JPH07250205A - Compound device and its operation control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a simple and clear operating method for the compound device. CONSTITUTION:Concerning the operation control method for controlling the operations of the compound device provided with plural functions 2, 4, 5, 6 and 8, operation control parameter information for designating operation contents is supplied to the compound device and the compound device, that reads this operation control parameter information, automatically conducts the plural functions according to the operation control parameter information. Only by reading the operation control parameter information described in storage media 11, 13 and 15 into the compound device or transferring the data of operation control parameter information from an external input/output terminal or the like to the compound device, the compound device automatically and successively conducts operations concerning the plural functions designated by the operation control parameter information.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for operating a composite device having functions of a printer, a facsimile, a copier, and the like, and more particularly, to enable execution of complicated composite functions by an easy-to-understand operation method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, office equipment such as scanners, printers, facsimiles, copiers, etc. have become multifunctional, faster, and cheaper as individual dedicated machines.
Development of compound devices that combine these functions into one has been actively carried out, and such devices are beginning to appear on the market.

FIG. 18 shows an example of such a compound device. This apparatus includes a central processing unit (CPU) 1 that comprehensively controls the operation of each unit, an image processing unit 2 that processes an image, a memory unit 3 that stores image data and various control data, and an original document. Scanner unit 41 to read and scanner unit
A scanner control unit 41 for controlling 41, a printer unit 51 for printing out a document, a printer control unit 5 for controlling the printer unit 51, and a FAX control unit for performing FAX communication with a FAX apparatus 61 through a telephone line 62. 6 and data transfer path
A data transfer control section 8 for transferring data to and from the input / output terminal or the host computer 81 through 82, an operation panel section 71 for a user to input a command by button operation,
An operation panel control unit 7 for controlling the operation panel 71 and a system bus 20 for transmitting image data and various control data are provided.

Input / output terminal or host computer 81
And the data transfer control unit 8 in the multi-function device 32,
For example, it is connected by an RS-232C serial interface.

This multi-function apparatus has a copy function and a FAX transmission function, and also transfers image data read by a scanner to an input / output terminal or a host computer, and transfers data sent from the input / output terminal or the host computer. Based on this, it has a function to print out an image. To take a copy, the user sets the document sheet on the scanner unit 41 and presses the copy start button on the operation panel 71.
Further, when performing FAX transmission to the FAX device 61, the original paper is set on the scanner unit 4 and the operation panel 71
Enter the other party's telephone number and press the start button.

Further, an input / output terminal and a host computer 81
When the image data is taken in, the document sheet is set in the scanner section 41, the image is read in accordance with an instruction from the input / output terminal or the host computer 81, and the read data is passed through the data transfer control section 8 to the input / output terminal or the host computer. Transfer to 81. When the image data held by the input / output terminal or the host computer 81 is printed out, the image data is read out in response to an instruction from the input / output terminal or the host computer 81, and the image is printed by the printer unit 51.

Further, the image data held by the input / output terminal 81 or the host computer 81 is read out based on the instruction of the input / output terminal or the host computer 81, and the FAX control section 6 is read.
It is also possible to perform FAX transmission to the FAX apparatus 61 through the.

[0008]

However, although the conventional compound device can perform various functions, the operation for executing those functions is complicated. In particular, in the case of exchanging data with an input / output terminal or a host computer, since there are various modes of exchanging the data, the respective input / output procedures and input / output rules are extremely complicated.
The complexity of this operation is further increased when the functions are merged together. Therefore, the user cannot master the operation and cannot fully use the functions that the multifunction device has, or the user is forced to spend a lot of time for the operation. .

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and provides a simple and clear operation method for a composite device, and a composite device capable of executing a complex function by such an operation method. The purpose is to do.

[0010]

Therefore, in the present invention, in an operation control method for controlling the operation of a multi-function apparatus having a plurality of functions, operation control parameter information designating operation contents is supplied to the multi-function apparatus, and this operation is performed. The multifunction device that has read the control parameter information is caused to automatically execute a plurality of functions according to the operation control parameter information.

Further, the operation control parameter information is described in a storage medium, the storage medium is mounted on the composite apparatus, and the operation control parameter information is read by the composite apparatus.

