JPH08272556A - Printing device and its method, information processor and its method and printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent printing processing to go against the grain in the case where after a host computer changes the setting of a printing device, the setting is changed further by another host computer before the printing processing corresponding to the previous setting is executed. CONSTITUTION: In a step S404, it is judged whether received data is a control command to request the change of the setting or printing data. In the case of the control command, a flag to show whether the setting is changed before or not is investigated, and if the flag is erected, in the step S409, a warning is displayed in order not to change the setting again. On the other hand, if the flag is not erected, a process is advanced to the step S406, and it is judged whether the setting to be changed is equal to the setting of default or not, and if it is not equal, in the steps S407, S408, the setting is changed and the flag is set.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print control apparatus and method, an information processing apparatus and method, and a printing system, and more particularly to print control on a network in which a plurality of information processing apparatuses share a printing apparatus. And information processing and printing systems.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a plurality of host computers share a printing device on a network, the setting of the printing device has been freely performed by each host computer.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, even if the setting of the printing apparatus is changed, only the changed host computer can know the fact of the change, so avoiding unintentional printing. Therefore, each time the print data is output, predetermined setting information must be supplied to the printing device in advance, or the user of the host computer that has made the change must reset the settings each time. . Further, if a reset command or the like is inserted before and after the print data in this manner, there is a possibility that the contents set immediately before that by another host computer and the next print processing may be affected.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention, when a host computer changes a setting of a printing apparatus, to reduce the influence of the change on the printing process of another host computer. And

Further, after the host computer changes the setting of the printing apparatus and before the corresponding print processing is executed, the unintentional print processing when the setting is further changed by another host computer is prevented. The purpose is to do.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] and

In order to solve the above problems, a printing apparatus according to the present invention is a printing control apparatus for controlling a printing apparatus, which recognizes an instruction to change a predetermined setting, and a recognition means for recognizing the instruction. Changing means for changing the predetermined setting to another setting, flag means for changing the flag according to the setting change by the changing means and the print processing of the print data, and when the recognizing means recognizes the command, A print processing corresponding to the flag after the host computer changes the setting of the printing device, characterized by comprising a judging means for judging the state of the flag and a stopping means for stopping the printing processing according to the judgment result of the judging means. It is possible to prevent an unintended printing process when the setting is changed by another host computer before the execution of.

A print control device for controlling the printing device, the recognition means recognizing an instruction to change a predetermined setting, and a changing means for changing the predetermined setting to another setting in accordance with the instruction. Registering means for registering first identification information of the host computer included in the command;
Determination information for determining the identity of the identification information of the host computer and the second identification information of the host computer included in the print data,
And a stop unit that stops the print processing according to the determination result of the determination unit, and when the host computer changes the setting of the printing apparatus, the change has an influence on the print processing of another host computer. Is reduced,
Further, after the host computer changes the setting of the printing apparatus and before the corresponding print processing is executed, it is possible to prevent the print processing which is against the intention when the setting is changed by another host computer.

Further, the information processing apparatus according to the present invention corresponds to a control command for changing the setting of the printing apparatus, a first identification code adding means for adding an identification code indicating an attribute of the change, and the control command. A second identification code adding means for adding the same identification code as the identification code to the print data to be printed, when the setting of the printing apparatus is changed, the change is related to another host computer. The impact on print processing is reduced, and even if you change the setting of the printing device and before the corresponding print processing is executed, the printing is changed inadvertently by another host computer. Processing is prevented.

A print control method according to the present invention is a print control method for controlling a printing apparatus, which comprises a recognition step of recognizing a command to change a predetermined setting, and the predetermined setting according to the command. A changing step of changing to another setting, a flag controlling step of changing a flag according to the changing step, and a print process of print data, and a state of the flag is determined when the recognizing step recognizes the command. A determination step and a stop step of stopping the print processing according to the determination result of the determination step are provided, and after the host computer changes the setting of the printing device and before the corresponding print processing is executed. Further, it is possible to prevent the print processing against the intention when the setting is changed by another host computer.

