JP2001069327A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain facsimile equipment capable of selectively holding required image data in accordance with the capacity of a picture memory and printing- transmitting it again after printing/transmitting. SOLUTION: Picture data read from a scanner 1 or received by facsimile is temporarily stored in a picture memory 6 and even after outputting the picture data from a plotter 2 or transmitting it by facsimile, a part of the image data is selectively held in accordance with holding conditions (an opposed party, an operation mode, a storing time, etc.), registered in a control data memory in advance. Further, as holding objects by these holding conditions, image data inputted/outputted from interfaces excepting for normal facsimile communication such as a printer interface 8, a LAN interface 9, a dial up interface is included to set a holding condition to each interface.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus having an image memory for storing image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a general facsimile apparatus, image data stored in an image memory is deleted when an output operation, a copy operation, etc. after reception is completed in order to effectively use an image memory. I have. In such a configuration, for example, when a transmission document is lost at the transmission destination,
Since no consideration is given to the case where the received document is lost or the case where the printer output document is lost, the usability is poor.

To cope with these cases, the capacity of the image storage means (image memory) is increased, and the image data read by the scanner unit or the received image data is stored in the image storage means and printed once. A method of printing or transmitting the transmitted image data again has been proposed.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-162622 discloses a device related to this type of device.

[0005]

In the prior art, the image data once printed or transmitted is output again only when the image storage means has a sufficient capacity to store the image data after printing or transmission. Is disclosed.

However, there is no disclosure of a technique for selectively storing and re-outputting necessary image data, and there is no suggestion or description about this point.

Further, in the above-mentioned conventional technology, only the method of overwriting data having an oldest reception date and time when deleting accumulated image data is mentioned.

However, in this method, in order to be able to select an arbitrary one from all the stored image data,
A large-capacity image storage means is required so that older image data is not overwritten on newly received image data.

An object of the present invention is to improve such a problem, selectively store necessary image data according to the capacity of an image memory, and print / transmit again after printing / transmission. A facsimile machine is provided.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned problem by arbitrarily setting a holding condition for holding / deleting image data stored in an image memory.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided image storage means for storing input image data, printing means for printing the image data stored in the image storage means, communication means for transmitting and receiving image data, Holding condition setting means for setting holding conditions for holding the image data even after printing or transmitting the image data stored in the image storage means, wherein the input image data is temporarily stored in the image storage means. After storing and printing or transmitting the image data, it is determined whether or not the image data is to be deleted from the image storage unit based on a preset holding condition, and any image data is selectively stored. There is a feature.

Instead of holding all the image data stored in the image memory, only arbitrary image data is selectively held according to the holding conditions, so that printing is performed again after printing / transmission according to the capacity of the image memory. / Transmission function can be realized.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect, an interface unit other than the facsimile communication is provided, and image data input / output via the interface unit is held by the holding condition setting unit. It is characterized in that conditions are set in advance, and the image data once stored in the image storage means is selectively held during input / output.

As input / output interfaces for image data of the facsimile apparatus, recently, a printer interface (the facsimile apparatus operates as a printer), a scanner interface (the facsimile apparatus operates as a scanner), and the like for connection to a personal computer. LA for direct connection to LAN
There may be a case where a plurality of interfaces are provided, such as an N interface and a dial-up interface for connecting to a LAN through a telephone line. By setting holding conditions in advance also for interfaces other than facsimile communication, arbitrary image data can be selectively held and the usability is improved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile apparatus according to the second aspect, the holding condition is set for each interface unit.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile apparatus according to the first to third aspects, the holding condition includes an operation mode for inputting / outputting image data and destination information. .

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile apparatus according to the fourth aspect, a priority is given to the operation mode and the destination information.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile apparatus of the first to fifth aspects, the holding condition includes an elapsed time after the image data is once stored in the image storage means.

[0019]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The facsimile apparatus 100 includes a scanner 1, a plotter 2, a control data memory 3, a system control unit (CPU) 4, an operation display unit 5, an image memory 6, a network control device 7, a printer interface (printer I / F). )
8, a LAN interface (LAN I / F) 9, a modem 10, a ROM 11, an encoding / decoding unit 12, a parameter memory 13, a battery 14, and the like.

In this embodiment, the image memory 6 constitutes image storage means, the plotter 2 constitutes printing means, the network control device 7, the modem 10, etc. constitute communication means, and a system control unit (CPU) The operation display unit 5 and the like constitute a holding condition setting unit, and the printer interface 8 and the LAN interface 9 constitute an interface unit.

