JPH09214655A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate modem control and to reduce the cost by providing a switch to connect a data communication modem or a facsimile modem to a network controller in the facsimile equipment. SOLUTION: The facsimile equipment has a control section 101 controlling the entire facsimile equipment, a scanner 102 reading an image, a scanner control section 103 controlling the scanner 102, a printer 104 printing out an image, a printer control section 105 controlling the printer 104, an operation section 106 for the operation of the operator, and a display section 7 displaying various information, and also a facsimile modem 113, a data communication modem 114, and a modem changeover switch 115 connects the modem 113 or 114 to a network controller 116. The control section 101 controls the modem changeover switch 115. Thus, the control of the modem is facilitated and one network controller 116 is enough and then the cost increase is suppressed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine having a data communication function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a facsimile apparatus is provided with a data communication function, one data communication modem is not provided separately from the facsimile modem, but one modem performs all control.

Further, when the data communication modem is exclusively provided, the network control device is provided for data communication separately from the facsimile.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a facsimile apparatus according to this conventional example.

This facsimile apparatus includes a control unit 201 for controlling the entire apparatus and a scanner 202 for reading an image.
And a scanner control unit 2 for controlling the scanner 202
03, a printer 204 for printing and outputting an image, and a printer control unit 205 for controlling the printer 204.
And an operation unit 206 for the operator to operate, and a display unit 207 for displaying various information.

Also, an external interface 208 for connecting to an external computer (not shown) or the like for exchanging data, an external interface control section 209 for controlling the external interface 208, and a program memory 210 for storing a program. And a data memory 211 for storing data, and an encoding / decoding unit 212 for encoding / decoding image data.

Further, a facsimile modem 213,
Network control device 2 for connecting the modem 213 and the line 218
14, a data communication modem 215, and this modem 21
5 and the network control device 216 connecting the network control device 214,
A bus 217 that connects the respective parts to each other.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a sequence for performing facsimile transmission in the conventional example shown in FIG.

In this sequence, it is assumed that the input of the destination number by the operator and the setting of the transmission original have been completed in advance.

First, in S301, it is determined whether or not the FAX modem is currently used for transmission or reception. When it is determined that the FAX modem 213 is in use, the original is read and stored in the memory (S30).
4).

In this memory storage, for example, the scanner control unit 203 is controlled, the original is read, the usage status of the memory 211 is checked, the image data is encoded by the encoding / decoding unit 212, the destination information and the image are displayed. Correspondence with the accumulated memory block is performed. Then, when the memory accumulation process is completed, this sequence is ended.

In reality, after the current communication is completed, it is confirmed that the FAX modem is not in use, and then the transmission is performed.

If it is determined in S301 that the FAX modem is not in use, then it is determined whether the data modem is in use (S302).

If it is determined that the data modem is in use, the original is read and stored in the memory (S304). When the memory storage operation is completed, this sequence ends. Actually, after the current communication is completed, the FAX modem 213 and the data modem 21
After confirming that 5 is not in use, transmission is performed.

If it is determined in S302 that the data modem is not in use, the transmission operation is started (S
303). In the transmission operation, the image data read by the scanner unit 202 and the scanner control unit 203 is processed by the encoding unit /
The decoding unit 212 encodes the image data, controls the network controller 214 for the facsimile modem, and executes the normal F
AX transmission processing is performed.

[0016]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, when the data communication is performed by the facsimile modem without the data communication modem, the control of the modem becomes complicated. There is. Also,
Since the capacity of the program memory of the facsimile increases, the cost also increases.

Further, since the modem set for data communication recently includes a control function of the network control device in addition to the modem control function for data communication, the modem set for data communication can be directly incorporated in the facsimile device. In such a case, as in the conventional example shown in FIG. 2, since two network control devices are required in the facsimile device, there is a drawback that the cost increases.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile machine which can achieve easy and inexpensive modem control for facsimile communication and data communication.

[0019]

The present invention has a modem for data communication, a modem for facsimile, and a switch for connecting either of the modems to a network controller.
Since the facsimile control unit controls the switch, the modem control can be easily performed, and only one network control device is required, and the cost increase can be suppressed.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention.

This facsimile apparatus includes a control unit 101 for controlling the entire apparatus and a scanner 102 for reading an image.
And a scanner control unit 1 for controlling the scanner 102
03, a printer 104 for printing and outputting an image, and a printer control unit 105 for controlling the printer 104.
And an operation unit 106 that is operated by an operator, and a display unit 107 that displays various types of information.

An external interface 108 for connecting to an external computer (not shown) or the like for exchanging data, an external interface control unit 109 for controlling the external interface 108, and a program memory 110 for storing a program. And a data memory 111 for storing data, and an encoding / decoding unit 112 for encoding / decoding image data.

Further, a facsimile modem 113,
A data communication modem 114, a modem selection switch 115, and a network control device 116 for capturing a line 118 and the like.
And a bus 117 that connects each unit to each other.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a sequence for facsimile transmission in this embodiment. In this sequence, it is assumed that the input of the destination number by the operator and the setting of the transmission original have been completed in advance.

First, in step S401, the modem changeover switch 115 causes the network control device 116 and the facsimile modem 11 to operate.
It is determined whether or not 3 is connected.
Then, the modem changeover switch 115 becomes the network control device 1.
16 is determined to be connected to the data modem 114, in step S406, the data modem 114 is connected.
To determine if the is in use.

If it is determined that the data modem 114 is in use, the original is read and stored in the memory (S408).

In this memory storage, for example, the scanner control unit 103 is controlled, the original is read, the usage status of the memory 111 is checked, the image data is encoded by the encoding / decoding unit 112, the destination information and the image are displayed. Correspondence with the accumulated memory block is performed. When the memory storage process is completed, this sequence ends.

Actually, after the current communication is completed, it is confirmed that the FAX modem 113 is not in use and transmission is performed.

If it is determined in S406 that the data modem 114 is not in use, the modem changeover switch 115 is set to the network controller 116 and the facsimile modem 1.
It is controlled so as to connect with 13 (S407) and transmitted (S403).

In the transmission operation, the image data read by the scanner unit 102 and the scanner control unit 103 is encoded by the encoding / decoding unit 112, and the network control device 114 for the facsimile modem is controlled to FAX transmission processing is performed. When the transmission process is completed, it is determined whether the modem changeover switch 115 is set to connect the network control device 116 and the facsimile modem 113 in the standby state (S404).

Then, when the modem changeover switch 115 is set to connect the network control device 116 and the facsimile modem 113 in the standby state, this sequence is ended.

If it is determined in step S404 that the modem changeover switch 115 connects the network control device 116 and the data modem 114 in the standby state, the modem changeover switch 115 is changed to the network control device 11.
6 and the data modem 114 are controlled to be connected (S4
05), the sequence ends.

When it is determined in S401 that the modem changeover switch 115 connects the network control device 116 and the FAX modem 113, it is determined whether the FAX modem is currently in use (S402).

When it is determined that the FAX modem is currently in use, the memory accumulation process is started (S408).

In this memory storage, for example, the scanner control unit 103 is controlled, the original is read, the usage status of the memory 111 is checked, the image data is encoded by the encoding / decoding unit 112, the destination information and the image are displayed. Correspondence with the accumulated memory block is performed. Then, when the memory accumulation process is completed, this sequence is ended.

In fact, after confirming that the FAX modem 113 is not in use after the current communication is completed,
Send. When it is determined in S402 that the FAX modem is not currently in use, the FAX modem is transmitted (S403).

In the transmission operation, the image data read by the scanner unit 102 and the scanner control unit 103 is encoded by the encoding / decoding unit 112, and the facsimile modem network control device 114 is controlled to perform normal operation. F
AX transmission processing is performed.

When the transmission process is completed, it is determined whether the modem changeover switch 115 is set to connect the network control device 116 and the facsimile modem 113 in the standby state (S404).

Then, when the modem changeover switch 115 is set to connect the network control device 116 and the facsimile modem 113 in the standby state, this sequence ends.

If it is determined in S404 that the modem changeover switch 115 connects the network control unit 116 and the data modem 114 in the standby state, the modem changeover switch 115 is set to the network control unit 11.
6 and the data modem 114 are controlled to be connected (S4
05), the sequence ends.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A switch that connects either the data communication modem or the facsimile modem to the network control device is provided, and by controlling this switch, changes from the conventional facsimile device can be reduced and the modem control can be facilitated. At the same time, there is an effect that only one network control device is required and cost increase can be suppressed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the conventional facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the facsimile apparatus of the above embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 ... Control unit, 102 ... Scanner, 103 ... Scanner control unit, 104 ... Printer, 105 ... Printer control unit, 106 ... Operation unit, 107 ... Display unit, 108 ... External interface, 109 ... External interface control unit, 110 ... Program Memory, 111 ... Data memory, 112 ... Encoding / decoding section, 113 ... Facsimile modem, 114 ... Data communication modem, 115 ... Modem changeover switch, 116 ... Network control device, 117 ... Bus, 118 ... Line.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A modem for data communication, a modem for facsimile, and a switch for connecting either one of the modems to a network controller, wherein the facsimile controller controls the switch. And a facsimile machine. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switch is normally connected to a facsimile modem. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switch is normally connected to a modem for data communication. 4. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for setting which modem the switch is normally connected to.