JPH11205516A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer having a FAX function capable of easily performing destination setting. SOLUTION: This device has a scanner 105, a printing means 106, a FAX means 114 for performing FAX communication, an interface means 102 for performing transmission/reception with a PDA 101 having an address book function and for fetching FAX numbers and correspondent destination names from the PDA 101, a storage device 110 for preserving data and preserving the FAX numbers and correspondent destination name to be used by the FAX means 114, and a data control means 108 for writing the FAX numbers and destination names fetched by the interface means 102 in the storage device 110 when the relevant FAX numbers and destination names are not registered in the storage device 110.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printing apparatus having an additional function such as communication.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some conventional printing apparatuses have a communication function such as a facsimile function. Some of such printing apparatuses have a function of pre-registering a transmission destination for a fax, that is, a model having a destination registration function. If the destination is registered, the fax can be transmitted with a single touch. Therefore, the user does not need to press the fax number every time the transmission is performed, and there is no mistake in pressing the fax number.

[0003]

However, such a destination registration function as described above requires a lot of time and labor for preparation, and requires a considerable amount of time to register, and the fax number or the like is changed. You must update your registration every time. The destination registration work and the update work are performed by issuing a manual attached to the printing apparatus.

[0004] Then, even if it is known that the one-touch transmission can be conveniently performed by using the destination registration function, the destination registration / update procedure is complicated and troublesome. Is input, so-called manual transmission is performed. In this way, there are many cases where the destination registration function is gradually used.

[0005] As described above, it is a loss for the user that the convenient function of the destination registration function is not used due to the complicated setting, and it is a pity for the manufacturer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus having a facsimile function capable of easily setting a destination.

[0007]

In order to solve this problem, a printing apparatus according to the present invention comprises an image reading means for reading an image, a printing means for printing an image, a facsimile means for performing facsimile communication, and an address. Interface means for transmitting / receiving to / from an external device having a book function and taking in a fax number and a corresponding destination name from the external device, and a fax number and a corresponding destination name for storing data and used by the fax means And a data control means for writing the fax number and the destination name into the storage device when the fax number and the destination name taken in by the interface means are not registered in the storage device.

[0008] As a result, the fax number registered in the external device and the destination name corresponding to the fax number are automatically and collectively written into the storage device, so that the destination used for the fax means can be easily set. Will be possible.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention according to claim 1 of the present invention provides an image reading means for reading an image, a printing means for printing an image, a facsimile means for performing a facsimile communication, and an external device having an address book function. Interface means for transmitting and receiving to and from a device and taking in a fax number and a corresponding destination name from an external device, and a storage device for storing data and for storing a fax number used by the fax means and a corresponding destination name And a data control means for writing the fax number and the destination name into the storage device when the fax number and the destination name fetched by the interface means are not registered in the storage device. Fax numbers and corresponding destination names are automatically and collectively stored Because written to location, it has the effect that it becomes possible to perform the setting of a destination to be used in the fax unit easily.

[0010] The invention described in claim 2 of the present invention provides:
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the data control unit is a printing device that faxes the image read by the image reading unit to a destination of a fax number selected by an external device, and sends the fax to a destination stored in the external device. Has the effect that it becomes possible to

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the data control means transmits the data input to the external device to a destination of the fax number selected by the external device. A printing device for faxing,
Even if the external device does not have communication means, it has an effect that data of the external device can be transmitted.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first, second or third aspect of the present invention, a database storing an identification code corresponding to a destination name registered in an external device is received by facsimile. Receiving means for identifying the recipient of the received fax based on the identification code recognized by the reading means, and whether the recipient recognized by the receiving means is registered as a destination name in the external device. Search means for performing a search through an identification code, and when the recipient is registered in the external device, the received fax data is stored in the storage device and the fax data is transferred to the external device. Printer that can receive fax data via a printing device without an external device having communication means. It has the effect of that.

[0013] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first, second or third aspect of the present invention, a facsimile is received from a database storing an identification code corresponding to a destination name registered in an external device. Receiving means for identifying the recipient of the received fax based on the identification code recognized by the reading means, and whether the recipient recognized by the receiving means is registered as a destination name in the external device. Search means for performing a search through an identification code, and when the recipient is registered in an external device, the received fax data is stored in a storage device, and the fax data is discarded or printed. The printing device or the transfer to an external device can be selected by the printing device. Without have, have a selective effect that it is possible to receive the fax data via the print device.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In these drawings, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description is omitted.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a printing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a procedure of writing address data to an external apparatus by the printing apparatus of FIG. It is a flowchart.

