JPH09284453A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a facsimile equipment confirming whether data is normally received at each repeater station at the time of designating a transferring destination from a transmission source so as to allow an equipment on a receiving side to transfer image data. SOLUTION: The facsimile equipment, which adds image data with number data area 22 storing transferring data being the telephone number of the transferring destination of this image data and a communication situation data area 23 corresponding to this to form code data as one body, stores communication situation data at the time of receiving data in the communication situation data area 23 positioned after the number data area 22 corresponding to the number of its own station and transmits it.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

The present invention relates to a facsimile machine,
In particular, the present invention relates to a facsimile device capable of transferring image data transmitted from a transmission source to a transfer destination designated by the transmission source.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ordinary facsimile apparatus reads image data of an original and transmits the image data to a destination facsimile apparatus or the like via a telephone line. When transmitting the image data, first, the telephone number of the transmission destination is dialed, and the data is transmitted according to a predetermined transmission control procedure. The transmission control procedure is the procedure to connect the source device and the destination device correctly, the procedure to confirm the other party, the data transmission, the confirmation whether the data is received correctly, and disconnect the line. It includes procedures for doing so.

Some facsimile machines have a function of transferring image data transmitted from a transmission source to a transfer destination designated by the transmission source. In such a facsimile apparatus, the non-standard function setting signal (NSS) and the sub address (SUB) are included in the procedure data transmitted and received in the pre-procedure before the data transmission among the above-mentioned transmission control procedures. In general, it is commonly used to transmit / receive transfer data of a transfer destination.

When transmitting the transfer data by using the sub address (SUB), the transmitting side notifies the receiving side that the sub address function is used by using the DCS signal. Specifically, by setting a specific bit of this DCS signal, the reception side is notified that the sub-address function is used. The SUB signal is a frame that can transmit 20-digit character information in ASCII code, and transmits the telephone number of the transfer destination to the receiving side. When the receiving side detects the flag with the sub-address function in the DCS, it regards the transfer data in the SUB as valid and stores it in the memory as the telephone number of the next transfer destination.

Further, the receiving side decodes the image data received by the data transmission procedure and outputs it on the recording paper. Further, it communicates with the transfer destination telephone number based on the transfer data, and transfers the received image data to the transfer destination device.

[0006]

Generally, the above-mentioned facsimile apparatus does not have a function of feeding back to the transmitting side whether or not the image data is normally received at the receiving side. . In particular, if you want the destination fax machine to transfer data to another device,
It is difficult for the sender to confirm whether or not the communication at each relay station has been performed normally. Therefore, the sender of the data may contact the telephone directly to confirm, or the confirmation of receipt may be returned at the transfer destination. It will be necessary to intervene with human resources such as receiving.
Therefore, there are problems that a new communication cost is required and the work becomes complicated.

An object of the present invention is to allow a receiving side device to transfer image data by designating a transfer destination from a source.
An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile device capable of confirming the communication status at each relay station.

[0008]

A facsimile apparatus according to the present invention comprises an image reading means, an encoding means, a data transmitting means, a data receiving means, a decoding means, an image outputting means, and a communication status discrimination. Means and communication information adding means. The image reading means reads the image data. The encoding means adds a number data area in which transfer data, which is a telephone number to which the image data is transferred, and a communication status data area corresponding thereto to the image data to integrally form the code data. . The data transmitting means transmits the coded data via the line. The data receiving means receives the transmitted code data. The decoding means decodes the received coded data. The image output means outputs the image data received and decoded. The communication status determining means creates communication status data for detecting the communication status when the code data is received. The communication information adding means stores the communication situation data in the corresponding communication situation data area and integrally encodes it together with the image data.

According to the present invention, the communication status at the time of receiving the coded data is integrally coded together with the image data and can be transmitted. As the communication status data, when the coded data is received, the number of error lines included in the image data can be detected and added to the image data. It may be configured to further include own station number storage means for storing the own station number, and transfer data extraction means for extracting transfer destination data to be transferred next based on the transfer data and the own station number.

