KR100213915B1 - Facsimile data transmitting apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a fax data transmission apparatus and method for downloading and processing fax software of a host computer in a multifunction printer in which a printer and a fax function are combined without using a universal asynchronous receiver / transmitter (UART). It is about.

The fax data transmission apparatus of the present invention receives a fax data and a telephone number and executes software for fax transmission, and downloads the fax data and the telephone number and transmits the fax data to a receiver corresponding to the telephone number. And a single communication means between the host computer and the multifunction device for transmitting the fax data and the telephone number.

On the other hand, the fax data transmission method of the present invention generates a fax data, the first step of downloading the fax data and the predetermined data relating to the fax transmission to the multifunction device and monitor the fax transmission, and the fax data transmitted from the host computer And a second process of transmitting the fax data according to the predetermined data after receiving the predetermined data relating to the fax transmission.

Description

Fax data transmission device and method

The present invention relates to a multifunction device, and more particularly, in a multifunction device in which a printer and a fax function are combined, the fax software of the host computer is downloaded to the multifunction device without using a universal asynchronous receiver / transmitter (UART). The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for transmitting fax data.

In general, a multifunction device is a device having a reading unit, a printer, a modem, a computer, and the like, which prints data read from the reading unit or data transmitted from another system through a modem to a printer or stores the data on a hard disk in the computer. .

Therefore, the multifunction apparatus refers to a device having a fax function, a printer function, a scanner function, a copier function, and the like.

1 is a schematic block diagram of a general MFP.

As shown in the drawing, a central processing unit (CPU) 1 for controlling and processing a system according to a predetermined program, and converting into electric energy having contrast by scanning and dividing pictures or characters of documents or documents to be transmitted at regular intervals. A reading unit 2 for transmitting digital image data to the central processing unit 1, program data, protocol data, text data and recorded audio data, and accessing data under control of the central processing unit 1; Or a modem for demodulating and outputting the received input signal by modulating and outputting the data output from the central processing unit 1 under the control of the memory unit 3 and the central processing unit 1 in analog form. 4) and a code / complex for encoding or decoding data under the control of the central processing unit 1 for efficient processing of data input / output to the modem 4. A network controller 6 for forming a call loop of a telephone line under the control of the central processing unit 1 and interfacing the signal of the modem 4 with the signal of the telephone line; It is provided with a key and a display device to input various control commands, and under the control of the central processing unit 1, an operating panel 7 for displaying the state and various information of the system, and a main memory or auxiliary storage device. Computer 8, an ordinary printer 9 capable of printing and expressing original information through an arbitrary transmission line or printing contents stored in the computer 8, and receiving or transmitting via a modem 4 The data stored in the memory unit 3 or the data stored in the main memory device or auxiliary storage device of the general computer 8 under the control of the central processing unit 1, or transmitted to the general computer 8; The data in your storage device (9) It is configured as a buffer controller 10 for outputting the data to the printer (9) or to output the data read through the reading unit (2).

This multifunction printer is widely used because of the advantage of sending a fax from the host computer when sending data using a conventional fax, printing the data to be sent from the host computer, and sending this document directly to the other party via fax. have.

For this reason, as shown in FIG. 2, recently developed fax machines also attach a UART RS-232C connector to the fax 13, and also add an AT command interpreter inside the fax machine, thereby providing a host computer. In its view, standalone faxing acts as an external faxmodem, enabling host computer faxing.

This also applies to the multifunction apparatus 22 equipped with a fax function as shown in FIG.

However, in a multifunction device in which the Centronics Interface is already installed for the printing function, the system construction is complicated because the RS-232C interface 12 and the Centronics interface 21 must be provided for the host computer fax function. In addition, the cost increases, and there is an inefficient problem that fax transmission / reception software, which is also present in the multifunction apparatus, must simultaneously exist in the fax software of the host computer.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to simplify the system configuration by removing the RS-232C cable among the two cables that existed between the MFP and the host computer.

It is another object of the present invention to eliminate duplication of program development by eliminating the necessity of the fax transmission / reception software already existing in the multifunction apparatus exists in the fax software of the host computer.

1 is a schematic block diagram of a general multifunction device,

2 is a diagram showing a connection between a host computer and a fax via an RS-232C communication interface,

3 is a view showing that the host computer is connected through a RS-232C communication interface and a Centronics communication interface in a compound period.

4 is a diagram illustrating a connection relationship between a host computer, which is a fax data transmission apparatus, and a multifunction apparatus according to the present invention;

5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of monitoring download and fax transmission of fax data and telephone number performed by a host computer in the fax data transmission method according to the present invention;

6 is a flowchart illustrating a fax data transmission process performed by the multifunction apparatus in the fax data transmission method according to the present invention.

Explanation of Signs of Major Parts of Drawings

11, 31: host computer 12: RS-232C cable

13: fax 14: telephone line

21: Centronics cable 22, 32: All-in-one

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fax data transmission apparatus including a host computer configured to receive fax data and a telephone number, and to perform software related to fax transmission. And a single communication means between the host computer and the multifunction device for transmitting the fax data and the telephone number.

In the present invention, the communication means is preferably a Centronics Interface and Cable.

