Facsimile and static presentation processing – Static presentation processing – Communication
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-19
2003-05-27
Wallerson, Mark (Department: 2722)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Static presentation processing
Communication
C358S401000, C358S444000, C358S468000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06570667
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing device, such as an image scanner, a printer, and a printer with an image scanner, that is capable of processing image information to input or output image information.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, a variety of application software are available for performing fax transmission using a personal computer. When performing fax transmission using a fax transmission application software installed in a personal computer, a fax modem card is mounted in the personal computer. Or, a personal computer is provided with an internal fax modem. Then, fax transmission is performed using the personal computer by connecting the fax modem to a public telephone network.
When performing fax transmission with a fax modem mounted in the personal computer, fax data received from an external source can be displayed on the screen of the personal computer. The user designates information he or she wishes to print out on paper. Then, a printer, connected to the personal computer, is driven accordingly, so that only the information required is outputted on the paper. This configuration is convenient.
When the fax modem is thus connected to a personal computer to perform fax transmission, text data prepared by using, for example, word processing software installed in the personal computer can be transmitted to a remote device through using the fax transmission application software. It is unnecessary to print out the text data. This is also convenient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
However, when a plurality of fax data sets are received and the user wishes to print out those plural fax data sets, the user has to designate each fax message that he or she wishes to print out, and to input his/her instruction to print out. This operation is troublesome.
It takes a long time to transmit a fax message to a remote device. Therefore, either the personal computer can not be used during this time for other operations or else the processing speed of other application software is reduced.
In order to transmit, to a remote device, Information that is printed out on a paper, first the user has to retrieve information printed on the sheet using an image scanner connected to the personal computer. The information is then transmitted to the personal computer. The fax transmission application software is then started up to convert the information into a fax transmission format and then to transmit it to the remote device. Because all these processes are required, operations are troublesome.
As a method for solving the above-described problems, it is conceivable to provide a device exclusively for fax transmission, a device including fax function and a copy function, or a device including a print function in addition to a fax function and a copy function.
Such a configuration is, however, not well suited for small offices because the configuration is expensive and the user has to provide a large space to place the device. Additionally, in order to manufacture each device, a manufacturer has to provide a fax modem that meets the communication standards of each country in which each device is to be used.
It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide an image processing device that can process image information and additionally perform fax communication operation and that can be manufactured without taking communication standards of different countries into considerations.
In order to attain the above and other objects, the present invention enables an image processing device, such as an image scanner, a printer, or a printer including an image scanner, that is often used in small offices, to additionally perform fax communication while not taking into account communication standards of different countries.
That is, the present invention provides an image processing device, comprising: means for processing an image according to an original image processing function; an interface detachably mounted with a facsimile image communication unit; and means for adding a facsimile communication function to the image processing means when the facsimile image communication unit is mounted to the interface.
The function adding means may include means for prestoring a facsimile function adding program for adding the facsimile communication function to the image processing means.
When the facsimile image communication unit, such as a facsimile modem card, is mounted to the interface, the facsimile function adding program may be validated, and may add the facsimile communication function to the original image processing function.
The image processing means may include means for printing print data, the function adding means enabling the printing means to print facsimile data received from outside via the facsimile communication unit. It becomes unnecessary for a user to input his/her print instruction onto the received facsimile data.
That is, when the image processing device is a printer, for example, when the printer receives fax data from a remote device, the printer can immediately produce a print output with using its own printing function. It is unnecessary for a user to input a printing command to the image processing device contrary to the system where the fax modem is attached to a personal computer.
When the image processing device is an image scanner, the image processing means retrieves information from images on original documents. The function adding means enables the image scanner to directly transmit the retrieved information to remote devices. It is unnecessary to transfer the retrieved information to a personal computer.
The image processing device is unnecessarily provided with the FAX modem originally. Accordingly, when producing the image processing device, it is unnecessary to mount each device with a FAX modem that is appropriate for the FAX communication standard of a corresponding country. In each country, a FAX modem card or the like, appropriate for the FAX communication standard of the subject country, is easily available. When the user of the image processing device desires to achieve FAX communication with using the image processing device, the user can easily purchase a FAX modem card or the like available in his/her own country and set the FAX modem card to the interface of the image processing device. Through this simple operation, the user can obtain a FAX communication device that suits the communication standard of his/her own country.
Especially when the image processing device is a printer located in an office environment, the user can mount the FAX modem to his/her own personal computer at day time and uses the image processing device as a printer. When leaving the office to go home, the user detaches the FAX modem from the personal computer and then mounts it to the printer so that the printer can serve as a facsimile machine for receiving fax data transmitted from remote devices at night. When coming the office next morning, the user can obtain a print output of the received fax data. When the image processing device is used in this manner, the user can perform FAX processes at day time through observing FAX data on the personal computer screen if he/she does not desire to retain a print output of the FAX data. When a number of FAX data sets are received at night, the user can obtain print outputs of the FAX data without performing any control operation. It is unnecessary for the user to input his/her instruction to print the FAX data.
The image processing device may further comprise means for judging whether or not the facsimile communication unit is mounted to the interface, the function adding means includes means for setting the image processing means into a facsimile communication enabling state capable of performing facsimile communication when the facsimile communication unit is judged to be mounted to the interface.
A program required to set the image processing means into the facsimile communication enabling state may be prestored in the image processing de
Endo Yoshinori
Hattori Yuji
Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
Wallerson Mark
LandOfFree
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