System for replacing control information in a printer according to external instruction information if a replacement function is valid

• US 6,167,460 A
• Filed: 07/18/1997
• Issued: 12/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Sato, Yukimasa, Okada, Kunio, Kojo, Yoshiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Le Hien
• Application Number:
  US08/896,963
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: 395/114, 395/116, 710/5, 710/20, 710/24
• US Class Current: 710/5
• 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 15/02 using printers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0002 Handling the output data

Abstract

An output method and apparatus, a storage medium, and an output control program product are provided for sequentially receiving a plurality of control information for setting an output environment based on externally supplied data, and controlling the setting of the output environment in accordance with the first received control information.

Claims

1. An output method comprising the steps of:

receiving a data group and first control information, used to control an output operation based on the data group, from an external source, said receiving step further receiving instruction information which instructs replacement of the first control information with second control information, the instruction information being sent prior to the data group and the first control information;

discriminating whether a replacement function responsive to the instruction information is valid; and

controlling the replacement of the first control information with the second control information when said discriminating step discriminates that the replacement function is valid, wherein said output method is being used in a printer.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first or second control information comprises i) information indicating a number of sheets to be output, or ii) a margin setting command.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first or second control information comprises a command designating the number of copies of a same page.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first or second control information comprises a command designating enlargement or reduction of an image.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first or second control information comprises a font name.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first or second control information comprises form data.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first or second control information comprises color information of form data.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first or second control information comprises type style information.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first control information comprises a reset command.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein contents of the reset command are changed by the second control information.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein a memory for storing reset data is used, and wherein contents of the reset command are changed to the stored data by the second control information.

12. A method according to claim 9, wherein a memory is used to store reset data in response to the reset command.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein said controlling step changes the first control information to the second control information.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein in response to the instruction information, a flag is set which indicates that the replacement function is valid.

15. A method according to claim 1, wherein said discriminating step discriminates whether the replacement function is valid by checking whether a flag is present which is set in response to the instruction information.

16. A method according to claim 1, wherein said controlling step allows the first control information to be used when said discriminating step discriminates that the replacement function is invalid.

17. A method according to claim 1, wherein said method is used in a laser beam printer.

18. A method according to claim 1, wherein said method is used in an ink jet printer.

19. A method according to claim 1, wherein said receiving step receives the instruction information prior to the data group and the first control information.

20. A method according to claim 1, wherein said method is executed in a multi-task system using a real time monitor.

21. An output apparatus comprising:

reception means for receiving a data group and first control information, used to control an output operation based on the data group, from an external source, said reception means further receiving instruction information which instructs replacement of the first control information with second control information, the instruction information being sent prior to the data group and the first control information;

discrimination means for discriminating whether a replacement function responsive to the instruction information is valid; and

control means for controlling the replacement of the first control information with the second control information when said discriminating means discriminates that the replacement function is valid, wherein said output apparatus is a printer.

22. An output apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the first or second control information comprises i) information indicating a number of sheets to be output, or ii) a margin setting command.

23. An output apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the first or second control information comprises a command designating the number of copies of a same page.

24. An output apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the first or second control information comprises a command designating enlargement or reduction of an image.

25. An output apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the first or second control information comprises a font name.

26. An output apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the first or second control information comprises form data.

27. An output apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the first or second control information comprises color information of form data.

28. An output apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the first or second control information comprises type style information.

29. An output apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the first control information comprises a reset command.

30. An output apparatus according to claim 29, wherein contents of the reset command are changed by the second control information.

31. An output apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising memory means for storing reset data, wherein contents of the reset command are changed to the stored data by the second control information.

32. An output apparatus according to claim 29, wherein a memory is used to store reset data in response to the reset command.

33. An output apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said control means changes the first control information to the second control information.

34. An output apparatus according to claim 21, wherein in response to the instruction information, a flag is set which indicates that the replacement function is valid.

35. An output apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said discriminating means discriminates whether the replacement function is valid by checking whether a flag is present which is set in response to the instruction information.

36. An output apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said control means allows the first control information to be used when said discrimination means discriminates that the replacement function is invalid.

37. An output apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said apparatus is a laser beam printer.

38. An output apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said apparatus is an ink jet printer.

39. An output apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said reception means receives the instruction information prior to the data group and the first control information.

40. An output apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said apparatus is operated in a multi-task system using a real time monitor.

41. An output apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said apparatus can be connected with a plurality of host computers, each of which serves as the external source.

