JP3028805B2 - Communication device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication device,
More specifically, the present invention relates to a communication device capable of printing image data received from a host device and image data received via a communication line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a facsimile apparatus, which is a kind of communication apparatus, has been developed as an apparatus capable of transmitting and receiving images through a line. Further, in recent years, it has been proposed to provide a facsimile apparatus with a second interface means as represented by Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-56660 and to use the apparatus as a general output device of a host computer including a word processor and a personal computer. Have been.

On the other hand, a personal computer facsimile apparatus and the like have also been proposed in which a facsimile modem, an image reading device, and a printer are added to a host computer, and communication with other facsimile apparatuses via a line is possible.

[0004]

However, a sheet (hereinafter, referred to as a reception sheet) recording image information transmitted from a facsimile machine via a communication line and an output device of a host computer via an interface. Since there is no function and mechanism for separating sheets recorded as (hereinafter referred to as print sheets),
As a result, two types of sheets are mixedly output without being distinguished. Therefore, the user had to sort manually.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a paper discharge area with two places.
By providing a paper discharge control section that can selectively discharge paper to these two paper discharge places, the received sheet and the printed sheet are separated and discharged, so that the user is troublesome. Instead, it is possible to take out a desired document.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve this object, the communication apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention, first reception that receives a first image data Ri by the host device <br/> and parts, the second receiving unit for receiving the second image data via the communication line
And a communication device including a printing unit capable of printing an image on a sheet based on the two image data received by the two receiving units , wherein the first image data and the second image data are transmitted.
Priority of image data to be printed by the printing means
Setting means for setting, the first receiving unit and the second receiving unit
And the first image data and the second image data, respectively.
Data and receive the data set by the setting means.
The first image data in the printing means in accordance with the priority order.
Control means for printing data or second image data, a first paper discharge unit for discharging a sheet printed by the printing means based on the first image data,
Based on image data and a second sheet discharge portion seat body that is printed is discharged by said printing means, said system
The control means follows the priority set by the setting means.
Controlling the printing means so as to print the image data.
While, further, actually the image to be printed on a sheet by the printing means, based on whether a one of the two image data, among the first discharge unit or the second sheet discharge portion printed sheets are characterized by a Turkey select control <br/> the discharge unit to be discharged.

[0007] The communication according to claim 1 having the above configuration.
According to the device , the control means is set by the setting means
Printing of the first image data according to the priority order, or
Controls the printing of the second image data,
The image printed on the sheet by the printing means is
If the image data is the first image data received from the
Select the paper section and save the second image data received via the communication line.
If it is a data discharger, the second paper discharge unit is appropriately selected. Follow
Printout according to the priority order by the control means,
Is selected without fail.

[0008] The communication device according to claim 2 is the communication device,
Priority setting of printing of the first image data by setting means
Has been performed, the second receiving unit performs the second
While receiving the image data, the first reception from the host device is performed.
Requesting the transmitting unit to transmit the first image data.
Also, the control means may control the second receiving unit to output the second image.
The feature is to control to continue receiving data
I do.

The communication according to claim 2, having the above configuration.
According to the apparatus, the first image data is stored by the setting unit.
If the priority is set to print the data, the second reception
And receiving the second image data by the host device.
The first image data to the first receiving unit
The control means may control the second reception even if the
Unit to continue receiving the second image data, in which case
The selection of the paper discharge unit in is also appropriately performed by the control means.

[0010] The communication device according to claim 3 is the communication device,
Priority setting of printing of the second image data by setting means
The first image data is printed during the printing of the first image data.
Transmitting the second image data to the second receiving unit;
When requested, the control means sends the first
The printing of the image data is interrupted, and the second
The second image data is received.

The communication according to claim 3, having the above-mentioned configuration.
According to the device, the second image data is set by the setting means.
The first image when the printing of the
During the printing of data, the second
When there is a request to transmit image data, the control means
The printing of the first image data is interrupted shaped means, before Symbol
Causing a second receiving unit to receive the second image data,
In this case, the selection of the paper discharge unit is appropriately performed by the control unit.
You.

Further, the communication device according to claim 4 is the communication device according to
The control means, after the printing of the currently printing page is completed,
The printing of the first image data by the printing means is interrupted.
It is characterized by

The communication according to claim 4, having the above configuration.
According to the apparatus, the control means controls the page mark currently being printed.
After the end of the character, the first image data by the printing means
Printing can be interrupted,
Selection of a part is also appropriately performed by the control means.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the present invention. The facsimile machine 10 with an interface includes a reading unit 70, a printing unit 40, a modem-NCU unit 80, a control unit 20, and a paper ejection control unit (selection control unit) 50 as functions of a general facsimile device. (Device) 90. In addition, the image forming apparatus is provided with two paper discharge units, that is, a first paper discharge unit 60 and a second paper discharge unit 65, which are features of the present invention.

The interface means 30 is an RS-232C which is a general serial system in this embodiment,
00 [BPS] is set so that data can be transmitted in both directions. Since this method is a general method, the details are omitted.

The printing means 40 as a recording section has a thermal head in which 1728 dots are arranged at a resolution of 8 dots / mm, and has the ability to print in the short direction of A4 size one line at a time. The data to be printed is determined by the control unit 20 described later.

The paper feeding means in the printing means 40 can feed the paper at a resolution of 7.7 dots / mm. That is, printing means 4
0 has the ability to print at 8 dots / mm in the short direction and 7.7 dots / mm in the long direction of A4 size paper. The reading unit 50 as a reading unit is configured by a lens, a CCD, or the like, and can read data on A4 size paper in bit units at the same resolution as the printing unit 40.

Modem as first and second communication control units
The NCU unit 80 is a CCIT capable of transmitting and receiving data through a line with a facsimile machine (hereinafter, referred to as a facsimile machine).
The V32 recommended by T is adopted. Connection and disconnection with another FAX device are controlled by the control unit 20 in accordance with the transmission path connection procedure of the FAX device.

When data reception from the communication line is set to priority, the control unit 20 controls the interface unit 3
0, data is received from the host computer 90 via
Data transmission from the communication line even during printing (from the other party)
Is detected, the printing of the page is terminated, the busy state is notified to the host computer via the interface means 30, the data reception from the host computer 90 is temporarily suspended, and the data reception from the communication line is stopped. Control is performed. Conversely, if data reception from the host computer 90 has been set to priority, data reception from the communication line will be
It will not be accepted until the reception of data from 0 ends. However, if there is a data transmission request from the host computer 90 while data is being received from the communication line, a communication error will occur if data reception from the communication line is to be temporarily suspended. Until the data reception is completed, the host computer 9
0 via the interface means 30
Control is performed to notify the user of the status and make the user wait. FIG. 5 shows a control flow for realizing a series of these operations. This flow will be described at the end of the embodiment.
The discharge control unit 50 discharges the printed sheet to the first discharge unit or the second discharge unit by receiving a command from the control unit 20.

The output mode command is sent to the host computer 90.
It is set when an ESC + Ｃ command is input through the interface means 30.

In this output mode, the coded character data (which is set as the second control means) is sent from the character pattern generation section 25 as the image information forming means in the control section 20 to the coded character data. A character pattern corresponding to the character is generated, and when one line of data is input to the control unit 20, the printing unit 40 prints the received data.

At the point when ESC + NUL is input, the paper cutting operation is performed by the printing means 40, and the output mode ends.

The image input mode command is sent from the host computer 90 through the interface unit 30 to the control unit 20.
It is set when it is input to. ESC + "I" (Detailed mode, longitudinal resolution 7.7 dots / mm) or ES
When C + "R" (normal mode: 3.85 dots / mm) is input, the image of the printed paper set in the reading means 70 is converted into the image data format shown in Table 2 by the reading control unit 20. The encoded image data is transferred to the host computer 9 through the interface means 30.
Sent to 0.

FS (code indicating the beginning of the image) + NUL
When + NUL is output, it indicates that reading of one page has been completed. When FS + NUL + NUL is output again, it means that there is no original to be read in the reading means 70, and the present image input mode is ended.

The communication mode command is transmitted to the host computer 90.
Thus, it is set at the time of input through the interface means 30. ESC + “:” (Detailed mode) or ESC + “;” (Normal mode) is a destination from the ASCII code to the NUL code specified by numeric data from “” to “9” as shown in Table 3. A telephone number is attached.

The control unit 20 is connected to the destination fax machine through the modem-NCU unit 80 in accordance with the communication mode command. Thereafter, the host computer 90 converts the encoded image data according to the image data format shown in Table 2 into FAX data by the control unit 20 and transmits the FAX data to another FAX device through the modem-NCU unit 80. .

FS + NUL from host computer 90
When + NUL is input, it indicates that transmission of one page has been completed. Then, if data is sent again as shown in Table 2, the second page can be sent.

This communication mode ends immediately after a page break.
The process ends by sending FS + NUL + NUL again.

Next, a method of implementing priority control will be described with reference to the priority control flowchart shown in FIG.

After the operation is started, the user is set whether to give priority to facsimile data printing or data (host data) printing from the host computer. After being set, it operates in the set priority mode.

In the case of facsimile priority, FIG.
As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, it is not sensed whether there is a transmission request from the host computer during the printing of facsimile data, so that the transmission request from the host computer is inevitably accepted until the facsimile printing ends. . As a result, facsimile priority is realized. On the other hand, if a facsimile call arrives even during printing of host data, printing of that page of host data is finished to print facsimile data with a higher priority, and after the paper is discharged to the first paper output unit. The host data printing is interrupted. Then, printing of facsimile data is performed, and after printing is completed, printing of host data is resumed and printing is performed.

Conversely, a flowchart in the case where priority is given to data printing from the host computer is as shown in FIG. 5 (b). In this case, during the printing of the host data, the incoming request for the facsimile data is not sensed. As a result, the incoming request for the facsimile data is not accepted, and the printing of the data from the host computer is prioritized.
On the other hand, while facsimile data is being printed, if data transmission from the host data computer is accepted in this case, facsimile communication must be interrupted in order to print data from the host computer. Such is not very practical. Therefore, as shown in the flowchart, during facsimile data printing, a transmission request from the host computer is not sensed until printing is completed. After all printing is completed, as shown in the flowchart, it is sensed whether there is a priority mode change request, and if there is a request, priority is changed according to the request.

As shown in the flowchart, the print result of the host data is discharged to the first discharge unit and the print result of the facsimile data is discharged to the second discharge unit.

[0035]

As is apparent from the above description , according to the communication device of the present invention , the control means is controlled by the setting means.
Marking of the first image data according to the set priority
Control the printing of characters or the second image data.
In addition, the image actually printed on the sheet by the printing means
Is the first image data received from the host device.
In this case, the first paper output unit is selected and received via the communication line.
If the image data is the second image data, the second discharge unit is appropriately selected.
Print out according to the priority order by the control means.
Selection of a paper discharge destination that matches the data is reliably executed, and the printed document of the data received from the host device and the data received from the communication line can be separated and discharged to another paper discharge unit. Can be released from the hassle of sorting documents.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the present apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a table of mode switching commands.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a transmission / reception format of image data.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a dial information format from a host computer.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a control flow for determining priority of reception and printing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Facsimile machine with interface 20 Control means 25 Character pattern generation part 30 Interface means 40 Printing means 50 Paper discharge control part 60 First paper discharge part 65 Second paper discharge part 70 Reading means 80 Modem-NCU part 90 Host computer (host device) )

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A receiving first image data Ri by the host device
A first receiving unit that receives the second image data via a communication line, and a second receiving unit that receives the second image data via the communication line.
In a communication apparatus including a printing unit capable of printing an image on a sheet based on both image data , the communication device includes: a first image data and a second image data;
Set the priority of image data to be printed by
Setting means, and the first receiving unit and the second receiving unit, respectively.
When receiving the second image data and the second image data,
The priority according to the priority set by the setting means.
The first image data or the second image data
Control means for printing data, a first paper discharge unit for discharging a sheet printed by the printing means based on the first image data, and printing based on the second image data. A second sheet discharging unit from which the sheet printed by the means is discharged, wherein the control unit controls the priority order set by the setting unit.
The printing means so as to print the image data according to the position.
While controlling further actual image to be printed on a sheet by the printing means, wherein one of the two image data based on whether it is, the first discharge unit or the second sheet discharge portion communication device printed sheet is characterized and Turkey select control discharge unit is discharged out of. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting means sets the first image data.
If the priority is set to print the data, the second reception
And receiving the second image data by the host device.
The first image data to the first receiving unit
The control means may control the second reception even if the
Unit to continue receiving the second image data.
The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication device is controlled. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the setting means sets the second image data.
The first image when the printing of the
During the printing of data, The second
When there is a request to transmit image data, the control means
Interrupting the printing of the first image data by the character means,
Causing a second receiving unit to receive the second image data
The communication device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: 4. The control means according to claim 1, wherein
After the printing is completed, the first image data is printed by the printing means.
4. The method according to claim 3, wherein data printing is interrupted.
Communication device.