JPH08167963A - Information processing method and its device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To confirm the transmission result of image data to a public line by the operator of a computer equipment connecting to a network at its operating position. CONSTITUTION: A network I/F section 7 connecting to a work station 11 via a network receives code data sent from the work station via the network, and a formatter section 8 expands the code data into a bit map. Then the data expanded in the bit map are coded by a facsimile section 4 and sent via a public line. The transmission state is informed to the work station 11 via the network I/F section 7.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing device capable of communicating with another device via a public line and an information processing method in the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a digital copying machine, a multimedia copying digital copying machine having a main board, an option board capable of connecting to a network and the like and having various complex functions has been developed. In such a copying machine, it is possible to receive coded print data from a computer terminal via a network, develop the print data into a bit map image, and then transmit the bit map image to another facsimile device or the like via a telephone line. There is. In this case, if the operator of the computer terminal wants to confirm whether or not the facsimile transmission process has been completed normally, he or she goes to the place where the copying machine is installed and confirms by checking the display of the copying machine. Had to do.

[0003]

As described above, in the computer device connected via the network, the result of image development by the digital copying machine can be confirmed via the network. However, since the process of transmitting the image-developed image is processed by the communication function using the function of the option board of the digital copying machine, the information regarding the transmission process is stored in the computer connected to the network. Not transmitted to the device. Therefore, the operator of this computer device cannot know through the computer device whether the transmission processing has ended normally or an abnormality has occurred.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional example, and information that allows an operator of a computer device connected to a network to confirm the transmission result of image data to a public line at the operation position. An object is to provide a processing method and apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to make it possible to obtain the processing result of the transmission processing to the public line in the computer device connected to the network, so that it is confirmed that the image transfer is normally completed. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing method and apparatus that eliminates the need to visit and confirm the location where the apparatus is set.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the information processing apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration.
That is, an information processing device capable of communicating with another device via a public line, and a network connection means for connecting to another computer device via a network, and a device connected to the computer device via the network. Expansion means for expanding the received code data into a bitmap,
It has a transmission means for encoding the data expanded by the expansion means and transmitting it via the public line, and a notification means for notifying the computer device of the transmission state by the transmission means.

In order to achieve the above object, the information processing method of the present invention includes the following steps. That is, an information processing method in an information processing device capable of communicating with another device via a public line, the process including receiving code data sent from a computer device connected via a network, and Expanding the received code data into a bit map, and encoding the data expanded into the bit map and transmitting it via the public line,
And notifying the computer device of the transmission status.

[0008]

With the above-mentioned structure, the computer is connected to another computer device via the network, and the code data sent from the computer device via the network is expanded into a bit map. The data thus expanded in the bit map is encoded and transmitted via the public line, and the transmission state is notified to the computer device.

[0009]

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an image forming system showing an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an image input unit (hereinafter referred to as a reader unit) for reading a document image and converting it into image data.
Is an image output device (hereinafter, printer unit) that has a plurality of types of recording paper cassettes and outputs image data as a visible image on the recording paper in response to a print command. It has various functions. The external device 3 includes a fax unit, a file unit 5, an external storage device 6 connected to the file unit 5, a network interface unit 7 for connecting to a network,
A formatter unit 8 for converting information from the network into a visible image, an image memory unit 9 for accumulating information from the reader unit 1 and temporarily accumulating information sent from the network, and the above The core unit 10 for controlling the function is provided. A computer device 11, such as a workstation, is connected to the network interface unit 7 via the network 13. Reference numeral 12 is a sorter unit, on which a plurality of document images are placed.

The functions of the respective units shown in FIG. 1 will be described below.

<Description of Reader Unit 1> FIG. 2 shows the reader unit 1.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the printer unit 2 and the configuration and operation thereof will be described below.

The originals stacked on the original feeding device 101 are sequentially conveyed one by one onto the original table glass surface 102. When the document is conveyed onto the platen glass surface 102, the lamp 103 of the scanner unit is turned on and the scanner unit 104 moves to illuminate the document. The reflected light from the document passes through the mirrors 105, 106 and 107 to the lens 1
08, CCD image sensor unit 109 (hereinafter,
CCD).

FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram showing the configuration of the signal processing circuit of the reader unit 1.

The optical signal input to the CCD 109 is photoelectrically converted here and converted into an electric signal. CCD109
The color information from the following amplifiers 110R, 110G,
At 110B, the signal is amplified according to the input signal level of the A / D converter 111. The output signal from the A / D converter 111 is input to the shading circuit 112, where uneven light distribution of the lamp 103 and uneven sensitivity of the CCD 109 are corrected. The signal from the shading circuit 112 is input to the Y signal generation / color detection circuit 113 and the external I / F switching circuit 119. This Y signal generation / color detection circuit 11
3 obtains a Y signal by calculating the signal from the shading circuit 112 based on the following equation.

Y = 0.3R + 1.6G + 0.1B Further, it has a color detection circuit for separating the R, G, B signals into seven colors and outputting the signals for the respective colors. The output signal from the Y signal generation / color detection circuit 113 is input to the scaling / repeat circuit 114. Scaling in the sub-scanning direction is performed according to the scanning speed of the scanner unit 104, and scaling in the main scanning direction is performed by the scaling / repeat circuit 114. Further, it is possible to repeatedly output a plurality of the same images by the scaling / repeat circuit 114. The contour / edge emphasis circuit 115 emphasizes high-frequency components of the signal from the scaling / repeat circuit 114 to obtain edge emphasis and contour information. The signal from the contour / edge emphasis circuit 115 is
Marker area determination / contour generation circuit 116 and patterning
It is input to the thickening / masking / trimming circuit 117.

