JP2000175008A - Facsimile receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a facsimile receiver that can receive an image without deterioration in the image quality even when the paper sheet set to a plotter is smaller than the paper size of the received image information. SOLUTION: The facsimile receiver that can output received image information on paper is provided with an image information discrimination section 3 that discriminates a paper size of the received image information and when an image storage device 4. In the case that the paper size of the received image information discriminated by the image information discrimination section 3 is greater than the size of paper sheet set to a plotter 6, a system control section 1 stores the received image information to the image storage device 4, and when the image information discrimination section 3 discriminates that a paper sheet whose size is greater than the paper size of the received image information is set, the control section 1 outputs the received image information stored in the image storage device 4 on the paper.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine, a facsimile machine having a facsimile receiving function, such as a copier and a multifunction machine, and more particularly, to a paper size larger than the size of a sheet set in its own image output means. The present invention relates to a facsimile receiving apparatus capable of outputting received facsimile image information of a size.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a facsimile apparatus, the paper size of received image information and the like are limited by the ability of a plotter to output received image information on paper and the paper set at that time. Therefore, for example, in the G3 transmission control procedure, the image information receiving side facsimile apparatus notifies the receivable paper size or the like using a DIS signal or a non-standard NSF signal, and notifies the receiving side of the size of the transmission original. If the paper size is smaller, the transmitting facsimile apparatus reduces the image in advance and transmits the image. As a result, the conventional technique has a problem that the image quality of the received image is deteriorated. On the other hand, the facsimile apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-14578 is provided with an IC card so that image information of a paper size exceeding the capacity of the plotter can be received. The received image information is stored in an IC card, the IC card is transferred to another information processing device, and the image information that has not been reduced by the output device of the information processing device is output on a sheet. In recent years, an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer is connected to a facsimile apparatus via a network or directly, and a document created by the information processing apparatus is converted into image information in the information processing apparatus or the facsimile apparatus, and the destination facsimile apparatus is used by the facsimile apparatus. There is provided a technique of transmitting a facsimile to a facsimile or passing facsimile image information received by a facsimile apparatus to an information processing apparatus. The problem that the paper size of the received image information and the like is limited by the ability and the paper size set is not solved.

[0003]

As described above, the prior art generally has a problem that the paper size of the received image information is limited, thereby deteriorating the image quality of the received image. The facsimile apparatus disclosed in JP-A-5-14578 solves the above-mentioned problem.
There is a problem that it is essential to provide a card, and to view a received image, it is necessary to set an IC card in another output device. Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional technology, and to prevent the image quality from deteriorating even if the paper set in the plotter of the own device is smaller than the paper size of the received image information. It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile receiving apparatus which can receive an image and includes an IC card or the like, and does not necessarily require the IC card to be set in another output device and to view the received image.

[0004]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile receiving apparatus capable of outputting received facsimile image information on a sheet of paper. A set paper size determining means for determining the paper size of the paper; a receiving paper size determining means for determining the paper size of the received image information; and the paper size of the received image information determined by the receiving paper size determining means is the set paper size. Receiving image information storing means for storing received image information in the image storing means when the size of the set sheet exceeds the paper size determined by the size determining means; and storing the received image information by the received image information storing means. When it is determined by the set paper size determining means that a paper having a size equal to or greater than the paper size of the received image information is set, the paper stored in the image storage means is stored. The received image information and a received image information output means for outputting on the paper. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a detachable storage means which can be transferred to another information processing apparatus for use, and a sheet storing a sheet size of the received image information are provided. Storage destination instructing means for instructing whether to store the received image information in the image storage means or the removable storage means when the received image information exceeds the paper size, When the size exceeds the paper size, the received image information is stored in the image storage unit or stored in the removable storage unit in accordance with the instruction of the storage destination instruction unit. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the removable storage means is a memory card or a floppy disk. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a network communication unit capable of outputting received image information to an image output unit on a network and a paper size of the received image information are set. Output destination instructing means for instructing whether to store the received image information in the image storage means or to output to the image output means on the network when the paper size exceeds the paper size of the paper,
When the paper size of the received image information exceeds the paper size of the set paper, the received image information is stored in the image storage unit in accordance with the instruction of the output destination instruction unit, or is stored on the network by the network communication unit. Output to the image output means.

