Patent ID: 8432573
Filing Date: 2013-04-30
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A printer comprising: a first USB port to which a host having an execution file of a first application program is to be connected; memory having an ordinary storage region; a management table arranged outside the ordinary storage region of the memory; a command-purpose memory region being a portion of the ordinary storage region in the memory assigned by the management table and in which a command file capable of including print data created by the first application program is to be written; a printing device configured to execute printing based on the print data in the command file written in the command-purpose memory region; a second USB port capable of receiving one of a USB flash drive and a dedicated USB flash drive plugged therein; and a processor configured to control the printing device, the memory and one of the USB flash drive and the dedicated USB flash drive plugged in the second USB port, wherein the dedicated USB flash drive comprises: a USB ordinary storage region; and an application-purpose USB memory region being a portion of the USB ordinary storage region assigned thereto, and storing an execution file of a second application program therein, wherein the processor executes: when the dedicated USB flash drive is not plugged in the second USB port, while using the management table, a process of: (i) managing an access to the ordinary storage region in the memory with respect to the host connected to the first USB port; and when the execution file of the first application program is executed by the host, processes of: (a) renewing the command file in the command-purpose memory region with a command file received from the host; and (b) analyzing the command file currently renewed and taking out the print data therefrom, wherein the processor further executes, when the dedicated USB flash drive is plugged in the second USB port, a process of: (i′) making the USB ordinary storage region in the dedicated USB flash drive recognized as a removable drive while managing an access to the USB ordinary storage region in the dedicated USB flash drive, with respect to the host connected to the first USB port, and wherein the processor further executes, when the execution file of the second application program is read and executed by the host, processes of: (a′) renewing the command file in the command-purpose memory region with a command file received from the host; (b′) analyzing the command file currently renewed and taking out the print data therefrom; and (c′) making the printing device execute printing based on the print data currently taken out.