JPH1191209A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer wherein various kinds of setting are executed with one set utility irrespective of a kind of the printer. SOLUTION: A printer controller 3 of a printer has a CPU 11, a program ROM 12, etc. A utility on a host apparatus 2 transmits at first a command referring to the printer 1 for set information. This command is common irrespective of a kind of the printer. The printer having received the command replies set item information data for one's own use to the host apparatus 2. The utility executes display a graphic based on the information, and an operator converts results which are inputted and selected to a set command contained in the set item information data and transmits that to the printer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printer which is connected to a host device and prints out a document created by an application of the host device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A host device is connected to a host device via an interface, receives a document created by an application of the host device as coded print data, decodes the data, and decodes the data into a graphic or character form corresponding to the code. Various printers for converting and outputting have been proposed.

In order for the printer to operate as requested by the user, that is, to print out in the form requested by the user, various settings must be made in the printer. The setting items include, for example, “select a standard tray for the paper feed tray”, “paper size is A4”, and “the number of prints is 10
Etc. ".

[0004] Techniques for setting a printer from a setting utility operating on a host device are widely implemented and known. In this case, on the setting utility screen, each selection item is displayed in characters or the like so that the operator can select each setting item in a menu format. Notifies setting values.

[0005]

As described above, since the setting utility notifies the printer of the item number, setting value, and the like using a dedicated command, the setting utility uses the setting item and the setting command. Can be shared between the same printer models, but otherwise, it is necessary to prepare for each printer model. Also, from the point of view of the printer user, when there are multiple types of printers, especially in a network, the printer may be switched and output depending on the purpose.
The utility had to be changed depending on the printer to output. Therefore, many setting utilities must be prepared, and there is a problem that it is expensive to create the setting utilities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer in which various settings can be made by one setting utility regardless of the model.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for performing bidirectional communication with a host device via a host interface, receiving print data from the host device, and receiving print data from the host device. A printer that prints out and transmits printer information to a host device, an information storage unit that stores setting item information data, a transmitting unit that transmits the setting item information data to the host device, and a printer that is included in the setting item information data. And setting means for performing various settings based on the setting command.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the setting item information data is setting item information and setting command information, and these information are stored in a program ROM in advance, and In response to an inquiry command from the setting utility on the device, the CP
The information is returned to the host device by the U via the host interface, and the CPU interprets the setting items converted into the setting commands included in the setting item information data to perform the setting. .

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a laser printer in a printer system including a laser printer and a host device. This printer system includes a laser printer 1 and a host device 2 which is a host device of the laser printer 1. Print data and control commands are sent from the host device 2 to the laser printer 1, and the laser printer 1
Is sent printer information.

The laser printer 1 includes a data processing section (printer controller) 3, an operation section (operation panel) 4, and a printing section (printer engine) 5.

The printer controller 3 includes a host device 2
Receives print data from the printer engine, creates print image data (video data), and transfers it to the printer engine 5. Also,
A print start control command is issued to the printer engine 5, the status of the printer engine 5 is monitored, and if an error occurs, the entire printer is controlled such as displaying an error display on the operation panel 4. .

An operation panel 4 displays the status of the printer 1 and enables various operations on the printer 1 by key input by an operator. The printer engine 5 is a part that actually generates an image on paper.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the inside of a printer controller of a laser printer in a printer system including a laser printer and a host device. The printer controller 3 includes a CPU 11, a program ROM 12, a font ROM 13, a working RAM 14, an NVRAM 15,
Host I / F 16, Host buffer 17, Panel I / F
18, a video I / F 19, a video memory 20, and an engine I / F 21.

The CPU 11 receives a control code from the host device 2 through the host I / F 16 and executes a program R
It operates according to the program in OM12. Further, it accepts a mode instruction from the operation panel 4 through the panel I / F 18, processes a signal received from the printer engine 5 through the engine I / F 21, and transmits a video signal to the printer engine 5.

The program ROM 12 stores programs for processing data in the printer controller 3 and controlling peripheral modules. Font RO
M13 generates various fonts used for printing.

The RAM 14 is a work memory for processing by the CPU 11, a buffer for managing and temporarily storing data from the host device 2 in page units, and converting data stored in the buffer into an actual print pattern to convert video data. It is used for a bitmap memory or the like for storing, and has a CD area, a bitmap area, and a reception buffer area.

The NVRAM 15 is a nonvolatile RAM for storing data to be retained even when the power is turned off. The host I / F 16 is an interface for transmitting and receiving control signals and data from the host device 2 to the printer controller 3 and status signals from the printer controller 3 to the host device 2.
232C.

The host buffer 17 is a reception buffer for temporarily storing data received from the host device 2. The panel I / F 18 is an interface for communicating commands and status with the operation panel 4. The video I / F 19 is an interface for sending video data in the video memory 20 to the printer engine 5.

The video memory 20 is a memory for storing print image data in page units. Engine I / F21
Is an interface for communicating commands, statuses, and print data with the printer engine 5. Although the operation panel 4 partially overlaps with the above description, the operation panel 4 has a display unit for displaying the status of the printer, and a switch unit for switching the printer mode, font, and the like, and informs the user of the current status of the printer. Or give a mode instruction.

As described above, the printer engine 5 creates and develops an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member based on the video signal and the control signal from the printer controller 3, and feeds a transfer sheet from a sheet feeding unit. Transfer and fixing to form an image.

In such a configuration, the host I / F 1
6, the data sent from the host device 2 through the CP
U11 print data and print control data (SP, C
R, LF, HT, VT,...) And others, and print data and print control data are stored in a buffer in the RAM 14. When there is a print command from the host device 2 or when the data received from the host device 2 exceeds one page, the printer controller 3
Sends a print start command to the printer engine 5 through the engine I / F 21. In a series of flows as described above, print data from the host device 2 is printed on transfer paper via the printer engine 5.

Next, the operation of the present invention, that is, the item setting operation of the printer will be described. When the setting utility is started on the host device 2, the utility first sends a command for inquiring the printer 1 of setting information. This command is common regardless of the printer model. The printer 1 that has received the setting information inquiry command returns its own setting item information data (setting items and setting command information for performing the setting) to the host device 2. This setting item information data is stored in the program ROM 12 in advance,
The host device 2 via the host I / F 16 by U11
Sent to

The utility that has received the setting item information data performs a screen display based on the information, converts the result of input / selection by the operator into a setting command included in the setting item information data, and transmits the setting command to the printer 1. FIG. 3 shows the format of the setting item information data. At the head of the data, there is a header including an identifier indicating that the data is setting information and item number information indicating the number of setting items. After this, each setting item information continues for the number of items.

Each setting item information has a setting item name at the beginning, and a flag indicating a setting format. The setting format flag indicates an input method or a selection method of this item, and distinguishes three types of numerical value input, character input, and menu selection. The information after this flag depends on the setting format. If the setting format is numeric / character input, it is input condition information. In the case of numerical input, it is the range of numerical values that can be input, and in the case of character input, it is information on the maximum number of characters. In the case of the menu selection format, menu name information follows. At the end of the setting item information, setting command information to be transmitted to the printer 1 for performing this setting is added.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the setting information data in the case where the setting items are three items of paper feed tray selection, paper size selection and copy number setting. The printer 1 of the present embodiment is configured to perform bidirectional communication with a host device 2 via a host I / F 16, and includes a printer controller 3, an operation panel 4, and a printer engine 5. 3 is a CPU 11, a program RO
M12 and others. Then, the utility on the host device 2 first transmits a command for inquiring the printer 1 of setting information. This command is common regardless of the printer model.

The printer 1 that has received the command returns its own setting item information data to the host device 2. The utility performs a screen display based on this information, converts the result of input / selection by the operator into a setting command included in the setting item information data, and transmits the setting command to the printer 1.

The CPU 11 decodes the printer settings converted into the setting commands included in the setting item information data, and performs various settings for the printer 1, for example, settings such as the type of paper feed tray, paper size, and the number of copies. Do.

As described above, the display information of the setting items held on the utility side and the setting command information for the printer 1 are supplied from the printer 1 side to the host device (utility) 2 so that the model of the printer 1 can be changed. Regardless,
Various settings can be made with one utility.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A printer having means for performing bidirectional communication with the host device and a means for interpreting commands for performing various settings and performing setting is provided with means for transmitting setting item information and setting command information to the host device. Therefore, there is no need to prepare a setting utility for each printer model, and various settings can be made with one utility regardless of the printer model. This can reduce the cost of creating a setting utility, and can be viewed from the user side. Even
Eliminates complicated operations such as switching utilities for each printer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a laser printer in a printer system including a laser printer and a host device.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the inside of a controller of a laser printer in a printer system including a laser printer and a host device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a format of setting item information data.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of setting information data.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 laser printer 2 host device 3 printer controller 4 operation panel 5 printer engine 11 CPU 12 program ROM 13 font ROM 14 RAM 15 NVRAM 16 host I / F 17 host buffer 18 panel I / F 19 video I / F 20 video memory 21 engine I / F

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A printer that performs bidirectional communication with a host device via a host interface, receives print data from the host device, prints out the data on paper, and transmits printer information to the host device. Information storing means for storing the setting item information data, and transmitting means for transmitting the setting item information data to the host device,
A printer comprising setting means for performing various settings based on a setting command included in the setting item information data. 2. The setting item information data according to claim 1, wherein the setting item information data is setting item information and setting command information, and these information are stored in a program ROM in advance, and an inquiry command from a setting utility on the host device is provided. In response to this, the CPU returns these pieces of information to the host device via the host interface, and further, the CPU interprets the setting items converted into the setting commands included in the setting item information data and performs the setting. Printer.