Printer controller for controlling the priorities of tasks in the printer system

A printer controller comprising:

• a first processor for exclusively controlling a print engine;
• a second processor for exclusively controlling a communication task, a language control task, and a print control task according to priorities assigned to these tasks;
• and
• a memory for storing programs to be executed by said second processor;
• said programs including:
• a printing task for controlling said print engine;
• a communication task for controlling communication with host computers, this task being assigned a lower priority than said printing task;
• and
• a language task for generating image data, this task being assigned a lower priority than said communication task, and
• wherein said second processor executes said communication task instead of said language task currently being executed according to said priority if a communication interrupt is received during the execution of said language task, and executes said printing task instead of either one of said communication task and said language task currently being executed according to said priority if a image data transfer request interrupt occurs during the execution of either one of said communication task and said language task.

A printer comprising:

• a controller for exclusively controlling a communication control means, a language control means, and a print control means-according to priorities assigned to these control means;
• a print engine for printing on a print recording medium;
• and
• a communication interface connected to a network such that communication with host computers is possible;
• wherein said communication control means controls communication with said host computers via said communication interface;
• wherein said language control means generates image data;
• wherein said print control means controls the print engine;
• wherein said print control means is assigned a higher priority than both said communication control means and said language control means;
• said communication control means is assigned a higher priority than said language control means;
• and
• wherein said controller executes said communication control means instead of said language control means currently being executed if a communication interrupt occurs during the execution of said language control means, and executes said print control means instead of either one of said communication control means and said language control means currently being executed if a image data transfer request interrupt occurs during the execution of either one of said communication control means and said language control means.