JPH03186859A - Parallel modem control for copying graphic machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To perform the control operation of ordinary electro-static copying in parallel with data communication with the outside by incorporating a modem in an electrostatic copying device. CONSTITUTION: A modem 356 is considered to operate as a physical interface between a marking/imaging board 306 and an external telephone line to a host system. Besides a representative RS-232 interface, a control line 354A includes a reset line by which the modem is reset by hardware. This hardware function is provided to be able to reset the modem interface through a communication controller chip(CCC) 352 without turning off the power source at the time of the occurrence of a fault in the modem or communication. Consequently, the electrostatic copying function of the system is not damaged at all. Thus, the electrostatic copying machine and the modem incorporated in the electrostatic copying system can simultaneously communicate with a remote system while completely maintaining the copying function.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Background of the Invention] [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention generally relates to an electrostatic copying machine and a modem with a built-in electrostatic copying system, while maintaining full copying functionality.
It relates to parallel control to enable communication with remote systems at the same time.

[Conventional technology]

To enable direct communication with external or remote devices,
It is well known that office machines and systems have built-in modems. However, devices or systems with built-in communication capabilities typically require operation with reduced full functionality in order to initiate and maintain communications with remote devices. Therefore, when performing such tasks, the functionality of the office equipment or system is severely restricted during the communication session, reducing the inherent capabilities of the system.

A widely used measure to improve the functionality of systems with built-in communication functionality is to wait for data communication sessions until after-peak hours when system functionality is not significantly affected. . This idea of intentionally delaying data communication has been widely used until now.
This has not only maximized operator efficiency, but also had the advantage of lower rates for data transmission within a single day.

The lessons of the prior art are primarily directed to devices for external communication by modems or similar means.

The prior art also reveals examples of single-function systems that utilize such means for external communication. However, the prior art does not disclose any external communication means within a multi-function electrostatographic reproduction system.

More specifically, the prior art does not disclose any systems with external communication capabilities where multiple functions, i.e., the non-external communication capabilities of the system, are fully maintained during a communication session. therefore,
It would be desirable to be able to have complete multi-function operation and modem communications within a copier at the same time.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to incorporate an external communication function into a multifunctional electrostatic copying machine.

A further object of this invention is to operate a modem or similar external communication means within an electrostatographic reproduction system in a manner that does not interfere with the electrostatographic reproduction function of the conventional system. It is a further object of the invention to provide a method for resetting the external communication means without interrupting the copying function of the system if any disturbance is detected. The ultimate objective of this invention is to establish a telecommunications link as an initiator or receiver for remote interactive communication (RIC) with a host computer or similar device, and to provide full electrostatic replication when stopping said link. The purpose is to turn off the power and close the machine in sequence.

Further advantages of this invention will become clear as the description proceeds, and the features that characterize this invention are specifically recited in the claims, and moreover, they are part of the claims. It is what makes up the.

[Summary of the invention]

In short, this invention is a system in which a modem is incorporated into an electrostatic copying apparatus to perform data communication with the outside, and then to perform ordinary electrostatic copying control operations in parallel. More specifically, the machine's characteristics as an electrostatic copier should be maintained, but it should be able to communicate with an external or host computer; This invention provides a means for resetting only communication hardware/software without interfering with other parts of the copying function.

[Description of preferred embodiment]

To better understand the content of this invention, please refer to the drawings. Like reference numerals apply to like parts in this drawing.

An overview of the features of this invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a typical electrostatic copying machine 5, which has a user interface (U/r) to
It consists of a plurality of programmable components and subsystems that are related to each other to enable programmed copying or printing operations.

Document handling unit 15 is intended to sequentially feed documents from a document stack (not shown) in document tray 17 to a lower mapping position in document handling unit I5. After mapping, the document returns to document tray 17 through a single-sided or double-sided printing path (not shown) within document handling unit 15.

Imaging of the original document occurs within an electrostatic copier module 20 in which the original document is placed on a platen and exposed to form a latent image on a light receiver (not shown). The latent image is subsequently developed and transferred to copy paper within electrostatographic reproduction module 20.

The copy paper is placed in copy paper tray 30.32 or 3.
It was supplied by one of the four.

