Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-143224 filed on Jun. 28, 2011, the entire subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a technique of transmitting facsimile data from an information processing apparatus to a facsimile device. 
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]    There have been proposed a technique in which, in a PC-FAX system in which an information processing apparatus (PC) and a facsimile (FAX) device are connected to each other, a user inputs a telephone number of a transmission destination and the contents of a memo to be written on a cover page on a screen displayed by the information processing apparatus, and when the input is completed, the information processing apparatus generates FAX data and transmits the FAX data to the FAX device. 
       SUMMARY  
       [0004]    However, according to the above-described related art, although the telephone number of a transmission destination and the contents of a memo are not input items which are directly related to generation of FAX data corresponding to the main body of FAX, the FAX data is generated when all of these input items are input. As a result, there is a problem in that the time at which the FAX device having received the FAX data from the information processing apparatus starts transmitting the FAX data to an external FAX device is delayed. 
         [0005]    Illustrative aspects of the present invention provide a technique of accelerating the time at which a FAX device starts transmitting FAX data to an external FAX device in a system in which an information processing apparatus is connected to the FAX device. 
         [0006]    According to one illustrative aspect of the present invention, there is provided a non-transitory computer-readable medium having a facsimile control program stored thereon and readable by a computer installed in an information processing apparatus, the facsimile control program, when executed by the computer, causes the computer to perform operations comprising: a generating and transmitting process of generating facsimile data based on a transmission target image and transmitting the generated facsimile data to a facsimile device; a setting receiving process of receiving a transmission setting of the facsimile data from a user; and a transmission setting data transmitting process of transmitting transmission setting data based on the transmission setting received by the setting receiving process to the facsimile device, wherein the facsimile control program is configured to cause the computer to start the generating and transmitting process and the setting receiving process at the same time or start one of the generating and transmitting process and the setting receiving process during execution of another one of the generating and transmitting process and the setting receiving process. 
         [0007]    According to another illustrative aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus comprising: a setting receiving unit configured to receive a transmission setting of facsimile data from a user; a generating and transmitting unit configured to generate facsimile data based on a transmission target image and transmit the generated facsimile data to a facsimile device; and a transmission setting data transmitting unit configured to transmit transmission setting data based on the transmission setting received by the setting receiving unit to the facsimile device, wherein the information processing apparatus is configured to start operations of the generating and transmitting unit and the setting receiving unit at the same time or start operation of one of the generating and transmitting unit and the setting receiving unit during operation of another one of the generating and transmitting unit and the setting receiving unit. 
         [0008]    According to still another illustrative aspect of the present invention, there is provided facsimile system comprising a facsimile device and an information processing apparatus, wherein the information processing apparatus comprises: a setting receiving unit configured to receive a transmission setting of facsimile data from a user; a generating and transmitting unit configured to generate facsimile data based on a transmission target image and transmit the generated facsimile data to the facsimile device; and a transmission setting data transmitting unit configured to transmit transmission setting data based on the transmission setting received by the setting receiving unit to the facsimile device, wherein the information processing apparatus is configured to start operations of the generating and transmitting unit and the setting receiving unit at the same time or start operation of one of the generating and transmitting unit and the setting receiving unit during operation of another one of the generating and transmitting unit and the setting receiving unit, and wherein the facsimile device comprises: a receiving unit configured to receive the facsimile data and the transmission setting data from the information processing apparatus; and a transmitting unit configured to transmit the facsimile data received by the receiving unit using the transmission setting data received by the receiving unit. 
         [0009]    According to still another illustrative aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile control method for an information processing apparatus, the facsimile control method comprising: a generating and transmitting step of generating facsimile data based on a transmission target image and transmitting the generated facsimile data to a facsimile device; a setting receiving step of receiving a transmission setting of the facsimile data from a user; and a transmission setting data transmitting step of transmitting transmission setting data based on the transmission setting received by the setting receiving step to the facsimile device, wherein the facsimile control program is configured to cause the computer to start the generating and transmitting step and the setting receiving step at the same time or start one of the generating and transmitting step and the setting receiving step during execution of another one of the generating and transmitting step and the setting receiving step. 
         [0010]    Incidentally, the invention can be realized in various forms including a facsimile control method, and a recording medium in which a facsimile control program is recorded. 
         [0011]    Further, the functions of respective units provided in the present invention are realized by hardware resources in which the functions are specified by their configurations, software resources in which the functions are specified by programs, or a combination of the hardware and software resources. Moreover, these functions of the respective units are not limited to being realized by hardware resources which are physically independent from each other. 
