JP2003179718A - Compound function device, facsimile function substitution system and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accelerate FAX transmission processing by enabling FAX transmission from an MFP in which a FAX board is not mounted and by simultaneously distributing processing in the case of multi-address transmission. <P>SOLUTION: When starting-up the MFP, a facsimile machine on a network is detected and when any facsimile machine is found out, FAX transmission operation on a control panel is validated. When a start button is pressed, an original is read by a scanner and together with an inputted destination (FAX number), a transmission request is outputted to the facsimile machine detected at the starting-up. The facsimile machine receiving this request performs FAX transmission to the designated destination. Besides, when performing FAX transmission to a plurality of destinations, the transmission request is outputted to a plurality of facsimile machines. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-function device having copy, print, scan, fax, store, etc. functions, and in particular, a facsimile function capable of connecting image information read from a scanner section through a communication medium. The present invention relates to a multi-function device transmitting to a device having the multi-function device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to carry out facsimile transmission, it is necessary to have a mechanism for carrying out facsimile processing in the mounting.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, the fax transmission cannot be performed by the apparatus having no mechanism for performing the facsimile processing. Further, in the case of broadcast communication in which the same image information is transmitted to a large number of destinations, it is necessary to sequentially perform fax transmission for each destination, so it may take a long time until all the transmissions are completed.

[0004]

The multi-function device of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems has the following configuration. That is, a detection unit for detecting a fax device on the network, an input unit for inputting a destination and various settings, a display unit for displaying the information input by the input unit and the state of the device, and a document as electronic information. A multi-function device comprising a reading means and a transmitting means for transmitting the image information obtained from the reading means and the destination information obtained from the input means to the device detected by the detecting means.

An apparatus having a fax function, which comprises an input means for receiving image information and destination information from the multifunction device and a transmitting means for faxing the image information to the destination specified by the destination information.

According to the above arrangement, the multifunction device having no fax function detects a nearby device having the fax function at the time of startup and displays the user interface to enable the input of the destination information. The fax information can be sent by sending the image information and destination information read in to the device that has the fax function detected at startup, and then faxing the image information from the device that has the fax function to the destination specified in the destination information. It is something to do.

Further, during broadcast fax transmission, the fax transmission processing time is shortened by distributing the fax transmission among the devices having a plurality of fax functions.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a multi-function device for realizing the present invention. The input control unit 101 acquires control information and data from the communication medium, the control data analysis unit 102 analyzes the control information and data, and issues an instruction to the system control unit 103.

In the system control section, the control data analysis section,
User interface control unit 104, print control unit 10
5, receives instructions from the scanner control unit 106 and the FAX control unit 107, and issues an instruction to each unit.

For example, when a copy processing instruction is issued from the user interface control unit, the system control unit instructs the scanner control unit to perform scanning, holds the scanned data in the drawing memory 108, and controls the printing of this data to print. Copy processing is performed by performing copy processing.

The image data read by the scanner control unit and the fax image data received by the FAX control unit are sent to other devices by the output control unit 109 together with destination information.

FIG. 2 is an example of a network configuration that realizes the present invention. Reference numeral 201 is a multifunction device having a fax function, 202 is a multifunction device having no fax function, and 203 is a fax device.

Reference numeral 204 denotes an information processing device, which is a communication cable 2
It is connected to the fax modem 206 via 05.
Reference numeral 207 is a network cable for connecting the devices.
FIG. 8 is an example of an operation panel of the composite processing apparatus that realizes the present invention.

Reference numeral 801 is a copy button, 802 is a fax button, and 803 is an expansion button. By pressing each button, the operation mode of the multi-function device is changed, and the display content of the touch panel 806 is changed accordingly.

The touch panel can display the input items of each operation mode and the state of the device, and at the same time, can touch the panel to change the setting and input. FIG. 8 shows a display example in the fax mode in which the fax button is pressed.

An input key 804 is used for setting the number of copies in the copy mode and designating a destination (fax number) in the fax mode. A start button 806 is pressed to start copying or fax transmission with the settings currently displayed on the touch panel. An example of processing in the multi-function device that realizes the present invention will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 and 4.

