JP2004153819A - Data transmitting/receiving system and data transmitting/receiving method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data transmitting/receiving system and a data acquiring method in which original data processed in an apparatus such as digital copying machine, facsimile equipment, image output device or computer are shared to be mutually utilized. <P>SOLUTION: The data transmitting/receiving system is composed of an image forming apparatus and terminal equipment connected to a network. The image forming apparatus is composed of an image forming means 12 for performing image formation based upon acquired image data, a storage means 14 for storing the image data used for the image formation even after the end of image formation, and a transmission means for transmitting the image data based upon an image data acquisition request from the terminal equipment. The terminal equipment is composed of a request means for requesting the acquisition of stored image data to the image forming apparatus, and a reception means for receiving the image data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

  The present invention relates to a data transmission / reception system and a data acquisition method, and in particular, connects a plurality of digital copying machines, facsimile apparatuses, image output apparatuses, computers, and the like via a network to each digital copying machine, facsimile apparatus, image output apparatus, computer The present invention relates to a data transmission / reception system and a data acquisition method in which data processed by such devices can be used mutually.

  In a relatively large company or factory, a plurality of copying machines are used. For example, if a company or factory building has four or five floors, the first floor has a large high-speed copier, the second floor has a medium-speed copier, and the third, fourth, and fifth floors each have a plurality of low-speed copiers. A large-scale copier on the first floor is used for large-volume copying, and a low-speed copier near staff is used for normal copying.

  However, no consideration has been given to improving the operability by networking a plurality of copying machines as described above.

  For example, there is no consideration in sharing document data processed by a certain digital copying machine, facsimile machine, image output device, computer, or the like with the plurality of devices so that the data can be used mutually. Had not been.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-described problems of the conventional apparatus, and to provide an arbitrary apparatus when a plurality of digital copiers, facsimile apparatuses, image output apparatuses, and computers are installed in an organization such as a company. An object of the present invention is to provide a data transmission / reception system and a data acquisition method in which document data copied by devices such as a digital copying machine, a facsimile machine, an image output device, and a computer can be shared and used mutually.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a data transmission and reception system for transmitting and receiving image data between an image forming apparatus and a terminal device connected to a network, wherein the image forming apparatus performs Image forming means for forming an image based on the image data, storage means for storing the image data used for the image formation even after the image formation is completed, and transmitting means for transmitting the image data based on an image data acquisition request from the terminal device The first feature is that the terminal device includes request means for requesting acquisition of image data stored in the image forming apparatus, and receiving means for receiving the image data.

  According to this feature, the terminal device can acquire data formed by the image forming apparatus through the network.

  Also, the present invention is a data acquisition method for transmitting and receiving image data between an image forming apparatus and a terminal device connected to a network, wherein the image forming apparatus forms an image of image data and terminates image formation. Storing the image data even afterwards, making a request for obtaining the stored image data in the terminal device, transmitting the image data requested to be obtained in the image forming device, And receiving the image data.

  According to this feature, the image data formed and stored in the image forming apparatus is transmitted to the terminal device via the network, and the terminal device can receive the image data.

  The network according to the present invention may be a network using a LAN as a main line, a public telephone line, a public high-speed digital line such as ISDN, or a wireless line.

  According to the present invention, an image is formed by an image forming apparatus connected via a network, and stored image data can be obtained between terminals even after image formation. Data can be shared.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, an outline of a hardware configuration of a digital copying apparatus as an example used in the present invention will be described with reference to a block diagram of FIG.

  In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a digital image input unit composed of a scanner or the like using a CCD sensor or the like, 12 denotes a data processing / control unit having a memory, which processes digital data by a CPU and controls peripheral devices, and 13 denotes a laser beam printer. An image output unit that prints an image on a sheet of paper.

  Reference numeral 14 denotes a data storage unit for storing and storing data, and is composed of, for example, a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a remote disk connected to a device connected to a network. An operation instructing unit 15 displays operation information and prompts the operator for instructions.

  As shown in FIG. 3, an example of the operation instruction unit 15 includes a state display unit including a liquid crystal, a plasma, an EL, an LED, and the like, and operation buttons mainly including ten keys such as a microswitch and a touch panel. ing.

  Further, reference numeral 16 denotes an image display device for displaying an image copied in the past in a bit map, and is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal or a plasma display panel having the number of pixels (100 × 160 pixels or more) suitable for image display. ing. Note that the image display device 16 is not an essential component of the present invention, and may be deleted as necessary.

  Further, instead of the operation instruction unit 15 and the image display device 16, a keyboard, a CRT display, and a pointing device such as a mouse may be connected. 17 is a data communication unit.

  Next, a first embodiment of the network type digital copying apparatus system of the present invention connected by the data communication unit 17 will be described with reference to FIG.

  Each of the digital copying machines 21a, 21b, 21c,... Has the above-described configuration. Are connected to a main line 24 such as Ethernet (registered trademark).

  Next, this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic functional block diagram of this embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation.

  In FIG. 1, reference numerals 22 and 23 denote a local device and a remote device which are one of the digital copying devices 21a, 21b, 21c,..., Respectively. The device called by

  First, in step S1, when the search button 22a of the local device 22 is turned on, the process proceeds to step S2, and a re-outputtable list is displayed on the image display unit 16 of the local device 22.

  Proceeding to step S3, the remote search instruction button 22b is turned on. Then, the process proceeds to step S4, where the device number of the search destination, that is, the device number of the remote device 23 is input from the device number input unit 22c such as a ten key. Proceeding to step S5, an operation of establishing a logical communication path between the local device 22 and the remote device 23 (login operation) is performed. This operation is controlled by the login control unit 22d.

  In step S6, it is determined whether or not the establishment of the logical communication path has succeeded. If the establishment has succeeded, the process proceeds to step S7. In step S7, the copy process recently performed by the remote device 23 is displayed on the display unit 22f on the operation panel of the local device 22 in the format shown in FIGS. On the other hand, if the login is unsuccessful, the reason for the failure is displayed on the display unit 22f.

  In step S9, a re-output image is selected by the re-output image selecting unit 22g such as a numeric keypad. Specifically, for example, the numbers in FIG. 6 or FIG. 7 are selected using a numeric keypad or the like. Next, proceeding to step S10, the search request unit 22h makes a search request to the remote device 23.

  Upon receiving the search request, the remote device 23 accepts the search and executes the search. In the remote device 23, a program (server program) for returning a search result is always running, and automatically executes a search in response to a request from the local device 22, and returns search result data.

  In step S11, the local device 22 receives the search result data in the data receiving unit 22e, and then determines whether or not there is an instruction to record the data (step S12). If the instruction is met, the process proceeds to step S13 to record the re-output content, and proceeds to step S14 to execute re-output. On the other hand, if there is no recording instruction, the process proceeds from step S12 to S14 to execute re-output, and the series of remote search re-output processing ends. The execution of the re-output is performed by the output unit 22i.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, from any digital copying apparatus connected to the trunk line 24 of FIG. 4 (that is, from the local apparatus), any other digital copying apparatus (that is, the remote apparatus) ), A search instruction is issued, and the search result can be output again from the local device. As a result, manuscript data previously copied by an arbitrary digital copier by another person can be re-output from the digital copier near the user's seat, and the manuscript data can be used effectively and the usability can be improved. effective.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is that, in the first embodiment, the image data of the search result is re-output from the output unit of the local device itself. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, The local device requests an arbitrary remote device to output a search result of image data stored in the storage unit of the local device itself or image data of a search result from the remote device (remote output). Request).

  FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of this embodiment, and FIGS. 9 to 12 are flowcharts for explaining the operation.

  First, the setting operation of the remote output will be described with reference to FIGS. In step S21, when the remote output instruction button 30a of the local device 30 is turned on, the process proceeds to step S22, and an input request for the device number of the output destination (remote device) is made. In step S23, it is determined whether or not the device number has been input from the numeric keypad. If this determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S24, where it is determined whether or not the start button 30c has been turned on. If it is determined in step S24 that the start button has been turned on, the process proceeds to step S25, where the login control unit 30d starts a login operation. By the login operation, a logical communication path with the remote device 31 is established.

  In step S26, it is determined whether or not the remote device 31 is outputting. If the output is not being performed, the process proceeds to step S27, and the local device 30 transfers the copy information record and the image record to be output, which are the search results, to the data storage device 31b of the remote remote device 31.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the copy information record and the image record each include the time information when the document data was copied and the copy conditions, and the latter includes the compression of the document data. It consists of data, output time and page number. The copy information record and the image record are automatically stored in the data storage section 14 of each digital copying apparatus when the original data is copied from each of the digital copying apparatuses 21a, 21b, 21c,. Will be done.

  On the other hand, if the remote device 31 is outputting (YES in step S26), the process proceeds to step S28, and one of 1 remote output stop, 2 reset, 3 local reservation, and 4 remote reservation is executed. .

  After the start of the login operation, the status inquiry unit 30e is activated to execute an inquiry to the server program of the remote device 31 to determine how much image data the remote device 31 is outputting and for how long. You can know.

  Next, the operation of the local reservation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The local reservation operation by the local reservation unit 30f is started by first setting a copy information record of this output, a remote output destination, and a confirmation interval (time) in a reservation file of the local device 30 (step). S31). Next, in step S32, a determination is made as to whether or not the confirmation interval time has elapsed. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S33 to start a login operation.

  When the logical communication path with the remote device 31 is established by this login operation, and the output state determination unit 30h confirms that the remote device is not outputting (No at Step S34), the process proceeds to Step S35. In step S35, the function of the record transfer unit 30j transfers all copy information records and image records to be output by remote reservation to the data storage device 31b of the remote device. The output state information is displayed on the display unit 30g.

  Next, the operation of the remote reservation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The remote reservation operation by the remote reservation unit 30i is first started in step S41 by determining whether or not the remote device 31 has a sufficient reserved file area.

  If the remote device 31 has a sufficient reserved file area, the process proceeds to step S42, in which the record transfer unit 30j stores the copy information record and the image record to be output in the reserved file area 31c of the remote device 31. ,Forward.

  On the other hand, if there is not enough reserved file area, the process proceeds to step S43, and waits until a predetermined time has elapsed. When the predetermined time has elapsed, the process returns to step S41 again, and the remote device 31 has a sufficient reserved file area. A determination is made whether there is.

  Next, the operation of remote output in the remote device 31 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The monitoring unit 31a of the remote device 31 determines whether a new output request has arrived in the reserved file area 31c of the data storage device 31b (Step S45). If the output request has been received, the process proceeds to step S46 to execute print output. On the other hand, if a new output request has not been received, the process proceeds to step S47 to determine whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed. If the predetermined time has elapsed, the determination in step S45 is performed again. That is, at predetermined time intervals, it is checked whether a new output request has come in the reserved file area 31c of the data storage device 31b, and if so, printout is executed.

  After the printing is completed, the output record is deleted from the reserved file area if the operator has previously indicated that the record is unnecessary, and if not, the old record already output is deleted. I do.

  As is apparent from the above description, according to the second embodiment, the image data retrieved by a certain digital copying apparatus can be re-output from another arbitrary digital copying apparatus.

  Further, the operability of the operator can be improved by using the functions such as the local reservation and the remote reservation.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, data copied by a plurality of digital copying apparatuses is stored in a central storage device connected to a network, and the data can be re-output from any digital copying apparatus.

  FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the third embodiment. In the figure, 22d indicates a transmission line, 23d indicates a connector, 25 indicates an image data centralized storage device (server), and the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 3 indicate the same or equivalent. As the image data centralized storage device 25, a large-capacity (for example, 100 MB or more) magnetic disk or magneto-optical disk and a commercially available personal computer or a workstation device having a LAN communication function can be used as they are. The digital copying apparatus can be prepared exclusively for the system or the digital copying apparatus can be used as it is.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of the data input operation when the digital copying machine connected to the main line 24 has a data storage device. In step S51, the operator gives an instruction regarding copying conditions from the digital copying apparatus. Next, in step S52, the start button is turned on to read the original. At this time, an ADF (automatic document feeder) may be used.

  Next, in step S53, it is determined whether or not reading of the previous page of the document has been completed. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step S53 to compress the document image, and then to step S55. Then, an operation of storing the compressed original image data in the data storage unit is performed. Next, the process proceeds to step S56 to check the remaining capacity of the storage unit and secure the capacity.

  The above operation is performed until reading of all pages of the document is completed, and when reading of all pages of the document is completed (Yes at Step S53), the process proceeds to Step S57 to copy the data to the copy information record in the data storage unit. Stores information about the operation. In step S58, a log-in operation is performed on the image data centralized storage device 25. If the connection with the image data centralized storage device 25 is successful, the process proceeds to step S59, where the copy information record and the image record Is transferred to the image data centralized storage device 25 via the network.

  Next, a data input operation when the digital copying apparatus has no data storage device will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, in step S61, login to the image data centralized storage device 25 is performed. Next, the operator gives an instruction on the copy condition, and in step S63, the start button is turned on to read the original.

  In step S64, it is determined whether or not reading of all pages of the document has been completed. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step S65 to compress the document image. Next, proceeding to step S66, every time each page is read into the image data central storage device 25, the copy information record and the image record are transferred via the network.

  Thereafter, the storage capacity remaining in the image data centralized storage device is confirmed and a capacity securing request is made (step S67).

  By the above operation, the original data input from the digital copying apparatuses 21a, 21b, 21c,... Connected to the main line 24 are transferred to the image data central storage 25 and stored. Note that a record deletion instruction after re-output and a record deletion process when the storage capacity of the image data centralized storage device 25 is insufficient are performed on the image data centralized storage device 25.

  Next, the operation in the case of retrieving and outputting from a certain digital copying apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. First, in step S71, the remote search instruction button is turned on. Subsequently, in step S72, the number of the image data centralized storage device 25 is input from, for example, a numeric keypad. Next, a login operation is performed in step S73.

  If the connection with the image data centralized storage device 25 is successful (step S74 is affirmative), the flow advances to step S75 to display the copy processing contents stored in the image data centralized storage device 25 on the display unit of the digital copying device. Is done. In step S76, a re-output image is selected using a numeric keypad or the like. When a search request is made to the image data central storage device 25 in step S77, the image data central storage device 25 executes a search operation. . Then, the search result is returned to the digital copying machine.

  In step S78, the returned search result data is received, and in step S79, it is output again from the printing unit. If it is determined in step S74 that the operation is unsuccessful, the process proceeds to step S80, and the reason for the unsuccess is displayed on the operation panel.

  The above-described image search and re-output operation has been described in the case where the operation is performed from the digital copying apparatus. However, the operation can also be executed from the image data central storage device 25. This operation can be normally performed by using a display and a keyboard connected to the centralized image data storage device 25.

  As is apparent from the above description, according to the third embodiment, since the image data central storage device 25 can be used as a common server, an inexpensive digital copying device having no data storage device can be connected to the network. Thus, even an inexpensive digital copying apparatus having no data storage device can enjoy the same service as a digital copying apparatus having a data storage device. For this reason, a user-friendly system can be constructed with an inexpensive configuration.

  In the description of each of the above embodiments, the LAN is used as the trunk line 24. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a public telephone line, a public high-speed digital line such as ISDN, or a wireless It may be a line.

  Also, an image or data sent from a facsimile machine or a computer is taken into the digital copying apparatus via the public high-speed digital line or the wireless line, and the image or data is searched and re-outputted. Is also good. That is, a facsimile device or a computer may be used as the document input device.

  Alternatively, on the contrary, the image data read into the digital copying apparatus may be printed out from the output unit of the facsimile machine or the computer, and these may be used as the re-output unit.

  If the copied document data requires confidentiality, input identification data such as an operator identification number, a password and a password together with the document data, and input the identification data when searching or re-outputting. May be requested.

It is a functional block diagram of a 1st example of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a hardware configuration of a digital copying apparatus applied to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation instruction unit in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram of the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a display example displayed on an operation unit display screen of the digital copying apparatus. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating another display example displayed on the operation unit display screen of the digital copying apparatus. It is a functional block diagram of a 2nd example of the present invention. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the second embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of a local reservation. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the operation | movement of a remote reservation. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of remote output. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an internal structure of data stored in a data storage unit. It is a system configuration diagram of a third embodiment. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a data input operation according to the third embodiment. 13 is a flowchart for explaining another data input operation of the third embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the operation | movement of search re-output of 3rd Example.

Explanation of reference numerals

  21a to 21c: digital copying machine, 22a to 22c: transmission line, 23a to 23c: connector, 24: trunk line, 22, 30: local, 23, 31: remote device, 25: image data central storage device

Claims (2)

A data transmitting and receiving system for transmitting and receiving document data between an image forming apparatus and a terminal device connected to a network,
The image forming apparatus includes:
Image forming means for forming an image based on the acquired document data;
Storage means for storing the original data used for the image formation even after the end of the image formation,
Transmitting means for transmitting document data based on a document data acquisition request from the terminal device,
The terminal device,
Requesting means for requesting acquisition of document data stored in the image forming apparatus;
A data transmission / reception system, comprising: reception means for receiving the document data. A data acquisition method for transmitting and receiving document data between an image forming apparatus and a terminal device connected to a network,
Performing image formation of the document data in the image forming apparatus, and storing the document data even after the image formation is completed;
Making a request to obtain the stored document data in the terminal device;
Transmitting the acquisition-requested document data in the image forming apparatus;
Receiving the document data in the terminal device.

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