         [0012]    According to the above-described illustrative aspects, it is possible to accelerate the time at which the facsimile device starts transmitting facsimile data to an external facsimile device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a PC-FAX system according to a first exemplary embodiment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing a simplified electrical configuration of a PC; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing a simplified electrical configuration of a FAX device; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a data flow diagram of the PC-FAX system; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram showing an example of a transmission setting screen; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram showing an example of an address book screen; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram showing an example of an attachment setting screen; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram showing an example of a transmittal document preview screen; 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram for conceptually explaining a merging by a merging process; 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a flowchart showing processes by a FAX driver program; 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is a flowchart showing processes by a transmission setting program; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  is a flowchart showing processes by a FAX device-side control program. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0025]    Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. 
       First Exemplary Embodiment  
       [0026]    A first exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 12 . 
         [0027]    (1) Configuration of PC-FAX System 
         [0028]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a PC-FAX system  1  as a facsimile (FAX) system according to the first exemplary embodiment. The PC-FAX system  1  includes a personal computer (PC)  2  as an information processing apparatus and a facsimile (FAX) device  3 , which are communicably connected to each other through a wired or wireless communication network  4  such as a local area network (LAN) or the Internet. The FAX device  3  is communicably connected to an external FAX device  7  through a public line  6 . 
         [0029]    The PC-FAX system  1  is a system in which, when the PC  2  receives a transmission setting for FAX transmission from a user, the PC  2  transmits transmission setting data based on the received transmission setting and body data (which will be described later) to the FAX device  3 , and the FAX device  3  transmits the body data to the external FAX device  7  using the transmission setting data. 
         [0030]    (1-1) Configuration of PC 
         [0031]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing a simplified electrical configuration of the PC  2 . The PC  2  is configured to include a CPU  21 , a ROM  22 , a RAM  23 , a display unit  24 , an operation unit  25 , a network interface (network I/F)  26 , and a storage unit  27 . 
         [0032]    The CPU  21  controls the respective units of the PC  2  by executing various programs stored in the ROM  22  and the storage unit  27 . Various programs and data executed by the CPU  21  are stored in the ROM  22 . The RAM  23  is used as a main storage device for allowing the CPU  21  to execute various processes. 
         [0033]    The display unit  24  is configured to include a display device such as a liquid crystal display and a driving circuit for driving the display device. 
         [0034]    The operation unit  25  is configured to include an input device such as a mouse or a keyboard and a connection interface to which these input devices are connected. 
         [0035]    The network interface  26  is communicably connected to an external device such as the FAX device  3  through the communication network  4 . 
         [0036]    The storage unit  27  is configured to store various programs and data using a nonvolatile memory such as a hard disk or a flash memory. An operating system (OS)  28 , a FAX application program (FAX application)  29 , a PC-side control program  30 , and various data are stored in the storage unit  27 . The OS  28  is a multi-task OS capable of executing a plurality of programs in parallel. 
         [0037]    The PC-side control program  30  is an example of a facsimile control program. The CPU  21  and the operation unit  25  are examples of a setting receiving unit. Moreover, the CPU  21  and the network interface  26  are examples of a generation and transmitting unit and a transmission setting data transmitting unit. 
         [0038]    (1-2) Electrical Configuration of FAX Device 
         [0039]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing a simplified electrical configuration of the FAX device  3 . The FAX device  3  includes a control unit  31 , a scanner unit  32 , a print unit  33 , an operation unit  34 , a FAX unit  35 , a communication interface (communication I/F) unit  36 , and a storage unit  37 . 
         [0040]    The control unit  31  includes a CPU  31   a,  a ROM  31   b,  and a RAM  31   c.  The CPU  31   a  controls the respective units of the FAX device  3  by executing programs stored in the ROM  31   b  and the storage unit  37 . A FAX device-side control program  40  for controlling the operation of the FAX device  3  and various data are stored in the ROM  31   b.  The RAM  31   c  is used as a main storage device for allowing the CPU  31   a  to execute various processes. 
         [0041]    The scanner unit  32  includes a light source for illuminating a document and a linear image sensor. The scanner unit  32  is configured to optically read the document to generate an image. The image generated by the scanner unit  32  is transmitted to the external FAX device  7  by the FAX unit  35 . 
         [0042]    The print unit  33  prints the image represented by the FAX data received by the FAX unit  35  from the external FAX device  7  on a sheet by an electrophotographic method, an ink jet method, and so on. 
         [0043]    The operation unit  34  is configured to include a display device such as a liquid crystal display or various buttons. 
         [0044]    The FAX unit  35  is configured to include a network control unit (NCU), a modem, and an ASIC for controlling the network control unit and the modem. The FAX unit  35  transmits and receives FAX data to and from the external FAX device  7  through the public line  6  in accordance with a predetermined FAX communication protocol. 
         [0045]    The communication interface unit  36  is communicably connected to an external device such as the PC  2  through the communication network  4 . 
         [0046]    An NVRAM and a flash ROM are included in the storage unit  37 . A telephone number registered by the user, the body data and transmission setting data received from the PC  2  are stored in the storage unit  37 . 
         [0047]    The control unit  31  and the communication interface unit  36  are examples of a receiving unit. The control unit  31  and the FAX unit  35  are examples of a transmitting unit. The storage unit  37  is an example of a memory. Moreover, the control unit  31  is an example of a deleting unit. 
         [0048]    (2) Data Flow of PC-FAX System 
         [0049]      FIG. 4  is a data flow diagram of the PC-FAX system  1 . Among the processes shown in  FIG. 4 , a generating and transmitting process  51 , a setting receiving process  52 , and a transmission setting data transmitting process  53  are processes executed by the PC  2 . A merging process  54 , a FAX transmitting process  55 , and a cancellation process  56  are processes executed by the FAX device  3 . 
         [0050]    (2-1) Generating and Transmitting Process 
         [0051]    The generating and transmitting process  51  is a process of executing a process of generating body data made up of one or more page data based on a transmission target image output from the FAX application  29  and outputting the generated body data to the merging process  54 . 
         [0052]    The body data is an example of facsimile data. 
         [0053]    In the first exemplary embodiment, before starting the execution of the generating and transmitting process  51 , a setting of generation conditions necessary for generation of FAX body data are input in advance from the user to the FAX application  29  and the FAX driver program  30   a.  Examples of the generation conditions include color/monochrome, a sheet size, and a resolution. 
         [0054]    After the generation conditions are input, when a transmission instruction is input from the user to the FAX application  29 , the transmission target image is output from the FAX application  29 . 
         [0055]    When the transmission target image is output from the FAX application  29 , first, the execution of the generating and transmitting process  51  is started. When the execution of the generating and transmitting process  51  is started execution, the generating and transmitting process  51  first instructs the execution of the setting receiving process  52 . After that, the generation and transmission of the body data by the generating and transmitting process  51  and the reception of the transmission setting by the setting receiving process  52  are executed in parallel. 
         [0056]    Hereinafter, the processes executed by the generating and transmitting process  51  will be described. 
         [0057]    (2-1-1) Process of Generating Identification ID 
         [0058]    Upon receiving the transmission target image, the generating and transmitting process  51  generates an identification ID for uniquely identifying body data in the FAX device  3  before starting the generation of body data. The identification ID is used for correlating respective body data in the FAX device  3  with transmission setting data (which will be described later) when a plurality of body data is transmitted from a plurality of PCs  2  to the FAX device  3  at the same time. Incidentally, the identification ID is one example of identification information. 
         [0059]    When generating the identification ID, a hash function may be used so that the generated identification ID does not overlap with identification IDs generated by a generating and transmitting process  51  that is executed by other PCs  2 . Incidentally, instead of generating the identification ID by the generating and transmitting process  51 , the FAX device  3  may generate unitarily identification IDs so as not to overlap with those of other PCs  2 , and the identification IDs may be acquired from the FAX device  3 . 
         [0060]    (2-1-2) Process of Outputting Identification ID to Setting Receiving Process  52   
         [0061]    After generating the identification ID, the generating and transmitting process  51  outputs the identification ID to the setting receiving process  52  before starting the generation of body data. 
         [0062]    (2-1-3) Process of Generating Body Data 
         [0063]    As described above, the generating and transmitting process  51  generates body data based on the transmission target image output from the FAX application  29 . 
         [0064]    As a data format of the body data, an MH compressed format, an MR compressed format, and an MMR compressed format which are generally used in FAX data transmission can be used. Any of these data formats allows linking FAX transmittal document data to the head of body data and associating header data and footer data with each of page data items that configure the body data. 
         [0065]    (2-1-4) Process of Outputting Body Data and Identification ID to Merging Process  54   
         [0066]    Each time page data corresponding to one page is generated, the generating and transmitting process  51  according to the first exemplary embodiment adds an identification ID to the generated page data and outputs the page data to the merging process  54  rather than transmitting body data to the merging process  54  after the generation of all page data configuring body data is completed. The reason for transmitting the page data each time page data corresponding to one page is generated is because FAX transmission can be performed efficiently by executing generation and transmission of page data in parallel. 
         [0067]    (2-1-5) Process of Outputting Total Number of Pages to Transmission Setting Data Transmitting Process  53   
         [0068]    After the generation of body data is finished, the generating and transmitting process  51  outputs a total number of pages of the page data configuring the body data to the transmission setting data transmitting process  53  through the setting receiving process  52 . The total number of pages output to the transmission setting data transmitting process  53  is used for generation of FAX transmittal document data and header data. 
         [0069]    (2-1-6) Process of Canceling Generation and Transmission of Body Data 
         [0070]    When a cancel command is output from the setting receiving process  52 , the generating and transmitting process  51  cancels the generation and transmission of body data. 
         [0071]    (2-2) Setting Receiving Process 
         [0072]    The setting receiving process  52  is a process of executing a process of receiving a transmission setting of FAX data from the user  10  and outputting the received transmission setting to the transmission setting data transmitting process  53 . 
         [0073]    Here, specific examples of the transmission setting include a telephone number of a transmission destination of FAX data and transmittal document information for generating a FAX transmittal document attached to FAX data, which are different from the generation conditions necessary for generating the body data but are data necessary for transmission of FAX data. The telephone number of the transmission destination of FAX data is an example of an address. The transmittal document information is an example of information used for generation of a transmittal document. 
         [0074]    Hereinafter, processes executed by the setting receiving process  52  will be described. 
         [0075]    (2-2-1) Process of Receiving Setting of Telephone Number of Transmission Destination 
         [0076]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram showing a transmission setting screen  61  displayed by the setting receiving process  52 . In the transmission setting screen  61 , a user  10  can set a telephone number by the following methods (a) to (c). 
         [0077]    (a) The user  10  can directly input the telephone number of the FAX device  7  of a transmission destination by clicking a number button  61   a.  The user  10  can input one or more telephone numbers, and the input telephone numbers are displayed in a transmission destination field  61   d.    
         [0078]    (b) The user  10  can designate a telephone number correlated with a shortcut number  61   b  by clicking any one of the shortcut numbers  61   b  displayed as one-touch dials. The user  10  can click one or more shortcut numbers  61   b,  and the name or the telephone number correlated with the clicked shortcut number  61   b  is displayed in the transmission destination field  61   d.    
         [0079]    (c) The user  10  can select a transmission destination in an address book screen  62  (see  FIG. 6 ) displayed when an address book button  61   c  is clicked. 
         [0080]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram showing an example of the above-described address book screen  62 . “Member” shown in the figure represents a transmission destination of FAX transmission, and a telephone number used when transmitting FAX to the member is correlated with each member. 
         [0081]    In the address book screen  62 , a selectable member field  62   a  is a field in which members registered in advance are displayed as a list, and a selected member field  62   b  is a field in which members selected as a transmission destination are displayed as a list. The user  10  can move a member to the selected member field  62   b  by selecting a member displayed in the selectable member field  62   a  with a mouse and clicking a “add” button  62   c.    
         [0082]    The user  10  can select one or more members in the address book screen  62 , and the selected member or the telephone number thereof is displayed in the transmission destination field  61   d.    
         [0083]    (2-2-2) Process of Receiving Setting of Transmittal Document Information 
         [0084]    Returning to  FIG. 5 , when the user  10  selects a transmission destination displayed in the transmission destination field  61   d  of the transmission setting screen  61  with a mouse and clicking a “use transmittal document” button  61   e  in a state where the transmission destination is selected, the user  10  can display a transmittal document screen  63  (see  FIG. 7 ) used for setting transmittal document information used for generating a FAX transmittal document attached to FAX data which is transmitted to a selected transmission destination. 
         [0085]      FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram showing an example of the transmittal document setting screen  63 . In the transmittal document setting screen  63 , checkboxes  63   a  are provided to the left of respective items related to a transmission destination and respective items relating to a transmission source. When the checkbox  63   a  is checked, data can be input to an input field for inputting contents to be written in relation to the corresponding item. Then, the user  10  can input contents to be written in relation to the corresponding item to the input field. 
         [0086]    Further, in the transmittal document setting screen  63 , the user  10  can set such that a total number of pages is written in the FAX transmittal document by checking a checkbox  63   b.    
         [0087]    The user  10  can display a transmittal document preview screen  64  by clicking a “preview” button  63   c  in the transmittal document setting screen  63 . 
         [0088]      FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram showing an example of the transmittal document preview screen  64  displayed when the “preview” button  63   c  is clicked in a state where transmittal document information is set as in the example of the transmittal document setting screen  63  shown in  FIG. 7 . As shown in the figure, a FAX transmittal document that is actually transmitted is displayed as a preview in the transmittal document preview screen  64 , and the user  10  can check the contents of the FAX transmittal document before transmitting FAX. Incidentally, the total number of pages received from the generating and transmitting process  51  is displayed in a field for displaying the number of pages to be transmitted in the transmittal document setting screen  64 . Further, when the “preview” button  63   c  is clicked before the total number of pages is output from the generating and transmitting process  51 , a balloon help such as a message, “Input page number when transmitting facsimiles” may be displayed. 
         [0089]    (2-2-3) Process of Outputting Transmission Setting and Identification ID 
         [0090]    Returning to  FIG. 5 , when the user  10  clicks a transmit button  61   f  on the transmission setting screen  61 , the setting receiving process  52  outputs the set telephone numbers, transmittal document information corresponding to each telephone number, and various other setting information set in the transmission setting screen  61  and the transmittal document setting screen  63  to the transmission setting data transmitting process  53  as transmission setting. 
         [0091]    In this case, the setting receiving process  52  outputs the identification ID and the total number of pages output from the generating and transmitting process  51  to the transmission setting data transmitting process  53  together with the transmission setting as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0092]    (2-2-4) Process of Receiving Command to Cancel FAX Transmission 
         [0093]    The user  10  can cancel FAX transmission by clicking a cancel button  61   g  on the transmission setting screen  61 . 
         [0094]    As described above, the setting receiving process  52  can execute in parallel with the generating and transmitting process  51 . Thus, when the cancel button  61   g  is clicked, and the generation and transmission of the body data by the generating and transmitting process  51  is being executed, the setting receiving process  52  outputs a cancel command to the generating and transmitting process  51  in order to cancel these processes, as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0095]    There may be a case in which, at a time when the cancel button  61   g  is clicked, a part or all of page data may have been transmitted from the generating and transmitting process  51  to the FAX device  3 . Thus, when the cancel button  61   g  is clicked, the setting receiving process  52  outputs a cancel command and an identification ID to a cancellation process  56  in order to delete page data having been received on the FAX device  3  side, as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0096]    Incidentally, the setting receiving process  52  may output the cancel command to only the cancellation process  56  and may not output the cancel command to the generating and transmitting process  51 . In this case, even when the cancel command  61   g  is clicked, page data are output from the generating and transmitting process  51  to the FAX device  3 , and the page data in the FAX device  3  are deleted by the cancellation process  56 . 
         [0097]    A process in which the setting receiving process  52  receives the click of the cancel button  61   g  from the user  10  is an example of a cancel receiving process of receiving a cancel instruction. Further, a process in which the setting receiving process  52  outputs a cancel command to the cancellation process  56  is an example of a cancellation process. 
         [0098]    (2-3) Transmission Setting Data Transmitting Process 
         [0099]    Returning to  FIG. 4 , the transmission setting data transmitting process  53  generates a telephone number list based on one or more telephone numbers included in the transmission setting output from the setting receiving process  52 . Further, the transmission setting data transmitting process  53  generates FAX transmittal document data for each telephone number based on the transmittal document information included in the transmission setting and the total number of pages output from the setting receiving process  52 . Still further, the transmission setting data transmitting process  53  generates header data to be added to each page data using the total number of pages. 
         [0100]    Then, the transmission setting data transmitting process  53  adds the identification ID output from the setting receiving process  52  to the transmission setting data including the telephone number list, the FAX transmittal document data of each telephone number, and the header data of each page data and outputs the transmission setting data to the merging process  54 . 
         [0101]    The transmission setting data transmitting process  53  according to the first exemplary embodiment is started at least when the generating and transmitting process  51  has generated all of the page data. The reason is because the total number of pages to be written to the FAX transmittal document and the header is not determined until all of the page data are generated. Incidentally, when it is set such that the total number of pages is not to be written to the FAX transmittal document and the header, the transmission setting data transmitting process  53  may be started before all of the page data are generated. 
         [0102]    (2-4) Merging Process 
         [0103]    The merging process  54  identifies the body data output from the generating and transmitting process  51  and the transmission setting data output from the transmission setting data transmitting process  53  by the identification IDs added thereto. Then, the merging process  54  generates FAX data for each telephone number by merging the corresponding body data and the corresponding transmission setting data and outputs telephone numbers and FAX data corresponding to each of the telephone numbers to a FAX transmitting process  55 . 
         [0104]      FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram for conceptually explaining a merging by the merging process  54 . First, the merging process  54  associates the respective header data included in the transmission setting data with the corresponding page data. As shown in  FIG. 9 , in a header  71  represented by header data, a page number and a total number of pages of the page data corresponding to the header  71  are written. In the shown example, “5” is written as the total number of pages. 
         [0105]    Subsequently, the merging process  54  selects one telephone number from the telephone number list included in the transmission setting data and links the FAX transmittal document data corresponding to the telephone number to the header of body data. In this way, FAX data corresponding to the selected telephone number is generated. 
         [0106]    Subsequently, if the FAX transmitting process  55  is under transmission of FAX data, the merging process  54  performs standby until the transmission ends. On the other hand, if the FAX transmitting process  55  is not under transmission of FAX data, the merging process  54  outputs the selected telephone number and the FAX data for the telephone number to the FAX transmitting process  55 . 
         [0107]    The merging process  54  repeats the above-described process until all of the telephone numbers in the telephone number list are selected. 
         [0108]    (2-5) FAX Transmitting Process 
         [0109]    Returning to  FIG. 4 , the FAX transmitting process  55  is a process of controlling the FAX unit  35  to transmit FAX data to the corresponding telephone number each time the telephone number and the FAX data for the telephone number are output from the merging process  54 . 
         [0110]    (2-6) Cancellation Process 
         [0111]    The cancellation process  56  is a process of deleting page data which has the same identification ID as an identification ID output together with a cancel command from the storage unit  37  when the cancel command is output from the setting receiving process  52 . 
         [0112]    (3) Process of PC-FAX System 
         [0113]    Programs executed in the PC-FAX system  1  includes a PC-side control program  30  executed in the PC  2  and a FAX device-side control program  40  executed in the FAX device  3 . 
         [0114]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the PC-side control program  30  is configured by a FAX driver program  30   a  as a generating and transmitting program and a transmission setting program  30   b  as a setting receiving program. The FAX driver program  30   a  is a program for setting generation conditions in the PC  2  and executing the generating and transmitting process  51 . The transmission setting program  30   b  is a program for executing the setting receiving process  52  and the transmission setting data transmitting process  53  in the PC  2 . 
         [0115]    The FAX device-side control program  40  is a program for executing the merging process  54 , the FAX transmitting process  55 , and the cancellation process  56  in the FAX device  3 . 
         [0116]    Hereinafter, the processes by the respective programs will be described. 
         [0117]    (3-1) FAX Driver Program 
         [0118]      FIG. 10  is a flowchart showing the flow of processes executed by the CPU  21  (hereinafter simply referred to as a “FAX driver  30   a ”) executing the FAX driver program  30   a.  This process is started when a transmission target image is output from the FAX application  29  to the FAX driver  30   a.    
         [0119]    In S 101 , the FAX driver  30   a  starts the transmission setting program  30   b.    
         [0120]    In S 102 , the FAX driver  30   a  generates an identification ID for identifying body data and transmits the generated identification ID to the transmission setting program  30   b.    
         [0121]    In S 103 , the FAX driver  30   a  acquires an image corresponding to one page from the transmission target image output from the FAX application  29  and generates page data corresponding to one page representing the acquired image. 
         [0122]    In S 104 , the FAX driver  30   a  adds the identification ID generated in S 102  to the generated page data corresponding to one page and transmits the page data to the FAX device  3 . 
         [0123]    In S 105 , the FAX driver  30   a  determines whether the page data have been transmitted for all the images included in the transmission target image output from the FAX application  29 . When the transmission is determined to be finished, the flow proceeds to S 106 . On the other hand, when the transmission is determined to be not finished, the flow returns to S 103  and the process is repeated. 
         [0124]    In S 106 , the FAX driver  30   a  transmits a total number of pages of the page data configuring the body data to the transmission setting program  30   b.    
         [0125]    (3-2) Transmission Setting Program 
         [0126]      FIG. 11  is a flowchart showing the flow of processes executed by the CPU  21  (hereinafter simply referred to as a “transmission setting program  30   b ”) executing the transmission setting program  30   b.  This process is started when the transmission setting program  30   b  is started by the FAX driver program  30   a.    
         [0127]    In S 201 , the transmission setting program  30   b  receives an identification ID from the FAX driver  30   a.    
         [0128]    In S 202 , the transmission setting program  30   b  receives transmission setting input by the user  10 . 
         [0129]    In S 203 , the transmission setting program  30   b  determines whether the total number of pages is received from the FAX driver  30   a.  When it is determined that the total number of page is received, the flow proceeds to S 204 . On the other hand, when it is determined that the total number of pages is not received, standby is performed until the total number of pages is received. 
         [0130]    In S 204 , the transmission setting program  30   b  generates transmission setting data based on the transmission setting and the total number of pages. 
         [0131]    In S 205 , the transmission setting program  30   b  determines whether the transmit button  61   f  or the cancel button  61   g  is clicked. When it is determined that the transmit button  61   f  is clicked, the flow proceeds to S 206 . When it is determined that the cancel button  61   g  is clicked, the flow proceeds to S 207 . 
         [0132]    In S 206 , the transmission setting program  30   b  adds the identification ID received in S 201  to the transmission setting data and transmits the transmission setting data to the FAX device  3 . 
         [0133]    In S 207 , the transmission setting program  30   b  transmits a cancel command and the identification ID received in S 201  to the FAX device  3 . 
         [0134]    (3-3) FAX Device-Side Control Program 
         [0135]      FIG. 12  is a flowchart showing the flow of processes executed by the CPU  31   a  (hereinafter simply referred to as a “control program  40 ) executing the FAX device-side control program  40 . This process is always executed when power is input to the FAX device  3 . 
         [0136]    In S 301 , the control program  40  determines whether body data is received from the PC  2 . 
         [0137]    Specifically, when all of the page data have been transmitted to the FAX device  3 , the FAX driver program  30   a  transmits data representing the completion of transmission of the body data to the FAX device  3 . The FAX control program  40  determines whether the data representing the completion of transmission of the body data is received from the PC  2 . When it is determined that the data is received, the flow proceeds to S 302 . On the other hand, when it is determined that the data is not received, this step is repeated until the data is received. 
         [0138]    In S 302 , the control program  40  determines whether a cancel command is received from the PC  2 . When it is determined that the cancel command is not received, the flow proceeds to S 303 . On the other hand, when it is determined that the cancel command is received, the flow proceeds to S 311 . 
         [0139]    In S 303 , the control program  40  determines whether transmission setting data which has the same identification ID as the identification ID added to the body data is received. When it is determined that the transmission setting data is received, the flow proceeds to S 304 . On the other hand, when it is determined that the transmission setting data is not received, the flow returns to S 302 , and the process is repeated until the transmission setting data which has the same identification ID as the identification ID added to the body data is received. 
         [0140]    In S 304 , the control program  40  generates FAX data to which header data is attached by merging the respective header data included in the received transmission setting data into the corresponding page data of the body data. 
         [0141]    In S 305 , the control program  40  selects one telephone number from the telephone number list included in the received transmission setting data. 
         [0142]    In S 306 , the control program  40  generates FAX data for the telephone number selected in S 305  by merging the FAX transmittal document data corresponding to the telephone number selected in S 305 , which is the FAX transmittal document data included in the received transmission setting data, into the header of the body data to which the header data is attached. 
         [0143]    In S 307 , the control program  40  controls the FAX unit  35  to start transmitting the FAX data generated in S 306  to the FAX device  7  corresponding to the telephone number selected in S 305 . Here, the transmission is continued until all of the FAX data for the telephone number selected in S 305  are completely transmitted. 
         [0144]    In S 308 , the control program  40  changes the status of the telephone number selected in S 305  to “completed” as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0145]    In S 309 , the control program  40  determines whether all of the telephone numbers present in the telephone number list have been selected. When it is determined that all of the telephone numbers have been selected, the flow proceeds to S 310 . On the other hand, when it is determined that all of the telephone numbers have not yet been selected, the flow proceeds to S 305 , and the process is repeated. 
         [0146]    In S 310 , the control program  40  deletes the body data and the transmission setting data from the storage unit  37 , and the flow returns to S 310 . 
         [0147]    In S 311 , the control program  40  deletes all of the page data to which the identification ID received together with the cancel command is attached from the storage unit  37 . 
         [0148]    (4) Effects of Exemplary Embodiment 
         [0149]    According to the PC-side control program  30  according to the above-described first exemplary embodiment, since the process of the setting receiving process  52  is started during the execution of the generating and transmitting process  51 , at least a part of the processes of the generating and transmitting process  51  and at least a part of the processes of the setting receiving process  52  can be executed in parallel with each other. 
         [0150]    Specifically, the generating and transmitting process  51  can generate page data and start transmitting the page data when the setting receiving process  52  is receiving a telephone number and setting information for generating a transmittal document from the user. The process of generating and transmitting the transmission setting data are generated from the transmission setting received from the setting receiving process  52  can be completed earlier than the process of generating a plurality of page data. As a result, immediately after the setting receiving process  52  is completed, the transmission setting data and the body data can be merged, and transmission of FAX can be performed. 
         [0151]    As described above, according to the PC-side control program  30  according to the first exemplary embodiment, as compared to a case where the generating and transmitting process  51  is started after the setting receiving process  52  is finished, or a case where the setting receiving process  52  is started after the generating and transmitting process  51  is finished, it is possible to accelerate the time at which the FAX device  3  starts transmitting FAX data to the external FAX device  7 . 
         [0152]    Further, according to the PC-side control program  30 , the transmission setting is the address of the FAX data, and the transmission setting data is the address data representing the address. Thus, at least a part of the generating and transmitting program  51  can be executed in parallel with the process of receiving the setting of the address of the FAX data. 
         [0153]    Still further, according to the PC-side control program  30 , in the setting receiving process  52 , a plurality of addresses set for FAX data is received. Setting a plurality of addresses takes longer time than setting only one address. According to the PC-side control program  30 , since at least a part of the processes of the generating and transmitting process  51  is executed in parallel with the process of receiving the setting of a plurality of addresses, the effect of accelerating the time at which the FAX device  3  starts transmitting FAX data is increased. 
         [0154]    Still further, according to the PC-side control program  30 , the transmission setting is the information used for generation of the FAX transmittal document attached to the FAX data, and the transmission setting data is the FAX transmittal document data generated based on the information. Therefore, at least a part of the processes of the generating and transmitting process  51  can be executed in parallel with the process of receiving the setting of the information used for generation of the FAX transmittal document data attached to the FAX data. 
         [0155]    Still further, according to the PC-side control program  30 , it is possible to generate the FAX transmittal document data representing the FAX transmittal document in which the total number of pages of the FAX data is written. 
         [0156]    Still further, according to the PC-side control program  30 , the generating and transmitting process  51  transmits the FAX data and the identification ID for uniquely identifying the FAX data to the FAX device  3 , and the transmission setting data transmitting process  53  transmits the transmission setting data and the identification ID to the FAX device  3 . Therefore, even when a plurality of PCs  2  transmits FAX data and transmission setting data to the FAX device  3 , the FAX device  3  correlates the FAX data and the transmission setting data using the identification ID, so that FAX data transmitted from a certain PC  2  is prevented from being transmitted using the transmission setting data transmitted from a different PC  2 . 
         [0157]    Still further, according to the PC-side control program  30 , when a cancel instruction is received by the setting receiving process  52 , a cancel command to cancel the FAX transmission is transmitted to the FAX device  3 . Thus, it is possible to prevent unnecessary page data from being left stored in the FAX device  3 . 
         [0158]    Moreover, according to the PC  2  according to the first exemplary embodiment, it is possible to accelerate the time at which the FAX device  3  starts transmitting FAX data to the external FAX device  7 . 
       Modification to Exemplary Embodiments  
       [0159]    The present invention is not limited to the above-described exemplary embodiments. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. 
         [0160]    (1) In the above-described exemplary embodiment, a case in which the generating and transmitting process  51  is started first, and the setting receiving process  52  is started before the generating and transmitting process  51  is finished has been described as an example. Alternatively, the setting receiving process  52  and the generating and transmitting process  51  may be started substantially at the same time. Further, the setting receiving process  52  may be started first, and the generating and transmitting process  51  may be started before the setting receiving process  52  is finished. 
         [0161]    Further, the process executed in the setting receiving process  52  in parallel with the generating and transmitting process  51  may be, for example, “the process of receiving the setting of a telephone number” and may be “the process of receiving the setting of transmittal document information.” 
         [0162]    For example, after “the process of receiving the setting of a telephone number” in the setting receiving process  52 , the execution of the generating and transmitting process  51  may be started, and the generating and transmitting process  51  and “the process of receiving the setting of transmittal document information” may be executed in parallel. Alternatively, after “the process of receiving the setting of transmittal document information” in the setting receiving process  52  is finished, the execution of the generating and transmitting process  51  may be started, and the generating and transmitting process  51  and “the process of receiving the setting of a telephone number” may be executed in parallel. 
         [0163]    (2) In the above-described exemplary embodiment, the FAX transmittal document data has been transmitted from the transmission setting data transmitting process  53  to the FAX device  3 . Alternatively, instead of transmitting the FAX transmittal document data, transmittal document information for generating the FAX transmittal document may be generated, and the FAX device  3  may generate the FAX transmittal document data based on the transmittal document information. 
         [0164]    (3) In the above-described exemplary embodiment, a personal computer has been described as an example of the information processing apparatus. Alternatively, the information processing apparatus may be a mobile phone and may be a mobile information terminal. 
         [0165]    (4) In the above-described exemplary embodiment, the FAX device  3  having only the FAX function has been described as an example of the FAX device. Alternatively, the FAX device may be a multi-function apparatus having a print function, a copy function, a scanner function, and the like. 
         [0166]    (5) In the above-described exemplary embodiment, although the PC  2  and the FAX device  3  is connected through the communication network  4 , the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to a system in which the PC  2  and the FAX device  3  are connected in a one-to-one relation using a universal serial bus (USB) connection or a parallel connection, for example. In this case, it is not always necessary to transmit the identification ID. 
         [0167]    (6) In the above-described exemplary embodiment, since it is configured such that the number of pages to be transmitted is displayed in the transmittal document preview screen  64 , the total number of pages is transmitted from the generating and transmitting process  51  to the setting receiving process  52 . However, the present invention is not limited to this. The number of pages to be transmitted may not be displayed in the transmittal document preview screen  64 . That is, the total number of pages may be output from the generating and transmitting process  51  to the transmission setting data transmitting process  53 .

Technology Category: 5