In step S301, a fax device detection request having "DETECT" set in the instruction 601 on the left side of FIG. 6 is transmitted to the network. In step S302, it is determined whether or not there is a reply, and if there is a reply as shown on the right side of FIG. 6, the IP address of the device that sent the reply and the capability 605 included in the reply.
Is added to the fax device list as shown in FIG.

In step S304, it is determined whether or not a fixed time has passed. If not, step S302.
Return to processing. After the elapse of a certain time in step S304, it is determined in step S305 whether or not one or more devices are listed in the fax device list, and if they are listed, the user interface configuration process in step S306 is executed.

In the user interface configuration process of FIG. 4, the fax mode change flag is turned on in step S401. If the capability of the fax device listed in the fax device list is G4 in step S402, the G4 selection button display flag is turned on in step S403.

Similarly, in step S404, it is determined whether the color fax is displayed in the capability and in step S406 whether IFAX is described in the capability.
N, the IFAX selection button display flag is turned ON in step S407, and the process returns to the flow of FIG.

The user interface control unit 104 of FIG.
Then, if the fax mode change flag is ON, FIG.
When the fax button 802 is pressed, the display on the touch panel 806 is changed to the fax mode.

When the fax mode is displayed, G
If the 4 selection button display flag is ON, the G4 selection button 808 of FIG. 8 is selected. If the color selection button display flag is ON, the color selection button 809 is selected. If the IFAX selection display flag is ON, the IFAX selection button 810 is selected. indicate.

If each flag is OFF, the corresponding button is not displayed. In step S307 of FIG. 3, it is determined whether the request is a copy request, and if so, step S308.
To copy.

When a device deletion request is issued from the fax device on the network in step S309, step S3
At 10, the device is deleted from the fax device list. This prevents issuing a fax transmission processing request to the device whose power is turned off.

In step S311, it is determined whether or not the request is a fax request. If so, in step S312 the document placed on the platen is read by the scanner, and in step S312 the read image information is converted into a fax image format. , The instruction 6 as shown on the left side of FIG.
“SEND” is set in 01, and a fax transmission request is transmitted to the fax device together with the destination information and the fax image.

If there is an end request in step S315, the process is ended, and if not, the processes of steps S307 to S314 are repeated.

On the other hand, the apparatus having the fax function performs the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 as the fax transmission alternative processing. When a fax device detection request is received from the multifunction device in step S501, step S5
02, the response of the own device's capability to the capability 605 on the right side of FIG.
A response in which "ADD" is set in 4 is transmitted to the multifunction device.

When the fax transmission request is received in step S503, the fax image is faxed to the fax number designated as the destination of the fax transmission request in step S504.

In step S505, when an end notification is received from the control unit of the device itself due to power failure or the like, step S5
In 06, the network is instructed to "DELET
A device deletion request with "E" set is transmitted.

As described above, according to this embodiment, a device having a fax function on the network is detected, and if it exists, a user interface for fax transmission is displayed, and destination information and a fax image are requested for fax transmission. As a result, the device having the fax function, which has received the received fax, sends the fax image to the destination, whereby the fax function can be realized.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 9 is a block diagram for explaining the arrangement of an information processing apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention. The CPU 901 executes programs stored in the RAM 902 or the like, or the floppy disk (FD) 1202 of FIG. 12 or the hard disk (HD) 9 of FIG. 9 inserted in the floppy (registered trademark) disk drive 910.
The programs and data saved in 12 are loaded into the RAM, and conversely the contents of the RAM are saved in the FD and HD.

A video controller 903 projects processing information and the like on the connected monitor 904. Reference numeral 906 denotes an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse, and inputs from these devices are processed by a program running on the CPU via the controller 905.

A fax modem 914 is connected to the serial port controller 913. The fax modem is also connected to a telephone line and exchanges data with a remote device. Reference numeral 908 denotes a network connection device such as a HUB, which is connected to the network.

