Untitled record

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD [Detailed description of the invention]

【0001】

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a print control device and a print control device method, and particularly recovers errors such as paper jam errors that occur in page printers such as laser printers, LED (light emitting diode) printers, and LCS (liquid crystal shutter) printers, and shuttle printers. Regarding the method.

【0002】

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, as in the invention described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-257262 (hereinafter referred to as the first prior art), the printer sends a print command sent from a host computer when the printing process of the print command is normally completed. A command buffer for holding until a certain paper ejection is completed is prepared for the maximum number of commands that can be simultaneously printed in the printer (hereinafter, simply referred to as the maximum number of sheets to be held). Then, when an error requiring reprinting such as paper jam occurs, after removing the cause of the error, the print command after the occurrence of the error is read from the command buffer and printed again to recover the error.

【0003】

Further, in the invention described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-85068 (hereinafter referred to as the second prior art), when an error such as paper jam occurs in the printer, the printer causes an error type and an error in the host computer. In response to an error that requires reprinting, the host computer that notified the page where the error occurred retransmits the print command after the page where the error occurred to the printer, and the printer retransmits the print command after the error occurrence location. I was able to reprint.

【0004】

Further, the invention described in JP-A-2-19057 (hereinafter, referred to as third prior art) In the case where an error such as paper jam occurs in the printer, the printer host competent signals an error type generated in Yuta Then, the host computer that receives the notification retransmits the print command sequence after the first page constituting the document in response to an error that requires reprinting.

【0005】

For this retransmission print command sequence, the printer performs the following processing on the page before the error occurrence page.

【0006】

(1) If the command is determined to be an attribute parameter setting command by command interpretation, it is executed, and as a result, the attribute parameter is set in a table called the attribute parameter table. Here, the attribute parameters include paper size, line pitch, character pitch, character type, character size, line type, and the like.

【0007】

(2) However, if the command is a command for drawing characters, figures (straight lines, arcs, circles, polygons, etc.), images, etc., the command is not executed.

【0008】

(3) Also, the print process for the page buffer does not start.

【0009】

In addition, the printer performs drawing processing and printing processing as usual for the pages after the error occurrence page.

【0010】

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

In the first prior art, for example, in a laser printer having a printing speed of 20 sheets / minute, about 10 to 20 sheets of paper are involved in the printing process at the same time, so that the maximum number of sheets that can be held is about 10 to 20 sheets. Become. In addition, the capacity of the print command per sheet of paper is about 2 megabytes when one A4 size page is transmitted as image data with a density of 400 dots / inch. Therefore, in this case, about 20 to 40 megabytes of memory is required as the command buffer dedicated to the above-mentioned error recovery, and there is a problem that the cost increases significantly. Further, in the first prior art, consideration has not been given to the inheritance of the drawing attribute parameter between pages. Therefore, even if the print command is saved, when the error recovery is performed using the save print command starting from the page where the error occurred, the attribute parameters up to the page where the error occurred are not inherited, so that the page where the error occurred is used. There is also a problem that the reprint result cannot be printed as the original one due to the attribute parameters before the error occurred.

【0011】

Further, in the above-mentioned second conventional technique, when reprinting, the host computer resends the print command sequence after the error occurrence page to the printer.

【0012】

However, even if the host computer resends the print command sequence after the error occurrence page, the value of the attribute parameter set and updated in the print command sequence before the error occurrence page is only the resent print command sequence. There was a problem that it could not be recognized and the original printing could not be performed using the attribute parameters before the error occurred.

【0013】

Further, in the above-mentioned third conventional technique, the printer interprets the command for the page before the error occurrence page as described above, executes the attribute parameter setting command, and performs the drawing command and the printing process. Do not execute. Such a processing method is hereinafter referred to as command skipping processing.

【0014】

However, this command skipping process is a complicated process. That is, each type of drawing command, for example, multiple printer escape sequence commands specific to each company and multiple page description languages such as PostScript (registered trademark of Adobe Systems) and Interpress (registered trademark of Xrox). In order to support it, it is necessary to perform this skipping process for each type of drawing command, and there is a problem that the amount of development programs increases.

【0015】

The above problems have been a big problem especially in a print control device in which drawing processing and printing processing are made into a multitasking configuration and parallel processing or parallel processing is performed.

【0016】

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems, and even when an error requiring reprinting such as paper jam occurs in the printer as described above, accurate printing results are obtained without unnecessary reprinting. It is an object of the present invention to realize a printing device and a printing control method for outputting the above, with a small storage capacity and simple processing.

【0017】

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the print control device according to the present invention A drawing command that is arranged in the order of print pages and indicates drawing information such as characters, figures, and images, and a format for drawing drawing information related to the drawing command after that, which is arranged at an arbitrary position, as image data, etc. A communication control unit that receives a print command sequence from the host computer that includes at least an attribute parameter setting command that indicates A command buffer unit for storing the received print command sequence and In the normal state, the print command sequence is sequentially read from the command buffer unit, drawing processing is performed according to the print command sequence, and in the case of an abnormality, the print command sequence after the unprinted page at the time of the abnormality is displayed. A drawing processing unit that reads sequentially again and performs drawing processing according to the print command sequence, A page buffer unit that stores dot image data drawn by the drawing processing unit, and A print processing unit that instructs the printer control unit to print the dot image data stored in the page buffer unit. A printer control unit that reads the dot image data from the page buffer unit and performs print control on the printer engine unit according to an instruction from the print processing unit. An abnormality processing unit that monitors the abnormality of the printer engine unit and starts the reprinting process of the drawing processing unit when an abnormality that requires reprinting occurs. An attribute parameter table unit that stores at least the attribute parameters set according to the print command sequence read by the drawing processing unit until all the pages related to the attribute parameters are discharged. As a result, when an abnormality occurs, the drawing processing unit is configured to perform drawing processing according to the attribute parameters of the page to be redrawn stored in the attribute parameter table unit. This method is hereafter referred to as the command buffer storage method.

【0018】

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the print control device according to the present invention may be used. A communication control unit that receives drawing information such as characters, figures, and images, and a print command sequence indicating attribute parameter setting information indicating the format for drawing the drawing information as image data from the host computer. A command buffer unit for storing the received print command sequence and A drawing processing unit that sequentially reads the print command sequence from the command buffer unit and performs drawing processing for each page according to the print command sequence. A page buffer unit that stores the dot image data drawn by the drawing processing unit at least until the printing of the page is completed. A print processing unit that instructs the printer control unit to print the dot image data stored in the page buffer unit. A printer control unit that reads the dot image data from the page buffer unit and performs print control on the printer engine unit according to an instruction from the print processing unit. An abnormality processing unit that monitors the abnormality of the printer engine unit and starts the reprinting process of the printer control unit when an abnormality that requires reprinting occurs. Page buffer number storage unit that stores the page buffer number indicating the storage position of the page waiting to be ejected in the page buffer, Therefore, when an abnormality occurs, the printer control unit reads out the dot image data of the page on which the abnormality has occurred based on the page buffer number of the page on which the abnormality has occurred in the page buffer number storage unit, and the printer engine. The configuration is such that the printing of the part is controlled. This method will be referred to as the page buffer storage method hereafter.

【0019】

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the print control device according to the present invention is further added to the above command buffer storage method. A secondary storage device that stores the print command sequence received from the command buffer as a plurality of command files in which the print commands for each page are described. A command file storage control unit that controls writing and reading of the command file, A command file management table unit that manages the storage position of the command file in the secondary storage device. Therefore, when the abnormality processing unit starts the reprint processing of the drawing processing unit, the command file storage control unit stores the command file of the page requiring reprinting by the command file management table unit. Upon recognition, the secondary storage device reads the command buffer, and the drawing processing unit performs drawing processing for reprinting using the print command sequence newly stored in the command buffer. This method is hereafter referred to as the command file storage method.

【0020】

Further, in the above command file saving method, the dot image data which is the drawing result in the page buffer may be saved instead of the command for each page, and the error may be recovered by using the dot image data. This method is hereinafter referred to as a drawing image file storage method.

【0021】

[Action]

In the command buffer storage method, for example, when the drawing processing unit detects a page break condition in the drawing processing, the printing processing unit starts the printing processing unit for the page buffer for which drawing is completed, and the printing processing unit starts the printing processing unit for the page buffer. Printing is instructed to the printer control unit, and the printer engine unit prints under the control of the printer control unit.

【0022】

The abnormality monitoring unit detects a printer-related error, and if the error is an error that requires reprinting such as a paper jam, the abnormality monitoring unit newly starts the drawing processing unit.

【0023】

The activated drawing processing unit sets the command of the page with the error in the command buffer according to the attribute parameter stored in the attribute parameter table unit together with the value of the read pointer indicating the read position from the command buffer, for example. Interpret and execute.

【0024】

According to this command buffer storage method, if the command buffer is prepared for the capacity required when the capacity is the largest for one sheet of paper (for example, in the case of the above-mentioned A4 size 100 dots / inch, about 2 megabytes), Accurate print results can be output.

【0025】

Further, in the page buffer storage method, for example, when the drawing processing unit detects a page break condition in the drawing processing, it activates the printing processing unit for the page buffer for which drawing is completed and prints the page to be printed. -Save the dibuffer number. Then, the printer control unit is instructed to print the corresponding portion of the page buffer, and the printer engine unit prints under the control of the printer control unit.

【0026】

The abnormality monitoring unit detects an error related to the printer, and when determining whether the error requires reprinting such as a paper jam, the error in the page buffer is found based on the saved page buffer number. Reprint the page. Then, the image data is zero-cleared from the page buffer only for the page whose printing is finally confirmed.

【0027】

Further, in the command file storage method, for example, when the drawing processing unit stores a certain amount of commands in the command work area in the command buffer reading process, the contents are stored in the secondary storage device as a command file.

【0028】

When the drawing processing unit detects the page break condition, the value of the current drawing attribute parameter is stored in the command file unit as an attribute parameter file for the next page, and the page buffer for which drawing is completed is stored. Start the print processing of the print processing unit. After the print processing unit instructs the printer control unit to print the page buffer, the abnormality processing unit detects an error related to the printer, and if the error is an error that requires reprinting such as a paper jam. , Start a new drawing processing unit.

【0029】

The started drawing processing unit copies, for example, the contents of the attribute parameter file for the first page saved in the current attribute parameter for drawing processing, and saves the command file in the command buffer section. Stores the contents of, and interprets and executes the command in the command buffer according to the attribute parameters of the current attribute parameter.