The scanner 1 optically reads an image of a document line by line and outputs it as image data. The reading unit (not shown) is configured by a line image sensor using a CCD or the like.

The plotter 2 prints out the read image data on a recording paper or a mark sheet by a known electrophotographic method, and receives the image data via a public network or a LAN, or a connected personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as a personal computer). ) Is printed out in the same manner. Further, the history information accumulated in the parameter memory 13 is printed out on a recording paper or the like as a report.

The image memory 6 is composed of a RAM (with a battery backup) or a hard disk, and stores image data encoded by the encoding / decoding unit 12 in the MH system or the like. The image data stored in the image memory 6 is managed by the system control unit 4, and is output by the plotter 2 or the network control device 7 or L according to the holding conditions stored in the control data memory 3.
It is selectively retained even after transmission via the AN interface 9.

The printer interface 8 is an RS232
C, a parallel bus, and the like, and are used when a personal computer (not shown) is electrically connected to the facsimile apparatus 100 to transmit and receive data (when the facsimile apparatus 100 is a printer of the personal computer).

The ROM 11 stores a control program for the entire facsimile apparatus 100, a program for correcting image data to be sent to the plotter 2 in accordance with a difference in image density, and the like. In particular, it stores a program for holding / deleting image data stored in the image memory 6 according to the holding conditions of the present embodiment.

The parameter memory 13 is composed of a RAM and backed up by a battery 14, and stores parameters necessary for various controls.

The control data memory 3 stores an image data file for managing the image data stored in the image memory 6 and data indicating holding conditions for holding / deleting the stored image data. The holding condition indicates a criterion for determining whether the image data is held and re-outputtable even after printing, transmission, etc. is completed, or whether the image data is deleted at the end of printing, transmission, etc., The holding condition is set and updated based on input information from the operation display unit 5.

The encoding / decoding unit 12 shortens the transmission time of the image data to improve the efficiency, and compresses (encodes) the image data at the time of transmission and decompresses the encoded image data at the time of reception. (Decrypt) and reproduce the original data.
Since the image data (printer image) input via the printer interface 8 is bit-mapped, the encoding / decoding unit 12 further reduces the amount of memory used when storing the image data in the image memory 6. After compression, the image data is stored in the image memory 6.

The system control unit (CPU) 4 includes a ROM 1
1 to control the entire apparatus and accumulate image data by executing a predetermined process based on an operation input (input of an instruction from the operation display unit 5), a command signal, or various sensor information in accordance with a control program stored in advance in the control unit 1. Control and control of data communication with external devices such as personal computers. In particular,
It has a function of selectively deleting / holding the image data stored in the image memory 6 according to the holding conditions of the present embodiment, and re-outputting a part of the image data after printing or transmission.

The network control device 7 is connected to a communication line (public network) and performs a predetermined line control when making and receiving a call.

The modem 10 modulates the image data signal at the time of transmission, demodulates the image data signal at the time of reception, and transmits various procedural signals for transmission control.

The LAN interface 9 electrically connects the LAN to the facsimile machine 100 and controls input / output of image data between a communication terminal on the LAN and the facsimile machine 100.

The operation display unit 5 includes an operation panel (including numeric keys, operation keys, a liquid crystal display, etc.) (not shown), and inputs instructions from the user (input and output of image data, etc.).
Transmission and the like, and condition setting input when transmitting and holding image data after output. Further, the operation display unit 5 sends out the contents input from the operation panel to the system control unit 4, and displays the contents and a message from the apparatus main body.

According to the above-described configuration, for example, when copying or transmitting to a memory, the original is read by the scanner 1, compressed by the encoding / decoding unit 12, temporarily stored in the image memory 6, and then stored in the plotter 2. Output or transmit. Also,
The image data input via the printer interface 8 and the LAN interface 9 is also temporarily stored in the image memory 6 and then output or transmitted from the plotter 2.
That is, the input from any interface is once stored in the image memory 6 in the same manner as the input from the scanner 1,
Output to any interface is performed from the image memory 6 in the same manner as output to the plotter 2.

Here, the holding conditions for holding the image data stored in the image memory 6 are set based on input information from the operation display unit 5 and stored in the control data memory 3. Further, the holding conditions are updated (changed / erased) based on the input information from the operation display unit 5, and the setting contents of the control data memory 3 are updated each time. The holding conditions include a condition based on the elapsed time after the accumulation, a condition based on a communication partner (for example, a telephone number),
For each interface, etc. may be arbitrarily set. In the present embodiment, holding conditions are set for other facsimile machines on the public network using destination information such as a telephone number.

