JPH10105374A - Information processor and its information transfer method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the information processor and its information transfer method which can change the allocation of communication interfaces and buffers for temporarily storing data according to the use state of the buffers. SOLUTION: Two communication interfaces and two buffers which temporarily store data are made to correspond to each other, one to one; when new print information is inputted to an interface to which print information is not inputted so far, it is stored in a D address first, print information is temporarily inhibited from further being inputted from the interface, after print information which is already stored in a D address and succeeding addresses are expected to be absent, the print information stored in the D address is relocated to the C address and succeeding addresses, thereby restarting the input of new print information from the interface from which print information is temporary inhibited from being inputted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus provided with a plurality of communication interfaces and a plurality of buffers for temporarily storing data, and more particularly, to an information processing apparatus based on externally input print information. The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus for forming a visual image and an information transfer method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printing apparatus as an information processing apparatus has an interface for serial communication or Centronics communication such as RS-232C for receiving print information from an input device such as a computer.

[0003]

However, in the case of a printing apparatus having a plurality of interfaces as described above, the size of the receiving buffer for storing print information is constant for each interface, so that the interface which is always used is used. And a reception buffer of an interface that is not normally used is generated, and there is a disadvantage that the memory use efficiency is reduced.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus capable of changing a plurality of communication interfaces and a plurality of buffers for temporarily storing data in accordance with the use state of the buffers.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention has the following configuration.

That is, in an information processing apparatus provided with a plurality of communication interfaces and a plurality of buffers for temporarily storing data, an identification means for identifying the communication interface receiving the data, and an identification result by the identification means, A buffer control means for controlling allocation of a plurality of communication interfaces and the plurality of buffers is provided.

Preferably, the plurality of buffers have different sizes, and the buffer control means allocates the largest buffer to a communication interface that is currently receiving data. As a result, of the plurality of communication interfaces, the interface that is currently receiving data can always use the largest buffer.

Also, for example, the buffer control means includes:
When the interface that has received the new data is not the communication interface that is receiving the current data, the new data is temporarily stored in a buffer different from the largest buffer among the plurality of buffers. Good. Also, for example, the buffer control unit may be different from the largest buffer when the interface that has received the new data is not the communication interface that is receiving the current data and the largest buffer is empty. The new data temporarily stored in the buffer is
Relocate to the largest buffer. This prevents loss of data input to the interface that has received new data, and also ensures that the interface that is currently receiving data always uses the largest buffer.

Alternatively, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, an information transfer method according to the present invention has the following configuration.

That is, in an information transfer method using a plurality of communication interfaces and a plurality of buffers for temporarily storing data, the communication interface that has received the data is identified and identified. The allocation to the plurality of buffers is changed.

Preferably, the plurality of buffers are allocated so as to have different sizes, and the largest buffer is allocated to a communication interface that is currently receiving data. As a result, of the plurality of communication interfaces, the interface receiving data can always use the largest buffer.

[0012]

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printing apparatus to which the first and second embodiments of the present invention are applied.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a computer which transmits print information including print data and a control code to a printing apparatus 10. The printing apparatus 10 includes a control unit 11, an interface control unit 12, a printing mechanism control unit 13, a memory control unit 14, a memory unit 15, and a printing mechanism unit 16. The control unit 11 controls the entire printing apparatus 10 and controls the arrangement of a reception buffer, which is a storage unit for print data. The interface control unit 12 controls communication with the computer 1 for receiving print information from the computer 1 and identifies an interface for receiving print information. The memory control unit 14 stores the print information received from the computer 1 and the print pattern serving as a visible image in the memory unit 1.
5, and the arrangement of the internal area of the reception buffer is changed according to the control of the control unit 11. The printing mechanism controller 13 transfers a printing pattern to the printing mechanism 16. The memory unit 15 stores print information and print patterns. A reception buffer is also secured in the memory unit 15. The printing mechanism 16 forms a desired permanent visible image on recording paper.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a memory map of the memory 15 as one embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, a memory unit 15 is provided in a system area 2.
1, a work area 22, a reception buffer area 23, and a development area 26 for storing a print pattern.
The reception buffer area 23 includes a centro reception buffer area 24 and an RS-232C reception buffer area 25 therein. The reception buffer area 23 is a storage unit that stores print information input from each interface. The centro reception buffer area 24 is an area for storing print information input by centronics communication, and is an RS-23.
The 2C reception buffer area is an area for storing print information input by RS-232C communication. Printing device 10
Has two communication interfaces (hereinafter, interfaces) of Centronics and RS-232C. When the Centronics is used as a communication interface between the computer 1 and the printing apparatus 10, the size of the Centro reception buffer area 24 is larger than the size of the RS-232C reception buffer area 25 as shown in FIG. Conversely, when RS-232C is used as a communication interface, the size of the centro reception buffer area 24 is smaller. The reception buffer area of the currently used interface is allocated from address C to address (D-1), and the reception buffer area for the interface not currently used is allocated from address D to (E-1).
-1) It is arranged up to the address.

Hereinafter, a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

<First Embodiment> FIG. 3 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a memory map of a reception buffer area 23 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows that Centronics communication is used,
It is a figure in case RS-232C is not used and one cell is 1 byte for convenience. In the figure, addresses C to (D-1) are the reception buffer area of the currently used interface, that is, the centro reception buffer area 24, which is a ring buffer. Reference numeral 31 in the centro reception buffer area 24 is an area where print data is actually stored. Storage pointer 42
Indicates the area for storing the next input print information, and the processing pointer 41 indicates the area for storing the print information to be subjected to the next data processing. When the interface is changed, that is, when the interface is changed from Centronics to RS-232C, the data processing of the Centro reception buffer area 24 is performed, and then the address (D)
-1) The RS-232C reception buffer area 25 is arranged at the address, and the centro reception buffer area 24 is arranged from the address D to the address (E-1).

Next, the flow of control when print information is received via the interface will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the control of print information according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The print information is sent from the computer 1 in units of JOB to the printing apparatus 10 via an arbitrary interface.
Sent to. The printing apparatus 10 that has received the print information determines whether the interface has been changed. If the interface has not been used up to now,
The size of the reception buffer area and the arrangement of the reception buffer internal area are changed. IF_CUR is a flag indicating an interface currently used, and indicates an interface using addresses C to (D-1) as a reception buffer. IF_NEW is a flag indicating the interface to which the print information has been newly input.

In the figure, it is determined whether or not the interface that has received the print information has been changed in step S401. If the interface has been changed, the flow proceeds to step S408, and if not, the flow proceeds to step S402. If the interface has not been changed, the print information is stored in the reception buffer area indicated by the storage pointer 42 in step S402, and the address of the storage pointer 42 is determined in step S403. In step S403, the storage pointer 4
It is determined whether the address No. 2 is the address (D-1). If the address is (D-1), the address C is set to the storage pointer 42 in step S404. If not, the storage pointer 42 is determined in step S405. 42 is incremented, and the process proceeds to step S406. In step S406,
IF_C from the storage pointer 42 and the processing pointer 41
It is determined whether or not there is a free space in the reception buffer area of the UR. If there is a free space, the process is terminated. If there is no free space, the input of print information from the IF_CUR interface is prohibited in step S407. To end.
The prohibition of the input of the print information is released when the reading / processing of the print information from the reception buffer advances and the processing pointer 41 moves. If the interface that has received the print information has been changed in step S401, the process proceeds to step S408. In step S408, the print information is stored in the address D, and in step S409, the interface in which the print information is input is set in IF_NEW.
In step 10, input of print information from the IF_NEW interface is prohibited, and the process ends.

Next, the flow of control when changing each reception buffer area will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the change of the reception buffer area according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

When the interface is changed, IF_
After the print information existing in the CUR interface reception buffer area is processed, the arrangement of the internal area of the reception buffer is changed. This module is IF_C
IF_CUR when print information is read from the UR interface reception buffer area and within a time interrupt
Is compared with IF_NEW, and is called when it is determined that print information exists in an unused interface reception buffer area.

In the figure, in step S501, IF_CUR,
And input of print information from the IF_NEW interface is prohibited, and the process proceeds to step S502. Step S5
In step 02, the storage pointer 42 and the processing pointer 41 are compared to determine whether or not print information exists in the IF_CUR interface reception buffer area. If the storage pointer 42 and the processing pointer 41 are different in step S502, since unprocessed print information exists in the reception buffer area of the IF_CUR, the process waits for a certain time in step S503, and then returns to step S502.
If it is determined in step S502 that the storage pointer 42 is equal to the processing pointer 41, that is, if there is no print information in the print buffer area of IF_CUR, step S502 is executed.
Proceed to 504. After storing the print information of address D in address C in step S504, address (C + 1) is set in the storage pointer 42 in step S505, and the process pointer 41 is further stored.
Is set to address C, and the process proceeds to step S506. In step S506, IF_NEW is set in IF_CUR. In step S507, input of print information from the IF_CUR and IF_NEW interfaces is permitted, and the process ends.

In the present embodiment, the minimum size of the interface receiving buffer not used is 1 byte, but it is also possible to use 2 bytes or more and (DC) bytes or less and N bytes. Hereinafter, FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment.
A description will be given with reference to FIG.

<Second Embodiment> FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a memory map of a reception buffer area 23 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the size and arrangement of each reception buffer area when the minimum size of the unused interface reception buffer area is N bytes. Used, RS-
It is a figure in case 232C is not used. For convenience, one cell is defined as one byte. From address C (D
The area up to the address -N) is a reception buffer area for the interface currently used, that is, a centro reception buffer area 24, which is a ring buffer. Reference numeral 31 in the centro reception buffer area 24 is an area where print data is actually stored. NEW storage pointer 43
Is an area for storing print information input from the IF_NEW interface that is not currently used, that is, RS-
232C reception buffer area 25, and RS-232C
Reference numeral 32 in the reception buffer area 25 is an area where print data is actually stored. The input of print information and the processing at the time of changing the interface are performed except that the unused interface receiving buffer area is N bytes.
This is the same as the above embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing control of print information according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, it is determined whether or not the interface that has received the print information has been changed in step S701. If the interface has been changed, the process proceeds to step S708. If not, the process proceeds to step S702. If the interface has not been changed, the print information is stored in the reception buffer area indicated by the storage pointer 42 in step S702, and the address of the storage pointer 42 is determined in step S703. In step S703, the storage pointer 4
If the address No. 2 is the address (D-1), step S7
At step 04, the address C is set in the storage pointer 42, otherwise, the storage pointer 42 is incremented at step S705, and the process proceeds to step S706. Step S7
At 06, it is determined from the storage pointer 42 and the processing pointer 41 whether or not there is a free space in the reception buffer area of the IF_CUR. If there is a free space, the process is terminated. And prohibits the input of the print information, and terminates the process. The input of the print information is canceled when the reading / processing of the print information from the reception buffer advances and the processing pointer 41 moves, as in the first embodiment. If the interface that has received the print information is changed in step S701, the process proceeds to step S7.
Proceed to 08. After storing the print information in the reception buffer area indicated by the NEW storage pointer 43 in step S708, the interface that has input the print information is set in IF_NEW in step S709. In step S710, it is determined whether the address of the NEW storage pointer 43 is the address (E-1). If the address is the address (E-1), the process proceeds to step S7.
At 11, the process is executed by prohibiting the input of print information from the IF_NEW interface. In addition, the prohibition of the input of the print information changes the arrangement of each reception buffer area, and
It is released when _CUR changes.

Next, the flow of control when changing each reception buffer area will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the change of the reception buffer area according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

The first embodiment is described above except that printing information of 2 bytes or more may be stored in the IF_NEW interface, and that the processing is terminated when the storage pointer 42 and the processing pointer 41 are different. Same as the form.

In the figure, at step S801, the storage pointer 4
2 is compared with the processing pointer 41 to determine whether or not print information exists in the interface reception buffer area of the IF_CUR. If the storage pointer 42 is different in step S801, the unprocessed print information
Since the print information exists in the reception buffer area of the CUR, the process ends. If the print information does not exist in the reception buffer area of the IF_CUR, the process advances to step S802. Step S
In step 802, input of print information from the IF_CUR and IF_NEW interfaces is prohibited, and the process proceeds to step S803.
To store the print information from address D to (NEW storage pointer -1) after address C. In step S804, the storage pointer 42 is set to the address (C + NEW storage pointer), the processing pointer 41 is set to the address C, and the flow advances to step S805. After setting the NEW storage pointer 43 to address D in step S805, the IF
_CUR is permitted to input print information from the IF_NEW interface, and the process ends.

<Third Embodiment> In the third embodiment described above, the value of N is fixed, but it is also possible to set this to a predetermined value according to user settings. Hereinafter, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printing apparatus to which the third embodiment of the present invention is applied.

In the figure, the operation instructing section 18 is a setting means for setting N, which is different from FIG.
Is transmitted to the control unit 11 by the operation instruction control unit 17. The other parts are the same as the configuration of FIG.

The algorithm for control when print information is received via each interface and the algorithm for changing the size of each reception buffer area are the same as those in the second embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Although the above embodiment has been described with reference to a printing apparatus having two types of communication interfaces, the present invention employs a similar processing configuration to use three communication interfaces.
It can be applied to more than two types.

Even if the present invention is applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus (for example, a copier, a facsimile) comprising one device Device).

Another object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and to provide a computer (or CPU) of the system or apparatus.
And MPU) read and execute the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the function of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

<Effects of Embodiment> (1) In the first and second embodiments, IF_CUR
By managing and monitoring the memory area having a large storage area with the processing pointer 41 and the storage pointer 42, the control unit 11 can always grasp the process of the print information processing. (2) In the first embodiment, when the interface that has received the print information is switched to IF_NEW, the print information is first stored in the area after the small address D, and the above-described (1)
To compare the positions of the two types of pointers and IF_C
Since it was easy to detect that there was no print information in the memory area having a large UR size, the reception buffer area for the interface was changed. (3) The interface receiving buffer area not used is managed and monitored by the NEW storage pointer 43, and the minimum size of the unused interface receiving buffer area is set to N bytes. The size of the print information at the time of switching to is made practical. (4) In the second embodiment, when the interface that has received the print information is switched to IF_NEW, the print information is first stored at the address indicated by the NEW storage pointer 43 in the area after the small address D, and the above (1). Since the positions of the processing pointer 41 and the storage pointer 42 are compared by (3) and (3), it can be easily detected that there is no print information in the memory area having a large size for IF_CUR.
The change of the receive buffer area for the interface was realized. (5) In the third embodiment, the unused interface receiving buffer area is made variable, so that it can be more adapted to the use environment of the user than (3).

[0049]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an information processing apparatus capable of changing the assignment of a plurality of communication interfaces and a plurality of buffers for temporarily storing data depending on the use state of the buffers. Thus, effective use of the memory inside the information processing device is realized.

[0050]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus to which first and second embodiments of the present invention are applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a memory map of a memory 15 as one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a memory map of a reception buffer area 23 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating control of print information according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a change of a reception buffer area according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a memory map of a reception buffer area 23 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating control of print information according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a change of a reception buffer area according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus to which a third embodiment of the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 computer 10 printing device 11 control unit 12 interface control unit 13 printing mechanism control unit 14 memory control unit 15 memory unit 16 printing mechanism unit 17 operation instruction control unit 18 operation instruction unit 21 system area 22 work area 23 reception buffer area 24 centro reception Buffer area 25 RS-232C reception buffer area 26 Expansion area 31 Area where data is actually stored (Centro) 32 Area where data is actually stored (RS-23)
2C) 41 processing pointer 42 storage pointer 43 NEW storage pointer

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus having a plurality of communication interfaces and a plurality of buffers for temporarily storing data, comprising: an identification unit for identifying a communication interface that has received the data; An information processing apparatus comprising: a buffer control unit that controls allocation of a plurality of communication interfaces and the plurality of buffers. 2. The buffer according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of buffers have different sizes, and the buffer control unit allocates the largest buffer to a communication interface that is currently receiving data. Information processing device. 3. The buffer control means according to claim 1, wherein, if the interface receiving the new data is not the communication interface receiving the current data, the buffer control means transmits the new data to the one of the plurality of buffers. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information is temporarily stored in a buffer different from the largest buffer. 4. The buffer control unit according to claim 1, wherein the interface receiving the new data is not the communication interface receiving the current data, but the largest buffer is empty. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the new data temporarily stored in a different buffer is relocated to the largest buffer. 5. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising communication interface control means for controlling reception of new data of said plurality of communication interfaces according to a capacity of data stored in said plurality of buffers. To claim 4
An information processing device according to any one of the above. 6. The size of the plurality of buffers,
6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a buffer capacity setting unit that sets a desired size in advance. 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is a printing apparatus that forms a visible image based on print information. 8. An information transfer method using a plurality of communication interfaces and a plurality of buffers for temporarily storing data, the method comprising: identifying a communication interface that has received the data; An information transfer method, wherein the assignment to the plurality of buffers is changed. 9. The information transfer according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of buffers are allocated so as to have different sizes, and the largest buffer is allocated to a communication interface which is currently receiving data. Method.