JPS62107395A - Printing suspension processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] C Table of Contents] Overview Industrial Field of Application Conventional Technology Problems to be Solved by the Invention Means for Solving the Problems (Fig. 1) Working Examples (al-Configuration of Examples) Explanation (Figures 2 and 3) (b)
Explanation of operation of one embodiment (Fig. 4) (C1 Description of other embodiments Effects of the invention [Summary] Print data is stored in a print buffer sequentially in a print buffer and printed by a printer. This speeds up the printing interruption response by abandoning the print data in the print buffer and interrupting printing in response to an abandonment command.

(Industrial Application Field) The present invention is applicable to a printing device in which a printer prints print data stored in a print buffer. The present invention relates to a printing interruption processing method that can immediately stop a printing operation in response to an instruction.

In systems where print data is issued from the processing unit, the print data is stored in the print buffer in consideration of delays in printer operation speed, and the printer retrieves the next print data from the print buffer after each line is printed. For example, in cash registers and POS terminals used in commercial transactions, the details of past transactions may be printed on a journal at the time of payment or inspection. In such a case, a large amount of print data is stored in a print buffer, and the printer prints the print data in the print buffer in sequence.

[Conventional technology]

For example, in such a POS terminal, as shown in FIG.
The I/O control unit edits the given print data and sequentially stores it in the print buffer. Accumulation into the print buffer is quick due to data handling; for example, 30 pieces of print data can be stored in the print buffer instantly.

On the other hand, in a printer, the print head physically moves back and forth,
Since printing is performed, the processing speed is slow, and the print data in the print buffer is printed one after another at a predetermined printing speed.

For example, even when the main control unit issues 30 pieces of print data, the printer can print only 2 to 3 lines.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In controlling such a printer, the main control section may want to interrupt printing for some reason after issuing 30 pieces of print data. For example, in the above-mentioned POS terminal, a new customer appears after pressing the check key and it is desired to register a transaction for this customer, or when the customer presses the settlement key and immediately wants to resume transaction registration.

In such a case, if the terminal operator presses the stop key, even if the main control unit stops issuing print data, the printer will continue to print data from the I/O control unit.

The printing operation is repeated until all of the print data stored in the print buffer is printed.

) For example, in the example of FIG. 5, the print data LPRi
Even if a cancellation process occurs during printing of NT3, the printer prints the remaining print data LPRtNT4 to NT30 and then stops.

For this reason, it takes time from the time when the canceling process occurs until the printing operation actually ends, causing a problem that the start of other necessary processes is delayed.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing interruption processing method that can immediately interrupt printing operations after the interruption processing occurs.

[Means for solving problems]

FIG. 1 is a diagram explaining the principle of the present invention.

In the present invention, in a configuration including a main control unit that issues print data, an I/O control unit that stores the issued print data in a print buffer, and a printer that sequentially prints the print data in the print buffer, When processing occurs, a print data abandonment command is sent from the main control section, and the I/O control section discards the print data in the print buffer in response to this command.

[Effect]

Since the printer continues printing as long as there is print data in the print buffer, if the print data in the print buffer is discarded, the printing operation is interrupted.

Therefore, in the present invention, a print data abandonment command is issued from the main control section to the I/O control section, and the I/O control section responds to this by discarding the print data in the print buffer and immediately starts printing. I'm trying to interrupt it.

〔Example〕

(al-Explanation of the structure of the embodiment) FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention, showing the structure of a POS terminal.

In the figure, 1 is the main control unit, which analyzes the contents of input data and performs processing such as corresponding aggregation and registration, and /O is a microprocessor (hereinafter referred to as processor).
11 is a ROM (read only memory) that stores programs, parameters, etc. necessary for the processing of the processor/O, and 12 is a RAM (random access memory) that performs such processing by executing a program. ), which stores the data necessary for the operation of the processor/O and also has a registration file and a tally file, 13 is DMA (direct memory access)
A controller directly accesses the RAM 12 according to instructions, and a bus 14 connects the processor/O, the ROM II, the RAM 12, and the DMA controller 13.

2 is an I/O control unit that performs key manual tasks, display routines, scan tasks, editing tasks, print tasks, line control tasks, etc. in accordance with instructions from the main control unit 1; 20 is a microprocessor (hereinafter referred to as 21 is a ROM (read only memory) that stores programs, parameters, etc. necessary for processing by the processor 20; 22 is a RAM (random access memory) that stores data necessary for the operation of the processor 20 and also serves as a print buffer P.
23 is a DMA (direct memory access) controller that directly accesses the RAM 22 according to instructions; 24 is an interface that connects the bus 14 of the main control unit 1 and the I/O control unit 2; A device for connecting with a bus to be described later and exchanging commands and data between the main control unit 1 and the I/O control unit 2;
5 is a bus, which connects the processor 20 and the ROM 21 . , R.A.
M22, DMA controller 23, interface 2
It exchanges data and commands with 4.

3 is a 1/O section, 30 is a key manual section, which is equipped with various function keys such as payment and inspection in addition to a numeric keypad, and 31 is a key control section, which detects the operation of the key manual section 30. , for outputting input data to bus 25, 3
2 is a printer that performs printing; 33 is a printer control unit that controls printing of the printer 32;
4 is a drawer for storing cash; 35 is a display for displaying input data and processing results; 36 is a boat connected to the bus 25 for operation of the drawer 34 and display 35; 37 is a scanner, which scans barcodes attached to products etc. and manually inputs the data; 38 is a scanner interface, which sends the data input by the scanner 37 to the bus 25; 39 is a line interface that is connected to the controller and performs communication.

In such a configuration, the main control unit 1 executes processing of functions instructed by the key human power unit 30, and the I/O control unit 2 executes processing for basic I/O control. .

That is, the main control section 1 and the I/O control section 2 can each access the RAM 12.22 of the other party via the interface 24 using the DMA controller 13.23 to transfer data. Along with this, the RO of the main control section 1
The M11 stores main programs such as aggregation processing, registration processing, price lookup processing, and settlement processing necessary for the original processing of the POS terminal, and the RAM 12 has registration files and aggregation files. On the other hand, I
The ROM 21 of the /O control unit 2 stores an input/output control subprogram for controlling the connected Ilo.

Therefore, the main control section 1 performs functional processing, and the ■/○ control section 2
performs I/O control processing.

(bl-Explanation of operation of the embodiment In the registration process, the key manual unit 30 or the scanner 3
The product code input from 7 is stored in the RAM 22 according to instructions from the processor 20 via the key control unit 31 or the scanner interface 38.

In order to perform a price lookup, the processor 20 similarly transfers a PLtJ table inquiry message to the line interface 39 by DMA control, and transmits it from the line interface 39 to the controller in order to inquire of the controller about the price, name, etc. of the relevant product code. .

When the line interface 39 receives a response message from the controller, it transfers the contents of the received message to the RAM 12 of the main control unit 1 via the interface 24 under DMA control under instructions from the MPU 20, and notifies the processor/O.

The processor/O edits and registers this in the registration file of RAM 12, and presses the total key from the input key part 30.
Similarly, when this data is received from the I/OIJ JB section 2, the sum is calculated, print data is created, and the data is sent to the I/O control section 2 to be printed by the printer 32. At the same time, the processor/O performs aggregation processing and updates the aggregation table in the RAM 12.

Next, we will explain the printing interruption process during payment and inspection.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the print buffer PBC, and the RA
Associated with the print buffer PBC, M22 includes a storage pointer DP indicating the number of print data stored in the print buffer PBC, and an execution pointer PP indicating the storage position of the print data being printed. In the example shown in FIG. 3, 30 pieces of print data LPRiNT1 to 30 are stored in the print buffer PBC, and the print data LPRiNT3 on the third line is being printed, so the storage pointer DP is ``30'' and the execution pointer PP is "3" is stored in the field.

