JP2000341488A - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a facsimile machine from making wasteful printing which is contrary to the will of a user, while the capacity of a memory is reduced by sharing a part of a storage area for storing printing data and facsimile data. SOLUTION: When 600 dpi×600 dpi printing is requested from a personal computer 2 and a shared memory is used, a CPU 1 enquires the computer 2 whether the printing can be changed to 300 dpi×300 dpi printing. Only when the execution of the printing is instructed, does the CPU 11 fetch the printing data, by thinning the 600 dpi×600 dpi printing data to 300 dpi×300 dpi printing data and causes a printer 15 to print 300 dpi×300 dpi printing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus which also functions as a printer for a personal computer or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in order to increase the efficiency of office automation or improve the convenience of ordinary households, a facsimile apparatus is provided with image data (hereinafter referred to as print data) given from a personal computer using a printer of the facsimile apparatus. Printing).

In order to perform printing based on print data, a page memory capable of storing at least one page of print data in the form of raster data is required.

Now, the printing resolution is 600 dpi × 60.
If it is 0 dpi, the page memory requires a capacity of as much as 5.3 Mbytes.

In a facsimile apparatus, it is necessary to store image data for facsimile communication (hereinafter referred to as facsimile data). Therefore, a memory for storing the facsimile data and a page memory are separately provided. If this is ensured, an enormous amount of memory is required, which causes an increase in cost.

Therefore, it has been considered to reduce the required memory capacity, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-97957.

That is, in the facsimile apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-97957, when printing at a resolution that cannot accommodate print data is required in a dedicated page memory, facsimile data is originally stored. If there is a free space in the image memory for use, the free space in the image memory is used as a page memory for storing print data. Then, when printing is requested at a resolution that cannot accommodate the print data in the dedicated page memory, if there is no free space in the image memory, a resolution corresponding to the amount of data that can be accommodated by the capacity of the dedicated page memory Until the print resolution is reduced.

[0008]

As described above, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
According to the technology disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 7957, the page memory only needs to have a smaller capacity than the amount of print data having the maximum print resolution, and the memory capacity can be reduced.

However, if a page memory for storing print data of a requested resolution cannot be secured, printing at a low resolution is automatically performed. It will not be what you want.

In general, a user often wants to obtain an image having a requested resolution. In such a case, an image having a resolution lower than the requested resolution is useless.

Therefore, printing with reduced resolution as in the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H8-97957 wastes waste in terms of recording paper, ink and toner, or power consumption. There was a problem of causing it. In addition, the user checks the output image and if the output image does not match the intention, the user must perform the instruction operation for the print request again, which increases the burden on the user. There was a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to share some storage areas for storing print data and facsimile data. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile apparatus that does not perform useless printing that does not meet the user's intention while reducing the memory capacity.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, a first invention of the present application is to provide a printer which performs printing in accordance with facsimile data which is image data received via a circuit switching network such as PSTN. A facsimile apparatus having a function of performing printing in accordance with print data which is image data provided from an information terminal apparatus such as a personal computer connected without using the circuit switching network using the printer. A print data storage area, such as a page memory, having a predetermined first capacity for exclusively storing the print data, and a print data storage area that can be used for storing any of the facsimile data and the print data. Image memory in which a shared area such as shared memory is set, and data per page When the information terminal device requests printing according to the print data whose size is larger than the first capacity, the free space corresponding to the data amount of the print data that cannot be stored in the print data storage area If not in the shared area, requests the information terminal device to specify whether to execute printing with reduced resolution, for example, a printing necessity inquiry means realized by software processing of a CPU, When printing is specified by the information terminal device in response to a request from the printing necessity inquiry means, the print data provided from the information terminal device is reduced in resolution to reduce data of the first capacity or less. The print data is converted into print data of the same size and taken into the print data storage area. Ri elaborate printing in accordance with print data and a lower resolution print control means for causing the printer.

