JPH0997142A - Image forming device and system therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device which can carry out the processing to transmit the documents stored in the computers connected to a network via a facsimile equipment. SOLUTION: The image forming device 107 carries out a document transmission processing. This document transmission processing includes a document file selection processing to fetch the identification information on the document files stored in computers 101 and 102 via a network and to select desired document files based on the identification information, a document file transfer processing to fetch the selected document files from both computers via a LAN 112, and a document file transmission processing to send the fetched document files to a facsimile equipment 108 via the LAN 112 and then to transmit the document files to desired destination from the equipment 108 via a public communication line 116.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus for transmitting / receiving information via a public line and an information processing apparatus having a document creating function, which is connected to a network to form an input image on a transfer material. The present invention relates to an apparatus and an image forming system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a printing system in which a plurality of computers A, B, ... That are capable of document creation processing and a plurality of printers are connected via a network, a printer is selected on the computer side and the selected printer is selected. The document data is sent from the computer to the computer via the network and the document data is printed.

When a user who uses this system sends desired document data stored in a computer A installed in a remote place by a facsimile machine located near the user, the user is close to the place where the user is currently. Operate computer B to access computer A,
The desired document data is transferred from the computer A via the network, and the transferred document data is held in the computer B.

When the computer B holds the desired document data, the user operates the computer B to select the nearest printer to print the document data, and the printed document data is sent to the desired destination by the facsimile machine. Sent.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional system, when the desired document data stored in the computer A installed at a remote place is transmitted by the facsimile apparatus located near the user, Since it is necessary to operate the computer B near the place where the user is, to take in the document data stored in the computer A at a remote place into the computer B and print the document data with the selected printer, it is very troublesome. Hang up. For example, if the facsimile machine, the computer B, and the selected printer are not in close proximity to each other, the user needs to move between the respective machines and perform an operation, resulting in a very extra trouble.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of executing a process for transmitting a document held by a computer connected to a network by a facsimile apparatus without extra trouble. An object is to provide an image forming system.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
An image forming apparatus that is connected to a network together with a facsimile apparatus that transmits and receives information via a public line and an information processing apparatus that has a document creation function, and that is held by the information processing apparatus in an image forming apparatus that forms an input image on a transfer material Document file selection processing means for fetching identification information of a document file via the network and performing document file selection processing for selecting a desired document file based on the identification information; and the selected information processing apparatus for processing the selected document file. Document file transfer processing means for carrying out a document file transfer process for fetching the document file from the network via the network, and sending the fetched document file to the facsimile device via the network, and sending the sent document file to the facsimile device. From the desired via the public line Document file transmission processing means for performing a document file transmission process for transmitting first, an input operation for designating the identification information of the desired document file from among the identification information of the document file, and the desired destination for the facsimile device. And an operating unit for performing an input operation for inputting.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the document file selection processing means causes the display means to display the identification information of the document file, and the display is performed by an input operation of the operation means. The identification information of the desired document file is designated from among the identification information of the document file displayed on the means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, the identification information displayed on the display means is the document data of the first page of the corresponding document file.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, a document for forming an image indicated by a document file of the information processing device fetched by the document file transfer processing means on a transfer material. Document file print processing means for performing file print processing, and processing designation means for designating either one of the document file print processing by the document file print processing means and the document file transmission processing by the document file transmission processing means It is characterized by including.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the document file transfer processing means transfers the image forming command including the selected document file to the information processing apparatus. The request command is transmitted through the network.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, a facsimile apparatus for transmitting and receiving information via a public line, an information processing apparatus having a document creating function, and an image forming apparatus for forming an input image on a transfer material are connected by a network. In the image forming system described above, the image forming apparatus captures the identification information of the document file held in the information processing apparatus via the network, and a document for selecting a desired document file based on the identification information. Document file selection processing means for performing file selection processing, document file transfer processing means for performing document file transfer processing for importing the selected document file from the information processing device via the network, and the imported document file To the facsimile device via the network, A document file transmission processing means for performing a document file transmission process for transmitting the document file from the facsimile device to a desired destination via the public line; and a document file transmission processing means for selecting the desired document file from the identification information of the document file. It is characterized by further comprising an operation unit for performing an input operation for designating identification information and an input operation for inputting the desired destination to the facsimile apparatus.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention, in the image forming system according to the sixth aspect, the document file selection processing means causes the display means to display the identification information of the document file, and the display is performed by an input operation of the operation means. The identification information of the desired document file is designated from among the identification information of the document file displayed on the means.