42. A memory medium having computer-executable codes embedded therein for executing an output method comprising the steps of:

receiving a data group and first control information, used to control an output operation based on the data group, from an external source, said receiving step further receiving instruction information which instructs replacement of the first control information with second control information, the instruction information being sent prior to the data group and the first control information;

discriminating whether a replacement function responsive to the instruction information is valid; and

controlling the replacement of the first control information with the second control information when said discriminating step discriminates that the replacement function is valid,

wherein said memory medium is used with a printer.

43. A memory medium according to claim 42, wherein the first or second control information comprises i) information indicating a number of sheets to be output, or ii) a margin setting command.

44. A memory medium according to claim 42, wherein the first or second control information comprises a command designating the number of copies of a same page.

45. A memory medium according to claim 42, wherein the first or second control information comprises a command designating enlargement or reduction of an image.

46. A memory medium according to claim 42, wherein the first or second control information comprises a font name.

47. A memory medium according to claim 42, wherein the first or second control information comprises form data.

48. A memory medium according to claim 42, wherein the first or second control information comprises color information of form data.

49. A memory medium according to claim 42, wherein the first or second control information comprises type style information.

50. A memory medium according to claim 42, wherein the first control information comprises a reset command.

51. A memory medium according to claim 50, wherein contents of the reset command are changed by the second control information.

52. A memory medium according to claim 50, wherein a memory for storing reset data is used, and wherein contents of the reset command are changed to the stored data by the second control information.

53. A memory medium according to claim 50, wherein a memory is used to store reset data in response to the reset command.

54. A memory medium according to claim 42, wherein said controlling step changes the first control information to the second control information.

55. A memory medium according to claim 42, wherein in response to the instruction information, a flag is set which indicates that the replacement function is valid.

56. A memory medium according to claim 42, wherein said discriminating step discriminates whether the replacement function is valid by checking whether a flag is present which is set in response to the instruction infromation.

57. A memory medium according to claim 42, wherein said controlling step allows the first control information to be used when said discriminating step discriminates that the replacement function is invalid.

58. A memory medium according to claim 42, wherein said memory medium is used in conjunction with a laser beam printer.

59. A memory medium according to claim 42, wherein said memory medium is used in conjunction with an ink jet printer.

60. A memory medium according to claim 42, wherein said receiving step receives the instruction information prior to the data group and the first control information.

61. A memory medium according to claim 42, wherein said computer-executable codes embedded in said memory medium are executed in a multi-task system using a real time monitor.

62. A computer-executable program product for executing an output method comprising the steps of:

receiving a data group and first control information, used to control an output operation based on the data group, from an external source, said receiving step further receiving instruction information which instructs replacement of the first control information with second control information, the instruction information being sent prior to the data group and the first control information;

discriminating whether a replacement function responsive to the instruction information is valid; and

controlling the replacement of the first control information with the second control information when said discriminating step discriminates that the replacement function is valid,

wherein said program product is used with a printer.

63. A program according to claim 62, wherein the first or second control information comprises i) information indicating a number of sheets to be output, or ii) a margin setting command.

64. A program according to claim 62, wherein the first or second control information comprises a command designating the number of copies of a same page.

65. A program according to claim 62, wherein the first or second control information comprises a command designating enlargement or reduction of an image.

66. A program according to claim 62, wherein the first or second control information comprises a font name.

67. A program according to claim 62, wherein the first or second control information comprises form data.

68. A program according to claim 62, wherein the first or second control information comprises color information of form data.

69. A program according to claim 62, wherein the first or second control information comprises type style information.

70. A program according to claim 62, wherein the first control information comprises a reset command.

71. A program product according to claim 70, wherein contents of the reset command are changed by the second control information.

72. A program product according to claim 70, wherein a memory for storing reset data is used, and wherein contents of the reset command are changed to the stored data by the second control information.

73. A program product according to claim 70, wherein a memory is used to store reset data in response to the reset command.

74. A program product according to claim 62, wherein said controlling step changes the first control information to the second control information.

75. A program product according to claim 62, wherein in response to the instruction information, a flag is set which indicates that the replacement function is valid.

76. A program product according to claim 62, wherein said discriminating step discriminates whether the replacement function is valid by checking whether a flag is present which is set in response to the instruction information.

77. A program product according to claim 62, wherein said controlling step allows the first control information to be used when said discriminating step discriminates that the replacement function is invalid.

78. A program product according to claim 62, wherein said program product is used in conjunction with a laser beam printer.

79. A program product according to claim 62, wherein said program product is used in conjunction with an ink jet printer.

80. A program product according to claim 62, wherein said receiving step receives the instruction information prior to the data group and the first control information.

81. A program product according to claim 62, wherein said program product is executed in a multi-task system using a real time monitor.