JP2004289480A - Digital composite machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital composite machine whereby a copy job carried out by a user in front of the digital composite machine can be most preferentially executed than a network FAX transmission job. <P>SOLUTION: The digital composite machine is provided with: a means for bringing the network FAX transmission job into a reception inhibit state for a prescribed period when a copy function key is operated in a state that a FAX operating menu is set as a preferential display menu and the FAX operating menu is displayed; and a means for bringing the network FAX transmission job into the reception inhibit state for a prescribed period when other keys than particular keys are operated, the particular keys being function switching keys except a copy function switching key, in a state that a copy operating menu is set as a preferential display menu and the copy operating menu is displayed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
[Industrial applications]
The present invention provides a digital multifunction printer having a facsimile function of facsimile transmitting a document image read by a document reading device and a network facsimile function of facsimile transmitting an image sent from a PC to another facsimile apparatus, in addition to a copying function. About the machine.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In addition to the copy function, a facsimile function of facsimile transmitting a document image read by a document reading device, a network facsimile function of facsimile transmitting an image sent from a PC to another facsimile device, and a document image read by a document reading device Digital multifunction peripherals having a function of transmitting a PC to a PC, a printer function of using the printer, and the like are known.
[0003]
By the way, in such a digital multifunction peripheral, a network FAX transmission job using a network FAX function and a copy job in the memory copy mode cannot be executed at the same time because they use the same memory resources.
[0004]
In a conventional digital multifunction peripheral, even if a user in front of the digital multifunction peripheral presses a copy function key to select a copy function, at that point, copy job reception has not been started yet, and settings such as the number of copies are set. Acceptance of a copy job is started from the point in time when the key is pressed.
[0005]
For this reason, even if the user in front of the digital multi-function peripheral presses the copy function key to select the copy function, if the digital multi-function peripheral accepts the network FAX transmission job in a state where the setting key operation is not performed, the copy is performed. Since the acceptance of the job is prohibited, the user in front of the digital MFP has to wait until the processing of the network FAX transmission job is completed or to perform the copy job in the direct copy mode.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital multifunction peripheral in which a copy job to be performed by a user in front of the digital multifunction peripheral is executed with as much priority as possible over a network fax transmission job. .
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a copy function for printing a document image read by a document reading device, a facsimile function for facsimile transmitting a document image read by a document reading device, and a function for transmitting an image sent from a PC. In a digital multifunction peripheral having a network facsimile function for performing facsimile transmission to another facsimile machine, an operation screen (hereinafter referred to as a priority display screen) displayed when the power is turned on or when an operation is not performed for a predetermined time or more. Means for disabling a network fax transmission job for a certain period of time when the copy function key is operated in a state where the fax operation screen is set and the fax operation screen is displayed, and a priority. The copy operation screen is set as the target display screen and the copy operation screen is displayed If a function switching key other than the copy function switching key is a specific key in a state in which the network fax transmission job is operated, a function is provided for disabling the network fax transmission job for a certain period of time when a key other than the specific key is operated. It is characterized by having.
[0008]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the digital multi-function peripheral according to the first aspect, when the copy operation screen is set as the priority display screen and the copy operation screen is displayed, the document mat is opened. In this case, the network fax transmission job is further provided with a means for setting the network FAX transmission job to a reception prohibition state for a certain period of time.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0010]
FIG. 1 shows a system configuration.
[0011]
The digital multifunction peripherals 1 and 2 are connected to the client PCs 3 and 4, the SMTP server 5 and the file server 6 via the LAN 11, and are connected to the facsimile machine 7 via the public telephone line network 12. Here, the digital multifunction peripherals 1 and 2 have the same configuration and have the same functions.
[0012]
FIG. 2 shows an electrical configuration of the digital multi-function peripheral 1.
[0013]
The digital multi-function peripheral 1 has a copy function, a FAX function, a printer function, a network FAX function, and a network scanner function.
[0014]
The digital MFP 1 includes a copier / scanner board 30, a FAX board 40, an operation display unit 21, a scanner 22, an LSU 23, an NCU 24, and the like.
[0015]
The copier / scanner board 30 includes an NIC 31, a main CPU 32, a communication buffer 33, a bitmap memory 34, an image memory 35, an image transfer unit 36, an ASIC 37, and the like. The FAX board 40 includes a FAX CPU 41, an image transfer unit 42, a bitmap memory 43, an image memory 44, a modem 45, and the like.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 3, the operation display section 21 is provided with various function selection keys 101 to 104, an LCD 105 with a touch panel for displaying operation screens corresponding to various functions, a numeric keypad 106, a start key 107, and the like. ing. The function selection keys include a copy function key 101, a printer function key 102, a scanner function (network scanner function) key 103, and a FAX function key 104. The LCD 105 displays an operation screen corresponding to the currently selected function.
[0017]
In the initial setting, an operation screen (called a priority display screen) that is displayed when the power is turned on and when no operation is performed for a certain period of time can be selected from a copy operation screen and a facsimile operation screen. I have.
[0018]
In a copy job in the memory copy mode, the document image read by the scanner 22 is temporarily stored in the image memory 35 via the ASIC 37, the image transfer unit 36, and the bitmap memory 34, and then temporarily stored in the bitmap memory 34. It is sent to the LSU 23 via the unit 36 and the ASIC 37.
[0019]
In the network FAX transmission job, encoded data obtained by encoding a binary image (for example, MMR encoding) is transmitted to the digital copying machine 1 from the client PC 3 (or 4). The encoded data sent from the PC to the digital copying machine 1 includes an NIC 31, a main CPU 32, a communication buffer 33, a bitmap memory 34, an image transfer unit 36, an image transfer unit 42, a bitmap memory 43, an image memory 44, and a modem. 45, which is sent to the public line 12 via the NCU 24.
[0020]
FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show a procedure for controlling acceptance permission prohibition of a network FAX transmission job.
[0021]
When the power is turned on, the network FAX transmission job is permitted to be accepted (step 1). Then, it is determined whether or not the facsimile operation screen is set as the priority display screen and the first condition that the facsimile operation screen is displayed is satisfied (step 2).
[0022]
If the first condition is not satisfied, it is determined whether or not the copy operation screen is set as the priority display screen and the second condition that the copy operation screen is displayed is satisfied (step S1). 3). If the second condition is not satisfied, the process returns to step 2.
[0023]
In step 2 above, if the first condition is satisfied, it is determined whether the copy function key 101 has been pressed (step 4). If the copy function key 101 has not been pressed, the process returns to step S2.
[0024]
In step 3, if the second condition is satisfied, the function switching keys (the printer function key 102, the scanner function key 103, and the FAX function key 104) other than the copy function key 101 are used as the specific keys. It is determined whether any other key has been pressed or the document mat has been opened (step 5). If no key other than the specific key is operated and the document mat is not opened, the process returns to step 2.
[0025]
When it is determined in step 4 that the copy function key 101 has been pressed, when it is determined in step 5 that a key other than the specific key has been pressed, or when it is determined in step 5 that the document mat has been opened In step (6), the network fax transmission job is prohibited from being accepted (step 6).
[0026]
Then, in the initial setting, it is determined whether the auto clear time is set to a value other than 0 second (step 7). The auto clear function is a function for automatically returning to a state where the warm-up is completed when a set auto clear time elapses after the copy is completed. The auto clear time can be set in units of, for example, 10 seconds from 0 seconds (auto clear time is invalid).
[0027]
With reference to FIG. 5, a processing procedure when the auto clear time is set to a value other than 0 second will be described.
[0028]
If the auto clear time is set to a value other than 0 seconds (YES in step 7), the function switching timer is started (step 8). That is, the timer for the function switching time (30 seconds in this example) is started.
[0029]
Next, it is determined whether or not a key operation has been performed (step 9). If there is no key operation, it is determined whether or not the function switching timer has timed out (30 seconds have elapsed) (step 10). If the function switching timer has not timed out, the process returns to step 9.
[0030]
If no key operation is performed between the time when the function switching timer is activated and the time when the function switching timer times out, it is determined that the user does not intend to perform the copy job, and the acceptance of the network fax transmission job is permitted. (Step 11). Then, the process returns to step 2.
[0031]
If there is a key operation before the function switching timer times out after the function switching timer is activated (YES in step 9), the activation of the function switching timer is stopped (step 12), and the operation is performed. It is determined whether or not the key is the start key 106 (step 13).
[0032]
If it is not the start key 106, the automatic clear timer is started (step 14). That is, the timer for the set auto clear time is started. Then, it is determined whether or not a key operation has been performed (step 15). If there is no key operation, it is determined whether or not the auto clear timer has timed out (step 16). If the auto clear timer has not timed out, the process returns to step S15.
[0033]
If no key operation is performed between the time the auto clear timer is activated and the time the auto clear timer times out, it is determined that the user does not intend to perform a copy job, and the network fax transmission job is accepted. (Step 11). Then, the process returns to step 2.
[0034]
If there is a key operation before the auto clear timer times out after the auto clear timer is started (YES in step 15), the start of the auto clear timer is stopped (step 17), and the process proceeds to step 13. Transition.
[0035]
If it is determined in step 13 that the operated key is the start key 106, a copy job is started (step 18). When the copy job is completed (YES in step 19), the process returns to step 8.
[0036]
With reference to FIG. 6, a processing procedure when the auto clear time is set to 0 seconds will be described.
[0037]
If the auto clear time is set to 0 seconds (NO in step 7), a function switching timer is started (step 20). That is, the timer for the function switching time (30 seconds in this example) is started.
[0038]
Next, it is determined whether or not a key operation has been performed (step 21). If there is no key operation, it is determined whether or not the function switching timer has timed out (30 seconds have elapsed) (step 22). If the function switching timer has not timed out, the process returns to step 21.
[0039]
If no key operation is performed between the time when the function switching timer is activated and the time when the function switching timer times out, it is determined that the user does not intend to perform the copy job, and the acceptance of the network fax transmission job is permitted. (Step 23). Then, the process returns to step 2.
[0040]
If there is a key operation before the function switching timer times out after the function switching timer is activated (YES in step 21), the activation of the function switching timer is stopped (step 24). It is determined whether or not the key operated by the user is the start key 106 (step 25). If it is not the start key, the process returns to step 20. If it is a start key, a copy job is started (step 26). When the copy job is completed (YES in step 27), the process returns to step 20.
[0041]
In the above embodiment, when the FAX operation screen is set as the priority display screen and the FAX operation screen is displayed, the copy function key 101 is pressed, or the copy operation screen is used as the priority display screen. Is set and the copy operation screen is displayed, a key other than the specific keys (printer function key 102, scanner function key 103, FAX function key 104) is pressed, or the document mat is opened. In this case, the reception of the network fax transmission job is prohibited for a certain period of time, so that the copy job by the user in front of the multifunction peripheral is executed with priority over the network fax transmission job.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, a copy job to be performed by a user in front of the digital multi-function peripheral is executed with as much priority as possible over a network fax transmission job.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the digital copying machine.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an operation display unit.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a process for controlling acceptance permission prohibition of a network FAX transmission job.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a network FAX transmission job acceptance permission prohibition control process.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a process for controlling acceptance permission prohibition of a network FAX transmission job.
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 2 Digital MFP 3, 4 Client PC
11 LAN
12 Public telephone line network 30 Copier / scanner board 40 FAX board 21 Operation display unit 22 Scanner 23 LSU
24 NCU

Claims (2)

A copy function for printing a document image read by a document reading device, a facsimile function for facsimile sending a document image read by a document reading device, and a network for facsimile sending an image sent from a PC to another facsimile device. In a digital MFP equipped with a FAX function,
When the FAX operation screen is set as an operation screen (hereinafter referred to as a priority display screen) that is displayed when the power is turned on or when the operation is not performed for a predetermined time or more, and the FAX operation screen is displayed, When the copy function key is operated, the network facsimile transmission job is set to the reception prohibited state for a certain period of time, and the copy operation screen is set as a priority display screen and the copy operation screen is displayed. Means for setting a function switching key other than the copy function switching key to a specific key in a state in which the network FAX transmission job is disabled for a certain period of time when a key other than the specific key is operated;
A digital multi-function peripheral comprising: When the copy operation screen is set as the priority display screen and the original mat is opened in a state where the copy operation screen is displayed, the network FAX transmission job is set to a reception prohibited state for a certain period of time. 2. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, further comprising means.

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