JP3607349B2 - Multifunction communication device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a multi-function communication apparatus which inputs facsimile document data from a host computer, develops the printer document data into image image data, converts it into facsimile transmission data, and performs facsimile transmission. Relates to a multi-function communication apparatus that automatically selects and sets a transmission destination and transmission condition based on printer document data from a host computer.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in a multi-function communication device having a printer function and a facsimile function, the data recognition capability of the printer function is utilized, and the currently handled data is format data, standard data, or other data. Have been proposed at the printer command level to reduce the amount of communication data.
[0003]
As a method for reducing the amount of communication data, for example, (1) a method of generating invoices at the transmission destination (that is, the receiving side) to eliminate the generation of invoices at the transmission source, or (2) There is a method of reducing document generation at the transmission source by generating a part at the transmission destination. The main purpose of each of these is to reduce the amount of communication data to be actually transmitted and to reduce the communication cost.
[0004]
If slip distribution is considered as an application of the above function, slip distribution can be easily handled by using a driver program on the host computer.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, according to the above-described conventional multi-function communication device, when delivering a slip, the delivery of the slip can be easily handled by a driver program on the host computer. Normally, it is necessary to specify the transmission destination and transmission conditions for each slip. Therefore, if the number of distribution destinations increases, the specification of the transmission destination and transmission conditions for each slip becomes complicated, and the burden on the user is increased. There was a problem of becoming.
[0006]
In other words, although the destination computer and transmission condition specification process can be supplemented by processing on the host computer side, there are many cases even when the transmission destination can be specified for one transmission document by a single operation. The number of operations increases in proportion to the number of destinations. In particular, when distributing slips, the work time is often concentrated, which further increases the work burden for the user.
[0007]
In addition, there is a method of managing the destination and transmission condition specification processing on the host computer side, for example, a method of utilizing information stored by using a learning function for each facsimile transmission. Because it is necessary to input the transmission destination and transmission conditions from the multi-function communication device side by bidirectional communication and to accumulate information for each transmitted document (or slip) every time Means are required and the configuration is complicated.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above, and it is intended to improve convenience for a user by automatically setting a transmission destination and transmission conditions based on printer document data from a host computer. Objective.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a multifunction communication device according to claim 1 inputs printer document data from a host computer, expands the printer document data into image image data, and further converts it into facsimile transmission data. Then, in a multi-function communication apparatus that performs facsimile transmission, a display unit that displays the printer document data including identification data consisting of a character string or / and image data for identifying a transmission destination, and the display unit An area designation accepting unit that accepts a position designation of an area in which the identification data exists from the printer document data displayed on the printer, and retrieves a character string from the area that the area designation accepting unit accepts the designation; The character string obtained by the search is used as the identification data, and the identification data and the region Registration information including at least one information unit and transmission destination information indicating a transmission destination corresponding to the identification information are registered using a combination of the coordinate value of the area for which the designation reception unit has received the position specification as one information unit. First registration means, first storage means for storing identification information and destination information registered by the first registration means, and each destination information stored in the first storage means A second registration unit for registering the transmission condition, a second storage unit for storing the transmission condition for each destination information registered by the second registration unit, and a storage in the first storage unit Determination means for determining whether all information units in the identification information being present exist in the document data for printer, and identification information for which all information units are determined to be present by the determination means ,Applicable A setting for inputting a transmission condition from the second storage means based on the transmission destination information corresponding to the identification information, and setting the transmission destination and the transmission condition based on the corresponding transmission destination information and transmission condition. Means.
