JP3050132B2 - Multifunctional peripheral device and storage medium - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multifunctional peripheral device having a plurality of functions as a peripheral device of an information processing apparatus, and a storage medium storing a program for operating the multifunctional peripheral device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, facsimile communication using a personal computer, such as connecting a facsimile apparatus having a built-in facsimile modem to an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, has become widespread.

Normally, a facsimile apparatus has a scanner function, a printer function, a facsimile function, a timer transmission function, a polling transmission function, and the like. The facsimile apparatus is connected to the information processing apparatus so that data can be transmitted and received. By doing so, various functions such as a scanner function and a printer function provided in the facsimile apparatus can be used from the information processing apparatus side. For this reason, it is not necessary to connect a scanner or a printer to the information processing apparatus again, so that the cost of the entire system including the information processing apparatus and the multifunctional peripheral device can be reduced.

[0004]

However, in a conventional facsimile apparatus connected to an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, a facsimile apparatus is used in a state where an original is set on an original table for timer transmission or polling transmission. When an instruction to read a document using a scanner function is given by a user's operation, a problem occurs in that a document to be transmitted by facsimile set on a document table is read. Therefore, even if the specified time for facsimile transmission is reached or an instruction is given from the other party, and the original set on the original platen is to be transmitted, the original operation to be transmitted has already read the original to be transmitted. There is a case where there is no original set on the platen and facsimile transmission cannot be performed.

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above points, and uses a scanner function by a user's operation in a state where a document is set on a document table for performing timer transmission, polling transmission, and the like. When an instruction to read the original is given, the original set to the facsimile to be transmitted by facsimile is not unintentionally read, and the scanner is kept on standby while the original is on standby. It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-function peripheral device capable of utilizing functions and a storage medium storing a program for operating the multi-function peripheral device.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multifunctional peripheral device having a plurality of functions as a peripheral device of an information processing apparatus. The plurality of functions include a scanner function of reading a document set on a document table and converting the image signal into an image signal, and a facsimile function of transmitting image data to a partner terminal via a communication line. A scanner inhibiting means for inhibiting the scanner function from operating while a document is on standby on the document table to perform the operation is provided.

According to this multifunctional peripheral device, since the scanner function does not operate while the original is placed on the original platen for facsimile transmission, the image of the original is utilized by the user using the scanner function. Even if an instruction to read is sent, a document to be transmitted by facsimile is not read against the user's will. Therefore, the data of the document set on the document table can be normally transmitted to the partner terminal when the designated time for facsimile transmission is reached or when a transmission instruction is given from the partner.

[0008] As the information processing apparatus, a personal computer or the like can be considered. As the multifunctional peripheral device, a device having a built-in fax modem and having a scanner function, a printer function, a facsimile function, a copy function, a timer transmission function, a polling transmission function, and the like can be considered. Note that the connection between the information processing device and the multi-function peripheral device may be a wired method or a wireless method. The scanner prohibiting means can be realized by operating a CPU or a microprocessor based on a predetermined program.

A multi-function peripheral device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the multi-function peripheral device according to the first aspect, wherein the plurality of functions are configured to transfer data of a document set on a document table to a designated time. A timer transmission function for transmitting the data of the original set on the platen to the partner terminal in response to the operation of the partner side, and a timer transmission function for transmitting the data of the document set on the platen to the partner terminal. The scanner function is prohibited from operating while a document is put on standby on a document table to perform facsimile transmission using the function.

According to this multifunctional peripheral device, the effect of the multifunctional peripheral device described in claim 1 can be enjoyed. In particular, in the timer transmission or the polling transmission, since the standby time of the original set on the original platen is relatively long, a user is more likely to use the scanner function. When transmitting, it is useful to prohibit the operation of the scanner function.

Further, a multifunctional peripheral device according to a third aspect of the present invention is the multifunctional peripheral device according to the first or second aspect, wherein a document is made to stand by on a platen for facsimile transmission. In the meantime, there is provided an interruption means for replacing a document after performing a predetermined operation and using a scanner function.

According to this multifunctional peripheral device, the effects of the multifunctional peripheral device described in claim 1 or 2 can be enjoyed. Furthermore, even while the document is being held on the platen for facsimile transmission, there is no need to wait for the waiting time until the data of the document is transmitted to end.
The scanner function can be used, and the usability is improved. In addition, once the instruction content for facsimile transmission, such as the telephone number of the destination and the designated transmission time, is not reset, even if the scanner function is used by interruption, the instruction content must be input again. No need to do.

