JPH0477816A - Print information relay device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the size of a print information repeating device by providing a switch means between a connector connectable to a host equipment or a printer and a holding means which holds the print information received from the host equipment to alternatively switch the information transmitting direction. CONSTITUTION:A host equipment is connected to a connector 32, and a switch means 39 is switched to the input side so as to hold the print information by a holding means 35. Then the connection is released between the host equipment and the connector 32, and a printer is connected to the connector 32. Then the means 39 is changed to the output side so as to transfer the print information held by the means 35 to the printer. Thus a connector applying a common protocol is shared in the input and output operations of the print information. Therefore the number of necessary buffers an;d connectors can be decreased. Then the size of a print information repeating device is reduced.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] Regarding a print information relay device, the purpose of which is to reduce the size of the device or improve the flexibility of storage capacity, is to provide a connector that can be connected to a host device or a printer, and a connector that can be connected to a host device or a printer, a holding means for holding print information from a host device to be printed, and a switching means interposed between the connector and the holding means to selectively switch the direction of information transmission; The device is characterized by applying a common program 1.71 to 1.71, or by using a 3-state circuit for the switching device, or by detachably attaching auxiliary storage device that complements the information retention function of the storage device. The present invention is characterized in that it is attached to the host device, or that it is characterized in that it is equipped with a selection means for selecting information stored in the holding means or the auxiliary storage means in accordance with a command from the host device.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a print information relay device, and more particularly to a print information relay device such as a printer buffer, which relays print information output from a host device to a printer while performing storage processing, code conversion processing, etc.

When printing the processing results of a computer or various data processing devices (hereinafter referred to as boss 1 to devices) using a printer, normally the host device and printer are connected as shown in Figure 4, and the print information from the post device is printed. Transfer to a printer and print out.

However, 1. With such a direct connection, the host device is in a processing waiting state while printing out, and the host device cannot perform any work during this time, which reduces work efficiency, especially when printing a large amount of data. becomes worse.

Therefore, as shown in Fig. 5, a print information relay device such as a printer buffer is interposed between the post equipment and the printer, and this print information relay device executes information storage processing, coat conversion processing, etc. Sometimes I let it happen.

[Conventional technology]

As a conventional print information relay device of this type, for example,
There is something like the one shown in the figure.

In FIG. 6, 10 is a host device, 11 is a printing information storage device also called a printer buffer, and 12 is a printer.

The print information storage device 11 receives print information (for example, information based on the Centronics standard) from the host device 1o through a human connector 13, and sends this print information to a CPU (central processor) via an input connector 14.
unit) 15, and stores the imported print information in RAM (random access memory).
16, and the stored print information can be extracted and transferred to the printer 12 via the output buffer 17 and output connector 18. Incidentally, 20 is a ROM (read only memory) that stores control programs for importing, storing, and retrieving data.
).

When such a print information storage device 11 is used, the print information storage device 11 becomes a virtual printer when viewed from the post device 10. Therefore, data can be transferred from the post device 10 at high speed without considering the printing speed of Blink I2, and after the print information is transferred, other processing can be executed on the host device 10, improving work efficiency. can.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, since such conventional devices have a configuration in which a connector and a wire sofa are provided for each input and output, it is particularly difficult to transfer a large number of signals in parallel, such as printing information based on the Centronics standard. There were problems that needed to be solved, such as the size of the connector and the size of the buffer corresponding to the number of connectors (as a result, the device became larger and the cost increased).

Further, since the capacity of the RAM for temporarily storing print information is limited, there is a problem in that it is not possible to handle a case where a large amount of information is transferred from a host device. It is also possible to prepare a large amount of RAM in advance,
Such a plan must have the maximum possible RAM capacity, considering that most printed information has a small capacity.
This is systemically wasteful and cannot be said to be a suitable countermeasure.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to reduce the size of the device or improve the flexibility of the storage capacity.

[Failure to solve the problem]

A connector connectable to a host device or a printer, a holding means for holding print information input from the host device via the connector, and a holding means interposed between the connector and the holding means to select the direction of information transmission. A common protocol for printer interfaces is applied to the connector, or a 3-stay 1 circuit is used for the switching means, or the holding It is characterized by detachably attaching auxiliary storage means that complements the information retention function of the means, or includes selection means for selecting information stored in the storage means or auxiliary storage means in accordance with commands from the post device. It is characterized by

[Operation] In the present invention, after connecting the host device and the connector, switching the switching means to the input side to cause the holding means to hold the print information, and then disconnecting the host device and the connector,
A new connector is connected to the printer, the switching means is switched to the output side, and the printing information in the holding means is transferred to the printer. Therefore, one connector to which a common protocol is applied is shared for inputting and outputting print information, reducing the number of connectors and buffers, and making the device more compact.

Or, if the print information exceeds the capacity of the storage means,
By simply attaching to the device an auxiliary storage means having a capacity sufficient to compensate for the insufficient capacity, it is possible to easily handle a large amount of printed information, thereby increasing the flexibility of the storage capacity.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained based on the drawings.

1 to 3 are diagrams showing an embodiment of a print information relay device according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a print information relay device (hereinafter abbreviated as this device) 30 has a connector 32 attached to a case 31, and a human output buffer circuit 33 inside the case 31;
CPU (central processor)
unit) 34; RAM as a holding means (r
andom access memory) 35;
ROM (read only
) 36 i person output switching unit 37; and battery 3
8;

The connector 32 has its pin arrangement set by applying a common protocol such as the Centronics interface, and has a structure to which each transfer cable from a host device and a printer (not shown) can be selectively and detachably connected. . That is, a transfer cable from a host device or a transfer cable from a printer is connected to the connector 32.