Following transfer, the illuminated image is permanently imprinted onto the copy sheet and the copy sheet is sequentially advanced to a finishing module 40, a top output tray 44, or a duplex copy storage module 36 for the first image of a duplex copy. Finishing module 4
Options that can be processed within 0 are collation, stapler binding, and copy paper l/lay 30.32 or 34
slipstreet 1nser
tion).

Referring to FIG. 2, it can be seen that various functions of machine 5 of FIG. 1 are controlled by controller unit 114. This controller unit has memory 118
and 120, and one or more programmable microprocessors (not shown). The controller is configured with copy sheet comparison counting, recirculating copy sheet number, operator selected copy number, delay time, and paper jam correction functions. Programming and operational control of machine 5 is done via U/I 10. Operation and control information is stored in appropriate memory +15
A and B are stored and transferred to the controller unit 114 via the U/110. Conventional paper path sensors or switches, such as photocells or reed switches, can be used to maintain the path of the document or copy paper section. Additionally, the controller can adjust the various positions of the mechanical gates used to control the advancement of documents and sheets, depending on the selected mode of operation.

A hard or fixed disk drive 1]5A equipped with any hard disk as memory and a floppy disk drive 1 into which any floppy disk is inserted.
Contains 15B. Both disk drives are electrically connected to control unit 114 which includes RAM 118 and ROM 120. During normal machine operation, all control codes and screen display information for the machine are transferred from the hard disk when the machine is powered on. The data transferred to the machine for execution can be changed by replacing the hard disk in machine 5 with another hard disk containing a different version of the data. In addition, control codes and screen display information for the machine can be transferred from the floppy disk when the machine is turned on using a floppy disk drive in the machine 5. U/+10 is also connected to controller unit l-114 and to shared line system bus 302.

The shared system bus 302 has an input station 304;
marking/imaging board 306, paper handling board 308, and finisher/binder hoard 31
It is interconnected with a plurality of main printed wiring boards including 0. Each main printed wiring board is connected to local power/output devices via a local serial bus. For example, input custition board 304 is connected via local bus 314 to digital power/output boards 312A, 312B and servo board 312C. Marking/imaging board 306
is analog/digital/analog board 316A,
316B, digital power/output board 316C, and stepper control board 316D via local bus 314.

Similarly, paper handling board 308 provides digital input/
Connect output boards 320A, B and C to local bus 3
22 and finisher/binder board 310 connects digital manpower/output manpower 324A, B, and C to local bus 326.

Referring to FIG. 3, marking/image board 30
6 includes a controller unit 2+4 consisting of memories 218, 220A, B and a programmable microcontroller 216.

Controller unit 214 includes attached equipment and input/output boards and local serial bus 318.
are related through. As a result, they are controlled by a communications serial controller (C3C) 350, which acts as a mask communications controller for all branches leading to the serial bus 318. Similarly, a communications controller chip (CCC) 352 serves as a communications link for interprocessor communications via shared line system bus 302.

As an auxiliary function, the CCC 352 also serves as an interface for other devices that require either system inputs and outputs, or outputs and inputs. More particularly, in accordance with the present invention, for marking/imaging board 306, the CC
C can be used as an R3-232 type interface. This allows for external communication with remote host computers or other similar systems.

The modem 356 is a microcontroller 356A, a universal asynchronous receiver transmitter (UART) 3
56B and a modem chip 356C, and has the function of a modem. Microcontroller 356A is a programmable device that can utilize modem chip 356C to initiate a predefined set of commands. Such operations are configured by marking/imaging programmable microcontroller 116.

Modem 356 is marking/imaging board 306
and an external telephone line to the host system. In addition to the typical R3-232 interface, control lines 354A include a RESET1 line to enable the modem to perform a hardware reset. This hardware feature allows the modem interface to be reset via the CCC 352 without powering down in the event of a modem or communications failure. In this way, the system's electrostatographic copying capabilities remain unaffected.

High-performance control of the system can be achieved using a dual-structure software architecture implemented with a multiprocessor system. In particular, system software, including ROM+20, is divided into an application or client layer and an operating system.

Application layer software (APPS) is first created through the use of operating system tasks.
This allows the system to function at a high level.

The operating system (0/S) layer acts as an interface between system hardware and application layers. Furthermore, the O/S layer has the area of handling and controlling multi-tasking environments. According to the present invention, the multi-tasking portion of the operating system includes task scheduling to uniformly exhibit high system functionality and optimal system operation. In particular, the 078 layer should enable tasks with all the resources necessary for their execution currently available;
In other words, uke also has the ability to avoid being put on hold. In other words, the 0/S layer also disables or suspends tasks that are waiting for hardware or software events to complete. A system operates optimally when the operating system is able to schedule tasks to be performed in a manner that fully utilizes the system's processing power.

Particularly in connection with remote interactive communication (tC) tasks, there is a desire to activate or deactivate only a single RIC task at any given time. This requirement arises because the notebook or modem used while the RIC task is being performed can only perform certain operations at certain times. In the past, the operating system had to monitor RIC task requests and not accept subsequent RIC task requests while the modem was operating on a preceding RIC task request.
Or, it includes a function to hold it.

Reference is now made to FIG. Figure 4 shows typical remote interaction communications (RIC) from the entire electrostatic copying system.
A flowchart of the session is drawn. According to this invention, a multitasking operating system shares the role of controlling multiple APPS layer and O/S layer tasks in a parallel processing manner. Therefore, the processes depicted in Figure 4 are connected by dotted lines,
The meaning of this dotted line is that auxiliary system tasks may occur simultaneously with, or intermixed with, the tasks just described.

The RIC session extracted in FIG. 4 shows that the session begins as a result of the RIC modem setup block 412. Operations performed during this task include a hardware and software reset to modem 356 of FIG. R.I.C.
The modem set-up block 412 also includes operations for initializing the receive buffer memory pointer and the modem control register, which manages modem operations such as the number of rings before being answered by the modem or telephone.

First, the RIC modem is installed by the setup task or the operation of the operating system.

This operation is performed even if called by the APPS software layer. Generally, the RIC Modem Setup Task is called at power-up to ensure proper modem initialization. If the modem 356 of FIG. 3 is not operational, a malfunction status will be returned from the modem 356 and then forwarded from the 073 layer to the APPS layer. The RIC Modem Setup task is used even when there is an indeterminate status within the modem control software, or when the modem 3
56 hardware reset and reinitialization is recommended.

Once initialized using the RIC modem setup command, the modem 356 of FIG. 3 is ready to transmit or receive data.

Data transmission is initiated using RIC commands sent from the application software layer. However, before a remote system can initiate a communications session, it must be able to acknowledge the request from the remote system, establish a physical communications link, and then perform incoming and outgoing communications to and from the remote system. You must be able to do both or one. Therefore, activation of any communication session must be preceded by a RIC modem setup process.

Following activation of modem 35G of FIG. 3 in RIG modem setup task block 412, modem 356
The RIC dial task is now ready to start the communication session set up by block 414.

At the APPS layer, the purpose of the RIC dial task is to invoke a process that dials the remote system's telephone number and opens a communication channel for the remote system. The content of the RIC dial task call by the application layer includes the definition of parameters for the telephone number and ringing time, which refers to the waiting time for a response from the remote system.

The RTC dialing task is described from the APPS layer and the 073 layer in relation to FIGS. 5a and 5b, respectively. With particular reference to FIG. 5a, the APPS layer requests a task at block 510 by executing a RIC dial command.

The command is then forwarded to the operating system for processing and the APPS layer task is suspended at block 512 until the RIC dial task is completed.

7 While the RIC Dial task is suspended within the APPSIW, other pending tasks may be executed, subject to the availability of necessary system resources, as illustrated at block 514. Once the RIC dialing operation is complete within the operating system, a response signal indicating completion is sent back to the application layer at block 516.

Once the signal is received, the APPS layer task is unsuspended and the operation of the RIC dial task continues at block 518.
Now you can continue running.

Referring now to FIG. 5b, the operating system's first action upon receiving a command at block 530 is to parse the command at block 532. This operation is to confirm whether the task is requested by the APPS layer or not. Following confirmation of the request for RIC operation, the parameters accompanying the command are also parsed using the data sent from the APPS layer. A command is then created and sent to modem 356 in FIG. 3 to call and wake up the remote host. When sending the command to the modem 356, the O/S task sends the response to the modem 35.
6 (block 538), or left unresponsive for a predetermined amount of time (block 536).
Block 54o). If the time is left to expire, as detected in block 540, the operating system converts the dial status to the hexadecimal “FP” value.
' to indicate that there is a malfunction in block 5.
42), the status is returned to the APPS layer (block 564), which then signals that the operating system task is complete via block 568).

However, if a modem response is detected at block 538, the operating system searches for a response from modem 356 (block 544) and checks to see if the connection is complete (block 546). If the result is negative, the appropriate status is determined (block 548) and a return is made to the APPS layer. If the wiring is complete, the operating system will have a signal (NAK) from the remote system (block 550).
, again suspending the task until a response or time-out event occurs as seen in blocks 554 and 556, respectively (block 552).

As with all RIC operations, if a response is not received from the modem within a predetermined time, the operating system declares that a timeout event has occurred. In particular, at block 556, a time-out event indicates the occurrence of a NAK time-out by setting the dial status to hex ``31''. The status is then returned to the APPS layer. If a response is received from the modem (block 554), the operating system retrieves the response (block 560).
The response is then parsed to determine the modem status (block 562). The operating system then returns the status to the APPS layer (block 564) and signals that the RIC operating system task is complete (block 568).

According to the invention, the RIC dial operating system task establishes a communication link with a remote system;
It is possible to return the status to the application layer. Even in the case of a malfunction incident, the operating system uses the RIC dial status returned to the application layer to indicate the nature of the malfunction.

The purpose of the RIC Send Task (block 416 in FIG. 4) is to provide the application layer with the ability to send data to a remote system over the established communication link. Referring to FIG. 6a, the RIC send task is RT
is initiated at the APPS layer by forwarding the C send command to the operating system (block 6).
10) and suspending the task invocation (block 612) until a response is received from the operating system layer (block 616). As with any operating system task, the RIC
Once the send command is issued, the current APPS layer task is suspended to allow auxiliary APPS layer tasks to execute, while the RIC task is suspended (block 614).

Generally, the RIC send task is implemented within the operating system, where it is used to identify a data pointer or data string for transmission that is obtained from the application layer. Within the operating system layer, data streams are connected to communication links and modems 356 in FIG.
is combined with certain protocol information to form packets for transmission. Following the transmission of the data stream, the communication task is suspended and the remote system acknowledges (ACK) the data stream.
) will be waiting. If a malfunction occurred in the transmission, the remote system returns a negative acknowledgment (NAK) that the message was received or a malfunction occurred.

With particular reference to FIG. 6b, the operating system first receives an RTC send command (block 630).
, then parses the command data (block 632) to ascertain associated command parameters. Sending data to a remote system requires modem 356 in Figure 3 to be in the "neon on"status;
This status is verified by the test at block 634. Additionally, the operating system checks the status of the RIC transmit buffer (block 63).
6) This status is sent to the AP as a command parameter.
Identified by the memory pointer transferred from the PS layer. If either test block 634 or 636 indicates a problem, the status is determined (block 668) and sent back to the APPS layer (block 664).
. If the modem and RIC transmit buffer are active, the operating system sends a data stream to the modem for transmission to the remote system (block 638) and then starts a transmit timer (block 640). The operating system then suspends tasks that leave a response pending from the modem (block 646).
) or indicate that the transmit timeout period has expired (block 640) A response was received from the modem (block 646).
In this case, the response data is first checked to see if a NAK or negative response was returned (
block 648). Returning a NAK response from the remote system means that data was received, but a data malfunction was detected. The operation that serves as this criterion is a malfunction detection operation that is predetermined based on the communication protocol established between the electrostatic copying system and the remote system.

A NAK response, such as that detected at block 468,
Alternatively, a transmission timeout event at block 644 will cause the operating system to check the current message or number of previously transmitted telephone rings. In the transmission limit test block 644), block 6
When started at 38, a comparison is made with the number of telephone rings at which the current message transmission failed to see if transmission is warranted. If additional transmissions are possible, operating system processing continues as described above at block 638.

However, if the transmit limit is reached, a status indicating the RIC transmit limit is established (block 662).
, to reply to the APPS layer (block 664), and eventually the RTC
A signal is issued that the sending task has ended unsuccessfully (block 670).

If the modem response is not N A K as received at block 646, a second test is used. The test will determine whether the message was a ``carrier lost'' message from the modem. A response from the modem that says ``gear lost'' indicates that there is a problem with the communications link to the remote system. As mentioned above, the operating system identifies modem conditions in the status returned to the APPS layer, which is how it indicates that the RIC send task has failed.

Finally, the received modem response (block 646
) is considered to be an ACK response (block 660).
The fact that data has been successfully received and a new transmission is possible is considered a signal from the receiving system to the transmitting system. Next, the APP indicates that the sending has been completed successfully.
As indicated by the status (block 662) returned to the S layer (block 664).

Finally, the operating system layer issues a task completion signal (block 670) so that the APPS layer task continues.

Referring again to FIG. 4, the communication session includes the RIC
It does not matter how many times the transmit task and/or the RTC receive task (blocks 416 and 418) are included.

The completion of the communication session with the remote system is indicated by End of Transmission (E).
OT) determined within the application layer by successful sending or receiving of a message.

At the end of each RIC receive task, a test is performed to determine whether the last message transferred to the application layer was an EOT message (block 420). Even after the RIC send task is used to send an EO6T message, a test is performed to check whether the sending was successful based on the status returned from the operating system layer. The communication session is then terminated by the APPS layer using the RIC hangup task (block 42
2). In response to the operating system command, the operating system first sends the command to the modem 356 in FIG.
Send to and hang up the phone line with the remote system,
In other words, disconnect. The operating system then puts the task on hold and waits for a response from the modem indicating the status of the hangup request.

Upon receiving the status from modem 356 in FIG.
The operating system unsuspends the task, establishes modem status, and then forwards the status to the application layer.

Upon receiving the RIC hangup task status from the operating system, the application layer unsuspends the current task and checks for successful completion of the R1C hangup task. If all goes well, the application layer continues normal operation. If a malfunction is indicated by the RIC hung task status returned from the operating system, the application layer chooses to call the RC modem setup task to reset the modem, as described in block 412. .

Resetting the modem here means automatically disconnecting the remote telephone link.

Finally, according to the invention, the application layer
As a result of the C communications session, invocation of a remote power off task (block 424) may optionally occur. This task causes the operating system to cause the electrostatographic system to begin a shutdown cycle in sequence. The operations described above include, intertwined or unconstrained, the currently active copy operation, saving all necessary data to non-volatile memory, and powering down the system. Operation of the system following a remote power-off task requires the operator to first flip the system's power switch to the OFF position and then to the ON position.

Although what is now considered to be an embodiment of this invention has been described and illustrated herein, it is possible for those skilled in the art to make various changes and modifications that fall within the true spirit of this invention and within the field. All modifications and variations are included within the scope of the claims.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory perspective view of an electrostatic copying machine incorporating the present invention. FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of the electrostatic copier control system and memory of the machine of FIG. FIG. 3 is a detailed block diagram of the communication hardware of the machine of FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for a typical electrostatic copier communication session with a remote host. 5a and 5b are detailed flowcharts of the multitasking operation in the RIC dial operation process of FIG. 4. 6a and 6b are detailed flowcharts of the multitasking operation of the RIC transmission process of FIG. 4. 5 Electrostatic copying machine IO, user interface 15/document handling unit 17, document tray 20, electrostatic copying machine module 30, 32.34: copy paper tray 36 two-sided copy storage module 40: finishing module

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A first control element that couples the operation of various mechanical parts to effect mapping on a support medium according to programmed job requirements, and a first control element that communicates with an external device through a communication network. A method for simultaneously controlling both the operation of a mechanical component and communication with an external device through a communication network in a copying machine having a control function with a second control element for coupling: initiating operation of the machine component in accordance with programmed job requests; communicating with a remote device through a communications network; and continuing operation of the machine part by the first control element in accordance with programmed job requests while simultaneously communicating with the remote device. Continue to communicate with remote devices over the network.