JPH09139794A - Facsimile equipment system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate a date time setting job by interconnecting a facsimile equipment(FAX) and a personal computer(PC). SOLUTION: In this system, after the PC and the FAX are interconnected (S1), when date time setting of a calendar of the FAX is not finished NO(S2) and date time setting of a calendar of the PC is finished YES(S3), the calendar information is transferred and set to the calendar of the FAX (S4). When the date time setting of both the calendars is not finished NO(S2) and NO(S3), after the date time setting of either of the calendars is executed (S5), the calendar information is transferred and set to the other calendar (S6). When the date and time setting of both the calendars is finished [YES(S2) and YES(S7)], either of both the calendars is selected (S9) as a reference calendar, and the reference calendar information is transferred and set to the other calendar (S10, S11). When the date and time setting of the FAX calendar is finished YES(S2), NO(S7), the calendar information of the FAX is transferred and set, to the calendar of the PC.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine system in which an information processing apparatus such as a computer and a facsimile machine are connected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-133.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 91-91, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-98077, etc., a facsimile machine is provided with an interface (I / O port) capable of inputting / outputting signals (data) to / from a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer). , The personal computer and the interface of the facsimile device are connected by a cable, and the image data such as characters and images input on the personal computer side (hereinafter the same) is temporarily transmitted to the facsimile device, and the facsimile device telephone line, etc. Other facsimile machine (hereinafter referred to as the partner machine) via
Image data received from the other device is temporarily stored in the memory unit in the facsimile device and transmitted to the memory unit in the personal computer as desired.
It has been proposed to use a facsimile machine as a distribution terminal of a personal computer.

Further, in the recent facsimile apparatus, when the answering machine mode is set, a message message (voice data) from the calling side telephone or image data from the calling side personal computer is converted into digital data. An answering machine function of accumulating in the accumulating device, outputting image data to recording paper and reproducing voice data from a speaker among the accumulated data, and temporarily accumulating image data to be transmitted in the memory, Memory transmission function to send image data to the other device all at once when connected to the other facsimile device, and when the specified time arrives by connecting the line to the other facsimile device at the specified time. A time-specified transmission function (timer transmission function) for transmitting the image data stored in is also developed.

Therefore, the facsimile apparatus is provided with a calendar function such as the date and time for recording the time of transmission and reception and for performing time management such as the above-mentioned answering machine function and time designated transmission. A clock means capable of outputting the calendar information is provided, and even a computer such as a recent personal computer is usually provided with a clock means similar to the above in order to exert a data communication function with other personal computers. .

By the way, conventionally, the date and time such as the present time of the clock means is set by operating the function key or the like for each device.

[0006]

However, although an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer is equipped with a backup power source, if the normal AC power source is left off for a long period of time, the clock means may also stop. is there.
On the other hand, in a facsimile machine, it is normally set to be connected to an AC power source, but in the case of a power outage or A
When the C power outlet is removed, each of the clock means also stops. Therefore, in any case, the current time and the like must be set again for each device, which causes a problem of time and date setting and adjustment work.

The present invention has been made to solve this problem, and improves the usability of a system in which a computer and a facsimile device are connected by facilitating the date and time setting and adjusting work for the clock means. The purpose is.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a facsimile machine system having an interface capable of connecting to an information processing apparatus such as a computer. The processing device is provided with a clock means having a calendar function such as date and time and calendar information, and date and time adjusting means capable of setting and adjusting the date and time in the clock means in at least one of the facsimile device and the information processing device. When the clock means of either the facsimile apparatus or the information processing apparatus is already set to date and time, and the other clock means is not set to date and time,
The control means is provided for transmitting the calendar information to the other clock means.

The invention according to claim 2 is a facsimile apparatus system having an interface capable of connecting to an information processing apparatus such as a computer,
The facsimile device and the information processing device are respectively provided with clock means having a calendar function such as date and time and calendar information, and at least one of the facsimile device and the information processing device is set and adjusted in the clock means. When the date and time of both of the facsimile device and the information processing device have already been set, the selecting device is provided with a date and time adjusting device capable of selecting the date and time and the calendar information in either one of the clock devices is used as a reference, and At least one of the facsimile device and the information processing device is provided with a control means for transmitting the reference calendar information to the other clock means.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, examples embodying the present invention will be described. 1 is a perspective view of the facsimile apparatus 1 and a personal computer 2 as an information processing apparatus, FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the facsimile apparatus 1, and FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the personal computer 2. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the facsimile machine (FAX machine) 1 of the present invention is an RS-232C.
Input / output interface (I / O port) such as serial interface or parallel interface
It is connected to the personal computer 2 via 3 and a cable 4.

