JP2012199826A - Communication device and management device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem of being unable to determine an external storage to search because external devices are created in the same name.SOLUTION: In a communication device, a second communication unit is capable of communicating with a management device, and a memory medium stores reception data received from an external device. A first communication unit is capable of communicating with the external device, and a name designation unit receives designation of a name specific to the management device from the management device. A storage control unit makes the storage medium store the reception data based on the above designated name when making the storage medium store the reception data. An output unit outputs the reception data stored in the storage medium according to an instruction from the management device. In the management device, a management side communication unit communicates with the communication device, and a management side name designation unit designates a name specific to the own management device to the communication device. A management side searching unit is sure to search for a managed communication device because it searches the storage medium connected to the communication device for data based on a name designated by the own management device.

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication device and a management device, and more particularly to a communication device capable of facsimile communication and a management device thereof.

  In recent years, a facsimile (hereinafter simply referred to as a fax) is connected to a computer (hereinafter referred to as a management PC) so that received data by fax can be effectively used. In this way, the connection to the management PC is realized by the PCFAX reception function. Data received by the PCFAX reception function via facsimile communication (hereinafter referred to as fax data) is stored in a predetermined storage (referred to as an external storage medium or external storage) and released for effective use.

  Conventionally, on the management PC side, a path of an external storage storing fax data to be acquired is determined in advance as a target fax device. Then, by searching for a target fax device according to the path, an external storage in which a file to be acquired by the management PC is stored is found.

JP 11-46277 A

However, in the conventional method described above, for example, if a plurality of same-type fax devices create an external storage with the same name in the same network, the external storage to be searched and acquired cannot be determined.
The present invention provides a communication device and a management device that can reliably find a data storage location while providing a PCFAX reception function.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, on the communication device side, the second communication unit can communicate with the management device, and the storage medium stores the received data received from the external device. The first communication unit can communicate with an external device, and the name designation unit accepts designation of a name unique to the management device from the management device. Then, the storage control unit stores the received data based on the designated name when storing the received data in the storage medium. The output unit outputs the received data stored in the storage medium in response to an instruction from the management device.

  On the other hand, on the management device side, the management communication unit communicates with the communication device, and the management name designation unit designates a unique name for the communication device. Then, the management side search unit searches for data from the storage medium connected to the communication device based on the specified name. In other words, it is possible to specify a unique name for itself specified by itself and to search for a communication device managed by itself reliably based on the name, and the management-side acquisition unit uses the communication device to receive data received by the management-side search unit Get from.

In this way, the management apparatus acquires received data from the storage medium of the communication apparatus based on the unique name at 1: 1.
The first communication unit corresponds to facsimile communication or the like, but is not limited thereto. The output unit is not limited to printing on a paper medium such as printing, but includes an output form displayed on a display. The second communication unit is not particularly limited, such as a wireless or wired LAN connection, a wireless Bluetooth connection, or a wired USB connection. The management device corresponds to a computer or the like, but includes, but is not limited to, a desktop, a notebook, a PDA, a smartphone, and the like.

By configuring the management device with a computer, the management-side name designation unit, the management-side search unit, the management-side acquisition unit, and the like can be configured by software control using a communication function.
As an aspect of storing received data based on the specified name, on the communication device side, the storage control unit stores a file including the specified name in the storage medium, The received data is stored in the storage medium as a file having a positional relationship.

On the management device side, the management-side search unit searches for a file having a name including the specified name. Since this name is unique to itself, if a file including this name can be searched, the file surely corresponds to the communication device managed by itself, and a file having a predetermined positional relationship with this file is identified. Just search.
As another aspect, on the communication device side, the storage control unit stores the received data in the storage medium as a file having a name based on the specified name.

On the management device side, the management side search unit searches for data as a file having a name based on the specified name. Since the name is unique to itself, if a file having a name based on this name can be searched, the file surely corresponds to the communication device managed by the name.
Furthermore, as another aspect, on the communication device side, the storage control unit encrypts based on the designated name and stores the received data in the storage medium.

  On the management device side, the management-side search unit searches for a file that can be decrypted based on the specified name. Since the name used for encryption is also decrypted, if it can be decrypted, it should be encrypted based on the name specified by itself, and the file must correspond to the communication device managed by itself. Yes.

As described above, according to the present invention, the management device designates its own unique name and designates the name to the communication device to be managed, so that the communication device stores received data based on the name. As a result, the management device can reliably distinguish between the communication device corresponding to itself and the other communication devices.
In this way, a communication device and a management device that can reliably find a data storage location while providing a PCFAX reception function are provided.

1 is a block diagram of a multifunction peripheral (MFP) to which a communication device is applied. It is a flowchart which shows the setting registration process by the management PC side used as a management apparatus. 6 is a flowchart showing setting registration processing on the MFP side. It is a figure which shows the tree structure which displayed the memory content by using external storage as storage. 5 is a flowchart illustrating setting reception processing (prohibition processing) on the MFP side that is executed by the PCFAX control unit. It is a figure which shows the internal database for managing the content of a non-volatile memory. It is a flowchart which shows a PCFAX reception process. 6 is a flowchart showing conversion data provision (output) processing on the MFP side. It is a flowchart which shows the conversion data acquisition process of the management PC on the management PC side. It is a flowchart which shows the deletion request process from the management PC side. 10 is a flowchart showing deletion handling processing on the MFP side. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a restoration process at startup on the MFP side. It is a flowchart which shows the restoration process at the time of inconsistency discovery. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a change process from an automatic printing mode to a PCFAX mode.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, an embodiment applied as a communication apparatus of the present invention to a multifunction peripheral (MFP) having a facsimile function, a printing function, a scanner function, and the like will be described.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an MFP and a management PC according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In the figure, a multifunction peripheral (MFP) includes a fax device 10 that realizes fax transmission / reception, a fax printing unit 20 that realizes printing on a paper medium, a scanner unit 30 that realizes reading of a paper medium, and a user's An operation panel 40 that accepts operations, an external storage 50 that is externally displayed as storage from the MFP, a conversion unit 60 that converts received fax data into a PDF file for external devices, and various states are stored. A shared memory 70 and a PCFAX control unit 80 for realizing comprehensive control are provided.

  The fax device 10 includes a reception unit 11 and a transmission unit 12 for performing fax transmission / reception with a facsimile as an external device via a telephone line, and includes a nonvolatile memory 13 for mainly storing data by fax transmission / reception. ing. The received data stored in the nonvolatile memory 13 is in the TIFF file format and is called received data for distinction. The non-volatile memory 13 stores a database for recording transmission and reception and managing the memory, and is called an internal database for distinction. Further, the fax control unit 14 executes all control including transmission / reception of faxes.

The receiving unit 11, the transmitting unit 12, the nonvolatile memory 13, and the fax control unit 14 constitute a first communication unit that communicates with an external device.
The fax printing unit 20 prints the received data received by the MFP, or executes printing based on normal print data from the management PC 90 as will be described later. In this MFP, output means printing on a paper medium, and also means providing as an image file that can be read by the management PC 90 via the external storage 50. Accordingly, the fax printing unit 20 constitutes a part of the output unit.

The scanner unit 30 is a device that scans printing information on a paper medium and reads an image, and uses an auto sheet feeder to supply and discharge the paper medium one sheet at a time to read an image, or to make a flat glass plate. Reads the surface information of a thick object placed on the bed.
The operation panel 40 is an operation panel provided with various push button switches, small-scale displays, and LEDs, so that the MFP can be directly input from the operator as well as from the management apparatus. ing. The operation panel 40 constitutes an operation unit that receives an operation from the operator.

  The external storage 50 is realized by a volatile memory, and the stored contents are lost when the MFP is turned off. The external storage 50 can be accessed as a USB memory independent of a device connected to the MFP. The reason for accessing as a USB memory is that the PCFAX control unit 80 controls mounting / unmounting so that an external device can recognize the update status of the external storage 50 by the function of the OS. In connection with this, when the MFP is connected to the network, the PCFAX control unit 80 appropriately changes the mount / unmount state of the external storage 50 each time the management PC 90 acquires conversion data. That is, the mount state is set only when the latest conversion data is generated, and the mount state is unmounted when access for acquisition is not required.

A file with a file name “FAXRECV” is created in the external storage 50 for identification of itself. The external storage 50 also stores an external database for management such as file acquisition by the management PC 90.
The external storage 50 stores converted data obtained by converting received data into the PDF format. For distinction, the PDF format is called converted data.

Although the external storage 50 mainly constitutes a storage unit for storing the conversion data received from the external device, the output is not necessarily stored in the non-volatile memory 13 as described above, but only in the external storage 50. Received data is also available. In this sense, in a broad sense, the nonvolatile memory 13 also constitutes a part of the storage unit.
The conversion unit 60 converts received data in the TIFF format into converted data in the PDF format in order to improve the convenience of reference from an external device, and performs conversion processing in accordance with an instruction from the PCFAX control unit 80. However, the conversion unit 60 itself can manage the number of converted files and the number of deleted files.

  The shared memory 70 is a storage that can be referred to and written from each device of the MFP, and receives a PC-ID corresponding to specific information of the management PC 90 and a PCFAX mode or facsimile connected to the management PC 90 as will be described later. Each data or parameter of an operation mode indicating whether it is an automatic print mode in which printing is started each time and a connection mode indicating whether the connection with the management PC 90 is a USB connection or a network connection is stored as a file.

Although there are two operation modes as described above, the PCFAX mode connected to the management PC 90 corresponds to the first operation mode in which the conversion data is output by communicating with the management apparatus. The print mode corresponds to the second operation mode in which the conversion data received from the external device is output directly without causing the management device to output it.
The PCFAX control unit 80 controls each of the above devices and is connected to the management PC 90 to respond to requests from the management PC 90. The management PC 90 can be connected via a USB interface or a network interface, and a parameter indicating which connection is used is stored in the shared memory 70 as a connection mode. A USB or network interface connected to the management PC 90 constitutes the second communication unit. Further, an interface that communicates with the second communication unit on the management PC 90 side constitutes a management-side communication unit that “communicates with the communication device”.

  The PCFAX control unit 80 provides various functions under the control of software to be described later. In one aspect, the PCFAX control unit 80 constitutes an output unit for controlling the external storage 50 to provide conversion data in PDF format to the management PC 90. In addition, the designation unit is configured in that the designation of the management PC 90 that is a management apparatus is accepted, and the prohibition unit (change designation acceptance prohibition control unit) is also provided in that the designation of changing the designated management PC is prohibited. Constitute.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.
First, one management apparatus is registered and set in order to use this MFP by PCFAX control.
FIG. 2 shows a setting registration process started when a management program is executed on the management PC serving as the management apparatus when setting registration is not performed in the MFP. FIG. 3 shows setting registration in the MFP. FIG. 6 shows setting registration processing on the MFP side that is started when a registration request is received from a management PC serving as a management apparatus when no registration is performed.
On the management PC side, in step S100, it is determined whether to perform PCFAX registration in order to perform PCFAX control of the MFP. When registering, the MFP is connected to the MFP in step S102, and in step S104, its own network card is registered. A unique PC-ID is created using the Mac address. The Mac address itself is a 6-byte unique ID, which is used to generate 32-byte data. The data after the conversion need only be unique, and the conversion method is not particularly limited. When the PC-ID is created, a PC-ID registration request is transmitted to the connected MFP in step S106. This transmission is performed via the second communication unit. Note that the management PC side waits in steps S108 and S110 until registration is accepted and registration is completed. That is, until it is determined in step S110 that timeout has occurred, a loop process is performed in which it is determined in step S108 whether or not registration has been completed.

  On the MFP side, the PCFAX control unit 80 performs the management PC setting registration process shown in FIG. 3, acquires the PC-ID in step S112, and stores the PC-ID in the shared memory 70 in step S114. In step S116, the contents of the PC-ID are stored in the external storage 50 with a file name of FAXRECV. FIG. 4 shows a tree structure in which stored contents are displayed using the external storage 50 as a storage. As shown in the figure, FAXRECV is saved as a normal file, and the contents are stored as 32-byte data.

As described above, since the PC-ID is stored in the shared memory 70 and the external storage 50, the MFP is placed under the management of one management PC 90 having a Mac address that has generated the PC-ID. It will be. In this way, on the MFP side, the PCFAX control unit 80 has accepted the designation of the management PC, and constitutes a designation unit.
However, the processing described above shows the main processing procedure at the time of initial registration of the MFP. That is, it may be necessary to change the management PC 90 after the operation of the MFP. In this case, data inconsistency is prevented from occurring through the following processing.

FIG. 5 shows a setting reception process (change designation reception prohibition control process) on the MFP side that is started by the PCFAX control unit 80 when a registration request is received from the PC when the management apparatus is registered in the MFP.
The PCFAX control unit 80 determines whether or not the PC requesting the processing in step S120 matches the registered management PC 90. When the PCFAX control unit 80 is connected to the network, or when the management PC 90 is used as a shared device while being connected to the management PC 90 by USB connection, another PC can access the MFP via the network. At this time, the PCFAX control unit 80 requests a PC-ID at the start of communication. Since the PC-ID is uniquely generated based on the MAC address as described above, the PCFAX control unit 80 obtains the PC-ID from the MAC address of the PC that has requested processing at the start of the network connection. You may make it produce | generate.

  On the other hand, since the PC-ID is already stored in the shared memory 70 on the MFP side, the PCFAX control unit 80 compares the PC-ID of the PC that requested processing with the PC-ID in the shared memory 70. It can be determined whether the processing request PC matches the management PC. The period during which the PCFAX control unit 80 receives a processing request from the PC in this way means that the PCFAX function is in operation, and therefore the determination in step S120 can be said to be a determination as to whether or not the PCFAX function is being used.

  If they match, it is determined in step S122 whether there is unacquired conversion data in the external storage 50. The existence of unacquired conversion data can be made by referring to an external database described later. As will be described in detail later, if it is determined that there is no unacquired conversion data, the setting requested for processing is performed in step S124. As an example, the PCFAX function is disabled by changing from the PCFAX mode to the automatic print mode. Also, as the installation handling process, settings for the fax device 10 and other settings are processed. That is, in the PCFAX mode, when there is no unacquired conversion data, a setting processing request for invalidating the PCFAX function is accepted.

  On the other hand, if the setting for disabling the PCFAX function is performed while there is unacquired conversion data, it may be impossible to guarantee that the unacquired conversion data will surely reach the user. Therefore, the PCFAX control unit 80 prohibits the setting process in step S126 and notifies the management PC to acquire conversion data that has not been acquired first. That is, in the PCFAX mode, when there is unacquired conversion data, the setting process request for disabling the PCFAX function is prohibited. Such processing corresponds to the function of the prohibition unit that allows the change from the first operation mode to the second operation mode when there is no unoutput conversion data in the storage unit. Note that the MFP may automatically perform an operation of disabling the PCFAX function after the management PC has acquired all the unacquired conversion data upon receiving this notification.

  Next, if it is determined in step S120 that the processing request PC and the management PC do not match, it is determined in step S128 whether there is unacquired conversion data in the external storage 50. If it is determined that there is no unacquired conversion data, the requested setting is made in step S132. As an example, since it is a processing request from a non-management PC, there is a case where a change to make itself a management PC is requested. That is, the management PC is set in correspondence with the process of step S106 in the flowchart shown in FIG. Specifically, the PC-ID of the processing request PC is acquired in step S112, the PC-ID is stored in the shared memory 70 in step S114, and the external storage 50 is stored with the contents of the PC-ID in step S116. The FAXRECV file will be rewritten. Needless to say, setting processing for the fax device 10 may be performed. That is, in the PCFAX mode, when there is no unacquired conversion data, a setting processing request for changing the management PC is accepted.

  On the other hand, if a management PC change is accepted while there is unacquired conversion data, data inconsistency may occur. Therefore, the PCFAX control unit 80 prohibits the management PC change setting process in step S130, and others. That there is a management PC. That is, in the PCFAX mode, when there is unacquired conversion data, the function of designating the management PC is prohibited. This process corresponds to the function of a prohibition unit that accepts a designation to change the designated management device in the first operation mode when there is no conversion data not yet output in the storage unit. .

The MFP can realize more effective functions for such processing as management PC change registration and PCFAX function invalidation.
In the automatic print mode, since the facsimile starts printing every time it is received, this corresponds to accepting a designation that the management apparatus is not designated. In such a case, it is possible to output the received data received freely according to the user's designation. When the user desires printing, the received data stored in the nonvolatile memory 13 can be transmitted to the fax printing unit 20 and printed on a paper medium. If it is desired to check the contents on the display of the operation panel 40 before printing on a paper medium, the received data stored in the nonvolatile memory 13 is converted into the PDF format by the conversion unit 60 and stored in the external storage. After that, output is performed by displaying on the same display. That is, when the management device is not designated, the output unit sequentially prints the converted data stored in the storage unit when it is output or received according to the operator's instruction.

  Further, in the case of outputting in response to an operation from the user in this way, if there is unacquired conversion data, only an output instruction from this operation panel may be accepted. In this way, if there is unacquired conversion data when the management PC is not specified, it can only be output from the operation panel 40 operated by the user. To ensure that the converted data is delivered to the user.

  Further, when a facsimile is received before the management PC 90 is registered, it is not output to a paper medium each time but is stored as received data in the nonvolatile memory 13 or in the PDF format in the external storage 50. The converted data after conversion may be stored. When conversion data is stored in the storage unit in this manner, when the management PC is designated, unconverted conversion data is output to the designated management PC 90.

  In step S126, setting processing is prohibited. That is, when there is unacquired conversion data, the acquisition of the conversion data is prompted, and it is prohibited to disable the PCFAX function and not specify the management PC in a state where the management PC exists. However, in such a situation, an output for forcibly displaying the conversion data on the operation panel 40 is performed, or an output for forcibly printing the received data of the nonvolatile memory 13 on the paper medium by the fax printing unit 20. It can also be done. Then, an instruction not to designate the management PC or a change of the management PC is permitted. In this way, it is possible to cope with the case where the management PC cannot acquire the conversion data due to a failure or the like while ensuring that the conversion data reaches the user.

FIG. 6 shows an internal database for managing the contents of the nonvolatile memory.
As shown in the figure, the database structure includes serial number, transmission, reception, year / month / day / hour / minute / second, telephone number of the other party, secondary serial number, printed, and deleted items. The serial number is an identifier that is added to the received data in order regardless of transmission / reception. For transmission and reception, 1 is assigned to the corresponding data and 0 is assigned to the data that is desired. As the year / month / day / hour / minute / second, a 14-digit numerical value from the year to the second is stored as data. The sub-serial number is a serial number when one piece of received data for transmission or reception is divided and stored.

“Printed” is a flag, and is set when printing on a paper medium by the fax printing unit 20 is completed. It can be considered that the user has received a fax when the flag is set. When printing fails, a flag is not set.
“Deleted” is a flag, and is set in the received data that was intentionally deleted. The non-volatile memory 13 is expensive and slow, but the stored contents are not lost even if an unexpected power failure occurs. Taking advantage of this feature, the received data in the nonvolatile memory 13 is not deleted unless the storage area is exhausted, but is simply regarded as deleted by setting a flag on the internal database. Of course, when there is no storage area, the oldest serial number is deleted.

  The non-volatile memory 13 uses such an internal database by taking advantage of non-volatility. The external storage 50 can be referred to as a storage from an external device, but a database for managing the existence of a file as shown in FIG. 4 is prepared as an external database. For this content, basic operating system table information is used. This external database may be exactly the same as the internal database. In addition, it is not essential because the same contents can be obtained by referring to the internal database, but it can be accessed at high speed by storing it on the external storage 50, and the structure is general-purpose, easy to access and effective. Can do.

Next, processing for receiving a fax with the PCFAX function will be described.
FIG. 7 shows the PCFAX reception process.
Facsimile reception can be automatically performed by the receiving unit 11 as long as power is supplied and a telephone line is connected, and the received data is stored in the nonvolatile memory 13. When the reception is completed, in step S200, the reception unit 11 notifies the fax control unit 14 of the reception of the fax. When the reception of the fax is notified, the fax control unit 14 checks the mode in the shared memory 70 in step S202. Specifically, the fax control unit 14 accesses the shared memory 70, reads a parameter indicating the operation mode, and determines whether the parameter indicates the PCFAX mode.

  The operation mode is the PCFAX mode or the automatic printing mode. If the operation mode is the PCFAX mode, the fax control unit 14 notifies the PCFAX control unit 80 of the reception of the fax in step S204. The PCFAX control unit 80 notified of the reception of the fax issues an instruction to convert the received data into converted data in the PDF format to the conversion unit 60 in step S206. Then, in step S208, conversion unit 60 accesses the non-volatile memory of reception unit 11 and acquires reception data in TIFF format. Since the received data received by the receiving unit 11 is in the TIFF format suitable for the facsimile sender / receiver, the converting unit 60 converts the received data in the TIFF format into converted data in the PDF format in step S210, Thereafter, it becomes easy to use when displaying or printing on the management PC 90 or the like. When the conversion is completed, the conversion unit 60 stores the converted data in PDF format in the external storage 50 in step S212. Note that the conversion unit 60 counts the number of conversion data generated by conversion.

After saving in the external storage 50, the conversion unit 60 notifies the PCFAX control unit 80 of the completion of conversion in step S214, and the PCFAX control unit 80 accesses the external database in step S216, and the external storage 50 Update the conversion data to exist.
Thus, since the external database is updated after the converted file is saved, it is possible to prevent access to the converted data during the conversion. In this process, the storage unit converts the converted data into a predetermined file format based on the data received by the first communication unit, and stores the converted data into the predetermined file format. This is equivalent to communicating with the management apparatus assuming that the conversion data does not exist in the storage unit until the process of storing in the storage unit is completed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S202 that the parameter represents the automatic print mode, the fax printing unit 20 prints on a paper medium. Specifically, the fax control unit 14 notifies the PCFAX control unit 80 of the reception of the fax in step S218, and the fax control unit 14 (PCFAX control unit 80) performs the fax output unit in step S220. The received data in the fax device is output. Control of printing by the fax printing unit 20 may be performed by the fax control unit 14 or the PCFAX control unit 80.

  When printing is instructed, the fax printing unit 20 accesses the non-volatile memory 13 in the fax device 10 to acquire unprinted received data and prints on a paper medium. When printing is completed, the fax printing unit 20 notifies the fax control unit 14 that the output has been completed in step S222. In step S224, the fax control unit 14 assigns a “printed” flag to the received data printed on the internal database. As described above, as long as there is a storage area, the received data is not deleted at the time of printing, but a process of simply setting a printed flag in the internal database is performed.

When printing on a paper medium, this means that it has been delivered to the user, but it cannot be said that the user has received it just by storing it in the conversion data, so it is necessary to acquire the conversion data from the management PC. FIG. 8 shows conversion data provision (output) processing on the MFP side, and FIG. 9 shows conversion data acquisition processing of the management PC on the management PC side.
Whether there is conversion data is periodically inquired from the management PC side to the MFP side.

  In step S250, the management PC inquires of the PCFAX control unit 80 about the existence of conversion data at regular intervals. On the other hand, if conversion data exists, the PCFAX control unit 80 notifies the management PC of the existence of the conversion data and prepares to output the conversion data in step S230. First, in step S232, the PCFAX control unit 80 determines whether the MFP is a network connection or a USB connection. Specifically, the PCFAX control unit 80 accesses the shared memory 70 and reads the connection mode parameters. This parameter represents whether the connection with the management PC 90 is a USB connection or a network connection.

In this MFP, when the MFP is connected to the management PC via USB, the mounted state is always maintained as the USB external storage 50 with respect to the management PC. When the MFP is connected to the network, only when there is an acquisition request from the management PC Mounted, otherwise unmounted.
If it is network connection, the PCFAX control unit 80 switches the external storage 50 from the unmounted state to the mounted state in step S234. In the case of USB connection, the PCFAX control unit 80 maintains the external storage 50 in the mounted state (default state at the time of USB connection) in step S236.

  In general, when the storage of a USB device is supplied via a network connection, the OS is not automatically updated to the latest state even if the stored content changes. For this reason, the management PC 90 or the like cannot know the existence of conversion data simply by storing unacquired conversion data in the external storage 50. However, when the USB device changes from the unmounted state to the mounted state, the devices on the network including the management PC 90 detect this change in accordance with the OS specifications. Then, the latest state of the storage contents of the external storage 50 is acquired. For this reason, the stored conversion data can be recognized.

On the other hand, when the MFP is connected via USB to the management PC 90, it is only necessary to immediately notify that the content stored in the external storage 50 has changed, so such mount / unmount control may not be performed. .
In any case, the latest information in the external storage 50 can be referred to from the management PC 90, and the PCFAX control unit 80 waits for notification of acquisition of conversion data 90 from the management PC in step S238. That is, the PCFAX control unit 80 waits for completion of acquisition from the management PC 90.

  In response to the above-described processing on the MFP side, the management PC 90 acquires conversion data. Here, it must be considered that a plurality of MFPs are connected to one network. If the external storage 50 is similarly connected to the network in each MFP, the management PC 90 must be able to distinguish between them. Therefore, the management PC searches the external storage 50 on the network in step S252.

  In the search, there should be a file called “FACRECV” in at least the external storage 50, and a folder is searched for this. If there is a file called FAXRECV, the management PC 90 reads the file called FAXRECV in the searched folder of the external storage 50 in step S254. If the MFP itself is registered as a management PC, a unique PC-ID based on its own Mac address should be stored as the content, and the management PC 90, in step S256, It is determined whether the content of the FAXRECV file matches its own PCID. In step S258, the management PC recognizes that the currently searched external storage 50 is a managed PCFAX if they match, and searches for another external storage 50 if they do not match.

If the PCFAX is being managed, the management PC 90 acquires conversion data from the external storage 50 of the PCFAX being managed in step S260. When the acquisition is completed, the management PC 90 notifies the PCFAX control unit 80 of the acquisition of conversion data in step S262.
In step S238, the PCFAX control unit 80 waits for this notification. When the notification is received, the above-described mount / unmount control is executed. That is, in step S240, the PCFAX control unit 80 determines whether the MFP is connected to the network or the USB. If the network connection is established, the PCFAX control unit 80 unmounts the external storage 50 from the mounted state in step S242. In the case of USB connection, the PCFAX control unit 80 maintains the external storage 50 in the mounted state (default state at the time of USB connection) in step S244. After the network connection, the external storage 50 is not displayed on the network, and there is no inadvertent access, which is preferable in terms of data management.

  By the way, after the conversion data is created by a new incoming call and acquired by the management PC 90, necessary data may be stored, but unnecessary data may need to be deleted. If the fax is operating in the automatic print mode, basically, it is determined that printing has been completed after printing, and when there is no storage area, the oldest one can be deleted in a first-in first-out manner. However, when the management PC 90 uses the data file as a data file, there are cases where it is difficult to manage because there are too many old data files, or it may be intentionally deleted early. In this embodiment, the conversion data is not deleted from the network, but is deleted on the MFP side. For example, it is effective to use the external storage 50 so that the external storage 50 is read-only and is not freely deleted or changed.

In order to delete the conversion data in response to such a request, FIG. 10 shows a deletion request process from the management PC side, and FIG. 11 shows a deletion handling process on the MFP side.
On the management PC 90 side, if the operator wishes to delete specific conversion data, the operator instructs the deletion operation on the management PC in step S300. That is, a process of accepting a deletion operation by a keyboard or mouse operation is executed. Thereby, the management PC 90 instructs the PCFAX control unit 80 to delete specific conversion data in step S302. Since the management PC 90 does not delete itself on the network, the management PC 90 waits for a deletion completion notification from the PCFAX control unit 80 in step S304.

  On the MFP side, when the PCFAX control unit 80 receives an instruction to delete specific conversion data from the management PC 90 in step S310, the PCFAX control unit 80 passes through the conversion unit 60 in step S312. The external storage 50 is instructed to delete conversion data. The instruction via the conversion unit 60 corresponds to counting the number of conversion data generated by the conversion unit 60 and the number of deletions, and the conversion unit 60 subtracts the deleted number from the generated number. Thus, the number of conversion data in the latest state stored in the external storage 50 can be managed. In this sense, the PCFAX control unit 80 may transmit an instruction to delete conversion data to the conversion unit 60 in parallel with the instruction to delete conversion data to the external storage 50. In step S314, the external storage 50 deletes the designated conversion data.

  In this MFP, in the PCFAX mode, when facsimile reception is performed, received data is stored in the non-volatile memory 13, converted data is stored in the external storage 50, and is stored twice. Each uses the advantages of non-volatile memory and volatile memory, which have both advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, deletion is also managed for both.

  Therefore, the PCFAX control unit 80 instructs the fax control unit 14 to delete in step S316. As a result, in step S318, the PCFAX control unit 80 accesses the external database and updates the conversion data in the external storage 50 to be deleted, and the fax control unit 14 accesses the internal database and processes the received data. Assign the “Deleted” flag. In the internal database, a printed flag and a deleted flag are given to each received data, and the handling of the received data thereafter is almost the same. Accordingly, only the flag that has been printed at once may be used, but more effective use may be achieved by managing both separately. For example, a flag that has been deleted may be intentionally deleted from the nonvolatile memory 13 at an early stage.

  By managing both databases, the PCFAX control unit 80 notifies the management PC 90 of the completion of deletion in step S320. Then, in step S308, the management PC 90 receives a notification of completion of deletion and ends. At this time, if the PCFAX control unit 80 does not receive a notification of completion of deletion even if the corresponding period has elapsed, the management PC 90 notifies the operator of an error as a timeout in step S306.

  By the way, when an unexpected power interruption occurs, the stored contents of the external storage 50, which is a volatile memory, disappear. If the management PC 90 has already acquired all the conversion data, the facsimile reception has been transmitted to the user. If the management PC 90 has received the facsimile while the power is off, it is in the PCFAX mode. It is stored as conversion data in the external storage 50 without being automatically printed, and is waiting to be acquired from the management PC 90. Therefore, if the MFP is powered off in such a situation, the converted data is lost.

In relation to the above-described double storage, this MFP solves data inconsistency due to unexpected power interruption as follows. FIG. 12 shows a restoration process at startup in the MFP.
In this startup restoration process, the processes in and after step S270 are performed at startup. First, in step S272, the receiving unit 11 accesses the internal database of the nonvolatile memory, checks the “printed” and “deleted” flags, and confirms whether there is unacquired received data viewed from the management PC 90. To do. As described above, “printed” and “deleted” are basically processed in the same manner, but the printed flag is set when the fax printing unit 20 prints it when receiving in the automatic print mode. Therefore, it is not under the management status in the PCFAX mode. Further, if the deleted flag is set, it is already acquired by the management PC 90 and the deletion is instructed thereafter. Therefore, if none of the flags are set, the management PC 90 has not acquired or acquired it but has not instructed deletion, and should be stored in the external storage 50. The distinction between unacquired and acquired can be performed on the management PC 90 side, or can be performed on the MFP side. An acquired flag for performing this management is prepared, and the acquired flag is set when the management PC 90 acquires conversion data in step S238. Further, when the PCFAX control unit 80 notifies the management PC 90 of the existence of the conversion data in step S230, the conversion is performed when there is an unprinted, undeleted and no acquired flag with reference to the same flag. You just need to be notified that there is data.

If there should be conversion data that should remain in the external storage 50, the reception unit 11 notifies the fax control unit 14 that there is unprinted reception data in the nonvolatile memory 13 in step S274. . Thereafter, the same processing as when receiving a facsimile is performed.
In other words, the fax control unit 14 checks the mode in the shared memory 70 in step S276. Specifically, the fax control unit 14 accesses the shared memory 70, reads a parameter indicating the operation mode, and determines whether the parameter indicates the PCFAX mode. In the PCFAX mode, the fax control unit 14 notifies the PCFAX control unit 80 that there is unprocessed received data in step S278. In step S280, the PCFAX control unit 80 instructs the conversion unit 60 to convert the received data into converted data in the PDF format. In step S282, the conversion unit 60 accesses the non-volatile memory of the reception unit 11 and acquires reception data in the TIFF format. Thereby, the conversion unit 60 converts the reception data in the TIFF format into the conversion data in the PDF format in step S284, and stores the converted data in the PDF format in the external storage 50 in step S286. When the storage is completed, the conversion unit 60 notifies the PCFAX control unit 80 of the completion of conversion in step S288. Upon receiving the notification, the PCFAX control unit 80 accesses the external database in step S290 and updates the external storage 50 so that the conversion data exists.

  In step S292, the fax control unit 14 repeats the above while there is unprocessed received data in the PCFAX control unit 80. By repeating step S278 and subsequent steps in this manner, the external storage 50 is restored to the state before the power is turned off, and while taking advantage of the combined use of the volatile memory, the demerit that the stored contents are lost when the power is turned off can be avoided. become. Note that step S278 and subsequent steps are referred to as restoration processing.

It is better to deal with the possibility that double management may not be possible in normal operation. For this reason, restoration processing when an inconsistency is found in the external storage 50 is also realized. FIG. 13 shows the restoration processing when this inconsistency is found.
The MFP considers two examples of inconsistency determination. A first example is a situation in which a FAXREC file that should exist in the external storage 50 has disappeared. As a second example, the number of created conversion data and the number of deleted conversion data indicate the current conversion. This is the case when the number of data does not match.

First, as inconsistency determination 1, the PCFAX control unit 80 accesses the external storage 50 in step S330 to determine whether there is a file in FAXRECV.
Also, as inconsistency determination 2, the PCFAX control unit 80 accesses the external storage 50 and the conversion unit 60 in step S332, and determines whether the creation and deletion counts are consistent. More specifically,

(Number of written files)-(number of deleted files) ≠ (number of current files)
If so, it is judged as inconsistent. Other examples of inconsistencies include checking for FAT inconsistencies, and are not limited to the above examples.
Note that, based on this conditional expression, it is determined whether or not the number of data existing in the second storage unit matches the difference in the number deleted from the number stored in the second storage unit.

In step S334, it is determined whether an inconsistency has been found. Originally, inconsistency does not occur. If there is inconsistency, it is not known whether the content of the conversion data that remains at present can be trusted.
For this reason, if it is determined that there is a mismatch, the PCFAX control unit 80 accesses the external storage 50 in step S336 and resets the stored contents. Further, since it is assumed that the content of the external storage 50 is restored as in the case of the power interruption, the PCFAX control unit 80 accesses the conversion unit 60 and resets the creation and deletion counts in step S338. In step S340, the restoration processing in step S278 and subsequent steps described above is executed.

  There is another need for restoring the contents of the external storage 50 other than inconsistencies. This is a case where the operator changes from the automatic printing mode to the PCFAX mode. When shifting to the PCFAX mode in a state where there is unprinted received data in the non-volatile memory 13, as one hope, it is desired to start management from the management PC 90 as converted data without printing. FIG. 14 shows such change processing from the automatic printing mode to the PCFAX mode.

When the PCFAX control unit 80 receives a mode change process from the management PC 90 in step S350, the PCFAX control unit 80 causes the fax control unit 14 to access the internal database in step S352 and perform nonvolatile processing. Whether there is unprinted received data in the memory 13.
The following processing is the same as when there is unprinted received data in the nonvolatile memory 13 when the power is cut off. In other words, if there is unprinted received data and management is performed in the PCFAX mode thereafter, it must be converted into PDF format converted data based on the unprinted received data and stored in the external storage 50. Don't be.

Therefore, if there is unprinted received data, the restoration process after step S278 described above is executed in step S354.
As described above, in this embodiment, in the MFP or the like, the conversion data that has not been output is left as it is, and the change designation of the management apparatus is not accepted. However, it is possible to cancel the PC-FAX mode from the operation panel 40 of the main body. In this case, after canceling the PC-FAX mode after printing all the non-output conversion data and eliminating the non-output conversion data. You may make it perform.

  As described above, in order to realize the PCFAX reception function, the object is to acquire received data in a management PC without loss. In order to realize the above-mentioned PCFAX reception function, the MFP converts the received data into a PDF format and creates a file in a storage area that can be recognized as an external storage so that it can be acquired from the management PC. In addition, the management PC that can acquire and delete files is limited to one so as not to cause inconsistency in the file list stored in the external storage. The condition under which the management PC can be changed to another PC is only when the “PCFAX reception function is valid” and “there is no unacquired data” in the MFP. In addition, the management PC can disable the PCFAX reception function only when the “PCFAX reception function is valid” and “there is no unacquired data” in the MFP. Assuming that all of these conditions are satisfied, the received received data is captured by the management PC without loss or printed.

In this embodiment, the following operation is performed so that the received data can be acquired from the management PC without data loss.
-Use only one management PC that can perform conversion data file acquisition and deletion processing.
-The management PC can be changed only when the MFP has no unacquired data.
-Invalidation processing of the PCFAX reception function from the management PC is limited to a state in which the MFP does not have unacquired data.

If the MFP has unacquired conversion data when invalidating the PCFAX reception function by direct operation of the MFP, all unacquired data is printed.
Note that conversion to the PDF format, which is a file visualization process, may be performed after data writing to the external storage is once completed.
When creating conversion data in PDF format, data being created is not referred to from the management PC. In addition to the processing of the timing of writing to the external database, the file visualization processing may be performed after all the received data and data information have been written. Further, when the PCFAX reception function of the MFP is disabled in a situation where there is unacquired conversion data, a process for printing all unacquired conversion data may be performed.

in this case,
Fax data reception Corresponding data conversion Writing to external storage The work procedure is to visualize the corresponding file. The file writing process is finally visualized as described above.
In addition, as described above, the operation of changing the management apparatus from the management PC is changed depending on whether the requesting PC is the management PC or unacquired data exists in the MFP.

In this way, the received data received can be acquired on the management PC or printed on the MFP without any loss or omission.
In the embodiment described above, a parameter indicating whether the connection between the MFP and the management PC 90 is a USB connection or a network connection is stored in the shared memory as a connection mode. In step S232, the shared memory 70 is accessed and the connection mode parameters are read to determine whether the connection is a network connection or a USB connection. If it is a USB connection, the mount state is maintained in steps S236 and S244, but if it is a network connection, the unmount state is switched to the mount state in step S234, and the mount state is changed in step S242. Processing to switch to the unmounted state is performed. Of course, in step S238 during this period, the management PC 90 acquires conversion data.

  The process of determining whether or not to perform such switching constitutes an access control unit that “switches the access state of the external storage medium according to the connection mode of the second communication unit”. More specifically, when the access control unit switches between “mounting state and unmounting state of the external storage medium and the second communication unit communicates with the management apparatus through a 1: 1 connection path, the mounting state is set. , And when the second communication unit communicates with the management apparatus through a plurality of shared connection paths, the management apparatus sets the mounted state when accessing the external storage medium, and sets the rest to the unmounted state. It corresponds to.

  In the embodiment described above, the management PC 90 creates a PC-ID from the MAC address in step S104 and requests the MFP to register the PC-ID in step S106. However, the MAC address is information unique to the management PC. Thus, the process of creating the PC-ID and requesting registration constitutes a management-side name designating unit “designating a name unique to itself”. Further, the MFP acquires the same PC-ID in step S112, and configures a name designation unit “accepts designation of a name unique to the management apparatus from the management apparatus”.

  Correspondingly, the PC obtains the PC-ID in step S112 and constitutes a name designation unit that accepts designation of a unique name to the management PC 90. In step S116, the same PC-ID is stored as a file name FAXRECV, and converted data in PDF format is stored in the external storage 50 (corresponding to an external storage medium) in which this FAXRECV exists in step S212. The That is, the conversion data is stored as a file in a folder having a predetermined positional relationship with the folder in which FAXRECV exists. Accordingly, the storage control unit is configured by these processes. On the management PC side, in step S256, it is determined whether the contents of FAXRECV match the PC-ID. In step S258, the external storage 50 is searched until a match is found. Therefore, this process constitutes a management-side search unit that “searches for data based on the specified name from the external storage medium connected to the communication device”. Then, since conversion data is acquired from the external storage 50 searched in step S260, this process constitutes a management side acquisition unit “acquires conversion data found by the management side search unit from the communication device”.

  In the above-described embodiment, the file name is FAXRECV including the PC-ID, and a file including the specified name is created. However, a “file with a name based on the specified name” may be created by creating a file with the PC-ID itself as the file name in step S116. In this case, instead of determining the contents of FAXRECV in step S256, a file having a file name of PC-ID is searched, and data is searched for as “a file with a name based on a specified name”. Become.

  Further, in addition to a method of using a PC-ID as a content or a file instead of a mark having a PC-ID as a name, the PC-ID may be used as a key for encryption and decryption. That is, in step S210, the conversion unit 60 converts the converted data into PDF format using the PC-ID as an encryption key, and then stores it in the external storage 50 in step S212. The converted data is stored in an external storage medium. On the management PC side, instead of searching for a file having the PC-ID as a content in steps S254 to S258, it is only necessary to search for a place where a file successfully decrypted with the PC-ID exists. This process corresponds to a process of “searching for a file that can be decrypted based on a designated name”.

  The point is that a unique character string is created and registered in the MFP based on the information of the management PC using an application installed on the management PC, and the MFP stores this character string and PCFAX reception is enabled. When it is done, it is creating a file containing this string in the external storage. In addition, in the application of the management PC, when acquiring the conversion data file, not only the path of the external storage but also a file including the unique character string registered earlier exists in the file stored there. If it exists, it is determined that the external storage is an external storage for PCFAX reception, and processing for acquiring a received file is started.

As a result, it is possible to accurately search the external storage to be acquired in PCFAX reception, so the information linked to the management PC on the MFP side is saved in the external storage, and the external storage to be acquired by the management PC is supported. Can be attached.
Even when there is a common external storage volume label, such as when the same product is used in the same network, the corresponding external storage of the MFP being used can be reliably searched.

  In the above-described processing, step S270 and the subsequent steps are performed at the time of activation, and thus the function for executing this processing constitutes a power source determination unit that determines “on / off of power”. Further, the nonvolatile memory 13 constitutes a first storage unit that “stores received data regardless of whether the power is on or off”. Similarly, the external storage 50 constitutes a second storage unit that “stores converted data obtained by converting received data into a predetermined format only while the power is on”. Then, the processing and the hardware configuration for converting the received data of the nonvolatile memory 13 into the converted data and storing it in the external storage 50 in the processing of step S272 to step S292 are “determining that the power is turned on. Accordingly, the restoration management unit is configured to convert the received data of the first storage unit into converted data and store it in the second storage unit.

  In step S272, since the conversion target is selected based on the “printed” and “deleted” flags in the internal database, “reception data corresponding to the output reception data is converted into conversion data and stored in the second storage. It can be said that the function of “no processing to be stored in the section” is “performed in the internal database stored in the first storage section”. In addition, it can be said that this internal database is provided with a deletion flag and a printed flag, and the management of whether or not output has been performed is regarded as being output if it has been printed.

Further, in addition to when the power is turned on, restoration is also realized when inconsistency occurs or when the automatic printing mode is changed to the PCFAX mode.
It goes without saying that the processing related to printing and the processing related to deletion can be changed as appropriate. For example, the nonvolatile memory 13 is provided as a fax data storage area for storing the fax data when the fax data is received by the PCFAX reception function, and the volatile memory is provided as the external storage 50 for storing the converted conversion data. When the management PC 90 completes acquisition of the received conversion data while using the PCFAX reception function, an acquisition completion notification is sent from the management PC 90 to the MFP. Upon receiving this notification, the MFP deletes the corresponding fax file from the fax data storage area, searches the external storage 50 for received data corresponding to the file, and adds a “printed” flag to the corresponding data. The flag is also added to FAX data printed with the PCFAX reception function disabled.

  If the PCFAX reception function is enabled when the MFP is activated, data that does not have the “printed” flag is searched from the fax data stored in the fax data storage area, which is the nonvolatile memory 13, and the corresponding All the fax data is converted and stored in the external storage 50. As a result, the conversion data can be kept at the same content as at the end immediately before the startup.

  In the above-described processing, inconsistency determination 1 is performed in step S330, and inconsistency determination 2 is performed in step S332, and these processes are referred to as “detecting inconsistency state of second storage unit”. Consistency determination unit is configured. If it is determined that there is any inconsistency, processing and hardware configuration for restoring unacquired received data in the nonvolatile memory 13 to the external storage 50 in step S340 and subsequent processing in step S340. “According to the detection of the inconsistency state of the second storage unit, the received data stored in the first storage unit is converted, and the converted conversion data is stored in the second storage unit. The inconsistency restoration management unit is configured.

In step S336, the external storage 50 is accessed in advance to reset the stored contents, and this processing also constitutes the inconsistency restoration management unit.
In the processing described above, it is determined in step S350 whether the PCFAX control unit 80 has received from the management PC 90 the processing for changing from the automatic printing mode to the PCFAX mode. “Output by the first output unit or output by the second output unit” A mode conversion unit that accepts such a mode change is configured. As a premise of this, the first output unit “performs the first output based on the received data” corresponds to the display of the fax printing unit 20 or the operation panel 40, and “the second output to the management device based on the conversion data”. The second output unit “perform” corresponds to a configuration in which the external storage 50 is accessed to obtain conversion data.

  Then, when there is unprinted received data in step S352, the processing and hardware configuration for restoring unacquired received data in the nonvolatile memory 13 to the external storage 50 by the processing in step S278 and subsequent steps in step S354. “When converted from the first output mode to the second output mode, the received data stored in the first storage unit is converted and the converted conversion data is stored in the second storage unit. The mode change restoration management unit “perform management to be performed” is configured.

Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.
For example, the present invention is not limited to FAX communication using a telephone line, and FAX communication using an Internet line or a communication method other than FAX may be used.
Moreover, it goes without saying that those skilled in the art will understand,
・ Applying mutually interchangeable members and configurations disclosed in the above embodiments by appropriately changing the combination thereof.− Although not disclosed in the above embodiments, it is a publicly known technique and the above embodiments. The members and configurations that can be mutually replaced with the members and configurations disclosed in the above are appropriately replaced, and the combination is changed and applied.

・ Although not disclosed in the above-described embodiments, those skilled in the art may appropriately substitute members and configurations that can be assumed as substitutes for the members and configurations disclosed in the above-described embodiments based on known techniques, Changing and applying the combination is disclosed as an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Fax device, 11 ... Reception part, 12 ... Transmission part, 13 ... Non-volatile memory, 14 ... Fax control part, 20 ... Fax printing part, 30 ... Scanner part, 40 ... Operation panel, 50 ... External storage, 60 ... Conversion unit, 70 ... shared memory, 80 ... PCFAX control unit, 90 ... management PC.

Claims (8)

A first communication unit that communicates with an external device;
A second communication unit that communicates with the management device;
A name designation unit that accepts designation of a name unique to the management device from the management device;
A storage control unit for storing received data received from the external device in a storage medium based on the specified name;
A communication apparatus comprising: an output unit that outputs the received data stored in the storage medium in response to an instruction from the management apparatus.   The storage control unit stores a file including the designated name in the storage medium, and stores the received data in the storage medium as a file having a predetermined positional relationship with the file. Item 4. The communication device according to Item 1.   The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the storage control unit stores the received data in the storage medium as a file having a name based on the specified name.   The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the storage control unit encrypts the received data based on the designated name and stores the received data in the storage medium. A management-side communication unit that communicates with the communication device;
A management-side name designation unit for designating a unique name for the communication device;
A management-side search unit that searches for data based on the specified name from a storage medium connected to the communication device;
A management apparatus, comprising: a management-side acquisition unit that acquires reception data found by the management-side search unit from the communication device.   6. The management apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the management side search unit searches for a file including the specified name and searches for a file having a predetermined positional relationship with the file.   The management apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the management side search unit searches for data as a file having a name based on the specified name.   The management apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the management side search unit searches for a file that can be decrypted based on the designated name.

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