JPH05219142A - Document processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a document processor which can exclusively control the utilization of a communication port from respective applications by exclusively setting and managing the using rights of the communication port from the plural applications. CONSTITUTION:Various kinds of programs including a document program, a FAX communication processing program, etc., are stored in a hard disk 15, properly read out in the management by an external storage control part 14 and developed in a program memory 3. Then, at the time of executing the plural applications which perform communication-processes with various kinds of devices through the communication port, CPU 2 exclusively sets and manages the using rights of the communication port from the plural applications based on the program read in the memory 3. By such constitution, when the plural applications use the communication port, an operator can exclusively set and manage the using rights of the communication port and the using rights of the communication port are not competed with each other.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a document processing apparatus for performing DTP editing, and more particularly to a document processing apparatus capable of performing communication processing on various device-desired data via an interface port.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a workstation type document processing apparatus for performing this kind of DTP editing processing has been put into practical use, and various advanced DTP editing is performed by an easy operation.
It is configured so that a document image edited with an electronic image can be output in high definition.

The image resolution to be processed by such a device is, for example, 100 DPI at the time of CRT display and 400 DPI at the time of print output, so that a large amount of data can be displayed and printed at independent resolutions. Management is performed via a storage medium such as a hard disk.

Thus, from one workstation to various devices, such as the first printer family (LI
PSIII), second printer family (PostScript),
In order to perform communication processing with the DTP cable and the FAX adapter, both are usually connected via a predetermined interface cable via an interface (eg RS232C) port and desired communication processing is performed.

[0005]

However, when the number of interfaces (for example, RS232C) is small, while the first printer family (LIPSIII) is connected to the main body through a predetermined interface cable, for example. In addition, when performing FAX transmission, the setting recognized at system startup is the first printer family (LIPSIII
), To switch to FAX transmission,
There is a problem in that a hard reset may be involved and an additional operation load becomes heavy due to an interface (for example, RS232C) port setting switching operation.

On the other hand, if the interface port device destination is simply set by software processing and the interface port switching is allowed at an inadvertent timing during normal communication processing, the communication processing will be performed normally. However, there is a problem in that it cannot be terminated, communication errors frequently occur due to switching, and data processing must be interrupted.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems. Exclusive use of the communication port from each application is controlled by exclusively setting and managing the use right of the communication port from a plurality of applications. It is an object of the present invention to provide a document processing device that can be controlled dynamically.

[0008]

A document processing apparatus according to the present invention has port management means for exclusively setting and managing the usage rights of communication ports from a plurality of applications.

[0009]

According to the present invention, when executing a plurality of applications for performing communication processing with various devices via the communication port, the port management means exclusively sets and manages the right to use the communication port from the plurality of applications. By doing so, it becomes possible to exclusively control the use of the communication port from each application.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a document processing apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention. As long as the functions of the present invention can be executed, even a single device can have a plurality of units. It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to a system including devices and a system in which processing is performed via a network such as a LAN.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a system bus, and each constituent block described later is connected to the system bus 1. 2 is a CPU, a program memory (PMEM)
Program read in 3 (document editing program, F
Each device is comprehensively controlled based on an AX communication processing program or the like). Various programs including a document editing program, a FAX communication processing program, etc. are stored in the hard disk 15, read under the management of the external storage control unit 14 as appropriate, and expanded in the program memory 3. Further, in the program memory 3 which also functions as a text memory, data input from the keyboard 8 or the like is stored as code information.

An image scanner 5 is controlled by the image input / output control unit 6 so that the read image data is expanded in the image memory 4 and then displayable image information is expanded in the VRAM 11 functioning as a video image memory. ,
It is displayed on the CRT display device 13. The display state of the CRT display device 13 is controlled by the display output control unit 12. The print image is expanded in the image memory 4 as bitmap data and then output from the printer 7 under the control of the image input / output control unit 6.

An input control unit 8 is connected with an input device such as a keyboard 9 and a pointing device (PD) 10. By operating this keyboard 9, the operator
System operation commands are issued. The pointing device 10 selects document information on the screen of the CRT display device 13 and gives an instruction for processing, and in the present embodiment, a so-called mouse is used. In accordance with the operation of the pointing device 10, the mouse cursor on the screen of the CRT display device 13 is arbitrarily moved in the X and Y directions to select a menu,
Select and edit image data and graphic data. A floppy disk (FD) 16 functions as a disk for data files, and various media (2HD, 2ED,
A floppy disk of 2DD) is accessible.

