JP2004104224A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance the operability of an image forming apparatus by simplifying operations required for copying and facsimile communication. <P>SOLUTION: A composite machine 1 allows a scanner 2 to read image information of an original and an SAF 5 to store the read image information, and includes: an operation board 4; a communication control section 8 to control FAX transmission/reception; a Bluetooth module 17 for making wireless communication with a mobile electronic apparatus placed at a near distance; and a means for collating operation history information of copying operations having already been executed with operation history information of the electronic apparatus on the basis of apparatus particular information to identify the mobile electronic apparatus acquired by the Bluetooth module 17 through its wireless communication, and for allowing copying operations corresponding to the conforming operation history information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention performs an operation corresponding to history information of a copy operation or a facsimile communication operation that has already been performed based on information acquired by performing short-range wireless communication with a portable electronic device, and performs a copy operation or a facsimile operation. And an image forming apparatus with improved operability.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Facsimile apparatuses are widely used as familiar OA equipment because they can easily transmit and receive image data such as characters and figures. 2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional technique relating to a multifunction machine having an image forming function together with a conventional facsimile apparatus and a facsimile communication function, there is a technique related to monitoring a device by inputting a log file transferred from the outside (for example, Patent Reference 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-243091 A (page 1)
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in an image forming apparatus equipped with a facsimile communication function, when performing facsimile transmission, after setting a transmission original on a reading apparatus, inputting a facsimile number of a transmission destination, setting of direct transmission or memory transmission, An operation such as input of a send button must be performed. In the case of a copying operation, operations such as the number of copies and setting of double-sided or single-sided copying must be performed. Therefore, in any image forming apparatus, the operations for making the settings necessary for copying and facsimile communication are almost the same, but the same operation must be performed each time, and the operation is troublesome. May be considered.
[0005]
SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide an image forming apparatus having a facsimile communication function that simplifies operations required for copying and facsimile communication and enhances operability.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image reading means for reading image information of a document and outputting image data, an image data storing means for storing image data read by the means, and an image data input from the image reading means. An image forming apparatus for inputting image data to be transmitted or image data stored in the image data storing means to form an image on a sheet; and a transmitting / receiving means for transmitting and receiving the image data. Short-range wireless communication means for performing wireless communication with a portable electronic device disposed at a short distance, and the means for performing the wireless communication, the device has already been performed based on the device identification information for identifying the portable electronic device acquired. Means for collating with the operation history information of the copied operation and executing the copy operation corresponding to the matched operation history information.
Further, the present invention provides an image reading means for reading image information of a document and outputting image data, an image data storing means for storing image data read by the means, and an image data input from the image reading means or In an image forming apparatus having means for inputting image data stored in image data storage means to form an image on a sheet, and transmitting and receiving means for transmitting and receiving image data, the image forming apparatus is disposed at a short distance from the image forming apparatus. A short-range wireless communication means for performing wireless communication with the portable electronic device, and a facsimile communication operation which has already been performed based on device identification information for identifying the portable electronic device obtained by performing wireless communication by the means. Provided is an image forming apparatus provided with a unit that performs a facsimile communication operation corresponding to operation history information that matches operation history information and that matches the operation history information.
In any of the above image forming apparatuses, it is preferable that a means for storing a telephone number or a facsimile number of the portable electronic device obtained by performing wireless communication by the short-range wireless communication unit is provided.
[0007]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an embodiment of a multifunction peripheral (MFP) as an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the MFP 1 includes a scanner 2, a plotter 3, an operation board 4, a transmission / reception data storage memory (SAF) 5, a work memory 6, and a management memory 7. . The multifunction device 1 also includes a communication control unit 8, an encoding / decoding unit 9, a CPU (Central Processing Unit: Central Processing Unit) 10, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 11, a buffer memory 12, a flash memory 13, a character generator 14, an NCU 15, a modem 16, and a Bluetooth module 17.
The scanner 2 is an image reading unit that reads image information of a document in which characters, figures, and the like are described by an image sensor, converts the image information into an electric signal, and outputs image data. For example, an image scanner using a CCD (Charge coupled Device) is used. The scanner 2 operates in accordance with a signal input from the document sensor 2a, binarizes the read image data into raw data, and performs a scaling process such as reduction and enlargement at the time of document reading, and a linear density conversion. .
