JPH098990A - Information processing system and information processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an information processing system and a information processing method easily processed at a low cost. CONSTITUTION: A scanner control section 9 is provided with 1st and 2nd host communication sections 15, 16 capable of 2-way communication, a scanner 1 and a host computer 2 are connected via a 1st host communication section 15 and the scanner 1 and a printer 3 are connected via a 2nd host communication section 16. Furthermore, the printer 3 and the host computer 2 are connected via the 1st host communication section 15 and the 2nd host communication section 16. Then a CPU 23 controls the input/output direction of receiving/ giving image data via an image data input output direction changeover section 20.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing system and an information processing method, and more particularly to an image input device such as a scanner, an information processing system equipped with the image input device, and an information processing method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an interface circuit for a host computer and a modem for facsimile are mounted on a digital copying machine, and it is called a multi-function machine or a multi-function machine which performs three functions of copying, facsimile communication and printing processing by one unit. Digital copiers are becoming popular.

Further, a simple image input / output system has already been realized by incorporating a facsimile modem in a host computer and connecting a scanner and a printer to the host computer.

[0004]

However, the digital copying machine having the above-mentioned multiple functions is expensive, is not economical in terms of power consumption and installation space, and is not suitable for a small office. There was a problem. In other words, in response to today's demand for office equipment penetration into homes and offices to save energy and space, it is required to realize a multifunctional printing system at an even lower price, and digital multifunctional systems having conventional multi-functions are required. There is a problem that the copying machine cannot meet the above request.

On the other hand, although the image input / output system is inexpensive, all image data must be temporarily stored in the host computer, and when used as a copying machine, it takes a long processing time. Therefore, there is a problem that it is not easy to use because it cannot be copied quickly.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an information processing system and an information processing method which are low in price and easy to handle.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, an information processing system according to the present invention includes at least two or more interface ports capable of bidirectional communication, and control means for controlling the input / output direction of image data. And an external device (host computer, printer) can be connected to each of the interface ports.

Further, according to the present invention, at least two or more interface ports capable of bidirectional communication are provided, and further, an abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormality in the image input processing and an interrupt output requesting the input image data. Output request means,
A means combining at least one or more of a time-division processing means for performing time-division processing on at least two or more communication paths and a format conversion means for converting input image data into a format according to an output destination external device. With an image input device having an external device, an external device can be connected to each of the interface ports, and
It is characterized in that the image input device comprises control means for controlling an input / output direction of image data via the respective means.

Further, in the information processing method according to the present invention, at least two or more interface ports are provided in the image input device, an external device is connected to each of the interface ports, and the image input device and the external device are connected to each other. The feature is that bidirectional communication is performed among at least three parties.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an information processing system according to the present invention. This information processing system includes a host computer 2 (external device) via a scanner 1 (image input device). Laser beam printer 3
An operation panel 4 that is connected to an (external device) and that inputs predetermined commands and displays status on the scanner 1.
Is connected.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the scanner 1 is provided with an original table 6 on which an original 5 is placed on the upper surface of the scanner main body 7, and at one upper end of the scanner main body 7. A document pressing lid 200 is provided.

The scanner body 7 includes a scanning motor 8 for scanning an original, a scanner controller 9 for controlling an input image, and an optical system unit 10. The optical system unit 10 further includes a fluorescent unit. A light source 11 such as a lamp,
A lens 12 that collects an optical image, a plurality of mirrors 13 that transmits the optical image, and a charge-coupled device (CCD) 14 that captures the input optical image are provided. Further, the scanner body 7 is provided with two host communication units (a first host communication unit 15 and a second host communication unit 16) connectable to the host computer 2 or the laser beam printer 3.

