JPH03250212A - Terminal controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To always obtain a desired result of processing by outputting the information of the second central processing unit to a terminal equipment after setting the terminal equipment in an operational state, which is stored in an operational state storing means, corresponding to the second central processing unit. CONSTITUTION:When the information to be outputted from a terminal controller 1 to a printer 9 is switched from the information of a computer 42 to the information of a computer 41, for example, a controller 2 of the terminal controller 1 outputs a control instruction through a printer interface 8 to the printer 9 so as to set the printer 9 in an operational state, which is stored in a memory 71, corresponding to the computer 41. After setting the printer 9 in the operational state corresponding to the computer 41 in such a way, the information of the computer 41 stored in a buffer 51 is outputted through the printer interface 8 to the printer 9. Thus, the desired printing result can be always obtained.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a terminal control device in which one or more terminal devices are shared by a plurality of central processing units, and is particularly suitable when the terminal device is a printer. It relates to a terminal control device.

[Conventional technology]

A terminal control device in which a computer such as a personal computer or a word processor is used as a central processing unit and a printer is used as a terminal device, and one printer is shared by multiple computers, is conventionally described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-219028. Detects the print request from each computer, connects the computer with the highest priority among the computers that have made the print request, and outputs the information of the computer to the printer. When it detects that the signal (synchronization signal) does not jump at a predetermined time, it determines that the computer has finished outputting information, outputs a page feed command to the printer, performs a page feed, and then prints each page again. The connection between each computer and the printer is established by detecting a print request from a computer, connecting the computer with the highest priority among the computers making the print request to the printer, and outputting the information of the computer to the printer. In addition to automatically switching, it also prevented information from different computers from being printed on the same page.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

The prior art does not take into consideration the operating state of the terminal device. For example, when a printer is used as a terminal device, in addition to the operation mode such as the printer's print character type and line feed pitch for the same information, the print character font is registered in the printer's internal memory, and the print character font is used as the operating state. There are many printers that allow you to set external characters to be printed.The setting of the operating state is done by control commands included in the information output from the computer to the printer, but each time information is output from the computer to the printer, the The control command does not necessarily set all the operating states that can be set at the beginning of the information. Therefore, when using the device of the prior art, the operating states that can be set at the beginning of the information are not necessarily set by a certain computer. There is a problem in that a printer in an operating state prints information from another computer and, for example, a desired print result may not be obtained because the printed character font is different for external characters.

In addition, if the information output from the computer ends in the middle of a control command consisting of multiple data, the printer is in a state of waiting for human input for the control command consisting of multiple data, so the output from the W device on the terminal side Even if a page break command is output to the printer, the printer recognizes the page break command as part of the control command consisting of the plurality of data, and there is a problem in that the printer does not perform a line break.

A first object of the present invention is to change the operating state corresponding to the second central processing unit when switching the information output to the terminal device from the information of the first central processing unit to the information of the second central processing unit. An object of the present invention is to provide a terminal control device that outputs information of the second central processing unit to the terminal device after setting the terminal device.

The second object is to provide a terminal-side m-device that releases the data input wait state when the terminal device is in the data input wait state for a control command consisting of a plurality of data when the output of information to the terminal device is finished. It's about doing.

Means for Solving Crj4M] In order to achieve the first objective, an analysis means for analyzing information output from each central processing unit to a terminal device;
Operating state storage means is provided for recognizing a control command for setting the operation of the terminal device included in the information by the analysis means and storing the operating state of the terminal device corresponding to each central processing unit, When switching the information output from the control device to the terminal device from the information of the first central processing unit to the information of the second central processing unit, the information of the second central processing unit is output to the terminal device. First, the terminal device is set to the operating state corresponding to the second central processing unit stored in the operating state storage means, and then the second central processing unit H[! 1 information is output to the terminal device.

In order to achieve the second objective, when the output of information to the terminal device is finished, if the analysis means is in a state of waiting for data input of a control command consisting of a plurality of data, the number of data corresponding to the number of data waiting for input of the analysis means Dummy data is output to the terminal device.

[Effect]

For example, when manually outputting information from a first central processing unit to a terminal device, the terminal control device uses an analysis means to recognize a control command for configuring the terminal device included in the information, and sequentially storing the operating state of the terminal device corresponding to the central processing unit in an operating state storage means;
Further, in the same manner as described above, a second
The operating state of the terminal device corresponding to the central processing unit of is stored.

When switching the information to be output to the terminal device from the information of the first central processing unit to the information of the second central processing unit, the terminal control device transfers the information of the second central processing fiR location to the terminal device. Before outputting information to the terminal device, the terminal device is set to an operating state corresponding to the second central processing unit stored in the operating state storage means, and then the information of the second central processing unit is set to the operating state corresponding to the second central processing unit stored in the operating state storage means. Output to the terminal device.