[0010]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multi-function communication device that receives printer document data from a host computer, develops the printer document data into image image data, converts the data into facsimile transmission data, and performs facsimile transmission. In the multi-function communication apparatus, a display unit for displaying the printer document data including identification data composed of a character string or / and image data for identifying a transmission destination, and the printer for the printer displayed on the display unit Among the document data, an area designation receiving unit that receives the position designation of the area where the identification data exists from an operator, and a character string obtained by searching the character string from the area that the area designation receiving unit has received the designation. As the identification data, the identification data and the region Registration information including at least one information unit and transmission destination information indicating a transmission destination corresponding to the identification information are registered using a combination of the coordinate value of the area for which the designation reception unit has received the position specification as one information unit. First registration means, first storage means for storing identification information and destination information registered by the first registration means, and each destination information stored in the first storage means A second registration unit for registering the transmission condition, a second storage unit for storing the transmission condition for each destination information registered by the second registration unit, and a storage in the first storage unit Determining means for determining whether or not all information units in the identification information being present exist in the image data obtained by developing the printer document data, and the determining means determines that all information units are present. If there is the identification information, the transmission condition is input from the second storage means based on the transmission destination information corresponding to the identification information, and the transmission destination is set based on the transmission destination information and the transmission condition. And setting means for setting transmission conditions.
[0011]
In the multifunction communication apparatus according to claim 3, the first registration means displays at least the printer document data. Said A display unit and a touch panel disposed on the display unit are provided.
[0012]
[Action]
The multi-function communication device of the present invention (claim 1) Partner Identification data consisting of character strings and / or image data for identifying the destination The printer document data including the printer data is displayed, and the position designation of the area where the identification data exists is received from the operator. The A character string is retrieved from the area where the designation is accepted, and the character string obtained by the retrieval is used as the identification data. Register the identification information consisting of at least one information unit with the combination of coordinate values as one information unit, transmission destination information indicating the transmission destination corresponding to the identification information, and transmission conditions for each transmission destination information. It is determined whether all information units exist in the printer document data. If there is identification information determined that all information units exist, transmission is performed based on the corresponding destination information and transmission conditions. Set the destination and transmission conditions.
[0013]
In addition, the multifunction communication device of the present invention (claim 2) transmits Partner Identification data consisting of character strings and / or image data for identifying the destination The printer document data including is displayed, the position specification of the area where the identification data exists is received from the operator among the displayed printer document data, the character string is searched from the area, and the character string obtained by the search is Identification data, and the identification data The identification information consisting of at least one information unit, the transmission destination information indicating the transmission destination corresponding to the identification information, and the transmission conditions for each piece of transmission destination information are registered using the combination of coordinate values as one information unit. It is determined whether or not all the information units exist in the image data obtained by developing the printer document data. If there is identification information determined that all the information units exist, the corresponding destination information and Based on the transmission conditions, the transmission destination and transmission conditions are set.
[0014]
The multifunction communication apparatus according to the present invention (Claim 3) shows identification information and a transmission destination corresponding to the identification information by at least a display unit for displaying printer document data and a touch panel arranged on the display unit. Register destination information and transmission conditions for each destination information.
[0015]
【Example】
Hereinafter, the multifunction communication apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail in the order of [Embodiment 1] and [Embodiment 2] with reference to the drawings.
[0016]
Generally, when an order form is transmitted by facsimile, the order form is usually a fixed form. In this case, the order destination appears as a character code string or image data at a specific position. Therefore, by analyzing the order destination data of the purchase order before and after the image generation by the printer function, the destination can be specified, and the transmission conditions can be selected.
[0017]
In the facsimile transmission through the printer function, the present invention uses the above characteristics to realize automatic distribution by designating only a document desired to be transmitted, thereby accompanying destination, transmission condition designation, facsimile information management, and the like. It avoids complications and enables operation under the best conditions accumulated by the facsimile function. Conventionally, when a fixed-form document having different contents is transmitted to a plurality of destinations, it can be realized only by a specially designed application.
[0018]
[Example 1]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the multifunction communication apparatus according to the present invention. The SCU 100 executes a printer function, the FCU 200 executes a facsimile function, and a host computer 300 outputs text data and a print command to the SCU 100. , And an operation panel 400 as first registration means and second registration means for an operator to give operation instructions. The SCU 100 has a function of expanding text data input from the host computer 300 into image data.
