JPS63220318A - Interface for printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the efficiency of error cause investigation in a data processing system by providing the titled device with a memory part for I/F memory intra-information output processing and a memory intra-information output processing starting part to output inter information obtained at the time of generating an error trouble in the printer I/F to a printer. CONSTITUTION:The I/F interface is provided with the memory intra-information output processing starting part 5 and the I/F memory intra-information output processing memory part 6, and when a trouble is generated and printing in the printer is stopped, the operator informs the state of trouble generation to a data processor restoring worker. At that time, the operator turns on a specific switch formed on the printer I/F connected to a data processor. Consequently, a CPU part 1 in the printer I/F switches a memory to be used from a memory part 2 to the memory part 6, extracts data effective for the inspection of a cause from data stored in the memory part 2 and outputs the extracted data to a printer 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field The present invention relates to a printer interface for exchanging information between a printer and a data processing device.

In particular, when an error occurs during printer output, detailed data indicating the status of the printer interface (hereinafter referred to as printer I/F) is output to the printer, improving the efficiency of investigating the cause of the error in the data processing system. The present invention relates to a printer interface that can be used for printing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Data processing devices equipped with printers, such as office computers, often use three pieces of software, including an operating system (hereinafter abbreviated as O8), in order to cause the printer to print.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of printer output processing in a conventional office computer, FIG. 8 is a diagram of internal information storage in a conventional data processing device, and FIG. 9 is an illustration of a conventional method of collecting operation information of a printer interface. It is an explanatory diagram.

As shown in FIG. 7, print data generated from the user program 61 enters S62, is further passed to the firmware program 63, and then sent to the printer 4.

Also, what is called O3 in Unix etc.

Many of them include O8 and a firmware program.

Therefore, if an error or trouble occurs in the printer printing process inside the O8, the O8 and firmware
It is necessary to perform an M-prison check on two pieces of software in the program.

To check whether the cause is O8, for example, as shown in Figure 8, the internal information of the data processing device at the time of an error or trouble is temporarily stored on a floppy disk, etc., and the data After returning the processing device to a normal state, the information is read into the data processing device again using a certain program and the cause of the error is investigated.

In addition, since the firmware program operates on the printer I/F that connects the data processing device and the printer, the method of checking the cause when an error or trouble occurs is as shown in Figure 9. There is a method in which information regarding the operating state of a firmware program at the time of occurrence is sent from a printer I/F to a data processing device and stored in a storage device.

However, in order to implement this method, it is necessary to change the O8 and printer I/F, and since it operates as a single program within the data processing device, errors and troubles that occur may cause data There is a problem in that when the processing device itself stops operating, its functions cannot be used.

the purpose The purpose of the present invention is to improve these problems.

If an error occurs during printer output on the printer I/F that exchanges information between the printer and the data processing device, detailed data indicating the status of the printer I/F can be obtained and the data processing An object of the present invention is to provide a printer 1/F that improves the efficiency of investigating the cause of system errors.

Configuration In order to achieve the above object, the printer I/F of the present invention includes a memory section and an arithmetic/control means (CPU section),
A printer interface that is connected to a data processing device and a printer and exchanges information between the data processing device and the printer.
/F, a means for storing a program for organizing the information in the memory section and outputting it to the printer, and an environment for executing the program (9 copies of I/F memory internal information output processing memo, A means for causing the CPU unit to execute a program (in-memory information output processing starting unit) is provided, and the internal information is output to the printer when an error or trouble occurs in the printer I/F, regardless of the state of the data processing device. There is a characteristic in doing.

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

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a printer interface in an embodiment of the present invention.

The printer r/F of this embodiment includes a CPU section 1, a memory section 2, an output data adjustment section 3, an in-memory information output processing starting section 5, and an interface/memory information output processing memory section (I/F memory Equipped with nine memos for internal information output processing, a printer 4, and a data processing device (not shown)
connected to.

The CPU unit 1 performs various controls in order to send the print data sent from the data processing device to the printer 4.

The memory unit 2 also contains programs (hereinafter referred to as printer firmware) used when the CPU unit 1 performs various controls, printing patterns, areas used during execution of the printer firmware, and the like.

Therefore, if a problem occurs with the printer 4.

By extracting the internal information of the memory unit 2 at that time, the direct cause of the trouble can be investigated.

Further, the output data adjusting unit 3 adjusts the print data sent by the CPU unit 1 so that the connected printer 4 can receive and receive the print data.

Further, the in-memory information output processing starting section 5 includes a switch circuit (not shown) for generating an interrupt signal for requesting the CPU section 1 to output processing of in-memory information.

It also stores a program for reading the I/F memory internal information output processing memo 9 part 6 memory part 2, extracting necessary data, and outputting it to the printer 4, and an area used during the execution of this program. do.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of in-memory information output processing in one embodiment of the present invention.

This in-memory information output process is performed by turning on a designated switch circuit in the in-memory information output process starting section 5 (301).

An interrupt signal is generated to the CPU section 1.

When the CPU section 1 receives this interrupt signal.

Disconnect the memory unit 2 that had been used until then and connect the memory unit 6 for processing information output in the engineering/F memory 302).
Execution of the program stored in the I/F memory internal information internal information output processing memo 9 part 6 is started (303).

In this way, the output process of the information in the memory is started.

It also stores a program for reading the I/F memory internal information output processing memo 9 part 6 memory part 2, extracting necessary data, and outputting it to the printer 4, and an area used during the execution of this program. do.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a memory section for processing information output in the interface memory in one embodiment of the present invention.

The program stored in this area is composed of an I/F memory internal information output processing procedure storage section 31, a constant data storage section 32, and a variable data storage section 33.

I/F memory internal information internal information output processing procedure storage section 31 stores a processing procedure (program) for outputting necessary information inside the memory of the printer I/F to the printer 4.

In this program, the in-memory information output processing starting section 5 interrupts the CPU section 1 of the printer I/F, and the CPU
The section 1 is executed by replacing the memory section 2 that was previously used with the I/F memory internal information output processing memo section 9 section 6.

Further, the fixed data storage section 32 stores variables that are always placed in a fixed position in the memory section 2 among the variables used in the I/F memory internal information output processing procedure (referred to as an output program).

Further, the variable data storage section 33 stores variables used in the output program that are temporarily used only when performing a specific process and are not always stored in a fixed memory location.

Note that the memory unit 2 has almost the same structure as these, but a firmware program for the printer 4 is stored in place of the I/F memory internal information output processing procedure storage part and the output program.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of interface/memory information output processing in one embodiment of the present invention.

Regarding the output processing of this output program, when the output program is started, first, the fixed data storage portion of the memory section 2 is transferred to the I/F memory internal information internal information output processing memo 9 section 6 fixed data storage section through the CPU section 1. Read into portion 32 (304).

Next, organize the necessary data from the loaded information (3
05).

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a method for retrieving information in a memory according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of outputting internal information of a printer interface according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Regarding this organizing method, the position of each variable is always fixed in the fixed data storage part of the memory unit 2, and these positions can be known in advance. , I/F memory internal information internal information output processing memo 9 part 6, and the fixed data storage part of the memory part 2 store in advance the position information of each key variable.

Furthermore, the fixed data in the fixed data storage part of the memory unit 2 as shown in (a) is read into the I/F memory internal information output processing memo 9 part 6 fixed data storage part 32 as shown in (b), As shown in (c), necessary information is extracted from the thus read fixed data and the position information of each variable and output to the printer (306).

For example, in this embodiment, if a trouble occurs while the operator is using the printer 4 and the printer stops printing, the operator notifies the data processing device repair worker of the status at the time of the trouble. There is a need to.

In this case, when the operator turns on a specific switch provided on the printer I/F connected to the data processing device, the CPU unit 1 in the printer I/F transfers the memory to be used from the memory unit 2 to the I/F. F memory internal information Internal information output processing memo 9 unit 6 is replaced, data useful for investigating the cause is extracted from the data in the memory unit 2, and outputted to the printer 4 as shown in FIG. 6, for example.

This output data i is found t lp 1pd
evo), address (00037596), number of times data (1pr et ry), etc. are shown.

In this way, even an operator with little knowledge about data processing equipment can output detailed information in the printer I/F, which could not be retrieved in the past, to the printer and notify the data processing equipment repair worker. be able to.

Effects According to the present invention, printer I/O, which was previously impossible, can be realized.
Detailed internal information when F is operating can be extracted.

Furthermore, since the operating method is simple, even an operator with insufficient knowledge of data processing devices can extract important data.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a configuration diagram of a printer interface (printer I/F) in an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 is a diagram of an interface memory (I/F memory) for white information output processing in an embodiment of the present invention. A configuration diagram of the memory section, FIG. 3 is a flowchart of in-memory information output processing in an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a flowchart of interface memory (I/F memory) white information output processing in an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a method for retrieving information in memory in an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
), FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of printer output processing in a conventional office computer, and FIG. 8 is an example diagram of internal information storage in a conventional data processing device.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional method of collecting operational information of a printer interface. 1: CPU section, 2: Memory section, 3: Output data adjustment section,
4: Printer, 5: In-memory information output processing startup section, 6:
Interface memory (I/F memory) white information output processing memory section, 31: Interface memory (I/F memory)
Memory) White information output processing procedure storage part, 32: Fixed data storage part. 33: variable data storage part, 61: user program, 62: operating system (O8). 63: Farm program. Patent applicant Rico Co., Ltd. - No. 1
Figure (print data from data processing device) 2nd
Figure To the CPU section of the printer I/F Figure 3 Figure Figure 6 """ f-1p -1p-devQ * * Umbrella
p00037596 1pjlag O 1p-flg-m 00 1p-fig-io. 1p-retry 00 1p-flg-ho. lp-flg-b 00 1p-dmapo 0 1p-f'lag O 1p-flg-m, 00 1p-rIg-13e lp-retry QQ lp-flg-h 31 1p-f'Ig-b 80 1p-dmapo 817901760 No.
7 Figure

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In a printer interface that includes a memory and arithmetic/control means, is connected to a data processing device and a printer, and exchanges information between the data processing device and the printer, the information in the memory in the printer interface is and means for storing a program for organizing and outputting to the printer, an environment for executing the program, and a means for causing arithmetic/control means in the printer interface to execute the program, A printer interface characterized in that internal information when an error or trouble occurs in the printer interface is output to the printer.