JP4647541B2 - Image communication device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image communication apparatus to which an external memory can be attached.

  In an image communication apparatus including a facsimile apparatus, a received image is immediately output to a storage sheet, or once stored in a memory in the image communication apparatus and then output to a storage sheet. In recent years, an image communication apparatus has been put to practical use in which a received image is stored in a memory built in the image communication apparatus or in an external memory connected to the image communication apparatus, separately from output to a storage sheet.

  In addition to the facsimile transmission / reception functions, multifunction devices with a scanner function and a printing function are generally capable of storing received images in memory, but the memory built into the multifunction device has a limited capacity, Since there is little convenience in storage, an external memory is often added. In recent years, in addition to PCs (Personal computers), JPEG images and PDF data can be stored and referenced using mobile phones, PDAs (personal digital assistants), and digital cameras, and can be carried as transmission images. It has become. For this reason, applications such as taking out images and documents read by a scanner of a multifunction device to a mobile phone or printing an image taken with a mobile phone have become widespread, so a plurality of external memories are mounted on the multifunction device. Cases have increased in recent years.

Conventionally, Patent Document 1 describes a technique for determining whether or not an external memory is installed in a model that allows an external memory to be attached to an image communication apparatus, and changing a storage destination of a received image. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 describes a technique that enables the settings of the image communication apparatus itself to be stored in an external memory.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-341312 (released on December 22, 1998) JP 2000-354121 A (published on December 19, 2000)

  However, in the conventional image communication apparatus, when the user has a plurality of external memories, the user has to designate an operation each time the external memory is attached. In addition, when a plurality of external memories are attached to the multifunction device, the multifunction device pre-defines each external memory in accordance with a priority determined in advance by each multifunction device, for example, the one inserted first or the card type. The priority of each external memory is set according to a predetermined priority. For this reason, when a plurality of types of external memories are mounted, the data cannot be stored in the external memory desired by the user for each application (for each type of image data stored in the external memory). Alternatively, each time an image data save request is generated, the priority of the save external memory set in the multifunction peripheral must be reset.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to store image data in an external memory desired by a user for each application in an image communication apparatus in which a plurality of external memories can be mounted. It is to realize an image communication apparatus that can be used.

  In order to solve the above problems, an image communication apparatus according to the present invention is an image communication apparatus in which an external memory can be mounted, and external memory use setting information stored in the external memory for the mounted external memory. On the basis of the external memory use setting information reading means for reading the image data and the external memory use setting information read by the external memory use setting information reading means, it is determined whether or not to store the image data in the attached external memory. It is characterized by having means.

  According to the above configuration, the image communication apparatus reads the use setting of the external memory from the external memory itself by the external memory use setting information reading unit, and uses the selection unit based on the read external memory use setting information. It is determined whether or not an external memory is used for storing image data. As a result, there is an effect that it is possible to set the storage and reading of image data in accordance with the use settings specified in the external memory.

  In addition, the image communication apparatus may include an external memory use setting information writing unit that writes external memory use setting information indicating use settings of the external memory to the attached external memory.

  According to said structure, the said image communication apparatus can preserve | save the use setting with respect to the said external memory with which it was mounted | worn by the said external memory use setting information writing means.

  The external memory use setting information may include application setting information indicating the use application of the external memory with respect to the attached external memory.

  Furthermore, the image communication apparatus can be equipped with a plurality of external memories, and the external memory use setting information includes priority order setting information indicating the priority order of the external memories with respect to the attached external memory. It is good.

  According to the above configuration, the usage setting information of the external memory includes usage information, so that the external memory can be set according to the usage. Further, since the priority setting information is included in the use setting information of the external memory, the external memory can be set according to the priority.

  The image communication apparatus can be equipped with a plurality of external memories, and the selection means is attached based on the application setting information read by the external memory use setting information reading means and the priority order setting information. The external memory used for storing the image data can be selected from the existing external memories.

