JP3557885B2 - Facsimile apparatus and print control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a facsimile machine having a memory receiving function of temporarily storing received image data in a memory and then performing printing and a polling receiving function of polling and receiving image data stored in a memory of a partner station. More specifically, the present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus capable of printing a document received by polling prior to a document received in another memory, and a print control method therefor.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Recently, a general facsimile apparatus has a "memory reception function" in which a received document is temporarily stored in a memory inside the apparatus, and then printed in the order of completion of reception.
[0003]
This memory reception function is effective when paper runs out or when receiving a facsimile reception while being used in a multifunction peripheral.
[0004]
Conventionally, such a facsimile apparatus includes a facsimile apparatus having a "polling reception function" of polling and receiving image data stored in a memory of a partner station using a memory reception function.
[0005]
However, in this type of facsimile machine, when there are many documents waiting to be printed, if polling is performed, the printing of the polling document starts only after the printing of the previously stored print waiting document has been performed. There was a face that would not be.
[0006]
Therefore, the user who has requested the polling has to wait for the printing of the received document which is unnecessary for the user.
[0007]
To cope with this problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-14645 (hereinafter referred to as "Prior Art A") displays on a display a document which has not been printed among received ones and changes the print priority. A facsimile machine capable of performing the above has been proposed.
[0008]
According to the related art A, by changing the print priority of a desired document among the received documents displayed on the display, the desired received document can be printed in preference to other received documents.
[0009]
However, the prior art A has a drawback that when printing a document received by polling with priority, the priority must be changed for each document received by polling.
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, in the conventional facsimile apparatus, when polling is performed when a large number of documents waiting to be printed already exist, the polling document is not printed after printing the previously stored print waiting document. Therefore, the user who requested the polling had to wait for printing of the received document which was unnecessary for him.
[0011]
In the prior art A, in the case where priority is given to printing a document received by polling, the priority must be changed for each document received by polling.
[0012]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile apparatus which can solve the above-mentioned problem and can easily print a document received by polling over other received documents, and a print control method therefor.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 provides a memory reception function for temporarily storing received image data in a memory and then performing printing, and a polling reception of image data stored in a memory of a partner station. In a facsimile apparatus having a polling reception function for printing, the facsimile apparatus further includes a print control unit that controls so that the polled and received image data is preferentially printed out of the received image data.
[0014]
A second aspect of the present invention provides a memory receiving function for temporarily storing received image data in a memory and then performing printing, and a polling receiving function for performing polling reception and printing of image data stored in a memory of a partner station. A facsimile machine having a sequential printing mode for printing the received image data in the order received, and a polling image data priority printing mode for printing the polled received image data with priority in the received image data. Print mode setting means for setting any one of the following, and when the sequential print mode is set by the print mode setting means, prints the received image data in the order in which it is received, and gives priority to the polling image data. When the print mode is set, the polling is included in the received image data. Characterized by comprising a print control means for controlling the received image data so as to print with priority.
[0015]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the invention, the print control means includes a job generation means for generating a print job by adding file number information to the received image data; Job management means for managing the priority of the generated print job in accordance with the print mode set by the means.
[0016]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, when the polling image data priority print mode is set by the print mode setting means, the job management means It is characterized in that the print job of the polled and received image data is managed so as to be preferentially executed.
[0017]
A fifth aspect of the present invention provides a memory receiving function for temporarily storing received image data in a memory and then printing, and a polling receiving function for polling and receiving image data stored in a memory of a partner station. And facsimile apparatus, characterized in that the polling-received image data is controlled so as to be preferentially printed out of the received image data.
[0018]
The invention according to claim 6 is a memory receiving function for temporarily storing received image data in a memory and then printing, and a polling receiving function for polling and printing image data stored in a memory of a partner station. A print control method for a facsimile apparatus, comprising: a sequential print mode for printing the received image data in the order received; and a polling image for printing the polled received image data with priority in the received image data. One of the data priority print mode is set by a print mode setting means, and when the sequential print mode is set by the print mode setting means, the received image data is printed in the order received, and If the polling image data priority print mode is set, the received image data In and controls to print preferentially the image data the polling reception.
[0019]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect, a print job is generated by adding file number information to the received image data, and the generated print job is generated in accordance with the set print mode. The priority is managed by the job management means.
[0020]
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the seventh aspect, when the job management unit determines that the print mode is the polling image data priority print mode, the job management unit sets the print mode in the received image data job. It is characterized in that a print job of polled and received image data is managed so as to be executed with priority.
[0021]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0022]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a facsimile apparatus 10 according to the present invention.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 1, the facsimile machine 10 has an operation unit including hard buttons such as numeric keys and a GUI (graphical user interface) screen such as an LCD (liquid crystal display). A display unit 11; an image reading unit (scanner or the like) 12 for reading a document as image data; an image storage unit 13 for temporarily storing image data read from the image reading unit 12 and image data received from a communication control unit 17 described later. An image processing unit 14 for editing / processing (encoding / decoding processing, enlargement / reduction processing, compression / expansion processing) processing of stored image data, an image forming unit 15 for marking image data on recording paper or the like, after printing An image discharging unit 16 for discharging and accumulating sheets of paper, a modem and a network control unit (NCU), A communication control unit 17 for performing communication processing by connecting to a digital or analog network (not shown); a ROM 18 for storing control software for controlling the entire facsimile apparatus 10; a job management unit 19 for creating a job and managing a job queue; Each printing mode is composed of a non-volatile memory, and includes a "polling image data priority printing mode" for prioritizing printing of image data received by polling according to the present invention and a "sequential printing mode" for sequentially performing printing in a conventional manner. And a main control unit 22 for controlling each of the above-mentioned components via a system bus 21 which is a common path between these components.
[0024]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display example of a print mode setting screen 110 on the operation display section 11 shown in FIG. "Is a setting screen for selecting and specifying one of" Polling image data priority print mode "in which a document received by polling is preferentially printed.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 2, the print mode setting screen 110 includes a "sequential print" button, which is a function button for sequentially setting a print mode, and a polling for printing a document received by polling with priority. A "prioritize polling document" button, which is a function button for setting the image data priority print mode, is displayed.
[0026]
In this example, the case where the “Polling document priority” button is selected and pressed by the user is shown, the “Polling document priority” button is highlighted, and the “sequential printing” button is shaded. It is in a state where it is. As a result, in the image data printing apparatus 1, the polling image data priority print mode is set.
[0027]
When the user performs a setting operation using the print mode setting screen 110, the input information in the facsimile machine 10 is analyzed by the input control unit in the operation display unit 11, and the main control is performed as print mode setting information. To the unit 22. Then, when receiving the print mode information, the main control unit 22 stores the content in the print mode storage unit 20.
[0028]
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a job in a job queue (queue) managed by the job management unit 19 shown in FIG.
[0029]
As shown in FIG. 3, in this job, “file number” information indicating a file number assigned to manage a received document corresponding to the job, and “next job” indicating a pointer to a job next to this job. In this example, "0010" and "10000H" are assigned respectively.
[0030]
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a job queue managed by the job management unit 19 shown in FIG.
[0031]
As shown in FIG. 4, the job queue includes a running queue for managing a print job that is currently printing, and a print queue for managing a print waiting job that has not been printed. ing.
[0032]
Normally, when the job management unit 19 generates a print job, it links to the end of the print queue. When the job in the execution queue ends and is deleted, the job at the head of the print waiting queue is linked to the next execution queue.
[0033]
Next, the operation of the facsimile apparatus 10 according to the present invention having such a configuration will be described.
[0034]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of the memory reception process of the facsimile apparatus 10 according to the present invention.
