JPH1083265A - Print controller and its data processing method, and storage medium stored with computer-readable program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a shift to a state wherein received input data can normally be processed even if the power source is turned off owing to an unexpectable state before a resource needed for print processing received from an information processor side is written normally in a memory resource to the end. SOLUTION: Decision data for deciding the state of data writing to a flash ROM 119 where input data can be written in specific format are held and based on the held decision data, a CPU 114 restores the above input data stored in the flash ROM 119 to the state before data rewriting.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print control device having a secondary storage device for storing data input from an information processing device such as a host computer, a data processing method of the print control device, and a computer readable program. Is related to a storage medium in which is stored.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a page printer, such as a laser beam printer, to which a printer controller of this type can be applied, receives a print data, generates a print image, and controls the entire apparatus. It is composed of a printer engine that actually performs printing.

In this case, a secondary storage device called a flash ROM can be used in the printer control device, and its use is rapidly expanding. The flash ROM is a writable ROM. Normally, data written to the flash ROM is stored in accordance with a format for simplification of the recognition method.

[0004]

Conventionally, at the time of writing to such a flash ROM, if a failure such as power-off or the like occurs, or if writing is being performed, an upper level of the printing apparatus is used. When the power supply of the host computer is cut off, the format in the flash ROM is destroyed, and there is a problem that the printing apparatus does not start normally or cannot operate normally.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the first to ninth inventions according to the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing input data from a host. By recognizing whether the data has collapsed and returning to the state before the input data was written, an unexpected situation occurred before the resources necessary for print processing received from the information processing device were successfully written to the memory resources. Provided is a print control apparatus, a data processing method of the print control apparatus, and a storage medium storing a computer-readable program that can make a transition to a state in which received input data can be normally processed even if power is shut off in the printer. It is to be.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control apparatus for controlling print processing by an engine unit based on input data received from an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium. A storage medium on which the input data can be written based on a predetermined format, holding means for holding determination data for determining a data write processing state with respect to the storage medium, and Control means for restoring the input data stored in the storage medium to a state before data rewriting.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the storage medium comprises a flash ROM.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the holding means is provided in the storage medium.

In a fourth aspect according to the present invention, the holding means comprises an external storage medium.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the external storage medium comprises a hard disk.

In a sixth aspect according to the present invention, the external storage medium comprises a non-volatile memory medium.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a notifying means for notifying the information processing apparatus of the determination data held in the holding means.

An eighth invention according to the present invention relates to a data processing method of a print control device for controlling a print process by an engine unit based on input data received from an information processing device via a predetermined communication medium. A judging step of judging a data write processing state with respect to a storage medium to which data can be written based on a predetermined format, and converting the input data stored in the storage medium based on the judgment result of the data data write processing state; And restoring to a state before rewriting.

A ninth invention according to the present invention is a storage medium storing a program used by a computer for controlling a printing process by an engine unit based on input data received from an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium. At
A judging step of judging a data write processing state for a storage medium to which the input data can be written based on a predetermined format; and the input data stored in the storage medium based on the judgment result of the data data write processing state. And a restoring step of restoring the program to a state before data rewriting, and stores a computer-readable program in a storage medium.

[0015]

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

[Description of Apparatus Configuration] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system to which a printing control apparatus according to an embodiment can be applied, which corresponds to a case where a plurality of host computers and a plurality of printing apparatuses are configured to be able to communicate via a predetermined communication medium. .

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a printing apparatus main body.
10 and an engine unit 120.

The controller unit 110 receives print data, control commands, and the like from the outside, creates bitmap data in an image memory (not shown) according to the print data and control commands, and transfers them to the engine unit 120 as video signals. The engine unit 120 receives the above-described video signal from the controller unit 110, and forms the signal on the paper as a visible image (details will be described later).

Further, the controller unit 110 communicates with the engine unit 120 to communicate the state of the engine unit 120 to the outside.

The controller unit 110 includes a host interface processor (I / O Processor: hereinafter referred to as IOP) 111, a CPU 114, a ROM 115, a RAM 1
16 and a bus 118, and a local bus. As described above, although not shown, an image memory for developing a bitmap image, an engine unit 12 are provided.
An interface with the control panel 0 and an interface with an operation panel (not shown) are also provided on the bus 118.