[0008]
The plotter 3 is a unit including a mechanism for inputting received image data and image information representing a reception result (for example, information such as a telephone number of a transmission source and a reception time) to form an image on a sheet and print the image. Consists of The plotter 3 may be of a type capable of recording an image on paper, such as an electrophotographic system, an inkjet system, and a toner jet system. The plotter 3 operates according to a signal input from the paper sensor 3a, receives an image file of image data designated to be written by the CPU 10 for each page (for each document), and forms an image on a predetermined paper. Do.
The operation board 4 has operation keys including mechanical keys and touch panel keys having predetermined numeric keys and character input keys, and is operation input means for exchanging data with the CPU 10 via the system bus 18. Information necessary for using the MFP 1 such as an operation required for transmitting image data (for example, input of a destination telephone number, start / stop, etc.) and a transmission / reception status check are input by operating the operation keys. Input to CPU10. The operation board 4 includes an LED display device and a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) for displaying information input from operation keys, a current operation state, time, and the like.
[0009]
A transmission / reception data storage memory (SAF) 5 is image data storage means for storing received image data and image data output by reading an original by the scanner 2. A plurality of received data and transmission data are logically stored for each original. It is managed and stored as a manuscript file. As the transmission / reception data storage memory 5, for example, a magnetic disk device is used, but an SRAM module mounted on a substrate or a memory card inserted into a card slot may be used.
The work memory 6 temporarily stores data used when the CPU 10 executes processing, and temporarily stores the telephone number or the facsimile number obtained by the Bluetooth module 17. The management memory 7 stores data to be permanently stored and managed, such as a telephone number or a facsimile number.
The communication control unit 8 receives an instruction from the CPU 10, controls an NCU (Network Control Unit) 15, and controls communication when facsimile transmission / reception is performed with a communication terminal on the other side by connecting to a PSTN network. Further, the communication control unit 8 demodulates the received data (modulated) from the other communication terminal by the modem 16 and modulates the transmission data. Further, the tone signal is detected together with the detection of the pulse of the ringing voltage detected by the NCU 15 and the detection of the DTMF signal, and a call is made at the time of transmission.
[0010]
The encoding / decoding unit 9 compresses and processes the image data to be transmitted by a known encoding method such as the MH (Modified Huffman Coding), and decodes the received image data to reproduce the original image data ( Restore.
The CPU 10 is a unit that controls the operation of the entire multifunction peripheral 1, executes processing according to a program stored in the ROM 11, and controls each component. The ROM 11 stores a basic program of the multifunction peripheral 1 and a program for realizing each function which will be described later.
The buffer memory 12 stores data processed by the CPU 10, and the flash disk 13 is a rewritable storage device that stores image data. The character generator 14 generates characters and symbols from the image data.
The NCU 15 manages connection and line closing of the general public network (PSTN), and detects a call signal (ringing). The modem 16 modulates and demodulates image data and transmits the data, and also transmits various procedure signals for transmission control.
The Bluetooth module 17 operates according to the Bluetooth function, recognizes a portable information device arranged outside the multifunction device 1, and sends unique information (device specifying information) for specifying the portable information device to the communication control unit 8. input. Here, the Bluetooth function refers to Bluetooth (a communication standard for connecting various portable electronic devices such as a mobile phone and a PDA: Personal Digital Assistants by short-range wireless instead of a cable) in a short distance. Function to communicate with portable electronic devices.
[0011]
Next, the function of the MFP 1 having the above-described configuration will be specifically described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 1 and the two flowcharts shown in FIGS. In the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, steps are abbreviated as S.
In the MFP 1, the CPU 10 reads a predetermined processing program stored in the ROM 11, activates each component, and realizes various functions characteristic of the present invention. 2 and 3 are flowcharts showing the procedure of the operation of the multifunction device 1 which is a feature of the present invention.
Since a portable electronic device used while being carried, such as a mobile phone or a PDA, stores information for identifying the owner (or the main user), the owner of the portable electronic device is identified from the portable electronic device. It is possible. For example, a mobile phone is always assigned a telephone number such as its owner, so that one-to-one correspondence is possible. Accordingly, portable electronic devices become an effective means for personal identification of their owners as they become more prevalent. The MFP 1 focuses on this point.
[0012]
When the multifunction device 1 is called from a main routine that operates after the power is turned on and proceeds to step 1, the multifunction device 1 executes a process of detecting a portable electronic device arranged outside. This detection process is performed by operating the Bluetooth module 17 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 10 and determining whether or not the portable electronic device is arranged within a range of a detection distance outside the multifunction peripheral 1. The detection distance in this case is within a short range in which the Bluetooth function by the Bluetooth module 17 works effectively, and is about 10 m.
Then, when the portable electronic device approaches the range of the detection distance of the multifunction device 1 together with the user, the Bluetooth module 17 detects this and proceeds to step 2. In step 2, it is determined whether or not there is device identification information obtained by detecting the portable electronic device. Here, the process proceeds to step 3 because the device identification information exists. However, if the device identification information does not exist, that is, if the portable electronic device is not located within the range of the detection distance of the multifunction device 1, the process proceeds to step 4, where the CPU 10 instructs the operation board 4 to execute the multifunction device. An operation input screen for executing a function mounted on the machine 1, for example, a copying operation (or a facsimile communication operation) is displayed on the display device. In step S5, it is determined whether or not the copying operation (or facsimile communication operation) has been performed according to the user's instruction. If the copying operation (or facsimile communication operation) has been performed, the process proceeds to step S6. Or, it is determined whether or not information of the operation content for executing the facsimile communication operation is stored. Here, if it is determined that the information is to be stored, the process proceeds to step 7 and the information of the operation content is stored in the management memory 7 as operation history information, and if it is determined that the information is not to be stored, the process is terminated.
[0013]
On the other hand, in step 2, when it is determined that the device identification information obtained by the detection of the portable electronic device is present and the process proceeds to step 3, the case is that the portable electronic device could be recognized by the Bluetooth function. The device identification information such as the telephone number of the portable electronic device obtained by the operation of the Bluetooth module 17 is input to the CPU 10. Then, the CPU 10 reads out the operation history information of the copying operation (or facsimile communication operation) already performed (past) from the management memory 7, and compares the operation history information based on the device identification information input from the Bluetooth module 17. If there is operation history information that matches the device identification information, the operation history information is displayed on the operation board 4. Here, as operation history information of the copy operation, for example, copy density, the number of copies, double-sided / single-sided, staple use, scaling, paper feed size, and the like are displayed. The content is displayed. Further, as operation history information of the facsimile communication operation, for example, input of a facsimile number, direct transmission or memory transmission, ON / OFF of TTI, line density, and the like are displayed.
[0014]
Then, the process proceeds to step 8, where the user refers to the displayed operation history information and selects desired information. Upon receiving the selection, the process proceeds to step 9 where the CPU 10 instructs the selected operation history. A copy operation (or facsimile communication operation) corresponding to the information is executed. In the following step 10, the operation history information of the copying operation (or facsimile communication operation) executed in step 9 is generated and stored in the management memory 7, and the process is terminated.
As described above, in order to perform the same operation as the copying operation (or the facsimile communication operation) performed in the past, the MFP 1 only needs to select desired information from the operation history information displayed on the operation board 4. Since it is not necessary to perform the operation for setting each time, the operation required for the copying operation (or the facsimile communication operation) is simplified, and the operability can be improved. Also, the change can be made by storing the operation history information again. Further, as described in step 7, if the operation history information is collated and there is no matching information, the operation history information can be newly registered after the operation is completed.
