JPH08274966A - Composite function communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To improve the convenience of the user by setting automatically a transmission destination and a transmission condition based on printer use document data from a host computer. CONSTITUTION: An operation panel 40 is used to register identification information comprising at least one information unit, transmission destination information representing a transmission destination corresponding to the identification information, and a transmission condition for each transmission destination information in the unit of information of combinations of identification data consisting of a character string or/and image data to identify the transmission destination and a coordinate where the identification data are in existence. Then a CPU 108 judges whether or not all information units in the identification information are in existence in printer document data and when there is any identification information judged that it has all information units, a CPU 207 sets the transmission destination and the transmission condition based on the transmission destination information and the transmission condition concerned.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a composite function of inputting printer document data from a host computer, expanding the printer document data into image image data, converting the image data into facsimile transmission data, and then performing facsimile transmission. More specifically, the present invention relates to a multi-function communication device that automatically selects and sets a destination and transmission conditions based on printer document data from a host computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a multi-function communication device having a printer function and a facsimile function, whether the data currently handled is format data or standard data by utilizing the information recognition ability of the printer function. , Or other data is discriminated at the printer command level, and various measures for reducing the communication data amount have been proposed.

As a method for reducing the amount of communication data, for example, a method of generating an invoice at the transmission destination (that is, the receiving side) so that the generation of the invoice at the transmission source is omitted, or a part of the transmitted document is There is a method of reducing the document generation at the transmission source by generating at the transmission destination. The main purpose of all of these is to reduce the amount of communication data that is actually transmitted and to reduce communication costs.

When the slip distribution is considered as an application of the above function, the slip distribution can be easily handled by using the driver program on the host computer.

[0005]

However, according to the above-mentioned conventional multi-function communication device, when performing slip distribution,
Although the voucher distribution can be handled easily by the driver program on the host computer, the destination and contents of the voucher usually differ depending on the voucher, and it is necessary to specify the destination and sending conditions for each voucher. For,
When the number of delivery destinations increases, there is a problem in that it becomes complicated to specify the delivery destinations and transmission conditions for each slip, and the work load on the user increases.

That is, although there is a side that can be supplemented by the processing on the host computer side in the processing of designating the transmission destination and the transmission conditions, for example, in the case where the transmission destination can be designated for one transmission document by one operation. However, to specify a large number of destinations, the number of operations increases in proportion to the number of destinations.
In particular, when the voucher distribution is performed, the work time is often concentrated, and the work load on the user is further increased.

There is also a method of managing the process of designating the destination and the transmission condition on the host computer side, for example, a method of utilizing the information accumulated by using the function of learning for each facsimile transmission. , Each time a facsimile transmission is performed, it is necessary to input the destination and transmission conditions from the multifunction communication device side by bidirectional communication, and to accumulate information for each transmitted document (or slip).
Means for performing two-way communication are required, which complicates the configuration.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and improves the convenience of the user by automatically setting the destination and the transmission condition based on the printer document data from the host computer. The purpose is to let.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a multi-function communication device according to a first aspect inputs printer document data from a host computer and converts the printer document data into image image data. In a multi-function communication device that performs facsimile transmission after expanding and further converting to facsimile transmission data, the identification data consisting of a character string or / and image data for identifying the destination and the coordinate value where the identification data exists A first registration unit for registering identification information composed of at least one of the information units and transmission destination information indicating a transmission destination corresponding to the identification information, and the first registration unit Storage means for storing the identification information and the destination information registered in 1. and the transmission stored in the first storage means Second registration means for registering transmission conditions for each piece of information, second storage means for storing transmission conditions for each piece of destination information registered by the second registration means, and first storage means Determination means for determining whether or not all the information units in the identification information stored in the printer document data exist, and the identification information for which the determination means determines that all the information units exist. If there is,
The transmission condition is input from the second storage means based on the transmission destination information corresponding to the corresponding identification information, and the transmission destination and the transmission condition are set based on the corresponding transmission destination information and the transmission condition. And a setting means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the multi-function communication device receives printer document data from a host computer, expands the printer document data into image image data, converts the image data into facsimile image data, and then converts the image data into facsimile data. In a multi-function communication device for transmission, a combination of identification data consisting of a character string or / and image data for identifying a destination and a coordinate value where the identification data exists is one information unit, and at least one of the information First for registering identification information consisting of a unit and destination information indicating a destination corresponding to the identification information
Registration means, first storage means for storing the identification information and destination information registered by the first registration means, and transmission conditions for each destination information stored in the first storage means. Second registration means for registering, second storage means for storing transmission conditions for each destination information registered by the second registration means, and identification stored in the first storage means A determination unit that determines whether or not all the information units in the information are present in the image image data obtained by expanding the printer document data, and identification information that is determined by the determination unit that all the information units are present. In some cases, the transmission condition is input from the second storage means based on the transmission destination information corresponding to the corresponding identification information, and the transmission destination is set and the transmission condition is set based on the corresponding transmission destination information and the transmission condition. Set up Those having a constant section.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the multi-function communication device, the first registration means includes at least a display section for displaying the printer document data and a touch panel arranged on the display section. Is.

