JP2002223345A - Driver program and digital combination machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make user operation easy in the same manner as that of image printing in the case of performing facsimile transmission. SOLUTION: In a host computer 1, a printer driver realized in such a manner that a processor operates on the basis of a driver program 15a performs a printing instruction and print data transmission to a digital combination machine 2 in response to a printing request from a user. At that time, the printer driver confirms whether or not a destination telephone number described in prescript font for destination designation exists in image data to be printed, and attaches a command for facsimile transmission showing the destination telephone number to the print data when the destination telephone number exists. In the facsimile combination machine 2, a CPU 21 performs image printing when the command for facsimile transmission is not attached to the transmitted print data, and performs facsimile transmission when the command for facsimile transmission is attached.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a driver program for controlling the driving of a digital multifunction peripheral from an external computer, and a function of controlling the driving of the digital multifunction peripheral from an external computer to perform image printing and facsimile transmission. The present invention relates to a digital multi-functional peripheral having the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of digital multifunction peripheral,
A printer driver for operating the digital multifunction peripheral as a printer and application software for controlling the facsimile function are installed in the personal computer, respectively, and image printing or facsimile transmission is performed in response to a request from the printer driver or the application software. It is intended to transmit. For this reason, the user must use different software depending on whether to perform image printing or facsimile transmission.

[0003]

In general, a printer driver issues a print instruction to a digital multi-function peripheral in response to an instruction from another application software such as word processing software. Is realized by application software. Therefore, when printing an image, the user does not need to be aware of the printer driver, and can perform an operation for printing as part of the operation of the familiar application software.

However, in order to perform facsimile transmission, it is necessary to start up dedicated application software and operate the application software to make various settings for facsimile transmission. Burden is great.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to make a user's work in facsimile transmission as easy as in image printing. The present invention provides a driver program and a digital multifunction peripheral that enable the above.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a printing means for performing image printing based on predetermined print data, a facsimile transmitting means for transmitting facsimile data indicating an arbitrary image. When a driver program for causing a computer connected to the digital multi-function peripheral to execute drive control of the digital multi-function peripheral including the computer receives an instruction to print an image based on another program, Whether or not the image indicated by the image data included in the specified print data includes a facsimile transmission control image indicating predetermined facsimile transmission control information including at least a facsimile transmission destination, for example, a character string of a specific font A control image presence / absence check unit for checking the print data; Print data processing means for performing a process of adding facsimile transmission control information indicated by the facsimile transmission control image when the facsimile transmission control image is confirmed to be included by the image presence / absence confirmation means; and And a function of print data transmission control means for transmitting the print data processed by the above to the digital multi-function peripheral.

Further, the present invention provides a digital multi-function peripheral which operates under the drive control of the computer based on the driver program, for example, a printing means such as a printer for printing an image based on print data, and a facsimile showing an arbitrary image. Facsimile transmission means such as a facsimile communication unit for transmitting data, and when print data is given from an external computer, whether or not predetermined facsimile transmission control information including at least a facsimile transmission destination is added to the print data. For example, transmission control information presence / absence confirmation means such as a transmission command presence / absence confirmation means, and image printing based on the print data confirmed that the facsimile transmission control information is not added by the transmission control information presence / absence confirmation means. Let the printing means do Print / transmission selection means for causing the facsimile transmission means to transmit facsimile data corresponding to the image indicated by the print data for which the facsimile transmission control information has been added by the transmission control information presence / absence confirmation means. It was equipped and comprised.

[0010] By taking such measures, when an instruction is given by the computer to print an image by designating the digital MFP as a print device, the computer sends the print data to the MFP to print the image. Although the transfer is performed, the computer checks whether or not at least the facsimile transmission control image indicating the predetermined facsimile transmission control information is included in the image indicated by the image data included in the print data. Is included, the facsimile transmission control information indicated by the facsimile transmission control image is added to the print data. In the digital multi-function peripheral, it is confirmed whether or not facsimile transmission control information is added to print data provided from an external computer. If the facsimile transmission control information is not added, normal image printing is performed. If the facsimile transmission control information is added, facsimile data transmission corresponding to the image indicated by the print data is performed to the facsimile transmission destination indicated by the facsimile transmission control information. Therefore, by including the facsimile transmission control image in the image to be printed, the user can perform facsimile transmission just by issuing a print request in the same manner as in the case of performing image printing.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the main components of a digital multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment and a host computer in which a driver program for driving and controlling the digital multifunction peripheral is incorporated.

In FIG. 1, a portion denoted by reference numeral 1 is a host computer, and a portion denoted by reference numeral 2 is a digital multifunction peripheral.

The host computer 1 is mainly composed of an existing general-purpose computer.
It has a main memory 12, a keyboard / mouse 13, a display 14, a hard disk device 15, and an interface unit (I / F unit) 16. These components are connected to each other via a bus system 17 including various bus lines and various interface circuits.

The processor 11 includes a hard disk drive 1
5 performs various processes in accordance with the program stored in the program 5.

The main memory 12 temporarily stores programs actually used by the processor 11 and other data.

The keyboard / mouse 13 receives various instruction inputs from the user.

The display 14 displays images for notifying various information to the user.

The hard disk drive 15 has a processor 1
1 stores various programs such as an operating system program and an application program used, and other arbitrary data. Further, the hard disk device 15 stores a driver program 15 a for driving and controlling the digital multifunction peripheral 2. The driver program 15a includes various kinds of processing means similar to those of a well-known printer driver for operating the digital multifunction peripheral 2 as a printer, a control image presence / absence confirmation means, a print data processing means, and a print data transmission control. It causes the processor 11 to perform software processing as each of the means.

Here, the control image presence / absence confirming means includes an image indicating the destination telephone number in the image indicated by the image data included in the print data specified as the print target when the printing is instructed from another application. Check whether it has been done.

When the control image presence / absence confirmation unit confirms that the facsimile transmission control image is included in the print data, the print data processing unit performs processing based on the facsimile transmission control information indicated by the facsimile transmission control image. A process for creating and adding a facsimile transmission command is performed.

The print data transmission control means passes the print data processed by the print data processing means to the spooler for transmission to the digital multifunction peripheral 2.

The interface section 16 is, for example, a general-purpose parallel interface or LAN interface, to which the digital multifunction peripheral 2 is connected via a cable, a LAN, or the like. Then, the interface unit 16 performs communication with the connected digital MFP 2.

On the other hand, the digital multifunction peripheral 2 has a CPU 2
1, memory unit 22, operation / display unit 23, scanner 24,
Video interface 25, printer 26, facsimile communication unit 27, and interface unit (I / F unit) 28
Having. And CPU2 of these parts
1, memory unit 22, operation / display unit 23, scanner 24,
The video interface 25, the facsimile communication unit 27, and the interface unit 28 are connected to each other via a bus 29. A printer 26 is connected to the video interface 25.

The CPU 21 implements an operation as a digital multi-function peripheral by performing control processing for comprehensively controlling each unit based on a control program stored in the memory unit 22.

The memory unit 22 is appropriately configured using a ROM, a RAM, a flash memory, a hard disk device, or the like.
The PU 21 stores various information required for performing various processes, sent print data, image data for print / facsimile transmission, and the like.

The operation / display unit 23 is provided by a user CPU.
A key input unit for receiving various instruction inputs to the CPU 21 and various information to be notified to the user.
It has a display unit for displaying under the control of 21.

The scanner 24 reads a document,
Image data indicating the original is generated.

The printer 26 has a video interface 2
5 and receives various instructions and image data, and prints an image indicated by the given image data on a predetermined recording sheet.

The facsimile communication unit 27 encodes / decodes image data for encoding / decoding for redundancy compression.
A decoding unit, a modem that modulates and demodulates facsimile data, or a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone)
A network control circuit (NCU) for performing interface processing relating to the network 3; a protocol processing unit for performing protocol processing in accordance with a predetermined standard such as the G3 standard;
Various known processes for transmitting and receiving an image via the TN 3 are performed.

The interface unit 28 is, for example, a general-purpose parallel interface, a LAN interface, or the like, to which the host computer 1 is connected via a cable, a LAN, or the like. And the interface unit 28
Communication with the connected host computer 1 is performed.

The control means realized by the CPU 21 by software processing based on the control program stored in the memory unit 22 includes transmission command existence confirmation means and transmission command existence confirmation means in addition to well-known general processing means in a digital multifunction peripheral. It has print / transmission selection means.

Here, the transmission command presence / absence confirming means confirms whether or not a facsimile transmission command is added to the print data requested to be printed and given from the host computer 1.

The print / transmission selection means controls the printing of the image indicated by the print data or the facsimile transmission of the image indicated by the print data in accordance with the result of the confirmation by the transmission command presence / absence confirmation means. I do.

Next, the operation of the system configured as described above will be described. The processor 11 in the host computer 1 implements a function of performing a plurality of types of processing based on each of various programs stored in the hard disk device 15, and the processor 11 actually performs various types of processing. In the following, the operating system is based on the operating system program, the application is based on the application program, the application is based on the spooler program, and the spooler is based on the spooler program.
A case where the operation is performed based on the driver program 15a is referred to as a printer driver.

When requesting image printing or facsimile transmission to the digital multi-function peripheral 2, the user designates normal printing using an arbitrary application. However, only when facsimile transmission is requested, the destination telephone number N is described at the top of the first page of the target image using a predetermined destination designation font as shown in FIG. Such work can be easily performed by the user using an application such as ordinary word processing software. The font for specifying the address does not need to be a special font.
One of general fonts such as “Gothic” and “Mincho” may be assigned for destination designation.

In the host computer 1, when a user issues a print instruction by designating the digital MFP 2 as a print device on an arbitrary application, the processor 1
In step 1, a predetermined processing instruction is passed from the application to the operating system. Further, the processor 11 controls the operating system so that the driver program 1
Activate the operation as a printer driver based on 5a,
An instruction is passed to this printer driver. Note that the command passed from the application to the operating system and the command passed from the operating system to the printer driver are not necessarily the same, and are processed according to the respective standardized commands.

In the printer driver operation based on the driver program 15a, the processor 11, that is, the printer driver performs the processing shown in FIG. That is, the printer driver first searches the image data included in the print data specified by the application for a character code string of the font for specifying the destination (step ST1). Subsequently, the printer driver checks whether or not the corresponding code string is included in the image data based on the result of the search (step ST2).

If the destination telephone number N is described using a destination designation font as shown in FIG. 2 in order to request facsimile transmission, the printer driver determines that the corresponding code string is included in the image data. , And in this case, the code string is extracted from the print data (step ST3). The printer driver recognizes the destination telephone number from the extracted code string, creates a predetermined facsimile transmission command for instructing the digital MFP 2 to perform facsimile transmission to the destination telephone number, and prints it. It is added to the data (step ST4).

If the character code string of the destination designation font is not included in the image data, step ST
If the determination is made in step 2, the printer driver proceeds to step S
The processing of T3 and step ST4 is not performed.

Thereafter, the printer driver processes print data for converting the print data into a form that can be handled by the digital multifunction peripheral 2,
A command for controlling the operation of is generated.

The print data includes not only image data indicating an actual image but also information such as printer initial settings, image position information, and the number of prints. Further, in addition to the information related to the actual print processing, print job information indicating the name of a print job as a single print task or the name of a print job created may be included. The information is generated for the convenience of the application and is not necessarily handled by the digital multifunction peripheral 2, so that the above-described print data processing is performed.

Subsequently, the printer driver passes the converted print data and command to the spooler for transmission to the digital MFP 2 (step ST6). When all of the print data and the command have been passed to the spooler, the printer driver ends the operation.

The print data and the command are sent from the interface unit 16 to the digital multi-function peripheral 2 under the well-known processing by the spooler.

Now, the host computer 1
The print data and command transmitted from the digital MFP 2 are received by the interface unit 28 when they reach the digital multifunction peripheral 2. When the host computer 1 makes a print request in this way, the digital multifunction peripheral 2
In response, the PU 21 executes a print request process as shown in FIG.

In the print request processing, the CPU 21 first takes in the sent print data and command into the memory unit 22 (step ST11). And CP
Next, U21 checks whether a facsimile transmission command is added to the transmitted print data (step ST12).

Here, if no facsimile transmission command is added, the CPU 21 performs a printing process (step ST13) because this print request really requests image printing. This printing process
Generates image data for causing the printer 26 to print the image indicated by the print data,
This is a well-known process of giving an image to the printer 26 via the printer 5 and causing the printer 26 to print an image.

On the other hand, if a facsimile transmission command is added, this print request actually requests facsimile transmission.
1 converts the print data into facsimile image data (step ST14), and performs facsimile transmission of the facsimile image data by driving the facsimile communication unit 27 (step ST15). The transmission destination at this time is
The destination telephone number is indicated in the facsimile transmission command.

The facsimile transmission at this time is a facsimile transmission based on an instruction from the host computer 1 from the viewpoint of the user, that is, a so-called PC-F
Although the AX transmission is performed, the digital multi-function peripheral 2 performs all the processing including the management of the transmission job in the facsimile transmission itself. Therefore, when the print data and the command have been transmitted to the digital multi-function peripheral 2, the processor 11 does not need to perform the control processing of the digital multi-function peripheral 2, and can perform other processing. However, the user cannot confirm the facsimile transmission result on the host computer 1 side. Therefore, the digital MFP 2 has a function of notifying the host computer 1 of the facsimile transmission result, and the host computer has It is preferable to incorporate an application for notifying the user of the content of the notification.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, if a print requesting an image describing the destination telephone number N using the destination designation font is requested, This destination telephone number N is detected by the printer driver and interpreted as a facsimile transmission request.
A facsimile transmission command is added to the print data supplied to the digital multifunction peripheral 2. Upon receiving the print data to which the facsimile transmission command is added, the digital multifunction peripheral 2 sends the image indicated by the print data to the destination telephone number described using the destination designation font. Send by facsimile. On the other hand, in response to a print request in which an image in which the destination telephone number N is not described is to be printed, the host computer 1
A general printing operation is performed using the digital multifunction peripheral 2 as a printing device and a host terminal. Therefore, the user can perform both image printing and facsimile transmission using the digital multi-function peripheral 2 by a print instruction from an arbitrary application of the host computer 1, and the burden on the user is greatly reduced. It becomes very convenient.

Further, according to the present embodiment, since a specific font is used to describe the destination telephone number, the user is not required to describe the destination telephone number, and the destination telephone number in the printer driver is reduced. It is also possible to easily search for a number.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, a character string indicating a destination telephone number is used as a facsimile transmission control image, but a character string indicating a registered name, a registration number, or an abbreviated number in the telephone directory is used. The destination may be determined by comparing with. In addition, these may be used arbitrarily. In this case, if the font to be used is different depending on the type of information indicated by the character string, the destination determination process can be simplified.

In the above embodiment, only the destination telephone number is specified in the facsimile transmission control image. However, information such as image parameters such as original size and resolution is included, and the information is digitally combined. It may be used at the time of generating facsimile image data in the machine 2.

In the above-described embodiment, the character string of the font for specifying the destination is extracted as the facsimile transmission control image. The facsimile transmission control image may be determined based on a combination of different conditions, such as determining only the image existing within the facsimile transmission control image. In this way, it is possible to use a destination designation font for describing a character string other than the facsimile transmission control image,
It becomes convenient.

In the above-described embodiment, any one of the general fonts such as "Gothic" and "Mincho" is assigned as the font for specifying the destination. However, such a general font is used in the text. In such a case, the image in the text may be erroneously determined as the facsimile transmission control image. Therefore, an unusual special font may be installed when the driver program 15a is installed or the like, and this font may be assigned as a font for specifying a destination. In this case, the font for specifying the address may be used in the text, but the probability is much lower than that of a general font, so that the image in the text is mistaken for the facsimile transmission control image. The probability of making a determination can be reduced.

In the above-described embodiment, the character string of the font for specifying the destination is extracted as the facsimile transmission control image. However, the character string existing within a specific range is used as the facsimile transmission control image. Alternatively, the facsimile transmission control image may be determined based on conditions other than the font.

In addition, various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0056]

According to the present invention, when image printing is instructed by designating a digital multifunction peripheral as a printing device by a computer, transfer of print data from the computer is performed so that the digital multifunction peripheral performs image printing. However, the computer checks whether or not at least the facsimile transmission control image indicating the predetermined facsimile transmission control information is included in the image indicated by the image data included in the print data, and the facsimile transmission control image is included. If so, the facsimile transmission control information indicated by the facsimile transmission control image is added to the print data. The digital multifunction peripheral checks whether or not facsimile transmission control information is added to print data provided from an external computer, and performs normal image printing if the facsimile transmission control information is not added. If the facsimile transmission control information is added, the facsimile data transmission corresponding to the image indicated by the print data is sent to the facsimile transmission destination indicated by the facsimile transmission control information. By including the facsimile transmission control image in the facsimile transmission, it is possible to perform facsimile transmission just by issuing a print request in exactly the same way as performing image printing, and the user's work when performing facsimile transmission is image printing It is possible to make it as easy as the above.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a digital multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention and a host computer in which a driver program for driving and controlling the digital multifunction peripheral is incorporated.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image in which a destination telephone number N is described using a destination specification font to specify facsimile transmission.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure at the time of a printer driver operation based on a driver program 15a by a processor 11 in FIG. 1;

4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure at the time of print request processing by a CPU 21 in FIG. 1;

[Description of Signs] 1 Host computer 2 Digital multifunction peripheral 11 Processor 12 Main memory 13 Keyboard / mouse 14 Display 15 Hard disk drive 15a Driver program 16 Interface unit (I / F unit) 17 Bus System 21 CPU 22 Memory unit 23 Operation / display unit 24 Scanner 25 Video interface 26 Printer 27 Facsimile communication unit 28 Interface unit (I / F unit) 29 Bus

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A digital multifunction peripheral including a printing unit for performing image printing based on predetermined print data and a facsimile transmission unit for transmitting facsimile data indicating an arbitrary image. In a driver program to be executed by a connected computer, when an instruction to print an image based on another program is received, at least a facsimile transmission destination is included in the image indicated by the image data included in the print data designated as a print target. A control image presence / absence confirmation unit for confirming whether or not a facsimile transmission control image indicating predetermined facsimile transmission control information including the facsimile transmission control image is included; and the facsimile transmission control image by the control image presence / absence confirmation unit for the print data. Facsimile when it is confirmed that Print data processing means for performing processing for adding facsimile transmission control information indicated by the transmission control image, and print data transmission control means for transmitting print data processed by the print data processing means to the digital multi-function peripheral. A driver program for causing the computer to realize functions. 2. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the control image presence / absence confirmation unit extracts a character string of a specific font as the facsimile transmission control image. 3. A printing unit for performing image printing based on print data, a facsimile transmitting unit for transmitting facsimile data indicating an arbitrary image, and
Transmission control information presence / absence confirmation means for confirming whether or not predetermined facsimile transmission control information including at least a facsimile transmission destination is added to the print data; and the facsimile transmission control information is added by the transmission control information presence / absence confirmation means. The print control unit causes the printing unit to perform image printing based on the print data confirmed not to be transmitted, and is indicated by the print data confirmed that the facsimile transmission control information is added by the transmission control information presence / absence confirmation unit. A digital multi-function peripheral comprising: a print / transmission selection unit that causes the facsimile transmission unit to transmit facsimile data according to an image.