1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an instruction acceptance program which is used to execute instruction acceptance processing of accepting an instruction on which processing should be executed, faxing or printing print data which is stored in a computer or the like, and a data processing system which executes the instruction acceptance processing.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a computer is capable of faxing print data which is made up of document date, image date, or the like, and printing the print data using a printer which is connected through a network or the like. In such a case, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-224366, a driver for facsimile is supposed to be used when it faxes print data. On the other hand, when printing the print data using a printer, a printer driver is expected to be used which is separate from the facsimile driver.
As described above, if a separate driver is used for each of such faxing and printing, a user has to choose and operate a driver which corresponds to the faxing or the printing. Then, the user needs to set the size of a sheet of paper and the like for the faxing or the printing in each driver. Hence, if the user chooses a driver, that will take time and labor. In addition, each driver differs in how to operate them, thereby imposing a heavy operational burden on the user.
In order to resolve the above described disadvantages, it is an object of the present invention to provide an operational-instruction acceptance program and a data processing system which are capable of saving time and labor required if a user has to choose a driver individually when choosing and executing faxing or printing, and which are easy to handle.
Hence, an instruction acceptance program according to the present invention for accepting an instruction to fax, or print, print data which is stored in a storage portion of a computer, based on an instruction by an external input, wherein the instruction acceptance program allows the computer to function as: a display controlling unit that displays, in a display portion of the computer, a processing choice message which prompts an input of the instruction to fax or print the print data; and an accepting unit that accepts the instruction to fax or print the print data from the external input when the processing choice message is displayed by the display controlling unit.
According to this configuration, a processing choice message is displayed in a display portion of a computer which prompts an input of an instruction on which processing should be executed, faxing or printing. Then, when this processing choice message is displayed, an instruction can be inputted on which processing should be executed, faxing or printing. Therefore, a user does not need to choose and operate a driver which corresponds to each of faxing and printing, thus saving time and labor. This makes it possible to use each of faxing and printing, as the need arises, with simple handling.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following detailed description along with the accompanied drawings.
Hereinafter, an instruction acceptance program according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The PC 1 is connected to a printer 30, via a LAN (or local area network) cable, a parallel cable such as a Centronics interface, a serial cable such as RS-232C, or the like. Print data which is outputted from the PC 1 is printed on record paper by the printer 30. Herein, a communication I/F 160 functions as a LAN interface, a parallel I/F portion, or a serial I/F portion. The printer 30 includes various apparatuses which are provided with a printer function, such as a combined machine with a facsimile function, a printer function and a copying function, and a facsimile machine.
A facsimile communication portion 170 is used to control data necessary for facsimile communication. It transmits and receives data to and from a facsimile machine 50, through a public circuit 51. The facsimile communication portion 170 is provided with an NCU (or network control unit) which controls the connection of a telephone line with the facsimile machine 50 to and from which it transmits and receives data, or the like.
The PC 1 includes: the above described communication I/F 160 and facsimile communication portion 170; a CPU 100; an ROM (or read-only memory) 110; an RAM (or random-access memory) 120; a record-medium drive unit 130; an operation portion (i.e., an input unit) 140; a display portion 150; and a storage unit (i.e., a storage portion) 200.
In the ROM 110, there is stored a BIOS (or basic input/output system) which is a basic program for controlling peripheral equipment such as the storage unit 200 and the record-medium drive unit 130, or the like. The RAM 120 is used as a working area of the CPU 100 to store various pieces of data temporarily. The record-medium drive unit 130 reads, under the control of the CPU 100, various pieces of data which are recorded in a record medium, such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk and a DVD (or digital versatile disk). Herein, in addition to the storage unit 200, the storage portion according to the claims also includes the RAM 120, a record medium which is read by the record-medium drive unit 130, and a record medium such as a hard disk attached from the outside which is connected to the PC 1.
The operation portion 140 includes a keyboard, a mouse and the like. It accepts an operational instruction by a user, and outputs, to the CPU 100, an electric signal according to the operational instruction. The display portion 150 is made up of a liquid-crystal panel, a CRT (or cathode-ray tube) or the like. It displays various images under the control of the CPU 100.
The storage unit 200 is made up, for example, of a magnetic disk. In it, there is stored an operating system which is a basic program for controlling a personal computer systematically, the instruction acceptance program according to the present invention, or the like. Based on an instruction which is inputted in an acceptance portion 102 from the outside, the instruction acceptance program is supposed to selectively fax, or print, print data which is stored in the storage unit 200 or the like of the PC1. In the case where the instruction acceptance program is stored in a record medium, which also forms an aspect and embodiment of the present invention, such as a CD-ROM and a flexible disk, this record medium is loaded and installed into the record-medium drive unit 130. Thus, it is stored in the storage unit 200. On the other hand, in the case where the instruction acceptance program is stored in a Web server on the Internet, the instruction acceptance program may also be downloaded from the Web server. Thereby, such a program is stored in the storage unit 200.
The CPU 100 executes the instruction acceptance program under the control of an operating system. Thus, it functions as: a display control portion (i.e., the display control unit, the instruction-content display controlling unit, the required-item display controlling unit and the lacked item display controlling unit) 101; an acceptance portion (i.e., the first to third accepting unit and the final-instruction accepting unit) 102; a printing-data conversion portion (i.e., the printing-data converting unit) 103; a faxing-data conversion portion (i.e., the faxing-data converting unit) 104; a decision portion (i.e., the deciding unit) 105; a control portion (i.e., the controlling unit) 106; and an output portion (i.e., the outputting unit) 107.
The display control portion 101 displays, in the display portion 150, a processing choice message which prompts an input of an instruction on which processing should be executed, faxing or printing, a required item which should be set at the minimum whichever may be executed, faxing or printing, or the like.
When the above described processing choice message is displayed in the display portion 150 by the display control portion 101, the acceptance portion 102 accepts, from an external input by a user, an instruction on which processing should be executed, faxing or printing. In addition, when the above described required item is displayed by the display control portion 101, the acceptance portion 102 accepts an instruction to set this required item from the external input.
The printing-data conversion portion 103 converts the print data into a data format for printing (e.g., a PDL (or page description language)). The faxing-data conversion portion 104 converts the print data into a data format suitable for faxing (e.g., raster data). The decision portion 105 decides whether or not the required item which is displayed in the display portion 150 by the display control portion 101 has been set, without any shortage, based on the setting instruction which has been accepted by the acceptance portion 102. Herein, if the decision portion 105 decides there is a required item in short supply, the display control portion 101 displays, in the display portion 150, the fact that there is a required item in short supply.
The control portion 106 allows, based on the instruction and the instruction to set the above described required item which have been inputted in the acceptance portion 102 by a user, either the printing-data conversion portion 103 or the faxing-data conversion portion 104 to convert the print data. The output portion 107 outputs the data which has been converted by the printing-data conversion portion 103 to the printer 30, via the communication I/F 160. In addition, it outputs the data which has been converted by the faxing-data conversion portion 104 to the facsimile communication portion 170. The data which has been received by the facsimile communication portion 170 is transmitted through the public circuit 51 to the external facsimile machine 50.
Next, printing and faxing will be described which are executed by the PC 1 in which a print-data output control program is installed.
First, a user gives an instruction to operate the print-data output control program. Then, the display control portion 101 displays, in the display portion 150, the processing choice message which prompts the user to choose faxing or printing, and the required item which should be set at the minimum which ever may be executed, faxing or printing, or the like (S1). This processing choice message is shown, for example, on a display screen 1501 in
When printing and faxing are displayed as all items of processing which can be chosen, a user chooses desired processing, using the operation portion 140 (i.e., a mouse) Thereby, an instruction to execute the processing which has been chosen by the user is accepted by the acceptance portion 102.
As the above described required items, for example, as shown on the display screen 1501 in
With respect to the orientation of paper, the user chooses whether to use sheets of paper with the shorter side at the top (i.e., Portrait), or with the longer side at the top (i.e., Landscape), by clicking a “603 ” mark of the “Orientation” column shown in
Herein, a default value is preset for each of the above described processing and required items. Thus, even though the user does not set them, the processing is executed based on the default value.
Again, the flow chart in
On the other hand, as described above, if the user chooses faxing, the acceptance portion 102 accepts this instruction as the final instruction (i.e., “fax” in the step S2). Then, the control portion 106 allows, based on the setting of the required item which has been simultaneously accepted by the acceptance portion 102, the faxing-data conversion portion 104 to convert the print data to be outputted and create raster data (S5). Then, the created raster data is outputted from the output portion 107 to the facsimile communication portion 170 (S6). Then, the facsimile communication portion 170 transmits that data to the facsimile machine 50 at its destination, through a public circuit 51.
Hence, a processing choice message which prompts a choice of faxing or printing is displayed in the display portion 150 by the display control portion 101. Then, based on an instruction which is inputted from a user according to this processing choice message, the printing-data conversion portion 103 or the faxing-data conversion portion 104 is chosen. Next, it executes a conversion of the print data. Sequentially, the converted print data is outputted based on that data format to either a printer or a facsimile machine. Therefore, the user does not need to choose and operate a driver which corresponds to each of faxing and printing, thus saving time and labor. This makes it possible to use each of faxing and printing, as the need arises, with simple handling.
In addition, a required item which should be set at the minimum in both cases where the print data is faxed and printed is displayed in the display portion 150. Then, if an instruction to set this displayed required item is accepted, then based on the accepted setting instruction, the printing-data conversion unit or the faxing-data conversion unit executes a conversion of the print data. Therefore, whichever is executed, faxing or printing, the user can set a required item which is common to faxing and printing, on the same display screen 1501.
Herein, the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above described embodiment, and thus, it can be varied. For example, in the above described embodiment, the size of original paper (i.e., Page Size), the size of output paper (i.e., Print Size), the orientation of paper at the time of printing (i.e., Orientation), the quality of printing (i.e., Quality), the number of copies (i.e., Print Copies) are displayed as an example of required items which should be set on the display screen 1501 (see
Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the display control portion 101 displays, in the display portion 150, a processing choice message which prompts a choice of faxing or printing and a required item which should be set at the minimum in both cases where the print data is faxed and printed (in the step S1 of
Moreover, in the above described embodiment, according to which converts the print data, the printing-data conversion portion 103 or the faxing-data conversion portion 104, the destination to which the data is outputted from the output portion 107 is the printer 30 or the facsimile communication portion 170. However, even in both cases where the data which is outputted from the personal computer 1 is printed and faxed, as long as one and the same combined machine (i.e., an image forming apparatus with several functions such as a facsimile function, a printer function and a copying function) is used, the destination to which the data is outputted from the output portion 107 becomes that combined machine, whichever converts the print data, the printing-data conversion portion 103 or the faxing-data conversion portion 104. In that case, the processing which is executed by the facsimile communication portion 170 is executed by such a combined machine.
Next, printing and faxing according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described which is executed by the PC 1 in which a print-data output control program is installed.
In the above described first embodiment, a default value is preset for the processing and each required item. Thus, even though a user does not set them, the processing is executed based on the default value. In contrast, in the second embodiment, no default value is preset for the processing and each required item. Thus, unless a user sets required items which are displayed on the display screen 1501, the display control portion 101 allows the display portion 150 to display the fact that the required items are not set. Thus, after the required items are inputted, faxing or printing is executed.
In the second embodiment, the display control portion 101 displays, in the display portion 150, the processing choice message which prompts the user to choose faxing or printing (S1). Thereafter, the decision portion 105 decides whether or not the required item is inputted (S12).
Herein, if the decision has been made that the setting by the user is inadequate and there is an required item which has not yet been set (i.e., if it is NO at the step S12), then the display control portion 101 allows the display portion 150 to display the fact that there is an required item in short supply (S13). The case where the setting of an required item is not enough includes, for example, the one in which the numerical value of the number of copies (i.e., Print Copies) has not yet been inputted, and in that state, an OK button 1502 on the display screen 1501 is pressed down. After the above described display at the step S13, if the decision portion 105 decides that the required item has been set by the user (i.e., if it is YES at the step S12), then a data conversion for faxing or printing is executed based on the instruction which has been inputted in the acceptance portion 102 from the user (S2 to S6).
Next, printing and faxing according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described which is executed by the PC 1 in which a print-data output control program is installed.
In the case where the processing according to the third embodiment is executed, in addition to the contents which are described using the above described
The processing according to the third embodiment will be described, using
Then, the user operates the operation portion 140 and presses a Cancel button 1505 of this confirmation screen 1503. Thereby, an instruction not to execute the processing which has been displayed in the display portion 150 is accepted by the acceptance portion 102 (i.e., it is NO at a step S24). Thus, the processing returns to the step S1. Then, the display control portion 101 displays again, in the display portion 150, the processing choice message which prompts the user to choose faxing or printing, and the required item which should be set at the minimum whichever may be executed, faxing or printing.
On the other hand, if the user presses the OK button 1502 of the confirmation screen 1503, then an instruction to execute the processing which has been displayed in the display portion 150 is accepted by the acceptance portion 102 (i.e., it is YES at the step S24). Thus, the acceptance portion 102 accepts this instruction as the final instruction. Then, the control portion 106 judges which of faxing and printing has been chosen by the user (S2). After this, the processing is executed in the steps S3 to S6 shown in
Hence, in the third embodiment, the contents which have been set by the user are displayed in the display portion 150 before faxing or printing is executed. Then, the user can confirm them, thus preventing the user from mistakenly inputting faxing or printing.
Next, printing and faxing according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described which is executed by the PC 1 in which an instruction acceptance program is installed.
In the fourth embodiment, when required items are not set, the display control portion 101 allows the display portion 150 to display the fact that required items are not set. After required items are inputted, the display control portion 101 displays the confirmation display screen 1503 (see
A description is given using
Therefore, if the user wants to execute the processing different from the one which is displayed on the confirmation display screen 1503, the user can quickly execute this different processing without resetting the processing.
Next, printing and faxing according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described which is executed by the PC 1 in which an instruction acceptance program is installed.
Next, in the case where the processing according to the fifth embodiment is executed, if the acceptance portion 102 accepts an instruction for a processing choice message (see
When the confirmation display screen 1506 or 1509 is displayed in the display portion 150 by the display control portion 101, the acceptance portion 102 accepts, from an external input by the user's operation, an instruction to change the setting of the output condition, and an instruction to execute this displayed processing (i.e., faxing or printing).
A description is given using
Then, by the user's operation, a processing choice instruction to choose printing or faxing (or both a processing choice instruction and an output-condition choice instruction, if an output-condition setting instruction to set the required item is inputted by the user) is inputted. Then, if the acceptance portion 102 accepts this instruction (i.e., if it is YES at the step S22), then the display control portion 101 allows the display portion 150 to display the contents of the print-data processing (i.e., either printing or faxing) and each required item which have been set based on this instruction, for example, using such a confirmation screen 1506 or 1509 as shown in
For example, the case is described where printing is chosen based on this processing choice instruction. In this case, the confirmation screen 1506 shown in
In addition, on the confirmation screen 1506, there is displayed a message to designate the range of printing which is not displayed on the display screen 1501. Thus, the printing range can be set on the confirmation screen 1506. For example, a user clicks the “◯” mark of an “All Pages” column, or a “This Page” column, of a “Print Range”, using the operation portion 140 (such as a mouse pointer) Thereby, the user can choose to print all the pages, or only the page which is displayed in an application that the user is using at a point of time. The “◯” mark in the chosen column is replaced with a “●” mark. In addition, if the user clicks the “◯” mark of a “Page Designation” column, the “◯” mark is replaced with a “●” mark, so that the user can set an input of the page to be printed, using the operation portion 140 (i.e., a keyboard). Then, if the page to be printed which has been inputted from the operation portion 140 (i.e., a keyboard) is accepted by the acceptance portion 102, the values of the inputted pages are displayed inside of the box which is displayed next to the “Page Designation.” Herein, the default value of this printing range is set, so that all the pages will be printed.
Furthermore, at the lower part of the confirmation screen 1506, there is displayed “Printer” which is the processing chosen based on the above described processing choice instruction. If the user designates a “Printer” display part 1504, using the operation portion 140 (such as a mouse pointer), then an instruction to execute printing is accepted by the acceptance portion 102. On the other hand, if the user designates a “Close” display part 1505, using the operation portion 140 (such as a mouse pointer), then the display control portion 101 is designed to display the display screen 1501 again.
Next, the case is described where faxing is chosen based on the above described processing choice instruction. In this case, the confirmation screen 1509 shown in
In addition, on the confirmation screen 1509, there is displayed a message to designate a transmission menu which is not displayed on the display screen 1501. Thus, the transmission menu can be set on the confirmation screen 1509. For example, a user clicks the “◯” mark of an “Immediate Transmission”, or an “Time Designation” column, of a “Transmission Menu” display part, using the operation portion 140 (such as a mouse pointer). Thereby, the user can choose to execute faxing immediately, or execute faxing at the time which the user has designated. In the same way as the case of the confirmation screen 1503, the “◯” mark in the chosen column is replaced with a “●” mark. Herein, the default value of this transmission menu is set at the “Immediate Transmission.”
Furthermore, at the lower part of the confirmation screen 1509, there is displayed “Fax” which is the processing chosen based on the above described processing choice instruction. If the user designates a “Fax” display part 1508, using the operation portion 140 (such as a mouse pointer), then an instruction to execute the faxing is accepted by the acceptance portion 102.
Again, a description is given using
Then, the user presses the “Close” button 1505 of this confirmation display screen 1506 or 1509, using the operation portion 140 (i.e., a mouse). Thereby, an instruction not to execute the processing which has been displayed in the display portion 150 is accepted by the acceptance portion 102 (i.e., it is NO at the step S24). Thus, the control portion 106 returns the processing to the step S1. Then, the display control portion 101 displays again, in the display portion 150, the display screen 1501 which is made up of the processing choice message which prompts the user to choose faxing or printing, and the required item which should be set at the minimum whichever may be executed, faxing or printing.
On the other hand, if the user designates the “Printer” button 1504 of the confirmation screen 1506, or the “Fax” button 1508 of the confirmation screen 1509, then an instruction to execute the print-data processing which has been displayed in the display portion 150 is accepted by the acceptance portion 102 (i.e., it is YES at the step S24). Thus, the acceptance portion 102 accepts this instruction and the output-condition setting which it has accepted at the steps S2 and S5, as the final instruction. Then, the control portion 106 judges which of faxing and printing has been chosen by the user (S2). After this, the processing is executed in the steps S3 to S6 shown in
Hence, on the confirmation screen 1506 or 1509, a user can reconfirm whether the print-data processing to be executed is printing or faxing. Besides, the user can reset the output conditions which have been set on the display screen 1501, so that the user can change the output conditions or execute such an operation, without returning to the display screen 1501. In addition, on the confirmation screen 1506 or 1509, a user can newly set a printing range or a faxing menu, so that the user can set an item which needs setting separately in each of printing and faxing.
In the fifth embodiment, on the confirmation screen 1506 or 1509, the output conditions and printing range which have been set on the display screen 1501 is designed to be displayed. However, the following three operations may also be executed: (1) displaying only new items different from the ones which have been set on the display screen 1501; (2) unless the default values of the printing output conditions are set on the display screen 1501, detecting and displaying the items which have not yet been set; and (3) displaying only the above described printing-range item.
Next, printing and faxing according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described which is executed by the PC 1 in which an instruction acceptance program is installed.
In this sixth embodiment, for example, as shown in
A description is given along the flow chart of
Then, while this confirmation display screen 1506 or 1509 is displayed, then an instruction to set the output conditions, or the like, is accepted (i.e., it is YES at the step S52). Thereby, the control portion 106 changes the output conditions or the like which have already been set, into the contents of the set instruction (S53). Thereafter, the user designates the “Printer” button 1504 or the “Fax” button 1508 of the confirmation screen 1509, then an instruction to execute the print-data processing which is being displayed in the display portion 150 is accepted by the acceptance portion 102 (i.e., it is YES at the step S24) Thus, the acceptance portion 102 accepts this instruction and the output-condition setting which it has accepted at the step S52, as the final instruction. Then, in the'same way as the fifth embodiment, the control portion 106 executes a series of pieces of processing according to each processing (S2 to S6).
Herein, the instruction acceptance program according to the present invention allows the PC 1 (i.e., the CPU 100) to function as: the display control portion 101; the acceptance portion 102; the printing-data conversion portion 103; the faxing-data conversion portion 104; the decision portion 105; the control portion 106; and the output portion 107. However, it is enough that the instruction acceptance program according to the present invention allows it to function only as each portion which is necessary for executing the processing shown in the flow chart of each of the above described figures. For example, when the processing according to the first embodiment is executed, it is enough that the PC 1 functions at least as the display control portion 101 and the acceptance portion 102, so that it can accept the above described final instruction from a user.
Next, a data processing system according to the present invention will be described.
Next, the personal computer 1 of a data processing system 10 according to the present invention includes only the printing-data conversion portion 103 as a data conversion portion. It is not provided with the faxing-data conversion portion 104. Whichever the instruction from a user which has been accepted by the acceptance portion 102 is, for printing or for faxing, the control portion (i.e., the data-output controlling unit) 106 allows the printing-data conversion portion 103 to convert the print data which is stored in the storage unit 200 into a PDL that is a data format for printing. Herein, when the control portion 106 allows the output portion 107 to output the data which has been converted into the PDL, if the instruction from the user which has been accepted by the acceptance portion 102 is for printing, then it outputs only this PDL data. On the other hand, if the instruction from the user is for faxing, then it outputs this PDL data after information (hereinafter, referred to as the faxing instruction information) on the instruction to execute the faxing has been attached to the PDL data.
A combined machine 2 includes: a control portion (i.e., the operation controlling unit) 20 which controls an operation of each portion of the machine; an image reading portion 21 which has a scanner or the like that reads an original image; an image memory 22 which temporarily stores original-image data that has been read by the image reading portion 21, image data that has been read by the image reading portion 21, or the like; and a printer portion (i.e., the printing unit) 23 which prints out original-image data that has been read by the image reading portion 21, data that has been sent from a personal computer or the like which is connected to a network, or the like.
In addition, the combined machine 2 further includes: a facsimile communication portion (i.e., the faxing unit) 24 which executes various functions necessary for facsimile communication, and transmits and receives image data to and from the external facsimile machine 50, through the public circuit 51; an operation portion 25 which is made up of a transmission-start key, a ten-key, an abbreviated-number key and the like that accepts various operational instructions from an operator; and a display portion 26 which is made up of an LCD (or liquid crystal display) and the like that displays an operational guide or the like for an operator.
Moreover, the combined machine 2 further includes: an HDD 27 which stores image data or the like that has been read by the image reading portion 21; a data receiving portion 28 which receives data from a personal computer or the like which is connected to a network; and an image processing portion 29 which executes image-data editing and manipulation (e.g., encoding and decoding, enlargement and reduction, compression and expansion) processing or the like for the image that has been read by the image reading portion 21.
The above described facsimile communication portion 24 further includes a fax-data conversion portion 241 which converts, into raster data, data that has been received from a personal computer (i.e., the PC 1 according to this embodiment) or the like which is connected to a network, and then, that creates compressed data which is encoded for faxing.
The above described control portion 20 decides whether or not the faxing instruction information is attached to the PDL data that has been received from a personal computer or the like which is connected to a network. If the faxing instruction information is attached to the received PDL data, then it allows the facsimile communication portion 24 to convert and fax the received PDL data, as described above. On the other hand, unless the faxing instruction information is attached to the received PDL data, then it allows the printer portion 23 to print the received PDL data.
If the final instruction from the user is accepted by the acceptance portion 102 (i.e., it is YES at the step S24), then the control portion 106 judges which of faxing and printing has been chosen by the user (S2). If this final instruction is for printing (i.e., the “printer” at the step S2), then it allows the printing-data conversion portion 103 to convert the print data to be outputted and create PDL data (S3). In addition, if the final instruction is for faxing (i.e., the “fax” at the step S2), then the control portion 106 allows the printing-data conversion portion 103 to convert the print data to be outputted and create PDL data (S3). Then, it attaches the faxing instruction information to the converted data (S42). Then, the control portion 106 allows the output portion 107 to transmit, to the combined machine 2, the PDL data which has been created for printing, or the PDL data which has been created for faxing and which the faxing instruction information has been attached to (S41).
If the data receiving portion 28 of the combined machine 2 receives this data from the PC 1 (F1), then the control portion 20 decides whether or not the faxing instruction information is attached to this received data (F2). If the control portion 20 decides that the faxing instruction information is attached to the received PDL data (i.e., if it is YES at the step F2), then it allows the fax-data conversion portion 241 of the facsimile communication portion 24 to convert the received PDL data into raster data (F4), and create compressed data which is encoded for faxing from this raster data (F5). Then, the control portion 20 allows the facsimile communication portion 24 to transmit the encoded compressed data to the facsimile machine 50 which is the transmission destination (F6).
On the other hand, if the control portion 20 decides that the faxing instruction information is not attached to the received PDL data (i.e., if it is NO at the step F2), then it allows the printer portion 23 to execute printing, using the received PDL data (F3).
In addition to the above described processing shown in
For example, as shown in
Furthermore, as shown in
Herein, in addition to the above described processing shown in
Next, a data processing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The PC 1 of a data processing system 11 according to the second embodiment is provided with a bit-map data conversion portion 108 as a data conversion portion. Whichever the instruction from a user which has been accepted by the acceptance portion 102 is, for printing or for faxing, the control portion 106 allows the bit-map data conversion portion 108 to convert the print data which is stored in the storage unit 200 into bit-map data. Herein, when the control portion 106 allows the output portion 107 to output the bit-map data, if the instruction from the user which has been accepted by the acceptance portion 102 is for printing, then it outputs only this bit-map data. On the other hand, if the instruction from the user is for faxing, then it outputs the bit-map data after the faxing instruction information has been attached to the bit-map data.
If the final instruction from the user is accepted (i.e., it is YES at the step S24), then the control portion 106 judges which of faxing and printing has been chosen by the user (S2). If this final instruction is for printing (i.e., the “printer” at the step S2), then it allows the bit-map data conversion portion 108 to convert the print data to be outputted into bit-map data (S81). In addition, if the final instruction is for faxing (i.e., the “fax” at the step S2), then the control portion 106 allows the bit-map data conversion portion 108 to convert the print data to be outputted into bit-map data. Then, it attaches the faxing instruction information to the converted data (S82). Then, the control portion 106 allows the output portion 107 to transmit, to the combined machine 2, the bit-map data which has been created for printing, or the bit-map data which has been created for faxing and which the faxing instruction information has been attached to (S41).
If the data receiving portion 28 of the combined machine 2 receives this data from the personal computer 1 (F1), then the control portion 20 decides whether or not the faxing instruction information is attached to this received data (F2). If the control portion 20 decides that the faxing instruction information is attached to the received bit-map data (i.e., if it is YES at the step F2), then from the received bit-map data, it allows the fax-data conversion portion 241 of the facsimile communication portion 24 to create compressed data which is encoded for faxing (F5). Then, the control portion 20 allows the facsimile communication portion 24 to transmit the encoded compressed data to the facsimile machine 50 which is the transmission destination (F6).
On the other hand, if the control portion 20 decides that the faxing instruction information is not attached to the received bit-map data (i.e., if it is NO at the step F2), then it allows the printer portion 23 to execute printing, using the received bit-map data (F3).
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