JP3559620B2 - Printer system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and an information processing method thereof.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a conventional printer system including a host computer (hereinafter, referred to as a host) and a printer, the power supply control of the printer from the host uses one of two operation modes, an energy saving mode and a normal mode. Was selected and specified, and was executed according to the selected mode. In this case, when the energy saving mode is selected, measures have been taken to reduce power consumption unless the printer has been used for a certain period of time. Further, even when the normal mode is selected, the mode is automatically switched to the energy saving mode if print data is not input to the printer for a certain period of time.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above conventional example, there are only two modes for power control (that is, whether or not to use the energy saving mode). For example, even when the operation of the system is not inconvenient in the energy saving mode, the normal mode is selected. There is a problem in that the system operates and power is supplied to a printer that is not actually used, thereby saving power consumption.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional example, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus and an information processing method capable of more effectively reducing power consumption.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention has the following configuration.
That is, an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a printer, generating a print command that can be processed by the printer, and executing an application program for executing document processing, and converting data from the application program into a print command. Converting means for converting the print command converted by the converting means into a spool, and starting output of a spool of a print command obtained by converting data from the application program; and Instruction transfer means for instructing remote control of the power supply mode of the printer before transfer to the printer, and control to transfer the converted print command output and spooled via the output means to the printer. Output control means for controlling the Includes an information processing apparatus for, characterized in that by the processing based on the print command transferred print output is performed.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing method for an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a printer, generating a print command that can be processed by the printer, and executing an application program for executing document processing. A conversion step of converting data from the application program into a print command; a spooling step of spooling the print command converted in the conversion step; and a start of spooling of a print command obtained by converting the data from the application program. And before the transfer to the printer, an instruction control step of causing the printer to instruct the printer to remotely control the power supply mode of the printer, and the conversion spooled in the spooling step. Transfer the print command to the printer. And a transfer control step of controlling to, in said printer includes an information processing method for, characterized in that by the processing based on the print command transferred print output is performed.
[0006]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
With the configuration described above, the present invention provides a printer system having a host that generates print data and a printer that has a first operation mode that consumes a large amount of power and a second operation mode that consumes a small amount of power. Determines the presence or absence of print data generated by the printer, and controls the instruction means for giving an instruction to the printer so as to set the operation mode of the printer to the first or second mode according to the determination result. Set the operation mode according to the instruction.
[0007]
Here, the host is provided with a storage unit for temporarily storing the print data, and when the input of the print data into the storage unit is a trigger for recognizing that the print data exists, the print data no longer remains in the storage unit. The time is an opportunity to recognize that print data does not exist.
The host sets the operation mode of the printer to the first mode when it recognizes that print data exists, and sets the operation mode of the printer to the second mode when it recognizes that print data does not exist. Control to do.
[0008]
On the other hand, the printer includes a receiving unit that receives print data and an instruction for setting an operation mode, an image forming unit that forms an image based on the received print data, and prints out the image, and a power supply to the image forming unit. Power supply control means for controlling the supply.
Then, the power supply control unit controls the power supply to the image forming unit according to the first or second operation mode.
[0009]
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printer system according to a typical embodiment of the present invention. This printer system includes a host computer (hereinafter, referred to as a host) 1100 and a printer 1000, which are connected to each other by a connection cable 5000. In this embodiment, the printer is a laser beam printer (LBP) that forms an image according to an electrophotographic system and prints out the image. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a recording system such as an ink jet system or a thermal transfer system may be used. It goes without saying that a printer that performs print output in accordance with the above may be used.
