Communication control method, communication control apparatus, and data recording medium

• US 20050190401A1
• Filed: 02/17/2005
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Ito, Eiji, Katada, Toshiharu, Sugimoto, Toshiyuki
• Application Number:
  US11/060,266
• Publication Number:
  US 20050190401A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1211 Improving printing performance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1222 Increasing security of the print job
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1236 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1284 Local printer device

Abstract

A communication control method and apparatus quickly confirms the status of a communication port when connecting a peripheral device 2 and an information device 1 through a communication port of the information device 1. The communication control method has a first step in which the second module of the information device 1 creates an object and executes a process to connect the device 2 based on a device connection command from the first module, and then eliminates the object when the connection is no longer needed. A second step confirms if the object was already created when the first module instructs the second module to open a connection to the device 2. A third step determines that the port is closed and the device 2 is not connected if the object is not already created, and instructs the second module to open the port and connect the peripheral device. However, if the object is already created, the third step determines and reports to a higher program level that the port is open and the device 2 is already connected.

Claims

1. A communication control method for connecting a peripheral device and an information device having first and second modules for controlling the peripheral device through a port of the information device, the communication control method comprising steps of:

the first module instructing the second module to connect the peripheral device;

the second module creating an object indicating that the peripheral device is connected through the port based on an instruction from the first module, opening a connection to the peripheral device, and eliminating the object when the connection is thereafter closed;

the first module confirming if the object was already created when the first module instructs the second module to open a connection to the peripheral device; and

the first module determining that the port is closed and the peripheral device is not connected, and instructing the second module to open the port and connect the peripheral device, if the object is not already created, and

determining and reporting to a higher program level that the port is already open and the peripheral device is already connected if the object was already created.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein when the second module creates an object, the second module assigns to the object a unique name linking the peripheral device to the specific port.

3. A communication control method for connecting a printer and an information device having first and second modules for controlling the printer through a port of the information device, the communication control method comprising steps of:

the first module instructing the second module to connect the printer;

the second module creating an object indicating that the printer is connected through the port based on an instruction from the first module, opening a connection to the printer, and eliminating the object when the connection is thereafter closed;

the first module confirming if the object was already created when the first module instructs the second module to open a connection to the printer; and

the first module determining that the port is closed and the printer is not connected, and instructing the second module to open the port and connect the printer, if the object is not already created, and

determining and reporting to a higher program level that the port is already open and the printer is already connected if the object was already created.

4. A communication control apparatus for connecting a printer and an information device controlling the printer through a port of the information device, wherein the communication control apparatus is included in the information device and comprises:

a communication control module that creates an object indicating that the printer is connected through the port based on a printer connection instruction from a printer module, executes a printer connection process, and eliminates the object when the connection is thereafter closed; and

the printer module confirms if the object was already created when instructing the communication control module to open a connection to the printer,

determines that the port is closed and the printer is not connected, and instructing the communication control module to open the port and connect the printer, if the object is not already created, and

determines and reports to a higher program level that the port is already open and the printer is already connected if the object was already created.

5. A medium readable by a machine embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to cause the machine to function as a first module and a second module for connecting the machine and a printer through a port of the machine by executing the steps of:

the first module instructing the second module to connect the printer;

the second module creating an object indicating that the printer is connected through the port based on an instruction from the first module, executing a printer connection process, and eliminating the object when the connection is thereafter closed;

the first module confirming if the object was already created when the first module instructs the second module to open a connection to the printer; and

the first module determining that the port is closed and the printer is not connected, and instructing the second module to open the port and connect the printer, if the object is not already created, and

determining and reporting to a higher program level that the port is already open and the printer is already connected if the object was already created.