Abstract: An install apparatus installs printer firmware to a printer through a network in the background of normal print jobs. The Printer (4) includes a storage means (22) to store the firmware consisting of a plurality of blocks, and a processing means (20) for receiving the blocks to store to storage means (22). In case an interruption occurs during the firmware installation and at the time of resuming the installation, the processing means (20) informs install apparatus (6) of a guarantee range of the installed blocks being determined from the data stored in storage means (22). The install apparatus then restarts transferring the firmware from the succeeding transfer block of the guarantee range.

Abstract: If there is competition among printing jobs received by a printer, the most suitable priority ranking is determined. A printer includes a storage unit for storing job data converted to bitmap data and a control unit for implementing storage processing for converting a received print job to bitmap data and storing this data in the storage unit in job units, and print processing for reading out the stored bitmap data and executing printing operations in page units. The control unit compares the numbers of print pages for a plurality of jobs for which bitmap data has been stored, determines priority rankings for the jobs that are to be printed.

Abstract: An install apparatus installs printer firmware to a printer through a network in the background of normal print jobs. The Printer (4) includes a storage means (22) to store the firmware consisting of a plurality of blocks, and a processing means (20) for receiving the blocks to store to storage means (22). In case an interruption occurs during the firmware installation and at the time of resuming the installation, the processing means (20) informs install apparatus (6) of a guarantee range of the installed blocks being determined from the data stored in storage means (22). The install apparatus then restarts transferring the firmware from the succeeding transfer block of the guarantee range.

Abstract: A line printer apparatus with which a printing control operation is carried out by using a printing mechanism and printing operation control unit in which the reversal of the motion of a printing unit is carried out in synchronization with the feeding of a paper to be printed.

Abstract: A merchandise checkout system is disclosed including a credit card reader operated by the customer to obtain credit information used in totalizing the merchandise transaction. A data terminal is utilized by the checkout operator to total the amount of the purchased items. Simultaneously with the operation of the data terminal, the customer operates the credit card reader to read a credit card inserted into the card reader by the customer and on which is magnetically encoded the amount of money, i.e. balance of account, available for use by the customer. If the amount available is greater than the total amount of the purchased items, the total amount is subtracted from the available amount with the result displayed and printed on the receipt and journal records of the data terminal as the amount paid.