JP2000113183A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten processing time for each function without degrading picture quality by attaining the acceleration of a transmission speed of image data and the simplification of handling of image data by managing the image data related to the respective processing of a plurality of functions through a single control board. SOLUTION: A control part 20 of a digital copy machine is constituted by connecting a copier board 1 as a custom board for applying prescribed processing to image data and a mechanism control board 2 as a custom board for controlling the operation of mechanism components such as scanner part 4 and printer part 5 are connected to the PCI slot of a main control board 8 as a PC/AT compatible board together with a modem card 10 and NIC 12. Between an external device and the copier board 1, image data are transmitted at high speed through a PCI bus 18 and image data are directly supplied from the scanner part 4 through a dedicated communication line to the printer part 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus such as a digital copying machine and a printer, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus for performing image forming processing in a printer section based on image data of a document read by an internal scanner section. External image output device such as a personal computer
The present invention also relates to an image processing apparatus for inputting and outputting image data to and from an external image communication device such as a facsimile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an image processing apparatus for inputting / outputting image data between a plurality of functional units, a copying function for copying an image of a document read by a scanner unit, and image formation for image data input from an external device. 2. Description of the Related Art There are multifunctional digital copiers that execute functions such as a printer function and a facsimile function for transmitting and receiving image data to and from a facsimile apparatus.

A conventional multi-function digital copying machine is configured by adding various functions such as a printer function and a facsimile function to a digital copying machine having only a copying function.
That is, as shown in FIG. 5 as an example, a conventional multi-function digital copier is provided with a scanner unit 104 via an internal bus on a main board 101 having a unique architecture.
And a mechanism control board 102 for controlling the operation of the printer unit 105, and an operation panel 103 for receiving setting input of copying conditions and selection input of each function.
A printer board 106 provided with a network interface card and a fax board 107 provided with a modem are connected via a SCSI bus.

In this configuration, at the time of processing of the copying function, image data of a document read by the scanner unit 104 is input to the main board 101, and after being subjected to predetermined image processing, supplied to the printer unit 105 from the main board 101. You. Further, during the processing of the printer function, the image data input from the external device is temporarily stored in the printer board 106, and then is stored in the main board 1 via the SCSI bus.
01, and after being subjected to predetermined image processing, is supplied from the main board 101 to the printer 105. Further, during the transmission process of the facsimile function, the scanner unit 1
The image data of the transmission original read by 04 is temporarily stored in a facsimile board 107 after being subjected to predetermined image processing in a main board 101, and is connected to an external facsimile machine via a public telephone line network. Sent. In the reception process of the facsimile function, image data transmitted from an external facsimile machine is temporarily stored in the facsimile board 107, subjected to predetermined image processing in the main board 101, and supplied to the printer unit 105.

As described above, in the conventional multi-function digital copying machine, image data for each function such as a copying function, a printer function, and a facsimile function is managed on a separate board. A memory for storing data is mounted. In addition, a timing signal is input / output between the boards in order to synchronize operations between the boards.

[0006]

However, in a conventional multi-function digital copying machine, when processing a function other than the copying function, image data is transferred between a board dedicated to each function and a main board via a SCSI bus. The transmission speed of image data between boards is limited, and the data amount is reduced by reducing the resolution and gradation of image data to reduce the processing time of each function. And there is a problem that image quality is deteriorated. Such a problem is not limited to a multi-function digital copying machine, and is a problem that generally occurs in an image processing apparatus configured to transmit image data between control boards provided for a plurality of functions.

An object of the present invention is to manage image data relating to each processing of a plurality of functions on a single control board, to increase the transmission speed of image data and to simplify the handling of image data. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus capable of reducing the processing time of each function without deteriorating the image quality.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a copier board for performing image processing on image data read by a scanner unit, and the operation of mechanical parts constituting the scanner unit and the printer unit are controlled. A mechanism control board and a communication line connected to an external image output device and an image communication device are connected to a PCI bus of a PC / AT compatible board, and the copier board is connected to the external image output device and the image communication device. Input and output of image data at
The control is performed using a C / AT compatible board.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, input / output of image data between an internal copier board and an external image output device or image communication device is performed by a general-purpose PC / AT.
This is done via the existing PCI bus on the compatible board. The data transmission speed of the PCI bus is determined by the SCSI used for data input / output in a personal computer.
Faster than when data is transmitted via
Therefore, when the image forming process based on the image data input from the external image output device or the image communication device is performed by the internal printer unit, and the image data read by the internal scanner unit is output to the external image communication device. In this case, the transmission speed of the image data between the copier board and the external image output device and image communication device is increased without lowering the resolution and gradation of the image data.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a PC / AT compatible board stores image data input / output between an internal copier board and an external image output device and image communication device as data in page units. The memory is provided.