The input/output buffer circuit 33 is for switching the data transfer direction between the connector 32 and the human output buffer circuit 33, and a 3-state circuit is used for this purpose. That is, the human output buffer circuit 33 receives the C applied to the terminal A.
According to the switching command signal Sa from PU34, terminal B −
For example, when Sa is at high level, the transfer direction is changed from terminal B to terminal C, and
When a is at a low level, the transfer direction is from terminal C to B direction.

This makes it possible to avoid collisions between input and output signals.

The CPU 34 has a function as a selection means, and the ROM 3
Execute the program stored in 6 and set the switching signal Sa.
and clock signal X, etc., as well as printing information, etc.
character code and control code) and stores it in RAM35.
In addition to performing various controls such as storing print information and retrieving print information from the RAM 35, it also performs input/output control of print information and the like to an auxiliary storage device, which will be described later.

The input/output switching unit 37 sets either a mode for importing print information etc. into the device 30 (hereinafter referred to as input mode) or a mode for taking out print information etc. from this device 30 (hereinafter referred to as output mode). , the signal Sm does not indicate the mode state.
is output to the CPU 34.

The above input/output buffer circuit 33, CPU 34, ROM 3
6 and the person/output switching section 37 together constitute a switching means 39. Note that the battery 38 is a power source for the device 30, and also serves as a backup power source for R, A, and M2S.

This embodiment includes the following configuration in addition to the above two.

That is, the connector 4 for connecting external memory is installed in the case 31.
0 is attached to the connector 40, and an auxiliary storage device (auxiliary storage means) 41 is detachably attached to the connector 40. The auxiliary storage device 41 includes a RAM 42 (case 31
(referred to as an external RAM to distinguish it from the internal RAM 35) and a battery 43 that supplies power to the external RAM 42,
Print information, etc. is written to the external RAM 42 via the CPU 34, and the written print information, etc. is written to the CPU 3.
4. It is desirable to use an IC card as the auxiliary storage device 41, and to prepare a plurality of auxiliary storage devices 41 with different capacities in advance.

In such a configuration, the connection state of the host device, printer, and this device 30 is shown as shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b). FIG. 2(a) is a diagram when a host device and this device 30 are connected and print information etc. from a post device is imported into this device 30. This device 30 has an auxiliary storage device of an appropriate capacity. 41 is attached. Here, the capacity required for the auxiliary storage device 41 is such that printing information, etc.
This is the capacity that is expected to be insufficient if the print information capacity is xMb and stored in RAM35.
If the capacity of 5 is yMb, x-y=zMb (however, X
y) is used.

On the other hand, if you want to transfer the imported print information etc. to Blink, the connection shown in Figure 2(b) will be used.
A printer is connected to the computer instead of the host device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the main part of the control program executed by the CPU 34.

First, in step SIO, the mode signal Sm from the input/output switching unit 37 is checked and it is determined whether the mode is to take in print information from the post device (input mode) or to write print information to the printer (output mode). Determine.

When in the input mode, CPt is set at step S, 312.
J34 and the buffer 33 are set to input mode, and when a start command is detected in step S13, data from the host device is taken in in step 314, and data is stored in the RAM 35.
At the same time, the amount exceeding the capacity of the RAM 35 is written to the auxiliary storage device 41 and written to the external RAM 42 in step srs.

In addition, in the output mode, step 317 and S
+IIT: CPU 34 and buffer 33 are set to output mode, and in step Sl'l it is determined whether or not the printer is waiting for data input; if it is waiting for input, step S
In step S20, data is read from the RAM 35 and external RAM 42, and in step S2I, the read data is output to the printer.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the single connector 32 to which a common protocol is applied and the input/output cover couch 33 for selectively switching the data transfer direction are provided, the host device and the printer can be connected to one connector. The input/output connector 32 can be shared, the number of parts can be reduced, the device can be made smaller, and costs can be reduced. In addition, RAM3
5 is always powered by a battery, the device 30 can be carried around while storing print information, for example, and can also be used as a portable storage device.

In addition, since it is equipped with a removable auxiliary storage device 41 such as an IC card, just by replacing this auxiliary storage device 41, the device capacity can be set to the optimum capacity according to the capacity of printing information, making the storage capacity flexible. It is possible to improve sexual performance.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, one connector can be shared between a host device and a printer, and the device can be downsized.

Alternatively, it is possible to provide a print information relay device whose capacity can be easily changed and whose storage capacity has improved flexibility.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 3 are diagrams showing an embodiment of the print information relay device according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram thereof, and FIG. Connection diagram, ■ Figure 2 (b) is a connection diagram when outputting the print information to the printer, Figure 3 is the control program flowchart I, 4
Figures 6 to 6 are diagrams showing conventional examples, Figure 4 is a connection diagram between the host device and printer, and Figure 5 is a connection diagram in which a printing information relay device is interposed between the POS 1 device and the printer. , Fig. 6 is a block diagram of the print information relay device. 32...Connector, 34...CPU (selection means), 35...
...RAM (holding means), 39... switching means, 41... auxiliary storage device (auxiliary storage means) ■ (a) Figure (b) When outputting print information to a printer Connection diagram of dark control program flowchart

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) A connector connectable to a host device or a printer, a holding means for holding print information input from the host device via the connector, and a direction in which information is transmitted between the connector and the holding means; 1. A printing information relay device, comprising: switching means for selectively switching between the two, wherein a common protocol for a printer interface is applied to the connector. (2) The print information relay device according to claim 1, wherein the switching means uses a three-state circuit. (3) Claim 1 characterized in that an auxiliary storage means is detachably attached to supplement the information holding function of the holding means.
Or the print information relay device according to 2. (4) The print information relay apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a selection means for selecting information stored in the holding means or the auxiliary storage means according to a command from a host device.