JPH0998251A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To inexpensively a substitute interface even when a LAN interface is faulty. SOLUTION: In the case of receiving a facsimile image (S501), whether or not a wired LAN interface is normal is discriminated (S502), and when normal, data are sent to a wired LAN via the wired LAN interface (S503). When not normal, it is displayed (S504) and whether or not another radio LAN interface is normal is discriminated (S505). When normal, data are sent to the radio LAN via the LAN interface and when not normal, it is displayed that the radio LAN interface is not normal, received data similarly to the usual facsimile reception are printed out.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine for transmitting and receiving images, and more particularly to a facsimile machine having a LAN interface.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a facsimile machine having a LAN interface has only one LAN interface. Therefore, when an abnormality occurs in the LAN interface, it becomes impossible to send the received image to the LAN side. In this state, the received image is obtained by performing the normal output operation.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, when one provided LAN interface becomes abnormal, all the many useful functions obtained by connecting the facsimile apparatus to the LAN are obtained. In order to stop this function and to immediately restore this function, it is necessary to connect another device having the same function to the LAN, which is disadvantageous in cost.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional example, and an object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus in an environment where the facsimile apparatus is connected to a LAN and used. If the LAN interface becomes abnormal, the facsimile device can be provided with a configuration capable of providing the function of the facsimile to the LAN without replacing the facsimile device itself, so that it can be dealt with when the LAN interface is abnormal. A facsimile machine is provided.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention has the following configuration. That is, a facsimile apparatus for transmitting and receiving images, a plurality of connecting means respectively connected to a plurality of LANs, a determining means for determining whether or not the plurality of connecting means are normal or in a predetermined order, and the determining means. According to the judgment by the above, the transmitting means for transmitting the data to the LAN via the normal one of the plurality of connecting means.

More preferably, the plurality of connecting means are
A means for connecting to a LAN by wire and a LAN for wireless
And means for connecting with.

More preferably, when the determination means determines that the operation is not normal among the plurality of connection means, the display means further displays a message to that effect.

More preferably, the data transmitted by the transmitting means includes received image data.

More preferably, the data transmitted by the transmitting means includes communication management information.

More preferably, it further comprises printing means for printing out the received image data when all the connecting means are judged to be abnormal by the judging means.

Alternatively, a facsimile apparatus for transmitting and receiving images, and a wired LAN interface for connecting the wired LAN to a terminal on the wired LAN to control the facsimile apparatus, and a wireless LAN And a wireless LAN interface for enabling the terminal on the wireless LAN to control the facsimile device.
A display unit for displaying the connection status with the LAN is provided, and normally, the received image data is transmitted to the LAN via the wired LAN interface, and when the wired LAN interface is abnormal, the display unit is wired. The wireless LAN is displayed indicating that the LAN interface is abnormal.
The interface is switched to transmit to the LAN via the wireless LAN interface, and when the wireless LAN interface is abnormal, the display unit displays that the wireless LAN interface is abnormal and performs normal output processing. .

Alternatively, a facsimile apparatus for transmitting and receiving images, which is connected to a wired LAN, allows a terminal on the wired LAN to control the facsimile apparatus, and a wireless LAN. And a wireless LAN interface for enabling the terminal on the wireless LAN to control the facsimile device.
A display unit for displaying the connection status with the LAN is provided. Normally, the received image data is transmitted to the LAN via the wireless LAN interface, and when the wireless LAN interface is abnormal, the display unit wirelessly displays. A message indicating that the LAN interface is abnormal is sent to the LAN via the wired LAN interface by switching to the wired LAN interface, and when the wired LAN interface is abnormal, the wired LAN interface is displayed on the display unit. Indicates that is abnormal and performs normal output processing.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A LAN system to which a facsimile apparatus is connected will be described in detail below as an embodiment according to the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

In the figure, a CPU 101 is a system control unit and controls the entire apparatus.

The ROM 102 stores a control program for the CPU.

The RAM 103 is composed of SRAM and the like,
This is for storing program control variables and the like. Further, setting values registered by the operator, device management data, and various work buffers are also stored in the RAM.

The storage memory 104 is composed of a DRAM or the like and stores image data.

The resolution conversion processing unit 105 performs resolution conversion control such as millimeter-inch conversion of raster data.

The communication coding / decoding processing unit 106 performs coding for communication when the coding system at the time of reading and recording and the coding system at the time of communication are different.

Read / record encoding / decoding processing unit 107
Performs image data encoding and decoding processing at the time of reading and recording.

The MODEM 108 modulates / demodulates a facsimile transmission / reception signal, and the NCU 109
The selection signal (dial pulse or tone dialer) is sent to the wired communication line 120 via the wired line i / f 117, or to the wireless communication line 121 via the wireless line i / f 118.
It also has a function to send out to, and also performs an automatic incoming call operation by detecting a ringing tone.

The wired / wireless line controller 119 controls the wired line i / f 117 and the wireless line i / f 118.

The scanner 111 is a CS image sensor,
It is composed of a document transport mechanism or the like, which reads a document optically and converts it into electrical image data.

The image processing unit 110 performs correction processing on the read image data and outputs high-definition image data.

The operation unit 112 is composed of a keyboard or the like, and is used by the operator to perform various input operations.

The external display unit 113 is for notifying the user of display by means of an LCD, an LED or the like.

The printer formatter 114 analyzes a printer description language and converts it into image data when printing file data from a workstation or the like.

The printer 115 is a device for recording received images and file data on recording paper.

The wired LAN i / f 122 is a wired LAN 12
5, a wireless LAN i / f123 is an interface for connecting a facsimile device to the wireless LAN 126, and includes a wired LAN i / f122 and a wireless LAN i / f12.
3 is controlled by the wired / wireless LAN control unit 124.

The LAN control unit 116 processes data in order to exchange data with a server or terminal on a wired LAN or wireless LAN.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a connection form between the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and a LAN.

Reference numeral 201 denotes the facsimile machine shown in FIG. 1, which is a facsimile machine which can be directly connected to a wired or wireless LAN.

Reference numeral 202 denotes a LAN server machine to which the facsimile apparatus 201 is connected, and manages the LAN and files on the LAN.

Reference numerals 203 and 204 denote client machines (information processing terminals) connected to the wired LAN.

Reference numeral 205 denotes a printer server which controls a print request from a client machine and outputs the print request to a printer. Reference numeral 206 denotes a printer which outputs print image data.

Reference numeral 207 is a client machine connected to the wireless LAN.

Reference numeral 208 is a facsimile which communicates with the facsimile apparatus 201 through a telephone line.

Reference numeral 209 denotes a wireless base station, which performs facsimile communication with the facsimile apparatus 201 through a wireless line.

Reference numeral 210 is a line network, and 211 is a telephone line connecting the facsimile or the radio base station 209 to the line network 210.

Reference numeral 212 is a wireless LAN composed of a facsimile machine having a wireless LAN interface and a client machine.

Reference numeral 213 is a wireless line connecting the facsimile apparatus 201 and the wireless base station 209 via a wireless line interface.

Next, the operation of the facsimile apparatus having the above configuration will be described.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining the control sequence of facsimile communication according to this embodiment. This flowchart can be realized by causing the CPU 101 to execute the program stored in the ROM 102.

First, when an incoming call arrives, image data reception processing is performed (S501). After that, it is checked whether or not there is any abnormality in the wired LAN interface 122 or the wired LAN system (S502).
Received image data, communication management information, and the like are transmitted to the LAN via the AN interface.

On the other hand, the wired LAN interface 122
Alternatively, if there is an abnormality in the wired LAN system, the display unit 1
It is displayed in 13 that the wired LAN interface is abnormal (S504), and then it is checked whether or not the wireless LAN interface 123 or the wireless LAN system is abnormal (S505). If there is no abnormality, wireless LAN
The received image data and the like are transmitted to the LAN via the interface 123 (S506).

If the wireless LAN interface is also abnormal, the display unit 113 displays that the wireless LAN interface is abnormal (S507), and the printer unit 115 is displayed.
Then, the normal output processing is performed (S508), and the present sequence ends.

With the above configuration and procedure, even if the wired LAN cannot be used, the L
Image information and communication management information can be transmitted to a terminal on the AN. Therefore, it is not necessary to prepare a substitute facsimile device, and the backup system can be provided at low cost. Further, when there is an abnormality, the state is displayed, so that the user can be notified of the abnormal state.

In the above procedure, transmission is first attempted on the wired LAN interface, and if the wired LAN interface is abnormal, the transmission is switched to the wireless LAN interface and transmission is attempted. However, the order of the wired LAN interface and the wireless LAN interface is changed. The opposite case is also acceptable.

Further, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices such as a host computer, an interface and a printer, or to an apparatus composed of a single device such as a copying machine. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is implemented by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, the storage medium storing the program according to the present invention constitutes the present invention. Then, by reading the program from the storage medium to the system or device, the system or device operates in a predetermined manner.

[0051]

As described above, the facsimile machine according to the present invention has two LAs in one facsimile machine.
By providing the N interface, even when an abnormality occurs in one, it is possible to transmit the received image data to the LAN side by using the other. Further, by displaying the status of each LAN interface, it is possible to easily notify the user of the abnormality of the LAN interface.

[0052]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a connection form of a facsimile apparatus to a LAN.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a reception sequence by a facsimile device.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Office reference number FI Technical display location H04N 1/32 H04N 1/32 Z H04L 11/00 310D (72) Inventor Masaya Kondo Ota Ward, Tokyo Shimomaruko 3-30-2 Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Fumio Shoji 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Kazutaka Matsueda 3-30 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo No. 2 Canon Inc.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus for transmitting and receiving images, comprising a plurality of connecting means respectively connected to a plurality of LANs, and a determining means for determining whether the plurality of connecting means are normal or in a predetermined order. A facsimile apparatus, comprising: a transmission unit that transmits data to a LAN via a normal one of the plurality of connection units according to the determination made by the determination unit. 2. The plurality of connecting means are wired by LA.
2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for connecting to N and means for connecting to a LAN wirelessly. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit that displays a message when the determination unit determines that the connection is not normal among the plurality of connection units. apparatus. 4. The data transmitted by the transmitting means is
The received image data is included, and the received image data is included.
The facsimile apparatus according to any one of the above. 5. The data transmitted by the transmitting means is
The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising communication management information. 6. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a printing unit that prints out the received image data when the determining unit determines that all the connecting units are not normal. Facsimile machine. 7. A facsimile device for transmitting and receiving images, which comprises a wired LAN interface for connecting a wired LAN so that a terminal on the wired LAN can control the facsimile device, and a wireless LAN. The wireless LAN interface for allowing the terminal on the wireless LAN to control the facsimile apparatus by connecting to the wireless LAN, and the display unit for displaying the connection status with the LAN are normally received. When the image data is transmitted to the LAN through the wired LAN interface and the wired LAN interface is abnormal, the display unit displays that the wired LAN interface is abnormal, and the wireless L
When switching to the AN interface and transmitting to the LAN via the wireless LAN interface, and when the wireless LAN interface is abnormal, the display unit displays that the wireless LAN interface is abnormal and normal output processing is performed. A facsimile machine characterized by performing. 8. A facsimile device for transmitting and receiving images, which comprises a wired LAN interface for enabling a terminal on the wired LAN to control the facsimile device by connecting to the wired LAN, and a wireless LAN. The wireless LAN interface for allowing the terminal on the wireless LAN to control the facsimile apparatus by connecting to the wireless LAN, and the display unit for displaying the connection status with the LAN are normally received. When the image data is transmitted to the LAN through the wireless LAN interface and the wireless LAN interface is abnormal, the display unit displays that the wireless LAN interface is abnormal, and the wired LAN is displayed.
Wired LA by switching to interface
The transmission is performed to the LAN through the N interface, and when the wired LAN interface is abnormal, the display unit displays that the wired LAN interface is abnormal and performs a normal output process. Facsimile machine.