[0011] In the invention described in claim 2, the PC
The / AT compatible board processes image data input / output between the internal copier board and the external image output device and image communication device in page units. Therefore, even when the processing speed of the image data differs between the copier board and the external device, the PC / AT compatible board can easily determine the processing timing of the image data that matches the processing timing of the copier board and the external device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the scanner unit and the printer unit are connected to the copier board and the mechanism control board via a dedicated data communication line without via the PCI bus of the PC / AT compatible board. Features.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the image data of the document read by the scanner unit is directly supplied to the printer unit via the copier board, and the mechanical components constituting the scanner unit and the printer unit are controlled by the mechanism. Directly controlled by the board. Therefore, at the time of copy processing for forming an image of the image data of the document read by the scanner unit, the image data is not handled in a page unit on the PC / AT compatible board, and the processing speed of the image data is improved. Also, a PCI bus of a PC / AT compatible board which is not used for transmission of image data related to the copying process can be used for input / output of image data to / from an external device. And input / output of image data.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a memory provided in the mechanism control board is used as a storage unit for control data relating to mechanical parts of the scanner unit and the printer unit, and a CPU of the mechanism control board and a CPU of the PC / AT compatible board. And is shared by

According to the present invention, the CPU of the mechanism control board and the CPU of the PC / AT compatible board are used.
Respectively write / read control data relating to mechanical components of the scanner unit and the printer unit with respect to the memory of the mechanism control board. Therefore, the CPU of the mechanism control board
And the CPU of the PC / AT compatible board can write / read the control data relating to the mechanical components of the scanner unit and the printer unit to / from the memory at a timing unique to each other, and read / write the control data to / from the memory. There is no need to synchronize the loading process between the CPU of the mechanism control board and the CPU of the PC / AT compatible board.

[0016]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a control unit of a multi-function digital copying machine which is an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The control unit 20 of the digital copying machine according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a copier board 1 and a mechanism control board 2, which are custom boards for realizing a unique function of the digital copying machine in a PCI slot of the main control board 8, and , A modem card 10 and a network interface card (hereinafter referred to as NIC) 1 which are general-purpose interfaces for realizing a communication function.
2 connected, US configured by Bridge ASIC
The display 15a and the operation panel 15 are connected to the B port 14.
b and other user interface devices (hereinafter referred to as GUI).

The main control board 8 is a PC / AT compatible board and has, for example, a CPU that operates using Microsoft Windows-NT as a basic OS. On the main control board 8, software such as a driver that operates on an application layer (API) of the basic OS and controls a board connected to a PCI slot and a GUI connected to a USB port is installed.
This software includes, for example, fax communications,
There are application software such as Internet Fax, Fax Server, Electronic Filing, Scanner, and PostScript Language Rasterization.

As described above, the main control board 8 is connected to the PC /
By using an AT compatible board, existing application software resources that execute image data processing can be effectively used.

The modem card 10 has a PC / AT board 8
Bridge ASIC 9 and E-IS on PCI bus 18
A19 and are connected via PSTN or I
It is connected to a public telephone network 11 such as SDN. NI
C12 is a network 1 such as a LAN or the Internet.
3 is connected. Copier board 1 is IEEE13
The scanner unit 4 and the printer unit 5 are connected via the 94 interface 21. The mechanism control board 2 is connected via a plurality of dedicated control lines 22 to a drive circuit for mechanical parts such as motors and solenoids of the scanner unit 4 and the printer unit 5.

The PC / AT board 8 has an IEEE standard.
Another digital copying machine 17 via the 1394 card 16
Can be connected in tandem. Further, the same configuration can be applied to the case where the PC / AT board 8 includes an ISA bus instead of the PCI bus 18.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an input / output state of data in the control section of the digital copying machine. The scanner unit 4 is provided with an image correction circuit 4a and an IEEE 1394 interface 4b. Image data of a document read by the scanner unit 4 is subjected to basic optical correction such as shading correction and MTF correction in the image correction circuit 4a. After being applied, it is output to the copier board 1 via the interface 4b.

