JPH06303360A - Adder for adding value added to existent device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Object] To provide an additional device for improving the function of the existing device without changing the design of the existing device body and without using an adapter for limiting the function. [Structure] The addition device 10 includes a display device 32 and its I / O.
37, between the key 33 and its I / O 38, the scanner 3
5 and its I / O 40, between the printer 36 and its I / O, and a display I / F 13 and a key I, which are circuit-wise inserted.
/ F12, scanner I / F22, and printer I / F23 are provided. The memories 14 and 15, the CPU 17, the encoder / decoder 18, and the IS for decoding and processing the information read from these I / Fs to add value to the additional device 10.
A DN I / F 16 and a CODEC 11 are provided. With the above configuration, new data processing and operation can be added without impairing existing data processing and operation functions.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an additional device that adds value to an existing device operated by an operator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a new function is added to an existing device, the existing device body that has already been completed is modified. Alternatively, a method of using an interface as it is and connecting an adapter to the outside is used.

[0003]

However, as a method of adding a new function to the existing device of the related art, there are the following problems. Make changes to the already completed existing device body. In this case, it is necessary to fully understand the design contents of the existing device body and redesign it. In particular, when a designer other than the designer of the existing device newly redesigns, it takes a long time to change the design. Further, when the interface is used as it is to connect the adapter to the outside, the function of the existing device may be limited.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and in improving the function of an existing device, it does not require a long time for design change to add a new function to the existing device, Another object of the present invention is to provide an additional device that adds value to an existing device without connecting an adapter that may limit the functions of the existing device.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an additional device for adding added value to an existing device of the present invention is an additional device for adding added value to an existing device operated by an operator. Input signal processing means for fetching and processing the input signal output from the input device of the existing device by the operation of, and outputting from the I / O of the display device of the existing device. And a display signal processing means for outputting the processed display signal to the display device after processing it.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned other problems, an additional device which adds value to an existing device of the present invention is an additional device which adds value to an existing device operated by an operator. A data input signal processing means for fetching and processing a data input signal output from the data input device and outputting the data input signal to the I / O of the data input device, and an output from the I / O of the data output device of the existing device. A data output signal processing means for fetching and processing the data output signal and outputting it to the data output device is provided.

[0007]

The operator inputs the required data through the input device (man-machine interface) of the existing device which mediates between the operator and the device. The input signal output from this input device is taken into the input signal processing means of the additional device that adds value to the existing device before it is converted into a signal that can be processed by the existing device by the I / O of the input device. .
The added value is added by the input signal processing means, and the signal added with the added value is output to the I / O of the input device.

Similarly, a display signal for notifying the operator of the state of the existing device is output from the I / O of the display device and displayed on the display device by the additional device for giving added value to the existing device. It is taken into the signal processing means. The display signal processing means adds the added value, and the signal to which the added value is added is output to the display device. In this way, by providing the input signal processing means and the display signal processing means with the function of artificially creating information, the function of taking in information, and the function of passing information, it is possible to handle a wider variety of information. It is possible to enhance the functionality and automate existing equipment without involvement.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment, in which a function (including a conventional communication function) for connecting to an existing apparatus as an added value to an ISDN (Integrated Service Digital Network) and a memory function (to store encoded data) It performs memory proxy reception and broadcast transmission sequentially). In particular, the case of taking out the man-machine interface from the existing device is described.

In the figure, 30 is an existing device (for example, P
STN = Public Switched Telephone Network = facsimile connected to a public telephone line). The existing device 30 includes a CPU 31 for controlling the entire device, a display device 32 for displaying various information, a key 33 as an input device for inputting data, and a circuit I / F which is a line interface.
34, a scanner 35 for reading an original or the like as a data input device, a printer 36 as a data output device for printing graphics and characters, an I / O 37 which is an input / output device of the display device 32, and an input / output device of a key 33. I / O38,
I / O 39 which is an input / output device of the circuit I / F 34, I / O 40 which is an input / output device of the scanner 35, I / O 41 which is an input / output device of the printer 36, and an encoder / decoder for encoding / decoding data. 42 and MODEM4 for modulating / demodulating
3 etc. are provided.

Further, in the figure, reference numeral 10 is an addition device for adding added value to the existing device according to the present invention. The additional device 10 includes a CODEC 11 which is an interface between an analog signal and a digital signal, and a key I / O which is circuit-inserted between the key 33 and the I / O 38 of the existing device 30.
F12, a display I / F 13 which is circuit-inserted between the I / O 37 of the existing device 30 and the display device 32, a transmission buffer 14 which is a transmission data buffer, a reception buffer 15 which is a reception data buffer, and an ISDN. I which is I / F
SDN I / F 16, CP that controls the entire additional device 30
U17 and encoder / decoder 1 for encoding / decoding data
8 etc. are provided.

As shown in FIG.
The key information from the machine interface (hereinafter referred to as the key 33) is supplied from the device a through the key I / F 12 shown in FIG.
Sent to and analyzed there. The additional device 10 sends a signal in which the key information is simulated to the I / O 38 from b of the existing device 30 in the figure to control the existing device 30. Similarly, the display information from the I / O 37 to the man-machine interface (hereinafter referred to as the display device 32) of the existing device 30 is added from the display device I / F 13 shown in FIG.
Sent to 0 and parsed there. The additional device 10 sends a signal that artificially creates display information to the c of the existing device 30 in FIG.
To the display device 32, and the information is displayed on the display device 32.

FIG. 2 illustrates a case where data is taken out from an existing device. In the figure, 30 is an existing device and 10 is an additional device, which has substantially the same configuration as in FIG.
The difference from FIG. 1 is that the scanner 35 of the existing apparatus 30 is used.
And the I / O 40 between the scanner I / F 22 of the additional device 10
Is inserted in a circuit, and the printer I / F 23 of the additional device 10 is inserted in a circuit between the I / O 41 of the existing device 30 and the printer 36.

As shown in the figure, the information from the data input device (hereinafter referred to as the scanner 35) of the existing device 30 is sent from the e in the figure to the additional device 10 through the scanner I / F 22.
It is analyzed there. The add-on device 10 sends a signal that artificially creates the scanner information from f of the existing device 30 shown in FIG.
Send to O40 to control the existing device 30. In this way, the scanner 35 of the existing device 30 is used as it is for the function of reading the document. The printer information from the I / O 41 to the data output device (hereinafter, the printer 36) of the existing device 30 is sent to the additional device 10 through the printer I / F 23 from h in the figure and analyzed there. Addition device 10
Sends a signal in which the printer information is simulated to the printer 36 from the existing device 30 g in the figure, and causes the printer 36 to print.

When the data for printing the received data is input to the existing device 30, the printer 36 is directly controlled to print (g in the figure). Or Scanner I
It is also possible to input from / F22 and print as read data. In this case, the copy function of the existing device 30 is used. The additional device 10 reads the output signal to the data input / output portion, artificially generates the signal, and controls the data input / output portion. The additional device 10 is
The data output has a function of taking in or passing it as necessary, and the data input also has a function of taking in or passing it as necessary.

Next, the transmission procedure in the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 shows an example in which the first and second embodiments are combined. The transmission original is set in the existing device 30. I / O3 of the display device 32 is set
Judgment is made from the display information (d in the figure) from 7. Dial. The dial information is read directly from the key 33 (a in the figure). Press the send button. The information is read directly from the key 33 (a in the figure). Existing device 3
A key signal is artificially generated so as to cause 0 to perform a copy operation, and is sent from the key I / F 12 of the addition device 10. (B in the figure) It is confirmed from the existing device 30 that the copy operation has been started with the display information (d in the figure). When scanning is completed and printing is started, the printer I / F23
Capture the signal from. The captured signal is accumulated in the transmission buffer 14 and compressed as necessary.

When the reading is completed, the transmission is started. If the terminal of the other party is a communicable device connected to the ISDN line, the compressed code is transmitted from the ISDN I / F 16. If the other terminal is connected to the PSTN network (such as G3 machine), the once compressed code is expanded into pixel data again and sent from the scanner I / F 22 to the existing apparatus 30. Key 33 from existing device 30
Use to send. Addition device 10 is ISDN
I / F16 is switched and the signal from CODEC is set to IS.
Connect to a DN line so that an analog signal from the existing circuit I / F 34 can be sent to Bch. Judge the start and end of transmission from the display information from the existing device 30,
Send an appropriate key signal to control the existing device 30.

Further, the receiving procedure in the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. ISDN I / F16 of additional device 10
When the incoming call is detected by the caller, and the caller is a communicable device connected to the ISDN line, it is accumulated in the reception buffer 15 while being decoded by the encoder / decoder 18. If the other terminal is connected to the PSTN network (G3 machine etc.), I
The SDN I / F 16 is switched so that the line I / F 34 of the existing device 30 is received. After that, the existing device 30
The existing device 30 is made to perform printing up to printing by using the above protocol, and the state is confirmed by the display information (d in the figure).
After that, when the reception is completed, the data in the reception buffer 15 is input from the scanner I / F 22 and printed. In this case also, the copy procedure is used.

[0019]

As described above, the additional device for adding value to the existing device according to the present invention captures and processes the input signal output from the input device of the existing device by the operator's operation, Input signal processing means for outputting to the I / O of the input device, and display signal processing means for taking in and processing the display signal output from the I / O of the display device of the existing device and then outputting to the display device. And a data input signal processing means for fetching and processing a data input signal output from a data input device of an existing device and outputting the data input signal to an I / O of the data input device.
An existing device operated by an operator, since it is provided with a data output signal processing means for fetching and processing a data output signal output from the I / O of the data output device of the existing device and outputting it to the data output device. If you know how to use, you can control the existing device with the newly added device, all the functions of the existing device can be inherited, and only the function of the additional device needs to be considered, so the development period can be shortened. Can be achieved. Further, by having the function of capturing, creating and passing data, it is possible to add new data processing and operation without impairing the existing data processing and operation functions.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an existing device and an additional device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an existing device and an additional device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an existing device and an additional device in which the first embodiment and the second embodiment of the present invention are combined.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 additional device 11 CODEC 12 key I / F 13 display I / F 14 transmission buffer 15 reception buffer 16 ISDN I / F 17 CPU 18 encoder / decoder 22 scanner I / F 23 printer I / F 30 existing device 31 CPU 32 Display device 33 key 34 line I / F 35 scanner 36 printer 37 I / O 38 I / O 39 I / O 40 I / O 41 I / O 42 encoder / decoder 43 MODEM

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Toshikazu Ide 1-1-6 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nihon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Koichi Kondo 1-1-6 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Japan Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Koji Tanaka 1-1-6 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Japan Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Toru Shirakura 1-1-6 Uchisaiwai-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo No. Japan Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Mikako Iguchi 1-1-6 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Japan Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Tetsuo Takamine 1-1-1, Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo No. 6 Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An add-on device for adding value to an existing device operated by an operator, wherein after inputting and processing an input signal output from an input device of the existing device by an operator's operation, I of the input device is processed. Input signal processing means for outputting to the I / O and display signal processing means for taking in and processing the display signal output from the I / O of the display device of the existing device and then outputting to the display device. An additional device that adds value to an existing device. 2. An add-on device, which adds value to an existing device operated by an operator, captures and processes a data input signal output from a data input device of the existing device, and then outputs I of the data input device.
The data input signal processing means for outputting to the I / O and the data output signal processing means for outputting to the data output device after capturing and processing the data output signal output from the I / O of the data output device of the existing device. An additional device that adds value to an existing device characterized by being provided.