JPH11249781A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Object] To clarify the status of a device by selecting and displaying appropriate message data. When an instruction to display a message on an operation panel is made in response to a request from a host device, a CPU determines whether or not a message uniquely created by a user is stored in a user-defined message storage area of a RAM. After confirmation, the user-defined message data stored in the user-defined message storage area 41 and corresponding to the state of the printer 1 at that time is selected, and the selected message is displayed on the operation panel 9.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine and a printer, and more particularly to clarification of errors and display contents of various messages.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When an error or the like occurs when printing document data or the like sent from a host device, an error message or the like is displayed on a display unit of the printer connected to the host device to clarify the content of the error or the like. This is for the convenience of the user. The various messages displayed on the display unit are displayed by selecting message data according to the situation from among the message data originally inherent in the image forming apparatus.

[0003]

However, some of the message data inherently inherent in the image forming apparatus is difficult for the user to understand. When the host device reads the status of the image forming apparatus and displays the status of the image forming device in a unique expression on the screen of the host device, the host device displays the same status as the image forming device. However, the displayed messages are different from each other, which makes it difficult for the user to understand or misleads the user.

[0004] The present invention has improved such disadvantages, and stores message data originally created or defined by a user or application software, in addition to message data originally inherent in the apparatus, and selects appropriate message data. It is an object of the present invention to obtain an image forming apparatus which can display the information and clarify the status of the apparatus.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus having a display device for displaying an error display and a message to a user in a unique message storage area storing device-specific message data. And a user-defined message storage area that stores and holds message data created independently by the user and application software. When a message display request is received, the message data stored in the user-defined message storage area is given priority. It is characterized by being selected and displayed.

When there is a message display request, the message data stored in the unique message storage area and the user-defined message storage area can be selectively switched and displayed according to an instruction from an operation unit or a host device. desirable.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A printer according to the present invention has a RO
M has a unique message storage area in which a unique message inherent in the printer device is stored with a message number attached thereto, and a user-defined message data uniquely created by the user in the host device together with the message number as a character code in the RAM. It has a user-defined message storage area for storing and holding. A user-defined message created by the host device is sent and stored in advance in the user-defined message storage area.

When the printer device prints the received data sent from the host device and receives an instruction to display message data on the operation panel in response to a request from the host device, the CPU causes the printer device at that time to display the message data. It is confirmed whether a message corresponding to the state of (1) is stored in the user-defined message storage area of the RAM. As a result of this confirmation, a message corresponding to the status of the printer is stored in the RAM.
Stored in the user-defined message storage area of
The CPU selects the user-defined message data stored in the user-defined message storage area according to the state of the printer at that time, and displays the selected message on the operation panel. If the message corresponding to the state of the printer at that time is not stored in the user-defined message storage area of the RAM, the message corresponding to the state of the printer at that time is stored in the unique message storage area of the ROM. Select unique message data and display it on the operation panel. When the user-defined message is defined as described above, the user-defined message is displayed, so that the user can clearly grasp the status of the printer.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG.
U2, ROM 3, RAM 4, NV-RAM 5, host interface 6, operation panel 7, and printer engine 8
And prints document data and the like sent from the host device 9 connected via the host interface 6. CP
U2 controls the printer device 1 and controls the ROM 3
And management of programs and memories such as the RAM 4 and the like.
The ROM 3 stores a system program for controlling the entire printer device 1 such as print drawing control and panel control, a program for processing a printer language, font data and fixed data used for print control, as shown in FIG. It has a unique message storage area 31 in which unique messages inherent in the device 1 are stored with message numbers. RAM 4 is a host interface) 6
3 is used as a reception buffer for storing reception data input from the host device 9 through the CPU, a bitmap memory for creating a print image actually printed on recording paper, and the like, as shown in FIG. The host device 9 has a user-defined message storage area 41 that stores and holds user-defined message data independently created by a user as a character code along with a message number. The user-defined message storage area 41 is created by the host device 9. A user-defined message has been sent and stored in advance. The NV-RAM 5 is a readable and writable memory that can hold setting data used for printing even when the power is off. The operation panel 7 sets various setting items of the printer 1 and displays the status of the printer 1 and the like. The printer engine 8 feeds recording paper, draws a print image on the recording paper, and discharges the printed recording paper.

