US 5,673,385 A · Method for downloading special code from a computer to a hard copy apparatus

Abstract

The present invention provides a process for loading an off-board program into a computer peripheral apparatus connected to a host computer via a standard interface port. Random access memory of the peripheral apparatus is used by the host computer. The process includes the steps of: applying power to the apparatus, initializing the apparatus to achieve minimal operational conditions, polling the interface port for a signal indicative of a host computer to peripheral apparatus program download request. Upon receiving the download request, the peripheral apparatus configures the random access memory to receive the program via the interface port, then provides a signal indicative of readiness to receive the program. The program can then be downloaded from the host, received in the random access memory, and run. If the download request is not recognized, the apparatus is fully initialized to its normal state of readiness for receiving common commands from the host computer. Substantially the same process can be used for upgrading other programmable memories of computer peripheral apparatus.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A computerized method for downloading and implementing special program code from a general purpose host computer to a hard copy apparatus, said hard copy apparatus having programmable memory means and a predetermined boot-up routine program, said hard copy apparatus further having an input and output connected to said general purpose computer via a standard interface port means, said method comprising the steps of:

storing special program code adapted for use with said hard copy apparatus in a memory device of said general purpose computer;
applying power to said hard copy apparatus;
in response to said step of applying power, initializing said hard copy apparatus by running an initial segment of said boot-up routine program to achieve minimal operational functionality;
via said boot-up routine program, said hard copy apparatus performing a check of said standard interface port means for at least one signal from said host computer indicative of a host computer request to download said special program code from said host computer to said hard copy apparatus;
and
upon receiving said request to download said special program code,
configuring said programmable memory means of said hard copy apparatus to receive said special program code across said standard interface port means;
receiving said special program code from said host computer via said standard interface port means into said programmable memory means;
and
running at least a portion of said special program code via said programmable memory means prior to continuing said boot-up routine.

7 more elements

A computerized method for transferring a printer test program adapted to be stored in a memory device of a general purpose host computer from said computer to a printer connected to said host computer via standard interface port means and running said test program prior to fully executing a predetermined printer initialization routine stored in a programmable memory means of a standard controller means of said printer, comprising the steps of:

using said printer test program to generate a download request signal output from said host computer on said standard interface port means indicative of readiness to download said printer test program;
initiating the following steps automatically by turning said printer from a power off condition to a power on condition:
running said initialization routine only to an extent necessary to achieve a predetermined minimal printer functionality level of operation, including to check said industry standard interface means for a download request signal, indicative of a request by said host computer to download said test program to said programmable memory means of said printer;
and
in the event of presence of said download request signal,
preparing said programmable memory means to receive said test program,
acknowledging said download request signal via said industry standard interface means,
downloading said test program into said random access memory means, and
running said test program;
or
in the absence of said download request signal,
continuing the remainder of said predetermined initialization routine.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method for downloading special code from a computer to a hard copy apparatus

Life of this patent

Method for downloading special code from a computer to a hard copy apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19