Further, this operation control parameter information is supplied to the multifunctional device by data transfer.

Also, the operation control parameter information is expressed in a programming language.

The operation control parameter information specifies the content of the first operation and the content of the second operation to be executed next when the execution result of the first operation matches a specific condition. ing.

Further, the multifunction device is made to create information representing the execution result of the operation designated by the operation control parameter information.

Further, the multifunction device writes the information indicating the execution result in the storage medium.

Further, the multi-function device transfers data representing the execution result.

Further, in the multi-functional apparatus having a plurality of functions, a storage medium control means for reading the operation control parameter information described in the storage medium and an execution means for executing the operation designated by the read operation control parameter information. It is provided.

Further, the storage medium control means is configured to describe the execution result of the operation designated by the operation control parameter information in this storage medium.

Further, in a multi-functional apparatus having a plurality of functions, data transfer control means for receiving operation control parameter information transferred from an external input / output terminal, and execution for executing an operation designated by the received operation control parameter information. And means are provided.

Further, the data transfer control means is configured to transfer the execution result of the operation designated by the operation control parameter information to the external input / output terminal.

Further, as execution means, a scanner for reading an original, a printer means for printing out the original, and an F
A communication control unit that controls AX communication and an image processing unit that processes an image are provided.

[0023]

For this reason, the multifunction device can read the operation control parameter information described in the storage medium or transfer the operation control parameter information from an external input / output terminal, etc. Automatically and sequentially execute specified functions.

In addition, the compound device displays the operation execution result as
Described on the storage medium or transmitted to the external input / output terminal. The operation execution result can be confirmed from other terminals.

[0025]

【Example】

(First Embodiment) A composite device according to a first embodiment of the present invention uses a file of a storage medium in which a method of operating the device is described,
The operation control parameter is read and the specified operation is executed according to the parameter. As shown in FIG. 1, this multi-function apparatus has a floppy disk unit 11 for loading operation floppy disks having a file in which an operation method is described and reading operation control parameters, and a floppy disk control unit 10 for controlling the floppy disk unit 11. And an optical disc unit 13 for reading an operation control parameter by mounting an optical disc having a file in which an operation method is described, and an optical disc unit.
An optical disk control unit 12 for controlling 13; an IC memory card unit 15 for reading an operation control parameter by mounting an IC memory card having a file in which an operation method is described;
An IC memory card control unit 14 for controlling the IC memory card unit 15 is provided. Other configurations are the same as those of the conventional device (FIG. 18).

The operation control parameters are described in the files of the storage media such as the floppy disk, the optical disk, and the IC memory card in the format illustrated in FIG.
In this format, a parameter part P100 indicating the start of the operation control parameter file, a parameter part P200 indicating the content of the operation, a parameter type part P300 indicating the kind of the parameter necessary to execute the operation, and a parameter type part P300 are defined. Parameter part P400 and parameter part P200 showing the actual value of the parameter
The respective parameters are defined in the order of the parameter part P500 indicating the end of the operation defined in 1. and the parameter part P600 indicating the end of the file. However, P300 and P4
In 00, only required parameters are defined, and when default parameters are used, they are not defined. When a plurality of operations are continuously defined, a parameter part P500 indicating the end of the previous operation is followed by a parameter part P200 indicating the content of the next operation, and
Parameter type P300, actual parameter P40
0, end of operation P500 continues to be defined.

These parameters P100, P200,
P300, P400, P500, and P600 are, for example, A for easy understanding of operation contents and setting parameters.
It is described in the SCII code and stored in the storage medium in a file format (for example, MS-DOS file) that can be read and written by any terminal.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the operation control parameter file in which the parameters are described according to the format of FIG. In this file, it is described that the image file stored in the storage medium is copied and output, and at the same time, the FAX transmission is performed to the destination telephone number 12-3456. In FIG. 4, the parameter portion P101 corresponds to the parameter portion 100 which means the start of the operation control parameter file. The parameter part P201 corresponds to the parameter part P200 indicating the content of the operation and specifies the copy operation. The parameter part P501 means the end of the copy operation. The parameter section 202 is a parameter section P200 indicating the content of the next operation, and specifies FAX transmission. The parameter part P301 specifies a telephone number as the type of parameter. The parameter section P401 sets the destination telephone number 12-3456 of the telephone number shown in the parameter section P301. The parameter part P502 means the end of FAX transmission. The parameter portion P601 indicates the end of the file.

In the storage medium, as shown in FIG.
File cn in which this operation control parameter information is described
t1 (file name is cmd.cnt) is stored. Further, img1 and img2 are image files (file names are p01.img and p02.img), and when the data of this image file is handled in the operation, for example, the data of these image files img1 and img2 are printed out. In such a case, it is stored in the storage medium.

Further, in this multifunction device, the operation execution result is described in the operation execution result file of the storage medium so that the result when the operation is executed can be confirmed from any terminal.

In the operation execution result description specification format of this operation execution result file, as shown in FIG. 8, a status section S100 indicating the operation execution result is defined at the beginning of the file, and then, Execution result value S of the operation designated by the operation control parameter file
200 (that is, a code value indicating whether the execution result was normal or abnormal), a status section S300 indicating a more detailed execution result, and a more detailed execution result value S400 (that is, an abnormal case) Is defined in the order of a code value that indicates in what state it is always illegal, and finally the status part S500 that indicates the end of the file.
Is defined. The parameters of each of these parts are described in, for example, ASCII code so that the content of the operation execution result can be easily understood, and like the operation control parameter file, can be read and written by any terminal (for example, MS format).
-DOS file) and stored in the storage medium.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the operation execution result file described in accordance with the operation execution result description specification of FIG. This file represents that the operations of copy output and FAX transmission specified in the operation control parameter file of FIG. 4 have been completed normally. Status part S101
Indicates the operation execution result, and the status part S20
1 indicates that the operation instructed by the operation control parameter file has ended normally. Status section S
301 indicates that a more detailed execution result will be displayed next, and 0 is described as the detailed execution result in the status part S401, which indicates normal termination. The status section S501 indicates the end of the file.

In the storage medium, the operation execution result file st1 (file name is S
status. jn1) is stored along with the image files img1 and img2 and the operation control parameter file cnt1 as shown in FIG. 7B. In addition, an operation execution result voice file vst1 for saving the operation execution result by voice.
(File name Status.jn1) is stored in the same manner.

Now, the operation control method of the composite apparatus of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. 11, 12 and 13.

First (FIG. 11), Step A1;
It is detected whether a storage medium such as a floppy disk, an IC memory card or an optical disk has been inserted into the floppy disk unit 11, the IC memory card unit 15 or the optical disk unit 13.

Step A2: When the insertion is detected, it is checked whether or not the operation control parameter file exists in the inserted storage medium. If the operation control parameter file does not exist, the process returns to step A1 and the detection is continued until a storage medium is newly inserted.

Step A3: When the operation control parameter file is found, the operation control parameter file c
File open nt1.

Step A4: When the operation control parameter file cnt1 is opened, the file is read into the memory 3 and the first word is read.

Step A5: The read word (P10
1) is compared with a table inside the apparatus to check whether it is a parameter indicating the start of the operation control parameter file. Step A6; If it does not mean start, step A9; error processing is performed.

Step A7: When the read word means start, Step A8; Step A
Return to step 4, read the next word, and read the read word (P20
1) is compared with the table (step A5), and the meaning of the word is analyzed (step A7). Continue these steps until the end of the file.

When the operation control parameter file of FIG. 4 is described in the storage medium, the word (P201) means a copy operation and the word (P501) is copied by repeating Step A4 to Step A8. It means the end of the operation, and the default parameter is used as the parameter of the copy operation, that is, the document to be copied and output is the image files img1 and img2 existing in the inserted storage medium. Recognize that page copy print output is to be performed. Further, it recognizes that the word (P202) means a FAX transmission operation, the word (P301) means a telephone number, and the next parameter (P401) is a destination telephone number. Furthermore, it recognizes that the next word (P502) means the end of the FAX transmission operation, and recognizes that there are no more parameters for the FAX transmission operation. Then, it is recognized that the next read word (P601) means the end of the operation control parameter file. Reading of the operation control parameter file is completed by the above procedure.

Next (FIG. 12), step A10; the read parameter is converted into a device internal command, and step A1
1; The execution processing unit is instructed to execute the operation.

Step B1; When the printer control unit 5 and the FAX control unit 6 which are execution processing units receive the instruction, Step B2; The instruction is analyzed, Step B3: The image file existing in the storage medium is examined, and the step B4; if the image file exists, step B5; the image file is opened, step B6; the image is read into the memory 3, step B7; the image read in the memory 3 is printed out by one page, and the step B8: FAX transmission is made to the other party's telephone number 12-3456.

Next, returning to step B3, the next image file existing in the storage medium is examined, the image file is opened, the image is read into the memory 3, the image is printed out, and FAX transmission is performed. .

When the print output and the fax transmission are normally completed for all the image files stored in the storage medium, step B9; the execution processing section sends the operation execution result of the normal end, and step A12; To receive.

Next, an operation execution result file is created based on the operation execution result received from the execution processing unit (see FIG. 1).
3).

Step A13; First, a new operation execution result file is created and opened, and step A14; the word (S101) corresponding to the status section S100 indicating the operation execution result is described. Step A15; The operation execution result sent. The operation execution result is checked by step A16; the actual operation execution result is converted into a word (S201) by collating with the internal table of the device, and step A17;
The word is written after the word S101 in the operation execution result file.

By repeating the operations from step A14 to step A17, as shown in FIG. 9, after the word (S301) meaning the detailed execution result, the word (S401) representing the detailed execution result is written. Put in.

Step A18: When the description of the operation execution result is completed, step A19: The word (S501) which means the end is finally described, and step A20: The operation execution result file is closed.

Step A21; Then, an operation execution result voice file for displaying the operation execution result by voice is created.

The contents of the operation execution result file and the operation execution result voice file can be confirmed by any terminal.

(Second Embodiment) In the second embodiment, the operation of the composite apparatus is controlled by the operation control parameter information of the second type described in the file of the storage medium. The structure of the composite apparatus is the same as that of the first embodiment (FIG. 1).

In the second type, by using a programming language, it is possible to give detailed operation instructions such as instructing the switching of operation methods according to various conditions.

FIG. 5 illustrates a parameter description specification format in this program description type operation control parameter file. In this format, first, as the first parameter, the parameter section G10 that means the start of the operation control program description type parameter file
0, and then program description type command section G200
Alternatively, the parameter part P200 indicating the content of the operation is defined.

In the case of the program description type command, the program description type command section G200 is defined by using a simple conditional statement and branch statement in the C language of the programming language. The contents of the conditional statement and the branch statement are parentheses G210,
It is enclosed by G220, in which, first, a parameter section P200 indicating the content of the operation, and a parameter type section P300 indicating the type of the parameter necessary for the content of the operation (in P300, if only the essential parameter types are defined, Well, it is not necessary to define when using default parameters), a parameter part P400 indicating the actual value of the parameter defined in the parameter type part P300, and a parameter part P500 indicating the end of the operation are sequentially defined. .
To define operations continuously, follow P500 and
Define the parameter that indicates the contents of the next operation. Finally, G700 indicating the condition of the conditional statement is defined.

In the case of directly instructing the operation without using the program description type command, the parameter section G100 is followed by the definition from the parameter section P200 indicating the operation content to the parameter section P500 indicating the end of the operation.
Finally, a parameter part G600 indicating the end of the file is defined.

The respective parameter parts G100 and G20
0, G210, G220, P200, P300, P40
0, P500, G600, and G700 are, for example, ASCII, so that the operation contents and setting parameters can be easily understood.
It is written in a code and stored in a storage medium in a file format (for example, MS-DOS file) that can be read and written by any terminal.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the operation control program description type parameter file described in accordance with the operation control parameter description specifications of FIG. This file is
FAX transmission of the image file stored in the storage medium is performed to the destination telephone number 12-3456. If the FAX transmission cannot be transmitted for some reason, the time is set to 18:00. It is instructed to make a reservation to perform FAX transmission again for a minute (time-specified FAX transmission reservation).

