JPH0946492A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the using efficiency of a facsimile equipment which can be applied as a printer terminal of an external computer via an external personal computer without impairing the fundamental function of the facsimile equipment by storing the information received from an external terminal in a memory and then outputting the stored information by an instruction of the personal computer. SOLUTION: When a request is received from a personal computer 9, a main control part 7 receives a relevant file and stores it in a data storage part 4 as long as the file is not registered in the part 4. If the file is stored in the part 4, the part 7 reports so to the computer 9 and waits for a processing command. Then the part 7 sends the file to a communication network or a printer part 2 to print it according to the command of the computer 9 and sets a processed flag at the part 4. Under such conditions, the priority of a lower level is set for the personal computer processing against the facsimile reception processing. At the same time, no request is accepted from the computer 9 during the facsimile processing. Furthermore, the personal computer processing is discontinued and the facsimile reception processing is carried out with preference when the facsimile communication is received during the personal computer processing.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine, and more particularly to a facsimile machine which can be used by connecting to another computer such as a nearby personal computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, many offices equipped with facsimile machines are equipped with various information processing devices such as personal computers, word processors, workstations and office computers (these are generally called computers). Is used. Particularly in recent years, a LAN system is often constructed by interconnecting a large number of computers in an office or the same building, and this tendency has become a major trend of computerization of offices.

Further, many recent facsimile machines have an electrophotographic page printer called a laser printer. Since this page printer is extremely high-performance and uses plain paper, it has sufficient performance as a personal computer or word processor printer.

In response to such circumstances, some facsimile machines are connected to a personal computer or word processor (this is called an external computer), and the image data from the external computer is printed out by a page printer of the facsimile machine. And a function of transmitting and outputting image data from an external computer to a facsimile communication network.

RS-23 is used in many personal computers and word processors.
A standard interface such as 2C or Centronics is provided, and this interface is used to connect the facsimile machine and an external computer. In general,
A facsimile machine and an external computer are connected by Centronics, which is widely used as a printer interface.

[0006]

As described above, in a facsimile apparatus which can be used as a printer terminal or a facsimile terminal of an external computer, the operation of the facsimile apparatus as a single unit and the external computer interface as an additional function are provided. Harmony with function is an important point. The facsimile transmission operation and the facsimile reception operation must be given the highest priority, and this basic function must not be disturbed by the exchange with the external computer.

Therefore, even if the image data to be printed is delivered from the external computer to the facsimile machine, if there is a facsimile incoming call before the printing is completed, it is given priority, and the processing for printing the image data received by the facsimile machine is given priority. To do. In this case, the print request from the external computer has not been accepted, and at the stage when the facsimile reception process is completed, it is necessary to retransmit the image data from the external computer to the facsimile device from the beginning and redo the operation for issuing the print request. there were. In addition to the troublesome re-operation of the external computer at this time, it takes time to retransmit the image data to be printed, and efficient operation cannot be realized.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a facsimile machine which can be used as a printer terminal or a facsimile terminal of an external computer without impairing the basic facsimile function. Moreover, it is to realize a highly practical system that enables the facsimile device to be efficiently used from an external computer.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is a connection part for inputting information from an external terminal such as a personal computer, and a connection part from this connection part. A memory unit for storing information, an output unit for outputting the information stored in the memory unit, a control for holding the information after the output by the output unit, and enabling the output of the information again by an instruction from the personal computer It is characterized by comprising means and means.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a connecting unit for inputting information from an external terminal such as a personal computer, a reading unit for reading a document, a communication unit for communicating via a line, the connecting unit, and the reading unit. Section, or a memory section that stores information passing through the communication section, and whether the information stored in the memory section is information from the connection section or information from the communication section and the reading section. When the information from the communication unit and the reading unit is determined, the information is processed and then erased from the memory unit, and when the information from the connection unit is determined, the information is not erased even after the information is processed. And a control unit for performing

According to a third aspect of the invention, information is received in the memory section via the communication section or the reading section,
At this time, when the memory section is full and cannot be stored, the information obtained from the connection section is detected, the information is erased, and then stored in the memory section.

The invention according to claim 4 is such that a connection unit for inputting information from an external terminal such as a personal computer, a reading unit for reading a document, a communication unit for communicating via a line, the connection unit, and the reading unit. Section, or a memory section for storing information via the communication section and storing an information type paired with this information, and the memory section when the memory section is full at the time of storage in this memory section. And a control unit for preferentially erasing corresponding information based on the information type stored in.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a connecting unit for inputting information from an external terminal such as a personal computer, a reading unit for reading a document, a communication unit for communicating via a line, the connecting unit, and the reading unit. Section, or a memory section that stores information via the communication section and stores the stored time, and the time stored in the memory section when the memory section is full when the information is stored in this memory section. It is characterized by comprising a control unit for storing the received information in the memory unit after erasing old information.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a connection unit for inputting information from an external terminal such as a personal computer, a reading unit for reading a document, a communication unit for communicating via a line, the connection unit, and the reading unit. Section, or a memory section for storing information via the communication section, and whether the information stored in this memory section is information from the connection section, the communication section, or the reading section, When it is determined that the information is from the communication unit and the reading unit, the information is processed and then erased from the memory unit, and when it is determined that the information is from the connection unit, the information is not erased even after the information is processed. When the communication unit or the reading unit is operating, the control unit outputs a signal indicating that data cannot be transmitted from the connection unit when a connection command is received from the connection unit. And what A.

[0015]

According to the present invention, even after the information is stored in the memory portion and the information is output, the information can be retained in the memory portion and output again according to an instruction from the personal computer.

Further, the information from the reading unit / communication unit and the information from the connecting unit are identified, the information from the reading unit / communication unit is immediately erased from the memory unit, and the information from the connecting unit is retained. It is good to leave it.

When the memory section is full, information from the connection section may be detected and erased.

Further, it is preferable to preset the information type for the information and to select the information to be erased based on this when the memory section is full. Further, it is preferable that the time and the information are paired and stored in the memory unit, and when the memory unit is full, the old time information is erased.

Further, when information is transferred from the personal computer to the connection unit while the reading unit and the communication unit are operating, the personal computer is notified that data transmission cannot be performed.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a schematic structure of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The facsimile apparatus of this embodiment has an image reading unit 1 for reading an image of a document, a printer unit 2 including a laser printer for printing an image on a sheet, an operation panel unit including an input unit and a display unit as a user interface. 3, a data storage unit 4 for temporarily storing image data and other various data, a compression / decompression unit 5 for encoding and decoding image data, a network control unit 6 for controlling connection of a facsimile communication network, A general personal computer 9 which is an external computer, and a Centronics interface unit 8 connected by a Centronics cable 10, and a main control unit (microprocessor) 7 which controls these units and performs overall sequence control and various data processing. It has and. The image data read by the image reading unit 1 is transmitted to the facsimile communication network directly or via the data storage unit 4, and the image data received from the facsimile communication network is mainly used for software processing by the main control unit 7. It realizes a facsimile communication control means for printing by the printer unit 2 via the storage unit 4. Various other auxiliary functions of the facsimile apparatus and "data presence / absence survey response means", "data receiving / storing means", "data output processing means", "flag attaching means" relating to the essential parts of the present invention described in detail below. The processing functions for personal computers including “” are realized mainly by software processing by the main control unit 7.

The operation of facsimile transmission / reception may be the same as that of a general facsimile apparatus, and since this is well known, its description is omitted. Here, a detailed description will be given focusing on the relationship with the external computer (personal computer 9) which is a feature of the present invention.

The flowchart of FIG. 2 shows an outline of the processing for personal computers executed by the main control unit 7 of the facsimile apparatus. The Centronics interface unit 8 of the facsimile machine and the personal computer 9 are connected by the Centronics cable 10, and the personal computer 9 issues a predetermined request (command) to the main control unit 7 of the facsimile machine to start communication between the two.

When the main control unit 7 receives the request from the personal computer 9, the process proceeds from step 100 to 101, and waits for the personal computer 9 to send the file name of the data to be processed. When the file name is acquired, the process proceeds to step 102, and it is checked whether or not the file name is registered in a predetermined table area of the data storage unit 4. If the designated file name is registered, the notification that the designated file exists is returned to the personal computer 9 (step 103). If the designated file name is not registered, a notification indicating that there is no designated file is returned to the personal computer 9 (step 104).

When notifying that there is no designated file,
Next, it is checked whether or not an instruction to delete the processed file is issued from the personal computer 9 (step 110). If no erase command has been issued, then step 1
Proceeding to step 12, the server prompts the personal computer 9 to send out the file entity (image data to be processed) having the previously notified file name, receives the image data (hereinafter referred to as file), and stores it in the data storage unit 4. Store and register the file name in the table.

When the file sent from the personal computer 9 is stored in the data storage unit 4 together with the file name, the process proceeds from step 112 to 120 and waits for a processing command for the file. If a facsimile transmission command is given from the personal computer 9, the process proceeds from step 121 to 122, the network control unit 6 calls the designated communication partner, and the file (image data) is processed by the same process as the normal memory transmission.
To the facsimile communication network. If a print command is given from the personal computer 9, step 123 → 1
In step 24, the file (image data) is supplied to the printer unit 2 for printing.

When either the facsimile transmission process in step 122 or the printing process in step 124 is completed, the process proceeds to step 125, and the present process in the file names registered in the table of the data storage unit 4 is processed. Set the processed flag to the finished file name. This completes a series of processing for personal computers.

In step 110 described above, it is checked whether or not the erase command of the processed file is issued from the personal computer 9. If the issue of the erase command is recognized here, the process proceeds to step 111 and the above-mentioned table is displayed. The file in which the processed flag is set is deleted from the data storage unit 4 (the file name is also deleted from the table).

Further, steps 102 → 103 explained above.
Then, the file name specified by the personal computer 9 exists in the table, and the fact is notified to the personal computer 9. In this case, as will be apparent from the following description, the file (image data) having the designated name is stored in the data storage unit 4.
Is present in the. Therefore, it is not necessary to have the personal computer 9 retransmit the file, and the process proceeds to step 120 and thereafter to immediately execute the facsimile transmission process or the printing process.

The above-mentioned processing for the personal computer has a lower priority than the facsimile transmission / reception processing, and the request from the personal computer 9 cannot be accepted during the facsimile transmission processing or the facsimile reception processing. The main control unit 7 sets a predetermined signal line of the Centronics interface unit 8 to a predetermined signal state in a state where the above-mentioned processing for a personal computer cannot be executed. Prior to issuing a request to the facsimile machine, the personal computer 9 checks the state of a predetermined signal line of the Centronics cable 10 and can independently determine whether the facsimile machine can respond. Therefore,
It is possible to efficiently operate the personal computer 9 without generating a waiting time due to useless questions.

Also, when an incoming call for facsimile communication is received during execution of the above-mentioned personal computer processing, the receiving process for the incoming fax call is prioritized as shown in the flowchart of FIG. In other words, when there is an incoming fax,
First, it is checked whether or not the processing for the personal computer is being executed (step 200), and if the processing for the personal computer is being executed, the processing is appropriately interrupted (step 201). If it is not being executed, the processing immediately proceeds to step 202. . In step 202, the file in which the processed flag in the above table is set is deleted from the data storage unit 4 (the file name is also deleted from the table). As a result, the area where the processed file is stored becomes an empty area, and the empty area of the data storage unit 4 can be used freely in the receiving process of the next step 203.

In this embodiment, all processed files in the data storage unit 4 are erased immediately before the facsimile reception process, but the present invention is not limited to this method. For example, if the data in which the processed flag is set is deleted from the oldest, the probability that an external computer will retransmit the processing target data decreases. In this case, the processing time information is added when the processed flag is set to the name of the processed file.

Information is identified for each type, such as information from the reading unit, information from the communication unit, and information from the connection unit,
The erasure standard may be determined based on this. In the present invention, it is desirable not to erase the information from the connection section, which takes time for information communication from the personal computer. Further, by adding the priority to the information from the communication unit, when the communicated information is not printed for some reason, it is possible to read it from the memory unit and print it again by an instruction. It is desirable that the information from the reading unit has the lowest priority. Furthermore, the information from the connection unit can be further divided into types. This can be done by the instruction from the personal computer, and specifically, the format of the destination etc. is likely to be used many times, so be sure not to delete it and send it only once like a document. Objects have a lower priority (that is, they are deleted preferentially when deleted).

In this way, it is desirable to identify, select and erase information in order to effectively use the memory section.

[0034]

According to the facsimile machine of the present invention, the information stored in the memory section can be output any number of times in response to an instruction from the personal computer, and the communication time between the personal computer and the facsimile machine can be omitted. You can

Further, since the information from the reading unit and the communication unit is discriminated from the information from the personal computer, and it is judged whether to retain the information in the memory unit or to erase the information, an efficient process is performed. This can be done and the memory section is not wasted.

When the memory section is full, the information from the personal computer is selected, erased, and then stored in the memory section. Therefore, even when the memory section is full, there is no problem.
Can be processed.

Further, by deleting old information and then putting it in the memory section, it is possible to process information that may not be used in the future without any problem when the memory section is full.

Further, since the fact that the data cannot be transmitted is sent from the connection section, the personal computer can immediately recognize that the personal computer cannot respond, and the personal computer can shift to other work without creating unnecessary waiting time. it can. Therefore, operability and practicality are further improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart of processing for a personal computer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart of a facsimile incoming call interrupt process in the above embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 image reading unit 2 printer unit 3 operation panel unit 4 data storage unit 5 compression / expansion unit 6 network control unit 7 main control unit 8 Centronics interface unit (external computer interface unit) 9 personal computer (external computer) 10 Centronics cable ( Data transmission line)

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A connection section for inputting information from an external terminal such as a personal computer, a memory section for storing information from this connection section, an output means for outputting information stored in this memory section, and this output. And a control means for holding the information after the output by the means and enabling the information to be output again by an instruction from the personal computer. 2. A connection unit for inputting information from an external terminal such as a personal computer, a reading unit for reading a document, a communication unit for communicating via a line, and the connection unit, the reading unit, or the communication unit. A memory unit for storing information concerning the information, and whether the information stored in the memory unit is information from the connection unit, information from the communication unit or the reading unit, and the communication unit and the reading unit When it is determined that the information is from the connection unit, it is erased from the memory unit after the processing of the information is finished, and when it is determined that the information is from the connection unit, it is not erased even after the information is processed. Facsimile machine. 3. When information is received by the memory unit via a communication unit or a reading unit, and at this time the memory unit is full and cannot be stored, the information obtained from the connection unit is detected and erased. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the facsimile is stored in the memory unit after the processing. 4. A connection unit for inputting information from an external terminal such as a personal computer, a reading unit for reading a document, a communication unit for communicating via a line, and the connection unit, the reading unit, or the communication unit. A memory unit that stores information via the memory unit and stores an information type paired with this information; and an information type stored in the memory unit when the memory unit is full when stored in the memory unit. And a control unit for preferentially erasing corresponding information based on the above. 5. A connection unit for inputting information from an external terminal such as a personal computer, a reading unit for reading a document, a communication unit for communicating via a line, and the connection unit, the reading unit, or the communication unit. Along with storing the information through, a memory unit that stores the stored time, and when the memory unit is full at the time of storing in this memory unit, after the old information stored in the memory unit is deleted, A facsimile apparatus comprising: a control unit that stores received information in the memory unit. 6. A connection unit for inputting information from an external terminal such as a personal computer, a reading unit for reading a document, a communication unit for communicating via a line, the connection unit, the reading unit, or the communication unit. A memory unit for storing information via the connection unit, and whether the information stored in the memory unit is information from the connection unit,
It is determined whether the information is from the communication unit or the reading unit, and when it is determined that the information is from the communication unit or the reading unit, the information is processed and then erased from the memory unit, and the information from the connection unit is used. When it is determined that the information is processed, the control is not performed even after the information is processed, and if the connection command is received from the connection unit while the communication unit or the reading unit is operating, the data transmission cannot be performed from the connection unit. And a control unit for transmitting a signal indicating the effect.