JPH0588822A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a printer in which the printing program applicable to a command system used by the host device of a transmitting source is automatically selected. CONSTITUTION:The printer is the printer to perform the printing processing based on data including a character continuous to an extended control character transmitted from host devices 31-33, and equipped with a ROM 11 to include a first storing means to store a printing program in accordance with plural command systems with the different meaning of a character continuous to an extended control character and a second storing means to store the existence of each command system concerning a control character except the character to exist common to all command systems out of the control characters used for plural command systems. A discriminating means to discriminate system the control character included in data sent from the host devices 31-33 exists based on the storage of the second storing means and a means to select the printing program in accordance with the discriminated command system are provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer, and more particularly to a printer which performs printing processing based on data including control characters including characters following extended control characters transmitted from a host device.

In this specification, a control character in a narrow sense is a normal control character different from a character following an extended control character, and a control character in a broad sense is a control character in a narrow sense and a character following an extended control character. I will refer to the characters including. "Control character" used in the claims is a control character in a broad sense.

[0003]

[Prior Art]

In a printer with many functions,
A single control character (control characte
In addition to r), an extended control character (ESC: escape character) is often used in order to diversify control commands. Extended control characters are the following characters
It is a character that has a different meaning from that of a single character.

The meaning of the character following the extended control character is not unified by each maker. For this reason, a printer provided with only a printing program corresponding to the command system of a specific manufacturer will not operate normally when a host computer of another manufacturer is connected.

Therefore, in order to provide a single printer with versatility, a plurality of print programs corresponding to a plurality of command systems in which the meanings of the characters following the extended control characters are different are provided. Among them, a printer having a command system selection key for selecting a printing program suitable for the command system used by the host computer has been developed.

[0007]

In the above printer, the operator has to select a program type suitable for the command system used by the host computer, and the operation is troublesome and the operator makes a selection operation. There is a problem in that the printer does not operate normally when is incorrect.

The present invention is suitable for a command system used by a host device of a transmission source in a printer having a plurality of printing programs respectively corresponding to a plurality of command systems having different meanings of characters following an extended control character. To provide a printer in which the selected printing program is automatically selected.

[0009]

A printer according to the present invention is a printer which performs a printing process based on data containing control characters including characters following an extended control character transmitted from a host device, A first storage means for storing a plurality of printing programs according to a plurality of command systems in which meanings of characters following the extended control characters are different,
Among all the control characters used in the above command systems, at least for each control character other than the one that is common to all the command systems, the presence or absence of the existence for each command system is stored. By determining in which command system the control character included in the data sent from the second storage means, the host device exists, based on the data stored in the second storage means, The determination means for determining which of the plurality of command systems the data sent from the host device belongs to, and the command system determined to belong to the data sent from the host device It is characterized in that it is provided with a selecting means for selecting a corresponding printing program.

It is preferable to provide display means for displaying which command system of the plurality of command systems the selected printing program is.

A third storage means for storing the priority of the plurality of command systems is provided, and the presence of each of the control characters used in the plurality of command systems in the second storage means for each command system. Whether or not the control character included in the data sent from the host device exists in the command system is stored in order from the command system with the lowest priority. Then, the command system determined that the control character does not exist is excluded from the selection target, and when there is only one command system not excluded from the selection target, the one command system is transferred to the host. It is determined that the command system to which the data sent from the device belongs belongs, and whether the above control characters exist in the command system for all command systems. As a result of the determination, if there are two or more command systems not excluded from the selection target, the control character is selected from other control characters included in the data sent from the host device. It is also possible to discriminate whether or not the remaining command system exists in each command system.

Then, as for the control characters in the required amount of received data, it is determined whether or not the control characters are present in each of the above command systems, and as a result, when there are two or more command systems not excluded from the selection target. The command system having the higher priority among the command systems not excluded from the selection target may be determined to be the command system to which the data sent from the host device belongs.

When the data amount for all pages is equal to or more than the capacity of the reception buffer, the required amount of reception data is set as the reception data for the capacity of the reception buffer stored in the reception buffer after the start of reception, and all pages are received. If the amount of data for the entire page is less than the capacity of the receive buffer and the received data for the capacity of the receive buffer is not stored in the receive buffer and data reception for all pages is completed, the data is stored in the receive buffer after the start of reception. The received data of all pages to be processed may be used. Whether or not the data reception for all pages is completed is determined, for example, by whether or not the data reception interval is equal to or longer than a predetermined reference time. The reference time is set by the reference time setting means, for example.

