Abstract: A character generating system drives a printer engine to print characters in response to an instruction from a host computer. The characters to be printed by the printer information are normally generated on the basis of dot data stored in a cache memory via a print map memory under the control of e.g. a microprocessor. Since the cache memory is a volatile memory, its contents may be erased due to disconnetion of the power supply. In order to speed up the regeneration of the dot data in the cache memory, information relating to the dot data is stored in a non-volatile memory, and on reconnection of the power supply, that information is used together with vector information in a vector memory for regeneration of the dot data in the cache memory.

Abstract: Disclosed is a printing system in which a text created on one of a plurality of word processors is printed on a single print means. Each of the word processors comprises input means for entering display and printing process signals including a text signal and a print request signal for a text to be printed, first transmitter/receiver means connected to the controller for transmitting and receiving information to/from the controller, means for creating text data based on the entered text signal, first memory means for storing the created text data and a predetermined print process program specific to the word processor, display means for displaying the created text data in accordance with the entered display process signal, and means for sending information which includes the created text data and the print process program to the controller by way of the first transmitter/receiver means in response to an information request signal from the controller.

Abstract: A photo printer system comprises a magnetic storage for storing a print data sent from a host computer, a bit map memory for storing a print dot data, and a printer engine for printing the contents of the bit map memory. The system includes a program which operates on the magnetic storage to serve as an external storage for the host computer and on the bit map memory to serve as a cache memory in response to a data read/write command issued by the host computer, and a CPU which controls the execution of the program. At least in a non-print process mode, the system forms a data path so that the host computer can access to the bit map memory and magnetic storage so as to have a bidirectional data read/write operation. In another mode, the system forms a data path so that image data picked up with an image scanner is saved directly in the bit map memory and the image data is sent to the host computer by request.

Abstract: A photo printer such as a laser printer incorporates a bit map memory having a large memory capacity. When the printer is connected to a host computer, a dot pattern corresponding to a bit pattern formed in accordance with the contents of the bit map memory is printed on a sheet in a normal mode. If a special command is transmitted from the host computer to the printer, a data file used by the host computer is temporarily stored in the bit map memory. If another special command is transmitted from the host computer, the data file stored in the bit map memory is transmitted to the host computer. That is, the bit map memory in the printer is used as the memory for temporarily storing the files of the host computer.