By taking such measures, the memory capacity reserved exclusively for storing print data is made smaller than the maximum data size of the print data, thereby reducing the capacity required for the image memory. Is reduced. If printing based on print data of a size that cannot be stored in the print data storage area is requested, the capacity for storing the print data is secured by using the shared area. However, the facsimile data is stored with priority in the shared area, so if print data cannot be stored using the free area of the shared area, printing at a reduced resolution should be performed. The print data provided from the information terminal device is converted to print data having a data size equal to or less than the first capacity by lowering the resolution only when the execution of the printing is specified and execution of such printing is specified. Then, the print data is stored in the print data storage area, and printing in accordance with the print data captured in the print data storage area, that is, printing at a reduced resolution is performed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect, a facsimile data type managing means for managing the type of facsimile data stored in the shared area, for example, realized by software processing of a CPU, If facsimile data is stored in the print data storage area, a condition for deleting the facsimile data from the shared area is determined based on the type of the facsimile data managed by the facsimile data type management unit. 600dp to be material
(i) generating predetermined deletion condition information such as information about the reason why printing cannot be performed, and giving the deletion condition information to the information terminal device when requesting designation of whether or not to execute printing by the printing necessity inquiry means; For example, a deletion condition information notifying unit such as a 600 dpi printing disabled reason notifying unit realized by software processing of the CPU is provided.

By taking such means, when it is necessary to determine whether or not to perform printing at a reduced resolution in response to an inquiry on the information terminal device side, facsimile data is transferred from the shared area. Deletion condition information that is used as a material for determining a condition to be deleted is provided to the information terminal device.

Further, the third invention of the present application has a printer for performing printing in accordance with facsimile data which is image data received via a circuit switching network such as PSTN, and uses the printer to perform the circuit switching. In a facsimile apparatus having a function of performing printing in accordance with print data which is image data provided from an information terminal device such as a personal computer connected without using a network, a facsimile apparatus for storing the print data exclusively An image memory in which a print data storage area such as a page memory having the first capacity and a shared area such as a shared memory which can be used to store both the facsimile data and the print data are set. Managing the type of facsimile data stored in the shared area, For example, the facsimile data type management means realized by the software processing of the CPU, and when the information terminal device requests printing in accordance with print data having a data size per page larger than the first capacity, the printing is performed. If facsimile data is stored in the data storage area, the facsimile data is used as a material for determining conditions for deleting the facsimile data from the shared area based on the type managed by the facsimile data type management means. For example, delete condition information such as 600 dpi print disable reason notifying means realized by software processing of a CPU, for example, creating predetermined delete condition information such as 600 dpi print disable reason information and providing the delete condition information to the information terminal device. Notification means.

By taking such measures, the memory capacity reserved exclusively for storing print data is made smaller than the maximum data size of the print data, whereby the capacity required for the image memory is reduced. Is reduced. If printing based on print data of a size that cannot be stored in the print data storage area is requested, the capacity for storing the print data is secured by using the shared area. However, facsimile data is preferentially stored in the shared area, so if print data cannot be stored using a free area of the shared area, printing is not performed.
In such a case, deletion condition information is provided to the information terminal device, which is used as a material for determining a condition for facsimile data being deleted from the common area.

In a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above-mentioned inventions, a facsimile such as a storage memory for exclusively storing the facsimile data in the image memory in addition to the print data storage area and the common area. A data storage area is set, and a free area exists in the facsimile data storage area, and a total data amount of facsimile data stored in the shared area is smaller than a capacity of the free area of the facsimile data storage area. In this case, there is provided a facsimile data rearrangement means for rearranging the facsimile data so that all the facsimile data is stored in the facsimile data storage area, for example, realized by software processing of a CPU.

By taking such a measure, the facsimile data stored in the shared area is stored in spite of the fact that the facsimile data stored in the image memory is the amount that can be stored in the facsimile data storage area. The facsimile data is rearranged so that all the facsimile data is stored in the facsimile data storage area. Therefore, the shared area is kept unused as much as possible.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to this embodiment.

