JPH1079825A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent giving useless confusion or mistake to the user by discriminating and displaying whether data during printing are facsimile data through a communication line or input data from an external data. SOLUTION: A main control section 2 allows a printed section 17 to print out input data from an external data I/F 14 and displays a fact as to whether printed data are facsimile reception data from a communication line L or input data from the external data I/F 14. Moreover, the input data from the external data I/F 14 are sent from a facsimile communication section 12 as facsimile data, and whether or not transmitted data are the input data from the external data I/F 14 is displayed. Furthermore, in the case that data are received/ outputted from/to an external data terminal equipment 3, display is made that the input/output is made to/from the external data terminal equipment 3 and a file name of the input output data is displayed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus with an external interface having a function of inputting data from an external data terminal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A general facsimile apparatus has a built-in printer for printing out facsimile data received according to a predetermined communication control procedure on recording paper. This built-in printer is connected to an external data terminal such as a personal computer. There is known a facsimile machine which can be used from a company.

This facsimile apparatus has an external I / F such as a Centronics I / F (interface), and prints out data input from the I / F from a built-in printer. In addition to the facsimile communication function, it can also function as an output device of an external data terminal such as a personal computer. As a result, effective and various uses of the built-in functions of the printer and the like can be achieved.

[0004]

However, in the facsimile apparatus described above, it is difficult to determine whether the print output operation of the printer is performed by the facsimile reception operation or the operation of the external data terminal.
It may cause unnecessary error or confusion to the user.

For example, an external data terminal connected to a Centronics I / F via a cable is not always installed at the same location as a facsimile machine.
Rather, it is often installed away from the facsimile machine. For this reason, when the facsimile apparatus is in a printing operation state, even if the data being printed is from an external data terminal, it is likely to be mistaken for facsimile reception or vice versa. was there.

As described above, in a facsimile apparatus with an external I / F having a function of inputting data from an external data terminal,
The advantage that the built-in functions of the printer and the like can be used effectively and in various ways can be achieved, but there is a problem in that the use is likely to cause unnecessary errors or confusion to the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to make it possible to effectively and variously use built-in functions of a printer and the like without giving a user an unnecessary error or confusion.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a facsimile communication unit for transmitting and receiving facsimile data through a communication line in accordance with a predetermined communication control procedure, and printing out the received facsimile data. In addition to a printer and a display unit for displaying the status of the apparatus, an external interface for receiving data from an external data terminal, and control means for printing and outputting input data from the interface using the printer are provided. It is configured to display whether the data therein is facsimile reception data from a communication line or input data from the interface.

As a result, it is possible to obtain a facsimile apparatus capable of effectively and variously using the built-in functions of the printer and the like without giving the user unnecessary error or confusion.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is directed to a facsimile communication unit for executing transmission and reception of facsimile data via a communication line in accordance with a predetermined communication control procedure, and a printer for printing out received facsimile data. A display unit for displaying the status of the apparatus, an external interface for receiving data from an external data terminal, control means for printing out input data from the interface using the printer, and data being printed by the printer. Control means for displaying whether the data is facsimile reception data from a communication line or input data from the interface, and thereby,
There is an effect that the built-in printer of the facsimile apparatus can be used effectively and variously without giving the user unnecessary error or confusion.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect, a control means for facsimile transmitting the input data from the external interface from the facsimile communication unit, and the data being transmitted by the facsimile is the input data from the interface. It is provided with control means for displaying whether or not there is, so that the communication function of the facsimile apparatus can be used effectively and variously without giving the user unnecessary error or confusion. Have.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first or second aspect, input data from an external interface is
It is provided with control means for performing print output or facsimile transmission based on the header added to the input data, whereby the function of facsimile transmission or data printing can be arbitrarily used on the external data terminal side. It has the action of:

[0013] The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claims 1 to 3.
A storage unit for storing facsimile reception data, data identification means for determining whether input data from the external interface is a predetermined facsimile reception data request command, and If the received data request command is received, the control means is provided for transferring the facsimile reception data stored in the storage unit to the external data terminal via the interface. This has the effect of being able to be an output terminal for received data.

[0014] The invention according to claim 5 provides the invention according to claims 1 to 4.
In addition to the above, the image reading unit, data identification means for determining whether input data from the external interface is a predetermined read data request command, and the input data is a read data request command Control means for transferring the read data of the image reading unit to the external data terminal via the interface, so that the original reading function in the facsimile apparatus can be used as an input device of the external data terminal. Has the effect of being able to

[0015] The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claims 1 to 5.
In addition to the above, when data is input / output to / from an external data terminal, it is displayed that the input / output is being performed to / from the external data terminal, and the input / output data is The facsimile apparatus has control means for displaying a file name, and thereby has an effect that a user can accurately grasp the outline of data processed by the facsimile apparatus.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a facsimile apparatus to which the technology of the present invention is applied.

In FIG. 1, L1 is a telephone line (or facsimile communication line), and 11 is a line control unit (NC).
U) and 12 are a facsimile communication unit that executes facsimile communication via the line L1 according to a predetermined communication control procedure, 13 is an image reading unit that reads an image from a document 131,
Reference numeral 14 denotes an external I / F (interface) for transmitting and receiving data to and from the external data terminal 3, 15 a compression / expansion unit for compressing or expanding image data, 16 a data storage unit, and 17 a recording paper. Reference numeral 171 denotes a printer for printing and output, reference numeral 18 denotes an operation panel, and reference numeral 2 denotes a main control unit.

The operation panel 18 comprises an operation unit 181 on which numeric keys and various function keys are arranged, and a display unit 182 such as a liquid crystal display device for displaying the state of the device.

The main control unit 2 centrally manages and controls the operation of each unit described above. The main control unit 2 includes a data input / output control unit 21 for centrally managing and controlling data input / output and transfer, a data identification unit 22 for identifying functions and attributes of each data, and display contents of a display unit 182. And a display control unit 23 for controlling the display.

The main control unit 2 is constructed using a microprocessor which is a general-purpose control device, and incorporates the following control functions.

That is, the input data from the external I / F 14 is printed out using the printer 17, and the data being printed is facsimile reception data from the communication line L or input data from the I / F 14. Show another one.

The input data from the external I / F 14 is transmitted by facsimile from the facsimile communication section 12, and whether or not the data being transmitted is the input data from the I / F 14 is displayed.

The input data is printed out or transmitted by facsimile based on the header added to the input data.

If the input data is a facsimile reception data request command, the facsimile reception data stored in the storage unit 16 is transferred to the external data terminal 3 via the I / F 14. If the input data is a read data request command, the read data of the image reading unit 13 is transferred to the external data terminal 3 via the I / F 14.

When data is input / output to / from the external data terminal 3, it is displayed that the input / output is being performed to / from the external data terminal 3, and the file name of the input / output data is displayed. Is displayed.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the format structure of data exchanged between the device shown in FIG. 1 and an external data terminal.

In the figure, (A) shows the external data terminal 3
1 shows an example of a format of print data input from the I / F 14 via the I / F 14. In this format, a file name header “FILNAM” and a file name “TESTDATA.TXT” are added to the head of the data string, and thereafter, an attribute header “PRTDAT” indicating the type of data is added. Image data follows these headers. The image data is separated for each page by a page break header “EOPDAT”, and a data end header “EOMDAT” is placed at the end.

An attribute header "PRTD" representing the data type
"AT" is a header arbitrarily added in advance on the external data terminal 3 side, and in this case, means that the data is print data. The data with the header “PRTDAT” is temporarily stored in the storage unit 16 as print data, and then transferred to the printer 17 for printing.

FIG. 2B shows a state in which the external data terminal 3 receives an I / O signal.
15 shows a format example of facsimile transmission data input via F14. In this format, “TES01.NMT” is added as a file name, and “FAXDAT” indicating facsimile transmission data is added as an attribute header indicating a data type. This attribute header “FAXDAT” is also arbitrarily added in advance on the external data terminal 3 side as in the case of (A). The data with the header “FAXDAT” is temporarily stored in the storage unit 16 as facsimile transmission data, then transferred to the facsimile communication unit 12, where it is transmitted according to a predetermined communication control procedure.

FIG. 3C shows a format example of facsimile transmission data transferred to the external data terminal 3 via the I / F 14. In this format, a header “FAXDAT” representing facsimile transmission data is added. Attribute header "FAXDAT" in this case
Is created in response to a facsimile reception data request command input from the external data terminal 3 via the I / F 14.
Will be added.

FIG. 4D shows a format example of read data transferred to the external data terminal 3 via the I / F 14. In this format, a header “FAXDAT” representing read data is added. The attribute header “FAXDAT” in this case is transmitted from the external data terminal 3 to the I / O
It is created and added in response to a facsimile reception data request command input via F14.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a schematic operation of a main part of the facsimile apparatus described above.

In the figure, an I / F from an external data terminal
When data is input via the I / F, that is, when an event of external data reception by the I / F occurs, first, "PC" meaning data processing for the external data terminal.
"Mode" is displayed on the display unit. At the same time, a data check for analyzing the contents of the input data based on the attribute header described above is performed (R1).

When it is determined by the data check that the input data from the I / F is print data, "jusin" indicating that data is received from an external data terminal and the received data (print data) ) Is displayed on the display unit. As a result, the printer function of the facsimile machine can be used from the external data terminal side, while the user of the facsimile machine can confirm that the apparatus is receiving data from the external data terminal and print the received data. Data (R2).

Similarly, by the above data check, I /
Even when it is determined that the input data from F is facsimile transmission data, "JUSHIN" indicating that data is received from an external data terminal and the file name of the received data (facsimile transmission data) are displayed. Display on the section. Thus, the facsimile transmission function of the facsimile apparatus can be used from the external data terminal side, while the user of the facsimile apparatus side confirms that the apparatus is receiving data from the external data terminal and that the received data is It is possible to know that the data is facsimile transmission data (R3).

On the other hand, by the above data check, the I / F
If it is determined that the input data is a facsimile reception data request command, the storage unit is searched for the facsimile reception data. If there is facsimile reception data as a result of the search, the data is transferred to the external data terminal via the I / F. Along with this, "South", which means that data is being transmitted to the external data terminal,
The file name of the transmission data (facsimile reception data) is displayed on the display unit. Thereby, the facsimile reception data can be used by obtaining the data from the external data terminal side, while the user of the facsimile apparatus can transfer the data to the external data terminal and confirm that the transfer data (transmission data) It is possible to know that the data is facsimile reception data (R4).

Further, by the above data check, the I / F
If it is determined that the input data from is a read data request command, the image reading unit performs a document reading operation,
The read data is transferred to the external data terminal via the I / F. At the same time, “South”, which means that data is being transmitted to the external data terminal, and the file name of the transmission data (read data) are displayed on the display unit. As a result, the image reading function of the facsimile apparatus can be used on the external data terminal side. On the other hand, the user of the facsimile apparatus can transfer the data to the external data terminal and check the transfer data (transmission data). )
Is read data (R5).

FIG. 4 shows a display example when data processing is performed on an external data terminal. In the figure, (A)
Is a standby state, (B) is a case where some data is received from the external data terminal, (C) is a case where print data is received from the external data terminal, and (D) is a case where facsimile transmission data is received. Shown respectively.

(E) shows a case where facsimile reception data is transferred (transmitted) to an external data terminal, and (F) shows a case where read data is transferred to an external data terminal.

FIG. 5 shows a display example when data processing is performed only in the facsimile machine. In the figure,
(A) shows a standby state, (B) shows a case where a facsimile signal is received from a communication line, and (C) shows a case where a facsimile signal is transmitted to the communication line.

As described above, in the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention, a facsimile communication unit for executing transmission and reception of facsimile data via a communication line according to a predetermined communication control procedure, a printer for printing out received facsimile data, and an apparatus In addition to the display that displays the status of
An external I / F for receiving data from an external data terminal; and control means for printing out input data from the I / F using the printer, wherein data being printed by the printer is facsimile reception data from a communication line. Or the input data from the I / F, so that the built-in functions of the printer and the like can be effectively and variously used from the external data terminal without giving the user unnecessary error or confusion. can do.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, the built-in functions of the printer and the like can be used effectively and variously without giving unnecessary confusion or confusion to the user.
The advantageous effect described above can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a facsimile apparatus to which the technology of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a format structure of data exchanged with an external data terminal.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a schematic operation of a main part of the facsimile machine described above.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example when data processing is performed on an external data terminal.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example when data processing is performed only in the facsimile apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 In the figure, L1 telephone line (facsimile communication line) 11 line control unit (NCU) 12 facsimile communication unit 13 image reading unit 131 original 14 external I / F 15 compression / expansion unit 16 data storage unit 17 printer 171 recording paper 18 operation panel 181 Operation unit 182 Display unit 2 Main control unit 21 Data input / output control unit 22 Data identification unit 23 Display control unit 3 External data terminal

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile communication unit for executing transmission and reception of facsimile data via a communication line in accordance with a predetermined communication control procedure, a printer for printing out received facsimile data, a display unit for displaying the status of the apparatus, and external data An external interface for receiving data from the terminal, control means for printing out the input data from the interface using the printer, and whether the data being printed by the printer is facsimile reception data from a communication line or not. A facsimile apparatus comprising: control means for displaying whether the data is input data. 2. A control unit for transmitting facsimile data input from an external interface from a facsimile communication unit, and a control unit for displaying whether data being transmitted by facsimile is input data from the interface. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein 3. A facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising control means for causing print data or facsimile transmission of input data from an external interface based on a header added to the input data. . 4. A storage section for storing facsimile reception data, data identification means for determining whether or not input data from an external interface is a predetermined facsimile reception data request command, and wherein the input data is facsimile reception data. 4. A control device according to claim 1, further comprising control means for transferring facsimile reception data stored in said storage unit to an external data terminal via said interface when the command is a request command. A facsimile machine as described. 5. An image reading unit, data identification means for determining whether or not input data from an external interface is a predetermined read data request command, and a method for determining whether the input data is a read data request command 5. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising control means for transferring read data of said image reading unit to an external data terminal via said interface. 6. When data is input / output to / from an external data terminal, it is displayed that the input / output is being performed to / from the external data terminal, and a file name of the input / output data is displayed. The facsimile apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising control means for displaying a message.