JP2002132400A - Radio communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide radio communication equipment with which the adverse effect is eliminated that a peripheral device can not be used because a storage medium can not be found, where driver software needed to use the peripheral device is stored. SOLUTION: This radio communication equipment has a storing means for storing inherent device driver software corresponding to a prescribed peripheral device, an interface means for performing data communication with a computer system through a two-way interface, an information transferring means for transferring the inherent device driver software stored in the storing means to the computer system from the computer system to the computer system through the interface means on the basis of the transfer request of the device driver software, and a radio communicating means for transmitting and receiving data to/from the peripheral device by radio.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wireless communication device which stores a computer readable program and which can transmit and receive data of a computer device to and from a peripheral device wirelessly.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, multifunction peripheral devices having a plurality of functions with one peripheral device have been developed.

In this multifunction peripheral device, the functions of the main peripheral devices of a computer are combined in one housing, and a single interface for connecting to the computer is provided.

[0004] In the above-mentioned multifunction peripheral device, the driver software is designed so that software having several types of functions can be installed at a time. In other words, the trouble of installing one driver software for each peripheral device one by one is eliminated, the connection cables required for each of the plurality of peripheral devices are integrated into one, and the housing of the peripheral device is further reduced. By combining them into a single unit, the installation space is reduced, thereby improving the usability of the user.

[0005] In a conventional computer peripheral device, there are the following two methods for installing driver software in the computer.

In the first method, driver software including device-specific information is supplied via a storage medium such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk or CD-ROM.
This is a method in which the user of the computer device installs the driver software on the computer.

In the second method, the driver software is uploaded to a database connected to a network, and the user of the computer downloads the driver software including the device-specific information via the network. Then, it is a method of being installed and used in a computer device.

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, when the driver software dedicated to the output device currently connected to the user's own computer device is installed in the computer device, the user correctly identifies different driver software for each output device. If the user installs the wrong driver software, the output device does not operate properly.

[0009]

To solve this problem, device driver software is provided in advance in a peripheral device so that the device driver can be automatically installed in the computer when the peripheral device is connected to the computer. This invention is well described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-1874.
No. 22 (Title of invention: output device, data processing method of output device, and storage medium storing computer readable program), and JP-A-8-10180
No. 3 (name of invention: information processing system).

By the way, among multifunction peripheral devices, many multifunction facsimile machines having a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function have been developed.

Printer, scanner and facsimile
The size of the multifunction facsimile machine is smaller than the total size of the devices, but the printer,
Than the size of one of the scanner and facsimile,
The size of a multifunction facsimile machine is large.

When it is desired to use the multi-function facsimile device for a short time on a computer other than the computer device to which the multi-function facsimile device is connected, for example, to print out a small amount of text data, or to print only one image. For example, when it is desired to scan a multifunction facsimile machine or a computer, the user must move the multifunction facsimile apparatus or computer to a position where the connection cable can reach and connect the cable.

In the above conventional example, it is necessary to search for a storage medium in which driver software is stored and a manual in which an installation method is written, and then after installing the driver software, print out data or take in an image. Is necessary. Another problem is that it is necessary to move the computer or the multifunction facsimile apparatus after printing out.

When a multifunction facsimile machine is used at home, the function of the facsimile is mainly used, not as a peripheral device of a personal computer. Therefore, the multi-function facsimile machine is installed in a place where the whole family can use it as a facsimile machine. Only when printing New Year's cards, Christmas cards, summer greetings, etc., it is connected to a personal computer and used to print postcard text and illustrations. It is also used for importing images to be printed on postcards into a personal computer. In this case, the following problem occurs.

When a multifunction peripheral is used as a facsimile machine, it can be used only by connecting a telephone line. When a printer or scanner function is used as a personal computer peripheral, the computer and the multifunction peripheral must be connected. Connect with cable,
It is necessary to install the driver software corresponding to the peripheral device on the personal computer.

The driver software is distributed on a storage medium such as a CD-ROM or a floppy disk. However, the driver software is not always used and is not usually carried around. When trying to use as a peripheral device, there is a case that a storage medium containing the driver software cannot be found, so that there is a problem that it cannot be used as a peripheral device.

If the storage medium containing the driver software is lost, the driver software cannot be installed in the computer device, and a problem that peripheral equipment cannot be used may occur.

If a manual describing the procedure for installing the driver software is lost, the driver software cannot be installed, and a problem arises that it cannot be used as a peripheral device.

Another problem is that in order to connect the multifunction device to the personal computer, it is necessary to move the personal computer to a place where the connection cable can reach.

According to the present invention, it is possible to eliminate the problem that the storage medium storing the driver software required when using the peripheral device cannot be used because the storage medium cannot be found. You can eliminate the disadvantage that you cannot use the peripheral device because you lose the storage media that is used and the driver software can not be installed, and you need to move the peripheral device to a place where the connection cable can reach to connect to the personal computer It is an object of the present invention to provide a wireless communication device that does not require a long cable to connect to a personal computer.

[0021]

According to the present invention, data communication is performed between storage means for storing unique device driver software corresponding to a predetermined peripheral device and a computer device via a bidirectional interface. Information for transferring the unique device driver software stored in the storage device from the computer device to the computer device via the interface device, based on the interface device and the transfer request of the device driver software The wireless communication device includes a transfer unit and a wireless communication unit that wirelessly transmits and receives data between the peripheral device.

[0022]

FIG. 1 shows a multifunction facsimile apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG.

Multifunction facsimile machine 1
Has a print function that prints based on data sent from a computer, a scanner function that captures the image of an original and sends image data to a computer device, and a facsimile function that connects to a public telephone line and sends and receives facsimile data. Is a multifunction facsimile machine having

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the multi-function facsimile machine 1.

Multifunction facsimile machine 1
As shown in FIG. 1, a color scanner device 400 as a document transport type color reading device, a serial recording type recording device as a recording device, and a control board 39 are provided inside a housing constituting front, rear, left and right side walls. , A power supply 600, and a wireless communication device that wirelessly transmits and receives data between the computer and the multifunction facsimile device. Each of these components is individually configured so that replacement and detachment can be easily performed.

The housings are basically a lower cover 3 as a first housing, an upper cover 4 as a second housing, and a rear cover as a third housing for guiding a recording sheet and covering a power supply. And is constituted by.

The lower cover 3 has a wireless unit holder 3a
Is installed, and the wireless communication unit 300 is installed thereon.

An upper cover 4 is a document table 6 having a slider that can be adjusted in width to guide the document in the width direction, and has a slider 5 that moves around one center by moving only one of the sliders. However, as described later, the upper cover 4 is rotatably supported so that the recording head can be accessed.

An antenna 201 extending from the wireless communication device inside the housing projects from the upper cover 4 to the outside of the device.

A detachable document stacking tray 8 is provided at the rear of the document table 6. For example, when a document of A4 size is transported upward toward the color scanner unit 400,
The trailing edge does not hang down.

Also, the original conveyed upward with the original surface facing down is fed from the lower part of the color scanner unit 400 to the apparatus 1.
And is placed on the document discharge tray 9.
The document discharge tray 9 is movable in the front-rear direction of the apparatus 1 as shown by an arrow.

On the other hand, the width direction of the recording sheet conveyed to the recording apparatus is regulated by the movement of the width adjusting plate 11 provided on the base 10 provided on the back side of the apparatus 1. After that, after being serially recorded by a printer unit described later, the sheet is discharged to the recording sheet table 38 below the color scanner unit 400. When the recording sheet is conveyed such that the longitudinal direction of the recording sheet is the front-back direction of the apparatus,
In order to prevent sagging, the front recording sheet support rod 14
Is provided. The upper recording sheet support bar 14 is provided so as to be able to be pulled out in the front-rear direction similarly to the document discharge tray 9.

The upper cover 4 has a shape surrounding the color scanner section 400 as shown in the figure, and is detached from the lower cover 3 along the edge of the upper cover 4 so that the color scanner section is removed. 400 to lower cover 3
Can be left on top.

In the color scanner section 400, a scanner body section and a panel section 2 are connected so as to open and close about a hinge (not shown). Further, a liquid crystal display unit 16, a dial key 17, and other operation units are arranged on the panel unit as shown in the figure.