In this case, it is preferable that one number data area and the communication status data area corresponding to the number data area correspond to one line of the image data, and the transfer data extracting means transfers the number corresponding to the own station number. The transfer data stored in the line next to the data can be recognized as the transfer data to be transferred next. The communication information adding means can be configured to add the communication status data when the device receives the code data to the communication status data area in the line including the transfer data corresponding to the own station number.

Further, when the transfer data extracting means cannot extract the transfer destination data to be transferred next from the transfer data, it can be configured to recognize that the own station is the last station. Further, it is possible to further comprise a communication status reporting means for causing the data transmitting means to transmit the code data including the communication status data as communication report data to a predetermined callback destination after receiving the code data by the data receiving means. . The communication status reporting means can be configured to cause the data transmitting means to transmit to the callback destination when the transfer data extracting means recognizes that the own station is the last station.

The predetermined call-back destination number information can be included in the procedure data transmitted and received by the pre-procedure transmission / reception means. For example, the call-back destination telephone number can be directly stored in the sub-address for transmission / reception, or the call-back destination telephone number can be stored in the sub-address and transmitted / received as an index for selecting from a plurality of number data areas.

The predetermined call-back destination may be a transfer start station via transmission, and the communication status output means may output the communication report data when the communication report data is received.

[0014]

1 is an external perspective view of a facsimile apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. On the upper surface of the facsimile apparatus 1, a document table 2 on which a document is placed, an operation panel 3 including various keys and a display unit, and a handset 4
Etc. are arranged. Located on the left side of FIG. 1, a document discharge tray 5 for discharging the document after the image is read, a paper discharge tray 6 for discharging the paper on which the received image data is recorded, and an internal device are arranged. A detachable paper feed cassette 7 for supplying paper to the developing unit is arranged.

Inside the facsimile apparatus 1, a control unit 10 is provided as shown in FIG. Control unit 10
Is composed of a microcomputer system including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, various drivers and the like. An operation panel 3 as shown in FIG. 1 is connected to the control unit 10. The operation panel 3 includes an input key unit including a numeric keypad and other command keys, a display unit including a liquid crystal display element, an LED, and the like.

The control unit 10 further includes an image reading unit 11
Is connected. The image reading unit 11 includes a light source such as an LED or a fluorescent lamp that irradiates a document conveyed from the document table 2 with light of a constant brightness, a CCD image sensor that scans light reflected from the document and reads a black-and-white pattern, or the like. It includes a photoelectric conversion element and an image processing unit for processing a monochrome pattern read by the photoelectric conversion element as two-dimensional image data.

The control unit 10 includes a ROM 13 for storing each processing program and various fixed parameters, and a RAM 14 for temporarily storing image data, transmission destination data, transfer destination data, etc. read by the image reading unit 11. It is connected. The control unit 10 further includes an encoding / decoding means 15
Is connected. The encoding / decoding means 15 compresses the image data into coded data, and decodes the compressed and transmitted coded data into image data. In the encoding / decoding means 15, as a method of compressing image data, a one-dimensional encoding MH encoding method, a two-dimensional encoding MR encoding method, an MMR encoding method, or the like can be adopted.

A modem 16 is connected to the control unit 10 and the encoding / decoding means 15. The modem 16 performs modulation so that the data to be transmitted is placed on the telephone line, and demodulates the data received via the line. The modem 16 includes a network control unit (hereinafter, NCU).
17) is connected. The NCU 17 connects to a line and dials a telephone number designated by the control unit 10 to transmit / receive data.

An image output unit 12 is connected to the control unit 10. The image output unit 12 outputs the image data received via the line onto a sheet of paper. For example, a photoconductor drum on the surface of which an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data is formed, or a static image on the photoconductor drum. A developing device that visualizes an electric latent image with toner, a sheet conveying unit that conveys a sheet from the sheet feeding cassette 7 to the photosensitive drum, a transfer device that transfers the toner image on the photosensitive drum onto the sheet, a toner image on the sheet A fixing device that heats and fixes the sheet, a sheet discharge unit that discharges the sheet to the sheet discharge tray 6, and the like are included.