The copier board 1 is basically composed of three modules: a copier image processor 1a, a resolution / gradation converter 1b, and a pagination unit 1c.
1394 interfaces 1d and 1e and a PCI bus interface 1f are provided. Copier image processor 1a
Handles image data input from the scanner unit 4 via the interface 1d on a page basis, adjusts image data such as contrast and density in a bitmap image, and performs scaling, binding margin / erasing, rotation, multi-shot, and the like. Image processing is performed, and a page number is selectively added. The resolution / gradation conversion unit 1b performs resolution and gradation conversion according to the output destination device for each file composed of a single or a plurality of pages.

Pagination section 1c of copier board 1
Stores the bitmap image output from the resolution / gradation conversion unit 1b in a data spooler 6 such as an HDD in a predetermined page order, and transmits the bitmap image to the printer unit 5 via the interface 1e in a page order according to the output mode. Output as a raster image. For example, when the output form in the printer unit 5 is face-up output double-sided printing, the output is performed sequentially from the last page. In addition, copier board 1
Performs input / output of image data with the main control board 8 via the interface 1f.

The mechanism control board 2 includes a memory 2a, a control unit 2b, a PCI bus interface 2c, and an I / O interface 2d. The mechanism control board 2 inputs and outputs control data to and from the main control board 8 via the interface 2c, and the input and output control data is stored in the memory 2a. That is, the memory 2a is a shared memory of the main control board 8 and the mechanism control board 2, and the CPU mounted on each board does not need to synchronize when inputting and outputting control data. The control data stored in the memory 2a is deleted after being read from the memory 2a.

The control unit 2b of the mechanism control boat 2 has a μ-iT
Super-H processor or Mips-R that runs on a real-time operating system such as RON or P-Sos
This is a microcomputer board composed of a series of RISC-CPUs and outputs control data to the scanner unit 4 and the printer unit 5 via the interface 2d.
Thus, the mechanism control board 2 controls the operation of the mechanical components of the scanner unit 4 and the printer unit 5 by real-time sequential control.

The modem card 10 includes a physical interface and a line controller for communication with a public telephone line network, and a modulator / demodulator for fax which performs conversion, compression / decompression, and error correction between bitmap data and TIFF. And the like, and is configured using a general-purpose product such as a gamma fax board manufactured by Dialogic.

The NIC 12 has a physical interface of Ethernet LAN, line control, generation / decompression of IP packets, network management functions, and the like, and is configured using general-purpose products such as EtherExpress manufactured by Intel Corporation.

Various application software compatible with Windows-NT, which is a basic operating system, is also installed on the main control board 8. For example, fax server software such as Multiport FAX manufactured by Sumisho Datacom is installed. This software converts the image data input from the modem card 10 into a bitmap format, determines the IP address of the receiving side from the sub-address information using the electronic telephone directory, and transmits the IP address to the receiving side personal computer as e-mail. . This software also
The e-mail transmitted from the personal computer on the transmitting side is converted into bitmap data, and is transmitted to the modem card 10 with the fax number of the receiving side attached thereto, and transmitted to the facsimile on the receiving side via the public telephone line network. .

As another software installed on the main control board 8, Netxchange In
ternetFaxExchange can use bidmap data and TIFF
Transfer the file via the NIC 12 via the Internet to a server with the same software installed,
The transferred image data is transferred via the modem card 10 to the IT
Transfer to an existing facsimile in U-TG3 format. The feature of this software is that it uses the optimal SFTP as a protocol to transfer fax images over the network. The LCR function to select the relay server at the optimum position from the destination telephone number, It is provided with a CDR function for performing a call charge up to the above and a callback of a transmission completion message.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a more detailed configuration of the mechanism control board in the control section of the digital copying machine. The mechanism control board 2 provided in the control unit 20 of the digital copying machine includes the memory 2a and the control unit 2 as described above.
b, a PCI bus interface 2c and an I / O interface 2d. The control unit 2b is, for example, a RISC-
CPU, PROM storing program and S for operation
It has a RAM. The interface 2c is configured by a bridge ASIC for inputting and outputting control data to and from the main control board 8.

