Printer control system

• US 5,276,802 A
• Filed: 05/29/1990
• Issued: 01/04/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Ikenoue, Yoshikazu, Yamaguchi, Ikunori
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phu K.
• Application Number:
  US07/529,734
• Time in Patent Office: 1,316 Days
• Field of Search: 364/519, 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File, 364/518, 364/521, 400/124, 400/62, 400/70, 400/279, 340/747, 340/750, 395/162-165, 395/110
• US Class Current: 385/115
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1206 resulting in increased flexibility in input data format or job format or job type
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1248 by printer language recognition, e.g. PDL, PCL, PDF
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0014 Transforming the printer input data into internal codes

Abstract

A printer control system for a printer apparatus connected to an information processing unit is herein proposed which includes a mechanism for forming a visible image on a sheet medium, a first memory device for storing a first program for diciphering instructions received from the information processing unit for enabling the mechanism for forming a visible image to operate in accordance with the instructions, a second memory device for storing a second program for converting instructions received from the information processing unit into those which can be deciphered by the first memory device, and a control device for executing the first and second programs to control the operation of the printer apparatus, wherein the first and second programs are to be executed at controlled timings.

Claims

1. A printer control system for a printer apparatus connected to an information processing unit, comprising:

a) means for forming a visible image on a sheet medium,

b) first memory means for storing a first program for deciphering instructions received from said information processing unit for enabling said image forming means to operate in accordance with the instructions,

c) second memory means for storing a second program for converting said instructions received rom said information processing unit into those which can be deciphered by said first program,

d) third memory means for storing said second program, said third memory means being detachably set to said printer apparatus,

e) timing signal generating means for generating timing signals at predetermined timings, and

f) a single data processor for alternately executing said first and second programs in response to said timing signals,

g) the second program stored in said third memory means is loaded into said second memory means for execution.

2. A printer control system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising means for transferring said second program from said third memory means to said second memory means for storing the second program into said second memory means.

3. A printer control system as set forth in claim 1, in which said first program has a predetermined first priority and said second program has a predetermined second priority and wherein said single data processor executes the first and second programs in an order determined by the predetermined first and second priorities.

4. A printer control system as set forth in claim 1, in which the second program stored in said third memory means is loaded into said second memory means for execution.

5. A printer control system for a printer apparatus connected to an information processing unit comprising:

a) means for forming a visible image on a sheet medium,

b) first memory means for storing a first program for deciphering instructions received from said information processing unit for enabling said image forming means to operate in accordance with the instructions,

c) second memory means for storing a second program for converting said instructions received from said information processing unit into those which can be deciphered by said first memory means,

d) timing signal generating means for generating timing signals at predetermined timings,

e) third memory means for storing a third program for designating operation timings of said first and second programs, respectively, in response to said timing signals,

f) fourth memory means for storing said second program, said fourth memory means being detachably set to said printer apparatus,

g) a single data processor for executing said first and second programs respectively at said designated operation timings, and

h) control means for controlling said image forming means to operate in accordance with said instructions deciphered by said first program,

i) the second program stored in said fourth memory means is loaded into said second memory means for execution.

6. A printer control system as set forth in claim 5, in which said first program has a predetermined first priority and said second program has a predetermined second priority and wherein said single data processor executes the first and second programs in an order determined by the predetermined first and second priorities.

7. A printer control system as set forth in claim 5, in which the second program stored in said fourth memory means is loaded into said second memory means for execution.

8. A printer control system for a printer apparatus connected to an information processing unit, comprising

a) means for forming a visible image on a sheet medium,

b) first buffer memory means for storing instructions received from said information processing unit, said instructions being based on a first protocol,

c) a first program for converting the instructions stored in said first buffer memory means into instructions based on a second protocol, said first program having a predetermined first priority,

d) second buffer memory means for storing the instructions based on said second protocol,

e) mode selecting means for selecting one of a first mode and a second mode,

f) a second program for deciphering the instructions stored in said first buffer memory means when the first mode is selected by said mode selecting means and the instructions stored in said second buffer memory means when the second mode is selected by said mode selecting means, said second program having a predetermined second priority,

g) execution means for executing said first program and said second program in turn according to the value of said first priority, and

h) control means for controlling said image forming means in accordance with the instructions deciphered by said second program.

9. A printer control system as set forth in claim 8, further comprising

h) user memory means, and

i) means for loading said first program into said user memory means.

10. A printer control system as set forth in claim 9, in which said mode selecting means is operative to

select said second mode when said first program is loaded into said user memory means, and

select said first mode when said first program is not loaded into said user memory means.

11. A printer control system as set forth in claim 10, further comprising

j) single data processor means for executing said first program and said second program.

12. A printer control system as set forth in claim 11, further comprising

k) timing signal generating means for generating timing signals at predetermined timings, said single data processor means being operative to execute said first program and said second program respectively at predetermined timings.

13. A printer control system for a printer apparatus connected to an information processing unit, comprising

a) means for forming a visible image on a sheet medium,

b) first buffer memory means for storing instructions received from said information processing unit, said instructions being based on a first protocol,

c) user memory means,

d) loading means for loading a first program into said user memory means, the first program being effective to convert the instructions stored in said first buffer memory means into instructions based on a second protocol and having a first priority,

e) second buffer memory means for storing the instructions based on said protocol,

f) host memory means for storing a second program, the second program having a second priority and being effective to

decipher the instructions stored in said second buffer memory means when said first program is loaded into said user memory means, and

decipher the instructions stored in said first buffer memory means when said first program is not loaded into said user memory means, and

g) program executing means for executing said first program and said second program alternatively in accordance with the value of the first priority as compared with the value of the second priority.

14. A printer control system as set forth in claim 13, further comprising

h) timing signal generating means for generating timing signals at predetermined timings, said program executing means for alternately executing said first program and said second program in response to said timing signals.

15. A printer control system as set forth in claim 14, in which said program executing means comprises a single data processor.