JP4366199B2 - Data transmission system, data transmission method, and control program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for transmitting document data or the like created by a portable information terminal such as a notebook PC (Personal Computer), PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), or mobile phone using a composite device having a data transmission function.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, portable information terminals such as notebook PCs and PDAs have been realized with high performance and low power consumption of CPUs and downsizing of display devices. It is widely used as a tool for managing information.

  In such information management, an electronic document is created on the go using a portable information terminal, or image data is captured as part of the electronic document using an imaging function of the portable information terminal, and wireless or wired By sending these electronic documents to a transmission destination information device (business management computer, server, etc.) using the electronic mail function or the file transfer function via the communication path, the work can be speeded up. It is illustrated.

  However, documents used in business situations are not necessarily electronic documents, and paper documents are often used from the viewpoint of portability and readability. A paper document cannot be digitized and transmitted to a desired information device.

  Therefore, if you want to quickly notify the company of paper documents obtained on the go, use a multifunction device installed on the go, such as a multifunction device that has the function of digitizing paper documents and the function of sending them. A paper document has been digitized and transmitted to a desired information device.

  In this case, it is rare that the desired destination information is registered in the composite device used for digitization / transmission of the paper document when going out, and every time the digitized paper document (document data) is transmitted. It was necessary to input destination information. In addition, the electronic document (document data) created by the portable information terminal and the document data related to the paper document digitized by the multifunction device or the document data acquired by the multifunction device from a device other than the portable information terminal are transmitted simultaneously. It was inconvenient to manage information.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a data transmission system, a data transmission method, and a control program that can simultaneously and easily transmit document data created by a portable information terminal and document data obtained from other than the portable information terminal. Objective.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a data transmission system using a portable information terminal and a composite device, wherein the composite device receives document data and destination information of the document data from the portable information terminal. As the data to be transmitted together with the document data acquired by the acquisition means and the document data acquired by the acquisition means, either the data obtained by the original reading means reading the original or the data stored in the storage device included in the composite device Selection means for selecting based on the instruction, and when the selection means selects data obtained by the original reading means reading the original, the acquisition means obtains data obtained by the original reading means reading the original There transmits the acquired document data as both the destination information obtained by the obtaining unit and thus to the destination specified, the selection When the stage selects data stored in the storage device, the acquisition unit acquires the data selected by the user from the data stored in the storage device together with the document data acquired by the acquisition unit Transmitting means for transmitting to the destination specified by the destination information .

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a data transmission system, a data transmission method, and a control program that can simultaneously and easily transmit document data created by a portable information terminal and document data obtained from other than the portable information terminal. It becomes possible.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a multifunction printer (composite device) to which the present invention is applied. The multi-function printer 100 includes an image forming unit 101 that forms an image on recording paper based on electronic data, a control unit 102 that controls various operations of the multi-function printer 100, and punch holes in the recording paper after image formation. A finisher 103 for performing post-processing such as stapling, a scanner unit 104 for reading a document image, an operation unit 105 for performing various instructions, and a media slot 110 for mounting a portable recording medium. Yes. In addition, it has a plurality of receiving interfaces 106 and a plurality of sending interfaces 107, and can perform e-mail transmission / reception, network file transmission / reception, and fax transmission / reception.

  The control unit 102 includes a CPU 108 and a memory 109. The memory 109 stores various programs such as applications corresponding to flowcharts shown in FIGS. 4 to 5 and FIGS. The CPU 108 also uses the memory 109 as a work area when executing the program stored in the memory 109. The memory 109 stores various data such as document data received from the portable information terminal 200 described later and data (document data) related to a document image read by the scanner unit 104.

  In the multi-function printer 100, document data relating to a document can be transmitted to a desired destination via the transmission interface 107 by setting a document on the scanner unit 104 and instructing a transmission destination from the operation unit 105. It is also possible to transmit the document data received from the portable information terminal 200 via the reception interface 106 at the same time as the document data related to the document. The operation unit 105 includes a display panel in addition to various function keys.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a portable information terminal to which the present invention is applied. The portable information terminal 200 includes a display panel 201, a CPU 202, a memory 203, an input device 204, a media slot 205, and an input / output interface 206. Note that the memory 203 stores various programs such as applications corresponding to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  The portable information terminal 200 has a function of creating document data. The created document data is stored in the memory 203 and is transmitted to the multi-function printer 100 via the input / output interface 206. The multi-function printer 100 can transmit the document data created in step 1 to a desired destination together with the document data related to the original read by the multi-function printer 100. As described above, when the document data created by the portable information terminal 200 is transmitted to the desired destination from the multifunction printer 100 together with the document data related to the original, the transmission destination information (destination information when the multifunction printer transmits) ) Instructs the multi-function printer 100 from the portable information terminal 200. In this case, the transmission destination information may be input from the input device 204 of the portable information terminal 200 and instructed to the multi-function printer 100 each time, but the destination information registered in the address book in the portable information terminal 200 It is also possible to select and instruct.

