JPH09219762A - Information processor, printing device, printing system and method for processing data of printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To drastically shorten a printing processing time by reducing data transfer quantity between an information processor and a printing device. SOLUTION: When the transfer unit of error control information [error control code (parity, etc.)] added to transfer data to be transferred to a printer 1500 is decided, based on resource information (data transfer processing speed information, etc.), CPU 1 calculates first error control information of transfer data at every decided transfer unit, the calculated first error control information is added to transfer data so as to be transferred to the printer 1500 with a printer controller 8.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with an information processing apparatus and a printing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, a printing apparatus, a printing system, and a data processing method of the printing system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a printing system in which an information processing apparatus, for example, a host computer and a printing apparatus can communicate with each other via a predetermined communication medium, error control of print data sent from the host computer is performed by, for example, data 1b.
The parity bit in units of yte (evenparity, odd parit
y) was added.

For example, in asynchronous serial data transmission, a method of adding a parity bit to the end of a data bit is generally used when transferring 1-byte data.

[0004]

In the error control of print data in the conventional print control apparatus, conventionally, it is necessary to send an error control code (parity bit) to the printer at the same time every 1 byte for print data. Therefore, there is a problem that the overall transfer data amount to be transferred from the information processing device to the printing device is large and the transmission efficiency is reduced.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the first to eleventh aspects of the present invention is to provide transfer data to be transferred from an information processing device to a printing device. By changing the transfer unit of the error control information to be added to reduce the amount of error control information occupied in the transfer data and by reducing the transfer error determination process of the transfer data, the data between the information processing device and the printing device can be reduced. An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus, a printing apparatus, a printing system, and a data processing method of the printing system, which can reduce the transfer amount and greatly reduce the printing processing time.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a printing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, an acquisition unit for acquiring resource information from the printing apparatus, Determining means for determining a transfer unit of error control information to be added to transfer data to be transferred to the printing device based on the resource information; and a first transfer data for each transfer unit determined by the determining means. Of the error control information, and a transfer control means for adding the first error control information calculated by the first calculation means to the transfer data and transferring the transfer data to the printing device. It is provided.

In a second aspect of the present invention, the determining means sets the transfer unit of the first error control information in block units according to the transfer mode of the transfer data.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the determining means sets the transfer unit of the first error control information to a line unit for raster scanning at the time of printing by the printing apparatus which processes the transfer data. is there.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the determining means makes the transfer unit of the first error control information variable based on the print mode of the transfer data.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the determining means makes the unit of the first error control information variable based on the resource information acquired from the printing device.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in a printing apparatus capable of communicating with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, each time transfer data in a transfer unit determined by the information processing apparatus is received, Second calculating means for calculating second error control information for the transfer data, the second error control information calculated by the second calculating means, and first error control information added to the transfer data. And a control means for controlling the processing of the transfer data received from the information processing apparatus.

In a seventh aspect of the present invention, the control means notifies a reception error when it is determined that the second error control information and the first error control information do not match. is there.

In an eighth aspect of the present invention, the transfer unit is a block unit according to the transfer mode of the transfer data.

In a ninth aspect of the present invention, the transfer unit is a line unit for processing the transfer data, raster scanning, and printing.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in a printing system in which a printing device and an information processing device can communicate with each other via a predetermined communication medium, an acquisition means for acquiring resource information from the printing device, and the printing. Determining means for determining a transfer unit of error control information to be added to transfer data to be transferred to a device based on the resource information; and a first error of the transfer data for each of the transfer units determined by the determining means. Information including first calculation means for calculating control information, and transfer control means for adding the first error control information calculated by the first calculation means to the transfer data and transferring the transfer data to the printing apparatus. A second calculation of second error control information for the transfer data every time the transfer data of the transfer unit determined by the processing device and the information processing device is received.
Calculation means and the second calculation means calculated by the second calculation means.
And a control unit that controls the processing of the transfer data received from the information processing apparatus by comparing and determining the error control information of the first transfer control information and the first error control information added to the transfer data. Is to have.

An eleventh aspect of the present invention is a data processing method of a printing system in which a printing device and an information processing device can communicate with each other via a predetermined communication medium, and an acquisition step of acquiring resource information from the printing device. And a determining step of determining a transfer unit of error control information to be added to transfer data to be transferred to the printing device based on the acquired resource information, and a transfer unit of the transfer data for each of the determined transfer units. A first calculation step of calculating first error control information; a transfer step of adding the calculated first error control information to the transfer data and transferring the transfer data to the printing apparatus; A second calculation step of calculating second error control information for the transfer data each time the transfer data of the determined transfer unit is received, the calculated second error control information and the transfer data. And a data processing step of processing the transfer data received from the information processing device based on a result of the collation determination, and a collation step of collating and determining the first error control information added to the data. is there.

[0017]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the determining unit determines the transfer unit of the error control information to be added to the transfer data to be transferred to the printing device, based on the resource information, each of the determined transfer units is determined. First calculation means calculates the first error control information of the transfer data, adds the calculated first error control information to the transfer data, and the transfer control means transfers it to the printing device. Thus, it is possible to arbitrarily determine the delimiter for determining the transfer error of the transfer data and reduce the error control information amount occupying the total transfer data amount transferred to the printing apparatus.

In the second invention, the deciding means sets a transfer unit of the first error control information as a block unit according to a transfer mode of the transfer data, and sets a delimiter for determining a transfer error of the transfer data. By determining the unit, it is possible to reduce the amount of error control information in the total amount of transfer data transferred to the printing apparatus.

In the third invention, the transfer unit of the first error control information is a line unit which is raster-scanned at the time of printing by the printing apparatus which processes the transfer data.
It is possible to reduce the error control information amount in the total amount of transfer data transferred to the printing device by determining the delimiter for determining the transfer error of the transfer data in units of lines scanned by the printing device in raster scanning. And

In the fourth invention, the determining means is
The transfer unit of the first error control information is made variable based on the print mode of the transfer data, and it is possible to determine the optimum transfer unit for the selected print mode.

In the fifth invention, the determining means is
The unit of the first error control information is made variable on the basis of the resource information acquired from the printing apparatus, and it is possible to determine the optimum transfer unit for the resource environment of the printing apparatus.

In the sixth invention, when the second calculating means calculates the second error control information for the transfer data every time the transfer data of the transfer unit determined by the information processing device is received, The calculated second error control information and the first error control information added to the transfer data are collated and determined, and the control unit controls the processing of the transfer data received from the information processing device. Thus, it is possible to perform print processing while reducing the number of transfer error collation processings for all transfer data received from the information processing apparatus.

In the seventh invention, the control means is
When it is determined that the second error control information and the first error control information do not match, a reception error is notified,
It is possible to reliably notify the information processing device of a transfer error occurrence state.

In the eighth invention, the transfer unit is
As a block unit according to the transfer mode of the transfer data, the transfer error can be efficiently collated and determined in the block unit determined by the information processing apparatus side.

In the ninth invention, the transfer unit is
As a line unit when processing the transfer data and performing raster scanning and printing, a transfer error is efficiently collated and determined by the line unit when the raster scanning is performed at the time of printing of the printing device determined by the information processing device side. It is possible.

In the tenth aspect, when the determining unit determines the transfer unit of the error control information to be added to the transfer data to be transferred to the printing device based on the resource information, each of the determined transfer units is determined. First calculation means calculates the first error control information of the transfer data, adds the calculated first error control information to the transfer data, and the transfer control means transfers it to the printing device. When the second calculating means calculates the second error control information for the transfer data every time the transfer data of the transfer unit determined by the information processing device is received, the calculated second error control information is calculated. Is compared with the first error control information added to the transfer data, the control means controls the processing of the transfer data received from the information processing device, and the transfer error of the transfer data is transferred. Transfer error collation processing for all transfer data received from the information processing device while reducing the error control information amount to the total transfer data amount transferred to the printing device by arbitrarily determining the delimiter for determining It is possible to perform print processing while reducing the number of times.

In the eleventh aspect, resource information is acquired from the printing device, and a transfer unit of error control information to be added to transfer data transferred to the printing device is determined based on the acquired resource information. Then, if the first error control information of the transfer data is calculated for each of the determined transfer units, and the calculated first error control information is added to the transfer data and transferred to the printing apparatus. Each time the transfer data of the transfer unit determined by the information processing device is received, second error control information for the transfer data is calculated, and the second error control information and the transfer data are added to the calculated second error control information. The transfer data received from the information processing device is processed based on the result of the collation determination, and the transfer error of the transfer data is determined. The number of transfer error collation processes for all transfer data received from the information processing device is reduced while reducing the error control information amount occupying the total transfer data amount transferred to the printing device by arbitrarily determining a break for the transfer. It is possible to perform print processing while doing so.

[0028]

【Example】

[First Embodiment] Before describing the present embodiment, the configurations of a laser beam printer and an inkjet printer suitable for applying the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

Needless to say, the printer to which this embodiment is applied is not limited to the laser beam printer and the ink jet printer, and may be a printer of another printing method.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing the structure of a first output device to which the present invention can be applied, for example, a case of a laser beam printer.

In the figure, reference numeral 1500 denotes a laser beam printer main body, which inputs and stores print information (character code or the like) supplied from a host computer connected to an external device, form information, or a macro command. Respond according to the information. A character pattern, a form pattern, and the like are created, and an image is formed on a recording medium such as recording paper.

Reference numeral 1501 is a switch for operation and L
Operation panel with ED display etc., 1000 is L
This is a control unit for the entire BP main body 1500. The printer control unit 1000 mainly converts character information into a video signal of a corresponding character pattern and outputs the video signal to the laser driver 1502.

The laser driver 1502 is a semiconductor laser 1
A laser beam 1504 emitted from 503 is switched on and off. The laser beam 1504 is swung left and right by the rotary polygon mirror 1505, and an electrostatic latent image of a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 1506. This electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing unit 1507 provided around the electrostatic drum 1506, and then transferred to a recording sheet. A cut sheet is used as this recording sheet, and the cut sheet recording sheet is stored in a sheet cassette 1508 mounted on the LBP main body 1500. The sheet is taken into the apparatus by the sheet feeding roller 1509, the conveying roller 1510, and the conveying roller 1511 and is supplied to the electrostatic drum 1506.

Further, the LBP main body 1500 is provided with at least one or more card slots (not shown) so that an option card and a control card having a different language can be connected in addition to the built-in font.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing the configuration of a second output device to which the present invention can be applied, for example, the case of an Inkjet recording device (IJRA).

In the figure, the spiral groove 500 of the lead screw 5005 that rotates via the driving force transmission gears 5011 and 5009 in association with the forward and reverse rotations of the drive motor 5013.
Carriage HC engaging with 4 is a pin (not shown)
And is reciprocated in the directions of arrows a and b. A carriage IJC including the ink tank IT and the inkjet head IJH is mounted. A paper pressing plate 5002 presses the paper P against the platen 5000 in the carriage movement direction. The carriage IJC is configured to be capable of reciprocating scanning via a guide roller 5003.

Photocouplers 5007 and 5008 function as home position detecting means for confirming the presence of the lever 5006 of the carriage HC in this area and switching the rotation direction of the drive motor 5013. 50
16 is a cap member 5 for capping the entire surface of the recording head.
A member 5015 for supporting 022 is suction means for sucking the inside of the cap, and performs suction recovery of the recording head through the opening 5023 in the cap. Reference numeral 5017 denotes a cleaning blade which can be moved in the front-rear direction by a member 5019.

Reference numeral 5018 denotes a main body supporting plate which supports the cleaning blade 5017 and the member 5019. 501
2 is a lever for starting suction recovery, which is a carriage H
It moves with the movement of the cam 5020 that engages with C, and the driving force from the driving motor is movement-controlled by a known transmission means such as clutch switching.

The capping, cleaning, and suction recovery are configured such that desired processing can be performed at their corresponding positions by the action of the lead screw 5005 when the carriage HC reaches the home position side area. It may be configured to perform a desired operation at a timing.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram for explaining the control configuration of the printing apparatus shown in FIG.

In the figure, 1700 is an interface for inputting a recording signal, 1701 is an MPU, 1702 is a ROM for storing a control program executed by the MPU 1701 and host print information, and 1703 is a DRAM for storing various data (the above-mentioned recording signal, The recording data supplied to the head) is saved. A gate array (G.1704) controls supply of output data to the print head 1708.
A. ), The interface 1700, the MPU 1701,
Data transfer between the DRAMs 1703 is controlled.

Reference numeral 1710 is a carrier motor for carrying the recording head 1708, 1709 is a carrying motor for carrying the recording paper, and 1705 is the recording head 1708.
, A motor driver for driving the transport motor 1709, and a motor driver for driving the carrier motor 1710.

When input information is input from the host computer 3000, which will be described later, through the interface 1700 in the printing apparatus thus configured, the input information is output between the gate array 1704 and the MPU 1701 for printing. Is converted to. The motor drivers 1706 and 1707 are driven, and the recording head 1708 is driven and executed according to the output information sent to the head driver 1705.

The MPU 1701 is an interface 1
Communication processing with a host computer 3000 to be described later can be performed via the host computer 300, and memory information and resource data related to the DRAM 1703 and host print information in the ROM 1702 can be processed by the host computer
0 is communicable, and any device on the network is communicable.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining the control arrangement of the printing system showing the embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, a laser beam printer (FIG. 1) will be described as an example. As long as the functions of the present invention are executed, the present invention can be applied to a single device, a system including a plurality of devices, or a system in which processing is performed via a network such as a LAN. It goes without saying that the invention can be carried out.

In the figure, reference numeral 3000 denotes a host computer, which executes document processing in which graphics, images, characters, tables (including spreadsheets, etc.) are mixed based on a document processing program stored in the program ROM of the ROM 3. To do C
The CPU 1 has a PU 1 and controls each device connected to the system bus 4 as a whole.

Further, the program ROM of the ROM 3
Stores the control program of the CPU 1 as shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, and the font ROM of the ROM 3 stores the font data and the like used in the document processing. Reference numeral 2 denotes a RAM, which functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like of the CPU 1. A keyboard controller (KBC) 5 controls a key input from a keyboard (KB) 9 or a pointing device (not shown). Reference numeral 6 denotes a CRT controller (CRTC) which controls display on a CRT display (CRT) 10. An external interface controller 7 controls access to an external memory 11 such as a floppy disk (FD).

A hard disk (HD) 12 stores a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, edit files and the like.

8 is a printer controller (PRTC)
A predetermined bidirectional interface (interface)
22 and is connected to the printer 1500 to execute communication control processing with the printer 1500. Note that the CPU 1
Executes the rasterizing process of the outline font to the display information RAM set in the RAM 2, for example, and displays various windows registered based on a command instructed by a mouse cursor (not shown) on the CRT 10. Opens to perform various data processing.

In the printer 1500, 13 is a printer CPU (CPU), which is a program RO in the ROM 14.
Control program or the like stored in M or external memory 2
1 comprehensively controls access to various devices connected to the system bus 15 based on a control program stored in 1 and outputs to a printing unit (printer engine) 17 connected via a printing unit interface 16. An image signal as information is output. The program ROM of the ROM 14 stores the control program of the CPU 13 as shown in the flowcharts of FIGS.