If the image data is to be stored in the image memory 6 even after the plotter output and transmission, the control data memory 3
An image file for managing a plurality of image data
Create for each image information. The contents of this image file are as shown in FIG. 2, a 2-byte file No. 21 indicating the file, an operation mode at the time of accumulation (for example, copy / confidential transmission / memory transmission / polling transmission / LAN
1-byte file attribute 2 indicating transmission / facsimile reception / PC reception / PC printing / LAN reception)
2. 7-byte storage date and time 23 indicating the completion date and time of image data storage, 20-byte destination information 24 indicating the destination, such as the destination telephone number (or identification information obtained from the communication procedure signal) at the time of transmission, image A 4-byte image data storage location 25 indicating the storage position on the memory 6 and a 3-byte image data attribute 26 indicating the linear density, compression mode, number of pages, and the like of the stored image data are registered.

Next, the operation of holding / deleting image data after transmission when transmitting image data input from the scanner 1 to another facsimile machine will be described with reference to FIG.

In this embodiment, file attributes (memory transmission) to be held and destination information (telephone numbers of other facsimile devices of the transmission destination) are registered in a predetermined area of the control data memory 3 in advance as storage conditions, and registered. For image data other than the facsimile apparatus, the image data is deleted from the image memory 6 after transmission.

In step s101, a document to be transmitted is set on a document table (not shown), and when the system control unit 4 instructs document feeding and reading start based on input information from the operation display unit 5, the scanner 1 performs The original is read, converted into image data, compressed by the encoding / decoding unit 12, and stored in the image memory 6.

In step s102, when the system control unit 4 instructs the start of facsimile transmission based on the input information from the operation display unit 5, a series of image data finally stored in the image memory 6 is read out, and the modem 10 Are transmitted to the public network by the transmission control of the network controller 7.

In step s103, the system operation unit 4
Determines whether the transmission destination and the operation mode transmitted this time are suitable for the holding conditions registered in the control data memory 3 in advance. For example, the current operation mode, the destination telephone number, the file attribute in the holding condition thereof, and the destination information (telephone number) are compared. As a result, when it is determined that the other party transmitted this time satisfies the pre-registered holding conditions, the processing is ended.
That is, in the case of memory transmission to a pre-registered destination (facsimile machine), the image data is retained in the image memory 6 without being discarded even after the transmission is completed. At this time, the above-described image data file is created, and “memory transmission” is registered in the file attribute thereof, and “current destination telephone number” is registered in the destination information.

In step s104, step s103
As a result of comparing the current operation mode, the destination telephone number with the operation mode in the holding condition thereof, and the destination information (telephone number), the image data transmitted this time in the image memory 6 is deleted because they do not match. .

After the operation of holding the image data stored this time, when retransmitting the image data to the same destination,
Based on the input information from the operation control unit 5, the system control unit 4 designates any of the above-described file No. 21, file attribute 22, storage date and time 23, and destination information 24 as a search mode, and further specifies the storage date and time 23. The designated image data file is searched for, the search result is displayed and confirmed and selected, and the image data storage location is detected and the image memory 6 is searched.
And modulates the image data with the modem 10, and retransmits the image data to the public network under the control of the transmission procedure of the network controller 7. Also in this case, the stored image data is retained without being discarded even after the transmission is completed, for transmission to the registered destination.

In the present embodiment, not all image data is stored after printing and transmission, but some image data is selectively stored. Therefore, regardless of the capacity of the image memory 6, the image after printing and transmission is transmitted. Data can be printed and transmitted again.

That is, not only a facsimile apparatus having an image memory having a capacity capable of holding all image data stored at the time of reading or communication, but also a facsimile apparatus having an image memory of a generally widespread capacity. Also, the function of printing / transmitting the image data once printed / transmitted can be realized.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of holding / deleting image data according to the embodiment. The overall configuration of this embodiment is the first
1 and 2 are used, the same components are given the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

In this embodiment, image data holding conditions are set for another communication terminal device via an interface other than the normal facsimile communication, using destination information such as a telephone number. As described above, the input from any of the interfaces 8 and 9 is once stored in the image memory 6 in the same manner as the input from the scanner 1, and the input from any of the interfaces 8 and 9 is performed.
The output to 9 is also output from the image memory 6, similarly to the output to the plotter 2. FIG. 1 shows a printer interface (RS232C interface) 8 and LA
Although the N interface 9 is described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to other interfaces other than ordinary facsimile communication such as a dial-up interface.

Here, the operation of holding / deleting image data after transmission when image data input from the printer interface 8 is transmitted via the LAN interface 9 will be described with reference to FIG.

In the present embodiment, file attributes (LAN transmission) and destination information (telephone number of a communication terminal device to be transmitted via the LAN interface 9) are stored in a predetermined area of the control data memory 3. The image data is deleted from the image memory 6 after transmission, except for the registered interface and communication terminal device.

In step s201, an instruction signal (reception of image data from the printer interface 8,
And a command to transmit image data to the destination communication terminal connected to the LAN), the system control unit 4 receives the image data based on the input information from the printer interface 8 and performs encoding. The data is compressed by the decoding unit 12 and then stored in the image memory 6.

In step s202, when the system control unit 4 instructs the start of image data transmission to the destination communication terminal connected to the LAN based on the instruction signal, a series of image data finally stored in the image memory 6 is stored. After being read and modulated by the modem 10, it is transmitted to the destination communication terminal via the LAN interface 9.

In step s203, the system operation unit 4
Determines whether the destination transmitted this time via the LAN interface 9 meets the holding conditions registered in the control data memory 3 in advance. For example, the interface and destination telephone number used this time are compared with the interface and destination information (telephone number) in the holding conditions. as a result,
If it is determined that the interface and the destination used this time are suitable for the pre-registered holding conditions, the process ends. That is, in the case of transmission via the LAN interface to a destination communication terminal registered in advance, the image data is retained in the image memory 6 without being discarded even after the transmission is completed. At this time, the above-described image data file is created, and “LAN transmission” is registered in the file attribute of the image data file, and “current destination telephone number” is registered in the destination information.

In step s204, step s203
As a result of the comparison between the current destination telephone number and the destination information (telephone number) in the holding condition, there is no match, so the image data transmitted this time in the image memory 6 is deleted.

After the holding operation of the image data stored this time, when retransmitting the image data to the same destination,
Based on the input information from the operation control unit 5, the system control unit 4 designates any of the above-described file No. 21, file attribute 22, storage date and time 23, and destination information 24 as a search mode, and further specifies the storage date and time 23. After specifying and searching for the corresponding image data file, the search result is displayed on the operation display unit 5 for confirmation / selection, and further, after the image data storage location is detected and the relevant image data is read out from the image memory 6,
The data is retransmitted to the destination communication terminal via the LAN interface 9. Also in this case, the stored image data is retained without being discarded even after the transmission is completed, for transmission to the registered destination.

In the present embodiment, image data output to an interface other than normal facsimile communication (for example, the LAN interface 9) can be retransmitted by setting holding conditions. Of course, other than normal facsimile communication can be used. (For example, the printer interface 8), the holding condition can be set and the image data can be output again.

[Third Embodiment] FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of holding / deleting image data according to the embodiment. The overall configuration of this embodiment is the first
1 and 2 are used, the same components are given the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

In this embodiment, image data holding conditions are set for each interface for inputting and outputting image data using the file attribute and the destination information. As described above, the input from any of the interfaces 8 and 9 is temporarily stored in the image memory 6 in the same manner as the input from the scanner 1, and
The output to any of the interfaces 8 and 9 is output from the image memory 6 in the same manner as the output to the plotter 2.

Here, the operation of holding / deleting image data after output when the image data received by facsimile via the network control device 7 is output from the plotter 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

In this embodiment, file attributes (facsimile reception) and destination information (telephone numbers of other facsimile devices connected to the public network) are registered in a predetermined area of the control data memory 3 in advance as holding conditions. The image data other than the image data from the registered facsimile apparatus which is a facsimile reception is deleted from the image memory 6 after printing.

In step s301, a signal (notifying the transmission of image data) from a destination communication terminal (other facsimile apparatus) (not shown) is input from the network control device 7, and the image data is transmitted according to a predetermined transmission control procedure. Once sent,
The system control unit 4 receives the image data, and
After demodulation at 0, the data is stored in the image memory 6.

In step s302, the system control unit 4
Instructs the plotter 2 to output image data, a series of the image data finally stored in the image memory 6 is read out, decompressed by the encoding / decoding unit 12, and then the plotter 2
Output from

In step s303, the system operation unit 4
Determines whether the interface and the destination communication terminal used for the current reception meet the holding conditions registered in the control data memory 3 in advance. As a result, if it is determined that the interface and the destination used for the current reception match the pre-registered holding conditions, the process ends. That is, when image data is received from a pre-registered destination (facsimile machine) via a pre-registered interface, the image data is retained in the image memory 6 without being discarded even after the output is completed. At this time, the above-described image data file is created, and “facsimile reception” is registered as the file attribute thereof, and “this time destination telephone number” is registered as the destination information.

In step s304, step s303
As a result of judging whether the interface used for the current reception and the destination communication terminal meet the holding conditions registered in the control data memory 3 in advance, if they do not match the holding conditions, the image received in the image memory 6 Delete data.

When the image data stored this time is to be output again from the plotter 2 after the holding operation of the image data stored this time, the system control unit 4 executes the above-mentioned file No. 21 based on the input information from the operation control unit 5. , File attributes 22,
Storage date and time 23, destination information 24, interface information 2
7 is designated as the search mode, and further, the storage date and time 23 is designated to search for the corresponding image data file.
The search result is displayed and selected for confirmation. Further, the storage location of the image data is detected, the image data is read out from the image memory 6, decoded, and output again from the plotter 2. Also in this case, since the image data is from the registered interface and the destination, the stored image data is retained without being discarded even after the output is completed.

According to the present embodiment, since the holding condition for re-outputting the image data is set for each interface, it is possible to store only the image data from the specific destination communication terminal via the specific interface. Thus, the image memory 6 can be used efficiently.

In addition to the present embodiment, for example, the interface used for reception and input of image data and the destination,
The interface used for the output and the destination may be set in the control data memory 3 as holding conditions.

[Fourth Embodiment] FIG. 6 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of holding / deleting image data according to the embodiment. The overall configuration of this embodiment is the first
1 and 2 are used, the same components are given the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

In this embodiment, according to the remaining amount of the image memory 6, the storage date and time, the file attribute, and the priority order based on the destination information are set, and the holding condition of the image data is set. If the used amount of the image memory 6 is equal to or less than the predetermined value, it is determined whether to retain or delete the image data only based on the file attribute. As described above, the inputs from any of the interfaces 8 and 9 are temporarily stored in the image memory 6 in the same manner as the input from the scanner 1, and the outputs to any of the interfaces 8 and 9 are output to the plotter 2. Similarly, output is made from the image memory 6.

Here, the operation of holding / deleting image data after output when image data received by facsimile via the network control device 7 is output from the plotter 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

In this embodiment, file attributes (priority is facsimile reception, personal computer reception, L
AN reception order), destination information (priority (eg, telephone number of communication terminal device for each interface)
1) to 3) are registered in a predetermined area of the control data memory 3 in advance, and when the input image data is stored and printed, when the usage amount of the image memory 6 becomes larger than a predetermined value. Deletes the image data from the image memory 6 in accordance with the elapsed time after the accumulation of each currently stored image data, the interface used for reception, and the priority of the other party.

In step s401, for example, an instruction signal (that instructs reception of image data from the printer interface 8 and output to the plotter 2) and image data are transmitted from a personal computer (not shown) via the printer interface 8. The system control unit 4 receives the image data based on the input information from the printer interface 8, compresses the image data with the encoding / decoding unit 12, and stores the compressed data in the image memory 6.

At step s402, the system control unit 4
Instructs the plotter 2 to output image data, a series of the image data finally stored in the image memory 6 is read out, decompressed by the encoding / decoding unit 12, and then the plotter 2
Output from

At step s403, the system control unit 4
Determines whether the remaining amount of the image memory 6 is smaller than a predetermined value. As a result, when the remaining amount of the image memory 6 is equal to or more than the predetermined value, the processing is terminated according to the holding condition, the image data received this time is held, and when the remaining amount of the image memory 6 is smaller than the predetermined value. Goes to step s404.

In step s404, a predetermined time (for example, 72
It is determined whether there is image data in the image memory 6 that has elapsed for more than (time). As a result, when there is image data accumulated for a predetermined time or more, the process proceeds to step s407, and when there is no image data accumulated for a predetermined time or more, the process proceeds to step s405.

In step s405, it is determined whether image data having a lower priority than the current reception exists in the image memory 6 based on the file attribute and the destination information of the image file. As a result, if there is image data having a low priority, the process proceeds to step s407, and if there is no image data having a low priority, the process proceeds to step s406.

In this embodiment, since the input is from the printer interface 8, first, a LAN having a lower priority
It is determined whether there is image data from the interface 9, and if not, it is next determined whether there is an input from the printer interface 8 which has a lower priority.