The facsimile apparatus 1 is a network controller unit (NC) for performing line control.
U) 5, a communication line 6 such as a telephone line, and an exchange 7
Is connected to the called facsimile machine 9 or another personal computer 8 equipped with a modem with a FAX communication function. The CPU 10, which is the core of the facsimile machine 1, is connected to the following parts of the device via a signal bus line, and controls the parts of the device according to a predetermined communication control procedure to execute a facsimile operation, that is, data communication.

The modem 11 modulates image information as a digital signal into an analog signal and transmits it to the communication line 6 via the NCU 5 or an analog signal as image information sent from the NCU 5 via the communication line 6. Is demodulated into a digital signal and various signals for transmission control are transmitted and received. As shown in FIG. 2, the CPU 10 includes a buffer memory 12 and a ROM storing a control program.
(Read-only memory) 13, non-volatile memory 14 such as EEPROM, and RAM for storing various data
(A readable / writable memory at any time) 15, a CCD scanner 16 as a document reading unit, an operation panel 21 having a liquid crystal display unit 22, a printer 18 as a recording unit,
The encoder 17 and the decoder 20 are connected to the image memory 19 and the like via a bus.

The buffer memory 12 temporarily stores various data including coded image information transmitted / received to / from the called side facsimile apparatus 9, and receives a received command and a called side telephone number. It has a plurality of areas such as a transmission buffer memory 12a for temporarily storing data such as names and a reception buffer memory 12b. EEPR
The non-volatile memory 14 such as OM includes a one-touch number storage area 14a, a destination telephone number storage area 14b, a communication state storage area 14c, and a function storage area 14d in which programs and data of various functions such as communication modes are stored. The called side (destination) is provided with a time storage area 14e for storing transmission time and reception time, required time thereof, etc. and a communication management information storage area 14f for storing communication management information etc.
Dial number (telephone number) and data of destination name and one-touch number, presence / absence of name registration of calling side facsimile device, presence / absence of output of management report, presence / absence of output of transmission result report, and volume of telephone ringing bell , Stores various setting information such as the volume of the speaker in the facsimile machine. The contents of the non-volatile memory 14 are not erased even when the power of the facsimile apparatus 1 is turned off.

Further, the RAM 15 is for temporarily storing various data at the time of executing the operation, and the voice / image storage area 15a for storing the voice data and the image data received when the answering machine function is exhibited as digital data.
Is provided. The CCD scanner 16 reads an image of a document, which is encoded by the encoding unit 17 to transmit the read image data, and the buffer memory 12
It is temporarily stored at and then transmitted. In this case, as a method for compressing (suppressing) the redundancy of the facsimile signal (redundancy suppression encoding method), attention is paid to the continuous length of the white signal or the black signal of the facsimile signal, that is, the statistical property of the run length. Then, the encoding method (Modified READ, MR method) is adopted.

On the other hand, the printer 18 records the received image data on a recording sheet as a hard copy.
A latent image is formed on the photoconductor drum by laser light, developed with toner, transferred to a recording paper, and fixed by an electrostatic electrophotographic recording method, or a thermal printer that prints an image on thermal paper with a thermal head. Adopt the method. Note that CC
It also has a copying function of using the D scanner 16 and the printer 18 to output recording paper copied immediately from the original. In this case, the multi-copy mode in which a plurality of copies are output from one original, and one from a plurality of originals
A sort copy mode is provided, in which when a copy of a plurality of copies or a plurality of copies is output, the recording paper is output in order according to the page of the original and divided into each copy.

The received image data and the dot data for recording are usually stored in the image memory 19, and a dynamic RAM (DRAM) is often used. In a normal receiving operation (performing recording in real time) in the facsimile apparatus 1, a transmission image is transmitted after transmitting / receiving a signal between the facsimile apparatus 1 and the facsimile apparatus 9 (or another personal computer 8) according to a predetermined communication control procedure. The information is received and temporarily stored as image data (analog signal) in the buffer memory 12. This image data is decoded (decompressed) by the decoding unit 20, and is expanded and written in the bit image storage area of the image memory 19 into a dot image for recording in page units. Then, bit expansion is performed at a predetermined resolution, and this is sent to the printer 18 and imaged (printed) page by page.
Is what you do.

At the time of proxy reception, the received image data is normally temporarily stored in the image memory 19 as compressed data, and at the time of recording (at the time of recording paper output), the same resolution as the above is applied to the remaining area of the image memory 19. Select and expand the bit.
Further, the image data temporarily stored in the image memory 19 at the time of the proxy reception or the image data received at the time of the answering machine function exhibiting and accumulated in the voice / image storage area 15a are the external storage device 49 of the personal computer 2 described later. It is also possible to process the received image data in the personal computer 2 by transmitting it to the personal computer 2.

Further, at the time of direct transmission, the CCD scanner 1
The transmission original is read at 6 and encoded by the encoding unit 17 before being transmitted. At the time of memory transmission, the CCD scanner 16 reads the transmission original and encodes the encoded data, and the image memory 1
The data is once stored in No. 9, and then automatically transmitted sequentially or at a designated time. Timed transmission (timer transmission)
Is convenient when there is a time difference with the called side facsimile apparatus or when group transmission (sending the same document to a plurality of destinations).

Further, since the image data directly input on the personal computer 2 side is encoded data, this data can be transmitted after being stored once in the image memory 19 of the calling side facsimile apparatus 1 described above. it can. The operation panel 21 provided in the facsimile device 1 is provided with a display unit 22 such as a liquid crystal display unit for displaying the operation state of the facsimile device, and a numeric keypad 23 for the operator to perform various operations, a function key 24, and one-touch registration. The key 25 and the like are provided (see FIG. 1). The one-touch registration operation is performed by the ten keys 23 and the function keys 24.
The operation is performed by inputting the other party's telephone number, the other party's name, etc. by a predetermined operation and the predetermined operation of the one-touch registration key 25.

The calendar 30 as a clock means having a calendar function for date, day of the week, time and the like has data (data for use in storing the above-mentioned facsimile transmission time and reception time and measuring the required time thereof). Calendar information)
Is output. Normally, after the facsimile apparatus 1 is connected to an AC power source and a power switch (not shown) is turned on to start up, the preset function key 24 is used to call the setting item for time setting, and the numeric keypad 23 is used to set the correct date. Enter the date and time to set. If the year, month, and day are input, the day of the week can be automatically set by the calendar function. The function key 24 and the numeric keypad 23 serve as a date / time setting adjusting means of the calendar 30.

In addition, the facsimile apparatus 1 has a voice LSI storing a response voice for an answering machine function.
An (integrated circuit) 26, an amplifier 27 for reproducing a voice recorded at an answering machine, a speaker 28, a reproduction key (not shown) for a reproduction command, and the like are provided. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the personal computer 2. The CPU 40 includes a microprocessor and the like, the ROM 41 stores control programs and the like, and the RAM 42 stores various data.
And an input / output port (interface) 43, and a keyboard 44 and a mouse 45 as an input unit,
A display 46 such as a CRT as an output unit (a display device, and may be a liquid crystal display), a printer 47 and left and right speakers 48a and 48b, an external device such as a facsimile device 1 as an input / output device and a hard disk device. A storage device 49 and a calendar 50 serving as a clock means having a calendar function such as a date, a day of the week, and a time.
And so on.

The calendar 50 is provided as necessary data (calendar information) such as date and time required for storing and managing data input / output time on the personal computer 2 side and various application software. In addition, the time setting operation for the calendar 50 is usually performed by connecting the personal computer 2 to an AC power source and turning on a power switch (not shown) to call up the setting item of the time setting with a predetermined function key on the keyboard 44. Enter the correct date and time with the numeric keys to set. If the year, month, and day are input, the day of the week can be automatically set by the calendar function. Therefore, the function keys and ten keys on the keyboard 4 function as the date and time setting adjusting means of the calendar 50.

Next, referring to the flow chart of FIG. 4, the facsimile machine (FAX) 1 and the personal computer (P
C) The date and time selection processing of each calendar 30, 50 of 2 will be described. First, the power switch of the facsimile machine 1 is turned on to start the processing, and then it is judged whether or not the facsimile machine 1 and the personal computer 2 are connected so that data transfer is possible (S1). If not connected (S1: no), the date and time is set for each of the calendars 30 and 50, so the following processing is not performed and the standby state is entered.
When FAX1 and PC2 are connected (S1:
yes), next, it is judged whether or not the date and time setting of the calendar 30 on the FAX 1 side is completed (S2), and the calendar 3
When the date and time setting of 0 has not been completed (S2: no), it is next determined whether or not the date and time setting of the calendar 50 on the PC2 side is completed (S3). And calendar 50
When the date and time setting of is completed (S3: yes), data such as date and time of the calendar 50 (calendar information)
To the FAX1 side and set the date and time of the calendar 30 on the PC.
According to the date and time of the second calendar 50 (S4), the process ends.

On the other hand, when the date and time setting of the calendar 50 is not completed (S3: no), both calendars 30, 5 are
For 0, the date and time setting work has not been completed, so the user executes the date and time setting work for one of the calendars (S5). When this work is completed, the set calendar information is transferred to the other calendar, the date and time of the calendar is set (S6), and the process is completed.

Even when the date and time setting of the calendar 30 on the FAX 1 side is completed in S2 (S2: yes), the PC2
It is determined whether or not the date and time setting of the side calendar 50 is completed (S7). Then, when the date and time setting of the calendar 50 is completed (S7: yes), the fact is displayed on the display 46 of the personal computer 2 side (S8). The user who sees this display inputs which calendar information to use as a reference using the keyboard 44 as a selection means (S9). Here, when the calendar information of the calendar 50 on the personal computer (PC) 2 side is selected (S9: P
C), the calendar information of the FAX1 side 3
The value is transferred to 0 and set (S10), and the process ends. Conversely, when the calendar information of the calendar 30 on the FAX1 side is selected (S9: FAX), the calendar information is transferred to the calendar 50 on the PC2 side and set (S9: FAX).
11) The processing may be completed.

Further, when the times set in both calendars 30 and 50 are not correct, the resetting is selected (S9: resetting), the process returns to S5, and the date and time is set in either one of the calendars. Run. In this way, when the date and time have already been set in both calendars 30 and 50 and the time is correct, the user can select either one as a reference, so that it is easy to operate or the correct time is set. It suffices to select based on the set information, and the date and time of the other calendar can be automatically set with the selected reference calendar information. When neither of the times set in both calendars is correct, it is possible to port it to the other calendar by selecting the correct date and time in only one calendar.

When the date and time setting of the calendar 50 is not completed in S7 (S7: no), the calendar information of the calendar 30 on the FAX1 side is sent to the personal computer (PC) 2
All that is necessary is to transfer and set it to the calendar 50 on the side (S12) and end the processing. As described above, in any of the processes, it is possible to omit the date / time setting work of the other calendar by simply executing the date / time setting work of the one calendar and to set the date / time of both calendars 30 and 50 to be the same. .

The selection operation in S9 may be executed by the selection key 31 provided on the side of the facsimile apparatus 1. In the above-mentioned processing, the control means for transmitting (transferring) one calendar information when setting the date and time of the other calendar is the CPU 10, 4 respectively.
0 will be responsible.

[0029]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
A facsimile device system according to the invention described in 1. is a facsimile device system including an interface that can be connected to an information processing device such as a computer,
The facsimile device and the information processing device are respectively provided with clock means having a calendar function such as date and time and calendar information, and at least one of the facsimile device and the information processing device is set and adjusted in the clock means. If the clock means of either the facsimile apparatus or the information processing apparatus has already been set to date and time and the other clock means is not set to date and time, the calendar information is transmitted to the other clock means. It is provided with a control means.

Therefore, since it is possible to set the date and time by transmitting the calendar information to the other clock means by performing the date and time setting operation of the clock means of either the facsimile device or the information processing device such as a computer, By performing the date and time setting work of (3), the time and date setting work of the other clock means can be omitted, and the date and time of both clock means can be set to the same effect.

A facsimile apparatus system according to a second aspect of the present invention is a facsimile apparatus system having an interface that can be connected to an information processing apparatus such as a computer, and the facsimile apparatus and the information processing apparatus include: It is equipped with a calendar function such as date, time, etc. and clock means with calendar information,
At least one of the facsimile device and the information processing device is provided with a date and time adjusting device capable of setting and adjusting the date and time in the clock device, and when both the clock devices of the facsimile device and the information processing device have already been set the date and time, either At least one of the facsimile apparatus and the information processing apparatus is provided with a selection unit that can select whether to use the calendar information in one clock unit as a reference and a control unit that transmits the reference calendar information to the other clock unit. Be prepared.

According to this structure, the user can select either one of the clock means as a reference, so that it is sufficient to select the one that is easy to operate or the one with the correct time set. The effect that the date and time of the other clock means can be automatically set by the selected reference calendar information. Therefore, the usability of the system in which the computer and the facsimile device are connected can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a facsimile device and a personal computer.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a facsimile device.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a personal computer.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of processing of calendar information.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Facsimile device 2 Personal computer 5 NCU 10,40 CPU 11 Modem 13,41 ROM 14 EEPROM 15,42 RAM 15a Audio / image data storage area 21 Operation panel 30,50 Calendar 31 Selection key 44 Keyboard 46 CRT display

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus system having an interface capable of connecting to an information processing apparatus such as a computer, wherein the facsimile apparatus and the information processing apparatus have calendar functions such as date and time and calendar information. Each of the facsimile apparatus and the information processing apparatus is provided with a clock means, and at least one of the facsimile apparatus and the information processing apparatus is provided with a date and time adjusting means capable of setting and adjusting the date and time in the clock means. And a control means for transmitting the calendar information to the other clock means when the other clock means is not set to the date and time. 2. A facsimile apparatus system having an interface capable of connecting to an information processing apparatus such as a computer, wherein the facsimile apparatus and the information processing apparatus have calendar functions such as date and time and calendar information. A clock means is provided, and at least one of the facsimile apparatus and the information processing apparatus is provided with date and time adjusting means capable of setting and adjusting the date and time in the clock means. In this case, the selection means capable of selecting whether to use the calendar information in one of the clock means as a reference and the control means for transmitting the reference calendar information to the other clock means are provided in the facsimile device or the information processing device. Be prepared for at least one of them Characteristic facsimile machine system.