[0015]
Next, the MFP 1 operates the Bluetooth module 17 in the manner described above to obtain the device identification information such as the telephone number of the portable electronic device, so that the obtained telephone number or facsimile number is stored in the device. It can be handled by. However, the multifunction device 1 can select how to process the obtained telephone number or facsimile number. In that case, the multifunction peripheral 1 operates according to the flowchart shown in FIG. After the process is started, the process proceeds to step 1 to execute a process of detecting a portable electronic device arranged outside, and then proceeds to step 2 to determine whether or not there is device identification information obtained by detecting the portable electronic device. I do. When the Bluetooth module 17 detects the portable electronic device, the process proceeds to step 11, where a screen for allowing the user to select whether to exchange the obtained telephone number or facsimile number is displayed on the operation board 4. If not detected, the process ends. Subsequently, the process proceeds to step 12, where the display refers to the display to determine the content selected by the user. If the user wants to exchange, the process proceeds to step 13; otherwise, the process ends. In step 13, a method for capturing a telephone number or a facsimile number is determined. If the user has specified that the telephone number or facsimile number is to be taken in temporarily, the process proceeds to step 14; otherwise, the process proceeds to step 15; Proceed to step 17. In step 17, a telephone number or a facsimile number is additionally fetched.
[0016]
In step 14, the obtained telephone number or facsimile number is stored in the work memory 6 and the process proceeds to step 18. It is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed after the storage. The telephone number or the facsimile number stored in the work memory 6 is deleted, and the processing is terminated by returning to the original telephone number or the facsimile number. In this way, the multifunction device 1 can treat the telephone number or the facsimile number obtained by the Bluetooth module 17 as a temporary (temporary) one, and delete and discard it when it becomes unnecessary.
In step 16, the obtained telephone number or facsimile number is stored in the management memory 7, and the telephone number or facsimile number stored in the MFP 1 is completely replaced with the obtained telephone number or facsimile number. When the process proceeds to step 17, the obtained telephone number or facsimile number is added to the original telephone number or facsimile number, stored in the management memory 7, and the process ends.
[0017]
As described above, since the MFP 1 can be obtained from a portable electronic device arranged outside by the Bluetooth function, it is possible to easily incorporate and handle a telephone number or a facsimile number used in the portable electronic device. Therefore, for example, even in a facsimile machine that is not owned or used regularly, such as a facsimile machine installed in a convenience store, the user of the portable electronic device can easily use his / her own number temporarily. be able to. Further, the user can select the mode of handling or handling of the telephone number or the facsimile number, and the handling can be performed according to the user's selection.
[0018]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, since the image forming apparatus according to the present invention executes an operation corresponding to operation history information that matches device identification information recognized by the Bluetooth function, operations for performing copying and facsimile communication operations are simple. And the operability is high.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a multifunction peripheral as an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for recognizing a portable electronic device arranged outside the multifunction peripheral and executing an operation corresponding to matching operation history information.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure when storing a telephone number and the like obtained from a portable electronic device arranged outside the multifunction peripheral.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: MFP 2: Scanner 3: Plotter 4: Operation board 5: Transmission / reception data storage memory (SAF)
6: Work memory 7: Management memory 8: Communication control unit 9: Encoding / decoding unit 10: CPU 11: ROM
12: Buffer memory 13: Flash disk 14: Character generator 15: NCU 16: Modem 17: Bluetooth module

Claims (3)

Image reading means for reading image information of a document and outputting image data, image data storage means for storing image data read by the means, and image data input from the image reading means or stored in the image data storage means Means for forming an image on a sheet by inputting the input image data, and an image forming apparatus having a transmitting / receiving means for transmitting and receiving the image data,
A short-range wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with a portable electronic device disposed at a short distance from the image forming apparatus;
Based on the device identification information for identifying the portable electronic device obtained by performing the wireless communication by the means, the unit compares the operation history information with the operation history information of the copy operation already performed, and performs the copy operation corresponding to the matched operation history information. An image forming apparatus comprising means for executing the image forming apparatus. Image reading means for reading image information of a document and outputting image data, image data storage means for storing image data read by the means, and image data input from the image reading means or stored in the image data storage means Means for forming an image on a sheet by inputting the input image data, and an image forming apparatus having a transmitting / receiving means for transmitting and receiving the image data,
A short-range wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with a portable electronic device disposed at a short distance from the image forming apparatus;
Based on the device identification information for identifying the portable electronic device obtained by performing the wireless communication by the means, the device compares with the operation history information of the already performed facsimile communication operation, and the facsimile communication corresponding to the matched operation history information. An image forming apparatus comprising means for executing an operation. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
An image forming apparatus comprising: means for storing a telephone number or a facsimile number of the portable electronic device obtained by the short-range wireless communication means performing wireless communication.

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