JPH09284463A - Image output device and communication control method in it - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accelerate processing concerning the output of an image by efficiently obtaining data sent through a telephone line. SOLUTION: A printer 100 is provided with a telephone line interface (modem) 102 and can receive data directly from the telephone line 160 and output an image. At the time of receiving data from the interface 102 through the telephone line 160 when a bi-directional interface (IEEE 1284) is operated in a forward transferring mode, an interface control part 103 controls a bi-directional interface 101 to be transferred to a reverse transferring mode to transmit received data by means of the inter face 102 to a host computer 150 through the interface 101. In addition, received data is supplied for a transmission/ reception buffer 108a by a DMA controller and developed in a developing area 108b to output the image by this.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image output device and a communication control method in the image output device, and more particularly to an image output device controllable by an information processing device and a communication control method in the image output device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a system in which a host computer and a printer are connected, when printing is performed based on data sent through a telephone line, the host computer is equipped with a modem and the modem receives the data. I was transferring data to a printer.

An 8-bit parallel interface (Centronics interface) manufactured by Centronics is widely used as an interface for connecting a host computer and a printer. In addition to transferring data from the host computer to the printer,
A bidirectional parallel interface (Bicentronics interface) capable of transmitting data from a printer to a host computer is becoming popular as an IEEE 1284 standard.

Mode 1 in the IEEE1284 standard
One of them is the ECP mode, which enables bidirectional transfer of 8-bit parallel data. In addition, the IEEE 1284 interface distinguishes whether the information to be transferred is data or a command so that a command such as a status request can be transmitted to the printer so that the host computer can recognize the status of the printer. Has a control signal for The IEEE 1284 interface has a reverse transfer request signal for requesting data transfer from the printer to the host computer, that is, reverse transfer.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, even when it is not necessary to process the data sent via the telephone line in the host computer, the data is supplied to the printer via the host computer. Therefore, the host computer consumes unnecessary time, memory resources, etc. for its processing, which is inefficient.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to efficiently acquire data sent via a communication line and speed up the processing related to image output. .

[0007]

An image output apparatus of the present invention is an image output apparatus that can be controlled by an information processing apparatus, and is connected to a first communication means connected to the information processing apparatus and a communication line. Second communication means, control means for controlling the first communication means so as to transfer the data to the information processing device when the data is received by the second communication means, and the first or the first or second communication means. Image forming means for forming an output image based on the data received by the second communication means.

In the image output apparatus of the present invention, the first
The communication medium including the communication means is capable of bidirectionally transferring data, and the control means controls the second communication when the first communication means can receive data from the information processing device. When the data is received by the means, the transfer direction of the data in the communication medium including the first communication means is reversed, and the data received by the second communication means is transferred to the information processing device. It is preferable to control the communication means.

Further, it is preferable that the image output apparatus of the present invention further comprises selection means for enabling or disabling control of the first communication means by the control means.

Further, in the image output apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the selection means enables or disables the control of the first communication means by the control means based on a user's instruction.

Further, in the image output device of the present invention, it is preferable that the selecting means validates or invalidates the control of the first communication means by the control means based on an instruction from the information processing device. .

In the image output device of the present invention, it is preferable that the first communication means includes a parallel interface.

In the image output device of the present invention, it is preferable that the second communication means includes a modem.

A communication control method in the image output device of the present invention is a communication control method in the image output device controllable by the information processing device, wherein the image output device is
The information processing device includes a first communication unit connected to the information processing device and a second communication unit connected to a communication line, and when data is received by the second communication unit, the data is transmitted to the information processing device. A control step of controlling the first communication unit so that the output image is transferred to the first communication section, and an image forming step of forming an output image based on the data received by the first or second communication section.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment> In a normal state, a bidirectional parallel interface of the IEEE1284 standard (hereinafter, also referred to as a bidirectional interface)
Is in a forward transfer mode that sends data from the host computer to the printer. To shift from the forward transfer mode to the reverse transfer mode (mode for sending data from the printer to the host computer), 2
There are two ways. One is that the host computer shifts to the reverse transfer mode in order to recognize the status of the printer. The other is that when the printer sends data to the host computer, the printer requests the host computer to perform reverse transfer. To do.

FIG. 1 shows an EC of a bidirectional interface.
It is a figure which shows a part of timing standard of reverse transfer mode in P mode. Reverse transfer mode (Reverse
Phase) control is performed by handshaking with the HostAck signal and the PeriphClk signal.

In order to shift from the forward transfer mode to the reverse transfer mode, first, the ReverseReq signal is changed from the high level to the low level, and the host computer is requested to shift to the reverse transfer mode. Say). When the host computer recognizes this request, it sets the AckReverse signal to the low level, thereby shifting to the reverse transfer mode.

The printer of this embodiment has a modem (or is directly connected to the modem), and when data is received via the telephone line by this modem, the printer is
The verseReq signal is set to low level, a reverse transfer request is made to the host computer, and the mode is switched to the reverse transfer mode.

The signal received by the modem is RS232.
It is taken in as C standard serial data and converted into 8-bit parallel data.

After confirming that the AckReverse signal has become low level and the mode has been switched to the reverse transfer mode, the printer sets the PeriphClk signal to low level and uses the above-mentioned converted 8-bit parallel data as Data (1-8). Transfer to. The host computer is
After confirming that the PeriphClk signal has become low level, Data (1 to 8) is fetched and the fact is notified to the printer by setting the HostAck signal to high level.
After confirming that the HostAck signal has become high level, the printer sets the PeriClk signal to high level, thereby ending the 1-byte transfer cycle. This transfer cycle is repeated until the reception of a series of data by the modem is completed.

As described above, the printer transfers the data received via the modem to the host computer via the bidirectional interface, stores the received data sequentially in the receive buffer, and sequentially expands the data in the print buffer. , Print on recording paper.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the printer of this embodiment. The printer 100 includes a host computer 15 via a bidirectional interface 101.
0 is connected to the telephone line 160 via the telephone line interface 102.

Reference numeral 101 is a bidirectional interface conforming to the IEEE1284 standard. A telephone line interface 102 transmits and receives data via the telephone line 160. 103 is a bidirectional interface 1
01 and the telephone line interface 102 is an interface control unit. Reference numeral 105 denotes an RO that holds a control program 105a, font data 105b, and the like.
M. Reference numeral 104 denotes a CPU that operates based on a control program stored in the ROM 105 and controls each connected device.

Reference numeral 108 denotes a transmission / reception buffer 108a used as a transmission buffer and a reception buffer, and an expansion area (image memory) for expanding the reception data into image data for output.
R having a work area of the CPU 104 in addition to 108b
AM. 106 is an interface control unit 103
Is a DMA controller for controlling data transfer (DMA transfer) between the RAM 108 and the RAM 108.

Reference numeral 107 is an operation unit for setting printing conditions and the like. A display unit 109 displays the status of the bidirectional interface 101 and the telephone line interface 102, operation modes, error messages, and the like.

Reference numeral 110 denotes a head drive section which drives a recording head for recording an image on a recording medium based on the image data expanded in the expansion area 108b. 111 is
An LF drive unit that drives the paper feed motor. 112 is
A CR drive unit that drives a carriage motor.

The operation of the printer 100 will be described in detail below.
The data received by the bidirectional interface 101 or the telephone line interface 102 is supplied to the interface control unit 103, and the DMA controller 10
DM to the transmission / reception buffer 108a of the RAM 108 by
A is transferred and held.

Based on the control program 105a stored in the ROM 105, the CPU 104 stores the data (for example, the drawing command, the data stored in the transmission / reception buffer 108a).
(Including image data, character code, etc.)
The font data 105b and the like stored in the M105 are referenced, and the font data are sequentially expanded in the expansion area 108b. Also, C
The PU 104, based on the control program 105a, according to the image data expanded on the expansion area 108b, the head drive unit 110, the LF drive unit 111, and the CR drive unit 112.
Is controlled to form and output an image.

When data is received via the telephone line interface 102, the interface control unit 1
Reference numeral 03 sets the bidirectional interface 101 to the reverse transfer mode, supplies the data supplied from the telephone line interface 102 to the transmission / reception buffer 108a, and also supplies the data to the host computer 150 via the bidirectional interface 101. .

FIG. 3 shows a bidirectional interface 101,
3 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration example of a telephone line interface 102 and an interface control unit 103. FIG. In the figure, the bold arrows indicate the data flow, and the thin arrows indicate the control signals.

The data received by the modem 301 is
The data is supplied to the serial / parallel conversion unit 302 via the RS232C cable, converted into 8-bit parallel data, and supplied to the modem reception buffer 303. When the reception data is transferred, the modem reception buffer 303 notifies the arbitration unit 305 of that fact by a control signal.
Upon recognizing this notification, the arbitration unit 305 switches the operation mode to the modem reception mode. With this mode switching, the CPU 104 changes the operation mode displayed on the display unit 109 to the modem reception mode.

In the modem reception mode, the reception data temporarily held in the modem reception buffer 303 is output via the arbitration unit 305, and the DMA controller 10
6, the data is DMA-transferred to the transmission / reception buffer 108a and supplied to the reverse data transfer unit 306. At this time, when the bidirectional interface 101 is operating in the ECP mode, the arbitration unit 305 instructs the reverse request unit 307 to issue a reverse transfer request to the host computer 150. Based on this instruction,
As described above, the reverse request unit 307 sets the ReverseReq signal to low level, issues a reverse transfer request to the host computer 150, and sequentially receives the reception data sequentially held in the modem reception buffer 303 to the host computer 150 according to the transfer cycle described above. Forward.

As described above, the data received directly from the telephone line 160 via the modem 301 is stored in the transmission / reception buffer 108a, is used for image output, and is also transferred to the host computer 150. Therefore,
Compared with a conventional printer that relays data from the telephone line via the host computer 150 and executes printing,
Printing can be executed quickly. Also, the modem 30
By transferring the data received via 1 to the host computer 150 in the reverse transfer mode, the host computer 150 can be made to recognize the content of the data related to printing.

<Second Embodiment> This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that it has a function of selecting whether to transfer the data received via the modem 301 to the host computer 150. It was added.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration example of the bidirectional interface 101, the telephone line interface 102, and the interface control unit 103 of this embodiment. The parts having the same functions as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. The printer 100 according to the present embodiment includes, in the interface control unit 103, a selection unit 309 that selects whether to transfer the data received via the modem 301 to the host computer 150.

The selection unit 309 is, for example, a control signal supplied from a changeover switch (not shown) in the operation unit 107,
Commands from the host computer 150, modem 3
Based on the control signal 401 indicating the result of the analysis of the data received via 01 by the CPU 104, the modem 30
Data received by the host computer 150
Decide whether to transfer to.

According to the present embodiment, when data is received by the modem 301, it can be arbitrarily set whether or not to transfer the data to the host computer 150. Therefore, data not required on the host computer 150 side can be obtained. It is possible to prevent the delay of other processing due to the supply to the host computer 150.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (or CPU) of the system or the apparatus.
And MPU) read and execute the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, 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, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize 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, It goes without saying that a case where the CPU or the like included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs some or all of the actual processing and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is also included.

[0045]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to efficiently acquire the data transmitted via the communication line and speed up the process related to the output of the image.

[0046]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a part of a timing standard of a reverse transfer mode in an ECP mode of a bidirectional interface.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a printer according to first and second embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a bidirectional interface 1 according to the first embodiment.
10 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration example of 01, a telephone line interface 102, and an interface control unit 103. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a bidirectional interface 1 according to the second embodiment.
10 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration example of 01, a telephone line interface 102, and an interface control unit 103. FIG.

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Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. An image output device controllable by an information processing device, comprising: first communication means connected to the information processing device; second communication means connected to a communication line; and second communication means. When the data is received by the means, the control means for controlling the first communication means so as to transfer the data to the information processing device, and output based on the data received by the first or second communication means An image output device comprising: an image forming unit that forms an image. 2. A communication medium including the first communication means is capable of bidirectionally transferring data, and the control means sets the first communication means in a state in which the data can be received from the information processing device. When data is received by the second communication means at a certain time, the transfer direction of the data in the communication medium including the first communication means is reversed, and the data received by the second communication means is processed by the information processing. The image output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first communication unit is controlled so as to transfer to the apparatus. 3. The image output device according to claim 1, further comprising a selection unit that enables or disables the control of the first communication unit by the control unit. 4. The image output device according to claim 3, wherein the selection unit enables or disables the control of the first communication unit by the control unit based on a user's instruction. 5. The selection unit enables or disables the control of the first communication unit by the control unit based on an instruction from the information processing device. Image output device. 6. The image output device according to claim 1, wherein the first communication unit includes a parallel interface. 7. The image output device according to claim 1, wherein the second communication unit includes a modem. 8. A communication control method in an image output device controllable by an information processing device, wherein the image output device comprises a first communication unit connected to the information processing device and a second communication unit connected to a communication line. And a control step of controlling the first communication unit so as to transfer the data to the information processing device when the second communication unit receives the data. An image forming step of forming an output image based on the data received by the second communication section, and a communication control method. 9. A communication medium including the first communication unit is capable of bidirectionally transferring data, and the control step includes a state in which the first communication unit can receive data from the information processing device. When data is received by the second communication unit at a certain time, the transfer direction of the data in the communication medium including the first communication unit is reversed, and the data received by the second communication unit is processed by the information processing. The communication control method according to claim 8, wherein the first communication unit is controlled so as to transfer to the device. 10. The communication control method according to claim 8, further comprising a selection step of enabling or disabling control of the first communication unit by the control step. 11. The communication control method according to claim 10, wherein the selection step enables or disables the control of the first communication unit by the control step based on a user's instruction. 12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the selection step enables or disables the control of the first communication unit by the control step based on an instruction from the information processing device. Communication control method. 13. The communication control method according to claim 8, wherein the first communication unit includes a parallel interface. 14. The communication control method according to claim 8, wherein the second communication unit includes a modem.