It is preferable to provide an input means for setting the priority. Further, when the selected printing program is not the one with the highest priority, a means for automatically changing the priority of the selected printing program and the printing program with the highest current priority may be provided. Good.

Further, when a plurality of host interfaces for simultaneously connecting a plurality of host devices are connected to the printer, an input means for setting the priority order for each host interface may be provided.

[0016]

The first storage means stores a plurality of printing programs corresponding to a plurality of command systems having different meanings of characters following the extended control characters. Further, in the second storage means, among all the control characters used in the plurality of command systems, at least each of the control characters other than those common to all the command systems,
Presence or absence of each command system is stored.

When data is sent from the host device,
Whether the control character (a character following the extended control character or a normal narrow control character) contained in the data sent from the host device exists in which command system is stored in the second storage means. By determining based on the existing data, it is determined to which command system of the plurality of command systems the data sent from the host device belongs. Then, the print program corresponding to the command system determined to belong to the data sent from the host device is selected, and the print process is executed by the selected print program.

[0018]

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

FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of the printer system.

The printer is controlled by the CPU 10. The CPU 10 includes a ROM 11 and a RAM via a bus.
12, an EEPROM 13, an operation panel 14, a printer engine interface 15, etc. are connected. A DMA control circuit 16 is further connected to the bus. A printer engine 17 is connected to the printer engine interface 15.

The ROM 11 stores the program of the CPU 10 and other data. The program includes a plurality of printing programs corresponding to a plurality of command systems in which the characters following the extended control characters have different meanings. Here, it is assumed that a plurality of print programs corresponding to the command systems of Company A, Company B, and Company C in which the meanings of the characters following the extended control characters are different are stored.

The RAM 12 stores necessary data. The EEPROM 13 stores predetermined setting contents. The operation panel 14 includes various operation keys such as a reference time setting key and a priority setting key, a display device, and the like.

Three host computers 31, 32, 33 are connected to the CPU 10 via three host interfaces 21, 22, 23. The host interface 21 is connected to the P1 port of the CPU 10, the host interface 22 is connected to the P2 port of the CPU 10, and the host interface 23 is connected to the P3 port of the CPU 10.

Table 1 is a control character table used for the command system of Company A, Table 2 is a control character table used for the command system of Company B, and Table 3 is a control character table used for the command system of Company C. , Respectively.

[0025]

[Table 1]

[0026]

[Table 2]

[0027]

[Table 3]

In each control character table, the upper four lines show the control characters in a narrow sense, and the fifth and subsequent lines show the characters that are used following the extended control characters. In each control character table, "N
"ULL" indicates that no character exists.

The characters that can be used are determined for each position (code number) in each control character table, but the meaning of the characters that are used after the extended control character differs depending on the company.

Looking closely at each control character table of each of these companies,
Depending on the company, there are characters that do not exist and characters that do not exist even at the same position in each control character table. For example, in the first column of the last line of each control character table, company B has the character "x".
Exists, and no characters exist in Company A and Company B.

FIG. 2 shows a part of the contents of the ROM 11.

In the ROM 11, each host computer 3
Input port-specific interrupt processing program for storing data from 1, 32, and 33 in the reception buffer, and for counting a reference time used for determining whether or not data reception for all pages is completed Standard time clock processing program, print program automatic selection processing program for automatically selecting print programs of company A, company B and company C that match the received data, compatible with command systems of company A, company B and company C A plurality of printing programs and the like are stored.

All the control characters used in the control character tables of companies A, B, and C are stored in the ROM 11 (control characters in a broad sense, including characters following the extended character and control characters in a narrow sense). For each of the above, a company-specific control character presence / absence table storing data indicating the presence / absence of each company is provided. Further, the ROM 11 stores a reference value Ko1 used to determine whether or not the amount of data sent after the start of reception reaches the capacity of the reception buffer.

FIG. 3 shows a part of the contents of the RAM 12.

The RAM 12 has a reception data storage area used as a reception buffer, a bitmap expansion area used as a bitmap memory, an area used as an exclusive control determination flag F1, an area used as a reception buffer full flag F2, and all ports. An area used as the reception prohibition state flag F3, an area used as the transmission end determination flag F4, an area used as the command system selection target exclusion flag Fa for A company, an area used as the command system selection target exclusion flag Fb for B company, Command system selection target exclusion flag Fc for company C
Area used as a counter, an area used as a counter (first counter) for counting the amount of received data (the number of times of receiving data for one word), an area for storing a reference value Ko2 corresponding to the reference time, and a reference time. An area used as a counter (second counter) for timing, A
Areas and the like are provided for storing the order of priority of command systems for companies B, C, and C.

The exclusive control determination flag F1 is a flag for storing that only one of the P1, P2 and P3 ports of the CPU 10 is in the interrupt-released state (enable). Receive buffer full flag F2
Is a flag for storing that the amount of data sent after the start of reception has reached the capacity of the reception buffer. The all-port reception prohibited state flag F3 is set to P1 and P2 of the CPU 10.
And all P3 ports are in interrupt disabled state (disn
This flag is a flag for storing that it has been set to "able".
The transmission end determination flag F4 is a flag for storing that the data reception for all pages has been completed.

Command system selection target exclusion flag F for company A
“A” is a flag for storing that the command system for company A has been excluded from the selection target in the execution process of the print program automatic selection process described later. The company B command system selection target exclusion flag Fb is a flag for storing that the company B command system is excluded from the selection targets during the execution process of the print program automatic selection processing. The command system selection target exclusion flag Fc for C company is a flag for storing that the command system for C company is excluded from the selection target in the execution process of the print program automatic selection processing.

Each flag F1, F2, F3, F4, Fa,
Fb and Fc and respective counters k1 and k2 are
It is reset (“0”) in the initial setting after the power is turned on.

The reference time can be set by the operator using a reference time setting key provided on the operation panel 14, for example, at intervals of 5 seconds within a range of 5 seconds to 55 seconds.

The priorities of the command systems for the companies A, B, and C are set by the priority setting keys provided on the operation panel 14. Here, it is assumed that the priorities are set in the order of Company A, Company B, and Company C from the highest priority.

FIG. 4 shows a P1 port interrupt processing procedure when data is sent from the host computer 31 to the P1 port of the CPU 10 via the host interface 21.

FIG. 5 shows a reference time counting processing procedure which is constantly executed by the CPU 10.

6 and 7 show the print program automatic selection processing procedure executed by the CPU 10.

The P1 port interrupt processing of FIG. 4 will be described. When one word of data is sent from the host computer 31 to the P1 port of the CPU 10 via the host interface 21, the BU is sent to the host computer 31.
The SY state signal is sent and the exclusive control determination flag F
It is determined whether 1 is set (F1 = 1) (step 1). If the exclusive control determination flag F1 is not set (F1 = 0), it is determined that all of P1, P2, and P3 are in the interrupt-disabled state, and the B port and the C port are in the interrupt disabled state (disabled).
(Step 2). Also, P1 and P of the CPU 10
Of the 2 and P3 ports, the exclusive control determination flag F1 is set (F1 = 1) to store that only the P1 port is in the interrupt-prohibited state (step 3).

The received data for one word is stored in the RAM 12
Is stored in the reception data storage area of and the BUSY state is released (step 4). In step 1, when the exclusive control determination flag F1 is set (F1 = 1), it is determined that only the P1 port of the P1, P2 and P3 ports of the CPU 10 is in the interrupt-prohibited state. Without performing steps 2 and 3, the process proceeds to step 4 and the received data is stored in the RAM.
It is stored in the reception data storage area in 12. And
The BUSY state is released.

When the received data is stored in the received data storage area in step 4, the count value k1 of the first counter for counting the amount of received data is incremented (step 5). That is, the first in the RAM 12
The content k1 of the area used as a counter is +1
To be done. Then, it is determined whether or not the updated count value k1 has reached a predetermined reference value Ko1 (step 6).

The count value k1 of the first counter is the reference value K.
If o1 is reached (k1 ≧ Ko1), it is determined that the amount of received data has reached the capacity of the receive buffer (received data storage area of the RAM 12), and the receive buffer full flag F
2 is set (F2 = 1) (step 7). Then, the second counter for measuring the reference time is reset (step 8). That is, the second in the RAM 12
The content k2 of the area used as a counter is "
It is set to 0 ".

If the count value k1 of the first counter does not reach the reference value Ko1 in step 6 (k1 <Ko1), the process proceeds to step 8 without setting the reception buffer full flag F2, and the second counter Is reset.

Even when data is sent from the host computer 32 to the P2 port of the CPU 10 via the host interface 22, the same P2 port interrupt processing as in FIG. 4 is performed. At 2, the P1 and P3 ports are disabled. Also, when data is sent from the host computer 33 to the P3 port of the CPU 10 via the host interface 23, the same P3 port interrupt processing as in FIG. 4 is performed, but in that case, step 2 At, the P1 and P2 ports are disabled.

The reference time counting process of FIG. 5 will be described. In this process, when the power is turned on, first,
Wait for one second to elapse (step 11), and if one second elapses, all ports reception prohibited state flag F3 is set (F
3 = 1) is determined (step 1)
2). The all-port reception prohibited state flag F3 indicates that the CPU 10
All of the A, B and C ports of the
It is a flag for storing that it is "enabled". This all-port reception prohibited state flag F3 is
When printing is in progress, when the printer cover is open, or when there is no recording paper, P1, P2
Set when reception of data to the printer from all ports of P3 and P3 is prohibited (F3 = 1), and reset when these conditions are avoided (F3 =
0).

If the all port reception prohibition state flag F3 is not set (F3 = 0), the count value k2 of the second counter for counting the reference time is incremented (step 13). That is, the second in the RAM 12
The content k2 of the area used as a counter is +1
To be done. If the all-port reception prohibited flag F3 is set (F3 = 1), data reception from all ports P1, P2, and P3 is prohibited. The operation returns to step 11 without any operation, and steps 11 and 1 are repeated until the all-port reception prohibited state flag F3 is reset.
The process of 2 is repeated.

When the count value k2 is updated in step 13, it is determined whether or not the updated count value k2 has reached a predetermined reference value Ko2 (step 1
4). If the count value k2 of the second counter has not reached the reference value Ko2 (k2 <Ko2), the process returns to step 11, and the processes of steps 11 to 14 are repeated.

When the count value k2 reaches the reference value Ko2 (k2 ≧ Ko2), it is determined whether or not the print program automatic selection process is being executed (step 15). If the print program automatic selection process is not in the middle of execution, that is, if the previous print program automatic selection process is completed, the print program automatic selection process is executed for the next received data. Then, the print program automatic selection process is restarted (step 16).

After all the ports P1, P2 and P3 are set to the interrupt-prohibited state (step 17), the exclusive control determination flag F1 is reset (F1 = 0) (step 18). Then, after the second counter is reset (step 21), that is, the content k2 of the area used as the second counter in the RAM 12 becomes "
After being set to 0 ", the process returns to step 11.

Therefore, for example, after the second counter is reset in step 8 after the P2 and P3 ports are set to the interrupt disabled state in step 2 of the P1 port interrupt processing, the next received data for one word is sent. When the reference time elapses before the second counter is reset again in step 8, the P2 and P3 ports are set to the interrupt-prohibited state.

That is, the P1, P2 and P3 ports are
It is normally in the interrupt-disabled state, and when data is sent to any one of the ports, the other ports are disabled. When all pages of data have been received,
All ports P1, P2 and P3 are disabled. Whether or not the data reception for all pages is completed is performed by determining whether or not the next data is received within the reference time after the data reception is interrupted. When the next data is not received within the reference time, it is determined that the data reception for all pages is completed.

If data is sent to another port, for example, the P2 port while the P1 port interrupt process is being executed, the P2 port is in the interrupt disabled state, and therefore the data is It is not captured and is held in the P2 port. Further, in this case, since the BUSY status signal is sent to the host computer 32, the subsequent data is not sent to the P2 port. The BUSY state is released after the data held in the P2 port is fetched.

In Step 2, instead of setting the P2 and P3 ports to the interrupt disabled state, a BUSY status signal is sent to the host computers 32 and 33 corresponding to the P2 and P3 ports, and in Step 15, all ports are interrupted. The BUSY state for all the host computers 31, 32, 33 may be released instead of the unlocked state. Even in this case, a BUSY status signal is sent to the sender when data is sent to each port, and a BUSY for the sender when the data is taken in.
There is no substitute for the condition being released.

If it is determined in step 15 that the automatic print program selection process is being executed,
It is determined whether or not the count value k1 of the first counter is 0 (step 19). The count value k1 of the first counter is 0
If (k1 = 0), it is determined that the print program automatic selection processing has started but no data is transmitted to the CPU 10 from the host computer 31, 32, or 33, and the second counter is reset (step 2).
1) Return to step 11.

When the count value k1 of the first counter is not 0, that is, when it is 1 or more, it is determined that the data reception for all pages is completed, and the transmission completion determination flag F4 is set (F4 = 1). (Step 20). And
After the second counter is reset (k2 = 0) (step 21), the process returns to step 11.

The print program automatic selection processing procedure of FIGS. 6 and 7 will be described. This processing is executed when the power is turned on and when the print program automatic selection processing is restarted in step 16 of the reference time counting processing.

In this process, first, the selection exclusion flags Fa, Fb, Fc and the reception buffer full flag F are selected.
2. The transmission end flag F4 and the first counter are reset (step 31). Then, the storage location (final storage location) where the last received data is written in the received data storage area of the RAM 12 is set as the final search location (step 32).

Then, processing for selecting key data for command system discrimination is performed. That is, RA
The storage location where the last received data is written (final storage location) in the received data storage area of M12, and the storage location that was searched last for the key data selection (final storage location) (final storage location). It is determined whether the search location) is the same (step 33).

When the final storage location and the final search location are the same, the reception buffer full flag F2 for storing that the amount of data received after the start of reception has reached the capacity of the reception data storage area is set. It is determined whether or not it has been done (step 34). Receive buffer full flag F
If 2 is not set (F2 = 0), it is determined whether or not the transmission end determination flag F4 that stores the end of data reception for all pages is set (step 35). If the transmission end determination flag F4 is not set (F4 = 0), the process returns to step 33.

After the print program automatic selection process is started, when no data has been sent, the final search location is set to the final storage location in step 32, so YES is returned in step 33. If NO in step 34, then step 35
Results in NO. Therefore, the steps 33, 34 and 35 are repeated until data is sent after the print program automatic selection process is started.

When data is sent after the print program automatic selection process is started and the received data is stored in the received data storage area of the RAM 12, the final storage location changes, so that the final storage location and the final search location are changed. Are no longer in agreement, the result in step 33 is NO and RAM1
The data in the storage location next to the current final search location in the two received data storage areas is searched. Then, it is judged whether or not the searched data is key data for judging the command system (step 37). That is, it is determined whether or not the retrieved data is a control character (a control character in a broad sense, including the character next to the extended control character and the control character).

If the retrieved data is not key data, the process returns to step 33. If the retrieved data is key data, the command system selection processing based on this key data is executed. That is, the command system having the lowest priority, that is, the command system of company C in this example, is selected as the determination target (step 38).

Then, it is judged whether or not the command system of the company C is excluded from the selection target based on the state of the selection target exclusion flag for the selected command system, here the flag Fc (step 39). .. Unless the command system of company C is excluded from the selection target (Fc =
0), it is determined whether or not the selected key data exists in the control character table of company C (step 40). That is, R
By referring to the area corresponding to the key data in the control character presence / absence table for C company in OM11, it is determined whether or not the selected key data exists in the control character table of C company.

If the selected key data does not exist in the control character table of company C, the command system of company C is excluded from the selection targets (step 41). Specifically, C
Selection target exclusion flag Fc for a company is set (Fc =
1) is done. Then, based on the states of the selection target exclusion flags Fa, Fb, and Fc of the companies A, B, and C, it is determined whether or not there is only one command system remaining as a selection target (step 42).

When there is not one command system remaining as the selection target, that is, when there are two or more command systems, it is determined whether or not the command system currently selected as the determination target is the command system with the highest priority. (Step 43).

If it is determined in step 39 that the key data does not exist in the selection target, or if it is determined in step 40 that the key data exists in the control character table, the process proceeds to step 43 and is currently selected as the determination target. It is determined whether or not the command system in use has the highest priority.

When the command system currently selected as the determination target is not the command system with the highest priority, the command system having one higher priority than the command system currently selected as the determination target, in this example. The command system of company B is selected as a judgment target (step 44).

Then, returning to step 39, it is judged whether or not the command system of the company B is excluded from the selection target based on the state of the selection target exclusion flag Fb for the company B. If the command system of company B is not excluded from the selection target (Fb = 0), whether the selected key data exists in the control character table of company B based on the control character presence / absence table for company B. It is determined (step 40). Then, if the selected key data does not exist in the control character table of company B, the command system of company B is excluded from the selection targets (step 41). Specifically, the selection target flag Fb for company B is set (Fb = 1).

Then, it is judged whether or not there is only one command system remaining as a selection target (step 42). If there are two or more command systems remaining as selection targets (NO in step 42), that is, if at least one of the command systems of company C and company B is not excluded, the command system of company C is the selection target. If it is determined that the command system of company B is not selected in step 39, or step 4 above.
When it is determined that the key data exists in the control character table of the company B in 0, it is determined whether or not the command system currently selected as the determination target is the command system with the highest priority (step 43). ..

If the currently selected command system is not the command system having the highest priority, the command system having the next priority, that is, the command system of the company A in this example is selected (step 44). ..

Then, based on the state of the selection object exclusion flag Fa for the company A, it is judged whether the command system of the company A is excluded from the selection objects (step 3).
9). If the command system of the company A is not excluded from the selection target (Fa = 0), whether the selected key data exists in the control character table of the company A based on the control character presence / absence table for the company A. It is determined (step 40). Then, if the selected key data does not exist in the control character table of the company A, the command system of the company A is excluded from the selection targets (step 41). Specifically, the selection target exclusion flag Fa for company A is set (Fa = 1).

Then, it is judged whether or not there is only one command system remaining as a selection target (step 42). When there are two or more command systems remaining as selection targets, it is determined that both the command systems of company C and company B remain as selection targets, and the command system of company A is not selected in step 39 above. If it is determined that the key data exists in the control character table in step 40, it is determined whether the command system currently selected as the determination target is the command system with the highest priority ( Step 43).

If the command system currently selected as the determination target is the command system having the highest priority, the process returns to step 33, and the last received data is written in the storage area of the RAM 12 where the received data is written. It is determined whether the storage location is the same as the last search location of the storage locations already searched for the key data selection.

If the final storage location of the received data and the final search location are different, that is, if there is data in the received data storage area that has not been searched for the key data selection, the final search location The data in the storage location next to is retrieved (step 36), and if the retrieved data is key data (step 37), step 38
Then, based on the key data, the above steps 38-
44 command system selection processing is performed. If it is not key data, the process returns to step 33.

In step 33, if the final storage location of the received data and the final search location are the same,
Based on the state of the reception buffer full flag F2, it is determined whether the amount of data received after the start of reception has reached the capacity of the reception data storage area (step 3).
4).

When the reception buffer full flag F2 is set (F2 = 1), that is, when the amount of data received after the start of reception reaches the capacity of the reception data storage area, reception is started. From the result, after the command system selection processing of steps 38 to 44 is performed for all the key data in the received data for the capacity of the received data storage area, it is determined that two or more command systems remain to be selected, Go to step 45.

When the reception buffer full flag F2 is not set (F2 = 0), that is, when the amount of data received after the start of reception has not reached the capacity of the reception data storage area, the transmission end determination flag F4 is set. Based on the state, it is determined whether or not the data reception for all pages has been completed (step 34).

If the transmission end determination flag F4 is not set (F4 = 0), it is determined that the data transmission for all pages has not been completed, and the process returns to step 33. If the transmission end determination flag F4 is set (F4 = 1), it is determined that the data transmission for all pages has been completed, and the process proceeds to step 45.

If there is only one command system that remains to be selected in step 42, the process proceeds to step 45.

In other words, if there is only one command system remaining as a selection target (YES in step 42), the commands in steps 38 to 44 are executed for all the key data in the received data for the capacity of the received data storage area. When the system selection process is completed and there are two or more command systems that remain to be selected (YES in step 34), the received data amount for all pages is less than or equal to the capacity of the received data storage area and all of the received data are included. When the command system selection processing for the key data is completed and there are two or more command systems remaining as selection targets (step 35).
If YES), the process of step 45 is performed.

At step 45, the command system having the highest priority, that is, the command system of the company A in this example is selected. Whether or not the command system of the company A is the selection target is determined based on the state of the selection target exclusion flag Fa for the company A (step 46). If the command system of company A is selected (Fa = 0), the print program of company A is selected (step 48), and the print program automatic selection processing ends. Then, the printing process is executed based on the printing program of company A.

If the command system of the company A is not the selection target (Fa = 1), the command system having a lower priority by one, that is, the command system of the company B is selected in this example (step 47). Whether the command system of company B is selected or not depends on the selection exclusion flag F for company B.
A determination is made based on the state of b (step 46). If the command system of company B is selected (Fb =
0), the printing program of company B is selected (step 4
8), the print program automatic selection processing ends. Then, the printing process is executed based on the printing program of company B.

If the command system of company B is not the selection target (Fa = 1), the command system of which the priority is one lower than that, that is, the command system of company C is selected (step 47), and C is selected. Whether or not the command system of the company is the selection target is determined based on the state of the selection target exclusion flag Fb for the C company (step 46). A
When the command systems of the company B and the company B are not the selection target, the command system of the company C is always the selection target in this step 46 (Fc = 0).
The printing program of company C is finally selected (step 4
8), the print program automatic selection processing ends. Then, the print processing is executed based on the print program of company C.

In order to clarify the relationship between the processes shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the overall process flow will be described. Figure 6
And, after the print program automatic selection process of FIG. 7 is started and until data is transmitted, step 3
The processes of 3, 34 and 35 are repeated. Then, for example, when one word of data is sent to the P1 port,
The interrupt process (steps 1 to 8) of FIG. 4 is started, storage of received data, counting of the number of receptions by the first counter, and resetting of the second counter are performed. Further, in steps 11 to 14 of the reference time counting process of FIG. 5, the value k2 of the second counter for counting the reference time is updated, but until the data reception for all pages is completed, The data for one word is sent before the time elapses, and the second counter is reset in step 8 of the interrupt processing each time, so that the count value k2 does not reach the reference value Ko2.

When the data reception is started, the result is NO in step 33 of the print program automatic selection processing, and the key data is searched (steps 33 to 37). When the key data is searched, the command system selection process of steps 38 to 44 is performed based on the searched key data. When there is only one command system remaining as a selection target, the print program determination process of steps 45 to 48 is performed, a predetermined print program is selected, and the print program automatic selection process ends. Then, the printing process is performed based on the selected printing program.

After the printing program automatic selection processing is completed, when the reception of the data for all pages is completed, the interrupt processing is not performed until the next data is sent.
The second counter will not be reset. Therefore, if the reference time elapses after the final data of the data for all pages is received, YES in step 14 of the reference time counting process.
Therefore, the process proceeds to step 15. In step 15, since the print program automatic selection process has already been completed, the result is NO, and the process proceeds to steps 16, 17, and 18. As a result, the print program automatic selection process is restarted, all ports are set to the interrupt-prohibited state, and the exclusive control determination flag F1 is reset.

As a result of the command system selection processing in steps 38 to 44 being performed based on the retrieved key data, if there are two or more command systems remaining as selection targets, steps 33, 36 and 37 are followed. Key data is retrieved, and the command system selection processing of steps 38 to 44 is performed again. If the final storage location and the final search location are the same in step 33, the received data amount has not reached the capacity of the reception buffer, and the data reception for all pages has not been completed, step 33, The processes of 34 and 35 are repeated.

If the amount of received data reaches the capacity of the receive buffer while the print program automatic selection process is being performed, the receive buffer full flag F is set in step 7 of the interrupt process.
2 is set. Therefore, when the amount of received data for all pages is greater than or equal to the capacity of the receive buffer, command system selection processing is performed for all key data in the data for the capacity of the receive buffer, and two or more command systems are selected. If it remains, Y in step 34
The process becomes ES, a predetermined print program is selected by the print program determination process of steps 45 to 49, and the print program automatic selection process ends. Then, the printing process is performed based on the selected printing program.

When the amount of received data for all pages is smaller than the capacity of the receive buffer, the reception of data for all pages is completed, and the command system selection processing is performed for all key data in the received data for all pages. Is performed, and when two or more command systems remain to be selected, the processes of steps 33, 34, and 35 are repeated. And
When the reference time elapses after the reception of data for all pages and the process proceeds from step 14 to step 15 of the reference time counting process, 33 to 3 of the automatic printing program selection process are performed.
Since step 5 is being executed, YES in step 15
Then, the process proceeds to steps 19 and 20, and the transmission end flag F
4 is set. As a result, YES in step 35 of the print program automatic selection processing, and steps 45 to 4
A predetermined print program is selected by the print program determination processing of 9, and the print program automatic selection processing ends. Then, the printing process is performed based on the selected printing program.

When the count value k2 of the second counter reaches the reference value Ko2 after the print program automatic selection processing is completed, YES is obtained in step S14, NO is obtained in step S15, and the process proceeds to steps S16, S17 and S18. Therefore,
The print program automatic selection processing is restarted, all ports are set to the interrupt-prohibited state, and the exclusive control flag F1 is reset.

When the amount of received data for all pages is equal to or larger than the capacity of the receiving buffer, and when the printing process is executed, every time data is read from the receiving buffer to create printing data. , The next received data is read into the receive buffer.

In the above embodiment, the host computer 3
Whether the key data contained in the data sent from 1, 32, 33 exists in the command system of each company,
The command system having the lowest priority is determined in order, and the command system determined to have no key data is excluded from the selection targets (steps 38 to 44). And
When only one command system remains as a selection target (YES in step 42), it is determined that the one command system is the command system to which the data sent from the host computers 31, 32, 33 belongs. (Steps 45 to 48 above).

On the other hand, as a result of determining whether or not the key data exists in the command system for all the command systems, if there are two or more command systems remaining to be selected (YES in step 43 above). For other key data included in the data sent from the host computers 31, 32, 33, it is again determined whether or not the key data exists in each command system that remains to be selected. .. In this way, when there is only one command system that remains to be selected, it is determined that this one command system is the command system to which the data sent from the host device belongs (step 45 above). ~ 48).

When the amount of received data for all pages is larger than the capacity of the receiving buffer, the amount of received data for all pages is equal to that of all the key data in the received data for the amount of receiving buffer after the start of reception. If it is smaller than the receive buffer capacity, the result of command system selection processing for each of all the key data in the received data,
If there are two or more command systems that remain to be selected (YES in step 34 or 35 above), the command system with the higher priority is the host computer 3
It is determined that the command system to which the data sent from 1, 32, 33 belongs belongs (steps 45 to 4 above).
8).

When the amount of received data is smaller than the capacity of the receiving buffer, it is determined whether the data reception for all pages is finished or not, and whether the next data is received within the reference time after the data reception is interrupted. When the next data is not received within the reference time after the data reception is interrupted, it is judged that the data reception for all pages is completed (step 35).

If the command system corresponding to the print program selected in step 48 is not the highest in priority, the priority of the command system corresponding to the selected print program and the current priority are the highest. Priority with a higher command system may be automatically exchanged.

Further, the command program to which the printing program selected in step 48 corresponds may be displayed on the display.

In addition, the host interfaces 21, 2
The priority order of the command system may be set for every 2 and 23. In this case, in the print program automatic selection processing, the priority order corresponding to the host interfaces 21, 22, 23 to which the data is sent is used.

[0104]

According to the present invention, the printing program suitable for the command system used by the host device of the transmission source is automatically selected.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an electrical block diagram showing the configuration of a printer system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a part of the contents of ROM 11;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a part of the contents of RAM 12;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an interrupt processing procedure by the CPU 10.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a reference time counting process procedure by the CPU 10.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a print program automatic selection processing procedure by the CPU 10.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a print program automatic selection processing procedure by the CPU 10.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 CPU 11 ROM 12 RAM 14 Operation panel

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A printer that performs print processing based on data including control characters including characters following extended control characters transmitted from a host device, wherein the meaning of characters following extended control characters is defined. The first printing program in which a plurality of printing programs corresponding to different command systems are stored
Storage means, among all control characters used in the above-mentioned plurality of command systems, presence / absence of each control character other than those which are common to all command systems A second storage means for storing the information, and which command system the control character included in the data sent from the host device exists in is discriminated based on the data stored in the second storage means. Thus, it is determined that the data sent from the host device belongs to the command system out of the plurality of command systems, and that the data sent from the host device belongs to. A printer provided with a selection unit for selecting a printing program according to a command system. 2. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying which command system of the plurality of command systems the selected print program is. 3. A third storage means for storing the priority order of the plurality of command systems is provided, and for each of the control characters used for the plurality of command systems in the second storage means, for each command system. The presence or absence thereof is stored in the command system, and the determination means determines whether or not the control character included in the data sent from the host device is present in the command system with a low priority. From the command system that is determined that the control character does not exist, it is excluded from the selection target,
When there is only one command system that is not excluded from the selection targets, it is determined that the one command system is the command system to which the data sent from the host device belongs, and the above control characters for all command systems. If there are two or more command systems that are not excluded from the selection results as a result of determining whether or not exists in the command system, another control character included in the data sent from the host device. 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether or not the control character exists in each command system that remains as a selection target. 4. The printer according to claim 3, further comprising input means for setting the priority order. 5. A means for automatically changing the priority of the selected print program and the print program of the highest current priority when the selected print program is not the highest priority. The printer according to claim 3, wherein the printer is provided. 6. The printer is connected with a plurality of host interfaces for simultaneously connecting a plurality of host devices, and input means is provided for setting the priority order for each host interface. The printer according to claim 3, 7. When the control character in the required amount of received data is determined as to whether or not the control character exists in each of the command systems, and as a result, there are two or more command systems not excluded from the selection target. 4. The printer according to claim 3, wherein the command system having a higher priority among the command systems not excluded from the selection target is the command system to which the data sent from the host device belongs. 8. The required amount of received data is the received data for the capacity of the receiving buffer stored in the receiving buffer after the start of reception when the data amount for all pages is equal to or more than the capacity of the receiving buffer. , If the amount of data for all pages is less than the capacity of the receive buffer and the received data for the amount of the receive buffer is not stored in the receive buffer and the data reception for all pages is completed, receive after the start of reception. 8. The printer according to claim 7, wherein the received data is for all pages stored in the buffer. 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein whether or not the data reception for all pages is completed is determined by whether or not the data reception interval is equal to or longer than a predetermined reference time.
The listed printer. 10. A reference time setting means for setting the reference time is provided.
The listed printer.