Control module for controlling the operation of a multifunctional peripheral device

Abstract

A control module controls the operation of a multifunctional peripheral device. A control bus receives data from at least one auxiliary device associated with the control module. A control processor processes the received data. A control memory stores the received data. A video interface converts the received data into video data signals which are transmitted to the multifunctional peripheral device.

We claim: 
     
       1. A control module comprising: a data transceiver arranged to receive data from at least one auxiliary device associated with the control module and to convert the received data to first document signals, the data transceiver also arranged to convert second document signals from a host computer to converted data and to transmit the converted data to the auxiliary device;   a data processor arranged to process received data;   a data storage device arranged to store received data;   a video converter arranged to convert received data into video data signals, and to transmit video data signals to a self-contained multifunctional peripheral device including a scanner and a printer, the scanner for optically scanning document information and for converting the scanned document information into third document signals, the multifunctional peripheral device transmitting the third document signals to the control module and receiving fourth document signals from the control module, the printer for producing a recorded form of document information based on the received fourth document signals, the control module being an intelligent controller controlling and operating the multifunctional peripheral device; and   a computer bus interface interconnecting the control module with the host computer by way of a host computer CPU I/O bus;   the control module being a self-contained unit selected from the group consisting of a plug-in printed circuit card disposed within the host computer, a plug-in printed circuit card disposed within the multifunctional peripheral device, or a plug-in printed circuit card disposed within a separate stand-alone unit;   the control module transmitting three types of document signals to the multifunctional peripheral device over an MPD interface, the third type of signal instructing the multifunctional peripheral device to print a particular document based upon particular document signals received from the host computer, the fourth type of signals instructing the multifunctional peripheral device to scan a particular document utilizing the scanner and to transmit the document signals from the scanner to the host computer, and a first type of signals acting as command and response communications to the multifunctional peripheral device, including printer, scanner, and data flow control signals, all signals from the multifunctional peripheral device in response to the transmitted signals also being transmitted over the MPD interface;   the control module for receiving the third document signals from the multifunctional peripheral device and the first document signals from the auxiliary device and for sending the received third and first document signals to the host computer, the control module also for receiving the fourth document signals and the second document signals from the host computer, for sending the received fourth document signals to the multifunctional local peripheral device and for sending the received second document signals to the auxiliary device, the control module functioning to require that the third document signals from the local device and the first document signals from the auxiliary device be transmitted to the host computer, that the fourth document signals from the host computer be transmitted to the local device, and that the second document signals from the host computer be transmitted to the auxiliary device.   
     
     
       2. A control module according to claim 1, wherein said video data signals are in a serial data format. 
     
     
       3. A control module according to claim 1, further comprising facsimile compression means for compressing facsimile data received by the multifunctional peripheral device and for transmitting the compressed facsimile data to a remote source associated with the control module. 
     
     
       4. A control module according to claim 1, further comprising facsimile data decompression means for receiving facsimile data from a remote source, decompressing the data and transmitting the decompressed data to the multifunctional peripheral device. 
     
     
       5. A control module according to claim 1, further comprising printer language control means for determining a print type to be implemented by the multifunctional peripheral device. 
     
     
       6. A control module according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary device is a host computer associated with the control module. 
     
     
       7. A control module according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary device is a telephone line which connects a remote data source to the control module. 
     
     
       8. A control module according to claim 1, further comprising data transmitting means for transmitting data from the control module to an auxiliary device. 
     
     
       9. A control module according to claim 1, further comprising a central data bus for transmitting and receiving data signals from the control module. 
     
     
       10. A control module comprising: a central data bus for accessing a plurality of functional modules;   a computer interface arranged to interconnect a host computer with said control module via said central data bus, said host computer providing digital data signals and compressed data signal inputs to the control module;   a facsimile modem for receiving analog facsimile data from a remote source via a telephone line and converting said received analog facsimile data into first document signals, and for converting second document signals from the host computer into analog facsimile data and transmitting the converted analog facsimile data to a remote source via the telephone line;   a voice recorder for receiving analog voice data signals from a remote source via a telephone line and converting said analog voice data signals into digital data signals;   a control processor arrange to process the data signals received from said host computer, said fax modem and said voice recorder;   a control memory arranged to store the data signals received from said host computer, said facemile modem and said voice recorder; and   a video interface arranged to receive said data signals and to convert said data signals into video signals, said video interface transmitting said video signals to a self-contained multifunctional peripheral device via a video bus, the multifunctional peripheral device including a scanner and a printer, the scanner for optically scanning document information and for converting the scanned document information into third document signals, the multifunctional peripheral device transmitting the third document signals to the control module and receiving fourth document signals from the control module, the printer for producing a recorded form of document information based on the received fourth document signals;   the control module being an intelligent controller controlling and operating the multifunctional peripheral device, the control module being interfaced with a host computer by way of a host computer CPU I/O bus, and the control module being a self-contained unit selected from the group consisting of a plug-in printed circuit card disposed within the host computer, a plug-in printed circuit card disposed within the multifunctional peripheral device, or a plug-in printed circuit card disposed within a separate stand-alone;   the control module transmitting three types of document signals to the multifunctional peripheral device over an MPD interface, the third type of signal instructing the multifunctional peripheral device to print a particular document based upon particular document signals received from the host computer, the fourth type of signals instructing the multifunctional peripheral device to scan a particular document utilizing the scanner and to transmit the document signals from the scanner to the host computer, and a first type of signals acting as command and response communications to the multifunctional peripheral device, including printer, scanner, and data flow control signals, all signals from the multifunctional peripheral device in response to the transmitted signals also being transmitted over the MPD interface;   the control module for receiving the third document signals from the multifunctional peripheral device and the first document signals from the remote source by way of the facsimile modem and for sending the received third and first document signals to the host computer, the control module also for receiving the fourth document signals and the second document signals from the host computer, for sending the received fourth document signals to the multifunctional local peripheral device and for sending the received second document signals to the remote device by way of the facsimile modem, the control module functioning to require that the third document signals from the local device and the first document signals from the remote source be transmitted to the host computer, that the fourth document signals from the host computer be transmitted to the local device, and that the second document signals from the host computer be transmitted to the remote source.   
     
     
       11. A control module according to claim 10, wherein said central bus is capable of transmitting data signals to said host computer and said remote device as well as receiving data signals from said host computer and remote device. 
     
     
       12. A control module according to claim 10 wherein said video signals are in a serial data format.