The operation of the above embodiment will be described. When the facsimile apparatus 1 is turned on, various parameters are initialized in step S1 shown in FIG. In step S2, it is determined whether or not an operation to perform the transmission operation has been performed. For example, when a document is placed on the document table 2 or there is a key operation for performing the transmission operation of the operation panel 3, the process proceeds to step S3 and the transmission process is executed.

In step S4, it is judged whether or not an incoming call is made from another facsimile machine or a fax modem via the line. When an incoming call is received from another device, the process proceeds to step S5 and the receiving process is performed. In step S6, other processing is performed, and then the process proceeds to step S2.
In the transmission process in step S3, the operation as shown in FIG. 4 is performed.

In step S11, it is determined whether or not the destination telephone number has been input. The telephone number of the transmission destination can be input by operating a ten-key pad included in the operation panel 3 or a registration key in which a number is registered in advance. If the telephone number of the transmission destination is not input, the process proceeds to step S12. In step S12, it is determined whether or not there is a cancel input. If it is determined that the cancel input has been made, this transmission process is terminated. If there is no cancel input, the process returns to step S11.

If it is determined in step S11 that the telephone number of the transmission destination has been input, the process proceeds to step S13. In step S13, the input destination telephone number is temporarily stored in the RAM 14. In step S14, "Do you want to specify the transfer destination?" Is displayed on the liquid crystal display panel of the operation panel 3. Is displayed, and the operator waits for the input.

In step S15, it is determined whether or not there is an instruction input for designating the transfer destination. If the transfer destination is not designated, the process proceeds to step S16. In step S16, the original image is read by the image reading unit 11, encoded by an encoding method such as MH, MR, MMR, etc., and the process proceeds to step S26. In step S15, if there is an input to instruct the transfer destination, the process proceeds to step S17. In step S17, the liquid crystal display panel of the operation panel 3 displays "Please input the transfer destination number". In step S18, it is determined whether the telephone number of the transfer destination has been input. Also in this case, similarly to the case of inputting the number of the transmission destination, the input can be performed using the ten keys of the operation panel 3 or the registration key in which the number is registered in advance.

If no transfer data is input in step S18, the process proceeds to step S19. In step S19, it is determined whether or not there is a cancel input. If there is a cancel input, the process proceeds to step S16, and if there is no cancel input, the process proceeds to step S17. If the transfer destination number is input in step S18, the process proceeds to step S20. In step S20, the operation panel 3
On the LCD panel of, "Specify another transfer destination? Is displayed, and the operator waits for the input. If there is an instruction input to specify another transfer destination in step S20, the process proceeds to step S17. If no instruction is given to another transfer destination, the process proceeds to step S21. In step S21, number data is created based on the telephone number of the transfer destination input in step S18. For example, the destination facsimile number is "06-76.
4-1236 ”. In this case, as shown in the third line of the number data area 22 of FIG. 5A, "9" indicating that the telephone number of the transfer destination is 9 digits is added to the beginning, and each digit is added. The number data 21 is created by converting it into a 4-bit binary number. The number data shown in FIG. 5A assumes a case where three transfer destinations are designated in the transfer data input in step S18, and adds the telephone numbers of the transmission source and the first transmission destination to the first line. The sender's telephone number (A), the first destination telephone number (B) on the second line, and the transfer destination telephone number (C) on the third to fifth lines.
Five number data 21 of (D) and (E) are created.

In step S22, the image reading unit 11 reads the original image and creates binary two-dimensional data based on the grayscale information of the image. In step S23, number data is added to the beginning of the image data read in step S22 and combined. At this time, the number data 21 is stored in the number data area 22 (40 bits) of FIG. 5 so that one number data corresponds to one line of the image data (1728 bits in the A4 normal mode), and the next communication is performed. “0” is stored in 4 bits of the status data area 23, and “1” is filled in the remaining check area 24 (1684 bits). Therefore, the number data line area 26 including the number data of five lines is added to the head of the image data 25.

In step S24, the data synthesized in step S23 is compressed by a two-dimensional coding method such as MR or MMR. In step S25, callback number information is set. For example, the telephone numbers of the transmission source, the first transmission destination, and the transfer destination input in step S18 are displayed on the liquid crystal display panel of the operation panel 3, and the operator is instructed which number to call back. Let Usually, it is common to call back the facsimile machine of the transmission source, and in this case, the telephone number of the transmission source of the first line of the number data is set to be called back. In this case, the subaddress (SU
Set "1" to the frame of B). Step S26
Then, data transmission is started according to a predetermined transmission control procedure. When the data transmission is completed in step S26, the communication is completed in step S27.

The transmission control procedure is performed as shown in FIG. Here, the binary transmission control procedure used for the G3 machine is shown. The left side in the figure is the transmission side and the right side is the reception side. First, from the sending side, the ringing tone (C
NG) is transmitted. On the receiving side receiving the CNG signal,
It transmits a called terminal identification signal (CED), a digital identification signal (DIS) and a non-standard function identification signal (NSF). When the transmitter receives the DIS signal, it transmits a digital command signal (DCS) which is a setting command in response to the DIS signal. Also, a non-standard function setting signal (NSS) that responds to the NSF signal and a sub-address signal (SUB) that originally stores transfer data are sent from the transmitting side to the receiving side. Here, data indicating that number data is added to the head of the code data is stored in the NSS signal, and "1" is set in the SUB signal for transmission.

Next, a training check (TC) for confirming the training at the communication speed is actually made from the transmitting side.
Send F). For example, "1" is 14400 bps
It transmits at the communication speed of 1.5 seconds. On the receiving side, this T
When the CF signal is normally received, a reception preparation confirmation signal (CFR) indicating that data transmission may be started is transmitted, and when the reception of the TCF signal is unsuccessful, training transmission is requested again. Signal (FTT)
Send

When the transmitting side receives the FTT signal, the communication speed is lowered by one rank and the TCF signal is transmitted again. Thereafter, this procedure is repeated until the transmission side receives the CFR signal, and if the CFR signal is not received even if the communication speed is reduced to a predetermined value, it is regarded that communication is impossible and the line is disconnected. When the transmitting side receives the CFR signal, the code data including the number data and the image data is transmitted as the MSG signal at the communication speed at which the TCF signal was transmitted at that time. M
When the transmission of the SG signal is completed, a procedure end signal (EOP) indicating the end of one page and no continuous transmission is transmitted.

When the receiving side receives the EOP signal, it sends a message confirmation signal (MCF) indicating that the code data is normally received. When the transmitting side receives the MCF signal, it transmits a disconnection command signal (DCN) to disconnect the line. In the transmission control procedure described above, 300 bps is used to prevent transmission error except for TCF signal and MSG signal.
Communication speed is used.

The facsimile apparatus on the receiving side operates as shown in FIG. First, in step S31, it is determined whether or not the transmitted data includes number data. Here, the presence or absence of number data in the code data and the addition position are determined by the data indicating the number data addition position included in the NSS signal. If it is determined that there is no number data, the process proceeds to step S32. In step S32, the code data is received from the transmitting facsimile machine. In step S33, the received coded data is decoded by the coding / decoding means 15 into image data. In step S34, the decrypted image data is visualized on the sheet by the image output unit 12 and output.

When it is determined in step S31 that the transfer data is included in the code data, the process proceeds to step S35. In step S35, the code data transmitted from the transmitting side facsimile device is received. In step S36, the received coded data is decoded by the coding / decoding means 15. In step S37, the decoded image data is visualized on the sheet by the image output unit 12 and is output. In step S38, step S3
The number data included in the code data received in 5 and R
The own station number stored in the AM 14 or the ROM 13 is collated to search for a line including the own station number in the number data. In step S39, when the code data is received in step S35, it is detected how many lines an error has occurred in the image data, and the number of error lines is used as communication status data for communication in the line in which the own station number exists. Store in the situation data area. For example, no error line is detected in the communication of the transmission source (A) → the first transmission destination (B) and the transfer destination (D) → the transfer destination (E), and the first transmission destination (B) → the transfer destination (C) If the number of error lines is “1” in the communication of “1” and the number of error lines is “13” in the communication of the transfer destination (C) → the transfer destination (D), as shown in FIG. 5B, the number data (B), In the communication status data area 23 located after (C), (D) and (E), "00"
00 ”(0),“ 0001 ”(1),“ 1101 ”(1
3) and "0000" (0) are stored. However, the communication status data area 23 located after the number data (A)
Remains "0".

In step S40, transfer destination data to be transferred next is extracted from the decrypted number data.
Here, the number data located on the line next to the number data corresponding to the own station number identified in step S38 is determined as the transfer destination data to be transferred next. In step S41, it is determined whether or not the transfer destination data could be extracted in step S40. If the transfer destination data cannot be extracted, it is determined that the own station is the last station, and step S
Move to 48. If the transfer destination data can be extracted,
Move to step S42. In step S42, the extracted transfer destination data is stored in a predetermined area in the RAM 14.

In step S43, the number data added with the communication status data is recombined with the image data. In step S44, the image data and the number data combined in step S43 are compressed and coded again by a coding method such as MR or MMR. In step S45, in order to transmit the callback number information to the transfer destination for the next transfer,
Set the index on the UB signal. In this case, the SUB signal received by this device is directly transmitted to the next transfer destination, and "1" is set in the SUB.

In step S46, R in step S42
Based on the transfer destination data stored in the AM 14, the telephone number of the transfer destination is dialed, the code data re-encoded in step S44 is transferred to the transfer destination, and when the transfer is completed, the communication is terminated in step S47. To do. The transmission control procedure in step S46 is the same as the procedure between the transmission source and the reception side (relay station) and is as shown in FIG.

In step S48, the callback number is extracted based on the content of the sub address (SUB) transmitted from the transmitting facsimile machine. For example, S
If the content of the UB signal is "1", the data of the first line in the number data is recognized as the telephone number of the callback destination, and this is taken into the RAM 14. In the number data in which the telephone number of the transmission source is recorded on the first line as shown in FIG. 5, if the content of the SUB signal is "1", the number information of the transmission source is determined as the callback destination.

In step S49, the number data to which the communication status data is added is recombined with the image data, and MR, M
It is compressed and encoded by an encoding method such as MR. In step S50, the code data encoded in step S49 is transmitted based on the callback number determined in step S48. The image data may be omitted from the data to be transmitted, and only the number data and the communication status data may be encoded and transmitted.

Although not shown in the figure, the facsimile device that has received the communication status data (in this embodiment, the transmission source facsimile device) decodes the number data and the communication status data and outputs the decoded data to the image output unit 12, or the operation panel. The liquid crystal display plate of No. 3 can be used for display. In the above-described facsimile apparatus according to the present invention, a plurality of number data is compressed and encoded together with the image data and transmitted / received at high speed, so that the influence on the communication time is reduced. Further, each number data is added to the image data, and it becomes possible to add a plurality of number data. Further, by storing the number information indicating which number of the plurality of number data is to be called back as an index in the SUB signal and transmitting the number information, the communication status at each relay station can be reliably called back to the predetermined facsimile device. . Therefore, for example, the transmission source device can easily grasp the communication status. Other Embodiments (A) It is possible to add the number data to the end of the image data. In this case, the compression efficiency in the case of using a two-dimensional encoding processing method such as MR or MMR is increased, and the communication time can be further shortened. (B) It is also possible to configure not only the final station but also each relay station to report the communication status. (C) When inputting the transfer destination number, the transfer number is previously stored in RAM
It may be configured to be stored in the storage unit 14 and displayed on the liquid crystal display panel of the operation panel 3 or the like for reference during communication involving transfer. (D) It is also possible to directly include the call-back destination telephone number in the sub-address (SUB) for transmission / reception. In this case, it is necessary to send procedure data to the effect that the subaddress includes the telephone number of the callback destination in the NSS signal for transmission. (E) The image output unit may be a thermal recording paper or a thermal transfer recording system.

[0040]

In the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention, since the number data is encoded together with the image data, the number data can be compressed similarly to the image data, and high speed transmission / reception is possible. Therefore, even if a plurality of number data are added, the influence on the communication time is reduced. In addition, the callback number for making a callback can be reliably extracted, and the communication status can be reliably reported.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a facsimile apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram showing the configuration.

FIG. 3 is a control flowchart thereof.

FIG. 4 is a control flowchart thereof.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of transfer data.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a transmission control procedure.

FIG. 7 is a control flowchart at the time of reception.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Facsimile device 2 Document table 3 Operation panel 4 Handset 5 Document discharge tray 6 Paper discharge tray 7 Paper feed cassette 10 Control unit 11 Image reading unit 12 Image output unit 13 ROM 14 RAM 15 Encoding / decoding means 16 Modem 17 NCU 21 number data 22 number data area 23 communication status data area 24 check area 25 image data 26 number data line area

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus capable of transferring image data transmitted from a transmission source to a transfer destination designated by the transmission source, the image reading unit reading the image data, and the image data having the image data. Encoding means for integrally forming code data by adding a number data area for storing transfer data which is a transfer destination telephone number and a communication status data area corresponding to the number data area, and the code data via a line. A data transmitting means for transmitting the received code data, a data receiving means for receiving the transmitted code data, a decoding means for decoding the received code data, and an image output means for outputting the received and decoded image data. , A communication status determining means for detecting the communication status at the time of reception and creating communication status data, and storing the communication status data in a corresponding communication status data area. Facsimile apparatus and a communication information adding means for integrally encoding with said image data. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication status data is the number of error lines included in the image data when the code data is received. 3. A local station number storage unit for storing a local station number, and a transfer data extraction unit for extracting transfer destination data to be transferred next based on the transfer data and the local station number. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. 4. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one number data area and a communication status data area corresponding thereto correspond to one line of image data. 5. The communication information adding means adds communication status data when the device receives the code data to a communication status data area in a line including transfer data corresponding to its own station number, The facsimile apparatus according to claim 4. 6. The transfer data extracting means transfers the transfer data stored in a number data area located on a line next to the transfer data corresponding to the own station number among the plurality of transfer data, for next transfer. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the facsimile data is prior data. 7. The transfer data extracting means recognizes that the own station is the last station when the transfer destination data to be transferred next cannot be extracted from the transfer data.
7. The facsimile machine according to any one of 1 to 6. 8. The communication status report means for causing the data transmission means to transmit the code data including the communication status data as communication report data to a predetermined callback destination after the code data is received by the data receiving means. ,
The facsimile apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 7. 9. When the communication status reporting means recognizes that the transfer data extracting means is the last station, the data transmitting means transmits to the callback destination.
The facsimile apparatus according to claim 8. 10. The facsimile according to claim 9, further comprising pre-procedure transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving procedure data before transmitting / receiving the code data, wherein the call-back destination number information is included in the procedure data. apparatus. 11. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the call-back destination number information is a call-back destination telephone number. 12. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the call-back destination number information is included in the procedure data as an index for designating a call-back destination telephone number from the plurality of number data areas. 13. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the callback destination number information is stored in a subaddress of the procedure data and transmitted / received. 14. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined callback destination is a transfer start station that has started transmission. 15. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising communication status output means for outputting the communication status data when the communication report data is received.