JPH01155761A - Picture data source and sink - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To print out a picture data by other picture data printer by using a printer using state discrimination means so as to discriminate whether or not a picture data printer is usable and transferring a picture data received to a local network transmission/reception means when it is discriminated to be in the disable state. CONSTITUTION:When the picture data printer 13 is discriminated in the operation disable state based on the state signal from the printer use state discrimination means 14, the picture data transfer means 12 sends the picture data to the local network transmission reception means 15. The means 15 sends the picture data to a picture data source-sink 2 set in advance as the transfer destination. The picture data transmitter-receiver 2 receives the set picture data by the local network transmission/reception means 25 and sends it to the picture data transfer means 22. The means 22 discriminates whether the picture data printer 23 is in the usable state or not. Then in case of the usable state, the data is sent to the printer 23, where the picture data is printed out.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image data transmitting/receiving device, and more particularly to an image data transmitting/receiving device used by being connected to a local network such as a local area network or a private network.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, when the image data printing device of the image data transmitting/receiving device on the receiving side cannot be used due to a problem such as running out of paper,
The image data transmitting/receiving device on the transmitting side receives a failure response indicating that the image data printing device cannot be used from the image data transmitting/receiving device on the receiving side, notifies the user to that effect, and ends the process.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In the conventional image data transmitting/receiving device described above, image data transmitting/receiving on the receiving side! If the image data printing device of the device cannot be used due to a failure such as running out of paper, the image data transmitting and receiving device on the sending side receives a response from the image data transmitting and receiving device on the receiving side indicating that the image data printing device cannot be used. Since the process is terminated by notifying the user that the data has been removed, the user must repeatedly resend the image data until the image data printing device of the image data transmitting/receiving device on the receiving side becomes usable. First, there are disadvantages in that the user's workload increases due to retransmission of image data, and the speed of information transmission is also impaired.

In view of the above-mentioned points, an object of the present invention is to connect an image data transmitting/receiving device to a local network even when the image data printing device of the image data transmitting/receiving device on the receiving side is in an unusable state. An object of the present invention is to provide an image data transmitting/receiving device that can print image data using three image data printing devices connected to the image data transmitting/receiving device.

[Means for solving problems]

The image data transmitting/receiving device of the present invention includes: an image data receiving means for receiving transmitted image data; a printing device usage state determining means for determining whether the image data printing device is in a usable state; image data transfer means for transferring the image data received by the image data reception means to a local network transmission/reception means when the image data printing apparatus is determined to be in an unusable state by the state determination means; and the image data and local network transmitting/receiving means for transmitting the image data transferred from the transmitting means to another image data transmitting/receiving device connected to the same local network.

[Effect]

In the image data transmitting/receiving device of the present invention, the image data receiving means receives the transmitted image data, the printing device usage state determining means determines whether the image data printing device is in a usable state, and the image data transmitting means transfers the image data received by the image data receiving means to the local network transmitting/receiving means, and the local network transmitting/receiving means The image data transferred from the data transfer means is transferred to another image data transmitting/receiving device connected to the same local network.

〔Example〕

Next, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a state in which two image data transmitting and receiving apparatuses 1 and 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention are connected to each other via a local network 3. ! and 2 are connected to the image data receiving means 11 and 12 connected to the general public line, the image data transmitting means 12 and 22 connected to the image data receiving means 11 and 12, and the image data transmitting means 12 and 22. image data printing devices 13 and 23
, printing device usage state determining means 14 and 24 connected to image data transfer means 12 and 22 and image data printing devices 13 and 23, and image data transfer means 1
2 and 22 and local network transmitting/receiving means 15 and 25 connected to the local network 3, respectively.

Next, the operation of the image data transmitting/receiving apparatus of this embodiment configured as described above will be explained.

Now, the printing device usage state determination means 14 and 24 of the image data transmission/reception devices 1 and 2 determine whether the image data printing devices 13 and 23 of the self-portrait data transmission/reception bag Z1 and 2 are in a usable state or an unusable state. A status signal indicating this is transmitted to the image data transfer means 12 and 22, respectively.

Here, when image data is transmitted from an image data transmitting/receiving device (not shown) on the transmitting side to the image data transmitting/receiving device 1 via a general public line, the image data transmitting/receiving device 1 receives the image data by the image data receiving means 11. Additionally, the image data receiving means 11 transfers the image data to the image data transmitting means! Send to 2.

