JPH09272244A - Extension type multifunctional system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase multi-functionality of a system and extendability of a function by performing addition and extension of the respective functions basing on the function of a printer. SOLUTION: The extension type multifunctional system is constituted, so that modules having respective functions of a printer controller 202, a scanner controller 301 and a PC system controller 601 controlling a personal computer are respectively connected to a PCT bus 203 being a general-purpose high-speed bus and respective functions are executed. The printer controller 202 controls a printer engine to realize the function of the printer. The scanner controller 301 controls a scanner 102 to realize the function of the scanner. The PC system controller 601 receives scanner data from the above-mentioned scanner controller (module) 301 through the PCT bus 203 and transmits the inputted print data to the printer controller (module) 202 and also controls the respective modules.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an expansion type multi-function system capable of expanding other functions by connecting other function modules based on a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various devices have been improved in performance and function,
With the progress of miniaturization and networking (construction of LAN),
In digital copiers, multifunctional digital copiers having a facsimile function, an offline printer function, a network function, and the like in addition to a copy function are provided. Further, as an example of a digital copying machine, a digital copying machine in which a scanner unit and a printer unit are housed in separate housings to improve the degree of freedom in installation layout is also provided.

[0003]

However, according to the above-mentioned prior art, although the multifunctionality of the device is progressing, since each function is internally separated, a new function is obtained by combining each function. There was an inconvenience that it was difficult to realize it. Therefore, as a solution to this problem, the present applicant has filed Japanese Patent Application No. 7-197779.
No. "Method for constructing an extended multifunctional system based on a printer", comprising a printer module for controlling a printer engine to realize a printer function, and a PCI bus which is a general-purpose high-speed bus connected to the printer module. A scanner module, a network module, a facsimile module, a function module such as a personal computer module are connected to the PCI bus based on a printer, and a scanner function, a copy function, a network function,
There has been proposed a method of increasing the number of functions of a system and improving the expandability of functions by additionally expanding a facsimile function and a personal computer function.

Further, in the conventional digital copying machines and printers, although the functions are becoming multi-functional, the respective functions are internally separated, so that the respective functions are combined to realize a new function. It was difficult to say. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an extended multi-function system in which each function is added or expanded based on the function of the printer to make the system multi-functional and improve the expandability of the function. is there.

[0005]

To achieve the above object, a first means is a printer controller for controlling at least a printer engine to realize a printer function, and a scanner controller for controlling a scanner engine to realize a scanner function. , And an expanded multi-function system in which a module having each function of a PC system controller for controlling a personal computer is connected to a PCI bus which is a general-purpose high-speed bus to execute each function, the PC system controller is provided with the PCI bus via the PCI bus. And receiving the scanner data from the scanner module, transmitting the input print data to the printer module, and controlling each of the modules.

A second means is characterized in that the PC system controller in the first means is composed of a general-purpose personal computer motherboard, and an application can be installed, newly created or set up by a user.

A third means is characterized in that the first or second means is further provided with a video interface for directly inputting the scanner data output from the scanner controller to the printer controller.

A fourth means is characterized in that the PC system controller in the first means independently controls each module of each function connected to the PCI bus.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external view of an extended multifunctional system based on a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Printer 101, which is the base of the extended multifunctional system
And a scanner 102 for realizing a scanner function and a copy function. These printer 101 and scanner 102 are devices that can operate as a printer or a scanner independently. Reference numeral 103 indicates a table for mounting the printer 101 and the scanner 102.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printer 101. As can be seen from the figure, the printer 101 is a printer engine 2 that forms an image on recording paper.
01, a printer controller 202 as a printer module that realizes a printer function by controlling the printer engine 201, a PCI bus 203 that is a general-purpose high-speed bus connected to the printer controller 202, and a PCI.
The MMI controller 204 is also connected as a man-machine interface module connected to the bus 203 and provided with a floppy disk drive device (FDD) 204a and an operation panel (operation display unit) 204b. The printer 101 can be used alone as an ordinary printer, for example, as shown in FIG.
In the above, image data can be input from a host device such as a personal computer and output to recording paper by the printer engine 201.

FIG. 3 shows a system configuration of an extended multi-function system according to the present embodiment in which a scanner function, a copy function, a network function, a facsimile function and a personal computer function are additionally expanded in addition to the printer function based on the printer 101. 3 is a block diagram showing a scanner controller 301 as a scanner module for controlling the scanner 102 to realize a scanner function, which is connected to the PCI bus 203 of the printer 101 shown in FIG.
The scanner 102 is connected to the scanner controller 301.

Further, a network controller 401 as a network module for controlling input / output of data via a network is connected to the PCI bus 203,
Facsimile controller 5 as a facsimile module that connects a network I / F 402, which is a network interface device, to the network controller 401 and controls input / output of data via a telephone line.
01 is connected to the PCI bus 203, and the facsimile I / F 502 which is a facsimile transmission / reception device is connected to the facsimile controller 401. Further, a PC system controller 601 as a personal computer module composed of a PC motherboard is connected to the PCI bus 203.
To the PC system controller 601, a CRT or a keyboard as shown by 602 and a hard disk device (HDD) as shown by 603 can be connected. Instead of the HDD 603, the P
It can also be directly connected to the CI bus 203.

Further, from the scanner controller 301 to the printer controller 202, the scan data read by the scanner can be directly output to the printer controller 202 by utilizing the video interface 701. As a result, it is possible to directly transfer the video data from the scanner to the printer side via the video interface 701 for printing.
It is also possible to print once after the video data is once taken in the HDD 603 (603a). With the configuration shown in FIG. 3, the user can issue a command from the CRT or the keyboard 602 to execute processing such as printing or scanning.

The minimum structure of the present invention can be realized, for example, by the components surrounded by the one-dot chain line in FIG.

In the above configuration, the operation of each function will be described in the order of the scanner function, the copy function, the network function, the facsimile function, the personal computer function, the download of the application program of the personal computer function, the sharing of the HDD, and the monitoring of the system configuration.

(1) Scanner Function When the scanner function is realized, the image data read by the scanner 102 is read by the scanner controller 301, P.
It is realized by outputting to a host device such as a personal computer via the CI bus 203 and the printer controller 202 or directly from the scanner controller 301 to a host device such as a personal computer. When executing the scanner function, the user operates using the MMI controller 204. Further, other functions thereafter are also operated by using the MMI controller 204. However, if you have a dedicated operation panel or keyboard or other input device for each function,
An input device having its own function can also be used.

(2) Copy function The copy function is realized by combining the printer function and the scanner function. Specifically, the image data read by the scanner 102 is output to the printer engine 201 via the scanner controller 301, the PCI bus 203, and the printer controller 202. At this time, it is assumed that the PC system controller 601 performs control for achieving matching as a copy function. Printer controller 20
2 and the scanner controller 301 independently control the functions of the printer 101 or the scanner 102 with respect to the basic system, and each controller, that is, each module independently controls the functions of the basic system. , It is intended to facilitate combination when expanding other functions described later. Further, since high-speed image data (image data) from the scanner 102 is transferred to the printer controller 202 via the PCI bus 203 which is a general-purpose high-speed bus, high-speed transfer matching the reading performance (speed) of the scanner 102 is achieved. It can be performed.

(3) Network function The printer engine 2 receives data input via the network I / F 402 via the network controller 401, PCI bus 203, and printer controller 202.
By outputting to 01, the network function is realized. At this time, it is assumed that the PC system controller 601 performs control for achieving overall matching. Further, each module (printer controller 202, scanner controller 301, network controller 401) independently controls each function.

(4) Facsimile Function The scanner controller 3 receives data from the scanner 102.
01, PCI bus 203, facsimile controller 5
Facsimile transmission is performed by outputting to the facsimile I / F 502 via 01, and the facsimile I / F 5
Data from the facsimile controller 501,
The facsimile function is realized by performing facsimile reception by outputting to the printer engine 201 via the PCI bus 203 and the printer controller 202.
At this time, it is assumed that the PC system controller 601 performs control for achieving overall matching. Further, each module similarly controls each function independently.

(5) Personal computer function The personal computer function can be realized by executing the application program stored in the internal memory of the PC system controller 61. Specifically, when the document creation program is registered in the internal memory as an application program of the personal computer function, a document is created using the PC system controller 601, the CRT, and the keyboard 602, and the HDD 603 is created.
Can be stored. When the application program can be realized by a combination of other functions, the PC system controller 601 executes the application program and controls other functions required for executing the application program via the PCI bus 203. For example, when a character recognition program for recognizing the character of the image read by the scanner 102 is registered as the application program, the PC system controller 601 executes the character recognition program to execute the PC recognition.
The scanner controller 301 is controlled via the I bus 203, and the scanner controller 301 and the PCI bus 2 are controlled.
Image data is input from the scanner 102 via 03,
Performs character recognition processing. At this time, the scanner controller 301 independently executes the processing, and the PC scanner controller 601 controls the whole.

(6) Download of application program for personal computer function The application program is downloaded as follows. That is, an application program used for the personal computer function is stored in advance in the internal memory of the PC system controller 601, the PC system controller 601 storing the necessary application program is connected to the PCI bus 203, and then a new application program is loaded. There may be cases where additional registration is required. However, since the PC system controller 601 is not provided with a data input / output device such as an FDD, in this embodiment, the MM is used.
MMI using FDD204a of I controller 204
PC from controller 204 via PCI bus 203
The application program is downloaded to the internal memory of the system controller 601. Based on the application program downloaded in this way,
The PC system controller 601 controls the other function modules via the PCI bus 203 to execute the application function, that is, the function of the corresponding application program of the PC function.

If the extended multifunctional system based on the printer 101 has a network function, the FDD 204a of the MMI controller 204 will be used.
To PCI bus 203, network controller 40
1. It is also possible to download the application printer to the terminal device on the network via the network I / F 402 and the network. Needless to say, other data can be downloaded in addition to the application program.

(7) Sharing of HDD Each functional module shown in FIG. 3, in this case, the scanner controller 301, network 401, facsimile controller 501, PC system controller 60
1. Of course, the MMI controller 204 has the resources (resources) necessary to execute the respective functions, but among these resources, there are common resources required by a plurality of functions. . Specifically, HDD
(Hard disk driver device) and memory.
Duplicating these common resources in each functional module increases the cost of the entire system. Therefore, in this embodiment, duplication of these common resources is avoided and one resource is provided with a plurality of functions. Share and use in modules. Specifically, as shown in FIG.
Connect the HDD 603 to the system controller 601,
The HDD 603 is used by all functional modules via the PCI bus 203. This makes it possible to avoid duplication of resources and reduce costs, and it is possible to effectively use resources. Further, as shown by the HDD 603a in FIG. 3, it may be directly connected to the PCI bus 203 and shared by all functional modules.

(8) Monitoring of system configuration The extended multi-function system has the advantage that the functions can be extended as needed, but on the other hand, the current system configuration is in what state and which function can be used. Need to be monitored. Therefore, in this embodiment, the program controller 202 constantly monitors the connection status and error status of other functional modules via the PCI bus 203, and the MMI controller 204 executes functions that can be executed according to the connection status and error status. Operation display unit 20
4b is used to notify the user.

In addition, at least one functional module other than the program controller 202, in this embodiment, the PC system controller 601 constantly monitors the connection status and error status of the modules of other functions in the same manner as the printer controller 202, and the printer When an error occurs in the controller 202 or in place of the printer controller 202, the user is notified of the executable function according to the connection status and the error status.

As a method of monitoring the connection status of modules having other functions, for example, when the printer 101 is powered on or at a predetermined timing, the printer controller 202 sequentially outputs a connection confirmation signal to the controller of each function module, and each function There is also a method of outputting a connection response signal when the controller of the module receives the connection confirmation signal.

As a method of monitoring the error status, there is also a method in which the controller of each functional module notifies the printer controller 202 and the PC system controller 601 of the error occurrence when an error occurs. At this time, the printer controller 202 and the PC
When the system controller 601 receives the notification of the error occurrence, the MMI controller 2 cannot execute the corresponding function or the function including the combination of the corresponding functions.
Notify the user via 04.

Since the printer controller 202 monitors the system configuration (monitors the connection status and error status of other function modules) based on the printer 101, it is always the printer controller 202. Because there exists. In addition to the printer controller 202, the PC scanner controller 601 similarly monitors the system,
Even if an error occurs in the printer controller 202, it is possible to monitor the system configuration and notify the user of usable devices.

When both the printer 202 and the PC system controller 601 are present in the system, the PC system controller 601 preferentially monitors the system configuration, and the PC system controller 601.
When an error occurs in the printer controller 202
May monitor the system configuration.

[0031]

As apparent from the above description, the present invention has the following effects.

That is, according to the invention of claim 1,
Since the function modules in which predetermined functions are set are respectively connected by the PCI bus and are connectable, the system configuration according to the user's request can be easily executed and the processing can be performed at high speed. be able to.

According to the second aspect of the invention, since the PC system controller is connected to the personal computer motherboard, the user can install an arbitrary application on the motherboard and process according to this application. Also, since any application can be installed, it is possible to expect unprecedented expandability such as the development of a new application by a third vendor.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the data can be directly sent from the scanner to the printer without the need to store the data in the personal computer or the like, when the print data is once stored in the memory of the personal computer and printed as in the conventional case. It can be processed at a higher throughput than that of the conventional method.

According to the invention described in claim 4, by individually operating each function, each function or function module can be operated as if it were a separate device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an extended multifunctional system based on a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer which is a base of the extended multi-function system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an extended multi-function system in which a scanner function, a copy function, a network function, and a facsimile function are additionally expanded in addition to the printer function based on the printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 Printer 102 Scanner 201 Printer Engine 202 Printer Controller 203 PCI Bus 301 Scanner Controller 401 Network Controller 501 Facsimile Controller 601 PC System Controller 701 Video Interface

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A general-purpose module having respective functions of a printer controller for controlling a printer engine to realize a printer function, a scanner controller for controlling a scanner engine to realize a scanner function, and a PC system controller for controlling a personal computer. In an extended multi-function system which is connected to a PCI bus, which is a high-speed bus, to execute each function, the PC system controller receives scanner data from the scanner module via the PCI bus and outputs the input print data. An extended multi-function system characterized by transmitting to a printer module and controlling each module. 2. The extended multi-function system according to claim 1, wherein the PC system controller comprises a general-purpose personal computer motherboard, and an application can be installed, newly created, or set up by a user. 3. The extended multifunctional system according to claim 1, further comprising a video interface for directly inputting scanner data output from the scanner controller to a printer controller. 4. The PC system controller is the P
2. The extended multi-function system according to claim 1, wherein each function module connected to the CI bus is independently controlled.