In this figure, the portion denoted by reference numeral 1 is the facsimile apparatus of the present embodiment. The facsimile apparatus 1 has a CPU 11, a ROM 12, an R
It has an AM 13, a scanner 14, a printer 15, an encoding / decoding unit 16, a network control circuit (NCU) 17, a modem 18, a personal computer interface (hereinafter, referred to as a PC interface) 19, and an operation panel 20. They are connected to each other via a bus 21.

The CPU 11 realizes an operation as a facsimile apparatus by performing control processing for comprehensively controlling each part of the facsimile apparatus based on a control program stored in the ROM 12.

The ROM 12 stores a control program for the CPU 11 and the like.

As the RAM 13, for example, a DRAM is used. The RAM 13 is used to store various information and image data required for the CPU 11 to perform various processes.

As shown in FIG. 2, the storage area of the RAM 13 is a storage memory 131, a shared memory 132, a page memory 133, an ECM buffer 134, a work area 13
5 and a stack area 136.

The storage memory 131, the shared memory 132, and the page memory 133 are used to store image data, and form an image memory.

The storage memory 131 is an area dedicated to storing image data relating to facsimile transmission / reception, that is, facsimile data.

The shared memory 132 is an area shared for storing facsimile data and image data provided from a personal computer, that is, print data.

The page memory 133 is an area dedicated for storing print data.

In this embodiment, the RAM 3 has a capacity of 8 Mbytes, and the storage memory 131 and the shared memory 13
2, 1.8 Mbytes, 4.1 Mbytes, 1.3 Mbytes, respectively in the page memory 133, the ECM buffer 134, the work area 135, and the stack area 136.
128 Kbytes, 500 Kbytes, and 50 Kbytes are allocated.

Thus, the page memory 133 has 600
1 in image data having a resolution of dpi × 600 dpi
A capacity that is ４ of the data amount per page (5.3 Mbytes), that is, a capacity corresponding to the data amount per page in the image data having a resolution of 300 dpi × 300 dpi is allocated.

The capacity of the shared memory 132 is three times the capacity of the page memory 133.

The scanner 14 generates image data by reading a transmission original, digitizing it, and performing various correction processes such as shading correction and darkness correction.

The printer 15 prints the image indicated by the image data on a recording sheet. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the printer 15 has a function of performing printing at a maximum resolution of 600 dpi × 600 dpi.

The encoding / decoding section 16 compresses and encodes the image data generated by the scanner 14 and decodes the compressed and encoded image data.

The NCU 17 has a PSTN (Public Switch)
hed Telephone Network)
Is connected. And this NCU 17 is connected P
For the STN line C, it performs status monitoring, transmission processing to the network, and the like. Also, the NCU 17 equalizes a facsimile transmission signal transmitted to the PSTN line C,
Set the level.

The modem 18 is connected to the NCU 17. The modem 18 modulates image data and control data to generate a facsimile transmission signal and a control signal to be transmitted to the PSTN line C. Also modem 18
Reproduces image data and control data by demodulating a facsimile transmission signal and a control signal arriving via the PSTN line C.

The personal computer (PC) 2 is connected to the PC interface 19 as necessary, for example, via a connection cable. And PC interface 1
Reference numeral 9 mediates the transmission and reception of control commands between the CPU 11 and the personal computer 2 and captures print data supplied from the personal computer 2.

The operation panel 20 is operated by the CPU 1
1 has a key input unit for receiving various instruction inputs and a display unit for displaying various information to be notified to the user.

The control means realized by the CPU 11 operating based on the control program stored in the ROM 12 includes facsimile data type management means,
It has a printing necessity inquiring unit, a 600 dpi printing unavailable reason notifying unit, a low-resolution printing control unit, and a facsimile data rearranging unit.

