JPH07141272A - Communication control unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To securely inform a host computer, which acquires communication data, of a data process state by informing the host computer, which accords with host name information, of generated specific report information. CONSTITUTION:An image input/output device 8 makes a communication with other computers through a communication line 9, and an image is inputted through the connected image input/output device 8 and also printed. The communication control unit 1 generates specific report information by a total control part 3 on the basis of the process state reported from the image input/output device 8 to a controller part 7 and report the specific generated report information to the computer or a user which is in accordance with the host name information acquired by the total control part 3 through a communication part 2. Therefore, the subsequent process state of the image input/output device 8 based upon communication data received from the host can be reported to the host computer or user which has obtained the communication data or a specified computer or user even after the communication with the host ends.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication control device which is connected to a total network, receives commands by communicating with an external device such as a host computer, and controls image input and printing according to the commands.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image input / output communication device of this type has a communication function, and when printing or image input is performed in accordance with data transmitted from another computer through a network, an error occurs after the data communication. If the error occurs, the communication has already been completed, so the user is not notified of the error occurrence by communication.

Further, even when a large number of people share an image input / output communication device on a network, one user is using the image input / output device, and another user has registered print or image input processing, When the registered print or image input process was started, the registered user was not notified of the start.

Further, it has a communication function, and according to the data transmitted from another computer through the network,
In an image output communication device that performs printing, if a user name or computer name is specified when communicating print data, when printing ends or an error occurs, the specified user or computer is notified of the end of printing or the occurrence of an error. There was no image output device to notify.

Further, in an image output communication apparatus which has a communication function and prints according to data transmitted from another computer through a network, in an image output communication apparatus, there is no paper, a paper jam, another printing process, and the power of the image output apparatus is turned off. If the received data cannot be printed due to reasons such as the above, notify the communicating user or computer that printing is not possible, and terminate communication, or wait for communication until printing becomes possible. I was letting.

[0006]

Therefore, the user could not know the error that occurred after the data communication. In addition, since the user is not notified of the start of printing or image input processing, a screen in which a large area is input with a low resolution, and then an area is designated while viewing the computer screen and an image is input with a high resolution is displayed. Also, in the image input work that emphasizes the interactivity with the server, the user needs to wait while looking at the screen until his / her image input process starts, which is mentally painful.

In addition, in order to transfer the print to the other party as in the case of the conventional facsimile, especially when the print data is sent from a remote place and the remote printing is performed, in order to notify the other party of the end of the printing, another It was inconvenient to communicate. Further, when a print error such as a paper jam occurs after the communication for printing ends, the print error may not be notified to the other party and may be left as it is.

Further, therefore, especially when sending print data from a remote place and performing remote printing, print processing cannot be performed, so that data cannot be communicated and communication is terminated, or it takes a long time until print processing becomes possible. There were some inconveniences, such as waiting while continuing communication.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and based on the host name information of the host computer or other host name information acquired from the communication data of the communication destination, the image input / output device By notifying the corresponding host computer or user of the processing state or the data reception state from the host, the communication with the host is released when the communication data for the image input / output device has been received from the host, and the image input / output device An object of the present invention is to provide a communication control device capable of surely notifying a data processing state or a communication data processing state to a host computer or user who has acquired communication data or a designated computer or user.

[0010]

A first communication control device according to the present invention comprises a communication means for communicating with a host computer connected to a network, and the communication means analyzes communication data with the host computer. Acquisition means for acquiring host name information of the host computer or other host name information, and image processing control means for controlling the image input / output device based on communication data with the host computer,
A host computer or a user according to the host name information acquired by the acquisition means from the communication means, the generation means generating predetermined notification information based on the processing state notified from the image input / output device to the image processing control means. It is configured to notify the predetermined notification information generated to the.

In the second communication control device according to the present invention, the predetermined notification information includes any one of the processing start state of the image input / output device, the normal processing end state of the image input / output device, and the processing error state of the image input / output device. It is configured to include or.

In the third communication control device according to the present invention, the host name information is composed of a computer name or a user name.

A fourth communication control device according to the present invention is a communication means for communicating with a host computer connected to a network, and the communication means analyzes communication data with the host computer to analyze host name information of the host computer. Alternatively, an acquisition means for acquiring other host name information, an image processing control means for controlling the image input / output device based on communication data with the host computer, and a generation for generating predetermined notification information for notifying the arrival of communication data And means for notifying the generated predetermined notification information to the host computer or the user according to the host name information acquired by the acquisition means from the communication means.