[0005] With the above configuration, it is determined in the first aspect whether or not the paper size of the received image information exceeds the paper size of the set paper, and the paper size of the received image information is determined. If it is determined that the paper size exceeds the paper size of the loaded paper, the received image information is stored in the image storage unit, and then it is determined that a paper larger than the paper size of the received image information is set. Then, the stored received image information is output on the paper. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, when the paper size of the received image information exceeds the paper size of the set paper, the received image information is stored in accordance with a user instruction. Either stored in the means or stored in a removable storage means. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the invention, when the paper size of the received image information exceeds the paper size of the set paper, the received image information is stored in accordance with a user instruction. Stored in the means or stored on a memory card or floppy disk. Further, according to the invention described in claim 4, in the invention described in claim 1,
When the paper size of the received image information exceeds the paper size of the set paper, the received image information is stored in the image storage unit according to the user's instruction or output to the image output unit on the network. .

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings, taking a case of a facsimile machine as an example. The facsimile receiving apparatus in which the present invention can be implemented is not limited to the facsimile apparatus. FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of a facsimile apparatus showing a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment has a ROM having a built-in program, a system control unit 1 having a CPU that operates according to the program, and controlling and managing the entire apparatus, a G3 transmission control procedure, and the like. Facsimile communication control unit 2 for controlling facsimile transmission / reception, image information determination unit 3 serving as a reception paper size determination unit for determining the paper size of reception image information, image storage device for storing received image information, etc. Storage means 4, a storage control unit 5 for controlling the image storage device 4, a plotter 6 which is an image output means for outputting received image information on paper, a scanner 7 for reading an image on a document, and reading by the scanner 7. Encoding / decoding unit (DC) for encoding the received image information or decoding the received image information.
R) 8, a network control unit (NCU) 9 for controlling line connection / disconnection, transmitting a signal to the line, and receiving a signal from the line, a modem 10 comprising a low-speed modem and a high-speed modem, and modulating / demodulating a facsimile signal; A RAM 11 for temporarily storing various data, an operation display unit 12 having keys and display means for performing a transmission operation and the like are provided.

In the above description, the image information determination unit 3 is realized by, for example, a ROM incorporating a program or a CPU operating according to the program.
M and CPU are ROM and CPU in the system control unit 1.
To share. Further, the system control unit 1 also functions as a set sheet size determining unit that determines the paper size of the sheet set on the plotter 6 and a received image information storage unit that stores received image information in the image storage device 4. Further, the system control unit 1 and the plotter 6 constitute a received image information output unit for outputting the received image information stored in the image storage device 4 on a sheet. Further, the image storage device 4 includes a hard disk device or a RAM. When transmitting a facsimile using such a facsimile apparatus, first, the system control unit 1 uses the scanner 7 to transfer image information to the RAM 1.
1 and the like, and the image information is encoded by the DCR 8 and stored in the RAM 11 again. Operation display unit 1
The system control unit 1 acquires the outgoing call designation information such as the destination designated by 2 and the NCU 9 to which the destination information has been passed sets up a call with the designated destination. Subsequently, the facsimile communication control unit 2 executes the phase B of the G3 transmission control procedure,
Eventually, the process proceeds to phase C, where the coded image information in the RAM 11 is modulated by the high-speed modem in the communication control unit 2, and N
Transmit via CU9. At the time of reception, the NCU 9 sets up a call, then enters phase B, performs predetermined communication via a low-speed modem, enters phase C, and receives encoded image information. Then, the image information is stored in the RAM 11 via the NCU 9 and the facsimile communication control unit 2, further decoded by the DCR 8, and output to the plotter 6 via the RAM 11.

FIG. 2 shows an operation flow of the first embodiment. The operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. For example, in the case of the G3 facsimile transmission control procedure, first, a facsimile signal of phase B is received by the facsimile communication control unit 2 via the NCU 9 (S
1). Then, a predetermined signal in the facsimile signal is provided to the image information determination unit 3 via the system control unit 1, and the image information determination unit 3 changes the paper size of the received image information based on the information set in the predetermined signal. judge. Then, the system control unit 1 acquires the determined paper size, compares the paper size with the set paper size acquired in advance from the plotter 6, and prints the received image information without reducing it ( It is determined whether output to paper is possible (S2). If the set paper size is equal to or larger than the paper size of the received image information (same or larger), it is determined that printing is possible without reduction. As a result, if it is determined that printing is possible without reduction (Yes in S2), the system control unit 1 passes the image information received in phase C to the plotter 6, and outputs the image information on the set sheet (S8). ). On the other hand, if it is determined that the image cannot be printed unless the image is reduced (No in S2), the system control unit 1 stores the image information in the image storage device 4 (S3). It is displayed on the display means in the operation display section 12 (S4).