Next, the configuration of each unit shown in FIG. 2 will be described in detail.

First, the color scanner section 400 will be described.

The color scanner section 400 irradiates the original D with light, converts the reflected light into an electric signal, and converts this signal into an electric signal.
It is transmitted to another device or transmitted to its own printer unit according to the operation mode. Documents D are stacked on a document table 6.

In the color scanner section 400, a separation roller 21 for feeding out a document, a feeding roller 22 for conveying the document, and a discharge roller 2 for discharging the document onto a document discharge table.
3 and a color contact sensor 24 for reading image information of the document.

The panel section 2 is rotatably attached to the scanner base 20 by a fulcrum (not shown).
An upper document guide 25 that guides the upper side of the document, a separation piece 40 that is arranged and pressed against the separation roller 21, a feeding roller 22, and a feeding roller 27 that is pressed against the discharge roller 23
And a white paper background serving as a white reference for reading, which is pressed opposite to the paper discharge roller 28 and the color contact sensor 24.

The operation panel 2 forms a part of the exterior and is attached to the upper document guide.
An operation key, a display unit 16 such as an LCD, and a panel substrate on which the display unit 16 is mounted are provided.

The document transport, reading operation, and the like of the color scanner unit 400 are performed by a motor, a sensor drive circuit, and the like (not shown).

Next, the printer will be described.

In the printer section 12, the paper supply section 13
The middle plate is supported by a fulcrum (not shown), and the middle plate is pressed by a spring. The base is fixed to the printer body 12 by screws or the like. The recording paper S is stacked on the middle plate, and the back surface is supported by a paper feed tray which is provided on a paper feed base so as to be extendable and retractable. The position in the width direction is movably provided on the middle plate. Is regulated by a side guide.

The paper feed roller feeds out the recording paper one by one and sends it out to the printer unit 12. Printer body 12
Is a so-called inkjet recording unit. A printer chassis serving as a frame of the printer main body 12 is fixed to the lower cover 3.

The paper feed roller 32 presses the recording paper S sent from the paper feed unit by pressing a pinch roller disposed opposite thereto.
It is sent to the printing section further downstream. The platen 34 supporting the back surface of the recording paper in the printing unit is provided with a reciprocating carriage 36 supported by a guide shaft 35 on the front surface of the recording paper.
A recording image is formed by the ink head 7 attached to the printer.

Thereafter, the recording paper S is discharged from the printer unit 12 by the recording paper discharge roller pair 37, and is conveyed and stacked on a recording sheet table 38 provided on the lower cover 3.

Here, recording paper conveyance, recording operation, and the like of the printer unit 12 are performed by a motor, a sensor, a head driving circuit (not shown), and the like, and these controls are controlled by a control board 39. An absorber 18 that absorbs waste ink generated during operations such as ink clogging prevention in the printer unit 12 is attached to the lower cover 3.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a use form of the above embodiment.

In FIG. 3, a computer device 1000 has a keyboard, a pointing pad, a display, and a bidirectional interface.

The inside of the computer 1000 includes a CPU that controls the entire system, a ROM that stores programs executed by the CPU, a main memory of the CPU, a RAM that temporarily stores data, and a And a hard disk which is a rewritable storage device for storing programs and the like.

The wireless communication unit 300 has a function as a repeater for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data of the multifunction facsimile apparatus to and from the computer 1000. The wireless communication unit 300 is formed integrally with the connection cable 301,
1 is used in connection with a bidirectional interface of a computer device.

The wireless communication unit 300 converts digital data sent from the computer device 1000 through the bidirectional interface and wirelessly transmits the digital data to the multifunction facsimile device. Has the function of receiving, converting to digital data, and sending it to the computer device 1000 through a bidirectional interface.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the multifunction facsimile machine 1.

The CPU 51 controls various devices connected to the system bus 50 based on control programs stored in the ROM 53 and the like.

The ROM 53 is a memory that stores a control program executed by the CPU 51, a device identification ID unique to the system, a procedure for communicating with the wireless communication unit 300, and the like.

The RAM 52 is a main memory of the CPU 51, and is a memory for temporarily storing data transmitted from each control unit, and for temporarily storing data to be transmitted to the computer.

