U.S. patent application number 09/086458 was filed with the patent office on 2002-04-25 for output control method and apparatus.
Invention is credited to NISHIKAWA, YOKO.
Application Number | 20020048039 09/086458 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 15378658 |
Filed Date | 2002-04-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020048039 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
NISHIKAWA, YOKO |
April 25, 2002 |
OUTPUT CONTROL METHOD AND APPARATUS
Abstract
In an image forming apparatus for forming a visible image
thereon, the apparatus informs a host computer of the timing of a
paper sheet delivery and the percentage value of the progress of
the paper sheet delivery so that the animation representing the
progress of the paper delivery is accurately presented on the host
computer.
Inventors: |
NISHIKAWA, YOKO;
(YOKOHAMA-SHI, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FITZPATRICK CELLA HARPER & SCINTO
30 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA
NEW YORK
NY
10112
US
|
Family ID: |
15378658 |
Appl. No.: |
09/086458 |
Filed: |
May 29, 1998 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
358/1.15 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K 15/00 20130101;
G06K 15/1821 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
358/1.15 |
International
Class: |
B41B 001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 3, 1997 |
JP |
145153 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An output control apparatus comprising: communicating means for
analyzing a command received from an external apparatus to form
image data and for bilaterally communicating with an output
apparatus; receiving means for receiving data that indicates that
the status of said output apparatus changed; and control means for
performing animation control based on the data received by said
receiving means.
2. An output control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
animation control controls the start or end of an animation.
3. An output control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
output apparatus comprises detecting means for detecting the
position of each usable paper sheet under delivery, as detecting
means for detecting the change in the status of said output
apparatus, and controls an animation that simulates the transport
of the paper sheet based on the information about the position of
the paper sheet.
4. An output control apparatus according to claim 1 further
comprising: transmitting means, connected to said output apparatus,
for transmitting the image data to said output apparatus;
displaying means for displaying characters and graphics; analyzing
means for analyzing data received; storage means for storing
graphics and characters, representing the result of analysis; and
associating means for associating the information analyzed by said
analyzing means with an image stored in said storage means, wherein
an image selected by said associating means is displayed by said
displaying means.
5. An output control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
communicating means for bilateral communication communicates a
command for returning a status when a change in the status of said
output apparatus takes place and a command for controlling the
timing of the return of said status to said output control
apparatus.
6. An output control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
animation control controls the end of the animation depending on
whether the paper sheet delivery in said output apparatus has been
completed.
7. An output control method comprising: the communicating step for
analyzing a command received from an external apparatus to form an
image data and for bilaterally communicating with an output
apparatus; and the animation control step for performing animation
control based on data that indicates that the status of said output
apparatus changed.
8. An output control method according to claim 7, wherein said
animation control controls the start or end of an animation.
9. An output control method according to claim 7, wherein said
output apparatus comprises detecting means for detecting the
position of each usable paper sheet under delivery, as detecting
means for detecting the change in the status of said output
apparatus, and controls an animation that simulates the transport
of the paper sheet based on the information about the position of
the paper sheet.
10. An output control method according to claim 7 further
comprising: the communicating step for communicating image data
with said output apparatus; the displaying step for displaying
characters and graphics; the analyzing step for analyzing data
received; the storing step for storing graphics and characters
representing the result of analysis; the associating step for
associating the information analyzed in said analyzing step with an
image stored in said storing step, wherein an image selected
through said associating step is displayed in said displaying
step.
11. An output control method according to claim 7, wherein said
communicating step communicates a command for returning a status
when a change in the status of said output apparatus takes place
and a command for controlling the timing of the return of said
status.
12. An output control method according to claim 7, wherein said
animation control controls the end of the animation depending on
whether the paper sheet delivery in said output apparatus has been
completed.
13. A storage medium for storing a program comprising: the
communicating step for analyzing a command received from an
external apparatus to form an image data and for bilaterally
communicating with an output apparatus; and the animation control
step for performing animation control based on data that indicates
that the status of said output apparatus changed.
14. A storage medium according to claim 13, wherein said animation
control controls the start or end of an animation.
15. A storage medium according to claim 13, wherein said output
apparatus comprises detecting means for detecting the position of
each usable paper sheet under delivery, as detecting means for
detecting the change in the status of said output apparatus, and
controls an animation that simulate the transport of the paper
sheet based on the information about the position of the paper
sheet.
16. A storage medium according to claim 13 for storing a program
comprising: the communicating step for communicating image data
with said output apparatus; the displaying step for displaying
characters and graphics; the analyzing step for analyzing data
received; the storing step for storing graphics and characters
representing the result of analysis; the associating step for
associating the information analyzed in said analyzing step with an
image stored in said storing step, wherein an image selected
through said associating step is displayed in said displaying
step.
17. A storage medium according to claim 13, wherein said
communicating step communicates a command for returning a status
when a change in the status of said output apparatus takes place
and a command for controlling the timing of the return of said
status.
18. A storage medium according to claim 13, wherein said animation
control controls the end of the animation depending on whether the
paper sheet delivery in said output apparatus has been
completed.
19. An output control apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the
transmission of the information indicating the change in the status
of said output apparatus or the animation control is commanded to
be enabled or disabled.
20. An output control method according to claim 7 further
comprising the step of commanding to be enabled or disabled the
information indicating the change in the status of said output
apparatus or the animation control.
21. A storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the program
further comprises the step of commanding to be enabled or disabled
the transmission of the information indicating the change in the
status of said output apparatus or the animation control.
22. An output control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
received command is a page description language.
23. An output control method according to claim 7, wherein said
received command is a page description language.
24. A storage medium according to claim 13, wherein said received
command is a page description language.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an output control method
and apparatus for analyzing input information coming in from
outside and forming a visible image.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Conventional image forming apparatuses of a type like WPS
(Windows Printing System) allow a host computer to execute part of
processing job of print data. In a technique for indicating to a
user a status of the apparatus, the apparatus starts its printing
mechanism at the moment the apparatus itself is initiated, and
displays an animation indicative of paper delivery on the host
computer screen.
[0005] In an image forming apparatus of a type which receives PDL
(page description language) language to form an image, its printing
mechanism not necessarily starts its printing immediately when data
of one page of sheet is sent to the image forming apparatus,
because processing print data takes time. Depending on the
processing capability of the image forming apparatus, all
processing steps are in progress in the order of an expansion of
the print data into a frame buffer, an initialization of the
printing mechanism, a printing, and a paper deliver, and a host
computer is unable to know the timing of the paper delivery.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] According to the present invention, in an image forming
apparatus, communicating means, for bilaterally communicating with
a connected apparatus, bilaterally communicates information with
the connected apparatus, setting means, for setting a communication
mode, sets the timing and content of communication with the
connected apparatus, storage means, for storing the communication
mode set by the setting means, stores the timing and content of the
communication with the connected apparatus, communicating means,
for performing communication in accordance with the communication
mode set by the setting means, communicates with the connected
apparatus, detecting means, for detecting a change in the status of
an image forming apparatus, detects the change in the status,
converting means for converting the status detected by the
detecting means into a format for communication, converts the
change in status into the format for communication for the
connected apparatus, data storage means, for storing data into
which the converting means converts the status, stores the change
in status for the connected apparatus, and transmitting means, for
transmitting the data stored in the storage means, transmits the
status of the image forming apparatus to the connected
apparatus.
[0007] Furthermore in the image forming apparatus, storage means,
for storing the information about a usable paper sheet, stores
various pieces of information about the usable paper sheet, and
detecting means, for detecting the position of each usable paper
sheet under delivery, as detecting means for detecting a change in
the status of the image forming apparatus, detects the delivery
situation of the paper sheet. The apparatus, connected to the image
forming apparatus, transmits image data to the image forming
apparatus, performs bilateral communication with the image forming
apparatus, and has displaying means for displaying an image. In the
connected apparatus, receiving means, for receiving data
transmitted by the image forming apparatus, receives the
information about the status of the image forming apparatus,
transmitted by the image forming apparatus, analyzing means, for
analyzing the data received, analyzes the status of the image
forming apparatus, storage means, for storing graphics and
characters, representing the analysis result, stores an image for
notifying a user of the status of the image forming apparatus,
associating means, for associating the information analyzed by the
analyzing means with the image stored in the storage means, selects
the image representing the status of the image forming apparatus,
and displaying means, for displaying the image selected by the
associating means, presents the status of the image forming
apparatus.
[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, the output
control apparatus preferably comprises communicating means for
analyzing a command received from an external apparatus to form
image data and for bilaterally communicating with an output
apparatus, receiving means for receiving data that indicates that
the status of the output apparatus changed, and control means for
performing animation control based on the data received by the
receiving means.
[0009] The animation control preferably controls the start or end
of an animation. In the output control apparatus of the present
invention, the output apparatus preferably comprises detecting
means for detecting the position of each usable paper sheet under
delivery, as detecting means for detecting the change in the status
of the output apparatus, and controls an animation that simulates
the transport of the paper sheet based on the information about the
position of the paper sheet.
[0010] The output control apparatus of the present invention
preferably comprises transmitting means, connected to the output
apparatus, for transmitting image data to the output apparatus,
displaying means for displaying characters and graphics, analyzing
means for analyzing data received, storage means for storing
graphics and characters, representing a analysis result, and
associating means for associating the information analyzed by the
analyzing means with an image stored in the storage means, wherein
an image selected by the associating means is displayed by the
displaying means.
[0011] The communicating means for bilateral communication
preferably communicates a command for returning a status when a
change in the status of the output apparatus takes place and a
command for controlling the timing of the return of the status to
the output control apparatus.
[0012] The animation control preferably controls the end of the
animation depending on whether the paper sheet delivery in the
output apparatus has been completed.
[0013] The transmission of the information indicating the change in
the status of the output apparatus or the animation control is
preferably commanded to be enabled or disabled.
[0014] The received command is preferably a page description
language.
[0015] According to another aspect of the present invention, the
output control method preferably comprises the communicating step
for analyzing a command received from an external apparatus to form
an image data and for bilaterally communicating with an output
apparatus, and the animation control step for performing animation
control based on data that indicates that the status of the output
apparatus changed.
[0016] The animation control preferably controls the start or end
of an animation.
[0017] The output apparatus preferably comprises detecting means
for detecting the position of each usable paper sheet under
delivery, as detecting means for detecting the change in the status
of the output apparatus, and controls an animation that simulates
the transport of the paper sheet based on the information about the
position of the paper sheet.
[0018] The output control method preferably comprises the
communicating step for communicating image data with the output
apparatus, the displaying step for displaying characters and
graphics, the analyzing step for analyzing data received, the
storing step for storing graphics and characters representing the
result of analysis, the associating step for associating the
information analyzed in the analyzing step with an image stored in
the storing step, wherein an image selected through the associating
step is displayed in the displaying step.
[0019] The communicating step preferably communicates a command for
returning a status when a change in the status of the output
apparatus takes place and a command for controlling the timing of
the return of the status.
[0020] The animation control preferably controls the end of the
animation depending on whether the paper sheet delivery in the
output apparatus has been completed.
[0021] The output control method preferably comprises the step of
commanding to be enabled or disabled the information indicating the
change in the status of the output apparatus or the animation
control.
[0022] The received command is preferably a page description
language.
[0023] According to anther aspect of the present invention, the
storage medium preferably stores a program comprising the
communicating step for analyzing a command received from an
external apparatus to form an image data and for bilaterally
communicating with an output apparatus, and the animation control
step for performing animation control based on data that indicates
that the status of the output apparatus changed.
[0024] The animation control preferably controls the start or end
of an animation.
[0025] The output apparatus preferably comprises detecting means
for detecting the position of each usable paper sheet under
delivery, as detecting means for detecting the change in the status
of the output apparatus, and controls an animation that simulate
the transport of the paper sheet based on the information about the
position of the paper sheet.
[0026] The storage medium preferably stores a program comprising
the communicating step for communicating image data with the output
apparatus, the displaying step for displaying characters and
graphics, the analyzing step for analyzing data received, the
storing step for storing graphics and characters representing the
result of analysis, the associating step for associating the
information analyzed in the analyzing step with an image stored in
the storing step, wherein an image selected through the associating
step is displayed in the displaying step.
[0027] The communicating step preferably communicates a command for
returning a status when a change in the status of the output
apparatus takes place and a command for controlling the timing of
the return of the status.
[0028] The animation control preferably controls the end of the
animation depending on whether the paper sheet delivery in the
output apparatus has been completed.
[0029] The program preferably comprises the step of commanding to
be enabled or disabled the transmission of the information
indicating the change in the status of the output apparatus or the
animation control.
[0030] The received command is preferably a page description
language.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the construction of one
embodiment of the present invention;
[0032] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram showing the process of the
embodiment of the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram showing the process of the
embodiment of the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing the process of the
embodiment of the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 5 lists statuses in the process of the embodiment of
the present invention;
[0036] FIG. 6 lists statuses in the process of the embodiment of
the present invention;
[0037] FIG. 7 is a memory map of a storage medium that stores
various data processing programs read by an image forming apparatus
of the present invention and by an apparatus to which the image
forming apparatus is connected;
[0038] FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing the process of the
embodiment of the present invention;
[0039] FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing the process of the
embodiment of the present invention;
[0040] FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing the process of the
embodiment of the present invention;
[0041] FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing the process of the
embodiment of the present invention;
[0042] FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing the process of the
embodiment of the present invention;
[0043] FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing the process of the
embodiment of the present invention;
[0044] FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing the process of the
embodiment of the present invention;
[0045] FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing the process of the
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0046] FIG. 16 is an explanatory view showing the process of the
embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0047] First embodiment
[0048] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a
printer control system of the present invention. The printer
control system here is for a laser beam printer. As long as the
function of the present invention is accomplished, the present
invention may be implemented in a standalone apparatus, a system
constructed of a plurality of apparatuses, or a system in which a
process is executed through a network such as a LAN. A host
computer 3000 includes CPU 1 that processes a document in which
graphics, an image, characters and tables (including spreadsheet)
are mixed, under the control of a document processing program
stored in a ROM 3, a program ROM, and generally controls the
devices connected to a system bus 4.
[0049] A program ROM 3b of ROM 3 stores control programs and the
like for CPU 1, and a font ROM 3a of ROM 3 stores font data used in
the above document processing, and a data ROM 3c of ROM 3 stores a
variety of data used in the above document processing. RAM 2
functions as a main memory and a working area for CPU 1. A keyboard
controller (KBC) 5 controls a keyboard 9 and a key input from an
unshown pointing device. A CRT controller (CRTC) 6 controls the
display of a CRT display 10. A memory controller (MC) 7 controls an
access to an external memory 11 such as a hard disk (HD) and a
floppy disk (FD) storing a boot program, a diversity of
applications, font data, user files and edit files. The external
memory stores programs illustrated in flow diagrams in FIGS. 2 and
3. A printer controller (PRTC) 8 is connected to a printer main
unit 1500 via a predetermined bidirectional interface 21, and
executes communication control process with a printer control unit
1000. CPU 1 performs expansion (rasterizing) of outline fonts into
a display information RAM set up in RAM 2, enabling a WYSIWYG
display on CRT 10. CPU 1 opens a variety of registered windows in
response to a command given by an unshown cursor of a mouse on CRT
10, carrying out a diversity of data processings.
[0050] The laser beam printer (LBP) main unit 1500 comprises an
operation panel 1501 on which operation switches and LED display
devices are arranged, and the printer control unit 1000 for
controlling generally the entire LBP main unit 1500 and analyzing
print information supplied by the host computer. In the printer
control unit 1000, a printer CPU 12 generally controls the access
to the devices connected to a system bus 15 under the control
program or the like stored in a program ROM 13b of ROM 13 or the
control program or the like stored in an external memory 14, and
outputs an image signal as output information to a printer module
(printer engine) 17 which is connected thereto via a printer
interface 16. The program ROM 13b of ROM 13 stores the control
program of CPU 12 as illustrated in a flow diagram shown in FIG. 4.
A font ROM 13a of ROM 13 stores font data used in producing the
output information, and a data ROM 13c of ROM 13 stores information
used in the host computer when the printer has no external memory
such as a hard disk. CPU 12 processes communication with the host
computer via an input section 18, and is designed to report the
information about the printer to the host computer 3000. RAM 19
functions as a main memory and a working area for CPU 12, and its
memory capacity can be expanded by adding an optional RAM on an
unshown expansion port. RAM 19 serves as an output information
rasterize area, an environment data storage area, NVRAM
(nonvolatile RAM) and the like. The access to the external memory
14 such as a hard disk and an IC card is controlled by a memory
controller (MC) 20. The external memory 14 is optionally connected
and stores font data, an emulation program and form data.
[0051] The external memory 14 includes at least one or more memory
units, including an optional font card in addition to a built-in
font, and a plurality of external memory units for storing programs
that translate printer control languages of different language
systems. The external memory 14 may include a NVRAM to store
printer setting mode information set by a command from the host
computer.
[0052] The control flow of the process in the printer control
system thus constructed is discussed referring to flow diagrams
shown in FIGS. 2 through 4. FIG. 2 illustrates the process in which
the host computer monitors the status of the printer. Prior to
sending print data to the printer, the host computer sends a
command for setting the printer to report a status when the state
in the printer changes (201). When the printer changes its state
frequently, the time interval between the transmissions of status
is shortened, adversely affecting print data processing. For this
reason, the time interval for sending the status to the host
computer is set at the same time. Upon receiving this command, the
printer performs the process shown in FIG. 4. The printer starts
the transmission of the status to the host computer (401) in
response to the command requiring the setting of returning the
printer status and the command requiring the setting of the time
interval of the transmission of the status. The printer sets the
status indicative of its current status in a transmission buffer
(402). The printer transmits the content in the transmission buffer
to the host computer (403). The host computer now knows the printer
status prior to printing. The printers determines whether the
printer status changed (404). The change in the printer status
means that the printer is shifted from on-line ready (standby)
state to another state, for example, test printing, data
processing, an occurrence of no paper, an occurrence of paper
jamming or the like. In this embodiment, the printer is shifted
from the standby state to a data reception or data processing
because print data is sent from the host computer immediately
subsequent to the start of the status transmission. The printers
determines whether a paper sheet is delivered (405). Since the
delivery of the paper sheet does not start immediately, the process
goes to step 406, and a status indicating that the printer is
receiving data or processing data is set in the transmission
buffer. The process returns to step 403, where the printer
transmits the content of the transmission buffer to the host
computer at the time interval set by the host computer. When it is
determined in step 405 that the paper delivery started, the printer
sets, in the transmission buffer, the printer status and a value
indicating how much the paper delivery is in progress. The process
returns to step 403, where the printer transmits the content of the
transmission buffer to the host computer at the time interval set
by the host computer. If there is no change in the status in step
404, no step is taken. While no change takes place, the printer
transmits the same status as the previously sent one at the timing
when the content in the transmission buffer is to be sent.
Returning to FIG. 2, the process in the host computer is
continuously discussed. After the host computer transmits to the
printer the command requiring the setting of the return of the
printer status when the printer changes its status (201), the host
computer transmits the print data to the printer (202). The host
computer counts time for a predetermined constant duration (203).
The constant duration is here the time during which the host
computer checks to see if the printer has sent the status
indicative of the state of the printer, and is set separately from
the time interval for the transmission of the printer status. In
this embodiment, the time counting duration is predetermined, but
may be designed to be optionally set. When the constant duration
elapses, the host computer checks to see if the printer has sent a
status indicative of the state of the printer (204). The content of
the received status is transferred to the control of an animation
program for displaying the printer status on the host computer
screen (205). Referring to the content of the status acquired in
step 204, the host computer determines whether the paper delivery
is completed (206). When the paper delivery is not completed, the
process returns to step 203. Steps 203-206 are repeated until it is
determined in step 206 that the paper delivery is completed. When
it is determined in step 206 that the paper delivery is completed,
the monitoring program ends.
[0053] The status transmitted by the printer includes information
about the state of the printer, a total number of pages printed,
and the length of the paper sheet. The status is a fixed-length
ASCII code expressed in a sequence of numbers expressed in 0-9 as
shown in FIG. 5. The sequence of numbers is delimited by several
digits to express various states. More discussion on this will
provided later. The status is written onto the transmission buffer
each time the state of the printer changes. For example, when the
printer is on ready standby, the status indicative of the standby
is written onto the transmission buffer. When the printer is
working on a test print, the status is updated to indicate the test
print in progress. When it is determined in step 407 in FIG. 4 that
the paper delivery starts, the printer transmits to the host
computer the status of the printer and, along with it, the
percentage value indicating how much the paper delivery operation
is in progress. The percentage value is the ratio of the duration
from the paper delivery start to the moment the status request
command is received to the total time (100%) from the paper
delivery start to the end. For example, when a paper sheet takes 10
seconds from its delivery start to end, the printer returns a value
of 20% to the host computer at the point 2 seconds later from the
delivery start. Although the percentage value may be set at steps
of 1%, an approximate measure indicating how much the paper
delivery is roughly in progress works. Returning a too detailed
value simply increases a load imposed on both the printer and the
host computer. The percentage value of the total time for
delivering one page may be divided into five or six. When a paper
sheet takes 10 seconds for its delivery from start to end with the
percentage value divided into five, the printer returns to the host
computer a percentage of 20% within a time band extending from 2
seconds or later till 4 seconds, and a percentage value of 40%
within a time band from 4 seconds or later till 6 seconds. Since
the time required for the delivery of one page of paper sheet
varies depending on its sheet size, the time bands and their
percentage are also varied, for example, one paper sheet size
taking 15 seconds from start to end, results in 20% within a time
band from 3 seconds or later till 6 seconds, and 40% within a time
band from 6 seconds or later till 9 seconds. The time bands and
corresponding percentage values in each sheet are beforehand stored
in the printer. The animation program that is called in step 205 in
FIG. 2 is now discussed referring to the flow diagram shown in FIG.
3. The animation program displays graphics and characters
representing the process of the printer on the host computer
screen, and switches the display depending on the progress of the
printer processing. Graphics used in this presentation respectively
correspond to the statuses. FIGS. 8 through 16 show examples in the
windows of status monitors. In step 205 in FIG. 2, the status
indicating the state of the printer is transferred. The status
includes information about printer states, for example, ready
(standby) state, no paper, paper jammed, the difference between
ON-LINE and OFF-LINE, the sheet size, and the progress of print
data processing indicating standby state and state of data
processing. The animation program receives the status including
these pieces of information in step 301 in FIG. 3. Comparing it
with the previously received one (302), the animation program ends
itself if the two statuses are identical, and the host computer
returns to the monitoring program (FIG. 2). If the two statuses are
different, the animation program references a table that associates
the statuses with graphics to be displayed, and selects the
graphics to be displayed (303). For example, the image in FIG. 8 is
displayed in the on-line ready state (standby), the image in FIG. 9
is displayed when data is being processed, and the image in FIG. 10
is displayed when the status indicative of the detected forward end
of paper is received. The graphic is now presented on screen (304).
The animation program ends and the host computer returns to the
monitor program (FIG. 2). During the paper delivery, of the
information of the status, the value indicating the progress of the
print data processing is a percentage value that represents how far
paper feeding proceeds relative to the entire length of each paper
sheet. For example, when six points are set up in the total time
required from the start to the end of paper feeding, the printer
presents 16%, 33%, 49%, 66%, 82%, and 99%. An application program
prepares six graphics corresponding to these percentage values.
FIG. 11 shows a 16% progress, FIG. 12 shows a 33% progress, FIG. 13
shows a 49% progress, FIG. 14 shows a 66% progress, FIG. 15 shows a
82% progress, and FIG. 16 shows a 99% progress in the paper feeding
process. The host computer optionally sets the number of points
representing the degree of progress. The structure of the status is
now discussed referring to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 shows an actual
status. As shown, the status is an ASCII code expressed in a
sequence of numbers ranging from 0 to 9. First five bytes are a
status called "CJLCODE" to be used to express the printer status.
Examples of its content are shown in FIG. 6. For example, "10000"
denotes a ready (standby) state, and "10020" denotes a warm-up
state. One byte subsequent to the first five bytes is an ON-LINE
status, indicating whether the printer is off-line or on-line. "1"
denotes ON-LINE while 0 denotes OFF-LINE. Subsequent two bytes are
for the sheet size. The length of the paper sheet is expressed in
centimeters. FIG. 6 lists the sheet sizes and their corresponding
status values.
[0054] Subsequent two bytes are a status called "SUB-STATUS",
indicating data reception/processing, paper feeding, printing,
paper transport elapsed time, and the like. FIG. 6 lists the
numbers and their contents. When the number is within 05 and 99, it
represents the elapsed time in percentage from the start to the end
of the paper delivery. Subsequent three bytes are "PAGE-COUNT",
indicating least three digits of a total number of pages printed by
the printer. This number is incremented at "SUB-STATUS" at 04,
namely when the printer detects the forward end of the paper. The
host computer stores "PAGE-COUNT" of the status that is received
when the printer is idling, and by subtracting the "PAGE-COUNT"
stored during the idling from the "PAGE-COUNT" of the status
received after the start of the paper delivery, the host computer
displays what page is being delivered. Last three bytes are
reserved for a possible status expansion. When the host computer
requests the printer to send the status, the printer set these
statuses to be sent to the host computer. FIGS. 5(1)-5(11) show the
change in status from the on-line ready (standby) state to print
data reception to the end of paper delivery. Cross-references with
FIGS. 8 through 16 are also listed.
[0055] Second embodiment
[0056] In the above embodiment, the case in which paper sheets are
delivered in succession has not been discussed. When paper sheets
are delivered in succession, the percentage value of delivery
starts for a next page even if the delivery of a preceding paper
sheet has yet to reach 99%. In this way, an updated paper delivery
situation is always acquired.
[0057] Third embodiment
[0058] In the above embodiment, the paper delivery situation is
presented in animation. It is also possible to notify the user of
the printer status by displaying a picture and descriptive text on
screen.
[0059] Fourth embodiment
[0060] When there is no need for recognizing the printer state on
screen, the transmission of the printer status and displaying of
the animation are disabled.
[0061] Referring to FIG. 7, data processing programs are
discussed.
[0062] FIG. 7 is a memory map of a storage medium that stores
various data processing programs read by an image forming apparatus
of the present invention and by an apparatus to which the image
forming apparatus is connected.
[0063] The information that manages a group of programs stored in
the storage medium, for example, information about the version of a
program and the name of a programmer, is also stored, and
information depending on the operating system of the program reader
side, for example, an icon identifying each program, may be also
stored.
[0064] Data under the control of each program is also managed in a
directory. A program for installing each program into the computer
and a decompression program for compressing a compressed
installation program may also be stored.
[0065] The functions shown in FIGS. 2 through 6 may be performed
under the program installed into the host computer. The present
invention may be implemented when a group of information including
programs are supplied to the image forming apparatus from a storage
medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or a floppy disk, or from
an outside storage medium via a network.
[0066] The storage medium holding a program code of software for
carrying out the functions of the embodiments is loaded in a system
or apparatus. The computer (CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus
reads the program code stored in the storage medium to execute the
program. The objects of the present invention are thus
achieved.
[0067] The program code read from the storage medium performs the
novel functions of the present invention, and the storage medium
storing the program code constitutes the present invention.
[0068] Available as storage media for feeding the program code are
floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optic disk, CD-ROM,
CD-R, magnetic tape, non-volatile memory card, ROM, EEPROM and the
like.
[0069] By executing the program code read by the computer, the
functions of the embodiments are performed. Furthermore, the OS
running on the computer performs partly or entirely an actual
process according to the instruction of the program code, and the
functions of the embodiments are thus performed.
[0070] According to the present invention, the transmitter side of
data can know the process in progress in the image forming
apparatus even when the image forming apparatus forms a visible
image of received data, and presents an animation representing the
paper delivery situation. The host computer monitors the paper
delivery from its start, presenting no discrepancy between the
animation of paper delivery and the actual progress of paper
delivery and thereby keeping the user informed of accurate
information.
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