  Next, the document transmission process in the first embodiment of the portable information terminal 200 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

  The user operates the keys of the input device 204 to display a document list (list of document data created by the portable information terminal 200) stored in the memory 203 on the display panel 201, and the contents of the document list Desired document data is selected (step S301). Next, by operating the key of the input device 204, the user designates whether to select from a destination table (address book) or input a new destination as a destination designation method (step S302).

  Therefore, when the input of a new destination is designated as the destination designation method, the CPU 202 displays a screen prompting entry of the destination on the display panel 201, and the type of transmission (e-mail transmission, network file transmission, fax transmission). Various information such as a transmission destination (address), a creator and a creation date of the transmission document, the number of documents, and a document name are input from the input device 204 (step S303). On the other hand, when selection from the address book is designated as the destination designation method, the CPU 202 displays the address book held in the memory 203 on the display panel 201 and allows the user to select it by operating the input device 204 (step S304). ). Even when the transmission destination is selected from the address book in step S304, various types of information such as transmission type (e-mail transmission, network file transmission, fax transmission), creator and creation date of the transmission document, number of documents, document name, etc. Enter.

  Next, the CPU 202 pays attention to one document data in the transmission target selected in step S301, and determines whether or not the document data has a file format that can be handled by the multi-function printer 100 that actually performs transmission processing. If the document data is in a file format that can be handled by the multi-function printer 100, the document data is stored in the work area on the memory 203 (step S307). On the other hand, if the focused document data is not in a file format that can be handled by the multi-function printer 100, the CPU 202 converts the document data into a file format that can be handled by the multi-function printer 100 (step S306), and proceeds to step S3007. Are stored in the work area on the memory 203.

  Next, the CPU 202 updates the transmission document information list (step S308). In this transmission document information list, various types of information such as transmission type (e-mail transmission, network file transmission, fax transmission), transmission destination, creator and date of transmission document, number of documents, document name, etc. are registered. (Refer to the transmission information job information in FIG. 6) In the first process of step S308, the type of transmission (e-mail transmission, network file transmission, fax transmission), the creator and creation date of the transmission document, the number of documents, the document A name is registered, and in the second and subsequent processing of step S308, only the document name of the document data stored in the work area on the memory 203 in step S307 is additionally registered.

  Next, the CPU 202 determines whether or not the processing in steps S305 to S308 has been completed for all the document data to be transmitted (step S309). If not, the process returns to step S305, and the remaining document data Steps S305 to S308 are performed. On the other hand, when the processing of steps S305 to S308 is completed for all the document data to be transmitted, the CPU 202 adds the transmission destination input in step S303 or S304 to the transmission document information list (step S310).

  Then, the CPU 202 associates one or a plurality of document data accumulated in the work area of the memory 203 by serializing the transmission document information list (step S311, see FIG. 6). Next, the CPU 202 establishes a communication path with the multifunction printer 100 via the input / output interface 206 (step S312), and transmits the transmission document data and the transmission document information list serialized in step S311 (step S313). Then, the communication path with the multi-function printer 100 established in step S312 is disconnected (step S314), and the process ends.

  Next, document transmission processing in the first embodiment of the multifunction printer 100 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  First, when the transmission document data related to serialization and the transmission document information list transmitted from the portable information terminal 200 are received via the reception interface 106 (step S401), the CPU 108 of the multi-function printer 100 transmits the received transmission document data and the transmission. The document information list is deserialized on the memory 109 (step 402). Next, the CPU 108 sets the transmission destination in the deserialized transmission document information list as a transmission destination (step S403), and sets the document data from the deserialized portable information terminal 200 as a transmission document (step S404).

  Next, the CPU 108 scans the document data to be transmitted together with the document data received from the portable information terminal 200 (document data related to the paper document) read from the scanner unit 104 or the document (multiple documents stored in the memory 109). Document data that has been independently acquired by the functional printer (excluding document data acquired from the portable information terminal 200, hereinafter referred to as document data in the main body), or a document that is transmitted together with the document data from the portable information terminal 200 Guidance information for designating that there is no data is displayed on the display panel of the operation unit 105 (step S405). In addition to the document data acquired by the multi-function printer 100 from a personal computer or the like, the above-mentioned document data in the main body includes originals read by the scanner unit 104 of the multi-function printer 100 and stored in the memory 109. Such document data is also included.

  Next, when a scanned document is designated, the CPU 108 causes the scanner unit 104 to read image data (document data) on the document, and stores the document image data in the memory 109 (step S406). It is determined whether or not reading of document image data is completed (step S407). As a result, if the reading of the document image data is not completed, the process returns to step S406 to continue reading the document image data. When the reading of the document image data is completed, the document image data stored in the memory 109 is stored. It adds as transmission document data (step S408), and progresses to step S409.

  When the internal document data is designated as the document data to be transmitted together with the document data received from the portable information terminal 200 (step S414), the CPU 108 displays a list of the internal document data on the display panel of the operation unit 105. Then, the user is prompted to select desired internal document data (step S415), the selected internal document data is added as transmission document data (step S416), and the process proceeds to step S409. If it is specified that there is no document data to be transmitted together with the document data received from the portable information terminal 200, the CPU 108 immediately proceeds to step S409.

  In step S409, the CPU 108 establishes a communication path with the transmission destination set in step S403 via the transmission interface 107 (step S409), and converts the file format of the transmission document data into a PDF (Portable Document Format file) ( In step S410, each document data whose file format has been converted is transmitted as data relating to one file (step S411).

  Next, the CPU 108 determines whether or not transmission of all document data to be transmitted has been completed (step S412). If transmission has not been completed, the process returns to step S410. If transmission has been completed, the process is established in step S409. The communication path thus disconnected is disconnected (step S413), and the process ends.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the multi-function printer 100 includes the document data acquired by receiving from the portable information terminal 200 and the document data uniquely acquired by the multi-function printer (document data related to a paper document). At the same time, it is configured to transmit to the destination received from the portable information terminal 200. Therefore, it is possible to simultaneously and easily transmit the document data created by the portable information terminal 200 and the document data related to the paper document without inputting the destination information on the multifunction printer 100 side.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, document data or the like created by the portable information terminal 200 is supplied to the multifunction printer using the transmission / reception functions of the portable information terminal 200 and the multifunction printer 100. In the second embodiment, Document data and the like created by the portable information terminal 200 are supplied to the multi-function printer 100 via a removable recording medium.

  Next, document transmission processing in the second embodiment of the portable information terminal 200 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. However, since the processing of FIG. 7 in the second embodiment is much the same as the processing of FIG. 3 in the first embodiment, only the differences will be briefly described here.

  In step S612 of FIG. 7, the CPU 202 of the portable information terminal 200 determines whether or not the recording medium loaded in the media slot 205 is writable. As a result, if the data writing is impossible, the processing ends as it is, and if the data writing is possible, the transmission document data serialized in step S611 and the transmission document information list are written to the recording medium (step S613), and the processing ends.

  Next, document transmission processing in the second embodiment of the multi-function printer 100 will be described based on the flowcharts of FIGS. However, since the processes in FIGS. 8 and 9 in the second embodiment are the same as the processes in FIGS. 4 and 5 in the first embodiment, only the differences will be briefly described here. In the processing of FIGS. 8 and 9 in the second embodiment, the recording medium on which the transmission document data and the transmission document information list are recorded by the portable information terminal 200 is loaded in the media slot 110 of the multi-function printer 100. It is assumed that.

  First, the CPU 108 of the multi-function printer 100 reads serialized transmission document data and a transmission document information list from the recording medium mounted in the media slot 110 (step S701). The CPU 108 performs the same processing as steps S402 to S404 in FIGS. 4 and 5 in steps S702 to S704, and then displays guidance information for setting the file format used at the time of transmission (step S706).

  Next, the CPU 108 performs the same processing as steps S405 to S409 of FIGS. 4 and 5 in steps S706 to S710, and then sets the file format in response to the display of the guidance information in step S706. (Step S711). Thereafter, the CPU 108 performs the same processing as steps S411 to S413 in FIGS. 4 and 5 in steps S712 to S714, and ends.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the multi-function printer 100 and the document data created by the portable information terminal 200 can be used without inputting destination information on the multi-function printer 100 side. The read document data or the document data acquired by the multi-function printer 100 from other than the portable information terminal 200 can be transmitted from the multi-function printer 100 at the same time.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the document data transmitted simultaneously with the document data created by the portable information terminal 200 is the document data read by the multifunction printer 100, the multifunction printer 100 is not limited to any one of the document data acquired from other than the portable information terminal 200, and both the document data are mixed and transmitted simultaneously with the document data created by the portable information terminal 200. Also good.

  Another object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or recording medium) on which a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a system or apparatus, and to perform computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus. Needless to say, this is also achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the series of processes described above.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a multifunction printer to which the present invention is applied. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the portable information terminal to which this invention is applied. It is a flowchart which shows the document transmission process in 1st Embodiment of a portable information terminal. 6 is a flowchart illustrating document transmission processing in the first embodiment of the multifunction printer. 5 is a flowchart showing document transmission processing in the first embodiment of the multifunction printer (continuation of FIG. 4). It is a figure which shows the example of the transmission document serialized with the portable information terminal. It is a flowchart which shows the document transmission process in 2nd Embodiment of a portable information terminal. 10 is a flowchart illustrating document transmission processing in the second embodiment of the multifunction printer. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating document transmission processing in the second embodiment of the multifunction printer (continuation of FIG. 8).

Explanation of symbols

100: Multi-function printer (composite equipment)
102: Control unit 104: Scanner unit 105: Operation unit 106: Reception interface 107: Transmission interface 108: CPU
109: Memory 110: Media slot 200: Portable information terminal 201: Display panel 202: CPU
203: Memory 204: Input device 205: Media slot 206: Input / output interface

Claims (7)

A data transmission system using a portable information terminal and a composite device,
The composite device is configured to acquire document data and transmission destination information of the document data from the portable information terminal;
As data to be transmitted together with the document data acquired by the acquisition unit, either data obtained by reading a document by the document reading unit or data stored in a storage device included in the multifunction device is selected based on a user instruction. Selection means to
When said selecting means is the document reading means to select data obtained by reading the document, the document reading means both the acquisition unit and the document data to which the acquiring means data obtained is acquired by scanning a document send the acquired destination information thus to the transmission destination specified, if the selection means has selected the data stored in the storage device, among the data stored in the storage device, it is selected by the user Transmitting means for transmitting the received data together with the document data acquired by the acquiring means to a destination specified by the destination information acquired by the acquiring means ;
A data transmission system comprising: The transmission means is selected by the user from the document data acquired by the acquisition means and the data obtained by reading the original by the original reading means, or the document data acquired by the acquisition means and the data stored in the storage device data transmission system according to claim 1, characterized in that the transmitted data as one file.   The data transmission system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the acquisition unit acquires document data and transmission destination information of the document data from the portable information terminal using a data reception function.   3. The data transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition unit acquires document data and transmission destination information of the document data from the portable information terminal via a removable recording medium. Obtaining means for obtaining document data and transmission destination information of the document data from an external portable information terminal;
As data to be transmitted together with the document data acquired by the acquisition unit, either data obtained by reading a document by the document reading unit or data stored in a storage device included in the multifunction device is selected based on a user instruction. Selection means to
When said selecting means is the document reading means to select data obtained by reading the document, the document reading means both the acquisition unit and the document data to which the acquiring means data obtained is acquired by scanning a document send the acquired destination information thus to the transmission destination specified, if the selection means has selected the data stored in the storage device, among the data stored in the storage device, it is selected by the user Transmitting means for transmitting the received data together with the document data acquired by the acquiring means to a destination specified by the destination information acquired by the acquiring means ;
A composite device comprising: An acquisition step of acquiring document data and transmission destination information of the document data from an external portable information terminal;
As data to be transmitted together with the document data acquired in the acquisition step, either data obtained by reading a document by the document reading unit or data stored in a storage device provided in the composite device is selected based on a user instruction A selection process to
Wherein when the selection process by the document reading means to select data obtained by reading the document, the data document reading means obtained by reading a document by both the acquisition step to the document data acquired by the acquisition step send the acquired destination information thus to the transmission destination specified, if you select the data stored in the storage device by the selection step, from among the data stored in the storage device, it is selected by the user Transmitting to the transmission destination specified by the transmission destination information acquired in the acquisition step together with the document data acquired in the acquisition step ,
A data transmission method characterized by comprising: A control program executed by a composite device,
An acquisition process for acquiring document data and transmission destination information of the document data from an external portable information terminal by an acquisition unit included in the multifunction peripheral ;
As data to be transmitted together with the document data acquired in the acquisition process by the selection unit provided in the multifunction device, the data obtained by reading the document by the document reading unit provided in the multifunction device, or the storage device provided in the multifunction device A selection process for selecting any of the stored data based on a user instruction ;
When the original reading unit selects data obtained by reading the original in the selection process by the transmission unit included in the multifunction peripheral, the data obtained by the original reading unit reading the original is acquired by the acquisition process. together transmitted to the destination which is acquired destination information thus identified by the obtaining processing document data, if you select the data stored in the storage device in the selecting process are stored in the storage device A transmission process for transmitting data selected by the user to the transmission destination specified by the transmission destination information acquired by the acquisition process together with the document data acquired by the acquisition process ,
A control program comprising:

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