JPH0879433A - Image forming system controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To properly grasp the connecting state and operating state of a system configuration. CONSTITUTION: Concerning a system controller 3 controlling the transmission/ reception of image signals between a recorder for forming and outputting an image on a recording medium and a data processing function device such as a FAX or a computer for outputting an image forming signal and the image forming output through the recorder and constituting an image forming system while provided with a reader part 1 and a printer part 2 and being connected to the recorder and the data processing function device, this system controller 3 is equipped with a discriminating means for discriminating the name of the data processing function device and a storage means, a managing table including the names of a recorder and a data processing function device is prepared and stored in a storage device and control is performed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a copying machine having a data processing function such as a facsimile and a printer, that is, a so-called multi-function peripheral, and more particularly to an image forming system control device having a structure in which an image processing function can be optionally set. Is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A plurality of facsimile devices, personal computer devices (hereinafter referred to as data processing function devices) are connected to a recording device in which a document reading part reads an original image and a printer part forms an image on a recording medium. However, the system configuration that records on the recording paper by the recording device is
It is becoming popular due to the rationalization of office equipment.

[0003]

However, in the above system configuration, there is no configuration for storing, managing and controlling the data processing function device connected to the recording device. Therefore, even after the installation, the user unplugged the data processing function device or added or changed the data processing function device.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming system control device capable of correctly grasping the connection state and the operating state of the system configuration. .

[0005]

Therefore, the image forming system control apparatus according to the present invention includes a recording apparatus for reading an original image by the original reading section and forming an image on a recording medium by the printer section, and various output apparatuses for outputting image signals. An image forming system control device connected to a data processing function device for controlling transmission / reception of an image signal between the recording device and the data processing function device and an image forming operation by the recording device, the data processing being connected According to a configuration characterized in that it comprises a discriminating means for discriminating the name of the functional device and a storage means, creates a management table including the names of the recording device and the data processing functional device, stores the management table in the storage device, and performs the control. It is intended to achieve the above purpose.

The discriminating means discriminates the name of the data processing functional device by reading the unique ID code possessed by the data processing functional device for each device and comparing it with the ID code stored in the storage device. According to the configuration described above, and after the power is turned on and started, the name of the data processing function device connected by the determining means is determined, and whether it matches the configuration of the data processing function device stored in the storage means. It is intended to achieve the above-mentioned object by a configuration characterized in that it is determined whether or not there is no match and if there is no match, it is determined as an abnormality.

[0007]

With the above construction, after the power is turned on and started, the ID code of the connected data processing function device is checked against the ID code stored in the storage means to determine the name of the data processing function device. Therefore, the connection state of the data processing function device can be accurately grasped.

Further, the operation of the data processing function device and the recording device can be accurately grasped and managed by the management table stored in the storage device.

[0009]

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image forming system control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an image input / reading device (hereinafter referred to as a reader unit) for converting a document into image data,
2 is an image output device (hereinafter referred to as a printer) that has a plurality of types of recording paper cassettes and that outputs image data as a visible image on the recording paper in response to a print command. 3 is electrically connected to the reader unit 1 The system control device is an external device of the printer.

The system control unit 3 has a core unit 10 for controlling data and is provided with a plurality of connectors for connecting data processing function units. That is, the fax unit 4, the file unit 5, which is a data processing function device, the external storage device 6 connected to the file unit 5, the computer interface unit 7 for connecting to the computer and the LAN, and the information from the computer are visible. A formatter unit 8 for forming an image, an image memory unit 9 for accumulating information from the reader unit 1 and temporarily accumulating information sent from a computer are connected.

In the method of recognizing the data processing function device, first, the core section 10 issues an ID code request signal to each connector. The data processing function device receiving this signal outputs an ID code signal peculiar to each device. The core unit 10 reads the ID code signal output to the connection connector together with the physical position of the connector, compares the ID code with the ID code stored in advance with the name of the functional device, and matches the name. Correspond to the physical connector position.

At this time, even if the data processing function devices having the same ID code are connected, the physical positions are different, so that they can be distinguished.

Furthermore, after the power is turned on for the first time after the machine is installed, a new management table is created. That is, the result recognized by the above method is divided into a data input device and a data output device as shown in FIG. 2, and a management table on a matrix is created and stored in the storage means of the core unit 10.

When the service engineer changes the configuration of the data processing device, the above-mentioned management table is created and the table is rewritten by setting different from the normal switch such as a service switch from the operation unit. .

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for creating the above-mentioned management table and discriminating the data processing function device.
Shown in

In FIG. 3, S = 0 in step 1 is after normal power-on, and S = 1 in step 2 is when the management table is created in the service mode. Further, there are N data processing device connecting connectors, and the IDs are sequentially discriminated from the connectors 1 to N, and whether or not there is a connection is read I
It is checked whether D is a normal value (steps 3 to 10), and it is compared with the ID code stored in advance, and the connector n
The function of is determined (step 10).

Further, when the function of the connector n is determined,
It is confirmed whether the function is in the management table (steps 11 to 12), and if all the connectors are normal, the determination flow is ended.

If there is no connection to the connector, the read ID value is abnormal, or the ID is different from the management table, a message is sent to the user as an error, for example, notifying the operation unit.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The configuration of the data processing function device is monitored every time the power is turned on by using the management table, and since the input / output is managed by the management table of the matrix, history management such as data flow and frequency of use of each data function processing device is also performed. It has the advantage that it can be done easily.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an image forming system control embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a management table.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for determining a data processing function device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 reader unit 2 printer unit 3 system control unit 4 fax unit 5 file unit 6 external storage unit 7 computer interface unit

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A recording apparatus for reading an original image by an original reading section and forming an image on a recording medium by a printer section, and various data processing function apparatuses for outputting image signals, and between the recording apparatus and the data processing function apparatus. An image forming system control device for controlling the transmission and reception of the image signal and the image forming operation of the recording device, the recording device comprising: a determination means and a storage means for determining the name of the connected data processing function device. An image forming system control device, characterized in that a management table including a data processing function device name is created and stored in the storage device to perform the control. 2. The discriminating means discriminates the name of the data processing functional device by reading a unique ID code possessed by the data processing functional device for each device and comparing it with the ID code stored in the storage means. The image forming system control device according to claim 1. 3. The management table is read out after the power is turned on, and when the management table is not created, it is determined that the device has just been installed, and the name of the connected data processing function device is determined to manage. The image forming system control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a table is created and stored. 4. After the power is turned on and turned on, the name of the connected data processing function device is discriminated by the discriminating means, and whether or not it matches the configuration of the data processing function device stored in the storage means. 4. The image forming system control device according to claim 1, wherein the image forming system control device determines that the image forming system control device is abnormal. 5. When the configuration of the connected data processing functional device is changed, the name of the connected data processing functional device is discriminated by the discriminating means, and a management table is created and stored. Item 5. The image forming system controller according to any one of items 1 to 4. 6. The image formation according to claim 1, wherein the management table is a two-dimensional matrix table having a vertical axis as a data input device and a horizontal axis as a data output device. System control unit. 7. The data input device on the vertical axis of the management table is a reading unit of the connected data processing function device and recording device, and the data output device on the horizontal axis is the connected data processing function device and recording device. 7. The image forming system control device according to claim 6, wherein the image forming system control device is a two-dimensional matrix table used as a printer unit of the device. 8. When the image data is moved in the image forming system, the data input device and the output device are discriminated and the count of the number of data movement is recorded in the corresponding data input / output column of the management table. The image forming system control device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein: 9. When determining the configuration of a connected data processing function device, when a plurality of same ID code signals are determined, the physical connection position of the data processing function device having the same ID code signal 3. The image forming system control device according to claim 2, wherein the same function devices are ordered and identified.