Typewriting machines – Including control of format and selection of type-face by... – Including means for responding to input program or incoming...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-29
2001-04-03
Hilten, John S. (Department: 2854)
Typewriting machines
Including control of format and selection of type-face by...
Including means for responding to input program or incoming...
C400S061000, C400S070000, C400S076000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06210051
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a printer which performs printing based on image information obtained from an information processing apparatus and a control method for the printer and, more particularly to a printer, to which an optional device can be attached, and a control method for the printer.
Recently, a printer, which has a simplified construction and which performs various operations by control of software programs which run on a host computer, has been put into practical use as a so-called host-base printer. In this system, various printer operations are controlled via a printer driver in the host computer, by bidirectional communication between the printer and the host computer.
Upon starting print operation, the printer driver installed in the host computer determines whether or not it supports the printer connected to the host computer. In this system, to attach an optional device to the printer, it is necessary that the printer driver has the capability to communicate with the optional device. For example, if an optional device of the printer is a postcard feeder, the capability of the printer driver must include the card feeder function.
Accordingly, in a case where a new optional function not supported by the printer driver is employed, a revised printer driver is included in a package upon shipment. When the new optional function is installed, the previous printer driver is replaced by the revised printer driver.
However, the above conventional technique has the following problem.
Conventionally, the host computer uses one device ID to recognize the printer regardless of option-device setting status (i.e., attached or not) of the printer. More specifically, the host computer recognizes a printer having a newly-attached optional device with the same ID as that used to recognize the printer before the optional device is attached to the printer. Accordingly, the host computer cannot detect whether or not the optional device has been attached to the printer. If a printer, to which an optional function is attached, is connected to the host computer but the host computer system is not updated to include the new function, the printer might perform erroneous operation. Similarly, when a printer, to which no optional device is attached, is connected to the host computer but the host computer system has been updated to include the new function of the printer driver, the printer might perform erroneous operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above situation, and has its object to solve the above problem, to provide a printing system in which a printer and an information processing apparatus are connected.
According to the present invention, the foregoing object is attained by providing a printer which inputs print information from an information processing apparatus connected to the printer and performs print processing based on the print information, comprising: holding means for holding identification information on option-device setting status of the printer, the identification information being readable by the information processing apparatus; change means for changing the identification information held in the holding means in accordance with attachment status of an optional device for expanding function of the printer; and identification-information output means for outputting the identification information held in the holding means, in correspondence with a request from the information processing apparatus.
Preferably, the above printer further comprises request causing means for causing the information processing apparatus to issue an identificationinformation request to the printer when the optional device has been attached to the printer.
Preferably, the optional device has memory means for storing the identification information of the optional device.
Preferably, the information processing apparatus further comprises driver-change means for changing a driver for the printer in accordance with the identification information outputted from the printer.
Preferably, the optional device has a barcode corresponding to the identification information of the optional device.
Further, the foregoing object is attained by providing a printing method for a printer which inputs print information from an information processing apparatus connected to the printer and performs print processing based on the print information, comprising: a holding step of holding identification information on option-device setting status of the printer, the identification information being readable by the information processing apparatus; a change step of changing the identification information held at the holding step in accordance with attachment status of an optional device for expanding function of the printer; and an identification-information output step of outputting the identification information held at the holding step, in correspondence with a request from the information processing apparatus.
Preferably, the above printing method further comprises a request causing step of causing the information processing apparatus to issue an identification-information request to the printer when the optional device has been attached to the printer.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same name or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5228118 (1993-07-01), Sasaki
patent: 5288155 (1994-02-01), Suzuki
patent: 5467434 (1995-11-01), Hower, Jr. et al.
patent: 5580177 (1996-12-01), Gase et al.
patent: 5604843 (1997-02-01), Shaw et al.
patent: 6009480 (1999-12-01), Pleso
patent: 9-267538 (1997-10-01), None
patent: 9-272233 (1997-10-01), None
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
Hilten John S.
Nolan, Jr. Charles H.
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