[0010]
First, the configuration of the host 1100 capable of performing document processing in which graphics, images, characters, tables (including spreadsheets and the like) are mixed will be described.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1107 denotes a CRT, 1108 denotes a CRT control unit (CRTC) which controls the CRT, 1109 denotes a CPU which executes general control of each unit of the apparatus, document processing, printer control, and the like. A RAM 1111 used as a work area for executing processing, a power processing command storage unit (described later) 1206, and the like are a control program, an application program 1201 for executing document processing, an application interface (I / F) program 1202, a print monitor program. 1203, a ROM for storing a print driver program 1204, a CRT control program 1205, etc., an input unit 1112 having a keyboard and a pointing device, and 1113, a printer 100 via a connection cable 5000. A printer interface (I / F) for executing communication control processing with the external storage device 2000 including a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, and a floppy disk capable of storing a large amount of information; These are system buses connected to each other. The external storage device 2000 is provided with a spool file 2001 for temporarily storing information.
[0011]
Note that the CPU 1109 reads various programs stored in the ROM 1111, expands them in the work area of the RAM 1110, and executes them. Therefore, the functions of the various programs are realized by the CPU 1109 reading out, developing, and executing the programs. Although not shown, the ROM 1111 stores a control program for controlling I / O devices such as a keyboard and a pointing device.
[0012]
Next, the configuration of the printer 1000 will be described.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 4101 denotes a ROM for storing a control program for controlling each part of the printer, a printer monitor program 4201, a printer command processing program 4202, a power control program 4203, and the like, and 4102 is used as a work area for executing the above-mentioned programs. A RAM 4103 is an operation panel for the user of the apparatus to input various instructions for operating the printer and to display the status of the printer. The operation panel 4103 includes an input unit 4105 having various instruction switches, an LCD 4106 for displaying a message, and an LED 4107 for indicating an operation state of the apparatus. The RAM 4102 can be expanded in memory capacity by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown). In the RAM 4102, an output information development area for developing print data and an environment data storage area are set. Some function as NVRAM. The ROM 4101 also stores information specific to the printer used by the host 1100.
[0013]
Reference numeral 4104 denotes a CPU which performs general control of each unit of the apparatus based on a control program or the like stored in the ROM 4101. Reference numeral 4108 denotes a host which performs communication control such as transmission and reception of information with the host 1100 via the connection cable 5000. Interface (I / F), 4109 is a printing mechanism interface (I / F), 4110 is a power supply control unit, 4111 is a power supply control interface (I / F), 4112 is a power supply for supplying power to each unit of the apparatus, 4113 is A print mechanism (printer engine) 4114 that performs print output based on an image signal output via a print mechanism (I / F) 4109 is a system bus that connects device components to each other.
[0014]
Here, the CPU 4104 can communicate with the host 1100 via the host interface (I / F) 4108, and notifies the host 1100 of information and the like in the printer, and notifies the host 1100 of the information via the host (I / F) 4108. The power supply to the print mechanism 4113 is controlled via the power supply control unit 4110 in accordance with a power command (details will be described later) from the host 1100.
[0015]
The printer 1000 has two operation modes as described in the related art, that is, a normal mode and an energy saving mode. These modes are switched according to a power command issued by the host 1100, which will be described later.
FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing the configuration of the printer (LBP) 1000. The LBP 1000 inputs and stores print information (character codes and the like), form information, macro instructions, and the like supplied from the host 1100 connected via the connection cable 5000, and also stores a corresponding character pattern or A form pattern or the like is created, an image is formed on a recording sheet as a recording medium, and output.
[0016]
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 4103 denotes an operation panel on which switches, LEDs, LCDs and the like for operation are arranged, and 1001 denotes a printer control unit for controlling the entire LBP 1000 and analyzing character information supplied from the host. A printer control unit (printer controller) 1001 mainly converts character information into a video signal of a corresponding character pattern and outputs the video signal to a laser driver 1002. 1, the printer controller 1001 includes all components except the operation panel 4103, the power supply device 4112, the printing mechanism (printer engine) 4113, and the host I / F 4108 of the printer 1000 shown in FIG. include.
[0017]
Therefore, among the components shown in FIG. 2 described below, all except the printer controller 1001, the operation panel 4103, and the host I / F 4108 are components of the printing mechanism (printer engine) 4113.