This fax alternative processing program is recorded in the FD, and its contents are shown in FIG. The fax transmission alternative processing program and related data recorded in the FD are stored in the floppy disk device (F
It can be loaded into the information processing device through the DD) 1201.

It is possible to operate by inserting the FD into the FDD and reading the fax alternative processing program and related data into the RAM under the control of the operating system (OS) 1001 and various drivers 1002 shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 shows a memory map when the present fax alternative processing program is loaded into the RAM and becomes executable. Alternatively, the fax alternative processing program and related data may be stored once in the HD from the FD and loaded into the RAM at the stage where the program is used.

The medium for recording the fax alternative processing program and related data is a CD-RO in addition to the FD.
M, memory card, etc. may be used.

As shown at 204 in FIG. 2, in the information processing apparatus to which the fax modem is connected, by installing and executing the fax alternative processing program for realizing the present invention shown in FIG. It is possible to perform fax substitute processing without preparing.

(Third Embodiment) In the network configuration of FIG. 2, from the multifunction device 202 having no fax function,
When fax transmission is simultaneously performed to a plurality of destinations, as shown in the first embodiment, not only a fax transmission request is issued to a device having a single fax function, but also a device detected by the detection means for each destination. The fax transmission request may be divided into two and issued.

For example, in the fax device list of FIG.
Since three devices having the fax function have been detected, the fax transmission processing can be executed in parallel for up to three locations.

According to the present embodiment, it is possible to shorten the fax transmission processing time by distributing the processing to the devices having a plurality of fax functions during the broadcast transmission to a plurality of destinations.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, a multifunction device having no fax function detects a device having the fax function on the network, displays the user interface according to its capability, and displays the actual fax. A fax transmission is realized by entrusting the transmission process to the device, and at the same time, when a broadcast fax is transmitted to a large number of destinations,
By entrusting fax transmission to a device having a plurality of fax functions on the network, the processing speed is increased.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a multi-function device that realizes the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a network configuration example for realizing the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of processing of a multi-function device that realizes the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a user interface process of the multi-function device realizing the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of fax substitution processing in a device having a fax function that realizes the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of requests and responses passed between a multi-function device implementing the present invention and a device having a fax function.

FIG. 7 is a fax device list stored in a multifunction device that realizes the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of an example of an operation panel of a multi-function device that realizes the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of a configuration example of an information processing apparatus that realizes an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a memory map when a program realizing the present invention is loaded into a memory.

FIG. 11 is a diagram of a configuration in a floppy disk used when installing (introducing) a program file and a data file for realizing the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram of installation of program files and data files that realize the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 Input control unit 103 system control unit 104 user interface controller

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A multi-function device capable of communicating with a device having an arbitrary fax function via a predetermined communication medium, and detecting means for detecting a device having the fax function on a network at start-up, and an operation. In order to perform the information, a display means for displaying information, an input means for scanning a document placed on a scan table to extract image information, and an output means for transmitting the extracted image information and destination information to a device detected by a detection device are provided. When a device having a fax function is detected by the detection means, a user interface for performing fax transmission is displayed on the display means, a destination is specified, and when fax transmission is instructed, an image obtained by the input means is displayed. A multi-function device characterized by transmitting information and destination information to a device detected by a detection means. 2. The multi-function device according to claim 1, wherein the output unit can send image information and destination information to a device having a plurality of fax functions. 3. The multi-function device according to claim 1, wherein the user interface displayed on the display unit is changed according to the capability of the device detected by the detection unit. 4. The multifunction device is provided with an acquisition unit that acquires image information and destination information from the multifunction device through a predetermined communication medium, and a transmission unit that performs fax transmission to an arbitrary fax device. A fax transmitting apparatus, which faxes image information to a destination specified by destination information. 5. The multifunction device is provided with an acquisition unit that acquires image information and destination information from the multifunction device via a predetermined communication medium, and a transmission unit that performs fax transmission to an arbitrary fax device. A storage medium characterized in that image information is faxed to a destination specified by destination information.