Here, the facsimile data type management means stores various types of facsimile data stored in the shared memory 132 such as a normal transmission wait, a timer transmission wait, a mailbox, a normal print wait, or a printer abnormality clear wait. Manage which of the following applies. In addition,
Normal transmission waiting is temporary buffering data from acquisition to transmission. The timer transmission wait is data held until the designated transmission time arrives.
The mailbox is the data held until the deletion is specified. The normal print wait is temporary buffering data from acquisition to printing. The printer abnormality elimination wait is data held until the abnormality of the printer 15 is eliminated and printing is performed.

The printing necessity inquiring means is 600 dpi
If the shared memory 132 is in use when a request for printing at × 600 dpi is made by the personal computer 2, the personal computer 2 is inquired as to whether or not to execute printing at 300 dpi × 300 dpi.

The 600 dpi print unavailable reason notifying means includes:
The 600 dpi print inability reason information indicating the reason why printing at 00 dpi × 600 dpi is impossible is generated based on the management content of the facsimile data type management means, and is given to the personal computer 2 together with the inquiry by the print necessity inquiry means. .

The low-resolution print control means receives the 600 dpi × 60 provided from the personal computer 2 in response to the print request from the personal computer 2 in response to the inquiry from the print necessity inquiring means.
300 dpi x 300 dpi print data of 0 dpi
300dpi x 300dp
The printer 15 performs printing based on the print data of i.

Then, the facsimile data rearrangement means
If the amount of facsimile data that fits in the storage memory 131 is also discretely present in the shared memory 132, the facsimile data is rearranged so that all the facsimile data is stored in the storage memory 131.

Next, the operation of the facsimile apparatus configured as described above will be described.

The facsimile apparatus of this embodiment is
The basic operation of the facsimile apparatus related to the transmission and reception of facsimile data is the same as that of a conventional general facsimile apparatus, and thus the description thereof is omitted. Here, the operation in response to a print request from the personal computer 2 is mainly described. Will be described.

When a print request is made from the personal computer 2, the CPU 11 executes a printer mode process for performing printing based on the print data provided from the personal computer 2 according to a procedure as shown in FIG.

In this printer mode process, the CPU 1
1 first determines whether or not the print resolution requested from the personal computer 2 is 600 dpi × 600 dpi (step ST1).

Here, if the requested print resolution is 60
300 dpi x 30 instead of 0 dpi x 600 dpi
If it is 0 dpi, the CPU 11 fetches one page of print data supplied from the personal computer 2 and stores it in the page memory 133 as it is (step ST2). At this time, the print data given from the personal computer 2 is 300 dpi ×
Since the data size is 300 dpi and the data size is 1.3 Mbytes per page, the print data can be stored in the page memory 133.

Subsequently, the CPU 11 sets the page memory 133
Printing based on the print data stored in the printer 1
5 is executed (step ST).
3).

When the printing of one page is completed, the CPU 11 checks whether or not there is a next page (step ST4). If there is a next page, the CPU 11 repeats the processing of steps ST2 to ST4 to repeat each step. The pages are sequentially printed, and when the printing is completed up to the last page, the current printer mode process ends.

On the other hand, if the requested print resolution is 6
If it is 00 dpi × 600 dpi, the CPU 11 checks whether or not the shared memory 132 is in use (step ST5).

Here, if the shared memory 132 is not used, the CPU 11 continues with the personal computer 2
1 page of print data given by
The data is directly stored in the shared memory 132 and the page memory 133 (step ST6). At this time, the print data given from the personal computer 2 is 600
Since the print data is of dpi × 600 dpi and its data size is 5.3 Mbytes per page, the print data is stored in the shared memory 132 and the page memory 133.
Can be stored.

Subsequently, the CPU 11 executes a printing process for causing the printer 15 to perform printing based on the print data stored in the shared memory 132 and the page memory 133 (step ST7).

When the printing of one page is completed, the CPU 11 checks whether or not there is a next page (step ST8). If there is a next page, the processing of steps ST6 to ST8 is repeated to repeat each step. The pages are sequentially printed, and when the printing is completed up to the last page, the current printer mode process ends.

Now, if the requested print resolution is 600 dp
If i.times.600 dpi and the shared memory 132 is in use, the CPU 11 gives a print necessity inquiry and 600 dpi print impossible reason information to the personal computer 2 (step ST9). Waiting for print execution designation (step ST
10 and step ST11).

Here, the 600 dpi print failure reason information is as follows:
It is created based on the type of facsimile data stored in the storage memory 131 and the shared memory 132.
That is, the CPU 11 waits for the normal transmission wait, the timer transmission wait, the mailbox, the normal print wait, or the printer abnormality clear wait for each of the facsimile data stored in the storage memory 131 and the shared memory 132 together with the information such as the transmission destination. And so on. Then, based on the type of the facsimile data, the CPU 11 determines, for example, that “the memory capacity is insufficient because the memory is occupied by the facsimile data waiting for the timer transmission”, and “ Generates 600 dpi print impossible reason information indicating that “600 dpi print cannot be performed”.

In the personal computer 2, 600d
Upon receiving the pi non-printing reason information, the user is notified of the above-mentioned items indicated by the information on a display or the like, and then receives a designation by the user whether to execute printing or to cancel printing.

The user refers to the contents of the notification and
It is determined whether printing should be performed immediately even if the resolution is reduced to 0 dpi × 300 dpi, and whether to execute printing
Or, it instructs the personal computer 2 whether to cancel. Upon receiving this instruction, the personal computer 2 instructs the facsimile machine 1 to stop printing or to execute printing.

When this designation is received, the CPU 11 of the facsimile machine 1 terminates the current printer mode process without actually performing the printing process if the printing stop is designated.

However, if print execution is specified, the CPU 11 converts the 600 dpi × 600 dpi print data provided from the personal computer 2 into 300 dpi × 300 dpi by thinning-out processing, takes in the data, and stores it in the page memory 133. (Step ST12). At this time, the page memory 13
3 is 300 dpi x 300
Since the data size is 1.3 dpi and the data size is 1.3 Mbytes per page, the print data can be stored in the page memory 133.

Subsequently, the CPU 11 sets the page memory 133
Printing based on the print data stored in the printer 1
5 is executed (step ST).
13).

When the printing of one page is completed, the CPU 11 checks whether or not there is a next page (step ST14).
The processing from step 2 to step ST14 is repeated to print each page sequentially, and when the printing is completed up to the last page, the current printer mode processing ends.

Since the retention period of facsimile data in the storage memory 131 and the shared memory 132 varies depending on the facsimile data, even though the storage memory 131 has a sufficient free space,
There may be situations where the shared memory 132 is being used for storing facsimile data.

In such a situation, even if the image memory has a free space corresponding to the amount of print data of 600 dpi × 600 dpi, since the shared memory 132 is in use, 600 dpi × 600 dpi
It is determined that printing on pi is impossible.

The CPU 11 executes an image memory organizing process as shown in FIG. 4 in response to the facsimile data stored in the storage memory 131 becoming invalid due to the end of transmission, the end of printing, or the deletion. I do.

In this image memory organizing process, the CPU 1
1 indicates that the free space of the storage memory 131 is the shared memory 1
It is checked whether or not the usage amount is equal to or more than 32 (step S
T21), the free space of the storage memory 131 is the shared memory 1
If the used amount is smaller than 32, the current image memory organizing process is terminated.

However, if the free space of the storage memory 131 is equal to or larger than the usage of the shared memory 132, the CPU
11 stores all facsimile data stored in the storage memory 131 and the shared memory 132 in the storage memory 13
1 (step ST22). When the rearrangement of the facsimile data is completed, the CPU 11 ends the current image memory reorganization processing.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the capacity required for the RAM 13 can be reduced by securing only a capacity corresponding to the data amount of print data of 300 dpi × 300 dpi as the page memory 133. Has become.

When printing at 600 dpi × 600 dpi is requested from the personal computer 2, only when the shared memory 132 originally reserved for storing facsimile data is not used,
By using the shared memory 132 in addition to the page memory 133, print data of 600 dpi × 600 dpi is stored and can be printed.

