Patent US5402528A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5402528A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reconfigurable printer
Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC
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Filing: 1989-12-07
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Granted: 1995-03-28
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Expires: 2009-12-07
Abstract
Abstract A printer having a number of optional features or operations is reconfigurable by software alone. The printer includes an EPROM that stores the software routines defining all of the optional operations of the printer. An EEPROM stores a jump table identifying each optional operation software routine as enabled or disabled. The information stored in the jump table for each enabled routine identifies the location at which the routine is stored in the EPROM; whereas, the information stored for each disabled routine includes a disable flag. The printer includes an interface which allows a new jump table to be downloaded from a personal computer into the EEPROM of the printer to enable disabled routines, to disable enabled routines, and to replace disabled routines by downloading a new routine into a RAM to thereby reconfigure the printer. A master jump table and sub-jump tables are provided to increase the efficiency of the reconfiguring operation. Further, several checks are implemented by the printer and the personal computer during the reconfiguration operation to insure that only the correct printer is reconfigured and that information is stored at the proper location in the printer.
Inventors
- 👤 Amy S. Christopher
- 👤 Donald A. Morrison
- 👤 Richard D. Wirrig
- 👤 Ruth A. Luff
- 👤 Mark W. Roth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 11:44
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06F; G06F8/00; G06F8/60; G06K2215/00; G06K2215/0002; G06K2215/0005; G06K2215/0011
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
A reconfigurable printer for printing on a web of record members, said reconfigurable printer being interfaceable with an auxiliary device for downloading information from said auxiliary device to said printer to reconfigure said printer comprising: first means for storing software routines defining optional operations of said printer at addressable locations, said first storing means being non-alterable by the downloading of information to said printer; second means for storing information identifying each optional operation software routine as enabled or disabled, said information for each enabled optional operation software routine identifying the addressable location at which the routine is located in said first memory means and said second storing means being alterable by the downloading of new information to said printer; and processing means for controlling the operations of said printer in accordance with a plurality of software routines, said processing means operating in accordance with an enabled optional operation software routine by addressing said enabled routine in said first storing means with the information stored in said routine in said second storing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
A reconfigurable printer for printing on a web of record members, said reconfigurable printer being interfaceable with an auxiliary device for downloading information from said auxiliary device to said printer to reconfigure said printer comprising: first means for storing software routines defining optional operations of said printer at addressable locations, said first storing means being non-alterable by the downloading of information to said printer; second means for storing information identifying each optional operation software routine as enabled or disabled, said information for each enabled optional operation software routine identifying the addressable location at which the routine is located in said first memory means and said second storing means being alterable by the downloading of new information to said printer; and processing means for controlling the operations of said printer in accordance with a plurality of software routines, said processing means operating in accordance with an enabled optional operation software routine by addressing said enabled routine in said first storing means with the information stored in said routine in said second storing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
92 words
A reconfigurable printer for printing on a web of record members as recited in claim 1 wherein said second storing means includes a first table in which said information identifying each optional operation as enabled or disabled is stored and said second storing means includes a plurality of subtables, each subtable being associated with at least one of said optional operations and storing information identifying each of a plurality of features of said associated optional operation as enabled or disabled to allow features of said associated optional operation to be selectively altered.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A reconfigurable printer for printing on a web of record members as recited in claim 2 wherein at least one of said subtables is associated with a plurality of optional operations.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
A reconfigurable printer for printing on a web of record members as recited in claim 2 wherein the software routine stored in said first memory for an optional operation having an associated subtable, utilizes the subtable to determine whether a feature of the optional operation is enabled and if said feature is enabled said subtable identifies the addressable location at which the software routine defining the feature is stored.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
A reconfigurable printer as recited in claim 2 further including a display for providing a message to an user; and input means operable by said user for selecting an optional operation, one of said optional operations allowing said user to select a language in which said message is to be displayed and a subtable associated with said one optional operation storing information identifying each of a plurality of languages as enabled or disabled.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
99 words
A reconfigurable printer as recited in claim 2 further including input means operable by said user for selecting an optional operation; a data memory storing a plurality of data; and means for interfacing with said processing means and an auxiliary device to allow the transferring of information between said printer and said auxiliary device, one of said optional operations allowing a user to transfer information between said printer and said auxiliary device and a subtable associated with said one optional operation storing information identifying a transfer operation for particular data stored in said data memory as enabled or disabled.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A reconfigurable printer as recited in claim 6 wherein said auxiliary device is a host computer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A reconfigurable printer as recited in claim 6 wherein said auxiliary device is a second reconfigurable printer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
A reconfigurable printer for printing on a web of record members as recited in claim 1 wherein said first storing means includes a read only memory having a plurality of numbered pages and said information stored in said second storing means for enabled optional operation software routines including the page number and address at which each of said enabled routines is located.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