A fifth communication control device according to the present invention is a communication means for communicating with a host computer connected to a network, and this communication means analyzes communication data with the host computer to analyze host name information of the host computer or Acquisition means for acquiring other host name information, image processing control means for controlling the image input / output device based on communication data with the host computer, and whether communication data can be processed based on resource information of the image input / output device Configured to transmit the received communication data to the host computer or the user according to the host name information acquired by the acquisition means from the communication means based on the determination result of this determination means. Is.

[0015]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the generation means generates predetermined notification information based on the processing state notified from the image input / output device to the image processing control means, and the generated predetermined notification information is communicated. Since the means notifies the computer or the user according to the host name information acquired by the acquisition means, even if the communication with the host ends, the communication data indicates the subsequent processing state of the image input / output device based on the communication data received from the host. Host computer or user who obtained
Alternatively, it is possible to notify the designated computer or user destination.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, even if the communication with the host ends, the subsequent processing start state of the image input / output device based on the communication data received from the host, the normal processing end state of the image input / output device, It is possible to notify the processing error state of the image input / output device to the host computer or the user who has obtained the communication data, or the designated computer or user.

According to the third aspect of the invention, even after the communication with the host is completed, the processing state of the image input / output device thereafter based on the communication data received from the host is the name of the host computer or the user who acquired the communication data. It becomes possible to notify according to.

In the fourth invention, the communication means can notify the host computer or the user according to the host name information acquired by the acquisition means of the predetermined notification information indicating the incoming data.

In the fifth invention, a computer or a user who follows the host name information acquired by the acquisition means by the communication means on the basis of the judgment result by the judgment means on the basis of the resource information of the image input / output device whether the communication data can be processed. Since the received communication data is sent to the computer, the unprocessable communication data itself can be sent to the communication destination computer or user.

[0020]

【Example】

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the arrangement of a communication control apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 1 is a communication control device (main body) for controlling the image input / output device, 2 is a communication unit, 3 is an overall control unit (including a CPU, ROM, RAM and the like (not shown)), 4
Is a spool unit composed of RAM or the like, 5 is an image input unit,
6 is a print processing unit, 7 is a controller unit, 8 is an image input / output device such as a scanner / printer, and 9 is a communication line such as a LAN or a public line.

In the present embodiment, the image input / output device 8 communicates with another computer through the communication line 9, and the image input / output device 8 connected thereto inputs an image or prints. The image input / output device 8 does not necessarily need to be able to input and output images, and may be a normal printer or scanner.

In the communication control device thus constructed, the overall control unit 3 generates predetermined notification information based on the processing state notified from the image input / output device 8 to the controller unit 7,
The communication unit 2 notifies the computer or the user according to the host name information acquired by the overall control unit 3 of the generated predetermined notification information according to a flowchart described later, so that even if the communication with the host is terminated, The subsequent processing state of the image input / output device 8 based on the communication data received from the host, the host computer which has acquired the communication data, or a user or a designated computer,
It is possible to notify the user.

Even after the communication with the host is completed, the subsequent processing start state of the image input / output device based on the communication data received from the host, the normal processing end state of the image input / output device, the image input / output device It is possible to notify the processing error status to the host computer or the user who has acquired the communication data, the designated computer, or the user's destination.

Further, even if the communication with the host is completed, the processing state of the image input / output device thereafter based on the communication data received from the host is the name of the host computer or user who has acquired the communication data (the overall control unit 3). (Stored in memory in)).

The function of each part will be described below.

The communication unit 2 receives input data from another computer and, in the case of image input, communicates the image data to another computer. It also notifies the occurrence of an error.

The overall control unit 3 controls the overall operation of the image input / output device 8, stores print or image input data received by the communication unit 2 in the spool unit 4, and is also stored in the spool unit 4. The print data is sent to the print processing unit 6 to perform print processing, or the image input data is sent to the image input unit 5 to perform image input processing.

Further, the spooler 4 receives the user name or the computer name that sent the data from the communication unit 2
The user name or computer name and error data are sent to the communication unit 2 to notify the user or computer of the error occurrence.

The spool section 4 stores print or image input data, and stores the user name and computer name of the user who sent the data. The image input unit 5 receives the image input data, inputs the image data from the image input / output device 8 through the controller unit 7 according to the image input data, and sends the image data to the communication unit 2. When an error occurs during image processing, the overall control unit 3 is notified of the error occurrence. When the processing is normally completed, the general control unit 3 is notified of the normal completion.