As described above, since the control unit 2b is operated by the general-purpose real-time operating system, compatibility is obtained in the program codes between different models, and the development efficiency of the digital copying machine can be improved. GU in conventional multi-function digital copier
Various information such as a status signal such as a copy mode, a copy start / stop, an operation state with respect to a display, and the like, and a synchronization signal for synchronizing a mechanism operation and image forming timing input through the interface I are all interface 2c. Input / output via

The mechanism control board 2 has a bidirectional RAM 2a and performs asynchronous data communication with the main control board 8, so that the mechanism control board 2 controls the mechanism of the scanner unit 4 and the printer unit 5. Priority is given to processing,
By executing the processing of reading the control data stored in the RAM 2a as appropriate during the idle time of the mechanism control processing, the real-time property of the mechanism control can be maintained. Further, the CPU of the main control board 8 can also transmit control data without considering the timing of mechanism control on the mechanism control board 2.

That is, P-Sos, Vx-Works, OS9, or i-Sos, which are optimal for controlling mechanical parts that require real-time
The CPU of the mechanism control board 2 is operated by a real-time operation system such as TRON,
The CPU of the main control board 8 can be operated by a general-purpose operation system such as DOS or Windows that can use general-purpose application software for efficiently executing complicated processing.
The main control board 8 can manage the control of the mechanical components in the mechanism control board 2 while operating the main control board 8 individually by the operation system corresponding to each function.

When control data is input / output to / from a microcomputer of a peripheral device via the mechanism control board 2, a general-purpose asynchronous transmission / reception control element (hereinafter referred to as a UA) is used.
RT. ) Can be provided on the mechanism control board 2.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a more detailed configuration of the copier board in the control section of the digital copying machine.
As described above, the copier board 1 is basically configured by three modules of the copier image processing unit 1a, the resolution / gradation conversion unit 1b, and the pagination unit 1c.
It has EE1394 interfaces 1d and 1e, a PCI bus interface 1f and a SCSI interface 1h. The copier image processing unit 1a is configured by an ASIC that executes dedicated processing functions such as brightness adjustment, density adjustment, magnification adjustment, binding margin / frame erasure, rotation, multi-shot, electronic RDH, and double-sided image data. The resolution / gradation conversion unit 1b converts the resolution of the image data from, for example, 600 dpi to 200 or 400 dpi,
It is configured by an ASIC that executes a dedicated processing function such as a process of converting the gradation of image data from multi-valued to binary or from binary to multi-valued, and a pseudo gradation conversion process.

Pagination section 1c of copy board 1
Are RISC-CPU operated by RTOS, SR
It has an AM, a ROM, and the like. The ROM stores a job management program. The job management program stored in the ROM includes page-sequential printing, double-sided printing, a cover function, a slip sheet function, a chaptering function, and 2 in 1/4.
It includes a program for executing each processing function such as an IN1 function, a job management function, a jam recovery function, and an interrupt processing function.

The copier board 1 receives image data after shading correction, density correction, MTF correction, resolution conversion (magnification conversion) and gamma correction from the scanner unit 4 via the interface 1d, and receives the copier image processing unit 1
a, resolution / gradation conversion section 1b and pagination section 1
After performing the processing in c, the data is stored in the spooler 6 via the interface 1h. The pagination unit 1
The processing of c is selectively executed according to the contents of the image data and the function selected by the operator. For example, when the input image data is a document composed of a plurality of pages, the pagination unit 1c adds page information to the image data and stores the image data in the spooler 6 as a raster image file for each page. In addition, copier board 1
Outputs the raster image data for printing to the printer unit 5 via the interface 1e. Further, the copier board 1 receives an instruction of the output order and output timing of the image data from the main control board 8 via the interface 1f, receives image data from an external scanner or facsimile via the interface 1f, and Output image data to an external printer.

The operation state of each function in the control section of the digital copying machine during processing will be described below with reference to FIG.

A. At the time of the copy function At the time of the copy function for forming an image based on the image data of the document read by the scanner unit 4, the operator operates the display 15a connected to the main control board 8 and the operation panel 15b in accordance with the display conditions of the display 15a. Select the menu. A manuscript
When the DF is set, a signal of the completion of the setting is input from the mechanism control board 2 to the CPU of the main control board 8 via the PCI bus 18. When the selection of the copy condition is completed, a message instructing the operation of the start button is displayed on the display 15a. When the operator operates the start button in accordance with the display, the main control board 8 transmits the message to the mechanism control board 2 and the copier board 1. In accordance with the copy condition, a job instruction is issued (path ').