According to an eighth aspect of the invention, in the image forming system according to the seventh aspect, the identification information displayed on the display means is the first page of document data of the corresponding document file.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the sixth aspect, the image forming apparatus transfers the image indicated by the document file of the information processing apparatus fetched by the document file transfer processing means. And a document file print processing means for performing a document file print processing for forming a document file, and a document file print processing by the document file print processing means and a document file transmission processing by the document file transmission processing means. It is characterized by comprising a processing designation means for designating.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the ninth aspect, the document file transfer processing means transfers the image forming command including the selected document file to the information processing apparatus. The request command is transmitted through the network.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the image forming system of the present invention.

The image forming system, as shown in FIG.
It is constructed on two local area networks (hereinafter referred to as LANs) 112 and 113 connected by a public line 116.

The image forming system constructed on the LAN 112 has a plurality of computers 101, 102, an image forming apparatus 107 and a facsimile apparatus 108,
The computers 101 and 102, the image forming apparatus 107, and the facsimile apparatus 108 are communicably connected to each other via a network 112.

Each of the computers 101, 102 has a storage device such as a hard disk for storing an application for executing an electronic mail function for exchanging electronic mail between them via the LAN 112, a document creation function, etc. By executing the stored application, the electronic mail function, the document creation function, etc. are executed. Further, the computer 102 is connected to a scanner unit 103 for capturing an image or the like to be attached to a created document and a printer 104 for printing the created document. Each computer 101,
Reference numeral 102 stores the created document in the hard disk.

The image forming apparatus 107 is a composite type apparatus having a copy function and a printer function usable as a printer for each of the host computers 101 and 102.
Specifically, a copy function forms an original image read by an original reading device on a transfer material, and a printer function develops a document created by each of the computers 101 and 102 into a bitmap image and transfers the developed image. Form into a material. A magneto-optical disk unit 114 is connected to the image forming apparatus 107, and the magneto-optical disk unit 114 constitutes an electronic filing function.

The facsimile apparatus 108 has a simple copy function in addition to the G3 standard facsimile function.
The facsimile machine 108 is connected to the LA via the public line 116.
It is connected to the N 113 and plays a role of a gateway for the LAN 113.

The image forming system constructed on the LAN 113 has a plurality of computers 109 (other computers are not shown), an image forming apparatus 110 and a facsimile apparatus 111, and each computer 109, the image forming apparatus 110 and The facsimile machines 111 are connected to each other via a network 113 so that they can communicate with each other.

Each computer 109 has L
It has a storage device such as a hard disk for storing an application for executing an electronic mail function for exchanging electronic mails via the AN 113, a document creation function, etc., and an electronic mail function by activating the stored application. , Execute document creation function.

The image forming apparatus 110 is the image forming apparatus 10.
7, the copy function and each host computer 10
9 is a composite type device having a printer function usable as a printer. A magneto-optical disk unit 115 is connected to the image forming apparatus 110, and the magneto-optical disk unit 115 constitutes an electronic filing function.

The facsimile apparatus 111 has a simple copying function in addition to the G3 standard facsimile function.
Facsimile apparatus 111 is connected to LA via public line 116.
It is connected to the N 112 and plays a role of a gateway for the LAN 112.

Next, the configuration of the image forming apparatuses 107 and 110 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus 107 of FIG. Since the image forming apparatus 107 and the image forming apparatus 110 have the same configuration, the configuration of the image forming apparatus 107 will be described, and the description of the configuration of the image forming apparatus 110 will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 107 is provided with a CPU 201 for controlling the entire apparatus.
201 operates by a real-time OS (operating system). A plurality of programs such as control programs and application programs related to control executed by the CPU 201 are stored in a hard disk (hereinafter referred to as HDD).
Stored in 202).

Among the programs stored in the HDD 202, a copy function processing program for executing a copy function and a document file held in each computer 101, 102 are selected, and the selected document file is facsimile-transmitted. A document transmission processing program for transmitting from the device 108 to a desired destination via the public line 116 and a document print for selecting a document file held in each of the computers 101 and 102 and printing the selected document file. Contains processing programs. Execution designation of the document transmission processing by the document transmission processing program and the document printing processing by the document printing processing program is performed by an input operation of the operation unit 221 described later.

