JPH1031642A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily divert a function unit to another device by simplifying the management of attribute information as peripheral equipment for reporting to an information processing terminal concerning an image processor which has plural function units and is to be used as the peripheral equipment of the information processing terminal. SOLUTION: Device information as peripheral equipment corresponding to an information processing terminal 118 of the image processor is set to the main function unit (a main body 301 of the information processor), the main function unit manages the device information and when the other function unit (a printer formatter 117) is directly (or logically) connected to the information processing terminal, while referring to the device information set to the main function unit, the other function unit reports (transmits) it to the information processing terminal 118.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus having a plurality of functions such as a reading function, a printer function, and a data communication function and operating as a peripheral device of an information processing terminal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the price of printers, scanners, facsimile machines and the like has been reduced, and image processing apparatuses having functions of a plurality of these apparatuses in combination have been provided.

[0003] Also, personal computers (hereinafter referred to as PCs)
PCs have been remarkably popularized in offices and homes due to improved functions and lower prices. It is an important issue to provide the above-mentioned image processing apparatus to the user in a more easy-to-use form as a peripheral device for effectively utilizing the PC.

On the other hand, as an approach on the PC side in pursuit of ease of use, the attributes of peripheral devices to be connected are acquired, and the setting of the PC for using various peripheral devices is automated as much as possible based on the attribute information. It is desired that a PC user can easily use peripheral devices.

In developing a composite image processing apparatus as described above, it is general to utilize the technology of each conventional stand-alone apparatus as much as possible in order to promote the development efficiently. For example, when a printer function is added based on a facsimile machine, more efficient development becomes possible by diverting an already developed printer function as it is and providing a product as a multifunction peripheral.

[0006]

The point to be noted here is that even if a peripheral device has a complex function, the connection with the information processing terminal is physically one interface, so that a plurality of functions are provided. Even if there is attribute information (device information) as a peripheral device to notify the information processing terminal,
The point is that the type is desirable.

[0007] As described above, in a multifunction machine configured simply by diverting the printer function unit of a stand-alone printer, one of the printer function unit and the facsimile function unit is selected and selected. In the case where the units are logically directly connected to the information processing terminal, the device information of each unit and the device information of the MFP must be set in common. However, even if the units of the printer function unit are the same, device information as a stand-alone printer is different from device information of the above-described multifunction peripheral. And
Even when the unit of the printer function unit is diverted to another device, the device information of the device is different from the device information described above.

Therefore, if device information is set in the printer function unit itself in advance, different device information must be set for each device using the unit. For this reason, it is necessary to manage each product in spite of the same unit, resulting in a complicated product configuration.

[0009]

The present invention has a function of transmitting device information to be used as a peripheral device of the information processing terminal to the information processing terminal in response to a request from the information processing terminal. And an image processing apparatus having a plurality of functional units, wherein one of the plurality of functional units
One has management means for managing the device information, and means for transferring the device information to the other functional unit in response to a request for the device information from another functional unit, wherein the plurality of functional units are selectively provided. The function unit having the management unit is connected to the information processing terminal, and the device information of the management unit is transmitted in response to a request from the information processing terminal. On the other hand, when a functional unit without the management unit is connected to the information processing terminal, the functional unit refers to the device information of the functional unit having the management unit, and refers to the device information to the information unit. It is configured to transmit to the processing terminal.

[0010]

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

The CPU 101 is a system control unit.
The entire image processing apparatus is controlled via a system bus 115.

The ROM 102 stores a control program for the CPU 101, an operating system (OS) program, and the like.

The RAM 103 is constituted by an SRAM or the like.
This is for storing program control variables and the like.
The set values registered by the operator, management data of the apparatus, and various work buffers are also stored in the RAM 103.

The image memory 104 is composed of a DRAM or the like, and stores image data. In the present embodiment, each control program stored in the ROM 102 performs software control such as scheduling and task switching under the control of the OS stored in the ROM 102.

An operation unit 105 includes various keys, LEDs, and LCs.
D, etc., for performing various input operations by the operator and displaying the operation status of the image processing apparatus.

The resolution conversion processing unit 106 converts the resolution of image data for facsimile communication, the resolution of recorded image data, and the like.

