Facsimile system and method for controlling facsimile system

Claim 3

The method according to claim 1, said computing device comprising a non-volatile memory, and said method further comprising a step of: executing an installation routine in said computing device to install a facsimile processing program in said non-volatile memory of said computing device, wherein said transmitting a request command is performed in association with said executing of said installation routine.

Claim 4

The method according to claim 2, wherein said non-volatile memory comprises a hard disk drive.

Claim 5

The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of: executing a facsimile processing program for transmitting ad receiving facsimile data to said facsimile device at said computing device, wherein said transmitting a request command in performed in association with said executing a facsimile processing program.

Claim 6

The method according to claim 1, checking a received transmission at said facsimile device; and enabling said transmitting said list of adjustable functions and corresponding function settings only when said received transmission includes said request command.

Claim 7

The method according to claim 5, enabling said adjusting said adjustable function according to said selected function setting only when said received transmission includes said selected function setting.

Claim 8

The method according to claim 1, said computing device comprising a non-volatile memory, a processing memory, a display, and an input device, and said method further comprising steps of: storing said list of adjustable functions and corresponding function settings to said non-volatile memory; recalling said list of adjustable functions and corresponding function settings from said non-volatile memory to said processing memory; displaying said recalled list of said adjustable functions and corresponding function settings at said computing device; and accepting input from said input device, said input determining said selecting of a setting of one of said adjustable functions.

Claim 9

The method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of: storing said selected function setting of said adjustable function to said non-volatile memory; recalling said selected function setting of said adjustable function from said non-volatile memory to said processing memory; and displaying said selected function setting of said adjustable function at said computing device.

Claim 10

The method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of; transmitting a request command from said computing device to said facsimile device to request a new list of function settings corresponding to said list of adjustable functions recalled to said processing memory; transmitting said new list of function settings from said facsimile device to said computing device; and updating said list of said function settings recalled to said non-volatile memory according to said new list of function settings at said computing device.

Claim 11

The method according to claim 7, wherein said displaying said recalled list comprises steps of: building a menu of adjustable functions and corresponding function settings from said recalled list; and displaying said menu on said display.

Claim 12

The method according to claim 1, said facsimile device comprising: a printer unit for printing images, said printer unit having a printing apparatus and an input/output interface; and a facsimile unit for sending and receiving facsimile image transmissions, said list of adjustable functions having corresponding function settings being resident in said facsimile unit, and said facsimile unit being responsive to received request commands and received function settings; and a gate array connecting said printer unit and said facsimile unit, wherein said computing device is connected to said input/output interface, and all request commands, function settings, and lists of adjustable functions and function settings are transmitted between said computing device and said facsimile unit through said input/output interface, said printer unit, and said gate array.

Claim 13

A facsimile system including a computing device and a facsimile device, said facsimile system comprising: connecting means for connecting said computing device and said facsimile device to exchange transmissions; list storing means in said facsimile device for storing a list of adjustable functions and corresponding function settings of said facsimile device; request command transmitting means in said computing device for transmitting a request command to said facsimile device to request said list of adjustable functions and corresponding function settings; list transmitting means in said facsimile device for transmitting said list of adjustable functions and corresponding function settings to said computing device in response to said request command; function setting selecting means in said computing device for selecting a function setting of one of said adjustable functions from said corresponding function settings; selected function setting transmitting means in said computing device for transmitting a selected function setting of said adjustable function to said facsimile device; function adjusting means in said facsimile device for adjusting an adjustable function of said facsimile device in response to said selected function setting.

Claim 14

A facsimile system including a computing device and a facsimile device, said facsimile system comprising: connecting means for connecting said computing device and said facsimile device to exchange transmissions; list storing means in said facsimile device for storing a list of adjustable functions and corresponding function settings of said facsimile device; request command transmitting means in said computing device for transmitting a request command to said facsimile device to request said list of adjustable functions and corresponding function settings; list transmitting means in said facsimile device for transmitting said list of adjustable functions and corresponding function settings to said computing device in response to said request command; function setting selecting means in said computing device for selecting a function setting of one of said adjustable functions from said corresponding function settings; selected function setting transmitting means in said computing device for transmitting a selected function setting of said adjustable function to said facsimile device; function adjusting means in said facsimile device for adjusting an adjustable function of said facsimile device in response to said selected function setting.

Claim 15

The facsimile system according to claim 12, further comprising: a non-volatile memory in said computing device; and installation routine executing means in said computing device for executing an installation routine to install a facsimile processing program in said non-volatile memory of said computing device, wherein said request command is transmitted by said installation routine executing means.

Claim 16

The facsimile system according to claim 13, wherein said non-volatile memory comprises a hard disk drive.

Claim 17

The facsimile system according to claim 12, further comprising: facsimile processing program executing means in said computing device for executing a facsimile processing program for transmitting and receiving facsimile data to said facsimile device, wherein said request command is transmitted by said facsimile processing program executing means.

Claim 18

The facsimile system according to claim 12, further comprising: received transmission checking means in said facsimile device for checking included content of a received transmission; and list transmitting enabling means in said facsimile device for enabling said list transmitting means only when said received transmission includes said request command.

Claim 19

The facsimile system according to claim 16, further comprising: function adjusting enabling means in said facsimile device for enabling said function adjusting means only when said received transmission includes said selected function setting.

Claim 20

The facsimile system according to claim 12, further comprising: a non-volatile memory in said computing device; a processing memory in said computing device; a display in said computing device; an input device in said computing device; means for storing said list of adjustable functions and corresponding function settings to said non-volatile memory; means for recalling said list of adjustable functions and corresponding function settings from said non-volatile memory to said processing memory; means for displaying said recalled list of said adjustable functions and corresponding function settings on said display; and means for accepting input from said input device, said input determining said selection of said function setting by said function setting selecting means.

Claim 21

The facsimile system according to claim 18, further comprising: means for storing said selected function setting of said adjustable function to said non-volatile memory; means for recalling said selected function setting of said adjustable function from said non-volatile memory to said processing memory; and means for displaying said selected function setting of said adjustable function on said display.

Claim 22

The facsimile system according to claim 18, further comprising: function setting request transmitting means in said computing device for transmitting a request command to said facsimile device to request a new list of function settings corresponding to said list of adjustable functions recalled to said processing memory; new list transmitting means in said facsimile device for transmitting said new list of function settings to said computing device; and list updating means in said computing device for updating said list of said function settings recalled to said non-volatile memory according to said new list of function settings.

Claim 23

The facsimile system according to claim 18, said means for displaying said recalled list of said adjustable functions and corresponding function settings comprising: means for building a menu of adjustable functions and corresponding function settings from said recalled list; and means for displaying said menu on said display.

Claim 24

The facsimile system according to claim 12, further comprising: a printing unit in said facsimile device for printing images; an input/output interface in said printing unit; a facsimile unit in said facsimile device for sending and receiving facsimile image transmissions, said list storing means, said list transmitting means, and said function adjusting means being in said facsimile unit; and a gate array connecting said printer unit and said facsimile unit; wherein said computing device is connected to said input/output interface, and all request commands, function settings, and lists of adjustable functions and function settings are transmitted between said computing device and said facsimile unit through said input/output interface, said printer unit, and said gate array.

Claim 25

A facsimile system including a computing device and a facsimile device, said facsimile system comprising: connecting means for connecting said computing device and said facsimile device to exchange transmissions; function list storing means in said computing device for storing a plurality of lists of adjustable functions and corresponding function settings; function list data storing means in said facsimile device for storing function list data representative of one of said plurality of lists; request command transmitting means in said computing device for transmitting a request command to said facsimile device to request said function list data; function list data transmitting means in said facsimile device for transmitting said function list data to said computing device in response to said request command; function setting selecting means in said computing device for selecting a function setting of one of said adjustable functions from said corresponding function settings according to said function list data representative of said one of said lists; selected function setting transmitting means in said computing device for transmitting a selected function setting of said adjustable function to said facsimile device; function adjusting means in said facsimile device for adjusting an adjustable function of said facsimile device in response to said selected function setting.

Claim 26

A facsimile system including a computing device and a facsimile device, said facsimile system comprising: connecting means for connecting said computing device and said facsimile device to exchange transmissions; function list storing means in said computing device for storing a plurality of lists of adjustable functions and corresponding function settings; function list data storing means in said facsimile device for storing function list data representative of one of said plurality of lists; request command transmitting means in said computing device for transmitting a request command to said facsimile device to request said function list data; function list data transmitting means in said facsimile device for transmitting said function list data to said computing device in response to said request command; function setting selecting means in said computing device for selecting a function setting of one of said adjustable functions from said corresponding function settings according to said function list data representative of said one of said lists; selected function setting transmitting means in said computing device for transmitting a selected function setting of said adjustable function to said facsimile device; function adjusting means in said facsimile device for adjusting an adjustable function of said facsimile device in response to said selected function setting.

