JPH05336296A - Communication terminal equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the communication terminal equipment giving a flexibility to an interface with a host computer and improving the bi-directional operability. CONSTITUTION:When a facsimile equipment 16 accepts the set command of a system parameter consisting of the communication mode of the equipment 16 and the communication speed or the like from a host computer 14 through an interface 15, a CPU 12 sets the system parameter in a RAM 11 based on the command. When it accepts the transfer command of the system parameter, data are prepared according to the set contents of the set system parameter and transferred to the host computer 14.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication terminal device having an interface with a host computer, for example.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a facsimile apparatus which is a communication terminal apparatus having an interface with a host computer, an operator sets or confirms system parameter values including a communication mode, a communication speed or an encoding method. In this case, the operator operates from the operation unit (operation panel) of the device (hereinafter referred to as “local operation”).
Called)).

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned conventional example has the following drawbacks because the system parameters are set or confirmed only by the local operation of the facsimile apparatus. (1) The host computer cannot manage system parameters. (2) If there is a failure in the operation unit or the printer unit for performing the operation related to the system parameters, it becomes impossible to manage the system parameters.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a communication terminal device in which the interface with the host computer has flexibility and the operability between the two is improved. And

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the structure of the present invention is, in a communication terminal device having an interface with a host computer, interface means for connecting to the host computer and the interface means. And setting means for setting the function of the communication terminal device based on the setting value sent via the communication terminal.

Further, preferably, it further comprises a transfer means for transferring the set value set by the setting means to the host computer in accordance with a transfer request sent from the host computer.

[0007] Further, preferably, in the case where the setting value cannot be handled by the communication terminal device, the setting means does not set the setting value and keeps the current value.

More preferably, when there is a set value that is not handled by the communication terminal device, the transfer means further comprises an informing means for informing that fact.

[0009]

With the above construction, the function of the communication terminal device is set based on the set value sent from the host computer through the interface, and the set value set according to the transfer request from the host computer is transferred to the host computer. To work.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a facsimile apparatus according to this embodiment. As shown in the figure, the facsimile device 16 includes a keypad 1 for performing an operation, a display device 2 for displaying various messages, and an I / O for controlling the input / output of the keypad 1 and the display device 2.
A controller 3, a scanner 4 including a CCD line sensor for reading and an optical system, a printer 5 for outputting a received document and the like, an I / O controller 6 for controlling input / output of the scanner 4 and the printer 5, Communication network 1
5, a line controller 7 for controlling communication, a storage device 8 such as a hard disk (HD) for accumulating image data such as a transmitted document, and a storage device control for controlling reading and writing of data to and from the HD 8. Section 9; ROM 10 storing control programs and data for executing various functions of the apparatus 16; RAM 11 for storing system parameters of the apparatus 16 and used for processing image data and the like.
And a CPU 12 as a main control unit for controlling the entire apparatus 16 and an interface driver 13 for connecting to the host computer 14 via the interface 15.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the setting contents of the system parameters transferred from the host computer 14 to the facsimile device 16. In the figure, 21 is an example of a system parameter to be set, and 22 is a system parameter set on the side of the facsimile device 16. In this example, "packet" is added to the item of "communication mode".
Is specified, but the facsimile machine 16 side does not have this parameter, so the processing is not performed. The "G3 encoding" item also remains at the current value "MR" because "MMR" is outside the allowable range of the set value. Then, for other items, set values from the host computer 14 are set.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing setting contents of system parameters transferred from the facsimile apparatus 16 to the host computer 14 in response to a request from the host computer 14. In the figure, 31 is a host computer 1.
4 is a system parameter item requested from 33
Facsimile device 16 creates data for each item 3
This is the result of performing 2. And, 34 is a system parameter transferred to the host computer 14. In this example, as described above, the “communication mode” is notified as “no item”.

The setting and transfer of system parameters in this embodiment will be described below with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS.

First, in step S1, when the facsimile device 16 receives a command from the host computer 14 via the interface 15, the process proceeds to step S2, and based on the contents of the command, the system parameter setting request or the host is set. It is determined whether the transfer request is to the computer 14. As a result, if the system parameter is set, the process proceeds to step S3, and the item of the system parameter to be set is this device (hereinafter referred to as "this device").
It is judged whether or not it is handled in 16. As a result, if it is not handled like the above-mentioned "communication mode", the process proceeds to step S6, and moves to the process of the next parameter item. If it is handled, the process proceeds to step S4, and it is determined whether or not the set value is within the allowable range that the machine 16 can handle. As a result, for example, the above-mentioned “G
If it is out of the allowable range, such as "3 encoding", the setting value is left as it is, and the process proceeds to step S6 to proceed to the next parameter.
Move to the processing of data items.

However, if the result of the determination in step S4 is within the allowable range, the process proceeds to step S5, and the setting sent from the host computer 14 to the system parameter 22 defined in the RAM 11 of the machine 16 is set. Set the value 21. Then, in step S6, it is determined whether or not the setting processing has been completed for all the system parameter items sent from the host computer 14, and if not completed, the processing is returned to step S3, and the above-mentioned setting processing is performed. repeat.

On the other hand, in step S2, if the command is a command for transferring the system parameter to the host computer 14, the process proceeds to step S7 shown in FIG. 5, and the item of the system parameter is handled by the unit 16. Check whether or not. Here, if it is handled, the process proceeds to step S8, the corresponding set value is checked from the RAM 11, and as shown in FIG. .. If not handled, the process proceeds to step S9, and the above-mentioned "communication mode" is set.
As described above, the data 22 is created by putting the fact to the place showing the setting contents for the item.

Next, in step S10, it is determined whether or not the creation processing has been completed for all items of the requested system parameters. If not completed, the processing returns to step S7, and the above-described creation processing is repeated. Then, when the processing for all items is completed, the processing is advanced to step S11, and each created data is transferred to the host computer 14 via the interface 15.

According to the embodiment described above, in the facsimile machine having the interface with the host computer, the value of the system parameter of the facsimile machine can be set to the value sent from the host computer, and the host computer can be set. It is possible to notify the host computer of the contents of the system parameters in response to a request from the host computer.

As a result, the system parameters can be managed from the host computer, and the system parameters can be managed even if a failure occurs in the local operation unit or the printer unit of the facsimile machine. become.

Further, if there are system parameter items or setting values requested by the host computer that cannot be handled by the facsimile machine, the current values are left as they are, and among the items requested to be transferred. If there is something that is not handled in the facsimile machine, by notifying it, the interface with the host computer can be made flexible and the operability between them can be improved.

<Modification> In the above-described embodiment, the facsimile apparatus is described as an example, but the present invention can be applied to a communication terminal apparatus other than the facsimile apparatus, such as a personal computer.

In the present embodiment, the case where the host computer is connected to the host computer in a one-to-one connection has been described as an example. However, the same is true even if the connection is made to another connection form such as a well-known LAN or public network It is possible to obtain various effects.

Further, in this embodiment, when there is an item which is not handled by the facsimile machine side among the items of the system parameters requested by the host computer, the data to be transferred is transmitted as means for notifying the host computer of that. Although the corresponding column in the above was coded and notified, other means such as separately transferring the data coded to that effect, notification, command level notification, or visible audible display It is also possible to carry out by means of.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to a case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Not only the operation of the communication terminal device but also the operation of the host computer connected to the device allows the setting and confirmation of the system parameters, which may cause, for example, a failure in the operation unit or the printer unit of the device. Even if it occurs, the system parameters can be managed and the reliability of the device can be improved.

Furthermore, by eliminating restrictions on the items and setting values of the system parameters transferred between the communication terminal device and the host computer, it is possible to realize a device having the same function of different models having different number of items and setting value ranges. Also, since the same host computer can be used to manage the system parameters, economical management and maintenance can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus in this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing system parameters transferred from a host computer to a facsimile machine.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing system parameters transferred from a facsimile machine to a host computer in response to a request from the host computer.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process of setting a system parameter in this embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process of transferring a system parameter in the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Keypad 2 Display Device 3 I / O Controller A 4 Scanner 5 Printer 3 I / O Controller B 7 Line Control Unit 8 Storage Device 9 Storage Device Control Unit 10 ROM 11 RAM 12 CPU 13 Interface Driver 14 Host Computer 15 Interface 16 Facsimile Device

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A communication terminal device having an interface with a host computer, comprising: interface means for connecting to the host computer; and a function of the communication terminal device based on a set value sent via the interface means. A communication terminal device, comprising: setting means for setting. 2. The communication terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising a transfer unit that transfers the set value set by the setting unit to the host computer in accordance with a transfer request sent from the host computer. 3. The communication terminal device according to claim 1, wherein, when the setting value cannot be handled by the communication terminal device, the setting means does not set the setting value and keeps the current value. .. 4. The communication terminal device according to claim 2, wherein the transfer means further comprises an informing means for informing that there is a setting value not handled by the communication terminal device.