Reference numeral 119 denotes a flash ROM for writing a data group received from the host computer 130, for example, font data, various programs such as macros, and the like, and stores and manages the data in accordance with a data format described later. The flash ROM 119 has an area for storing a flag indicating whether or not the flash ROM 119 has been actually updated, and it is necessary to make a determination at the time of restarting after the power or the like is turned off.
It is provided in a block head data group (described later) in 119.

The IOP 111 transmits and receives data to and from an external device (host computer 130). The ROM 115 stores a program for interpreting print data in various printer languages and generating a bit image, a program for controlling the entire apparatus, and font data.

The RAM 116 is used as a work area for the CPU 114, and is also used for storing various print parameters, a work area for information processing, and storing status information of the printing apparatus.

The data bus 118 includes a controller 1
Data, addresses and control signals transmitted inside 10 flow.

Hereinafter, the correspondence between this embodiment and each means of the first to seventh inventions and the operation thereof will be described with reference to FIG.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control apparatus (controller section 110) for controlling print processing by an engine section 120 based on input data received from an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium (network). A storage medium (flash ROM 119) capable of writing input data based on a predetermined format, and holding means (in flash ROM 119) for holding determination data for determining a data write processing state on the storage medium;
A control unit (CPU 114 determines whether the input data stored in the storage medium has been restored to the state before data rewriting based on the determination data held in the holding unit.
And executes the control program stored in the OM 115). The determination data for determining the state of the data write processing to the flash ROM 119 in which the input data can be written based on a predetermined format is held. CPU 1 based on the judgment data
14 restores the input data stored in the flash ROM 119 to the state before the data is rewritten, so that even if the power supply is turned off while the input data is being written to the storage medium, the storage medium is restored at the next power-on. It is possible to reliably determine the state of the data writing process for the data, restore the state before the data writing, and avoid a situation in which the printing process cannot be performed.

In a second aspect based on the first aspect, the storage medium is preferably constituted by a flash ROM.

In a third aspect based on the first aspect, the holding means is preferably provided in the storage medium.

In a fourth aspect based on the first aspect, the holding means preferably comprises an external storage medium.

In a fifth aspect based on the fourth aspect, the external storage medium preferably comprises a hard disk.

In a sixth aspect based on the fourth aspect, the external storage medium is a non-volatile memory medium (for example, NVRAM).
It consists of.

According to a seventh aspect, the notifying means (IOP111) notifies the information processing apparatus of the determination data held in the holding means (flash ROM 119).
Even if a power failure occurs while the input data is being written to the storage medium, the host recognizes the status of the data write processing to the storage medium that is notified at the next power-on, and performs processing such as retransmission of the input data. It is possible to start.

Next, the engine unit 120 of the printing apparatus main body 100 of the embodiment will be described.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an example of the engine unit 120 shown in FIG. 1, and corresponds to, for example, a laser beam printer. The laser beam printer registers and fixes a character pattern from a host computer. It is configured so that registration of a format (form data) and the like can be performed.

In the figure, reference numeral 100 denotes an apparatus main body (LBP)
In addition to inputting and storing character information (character code), form information, macro commands, etc., supplied from an externally connected host computer, a corresponding character pattern or form pattern is created in accordance with the information. Then, an image is formed on a recording paper as a recording medium.

An operation panel 700 includes switches for operation, an LCD display, and the like. A printer control unit 701 controls the entire LBP 100 and analyzes character information and the like supplied from the host computer. The printer control unit 701 mainly converts a character pattern corresponding to character information into a video signal and outputs the video signal to the laser driver 702, and corresponds to the printer controller unit 110 in FIG. 1 described above.

The laser driver 702 is a semiconductor laser 70
And a laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser 703 in response to an input video signal.
04 is turned on and off. The laser light 704 is swung right and left by a rotating polygon mirror (polygon mirror) 705 to operate on an electrostatic drum 706. Thereby, the electrostatic drum 7
On 06, an electrostatic latent image such as a character pattern is formed. This latent image is stored in a developing unit 707 around the electrostatic drum 706.
And then transferred to recording paper.

A cut sheet is used as the recording paper. The cut sheet recording paper is stored in a paper cassette 708 mounted on the LBP 100, and is taken into the apparatus by a paper feed roller 709, a feed roller 710, and a feed roller 711. And supplied to the electrostatic drum 706. Then, the toner image adhered on the electrostatic drum 706 by the developing device 707 is transferred to the conveyed recording paper. Thereafter, the recording paper is conveyed in the direction of the fixing device 712, where the toner is fixed,
Finally, the sheet is discharged outside by a discharge roller 713.

FIG. 3 shows the flash ROM 1 shown in FIG.
FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining a data format of 19, and is composed of a plurality of block data and a plurality of data groups attached thereto.

In each block, a group of some data is stored in order. One type of such data is hereinafter referred to as a data group. The data group has a mark for distinguishing the type of the data group and size information of one data group. Depending on the type of data group, other necessary information is stored. Examples of data group types include fonts, macros, and programs.

As shown in the figure, at the beginning of the block,
A mark indicating the head of a block and information on the entire block are stored (block head data group BLD).
1). For example, the number of data groups included in the block, the size of the block, the checksum of the entire block, and the like. This is called a special data group because the type is different from the general data group. Then, the general data group D1,
D2 are stored in order.

After the data groups D1 and D2 continue, a special data group indicating the end of the block is stored (block end data group BLDN). After this data group, the existence of stored data in the block is not checked.

The flash ROM 119 shown in FIG.
The data is stored in accordance with the above-mentioned format. As described above, the flash ROM 119 functions as a rewritable secondary storage device.

Normally, when writing data in addition to the flash ROM 119, a general data group of the above format is added. In other words, a new additional data group is forcibly written to the allocation location of the block end data group BLDN, and immediately thereafter, the block end data group BLDN is additionally written.

Since the management information of the entire block is changed as a result of the additional writing, the contents of the block head data group BLD1 are also rewritten according to the writing result.

However, if the power of the printing apparatus main body 100 is turned off at each time when the writing operation is performed, the format of the flash ROM 119 is destroyed. Processing may not be possible.

Therefore, at each stage of writing to the flash ROM 119, a recognition process is performed in accordance with a procedure described later using the (flash ROM update flag (flag)) secured in the block head data group BLD1 shown in FIG. Judgment is made as to whether or not the format is invalid, block data is reconstructed, and normal data processing is continued.

[Explanation of Operation] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a data processing procedure executed by the controller unit 110 shown in FIG. Note that (1) to (3) indicate each step, and it is assumed that each step is stored in the ROM 115 illustrated in FIG.

First, when the power is turned on, the apparatus waits for reception of data transmitted from the host computer 130 (1), analyzes the received data, and determines whether the data extracted by the analysis processing is a control command. Is determined (2), and when it is determined that the command is a control command, processing based on each command is executed (3), and the process returns to step (1).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (2) that the received command is not a control command, a data waiting state is set.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the command processing procedure shown in FIG. 4, and corresponds to the data write processing to the flash ROM 119 shown in FIG.
Note that (1) to (3) indicate each step.

First, writing is performed while receiving data. First, before reading data to be written into the flash ROM 119, information on the write data is read (1), and thereafter, the write data is read. Based on this write data information, the presence or absence of the capacity and various checks are performed (2), and then the write process is performed (3). The information to be written includes size information and data types.

Hereinafter, the data processing operation of the print control apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the data processing procedure of the print control apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to the detailed procedure of the data write processing to the flash ROM 119 shown in FIG. Note that (1) to (7) indicate each step.

First, an area to be added is obtained from information in the block head data group BLD1 in the flash ROM 119 (1). The head of this area is the old block end data group BLDN shown in FIG. Next, after checking the size and the like of the obtained area (2), at this time, a flash ROM update flag provided in the block head data group BLD1 in the flash ROM 119 (the flash ROM 119 actually updates even a little) Is set to “updating” (3),
Thereafter, the data to be written is read, and writing is performed in the area to be added (4).

Immediately after that, the block end data group BLDN is additionally written (5), and the information of the entire block is updated by the written information, and the data of the block head data group is updated (6). Then, flash R
The OM update flag is set to "no update" (7), and the process ends.

As a result, when the power of the printing apparatus is turned off, there is a problem of incorrect format when the power is turned on again. First, after the writing process of the flash ROM 119 is started, the flag is actually set. There is no change in the flash ROM 119 for the power interruption before the status is "updating", so there is no need to repair the power.