[0019]
The SCU 100 stores a host I / F (interface) 101 for connecting the SCU 100 and the host computer 300, an operation panel I / F 102 for connecting the SCU 100 and the operation panel 400, and printer / facsimile operation designation data. Transmission condition registration memory 103 as second storage means, frame memory 104 for storing printer image data, destination area as first storage means for storing destination designation area data and destination data According to the registration memory 105, the control data memory 106 for storing the printer function control data, the control code memory 107 for storing the printer function program, and the printer function program stored in the control code memory 107 According to control data memory 06 by using the printer function control data stored, and a CPU108 serving as a judging means for performing the printer function by controlling the above units. Note that the CPU 108 and the frame memory 104 perform development from text data to image data. Reference numeral 401 denotes a display unit that displays the status of the apparatus and a confirmation display when various specifications are made by the operator.
[0020]
Also, the FCU 200 connects a CCU (communication management unit) 201 that performs various types of communication control such as line connection and monitoring, a destination information registration memory that stores the telephone number and capability of the destination of transmission and reception, and the own device. A communication information registration memory 202 used as a communication network information registration memory for storing information of the communication network 500, an image compression / decompression unit 203 for compressing / decompressing image data, a SAF memory 204 for storing transmission images, Control data as required according to a control data memory 205 for storing facsimile function control data, a control code memory 206 for storing facsimile function programs, and a facsimile function program stored in the control code memory 206 Facsimile function control data stored in the memory 205 Use data, consists CPU207 serving as a setting means for executing the facsimile function by controlling the above units is connected to the receiving facsimile terminal 600 via the communication network 500 for connecting the own device.
[0021]
Here, the counterpart area registration memory 105 will be described. The counterpart area registration memory 105 stores registration contents registered in advance by the operator using the operation panel 400. The registered content registered in the destination area registration memory 105 includes a plurality of elements, and one element includes the following information. (In the following, C is a character string, I is an image)
-Destination area combination designation (for example, 1C AND 2C OR 3I ... n)
・ Destination area drawing coordinates 1, drawing character string 1, drawing image 1
・ Destination area drawing coordinates 2, drawing character string 2, drawing image 2
・ Destination area drawing coordinates 3, drawing character string 3, drawing image 3
・
・
・ Destination area drawing coordinate n, drawing character string n, drawing image n
・ Destination code (internal code for facsimile function)
・ Transmission conditions
[0022]
The transmission condition registration memory 103 also has
・ Destination code (internal code for facsimile function)
・ Transmission mode designation
・ Compression method specification
・ Printer resolution
・ Facsimile transmission resolution
Such information is previously registered and stored by the operator using the operation panel 400.
[0023]
In the first embodiment, various types of information are registered using the operation panel 400. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any method such as registration of various types of information from the host computer 300 may be used. You may do it.
[0024]
The operation of the above configuration will be described. In the SCU 100, the CPU 108 receives a print command for printing a standard document from the host computer 300 via the host I / F 101.
[0025]
First, the CPU 108 analyzes the printer command received from the host computer 300. At this time, the drawing coordinates are obtained, and the destination area registration memory 105 is referred to search for the presence / absence of a character string in the destination area drawing coordinates. If the corresponding character string exists as shown in FIG. The setting is stored in the transmission condition registration memory 103.
[0026]
The CPU 108 generates an image in the frame memory 104 according to the printer resolution of the transmission condition data stored in the transmission condition registration memory 103, and transmits the transmission condition data stored in the transmission condition registration memory 103 and the generated image in the frame memory 104 to the FCU 200. To pass.
[0027]
In the FCU 200, the CPU 207 compresses the generated image of the frame memory 104 using the image compression / decompression unit 203 according to the compression method stored in the transmission condition registration memory 103, and transmits the transmission condition data in the transmission condition registration memory 103. At the same time, it is stored in the SAF memory 204.
[0028]
Subsequently, the CPU 207 retrieves the transmission condition data and the compressed image data from the SAF memory 204, accesses the communication network 500 via the CCU 201, notifies the facsimile transmission resolution of the transmission condition data, and communicates with the receiving facsimile terminal 600. Connect.
[0029]
The CPU 207 converts the resolution of the compressed image data according to the facsimile transmission resolution of the transmission condition data via the communication network 500 and transmits the resolution-converted image data to the receiving facsimile terminal 600.