The operation of the printer device 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When printing the received data sent from the host device 9 by the printer device 1, the request from the host device 9 or the ROM
When there is an instruction to display message data on the operation panel 7 by the application program of Step 3 (Step S
1) The CPU 2 checks whether a message corresponding to the state of the printer 1 at that time is stored in the user-defined message storage area 31 of the RAM 3 (step S2). When a message corresponding to the state of the printer 1 at that time is stored in the user-defined message storage area 41 of the RAM 4, the CPU 2 stores the state of the printer 1 at that time stored in the user-defined message storage area 41. Is selected, and the selected message is displayed on the operation panel 7 (steps S3, S4, S5). Further, the CPU 2 sends a message corresponding to the state of the printer device 1 at that time to R
When not stored in the user-defined message storage area 41 of the AM 4, the unique message storage area 31 of the ROM 3
Is selected according to the state of the printer 1 at that time, and the selected message is displayed on the operation panel 7 (steps S3 and S3).
6, S5). When the user-defined message is defined as described above, the user-defined message is displayed, so that the user can clearly grasp the status of the printer 1.

In the above embodiment, when an instruction to display message data is made on the operation panel 7 in response to a request from the host device 9, the user-defined message storage area 41 of the RAM 4
Has been described, the user-defined message data stored in the user-defined message data stored in the user-defined message storage area 41 and the user-defined message data stored in the unique message storage area 31 of the ROM 3 are displayed. A display priority mode area for storing a display priority mode for instructing which of the specific message data to be displayed preferentially is provided in the RAM 3;
Message data to be preferentially displayed may be determined based on an instruction from the operation panel 7 or the host device 9.

The operation in this case will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the printer device 1 receives the received data from the host device 9, the CPU 2 checks the request for the message data to be displayed preferentially included in the display instruction of the message data, and wants to display the unique message data preferentially. Is set to the display priority mode area of the RAM 4, and if the user-defined message data is to be preferentially displayed, "1" is set to the display priority mode area of the RAM 4 (step S11). In this state, when there is a request from the host device 9 or an instruction to display message data on the operation panel 7 by an application program in the ROM 3 (step S12), the CPU 2 sets the RA.
The display priority mode area of M4 is checked, and if "1" is set as the display priority mode, a message corresponding to the state of the printer 1 at that time is stored in the user-defined message storage area 31 of the RAM 3. It is confirmed whether or not it is present (steps S13, S14). The CPU 2 sends a message corresponding to the state of the printer 1 at that time to R
When stored in the user-defined message storage area 41 of the AM 4, the user-defined message data stored in the user-defined message storage area 41 and corresponding to the state of the printer 1 at that time is selected, and the selected message is stored. Display on the operation panel 7 (steps S15, S
16, S17). When the message corresponding to the state of the printer 1 at that time is not stored in the user-defined message storage area 41 of the RAM 4, the message is stored in the unique message storage area 31 of the ROM 3. 1 is selected, and the selected message data is selected on the operation panel 7 (steps S15, S18, S1).
7). When the CPU 2 checks the display priority mode area of the RAM 4 and finds that “0” is set as the display priority mode, the CPU 2 determines that the unique message storage area 3
1 and selects the unique message data corresponding to the state of the printer 1 at that time, and displays the selected message on the operation panel 7 (step S13,
S18, S17). In this way, the message requested by the host device 9 can be preferentially displayed.

Although the above embodiment has been described with reference to a printer apparatus, the present invention can be similarly applied to an image forming apparatus with a digital copying machine.

[0014]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a message display request is made, the user-defined message data stored in the user-defined message storage area is preferentially selected and displayed. The user can clearly grasp the status of the image forming apparatus.

Further, when a message display request is received from the host device, the message data stored in the unique message storage area and the user-defined message storage area are selected and switched according to an instruction from the host device and displayed. The message requested by the host device can be displayed preferentially, and the contents of the message can be prevented from being misunderstood.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a unique message storage area.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a user-defined message storage area.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing another operation of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 printer device 2 CPU 3 ROM 4 RAM 6 host interface 7 operation panel 8 printer engine 31 unique message storage area 41 user-defined message storage area

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus having a display device for displaying an error display and a message to a user, comprising: a unique message storage area for storing message data inherent to the device; and a message uniquely created by a user or application software. An image forming apparatus having a user-defined message storage area for storing and holding data, wherein message data stored in the user-defined message storage area is preferentially selected and displayed when a message display request is made. apparatus. 2. When there is a message display request, message data stored in a unique message storage area and a user-defined message storage area are selected and switched according to an instruction from an operation unit or a higher-level device and displayed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.