FR2580095A1 - Method and device for acquisition, local archiving or long range transmission, with possible remote archiving, and the subsequent reproduction, from the local archiving or the remote archiving, of documents constituted by texts and/or images - Google Patents

Abstract

The device comprises, in combination with a digital fax machine 1, a microcomputer 2 and media 4a, 4b... 4k for digital information storage and possibly a link 5 for long-range transmission - an interface card 3 managing the fax machine, the microcomputer, the digital information storage media and possibly the long-range transmission link for successively carrying out: acquisition and digitising (by putting into digital form) of the document; compression of the latter; transmission of the compressed document to a local and/or long-range memory storage medium; local and/or long range storage of the compressed and transmitted document; and the indexing and restoration of the locally or long-range stored document.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ENTRY. LOCAL ARCHIVING
OR REMOTE TRANSMISSION, WITH REMOTE ARCHIVE
POSSIBLE. AND THE SUBSEQUENT REPRODUCTION. FROM
LOCAL ARCHIVING OR REMOTE ARCHIVING. OF DOCU
MENTS CONSTITUTED BY TEXTS AND / OR IMAGES "
The present invention relates to seizure. ar chivage. remote transmission and reproduction of documents consisting of texts and / or images.

 It aims to reduce the archival space required for a given document. for example a page of format Ab.

 It is particularly concerned with the archiving of a very large number of documents, especially for companies and administrations having to process a very large volume of documents, for example insurance companies.

 Since archiving is carried out on magnetic media with the reproduction, on a video screen, of archived documents, it is possible, by virtue of the invention, to administer paperless documents.

However it is also possible if desired to reproduce on paper, through a printer, archived documents.

 In short, the invention relates to compression. storage, with optional remote transmission. and the return of documents.

 It is for example so possible. thanks to the invention, to store the documents first. then.

when information or data contained in these documents are needed, to return these documents for example on a video screen in order to consult them. It is thus possible, upon receipt of a letter, to respond immediately to it, without leaving and moving files, by displaying from the storage medium the appropriate document or documents in order to draw the information necessary for reply to the letter. At the same time this letter and the response letter can be stored after compression. hence saving time and economy for the company implementing the method and the device according to the invention, as well as for the customers and suppliers of this company.

The invention essentially implements - in addition to a good-definition digital facsimile machine, a small personal computer-type microcomputer of digital information storage media, in particular of the magnetic type, associated with the micro-computer. computer - a hardware and software interface between the facsimile machine and the microcomputer, the purpose of which is to enable the microcomputer to control the facsimile machine so that it can perform the following successive operations
- capture and digitization (by digital form) of the document,
- compression of it,
transmission to a local and / or remote storage medium of the compressed document,
- local and / or remote storage of the compressed and transmitted document, and
- locating and restoring the document stored locally or remotely.

 By document is meant a page or a succession of pages comprising text and / or images.

 Other functions may also be performed as detailed in the detailed description below.

The invention therefore essentially relates firstly to a method for entry, local archiving or remote transmission, with optional remote archiving. and the subsequent reproduction, from the local archiving or the remote archiving, of documents constituted by texts and / or images, charac terized in that it comprises the succession of the following operations
- we enter and digitize (by digital form) the document,
- we compress this one,
the compressed document is transmitted to a local and / or remote storage medium,
the compressed and transmitted document is stored locally and / or remotely, and
- we find and restore the document stored locally or remotely.

 The second subject of the invention is a device for implementing the abovementioned method, characterized in that it comprises - in combination with a digital copying machine, a microcomputer and digital information storage media and possibly a remote transmission link - a cardinterface managing the fax machine. the microcomputer.

storage media-digital information and possibly the remote transmission link to achieve successively
- the capture and digitization (by digital form) of the document.

- the compression of it,
- transmission to a local storage medium andSo remote compressed document,
the local and / or remote storage of the compressed and transmitted document, and
- locating and restoring the document stored locally or remotely.

 The invention may, in any case. be well understood using the additional description which follows, and the accompanying drawings, which complement and drawings are. of course, given mainly as an indication.

 Figure 1 schematically illustrates the device according to the invention in the first part of its implementation of the method according to the invention. namely until storage. in compressed form, documents to be seized.

FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates this device in the second part of its implementation of the method according to the invention, namely the reproduction of a document previously stored in compressed form
According to the invention and more particularly according to that of its modes of application, as well as according to those of the embodiments of its various parts, to which it seems that it is necessary to grant the preference, proposing to carry out a method and a device for the capture, local archiving or remote transmission, with possible remote archiving, and the subsequent reproduction. from local archiving or remote archiving, from documents made up of texts and / or images, one can take the following steps or in a similar way.

 The invention can be implemented with any microcomputer running MS-DOS or equivalent, any fax machine having a serial output and any microcomputer link system to a computer system.

In particular, the interface having the improvements according to the invention can actually work with an IBM "PC" or compatible microcomputer (Olivet ti, ITT, Bull, etc.) connected to a Thomson fax machine.
EGT "Profax" or "Telefax" and in connection with a remote computer This link is currently a link type "IBM 3278 emulation"("Irma" card) that communicates with application programs made on any computer supporting this procedure. As for the computer system with which the microcomputer communicates, it can be of very different types and in particular can be a large "IBM" system operating for example under "VM / CMS" (Virtual MachinelConversional
Monitor System), under "IMS" (Information Management System) or under "CICS" (Customer Information Control System).

The main functions of the system (method and device for the implementation of the method) according to the invention will first be described, 1 - SEIZURE OF DOCUMENTS
The document is entered by the fax machine and its storage reference is entered on the keyboard of the microcomputer at the time of entry. The documents entered are stored on a magnetic medium of the microcomputer (diskette, etc.) after being compacted.

2 - VISUALIZATION OF DOCUMENTS
At the request of the operator. the document appears on the screen {format "normal") and after the end of the display, the operator has the functions of "translation" (movement of the document according to the arrows) and "homothety" (magnification of a part of the document) with the possibility of "translation" on the display in "homothety" format, 3 - PRINTING DOCUMENTS
At the request of the operator, the document displayed on the screen can be printed on the fax machine as if it had been transmitted in "normal" fax mode or copied to the fax machine.

4 - SENDING A DOCUMENT TO ANOTHER COMPUTER SYSTEM
At the request of the operator. all the compacted graphic data corresponding to a document can be sent via a link (such as "IBM 3270" type) to a remote computer. The function "sending all documents entered locally and not yet transmitted" also exists.

5 - SEARCH FOR A DOCUMENT ON ANOTHER SYSTEM INFOR
matic
At the request of the operator. the microcomputer can issue a request to transfer a document stored on a remote computer. The request is transmitted via the link and the corresponding compacted data is sent to the microcomputer which stores them locally on a magnetic medium.

 For the convenience of the operators. the document search functions on the central site and document viewing have been grouped together. Moreover, the compacted data files present on the disk of the microcomputer are organized into a database management system including sequential search functions on the key and destruction of the least recently used file. place is felt.

These functions are performed by sixteen separate programs, in addition to the microcomputer emulation program (program 3278 in the case of an IBM PC), namely
- on the one hand, eleven programs on the microcomputer
1) the menu manager, which dynamically loads all other programs;
2) the compaction program, which captures a graphic document and requests the reference of the document from the operator,
3) the decompaction program. which displays a document whose reference is found in a table (where it was filled in by another program) and manages the requests of "zoom" (homothétie) and "scroll" (translation) of the operator ;;
4) the local document selection program to be viewed, which gives the operator the list of the documents of a file present on the microcomputer and allows to select a "local" document for vi sualisation; in this case the reference of the document to be displayed is entered in a table for processing by the visualization program,
5) the "general" selection program of documents to be viewed, which gives the operator the list of "local" and "remote" documents corresponding to the file number that he has entered, and allows him to select one of these documents for visualization; if the selected document is present locally, this program acts as the previous program: otherwise, this program searches for the file of the requested document, on the central site, and transmits it in the local database, then informs the table used by the visualization program; central site means a large computer system centralizing the databases of a computer user;
6) the program of ordered sending of documents, which asks the operator to select the selected file number, then presents him the list of documents of this file present locally and asks him to choose the document to send and finally , send this document to the central site;
7) the program for sending documents "by batch", which sends to the central site all the documents present in the local database and which have not yet been sent; this program ends when all local documents have been sent or at the request of the operator;
8) the locally known folder number query program, which lists all the files for which there is at least one document in the local microcomputer database;
9) the local document deletion program, which allows the operator to destroy a document on the local database;
10) the password control program, which allows the operator to exit the application and return to the "DOS" system (Disk Operating System) on control of a password; and
11) the database initialization program, which allows the operator to initialize or reset the local database to a variable size, given by the operator;
- on the other hand, five programs at the central site, which are TP monitor monitor / television monitor transactions and which allow
721 to receive on the central site a document coming from an entry station and to store it in the database of the central site;
13) to send a document from the central site database to a visualization station at its request;
14) to list all the documents in the central site database that relate to a file number indicated by the operator; ;
15) destroying a document from the central site database; and
16) to control the authorization of access of the different positions to the different functions on the requested files and to refuse access
FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows the device according to the invention in the case where it carries out the storage and / or the remote transmission of a document after the referenced and compressed sending.

 The digital fax machine 1 reads the document and generates a digital signal including. for each line of text in AS format, 1728 bits, ie 216 bytes 12t6 x 8 = 1728) according to CCITT standards, in particular the CCITT 19BO T-4 notice (standardization of group 3 telephones for transmission documents).

 The digital fax machine 1 is connected to the microcomputer 2 through an integrated circuit interface card 3 which controls the fax machine 1. It actually manages the dialogue between these two units 1 and 2.

 The card 3 comprises a buffer unit or "buffer" 3a which makes the desynchronization between the acquisition of the data of the document by the fax machine 1 and the processing of these data by the microcomputer 2. This provides an increased speed of operation.

 The information read by the fax machine 1 and compressed by the microcomputer 2 under the control of the interface card 3 is stored, in this compressed form, on local recording media 4a, 4b ... 4k {disks, diskettes andi or transmitted remotely by a link such as a telephone cable at a remote location 6 where it can be stored and / or displayed at the line. Information stored locally at 4a, 4b ... 4k or from a remote site where it is read (by means of a system similar to sys theme 1, 3, 2, which has just been described from An original document) or extracted from a storage medium, is treated as illustrated in FIG. 2 with the device according to the invention.

 The microcomputer 2 which receives the compressed information of a support 4a, 4b. . .4k or through the link 5.

processes this information to view it on its video screen and can also send it via the card 3 to the fax machine 1 whose printer prints the stored document.

 It will be noted that in the two types of operation of FIGS. 1 and 2, by document is meant a page of text and / or images of A4 format for example, and that the processing is done in both directions line by line with a number of approximations. as explained below.

 We will now describe in more detail the various elements of the device according to the invention and their functions.

A - THE INTERFACE 3 MAP OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE TELE
COPIER 1 AND THE MICROCOMPUTER 2
This hardware device is an electronic circuit installed on the input-output bus of the microcomputer 2 and used to establish and manage communications between the microcomputer 2 and the fax machine 1.

This circuit is also called "communication card with the fax machine" in the following.

1. Functions of the communication card with
the fax machine
The interface board 3 connecting the microcomputer 2 and the fax machine 1 can issue the following orders to the fax machine
a) in reading mode
- initialization of the dialogue with the fax machine,
- initialization of the data reception mode ("read"),
- ~ request for double density fax,
- acceptance of the proposed double density-by the facsimile machine,
- data transfer,
- resetting the card and fax,
- diagnostic;;
b) in write mode
- initialization of the dialogue with the fax machine,
- initialization of the data transmission mode (writing),
- print mode request (character / graphic),
- demand for double density (if graphic impression),
- data transfer,
- reset the card and fax;
- diagnostic; the interface card 3 can communicate to the programs of the microcomputer 2 the following indications coming from the fax machine 1
- established micro-computer / fax dialogue,
- double density request formulated by the facsimile machine.

- acceptance by the fax machine of the "double density" format,
- result of the diagnostics (and result of the diagnostics of the interface card 3 itself).

2 - Dialogues of the map
The dialogue in exchange mode (reading a document on the fax machine 1 for coding in the microcomputer 2 or printing on the fax machine of a document in the form encoded in the microcomputer) is done via one of the devices. direct access to the RAM memory of the microcomputer (DMA) or by any other suitable means (double-input memory for example) as follows
a) between the microcomputer and the card
the microcomputer signals to the card that it is ready to transmit lou to receive) a line of graphical data (for example 216 bytes representing the 1728 points of a graphical line A4 format according to the standards of the fax machines), by resetting a DMA.

or by loading a "port" of the card (by "port" means a device allowing dialogue between #ne interface card and a computer when the card is on the input / output bus of the computer).

the microcomputer can do other things while the transfer takes place;
the microcomputer tests that the transfer of data cartelmemoire vive is ended Ipar example by interrogating the system of direct access memory or a "port" of the card) and tests a code of state of the card (for example "possible incidents "or" end of document li
the operation is repeated as many times as necessary, sometimes because there are graphic lines in the transmitted document);
the end of the exchange is caused either by the card (by means of a special code returned via one of its "ports"), or by the programs- of the microcomputer; b) between the fax machine and the card
communication is via the 25-pin fast output of the fax machine:
the communication is based on the principle of a serial interface transmitting a line (ie 1728 bits in "A4" format CCITT standards) at a time, with a synchronization clock; each group of 8 bits corresponds to a byte transmitted to or received from the microcomputer, the most significant bit being the first;
each input or output operation must therefore send or request 1728 bits, ie 216 bytes if working in "A4" format according to CCITT standards "1.

3 - Internal management of the card
The interface card 2 has the necessary resources to manage the orders given by the microcomputer; the exchange protocol microcomputer / card and the protocol cafte / télecopieur. as well as the answers sent by the fax machine.

In addition, and in order to improve the performance of the system, it is able to desynchronize the data exchange microcomputer / card and card / fax machine (in both directions) by putting the received data on one side and not yet requested from the other in an internal buffer of sufficient size to be able to store a certain number of lines
The logic of the card is able to slow down the flow of data entering this buffer as a function of the free space still available in it.This allows to save time by desynchronizing the acquisition and processing operations of data and operate the whole system at an average speed that is as close as possible to the average speed of the slowest of the two data acquisition and processing systems (we would obtain equal speeds, for example , with an internal buffer of very large size).

B - THE CODING-DECODING SUBSYSTEM OF DOCUMENTS
This system makes it possible to transcribe a graphical document entered in the form of a matrix of points ("pi- xels"), into a binary data file which is an exact representation and generally less voluminous (compression). Similarly, the original graphic document can be rendered from the coded graphic data file.

 The document coding-decoding subsystem is composed of the coding subsystem and the decoding subsystem which enable transcription of the graphic document, encoded graphic data file and reverse transcription.

 These two subsystems perform an encoding / decoding according to a particular coding algorithm detailed below and which is not claimed in itself.

 The coding algorithm used is in accordance with the aforementioned T-4 opinion of the CCITT (two-dimensional coding).

except that
- the last bit sequence of a line is omitted, for example a line of 1728 bits consisting of 900 white and 828 black will be coded: "900 white - end of line (likewise a white line will be coded code 0 - end of line), it is recalled that the CCITT standard requires the coding in this case "900 white 828 black end of line;
- the factor "K" (such that K1 is equal to the number of lines coded in two-dimensional form following a one-dimensional coded line) is parameterizable and chosen between 1 and 2500 (for example, according to the data transfer system used ), while the CCITT suggests using K = 4 ::
- moreover, each time a white line is detected, the coding system is reinitialized so that the following line is coded in one-dimensional (as if one had arrived at the end of the "Kl" lines to be coded, to the then, in two-dimensional form), so that a non-white line following a white line is always coded in one-dimensional;
- finally. a header is reserved at the beginning of each coded graphic data file ", which may contain additional data concerning this file;
- if the document has been entered in single density
ted or double density (CCITT standards):
- if the document is readable directly or
if it has been encrypted:
an alphanumeric field allowing asso
send a text comment to the document.

C - THE DISPLAY SUBSYSTEM
It makes it possible to display all or part of a graphic document known in the form of a dot matrix ("pixels") of a given format, on the graphic screen of the microcomputer, which is also in form. matrix of points. but of a possibly different format.

The conversion of format is done according to two homo theties, namely
a) a vertical homothety which makes it possible to compose a display line from one or more lines of data or, conversely, to write a line of data on one or more display lines; this homothety is performed in such a way as to "thicken the lines" in the case where several lines of data have to be combined ("or inclusive of" black pixel "data) and is performed in a" pseudo-random "manner when the vertical definition of the data and that of the graphical screen are not multiples of one another <a pseudo-random system then making it possible to know how many rows of data must be merged to obtain the next graphic line or on the contrary, how many once the processed data line must be written on the screen as successive graphic lines);
b) a horizontal homothety which makes it possible to change a graphic line "of a given length (for example 1728 bits) into a graphic line of a different length and appearing similar to eye; the principle of this homothety is to convert the line initial chart into an index table that gives the sequence numbers, in the line, bits for which the "color" of the "pixels" has changed from white to black or black to white (the line is supposed to have started in "white"), then multiply each of these indexes by a non-integer constant and, finally, recompose the graphical line from the new index table, the ratio of the lengths of the new graphical line and the graphical line of origin being equal to the constant that was used for the multiplications and more roundings being managed so as to "thicken the line" rather than risk to thin it,
D - THE LQ DATABASE MANAGEMENT SUBSYSTEM
CALE
It makes it possible to manage the compacted graphic data files present in the mass memory of the microcomputer (disks, diskettes, etc.) by performing in particular the following functions
- access to a file, knowing its identification (on a number of characters configurable between 1 and 100);
- creation of a file with its identification (on a number of characters configurable between 1 and 100> ::
- getting the sorted list of files from a given name (list sorted on names);
- obtaining the list of files sorted on the date of last consultation, from a given date;
- free disk space by deleting the least recently accessed file that is also in the mass memory of another system.

E - THE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
This subsystem makes it possible to exchange compacted graphic data files between the microcomputer on which it is implanted and one or more systems; In particular, it performs the following functions
acquiring a list of files in the database of another system and presenting the operator with a sorted and merged list of local and remote data files;
- search for a data file on a remote system;
- sending a data file to a remote system;
- sending all the data files not yet "sent" to a remote system.

 The communication subsystem can operate through an "IBM screen emulation" type link 3278 "via a local area network, or any other computer link system.

To achieve the sixteen programs mentioned above before the description of Figures 1 and 2, the entire device consists of 37 modules, namely: 30 on the microcomputer and 7 on the central site. The modules of the central site are for example written in language "COBOL" and assembler and all those of the microcomputer are written in assembler. The modules of the microcomputer can be grouped into subsystems corresponding to the preceding description, 1 - MODULES OF MICROCOMPUTER
(a) Nine modules of the coding and decoding subsystem, namely five modules for coding and four modules for decoding,
These are the following modules
the module "acquisition of line" which contains all the procedures necessary for the dialogue with the communication card microcomputer - fax and in particular the procedure of reading a "line graph" in the buffers of this card for treatment by the programs ;
the "compaction" module which contains the compaction procedure of a document sheet; this procedure acquires each of the graphic lines of the document to be processed (by the preceding module), then analyzes them to draw up the "table of mutants" (ordered list of indexes of the "pixels" of the graphic line for which the "color" of the line changes from white to black or vice versa), then communicates the mutant table to the display modules (to display the line in the format of the screen), and finally codes the line, according to the algorithm already mentioned, in a RAM buffer using the sequence lengths of a given "color" that are obtained by subtracting from the mutant table or by using the offset from the corresponding transition of the previous line (subtraction from the mutant table "couran te" and the table of mutants "previous") ;;
the module "appendix of the compaction" which contains utilitarian procedures necessary for the compaction program to manage the buffer of compacted graphic data (in particular to write it in a file);
- the module "compaction table" which contains all the tables necessary for the compaction program (corresponding to the tables described in the notice
CCITT T-4 ") ::
- the module "compaction control" which contains the procedure "master" of the compaction program, responsible in particular for the allocation of buffers, the initialization of values and dialogue with the operator;
- the module "decompaction" which contains the procedure of decompaction of a sheet of document, this procedure treats the file of the compacted data (previously or in a buffer) and interprets it to be able to draw up the "table of the mutants" of this line .

exact correspondent of the mutant table of the line obtained previously by the compaction program; finally, the procedure communicates the new mutant table to the display modules and processes the next line; the decompaction procedure also allows you to uncompress the sheet for printing on the printer associated with the fax machine ::
- the modules of the decompaction "which contains the utilities procedures necessary for the decompaction program to manage the buffer of compacted graphic data (in particular to read it in a file) and to reset the decompaction in case of anomaly found in the data;
- the "decompaction tables" module which contains all the tables necessary for the de-compaction program (corresponding to the reciprocal of the tables described in CCITT opinion T-4);
- The module "decompaction control" which contains the procedure "mistress" of the decompaction program including the allocation of buffers.

