EP0638217A1

EP0638217A1 - Information router

Info

Publication number: EP0638217A1
Application number: EP93912034A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Lennart B. Lindgard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-04-23
Filing date: 1993-04-20
Publication date: 1995-02-15
Also published as: SE469101B; WO1993022870A1; SE9201284D0; AU4274193A; JPH08501417A; SE9201284L

Abstract

This invention, called an Information Router, holds a microprocessor-based control unit that is designed to be able to connect to one or more computers, a telephone, one or more telephone lines and one or more printers. The control unit has a built-in, afterwards added and/or the ability to attach an external, document scanner (14) and it can also be equipped with an internal data- and fax-modem (3). The Information Router can help attached external units to be used selectively for copying from scanner to printer, for receiving incoming and sending outgoing telefaxes and to print out and input data to/from an attached external computer.

Description

Information Router

This invention is called an Information Router and holds a microprocessor- based control unit that is connected to one or more computers, a telephone, one or more telephone lines and one or more printers. The control unit has a built-in, or an afterwards added, or the ability to attach an external scanner and it can also be equipped with an internal modem and fax-modem.

The Information Router is a machine that, without support from externally attached computers of any kind, will supervise and control the usage of the units attached to the Information Router so that those are used in an efficie way.

A purpose of the invention is to be able to make use of the built-in, built-on or externally attached scanner for reading of documents that are selectively used for sending telefaxes, for copying through an attached printer or for da input to an attached computer. Another purpose of the invention is to be abl to use an attached printer selectively for receiving and printout of telefax from the telephone line, for printouts from a computer or for copying from t scanner. Further purposes and functions of the Information Router can be understood from the description below.

The drawing shows one version of the Information Router according to the invention. It consists of a microprocessor-based control unit that is connected to one or more computers, a telephone, one or more telephone lines and one or more printers. The control unit has a built-in, or an afterwards added, or the ability to attach an external scanner, and an intern data- and fax-modem. The Information Router can also be equipped with a control panel B with a number of control keys and a display 13, including th necessary control logic. The control panel B is, however, not necessary sinc its functions also can be controlled from software in a computer attached to the control unit A. The control unit A is built around a microprocessor with CPU 1 , a data- and address bus 8, RAM 5 and RAM card expansion capabilities 51, a program in ROM 2 and an ability to add extra programs in ROM 21. Attached to the data- and address bus 8 is a parallel logic circuit 6 with inputs 61, 62 for computer 1 and 2, respectively, and with outputs 63 and 64 for printers 1 and 2, respectively. Attached to the bus is also serial logic circuits 7 for connection to and communication with printer 71 , printer port on computer 72, computer port for modem and fax 73 and control panel 74. A 9600 baud faxmodem/datamodem 3 with an amplifier 31 and a loudspeaker 32 is also attached to the bus. The modem 3 is connected to one of two telephone lines 42, 43 through a switch 41. The telephone logic 4 is also connected to the data bus to control the switch 41 , that connects the telephone line 42, 43 that is not attached to the modem 3, to a telephone connector 44. A document scanner 14 can also be attached to the bus.

The control panel B contains, besides the keyboard- and display unit 13, an input 101 for serial attachment 9 (for example V24) connected to serial logic circuitry 10, that also is connected to the keyboard- and display unit 13 through the display logic circuitry 11 and the keyboard logic circuitry 12.

The software in the control unit A makes the following functionality possible:

• Scanning: One or several papers can be read by the scanner and routed electronically to a computer for further processing. • Copying: One or several papers can be read by the scanner and printed out on a printer. • Fax transmission from paper: One or several papers can be read by the scanner, be converted to telefax format by the built-in fax modem and sent to a remote telefax machine. • Fax transmission from computer: A document that is sent from an attached computer, is converted to telefax format by the built-in fax modem and sent to a remote telefax machine. • Fax/Tele/Modem switch: When an incoming ring signal is detected on th telephone line, the control unit "answers" and decides whether the incoming signal is a telefax-, voice- or a data modem signal and sends a ring signal to the telephone or starts one of the functions "Fax reception or "Modem answering". • Printout switch: Several computers can be attached for printouts. • Printer switch: Any attached computer can make printouts on one of several attached printers. • Fax reception with printout: A telefax of one or more pages is received and printed out on one of the attached printers. • Fax reception with storage on computer: A telefax of one or more page is received and transmitted to the attached computer, that stores it on its hard disk. • Modem calling: Calling and communicating through the built-in data modem. • Modem answering: Answering and communicating through the built-in data modem. • Telephone answering and telephone calling: Transparent • Printout from computer via printer: Transparent

Ail data that is read from the scanner (for copying or faxing) without directl being routed to the computer, is always converted to a standard format and temporary stored in RAM for printing or faxing.