This document transmission processing program fetches the identification information of the document files held in each of the computers 101 and 102 via the network, and a document file selection processing for selecting a desired document file based on the identification information. A document file transfer process for fetching the selected document file from each of the computers 101 and 102 via the LAN 112, sending the fetched document file to the facsimile device 108 via the LAN 112, and sending the sent document file to the facsimile device. 10
8 to perform a document file transmission process for transmitting the document file to a desired destination via the public line 116. The designation of the identification information of the document file and the desired destination instruction to the facsimile apparatus 108 are input operations of the operation unit 221 described later. Done by

In the document file selection process, the corresponding document file name as the identification information of the document file and the identification information transfer request command for requesting the transfer of the document data of the first page of the document file are sent to the selected computer, and the identification is performed. Document file name and document file 1 transferred from the computer by the information transfer request command
By capturing the document data of the page, displaying these data on the liquid crystal display device 222 described later, and designating the document data of the first page of each document file displayed on the display means by the input operation by the operation unit 221. Select the document file.

The computer to which this identification information transfer request command is given activates the document creation application and executes the document file identification information transfer processing. In this identification information transfer processing, a print instruction is issued for all the document file names and the document data of the first page of the document file in the hard disk, and the document file name and the document data of the first page of the document file are retrieved from the hard disk by this print instruction. An image forming command including the extracted document file name and the document data of the first page of the document file is sent to the image forming apparatus 107 via the LAN 112.
To transfer through.

In the document file transfer process, the LAN 112
The document file transfer request command is sent to the selected computer via. Upon receiving the document file transfer request command, the computer executes the document file transfer process. In this document file transfer process, similar to the document file identification information transfer process, the document file selected by the print instruction is taken out, and the image forming command including the taken out document file is sent to the image forming apparatus 107 via the LAN.
Transfer via 112.

The document print processing program performs the above-mentioned document file selection processing and document file transfer processing, and print processing for forming the image of the captured document file on the transfer material.

The calculation and processing results associated with the execution of the program of the CPU 201 are stored in the memory 203 and stored in the memory 2.
03 is used as a work area of the CPU 201.

CPU 201, HDD 202, memory 20
A high-speed CP 3 includes a RIP unit 205, an image processing unit 206, a compression / decompression unit 207, and a panel interface (hereinafter referred to as a panel I / F) 215.
It is connected to the U bus 204. High-speed CPU bus 204
Means that the data processed by the CPU 201 is stored in the memory 20 described above.
It is composed of a bus for high-speed transfer to each unit such as No. 3 and the like, and also for high-speed transfer of data between each unit (DMA transfer).

The RIP unit 205 fetches the image forming command including the document file data from each of the computers 101 and 102 via the high speed CPU bus 204,
Based on the image forming command, the document file data is expanded into a bitmap image to generate an image image. The image picture is sent to the high speed image bus 216. A description language such as Postscript, PCL, LIPS, or CaPSL is used for the image expansion processing performed by the RIP.

The image processing means 206 performs filtering processing such as smoothing processing and edge processing on the image image input from the high speed image bus 216 based on the processing instruction of the CPU 201.

The compression / expansion means 207 applies MH, M to the image image input from the high speed image bus 216.
A compression process is performed by a method such as R, MMR, JPEG, etc., and the compressed data is sent to the high speed CPU bus 204 or sent again to the high speed image bus 216.
Further, the compression / expansion means 207 performs a decompression process that is the reverse of compression by the high-speed CPU bus 204 and the high-speed image bus 21.
The compressed data input from each bus of No. 6 is expanded according to the compression method, and the expanded data is expanded by the high speed image bus 2
To 16.

The high speed image bus 216 is the CPU 201.
Data transfer by the high speed image bus 216 is controlled by a bus controller (not shown). The high-speed image bus 216 has a scanner unit interface (hereinafter referred to as a scanner I / F) 2
The scanner unit 218 is connected via the printer unit interface 17 and the printer unit 2 via the printer unit interface (hereinafter referred to as printer I / F) 219.
20 are connected.

The scanner unit 218 is provided with an automatic document feeder, and is composed of an image reading device for reading a document image sent to the document table with a reading sensor. The reading sensor is composed of a CCD color sensor of RGB 3 lines or a monochrome CCD line sensor of 1 line. The document image data read by the scanner unit 218 is sent to the scanner I / F 217.

The scanner I / F 217 performs optimum binarization processing on the input original image data to correspond to the subsequent processing steps, and also the high speed image bus 21.
Serial / parallel conversion according to the data width of 6, R,
From the input color data of the three primary colors G, B, C, M, Y, B
Conversion to data of k is performed. Scanner I / F217
The image data of the original processed by the high speed image bus 216
Sent to

The printer I / F 219 comprises an interface for transferring image data input from the high-speed image bus 216, and the interface uses the bus width of the high-speed image bus 216 as the gradation of the output destination printer unit 220. It has a bus width conversion function for converting to a combined bus width and a function for absorbing the difference between the printing speed of the printer unit 220 and the transfer speed of the image data of the high-speed image bus 216.

The printer unit 220 is a printer I /
An image forming process for forming the image data output from F219 on the transfer material is performed. For this image forming processing method, an electrophotographic technology method is used in which an image is formed on a photosensitive drum using a laser beam and the formed image is transferred to a transfer material. In this method, C, M, There are a color system using Y and Bk and a monochrome system. Instead of the electrophotographic technique, it is also possible to use a bubble jet method in which an image is formed on the transfer material by spraying ink on the transfer material.

A low-speed CPU bus 209, which has a slower transfer speed than the high-speed CPU bus 204, is connected to the high-speed CPU bus 204 via a bus bridge 208. The bus bridge 208 is a high-speed CPU bus 204 and a low-speed CPU bus 20.
Control to absorb the difference in processing speed between the
By this control, the CPU 201 changes the low-speed CPU bus 20.
It allows access to devices operating at low processing speeds, which are connected to the 9.

The low-speed CPU bus 209 comprises an ISA bus or the like, and the LAN unit 212 is connected to this bus. The LAN unit 212 includes the image forming apparatus 107.
Is connected to the LAN 112, and the unit transmits / receives data to / from the computers 101 and 102 and the facsimile machine 108.

The panel I / F 215 connected to the high-speed CPU bus 204 sends the operation instruction input from the operation unit 221 to the CPU 201 and the operation unit 221 and C.
It transmits and receives data to and from the PU 201 and converts the resolution of the image data sent to the high-speed CPU bus 204 so that it can be displayed on the liquid crystal display device 222 of the operation unit 221. The image data whose resolution has been converted is sent to the operation unit 221.

The operation unit 221 has a liquid crystal display device 222 provided with a touch panel input device for performing an instruction operation for the CPU 201, and a hard key group 223 for performing an instruction operation for the CPU 201. The touch panel input device forms function keys for selecting each function, and the hard key group 223 includes a start key, a numeric keypad, and the like. Note that the instruction operation for the CPU 201 includes the above-described specification of the identification information of the document file and the input operation for the desired destination instruction for the facsimile apparatus 108.

The liquid crystal display device 222 includes a panel I / F 2
The image data sent from 15 (image data whose resolution has been converted) is displayed.

Next, the document transmission process will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. 3 is a flowchart showing a document transmission process by the image forming apparatus 107 of FIG. 1, FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a document file selection screen in the document transmission process of FIG. 3. The user is currently the image forming apparatus 1
It is assumed that the computer 101 is installed at a remote location with respect to the image forming apparatus 107 and that the computer 101 is installed at a remote location.

When the document transmission process is selected in the image forming apparatus 107, as shown in FIG. 3, first, the user designates, for example, the computer 101 as a computer holding the document file to be transmitted, and the computer 101 is selected. Remoting login to LAN1
12 (step S101).

Then, a corresponding document file name as the identification information of the document file and an identification information transfer request command for requesting the transfer of the document data of the first page of the document file are sent to the computer 101 via the LAN 112 (step S102). ).

The computer 101, to which this identification information transfer request command is given, starts the document creation application and executes the document file identification information transfer processing (step S103). In this identification information transfer processing, all the document file names and the document data of the first page of the document file are fetched from the hard disk, and an image forming command including all the document file names and the document data of the first page of the document file is issued to the image forming apparatus 107. LAN 112
To transfer through.

The image forming command including the document file name and the document data of the first page of the document file transferred from the computer 101 is fetched by the LAN unit 212 (step S104) and fetched by the LAN unit 212 and included in the image forming command. A list display process of the document file name and the document data of the first page of the document file is performed (step S105).

In this list display processing, the LAN unit 2
The image forming command taken in by 12 is sent to the low-speed CPU bus 2
09, bus bridge 208 and high-speed CPU bus 204
Is input to the RIP unit 205 via the RIP unit 205, and the RIP unit 205 expands the document file name included in the image forming command and the document data of the first page of the document file into bitmap image data, and the resolution of the image data is determined by the image processing means. The image data whose resolution has been converted in 206 is displayed on the liquid crystal display device 222 of the operation unit 221.
For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the liquid crystal display device 222 includes
A document file selection screen is formed, and the image indicated by the document file name and the document data of the first page of the document file is displayed on the document file selection screen.

Next, the user performs an input operation by the operation unit 221 while looking at the document data of the first page of each document file displayed on the liquid crystal display device 222, and the document file to be transmitted is selected by this input operation ( Step S106). In this way, since the document data of the first page of the document file is displayed as the document file identification information together with the document file name, the contents of the document file selected by the user can be surely confirmed, and erroneous selection of document files can be prevented. It can be prevented.

Then, the telephone number of the destination (for example, the facsimile apparatus 111) to which the selected document file is transmitted is designated by the input operation of the operation unit 221 (step S).
107). This telephone number is input by operating a hard key such as a numeric keypad, and the input telephone number is displayed on the liquid crystal display device 222 together with the document data of the first page of the document file, as shown in FIG.

Then, a document file transfer request command is sent to the computer 101 via the LAN 112 (step S108).

Upon receiving this document file transfer request command, the computer 101 executes a document file transfer process (step S109). In this document file transfer process, the selected document file is retrieved from the hard disk and the image forming command including this document file is transferred to the image forming apparatus 107 via the LAN 112.

The image forming command including the document file transferred from the computer 101 is sent to the LAN unit 212.
(Step S110).

Next, the image forming command fetched by the LAN unit 212 is sent to the RIP via the low speed CPU bus 209, the bus bridge 208 and the high speed CPU bus 204.
The document data of the document file input to the unit 205 and included in the image forming command by the RIP unit 205 is expanded into bitmap image data (step S11).
1).

The image data expanded into a bitmap image is sent to the facsimile apparatus 108 via the LAN 112 together with the destination telephone number (step S112).

The facsimile apparatus 108 compresses the received image data based on a predetermined image transmission standard, and transmits the compressed image data to the designated telephone number destination (facsimile apparatus 111) via the public line 116 ( In step S113), this process ends.

As described above, in order to transmit desired document data held in the computer 101 installed in a remote place from the facsimile apparatus 108 to a desired destination, the image forming apparatus 107 located near the user is processed. Since it is executed by operation, as in the conventional case, the computer near the place where the user is located is operated to take in the document data held in the computer A at a remote place into the computer B once, and the document data is read by the printer. The user does not need to move and operate each device, such as printing and sending the printed document data with a facsimile device, and it is stored in a computer connected to the network without extra effort. The document can be transmitted by a facsimile machine.

Next, the document printing process will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a document printing process by the image forming apparatus 107 of FIG. 1, and FIG.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a document file selection screen in the document printing process of FIG. 5.

When the document printing process is selected in the image forming apparatus 107, as shown in FIG. 5, first, the document file selecting process is executed (steps S201 to S206). This step S201 to step S206
The processing content of step S1 in the document transmission processing described above
Although the processing contents of 01 to step S106 are almost the same, the screen display contents of the document file in step S205 are partially different from the screen display contents in step S105. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, a document file selection screen is formed on the liquid crystal display device 222, and a document file name and an image represented by the document data of the first page of the document file are displayed on the document file selection screen. Although it is displayed, the display area for the input telephone number is not provided.

Next, when a document file to be printed is selected by an input operation from the operation unit 221 by the user (step S106), transfer processing of the selected document file is executed (steps S207 to S207).
209). The processing contents in steps S207 to S209 are the same as the processing contents in steps S108 to S110 in the above-described document transmission process, and the description thereof will be omitted.

When the image forming command including the selected document file is received (step S209), the image forming command is taken into the LAN unit 212 and the image forming command is sent to the low speed CPU bus 209, the bus bridge 208 and the high speed CPU bus 2.
Is input to the RIP unit 205 via 04, and the RIP
The document data of the document file included in the image forming command is expanded into bitmap image data by the unit 205, and a predetermined process is performed by the image processing unit 206 (step S210).

Next, the image data developed into the bitmap image is sent to the printer unit 220 via the printer I / F 219, and the printer unit 220 performs an image forming process for forming the image data on the transfer material (step). S211).