initialization of values and reading of the "control table" of the program:
(b) three modules of the display subsystem, namely
the module "processing the table of mutants for display" which contains the return processing program of the table of mutants and composition of the line in the format of the display screen; this program multiplies each of the entries of the "table of mutants" by a constant (the homothetic ratio "which corresponds to the ratio of the length of a graphic screen line to the length of a graphic line in input according to the CCITT standards), then composes in a buffer a "graphic line" that starts with "white" and changes color for each pixel whose index value of the line is in the mutant queue "corrected" by the homothety ratio, this module also performs the vertical homothety, that is to say that, knowing the number of graphic lines of the original document, the number of graphic lines of the display, the program deduces, according to a pseudo-random algorithm that allows to respect the aesthetics of the display, how many times a given line (of "reference") must be repeated on the display or, on the contrary, how many lines must be merged (by "or inclusive ") to give a display line; module also allows you to compose a line for printing on the fax printer:
- the module "graphic display card processing" which contains all the procedures necessary to initialize the display management card, in text mode or in graphic mode, to display the first or the second of the buffers of the display. the map (graphical mode), to display on the map the contents of a data buffer (present in RAM) and to display directly, on the screen, a line of graphic data: these procedures directly address the ports of the screen control board avoiding dialogs with the operating system of the microcomputer:
the window change module which makes it possible to easily control the display of a given part of the document on the screen of the microcomputer: it calculates the memory address at which the part requested by the operator is located and requests (via the previous module) the on-screen display of the requested document window;
(c) five modules of the database management system, namely:
- the main file management module that contains the initialization procedures of the database management system (reading of the database index table) to validate the changes made (rewrite the table ), overflow management (destruction of the least recently accessed entry that also appears on the central site). creation of entry in the table, deletion of document (1 document = 1 or more sheets, 1 sheet = 1 entry of the database); ;
- the "leaflet file management" add-on module "A" which contains the procedures for destroying a table entry on key 1 (file ro number) and destroying the corresponding file.

update of the key n 2 (date of last consul station) of an entry which one gives the value of the key n0 1, search for the following entry on the key n-1:
- the "leaflet file management" add-on module "B" which contains the procedures for manipulating the database on key 2;
- the "leaflet file management" add-on module "C" which contains the manipulation of the index table: the extraction of the index table n-1 (extraction in another buffer), the extraction procedure of the index table n 2 (idem) and the procedures for sorting the index tables (recursive sorting procedures according to the so-called "fast sorting"algorithm);
- the "leaflet file management add-on module D" which contains the procedures for creating, opening and destroying data files corresponding to an entry in the table ;;
(d) six modules of the communication system, namely
- the 3278 emulation card processing module, which contains all the utilities to send a "screen" buffer to the central site via the "IBM 3278" type connection, to wait for a response from the central site and to read the response of the central site in a data buffer in RAM;
the "file-file sending module" to the central site, which makes it possible to send a compacted graphic data file to the central site in emulation 3278 according to a screen protocol described later and using the module previous:
- the "command module of the sending" (ordered sending of document) which contains the procedure "mistress" of the ordered sending of document; this procedure manages the dialogue with the operator and uses the two preceding modules to send a graphic document, the reference of which is entered by the operator, to the central site;
- the "batch ordering module" which contains the master procedure for sending documents in batches; this procedure explores the local database and sends to the central site all the documents of this database that are not present in the remote database;
the "leaf file receipt module" from the central site which requests the central site for the coded binary data of a given leaflet, manages the exchange protocol with the central site and stores the data obtained in the database local data by creating a new entry ;;
- the "control module of the general directory visualization and the reception of documents which contains the main procedure of the request of the directory of the distant documents of a file, obtaining the directory of the local documents of the same file (by consultation of the database), merging the directories and displaying the merged directory to the operator, then processing the operator's choice with possible receipt of the selected document from the central site database (by the previous module) and, finally, information from the control table of the visualization program with the references of the document selected by the operator (and possibly received from the central site), the control table is then processed by the visualization program;
e) three utility modules, namely
- the keyboard reading module and on-screen writing that contains various string input utilities, numeric string input, key-function input and various display utilities ::
- the password entry module "which contains the master procedure of the password control program for software output and return to the operating system of the microcomputer;
- the "database initialization module" which contains the master procedure of a database initialization or reset program at a size entered by the operator;
-f} three other modules, namely
- the "menu manager module" which contains the master procedure of the "menu" management program proposed to the operator: this procedure dialogs with the operator and dynamically loads the program corresponding to the choice made by the operator into memory; him;
- the "Local Directory Visualization Control Module" which contains a procedure similar to that of the "General Directory Visualization Control Module" (previously described), except that this procedure does not query the directory of the remote database and does not ensure the possible receipt of a remote document;
the "control module for the destruction of a document in the local database, which contains the master procedure of the controlled destruction program of a document in the local database;
- The "Locally Known Folder List Program Control Module" lists all the folders for which at least one document is available in the local database.

2 - MODULES OF THE CENTRAL SITE
There are eight modules on this site, six of which are written in cobol and two in assembler (the last two listed below)
- the "central site database creation, reorganization and backup module" which contains utility procedures for managing and creating the database;
the "document receiving module" which contains the procedures of a TP transaction which allows to receive a document from an input station by managing the screen protocol;
the "sending module of a document" which contains the procedures of a transaction TP which makes it possible to send a document to a station which requests it by managing the screen protocol;
the "sending module of the directory of the documents of a folder" which makes it possible to send the directory of the documents of a file to a terminal 3278 or to a microcomputer station which requests it;
- the "destruction module of a document" which makes it possible to destroy a document from the database of the central site;
- the "Access Authorization Control Module" which allows to verify the access authorization of the various positions to the various functions on the different files;
- the "compaction module of the data which makes it possible to recompile the files sent on the line in connection type" emulation 3278 "This module compacts the characters displayable 8" (can be transmitted on the link "3278"? to 11data-binary11 , thus unrelated to the "compaction of document" described previously;
- the "data decompaction module" which allows to uncompress the files present in the database to send them on the line in emulation 3278 "This module performs the reverse operation of the previous module.

 The detailed description will be completed by the description of the link protocol between the central site and the microcomputer.

 The link between the central site and the microcomputer is in fact an "IBM 3278 terminal emulation" type link.

 The microcomputer is connected, via a coaxial cable, to a control unit which manages several microcomputers or terminals and which is itself connected to a large system. The programs of the application interact with the control unit thanks to a 3278 emulation type interface card, for example the "IRMA" card; this dialogue is managed in such a way that the microcomputer sends to the central site "screens" of data including the call to a pseudo-conversational transaction of the teleprocessing monitor installed on the central site and, possibly, data tracked a redundancy code.

A) Description of the protocol between the programs and the
emulation-terminal card.

 A problem in the management of the card by the program (and the microcomputer protocol management control unit) is the sending of key codes to the central unit.

 In fact, these key codes must pass through a sasynchronous-half-duplex link (in the coaxial cable) and, to send the next keycode, it is necessary to wait until the control unit has had time to respond if necessary. she could not accept additional codes for some time.

 Thus the sending of data from the microcomputer to the central unit (and therefore to the central site) may not be very efficient.

 To deal with this problem at best, an automatic adjustment is made to the waiting time for the possible response of the control unit; this adjustment works in the following way: at the beginning, the waiting time of the response starts from a relatively large value (parameterized). then, during sending, the value of this parameter is reduced linearly until the keypad is locked (due to non-compliance with a response from the control unit); after which, the keyboard is restored (special command), the lost characters are delivered and the timeout value is increased by a certain percentage. Then the new value of the waiting time is, in turn, reduced linearly and the adjustment sequence described above resumes with a lower reduction factor and a percentage of increase of the waiting time also lower.

Then the timeout value obtained is used in the rest of the exchanges. except keypad lock.

If the keypad is blocked, the program performs the restoration and resumes the adjustment sequence of the timeout value for any response from the control unit.

B) Description of the screen protocol between the programs
microcomputer and cen site transactions
tral.

 The protocol of exchange between the microcomputer and the three most important transactions of the part of the system that is installed at the central site will be described, for example the transactions for receiving documents at the central site, sending documents from the central site and sending the list of documents from a folder.

 1. Receipt of documents transaction.

 The microcomputer sends a screen composed of the identifier of the transaction "receipt of documents (identifier set in the configuration tables of the TP monitor), the identifier of the sent document (basic key + file number + date of entry, the order number of the "data block sent (sequence numbers from 1 to n, sequential for the blocks of a document), a status indicator (continuation, end of sheet, end of document) and data of the sent block (in the form of a string of characters with 65 different characters), the "data" part is followed by a redundancy code.

 The transaction "receipt of document" received from this screen and after verification of use (including access authorization and redundancy) records the data received in the database of the central site and returns to the microcomputer a screen-return composed of its identifier (TP? of the document reference # being sent and the sequence number of the next expected data block for this document.) The cursor is positioned immediately after this number. "do not give satisfaction, the transaction sends either an error code (alphabetic) instead of the number of the next expected block, or considers this block as not received and requests the next expected data block, which is therefore the same as before receiving the refused block.

 2. Transaction sending documents.

 The microcomputer sends a screen consisting of the identifier of the transaction "sending documents", the identifier of the requested document and a number whose meaning is "number of the last block known by the microcomputer for that document "(possibly ze ro). The transaction responds by sending the next number data block immediately the number received from the microcomputer. The sending format is the following identifier of the sending transaction, identifier of the sent document, order number of the sent block. "status" indicator (continuation, end of sheet, end of document), data and redundancy code. The cursor is positioned on the "status" indicator.

3. Transaction of sending the list of documents of a
folder.

 The microcomputer sends a screen composed of the identifier of the transaction "sending the list of documents of a folder", the identifier of the requested file and a number.

 The transaction responds by sending a list of 22 documents from this folder, whose order number (re lative within the general list of documents in this folder) is the number immediately following the number quoted in the buffer of call.

The sending format is as follows
- identifier of the "list" transaction, identifier of the consulted file, order number of the screen in the general list, then status code ("suite", "end" or errors) and ordered list of 22 documents in this file (1 per line) with various information for each document.

 It goes without saying and as it follows already from the foregoing, the invention is not limited to those of its modes of application and of realization which have been more especially envisaged; it embraces, on the contrary, all variants.

Claims (7)

 1. Method for the capture, local archiving or remote transmission, with possible remote archiving, and the subsequent reproduction, from local archiving or remote archiving, of documents constituted by texts and / or images, it is characterized in that it comprises the succession of the following operations  - we enter and digitize (by digital form) the document,  - we compress this one,  transmitting to a local and / or remote storage medium the compressed document,  - the compressed and transmitted document is stored locally and / or remotely, and  - we find and restore the document stored locally or remotely.  The method of claim 1, substantially compressing in a conventional manner (in accordance with the CCITT two-dimensional coding standard in T-4 1980 for the standardization of Group 3 facsimile machines), characterized in that however  - the last bit sequence is omitted and replaced by the word "end of line";  a factor "K" is implemented (such as K - 1 = number of lines coded in two-dimensional following a coded line in one-dimensional) parametrizable and chosen between 1 and 2500; and  - each time a white line is detected and the coding is reset so that the next line is coded in one-dimensional (as if one had arrived at the end of the "K-1" lines to be coded, following, in two-dimensional), so that a non-white line in a white line is always unidimensional.  3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that in addition a header is reserved at the beginning of each coded graphic data file "which may contain additional data concerning this file, in particular  - whether the document was entered in single density or double density;  - if the document can be read directly or if it has been encrypted; and or  - an alphanumeric field allowing to associate a comment "text" to the document.  4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that. to display, in particular on a video screen, a document in a format different from the one in which it was stored, a format conversion is carried out according to two homotheties, namely  a vertical homothety that makes it possible to compose a display line from one or more lines of data or, conversely, to write a data line on one or more display lines, this homothety being performed in a manner to thicken the lines "in the case where several lines of data have to be combined and performed in a" pseudo-random "manner when the vertical definition of the data and that of the graphic screen are not multiple. the other, to know how many lines of data should be merged to obtain the next graphic line, or how many times the processed data line should be written on the screen as successive graphic lines;  a horizontal homothety which makes it possible to change a "graphic line" of a given length into a graphic line of a different length and appearing similar to the eye, by converting the initial graphic line into an index table which gives the order numbers, in the line, bits for which the "color" of the "pixels" has changed from white to black or black to white (the line is supposed to have started in "white") then, to multiply each of these indexes by a non-integer constant and, finally, to recompose the graphic line from the new index table, the ratio of the lengths of the new graphic line and the original graphic line being equal to the constant which has served with multiplications and roundings being managed so as to "thicken the line" rather than risk thinning it.  5. Device for implementing the method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises - in combination with a digital fax machine (1), a microcomputer (2) and supports (4a, And .4k> digital information storage and optionally a link (5) for remote transmission - an interface card (3) managing the fax machine, the microcomputer, the digital information storage media and possibly the remote transmission link to achieve successively  - the capture and digitization (by digital form) of the document,  - the compression of it,  the transmission to a local and / or remote storage medium of the compressed document,  the local and / or remote storage of the compressed and transmitted document, and  - locating and restoring the document stored locally or remotely.  6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the interface card (3> comprises a buffer unit or buffer <3a) adapted to perform the desynchronization between the acquisition of the document data by the fax (1) and the processing of these data by the microcomputer (21,  7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the buffer unit (3a) performs a slowdown of the flow of data from the document from the fax machine (1) and intended for the microcomputer (3). which is in inverse function of the free storage space still available in the buffer unit.