A printing control method for controlling a printing apparatus, which comprises a recognition step of recognizing a command to change a predetermined setting, and a changing step of changing the predetermined setting to another setting in accordance with the command. A registration step of registering first identification information of the host computer included in the command,
Determination information for determining the identity of the host computer and the second identification information of the host computer included in the print data,
A stop step of stopping the print processing according to the determination result of the determination step, and when the host computer changes the setting of the printing apparatus, the change has an effect on the print processing of another host computer. Is reduced,
Further, after the host computer changes the setting of the printing apparatus and before the corresponding print processing is executed, it is possible to prevent the print processing which is against the intention when the setting is changed by another host computer. Further, the information processing method according to the present invention includes a first identification code adding step of adding an identification code indicating an attribute of the change to a control command for changing the setting of the printing apparatus, and print data corresponding to the control command And a second identification code adding step of adding the same identification code as the above identification code to the print processing relating to another host computer when the setting of the printing apparatus is changed. This reduces the impact on the printer, and prevents unintentional print processing when the settings are changed by another host computer after changing the settings of the printing device and before the corresponding print processing is executed. To be done.

[0011]

【Example】

[First Embodiment] A preferred first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a network in which a plurality of host computers and printing devices are connected. 201
Reference numerals 203 to 203 denote host computers A, B, and C, respectively, and 204 denotes a printing device. 205 is a communication path connecting them. In the following, the host computer will also be referred to as the host.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the printing apparatus 204.
In the figure, 101 is a print control unit, 102 is a CPU that controls the entire print control unit of 101, 103 is a program ROM that stores a control program, 104 is a font ROM that stores font data, and 105
Is an interface unit connected to a host computer via a communication path, 106 is a work memory used by the CPU 102 as a work area, 107 is a frame memory for expanding image data, and 108 is the print control apparatus 1.
NVRAM, which is a non-volatile memory used to hold various setting states of 01, 109 is a display unit for displaying the current printer state and the set state, and 110 is an image actually printed on a printing sheet. It is a recording unit for.

First, the operation of the print controller 101 in the normal operation mode will be described below. The CPU 102 copies the default setting information stored in the NVRAM 108 onto the work memory when the printing apparatus is started up. After that, the setting information copied on the work memory is used for a series of printing processes.

When the host 201 sends the print data to the printing device 204, the CPU 102 transfers the print data received by the interface unit 105 to the work memory 106 and stores the print data for one page. When the storage of the data of one page is completed, the CPU 102 analyzes the print data, converts it into image data using the font information of the font ROM 104, and creates an image on the frame memory 107. When the analysis of the print data for one page is completed and the development of the image to be printed on the frame memory 107 is completed, the image information is sequentially output to the recording unit 110 and printing is performed on the printing paper. When the output of one page is completed, the process returns to the beginning and a series of processing is repeated.

When the host 202 sends a command to change the setting of the printing device 204, the printing device 2
04 changes the setting information on the work memory.
After this, the printing device 204 is reset, or N
Unless the same setting information as the default setting stored in the VRAM 108 is transmitted and the setting information is reset, the setting does not return to the original setting.

Therefore, if the host 203 changes the printer setting information again immediately after the host 202 changes the setting information of the printing device 204, the print data transmitted by the host 202 is printed according to the setting information set by the host 203. To be done.

Further, when the print information is transmitted from the host 201, even if the user wants to print according to the change of the default setting, the print is performed according to the setting information set by the host 203.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the operation of the host and the printing apparatus when the print data is output according to the above-mentioned unreasonable settings.

As described above, in the normal operation mode, immediately after the setting of the printing apparatus is changed, the host that has made the setting does not always send the print data, and the above-mentioned problem occurs. Occurs.

Next, regarding the control program stored in the program ROM 103 in order to solve the above problems,
This will be described with reference to FIG.

In step S401, when data is received via the interface unit 105, step S401
At 402, the CPU 102 transfers the data to the work memory 106. Then, in step S403, it is determined whether or not the reception data has ended. If the reception is not completed, the processes of steps S401 to S403 are repeated. When the reception is completed, the process proceeds to the next step S404.

In step S404, it is determined whether the received data is a control command for changing the default setting information on the work memory 106 or print data, and if it is a control command, step S405.
If it is print data, the process proceeds to step S411.

