JPH08289050A - Digital copying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To easily and surely utilize all composite multi-functions by analyzing an operation procedure document corresponding to an input command and executing automatically the input operation procedure document. CONSTITUTION: The copying machine is provided with a digital I/F circuit 10, an external I/F circuit 11, an operation panel 12, a large capacity storage device 13, a central processing unit section 14, a ROM 15, a RAM 16, a print control section 17, a scanner 18, a communication control section 19, a MODEM 20, a network control section 21, a printer engine section 22 and a bus line 23 to provide the received operation procedure document. The outputted operation procedure document is recognized and the recognized operation procedure document is analyzed. The operation procedure is automatically executed according to the analyzed operation procedure document.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital copying machine having a combination of functions such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a scanner and a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, as an OA device, a digital copying machine having a combination of functions such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a scanner and a printer has been used. In this digital copying apparatus, copy information is transmitted through a wire line. Also, the received information is printed on copy paper and output. Furthermore, this digital copying apparatus is a personal computer (PC),
It is connected to a work station (WS) and the like, and the received information transmitted from the host computer is subjected to image processing by the PC and WS, printed on copy paper, and output. Further, image information read by a scanner is also transmitted to a host computer.

In such a multifunctional digital copying apparatus, a touch panel type large liquid crystal display (LCD) is used.
Is used to perform the function selection and input operation, and the diagrams and characters corresponding to the selection and operation status are interactively displayed on the screen.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional digital copying apparatus, the large LCD and the interactive method display the figures and characters corresponding to the function selection and the operation status, and have many functions, and It's complicated. Therefore,
For the operator (operator), although a screen display on a large LCD and an interactive method are used, a single function hard key (keyboard) is operated to perform desired processing (operation) from among various functions. Difficult to do quickly and reliably. That is, it is not easy to use. In other words, there is a drawback that the multi-functional icons are not effectively utilized because the contents of the icons for displaying the multi-functional screens on the large LCD are not easily found.

The present invention solves the drawbacks of the prior art as described above. The operation procedure manual when an operation instruction is given can be analyzed and the input operation procedure can be automatically executed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital copying apparatus in which desired functions in all multi-functions in which functions of a facsimile machine, a scanner, a printer, etc. are combined can be easily and surely used.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a digital copying apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention outputs an operation procedure manual showing operation procedure data corresponding to an instruction input from an operation input means. Operation procedure document output means, operation procedure document recognition means for recognizing the output of the operation procedure document, operation procedure analysis means for analyzing the operation procedure document recognized by the operation procedure document recognition means, and operation analyzed by the operation procedure analysis means It is configured to include an operation procedure automatic execution means for automatically executing an operation procedure corresponding to an instruction from the operation input means in accordance with the procedure.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital copying apparatus having an operation procedure registration means for registering an operation procedure input from the operation input means, and an identifier adding means for adding identifier data to the registered operation procedure. However, when the information to which the identifier is added is input from the operation input means, the operation procedure automatic execution means automatically executes the operation procedure registered by the operation procedure registration means.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital copying apparatus having an operating procedure searching means for searching the operating procedure registered by the operating procedure registering means on the basis of the identifier added by the identifier adding means. The operation procedure manual searched by the search means is output from the operation procedure manual output means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital copying apparatus having an operating procedure changing means for changing the operating procedure, and the operating procedure changed by the operating procedure changing means is registered by the operating procedure registering means, and the operating procedure is changed. The operation procedure automatic execution means automatically executes the operation procedure changed by the changing means.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital copying apparatus having an operating procedure deleting means, and the operating procedure deleting means deletes the operating procedure registered by the operating procedure registering means.

[0011]

According to the digital copying apparatus having the above-mentioned structure, the operation procedure manual corresponding to the input instruction is analyzed and the subsequent input operation procedure is automatically executed. Therefore, it becomes possible for the operator to execute the operation procedure without performing all the complicated and difficult operations, for example, through the screen display and the interactive method on the large LCD as in the conventional method, and the single function. There is no difficulty in operating various hard keys to select and execute various functions. Therefore, all the multifunctional functions that combine the functions of the copying machine, the facsimile machine, the scanner, the printer, etc. can be used easily and surely.

In the digital copying apparatus according to the second and third aspects, the input operation procedure is registered, and the identifier of this operation procedure is added to the output information. When the information added with this identifier is input, the operating procedure according to the registered operating procedure is automatically executed. At this time, the registered operation procedure is searched and output based on the added identifier. Therefore, it becomes possible for the operator to easily automatically execute the functions that are often used.

