JPS61114333A - Computer data printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the using efficiency of a printer by detecting the print request signals produced independently from plural computers and at the same time printing the output data of a prescribed computer according to the prescribed priority. CONSTITUTION:The print request signals given from computers 1A-1C are detected by print request detecting circuits 5A-5C, and these outputs of detection are applied to a selection circuit 7. The circuit 7 applies the prescribed selection signals to switch circuits 9A-9C based on the results of the circuits 5A-5C and in accordance with the prescribed priority. The circuits 9A-9C connect a selected computer to a printer 2 electrically via print control buses 3Da-3Dc.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a method for printing output data of a computer on a printing device, and more specifically relates to a method for printing output data of a plurality of computers that are functionally and structurally independent from each other. Pertains to the method of printing on one printing device.

This paper proposes an effective method for using printing devices.

[Prior art]

First, the relationship between a conventional computer and a printing device will be explained with reference to FIG. In Figure 2, (IA), (IB)
.

(1C) is a Perrnall calculator (hereinafter simply referred to as a calculator) that has been widely used in recent years, for example in offices and mouse laboratories.

) and are functionally and structurally independent from each other. (2A), (2B), (2C:) are calculated using the calculator + (IA), I (IB), x, respectively.
This is a printing device provided corresponding to (1c), and one printing device is attached to one computer. (6 people), (3
B), CTC) is a calculator + (IA), I (IB
), I (IC) and printing device 1 (2A), I
(2B).

This is a print control bus that electrically connects 1 (2C) and provides signals necessary for printing.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In recent years, with the spread of zero-person equipment, many of the above-mentioned calculators have been installed in offices, examination rooms, etc., but in the round type, each calculator is equipped with one printing device.

A large amount of installation space is required, and therefore, some kind of improvement measure is desired in which it is necessary to reduce the floor space for nine people or test work in offices, testing rooms, etc. Furthermore, in the relationship between computers and printing devices as shown in FIG. 2, it is rare that all printing devices are used at the same time, and therefore it cannot be said that the printing devices are used effectively.

Also, attaching one printing device to one calculator means that
This requires a large amount of purchase cost, and some kind of improvement is required not only in relation to the space of the above-mentioned running method but also in order to reduce the purchase cost.

This invention was made in order to improve these conventional problems, and it allows multiple computers to share one printing device, and automatically outputs data from multiple computers in an orderly manner according to priority. This paper proposes a printing method that allows printing.

[Means for solving problems]

The printing method according to the present invention connects a plurality of computers to one printing device via printing control means, and automatically prints the output data of each computer on the printing device according to the priority order. be.

[Effect]

According to this invention, print request signals generated separately from a plurality of computers are detected, and output data of a predetermined computer is automatically printed on a printing device according to a predetermined priority order.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
person), (IB), (IC) are computers 1, 1. l, (
21 has 3 computers) (IA), (IB), (I
C) one printing device, (AAa), (sAb) connected via printing control means (4).

(5Ac) is the computer + (IA) print control bus (3A)
This is a detailed diagram of the data bus (
3Aa), an I10 BADY signal (5Ab) that transmits the operating state of the printing device (2) to the computer, and a print request signal (5M) output from the computer B1A). (3Ba)
~(3Bc) is computer 1 (IB) and print control means (4)
and (3Ca) to (5Cc) are calculator 1 (IC)
and a printing control means (4).

Furthermore, (3Da) to (3Dc) are print control buses that respectively connect the print control means (4) and the printing device (2).

(5A) to (5C) are detection means, and print request detection circuits (hereinafter simply referred to as detection circuits) detect print request signals from computers 1 (IA), x (tB), and I (IC), respectively. ).

(7) is the selection means, detection circuit (5^) ~ (5C)
Priority selection circuits (hereinafter referred to as selection circuits), (9A) to (9
C) is an information transmission means that connects a predetermined computer selected based on the selection signals (8a) to (8C) of the 1 selection circuit (7) and the printing device (2) via the printing control path (3D). Print control bus switching circuit (hereinafter referred to as "print control bus switching circuit") that connects or disconnects electrically.

It is simply called a switching circuit. ), α1 is an output signal of a selection circuit (force), and is a signal for prohibiting reception of a print request signal (hereinafter simply referred to as a prohibition signal).

In such a configuration, it is assumed that a print request signal (5Bc) is output from the computer 1 (IB) and that the computer is a friend.

This will be explained below. The print request signal (MBC) from the computer 1 (In) is detected by the detection circuit (5B) and the detection signal (6B) is sent to the selection circuit (7). In the selection circuit (7), a selection signal (8b) selects computer 1 (IB) according to a predetermined priority order.
is sent to the switching circuit (9B). The switching circuit (9B) is a selection signal (8b), a print control bus (38a),
(3Bb), (!+Bc) and (3Da), (3
Db) and (3Dc) are electrically connected to each other.

A print request signal (3DC) is sent to the printing device (2).

The printing device (2) receives the print request signal (3DC) and sends out the Ilo RBADY signal (3nb) if preparation for printing operation is completed. The sent I10EADY signal (3Dc) is sent to the switching circuit (9B) and the print control bus (3B
c) to the computer r(tB). Calculator 1 (
After receiving the FLEADY signal, IB) sends the output data to be printed to the data bus (3Ba). The sent print output data is sent to the printing device (2)K via the data bus (3Ba), the switching circuit (9B), and the data bus (3Da) and is printed. Further, this printing operation continues until there is no more data sent from the computer 1 (IB) (until there are no more printing requests).

Next, while the calculator 1 (IB) is printing, the calculator [
A case where a print request signal (5Ac) is output from (IA) will be explained. Since computer 1 (IB) is using the printing device, the print request signal (5Ac) from the computer + (IA) is the prohibition signal α of the 2 selection circuit (7). Not accepted. Therefore, calculator +
The Ilo READY signal is not sent to (IA)K, and the computer+(IA) waits for a print operation. When the printing operation of the calculator 1 (IB) is completed in this state, the 9 selection circuit (7
) ban signalman has been lifted, calculator! The print request signal (3AC) of (IA) is detected by the detection circuit (5A),
The detection signal (6a) is sent to the selection circuit (7)K, and as explained above for the computer 1 (1s), the selection circuit (7)K automatically selects the
The output data of (IA) is printed on the printing device (2).

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, this invention allows multiple computers to share one printing device, and also allows output data from multiple computers to be automatically printed in an orderly manner according to the priority order. Therefore, there is no need to attach a printer to the printer, which has the effect of reducing the purchase cost of a printing device and making effective use of floor space in offices, examination rooms, etc. Further, there is an effect that a printing device that is used less frequently can be effectively utilized.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the relationship between a conventional computer and a printing device. In FIG. 1, (IA) to (1C) are calculators. (2A) to (2C) are printing devices, (5 people) to (5D) are print control buses, (4) are print control means, (5A) to (
5C) is a detection circuit. (6a) to (6C) are detection signals, (7) is a selection circuit,
(8a) to (8C) are selection signals, (9A) to (9C)
9 is a switching circuit, Q (1 is a prohibition signal, and the same or corresponding parts in FIG. 9 are indicated with the same reference numerals.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A method for printing output data from a plurality of computers that are functionally and structurally independent from each other using a single printing device, comprising a detection means for detecting a print request signal generated from each computer, and a signal from the detection means. selection means for automatically selecting a predetermined calculator from among the plurality of calculators according to a predetermined priority based on the selection means; and printing from the predetermined calculator selected based on the signal of the selection means to the printing device. A data printing method for a computer, comprising: an information transmitting means for providing information, and output data from a plurality of computers is automatically printed in order by one printing device according to each of the above-mentioned means.