【0030】

Further, in the drawing image file saving method, in the page buffer saving method, the dot image data which is the drawing result of the page buffer is further saved in the secondary storage device as a file.

【0031】

As described above, according to the command buffer storage method, the attribute parameters are stored and managed separately from the print command sequence, so the command buffer is prepared for the capacity required when the capacity is the largest for one sheet of paper. Accurate print results can be output just by doing so.

【0032】

In addition, according to the page buffer storage method, the buffer area where the output has been completed can be cleared in sequence, so if the page buffer is prepared for the capacity required when the capacity is the largest for one sheet of printed paper. , Accurate print results can be output.

【0033】

In addition, according to the command file storage method, the command buffer capacity can be further reduced compared to the command buffer storage method (at least 1 byte can be operated).

【0034】

Further, according to the drawing image file storage method, the command buffer capacity can be further reduced.

【0035】

[Example]

Next, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. First, the configuration of the print control device 110 in this embodiment will be described with reference to the configuration diagram of FIG.

【0036】

The print control device 110 includes a host communication control unit 10, a command buffer unit 11, a command buffer management unit 12, a command processing unit 13, a page buffer control unit 14, a page buffer unit 15, a printer control unit 16, and an error processing unit 17. Consists of.

【0037】

The host communication control unit 10 receives a print command from the host computer 100 (not shown) and stores it in the command buffer unit 11. The print command is also simply called a command hereafter.

【0038】

In the figure, the solid line indicates the flow of print data, and the broken line indicates the flow of control information.

【0039】

An example of a print command sequence transmitted by the host computer 100 to the print control device 110 will be described with reference to FIG. 38.

【0040】

This print command sequence consists of the document head part 3800, the first page part 3810, the second page part 3820, the third page part 3830, ......... and so on. Further, the document head 3800 includes a reset command 3801 and the like for initializing the attribute parameters. The 1st page 3810, the 2nd page 3820, and the 3rd page 3830 are the drawing of the 1st to 3rd pages, the setting command of various attribute parameters for specifying the print contents, and the sequence of various drawing commands. Page break command to indicate page break 3819,3829, It consists of 3839. In this example, the attribute parameter setting commands include paper size setting command 3811, number of copies setting command 3812, character type setting command 3813, character size setting command 3814, 3824, line width setting command 3816, line type setting command 3817, and fill pattern. Although the setting command 382A is shown, any attribute parameters related to drawing and printing can be set by using the various attribute parameter setting commands. Also, in this example, as drawing commands, the character code strings 3815, 3825, 3835 for instructing the drawing of the character string, the arc drawing commands 3818, 3838, and the polygon filling command 382B are shown, but any character, Figures and images can be drawn using this drawing command. Further, in this example, the page break commands 3819, 3829, and 3839 that explicitly indicate the page break are arranged for each page break, but instead of this page break command, the page break may be implicitly indicated. Examples of implicit page breaks include a paper size change command, a copy count setting command, a print direction (portrait = portrait / landscape = landscape) specification command, and automatic page breaks. Only one type of paper size change command, print copy number setting command, and print direction specification command can be specified on one page, and if these commands are issued in the middle of a page, it can be determined that the page is broken. Automatic page break means that (a) the print control device prints one page within the range of the page length, (b) page break, and (c) when the character drawing is instructed for the line exceeding the page length. ) This is a function for printing the amount exceeding the page length on the next page.

【0041】

FIG. 39 shows the printing results of the print control device 110 and the printer engine unit 120 for the print command sequence shown in FIG. 38. 3910, 3920, and 3930 are the print results when the first page, the second page, and the third page are printed normally, respectively.

【0042】

By the way, the attribute parameter setting command can be set at any place independent of the page break place, and the attribute parameter value once set is maintained until it is reset or initialized by the reset command. To. Therefore, if a print error such as a paper jam occurs in the printing of the 3rd page after the 1st to 2nd pages are printed normally in the printer engine part, the commands after the 3rd page part are not taken into consideration. If you reprint a column, the result of the reprint will be different from what it was before the error occurred. The reprint result for the third page in this case is printed as shown in 3940, which is different from the original print result 3930.

【0043】

The command buffer management unit 12 controls pointers for reading and writing to the command buffer unit 11 and saves the contents of the command buffer unit 11. Therefore, the command buffer management table section shown in FIG. 2 described later in the command buffer management section 12 is used (in FIG. 1, only the command buffer discharge queue section, which is an important part thereof, is shown. There is).

【0044】

The command processing unit 13 includes a drawing processing unit 131 and a print processing unit 132. The drawing processing unit 131 reads, interprets, and executes a command from the command buffer unit 11. As a result of command execution, characters, figures, images, etc. are drawn as dot image data in the page buffer section 15. When a page break condition is detected during command execution, the drawing of the page is terminated, and the print processing unit 132 is started for the page buffer for which the drawing is completed.

【0045】

Further, a command buffer storage unit 1311 and a redraw / print preparation unit 1312 using a storage command buffer are provided in the drawing processing unit 131. The command buffer storage unit 1311 saves the contents of the command buffer in page units until it confirms the end of paper ejection in preparation for error recovery. Further, the redrawing / printing preparation unit 1312 using the save command buffer reprints using the command buffer saved in the command buffer unit 11.

【0046】

The print processing unit 132 gives a print instruction to the printer control unit 16 by using the print instruction unit 1321.

【0047】

The page buffer unit 15 is a bitmap memory, and is a target for drawing as described above. It consists of one page of regular paper and multiple pages. The page buffer control unit 14 controls the page buffer 15.

【0048】

When the printer control unit 16 receives a print instruction from the print processing unit 132, the printer control unit 16 issues a series of print instructions to the printer engine unit 120 according to the printer engine interface. After that, the read circuit in the printer control unit 16 reads out the contents of the page buffer in which the drawing is completed, and outputs the contents to the printer engine unit 120. The printer engine unit 120 executes a printing process and prints on paper.

【0049】

Further, the printer control unit 16 is provided with a paper ejection end monitoring unit 161 and a paper ejection end processing unit A1621. The paper ejection end monitoring unit 161 monitors the paper ejection end from the printer engine unit 120 of the printing paper, and starts the paper ejection end processing unit A1621 when the paper ejection end is detected.

【0050】

The abnormality processing unit 17 performs abnormality processing for various abnormalities detected by each unit of the print control device 110. The abnormality processing unit 17 is provided with a reprint preparation unit A171 so as to prepare for reprinting when an error requiring reprinting is detected.

【0051】

Next, the contents of the command buffer management table section 20 will be described with reference to FIG. This management table section 20 has a command buffer area start address 21, a command buffer area end address 22, a write start pointer 23, a write end pointer 24, a command buffer data end pointer 25, and a command buffer read pointer 26. , And the pointer 27 at the root of the command buffer output queue.

【0052】

Of these, the write start pointer 23, the write end pointer 24, and the data end pointer 25 in the command buffer are used to control the writing of commands to the command buffer unit 11 by the host communication control unit 10 or the like. The command buffer read pointer 26, the data end pointer 25 in the command buffer, the write start pointer 23, and the like are used to control the command read from the command buffer section 11 by the drawing processing section 131.

【0053】

The pointer 27 at the root of the command buffer discharge queue is a pointer at the root of the command buffer discharge queue section 121. A structure called a command block is connected to this pointer 27. The command block has a pointer to the next command block (271, 281, 291) as its first element, a command page end pointer storage unit (272, 282, 292) as its second element, and an attribute parameter as its third element. -Has a vertical storage section (273, 283, 293). That is, the command buffer discharge queue unit 121 in FIG. 1 is composed of the pointer 27 at the root of the command buffer discharge queue and these command blocks.

【0054】

Next, the normal operation procedure of the print control device 110 will be described with reference to FIG.

【0055】

First, the print control device 110 receives a print command sequence from the host computer 100 using the command reception unit in the host communication control unit 10, and stores it in the command buffer unit 11 (301). The print command sequence is for describing a document composed of one or more logical pages, and each logical page is defined as one or more print command sequences.

【0056】

The print command sequence stored in the command buffer unit 11 is read by the drawing processing unit 131 in the order of reception (302), and then interpreted and executed. As a result, characters, figures, images, etc. are drawn on the page buffer unit 15 (303).

【0057】

When the drawing processing unit 131 detects a page break condition in command execution, it executes the command buffer saving process (304) and the printing processing unit 132 (305).

【0058】

After issuing a print instruction to the printer control unit 16 (307), the print processing unit 132 shifts to the state of waiting for the end of paper ejection (308).

【0059】

The printer control unit 16 executes the above-mentioned procedure for the printer engine unit 120, and as a result, the contents of the page buffer for which drawing is completed are output to the printer engine unit 120 as a video signal (309). The printer control unit 16 activates the paper ejection end monitoring timer at the time when the output of the page buffer contents is started (310).

【0060】

For example, according to the configuration shown in FIG. 5 described later, when the timer control unit 5115 detects the timeout of the paper discharge end monitoring timer, the paper discharge end process 1 in the printer control unit 16 is activated (3121).

【0061】

The paper ejection end processing 1 performs the above-mentioned processing, and consistently releases the print processing unit in the paper ejection end waiting state from this state (313).

【0062】

The print processing unit 132 updates the print end page No. after being released from the paper ejection end waiting state (314).

【0063】

Next, the operation procedure when the print control device 110 is abnormal will be described with reference to FIG. It is assumed that the same procedure is performed in Fig. 3 and 301 to 309. At this time, it is assumed that a paper jam error has occurred in the printer engine unit 120 (321).

【0064】

The printer engine unit 120 notifies the printer control unit 16 of the occurrence of an error according to the printer engine interface (322). The printer control unit 16 informs the error handling unit 17 of the error type and activates it (323). The error types include "paper jam" and "door open" as those that need to be reprinted, and "no paper", "no toner", and "printer mechanism" as those that do not need to be reprinted. , Etc.

【0065】

The error handling unit 17 performs the following processing.

【0066】

(1) The processing of the print processing unit 132 and the drawing processing unit 131 is interrupted (324, 325).

【0067】

(2) Report the occurrence of an error to the host computer 100 via the host communication control unit 10 (326, 327).

【0068】

(3) Determine if there is an error that requires reprinting, such as paper jam, and if so, perform the following processing.

【0069】

(3-1) Forcibly terminate all the processing of the print processing unit 132 and the drawing processing unit 131 (when clearing all the current processing and restarting, it is necessary to restart the processing from the beginning) (3281) ..

【0070】

(3-2) As reprint preparation 1, it is determined whether the command that has not been ejected is saved in the command buffer, and if so, the reprint error flag is set to ON (3291).

【0071】

(3-3) Start the processing of the drawing processing unit 131 (3301).

【0072】

(4) The print control device 110 executes the following operation procedure in the normal state. That is, the drawing processing unit 131 performs drawing (331) and activation of the printing processing unit (332), and the printing processing unit 132 performs processing such as a print instruction (334).

【0073】

The print control device may be realized as an extension function to the invention by the applicant of the present invention shown in FIG. 5 (described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-164637 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-282747). That is, the processing of the drawing processing unit 131 and the printing processing unit 132 may be configured as a multitasking configuration so that parallel processing or parallel processing can be performed. In this case, each component in FIG. 1 is associated with each component in FIG. 5 as follows, and is realized as one of the functions.

【0074】

(1) Host computer 100 ---> Host computer 510 (2) Host communication control unit 10 ---> Host communication control unit 5118 (3) Command buffer section 11 ---> Command buffer section 511 (4) Command buffer management unit 12 ---> For example, host communication control unit 5118 (5) Drawing processing unit 131 ---> Drawing task processing unit 5131 (6) Print processing unit 132 ---> Print task processing unit 5132 (7) Page buffer control unit 14 ---> Page buffer control unit 5116 (8) Page buffer section 15 ---> Page buffer section 514 (9) Printer control unit 16 ---> Printer control unit 5117 (10) Abnormal processing unit 17 ---> Realized as one function of printer control unit 5117, print task processing unit 5132, drawing task processing unit 5131, etc.

【0075】

(11) Printer engine section 120 ---> Printer engine section 516 For each component of FIG. 5, reference numbers in FIG. 1 of the above inventions (described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-164637 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-282747) with a value of 5 are used. There was.

【0076】

According to this implementation method, the CPU, printer engine section, and page buffer section (which can be used on multiple pages) can be used without free time, so the print flow during normal operation and error recovery can be used. Can be improved and printing at the maximum speed of the printer engine can be realized.

【0077】

Next, the processing procedure of each part of the print control device 110 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 12.

【0078】

First, the processing procedure of the drawing processing unit 131 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the drawing preparation (6109) initializes the various parameters and tables for drawing inside (6110). As a part of this, it is determined whether the reprint error flag is ON (6111). When it is ON, the save command buffer redraw / print preparation unit 1312 executes the following three items as the save command buffer redraw / print preparation process (6112-1).

【0079】

(1) The value of the command read pointer 26 indicating the read position from the command buffer is saved as the value of the second element (command page end pointer save unit 272) of the first command block of the output queue.

【0080】

(2) Of the various parameters for drawing described above, the value of the current drawing attribute parameter is set to the third element of the first command block of the command buffer discharge queue (attribute parameter vertical storage unit 273). Save as the value of.

【0081】

(3) Turn off the reprinting error flab.

【0082】

After preparing for drawing, the drawing process repeats command interpretation (6121) and command execution (6130) with an infinite loop (6120).

【0083】

In command execution 6130, branching is performed according to the command (6131), paper size specification (6132), number of copies specified (6133), character drawing (6134), drawing (6135), page break (6136), and others. (6137) is performed.

【0084】

At page break (6136), processing such as 6136-1, 6136-2, 6136-3, 6136-4 is performed. Of these, except for 6136-3, the same processing as in the case of the above invention (described in JP-A No. 1-164637 and JP-A No. 1-2827471) is performed. In the command buffer save process (6136-3), the command buffer save section 1311 is used, and the current command buffer read pointer is set as the second element at the end of the command buffer output queue section 121, and the value of the current drawing attribute parameter. Connect the command block whose third element is. When the print processing is started (6136-4), the print processing unit 132 is started for the page buffer for which drawing is completed.

【0085】

The processing procedure of the print processing unit 132 will be described with reference to FIG. 7. In this process, printer reserve (709), ready status check (710), paper feed section, paper ejection section check (711), paper feed section, paper ejection section instruction (712), print instruction (714), ejection The transition to the paper end waiting state (715), the printer free (717), and the task end (718) are performed in this order. The processing content is the same as in the case of the above invention (described in JP-A No. 1-164637 and JP-A No. 1-282747). Note that printer reserve (709), printer free (717), and task end (718) are required to realize the multitasking method.

【0086】

The procedure of interrupt processing in the printer control unit 16 will be described with reference to FIG. In this interrupt processing, depending on the interrupt factor (810), vertical synchronization signal output (811), output end monitoring timer activation (812) and video signal output (813) are executed, abnormal processing is executed (814), and others. Executes processing (815) for the interrupt factor. The processing content of this procedure is also the same as in the case of the above invention (described in JP-A No. 1-164637 and JP-A No. 1-282747).

【0087】

The processing procedure in the timer control unit 5115 will be described with reference to FIG.

【0088】

If the timer is running (910), process each timer item (911 to 915). Regarding the paper ejection end monitoring timer, the timer value is counted down (912), and when a timeout is detected (913), the paper ejection end processing A1621 is started (914).

【0089】

The processing procedure of the paper ejection end processing A (1621) will be described with reference to FIG. In this process, after updating the output completion page serial number (1011), the value of the write end pointer indicating the end of writing to the command buffer is set to the second element of the first command block of the command buffer output queue. Update to the value of the command page end pointer saver that is (1021). Subsequently, after removing the first command block from the command buffer discharge queue portion (1031), the print task to be monitored for the paper discharge end monitoring is released from the paper discharge end waiting state (1041).

【0090】

As shown in FIG. 11, the error handling unit 17 executes the following processing procedure.

【0091】

(1) Set the status of the print control device to the non-printable status and display that fact on the user operation panel (1100).

【0092】

(2) The processing of the print processing unit and the drawing processing unit is interrupted. In a multitasking configuration, interrupt multiple print task processes and one or more draw task processes (1110).

【0093】

(3) Determine the page serial number where the error occurred from the paper ejection completion page serial number (1120).

【0094】

(4) The error code and the error occurrence page serial number are reported to the host computer 100 via the host communication control unit 10 (1130).

【0095】

(5) Until the cause of the error is removed (1140), the error status of the printer is confirmed (1141) and the latest error confirmed is displayed on the user operation panel 5107 (1142).

【0096】

(6) Judge whether the error requires reprinting such as paper jam or printer door open during printing (1160), and if so, perform the following processing.

【0097】

(6-1) All processing of the print processing unit 132 and the drawing processing unit 131 is forcibly terminated (1161-1).

【0098】

(6-2) Prepare for reprinting A (1162-1). In this reprint preparation 1, as shown in Fig. 12, it is determined whether the command buffer has not completed the ejection, whether the command buffer ejection queue is empty (1211), and it is saved. If the reprint error-flag is set to ON (1221).

【0099】

(6-3) Set the status of the print control device 110 to the printable status (online), and display that fact on the user operation panel section 5107 (1163).

【0100】

(6-4) Start the processing of the drawing processing unit 131 (1164-1).

【0101】

(7) If the error does not require reprinting, perform the following processing.

【0102】

(7-1) Set the status of the print control device 110 to the printable status (online), and display that fact on the user operation panel 5107 (1165).

【0103】

(7-2) Resume the processing of the print processing unit and the drawing processing unit (1166).

【0104】

After detecting that there is no printer error in the abnormality processing unit, the reprint may be started by, for example, an instruction from the host computer 510 or an instruction from the panel control unit 5119.

【0105】

Next, the processing procedure of the host computer 100 will be described with reference to FIG. In this process, if there is a print instruction from the user (1330), the print command sequence is read from the storage unit in the host computer (1331), and the print command sequence is transmitted to the print control device (1332). If an error is occurring in the printer (1340), after waiting for an error recovery instruction from the user (1341), a restart instruction command is sent to the print control unit 110 (1342).

【0106】

The procedures 1340, 1341, and 1342 are used when the error recovery instruction is transmitted to the print control device after waiting for the error recovery instruction from the user. This procedure is not used if the print control device automatically recovers after removing the cause of the error without waiting for the error recovery instruction from the user.

【0107】

If an error report is received (1350), the error is displayed on the display in the host computer (1351).

【0108】

Next, the hardware configuration of the print control device 110 will be described with reference to FIG.

【0109】

The print control device 110 includes a CPU bus 1401, a host communication controller 1402, a CPU1403, a ROM1404, a sub CPU1406, a user operation panel 1407, a printer memory controller 1409, and a RAM 1400A.

【0110】

The CPU bus 1401 is composed of various input / output signals (address signals, data signals, and other control signals) of the CPU 1403.

【0111】

The CPU 1403 performs input / output with peripheral controllers such as 1402, 1406, and 1409 and memory such as 1404 and 1400A via this CPU bus 1401.

【0112】

The host communication controller 1402 is a controller for the print control device 110 to communicate with the host computer 100. The physical I / F of this communication (called host I / F) is SCSI (Small Computer System Interface), RS232C, RS422, GP-IB (Gener-al Purpose Interface Bus), Centronics, HDLC (High-Level Data Link Control). ) Etc., and implement the appropriate hardware logic of this controller 1402 according to the type of physical I / F to be used.

【0113】

The ROM 1404 stores an initialization start-up program (also called an IPL (Initial Program Loading) program) of the print control device 110 and a part of the character font.

【0114】

The RAM 1400A contains (a) the control program of the print control device 120, (b) the rest of the character font, (c) the command buffer memory, (d) the page buffer memory, and (e) the page buffer management table and task management. Stores various management tables such as tables and others. Of these, (a) and (b) are stored by downloading from the host computer 100 with the IPL program. Further, (a) and (b) may be stored in ROM1404 in advance instead of being stored in RAM1410A. On the contrary, ROM1404 may not store any character fonts, but may store all of them in RAM1400A.

【0115】

The sub CPU 1406 performs input / output processing with the user operation panel 1407 and the printer engine unit 120 according to the instruction of the CPU 1403.

【0116】

The printer memory controller 1409 reads the contents of the RAM 1400A (normally the contents of the page buffer section) to the printer engine section 120, and controls the DRAM memory (refresh, etc.) when the RAM 1400A is DRAM. This reading process is performed using the built-in DMA (Direct Memory Access) function. When the reading from the page buffer section of the data for one page of the page is completed, the printer memory controller 1409 asserts an interrupt signal (a part of the signal in the CPU bus 1401) to the CPU 1403, and the CPU Page buffer read end interrupt processing is started.

【0117】

The print control device 110 communicates with the printer engine unit 120 via the signal line 1400C-1 for the sub CPU 1406 and the signal line 1400C-2 for the printer memory controller 1409 according to an I / F called the printer engine I / F. , Communicate.

【0118】

The printer memory controller 1409 uses the signal line 1400C-2 to convert the contents of the page buffer unit 15 into a format when the printer engine unit 120 is a shuttle printer, and then outputs the contents to the printer engine unit 120. When the printer engine unit is a laser printer, the printer memory controller 1409 uses the signal line 1400C-2 to perform parallel serial conversion of the contents of the page buffer unit, and then outputs the contents to the printer engine unit.

【0119】

When the printer engine unit is a shuttle printer, the signal line 1400C-1 is used to receive a signal or the like indicating the page top position from the printer engine unit. When the printer engine unit is a laser printer, this signal line 1400C-1 is for the sub CPU 1406 to send a command for inquiry or instruction to the printer engine unit 120 and receive the response status from the printer engine unit 120. Command, status transmission / reception signal, and control signal for controlling the reading procedure of the contents of the page buffer unit 15 to the printer engine unit 120.

【0120】

In this embodiment, it is sufficient to prepare command buffers for the capacity required for storing print commands for one sheet of paper, and as in the first conventional technique, command buffers dedicated to error recovery are provided for the maximum number of sheets to be held. Since it is not necessary to prepare the print control device, the cost-effectiveness ratio of the print control device can be increased. In addition, since the drawing attribute parameters at the start of drawing each page are saved in the command buffer output queue section, the command has specifications that the drawing attribute parameters are inherited between pages. On the other hand, the print result does not differ from the original one at the time of error recovery, and the reliability and usability of the print control device can be improved.

【0121】

In addition, it is possible to eliminate the increase in the processing load of the host computer and the modification of the program in the second prior art.

【0122】

Further, since the command skipping process in the third conventional technique can be eliminated, it is possible to eliminate the increase in the amount of development programs of the print control device.

【0123】

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. First, the configuration of the print control device in this embodiment will be described with reference to the configuration diagram of FIG.

【0124】

The print control device 1510 includes a host communication control unit 150, a command buffer unit 151, a command processing unit 153, a page buffer control unit 154, a page buffer unit 155, a printer control unit 156, and an error processing unit 157.

【0125】

The host communication control unit 1510 performs the same processing as in the first embodiment (in the case of FIG. 1).

【0126】

The command processing unit 153 includes a drawing processing unit 1531 and a print processing unit 1532. The drawing processing unit 1531 also performs the same processing as in the first embodiment (in the case of FIG. 1), reads a command from the command buffer unit 151, interprets it, and executes it. When a page break condition is detected during command execution, the drawing of the page is terminated, and the print processing unit 1532 is started for the page buffer for which the drawing is completed.

【0127】

The print processing unit 1532 uses the print instruction unit 15321 to instruct the printer control unit 156 to print. Further, a page buffer storage unit 15322 and a storage page buffer release unit 15323 are provided in the print processing unit 1532. The page buffer storage unit 15322 stores the page buffer for error recovery. Further, the storage page buffer release unit 15323 releases the storage page buffer at the end of paper ejection.

【0128】

The page buffer control unit 154, the page buffer unit 155, and the printer control unit 156 also execute the same functions as in the first embodiment. The page buffer control unit 154 is provided with a page buffer output queue unit 1541, which is a series of components called print blocks. The print block has a page buffer number as its second element and a print task number as its third element, and is used for managing the storage and release of the page buffer for error recovery.

【0129】

Further, the printer control unit 156 is provided with a paper discharge end monitoring unit 1561 and a paper discharge end processing unit B 15622. The paper ejection end monitoring unit 1561 monitors the paper ejection end from the printer engine unit 1520 of the printing paper, and starts the paper ejection end processing unit B 15622 when the paper ejection end is detected.

【0130】

The error handling unit 157 performs error handling for various abnormalities detected by each unit of the print control device 1510. This error handling unit 157 is provided with a storage page buffer reprinting unit 1572 so that reprinting can be performed using the page buffer saved when an error requiring reprinting is detected.

【0131】

Next, the contents of the page buffer management table section 16A will be described with reference to FIG. This management table unit 16A is for managing page buffers of one page or more, and is common information 16A1 for all page buffers, information 16B1 for page buffer 0, and information 16B2 for page buffer 1. , ---, Information for page buffer N-1 10B3. Here, N is the total number of pages of the page buffer, and is described as one item in the common information 16A1 for all page buffers as described later.

【0132】

The common information 16A1 for all page buffers is the drawing page buffer number 16A2, the print page buffer number 16A3, the total number of page buffer pages (N) 16A4, and the pointer of the root of the page buffer output queue. It consists of 16A5 etc.

【0133】

Of these, the contents other than the pointer 16A5 at the root of the page buffer discharge queue are the same as in the case of the above invention (described in JP-A-1-164637 and JP-A 1-282747).

【0134】

Further, the pointer 16A5 at the root of the page buffer discharge queue is a pointer at the root of the page buffer discharge queue portion 1541. A component called a print block (16C0 to 16E0) is connected to this pointer 16A5. The print block (16C0 to 16E0) has a pointer to the next print block (16C1, 16D1, 16E1) as its first element, a page buffer number (16C2, 16D2, 16E2) as its second element, and its third element. It has a print task number (16C3, 16D3, 16E3) as. The page buffer number of the second element and the print task number of the third element are the task number of the print task and the print page buffer to be printed at the time when each print task instructs printing about a certain page buffer. The number is recorded in the print block. This record is deleted when the printing is normally completed. If an error that requires reprinting occurs, the error recovery process is performed using this record.

【0135】

Next, the operation procedure of the print control device under normal conditions will be described with reference to FIG.

【0136】

The procedure from receiving and storing the print command sequence (1701) to drawing (1703) is the same as in the case of the first embodiment (FIG. 3). After that, in this embodiment, the print processing unit is started (1705) without performing the command buffer saving process (3041).

【0137】

After the page buffer saving process (1706) and the printing instruction issued to the printer control unit 156 (1707), the print processing unit 1532 shifts to the paper ejection end waiting state (1708).

【0138】

After that, the same procedure as in the first embodiment (Fig. 3) is executed from the activation of the paper ejection end monitoring timer (1710) to the cancellation of the paper ejection end waiting (1713) and the update of the print end page No. (1714). ..

【0139】

After that, the print processing unit 1532 performs a save page buffer clear process (1715), and ends a series of normal printing procedures.

【0140】

Next, the operation procedure when the print control device is abnormal will be described with reference to FIG. The procedure from receiving and storing the print command sequence (1701) to reporting the error to the host computer 100 (1827) is the same as in the first embodiment (Fig. 4). After that, in this embodiment, the following processing is performed.

【0141】

(1) Determine if there is an error that requires reprinting, such as paper jam, and if so, perform the following processing.

【0142】

(1-1) Forcibly terminate all processing of the print processing unit 1532. It differs from the case of the first embodiment in that the processing of the drawing processing unit is not forcibly terminated (the processing up to that point is not cleared and only interrupted) (18282).

【0143】

(1-2) Saved page buffer Reprint processing is performed to determine whether page buffers that have not been ejected are saved in page buffer section 155, and if saved, all saved page buffers are saved. The print task processing unit is started (18292).

【0144】

(1-3) Resume the processing of the drawing processing unit 1531. Since this drawing process is not forcibly terminated in (1-1) as in the first embodiment, it is only necessary to restart it, and it is not necessary to start it (18302).

【0145】

(2) The print control device 1510 executes the following normal operation procedures.

【0146】

That is, the drawing processing unit 1531 performs drawing (1831) and the printing processing unit is activated (1832), and the printing processing unit 1532 performs processing such as printing instructions (1833). Similar to the case of the first embodiment, this embodiment is also realized as an extension function to the invention by the applicant of the present invention shown in FIG. 5 (described in JP-A-1-164637 and JP-A 1-282747). can do. That is, the processing of the drawing processing unit and the printing processing unit may be configured as a multitasking configuration so that parallel processing or parallel processing can be realized. In this case, each component in FIG. 15 is associated with each component in FIG. 5 in the same manner as in the case of the first embodiment. According to this implementation method, the CPU, printer engine section, and page buffer section (which can be used on multiple pages) can be used without free time, so the print flow during normal operation and error recovery can be used. Can be improved and printing at the maximum speed of the printer engine can be realized.

【0147】

Next, the processing procedure of each part of the print control device will be described with reference to FIG.

【0148】

The processing procedure of the drawing processing unit 1531 is the same as that of the first embodiment (Fig. 6) except for the following two points.

【0149】

(1) From the drawing preparation (609), the processing (611, 612-1) after the determination of whether the reprint error flag is ON is deleted.

【0150】

(2) Delete the command buffer save process (636-3) from the page break process.

【0151】

The processing procedure of the print processing unit 1532 will be described with reference to FIG. In this process, after the printer reserve (1909), ready status check (1910), paper feed section, paper output section check (1911), paper feed section, and paper output section instruction (1912), the page buffer save process is performed. (1913). In the page buffer saving process (1913), the print page buffer number 16C2 to be printed is set as the second element at the end of the command buffer output queue section 1541, and the print task number 16C3 for executing the print process is executed. Connect the print block 16C0 etc. with the third element to save the page buffer contents.

【0152】

Subsequently, the print processing unit 1532 instructs the printer control unit 156 to print the page buffer using the print instruction unit 15321 (1914). However, in this print instruction, the printer control unit 156 is instructed to save the contents of the page buffer without clearing them to zero.

【0153】

After the print instruction, the print processing unit 1532 waits for the end of paper ejection (1915).

【0154】

The print processing unit released from the paper ejection end waiting state by the paper ejection end processing 2 described later performs a storage page buffer clear processing (1916) using the storage page buffer release unit 15323. In the save page buffer clear process (1916), the page buffer number of the page buffer recorded in the second element of the first print block of the page buffer discharge queue section is zero-cleared (1916-1). And the first print block is removed from the page buffer discharge end queue (1916-2).

【0155】

When the variable length page buffer control method (described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-282747), which is a previously applied invention by the inventor of the present invention, is used, the number of page buffers determined according to the paper size is cleared. It shall be.

【0156】

After that, the print processing unit 1532 performs printer free (1917) and task end (1918) in this order.

【0157】

The procedure for interrupt processing in the printer control unit 156 is the same as in the case of the first embodiment (FIG. 8).

【0158】

The processing procedure in the timer control unit is the same as in FIG. 9 except that the paper ejection end processing 2 is started instead of the paper ejection end processing A (914 in FIG. 9) when the paper ejection end monitoring timer times out. is there.

【0159】

The processing procedure of the paper ejection end processing B (corresponding to 15622 and 17122) will be described with reference to FIG. In this process, after updating the output completion page serial number (2011), the print task of the task number recorded in the third element of the first print block of the page buffer output queue is performed by the print processing unit. Release the status of waiting for the end of paper ejection (2042).

【0160】

The processing procedure of the abnormality handling unit 157 will be described with reference to FIG. 21. After processing such as setting the print control device status to printable status (2100), checking the printer error status (2141) and confirming the error until the cause is removed and displaying the error on the user operation panel 5107. (2142) is the same as in the case of the first embodiment. Subsequently, the abnormality processing unit 157 performs the following processing.

【0161】

(1) Judge whether the error requires reprinting such as paper jam or printer door open during printing (2160), and if so, perform the following processing.

【0162】

(1-1) All processing of the print processing unit 1532 is forcibly terminated (2161-2).

【0163】

(1-2) Reprint the save page buffer (2162-2). In this save page buffer reprint process, as shown in Fig. 22, it is determined whether the page buffer contains the drawing contents that have not been ejected yet, and whether the page buffer output queue is empty (2212). ), If it is not empty, the print process for the page buffer number recorded as the second element of all the print blocks in the page buffer discharge queue is started in order from the beginning (2222).

【0164】

(1-3) Set the status of the print control device 1510 to the printable status (online), and display that fact on the user operation panel section 5107 (2163).

【0165】

(1-4) Resume the processing of the drawing processing unit 131 (2164-2).

【0166】

(2) If the error does not require reprinting, perform the following processing.

【0167】

(2-1) Set the status of the print control device 1510 to the printable status (online), and display that fact on the user operation panel section 5107 (2165).

【0168】

(2-2) Resume the processing of the print processing unit and the drawing processing unit (2166).

【0169】

The processing procedure of the host computer 100 is the same as that shown in FIG.

【0170】

The hardware configuration of the print control device 1510 is the same as that shown in FIG.

【0171】

In this embodiment, it is sufficient to prepare only one page buffer, and it is not necessary to prepare a command buffer dedicated to error recovery for the maximum number of sheets to be held as in the first conventional technique, so that printing control is performed. The cost-effectiveness ratio of the device can be increased. In addition, since the drawing result itself is saved in the page buffer, the print result will be the original one at the time of error recovery even for a command with specifications in which the drawing attribute parameter is inherited between pages. There is no difference, and the reliability and usability of the print control device can be improved.

【0172】

In addition, it is possible to eliminate the increase in the processing load of the host computer and the modification of the program in the second prior art.

【0173】

Further, since the command skipping process in the third conventional technique can be eliminated, it is possible to eliminate the increase in the amount of development programs of the print control device.

【0174】

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. First, the configuration of the print control device in this embodiment will be described with reference to the configuration diagram of FIG. 23.

【0175】

The print control device 2310 includes a host communication control unit 230, a command buffer unit 231, a command buffer management unit 232, a command processing unit 233, a page buffer control unit 234, a page buffer unit 235, a printer control unit 236, and an error processing unit 237. It is composed of a file control unit 238, a command file writing unit 23315, a command file reading unit 239, and a secondary storage device unit 2381.

【0176】

The host communication control unit 230 and the command buffer management unit 232 perform the same processing as in the first embodiment (in the case of FIG. 1). However, the command buffer output queue unit 121 shown in FIG. 1 is not provided in the command buffer management table unit in the command buffer management unit 232.

【0177】

The command processing unit 233 includes a drawing processing unit 2331 and a print processing unit 2332. The drawing processing unit 2331 also performs the same processing as in the first embodiment (in the case of FIG. 1), and reads, interprets, and executes a command from the command buffer unit 231. When a page break condition is detected during command execution, the drawing of the page is terminated, and the print processing unit 2332 is started for the page buffer for which the drawing is completed.

【0178】

In addition, a command file storage unit 23311, a save command file redrawing, print preparation unit 23313, and a command file management table unit 23314 are provided in the drawing processing unit. The command file storage unit 23311 uses the command file writing unit 23315 to store the command file for each page and the attribute parameter file at the start of drawing each page in preparation for error recovery. Save to. Using the saved command file The redrawing and printing preparation unit 23313 prepares for reprinting using the saved command file. In addition, in order to manage the command file, the command file management table unit 23314 receives and prints the command file name and the attribute parameter name for each page, respectively, in the queue in the page order. Describe as.

【0179】

As in the case of the first embodiment, the print processing unit 2332 uses the print instruction unit 23321 to instruct the printer control unit 236 to print.

【0180】

The page buffer control unit 234, the page buffer unit 235, and the printer control unit 236 also execute the same functions as in the first embodiment.

【0181】

In addition, the printer control unit is provided with a paper ejection end monitoring unit 2361 and a paper ejection end processing unit C23623. The paper ejection end monitoring unit 2361 monitors the paper ejection end from the printer engine unit 2320 of the printing paper, and starts the paper ejection end processing unit C23623 when the paper ejection end is detected.

【0182】

The error handling unit 237 performs error handling for various abnormalities detected by each unit of the print control device 2310. This abnormality handling unit 237 is provided with a reprint preparation unit B2373 to prepare for reprinting when an error that requires reprinting is detected.

【0183】

A medium such as a magnetic disk, a floppy disk, or a semiconductor memory disk is provided in the secondary storage unit 2381 to store command files and attribute parameter files for each page.

【0184】

The file control unit 238 controls each file in the secondary storage unit 2381. Therefore, the call interface (hereinafter simply abbreviated as SVC) of the supervisor such as open (open), close (close), read (read), and write (write) is performed in the command processing unit. It is provided to each process (2331 and 2332) and the command file reading unit 239.

【0185】

As described above, the command file writing unit 23315 writes the command file for each page and the attribute parameter file at the start of drawing each page to the secondary storage unit 2381.

【0186】

Further, the command file reading unit 239 reads commands from the saved command files for each page and stores them in the command buffer unit 231 at the time of recovery processing for an error that requires reprinting.

【0187】

Next, the contents of the command file management table section 23314 will be described with reference to FIG. This management table section 23314 has a reprint error flag 241, a save command file matrix root pointer 242, a save attribute parameter file matrix root pointer 243, a file waiting ECB (abbreviation for Event Control Block) 244, and a file. It consists of a free waiting size 245, a command buffer remaining print command size 246, and a command work valid command size 247.

【0188】

Of these, the reprint error flag 241 takes values of 0 and 1, and the values 0 and 1 indicate the case where the error requiring reprint has not occurred and the case where the error has occurred, respectively.

【0189】

In the save command file matrix, the name of the command file (242A2, 242B2, etc.) that stores the save command for each page is described as a queue in the page order in which each page is received and printed.

【0190】

Also, in the save attribute parameter file matrix, the names of the attribute parameter files (243A2, 243B2, etc.) that store the save attribute parameters for each page are received and printed in the page order. Described as a queue of.

【0191】

The command file writing unit 23315 writes to the file in preparation for error recovery. Controls the file free wait state of this command file write processing unit when the limit value for write and save is exceeded in this write process, and the release from the wait state when sufficient free space occurs in the save file. Therefore, the above-mentioned ECB244 for waiting for free files is provided.

【0192】

The file free wait size 245 is an area for describing the free wait size in the file free wait.

【0193】

The command buffer remaining print command size 246 and the command work valid command size 247 are areas for describing the capacities of the 3733 and 3732 parts of FIG. 37, which will be described later, respectively.

【0194】

Next, the operation procedure of the print control device under normal conditions will be described with reference to FIG.

【0195】

The procedure from receiving and storing the print command sequence (2501) to drawing (2503) is the same as in the case of the first embodiment (FIG. 3). After that, in this embodiment, instead of the command buffer saving process (3041), the command file saving process (25042) is performed to start the print processing unit (2505).

【0196】

After that, from the issuance of the print instruction to the printer control unit 236 by the print processing unit 2332 (2507) to the update of the print end page number (2514), the printer control unit 236 performs the paper ejection end process A (3121) in FIG. The same procedure as in the case of the first embodiment (Fig. 3) is executed except that the paper ejection end processing C25123 is performed instead of. In the paper ejection end processing C25123, referring to the command file management table section 23314, the substance and name of the command file for the save start page are set to the secondary storage device section 2381 and the command file management table, respectively. Delete from part 23314. Furthermore, the substance and name of the attribute parameter file for the save head page are also deleted from the secondary storage unit 2381 and the command file management table 23314, respectively.

【0197】

After that, the paper ejection end process C (25123) checks whether the command file writing unit 23315 is in the file waiting state, and if so, checks whether the free file waiting size of 245 minutes is generated by the above-mentioned deletion. .. When this free space occurs, the command file writing unit 23315 is released from the above-mentioned file free waiting state.

【0198】

The operation procedure when the print control device is abnormal is the same as that in FIG. 4, except that reprint preparation B (not shown) is performed instead of reprint preparation A (3291) in FIG. In reprint preparation B, it is judged whether the command file whose output has not been completed is saved in the command file by checking whether the above-mentioned save command file matrix is empty, and if it is saved, the reprint error flag is turned ON. After setting, start the command file writing unit 23315 in write mode 3. The writing mode is an input for selecting and instructing the file writing contents by the command file writing unit 23315 at the start of this process, and will be described later with reference to FIGS. 29 and 30.

【0199】

Similar to the case of the first embodiment, this embodiment can also be realized as an extension function to the invention by the applicant of the present invention (described in JP-A-1-164637 and JP-A 1-282747). .. That is, the processing of the drawing processing unit and the printing processing unit may be configured as a multitasking configuration so that parallel processing or parallel processing can be realized. In this case, each component in FIG. 23 is associated with each component in FIG. 26 in the same manner as in the case of the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the following correspondence is further made.

【0200】

(1) File control unit 238-> File control unit 26121 (2) Secondary storage unit 2381-> Secondary storage unit 26122 (3) Command file writing unit 23315-> Command file writing task processing unit 26134 (4) Command file reading unit 239-> Command file reading task processing unit 26133 According to this implementation method, the CPU, printer engine section, and page buffer section (which can be used on multiple pages) can be used without free time, so the print flow during normal operation and error recovery can be used. Can be improved and printing at the maximum speed of the printer engine can be realized.

【0201】

Next, the processing procedure of each part of the print control device will be described with reference to FIGS. 27 to 37. Here, the case where the print control device has a multitasking configuration as shown in FIG. 26 will be described, but the case of the configuration shown in FIG. 23 can also be realized in the same manner. In this description, each processing unit is described as a drawing task processing unit 26131 (drawing processing unit 2331). That is, first, the processing unit in the case of FIG. 26 in the case of the multitasking configuration and the processing unit in the case of FIG. 23 are described in parentheses.

【0202】

First, the processing procedure of the drawing task processing unit 26131 (drawing processing unit 2331) will be described with reference to FIGS. 27 and 28. First, various parameters for drawing are initialized in preparation for drawing (2709). In the drawing preparation (2709), it is determined whether the reprint error flag 241 is OFF as shown in FIG. 28 (281). If it is OFF, execute the following 3 items.

【0203】

(1) Acquire a command work using the command work clear function. Let i be the acquired command work No. Here, the command work is a buffer memory for mediating the storage of commands in a file, and will be described later with reference to FIG. 27 (2811).

【0204】

(2) Set the initial value in the drawing attribute parameter for describing various parameters for drawing (2812).

【0205】

(3) Create and store the attribute parameter file for the first page of the document. As the content of the attribute parameter file for the first page, the content of the drawing attribute parameter is stored (2813).

【0206】

When the reprint error flag 241 is ON, the save command file use redraw / print preparation unit 23313 executes the following four items as the save command file use redraw and print preparation processes (282).

【0207】

(1) Read the contents of the file with the attribute parameter file name (243A2) for the first save page described in the command file management table from 23821 in the secondary storage unit 2381, and draw task processing unit. It is set as the value of the drawing attribute parameter in 26131 (drawing processing unit 2331) (2821).

【0208】

(2) Empty the command buffer section 231. Instead of actually clearing the contents to zero, simply reset the various pointers (23 to 26, etc.) (2822).

【0209】

(3) Start the processing by the command file reading task processing unit 26133 (command file reading unit 239) (2823).

【0210】

(4) The processing of the drawing task processing unit 26131 (drawing processing unit 2331) is moved to the command buffer storage waiting state by the command file reading task processing unit 26133 (command file reading unit 239) (2824).

【0211】

In 2823 and 2824, the task priority of the command file reading task processing unit 26133 is the same as the task priority of the drawing task processing unit 26131. The reason is that after the command file read task is started, the command file read task is executed after the transition of the drawing task to the command storage waiting state is completed. As a task execution control method using task priority, the same method as described in the above-mentioned prior inventions (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-164637 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-282747) was implemented.

【0212】

After the drawing preparation, the drawing process repeats command interpretation (2721) and command execution (2730) by an infinite loop (2720) as in the case of the first embodiment.

【0213】

In this embodiment, in command interpretation (2721), sequential commands are stored in the command work from the command buffer. When a certain amount of commands are accumulated in the command work, the contents of the command work area are sequentially stored in the command file by using the command file storage unit 23311 in the drawing task processing unit 26131 (drawing processing unit 2331). The command file is stored as a separate file for each page of the document. For details, do as follows. First, it is determined whether the reprint error flag 241 is OFF (2722), and in that case, the command is stored in the command work i from the command buffer (27221). Determine if the command work i is full (27222), and then execute the following three items.

【0214】

(1) Set the file writing command work Noj to i, which is the command work No. acquired earlier (27223).

【0215】

(2) Start the processing by the command file writing task processing unit 26134 (command file writing unit 23315) in write mode 1 (27224).

【0216】

(3) Acquire a command work using the command work function, and let the acquired command work No. be i (27225).

【0217】

After the processing of 2722 to 27225, the drawing task processing unit 26131 (drawing processing unit 2331) performs the command interpretation processing (2723) as in the case of the first embodiment.

【0218】

After this interpretation process 2723, it is determined whether the command buffer is empty (2724), and if it is empty, it is determined whether the reprint error flag 241 is OFF (27241). If this flag is OFF, that is, if an error that requires reprinting has not occurred, the drawing task processing unit 26131 (drawing processing unit 2331) is moved to the command buffer storage waiting state by the host computer 2610 (27242). ).

【0219】

If this flag is ON, that is, an error that requires reprinting has occurred and the error is in the error recovery mode that uses the saved contents of the file, the command file read task processing unit 26133 (command file read unit 239) is displayed. After releasing the command buffer from the free waiting state (27243), the drawing task processing unit 26131 (drawing processing unit 2331) is placed in the command buffer storage waiting state by the command file reading task processing unit 26133 (command file reading unit 239). Transfer (27244).

【0220】

After that, the drawing task processing unit 26131 (drawing processing unit 2331) executes the command (2730) as in the case of the first embodiment.

【0221】

Further, in this embodiment, the command buffer saving process (636-3) provided in the first embodiment is deleted from the page break procedure (2736). Instead, as shown in FIG. 27, it is determined whether the reprint error flag 241 is OFF (27361), and if it is OFF, the following three items are executed.

【0222】

(1) Set the file writing command work Noj to i, which is the command work No. acquired earlier (27362).

【0223】

(2) Start the command file writing task processing unit 26134 (command file writing unit 23315) in write mode 2 (27363).

【0224】

(3) Acquire a command work using the command work function, and let the acquired command work No. be i (27364).

【0225】

The processing procedure of the print task processing unit 26132 (print processing unit 2332) and the interrupt processing procedure of the printer control unit 236 are the same as the processing procedures of FIGS. 7 and 8 shown in the first embodiment, respectively.

【0226】

The processing procedure in the timer control unit is the same as in FIG. 9 except that the paper ejection end processing C is started instead of the paper ejection end processing A (914 in FIG. 9) when the paper ejection end monitoring timer times out. is there.

【0227】

Next, the processing procedure of the command file writing task processing unit 26134 (command file writing unit 23315) will be described with reference to FIG. 29.

【0228】

(1) Extract the write mode from the input parameter area (291).

【0229】

(2) Determine whether the total amount of file writes this time, which is determined according to the write mode as shown in Fig. 30, is less than or equal to the total write limit (292). In the following cases, the process shown in (3) is performed, and in other cases, the process shown in (4) is performed.

【0230】

(3) [When the total amount of files written this time is less than or equal to the total write limit] Perform the following processes (3-1) to (3-3) as common processes in write modes 1 to 3, and write to the valid file in which the command is stored in the command work. ..

【0231】

(3-1) Of the contents of the command work j for writing the file, only the valid part in which the command is stored is written to the file using the above-mentioned writeSVC (2931).

【0232】

(3-2) Clear the contents of the command work j to zero (2932).

【0233】

(3-3) Release the command work j using the command work free function (2933).

【0234】

(3-4) If the write mode is 2 or 3, the processes from (3-4-1) to (3-4-2) are performed, and the unread commands to the command work in the command buffer are executed. (Hereafter, simply called the command buffer remaining print command) is written to the file. (3-4-1) Command buffer Remaining print Enter the size of the command in the corresponding item 246 of the command file management table 23314 (29341).

【0235】

(3-4-2) Command buffer Write the remaining print command to a file (29342).

【0236】

(3-5) Next, it is determined whether the write mode is 2 (2935), and if the write mode is 2, the processes from (3-5-1) to (3-5-4) are performed. , Write the contents of the drawing attribute parameter to a file.

【0237】

(3-5-1) Acquire the drawing attribute workable using the drawing attribute workable reserve function. Let k be the acquired drawing attribute workable No. Here, the drawing attribute workable is a buffer memory for mediating the storage of the drawing attribute parameter table in the file. Two drawing attribute workpieces were prepared, and when writing to one, reading from the other was performed so that writing and reading could be processed in parallel (29351).

【0238】

(3-5-2) Copy the contents of the drawing attribute parameter to the acquired drawing attribute workable k (29352).

【0239】

(3-5-3) Write the contents of the drawing attribute workable k to a file using the above-mentioned writeSVC (29353).

【0240】

(3-5-4) Release the drawing attribute workable k by using the drawing attribute workable free function (29354).

【0241】

(4) [When the total amount of files written this time is larger than the total limit value of writing] Determine if the total file write amount t for the current save page is less than or equal to the write limit l per page (2936). If so, do the following (4-1) and (4-2), otherwise do (4-3).

【0242】

(4-1) As the file free wait size, enter the absolute value of the difference between the total file write amount t and the write limit value l per page in the corresponding item 245 in the command file management table section 23314 (29361). ).

【0243】

(4-2) Move this command file writing task processing unit 26134 (command file writing unit 23315) to the file free waiting state. The transition to the main wait state and the release from it are controlled by using the above-mentioned ECB244 for waiting for free files (29362).

【0244】

(4-3) Move the error recovery mode from the command file save error recovery mode to another mode (29363).

【0245】

The error recovery mode was changed as follows.

【0246】

(1) For the page saved before the file was full, the contents of this saved file were used, error recovery was performed using the procedure described so far in this embodiment, and reprinting was executed. .. After completing the error recovery using the saved file, the error recovery mode shown in 29363 was transferred.

【0247】

(2) The error-recovery mode is (i) error-recovery mode that uses the main memory such as page buffer save error-recovery mode or command save error-recovery mode, (ii). Moved to either the error-recovery mode using command retransmission from the host computer, or (iii) error-non-recovery mode.

【0248】

(3) In the above-mentioned print control device in which the write limit value l per page is small and the probability of occurrence of error recovery mode transition is high, the print control device is shifted to the mode (i) or (ii). In the print control device in which the write limit value l per page is large and the probability of occurrence of error recovery mode transition is very small, the print control device is moved to the mode (iii).

【0249】

(4) When the print control device confirms the end of paper ejection for all print command sequences received from the host computer or the first document among them, the error after the transition of (i) to (iii) From the recovery mode, I returned to the error recovery mode before migration using the saved file.

【0250】

It should be noted that the mode can be transferred between any of the following error-recovery modes described above.

【0251】

(a) Command buffer save error-recovery mode (b) Page buffer storage error-recovery mode (c) Command file save error-recovery mode (d) Error recovery mode using the above-mentioned drawing image file storage method (e) Ella-non-recovery mode Next, the processing procedure of the paper ejection end processing C will be described with reference to FIG. 31. In this process, after updating the output completion page serial number (311), refer to the command file management table section 23314 and set the substance and name of the command file for the save first page to the secondary. Delete from storage unit 2381 and command file management table 23314. Furthermore, the substance and name of the attribute parameter file for the save head page are also deleted from the secondary storage unit 2381 and the command file management table 23314, respectively (312). After that, the command file writing task processing unit 26134 determines whether or not the file is in the above-mentioned file free waiting state (313), and in the case of the above-mentioned file free waiting state, the free space of the above-mentioned file free waiting size 245 is the file deletion of the above 314. Determine if it was caused by (314). When it occurs, the command file writing task processing unit 26134 is released from the above-mentioned file free waiting state (315). Subsequently, the print task for which the paper ejection end monitoring is activated is released from the paper ejection end waiting state (316).

【0252】

The processing procedure of the abnormality handling unit 237 will be described with reference to FIG. 32. After processing such as setting the print control device status to the non-printable status (320), check the printer error status (3241) and confirm the error until the cause is removed. The display (3242) is the same as in the case of the first embodiment. Subsequently, the abnormality handling unit 237 performs the following processing.

【0253】

(1) Judge whether the error requires reprinting such as paper jam or printer door open during printing (325), and if so, perform the following processing.

【0254】

(1-1) All the processing of the print task processing unit 26132 (print processing unit 2332) and the drawing task processing unit 26131 (drawing processing unit 2331) is forcibly terminated (3251).

【0255】

(1-2) Prepare for reprinting B (3252). In this reprint preparation B, as shown in FIG. 33, it is determined whether or not a command whose output has not been completed is saved as a command file based on whether or not the saved command file matrix is empty (331). If it has been saved, set the reprint error flag to ON (3321), set the print control device to the command non-received state (3322), and then set the command file writing task processing unit 26134 (command file writing unit 23315). ) Is started in write mode 3 (3323).

【0256】

(1-3) After that, the drawing task processing unit 26131 (drawing processing unit 2331) is started (3253). As explained earlier, the started drawing task processing unit 26131 has the reprint error flag set to ON at 3321, so the save command file-based redraw / print preparation process shown in FIG. 28 is used. Run 282.

【0257】

(2) If the error does not require reprinting, perform the following processing.

【0258】

(2-1) Set the status of the print control devices 2310 and 2610 to the printable status (online), and display that fact on the user operation panel section 26107 (3254). (2-2) Resume the processing of the print processing unit 2332 and the drawing processing unit 2331 (3255).

【0259】

(3) Issue the task end (3256). Note that task completion is required when the print control device is realized in a multitask configuration.

【0260】

Next, the processing procedure of the command file reading task processing unit 26133 (command file reading unit 239) will be described with reference to FIGS. 34 to 37.

【0261】

(1) In this processing procedure, the following processing is first performed as preprocessing.

【0262】

(a) Set the variable i to 1 (34A1).

【0263】

(b) Set the two parameters that are the parameters for reading the command file for the saved i-page as follows (34A2).

【0264】

(b-1) Set 1 to the read start byte position.

【0265】

(b-2) The unread capacity is the capacity of this file.

【0266】

(c) Let the remaining capacity of the command buffer be the total capacity of the command buffer (34A3).

【0267】

(2) Next, the following processing is repeated until the contents of all the saved command files are stored in the command buffer 231 (34B0).

【0268】

(2-1) Judge whether it is not the final command file (files 371 to 372 in Fig. 37), and if it is not the final command file, perform the following processing (34C0). (a) Repeat the following process until the command buffer 231 is full (34 C1).

【0269】

(a-1) It is determined whether the remaining capacity of the command buffer is equal to or greater than the unread capacity of the command file for the save i-page (34C2).

【0270】

(a-2) If it is above, perform the following processing.

【0271】

(a-2-1) Save The contents of the command file for page i are stored in the command buffer 231 (34C3).

【0272】

(a-2-2) Add 1 to i (34C4).

【0273】

(a-2-3) Set the two parameters, which are the parameters for reading the command file for the saved i-page, as follows (34C5).

【0274】

(a-2-3-1) Set 1 at the read start byte position.

【0275】

(a-2-3-2) The unread capacity is the capacity of this file.

【0276】

(a-3) In the judgment 34C2, if it is not the above, the following processing is performed.

【0277】

(a-3-1) Save The contents of the remaining capacity of the command buffer after the read start byte position of the command file for page i are stored in the command buffer 231 (34C6).

【0278】

(a-3-2) Set the two parameters, which are the parameters for reading the command file for the saved i-page, as follows (34C7).

【0279】

(a-3-2-1) Add the value of the remaining capacity of the command buffer to the value of the read start byte position. ..

【0280】

(a-3-2-2) Subtract the value of the remaining capacity of the command buffer from the value of the unread capacity.

【0281】

(a-4) Update the value of the remaining capacity of the command buffer to the value determined as a result of the processing of (a-2) or (a-3) (34C8).

【0282】

(b) When the command buffer is full, perform the following processing.

【0283】

(b-1) If the drawing task processing unit 26131 (drawing processing unit 2331) is in the command buffer storage waiting state by the command file reading task processing unit 26133 (command file reading unit 239) (34D1), it is released from this state. (34D2).

【0284】

(b-2) Move this command file reading task processing unit 26133 (command file reading unit 239) to the command buffer free waiting state (34D3).

【0285】

(2-2) If it is the final command file (file 373 in Fig. 37), perform the processing (34E0) for the final command file as shown in Fig. 35.

【0286】

(3) When the contents of all saved command files have been stored in the command buffer, the next post-processing is performed and the processing of this command file reading task processing unit is completed.

【0287】

(a) Reprint error-Set flag 241 to OFF (34F0).

【0288】

(b) Set the print control device status to the print command receivable status (34F1). (c) Issue a task end (34F2). It should be noted that the end of this task is also required when the present embodiment is realized as a multitask configuration as described above.

【0289】

The processing (34E0) for the final command file will be described with reference to FIG. 35.

【0290】

(1) First, the recovery process (351) for the part of the command file for the last page to be saved that was already saved in the file at the time of the error (3731 in Fig. 37, capacity a) is performed in the procedure in Fig. 36. Do it with.

【0291】

(2) Next, the command file reading task processing unit 26133 (command file reading unit 239) is moved to the command buffer free waiting state (352).

【0292】

(3) Of the command file for the last page to be saved, the command work compatible part (3732 in Fig. 37, capacity b, and the valid command part of the command work are described by the command file writing task processing unit 26134 in the processing shown in Fig. 29. (Stored and saved as in) is transferred to the command buffer (353).

【0293】

(4) Of the command file for the last page to be saved, transfer the remaining print command area of the command buffer (3733 in Fig. 37, capacity c) to the command buffer (354).

【0294】

(5) Delete the part 3732 corresponding to the above command work and the part of the command area 3733 remaining in the command buffer from the command file for the last page to be saved (355).

【0295】

The recovery process (351) for the saved part of the file at the time of the error-occurrence will be described with reference to FIG.

【0296】

(1) Save Set the two parameters that are the parameters for reading the command file for the final page as follows (34A2).

【0297】

(1-1) Set 1 at the read start byte position.

【0298】

(1-2) Let the unread capacity be the capacity a of the file saved part at the time of the above-mentioned error occurrence.

【0299】

(2) Update the remaining capacity of the command buffer to the current value (362).

【0300】

(3) Next, the contents of the capacity a of the saved command files are stored in the command buffer 231 (363), and the following processing is repeated.

【0301】

(3-1) Repeat the following process until the command buffer 231 is full (364).

【0302】

(a) Judge whether the remaining capacity of the command buffer is greater than or equal to the unread capacity of the command file for the final saved page (3641). If so, the contents of the unread capacity of the command file for the final saved page are displayed. , Store in command buffer 231 (3642).

【0303】

(b) If it is not greater than or equal to (b), the contents of the remaining capacity of the command buffer after the read start byte position of the command file for the final save page are stored in the command buffer 231 (3643).

【0304】

(c) Save Set the two parameters, which are the parameters for reading the command file for the final page, as follows (3644).

【0305】

(c-1) Add the value of the remaining capacity of the command buffer to the value of the read start byte position.

【0306】

(c-2) Subtract the value of the remaining capacity of the command buffer from the value of the unread capacity.

【0307】

(d) Update the value of the remaining capacity of the command buffer to the value determined as a result of the processing of 3642 or 3643 (3645).

【0308】

(3-2) When the command buffer 231 becomes full, perform the following processing.

【0309】

(a) If the drawing task processing unit 26131 (drawing processing unit 2331) is in the command buffer storage waiting state by the command file reading task processing unit 26133 (command file reading unit 239) (365), it is released from this state (366). ).

【0310】

(b) Move this command file reading task processing unit 26133 (command file reading unit 239) to the command buffer free waiting state (367).

【0311】

The command file reading task processing unit 26133 (command file reading unit 239) deletes only the command area for printing the remaining command buffer from the saved command file. The other areas are deleted page by page by the paper ejection end processing unit C23623 by executing the processing procedure shown in FIG. 31.

【0312】

In addition, it is assumed that an error requiring reprinting occurs again during the error recovery process from the first page of saving to the last page of saving using the file saving data. In this case, the processing procedure shown in FIG. 32 by the error handling unit 237 was restarted, and the same processing was performed again. In other words, the recovery process is performed using the file storage data remaining at the time of error detection.

【0313】

The processing procedure of the host computer 100 is the same as that shown in FIG.

【0314】

The hardware configurations of the print control devices 2310 and 2610 are the same as in FIG.

【0315】

In this embodiment, the command buffer capacity can be reduced (at least 1 byte can be operated), and it is not necessary to prepare a command buffer dedicated to error recovery for the maximum number of holding sheets as in the first conventional technique. Therefore, the cost-effectiveness ratio of the print control device can be increased. Further, since the drawing attribute parameter at the start of drawing each page is saved in the attribute parameter file for each page, the drawing attribute parameter is inherited between pages. Even for the command of the specification, the print result does not differ from the original one at the time of error recovery, and the reliability and usability of the print control device can be improved.

【0316】

In addition, it is possible to eliminate the increase in the processing load of the host computer and the modification of the program in the second prior art.

【0317】

Further, since the command skipping process in the third conventional technique can be eliminated, it is possible to eliminate the increase in the amount of development programs of the print control device.

【0318】

In addition, by using multiple types of error recovery modes together, the error recovery function with high performance and reliability can be obtained with the hardware configuration of the print control device and its usage status, especially the use of the secondary storage device. It can also be provided to the user depending on the situation.

【0319】

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, in the third embodiment described above, the storage method for error recovery of the registered data is devised. Here, the registered data is a font / external character, a format, a fill pattern, a line type pattern, etc. used by the print control device in the drawing process, and is a kind of the above-mentioned drawing attribute parameters. However, the amount of data is large.

【0320】

In the third embodiment, these registered data were also saved in the same manner as other drawing attribute parameters and used for error recovery. That is, the saved data was saved separately for each page. In this embodiment, the main registration data can be saved in common for a plurality of pages, and the file size required for saving is reduced. In particular, for fonts / external characters, multiple sets (maximum L sets) can be registered for each page. For other registered data, each page is collected and saved in one file for each type such as format, fill pattern, line type pattern, etc.

【0321】

In order to realize the above, the registration data storage management table shown in FIG. 40 was provided, and the registration data was stored and stored as shown in FIG. 41 while using it.

【0322】

For example, store the format data for one page in the file 413 corresponding to the file name 403d, and share it between the usage start page serial number 403b and the usage end page serial number 403c. I made it.

【0323】

Similarly for fonts / external characters, the first font / external character data file is stored in the file 411 corresponding to the file name 401d, and the first font / external character data file is stored from the start page serial number 401b to the end page serial number 401c. I tried to share the space. For fonts / external characters, store the second font / external character data file in the file 412 corresponding to the file name 402d, and use it between the start page serial number 402b and the end page serial number 402c. , And can save up to L sets of fonts / external characters for one page.

【0324】

According to this embodiment, the file capacity for saving can be reduced as compared with the third embodiment by sharing and saving the registration data such as fonts / external characters and formats for a plurality of pages. .. Therefore, it was possible to realize a print control device with good cost performance.

【0325】

In the above embodiment, the print control device can be realized as one function of the host computer by using any of the following methods.

【0326】

(1) The print control device is realized as one print control adapter or print control board in the host computer, and the adapter or board is equipped with the error recovery function as described above.

【0327】

(2) The print control device is realized as software processing by the main processor of the host computer. At this time, the above-mentioned error recovery function is installed in this software processing.

【0328】

[Effect of the invention]

In the command buffer storage method, it is sufficient to prepare a command buffer for the capacity required for storing a print command for one sheet of paper, and the command buffer dedicated to error recovery is held at the maximum as in the first conventional technique. Since it is not necessary to prepare the number of sheets, there is an effect that the cost-effectiveness ratio of the print control device can be increased. In addition, since the drawing attribute parameters at the start of drawing each page are saved in the command buffer output queue section, the command of the specification that the drawing attribute parameters are inherited between pages. On the other hand, the print result does not differ from the original one at the time of error recovery, and there is an effect that the reliability and usability of the print control device can be improved.

【0329】

Further, in the page buffer storage method, it is sufficient to prepare only one page buffer, and it is not necessary to prepare a command buffer dedicated to error recovery for the maximum number of sheets to be held as in the first conventional technique. Therefore, there is an effect that the cost-effectiveness ratio of the print control device can be increased. In addition, since the drawing result itself is saved in the page buffer, the print result will be the original one at the time of error recovery even for a command with specifications in which the drawing attribute parameter is inherited between pages. There is no difference, and there is an effect that the reliability and usability of the print control device can be improved.

【0330】

Further, in the command file storage method, the command buffer capacity can be reduced (at least 1 byte can be operated), and a command buffer dedicated to error recovery is prepared for the maximum number of holdings as in the first conventional technique. Since it is not necessary, there is an effect that the cost-effectiveness ratio of the print control device can be increased. Further, since the drawing attribute parameter at the start of drawing each page is saved in the attribute parameter file for each page, the drawing attribute parameter is inherited between pages. Even for the command of the specification, the print result does not differ from the original one at the time of error recovery, and there is an effect that the reliability and usability of the print control device can be improved.

【0331】

In addition, by using multiple types of error recovery modes together, it is possible to provide users with high performance and reliable error recovery according to the usage status of the secondary storage unit. is there.

【0332】

Furthermore, by sharing and saving registered data such as fonts / external characters and formats for multiple pages, the file size for saving could be reduced. Therefore, there is also an effect that a print control device having good cost performance can be realized.

【0333】

Further, in all of the above inventions, there is also an effect that the increase in the processing load of the host computer and the modification of the program in the second prior art can be eliminated. Further, since the command skipping process in the third conventional technique can be eliminated, there is also an effect that the increase in the amount of development programs of the print control device can be eliminated.

[Simple explanation of drawings]

[Figure 1]

It is a block diagram which shows the 1st Example of this invention.

[Figure 2]

It is a figure for demonstrating the command buffer management table part in 1st Example of this invention.

[Fig. 3]

It is a figure for demonstrating the normal operation procedure in 1st Example of this invention.

[Fig. 4]

It is a figure for demonstrating the operation procedure at the time of abnormality in 1st Example and 3rd Example of this invention.

[Fig. 5]

It is a block diagram at the time of applying the multitask control system in the 1st Example and the 2nd Example of this invention.

[Fig. 6]

It is a figure for demonstrating the processing procedure of each part of the print control apparatus in 1st Example of this invention.

[Fig. 7]

It is a figure for demonstrating the processing procedure of each part of the print control apparatus in 1st Example of this invention.

[Fig. 8]

It is a figure for demonstrating the processing procedure of each part of the print control apparatus in 1st Example of this invention.

[Fig. 9]

It is a figure for demonstrating the processing procedure of each part of the print control apparatus in 1st Example of this invention.

[Fig. 10]

It is a figure for demonstrating the processing procedure of each part of the print control apparatus in 1st Example of this invention.

[Fig. 11]

It is a figure for demonstrating the processing procedure of each part of the print control apparatus in 1st Example of this invention.

[Fig. 12]

It is a figure for demonstrating the processing procedure of each part of the print control apparatus in 1st Example of this invention.

[Fig. 13]

It is a figure for demonstrating the processing procedure of the host computer in this invention.

[Fig. 14]

It is a figure for demonstrating the hardware structure of this invention.

[Fig. 15]

It is a block diagram which shows the 2nd Example of this invention.

[Fig. 16]

It is a figure for demonstrating the page buffer management table part in 2nd Example of this invention.

[Fig. 17]

It is a figure for demonstrating the normal operation procedure in 2nd Example of this invention.

[Fig. 18]

It is a figure for demonstrating the operation procedure at the time of abnormality in 2nd Example of this invention.

[Fig. 19]

It is a figure for demonstrating the processing procedure of each part of the print control apparatus in 2nd Example of this invention.

[Fig. 20]

It is a figure for demonstrating the processing procedure of each part of the print control apparatus in 2nd Example of this invention.

[Fig. 21]

It is a figure for demonstrating the processing procedure of each part of the print control apparatus in 2nd Example of this invention.

[Fig. 22]

It is a figure for demonstrating the processing procedure of each part of the print control apparatus in 2nd Example of this invention.

[Fig. 23]

It is a block diagram which shows the 3rd Example of this invention.

[Fig. 24]

It is a figure for demonstrating the command file management table part in 3rd Example of this invention.

[Fig. 25]

It is a figure for demonstrating the normal operation procedure in 3rd Example of this invention.

[Fig. 26]

It is a block diagram when the multitask control system is applied in the 3rd Example of this invention.

[Fig. 27]

It is a figure for demonstrating the processing procedure of each part of the print control apparatus in 3rd Example of this invention.

[Fig. 28]

It is a figure for demonstrating the processing procedure of each part of the print control apparatus in 3rd Example of this invention.

[Fig. 29]

It is a figure for demonstrating the processing procedure of each part of the print control apparatus in 3rd Example of this invention.

[Fig. 30]

It is a figure which shows the relationship between the writing mode in 3rd Example of this invention, and the total amount of writing file this time.

[Fig. 31]

It is a figure for demonstrating the processing procedure of each part of the print control apparatus in 3rd Example of this invention.

[Fig. 32]

It is a figure for demonstrating the processing procedure of each part of the print control apparatus in 3rd Example of this invention.

[Fig. 33]

It is a figure for demonstrating the processing procedure of each part of the print control apparatus in 3rd Example of this invention.

[Fig. 34]

It is a figure for demonstrating the processing procedure of each part of the print control apparatus in 3rd Example of this invention.

[Fig. 35]

It is a figure for demonstrating the processing procedure of each part of the print control apparatus in 3rd Example of this invention.

[Fig. 36]

It is a figure for demonstrating the processing procedure of each part of the print control apparatus in 3rd Example of this invention.

[Fig. 37]

It is a figure for demonstrating the storage state in the file of the command data corresponding to each page in 3rd Example of this invention.

[Fig. 38]

It is a figure which shows an example of the print command sequence used in this invention.

[Fig. 39]

It is a figure which shows an example of the print result in normal printing and the print result in reprint when the attribute parameter is not considered.

[Fig. 40]

It is a figure for demonstrating 4th Embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 41]

It is a figure for demonstrating 4th Embodiment of this invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Host printer, 11 ... Command buffer section, 12 ... Command buffer management section, 121 ... Command buffer output queue section, 13 ... Command processing section, 131 ... Drawing processing unit, 1311 ... Command buffer storage unit, 1312 ... Saving command buffer use Redrawing, print preparation unit, 132 ... Print processing unit, 1321 ... Print instruction unit, 14 ... Dibuffer control unit, 15 ... Page buffer unit, 16 ... Printer control unit, 161: Paper ejection end monitoring unit, 1621 ... Paper ejection end processing unit 1, 17 ... Abnormal processing unit, 171 ... Reprint preparation section A, 120 ... Printer engine section, 320 ... Print command sequence, 3310, 3320, 3330 ... Print result in normal printing, 3340 ... Print result in reprint.