Further, the font ROM of the ROM 14 stores font data and the like used when generating the output information, and the data ROM of the ROM 14 is a printer having no hard disk (HD) 23 or external memory 21. In this case, information and the like used on the host computer 3000 are stored.

The CPU 13 can perform communication processing with the host computer 3000 via the input unit 18, and can notify the host computer 3000 of information and the like in the printer 1500. 19 is CPU
RAM that functions as 13 main memories, work area, etc.
The option RA connected to the expansion port (not shown)
The memory capacity can be expanded by M. The non-volatile memory 24 composed of NVRAM or the like is used as an output information expansion area, environment data storage area, or the like. Access to the external memory 21 configured by the above-mentioned IC card or the like is controlled by the external memory interface 20. The external memory 21 is connected as an option and stores font data, emulation programs, form data and the like. Also, 1501
Is an operation panel described above, on which switches for operation and an LED display are arranged.

The external memory 21 is not limited to one, but at least one is provided, and in addition to the built-in font, an optional font card and a plurality of external memories storing programs for interpreting printer control languages of different languages are provided. It may be configured to be connectable. Further, the printer mode setting information from the operation panel 1501 may be stored in the non-volatile memory 24.

In the printer control system configured as described above, an error control code is added to each block of data transmitted from the host computer 3000, thereby reducing the amount of data to be transmitted and shortening the print processing time of the printer. It is something to reduce.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a printing apparatus applicable to the printing system shown in FIG. 4, and corresponds to the case of the control unit of a laser printer, for example.

In the figure, reference numeral 101 denotes a ROM which stores a printer control program, font data, and other various printer setting values. Reference numeral 102 denotes a RAM, which secures an input buffer IB for storing data received from the host computer 3000, a bit map memory BM for expanding rasterized bit map data, a work memory area, and the like.

Reference numeral 104 denotes a non-volatile memory (Non-Volatile M) for storing data of each setting of the printer 1500.
emory). 105 is a hard disk device (HD)
Stores various font data and format data. 1
Reference numeral 06 denotes a CPU, which executes various control programs and application programs loaded from the ROM 101 or the hard disk device 105 onto the RAM 102 and collectively controls access to various devices connected to the bus.

Reference numeral 107 denotes an operation panel interface section,
It controls I / O to the operation panel 108. Various keys and a display are arranged on the operation panel 108. Reference numeral 109 is a double buffer composed of two buffers, and the access is controlled so that one is reading and the other is writing, and the bitmap data read from the RAM 102 is transferred at high speed.

Reference numeral 110 denotes a serial-to-serial converter which converts data read from the double buffer 109 in word units or byte units into serial data. An interface circuit 111 performs bidirectional communication with the printer engine 112. Reference numeral 113 denotes a host interface control unit (Host
I / F Logic), which calculates the checksum of the data received from the host computer 3000 and adds the checksum to a predetermined unit (for example, a burst transfer block unit or an engine-side printing raster scan line unit). Collate the data with the calculated checksum value. The host computer 3000 side determines the size of the data to which a predetermined error control code is added based on the print processing speed information (stored in the non-volatile memory 24 as resource information) obtained by communication with the printer 1500. It is variably settable.

Correspondence between the present embodiment and each means of the first to tenth inventions and their functions will be described with reference to FIG.

The first aspect of the present invention is an information processing apparatus (host computer 3000) capable of communicating with a printing apparatus (printer 1500) via a predetermined communication medium (two-way interface, infrared wireless interface, network, etc.) to perform the printing. Acquisition means for acquiring resource information from the apparatus (CPU 1 performs acquisition processing from the ROM 3 or hard disk 12, external memory 11 or the like based on a control program loaded in RAM 2), and addition to transfer data to be transferred to the printing apparatus Determining unit (CPU 1) for determining the transfer unit of the error control information to be performed based on the resource information.
ROM3 or hard disk 12, external memory 11
And a first calculating means (CPU1) for calculating the first error control information of the transfer data for each transfer unit determined by the determining means). Calculates based on the control program loaded into the RAM 2 from the ROM 3 or the hard disk 12, the external memory 11, etc.)
And transfer control means for adding the first error control information calculated by the first calculation means to the transfer data and transferring the transfer data to the printing device (CPU 1 is ROM 3 or hard disk 12, external memory 11 to RAM 2 And control via the printer controller 8 based on the control program loaded into the printer 1500) to set the transfer unit of error control information (error control code (parity etc.)) to be added to the transfer data transferred to the printer 1500. When the CPU 1 determines based on the resource information (data transfer processing speed information or the like), the CPU 1 calculates the first error control information of the transfer data for each of the determined transfer units, and the calculated first The error control information of No. 1 is added to the transfer data, and the printer 1500 is sent via the printer controller 8.
It is possible to reduce the amount of error control information occupying the total amount of transfer data transferred to the printing apparatus by arbitrarily determining the delimiter for determining the transfer error of the transfer data.

In the second invention, the CPU 1 sets the transfer unit of the first error control information as a block unit according to the transfer mode of the transfer data, and sets a delimiter for determining a transfer error of the transfer data as a block unit. This makes it possible to reduce the amount of error control information occupying the total amount of transfer data transferred to the printing device.