6 when the shared memory 132 is in use.
When printing at 00 dpi × 600 dpi is requested from the personal computer 2, 300 dpi × 30 dpi
Printing can be performed by lowering the resolution to 0 dpi. In this case, the personal computer 2 specifies whether or not to perform printing until the resolution is reduced. Only print. Therefore, printing of a low-resolution image is not performed against the user's will, and it is possible to prevent wasteful printing from causing waste of recording paper, ink or toner, or power consumption. .

Further, according to the present embodiment, the personal computer 2 is notified of what type of facsimile data is stored in the storage memory 131 and the shared memory 132 and the conditions under which the facsimile data becomes invalid. On the personal computer 2 side, for example, the operator can estimate how long the operator has to wait until printing at 600 dpi × 600 dpi becomes possible.
It is possible to appropriately determine whether printing at i × 600 dpi is appropriate or whether printing at 300 dpi × 300 dpi is appropriate for the time being.

According to the present embodiment, the storage memory 13
If a new free space is created in the storage memory 131 and there is a free space in the storage memory 131 capable of storing all the facsimile data stored in the storage memory 131 and the shared memory 132, all the facsimile data is re-stored in the storage memory 131. The arrangement prevents the shared memory 132 from being used unnecessarily, and prevents the shared memory 132 from being used as much as possible at 600 dpi.
It is maintained in a state where printing at × 600 dpi can be performed.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above embodiment, the shared memory 1
When printing at 600 dpi × 600 dpi is requested during the use of No. 32, an inquiry about the necessity of printing at 300 dpi × 300 dpi is made and notification of the 600 dpi print impossible reason information is sent.
It is not necessary to notify the print failure reason information.

While the shared memory 132 is in use,
When printing at dpi × 600 dpi is requested,
Inquiry about necessity of printing and 300 dpi x 300 d
The printing may not be performed at a resolution of "pi", and only the notification of the 600 dpi print failure reason information may be performed. In this case, the user makes a situation determination based on the 600 dpi print unavailable reason information, and in response to the fact that printing at 600 dpi × 600 dpi becomes possible, requests the printing again at 600 dpi × 600 dpi or, if necessary, 300 dpi × 300 dpi.
i may be requested to print.

The image memory arrangement processing need not be performed.

The 600 dpi print impossible reason information is 600
Any information may be used as long as the information enables the personal computer 2 to estimate the timing at which printing at dpi × 600 dpi is possible to some extent. That is, for example, any change that notifies only the type of facsimile data stored in the storage memory 131 or the shared memory 132 is possible. However, if only the type of facsimile data is used, if there is a certain degree of knowledge about the functions of the facsimile apparatus 1, 600 dpi × 600 dpi
Since it becomes difficult to appropriately determine the timing at which printing at i is possible, it is preferable to use specific information as in the above embodiment.

In the above embodiment, since the image memory rearranging process is performed, the type of the facsimile data stored in the storage memory 131 is taken into consideration, and 600 dp is taken into consideration.
Although the i-print impossible reason information is created, if the image memory organizing process is not performed, the type of facsimile data stored in the storage memory 131 is not considered when creating the 600 dpi unprintable reason information.

In the above embodiment, under the condition that the image size is constant, the necessity of using the shared memory 132 when storing print data is determined based on the resolution. Notification to personal computer 2
From the shared memory 13 based on the data size.
It may be determined whether the use of No. 2 is necessary. In this way, the present invention can be applied even when the image size is variable.

The connection between the facsimile machine 1 and the personal computer 2 may be wireless instead of using a cable. Further, not only a direct connection but also a LAN connection may be used.

In the above embodiment, the personal computer 2 is exemplified as the external information terminal. However, the present invention is applicable to a case where another type of device such as a portable information terminal (PDA) is connected. Is possible.

In the above embodiment, the print resolution is set to 600d
pi × 600dpi and 300dpi × 300dpi
However, this may be arbitrary.