The predetermined operation is, for example, to use a scanner function by pressing a key switch of an operation unit provided in the information processing apparatus or the multi-function peripheral device. It refers to an operation that issues an operation signal to bring it into a state where it can be performed. The interrupt means can be realized by operating a CPU or a microprocessor based on a predetermined program.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage medium storing a program for operating a multifunctional peripheral device having a plurality of functions as a peripheral device of an information processing apparatus. The functions include a scanner function for reading a document set on a platen and converting it to an image signal, and a facsimile function for transmitting image data to a partner terminal via a communication line, in order to perform facsimile transmission. A scanner prohibition program for prohibiting the operation of the scanner function is stored while the document is on standby on the platen.

According to this storage medium, by operating the CPU of the multi-function peripheral device based on the contents, the effect of the multi-function peripheral device can be enjoyed.

The storage medium may be a ROM or a flexible disk, but is not limited thereto.
-It may be a ROM or the like.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram showing a state in which a personal computer as an example of an information processing apparatus is connected to the multifunctional peripheral device according to the present invention. The personal computer 1 is a GUI using a so-called multi-window.
And it is possible to activate a plurality of applications simultaneously. The multifunctional peripheral device (hereinafter, referred to as “MFD”) 2 has a plurality of functions such as a facsimile, a printer, an image scanner, and a copier. Note that MFD is an abbreviation for multi-function device.

The personal computer 1 comprises a processor 1
1, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a gate array 14, an interface 15, a hard disk drive 16, a flexible disk drive 17, an operation unit 18, and a display unit 19. Processor 11, ROM 12, RAM
13, gate array 14, and interface 15
Are interconnected by a bus line. The bus lines include a data bus, an address bus, and a control signal line.

The processor 11 includes a hard disk drive 16
It operates based on programs such as an OS and various application software installed in the PC and performs information processing. The ROM 12 stores various data and the like. The RAM 13 is used by various application software and stores various data. The gate array 14 includes a processor 11, a hard disk drive 16, a flexible disk drive 17,
It functions as an interface between the operation unit 18 and the display unit 19. The interface 15 controls transmission and reception of data between the personal computer 1 and the MFD 2 based on a standard such as RS-232C, for example. The hard disk device 16 stores various application software programs and the like. The flexible disk drive 17 reads the contents of the flexible disk. The operation unit 18 includes, for example, a keyboard or a mouse, and outputs an operation signal based on an operation by a user. The display unit 19 is, for example, an LCD
And displays characters and graphics under the control of the processor 11.

The MFD 2 includes a CPU 21, a RAM 22, an R
OM 23, gate array 24, interface 25,
Scanner 26, Printer 27, Modem 28, EEPROM
M29 and an operation unit 30 are provided. CPU 21,
The RAM 22, the ROM 23, the gate array 24, the interface 25, and the EEPROM 29 are mutually connected by a bus line. The bus lines include a data bus, an address bus, and a control signal line. The interface 25 is connected to the interface 15 of the personal computer 1 via a cable 31 and is connected to the modem 2.
A telephone line 32 is connected to 8.

The CPU 21 controls the entire MFD 2.
The RAM 22 stores various data. ROM23
Stores a program for controlling the MFD 2 and the like. The gate array 24 includes the CPU 21 and the scanner 2
6, functions as an interface between the printer 27, the modem 28, and the operation unit 30. The interface 25 controls transmission and reception of data between the personal computer 1 and the MFD 2 based on a standard such as RS-232C, for example. The scanner 26 reads an image of a document and converts it into an image signal. The printer 27 prints an image based on the image data. The modem 28
Upon transmission and reception of facsimile communication, a carrier wave is modulated by transmission data, and a reception carrier wave is demodulated to extract reception data. The EEPROM 29 stores registration data and flags such as so-called one-touch dials and speed dials. The operation unit 30 includes a key switch group and the like.
An operation signal according to the operation of the user is output.

The hard disk device 16 of the personal computer 1 has the modem 28 of the MFD 2 perform facsimile communication between the personal computer 1 and another facsimile device or the like. That the scanned document or image is printed, or the image signal read using the scanner 26 is taken into the personal computer 1.
MFD control application software for realizing various functions is installed. This MFD
The control application software inserts the flexible disk into the flexible disk drive 17 and performs a predetermined operation, so that the hard disk device 16
Installed in The MFD control application software includes software called a FAX driver for performing data conversion such as conversion of text data to bitmap data, software called a log manager for managing and displaying a communication history, and communication between the personal computer 1 and the MFD 2. It is composed of software called a status monitor for managing the transmission and reception of the data.

