JP2000358114A - Multifunction terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily obtain image data for printing through the use of a standardized encoding/decoding function by controlling a multifunction terminal device to decode a tag code and encoded image data so as to generate printing image data so as to print under a condition designated by the tag code including print control information. SOLUTION: A multifunction terminal device 10 operates as a network printer for printing by receiving print request from another terminal device 2 through a network 1. The MPU 12 of the device 10 also has a function for controlling the operation of the whole of this device and controlling the original reading operation of a scanner part 18, the printing operation of a printer part 19 or the facsimile transmitting/receiving operation of a communication control part 13. The part 13 executes a prescribed facsimile communication protocol to control facsimile communication and a modem 15 is connected with a telephone line 9 to execute modulation or demodulation for facsimile communication.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a multifunctional terminal device having a network printer function, a network scanner function, a network facsimile function and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A facsimile apparatus is provided with a scanner section, a printer section, a communication control section, and the like. The scanner unit has a function of reading a transmission original and acquiring image data. The printer unit has a function of printing image data. The communication control unit has a function of transmitting and receiving image data via a telephone line. The facsimile printer multifunction device is a device that realizes independent use of these functions through a network. That is, the scanner unit operates as a network scanner,
The printer unit operates as a network printer. The communication control unit operates as a network facsimile.
Not limited to the facsimile printer multifunction device, there is an information processing device that combines these various functions. In the present invention, these are called multifunctional terminal devices, and the following description will proceed.

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned prior art has the following problems to be solved. In the above system, when it is desired to operate the scanner unit via a network, the network and the scanner unit are connected by a network interface card. When it is desired to operate the printer unit, the network and the printer unit are connected by a print control network interface card. As described above, when it is desired to operate the scanner unit, printer unit, and other functional units of the multi-function terminal device via a network, prepare a network interface card that performs control according to each function and individually connect to the network. It was necessary to do. Therefore, there has been a problem that the miniaturization of the device and the simplification of the connecting portion are hindered, resulting in a cost increase.

[0004]

The present invention employs the following structure to solve the above problems. <Structure 1> A file including a tag code and encoded image data and a tag code including print control information added to the file at the transmission source are received via a network, and the tag code and the encoded code are received. Decrypts the generated image data to generate print image data,
A multifunctional terminal device comprising: a print control unit that controls printing to be executed under conditions specified by a tag code including the print control information.

<Structure 2> A facsimile control unit for adding a tag code including an electronic mail address of a facsimile transfer destination to a file including a tag code and encoded image data, and a tag code including the electronic mail address And a network interface for transferring a file comprising the tag code and the encoded image data as a file attached to the e-mail to a corresponding facsimile destination. Multifunctional terminal device.

<Configuration 3> A scanner section for acquiring image data, and a scanner control for converting the image data acquired by the scanner section into a file containing a tag code and encoded image data and storing the file in a mailbox. And a network interface unit for reading the file from the mailbox by a file transfer protocol and transferring the file to a receiving side via a network.

<Structure 4> A network interface unit that receives a file including a tag code and encoded image data added with a tag code including destination information, and a file encoded with the tag code. Generate facsimile transmission data using image data,
A facsimile control unit for extracting destination information from the tag code including the destination information, and a communication for dialing a destination indicated by the destination information and transmitting facsimile transmission data transferred from the facsimile control unit A multifunctional terminal device comprising a control unit.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below using specific examples. <Example 1> FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a multifunctional terminal device of Example 1. This multifunctional terminal device 10 is connected to the network 1. Another terminal device (PC) 2 is connected to the network 1. Many other terminal devices and other equipment can be connected to the network 1, but they are not shown here.

An MPU (micro processing unit) 12, a communication control unit 13, a network interface unit 14, a modem 15, a storage unit 16, and an NCU (network control unit) 17, a scanner unit 18, a printer unit 19, an encoding / decoding unit 20, and an interface control unit 21. The interface control unit 21 includes a TIFF-F analysis unit 22 and a print control unit 23.

The multifunctional terminal device 10 of the first embodiment receives a print request from another terminal device 2 via the network 1 and operates as a network printer for executing printing. The MPU 12 of the multi-function terminal device 10 includes a processor that controls the operation of the entire device. This M
The PU 12 also has a function of controlling the original reading operation of the scanner unit 18, the printing operation of the printer unit 19, the facsimile transmission / reception operation of the communication control unit 13, and the like.

The communication control unit 13 executes a predetermined facsimile communication protocol and controls facsimile communication. The modem 15 is connected to the telephone line 9 and performs modulation and demodulation for facsimile communication. N
The CU 17 controls a communication protocol with the network 1. The storage unit 16 stores an original for facsimile transmission, image data read by a scanner, and the like.

The scanner unit 18 is a unit that optically scans a document (not shown), converts it into an electric signal, and takes in image data. Printer unit 19
Is a portion for printing the designated image data on a sheet (not shown). The encoding / decoding unit 20 is a part that performs processing for encoding image data or decoding received encoded data at the time of facsimile transmission.

The TI of the interface control unit 21
The FF-F analysis unit 22 is a part that analyzes a TIFF-F format file and extracts image data from the file. The print control unit 23 is a unit that sends necessary printer control commands to the printer unit 19 and controls printing of image data. Although the TIFF-F format is used here, other formats such as TIF-F
It may be in FJ format.

In this specific example, when the terminal device 2 requests the multi-function terminal device 10 for printing, the terminal device 2 transmits a file 3 in TIFF-F format and a tag code 6 including print control information. The file 3 in the TIFF-F format includes a tag code 4 and image data 5. TIF
The FF format file has been widely known as a standardized file for handling image data. According to this file, a large number of image data including page information and other information can be integrated into one file.

However, this file cannot include information for print control, for example, information such as the number of print copies, printer tray selection information, and recording paper size information. Therefore, as shown in the figure, a tag code 6 including print processing information is separately generated in the terminal device 2 and added to this file. Since the file 3 is a file in which tag codes are collected, the tag code 6 including the print control information can be added to the file 3 as it is and transferred to the multi-function terminal device 10 through the network interface unit 14.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a tag code added to such a file. As shown in the figure,
For example, if the tag name is the number of copies, the outline of the processing is to refer to the portion displaying the numerical value in the tag and print a plurality of copies corresponding to the number. When the tag name is tray selection, the printing paper supply tray of the printer is selected according to the instruction of the tag. When the tag name is the recording paper size selection, the recording paper of the size according to the instruction of the tag is selected and printed.

FIG. 3 shows a specific example of the print control tag code. A file in the TIFF-F format is formed by collecting tag codes in a format as shown in FIG. A print control tag code having the same format as the tag code is generated as shown in FIG. Offset of figure
Is position information indicating at what byte from the beginning of the file this information exists. Although specific numerical values are not shown in this figure, the content of the position information is calculated according to the offset of the last part of the file 3 shown in FIG.

The display contents (description) are as described with reference to FIG. 2, such as the number of copies, the tray selection (select tray), and the recording paper size selection (select paper).
size). The tag code (tag code) indicates a method of expressing the tag code data. Here, each code is, for example, a combination of four numbers.
Type (type) is whether this tag code is 1 byte format or 2
Indicates information such as byte format. Short
Means that the tag is a one-byte tag.

As shown in FIG. 1, data values (values in TIFF-F) are from 1 to 255 for the number of copies, three types for tray selection, and four types for recording paper size selection. The minimum (minimum) indicates the minimum number of codes included in the added tag code 6, and these are all "1". That is, one is always included. An example (coding sample) is shown in this figure. The file of the TIFF-F system is composed of various tag codes in such a format and the same ITU-T Recommendation T.100 as facsimile. 4, T. 6 M
Includes image data encoded according to the H, MR, and MMR encoding schemes.

Next, the operation of the multi-function terminal device 10 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. First, another terminal device 2 requests a function as a network printer from the multi-function terminal device 10 via the network 1. At this time, the terminal device 2
Generates a file 3 in TIFF-F format. This file 3 includes a tag code 4 and image data 5. The tag code 6 including the print control information is added to this. This is input to the network interface unit 14 (step S1).

The network interface unit 14 transfers the file 3 and the tag code 6 to the interface control unit 21 (Step S2). The TIFF-F analysis unit 22 of the interface control unit 21
Is analyzed. Then, the encoded image data 5
Is transferred to the encoding / decoding unit 20, where decoding is performed (step S3). In the TIFF-F system, detailed information such as the size of an encoded image is represented by a tag code. This information is analyzed by the print control unit 23 and sent to the printer unit 19 as a printer control command (Step S).
4). Thus, the printer unit 19 prints the decrypted image data on a sheet (not shown).

<Effect of Specific Example 1> As described above, since a print request is issued to the network printer using the standardized file including the tag code and the image data, the multifunctional terminal device functions as the network printer. On the side, using standardized encoding and decoding functions,
Image data for printing can be easily obtained. If a tag code having the same format as that of the file is added, and the print control information is included in the tag code, the print control information is extracted by analyzing the standardized TIFF-F file, and is necessary for the print control. Commands can be generated. The print controller 23 decodes the tag code and the encoded image data to generate print image data, and performs control to execute printing under the conditions specified by the tag code including the print control information. The processing for actually generating the image data and extracting the print control information may be performed anywhere.

As shown in the following specific examples, it is possible to realize multiple functions such as a network scanner and a network facsimile by using the same format TIFF-F file. In addition, the network interface unit 14 has a standard interface function and can be shared, and one of the network printers, the network scanners, and the network facsimile can share one network interface unit 14. Therefore, any of the following apparatuses including this specific example has an effect that connection to a network can be simplified.

<Specific Example 2> In this specific example, the multifunctional terminal device is caused to function as a network facsimile device. FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a multi-function terminal device of the second embodiment. The multifunctional terminal device 10 shown in the figure has an operation unit 25 in addition to the configuration of the device of the first specific example. This merely clarifies what is provided in the multi-function terminal device 10 which originally operates as a facsimile device, and the device of the specific example 1 is not without this. Further, the interface control unit 21 is provided with a facsimile control unit 24 in addition to the TIFF-F analysis unit 22 having the same function as that of the first embodiment.

In this example, a mail server 30 is connected to the network 1. Further, another network 36 is connected to the network 1 via a gateway 35. A terminal 37 and an Internet facsimile device 38 are connected to the network 36.

First, an example in which the multi-function terminal device 10 operates as a transmitter of an Internet facsimile will be described.
In this case, the scanner unit 18 reads a transmission original (not shown) and obtains image data. A standard facsimile encoding process is performed on the image data by the encoding / decoding unit 20. The image data thus encoded is transmitted to the interface control unit 2.
1 to the TIFF-F analyzer 22 where the TIFF
Converted to -F format. When performing normal facsimile transmission, the communication control unit 13 transmits the telephone line 9 through the modem 15.
Send facsimile data to.

In Internet facsimile, image data to be transmitted by facsimile is transmitted as an e-mail attached file. Interface control unit 2
For this purpose, the facsimile control unit 24 provided in 1 adds a tag code including the e-mail address 31 to the TIFF-F file 3 as shown in the figure, and sends the data to the network interface unit 14. This E
The mail address 31 is configured by a tag code having the same format as the tag code of the TIFF-F file.

FIG. 5 shows a specific example (part 1) of the facsimile control tag code. As shown in the figure, the e-mail address has, for example, the tag code “2000”,
It is composed of short type. When such data is input to the network interface unit 14, the network interface unit 14 cuts out the e-mail address 31 and stores the TIFF-F file 3 in the e-mail 3
3 to the mail server 30 as an attached file 34.

This e-mail is MIME (multiple inter
net mail extention) format. The protocol is SMTP (simple mail transfer protocol).
When receiving the e-mail, the mail server 30 transmits the e-mail to the corresponding address. For example, when the corresponding address is the Internet facsimile machine 38, the Internet facsimile machine 38 receives the address and prints it with a printer (not shown). When the terminal device 37 receives the file, the file 3 stores the standard T
Since it is in the IFF-F format, it can be displayed as it is on a viewer or printed out.

Next, a case where the multi-function terminal device 10 operates as a receiver of an Internet facsimile will be described. In this case, the e-mail is received from the mail server 30 by the POP3 protocol. E in MIME format
The file 3 in the TIFF-F format, which is an attached file of the mail, is input to the interface control unit 21 through the network interface unit 14.

The TI of the interface control unit 21
The FF-F analysis unit 22 analyzes this file and transfers the image data to the encoding / decoding unit 20. The decrypted image data is transferred to the printer unit 19 and printed. The e-mail address 31 is transmitted from the network interface unit 14 to the interface control unit 21.
And is used as data to be described in a reception record book or the like.

<Effect of Specific Example 2> As described above, if a file in the standardized TIFF-F format is used, facsimile data can be transmitted as an attached file of an e-mail. Furthermore, if the facsimile data is received by the multi-function terminal device as described above, the contents can be received and printed by the same operation as a normal facsimile.

Since the file is an attached file of an e-mail, it can be received by a terminal device such as an ordinary personal computer. In this case, the common TIF
Since the file is in the FF format, the content can be displayed and printed without using a facsimile procedure. In addition, in any case, since the file is a standardized file, there is an effect that the load of the analysis process and the transfer process is extremely reduced. This portion has the same effect as that of the first embodiment.

<Specific Example 3> In this specific example, the multifunctional terminal device operates as a scanner. FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of a multi-function terminal device of the third embodiment. In the case of this example, the interface control unit 21 includes the TIFF-F analysis unit 22
In addition, a scanner control unit 26 is provided. Further, the storage unit 16 is provided with a mailbox 40. Here, the file 3 of the TIFF-F format read by the scanner is configured to be stored.

Next, the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 6 will be described. When the multifunctional terminal device 10 operates as a scanner, first, a required document is read using the scanner unit 18. The image data of the document is encoded by the encoding / decoding unit 20. And the interface control unit 2
Transferred to 1. The TIFF-F analysis unit 22 generates a TIFF-F format file from the encoded image data, transfers the file to the mailbox 40 of the storage unit 16, and stores the file. Thus, the scanner processing as the multi-function terminal device 10 ends.

That is, in this specific example, a tag code for including some information in image data read by a scanner is not added. Only the file 3 in the standard TIFF-F format is stored in the mailbox 40, and the process ends. It is assumed that such reading of the document is requested by the terminal device 2. In this case, the terminal device 2 stores the TIFF-data stored in the mailbox 40 of the storage unit 16.
If the file 3 in the F format is obtained, the original purpose is achieved. Acquisition of this file is standard FTP (filetransf
er protocol).

That is, the terminal device 2 accesses the network interface unit 14 through the network 1 using the FTP protocol. Then, FTP is sent from the terminal device 2.
When the LIST command is input, the scanner control unit 26 of the interface control unit 21 recognizes the command and transmits the information of the file 3 stored in the mailbox 40 of the storage unit 16 to the network interface unit 1.
Notify 4. Upon receiving this notification, the network interface unit 14 transfers the information to the terminal device 2. As a result, the name of the file 3 is displayed on a display (not shown) of the terminal device 2.

When an FTP GET command is input from the terminal device 2 to the network interface unit 14, the network interface unit 14 transfers the designated file 3 to the terminal device 2. File 3 on the terminal device 2
Is received, since this file is a standardized file of the TIFF-F format, it can be displayed on a display or printed out as it is.

<Effect of Specific Example 3> As described above, even when the multifunctional terminal device operates as a network scanner, it is converted to a standardized TIFF-F format file and stored in a mailbox. Therefore, other terminal devices can easily extract the contents using the standardized FTP protocol. Therefore,
Even if a special scanner application or the like is not prepared on the side of the terminal device 2, it is possible to request the multi-function terminal device 10 for the scanner processing and easily obtain the reading result.

<Embodiment 4> In this embodiment, an example in which a multi-function terminal device performs facsimile transmission through a telephone line or the like as usual will be described. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the multi-function terminal device of the fourth embodiment. The multi-function terminal device 10 has a facsimile control unit 27 having a function slightly different from that of the specific example 2.
Is provided. Further, the storage unit is provided with a buffer 43 for storing data for facsimile transmission. In this example, the terminal device 2 generates a file 3 in TIFF-F format, adds a tag code 41 including destination information thereto, and requests the multi-function terminal device 10 to perform facsimile transmission. Upon receiving the request, the multi-function terminal 10 performs facsimile transmission through the telephone line 9 through the modem 15.

First, for example, the terminal device 2 requests the multifunction terminal device 10 to read a document. The operation is as described in the third embodiment. As a result, the terminal device 2 transmits the file 3 of the transmission original in the TIFF-F format.
To get. Thereafter, the operator of the terminal device 2 inputs the destination information, and the tag code 41 including the destination information is added to the file 3.

FIG. 8 shows a specific example (part 2) of the facsimile control tag code. This tag code is TIFF
It has the same format as the tag code used in the file of the -F format, and includes information indicating the facsimile number of the transmission destination. When the multi-function terminal device 10 receives a facsimile transmission request and ends the transmission, it is necessary to notify the terminal device of the result. The result notification tag code for this result notification is shown in the lower part of FIG.

Returning to FIG. 7, upon receiving the file 3 and the tag code 41 including the destination information, the network interface unit 14
Transfer to 1. T of the interface control unit 21
The IFF-F analysis unit 22 extracts only the destination information from the contents and delivers the information to the communication control unit 13. Also, TI
The image information of the file 3 in the FF-F format is transferred to and stored in the buffer 43 of the storage unit 40 as it is.

