Facsimile machine for use in combination with PC

Abstract

In view of the fact that a limited storage area of a facsimile memory cannot store a large amount of data necessary to operate and manage the facsimile machine, a hard disk of a personal computer connected to the facsimile machine is used for storing such a large amount of data. For example, an application software needed for achieving a certain function of the facsimile machine is supplied from a service station managed by a manufacturer of the facsimile machine and is downloaded and installed in a hard disk of the personal computer. An example of the function is a scheduled/delayed transmission for scheduling a time of facsimile transmission at a specific time or after a certain period of time has passed. As far as the facsimile machine and the personal computer are connected, other kinds of data, such as help list data and facsimile transaction information, are stored in the hard disk of the personal computer.

1. A facsimile system, comprising:
 a facsimile machine having an input/output interface, a storage device, a printing section, and a display unit, said facsimile machine being provided with a variety of functions;   a personal computer connected to said input/output interface of said facsimile machine, said personal computer having a data storage device storing help list data regarding how to set and how to use the variety of functions of the facsimile machine, a printing section, and a display unit, said personal computer generating a help list based on the help list data when requested by a user; and   a help key through which the user inputs a command for requesting the help list.   
     
     
       2. The facsimile system according to  claim 1 , wherein the help list generated by the personal computer is printed out by said printing section of said facsimile machine. 
     
     
       3. The facsimile system according to  claim 1 , wherein the help list generated by the personal computer is displayed on said display unit of said facsimile machine. 
     
     
       4. The facsimile system according to  claim 1 , wherein the help list is printed out by said printing section of said personal computer. 
     
     
       5. The facsimile system according to  claim 1 , wherein the help list is displayed on said display unit of said personal computer to indicate the help list thereon. 
     
     
       6. The facsimile system according to  claim 1 , wherein basic help list data is stored in said storage device of the facsimile machine and a basic help list is printed out by said printing section of said facsimile machine when said facsimile machine and said personal computer are disconnected from each other. 
     
     
       7. The facsimile system according to  claim 1 , wherein basic help list data is stored in said storage device and a basic help list is generated by said display unit of said facsimile machine to indicate the basic help list when said facsimile machine and said personal computer are not connected to each other. 
     
     
       8. A printing system, comprising:
 a printer having an input/output interface, a storage device, a printing section, and a display unit, said printer being provided with a variety of functions;   a personal computer connected to said input/output interface of said printer, said personal computer having a data storage device storing help list data regarding how to set and how to use the variety of functions of the printer, a printing section, and a display unit, said personal computer generating a help list based on the help list data when requested by a user; and   a help key through which the user inputs a command for requesting the help list.   
     
     
       9. The printing system according to  claim 8 , wherein the help list generated by the personal computer is printed out by said printing section of said printer. 
     
     
       10. The printing system according to  claim 8 , wherein the help list generated by the personal computer is displayed on said display unit of said printer. 
     
     
       11. The printing system according to  claim 8 , wherein the help list is printed out by said printing section of said personal computer. 
     
     
       12. The printing system according to  claim 8 , wherein the help list is displayed on said display unit of said personal computer to indicate the help list thereon. 
     
     
       13. The printing system according to  claim 8 , wherein basic help list data is stored in said storage device of the printer and a basic help list is printed out by said printing section of said printer when said printer and said personal computer are disconnected from each other. 
     
     
       14. The printing system according to  claim 8 , wherein basic help list data is stored in said storage device and a basic help list is generated by said display unit of said printer to indicate the basic help list when said printer and said personal computer are not connected to each other. 
     
     
       15. A peripheral device having at least one function, the peripheral device being capable of connecting with a host device having a data storage device storing help list data regarding how to set and how to use the at least one function of the peripheral device, the peripheral device comprising:
 an input/output interface connectable to the host device;   a help key through which a user inputs a command for requesting the help list;   a read unit that reads out the help list data stored in the data storage device of the host device via the input/output interface when the peripheral device is connected to the host device and when requested by operating the help key by the user; and   a display unit that shows a help list based on the help list data read from the host device via the input/output interface when the peripheral device is connected to the host device.   
     
     
       16. The peripheral device according to  claim 15 , wherein the display unit includes a printer that prints out the help list on a recording medium when the peripheral device is connected to the host device. 
     
     
       17. The peripheral device according to  claim 15 , wherein the display unit includes a display device that visually displays the help list thereon when the peripheral device is connected to the host device. 
     
     
       18. The peripheral device according to  claim 15 , further comprising a storage device that stores a basic help list data, wherein the display unit shows the basic help list when the peripheral device and the host device are disconnected from each other upon when requested by the user operating the help key. 
     
     
       19. A host device capable of connecting with a peripheral device having at least one function and a help key through which a user inputs a command for requesting a help list, the host device comprising:
 an input/output interface connectable to the peripheral device;   a data storage device storing help list data regarding how to set and how to use the at least one function of the peripheral device;   a read unit that reads out the help list data stored in the data storage device when requested by operating the help key by the user when the host device is connected to the peripheral device; and   a display unit that shows a help list based on the help list data read from the data storage device when the host device is connected to the peripheral device.   
     
     
       20. The host device according to  claim 19 , wherein the display unit includes a printer that prints out the help list on a recording medium when the host device is connected to the peripheral device. 
     
     
       21. The host device according to  claim 19 , where in the display unit includes a display device that visually displays the help thereon when the host device is connected to the peripheral device. 
     
     
       22. A peripheral device having at least one function, the peripheral device being capable of communicating with a host device having a data storage device storing help list data regarding how to set and how to use the at least one function of the peripheral device, the peripheral device comprising:
 an input/output interface communicable to the host device;   a help key through which a user inputs a command for requesting a help list;   a read unit that reads out the help list data stored in the data storage device of the host device via the input/output interface when the peripheral device communicates to the host device when requested by operating the help key by the user; and   a display unit that shows a help list based on the help list data read from the host device via the input/output interface when the peripheral device communicates to the host device.   
     
     
       23. A peripheral system comprising:
 a peripheral device comprising a data transfer device, a storage device, a printing section, and a display unit, wherein the peripheral device is configured to perform a variety of functions;   a host device configured to communicate with the peripheral device via the data transfer device, the host device comprising a data storage device storing help list data regarding how to set and how to use the variety of functions of the peripheral device, the host device generating a help list based on the help list data when requested; and   an input device for initiating a help command for requesting the help list from the host device.   
     
     
       24. The peripheral system of claim 23, wherein basic help list data is stored on the storage device of the peripheral device. 
     
     
       25. The peripheral system of claim 24, wherein the basic help list data is related to the help list data stored on the data storage device of the host device. 
     
     
       26. The peripheral system of claim 25, wherein the help list data comprises at least one of basic help list data and detailed help list data. 
     
     
       27. The peripheral system of claim 23, wherein the peripheral device is a facsimile machine. 
     
     
       28. The peripheral system of claim 23, wherein the peripheral device is a printer. 
     
     
       29. The peripheral system of claim 23, wherein the peripheral device further comprises the input device. 
     
     
       30. The peripheral system of claim 23, wherein the host device further comprises the input device. 
     
     
       31. The peripheral system of claim 23, wherein the host device is a data processing device. 
     
     
       32. The peripheral system of claim 31, wherein the data processing device is a personal computer. 
     
     
       33. The peripheral system of claim 23, wherein the host device further comprises a display unit for displaying a detailed help list based on the help list data. 
     
     
       34. The peripheral system of claim 23, wherein the data transfer device further comprises an input/output interface. 
     
     
       35. The peripheral system of claim 34, wherein the input/output interface is selected from the group consisting of a serial interface and a parallel interface. 
     
     
       36. A system comprising:
 a host device configured to exchange data with a peripheral device, the host device comprising a data storage device storing help list data regarding how to set and how to use a variety of functions of the peripheral device, and a display unit, the host device generating a help list based on the help list data, when requested; and   an input device for initiating a help command for requesting the help list,   wherein the peripheral device comprises a storage device,   wherein basic help list data is stored on the storage device of the peripheral device, and   wherein the basic help list data is related to the help list data stored on the data storage device of the host device.   
     
     
       37. A peripheral device having at least one function, the peripheral device configured to exchange data with a host device comprising a data storage device in which help list data regarding how to set and how to use the at least one function of the peripheral device is stored, the peripheral device comprising:
 an interface for exchanging data with the host device;   an input device for initiating a help command for requesting a help list from the host device;   a transfer unit that receives the help list data via the interface when requested from the host device, when the peripheral device is in communication with the host device; and   a display unit that displays the help list generated from the help list data.   
     
     
       38. The peripheral device of claim 37, wherein the input device is an input key at an operational panel. 
     
     
       39. The peripheral device of claim 38, wherein the input key is a function key. 
     
     
       40. A host device configured to exchange data with a peripheral device configured to perform at least one function and comprising a printing section and a storage device, wherein basic help list data is stored on the storage device and the basic help list data is related to help list data stored on the host device, the host device comprising:
 a data storage device storing the help list data for generating a help list regarding how to set and how to use the at least one function of the peripheral device;   an input device for initiating a help command for requesting the help list; and   a display unit that displays the help list generated from the help list data stored in the data storage device.   
     
     
       41. The host device of claim 40, wherein the host device is configured to communicate with the peripheral device via an input/output interface. 
     
     
       42. The host device of claim 41, wherein the input/output interface is selected from the group consisting of a serial interface and a parallel interface. 
     
     
       43. The host device of claim 40, wherein the input device is an input key. 
     
     
       44. The host device of claim 40, wherein the input device is a mouse. 
     
     
       45. The host device of claim 40, wherein the data storage device further stores data comprising at least one control program for executing the at least one function of the peripheral device. 
     
     
       46. The host device of claim 40, wherein the data storage device further stores data comprising application software for manipulating the help list data. 
     
     
       47. A method for retrieving a help list for a peripheral device, the peripheral device configured to perform at least one function and comprising a storage device upon which basic help list data is stored, wherein a host device comprises a data storage device storing help list data regarding how to set and how to use the at least one function of the peripheral device, the method comprising the steps of:
 requesting the help list by initiating a help command to the host device;   accessing the help list data stored in the data storage device of the host device;   generating a detailed help list from the help list data stored in the data storage device of the host device; and   displaying the detailed help list on a display unit.   
     
     
       48. The method of claim 47, the method further comprising the step of establishing an interface between the peripheral device and the host device. 
     
     
       49. The method of claim 47, the method further comprising the step of manipulating the detailed help list. 
     
     
       50. The method of claim 47, the method further comprising the step of storing at least one control program in the data storage device of the host device. 
     
     
       51. The method of claim 47, the method further comprising generating a basic help list from the basic help list data and storing the basic help list on a storage device of the peripheral device. 
     
     
       52. The method of claim 51, further comprising displaying the basic help list on the display unit of the peripheral device. 
     
     
       53. A non-transitory, computer readable storage medium storing at least one control program for executing at least one function of a peripheral device and help list data for generating a help list regarding how to set and how to use the at least one function of the peripheral device, wherein the peripheral device comprises a storage device upon which basic help list data is stored, at least the help list data comprising a set of program instructions executable on a host device for generating and displaying the help list, the set of instructions comprising:
 requesting the help list by initiating a help command to the host device;   accessing the help list data stored in the data storage device of the host device;   generating a detailed help list from the help list data stored in the data storage device of the host device; and   displaying the detailed help list on a display.   
     
     
       54. The computer readable storage medium of claim 53, wherein the set of instructions further comprises establishing an interface between the peripheral device and the host device. 
     
     
       55. The computer readable storage medium of claim 53, wherein the generating instruction further comprises generating a basic help list from the basic help list data. 
     
     
       56. The computer readable storage medium of claim 53, wherein the set of instructions further comprises storing at least one control program in the data storage device of the host device. 
     
     
       57. The computer readable storage medium of claim 53, wherein the set of instructions further comprises storing application software in the data storage device of the host device. 
     
     
       58. The computer readable storage medium of claim 53, wherein the set of instructions further comprises manipulating the help list. 
     
     
       59. A method for retrieving a help list for a peripheral device, the peripheral device configured to perform at least one function, wherein a host device comprises a data storage device storing help list data regarding how to set and how to use the at least one function of the peripheral device, the method comprising the steps of:
 requesting the help list by initiating a help command to the host device;   accessing the help list data stored in the data storage device of the host device;   generating a detailed help list from the help list data stored in the data storage device of the host device;   transferring the detailed help list to the peripheral device; and   displaying the detailed help list on a display unit.   
     
     
       60. The method of claim 59, the method further comprising the step of establishing an interface between the peripheral device and the host device. 
     
     
       61. The method of claim 59, the method further comprising the step of manipulating the detailed help list. 
     
     
       62. The method of claim 59, the method further comprising displaying the detailed help list on the display unit of the peripheral device. 
     
     
       63. The method of claim 59, the method further comprising displaying the detailed help list on the display unit of the host device. 
     
     
       64. A peripheral device having a variety of functions, the peripheral device configured to exchange data with a host device, the peripheral device comprising:
 an interface for exchanging data with the host device;   an input device for initiating a help command for requesting a help list from the host device;   a transfer unit that receives help list data regarding how to set and how to use the variety of functions of the peripheral device via the interface when requested from the host device, when the peripheral device is in communication with the host device; and   a display unit that displays a help list generated from the help list data.   
     
     
       65. The peripheral device of claim 64, wherein the input device is an input key at an operational panel. 
     
     
       66. The peripheral device of claim 65, wherein the input key is a function key. 
     
     
       67. The peripheral device of claim 64, further comprising a storage device storing basic help list data regarding how to set and how to use the variety of functions of the peripheral device. 
     
     
       68. The peripheral device of claim 67, wherein the display unit displays a basic help list based on the basic help list data.