Recording device, interface card for using the same, and method for sending recording data from a host computer to the recording device

• US 6,438,631 B1
• Filed: 12/02/1999
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Kawase, Yuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIM, HAROLD J
• Application Number:
  US09/454,176
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• Field of Search: 710/68, 707/101, 709/247, 375/240.28, 348/524
• US Class Current: 710/68
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1212 achieving reduced delay between job submission and print start
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1236 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1244 Job translation or job parsing, e.g. page banding
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation

Abstract

Compression-decompression functions provided in the recording device are easily replaceable so that they conform with the compression-decompression function provided in the host computer. A recording device 10 connected with a host computer 20 for operation based on commands from the host computer 20 comprises a interface card 12 mounted in the recording device 10 replaceably with respect to the control board 11 for exchanging data with the host computer 20. A first data decompressor 30 is included in the interface card 12 for decompressing compressed data to be exchanged between the host computer 20 and recording device 10. This allows selection and replacement of decompression function in the recording device in conformance with the compression algorithm in the host computer without replacing the recording device as a whole.

Claims

1. A recording device connected to a host computer, said host computer compressing data to be recorded by the recording device and sending the compressed data to said recording device, said recording device comprising:

a control board having a first controller for controlling said recording device; and

an interface card detachably connected to said control board, said host computer communicating with said first controller via said interface card;

said interface card comprising;

a first decompressor for decompressing the compressed data received from said host computer;

a second controller that compares a data processing performance for decompressing the compressed data of said control board to a data processing performance for decompressing the compressed data of said interface card and controls said first decompressor to decompress the compressed data.

2. A recording device according to claim 1, wherein said control board comprises a second decompressor board, and wherein said second controller enables one of said first and second decompressors to decompress the compressed data after comparing the data processing performance for decompressing the compressed data of said control board to the data processing performance for decompressing the compressed data of said interface card.

3. A recording device according to claim 1, wherein said first decompressor comprises a plurality of different algorithms for decompressing said compressed data.

4. A recording device according to claim 1, wherein said interface card comprises a first compressor that compresses data to be sent to at least one of said host computer and said control board.

5. A recording device according to claim 4, wherein said control board comprises a second compressor that compresses data to be sent to at least one of said host computer and said interface card.

6. A recording device according to claim 5, wherein said second controller enables one of said first and second compressors to compress the data after comparing the data processing performance for compressing the data of said control board to the data processing performance for compressing the data of said interface card.

7. An interface card for communicating with a recording device and a host computer, said interface card detachably connected to a control board of said recording device, said control board having a first controller for controlling said recording device, said interface card comprising:

a first decompressor for decompressing compressed data received from said host computer;

a second controller that compares a data processing performance for decompressing the compressed data of said control board to a data processing performance for decompressing the compressed data of said interface card and controls said first decompressor to decompress the compressed data.

8. An interface card according to claim 7, wherein said second controller enables one of said first decompressor and a second decompressor on said control board to decompress the compressed data after comparing the data processing performance for decompressing the compressed data of said control board to the data processing performance for decompressing the compressed data of said interface card.

9. An interface card according to claim 7, wherein said first decompressor comprises a plurality of different algorithms for decompressing said compressed data.

10. An interface card according to claim 7, wherein said interface card comprises a first compressor that compresses data to be sent to at least one of said host computer and said control board.

11. An interface card according to claim 10, wherein said second controller enables one of said first compressor and a second compressor on said control board to compress the data after comparing the data processing performance for compressing the data of said control board to the data processing performance for compressing the data of said interface card.

12. An interface card according to claim 7, wherein said first compressor comprises a plurality of different algorithms for compressing the data.

13. A method for sending recording data from a host computer to a recording device, wherein an interface card having a first decompressor is detachably connected to a control board mounted in the recording device, and the host computer communicates with the control board via the interface card;

comprising the steps of;

(a) determining an algorithm for compressing and decompressing recording data that is supported by the host computer and at least one of the interface card and the control board;

(b) enabling the first decompressor if the control board has no decompressor that can decompress compressed data in accordance with the algorithm determined in the step (a);

(c) if the control board has a second decompressor that can decompress the compressed data, then comparing a data processing performance for decompressing the compressed data of the control board to a data processing performance for decompressing the compressed data of the interface card;

(d) in accordance with the result of step (c), enabling one of the first and second decompressors;

(e) compressing the recording data in the host computer in accordance with the algorithm determined in the step (a), and sending the compressed data to the interface card;

(f) if the first decompressor is enabled, decompressing the compressed data in the interface card, and sending the decompressed data to the control board; and

(g) if the first decompressor is disabled, passing the compressed data to the control board; and

decompressing the compressed data therein.

14. A computer readable medium embodying a program of instructions for execution by a machine to perform a method for sending recording data from a host computer to a recording device, wherein an interface card having a first decompressor is detachably connected to a control board mounted in the recording device, and the host computer communicates with the control board via the interface card;

comprising the steps of;

(a) determining an algorithm for compressing and decompressing recording data that is supported by the host computer and at least one of the interface card and the control board,

(b) enabling the first decompressor if the control board has no decompressor that can decompress compressed data in accordance with the algorithm determined in the step (a);

(c) if the control board has a second decompressor that can decompress the compressed data, then comparing a data processing performance for decompressing the compressed data of the control board to a data processing performance for decompressing the compressed data of the interface card;

(d) in accordance with the result of step (c), enabling one of the first and second decompressors;

(e) compressing the recording data in the host computer in accordance with the algorithm determined in the step (a), and sending the compressed data to the interface card;

(f) if the first decompressor is enabled, decompressing the compressed data in the interface card, and sending the decompressed data to the control board; and

(g) if the first decompressor is disabled, passing the compressed data to the control board; and

decompressing the compressed data therein.