The scanner control section 9 is, as shown in FIG.
The image signal (analog signal) from the original image 5 is sent to the CCD 14.
An image input section 17 for inputting via the A / D converter, an A / D converter 18 for converting the image signal (analog signal) into a digital signal, a line buffer memory 19 for temporarily storing the image signal converted into the digital signal, and an image. An image data input / output direction switching unit 20 that determines a data transfer destination, a ROM 21 that stores a predetermined calculation program described later, and a CPU 23 that is connected to the above-described components via a system bus 22 and controls each of the components. It has and. still,
The first host communication unit 15 and the second host communication unit 1
6 is capable of bidirectional data transfer such as bidirectional Centronics or SCSI.

In the scanner 9 thus constructed, the light from the light source 11 (FIG. 2) is applied to the original image 5 on the original table 6, and the reflected light is transmitted through the mirrors 13 ... To be imaged. The CCD 14 accumulates electric charges according to the intensity of reflected light, and holds color density information per unit pixel. Then, this grayscale information is digitized by the A / D converter 18 (FIG. 3) to a predetermined resolution and gradation (for example, 400 dpi, 256 gradations), and digital image data is generated. The image data is sequentially stored in the line buffer memory 19, the transfer destination is selected by the image data input / output direction switching unit 20, and the first host communication unit 1 is set before the line buffer memory 19 becomes full.
The image data is transferred to the host computer 2 or the laser beam printer 3 for each unit line width via the fifth or second host communication unit 16. The scanning motor 8
Moves the optical system unit 10 from the upper end to the lower end of the original image according to the image data processing speed of the scanner control unit 9 and inputs desired image data to the scanner control unit 9.

As shown in FIG. 4, the host computer 2 has a keyboard 24 to which arbitrary predetermined information is input by an operator, a display unit (CRT) 25 for displaying the predetermined information, and a boot program. And various application programs, font data, user files,
An external storage device 26 such as a flexible disk or a hard disk in which edit files are stored, and an information control device 27 are provided.

The information control device 27 further controls a keyboard controller (KBC) 28 for controlling key input information from the keyboard 24 and input information instructed by a pointing device (not shown), and C for controlling the CRT 25.
RT controller (CRTC) 29 and external storage device 2
Memory controller (MC) that controls access to 6
30, a printer controller (PRTC) 31 that is connectable to various printers such as the laser printer 3 and executes predetermined communication control processing with the printer, and stores input information and has a function as a work area. R
AM 32 and ROM 3 in which predetermined information is stored in advance
3 and a CPU 35 which is connected to the above-mentioned respective components via the system bus 34 and controls these respective components.

Therefore, the ROM 33 stores a font R for storing font data and the like used at the time of document processing.
The OM 36, the program ROM 37 in which a predetermined document processing program is stored, and the data ROM 38 in which various data (for example, overlay form data, background image data, external characters, etc.) used when performing the document processing are stored. The CPU 35 executes document processing in which graphics, images, characters, tables (including table calculation, etc.) are mixed and the above-mentioned document program is executed using the RAM 32 as a work area. That is, the CPU 35 has the RAM 32.
The outline font expansion (rasterization) process is executed on the display information area provided in the CRT 25, and WYSIWIG: What You See Is What
You Get) is enabled and the information displayed on the CRT 25 is printed out as it is. Further, the CPU 35 opens various windows registered based on command information instructed by a pointing device or the like, and executes various data processing.

FIG. 5 is an internal structural view of the laser beam printer 3. The laser beam printer 3 includes a printer operation panel 40 having a switch section, an LED display section, etc. provided on the upper surface of the apparatus body 39. It is composed of a print main body 41 that performs a predetermined print operation, and a print control device 42 that analyzes input character data, control data, and the like to control the print operation of the print main body 41.

The printing main body 41 stores predetermined recording paper (cut paper) and supplies the recording paper through a paper feed cassette 44 having a paper feed roller 43, and an appropriate number of transport rollers 45. The electrostatic drum 46, an optical system 47 for irradiating the electrostatic drum 46 with a laser beam, a developing device 48 for accommodating toner of a predetermined color and arranged around the electrostatic drum 46, A fixing device 49 for fixing the toner image developed by the developing device 48, and a paper ejection unit 51 for ejecting the document data printed on the recording paper to the outside of the apparatus via a paper ejection roller 50.
Consists of

The optical system 47 includes a semiconductor laser 52 for emitting a laser beam having a predetermined wavelength, and the semiconductor laser 5
2 and a laser driver 53 for driving the rotary polygon mirror 54
And a reflecting mirror 55 that reflects the laser light entering through the rotary polygon mirror 54 and supplies the laser light onto the electrostatic drum 46.

In the laser beam printer 1 thus constructed, the video signal from the print controller 42 is input to the laser driver 53, and the laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser 52 is turned on / off in response to the video signal. Switch off. The laser light is swung in the left-right direction by the rotary polygon mirror 54 to scan the electrostatic drum 46, and the electrostatic drum 46 is scanned.
An electrostatic latent image such as a character pattern is formed on the top,
The electrostatic latent image is developed via the developing device 48. And
The toner image attached on the electrostatic drum 46 is transferred to the paper feed cassette 4
4 is transferred to the recording paper fed from the No. 4, and then the fixing device 4
The toner image is fixed on the recording paper by means of 9, and the recording paper is ejected to the paper ejection section 51 via the paper ejection roller 50.

As shown in FIG. 6, the print control device 42 has an input unit 56 for exchanging data with the scanner 1 (or the host computer 2) and a print main unit 4.
1, a printer main body interface 57 that controls the interface operation with the printer 1, a printer memory controller (a printer MC) 59 that controls access to the printer external storage device 58, an output information expansion area, an environment information storage area, and Printer RAM 60 having NVRAM etc.
And a printer ROM that stores predetermined information in advance
61 and a printer CPU 6 which is connected to the above-mentioned respective components via a system bus 62 and controls these respective components.
3 and 3.

The printer ROM 61 includes a font ROM 62 in which font data and the like used when generating output information to the printing main body 41 is stored, and a program ROM 6 in which a predetermined document processing program is stored.
5, and a data ROM 66 in which various information used by the host computer 2 and the like are stored as necessary,
The printer CPU 63 is the printing main body interface 5
An image signal as output information is output to the print main body 41 connected via 7. In addition, the printer CPU 63
Enables communication processing with the scanner 1 via the input unit 56 and notifies the scanner 1 of the status of the laser beam printer 3 and the like. The printer RAM 60 can be expanded via an expansion port (not shown) to expand the memory capacity, and the printer external storage device 5 can be expanded.
A plurality of 8 can be connected. That is, in addition to the built-in fonts, an optional font card and a plurality of printer external storage devices 58 storing a plurality of emulation programs can be connected. Further, the printer external storage device 58 may have an NVRAM to store the printer setting information from the printer operation panel 40.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the procedure for transferring image data (first embodiment) according to each operation mode. This program is executed by the CPU 23 of the scanner 1.

First, when the image data transfer destination information is input to the image data input / output direction switching unit 20 in step S1,
In a succeeding step S2, it is determined whether or not the image data is transferred from the scanner 1 to the host computer 2. When the answer is affirmative (Yes), that is, in the scanner mode in which image data is transferred from the scanner 1 to the host computer 2, the line buffer memory 19 and the first host communication unit 15 are connected (step S4). ),
The print data is transferred from the scanner 1 to the host computer 2 (step S8). That is, the CPU 23 controls the image data input / output direction switching unit 20 by a command input from the host computer 2 or a command input from the operation panel 4, and the destination of the image data is transferred to the host computer via the first host communication unit 15. The image data temporarily stored in the line buffer memory 19 is transferred to the host computer 2.

On the other hand, when the answer to step S3 is negative (No), the process proceeds to step S5, and it is determined whether or not the image data is to be transferred from the scanner 1 to the laser beam printer 3. When the answer is affirmative (Yes), that is, in the copy mode in which the image data is directly transferred from the scanner 1 to the laser beam printer 3 for printing, the line buffer memory 19 and the second host communication unit 16 are connected. (Step S6), the print data is transferred from the scanner 1 to the laser beam printer 3 (step S5). That is, the CPU 23 controls the image data input / output direction switching unit 20 by a command from the host computer 2 or a command input from the operation panel 4, and the transfer destination of the image data is the laser beam printer via the second host communication unit 16. 3, and the image data temporarily stored in the line buffer memory 19 is directly transferred to the laser beam printer 3. At this time, the scanner 1 behaves like the host computer with respect to the laser beam printer 3 and transfers the print data to the laser beam printer 3.

When the answer to step S5 is negative (No), that is, in the printer mode in which the print data is transferred from the host computer 2 to the laser beam printer 3 in neither the scanner mode nor the copy mode, the first and The second host communication units 15 and 16 are connected to each other (step S7), and the print data from the host computer 2 is transferred to the laser beam printer 3 (step S).
8). That is, by the command input from the host computer 2 or the command input from the operation panel 4, the CPU 2
3 controls the image data input / output direction switching unit 20 to
The signal lines of the host communication unit 15 and the second host communication unit 16 are electrically connected, and the scanner 1 is connected as if the host computer 2 and the laser beam printer 3 were connected by one bidirectional interface. Print data is directly transferred from the host computer 1 to the laser beam printer 3.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the second embodiment of the scanner control section. The scanner control section 67 is
In addition to the first embodiment, a printer function relieving means 68 at the time of failure is provided.
Is provided.

That is, in the printer function relieving means 68 at the time of failure, for example, the image input section 17 or the line buffer memory 19 fails and interferes with the image input processing, and the scanner control section 67 cannot guarantee the normal operation. Even when the first host communication unit 15 and the second host communication unit 1
6 and 6 are electrically connected, and the print data from the host computer 2 is relay-transferred to the laser beam printer 3 so that only the printing function is normally operated. The printer function relieving means 68 at the time of failure can be realized by software control by the CPU 23 (so-called error skip function).
It can also be realized by directly connecting the first host communication unit 15 and the second host communication unit 16 by hardware control such as jumper pins and dip switches.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the control procedure of the second embodiment, in which the status of the scanner 1 is input in step S11 and the printer function rescue means 68 at the time of failure is shown.
Thus, it is determined whether or not the scanner 1 is out of order (step S12). Then, when the answer is affirmative (Yes), that is, when the scanner 1 has a failure, the CPU 23 causes the first host communication unit 1 via the image data input / output direction switching unit 20.
5 and the second host communication unit 16 are fixed in the connected state (step S13), and the process returns to step S11. At this time, the print data from the host computer 2 is directly transferred to the laser beam 3 and the print processing is executed. on the other hand,
If the answer to step S12 is negative (No), that is, if the failure is not fixed or the failure is fixed by repair, the CPU 23
Disconnects the connection state between the first host communication unit 15 and the second host communication unit 16 via the image input / output direction switching unit 20,
The normal operation is restored (step S14). That is, similar to the first embodiment, the scanner mode, copy mode,
A desired connection is made based on the printer mode, and image data is transferred according to each mode.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a third embodiment of the scanner control unit, which is the scanner control unit 69.
Is the scanner interrupt output control unit 70 in addition to the first embodiment.
Is provided.

When the image data is input from the image input unit 17, the scanner interrupt output control unit 70 outputs an interrupt signal to the host computer 2 and the laser beam printer 3 to interrupt the processing.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the third embodiment.

When print data is being transferred from the host computer 2 to the laser beam printer 3 in step S21, that is, in printer mode, step S22 is performed.
Check whether or not there is a scanner interrupt. When the answer is negative (No), the transfer of the print data is continued in the printer mode as usual (step S29), while when the answer is affirmative (Yes), that is, for example, another user sends an image from the scanner 1. When the data is input and the copy process is to be executed, the CPU 23 transmits an interrupt signal from the scanner interrupt output control unit 70 to the host computer 2 and the laser beam printer 3, respectively, and requests the interruption of the print job (step). S23). When the host computer 2 receives the interrupt signal, the print data transmission is interrupted, and the laser beam printer 3 temporarily saves the received print data in the printer RAM 60 (FIG. 6) and interrupts the printing process (step S25). . Further, the scanner 1 confirms the interruption of the print job of the host computer 2 and the laser beam printer 3, and then outputs the image data input to the image input unit 17 to the second host communication unit 16 (step S26). The printer 3 is the scanner 1
The print data (copy processing) is preferentially applied to the image data from (step S27). When the printing process is completed, the scanner 1 sends a signal for canceling the interrupt process to the host computer 2 and the laser beam printer 3, and then the laser beam printer 3 reads the image data temporarily stored in the printer RAM 60. Printing process is restarted (step S28), and the host computer 3
Continues to resume the transfer of print data to the laser beam printer 3 (step S29).

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the fourth embodiment of the scanner control section, which is the scanner control section 71.
In addition to the first embodiment, a time division processing unit 72 is provided.

The time-division processing unit 72 transfers the image data input from the image input unit 17 to the host computer 2 in the scanner mode and the image from the host computer 2 to the laser beam printer 3 via the scanner 1. The printer mode for transferring data is time-divisionally processed in parallel.

If the print data is transferred from the host computer 2 to the laser beam printer 3 in step S31, and the image data from the scanner 1 is transferred to the host computer 2 in step S32, the host computer 2 is transferred in step S33. Interrupts the transfer of the print data to the laser beam printer 3, sets a timer built in the CPU 23 to a predetermined value and starts the timer (step S33), and then the first through the image data input / output direction switching unit 20. The host communication unit 15 and the host computer 2 are connected (step S34), the image data from the image input unit 17 is output to the first host communication unit 15 (step S35), and the host computer 2 receives the image data. Yes (step S36). Then, it is judged whether or not the timer started in step S33 reaches a predetermined value (step S37), and when the predetermined value is reached, this time the image data transfer from the scanner 1 is interrupted and the timer is again set to the predetermined value. Then, the timer is restarted (step S38). Then, the first host communication unit 1
5 and the second host communication unit 16 are connected to each other (step S39), the scanner 1 is relayed, and the transfer of the image data from the host computer 2 to the laser beam printer 3 is restarted (step S40). 3 prints the image data (step S41). Then, it is determined whether or not the timer has reached a predetermined value (step S42), and when it has reached the predetermined value, the process returns to step S33, and data transfer in the scanner mode is performed again.

In this way, the CPU 23 controls the time division processing section 72.
Thus, the image data input / output direction switching unit 20 is controlled, and the printer mode and the scanner mode are alternately switched by the time-division operation, and the scanning image output can be executed during the execution of the printing process. Further, the host computer 2 can execute print data output from the printer driver and image data input from the scanner 1 by parallel processing. This ensures the scanner function independence without the user having to occupy the scanner for the printing process. At present, almost all operating systems (0S) running on the host computer 2 are capable of parallel processing, and when application software outputs print data to a printer driver during print processing, the application software is released from the print processing at that time. Therefore, even when the print data is in the printer mode, the application software on the host computer 2 can execute the above processing.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing the fifth embodiment of the scanner control section, which is the scanner control section 73.
In addition to the first embodiment, a RAM 74 for storing the format of the host computer 2 and the laser beam printer 3 and an image data format conversion means 75 for converting the image data into a format according to the transfer destination are provided. Has been.

The RAM 74 has a sufficient capacity to temporarily store the image data input via the line buffer memory 19. Further, the image data format conversion means 75 can select the resolution, gradation, compression method, etc. of the image data stored in the RAM 74 from several items according to the transfer destination of the data.

In the print mode, the printer driver on the host computer 2 converts the image data into the optimum format for the laser beam printer 3 and sends it. Therefore, the print result that makes full use of the reproducibility of the printer can be obtained. Can bring

However, in the case of the scanner mode or the copy mode, the resolution and gradation value of the image data requested by the CRT 25 (FIG. 4) of the host computer 2 and the resolution and gradation of the print result reproduced by the printer as a copy image. The values often do not match. For example, the CRT 25 of the host computer 2 represents image data as multi-bit multi-valued data with emphasis on gradation values, and many laser beam printers 3 represent print data with 1-bit binary data as emphasis on resolution. Therefore, when the image data output to the laser beam printer 3 in the scanner mode and the copy mode have the same format, the print result in the copy mode is unlikely to fully utilize the reproducibility of the printer.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the image data format converting means 75 converts the image data into a format suitable for the transfer destination device and performs desired processing.

First, when the image data transfer destination information is input to the image data input / output direction switching unit 20 in step S51, it is checked in step S52 whether the scanner mode is for transferring image data from the scanner 1 to the host computer 2. to decide. And if the answer is yes,
After connecting the line buffer memory 19 and the first host communication unit 15 (step S53), the CPU 23 causes the image data format conversion means 75 to perform the image input unit 17 operation.
Image data input to the image format for the host computer 2 (for example, 8 bits / 150 dpi / R
It is converted to GB) and temporarily stored in the RAM 74 (step S
54) The image data in the converted format is transferred from the first host communication unit 15 to the host computer 2.

On the other hand, the answer to step S52 is negative (No).
If so, the process proceeds to step S55, and it is determined whether or not the copy mode in which image data is transferred from the scanner 1 to the laser beam printer 3 is set. When the answer is affirmative (Yes), the line buffer memory 19 and the second host communication unit 16 are connected (step S56), and the CPU 23 causes the image data format conversion means 75 to input the input image data. Image format for printers (eg l
Bit / l200 dpi / monochrome) converted to RAM74
(Step S57), and the image data in the converted format is transferred from the second host communication unit 16 to the laser beam printer 3.

The answer to step S55 is negative (No).
In the case of the printer mode, that is, in the printer mode, the first and second host communication units 15 and 16 are connected to each other (step S58), and the print data from the host computer 2 is not directly subjected to the format conversion for the above reason. Transfer to the laser beam printer 3 (step S
5).

According to the fifth embodiment, in the scanner mode and the copy mode, since the format conversion suitable for these modes is performed and the print processing is performed, the image quality is improved especially in the copy mode. it can.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above embodiment, two host communication units (first and second host communication units 15 and 16) are provided as interface ports, but the scanner 1 is provided with three or more interface ports for communication. It is also possible. In addition, in the first embodiment, the second to fifth
It is also preferable to carry out a combination of two or more of the above embodiments. Furthermore, although the laser beam printer 3 is used as a printer in the above-described embodiment, an inkjet printer can be similarly applied.

The outline of the ink jet printer will be described below.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the ink jet printer.

In the ink jet printer 76,
The carriage 77 has an inkjet cartridge 78 mounted thereon and is engaged with the spiral groove 105 of the lead screw 104 via a pin (not shown). The lead screw 104 is connected to the drive motor 82 via a suitable number of sprockets 81 .... The carriage 77 can be moved in the arrow a direction or the arrow b direction by the rotational movement of the drive motor 82 in the forward or reverse direction. That is, at the bottom of the carriage 77, the lever 1
10, the home position of the carriage 77 is detected by detecting the position of the lever 110 via the photocouplers 79 and 80. The drive motor 82 is detected by detecting the home position of the carriage 77.
The rotation direction is switched.

A transport motor 84 is connected to the platen 83, and the recording paper 107 wound around the platen 83 is transported in the direction of arrow c via the drive of the transport motor 84. Also,
A paper pressing plate 85 presses the recording paper 107 toward the platen 83 over the entire moving area of the carriage 77.

The cap member 106 caps the entire surface of the recording head and is supported by the support member 86. A suction unit 87 sucks the recording head through the opening 88 in the cap. Reference numeral 89 denotes a suction lever for starting suction, which moves in accordance with the movement of the cam 90 engaging with the carriage 77, and the driving force from the drive motor 82 is movement-controlled by a known transmission means such as clutch switching. It The cleaning blade 91 is movable in the front-rear direction via the member 92, and the main body support plate 93 supports the cleaning blade 91 and the member 92.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of the ink jet printer. A control system 94 of the ink jet printer 76 controls a gate array 96 for controlling input / output information with the scanner 1 and the host computer 2 via an interface 95. A ROM 97 in which predetermined font data, a predetermined document processing program, and various information used in the host computer 2 and the like are stored; and a RAM which stores input information and has a function as a work area.
98, and MPU99 which controls each of these components. The MPU 99 is configured to be able to communicate with the scanner 1 and the host computer 2 via the interface 95, and the storage information and resource information stored in the RAM 98 and print information stored in the ROM 97 are stored in the host computer. 2 and the scanner 1 can be notified.

In the thus configured ink jet printer 76, when the input information from the scanner 1 or the host computer 2 connected via the interface 95 is supplied to the gate array 96, the input is performed under the control of the MPU 99. The information is converted into output information. Then, the carry motor 84 and the drive motor 82 are driven via the motor drivers 100 and 101, and the output information is sent to the head driver 102 and the recording head 103.
Is driven and printing is executed.

In the ink jet printer 76, the ROM 97 and the RAM 98 are the printer ROMs shown in FIG.
61 and the printer RAM 60 have the same operation and MP
The U99 has the same operation as the printer CPU 63 in FIG. 6, and can be connected to the scanner 1 to achieve the intended purpose.

[0058]

As described above, according to the present invention, since at least two bidirectional interface ports are provided in the image input device to connect an external device such as an existing host computer or printer, Bidirectional communication between these three parties becomes possible, and a multifunctional information processing system having both a copying function and a printing function can be realized at a low price.

The transfer destination (host computer or printer) of the input image data is an existing printer as a transfer destination external device based on a command from the operation unit connected to the image input device or a host computer as an external device. Since the data can be transferred to, the copying can be performed easily at low cost.

Further, even when an abnormality occurs in the image input processing of the image input apparatus, the external devices can be connected to each other so that the normal operation can be performed between the external devices. Therefore, even if an abnormality occurs in the image input processing. It is possible to execute the copying operation based on a command from an external device such as a host computer without impairing the copying function.

Also, when it is desired to interrupt and output the input image data from the image input device during the communication between the external devices, the communication between the external devices is temporarily interrupted and the input image data is interrupted. Therefore, it is possible to reduce wasteful time conventionally required for waiting for copying.

Furthermore, by performing time-divisional parallel processing, it is possible to reduce the waiting time during both copying and printing.

Further, since the image data input to the image input device can be converted into a format suitable for the output destination external device and output, an optimum output result suitable for the image output device can be obtained. Conventionally, for example, the conversion processing from multi-valued data to binary data, which has been executed by the printer driver of the host computer, can also be performed by the image input device, and the processing efficiency of the system is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall block diagram showing an embodiment of an information processing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an internal structure diagram schematically showing an embodiment of an image input device (scanner).

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a scanner control unit.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a host computer as an external device.

FIG. 5 is an internal configuration diagram showing an outline of a laser beam printer as an external device.

FIG. 6 is a block configuration diagram of a print control unit of the laser beam printer.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a first embodiment of the information processing method according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of a scanner control unit.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a second embodiment of the information processing method.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a scanner controller according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a third embodiment of the information processing method.

FIG. 12 is a block configuration diagram of a scanner controller according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a fourth embodiment of the information processing method.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a fifth embodiment of the scanner control unit.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a fifth embodiment of the information processing method.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing an outline of an ink jet printer as an external device.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a control system of the ink jet printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Scanner (Image Input Device) 2 Host Computer (External Device) 3 Laser Beam Printer (External Device) 4 Operation Unit (Operation Panel) 15 First Host Communication Unit (Interface Port) 16 Second Host Communication Unit (Interface Port) ) 23 CPU (control means) 68 Failure mode printer function relieving means (abnormality detection means) 70 Scanner interrupt output control section 72 Time division processing section 75 Image data format conversion means 76 Inkjet printer (external device)

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Internal reference number FI Technical indication H04N 1/32 H04N 1/32 Z (72) Inventor Masamizu Kurimoto 3-30 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo No. 2 Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Osamu Hosoda 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Minor Kobegawa 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Hidenobu Suzuki 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (23)

[Claims] 1. An image input device having at least two or more bidirectional communication interface ports and a control means for controlling an input / output direction of image data, and an external device can be connected to each of the interface ports. An information processing system characterized by being said. 2. An operation unit for selecting an input / output direction of image data is connected to the image input device, and the control unit selectively controls the input / output direction of the image data based on a command from the operation unit. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the control means controls an input / output direction of the image data based on a command from the external device. 4. The image input device comprises abnormality detecting means for detecting abnormality in the image input processing, and the control means operates the interface port when the abnormality detecting means detects abnormality in the image input device. The information processing system according to claim 1, further comprising a relay unit that connects the external devices to each other via the external device. 5. The image input device includes interrupt output requesting means for requesting interrupt output of input image data, and the control means issues an interrupt request from the interrupt output requesting means. The information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising an interrupt permitting means for permitting interruption. 6. The image input device includes a time-division processing unit that performs time-division processing on at least two communication paths, and the control unit includes the at least two time-division processing units by the time-division processing unit. The information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising parallel communication means for performing parallel communication using the above communication paths. 7. The image input device comprises a selection unit for selecting an external device to which the image data is output, and a format conversion unit for converting the input image data into a format according to the external device to which the image data is output. 7. The control unit includes a transmitting unit that transmits the image data to the output destination external device in the format converted by the format converting unit. An information processing system described in Crab. 8. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the external device includes at least a host computer and a printer. 9. The information processing system according to claim 8, wherein the printer is a laser beam printer. 10. The information processing system according to claim 8, wherein the printer is an inkjet printer. 11. An abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormality in image input processing, comprising at least two or more interface ports capable of two-way communication, and an interrupt output request for requesting interrupt output of input image data. Means, time division processing means for performing time division processing on at least two or more communication paths,
And an image input device having a combination of at least one or a plurality of format conversion means for converting the input image data into a format according to the output destination external device, and the external device is connected to each of the interface ports. An information processing system, which is enabled, and wherein the image input device includes control means for controlling an input / output direction of image data via the respective means. 12. The information processing system according to claim 11, wherein an operation unit for selecting an input / output direction of image data is connected to the image input device. 13. The information processing system according to claim 11, wherein the external device includes at least a host computer and a printer. 14. The information processing system according to claim 13, wherein the printer is a laser beam printer. 15. The information processing system according to claim 13, wherein the printer is an inkjet printer. 16. An image input device is provided with at least two interface ports, and an external device is connected to each of the interface ports so that at least three parties between the image input device and the external device can perform bidirectional communication with each other. An information processing method comprising: 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein when an abnormality occurs in the image input processing, the external devices are relay-connected via the interface port and bidirectional communication is performed only between these external devices. Information processing method. 18. The bidirectional communication is interrupted during the bidirectional communication between the external devices via the interface port, and the image data input to the image input device is interrupted and output. The information processing method according to claim 16 or claim 17. 19. The information processing method according to claim 16, wherein at least two or more communication paths are time-divided and communicated in parallel. 20. The image data input to the image input device is converted into a format corresponding to an external device of an output destination, and the image data is transmitted to the external device of the output destination in the format. The information processing method according to any one of claims 16 to 19. 21. The information processing system according to claim 16, wherein the external device includes at least a host computer and a printer. 22. The information processing system according to claim 21, wherein the printer is a laser beam printer. 23. The information processing system according to claim 21, wherein the printer is an inkjet printer.