JPH04256284A - Resolution automatic selection system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To send a picture with high resolution at all times without increasing the line charge with respect to the resolution automatic selection system. CONSTITUTION:A facsimile equipment having a resolution conversion section 4 converting the resolution of a transmission picture is provided with a charge arithmetic comparator section 1 calculating a line charge with respect to a transmission picture data for each resolution and comparing the said calculation results, and in the case of sending the picture data, the charge for each resolution is calculated and compared and when the charge is the same, the data with the higher resolution is selected to convert the picture data and the result is sent.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an automatic resolution selection method, and more specifically, it is used in facsimile machines (G3, G4) that handle digital images, and in particular, it is used to automatically select the resolution of transmitted image data depending on communication charges. This invention relates to an automatic resolution selection method that allows selection.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, G3 and G4 facsimile machines have been known as facsimile machines that handle digital images. The image resolution of the G3 facsimile machine and the G4 facsimile machine is defined by recommendations by the CCITT (Consultative Committee for International Telegraph and Telephone).

[0003] G3 is 3.85 pels/mm (pi
xele permilimeter), or 7.
7 pels/mm millimeter system, G4 is 200 dpi (d
per inch) or 400 dpi inch system.

Recently, some devices have two modes, G3 and G4, in one device, and in such devices,
For example, when transmitting an image received in G3 in G4, resolution conversion is performed and processed within the device.

As mentioned above, when it is necessary to convert the resolution of a transmitted image due to some communication constraints, the resolution is
The one specified by the user using a switch or the like is selected and converted according to the selection.

[0006] However, for example, if the amount of originals to be transmitted is small, the communication charge may not change whether the document is sent at 200 dpi or 400 dpi.

For example, the line charge is 10 yen/3 minutes, so if the communication is completed within 3 minutes, the charge is 10 yen.

[0008]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The conventional devices as described above have the following problems.

(1) For example, as mentioned above, if the communication is within 3 minutes, the communication fee is the same whether it is sent at 200 dpi resolution (low resolution) or 400 dpi resolution (high resolution). .

[0010] In reality, however, even though there is no change in charges even if transmission is performed at 400 dpi, users may set the resolution to 200 dpi in order to save on communication costs.

(2) In the case of (1) above, the resolution of the transmitted image is intentionally lowered during communication, and the facsimile machine is not effectively utilized.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate such conventional drawbacks and to enable high-resolution images to be transmitted at all times without increasing line charges.

[0013]

[Means for Solving the Problems] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the principle of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a charge processing section, 2 is a communication control section, 3 is an image memory, and 4 is a resolution conversion section.

In order to achieve the above object, the automatic resolution selection method of the present invention is constructed as follows.

(1) A facsimile machine equipped with a resolution conversion unit 4 that converts the resolution of a transmitted image is provided with a charge calculation comparison unit 1 that calculates line charges for each resolution of transmitted image data and compares the calculation results. When transmitting image data, the charge calculation and comparison section 1 performs calculation and comparison processing, and if there are multiple resolutions with the same charge, the highest resolution is selected by the resolution conversion section 4. The selected resolution is used to transmit image data that has undergone resolution conversion.

(2) In the above configuration (1), it is determined whether the resolution is specified from the outside using the operation switch or the like, and if the result is that the resolution is specified as the highest resolution that the device itself has, the above-mentioned fee calculation and comparison unit 1 processes it. Only when the image data is transmitted without performing the above process and another resolution is specified, the processing of the fee calculation and comparison section 1 is performed to select the resolution.

(3) In the above configuration (1) or (2), the fee calculation comparison section 1 has two resolutions (200 and 400 d) of the standard resolution of G4 facsimile.
pi), and two resolutions of G3 facsimile (3.
Calculation and comparison processing were performed for a total of four resolutions (85, 7.7 pels/mm).

(4) In the above configuration (1), (2), or (3), in the above fee calculation comparison section 1, G3
, in addition to the standard resolution of G4 facsimile, when a non-standard resolution can be handled, calculations and comparison processing are performed for all standard and non-standard resolutions, including the non-standard resolution.

[0019]

[Operation] The operation of the present invention based on the above configuration will be explained with reference to FIG.

Image data read by the own facsimile device or image data received from another device via a line (data to be sent to another device) is stored in the image memory 3 after being MMR encoded, and then , is transmitted from the communication control unit 2.

In this case, the transmitted image data undergoes resolution conversion by the resolution conversion section 4, but in the present invention,
First, the fee calculation and comparison unit 1 calculates the fee for transmitting the transmission image data for each resolution, and compares the results.

[0022] As a result, even if the resolutions are different, the charges may be the same. In such a case, the highest resolution is selected from a plurality of resolutions for which the same fee is charged, and is used as the resolution of the resolution converter 4.

[0023] Therefore, the transmitted image is transmitted after being converted at the selected highest resolution.

[0024] When selecting the resolution above, if the resolution has been specified using an operation switch on the operation panel, etc., and if the highest resolution of the device has been specified, the highest resolution is selected without performing the resolution selection. If other resolutions are specified, conversion is performed using the selected resolution.

[0025] In this way, if the charges are the same, the higher resolution is always selected and resolution conversion is performed, so that clear images can be transmitted without increasing line charges.

[0026]

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be explained based on the drawings.

(Description of one embodiment) FIGS. 2 to 4 are diagrams showing one embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of facsimile communication, FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a facsimile machine, and FIG.
is a processing flowchart.

In the figure, the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 indicate the same parts. Also, ■ is a G3/G4 facsimile device, ■ is a G3 facsimile device, ■ is a G4 facsimile device, ■ is a telephone network, ■ is a digital network, 3A is an image RAM, 5 is a CPU,
6 is a resolution conversion compression/expansion unit, 7 is a program RAM,
8 is a man-machine interface control unit, 9 is a keyboard switch, 10 is a display, and 11 is a scanner.
12 is a printer, and 13 is a scanner.

Facsimile machines that handle digital images include G3 facsimile machines and G4 facsimile machines. To perform facsimile communication with these devices,
Do as shown in Figure 2.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the dual-purpose G3/G4 facsimile machine ■ and the other party's G3 facsimile machine ■ communicate via the telephone network ■, and the G3/G4 facsimile machine Communication is performed with the G4 facsimile machine (2) via a digital network (ISDN, DDX, etc.).

[0031] In this case, the G3/G4 facsimile machine ■
is equipped with a switch that changes the resolution of the transmitted image, and the resolution changes depending on the capabilities of the receiving device or the specifications of the transmitting user.

Each of the above facsimile machines has a standard resolution (3.85 pels/mm, 7.7 p for G3).
els/mm, G4 is 200dpi, 400dpi)
facsimile communication is now possible.

[0033] Line charges are 1 for up to 3 minutes on the telephone network ■.
0 yen, and 10 yen within 3 minutes on digital network (ISDN)
It is a yen. Therefore, if the communication ends within 3 minutes,
All fees are 10 yen, so it's the same for both high resolution and low resolution.

For example, in the case of FIG. 2, when the G3/G4 facsimile machine (2) communicates with the other party's G4 facsimile machine (2), it is assumed that a low resolution (200 dpi) is specified by the user.

At this time, if it is found that the line usage charge calculated based on the amount of image data to be sent is the same whether it is sent at low resolution or high resolution, it will automatically be ) to send.

[0036] Also, if the other party's device is a G3 facsimile machine ■
In this case, communication is performed using the same process. Specific examples will be further explained below.

The facsimile machine of this embodiment (corresponding to ◯ in FIG. 2) is configured as shown in FIG. 3, for example.

That is, the facsimile machine has a CPU
5. Charge calculation comparison section 1, image RAM 3A, resolution conversion compression/expansion control section 6, program work RAM 7, communication control section 2, man-machine interface control section 8, keyboard/switch 9, display 10, scanner/printer control section 11, a printer 12, and a scanner 13 are provided.

The resolution conversion compression/expansion control section 6 is a combination of the resolution conversion section 4 of FIG. 1 and an image data compression/expansion control section.

Further, the image RAM 3A corresponds to the image memory 3 in FIG.

The fee calculation comparison unit 1 calculates the line fee for each resolution and compares the results. To calculate this charge, for example, the line usage time (communication time) is determined from the code amount of compressed data obtained by encoding the transmitted image on the transmission line.
The fee is determined by calculating .

The processing of the above embodiment will be explained below based on the processing flowchart of FIG. Note that each process number in FIG. 4 is shown in parentheses.

In the description of this embodiment, G3 shown in FIG.
A case will be described in which a /G4 facsimile machine communicates with a partner G4 facsimile machine (2) via a digital network (3).

First, when image data is input by the own device, it is read by the scanner 13 (S1) and encoded using the MMR method, which is the G4 transmission line code standard (S2).
The image is stored in the image RAM 3A (S3).

The above image data is read at the highest resolution of 400 dpi.

Next, the CPU 5 determines the resolution specified on the keyboard switch 9 (S4). When making this determination, the data necessary for the determination is stored in the program work RAM 7 in advance.

As a result of the determination, if the highest resolution is specified (S5), communication of the image data as it is (the resolution of the read image is the highest resolution) is started (S5).
10).

However, if the highest resolution is not specified (S
5) Calculate the line charge by the charge calculation comparison unit 1 (
S6).

This process is performed based on the capacity of MMR encoded image data stored in the image RAM 3A, for example.
Communication time is calculated for each resolution, and charges are determined using the calculated communication time.

[0050] Once the charges are determined, the charges for each resolution are compared (S7), and it is determined whether there are resolutions for which the charges are the same (S8).

[0051] If the price is the same (400dpi
However, if it is the same even if it is 200 dpi), select the higher resolution regardless of whether the resolution is specified (in this example, 40 dpi).
0dpi) and convert the image data at this resolution (
S9). However, in this example, it is the same as the loaded image, so it is not converted.

[0052] However, if the charges are not the same (S
8), specified resolution, or lower resolution (in this example, 20
0 dpi) to convert the transmitted image (S11).

The above conversion process is all resolution conversion compression/
Processed by the decompression control unit 6. After the conversion process is completed, the communication control unit 2 is activated to start communication (S10).

Note that even when data received from another device is to be transmitted to another device, processing can be performed in the same manner as described above.

Although the embodiments have been described above, the present invention can also be implemented as follows.

(1) Even when the partner device is G3, processing can be performed in the same way as in the case of G4.

(2) Standard resolution according to G3 and G4 recommendations (G4 is 200 dpi, 400 dpi, G3 is 3
．． 85 pels/mm, 7.7 pels/mm), as well as some resolutions (e.g. 240 pels/mm, 300 pels/mm)
It is also applicable to devices that have a mode (non-standard mode) that allows you to select pi).

However, in this case, the present invention is applicable only when the partner device also has a similar function.

[0059]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the present invention has the following effects.

(1) Clear images with high resolution can be transmitted without increasing line charges.

(2) The efficiency of use of the facsimile machine is improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of facsimile communication in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a facsimile apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a processing flowchart of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Charge calculation comparison section 2 Communication control section 3 Image memory 4 Resolution conversion section

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile device equipped with a resolution conversion unit (4) that converts the resolution of a transmitted image, and a charge calculation comparison unit that calculates line charges for each resolution for transmission image data and compares the calculation results. (1) is provided, and when transmitting image data, the calculation and comparison processing of the fee calculation and comparison section (1) is performed, and as a result, if there are multiple resolutions with the same fee, the highest resolution is selected as above. Resolution conversion section (
4) An automatic resolution selection method characterized in that the resolution is selected as the resolution, and image data that has been subjected to resolution conversion using the selected resolution is transmitted. [Claim 2] A determination is made as to whether a resolution has been specified from the outside using an operation switch or the like, and if the result is that the highest resolution that the device itself has is specified, the image is processed without being processed by the charge calculation/comparison unit (1). 2. The automatic resolution selection method according to claim 1, wherein only when data is transmitted and other resolutions are specified, the processing by the fee calculation and comparison section (1) is performed to select the resolution. 3. The fee calculation comparison unit (1) performs two resolutions (2
3. The automated resolution system according to claim 1, wherein calculation and comparison processing is performed for all resolutions of G3 facsimile (3.85, 7.7 pels/mm) and G3 facsimile (3.85, 7.7 pels/mm). Selection method. Claim 4: In the charge calculation comparison section (1), the G3
, In addition to the standard resolution of the G4 facsimile, if a non-standard resolution can be handled, calculation and comparison processing is performed for all standard and non-standard resolutions, including the non-standard resolution. Claim 1 or 2
Or the resolution automatic selection method described in 3.