The reading control unit 107 includes a CS image sensor (contact type image sensor), a document conveying mechanism, and the like. In the reading control unit 107,
Optically read using an S image sensor, converted into electrical image data, and subjected to various image processing such as binarization processing and halftone processing by the image processing control unit 108 to output high-definition image data. Things. The converted image data is encoded according to a predetermined encoding method via a read / record encoding / decoding processing unit 112, and is stored in an image memory 104.
Is stored in

The communication control unit 109 is constituted by a modem (modulation / demodulation device) or the like, and controls modulation / demodulation of transmission / reception signals in facsimile communication of data such as image data and communication procedure signals.

An NCU (network control unit) 110 sends a selection signal (dial pulse or tone dialer) to an analog communication line (PSTN) 120, detects a call signal from the communication line, and performs automatic call control and the like. It performs line control. The image data stored in the image memory 104 is decoded by the communication code decoder 111, and the resolution converter 106 performs milli-inch resolution conversion and enlargement / reduction processing. The resolution-converted image data is encoded by the communication codec 111 in accordance with the capability of the transmission destination.
9, transmitted via the NCU 110.

The recording control unit 113 includes a recording image processing control unit for smoothing processing and the like, a printer output control unit for outputting image data to the printer 114, and the like. The recording control unit 113 decodes the image data to be recorded by the reading / recording code decoding processing unit 112, performs various image processing such as smoothing processing and recording density correction processing, and converts the image data into high-definition image data. 1
14 is output.

The I / F control unit 116 controls the information processing terminal 11
8 for controlling the interface. In the present embodiment, a bidirectional parallel interface (IEEE
E1284).

The printer formatter 117 performs control for expanding a printer description language into image data, and is used when performing control with a pudding from the information processing terminal 118. In the present embodiment, the printer formatter is connected to the I / F control unit 116 via a bidirectional parallel interface, and the developed image data is transmitted directly to the recording control unit 113 without passing through the system bus 115. It is recorded and output.

Remote operations such as transmission from the information processing terminal 118 to the image processing apparatus, printing, data registration, and the like are performed by using a predetermined command, parameter, data, and the like as an I / F.
This is performed by transmitting the image data to the image processing apparatus via the control unit 116.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are diagrams showing data flows between the information processing terminal 118 and the image processing apparatus of the present embodiment.

In the present embodiment, two types of data flows are supported.

One is a type (type 1) in which the image processing apparatus main body 301 (reading function, facsimile function, image processing function unit) and the information processing terminal 118 are connected to perform data transfer as shown in FIG. ), And the other is a printer formatter 117 as shown in FIG.
This is a type (type 2) in which the (printer function unit) is directly (or logically) connected to the information processing terminal 118.

Switching between the two types is performed by the main unit 30.
The CPU 101 controls the I / F control unit 116 in accordance with an instruction from the operation unit 105 to perform hardware (or logical) connection of each type. Switch.

In the type 1 shown in FIG.
, Image processing apparatus main body 301, and image processing apparatus main body 30
1 and the printer formatter 117 are connected to each other by a bidirectional parallel interface (compliant with IEEE1284). Although the recording control unit 113 and the printer 114 are shown separately from the printer formatter 117 here, they may be configured as a printer function unit.

By using these two-way parallel interfaces, for example, data relating to a print job from the information processing terminal 118 is once fetched into the buffer memory 103 of the image processing apparatus main body 301 and then transferred to the printer formatter 117. Has become.

Further, the printer formatter 117 and the image processing apparatus main body 301 are connected by a serial interface, and are configured to transfer data such as commands necessary for print output via this serial interface. .

Further, the printer formatter 117 is connected to the recording control unit 113 via a video interface, and is configured to convert the result of the processed print data into a video signal and output it.

The image processing apparatus main body 301 and the recording control unit 113, and the recording control unit 113 and the printer 114 also have a video interface and a serial interface, respectively, and transfer data for print processing from the image processing apparatus main body. It is a configuration that can be performed.

In the case of type 1, in addition to the service using the printer formatter 117, the reading control unit 107,
Various services using the communication control unit 109 and the like are provided to the connected information processing terminal 118.

In the case of type 2 in FIG.
8 and the printer formatter 117 are directly connected by a bidirectional parallel interface (compliant with IEEE1284). This means that the printer formatter 11
7 directly performs data transfer processing with the information processing terminal 118. The other data flow (data transfer process) has the same configuration as the type 1 in FIG.

Next, handling of attribute information (device information) as a peripheral device for the information processing terminal of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

The device information includes information indicating a manufacturer, information for identifying its model, information indicating a service class as a peripheral device such as a printer or a scanner, and the like.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a processing flow of the type 1 device information of FIG.

In FIG. 4, an inquiry (request) for device information is sent from the information processing terminal 118 to the image processing apparatus main body 301 in S400. When receiving this request via the I / F control unit 118, the CPU 101
The device information is read from the information processing terminal 118 via the I / F control unit 116 in S410.
The device information is notified (transmitted).

FIGS. 5 and 6 show the processing flow of the type 2 device information of FIG.

In FIG. 5, in S500, a request for device information is sent from the information processing terminal 118 to the printer formatter 117 via the I / F control unit 116. S
At 501, a CP of a printer formatter described later is used.
Upon receiving the request from the information processing terminal 118, the U 701 (FIG. 7) makes an inquiry (request) for device information to the image processing apparatus main body 301 via the serial interface. In S502, the image processing apparatus main body 30
Upon receiving a request for device information from the printer formatter 117, the first CPU 101 reads device information from the ROM 102, and notifies (transmits) the read device information to the printer formatter 117 via the serial interface. In step S503, when the CPU 701 of the printer formatter 117 receives the device information from the image processing apparatus main body 301 via the serial interface, the CPU 701 transmits the received device information to the information processing terminal 118 via the I / F control unit 116. I do.

In FIG. 5 described above, each time a request for device information from the information processing terminal 118 is made, the printer formatter 117
Is configured to inquire of the image processing apparatus main body 301 for device information. However, as shown in FIG. 6, when the power of the image processing apparatus is turned on, the printer formatter 117 requests the image processing apparatus main body 301 for device information. The device information received from the main body 301 in response to this request is stored in the RAM
703 (FIG. 7), and when there is a request for device information from the information processing terminal 118, the device information stored in the RAM 703 is read out and read from the information processing terminal 11.
8 may be transmitted.

In FIG. 6, in S600, the C of the printer formatter 117 responds to the power-on of the apparatus.
The PU 701 makes a request for device information to the image processing apparatus main body 301 via a serial interface. S60
1, the CPU 101 of the image processing apparatus main body 301
Receives the request from the printer formatter 117, reads the device information stored in the ROM 102, and transmits the read device information to the printer formatter 117 via the serial interface.
Then, the printer formatter 117 stores the received device information in the RAM 703.

In step S602, when the printer formatter 117 receives a request for device information from the information processing terminal 118, in step S603, the CPU 701 of the printer formatter 117 reads the stored device information from the RAM 703, and stores the read device information in the I / O.
The information is transmitted to the information processing terminal 118 via the F control unit 116.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the structure of the printer formatter 117.

The CPU 701 is a system control unit.
The entire printer formatter is controlled via a system bus, and various interface control units (706, 707, 7)
08), predetermined data transfer processing is performed with the image processing apparatus main body 301, the information processing terminal 118, and the like.

The ROM 702 stores a control program for the CPU 701, an operating system (OS) program, and the like.

The RAM 703 is constituted by an SRAM or the like.
This is for storing program control variables and the like.
The RAM 703 also stores setting values as a printer function, device management data, and various work buffers.

An image memory 704 is composed of a DRAM or the like, and stores image data developed into an image from a printer description language. The image conversion processing is performed by an image conversion processing unit 705. The control program stored in the ROM 702 is stored in the ROM 702, and software control such as scheduling and task switching is performed under the control of the OS.

Further, a video I / F control unit 706, a serial I / F control unit 707, and an interface control unit for performing data transfer processing with the image processing apparatus main body 301 side are provided.
It has a parallel (IEEE1284) I / F control unit.

As described above, device information as a peripheral device for the information processing terminal 118 of the image processing apparatus is set in the main functional unit (image processing apparatus main body 301), and the main functional unit manages the device information. Configuration and other functional units (printer formatter 11
If (7) is directly (or logically) connected to the information processing terminal, another functional unit refers to the device information set in the main functional unit and notifies the information processing terminal 118 ( Since transmission is performed, device information does not need to be set in advance for each of the functional units, and management of device information can be simplified.

The other functional units refer to the device information managed by the main functional unit as follows: (1) Whenever device information is requested from the information processing terminal 118, the managed device information is Reference method (2) Device information received from the main functional unit by referring to device information managed by the main functional unit in initialization processing at power-on by power-on operation of the device, etc. Has been described. In the case of (1), there is no need for the other functional unit to be a sub-unit to manage device information at all, and in the case of (2), the other functional unit is not required. Since it is not necessary to inquire the main functional unit for device information, the information processing terminal frequently requests device information. If, without degrading the performance of the system, there is an advantage that the processing for the device information is simplified.

When various functional units are optionally used for another device, it is not necessary to manufacture the device after setting the device information of the other device in the functional unit. Manufacturing can be performed efficiently. Also, the information processing terminal (PC) can be used as a peripheral device by a simple operation by using the device information from the image processing apparatus. As in this embodiment, a plurality of functional units are incorporated in one apparatus. Therefore, it can be provided as a peripheral device having a composite function, and the degree of freedom of the user's selection can be increased.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified.

[0055]

As described above, according to the present invention, an image processing apparatus having a plurality of functional units is used as a peripheral device of an information processing terminal, and a plurality of functional units are selectively used in the information processing terminal. When connected to the device, there is no need to set attribute information (device information) as a peripheral device of the image processing apparatus in each functional unit in advance, so that management of device information can be simplified, and The functional unit can be diverted to another device without making a problem.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a type 1 data flow with an information processing terminal.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a type 2 data flow with an information processing terminal.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a processing flow of device information in type 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a processing flow of device information in type 2;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a processing flow of device information in type 2;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer formatter 117.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 CPU 102 ROM 103 RAM 104 Image memory 105 Operation unit 106 Resolution conversion unit 107 Reading control unit 108 Image processing control unit 109 Communication control unit 110 NCU 111 Communication coding / decoding processing unit 112 Reading / coding coding / decoding processing unit 113 Recording Control unit 114 Printer 115 System bus 116 I / F control unit 117 Printer formatter 118 Information processing terminal

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Takewa Kumagai 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc.

Claims (12)

[Claims] An information processing terminal has a function of transmitting device information to be used as a peripheral device of the information processing terminal to the information processing terminal in response to a request from the information processing terminal, and has a plurality of functional units. In the image processing apparatus, one of the plurality of functional units manages the device information, and a unit that transfers the device information to the other functional unit in response to a request for the device information from another functional unit Having a configuration in which the plurality of functional units are selectively connected to the information processing terminal, and in a case where the functional unit having the management unit is connected to the information processing terminal, a request from the information processing terminal Transmitting the device information of the managing unit to the information processing terminal, while a functional unit having no managing unit is connected to the information processing terminal. The image processing apparatus that functional unit is characterized in that a structure for transmitting the reference to the device information by referring to said device information of the functional units having the management unit to the information processing terminal. 2. The information processing terminal according to claim 1, wherein the functional unit having no management means requests the device information each time a request from the information processing terminal is received, and transmits the received device information to the information processing terminal. An image processing apparatus for transmitting to an image processing apparatus. 3. The function unit according to claim 1, wherein the functional unit having no management means has means for storing the received device information, and stores the received device information in the storage means in response to a request from the information processing terminal. An image processing apparatus transmitting the device information to the information processing terminal. 4. The function unit according to claim 3, wherein the functional unit having no management means requests the device information from the functional unit having the management means in response to a power-on of the apparatus. An image processing apparatus, wherein the received device information is stored in the storage unit. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of functional units has a data communication function. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of functional units have a printer function. 7. A function of transmitting device information to be used as a peripheral device of the information processing terminal to the information processing terminal in response to a request from the information processing terminal, and having a plurality of functional units. In the method of communicating the device information to the information processing device in the image processing device, one of the plurality of functional units manages the device information, and the device information is transmitted in response to a request for the device information from another functional unit. Is transferred to the other functional unit, the plurality of functional units are selectively connected to the information processing terminal, and when the functional unit managing the device information is connected to the information processing terminal, the information processing terminal The device unit transmits the device information in response to a request from the information processing terminal. When connected, a communication method that functional unit is characterized in that for transmitting the reference to the device information by referring to said device information of the functional units to manage the device information to the information processing terminal. 8. The information processing terminal according to claim 7, wherein the functional unit that does not manage the device information requests the device information every time a request from the information processing terminal is received, and transmits the received device information to the information processing terminal. A communication method characterized by transmitting to a communication device. 9. The information processing terminal according to claim 7, wherein the functional unit that does not manage the device information stores the received device information and stores the device information stored in response to a request from the information processing terminal to the information processing terminal. A communication method characterized by transmitting. 10. The functional unit according to claim 9, wherein the functional unit that does not manage the device information requests the device information from a functional unit that manages the device information in response to a power-on of the apparatus. A communication method comprising storing the received device information. 11. The communication method according to claim 7, wherein one of the plurality of functional units has a data communication function. 12. The communication method according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of functional units have a printer function.