In step S405, the state of the change flag indicating that the setting information on the work memory 106 is different from the default value is determined. If the change flag is set, in order not to change the changed setting information further,
In step S409, a warning message indicating that the setting information has already been changed is displayed on the display unit 109, and the processing is stopped. Incidentally, this stop is released by a control command such as a reset command or a hardware reset of the printing apparatus.

On the other hand, if the change flag is not set, the process proceeds to step S406, and it is determined whether the new setting information according to the control command is the same as the default setting information. If the setting information is the same, the series of processes is ended. If the setting information is different, the process proceeds to step S407.

In step S407, a change flag is set.

In the next step S408, the setting information on the work memory 106 is changed, and the series of processing is terminated.

Next, when the print data is received, the processes of steps S401 to S403 are performed as described above. In this case, in step S404, as described above, the process proceeds to step S411.

In step S411, the CPU 102
Analyzes print data, converts it into image data using the font information of the font ROM 104, and creates an image on the frame memory 107.

In step S412, the recording unit 110
Print processing is performed by driving
At 13, it is determined whether the printing process is completed.

When the printing process is completed, step S414
In step S415, the change flag is cleared, and the next step S415 is performed.
At, the setting information on the work memory 106 is returned to the original default setting information.

By performing the control as described above, it is possible to prevent the print information of the host whose default setting of the printing apparatus is changed from being output by another host after the setting is further changed. Become. Further, after the print data of the host in which the default setting of the printing apparatus is changed is subjected to the print processing, the setting is returned to the default setting, so that the subsequent print processing can be correctly executed. [Second Embodiment] Next, a preferred second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the first embodiment, when one host changes the setting, another host does not know the change and, for example, when the printing apparatus supplies the print data with the intention of the default setting, it is intended. The inconvenience that the print data is output due to the setting not to occur. Therefore, in order to solve such a problem, the present embodiment is the same as when supplying the corresponding print data by registering the identification code of the host requesting the change when changing the setting of the printing apparatus. Is supplied together, and the printing process is performed when the two identification codes are the same.

This embodiment shows another embodiment relating to the control program stored in the program ROM 103 in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the flow of processing of the control program stored in the ROM 103.

In step S501, when data is received via the interface section 105, step S501
At 502, the CPU 102 transfers the data to the work memory 106. Then, in step S503, it is determined whether or not the reception data has ended. If the reception is not completed, the processes of steps S501 to S503 are repeated again. When the reception is completed, the process proceeds to the next step S504.

In step S504, it is determined whether the received data is a control command for changing the default setting information on the work memory 106 or print data. If the received data is a control command, step S505 is performed.
If it is print data, the process proceeds to step S509.

In step S505, it is determined whether the control command has a host identification code. As a result, when there is no identification code, the process proceeds to step S508. On the other hand, if there is no identification code, step S50.
Proceed to 6.

In step S506, it is determined whether the setting designated by the control command is the same as the default setting. As a result, if they are the same, the process proceeds to step S508. On the other hand, if they are not the same, the process proceeds to step S507.

In step S507, the identification code of the host whose setting has been changed by the control command is registered in a predetermined area on the work memory.

In step S508, the set value on the work memory 106 is changed in accordance with the control command, and the series of processes is completed.

Next, when the print data is received, the processes of steps S501 to S503 are performed as described above. In this case, in step S504, as described above, the process proceeds to step S509.

In step S509, whether or not the default setting has been changed is checked by determining whether or not the identification code is registered in the predetermined area on the work memory 106. As a result, if the setting has not been changed, the process proceeds to step S511, and if the setting has been changed, the process proceeds to step S510.

In step S510, the identification code attached to the print data is compared with the identification code registered in the predetermined area on the work memory 106. If they are different, the process proceeds to step S516. Is displayed and the process is stopped. Incidentally, this stop is released by a control command such as a reset command or a hardware reset of the printing apparatus. On the other hand, if they are the same, the process proceeds to step S511.

In step S511, the CPU 102
Analyzes print data, converts it into image data using the font information of the font ROM 104, and creates an image on the frame memory 107.

In step S512, the recording unit 110
Print processing is performed by driving
At 13, it is determined whether the printing process is completed.

In step S514, the registered identification code is deleted, and in the next step S515, the setting on the work memory 106 is returned to the default setting information, and the series of processing is ended.

As described above, the host computer adds the identification code to the control command and the print data in order to associate the control command with the print data.

As described above, by attaching the identification code to the control command for changing the setting and the corresponding print information and comparing the two before the print processing, the work memory 10
After changing the default settings on 6 above, it is possible to avoid print processing due to unintended settings when the settings are changed by another host.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

When the host computer changes the setting of the printing apparatus, the influence of the change on the printing process of another host computer is reduced, and after the host computer changes the setting of the printing apparatus, It is possible to prevent an unintentional print process when the setting is changed by another host computer before the corresponding print process is executed.

[0051]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of a printing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a network in which a plurality of hosts share a printing device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation in a normal mode.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the print control apparatus in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the print control apparatus in the second embodiment.

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A print control device for controlling a printing device, comprising: recognition means for recognizing a command to change a predetermined setting; and changing means for changing the predetermined setting to another setting in accordance with the command. A flag unit that changes a flag according to a setting change by the changing unit and a print data printing process; a determining unit that determines a state of the flag when the recognizing unit recognizes the command; A print control device comprising: a stop unit that stops the process according to the determination result of. 2. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second changing unit that changes the other setting to the predetermined setting according to the print processing. 3. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising warning means for issuing a warning according to the determination result. 4. A printing control device for controlling a printing device, comprising: recognition means for recognizing a command to change a predetermined setting; and changing means for changing the predetermined setting to another setting in accordance with the command. A registration unit for registering the first identification information of the host computer included in the command; a determination for determining the identity of the first identification information and the second identification information of the host computer included in the print data. A printing control apparatus comprising: a unit; and a stop unit that stops the printing process according to the determination result of the determination unit. 5. The print control apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a second changing unit that changes the other setting to the predetermined setting according to the print processing. 6. The print control apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising warning means for issuing a warning according to the determination result. 7. A first identification code adding means for adding an identification code indicating an attribute of the change to a control command for changing the setting of the printing device, and the same identification code for print data corresponding to the control command. And a second identification code adding means for adding the identification code of 8. A printing apparatus comprising the print control apparatus according to claim 4, an information processing apparatus according to claim 7, and a communication path connecting the printing apparatus and the information processing apparatus. Characteristic printing system. 9. A printing apparatus comprising the print control apparatus according to claim 5, an information processing apparatus according to claim 7, and a communication path connecting the printing apparatus and the information processing apparatus. Characteristic printing system. 10. A printing apparatus comprising the print control apparatus according to claim 6, an information processing apparatus according to claim 7, and a communication path connecting the printing apparatus and the information processing apparatus. Characteristic printing system. 11. A printing control method for controlling a printing device, comprising: a recognition step of recognizing a command to change a predetermined setting; and a changing step of changing the predetermined setting to another setting in accordance with the command. A flag control step of changing a flag according to the changing step and a print process of print data; a determining step of determining the state of the flag when the recognizing step recognizes the command; and a determining step of the determining step. A printing control method comprising: a stopping step of stopping the processing according to the result. 12. The print control method according to claim 11, further comprising a second changing step of changing the other setting to the predetermined setting according to the print processing. 13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising a warning issuing step of issuing a warning according to the determination result.
Alternatively, the print control method according to claim 12. 14. A printing control method for controlling a printing device, comprising: a recognition step of recognizing a command to change a predetermined setting; and a changing step of changing the predetermined setting to another setting in accordance with the command. A registration step of registering the first identification information of the host computer included in the command, and a determination of determining the identity of the first identification information and the second identification information of the host computer included in the print data. A print control method comprising: a step; and a stop step of stopping the print processing according to the determination result of the determination step. 15. The print control method according to claim 14, further comprising a second changing step of changing the other setting to the predetermined setting in accordance with the print processing. 16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising a warning issuing step of issuing a warning according to the determination result.
Alternatively, the printing control method according to claim 15. 17. A control command for changing a setting of a printing device, wherein a discrimination code indicating an attribute of the change is added to the control command.
And a second identification code adding step of adding the same identification code as the identification code to the print data corresponding to the control command.