The data displayed on the CRT display 13 is developed as bit map data on the VRAM 11. For example, in the case of graphic data, a graphic pattern corresponding to its position and attribute information is expanded in the bitmap. ..
Further, it is configured such that a cursor can be directly generated in the display area of the VRAM 11 and displayed on the CRT display 13 by software control.

A FAX adapter 17 transmits / receives data to / from the other party's FAX through this system and a public line.
The FAX adapter 17 sequentially transmits a transmission file expanded with a predetermined compression code to a transmission file area secured in the hard disk 15, for example, and receives the compression code transmitted from the other party to receive the hard code. It is expanded to a storage medium such as the disk 15 or the floppy disk 16. In addition,
In the present embodiment, work files used in the FAX transmission process are a FAX image file, an invoice file, a call identification line model image file, a transmission information file, and the like, which are created on the hard disk 15.

Here, the FAX image file is a file that holds each MH-compressed data after converting each page of the designated document to be transmitted into an image, and "transmit" is instructed in a FAX transmission window described later. Then, it is secured in a predetermined area of the hard disk 15. The invoice file is a file that holds an expanded image of the invoice as MH-compressed data, and is created for the number of recipients only when the invoice is "transmitted" in the FAX transmission window. Further, the call identification line model image file is a file that holds the so-called MH-compressed data of the expanded image of the so-called letterhead line, and is created only when "Output" is selected for the call identification line specification in the FAX transmission window. To be done. In addition, the transmission information file is
This is a file in which instruction information for instructing the transmission process, such as the FAX number of the other party and the image file name to be transmitted, is written, and only one file is created in one transmission.

Among these, when the FAX image file is created, since the resolution of the G3 standard FAX is "fine", it is about 200 DPI, so the image is developed at a resolution (200 DPI) different from the resolution 400 of the print image. The font uses FAX font data, and the hatching pattern is similarly created with 200 DPI. The image data is reduced to 1/2 and developed. Instead of the CRT display 13, a FLC display using a high-dielectric liquid crystal capable of high-definition display may be used. In addition, the printer 7, FAX adapter 17, etc.
It is configured to be connected to the system bus via a serial interface port such as S232C. It has an expansion interface port on the outside.

In the thus configured document processing apparatus, when executing a plurality of applications that perform communication processing with various devices via the communication port, the port management means (CPU 2) uses the communication ports from the plurality of applications. By exclusively managing and managing the usage right of, it becomes possible to exclusively control the communication port usage from each application.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a system menu window displayed on the CRT display 13 shown in FIG. 1. The FAX function processing can be started by pointing the FAX icon with the mouse cursor. it can.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the FA by the list window of the edited document displayed on the CRT display 13 shown in FIG.
It is a figure which shows an example of X transmission document instruction processing, 21 shows the document data list window which displays an example of the document data registered into this system, 23 shows a registered document name, 23 shows a registered document name 23. Indicates a document size corresponding to, and 24 is a command field for instructing the FAX transmission of the selected document data.

When the document data to be fax-transmitted is selected by the pointing device 10 in the document data list window 21 in the state shown in FIG. 3, the selected transmission document candidates 30 and 31 are displayed on the CRT display as shown in FIG. 1
3 is highlighted. Command field 2 in this state
When 4 is clicked with the pointing device 10, the FAX transmission parameter setting window shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is displayed on the CRT display 13.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are an outline sketch and a detailed view showing an example of the FAX transmission parameter setting window displayed on the CRT display 13 shown in FIG.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 40 is a FAX transmission parameter setting window for setting the telephone number of the other party to be FAX-transmitted, and the input of the transmission destination FAX number, the number of retransmissions, etc., and the designation of "normal / high definition" of the resolution. It can be carried out. Reference numeral 41 is a transmission start command field for instructing the start of FAX transmission.
When you click with the pointing device 10,
The FAX transmission process described later is activated.

Although the main part of the FAX transmission parameter setting window is shown in FIG. 5, in detail, items 50 to 53 can be set as shown in FIG.
For item 1, items can be directly input 51a, basic roster 51b, and group 51c. For item 52 (FAX image conversion setting item in this embodiment), transmission page 52a, pasting image 52b, invoice 52c,
Call identification line 52d, date and time display format 52e, non-transmission part 52
The user can arbitrarily set various items such as f, the expansion mode 52g, and the transmission size designation 52h, and the reverse display state indicates the current selection state.

Regarding item 53 (transmission parameter setting item in this embodiment), resolution 53a, number of retransmissions 53b,
The resend interval 53c is configured so that the user can arbitrarily set it, and the reverse display state indicates the current selection state.

7 and 8 are views showing an example of a FAX transmission record list displayed on the CRT display 13 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 7 shows a transmission list and FIG. 8 shows a transmission error list. Indicates. 7 and 8, the transmission history that traces back in time from the latest transmission end state is displayed for one screen according to the set window size, and the history state is reversible by the scroll instruction of the pointing device 10. Is configured to be able to display. Thereby, the operator can immediately grasp the latest transmission state without giving a complicated scroll instruction.

The list shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the CRT display 13 by designating "FAX transmission record" in the tool box of the system menu window shown in FIG.
The X transmission record list window 60 is displayed. In the present embodiment, the fax transmission record list includes all the items 61a (currently selected), normal transmission 61b, and transmission error 61c in the figure by instructing the pointing device 10 to display all the items 61a.
When is selected, the normal transmission and the error transmission are displayed in a mixed state as shown in FIG. Note that the display control may be executed so that the transmission error 61c is preferentially selected and displayed, which reduces the operation load for confirming the latest transmission document that is the error target. ..

Further, when the normal transmission 61b is selected, the latest normally transmitted one is shown in FIG. 7 and a FAX transmission normal end list shown in FIG. 11 is displayed in a window as shown in FIG. Further, when the transmission error 61c is selected, the screen 2 of the CRT display 13 is displayed as shown in FIG.
The FAX transmission error list window 62 is displayed at 0,
A transmission error document name, date of occurrence, and error number (decipherable error code (for example, code E012 (with untransmitted destination) displayed) are displayed).

A series of processing operations from the selection of document data to FAX transmission will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing an example of a FAX transmission processing procedure in the document processing apparatus according to the present invention. It should be noted that (1) to (8) indicate each step.

First, when an instruction to display a list of document data recorded in the present system is given from the keyboard, the display screen 2 of the CRT display 13 as shown in FIG.
The document data list window 21 is displayed on 0 (1).
Next, from the document data list window 21, the document data desired to be fax-transmitted is selected by the pointing device 10
When an operation instruction is given with a cursor that operates in conjunction with, and click selection is performed (2), the display state of FIG. 3 is switched to the selection shown in FIG. 4, and the selected document data, that is, transmission document candidates 30 and 31 are highlighted. To be done.

Then, it is judged whether or not the designation of the document data to be transmitted by FAX has been completed (3). If NO, the process returns to step (2) to repeat the document selection process, and if YES, F
Whether or not the AX transmission is instructed, that is, the command field 24 is instructed by the cursor operating in conjunction with the pointing device 10 or by the key input from the keyboard 9 (4), the FAX transmission command is transmitted. If instructed, the document data list window 21 is erased, and the FAX transmission parameter setting window 40 shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display screen 20 of the CRT display in order to instruct which party the FAX transmission is performed. Yes (5). Next, the FAX number of the destination, the number of retransmissions, and the resolution of the transmitted data are set (6). Then, the cursor that operates in conjunction with the pointing device 10 is moved to the field of the transmission start command 41 on the FAX transmission parameter setting window 40, and the click button of the pointing device 10 is pressed or key input on the keyboard 9 is performed. It is determined whether or not the start is instructed (7). If NO, the process returns to step (6) to set FAX transmission parameters, and if YES, the selected document data is transferred to the FAX adapter 17 shown in FIG. Then, the selected document data is transmitted from the FAX adapter 17 to the destination specified in step (6) (8).

The document image data edited in this manner can be fax-transmitted as a document image conforming to the format. However, in the document processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, as a process for competing use of communication ports such as a fax transmission function. In addition, there are DTP communication, printer function processing, etc. In order to set these communication ports, the interface cables corresponding to each function are switched and connected when executing each processing, but communication is performed during parallel processing. When a port is processed, the communication port may be mistakenly switched and an error may occur, so if the environment setting is selected and instructed by the system menu shown in FIG.
The command field for C port setting (see FIG. 10) is C
When it is displayed on the RT display 13 and the command field is clicked, the RS232C port setting window shown in FIG. 11 is displayed. In the following, the usage right for the RS232C port is exclusively managed based on each application execution state according to the procedure shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing an example of the exclusive control procedure of the RS232C port use right in the document processing apparatus according to the present invention. Note that (1) to (18) indicate each step.

First, when the port setting is requested (1), that is, when the environment setting is selected and instructed in the system menu shown in FIG. 2, the command field (see FIG. 10) of the RS232C port setting is displayed on the CRT display unit 13. Is displayed on the screen 20 of
The RS232C port setting window shown in FIG. 11 is displayed.

Next, it is judged whether or not each port use application shown in FIG. 11 has been selected (2) to (6). If "not connected" is selected in step (6), communication port connection is OK. Whether or not (8) is determined, and if YES, the connection state of the communication port is set to "not connected" and the process is returned.

On the other hand, if NO in step (8), one of the messages M1 to M4 is displayed on the CRT display 13 (1
0), when "Confirm" in the window is clicked (11),
To return.

On the other hand, when the DTP communication is selected in step (2), it is judged whether the system state is not hindered by executing the port setting (port setting OK) (12), and Y
If it is ES, the right to use the communication port is transferred to the DTP communication application (13), and the process ends.

On the other hand, if the determination in step (12) is NO,
For example, when the communication port is being used due to some parallel processing, the message window M3 shown in (c) of FIG. 15 is displayed (14), and when "confirm" in the message window M3 is clicked ( 15), return. The series of steps (12) to (15) is referred to as port setting processing 1.

Similarly, when the determination in step (3) is YES, that is, when “PostScript” is selected in the RS232C port setting window shown in FIG. 11, port setting processing 2 which is substantially the same as port setting processing 1 is selected. Execute (16) and return.

Similarly, when the determination in step (3) is YES, that is, when "LIPSIII" is selected in the RS232C port setting window shown in FIG. 11, port setting processing 3 similar to port setting processing 1 is performed. (17),
To return.

Similarly, when the determination in step (3) is YES, that is, when “FAX” is selected in the RS232C port setting window shown in FIG. 11, the port setting process 4 which is substantially the same as the port setting process 1 is performed. Execute (18) and return.

As a result, the communication port can be exclusively selected and set by a simple soft switch processing operation without hindering the system processing.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a communication port execution processing procedure in the document processing apparatus according to the present invention. Note that (1) to (4) indicate each step. In addition,
The case of executing the DPT communication process will be described as an example.
The same applies to the processing via other communication ports.

First, the DTP communication process is selected (1), it is determined whether the communication port is OK (2), and if YES, the DTP communication process is executed in this embodiment (3), and the process returns and NO.
In this case, the message MM4 in the messages MM1 to MM4 shown in FIG. 14 is displayed and the process is terminated.

In the above embodiment, the communication port is RS2.
I explained the case of 32C, but SCSI
Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a communication port such as an interface port, a parallel interface (parallel interface compatible with Centronics), and various other interface ports.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention, when executing a plurality of applications that perform communication processing with various devices via the communication port, the port management means uses the communication port from the plurality of applications. Since it is configured to exclusively set and manage the communication port, the operator can exclusively control the right to use the communication port when a plurality of applications use the communication port.

Therefore, when execution of an application involving the use of a communication port is selected, the communication port use rights do not conflict with each other, and the communication port processing can be normally executed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a document processing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a system menu window displayed on the CRT display shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of FAX transmission document instruction processing by a list window of edited documents displayed on the CRT display shown in FIG.

4 is a diagram showing an example of FAX transmission document instruction processing by a list window of edited documents displayed on the CRT display shown in FIG.

5 is a FAX displayed on the CRT display shown in FIG.
6 is an outline diagram showing an example of a transmission parameter setting window.

6 is a fax displayed on the CRT display shown in FIG.
It is a detailed view showing an example of a transmission parameter setting window.

FIG. 7 is a FAX displayed on the CRT display shown in FIG.
It is a figure which shows an example of a transmission record list display.

FIG. 8 is a fax displayed on the CRT display shown in FIG.
It is a figure which shows an example of a transmission record list display.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a FAX transmission processing procedure in the document processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a communication port setting window in the document processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a communication port setting window in the document processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an RS23 in the document processing apparatus according to the present invention.
It is a flow chart which shows an example of the exclusive control procedure of the 2C port use right.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a communication port processing procedure in the document processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of a message window associated with communication port setting in the document processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of a message window associated with communication port setting in the document processing apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 CPU 10 Pointing device 13 CRT display 15 Hard disk 17 FAX adapter

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a document processing apparatus that performs document processing while executing a plurality of applications that perform communication processing with various devices via a communication port, exclusive management of the right to use the communication port from the plurality of applications is managed. A document processing apparatus having a port management unit for controlling the document processing apparatus.