JP3077788B2 - Information processing device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, and more particularly, to a multifunctional information processing apparatus in which a Japanese word processor and a facsimile are integrated.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an information processing apparatus of this kind, an information processing apparatus capable of transmitting a facsimile (hereinafter also referred to as "FAX") of a transmission manuscript created by document creation means or image data read by an image scanner. It has been known. In this information processing apparatus, facsimile transmission is performed by designating whether to transmit a document created by the document creation means or to transmit a read image in a transmission operation. In this case, after the transmission document is created by the document creation means or after the transmission document is set in the image scanner, a call is made by specifying a facsimile number of the transmission destination by key operation and transmission is performed.

According to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-177159,
It has been proposed to make a call by determining whether the call is for facsimile communication or a call for communication based on the presence or absence of a transmission original. Alternatively, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-236192 proposes an apparatus that enables determination of a jam and a reading error of the next document depending on the presence or absence of the document.

Further, as a facsimile apparatus for performing facsimile transmission to a plurality of destinations, a facsimile apparatus having a broadcast transmission function is known. In this facsimile apparatus, each of the destinations is transmitted using the broadcast transmission function. I was trying to send the same content. When the transmission content differs for each transmission destination, a document having different contents is set for each transmission destination, and transmission to each transmission destination is repeatedly performed.

[0005]

However, in such an information processing apparatus, when performing facsimile transmission, it is necessary to prepare in advance a document to be transmitted using document preparation means or to set the document on an image scanner. Thus, a transmission manuscript must be prepared and, at the time of transmission, a decision has to be made as to which method is to be used for transmission. In other words, in order to perform the transmission, it is necessary to instruct which method is to be used for transmission each time.

[0006] In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-177159, switching between facsimile communication and telephone communication is performed depending on the presence or absence of a transmission original.
In the document described in JP-236192A, the presence / absence of a document enables determination of jamming and reading failure of the next document. No consideration is given to switching between transmission and transmission of a document created by the document creation means.

The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and automatically determines whether to transmit image data read by an image scanner or to transmit a transmission original created by document creation means. So that
It is intended to eliminate the conventional inconvenience and facilitate the transmission operation.

Further, in the case where the automatic determination is made as described above, if the operator gives a transmission instruction while reading the original with a scanner and forgets to set the original to be transmitted, the document is erroneously created by the document creating means. However, an object of the present invention is to prevent such a problem from occurring by waiting for a certain period of time even when a document to be transmitted is not set.

Further, it is possible to specify one document from a plurality of documents such as a document stored in an external storage device such as a floppy disk or a memory card and a document stored in a memory as a transmission document, and perform facsimile transmission. If possible, an operation to select the original to be transmitted is required. However, when only one document is stored or stored, the present invention automatically transmits the document and designates it. The purpose is to eliminate the operation and facilitate the transmission operation.

Since the operation of designating the transmission original and the operation of making a call to the transmission destination are performed separately, the transmission destination is wrong or the transmission destination of each transmission original is not recorded. In some cases, there is a problem that even if a mistake is made, the transmission destination is described in the transmission original, so that the transmission original is associated with the transmission destination, and the transmission destination is described in the transmission original. Make a call and send
It is also possible to solve such a problem.

In the word processor, a document to be transmitted can be created and stored in a memory, and a number of documents can be stored in an external storage device. Therefore, it is also possible to create and store transmission originals to be sent to a plurality of destinations at once. However, in the conventional broadcast transmission function, originals to be transmitted are limited to the same original, and the contents cannot be partially replaced or added according to the transmission destination. Therefore, when it is necessary to change the transmission content according to the transmission destination, there is an inconvenience that the transmission original must be repeatedly specified and transmitted for each transmission destination. A plurality of documents can be freely selected and stored according to the destination from among the transmitted documents, and the transmitted document corresponding to each destination can be automatically transmitted by facsimile according to the stored contents. Thus, the transmission operation can be facilitated.

[0012]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention.
As shown in the figure, the present invention provides a document creating means 101 for creating a document, a document storing means 102 for storing the created document, and an image reading means 103 for reading the original.
Detecting means 104 for detecting whether or not a document is set on the image reading means 103; instructing means 105 for instructing facsimile transmission; and when the facsimile transmission is instructed, the document is set in the image reading means 103. If the original is read, the original is read by the image reading unit 103 and transmitted by facsimile, and if the original is not set, the transmission unit 106 that transmits the document stored in the document storage unit 102 by facsimile is provided. Device.

In the present invention, a document processing device such as a well-known Japanese word processor can be applied as the document creating means 101. Document storage means 10
2, an internal memory such as a RAM or an external memory such as a memory card device, a floppy disk device, or a magnetic disk device is used.

As the image reading means 103, various image reading devices such as an image scanner and an image reader can be used. As the detecting means 104, any means can be used as long as it can detect that a sheet is set on the image reading means 103, and a micro switch, a photo sensor, or the like can be used.

As the instruction means 105, any means capable of instructing facsimile transmission can be used, and various transmission instruction keys can be applied. As the transmission means 106, C
It is suitable to use a microcomputer including a PU, a ROM, a RAM, and an I / O port.
Reference numeral 06 includes a modem or the like for transmitting image data to a line.

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
At the time when the facsimile transmission is instructed by the instructing means 105, the transmitting means 106
It is detected whether a document is set on the image reading unit 103 or not. At this time, if a document to be transmitted is set, the set document is read by the image reading means 103 and transmitted. If no document is set, the document stored in the document storage means 102 is read. Send.

Therefore, whether the image data of the original is transmitted or the document created by the document creating unit 101 is determined depending on whether the transmission original is set on the image reading unit 103,
The operator does not need to perform the designation operation as in the related art, and the transmission operation is facilitated.

In the configuration of the first aspect, as shown in FIG. 2, there is further provided a time counting means 107 for counting a predetermined time, and the transmitting means 106 is provided to the image reading means 103 when the facsimile transmission is instructed. If the document is not set, the process waits for the document to be set for a predetermined time, and if the document is not set for the predetermined time, the document stored in the document storage unit 102 is transmitted by facsimile. It is preferable to configure. In the present invention, various digital clocks and internal clock signals of a microcomputer can be used as the timer 107.

According to the second aspect of the present invention,
The transmission unit 106 detects a document while performing time measurement for a certain period of time when transmission is instructed by the instruction unit 105. If the transmission original is set on the image reading unit 103 within a predetermined time, the set original is read and transmitted, and if the original is not set, the document stored in the document storage unit 102 is transmitted.

Therefore, even if the operator gives a transmission instruction while forgetting to set the transmission document, if the transmission document is set within a certain time, the reading of the document is performed. It is possible to prevent the transmitted document from being transmitted.

Further, in the configuration of the first aspect, as shown in FIG. 3, a judgment unit 108 for judging the number of documents stored in the document storage unit 101, and a judgment of the number of documents stored in the document storage unit. Display means 109 for displaying a list;
A selection unit 110 for selecting a document based on the displayed list of documents, and a document storage unit 102 for transmitting a document stored in the document storage unit 102 by facsimile transmission.
If the number of documents stored in the document storage unit 102 is one, if the number of documents stored in the document storage unit 102 is plural, the document selected by the selection unit 110 is transmitted by facsimile. It is preferable that a configuration is further provided with a determination unit 111 for defining a document.

In the present invention, the display means 109 only needs to be capable of displaying a document and a list of documents, and various display devices such as a CRT display device, a liquid crystal display device, and an EL display device are used. be able to.

The determination means 108, the selection means 110, and the determination means 111 include a CPU, a ROM, a RAM,
A microcomputer including an O port can be applied.

According to the third aspect of the present invention,
The transmission means 106 detects whether or not a document is set on the image reading means 103 at the time when the transmission is instructed. By this detection, the transmission of the document stored in the document storage means 102 is performed. If it is determined, the transmitting unit 106 determines the number of documents stored in the document storage unit 102 by the determining unit 108,
If there is only one document, facsimile transmission is performed using the one document as a transmission document. Further, the document storage unit 102
If a total of two or more documents are stored in the
At 09, a list of documents is displayed, and facsimile transmission is performed using the document selected by the operator as a transmission document.

Therefore, it is possible to omit a document selecting operation when there is only one document stored in the document storage means 102, thereby facilitating a transmission operation.

In the configuration of the first aspect, a recognizing means for recognizing a character string from the image data read by the image reading means 103 and a document stored in the recognized character string or the document storage means 102. Search means for searching for a specific character string from among them, identification means for identifying a character string following the specific character string searched by the search means as a facsimile number of a transmission destination, and facsimile number identified by the identification means A calling means for making a call is further provided, and the transmitting means 106 sends the image reading means 1 to the destination connected by the calling of the calling means.
It is also possible to configure so that either one of the original read at 03 and the document stored in the document storage means 102 is transmitted by facsimile.

In such a configuration, the recognizing means, the retrieving means, the recognizing means and the calling means include a CPU, a RO
A microcomputer including M, RAM, and I / O ports can be applied.

In such a configuration, it is common to attach a cover letter to the first page of a facsimile transmission manuscript and write the name of the destination company, etc.
A specific character string indicating the facsimile number of the transmission destination such as “destination facsimile number” is determined in advance, and this specific character string is added to the first sheet of the transmission original document, followed by the facsimile number of the transmission destination. Is described.

At the time of transmission, the set transmission original is read by the image reading means 103, and the read image is recognized as a character string by the recognition means. After that, from the first sheet of the transmission original, the "destination facsimile number"
The search means searches for a specific character string, such as a character string, identifies the character string following the character string by the identification means, calls the identified character string as the facsimile number of the transmission destination by the calling means, and connects by the calling. Image reading means 1 to the destination
Facsimile transmission of either the original read in 03 or the document stored in the document storage unit 102 is performed.

Therefore, if the facsimile number of the transmission destination is preliminarily entered in the transmission document, the facsimile number is recognized after the transmission document is read, and a call and transmission are performed. There is no need to perform a calling operation, and the calling operation becomes easy. Further, the transmission original and the transmission destination are associated with each other, and problems such as a mistake in the transmission destination can be solved.

Further, in the configuration of the first aspect, a destination storage means for storing a destination including a destination name, a facsimile number and the like, and an arbitrary one of destinations stored in the destination storage means. A destination designation unit that designates a destination, a document designation unit that designates an arbitrary document from the documents stored in the document storage unit 102, and a destination designated by the destination designation unit and the document designation unit A designation content storage unit for storing a correspondence relationship with the designated document; and a continuous calling unit for continuously and automatically calling the destination designated by the destination designation unit,
The transmitting means 106 continuously and automatically transmits the document designated by the document designating means to the destination called by the continuous calling means in accordance with the correspondence stored in the designated content storing means. It is also possible to configure.

In such a configuration, an internal memory such as a RAM, or an external memory such as a memory card device, a floppy disk device, or a magnetic disk device is used as the destination storage means. A RAM is mainly used as the designated content storage means.

The destination designation means may be any means capable of designating an arbitrary destination from among the destinations stored in the destination storage means. Various designation keys and pointing devices are used. Can be

The document designating means includes a document storing means 10
Any document can be specified as long as it can specify an arbitrary document from the documents stored in the storage device 2, and various designation keys, pointing devices, and the like are used. As the continuous calling means, a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and an I / O port can be applied.

In the case of such a configuration, the name of the transmission destination and the facsimile number are stored in the transmission destination storage means in advance, and a plurality of transmission originals are created and stored in the document storage means 102 in advance. Let it be.

Next, a transmission destination is specified from the transmission destinations stored in the transmission destination storage means, and a document to be transmitted to each of the specified transmission destinations is stored in the transmission document stored in the document storage means 102. And the correspondence between the transmission destination and the document is stored in the specified content storage means.

In this case, a plurality of transmission originals can be designated for one transmission destination, or the cover page and the text of the transmission content are separately stored, and the transmission page is stored in accordance with each transmission destination. By replacing only the text, the same document can be specified, or a transmission document can be added and specified only to a specific destination.

At the time of transmission, the transmission means 106 is operated by a specific key operation such as "continuous transmission" to designate continuous transmission.
The designated transmission original is transmitted to each destination in accordance with the correspondence between the transmission destination and the transmission original stored in the designated content storage means.

Therefore, the name of the transmission destination, the facsimile number and the transmission original are stored in advance,
By storing the correspondence between each destination and the transmission original, it is possible to freely specify the transmission original corresponding to each destination, which was not possible with the conventional broadcast transmission function. And the facsimile transmission work can be automated.

[0040]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to this.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of one embodiment of the present invention, and shows a multifunctional information processing apparatus in which a Japanese word processor and a facsimile (hereinafter also referred to as "FAX") apparatus are integrated. Things.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a central processing unit (hereinafter, referred to as a CPU), which controls the entire apparatus such as input / output control. Reference numeral 2 denotes an operation / display unit in which a liquid crystal display device and a key input device, a pen input device, and the like are integrated. The operation / display unit 2 displays an operation state of the device and performs various operations by an operator.

Reference numeral 3 denotes an image scanner for reading a transmission original (also simply referred to as "scanner"). Reference numeral 4 denotes a transmission / reception control unit which performs signal processing at the time of facsimile transmission / reception. Reference numeral 5 prints a created document, received facsimile data, and the like. It is a printer.

Reference numeral 6 denotes an encoding / decoding unit which encodes image information to be transmitted and decodes received image information, 7 denotes a paper sensor for detecting whether a document is set on the image scanner 3, and 8 denotes a paper sensor. Timer to measure time, 9
Is an RO that stores control programs and various fixed data
M and 10 are RAMs for temporarily storing various data during the operation of the CPU 1, and 11 is an external storage device comprising a floppy disk device for storing created documents and received facsimile data.

The timer 8 generates a signal at a constant time interval of, for example, 10 milliseconds, and interrupts the CPU 1.
After resetting the timer counter in the RAM 9 to "0", the value of the timer counter is incremented by one in response to this interrupt, and it is checked whether or not this value has become a preset value to measure the time. It has become.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention. As shown in this figure, the information processing apparatus of the present invention has a built-in image scanner 3 in a main body 21 and a document G for facsimile transmission is set on the image scanner 3.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing the structure of the paper sensor provided in the image scanner 3. In the figure, 3
1 is a roller, 32 is a paper guide, and 33 is a line image scanner. As shown in FIG.
The paper guide 32 and the roller 31 are inserted from above.
, And is discharged to a rear part indicated by an arrow in the figure.

The transmission original G can be read by applying a line image scanner 33 from below the roller 31. The paper sensor 7 is arranged at the insertion opening of the original, and confirms the insertion of the paper by a micro switch or a photo sensor.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation when facsimile transmission is performed by the present apparatus. When facsimile transmission of a created document or a transmission original read by the image scanner 3, the following operation is performed.

The operator presses the operation key of the operation display section 22 with or without setting the transmission original on the image scanner 3, specifies the facsimile number of the transmission destination, and then presses the transmission key.

When the transmission key is pressed, the CPU 1 built in the main body 21 determines whether or not a transmission original is set on the image scanner 3 by the paper sensor 7 (step S1).

In this case, if the transmission original is set, it is determined that the set original is the transmission original. Next, it is checked whether or not the facsimile number of the other party has been input (step S2). If the facsimile number of the other party has already been designated by the operation keys, the designated facsimile number is dialed (calling). Then, after the connection is made (step S4), encoding and transmission are performed while reading the transmission original by the image scanner 3 (step S5).

If it is determined in step S1 that a document to be transmitted has not been set on the image scanner 3, it is determined that a document to be transmitted created in advance by the document creation function is to be transmitted, and then the facsimile number of the destination is input. It is checked whether or not the facsimile number has already been set (step S6). If the facsimile number of the destination has already been designated by the operation keys, the designated facsimile number is dialed (step S3), and connection is established (step S4). ), The image data of the created document data is image-encoded and transmitted (step S5).

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the detailed operation contents when facsimile transmission is instructed without setting a transmission original on the image scanner 3. When the operator presses the transmission key after designating the facsimile number with the operation key of the operation display unit 22 without setting the transmission original on the image scanner 3, the following operation is performed.

When the transmission key is pressed, the CPU 1 starts the timer 8 and starts time measurement (step S).
21). Here, it is assumed that the time for paper detection is set to 10 seconds. In this case, since the interruption interval by the timer 8 is 10 milliseconds, the value of the counter is "100".
If it becomes 0, it means that 10 seconds have elapsed. Next, the paper sensor 7 determines whether or not the original G is set on the image scanner 3 (step S22).
If the paper is set, the process proceeds to a process of reading and transmitting the set document.

If no paper is detected in step S23, the value of the timer counter in the RAM 10 is checked to see if it has reached "1000" (step S24). If the value is smaller than "1000", the process returns to step S22. If the value is "1000" or more, the process shifts to a process of transmitting a document created by the document creation function. The processing after the transmission original is determined is the same as the processing shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 shows the RAM 10 or the external storage device 1.
9 is a flowchart illustrating processing contents when two or more documents are stored in one. In the above process,
When the transmission key is pressed after the facsimile number is specified, the CPU 1 determines whether or not a document is set on the image scanner 3 by the paper sensor 7. If not, the document stored in the RAM 10 or the document stored in the external storage device 11 is to be transmitted.

First, the CPU 1 checks whether a document is stored in the RAM 10 and, if two or more documents can be stored in the RAM 10, checks the number of documents (step S3).
1) Further, it is checked whether a document is stored in the external storage device 11 and the number of the document is checked (step S).
32) It is checked whether or not the total number of checked documents is two or more (step S33).

In step S33, if there are two or more documents, it is necessary to specify the transmission document. Therefore, a list of the documents is displayed (step S34), and the designation operation of the operator is waited (step S35). When a transmission document is selected, the selected document is set as a transmission document, and the process proceeds to transmission processing (step S36).

In step S33, if the total number of checked documents is only one document, it means that the transmitted document has been determined, so there is no need to specify the document, and the list is not displayed. The document to be transmitted is set as a document to be transmitted, and the process proceeds to document transmission (step S37). The processing after the transmission document is determined is the same as the processing after step S3 in FIG.

Next, a description will be given, with reference to FIG. 7, of the processing contents when facsimile transmission is performed by designating a transmission destination for each document.
In this process, the operator first registers a character string indicating the facsimile number of the transmission destination by a predetermined operation. The registered character string is stored in the RAM 10 as shown in FIG.

At the time of facsimile transmission, the operator
A character string indicating a facsimile number registered in advance,
Following this character string, the facsimile number of the transmission destination is written in the transmission original, and set on the image scanner 3, and then the transmission key is pressed.

In this case, since the facsimile number of the transmission destination is written in the transmission original, it is not necessary to depress the operation key of the operation display unit 2 to specify the facsimile number of the transmission destination.

When the transmission key is pressed, the CPU 1 determines whether a document is set on the image scanner 3 or not. If the transmission original is set, the process proceeds to step S2. Here, since the facsimile number of the destination is not specified by the operation keys, it is determined that the facsimile number of the destination is written in the transmission original, and the first sheet is read by the image scanner 3 (step S7). ).

When the reading of the first sheet is completed, character recognition is performed from the top of the read original (step S8).
A search is made for a character string that matches the character string stored in the RAM 10 shown in FIG. 11 (step S9).

The character recognition is processed by pattern recognition data and programs written in the ROM 9,
Character recognition is performed by comparing the read image pattern with the recognition data.

If the recognized character string matches the character string stored in the RAM 10, the number string following the matched character string is regarded as a facsimile number (step S).
10), the process proceeds to the transmission process after step S3.

If they do not match in step S9, it is checked whether all the read data of one page have been recognized (step S11). If any unrecognized characters remain, the process returns to step S8 to perform the next character recognition. If all characters are recognized and there is no next character, it is determined that the facsimile number has not been written, and an error occurs.

In the above-described processing, the transmission original is set on the image scanner 3, but if the transmission original is not set on the image scanner 3, the transmission original created by the document creation function is transmitted.

That is, if the transmission key is pressed when the transmission original is not set on the image scanner 3, the CPU 1 determines whether or not the original is set on the image scanner 3 and the transmission original is set. Since there is not, the process proceeds to step S6.

Here, since the facsimile number of the destination is not specified by the operation keys, it is determined that the facsimile number of the destination is entered in the transmission original, and the RA
A character string is read from M10 or the external storage device 11 (step S12).

When the reading of the first page is completed, the character strings are compared from the top of the read first page (step S).
13), searching for a character string that matches the character string stored in the RAM 10 shown in FIG. 11 (step S)
9).

If the character string matches the character string stored in the RAM 10, the numeral string following the matched character string is regarded as a facsimile number (step S14), and the process proceeds to the transmission processing from step S3. I do.

If they do not match in step S13, it is checked whether or not all the read character strings of one page have been read (step S15). If there is a character that has not been read, the process returns to step S12 to read the next character string. All character strings are read, and if there is no next character string, it is determined that the facsimile number has not been written, and an error occurs.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing contents when a plurality of transmission documents are transmitted by facsimile to a plurality of transmission destinations. In this process, the operator first prepares a document to be transmitted to a plurality of destinations to be transmitted in advance, and stores the document in the external storage device 11. This transmission manuscript does not need to be one document for each transmission destination, and should be created and saved separately for cover pages, parts common to all transmission destinations, or parts transmitted to specific transmission destinations. Is possible.

Next, the correspondence between the facsimile number of the transmission destination and the transmission original stored in the external storage device 11 is registered. The registered contents are stored in the format shown in FIG.
It is stored in M10. In this case, it is possible to specify a plurality of transmission originals for one transmission destination. Even when each transmission original has a common part, it is divided as shown in FIG. The effective use of the external storage device 11 is possible.

When performing transmission, the operator presses the [continuous transmission] key, which is a key for continuous transmission, for performing continuous and automatic facsimile transmission using the operation / display unit 2. In response to this instruction, the CPU 1 makes and sends a call according to the contents stored in the RAM 10 shown in FIG.

That is, first, a pointer indicating a destination table (hereinafter, referred to as a "destination table") stored in the RAM 10 as shown in FIG. 12 is reset to 1 (step S41).

Subsequently, a call is made to the facsimile number indicated by the pointer in the destination table (step S4).
2), a connection is made with the facsimile of the transmission destination (step S43).

When the connection is completed, one document is called from the transmission document indicated by the pointer in the transmission table (step S44). If there are two or more documents set in the transmission destination table, the next document is read (step S45). When steps S44 and S45 are repeated and all the designated documents are called, transmission is started (step S46). When the transmission ends, the line is disconnected (step S47), and the facsimile transmission to the destination indicated by the pointer in the destination table ends.

Next, the presence or absence of the next data on the transmission table is determined (step S48).
Increase (step S49), return to step S42,
Next, the transmission table indicated by the pointer is transmitted to the transmission destination. If it is determined in step S48 that there is no next data on the transmission table, the process ends.

As described above, when facsimile transmission is instructed, it is detected whether or not a document is set on the image scanner 3 and the document is read and transmitted, or the document prepared by the document preparation function is transmitted. By automatically discriminating the original, it is not necessary to perform the operation of designating the document as in the related art, and the transmission operation is facilitated.

Further, when facsimile transmission is instructed in a state where no original is set on the image scanner 3, the apparatus waits for the original to be set for a certain period of time, and then reads the original to transmit the original data. By doing so, it is possible to prevent a document created by the document creation function from being transmitted by mistake even if the operator gives a transmission instruction while forgetting to set a document to be transmitted.

Further, when a plurality of documents can be designated as a transmission original, an operation of selecting the transmission original is necessary. However, when there is only one stored document, the first operation is automatically performed. By transmitting a document, the operation of selecting a document is not required, and the transmission operation can be facilitated.

Then, a specific character string indicating the transmission destination such as “transmission destination facsimile number” is determined, and this specific character string is described on the first sheet of the transmission original document, followed by the facsimile number of the transmission destination. In advance, set the original when sending,
By simply pressing the send key, the facsimile number is read from the first sheet of the sent manuscript and automatically called to the destination,
By transmitting the manuscript data, there is no need to perform a call operation as in the related art, and the transmission operation is facilitated. Further, the transmission original and the transmission destination are associated with each other, and problems such as a mistake in the transmission destination are solved.

Further, the name of the destination and the facsimile number, the transmission original, and the correspondence between each destination and the transmission original are stored in advance, and the original data corresponding to each transmission destination is automatically stored at the time of transmission. By transmitting, it is possible to automate a transmission operation such as designation of a transmission original or a transmission instruction, and it is possible to eliminate complexity of the transmission operation.

[0087]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when facsimile transmission is instructed, it is detected whether or not a document is set on the image reading means, and whether the document is read and transmitted is created. Since it is automatically determined whether a document created by the function is to be transmitted, it is not necessary to perform an operation of designating a document as in the related art, and the transmission operation is facilitated.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when an original is read by image reading means and transmitted,
Since the document is set for a certain period of time, even if the operator gives a transmission instruction while forgetting to set the document to be sent, if the document is set within the certain time, the document is read. As a result, it is possible to prevent a problem that a document created by the document creating unit is erroneously transmitted.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when a plurality of documents can be designated as a transmission document, an operation of selecting the transmission document is required, but only one document is stored. If not, the one document is automatically transmitted, so that the operation of selecting a document becomes unnecessary and the transmission operation becomes easy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the invention according to claim 1 of the present application.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the invention according to claim 2 of the present application.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the invention according to claim 3 of the present application.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view illustrating a configuration of a paper sensor provided in the image scanner.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation when facsimile transmission is performed by the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing detailed operation contents when facsimile transmission is instructed without setting a transmission original on the image scanner.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing processing contents when two or more documents are stored in a RAM or an external storage device.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing processing contents when a plurality of transmission documents are transmitted by facsimile to a plurality of transmission destinations.

11 is an explanatory diagram showing a facsimile number of a transmission destination stored in a RAM 10. FIG.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of a correspondence relationship between a facsimile number of a transmission destination stored in a RAM 10 and a transmission original stored in an external storage device.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of the correspondence between the facsimile number of the transmission destination and the transmission original stored in the external storage device when a plurality of transmission originals are designated for one transmission destination.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Central processing unit (CPU) 2 Operation / display part 3 Image scanner 4 Transmission / reception control part 5 Printer 6 Encoding / decoding part 7 Paper sensor 8 Timer 9 ROM 10 RAM 11 External storage device

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A document creating means for creating a document, a document storing means for storing the created document, an image reading means for reading a document, and detecting whether a document is set in the image reading means. Detecting means, instructing means for instructing facsimile transmission, and, when facsimile transmission is instructed, if a document is set in the image reading means, the document is read by the image reading means, facsimile transmitted, and the document is set. If not, an information processing apparatus including a transmission unit for facsimile transmitting the document stored in the document storage unit. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a timer for counting a predetermined time, wherein the transmitting means sets the original for a predetermined time if the original is not set in the image reading means when facsimile transmission is instructed. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the document stored in the document storage unit is transmitted by facsimile if the document is not set for a predetermined time. 3. A determination means for determining the number of documents stored in a document storage means, a display means for displaying a list of documents stored in the document storage means, and a document based on the displayed list of documents. Selecting means for selecting a document, and when the document stored in the document storage means is transmitted by facsimile, if the number of documents stored in the document storage means is one, the document is regarded as a facsimile transmission document,
If the number of documents stored in the document storage means is plural,
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a determination unit that sets the document selected by the selection unit as a facsimile transmission document.