JP2005150875A - Image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily set processing conditions for each individual without requiring a special individual key or a large-capacity memory of storage. <P>SOLUTION: A USB memory 17 storing setting processing conditions for each individual is connected to a USBI/F 13 (step ST11), present apparatus setting processing conditions stored in a processing condition storing memory 5a of the apparatus is saved in a saving memory 5b (step ST 12), and the setting processing conditions for each individual in the USB memory 17 is loaded in the memory 5a (step ST13). When it is confirmed that the USB memory 17 is removed (step ST14), the apparatus setting processing conditions saved in the saving memory 5b are returned to the memory 5a (step ST15). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a multifunction machine having multiple functions such as a copying function and a facsimile function, and a printer.

  An image processing apparatus such as a facsimile machine is provided with a file for setting and storing processing conditions for each individual. Individual processing conditions are registered in advance in this file, and individual designation is performed by key operation from the operation unit at the time of use. There is a type that reads a specific processing condition by performing an input and executes a target copy process or communication process according to the processing condition.

Similar to such an image processing apparatus, when an operator has an ID card and approaches the apparatus, the ID card code is read by the communication means of the apparatus and stored in the personal setting file by the ID card. A technique for reading (processing conditions) and executing processing in this setting mode is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2000-321938 A

  In the conventional image processing apparatus described above, by operating the key for each person, processing such as copying can be executed under the setting processing conditions unique to each person. There is a limit to the number of keys that can be obtained, and if a large number of keys are arranged, the operation unit is inevitably enlarged, and the entire apparatus is also enlarged. Further, when storing individual processing conditions in the apparatus, there is a problem that a large amount of storage memory is required when the number of registered persons increases.

  Further, as in the technique described in Patent Document 1, when personal input is performed using an ID card, it is not necessary to provide a key for each individual. However, when the number of persons increases, a large memory is required for storing the device. There is a problem.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above-mentioned problems, and can perform an intended process under individual image processing conditions without requiring a special personal key or a large-capacity storage memory. An object is to provide a processing apparatus.

  An image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes at least a copy function and / or a facsimile function, and an image processing apparatus including processing condition storage means for storing necessary processing conditions when executing copy processing and facsimile processing. An interface, a USB memory storing user-specific processing conditions, and when the USB memory is connected to the USB interface, the specific processing conditions are replaced with processing conditions stored in the processing condition storage means; Control means for executing processing using the unique processing conditions.

  According to the present invention, the USB memory is connected to the USB interface, the individual processing conditions stored in the USB memory are fetched, and the target processing is executed using the processing conditions. Based on the above processing conditions, each of the target processing can be performed, no individual key is required, and there is no need to increase the storage memory capacity.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to embodiments. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile machine (multifunction machine) which is an embodiment of a communication terminal apparatus according to the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, a CPU (central processing unit) 1 as a main control unit has a function of comprehensively controlling each unit constituting the device.

  The CPU 1 includes an NCU (Network Control Unit) 2, MODEM 3, ROM 4, RAM 5, image memory 6, display unit 7, operation unit 8, image reading unit 9, image recording unit 10, CODEC (encoding / coding). Decoder: Coder and Decoder) 11, LAN I / F 12, and USB I / F 13 are connected via a bus 14.

  The NCU 2 is controlled by the CPU 1 to control connection with a telephone line network (PSTN) 15 that is a communication line. Further, the NCU 2 has a function of sending a dial pulse corresponding to a telephone number (including a FAX number) of a communication partner and a function of detecting an incoming call. MODEM3 is an ITU (International Telecommunication Union) -T recommendation T.264. 30, T.M. 4 according to the facsimile transmission control procedure (facsimile communication procedure) according to FIG. 17, V. 27ter, V.I. The transmission data is modulated and the received data is demodulated in accordance with 29. MODEM3 is a V. 8, V. V. using 34. It is also applicable to 34 FAX. Specifically, the MODEM 3 has a function of modulating transmission data, which is a digital signal, into an analog audio signal so as to be sent to the telephone line network 15 via the NCU 2. The MODEM 3 has a function of demodulating an analog audio signal received from the telephone line network 15 via the NCU 2 into a digital signal.

  The ROM 4 stores a program for controlling the operation of the entire apparatus. The RAM 5 stores data necessary for control by the CPU 1 and data that needs to be temporarily stored during the control operation. The RAM 5 includes a processing condition storage memory 5a and a save memory 5b. The processing condition storage memory 5a stores device setting conditions such as image processing. The saving memory 5b is used to temporarily save and store the processing conditions stored in the processing condition storage memory 5a. The image memory 6 stores the image data read by the image reading unit 9 in a compressed state. Further, the image memory 6 stores image data received from an external device such as a personal computer via a network (LAN) 15 or image data read from a recording medium in a compressed state (JPEG or the like).

  The display unit 7 displays icons, key buttons, message contents necessary for data transmission / reception, a telephone number and a FAX number input by the operation of the operation unit 8, and the like. As the display unit 7, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) is used. The operation unit 8 includes a numeric keypad, a mode switching key, a one-touch key, an abbreviated key, a registration key, a start key, a stop key, and the like. The numeric keypad is for inputting a telephone number, a FAX number, and other numerical values. The mode key is used to switch and set various operation modes. The one-touch key is used to call a destination telephone number or FAX number with one touch. An abbreviated dial can be input by operating this key and a two-digit numeric key. The registration key is used for other registration in order to perform one-touch shortened registration of the other party's telephone number or FAX number. The start key is used to instruct the start of facsimile communication or copy operation. The stop key is operated to stop various processing operations.

  The image reading unit 9 optically scans and reads image data of a document when performing facsimile transmission or copying. The image reading unit 9 can also read a color image. In the case of color reading, the image reading unit 9 optically scans a document image and obtains RGB three-color separation signals. The image recording unit 10 includes an electrophotographic printer, and records received image data and image data of a document read by the image reading unit 9 in a copying operation on a recording sheet.

  The CODEC 11 encodes (encodes) the read image data according to the MH, MR, MMR method or the like to transmit or store the image data. Further, the CODEC 11 decodes (decodes) the image data received in the compression-coded state for recording by the image recording unit 10. The LAN I / F 12 is for exchanging data with an external device via a LAN (local area network) 16, and is connected to an external device such as a PC (personal computer) via the LAN I / F 12. . For example, image data to be copied can be received from an external device via the LAN I / F 12.

  The USB I / F 13 connects the USB memory 17 from the outside. The USB I / F 13 reads personal processing condition data stored in the USB memory 17 in accordance with the USB protocol. The USB memory 17 stores processing conditions for each individual. An example is shown in FIG. Here, A pattern, B pattern, C pattern, and D pattern are stored as personal processing conditions. Each of these patterns is stored in an individual USB memory for each pattern, and an individual may select a USB memory of a target pattern according to the usage situation and connect it to the USB I / F 13. A single USB memory 17 may store a plurality of patterns of processing conditions.

  When storing individual processing conditions in the USB memory 17, a PC (personal computer) with USB I / F or a multifunction machine is used. The process of storing individual processing conditions in the USB memory 17 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in step ST1, a device setting customization process is executed. That is, processing conditions are set and input. As an example, if the A pattern in FIG. 2 is input, for example, the transmission destination, image quality, color / monochrome identification, transmission certificate, F-Code box,. Subsequently, the process proceeds to step ST2. In step ST2, the operator accepts and confirms that the USB memory 17 is connected to the USB I / F.

  Subsequently, the process proceeds to step ST3. In step ST3, the processing conditions set for the device (for example, the A pattern in FIG. 2) are stored in the USB memory 17. As described above, the saving of each processing condition for each individual is completed.

  Next, the processing operation when loading the individual processing conditions stored in the USB memory 17 into the MFP will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In step ST11, connection acceptance (confirmation) is performed in response to the USB memory 17 being connected to the USB I / F 13 by the operator. Subsequently, the process proceeds to step ST12.

  In step ST12, the current device settings, that is, the device processing conditions stored in the processing condition storage memory 5a are saved in the save memory 5b. Next, the process proceeds to step ST13. In step ST13, the personal setting processing conditions in the USB memory 17 are read and loaded into the processing condition storage memory 5a. By this loading, the apparatus executes a separate process based on the personal processing conditions loaded in the processing condition storage memory 5a. After step ST13, the process proceeds to step ST14.

  In step ST14, it is confirmed whether or not the USB memory 17 is removed from the USB I / F 13. Until the detection result of the removal is obtained, the process stays at step ST14 and waits for the USB memory 17 to be removed. When it is confirmed that the USB memory 17 has been removed, the process proceeds to step ST15. In step ST15, the saved device settings are restored. That is, the device setting process condition saved in the save memory 5b is returned to the process condition storage memory 5a.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a multifunction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the memory content of the USB memory connected to USBI / F of the same multifunction device. It is a flowchart explaining the process in the case of saving the process conditions to the USB memory. FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining processing when loading the saved contents of the USB memory into the multifunction peripheral.

Explanation of symbols

1 Main control unit 2 NCU
3 MODEM
4 ROM
5 RAM
5a Processing condition storage memory 5b Saving memory 6 Image memory 7 Display unit 8 Operation unit 9 Image reading unit 10 Image recording unit 11 CODEC
12 LAN I / F
13 USB I / F
14 Bus 15 Public line 16 LAN
17 USB memory

Claims (1)

In an image processing apparatus that includes at least a copy function and / or a facsimile function, and includes a processing condition storage unit that stores a required processing condition when executing copy processing and facsimile processing.
USB interface,
A USB memory storing user-specific processing conditions;
When the USB memory is connected to the USB interface, the control unit replaces the specific processing condition with the processing condition stored in the processing condition storage unit, and executes processing using the specific processing condition. ,
An image processing apparatus comprising:

Images