[0012]

According to the multi-function communication device (Claim 1) of the present invention, a combination of identification data consisting of a character string or / and image data for identifying a destination and a coordinate value where the identification data exists is one information. Identification information including at least one information unit as a unit, destination information indicating a destination corresponding to the identification information, and transmission conditions for each destination information are registered, and all the information units in the identification information are printer document data. If there is identification information that is determined to exist in all the information units by determining whether or not it exists in the inside, the setting of the destination and the setting of the transmission condition are performed based on the corresponding destination information and transmission conditions. To do.

Further, the multi-function communication device of the present invention (claim 2) provides a combination of the identification data consisting of a character string or / and image data for identifying the destination and the coordinate value where the identification data exists. As one information unit, identification information including at least one of the information units, destination information indicating a destination corresponding to the identification information, and transmission conditions for each destination information are registered, and all the information units in the identification information are printers. If there is identification information for which it is determined whether all the information units exist by determining whether or not they exist in the image image data that has expanded the document data for transmission, the transmission is performed based on the corresponding destination information and transmission conditions. Make the above settings and send conditions.

Further, according to the multi-function communication device of the present invention (claim 3), at least the display section for displaying the document data for the printer and the touch panel arranged on the display section transmits the identification information and the transmission corresponding to the identification information. The destination information indicating the destination and the transmission condition for each destination information are registered.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A multi-function communication device of the present invention
[Embodiment 1] and [Embodiment 2] will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Generally, when an order form is transmitted by facsimile, the model of the order form is usually fixed, and in this case, the order destination appears as a character code string or image data at a specific position. Therefore, by analyzing the orderee data of the order form before and after the image is generated by the printer function, the other party can be specified and the transmission condition can be selected.

According to the present invention, in facsimile transmission via the printer function, the above characteristics are utilized to realize automatic distribution by designating only a document desired to be transmitted.
This avoids complications associated with the destination, specification of transmission conditions, and facsimile information management, and enables operation under the best conditions accumulated by the facsimile function. Incidentally, in the past, when a fixed form document having different contents was transmitted to a plurality of destinations, it could be realized only by an application specially designed.

[Embodiment 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a multi-function communication apparatus according to the present invention, which includes an SCU 100 for executing a printer function, an FCU 200 for executing a facsimile function, a text data and a print command. Host computer 300 for outputting to SCU 100
And an operation panel 400 as first registration means and second registration means for the operator to give an operation instruction. The SCU 100 has a function of expanding text data input from the host computer 300 into image data.

The SCU 100 includes a host I / F (interface) 101 for connecting the SCU 100 and the host computer 300, the SCU 100 and the operation panel 4.
Operation panel I / F 102 for connecting the printer 00, the transmission condition registration memory 103 as the second storage means for storing the printer / facsimile operation designation data, and the frame memory 104 for storing the printer image data.
And a destination area registration memory 105 as first storage means for storing destination designated area data and destination data,
A control data memory 106 for storing printer function control data, a control code memory 107 for storing a printer function program, and a control code memory 107.
A CPU as a determining means for controlling the above-mentioned respective parts to execute the printer function by using the printer function control data stored in the control data memory 106 as necessary according to the printer function program stored in
And 108. The CPU 108 and the frame memory 104 expand the text data into image data. Reference numeral 401 denotes a display unit for displaying the status of the device and confirming when the operator makes various specifications.

Further, the FCU 200 includes a CCU (communication management unit) 201 for performing various control related to communication such as connection and monitoring of lines, a destination information registration memory for storing a telephone number and capability of a transmission / reception destination, and its own device. Communication information registration memory 202 used as a communication network information registration memory for storing information of the communication network 500 to be connected, an image compression / expansion unit 203 for compressing / expanding image data, and a SAF memory for accumulating transmission images. 204, a control data memory 205 for storing facsimile function control data, a control code memory 206 for storing a facsimile function program, and a control code memory 206
And a CPU 207 as a setting means for controlling the above-mentioned respective parts to execute the facsimile function by using the facsimile function control data stored in the control data memory 205 as necessary in accordance with the facsimile function program stored in And is connected to the receiving-side facsimile terminal 600 via the communication network 500 connected to itself.

Here, the destination area registration memory 105 will be described. The destination area registration memory 105 stores the registration contents registered in advance by the operator using the operation panel 400. The registration content registered in the destination area registration memory 105 includes a plurality of elements, and one element includes the following information. (In the following, C
Is a character string, I is an image) -Specify destination area combination (for example, 1C AND 2C OR 3I ... n) -Destination area drawing coordinate 1, drawing character string 1, drawing image 1-Destination area drawing coordinate 2 , Drawing character string 2, drawing image 2 · destination area drawing coordinate 3, drawing character string 3, drawing image 3 · · destination area drawing coordinate n, drawing character string n, drawing image n · destination code (facsimile function Internal code) ・ Transmission conditions

Further, in the transmission condition registration memory 103, information such as: destination code (internal code in the facsimile function), transmission mode designation, compression method designation, printer resolution, facsimile transmission resolution, etc. 400
Registered and remembered using.

In the first embodiment, the operation panel 400 is used to register various kinds of information. However, the invention is not limited to this, and various kinds of information can be registered from the host computer 300. You may register by the method.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. In the SCU 100, the CPU 108
A print command for printing a standard document is received from the host computer 300 via F101.

The CPU 108 first analyzes the printer command received from the host computer 300.
At this time, the drawing coordinates are obtained, and the destination area registration memory 105
2, the presence / absence of a character string in the destination area drawing coordinates is searched, and if the character string exists, as shown in FIG. 2, the character string is stored in the transmission condition registration memory 103 and set.

The CPU 108 is a transmission condition registration memory 103.
An image is generated in the frame memory 104 according to the printer resolution of the transmission condition data stored in, and the transmission condition data stored in the transmission condition registration memory 103 and the generated image in the frame memory 104 are passed to the FCU 200.

In the FCU 200, the CPU 207 compresses the generated image in the frame memory 104 by using the image compression / expansion unit 203 according to the compression method stored in the transmission condition registration memory 103, and the compressed image in the transmission condition registration memory 103 is stored. SAF memory 2 together with transmission condition data
Store in 04.

Subsequently, the CPU 207 controls the SAF memory 2
The transmission condition data and the compressed image data are extracted from 04, the communication network 500 is accessed via the CCU 201, the facsimile transmission resolution of the transmission condition data is notified, and the connection with the receiving side facsimile terminal 600 is performed.