  According to said structure, when there exist two or more said external memories with the same use application, there exists an effect that the priority in use of each external memory can be set.

  As described above, in the image communication apparatus according to the present invention, in the image communication apparatus in which the external memory can be mounted, the external memory use setting information stored in the external memory is read out from the mounted external memory. Memory usage setting information reading means, and means for determining whether or not to store image data in the attached external memory based on the external memory usage setting information read by the external memory usage setting information reading means ing.

  In addition, as described above, the image communication apparatus according to the present invention includes the external memory use setting information writing means for writing the external memory use setting information indicating the use setting of the external memory to the attached external memory. It is good also as composition which has.

  In the image communication apparatus according to the present invention, as described above, the external memory use setting information includes use setting information indicating the use purpose of the external memory with respect to the attached external memory, or The image communication apparatus may be equipped with a plurality of external memories, and the external memory use setting information may include priority order setting information indicating the priority order of the external memories with respect to the attached external memory. .

  Further, as described above, the image communication apparatus according to the present invention can be equipped with a plurality of external memories, and the selection means reads the application setting read by the external memory use setting information reading means. Based on the information and the priority setting information, an external memory to be used for storing image data may be selected from the mounted external memories.

  Therefore, the image communication apparatus can store the use setting of the attached external memory in the external memory itself, and can also select the type of image data based on the stored external memory use setting. The external memory to be used can be selected according to. As a result, there is an effect that it is possible to set the storage and reading of image data in accordance with the use settings specified in the external memory.

[Embodiment 1]
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, a multifunction machine having a facsimile function is exemplified as the image communication apparatus.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an image communication apparatus according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the facsimile apparatus includes a control unit 1, a communication line control unit 2, a display unit 3, a storage unit 4, a ringing tone output unit 5, a modem 6, a handset 7, A dial button group 8, an operation button group 9, a handset up / down detection unit 10, an external memory controller 11, a scanner 12, and a printing unit 13 are provided.

  The control unit 1 is means for controlling the operation of the facsimile apparatus, and controls each unit so that the facsimile apparatus operates as a telephone and a facsimile.

  The communication line control unit 2 performs transmission / reception processing for the communication line network. For example, the communication line control unit 2 detects an incoming signal, determines whether the incoming data is a facsimile or a voice call, transmits a dial signal, and transmits / receives a facsimile or voice call data.

  The display unit 3 is a means for displaying the status of the facsimile apparatus, the telephone number of the called party, etc., and may display incoming facsimile data or display an image captured by a scanner.

  The storage unit 4 is a storage device built in the facsimile apparatus, and stores a caller telephone number, telephone directory data, and the like. Further, the data when the external memory is not attached to the external memory controller 11 may be stored, and the data generated in the facsimile apparatus such as received data may be temporarily stored.

  The ringing tone output unit 5 is a speaker that outputs a ringing tone at the time of incoming call. The modem 6 transmits / receives facsimile data and detects a dial tone at the time of transmission / reception. The handset 7 is used for transmission and reception. The dial button group 8 is used for designating a dial at the time of transmission and facsimile transmission. Further, it may be used as a numeric keypad for operating the control unit 1. The operation button group 9 is a button group for controlling transmission / reception of facsimile and a button group used for controlling the scanner and the external memory controller 11. The handset up / down detection unit 10 is a device that detects the up / down of the handset, and detects the start and end of a voice call.

  The external memory controller 11 is means for writing and reading data to and from an external memory (SD card, CF card, USB memory, etc.) mounted on the facsimile apparatus. A plurality of external memories can be inserted into and removed from the external memory controller 11.

  The scanner 12 is a device that reads an image, and may read a facsimile transmission original or may operate as an image copier in combination with a printing unit 13 described later.

  The printing unit 13 is a means for printing image data. The printing unit 13 can print received facsimile data, print data taken from the scanner 12 at the time of image copying, print image data received from a personal computer or image data stored in an external memory, and the like.

