GB2305057A

GB2305057A - Controlling facsimile apparatus operating modes

Info

Publication number: GB2305057A
Application number: GB9617649A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sun-Woong Bang
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 1995-08-24
Filing date: 1996-08-23
Publication date: 1997-03-26
Anticipated expiration: 2016-08-23
Also published as: GB2305057B; DE19634146A1; KR970014086A; CN1150729A; JPH09163046A; GB9617649D0

Description

2305057 CONTROLLING FACSIMILE APPARATUS is The present invention relates

to a method for controlling facsimile apparatus.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings a conventional facsimile includes a control part 1 for controlling the entire facsimile operation in accordance with programs, a memory 2 for storing programs and various function settings required for controlling operations of the facsimile, a key manipulating part 3 having a plurality of keys, for dialling a document receiver and setting various functions of the facsimile, and a liquid display for displaying a called number and various operation status of the facsimile under the control of the controlling part 1, an optical part 4 for reading in and making photoelectric conversion of image data of a document under the control of the controlling part 1, a modem 5 for modulating the image data having photoelectric converted in the optical part 4 or demodulating the image data received through a telephone line under the control of the controlling part 1, an output part 6 for printing the image data demodulated in the modem 5 or printing the image data photoelectric converted in the optical part 4 for copying the document under the control of the controlling part 1, and an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 7 for interfacing the controlling part 1, key manipulating part 3, optical part 4 and output part 6.

Such a facsimile is operated in a top-down manner for displaying functions, so that when a change of operating mode is required the user must perform many key strokes on different keys in the key manipulating part 3. For example, during day time power saving function should be turned "off", memory reception function turned "off" and manual reception function turned "on", and during night time memory reception is function should be turned "on" and the automatic reception function turned "on". In order to switch between the day time and night time modes, the user has to manipulate the keys in the key manipulating part 3 one by one, day and night every day.

Thus, since many key strokes are required in setting the particular functions for a particular operating mode, the conventional facsimile function setting method has problems in that much time and effort is required for the many key strokes, the probability of error occurrence is high due to the high possibility of making mistakes during the many key strokes, and if the setting of individual functions for an operating mode is regular and frequent, the setting procedure is not efficient as it requires many repetitive key strokes.

Various aspects of the present invention are exemplified by the attached claims.

An embodiment of the present invention can substantially obviate one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

A method embodying a further aspect of the present invention includes the steps of setting each of user's functions in a facsimile in organization of function groups, storing each of the function groups in memories different from one another, and, when one of the function groups is selected, automatic setting of a system in the facsimile using the function group read in from a corresponding memory.

Reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates a system of a conventional facsimile; Fig. 2 illustrates an example of function group used in an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 illustrates a state of memory region in an is embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 illustrates steps of function group input in an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5 illustrates steps of function group selection in an embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 6 illustrates steps of function group selection in view of time in an embodiment of the present invention.

A facsimile to which an embodiment of the present invention can be applied is generally similar to the conventional facsimile shown in Fig. 1. However, a method embodying the present invention for setting functions in such a facsimile will be explained.

Referring to Fig. 4, different operating modes (user's functions) are set in the facsimile in organization of function groups. When a user inputs the function groups by means of keys in the key manipulating part 3, the controlling part 1 inputs the function groups into respective different areas of a memory 2 as shown in Fig. 3. As many function groups are organized as the user desires. One arrangement of such function groups is shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 5, upon selection of a desired operating mode, the corresponding function group is read in from its area and function parameters are set in the facsimile. For example, function group data corresponding to an operating mode in which the power saving function is "off", the memory reception function is "off,' and manual reception function is llonn, and which is expected to be used during day time, is stored in a first memory region M1. Function group data which corresponds to another operating mode in which the power saving function is llonn, the memory reception function is,on" and the automatic reception function is 'on", and which is expected to be used during night is time, is stored in a second memory region M2. When the day time mode is selected by the user, the controlling part 1 reads in the function group data suitable for day time mode from the first region Mi of the memory 2 and sets the function parameters accordingly, i.e., power saving function "off", memory reception function "off,' and manual reception function "on".