Thereby, the terminal device can perform processing for the second central processing unit after being set to the operating state for the second central processing unit, so that malfunctions will not occur.

In addition, if the information output of the central processing unit ends in the middle of a control command consisting of multiple data, the terminal control device waits for the input of the analysis means when the output of the information of the central processing unit to the terminal device is finished. Dummy data corresponding to the number of data is output to the terminal device.

As a result, the terminal device is released from waiting for data input of the control command consisting of the plurality of data, so that malfunctions will not occur.

〔Example〕

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, taking as an example a case where the terminal device is a printer and one printer is shared by two computers.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a terminal control device according to the present invention. In the same figure, 1 is the terminal control m position, 2 is the C
Controller consisting of PU, ROM, RAM, etc., 3
1 is an interface with the computer 41; 32 is an interface with the computer 42; 5 is a buffer memory that temporarily stores information from each computer to the printer; and a buffer 51 that temporarily stores information from the computer 41.
and a buffer 5 for temporarily storing information of the computer 42.
It is divided into two parts. 6 is an analysis unit that analyzes information to be output to the printer 9; 7 is a memory that stores the operating state of the printer 9; memory 71 that stores the operating state of the printer 9 that corresponds to the computer 41; It is divided into a memory 72 that stores the operating status of the printer 9. Further, 8 is an interface with the printer 9, and 10 is a timer.

In order to simplify the explanation, in the operating state of the printer 9, it is assumed that the following two modes can be set in the operating mode and one character can be set in between the external characters.

(1) Printed characters: type A or type B (2) Printing speed: standard or double speed Also, the initial setting value of the malfunction mode is that the printed characters are type A.
, the printing speed is standard, and no external characters are set (in other words, external characters are spaces).

At startup, controller 2 of terminal control #device 1 uses memory 7
1 and memory 72 to the initial setting state of the printer 9.

When information is output from the computer 41, the controller 2 of the terminal control device 1 outputs the information via the computer interface 3.
1, the computer 4 inputs the information and sequentially stores it in the buffer 51, and stores it in the memory 71.
In order to set the printer 9 to the operating state corresponding to 1, that is, the initial setting state, the printer sends a control command to set print characters to type A, a control command to set the printing speed to standard, and a control command to set spaces for external characters. The data is output to a printer 9 via an interface 8.

Next, the controller 2 reads the information of the computer 411 stored in the buffer 51 in the order in which it is stored, and the analysis unit 6
After analyzing the information, the information is output to the printer 9 via the printer interface 8.

The analysis unit 6 checks whether the information of the computer 41 includes a control command for setting the operating mode of the printer 9, and determines whether the information contains, for example, a control command for setting the print character to type B and the external character to 0. memory 71
The characters printed on it are seeds! ffB, external character O is memorized.

Thereafter, the controller 2 of the terminal control device 1 repeats the process until the information input to the computer 41 via the computer interface 31 is completed and all of the information stored in the buffer 51 is output to the printer 9 via the printer interface 8. .

The controller 2 of the terminal control device 1 checks the analysis unit 6 when the output of the information to the printer 9 is finished, and if the data of the control command consisting of a plurality of data is waiting for human input,
While canceling the data input waiting state of the analysis unit 6,
Dummy data corresponding to the number of data waiting for human input in the analysis section 6 is output to the printer 9 via the printer interface 8, and the printer 9 is released from the data input waiting state of the control command consisting of the plurality of data.

Note that the controller 2 of the terminal side m device l detects by the timer 10 that the information input of the computer 41 via the computer interface 31 has not been performed for a predetermined period of time, and determines that the information output of the computer 41 has ended. .

Next, when information is output from the computer 42, the controller 2 of the terminal control device 1 inputs the information via the computer interface 32 in the same manner as described above, stores it sequentially in the buffer 52, and also stores the information stored in the memory 72. In order to set the printer 9 to the operating state corresponding to the computer 42, that is, the initial setting state, the printed characters are set to type A.
A control command to set the print speed to the standard, a control command to set a space for external characters, and a control command to set spaces for external characters are output to the printer 9 via the printer interface 8.

Next, the controller 2 reads out the information stored in the buffer 52 and stored in the computer 42 in the order in which it was stored, and the analysis unit 6
After analyzing the information, the information is output to the printer 9 via the printer interface 8.

Further, when information is output from the computer 41 while the information from the computer 42 is being output to the printer 9, the controller 2 of the terminal control device 1 manually inputs the information via the computer interface 31 in the same manner as described above, and stores the information in the buffer. 51 in sequence.