  The facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment stores external memory use setting information in an external memory mounted on the external memory controller 11, and stores image data in the external memory based on the external memory use setting information. It has a feature in that it is controlled. Here, the external memory use setting information is information storing the use setting of the external memory. The external memory use setting information is stored as a file or folder in the external memory.

  In the first embodiment. A case will be exemplified in which application setting information is used as the external memory use setting information and image data is stored in an external memory desired by the user for each type of image data by writing the type of data to be stored in the external memory. First, the operation for setting the type of data to be stored in the external memory will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, when an external memory is attached to the external memory controller 11, the controller 1 detects the attachment of the external memory (S1). When mounting of the external memory is detected, the control unit 1 confirms whether or not application setting information is written in the detected external memory (S2).

  Here, the usage setting information is information indicating the type of image data stored in the external memory. In the following description, it is assumed that facsimile reception information is written as application setting information in an external memory used for storing facsimile-received image data. In addition, it is assumed that image scan information is written as application setting information in an external memory used for storing scan image data. The usage setting information is stored as a file or folder in the external memory.

  When the usage setting information is not stored in the external memory where the attachment is detected, the control unit 1 inputs the usage setting information to the external memory via the external memory controller 11 (S3). As a procedure for inputting the usage setting information at this time, it is conceivable to inquire the user of the usage of the external memory using the display unit 3 and write the usage setting information to the external memory according to the usage used by the user.

  When the usage purpose of the external memory is input by the user, the control unit 1 creates usage setting information according to the usage purpose, and writes the usage setting information to the external memory via the external memory controller 11. As a result, the facsimile reception information is stored in the external memory in which the usage is set for the reception facsimile (S4). In addition, image scan information is stored in an external memory in which a use application is set for image scan (S5).

  Next, a processing operation when image data is stored in the external memory in the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation for the facsimile apparatus to store the fax-received image data in the external memory.

  When the facsimile is received, the control unit 1 searches the external memory attached to the external memory controller 11 and, if there is an attached external memory, detects application setting information stored therein (S11). ).

  When the usage setting information is detected, the control unit 1 checks whether or not the external memory is for receiving facsimile based on the usage setting information (S12). That is, the control unit 1 confirms whether or not the detected use setting information is facsimile reception information.

  If the external memory for facsimile reception is detected in the confirmation in S12, the image data received by fax is stored in the external memory (S13).

  Further, when the external memory for facsimile reception is not detected in the confirmation in S12, that is, when the external memory is not mounted or the mounted external memory is not for facsimile reception, a fax is received. The image data is stored in the storage unit 4 (S14).

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation for the facsimile apparatus to store the image data obtained by the image scan in the external memory.

  When an image scan is executed by the scanner 12 of the facsimile apparatus, the control unit 1 searches for an external memory attached to the external memory controller 11, and if there is an attached external memory, it is stored therein. Application setting information is detected (S21).

  When the usage setting information is detected, the control unit 1 checks whether or not the external memory is for image scanning based on the usage setting information (S22). That is, the control unit 1 confirms whether or not the detected use setting information is image scanning information.

  If an external memory for image scanning is detected in the confirmation in S22, the image scanned image data is stored in the external memory (S23).

  Further, when the external memory for image scanning is not detected in the confirmation in S22, that is, when the external memory is not attached or when the attached external memory is not for image scanning, the control unit 1 Uses the display unit 3 to inquire the user about an external memory for storing image data (S24). The scanned image data is stored in the external memory designated in S24 (S25).

  In the operation described with reference to FIG. 3, when the external memory for facsimile reception is not detected, the image data received by fax is stored in the storage unit 4. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and before the image data is stored in the storage unit 4, the display unit 3 may display a message prompting the user to install an external memory for facsimile reception. . Similarly, in the operation described with reference to FIG. 4, when the external memory for image scanning is not detected, the display unit 3 prompts the user to install the external memory for image scanning, and the scanned image to the storage unit 4 is displayed. Options for saving data may be presented.