A printer unit 1 for outputting print data
2 are provided.

According to the procedure of the program stored in the ROM 53, the CPU sends output data to be printed to the printer section, and the printer section outputs the print data.

The scanner unit 400 drives a reading motor (not shown) to convey a document according to a command from the CPU 51, and reads an image with a color contact sensor.
A scanner unit that creates image data.

The operation section 2 is an operation section for displaying a message to the user on the LCD of the operation panel and transmitting a signal corresponding to depression of an operation key to the CPU.

The radio section 200 converts the digital data sent by the CPU 51 and
And a function of receiving data transmitted from the wireless communication unit 300, converting the data into digital data,
A wireless unit having a function of transmitting data to the wireless communication unit 51.

A line control unit 100 for receiving data from a public telephone line is used for transmitting and receiving facsimile data.

Next, the respective operations of the printer function, the scanner function, and the facsimile function of the multifunction facsimile machine 1 will be described in order.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the respective operations of the printer function, the scanner function, and the facsimile function of the multifunction facsimile apparatus 1.

The data transmitted from the wireless communication unit 300 connected to the computer 1
0 is received (S51). The data received by the wireless unit 200 and converted into digital data is transmitted to the CPU 51.
To be transmitted.

The CPU 51 determines whether the received data is a print output command (S2).

If the received data is a print output command, the image data transmitted subsequently is temporarily stored in the RAM 53, print data is formed based on the image data, and the data is transmitted to the printer unit. The print data is output (printed out) (S6).

On the other hand, if the received data is not a printer output command, it is determined whether or not the transmitted data is an image scan command (S3).

If the received data is an image scan command, a document detection sensor (not shown) of the scanner unit 400 determines whether a document is set on the document table 6 or not.

When CPU 51 determines that the original is not set, it transmits data indicating that the original is not prepared to computer 1000 via wireless unit 200.

Computer 10 receiving data without a document from a multi-function facsimile machine
00 displays a message "Original is not set. Please set original" on the display.

If it is determined that a document is set,
A reading motor (not shown) of the scanner unit 400 is driven to rotate a separation roller, a feeding roller, and a paper discharging roller that are gear-connected, convey a document, and read an image with a color contact sensor.

The read image data is temporarily stored in the RAM 53. The stored data is sequentially transmitted from the wireless unit 200 to the wireless communication unit 300 (S7).

If the command is not a document scan command, it is determined whether the command is a facsimile transmission command (S4).

If it is determined that the received command is a facsimile transmission command, a facsimile number transmitted subsequently and a transmission mode (fine transmission, standard transmission, etc.) are received.
Execute a facsimile transmission operation. The transmitted image data is temporarily stored in the RAM 53, and the line control circuit 100
Executes facsimile transmission through a public telephone line (S8).

When facsimile data is received from the public line via the line control circuit 100, the RAM 53 is used for temporarily storing the received image data.

If the original is not a facsimile transmission command, a received data error is transmitted to the computer via the wireless unit 200 (S5).

Next, the configuration in the multifunction facsimile machine 1 and the configuration of the radio unit 200 used in the radio communication unit 300 will be described.

FIG. 6A is a block diagram showing a radio unit 200 using a spread spectrum system as a radio transmission system.

In the spread spectrum method, after a digital signal is first-order modulated, a transmission frequency band is spread widely, and a narrow band noise received during radio transmission is despread at the time of reception, and the band is restored. This is a method for removing narrow-band noise.

The radio section includes a modulation / demodulation circuit 309 for modulating and demodulating a digital signal, a spectrum spreading circuit 310 for spreading the spectrum of the modulated signal and, at the time of reception, a despreading of the received signal, and a frequency conversion means 318. It is configured.

The modulation / demodulation circuit 309 is composed of a modulation circuit and a demodulation circuit.
It is composed of a spreading circuit and a despreading circuit.

FIG. 6 (2) is a diagram showing the configuration of the frequency conversion means 318.

The frequency conversion means 318 includes a high-frequency conversion circuit 311, a transmission amplification circuit 312, a transmission band-pass filter 313 (hereinafter abbreviated as BPF), an antenna switch 314 (hereinafter abbreviated as SW), and a reception BPF 315.
, A reception amplification circuit 316 and a baseband frequency conversion circuit 317.