In addition, various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0087]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer for performing printing in accordance with facsimile data which is image data received via a circuit switching network, and using the printer, the circuit switching network is used. A facsimile apparatus having a function of performing printing in accordance with print data, which is image data provided from an information terminal apparatus connected without the intermediary of a facsimile apparatus, has a predetermined first capacity for exclusively storing the print data. An image memory in which a set print data storage area and a shared area that can be used to store both the facsimile data and the print data are set, and the data size per page is larger than the first capacity. When printing according to the print data is requested from the information terminal device, the print data is included in the print data. If the free capacity corresponding to the amount of data that can not be stored in over data storage area is not in the common region,
Printing necessity inquiry means for requesting the information terminal device to specify whether or not to execute printing at a reduced resolution; and executing the information terminal device in response to a request from the printing necessity inquiry means. When specified, the print data supplied from the information terminal device is converted into print data having a data size equal to or less than the first capacity by reducing the resolution, and is taken into the print data storage area. A low-resolution print control unit that causes the printer to perform printing in accordance with the print data captured in the print data storage area, so that printing based on print data of a size that cannot be stored in the print data storage area is performed in the shared area. If a request is made while using the printer, a confirmation is made as to whether or not to print at a reduced resolution. Only when the execution of the Do printing is specified, printing by reducing the resolution is executed, the result,
By sharing a part of the storage area for storing print data and storing facsimile data, it is possible to reduce memory capacity and prevent unnecessary printing that does not suit the user's intention. Becomes

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect, a facsimile data type managing means for managing the type of facsimile data stored in the shared area, and a facsimile data type in the print data storage area. If data is stored, predetermined deletion condition information serving as a determination material for a condition under which the facsimile data is deleted from the common area based on the type managed by the facsimile data type management unit with respect to the facsimile data. And a deletion condition information notifying means for giving the deletion condition information to the information terminal device when requesting designation of whether or not to execute printing by the printing necessity inquiring means. The device must determine whether to print at a reduced resolution in response to an inquiry. Sometimes, facsimile data is provided to the information terminal device with deletion condition information serving as a material for determining conditions for deletion from the shared area, and it is necessary to perform printing immediately even if the resolution is reduced, or It is possible to accurately determine whether facsimile data is deleted from the common area and printing should be performed at the original resolution.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer for performing printing in accordance with facsimile data which is image data received via a circuit switching network, and the circuit switching network is connected to the printer using this printer. In a facsimile apparatus having a function of performing printing in accordance with print data which is image data provided from an information terminal apparatus connected without intervening, a predetermined first capacity is provided for storing the print data exclusively. An image memory in which a print data storage area, a shared area that can be used to store both the facsimile data and the print data, and a facsimile that manages the type of facsimile data stored in the shared area Data type management means, and printing wherein the data size per page is larger than the first capacity If facsimile data is stored in the print data storage area when the printing according to the data is requested from the information terminal device, the facsimile data is classified into a type managed by the facsimile data type management unit. Delete condition information notifying means for creating predetermined delete condition information to be used as a material for judging a condition under which the facsimile data is deleted from the shared area, and providing the delete condition information to the information terminal device. Therefore, if printing based on print data of a size that cannot be stored in the print data storage area is requested during use of the shared area, printing is not performed, and determination of a condition under which facsimile data is deleted from the shared area is performed. Deletion condition information as material will be provided to the information terminal device side, and it will be low on the information terminal device side It is necessary to newly request printing at the resolution or to appropriately select a measure such that a facsimile data is deleted from the common area and a printing request is made again at a timing when printing at the original resolution can be performed. It becomes possible.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above aspects, a facsimile data storage area for storing the facsimile data exclusively in the image memory in addition to the print data storage area and the common area. And when there is a free area in the facsimile data storage area, and when the total data amount of the facsimile data stored in the shared area is smaller than the capacity of the free area of the facsimile data storage area, Since facsimile data relocation means for relocating the facsimile data so that all facsimile data is stored in the facsimile data storage area,
The shared area is kept unused as much as possible, and a situation where printing based on print data of a size that cannot be stored in the print data storage area cannot be performed is avoided as much as possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a memory map of a RAM 13 in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in a printer mode process of a CPU 11 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in an image memory organizing process of a CPU 11 in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Facsimile apparatus 2 ... Personal computer 11 ... CPU 12 ... ROM 13 ... RAM 14 ... Scanner 15 ... Printer 16 ... Encoding / decoding part 17 ... NCU 18 ... Modem 19 ... Interface 20 ... Operation panel 21 ... System bus 131 ... Storage memory 132 ... Shared memory 132 ... Shared memory 133 ... Page memory 134 ... Buffer 135 ... Work area 136 ... Stack area