All data that is read from the fax modem (a received fax, due for immediate printout) without directly being routed to the computer, is always converted a standard format and temporary stored in RAM for printing. Some fax forma that are converted to the standard format are: Group 2, Group 3 and Group

All data in the units RAM memory that will be printed (in the case of a received fax, due for immediate printout or in the case of document copying is converted from the standard format to the data format that is necessary f the printer to be able to print the image correctly. Some of the printer forma that are extracted from the standard format are: HP Laserjet II + , HP Laserje III, Postscript, HP Deskjet, IBM Graphics Printer and IBM Proprinter.

By advanced real-time programming, the microprocessor processes and routes all information that passes through the unit (except for voice telephony) virtually simultaneously and allows all processes that do not use the same hardware to work concurrently and independent of each other. It is therefore possible to copy a document and (if two telephone lines are connected) make a voice telephone call at the same time as a datamodem- or fax communication is in process. It is also possible to make a printout at the same time as a fax is sent through the scanner, or keep a modem communication active while copying, etc.

There are also memory expansion abilities inside the unit to increase the buffer capacity and the copying speed. Furthermore, more software can be added as ROM for increased functionality.

Claims

1. Information Router intended to be able to be connected to at least one graphic printer and at least one telephone line, distinguished by the fa that the unit is able to hold or attach a built-in, an afterwards added, and/or an external, scanner. The Information Router consists of a microprocessor-based control unit (A), designed and programmed to convert and route information in such a way that one or several documents can be scanned and, through conversion from scanner for to a format suitable for printout, a copy can be printed out by the print The Information Router is also designed to be able to connect an external computer equipment, in which case the control unit (A) is designed and programmed in such a way that the external computer equipment has free and transparent access to attached and contained units, such as printer, scanner and telephone line, whenever those uni are not occupied by some other process.

2. Information Router as described in patent claim 1 , distinguished by th fact that the control unit (A), with the help from the attached units and built-in fax- and datamodem (3), can convert and route information in such a way that one or several documents can be scanned and, via conversion to fax format, be sent via the telephone network to a remot fax, including all necessary connection establish- and breakup routine

3. Information Router as described in any preceding patent claim, distinguished A the fact that the control unit (A) with the help from th attached units and a built-in fax- and datamodem (3), can convert and route information in forms of fax documents, sent from a remote fax vi the telephone network, in such a way that these fax documents are printed on the attached printer.

4. Information Router as described in any preceding patent claim, distinguished by the fact that the control unit (A), with the help from t built-in fax- and datamodem (3), can convert and route information in such a way that electronic documents that are being sent from an attached computer equipment are converted to fax format and sent via the telephone network to a remote fax, including all necessary connection establish- and breakup routines.

5. Information Router as described in any preceding patent claim, distinguished by the fact that the control unit (A), with the help from the built-in fax- and datamodem (3), can convert and route information in forms of fax documents, sent from a remote fax via the telephone network, in such a way that these fax documents are routed to the attached computer equipment.

6. Information Router as described in any preceding patent claim, distinguished by the fact that the control unit (A), with the help from the built-in fax- and datamodem (3), can establish contact and route information between the attached computer equipment and a remote computer equipment via the telephone network.

7. Information Router as described in any preceding patent claim, distinguished by the fact that the control unit (A), after having answered an incoming call, can detect whether the caller is a fax machine, a computer modem or a human being and connect the call to the right equipment.

8. Information Router as described in any preceding patent claim, distinguished A the fact that the control unit (A), being attached to more than one telephone lines, can work as a telephone switch in such a way that two calls always can be made: One voice call and one data call (fax- or data format).

9. Information Router as described in any preceding patent claim, distinguished by the fact that the control unit (A), being attached to more than one computer, can work as a printout switch in such a way that the computers are connected to the printer in the same order as they need to access a printer for printout.

10. Information Router as described in any preceding patent claim, distinguished by the fact that the control unit (A), being attached to more than one printer, can work as a printer switch in such a way that the computer is connected to printer that is indicated as the active printer for that computer. The active printer for each computer is set with control codes from the computer or by using the control panel.