Computer system having improved idling operation

A printer to be connected to a host system through an interface, comprising:

• a unit for transporting a print form;
• a unit arranged to face the form and having a mechanical operation unit for printing on the form based on print data transferred from the host system;
• first storing means for storing a reference interval;
• first measuring means for measuring an elapsed time from a time of transfer of a last data that has been transferred most recently from said host system to said peripheral equipment to a present time;
• means for comparing said elapsed time with said reference interval and for generating a comparison result;
• means for controlling a stop of said mechanical operation unit of said peripheral equipment in accordance with the comparison result;
• second measuring means for measuring a data transfer interval between each time of transfer of a data and a time of transfer of a following data;
• second storing means for storing n measurements of said data transfer interval by a first-in first-out fashion, where said n is an integer greater than or equal to two;
• means for obtaining a new reference interval by processing said n measurements of said data transfer interval in accordance with a predetermined rule;
• and
• means for updating said reference interval with said new reference interval and for storing said new reference interval in said first storing means.

A method for controlling a computer system including a host system, a peripheral equipment having a mechanical operation unit and an interface for connecting said host system to said peripheral equipment, comprising the steps of:

• a first measuring step of measuring an elapsed time from a time of transfer of a last data that has been transferred most recently from said host system to said peripheral equipment to a present time;
• a step of setting a reference interval;
• a step of comparing said elapsed time with said reference interval and generating a comparison result;
• a step of controlling a stop of said mechanical operation unit of said peripheral equipment in accordance with said comparison result;
• a second measuring step of measuring a data transfer interval between a time of transfer of said last data and a time of transfer of a data that follows said last data;
• storing n measurements of said data transfer interval by a first-in first-out fashion, where said n is an integer greater than or equal to two;
• a step of obtaining a new reference interval by processing said n measurements of said data transfer interval in accordance with a predetermined rule;
• and
• updating said reference interval with said new reference interval and storing said new reference interval.

A computer system having improved idling operation comprising:

• a host system;
• a peripheral equipment having a mechanical operation unit;
• an interface connecting said host system and said peripheral equipment;
• means for storing a predetermined reference interval which is given previously;
• first measuring means for measuring an elapsed time from a last data that has been transferred most recently from said host system to said peripheral equipment to a present time;
• means for comparing said elapsed time with said reference interval;
• means for controlling start and stop of said mechanical operation unit of said peripheral equipment in accordance with a result of said means for comparing;
• second measuring means for measuring a first interval between at least a first data and a second data transferred before said present time from said host system to said peripheral equipment;
• and
• means for obtaining a new reference interval by processing said first interval with a predetermined rule and updating said reference interval with said new reference interval.