JP3263580B2 - 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 apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus to which a plurality of computers are connected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a company or the like, a plurality of personal computers may be installed, and these personal computers may be properly used depending on the business content. Also, an individual may own two personal computers, for example, and use them for work and for private use.

It is also possible to connect a facsimile apparatus to a personal computer, transfer data received by the facsimile apparatus to the personal computer, store the data in a RAM of the personal computer, and process the received data by operating the personal computer. It is taking place.

In such a case, since it is uneconomical to connect one facsimile machine to one personal computer, it is desirable that a plurality of personal computers can be connected to one facsimile machine.

[0005]

However, in a conventional facsimile apparatus, when a plurality of personal computers are connected to one facsimile apparatus, when the received data is transferred to the personal computer, it is set in advance by the user. Since the data is transferred to the personal computer, the transfer destination personal computer cannot be automatically selected according to the other party, that is, the source of the received data, which is inconvenient.

[0006] The present invention has been proposed in view of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a communication apparatus which can automatically select a destination computer in accordance with a destination, that is, a transmission source of received data. And

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is described in claim 1.
The communication device according to the invention includes a connection unit to which a plurality of computers can be connected, an identification code of another communication device, and an identification code of a computer to which data to be received from the communication device is to be transferred. Code storage means, identification code determination means for determining the identification code of the other party included in the received information at the time of reception, and computer to be transferred from the identification code storage means based on the identification code determined by the identification code determination means Read the identification code of
Having transfer control means for transferring received data to the computer, and when the received information includes predetermined information,
The information is detected by the predetermined information detecting means, and the received data is printed by the printing means.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of a communication apparatus according to the present invention in a personal computer connection state. In a facsimile apparatus 1 as an example of the communication apparatus, FIG.
Personal computers 2 and 3 as an example of a computer are connected. The facsimile machine 1 has a CP
U4, NCU5, RAM6, modem 7, ROM8, PC
It is provided with an interface 9 for use, an EEPROM 10, a gate array 11, a reading unit 12, a recording unit 13, an operation unit 14, a display unit 15, and the like. The CPU 4, the NCU 5, the RAM 6, the modem 7, the ROM 8, the PC IF 9, the EEPROM 10, and the gate array 11 are interconnected by a bus line.
3, the operation unit 14 and the display unit 15 are connected.
A telephone line 16 is connected to the NCU 5.

The personal computer 2 has a CPU 2
1, a fax IF 22, a RAM 23, a ROM 24, a hard disk 25, and the like, which are interconnected.

The personal computer 3 has a CPU 3
1, a fax IF 32, a RAM 33, a ROM 34, a hard disk 35, and the like, which are interconnected.

The CPU 4 controls the entire facsimile machine 1. The NCU 5 is connected to the telephone line 16 and performs network control. The RAM 6 stores various data and the like. The modem 7 performs modulation of transmission data and demodulation of reception data. The ROM 8 stores various programs and the like.
The PC IF 9 is a FAX IF 22 of the personal computer 2 and a FAX I
F32 connected to the personal computer 2,
3 for sending and receiving parallel data. The EEPROM 10 stores various data, flags, and the like. The gate array 11 functions as an input / output interface of the CPU 4. The reading unit 12 includes a CCD, a document feed motor, and the like, reads a document, and outputs an image signal. The recording unit 13 includes an ink jet printer or a thermal transfer printer, and prints a received image and the like. The operation unit 14 includes a key switch group and the like, and outputs a signal according to a user operation. Display unit 15
Comprises an LCD or the like, and performs various displays under the control of the CPU 4.

Note that the CPU 4 should transfer from the EEPROM 10 based on the identification code discriminating means for discriminating the identification code of the destination included in the reception information at the time of facsimile reception, and the identification code discriminated by the identification code discriminating means. Transfer control means for reading the identification code of the personal computer 2 or the personal computer 3 and transferring the received data to the personal computer 2 or the personal computer 3; if the received information includes information indicating that the document is an important document, And a predetermined information detecting means for detecting information. Also, CPU
When the identification code determined by the identification code determination means is not stored in the EEPROM 10, the transfer control means realized by the control unit 4 does not transfer the received data to the personal computer 2 or the personal computer 3, and stores the received data in the received data storage means. It also has a function of storing it in the RAM 6 to be configured. Further, the EEPROM 10 realizes an identification code storage unit for storing the identification code of another facsimile apparatus in association with the identification code of the personal computer 2 or the personal computer 3 to which the data received from the facsimile apparatus is to be transferred. I have. Further, when the received information includes information indicating that the document is an important document, the recording unit 13 implements a printing unit that prints an image corresponding to the received data.

CPU 21 of personal computer 2
Controls the entire personal computer 2. FAX
The facsimile IF 22 is connected to the PC IF 9 of the facsimile machine 1 and exchanges parallel data with the facsimile machine 1. The RAM 23 stores various data and the like. The ROM 24 stores various programs and the like. The hard disk 25 stores various programs and data.

CPU 31 of personal computer 3
Controls the entire personal computer 3. FAX
The interface IF 32 is connected to the PC interface 9 of the facsimile machine 1 and exchanges parallel data with the facsimile machine 1. The RAM 33 stores various data. The ROM 34 stores various programs and the like. The hard disk 35 stores various programs and data.

In the facsimile apparatus, the user associates the telephone number of the other party with the identification numbers of the personal computers 2 and 3 and stores them in the EEPROM 10 in advance. If the received data is to be selectively transferred to the personal computer 2 or the personal computer 3 and the telephone number of the transmission source has not been registered, the received data is stored in the RAM.
6 is stored. If the received information includes a command indicating that the document is an important document, the recording unit 13 prints an image corresponding to the received data. The procedure of such reception processing will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the CPU 4 of the facsimile machine 1
It is determined whether a facsimile has been received (S1).
Specifically, based on information from the NCU 5, it is checked whether or not there is a call. If there is a call, the call is received, and whether or not facsimile reception is performed is checked by the presence or absence of a CNG signal.

If there is facsimile reception (S1: YE
S), the CPU 4 obtains the ID of the other party by exchanging a message with the other party, that is, the sender (S).
2). Specifically, it checks the telephone number of the facsimile machine of the other party and stores it in the RAM 6.

Then, the CPU 4 receives the memory (S
3). Specifically, it causes the NCU 5 to receive the received data,
It is demodulated by the modem 7, decoded by the CPU 4, and stored in the RAM 6.

Then, the CPU 4 determines whether an important command is included in the received information (S4). Specifically, at the time of sending / receiving a message to / from a destination, that is, a transmission source, it is checked whether or not a command of the destination indicating that the transmission document is an important document is included.

If the received data is an important document (S4: Y
ES), the CPU 4 records the received data (S5).
Specifically, the reception data stored in the RAM 6 is read and output to the recording unit 13, and the recording unit 13 prints an image corresponding to the reception data. This is because it is often necessary to view important documents urgently. If the received data is transferred to the personal computer 2 or the personal computer 3 and stored in the hard disks 25 and 35, there is no problem. This is because if the power of the personal computer 2 or the personal computer 3 is cut off, the received data is lost. Further, when a large number of files are stored in the RAM 23 or the RAM 33, it takes much time and effort to find an important document.

Then, the CPU 4 determines whether or not the ID of the other party has been registered (S6). Specifically, S2
In step 2, the telephone number of the destination facsimile machine stored in the RAM 6 is read, and the EEPROM 10 is searched.
It is checked whether the telephone number of the destination facsimile machine is stored in association with the identification number of the personal computer 2 or the personal computer 3. In addition,
The correspondence between the telephone number of the other party's facsimile machine and the identification number of the personal computer 2 or the personal computer 3 is input in advance by a key operation of the operation unit 14 by a user and stored in the EEPROM 10.

The telephone number of the destination facsimile machine is E
If it is stored in the EPROM 10 (S6: YES),
The CPU 4 determines whether to output the received data to the personal computer 2 (S7). Specifically, EE
The PROM 10 is searched to determine whether the telephone number of the destination facsimile apparatus is associated with the identification number of the personal computer 2 or not.

If the telephone number of the destination facsimile machine is associated with the identification number of the personal computer 2 (S7: YES), the CPU 4 converts the received data into an RA.
The data is read from M6 and transferred to the personal computer 2 via the PC IF 9 (S8). Thereby, the personal computer 2 stores the data received from the facsimile machine 1 in the RAM 23 or the hard disk 25.

Then, the CPU 4 determines whether the transfer of the received data to the personal computer 2 has been completed normally (S9). Specifically, at the end of the transfer, it is checked whether or not a command indicating normal reception has been sent from the personal computer 2.

If the transfer of the received data to the personal computer 2 ends normally (S9: YES), the CPU 4
Deletes the transfer source data (S10), and ends the receiving process. Specifically, the received data and the telephone number of the other party stored in the RAM 6 are deleted. This is because the transfer is normally performed and the received data is transmitted to the personal computer 2.
This is because the received data in the RAM 6 is no longer needed because the data is stored in the ROM 24 of the RAM.

In S9, the personal computer 2
If the transfer of the received data to the server is not completed normally (S9:
NO), the receiving process ends without proceeding to S10. This is because the received data in the RAM 6 is left because the transfer of the received data to the personal computer 2 was not performed normally.

In S7, if the telephone number of the destination facsimile apparatus is not associated with the identification number of the personal computer 2 (S7: NO), the CPU 4
It is determined whether to output the received data to the personal computer 3 (S11). Specifically, the EEPROM1
A search is made to see if the telephone number of the destination facsimile apparatus is associated with the identification number of the personal computer 3.

If the telephone number of the destination facsimile machine is associated with the identification number of the personal computer 3 (S11: YES), the CPU 4 transmits the received data to the R.
The data is read from the AM 6 and transferred to the personal computer 3 via the PC IF 9 (S12). Thereby, the personal computer 3 is connected to the facsimile machine 1
From the RAM 33 or the hard disk 35
To be stored.

Then, the process proceeds to S9, and the process after the process of judging whether or not the transfer of the received data to the personal computer 3 has been completed normally is executed.

In S11, if the telephone number of the destination facsimile machine is not associated with the identification number of the personal computer 3 (S11: NO), the receiving process is terminated. That is, although the telephone number of the facsimile machine of the other party is registered in the EEPROM 10, it does not normally correspond to the personal computer 2 or the personal computer 3, and it is usually a mistake. Therefore, the same processing as when the telephone number of the destination facsimile machine is not registered in the EEPROM 10 is performed.

In S6, if the telephone number of the other party's facsimile machine is not stored in EEPROM 10 (S6: NO), the receiving process is terminated. That is, since there is no personal computer to be transferred, the transfer is not performed.

In S4, if the received information does not include the command of the other party indicating that the transmission document is an important document (S4: NO), the process skips S5 and proceeds to S6. That is, it is not necessary to print immediately unless the document is an important document.

In S1, if there is no facsimile reception (S1: NO), the flow returns to S1 and waits for facsimile reception.

As described above, by storing the telephone number of another facsimile apparatus and the identification code of the personal computer to which the data received from that facsimile apparatus is to be transferred in advance in the EEPROM 10, the facsimile reception At the time (S1: YES), the telephone number of the destination included in the received information is determined (S2), and the identification code of the personal computer to be transferred is read from the EEPROM 10 based on the telephone number (S2).
6, S7, S11), since the received data is transferred to the personal computer (S8, S12), the destination personal computer can be automatically selected according to the destination, that is, the source of the received data, which is very convenient. is there.

The telephone number of the other party is stored in the EEPROM1.
0 (S6: NO), the received data is not transferred to the personal computers 2 and 3,
6, the received data having no transfer destination is not lost.

If the received information contains a command indicating that the document is an important document (S4: YES), the received data is printed by the recording unit 13 (S5), and the contents of the important received data are immediately displayed. You can check. Further, when the received data is transferred to the personal computer 2 or the personal computer 3 and stored in the RAM 23 or the RAM 33, the power of the personal computer 2 or the personal computer 3 is shut off and important received data may be lost. However, it is safe to print it. Further, the RAM 23, the RAM 33, or the hard disk 2
When a large number of files are stored in the files 5 and 35, it takes a lot of time and effort to find an important document. However, since the important document is printed, the important document can be seen immediately.

In the above embodiment, after the received data is once stored in the RAM 6, the personal computer 2,
3, the received data may be directly transferred to the personal computers 2 and 3. The procedure of the receiving process in this case will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the CPU 4 of the facsimile machine 1
It is determined whether a facsimile has been received (S2).
1). Specifically, based on information from the NCU 5, it is checked whether or not there is a call. If there is a call, the call is received, and whether or not facsimile reception is performed is checked by the presence or absence of a CNG signal.

If there is facsimile reception (S21: YE
S), the CPU 4 resets the timer (S2)
2). Specifically, a predetermined counter is set to 0.

Then, the CPU 4 obtains the ID of the destination by exchanging a message with the destination, that is, the transmission source (S23). Specifically, it checks the telephone number of the facsimile machine of the other party and stores it in the RAM 6.

Then, the CPU 4 determines whether an important command is included in the received information (S24). Specifically, when a message is exchanged with a destination, that is, a transmission source, it is checked whether or not a message indicating that the transmission document is an important document is included in the message of the destination.

If the message of the destination contains a command indicating that the transmitted document is an important document (S24: YE
S), the CPU 4 sets IMP to 1 (S25). Specifically, the flag IMP is set to 1 and the EEPROM 1
Store to 0.

Then, the CPU 4 determines whether or not the ID of the other party has been registered (S26). Specifically, S2
3, the telephone number of the facsimile machine of the other party stored in the RAM 6 is read out, and the EEPROM 10 is searched to determine whether the telephone number of the facsimile machine of the other party is stored in association with the identification number of the personal computer 2 or the personal computer 3. Find out.

The telephone number of the destination facsimile machine is E
If it is stored in the EPROM 10 (S26: YE
S), the CPU 4 determines whether or not to output the received data to the personal computer 2 (S27). Specifically, the EEPROM 10 is searched to determine whether or not the telephone number of the facsimile machine of the other party is associated with the identification number of the personal computer 2.

If the telephone number of the destination facsimile machine is associated with the identification number of the personal computer 2 (S27: YES), the CPU 4 requests the personal computer 2 to receive the received data (S28).
Specifically, it outputs a reception request command to the personal computer 2 via the PC IF 9. As a result, if reception is possible, the CPU 21 of the personal computer 2 outputs a reception acceptance command to the facsimile machine 1 via the FAX IF 22.

Then, the CPU 4 determines whether the reception has been accepted by the personal computer 2 (S2).
9). Specifically, it is determined whether or not a reception acceptance command has been returned from the personal computer 2.

When the reception acceptance command is returned from the personal computer 2 (S29: YES), the CPU 4
Transfers the received data to the personal computer 2 (S30). Specifically, the data is received by the NCU 5 and demodulated by the modem 7, and the received data is
Output to the personal computer 2 via the IF 9 for C. Thereby, the personal computer 2 decodes the data received from the facsimile machine 1 and stores it in the RAM 23 or the hard disk 25.

Then, the CPU 4 determines whether or not IMP is 1 (S31). Specifically, the EEPROM1
The value of the flag IMP is read out by searching for 0, and it is checked whether or not it is 1.

If the value of the flag IMP is 1 (S31:
YES), the CPU 4 causes the recording unit 13 to record the received data (S32). Specifically, the received data stored in the RAM 23 or the hard disk 25 of the personal computer 2 is transferred from the personal computer 2, the received data is output to the recording unit 13, and an image corresponding to the received data is printed. Let it.

Then, the CPU 4 determines whether or not the reception has been completed (S33), and if the reception has been completed (S33:
YES), the receiving process ends.

In S33, if the reception has not been completed (S33: NO), the flow returns to S26 to continue the transfer of the received data.

In S31, if the value of the flag IMP is not 1 (S31: NO), S32 is skipped and S33 is skipped.
Proceed to. This is because the fact that the value of the flag IMP is not 1 does not require immediate printing because the received data is not an important document.

In S29, if the reception acceptance command is not returned from the personal computer 2 (S29:
NO), the CPU 4 causes the timer to count (S3
4). Specifically, the predetermined counter set to 0 in S22 is incremented by one.

Then, the CPU 4 determines whether or not the timer has expired (S35). Specifically, S3
It is checked whether or not the count value of the predetermined counter counted up in step 4 has reached the predetermined value. That is, it is determined whether or not the state in which the reception command is not returned from the personal computer 2 has continued for a predetermined time. of course,
The counter may count down from a predetermined value to 0.

If the count value of the predetermined counter has reached the predetermined value (S35: YES), the CPU 4 receives a facsimile memory (S36) and proceeds to S31. Specifically, the received data is decrypted and stored in the RAM 6. That is, since the personal computer 2 or the personal computer 3 cannot receive the received data for some reason, the facsimile apparatus 1 receives the data on behalf of the memory.

In S35, if the count value of the predetermined counter has not reached the predetermined value (S35: NO), S
The process returns to step S29 and waits for the reception of a reception acceptance command from the personal computer 2.

In S27, if the telephone number of the facsimile machine of the other party is not associated with the identification number of the personal computer 2 (S27: NO), the CPU 4
Determines whether to output the received data to the personal computer 3 (S37). Specifically, EEPRO
M10 is searched to determine whether the telephone number of the destination facsimile machine is associated with the identification number of the personal computer 3.

If the telephone number of the destination facsimile machine is associated with the identification number of the personal computer 3 (S37: YES), the CPU 4 requests the personal computer 3 to receive the received data (S38).
Specifically, it outputs a reception request command to the personal computer 3 via the PC IF 9. As a result, if reception is possible, the CPU 31 of the personal computer 3 outputs a reception acceptance command to the facsimile machine 1 via the FAX IF 32.

Then, the process proceeds to S29, in which the personal computer 3 executes the process after the process of judging whether or not the reception has been accepted.

In S37, if the telephone number of the other party's facsimile machine is not associated with the identification number of the personal computer 3 (S37: NO), the flow proceeds to S36 to execute the processing after the facsimile memory reception processing. That is, despite the fact that the telephone number of the facsimile machine of the other party is registered in the EEPROM 10,
The fact that the telephone number of the destination facsimile machine is not registered in the EEPROM 10 is the same as that of the case where the telephone number of the destination facsimile apparatus is not registered in the EEPROM 10, because it is usually impossible and some kind of error occurs.

In S26, if the telephone number of the other party's facsimile machine is not stored in EEPROM 10 (S26: NO), the flow proceeds to S36 to execute the processing after the facsimile memory reception processing. That is, since there is no personal computer to be transferred, the received data is stored in the RAM 6 without being transferred.

In S24, if the received information does not include the command of the other party indicating that the transmitted document is an important document (S24: NO), CPU 4 sets IMP to 0 (S24).
39), and proceed to S26. Specifically, the flag IMP is set to 0
And stored in the EEPROM 10. That is,
If it is not an important document, you do not need to print it immediately,
In step S32, the flag IMP is set to 0 so that printing is not performed.

If there is no facsimile reception in S21 (S21: NO), the flow returns to S21 and waits for facsimile reception.

In each of the above embodiments, two personal computers 2 and 3 are connected to the facsimile machine 1, but three or more personal computers may be connected to the facsimile machine 1. The effect is obtained.

In each of the above embodiments, the personal computers 2 and 3 are used as the computers. However, the present invention can be applied to a case where various computers other than the personal computers are connected to the facsimile machine 1.

[0068]

[0069]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, as described above.
According to the communication device of the present invention, the identification code of another communication device is previously determined.
And the data to be transferred from the communication device.
-Identification by associating with the identification code of the personal computer
By storing it in the code storage means,
In other words, the destination personal according to the source of the received data
Can automatically select a computer, very convenient, to a further <br/>, if it contains the predetermined information to the receiving information, print the received data by detecting the information by a predetermined information detection means Since printing is performed by means, the contents of important received data can be confirmed immediately. Also, after transferring the received data to a computer and storing it in volatile memory such as RAM,
Even if the power of the computer is cut off and important received data is lost, it is safe to print before that. Furthermore, when a large number of files are stored in the RAM of a computer or the like, it takes a lot of time and effort to find an important document. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of a facsimile apparatus as an example of a communication apparatus according to the present invention in a personal computer connection state.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a reception processing procedure by a facsimile apparatus as an example of a communication apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a reception processing procedure according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Facsimile apparatus 2 Personal computer 3 Personal computer 4 CPU 6 RAM 9 PC IF 10 EEPROM

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ identification symbol FI H04N 1/32 H04N 1/32 Z (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 13/00 H04N 1/00

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An identification code for storing a connection unit to which a plurality of computers can be connected, an identification code of another communication device, and an identification code of the computer to which data received from the communication device is to be transferred. Storage means; identification code determining means for determining the identification code of the destination included in the received information at the time of reception; transfer from the identification code storage means based on the identification code determined by the identification code determination means Transfer control means for reading the identification code of the computer and transferring received data to the computer, and when predetermined information is included in the received information, the predetermined information detecting means detects the information and receives the information. A communication device wherein data is printed by a printing means.