JPH07299948A - Printer and detection of abnormality at time of printing - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To rapidly and easily take a measure at the time of the abnormality of printing by automatically analyzing the meaning content of the sound emitted from an apparatus. CONSTITUTION:After a sound registering command showing the abnormal state at the time of printing and the sound output command indicating the abnormality at the time of printing are stored in a buffer 9, the sound registering command is analyzed by a data analyzing/processing part 4a to be stored in the sound list 11 and sound data group 12 of an analyzed data memory part 6b corresponding to the analytical data. The data analyzing/processing part 4a searches the sound output command to supply the searched result to the analyzed data memory part 6b and, subsequently, the analyzed data memory part 6b reads the analytical data on the basis of the sound output command to output the same from a sound control/output device 7 as sound data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a method for detecting abnormality during printing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional printing apparatus, when a failure occurs in the printing apparatus, a single voice built in the apparatus main body is output to the user, or a plurality of voices built in the apparatus main body are output. It is known that a switch or the like is selected and output to the user, and the user has detected the occurrence of a failure in the printing apparatus by such audio output.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional printing apparatus, even if the user hears the voice of the printing apparatus, there are the following problems. That is, (1) When a plurality of printing devices are installed side by side,
It is not possible to immediately determine which printing device made the sound. (2) Even if the printing device makes a sound, the sound is conventionally composed of a single sound (for example, a beep sound). (3) If the printing device emits a voice, you must go to the vicinity of the printing device to check the voice content, check the abnormal content of the printing device, and then take measures. However, it takes time from the occurrence of an abnormality until countermeasures are taken. (4) Due to the system design, it was not possible to construct a voice interface.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a printing apparatus and a printing apparatus capable of automatically analyzing the meaning and content of a voice emitted from the apparatus to quickly and easily cope with a printing abnormality. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for detecting abnormality in time.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a printing apparatus according to the present invention has a storage means for storing voice control information indicating an abnormal state during printing and voice information indicating an abnormality during printing. Control information analysis means for analyzing the content of the voice control information, storage means for storing the analysis result of the control information analysis means for each analysis content, and the analysis content stored by the storage means in the voice information. It is characterized in that it is provided with a read-out means for reading out based on this, and a voice output means for outputting the read-out information of the read-out means by voice.

Further, the storage means stores a first storage unit for storing the voice control information and a second storage unit for storing the voice information.
And a storage unit of

Further, the voice control information and the voice information are input from a predetermined external device.

Further, in the abnormality detecting method during printing according to the present invention, after the voice control information indicating the abnormal state during printing and the voice information indicating the abnormality during printing are accumulated in the accumulating means, the control information is analyzed. The analysis information is stored in storage means for each type, and then the analysis information corresponding to the voice information is read out based on the voice information and output as voice information.

[0009]

According to the above printing apparatus, the analysis information of the voice control information inputted from the external device is stored in the storage means, while the analysis information is read out based on the voice information and outputted as voice.

Further, according to the above abnormality detecting method at the time of printing, the voice control information is analyzed and the analysis information is stored for each type. Then, the analysis information is read based on the voice information, and the read analysis information is output as voice to detect an abnormality at the time of printing.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a printing apparatus according to the present invention. The printing apparatus 1 is connected to an output device 2 such as a host computer.

The printer 1 is the output device (external device).
I / F (interface) 3 for controlling transmission and reception of data to and from 2, and ROM for storing a predetermined calculation program
(Read-only memory) 4 and a CP that executes various control processes in accordance with programs stored in the ROM 4
U (Central Processing Unit) 5 and RAM (Random Access Memory) 6 in which the results of processing executed by the CPU 5 are stored
And a voice control / output device 7 for controlling / outputting a printing abnormality as voice information.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing in detail the data flow of the printing apparatus 1.

The RAM 6 has a buffer (accumulation means) 6a and an analysis information storage section (storage means) 6b, and the output device 2
The voice control data from is stored in the buffer 6a via the interface 3. The buffer 6a includes a voice control information storage unit 8, a voice information storage unit 9, and a print data storage unit 10.
It has and. The voice control information storage unit 8 stores voice control information such as a voice registration command, a voice format (format) as its parameter, a type and a storage position, and a user identifier (ID) used by the output device 2. Accumulated as. Further, in the voice information storage unit 9, a voice output command, a type as a parameter thereof, a designation of a storage position, a user identifier (ID), and the like are stored as voice information. The voice registration command and the voice output command are different from the commands used for the actual print information, and the position, order, etc. in the buffer 6a can be set freely.

When it is found by the data analysis / processing section 4a built in the ROM 4 that the voice registration command is stored in the voice information information storage section 8 of the buffer 6a,
The fact is supplied to the analysis information storage unit 6b, and the analysis information storage unit 6b creates the voice list 11 and the voice information group 12.
That is, create a voice list of user names, general errors, out of paper, etc. according to the contents of the voice registration command,
Next, the analysis information storage unit 6b displays these audio lists 11
The voice format, the user identifier (ID), the voice information, and the like corresponding to the voice registration command are created and stored based on the. For example, when the voice registration command of the voice control information accumulating unit 8 instructs "to register" is out of paper "in the storage position of the paper out warning",
Create the audio format for the paper list 11
“Out of paper” as voice information is stored.

When the data analysis / processing section 4a finds that the voice output command is stored in the voice information storage section 9 of the buffer 6a, the signal is supplied to the analysis information storage section 6b for analysis. The voice information is searched from the voice list 11 and the voice information group 12 in the information storage unit 6b. For example, when the voice output command of the voice information storage unit 9 is instructing to “output the voice at the storage position of the paper-out warning”, “voice-out is stored in the voice-out voice format of the voice list 11 The voice information "" is read from the voice information group 12. Similarly, for example, when there is no paper corresponding to the command of the output device 2 in the printer 1, the voice information such as "there is no corresponding paper" corresponding to the paper size error is searched from the storage position of the voice information group 12. Then, the voice information is output. Although the predetermined audio information is output based on the command from the output device 1 in the present embodiment, the predetermined audio information can be output by the similar search even when the printing device 2 itself has run out of paper. it can.

Next, the voice information read from the analysis information storage unit 6b by the data analysis / processing unit 4a is supplied to the voice control / output device 7, and the voice control / output device 7 outputs the voice "out of paper". To do.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure of an abnormality detecting method at the time of printing in this printing apparatus. This processing is performed by the CP stored in the ROM 4 according to the program.
It is executed by U5 judging and controlling.

In step S1, it is determined whether or not there is input information from the output device 2. When there is no input information, the input standby state is entered, while when there is input information, the process proceeds to step S2, and the buffer 6a for storing the voice control information is created in the RAM 6. That is, the voice control information storage unit 8, the voice information storage unit 9, and the print information storage unit 10 are created. Then, the input information is stored in these storage units 8 to 10 (step S3).

Then, the voice control information and the voice information accumulated in the buffer 6a are read (step S4), and it is judged whether or not they have been read to the end (step S5). When the data has been read to the end, the process returns to step S1, while when the data has not been read to the end, for example, in the case of the first loop, the process proceeds to step S6, and the voice control information storage unit 8 stores parameters such as a voice registration command and a storage position. Is determined (step S6). When the determination result is affirmative (Yes), the voice control information in the buffer 6a is analyzed by the data analysis / processing unit 4a (step S7), and then voice information corresponding to the analysis result of the voice control information is voice registered. The data is stored in the position designated by the command (step S8), the process returns to step S4, and the next input information accumulated in the buffer 6a is examined.

On the other hand, the determination result of step S6 is negative (N
o) That is, if there is no voice registration command and parameters such as storage position in the voice control information storage unit 8, the process proceeds to step S9 to check whether the voice information storage unit 9 has a voice output command and storage position parameter. to decide. When the voice information storage unit 9 does not have the voice output command and the storage position parameter, the processing is ended as it is, while when the voice information storage unit 9 has the voice output command and the storage position parameter, the data analysis / processing unit. 4a
In step S10, the voice information stored in the voice information group 12 is searched. It is determined whether or not there is voice information at the designated position (step S11). Then, when there is voice information at the designated position, the voice information is selected (step S12). On the other hand, when there is no voice information at the designated position, default (for example, a signal sound such as a beep sound stored in advance in the ROM 4) voice information is selected (step S13). Then, in step S14,
The voice information of the selected position is output from the voice control / output device 7, and the process returns to step S4.

As a result, the abnormality content of the printing apparatus can be grasped quickly and accurately.

It is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment and can be modified without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, a parameter such as the status of the printing device can be added to the printing device as the voice control information from the output device, and when the printing device 1 itself outputs the voice stored in the ROM 4 when the printer status is a certain printer status, , The voice information stored in the RAM 6 can be used. In this case, in step S9, the printing device itself specifies the output and storage position of the voice information, and the same as above.
The processing after step S11 is executed.

[0025]

As described above, according to the printing apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to omit the time and procedure for accurately grasping the abnormal state, and therefore the probability of obtaining a correct printing (processing) result is high. A printing device can be obtained.

Further, according to the abnormality detecting method at the time of printing according to the present invention, since the voice indicating the abnormality detection can have a clear meaning, it is possible to quickly detect the abnormality at the time of printing. That is, even when a plurality of printing devices are used side by side, each printing device is given individual voice information, so that the printing device in which an abnormality has occurred and the details of the abnormality can be easily and quickly provided. Can be specified.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing in detail the flow of information of the printing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of an abnormality detection method during printing according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 output device 6a buffer (accumulation unit) 6b analysis information storage unit (storage unit) 7 voice control / output device (voice information storage unit) 8 voice registration command storage unit (first storage unit) 9 voice output command storage unit ( Second storage unit)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A storage unit for storing voice control information indicating an abnormal state at the time of printing and voice information indicating an abnormality at the time of printing, a control information analysis unit for analyzing contents of the voice control information, and the control. Storage means for storing the analysis result of the information analysis means for each analysis content, reading means for reading the analysis content stored by the storage means based on the voice information, and voice output for outputting the read information of the read means by voice. And a printing device. 2. The storage means has a first storage section for storing the voice control information and a second storage section for storing the voice information. Printing device. 3. The voice control information and the voice information are:
The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the printing apparatus is input from a predetermined external device. 4. After storing voice control information indicating an abnormal state at the time of printing and voice information indicating an abnormality at the time of printing in a storage means, the voice control information is analyzed and the analysis information is stored in the storage means for each type. An abnormality detection method at the time of printing, characterized by storing, and then reading out the analysis information corresponding to the voice information based on the voice information and outputting as the voice information.