JPH04162869A - Transmission control method for facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To effectively utilize a picture storage function by registering plural destinations and transmission times to same storage picture information and sending the storage picture information at a transmission time registered for each destination. CONSTITUTION:A picture signal obtained by starting reading of a scanner 4 is coded and compressed by a coding decoding section 7 and resulting picture information is stored sequentially in a picture storage device 8. Then a file management table and page management information are generated and a reservation report comprising file number, page number, transmission destination and transmission designation time entered about the stored transmission picture information is edited and the picture is printed out by a plotter 5. In this case, plural destinations and transmission times are registered in same stored picture information and the stored picture information is sent at a transmission time registered at each destination. Thus, the utilizing efficiency of the picture storage device 8 is improved and a handling time of the operator for transmission operation is saved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a transmission control method for a facsimile machine equipped with an image storage function.

[Prior Art] Facsimile machines equipped with an image storage function have been in practical use for some time, and examples of transmission functions that utilize the image storage function include a time-specified transmission function that allows you to specify the transmission time, and a transmission function that allows you to send the same message to multiple destinations. A sequential broadcasting function for transmitting stored image information, a time-specified broadcasting function that is a combination of these functions, etc. have been realized.

By using this time-specific broadcast function, you can send messages to multiple destinations.
Since the image information can be transmitted at any time, it is possible to specify the time period for transmitting the image information to a time period when communication charges are low, which has the effect of reducing communication costs.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, such a conventional time-specific broadcast function has the following disadvantages.

In other words, the specified sending time is commonly used for all destinations set, so if the time zones you want to send to each destination are significantly different, you will need to set time-specific sending for each destination. A large amount of the same image information is accumulated, resulting in the inconvenience that the efficiency of using the image accumulation function is poor.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a transmission control method for a facsimile machine that can effectively utilize the image storage function.

[Means for Solving the Problem] ゛ The present invention registers a plurality of destinations and transmission times in the same stored image information, and transmits the stored image information for each destination at the registered transmission time. It is something. Furthermore, a report displaying the transmission results is recorded and output at the end of the transmission operation for each destination or at the end of the transmission operation for all destinations.

[Effect 1] Therefore, since the same stored image information can be shared for transmission operations to a plurality of destinations each having a different transmission time, the utilization efficiency of the image storage function is greatly improved.

Furthermore, since the communication result report can be output in a method specified by the operator, it is easy to use.

[Embodiment 1] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a Group 3 facsimile machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, a control unit 1 performs control processing of each part of the facsimile machine and facsimile transmission control procedure processing, and a system memory 2 stores control processing programs and processing programs executed by the control unit 1. The parameter memory 3 is used to store various types of data required when executing the fax machine, and constitutes the work area of the control unit 1. The parameter memory 3 is used to store various types of information specific to this group 3 facsimile machine. It is.

The scanner 4 is for reading original images at a predetermined resolution, the plotter 5 is for recording and outputting images at a predetermined resolution, and the operation display section 6 is for operating this facsimile device. It consists of various operation keys and various displays.

The encoding/decoding unit 7 encodes and compresses the image signal and decodes the encoded and compressed image information into the original image signal, and the image storage device 8 encodes and compresses the encoded and compressed image information. This is for storing a large amount of image information in a different state.

The group 3 facsimile modem 9 is for realizing the group 3 facsimile modem function, and has a low-speed modem function (V, 2) for exchanging transmission procedure signals.
1 modem) and a high-speed modem function (V, 29 modem, V, 27ter modem) mainly for exchanging image information.

The network control device 10 is for connecting this facsimile device to the public telephone line network, and has an automatic call originating and receiving function.

These control unit 1, system memory 2, parameter memory 3, scanner 4, plotter 5, operation display unit 6, encoding/decoding unit 7, image storage device 8, group 3 facsimile modem 9, and network control device 10 is connected to a system bus 11, and data exchange between these elements is mainly performed via this system bus 11.

Further, data is exchanged directly between the network control device 10 and the group 3 facsimile modem 9.

FIG. 2(a) shows an example of a file management table for managing transmission image information stored in the image storage device 8.

This file management table includes file number information for identifying each file management table, transmission mode information for storing the transmission mode of transmission image information, file transmission result information for storing the transmission result of this file,
Number of destinations information to remember the number of destinations set in this file, one or more destination information to remember information about each destination set in this file, timing to output communication result report It consists of report output timing information for storing, page number information for storing the number of pages of transmitted image information, and page management information for managing the first page of transmitted image information, and a first page pointer. be done.

Here, the output timing of the communication result report can be set either when the transmission operation to all destinations is completed or when the transmission operation to each destination is completed, and the setting can be set by the operator. It will be done. Furthermore, hereinafter, the former output timing will be referred to as the overall output mode, and the latter output timing will be referred to as the individual output mode.

In addition, the initial value of the file transmission result information is set to data indicating that the file is waiting for transmission.

An example of the destination information is shown in FIG. 4(b).

This destination information includes telephone number information for storing the telephone number of the destination, transmission time information for storing the specified transmission time, number-of-calls information for storing the number of calls,
and transmission result information for storing the transmission result for that destination.

In addition, the initial value of the transmission result information is set to data that warns of waiting for transmission. Furthermore, if the transmission time is not specified, the current time is set in the content.

An example of page management information is shown in FIG.

This page management information includes ID information for identifying each page management information, page reference number information indicating the page order number of the transmitted image information managed by that page management information, and corresponding transmitted image information. start address information for storing the start of the storage area of the image storage device 8, data amount information for storing the data amount of the corresponding transmission image information, and transmission of the next page if there is a next page. It consists of a next page pointer to which ID information of page management information that manages image information is set. Note that specific data indicating that the page is the last page is set in the next page pointer of the page management information of the last page.

With the above configuration, when the operator sets a transmission document on the scanner 4 and specifies the memory transmission mode by operating the operation display section 6, the transmission image information storage process as shown in FIG. 3 is performed.

That is, first, display a guidance message to input the timing for outputting the communication report (
Process 101), the operator selects either the overall output mode or the individual output mode, and the input data is saved (process 102).

Next, a guidance message is displayed for inputting one transmission destination and a specified transmission time (processing 1).
03), Have the operator input the telephone number and designated transmission time of one transmission destination, process the input data to save it (104), and display a guidance message asking whether or not to specify another transmission destination. (Processing 1
05).

If the operator specifies to continue inputting the destination in response to this guidance message (result of judgment 106 is YES), the process returns to step 103 and the same process is repeated for the next destination. Further, if the operator specifies destination input (the result of judgment 106 is NO),
A guidance message is displayed to prompt the user to perform either an instruction to start reading the original image or an operation to cancel the settings (process 107).

Here, if cancellation of the settings is designated and the result of judgment 108 is NO, the contents inputted so far are erased (process 109), and this process is ended.

Further, when the start of reading is commanded and the result of judgment 108 becomes YES, the reading operation of the scanner 4 is started, the image signal obtained thereby is encoded and compressed by the encoding/decoding section 7, and the image signal obtained thereby is encoded and compressed. The obtained image information is sequentially stored in the image storage device 8 (process 110). Note that at this time, data necessary for forming the file management table and page management information is created and saved.

When the image reading of all transmission documents set in the scanner 4 is completed and the transmission image information is stored in the image storage device 8, the above-mentioned file management table and page management information are formed (111). A reservation report is edited, which includes a list display of the file number and page number of the accumulated transmission image information, as well as the operationally input transmission destination and designated transmission time, and the image is recorded and output from the plotter 5 (processing 112).

In this way, when the memory transmission mode is selected, a plurality of transmission destinations can be set, and an independent designated transmission time can be set for each transmission destination.

In addition, a file management table is stored in which data indicating a transmission wait is set in the file transmission result, and the transmission time information of the destination information included in the file management table is earlier than the current time, and If the transmission result image information indicates that the transmission is on standby, transmission processing as shown in FIG. 4 is performed for that destination.

First, the telephone number information of the destination information is extracted and a call is made to the destination (step 201), and it is checked whether the destination responds to the incoming call (determination 202).

When the result of judgment 202 is YES, the specified pre-transmission procedure is performed with the destination to negotiate the transmission function, etc. (process 203), and the set transmission function is used to transfer the file management information including the destination information. The transmission image information is sequentially extracted from the image storage device 8 with reference to the contents of the page management information and transmitted to the destination (process 204).

Next, a predetermined post-transmission procedure is executed (process 205),
Process to restore the line (206), and set data indicating transmission OK in the transmission result information of the destination management information (206).
Processing 207).

Then, it is checked whether the individual output mode is set in the report output timing information (decision 208), and if the result of determination 208 is YES, the transmission destination, transmission time, transmission file number, transmission result, etc. are listed. The displayed individual communication report is edited and its image is recorded and output from the plotter 5 (processing 209).

Next, it is checked whether the contents of the transmission results of all destination management information registered in the file management table are other than transmission standby (determination 210), and determination 21
When the result of 0 becomes YES, the image information transmission operation to all destinations has been completed, so it is checked whether the overall output mode is set in the report output timing information (judgment 212), and the result of judgment 212 becomes YES. If so, a communication report consisting of a list display of the transmission file number, each transmission destination, transmission time, and transmission result is edited, and the image thereof is recorded and output from the plotter 5 (process 213).

On the other hand, if the called destination does not respond to the incoming call and the result of the judgment 202 is NO, the content of the transmission time information of the destination information is updated to the re-calling time (for example, 3 minutes later) (processing 214); Increase the value of the number of calls information by one (processing 215
).

Then, it is checked whether the value of the number of calls information at that time has reached the call limit value (judgment 216), and judgment 21
When the result of step 6 is YES, data indicating transmission NG is set in the transmission result information of the destination information (process 217), the process moves to judgment 208, and the subsequent processes are performed.

In this way, the transmission operation of the set transmission image information is performed for the destination for which the designated transmission time has elapsed, and a communication result report is recorded and output according to the result of the transmission operation.

Further, the output timing of the communication result report is performed according to the mode set by the operator at the time of image reading.

As described above, in this embodiment, a plurality of transmission destinations can be set for one transmission image information, and the transmission time for each transmission destination can be arbitrarily set, so that the usage efficiency of the image storage device 8 is improved. It is possible to significantly improve the quality of data transmission, and to significantly reduce the amount of time and effort required by the operator to perform transmission operations.

Incidentally, in the above embodiment, the order of transmission operations for each transmission destination is not specified in particular, but the transmission order may be limited to a fixed order.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, the same stored image information can be shared for transmission operations to multiple destinations with different transmission times, so the efficiency of use of the image storage function is improved. It is possible to significantly improve the performance and reduce the amount of effort required by the operator. Furthermore, since the communication result report can be output in a manner specified by the operator, it is easy to use.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a Group 3 facsimile device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2(a) is a schematic diagram showing an example of a file management table, and FIG. 2(b) shows an example of destination information. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of page management information, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of processing during image storage, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of processing during transmission operation. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Control unit, 2... System memory, 8... Image storage device.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In a transmission control method for a facsimile machine equipped with an image storage function, multiple destinations and transmission times are registered in the same stored image information, and the stored image information is transmitted for each destination at the registered transmission time. A transmission control method for a facsimile device, characterized in that: 2. The method for controlling transmission of a facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: recording and outputting a report displaying the transmission results when the transmission operation for each destination or when the transmission operation for all destinations is completed.