That is, the CPU 21 of the MFD 2
By operating based on the program stored in M23, while the original is placed on the original platen for performing facsimile transmission, scanner inhibiting means for inhibiting the scanner 26 from operating and facsimile transmission are performed. For this purpose, an interrupt unit that replaces the original after performing a predetermined operation while using the scanner 26 while waiting the original on the original platen is realized.

The ROM 23 of the MFD 2 realizes a storage medium storing a scanner prohibition program for prohibiting the operation of the scanner 26 while a document is put on standby on a document table for facsimile transmission. I have.

Next, the operation of the MFD 2 configured as described above will be described. First, the CPU 21 of the MFD 2
When it is determined that an image reading instruction has been given by the user operating the operation unit 18 of the personal computer 1, the CPU 21 determines whether or not a document to be timer-transmitted or polled-transmitted to the platen is on standby. to decide. When the CPU 21 determines that the document is on standby, the CPU 21 determines whether an interrupt for executing the image reading instruction is possible. In this determination, when an instruction to enable the execution of the image reading instruction is issued by the user's operation, the flag value is set to 1 and stored in the EEPROM 29 of the MFD 2, and the image reading instruction is issued by the user. This is done by checking the value of this flag when If the CPU 21 determines that an interrupt to execute the image reading instruction is possible, the CPU 21 reads the image of the document replaced with the facsimile transmission document. Note that when the user gives an instruction to perform timer transmission or polling transmission and a document is waiting on the document table, the operation of the scanner 26 is normally prohibited.

That is, the MFD 2 according to the present invention executes the image reading instruction according to the instruction of the user when the instruction to perform the timer transmission or the polling transmission is issued by the user and the original is waiting on the original platen. The scanner 26 can be operated only when an instruction to enable the interrupt is issued. Therefore, the MFD 2 according to the present invention prohibits the operation of the scanner 26 when a document is on standby on the document table, thereby allowing the user to perform facsimile transmission with the document set on the document table. Even when the image reading instruction is given, the image of the document to be facsimile-transmitted is erroneously read, so the document to be facsimile-transmitted disappears from the platen, and the facsimile transmission cannot be performed normally. Can be avoided. Further, if the user has given an instruction to enable interruption of the execution of the image reading instruction, the scanner 28 can be operated to read the image of the desired original even when the original is on standby in the original platen. Yes, it is easy to use.

Next, the procedure of the image reading process of the MFD 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the operation of the scanner 26 is prohibited while a document to be subjected to facsimile transmission is on standby on a document table provided in the scanner 26 of the multifunction peripheral device 2.

First, the CPU 21 of the MFD 2 determines whether or not the user operates the operation unit 18 of the personal computer 1 to give an image reading instruction (S).
1). When the CPU 21 determines that an image reading instruction has been issued (S1: YES), the CPU 21 determines whether a standby document to be facsimile-transmitted is set on a document table provided in the scanner 26 of the MFD 2. (S2). The waiting document to be transmitted by facsimile is a timer transmission for transmitting the document data to the partner terminal at a designated time or a polling transmission for transmitting the document data to the partner terminal in response to the operation of the partner. Manuscript for

In step S2, when the CPU 21 determines that a document for facsimile transmission is in standby on the document table provided in the scanner 26 of the MFD 2, that is, that a document for timer transmission or polling transmission is set. (S2: YES), the CPU 21 determines whether or not an interrupt (interruption) of execution of the image reading instruction is possible, that is, whether or not the operation of the scanner 26 is possible (S3). The CPU 21 of the MFD 2 determines whether or not an interrupt for executing the image reading instruction is possible.
This is performed by checking the flag established in the EEPROM 29 of FIG. Specifically, the user operates the operation unit 18 or 30 of the personal computer 1 or the MFD 2.
The value of the flag F is set to 1 when a command is input to enable interrupting of image reading instruction execution by operating an interrupt command input unit provided in
Is stored in the EEPROM 29 of the MFD 2, and when an image reading instruction is given by the user, it is determined whether the value of the flag F is 1 or not.

In S2, when the CPU 21 determines that a document for facsimile transmission is on standby on the document table provided in the scanner 26 of the MFD 2, that is, no document for timer transmission or polling transmission is set (S2: NO). If the CPU 21 determines in step S3 that it is possible to interrupt the execution of the image reading instruction (S3: YES), it means that the scanner 26 is operable, and so transmits that fact to the personal computer 1 side. (S4).

Subsequently, the scanner 26 is operated to read an image of the document set on the document table and to be read (S5). When an image is read by an interrupt, a document to be transmitted by facsimile and a document to be read are naturally replaced.

Next, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the reading of the document set on the document table to be read has been completed (S6). If the CPU 21 determines that the reading of the image of the document to be read set on the document table has not been completed (S6: NO), the CPU 21 continues reading the image, and the CPU 21 terminates the reading of the image. If it is determined (S6: YES), this routine ends.

When the CPU 21 determines in S1 that the image reading instruction has not been issued (S1: NO),
Also in S3, when the CPU 21 determines that the interruption of the execution of the image reading instruction is not possible, that is, the operation of the scanner 26 is not possible (S3: NO), and the fact is transmitted to the personal computer 1 (S7), This routine ends.

[0035]

As described above, according to the multifunctional peripheral device of the first aspect of the present invention, the scanner function does not operate while the original is on standby on the original platen for facsimile transmission. Even if the user instructs to read the image of the document using the scanner function, the document to be transmitted by facsimile is not read. Therefore, the data of the document set on the document table can be normally transmitted to the partner terminal when the designated time for facsimile transmission is reached or when a transmission instruction is given from the partner.

Further, according to the multi-function peripheral device of the invention described in claim 2, the effect of the multi-function peripheral device described in claim 1 can be enjoyed. In particular, in the timer transmission or the polling transmission, since the standby time of the original set on the original platen is relatively long, a user is more likely to use the scanner function. When transmitting, it is useful to prohibit the operation of the scanner function.

Further, according to the multifunctional peripheral device of the invention described in claim 3, the effects of the multifunctional peripheral device described in claim 1 or 2 can be enjoyed. Furthermore, even while the original is waiting on the platen for facsimile transmission, the scanner function can be used without waiting for the waiting time until the original data is transmitted to end. Can be used, and the usability is improved. In addition, once the instruction content for facsimile transmission, such as the telephone number of the destination and the designated transmission time, is not reset, even if the scanner function is used by interruption, the instruction content must be input again. No need to do.

According to the storage medium of the invention described in claim 4, the CPU of the multifunction peripheral device is based on the contents.
By operating the device, the effect of the multifunction peripheral device according to the first aspect can be enjoyed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram showing a state in which a multifunction peripheral device according to the present invention is connected to an information processing device.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an image reading process performed by the multi-function peripheral device of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Personal computer (information processing apparatus) 2 MFD (multifunctional peripheral device) 21 CPU 22 RAM 23 ROM 24 Gate array 25 Interface 26 Scanner 27 Printer 28 Modem 29 EEPROM 30 Operation part 32 Telephone line

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A multifunctional peripheral device having a plurality of functions as a peripheral device of an information processing apparatus, wherein the plurality of functions include a scanner function of reading a document set on a document table and converting the document into an image signal; A facsimile function that transmits image data to the partner terminal via a communication line, and prohibits the scanner function from operating while a document is on standby on the platen for facsimile transmission. A multifunctional peripheral device characterized by comprising means. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of functions include a timer transmission function of transmitting data of the document set on the document table to a partner terminal at a designated time, or a function of responding to the operation of the partner on the data of the document set on the document table. And a polling transmission function for transmitting to the partner terminal. The scanner function operates while the original is placed on a platen for facsimile transmission using the timer transmission function or the polling transmission function. The multi-functional peripheral device according to claim 1, wherein the multi-function peripheral device is prohibited. 3. An interrupting means for replacing a document after performing a predetermined operation and using a scanner function while the document is on standby on a platen for facsimile transmission. A multi-functional peripheral device according to claim 1. 4. A storage medium storing a program for operating a multi-function peripheral device having a plurality of functions as a peripheral device of an information processing apparatus, wherein the plurality of functions store an original set on a platen. It includes a scanner function that reads and converts it into an image signal, and a facsimile function that transmits image data to the partner terminal via a communication line.While the original is on standby on the platen for facsimile transmission, A storage medium storing a scanner prohibition program for prohibiting operation of a scanner function.