[0030]
In the multi-function communication apparatus of the first embodiment, facsimile transmission is performed as described above, and the CPU 108 refers to text data sent from the host computer 300 and refers to a character code string or image data at a specific position. Thus, the transmission destination is specified. In this case, the destination of the transmission by the CPU 108 is performed before or after the generation of the printer image, and the operator can freely set whether to specify before or after the generation using the operation panel 400. Can do. Further, the CPU 108 has a function of referring to a plurality of character code strings or image data when referring to a character code string or image data at a specific position, and specifying an order destination by a combination thereof.
[0031]
Note that when the transmission destination is specified before generating the printer image, the transmission destination is searched from the code data, so that the search is easy. Further, when the transmission destination is specified after the image for the printer is generated, the transmission destination is searched from the image data. Therefore, the search can be performed without depending on the type of code data handled by the host computer 300. it can.
[0032]
As described above, according to the first embodiment, the transmission destination is specified before the image is generated based on the character string or image data drawn in an arbitrary position included in the printer document data from the host computer. As a result, the device side can determine the destination and transmission conditions, and it is possible to prevent errors in destination specification and to send documents under optimum conditions. Further, the destination selection operation and the transmission condition selection operation are not necessary, and the distribution work is facilitated.
[0033]
In addition, since the transmission destination can be specified after the image is generated, there is no influence by the drawing method, automatic distribution by document specification is possible for various application programs, and the restriction on the user's host computer environment is reduced.
[0034]
In addition, because the destination of transmission can be specified by a combination of a character string drawn at an arbitrary position and image data drawn at an arbitrary position, automatic distribution by document specification is possible for many types of standard documents. In addition, automatic distribution by requesting a document is also possible for a request format of a transmission destination.
[0035]
[Example 2]
In addition to the function of the first embodiment, the second embodiment has a function of easily specifying the position of the drawing character string or the position of the drawing image data to be referred to in order to specify the transmission destination using the operation panel 400. Basically, the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and only different portions will be described in detail. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an area designation unit 402 that is a part of the configuration of the operation panel 400 and designates a communication partner print area. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display example of a touch panel provided in the display unit 401.
[0036]
The area designating unit 402 shown in FIG. 3 includes a communication partner area registration mode designation start key 301 for instructing a shift to the communication partner area registration mode, and an instruction for ending the communication partner area registration mode. A communication partner area registration mode designation end key 302, a communication partner area coordinate up / down / left / right movement key 303 for adjusting a coordinate position, a communication partner area coordinate start point setting key 304 for determining a coordinate start point position, , A communication partner area coordinate end point setting key 305 for determining the coordinate end point position, a communication partner area coordinate setting end key 306 for instructing the end of the coordinate position setting, and a combination of area coordinates. Communication partner area coordinate combination designation key 307, communication partner registration mode designation start key 308 for instructing a shift to the communication partner registration mode, Communication partner registration mode designation end key 309 for instructing the end of the communication partner registration mode, communication partner selection key 310 for selecting the communication partner, and transmission for selecting various conditions at the time of transmission And a condition selection key 311.
[0037]
The operation of the above configuration will be described. In the second embodiment, an operator confirms the image displayed on the display unit 401 and operates the various keys of the area designating unit 402 shown in FIG. Specify the column position or drawing image data position.
[0038]
Next, a designation operation performed by the operator using the area designation unit 402 will be described.
[0039]
(1) When the operator presses the communication partner area registration mode designation start key 301 to instruct to shift to the communication partner area registration mode, the CPU 108 issues a printer command from the host computer 300 via the host I / F 101. receive. In the communication partner area registration mode, the CPU 108 displays the drawn result as an image on the display unit 401 without printing, and waits for the operator's key operation.
(2) The operator uses the communication partner area coordinate up / down / left / right movement key 303 to adjust the coordinate start point position.
[0040]
(3) When the adjustment to the desired start point position is completed, the operator presses the communication partner area coordinate start point setting key 304 to determine the coordinate start point position.
(4) The operator uses the communication partner area coordinate up / down / left / right movement key 303 to adjust the end point position of the coordinate.
[0041]
(5) When the adjustment to the desired end point position is completed, the operator presses the communication partner area coordinate end point setting key 305 to determine the end point position of the coordinates. At this time, if necessary, the communication partner area coordinate combination designation key 307 is used to select a desired combination and repeat the operations (2) to (6) in order to determine the next area. When all the areas are specified, the communication partner area coordinate setting end key 306 is pressed to end the area specification. In this case, the CPU 108 stores the communication partner area data acquired as a result of the above operation in the partner area registration memory 105.
[0042]
(6) Next, the operator presses the communication partner area registration mode designation end key 302 to instruct the end of the communication partner area registration mode.
(7) Subsequently, the operator presses the communication partner registration mode designation start key 308 to instruct to shift to the communication partner registration mode.
[0043]
(8) When a transition to the communication partner registration mode is instructed, the CPU 108 receives a printer command from the host computer 300 via the host I / F 101.
(9) In the communication partner registration mode, the CPU 108 does not print the drawn result, but superimposes the region display by the communication partner region registration data stored in the partner region registration memory 105 and displays the image on the display unit 401. Is displayed.
[0044]
(10) Next, at this point, the corresponding facsimile destination and transmission conditions are designated. That is, the CPU 108 extracts communication partner information from the FCU 200, and the operator selects a communication partner using the communication partner selection key 310.
(11) Subsequently, the operator selects a transmission condition by using the transmission condition selection key 311, and the CPU 108 stores the selected communication partner and the transmission condition in a region associated with the partner region registration memory 105. This completes the registration for one communication partner.
[0045]
(12) In the case of processing for a plurality of communication destinations, after the processing up to (11), the processing from (8) is repeated until all processing is completed.
(13) When all the registrations are completed, the operator presses the communication partner registration mode designation end key 309 to instruct the end of the communication partner registration mode.
(14) When changing the communication partner area, the processing from (1) is repeated.
[0046]
Next, another example of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, if the communication partner area and the communication partner are registered using the touch panel, the operator's registration work becomes easy. Note that the basic operation is the same as when the area specifying unit 402 shown in FIG. 3 is used, and therefore only the different parts will be described in detail.
[0047]
The operator designates the transmission destination (for example, “Ricoh Co., Ltd.”) displayed on the touch panel with a fingertip, as shown in FIG. 4, instead of designation with the communication partner area coordinate up / down / left / right movement key 303. That is, the start point is designated as shown by the solid line in FIG. 4, the end point is designated as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 4, and the communication partner area coordinate setting end key 306 is designated after the end point is designated. In this way, by confirming the display and directly touching and specifying the display contents with the fingertip, the transmission destination area and the communication destination can be registered easily and reliably. The touch panel is described as being provided in the display unit 401. However, the present invention is not particularly limited thereto, and the host computer 300 may be provided with a touch panel and registered using the host computer 300.
[0048]
As described above, according to the second embodiment, the position of the drawing character string or the position of the drawing image data to be referred to specify the transmission destination is specified on the operation panel, and the communication partner is determined based on the specified position. Since it is possible to make a correspondence with the destination, that is, to determine the area for designating the communication partner based on the image, the communication partner area selection can be performed reliably and easily, and errors in the communication partner selection can be avoided. At the same time, it is possible to eliminate communication partner management on the host computer side.
[0049]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the multifunction communication device (claim 1) of the present invention uses a combination of identification data consisting of a character string or / and image data for identifying a transmission destination and coordinate values where identification data exists. Registers identification information consisting of at least one information unit as one information unit, transmission destination information indicating the transmission destination corresponding to the identification information, and transmission conditions for each piece of transmission destination information. If there is identification information that is determined to exist in the document data and it is determined that all information units exist, the destination setting and transmission conditions are based on the corresponding transmission destination information and transmission conditions. Therefore, the user's convenience is improved by automatically setting the transmission destination and transmission conditions based on the printer document data from the host computer. Rukoto can.
[0050]
In addition, the multifunction communication apparatus according to the present invention (claim 2) provides a combination of identification data consisting of a character string or / and image data for identifying a transmission destination and a coordinate value where the identification data exists as one information unit. The identification information consisting of at least one information unit, the transmission destination information indicating the transmission destination corresponding to the identification information, and the transmission conditions for each transmission destination information are registered, and all the information units in the identification information are document data for printers. If there is identification information for which all information units are determined to exist in the image data that has been expanded, the destination setting is performed based on the corresponding destination information and transmission conditions. And transmission conditions are set by automatically setting the transmission destination and transmission conditions based on the printer document data from the host computer. It is possible to improve the convenience.
[0051]
Also, the multifunction communication apparatus of the present invention (Claim 3) shows identification information and a transmission destination corresponding to the identification information by at least a display unit for displaying printer document data and a touch panel arranged on the display unit. Since the transmission destination information and transmission conditions for each transmission destination information are registered, the transmission destination and transmission conditions can be set easily and reliably.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a multifunction communication apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of printer document data.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an area designating unit.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an area designating unit.
[Explanation of symbols]
100 SCU 103 Transmission condition registration memory
105 Counterpart area registration memory 108 CPU
200 FCU 201 CCU
202 Communication information registration memory 207 CPU
300 Host computer 400 Operation panel
401 Display section 402 Area designation section
500 Communication network 600 Receiving side facsimile terminal

Claims (3)

The printer document data is input from the host computer, the printer document data is expanded into image image data, converted into facsimile transmission data, and then the transmission destination is identified in the multi-function communication apparatus that performs facsimile transmission. A display unit for displaying the printer document data including identification data consisting of character strings and / or image data, and an area in which the identification data exists in the printer document data displayed on the display unit. An area designation accepting unit that accepts a position designation from an operator, a character string is retrieved from the area that the area designation accepting unit accepts designation, and the character string obtained by the search is used as the identification data, and the identification data and the area The combination with the coordinate value of the area where the designation accepting unit accepts the position designation is one A first registration means for registering identification information comprising at least one information unit as a reporting unit, and transmission destination information indicating a transmission destination corresponding to the identification information, and an identification registered by the first registration means First storage means for storing information and destination information, second registration means for registering transmission conditions for each destination information stored in the first storage means, and the second registration A second storage means for storing transmission conditions for each destination information registered by the means, and all information units in the identification information stored in the first storage means are present in the printer document data If there is a determination unit that determines whether or not to perform identification information that is determined by the determination unit to include all information units, the second storage is performed based on transmission destination information corresponding to the corresponding identification information. Sent by means Enter the condition, on the basis of the relevant destination information and transmission conditions, the multifunction communication apparatus characterized by comprising a setting means for setting the setting and transmission condition of the transmission destination. The printer document data is input from the host computer, the printer document data is expanded into image image data, converted into facsimile transmission data, and then the transmission destination is identified in the multi-function communication apparatus that performs facsimile transmission. A display unit for displaying the printer document data including identification data consisting of character strings and / or image data, and an area in which the identification data exists in the printer document data displayed on the display unit. an area designation receiving means for receiving a position designated by the operator, the region designation receiving means retrieves the text from the area that has received the specified, the character string obtained by the search and the identification data, and the identification data, the area The combination with the coordinate value of the area where the designation accepting unit accepts the position designation is one A first registration means for registering identification information comprising at least one information unit as a reporting unit, and transmission destination information indicating a transmission destination corresponding to the identification information, and an identification registered by the first registration means First storage means for storing information and destination information, second registration means for registering transmission conditions for each destination information stored in the first storage means, and the second registration A second storage means for storing transmission conditions for each destination information registered by the means, and all information units in the identification information stored in the first storage means have expanded the document data for the printer. If there is determination means for determining whether or not the image data exists in the image data, and identification information determined by the determination means that all information units are present, based on transmission destination information corresponding to the corresponding identification information And a setting means for inputting a transmission condition from the second storage means and setting a transmission destination and a transmission condition based on the corresponding transmission destination information and transmission condition. Communication device. 3. The multifunction communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first registration unit includes at least the display unit that displays the document data for the printer and a touch panel disposed on the display unit. 4. .

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