JP3083700B2 - Data communication equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data communication device having a plurality of data communication functions including an operation mode for performing data communication with an external information processing device connected to a device main body, for example, a personal computer. And a data communication device such as a facsimile device that can be operated as a facsimile modem.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Documents such as documents and drawings created by a personal computer are directly transmitted by facsimile,
The function of receiving an image transmitted by facsimile via a telephone line is commonly called PC-FAX.
This PC-FAX function can be realized by connecting a personal computer to a facsimile apparatus having a data communication port such as RS-232C, and using the connected facsimile apparatus as a facsimile modem.

When a personal computer is connected to a facsimile machine, the facsimile machine, for example, RS-2
A function expansion board having an internal register is connected to the 32C port, a personal computer is connected via the function expansion board, and keys for the expansion functions are assigned to keys on the operation unit of the apparatus main body.

[0004] By mounting a function expansion board, a transmission function for transmitting data from a personal computer through a facsimile apparatus, a reception function for receiving data from a personal computer through a facsimile apparatus, and a printer function for printing out data from the personal computer. Further, various extended functions such as a scanner function used as a scanner for inputting an image of the facsimile apparatus to a personal computer can be executed.

The operation when the information received by the facsimile apparatus is taken into the personal computer is as follows. First, the operation mode of the facsimile apparatus is changed from a normal operation mode (facsimile mode) in which the apparatus main body operates alone to a PC which performs data communication with a personal computer.
The mode is changed to FAX (mode facsimile modem mode).

The setting of the PC-FAX mode can be performed by control from a personal computer using a control command called an AT command. PC-F
Information received according to the facsimile communication procedure in the AX mode is provided to the personal computer.

If the facsimile apparatus is provided with various types of expansion functions by mounting the expansion function board as described above, the printer or scanner which had to be prepared on the personal computer side can be replaced by the recording section of the facsimile apparatus. Since it can be shared by the document reading unit, it is not necessary to separately prepare an expensive device, and it is extremely advantageous in that waste is reduced.

[0008]

A facsimile apparatus having both a function of operating as a normal facsimile and a function of operating in a PC-FAX mode when connected to a personal computer as described above. Conventionally, for example, when a user finishes work, turns off the personal computer, forgets to switch the operation mode of the facsimile apparatus, and leaves it in the facsimile modem mode. However, when a call is made from an outside line, there is a problem that it becomes impossible to answer the call.

Also, if the power supply of the personal computer is O
In some cases, the application software for executing the PC-FAX function set in the personal computer has not been started even though it is N. In such a case, the personal computer does not respond to a call from an outside line. However, there are cases where the user does not notice this, and in such a case, there is a problem that data communication via an outside line is hindered and the transmitting side is inconvenienced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is intended to provide a power supply for an external information processing apparatus such as a personal computer in a data communication apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus capable of switching to the facsimile modem mode. A first object is to take a countermeasure when data is received from an outside line after being turned off, and to take a countermeasure when there is no response even if a call is made to the external information processing apparatus. It is the purpose.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an external information processing apparatus connected to an apparatus main body.
Multiple data including operation mode for data communication between
In a data communication device having a communication function, the external information
Identification means for identifying the power supply status of the
The external information processing device calls an outside line based on another result.
If the device does not respond to the
Control means for issuing a warning from the warning means is provided .

[0012]

[0013]

[0014]

According to the configuration of the present invention , an external information processing apparatus is provided.
Despite recognizing the power-on state of the
Displayed when the control unit does not answer an outside line call
Visually using the head and audibly using the buzzer
Emits.

[0015]

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example of a system configuration of a facsimile apparatus embodying the present invention. As shown in this figure, in this system configuration, the facsimile machine FAX1 is connected to the other party's facsimile machine FAX2 by a public telephone line L wired via a circuit switch S installed in a relay station, and also to an external information device. And a personal computer PC via a data communication cable C such as an RS-232C cable.

FIG. 2 shows the overall configuration of the facsimile machine FAX1. In this figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a control unit composed of a microcomputer or the like, which controls the entire apparatus main body. The control unit 1 is provided with image data from the image processing unit 3. The image processing unit 3 performs halftone processing and other predetermined image processing on an output signal of the reading unit 2 that optically reads a document to be transmitted to generate image data. 4 is an operation unit having a keyboard and the like, 5
Is an encoding / decoding circuit, 6 is a modem for modem, 7 is NC
The control unit 1 is connected to a public telephone line 8 via an encoding / decoding circuit 5, a modem modem 6, and an NCU (network control unit) 7.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a transmission function unit which encodes image data by a predetermined encoding method and creates control signals required for facsimile communication. Reference numeral 10 denotes a reception function unit that decodes a received code into image data and executes a predetermined reception control procedure. Reference numeral 11 denotes a recording unit that records a received image or the like on a recording sheet, and 12 denotes an RA that functions as a memory.
M and 13 are a program ROM, and 14 is an RS-232C port which is an interface unit for data communication. The ROM 13 stores various parameters for the overall control, and stores the RS-232C port 14, AT
It stores command control programs and other necessary software.

FIG. 3 schematically shows the appearance of the facsimile machine FAX1. As shown in this figure, the operation unit 4 is provided with a plurality of keys 15 for inputting a telephone number and setting various functions on the upper surface of an apparatus main body B as an apparatus main body. A document table 16 for setting a document on the reading unit 2 is provided. Reference numeral 17 denotes a back cover 17 provided on the back side of the apparatus main body B.

FIG. 4 schematically shows a mounted state of the function expansion board. As shown in this figure, the RS-232C port 14 is connected to a function expansion board 18 provided with an internal register 18a.
And the facsimile apparatus FAX1 can be used as a facsimile modem.

When the function expansion board 15 is mounted on the apparatus body B of the facsimile machine FAX1, one of the plurality of keys 15 on the operation section 4 is specified in the control section 1 of the facsimile machine FAX1 for function expansion. And assigned for facsimile modem function transfer. In this case, the control unit 1 registers the function of the specific key 15 in the RAM 12.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 19 denotes a display unit constituted by a liquid crystal display element, and reference numeral 20 denotes an alarm buzzer. Both the display unit 19 and the alarm buzzer 20 constitute a part of a warning means. Reference numeral 21 denotes a power ON / OFF switch of the personal computer PC, and reference numeral 22 denotes a power connection plug. The ASIC built in the function expansion board 18 is provided with a register for checking the power ON / OFF state of the personal computer PC.
By detecting a signal from the ASIC, power ON / OFF of the personal computer PC can be identified.

With such a configuration, the facsimile machine FAX1 can be controlled from the personal computer PC by a so-called AT command, and the operation mode of the facsimile machine FAX1 is changed from the normal operation mode to the PC.
-Automatically changed to FAX mode or operation unit 4
By operating the specific key 15, it is possible to shift from the normal operation mode to the PC-FAX mode.

Facsimile transmission / reception can be performed through the facsimile apparatus FAX1, and the facsimile apparatus FAX1 can be connected to a personal computer PC.
, And a so-called PC-FAX function is realized.

As an example, the transmission function will be described.
The telephone number and the transmission information are transmitted to the RS-
When given to the 232C port 14, the control unit 1 calls the destination terminal device via the telephone line, and after the line connection,
The transmission information input to the S-232C port 14 is transmitted to the telephone line 8.

The above-mentioned normal operation mode is an operation mode in which data is not exchanged between the facsimile machine FAX1 and the personal computer PC, that is, a so-called facsimile mode.
This is set when using the normal sending / receiving function or copy function by itself.

In this embodiment, when the function expansion board 18 recognizes that the power of the personal computer PC is OFF when a call is received from an outside line in the PC-FAX mode, the PC-FAX mode switches to the normal operation mode. Automatically, the facsimile reception is performed, and after the reception is completed, it is possible to return to the PC-FAX mode.

Further, despite the fact that the function expansion board 18 recognizes that the power of the personal computer PC is ON, A
After the calling is completed without receiving any T command, a buzzer 20 sounds a warning sound and a display indicating that an abnormality has occurred is displayed on the display unit 19 to inform the operator of the setting abnormality of the personal computer PC. It is configured to be able to.

Next, the operation will be described in more detail with reference to the operation flow chart of the control section 1 shown in FIG. 6. When the apparatus main body B is set to the PC-FAX mode, in step # 5, Recognizing that there is a call, in step # 10. When the power of the personal computer PC is recognized to be OFF, the process proceeds to step # 30, where the personal computer PC automatically shifts to the normal operation mode, and further receives in the normal operation mode at step # 35. Then, after the reception is completed, the process returns to the PC-FAX mode in step # 40.

As described above, the power of the apparatus main body B is turned on,
Even if the personal computer PC is turned off while being left in the PC-FAX mode, facsimile reception is performed in the normal operation mode. That is, since the power of the personal computer PC is turned off, it is determined that the user has forgotten to the normal operation mode, and the operation is performed. Therefore, it is possible to cope with forgetting to return to the normal operation mode. After operating in the normal operation mode, the PC-F
By returning to the AX mode, the setting of the user is not changed, so that an erroneous operation when the user who does not recognize that the user has forgotten to return to operate again can be prevented.

If it is determined in step # 10 that the power of the personal computer PC is ON, the process proceeds to step # 15, where the personal computer PC is called. If there is a response from the personal computer PC in step # 20, , PC-FAX in step # 25
The receiving operation is performed in the mode.

On the other hand, if there is no response from the personal computer PC in step # 15 and the calling is completed, the flow advances to step # 45 to turn on the buzzer 20.
At the same time, a warning sound is sounded and an error display indicating the occurrence of an abnormality is displayed on the display unit 19, and the setting abnormality of the personal computer PC is left to the operator who is assumed to be near the apparatus.

As described above, when the application software of the personal computer PC is forgotten to be started, the setting error can be notified to the operator by a warning sound or the like.
At the time of redialing from the other party, the setting can be reset so that the signal can be received without fail. In addition, since a warning tone is sounded without receiving, by not receiving it, you know that the other party has not received it.If you forget to set the application software, contact the other party again and resend There is no need to ask the other party to pay extra telephone charges.

[0034]

When according to the present invention described above, according to the present invention identifies the power state of the external information processing apparatus, as a result
The external information processing device responds to an outside line call based on
If there is no response, the warning means provided on the
Warnings are issued.
The setting error can be notified to the operator, and the
When redialing, make settings to ensure reception
Can be

[0035]

[0036]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an example of a system configuration of a facsimile apparatus embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the facsimile machine.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the appearance of the facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a connection state between an apparatus main body and a function expansion board.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 control unit 2 reading unit 3 image processing unit 4 operation unit 8 telephone line 9 transmission function unit 10 reception function unit 11 recording unit 14 RS-232C port 19 display unit 20 buzzer 21 power switch FAX1 facsimile device FAX2 facsimile device PC personal computer

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/00

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] An external information processing device connected to a main body of the device;
Multiple data including operation mode for data communication between
In a data communication device having a communication function, the external information
Identification means for identifying the power supply status of the
The external information processing device calls an outside line based on another result.
If the device does not respond to the
It is characterized by having a control means for issuing a warning from the warning means.
Data communication equipment. 2. A facsimile machine operating independently of an apparatus main body.
Data from the external information processing device connected to the main unit.
Operation in both facsimile modem mode for data communication.
It is configured as a facsimile machine that can switch between operation modes.
The communication device according to claim 1.