KR940006095B1 - Picture data scanning method for computer-fax system - Google Patents

Abstract

The image data scanning method in a computer-facsimile connecting system comprises the steps of: setting a file name and a mode and opening a designated file; transmitting a scanning request signal to a facsimile and setting a time; checking whether a scanning recognition bit is set, transmitting the set mode and newly setting a time; checking whether a mode recognition bit is set; checking whether a page bit, a file end bit and an abort bit are set, and if there is no set bit, storing data in a hard disk; and clearing the scanning recognition bit, thereby storing image data read through the facsimile in the hard disk of a computer without an additional scanner.

Description

How to Scan Image Data on Computer-Facsimile Connection Systems

1 is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of a computer-facsimile connection system to which the present invention is applied.

2 is a facsimile-side embodiment of a computer-facsimile connection system to which the present invention is applied.

3 is a flowchart of a main program execution of the present invention.

4 is a flowchart illustrating RS232C interrupt in the present invention.

5 is a flowchart for performing time interruption in the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

10: Computer 11: RS232C Connection

12: computer main control part 13: memory part

14 Hard Disk 15 Keyboard

16: monitor 20: facsimile

21: facsimile control unit 22: image scanner

23: modem and network control unit 24: image printer

25: serial connection 30: connection device

31: transmission / reception connection part 32: switching circuit part

33: connection control section 34: connection memory section

35: buffer unit 36: computer connection unit

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of scanning an image in a computer-facsimile connection system (hereinafter simply referred to as "PC-FAX"), in particular through a facsimile connected with itself to a hard disk (HARD DISK) built into a computer (PC). An image data scanning method in PC-FAX for storing read image data.

In the present invention, the image data scan means storing data read from the FAX connected to the PC on the PC-side hard disk of the PC-FAX.

Conventional facsimile is provided with an image scanner (Image Scanning Device), an image printer (Image Printer), a modem for communication between the facsimile, and its peripheral circuit for transmitting and receiving image information, but editing the image data read through the facsimile Because it could not implement the function, it included a bad element in the overall operation efficiency, such as transmitting the unnecessary image as it is.

As a conventional case for improving the problem, a method of scanning the image data using a separate scanner, editing the image data, and converting the image data into a FAX format using a utility is stored in a PC memory or transmitted. However, the process was very cumbersome.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to eliminate the above problems, and by connecting the PC and FAX which are already widely used and controlling all the functions of FAX in the PC, the image data read through the FAX is stored in the PC. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an image data scanning method of PC-FAX, which is stored in the hard disk of the PC-FAX to be used effectively.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a modem and network controller connected to a public communication network, an image scanner, an image scanner, and a modem and a network controller connected to the public fax network for image transmission and reception with an external facsimile. A facsimile control unit (FAX) having a facsimile control unit for controlling, a serial connection unit connected to the control unit for connecting an external device, an RS232C connection unit for connecting to an external device, a memory unit including ROM and RAM, PC in PC-FAX connection system formed by connecting a hard disk, a keyboard, a monitor, and a computer (PC) having the main control unit connected to the RS232C connection unit, the hard disk, the keyboard, and the monitor to perform overall control. In the image data scanning method by the side control, when a user requests a scan by specifying a file name and mode, In the first step of opening, transmitting the scan request signal to the FAX side and setting the time, determining whether the scan recognition bit is set for the time set in the second step and transmitting the mode set in the first step. A third step of newly setting the time, a fourth step of determining whether the mode recognition bit is set during the time set in the third step, sequentially determining whether the page bit set, the file end bit set, and the motherboard bit set are A fifth step of performing processing according to the set bits and continuously storing data existing in the buffer on the hard disk when no bits are set; and a sixth step of clearing the scan recognition bit set after the fifth step. Characterized in that performed by the step.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail the present invention.

1 is a schematic block diagram of a PC-FAX to which the present invention is applied, wherein 10 is a computer, 20 is a facsimile, 30 is a connection device, 11 is a peripheral connection part, and 12 is a computer main control part. 13 memory, consisting of ROM and RAM, 14 hard disk, 15 keyboard, 16 monitor, 21 facsimile control 22 image scanner, 23 modem and network controller, 24 image printer, 25 serial connection 31a denotes a reception connection portion, 31b a transmission connection portion, 32 a switching circuit portion, 33 a connection control portion, 34 a connection memory portion, and 35 a buffer portion.

For reference, the hardware configuration to which the present invention is applied has already been filed by the applicant of the Patent Application Nos. 90-16399 and 90-16410.

As shown in the figure, the present invention is a facsimile 20 connected to a public communication network (PSTN), and is generally widely used and is connected between a personal computer 10 and the facsimile and personal computer (INTERFACE) ( 30). The facsimile 20 is a general facsimile with a serial interface 25 or a known transmit only facsimile.

The personal computer 10 is a general-purpose computer having a hard disk (HARD DISK) of 20M bytes or more and an RS232C connection portion 11 as an expansion memory 14, or a widely used IBM PC / AT (registered trademark) or It is preferable to comprise the compatible model.

In addition, the connection device 30 includes a transmission / reception connection part 31 connected to the serial connection part 25 of the facsimile 20, a switching circuit part 32 connected to the transmission / reception connection part, and a computer 10. A computer connection portion 36 connected to an RS232C connection portion 11, a connection control portion 33 connected to the switching circuit portion and a computer connection portion, a connection memory portion 34 connected to the switching circuit portion, a computer connection portion and a connection control portion, respectively; The buffer 35 is provided, and the transmission / reception connection unit 31 inputs the image information and the control signal encoded from the facsimile 20 to be applied to the switching circuit unit 32 or the switching from the computer 10 side. As shown in the drawing, the image information and the control signal input through the circuit unit 32 are applied to the facsimile 20. The receiving connection unit 31a and the transmission connection unit 31b are formed.

The switching circuit part 32 selects and switches the transmission connection part 31b or the reception connection part 31a according to the control signal of the computer 10, and determines the input / output direction of image information.

The connection control section 33, the connection memory section 34, and the buffer section 35 temporarily store document information (image data) among signals input through the computer connection section 36, and then expand the image information into image information. Encoding is made into image information which can be directly transmitted by the facsimile transmitter 10. In addition, it is responsible for determining and controlling an internal information processing procedure such as temporarily storing image information transmitted from a facsimile transmitting apparatus or a facsimile receiving apparatus and transmitting the image information to a computer through the computer connection unit 36.

The connection control unit 33 is a microprocessor, and the connection memory unit 34 is configured using a font author ROM and a program storage ROM.

The computer connection unit 36 is responsible for an interface function for RS232C communication with the computer 3.

However, in carrying out the present invention on a PC-FAX system, when the data storage speed of the computer 10 is faster than the data transmission speed from the facsimile 20, the connection device 30 is removed and the facsimile of the facsimile is removed. The serial connection 25 and the RS232C connection 11 of the computer can be directly connected.

At this time, an embodiment connection structure of the facsimile side is shown in FIG. In the figure, 21a is a CPU, 21b is a ROM for program storage and font storage, 21c is a RAM which is a buffer memory, 21d is a component of a facsimile control unit as an address decoder, 23a is a component of a modem and a network control unit as a modem, 25a UART (Universal Asyncronous Receiver Transmitter) is a component of the computer system connection.

The CPU 21a is a processor for controlling the overall operation of the facsimile, and the ROM 21b is connected to an address bus, a data bus, and a control bus, and is expandable to separate a program storage ROM and a font storage ROM. It may be configured, but in this embodiment, it is configured using one EPROM. The RAM 21c is also connected to the address bus, data bus, and control bus, and is expandable and constructed using 256K SRAM in this embodiment. Here, the CPU 20a, the ROM 21b, and the RAM 21c may be replaced by a one-chip CPU including these functions. In this case, when the capacity of the buffer memory is insufficient, the RAM as described above is externally present. The capacity can be extended by adding.

The modem 23a is connected to the data bus and the control bus and is connected to the line of the public communication network. The UART 25a is connected to the data bus and the control bus and is connected to the computer side. The address decoder 21d has an input connected to the address bus, and an output connected to the ROM, RAM, modem, and UART.

3 is a flowchart of the present invention, which shows the process of the main controller 12 of the PC storing the image data input from the FAX 20 connected thereto via the RS232C connection unit 11 to the hard disk 14.

After the user connects the PC 10 and the FAX 20, sets an original in the FAX 20, and then selects a file name to be scanned (SCAN) in FAX and a desired mode such as ordinary or small characters. If a scan is requested by designating, the main controller 12 of the PC opens the designated file (40), sends a scan request signal to the FAX 20 side, and at the same time the timer (not shown) The time is newly set (41).

Then, it is determined whether the scan recognition bit and the abort bit are set for the set time (42, 43). Here, the scan recognition bit is set by an acknowledgment signal that the FAX 20 accepts a scan request from the PC as shown in the performance description for the RS232C interrupt in FIG. 4, and the abort bit is set by the FAX 20. Is set by notifying the PC 10 that the scan state is impossible. Therefore, if the scan recognition bit is set, the desired mode is transmitted to the FAX 20, and a new time is set (45). If the abort bit is set, the process is terminated after performing a scan error process such as closing the open file and outputting a message to the user (46). In addition, when the set time of the timer becomes 0 while the scan recognition bit or the abort bit is not set, the opened file is closed and time error processing is performed (49).

Then, it is determined whether the mode recognition bit is set for the set time after performing the mode transmission 45 (47). The mode recognition bit determined at this time is set when the mode recognition confirmation signal from the FAX 20 is received. In this case, too, if the mode recognition bit is not set for the set time during the mode transmission (48), the above-described time error processing is run (49).

If the mode recognition bit is set (47), it is determined which one of the page end bit, the file end bit, and the abbot bit is set (50, 55, 60), and the corresponding processing is performed. If none of the bits are set, it is checked whether data exists in the buffer (corresponding to the main memory device 13 of the PC) (63), and if there is any data, it is continuously stored in the hard disk (64).

If the end-of-page bit is set (50) in the above-described determination process (50), the end-of-page recognition signal is transmitted to the FAX 20 (51) and the data is searched for in the buffer (52). (53), closes the file on the current page and opens the file assigned to the next page. In order to repeat the above process for the next page, the mode set recognition bit and the page end bit are cleared (54), and the mode transfer and timeset execution step 45 is performed.

If the file end bit is set in the determination process (50, 55, 60) (55), the file end recognition signal is transmitted to the FAX 20 (56), and the data is searched for in the buffer (57). ) After the data has been stored in the hard disk (58), the file is closed (59), and the scan recognition bit is cleared (62).

On the other hand, in the determination process (50, 55, 60), the abort bit is set (60), after closing the file used and performing abort error processing (61), and clearing the scan recognition bit (62). Terminate execution.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing RS232C interrupt in the present invention, and unlike the case of FIG. 3, it resides in the RAM of the computer main memory unit 13 and is interrupted by the interrupt processing of the computer main control unit 12. GROUND).

When data is input from the FAX 20 side through the RS232C connection unit 11 (70), the main controller 12 of the PC determines whether the received data is command data (71). Determine whether the command data, that is, scan recognition 74, mode recognition 76, end of page recognition 78, end of file recognition 80, or abort command 82 to determine the corresponding command Bit of (75, 77, 79, 81, 83), if the scan recognition bit, the mode recognition bit, or the end-of-page recognition bit is set (75, 77, 79) again waiting for the first data reception Proceeding to step, the case of the file end bit set or the abort bit set (81, 83) stops the execution.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of performing time interrupts in the present invention. When time is set in the timer described in FIG. 2, the time is simply reduced (90, 91) and no error processing is performed.

As an embodiment of the image data scan by the PC-side control flow as described above, a process of scanning the three pages of image information through the FAX 20 connected to itself 10 as follows.

After the user connects the PC 10 and the FAX 20, the document on the first page is set in the FAX 20, and the file name (SCAN) and the desired mode to be scanned on the PC are specified and scanned to the PC side (SCAN). If a request is made, the PC transmits a scan request signal to the fax (41). Then, it determines whether the scan recognition bit is set (42), transmits the mode to the FAX side (45), waits until the mode recognition signal is received from the FAX and the mode recognition bit is set, and then the mode recognition bit is jetted. (74, 75) It starts to store the set original image of the first page in the designated file (SCAN. 001) of the hard disk (63, 64). At this time, the FAX reads an image of the original and coats it in a facsimile format (FAX FORMAT) and transmits it to the PC 10 as in the case of other FAX transmission.

When a page end signal is input from the FAX and a page end bit is set (78, 79), the PC transmits a page end recognition signal to the FAX side (51) and stores data in the buffer in a designated file on the hard disk. Afterwards (52, 53), the current file is closed, the file (SCAN.002) assigned to the next page (page 2) is opened (54), and the second page is repeatedly executed from the mode transfer (45). Image data is stored in a specified file (SCAN.002) on the hard disk.

Similarly, the image data received up to the third page (the last page) is stored in the designated file (SCAN.003). When the FAX sends the file end signal to the PC side, the PC side receives this signal. After the data in the current buffer is stored in the designated file (SCAN.003) of the hard disk (57, 58), the file is closed (59), and the scan recognition bit is cleared (62) to end the execution.

As described above, the present invention does not require a separate scanner because it can scan image data using a FAX on a PC. It has the effect of making it possible to send it to a place and to realize the editing function.

Claims (7)

A modem and network control unit connected to a public communication network for transmitting and receiving images with an external facsimile, an image scanner, a facsimile control unit connected to the modem and network control unit and an image scanner to control input and output of image data, and the control unit. A facsimile device (FAX) connected to an external device and connected to an external device, an RS232C connection for connecting to an external device, a memory part consisting of ROM and RAM, a hard disk, a keyboard, a monitor And image data scanning by PC side control in a PC-FAX connection system configured by connecting a computer (PC) having a main part connected to the RS232C connection unit, a hard disk, a keyboard, and a monitor to perform overall control. A method comprising: opening a specified file (40) when a user requests a scan by specifying a file name and mode; A second step of transmitting a scan request signal to the FAX 20 side and setting the time (41); Determining whether the scan recognition bit is set for the time set in the second step (42), transmitting the mode set in the first step, and setting a new time (45); A fourth step of determining (47) whether to set a mode recognition bit for a time set in the third step; The page bit set, the file end bit set, and the motherboard bit set are sequentially judged, and processing is performed according to the set bits (50 to 61). If no bits are set, the data existing in the buffer is continuously stored. A fifth step of storing in the hard disk (63); And performing a sixth step of clearing (62) the scan recognition bit set after the fifth step. The method of claim 1, wherein the fifth step comprises: when the page end bit is set (50), transmitting a page end recognition signal to the FAX 20 side (51); An eighth step of retrieving whether data exists in the buffer (51) and storing it in the hard disk (52); And a ninth step of closing the current file, opening the file assigned to the next page, clearing the mode recognition bit and the end of page bit, and proceeding to the third step 45 to repeat the step. Image data scanning method in a connection system. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the fifth step comprises: when a file end bit is set (55), transmitting a page end recognition signal to the FAX 20 side (56); An eleventh step of retrieving whether data exists in the buffer (57) and storing it in the hard disk (58); A method of scanning image data in a PC-FAX access system, characterized in that performed by the twelfth step of closing a file (59) and proceeding to the sixth step. The method of claim 1, wherein the fifth step is performed in the thirteenth step of proceeding to the sixth step after closing the file and performing the abort error processing (61) when the abbot bit is set (60). An image data scanning method in a PC-FAX connection system, characterized in that. 14. The fourteenth step of claim 1, wherein the processor 14 resides in a RAM of the computer main memory unit 13 and processes the RS232C interrupt by data transfer from the facsimile as a background process by the interrupt processing of the computer main controller 12. Image data scanning method in a PC-FAX connection system, characterized in that it further comprises. The method of claim 5, wherein the fourteenth step comprises: receiving data from the facsimile (70); A sixteenth step of checking received data (71) and confirming that the scan recognition bit is set (72) if the image data is set (72) storing the data in the buffer (73) and proceeding to the fifteenth step repeatedly; If the received data is command data, one of scan recognition, mode recognition, or end of page recognition command data is determined (74, 76, 78), and the corresponding bit is set (75, 77, 79). 17th step to proceed; And the eighteenth step of the received data is performed by the eighteenth step of end-of-file recognition or abort command data (80, 82) of the command data (81, 83) and ending. How to scan image data in. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the time of the timer set in each step is reduced by a computer main controller (12) simply by one by an interrupt process.