JPH10297055A - Compound printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To notify a user of status information of a printer and information of test printing or status printing in terms of a compound printing apparatus having functions of a printer and a facsimile even when the user is away from the compound printing apparatus. SOLUTION: A drawing object (intermediate code) generated by a printer is converted to an intermediate code which can be coded to an MH code or an MR code by a FAX transmission data generating section 108. An intermediate code deciphered from image data in the MH code or MR code is inversely converted to the intermediate code which can be generated by the printer by a decoder. A FAX transmission determining section 107 sets whether or not status information of the printer or information of test printing or status printing is transmitted to a facsimile side and judges the set information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a printer and a facsimile machine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multifunction printer having a (facsimile) function, and more particularly to a multifunction printer having improved processing of printer status information, test print, status print, and FAX transmission data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a multifunction machine of a printer and a facsimile, status information of the printer is notified only to a host computer or a panel called a host. The test print and the status print are processed according to an instruction from the panel or the host, and the print data is output to a tray or a finisher of the printer.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Conventional printers and FAs
The multifunction peripheral X is configured as described above, and the printer status information, test print, and status print are output only to the printer tray or finisher, so if the user is far away from the printer,
There is a problem that the printing results cannot be seen.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and can notify a user who is remote from a printer of printer status information, test print or status print information. It is an object to provide a composite printer device.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A composite printer according to the present invention is constructed as follows.

(1) In a multifunction printer having a function of a printer and a facsimile, conversion means for converting print data generated by the printer into intermediate code data capable of performing redundancy suppression coding, and the redundancy suppression coding thereof And a transmission unit for facsimile transmitting desired information in the printer.

(2) In the apparatus of the above (1), the desired information in the printer is printer status information, test print or status print information.

(3) The apparatus according to (1) or (2) above, further comprising means for setting whether or not desired information in the printer is transmitted to the facsimile side, and means for determining whether or not to transmit the desired information. I did it.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a controller of a laser beam printer in the multifunction printer of the present embodiment.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes an external host computer, and reference numeral 102 denotes a receiving buffer in the laser beam printer, which temporarily stores commands and received data such as image data from the host computer 101.

Reference numeral 103 denotes a storage device including a ROM.
A program, font data, and the like for realizing a series of control processes according to a flowchart of FIG. 3 described below are stored.

Reference numeral 104 denotes a command analysis unit configured on the storage device 103; 105, a drawing data creation unit configured on the storage device 103;
A drawing object is created from the reception data temporarily stored in the drawing data 2 and stored in the drawing data memory 113.

Reference numeral 106 denotes a rasterization processing unit configured on the storage device 103, and a drawing data memory 113.
Rasterizes the drawing object stored in,
The data is stored in the band raster memory 114 in band units.

Reference numeral 107 denotes a facsimile transmission determination unit configured on the storage device 103. The facsimile transmission determination unit 107 sets and determines whether to transmit status information, status print, and test print of the printer to the facsimile side.

Reference numeral 108 denotes a facsimile transmission data creation unit (conversion unit) configured on the storage device 103, which converts a drawing object (print data) into an MH code or MR data.
The code is converted into intermediate code data that can be subjected to redundancy suppression coding.

Reference numeral 109 denotes a resolution conversion unit for converting the resolution for printing as required. 110 is a CPU that controls the entire printer, 111 is an engine transfer unit,
It outputs image data to a printer engine unit (not shown).

Reference numeral 112 denotes a storage device comprising a RAM;
Is the drawing data memory described above on the storage device 112,
The drawing object created by the drawing data creation unit 105 is stored.

Reference numeral 114 denotes the above-described band raster memory in the storage device 112; 115, a FAX i / f unit for interfacing with a FAX; and 116, a panel i / f unit for interfacing with a panel (not shown).

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a controller having a facsimile transmission means.

The FAX controller mainly stores a transmission system for transmitting data read from the image reading unit 201 to the partner station, a reception system for transmitting data received from the partner station to the printer, and predetermined image data. Image memory 20
4 and a CPU 217 for controlling the entire controller.

The transmission system includes a reader interface 20
2, an intermediate coder 203 for converting the read data into an intermediate code, and an image memory 20 for storing the intermediate code.
4, a pixel density conversion circuit 205, a selector 206 for selecting the MH intermediate coder 207 or the MR intermediate coder 208 according to the function of the partner station, a modem 209 for modulating a transmission signal, and an NCU 210 for line control. Have been.

The receiving system includes an NCU 210, a modem 209 for demodulating a received signal, and an MH intermediate decoder 2.
11, the MR intermediate decoder 212, and the multiplexer 21
3, an image memory 204 for storing an intermediate code via the multiplexer 213, a pixel density conversion circuit 214 having a dot duplication unit, and a decoder (conversion unit) 2 for converting the intermediate code into a video signal (print data).
15 and a printer i that interfaces with the printer
/ F section 216.

The CPU 217 controls the entire facsimile controller as described above, and its control program is stored in the ROM 218, and various data necessary for executing the program are stored in the RAM 219.

The image memory 204 sends out stored data in accordance with the transmission speed of the line 220 at the time of transmission, and stores one page of data at the time of reception.
5 to send the stored data. The image memory 204
When the multi-copy is used as the retention memory, the information is stored until the multi-copy is completed.
When the broadcast transmission memory 04 is used as a broadcast transmission memory, the information is stored until the broadcast transmission is completed.

Next, the operation of the printer having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In step S301, the host computer 1
When receiving the image data and the command from step S01, the data processing is performed in step S302 to analyze the command. If the command is a data drawing command, the received image data is converted into a drawing object in step S301 and stored in the drawing data memory 113. After storing, the band raster memory 114
Rasterize to

This rasterization is to convert a drawing object into a bitmap, and thereafter, the rasterized data in the band raster memory 114 is sent to the engine transfer unit 111.

Also, in step S303, step S30
During the data processing of 2, the status abnormality is always detected.
If no abnormality is found in the status, the data processing is continued until the data ends in step S304. If a status error is found, it is determined in step S305 whether or not to fax the error status.

In the case of fax transmission, step S306
In step S307, the drawing object converted from the image data is converted into an intermediate code that can be encoded into an MH code or an MR code. In step S307, the abnormal status information is transmitted by facsimile.

If no facsimile transmission is required, step S30
In step 8, the abnormal status is displayed on the panel or the host as usual.

(Embodiment 2) Next, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described. Note that the configurations of the printer and the FAX according to the present embodiment are the same as those in FIGS.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of this embodiment.

First, it is determined in step S401 whether or not to print a status print or a test print. If so, it is determined in step S402 whether or not the status print or test print is to be faxed.

In the case of fax transmission, step S403
Converts the status print or test print data into a drawing object, and then converts the drawing object into an intermediate code that can be encoded into an MH code or an MR code. Then, in step S404, the print information is transmitted by facsimile.

If no facsimile transmission is performed, step S40
In step 5, the status print or test print is output to the tray as usual.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Since the configurations of the printer and the facsimile of the present embodiment are the same as those in FIGS. 1 and 2, the description is omitted.

First, in step S501, the time at which the normal status is transmitted by facsimile on the panel is set. Then, it is checked in step S502 whether the set time has come.

If the set time has come in step S502, it is checked in step S503 whether or not to perform facsimile transmission. If fax transmission is performed in step S503, the drawing object converted from the image data is converted into an intermediate code that can be encoded into an MH code or MR code in step S504, and the status information is transmitted by facsimile in step S505.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments.
The following configuration may be used.

(1) In this embodiment, the printer is a laser beam printer. However, the present invention is not limited to this, but may be an ink jet printer, a dot matrix printer, a thermal transfer printer (including a sublimation type), an LED printer, and a liquid crystal. It can be applied to a shutter printer and the like.

(2) Further, in the embodiment, the drawing data memory 1
13 is a RAM, but may be an NVRAM.

(3) Further, although the transmission time is set in the embodiment, the transmission interval may be set.

(4) In the embodiment, the transmission time is set by the panel. However, the transmission time may be set by a command from the host or a facsimile.

(5) Further, in the embodiment, the abnormal status is set to F
Although AX transmission was performed, the present invention is not limited to this.
It may be transmitted to a wireless device such as an HS or a mobile phone to notify the abnormal status by voice.

(6) Although the abnormal status is notified in the above (5), a normal status may be notified periodically.

(7) In the case where the normal status is periodically transmitted by fax in the above (5) and (6), the transmission time and interval are determined not only by the panel, command, and fax but also by fax.
It may be set by a telephone, a PHS, a mobile phone, or the like.

(8) The above (5), (6) and (7)
Does not refer to the setting as to whether or not to notify information, but the setting may be performed not only by a command from a panel or a host, but also by using a telephone, a PHS, a mobile phone, or the like.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In a combined printer device having a function of a printer and a facsimile, a conversion means for converting print data generated by the printer into intermediate code data capable of performing redundancy suppression encoding, and converting the redundancy-suppressed encoded data into the printer In addition to the conversion means for converting to the print data generated in the printer, and the transmission means for facsimile transmission of the desired information in the printer, printer status information, test print, status print remote from the printer remote There is an effect that a user who is present can be notified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a controller unit of a laser beam printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a controller unit of the facsimile according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 101 Host computer 102 Reception buffer 104 Command analysis unit 105 Drawing data creation unit 106 Rasterization processing unit 107 FAX transmission determination unit 108 FAX transmission data creation unit (conversion unit) 109 Resolution conversion unit 110 CPU 111 Engine transfer unit 113 Drawing data memory 114 Band Raster memory 115 FAX i / f unit 116 Panel i / f unit 201 Image reading unit 202 Reader interface 203 Intermediate coder 204 Image memory 205 Pixel density conversion circuit 207 MH intermediate coder 208 MR intermediate coder 209 Modem 210 NCU 211 MH intermediate decoder 212 MR intermediate Decoder 214 Pixel density conversion circuit 215 Decoder (conversion means) 216 Printer i / f unit 217 CPU 220 Line

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A composite printer device having a function of a printer and a facsimile, a conversion means for converting print data generated by a printer into intermediate code data capable of being subjected to redundancy suppression coding, and a means for performing the redundancy suppression coding. And a transmitting means for facsimile transmitting desired information in the printer, the converting means comprising: converting means for converting the data into print data generated by the printer. 2. The multifunction printer according to claim 1, wherein the desired information in the printer is status information of the printer, test print or status print information. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for setting whether or not desired information in the printer is to be transmitted to the facsimile side, and means for determining whether or not to transmit the desired information. A composite printer device as described.