Continued on the front page F-term (reference) 2C087 AA03 AB05 BA02 BC01 BC06 BD24 CA03 CA05 5B021 AA01 AA05 BB02 CC07 DD10 DD13 5C062 AA02 AA05 AA13 AB22 AB38 AB42 AC08 AC24 AC35 AC38 AE16 AF00 BA00 5C073 BC03 CC01 ACE04CB06 5

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An information terminal having a printer for performing printing in accordance with facsimile data which is image data received via a circuit switching network, and connected using the printer without passing through the circuit switching network In a facsimile apparatus having a function of performing printing in accordance with print data which is image data provided from the apparatus, a first predetermined facsimile apparatus for storing the print data exclusively.
An image memory in which a print data storage area having a capacity and a shared area that can be used to store both the facsimile data and the print data are set; and the data size per page is the first capacity. When the information terminal device requests printing according to larger print data, there is no free space in the shared area corresponding to the data amount of the print data that cannot be stored in the print data storage area. Then, a printing necessity inquiry means for requesting the information terminal device to specify whether or not to execute the printing at a reduced resolution, and the printing execution is performed in response to a request by the printing necessity inquiry means. When specified by the information terminal device, the resolution of print data given from the information terminal device is reduced. Low-resolution print control means for converting print data having a data size equal to or less than the first capacity into the print data storage area, and causing the printer to perform printing in accordance with the print data fetched into the print data storage area; A facsimile machine characterized by comprising: 2. A facsimile data type management means for managing the type of facsimile data stored in the common area, and if the facsimile data is stored in the print data storage area, the facsimile data type is related to the facsimile data. Based on the type managed by the management means, predetermined deletion condition information serving as a material for judging a condition that the facsimile data is deleted from the shared area is created, and the deletion condition information is printed by the printing necessity inquiry means. 2. A facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a deletion condition information notifying unit that gives the information terminal apparatus a request to specify whether or not to execute the deletion. 3. An information terminal having a printer for performing printing in accordance with facsimile data, which is image data received via a circuit switching network, and connected using said printer without passing through said circuit switching network. In a facsimile apparatus having a function of performing printing in accordance with print data which is image data provided from the apparatus, a first predetermined facsimile apparatus for storing the print data exclusively.
An image memory in which a print data storage area having a capacity, a shared area usable for storing both the facsimile data and the print data are set, and a type of facsimile data stored in the shared area And facsimile data type management means for managing the facsimile data in the print data storage area when the information terminal device requests printing according to print data having a data size per page larger than the first capacity. Is stored, based on the type of the facsimile data managed by the facsimile data type management unit, the predetermined deletion condition information serving as a determination material for the condition that the facsimile data is deleted from the common area. Creates and deletes the deletion condition information in the information terminal device. Facsimile apparatus characterized by comprising a deletion condition information notifying means for giving a. 4. A facsimile data storage area for exclusively storing said facsimile data is set in said image memory in addition to a print data storage area and a common area, and a free area exists in said facsimile data storage area. And when the total amount of facsimile data stored in the shared area is smaller than the capacity of the free area of the facsimile data storage area, all the facsimile data is stored in the facsimile data storage area. 4. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a facsimile data rearrangement unit that rearranges the facsimile data.