Printer system, printer, computer with printer, printing control method, and medium for recording printing control program

An image forming apparatus to communicate with a processing apparatus comprising:

• a one-way-communication control unit for establishing communication in a one-way mode with a transmission channel of the processing apparatus;
• and
• a two-way-communication control unit for establishing communication in a two-way mode with the transmission channel and a reception channel of the processing apparatus,
• the image forming apparatus switching from the one-way mode to the two-way mode in response to a switching signal even if the image forming apparatus is offline to accept no signals from the processing apparatus, the switching signal being sent from the processing apparatus to the image forming apparatus through a switching signal line and being a signal in response to which the image forming apparatus can return a response to the processing apparatus through the reception channel,
• wherein the image forming apparatus switches the one-way mode to a pseudo two-way mode after returning a response to the switching signal, the pseudo two-way mode being a temporary online state in which the image forming apparatus can receive commands from the processing apparatus;
• the processing apparatus sends a command to the image forming apparatus to start two-way communication from the pseudo two-way mode if so required;
• and
• the processing apparatus sends a command other than the command to start two-way communication to the image forming apparatus if the image forming apparatus must be returned to the one-way mode from the pseudo two-way mode without starting two-way communication.

A controller for an image forming apparatus to communicate with a processing apparatus, comprising:

• a one-way-communication control unit for establishing communication in a one-way mode with a transmission channel of the processing apparatus;
• and
• a two-way-communication control unit for establishing communication in a two-way mode with the transmission channel and a reception channel of the processing apparatus,
• the controller switching from the one-way mode to the two-way mode in response to a switching signal even if the image forming apparatus is offline to accept no signals from the processing apparatus, the switching signal being sent from the processing apparatus to the image forming apparatus through a switching signal line and being a signal in response to which the image forming apparatus can return a response to the processing apparatus through the reception channel,
• wherein the controller switches the one-way mode to a pseudo two-way mode after returning a response to the switching signal, the pseudo two-way mode being a temporary online state in which the image forming apparatus can receive commands from the processing apparatus;
• the processing apparatus sends a command to the image forming apparatus to start two-way communication from the pseudo two-way mode if so required;
• and
• the processing apparatus sends a command other than the command to start two-way communication to the image forming apparatus if the image forming apparatus must be returned to the one-way mode from the pseudo two-way mode without starting two-way communication.

An image forming apparatus system having an image forming apparatus and a processing apparatus to communicate with the image forming apparatus, the processing apparatus comprising:

• a mode setting unit for setting one of a one-way mode to establish communication between the processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus through a transmission channel and a two-way mode to establish communication between the processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus through the transmission channel and a reception channel;
• a one-way-communication control unit for sending data to the image forming apparatus and if the mode setting unit sets the one-way mode and if the image forming apparatus is online;
• and
• a two-way-communication control unit for sending, if the mode setting unit sets the two-way mode, a switching signal to the image forming apparatus through a switching signal line irrespective of whether or not the image forming apparatus is online, the switching signal being used for switching the image forming apparatus to the two-way mode and being a signal in response to which the image forming apparatus can return a response to the processing apparatus through the reception channel,
• upon receiving a response to the switching signal, the two-way-communication control unit issuing a command to switch the image forming apparatus from the one-way mode to the two-way mode, the image forming apparatus comprising:
• a one-way-communication control unit for communicating with the processing apparatus through the transmission channel in the one-way mode;
• and
• a two-way-communication control unit for communicating with the processing apparatus through the transmission channel and the reception channel in the two-way mode,
• the image forming apparatus switching from the one-way mode to the two-way mode upon receiving the switching signal from the processing apparatus through the switching signal line, even if the image forming apparatus is offline, to accept no signals from the processing apparatus,
• wherein the image forming apparatus is switched from the one-way mode to a pseudo two-way mode after a response to the switching signal is returned, the pseudo two-way mode being a temporary online state in which the image forming apparatus can receive commands from the processing apparatus;
• the two-way-communication control unit issues a command to start two-way communication from the pseudo two-way mode if so required;
• and
• the two-way-communication control unit issues a command other than the command to start two-way communication if the image forming apparatus must be returned to the one-way mode from the pseudo two-way mode without starting two-way communication.

An image forming apparatus control method for a processing apparatus that communicates with an image forming apparatus, comprising the steps of:

• setting the processing apparatus to one of a one-way mode and a two-way mode;
• sending data from the processing apparatus to the image forming apparatus if the processing apparatus is set to the one-way mode and if the image forming apparatus is online;
• sending, if the processing apparatus is set to the two-way mode, a switching signal from the processing apparatus to the image forming apparatus through a switching signal line irrespective of whether or not the image forming apparatus is online, the switching signal being used for switching the image forming apparatus to the two-way mode and being a signal in response to which the image forming apparatus can return a response to the processing apparatus through a reception channel,
• upon receiving, at the processing apparatus, a response to the switching signal, issuing a command from the processing apparatus to switch the image forming apparatus from the one-way mode to the two-way mode;
• and
• preparing the image forming apparatus for switching from the one-way mode to the two-way mode in response to the switching signal even if the image forming apparatus is offline to accept no signals from the processing apparatus,
• switching the image forming apparatus from the one-way mode to a pseudo two-way mode after the image forming apparatus returns a response to the switching signal, the pseudo two-way mode being a temporary online state in which the image forming apparatus can receive commands from the processing apparatus;
• sending a command to the image forming apparatus to start two-way communication from the pseudo two-way mode if so required;
• and
• sending a command other than the command to start two-way communication to the image forming apparatus if the image forming apparatus must be returned to the one-way mode from the pseudo two-way mode without starting two-way communication.

A medium for recording an image forming apparatus control program for a processing apparatus that communicates with an image forming apparatus, the program comprising the steps of:

• setting the processing apparatus to one of a one-way mode and a two-way mode;
• sending data from the processing apparatus to the image forming apparatus if the processing apparatus is set to the one-way mode and if the image forming apparatus is online;
• sending, if the processing apparatus is set to the two-way mode, a switching signal from the processing apparatus to the image forming apparatus through a switching signal line irrespective of whether or not the image forming apparatus is online, the switching signal being used for switching the image forming apparatus to the two-way mode and being a signal in response to which the image forming apparatus can return a response to the processing apparatus through a reception channel,
• upon receiving, at the processing apparatus, a response to the switching signal, issuing a command from the processing apparatus to switch the image forming apparatus from the one-way mode to the two-way mode;
• and
• preparing the image forming apparatus for switching from the one-way mode to the two-way mode in response to the switching signal, even if the image forming apparatus is offline, to accept no signals from the processing apparatus,
• wherein the program switches the image forming apparatus from the one-way mode to a pseudo two-way mode after the image forming apparatus returns a response to the switching signal, the pseudo two-way mode being a temporary online state in which the image forming apparatus can receive commands from the processing apparatus;
• sends a command to the image forming apparatus to start two-way communication from the pseudo two-way mode if so required;
• and
• sends a command other than the command to start two-way communication to the image forming apparatus if the image forming apparatus must be returned to the one-way mode from the pseudo two-way mode without starting two-way communication.