Printing apparatus and a control method therefor

• US 6,457,884 B1
• Filed: 04/17/2000
• Issued: 10/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Teradaira, Mitsuaki, Koakutsu, Naohiko, Hyonaga, Takuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Yan, Ren
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Anthony H.
• Application Number:
  US09/551,366
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 400/74, 400/703, 400/708, 400/62, 400/67
• US Class Current: 400/74
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1207 resulting in the user being informed about print result after a job submission
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1229 Printer resources management or printer maintenance, e.g. device status, power levels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1284 Local printer device
• 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 2215/0017 Preparing data for the controlling system, e.g. status, memory data

Abstract

This printing apparatus is provided having a regular status data generating circuit for regularly generating status data. An automatic status selection and transmission circuit selects the status condition to be transmitted by the automatic status transmission operation, and a status data comparator compares the status data. By executing the automatic status selection and transmission command, the status is thereafter transmitted each time the selected status changes.

Claims

1. A printing apparatus for use with a host device, comprising:

one or more state detectors for detecting one or more states of the printing apparatus to generate status data of the printing apparatus;

a state change detector for detecting a change in the status data; and

a data transmitter for transmitting to the host device, in response to a transmission enabling command received by the printing apparatus which designates at least one of the states, at least a part of the status data generated by the state detectors when the state change detector detects a change in the status data corresponding to at least one of the designated states.

2. The printing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the state change detector comprises:

a storage device for storing the status data that has been most recently transmitted to the host device by the data transmitter; and

a comparator for comparing status data presently generated by the state detectors with the stored status data to detect a difference therebetween.

3. The printing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the states include at least one of:

whether a malfunction occurs, whether a cover is open, whether paper is loaded, and a state of a peripheral device connected to the printing apparatus.

4. The printing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data transmitter transmits at least one of the status data in response to receiving a transmission enabling command which designates at least one of the states.

5. A method for controlling a printing apparatus for use with a host device, comprising:

(a) detecting one or more states of the printing apparatus to generate status data of the printing apparatus;

(b) detecting a change in the status data; and

(c) transmitting to the host device, in response to a transmission enabling command received by the printing apparatus which designates at least one of the states, at least a part of the status data when a change is detected in at least the status data corresponding to at least one of the designated states.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein step (b) comprises:

(b1) storing the status data that has been most recently transmitted to the host device; and

(b2) comparing status data presently generated with the stored status data to detect a difference therebetween.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the states include at least one of:

whether a malfunction occurs, whether a cover is open, whether paper is loaded, and a state of a peripheral device connected to the printing apparatus.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein step (c) further comprises transmitting at least a part of the status data in response to receiving a transmission enabling command which designates at least one of the states.