The printing apparatus according to the present embodiment has a multifunction printer (hereinafter, referred to as “M”) in which a plurality of functions are integrated.
FP ". ) 104, and such an MFP 10
An external device connected to the personal digital assistant 4 has a function as an address book such as a schedule table / address book management in a personal portable information terminal.
nt (hereinafter, referred to as “PDA”) 101 is used.

As shown in FIG. 1, the MFP 104 and the PDA
101 is connected via interface means 102 which is a connection device such as SCSI. Further, between the interface unit 102 and the MFP 104, a control unit 103 which is a driver for controlling the interface unit 102 is provided. The interface unit 102 transmits and receives data to and from the PDA 101, and takes in the fax number and the destination name corresponding to the fax number from the PDA 101 into the MFP 104.

The MFP 104 includes a scanner (image reading unit) 105 for reading an image, a printing unit 106 for printing an image on paper, an input unit 107 such as a keyboard for a user to input his / her own instructions, and control of predetermined data. It comprises a data control means 108 for performing the operation, a display device 109 such as a display for visually displaying messages and data to the user, and a storage device 110 for storing various data. Further, the data control unit 108 stores the data in the storage device 1.
Data calling means 1 for calling data from 10
11, a data writing means 112 for writing data to the storage device 110, a data list display means 113 for displaying predetermined data and device status on the display device 109, and a facsimile means 114 for performing facsimile communication.

The storage device 110 stores the fax number used by the fax unit 114 and the destination name corresponding thereto, and the data control unit 108 stores the PDA 101 fetched by the interface unit 102.
If the fax number and the destination name are not registered in the storage device 110, the fax number and the destination name are written in the storage device 110.

A procedure for writing address data to MFP 104 having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the MFP and the PDA are connected by SCSI (step 201), and the address book function of the PDA is activated (step 202). Next, an address book creation function for storing a fax number used by the fax means of the MFP and a destination name corresponding to the fax number is activated (step 203).

Then, the free space of the storage device of the MFP is checked (step 204), and if there is no free space, a message that "there is no free space in the storage device" is displayed (step 205), and the MFP is already registered. Display data list. Then, the process proceeds to step 213 described later.

On the other hand, if the free space is sufficient,
Access to the destination data (that is, the data of the destination name and the fax number) in the address book (step 206). Then, data to be written to the storage means is selected from the data of the PDA (step 207),
Transfer write command and data to MFP (step 2
08).

Thereafter, it is checked whether or not the transfer data has been registered in the MFP (step 209). If the transfer data has already been registered, a message indicating that the same data as "already registered data" has been registered Is displayed on the display device (step 210). Then, the process proceeds to step 213 described later.

On the other hand, if it has not been registered,
Write name, fax number, and, if necessary, telephone number to P's storage (step 211). And
The MFP receives the data and writes it to the storage device (step 212).

After the data has been set in this way, a list display command is input from the input means (step 213), and the input data is displayed as a list (step 214).

As described above, the MFP 104 according to the present embodiment
According to this, the fax number registered in the PDA 101 and the destination name corresponding to the fax number are automatically and collectively written into the storage device 110, so that the destination used for the fax unit 114 can be easily set. .

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of fax transmission by a printing apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In the present embodiment,
The configuration of the printing apparatus itself is the same as that of the first embodiment.

MFP (Printing Apparatus) in the Present Embodiment
Fax transmission by MFP and PDA (external device)
Are connected via interface means such as SCSI, and then the address function of the PDA is started (step 3).
01). Then, a destination is selected from the address book of the PDA (step 302), and a fax transmission button is pressed (step 303). This allows the MFP to have a PDA
(Step 30)
4), the fax means of the MFP is activated (step 305).

Next, the fax number received from the PDA is transferred to the destination number of the fax function of the MFP (step 306), the original set on the scanner is read using the fax means, and the fax is transmitted (step 306). Step 307).

As described above, according to the MFP of the present embodiment, it is possible to read a document set in the scanner of the MFP to the destination stored in the PDA, and perform facsimile using the fax means of the MFP.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the procedure of fax transmission by a printing apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In the present embodiment,
The configuration of the printing apparatus itself is the same as that of the first embodiment.

MFP (Printing Apparatus) in the Present Embodiment
Fax transmission by MFP and PDA (external device)
Are connected via an interface means such as SCSI, and then the address function of the PDA is started (step 4).
01). Then, a destination is selected from the address book of the PDA (step 402), and a fax transmission button is pressed (step 403). This allows the MFP to have a PDA
(Step 40)
4) The MFP facsimile device is activated (step 405).

Next, the fax transmission data such as the fax number received from the PDA and the memo of the PDA is transmitted to the MFP.
(Step 406). Then, the data format of the fax transmission data received from the PDA is converted to the fax mode by the fax transmission unit of the MFP (step 407), and the fax is transmitted by using the fax means of the MFP (step 40).
8).

As described above, according to the MFP of the present embodiment, PDA data is fetched and faxed, so that even if the PDA has no communication means, the PDA data is transmitted. be able to.

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a printing apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of fax data received by the printing apparatus of FIG. It is.

As shown in FIG. 5, the MFP according to the present embodiment
(Printing apparatus) 104 includes, in addition to the MFP described in the first embodiment,
A database 115 is provided in which an identification code corresponding to the destination name registered in No. 1 is stored. Further, recipient identification means 116 for identifying the recipient of the fax received based on the identification code received by the fax and recognized by the scanner 105, and the recipient identified by the recipient identification means 116 is used as the destination name. A search means 117 is provided for searching whether or not the information is registered in the PDA 101 via an identification code. If the recipient of the fax is registered in the PDA 101, the received fax data is stored in the storage device 110 and the fax data is transferred to the PDA 101.

A processing procedure of the received fax data by the MFP 104 having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

When the fax is received, the scanner is activated to convert the received fax data into text data (step 601). Next, recipient recognition means 116
, The recipient is determined from the text data (step 602), and the searching means 117 searches whether the name of the recipient is registered in the database (step 603).

If not registered, the received fax is printed as it is (step 604). On the other hand, if it is registered, the free space of the storage device of the MFP is checked (step 605). If the free space is sufficient, the fax reception data is written to the storage device of the MFP together with the identification code of the PDA (step 606). ). If there is no free space, a message that "the storage device has no free space" is displayed (step 60).
7) Select whether to delete already registered data to secure free space (step 608).
Then, when the data is not deleted and when the timeout occurs, the received fax is printed as it is (step 604). When the data is deleted, similarly to the case where the free space is sufficient, the fax reception data is written into the storage device of the MFP together with the identification code of the PDA (step 6).
06).

Next, the PDA is connected to the MFP via the SISC (step 609), and the PD to which the MFP is connected is connected.
The identification code of A is recognized (step 610).

Then, it is determined whether the identification code of the PDA is registered in the storage device of the MFP (step 6).
11). Here, if it is not registered, the process exits as it is (step 612). On the other hand, if registered, P
The free capacity of the DA storage device is checked (step 613).
If there is no free space, a message that "there is no free space in the storage device" is displayed (step 614), and data already registered in the storage device is deleted to secure the free space (step 614). Step 615). If the free space is sufficient, the received fax data is written to the storage device of the PDA (step 616).

As described above, the MFP 104 according to the present embodiment
According to the above, the received fax data is recognized by the recipient recognition unit 116 and searched by the search unit 117. If the recipient is registered in the database 115, the fax data is stored in the storage device 110, Since this is to be transferred to the PDA 101, the PD
Even if A101 has no communication means, the MFP 104
Fax data can be received via.

(Embodiment 5) FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure for processing fax data received by a printing apparatus according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the device configuration of the printing apparatus itself is the same as that in the fourth embodiment.

An MFP (printing apparatus) according to the present embodiment will be described below.
A description will be given of a procedure for processing fax data.

First, steps 601 to 608 of the flowchart of FIG. 6 used in the description of the fourth embodiment are executed.

After that, the PDA and the MFP are connected via the SISC (step 701), and the P
The identification code of the DA is recognized (step 702).

Then, it is determined whether the identification code of the PDA is registered in the storage device of the MFP (step 7).
03). If not registered, the user selects whether to display all fax data (step 704). Then, when no display is made, the process is exited as it is. When displaying, a list of facsimile data stored in the storage device of the MFP is displayed (step 705). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 707 described below.

On the other hand, if the identification code of the PDA is registered in the storage device of the MFP, the sender name, the reception time, and the fax number of the sender are displayed in a list on the display device of the PDA (step 706).

Then, necessary items are selected from the list (step 707). Here, unnecessary fax data not selected is discarded.

Next, it is selected whether or not to display the contents of the facsimile data (step 708). Then, if display is to be performed, the fax data is displayed on the display device of the PDA (step 709).

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not printing is to be performed (step 714). If so, the facsimile data is printed by the printing means of the MFP (step 715).

On the other hand, when transferring to the PDA instead of printing, the free capacity of the storage device of the PDA is checked (step 710). If there is no free space, a message that "there is no free space in the storage device" is displayed (step 711), and the already registered data is deleted to secure the free space (step 71).
2). On the other hand, if there is free space, the fax data is written to the storage device of the PDA (step 713).

As described above, according to the MFP of the present embodiment, the received fax data is recognized by the recipient recognizing means and searched by the retrieving means, and if the recipient is registered in the database, the fax data is retrieved. Can be saved in a storage device and the fax data can be discarded, printed, or transferred to the PDA. Therefore, even if the PDA does not have a communication means, it can be selected via the MFP. Fax data can be received.

[0055]

As described above, according to the present invention, the fax number registered in the external device and the destination name corresponding to the fax number are automatically and collectively written to the storage device.
There is an effective effect that it is possible to easily set the destination used for the fax means.

If the image read by the image reading means is faxed to the destination of the fax number selected by the external device, there is an effective effect that it is possible to fax to the destination stored in the external device. can get.

If the data input to the external device is faxed to the destination of the fax number selected by the external device, even if the external device has no communication means,
This has an advantageous effect that data of the external device can be transmitted.

If the recipient is registered in the external device, the received fax data is stored in the storage device and transferred to the external device, so that even if the external device has no communication means, An advantageous effect that it is possible to receive fax data via the printing device is obtained.

If the recipient is registered in the external device, the received fax data is stored in the storage device, and the fax data is discarded or printed by the printing means or transferred to the external device. If it is possible to select, even if the external device does not have a communication means, it is possible to obtain an effective effect that it is possible to selectively receive fax data via the printing device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure for writing address data to an external device which is the printing device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of facsimile transmission by the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of fax transmission by the printing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure for processing fax data received by the printing apparatus of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure for processing fax data received by the printing apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention;

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 PDA (external device) 102 Interface unit 104 MFP (printing device) 105 Scanner (image reading device) 106 Printing unit 108 Data control unit 110 Storage unit 114 Fax unit 115 Database 116 Recipient recognition unit 117 Search unit

Claims (5)

[Claims] An image reading means for reading an image, a printing means for printing an image, a facsimile means for performing facsimile communication, and an external device having an address book function, for transmitting and receiving a fax number and Interface means for receiving a destination name corresponding thereto, a storage device for storing the data and a fax number used by the fax means and a destination name corresponding thereto, and a fax number captured by the interface means And a data control means for writing the fax number and the destination name to the storage device when the destination name is not registered in the storage device. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said data control means faxes the image read by said image reading means to a destination of a fax number selected by said external device. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data control unit faxes the data input to the external device to a destination of a fax number selected by the external device. 4. Receiving a received fax based on a database in which an identification code corresponding to a destination name registered in the external device is stored, and the identification code received by fax and recognized by the reading means. Recipient identification means for identifying the recipient, and search means for searching via an identification code whether the recipient recognized by the recipient identification means is registered in the external device as a destination name, 3. When the recipient is registered in the external device, the received fax data is stored in the storage device and the fax data is transferred to the external device. 3. The printing device according to 3. 5. Receiving a received fax based on a database in which an identification code corresponding to a destination name registered in the external device is stored, and the identification code received by fax and recognized by the reading means. Recipient identification means for identifying the recipient, and search means for searching via an identification code whether the recipient recognized by the recipient identification means is registered in the external device as a destination name, If the recipient is registered in the external device, the received fax data is stored in the storage device, and the fax data is either discarded, printed by the printing unit, or transferred to the external device. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing is selectable.