On the other hand, when the power is turned off when the update flag is "updating", the block head data group BL
By using the block size of D1 (the block size has not been updated yet and remains before writing), an update operation is performed by leaving the block size and then overwriting the block end data group BLDN. It is possible to return the flash ROM format to the previous state.

In the format restoration processing when the update flag is "updating", the power is turned off at the time when the data group to be added is being written after the update flag is set.

After the additional data group has been written, after the block head data group BLD1 has been updated, the power is cut off until the update flag is set to "no update". It is possible.

In this case, instead of returning to the state before the update, the management information of the block head data group BLD1 is recalculated, and after updating, the flag is set to "no update".

Hereinafter, the correspondence between this embodiment and the respective steps of the eighth and ninth inventions and the operation thereof will be described with reference to FIG.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, an information processing apparatus (host computer 13) is connected via a predetermined communication medium (network).
0) based on the input data received from the
In a data processing method of a printing control apparatus for controlling a printing process by using a storage medium (flash ROM 1) in which the input data can be written based on a predetermined format.
19) a step of determining the data write processing state (step (2) in FIG. 6); and, based on the determination result of the data write processing state, the input data stored in the storage medium before data rewriting. The restoration process (steps (4) to (7) in FIG. 6) for restoring to the state of FIG.
The PU 114 executes the control program stored in the ROM 115 to reliably determine the state of the data write processing on the storage medium at the next power-on, and restores the state before the data write to disable the print processing. It is possible to avoid.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage for storing a program used by a computer for controlling a printing process by the engine unit 120 based on input data received from an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium. A determination step (step (2) in FIG. 6) for determining a data write processing state on a storage medium on which the input data can be written based on a predetermined format, based on a determination result of the data data write processing state; Restoring the input data stored in the storage medium to the state before the data rewriting (step (4) in FIG. 6)
To (7)) stored in a storage medium, the program being readable by a computer. That is, the embodiment of the present invention includes a mode in which the program code corresponding to the process shown in FIG. 6 is stored in the ROM 115 or a memory resource (not shown), and the CPU 114 reads out and executes the program code from a storage medium storing the program code. is there.

In the above embodiment, the update flag is provided in the flash ROM 119. However, the update flag can be stored in another external secondary storage device. Usually, a device called a small capacity NVRAM is provided to store the information, and a flag may be provided in the device. In this case, an access is made to a device different from the flash ROM 119, and the number of accesses to the flash ROM 119 is reduced, so that a secondary effect of improving durability and reliability is also obtained. Further, the present invention is applicable not only to the above NVRAM but also to a case where a secondary storage device such as a hard disk can be used.

In the above embodiment, the presence or absence of writing is determined using the update flag. However, a value called a checksum is usually stored in a flash ROM or the like to check a physical defect of a data bit. Embedded inside. Using this, it is possible to determine the presence or absence of writing.

However, if the defect is a physical defect, there is a possibility of erroneous recognition. Therefore, it is more reliable to make the determination using both the flag and the checksum.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the power supply of the printing apparatus is turned off has been described. However, the present invention is also applicable to a case where data cannot be received from the host due to the power supply of the host computer being turned off. It is possible.

In this case, when it is determined that the data to be written from the host computer 130 cannot be received, the flash ROM 119 is returned to the state before the writing.

In the above embodiment, the flash ROM 11
Although the method of restoring the format in 9 has been described, it may be configured to transmit information to that effect to the host computer 130 when a situation such as the power-off occurs.

As a result, the control program (printer driver) for the printing device in the host computer 130 can recognize the success or failure of the writing, and in the case of failure, can further perform the rewriting process. It becomes possible.

In the above embodiment, the flash RO
Although the case where the format is repaired in M119 has been described, a configuration may be adopted in which, when the format is changed, if the format cannot be repaired, the format is initialized.

Hereinafter, the configuration of a data processing program readable by the print control apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to a memory map shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining a memory map of a storage medium for storing various data processing programs which can be read by the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

Although not shown, information for managing a group of programs stored in the storage medium, for example, version information, a creator and the like are also stored, and information dependent on the OS or the like on the program reading side, for example, the program An icon or the like for identification display may also be stored.

Further, data dependent on various programs is also managed in the directory. In addition, a program for installing various programs on a computer or a program for decompressing a program to be installed when the program to be installed is compressed may be stored.

The functions shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 in this embodiment may be performed by a host computer by a program installed from the outside. And in that case, CD-ROM, flash memory, FD
The present invention is applicable even when a group of information including a program is supplied to an output device from a storage medium such as the above or from an external storage medium via a network.

As described above, the storage medium storing the program codes of the software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or the apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MP) of the system or the 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.

The computer executes the readout program code to realize the functions of the above-described embodiment, and also executes an operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) And the like perform 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 into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, The CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs 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.

According to the above embodiment, the flash ROM
The writing process cannot be completed normally due to an unforeseen failure during the writing process to the printer, and as a result, the format is destroyed, making it impossible to continue execution of the printing apparatus, or when the power is turned on again. Even when the execution of the flash ROM is not possible, by applying the present invention, the flash ROM can be returned to the time before the writing to the flash ROM, or the flash ROM can be initialized.
It is possible to prevent the printing apparatus from being unable to be executed due to an illegal format.

[0084]

As described above, the first embodiment according to the present invention is described.
According to the sixth aspect, judgment data for judging a data write processing state on a storage medium to which the input data can be written based on a predetermined format is held in a holding means, and based on the held judgment data, Since the control means restores the input data stored in the storage medium to the state before data rewriting, even if a situation such as power off occurs while writing the input data to the storage medium,
When the power is turned on next time, it is possible to reliably determine the state of the data write processing to the storage medium and restore the state before the data write, thereby avoiding a situation in which the print processing cannot be performed.

According to the seventh aspect, since the notifying means notifies the information processing device of the determination data held in the holding means, a situation such as a power failure occurs while writing the input data to the storage medium. However, the host can recognize the state of the data write processing to the storage medium notified at the next power-on, and start processing such as retransmission of input data.

According to the eighth and ninth aspects of the present invention, the state of the data write processing on the storage medium to which the input data can be written in a predetermined format is determined, and based on the determination result of the data data write processing state. Since the input data stored in the storage medium is restored to the state before data rewriting, the data writing processing state for the storage medium is reliably determined at the next power-on, and the state before data writing is restored. Thus, it is possible to avoid a situation in which print processing cannot be performed.

Therefore, before the resources necessary for the printing process received from the information processing apparatus are completely written into the memory resources, even if the power is shut off in an unexpected situation, the received input data can be processed normally. There are effects such as being able to make a transition to a possible state.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system to which a print control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an example of an engine unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view for explaining a data format of a flash ROM shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a data processing procedure executed by a controller unit illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a command processing procedure illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a data processing procedure of the print control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by the print control device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 100 printing apparatus main body 110 controller unit 111 IOP 114 CPU 115 ROM 116 RAM 119 flash ROM 120 engine unit

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A print control apparatus for controlling print processing by an engine unit based on input data received from an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, wherein the input data is writable based on a predetermined format. Medium, holding means for holding determination data for determining a state of data writing processing to the storage medium, and data rewriting of the input data stored in the storage medium based on the determination data held in the holding means Control means for restoring a previous state. 2. The print control device according to claim 1, wherein the storage medium is a flash ROM. 3. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said holding means is provided in said storage medium. 4. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said holding means is constituted by an external storage medium. 5. The print control device according to claim 4, wherein the external storage medium is constituted by a hard disk. 6. The print control device according to claim 4, wherein the external storage medium is constituted by a nonvolatile memory medium. 7. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit that notifies the information processing apparatus of the determination data stored in the storage unit. 8. A data processing method of a print control device for controlling a print process by an engine unit based on input data received from an information processing device via a predetermined communication medium, wherein the input data is formed based on a predetermined format. A judging step of judging a data write processing state with respect to a writable storage medium; and restoring the input data stored in the storage medium to a state before data rewriting based on the judgment result of the data data write processing state. And a data processing method of the print control device. 9. A storage medium storing a program used by a computer that controls print processing by an engine unit based on input data received from an information processing device via a predetermined communication medium, wherein the input data is stored in a storage medium. A determination step of determining a data write processing state for a writable storage medium based on a format; and a state before rewriting the input data stored in the storage medium based on the determination result of the data write processing state. And a restoring step of restoring the program to a computer.