JPH09233301A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain accurate transmission reception at a high speed over a wide range by receiving and outputting control data and image data by a radio channel under the information transfer control in compliance with a standard of mobile communication. SOLUTION: An information transfer control section 111 of a communication equipment 11 conducts information transfer control of a communication section 112 with a communication procedure in compliance with a standard of mobile communication such as that adopted by, e.g. a personal handy phone system. The communication section 112 receives control data and image data from an external device such as host devices 2a-2n through a radio channel and outputs them from an image output device 12. Thus, image data from a remote location are accurately received and an image recorder 1 is easily moved. Furthermore, the communication equipment 11 has an ID confirmation section 114 to identify a caller equipment and the information transfer section 111 preferably rejects a calling when the caller equipment identified by the ID confirmation section 114 is other equipment than that registered in advance by the caller equipment.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording device, and more particularly to an image recording device for transmitting and receiving image data and the like in accordance with mobile communication standards.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Due to the dramatic improvement in performance of personal computers, the adoption of a graphical user interface in an operating system, and the widespread use of large-capacity storage media such as CD-ROMs and magneto-optical disks, digital image data can be stored in daily life. It has become widely distributed. Further, with the development of computer network technology, a computer device, which has been used as a stand-alone device up to now, and its peripheral devices such as a printer device are connected through a network so that a plurality of users can use them jointly.

Information is generally transmitted and received between these devices using a printer cable, a telephone line, an Ethernet cable or the like. Wired data communication has a relatively high transfer rate and high transmission reliability. On the other hand, since it is necessary to install a cable, it is not possible to flexibly deal with the movement of the device. On the other hand, a local information communication system and communication method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-23047
A device for transmitting data wirelessly, such as a printer / terminal system in wireless data communication disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-168192, has been developed.

In a local information communication system and a communication method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-23047, a master unit connected to a network, a relay unit connected to the master unit, and a terminal unit are provided, and each terminal unit and the relay unit. Wireless communication is carried out with the. The printer / terminal system in wireless data communication disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-168192 uses wireless communication with a specific low power to transmit and receive information between a host device and a printer device. These devices are convenient because they perform wireless communication with low power and do not require a license for a wireless station.

[0005]

However, a local information communication system and a communication method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-23047, and a printer / terminal system for wireless data communication disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-168192. Since it is intended to be used on the size of one floor, it is not possible to communicate over a wider range and longer distance.

The present invention has been made to solve the above disadvantages, and an object of the present invention is to perform high-speed and highly reliable data transmission / reception in a wide range in accordance with the communication standard of a personal handy horn system. .

[0007]

An image recording apparatus according to the present invention has a communication device and an image output device, the communication device includes an information transmission control unit and a communication unit, and the information transmission control unit is mobile communication. The communication unit controls the information transmission of the communication unit according to the standard of 1., the communication unit wirelessly receives the control data and the image data, and the image output device outputs the image data received by the communication device and outputs the image from a wide range. Receive data.

Further, the communication device has an ID confirmation unit for identifying the calling source device, and the information transmission control unit issues a call when the calling source device identified by the ID confirmation unit is a device other than the previously registered device. Reject the call to prevent receiving data from unauthorized callees.

Further, the communication device has an ID confirmation unit for identifying the calling source device, and the image output device outputs the identification of the calling source device identified by the ID confirmation unit to identify the calling source and the image data. Be able to compare.

Further, the communication device has an image input device for reading an image, and the communication device transmits the image data input from the image input device to an external device so that it can be output by another image forming device.

Further, the image output device expands and outputs the compressed image data received from the external device to reduce the amount of received image data.

Further, the image output device has a wired information communication unit for receiving the control data and the image data by wire, and the communication device is connected to the wired information communication unit of the image output device and receives control from an external device. An image output device connection unit for transmitting data and image data to the image forming device is provided to facilitate attachment / detachment of the communication device.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention relates to paper, OHP sheets,
An external stimulus such as heat or light is applied to an image recording device that forms and records arbitrary characters and image patterns using a recording material such as ink or toner on the recording material such as cloth and the recording material having a coloring function. The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus that forms and records arbitrary characters and image patterns.
In such an image recording device, control data is transmitted from an external device such as a host device by a communication procedure adopted in a personal handyphone system (hereinafter referred to as “PHS”) as a communication procedure complying with a mobile communication standard. By receiving and printing the image data, the image data can be accurately received from a remote place and the image data can be easily moved.

The image recording device has, for example, a communication device, an image output device, and a power supply section. The communication device includes an information transmission control unit and a communication unit. The information transfer control unit controls the information transfer of the communication unit in conformity with the communication standard of PHS, and has, for example, TDMA connection means and TDD transmission means. TDM
The A connection means controls the connection of the communication unit by time division multiple access. The TDD transmission means controls the data transmission of the communication unit by time division bidirectional transmission. The communication unit wirelessly receives control data and image data from an external device, and outputs quasi-microwave (1.9 GHz) with a radio output of about 10 milliwatts.
Use to communicate. Therefore, the communicable range is up to a radius of about 200 m. Within a radius of 200 m, it is possible to communicate by using, for example, a repeater connected to the network. The image output device includes, for example, an image data storage unit, an expansion / compression unit, and a printing unit, and prints out the image data received by the communication device.

Further, the communication device may include, for example, an ID storage section and an ID confirmation section. The ID storage unit stores in advance the identification mark of the host device recognized as the source of the image data or the like. The ID confirmation unit compares the identification mark of the transmission source device received from the transmission source device with the identification mark stored in the ID storage unit to confirm whether or not the transmission source device has previously been recognized as the transmission source device. The information transmission control unit rejects the call when the calling source device identified by the ID confirmation unit is a device other than the previously registered device. As a result, it is possible to prevent the reception of data from an unauthorized host device or the like.

Further, the identification method received from the transmission source device may be printed out as a cover from the image output device. As a result, the image data and the transmission source thereof can be matched.

[0017]

1 is a block diagram of an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the image recording device 1 communicates directly with the host device 2a located within a radius of 100 m,
It communicates with the host devices 2b to 2n located at a radius of 100 m or more through the relay device 3. The relay station 3 retransmits the received image data and the like with the same output as the host devices 2b to 2n. A premises network (LAN) is constructed by appropriately arranging the relay station 3 in the premises.

The image recording apparatus 1 has a communication device 11, an image output device 12 and a power supply unit 13. The communication device 11 includes an information transmission control unit 111, a communication unit 112, an ID storage unit 113, and an ID confirmation unit 114. The information transmission control unit 111 controls the information transmission of the communication unit 112 in conformity with the communication standard of PHS. For example, the TDMA connection unit 111a.
And TDD transmission means 111b. The TDMA connection unit 111a controls the connection of the communication unit 112 by time division multiple access. The TDD transmission means 111b controls the data transmission of the communication part 112 by time division bidirectional transmission. The communication unit 112 wirelessly receives control data and image data from the host device, and performs communication using quasi-microwave (1.9 GHz) with a radio wave output of about 10 mW. Therefore, the communicable range is up to a radius of about 100 m, and the radius is 100
It communicates with the host devices 2b to 2n in the range exceeding m through the relay device 3. The ID storage unit 113 stores the identification markers of the host devices 2a to 2n that are recognized as the sender of image data or the like in advance. The ID confirmation unit 114 uses the host device 2a ...
2n and the identification mark stored in the ID storage unit 113 are compared, and the source host devices 2a to 2n are compared.
Is confirmed in advance as the transmission source device.
The information transmission control unit 111 rejects the call when the calling source host devices 2a to 2n identified by the ID confirmation unit 114 are devices other than the previously registered devices.

The image output device 12 includes an image data storage unit 1
21, the decompression / compression unit 122, the printing unit 123, and the like, and prints out the image data received by the communication device 11. In addition,
The printing unit 123 may be one that forms and records arbitrary characters and image patterns using a recording material such as ink or toner on a recording material such as paper, an OHP sheet, and cloth, and has a coloring function. An external stimulus such as heat or light may be applied to the recording material to form and record arbitrary characters and image patterns. If the received image data is compressed, the image output device 12 decompresses, expands, and prints it out.

The operation of the image recording apparatus 1 when the host apparatus 1a transmits image data to the image recording apparatus 1 having the above structure will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the ID confirmation section 114 of the image recording apparatus 1 receives the identification mark from the host apparatus 1a which is going to transmit the image data through the communication section 112 (step S1),
The received identification mark is compared with the identification mark previously stored in the ID storage unit 113. When the received identification mark is not stored in the ID storage unit 113 (step S2), the information transmission control unit 111 terminates the communication and disconnects the line (step S3). When the image recording device is used in a network environment, it is expected that the image recording device will be erroneously output to another device, illegal use from another department, and unilateral data transmission from the outside. If an image is accidentally output to a device that has nothing to do with it, the output result cannot be obtained, and there is a concern that confidential data and the like will be leaked to the outside. Therefore, by confirming the identification mark of the transmission source before transferring the image data as described above, erroneous output by a device other than the target device, unauthorized use by an unauthorized person, and unilateral transmission from an unauthorized external device Data transfer can be prevented.

If the received identification mark is stored in the ID storage unit 113 (step S2), the information transmission control unit 111 sends the received identification mark to the image output device 12, and subsequently from the host device 1a. The image data is received, and the received image data is sent to the image output device 12. When the image output device 12 receives the identification mark from the communication device 11, the image output device 12 checks whether or not it is set to print the front cover, and if it is set to print the front cover (step S4), the communication device 11 A cover sheet including the identification mark received from is printed (step S5). This makes it possible to confirm later from which host device 1a to 1n the output image data was received, and it is possible to prevent the output result from being confused.

Thereafter, the image output unit 12 checks whether the image data received from the communication device 11 is compressed data,
If the data is compressed data, it is decompressed and expanded by the compression / expansion unit 122 and then printed out from the printing unit 123 (step S
6). The image data has a very large capacity as compared with the text data. Particularly, the color image has a large amount of data, and a long communication time is required to transmit the color image as it is. Until now, these compressed image data were expanded into bitmap data by a computer, and the expanded data were transferred to an image output device. However, this method requires a lot of time to transfer the data, and in some cases, it may take more time than the time required for the image forming process. Therefore, the data communication time can be significantly reduced by transferring the compressed data as described above and enabling the image output apparatus 1 to expand the compressed data.

As a method of compressing image data, JBI is used.
There are various types such as G, JPEG, TIFF, and JIFF, and it is necessary to support an image compression method suitable for the usage environment of the user. Therefore, the compression / expansion unit 122 may be detachably attached to a user such as an IC card, an expansion board, or a ROM card. It is also possible to support a plurality of compression formats by selecting the type of attachment. This makes it possible to deal with the case where the user's environment changes or a new compression format is developed.

As described above, among the host devices 2a to 2n having the image data to be printed out from the image recording device 1, the host device 2a installed within a radius of 100m from the image recording device 1 directly connects the image recording device 1 to the image recording device 1. The host devices 2b to 2n, which are placed within a radius of 100 m from the image recording device 1 to make a call, send the image data and the like by calling the image recording device 1 via the relay device 3. Therefore, the information can be transmitted to the image recording device 1 installed in a place where radio waves do not reach directly. The bearer transmission method may be used as the data transfer method, but by adopting the packet method, more efficient transfer can be performed. Although the closed network system does not have a window to the outside as the premises network system, the data transfer with the external device can be performed by adopting the same transmission method as the data transfer service of the communication carrier.

As shown in FIG. 3, the image recording apparatus 1b
May have an image input device 14 including a CCD imager and a scanning unit (not shown), and the input image data may be stored in the image data storage unit 121. By transmitting the image data stored in the image data storage unit 121 to the external image recording device 1c via the communication device 11, the image recording device 1b can be used as an image scanner and a facsimile.

Further, the color standard chart of the colors output by the image output device 12 may be read by the image input device 14 and the result may be used for color output adjustment. The color chart used is a gradation of 16 gradations for 32 colors, for example, and 32 × 16 colors are described.
This allows stable color output.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the image output device 12
Reference numeral d denotes a wired information communication unit 124 that receives control data and image data by wire. The communication device 11b is connected to the wired information communication unit 124 of the image output device 12b and is received from the host devices 2a to 2n. Image output device connection unit 11 for transmitting data and image data to the image forming device 12b
5 may be provided. For example, the communication device 11b
In a single unit, and by connecting the image output device 12b with the interface cable 4 as shown in FIG. 5, the conventional wired image forming device is used as the image output device 12b and the communication section 11b is attached. You can The interface of the image output device connection unit 115 is adapted to a conventional wired image forming device such as a Centronics-compliant parallel interface, SCSI, high-speed serial, and DSUB.
We can support any type. Since it is desirable to transfer data faster than the wireless data transfer rate, the image output device connection unit 115 preferably has a data transfer rate of 64 bps or more.

Further, in the above embodiment, the communication with the external device such as the host device is performed by the communication procedure adopted in the PHS. However, the communication can be performed at high speed and the wireless license is required. Other communication procedures may be used as long as they are mobile communication procedures that do not apply.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, control data and image data are wirelessly received and output from an external device under the information transmission control conforming to the mobile communication standard. In addition, the image data can be received at high speed, and the device can be easily moved.

Further, since the calling source device rejects the call when the calling source device is a device other than the previously registered device,
It is possible to prevent receiving wrong data.

Furthermore, since the identification of the calling source device is output so that the calling source and the image data can be compared with each other, the calling source of the output image data can be easily known.

Furthermore, since the image data that is read in and transmitted is transmitted to an external device, it can be used as a facsimile device or the like.

Furthermore, since the image output device expands and outputs the compressed image data received from the external device, the amount of received data can be reduced.

Furthermore, since the image output device and the communication device are connected via the interface, both devices can be easily connected and disconnected, and the conventional image output device can be used as it is.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image recording apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an image recording device having an image input device.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram when a communication device and an image output device are separated.

FIG. 5 is a side view when the communication device and the image output device are separated.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Image Recording Device 11 Communication Device 111 Information Transmission Control Unit 112 Communication Unit 113 ID Storage Unit 114 ID Confirmation Unit 115 Image Output Device Connection Unit 12 Image Output Device 121 Image Data Storage Unit 122 Compression / Expansion Unit 123 Printing Unit 124 Wired Information Communication Part 14 Image input device 2 Host device 3 Repeater 4 Interface cable

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image recording device for receiving control data and image data from an external device to form an image, comprising a communication device and an image output device, the communication device comprising an information transmission control section and a communication section. The information transmission control unit controls the information transmission of the communication unit according to the standard of mobile communication, the communication unit wirelessly receives the control data and the image data, and the image output device receives the image data received by the communication device. An image recording device characterized by outputting. 2. The communication device has an ID confirmation unit for identifying the calling source device, and the information transmission control unit issues a call when the calling source device identified by the ID confirmation unit is a device other than the previously registered device. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, which rejects the call. 3. The image recording device according to claim 1, wherein the communication device has an ID confirmation unit for identifying the calling source device, and the image output device outputs the identification of the calling source device identified by the ID confirmation unit. 4. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image input device for reading image data, wherein the communication device transmits the image data input from the image input device to an external device. 5. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image output apparatus expands and outputs compressed image data received from an external apparatus. 6. The image output device has a wired information communication unit for receiving control data and image data by wire, and the communication device is connected to the wired information communication unit of the image output device and receives control from an external device. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image output apparatus connection unit that transmits data and image data to the image forming apparatus.