JP2002079729A - Imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging device capable of identifying the host with an output demand. SOLUTION: This device comprises an audio information registering means 1 for registering the IP address and audio information of a host, which provided the input, an audio information accumulating means 2 for converting the information registered in the audio information registering means to audio output information and accumulating the same, an audio outputting means 3 for outputting sound based on the audio output information accumulated in the audio information accumulating means and an audio output controlling means 4 for starting a printing operation by a printing command from a host and outputting sound corresponding to the IP address of the host from the audio outputting means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for executing printing in accordance with a print instruction from a host, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus for notifying a message of a host having issued a print request by voice.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A host (host computer), which is a host device, and an image forming apparatus (printer) are connected via a network, and print data created using an application of the host is transmitted to the image forming apparatus. , A network printing system that processes and prints this print data has become widespread. In such a network printing system, a plurality of hosts and image forming apparatuses are usually connected to the network, respectively.
A print request can be freely issued from any host to any image forming apparatus. However,
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-231382, there has been a technique for notifying the surroundings of various states such as facsimile reception and transmission completion with a melody sound or a synthesized voice message. Since there was no technology to notify the requesting host, when multiple hosts issued an output request at the same time or adjacent time, it was not possible to identify which host output the print request and output I had to judge it by looking at what was done.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of identifying a host that has requested an output, in view of the above problems.

[0004]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: a voice information registering unit for registering an input IP address of a host and voice information; A voice information storage unit that converts and stores the voice output information based on the information registered in the registration unit, a voice output unit that outputs a voice based on the voice output information stored by the voice information storage unit, And a sound output control means for outputting a sound corresponding to the IP address of the host from the sound output means at the same time as printing is started by the print instruction. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the image forming apparatus further includes an input / display operation unit capable of performing an input operation and a display instruction. Is input by the input display operation means. In order to achieve the above object, a third aspect is provided.
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an ID card reading means for reading information stored in the ID card, wherein the IP address and voice information of the host are the information stored in the ID card. Is read by the ID card reading means. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect.
A mark sheet reading means for reading the mark information written on the sheet is provided, and the IP address and the voice information of the host are input by reading the mark information written on the sheet by the mark sheet reading means.

[0005] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention relates to claim 5.
According to the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising bar code reading means for reading bar code information, wherein the IP address and audio information of the host read bar code information by the bar code reading means. It is characterized by being input by the following. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: an audio information registration unit for registering an input IP address and audio information of a host, or an arbitrary input audio information; A voice information storage means for converting to and storing voice output information based on the information registered in the information registration means; a voice output means for outputting voice based on the voice output information stored by the voice information storage means; When printing is started in response to a print instruction from the host, the audio output control means for outputting audio based on either audio information corresponding to the IP address of the host or any audio information from the audio output means. It is characterized by having. According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first to sixth aspects, when printing is started in response to a print instruction from a host, a sound is output from the sound output unit. An audio output invalidating means for invalidating the function is provided.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The present image forming apparatus 20
Are the CPU 10 that controls the entire system,
In the ROM / RAM 11 for storing the control program of the above, a RAM in the ROM / RAM 11 for storing the work area of the CPU 10, image data, etc., input key switch and display LED, input display operation means having LCD, etc. Input display operation unit 5, various sensors 17 for detecting paper discharge jam, etc., various actuators 16 such as motors and solenoids, I / O control for detecting signals from various sensors 17 and controlling driving of various actuators 16 Unit 15, an input I / F (interface) 12 for inputting print data, an IP address, and voice information from a host; an image processing unit 13, which performs image processing of print data captured by the input I / F 12 under predetermined conditions; An image forming unit 14 that prints the print data processed by the image processing unit 13 is provided. Further, similarly, the present image forming apparatus 20
The voice information registration unit 1 is a voice information registration unit for registering the IP address of the host requesting the output and information about the voice of the host to be sent during data printing, and voice output is performed based on the information registered in the voice information registration unit 1. The voice information storage unit 2 is a voice information storage unit that converts and stores the information, the voice output unit 3 is a voice output unit that outputs voice based on the voice output information stored in the voice information storage unit 2, The voice output control unit 4 is a voice output control unit for outputting a voice corresponding to the IP address of the host from the voice output unit 3 at the same time when printing is started by a print instruction, in order to register the IP address of the host and voice information. An ID card reading unit 6, which is an ID card reading unit that enables use of an ID card;
The ID card read from the ID card reading unit 6 is read, and the ID card I /
F (interface) 6a, a mark sheet reading unit 7 serving as mark sheet reading means for reading mark information written on the sheet, a mark sheet I / F to be fetched from the mark sheet information read from the mark sheet reading unit 7 and translated by the CPU 10. (Interface) 7a,
Further, a barcode reading unit 8 serving as barcode reading means for reading barcode information, a barcode reading unit 8
Import the barcode information read from the
A barcode I / F (interface) 8a for translation by the U10 is provided.

Here, the main operation according to the present invention will be briefly described. There are various methods for inputting information about the voice of the host to be registered in the voice information registration unit 1. The first input method is a method in which the host directly inputs an I / F via the input I / F 12.
This is a method of inputting a P address and voice information. The second input method is a method in which the user inputs the IP address and audio information of the host via a key switch or a touch panel attached to the input display operation unit 5. A third input method is an IP address of a host and an ID in which voice information is stored.
The card is read by the ID card reading section 6, and the ID card I is read.
In this method, the information of the ID card is sent to the CPU 10 via / F6a, and after translation, registered in the voice information registration unit 1. In a fourth input method, a mark sheet in which an IP address of a host and audio information are stored is read by a mark sheet reading unit 7, the mark information read through the mark sheet I / F 7 a is sent to the CPU 10, and after translation, the audio information is registered. This is a method of causing the unit 1 to register. In a fifth input method, a barcode in which an IP address of a host and voice information are stored is read by a barcode reading unit 8, and the barcode information read through a barcode I / F 8a is sent to a CPU 10, and the translated This is a method of making the voice information registration unit 1 register.

On the other hand, print data from the host is input I
/ F12 and temporarily stored in a predetermined location of the RAM of the ROM / RAM 11. Thereafter, the print data stored in the RAM is sent to the image processing unit 13, where the image data is subjected to predetermined image processing on a page-by-page basis, converted into an image formable format, and stored again in the RAM. So 1
When the print data for the page is prepared, the image forming unit 14
Starts printing, but before that, the audio output control unit 4 checks whether the IP address and the audio information of the host, which is the request source of the data to be printed, are registered in the audio information registration unit 1, and the audio output control unit 4 is registered. If so, the voice information is sent to the voice information storage unit 2, converted into voice output information, and stored. Further, the audio output control unit 4 includes the image forming unit 14
At the same time as the start of printing, the audio output information stored in the audio information storage unit 2 is sent to the audio output unit 3, and the audio output unit 3
To output audio. By doing this,
The user can immediately determine from which host the printed matter currently being printed is requested. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a sound output process at the time of printing in the image forming apparatus of the present invention. First, it is determined whether a print request has been received (S1). If no print request has been received (S1 N
o), exit this routine. If a print request has been received (S1 Yes), it is determined whether the same IP address as the IP address of the host that issued the print request is registered in the voice information registration unit 1 (S2). S2Y
es), convert to audio output information based on the information registered in the audio information registration unit 1, and accumulate (S3). Further, a sound based on the stored sound output information is output (S4). Until the printing is completed, the registered voice is repeatedly output (S5 and S6 No), and after the printing is completed (S6 Yes), the output of the registered voice is ended (S7). In step S2, if the IP address of the host that has issued the print request is not registered in the voice information registration unit 1 with respect to the IP address of the host (S2).
No), the printing is performed without outputting the sound, and when the printing is completed (Yes in S8), the process exits this flow.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process of inputting audio information in the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
First, a selection is made as to whether or not to register the host IP address and voice information (S11). If not, the process exits from this routine (S11 No). If registration is to be performed (Yes in S11), it is checked whether or not registration is to be performed by input from the operation keys of the input display operation unit 5 (S12).
If it is performed by input from the operation key (S12 Yes
s) The host's IP address and voice information are registered by input from the operation keys (S13). Step S
If it is determined in step 12 that the input is not performed through the operation keys (No in S12), it is checked whether the registration of the IP address of the host and the voice information is performed from the ID card (S14).
If it is performed from an ID card (S14 Yes), I
The D card is read, and the host IP address and voice information are registered (S15). If it is determined in step S14 that the processing is not performed from the ID card (S14 N
o), It is checked whether or not registration of the host IP address and voice information is performed from the mark sheet (S16). If the operation is performed from the mark sheet (S16 Yes), the mark sheet is read, and the IP address of the host and the voice information are registered (S17). In step S16, if the registration is not performed from the mark sheet (S16 No), it is checked whether the registration of the IP address of the host and the voice information is performed from the barcode (S18). If the operation is performed from a barcode (S18: Yes), the barcode is read, and the IP address of the host and voice information are registered (S1).
9). If it is determined in step S18 that the process is not performed from the bar code (S18 No), the process directly exits this routine. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process of selecting a sound to be output during printing in the image forming apparatus of the present invention. When printing is started in response to a print request from the host, it is checked whether or not audio information corresponding to the IP address of the host is selected from the audio information registration unit 1 (S21). When the audio information corresponding to the host IP address is selected (S
21 Yes), when printing is started in response to a print request from the host, a sound corresponding to the IP address of the host that issued the print request is output (S22). If the voice corresponding to the IP address of the host is not selected in step S21 (S21 No), it is checked whether or not any input voice information is selected from the voice information registration unit 1 (S23). If any voice is selected (S
23 Yes), when printing is started in response to a print request from the host, an arbitrary voice that has been input is output (S24). If no arbitrary sound is selected in step S23 (No in S23), the process directly exits the routine. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process of selecting whether to enable or disable the audio output function in the image forming apparatus of the present invention. In the display area of the input display operation 5, an inquiry as to whether to enable the audio output function is displayed (S31). If the voice output function is enabled (Yes in S31), when printing is started in response to a print request from the host, a voice based on registered voice information is output (S32). If the sound output function is disabled in step S31 (S31 No), the sound output is stopped when printing is started in response to a print request from the host (S33).

[0010]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when printing is started in response to a print instruction from a host, a sound corresponding to the IP address of the host is played, so that the host being printed can be identified. And an image forming apparatus that facilitates the above. According to the second, third, fourth or fifth aspect of the present invention, since the IP address and voice information of the host can be registered from the input / display operation means, the ID card reading means, the mark sheet reading means or the bar code reading means, a print request is issued. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of easily obtaining a sound corresponding to the host. The invention according to claim 6 is not limited to the pre-registered voice,
Since the operator can arbitrarily register a voice, an image forming apparatus with an improved identification effect of the host during printing can be provided. According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to enable / disable the voice output function at the time of printing. A forming device can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a main part of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a sound output process during printing in the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of inputting audio information in the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of selecting a sound to be output during printing in the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of selecting validity / invalidity of an audio output function in the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 voice information registration unit (voice information registration unit) 2 voice information storage unit (voice information storage unit) 3 voice output unit (voice output unit) 4 voice output control unit (voice output control unit) 5 input display operation unit (input display) Operating means) 6 ID card reading section (ID card reading means) 7 Mark sheet reading section (Mark sheet reading means) 8 Barcode reading section (Barcode reading means) 9 Audio output invalidating section (Audio output invalidating means) 10 CPU 11 ROM / RAM 12 input I / F

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An audio information registration unit for registering an input IP address and audio information of a host, and an audio information storage unit for converting into audio output information based on information registered in the audio information registration unit and storing the audio output information. A voice output means for outputting a voice based on the voice output information stored by the voice information storage means, and a voice corresponding to the IP address of the host at the same time as starting printing by a print instruction from the host, from the voice output means. An image forming apparatus comprising an audio output control unit for outputting an image. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
An image forming apparatus, comprising: input display operation means capable of performing an input operation and a display instruction, wherein an IP address and voice information of a host are input by the input display operation means. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an ID card reading means for reading information stored in the ID card, wherein the IP address and the voice information of the host are the information stored in the ID card. The image forming apparatus is input by reading the ID by the ID card reading means. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: mark sheet reading means for reading mark information written on the sheet, wherein the IP address and audio information of the host are based on the mark information written on the sheet. An image forming apparatus characterized by being input by reading by the mark sheet reading means. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a bar code reading unit for reading bar code information, wherein the bar code information is read by the bar code reading unit for the IP address and audio information of the host. An image forming apparatus characterized in that the image forming apparatus is inputted by the user. 6. An audio information registering means for registering the input IP address and audio information of the host or any input audio information, and converting the information into audio output information based on the information registered in the audio information registering means. Voice information storage means for storing, voice output means for outputting voice based on voice output information stored by the voice information storage means, and an IP address of the host when printing is started by a print instruction from the host. An image forming apparatus comprising: audio output control means for outputting audio based on either audio information corresponding to the above or any audio information from the audio output means. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an audio output invalidating unit for invalidating a function of outputting audio from the audio output unit when printing is started by a print instruction from the host. An image forming apparatus comprising: