JPH10243157A - Image data print method and read method by computer using facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To scan an image and to print out image data by selecting a destination of an AUX jack from a computer modem to which the AUX jack has been connected to a facsimile modem in response to an image read or print instruction. SOLUTION: A 1st relay 320 selects the connection of a trunk line connecting to a telephone jack 20 to a modem 208 inside of a facsimile equipment or to a telephone line 350 under the control of a CPU 200. A 2nd relay 310 selects the connection of a computer modem connecting to an AUX jack 10 to a modem 208 of the facsimile equipment or to the telephone line 350 under the control of the CPU 200. The relays 310, 320 are set in a state of sending an input signal to the telephone line 350 usually, and in the case of facsimile communication, that is, image data communication, the relays are switched to send data to the modem 208 of the facsimile equipment.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a facsimile, and more particularly, to a communication method between a facsimile apparatus and a computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in order for a facsimile apparatus to perform a printer function, a scanner function, and the like under the control of a computer, the facsimile apparatus is serially or in parallel with the computer.
Allel) It is necessary to provide a dedicated communication circuit capable of communication and a connection port in the facsimile apparatus, and to realize an interface between the computer and the facsimile apparatus by using this. In other words, by connecting the modem of the computer to the modem of the facsimile machine through the dedicated connection port and the communication circuit of the facsimile machine and exchanging information, it is possible to cause the facsimile machine to perform a printer function, a scanner function, and the like under the control of the computer. It becomes possible.

[0003]

In a conventional facsimile apparatus which has realized an interface between a facsimile apparatus and a computer by the above method, a dedicated communication circuit and a connection port must be separately provided. There are problems that the internal structure becomes complicated and the cost of the product increases. Accordingly, the present invention provides a communication method capable of interfacing a facsimile apparatus with a computer without providing a dedicated communication circuit and a connection port in the facsimile apparatus.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, when an image reading command is input to a facsimile apparatus, a predetermined protocol is transmitted from the facsimile apparatus to a computer. An image reading mode for receiving the read image data to be transmitted is performed. Further, when an image reading command is input to the computer, a predetermined protocol is transmitted from the computer to the facsimile apparatus, and the facsimile apparatus performs an image reading mode in which a document is read and transmitted to the computer. A step of switching the line interface unit of the facsimile apparatus so that the input destination of the AUX jack of the facsimile apparatus connected to the modem of the computer is switched from another circuit to the modem of the facsimile apparatus by these protocols; And a process of setting the document reading resolution and the document reading resolution.

The present invention also provides an image printing mode in which a predetermined protocol is transmitted from a computer to a facsimile apparatus when an image data printing command is input to the computer, and the facsimile apparatus prints image data transmitted from the computer. It is characterized by performing. A step of switching the line interface unit of the facsimile apparatus so that the input destination of the AUX jack of the facsimile apparatus connected to the modem of the computer is switched from another circuit to the modem of the facsimile apparatus by these protocols; And a process of setting the document reading resolution and the document reading resolution.

[0006]

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the connection between a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention and a computer. The connection between the facsimile machine and the computer is performed by connecting the modem 30 inside the computer to the AUX jack 10 of the facsimile machine.
This is done by connecting to AUX Jack 10
Is generally provided for connecting an additional communication terminal to the facsimile machine. The facsimile apparatus and the computer are connected by a general telephone line including two lines, a tip line (chip 1) and a ring line (ring 1). In addition, through the telephone jack 20 of the facsimile apparatus, a connection between a central office line composed of two lines, a tip and a ring, and the AUX jack 10 is connected.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a general facsimile apparatus to which the present invention is applied. The present invention
Line Interface Unit
t: LIU) is achieved by call switching performed within 210.

A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 200 controls and processes the overall operation of the system according to a predetermined program. The memory unit 202 stores a control program of the CPU 200, image data to be transmitted / received, a received message, and a reception time thereof. The operation panel OPE204 is
It is provided with a numeric key and various function keys, and a liquid crystal display for displaying the status of the system. Scanner 2
In step 06, the document is scanned and converted into document image data. This image data is transmitted to the CPU 200. The modem 208 modulates and demodulates input / output signals of the CPU 200. The LIU 210 including the AUX jack 10 controls the modem 2 under the control of the CPU 200.
08 and office line or modem 3 of the computer
A communication path with 0 is formed. The printer 212 has a CPU 2
The image data received under the control of 00 is printed. The sensor unit 214 senses the state of the remaining amount and the supply of the transmission original and the output paper. These information are stored in the CPU 200
Is transmitted to

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the LIU 210 of FIG. Telephone jack 20 connects the facsimile machine to two lines, the tip and the ring, of the central office line. The AUX jack 10 connects the facsimile apparatus to a separate communication terminal, and in the present invention, a modem 30 of a computer is connected.

The first relay 320 switches under the control of the CPU 200 so that the central office line connected to the telephone jack 20 is connected to the modem 208 inside the facsimile apparatus or to the telephone circuit 350.
The second relay 310 switches under control of the CPU 200 so that the modem 30 of the computer connected to the AUX jack 10 is connected to the modem 208 of the facsimile apparatus or the telephone circuit 350. The relays 310 and 320 are normally in a call state for transmitting an input signal to the telephone circuit 350, and switch the data to be transmitted to the modem 208 of the facsimile apparatus during facsimile communication, that is, image data communication.

The hook-off detector 300 detects the hook-off state of another communication terminal when the AUX jack 10 is connected to another communication terminal. An online state is detected, and the state is provided to CPU 200.

A first matching transformer 330 is used for impedance matching between the modem 30 of the computer and the modem 208 inside the facsimile apparatus. The first matching transformer 330 enables the CPU 200 to monitor a signal transmitted from the modem 30 of the computer through the AUX jack 10. I do. The second matching transformer 340 is for impedance matching between the central office line and the modem 208 of the facsimile machine.

The LIU 210 further includes a transmission amplifier Tx for amplifying image data to be transmitted, and a telephone jack 20.
And a receiving amplifier Rx2 for amplifying image data transmitted from the modem 30 or the like of the computer through the AUX jack 10 through the AUX jack 10.

According to the present invention, the computer can use the printer 212 and the scanner 206 of the facsimile machine, and can scan an image and print image data. And also the facsimile machine
It becomes possible to print the image data stored in the computer.

Next, FIGS. 4 to 6 showing examples of the operation procedure of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of scanning according to the present invention, showing a procedure when a read command is transmitted from the computer side, that is, when a user inputs an image read command through the computer. First, in step 400, the CPU of the computer detects an image reading command input by the user. When an image reading instruction is input, the modem 30 of the computer is brought online in step 402.

At step 404, the CPU 200 of the facsimile apparatus checks the state of the modem 30 of the computer connected to the AUX jack 10 based on the information from the hook-off detector 300. When the modem 30 recognizes that the modem 30 is online, the output signal transmitted from the computer is monitored in step 406. At step 408, the CPU of the computer transmits an image reading command to the facsimile machine.

In step 410, the CPU 200 of the facsimile apparatus that has received the image reading command from the computer changes the transmission destination of the input from the AUX jack 10 from the telephone circuit 350 to the modem 208.
The relay 310 is switched, and the modem 30 of the computer and the modem 208 of the facsimile machine are connected.
Thereafter, the facsimile apparatus operates in the image reading mode.

At step 412, CPU 200 of the facsimile apparatus detects whether a document to be read is set, and if there is no document, requests insertion of the document to be read at step 414. If the original to be read is set, in step 416, the data transmission speed between the two devices and the resolution of the image data are determined. In step 418, the original is read through the scanner 206. In step 420, this image data is
08 and transmitted to the modem 30 of the computer. At step 422, the CPU of the computer converts the image data transmitted from the facsimile
After demodulation by 0, it is stored in the internal memory.

At step 424, CPU 200 of the facsimile apparatus detects whether the reading of the document has been completed, and repeats the steps from step 418 until the reading of the document is completed. When reading of the original is completed, step 426
Then, after transmitting the read completion signal to the CPU of the computer, in step 428, the second relay 310 is switched, and the input destination of the AUX jack 10 is set to the modem 208.
Then, the process is switched to the telephone circuit 350 again, and the program is terminated.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of scanning according to the present invention, and shows a procedure when a reading command is transmitted from the facsimile apparatus side, that is, when a user inputs an image reading command through the facsimile apparatus.
First, the CPU 200 of the facsimile apparatus executes step 50.
At 0, an image reading command input by the user is detected. If there is an image reading command, it is detected in step 502 whether or not a document to be read is set. If there is no document, in step 504, insertion of the document to be read is requested. If the original to be read is set, in step 506, the second relay 310 is switched so that the transmission destination of the input from the AUX jack 10 is switched from the telephone circuit 350 to the modem 208, and the modem 30 of the computer and the facsimile machine are switched. The facsimile apparatus operates in the image reading mode.

At step 508, the facsimile CPU 200 transmits an image read command to the computer CPU. In step 510, the data transmission speed between the two devices and the resolution of the image data are determined. In step 512, the original is read through the scanner 206.
08 and transmitted to the modem 30 of the computer. In step 516, the CPU of the computer transmits the image data transmitted from the facsimile
After demodulation by 0, it is stored in the internal memory.

When the CPU 200 of the facsimile apparatus detects that the reading of the original has been completed in step 518, the CPU 200 transmits a read completion signal to the CPU of the computer in step 520, and then switches the second relay 310 in step 522. The input destination of the AUX jack 10 is switched from the modem 208 to the telephone circuit 350 again, and the program ends.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the printer function according to the present invention. First, at step 600, the CPU of the computer detects a computer stored data print command input by the user through the computer. When the image reading command is input, the modem 30 of the computer is brought online in step 602.

At step 604, the CPU 200 of the facsimile apparatus checks the state of the modem 30 of the computer connected to the AUX jack 10 based on the information from the hook-off detection unit 300, and when it recognizes that the modem 30 is online, At 606, an output signal transmitted from the computer is monitored. In step 608, the CPU of the computer transmits a stored data print command to the facsimile machine.

At step 610, the CPU 200 of the facsimile apparatus which has received the stored data print command from the computer, switches the transmission destination of the input from the AUX jack 10 from the telephone circuit 350 to the modem 208 so as to switch the transmission destination.
The relay 310 is switched, and the modem 30 of the computer and the modem 208 of the facsimile machine are connected.
Thereafter, the facsimile apparatus operates in the computer stored data print mode.

At step 612, the CPU 200 of the facsimile machine and the CPU of the computer determine the data transmission speed and the resolution of the image data between the two machines. In step 614, the CPU of the computer modulates the image data to be printed by the modem 30 and transmits the modulated data to the modem 208 of the facsimile apparatus. In step 616, the CPU 200 of the facsimile apparatus demodulates the image data transmitted from the computer by the modem 208, and then prints and outputs the image data through the printer 212.

When the CPU 200 of the facsimile apparatus detects in step 618 that the printing of the image data has been completed, in step 620, the CPU 200 of the computer
After transmitting the print completion signal to the
The connection by the relay 310 is switched from the modem 208 to the telephone circuit 350 again, and the program ends.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, the switching of the line interface unit of the facsimile apparatus
When the communication with the computer is executed, the control is performed correspondingly. Therefore, the existing AU of facsimile
The connection of the modem line of the computer to the X jack allows the computer to use the printer and scanner of the facsimile machine, enabling scanning of the image and printing of the image data. Further, the facsimile apparatus can print image data stored in the computer. In other words, the interface between the facsimile machine and the computer, which has been conventionally realized in hardware, is replaced by the C
This can be realized by software control of the PU, and advantages such as cost reduction can be obtained with simplification of the structure.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a connection between a facsimile apparatus and a computer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a general facsimile apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of the LIU 210 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of scanning according to the present invention (when a read command is issued from the computer side).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of scanning according to the present invention (when a read command is issued from the facsimile machine side).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a printer function according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 AUX jack 20 Telephone jack 30 Computer modem 200 Facsimile machine CPU 206 Scanner 208 Facsimile machine modem 210 LIU 212 Printer 300 Hook-off detector 310 Second relay 320 First relay 350 Telephone circuit

Claims (10)

[Claims] AUX connected via a line interface unit to either a modem or other circuitry
In a facsimile apparatus having a jack, switching of a line interface unit of the facsimile apparatus so that an input of an AUX jack connected to a modem of a computer is switched to a modem of the facsimile apparatus in response to an image reading or printing instruction. Facsimile machine characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. An AU to a modem of a facsimile machine.
A document reading method performed by connecting a modem of a computer through an X jack. When an image reading command is input to a facsimile device, a predetermined protocol is transmitted from the facsimile device to the computer, and the computer is transmitted from the facsimile device. A document reading method for performing an image reading mode for receiving read image data. 3. An AU leading to a modem of a facsimile machine.
A document reading method performed by connecting a modem of a computer through an X jack. When an image reading command is input to the computer, a predetermined protocol is transmitted from the computer to the facsimile apparatus, and the facsimile apparatus reads the document and reads the document. An original reading mode for transmitting an image to the original. 4. A process for switching a line interface unit of a facsimile machine so that an input destination of an AUX jack of a facsimile machine connected to a modem of a computer is switched from another circuit to a modem of the facsimile machine according to a protocol. An original reading method according to claim 2 or 3. 5. The original reading method according to claim 2, wherein a step of setting a data transmission speed between the facsimile machine and the computer is performed according to a protocol. 6. The document reading method according to claim 2, wherein a step of setting a document reading resolution between the facsimile machine and the computer is performed according to a protocol. 7. An AU leading to a modem of a facsimile machine.
An image data printing method performed by connecting a modem of a computer through an X jack, wherein when a command for printing image data is input to the computer, a predetermined protocol is transmitted from the computer to the facsimile apparatus, and the facsimile apparatus transmits the protocol from the computer. An image print mode for printing image data to be printed. 8. A process for switching a line interface unit of a facsimile apparatus so that an input destination of an AUX jack of a facsimile apparatus connected to a modem of a computer is switched from another circuit to a modem of the facsimile apparatus according to a protocol. Item 7. The image data printing method according to Item 7. 9. The image data printing method according to claim 7, wherein a step of setting a data transmission speed between the facsimile machine and the computer is performed according to a protocol. 10. The image data printing method according to claim 7, wherein a step of setting a document reading resolution between the facsimile machine and the computer is performed according to a protocol.