FIG. 4 is a print process flow diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4(A) is a startup process flow diagram, and FIG. 4(B) is a print process flow diagram.

(2) When the payment or inspection key is pressed by the key manual unit 30, the processor 20 reads this via the key control unit 31 and notifies the processor/O of the main control unit 1 via the interface 24.

As a result, the processor/O instructs the processor 20 to perform print processing via the interface 24 in order to perform payment or inspection processing.

(2) The processor 20 starts a printer editing task and a printer task in response to this print processing instruction.

After the startup process in this way, both processors/O. 20 connects the DMA controller 13.23 and transfers the print data obtained from the registration file in the RAM 12 to the RAM 22 via the interface 24.

■ In the processor 20, as shown in FIG. 4(B), the R
The received message (print data) stored in the AM 22 is read out, and if it is print data, it is edited and assembled, stored in the print buffer PBC, and the storage pointer DP is updated.

In this way, the print data is edited and assembled by the processor 20 and sequentially stored in the print buffer PBC, and the storage pointer DP is updated accordingly to indicate the stored number.

(2) On the other hand, when the abort key is pressed by the key control unit 30, the processor 20 reads this via the key control unit 31 and notifies the processor/O via the interface 24.

The processor/O thereby notifies the processor 20 of the data abandonment command via the interface 24.

(2) The processor 20 clears the execution pointer PP and storage pointer DP of the RAM 22 to zero in response to this data abandonment command.

On the other hand, when the processor 20 transfers one line of print data from the print buffer PBC to the printer control unit 33 by the printer task, it updates the execution pointer PP, and when the printer control unit 33 receives one line of print data, the processor 20 updates the execution pointer PP. , controls the printer 32 to print the print data, and notifies the processor 20 of the completion of printing.

When the processor 20 receives the completion of printing, it checks the execution pointer PP and storage pointer DP of the RAM 22, obtains the next storage position, and checks whether print data is stored there. For example, if the execution pointer PP is "3", the storage location of the print data to be executed next is "4",
Since the storage pointer DP is “30”, the storage position “4” is
It is determined that there is unprinted print data in "," and this one line of print data is transferred to the printer control section in the same way as described above.

The processor 20 repeats this until it receives the data abandonment command, and sets the execution pointer PP and storage pointer DP.
If the values match, it is determined that printing has ended.

On the other hand, as described above, if the data abandonment command is received even though unprinted print data is stored in the print buffer PBC, the execution pointer PP and the storage pointer DP are cleared to zero. When the DP values match, it is determined that the printing operation has ended, and therefore, the unprinted print data in the print buffer PBC is discarded, and the printing process ends.

Thus, with the arrival of the data relinquishment command,
Even if there is unprinted print data in the print buffer PBC, the printing operation will be interrupted, and printing can be immediately interrupted.

(C1 Description of Other Embodiments In the above embodiments, a POS terminal was used as an example, but it can also be applied to other well-known devices and systems.

Further, although the print buffer PBC is managed by pointer control, other well-known management methods may be used.

Although the present invention has been described above using examples, the present invention can be modified in various ways according to the gist of the present invention, and these are not excluded from the present invention.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, the main control section issues a data abandonment command, and the ■/○ control section discards the print data in the print buffer in response to this command. This has the effect that the printing operation can be interrupted immediately after the occurrence of the error, and the next process can be started without waiting for the printing of the print data in the print buffer to be completed.

Furthermore, since the printing operation can be interrupted by discarding the print data in the print buffer, the present invention can be easily and easily implemented.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram explaining the principle of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the invention. FIG. The process flow diagram, FIG. 5, is an explanatory diagram of the prior art. In the figure, 1--I/O control section, 3--1/O section, 32--Printer, PBC--Print buffer.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A main control unit that issues print data, an I/O control unit that stores the issued print data in a print buffer, and a printer that sequentially prints the print data in the print buffer. . A print interruption processing method, wherein the I/O control section abandons print data in the print buffer and interrupts printing in response to a print data abandonment command from the main control section.