Further, the system control unit 1 prompts the user whether or not reduced printing is acceptable (S5), and when the user indicates on the operation display unit 12 that reduced printing is acceptable (Yes in S5), an image is displayed. The received image information stored in the storage device 4 is read out, the image information is reduced by performing a thinning process or the like on the image information, and the reduced image information is transferred to the plotter 6, and the set paper is It is output above (S9). On the other hand, when it is instructed that reduced printing is not allowed (No in S5), the system control unit 1 monitors whether a sheet that can be printed without being reduced is set (S5).
6 → S6), when it is recognized that the sheet has been set (Yes in S6), the received image information stored in the image storage device 4 is read out, and the image information is passed to the plotter 6, and the set sheet is read. The information is output above (S7). Thus, according to this embodiment, when the set paper is smaller than the paper size of the received image information, the received image information can be output onto the paper after waiting for a non-small paper to be set. It is possible to solve the problem that image information is reduced contrary to intention and an image with poor image quality is output, and it is not necessary to provide an IC card or the like for realizing this. The trouble of setting the output device and viewing the received image is also eliminated.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a main part of a facsimile apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The facsimile apparatus of this embodiment has a PC card 13 as shown in FIG. 1 in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment shown in FIG.
And a PC card slot 14 into which the PC card 13 is inserted. The PC card 13 is, for example, a PCMCIA / JEIDA compliant memory card which can be used by being inserted into a PC card slot of a personal computer, but is a detachable storage means which can be transferred to another information processing apparatus and used. The memory card is not limited to the PC card. The system control unit 1 and the operation display unit 12 store the received image information in the image storage device 4 when the paper size of the received image information exceeds the It constitutes storage destination instructing means for instructing whether to store the data in the PC card 13 as the means. Hereinafter, the operation of this embodiment will be described according to the operation flow shown in FIG.
First, a facsimile signal of phase B is received by the facsimile communication control unit 2 via the NCU 9 (S1).
1). Then, a predetermined signal in the facsimile signal is provided to the image information determination unit 3 via the system control unit 1, and the image information determination unit 3 changes the paper size of the received image information based on the information set in the predetermined signal. judge. Then, the system control unit 1 acquires the determined paper size, compares the paper size with the set paper size acquired in advance from the plotter 6, and can print the received image information without reducing it. It is determined whether or not (S12). The paper size set is equal to or larger than the paper size of the received image information (same or larger)
If so, it is determined that printing is possible without reduction.

As a result, if it is determined that printing is possible without reduction (Yes in S12), the system control unit 1 passes the image information received in phase C to the plotter 6 and outputs the image information on the set paper. (S17). On the other hand, if it is determined that printing cannot be performed unless the image is reduced (No in S12), the system control unit 1 determines the storage location of the received image information according to the storage location information set in advance (S13). The storage destination information is set by the user instructing the operation display unit 12 and acquiring the information by the system control unit 1. As a result of the above determination, if the storage destination is the image storage device 4 (No in S13), the received image information is accumulated in the image storage device 4 (S18), and the system control unit 1 determines that the printable sheet can be printed without reduction. It is monitored whether it has been set (S19 → S19). Then, when recognizing that the sheet has been set (Yes in S19), the system control unit 1 reads out the received image information stored in the image storage device 4, passes the image information to the plotter 6, and sets the image information. (S20). On the other hand, if it is determined in step S13 that the storage destination is a PC card (Yes in S13), the system control unit 1 stores the received image information in the PC card 13 (S14), and a message indicating the fact is stored. Is displayed on the display means in the operation display section 12 to notify the user (S15). Thus, after that, the user inserts the PC card 1 into the PC card slot 14.
3 is removed (S16), the PC card is inserted into the personal computer, the received image information in the PC card is read by the personal computer, and output on paper by the output device of the personal computer. In the above description, the instruction of the storage destination may be issued by issuing a message at the time of facsimile reception. In this case, the received image information is temporarily stored in the image storage device 4, and the received image information is transferred from the image storage device 4 to the PC card 13 only when a PC card is specified as a storage destination. As described above, according to the second embodiment, when the set paper is smaller than the paper size of the received image information, the received image information is waited for according to the user's instruction until a non-small paper is set. Is output on paper, or is output on paper by an output device of an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer via a memory card such as a PC card. The image output problem can be solved, and if desired, the user can set the memory card in another output device and view the received image.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a main part of a facsimile apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The facsimile apparatus of this embodiment is a detachable storage unit that can be transferred to an information processing apparatus and used instead of the PC card 13 and the PC card slot 14 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. A floppy disk 15 and a floppy disk device (FD drive) 16 for writing image information to the floppy disk 15 are provided. The system control unit 1 and the operation display unit 12 store the received image information in the image storage device 4 when the paper size of the received image information exceeds the It constitutes storage destination instructing means for instructing whether to store the data on the floppy disk 15 as the means. Less than,
The operation of this embodiment will be described according to the operation flow shown in FIG. First, a facsimile signal of phase B is received by the facsimile communication control unit 2 via the NCU 9 (S21). Then, a predetermined signal in the facsimile signal is provided to the image information determination unit 3 via the system control unit 1, and the image information determination unit 3 changes the paper size of the received image information based on the information set in the predetermined signal. judge. Then, the system control unit 1 acquires the determined paper size, compares the paper size with the set paper size acquired in advance from the plotter 6, and can print the received image information without reducing it. It is determined whether or not (S22).
If the set paper size is equal to or larger than the paper size of the received image information, it is determined that printing is possible without reduction. As a result, if it is determined that printing is possible without reduction (S22
Yes), the system control unit 1 passes the image information received in the phase C to the plotter 6, and outputs the image information on the set paper (S27). On the other hand, if it is determined that printing cannot be performed unless the image is reduced (No in S22), the system control unit 1 determines the storage location of the received image information according to the storage location information set in advance by the user's instruction. (S23). If the storage destination is the image storage device 4 (No in S23), the received image information is stored in the image storage device 4 (S28), and the system control unit 1 determines whether a printable sheet is set without reduction. (S29 → S2)
9). Thus, when the system control unit 1 recognizes that the sheet is set (Yes in S29), the system control unit 1 reads out the received image information stored in the image storage device 4, passes the image information to the plotter 6, and sets the image information. The output is made on the sheet (S30).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S23 that the storage destination is the floppy disk 15 (Yes in S23), the system controller 1 stores the received image information in the floppy disk 15 (S24). A message indicating this is displayed on the display means in the operation display unit 12 to notify the user (S25). Thereafter, the user removes the floppy disk 15 (S26), inserts the floppy disk 15 into an information processing device such as a personal computer, reads the received image information in the floppy disk 15 by the information processing device, and outputs the information from the information processing device. Output on paper by device. In the above description, the instruction of the storage destination may be issued by issuing a message at the time of facsimile reception. In this case, the received image information is temporarily stored in the image storage device 4, and the received image information is transferred from the image storage device 4 to the floppy disk 15 only when the floppy disk 15 is designated as the storage destination. As described above, according to the third embodiment, when the set paper is smaller than the paper size of the received image information,
According to the user's instruction, the received image information is output on the paper after the non-small paper is set, or is output on the paper by an output device of an information processing device such as a personal computer via a floppy disk. Therefore, it is possible to solve the problem that the image information is reduced unintendedly and an image with poor image quality is output, and if the user desires, the image received by setting the floppy disk in the information processing device or the like can be solved. Can also be seen. Note that the removable storage means is not limited to a memory card or a floppy disk.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a facsimile apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The facsimile apparatus of this embodiment outputs received image information to a paper in an image output device P on a network instead of the PC card 13 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. Network control unit 1 for causing
7 and a network interface unit 18.
Further, the system control unit 1 and the operation display unit 12 store the received image information in the image storage device 4 when the paper size of the received image information exceeds the paper An output destination instructing unit that instructs whether to output the image on a sheet in the image output device P is configured. Hereinafter, the operation of this embodiment will be described according to the operation flow shown in FIG. First, a facsimile signal of phase B is received by the facsimile communication control unit 2 via the NCU 9 (S31). Then, a predetermined signal in the facsimile signal is provided to the image information determination unit 3 via the system control unit 1, and the image information determination unit 3 changes the paper size of the received image information based on the information set in the predetermined signal. judge. Then, the system control unit 1 acquires the determined paper size, compares the paper size with the set paper size acquired in advance from the plotter 6, and can print the received image information without reducing it. It is determined whether or not (S32).
