Seiko Epson Corporation

Seiko Epson Corporaition

Keigo Ejiri

Toshiaki Koike

Noboru Otsuki

Yukiharu Horiuchi

Kenichi Murahashi

In a system of a data processing apparatus coupled to a printer, the apparatus sends a status information transmission request to the printer and, in response, receives status information from the printer. The status information includes ink storage identification information written in a memory contained in an ink storage, device identification information identifying the printer in which the ink storage is installed, and ink usage amount information for use by the printer in calculating a remaining ink amount.

Printer and printing system

In a system of a data processing apparatus coupled to a printer, the apparatus sends a status information transmission request to the printer and, in response, receives status information from the printer. The status information includes cartridge identification information written in a memory device contained in a cartridge, device identification information identifying the printer in which the cartridge is installed, and ink usage amount information for use by the printer in calculating an ink usage amount.

Control of a printer involves reading a cartridge identification number from a memory in a cartridge and storing such number, generating status information including such number and may further include a calculated ink usage amount, and sending the status information to a data processing apparatus, which may be a server. In some embodiments, the ink usage amount is calculated as a number of discharged ink shots. The server saves the status information. This or another upstream server can reliably determine the number of ink shots used by the printer only for printing from this status information. Such control is embodied in a program stored on a non-transitory controller-readable medium, which program is executed by a controller in the printer.

A method of controlling a printer involves reading a cartridge identification number from a memory in a cartridge and storing such number, generating status information including such number and may further include a calculated ink usage amount, and sending the status information to a data processing apparatus, which may be a server. In some embodiments, the ink usage amount is calculated as a number of discharged ink shots. The server saves the status information. This or another upstream server can reliably determine the number of ink shots used by the printer only for printing from this status information.

A printing system enables easily recognizing the status of a printing process. The host computerhas a print job transmission unit that sends print jobs to a printer, a notification pattern setting unit that sets a notification pattern, and a notification control command transmission unit that sends a notification control command asynchronously to the print job transmission unit. The printerhas a print job reception unit that receives the print jobs, a printing unit, a print job detection unit that detects print job commands, for example, a notification control command reception unit that receives the notification control commands, a storage unitthat stores the received notification control commands, a first notification evaluation unit that, when triggered by a detection by the print job detection unit, determines if there is a notification control command containing the same print job ID as the print job, and a notification unit that outputs a user notification based on the notification pattern contained in the notification control command when there is a notification control command.

Printing system, printer, host computer, printing system control method, and program

A system in which a recording device is connected to another device can test the functionality of the recording device and test the functionality of the system including the recording device at the same time. A recording systemcauses the printerto execute a test relating to the functionality of the printerin response to operation of a test switch, store the test switchoperation count, and return the stored test switchoperation count in response to a request from the host computer. The host computerrequests the printerto send the test switchoperation count, and runs a test related to the recording systembased on the operation count returned by the printerin response to the request.

Recording system and control method for a recording system

A printercalculates the amount of ink used only for printing as a number of discharged ink shots, and sends this shot count with the printer serial number and ink cartridge ID to a server. The serversaves the shot count, printer serial number, ink cartridge ID, and an error correction code as status information. The serveror server upstream from the servercan reliably determine the number of ink shots used by the printeronly for printing from this status information.

A printer and control method to control the operation of a printer to assure consistent print quality regardless of the paper length. A paper transportation control unitand ASF control unitdrive a paper feed rollerand main paper transportation rollerfor feeding a sheet S of print paper from the ASFupon a paper transportation path and for advancing the sheet S of print paper on the paper transportation path in a first direction until the sheet S of print paper is discharged from the ASF, and then reversing the direction of travel of the sheet of paper S on the paper transportation path to convey the sheet S upon a reverse paper transportation pathdisposed below the ASFwhile positioning the sheet S to the print headfor printing by the print head

Printer and printer control method

A peripheral device and peripheral device control method assure the immediacy of status information while opening the greatest possible bandwidth when communicating status information using a USB interface enabling simultaneous access to a plurality of peripheral devices. A first transfer function enables sending status information to a peripheral device such as a printer using the USB bulk transfer type, and a second transfer function enables sending status information using the USB interrupt transfer type. Status information sent in response to a host request where the host can control the timing of status information transfers is sent by bulk transfer using the first transfer function, thereby assuring bandwidth for bulk transfers. Autonomous status information communicated at a timing unknown to the host is communicated by the second transfer function using the short transfer period interrupt transfer type, thereby assuring the immediate communication of the status information.

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Nagano-ken, Japan

Keigo Ejiri