In the digital copying apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the retrieved operating procedure is changed and registered, and the changed operating procedure is automatically executed. Therefore, it is possible to change the operation procedure for each operator or due to the change of work, and the operation becomes easier.

In the digital copying apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the registered operation procedure is deleted as necessary. Therefore, the operator can delete, for example, the registered or changed operation procedure as needed, and further, the operation procedure can be changed for each operator or due to the change of work, and the operation is further facilitated.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of the digital copying apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the electrical construction of an embodiment of the digital copying apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 1, this digital copying apparatus is
A P-IB interface (I / F) circuit, for example, a general-purpose digital I / F circuit 10 such as Centronics, a document processing device (not shown), a workstation (WS),
An external I / F circuit 11 that is connected to an external device such as a personal computer (PC) and performs interface processing
And a large-sized liquid crystal display (LCD) and a touch panel, and an operation panel 12 is provided for displaying the operating state of the apparatus on the screen and for giving operation instructions.

Further, a large-capacity storage device 13 for storing an operation procedure manual and a management table, which will be described below, and configured by, for example, a hard disk device, a central control unit 14 for controlling the entire device, and this device. 2 is provided with a ROM 15 for storing the control program, and a working RAM 16 for temporarily storing the following management information and processing data based on the control program shown in FIG.

A print controller 17 for controlling print of processed data and a scanner 18 for reading image information are also provided. Further, there are provided a communication control unit 19 that performs transmission / reception control based on a facsimile transmission procedure such as G3, and a modem 20 that modulates or demodulates facsimile data. Further, a network control unit 21 for automatically calling an external line (station line) and automatically accepting an incoming call, and a printer engine unit 22 for printing under the control of the print control unit 17. Address and data bus lines 23 to which each unit is connected are provided.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a management table for performing operations, operation procedure registration, operation procedure search, operation procedure change, and operation procedure automatic execution. In FIG. 2, this management table includes an operation procedure registration table 200, an operation screen function table 300, and a function parameter table 400.

The operation procedure registration table 200 includes items 200.
a, 200b, and when the operating procedure currently being input is registered, the operating procedure input from the operation panel 12 is taken in by the central control unit 14 through the bus line 23 and assigned an identifier. This identifier is stored in the item 200a of the operation procedure registration table 200. Furthermore, the address of the mass storage device 13 storing the operation screen function table 300 is stored in the item 200b.

The operation procedure registration table 200 is referred to when an operation procedure is automatically executed by designating an identifier. The operation procedure registration table 200 is stored in the large-capacity storage device 13, is read from the large-capacity storage device 13 under the control of the central control unit 14 when the power source of the digital copying apparatus is turned on, and is resident in the RAM 16 to operate. Each time the registration instruction of (1) is issued, the registration is updated under the control of the central control unit 14. Further, the operation procedure registration table 200 read from the RAM 16 when the power is turned off is written in the mass storage device 13.

The operation screen function table 300 includes items 300.
When the operator selects a function on the operation screen displayed on the large LCD of the operation panel 12, the selected function is stored in the item 300a. If a parameter exists in the selected function, the address of the mass storage device 13 that stores the function parameter table 400 is stored in the item 300b. The function parameter table 400 stores parameters related to the function of the item 300a.

The function parameter table 400 includes item 4
00a and 400b, and the item 400a stores the setting function necessary for executing the function stored in the item 300a of the operation screen function table 300. The item 400b stores the parameter of the setting function stored in the item 400a.

FIG. 3 is a view showing an initial screen (menu operation screen) and a facsimile operation screen on the display screen.
In the menu operation screen 700 shown in FIG. 3A, a copy icon 700a for executing a copy operation, a facsimile unconfirmation 700b for executing a facsimile operation,
Also, a procedure icon 700c for executing the operation of the operation procedure manual of the present invention is displayed on the screen. On the facsimile operation screen 500 shown in FIG. 3B, items such as destination designation 501a, reading condition 501b, and extended transmission 501c, which are facsimile operation functions, are displayed on the screen. Figure 3 (c)
Is a display screen showing a reading condition setting screen 600 for setting a parameter of a function corresponding to the reading condition 501b.

On the reading condition setting screen 600, a reading density 601a, a document type 602a, a character size 603a, and a conversation reservation 604a are displayed on the screen as functions for setting the reading condition. Then, the setting function parameter 601b for the read density 601a, the setting function parameter 602b for the document type 602a, the setting function parameter 603b for the character size 603a, and the setting function parameter 604b for the conversation reservation 604a are displayed on the screen.

The procedure for creating the management table (operation procedure registration table 200, operation screen function table 300 and function parameter table 400) will be described below.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the transition of creating the management table. In FIG. 4, the operator has a large L on the operation panel 12.
Initial screen displayed on the CD (menu operation screen 70
The facsimile uncon- trol 700b of 0) is pressed. A facsimile operation screen 500 is displayed on the operation panel 12 that executes the facsimile operation by pressing this button, and the functions selected by the operator are sequentially displayed on the operation screen function table 30.
It is stored in the 0 item 300a.

The operator selects a function in the order of destination designation 501a, reading condition 501b, and extended transmission 501c in FIG. The destination designation is stored in the item 300a of the operation screen function table 300, the reading condition is stored in the item 300a1, and the extended transmission function is stored in the item 300a2. Reading condition 5 on the facsimile operation screen 500
When the operator selects 01b, the reading condition 501b is stored in the item 300a1 of the operation screen function table 300, and the reading condition setting screen 6 is displayed on the large LCD of the operation panel 12.
00 is displayed on the screen.

When the operator selects an existing value of the reading condition from this screen display, the function parameter table 40 is displayed.
The item 400a of 0 stores "reading density", and the item 400b stores "automatic". Also, item 40
“Original type” is stored in 0a1, and “character” is stored in item 400b1. Further, the item 400a2 stores "character size", the item 400b2 stores "normal character", the item 400a3 stores "conversation reservation", and the item 400b3 stores "not". Create a function parameter table.

When the operator selects the following setting function,
The function parameter table 400 is stored in the mass storage device 13, and the address of the mass storage device 13 in which the function parameter table 400 is written is stored in the item 300b of the operation screen function table 300. Similar processing is executed for the destination designation and extended transmission setting function. The operation screen function table 300 and the function parameter table 400 are created in the mass storage device 13 each time the operator performs an operation, and when the operator executes the operation procedure registration operation, the operation procedure registration table 200 has an item 200b. The address of the mass storage device 13 in which the operation screen function table 300 is stored is stored. If registration is not performed, it will be deleted at the end of the operation.

FIG. 5 is a view showing the operation procedure manual stored in the mass storage device 13. In FIG. 5A, a display screen 800 is a header of the operating procedure manual for recognizing whether or not the operating procedure is written. Display screen 80 in display screen 800
1 represents an identifier registered by the operation procedure. The display screen is a copy icon 700a, and a facsimile computer 7
00b and a procedure icon 700c, which are icons for an operation executed based on the operation procedure manual. In this display screen, the facsimile computer 70 of the display screen 803 is displayed.
0b is displayed in a shaded screen, indicating that it is an operation procedure manual for facsimile operation. Further, FIG. 5B shows the contents of the operation procedure in which the operator has performed registration (806, 80
7, 809).

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. 6, 7, 8, and 9 are flowcharts showing the processing procedure. 6 to 9, when the power is turned on, the central control unit 14 reads the control program from the ROM 15 and starts its operation. Large L of operation panel 12
The menu operation screen 700 is displayed on the CD. The operator selects the icon on the display screen (operation panel 1
2 is pressed) (step S61)
0). It is determined whether or not a facsimile original is prepared in the contact glass or the original feeding portion (ADF) (not shown) of the scanner 18 (step S602).

If a facsimile original is prepared here (step S602: Yes), the original is read by XY scanning the facsimile original (step S60).
3). It is determined whether or not the read original data is the operation procedure written (step S604). If the operation procedure manual is recognized (step 604: Yes), then the document data is analyzed to extract the identifier in the operation procedure manual (step S607), and the next subroutine is processed (step SR100). . In this subroutine, the operation procedure registration table 200 is searched based on the identifier, and the operation screen function table 300 and the function parameter table 400 are searched.
Is stored by designating an address of the RAM 16.

FIG. 7 shows the step SR100 of the subroutine.
6 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of FIG. In FIG. 7, in step SR100, an operation procedure matching the identifier extracted in step S607 is searched for.
Search the operation procedure registration table 200 (step SR
101). Operation procedure registration table 200 that matches when the specified identifier exists in operation procedure registration table 200
From the above entry, the operation screen function table 300 is stored in the RAM 16 based on the address of the mass storage device 13 stored in the item 200b (step SR6).
02).

RA of the function parameter table 400 based on the address of the mass storage device 13 stored in the item 300b of the read operation screen function table 300.
The data is stored in M16 (step SR603). After the processing of step SR100, the parameters stored in the function parameter table 400 stored in the RAM 16 are set in the execution module, and the operation screen function table 3
The operation procedure according to the function stored in the item 00b of item 00 is executed and the process ends (step S612).

If it is not the operation procedure manual in step S604 (No), the read original data is stored in the RAM 16 or the mass storage device 13 (step S60).
5). Next, it is determined whether or not the procedure icon has been selected by the operator (step S606). If it is other than the procedure icon (No), step S801 in FIG.
Move to If it is the procedure icon (Yes), a screen display is displayed on the large LCD of the operation panel 12 to prompt the operator to input the identifier of the operation procedure manual (step S60).
9).

When the identifier is input, the subroutine is processed (SR100). The RAM 300 stores the item 300b of the operation screen function table 300 and the function parameter table 400 stored in the mass storage device 13. Then, it is checked whether the operation is the automatic operation by the identifier, the deletion of the operation procedure manual, the output or the change (steps S608, S610, S611). When the operation procedure manual is deleted in step S608 (Yes), step SR10
Operation screen function table 3 stored in RAM 16 when 0
00 and the function parameter table 400 are deleted, and the items 300a and 300b that match the identifier set in the operation procedure registration table 200 are cleared (step S6).
13) and the process ends.

If the operation procedure manual is output in step S610 (Yes), the RAM is processed in the next step S615.
An operation procedure manual is created based on the operation screen function table 300 and the function parameter table 400 stored in 16 and the operation procedure manual is output (step S61).
5). If the operation procedure manual is not output in step S610 (No), the process proceeds to step S701 shown in FIG. 8, and if the operation procedure manual is changed (Yes), step SR1
In the processing of 00, based on the operation screen function table 300 and the function parameter table 400 stored in the RAM 16, the display screens are displayed on the large LCD of the operation panel 12 in the order stored in the operation screen function table 300 ( Step S705).

Next, it is judged whether or not the setting parameter of the function of the display screen is changed by the instruction of the operator (step S706), and if it is changed (Yes), the item 400b of the function parameter table 400 is selected. The changed setting parameter is stored (step S707), and the process proceeds to step S708. When there is no change in step S706 (No), it is determined whether to execute the changed operation (step S709). When the operation changed here is not executed (No), the operation screen function table 300 and the function parameter table 400 stored in the RAM 16 are stored.
Is stored in the mass storage device 13, and the processing is ended (step S711).

When the operation changed in step S709 is executed (Yes), based on the operation screen function table 300 and the function parameter table 400 of the RAM 16,
The parameters stored in the function parameter table 400 are set in the execution module, and the operation procedure according to the function stored in the item 300a of the operation screen function table 300 is executed (step S710). In the case of automatic execution with the identifier input by the operator, step S6 in FIG.
The parameter stored in the function parameter table 400 stored in the RAM 16 is set in the execution module by 12 and item 3 of the operation screen function table 300 is set.
The operation procedure according to the function stored in 00b is executed and the process ends (step S712).

When a procedure other than the procedure on the menu operation screen displayed on the operation panel 12 is selected (step S60)
6) It is determined whether or not the execution is instructed by the operator (step S801). If the execution is instructed here (Yes), the selected operation is executed (step S
802). Next, it is determined whether or not a function has been selected on the operation screen displayed on the operation panel 12 (step S804). If the function is selected on the operation screen (Yes), the selected function is stored in the item 300a of the operation screen function table 300 (step S80).
5) Next, it is determined whether or not the function setting parameter whose display screen of the operation panel 12 is changed to the setting parameter screen is selected (step S806).

When the function setting parameter is selected in step S806 (Yes), the selected parameter is set to the item 400 of the function parameter table 400.
a and 400b (step S807), and then it is determined whether or not the selection of parameters has been completed (step S808). If the parameter selection is completed (Yes), the process returns to step S801 and the subsequent processes are executed. If the parameter selection is not completed (N
o), returning to step S806, it is executed whether or not the function setting parameter whose display screen of the operation panel 12 is changed to the setting parameter screen is selected.

When execution is selected in step S801,
The operation is executed (step S802) and the process ends.
The operation screen function table 300 and the function parameter table 400 stored in the RAM 16 during input are stored in the mass storage device 13 (step S810). Item 2 is the address of the mass storage device 13 in which the operation screen function table 300 is stored in the operation procedure registration table 200.
It is stored in 00b (step S811).

Next, it is determined whether or not to register the operation procedure input by the operator (step S812). Here, in the case of a registration instruction (Yes), an identifier is assigned to the registered operation procedure manual, and this assigned identifier is assigned to the operation panel 12
And the screen is displayed (step S813). Next, it is determined whether or not to output the input operation procedure manual, and if not output (No), the process ends (step S814).
When the operation procedure manual input in step S814 is output (Yes), the operation procedure manual is created based on the operation screen function table 300 and the function parameter table 400 stored in the RAM 16, and the operation procedure manual is output. ,
The process ends (step S815).

[0044]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the digital copying apparatus of the first aspect, the operation procedure manual corresponding to the input instruction is analyzed and the subsequent input operation procedure is automatically executed. Therefore, the operator can execute the operation procedure without performing all the complicated and difficult operations, and all the multi-functions that combine the functions of the copying machine, the facsimile machine, the scanner, and the printer are easy. And, it has an effect that it can be surely used.

According to the digital copying apparatus of the second and third aspects, when the input operating procedure is registered and the information in which the identifier of the operating procedure is added to the output information is input,
The operating procedure according to the registered operating procedure is automatically executed, and at this time, the registered operating procedure is searched and output based on the added identifier, making it easy for only the operator to use functions that are often used. It has an effect that it can be automatically executed.

According to the digital copying apparatus of the fourth aspect, the retrieved operating procedure is changed and registered, and the changed operating procedure is automatically executed. This has the effect that the operation procedure can be changed, and the operation becomes easier.

According to the digital copying apparatus of the fifth aspect, since the operator deletes the registered operation procedure, the operation procedure registered or changed by the operator as necessary is changed. It is possible to change the accompanying operation procedure, which has the effect of further facilitating the operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration in an embodiment of a digital copying apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a management table in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an initial screen and a facsimile operation screen on a display screen in the embodiment. (A) is a figure which shows a menu operation screen. (B) is a diagram showing a facsimile operation screen. (C) is a diagram showing a reading condition setting screen.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a creation transition of a management table in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an operation procedure manual stored in the mass storage device in the embodiment. (A) is a figure which shows the header of an operation procedure manual. (B) is a figure which shows the content of the operation procedure which the operator performed registration.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a subroutine in FIG. 6 in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12 Operation Panel 13 Mass Storage Device 14 Central Control Unit 16 RAM 17 Print Control Unit 18 Scanner 19 Communication Control Unit 200 Operation Procedure Registration Table 300 Operation Screen Function Table 400 Function Parameter Table

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An operation procedure manual output means for outputting an operation procedure manual showing data of an operation procedure corresponding to an instruction inputted from the operation input means, and an operation procedure manual recognition means for recognizing the output of the operation procedure manual. An operation procedure analyzing means for analyzing the operation procedure manual recognized by the operation procedure manual recognizing means, and an operation for automatically executing an operation procedure corresponding to an instruction by the operation input means according to the operation procedure analyzed by the operation procedure analyzing means. A digital copying apparatus comprising: a procedure automatic execution unit. 2. An operation procedure registration means for registering an operation procedure input from the operation input means, and an identifier adding means for adding identifier data for the registered operation procedure, wherein the identifier is added. 2. The digital copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the information is inputted from the operation input means, the operation procedure automatic execution means automatically executes the operation procedure registered by the operation procedure registration means. 3. An operation procedure retrieving means for retrieving the operation procedure registered by the operation procedure registering means on the basis of the identifier added by the identifier adding means, and the operation searched by the operation procedure retrieving means. 3. The digital copying apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the procedure manual is output from the operation procedure manual output means. 4. An operating procedure changing means for changing the operating procedure is provided, and the operating procedure changed by the operating procedure changing means is registered by the operating procedure registering means and changed by the operating procedure changing means. 4. The digital copying apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the operation procedure automatic execution means automatically executes the operation procedure described above. 5. The operation procedure deleting means is provided, and the operation procedure deleting means deletes the operation procedure registered by the operation procedure registering means.
The described digital copying machine.