The laser driver 1002 is a circuit for driving the semiconductor laser 1003, and controls on / off of a laser beam 1004 emitted from the semiconductor laser 1003 according to an input video signal. The irradiation direction of the laser beam 1004 is bent by the rotary polygon mirror 1005, and the laser beam 1004 scans and exposes the electrostatic drum 1006. As a result, an electrostatic latent image of a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 1006. This latent image is developed by a developing unit 1007 disposed around the electrostatic drum 1006, and then transferred to a recording sheet. The transferred recording paper is transported to the fixing device 1014 by the transport rollers 1012 to 1013, and the transferred image is fixed by the fixing device 1014. Thereafter, the recording paper is discharged to a discharge tray 1017 by discharge rollers 1015 to 1016. In this embodiment, a cut sheet is used as recording paper. The cut sheet recording paper is stored in a paper cassette 1008 mounted on the LBP 1000, taken in the apparatus by a paper feed roller 1009 and transport rollers 1010 to 1011, and supplied to the electrostatic drum 1006.
[0018]
The LBP 1000 includes a host I / F 4108 for transmitting and receiving data to and from the host via the connection cable 5000.
The LBP 1000 has at least one card slot (not shown) so that an optional font card and a control card (emulation card) using a different language can be inserted into the card slot and used in addition to the built-in font. It is configured.
[0019]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a software configuration of the printer system described in FIG. In FIG. 3, the components already described in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In FIG. 3, the interrelationship between programs and areas stored or set in the ROM 1111 or the RAM 1110 of the host 1100 and programs stored in the ROM 4101 of the printer 1000 will be described from the operation when these programs are executed. .
[0020]
First, the operation on the host 1100 side will be described.
When the document processing is performed by executing the application program 1201, the application I / F program 1202 receives the print data generated by the document processing from the application program 1201, converts the print data into a print command, and receives the print command in the print monitor program 1203. hand over. The print monitor program 1203 outputs the received print command to the spool file 2001. After that, the print monitor program 1203 reads a print command group of a predetermined unit output to the spool file 2001 based on a command issued by the application program 1201, and passes it to the print driver program 1204.
[0021]
The print driver program 1204 outputs the print command passed from the print monitor program 1203 to the printer I / F 1113. The print driver program 1204 obtains information from the printer 1000 via the printer I / F 1113. The printer I / F 1113 transfers the print command output from the print driver program 1204 to the printer command processing unit 4202 via the connection cable 5000.
[0022]
The CRT control program 1205 obtains a printer power command from the printer I / F 1113 and controls the CRT 1107 to display information based on the command. The power processing command storage unit 1206 stores a power command having a format described later. This command is a command generated by executing the application 1201.
[0023]
Next, the operation of the printer 1000 will be described.
The printer monitor 4201 controls transmission and reception of data to and from the printer I / F 1113 via the connection cable 5000, and transfers information from the host 1100 to general control of the printer and programs to be described later. Is executed.
[0024]
The printer command processing program 4202 processes the print command transferred from the printer I / F 1113 and outputs it to the printing mechanism I / F 4109. The printing mechanism I / F 4109 outputs an output result from the printer command processing unit 4202 to the printing mechanism 4113. As a result, the print mechanism (printer engine) 4113 executes image formation and print output based on the output from the print mechanism I / F 4109.
[0025]
The power supply control program 4203 analyzes the power supply command transferred from the host 1100 and controls the power supply control unit 4110 based on the analysis result. As a result, the power supply control unit 4110 controls the power supply from the power supply 4112 to the print mechanism in accordance with the power supply command via the power supply control I / F 4111. For example, when operating in the energy saving mode, all power supply to the movable parts (laser driver, transport roller, paper feed roller, electrostatic drum, fixing device, etc.) of the printing mechanism (printer engine) 4113 that consumes large power is stopped. Is done.
