Passbook printer, passbook printer maintenance method, data processor, data processor maintenance method, and storage medium for printer operation control data

• US 6,681,996 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2001
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Nomura, Yukihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Seung H
• Application Number:
  US09/767,531
• Publication Number:
  US 20010010336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• Field of Search: 235/493, 235/375, 235/379, 235/380, 235/382, 235/449, 902/8
• US Class Current: 235/493
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/125 by magnetic means

Abstract

The configuration of this passport printer reduces the burden of reentering adjusting and setting values of passbook printers. When a control card 3 is replaced by another card, the adjusting and setting values of a passbook printer 1 stored in a nonvolatile memory attached in the control card 3 are written in a separately prepared magnetic stripe by using a magnetic head 41. Then, after the replacement of the control card 3, the adjusting and setting values written in the magnetic stripe are read by using the magnetic head 41, and stored in the nonvolatile memory of a control card 3 as a new replacement.

Claims

1. A passbook printer for performing printing on a passbook having a beltlike magnetic recording layer provided therein, comprising:

a memory for storing operation control data used to control an operation of the passbook printer;

a magnetic head for executing reading of data from, or writing of data in the beltlike magnetic recording layer provided in the passbook based on the stored operational data;

a control unit for instructing the magnetic head to read the operation control data from a magnetic recording medium on the passport to update data in the passport; and

controls in the passport printer for differentiating between the data read by the magnetic head from the magnetic recording layer of the passbook and control data read from a magnetic medium on an external storage unit, to store the read operation control data from the magnetic medium in the memory, when the saving magnetic recording medium storing the operation control data is received through said magnetic head from the external unit.

2. The passbook printer according to claim 1, comprising:

operation control data change displaying means for displaying a change of the operation control data from initial setting.

3. The passport printer of claim 1, wherein said control unit is on a removable control card.

4. The passport printer of claim 3, wherein said removable control card contains the memory in the form of a non-volatile random access memory, and also contains a processing unit, a read only memory and an interface to the magnetic head.

5. The passport printer of claim 4, wherein said read only memory contains control code of the control unit for executing reading and writing of data from the memory.

6. The passbook printer according to claim 5, wherein said control unit makes determination as to whether the operation control data stored in the memory has already been stored in the saving magnetic recording medium.

7. A passbook printer for performing printing on a passbook having a beltlike magnetic recording layer provided therein, comprising:

a magnetic head for reading of data from and alternatively writing of data in the beltlike magnetic recording layer provided in the passbook;

a memory for storing operation control data used to control an operation of the passbook printer in reading and writing data during a passport transaction; and

a control unit for instructing the magnetic head to perform a non-passport transaction which writes the operation control data stored in the memory in a saving magnetic recording medium on an external unit positioned for reading and writing by the magnetic head.

8. The passbook printer according to claim 7, wherein said control unit makes determination as to whether the operation control data stored in the memory has been changed from initial setting, and when determining a change, instructs writing of the operation control data stored in the memory in the saving magnetic recording medium.

9. The passbook printer according to claim 7, wherein said writing of the operation control data in the saving magnetic recording medium is performed while the saving magnetic recording medium is arranged in a position for executing reading/writing of the data on the passbook.

10. The passport printer of claim 9, wherein said control unit is on a removable control card.

11. The passport printer of claim 10, wherein said removable control card contains the memory in the form of a non-volatile random access memory, and also contains a processing unit, a read only memory and an interface to the magnetic head.

12. The passport printer of claim 11 wherein said read only memory contains control code of the control unit for executing reading and writing of data from the memory.

13. A maintenance method of a passbook printer provided with a memory for storing printer operation control data used to control an operation of the printer, and a reading/writing unit for reading/writing data in an data storage medium provided in a passbook, comprising:

a memory installing step of replacing the memory to install a new memory; and

a printer operation control data storing step of causing the reading/writing unit to read the printer operation control data from an external data storage medium storing the printer operation control data, and to store the read printer operation control data in the new memory.

14. The maintenance method of a passbook printer according to claim 13, comprising, before the storing means installing step, a printer operation control data confirming step of making confirmation as to whether the printer operation control data has been changed from initial printer operation control data.

15. The maintenance method of a passbook printer according to claim 14, wherein if it is confirmed in the printer operation control data confirming step that the printer operation control data has not been changed from the initial data, then in the printer control data storing step, the printer operation control data is read from the external data storage medium storing the initial printer operation control data beforehand.

16. The maintenance method of a passbook printer according to claim 15, wherein if it is conformed in the printer operation control data confirming step that the printer operation control data has been changed from the initial data, then, after the printer operation control data confirming step, a printer operation control data stored in the memory in the external data storage medium is executed, and in the printer operation control data storing step, the printer operation control data is read from the external data storage medium having the printer operation control data written therein in the printer operation control data writing step.

17. The maintenance method of claim 16 including using a read only memory associated with the new memory containing control code for executing reading and writing of data from the new memory to perform the steps of claim 16.

18. The maintenance method of claim 17 including having the memory and read only memory on a common replacement card.