According to the instruction, the mechanism control board 2
Determines the control pattern for operating each mechanical component, and the copier board 1 determines the image processing procedure and the page order of the raster image data to be output to the printer unit 5. These mechanism control boat 2 and copier board 1
, A start signal is output to the mechanism control board 2, and the operation of the scanner unit 4 and the printer unit 5 is started by the mechanism control board 2 (path ′). At this time, a document reading start signal synchronized with the document feeding timing signal is output from the mechanism control board 2 (path ′), and this signal is supplied to the copier board 1 via the PCI bus 18. The copier board 1 instructs the scanner unit 4 to capture an image via the interface 1d based on the document reading start signal, and receives image data via the interface 1d (path). The copier board 1 immediately executes the preset image processing on the received image data and stores it in the spooler 6 (path).

On the other hand, the mechanism control board 2 is
, The paper feeding is started, and an image writing signal is output to the copier board 1 at a timing corresponding to the timing of the image forming process. The copier board 1 reads out raster image data of pages in a preset order from the spooler 6 based on the image write signal (path) and supplies the raster image data to the laser writing unit of the printer unit 5 (path).
Thus, the laser writing unit irradiates a laser beam based on the raster image data at a timing synchronized with the image forming process.

In the above operation, the reading process of the image data of the document and the image forming process proceed asynchronously. That is,
When the image data of all the originals is read, the operation of the scanner unit 4 ends, and thereafter, only the operation of the printer unit 5 is performed. When the operation related to the image forming process in the printer unit 5 is completed, a completion signal is output from the mechanism control board 2 and the copier board 1 to the main control board 8, and a message indicating that the copy processing has been completed is displayed on the display 15a.

As described above, at the time of the copy function for performing the image forming process on the image data of the original document by the internal processing of the digital copying machine, the image data read by the scanner unit 4 via the paths 1 to 3 shown in FIG. Board 1
The PCI bus 18 of the main control board 8 is not used for transmitting image data. Therefore, the PC of the main control board 8
The I bus 18 can be used for input / output of image data to / from an external device, and processing relating to a function of inputting / outputting image data to / from an external device such as a facsimile function described later is performed in parallel with processing of the copy function Can be executed. That is, even during the operation of the copy function, the main control board 8 can receive another job setting on the display 15a and the operation panel 15b.

Further, if a trouble occurs during the operation of the copy function, the processing in the mechanism control board 2 and the copier board 1
When the processing does not match the processing in the display 1, the main control board 8 determines that an error has occurred, and the display 1
A predetermined recovery process including the display of the instruction message to the operator in 5a is executed.

B. Network Printer Function At the time of a network printer function for forming an image of image data input from a client PC in a network, print data from the client PC is input to the main control boat 8 via the NIC 12 in a postscript format (path). ). The main control board 8
Upon detecting the arrival of the job, the print data is temporarily stored in the spooler for the main control board 8. Main control board 8
Outputs the reception completion notification to the client PC when all the print data has been stored (path), and releases the client PC from the print job. On the other hand, the main control board 8 operates based on, for example, CPSI software manufactured by Adobe, which is activated at the same time as the start of the reception of the print data, and starts executing the rasterization processing of the print data stored in the spooler.

The rasterized print data is sequentially output to the copier board 1 via the PCI bus 18 (path), and the copier board 1 stores the input print data in the spooler 6 (path). When rasterization of all print data is completed and all of the rasterized print data is stored in the spooler 6, the main control board 8 executes the print job procedure described in the header information of the print data. The instruction data of the printing process is output to the mechanism control board 2 and the copier board 1.

The copier boat 1 supplies the print data stored in the spooler 6 to the printer unit 5 based on the print processing instruction data input from the main control boat 8 (path). The mechanism control board 2 operates the printer unit 5 based on the print processing instruction data input from the main control board 8. As a result, the image forming process of the print data input from the client PC is executed in the printer unit 5. When a predetermined print job is completed for all print data stored in the spooler 6, the main control board 1 sends a print completion message to the client PC based on a completion signal output from the mechanism control board 2 and the copier board 1. Output a notification.

C. Application Printer Function At the time of an application printer function of performing image forming processing on print data created in a format other than the postscript format by individual application software, the main control board 8 is installed in advance in a spooler for the main control board 8. The print data output from the client PC is decompressed by the application software, directly converted into a raster image in the print mode, and stored in the spooler 6 of the copier board 1 (path). In this case, a method of transmitting print data from the client PC to the main control board 8 using the Internet is conceivable.