Claim 27

The facsimile system according to claim 23, further comprising: a non-volatile memory in said computing device; and installation routine executing means in said computing device for executing an installation routine to install a facsimile processing program in said non-volatile memory of said computing device, and to store said plurality of lists of adjustable functions and corresponding function settings in said function list storing means.

Claim 28

The facsimile system according to claim 24, wherein said request command is transmitted by said installation routine executing means.

Claim 29

The facsimile system according to claim 24, further comprising: a processing memory in said computing device; a display in said computing device; an input device in said computing device; means for storing said function list data to said function list data storing means; means for recalling one of said plurality of lists of adjustable functions and corresponding function settings from said function list storing means to said processing memory according to said function list data; means for displaying said recalled list of said adjustable functions and corresponding function settings on said display; and means for accepting input from said input device, said input determining said selection of said function setting by said function setting selecting means.

Claim 30

The facsimile system according to claim 26, further comprising; means for storing said selected function setting of said adjustable function to said non-volatile memory; means for recalling said selected function setting of said adjustable function from said non-volatile memory to said processing memory: and means for displaying said selected function setting of said adjustable function on said display.

Claim 31

The facsimile system according to claim 26, further comprising: function setting request transmitting means in said computing device for transmitting a request command to said facsimile device to request a new list of function settings corresponding to said list of adjustable functions recalled to said processing memory; new list transmitting means in said facsimile device for transmitting said new list of function settings to said computing device; and list updating means in said computing device for updating said list of said function settings recalled to said non-volatile memory according to said new list of function settings.

Claim 32

The facsimile system according to claim 26, said means for displaying said recalled list of said adjustable functions and corresponding function settings comprising: means for building a menu of adjustable functions and corresponding function settings from said recalled list; and means for displaying said menu on said display.

Claim 33

The facsimile system according to claim 23, further comprising: facsimile processing program executing means in said computing device for executing a facsimile processing program for transmitting and receiving facsimile data to said facsimile device, wherein said request command is transmitted by said facsimile processing program executing means.

Claim 34

The facsimile system according to claim 23, further comprising: received transmission checking means in said facsimile device for checking included content of a received transmission; and function list data transmitting enabling means in said facsimile device for enabling said function list data transmitting means only when said received transmission includes said request command.

Claim 35

The facsimile system according to claim 31, further comprising: function adjusting enabling means in said facsimile device for enabling said function adjusting means only when said received transmission includes said selected function setting.

Claim 36

A facsimile device, comprising: an input/output interface for receiving and transmitting control data; list storing means for storing a list of adjustable functions and corresponding function settings of said facsimile device; request command receiving means for receiving control data representing a request command through said input/output interface; list transmitting mesas for transmitting said list of adjustable functions and corresponding function settings in response to said control data representing a request command; selected function setting receiving means for receiving control data representing a selected function setting of said adjustable function through said input/output interface; and function adjusting means for adjusting an adjustable function of said facsimile device in response to said control data representing a selected function setting.

Claim 37

A facsimile device, comprising: an input/output interface for receiving and transmitting control data; list storing means for storing a list of adjustable functions and corresponding function settings of said facsimile device; request command receiving means for receiving control data representing a request command through said input/output interface; list transmitting mesas for transmitting said list of adjustable functions and corresponding function settings in response to said control data representing a request command; selected function setting receiving means for receiving control data representing a selected function setting of said adjustable function through said input/output interface; and function adjusting means for adjusting an adjustable function of said facsimile device in response to said control data representing a selected function setting.

Claim 38

A facsimile device controller for controlling a facsimile device, comprising: an input/output interface for receiving and transmitting control data; request command transmitting means for transmitting control data representing a request command to request a list of adjustable facsimile device functions and corresponding facsimile device function settings through said input/output interface; list receiving means for receiving said list of adjustable facsimile device functions and corresponding facsimile device function settings; function setting selecting means for selecting a function setting of one of said adjustable facsimile device functions from said corresponding facsimile device function settings; and selected function setting transmitting means for transmitting control data representing a selected facsimile device function setting of said adjustable facsimile device function through said input/output interface.

Claim 39

A facsimile device controller for controlling a facsimile device, comprising: an input/output interface for receiving and transmitting control data; request command transmitting means for transmitting control data representing a request command to request a list of adjustable facsimile device functions and corresponding facsimile device function settings through said input/output interface; list receiving means for receiving said list of adjustable facsimile device functions and corresponding facsimile device function settings; function setting selecting means for selecting a function setting of one of said adjustable facsimile device functions from said corresponding facsimile device function settings; and selected function setting transmitting means for transmitting control data representing a selected facsimile device function setting of said adjustable facsimile device function through said input/output interface.