Abstract: Methods of controlling an information processing device in the sending of commands to a printer for control thereof, methods of controlling transmission of bit-map data, and systems embodying data and command flow control distinguish between true and false real-time commands. In one aspect, it is determined if a data stream to be transmitted includes bit-map data. If so, then a real-time processing disable command is sent; and then the data stream including the bit-map data is sent. In another aspect, if the status of real-time command receipt is disabled, then a data stream including bit-map data is transmitted, followed by the transmission of a real-time processing enable command, and then the transmission of a real-time command.

Abstract: This invention relates to a printer, an information processing apparatus, control methods for the printer and the information processing apparatus, and a storage medium. The printer is connected to the information processing apparatus to receive a predetermined command and a data stream composed of data or the like for carrying out printing and predetermined processing corresponding to the command. In the printer, a receiver receives a data stream including a normal command and/or a real-time command. When the data stream received by the receiver is a real-time command data stream and when an indication device, provided to give an indication as to whether or not the real-time command is to be executed, indicates permission for the real-time command, a real-time processing section executes real-time processing corresponding to the real-time command data stream.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a real-time command detector connected to the data receiver without the memory therebetween to detect control commands. Status data is transmitted to a host device in response to a real-time command from the host device.

Abstract: Waste of consumables and a loss of mechanical durability resulting from interruption of printer initialization processes by reset requests sent to the printer by a host device during the host startup process are prevented. The printer has a power on initialization controller for initializing the printer when printer power is turned on; and a first timer for measuring a first predetermined time after the printer starts operating. The power on initialization controller performs a first initialization process if the first predetermined time monitored by the first timer has not passed. After this first predetermined time passes, the power on initialization controller performs a second initialization process differing from the first initialization process.

Abstract: A printer and methods of controlling the initialization process(es) of the printer according to the length of a reset signal sent from a host computer. The printer preferably has a printing mechanism for printing text or graphics based on commands and print data received from the host device, a controller for controlling printer operation including the execution of the initialization process(es), an interface for receiving at least one reset signal from the host device; and a timer circuit for measuring the duration of each reset signal. The controller controls which one, if any, of a plurality of specific initialization processes are to be performed based on the duration of a respective reset signal. By controlling the initialization process according to the duration, the printer can perform a reset operation appropriate to the status of the host.

Abstract: A method for controlling the saving of information regarding printer operating conditions to its nonvolatile memory is provided. The method decreases the data save time to the printer's nonvolatile memory, and minimizes the effect that saving to the nonvolatile memory has on printer operation. The method groups printer status data relating to the printer's operating conditions into different groups or blocks of data and allocates each block to a different storage area in the printer's volatile memory and its nonvolatile memory. A particular data group stored in its assigned storage area in the volatile memory is saved to the corresponding storage area in the nonvolatile memory when one or more trigger events related to printer control to which that particular data group is responsive occur.

Abstract: An ink jet printer capable of performing an appropriate initialization process when power is turned on again when a cleaning process is in progress when the power is suddenly interrupted by a power failure or disconnection of the power cord. The present invention comprises a maintenance unit for an ink jet head; a memory 103; a power interruption detector 105 for detecting interruption of power supply to the printer; a storage controller 100 for storing a current operating status of the maintenance unit to the memory 103 when the power interruption detector 105 detects interruption of the power supply; and an initialization controller 100 for reading the maintenance unit operating status stored to the memory 103 when printer power is turned on, and performing different initialization operations according to the operating status.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a printer with a cleaning function in which CPU 103 monitors a detection switch, and performs cleaning and printing operations as required until the detection switch is pressed(step S601). When the detection switch is pressed (step S602 returns yes), the printer 101 indicates a “near end of ink” notice using the display panel 112 or by flashing an LED, for example. A near end of ink notice is also sent to the host computer 120 (step S603). A remaining ink volume counter is then set to a specific value, which in this exemplary embodiment is 5 mg (step S604). When a print command is next received (step S605 returns yes), the ink consumed by the print operation is subtracted from the remaining ink volume, and the difference is stored as the new remaining ink volume (step S606). The CPU 103 then waits for a cleaning command (step S607).

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

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a real-time command detector connected to the data receiver without the memory therebetween to detect control commands. An error recovery controller enables the printing apparatus to recover from an error state in accordance with predetermined command data detected by the command detector.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a real-time command detector that detects control commands without first storing the received comand data in memory. A host device can therefore cancel a cut-sheet waiting state of the printer even when the printing apparatus is stopped while waiting for a cut- sheet form to be inserted.

Abstract: A printing apparatus for storing total operation counters for individual consumable and nonconsumable parts of a printing apparatus. A nonvolatile storage retains stored count information even when power is not supplied to the printing apparatus. An operations counter counts a value indicative of a printing apparatus operation. A counter storage stores a historical counter indicative of the printing apparatus operation history to the nonvolatile storage means based on a value counted by the operations counter, and stores a total printing apparatus operations count to the storage means. Specific printer operations, such as the number of characters printed, distance of recording medium transportation, and the number of times the automatic paper cutter is operated, can thus be individually accumulated, and the historical counts, that is, the cumulative counts since the printer was first used, can be stored to memory.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning a printing apparatus based on printing apparatus status information that is stored to memory in response to an externally generated reset signal. Based on the stored information, a cleaning process appropriate to the printer status is selected and performed, thereby minimizing ink consumption. In particular, when a CPU of the printing apparatus detects an external reset signal, which is based on the reset signal received from a host computer 65, the CPU writes the cleaning time, reset time, and other printing apparatus status information to a non-volatile RAM. The CPU is then forcibly reset by an internal reset signal. After being reset, the CPU reads the status information from the non-volatile RAM, and selects and implements a cleaning process appropriate to the stored status information. Ink consumption by the printing apparatus can thus be minimized, and reliable cleaning and printing can be maintained.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a real-time command interpreter that functions even when the printing apparatus is off-line, and interprets control commands simultaneously with receiving data. The printing apparatus can therefore output pulses to the external devices even when printing is in progress or the printer is off-line. Such printing apparatus comprises a command detector for directly detecting predetermined command data from the received command data. An external controller controls an external device in accordance with predetermined command data detected by the command detection.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a real-time command interpreter that functions even when the printing apparatus is off-line, and interprets control commands simultaneously with receiving data. The printing apparatus can therefore output pulses to the external devices even when printing is in progress or the printer is off-line. Such printing apparatus comprises a command detector for directly detecting predetermined command data from the received command data. An external controller controls an external device in accordance with predetermined command data detected by the command detection.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a real-time command interpreter that functions even when the printing apparatus is off-line, and interprets control commands simultaneously with receiving data. The printing apparatus can therefore output pulses to the external devices even when printing is in progress or the printer is off-line. Such printing apparatus comprises a command detector for directly detecting predetermined command data from the received command data. An external controller controls an external device in accordance with predetermined command data detected by the command detection.

Abstract: In a printer 1, if a reset signal Vrst is supplied, an external reset signal V0 that can be recognized by software is supplied to a CPU 61. The CPU 61 stores the time when the signal V0 is recognized as a pause time into a nonvolatile RAM 62. Then, determination of whether or not the reset is intentional is performed based on a reset time interval which is sought from a plurality of the past reset times. If the reset is not intentional, an appropriate level of cleaning is instructed to an ink system 80; and if the reset is intentional, an initialization level of cleaning is instructed to the ink system 80.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a data receiver that receives command data from a host device and a memory that stores the command data received by the data receiver. A printer controller reads out the command data stored in the memory in a first-in-first-out order and controls the printing apparatus in accordance with the command data. A command detector is provided to detect predetermined command data within the command data received by the data receiver without storing the command data in the memory or while or before command data is stored in the memory. An off-line recovery controller enables the printing apparatus to recover from an off-line state in accordance with the predetermined command data detected by the command detector.

Abstract: A printer and control method therefor for printing to a specific location on an inserted form whether the form is loaded automatically or manually in the printer. When a specific command is received from a host, the printer selects the insertion operation used for the printing form. If automatic loading is selected, the leading edge of the form is set to a specific position in the printer by a form transportation mechanism, and printing then begins. If manually positioned form insertion is selected, printing begins directly with the printing form as inserted and positioned by the user.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a real-time command interpreter that functions even when the printing apparatus is off-line, and interprets control commands simultaneously with receiving data. The printing apparatus can therefore output pulses to the external devices even when printing is in progress or the printer is off-line. Such printing apparatus comprises a command detector for directly detecting predetermined command data from the received command data. An external controller controls an external device in accordance with predetermined command data detected by the command detection.