A reconfigurable printer for printing on a web of record members as recited in claim 9 wherein the information stored in said second storing means for disabled optional operation software routines includes a first flag and a second flag in place of the page number and address at which each of said disabled routines is located.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
201 words
A reconfigurable printer for printing on a web of record members, said reconfigurable printer being interfaceable with an auxiliary device for downloading information from said auxiliary device to said printer to reconfigure said printer comprising: input means operable by a user for selecting one of a plurality of optional operations of said printer; first means for storing software routines defining optional operations of said printer at addressable locations, said first storing means being non-alterable by the downloading of information to said printer; second means for storing information identifying each optional operation software routine as enabled or disabled, said information for each enabled optional operation software routine identifying the addressable location at which the routine is located in said first storage memory and said second storing means being alterable by the downloading of new information to said printer; and processing means responsive to said input means for controlling the operation of said printer in accordance with a plurality of software routines, said processing means operating in accordance with a memory handler routine to access a selected, optional operation software routine stored in said first storing means by accessing the information stored in said second storing means for said optional operation software routine.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
201 words
A reconfigurable printer for printing on a web of record members, said reconfigurable printer being interfaceable with an auxiliary device for downloading information from said auxiliary device to said printer to reconfigure said printer comprising: input means operable by a user for selecting one of a plurality of optional operations of said printer; first means for storing software routines defining optional operations of said printer at addressable locations, said first storing means being non-alterable by the downloading of information to said printer; second means for storing information identifying each optional operation software routine as enabled or disabled, said information for each enabled optional operation software routine identifying the addressable location at which the routine is located in said first storage memory and said second storing means being alterable by the downloading of new information to said printer; and processing means responsive to said input means for controlling the operation of said printer in accordance with a plurality of software routines, said processing means operating in accordance with a memory handler routine to access a selected, optional operation software routine stored in said first storing means by accessing the information stored in said second storing means for said optional operation software routine.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
A reconfigurable printer for printing on a web of record members as recited in claim 11 wherein said first storing means is nonalterable by software alone and said second storing means is alterable by software alone.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
59 words
A reconfigurable printer for printing on a web of record members as recited in claim 12 wherein said first storing means includes an EPROM having numbered pages and said information stored in said second storing means for an enabled optional operation software routine includes the page number and address of the EPROM location at which said routine is stored.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
A reconfigurable printer for printing on a web of record members as recited in claim 12 wherein said memory handler routine is stored in a memory that is non-alterable by the downloading of information to said printer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
A reconfigurable printer for printing on a web of record members as recited in claim 12 wherein said first storing means includes an EPROM and said second storing means includes an EEPROM.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
61 words
A reconfigurable printer for printing on a web of record members as recited in claim 11 wherein said first storing means includes a read only memory having a plurality of numbered pages and said information stored in said second storing means for an enabled optional operation software routine includes the page number and address at which said enabled routine is located.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
55 words
A reconfigurable printer for printing on a web of record members as recited in claim 16 wherein the information stored in said second storing means for a disabled optional operation software routine includes a first flag and a second flag in place of the page number and address at which said disabled routine is located.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
A reconfigurable printer for printing on a web of record members as recited in claim 11 wherein the information stored in said second storing means for each disabled routine includes a disable flag to prevent the accessing of each of said disabled routines by said processing means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
185 words
A reconfigurable printer for printing on a web of record members, said printer being interfaceable with a host processing means for downloading new information to said printer comprising: input means operable by an user for selecting one of a plurality of optional operations of said printer; first means for storing software routines defining optional operations of said printer at addressable locations; second means for storing information identifying each optional operation software routine as enabled or disabled, said information for each enabled optional operation software routine identifying the addressable location at which the routine is located in said first storing means; printer processing means responsive to said input means for controlling the operation of said printer in accordance with selected optional operation routines stored in said first storing means and identified as enabled in said second storing means; and means for interfacing with said printer processing means to allow the downloading of new information from said host processing means to said printer for storage in said second storing means to enable a disabled optional operation software routine and to disable an enabled optional operation software routine.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
185 words
A reconfigurable printer for printing on a web of record members, said printer being interfaceable with a host processing means for downloading new information to said printer comprising: input means operable by an user for selecting one of a plurality of optional operations of said printer; first means for storing software routines defining optional operations of said printer at addressable locations; second means for storing information identifying each optional operation software routine as enabled or disabled, said information for each enabled optional operation software routine identifying the addressable location at which the routine is located in said first storing means; printer processing means responsive to said input means for controlling the operation of said printer in accordance with selected optional operation routines stored in said first storing means and identified as enabled in said second storing means; and means for interfacing with said printer processing means to allow the downloading of new information from said host processing means to said printer for storage in said second storing means to enable a disabled optional operation software routine and to disable an enabled optional operation software routine.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