Marker area determination / contour generation circuit 116
Reads the portion of the manuscript written with a marker pen of a specified color to generate the contour information of the marker, and the next patterning / thickening / masking / trimming circuit 117 thickens or masks the contour information. And trimming. Further, patterning is performed by the color detection signal from the Y signal generation / color detection circuit 113.

An output signal from the patterning / thickening / masking / trimming circuit 117 is input to a laser driver circuit 118 and converted into a signal for driving a laser based on various processed signals. The output signal of the laser driver 118 is input to the printer unit 2 and image formation is performed as a visible image.

Next, the external I / F switching circuit 119 for performing interface control with the external device 3 will be described. When the external I / F switching circuit 119 outputs the image information from the reader unit 1 to the external device 3, the external I / F switching circuit 119 performs patterning.
The image information from the thickening / masking / trimming circuit 117 is output to the connector 120. When inputting image information from the external device 3 to the reader unit 1, the external I / O
The F switching circuit 119 inputs the image information from the connector 120 to the Y signal generation / color detection circuit 113.

Each of the above-mentioned image processings is performed according to an instruction from the CPU 122, and the area signal generating circuit 121 generates various timing signals necessary for the above-mentioned image processing according to the value set by the CPU 122. Further CPU1
It is possible to communicate with the external device 3 by using the communication function built in 22. Sub CPU (SUB / CP
The U) 123 can control the operation unit 124 and can communicate with the external device 3 by using the communication function built in the sub CPU 123.

<Description of Printer Unit 2> The configuration and operation of the printer unit 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

A signal input from the laser driver 118 to the printer section 2 is converted into an optical signal by the exposure control section 201, and the photoconductor 202 is irradiated with the optical signal according to the image signal.
The electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor 202 by the irradiation light is
It is developed by the developing device 203. At the same time as this development, the transfer sheet is conveyed from the transfer sheet stacking section 204 or 205 toward the transfer section 206, and the developed image is transferred at the transfer section 206. The image thus transferred is fixed on the transfer paper by the fixing unit 207, and thereafter,
The paper is discharged from the paper output unit 208 to the outside of the apparatus. Ejector 208
The transfer paper output from is discharged to each bin when the sort function is working in the sorter 220 or to the uppermost bin of the sorter 220 when the sort function is not working.

Next, a method for sequentially reading original images and printing on both sides of one output sheet will be described.

After the print paper fixed by the fixing unit 207 is once conveyed to the paper discharge unit 208, the conveyance direction of the paper is reversed and the transfer paper for re-feeding is stacked through the conveyance direction switching member 209. It is conveyed to the section 210. When the next original is prepared, the original image is read in the same manner as the above process, but since the transfer paper is fed from the re-transferred transfer paper stacking section 210, the same print paper is eventually used. Two original document images can be printed on the front surface and the back surface.

Hereinafter, referring to the block diagram shown in FIG.
The configuration and operation of the core unit 10 of the external device 3 will be described.

<Description of Core Unit 10> FIG. 4 shows the core unit 10.
3 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of FIG.

The connector 1001 of the core unit 10 is connected to the connector 120 of the reader unit 1 via a cable.
The connector 1001 contains four types of signals,
The signal 1057 is an 8-bit multivalued video signal. The signal 1055 is a control signal for controlling the video signal.
A signal 1051 is a signal for communicating with the CPU 122 of the reader unit 1, and a signal 1052 is a sub CPU of the reader unit 1.
This is a signal for communicating with 123. The signal 1051 and the signal 1052 are subjected to communication protocol processing in the communication IC 1002, and are transmitted to the CPU 100 via the CPU bus 1053.
Communication information is transmitted to 3. The signal 1057 is a bidirectional video signal line, and information from the reader unit 1 can be received by the core unit 10 and information from the core unit 10 can be output to the reader unit 1.

The signal 1057 is connected to a buffer 1010, where it is separated from a bidirectional signal into a unidirectional signal 1058 and a signal 1070. The signal 1058 is an 8-bit multivalued video signal from the reader unit 1 and is used for the LU of the next stage.
It is input to T1011. The LUT 1011 uses the image information from the reader unit 1 as a lookup table (LUT).
To convert it to the desired value. The output signal 1059 from the LUT 1011 is the binarization circuit 1012 and the selector 1
Input to 013. The binarization circuit 1012 is a multilevel signal 1
A simple binarization function that binarizes 059 with a fixed slice level, a binarization function by a variable threshold level in which the binarization level fluctuates according to the values of pixels around the pixel of interest, or an error diffusion method It has a binarization function.

The selector 1013 selects either the signal from the LUT 1011 or the output signal of the binarization circuit 1012. The output signal 1060 from the selector 1013 is input to the selector 1014. The selector 1014 outputs the output video signals from the fax unit 4, the file unit 5, the network interface unit 7, the formatter unit 8 and the image memory unit 9 to the connectors 1005 and 10 respectively.
Core part 1 through 06, 1007, 1008, 1009
Either the signal 1064 input to 0 or the output signal 1060 of the selector 1013 is selected by the instruction of the CPU 1003.