Then, when the information output of the computer 42 is finished and all the information of the computer 42 stored in the buffer 52 is output to the printer 9 via the printer interface 8, and the analysis section 6 is in the data input waiting state, After outputting dummy data corresponding to the number of input waiting data to the printer 9 via the printer interface 8, the controller 2 outputs the data stored in the memory 71 to the computer 4]
In order to set the operating state of the printer 9 corresponding to It is output to a printer 9 via a printer interface 8.

Next, the controller 2 reads out the information of the computer 41 stored in the buffer 51 in the order in which it is stored, analyzes the information in the analysis section 6, and outputs the information to the printer 9 via the printer interface 8.

According to this embodiment, when switching the information output from the terminal control device I to the printer 9 from, for example, information on the computer 42 to information on the computer 41, the controller 2 of the terminal side W device 1 uses the computer stored in the memory 71. 4
A control command for setting the printer 9 to the operating state corresponding to the computer 4I is output to the printer 9 via the printer interface 8, and the printer 9 is set to the operating state corresponding to the computer 4I. Since the information of 41 is output to the printer 9 via the printer interface 8, the information of the computer 41 is printed in the printer 9 using the printing characters, printing speed, or external characters set by the computer 42. This eliminates the possibility that the desired print result cannot be obtained due to different types of print characters or different print character fonts for external characters, and the effect is that the desired print result can always be obtained.

Further, for example, if the output of information from the computer 41 ends in the middle of a control command consisting of a plurality of data, the controller 2 of the terminal control device 1 checks the analysis unit 6 when the output of the information to the printer 9 is finished. As a result, the printer 9 detects that it is in a state of waiting for data input of a control command consisting of the plurality of data, and sends dummy data corresponding to the number of data waiting for input to the printer interface 8.
Since the data is output to the printer 9 via the printer interface 8, it is possible to release the printer 9 from the data input waiting state, and then set the operating state corresponding to, for example, the computer 42 output to the printer 9 via the printer interface 8. Another advantage is that the printer 9 does not malfunction in response to control commands.

Roughly speaking, since the controller 2 of the terminal control device 1 automatically performs all the processes of recording the operating state of the printer 9 corresponding to each computer and setting the operating state of the printer 9, The user can check the operating status of the printer 9! This also has the effect of improving operability as there is no need to know the details.

In addition, in this embodiment, from the terminal side is device I to the printer 9
For example, when changing the information output to the computer 41 from the computer 42 information, the controller 2 of the terminal control device 1 sets the printer 9 to an operating state corresponding to the computer 42 stored in the memory 72. Although the process is performed for all operating states, that is, printed characters, printing speed, and external characters, in the above example, only for the operating state corresponding to the computer 42, which is different from the operating state corresponding to the computer 41, the printed characters, external characters You can also do it only for. Furthermore, since no external characters have been set for the computer 42, it may be determined that the computer 42 does not use external characters, and no settings for external characters may be made.

Conversely, for example, when the computer 41 finishes outputting information,
When information is output from the computer 41 again, the computer for the information output from the terminal control device 1 to the printer 9 has not been switched, but all the information is set to the operating state corresponding to the computer 1 stored in the memory 71. Control commands regarding the operating state may be output to the printer 9 via the printer interface 8.

By doing so, the operating state of the printer 9 does not change due to the operation of the printer 9, etc., after the terminal control device 1 outputs the information from the computer 41 and before it outputs the information from the computer 41 again. This has the effect that even if the print result is incorrect, the desired printing result can be obtained.

Furthermore, although the analysis section 6 is shown as a different block from the controller 2 in the terminal control device 1, it is of course possible to incorporate the analysis section 6 into a part of the program of the CPU installed in the controller 2.

However, in the above embodiment, the information analysis process in the analysis section 6 of the terminal control device 1 must correspond to the information analysis process in the printer 9 connected to the terminal control II device 1. Therefore, if the printer 9 is changed, the information analysis processing of the analysis section 6 may also need to be changed.

Therefore, it may be possible to change the information analysis processing of the analysis section 6 by replacing the ROM or IC card.

By doing so, even when changing the printer 9 connected to the terminal control device 1 to a new printer as well as an off-the-shelf printer, the information analysis process of the analysis section 6 can be easily changed. effective.

In the above embodiments, the interfaces between the computer 41 and the terminal control device 1, the computer 42 and the terminal key control device 1, and the printer 9 and the terminal control device 1 are parallel interfaces such as Centronics specifications, respectively.
Of course, any serial interface such as the R5-232C specification may be used.

Further, although the terminal side W device 1 is shown as a device independent from the printer 9, it is of course possible to connect the printer 9 in the morning as shown in FIG.

In addition, by doing so, it is also possible to configure such that the information analysis process in the printer 9 and the information analysis process in the terminal side #device 1 can be performed in the same process.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3, the terminal control device 1 may be an information input device 11 that inputs information from a computer 4 and an information input device 1 that inputs information from a computer 42.
2, and an information output device 13 that manually inputs the information from the information input device 11 or 12 and outputs the information to the printer 9.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a specific example of the information manpower device 11. In the same figure, the same programs as in FIG. vI1 are indicated by the same symbols. In addition, 111 is information output @@13
It is an interface with.

The information human-powered device 11 is the terminal control device 1 shown in FIG.
The same operation is performed as when one computer and one printer are connected.

Note that the information input device 12 is also similar to the information input device 1i111.

FIG. 5 shows a program diagram of an example of a single wing body of the information output device 13. In this figure, components similar to those in FIG. 1 are indicated by the same symbols. Note that 131 is the information input device 11
132 is an interface with the information output device 2.

The information output device 13 is the information input device 11 and the information input device 1
2 is permitted to output information, and the information is output to the printer 9.

In this way, the terminal-side m-device 1 can be configured with independent devices such as the information input device 11, the information input device 12, and the information output device 13.

Finally, in order to simplify the explanation, the above embodiments have only been described for the case where one printer is shared by two computers, but it is also easy to share multiple printers among multiple computers. It is clear that it can be extended to

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, when switching the information output from the terminal side 1all device to the terminal device from the information of the first central processing unit to the information of the second central processing unit, the second Since the terminal device is set to an operating state corresponding to the central processing unit of the second central processing unit, information of the second central processing unit is output to the terminal device. This eliminates the need for the second central processing unit to perform processing in the set operating state, and has the advantage that desired processing results can always be obtained.

Further, the terminal control device automatically stores the operating state of the terminal device corresponding to each central processing unit in the operating state storage means and sets the operating state stored in the malfunction state storage means of the terminal device. Since the operation is carried out separately, the user of each central processing unit does not need to be aware of the operating state of the terminal device, which has the effect of improving operability.

Also, when information output from the terminal control device to the terminal device ends,
When the terminal device is in a data input waiting state for a control command consisting of a plurality of data, the terminal control device detects the data input waiting state of the terminal device by the analysis means, and detects the data input waiting state of the terminal device, and detects the data input waiting state corresponding to the number of data waiting for input. Since dummy data is output to the terminal device, it is possible to release the terminal device from the data input waiting state, and after that, for example, the terminal device is given a control command to set the operating state corresponding to the second central processing unit. There is an effect that the terminal device does not malfunction when output is output from the control device to the terminal device.

Furthermore, since the control commands recognized by the analysis means of the terminal control device can be changed by replacing the ROM or IC card, it can be easily applied to terminal devices with different control commands, and can be applied not only to off-the-shelf terminal devices but also to new ones. Another advantage is that it can be easily applied to product terminal devices.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.
114 is a block diagram showing a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3; FIG. 3 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention; and FIG.
Figure 5 is a block diagram of a specific example of the information output device shown in Figure 3! 13 is a block diagram of a specific example of FIG. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Terminal control device, 2... Controller, 31 and 32... Computer interface, 51 and 52... Buffer, 6... Analysis unit, 71 and 7
2...Memory, 8...Printer interface. Diagram

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A terminal control device that selects one central processing unit from a plurality of central processing units and outputs information of the central processing unit to a terminal device, comprising means for analyzing said information, and each of said central processing units. Operating state storage means is provided for storing the operating state of the terminal device corresponding to the central processing unit, and when the information is output to the terminal device, the analysis means analyzes the information, and the information contained in the information is analyzed by the analysis means. Recognizing a control command for setting an operating state of a terminal device, etc., and changing the operating state of the terminal device corresponding to the central processing unit stored in the operating state storage means in accordance with the control command, When switching the information to be output to a terminal device from the information of a certain central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as the first central processing unit) to the information of another central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as the second central processing unit), the Prior to outputting the information of the second central processing unit to the terminal device, the terminal device is set to an operating state corresponding to the second central processing unit stored in the operating state storage means, and then A terminal control device characterized in that information from a second central processing unit is output to the terminal device. 2. In the device according to claim 1, when the output of the information to the terminal device is finished, the analysis means collects a plurality of data (hereinafter, data refers to information transferred in one transfer process). 2. A terminal control device according to claim 1, wherein when a control command is in a data input waiting state, dummy data corresponding to the number of input data of the analysis means is output to the terminal device. 3. A terminal control device according to claim 1, wherein the control command recognized by the analysis means can be changed by replacing a ROM, an IC card, or the like.