GB2275386A

GB2275386A - Colour facsimile for recognising transmitter/receiver type

Info

Publication number: GB2275386A
Application number: GB9403168A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Akira Ohori
Original assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
Current assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
Priority date: 1993-02-20
Filing date: 1994-02-18
Publication date: 1994-08-24
Also published as: JP3285998B2; GB9403168D0; JPH06245088A

Abstract

The color facsimile apparatus recognizes whether a receiver is of the same type of machine as a transmitter. Image processing for balancing the color image data is executed and the content of the image processing is changed on the basic of recognizing whether the receiver is of the same type of machine as the transmitter. In accordance with this invention, the reproduction of color image data is improved if the receiver is not the same type of machine as the transmitter. <IMAGE>

Description

COLOR FACSIMILE APPARATUS This invention is directed to a color facsimile apparatus which reads a color document image and sends color image data.

The present invention is particularly directed to a color facsimile apparatus which freely amends and adjusts the color image, In an apparatus which outputs a color image, it is required to finely amend and adjust color image data for reproducing an original color as faithfully as posiible. For example, a digital full color copying apparatus prepares a kind of specific value of amendment and adjustment (this is referred to as an amendment coefficient hereinafter) to print an image, which is read by z specific scanner, by a specific printer. That is, a kind of amendment coefficient which is based on both the scanner and the printer is prepared.

Moreover, in a color fasimile apparatus, a printer of a receiver can print the same image that a printer of a transmitter does if the receiver is the eame type of machine as the transmitter and the transwitter sends the receiver the image da:a which is amended and adjusted in the printer of the tranamitter.

However, in the conventional color facsimile apparatus, if the receiver is not the same type of machine as the transmitter, the amendment and the adjustment which is executed in the receiver may unbalance the colors of the color image data because the amendment coefficient of the receiver is different from that of the transmitter. That is, the problem that the receiver cannot accurately reproduce the original colors of the color image data arises.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a novel color facsiile apparatus which improves the reproduction of colors of color image data even if a receiver is not the same type of machine as a transmitter.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel color facsimile apparatus which improves the reproduction of colors of color image data even it a receiver is not the same type of machine as a transmitter by adding a content of image process data to a protocol signal.

These and other objects and advantages are achieved by the present invention which provides for a color facsimile apparatus comprising first means for recognizing whether a receiver is of the same type of machine as a transmitter or not, second means for executing image processing for balancing the colors of color image data, and third means for changing the content of the image processing on the basis of the recognition by the first means, A more complete appreciation of the present invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, of exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein:: Fig, 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus of the present invention; Fig. 2 shows the data which is stored in a ROM in the apparatus of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing a transmitting operation of a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing a receiving operation of the first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing a control operation of a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to the arawingi, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the aeveral views, and more particularly to figure I thereof, there is detailed an apparatus of the present invention which will now be described.

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus of the present invention. As shown in Figure 1, the present invention comprises a NCU (Network Control Unit) 101 which connects lines and the like, a modem 102 which modulates a transmitted signal and demodulatec a received signal, a coder and decoder 1D3 which codes a transitted signal and decodes a received signal, and an operation panel 104 on which an operator instructs commands such as a transmitting start and selects operation modes and the like.The present invention further comprises an image input block 105 which reads the document image optically, executes photoelectric conversion, executes A/b conversion, and outputs digital data, an stage processor 106 which executes many kinds of amendments and conversions for color image data using paramatersstored in a ROMI an image output block 107 which prints transmitted color image data to a sheet of paper musing three colors of ink which are Y (yellow), M (Magenta), and C (cyan), ROM 108 which stores a control program of the entire apparatus, parameters of amendment coefficients, table data, and other data (data used in image processing)1 CPU 109 which controls each block described above on the basis of the control program stored in ROM 108, and PAK 110 which data is read storm and written to temporarily by CPU 109. The operation panel 104 is equipped with many kinds of setting keys such as ten number keys, a start and stop key, and the bike. In the data stored in ROM 108, the parameters for image processing (the amendment coefficients and the table data) which are used in the image processor 106 are shown in Fig. 2.

The operation of a first embodiment of the present invention will now be described.

Pirst, referring to Fig. 3, the case when the image processing for reproducing an original color of color image data as faithfully as possible is executed in the transmitter, will be described. A color document is set on the color input block 105 and the kind of color document is selected, for example a photograph, a printed matter, a picture, a text document, and the like (S301). A number of the receiver is inputted and start is instructed by the start and stop key.

After that, CPU lo9 starts to send data on the basis of the control signal stored in RON 16a. CPU 109 exchanges signals with the receiver by way of the NCU 101 (S302) and recognizes the type of machine of the receiver (SO3). At this time, CPU 109 select optimum data in the parameters for image processing (referring to Fig. 2) stored in ROM loa, which are the data used according to the type of the receiver and the kind of the color document (S304). If the receiver is of the same type as the transmitter, the data in accordance with the set color document is elected among the characteristic parameters of the receiver and the transmitter, which is adjusted optimally, ae shown in Pig. 2. :f the receiver is not of the same type of machine as the transmitter, standard image processing is selected.

The image of the color document is inputted by way of the image input block 105 (S305). More apecifically, the color document is read optically about R, G, S respectively, each light is converted into an electric signal (an analog signal) in a photoelectric device, and the analog signal is converted into a digital signal in an A/D converter. The image prooessor 106 executes image processing to the inputted digital signal by way of the image input block 105, using the parameters for image processing which are selected in s304 (5306).

The data, after the image processing, is then coded in the coder and decoder 103 (S3C7), and the coded data is then modulated in the modem 102 (S308). The modulated data is sent to itne by way of NCU 101 (S101).- As-described above, in this operation the transmitter recogni2es the type of the receiver and sands the receiver the data to which the optimum image processing is executed.

Now, ref erring to Pig. 4, the case when the image processing is executed in the receiver will now be described.

When the receiver is called from the line, NCU 101 connects the line (S401) and CPU 109 executes a receiving operation on the basis of the control program stored in ROM 108. CP 109 exchanges signals with the transmitter (S402) and recognizes the type of machine of the transmitter and the kind of the document (S403).

At this time, CPU 109 selects optimum data in the parantetrs for image processing stored in ROM 108, which are the data fuzed according to the type of machine of the transmitter and the kind of the color document (5404). CPU 109 receives the image data (8405). The received data is demodulated in the modem 102 (s4b6) and is then decoded in the coder and decoder (S407). An image processing is then executed on the decoded data (s4Oa). That is, an image processing is executed using the parameters which are selected in s404.The data after the image processing is then printed with color in the image output block 107 (S40ç). As described above, the receiver recognizes the type of machine of the transmitter and the kind of the document and it prints after executing the optimum image roca.sing-on-the image data.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the image processing is executed in accordance with the recognized type of machine in the transmitter or the receiver Therefore the reproduction of the colors of the color image data can be improved even if the receiver is not the same type of machine as the transmitter.

In the first embodiment, though the image processing is executed in either the transmitter or the receiver, it can be executed in bbth the transmitter and the receiver. In this case, the image processing of the receiver is executed considering the image processing of the transmitter.

According to a second embodiment of a color facsimile apparatus of the present invention, specific data for amendment and adjustment in the image signal processing (color facsimile processing data) is added to the protocol signal for exchanging signals. As the structure of the device for implementing this second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and as is shown in Fig. 1, the explanation and the figures are omitted.

As the operation for transmitting and receiving in each block in this second embodiment is the same as in the first embodiment, the outline of the operation is described referring to Fig. 5. First, a set color document is read by the scanner in the image input block 105 (S501). The read image data is executed by image processing--(S502). The receiver is called by way of NCU 101 (s503). The protocol signal, which the color processing signal is added to, is then sent to the called receiver (S504). In the receiver, the color processing data is taken from the protocol signal (SSO5), and the image data which is subsequently sent is received (S506), The image data is then processed in accordance with the taken color processing data (SSO7).

According to the second embodiment, ai the color processing data is added to the protocol signal and is then transmitted, the exclusive si al for the color processing is unnecessary.

In describing the preferred embodiments of the present invention illustrated in the drawings, specified terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar purpose.

Obviouly, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. =t is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claim, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

Claims

1. A color facsimile apparatus comprLging: first means for recognizing whether or not a receiver is of a same type of machine as a transmitter; second means for executing image processing for balancing colors of color image data to be communicated; and third means for changing a content of said image Drocessing on the basis of the recognition by the first means.

2. The color facsimile apparatus of Claim I, wherein if the receiver is the same type or machine as the transmitter, the second means executes image processing of the receiver.

3. The color facsimile apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein if the receiver is not the same type of machine as the transmit:er, the second means execute standard image processing.

n. The color facsimile apparatus of Claim 3, wherein the standard image processing is image processing between the receiver and the transmitter.

5. The color facsimile apparatus of claim 1,2,3 or 4, further comprising third means for changing a content of said image processing ai U basis of the recognition by the first means and the type of a document containing the color image data to be communicated.

6. The color facsimile apparatus of Claim 5, wherein the type of the document containing the color data to be communicated may be a text document, printed matter, or a photograph .

7. The color facsimile apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the content of the image processing is added to a protocol signal which is communicated.

8. A color facsimile apparatus comprising: a recognition device for recognizing whether or not a receiver is of a same type of machine as a transmStt4r; an image processor for executing image processing for balancing color image data to be communicated; and an image processing changing device for changing a content of said image processing on a basis of the recognition by the recognition device.

9. A color facsimile apparatus for receiving and transmiting a color image data signal, comprising: a determining means for determining whether or not a receiving facsimile apparatus for receiving the color image data is of a same type as a transmitting facsimile apparatus for transmitting the color image data; an image processor for executing an image processing on the color image data signal; and an image processor controller for controlling the image processing on the color image data signal based on the determining means determining whether or not the receiving facsimile apparatus is of the same type as the trangwittsng facsimile apparatus.

10. The color facsimile apparatus of claim 9, wherein if the receiving facsimile apparatus is of the same type as the transmitting facsimile apparatus, the image processor executes image processing on the received image data signal.

11. The color facsimile apparatus of claim 9 or 10, wherein if the receiving facsimile apparatus is not of the same type as the transmitting facsimile apparatus, the image processor executes standard image processing.

12. The color facsimile apparatus of claim 11, wherein the standard image processing is image processing between the receiving facsimile apparatus and the transmitting facsimile apparatus.

13. The color facsimile apparatus of claim 9, 10, 11 or 12, further comprising changing means for changing a content of said image processing further on a basis of the type of document containing the color image data.

14. The color facsimile apparatus of claim 13, wherein the type of the document containing the color image data may be a text document, a printed matter, or a photograph.

15. The color facsimile apparatus of any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein the content of the image processing is added to a protocol signal which is received and transmitted between the receiving facsimile apparatus and the transmitting facsimile apparatus.

16. A color facsimile apparatus constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.