JP4049133B2 - Network MFP - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a network multifunction device connected to an external device such as a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer) via a communication network such as a LAN and provided with a copy function, a print function, a facsimile function, and the like.

  In addition to the original copy function and facsimile function, the network multifunction device has a function of transmitting image information sent from a personal computer connected via a communication network to another facsimile apparatus, and a printer function of printing out the image information. And a mail transmission function.

  In such a network multifunction device, when image information from a personal computer is transmitted to another facsimile machine, image data expressed in page description language (PDL) sent from the personal computer to the printer and destination information (facsimile destination facsimile) It is common to input PJL data including a number) from a personal computer as communication data, convert the PDL data into image data according to the capabilities of the facsimile machine of the transmission destination, and transmit the converted image data Is.

When sending e-mail, the image data received from a personal computer is converted into a file format that can be attached to an e-mail (for example, a TIFF format file) to create an e-mail attachment file. It is attached to an e-mail and sent to a destination (host device) on the Internet.
In addition, when scanning a document using a computer, set the document on the network multifunction device, then use the scanner device utility software provided on the computer to instruct scanning, and the image data read by the network multifunction device. Is transferred to the computer.

  Document scanning in a network multifunction device is performed as described above. When sending scanned images to another computer, the scanned image is converted into a file format using application software, and then saved. There is a problem that it takes time and effort because it needs to be sent to another computer by e-mail or the like.

On the other hand, there are a lot of documents and images of various file formats in the file format used on the personal computer. If you want to convert to these multiple file formats and transfer them to another computer, each file format is supported. In addition, it is necessary to prepare application software to be used, and unless the user has mastered the operation of each application software, transfer cannot be performed even with simple file format conversion.
In addition, when it is desired to transmit data on the personal computer to a plurality of other personal computers, it is necessary to perform a transfer operation for each of the plurality of personal computers.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems. Data on a personal computer can be easily converted into a file format and transferred to a plurality of other devices without requiring a complicated operation by a user. An object of the present invention is to provide a network multifunction device capable of performing the above.

In order to achieve the above object, a network multifunction device according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a transfer information storage unit including a plurality of boxes in which group numbers and transfer destinations are registered, an image storage unit, an image recording unit, A network multifunction device that can be connected to a communication network including a control unit that controls each unit, and when the print execution instruction not specifying a group number is received from an external device connected to the communication network, the control When the means prints the print information by the image recording means and there is a print execution instruction specifying a group number from the external device connected to the communication network, the control means converts the encoded image of the print information into the image Transfer destination that is stored in the storage means and this stored image is set in the box in which the specified group number is registered Characterized in that it transfer.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the network multifunction peripheral according to the first aspect, when the file format is registered in each box of the transfer information storage means and the image is transferred, the control means The stored image is transferred after being converted into a file format set in a box in which a designated group number is registered.

Furthermore, in the network multifunction peripheral according to the third aspect of the invention, in the network multifunction peripheral according to the first aspect, whether or not image transfer is registered in each box of the transfer information storage means and a print execution instruction is issued only if the transfer allowed to the specified group number is registered box is set, characterized in that said control means transfers the image to the transfer destination.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the network multifunction peripheral according to any one of the first to third aspects, a transfer notification mail transmission destination is registered in each box of the transfer information storage means. When the image is transferred to the transfer destination, the control means sends a mail including the image transfer and the transfer destination to the mail transmission destination set in the box in which the designated group number is registered. It is characterized by.

According to the network multifunction peripheral of the first aspect of the present invention, if print execution is specified by specifying a group number , print information is transferred to a registered transfer destination. Data can be transferred easily.

Further, according to the network multifunction peripheral of the invention according to claim 2 , if the print execution is designated by specifying the group number, the print information is converted into the registered file format and transferred to the transfer destination. It becomes possible to convert data to a desired file format and transfer it to a plurality of transfer destinations without requiring application software for file format conversion.

According to the network multifunction device of the third aspect of the present invention, if transfer permission is not set in the box in which the group number is registered, the image is not transferred to the transfer destination, and a print execution instruction is subsequently given. If this is done, data of a plurality of different application software can be continuously stored. When the storage is completed, the group number box is changed to transferable so that a plurality of image data can be transferred as one job. Can be transferred to.

Furthermore, according to the network multifunction peripheral of the invention according to claim 4 , when the image is transferred to the transfer destination, the mail including the transfer of the image and the transfer destination is transmitted to the predetermined mail transmission destination. The user at the transfer destination can easily recognize that the transfer has occurred and the transfer destination, for example, the folder name.

  Embodiments of a network multifunction peripheral according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration example of a system including a network multifunction device, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the network multifunction device.

  In the network configuration diagram shown in FIG. 1, 1 is a network multifunction device, 2, 3, 4... Are personal computers, 5 is a public switched telephone network (PSTN), 6 is a LAN (Local Area Network), and 7 is an Internet network. is there. The network multifunction device 1 has functions of a copy mode, a printer mode, and a fax mode, and also has a mail transmission function, and is connected to the PSTN 5 and the LAN 6, and a plurality of personal computers 2, 3, 4,. It is connected. The LAN 6 is also connected to the Internet network 7, and the network MFP 1 can send and receive mail via the Internet network 7.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the network multifunction device 1. As shown in the figure, the network multifunction device 1 has a CPU 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, and a display. An operation unit 14, a reading unit 15, an image memory 16, a recording unit 17, a codec 18, a modem 19, a network control unit NCU 20 and a LAN interface (I / F) 21, and each unit is connected via a bus 22. Yes.

  The CPU 11 controls each part of the hardware of the network multifunction peripheral 1 via the bus 22 and executes various programs based on the programs stored in the ROM 12. The ROM 12 performs various programs necessary for the operation of the network multifunction peripheral. Operation messages and the like are stored in advance. The RAM 13 is composed of SRAM or the like, and stores temporary data generated when the program is executed, and also includes a group number, a host name and folder name as a file transfer destination, a conversion file format, transfer enable / disable information, and a mail address. It has a private box storage area 23 as a transfer information storage means for storing a registered box.

  The display / operation unit 14 includes a display unit that displays an operation state of the network multifunction peripheral or displays an operation screen for various functions, and a number of operation keys for operating the network multifunction peripheral. . The reading unit 15 includes a reading document placing table such as an auto document feeder (ADF) or a flatbed scanner (FBS), reads a document with a scanner using a CCD or the like, and outputs dot image data converted into black and white binary. .

  The image memory 16 is configured by using a DRAM or the like, and stores image data to be transmitted or received image data or image data read by the reading unit 15, and a recording unit 17 is a printer device such as an electrophotographic system. The received data, copy original data, or print data transmitted from an external personal computer is printed out.

  The codec 18 encodes and decodes in accordance with a predetermined protocol. In order to transmit the image data of the read original, the codec 18 is encoded by the MH, MR, or MMR method, and decodes the image data received from the outside. Also, encoding and decoding are also performed in correspondence with the TIFF method, which is an image format generally used as a file that can be attached to an e-mail.

  The modem 19 is connected to the bus 22 and has a function as a fax modem capable of facsimile communication. The modem 19 is also connected to the NCU 20 connected to the bus 22. The NCU 20 is hardware that closes and opens an analog line, and connects the modem 19 to the PSTN 5 as necessary.

  The LAN interface 21 is connected to the LAN 6 and receives data from an external personal computer or a signal from the Internet network 7 via the LAN 6, while transmitting signals and data to the LAN 6. Perform interface processing such as protocol conversion.

  The network multifunction device 1 has the above-described configuration. During facsimile transmission, document image data is read by the reading unit 15, compressed by the codec 18, and stored in the image memory 16. The compressed image data is read from the image memory 16, modulated by the modem 19, and transmitted from the NCU 20 to the communication partner through the PSTN 5. At the time of facsimile reception, the received image data is demodulated by the modem 19, stored in the image memory 16, decoded by the codec 18, and printed by the recording unit 17.

  On the other hand, each private box in the private box storage area 23 stores a box name, group number, transfer destination host name, transfer destination folder name, conversion file format, transfer enable / disable information, and mail address as shown in FIG. Each setting can be made by the user inputting from the private box registration screen displayed on the display unit of the display / operation unit 14 or by inputting from the operation screen of an external personal computer or the like. It can be registered in the RAM 13.

When a PC scan is executed by designating a group number from the personal computer 2 or the like, the scanned image data is converted into a desired file format by the network multifunction peripheral and can be transferred to a plurality of transfer destinations.
Hereinafter, the operation of the network MFP 1 when a PC scan is executed by designating a group number will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The CPU 11 of the network MFP 1 always executes the PC scan program shown in FIG. 4. When this program is started, first, it is determined whether or not a scan execution instruction is issued from the personal computer 2 or the like via the LAN I / F 21. Determine (step 101). For example, when there is a scan execution instruction from the personal computer 2, the CPU 11 determines whether or not a group number is specified in the scan execution instruction (step 102).
Note that the execution of the PC scan designating the group number is performed by clicking “Yes” in the group number designation column on the scan instruction screen displayed on the display screen of the personal computer as shown in FIG. This can be done by entering a number in the “Number” field.

  If it is determined in step 102 that there is no group number designation, the CPU 11 performs normal scan processing (step 103). On the other hand, if it is determined in step 102 that, for example, the group number 1 has been designated, the CPU 11 determines whether or not there is a group number designated in the private box, and in the box, the destination host name and the destination folder. It is determined whether or not a name is registered (step 104). If the CPU 11 determines that the group number, transfer destination host name, or transfer destination folder name is not registered, the CPU 11 returns an error message such as “No group number registered” to the personal computer 2. Processing is performed (step 105).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 104 that the group number, transfer destination host name, and transfer destination folder name are registered, the CPU 11 scans the original set by the reading unit 15 and obtains the obtained image data. After MMR encoding by the codec 18 (step 106), it is stored in the image memory 16 (step 107).

  Next, the CPU 11 searches for a box in which the designated group number 1 is registered, designates one box name of the box in which the group number 1 is registered, for example, “A” (step 108), and designates it. It is determined whether or not the transfer enable / disable column of the box “A” is ON (step 109). If it is determined that the transfer enable / disable column is OFF, the process returns to step 101.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 109 that the transfer permission / non-permission column of the box “A” is ON, the CPU 11 registers the encoded data stored in the image memory 16 in the format column of the box. After conversion processing to a file format, for example, TIFF format (step 110), the file is transferred to the folder "\\ PC3 \ document" of the personal computer 3 via the LAN I / F 21 and LAN 6 (step 111).

  Next, the CPU 11 creates an e-mail in which the file has been transferred and the name of the transfer destination folder, and sends an e-mail to the address registered in the e-mail address field of the box “A” via the LAN I / F 21 and LAN 6. Transmit (step 112). By this mail, the user who received the transfer of the scanned image knows that the transfer has been performed and can recognize the folder name of the transfer destination, so that the transferred file can be easily accessed.

  When the mail transmission is completed, the CPU 11 searches for a box in which the group number 1 is registered (step 113). If the box is left, the next box name is designated (step 114), and then the step 109 is performed. Return to and execute the processing of the box. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 113 that there is no box in which the group number 1 is registered, the CPU 11 ends the program.

As described above, by designating a group number from a personal computer and instructing execution of PC scanning, the scanned image can be converted into a desired file format and transferred to a plurality of transfer destinations.
In this case, as described above, when the same group number 1 is designated and the PC scan execution is instructed again in a state where the transfer possibility column of the box in which the group number 1 is registered is OFF, Since the current scan image is accumulated after the previous scan image and an image file for one job is created, the group number 1 is displayed from the operation screen of the personal computer or the display / operation unit 14 before the last PC scan execution instruction. A plurality of scanned images can be transferred as data of one job by changing the transfer permission / non-permission column of the private box registered with “ON” to ON.

In the above embodiment, the scan image is transferred to the transfer destination by specifying the group number from the personal computer and executing the PC scan, but by specifying the group number from the personal computer and instructing the execution of the PC print, It is also possible to convert the image data instructed to be printed into a desired file format by the network multifunction peripheral and transfer it to a plurality of transfer destinations.
Hereinafter, the operation of the network MFP 1 when PC printing is executed with a group number specified will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

Similarly to the above, the CPU 11 of the network multifunction device 1 always executes the PC print program shown in FIG. 6. When this program is started, first, a print execution instruction is issued from the personal computer 2 or the like via the LAN I / F 21. It is determined whether or not there has been (step 201). For example, if there is a print execution instruction from the personal computer 3, the CPU 11 determines whether or not a group number is specified by this print execution instruction (step 202).
The PC print execution instruction designating the above group number is, for example, by clicking an option on the print designation screen displayed on the personal computer display screen as shown in FIG. 7, and then displaying the group number on the displayed option screen. It is possible to do this by inputting.

  If it is determined in step 202 that there is no group number designation, the CPU 11 performs normal print processing (step 203). On the other hand, if it is determined in step 202 that, for example, the group number 2 has been designated, the CPU 11 determines whether or not there is a group number 2 designated in the private box, whether or not the forwarding destination host name and forwarding destination are in that box. It is determined whether or not the folder name is registered (step 204). If the CPU 11 determines that the group number, transfer destination host name, or transfer destination folder name is not registered, the CPU 11 returns an error message such as “No group number registered” to the personal computer 3. Processing is performed (step 205).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 204 that the group number, transfer destination host name, and transfer destination folder name are registered, the CPU 11 receives the image information (PDL data) expressed in the page description language received from the personal computer 3. Is rasterized to create image data, and the created image data is MMR-encoded by the codec 18 (step 206) and then stored in the image memory 16 (step 207).

  Next, the CPU 11 searches for a box in which the designated group number 2 is registered, and designates one box name of the box in which the group number 2 is registered, for example, “C” (step 208). Next, transfer processing of the image data stored in the image memory 16 is performed. Since the following operation is the same as the operation of steps 109 to 114 in the flowchart of FIG. 4, detailed description thereof is omitted.

As described above, by specifying a group number from a personal computer and instructing execution of PC printing, print information can be converted into a desired file format and transferred to a plurality of transfer destinations. Similarly to the case, when the same group number 2 is specified and the PC print execution instruction is performed again in a state where the transfer possibility column of the box in which the group number 2 is registered is OFF, the destination of the image memory Since the print information image of this time is accumulated and the image file of one job is created following the image of the print information, whether or not the box in which the group number 2 is registered can be transferred before the last PC print execution instruction If the column is changed to ON, a plurality of print information images can be transferred as data for one job.
Therefore, for example, if a print execution instruction for word processing software data is issued and then a print execution instruction for spreadsheet software data is issued, both data can be transferred to a plurality of personal computers as one job.

  In the above embodiment, the transfer enable / disable column is provided in the private box, and the image is transferred only when ON is registered in the transfer enable / disable column. However, the transfer enable / disable column is omitted, and the group number is set. If there is a specified PC scan or PC print execution instruction, the image can be immediately converted and transferred, or when an image transfer is instructed by a separate operation from a personal computer or network multifunction device It is also possible to perform image transfer.

  In the above embodiment, TIFF, PDF, and G3 are given as examples of the image file format to be registered in the private box. However, various other file formats can be registered, and in the private box. When image transfer is performed without providing the image file format column, the image file format can be transferred after being converted into a predetermined file format, for example, TIFF format.

Further, in the above embodiment, the image transfer is notified by e-mail. However, if there is little need to notify by e-mail, e-mail notification can be omitted.
In the above embodiment, the scan image or the print information is encoded by the MMR method and stored in the image memory. However, it can be encoded by another encoding method, for example, the MH or MR method.

It is a figure which shows the network structural example of the system provided with the network multifunction device. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the network multifunction peripheral of this invention. It is a figure which shows the information registered into a private box. It is a flowchart which shows an effect | action at the time of performing PC scan. It is a figure which shows an example of the scan instruction | indication screen at the time of PC scan execution. It is a flowchart which shows an effect | action at the time of performing PC printing. It is a figure which shows an example of the printing designation | designated screen at the time of PC printing execution.

Explanation of symbols

1 Network MFP 2, 3, 4 PC 5 PSTN
6 LAN
7 Internet 11 CPU
12 ROM
13 RAM
14 Display / Operation Unit 15 Reading Unit 16 Image Memory 17 Recording Unit 18 Codec 19 Modem 20 NCU
21 LAN I / F
22 Bus 23 Private box storage area

Claims (4)

A network composite that can be connected to a communication network comprising transfer information storage means having a plurality of boxes in which group numbers and transfer destinations are registered, image storage means, image recording means, and control means for controlling the above-mentioned sections Machine,
When there is a print execution instruction not specifying a group number from an external device connected to the communication network, the control means prints the print information by the image recording means, and the external device connected to the communication network When there is a print execution instruction designating a number, the control means accumulates an encoded image of print information in the image accumulation means, and this accumulated image is transferred in a box in which the designated group number is registered. A network multifunction device that is forwarded first. 2. The network multifunction device according to claim 1, wherein a file format is registered in each box of the transfer information storage means, and when the image is transferred, a group number in which the stored image is designated by the control means is registered. A network multifunction device that converts the file format set in the box and transfers it. 2. The network multifunction device according to claim 1, wherein whether or not image transfer is registered in each box of the transfer information storage means and when a print execution instruction is given, the designated group number can be transferred to the registered box. The network multifunction device, wherein the control means transfers an image to a transfer destination only when the is set. 4. The network multifunction device according to claim 1 , wherein when the transfer notification mail destination is registered in each box of the transfer information storage unit and the image is transferred to the transfer destination, the control unit A network multifunction device, which transmits a mail including the image transfer and the transfer destination to a mail transmission destination set in a box in which the designated group number is registered.

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