JPH11146173A - Image scanner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image scanner by which read image data are directly sent to a desired destination connecting to a communication network not via a host PC. SOLUTION: A CPU 3 displays a destination list having already been registered in an NVRAM 6 on a display panel of an operation display section 5. Simultaneously a message urging confirmation as to whether or not a destination displayed at present is not changed is displayed on the operation display section 5. In the case that the registration content is not revised and a transmission start instruction is issued, image data stored in a page memory 2a are sent via a LAN and a public line to a destination having already been registered. On the other hand, when the user has revised a registration content, the revised destination is registered in the NVRAM 6 and image data stored in the page memory 2a are sent to the revised destination. Furthermore, after the transmission processing, the CPU 3 conducts re-transmission processing to a destination to which no transmission is made. Otherwise, the image data can be directly sent to a host PC not via a communication network.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image scanner for digitally reading image information on a document, and more particularly to an image scanner connected to a plurality of information devices via a communication network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A plurality of personal computers (hereinafter, referred to as personal computers).
Notated as PC. In an office environment in which the PC operates, a plurality of PCs and the image scanner are interconnected via a communication network such as a LAN, and the image scanner is commonly used by the plurality of PCs. Then, image data read by an image scanner is taken into a host PC, and the image data is transferred to another PC or facsimile using application software on the host PC.

[0003]

However, the conventional image scanner does not have a function of designating a destination and directly transmitting data to a desired destination. The data transfer had to be performed using the communication application on the host PC. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image scanner that can directly transmit read image data to a desired destination via a communication network without using a host PC.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an image scanner according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises:
A reading unit that reads and inputs a document image; an image data storage unit that stores image data input from the reading unit; a destination registration unit that can register a plurality of destinations; A destination input unit for registering the destination and transmission conditions of the destination, and a transmission unit for transmitting the image data stored in the image data storage unit to the destination registered in the destination registration unit via a communication network. It is characterized by: The invention according to claim 2 is
Based on the premise of the configuration of the image scanner according to claim 1, it is checked whether transmission to the destination registered in the destination registration unit has been completed, and if there is an untransmitted destination, transmission to that destination is performed. The image data to be stored is held in the storage unit for a predetermined time, and the transmission operation is repeated until the transmission is completed during that time. According to a third aspect of the present invention, based on the configuration of the image scanner according to the first or second aspect, the image scanner transmits image data to another information device such as a host PC without passing through the communication network. A communication interface unit is provided, and image data is transmitted by exclusively using the communication interface unit and the transmission unit.

In the image scanner according to the first aspect of the present invention, when an image of a document is read by the reading section, the image data is stored in the image data storage section. Then, when the destination input unit registers a desired destination and transmission conditions in the destination registration unit and gives a transmission instruction, the image data stored in the image data storage unit is transferred to the destination registered in the destination registration unit. It is transmitted from the transmission unit via the communication network. In addition, in the image scanner according to the present invention, in addition to the above operation, when there is an untransmitted destination, image data to be transmitted to the destination is held in the storage unit for a predetermined time, during which the transmission is completed. Since the transmission operation is repeated until the image data is transmitted, the image data can be transmitted to the desired destination more reliably. Further, even if there is an untransmitted destination, the image data to the destination is deleted from the storage unit after a predetermined time elapses, so that the next read image data can be stored in the storage unit and transmitted. Further, in the image scanner according to the third aspect, in addition to the above operation, image data can be transmitted to another information device such as a host PC without passing through the communication network. In addition to the use below, it is also possible to take the read image data into the host PC and process and edit it as usual.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an embodiment of an image scanner according to the present invention. As shown, the image scanner 100 includes a reading unit 1, a storage unit 2, a CPU 3, a RO
An M4, an operation display unit 5, an NVRAM 6, a NIC 7, a modem 8, and a SCSI 9 are provided, and these units are interconnected via a system bus 10. The reading unit 1 is an image information input device that optically reads image information on a document and converts the image information into an electric signal. The image data storage unit 2 includes a page memory (RAM) 2a and a hard disk (HDD) 2b. The page memory 2a is a small-capacity storage device that stores image data read by the reading unit 1 in page units. The hard disk 2b is a large-capacity storage device capable of storing image data of a plurality of pages read by the reading unit 1, and also stores destination data transmitted in the past. The CPU 3 is an image scanner 100
Is a system control device that controls each unit in a comprehensive manner to perform various operations. The ROM 4 is a read-only storage device that stores a basic program for controlling the image scanner 100 by the CPU 3. Operation display section 5
Is a user interface that includes various operation keys and a display panel, and allows the operator to perform various operations such as destination input and transmission instruction and check the operation state of the image scanner 100. The NVRAM 6 is a non-volatile storage device for storing destinations, transmission conditions, contents of mode instructions, and the like input from the operation display unit 5. N
The IC 7 is a network interface for transmitting image data stored in the page memory 2a to a PC or the like on a communication network (LAN) 11. Modem 8
Is a line interface for modulating image data stored in the page memory 2a and transmitting the modulated data to a PC, a facsimile or the like via the public line 12. The modem 8 and the NIC 7 correspond to a transmitting unit described in the claims. The SCSI 9 communicates with the host PC 13 and receives an image from the image scanner 100 according to an instruction from the host PC 13.
And a peripheral device interface for transmitting image data stored in the page memory 2a to the host PC 13. The SCSI 9 corresponds to a communication interface unit described in the claims.

