JPH09244846A - Image communication device and its control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the image communication device that a user can easily operate with keys and its control method. SOLUTION: A color facsimile system has an input device 11, an output device 12, an image processor 13, an external storage device 19, and the communication device 110. The image processor 13 is provided with a display device 17 and an operation part 18. When a document set on the original platen or feeder of the input device 11 begins to be read, messages on key tops on an operation screen are changed. Namely, a message 'cancel' on a key top is changed to 'stop'. Then it is decided whether or not the read of the document ends and when it is decided that the read ends, the message 'stop' on the key top is changed to 'cancel'.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image communication device and a control method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the same message is always displayed on the keys of the operation panel and operation screen of the image communication apparatus regardless of the operation status.

[0003]

However, the messages displayed on the keys of the conventional operation panel / operation screen are not always suitable for all operation situations. In some cases, there is no key displayed with a message corresponding to the operation status at that time, and a key having a similar meaning may be used in place of the operation, which may confuse the user.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image communication device in which a user can easily operate a key and a control method thereof.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, an image communication apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention is an image input device for inputting image information, and image information for storing the input image information. In an image communication device comprising a storage means, a communication means for transmitting / receiving the stored image information, and a display means for displaying a message on the front of a key for instructing an operation, the display means is adapted to an operation situation. A message changing means for changing the message.

According to a second aspect of the image communication apparatus, in the image communication apparatus according to the first aspect, the image input means inputs the image information by reading an image of an original document, and the message changing means inputs the image information of the original document. It is characterized in that the message displayed until the start of reading is changed to a message corresponding to the reading of the original, and the message is changed to the original message at the end of reading the original.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling an image communication device, wherein image information is input, the input image information is stored,
In the control method of the image communication device for transmitting / receiving the stored image information and displaying a message on the front surface of a key for instructing an operation, the message is changed according to an operation situation.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of an image communication apparatus and a control method thereof according to the present invention will be described. The image communication apparatus according to this embodiment is applied to a color facsimile system.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a color facsimile system according to the embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 11 is an image input device such as a color scanner which reads image data on the original surface and outputs a digital signal.

Reference numeral 12 is an output device such as a color printer for outputting a received document or the like. Reference numeral 13 denotes an image processing apparatus such as a personal computer capable of multi-window display, which performs overall image information processing including encoding / compositing of image information.

A CPU 14 controls the image processing apparatus according to a program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 15. The auxiliary storage unit 15 is configured by a hard disk or the like that stores image data and a control program of the image processing apparatus. Reference numeral 16 is a RAM for temporarily storing the data used by the CPU 14, and 17 is a display device such as a monitor for displaying the operation status and operation environment by characters and pictures, and for displaying a processed image. An operation unit 18 operates the image processing apparatus 13 using a keyboard, a mouse, or the like.

An external storage device 19 such as a floppy disk supplies a program for realizing the color facsimile function and other functions to the image processing device 13. A communication device 110 performs data communication with another color facsimile device via a communication line 111.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a basic screen of the color facsimile system displayed on the display device 17. In the color facsimile system, input of the numeric keypad 26,
It is possible to specify the destination by inputting the one-touch key 21 and the telephone book key 22.

Reference numeral 23 is a start button for instructing the start of facsimile transmission. Reference numeral 25 denotes a transmission destination display unit that displays the designated transmission destination. Reference numeral 27 is a color designation key for selecting either color transmission or monochrome transmission in advance before transmitting the original, and is used particularly when the transmission original is read from the feeder of the input device 11 or the original table. Reference numeral 28 denotes a picture display unit that displays a picture (moving image) and indicates the progress of communication currently being performed.

Reference numeral 201 denotes a communication edit key for displaying the result of the completed communication. A received document key 202 displays a list of received documents. A transmission schedule key 203 displays a list of transmission schedules to be performed. Reference numeral 204 denotes a setting key for making various settings related to transmission, and when selected, various parameters for setting are displayed.

Next, an operation method for transmitting a color original in the color facsimile system will be described. First, the transmission destination is designated. As described above, there are three methods for inputting the transmission destination. When inputting using the ten-key pad 26, the facsimile number of the transmission partner is input using the ten-key pad, * key, and # key in the frame 24.

When inputting using the one-touch key 21, when the one-touch key 21 is selected, the one-touch key screen 31 is displayed on the right side of the basic screen, and the destination information registered in advance is displayed. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the one-touch key screen 31 is displayed. From this, select the destination information you want to send.

When inputting using the telephone book, the telephone book key 22 is selected to display the telephone book screen 32. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the telephone directory screen 32 is displayed. Similar to the case of inputting the one-touch key 21, the destination information to be transmitted is selected from this.

When it is desired to return to the ten key input, the ten key 26 is selected. Numeric keypad input, one-touch input,
A plurality of destinations can be designated for each entry in the telephone book, and these destinations can be mixed. All the input transmission destinations are displayed on the transmission destination display unit 25.

Next, the reading mode designation such as color and monochrome color designation and resolution designation is performed. When the transmission destination is designated, the original is set on the feeder or the original plate of the input device 1 and the start button 23 is selected, the reading status window is displayed. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation screen when an image is read using the input device 11 in the color facsimile system. This operation screen is displayed on the display device 17. In the figure, 41 is a color designation, 42 is a resolution designation, and 43 is a display for density designation.

When the reading key 45 is selected, reading of the first page of the document is started. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen during reading. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the screen after the reading is completed. When the reading of the original on the first page is completed, the display screen shown in FIG. 7 is displayed. At this time, a reduced image of the read document is displayed, and the transmission start key 46
Is enabled. When reading the second page of the document, the read key 45 is selected again. When the reading of the transmission original is completed, the transmission start key 46 is transmitted. By this operation, the color facsimile system makes a call to the partner machine and transmits an image after connection.

8 and 9 are flow charts showing the control processing procedure of the original reading operation screen at the time of transmission in the color facsimile system. First, when an event occurs due to a key input by the user while the basic screen of FIG. 2 is displayed, it is determined whether or not the key event is due to the pressing of the start key (step S1). If it is determined that it is not the pressing of the start key, the processing according to each input key is performed (step S2).

On the other hand, when the start key is pressed, it is determined whether or not the transmission destination is input (step S).
3). If even one transmission destination has been input, the reading status window of FIG. 5 is displayed (step S4) and the next key input by the user is awaited. When there is a key input from the user, it is determined whether or not the key event is the pressing of the read key (step S5). on the other hand,
If it is determined in step S3 that the transmission destination has not been input, an error message is displayed (step S6),
Return to the basic screen of FIG.

When it is determined in step S5 that the key event is not due to the reading key being pressed, processing is performed in accordance with each input key (step S7), and the process returns to step S4. On the other hand, when it is determined that the key event is due to the pressing of the read key, it is determined whether or not a document is set on the document table or the feeder of the input device 11 (step S8). When it is determined that the document is not set, an error message is displayed (step S9), and the process returns to the process of step S4 (screen of FIG. 5).

On the other hand, if the original is set, an instruction is output to the input device 11 to start reading the original set on the platen or feeder of the input device 11 (step S10). The message “Cancel” is displayed on the key top 47 of FIG. 5 until the reading of the original is started. When the operator touches the key top 47 in this display state, the key interruption process (not shown) causes This process ends and the screen returns to the basic screen of FIG.

When the reading of the original is started, a process for changing the message on the key top 47 is performed (step S11). That is, the message "Cancel" on the key top 47 shown in FIG. 5 is changed to the message "Stop" on the key top 47 shown in FIG. When the user touches the key top 47 while the message "stop" is displayed on the key top 47, the reading of the original is stopped by the key interruption process (not shown) and the screen returns to the basic screen of FIG.

Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the reading of the original document is completed (step S12), and when it is determined that the reading is completed, the message "stop" on the key top 47 shown in FIG. Change to "Cancel".
Then, a reduced image of the document is displayed on the reading display unit 48 (step S14), and the process returns to step S4.

In the above embodiment, the message displayed on the key top 47 was stored in the system in advance. However, the user may set the message at will so that the user can further understand the message. Easy message can be displayed.

Furthermore, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, by reading out a storage medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the present invention into a system or an apparatus, the system or the apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention.

[0030]

According to the image communication device of the first aspect of the present invention, the image information is input by the image input means, the input image information is stored by the image information storage means, and the image information is stored by the communication means. When the message is transmitted and received and the message is displayed on the front of the key for instructing the operation by the display means, the message is changed by the message changing means according to the operation situation. A message suitable for the operation situation can be displayed on the front. Accordingly, it is possible to provide an interface in which the user can easily operate the keys.

According to the image communication device of the second aspect, the image input means inputs the image information by reading an image of a document, and the message changing means is displayed until the start of reading the document. The existing message is changed to a message corresponding to the reading of the original, and the message is changed to the original message at the end of reading the original, so that a message suitable for the operation of reading the original can be displayed.

According to the control method of the image communication apparatus of the third aspect, the image information is input, the input image information is stored, the stored image information is transmitted and received, and the key for instructing the operation is input. In the control method of the image communication device for displaying the message on the front surface, the message is changed according to the operation status, so that the message suitable for the operation status can be displayed on the front surface of the key such as the operation panel / operation screen. Accordingly, it is possible to provide an interface in which the user can easily operate the keys.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a color facsimile system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a basic screen of a color facsimile system displayed on a display device 17.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a one-touch key screen 31 is displayed.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a phonebook screen 32 is displayed.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation screen when an image is read using the input device 11 in the color facsimile system.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen during reading.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen after reading is completed.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a control processing procedure of a document reading operation screen at the time of transmission in the color facsimile system.

9 is a flowchart showing a control processing procedure of an original reading operation screen at the time of transmission in the color facsimile system following FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Input Device 12 Output Device 13 Image Processing Device 14 CPU 15 Auxiliary Storage Unit 17 Display Device 18 Operation Unit 47 Keytop 110 Communication Device

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image input unit for inputting image information, an image information storage unit for storing the input image information, a communication unit for transmitting / receiving the stored image information, and a front face of a key for instructing an operation. An image communication apparatus comprising: a display unit that displays a message on the display unit, wherein the display unit includes a message changing unit that changes the message according to an operation situation. 2. The image input unit inputs the image information by reading an image of a document, and the message changing unit reads the message displayed at the start of reading the document to read the document. 2. The image communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the message is changed to a corresponding message, and the message is changed to the original message at the end of reading the original. 3. A control method for an image communication device, wherein image information is input, the input image information is stored, the stored image information is transmitted / received, and a message is displayed in front of a key for instructing an operation. A method for controlling an image communication device, characterized in that the message is changed according to an operation situation.