NETWORK DEVICE, CIRCUIT BOARD METHOD OF INTERFACE, NETWORK PRINTER AND NETWORK EXPANSION BOARD

摘要

PURPOSE: To provide a method and a device for connecting a printer to a LAN. CONSTITUTION: In regard to an interactive network substrate, a bidirectional printer interface sends the print data to a printer and receives the printer state data from the printer. At the same time, a LAN interface provided on the network substrate receives the print job information and a printer state request from the LAN and sends the printer state information to the LAN. A ROM provided on the network substrate stores an application program which receives the print job information and sends the print data to the printer and also a state control program which receives the printer state request and the printer state data from the LAN and the printer respectively, sends the printer state information to the LAN, and receives the control information from the LAN to send it to the printer. Then a processor provided on the network substrate carries out both application program and state control program.