JPH07264345A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the frequent going and coming between a facsimile equipment and a computer device by setting an original to the original reading part of the facsimile equipment and making it possible to supply image information to a computer side in a state that a user stays the place. CONSTITUTION:By setting a personal computer 21 to an automatic facsimile reception mode and depressing the scan command key of a facsimile equipment 20 by a user, the facsimile equipment 20 accesses to the computer 21 as if the equipment 20 had a reception from an opposite station. Namely, when a ring signal is spuriously generated and the computer 21 responds to this signal, the facsimile equipment 20 communicates with the computer 21 by using its own facsimile protocol. When the computer 21 requests images by this communication, the supply of the image information read by a reading part 15 is performed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine connected to a computer by an interface.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A facsimile apparatus is a means for electrically transmitting document information to a remote place by using a telephone line or the like. It reads document information by using a digital scanner or the like, encodes and compresses and transmits it. Is the basic configuration.
However, recently, a facsimile board or the like for directly transmitting facsimile of document information created by a computer device such as a personal computer or a word processor has been developed, and an interface between the computer device, the facsimile board, and the facsimile device has been standardized. (EIA standard Class1,2
etc). Along with this, general-purpose facsimile communication application software conforming to these standard interfaces has been supplied.

Further, according to the system in which the facsimile apparatus and the computer apparatus are connected by an interface, the image reading function of the facsimile apparatus can be used as an image scanner in the computer apparatus.

Conventionally, a facsimile apparatus is accessed by an operation from a computer apparatus, an image reading unit of the facsimile apparatus is driven, and image information is taken into the computer apparatus side.

[0005]

However, when the facsimile apparatus is used as an image scanner by the operation from the computer side as in the conventional case, the user first performs the operation of setting the original on the facsimile apparatus, and then, Operate the computer side,
After the document reading is completed, the user has to go again to the facsimile machine to pick up the document. Further, even if the mode is switched or a trouble such as a document jam occurs during the reading, it is necessary to frequently go back and forth between the facsimile device and the computer device.

In view of the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile apparatus which allows a computer apparatus to fetch image information by operating the facsimile apparatus.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, a facsimile apparatus of the present invention is provided with an interface that enables connection with a computer apparatus, and receives a signal transmitted from a partner station. In a facsimile device configured to supply original information from a partner station to the computer device by transmitting a signal corresponding thereto to the computer device, a pseudo ring signal detection signal is sent to the computer device. The present invention is characterized by including control means for forming a facsimile protocol communication state and supplying image information read by the image reading unit in response to an image data request from a computer.

[0008]

With the above construction, first, the computer side is set to the automatic facsimile reception mode, and the user sets the original on the image reading section of the facsimile and operates a predetermined key. The facsimile apparatus accesses the computer apparatus as if it received from the partner station. That is, when a ring signal is artificially generated and the computer device side responds to this, the facsimile device communicates with the computer device using its own facsimile protocol and interface. When the computer device requests reception of image data by this communication, the image information read by the image reading unit is supplied.

As described above, since the image information can be supplied to the computer side while the document is set on the document reading section of the facsimile machine and staying there, it is possible to frequently switch between the facsimile machine and the computer machine. Disappear.

[0010]

The present invention will be described below based on its embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the schematic arrangement of a facsimile apparatus 20 of the present invention and a personal computer 21 connected to it.

The personal computer 21 is a CPU
1, display control unit 2, input operation unit 3, disk control unit 4,
And an interface unit 5. The disk controller 4 reads the general-purpose facsimile communication application software from a disk (not shown), and the CPU 1
Run the software. When this software is executed, the display control unit 2 displays a screen requesting input of a transmission destination and input of selection of transmission information.

The operator can specify a destination telephone number, file information to be transmitted, etc. by using the input operation unit 3. The designated file information is converted into image data by the software described above, and further encoded such as MH and MR. This compressed image data (hereinafter,
The image information data) is output from the interface unit 5 to the facsimile device 20 according to the facsimile communication protocol executed by the software.

On the other hand, by setting the reception mode in the above software, the personal computer 2
1 is in the ringing signal detection state.

Next, the structure of the facsimile device 20 will be described.

The interface section 5 is connected to the interface section 5, which connects the personal computer 21 and the facsimile apparatus 20. The facsimile device 20 is configured so that the interface unit 6 responds to the facsimile communication protocol executed by the personal computer 21.

When the user operates the operation panel 7, a signal corresponding to the operation is supplied to the control section 8. The operation panel 7 is provided with a scan command key (not shown) for starting the facsimile apparatus as an image scanner.