On the other hand, the fax data transmission method of the present invention for achieving the above object is a first step of generating fax data to download the fax data and the predetermined data relating to the fax transmission to the multifunction device and monitor the fax transmission, and the host computer And a second process of transmitting the fax data according to the predetermined data after receiving the fax data and the predetermined data related to the fax transmission.

Preferably, the first process comprises the steps of extracting fax data from a document, receiving a telephone number, downloading the fax data and the telephone number to the multifunction device, and downloading the downloaded fax data. Determining whether the FAX transmission is completed, and recording the content of the FAX transmission when the FAX transmission is completed.

Preferably, the second step of the present invention comprises the step of calling the fax data receiver using the downloaded telephone number after receiving the fax data from the host computer, and if the communication channel is established with the receiver, And transmitting the fax data, determining whether the transmission of the fax data is completed, and reporting completion of the transmission to the host computer when the transmission of the fax data is completed.

Hereinafter, the objects, features, and advantages of the present invention described above will be described in more detail with reference to the preferred embodiments of the present invention shown in the accompanying drawings.

The terms to be described below are terms defined in consideration of functions in the present invention, and may vary according to the intention or custom of a person skilled in the art, and the definitions should be made based on the contents throughout the specification.

4 is a diagram illustrating a connection relationship between a host computer, which is a fax data transmission apparatus, and a multifunction apparatus according to the present invention.

As shown in the drawing, the RS-232C interface and the cable existing in order to directly drive the fax unit 35 of the multifunction apparatus 32 are removed from the fax software present in the host computer 31, and the host computer 31 is removed. The fax software existing in the software generates only the fax data to be transmitted from each application, and downloads the data to the all-in-one 32 through the Centronics cable 21, and the multi-function machine 32 takes the data. The system configuration is shown to enable actual fax transmission.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of monitoring the download and fax transmission of fax data and a telephone number performed by a host computer in the fax data transmission method according to the present invention.

As shown in the drawing, the host computer extracts fax data from a document (S41), receives a telephone number (S42), downloads the fax data and the telephone number to a multifunction device (S43), Checking the state of the multifunction apparatus (S44), determining whether the fax transmission of the downloaded fax data is completed (S45), and recording the contents thereof when the transmission of the determination result is completed (S46). Include.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a fax data transmission process performed by the multifunction apparatus in the fax data transmission method according to the present invention.

As shown, when receiving the fax data from the host computer to call the fax data receiver using the downloaded phone number (S51, S52), and if the communication channel is established with the receiver (S53) Determining whether the transmission of the fax data is completed (S54), and reporting completion of transmission to the host computer (S55) if the transmission of the fax data is completed.

5 and 6, the fax data transmission process using the fax data transmission apparatus according to the present invention will be described.

First, the host computer 31 extracts the fax data from the document (step S41).

After extracting the fax data from the document, the user receives a telephone number for the receiver to receive the fax data from the user (step S42).

After receiving the fax data and the telephone number, the fax data and the telephone number are downloaded to the multifunction apparatus (step S43).

After downloading the fax data and the telephone number, the state of the multifunction device is checked (step S44).

Then, it is determined whether the fax transmission of the downloaded fax data is completed (step S45).

When the transmission is completed as a result of the determination, the contents thereof are recorded (step S46).

On the other hand, upon receiving the fax data from the host computer 31, the fax data receiver is dialed using the downloaded telephone number (steps S51 and S52).

After dialing the fax data receiver, if the communication channel is established with the receiver, the fax data is transmitted (step S53).

Next, it is determined whether the transmission of the fax data is completed (step S54).

As a result of the determination, if the transmission of the fax data is completed, the transmission completion report is reported to the host computer (step S55).

As described above, according to the present invention, there is an effect of simplifying the system configuration by removing the RS-232C cable among the two cables existing between the MFP and the host computer.

In addition, according to the present invention, there is an effect of preventing the duplication of program development by eliminating the necessity of the fax transmission / reception software already existing in the multifunction apparatus exists in the fax software of the host computer.

Claims (5)

A host computer which receives the fax data and the telephone number and executes software for fax transmission; A multifunction peripheral which downloads the fax data and the telephone number and transmits the fax data to a receiver corresponding to the telephone number; And one communication means between the host computer and the multifunction apparatus for transmitting the fax data and the telephone number. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said communication means is a Centronics Interface and Cable. A fax data transmission method in a fax data transmission apparatus having a host computer that generates fax data to be transmitted and a multifunction apparatus that transmits the generated fax data, the method comprising: generating the fax data so that the predetermined data relating to the fax data and the fax transmission are generated. A first step of downloading data to the MFP and monitoring fax transmission; And a second step of transmitting the fax data according to the predetermined data after receiving the fax data transmitted from the host computer and predetermined data related to the fax transmission. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first step comprises: extracting fax data from a document; Receiving a telephone number; Downloading the fax data and the telephone number to the multifunction apparatus; Determining whether a fax transmission of the downloaded fax data is completed; And if the transmission is completed as a result of the determination, recording the content thereof. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second step comprises: calling a fax data receiver using the downloaded telephone number after receiving fax data from the host computer; Transmitting fax data when a communication channel is established with the receiver; Determining whether transmission of the fax data is completed; And if the transmission of the fax data is completed as a result of the determination, reporting completion of transmission to the host computer.

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