Digital Composite Machine

Abstract

A digital composite machine connectable to a server through a network, includes a scanner, a FAX communicator, a printer, an operation panel, and a controller, operable to accept a first processing request from the operation panel and to control the scanner, the FAX communicator and the printer to execute a first processing based on the first processing request, and operable to accept a second processing request from the server and to control the scanner, the FAX communicator and the printer to execute a second processing based on the second processing request. The controller decides whether or not the first processing is being executed when accepting the second processing request from the server, when the first processing is being executed, the second processing request from the server is rejected, and when the first processing is not being executed, after a lapse of a predetermined time period in which any processing is not executed, the second processing is executed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a whole structure of a FAX transmitting/receiving system according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for a controller according to a first mode for priority.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a sequence chart according to the first mode for priority.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for the controller according to a second mode for priority.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a sequence chart according to the second mode for priority.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for the controller according to a third mode for priority.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a Sequence chart according to the third mode for priority.

Claims

1. A digital composite machine connectable to a server through a network, comprising: a scanner, operable to read first data;a FAX communicator, operable to transmit the first data and to receive second data transmitted from a public line;a printer, operable to print the second data;an operation panel; anda controller, operable to accept a first processing request from the operation panel and to control the scanner, the FAX communicator and the printer to execute a first processing based on the first processing request, and operable to accept a second processing request from the server and to control the scanner, the FAX communicator and the printer to execute a second processing based on the second processing request, whereinthe controller decides whether or not the first processing is being executed when accepting the second processing request from the server,when the first processing is being executed, the second processing request from the server is rejected, andwhen the first processing is not being executed, after a lapse of a predetermined time period in which any processing is not executed, the second processing is executed.

2. The digital composite machine according to claim 1, wherein the controller decides whether or not the second processing is being executed when accepting the first processing request from the operation panel, andwhen the second processing is being executed, after a predetermined unit of the second processing has been executed, the second processing is interrupted and the first processing is executed.

3. The digital composite machine according to claim 1, wherein the second processing request from the server is a FAX transmitting request.

4. The digital composite machine according to claim 3, wherein the first processing request from the operation panel is a FAX transmitting request or a local copy request.

5. A method of processing a FAX transmitting request in a digital composite machine which is connectable to a server through a network and comprises: a scanner, operable to read first data; a FAX communicator, operable to transmit the first data and to receive second data transmitted from a public line; a printer, operable to print the second data; and an operation panel, the method comprising: deciding whether or not a processing based on a processing request from the operation panel is being executed when accepting a FAX transmitting request from the server;when the processing based on the processing request from the operation panel is being executed, rejecting the FAX transmitting request from the server; andwhen the processing based on the processing request from the operation panel is not being executed, after a lapse of a predetermined time period in which any processing is not executed, executing a processing based on the FAX transmitting request from the server.

6. A computer-readable recording medium in which a computer program causing the digital composite machine to execute the method according to claim 5 is recorded.