In a third aspect of the invention, the CPU 1 determines the transfer unit of the first error control information to be a line unit for raster scanning at the time of printing by the printing apparatus that processes the transfer data, and determines a transfer error of the transfer data. It is possible to reduce the error control information amount occupying the total amount of transfer data transferred to the printing device by determining the delimiter for each line for raster scanning by the printing device at the time of printing.

In a fourth invention, the CPU 1 makes the transfer unit of the first error control information variable based on the print mode (high-speed print mode / high-quality print mode) of the transfer data, and selects the print mode. It is possible to determine the optimum transfer unit for the.

In a fifth aspect, the CPU 1 makes the unit of the first error control information variable based on the resource information,
It is possible to determine the optimum transfer unit for the resource environment of the printing device.

A sixth invention is an information processing apparatus (host computer 30) via a predetermined communication medium (bidirectional interface, infrared wireless interface, network, etc.).
00) and a printing device (printer 1500) capable of communicating with each other, each time the transfer data of the transfer unit determined by the information processing device is received,
Second calculating unit (printer C
PU13 performs calculation processing based on a control program loaded from the ROM 14 or the hard disk 23, the external memory 21 or the like into the RAM 19), and adds the second error control information calculated by the second calculating means and the transfer data. Control means for controlling the processing of the transfer data received from the information processing device by making a collation determination with the generated first error control information (the printer CPU 13 is the ROM 14 or the hard disk 23, the RAM from the external memory 21 or the like).
19) and the printer CPU 13 calculates the second error control information for the transfer data every time the transfer data of the transfer unit determined by the host computer 3000 is received. Then, the calculated second error control information and the first error control information added to the transfer data are collated and determined to control the processing of the transfer data received from the host computer 3000. It is possible to perform print processing while reducing the number of transfer error verification processes for all transfer data received from the host computer 3000.

In a seventh aspect of the invention, when the printer CPU 13 determines that the second error control information and the first error control information do not match, a notification of a reception error is given by a command or the like, and a transfer error is notified. It is possible to reliably notify the information processing device of the occurrence state.

The eighth aspect of the present invention enables the transfer unit to efficiently collate and determine a transfer error in a block unit determined by the information processing device side as a block unit according to the transfer mode of the transfer data.

In a ninth aspect of the invention, the transfer unit is a line unit when the transfer data is processed and the printer engine 17 raster-scans and prints, when printing by the printing device determined by the information processing device side. It is possible to collate and determine transfer errors efficiently on a line-by-line basis when raster scanning is performed.

A tenth aspect of the present invention is a printing system in which a printing device and an information processing device can communicate with each other via a predetermined communication medium (bidirectional interface, infrared wireless interface, network, etc.), and resource information is sent from the printing device. Acquiring means for acquiring (the CPU 1 performs acquisition processing from the ROM 3 or the hard disk 12, the external memory 11 or the like based on the control program loaded in the RAM 2), and error control information to be added to the transfer data transferred to the printing apparatus. Determining means for determining a transfer unit based on the resource information (CPU 1 is ROM 3 or hard disk 1
2, the determination processing is performed based on the control program loaded from the external memory 11 or the like into the RAM 2), and the first error control information of the transfer data is calculated for each of the transfer units determined by the determining means. Calculation means (CPU1
ROM3 or hard disk 12, external memory 11
And the like) based on the control program loaded into the RAM 2 from the above) and the first error control information calculated by the first calculating means is added to the transfer data and transferred to the printing device. Control means (CPU1 is R
OM3 or hard disk 12, control via the printer controller 8 based on a control program loaded from the external memory 11 to the RAM 2), and transfer data in transfer units determined by the information processing device. A second error control information for the transfer data every time the second error control information is received.
Calculation means (the printer CPU 13 performs calculation processing based on the control program loaded in the RAM 19 from the ROM 14 or the hard disk 23, the external memory 21, etc.)
And the second error control information calculated by the second calculating unit and the first error control information added to the transfer data are collated and determined, and the transfer received from the information processing device. Control means for controlling data processing (printer C
PU13 which controls based on the control program loaded in RAM19 from ROM14 or hard disk 23, external memory 21, etc.)
And the CPU 1 determines a transfer unit of error control information (error control code (parity etc.)) to be added to the transfer data transferred to the printer 1500 based on the resource information (data transfer processing speed information etc.). Then, the CPU 1 calculates the first error control information of the transfer data for each of the determined transfer units, adds the calculated first error control information to the transfer data, and causes the printer controller 8 to operate. When the printer CPU 13 calculates the second error control information for the transfer data every time the transfer data is transferred to the printer 1500 via the printer 1500 and the transfer data in the transfer unit determined by the host computer 3000 is received, the calculated second error control information is calculated. From the host computer 3000, the error control information and the first error control information added to the transfer data are collated and determined. By controlling the processing of the transferred transfer data that is being transmitted, the delimiter for determining the transfer error of the transfer data is arbitrarily determined, and the error control information amount occupying in the total transfer data amount transferred to the printing device is calculated. It is possible to perform print processing while reducing the number of transfer error collation processings for all transfer data received from the information processing apparatus while reducing.

The data processing method of the printing system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the first embodiment of the data processing method of the printing system according to the present invention.
Note that (1) to (11) indicate each step.

First, for example, the host computer 3000
When a print output request is issued from the host computer 3000 to the printer 1500 along with the execution of an application on the side (1), the host computer 3000 causes the data processing capacity of the printer 1500 and the processing speed information of the data communication (such as the initial setting processing of the printer 1500). Non-volatile memory 2 on the RAM 2 of the host computer 3000
The data block size to be transferred at the time of burst data transfer is determined (2).

Next, the host computer 3000 calculates a checksum for each data block size at the time of burst data transfer (3),
Printer 1 with checksum value added to the end of transfer data
Transfer to 500 (4). Next, the printer CPU 13 as the control unit of the printer 1500 receives the data of one data block size, calculates the checksum value (5), and outputs the checksum value (sum value) calculated on the host computer 3000 side. It is judged whether or not they match (6), and if it is judged that they match, the normal print processing is continued (7). Then, the process from step (5) is repeated until the printing of the final page is completed (8).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (6) that they do not match, a reception error is notified to the host computer 3000 by a command or the like (9), and the printer CPU 1
3 clears the contents of the reception buffer (input buffer IB shown in FIG. 5) in the printer 1500 (1
0). Then, since the host computer 3000 starts to retransmit the corresponding page data again (11), the process returns to step (5) and repeats the processing.

Here, the paper transport system of a printer such as a page printer such as LBP has already been started,
If printing is started even if the reception buffer described above is cleared, the page is once printed even if it is a misprint, and then the process of step (11) is executed.

Thus, the host computer 3000
Since a checksum value is added for each data block unit, the amount of checksum data in the data transferred to the printer 1500 can be reduced, and the print processing time can be shortened.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a second embodiment of the data processing method of the printing system according to the present invention. Note that (1) to (11) indicate each step.

First, for example, the host computer 3000
When a print output request is issued from the host computer 3000 to the printer 1500 in response to the execution of the application on the side (1), the host computer 3000 creates data in the raster scan unit of the printer 1500 (2), and the raster scan unit data The parity is calculated for each (3), the calculated parity is added to the end of the transfer data, and the data is transferred to the printer 1500 (4).

Next, the printer CP of the printer 1500
After receiving the data for one scan, U13 calculates the parity (5) and determines whether it matches the parity calculated on the host computer 3000 side (6). , The normal printing process is continued as it is (7). Then, the process from step (5) is repeated until the printing of the final page is completed (8).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (6) that they do not match, the host computer 3000 is notified of a reception error by a command or the like (9), and the printer CPU
13 clears the contents of the reception buffer (input buffer IB shown in FIG. 5) in the printer 1500 (10). Then, since the host computer 3000 starts to retransmit the corresponding page data again (11), the process returns to step (5) and repeats the processing.

Here, the paper transport system of a printer such as a page printer such as LBP has already started.
If printing is started even if the reception buffer described above is cleared, the page is once printed even if it is a misprint, and then the process of step (11) is executed.

As a result, the host computer 3000
Since the parity is added for each data block unit (in this embodiment, the scan line unit of the printer engine), the parity in the data transferred to the printer 1500 can be reduced and the print processing time can be shortened.

Correspondence and operation of each step of the first and second embodiments and the eleventh invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
Etc. will be described.

The eleventh invention is a printing system in which a printing device (printer 1500) and an information processing device (host computer 3000) can communicate with each other via a predetermined communication medium (bidirectional interface, infrared wireless interface, network, etc.). In the data processing method, the acquisition step of acquiring resource information from the printing apparatus (obtained by an initialization setting processing step (not shown)) and the transfer of error control information to be added to the transfer data transferred to the printing apparatus. A determining step of determining a unit based on the acquired resource information (step (2) in FIG. 6 and step (2) in FIG. 7)
And a first calculation step (step (3) in FIG. 6 and step (3) in FIG. 7) of calculating the first error control information of the transfer data for each of the determined transfer units, Transferring step (step (4) in FIG. 6 and step (4) in FIG. 7) of adding the above-mentioned first error control information to the transfer data and transferring to the printing device, and determining by the information processing device A second calculation step (step (5) in FIG. 6 and step (5) in FIG. 7) of calculating second error control information for the transfer data each time the transfer data of the transferred transfer unit is received; A collating step (step (6) in FIG. 6, step (6) in FIG. 7) for collating and judging the calculated second error control information and the first error control information added to the transfer data; Receiving from the information processing device based on the collation determination result That the transfer data processing step for processing the data (FIG. 6, step (7 in FIG. 7), (8)
Alternatively, steps (9) to (11) in FIGS. 6 and 7) are executed to arbitrarily determine a delimiter for determining a transfer error of the transfer data, and all transfer data to be transferred to the printing device. It is possible to perform print processing while reducing the amount of error control information occupying the volume and reducing the number of transfer error collation processes for all transfer data received from the information processing apparatus.

[Third Embodiment] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a third embodiment of the data processing method of the printing system according to the present invention. In addition, (1) to (12) indicate each step.

First, for example, the host computer 3000
When a print output request is issued from the host computer 3000 to the printer 1500 in accordance with the execution of an application on the side (1), the host computer 3000 may allow the user to take some time, for example, for the print processing time by the setting screen of the printer driver or the like. If high-quality printing is performed, or if high-speed printing is performed with priority given to processing time, the selected state is determined (2). If it is determined that the desired high-quality printing is selected, In order to prevent a data communication error, a parity is calculated for each byte of the transfer data, a parity (error control code) is added to the end of the transfer data (3), and the process proceeds to step (5) and thereafter.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step (2) that the desired high-speed printing process is selected, the host computer 3000 adds an error control code to each data block or page in burst transfer (4). ).

Next, when the host computer 3000 starts sending print data to the printer 1500 (5), the printer CPU 13 receives the print data and then verifies the received data (6) to detect a reception error. If it is determined that the reception error is not detected (7), the normal printing process is continued as it is (11). Then, until the printing of the last page is completed (1
2), the process from step (6) is repeated.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step (7) that a reception error has been detected, the reception error is notified to the host computer 3000 (8), and the printer CPU 13 causes the printer CPU 13 to store the reception buffer (input buffer) on the RAM 102 in the printer 1500. The contents of IB) are cleared (9). Then, the host computer 3000 starts transmitting the corresponding page data again (10), and returns to step (6).

Here, the paper transport system of a printer such as a page printer such as LBP has already started.
If printing is started even if the reception buffer is cleared, the page is once printed even if it is a misprint, and then the process of step (11) is executed.

As a result, the host computer 3000
When the user selects the high-speed printing when transferring the print data from the data block unit (in this embodiment,
Since an error control code is added for each scan line or page unit of the printer engine, the printer 15
The error control code in the data transferred to 00 can be reduced, and the print processing time can be shortened.

[Fourth Embodiment] In the third embodiment described above, the size of the data to which the error control code is added is variably controlled based on the selection state of high-speed printing. Data for obtaining the print processing speed information (for example, the time required for drawing processing of a predetermined object (stored in the non-volatile memory)) and adding the error control code based on the print processing speed information May be variably controlled.

As described above, the storage medium recording the program code of the software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MP of the system or apparatus is supplied.
It goes without saying that the object of the present invention is also achieved when U) reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, C
DR, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, RO
M, EEPROM and the like can be used.

Further, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by executing the program code read by the computer, but also the OS (operating system) running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code. It goes without saying that this also includes the case where the above) performs a part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, The CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs a part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single 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. In this case, by reading a storage medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the present invention into the system or apparatus, the system or apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention. .

Further, by downloading and reading the program represented by the software for achieving the present invention from the database on the network by the communication program, the system or apparatus can be
It is possible to enjoy the effects of the present invention.

[0102]

As described above, the first embodiment according to the present invention is described.
According to the invention, when the determining unit determines the transfer unit of the error control information added to the transfer data to be transferred to the printing device based on the resource information, the transfer data is determined for each of the determined transfer units. The first error control information of the first
Is calculated by the calculation means, the calculated first error control information is added to the transfer data, and the transfer control means transfers the transfer data to the printing device. Can be arbitrarily determined to reduce the amount of error control information in the total amount of transfer data transferred to the printing apparatus.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the determining means sets the transfer unit of the first error control information in block units according to the transfer mode of the transfer data, and therefore determines the transfer error of the transfer data. It is possible to reduce the amount of error control information in the total amount of transfer data transferred to the printing device by determining the delimiter in block units.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the transfer unit of the first error control information is set to a line unit which is raster-scanned by the printing apparatus which processes the transfer data at the time of printing. It is possible to reduce the amount of error control information occupying the total amount of transfer data transferred to the printing device by determining the delimiter for determination on a line-by-line basis for raster scanning by the printing device during printing.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the determining means makes the transfer unit of the first error control information variable based on the print mode of the transfer data, so that the optimum transfer for the selected print mode is performed. The unit can be determined.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the determining means makes the unit of the first error control information variable based on the resource information acquired from the printing device, so that it is optimal for the resource environment of the printing device. It is possible to determine the appropriate transfer unit.

According to the sixth invention, every time the transfer data of the transfer unit determined by the information processing device is received,
When the second calculating means calculates the second error control information for the transfer data, the calculated second error control information and the first error control information added to the transfer data are collated and determined. Since the control means controls the processing of the transfer data received from the information processing apparatus, it is possible to perform the print processing while reducing the number of transfer error collation processings for all the transfer data received from the information processing apparatus.

According to the seventh invention, when the control means determines that the second error control information and the first error control information do not collate with each other, the control means notifies the reception error. The occurrence state can be reliably notified to the information processing device.

According to the eighth invention, since the transfer unit is a block unit according to the transfer mode of the transfer data, the transfer error can be collated and determined efficiently in the block unit determined by the information processing apparatus side. it can.

According to the ninth aspect, the transfer unit is a line unit when the transfer data is processed, raster-scanned and printed, and therefore, when the printing device determines printing by the information processing device side. The transfer error can be efficiently collated and determined line by line when the raster scanning is performed.

According to the tenth aspect, when the determining unit determines the transfer unit of the error control information to be added to the transfer data to be transferred to the printing device, based on the resource information,
The first calculation means calculates the first error control information of the transfer data for each of the determined transfer units, and the transfer control is performed by adding the calculated first error control information to the transfer data. When the second calculation means calculates the second error control information for the transfer data each time the means transfers the transfer data to the printing device and receives the transfer data in the transfer unit determined by the information processing device, the calculation is performed. Since the second error control information and the first error control information added to the transfer data are collated and determined, the control means controls the processing of the transfer data received from the information processing device. , A delimiter for determining a transfer error of the transfer data is arbitrarily determined to reduce the error control information amount occupying the total transfer data amount transferred to the printing device, and the total transfer data received from the information processing device is reduced. It can be printing process while reducing transfer error verification processing times for the data.

According to the eleventh aspect, the resource information is acquired from the printing device, and the transfer unit of the error control information to be added to the transfer data transferred to the printing device is acquired based on the acquired resource information. Determined, and calculates the first error control information of the transfer data for each of the determined transfer units, adds the calculated first error control information to the transfer data, and transfers the transfer data to the printing device. Then, every time the transfer data of the transfer unit determined by the information processing device is received, the second error control information for the transfer data is calculated, and the calculated second error control information and the transfer data are calculated. The transfer data received from the information processing device is processed on the basis of the judgment result of the added first error control information and the transfer error of the transfer data is judged. The number of transfer error collation processes for all the transfer data received from the information processing device is reduced while reducing the error control information amount in the total transfer data amount transferred to the printing device by arbitrarily determining the division for The print processing can be performed while.

Therefore, the amount of data transfer between the information processing device and the printing device can be reduced, and the printing processing time can be greatly shortened.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a first output device to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing the configuration of a second output device to which the present invention can be applied.

3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the printing apparatus illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of a printing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus applicable to the printing system illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a first embodiment of the data processing method of the printing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a second embodiment of the data processing method of the printing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a third embodiment of the data processing method of the printing system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CPU 2 RAM 3 ROM 8 printer controller 13 printer CPU 14 ROM 19 RAM 24 non-volatile memory 1500 printer 3000 host computer

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a printing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, an acquisition unit for acquiring resource information from the printing apparatus, and an error added to transfer data transferred to the printing apparatus. Determining means for determining a transfer unit of control information based on the resource information, and first calculating means for calculating the first error control information of the transfer data for each of the transfer units determined by the determining means, An information processing apparatus comprising: a transfer control unit that adds the first error control information calculated by the first calculation unit to the transfer data and transfers the transfer data to the printing apparatus. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determining unit sets a transfer unit of the first error control information to a block unit according to a transfer mode of the transfer data. 3. The determining unit sets the transfer unit of the first error control information to a line unit which is raster-scanned by the printing apparatus which processes the transfer data at the time of printing. Information processing equipment. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determining unit makes a transfer unit of the first error control information variable based on a print mode of the transfer data. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determining unit makes a unit of the first error control information variable based on the resource information acquired from the printing apparatus. 6. A printing apparatus capable of communicating with an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, each time receiving transfer data of a transfer unit determined by the information processing apparatus, a second error for the transfer data. Second to calculate control information
Calculation means and the second calculation means calculated by the second calculation means.
Of the error control information and the first error control information added to the transfer data are collated and determined, and control means for controlling the processing of the transfer data received from the information processing device is provided. Characteristic printing device. 7. The control means notifies a reception error when it is determined that the second error control information and the first error control information do not match. Printing device. 8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the transfer unit is a block unit according to a transfer mode of the transfer data. 9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the transfer unit is a line unit when the transfer data is processed, raster-scanned, and printed. 10. In a printing system in which a printing device and an information processing device can communicate with each other via a predetermined communication medium, an acquisition unit that acquires resource information from the printing device and transfer data to be transferred to the printing device. Determining unit for determining a transfer unit of error control information to be added based on the resource information, and a first error control information of the transfer data for each of the transfer units determined by the determining unit. An information processing apparatus including: a calculation unit; and a transfer control unit that adds the first error control information calculated by the first calculation unit to the transfer data and transfers the transfer data to the printing apparatus; Each time the transfer data of the transfer unit determined by the above is received, the second calculating means for calculating the second error control information for the transfer data, and the second calculating means for calculating the second error control information. First by matching determination and error control information added to the transfer data and the second error control information,
A printing system comprising: a printing device including a control unit that controls processing of the transfer data received from the information processing device. 11. A data processing method of a printing system in which a printing apparatus and an information processing apparatus can communicate with each other via a predetermined communication medium, an acquisition step of acquiring resource information from the printing apparatus, and a transfer to the printing apparatus A determining step of determining a transfer unit of error control information to be added to transfer data based on the acquired resource information, and calculating first error control information of the transfer data for each of the determined transfer units. A first calculating step, a transfer step of adding the calculated first error control information to the transfer data and transferring the transfer data to the printing apparatus, and transfer data in a transfer unit determined by the information processing apparatus A second calculation step of calculating the second error control information for the transfer data each time the message is received, and the calculated second error control information and the first error added to the transfer data. Data processing of a printing system, comprising: a collation step of collating and determining error control information; and a data processing step of processing the transfer data received from the information processing device based on the collation determination result. Method.