The communication control unit 13 performs a dialing process on the telephone line 9 based on the destination information received from the interface control unit 21. Then, when the negotiation with the other party facsimile is completed, the file stored in the buffer 43 is transmitted through the encoding / decoding unit 20. Since the TIFF-F format is a format common to image data for facsimile transmission, if the reception capability of the other party's facsimile matches, the TIFF-F format is used.
What is necessary is just to transmit the F format data as it is. Thus,
A function as a network facsimile is realized.

Next, a description will be given of a case where the apparatus operates as a facsimile receiver. In this case, first, the multi-function terminal device 10
Receives a facsimile signal through the modem 15.
The received encoded image data is sent to the TIFF-F analysis unit 22 of the interface control unit 21 and
It is converted to a file in the IFF-F format. Then, the destination information indicating the communication destination is sent from the communication control unit 13 to the interface control unit 21. The facsimile control unit 27 adds this destination information to the file as a tag code, and transfers it to the corresponding destination via the network interface unit 14. Thus, the terminal device 2
Can receive a facsimile addressed to the user.

<Effect of Specific Example 4> As described above, when a multifunction terminal receives a facsimile transmission request from another terminal via a network, it receives a file in a standardized format from the other terminal. Then, facsimile transmission can be performed based on the destination information including the tag code added thereto. When a facsimile is received, destination information of the destination can be added to a tag code, attached to a file, and transmitted to another terminal device. Therefore, facsimile transmission / reception can be performed using a common standard format file in the same manner as in the first, second, and third embodiments.

As a result, various functions such as a scanner, a printer, and a facsimile can be realized in a common file format through a network, and the control itself for realizing each function can be performed by an extremely simple control. Therefore,
The application on the client side can be integrated or unnecessary functions can be omitted, and the multifunctional terminal device can be widely used. Further, the network interface unit can be shared, and the connection unit with the network is simplified. Note that the multi-function terminal device does not necessarily need to have a scanner function, a printer function, and a facsimile function. Any one or more functions may be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a multi-function terminal device of a specific example 1.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a tag code added to a file.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a print control tag code.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a multi-function terminal device of a specific example 2.

FIG. 5 is a specific example (part 1) of a facsimile control tag code.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a multi-function terminal device of specific example 3.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a multifunctional terminal device of a specific example 4.

FIG. 8 is a specific example (part 2) of a facsimile control tag code.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Network 2 Terminal device 3 File 4 Tag code 5 Image data 6 Tag code including print control information 10 Multifunction terminal device 14 Network interface unit 18 Scanner unit 19 Printer unit 21 Interface control unit 22 TIFF-F analysis unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B021 AA01 BB04 QQ04 5B089 GA16 JA05 JA31 LA01 LA11 LB12 5C062 AA02 AA05 AB02 AB35 AB42 AC04 AC29 AC43 AC67 AE08 AF02 AF03 AF10 BC06 BD09 5C075 CA05 CA14 CA15 CA03 CD07 CF05 FF10

Claims (4)

[Claims] A file comprising a tag code and encoded image data and a tag code including print control information added to the file at a transmission source are received via a network, and the tag code and the code are received. A print control unit that decodes the converted image data to generate print image data, and controls to execute printing under a condition specified by a tag code including the print control information. Multifunctional terminal device. 2. A facsimile control unit for adding a tag code including an electronic mail address of a facsimile transfer destination to a file including a tag code and encoded image data, and analyzing the tag code including the electronic mail address. And a network interface unit for transferring a file including the tag code and encoded image data to a corresponding facsimile destination as an attached file of the e-mail. Multifunctional terminal device. 3. A scanner unit for acquiring image data, a scanner control unit for converting the image data acquired by the scanner unit into a file including a tag code and encoded image data, and storing the file in a mailbox. A network interface unit for reading the file from the mailbox by a file transfer protocol and transferring the file to a receiving side via a network. 4. A network interface unit for receiving a file including a tag code and encoded image data to which a tag code including destination information is added, and a network interface unit for receiving the tag code and encoded image data. A facsimile control unit that generates facsimile transmission data and extracts the destination information from the tag code including the destination information, dials the destination indicated by the destination information, and receives the transfer from the facsimile control unit. And a communication control unit for transmitting facsimile transmission data.