[0035]
As shown in FIG. 5, first, when this process is started, in the facsimile apparatus 10, when the start of the polling operation is instructed on the touch panel of the operation display unit 11 (step 501 YES), the polling indicating that the polling is currently being executed is performed. The flag is turned “ON” (step 502), and the main control unit 22 notifies the communication control unit 17 of data such as the telephone number of the partner station input through the touch panel. Thereby, the communication control unit 17 receives and processes the polling document from the partner station according to the prescribed protocol (step 503).
[0036]
Next, in the facsimile machine 10, after the reception is completed (Step 504), the received document is temporarily stored in the image storage unit 13 (Step 508).
[0037]
When the storage in the image storage unit 13 is completed, the “file number” information assigned by the main control unit 22 for managing the received document is transferred to the job management unit 19, and an instruction is issued to generate a print job.
[0038]
In response to this instruction, a print job is generated based on the data received by the job management unit 19 (step 509).
[0039]
Thereafter, the job management unit 19 links the generated print job to the print waiting queue. Prior to this link, the job management unit 19 first determines whether the polling flag is “ON” (step If the polling flag is not "ON" (step 510: NO), the generated print job is linked to the end of the print waiting queue (step 514), and this processing ends.
[0040]
On the other hand, if the polling flag is “ON” (step 510: YES), the job management unit 19 refers to the “print mode” information stored in the print mode storage unit 20 and changes the current print mode. It is determined whether or not the printing mode is set (step 511).
[0041]
As a result of this determination, when it is determined that the print mode is “sequential print mode”, that is, the print mode is not “polling priority print mode” (step 511 YES), the job management unit 19 performs the same processing as in step 514 described above. The processing is performed, and this processing ends.
[0042]
On the other hand, if the result of determination in step 511 is that the print mode is “not in sequential print mode”, that is, that the print mode is “polling priority print mode” (step 511 NO), the job management unit 19 The linked job is linked to the head of the print waiting queue (step 512).
[0043]
Thereafter, the polling flag is set to "OFF" (step 513), and this processing ends.
[0044]
If there is no polling operation in step 501 (step 501 NO), and if the facsimile machine 10 starts the automatic fax reception (step 505 YES), the facsimile machine 10 performs an automatic reception document reception process (step 506). After the reception of the received document is completed (YES in step 507), the flow shifts to step 508 to perform the same processing.
[0045]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when the received document is printed by the facsimile machine 10 according to the present invention.
[0046]
In FIG. 6, this process is started at the same time when the power of the facsimile machine 10 is turned on.
[0047]
First, in the facsimile machine 10, when the reception of a document from another facsimile machine is completed (YES in step 601), the job management unit 19 checks the execution queue to determine whether a print job exists. (Step 603) When printing of a certain document is completed (Step 602), the job management unit 19 checks the inside of the print waiting queue and determines whether or not a print job exists (Step 604).
[0048]
If it is determined that the print job does not exist in the execution queue and the print job exists in the print waiting queue (step 603 NO, 604 YES), the job management unit 19 determines The first job is moved to the execution queue (step 605), and printing is started (step 606).
[0049]
As described above, according to the above-described configuration, the polling image data priority print mode is provided, and the print job of the polled received document is always linked to the head of the print waiting queue. Even if there are a large number of print waiting jobs, the print job of the document received by polling can be linked to the top of the print waiting queue prior to other print waiting jobs. Can be printed prior to other received documents, so that a user who has requested polling can obtain a desired polled document without waiting for printing of another received document.
[0050]
Further, according to this configuration, a document that has been easily polled and received can be printed prior to other received documents without prioritizing each received document as in the related art.
[0051]
In the above embodiment, the printing mode and the polling image data priority printing mode are sequentially switched. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and always gives priority to the polling image data without switching the printing mode. It may be printed.
[0052]
If the polled data is printed immediately, it is not necessary to use the memory receiving function at the time of polling reception.
