JPH08123639A - Information processing system and printer used for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To enable high-speed print processing without performing unnecessary emulation switching processing on the side of a printer when the printing processing is performed on the printer on which plural kinds of emulation are mounted as to the information processing system and the printer used for the system. CONSTITUTION: To transfer print data to the printer on which plural kinds of emulation are mounted, active emulation currently set to the printer is inquired of the printer and active emulation information on the printer is obtained from the printer (S7); and then the obtained active emulation is compared with the emulation of print data for transmission and only when they are not equal with each other (NO in 88), an emulation switching command is sent to the printer (S9).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is used in an information processing system which is connected to a printing apparatus which supports a plurality of types of emulations via an interface capable of bidirectional communication, and in which an application program can operate, and the information processing system. The present invention relates to a printing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are various types of printers (printers) connected to a host such as a personal computer, but the control commands (hereinafter referred to as emulation) of these printers are different depending on the model. is there. Conventional printers support only one emulation, and such printers are often used especially in a one-to-one connection with a host.
On the host side, in order to support the emulation supported by the connected printer, one of the following two methods is used. First, the first method is a method in which the application program itself outputs a control command corresponding to the printer by setting the print environment of the application program in advance based on the type of the printer connected to the host. Then, as a second method, a program called a printer driver having a function of converting print data configured in a format unique to an application program into a specific emulation is replaced with a program corresponding to the type of printer to be output. Is the way.

However, in recent years, an environment in which a plurality of hosts and a plurality of printers are connected and used via a network has become general. This has caused a situation in which a plurality of hosts share one printer. on the other hand,
There are various types of emulation of print data output by the host, and if the printer connected to the network environment as described above only supports one emulation as in the past, the usability will be extremely poor. Has become a reality, and printers that support multiple types of emulation functions have appeared.

In such a printer, one emulation program is always selected from a plurality of supported emulations and executed to process print data. By the way, various methods are adopted as a method of selecting emulation. For example, a method to analyze the transferred print data for about the first few tens of bytes and specify the emulation type of the print data to switch automatically, or to configure the data when the host side transfers the print data There is a method of adding a command that can identify the emulation that is present and the printer switching the emulation by this command.

The former has an advantage that the emulation can be automatically switched, but on the other hand, it often happens that the emulation of a similar command system is erroneously judged, and a correct print result cannot be obtained unless an accurate emulation is selected. Occurs. On the other hand, in the latter method,
Accurate emulation switching is possible and printing problems do not occur.

[0006]

However, in the latter method, when the emulation switching command is transferred from the host side every time when the print data is transferred, the emulation switching process on the printer side and the initialization process accompanying it are performed. As a result, the problem occurs that the print processing speed decreases. The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and when transferring print data to a printer having a plurality of emulations, it is possible to eliminate unnecessary emulation switching processing on the printer side. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing system capable of increasing the printing processing speed and a printing apparatus used for the information processing system.

[0007]

In order to achieve this object, an information processing system according to a first aspect of the present invention is provided with a plurality of types of emulation, and printing capable of switching operation of active emulation by an emulation switching command from the outside. An information processing system that is connected to a device via an interface capable of bidirectional communication, and is capable of operating an application program, and data conversion means for converting print data output from the application program into emulation corresponding to the printing device. An acquisition unit that acquires active emulation information in the printing device; a determination unit that determines whether or not the emulation to be converted by the data conversion unit and the active emulation of the printing device acquired by the acquisition unit match; Judgment The emulation switching command issuing means for issuing the emulation switching command only when it is determined that the two emulations do not match at the stage, and the output from the emulation switching command issuing means and the output from the data converting means are transferred to the printing device. And a data transfer means for performing the same. Further, the printing apparatus used in the information processing system according to claim 2 comprises sending means for sending the currently set active emulation information when an inquiry about active emulation in the printing apparatus is made before transmission of print data. It is a thing.

[0008]

In the information processing system having the above-mentioned structure, the data converting means converts the print data output by the operating application program instructing the printing into the emulation corresponding to the specific printing apparatus. On the other hand, the acquisition unit acquires from the printing device the emulation information that is currently active in the connected printing device. As a result, the determining unit uses the print data issued from the emulation switching command issuing unit only when it determines that the active emulation in the printing device does not match the emulation of the print data in the data converting unit. The data transfer means transfers the command for switching to the emulation to the printing device prior to the transfer of the print data or together with the print data. Therefore, it is possible to omit useless processing such as initialization processing accompanying unnecessary emulation switching on the printing apparatus side. Further, in the printing apparatus used in the information processing system according to claim 2 of the present invention, in response to the inquiry of the active emulation set in the printing apparatus, the sending means makes an inquiry before the print data is transmitted. respond. As a result, the acquisition unit acquires the emulation information, and the information processing system performs the above operation.

[0009]

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 block diagram showing an information processing system 3 including an information processing apparatus 1 according to this embodiment and a printing apparatus (printer) 2 that performs a printing process. In the figure, an information processing device 1 functions as a host computer, and a central processing unit (CPU) 4 controls the whole thereof. The ROM 5 stores control programs for the CPU 4, character patterns corresponding to various character codes, and the like. RA
M6 temporarily stores data and loads a program. A ROM 5, a RAM 6, a CRT display device 7, a keyboard 8 for inputting various information, and an external storage device 9 are connected to the CPU 4 via a bus line. The external storage device 9 includes an application program P1 that operates in the information processing apparatus 1, a print manager program (hereinafter simply referred to as a print manager) P2 that performs print data spooling and print control when printing is executed, and an application program P1. A printer driver program (hereinafter, simply referred to as a printer driver) P3 having a function of converting the print data of the above into an emulation program or acquiring the status of the connected printer, and a device driver program (hereinafter, referred to as a printer driver program) for controlling the transfer of the print data (hereinafter, referred to as a printer driver). P4 and a storage medium for storing various data, such as a hard disk drive or a CD-ROM.
Further, the information processing device 1 includes the external interface control unit 10
And the printer 2 through the bidirectional interface 19.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the printer 2 used in the information processing system 3 of the present invention. Examples of the printer 2 used in the present invention include a laser printer and an inkjet printer. The printer 2 is a central processing unit (C) that controls the entire printer device.
PU) 11 and the information processing apparatus 1, that is, a host interface control unit 12 that bidirectionally transmits and receives data to and from the host computer, and a program that defines control of the CPU 11 and control and operation of the entire printer apparatus. The ROM 13, the RAM 14 for loading various emulation programs and storing work or data during program execution, the engine interface 15 for exchanging status and print data with the engine 18, and the error of the printer 2 It is provided with a panel 16 for displaying the status and state and for performing various settings such as interface selection and paper size selection, and a font ROM 17 storing character shapes, dictionaries and the like.
In the ROM 13, in addition to the control program of the printer 2 as described above, for example, a program that defines the operations of the three types of printer emulations E1, E2, and E3, and a program that selects one emulation from these emulations. E0 is stored.
The selection method of emulation is designed so that the emulation switching program can be switched by designating on the panel 16 or by an emulation switching command from the information processing apparatus 1.

Next, an outline of the operation of the printing process in the information processing system 3 of the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the print processing process in this embodiment. R of information processing device 1
One or a plurality of application programs P1 stored in the external storage device 9 are loaded and executed in the AM6. When a print request is issued from one of these, the print data is passed to the print manager P2 via the operating system (not shown) stored in the ROM 5 or the external storage device 9 of the information processing apparatus 1. (S1). The print manager P
The print data transferred to the printer driver P3 is converted into emulation interpreted by the printer 2 by the data conversion function (data converter) of the printer driver P3, and the converted print data is once held in the external storage device 9 and is stored in the print manager. It is managed by P2 (S2). The print manager P2 (transfer means) uses the device driver P4 to print this print data to the host interface controller 1
The data is transferred to the printer 7 via the bidirectional interface 19 controlled by 2. However, prior to that, the print manager P2 establishes a connection between the information processing apparatus 1 and the printer 2 (S3). That is, in order to transfer the print data from the information processing apparatus 1 to the printer 2 via the bidirectional interface 19, the bidirectional interface control device is initialized and transfer conditions are set.

As a method of establishing the connection of the bidirectional interface 19 as shown in this embodiment, a predetermined connection confirmation command is transferred from the information processing apparatus 1 side to the printer 2 and the response of the printer 2 to this is sent. The method of checking is taken. After the connection is confirmed, the print manager P2 inquires about the error status of the printer 2 (S4). The error status is, for example, a state in which the printer 2 cannot execute print processing, such as running out of paper or paper jam. Here, when an error of the printer 2 is detected (YES in S5), the error information and the method for dealing with it are displayed on the CRT display device 7 (S6) to urge the operator to perform the error canceling process. Next, after confirming that the printer 2 is ready to print (NO in S5), the print manager P2
Inquires (acquires) the emulation information currently selected (set) by the printer 2 (S7). At this time, the printer 2 checks what the set emulation is, and determines the type of the emulation via the bidirectional interface 19.
Send to

In response to the response of the printer 2 to this inquiry, it is determined whether the printer emulation to be converted by the currently selected printer driver P3 and the active emulation currently set in the printer 2 match. Yes (S8). As a result of the determination, if the two emulations do not match (S
8 is NO), an emulation switching command is issued and transferred to the printer 2 before the transfer of print data (S).
9). Then, all print data is sequentially transferred to the printer 2 (S10). On the other hand, if it is determined in S8 that the two emulations match (YES in S8).
S), all the print data is sequentially transferred to the printer 2 without transferring the emulation switching command (S
10). The acquisition of emulation information in S7, the determination of emulation in S8, and the issuance of the emulation switching command in S9 are performed by the processing of the CPU 4, and the CPU 4 corresponds to these functional means.

Next, the processing operation on the printer 2 side will be described with reference to FIG. Here, as an example, an emulation switching operation when the emulation currently being executed by the printer 2 is the emulation E1 and the data to be transferred next is the emulation E2 will be described. In the printer 2, the data received from the information processing device 1
The data is temporarily stored in the reception buffer provided in the RAM 14.
The data analysis unit of the emulation E1 sequentially reads the input data from the reception buffer and performs a process (S21.
S23). When the data analysis unit detects an emulation switching command in the data acquired from the reception buffer (YES in S22), it determines whether or not there is a print task in process (S24), and prints that are already in process. If there is a task (YES in S24), the task is processed and discharged, or the task is discarded (S25). When the processing of the existing task is completed (NO in S24) or when there is no print task currently being processed, the following processing is performed to execute the emulation switching processing.

First, the emulation E1 selects an erasable work memory or data used and discards it. Also, the process for terminating the emulation such as undoing the changes to the resources shared by the different emulations and correcting the management information of these resources is executed (S26). Next, the emulation selection program E0 sets the emulation E2, which is a new emulation specified by the emulation switching command sent from the information processing apparatus 1, to R.
Read from the OM13, the emulation E2 executes an initialization process to maintain its own operating environment (S2).
7). That is, initialization of parameters used by the emulation E2, securing of a work area, checking of existing resources, etc. are executed. After the initialization process is completed, the emulation E2 is executed (S28), and the printer 2 starts the printing operation accordingly. The data analysis unit of the emulation E2 sequentially fetches print data from the reception buffer of the RAM 14 and executes print processing (S21 and S2).
3).

According to the information processing system 3 and the printer 2 used therein according to the above-described embodiment, the printer 2 has a plurality of emulation functions and detects the active emulation of the printer 2 during printing. Since the emulation switching command is transmitted only when the detected emulation does not match the emulation to which print data is to be transmitted, the printer 2 does not perform unnecessary emulation switching processing, and printing is not performed. Processing speed increases.

The present invention can be variously modified without being limited to the configuration of the above embodiment. For example, the external storage device 9 storing various programs may use internal storage means instead. Further, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to the case where a plurality of information processing apparatuses 1 are connected to one printing apparatus 2.

[0018]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the information processing system according to claim 1 and the printing device used in the information processing system according to claim 2, a printing device equipped with a plurality of emulation functions is provided. When printing with, the emulation currently active on the printing device is detected, and the detected emulation is
Since the emulation switching command is transmitted only when the emulation to which print data is going to be sent does not match, the printing device does not perform unnecessary emulation switching processing, and the printing processing speed can be improved. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer of the information processing system according to the present exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure when there is a print request in the information processing system of this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure on the printer side in the information processing system according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Information Processing Device 2 Printer 3 Information Processing System 4 CPU 5 ROM 9 External Storage Device 10 External Interface Control Unit 19 Bidirectional Interface P2 Printer Manager Program (Transfer Means) P3 Printer Driver Program (Data Conversion Means)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of types of emulation are installed,
In addition, in an information processing system that is connected to a printing apparatus capable of active emulation switching operation by an external emulation switching instruction via an interface capable of bidirectional communication, and further an application program is operable, output from the application program. Data conversion means for converting print data into emulation corresponding to the printing device, acquisition means for acquiring active emulation information in the printing device, emulation to be converted by the data conversion means, and printing device acquired by the acquisition means Determining means for determining whether or not the two emulations match, and the emulation switching command only if the determining means determines that the two emulations do not match. Information processing characterized by comprising emulation switching command issuing means for issuing a command and data transfer means for transferring the output from the emulation switching command issuing means and the output from the data converting means to the printing device. system. 2. The printing apparatus used in the information processing system according to claim 1, wherein, when an inquiry about active emulation is made in the printing apparatus before transmission of print data, the set active emulation information is displayed. A printing apparatus comprising a sending means for sending.