The output signal 1061 of the selector 1014 is
It is input to the rotation circuit 1015 and the selector 1016.
The rotation circuit 1015 applies the input image signal to +90 degrees, -9
It has the function of rotating 0 degrees and +180 degrees. Rotation circuit 1
015 is a rotation circuit 1015 after the information output from the reader unit 1 is converted into a binary signal by the binarization circuit 1012.
Is stored as information from the reader unit 1. Next, CPU
In response to an instruction from 1003, the rotation circuit 1015 rotates and reads the stored image information. The selector 1016 is
The output signal 1062 of the rotating circuit 1015 and the rotating circuit 10
Select one of the 15 input signals 1061 and select the signal 10
Reference numeral 63 denotes a fax unit 4 and a connector 1005, a file unit 5, a connector 1006, a network interface unit, a connector 1007, a formatter unit 8, a connector 1008, and an image memory unit 1.
009 and the selector 1017.

The signal 1063 is transmitted from the core unit 10 to the fax unit 4, file unit 5, network interface unit 7, formatter unit 8 and image memory unit 9 on a synchronous 8-bit unidirectional video bus. Signal. The signal 1064 is a signal on a synchronous 8-bit unidirectional video bus for transferring image information from the fax unit 4, the file unit 5, the network interface unit 7, the formatter unit 8 and the image memory unit 9.
The video control circuit 1004 controls the synchronous bus of the signals 1063 and 1064, and is controlled by the output signal 1056 from the video control circuit 1004. Other signals 1054 are connected to the connectors 1005 to 1009, respectively. This signal 1054 is a signal on a bidirectional 16-bit CPU bus, and exchanges data commands asynchronously. The transfer of information between the fax unit 4, the file unit 5, the network interface unit 7, the formatter unit 8, the image memory unit 9 and the core unit 10 is enabled by the above two video buses 1063 and 1064 and the CPU bus 1054. ing.

The signal 1064 from the fax unit 4, file unit 5, network interface unit 7, formatter unit 8 and image memory unit 9 is sent to the selector 1014.
Is input to the selector 1017. Selector 1014
Inputs a signal 1064 to the rotation circuit 1015 at the next stage according to an instruction from the CPU 1003. Also selector 10
17 inputs the signal 1063 and the signal 1064, and outputs CP
Either of them is selected according to the instruction of U1003. The output signal 1065 of the selector 1017 is input to the pattern matching 1018 and the selector 1019. The pattern matching 1018 pattern-matches the input signal 1065 with a predetermined pattern, and when the patterns match, outputs a predetermined multi-valued signal to the signal line 1066. If they do not match in the pattern matching, the input signal 1065 is output as the signal 1066.

The selector 1019 outputs the signals 1065 and 1
066 is input, and one of them is selected by the instruction of the CPU 1103. Output signal 106 of selector 1019
7 is input to the LUT 1020 at the next stage. This LUT
When outputting image information to the printer unit 1020,
The input signal 1067 is converted according to the characteristics of the printer. The selector 1021 inputs the output signal 1068 and the signal 1065 from the LUT 1020, and the CPU 1003
Select one according to the instructions. The output signal of the selector 1021 is input to the expansion circuit 1022 at the next stage. The enlarging circuit 1022 can set the enlarging magnification in the X direction and the Y direction independently according to an instruction from the CPU 1003. This expansion method is, for example, a linear interpolation method of the first order. The output signal 1070 of the expansion circuit 1022 is input to the buffer 1010. Thus the buffer 1010
The signal 1070 input to the printer becomes a bidirectional signal 1057 according to an instruction from the CPU 1003, is sent to the printer unit 2 via the connector 1001, and is printed out.

The signal flow between the core section 10 and each section will be described below.

<Operation of Core Unit 10 Based on Information of Fax Unit 4> Next, the case of outputting information to the fax unit 4 will be described. The CPU 1003 communicates with the CPU 122 (FIG. 3) of the reader unit 1 via the communication IC 1002 to issue a document scan command. In the reader unit 1, the scanner unit 104 scans the document according to this command, and outputs image information to the connector 120. Reader unit 1
The external device 3 and the external device 3 are connected by a cable, and the information from the reader unit 1 is input to the connector 1001 (FIG. 4) of the core unit 10. Further, the image information input to the connector 1001 is input to the buffer 1010 through the multi-level 8-bit signal line 1057. Buffer circuit 10
10 is a bidirectional signal 1057 according to an instruction from the CPU 1003.
As a one-way signal via the signal line 1058
Input to 1011. In the LUT 1011, the reader unit 1
The image information from is converted into a desired value using a look-up table. For example, this makes it possible to remove the background of the original.

The output signal 1059 of the LUT 1011 is input to the binarization circuit 1012 at the next stage. Binarization circuit 101
2 converts the 8-bit multilevel signal 1059 into a binary signal. The binarization circuit 1012 further sets "00H" when the binarized signal is "0", and "FFH" when it is "1".
In this way, it is converted into two multilevel signals and output. Two
The output signal of the binarization circuit 1012 is input to the rotation circuit 1015 or the selector 1016 via the selectors 1013 and 1014. The output signal 1062 of the rotation circuit 1015 is also input to the selector 1016, and the selector 10
16 selects either the signal 1061 or the signal 1062. This signal is selected by the CPU 1003 on the bus 105.
It is determined by communicating with the fax unit 4 via the communication unit 4. The output signal 1063 from the selector 1016 is sent to the fax unit 4 via the connector 1005.

Next, the case of receiving information from the fax unit 4 will be described.

The image information from the fax unit 4 is the connector 1
It is input as a signal 1064 via 005. The signal 1064 is input to the selector 1014 and the selector 1017. When the image signal from the fax unit 4 is rotated and output to the printer unit 2, the signal 1064 input to the selector 1014 is output to the rotation circuit 1015 and rotated by the instruction of the CPU 1003. Rotating circuit 10
The output signal 1062 from 15 is sent to the pattern matching circuit 101 via the selectors 1016 and 1017.
8 is input.

When the image at the time of receiving the fax is output to the printer 2 as it is, the instruction from the CPU 1003 causes
The signal 1064 input to the selector 1017 is input to the pattern matching circuit 1018. The pattern matching circuit 1018 has a function of smoothing the jaggedness of an image when a fax is received, for example. This circuit 101
The signal pattern-matched in 8 is the selector 101
It is input to the LUT 1020 via 9. LUT102
0 indicates that the content of the LUT 1020 is the CPU in order to output the received fax image to the printer unit 2 at a desired density.
It can be changed in 1003. The output signal 1068 of the LUT 1020 is input to the expansion circuit 1022 via the selector 1021. The enlargement circuit 1022 enlarges an 8-bit multivalue having two values (00H, FFH) by a linear interpolation method. The 8-bit multilevel signal output from the expansion circuit 1022 is sent to the reader unit 1 via the buffer 1010 and the connector 1001. In the reader unit 1, this signal is input to the external I / F switching circuit 119 via the connector 120. External I / F switching circuit 1
19 inputs the signal from the fax unit 4 to the Y signal generation / color detection circuit 113. This Y signal generation / color detection circuit 1
The output signal from 13 is subjected to the above-described processing and then output to the printer unit 2 to form an image on an output sheet.

<Operation of Core Unit 10 Based on Information of File Unit 5> Next, the case of outputting information to the file unit 5 will be described.

The CPU 1003 communicates with the CPU 122 of the reader unit 1 via the communication IC 1002 and issues a document scan command. The reader unit 1 causes the scanner unit 104 to scan an original according to this command,
The image information is output to the connector 120. The reader unit 1 and the external device 3 are connected by a cable, and information from the reader unit 1 is input to the connector 1001 of the core unit 10. The image information input to the connector 1001 becomes a unidirectional signal 1058 by the buffer 1010. The signal 1058 which is a multi-valued 8-bit signal is the LUT 1011.
Is converted into a desired signal by. The output signal 1059 of the LUT 1011 is output to the selector 1013 and the selector 10
14 and a selector 1016 to input to the connector 1006 connecting the file unit 5.

That is, without using the functions of the binarization circuit 1012 and the rotation circuit 1015, the 8-bit multi-value data is transferred to the file unit 5 as it is. CPU bus 1054 of CPU 1003
When filing the binarized signal by communicating with the file unit 5 via the, the functions of the binarization circuit 1012 and the rotation circuit 1015 are used. The binarization process and the rotation process are omitted because they are similar to the case of the communication with the fax unit 4 described above.

Next, the case of receiving information from the file unit 5 will be described.

The image information from the file section 5 is the connector 1
A signal 1064 is input to the selector 1014 and the selector 1017 via 006. In the case of 8-bit multi-valued filing, through the selector 101, or in the case of binary filing, the selector 1014 or the selector 1
It is possible to input via 017. In the case of binary filing, description is omitted because it is the same processing as the communication with the fax unit 4 described above.

In the case of multi-value filing, the selector 10
The output signal 1065 from 17 is input to the LUT 1020 via the selector 1019. The LUT 1020 creates a look-up table according to the instruction of the CPU 1003 in accordance with the desired print density. LUT1020
The output signal 1068 is input to the expansion circuit 1022 via the selector 1021. 8-bit multilevel signal 10 expanded to a desired expansion ratio by the expansion circuit 1022
70 is sent to the reader unit 1 via the buffer 1010 and the connector 1001. The information sent from the file unit 5 to the reader unit 1 in this manner is output to the printer unit 2 in the same manner as the communication with the fax unit 4 described above, and an image is formed on a recording sheet.

<Operation of Core Unit 10 Based on Information of Network Interface Unit 7> The network interface unit 7 controls the interface with the network, and the network interface unit 7 has the above-mentioned three types of interface functions. Information from the selected one interface via the connector 1007 and the data bus 1054 to the CPU 1003.
Sent to The CPU 1003 performs various controls based on the sent contents.

<Core part 1 based on the information of the formatter part 8
Operation of 0> The formatter unit 8 has a function of expanding command data such as a document file sent from the network interface unit 7 described above into image data. When the CPU 1003 determines that the data sent from the network interface unit 7 via the data bus 1054 is data regarding the formatter unit 8, the CPU 1003 transfers the data to the formatter unit 8 via the connector 1008. The formatter unit 8 develops the transferred data in the memory as a meaningful image such as a character or a figure.

Next, a procedure for receiving information from the formatter unit 8 and forming an image on a recording sheet will be described.

The image information from the formatter unit 8 is transmitted as a multilevel signal 1064 having two values (00H, FFH) via the connector 1008. This signal 1
064 is input to the selectors 1014 and 1017. The selection operation in the selectors 1014 and 1017 is instructed by the instruction of the CPU 1003. Since the operation thereafter is similar to that in the case of communication with the fax unit 4 described above, description thereof will be omitted.

<Operation of Core Unit 10 Based on Information of Image Memory Unit 9> Next, a case where the core unit 10 outputs information to the image memory unit 9 will be described.

The CPU 1003 communicates with the CPU 122 of the reader unit 1 via the communication IC 1002 to issue a document scan command. The reader unit 1 outputs image information to the connector 120 when the scanner unit 104 scans a document according to this command. The reader unit 1 and the external device 3 are connected to each other via a cable, and information from the reader unit 1 is input to the connector 1001 of the core unit 10. The image information input to the connector 1001 is the multilevel 8-bit signal line 1057, the buffer 10
Sent to LUT 1011 via 10. LUT101
The output signal 1059 of 1 is the selectors 1013, 101
4, 1016 and the connector 1009 are sent to the image memory unit 9 to transfer the multivalued image information. The image information stored in the image memory unit 9 is sent to the CPU 1003 via the CPU bus 1054 of the connector 1009. The CPU 1003 transfers the data sent from the image memory unit 9 to the network interface unit 7 described above. The network interface unit 7 transfers to the network using the interface function selected from the above three types of interfaces.

Next, the case of receiving information from the image memory unit 9 will be described.

First, image information is sent from the network to the core unit 10 via the network interface unit 7. When the CPU 1003 of the core unit 10 determines that the data sent from the network interface unit 7 via the CPU bus 1054 is the data related to the image memory unit 9, the CPU 1003 transfers the data to the image memory unit 9 via the connector 1009. Next, the image memory unit 9
Is an 8-bit multilevel signal 106 via a connector 1009.
4 is transmitted to the selector 1014 and the selector 1017.
An output signal from the selector 1014 or the selector 1017 is output to the printer unit 2 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 1003, similarly to the communication with the fax unit 4 described above, and an image is formed on a recording sheet.

<Description of Fax Unit 4> FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the detailed arrangement of the fax unit 4.

The fax unit 4 is connected to the core unit 10 via the connector 400 and exchanges various signals. The binary information from the core unit 10 is stored in the memory A405 to the memory D4.
08, the signal 453 from the connector 400 is input to the memory controller 404, and the memory A4 is controlled under the control of the memory controller 404.
05, memory B406, memory C407, memory D40
8 or two sets of memories are connected in cascade.

The memory controller 404 is the CPU 41
According to the instruction 2, the mode for exchanging data with the memory A 405, the memory B 406, the memory C 407, the memory D 408 and the CPU bus 462 and the exchanging data with the CODEC bus 463 of the CODEC 411 having the encoding / decoding function. The mode and the contents of the memory A 405, the memory B 406, the memory C 407, and the memory D 408 are controlled by the DMA controller 402 and the scaling circuit 4
03, a mode in which data is exchanged with the bus 454, a mode in which binary video input data 454 is stored in any of the memories A405 to D408 under the control of the timing generation circuit 409, and a mode in which the memories A405 to D408 are stored. Read out the contents of the memory from either and use signal 4
It has five functions including a mode of outputting as 52.

Each of the memory A 405, the memory B 406, the memory C 407, and the memory D 408 has a capacity of 2 Mbytes and stores an image of A4 size at a resolution of 400 dpi. The timing generation circuit 409 is connected to the connector 400 by a signal 459, and controls signals (HSYNC, HEN, VSYNC) from the core unit 10.
C, VEN) to generate signals to achieve the following two functions. One is a function of storing the image signal from the core unit 10 in any one of the memories A405 to D408 or two memories.
The first is one of the memories A405 to D408.
The image signal is read from one of them and transmitted as a signal 452. The dual port memory 410 receives the signal 46
1, the CPU 1003 of the core unit 10 and the signal 46
2 is connected to the CPU 412 of the fax unit 4. Each CPU uses this dual port memory 410
Exchange commands via.

The SCSI controller 413 controls the interface with the hard disk connected to the fax unit 4 of FIG. 1, and stores data at the time of fax transmission and fax reception. CODEC411
Read the image information stored in any of the memories A405 to D408, and read the MH, MR, MM
After being encoded by a desired one of the R methods, it is stored in any one of the memories A405 to D408 as encoded information. Further, the coded information stored in the memories A405 to D408 is read out, and MH, MR, and M are read.
After performing the decoding by a desired one of the MR methods, the decoding information is stored in one of the memories A405 to D408,
That is, it is stored as image information. The MODEM (modem) 414 has a function of modulating the coded information from the hard disk connected to the CODEC 411 or the SCSI controller 413 in order to transfer the coded information to the telephone line.
The information sent from the NCU 415 is demodulated and converted into coded information, and the coded information is transferred to the hard disk connected to the CODEC 411 or the SCSI controller 413. The NCU 415 is directly connected to a telephone line and exchanges information with an exchange installed in a telephone office or the like according to a predetermined procedure.

Next, an embodiment of fax transmission will be described.

The binarized image signal from the reader unit 1 is input from the connector 400 and is input to the memory controller 404 as a signal 453. This signal 453 is stored in the memory A 405 by the memory controller 404. The timing stored in the memory A 405 is generated by the timing generation circuit 409 based on the timing signal 459 from the reader unit 1. The CPU 412 connects the memory A 405 and the memory B 406 to the CODEC 411 via the memory controller 404. CODEC
411 is image information (signal 46) from the memory A 405.
3) is read and encoded by the MR method, and then the encoded information is written in the memory B406. For example, when CODEC 411 encodes A4 size image information,
The CPU 412 is the memory B4 of the memory controller 404.
06 is connected to the CPU bus 462. The CPU 412 is
The encoded information is sequentially read from the memory B406 and transferred to the MODEM 414. MODEM414
Modulates this encoded information and sends the fax information over the telephone line via NCU 415.

Next, an embodiment of fax reception will be described.

The information sent from the telephone line is NCU4.
15 and is connected to the fax unit 4 by the NCU 415 according to a predetermined procedure. Information from NCU415 is MOD
It is input to the EM 414 and demodulated. The CPU 412 is
Information from the MODEM 414 is stored in the memory C407 via the CPU bus 462. Information on one screen is memory C
When stored in 407, the CPU 412 controls the memory controller 404 to connect the lines transmitting the signal 457 from the memory C 407 and the signal 463 to the CODEC 41. The CODEC 411 sequentially reads and decodes the encoded information in the memory C407, that is,
It is converted into image information and stored in the memory D408. C
The PU 412 communicates with the CPU 1003 of the core unit 10 via the dual port memory 410 and the memory D40
The printer unit 2 makes settings to print out an image from the printer unit 8 through the core unit 10. Upon completion of this setting, the CPU 412 activates the timing generation circuit 409 and outputs a predetermined timing signal 460 to the memory controller. The memory controller 404 synchronizes with the memory D4 in synchronization with the signal 460 from the timing generation circuit 409.
Image information is read from 08 and output to the connector 400 as a signal 452. Since the above description of the core unit 10 has been made until the output from the connector 400 to the printer unit 2, the description thereof will be omitted.

<Description of File Unit 5> FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the detailed structure of the file unit 5. The structure and operation of the file unit 5 will be described below with reference to FIG.

The file portion 5 is the connector 500 and the core portion 1
It is connected to 0 to exchange various signals. The multi-valued input signal 551 is input to the compression circuit 503, where multi-valued image information is converted into compressed information and the memory controller 51
It is output to 0. The output signal 552 of the compression circuit 503 is
The memory A 506 under the control of the memory controller 510,
It is stored in any one of the memory B 507, the memory C 508, and the memory D 509, or one in which two sets of memories are cascade-connected. The memory controller 510 is the CPU 5
16 instructions, memory A506, memory B507,
A mode for exchanging data between the memory C508, the memory 509 and the CPU bus 560, a mode for exchanging data with the CODEC bus 570 of the CODEC 517 for encoding / decoding, a memory A506, a memory B507, and a memory C508. , Contents of memory D509 to D
The scaling circuit 511 is controlled by the MA controller 518.
Mode for exchanging data with the bus 562 from
Under the control of the timing generation circuit 514, there are five functions: a mode in which the signal 553 is stored in any of the memories A506 to D509 and a mode in which the memory contents are read out from any of the memories A506 to D509 and output as a signal 556. Have.

Each of the memory A 506, the memory B 507, the memory C 508, and the memory D 509 has a capacity of 2 Mbytes and can store an image of A4 size at a resolution of 400 dpi. The timing generation circuit 514 is connected to the connector 500 by a signal 553, and control signals (HSYNC, HEN, VSYN) from the core unit 10 are supplied.
C, VEN) to generate signals to achieve the following two functions. One is a function of storing information from the core unit 10 in one of the memories A506 to D509 or two memories, and a second is image information from any one of the memories A506 to D509. Is read out and transmitted as a signal 556. The dual port memory 515 is connected to the CPU 1003 of the core unit 10 by a signal 554 and the CPU 516 of the file unit 5 by a signal 560. Each CPU can exchange commands via the dual port memory 515.

The SCSI controller 519 controls the interface with the external storage device 6 connected to the file unit 5 in FIG. The external storage device 6 is composed of, for example, a magneto-optical disk or the like, and stores data such as image information. The CODEC 517 reads out the image information stored in any of the memories A506 to D509, encodes the image information by a desired one of the MH, MR, and MMR methods, and then, reads the image information from the memories A506 to D50.
Stored in any one of 9 as encoded information. In addition, after the encoded information stored in the memories A506 to D509 is read and decoded by the corresponding one of the MH, MR, and MMR methods, the memory A506 to the memory D5 are read.
The data is stored as decryption information, that is, image information in any one of 09.

Next, an embodiment in which the file information is stored in the external storage device 6 will be described.

The 8-bit multi-valued image signal from the reader unit 1 is input via the connector 500 and is input to the compression circuit 503 as the signal 551. This signal 551 is input to the compression circuit 503 and converted into a compression information signal 552. The compressed information signal 552 is output to the memory controller 510.
Is input to The memory controller 510 includes the core unit 1
The timing generation circuit 559 is generated by the signal 553 from 0.
The timing signal 559 is generated in accordance with the above, and the compressed signal 552 is stored in the memory A 506 according to this signal 559. CP
U516 is the memory A50 of the memory controller 510.
6 and the memory B 507 are connected to the bus line 570 of the CODEC 517. CODEC 517 is a memory A5
The compressed information is read from 06, encoded by the MR method, for example, and the encoded information is written in the memory B507. When the CODEC 517 finishes encoding, the CPU 5
16 is the memory B 507 of the memory controller 510
Connect to the PU bus 560. The CPU 516 sequentially reads this coded information from the memory B507 and outputs it to the SC.
Transfer to the SI controller 519. The SCSI controller 519 stores the encoded information 572 in the external storage device 6.

Next, an embodiment in which information is taken out from the external storage device 6 and output to the printer unit 2 will be described.

Upon receiving the information search / print command, the CPU 516 receives the encoded information from the external storage device 6 via the SCSI controller 519 and transfers the encoded information to the memory C508. At this time, the memory controller 510 sets the CPU bus 560 to the bus 566 of the memory C508 according to an instruction from the CPU 516.
Connect to. When the transfer of the encoded information to the memory C508 is completed, the CPU 516 causes the memory controller 510 to
By controlling the memory C508 and the memory D50.
9 to bus 570 of CODEC 517. COD
The EC 517 reads the encoded information from the memory C 508, sequentially decodes the encoded information, and then transfers the encoded information to the memory D 509. If scaling such as enlarging / reducing is necessary when outputting to the printer unit 2, the memory D509 is stored in the bus 562 of the scaling circuit 511.
And scales the contents of the memory D509 under the control of the DMA controller 518. The CPU 516 is the CPU 100 of the core unit 10 via the dual port memory 515.
3 to communicate with the printer 3 and to make settings for printing out an image from the memory D509 to the printer unit 2 through the core unit 10. When the setting is completed, the CPU 516 activates the timing generation circuit 514, and the predetermined timing signal 55
9 is output to the memory controller 510. The memory controller 510 reads the decoded information from the memory D509 in synchronization with the signal 559 from the timing generation circuit 514 and outputs it as the signal 556 to the decompression circuit 504, where the information is decompressed. Output signal 555 of expansion circuit 504
Is output to the core unit 10 via the connector 500.
The description up to the output from the connector 500 to the printer unit 2 is omitted because it is the same as the description regarding the core unit 10 described above.

<Explanation of Network Interface Unit 7> Next, the network interface unit 7 will be described with reference to FIG.

The connector A700 is an Ethernet interface connector for 10BASE5. The connector B701 is an Ethernet for 10BASE2.
It is an interface connector. Connector C702
Is an Ethernet interface connector for 10BASE-T. 1 of the above 3 connectors
Select one to make a physical connection with Ethernet.
Further, the CPU 703 refers to the volatile or non-volatile memory included in the memory 705 to refer to the Ethernet I / O.
Communication is performed by controlling the F controller 704. The connector E707 is connected to the core unit 10, and the CPU 703
Can communicate with the core unit 10 via the dual port memory 706.

<Description of Formatter Unit 8> FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the formatter unit 8. The configuration and operation of the formatter unit 8 will be described with reference to this figure.

The data from the network interface unit 7 described above is discriminated by the core unit 10. If the data is the data relating to the formatter unit 8, the core unit 1
The CPU 1003 of 0 has a connector 1008 of the core unit 10.
Also, the signal 853 is transferred to the dual port memory 803 via the connector 800 of the formatter unit 9. The CPU 809 of the formatter unit 8 receives the code data sent from the network via the dual port memory 803. The CPU 809 sequentially develops this code data into image data, and through the memory controller 808, the memory A 806 or the memory B 8
It is transferred to 07 and stored. Memory A806 and memory B
Each 807 has a capacity of 1 Mbyte, and one memory (memory A or memory B 807) can store an image of A4 size paper size at a resolution of 300 dpi. When storing an image of A3 size with a resolution of 300 dpi, memory A806 and memory B807
And are connected in cascade to develop image data in these two memories. The above memory is controlled by the CPU 80
9 is performed by the memory controller 808.

Further, when it is necessary to rotate a character or a graphic when developing the image data, the image data is rotated by the rotation circuit 804 and then transferred to the memory A 806 or the memory B 807. When the expansion of the image data in the memory A 806 or the memory B is completed, the CPU 80
9 controls the memory controller 808, and the memory A80
The data bus line 858 of No. 6 or the data bus line 859 of the memory B 807 is connected to the output line of the memory controller 808 and output as a signal 851.

Next, the CPU 809 communicates with the CPU 1003 of the core unit 10 via the dual port memory 803 and sets the mode in which image information is output from the memory A 806 or the memory B 807. CPU 100 of core unit 10
3 sets the print output mode in the CPU 122 using the communication function built in the CPU 122 of the reader unit 1 via the communication circuit 1002 in the core unit 10. When the print output mode is set in this way, C of the core unit 10 is set.
The PU 1003 receives the timing generation circuit 80 via the connector 1008 and the connector 800 of the formatter unit 8.
Start to 2. The timing generation circuit 802 generates a timing signal 856 for reading image information from the memory A 806 or the memory B 807 to the memory controller 808 according to the signal from the core unit 10. Memory A
The image information from the memory controller 806 or the memory B807 is transferred to the memory controller 80 via the memory bus corresponding to each memory.
8 is input. The output information from the memory controller 808 is transferred to the core unit 10 via the connector 800 as a signal 851. The output from the core unit 10 to the printer unit 2 is the same as the description about the core unit 10 described above, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

<Description of Image Memory Unit 9> Next, the configuration and operation of the image memory unit 9 will be described with reference to FIG.

The image memory unit 9 is connected to the core unit 10 by the connector 900 and exchanges various signals. The multi-valued input signal 954 is stored in the memory 904 under the control of the memory controller 905. Memory controller 9
05 is a memory 904 and C according to the instruction of the CPU 906.
Under the control of the mode for exchanging data with the PU bus 957 and the timing generation circuit 902, the signal 954
Of the memory 904 and a mode of reading the content from the memory 904 and outputting it as a signal 955. Here, the memory 904 has a capacity of 32 Mbytes, for example, and can store image data equivalent to A3 size with a resolution of 400 dpi and 256 gradations.
The timing generation circuit 902 inputs the signal 952 from the connector 900 and outputs the control signal (HSY) from the core unit 10.
NC, HEN, VSYNC, VEN),
Generate signal 956 to accomplish the following two functions: One is a function of storing information from the core unit 10 in the memory 904, and the second is a function of reading image information from the memory 904 and outputting it as a signal 955.

The dual port memory 903 receives the signal 95
3 is connected to the CPU 1003 of the core unit 10 and is also connected to the CPU 906 of the image memory unit 9 via a signal line 957. Each CPU exchanges commands via the dual port memory 903.

Next, an embodiment will be described in which image information is stored in the image memory unit 9 and this information is transferred to the network.

The 8-bit multivalued image signal from the reader unit 1 is input from the connector 900 and is input to the memory controller 905 as a signal 954. The timing signal 956 is generated in the timing generation circuit 902 by the signal 952 from the core unit 10, and the memory controller 905
Stores the signal 954 in the memory 904 in accordance with this signal 956.
To memorize. The CPU 906 is a memory controller 90.
5 can be connected to the CPU bus 957. The CPU 906 also sequentially reads the image information from the memory 904 to read the dual port memory 90.
Transfer to 3. The CPU 1003 of the core unit 10 reads the image information of the dual port memory 903 of the image memory unit 9 as a signal 953 via the connector 900 and transfers this information to the network interface unit 7. Transfer of information from the network interface unit 7 to the network is omitted because it has been described above.

Next, an embodiment for outputting the image information sent from the network to the printer unit 2 will be described.

The image information sent from the network is sent to the core unit 10 via the network interface unit 7. The CPU 1003 of the core unit 10
Image information is transferred to the dual port memory 903 of the image memory unit 9 via the CPU bus 1054 and the connector 1009.

At this time, the CPU 906 controls the memory controller 905 to transfer the CPU bus 957 to the memory 904.
Connect to the bus. Further, the CPU 906 reads image information from the dual port memory 903 and transfers it to the memory 904 via the memory controller 905. After the image information is transferred to the memory 904,
The CPU 906 controls the memory controller 905 and connects the data line of the memory 904 to the signal 955. Further, the CPU 906 communicates with the CPU 1003 of the core unit 10 via the dual port memory 903, and the memory 9
Setting from 04 to print out an image through the core unit 10 to the printer unit 2 is performed. When this setting is completed,
The CPU 906 activates the timing generation circuit 902 and outputs a predetermined timing signal 902 to the memory controller 905. This allows the memory controller 90
5 reads the image information from the memory 904 in synchronization with the signal 956 from the timing generation circuit 902 and outputs it as a signal 955 to the connector 900. Connector 90
From 0 to output to the printer unit 2, the above-mentioned core unit 1
Since it was explained about 0, it omits it.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the first embodiment of the present invention. Although the core unit 10 is not shown in this figure, the functions of the network interface (I / F) unit 7, the formatter unit 8 and the fax unit 4 are integratedly controlled according to the outline of the operation.

Now, after the image data is expanded in the workstation 11 and converted into code data, this code data is transferred from the workstation 11 via the network 13 and an instruction for fax transmission is given (2
00). The network I / F unit 7 receives this code data and transfers the data to the formatter unit 8 (20
1). The formatter unit 8 expands the transferred code data into image data (220) and sequentially transfers the expanded image data to the fax unit 4 together with the information of the fax transmission instruction (202). When the formatter unit 8 completes the image data rasterization process and image transfer, it transfers a message indicating that the code data has been rasterized and the fax transmission has been started to the network I / F unit 7 (210). As a result, the network I / F unit 7
Sends this message to the workstation 11 (211).

The fax unit 4 performs a transfer process (221) using the telephone line, and sends the image data received from the formatter unit 8 to the destination facsimile machine (204). Then, after this image transmission processing is completed,
The formatter unit 8 transmits a message notifying that the facsimile transmission is completed to the formatter unit 8 (21
2). The formatter unit 8 having received this transmits a message to the network I / F unit 7 indicating that both the image data expansion processing and the facsimile transmission processing have been completed (213). And finally, Network I /
The F unit 7 transmits this message to the workstation 11 (214) and ends the processing.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. The present invention can also be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program for implementing the present invention to a system or an apparatus.

As described above, according to this embodiment, in the external processing device of the digital copying machine having the main board and the plurality of option boards, the network 13 is used.
The image data transmitted from the network 13 has a function of transmitting the image data transmitted from the network 13 to a bitmap and a function of transmitting the image data expanded to the bitmap using a telephone line. Not print
Network 1 that is being transmitted over the telephone line
3 can be transmitted to the computer equipment 11 connected.

As a result, it is possible to confirm the result of the communication processing, which has not been obtained by the computer equipment on the network, by the message from the device which receives and processes the image data from the network. Therefore, when expanding the image data and transferring the data using the telephone line, go to the place where the communication terminal is installed and check to see if the transfer of the image data is completed normally. Is unnecessary and workability on the network is improved.

[0092]

As described above, according to the present invention, the operator of the computer device connected to the network can confirm the transmission result of the image data to the public line at the operation position. is there.

Further, according to the present invention, the processing result of the transmission processing to the public line can be obtained by the computer device connected to the network, so that it is possible to confirm that the image transfer is normally completed. This has the effect of eliminating the need to go to the place where the device is set and check it.

[0094]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus of this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a structural cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a reader unit and a printer unit of this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing unit of a reader unit according to the present exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a core unit of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a fax unit of this embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a file unit of this embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network interface unit according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a formatter unit of this embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image memory unit of this embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the operation of the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Reader Unit 2 Printer Unit 3 External Device 4 Fax Unit 5 File Unit 6 External Storage Device 7 Network Interface (I / F) Unit 8 Formatter Unit 9 Image Memory Unit 10 Core Unit 11 Workstation

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An information processing device capable of communicating with another device via a public line, comprising: a network connecting unit for connecting to another computer device via a network; and the computer device via the network. Expansion means for expanding the code data sent from the device into a bit map; transmission means for encoding the data expanded by the expansion means and transmitting it via the public line; An information processing device, comprising: 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the expansion means further has a function of expanding bitmap data. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit further includes a scaling unit that scales the data expanded by the expansion unit. 4. An information processing method in an information processing device capable of communicating with another device via a public line, the method comprising receiving code data sent from a computer device connected via a network. A step of expanding the received code data into a bit map, a step of encoding the data expanded into the bit map and transmitting it via the public line, and a step of notifying the computer device of the transmission state, An information processing method comprising: