JPH05276301A - Compound peripheral device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] In a complex peripheral device including at least the functions of printing, facsimile, and copying, the function that the user wants to use is determined and operated by the minimum necessary operation by the user and the device's own discrimination function. It is possible. [Structure] A line connection detecting unit 8 for detecting that the public line is connected to the other party, a line connection detecting unit 9 for detecting that the other party has connected to the public line, and information is transmitted through an interface 4 or 5 with a computer. Information acquisition detection units 10 and 12 that detect that the data has been sent, switch switching detection unit 11 that detects that the changeover switch has been operated to use the function of the facsimile, dial
The data input unit 13, the communication unit 2 with the public line, the interface units 4 and 5 with the computer, the photoelectric conversion unit 6, the printing unit 7 and the operation panel 1, and the control unit 3 that controls the entire system.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a composite peripheral device having functions such as a printing machine, a facsimile machine and a copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there is an increasing need for a small-sized composite peripheral device having integrated functions in OA equipment such as printing, facsimile and copying. For example, there is known a device capable of printing print information from a computer in addition to copying, a device capable of transmitting and receiving an image captured by a photoelectric conversion device via a public line, and the like. There is also a device that functions as a facsimile device or a copying machine by switching a switch.

[0003]

However, in the conventional composite peripheral device, a user first manually selects one of a plurality of functions such as printing, facsimile or copying, and then the selected function is selected. It is designed to work in mode. Therefore, it is necessary for the user not only to clarify in advance which function he is trying to use and what he is trying to do, but also to have knowledge of the operating procedure of the device and the meaning of the marked characters. This is a problem in that anyone can use it.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is at least a communication section with a public line, an interface section with a computer, a photoelectric conversion section, a printing section, an operation panel section. In the compound peripheral device having the above, it is to make it easy for anyone to use by minimizing the operation by the user and automatically determining and executing the function that the user wants to use.

[0005]

In order to solve such a problem, in the composite peripheral device of the present invention, a communication section with a public line, an interface section with a computer, a photoelectric conversion section,
In a composite peripheral device including elements of a printing unit and an operation panel unit, at least (1) a function of detecting a user's operation and (2) the detection function automatically determines and switches a function intended by the user. Control function to perform,
(3) Convert print format data to communication format data,
(4) A function of transmitting to a party connected via a public line, and (4) a function of converting image data read by the photoelectric conversion unit into communication format data and transmitting the data to a party connected via a public line, (5) partner The function to convert the character data or image data in the communication format received from the PC via the public line to the print format and print it in the print section, and (6) the character data in the print format sent to the interface section of the computer or A function to print image data in the printing section, and (7)
It is characterized by having a function of printing the image data read from the photoelectric conversion unit by the printing unit and (8) a function of sending the image data read by the photoelectric conversion unit to an interface with a computer.

[0006]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is an operation panel section for designating a process of starting or stopping reading of an original in a photoelectric conversion section, or a processing to be applied to an image to be read, and 2 is a public line for performing modulation / demodulation according to CCITT recommendation and control of a communication protocol. A communication unit 3, a control unit that controls the entire system, 4 an interface unit with a first computer that handles data sent from a user via a keyboard, 5 a data unit sent from the user via a keyboard, and a photoelectric conversion unit. An interface section with a second computer for sending the image data read from 6 to an external computer,
6 is a photoelectric conversion unit that scans an image of an original and reads it as data, 7 is a printing unit that prints a character code or image code, 8 is a line connection detection unit that detects that a public line is connected to the other party, and 9 is a partner To be connected to the public line from the line-connected detection unit, 10 is a first information acquisition detection unit that detects that information is sent through the interface 4 with the first computer, and 11 is a facsimile. A switch change detection unit that detects that the changeover switch has been operated to use the function of; a second information acquisition detection unit that detects that information has been sent through the interface 4 with the second computer; Thirteen
Is a dial data input unit for inputting a dial number for transmitting a facsimile.

The following five examples are given as examples in which the user's operation is detected and the intended function is automatically selected or switched.

(1) When the print information sent from the computer is converted into facsimile image data (hereinafter referred to as FAX image data) and transmitted from a public line, the other party's facsimile is transmitted by the dial / data input unit 11. Dial the number. The line connection detection unit 7 detects that the line to the other party has been established, and sends an interrupt signal to the control unit 3.

Print information data (ESC / ESC specified by EPSON) input from a keyboard of a computer.
(Described in P code) is transmitted to the interface section 4 with the computer (the interface has a parallel specification conforming to Centronics).

The first information acquisition / detection unit 9 detects that data has been sent to the interface 4 with the computer, and sends an interrupt signal to the control unit 3.

When the control unit 3 determines that the data received from the interface unit 4 is the character code for printing, the control unit encodes the received data by the MH system and the FAX image corresponding to the G3 standard of CCITT. It is converted into data and transmitted to the other party via the communication section 2 with the public line.

(2) When the original data taken in by the photoelectric conversion unit is transmitted as FAX image data from the public line: The dial / data input unit 11 dials the facsimile number of the other party. The line connection detection unit 7 detects that the line to the other party has been established, and sends an interrupt signal to the control unit 3.

An original is set on the photoelectric conversion unit 5, and the start of reading the original is notified by pressing a button on the operation panel 1. As a result, the interrupt signal is sent to the control unit 3, the photoelectric conversion unit 5 reads it, and the image data of the document is sent to the control unit 3.

The control unit converts the received data into FAX image data encoded by the MH system and conforming to the CCITT G3 standard, and transmits it to the other party via the communication unit 2 with the public line.

(3) When printing FAX image data sent from the public line in the printing unit The user hears a call signal from the other party through the communication unit 2 with the public line and switches the button of the operation panel unit. ..

The line connection detecting section 9 detects that the public line has been communicated with the other party by the switching button, and sends an interrupt signal to the control section 3.

The facsimile machine on the other side is CCIT
According to the protocol conforming to the T standard, the FAX image corresponding to the CCITT G3 standard is transmitted to the communication unit 2 with the public line.

The control means 3 receives the FAX image data encoded by the MH system corresponding to the G3 standard from the communication section 2 with the public line, decodes it, and causes the printing section 6 to print it.

(4) When the printing information sent from the computer is printed by the printing unit: An interrupt signal is sent from the line connection detecting unit 7, the line connection detecting unit 8, or the switch change detecting unit 10 to the control unit 3.
The interrupt signal is sent from the first information acquisition detection unit 9 to the control unit 3.

When the control section 3 determines that the data sent to the interface 4 with the computer is print information such as ESC / P code, the print section 6 prints.

(5) When the image data taken in from the photoelectric conversion unit is printed by the printing unit: An interrupt signal from the line connection detection unit 7, the line connection detection unit 8, or the switch change detection unit 10 is sent to the control unit 3
Is not sent to the user, the user sets the original on the photoelectric conversion unit 5,
By pressing a button on the operation panel 1, the control unit 3 is instructed to start reading an image.

The control unit 3 sends a signal for instructing the photoelectric conversion unit 5 to start reading.

The control unit 3 receives the image data from the photoelectric conversion unit 5 and prints it by the printing unit 6. (6) When transmitting the image data captured from the photoelectric conversion unit to the computer: An interrupt signal is sent from the line connection detection unit 7, the line connection detection unit 8, or the switch change detection unit 10 to the control unit 3.
Then, the user sets the original on the photoelectric conversion unit 5.

The external second computer reads the original by sending a control command from the utility software for reading the original to the control section.

The second information acquisition / detection unit 12 detects that data has been sent to the interface unit 5 with the second computer, and sends an interrupt signal to the control unit 3.

The control unit 3 sends the image data sent from the photoelectric conversion unit 6 to the interface 12 with the second computer.

[0027]

According to the present invention, the operation of the composite peripheral device having the functions of printing, facsimile, copying, etc. becomes easy,
The user can handle it with minimum knowledge and effort.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1; Operation panel 2; Communication unit with public line 3; Control unit 4; Interface unit with first computer 5; Interface unit with first computer 6; Photoelectric conversion unit 7; Printing unit 8; Line connection detection Part 9; Connected line detection part 10; First information acquisition detection part 11; Switch change detection part 12; Second information acquisition detection part 13; Dial data input part

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A composite peripheral device comprising elements of a public line communication section, a computer interface section, a photoelectric conversion section, a printing section and an operation panel section, and at least (1) a function of detecting a user operation, (2) A control function for automatically determining and switching a function intended by the user by the detection function, and (3) converting print format data into communication format data,
(4) A function of transmitting to a party connected via a public line, and (4) a function of converting image data read by the photoelectric conversion unit into data in a communication format and transmitting the data to a party connected via a public line, (5) partner A function to convert the character data or image data in the communication format received from the PC via the public line into the print format and print it in the printing section. (6) The character data in the print format sent to the interface section of the computer or A function of printing image data by the printing unit, (7) a function of printing image data read by the photoelectric conversion unit by the printing unit, and (8) a function of sending image data read by the photoelectric conversion unit to an interface with a computer. A composite peripheral device having: