JPH09261401A - Facsimile equipment with bi-directional interface - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a function as a scanner and a printer of a personal computer with one interface by providing an interface part capable of simultaneously inputting and outputting read picture information and recorded picture information. SOLUTION: The signal processing standard of an IEEE 1284 bi-directional parallel interface is used for an interface between a facsimile equipment and the personal computer. Then in order that the respective equipments are suited to the information input/output standard of input/output by the same interface between the facsimile equipment and the personal computer, an operation means equipped with a bi-directional interface driver circuit 7 and a protocol processing part 18 and speedily processing a bi-directional interface signal is equipped inside the facsimile equipment. In addition, in order to make the equipment control the facsimile equipment also process or operate reading, recording and receiving simultaneously, a CPU multi-task function is provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention connects a personal computer and a facsimile machine, which have become widespread in recent years,
The present invention relates to a facsimile machine used as an output device of a personal computer or a facsimile machine used as an input device of a personal computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the increasing popularity of personal computers, it has been desired to connect a facsimile machine to a personal computer. In some devices, the facsimile machine is equipped with a parallel interface, and the facsimile machine is used as a printer for the personal computer. Morphology exists. There are also other interfaces that use RS-232C or SCSI.

However, they utilize only a part of the transmitting and receiving functions of the facsimile machine, and cannot function as the reading section or the reading section and the recording section of the facsimile machine at the same time. When operating as a printer, the image information must be read from the reading unit and sent to the personal computer after the recording operation is completed, or must be sent using another interface.

[0004]

In these conventional apparatuses, in the process of transferring the image information read by the reading unit after the recording operation is completed, one process is completed and then the other process is started. Due to this process, there is a problem that the start of subsequent processes is delayed. Also, if you use another interface, you need two interfaces,
This leads to an increase in cost.

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a processing delay that occurs when a facsimile apparatus having one interface unit is connected to a computer,
Another object of the present invention is to realize a facsimile machine with an interface that can be connected to a computer capable of processing the functions peculiar to the facsimile machine.

[0006]

According to the present invention, the signal processing standard of the IEEE1284 bidirectional parallel interface is used for the interface between the facsimile device and the personal computer, and the respective devices are connected with the same interface between the facsimile device and the personal computer. In order to comply with the output information input / output standard, the facsimile machine is equipped with a bidirectional interface driver circuit and a protocol processing section, and an operation means for performing high-speed switching of bidirectional interface signals.

Further, the device control of the facsimile machine also uses the CPU multi-tasking functional configuration so that the reading, recording and receiving operations can be simultaneously processed or operated.

[0008]

1 is a block diagram of a facsimile apparatus with a bidirectional interface according to the present invention. The configuration will be described below.

In the figure, 1 is a scanner unit main body of a facsimile apparatus, 2 is an A / D conversion unit and a color matching processing unit for binarizing analog output information from the scanner main body of the facsimile apparatus or for matching color image information. Reference numeral 3 denotes an image processing unit that compresses image data from a scanner according to a designated compression method, 4 denotes a storage memory unit that stores data processed by the image processing unit, and 5 denotes an interface between a facsimile apparatus and a personal computer apparatus. An operation control section for performing an operation, 6 a mechanism section for driving the scanner section, 7 a bidirectional I / F driver circuit for interfacing the facsimile apparatus and a personal computer apparatus, and 8 connecting the facsimile apparatus and a personal computer. Interface connector Reference numeral 9 is a control section for controlling the scanner mechanism section. 10 is a device profile in which characteristic information of a scanner or printer of a facsimile machine is stored. 11 is a printer section for recording. 12 is bitmap recording data in the printer section. A rasterizer / rendering processing unit for developing the command into a printer, a command analysis processing unit 13 for detecting and processing a command in communication information between a facsimile device and a personal computer, a mechanism unit 14 for driving a printer unit of the facsimile device, Reference numeral 15 is a control unit that controls the mechanical unit of the printer, 16 is a bitmap expansion memory that stores the data expanded by the rasterizer / rendering processing unit, 17
Is a memory for storing data, 18 is a protocol processing unit for executing a protocol between the facsimile machine and a personal computer, 19 is a case where the output data from the facsimile machine is compressed, or the input data from the personal computer is compressed data. In this case, an RLE processing unit for executing code compression or decompression processing, 20 is a conventional facsimile machine equipped with units such as a network control unit, a modem unit, a communication processing unit, and a code processing unit. Of the facsimile unit, 21 is a communication line such as a telephone line, 22 is a CPU unit for controlling the control of the entire facsimile apparatus, and 23 is an image reproducing unit for restoring an image.

The basic operation of the IEEE1284 standard interface 3 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5.

FIG. 2 is a Com in the IEEE1284 standard.
The transition state from the "patency mode" to the acquisition of the device ID is shown. The personal computer can acquire the possessed performance of the device of the facsimile apparatus through the transition state of FIG.

In FIG. 2, the CompatibilityMo
The personal computer (host) obtains the return data from the facsimile device (peripheral device) through the negotiation phase from de to the termination (termination) of the mode. In IEEE1284, this return data is defined as a device ID.

When the facsimile device (peripheral device) does not respond to the above negotiation, it is determined that the personal computer (host) is not equipped with the bidirectional interface function, and the operation is not continued. The data stored in the storage memory 4 of FIG. 1 is discarded. Facsimile device (peripheral device) is IEEE
If the correct return data conforms to the E1284 standard and is returned to the personal computer (host),
The personal computer (host) then performs a mode selection negotiation for fetching data from the facsimile machine (peripheral device).

FIG. 3 shows a transition state to the ECP mode in the IEEE1284 standard following the negotiation explained in FIG. The facsimile machine and the personal computer enter the ECP mode state after negotiation. In the ECP mode, data compression can be designated, and in the case of compression, data is input / output by a single byte run length compression method.

In FIG. 3, the IEEE1284 / ECP mode is a mode in which the direction (direction) of the data bus is bidirectionally switched at high speed, and is a personal computer (host).
Is a mode for controlling the data bus when fetching data from a facsimile device (peripheral device) or outputting data to the facsimile device (peripheral device). The forwarded phase is a personal computer (host)
Is output to the facsimile device (peripheral device), and the reverse phase is a phase for inputting the data from the facsimile device (peripheral device) to the personal computer (host). No change is required for changing the direction of the bus, and high-speed switching is possible by selecting the signal line. In the present invention, switching of this direction is performed by byte (Byt
e) Data exchange is realized by switching between units or blocks. The end of the ECP mode of FIG. 3 ends after the termination phase.

As described above, the personal computer and the facsimile machine can negotiate with each other to detect that the personal computer is a facsimile machine, and perform the signal processing as the facsimile machine in the ECP mode.

Specific switching timing will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. Note that nAck signal, B
usy signal, PError signal, Select signal, n
The Fault signal is a signal output from the facsimile machine side.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing the ECP mode forward timing. The ECP mode forwarded timing is a case where data is output from the personal computer (host) to the facsimile device (peripheral device). This is the time of the foreground phase in the state transition of the ECP mode shown in FIG. The IEEE1284 is valid while the nSelectIn (1284Active) signal indicated by the signal name in FIG. 4 is high (1). I
EEE1284 Compatibility Mode
Negotiations started from DataBus
Request ECP mode data 000 in (8-1)
10000 is output to the bus. Writing data to the facsimile device (peripheral device) is performed by nstrobe (Hos
tClk). The facsimile device (peripheral device) confirms a high (1) ready of nAutoFd (HostAck) which is a ready signal of the personal computer (host) and confirms nAcK (PeriphCl) which is an acknowledgment signal of the facsimile device (peripheral device).
Let k) be high (1). ECP through this sequence
The mode-forwarded timing negotiation is complete. Next, the facsimile device (peripheral device) makes a data request to the personal computer. The request signal is nFault (nPeriphrRequests)
At t), data is requested from the personal computer (host) during the low period (0) of this signal. Data in the forwarded phase is handshaked by two signals. Nstrobe which is a data write signal
(HostClk) and Busy (PeriphAck)
A handshake is performed by the signal. At this time, Da
The direction of taBus (8-1) is from the personal computer to the facsimile machine. In IEEE1284, nAutoFd for data
The definition of data is specified by the high and low of (HostAck). When high (1), data means data, and when low (0), data means command. The ECP mode forward is executed at the timing as described above.

Next, the ECP mode reverse timing will be described with reference to FIG. 5. The ECP mode reverse timing is opposite to that of FIG.
It is used to output data from the computer to the personal computer (host). This is the time of the reverse phase in the state transition of the ECP mode shown in FIG. NSelectIn (1284Activ) indicated by the signal name in FIG.
e) IEEE1284 is valid while the signal is high (1). With this ECP mode reverse timing, the direct mode can be transited to the reverse phase from the foreground state without passing through the negotiation phase. The mode transition is nInit (nReverseR
Dat by changing the request) to low (0)
The direction of the aBus (8-1) can be output from the facsimile device (peripheral device) to the personal computer (host). The signal will be described. nInit (nReverseRequest)
Is low (0), the reverse phase is valid. Dat
Since aBus (8-1) is set to the reverse side,
Writing of data from the facsimile apparatus to the personal computer is performed by changing nAcK (PeriphClk) from high to low (1 to 0). Handshake is nAcK (Periph
Clk) and nAutoFd (HostAck). In IEEE 1284, the definition of data is specified by high and low of a Busy (PeriphAck) signal for data. When high (1), data means data, and when low (0), data means command. The end of the mode is completed by nInit (nReverseRequest) being high (1). nInit (nReve
When the rseRequest) becomes high, the mode again becomes the forward phase, and the DataBus (8-1) is set to the forward side. Due to the above-mentioned operation, the forward or reverse is carried out.

As described above, the forward direction and the reverse direction of the signal are determined by the nInit signal, and when this signal is output in a rectangular shape, bidirectional switching is performed. It should be noted that bidirectional signal processing requests are sent to nPeri.
It is determined based on the phrReest signal, and this signal can always be detected by the interface section on the personal computer side.

The operation timing in each mode defined in the general IEEE1284 has been described above.

Next, the detailed operation of the facsimile apparatus equipped with this bidirectional interface will be described with reference to FIGS.

The case where the facsimile apparatus outputs data to the personal computer will be described below. In this case, the facsimile machine outputs the read data from the scanner to the personal computer. Scanner 1
Reads the read original line by line by the action of the mechanism unit 6 control unit 9 and outputs the image output signal of the CCD to the A / D conversion unit / color matching processing unit 2. The embodiment will be described in black and white. In the case of color image processing or the like, the correction multiplier (gamma characteristic or the like) of the A / D conversion unit / color matching processing unit is changed by referring to the scanner attribute information of the device profile 10 which is the characteristic of the scanner. The corrected signal is binarized and output to the image processing unit 3. The image processing unit 3 processes the binary data by a predetermined compression method. In the present invention, IEEE128
The image processing unit 3 does not perform the compression process in order to perform the single-byte run-length encoding process at the time of transfer at 4. In the image processing unit 3, MH, MMR, JPE can be designated.
A compression encoding process such as G or JBIG is possible. The output data from the image processing unit 3 is stored in the storage memory 4 as line unit data information. When the reading of the original is completed, one page of data is stored in the storage memory 4 as bitmap data. The personal computer requests the facsimile device for data after reading the original. According to the IEEE1284 standard, a personal computer (host) initiates a nibble mode (NibbleMode) negotiation request to a facsimile machine (peripheral device) as the first negotiation (when the personal computer is powered on). In this negotiation, a facsimile device (peripheral device) is defined to return the manufacturer, the type of equipment, the possession capability, etc., if the device complies with the IEEE1284 standard.

The negotiation is a connector I / F8,
It is realized by the bidirectional I / F driver 7, the operation control unit 5, and the protocol processing 18. The negotiation signal from the personal computer (host) is input to the bidirectional I / F driver 7 via the connector I / F 8. The initial direction of the bidirectional I / F driver 7 is set so as to receive the data from the personal computer (host), and the EC is received by receiving the negotiation command from the personal computer.
Transition to P mode. Transition control is protocol processing 18,
This is realized by the operation of the operation control unit 5. Data output from the facsimile device (peripheral device) to the personal computer (host) is performed in the reverse phase of the ECP mode.

This is shown in the ECP mode reverse timing of FIG. The timing complies with the IEEE1284 standard. Also, when the data is output to the personal computer at the time of reverse of the ECP mode, the data is RL.
It is output as compressed data by the E processing 19. As for this compression, the function possession of single byte run length is presented during the negotiation phase. If the personal computer has a compression function, it implements the use of compression to reduce the amount of data.

The forward direction operation will be described with reference to FIG. Negotiation with the facsimile machine (peripheral device) has already been established at the time of reverse direction, and there is no need to negotiate again because, as mentioned above, when the device ID is returned, the facsimile machine is sent and received by the type of device. This is because the device is defined and the transmission / reception device can be a scanner and a printer in other words. When outputting personal computer (host) data to a facsimile device (peripheral device), the forwarded phase of the ECP mode is used. When outputting data, the personal computer (host) notifies the bidirectional I / F driver 7 of a direction switching signal via the connector 8. With this signal, the bidirectional I / F driver 7 sets the bus direction to the foreground direction. The operation control unit 5 switches the processing of data and stores the input data in the memory 17. When the stored data is compressed data, it may be stored in the memory 17 after being decompressed by the RLE processing 19 before being stored in the memory 17. As described above, the compression method uses the single-byte run length of IEEE1284. The direction switching signal is nInit (nReverse) shown in FIGS.
A high level or a low level of the Request signal is selected. The data temporarily stored in the memory 17 is read by the command analysis processing unit 13. The command analysis processing unit 13 analyzes the data format of the personal computer. Specify the data restoration software according to the data format. The software is in the image reproducing unit 23 and has MH, MMR, JPEG, JBIG, etc., and any one of them is designated and selected. The image reproducing unit 23 reproduces the data according to the designated restoration method. The data reproduced by the image reproducing section 23 is rasterized / rendered to develop a recorded image so as to be actual recorded information data. The expanded data is executed on the bitmap expansion memory 16. In the case of a color image or the like, the device profile 10 in which the attribute information of the recording portion is stored is referred to in parallel and is expanded in the bitmap expansion memory 16 while performing data correction processing.
In the embodiment of the present application, the description is in black and white. However, in the case of color, it is well known that individual color data is reproduced and the separated data is stored in YMCK on the bit map expansion memory 16. is there. The recorded data is reproduced by the above-described operation, and the control unit 15 and the mechanical unit 1
4. A visible image is output by the action of the Printer 11. These operations are equipped with two motors, a control unit, and a drive unit so that each of them can operate simultaneously. In order to realize these, the CPU 22 is equipped with a multitasking operating system (OS).

It should be noted that when the data stored in the memory is transferred to the personal computer while the data is stored in the memory from the personal computer, it is likely to distinguish each data. Further, in order to facilitate management of data in the memory, one data is stored from the beginning of the address in the memory and the other is stored from the end of the address (FIG. 11).

Next, a case where an incoming operation from the line 21 telephone line occurs during the above-described operation of the personal computer and the facsimile machine will be described. In the present invention, an incoming call from the Line 21 is processed by the conventional facsimile unit section 20. The analog signal from the Line 21 is restored by the action of the modulator / demodulator (modem) through the network control (NCU) inside the facsimile unit section 20. Next, the negotiation procedure as a facsimile is executed to enter the data reception mode. In the reception mode, the compressed data is expanded and expanded into bitmap data that can be recorded by the recording unit. The expanded data is stored in the bitmap expansion memory 16. After that, if the data recording operation from the personal computer (host) is not in progress, a visible image is output from the received data from the facsimile apparatus by the actions of the control unit 15, the mechanical unit 14, and the Printer 11. If the printer is already in operation, the data is stored and held in the bitmap expansion memory 16 and waits for recording. In the bit map expansion memory 16, a conventional facsimile is allocated with a memory capacity of several pages, which enables the conventional facsimile reception without disturbing the interface operation function of the personal computer (host) and the facsimile device (peripheral device). . The internal structure of the conventional facsimile unit 20 is not shown because it does not differ from that of a general facsimile device.

It is also conceivable to receive data from a telephone line in a memory during bidirectional data transfer between a facsimile machine and a personal computer. At this time, it is desirable to store the data output from the memory from the end of the address (see FIG. 1).
1).

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a data transfer flow in the present invention. At st1, it is determined whether or not the transfer is performed in the forward phase. If it is in the forward phase, it is determined whether or not the nFault signal is detected (st2). If it is detected, the nInit signal is set to 1
(St3). Then, the set nIni
The signal is output in the direction according to the state of the t signal (st4). When the transmission of 1 byte is completed (st5, st6), s
At t16, the state of nInit is inverted (1 → 0 or 0 → 1). This is switched in byte units until there is no more data, and data is sent bidirectionally.

Next, when the nFault signal is detected in st1 instead of the foreground phase (st7), nI
The nit signal is set to 0 (st8), and the interface is controlled so that the data is sent from the facsimile to the personal computer in the reverse phase (st9, 10). When data transmission from the PC starts on the way (st11), the transmission direction is switched in byte units, and the forward phase,
St5 so that data is sent in the reverse phase
Move to

If the nFault signal is not detected in st2, nInit is set to 1 (st12) and data is transmitted in the forward phase (st13, 1).
4). If an nFault signal is detected on the way (st1
5), shift to st16 and invert nInit to enable bidirectional data transmission.

As shown in this flowchart, bidirectional switching can be performed in byte units (FIG. 7). It should be noted that when the transmission of one data is completed, the switching control of the transmission direction in byte units is returned to the one-way transmission control. Further, the data may be sent not only in units of bytes but also in blocks of several bytes. Further, the ratio of the output units of the forward phase and the reverse phase may be changed according to the type of data. By changing the ratio of the output units in this way, it is possible to end the data transmission from any one, such as giving priority to the data transmission from the facsimile. Data output can be efficiently ended depending on the type of data (FIG. 8). For example, if the data is compressed data, preferentially terminating this data allows the data transmission to be completed in a shorter time, and efficient data output can be performed.

FIG. 9 shows a flowchart when bidirectional communication is not performed in the ECP mode. This is because when bidirectional communication is performed, the end of data transfer is delayed, and when the amount of data to be transferred is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, the next data is transferred when the previously transferred data ends. . The steps will be described below.

At st101, the personal computer starts the IEEE
The data is transferred to the facsimile machine via the E1284 interface. At this time, the reading unit of the facsimile machine reads an original, and the facsimile machine instructs the personal computer through the interface to start the transfer (st1.
02), and sends the nPeriphrRequest signal to the personal computer (st103). When there is no transfer instruction, normal processing is performed (st111). At this time, in addition to transferring the read original, there are conceivable situations such as transferring the information received by facsimile and transferring the management information.

Next, it is detected whether a data transfer standby instruction signal is received from the personal computer (st104, 10).
5). When the transfer standby instruction signal is received here, the amount of data on the personal computer side is low, so the facsimile machine determines that it is better to transfer from the facsimile to the personal computer after the transfer to the facsimile side is completed, and the transfer to the personal computer is temporarily suspended. Then, it stands by (st107). The personal computer is preset to output this signal. If this is not received, bidirectional communication in ECP mode is performed (ST10
6). Then, check the usage status of the interface (s
t108), when the use of the interface is completed, that is, when the data transfer from the personal computer is completed (st10).
9), data is transferred from the facsimile to the personal computer (st110).

As described above, when data to be transferred in the reverse direction is generated while data is being transferred to the interface, depending on the amount of data being transferred, either waiting or bidirectional transmission in the ECP mode is performed. By deciding to perform, the data can be efficiently transmitted. In this embodiment, the transfer is started from the facsimile device side while receiving the data transfer from the personal computer, but the invention of the present application is not limited to this. , It may be applied when the transfer is started from the personal computer side.

In the above, the state in which the facsimile machine and the personal computer are connected one-to-one has been shown. Next, FIG. 10 shows a state of being connected by a network such as a LAN in the case of a plurality of pairs. In such a case, it is necessary to recognize in advance that the personal computer and the facsimile device have a one-to-one correspondence.
The facsimile machine needs software that can communicate with the personal computer. This software may be the same as that registered in the personal computer.

As described above, even if the facsimile apparatus of the present invention is connected by a network such as a LAN, the facsimile apparatus of the present invention can simultaneously perform two-way communication by recognizing the other party.

The software of the CPU (central processing unit) in the present invention will be described. The software configuration of the CPU (Central Processing Unit) is equipped with an operating system capable of multitasking data processing to enable parallel processing. This configuration is equivalent to the configuration of the operating system and hardware implemented in recent personal computers. As described above, in the present invention, the personal computer (host) and the facsimile device (peripheral device) use the interface of the IEEE1284 standard, and the operation can be performed without disturbing the reading function and recording function of the facsimile device and the function of the conventional facsimile. It was possible.

According to the present invention, an interface with a personal computer is added to a conventional facsimile machine,
The facsimile machine can function as a scanner or a printer. The interface uses an IEEE1284 bidirectional parallel peripheral interface capable of bidirectional data transfer, and IEEE that changes the data direction (direction) at high speed.
It uses the 1284 ECP mode interface.

Further, in the embodiment, the control software of the facsimile apparatus is multitasked so that the functions of the scanner / printer can be simultaneously operated, and the motor control of the mechanical section is performed by separate motors so that the motors can be simultaneously driven. It is equipped with a drive circuit.

Further, regarding the incoming operation from the communication line (telephone line) which is the function of the conventional facsimile apparatus, the incoming operation can be made by the multitasking of the control software even while the interface operation with the personal computer is in operation.

[0044]

The personal computer and the facsimile apparatus use the interface of the IEEE1284 standard to bidirectionally exchange data between the personal computer and the facsimile apparatus. By this action, the facsimile apparatus functions as a scanner apparatus of the personal computer. It also enables the function of a printer device for a personal computer with a single interface. By using the ECP mode of the IEEE1284 standard, the direction of the data path can be instantaneously switched, and the respective functions can be operated at the same time. In addition, multitasking enables the incoming call operation of the facsimile machine even while the interface is operating, so that the incoming call of the facsimile machine does not hinder the operation of the interface, and the incoming call operation of the facsimile machine even while the interface is operating. The feature is that each function can operate without interfering with.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a block of a facsimile apparatus with a bidirectional interface according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an interface of the present invention, IEEE12.
84 state transition diagram

[Fig. 3] State transition diagram to ECP mode in IEEE1284

FIG. 4 is a timing chart of ECP mode foreground timing in ECP mode of IEEE1284.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart of ECP mode reverse timing in ECP mode of IEEE1284.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a data transfer flow of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart at the time of bidirectional data transmission of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a timing chart of different ratios during bidirectional data transmission of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an ECP mode switching control flowchart according to the amount of data in the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a network when connected by a LAN according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram of information stored in the memory of the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram of information stored in the memory of the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of Codes] 1 Scanner 2 A / D Converter / Color Matching Processing 3 Image Processing Section 4 Storage Memory 5 Operation Control Section 6 Mechanism Section 7 Bidirectional I / F Driver 8 Connector 9 Control Section 10 Device Profile 11 Printer 12 rasterizer / rendering processing 13 command analysis processing section 14 mechanism section 15 control section 16 bitmap expansion memory 17 memory 18 protocol processing 19 RLE processing 20 facsimile unit section 21 Line 22 CPU 23 image reproducing section

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A reading unit for reading an original document, a recording unit for printing information, a read image information from the reading unit is outputted to a computer connected to the outside, and the record image information from the computer is outputted to the recording unit. And an interface unit for inputting the read image information to the interface unit,
A facsimile apparatus capable of simultaneously inputting and outputting recorded image information via the interface section. 2. The interface unit is IEEE128
2. A facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a signal processing technique of a 4-way parallel interface is used. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reading operation of the reading unit and the recording operation of the recording unit can be independently and simultaneously performed. 4. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising control means for switching the signal direction of the interface unit in byte units or in block units. 5. The control means for switching the forward direction and the reverse direction of the signal of the interface unit in byte units or in block units, and making the ratio variable according to the type of information. Fax machine. 6. A control means for switching the signal direction of the interface unit in byte units or in block units and determining the byte and block sizes according to the type of information to be input / output. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, 7. A memory unit for storing image information read by the reading unit and information from a computer connected through an interface unit, wherein the interface unit operates bidirectionally. Image information stored in the memory unit, image information read by the reading unit,
2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the facsimile information is stored separately from information from the computer. 8. When bidirectional communication is performed via the interface unit when the amount of image information from the reading unit or the amount of information from the computer is less than or equal to a predetermined value, one of the information is transmitted by one-way communication 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the other information is transmitted after the processing. 9. In a system composed of a plurality of facsimile devices having an IEEE 1284 bidirectional interface unit and a plurality of computers on a network via the bidirectional interface unit, the facsimile device and the computer are provided. A facsimile system, which has an address and is connected to a predetermined facsimile device and a computer to perform bidirectional communication.