The image data transfer means 12 that receives the image data from the image data reception means 11 determines whether the image data printing apparatus 13 is in a usable state or an unusable state based on the status signal from the printing apparatus usage state determination means 14. The image data printing device 13 prints the image data sent from the image data transfer means 12.

When the printing of the image data by the image data printing device 13 is completed, the image data transmitting/receiving device 1 sends a normal completion notification back to the image data transmitting/receiving device on the transmitting side via a general public line using a data transmitting means (not shown) to carry out processing. finish.

On the other hand, if it is determined based on the status signal from the printing device usage state determination means 14 that the image data printing device f13 is in an unusable state due to a failure such as running out of paper, the image data transfer means 12 transfers the image data The data is sent to the local network transmitting/receiving means 15.

The local network transmitting/receiving means 15 transmits the image data via the local network 3 to the image data transmitting/receiving device 2 which is set in advance as a transfer destination.

When image data is transmitted from the image data transmitting/receiving device l via the local network 3, the image data transmitting/receiving device 2 receives the transmitted image data by the local network transmitting/receiving means 25, and transmits the transmitted image data to the local network transmitting/receiving means 25. sends the image data to the image data transfer means 22.

The image data transfer means 22, which has received the image data from the local network transmission/reception means 25, determines whether the image data printing apparatus 23 is available for use or not based on the status signal from the printing apparatus use state determination means 24. If the image data printing device 23 is in a usable state, the image data transfer means 22 transfers the image data to the image data printing device t! 23, and the image data printing device 23 prints the image data.

When the printing of the image data by the image data printing device 23 is completed, the image data transfer means 22 notifies the local network transmitting/receiving means 25 of this fact, and the local network transmitting/receiving means 25 communicates with the image data transfer source via the local network 3. An image data printing completion notification is sent back to the image data transmitting/receiving device 1.

When the image data transmitting/receiving device 1 receives the image data printing completion notification from the image data transmitting/receiving device 2 via the local network 3 through the local network transmitting/receiving means 15, the image data transmitting/receiving device 1 receives the image data printing completion notification from the image data transmitting/receiving device 2 via the local network 3. A normal completion notification is returned to the image data transmitting/receiving device on the transmitting side, and the process ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined based on the status signal from the printing device usage status determining means 24 that the image data printing device 23 is in an unusable state due to a failure such as running out of paper, this fact is transmitted to the local network transmitting/receiving means 25. from the image data transmitting/receiving device 1 via the local network 3 to the local network transmitting/receiving means 15 of the image data transmitting/receiving device 1. A failure response of the image data printing device is returned to

Note that even when the image data transmitting/receiving device 2 receives image data from the image data transmitting/receiving device on the transmitting side, the operation is similar to that when the image data transmitting/receiving device 1 described above receives image data.

Incidentally, in the above embodiment, only two image data transmitting/receiving devices are illustrated that are mutually connected via the local network 3, but it is understood that three or more image data transmitting/receiving devices may be mutually connected. Needless to say, in this case, if the image data printing device in the image data transmitting/receiving device to which the image data is transferred is also in an unusable state, the image data may be further transferred to another image data transmitting/receiving device. It can be done.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention enables, when an image data printing device cannot be used due to a failure such as running out of printing paper in the image data transmitting/receiving device on the receiving side, to be able to use another device connected to the same local network in an available state. By making it possible to print image data using the image data printing device of a certain image data transmitting/receiving device, the amount of work associated with retransmitting image data on the image data transmitting/receiving device on the sending side is reduced, and the image data transmitting/receiving device This has the effect of facilitating smooth information transmission.

In particular, the present invention can be applied in cases where frequently used image data transmitting/receiving devices are installed near the same office etc. together with other image data transmitting/receiving devices and are connected to each other via a local network. effect is demonstrated.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a state in which two image data transmitting and receiving apparatuses according to an embodiment of the present invention are interconnected via a local network. In the figure, 1.2... Image data transmitting/receiving device, 3... Local network, 11, 21... Image data receiving means, 12, 22...
- Image data transfer means, 13, 23... Image data printing device, 14, 24... Printing device usage state determination means,
15, 25...Local network transmission/reception means.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] Image data receiving means for receiving transmitted image data; Printing device usage state determining means for determining whether the image data printing device is in a usable state; and This printing device usage state determining means image data transfer means for transferring the image data received by the image data reception means to the local network transmission and reception means when it is determined that the image data printing device is in an unusable state; and from the image data transfer means. An image data transmitting/receiving device comprising: the local network transmitting/receiving means for transmitting transferred image data to another image data transmitting/receiving device connected to the same local network.