[0026]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the format of the power command. Here, FIG. 4A shows a command format relating to a command "DPROT" instructing the printer to operate in the energy saving mode, and FIG. 4B shows a command format relating to a command "UPROT" instructing the printer to operate in the normal mode. Shows the command format.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 4, both commands have the same command configuration, that is, are composed of three common operands. Each of these three operands has a length of 16 bits, an identifier (ID) indicating a printer control command is set in the first operand (DPROT1, UPROT1), and the second operand (DPROT2, UPROT2) is set in the second operand (DPROT2, UPROT2). Is set with an identifier of a printer command type indicating that the control is related to the power supply, and an identifier (here, a printer power supply instruction) indicating a more detailed instruction is set in the third operand (DPROT3, UPROT3). You.
[0028]
Next, among the processing for controlling the power supply of the printer from the host, the processing on the printer side will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This allows the host to control the power supply of the printer at any time. The processing shown in FIG. 5 is executed by the printer monitor 4201, the printer command processing program 4202, and the power supply control program 4203 in cooperation.
[0029]
First, in step S1, a command from the host 1100 is received, and in step S2, it is determined whether the received command is the power command shown in FIG. Here, if the command is a command other than the power command, the process proceeds to step S3, and the process according to the command is executed. On the other hand, if the received command is a power command, the process proceeds to step S4, and transfers the power command to the power control program. In the above processing, step S1 is executed by the printer monitor 4201, and steps S2 and S4 are executed by the printer command processing program 4202.
[0030]
In step S5, it is determined whether the received power command is a “normal mode command” or an “energy saving mode command”. If the power command is a "normal mode command", the process proceeds to step S7. If the power command is a "energy saving mode command", the process proceeds to step S11.
In step S7, it is checked whether or not the printer 1000 is currently operating in the "normal mode". If the operation mode is the "normal mode", the process is terminated without performing any further processing. If not, the process proceeds to step S8, and controls the power supply device 4112 to operate in the “normal mode” via the power supply control I / F 4111.
[0031]
On the other hand, in step S11, it is determined whether or not the printer 1000 is currently operating in the "energy saving mode". If the operation mode is the "energy saving mode", the process is terminated without any further processing. If the mode is not the “energy saving mode”, the process proceeds to step S12, and controls the power supply device 4112 via the power supply control I / F 4111 to operate in the “energy saving mode”.
[0032]
Through the above processing, the host can appropriately switch the operation mode of the printer.
Next, of the processing for controlling the power supply of the printer from the host, the processing on the host side will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This enables the host to control the power supply of the printer upon transmission of print data to be printed. The process shown in FIG. 6 is executed by the print monitor program 1203 and the print driver program 1204 in cooperation.
[0033]
First, in step S13, print data is input from the print monitor program 1203 to the spool file 2001. Next, in step S14, the print driver program 1204 acquires the current operation mode of the printer 1000 from the printer 1000, and checks whether the mode is the "normal mode". If the mode is the “normal mode”, the process proceeds to step S16. If the mode is not the “normal mode”, the process proceeds to step S15, and the print monitor program 1203 transmits the power command via the print driver program 1204. “UPROT” is transmitted to the printer 1000.
[0034]
Finally, in step S16, the print data is read from the spool file 2001 and transferred to the printer 1000.
Through the above processing, the printer switches from the operation in the energy saving mode to the operation in the normal mode as a trigger for transmitting the print data for printing the output of the print data to the spool file 2001 to the printer.
[0035]
Still another host-side process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This makes it possible to determine the presence or absence of print data in the spool file 2001, and control the power supply of the printer according to the determination result. The processing shown in FIG. 7 is also executed by the print monitor program 1203 and the print driver program 1204 in cooperation.
[0036]
First, in step S17, the print monitor program 1203 reads the print data from the spool file 2001 and sends it to the printer 1000 via the print driver program 1204. In step S18, the print data remains in the spool file 2001. It is checked whether or not the data remains, and the process returns to step S17. If it is determined that the data does not remain in the spool file 2001, the process proceeds to step S19. The print driver program 1204 obtains the current operation mode of the printer 1000 from the printer 1000, and checks whether the mode is the “normal mode”. If the mode is not the “normal mode”, the process ends. If the mode is the “normal mode”, the process proceeds to step S20, and the print monitor program 1203 transmits the power command “DPROT” via the print driver program 1204. "To the printer 1000.
[0037]
When there is no more print data to be transmitted to the spool file 2000 by the above processing, the operation mode of the printer 1000 is checked. If the operation mode is the “normal mode”, the operation mode of the printer 1000 is changed to the “energy saving mode”. Switch to.
According to the control described above, the processing of FIGS. 6 and 7 is continuously performed, so that the operation of the printer is performed only when print data to be transmitted exists on the host side regardless of the operation mode of the printer 1000. The mode can be set to the "normal mode", and when the print data is lost on the host side, the operation mode of the printer can be controlled to be switched to the "energy saving mode".
[0038]
On the other hand, the operation mode of the printer is switched at any time by a power command sent from the host, so that the host and the printer cooperate as a system so that the power consumption of the printer can be reduced except when an actual printing operation occurs. Can be reduced.
The present invention may be applied to a system including a plurality of devices, or may be applied to an apparatus including a single device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, the storage medium storing the program according to the present invention constitutes the present invention. Then, by reading the program from the storage medium to a system or an apparatus, the system or the apparatus operates in a predetermined manner.
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the power supply mode of the printer is remotely controlled after the spooling of the print command is started and before the print command is transferred to the printer. It has the effect of being supplied. As a result, power consumption can be more effectively reduced by power control taking print output into consideration.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer system according to a typical embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a configuration of a printer (LBP) 1000.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration of the printer system illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a format of a power command.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating processing on the printer side related to power control.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing on the host side relating to power control.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating processing on the host side relating to power control.
[Explanation of symbols]
1000 Printer
1100 host
1107 CRT
1108 CRTC
1109, 4104 CPU
1110, 4102 RAM
1111 and 4101 ROM
1112, 4105 Input unit
1113 Printer interface (I / F)
1114, 4114 System bus
1201 Application program
1202 Application I / F program
1203 Print monitor program
1204 Print driver program
1205 CRT control program
2000 External storage device
2001 Spool file
4103 Operation panel
4106 LCD
4107 LED
4108 Host interface (I / F)
4109 Print mechanism interface (I / F)
4110 Power supply control unit
4111 Power supply control interface (I / F)
4112 Power supply
4113 Printing mechanism
4201 Printer monitor program
4202 Printer command processing program
4203 Power control program
5000 Connection cable

Claims (4)

An information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a printer, generating a print command that can be processed by the printer , and executing an application program for executing document processing ,
Conversion means for converting the data from the application program into print command,
And means for outputting to spool the converted print command by said converting means,
Instruction control means for instructing to remotely control the power supply mode of the printer after the start of spool output of a print command obtained by converting data from the application program and before transfer to the printer; ,
Output control means for controlling the transfer of the spooled converted print command output and spooled through the output means to the printer,
An information processing apparatus, wherein the printer performs a process based on the transferred print command and executes print output. Further comprising means for checking the power state of the printer,
The instruction control means controls the power supply mode of the printer based on the power state of the printer checked by the checking means before transferring the print command spooled by the output control means to the printer. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the instruction is given. A determination unit configured to determine that no print command to be transferred to the printer remains in the spool file spooled by the output unit;
The instruction control unit instructs, when the determination unit determines that there is no print command to be transferred to the printer, a transition to a mode for saving power supply to each unit of the printer. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. An information processing method of an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a printer, generating a print command processable by the printer , and executing an application program for executing document processing ,
A conversion step of converting data from the application program into print command,
A spooling step of spooling the print command converted in the conversion step,
After the spooling of the print command obtained by converting the data from the application program is started and before the print command is transferred to the printer, an instruction is given to the printer to remotely control the power supply mode of the printer. Instruction control step to be performed,
A transfer control step of controlling to transfer the converted print command spooled in the spooling step to the printer,
An information processing method, wherein the printer performs a process based on the transferred print command and executes print output.

Images