[0053]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the image data received by polling is given priority over the image data received by another memory to control the printing, so that the image data received by polling is always stored in another memory. Printing can be performed prior to received image data.
[0054]
Further, according to the present invention, a sequential print mode in which image data received in memory is printed in the order in which it is received, and a polling image data priority print mode in which image data received in polling is printed prior to other image data received in memory. To control the printing of the image data received in memory according to the set print mode, so that the image data received by polling should be given priority over the image data received in other memory In this case, by setting the print mode to the polled image data priority print mode, the user who has requested the polling can immediately obtain the desired polled document without waiting for printing of other image data.
[0055]
Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily print a document received by polling with priority over other received documents without prioritizing each received document as in the related art.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of a facsimile apparatus 10 according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a view showing a display example of a print mode setting screen 110 on the operation display section 11 shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a job in a job queue managed by a job management unit 19 shown in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a job queue managed by a job management unit 19 shown in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of a memory reception process of the facsimile apparatus 10 according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed when a received document is printed by the facsimile apparatus 10 according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Facsimile apparatus, 11 ... Operation display part, 12 ... Image reading part, 13 ... Image storage part, 14 ... Image processing part, 15 ... Image forming part, 16 ... Image discharge part, 17 ... Communication control part, 18 ... ROM , 19: Job management unit, 20: Print mode storage unit, 21: System bus, 22: Main control unit

Claims (8)

In a facsimile machine having a memory receiving function of temporarily storing received image data in a memory and then printing and a polling receiving function of polling and printing image data stored in a memory of a partner station,
Facsimile apparatus characterized by comprising a print control means for printing by the image data the poll received priority among the received image data. In a facsimile machine having a memory receiving function of temporarily storing received image data in a memory and then printing and a polling receiving function of polling and printing image data stored in a memory of a partner station,
One of the sequential printing mode for printing in the order in which image data is received from pre Ki受 signal, a polling image data priority printing mode for printing with the image data described above poll received priority among the received image data Print mode setting means for setting one of them,
When the sequential print mode is set by the print mode setting means, the received image data is printed in the order received, and when the polling image data priority print mode is set, the received image is printed. Printing control means for controlling the image data received by the polling in the data to be preferentially printed;
A facsimile machine comprising: The printing control means,
Job generating means for generating a print job by adding file number information to the received image data,
Job management means for managing the priority of the generated print job according to the print mode set by the print mode setting means;
Facsimile apparatus according to claim 2, wherein that you include a. The job management means includes:
Wherein if said poll image data priority printing mode by the print mode setting means is set, manage the print jobs of image data the polling reception among the job of the image data thus received to execute the priority <br/> be facsimile apparatus according to claim 3, wherein. A print control method for a facsimile apparatus having a memory reception function of temporarily storing received image data in a memory and then printing the image data, and a polling reception function of polling reception and printing of image data stored in a memory of a partner station. At
Printing control method and controls to print the image data the polling reception among the received image data by priority. A print control method for a facsimile apparatus having a memory reception function of temporarily storing received image data in a memory and then printing the image data, and a polling reception function of polling and receiving image data stored in a memory of a partner station and printing the image data. At
One of the sequential printing mode for printing in the order in which image data is received from pre Ki受 signal, a polling image data priority printing mode for printing with the image data described above poll received priority among the received image data One is set by the print mode setting means ,
When the sequential print mode is set by the print mode setting means, the received image data is printed in the order received,
When the polling image data priority print mode is set, control is performed such that the polling-received image data is printed with priority in the received image data.
A printing control method characterized by the above-mentioned . Generating a print job by adding file number information to the received image data,
7. The print control method according to claim 6, wherein priority of the generated print job is managed by a job management unit in accordance with the set print mode. Said job management means, when said print mode is determined to be polled image data priority printing mode, to perform a printing job of the image data the polling reception among the job of the image data thus received priority to printing control method according to claim 7, wherein <br/> be managed to.

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