ROM with the built-in printing apparatus is used.
BOS and the version of the ROM of the installed EMC may not match. BOS of such built-in ROM
If the ROM versions of EMC and EMC do not match, malfunction and printing may occur.

Also, in the case of a model having an APL in the built-in ROM, even if the program for this built-in APL is upgraded and newly prepared as an EMC, the APL of the built-in ROM is fixed for the basic emulation model. It worked and could not be operated by the external EMC.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and prints such that an inconvenient printing operation is not performed even if the versions of the control program ROM built in the apparatus main body and the external control program ROM do not match. The purpose is to provide a device.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a printer capable of providing and operating a version-up ROM with an external cartridge when the version of the built-in control program is upgraded.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a printer according to the present invention stores print information transferred from a host device in a memory built in the device and an external memory. A printing apparatus including a processing device that analyzes and executes printing operation control according to a stored control program, and in particular, includes version information in each of the control programs stored in the built-in memory and the external memory. , And comparing and recognizing the version information stored in each memory, and controlling the execution / inhibition of the printing operation.

In addition, the above version information is compared and recognized,
You may further provide the selecting means which selects the program memorize | stored in the suitable memory and makes the said processing device execute it.

[0011]

That is, according to the printing apparatus of the present invention, the control program stored in the built-in memory and the external memory is provided with version information, and the control means stores the version information stored in each memory. Is compared and recognized to control execution / prohibition of the printing operation.

Further, the selecting means compares and recognizes the version information, selects a program stored in a suitable memory, and causes the processing device to execute the print operation control according to the selected program.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration thereof. Reference numeral 10 is a host computer as a higher-level device, and 20 is a printer. The printing device 20 includes an interface (I / F) controller 30, a printing unit 40, and a printer I / F 50 that connects the I / F controller 30 and the printing unit 40.

The I / F controller 30 is a host I / F
(Centro data receiving section) 31, MPU 32, built-in control ROM 33, instruction RAM 34, receiving buffer 35, image data generating section 36, image memory 37, and EMC control ROM 60 is removable.

The host interface 31 is, for example, 8
It is composed of a bit parallel interface (Centronics compliant) and a serial interface (RS-232C compliant) and transmits / receives data to / from a host computer 10 having an interface of the same standard.

The MPU 32 has a built-in control ROM 33 and EM.
The control of each unit in the I / F controller 30 is controlled according to the command analysis and system management programs stored in the C control ROM 60. In this case, the MPU 32 includes a bus controller, an address latch and the like.

The instruction RAM 34 is used as a work area for the MPU 32 and also as an instruction area. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, in the instruction RAM 34, a jump table indicating jump instructions 200, 201, 202, ... To modules actually operating is arranged at a fixed address, for example, 6000000H or later as described later. It is formed. However, the present invention is not limited to this address.

The reception buffer 35 receives the print information from the host computer 10 received by the host I / F 31 as M.
The intermediate code data corresponding to the command or character code analyzed by the PU 32 is temporarily stored.

The image data generator 36 is composed of a CGROM in which a character pattern (image data) corresponding to a character code is stored and a CGRAM in which a character pattern (external character) designed by the user is stored.

The image memory 37 is a bit map memory for developing an image for one page and has a storage capacity for the maximum printable printing paper (for example, B4 size).

On the other hand, the PR interface 50 is
The image data expanded in the image memory 37 from the F controller 30 is converted into a video signal and transmitted to the printing unit 40, and the I / F controller 30 outputs a status signal for monitoring the state of the printing unit 40 from the printing unit 40. Send to.

The printing unit 40 also includes a printer controller (not shown), a print head controlled by the printer controller, various sensors, and various loads such as a photosensitive drum. Since the printing section 40 is not directly related to the gist of the present invention, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a jump table in the built-in control ROM 33 and the EMC control ROM 60. As shown in the figure, the built-in control ROM 33 and E
With the same configuration (relative fixed address in ROM) in the MC control ROM 60, version data (jump table creation data 300, 400, BOS version data 3
01,401, APL version data 302,40
2) and an instruction to jump to each owning module in the ROM (instruction 30 to jump to module 1)
3, 403, instruction 304 to jump to module 2,
404, instructions 305, 40 to jump to module 3
5 ..., and instructions to jump to the jump table on the instruction RAM 34 (instructions 310 and 410 to jump to the jump table module 1, instructions 311 and 411 to jump to the jump table module 2, and instructions 312 to jump to the jump table module 3). , 41
2, ...) are held in the program (however, the addresses in the figure are temporary and the present invention is not limited to this. In addition, α, β, γ are fixed values.) .

Next, the operation in such a structure will be described. FIG. 4 shows the MP when the power of the printing device 30 is turned on.
It is an operation | movement flowchart of the preparation process of the jump table to the instruction RAM34 performed by U32.

First, what should be used for the version check, that is, the comparison target is jump table creation data, BO
It is determined whether it is the S version data or the APL version data (step S1). It is decided for each module which one is to be compared, and it follows that.

That is, when the jump table creating data is set as the comparison target for the module n, next, the jump table creating data 300 of the built-in control ROM 33 and the jump table creating data 400 of the EMC control ROM 60 are set. To determine which is the newer version (step S
2). If the built-in control ROM 33 is newer, an instruction to jump to the built-in module n is selected (step S3), and its contents are copied to the nth instruction RAM 34 (step S4). Conversely, the EMC control ROM 60
Is newer, the instruction to jump to the EMC module n is selected (step S5), and its contents are copied to the n-th instruction RAM 34 (step S).
6).

When the BOS version data is set, the BOS version data 301 of the built-in control ROM 33 and the BOS version data 401 of the EMC control ROM 60 are compared, and either one is the newer version. It is determined (step S7).
If the built-in control ROM 33 is newer, an instruction to jump to the built-in module n is selected (step S8),
The contents are copied to the n-th instruction RAM 34 (step S9). On the contrary, if the EMC control ROM 60 is newer, an instruction to jump to the EMC module n is selected (step S10), and the contents are stored in the instruction RAM 34.
Copy to the nth position above (step S11).

If the APL version data is to be compared, the APL version data 302 of the built-in control ROM 33 and the APL version data 402 of the EMC control ROM 60 are compared to determine which is the newer version. It is determined (step S12). If the built-in control ROM 33 is newer, an instruction to jump to the built-in module n is selected (step S13),
The content is copied to the n-th instruction RAM 34 (step S14). On the contrary, if the EMC control ROM 60 is newer, an instruction to jump to the EMC module n is selected (step S15), and the contents are stored in the instruction RAM 3
4 is copied to the nth position (step S16).

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a jump table created in this way and a transition example thereof, in which the built-in module 1 is newer than the EMC module 1. That is, when the power is turned on, if the module 1 compares the jump table creating version with 300,
And 400 are compared, and the valid one (in this case, the instruction 303 for jumping to the built-in module 1) is copied to the instruction RAM 34 and used as the instruction 200 for jumping to the module 1. Similarly, for other modules, the jump table is completed by copying the jump instruction to the instruction RAM 34.

When the module 1 is to be executed in the EMC control ROM 60 (module 1 execution instruction 500), first, the instruction RAM in the EMC control ROM 60.
Instruction 4 to jump to the upper jump table module 1
Jump to 10. Next, this instruction causes the instruction RA
The instruction 200 for jumping to the module 1 on the M34 is jumped to, and from this instruction 200, the jump is made to the module 1501 of the built-in control ROM 33, and the instruction is executed.

As shown in FIG. 6A, when the module 1 is to be executed in the built-in control ROM 33 (module 1 execution instruction 502), the built-in control RO is first executed.
Jump table module 1 on the instruction RAM in M33
Jump to instruction Jump to 310. Next, this instruction causes a jump to the instruction 200 that jumps to the module 1 on the instruction RAM 34, and from this instruction 200 to the module 1501 of the built-in control ROM 33 to be executed.

On the contrary, when the EMC module 1 is newer than the built-in module 1, as shown in FIG. 6B, the instruction 403 for jumping to the EMC module 1 is copied to the instruction RAM 34 when the power is turned on. The instruction 200 is to jump to module 1.

When the module 1 is to be executed in the EMC control ROM 60 (module 1 execution instruction 500), first, the instruction RAM in the EMC control ROM 60.
Instruction 4 to jump to the upper jump table module 1
Jump to 10. Next, this instruction causes the instruction RA
The instruction 200 for jumping to the module 1 on the M34 is jumped to, and from this instruction 200, jumping to the module 1 503 of the EMC control ROM 60 is executed.

When the module 1 is executed in the built-in control ROM 33 (module 1 execution instruction 5
02), first jump to the instruction 310 that jumps to the jump table module 1 on the instruction RAM in the built-in control ROM 33. Next, this instruction causes the instruction RAM 34
It jumps to the instruction 200 which jumps to the module 1 above, and from this instruction 200 jumps to the module 1 503 of the EMC control ROM 60 and is executed.

In this way, the basic firmware (BO
S) and emulation upper firmware (AP
L) Both have a unique version in the program, and when the versions are separately upgraded, the version is checked and the compatibility is determined. Then, when only the EMC side is upgraded by adding a new command, B
If the OS version is not compatible, processing such as Nop can be performed to prevent malfunctions. Also, the control ROM with built-in printing
Built-in control ROM when APL is installed in
If the APL of the same and the APL of the EMC control ROM are the same and different versions are used, the AP of the BOS and the built-in control ROM
By checking the APL version of the L and EMC control ROMs, it is possible to operate under the optimum environment.

According to the above embodiment of the present invention, the following constitution can be obtained. (1) A printing apparatus including a processing device that analyzes print information transferred from a higher-level device according to a control program stored in a memory built in the device and an external memory and executes print operation control In this case, the control programs stored in the built-in memory and the external memory are each provided with version information, and the version information stored in each memory is compared and recognized to control execution / prohibition of the printing operation. A printing device comprising:

(2) The printing according to (1), further comprising selection means for comparing and recognizing the version information, selecting a program stored in a suitable memory and causing the processing device to execute the program. apparatus.

(3) The selection means includes a recognition means for comparing the version information stored in the memories and recognizing the newer one as the compatible memory. Printing device.

(4) The selecting means includes table creating means for comparing the version information stored in the memories and creating a jump table to the program stored in the newer memory, and the processing device. Includes a means for referencing the jump table to jump to a program in a corresponding memory and executing the program, (2).

(5) The printer is provided with a processor for analyzing print information transferred from the host device according to a control program stored in a memory built in the device and an external memory, and executing print operation control. In the printing device,
A step of preparing version information in each of the control programs stored in the built-in memory and the external memory, and a step of comparing and recognizing the version information stored in each memory to control execution / prohibition of the printing operation. A method for controlling a printing apparatus, comprising:

(6) The printer according to (5), further comprising a step of comparing and recognizing the version information, selecting a program stored in a suitable memory and causing the processing device to execute the program. Control method.

(7) The step of selecting and executing the program includes a step of comparing the version information stored in the memories and recognizing the newer one as the compatible memory ( 6) A method for controlling a printing device according to 6).

(8) The step of selecting and executing the program includes a step of comparing the version information stored in each memory and creating a jump table to the program stored in the newer memory. The method for controlling a printing apparatus according to (6), wherein the processing apparatus refers to the jump table and jumps to and executes a program in a corresponding memory.

[0044]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a printing apparatus in which an inconvenient printing operation is not performed even if the versions of the control program ROM incorporated in the apparatus main body and the external control program ROM do not match.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a printing apparatus capable of providing and operating the version-up ROM by the external cartridge when the version of the built-in control program is upgraded.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a jump table in an instruction RAM.

3A and 3B are a built-in control ROM and an EMC.
It is a figure which shows the structural example of the jump table in control ROM.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a jump table creating operation in an instruction RAM.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a jump table configuration example and a migration example.

6A and 6B are diagrams showing another jump table configuration example and a transition example, respectively.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Host computer, 20 ... Printing device, 30 ... I
/ F controller, 31 ... Host I / F, 32 ... MP
U, 33 ... Built-in control ROM, 34 ... Instruction RAM, 35 ...
Reception buffer, 36 ... Image data generating section, 37 ... Image memory, 40 ... Printing section, 50 ... Printer I / F,
60 ... EMC control ROM, 300, 400 ... Jump table creation data, 301, 401 ... BOS version data, 302, 402 ... APL version data, 303, 304 ... Instruction to jump to module 1, 304, 404 ... Module 2 instructions, 305, 405 ... module 3 instructions, 310, 410 ... jump table module 1 instructions, 311, 411 ... jump table module 2 instructions, 312, 412 ... jump table modules Instruction to jump to 3, 50
0,502 ... Module 1 execution instruction, 501,503 ...
Module 1.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A processing device for analyzing print information transferred from a higher-level device according to a control program stored in a memory built in the device and an external memory, and executing print operation control. In the printer, the control program stored in the built-in memory and the external memory is provided with version information, respectively, and the version information stored in each memory is compared and recognized to execute / inhibit the printing operation. A printing apparatus comprising a control unit for controlling the printing apparatus. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a selection unit that compares and recognizes the version information, selects a program stored in a compatible memory and causes the processing apparatus to execute the program. .