The print processing unit 6 receives the print information, and according to the print information, sends the data to the image input / output device 8 through the controller unit 7 and prints it. If an error occurs during the print processing, the overall control unit 3 is notified of the error occurrence. When the processing is normally completed, the general control unit 3 is notified of the normal completion.

The controller section 7 controls the image input section 5 according to an instruction from the print processing section 6 or the image input section 5 to perform printing or image input. If an error occurs, the print processing unit 6 is notified of the error when printing is in progress, and the image input unit 5 is notified of the error when an image is being input. The image input / output device 8 prints or inputs an image.

The operation after receiving the print data will be described below.

The same applies to the case of image input data.

When print data is sent from another computer through the communication line 9, the communication unit 2 receives the print data and the user name or computer name that sent the print data to the overall control unit 3 to the overall control unit 3. send. The overall control unit 3 causes the spool unit 4 to store the print data and the user name or computer name that sent the data.

The print data includes page description language information and the like.

The overall control unit 3 determines the data to be executed from the print or image input data stored in the spool unit 4, and in the case of print data, the print processing unit 6
Send to. The print processing unit 6 receives the print information,
According to the print information, data is sent to the image input / output device 8 through the controller 7 to start the print processing.

The controller section 7 controls the image input / output device 8 according to an instruction from the print processing section 6 to perform printing.

On the other hand, when an error occurs, an error code indicating the type of error that has occurred is sent to the print processing unit 6. When an error code is sent from the controller unit 7, the print processing unit 6 sends the error code to the overall control unit 3. When the error code is sent from the print processing unit 6, the overall control unit 3 sends the user name or computer name and the error code to the communication unit 2. When the user name or the computer name and the error code are sent from the overall control unit 3, the communication unit 2 sends the error code to the user or the computer through the communication line 9 to notify the occurrence of the error.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a first data reception processing procedure in the communication control device according to the present invention. Note that (1) and (2) indicate the respective steps, and when the overall control unit 3 shown in FIG. 1 receives from the communication unit 2 the print or image input data and the user name or computer name sending the data. Corresponds to processing.

First, the user name or computer name sending the data is stored in step (1), and the data is stored in step (2).

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a first data processing error communication processing procedure in the communication control apparatus according to the present invention. Note that (1) to (5) indicate each step.

In particular, an example will be given of a process in which the overall control unit 3 determines data to be executed from print or image input data stored in the spool unit 4 and then prints or inputs an image.

In step (1), it is checked whether the data is print data. In the case of print data, the data is sent to the print processing unit 6 and printed in step (2). If it is not print data, the data is sent to the image input unit 5 in step (3) to input the image. In step (4), it is checked whether an error has occurred. If an error has occurred, the user name or computer name that sent the data in step (5) and the error code are sent to the communication unit 2 to check whether an error has occurred. Notice.

The notified computer or the computer used by the notified user may sound a buzzer or display a predetermined message on the screen.

As a result, even if an image data processing error occurs after the data communication is completed, the user can know the occurrence of the error on the host side.

In the above embodiment, when the image data processing error occurs after the data communication ends, the error is notified, but when the image data processing error ends normally, the normal end may be notified. .

As a result, the user can surely know whether an error has occurred or a normal end has occurred.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the image data processing error or the normal end is notified after the data communication is ended, but the overall control section 3 may notify the user or the computer of the start of the processing. .

As a result, the user can know the start of processing from the error or normal notification, and can start the work after the notification.

Particularly, in the image inputting work in which the interactivity is emphasized, other work can be performed until the processing is started, so that the mental distress can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, the communication control device 1 has one
Although one image input / output device is connected, a plurality of image input / output devices 8 and 11 may be connected as shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining another configuration of the communication control device shown in FIG. 1. The same parts as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In this case, an error may occur in one image input / output device, another image input / output device may act on behalf of the user, and the user may be notified together with the error notification.

As a result, even if an error occurs in one unit,
Not only can it be executed more reliably, but the user can know which image input / output device has been executed.

According to the first embodiment described above, by providing the overall control unit 3 having the memory for storing the user name or the computer name which has sent the data to the main body and the communication unit 2 in the user or the computer, the error can be prevented. If so, the user or computer can be notified of the occurrence of the error.

In the same manner, the normal termination can be notified even when the termination ends normally without any error. Therefore, the user can know the occurrence of the error or the normal end even after the data communication is completed.

Further, since the user or the computer is notified of the start of the print or image input processing, especially in the work such as the image input work where importance is placed on the interactivity, after the user has registered the process, another operation is performed until the notification comes. When the work is started and the start notification is received, the user can perform the image input work with the interactivity with the screen and the user, and the mental distress can be reduced. [Second Embodiment] FIG. 5 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a communication control apparatus showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 11 is a communication control device, 12 is a communication unit, 13 is an overall control unit, 14 is a spool unit, 15 is a print processing unit, 16 is a controller unit, 17 is an image input / output device, and 18 is a local network. Communication line, 19
Is a modem. The overall control unit 13 includes a CPU, ROM, RAM and the like (not shown).

In the communication control device 11 configured as described above, the communication unit 12 will be described later with predetermined notification information indicating the arrival of data generated by the computer or the user according to the host name information acquired by the overall control unit 13. Notify according to the flowchart.

In this embodiment, the communication control device 11 can communicate with a computer in the same building through the communication line 18 of the local network, and can also communicate with a computer in a remote place from the telephone line through the modem 19.

Further, the connected image input / output device 17
Thus, the received print information can be printed.

The function of each part will be described below.

The communication unit 12 communicates with other computers via the communication line 18 of the local area network or the telephone line via the modem 19 to receive print data and send data. Data can be sent by using the email function or file transfer.

The overall control section 13 is a section for controlling the overall operation of the image input / output device 17, and analyzes the data received by the communication section 12, stores the analyzed data in the spool section 14, and stores it in the spool section 14. The print processing unit 15 prints the selected print data, and if necessary, the communication unit 12
To communicate with the user or computer through.
The spool unit 14 stores the print data analyzed by the overall control unit 13.

The print processing unit 15 receives the print data from the overall control unit 13, and prints it by the image input / output device 17 through the controller unit 16. When printing is completed, the completion of printing is communicated to the overall control unit 13,
When a print error occurs, the print error occurrence is communicated to the overall control unit 13.

The controller section 16 receives the image data from the print processing section 15 and controls the image input / output device 17 to print the image. When printing is completed, the print processing unit 15 is notified of the completion of printing.

When a print error such as a paper jam or a paper out occurs in the image input / output device 17, the print error occurrence is communicated to the print processing section 15. The image input / output device 17 prints the image information input via the controller unit 16.

The operation after the communication unit 12 receives the data will be described below.

When the communication section 12 receives data from another computer, the data is sent to the overall control section 13. For the received data, the overall control unit 13 should print a user name or a computer name to notify the arrival of data when the data arrives, a user name or a computer name to notify the end of printing at the end of printing, and the received data. The data and the like are analyzed and stored in the spool unit 14, respectively.

On the other hand, when the above data is not included in the received data, the fact that it is not included in the received data is stored in the spool unit 14. When the user name or computer name for notifying the arrival of data is designated, the data arrival is communicated to the designated user or computer through the communication unit 12.

The overall control unit 13 sends the print data to the print processing unit 15. When the print processing unit 15 receives the print data from the overall control unit 13, the print processing unit 15 creates image data received by the image input / output device 17, and sends the image data to the controller unit 16.

In this embodiment, the print data is the document image described in the page description language or the image data compressed, and cannot be printed by the image output device as it is. Therefore, the print processing unit 15 converts the page description language into image data or decompresses image data that has been compressed.

The controller section 16 receives the image data from the print processing section 15 and controls the image input / output device 17 to print the image. When printing is completed, the print processing unit 15 is notified of the completion of printing.

If a print error occurs,
A print error occurrence is communicated to the print processing unit 15.
The print processing unit 15 sends the end of printing to the overall control unit 13. When a user name or a computer name for notifying the end of printing at the end of printing is designated, the overall control unit 13 receives the end of printing and communicates with the user or computer designated to end printing through the communication unit 12. .

When confirming the end of printing, the overall control unit 13 deletes the data stored in the spool unit 14.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing an example of a second data reception processing procedure in the communication control device according to the present invention. Note that (1) to (7) indicate each step.

The result of analyzing the data received in step (1) is stored in the spool unit 14. In step (2), it is determined whether a user name or a computer name for notifying the data arrival at the time of data arrival is designated, and if so, the user or computer is notified of the data arrival in step (3).

When the print processing is performed in step (4) and the printing is completed, it is determined in step (5) whether the user name or the computer name for notifying the end of printing is specified, and if it is specified, In step (6), the end of printing is notified to the user or computer.

Then, in step (7), the spool unit 14
The data stored in is deleted and the process ends.

In this embodiment, when a user name or a computer name is designated in the received data, the designated user or computer is notified of the arrival of the data or the end of the print when the data arrives or the print ends. Thus, the image output device can print and notify. This is especially convenient for remote printing from a remote location.

In the above embodiment, the arrival of data or the end of printing is notified to the designated user or computer, but it may be notified when an error occurs.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing an example of the second data processing error communication processing procedure in the communication control apparatus according to the present invention. Note that (1) to (5) indicate each step.

When an error occurrence is received from the print processing unit 15 in step (1), it is judged in step (2) whether a user name or a computer name for notifying the error occurrence at the time of error occurrence is specified. In the case, in step (5), the user or the computer is notified of the error occurrence, and the process ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (2) that the data has not been designated, it is determined in step (3) whether a user name or a computer name for notifying the arrival of data has been designated and designated. If so, the error occurrence is notified in step (5).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (3) that it is not specified, it is determined in step (4) whether a user name or a computer name for notifying the end of printing at the end of printing is specified. If not, the process is terminated as it is, and if it is designated, an error occurrence is notified in step (5) and the process is terminated.

In the above embodiment, when an error occurs, the user or the computer is notified of the occurrence of the error by designating the user name or the computer name, so that the communication is terminated especially in remote printing from a remote place. Even if a print error occurs later,
Since the error occurrence is notified to the designated user or computer, quick response is possible and convenient.

In the above embodiment, the arrival of data or the end of printing is notified to the designated user or computer. However, a means for storing a message together with the user name or computer name is provided, and it is stored at the time of data arrival or at the end of printing. You may notify the message you have sent.

In the present embodiment, the user name or the computer name and the data to be notified when the data arrives or when the printing is completed can be specified, so that the content of the print data, the greeting, etc. can be notified to the specified user or computer. It is convenient.

Furthermore, when data arrives, when printing ends,
A message may be notified at a designated timing by providing a means for analyzing timing such as occurrence of an error or designated time.

Further, in the above embodiment, the modem 19 is connected and the communication by the telephone line is also possible, but the communication only by the local network is also possible, and the connection by the modem 19 is not always necessary.

Further, although the image output device can print in the above embodiment, the image input / output device may be connected, or the image output device and the image input device may be separately connected.

According to the second embodiment, the communication unit 12 having the communication function and communicating a message to the designated user or computer, and the user name or computer name to be communicated are analyzed from the communicated data. By providing the overall control unit 13 for the function processing to perform, the arrival of the data is notified to the designated user or computer when the data is received, or the end of the print is notified when the print is completed, When an error occurs, it is possible to notify the occurrence of the error. [Third Embodiment] FIG. 8 is a block diagram for explaining the arrangement of a communication control apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 21 is a communication control device, 22 is a communication unit, 23 is an overall control unit, 24 is a print processing unit, 2
Reference numeral 5 is a controller unit, 26 is an image input / output device, 27 is a communication line of a local network, and 28 is a modem. The overall control unit 23 includes a CPU, ROM,
It has a RAM and the like.

In the communication control device configured as described above, based on the determination result of whether the communication data can be processed based on the resource information of the image input / output device (such as the code of the page description language that can be processed) by the whole unit 23. The communication control unit 22 sends back the communication data received to the computer or user according to the host name information acquired by the general control unit 23 according to the flowchart described later, so that the unprocessable communication data itself is transmitted to the communication destination computer or user. To do.

In this embodiment, the communication control device 21 can communicate with a computer in the same building through the communication line 27 of the local network, and can also communicate with a remote computer through a telephone line through the modem 28. In addition, by the image input / output device 26 connected,
Can be printed.

The function of each part will be described below.

The communication unit 22 communicates with other computers via the communication line 27 of the local area network or the telephone line via the modem 28 to receive print data and send data.

Data transmission is performed by using the electronic mail function or file transfer.

The overall control section 23 is a section for controlling the overall operation of the communication control apparatus 21, and determines whether the print processing section 24 is in process, whether an error has occurred in the image input / output apparatus 26, and reception. The print processing unit 24 determines whether or not the data for printing can be processed, and the data received by the communication unit 22 is sent to the print processing unit 24 for printing, or if necessary, the communication unit 22.
Or send it to a user or computer through.

When the print processing cannot be performed from the received data, the user name or computer name for transmitting the data is analyzed from the received data. The print processing unit 24 receives the print data from the overall control unit 23, and through the controller unit 25, the image input / output device 2
Print at 6.

When the printing is completed, the completion of printing is communicated to the overall control unit 23, and when the recovery from the printing error or the error state occurs, the occurrence of the printing error or the recovery is communicated to the overall control unit 23.

The controller section 25 receives the image data from the print processing section 24 and controls the image input / output device 26 to print the image.

When the printing is completed, the print processing unit 2
4 is communicated to the end of printing. In addition, the image input / output device 2
If a print error such as a paper jam or no paper occurs at 6, the print error occurrence is communicated to the print processing unit 24.

When the print error state changes to the printable state, a recovery signal is sent to the print processing section 24. The image input / output device 26 prints an image.

The operation after the communication section 22 receives the data will be described below.

When the communication section 22 receives data from another computer, the data is sent to the overall control section 23.

The overall control section 23 first analyzes the designated user name or computer name.

Next, the print processing unit 24 is not performing other print processing, no error has occurred in the image input / output device 26, and the received print data can be processed by the print processing unit 24. After confirming that, the data is sent to the data print processing unit 24 for printing.

If the conditions are not satisfied, print processing cannot be performed, so the received data is transmitted to the designated user or computer through the communication section 22. When the print processing unit 24 receives the print data from the overall control unit 23, the print processing unit 24 creates image data received by the image input / output device 26 and sends the image data to the controller unit 25.

In this embodiment, the print data is the document image described in the page description language or the image data compressed, and cannot be printed by the image output device as it is.

Therefore, the print processing unit 24 converts the page description language into image data or decompresses image data that has been image-compressed. The overall control unit 23 knows the page description language that can be expanded by the print processing unit 24 and the type of compressed image that can be expanded. The overall control unit 24 recognizes the type of received data and the capability of the print processing unit in a table memory (not shown). The printer resource information stored in (1) is compared and collated to determine whether the print processing unit 24 can process print data.

When the controller section 25 receives the image data from the print processing section 24, it controls the image input / output device 26 to print the image. When printing is completed, the print processing unit 24 is notified of the completion of printing.

If a print error occurs,
The print error occurrence is communicated to the print processing unit 24.
The print processing unit 24 sends the end of printing to the overall control unit 23.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a third data processing error communication processing procedure in the communication control apparatus according to the present invention. Note that (1) to (6) indicate each step.

The user name or computer name specified in step (1) is analyzed. In step (2), the print processing unit 24 determines whether or not another print processing is in progress. If printing is in progress, the received data is transmitted to the user or computer designated in step (6).

If printing is not in progress, step (3)
The image input / output device 26 discriminates whether or not there is a print error. If there is a print error, the process proceeds to step (6).

If there is no print error, it is judged in step (3) whether the print data can be processed by the print processing unit 24 (4). If it is possible, the print data is printed in the print processing unit 24 in step (5). Send data.
If it cannot be processed, the process proceeds to step (6).

In the present embodiment, even if it is determined that the print processing cannot be performed on the data received by the general control unit 23, the communication is not terminated or the print is not waited for, and the designated user or computer does not have to wait. Since the received data is transmitted, from the standpoint of the communicating user, in the case of remote printing, at least data communication can be performed without waiting for a long time even when printing cannot be performed. This is especially convenient for remote printing from a remote location.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the received data is transmitted to the designated user or computer when the print processing is impossible. However, a character string message is stored in advance for the reason why the print processing is impossible. Incidentally, not only the received data but also the reason why the print processing is impossible may be transmitted.

If the amount of received data is large, a message may be sent by e-mail and the data may be sent by file transfer.

As a result, the transmitted user can understand the reason why the print processing cannot be performed, and can take appropriate measures.

Although the spool function for receiving data is not provided in the above embodiment, an external storage device may be provided to realize the spool function.

In this case, the received data is first stored in the spool, and then transferred if print processing is impossible. Therefore, data reception and data transmission are not performed at the same time, so that the user who transmits data for remote printing can finish the communication earlier.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, although the modem can be connected and the communication by the telephone line can be performed, the communication only by the local network is possible, and it is not always necessary to connect the modem.

Further, in the above embodiment, only printing by the image output device was possible, but an image input / output device is connected, or an image output device and an image input device are connected, and image input is possible. May be

According to the third embodiment described above, the communication unit 22 having the communication function and transmitting the data to the designated user or computer, and the functional processing for analyzing the user name or the computer name from the received data. When the print processing cannot be performed, the received data is sent to the designated user or computer by including the overall control unit 23 that executes the functional processing for determining whether the print processing can be performed on the received data. Not only does the data communication become possible by transmitting, but also the communication is not kept waiting for a long time.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

In addition, the image input / output device 2 in each embodiment
The printing method of No. 6 does not hinder the application of the present invention regardless of whether it is an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method.

[0130]

As described above, the first aspect of the present invention
According to the invention, the generation means generates the predetermined notification information based on the processing state notified from the image input / output device to the image processing control means, and the communication means acquires the generated predetermined notification information. Notifies the host computer or user according to the acquired host name information, so that even if communication with the host ends, communication data is obtained regarding the subsequent processing state of the image input / output device based on the communication data received from the host. It is possible to notify the host computer or the user, or the designated computer or the user destination.

According to the second invention, even after the communication with the host is completed, the subsequent processing start state of the image input / output device based on the communication data received from the host and the normal processing end state of the image input / output device. The processing error state of the image input / output device can be notified to the host computer or user who has acquired the communication data, or the designated computer or user destination.

According to the third invention, even after the communication with the host is completed, the subsequent processing state of the image input / output device based on the communication data received from the host is the host computer name or the user who has acquired the communication data. Can be notified according to name.

According to the fourth invention, the communication means can notify the computer or the user according to the host name information acquired by the acquisition means of the predetermined notification information indicating the incoming data.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the computer according to the host name information acquired by the acquisition means by the communication means on the basis of the judgment result by the judgment means as to whether the communication data can be processed based on the resource information of the image input / output device, or Since the communication data received is transmitted to the user, the communication data itself which cannot be processed can be transmitted to the destination host computer or the user.

Therefore, the host side promptly releases the data communication with the host before terminating the image processing request to the image input / output device, and then the data processing state or communication data of the image input / output device based on the received communication data. The processing state can be reliably notified to the computer or the user who specified the communication data.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication control device showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a first data reception processing procedure in the communication control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a first data processing error communication processing procedure in the communication control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating another configuration of the communication control device shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication control device showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a second data reception processing procedure in the communication control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a second data processing error communication processing procedure in the communication control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication control device showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a third data processing error communication processing procedure in the communication control device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Communication Control Device 2 Communication Unit 3 Overall Control Unit 4 Spool Unit 5 Image Input Unit 6 Print Processing Unit 7 Controller Unit 8 Image Input / Output Device

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A communication means for communicating with a host computer connected to a network, and the communication means analyzes communication data with the host computer to obtain host name information of the host computer or other host name information. Acquisition means, image processing control means for controlling the image input / output device based on the communication data with the host computer, and predetermined processing based on the processing state notified from the image input / output device to the image processing control means. Communication control, characterized in that the communication means has a generating means for generating notification information, and notifies the host computer or a user according to the host name information acquired by the acquiring means from the communication means of the generated predetermined notification information. apparatus. 2. The predetermined notification information includes any one of a processing start state of the image input / output device, a normal processing end state of the image input / output device, and a processing error state of the image input / output device. 1. The communication control device according to 1. 3. The communication control device according to claim 1, wherein the host name information is a computer name or a user name. 4. Communication means for communicating with a host computer connected to a network, and this communication means analyzes communication data with the host computer to obtain host name information of the host computer or other host name information. An acquisition means, an image processing control means for controlling an image input / output device based on the communication data with the host computer, and a generation means for generating predetermined notification information for notifying an incoming call of the communication data, A communication control device for notifying the host computer or a user according to the host name information acquired by the acquisition means from the communication means of the predetermined notification information generated. 5. Communication means for communicating with a host computer connected to a network, and the communication means analyzes communication data with the host computer to obtain host name information of the host computer or other host name information. Acquisition means, image processing control means for controlling an image input / output device based on the communication data with the host computer, and determination for determining whether the communication data can be processed based on resource information of the image input / output device Means for transmitting the received communication data to the host computer according to the host name information acquired by the acquisition means from the communication means based on the determination result of the determination means.