The operation of this embodiment will now be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described according to the flowchart shown in FIG. FIG. 2 shows a processing flow when a destination is registered and image data is transmitted to the destination.
Is displayed on the display panel of the operation display unit 5 (S1). At this time, at the same time, a message prompting confirmation of whether or not there is no change in the currently displayed destination (for example, “Is the destination unchanged?”) Is displayed on the operation display unit 5. Then, when the user checks the display content of the operation display unit 5 and performs an operation of instructing the transmission start without changing the registered content (No in S2), the image data stored in the page memory 2a is already Send to registered destination (S
6). On the other hand, when the user changes the registered contents (Yes in S2), the user is allowed to select a destination from a previously transmitted destination list or to input a new destination and transmission conditions (S3). When the selection or input operation of the destination is completed (Yes in S4), the changed destination is registered in the NVRAM 6 (S5), and the image data stored in the page memory 2a is transmitted to the changed destination (S5).
6). (The above corresponds to claim 1.) The transmission processing (S6)
After that, the CPU 3 performs retransmission processing to an untransmitted destination.

FIG. 3 shows the contents of the retransmission processing. First, from among the destinations registered in the NVRAM 6, a destination which has attempted to transmit image data but has failed is detected. (S11) Then, based on the detection result, it is checked whether or not there is a non-sender, that is, a destination for which image data has not been delivered (S12). As a result, if there is no untransmitted person (No in S12), the transmission operation is terminated as it is, but if there is an untransmitted person (Yes in S12), the image data is retransmitted to the untransmitted destination (S13).
Each time retransmission to one destination is completed (S14
Then, the process returns to step S11 to repeat the above processing (S11 to S13). When the image data has been transmitted to all the registered destinations (No in S12), the transmission operation ends. By the retransmission process, the image data can be transmitted to the registered destination without fail.
Note that the retransmission processing is performed within a predetermined time set in advance by the user after the transmission processing (S6) ends. That is, when there is an untransmitted person (Yes in S12)
Also in s), the image data to be transmitted to the non-transmitter is deleted from the image data storage unit 2 when the predetermined time has elapsed. As a result, the next read image data can be stored in the storage unit and transmitted, so that it is possible to prevent the next transmission process from being delayed due to the retransmission process being repeated endlessly. (The above corresponds to claim 2.) In the transmission processing (S6), the CPU 3
Is based on the destination and transmission conditions registered in the NVRAM 6,
One of the NIC 7, the modem 8, and the SCSI 9 is selected for transmission. That is, C
The PU 3 performs data transmission using these three interfaces exclusively. FIG. 4 shows the contents of the transmission processing. First, the CPU 3 determines an interface to be used for transmission to the destination from the destination and transmission conditions registered in the NVRAM 6, and the determined interface is the current interface. It is checked whether it is in use or whether another interface is in use (S21). As a result, if another interface is not in use (N in S21)
o) The image data stored in the page memory 2a is transmitted to the registered destination using the determined interface (S25), but another interface is in use (S25).
If Yes in 21), it is checked whether the reading section 1 can read the transmission original (S22). As a result, if the image cannot be read (No in S22), a message to the effect that the image scanner 100 cannot be used is displayed on the operation display unit 5 and the process ends (S26). Ye in S22
s) The transmission original is read and the image data is stored in the HDD 2b of the image data storage unit 2 (S23).
If the other interface is no longer in use (No in S24), that is, as soon as a line is available, the HD
The image data stored in D2b is read and expanded in the page memory 2a, and the image data is transmitted using the determined interface (S25).

As described above, the NIC 7, the modem 8, and the S
By transmitting image data exclusively using any one of the CSI 9, not only the image data is transmitted via a communication network such as a public line or a LAN, but also the image data is directly transmitted to the host PC 12. Can be transmitted, so that the read image data can be transmitted to the host PC 1 in addition to use in an environment connected to a communication network.
You can also use it in the same way as before, such as importing it on 2 for processing and editing. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the CPU 3 constantly monitors the free space of the image data storage unit 2 (S31), and when the free space is exhausted (S32).
No), the IDs (name, contact information, etc.) of the system administrator and the user are acquired from a predetermined area of the HDD 2b (S3).
3) Contact the administrator using a communication means (S3)
4). In this way, when the free space in the image data storage unit 2 is exhausted, the fact is notified to a user or the like, and the H
The system can be operated smoothly by quickly performing a countermeasure operation such as erasing unnecessary data stored in the DD 2b.

[0010]

As described above, the present invention has the following excellent effects. According to the image scanner of the first aspect, the read image data can be directly transmitted to a desired destination connected via a communication network without using a host PC. According to the image scanner of the second aspect, when there is an untransmitted destination,
The image data to be transmitted to the destination is held for a predetermined time,
During that time, the transmission operation is repeated until the transmission is completed,
Image data can be transmitted to a desired destination more reliably. Further, even if there is an untransmitted destination, the image data to the destination is deleted from the storage unit after a predetermined time has elapsed, so that there is no problem that the retransmission process is repeated endlessly and the next transmission process is delayed. . According to the image scanner of the third aspect, since image data can be sent to another information device such as a host PC without passing through a communication network, the image scanner can be used under an environment connected to a communication network. The read image data is stored in the host P
It can be used as usual, such as importing it to C and processing / editing it.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image scanner according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation content of the embodiment of the present invention.

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

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

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

[Explanation of symbols]

100 image scanner, 1 reading unit, 2 storage unit, 2a page memory, 2b hard disk, 3
CPU, 4 ROM, 5 operation display section (destination input section),
6 NVRAM (destination registration unit), 7 NIC (transmission unit), 8 modem (transmission unit), 9 SCSI (communication interface unit), 10 system bus, 11 communication network, 12 public line (communication network).

Claims (3)

[Claims] A reading unit that reads and inputs a document image; an image data storage unit that stores image data input from the reading unit; a destination registration unit that can register a plurality of destinations; A destination input unit for registering a desired destination and transmission conditions in a destination registration unit; and a transmission unit for transmitting image data stored in the image data storage unit to a destination registered in the destination registration unit via a communication network. And an image scanner comprising: 2. Checking whether or not transmission to a registered destination has been completed. If there is an untransmitted destination, image data to be transmitted to the destination is held in the storage unit for a predetermined time. 2. The image scanner according to claim 1, wherein the transmission operation is repeated until the transmission is completed during that time. 3. A communication interface unit for transmitting image data to another information device without passing through the communication network, and transmitting the image data exclusively using the communication interface unit and the transmission unit. The image scanner according to claim 1, wherein the image scanner is configured to perform the following.