In order to change the operating mode of the facsimile from the day time mode to the night time mode as time passes, the user selects the night time mode, causing the controlling part 1 to read in the function group data suitable for the night time mode from the second region M2 of the memory 2 and then to set the function parameters accordingly, i.e. power saving function "on", memory reception function "on" and automatic reception function "on" in the facsimile system.

In the aforementioned operations, the user only makes one or two key strokes on the keys in the key manipulating part 3 when selecting day, or night time mode.

Fig. 6 illustrates alternative operating mode selection embodying the present invention.

A user selects time zones and operating modes which are to be used in each of those time zones, and then inputs function groups suitable for such a plurality of selected modes into a facsimile. The controlling part 1 stores the corresponding function group data in the memory 2 in the different respective regions thereof (shown in Fig. 3).

For example, a user may want the facsimile to have a day time mode from 8 AM to 6 PM and a night time mode from 6 PM to 8 AM. Function group data corresponding to the day time mode (power saving function "off", memory reception function noff11 and manual reception function "on") and corresponding to the night time mode (power saving mode "on" memory reception mode "on" and automatic reception mode "on") is input. The controlling part 1 stores the function group data expected to be used during day time in the first region MI of the memory 2 and the function group data expected to be used during night time in the second region M2 of the memory 2.

Under this condition, at 8 AM when the day time mode is to be set, the controlling part 1 reads function group data (power saving function "off", memory reception function "off" and manual reception function "on") suitable for use in a day time mode, from the first region M1 in the memory 2, and sets the function parameters in the facsimile system accordingly. Then, at 6 PM when the night time mode is to be set, the controlling part 1 reads function group data (power saving function "on", memory reception function "on" and automatic reception function "on") suitable for use in a night time mode from the second region M2 in the memory 2, and sets the function parameters in the facsimile accordingly. That is, function parameters which should be set for a particular time zone that has been selected by the user in advance can be set automatically without any key manipulation of the user.

As has been explained, since a method embodying the present invention for setting functions in a facsimile allows change of function groups in a facsimile with simple or automatic key manipulation, the method permits a user to set functions of the facsimile with the least time and effort, and a very low probability of error occurrence since all functions required for a particular operating mode are read in at one time to set them in the facsimile.

Such a method for setting functions in a facsimile, in which simple key manipulations and/or -6 operations can be made, enables easy and accurate changes of function settings of a facsimile to be for the convenience of the user.

Claims

1. A method for setting functions in a facsimile comprising the steps of:

setting each of user's functions in a facsimile in organization of function groups; storing each of the function groups in memories different from one another; and when one of the functions groups is selected, setting a system in the facsimile using the function group read in from a corresponding memory.

2. A method for setting functions in a facsimile as claimed in claim 1, wherein the function groups comprise power saving mode "offu, memory reception mode "off,' and manual reception mode "on" in a day time mode, and power saving mode "on", memory reception mode "on" and automatic reception mode "on" in a night time mode.

3. A method for setting functions in a facsimile as claimed in claim 2, wherein, if there is no selection of the day time mode or night time mode, a controlling part sets a function group corresponding to any one of the modes in a system of the facsimile, automatically.

4 A method of controlling a facsimile apparatus, comprising:

defining function groups corresponding to respective operating modes of the apparatus; storing data representing such defined function groups in respective areas of a memory device of the apparatus; reading stored data representing a selected function group in response to activation of the corresponding operating mode; and setting function parameters of the apparatus in accordance with the read function group data.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein is activation of an operating mode is performed by a user of the apparatus.

6. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein activation of an operating mode is performed automatically.

7. A facsimile apparatus comprising:

definition means for defining function groups corresponding to respective operating modes of the apparatus; a memory unit for storing data relating to defined function groups in respective areas of the unit; read means for reading such stored data relating to a selected function group from the memory unit in response to activation of a corresponding operating mode; and control means, connected to receive data from the read means, for setting function parameters of the apparatus in accordance with the read data.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, including input means by which a user of the apparatus can activate of operating modes of the apparatus.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, including activation means for automatically activating operating modes of the apparatus.

10. A method of controlling a facsimile apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A facsimile apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.