For this reason, a browser such as Internet Explorer is installed in the spooler for the main control board 8 together with application software used to create print data, and a unique electronic mail address is assigned to the digital copying machine. Keep it.
The main control board 8 opens the e-mail, reads the print instruction included in the header of the e-mail, decompresses the print data attached to the e-mail, rasterizes the print data based on the print instruction, and rasterizes the print data. Install a macro program that describes print data output as a series of procedures.

With this function, digital copiers can also perform image forming processing on print data created using individual application software on a client PC without a postscript driver.

D. Fax Function At the time of facsimile transmission for transmitting image data of a document to an external facsimile, bitmap data read from the document is subjected to a basic image correction process in the scanner unit 4 and then subjected to a predetermined resolution conversion in the copier board 1. It is stored in the spooler 6 (path,). The main control board 8 activates the application software of the facsimile function and supplies the telephone number of the transmission destination specified on the operation panel 15b to the modem card 10 via the PCI bus 18. The modem card 10 calls the supplied telephone number on the public telephone network. Thus, when a line is connected to the facsimile on the receiving side, the main control board 8 reads out bitmap data from the spooler 6 via the copier board 1 (path,
), Converts the data into TIFF image data conforming to the ITU-T G3 mode, and sequentially supplies the data to the modem card 10 (path). The modem card 10 modulates the supplied TIFF image data into a voice signal, and transmits the voice signal to a receiving-side facsimile via a public telephone line.

At the time of facsimile reception for performing image forming processing on document data received from an external facsimile, the main control board 8 converts the TIFF image data demodulated from the audio signal in the modem card 10 into bitmap data, and sequentially converts the TIFF image data into bitmap data. The data is output to the copier board 1 and stored in the spooler 6 (path,,). After all the bitmap data is stored in the spooler 6, the main control board 8 controls the mechanism control board 2 and the copier board 1
The printer unit 5 is operated via the CPU 5 to execute an image forming process based on the bitmap data stored in the spooler 6.

E. Network Scanner Function At the time of a network scanner function of transmitting image data of a document read by the scanner unit 4 to an external client PC via a network, the bitmap data read from the document by the scanner unit 4 is subjected to basic image processing. After being input to the copier board 1 in the state, it is stored in the spooler 6 (path,). The main control board 8 reads the bitmap data stored in the spooler 6 (path), converts the bitmap data into a format designated by the user together with its own ID, and stores it in the spooler for the main control board 8.

At the same time, the main control board 8 posts the existence of the file on the homepage of the Web server in the board 8 (path), and is stored in the spooler in the user's client PC on condition that the IDs match. Download bitmap data. Therefore, the user can easily download the image data of the document (path) by accessing the homepage of the digital copying machine from the browser of the client PC (path). This Web server function
It can be constructed by the NIC 12 connected to the main control board 8 and Web server application software such as Microsoft Internet Information Server.

It should be noted that the network scanner function is not limited to the above-described method using the Web server, but also includes the scanner unit 4.
Sending the image data of the document read in step 1 to the client PC as an attached document of e-mail, or
It can also be realized by a method of reading the bitmap data stored in the spooler 6 from the client PC.

F. Internet Fax Function An Internet fax (hereinafter, i-Fax) service for transmitting image data to a facsimile connected to a public telephone line network via the Internet is provided by:
A provider having an i-Fax connection server is connected to each other via the Internet. When an i-Fax service is to be used, the provider is connected to the Internet via a provider having an i-Fax connection server. Need to connect. For this reason, the main control board 8 has an SFTP (SimpleFaxTrans) as a communication protocol.
ferProtocol), LCR (Lowest) that automatically selects the cheapest transmission route via ordinary telephone and the Internet
NetXch with CostRouting) function and CDR (CallDataRecord) function to settle call charges between providers
Ange InternetFaxExchange is installed.

The bitmap data read from the original in the scanner unit 4 is transmitted to the ITU
-T is converted into the G3 format and stored in the spooler 6 (path). The main control board 8 has an LCR
The function calls the destination server with the lowest charge (path), and sends fax data to that server using SFTP (path,). The destination server is
The facsimile data is transmitted to the receiving facsimile via the public telephone network based on the information included in the facsimile data. In the data transmission during this time, the transmission speed on the Internet is delayed in accordance with the reception speed of the receiving facsimile, and a reception completion signal of the receiving facsimile is returned to the digital copying machine which is the transmitting device within 7 seconds from the completion of the transmission. The other party's server stores the call fee charged in the data transmission during this time by the CDR function, and bills the digital copying machine together with the server usage fee at a later date.

G. Document File Function At the time of the document file function, the bitmap data read from the original by the scanner unit 4 is subjected to basic image processing (path), and then received by the spooler 6 after being distinguished between the character area and the image area on the copier board 1. Stored (route). Next, the main control board 8, for example,
Adobe AcrobatCapure is activated, and the OCR function is used to determine the position information, character type, font, and size for each character in the character area data stored in the spooler 6 and perform encoding processing (path, ).
At this time, for a character that cannot be determined, that part is redefined as an image area. Thereafter, the data in the image area is compressed by the compression function, and the character information and the image information are stored in the spooler 6 as a PDF format to which additional information at the time of reading is added. At the same time, keyword extraction and summarization are performed on the encoded character area data using search software, and the results are attached to a PDF format (path).

[0059]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, input / output of image data between an internal copier board and an external image output device or image communication device is performed by a general-purpose PC / AT.
By performing the image forming process based on the image data input from the external image output device or the image communication device in the internal printer unit by performing the process through the existing PCI bus on the compatible board, and in the internal scanner unit When outputting the read image data to an external image communication device, the transmission speed of the image data between the copier board and the external image output device and image communication device without lowering the resolution and gradation of the image data Can be faster,
Processing time for image data can be reduced.

According to the invention described in claim 2, PC /
The processing speed of image data between the copier board and the external device differs by processing the image data input / output between the internal copier board and the external image output device and image communication device on an AT compatible board in page units. Also in this case, the processing timing of the image data in the PC / AT compatible board that matches the processing timing of the copier board and the external device can be easily determined.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the image data of the document read by the scanner unit is directly supplied to the printer unit via the copier board, and the scanner unit and the mechanical parts constituting the printer unit are controlled by the mechanism. By performing direct control by the board, at the time of copy processing for forming an image of the image data of the original read by the scanner unit, the image data is not handled in a page unit on the PC / AT compatible board, and the processing speed of the image data is reduced. Can be improved. In addition, the PC / AT compatible board P which is not used for transmission of the image data related to the copy processing.
The CI bus can be used for input / output of image data with an external device, and input / output of image data with the external device can be executed in parallel with the copying process.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, each of the CPU of the mechanism control board and the CPU of the PC / AT compatible board stores control data on mechanical parts of the scanner unit and the printer unit in the memory of the mechanism control board. Is performed, there is no need to synchronize the read / write processing of control data to / from the memory between the CPU of the mechanism control board and the CPU of the PC / AT compatible board. And the CPU of the PC / AT compatible board can write / read the control data relating to the mechanical components of the scanner unit and the printer unit to / from the memory at their own unique timings.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a control unit of a multifunction digital copying machine which is an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an input / output state of data in a control unit of the digital copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a more detailed configuration of a mechanism control board in a control section of the digital copying machine.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a more detailed configuration of a copier board in a control section of the digital copying machine.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a control unit of a conventional image processing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1-copier board 2-mechanism control board 4-scanner section 5-printer section 6-spooler 8-main control board 10-modem card 12-NIC card 18-PCI bus

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C061 AP01 AP04 BB10 BB35 HH06 HJ06 HK05 HN15 HQ20 2H027 ED30 EE06 ZA07 5B021 AA19 DD03 GG00 QQ04 5B047 AA01 EA10 5C062 AA05 AA06 AB41 AC42 AC02 AC03

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image processing apparatus comprising: a scanner unit for reading image data of a document; and a printer unit for executing an image forming process based on the image data, and connected to an external image output device and an image communication device via a communication line. A copier board for performing image processing on image data read by a scanner unit on a PCI bus of a PC / AT compatible board, a mechanism control board for controlling operation of mechanical parts constituting a scanner unit and a printer unit, And a communication line connected to the image output device and the image communication device. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said PC / AT compatible board has a memory for storing image data in page units. 3. The copier board and the mechanism control board,
3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scanner unit and the printer unit are connected via a dedicated data communication line. 4. A CPU mounted on the mechanism control board
Has a memory for storing control data related to mechanical parts of the scanner unit and the printer unit, and this memory is stored in a PC / A
4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is shared with a CPU mounted on a T-compatible board.