In step s406, by deleting the image data received this time from the image memory 6, a memory capacity for storing the next input image data is secured.

In step s407, step s404
After the accumulation, the image data determined to have passed the predetermined time or more is deleted from the image memory 6 regardless of the priority order.
Alternatively, the image data determined to have a lower priority in step s405 is deleted from the image memory 6. In this way, the image data to be deleted is deleted from the image memory 6, and the current received image data is kept as it is.

In the image data file of the image data received this time, the file attribute is “PC reception”.
Is registered, and the destination information is "This destination phone number"
Is registered. When the image data stored this time is to be output again from the plotter 2 after the holding operation of the image data stored this time, the image data is output again as in the third embodiment. Also in this case, since the image data is from the registered interface, the stored image data is retained without being discarded even after the output is completed.

In this embodiment, after printing, transmission, etc. are completed,
Holding the image data stored in the image memory 6 only for a certain period of time, and setting the priority of holding the image data for each interface and each other as a holding condition, and when the image memory 6 is almost full. When the remaining amount of memory becomes equal to or less than the predetermined value, the storage time is deleted from those having the storage time longer than the predetermined value and those having the lower priority, so that the image memory 6 can be used efficiently.

In addition to the present embodiment, for example, the following holding conditions or a holding condition in which these are combined may be set. (A) After printing, transmission, etc., are held for a certain period only. (B) Based on the input information from the operation display unit 5 (arbitrarily input by the user), the image data is held until the system control unit 4 instructs to delete the image data.

[0083]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, after printing or transmitting the image data stored in the image storage means (image memory) in the facsimile apparatus, a holding condition for holding the image data is set. Holding means (operation display unit, system control unit, etc.) for temporarily storing the input image data in the image storage means, and printing or transmitting the image data. It is determined whether or not the image data is to be deleted from the image storage means on the basis of the image data, and the arbitrary image data is selectively stored. Therefore, by setting the storage conditions according to the capacity of the image memory, the image data is printed / The function of printing / transmitting again after transmission can be realized.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, also for image data input / output via interface means other than the facsimile communication, holding conditions are set in advance by the holding condition setting means, and at the time of input / output, the image storage means Since the image data once stored in the memory is selectively retained, the image memory can be efficiently used even when an interface means other than facsimile communication is provided, and the image data can be printed / transmitted again after being printed / transmitted. .

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the holding condition is set for each interface means, even when an interface means other than facsimile communication is provided, the image memory can be efficiently used and an arbitrary interface can be used. After input / output of the image data, it can be printed / transmitted again.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the holding condition includes an operation mode for inputting / outputting image data and destination information, it is input from an arbitrary destination, or is output from an arbitrary destination. The image data output earlier is printed /
Can be sent.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the priority is given to the operation mode and the destination information, the image memory can be used more efficiently according to the remaining amount.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the holding condition includes the elapsed time after the image data is once stored in the image storage means, so that the holding condition is set together with the operation mode and the destination information. Thus, the image memory can be used more efficiently.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to selectively accumulate necessary image data according to the capacity of the image memory, and to print / transmit again after printing / transmission.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing contents of an image data file according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of holding / deleting image data according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of holding / deleting image data according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of holding / deleting image data according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of holding / deleting image data according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Scanner 2 Plotter 3 Control data memory 4 System control part (CPU) 5 Operation display part 6 Image memory 7 Network controller 8 Printer interface (printer I / F) 9 LAN interface (LAN I / F)

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Claims (6)

[Claims] An image storage means for storing input image data, a printing means for printing the image data stored in the image storage means, a communication means for transmitting and receiving image data, and a storage means for storing the image data. And holding condition setting means for setting holding conditions for holding the image data even after the image data is printed or transmitted, temporarily storing the input image data in the image storage means, A facsimile apparatus for determining whether or not to delete the image data from the image storage means based on a preset holding condition, and selectively holding any image data. . 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an interface unit other than the facsimile communication, wherein a holding condition is set in advance by the holding condition setting unit for image data input / output via the interface unit. A facsimile apparatus for selectively storing the image data once stored in an image storage unit during input / output. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said holding condition is set for each interface means. 4. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said holding condition includes an operation mode for inputting / outputting image data and destination information. 5. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 4, wherein priorities are given to the operation mode and the destination information. 6. A facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said holding condition includes an elapsed time after image data is temporarily stored in said image storage means.