The CPU 207, via the communication network 500,
The resolution conversion of the compressed image data is performed according to the facsimile transmission resolution of the transmission condition data, and the resolution-converted image data is transmitted to the reception side facsimile terminal 600.

In the multi-function communication device of the first embodiment, the facsimile transmission is performed as described above, and the CPU 108
Identifies the destination by referring to the text data sent from the host computer 300 and by referring to the character code string at a specific position or the image data.
In this case, the destination of the transmission by the CPU 108 is specified before or after the image for the printer is generated. Whether to specify the destination before or after the generation is determined by the operation panel 4.
00 allows the operator to freely set.
Further, the CPU 108 causes the character code string at a specific position,
Alternatively, when referring to the image data, it also has a function of referring to a plurality of character code strings or image data and specifying the ordering destination by the combination thereof.

When the transmission destination is specified before the image for the printer is generated, the transmission destination is searched from the code data, which facilitates the search. Further, when the destination is specified after the image for the printer is generated, the destination is searched from the image data.
The search can be performed without depending on the type of code data handled by the host computer 300.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, based on the character string or image data included in the printer document data from the host computer and drawn at an arbitrary position, the transmission partner is generated before the image is generated. Since the destination can be specified, the device side can determine the destination and the transmission conditions, and it is possible to prevent errors in destination designation and to send documents under optimal conditions. Further, the operation of selecting the destination and the operation of selecting the transmission condition are not required, which facilitates the distribution work.

Further, since the transmission destination can be specified after the image is generated, there is no influence by the drawing method, and automatic distribution by document specification is possible for various application programs, and the restrictions on the user's host computer environment are reduced. To be done.

Further, the destination can be specified by a combination of a character string drawn at an arbitrary position and image data drawn at an arbitrary position, so that automatic distribution by document specification can be made for many types of standard documents. In addition, it is possible to automatically deliver the request form of the transmission destination by specifying the document.

Second Embodiment In addition to the functions of the first embodiment, the second embodiment uses the operation panel 400 to determine the position of the drawing character string or the position of the drawing image data to be referred to for designating the transmission destination. It has a simple designation function, and basically has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, and only different portions will be described in detail. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a part of the configuration of the operation panel 400 and showing an area designating section 402 for designating a communication destination printing area. Further, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of a touch panel provided on the display unit 401.

The area designation unit 402 shown in FIG. 3 instructs the communication destination area registration mode designation start key 301 for instructing the shift to the communication destination area registration mode and the end of the communication destination area registration mode. Communication destination area registration mode designation end key 302, a communication destination area coordinate vertical / horizontal movement key 303 for adjusting the coordinate position, and a communication destination area coordinate start point setting for determining the start point position of the coordinate A key 304, a communication destination area coordinate end point setting key 305 for determining the end point position of the coordinate, a communication destination area coordinate setting end key 306 for instructing the end of the coordinate position setting, and a combination of area coordinates Communication destination area coordinate combination designation key 307 for designation, and communication destination registration mode designation start for instructing transition to communication destination registration mode -308, a communication destination registration mode designation end key 309 for instructing the end of the communication destination registration mode, a communication destination selection key 310 for selecting a communication destination, and various conditions at the time of transmission are selected. And a transmission condition selection key 311 for performing the operation.

The operation of the above configuration will be described.
In the second embodiment, while the operator confirms the image displayed on the display unit 401, he / she operates various keys of the area designating unit 402 shown in FIG. 3 to refer to the drawing character to designate the destination of transmission. Specify the column position or drawing image data position.

Next, the designation operation performed by the operator using the area designation unit 402 will be described.

(1) When the operator depresses the communication destination area registration mode designation start key 301 to instruct the shift to the communication destination area registration mode, the CPU 108 causes the host computer 300 to transfer the data via the host I / F 101. Receives printer commands. In the communication destination area registration mode, the CPU 108 displays the drawn result as an image on the display unit 401 without printing, and waits for the operator's key operation. (2) The operator adjusts the position of the starting point of the coordinates by using the communication destination area coordinate up / down / left / right moving key 303.

(3) When the adjustment to the desired starting point position is completed,
The operator depresses the communication destination area coordinate start point setting key 304 to determine the start point position of the coordinates. (4) The operator uses the communication destination area coordinate up / down / left / right movement key 303 to adjust the end point position of the coordinate.

(5) When the adjustment to the desired end point position is completed,
The operator presses the communication destination area coordinate end point setting key 305 to determine the end point position of the coordinates. At this time, if necessary, the communication destination area coordinate combination designation key 307 is used to select a desired combination, and in order to determine the next area, the operations of (2) to (6) are repeated, When all areas have been specified, the communication destination area coordinate setting end key 306 is pressed to end the area specification. in this case,
The CPU 108 stores the communication destination area data acquired as a result of the above operation in the destination area registration memory 105.

(6) Next, the operator presses the communication destination area registration mode designation end key 302 to instruct the termination of the communication destination area registration mode. (7) Subsequently, the operator depresses the communication partner registration mode designation start key 308 to instruct the shift to the communication partner registration mode.

(8) When the shift to the communication destination registration mode is instructed, the CPU 108 receives a printer command from the host computer 300 via the host I / F 101. (9) In the communication destination registration mode, the CPU 108 does not print the drawn result, and the destination area registration memory 10
5 is displayed as an image on the display unit 401 in an overlapping manner with the area display by the communication destination area registration data stored in FIG.

(10) Next, at this point, the corresponding facsimile destination and transmission conditions are designated. That is, CP
U 108 retrieves the communication partner information from the FCU 200, and the operator selects the communication partner using the communication partner selection key 310. (11) Next, the operator selects the transmission condition selection key 311.
The transmission condition is selected by, and the CPU 108 stores the selected communication destination and the transmission condition in the associated area of the destination area registration memory 105. This completes the registration for one communication partner.

(12) In the case of processing a plurality of communication destinations, after the processing up to (11), the processing from (8) is repeated until all the processing is completed. (13) When all the registrations are completed, the operator presses the communication partner registration mode designation end key 309 to instruct the communication partner registration mode to end. (14) When changing the communication destination area, the processing from (1) is repeated.

Next, another example of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, if the communication partner area and the communication partner are registered using the touch panel, the registration work of the operator becomes easy. Since the basic operation is the same as the case where the area designating unit 402 shown in FIG. 3 is used, only different parts will be described in detail.

The operator designates the destination (for example, "Ricoh Co., Ltd.") displayed on the touch panel with a fingertip, instead of designation by the communication destination area coordinate up / down / left / right moving keys 303, as shown in FIG. . That is, the start point is designated as shown by the solid line in FIG. 4, the end point is designated as shown by the dotted line in the figure, and after the end point is designated, the communication destination area coordinate setting end key 306 is designated. As described above, by confirming the display and directly designating the display content with a fingertip, the transmission destination area and the communication destination can be registered easily and surely. In addition, the touch panel is displayed on the display unit 4.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the host computer 300 may be provided with a touch panel and registration may be performed using the host computer 300.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the position of the drawing character string or the position of the drawing image data which is referred to for specifying the transmission destination is specified on the operation panel,
In order to associate with the communication partner based on the specified position, that is, since the region for designating the communication partner can be determined based on the image, the communication partner region selection can be performed reliably and easily. This makes it possible to prevent errors in the selection of communication destinations and, at the same time, omit the management of communication destinations on the host computer side.

[0049]

As described above, in the multi-function communication device of the present invention (claim 1), the identification data consisting of a character string or / and image data for identifying the destination and the coordinates at which the identification data exists. Identification information consisting of at least one information unit with a combination with a value as one information unit,
The destination information indicating the destination corresponding to the identification information and the transmission condition for each destination information are registered, and it is determined whether all the information units in the identification information exist in the printer document data, If there is identification information that is determined to have all the information units, the destination document and the transmission condition are set based on the corresponding destination information and transmission conditions. Based on this, the convenience of the user can be improved by automatically setting the destination and the transmission condition.

In the multi-function communication device of the present invention (claim 2), the combination of the identification data consisting of the character string or / and the image data for identifying the destination and the coordinate value in which the identification data exists is set. As one information unit, identification information including at least one of the information units, destination information indicating a destination corresponding to the identification information, and transmission conditions for each destination information are registered, and all the information units in the identification information are printers. If there is identification information for which it is determined whether all the information units exist by determining whether or not they exist in the image image data that has expanded the document data for transmission, the transmission is performed based on the corresponding destination information and transmission conditions. To set the destination and sending conditions automatically, set the destination and sending conditions automatically based on the printer document data from the host computer. More, it is possible to improve the convenience of the user.

Further, in the multi-function communication device of the present invention (claim 3), at least the display section for displaying the document data for the printer and the touch panel arranged on the display section transmits the identification information and the transmission corresponding to the identification information. To register the destination information indicating the destination and the transmission conditions for each destination information,
The destination and the transmission condition can be set easily and surely.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a multi-function communication device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of printer document data.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an area designating unit.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an area designation unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 SCU 103 Transmission condition registration memory 105 Destination area registration memory 108 CPU 200 FCU 201 CCU 202 Communication information registration memory 207 CPU 300 Host computer 400 Operation panel 401 Display section 402 Area designation section 500 Communication network 600 Receiving side facsimile terminal

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A multi-function communication device for inputting printer document data from a host computer, expanding the printer document data into image image data, converting the image data into facsimile transmission data, and then performing facsimile transmission. A combination of the identification data consisting of a character string or / and image data for identifying the information and the coordinate value where the identification data exists is one information unit, and corresponds to the identification information consisting of at least one of the information units and the identification information. First registration means for registering destination information indicating a destination to be transmitted, first storage means for storing the identification information and destination information registered by the first registration means, and the first storage means. Second registration means for registering transmission conditions for each destination information stored in the storage means, and registered by the second registration means. Second storage means for storing the transmission conditions for each of the transmission destination information, and whether all the information units in the identification information stored in the first storage means exist in the printer document data. Determination means for determining whether
When there is the identification information for which all the information units have been determined by the determination means, the transmission condition is input from the second storage means based on the destination information corresponding to the corresponding identification information, and the corresponding transmission is performed. A multi-function communication device comprising: setting means for setting a destination and a transmission condition based on destination information and a transmission condition. 2. A multi-function communication device for inputting printer document data from a host computer, expanding the printer document data into image image data, converting the image data into facsimile transmission data, and then performing facsimile transmission. A combination of the identification data consisting of a character string or / and image data for identifying the information and the coordinate value where the identification data exists is one information unit, and corresponds to the identification information consisting of at least one of the information units and the identification information. First registration means for registering destination information indicating a destination to be transmitted, first storage means for storing the identification information and destination information registered by the first registration means, and the first storage means. Second registration means for registering transmission conditions for each destination information stored in the storage means, and registered by the second registration means. Second storage means for storing transmission conditions for each destination information, and image image data in which all the information units in the identification information stored in the first storage means expand the printer document data. If there is a determination means for determining whether or not the information exists in the inside, and the identification information determined by the determination means that all the information units exist, the first information is determined based on the destination information corresponding to the corresponding identification information. 2. A multi-function communication device, comprising: a setting unit for inputting a transmission condition from the second storage unit and setting a transmission destination and a transmission condition based on corresponding transmission destination information and transmission condition. 3. The first registration means includes at least a display unit for displaying the printer document data and a touch panel arranged on the display unit. Multifunction communication device.