Testing apparatus and method

A testing method of verifying an operation of a controller unit which forms output image data, outputs a command signal, and constructs an image output apparatus in cooperation with an engine unit for outputting said formed output image data to a media, comprising:

• an obtaining step of obtaining the command signal which is outputted from said controller unit via interface means for making data communication with said controller unit;
• an emulating step of emulating a state of said engine unit in accordance with a notification of an elapsed time by a timer for notifying the elapse of a predetermined time and said obtained command signal;
• a transmitting step of transmitting a response signal via said interface means in accordance with said emulated state of said engine unit and said obtained command signal;
• and
• a generating step of generating an image sync signal to said controller unit in accordance with said emulated state of said engine unit.

A program for executing a testing method of verifying an operation of a controller unit which forms output image data, outputs a command signal, and constructs an image output apparatus in cooperation with an engine unit for outputting said formed output image data to a media, comprising:

• an obtaining step of obtaining the command signal which is outputted from said controller unit via interface means for making data communication with said controller unit;
• an emulating step of emulating a state of said engine unit in accordance with a notification of an elapsed time by a timer for notifying the elapse of a predetermined time and said obtained command signal;
• and
• a transmitting step of transmitting a response signal via said interface means in accordance with said emulated state of said engine unit and said obtained command signal.

An apparatus which can be connected through a predetermined interface to a printer controller for outputting image data of a page unit to a printer engine via said interface and emulates an operation of said interface of said printer engine, comprising:

• receiving means for receiving the image data of the page unit from said printer controller via said interface;
• transmitting means for transmitting a status regarding said printer engine to said printer controller via said interface;
• setting means for setting an error to one of pages of the image data which is received by said receiving means;
• and
• control means for allowing said transmitting means to transmit a status indicative of the error on the basis of contents set by said setting means.

A method of emulating an operation of a predetermined interface of a printer engine in a testing apparatus which is connected via said interface to a printer controller for outputting image data of a page unit to the printer engine via said interface, comprising:

• a receiving step of receiving the image data of the page unit from said printer controller via said interface;
• a transmitting step of transmitting a status regarding said printer engine to said printer controller via said interface;
• a setting step of setting an error to one of pages of the image data which is received in said receiving step;
• and
• a control step of allowing said transmitting step to transmit a status indicative of the error on the basis of contents set by said setting step.

A program which is used for emulating an operation of a predetermined interface of a printer engine and executed by a computer of a testing apparatus which is connected via said interface to a printer controller for outputting image data of a page unit to the printer engine via said interface, comprising:

• a receiving step of receiving the image data of the page unit from said printer controller via said interface;
• a transmitting step of transmitting a status regarding said printer engine to said printer controller via said interface;
• a setting step of setting an error to one of pages of the image data which is received in said receiving step;
• and
• a control step of allowing said transmitting step to transmit a status indicative of the error on the basis of contents set by said setting step.

A testing apparatus for verifying a controller unit of an image output apparatus constructed by said controller unit for outputting output image data and a command signal and an engine unit for outputting said output image data to a media, comprising:

• interface means for making data communication with said controller unit;
• first obtaining means for obtaining the image data which is outputted from said controller unit via said interface means;
• second obtaining means for obtaining the command signal which is outputted from said controller unit via said interface means;
• image sync signal generating means for generating an image data sync signal to said controller unit in accordance with said command signal;
• an image memory for holding said obtained image data;
• display means for displaying said held image data;
• system control means for controlling a whole system of said image output apparatus;
• and
• synchronizing means for synchronizing the holding operation of said image data by said image memory with the displaying operation of said image data by said display means in accordance with said generated image data sync signal.

A control method of a testing apparatus for verifying a controller unit of an image output apparatus constructed by said controller unit for outputting output image data and a command signal and an engine unit for outputting said output image data to a media, comprising:

• a control step of controlling an interface for making data communication with said controller unit;
• a first obtaining step of obtaining the image data which is outputted from said controller unit via said interface;
• a second obtaining step of obtaining the command signal which is outputted from said controller unit via said interface;
• an image sync signal generating step of generating an image data sync signal to said controller unit in accordance with said command signal;
• a holding step of holding said obtained image data into an image memory;
• a display step of displaying said held image data;
• a system control step of controlling a whole system of said image output apparatus;
• and
• a synchronizing step of synchronizing the holding operation of said image data by said image memory with the displaying operation of said image data by said display step in accordance with said generated image data sync signal.

A testing apparatus for verifying an operation of a controller unit which outputs output image data and a command signal and constructs an image output apparatus in cooperation with an engine unit for outputting said outputted output image data to a media, comprising:

• interface means for making data communication with said controller unit;
• first obtaining means for obtaining the image data which is outputted from said controller unit via said interface means;
• second obtaining means for obtaining the command signal which is outputted from said controller unit via said interface means;
• image sync signal generating means for generating an image data sync signal to said controller unit in accordance with said command signal;
• an image memory for holding said obtained image data;
• image processing means for performing a predetermined image process to said held image data;
• deciding means for deciding contents of said predetermined image process;
• display means for displaying said image-processed image data;
• system control means for controlling a whole system of said image output apparatus;
• and
• synchronizing means for synchronizing the holding operation of said image data by said image memory, the image processing operation by said image processing means, and the displaying operation of said image data by said display means in accordance with said generated image data sync signal.

A testing method of a testing apparatus for verifying an operation of a controller unit which outputs output image data and a command signal and constructs an image output apparatus in cooperation with an engine unit for outputting said outputted output image data to a media, comprising:

• an interface step of making data communication with said controller unit;
• a first obtaining step of obtaining the image data which is outputted from said controller unit via said interface step;
• a second obtaining step of obtaining the command signal which is outputted from said controller unit via said interface step;
• an image sync signal generating step of generating an image data sync signal to said controller unit in accordance with said command signal;
• a holding step of holding said obtained image data into an image memory;
• an image processing step of performing a predetermined image process to said held image data;
• a deciding step of deciding contents of said predetermined image process;
• a display step of displaying said image-processed image data;
• a system control step of controlling a whole system of said image output apparatus;
• and
• a synchronizing step of synchronizing the holding operation of said image data in said holding step, the image processing operation in said image processing step, and the displaying operation of said image data in said display step in accordance with said generated image data sync signal.