KR950009593B1 - Apparatus and method for facsilile mechine including keyboard and display - Google Patents

Abstract

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Description

Devices and methods for fax machines with keyboards and display devices installed

1 is a schematic block diagram of a facsimile machine 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a plan view of the facsimile machine 10.

3 is a front view of a facsimile machine 10 equipped with a mass storage device such as, for example, a removable media disk and a fixed media disk in a housing 12.

4 is an interior view of the facsimile machine 10.

5 is an operational flowchart of a facsimile machine 10 to which an external keyboard is connected.

6 is a flowchart of the operation of a facsimile machine (10) to which an external display device such as a television is connected.

7 is a flowchart of the processing operation of the facsimile machine 10 showing scan, calibration and transmission capabilities.

8 is a flowchart of a processing operation of the facsimile machine 10 showing execution of general-purpose personal computer software.

9 is a schematic convex view of the I / O interface 50 in FIG.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

10: facsimile machine 12: housing

14: scanner 16: printer

18 modem 20 fax control panel

24: fax interface unit 26: processor

28: memory 50: I / O interface

52: display device 54: keyboard

56 mass storage device 58 expansion device

60: status display device 62: keypad controller

70: Logic and Address Decoder with Bus I / O Timing Controller

72: processor interface 74: DMA controller

76: interrupt controller 78: timer

80: clock logic circuit 82: DMA bus state machine

84: expansion bus 86: video controller

88: video converter 90: keyboard controller

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to facsimile machines, and more particularly to facsimile machines with enhanced functionality such as keyboards or video display devices.

Facsimile machines are already well known for business and home use, and their ease of use has led to widespread use. Even those who do not use a general-purpose computer can easily operate the facsimile machine, and home use of the facsimile machine and the general-purpose computer is increasing. A person using a general-purpose computer can perform some of the facsimile functions through the computer's hardware and software. For example, a so-called fax board allows a general purpose computer to communicate in a standardized fax format, and unless the computer user adds a scanning machine to it, the computer cannot send a fax in hardcopy. Even if a general purpose computer performs limited transmission and reception functions, installation of expansion slots, functional compatibility between the general purpose computer and the fax board, and compatibility between the software of the computer and the software of the fax board are required. Determining interrupts and setting the characteristics of different devices is difficult.

Except for new devices that are capable of multitasking, using a general-purpose computer as a facsimile machine disables other functions of the computer, such as word processing. This fact applies to both sending and receiving facsimile information, which makes it reluctant to use general purpose computers as facsimile machines.

Modern facsimile machines typically use a microcontroller or microprocessor, such as many other electronic devices. In the case of a facsimile machine, the microcontroller or microprocessor controls the processing of the required format generation, stores a list of documents or telephone numbers while simultaneously accessing the stored memory and controls the modem operation for sending and receiving fax images. Sacrifice of stored fax images is possible by specific alphanumeric codes, where it is not possible to review or change the stored contents.

The present invention relates generally to facsimile machines, and more particularly to facsimile machines equipped with a display device and a keyboard. The facsimile machine according to the present invention has the advantage of not only inspecting and correcting a document to be sent, but also inspecting and correcting a received fax image, and a disk drive of both a fixed disk type and a removable type is installed to improve image storage capability. Reinforce it further.

The facsimile machine according to one aspect of the present invention is coupled to a scanner, an image generation system, a modem, a processor, a fax control panel including a keypad controller and an ecological display device, a memory bank included in a housing, and a processor. And an input / output (I / O) interface unit, which receives keyboard signals and transmits video signals, such as television signals or video formats used in general purpose computers. The I / O interface unit also includes a disk controller that controls fixed and removable media disks or other mass storage devices.

The present invention provides a number of advantages using conventional facsimile machines and general-purpose computers, including, for example, displaying stored images when an image is scanned, accessed from a mass storage device or received from another facsimile machine. Ability. By using the keyboard, correction is possible before or after the transmission of the fax image, and the creation and correction of the fax transmission cover sheet is possible, and the functions of the fax machine are easily controlled by the fax control panel. With proper programming of the facsimile operation, the facsimile machine, I / O interface unit, display device, and keyboard can interact to add the functionality of a general-purpose computer in addition to simple fax functions, and to operate computer functions using a multitasking environment. At the same time, a fax function operation is performed, and the image generating system has an integrated print function by using a general-purpose computer.

The features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Next, embodiment of this invention is described in detail according to an accompanying drawing.

1 shows a schematic convex view of a facsimile machine 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the housing 12 of the fax machine 10, a scanner 14, an image generation system including a printer 16, a modem 18, and a fax control panel 20 are installed. The fax interface unit 24 receives various control information and data from the processor 26, and the processor 26 can select among various bird microcontrollers or microprocessors according to various tasks required by the fax machine 10. Do. In a preferred embodiment, the processor 26 is an 80386 SX manufactured by Intel Corporation (Santa Clara, Calif.), For example, a memory 28 that stores received images, transfer images, or program information. Access.

In addition, the input / output (I / O) interface 50 included in the fax machine 10 controls the display device 52, interfaces the keyboard 54 and additional expansion device 58, and stores the mass. Access device 56. The I / O interface 50 included in the housing 12 supplies an appropriate signal from the video converter interface to the display device 52 in the form of a feature, and in a preferred embodiment the display device 52 is conventional Is the TV. In this case, I / O interface 50 includes NTSC, PAL, or SECAM modulators, which are conventional techniques allowing digital devices to display screens on conventional televisions.

I / O interface 50 for interfacing with keyboard 54 includes a keyboard controller, which is also prior art. In a preferred embodiment, the keyboard 54 is a standard QWERTY 101 keyboard that generates a scan code upon detecting a key input state, i. As is known, a scan code is a symbol that uniquely identifies a particular key pressed by the user.

In a preferred embodiment, the I / O interface circuit 50 controls the mass storage device 56 consisting of the fixed disk and the floppy disk by having control functions of the fixed disk and the floppy disk. The interface to the expansion device 58 depends on the type of device being added, and generally standard interface techniques well known in the art are available to interface the expansion device 58 to the processor 26. Typically these devices are parallel or serial ports or standard devices that are directly coupled with a general purpose personal computer expansion bus.

2 is a plan view of the facsimile machine 10, the pulse control panel 20 has a status display device 60 and a keypad controller 62. The status display apparatus 60 displays a call number, a received fax identifier, a call procedure, and other information according to the type of job. The keypad controller 62 enables, for example, writing a telephone number or initiating a fax call.

3 is a front view of the facsimile machine 10 showing a state in which the mass storage device 56 is fixed to the housing 12, and the mass storage device 56 is, for example, a removable medium disk and a fixed medium disk.

4 is an interior view of the facsimile machine 10, the image generation system 16 of the preferred embodiment, as known, comprises a thermal printer head, thermal paper, printer rollers, and other types of printers, such as those already known. Laser printers may be used. The scanner 14 includes an image scanner and a scanner roller.

For a conventional fax transmission operation, the scanner 14 scans a hard copy to generate one or more electronic images. The user enters the telephone number of the receiving side fax machine and instructs the operation of the scanner 14 via the fax control panel 20. The facsimileer 10 may complete the communication connection via the modem 18 prior to scanning the hard copy, or may store the scanned image in the memory 28 prior to initiating and completing the facsimile call. As the facsimile communication proceeds, the facsimile interface unit 24 converts the electronic image into a compressed and encoded fax format as is known. The fax image is sent by the modem 18 and log or status information is output from the image generation system 16. Electronic images stored in the memory 28 may be continuously retransmitted and may appear to be visible on the display device 52 or may be fixed by keystrokes from the keyboard 54 and may also be stored in the mass storage device 56. It may be. Other images may also be recalled and rechecked or corrected from the mass storage device 56.

FIG. 9 is a schematic convex view of the I / O interface 50 in FIG. 1, and in the preferred embodiment the I / O interface is compatible with the bus interface of the IBM AT computer, so that the IMB of software performed on the processor 26. FIG. It is configured to maximize compatibility with software of PC type. Thus, the I / O interface is constructed in a conventional manner in the preferred embodiment. The I / O interface includes a bus / output (I / O) timing control logic and address decoder 70, which is connected to the processor interface 72 via a first bus and that has direct memory access (via a second bus). DMA) controller 74, interrupt controller 76, and timer 78. Processor interface 72 connects I / O interface 50 to processor 26 and processor interface 72 and timing controller logic and address decoder 70 receive clock signals from clock logic circuit 80. . The ISA bus state machine 82 is connected to a second bus to control the expansion bus 84 as conventionally, which in turn is a mass storage device 56, an I / O expansion device 58, video Connected to controller 86, video controller 86 is in turn connected to video converter 88, which is connected to TV monitor display device 52. Keyboard controller 90 connects keyboard 54 to timing controller logic and address decoder 70.

The processor 26 signal interfaces with the timing controller logic and address decoder 70, which not only decodes the signal and address, but also provides the logic necessary to perform an already known type of AT bus operation. Occurs. Signals from DMA controller 74, interrupt controller 76, and timer 78 are synchronized with processor 26 signals, which are fed to ISA bus controller 82, which is a state machine, to provide appropriate standard ISA bus signals. Act to occur.

Video controller 86 and video converter 88 convert and modulate the video signal into a television format to provide an NTSC / PAL / SECAM signal. In another embodiment, conventional video graphics may include, for example, CGA, EGA or the like. Use SVGA.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the facsimile machine 10 with an external keyboard. In the preferred embodiment, the operation of the keyboard 54 used with the facsimile machine 10 is, as is well known, the I / O interface 50. Is performed using a keyboard controller (not shown). In step 100, the user presses a key to perform key input and, as is known in step 102, the keyboard 54 holding the digital circuit senses the input state of the key. In response to the input state of the key selected by the user in step 104, the keyboard controller of the I / O interface 54 receives the keyboard, and in step 106 an affirmative response signal. For example, an interrupt service request is sent to the I / O interface, and a positive acknowledgment signal is then sent to the processor 26. In step 110 the processor 26 instructs the I / O interface 50 to read the keycode, and in step 112 the I / O interface 50 reads the keyboard from the keyboard controller in accordance with this command. The I / O interface then transfers the keycode and software running on the processor 26 to the processor 26, reading the keyboard and detecting the key sequence in step 116. The keycode may command various actions for the processor 26. These include controlling the operation of some of the fax functions of the fax machine, and in addition to the characteristic operation of the fax, which can be controlled by the fax control panel 20.

In a preferred embodiment, this keycode supports the software operation of a general purpose personal computer, and the executable software includes a code corresponding to the keycode, such as providing a fax command to the fax interface unit 24 in step 118. In step 120, the fax interface unit 24 executes a command initiated by the keyboard 54, which includes a command for starting the scanner operation (step 122), a command for starting the printer operation (step 124), and starting a modem operation (step). 126). These instructions show the types of fax instructions that can be used and the method of starting the operation of these instructions. As described above, the key code read from the keyboard 54 in the facsimile machine 10 may be used for other purposes.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the facsimile machine 10 in which an external display device, for example, a television display device or a display device compatible with a video graphics adapter (VGA) is installed. The work order is requesting a video service. This work command responds, for example, to a keycode from the keyboard in a preferred embodiment, and if the work command requires a work such as writing a new character on the screen or replacing a picture, the work command. This will cause the screen display to be sent to a binary input output system (BIOS) that will interrupt the call to some routine or affect the hardware of the facsimile machine 10. The BIOS routine is for example specifically identified by an interrupt number and is typically stored in a read only memory (ROM), which is part of the functionalities of the memory 28. The routine associated with the display in the BIOS routine responds to the service request through the recognition of the identifier, and the BIOS determines in step 204 whether the service request is for a television display. If the service request relates to a television display, in step 206 the BIOS for the television display takes a television standard scheme, such as the NTSC scheme, at the same time, sends a service request signal, and in step 208 a 200 scan line image output format. A dot clock of about 14.131 MHz is set.

After the television video service is performed in step 208, the process proceeds to step 210 where the VGA BIOS processes the service call. If the display is not performed in the television display device, the flow proceeds directly from step 204 to step 208, and steps 206 and 208 are not executed. After processing the service call in step 210, the process returns to step 212. As described above, in the preferred embodiment at least two display systems are used, namely a television display and a VGA display system, all of which are appropriately updated by the work request of the video display. For home use, the facsimile machine 10 may use a standard television for display as well as a VGA monitor as in the prior art.

7 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the facsimile machine 10, showing the functions of scanning, calibrating, and sending a fax. First, in step 300, a "Start Scanning" command is sent to the scanner 14 as a work command to scan the hard copy. The scanner 14 is connected to the fax interface unit 24 via an input / output device similar to the parallel communication port of the general-purpose personal computer for functional communication. Thus, in step 302, the scanner 14 sends image data to the fax interface unit 24. Supplies). In step 304 the processor 26 and the fax interface unit 24 store the image data in an image buffer which constitutes a functional part of the memory 28.

The fax machine 10 determines whether all pages have been scanned at step 306, and returns to step 302 to read additional image data from the scanner 14 if not scanned. The loop consisting of steps 302-step 306 is a loop executed until all pages have been scanned, and the facsimile machine 10 proceeds to the image correction process of step 308 at the time when scanning of all pages is completed. Steps 308a-308e represent an image correction tool in software for the facsimile machine 10 equipped with the keyboard 54 and the display device 52. In a preferred embodiment, the image correction process of step 308 is performed by an image enhancement function ( For example, "noise" removal (step 308a), the ability to scale and crop images (step 308b), dithering and half-toning electronic images (step 308c), and editing documents Function (step 308d) and print function (step 308e).

After the document image correction in step 308, the facsimile machine 10 converts the image corrected via the fax interface unit 24 to the T.30 format (fax format) in step 310, and then converts the converted image into a modem ( To 18). The modem 18 is connected to the fax interface unit 24 through a standard RS-232 type interface to transmit scanned, calibrated, and converted images to the receiving side fax machine.

8 shows a process of executing general-purpose personal computer software for controlling the facsimile machine 10 as a flowchart of the processing operation of the facsimile machine 10. First, in step 400, the processor 26 requests the BIOS routine to be loaded into the memory 28. In step 402, under the control of the BIOS, for example, software is loaded from the mass storage device 56, or ROM, and the desired file is loaded. If present in the mass storage device 56, the I / O interface 50 loads a file in response to BIOS control. In step 404, the I / O interface 50 controls the desired file to be loaded into the memory 28, and when the load is complete, in step 406 the BIOS informs the processor 26 that it is ready to run if the loaded file is an executable file. Inform. If the executable file is a program for controlling the facsimile machine 10, the processor 26 transmits a fax command to the fax interface unit 24 through software execution by the processor 26 in step 408. In response to a fax command from the processor 26, the fax interface unit 24 executes an appropriate fax routine in step 4110, where the fax command may be in response to a keycode from the keyboard 54.

As an example when the scanner operation is required, the fax interface unit 24 causes the scanner 14 to start operation in step 412, and if the modem operation is necessary, the fax interface unit 24 causes the modem ( 18), and similarly the fax interface unit 24 drives the printer 16 in step 416 when the operation of the printer is required.

In conclusion, the present invention provides an advantage obtained by configuring to transmit and receive a fax image using a conventional facsimile machine and a general purpose personal computer. Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described as described above, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and various changes and modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and technical spirit of the following claims. Of course.

Claims (15)

A housing; An image scanner coupled to the housing to generate an electronic image based on printed material, an image generation system coupled to the housing to print the electronic image as a physical medium, and a modulated facsimile image signal coupled to the housing A modem for transmitting and receiving a demodulated facsimile image signal; A memory coupled to the housing to store an electronic image and program instructions; A processor coupled to the housing and the memory to access and store the electronic image and the program instructions; A fax control panel coupled to the housing to provide a telephone number and display a fax operation status; Coupled to the housing, the scanner, the image generation system, the processor and the fax control panel to convert an image between the electronic image form and the facsimile image form in response to control signals from the processor and the fax control panel. Fax interface; Coupled to the housing and the processor, in addition to displaying the fax operating status of the fax control panel, converts the image to a video display image for display on a display device, and from a keyboard coupled to the input and output interface. And an input and output interface for receiving and decoding keystroke information and for controlling and accessing mass storage coupled to the housing. A fax machine including a scanner, modem, printer, fax interface, processor and fax control panel in a single housing; And an input and output interface circuit coupled to said processor of said facsimile machine, located in said housing, for displaying an image on an external display device and receiving keystroke information from an external keyboard. A fax machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein said external display device is a television. A fax machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein said input and output interface circuits provide control information to said processor in response to said keystroke information. 3. A fax machine as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a mass storage device located in said housing and coupled to said input and output interface circuits, said input and output interface comprising a mass storage device controller. A fax machine as claimed in claim 2, further comprising an external keyboard coupled to said input and output interface circuits. The fax machine according to claim 2, further comprising an external display device coupled to the input and output interface circuits. The fax machine according to claim 4, wherein said control information is initiated to display an image stored in a memory of said facsimile machine on said external display device. A housing; Generating means located in the housing to generate an electronic image from an actual medium; Replacement means located in the housing and coupled to the generating means to interchange between the facsimile image and the electronic image; Means for transmitting and receiving a facsimile image in response to control from a fax keypad controller at the same time as said housing; Means for generating a printed image located at the housing and coupled to the replacement means; Processing means located within the housing and coupled to the replacement means to control operation and data flow; and external device interface means located within the housing and coupled to the processing means to interface the processing means with an external device. A fax computer characterized in that. A fax machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein said external device is a keyboard, and said interface means provides a key code to said processing means. A fax machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein said external device is a display device for displaying image information. 12. A fax machine as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a second external device interfaced by said interface means, said interface means having a keyboard and means for determining a key code. 13. The fax machine according to claim 12, wherein said processing means displays an image in response to said keycode and simultaneously corrects said image. A fax machine as claimed in claim 13, wherein said processing means causes said transmitting means to transmit said corrected image in response to said keycode. The fax machine according to claim 13, wherein said processing means causes said image generating means to print said corrected image displayed on said display device in response to said keycode.