At the time of transmission, SW 314 connects the transmission circuit to antenna 302. The transmission signal is modulated by a modulation circuit, spread by a spreading circuit, converted by a high-frequency conversion circuit 311 into a high-frequency band signal used for transmission and reception between the wireless communication unit 300 and the multifunction facsimile apparatus 1000, and then amplified by an amplification circuit. Amplified at 312,
The band is limited to a predetermined band by the BPF 313 and the antenna 302
Output from

At the time of reception, SW 314 is connected to antenna 302
And the receiving circuit. The received signal is input from the antenna, noise is removed by the BPF 315, and the
6 and the baseband frequency conversion circuit 317
Is converted to a frequency in the baseband band, returned to the original narrowband signal by the despreading circuit, and converted to a digital signal by the demodulation circuit.

Next, the configuration of the wireless communication unit 300, which is a feature of the present invention, and the procedure for installing the driver software of the multifunction facsimile machine 1 will be described.

The above embodiment has a configuration in which the device identification ID unique to the multifunction facsimile machine 1 and the driver software are stored in the memory in the wireless communication unit 300.

By connecting the wireless communication unit 300 to the bidirectional interface of the computer 1000 and uploading the driver software from the memory in the wireless communication unit to the computer 1000, the multifunction device 1 can be wirelessly transmitted from the computer 1000. Printer function, scanner function and facsimile function can be used. The description will be made in the following order.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the wireless communication unit 300 in the above embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 7, the CPU 305
Based on the control program stored in 07, control of the wireless unit 308 connected to the system bus 303, processing of data input from the computer device, and processing of data output to the computer device are executed.

The ROM 307 stores a control program executed by the CPU 305, a device identification ID unique to the apparatus, a procedure for communicating with the radio section 200 of the multi-function facsimile apparatus, driver software for the radio communication unit 300 and the multi-function facsimile apparatus 1, and the like. It is a memory that stores.

The RAM 306 temporarily stores data and the like transmitted from the multifunction facsimile machine 1,
This memory is used for temporarily storing data such as data sent from the computer device 300.

The wireless unit 308 is connected to the computer 100
And a function of converting digital data input from the computer interface 0 through the computer input / output interface 304 and transmitting the digital data to the multi-function facsimile machine 1; receiving data transmitted from the multi-function facsimile machine 1; converting the data to digital data; It is a wireless unit having functions.

Radio section 308 has the same configuration as radio section 200 in the multi-function facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. 6, and uses a spread spectrum system as a radio transmission system.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the procedure for downloading the driver software of the multi-function facsimile apparatus 1000 with respect to the processing on the computer apparatus 1000 side.

The computer 1000 first transmits a command requesting a device identification ID of a peripheral device to the wireless communication unit 300 connected to the bidirectional interface (S11). Wireless communication unit 300
Receives the device identification ID request (S11a),
Is transmitted to the computer 1000 (S12a), and the computer 1000 receives the device ID of the peripheral device from the wireless communication unit 300 (S12).

The computer 1000 searches whether or not the driver software corresponding to the received device ID is installed in the storage device (S13). The device driver software is searched (S14). If the driver software has already been installed, the driver software is expanded on the RAM in the computer 1000, and the driver software download process ends (S17).

On the other hand, if the device driver software has not been installed,
000 transmits a driver software request command to the wireless communication unit 300 via the connection cable 301 (S15). And the wireless communication unit 300
A device driver request command is received (S15a), and a device driver is transmitted to the computer 1000 (S16a).

The wireless communication unit 3 which has received the device driver request command sent from the computer 1000
00 transmits the device driver software of the multifunction facsimile machine stored in the ROM 307 to the computer 1000.

The computer device 1000 stores the driver software sent from the wireless communication unit 300 in the storage device (S16), and stores the driver software in the RAM in the computer device.
(S17), and the driver software download processing ends.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a received data processing procedure in radio communication unit 300.

This processing is performed by the C of the wireless communication unit 300.
The PU 305 executes. The wireless communication unit 300 is connected to a bidirectional interface of the computer 1000. The CPU 305 reads the data input from the computer 1000 to the computer input / output interface 304 (S21).

The data input to the interface 304 is interpreted by the CPU 305, and it is checked whether it is a device ID request command (S22). If it is a device ID request command, the CPU 305
The device identification ID stored in M307 is transmitted to the computer via the interface 304 (S25). If it is determined that the command is not a device ID request command, it is determined whether the command is a driver software request command (S23).

If the received command is a driver software request command, the CPU 305 transfers the driver software stored in the ROM to the computer 1000 via the computer input / output interface 304.

When transferring this driver software,
The transfer may be performed after the data is read into the RAM 306, and if possible, the data may be transferred directly from the ROM 307 through the computer input / output interface 304.

If it is determined that the received command is not a driver software request command, and if the received command is not a command such as a printer output command to a peripheral device, the CPU 305 ignores the input data, and
Move to the standby state.

If it is determined that the input to the wireless communication unit 300 is a command (image print output, image scanner input, etc.) from the computer 1000 to the multifunction facsimile machine 1, the wireless communication unit 300
Transmits data to the multifunction facsimile machine 1.

As described above, the driver software for the multi-function facsimile apparatus 1000 is installed when the computer apparatus 1000 is started or when the wireless communication unit 300 is newly installed.
This is performed, for example, when it is connected to

In the above embodiment, the driver software for the multi-function facsimile
7, the storage device 320 may be provided in the wireless communication unit 300 separately from the ROM 307, and the driver software of the multifunction facsimile device 1 may be stored in the storage device 320.

FIG. 10 shows that the radio communication unit 300
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment having a storage device 320 storing driver software separately from a ROM 307.

In the case of this configuration, the transfer of the driver software is performed in step S25 in the flowchart of FIG.
Instead, a step of reading the driver software stored in the storage device 320 onto the RAM 306 and transmitting the read driver software to the computer device 1000 is provided.

The storage device 320 includes an EPROM, a hard disk, a nonvolatile memory card, and the like. When a memory card is used as a storage device, it is conceivable to provide an insertion slot for the memory card in the wireless communication unit 300 so that the wireless communication unit 300 can be inserted and removed.

In this case, when a memory card storing the new driver software is provided from a peripheral device maker, the memory card is replaced with a memory card containing the old driver software.
New driver software can be installed. When using a rewritable storage device,
There is an advantage that the driver software can be updated by updating to new driver software provided from a peripheral device maker on the Internet or the like.

In the above-described embodiment, the procedure for installing the driver software of the multi-function facsimile apparatus at the time of starting the computer apparatus 1000 has been described. The driver software may be installed by using a serial interface or a parallel interface unit that can use the driver software, and inputting a command corresponding to the driver request command from the keyboard of the computer apparatus 1000 by the user.

For example, the wireless communication unit 300 is connected to the serial interface of the computer 1000. When the user inputs a command using the keyboard, a signal corresponding to the input command is output from the connected serial port. When the CPU in the wireless communication unit 300 determines that the input signal is a driver software request command, the procedure for transferring the driver software to the computer 1000 according to the flowchart of FIG. When the user himself inputs a command corresponding to the driver software request command, the driver software can be downloaded.

The following method can be considered as a procedure for installing the driver software in the user. As a driver software installation procedure, a connection method of the wireless communication unit 300, a command to be input with a keyboard, and the like are printed and attached to the outside of the housing of the wireless communication unit 300. Alternatively, by engraving figures and characters (procedures, commands, and the like) on the housing, the user can see and understand the installation procedure. This saves the hassle of searching for and finding a manual to install device driver software.

The above embodiment is a multi-function facsimile apparatus having functions of a printer, a scanner, and a facsimile.
The above embodiment can be applied. For example, the above embodiment may be applied to a peripheral device having a single function such as a digital camera, a film scanner, a three-dimensional shape scanner, or a multi-function device having a plurality of functions.

According to the above-described embodiment, the multifunction facsimile apparatus having a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function is attached to the multifunction facsimile apparatus, and performs data transmission and reception between the multifunction facsimile apparatus and the computer apparatus by wireless communication. A wireless communication unit that makes it possible to determine a device-specific ID, a memory storing driver software, and a type of a command sent from a computer, and determine the type of the command sent from the computer. If there is, it is constituted by a CPU for transferring a driver to a computer and a memory storing a program to be executed by the CPU.

Therefore, a wireless communication device is connected to each of a plurality of peripheral devices such as a printer, a scanner, and a facsimile, driver software for each of the peripheral devices is installed in a computer, and an ID number for wireless communication is assigned to each device. You can save time and effort.

Further, according to the above embodiment, it is possible to prevent troubles such as not knowing how to install the driver software of the peripheral device, to lose the storage media containing the driver software, and to use the computer software because the driver software cannot be installed. The trouble of being unable to do so can be prevented.

Further, according to the above embodiment, when a small amount of text data is to be printed out by another computer (notebook personal computer, PDA, etc.), or when only one image is to be scanned, a multi-computer with an already installed computer is required. By removing the wireless communication unit and connecting it to the computer that contains the data to be printed out or the computer that wants to capture the scanner data without moving the function facsimile machine itself, the driver software for the peripheral device is installed, and the Peripheral equipment can be used easily.

The bidirectional interface means includes:
Interface means that can use driver software standard for computer equipment.

[0124]

According to the present invention, it is possible to eliminate an adverse effect that a storage medium storing driver software necessary for using a peripheral device cannot be used because the storage medium cannot be found. Playing,
In addition, the storage medium storing the driver software is lost, and the effect that peripheral devices cannot be used because the driver software cannot be installed can be eliminated. In addition, a connection cable for connecting to a personal computer can be obtained. The advantage is that there is no need to move the peripheral device to a location where it can reach, and that there is no need for a long cable to connect to a personal computer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a multifunction facsimile apparatus 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the multifunction facsimile machine 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a usage pattern of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the multifunction facsimile machine 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating operations of a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function of the multifunction facsimile apparatus 1;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a radio unit 200 using a spread spectrum system as a radio transmission system, and a diagram illustrating a configuration of a frequency conversion unit 318.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a wireless communication unit 300 in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a multi-function facsimile apparatus 100.
0 driver software download procedure
10 is a flowchart illustrating processing on the computer apparatus 1000 side.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a reception data processing procedure in the wireless communication unit 300.

FIG. 10 shows a ROM 307 in a wireless communication unit 300.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an embodiment having a storage device 320 storing driver software separately from the above.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Multifunction facsimile apparatus, 200 ... Radio | wireless part, 300 ... Wireless communication unit, 301 ... Connection cable, 302 ... Antenna, 309 ... Modulation / demodulation circuit, 310 ... Spread spectrum circuit, 318 ... Frequency conversion means, 400 ... Color scanner apparatus, 600: power supply, 1000: computer device.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04M 11/00 302 H04L 11/00 310B (72) Inventor Tohru Ikeda 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo No. Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Junji Iguchi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Toshiaki Saito 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Stocks Inside the company (72) Takashi Imai 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Daiki 3-30-2 Shimomaruko 3-chome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72 ) Inventor Hiroshi Ogushi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. No. 0 No.2 Canon Inc. F term (reference) 5K011 DA26 JA00 JA12 KA01 5K027 AA12 HH08 HH26 5K033 BA04 DA01 DA17 5K101 KK01 LL12 NN01 NN11

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A storage device for storing device driver software specific to a predetermined peripheral device; an interface device for performing data communication with a computer via a bidirectional interface; Information transfer means for transferring the unique device driver software stored in the storage means from the computer device to the computer device via the interface means based on a software transfer request; Wireless communication means for transmitting and receiving data wirelessly to and from the wireless communication device. 2. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral device is a device having a facsimile function. 3. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral device is a device having a printer function. 4. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral device is a device having a scanner function. 5. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral device is a multifunction device having a function of a plurality of peripheral devices. 6. The wireless communication device according to claim 5, wherein the two-way interface is an interface that can use driver software standard for a computer device. 7. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the installation procedure of the device driver software is displayed on an apparatus housing. 8. The wireless communication device according to claim 7, wherein the wireless communication system in the wireless communication unit is a spread spectrum system. 9. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the storage device is a rewritable hard disk. 10. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the storage device is a memory card.