JP2003324532A - Communication apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication apparatus by which a necessary operating manual can be obtained and used timely, when a user has difficulty in operating the system. <P>SOLUTION: The communication apparatus F is connected to an external server, in which various kinds of control programs for the communication system are stored via a communication network N. The communication system F is connected to the external server via the communication network by predetermined operations and in timely manner receives and stores control programs for the communication system stored in the server. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication device connected via a communication network to an external server that stores control programs for various communication devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a communication device such as a facsimile device, various functions such as a normal facsimile transmission / reception function and a polling transmission / reception function can be performed from simple processing to complicated processing. It is like this.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional communication device, when the control program for performing various processes is executed, the necessary instruction operation procedure is simply displayed on the display unit. For those who are accustomed to handling control programs, it is possible to understand the operation procedure just by referring to it, but for those who are not accustomed to it, they cannot understand it, and the instruction manual attached separately. I had no choice but to refer to.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and a control program for performing various kinds of processing can be obtained and used in a timely manner according to the level of proficiency in handling the control program. It is intended to provide a communication device.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the communication device according to claim 1 of the present invention is connected to an external server storing various control programs for the communication device through a communication network. The communication device is configured to connect to an external server through a communication network by a predetermined operation, and receive the control program for the communication device stored in the server at a proper time and store it.

According to another aspect of the communication device of the present invention, the communication device is connected to an external server, and a desired control program of the communication device control programs stored in the server is designated and received.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a main configuration of a communication device of the present invention. Although the configuration of the facsimile device F is shown as a communication device here, the present invention is not limited to this example, and any device that can execute various functions and can be connected to a communication network such as the Internet can be used. May be.

The facsimile apparatus F is composed of a CPU and the like, and has a main control section 1 for controlling the following sections, an NCU 2 for controlling connection to the telephone line L, and a modem 3 for modulating / demodulating various signals required for facsimile communication. An image memory 4 for temporarily storing image data, a RAM 5 for storing speed dials and the like, and a ROM for storing various programs necessary for the facsimile apparatus F to operate.
6, a display unit 7 including a liquid crystal screen and the like, an operation unit 8 including various operation keys, a reading unit 9 for reading a set document and forming image data, and a set recording sheet. And a recording unit 10 for recording image data.

Note that N indicates the Internet,
It constitutes a communication network. As the communication network, anything other than the Internet can be used.

This facsimile apparatus F is characterized by the following processing. This will be described with the flowchart of FIG.

That is, in this facsimile apparatus F,
When you want to know the operating procedure of various functions, operate the Internet connection key 8a of the operation unit 8 (10
0). Then, the facsimile device F is connected to a predetermined WEB site (external server) registered in advance.

Then, a predetermined menu screen is displayed on the display section 7, and the control program download is selected by operating the operation section 8 (102). And
A wizard-like operation or a normal operation is selected (103). Here, the wizard-like operation is for a person who is unfamiliar with handling a certain control program, and the instruction operation procedure is taught step by step. on the other hand,
The normal operation is for a person who is used to handling a certain control program, and the instruction operation procedure is easily taught.

Then, a predetermined operation of the operation unit 8 is instructed to start reception of the control program to be received (10
4).

Then, the facsimile apparatus F receives the instructed control program and rewrites it in the flash ROM (not shown) (105, 106).

[0016]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention.
The communication device described in 1 is a communication device connected to an external server storing various operation manuals via a communication network, and is connected to the external server via the communication network by a predetermined operation and stored in the server. Since the control program for the communication device is configured to be received and stored in a timely manner, the control program for performing various processes can be obtained when necessary, which makes it necessary to store the control program in the device in advance. No, you can save memory capacity.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the communication device is configured to be connected to an external server and a desired program among the control programs for the communication device stored in the server is designated and received, various processes are performed. It is convenient because the control program for doing so can be received according to the level of proficiency in handling the control program.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a main configuration of a communication device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the communication device.

[Explanation of symbols]

F: Facsimile machine N ... Internet

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A communication device connected to an external server storing various control programs via a communication network, the device being connected to the external server via the communication network by a predetermined operation and stored in the server. A communication device configured to receive and store a control program for the communication device in a timely manner. 2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication device is connected to the external server, and a desired control program among the control programs for the communication device stored in the server is designated and received.