Facsimile and static presentation processing – Static presentation processing – Data corruption – power interruption – or print prevention
Reexamination Certificate
1997-09-19
2001-05-01
Au, Amelia (Department: 2623)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Static presentation processing
Data corruption, power interruption, or print prevention
Reexamination Certificate
active
06226096
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an image input/output system for use in multi-function peripheral apparatus, such as a peripheral apparatus incorporating a scanner device and a printer device.
2. Description of Related Art
Peripheral apparatus are available for inputting an image to a host apparatus, such as a personal computer, or for outputting an image displayed by the host apparatus. For example, image scanners are used to read an image of a photograph, a text document or the like, and output the corresponding image data. Printers are used to print character data or image data output by host apparatus.
Conventional peripheral apparatus, such as printers and scanners, are separately connected to a host apparatus. Separate cables are used to connect an input/output (I/O) port of the scanner to an I/O port provided for a scanner in the host apparatus, and an I/O port of the printer to a printer I/O port of the host apparatus.
However, recently commercialized multi-function peripheral apparatus are capable of being connected to a host apparatus through a single cable. The multi-function peripheral apparatus can perform the function of two or more peripheral apparatus, e.g., a scanner device and a printer device.
Such a multi-function peripheral apparatus allows a user to have both a scanner device and a printer device, even if the installation space is limited, and facilitates connection to a host apparatus, since only one connecting cable is required.
However, in a system incorporating such a multi-function peripheral apparatus, if an error, e.g., a paper jam, occurs in the printer device, data transmission from the host apparatus to the printer device is rejected. In such a case, the multi-function peripheral apparatus outputs a busy signal to the host apparatus to switch off communication between the host apparatus and the multi-function peripheral apparatus. As a result, communication between the scanner device and the host apparatus is also switched off.
That is, if an error occurs in the printer device of a multi-function peripheral apparatus, the scanner device also becomes unusable, even if it has no operational problem. This impedes the efficient use of the multi-function peripheral apparatus.
Likewise, in a multi-function peripheral apparatus incorporating a sheet-feed-type scanner device, if an error, e.g., a document sheet jam, occurs in the scanner device, a busy signal is output to the host apparatus to switch off communication between the host apparatus and the multi-function peripheral apparatus. Therefore, the printer device in the multi-function peripheral apparatus also becomes unusable even though the printer device has no operational problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image input/output system wherein, if an error occurs in either a scanner device or a printer device of a multi-function peripheral apparatus, the other device can still be operated. A multi-function peripheral apparatus that incorporates the image input/output system of this invention is also provided.
According to one aspect of the present invention, an image input/output system is provided that comprises a multi-function peripheral apparatus, and a host apparatus for bi-directional communication with the multi-function peripheral apparatus. The multi-function peripheral apparatus comprises, in a single body, a scanner device for reading an image from a document, and an image forming device.
The multi-function peripheral apparatus further comprises a detection device for detecting an error in at least one of the scanner device and the image forming device, and a single I/O port provided for both the scanner device and the image forming device. The multi-function peripheral apparatus also comprises a transmission-reception device for transmitting to the host apparatus, via the I/O port, information regarding an error detected by the detection device, and data read by the scanner device.
The transmission-reception device also receives information and data from the host apparatus. The transmission-reception device transmits and receives information and data in accordance with an instruction from the host apparatus, even if error information has been transmitted to the host apparatus. Further, a control device is provided for controlling operation of the scanner device and operation of the image forming device on the basis of information from the transmission-reception device. The host apparatus includes an instruction device for instructing the multi-function peripheral apparatus to start a scanning operation or an image forming operation, and an I/O port connected to the I/O port of the multi-function peripheral apparatus.
The host apparatus further includes a transmission-reception device for receiving, via the I/O port, information and data from the multi-function peripheral apparatus, and transmitting information and data to the multi-function peripheral apparatus. The transmission-reception device of the host apparatus is set so that if error information is received, the transmission-reception device suspends transmission of information and data related to the device identified by the error information. However, the transmission reception device still performs transmission and reception of information and data related to the device that is still functioning.
If an error is detected in the image forming device by the detection device of the multi-function peripheral apparatus, error information regarding the image forming device is transmitted to the host apparatus by the transmission-reception device of the multi-function peripheral apparatus. Based on the error information, the transmission-reception device of the host apparatus suspends transmission of information and data to the image forming device, but remains able to transmit information and data to the functioning scanner device, in accordance with an instruction from the instruction device. The transmission-reception device of the multi-function peripheral apparatus remains able to perform transmission and reception of information and data in accordance with the instruction from the host apparatus, even after transmitting the error information to the host apparatus. Therefore, when the host apparatus transmits scanning information and data, the scanner device reads an image from a document, in accordance with the instruction from the host apparatus, and the read data is transmitted to the host apparatus.
If an error is detected in the scanner device by the detection device, error information regarding the scanner device is transmitted to the host apparatus by the transmission-reception device of the multi-function peripheral apparatus. Based on the error information, the transmission-reception device of the host apparatus suspends transmission of information and data to the scanner device, but remains able to transmit information and data to the functioning image forming device, in accordance with an instruction from the instruction device. The transmission-reception device of the multi-function peripheral apparatus remains able to perform transmission and reception of information and data, in accordance with the instruction from the host apparatus, even after transmitting the error information to the host apparatus. Therefore, when the host apparatus transmits image forming information and data, the image forming device operates normally to form an image in accordance with the instruction from the host apparatus.
In short, even if there is an error in either the scanner device or the image forming device, information and data related to the functioning device can be transmitted and received between the host apparatus and the multi-function peripheral apparatus, thereby enabling the functioning device to operate normally. Therefore, this construction enables efficient use of the image input/output system made up of the host apparatus and the multi-function peripheral apparatus having a single I/O port.
According t
Au Amelia
Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Miller Martin
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
LandOfFree
Image input/output system and multi-function peripheral... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Image input/output system and multi-function peripheral..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Image input/output system and multi-function peripheral... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2530801