US 5,848,318 A · Status responding device for supplying status information responsive to status transmission request

Abstract

Even when a printer is in a condition incapable of receiving commands from a personal computer (PC), a status responding mode can be switched to ON in accordance with a request from the PC, thereby allowing detailed status information of the printer to be transmitted to the PC. When a printer is in an error condition when it is powered or reset, the printer rejects reception of data on a data line. Therefore, the mode of the printer cannot be changed with a set command transmitted from the PC to the printer through the data line. In view of the fact that the printer is capable of receiving signals on control lines even if the printer is in the error condition, the PC outputs a status transmission request through the select-in line for a predetermined number of times, so that a status transmission request interrupt process can be executed and then a parameter DEVICE is set to ON. Thereafter, the PC is capable of gathering detailed status information of the printer by merely transmitting the status transmission request to the printer.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A status responding device provided in a data processing device that is connectable to an external device, said status responding device comprising:

counting means for counting a number of times a status transmission request is received from the external device and for outputting a count-up signal when the status transmission request is received for a predetermined number of times;
mode setting means for setting a status responding mode to ON in response to the count-up signal;
status information producing means for producing status information on a status of the data processing device after the status responding mode is set to ON;
and
outputting means for outputting the status information to the external device in response to the status transmission request from the external device.

2 more elements

A status responding device provided in a data processing device that is connectable to an external device through control lines and data lines, said status responding device comprising:

status information producing means for producing status information on a status of the data processing device;
status information storing means for storing the status information produced by said status information producing means;
counting means for counting a number of times a status transmission request is received form the external device through the control lines and for outputting a count-up signal when the status transmission request is received for a predetermined number of times;
and
outputting means for outputting the status information stored in said status information storing means to said external device through at least one of the control lines and the data lines,
wherein said status information producing means produces the status information when the count-up signal is output from said counting means, whereupon said outputting means outputs the status information to said external device in response to a subsequently received status transmission request.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Status responding device for supplying status information responsive to status transmission request

Life of this patent

Status responding device for supplying status information responsive to status transmission request

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20