JP2007293664A - Information processor, image formation apparatus, program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor and an image formation apparatus for satisfactorily executing output processing through a network. <P>SOLUTION: A request part 71 broadcast transmits a first request signal. This request signal is provided with an instruction showing that only an image formation apparatus having designated attributes should transmit a MAC address as a reply signal to an information processor 1. When receiving the MAC address from the image formation apparatus, a request part 71 requests an RAM 12 to store the MAC address. An arithmetic part 73 transmits a MAC address 12a of the RAM 12 to an identification information storage device in order to obtain an IP address which can be dynamically assigned from the MAC address. Then, the information processor 1 executes data communication using the IP address transmitted from the identification information storage device and the corresponding MAC address, and the image formation apparatus executes output processing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, a program, and a recording medium, and more particularly to an improvement in a connection method between the information processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus.

  Conventionally, a technique for executing a printing process on a printer connected to a network is known (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2005-100270 A

  However, when the IP address of the printer is changed in the technique described in the patent document, the host PC fails in communication with the printer, and thereafter executes a process for obtaining the changed IP address of the printer.

  Therefore, for example, in an environment in which a printer IP address is dynamically assigned using a DHCP server, the host PC fails to communicate with the printer every time the printer is activated. As a result, a time required until it is determined that the communication has failed is required, and there has been a problem that the printing time by the network printer increases.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, a program, and a recording medium that can favorably execute output processing via a network.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a first aspect of the present invention provides a communication unit capable of data communication with an image forming apparatus connected via a network, a storage unit capable of storing data, and an image forming apparatus. Requesting the image forming apparatus to transmit a first identification code unique to each image forming apparatus by transmitting one request signal, and storing the received first identification code in the storage unit; An image that is a communication destination from the first identification code stored in the storage unit in the case of causing the image forming apparatus to execute an output process and a calculation unit that obtains a second identification code that can be assigned to the first identification code The calculation unit is caused to execute processing for obtaining the second identification code of the forming apparatus, and based on the first identification code stored in the storage unit and the second identification code obtained by the calculation unit. There are, characterized in that it comprises a communication control unit and for executing data communication between the image forming apparatus serving as the communication destination.

  Further, the invention according to claim 2 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit is capable of data communication with an identification information storage device connected via a network. Is capable of executing a process for obtaining the second identification code from the first identification code, and the calculation unit transmits the first identification code to the identification information storage device and transmits the first identification code. The identification information storage device is requested to transmit the second identification code corresponding to one identification code.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the first identification code is a MAC address, and the second identification code is an IP address.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the request unit requests the second identification code in addition to the first identification code, The received second identification code is stored in the storage unit together with the first identification code, and the calculation unit stores the first identification code stored in the storage unit when it is determined that the second identification code has been changed. 2 The value of the identification code is updated.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the output process is a print process.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the output process is a facsimile transmission process.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable program, wherein execution of the program by the computer is performed by data communication with an image forming apparatus connected to the computer via (a) a network. (B) requesting the image forming apparatus to transmit a first identification code unique to each image forming apparatus by transmitting a request signal to the image forming apparatus; and (c) transmitting from the image forming apparatus. Storing the first identification code thus obtained in a storage unit; (d) obtaining a second identification code that can be dynamically assigned from the first identification code; and (e) output processing to the image forming apparatus. In this case, the second identification code of the image forming apparatus serving as a communication destination is obtained from the first identification code stored in the storage unit, and data communication is performed with the image forming apparatus serving as the communication destination. Craft Characterized in that to execute and.

  The invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that the program according to claim 7 is recorded.

  The invention of claim 9 is a communication unit capable of data communication with an information processing device connected via a network, and is unique to the communication unit in response to a request signal from the information processing device. A response unit that transmits a first identification code to the information processing device, and an output unit that executes an output process based on data transmitted from the information processing device.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the ninth aspect, the image forming apparatus further includes a reading unit that reads image data from a document.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the ninth or tenth aspect, the output unit executes a process of recording a toner image on a recording sheet.

  The invention according to claim 12 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the output unit executes facsimile transmission.

  According to the first to twelfth aspects of the present invention, the information processing apparatus uses the first identification code unique to the image forming apparatus and the second identification code obtained based on the first identification code. Thus, data communication with the image forming apparatus is executed.

  Therefore, even when the second identification code of the image forming apparatus that is the communication destination is changed, the information processing apparatus obtains the changed second identification code and performs data communication with the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus can execute output processing.

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

<1. Configuration of Image Forming System and Identification Information Storage Device>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an image forming system 800 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming system 800 is a system that can execute output processing of image data based on an instruction from the information processing apparatus 1.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system 800 mainly includes an information processing device 1, an image forming device 100, and an identification information storage device 200. Further, each of the information processing apparatus 1, the image forming apparatus 100, and the identification information storage apparatus 200 is electrically connected via a network 500 such as a LAN (Local Area Network).

  In the present embodiment, data communication between the devices 1, 100 and 200 is realized by TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol). For this data communication, MAC (Media Access Control) is used. address) and IP (Internet Protocol) addresses are used.

  In this embodiment, at least the IP address of the image forming apparatus 100 is dynamically assigned by DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol).

  The information processing apparatus 1 includes, for example, a personal computer and a workstation, and causes the image forming apparatus 100 to perform output processing such as facsimile transmission and printing processing. The detailed configuration of the information processing apparatus 1 will be described later.

  The image forming apparatus 100 is a scanner, a printer, a copier, a facsimile machine, or a complex machine that combines these functions, and can execute output processing based on image data from the information processing apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 100 can transmit the MAC address and IP address of the image forming apparatus 100 itself as a response signal in response to a request from the information processing apparatus 1 or the identification information storage apparatus 200. The detailed configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described later.

  Similar to the information processing apparatus 1, the identification information storage apparatus 200 is configured by, for example, a personal computer and a workstation. The identification information storage device 200 can execute processing for obtaining an IP address (second identification code) from a given MAC address (first identification code) in response to a request from the image forming apparatus 100, for example. As shown in FIG. 1, the identification information storage device 200 mainly includes a large-capacity storage unit 217 and a communication unit 225.

  The communication unit 225 is a LAN interface capable of data communication between the information processing apparatus 1 and the image forming apparatus 100 connected via the network 500. For example, the communication unit 225 receives a control signal (for example, a request signal described later) transmitted from the information processing apparatus 1.

  Here, the communication unit 225 and communication units 25 and 125 (to be described later) are assigned MAC (Media Access Control) addresses that are not duplicated values but are unique to the communication units 25, 125, and 255. Yes.

  Thus, this MAC address is used as an identification code for uniquely identifying each communication unit 25, 125, 225. In the present embodiment, each device 1, 100, 200 is provided with one communication unit 25, 125, 225, and each device 1, 100, 200 can be identified by a MAC address. ing.

  The large-capacity storage unit 217 is a storage unit having a larger storage capacity than the RAM 212, such as a so-called hard disk drive or silicon disk drive. As shown in FIG. 1, the large-capacity storage unit 217 stores an identification information storage table 217a.

  Here, in the identification information storage table 217a, a MAC address unique to each device 1, 100, 200 and an IP address dynamically assigned are stored in association with each other. Therefore, the identification information storage device 200 can obtain the corresponding IP address by searching the identification information storage table 217a using the MAC address as a search key. Thus, the identification information storage device 200 can be used as a RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol) server that calculates a corresponding IP address from a given MAC address.

  The display unit 263 is configured by a liquid crystal display or a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display, and can display characters, graphics, and the like on the screen. The operation unit 264 is an input unit configured with a so-called mouse or keyboard. Therefore, the user can cause the identification information storage device 200 to execute a predetermined operation by performing an input operation based on the display content of the display unit 263 from the operation unit 264.

  The RAM 212 is a readable / writable nonvolatile memory. The ROM 213 is a read-only memory, and the MPU 211 executes control according to a program stored in the ROM 213. Further, each of the MPU 211, RAM 212, ROM 213, large-capacity storage unit 217, communication unit 225, and the like is electrically connected through a signal line 215. Therefore, the MPU 211 can execute data communication processing by the communication unit 225 at a predetermined timing.

<2. Configuration of information processing apparatus>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the information processing apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the information processing apparatus 1 mainly includes a RAM 12, a communication unit 25, a request unit 71, a communication control unit 72, and a calculation unit 73.

  The communication unit 25 is a LAN interface capable of data communication between the image forming apparatus 100 and the identification information storage device 200 connected via the network 500. For example, the communication unit 25 transmits image data to be subjected to output processing to the image forming apparatus 100.

  The RAM 12 is a readable / writable nonvolatile memory, and is used as a storage unit capable of storing data. Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the RAM 12 stores a MAC address 12 a and an IP address 12 b regarding the image forming apparatus 100. Therefore, the information processing apparatus 1 can execute data communication using the MAC address 12a and the IP address 12b stored in the RAM 12.

  The request unit 71 requests the image forming apparatus 100 to transmit a MAC address (first identification code) unique to the image forming apparatus 100. This request is executed by broadcasting a request signal (first request signal) from the information processing apparatus 1 to the other apparatuses 100 and 200.

  Here, the first request signal is a command that only an image forming apparatus having a specified attribute (for example, an image forming apparatus of a specified manufacturer) should send a MAC address to the information processing apparatus 1 as a response signal. have. When the request unit 71 receives the MAC address from the image forming apparatus 100, the request unit 71 stores the MAC address in the RAM 12.

  The computing unit 73 performs a process of obtaining a dynamically assignable IP address (second identification code) from the MAC address (first identification code). In the present embodiment, the calculation unit 73 transmits the MAC address of the image forming apparatus 100 to the identification information storage device 200. Thereby, the identification information storage device 200 calculates the IP address corresponding to the MAC address transmitted from the information processing device 1 and returns the calculation result to the information processing device 1.

  If the received IP address and the IP address 12b stored in the RAM 12 do not match and it is determined that the IP address of the image forming apparatus 100 has been changed, the computing unit 73 determines that the IP stored in the RAM 12 The address value is updated with the received IP address value.

  When the information processing apparatus 1 causes the image forming apparatus 100 to execute output processing (facsimile transmission processing or printing processing), the communication control unit 72 uses the MAC address 12a stored in the RAM 12 as an image to be a communication destination. The processing for obtaining the IP address of the forming apparatus 100 is caused to be executed by the computing unit 73, and the image forming apparatus 100 as a communication destination is based on the MAC address 12 a stored in the RAM 12 and the IP address obtained by the computing unit 73. To perform data communication with the.

  Similar to the display unit 263, the display unit 63 is configured by a liquid crystal display or a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display. Similarly to the operation unit 264, the operation unit 64 is an input unit configured by a so-called mouse or keyboard. Therefore, the user can cause the information processing apparatus 1 to perform a predetermined operation by performing an input operation based on the display content of the display unit 63 from the operation unit 64.

  The ROM 13 is a read-only memory, and the MPU 11 executes control according to the program 13 a stored in the ROM 13. In addition, the MPU 11, the RAM 12, the ROM 13, the communication unit 25, the request unit 71, the communication control unit 72, the arithmetic unit 73, and the like are electrically connected via the signal line 15. Therefore, the MPU 11 can execute a MAC address request process by the request unit 71 and a process for obtaining an IP address by the calculation unit 73 at a predetermined timing.

<3. Configuration of image forming apparatus>
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the image forming apparatus 100. As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 100 mainly includes an NCU 121, a modem 122, a communication unit 125, and a recording unit 151.

  The modem 122 converts the digital data (image data) stored in the image memory 116 into an audio signal, or converts the audio signal transmitted from the outside of the image forming apparatus 100 and received by the image forming apparatus 100 into digital data. Convert. The NCU 121 is a device necessary for connecting the image forming apparatus 100 to the public switched telephone network, and performs outgoing / incoming calls and dial control.

  Therefore, the image forming apparatus 100 converts the monochrome image data corresponding to the facsimile communication by the modem 122 into an audio signal, and connects to the partner image forming apparatus by the NCU 121, thereby making the facsimile to the partner image forming apparatus. Can be sent. That is, the NCU 121 and the modem 122 are used as the output unit 120 that executes facsimile transmission (output processing) based on data transmitted from the information processing apparatus 1.

  The communication unit 125 is a LAN interface capable of data communication with the information processing apparatus 1 connected via the network 500. Further, the response unit 171 transmits a unique MAC address (first identification code) to the communication unit 125 in response to the request signal (first request signal) from the information processing device 1. .

  The scanner unit 141 is a reading unit that reads image data from a document. The binarized image data captured from the scanner unit 141 is encoded (compressed) by the CODEC 161 and stored in the image memory 116. Here, for encoding by CODEC 161, for example, any one of MH (Modified Huffman), MR (Modified Read), MMR (Modified MR), and JBIG (Joint Bi-level Image experts Group) is adopted. The

  The recording unit 151 executes processing for recording a toner image based on the electrostatic latent image on a recording sheet by an electrophotographic method. For example, the recording unit 151 forms a toner image based on image data read by the scanner unit 141 or image data from the information processing apparatus 1 on a photosensitive drum (not shown), and the toner image is formed on a recording sheet. Transcript.

  Here, the image data recorded by the recording unit 151 is, for example, encoded by the CODEC 161 and stored in the image memory 116. That is, the image data stored in the image memory 116 is decoded (expanded) by the CODEC 161 and output to the recording unit 151 as a serial data string. In this way, the recording unit 151 is used as an output unit that executes processing for recording a toner image. Note that any one of the above-described MH, MR, MMR, and JBIG methods is adopted for decoding by the CODEC 161.

  The display unit 163 includes a so-called liquid crystal display, and has a function as a “touch panel” that can specify a position on the screen by touching the screen with a finger or a dedicated pen. Therefore, the user can cause the image forming apparatus 100 to execute a predetermined operation by giving an instruction using the “touch panel” function of the display unit 163 based on the content displayed on the display unit 163. . Thus, the display unit 163 is also used as an input unit.

  The operation unit 164 is an input unit configured by a so-called keypad. The user can cause the image forming apparatus 100 to perform a predetermined operation by performing an input operation based on the display content of the display unit 163.

  The RAM 112 is a readable / writable nonvolatile memory. Similarly to the RAM 112, the image memory 116 is a readable / writable memory. The ROM 113 is a read-only memory, and the MPU 111 executes control according to a program stored in the ROM 113. Further, the MPU 111, RAM 112, ROM 213, image memory 116, communication unit 125, response unit 171, and the like are electrically connected via a signal line 115. Therefore, the MPU 111 can execute response processing by the response unit 171 at a predetermined timing.

<4. MAC address acquisition processing>
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the MAC address acquisition procedure for the image forming apparatus 100. In this acquisition procedure, first, a first request signal for requesting a response only to the image forming apparatus 100 is broadcast from the information processing apparatus 1 (S101).

  When a device other than the image forming apparatus 100 (for example, the identification information storage device 200) receives the request signal, the request signal is discarded. On the other hand, when the image forming apparatus 100 receives the request signal, the image forming apparatus 100 transmits a response signal including its own MAC address to the information processing apparatus 1.

  When a response signal from the image forming apparatus 100 is received within a predetermined time (S102, S103), the request unit 71 stores the received MAC address in the RAM 12 (S108), and the acquisition process ends.

  On the other hand, when the response signal is not received within the predetermined time, the user inputs the IP address of the image forming apparatus that is the target of the output process from the operation unit 64 of the information processing apparatus 1 (S104). Then, the request unit 71 broadcasts the second request signal to the communication unit 25 (S105). Here, the second request signal has a command that only the image forming apparatus having the designated IP address should transmit the MAC address to the information processing apparatus 1 as a response signal.

  When a response signal from the image forming apparatus 100 is received within a predetermined time (S106, S107), the request unit 71 stores the received MAC address in the RAM 12 (S108), and the acquisition process ends. On the other hand, when the response signal is not received within the predetermined time, the request unit 71 determines that the MAC address has not been acquired, and ends the acquisition process without storing the MAC address.

<5. Output procedure>
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an output procedure by the image forming system 800. In this procedure, first, the computing unit 73 of the information processing apparatus 1 transmits the MAC address of the image forming apparatus 100 that is the target of output processing to the identification information storage apparatus 200 (S201). Here, the transmitted MAC address is obtained by the obtaining process shown in FIG. 4 and stored in the RAM 12.

  When receiving the MAC address transmitted from the information processing device 1, the identification information storage device 200 searches the identification information storage table 217a using the received MAC address as a search key, and extracts the corresponding IP address. Then, the extracted IP address is transmitted from the identification information storage device 200 to the information processing device 1 as a response signal.

  In step S202, when a response signal is received from the identification information storage device 200, the arithmetic unit 73 compares the IP address 12b corresponding to the transmitted MAC address with the IP address received in step S202 (S203). ).

  If the two IP addresses do not match, the calculation unit 73 determines that the IP address of the image forming apparatus 100 has been changed, and updates the value of the IP address 12b stored in the RAM 12 with the received IP address (S204). . On the other hand, if the two IP addresses match, the process proceeds to step S205 without executing the update process in step S204.

  When the IP address acquisition processing in steps S201 and S202 and the update processing in step S204 are completed, the information processing apparatus 1 receives the image formation (in other words, the IP address 12b stored in the RAM 12). The apparatus 100 is caused to execute facsimile transmission or printing processing.

  As described above, in the present exemplary embodiment, the MAC address (first identification code) unique to the image forming apparatus 100 and the IP address (second identification code) obtained based on the MAC address are used to obtain information. Data communication between the processing apparatus 1 and the image forming apparatus 100 is executed. Thereby, even when the IP address of the image forming apparatus 100 as the communication destination is changed, the time required for establishing data communication does not increase. Therefore, data communication between the information processing apparatus 1 and the image forming apparatus 100 can be executed satisfactorily, and the image forming apparatus 100 can execute output processing satisfactorily.

<6. Modification>
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made.

  (1) Although the MAC address is used as a code (first identification code) for uniquely identifying the image forming apparatus 100 in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the device name of each image forming apparatus 100 is not changed and is unchanged, this device name may be used. Thus, the first identification code is not limited to a numerical value, and may be unique to each image forming apparatus 100.

  (2) In the present embodiment, the image forming system 800 has been described as having one image forming apparatus 100, but the number of image forming apparatuses 100 is not limited to this. For example, the image forming system 800 may include two or more image forming apparatuses 100.

  (3) In the present embodiment, the request unit 71 of the information processing apparatus 1 has been described as requesting the image forming apparatus to return the MAC address as a response signal. However, the IP address is added to the MAC address. You may request to send back as a response signal. In this case, the request unit 71 may store the IP address 12b in the RAM 12 in addition to the MAC address 12a.

  (4) Furthermore, in the present embodiment, programs for controlling the operations of the information processing apparatus 1, the image forming apparatus 100, and the identification information storage apparatus 200 are stored in the read-only ROM 13, ROM 113, and ROM 213, respectively. Although described as a thing, it is not limited to this. For example, the program may be stored in a flash memory that is a readable / writable nonvolatile memory.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the image forming system and identification information storage device in embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of information processing apparatus. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image forming apparatus. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a MAC address acquisition procedure related to an image forming apparatus. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an output procedure by the image forming system.

Explanation of symbols

1 Information processing device 12 RAM
12a MAC address (first identification code)
12b IP address (second identification code)
25, 125, 225 Communication unit 63, 163, 263 Display unit 64, 164, 264 Operation unit 71 Request unit 72 Communication control unit 73 Calculation unit 100 Image forming apparatus 120 Output unit 121 NCU
122 Modem 125 Communication Unit 151 Recording Unit 200 Identification Information Storage Device 217 Mass Storage Unit 217a Identification Information Storage Table 500 Network 800 Image Forming System

Claims (12)

(a) a communication unit capable of data communication with an image forming apparatus connected via a network;
(b) a storage unit capable of storing data;
(c) Requesting the image forming apparatus to transmit a first identification code unique to each image forming apparatus by transmitting a first request signal to the image forming apparatus, and storing the received first identification code in the storage unit A request section to be stored;
(d) a calculation unit that obtains a dynamically assignable second identification code from the first identification code;
(e) When causing the image forming apparatus to execute output processing,
While causing the calculation unit to execute processing for obtaining the second identification code of the image forming apparatus serving as a communication destination from the first identification code stored in the storage unit,
Communication control for executing data communication with the image forming apparatus serving as the communication destination based on the first identification code stored in the storage unit and the second identification code obtained by the calculation unit And
An information processing apparatus comprising: The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
The communication unit is capable of data communication with an identification information storage device connected via a network,
The identification information storage device is capable of executing a process for obtaining the second identification code from the first identification code,
The calculation unit transmits the first identification code to the identification information storage device, and requests the identification information storage device to transmit the second identification code corresponding to the transmitted first identification code. An information processing apparatus characterized by the above. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
The first identification code is a MAC address;
The information processing apparatus, wherein the second identification code is an IP address. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The request unit requests the second identification code in addition to the first identification code, and stores the received second identification code together with the first identification code in the storage unit,
The information processing apparatus, wherein the arithmetic unit updates the value of the second identification code stored in the storage unit when it is determined that the second identification code has been changed. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The information processing apparatus, wherein the output process is a print process. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The information processing apparatus, wherein the output process is a facsimile transmission process. A computer-readable program, wherein execution of the program by the computer is performed on the computer,
(a) a step of performing data communication with an image forming apparatus connected via a network;
(b) requesting the image forming apparatus to transmit a first identification code unique to each image forming apparatus by transmitting a request signal to the image forming apparatus;
(c) storing the first identification code transmitted from the image forming apparatus in a storage unit;
(d) obtaining a dynamically assignable second identification code from the first identification code;
(e) When causing the image forming apparatus to execute output processing, the second identification code of the image forming apparatus serving as a communication destination is obtained from the first identification code stored in the storage unit, and the image serving as the communication destination A step of data communication with a forming apparatus;
A program characterized by having executed.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 7 is recorded. (a) a communication unit capable of data communication with an information processing apparatus connected via a network;
(b) in response to a request signal from the information processing device, a response unit that transmits a first identification code unique to the communication unit to the information processing device;
(c) an output unit that executes an output process based on data transmitted from the information processing apparatus;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The image forming apparatus according to claim 9.
(d) a reading unit that reads image data from a document,
An image forming apparatus further comprising: The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, wherein:
The output unit executes a process of recording a toner image on a recording sheet. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, wherein:
The image forming apparatus, wherein the output unit performs facsimile transmission.

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