As described above, the desired document data stored in the computer 101 installed at a remote place is executed by operating the image forming apparatus 107 located near the user, and therefore, as in the conventional case. , The user operates the computer A near the place where the user is located, temporarily takes in the document data held in the computer at the remote place into the computer B, and prints the document data with a nearby printer. A document held in a computer connected on the network can be obtained as a printed document without the need to move and operate, and without extra effort.

In the present embodiment, the document transmission process and the document printing process in the image forming system constructed on the LAN 112 have been described.
The image forming system constructed in 13 can also execute the document transmitting process and the document printing process.

[0073]

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, the document file selection processing means
The identification information of the document file held in the information processing device is fetched via the network, the document file selection processing for selecting a desired document file is performed based on the identification information, and the document file selected by the document file transfer processing means. A document file transfer process for fetching the document from the information processing device via the network, the document file transmission processing means transmits the fetched document file to the facsimile device via the network, and the transmitted document file is the facsimile device. Perform a document file transmission process for transmitting the document file to a desired destination via a public line, and perform an input operation of designating the identification information of the desired document file from among the identification information of the document file by the operating means and a desired facsimile device. Enter the destination of Operate a computer near the location where the computer is located to capture the document data stored in the computer at a remote location into the computer operated by the user, print the document data with a printer, and send the printed document data with a facsimile machine. It is not necessary for the user to move between the devices to perform operations, and the process for sending a document stored in a computer connected on the network to a facsimile device without extra work is performed. Can be executed.

According to the image forming apparatus of the second aspect, the document file selection processing means displays the document file identification information on the display means, and the document file identification information displayed on the display means by the input operation of the operation means. Since the identification information of the desired document file is designated from among these, the designation of the document file to be selected can be surely executed.

According to the image forming apparatus of the third aspect, since the identification information displayed on the display means is the document data of the first page of the corresponding document file, the content of the document file selected by the user is surely ensured. It is possible to confirm and prevent erroneous selection of the document file.

According to the image forming apparatus of the fourth aspect, the document file printing is performed to perform the document file printing processing for forming the image indicated by the document file of the information processing apparatus fetched by the document file transfer processing means on the transfer material. Since the processing means is provided and the processing designation means designates either one of the document file print processing by the document file print processing means and the document file transmission processing by the document file transmission processing means, it is connected to the network. The document stored in the computer can be processed by the facsimile machine to be transmitted, and the document stored in the remote computer connected to the network can be processed without extra effort. It can be obtained as a printed document.

According to the image forming apparatus of the fifth aspect, the document file transfer processing means sends the transfer request command to the information processing apparatus via the network so as to transfer the image forming command including the selected document file. From
It is possible to easily perform processing such as image expansion processing on the transferred document file.

According to the image forming system of the sixth aspect, the identification information of the document file held in the information processing apparatus is fetched into the image forming apparatus via the network, and the desired document file is selected based on the identification information. Document file selection processing means for performing document file selection processing for performing the document file transfer processing, document file transfer processing means for performing document file transfer processing for capturing the selected document file from the information processing device via the network, and the captured document file And a document file transmission processing means for performing document file transmission processing for transmitting the transmitted document file from the facsimile apparatus to a desired destination via the public line, and identifying the document file. Input to specify the identification information of the desired document file from the information Since an operation unit for performing an operation and an input operation for inputting a desired destination to the facsimile apparatus is provided, the computer near the user's place is operated and held in a remote computer as in the conventional case. Once the document data is stored in the computer operated by the user, the document data is printed by the printer,
A computer connected to the network without the need for the user to move the operations between the devices such as transmitting the printed document data by a facsimile device and to operate the image forming device without extra trouble. It is possible to execute a process for transmitting the document held in the facsimile device by the facsimile device.

According to the image forming system of claim 7, the document file selection processing means displays the identification information of the document file on the display means, and the identification information of the document file displayed on the display means by the input operation of the operation means. Since the identification information of the desired document file is designated from among these, the designation of the document file to be selected can be surely executed.

According to the image forming system of the eighth aspect, since the identification information displayed on the display means is the document data of the first page of the corresponding document file, the content of the document file selected by the user is surely ensured. It is possible to confirm and prevent erroneous selection of the document file.

According to the image forming system of claim 9, a document file printing process for forming on the transfer material the image indicated by the document file of the information processing device fetched by the document file transfer processing means in the image forming device. The document file print processing means for performing the above and the processing designation means for designating either one of the document file print processing by the document file print processing means and the document file transmission processing by the document file transmission processing means are provided. ,
From the image forming device side, it is possible to execute the processing for sending the document stored in the computer connected to the network with the facsimile device, and to connect to the network without any extra effort. It is possible to obtain a document held in a remote computer as a printed document.

According to the image forming system of the tenth aspect, the document file transfer processing means sends the transfer request command to the information processing apparatus via the network so as to transfer the image forming command including the selected document file. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus, it is possible to easily perform processing such as image expansion processing on the transferred document file.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of an image forming system of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus 107 in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a document transmission process by the image forming apparatus 107 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a document file selection screen in the document transmission process of FIG.

5 is a flowchart showing a document printing process by the image forming apparatus 107 of FIG.

6 is a diagram showing an example of a document file selection screen in the document printing process of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101, 102, 109 Computer 107, 110 Image forming device 108, 111 Facsimile device 112, 113 LAN (network) 116 Public line 201 CPU 202 HDD 203 Memory 205 RIP unit 206 Image processing means 207 Compression / expansion means 212 LAN unit 220 Printer Unit 221 Operation unit 222 Liquid crystal display device

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus for forming an input image on a transfer material, which is connected to a network together with a facsimile apparatus for transmitting and receiving information via a public line and an information processing apparatus having a document creating function, and the information processing. Document file selection processing means for taking in the identification information of the document file held in the apparatus via the network, and performing document file selection processing for selecting a desired document file based on the identification information, and the selected document file And a document file transfer processing means for performing a document file transfer process for transferring the document file from the information processing apparatus via the network, and transmitting the captured document file to the facsimile apparatus via the network, and transmitting the document. File from the fax machine to the public line A document file transmission processing means for performing a document file transmission process for transmitting the document file to a desired destination via an input operation for designating the identification information of the desired document file from among the identification information of the document file, and the facsimile device. An image forming apparatus, comprising: an operation unit for performing an input operation for inputting the desired destination. 2. The document file selection processing means causes the display means to display the identification information of the document file, and the desired one is selected from the identification information of the document file displayed on the display means by an input operation of the operation means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification information of the document file is designated. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the identification information displayed on the display unit is the document data of the first page of the corresponding document file. 4. A document file print processing means for performing a document file print processing for forming an image represented by a document file of the information processing device, which is taken in by the document file transfer processing means, on a transfer material, and the document file print processing. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a process designation unit that designates one of a document file printing process by the processing unit and a document file transmission process by the document file transmission processing unit. 5. The document file transfer processing means sends a transfer request command to the information processing apparatus via the network so as to transfer an image forming command including the selected document file. Item 4
The image forming apparatus as described in the above. 6. An image forming system in which a facsimile apparatus for transmitting and receiving information via a public line, an information processing apparatus having a document creating function, and an image forming apparatus for forming an input image on a transfer material are connected by a network. In the document, the image forming apparatus captures the identification information of the document file held in the information processing apparatus via the network, and performs a document file selection process for selecting a desired document file based on the identification information. File selection processing means, document file transfer processing means for performing document file transfer processing for loading the selected document file from the information processing apparatus via the network, and the loaded document file via the network. The document file is sent to the facsimile machine and the sent document file is forwarded. Document file transmission processing means for performing a document file transmission process for transmitting from a facsimile device to a desired destination via the public line, and specifying the identification information of the desired document file from the identification information of the document file And an operation unit for performing an input operation for inputting the desired destination to the facsimile device. 7. The document file selection processing means displays the identification information of the document file on a display means, and the desired information is selected from the identification information of the document file displayed on the display means by an input operation of the operation means. 7. The image forming system according to claim 6, wherein the identification information of the document file is designated. 8. The image forming system according to claim 7, wherein the identification information displayed on the display unit is the document data of the first page of the corresponding document file. 9. The document file print processing unit, wherein the image forming apparatus performs a document file print process for forming an image indicated by a document file of the information processing device fetched by the document file transfer processing unit on a transfer material. When,
7. The processing specification means for specifying either one of the document file printing processing by the document file printing processing means and the document file transmission processing by the document file transmission processing means. Image forming system. 10. The document file transfer processing means sends a transfer request command to the information processing apparatus via the network so as to transfer an image forming command including the selected document file. Item 9. The image forming system according to Item 9.