JPH04269067A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To use data in an external memory widely by transmitting character code data stored in the external memory without converting into dot data. CONSTITUTION:When the character code data of an external memory 7 is converted into a picture so as to perform facsimile transmission, the decided channel character code data is called from the external memory 7, this is calculated by a control part 5 so as to develop as the picture data on a RAM3, then transmission is performed in a normal facsimile control order. When the character code data of the external memory 7 is transmitted as it is, the decided channel character code data is called from the external memory 7, and this is converted into the HDLC format by the control part 5. The transmission is performed according to the normal facsimile control order.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine having an external memory device.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, facsimile machines having an external memory device such as a floppy disk have been provided.

[0003] This external memory is used to store various operational data such as received image data, transmitted image data, and internal management information for the other communication device.

0004

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, in conventional facsimile machines, of the data stored in the external memory, only image data can be used for communication, and the problem is that it is not fully utilized. There was a point.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile device that can make wide use of data stored in an external memory.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides, for example, an ASC
external memory means capable of storing character code data such as II codes; and communication control means for transmitting character code data in the external memory means by facsimile without converting it into dot data in response to a request from a calling party. It is characterized by having.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile machine 11 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

This facsimile device 11 operates in a facsimile communication mode in which encoded image data and character code data are transmitted using a facsimile device as a communication partner, and in a data communication mode in which character code data is transmitted using a data communication device such as a personal computer as a communication partner. mode.

The facsimile communication mode further includes three processes. That is, the first is a normal image transmission process in which image data read from a document or image data stored in the external memory 7 is sent by facsimile, and the second is a process in which character code data stored in the external memory 7 is sent by facsimile. This is the process of converting it into a character image through arithmetic processing and sending it by facsimile.
This is a process in which the character code data stored in the image data is configured as pseudo image data and sent as is by facsimile.

[0010] That is, the transmission method in this third process is normal facsimile image transmission or file transmission using an HDLC frame, and in ECM (error correction mode) transmission according to the CCITT recommendation,
This is a method of converting character code data into HDLC format and transmitting it instead of encoded image data.

[0011] Thereby, the character code data stored in the external memory 7 can be freely transmitted according to the function of the destination, and can be fully utilized in other devices.

Each element shown in FIG. 1 will be explained in order below.

The display section 1 is constituted by an LCD or the like, and displays various information such as the status of the facsimile machine, the telephone number of the called party, and time information.

[0014] The ROM 2 stores programs for controlling the control section 5, which is composed of a microprocessor element, etc., operator messages, and the like.

The RAM 3 is used as a work area for the control unit 5 and also as a storage area for various data that can be set by the operator. Note that a registration table is stored in the RAM 3 to refer to a password signal, which will be described later.

[0016] The reading unit 4 reads an image on a document using a CCD or the like.

The control unit 5 controls the entire device, and executes control operations according to the control program stored in the ROM 2 described above.

The recording section 6 records image information on recording paper.

The external memory 7 is, for example, a floppy disk device that is externally attached to the main body of the facsimile machine, and is equipped with a plurality of disk drivers so that a plurality of floppy disks can be installed in a replaceable manner.

[0020] The external memory 7 stores various operational data such as received image data, transmitted image data, and internal management information for the other party's communication device, as well as
Character code data such as CII code is stored.

As will be described later, each disk driver is managed by an external memory number, and data in a floppy disk attached to each disk driver is managed by a channel number.

The communication section 8 is for interfacing with the communication line 10, and the operation section 9 is for operating the facsimile machine 11 and inputting various information.
It is composed of a plurality of key input switches and their scanning circuits.

FIG. 2 shows the external memory 7 in the same embodiment.
3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of polling and transmitting data.

First, a CI signal is received from the communication line 10 and the telephone line is captured (S1). After acquiring the line, it sends out a CED signal (S2), receives a facsimile procedure signal from the other party's communication device (S3), performs processing according to the signal (S20), and ends the operation.

If the facsimile procedure signal is not received in S3, the process waits for a predetermined password signal to be received (S4). This password signal is a request signal for the other party's communication device to poll and receive data in the external memory 7, and is a request signal for polling and receiving data in the external memory 7.
Generated by a combination of signals, etc.

[0026] If no password signal is received here,
Finish the operation.

Further, if a password signal is received, the registration table is referred to (S5), and if the password signal is not registered, the operation is ended.

If the password signal is registered, preparations are made for polling and transmitting the data in the external memory 7 (S6).

Next, referring to the channel selection signal sent from the other party's communication device (S7), the channel for polling transmission is determined (S8). Note that this channel selection signal is also generated by a combination of DTMF signals, and includes an external memory number for selecting a floppy disk.

Next, the communication mode is confirmed (S9).

First, in the data communication mode, the data of the channel determined in S8 above, that is, the data in this case is character code data, is transferred from the external memory 7 according to the normal data communication control procedure. call and send it from the communication unit 8 to the communication line 10 (
S10).

Next, in the case of facsimile communication mode, the processing is divided into the three processes described above.

First, in the first process, that is, when transmitting the image data in the external memory 7 (S11), the image data of the determined channel is read out from the external memory 7, and based on the normal facsimile control procedure, It is sent from the communication unit 8 to the communication line 10 (S12).

Furthermore, in the second process, that is, when converting the character code data in the external memory 7 into an image and transmitting it by facsimile (S13), the character code data of the determined channel is called out from the external memory 7,
After this is computed by the control unit 5 and developed as image data on the RAM 3 (S14), transmission is performed using normal facsimile control procedures (S12).

In addition, the third process, that is, the external memory 7
When transmitting the character code data of the determined channel as is (S15), the character code data of the determined channel is read from the external memory 7, and after being converted by the control unit 5 into the above-mentioned HDLC format (S
16) Transmission is performed using normal facsimile control procedures (S12). Note that in S16, normal facsimile image transmission without format conversion may be used.

[0036] The facsimile machine on the receiving side may perform normal facsimile reception operations in the first and second processes, but in the third process, Performs processing to convert to the state before formatting.

[0037] If this received character code is stored as it is in the external memory (floppy disk) of the machine itself, this data can be used by another computer or the like. In addition, when outputting the received character code as a received document, the above-mentioned S14 on the sending side
Through the same processing as above, it is possible to calculate the character code, convert it into image data, and output it.

In any case, by formatting and transmitting the character code as it is, it can be sent faster than when sending it through normal data communication or converting it to image data and sending it, and it can also be used in a wide range of ways on the receiving side. becomes possible.

Moreover, since the ECM transmission based on the CCITT recommendation is used as described above, error communication can be eliminated.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, since data on a replaceable floppy disk can be freely transmitted, polling data can be easily exchanged.

Furthermore, since polling transmission is performed using the password signal described above, confidentiality of information can be obtained.

[0042] Therefore, by using the above-mentioned functions, it becomes possible to easily configure a system in which, for example, games and the like are stored in an external memory and sold to customers.

[0043]

According to the present invention, character code data stored in an external memory can be transmitted without being converted into dot data, and the data in the external memory can be widely utilized.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation in the same embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols] 1...display section, 2...ROM, 3...RAM, 4...reading section, 5...control unit, 6...recording department, 7...External memory, 8...Communication Department, 9...Operation unit, 10...communication line, 11...Facsimile machine.

Claims (2)

[Claims] [Claim 1] External memory means capable of storing predetermined character code data;
A facsimile apparatus comprising: communication control means for facsimile transmission without converting the character code data in the external memory means into dot data. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the character code data is ASCII code data.