If the set paper size is equal to or larger than the paper size of the received image information (same or larger), it is determined that printing is possible without reduction. As a result, if it is determined that printing is possible without reduction (Yes in S32), the system control unit 1 passes the image information received in phase C to the plotter 6, and outputs the image information on the set paper (S36). ). On the other hand, if it is determined that printing cannot be performed unless the image is reduced (No in S32), the received image information is temporarily stored in the image storage device 4 (S33). The output destination of the received image information is determined according to the output destination information set when instructed by the operation display unit 12 (S34). If the output destination is not the image output device P in the network (No in S34), the received image information is stored in the image storage device 4 as it is, and the system control unit 1 sets a printable sheet without reduction. It is monitored whether it has been performed (S37 → S37). Then, when it is recognized that the sheet has been set (Yes in S37), the received image information stored in the image storage device 4 is read out, and the image information is passed to the plotter 6 and output on the set sheet. (S38).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S34 that the output destination is the image output device P on the network (Yes in S34), the system control unit 1 reads out the received image information from the image storage device 4, Handover to the network control unit 17 and the network interface unit 18
To the image output device P on the network via
The image is output on a sheet set in the image output device P (S35). In the above description, the output destination may be instructed by issuing a message when receiving a facsimile. As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, when the set paper is smaller than the paper size of the received image information, the received image information is waited for according to the user's instruction until a non-small paper is set. Is output on paper in its own machine or on paper in an image output device on a network, so that the image information is unintentionally reduced, and an image with poor image quality is output. It is also possible to output received image information that has not been reduced using an image output means on the network, if desired by the user.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention,
According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is determined whether the paper size of the received image information exceeds the paper size of the set paper, and the paper size of the received image information exceeds the paper size of the set paper. If it is determined that the received image information has been set, the received image information is stored in the image storage means. Since the image is output at the top, even if the set paper is smaller than the paper size of the received image information, the image information can be received without performing an unintended reduction, and therefore, an image without deterioration in image quality can be received. It is no longer necessary to provide an IC card or the like, and the trouble of setting the IC card on another output device and viewing the received image is also eliminated. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, when the paper size of the received image information exceeds the paper size of the set paper, the received image information is stored in accordance with a user instruction. Since it is stored in the storage means or stored in the removable storage means, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, if the user desires, the information processing apparatus such as a personal computer is connected via the removable storage means. It is also possible to output the received image information that has not been reduced using the output unit. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the invention, when the paper size of the received image information exceeds the paper size of the set paper, the received image information is stored in accordance with a user instruction. Since the data is stored in the means or stored in a memory card or a floppy disk, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, if the user desires, the output of an information processing device or the like via the memory card or the floppy disk is provided. It is also possible to output the received image information which has not been reduced using the means. Further, according to the invention described in claim 4, according to claim 1
In the invention described above, when the paper size of the received image information exceeds the paper size of the set paper, the received image information is stored in the image storage unit in accordance with a user instruction,
Alternatively, since it is output to the image output means on the network, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, if the user desires, the received image information which has not been reduced is output using the image output means on the network. You can also.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation flow chart of the facsimile apparatus showing the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration block diagram of a main part of a facsimile apparatus showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart of a facsimile apparatus showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration block diagram of a main part of a facsimile apparatus showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart of a facsimile apparatus showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a configuration block diagram of a main part of a facsimile apparatus and the like showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an operation flow chart of a facsimile apparatus showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: system control unit, 2: facsimile communication control unit,
3: image information determination unit, 4: image storage device, 6: plotter,
12: operation display unit, 13: PC card, 15: floppy disk, 16: floppy disk device, 17: network control unit, 18: network interface unit.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile receiving apparatus capable of outputting facsimile received image information on paper, a set paper size determining means for determining a paper size of a paper set in an image output means, and a paper size of the received image information. When the paper size of the received image information determined by the received paper size determination unit and the received paper information determined by the received paper size determination unit exceeds the paper size of the set paper determined by the set paper size determination unit, After the received image information is stored in the received image information storage means for storing the received image information in the image storage means, and the received image information is stored in the received image information storage means, a sheet larger than the paper size of the received image information is set by the set sheet size determining means. Receiving image information output means for outputting the received image information stored in the image storage means on the paper when it is determined that A facsimile receiving apparatus. 2. A facsimile receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said removable storage means can be transferred to another information processing apparatus for use, and the paper size of the paper on which the paper size of the received image information is set is set. Storage destination instructing means for instructing whether to store the received image information in the image storage means or the removable storage means when the received image information is exceeded, and the paper size of the paper on which the paper size of the received image information is set A facsimile receiving apparatus in which received image information is stored in the image storage means in accordance with an instruction of the storage destination instructing means or stored in a detachable storage means when the number exceeds the limit. 3. The facsimile receiving apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a memory card or a floppy disk is used as said removable storage means. 4. A facsimile receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the network communication means is capable of outputting the received image information to an image output means on a network, and the paper size of the paper in which the paper size of the received image information is set. Output destination instructing means for instructing whether the received image information is to be stored in the image storage means or output to the image output means on the network when the size of the received image information is exceeded, and the paper size of the received image information is set. The received image information is stored in the image storage unit in accordance with the instruction of the output destination instruction unit, or is output to the image output unit on the network by the network communication unit when the paper size exceeds the paper size of the paper in the storage unit. A facsimile receiving apparatus characterized in that: