JP2003163764A - Multifunction device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multifunction device in which the costs of respective parts can be suppressed and network addresses can be easily managed while enabling communications from a personal computer via a network to respective functional elements. <P>SOLUTION: A FAX part 10, a scanner part 20, and a printer part 30 are mutually connected via a data interface, and the printer part 30 has a network, interface 36. When a packet addressed to an IP address assigned to the data interface of the FAX part 10 or the scanner part 20 is received on the side of the network interface 36, a control part 32 of the printer part 30 performs communication route control for sending the relevant packet via the data interface 35. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a compound device including a plurality of device elements, each device element being connected to each other via a communication path.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a composite apparatus has been developed in which a plurality of device elements such as a fax machine and a copying machine are combined so that a printing portion can be shared by these device elements. FIG. 6 is a configuration block diagram showing an outline of such a conventional composite apparatus. As shown in FIG. 6, for example, a conventional composite apparatus is basically composed of a FAX unit 1, a scanner unit 2, a printer unit 3, and a control unit 4, and these units have mutually exclusive interface circuits. Connected through.

The control section 4 receives a user's operation from an operation section (not shown) and instructs the printer section 3 to print the document read by the scanner section 2 (copy function). Also,
The control unit 4 transmits a document read by the scanner unit 2 according to another operation to a designated destination via the telephone line via the FAX unit 1 (FAX transmission function).
Documents received via the telephone line by the printer unit 3
To print (FAX reception function).

Further, the control unit 4 also realizes a function as a printer or a scanner. That is, the control unit 4 is connected to a personal computer or the like via a network such as Ethernet (registered trademark), and when a print document is received from this personal computer or the like via the network, the printer unit 3 prints the print document. Instruct to print (printer function). Further, the original data read by the scanner unit 2 for scanning is held in a storage unit (not shown), and when an original acquisition request is received from a personal computer via a network, the original is stored in response to the acquisition request. Provide manuscript (scanner function).

[0005]

As described above, in the above-described conventional composite apparatus, since each unit is connected through the dedicated interface circuit, for example, when the FAX unit is improved, the FAX unit after the improvement is It is not always possible to connect to the control unit 4. This is because the control unit 4 has a dedicated interface circuit with the FAX unit before improvement.

Therefore, it is considered that the interface circuits are made common by connecting the respective parts to each other through a general-purpose communication path such as IEEE1394. By doing so, even when each part is replaced by improvement or replaced with another device element, the replaced device element can be controlled only by replacing or setting the software of the control unit 4.

Further, by connecting each section through a general-purpose communication path and incorporating a control computer in each section so that each section independently executes control, for example, FAX during scanning. There is a merit that processing such as receiving and printing is possible. However, even with such a configuration, it is desired to transmit the instruction from the personal computer to each unit and realize the above-mentioned scanner function and printer function. Therefore, each unit may be provided with a network interface so that each unit can communicate with the personal computer independently.
There are the following problems.

First, (1) it is necessary to provide a network interface in each section in addition to the above-mentioned interface for a general-purpose communication path, which increases the product cost of each section.
In addition, (2) it is necessary to set individual network addresses for each network interface, and a plurality of different network addresses are set even though it is one compound device, and which network address corresponds to which functional element. Management is troublesome, and convenience is low.

To solve the problem (1), if a network is used as the above-mentioned general-purpose communication path, the general-purpose communication path may be eliminated and the communication between the respective parts may be performed only by the network. However, for example, an extremely large traffic is generated between the scanner unit and the printer unit when it is used as a copying machine, and therefore it is not realistic to connect them via a network.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has a configuration in which each functional element can operate independently and enables communication from a personal computer to each functional element via a network. It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-functional apparatus that can reduce the cost of each unit and that can easily manage network addresses.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems of the prior art is a compound device, which is provided with a first interface means connected to a first communication path.
A second device element comprising a device element, a first interface means connected to the first communication path, and a second interface means connected to a second communication path; The first device element and the second device element are communicatively connected to each other via a communication path, and a communication control means for controlling a communication path between the first communication path and the second communication path is provided. , Is characterized.

Here, different logical addresses are set to the first interface means of the first equipment element, the first interface means of the second equipment element, and the second interface means, respectively, and the communication is performed. It is preferable that the control means controls the communication path of the communication with the first device element via the second communication path to be accessible by the logical address given to the first interface means.

Further, when the communication path control means receives a communication request to the first device element made via the second communication path, it identifies the communication request source, and the identification result of the communication request source. It is preferable to control the communication route according to the above. Further, it includes means for storing setting information for communication path control by the second device element, and based on the setting information,
It is also preferable that the communication path control means controls the communication path.

The present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems of the conventional example is a composite apparatus including a plurality of device elements, each of which has an interface means connected to one or a plurality of communication paths. In addition, it is characterized by including a communication path control means for controlling a communication path between the communication paths. Here, it is also preferable that the communication path control means performs communication path control so as to prohibit communication using a predetermined communication path.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first equipment element having a first interface means connected to a first communication path, a first interface means connected to the first communication path, and a second interface element. A second device element having a second interface means connected to the communication path of the first device element, and the first device element and the second device element are communicatively connected via the first communication path. A method for controlling a communication path using a composite device as described above, characterized in that a communication path between the first communication path and the second communication path is controlled.

Another aspect of the present invention is a computer-controlled composite apparatus, which comprises a first device element having a first interface means connected to a first communication path,
A second device element having a first interface means connected to the first communication path and a second interface means connected to the second communication path, and via the first communication path. A communication path control program executed by a multi-functional apparatus in which the first device element and the second device element are communicatively connected to each other, wherein the first communication path and the second device
It is characterized by executing a procedure for controlling a communication path to and from the communication path.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction device according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a FAX unit 10, a scanner unit 20, and a printer unit 30. The FAX unit 10 includes a telephone line interface 11 and
It includes a control unit 12, a storage unit 13, a ROM 14, and a data interface 15. Here, the data interface is IEEE 1394 or USB (Universal Serial B).
us) etc. is a general-purpose data communication path.

The scanner unit 20 includes a reading unit 21, a control unit 22, a storage unit 23, a ROM 24, a data interface 25, and an operation unit 26, and the printer unit 3
0 is a printing unit 31, a control unit 32, a storage unit 33, and R
An OM 34, a data interface 35, and a network interface 36 are provided.

Further, each of these device elements (FAX unit 10
Each of the scanner section 20, the printer section 30 and the like) has a control board on which a control section is mounted, and at least two interface connecting connectors are provided on the board. That is, the data interface and the network interface are detachable from the control unit. Then, the control unit of each device element has a network interface board (network interface card; NI) for each of the interface connection connectors.
When C) and the data interface (IEEE 1394 interface board, etc.) are connected, communication path control processing is performed. Also, only the network interface,
Alternatively, when only the data interface is connected, the communication route control process is not performed. Here, since the case where both interfaces are connected to the printer unit 30 is illustrated, the control unit 32 of the printer unit 30 controls the communication path.

Telephone line interface 1 of FAX section 10
Reference numeral 1 denotes, for example, a modem, which is connected to the public telephone line network P and which receives a FAX from an instruction input from the control unit 12.
A call is made to the destination, and FAX data is transmitted via the public telephone network P to the destination that has arrived in response to the call. When the telephone line interface 11 is called through the public telephone line network P, the telephone line interface 11 receives the call in response to the call, and outputs FAX data received subsequently to the control unit 12.

The control unit 12 operates according to a program stored in the ROM 14, and basically performs FAX transmission / reception processing. Specifically, the control unit 12 receives, via the data interface 15, the input of the fax destination telephone number information and the document data to be faxed, and stores this in the storage unit 13. Instruct the telephone line interface 11 to call the destination telephone number,
When the destination receives an incoming call, the original data is output to the telephone line interface 11 to be transmitted. Further, when the FAX reception data (including the information for specifying the transmission source and the original data to be received) is input from the telephone line interface 11, the control unit 12 stores it in the storage unit 13, Printer unit 3 via data interface 15
Processing such as outputting document data to 0 is performed.

The storage unit 13 operates as a work memory of the control unit 12, and holds data related to FAX that is transmitted and received. The ROM 14 stores a program executed by the control unit 12. This ROM14 is EEP
It may be non-volatile, such as a ROM, and the contents of which can be rewritten. Data interface 1
Reference numeral 5 is connected to the scanner unit 20 and the printer unit 30 respectively via a general-purpose communication path, and outputs data input from these to the control unit 12. In addition, the control unit 12
Data is transmitted to the scanner unit 20 and the printer unit 30 via a general-purpose communication path in accordance with an instruction input from.

The reading unit 21 of the scanner unit 20 optically reads an original and generates original data, and executes reading of the original according to an instruction input from the controller 22. The reading unit 21 also outputs the read document data to the control unit 22.

The control unit 22 operates according to a program stored in the ROM 24, and executes a scan process, a print process, and a FAX process according to a user's instruction input from the operation unit 26. In addition, the control unit 22
Executes a process as a data providing server such as a Web server or an FTP server. The specific processing contents of the control unit 22 will be described in detail later.

The storage unit 23 is a RAM or a hard disk, and stores data relating to the processing of the control unit 22. R
The OM 24 stores a program executed by the control unit 22. The ROM 24 may be non-volatile and rewritable, such as an EEPROM. The data interface 25 is connected to the FAX unit 10 and the printer unit 30 via a general-purpose communication path, and outputs the data input from the control unit 22 to these units. In addition, this data interface 25
Outputs data input from the FAX unit 10 and the printer unit 30 to the control unit 22. The operation unit 26 is composed of a liquid crystal display unit and a touch panel arranged on the liquid crystal display unit, and according to an instruction input from the control unit 22,
A predetermined interface screen is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit, a user's operation is received on the touch panel, and the operation content is output to the control unit 22.

Here, the processing performed by the control unit 22 of the scanner unit 20 will be described. The control unit 22 includes an operation unit 26.
The liquid crystal display is presented with a menu for selecting which of "scan", "FAX", and "copy" to perform, and the process is performed according to the result selected by the user from this menu.

First, if there is simply a scan instruction,
The control unit 22 instructs the reading unit 21 to read the document, accumulates the document data input from the reading unit 21 in the storage unit 23, and ends the process. Further, when the user gives a FAX instruction, the control unit 22 displays on the liquid crystal display of the operation unit 26 that the control unit 22 further requests the input of the FAX destination, and causes the user to input the destination.
When a destination (information indicating a telephone number) is input, the control unit 2
Reference numeral 2 instructs the reading unit 21 to read a document, and stores document data input from the reading unit 21 in the storage unit 23. When the storage of the document data is completed, an instruction to fax the document data stored in the storage unit 23 to the input destination is output to the FAX unit 10 via the data interface 25.

Further, when there is a copying instruction from the user, the control section 22 instructs the reading section 21 to read the original, accumulates the original data input from the reading section 21 in the storage section 23, and The print instruction of the stored original data is output to the printer unit 30 via the data interface 25.

A feature of this embodiment is that the control unit 22 operates as a Web server or an FTP server, and HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) or FTP received via the data interface 25 is used.
That is, the original data stored in the storage unit 23 is distributed via the data interface 25 in response to a data request such as (File Transfer Protocol). When the data interface 25 is a general-purpose signal path for serial data such as IEEE1394, PPP (Poin
t to Point Protocol) or a protocol such as IP over 1394 is used to perform data providing processing based on HTTP or FTP.

The data interface 15 of the FAX section 10 and the data interface 2 of the scanner section 20.
A logical network address is given to 5 by the processing of the control unit 32 of the printer unit 30, and the data interfaces 15 and 25 are referred to by this logical network address from the external network. The process related to the assignment of the logical network address will be described in detail later.

The printing unit 31 of the printer unit 30 includes the control unit 3
The document data is printed according to the instruction input from 2. The control unit 32 operates according to the program stored in the ROM 34, and basically, the data interface 35.
Alternatively, the printing process of the document data received via the network interface 36 is performed. In addition, the control unit 32
Also operates as a file providing server such as a Web server or an FTP server. Further, a feature of this embodiment is that the control unit 32 performs communication path control processing in addition to print processing. Specific contents of these processes of the control unit 32 will be described later in detail.

The storage unit 33 is a RAM or a hard disk device, operates as a work memory of the control unit 32, and stores data related to the processing of the control unit 32. The ROM 34 stores the program executed by the control unit 32. This ROM 34 is also a ROM
Like 24, it may be a rewritable ROM such as an EEPROM. The data interface 35 is connected to the data interface 15 of the FAX unit 10 and the data interface 25 of the scanner unit 20, and according to an instruction input from the control unit 32, the FAX unit 10 and the scanner unit 2 are connected.
Data is transmitted to 0, and data is received from these and output to the control unit 32. The network interface 36 is, for example, an Ethernet (registered trademark) interface, and according to an instruction input from the control unit 32, transmits data via the network and receives data received via the network to control the data. Part 3
Output to 2. Here, the data arriving via the network is packetized by the IP protocol,
The IP address of the destination of the data is given to each packet.

Here, the data interfaces 15, 25,
The allocation of the network address to the network interface 35 and the network interface 36 will be described. The network interface 36 is allocated with a specific IP address. In addition, the data interface 15, 2
Different IP addresses are assigned to 5 and 35, respectively.

The communication path control process of the control unit 32 of the printer unit 30 will be described with reference to FIG.
Note that, as shown in FIG. 3, the storage unit 33 stores information on the IP addresses of the data interfaces 15 and 25 as routing information.

The control unit 32 receives the input of the data received by the network interface 36, starts the processing shown in FIG. 2, and refers to the IP address which is the destination of the data (S1), and the network interface 36. It is checked whether it matches the IP address assigned to (self-addressed) or the IP address stored as the routing information in the storage unit 33 (transfer target) (S2).

Then, when the IP address assigned to the network interface 36 matches (“to self”)
In the case of), the content of the data is taken in (S3; normally, a series of data is obtained by synthesizing a plurality of packets addressed to the IP address of the network interface 36), and other processing depending on the data (S4),
The processing of the communication path control ends. Here, as another process according to the data, for example, if the data is a print instruction and document data, a printing process for printing the document data is performed. In addition, the data is a Web server or F
If the request is to provide data to the TP server, the data stored in the storage unit 33 is provided in response to the request.

On the other hand, the control unit 32 controls the IP stored in the storage unit 33 as the routing information in the process S2.
When it matches with any of the addresses (in the case of “transfer target”), the received IP packet is sent out via the data interface 35 (S5), and the process ends. If it is neither addressed to itself nor the transfer target in the process S2, the data is discarded (S6).

The control unit 32 also refers to the IP address of the IP packet received from the FAX unit 10 or the scanner unit 20 via the data interface 35, and the IP address stored in the storage unit 33 as the routing information.
If any of the addresses matches, the IP packet is discarded. This is because the FAX unit 10 or the scanner unit 20 should have received the IP packet addressed to the IP address set as the routing information.

If the IP packet received via the data interface 35 is addressed to the IP address of the data interface 35, the contents of the data are fetched and the network interface 36 is fetched.
IP addressed to the network interface 36 via
The same operation as when a packet is received is performed.

If the IP address of the IP packet received via the data interface 35 is neither one of the IP addresses stored as the routing information nor the IP address of the data interface 35, the IP packet is sent to the network interface 36. To the network via.

By the communication path control processing of the control unit 32, the personal computer on the network can access the scanner unit 20 by using the IP address assigned to the data interface 25 of the scanner unit 20.

[Logical Address] Further, the control unit 32 controls the F
A logical address may be assigned to the data interface of each device element such as the AX unit 10 and the scanner unit 20, and the communication path may be controlled accordingly. in this case,
The routing information stored in the storage unit 33 is as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, each of the data interfaces 15 and 25 is associated with an IP address (A) and a logical address name (B).

When the destination of the IP packet received via the network interface 36 matches the IP address assigned to the network interface 36, the control unit 32 takes in the data contained in the IP packet and It is determined whether or not the fetched data includes the designation of the logical address. If the designation of the logical address is included, the control unit 32 refers to the routing information stored in the storage unit 33 to check the IP address corresponding to the logical address. Then, the fetched data is reconstructed into an IP packet addressed to the corresponding IP address and sent out via the data interface 35.

Specifically, the logical address is information (URI; Uniform) for specifying the storage location of the file in the storage unit 33.
Resource Identifier). For example, when the IP address assigned to the network interface 36 is “192.168.1.1” and the logical address for the data interface 25 of the scanner unit 20 is set as “sc”, the HTTP for the control unit 22 of the scanner unit 20 is set. The request of
Like "http: //192.168.1.1/sc / ...", it is as if it were an access request to a file (directory) in the storage unit 33 of the printer unit 30. Also, "ht
It may be described as a query for a predetermined process, such as a CGI (Common Gateway Interface) program executed by the control unit 32, such as "tp: //192.168.1.1/? sc ...".

That is, the IP address assigned to the data interface 25 of the scanner section 20 is "127.16.1.
If “1”, the control unit 32 determines, for example, “http: //192.168.
"1.1 / sc / ..." is a request to the data interface 25 of the scanner unit 20, "http://127.16.1.1.
It is converted to "/ ..." and transmitted through the data interface 35. In addition, the response from the scanner unit 20 received by the data interface 35 to the request is directly transmitted via the network interface 36 to the HTT.
It is sent to the request source by P.

As described above, when the logical address is used, the IP address "192.168.1.1" assigned to the network interface 36 does not correspond to the printer unit 30, and it is as if it is assigned to the entire composite apparatus. Can be seen. Therefore, a logical address (for example, “pr” for the data interface 35 (or the network interface 36 itself) of the printer unit 30)
t ”) is also preferably set. Furthermore, this logical address "prt" is the local loopback address "12".
It may be related to "7.0.0.1". This is because the latter also causes the logical address "prt" to identify the printer unit 30 itself.

The logical address may be set in advance as a table as shown in FIG. 3. However, when dynamically assigning an IP address using DHCP, IPv6 or the like, the control unit of each device element When the instruction to assign the IP address is received, the control unit that controls the communication path, that is, the control unit 32 may be notified of the logical address (value set in advance) to be assigned to itself.
By this notification, the control unit 32 dynamically generates the routing information shown in FIG.

[Communication path control by other control section] Up to this point, the case where the network interface 36 is connected to the printer 30 and the control section 32 controls the communication path has been described as an example. However, the FAX section 10 and the scanner section. The control units 12 and 22 of 20 may receive the connection of the network interface 36 and perform the process of communication path control.

When the device element to which the network interface is attached changes in this way, the routing information is set in the storage unit of the device element to which the network interface is attached. Also,
At this time, a program for communication path control is stored in the ROM of each device element so that the program can be read and processed when the control section performs processing for communication path control.

[Security] Further, the control unit for controlling the communication path may determine whether to perform the communication path control according to the property of the interface for communication (the property of the communication path). For example, when the control unit 12 of the FAX unit 10 performs communication path control, the control unit 12 prohibits communication path control related to the telephone line interface 11 (modem). As a result, access using the telephone line is prohibited, and unauthorized access is prevented, thus improving security.

[Operation] Next, regarding the operation of the composite apparatus according to the present embodiment, (1) it operates as a normal copying machine, (2) it operates as a scanner, and (3) it operates as a printer. It will be divided into two cases.

(1) Operation as a normal copying machine When the user turns on the power of the composite apparatus, the control unit 22 causes the liquid crystal display of the operation unit 26 to display "scan" and "FA".
A menu for selecting "X", "copy" and processing is displayed. Here, when the user sets a document on the reading unit 21 and gives an instruction for copying, the control unit 22 causes the reading unit 21 to operate.
Instructing to read the document, the document data input from the reading unit 21 is stored in the storage unit 23. Then, the stored original data and the print instruction are transmitted via the data interface 25.

The control unit 32 of the printer unit 30 receives the original data and its print instruction via the data interface 35, and outputs them to the printing unit 31. Then, the printing unit 31 prints and outputs this document data.

In this case, the data transmitted / received via each data interface may be transmitted without any procedure (the same as the data transmitted via the conventional dedicated interface circuit), or may be transmitted as an IP over 1394 data packet. Good.

(2) Operation as Scanner Next, the operation of the multifunction apparatus according to the present embodiment as a scanner will be described. Here, the IP address of the network interface 36 is, for example, "192.168.1.
1 ". Here is the data interface 1
For each of 5, 25 and 35, "127.16.1.1" and "127.
It is assumed that "16.1.2" and "127.16.1.3" are assigned.
Although each IP address is a private address here, these IP addresses may be global addresses.

When the user selects "scan" from the menu displayed on the liquid crystal display of the operation unit 26 of the scanner unit 20, sets the document on the reading unit 21 and gives a scanning instruction, the control unit 22 reads the document. The unit 21 is instructed to read the document, and the document data input from the reading unit 21 is accumulated in the storage unit 23.

The user operates the Web browser using the personal computer PC connected to the network, and sets "http://127.16.1.2/" (to the IP address assigned to the data interface 25 of the scanner unit 20). HTTP request). Here, since the network interface card (NIC) of the personal computer PC belongs to the same network as the network interface 36, an IP address of "192.168.1.2" is assigned, for example.

The HTTP request is received by the network interface 36 of the printer unit 30 and output to the control unit 32. The control unit 32 refers to the routing information and checks whether or not this is the transfer target. Here, since "127.16.1.2" is set in the storage unit 33 as the transfer target in the routing information, the control unit 32 sends this HTTP request to the data interface 35.
Send through.

Then, the control unit 22 of the scanner unit 20 obtains this HTTP request via the data interface 25, and responds to this as a Web server in response to the storage unit 23.
The above predetermined web page (for example, the default web page in the root directory of the web server) is sent to the personal computer as the data request source via the data interface 25. Here, for example, a list including links to read and accumulated document data is provided as a Web page.

The data of the Web page related to this response is
The data interface 3 is added to the control unit 32 of the printer unit 30.
5 is input via the network interface 36.
Sent to the network via. Then, the personal computer PC receives the web page data relating to this response and displays it on the screen of the web browser. In this way, the user can browse the document data stored in the scanner unit 20 from the personal computer PC, and can also obtain the document data shown in the list by a similar HTTP request or the like.

However, as the user, the scanner unit 2
If you need to remember and enter the IP address of 0, you will be bothered. Therefore, it is preferable that the control unit 32 that controls the communication path delivers a Web page including a link to the Web server of the control unit of each device element as an interface. W as this interface
For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the eb page has buttons (B) with the names of the respective device elements, and each of these buttons links an HTTP request to the IP address assigned to each data interface of each device element. There is one set.

Further, even if the logical address is used, the access becomes easy. That is, if the logical address for the data interface 25 of the scanner unit 20 is set as "sc", the HTTP request to the control unit 22 of the scanner unit 20 will be "http://192.168.1.1/sc/". That's because it's done. In particular, DNS on the network
(Domain Name Service) server is set, and IP for the host name "multifuncion" for the printer unit 30.
If the address "192.168.1.1" is associated, the HTTP request above is "http: // multifunction / sc" or "h
It becomes "ttp: // multifunction /? sc" and it becomes easier to access.

In this case, when the interface by the Web page as shown in FIG. 4 is provided, the link destination of each button (B) may be described by using a logical address.

(3) Operation as Printer Next, an example in which the multifunction apparatus according to this embodiment operates as a printer will be described. The user sends the original data for printing and the printing request from the personal computer PC to the "192.168.1.1" via the network, for example by lpr or
Send using a printer protocol such as lpd. Since this data is addressed to itself, the network interface 36 of the printer unit 30 receives this data, and the control unit 3
Output to 2. Since the received data is the original data and the print request, the control unit 32 stores the original data in the storage unit 33 (spool) and outputs the stored original data to the printing unit 31 at a predetermined timing. Then, print output is performed.

[Mail Server] Further, the control unit of each device element may operate as a mail server to transfer data to the personal computer PC by electronic mail. For example, when the telephone line interface 11 of the FAX unit 10 outputs FAX data received via the public telephone line network P to the control unit 12, the control unit 12 outputs the FAX data.
The data is sent as an attached file to an e-mail to a preset e-mail address (e-mail address of a specific personal computer PC). In this case, FAX
The electronic mail transmitted by the unit 10 is sent to the control unit that controls the communication path, that is, the control unit 32 of the printer unit 30 via the data interface, and the printer unit 30.
The control unit 32 of the e-mail sends the e-mail to the network side mail server (normal SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)).
Server). Then, this mail server on the network side processes the received mail from the multifunction apparatus according to the present embodiment in the same manner as a normal electronic mail, and an electronic mail containing FAX data is sent to the personal computer PC.

When the electronic mail address of the transfer destination is received through the public telephone line network P together with the FAX data, the control unit 12 of the FAX unit 10 attaches the FAX data to the electronic mail addressed to the electronic mail address. May be transmitted.

Similarly, the control unit 12 of the FAX unit 10 is
When the image data to be transmitted by AX and the identifier (telephone number, etc.) of the FAX transmission destination are received from the personal computer PC by e-mail, the control unit 12 generates FAX data from the image data included in this e-mail. hand,
The telephone number received as an identifier of the FAX transmission destination is called, and the generated FAX data is transmitted.

In this case, the destination identifier can be designated as the destination of the electronic mail. For example, if the host name of the multifunction device of this embodiment is "mf1", the telephone number xxx
FAX data addressed to x-xxxx is transmitted as "xxxx-xxxx @ mf1". In this case, the control unit 32 of the printer unit 30 checks the destination format of the electronic mail received via the network, and when the destination is the telephone number format, sends the electronic mail to the FAX 10 via the data interface. It is also preferable to do so.

[Another Example of Routing Information] In the above description, the case where the control unit 32 controls the communication route based on the IP address has been described, but the interface type information and the protocol type (IPv4, IPv6) are used. ,
It is also possible to set the IPX type (which is distinguished by the address type and the protocol type information in the packet) as the routing information and perform the communication route control based on the routing information.

Furthermore, settings such as routing control of all data from the network interface to the data interface side, and only data received from a specific IP address or a specific network (for example, 192.168.0.0) are routed to 127.16.0.0. The control information may include a setting such as control in the routing information, and the control unit 32 may control the communication path based on the routing information.

Further, the control unit 32 may refer to the content of the received data and perform the route control process only when the specific authentication information is included. For example,
The user authentication information contained in the packet is compared with predetermined user information to determine whether or not the communication route can be controlled. When it is determined that the communication route can be controlled, communication is performed based on the routing information. Performs route control processing.

[Another Implementation Example] Up to this point, the case where the network interface and the data interface are connected to the control board of the device element that controls the communication path among the device elements has been described as an example. The control unit of the connected device element does not control the communication path, but as shown in FIG. 5, the network interface 51, the data interface 52, the communication control unit 53, and the storage unit are stored on one interface board. Part 54
And the interface board itself may control the communication path. The interface board of this mounting example is the data interface 3 in the example shown in FIG.
5 and a network interface 36, which are connected to the control unit 32. The communication control unit 53 performs data communication path control between the network interface 51 and the data interface 52, instead of the control unit of the device element. The processing of this communication path control is the same as the processing of the communication path control of the control unit 32 which has already been described, and therefore the repeated description is omitted. In addition, the communication control unit 53 uses an address (IP address or the like) assigned to the network interface 51 or an address (IP address) assigned to the data interface 52.
When the data addressed to (address, etc.) is received, the data is output to the control unit on the control board side connected via the interface connector. The storage unit 54 stores the routing information, and the communication control unit 53 refers to the routing information stored in the storage unit 54 to perform the communication route control process. In this case, the communication control unit 53 corresponds to the communication control means of the present invention.

According to such an interface board,
By connecting the interface board to the control board of any of the device elements, the communication path control process is performed in the device element. Further, according to this, even in the case where only one interface connecting connector is provided as in the current control board, the communication path control function can be additionally mounted.

It is preferable that the device element for controlling the communication path be accessed more from the network side. For example, when the printer function is frequently used, it is preferable to connect the network interface 36 and the above-mentioned interface board so that the printer unit 30 controls the communication path. It is preferable to connect these to the scanner unit 20.

[0075]

According to the present invention, the first device element comprises first interface means connected to the first communication path,
The second device element comprises a first interface means connected to the first communication path and a second interface means connected to the second communication path, and the first device element via the first communication path. And the second device element are communicatively connected to each other to form a composite device that controls a communication path between the first communication path and the second communication path. Therefore, from the personal computer to each functional element via the network. While enabling communication of
The cost of each unit can be suppressed, and the network address can be easily managed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram showing an example of a compound device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation example of a control unit that controls a communication path.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of routing information when a logical address is used.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a web page provided by the multifunction device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration block diagram showing a mounting example of an interface board that controls a communication path.

FIG. 6 is a configuration block diagram showing an example of a conventional compound device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,10 FAX section, 2,20 Scanner section, 3,30
Printer unit, 4, 12, 22, 32 Control unit, 11
Telephone line interface, 13, 23, 33, 54 storage unit, 14, 24, 34 ROM, 15, 25, 35,
52 data interface, 21 reader, 26
Operation unit, 31 printing unit, 36, 51 network interface, 53 communication control unit.

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2C061 AP01 AP03 AP04 AP07 HJ10                       HQ20                 5C062 AA05 AA29 AB16 AC01 AE15                       AF02 BA02

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A first device element having a first interface means connected to a first communication path, a first interface means connected to the first communication path, and a second communication path. A second device element having a second interface means, the first device element and the second device element being communicatively connected via the first communication path, A compound device, comprising: communication control means for controlling a communication path between a communication path and the second communication path. 2. The composite apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the first interface means of the first equipment element, the first interface means of the second equipment element, and the second interface means thereof. Different logical addresses are set to each other, and the communication control unit communicates with the first device element via the second communication path so that the communication is accessible by the logical address assigned to the first interface unit. A compound device characterized by being route-controlled. 3. The composite apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the communication path control means receives a communication request to the first device element via the second communication path, and the communication request source And a communication path control is performed according to the identification result of the communication request source. 4. The composite device according to claim 1, further comprising a unit that stores setting information for communication path control by the second device element, and the communication based on the setting information. A compound device characterized in that the route control means controls a communication route. 5. A plurality of device elements, each of which is one
Alternatively, a compound device comprising: a device element having interface means connected to a plurality of communication paths, and a communication path control means for controlling a communication path between the communication paths. 6. The composite apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the communication path control unit performs communication path control so as to prohibit communication using a predetermined communication path. 7. A first device element having a first interface means connected to a first communication path, a first interface means connected to the first communication path, and a second communication path. A second device element provided with a second interface unit configured to communicate with the first device element and the second device element via the first communication path in a communicable manner. A communication path control method, comprising: controlling a communication path between the first communication path and the second communication path by using the communication path control method. 8. A computer controlled composite device comprising a first equipment element comprising first interface means connected to a first communication path, and a first interface connected to said first communication path. Means and a second equipment element comprising second interface means connected to the second communication path, wherein the first equipment element and the second equipment element are connected via the first communication path. A communication path control program for causing a compound device communicatively connected to execute a procedure for controlling a communication path between the first communication path and the second communication path.