Image input device for sending image data together with information indicating contents of desired operation to be performed on the image data

An image input device adapted to be connected to a host computer so as to transfer image data to said host computer, said image input device comprising:

• a plurality of keys including ten keys representing a number from zero to nine, said ten keys being used by a user for inputting an address number of a remote terminal to which said image data is to be transferred by a facsimile transmission;
• determination means for determining, when at least one of the plurality of keys is pressed before a read operation, whether the at least one pressed key includes at least one of said ten keys, and determining that an operation to be applied to the image data is a facsimile operation if it is determined that the at least one pressed key includes at least one of said ten keys and the operation to be applied to the image data is a copying operation if it is determined that the at least one pressed key does not include at least one of said ten keys;
• and
• means for setting an operation code and sending the operation code to the host computer announcing to said host computer that said user requests said facsimile operation upon said determination means determining that any one of said ten keys is pressed, and that said user requests said copying operation upon said determination means determining that the reading operation is started without an input from said ten keys, said host computer performing a facsimile operation or a copying operation based on the operation code sent from said image input device.

An image input device adapted to be connected to a host computer so as to transfer image data to said host computer, said image input device comprising:

• scanning means for inputting the image data;
• an operational unit for inputting an instruction for directing said host computer to perform at least one of a plurality of operations on the image data transmitted by said image input device to said host computer;
• and
• a code unit for setting an operation code which represents contents of the instruction so that said operation code is sent to said host computer so that said host computer can receive the operation code and image data and perform the at least one of the plurality of operations indicated by the operation code without any direct user input to the host computer.

An image input device adapted to be connected to a host computer so as to transfer image data to said host computer, said image input device comprising:

• a plurality of keys including ten keys representing a number from zero to nine, said ten keys being used by a user for inputting an address number of a remote terminal to which said image data is to be transferred by a facsimile transmission;
• a determination unit for determining, when at least one of the plurality of keys is pressed before a read operation, whether the at least one pressed key includes at least one of said ten keys, and determining that an operation to be applied to the image data is a facsimile operation if it is determined that the at least one pressed key includes at least one of said ten keys and the operation to be applied to the image data is a copying operation if it is determined that the at least one pressed key does not include at least one of said ten keys;
• and
• an operational unit for announcing to said host computer that said user requests said facsimile operation upon said determination unit determining that any one of said ten keys is pressed, and that said user requests said copying operation upon said determination unit determining that the reading operation is started without an input from said ten keys.

An image input device adapted to be connected to a host computer so as to transfer image data to said host computer, said image input device comprising:

• scanning means for inputting the image data and for inputting an instruction for directing said host computer to perform at least one of a plurality of operations on the image data transmitted by said image input device to said host computer;
• means for setting an operation code which represents contents of the instruction so that said operation code is sent to said host computer prior to sending the image data so that said host computer can receive the operation code and image data and perform the at least one of the plurality of operations indicated by the operation code without any direct user input to the host computer;
• a plurality of keys including ten keys representing a number from zero to nine, said ten keys being used by a user for inputting an address number of a remote terminal to which said image data is to be transferred by a facsimile transmission;
• determination means for determining, when at least one of the plurality of keys is pressed before a read operation, whether the at least one pressed key includes at least one of said ten keys, and determining that an operation to be applied to the image data is a facsimile operation if it is determined that the at least one pressed key includes at least one of said ten keys and the operation to be applied to the image data is a copying operation if it is determined that the at least one pressed key does not include at least one of said ten keys;
• and
• means for setting an operation code and sending the operation code to the host computer announcing to said host computer that said user requests said facsimile operation upon said determination means determining that any one of said ten keys is pressed, and that said user requests said copying operation upon said determination means determining that the reading operation is started without an input from said ten keys, said host computer performing a facsimile operation or a copying operation based on the operation code sent from said image input device.

An image input device adapted to be connected to a host computer so as to transfer image data to said host computer, said image input device comprising:

• scanning means for inputting the image data;
• an operational unit for inputting an instruction for directing said host computer to perform at least one of a plurality of operations on the image data transmitted by said image input device to said host computer;
• a code unit for setting an operation code which represents contents of the instruction so that said operation code is sent to said host computer prior to sending the image data so that said host computer can receive the operation code and image data and perform the at least one of the plurality of operations indicated by the operation code without any direct user input to the host computer;
• a plurality of keys including ten keys representing a number from zero to nine, said ten keys being used by a user for inputting an address number of a remote terminal to which said image data is to be transferred by a facsimile transmission;
• a determination unit for determining, when at least one of the plurality of keys is pressed before a read operation, whether the at least one pressed key includes at least one of said ten keys, and determining that an operation to be applied to the image data is a facsimile operation if it is determined that the at least one pressed key includes at least one of said ten keys and the operation to be applied to the image data is a copying operation if it is determined that the at least one pressed key does not include at least one of said ten keys;
• and
• the operational unit setting an operation code and sending the operation code to the host computer announcing to said host computer that said user requests said facsimile operation upon said determination unit determining that any one of said ten keys is pressed, and that said user requests said copying operation upon said determination unit determining that the reading operation is started without an input from said ten keys, said host computer performing a facsimile operation or a copying operation based on the operation code sent from said image input device.

An image input device adapted to be connected to a host computer so as to transfer image data to said host computer, said image input device comprising:

• scanning means for inputting the image data and for inputting an instruction for directing said host computer to perform at least one of a plurality of operations on the image data transmitted by said image input device to said host computer;
• means for announcing contents of the instruction to said host computer;
• and
• means for preparing file data which comprises the image data and a header so that said file data is sent to said host computer, said header including an operational code which indicates the contents of said instruction and information with respect to at least one of a resolution and a number of gradation levels of the image data so that said host computer can receive the operation code and image data and perform the at least one of the plurality of operations indicated by the operation code without any direct user input to the host computer.