Patent ID: 6219152
Filing Date: 2001-04-17
Classification: G06F,G06K

Abstract:
A printer which is capable of bidirectional communication with a host, and which prints a visible image on a predetermined print medium based on print data from the host, comprising:a determiner, adapted to determine whether or not a memory shortage occurs in a storage area used for printing, in an internal memory of the printer during print processing based on the print data;a first transferor, adapted so that if said determiner determines that a memory shortage occurs, it transfers a command, indicating that the memory shortage has occurred, to the host so as to have the host allocate area in a memory of the host;a second transferor, adapted so that, after the host has allocated the area in the memory of the host, it transfers information, being stored in said internal memory and not being used in the print processing in progress, to the memory of the host so as to have the host keep the information until completion of the print processing; anda downloader, adapted to, after the print processing has been completed, download the information transferred by said second transferor and temporarily kept in the host, and storing the information into said internal memory of the printer.