JPH07312664A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily preserve and restore the set data of function of facsimile equipment. CONSTITUTION:The user set data of the function such as an abbreviated dial, etc., is registered in an SRAM 33 backed up by a battery 31. The user set data is converted into a bar code format, and it is printed by a printer 29 comprehensively. When the user set data is destroyed, the user set data can be restored by registering on the prescribed address of the SRAM 33 comprehensively by reading a printed bar code list by a scanner 24. In this way, the data management of a user and the efficiency of maintenance managing work can be improved.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine capable of setting and registering functions.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in a facsimile apparatus for communicating images such as business documents between remote locations, one-touch dial destination information such as facsimile number or destination name, speed dial, dial system, date display, etc. A function that allows a user (user) to freely set and register various functions such as options is used.

Then, these registered information (data)
Is stored in a nonvolatile memory such as SRAM or EEPROM backed up by a battery and incorporated in a facsimile apparatus, so that the stored contents are not lost or damaged in a normal use state.

However, the registered information may be lost due to malfunction due to external noise such as static electricity, or malfunction of the program of the facsimile apparatus itself. In addition, when the control circuit board (PCB) is repaired due to the maintenance and inspection work (service activity) of the facsimile apparatus, the information stored in the memory may be lost.

Many facsimile machines have a function of outputting a list of various information set / registered by the user in characters, but the various information set / registered by the user has a large amount of information in some cases. When this information is lost or damaged, it is very troublesome for the user to set and register again using the keyboard or the like. Further, when a worker outputs a list during maintenance and inspection work and information is lost after the work, inefficient work is required to re-input the information using a keyboard or the like.

In this respect, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-172755.
As described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 4-172756, or Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 4-172757, information such as a facsimile number for each destination is printed on a business card in a barcode format, and each business card is printed at the time of transmission. Facsimile devices that read and use barcodes are known.

However, in the structures described in these publications, a business card on which a barcode is printed is required at the time of transmission, and it is difficult to deal with the case where various information set / registered in the facsimile apparatus is lost. have.

[0008]

As described above, in a facsimile machine having a function of allowing a user to set and register various functions, a keyboard or the like is used when this information is lost or damaged. There is a problem that the work of re-setting and re-registering is extremely complicated. Further, in a facsimile machine that prints information such as a facsimile number for each destination on a business card in a bar code format and reads the bar code of each business card at the time of transmission, the business card on which the bar code is printed is required at the time of transmission. However, there is a problem that it is difficult to deal with a case where various information set / registered in the facsimile is lost.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile apparatus capable of easily storing / restoring information set / registered in storage means.

[0010]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile apparatus, wherein storage means capable of registering set functions and setting data registered in the storage means are converted into printable symbol code format data. Along with, a control means for converting the data in the symbol code format into setting data registered in the storage means, a printing means capable of printing the symbol code, and a reading means capable of reading the symbol code are provided. is there.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a facsimile apparatus stores a function capable of registering a set function, converts setting data registered in the memory into bar code format data, and converts the bar code format data. It is provided with a control means for converting into the setting data registered in the storage means, a printing means for printing the received document and the bar code, and a reading means for reading the transmitted document and the bar code.

[0012]

In the facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the function setting data registered in the storage means is converted into printable symbol code format data by the control means, and is printed collectively by the printing means as a symbol code. It
The printed symbol code is read by the reading unit, converted into setting data by the control unit, and registered in the storage unit at once.

In the facsimile apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the function setting data registered in the storage means is converted into bar code format data by the control means, and is printed collectively by the printing means as a bar code. Further, the printed bar code is read by the reading unit, converted into setting data by the control unit, and registered in the storage unit collectively.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The configuration of an embodiment of the facsimile apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 is a CPU as a control means of the facsimile machine, and the CPU 11 controls the entire facsimile machine. The system bus 12 connected to the CPU 11 is connected to a ROM 15 that stores control programs and basic function settings, and a DRAM 16 that temporarily stores various data such as transmission data and reception data. . A modem 17 is connected to the system bus 12, and the modem 17 is connected to a communication line 19 such as a public telephone line via a network control unit (NCU) 18. In addition, this system bus 12 has a keyboard controller
A keyboard 22 for dial operation and the like is connected via 21. Further, the system bus 12 is connected via a reading processing circuit 23 to a scanner 24 as a reading means for reading a transmission document or the like. The system bus 12 has a CODEC (encoding / decoding circuit).
26 is connected to encode the read transmission image data and decode the encoded reception image data. Also, on this system bus 12,
A page memory 27 for accumulating image data (print data) such as received originals page by page is connected.
27 is connected via a printer control circuit 28 to an electrophotographic recording type printer 29 such as a laser printer as a printing means.

Further, the system bus 12 has an SRA as a storage means backed up by a battery 31.
M33 is connected. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, at a predetermined address (area, address) in the SRAM 33,
One-touch dial destination information such as facsimile number and destination name, speed dial, dial method, date display, etc. are now stored and stored as user setting data for various functions registered by the user from the keyboard 22. There is. The data length is different for each user setting data of these various functions. When the contents of the user setting data are output as a list in a character format, the list 35 as shown in FIG. 3 is printed from the printer 29. The list 35 may be output as a list on a different page for each item of the user setting data.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

First, the operation of printing out the contents of the user setting data stored in the SRAM 33 in the bar code format (hereinafter referred to as download) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Further, this download operation is appropriately performed as a pre-operation for maintenance / inspection work or after the user performs registration / setting work, and can be easily executed by a predetermined key operation.

When the execution of the download operation starts, first, the user setting data is loaded into the CPU 11 in order from a series of data at the first address of the SRAM 33 (step 1), and a raster printable as one bar code is printed. -Converted to data (raster-image, pattern) (step 2). Next, this raster data is stored in a predetermined area of the page memory 27 (step 3). Subsequently, processing of a series of data at the next address of the SRAM 33 is started (steps 4 and 5), and the remaining user setting data is sequentially converted into the raster data of the bar code format and the predetermined data of the page memory 27 is set. It is stored in the area (steps 1 to 3). Then, when all the user setting data are expanded in the page memory 27 as the raster data in the bar code format (step 5), the printer 29 is operated, and as shown in FIG. , The bar codes C _{1 to} C _n as the symbol codes corresponding to the respective user setting data are collectively printed and output.
The bar code list L is obtained (step 6). Then, after this download operation is completed, the actual maintenance and inspection work is performed.

Next, the operation of registering the user setting data printed out in the barcode format in the SRAM 33 (hereinafter referred to as upload) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This upload operation is performed when the user setting data is lost due to maintenance or inspection work or some other reason, and when some user setting data is desired to be copied to another facsimile machine, a predetermined key is used. It can be easily executed by operation.

First, in this upload operation, the bar code list L that has already been printed out is read by the scanner 24 of the facsimile apparatus. Then, in the reading process, the first barcode C ₁ is detected by the barcode reading program stored in the ROM 15 or the like.
It is read (step 11), recognized in real time, and converted (decoded) into a character (step 12).
Then, the data converted into the character is SRAM33.
Are sequentially stored (stored, stocked) in a predetermined address (step 13). Then, the processing of the _second bar code C ₂ printed on the bar code list L is started (steps 14 and 15), and the remaining bar codes C _{2 to} C _n are sequentially S.
The data is sequentially stored in a predetermined address of the RAM 33 (steps 11 to 13). And all bar codes C _{1 to} C _n
Upon conversion (step 15), the upload operation ends and the user setting data is restored.

As described above, according to the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment, the user setting data of the functions registered in the SRAM 33 can be collectively printed out in a bar code format and stored, and the printed bar code can be stored. By reading the data, it is possible to automatically register the data in a predetermined address of the SRAM 33 and restore the data collectively. Therefore, when the user setting data of each function of the facsimile apparatus is lost or damaged, and the user setting data needs to be set again, the printed bar code list L is output.
Using, the setting data can be easily and completely recovered, and the efficiency of the user's information management and maintenance management work can be improved.

Further, the scanner 24 and the printer 29 which are usually provided in the facsimile machine can be used, and
Since a general bar code is used, the facsimile device can be constructed at low cost without increasing the cost.

Although the SRAM 33 is used as the storage means in the above embodiment, a non-volatile memory such as an EEPROM may be used.

Further, in the above embodiment, it is simplified that the bar coded user setting data is printed out within one page, but in reality, the size and format of the bar code and the user setting data are Depending on the amount of data, it may be necessary to print out over multiple pages.

As the bar code, the code 39 is used.
It is preferable to use an industrial variable-length bar code, such as ITW or ITW, but it is also possible to use another type of bar code or a symbol code other than the bar code.

Further, the bar code may include the address of the memory or the data number information so that the data is stored at the correct address. And
For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the address information and the data information may be different barcodes Ca and Cd, respectively.

Note that it is necessary to prevent erroneous reading of each bar code by means of the check digit used in a normal bar code.

Further, each bar code has bars arranged in a direction orthogonal to the carrying direction at the time of printing and reading the bar code list L, and also has bars arranged parallel to the carrying direction. You can also

In the above embodiment, the bar code is read by the scanner 24 which reads the transmission original, and
Although the barcode is printed by the printer 29 that prints the received document, a barcode scanner separate from the scanner 24 or a barcode printer separate from the printer 29 may be provided.

[0031]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the function setting data registered in the storage means can be printed collectively as a symbol code, and the printed symbol code can be read and stored in the storage means collectively. You can register. Therefore, when the function setting data is lost, the setting data can be easily recovered by using the printed symbol code.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the function setting data registered in the storage means can be collectively printed as a bar code, and the printed bar code is read and registered in the storage means in a batch. be able to. Therefore, when the setting data of the function is lost,
The printed bar code can be used to easily recover the configuration data. Further, since the transmission document reading means and the reception document printing means which are usually provided in the facsimile device can be used, and since a general bar code is used, the facsimile device can be constructed at a low cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a facsimile apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a memory map diagram of user setting data according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a list printout of user setting data according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the download operation of the above embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram in which the user setting data of the above embodiment is printed out in a barcode format.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an upload operation according to the above embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram in which user setting data according to another embodiment of the present invention is printed out in a barcode format.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 CPU as control means 24 Scanner as reading means 29 Printer as printing means 33 SRAM as storage means C _{1 to} C _n Bar code as symbol code

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A storage unit capable of registering a set function, converting the setting data registered in the storage unit into printable symbol code format data, and registering the symbol code format data in the storage unit. Facsimile apparatus comprising: a control unit for converting the setting data into a set data, a printing unit capable of printing the symbol code, and a reading unit capable of reading the symbol code. 2. A storage unit capable of registering a set function, setting data registered in the storage unit is converted into barcode format data, and the barcode format data is registered in the storage unit. A facsimile apparatus comprising: a control unit for converting into data, a printing unit capable of printing a received document and the barcode, and a reading unit capable of reading the transmitted document and the barcode.