  3 and 4, every time a fax reception or image scan operation occurs, the external memory mounting confirmation process, the external memory use setting stored in the external memory, and the application setting information confirmation process are performed. Has been done. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it is conceivable that external memory use setting information stored in the external memory is read out and stored in the storage unit 4 when the external memory is attached to the facsimile apparatus. That is, the facsimile apparatus in this case can manage the installed external memory and the usage of the external memory within the facsimile apparatus, and the external memory installation confirmation process every time a fax reception or image scan operation occurs. In addition, it is not necessary to perform confirmation processing of the usage setting information.

[Embodiment 2]
Next, the facsimile apparatus according to the second embodiment uses the priority setting information as the external memory use setting information, and writes the priority setting information for using the external memory attached to the external memory controller 11, thereby It is characterized in that image data is stored in an external memory in accordance with the usage priority order desired by the user. The facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment uses the configuration shown in FIG. First, the operation for setting the type of data to be stored in the external memory will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, when an external memory is attached to the external memory controller 11, the controller 1 detects the attachment of the external memory (S31). When the attachment of the external memory is detected, the control unit 1 confirms whether the priority setting information is written in the detected external memory (S32).

  Here, the priority order setting information is information indicating the priority order of using the external memory mounted on the facsimile apparatus.

  When the priority setting information is not stored in the external memory use setting information, the control unit 1 inputs the priority setting information to the external memory via the external memory controller 11 (S33). As a procedure for inputting the priority setting information at this time, it is considered that the display unit 3 is used to inquire the user of the priority of the external memory, and the priority setting information is written in the external memory according to the priority input by the user. It is done. As a result, the priority order used in the facsimile apparatus is stored in the external memory.

  Next, a processing operation when image data is stored in the external memory in the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the description, the operation at the time of fax reception will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation for the facsimile apparatus to store the image data received by fax in an external memory.

  When the facsimile is received, the control unit 1 searches the external memory mounted in the external memory controller 11 and, if there is a mounted external memory, detects the priority setting information stored therein ( S41).

  When the priority order setting information is detected, the control unit 1 confirms the priority order set in the external memory based on the priority order setting information (S42).

  In the confirmation in S42, the image data received by fax is stored in the external memory having the highest priority among the detected external memories (S43).

  Further, in the confirmation in S42, if an external memory in which priority order setting information is set is not detected, that is, if no external memory is installed or priority order setting information is not set, fax reception is performed. The image data thus saved is stored in the storage unit 4 (S44).

  In the operation described with reference to FIG. 6, it is assumed that the image data received by fax is stored in the storage unit 4 when the external memory in which the priority order setting information is set is not detected. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and display of prompting the user to attach an external memory may be performed on the display unit 3 before storing the image data in the storage unit 4.

  In the first embodiment, it is assumed that there is one external memory for fax reception or image scanning. In the second embodiment, it is assumed that only the priority order setting information is stored in the external memory use setting information. That is, in the first and second embodiments, one type of information is stored in the external memory as the external memory use setting information. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and two or more types of information may be stored in the external memory as the external memory use setting information.

  For example, in the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of external memories can be mounted for each of fax reception and image scanning. In such a case, priority setting information is set together with use setting information for the plurality of external memories, and data is stored in the external memory based on the set use setting and priority. Is possible.

  In the present embodiment, the external memory usage setting information has been described based on the usage setting information and the priority order setting as an example, but the external memory usage setting information is not limited to these two types of setting information. For example, it is possible to set an external memory to be used for each user, or to set the setting in the external memory use setting information according to the use of the image communication apparatus, such as setting for each time zone.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  Finally, each block of the image communication apparatus, in particular, the control unit 1 may be configured by hardware logic, or may be realized by software using a CPU as follows.

  That is, the image communication apparatus includes a CPU (central processing unit) that executes instructions of a control program that realizes each function, a ROM (read only memory) that stores the program, a RAM (random access memory) that expands the program, A storage device (storage medium) such as a memory for storing the program and various data is provided. An object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium in which a program code (execution format program, intermediate code program, source program) of a control program for an image communication apparatus, which is software that realizes the functions described above, is stored in a computer-readable manner, This can also be achieved by supplying the image communication apparatus and reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium by the computer (or CPU or MPU).

  Examples of the storage medium include magnetic tapes such as magnetic tapes and cassette tapes, magnetic disks such as floppy (registered trademark) disks / hard disks, and disks including optical disks such as CD-ROM / MO / MD / DVD / CD-R. Card system such as IC card, IC card (including memory card) / optical card, or semiconductor memory system such as mask ROM / EPROM / EEPROM / flash ROM.

  The image communication apparatus may be configured to be connectable to a communication network, and the program code may be supplied via the communication network. The communication network is not particularly limited. For example, the Internet, intranet, extranet, LAN, ISDN, VAN, CATV communication network, virtual private network, telephone line network, mobile communication network, satellite communication. A net or the like is available. Further, the transmission medium constituting the communication network is not particularly limited. For example, even in the case of wired such as IEEE 1394, USB, power line carrier, cable TV line, telephone line, ADSL line, etc., infrared rays such as IrDA and remote control, Bluetooth ( (Registered trademark), 802.11 wireless, HDR, mobile phone network, satellite line, terrestrial digital network, and the like can also be used. The present invention can also be realized in the form of a computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program code is embodied by electronic transmission.

  The present invention can be applied to an image communication apparatus in which a plurality of external memories can be mounted, image data can be easily stored and managed in the external memory, and can be applied to an image communication apparatus and a multifunction machine having a facsimile function.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the image communication apparatus in this embodiment. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation when setting the type of data to be stored in an external memory in the image communication apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the processing operation at the time of memorize | storing image data in an external memory in the said image communication apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the processing operation at the time of memorize | storing image data in an external memory in the said image communication apparatus. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation when setting a priority order of using an external memory in the image communication apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the processing operation at the time of memorize | storing image data in an external memory in the said image communication apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1 control unit (use setting information writing means, use setting information reading means, selection means, priority order setting means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 Communication line control part 3 Display part 4 Memory | storage part 5 Ringing tone output part 6 Modem 7 Handset 8 Dial button group 9 Operation button group 10 Handset up-down detection part 11 External memory controller (use setting information writing means, use setting information reading means , Selection means, priority order setting means)
12 Scanner 13 Printing section

Claims (4)

In an image communication device that can be equipped with an external memory,
Means for confirming whether or not external memory use setting information indicating the use setting of the external memory is written to the detected external memory when mounting of the external memory is detected;
Means for receiving external memory use setting information when it is confirmed that the external memory use setting information is not written in the external memory by the checking means;
External memory use setting information writing means for writing the external memory use setting information to the mounted external memory when the external memory use setting information is accepted by the accepting means;
External memory use setting information reading means for reading external memory use setting information stored in the external memory with respect to the mounted external memory;
Means for determining whether or not to store image data in the external memory mounted on the basis of the external memory use setting information read by the external memory use setting information reading means. Image communication device. The external memory usage setting information
The image communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising usage setting information indicating a usage usage of the external memory with respect to the attached external memory. The image communication apparatus can be equipped with a plurality of external memories,
The external memory usage setting information
2. The image communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising priority order setting information indicating a priority order of the external memory with respect to the attached external memory. The image communication apparatus can be equipped with a plurality of external memories,
Selection means for selecting an external memory to be used for storing image data from the mounted external memories based on the application setting information read by the external memory use setting information reading means and the priority order setting information. image communication apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it is.

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