The parameter part G101 indicates the beginning of the operation control program description type parameter file, and the parameter part G201 indicates that the program description type command is a conditional statement. Parameter parts G211, G221
Are parentheses. The parameter part P203 indicates that the content of the operation is FAX transmission, and the parameter part P302
Indicates that the type of the parameter is a telephone number in FAX transmission, and the parameter portion P402 indicates the destination telephone number. The parameter part P503 indicates the end of the operation, and the parameter part G701 indicates that the condition of the program description type command is incommunicable.

The parameter portion P204 indicates that the content of the operation is FAX transmission, and the parameter portion P303.
Indicates that the parameter type is a telephone number, and the parameter portion P403 indicates the destination telephone number. The parameter part P304 indicates that the next parameter type is time designation, and the parameter part P404 indicates 18:00 as the designated time. Parameter part P50
4 indicates the end of the operation, and the parameter part G601 indicates the end of the file.

Further, the operation execution result file is created in the storage medium after the operation execution as in the case of the first embodiment, and the operation execution result description specification format is the first format.
The format is the same as that described in the embodiment (FIG. 8). FIG. 10 shows an operation execution result description example of the operation execution result file. Here, the operation specified in the operation control program description type parameter file of FIG. 6 is performed, and since the first FAX transmission cannot be transmitted, the time-specified FAX transmission reservation at 18:00 is executed, It describes that the process ended normally.

The status section S102 indicates that the operation execution result is obtained, and the status section S202 shows that the actual execution result value of the operation instructed by the operation control program description type file is "3", that is, FAX transmission is impossible. It means that it is. The status part S302 indicates that a more detailed execution result will be displayed next, and the status part S402 indicates that the more detailed execution result value is “0000”.
11 ”, that is, it indicates that the transmission is not possible due to the other party's FAX busy. The status section S103 indicates that the operation execution result has been obtained, the status section S203 indicates that the operation instructed by the operation control program description type parameter file has completed normally, and the status section S303 indicates that
A more detailed execution result is displayed next, and the status section S403 indicates that the result value of the more detailed execution result is "1000000", that is, the time-specified FAX transmission reservation has been normally made. ing. The status section S502 indicates the end of the file.

The file structure in the storage medium before and after the operation is executed in the case of the first embodiment (see FIG. 7).
(A) and FIG. 7 (b)).

Now, referring to FIG. 14, the method of controlling the composite apparatus by the operation control parameter information of the second embodiment.
A description will be given using the flowcharts of FIGS. 15 and 16.

The steps C1 to C8 in FIG. 14 are the same as the steps A1 to A8 in FIG. 11, and the operation control program is executed from the floppy disk, IC memory card or optical disk inserted in the drive of the composite apparatus. After the descriptive parameter file is read into the memory 3, the words are read word by word, and each word is analyzed by comparing with a table owned inside the device. By repeating the analysis of this word, the operation control program description type command indicating the conditional statement is described in the operation control program description type parameter file (same as FIG. 6) read from the storage medium. And the content of the conditional sentence is the destination telephone number 12-345.
6 performs a FAX transmission operation, and recognizes that the condition is that the communication is impossible.

Step C10: Read word (G22
When 1) indicates the end of the parentheses, it recognizes that the content of the conditional statement has ended.

The procedure after completion of the conditional statement (FIG. 15) is
As in the case of FIG. 12, the read parameter is converted into a device internal instruction code to issue a command, and the execution processing unit that received the command analyzes the command and stores the image file existing in the storage medium in the memory. After reading, the image is faxed to the destination telephone number 12-3456.

However, if this FAX transmission fails for some reason and the FAX transmission ends abnormally in a state in which transmission is impossible, step D4; the execution processing unit transmits the operation execution result of the abnormal end, and step C13; Receive operation execution result and create operation execution result file.

Then (step C14), step C14; first, a new operation execution result file is newly created and opened, and step C15; (as shown in FIG. 10) the word (S102) representing the operation execution result is described, and step C16 is entered. Check the operation execution result received from the execution processing unit, and step C1
7; The operation execution result "untransmittable" is converted to code "3" using the internal table, and step C18;
In the operation execution result file, "3" is written after the status section S102.

Then, from step C15 to step C1
The procedure up to 8 is repeated, and the word (S3
02), followed by a code "00" that indicates a detailed execution result.
Write "0011".

Step C19: When the description of the operation execution result is completed, Step C20: Since the specified operation is in an abnormally terminated state, the procedure moves to the reading of the parameter section next to the conditional statement.

(FIG. 14) Step C4; The next word (P20) of the operation control program description type parameter file is again used.
4) is read, step C5 to step C7; the word (P204) is compared with the internal table, and the content of the operation is recognized as a FAX transmission operation.

Further, by repeating the procedure from step C4 to step C7, the operation control program description type parameter file instructs the destination telephone number 12-3456 to perform FAX transmission at the designated time 18:00. Recognize that

Step C8: When the word (G601) is read, it is recognized that the description of the operation control program description type parameter file ends therewith, (FIG. 15) Step C11; the read parameter is converted into a device internal instruction code. Step C12: The execution processing unit is instructed to execute the time-specified reservation FAX transmission.

The execution processing section performs steps D1 to D.
The instruction is executed in the procedure of 3. When the time-specified FAX transmission reservation is normally executed, step D4; the execution processing unit sends the operation execution result of the normal processing, and step C13; receives it. When the operation execution result is sent,

(FIG. 16) Step C14: The operation execution result file is opened, and steps C15 to C1 are executed.
Repeat the procedure of No.8 and set the time designated FAX at 18:00.
Describes that the transmission reservation was made normally.

Step C19: When all the description of the operation execution result is completed, Step C20: Since the reading of the operation control program description type parameter file is completed, Step C21: The word (S502) is described.
Step C22: The operation execution result file is closed.

Step C23; Then, an operation execution result voice file is created.

The contents of the operation execution result file and the operation execution result voice file can be confirmed by any terminal.

(Third Embodiment) The composite apparatus of the third embodiment is
As shown in FIG. 2, a LAN control unit 9 for controlling a LAN (local area network) is provided,
The LAN control unit 9 is connected to an input / output terminal or a host computer 91 via a LAN transfer path 92. Other configurations are the same as those of the conventional device (FIG. 18).

In this multifunction device 31, operation control parameter information is input through the LAN transfer path 92. As the operation control parameter information, either of the two types described in the first and second embodiments can be used, and the input / output operation terminal or the host computer 91 to L can be used.
The transfer procedure specification of the operation control parameter sent via the AN transfer path 92 is the same as the operation control parameter description specification format shown in FIG. 3 or the operation control program description type parameter description specification format shown in FIG. Become.

The operation control method of this composite apparatus will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

Step E1; First, a message is transferred from the input / output terminal or the host computer 91 via the LAN 92. The device receives this message and stores the contents in step E2; memory 3.

Step E3: When the end of transfer is detected, Step E4: The message stored in the memory is read word by word from the beginning, the operation control parameter information is analyzed, and the specified operation is executed. This procedure is shown in FIG.
Steps A4 to A21 of FIGS. 12 and 13
Or the same as the operation from step C4 to step C22 in FIGS. 14, 15 and 16.

Step E5: The execution result is transferred as a message in the order of FIG. 9 or FIG. 10 to the input / output terminal or the host computer 91 instructed (instead of saving it in a file), and step E6; finish.

As described above, the operation of the multifunction device is performed by mounting the storage medium in which the operation control parameter information is described in the multifunction device or transferring the operation control parameter information to the multifunction device, as shown in each embodiment. The operation execution result is saved in a file or transmitted to an input / output terminal or the like which has instructed the operation execution.

The multifunction device has a control unit for reading the operation control parameter information from the storage medium and writing the operation execution result in the storage medium, and for receiving the operation control parameter information transferred through the transfer path. , And a control unit for sending information on the operation execution result to the transfer path. Of course, one combined device may include both of these control units.

Further, the operation control method of the present invention can be applied to the control of the operation of a general composite apparatus which executes a plurality of functions.

[0089]

As is apparent from the above description of the embodiments, the operation control method of the present invention enables the composite apparatus to automatically execute all complicated operations. for that reason,
It is possible to cause the multifunction device to execute a plurality of functions while being complicatedly linked, and it is possible to fully exert the power possessed by the multifunction device. Further, the operation execution result can be confirmed on any terminal.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a compound device that implements an operation control method according to first and second embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a compound device that carries out the operation control method according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an operation control parameter description specification format in the first embodiment,

FIG. 4 is a description example of operation control parameters in the above format,

FIG. 5 is an operation control program description type parameter description specification format in the second embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a description example of an operation control program description type parameter in the above format,

FIG. 7 is a file configuration diagram of a storage medium used in each example (before operation execution (a) and after operation execution (b))

FIG. 8 is an operation execution result description specification format in the first embodiment,

FIG. 9 is an example of an operation execution result description in the above format,

FIG. 10 is an example of an operation execution result description in the second embodiment,

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a procedure for reading operation control parameters in the operation control method of the first embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an operation execution procedure in the operation control method according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a procedure for creating an operation execution result file in the operation control method of the first embodiment,

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a procedure for reading operation control parameters in the operation control method according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a procedure for performing an operation in the operation control method according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a procedure for creating an operation execution result file in the operation control method of the second embodiment,

FIG. 17 is a flow chart showing the operation procedure of the compound device of the third embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional compound device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CPU 2 Image processing unit 3 Memory 4 Scanner control unit 41 Scanner unit 5 Printer control unit 51 Printer unit 6 FAX control unit 61 FAX device 62 Telephone line 7 Operation panel control unit 71 Operation panel unit 8 Data transfer control unit 81, 91 Input Output terminal 82 Data transfer path 9 LAN control section 92 LAN transfer path 10 Floppy disk control section 11 Floppy disk section 12 Optical disk control section 13 Optical disk section 14 IC memory-card control section 15 IC memory-card section 30, 31, 32 Combined device

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. An operation control method for controlling an operation of a multi-functional apparatus having a plurality of functions, wherein the multi-functional apparatus which supplies operation control parameter information designating operation contents to the multi-functional apparatus and reads the operation control parameter information. In addition, the operation control method of the multi-function apparatus, wherein a plurality of functions are automatically executed according to the operation control parameter information. 2. The operation control parameter information is described in a storage medium, the storage medium is attached to the multifunction device, and the operation control parameter information is read by the multifunction device. An operation control method for a compound device according to. 3. The operation control method for a multifunction device according to claim 1, wherein the operation control parameter information is supplied to the multifunction device by data transfer. 4. The operation control method for a compound device according to claim 1, wherein the operation control parameter information is expressed in a programming language. 5. The content of the first operation and the content of the second operation to be executed next when the execution result of the first operation matches a specific condition by the operation control parameter information. 5. The operation control method for a compound device according to claim 4, wherein the operation control method is specified. 6. The operation control method for a multifunction device according to claim 1, wherein the multifunction device creates information indicating an execution result of an operation designated by the operation control parameter information. 7. The operation control method for a compound device according to claim 6, wherein the compound device describes information indicating the execution result in a storage medium. 8. The operation control method for a compound device according to claim 6, wherein the compound device transfers data representing the execution result. 9. In a multifunction device having a plurality of functions, a storage medium control means for reading operation control parameter information described in a storage medium, and an execution means for executing an operation designated by the read operation control parameter information. A compound device comprising: 10. The composite apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the storage medium control means describes the execution result of the operation designated by the operation control parameter information in the storage medium. 11. In a compound device having a plurality of functions,
A composite apparatus comprising: a data transfer control means for receiving operation control parameter information transferred from an external input / output terminal; and an executing means for executing an operation designated by the received operation control parameter information. 12. The composite apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the data transfer control means transfers the execution result of the operation designated by the operation control parameter information to the external input / output terminal. 13. The execution unit includes a scanner for reading a document, a printer unit for printing out the document, and an F
The communication control means for controlling AX communication and the image processing means for processing an image are provided.
2. The composite device according to 2.