JP2004192548A - Digital composite machine and printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital composite machine which can assign an IP address to each client. <P>SOLUTION: The digital composite machine 11 is provided with a communication part 22 which connects to communication network 14, a storage part 23 which stores data, an operation part 24 which performs various setting operations, and a display part 25 which displays these contents of setting. Furthermore, the machine is provided with a circuit which can incorporate an operating system and an arithmetic processing part 21, which has the function as a DHCP (dynamic host configuration protocol) server, dynamically assigning IP addresses to terminals connected to the communication network 14. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a digital multifunction peripheral having functions such as copying, a printer, a scanner, and a facsimile, and a printing system in which a digital multifunction peripheral and a terminal are connected to the same network.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, digital multifunction peripherals have functions such as copy, printer, scanner, and facsimile, and the structure of a main controller is almost the same as a normal personal computer (personal computer). The digital multifunction peripheral is connected to a LAN to which clients such as a personal computer and a printer are connected. When connecting the digital multi-function peripheral to the LAN, a method of inputting an IP address or installing a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server on the LAN and dynamically assigning the IP address is adopted. A printing system that sends print data from a personal computer connected to a LAN and prints the data using a digital multifunction peripheral is a well-known technology (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-325089
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, there are many cases where a personal computer used as a DHCP server only has a role as the server and does not have other functions. In addition, even in the case of a digital multifunction peripheral, most of them do not perform any function unless they are used as a copy, a printer, a scanner, and a facsimile.
Further, when print data is transmitted to the digital multi-function peripheral, information on the digital multi-function peripheral cannot be known. Furthermore, since data is often transmitted to a printer registered as a default, one digital multifunction peripheral is congested and one printer does nothing. In addition, when receiving a fax, it is often the case that the user stands in front of the digital MFP for another purpose and notices that the fax has been received for the first time.
An object of the present invention is to provide a digital multi-function peripheral and a printing system that can assign an IP address to each client.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 includes a communication unit connected to a network, a storage unit for storing data, an operation unit for performing various setting operations, a display unit for displaying setting contents, It is characterized by comprising a circuit capable of incorporating an operating system, and an arithmetic processing unit having a function as a DHCP server for dynamically assigning an IP address to a terminal connected to the same network.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printing system in which the digital multifunction peripheral and the terminal according to the first aspect are connected to the same network, the terminal has a function of transmitting print data to the digital multifunction peripheral, The printing system has a function of storing an IP address of a terminal that has transmitted print data, notifying the terminal that has transmitted the print data based on the IP address at the end of printing, and transmitting various information together with the terminal. Is the most important feature.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printing system in which the digital multifunction peripheral and the terminal according to the first aspect are connected to the same network, when the digital multifunction peripheral receives FAX data, the transmission source number of the FAX data and It has a function of comparing a FAX number stored in the storage unit, detecting an IP address of a registered terminal based on the comparison result, and transmitting a FAX reception notification.
[0005]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The digital multifunction peripheral 11, client 12, and printer 13 are connected to a network (LAN) 14 to form a network printing system.
When the power of the client 12 is turned on while the digital multifunction peripheral 11 is always turned on, an IP address request flows on the network 14. The digital multifunction peripheral 11 extracts the request, and stores necessary information such as the machine name and the MAC address of the client 12 in a main storage unit described later.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the digital multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment of the present invention. The digital multifunction peripheral includes an arithmetic processing unit 21, a communication unit 22, a main storage unit 23 for storing client information such as an IP address, an operation unit 24, a display unit 25, and an engine control unit 26. 27.
Here, the arithmetic processing unit 21 of the present invention has a circuit capable of incorporating an operating system, and has a function as a DHCP server that dynamically allocates an IP address to a terminal (client 12) connected to the same network 14. .
When the digital multifunction peripheral 11 issues a request packet, the communication unit 22 fetches the request packet, performs an appropriate process in the arithmetic processing unit 21, and sends an IP address packet and a data transmission request to the client 12 via the communication unit 22. Send a packet. The communication unit 22 receives the data packet of the client 12 and stores the data in the main storage unit 23. An OS (Operating System) operating on this controller composed of the above functional modules may be any of UNIX (registered trademark), Windows (registered trademark), NetBSD, and the like.
Further, the display unit 25 can display the client information of the currently assigned IP address. The operation unit 24 and the display unit 25 may be separate units or a single unit such as a touch panel. Further, unless the printer function and the copy function are used, the engine control unit 26 does not operate.
[0006]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart up to acquisition of client information in the digital multifunction peripheral of the present invention. First, the server is set (S11). Input values such as an IP address range, a lease period indicating a holding period of the IP address, a subnet mask, and a default gateway. Next, a request waiting state is set (S12). At this time, when a print command is received, the process exits to a different sequence.
Upon receiving the request for the set value, the information such as the IP address input in S11 is transmitted to the client 12. At this time, the client information request is also transmitted to the client 12 (S13). When the client information is received from the client 12, the data is stored in the main storage unit 23 (S14). At this time, the information is arranged according to a predetermined format, tabulated, and arranged in the order of the IP address (see FIG. 4 showing the client information).
Next, in S2, when the power of the client 12 is turned off and the lease period expires or the IP address is released, the client information is separated from the IP address and moved to the end of the table. The information is held in the main storage unit 23 unless an erasing operation is performed. If there is a release request, network information is transmitted (S15).
[0007]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a first control example in the printing system of the present invention. The digital multifunction peripheral 11 receives image data from a certain client 12 (S21). At this time, the digital multifunction peripheral 11 notifies the client 12 that the digital multifunction peripheral 11 is busy (Y in S22) while printing a large data amount. See figure).
At this time, the number of prints is converted from the data amount, the time until all printing is completed is calculated from the performance of the own device, and the printing end time is calculated using an internal timer (S23). Further, when a separate printer 13 is provided in the network 14, the digital multifunction peripheral 11 transmits monitoring packets to the printer 13 at regular intervals based on the table stored in the main storage unit 23. Thus, the status of the printer 13 is constantly monitored.
At the time of notification of the busy state, the end time and the state of another printer 13 are notified together (S24). Upon receiving the notification, the client 12 selects one of the items and transmits it to the digital multifunction peripheral 11. When the digital MFP is selected, the printing process starts. Also, the job data sent if not selected is deleted (S25, S26).
[0008]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a second control example in the printing system of the present invention. The digital multifunction peripheral 11 receives FAX data from the public line (S31). The digital multifunction peripheral 11 extracts the transmission source number added to the FAX data (S32). Then, the extracted number and the registered FAX number are collated (S33). If the numbers match, the device information of the client 12 used by the registered user is read, and the IP address of the device is collated with the table. Then, a fax reception notification is transmitted to the client 12 (S35). If they do not match, or if no IP address has been assigned, the process ends.
[0009]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, an IP address can be dynamically assigned to each client only by installing a digital multifunction peripheral.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, by managing each client IP address using the digital multifunction peripheral of the first aspect, a printing system can be realized, and the information of the digital multifunction peripheral is transmitted to the user. The printer existing in the network or the multifunction device can be efficiently used.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, an IP address registered from a facsimile transmission source is assigned based on the data stored in the digital multifunction peripheral of the first aspect, and the client is notified of the reception information. In the office, the user can work smoothly.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the digital MFP according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart up to acquisition of client information in the digital multifunction peripheral of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing client information.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a first control example in the printing system of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of notification to a client.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a second control example in the printing system of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
11 digital multifunction peripheral, 12 client (terminal), 13 printer, 14 network, 21 arithmetic processing section, 22 communication section, 23 main storage section, 24 operation section, 25 display section

Claims (3)

A communication unit for connecting to a network, a storage unit for storing data, an operation unit for performing various setting operations, a display unit for displaying setting contents, a circuit capable of incorporating an operating system, and a connection to the same network A digital multi-function peripheral comprising: a processing unit having a function as a DHCP server for dynamically assigning an IP address to a terminal. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the digital multifunction peripheral and the terminal are connected to the same network, wherein the terminal has a function of transmitting print data to the digital multifunction peripheral, and the digital multifunction peripheral includes the print data. A function of storing the IP address of the terminal that has transmitted the print data, notifying the terminal that has transmitted the print data based on the IP address at the end of printing, and transmitting various information at the same time. system. 2. A printing system according to claim 1, wherein when the digital multi-function peripheral receives the FAX data, the digital multi-function peripheral and the terminal are stored in the storage unit when the FAX data is received. A printing system having a function of collating with a FAX number, detecting an IP address of a registered terminal based on the collation result, and transmitting a FAX reception notification.

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