JP2000174961A - Data communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To inform a reserving person of the time of starting or finishing transmission of data the transmission of which is reserved, in a data communication equipment capable of reserving transmission by storing a large amount of data in a memory. SOLUTION: When an operator reserves transmission, a time for transmission is calculated by an original data quantity under transmission and an original data quantity the transmission of which is already reserved. Based on this calculating result, the scheduled transmission starting time and the scheduled transmission finishing time of the original reserved this time are calculated and displayed to inform the operator. In addition, based on prescribed operation, the list of original data the transmission of which is already reserved is displayed and the scheduled transmission starting time and the scheduled transmission finishing time of optional original data are calculated from in this list and displayed to inform the operator.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data communication apparatus for transmitting data in a storage medium to a partner communication apparatus, and more particularly to a configuration useful for a facsimile apparatus for transmitting a document image after storing the original image in the storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent copiers, especially digital copiers, multifunctional devices such as facsimile machines, printers, and electronic filing devices have been remarkably advanced. In particular, multifunction machines with facsimile machines have become mainstream digital copiers. I have.

Further, the facsimile apparatus is provided with a memory transmission function for transmitting a transmission original after reading the transmission original into a memory, and after reading the transmission original by a scanner, an operator does not wait for the completion of transmission. It is possible to move away from the multifunction peripheral. In the memory transmission, even during transmission, the next transmission original is read and stored in the memory, and the next transmission reservation can be made. Depending on the amount of memory, the number of reservations can be 1000 or more. A large amount of reservations can be made.

[0004]

By the way, when a large-capacity storage medium is provided and a large amount of transmission reservations can be made as described above, the transmission operation itself is performed even if another original is being transmitted. The operator can leave the machine simply by reading the document into the memory, which frees the user from the complexity of operation.However, due to the large number of already recorded transmission reservations, It is impossible to tell how long the transmission will start and when the transmission will end.

[0005] In particular, when discussing the contents of a fax-transmitted document with the other party, if the time of arrival of the document is unknown, the progress of work will be hindered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a data communication apparatus capable of storing a large amount of data in a memory and making a transmission reservation so that a reservation starter or a transmission end time of transmission-reserved data can be notified to a subscriber. I do.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a data communication means for communicating data, a storage means for storing a plurality of pages of transmission data in a storage medium, a display means for displaying character information, The transmission time is calculated from the data amount of the data and the data amount of the transmission data already reserved, and the scheduled transmission start time and / or the planned transmission end time of the transmission reserved data is calculated based on the calculation result. It has a calculating means and a control means for displaying the scheduled transmission start time and / or the scheduled transmission end time on the display means based on a predetermined operation of the operator.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The embodiment of the present invention calculates the transmission time from the amount of original data currently being transmitted and the amount of original data already reserved for transmission when the operator makes a transmission reservation. Based on the calculation result, the scheduled transmission start time and the scheduled transmission end time of the currently reserved document are calculated, displayed, and notified to the operator.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a digital composite image processing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The reader unit 1 reads an image of a document and outputs image data corresponding to the original seat image to the printer unit 2 and the image input / output control unit 3. The printer unit 2 records an image corresponding to image data from the reader unit 1 and the image input / output control unit 3 on recording paper. The image input / output control unit 3 is a reader unit 1
, The facsimile unit 4, the file unit 5,
Computer interface unit 7, formatter unit 8,
It comprises an image memory unit 9, a core unit 10, and the like.

The facsimile unit 4 expands the compressed image data received via the telephone line, transfers the expanded image data to the core unit 10, and compresses the image data transferred from the core unit 10. Then, the compressed image data is transmitted via a telephone line. The hard disk 12 is connected to the facsimile unit 4 and can temporarily store the received compressed image data.

A magneto-optical disk drive unit 6 is connected to the file unit 5, and the file unit 5 is a core unit 1.
The image data transferred from 0 is compressed and stored on the magneto-optical disk set in the magneto-optical disk drive unit 6 together with a keyword for searching the image data. Further, the file unit 5 searches compressed image data stored in the magneto-optical disk based on the keyword transferred via the core unit 10, reads out the searched compressed image data, decompresses it, and decompresses the decompressed image data. The data is transferred to the core unit 10.

The computer interface unit 7 is a network interface between the computer (personal computer or workstation (PC / WS)) 11 and the core unit 10.

The formatter unit 8 develops code data representing an image transferred from the computer 11 into image data that can be recorded by the printer unit 2. The image memory unit 9 temporarily stores the data transferred from the computer 11. It is something to memorize.

The core unit 10 controls the flow of data among the reader unit 1, facsimile unit 4, file unit 5, computer interface unit 7, formatter unit 8, and image memory unit 9.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the reader unit 1 and the printer unit 2.

The document feeder 101 of the reader unit 1 feeds a document one by one from the last page onto the platen glass 102 one by one, and after the reading operation of the document is completed, the platen glass 10
2 is for discharging the original. When the document is conveyed onto the platen glass 102, the lamp 103 is turned on, the movement of the scanner unit 104 is started, and the document is exposed and scanned. The light reflected from the original at this time is guided to a CCD image sensor (hereinafter referred to as CCD) 109 by mirrors 105, 106, 107 and a lens 108. In this manner, the scanned image of the original is CC
The image data read by the CCD 109 and output from the CCD 109 is subjected to predetermined processing and then transferred to the printer unit 2 and the core unit 10 of the image input / output control unit 3.

The laser driver 221 of the printer unit 2
It drives the laser light emitting unit 201, and the reader unit 1
Causes the laser light emitting unit 201 to emit laser light corresponding to the image data output from. This laser beam is applied to the photosensitive drum 2
02, a latent image corresponding to the laser beam is formed on the photosensitive drum 202. A developer is attached to the latent image portion of the photosensitive drum 202 by a developing device 203. Then, at a timing synchronized with the start of the laser beam irradiation, the recording paper is fed from one of the cassettes 204 and 205 and conveyed to the transfer unit 206, and the developer attached to the photosensitive drum 202 is transferred to the recording paper. I do.

The recording paper with the developer is conveyed to the fixing unit 207, and the developer is fixed on the recording paper by the heat and pressure of the fixing unit 207. The recording paper that has passed through the fixing unit 207 is discharged by a discharge roller 208, and the sorter 220 stores the discharged recording paper in each bin and sorts the recording paper. When no sorting is set, the sorter 220 stores the recording paper in the uppermost bin.

When double-sided recording is set,
After the recording paper is conveyed to the discharge roller 208, the rotation direction of the discharge roller 208 is reversed, and the flapper 209 is rotated.
Leads to the general paper feed path. When multiple recording is set, the recording paper is guided to the re-feeding conveyance path by the flapper 209 so as not to be conveyed to the discharge roller 208. The recording paper guided to the re-feed conveyance path is fed to the transfer unit 206 at the above-described timing.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the reader unit 1. As shown in FIG.

The image data output from the CCD 109 is subjected to analog / digital conversion by the A / D / SH unit 110 and is subjected to shading correction. A
The image data processed by the / D · SH unit 110 is
The image data is transferred to the printer unit 2 via the image processing unit 111, and is also transferred to the core unit 10 of the image input / output control unit 3 via the interface unit 113. The CPU 114 controls the image processing unit 1 according to the setting contents set by the operation unit 115.
11 and the interface 113 are controlled.

For example, when a copy mode for performing trimming processing and copying is set by the operation unit 115, the image processing unit 111 performs trimming processing and transfers the data to the printer unit 2. When the facsimile transmission mode is set on the operation unit 115, the interface unit 113 transfers image data and a control command corresponding to the set mode to the core unit 10. Such a CP
The control program of U114 is stored in the memory 116, and the CPU 114 performs control while referring to the memory 116. The memory 116 is also used as a work area of the CPU 114.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the core unit 10. As shown in FIG.

The image data from the reader unit 1 is transferred to the data processing unit 121, and the control command from the reader unit 1 is transferred to the CPU 123. The data processing unit 121 performs image processing such as an image rotation process and a scaling process. Image data transferred from the reader unit 1 to the data processing unit 121 is converted into a control command transferred from the reader unit 1. Accordingly, the data is transferred to the facsimile unit 4, the file unit 5, and the computer interface unit 7 via the interface 120.

The code data representing the image input via the computer interface unit 7 is transferred to the data processing unit 121 and then transferred to the formatter unit 8 to be developed into image data. After being transferred to the processing unit 121, it is transferred to the facsimile unit 4 and the printer unit 2. The image data from the facsimile unit 4 is transferred to the data processing unit 121 and then to the printer unit 2, the file unit 5, and the computer interface unit 7.

The image data from the file section 5 is
After being transferred to the data processing unit 121, the data is transferred to the printer unit 2, the facsimile unit 4, and the computer interface unit 7. The CPU 123 performs such control according to a control program stored in the memory 124 and a control command transferred from the reader unit 1. The memory 124 is also used as a work area of the CPU 123. As described above, it is possible to perform processing combining functions such as reading of an original image, printing of an image, transmission and reception of an image, storage of an image, and human output of data from a computer, with the core unit 10 at the center. .

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the facsimile unit 4. As shown in FIG.

The facsimile unit 4 is connected to the core unit 10 by a connector 400 and exchanges various signals. The binary information from the core unit 10 is stored in the memories A405 to D40.
8, the signal 453 from the connector 400 is input to the memory controller 404, and one or two of the memory A 405, the memory B 406, the memory C 407, and the memory D 408 are controlled under the control of the memory controller 404. Are stored in a cascade-connected memory.

The memory controller 404 includes a CPU 41
According to the instruction of 2, a mode for exchanging data with the memory A 405, the memory B 406, the memory C 407, and the memory D 408 and the CPU bus 462, and a mode for exchanging data with the C0DEC bus 463 of the CODEC 411 having an encoding / decoding function. , Memory A 405, memory B 406, memory C 407, and memory D 408
Magnification circuit 403 under the control of MA controller 402
A mode for exchanging data with the bus 454 from the
A mode in which the binary video input data 454 is stored in any of the memories A405 to D408 under the control of the timing generation circuit 409, and a mode in which the memories A405 to D40 are stored.
8 to read out the memory contents from one of
There are five mode functions in accordance with the mode to output to 52.

Each of the memories A405 to D408 has a capacity of 2 Mbytes, and stores an image of A4 size at a resolution of 400 DPI. The timing generation circuit 409 is connected to the connector 400 via a signal line 459, and receives control signals (HSYNC, HSYNC) from the core unit 10.
EN, VSYNC, VEN).
Generate signals to achieve two functions.

The first function is to store the image signal from the core unit 10 in any one of the memories A405 to D408 or two memories. The second function is to store the image signals in the memories A405 to D408. This is a function of reading an image signal from any one and transmitting it to the signal line 452.

The dual port memory 410 communicates with the CPU 1003 of the core unit 10 via a signal line 461 and the CP of the facsimile unit 4 via a signal line 462.
U412 is connected. Each CPU exchanges commands via the dual port memory 410.

The SCSI controller 413 interfaces with a hard disk connected to the facsimile unit 4 and stores data and the like at the time of facsimile transmission and facsimile reception.

The CODEC 411 reads out the image information stored in any of the memories A405 to D408, encodes the image information in a desired format such as MH, MR, and MMR, and then stores the image information in any of the memories A405 to D408. It is stored as encoded information.

The coded information stored in the memories A405 to D408 is read out, and the MH, MR, M
After decoding in the desired method of the MR method, the memory A
Decoding information, that is, image information is stored in any one of the memories 405 to D408.

The MODEM 414 has a function of modulating coded information from a hard disk connected to the CODEC 411 or the SCSI controller 413 for transmission on a telephone line, a function of demodulating information transmitted from the NCU 415, and a function of decoding coded information. And has a function of transferring encoded information to a hard disk connected to the CODEC 411 or the SCSI controller 413.

The NCU 415 exchanges information according to a predetermined procedure with an exchange installed directly at a telephone office or the like which is directly connected to a telephone line.

Next, the processing operation at the time of facsimile transmission in the above configuration will be described.

The binary image signal from the reader unit 1 is input from the connector 400, passes through the signal line 453, and reaches the memory controller 404. The signal 453 is stored in the memory A 405 by the memory controller 404.

The timing of storing in the memory A 405 is as follows.
It is generated by the timing generation circuit 409 according to the timing 459 from the reader 1. The CPU 412 is connected to the memory A405 and the memory B40 of the memory controller 404.
6 is connected to the bus line 463 of the CODEC 411.

The CODEC 411 reads out image information from the memory A 405, performs encoding by the MR method,
The encoded information is written into the memory B 406.

Also, a large amount of transmission reservations can be made by moving the encoded information from the memory unit to the hard disk.

A4 size image information is stored in a CODEC4
When 11 is encoded, the CPU 412 connects the memory C 406 of the memory controller 404 to the CPU bus 462. The CPU 412 stores the encoded information in the memory B4.
06 and sequentially transferred to the MODEM 414.

The MODEM 414 modulates the encoded information and transmits facsimile information over the telephone line via the NCU 415.

Here, the amount of data that has been encoded in the original and written into the memory is calculated. The calculated amount of memory and its F
The transmission speed of the AX system, for example, 1
When transmitting at 4.4dbp, 14.4 × 1 per second
Since the transmission of 03 bits, the data amount is 86.4 × 10
If it is 3 bits, (86.4 × 103) / (14.
4 × 103), it can be calculated that a transmission time of 6 seconds is required.

The transmission time for one case is calculated by adding the dialing of the transmission destination, the calling, and the time of the transmission control performed before starting the communication after the calling.

As described above, the transmission time is calculated from the currently transmitted original document and the amount of the original document reserved for transmission by performing the above-described calculation from each reserved original data amount, and the time calculated at the current time is calculated. , The scheduled transmission start time can be calculated, and the scheduled transmission end time can be calculated by adding the transmission time calculated from the reserved document amount. By displaying the scheduled transmission start time and the scheduled transmission end time calculated in this manner, the operator who is about to transmit the document will start transmitting the original document, and when will the transmission be completed. You can know what it is.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display screen (touch panel) for facsimile operation in this embodiment.

As shown in the figure, when the start key is pressed by inputting a numeric key, a one-touch dial, an abbreviated dial, or the like from a state where transmission is possible, the reading of the document is started. Here, in the case of memory transmission, the reception number is displayed when the document is read into the memory, and the facsimile unit 4 starts the transmission operation. At this time, the next original can be read and the next transmission reservation can be made.

The operation procedure for making a transmission reservation in this embodiment will be described below.

When "registration management" is selected on the operation screen shown in FIG. 6, selection items as shown on the left side of FIG. 7 are further displayed on the screen. When "memory inquiry" is selected here, as shown on the right screen of FIG.
And the option of “Received document list” are displayed. Therefore,
Select “Sent Document List”.

As a result, a list of transmission documents (transmission reservation) as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed. Here, the user selects “Reception number 0021 (Hanbait Yama)” of the latest reservation, selects “Scheduled time” in the lower column, and selects “OK”.

As a result, as shown in FIG.
021, the scheduled transmission start time and the scheduled transmission end time are displayed.

The scheduled transmission start time displayed here is the transmission time calculated from the document information amount excluding the information amount of the timer transmission reservation of the number 0016 from the transmission reservations of the reception numbers 0012 to 0020 in FIG. , The current time.

Similarly, when the reception numbers 0020, 0019... Are selected on the screen in FIG. 8, the same time calculation is performed and the same time display as shown in FIG. 9 is executed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the scheduled transmission start time and the scheduled transmission end time of a document which has already been reserved for transmission and read has been easily confirmed, and a convenient system can be provided.

When the reception number 0016 reserved by the timer at 20:00 is selected, the scheduled transmission start time is "20:00" which is the timer reservation time, as shown in FIG.
Is displayed, and the time calculated from the information amount of the document is displayed as the scheduled transmission end time.

In the above embodiment, the original document reserved for transmission this time is read, the data amount is calculated, and the scheduled transmission start time and the scheduled transmission end time are displayed. For the transmission reservation, before reading the original, only the scheduled transmission start time of the data currently reserved for transmission may be displayed based on the existing reservation data amount (including the data being transmitted).

In this way, an operator who is dissatisfied with the displayed scheduled transmission start time can promptly take measures such as stopping transmission with this device and attempting transmission with another device. In addition, it is possible to promptly respond to a request to know a rough indication of the approximate transmission time.

Further, it is also possible to combine the display of the scheduled transmission start time before reading with the above-described display of the scheduled transmission end time after reading.

As a result of the above display, if transmission is not desired, it is possible for the operator to cancel the current transmission reservation or the transmission already reserved.

[0063]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The transmission time can be calculated from the data amount of the data reserved for transmission, and the scheduled transmission start time and the scheduled transmission end time of any reserved transmission can be displayed, thereby contributing to improvement of the operator's work efficiency and the like. It is possible to provide a convenient transmission reservation system.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a structure of a reader unit and a printer unit in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a reader unit in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a core unit in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile unit in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a display screen for facsimile operation in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a display screen for facsimile operation in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a display screen for facsimile operation in the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a display screen for facsimile operation in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Reader part, 2 ... Printer part, 3 ... Image input / output control part, 4 ... Facsimile part, 5 ... File part, 6 ... Magneto-optical disk drive unit, 7 ... Computer interface part, 8 ... Formatter part, 9 ... Image Memory unit, 10 core unit, 11 computer, 12 hard disk.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A data communication means for communicating data, a storage means for storing transmission data of a plurality of pages in a storage medium, a display means for displaying character information, a data amount of data currently being transmitted, and Calculate the transmission time based on the amount of reserved transmission data,
Calculating means for calculating the scheduled transmission start time and / or the scheduled transmission end time of the data reserved for transmission based on the calculation result; and the scheduled transmission start time and / or the scheduled transmission end time based on a predetermined operation of the operator. And a control means for displaying by the display means a data communication device. 2. The transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined operation is an operation of a transmission reservation, and the control unit displays the scheduled transmission start time and / or the scheduled transmission end time of data currently reserved for transmission. A data communication device characterized by displaying by means. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined operation is an operation for confirming a transmission time of data that has been already reserved for transmission, and the control unit is configured to display a list of data that has already been reserved for transmission. A data communication device, wherein the data is displayed by the display means, and the scheduled transmission start time and / or the scheduled transmission end time of the data designated from the list are displayed by the display means. 4. The transmission method according to claim 1, wherein when the operator makes a transmission reservation, the scheduled transmission start time of the data to be transmitted this time is displayed before taking in the data to be transmitted this time. Data communication device. 5. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising: means for canceling the transmission reservation by displaying the scheduled transmission start time and / or the scheduled transmission end time. Data communication device. 6. The data communication device according to claim 1, wherein the data is document image data, and the data communication device is a facsimile device. 7. A data communication step of communicating data, a storage step of storing transmission data of a plurality of pages in a storage medium, a display step of displaying character information, a data amount of data currently being transmitted, and Calculate the transmission time based on the amount of reserved transmission data,
A calculating step of calculating a scheduled transmission start time and / or a scheduled transmission end time of the transmission reserved data based on the calculation result; and a scheduled transmission start time and / or a scheduled transmission end time based on a predetermined operation of the operator. Controlling the data communication device by the display step.