Facsimile and static presentation processing – Facsimile – Facsimile system interface
Reexamination Certificate
1997-04-04
2001-08-28
Chang, Jon (Department: 2623)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Facsimile
Facsimile system interface
C358S444000, C358S468000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06281989
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-functional device having a receiver for receiving signals via a communication line, a transceiver for transmitting to and receiving data from a data processor, and a storage unit for storing the signals received by the receiver as well as the data received by the transceiver.
2. Description of the Related Art
Today, it is becoming a widespread practice to equip a data processor such as a personal computer with a facsimile machine by incorporating a facsimile modem to implement facsimile communications by way of the personal computer. In this arrangement, a printer of the facsimile machine may be utilized to print print data prepared by the personal computer.
Generally, the above type of facsimile machine includes two kinds of memory: a fax data recording memory for storing received fax data to be printed and a print data recording memory for storing the print data. These memories are usually of a volatile type. Where the fax data recording memory and the print data recording memory are separately provided, the volatile memory arrangement tends to be larger in capacity and thus it costs more.
As a solution to a problem of growing memory cost, a memory-sharing type facsimile machine has been proposed. The proposed machine reduces the volatile memory capacity by locating a fax data recording memory area, a print data recording memory area and other recording memory areas in a single volatile memory.
One disadvantage of the proposed setup is that print data, once stored in the allocated recording area, remains intact if a page-feed command, a recording-end command or subsequent page data is not sent or if the user fails to perform a recording-end operation.
In the above memory-sharing type facsimile machine, its memory can soon overflow when fax data is received over the communication line if the memory retains previous print data reducing the capacity of the remaining memory area.
With the memory full of data, the fax data being received or to be subsequently admitted will no longer be accommodated. A reception error is then recognized, terminating the communication function of the facsimile machine partially through the ongoing operation and inconveniencing the user.
A similar deficiency is experienced with facsimile machines having the so-called answering phone function. With this type of facsimile machine, voice signals are received and converted to voice data for storage into the applicable memory area. Also, in this case, any remaining print data in memory diminishes the available memory capacity for accommodating fax data being received. A reception error may then be detected, terminating the communication function of the facsimile machine partially through an ongoing operation.
The memory-sharing type facsimile machine has another disadvantage. With the remaining memory capacity reduced by the presence of residual print data, it may happen that the memory further receives other print data from the personal computer intending to perform another process or image data from a scanner of the facsimile machine executing a facsimile transmission or a document copying operation. In such cases, the memory capacity may not be large enough to accommodate the incoming print data or image data. When the data storing operation is aborted by lack of memory space, the user is again inconvenienced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to overcome the above and other disadvantages and deficiencies of the prior art and to provide a multi-functional peripheral device which, with a recording area of its memory still retaining print data sent from a data processor, can perform another process such as receiving fax data or voice signals by means of a communication function or reading of image data through the use of a copy function.
In carrying out the invention and according to a first aspect thereof, there is provided a multi-functional device comprising: a receiver for receiving signals via a communication line; a transceiver for transmitting to and receiving data from a data processor; a storage unit for storing the signals received by the receiver as well as the data received by the transceiver; and a data ejector for purging any print data from the storage unit either when a signal is received by the transceiver or when data for performing a predetermined process is sent to the storage unit.
The multi-functional device of the above constitution works as follows: when the storage unit holds any residual print data, the data ejector purges the print data from the storage unit if the device receives a signal over the communication line or if data for performing a predetermined process is sent to the storage unit. This allows the device to secure sufficient memory space in the storage unit to accommodate the received data such as fax data or voice data converted from voice signals as well as data for carrying out the predetermined process. The storage unit never overflows with data. There is no possibility of the storage unit being exhausted in capacity and becoming incapable of receiving the currently arriving signal or a subsequent incoming signal for any specific process to be carried out. That is, there will be no reception error that would stop partially through the communication function of the multi-functional device or hamper execution of any desired process.
Illustratively, the data processor may be a personal computer. The multi-functional device may be an apparatus comprising a facsimile function, a printer function, a copy function, a scanner function and an answering phone function. Alternatively, a plurality of devices, each including at least one of the above functions, may be interconnected by cable or by radio waves to constitute a multi-functional device. Print data may include text data prepared by a word processor or with word processor software and made up of texts and images, as well as image data and copy data read in by a scanner. The transceiver may be a wired or a wireless type. The storage unit may be practiced in the form of a RAM or a flash memory. The data ejector is implemented by the CPU executing an appropriate program.
According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a multi-functional device comprising: a receiver for receiving data via a communication line; a transceiver for transmitting and receiving data to and from a data processor; a storage unit for storing the data received by the receiver as well as print data received by the transceiver; and a data ejector for purging the print data from the storage unit when data is received by the receiver.
The multi-functional device of the above constitution works as follows: when the storage unit holds any residual print data, the data ejector purges the print data from the storage unit if the device receives data over the communication line. Thus, the storage unit means never overflows with data. There is no possibility of the storage unit being exhausted in capacity and becoming incapable of receiving the currently arriving data or subsequent incoming data for any specific process to be carried out. There will be no reception error that would stop partially through the communication function of the multi-functional device.
According to a third aspect of the invention, the multi-functional device further comprises an ejection inhibitor for inhibiting the ejection, i.e., purging, of the print data from the storage unit if a predetermined period of time is yet to elapse since the print data was placed in the storage unit even where data for performing a predetermined process is being sent to the storage unit.
With this preferred structure, the residual print data in the storage unit will not be purged inadvertently without the user carrying out other desired tasks.
The predetermined period of time should preferably be set for approximately five minutes. The five-minute duration is preferred so as to allow for cases where it takes time for the user to manually replenish, as need
Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Chang Jon
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
Wu Jinggee
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