The control unit 8 controls the entire facsimile according to a control program stored in a ROM (not shown). As one of the controls, the signal from the operation panel 7 is identified, and the switching operation of the selector unit 9 is executed based on the signal generated by the operation of the scan command key, and the path for the image scanner or the computer facsimile reception is received. Control to form a path is performed.

That is, when the scan command key is operated, the image data (encoded data) supplied from the document reading section 15 via the encoding section 12 by the switching operation of the selector section 9 is transferred to the interface section 6. A path (path for the image scanner) to be supplied to the computer device 21 via the above is formed. On the other hand, when the scan command key is not operated, the signal (coded data) from the partner station demodulated by the modulation / demodulation unit 13 by the switching operation of the selector unit 9 is supplied to the computer device 21 via the interface 6. A route (computer facsimile reception route) is formed.

When the scan command key is operated, the control unit 8 artificially generates a ring signal and supplies it to the personal computer 21.

The reading unit 15 reads the document information with a digital scanner using a CCD or the like, and outputs the read image information to the encoding unit 12.

The encoding unit 12 also encodes and compresses the document image information from the reading unit 15, and outputs this image information data to the selector unit 9. Although not shown in the figure, because of the facsimile transmission by the facsimile device itself,
A path from the encoding unit 12 to the modulation / demodulation unit 13 is also formed.

The modulation / demodulation unit 13 modulates the image information data (encoded data) supplied from the computer device 21 via the interface 6 and the selector unit 9 into a signal suitable for a telephone line, and also a modulated signal from the telephone line. Is demodulated and output to the selector unit 9 or the decoding unit 11.

The decoding unit 11 decodes the image information data from the destination facsimile machine input from the modulation / demodulation unit 13 via the telephone line and outputs it to the recording unit 14.

The recording unit 14 executes printout based on the decoded image information (image information).

Next, the operation of the facsimile computer system configured as described above will be described.

FIG. 2 shows how the normal file receiving process is executed in the original file receiving sequence by the general-purpose facsimile communication application software in relation to the personal computer 21, self-side facsimile device 20, and destination facsimile device. 3 is a time chart shown in FIG. Moreover, the same content is shown using the signal symbols in FIG.

When the calling signal from the partner facsimile machine is input to the facsimile machine 20 on the self side via the telephone network, the facsimile machine 20 outputs the signal (201) of the calling signal confirmation notice to the personal computer 21. To do.

The personal computer 21 outputs the incoming call confirmation command (101) to the facsimile device 20 on its own side in response to the signal (201) of the call signal confirmation notification.

The facsimile device 20 on the self side makes a confirmation response (202) to the incoming confirmation command (101).

Upon receiving the confirmation response (202), the personal computer 21 outputs the facsimile device capability information (102).

The facsimile device 20 on the self side transmits the facsimile device capability disclosure signal (301) to the partner facsimile device based on the facsimile device capability information (102), and at the same time, sends the confirmation response (203) to the personal computer 21. Output.

Upon receiving the reception request signal (401) from the facsimile machine of the other side, the facsimile machine 20 on the self side receives the reception request information (2) in the personal computer 21.
04) is output. When receiving the line diagnostic signal (402) from the facsimile machine of the other party, the line diagnostic information data (205) is output to the personal computer 21.

The personal computer 21 sends the line diagnostic response command (103) to the facsimile device 2 on its own side.
Supply to 0.

The facsimile device 20 on the self side sends a line diagnostic response signal (302) to the facsimile device on the other side, and at the same time, sends a confirmation response (206) to the personal computer 21.

After that, the facsimile device 20 on the self side
Receives the image data signal (403) sent from the partner facsimile machine,
The image information data (207) is output to. Then, after the end of the image information data (207), an image information data end notification (2
08) is performed. When the page end signal (404) is received, the page end information (209) is output to the personal computer 21.

The personal computer 21 outputs a page end confirmation response command (104) as a response to the page end information (209).

The facsimile device 20 on its own side outputs a page end confirmation response signal (303) to the counterpart facsimile device and also transmits an acknowledgment response (210) to the personal computer 21.

After that, a predetermined line disconnection process (405,
211, 105, 212) is executed, and a series of receiving operations is completed.

[Image Scanner Processing]

Next, the control for causing the personal computer 21 to capture the image information read by the reading unit 15 of the facsimile apparatus will be described.

FIG. 4 is a time chart showing the contents of the control in the relationship between the personal computer 21 and the facsimile apparatus 20, but since the general-purpose facsimile communication application software is used as it is, it is shown in FIGS. The response relationship between the personal computer 21 and the facsimile device 20 in the file reception sequence is maintained. In addition, similar contents are shown by using signal symbols in FIG.

To execute the image scanner process, the user presses the scan command key on the operation panel 7. When this scan command key is pressed, the path for the image scanner is formed by the switching operation of the selector unit 9, and a pseudo ring signal (call signal confirmation notification (210)) is sent to the personal computer 2.
Output to 1.

Then, the facsimile device 20 communicates with the personal computer 21 through its own protocol and interface 6, and in response to the image data request from the personal computer 21, the original document read by the facsimile device 20 with its own reading section 15. The image data of is output. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, so-called local communication (signal transfer by the CPU) is performed within the facsimile device 20, and image data transmission is performed with the protocol of the personal computer 21 by RS232C (19200BPS). . The above C
As shown in FIG. 6, performing the signal transfer by the PU is equivalent to providing a local communication switching control unit 41 forming a bypass path for the modem control unit 40, as shown in FIG. 6, and follows the speed of the modem control. It becomes possible to perform high-speed communication without any need.

As described above, the personal computer 21 is set to the automatic facsimile reception mode, and the user presses the scan command key of the facsimile device 20 so that the facsimile device 20 can be as much as the personal computer 21. Access as if there was a reception from the station. That is, when a pseudo ring signal is generated and the personal computer 21 responds to it, the facsimile device 20 communicates with the computer device using its own facsimile protocol. When the computer device requests reception of image data by this communication, the image information read by the reading unit 15 is supplied.

As described above, since it becomes possible to set the document on the reading unit 15 of the facsimile device 20 and to take in the image information to the personal computer 21 while being at the place, the facsimile device 20 and the personal computer 21 can receive the image information. You will never come and go frequently.

In the above embodiment, the operation panel 7 is provided with the scan command key. However, the scan operation may be performed without the special scan command key for the scan operation. It is possible. This will be described below.

For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a local station number registration memory 30 is provided, and the local station telephone number is registered in advance. The number to be registered is not limited to the own telephone number, and may be any number as long as it does not overlap with the destination telephone number.

The control unit 8 compares the own station number information from the own station number registration memory 30 with the dial information from the operation panel 7 (generated by the operation of the ten-key etc.), and the dial information from the operation panel 7 is compared. When it is determined that the information matches the own station number information, it is determined that it is a scan operation command, and the selector unit 9 is operated to form a path for the image scanner.

As a result, it is not necessary to provide a special key for scanning operation on the operation panel 7, and the operation panel 7 can be made compact.

Further, as in the present embodiment, when the image scanner is in operation, the so-called transmission process (of course, the image information is not output to the telephone line) according to the facsimile protocol of the facsimile device 20 is normally performed. The sender information that is normally added by the facsimile apparatus 20 at the time of facsimile transmission is taken into the personal computer 21, which is not so preferable for use as an image scanner. Therefore, when the image scanner operation is performed, the sender information may not be added to the transmission data by the processing of the control unit 8.

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention, since it is possible to set an original on the original reading section of the facsimile and supply the image information to the computer side while being at the place, the facsimile and the computer can be provided. The effect of improving the usability is achieved by avoiding frequent trips between spaces.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a facsimile apparatus of the present invention and a computer apparatus connected to the facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a time chart showing a basic reception sequence in computer / facsimile reception.

FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram in which a basic reception sequence in computer / facsimile reception is represented by signal symbols.

FIG. 4 is a time chart showing a sequence during operation of the image scanner of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing the sequence during operation of the image scanner of the present invention with signal symbols.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a facsimile apparatus including a local communication switching control unit forming a bypass path for modem control.

[Explanation of symbols]

 6 Interface Section 7 Operation Panel 8 Control Section 9 Selector Section 11 Decoding Section 12 Encoding Section 13 Modulation / Demodulation Section 14 Recording Section 15 Recording Section 20 Facsimile Machine 21 Personal Computer 30 Personal Number Registration Memory 40 Modem Control Section 41 Local Communication Switching Control Department

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An original information from a partner station by providing an interface enabling connection with a computer device, receiving a signal transmitted from the partner station, and transmitting a corresponding signal to the computer device. A facsimile device configured to supply the computer device with a pseudo ring signal detection signal to form a facsimile protocol communication state, and image reading is performed in response to an image data request from the computer device. A facsimile apparatus comprising a control means for supplying image information read by a unit.