KR19990056204A - Unattended fax receiver and method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a signal detection unit for detecting a reception request signal received through a telephone line and generating a detection signal, a power control unit for generating a control signal for requesting power supply by the detection signal, and the control signal for the personal. A personal computer power supply unit for supplying operating power to each component of the computer, and when the power is supplied, a fax operation program is opened to receive and record fax data received through the telephone line, and when the reception is completed, the recorded data is recorded. A personal computer having a configuration of a data transmission unit for outputting fax data through an input / output unit, a printer power supply unit for supplying operation power in each configuration by a control signal provided from the power supply control unit, and fax data provided from the personal computer. Has a configuration of a data receiving unit for receiving and printing Unattended fax receiving apparatus and a control method is implemented consisting of a printer.

Description

Unattended fax receiver and method

The present invention relates to data communication using a personal computer (PC), and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for receiving and printing a fax document through a personal computer.

In modern society, efforts are being made to share various information, and communication equipments for rapid information exchange are being developed one after another. The first example is a facsimile apparatus that transmits or receives a document to a counterpart through a telephone line or the like, and the second example is data communication using a PC which is widely used in recent years. Unlike the facsimile apparatus that scans and transmits the original and prints the received image data, data communication using the personal computer stores the received or transmitted data in a separate file, which allows printing, sending and editing at any time. This is soaring.

The facsimile apparatus for transmitting or receiving the document has a configuration in which each facsimile apparatus 100, 110 is connected through a transmission line such as a telephone line as shown in FIG. Although not shown in FIG. 1, a local exchange or a private exchange for switching transmission paths exists between each of the facsimile apparatuses 100 and 110. Referring to FIG. 1, a brief description will be given of a document transmission / reception operation of the facsimile apparatus 100, 110. The dialing (not shown) calls the receiving side facsimile apparatus 110 by the dialing. By the call, the receiving facsimile apparatus connects a call to the exchange side, and by the call connection, the two facsimile apparatuses 100.110 establish a protocol for setting an environment (communication speed, sending side information, etc.) for document transmission / reception. After performing, the sending side facsimile apparatus 100 scans the original to be transmitted and transmits the scanned image data. Meanwhile, the receiving side facsimile apparatus 110 prints the received image data through a printer.

The configuration between the PCs performing the data communication has a configuration in which each of the PCs 200 and 210 is connected through a transmission line such as a telephone line as shown in FIG. 2. Although not shown in FIG. 2, there is a local exchange switching channel and a host computer (service company) for mediating data communication between each PC 200 and 210. Referring to FIG. 2, the data communication operation of the PCs 200 and 210 will be briefly described. The sending PC 200 and the receiving PC 210 connect to the host computer through an exchange (not shown), respectively. When the connection is established, the transmitting side PC 200 informs the receiving side PC 210 of its intention to transmit data, and then transmits data to be transmitted. The host computer manages data transmitted from the sending side computer 200, and notifies that there is data to be received when the corresponding receiving side PC 210 connects. Upon receiving the notification, the receiving side PC 210 requests data from the host computer, and the host computer transmits the data. The receiving side PC 210 receives and stores the transmitted data. The stored data is printed through the printer 220 at the request of a user or stored in a separate hard disk area. Data stored in the hard disk can be accessed by the user from time to time for editing or transfer to another PC.

As described above, there was a problem in that data transmission through various types of data communication using a PC could not be made in real time, and if necessary, an appointment was made between users in advance through a phone call or another method, The method of transmitting / receiving data was used. In addition, PCs used at home so far cannot be used at all times. Therefore, the PCs must be turned on or off as needed. There was an inconvenience to be off.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention for solving the above problems is to provide an apparatus and method for receiving data through a computer unattended when a data reception request is received through a telephone line.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for printing data received by a data reception request through a printer.

The present invention for achieving the above object is a signal detecting unit for generating a detection signal by detecting a reception request signal received through a telephone line, a power control unit for generating a control signal for supplying power by the detection signal; A personal computer power supply unit for supplying operating power to each component of the personal computer by the control signal, and a fax operation program when the power is supplied, to receive, record, and receive fax data received through the telephone line. A personal computer having a configuration of a data transmission unit for outputting the recorded fax data through an input / output unit when it is completed, a printer power supply unit for supplying operation power in each configuration by a control signal provided from the power control unit, and the personal Receive and print fax data from a computer Unattended fax receiving apparatus and the control method thereof configured as a printer having the configuration of the data receiving unit is implemented.

1 is a block diagram of a conventional facsimile system.

2 is a block diagram of a personal computer system for normal data communication.

Figure 3 is a block diagram of an unattended fax receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a detailed configuration diagram of the signal detector and the power control unit shown in FIG.

5 is a control flowchart for unattended fax reception according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, in adding reference numerals to the components of each drawing, it should be noted that the same reference numerals are used for the same components, even if displayed on different drawings. In describing the present invention, when it is determined that a detailed description of a related known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Detailed configuration of the PC 210 and the printer 220 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 3 as shown in Figure 3, the PC 210 is a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as "CPU") 310), signal detector 312, power controller 314, PC power supply 316, modem 318, hard disk (hereinafter referred to as "HDD") 324, ROM 326, RAM 328, an input / output unit (I / O unit) 330, and the printer 220 includes a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as a “CPU”) 340, an input / output unit (I / O unit) 342, It consists of a printer power supply 356, a ROM 348, a RAM 350, and a printing unit 352.

Referring to the configuration of the PC 210 with reference to FIG. 3, the CPU 310 controls the overall operation of the PC (210). The signal detector 312 detects a data reception request signal received through a telephone line and outputs a detection signal R.D. When the R.D is applied, the power controller 314 generates power control signals P.C1 and P.C2 for requesting to turn on the power of the PC 210 and the printer 220. The PC power supply unit 316 supplies the operating power (P.W1 to P.Wn) of each component constituting the PC 210 when the P.C1 is applied or when the user presses the power button. The modem 318 receives the control (C.S2) of the CPU 310 when the P.W2 is supplied from the PC power supply unit 316 to interface data between the telephone line and the PC 210. The hard disk (hereinafter referred to as "HDD") 324 is used by the PC 210 under the control (C.S3) of the CPU 310 when P.W3 is supplied from the PC power supply 316. Record the data as a database. The ROM 326 stores the initialization program of the PC 210, and supplies the initialization program to the CPU 310 when P.W4 is supplied from the PC power supply 316. RAM 326 is provided via the data bus 320 from the HDD 324 under the control (C.S5) of the CPU 310 when the P.W5 is supplied from the PC power supply unit 316. Temporarily stores data generated by a program or a PC 210 operation. The input / output unit (I / O unit) 330 receives data (C.S6) of the CPU 310 when the P.W6 is supplied from the PC power supply unit 316 and outputs the data to an external device. Interfacing data input from The bus in the PC 210 includes a data bus 320 for transmitting data in each of the above configurations, an address bus 322 for transmitting an address, and a control bus 334 for transmitting a control signal.

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 3, a configuration of the printer 220 is described. The CPU 340 controls the overall operation of the printer 220 according to a control program recorded in the ROM 348. The I / O unit 342 interfaces data between the printer 220 and the PC. The ROM 348 records a control program for performing overall operations serviced by a printer. The RAM 350 temporarily stores data provided from the PC 210 for printing. The print unit 352 prints data provided from the RAM 350 under the control of the CPU 340. The bus in the printer 220 includes a data bus 344 for transmitting data, an address bus 346 for transmitting an address, and a control bus for transmitting control signals C. S1 to C. Sn. 354).

As shown in FIG. 4, the signal detector 312 includes two transistors Q1 and Q2 and two resistors R12 and R2. The Zener diode D1 is configured, and the power control unit 314 is configured by the relay 314.

Operation for unattended fax reception according to an embodiment of the present invention is performed by the algorithm shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the above configuration through the algorithm of FIG. 5.

In operation 510 of FIG. 5, the signal detector 312 monitors whether a signal for requesting reception of fax data is received from an exchange (not shown) through a telephone line, and outputs a detection signal RD when the request signal is detected. . The reception request means an incoming ring signal provided by the exchange. By the R.D, the power control unit 314 outputs power control signals P.C1 and P.C2 for requesting power supply of the PC 210 and the printer 220.

The operation of detecting the signal and outputting a power control signal when a signal according to the reception request is applied will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4, in which a detailed circuit of the signal detector 314 and the power controller 314 is shown. . In standby, a level voltage (typically ± 48V) is supplied from the exchange, and when a call occurs, the signal received over the telephone line is switched to the low level by a ring signal. At this time, when it is switched to the low level, Q1 is turned to the turn-off state, whereby the point "A" becomes a high level. The high level of the "A" point is applied to the base end of Q2, and the Q2 is turned on to maintain the low level at which the "B" point is the ground level. When the point "B" falls to the low level, the detection signal R.D is output by the supply voltage (+ Vcc). The relay 314 is operated by the R.D so that the switches S.W1 and S.W2 are turned on. As the S.W1 and S.W2 are turned on, control signals P.C1 and P.S2 are generated to request supply of power to the PC 210 and the printer 220.

When the P.S1 and P.S2 is generated, the process proceeds to steps 512 and 514 of FIG. 5 to turn on the power of the PC 210 and the printer 220 to a state where the operation is possible. In the case of the PC 210, the PC 210 supplies the operating voltages P. W1 to P. Wn of each component by P. C1 to which the PC power supply unit 316 is applied. The operating voltages P. W1 to P. Wn of the respective configurations are supplied by P. C2 to which the printer power supply 356 is applied.

When the power is supplied by the above operation, in step 516 of FIG. 5, the PC 210 controls the HDD 324 to open a program for receiving fax data and download the program to the RAM 328. When loading into the RAM 328 is completed, the CPU 310 proceeds to step 518 and 520 to receive and store the fax data. The fax data applied through the telephone line is demodulated in the modem 318, and the demodulated data is loaded on the data bus 320 and recorded in the RAM 328. If it is determined that reception of the fax data is completed, the CPU 310 proceeds to step 522 to call the printer 220. The call is made by the CPU 310 through the I / O unit 330, and the call is applied to the I / O unit 342 of the printer 220 through the connection cable 332. The CPU 340 of the printer 220 detects a call in step 524 of FIG. 5. The CPU 340 responds to the PC 210 when a call is detected. If the call is not detected in step 524, the CPU 340 of the printer 220 controls the printer power supply unit 356 in step 532 of FIG. 5 to cut off the power and returns to step 510. In addition, if the CPU 310 of the PC 210 does not receive a response to the call in step 522 from the printer 220, the CPU 310 controls the PC power supply unit 316 in FIG. 5 to cut off the power. Return to step 510.

However, when a normal call and response is made, the CPU 310 of the PC 210 proceeds to step 526 and the I / O unit 330 sends the fax data recorded in the RAM 328 through the data bus 320. The I / O unit 330 outputs the fax data through a connection cable 332. In addition, the CPU 340 of the printer 220 receives the fax data supplied to the connection cable 332 through the I / O unit 342 in step 528 of FIG. 5 and temporarily stores the fax data in the RAM 350. If the CPU 340 determines that one page of fax data is recorded in the RAM 350, the CPU 340 controls the printing unit 352 to print the recorded fax data in step 530. If it is determined in step 528 and step 530 that the reception and printing of the fax data mode is completed, the CPU 340 proceeds to step 532 and turns off the power and returns to step 510. In addition, when the CPU 310 of the PC 210 determines that the transmission of the fax data recorded in the RAM 328 is completed in step 526, the process proceeds to step 534 to turn off the power, and then proceeds to step 510.

As described above, the present invention can automatically record and print received data by automatically supplying power when there is a reception request through a telephone line, thereby further increasing user convenience and reducing power consumption. have.

Claims (6)

In the unattended fax data receiving apparatus, A signal detector which detects a reception request signal received through a telephone line and generates a detection signal, a power controller which generates a control signal for requesting power supply by the detection signal, and each of the personal computer by the control signal A personal computer power supply for supplying operational power, and a fax operation program when the power is supplied to receive and record fax data received through the telephone line, and when the reception is complete, record the recorded fax data. A personal computer having a configuration of a data transmission unit for outputting through an input / output unit, An unattended printer comprising: a printer power supply for supplying operational power in each configuration by a control signal provided from the power controller; and a printer having a data receiver for receiving and printing fax data provided from the personal computer Fax receiver. The first transistor of claim 1, wherein the signal detection unit is connected to a telephone line through a resistor at a base end, a supply voltage is applied through a resistor at a collector end, and an emitter end is grounded. The terminal is connected, the power control unit is connected to the collector end, the unattended fax receiver, characterized in that the emitter terminal is composed of a second transistor grounded. The unattended fax receiver according to claim 2, wherein the power control unit is configured by a relay which is switched by a level of a collector end of the second transistor to generate a control signal for requesting power supply. In a personal computer and a printer connected via an external cable to transmit data and control signals, Monitoring the request for receiving fax data received over a telephone line; Requesting supply of operating power to the personal computer and the printer when the reception request is detected; Opening the fax data receiving program by turning on the personal computer by the supply request; Temporarily recording the fax data received by the open program; When the reception is completed, calling the printer to transmit the received fax data; Receiving and printing the transmitted fax data; Unattended fax receiving method characterized in that the process of turning off the power when the printing of the fax data is completed. 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of turning off the personal computer when there is no response to the call of the personal computer. 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of turning off the printer when the call of the personal computer is not detected.