46 words
A reconfigurable printer for printing on a web of record members as recited in claim 19 wherein said first storing means is non-alterable by the downloading of information to said printer and said second storing means is alterable by the downloading of information to said printer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
82 words
A reconfigurable printer as recited in claim 19 further including a memory for storing a plurality of information including new information downloaded from said host processing means and representing a new optional operation software routine, said printer processing means storing said new optional operation software routine at an addressable location in said memory wherein said second storing means stores information identifying the location of said new optional operation software routine in said memory if said new optional operation software routine is enabled.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
45 words
A reconfigurable printer as recited in claim 21 further including means for receiving new information prier to storage of said new information and means for determining whether said host processing means is attempting to store said new information in an improper location of said printer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
39 words
A reconfigurable printer as recited in claim 21 wherein at least one of said second storing means and said memory is expandable and said printer includes means for automatically allocating portions of said memory for a plurality of buffers.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
A reconfigurable printer as recited in claim 23 wherein one of the said buffers forms a data buffer.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
A reconfigurable printer as recited in claim 23 wherein one of said buffers forms a format buffer.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
A reconfigurable printer as recited in claim 23 wherein one of said buffers forms an image buffer.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
73 words
A reconfigurable printer as recited in claim 19 wherein said printer includes a data memory and operates in part in accordance with base software, said printer having a personality defined at least in part by the size of said data memory and the type of said base software and including means for transferring to said host processing means information representing the personality of said printer prior to the downloading of said new information.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
A reconfigurable printer as recited in claim 27 wherein said personality is further defined by the size of said first storing means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
43 words
A reconfigurable printer as recited in claim 27 wherein said printer has a configuration version associated therewith, said configuration version being changeable when new information is downloaded to said printer and said personality is further defined by the configuration version of said printer.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
56 words
A reconfigurable printer as recited in claim 27 wherein said host processing means includes means for storing data representing the expected personality of said printer and means for comparing said expected personality data and said transferred information representing the personality of said printer to determine whether said expected personality data and said transferred personality information match.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
29 words
A reconfigurable printer as recited in claim 30 wherein said host processing means includes means for indicating that said transferred personality information does not match said expected personality data.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
18 words
A reconfigurable printer as recited in claim 31 wherein said indicating means includes means for displaying a message.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
59 words
A reconfigurable printer for printing on a web of record members as recited in claim 19 wherein said first storing means includes an EPROM having numbered pages and said information stored in said second storing means for an enabled optional operation software routine includes the page number and address of the EPROM location at which said routine is stored.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
62 words
A reconfigurable printer for printing on a web of record members as recited in claim 19 wherein said first storing means includes a read only memory having a plurality of numbered pages and said information stored in said second storing means for enabled optional operation software routines includes the page number and address at which each of said enabled routines is located.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
56 words
A reconfigurable printer for printing on a web of record members as recited in claim 34 wherein the information stored in said second storing means for disabled optional operation software routine includes a first flag and a second flag in place of the page number and address at which each of said disabled routines is located.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
67 words
A reconfigurable printer for printing on a web of record members as recited in claim 19 further including a third means alterable by software alone for storing at addressable locations software routines downloaded through said interfacing means to replace a disabled optional operation software routine, said second storing means storing information identifying the addressable location at which the downloaded routine is located in said third storage means.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
75 words
A reconfigurable printer for printing on a web of record members as recited in claim 19 wherein the information stored in said second storing means for each disabled routines includes a disable flag and further including means for controlling said processing means to respond to the selection of an optional operation software routine for which a disable flag is stored in said second storing means without accessing the routine stored in said first storing means.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
35 words
A reconfigurable printer for printing on a web of record members as recited in claim 37 wherein said control means includes a memory handler routine stored in a memory that is nonalterable by software alone.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
27 words
A reconfigurable for printing on a web of record members as recited in claim 38 wherein said memory for storing said memory handler routine is an EPROM.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-03-27 | 1998-09-26 | 1999-03-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-03-27 | 2002-09-26 | 2003-03-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-03-27 | 2006-09-26 | 2007-03-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |