JP2001103252A - Facsimile function device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain communication without causing a communication error even under a state that a memory full state takes place in a facsimile terminal by skillfully utilizing a storage device of a computer system. SOLUTION: A FAX 1 and a PC 2 are connected through a communication line with a communication interface. The FAX 1 is provided with a memory 17 that stores received original data and a print section 16 that makes printing on the basis of the received original data written in the memory. In the case of receiving the received original data from a transmitter side by the memory 17, the capacity of the memory is confirmed and when it is discriminated that the memory capacity is less than a prescribed amount, a storage means 24 of the PC 2 stores the received original data if the PC 2 is connected via the communication line 4, and when the PC 2 is not connected, the reception is rejected.

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 can be connected to a computer via a communication path.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A facsimile apparatus dials a telephone number of a destination at the time of transmission, executes a predetermined handshake procedure with the destination after line connection, and encodes image data read by an image reading unit. The encoded data is modulated by a modem and transmitted to a destination through a telephone line. On the other hand, when an incoming call is detected, a predetermined handshake procedure is performed with the other party, a modulated signal sent from the other party is demodulated to obtain encoded data, and this is decoded to obtain image data. Is generated, and an image is formed in the printing unit.

There is a memory reception as the above-mentioned reception method.
In this memory reception, the received encoded data is temporarily stored in a memory, and the encoded data is read from the memory,
This is decoded to generate image data, which is printed by the printing unit. Further, as a printing unit, there is a printing unit in which a recording surface on which a received image is printed is arranged such that a printing surface thereof faces upward when the recording paper is discharged onto a discharge tray (face-up printing).

When face-up printing is performed, the printing result is output in the reverse order of the transmission, so that it is necessary to change the order when reading, which is inconvenient. Therefore, a method has been adopted in which all documents are received in the memory and the order of the documents received in the memory is changed and printing is performed.

[0005] Conventionally, when memory full occurs on the receiving side, processing for terminating reception as a communication error has been performed. In this case, the transmitting side redials and transmits again. In this redial, if the transmitting side redials from the first page, the receiving side receives only the same page every time, and cannot receive normally forever.

[0006] Further, if the transmitting side decides to transmit from the error page, and if there is a reception from another facsimile apparatus before redialing, the received document from the other facsimile apparatus is compared with the received original before redialing and the redialed. There is a drawback that the user gets into a later received original and has to search for the next page.

[0007] JP-A-9-153993 (IPC:
H04N 1/21) discloses a method for eliminating an alternate reception error due to memory over. In this method, when an incoming call is received during copying, the image data for copying is temporarily saved in a memory, and the data amount of the received image data recorded in the memory is monitored. When this happens, the copying operation is interrupted and the received image data is printed. In other words, this is a technique for avoiding a memory full in advance, and does not disclose a process when a memory full occurs.

By the way, facsimile boards for directly facsimile transmission of document information created by computer devices such as personal computers and word processors have been developed, and interfaces between these computer devices, facsimile boards, and facsimile devices have been standardized. (EIA Standard Class1, Class2
etc). Accordingly, general-purpose facsimile machine application software according to these standard interfaces has been supplied.

Due to the circumstances described above, there are cases where the facsimile apparatus main body and the computer apparatus are connected and used via a communication path having a communication interface.

[0010]

As described above, even in a state where the facsimile apparatus main body and the computer apparatus are connected, conventionally, when a memory full occurs on the receiving side, the processing for terminating the reception as a communication error is performed. Had been done.

A computer connected to a facsimile apparatus usually has a large-capacity storage device.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and utilizes a storage device of a computer device to generate a communication error even in a situation in which a memory is full in a receiving facsimile device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device that can perform communication without using the device.

[0013]

According to the present invention, there is provided a facsimile function apparatus in which a facsimile apparatus main body and a computer are connected via a communication path having a communication interface. A memory for storing data, and a printing unit for performing printing based on the received original data written in the memory, when receiving the received original data from the transmitting side in the memory, checking the memory capacity, If it is determined that the capacity is smaller than the predetermined amount, the received original data is stored in the storage means in the computer device when the computer device is connected via the communication path, and the received document data is stored when the computer device is not connected. Is rejected.

It is preferable that the received data stored in the computer is transmitted together with the facsimile number of the own station via a communication path and printed by a printing section of the main body of the facsimile.

With the above configuration, even when the memory becomes full, the storage device of the computer can be used well, the memory can be received, and the occurrence of a communication error can be prevented.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
A description will be given based on FIG.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a facsimile function device according to this embodiment. here,
The facsimile function device is meant to include not only a facsimile device but also a multifunction device having a facsimile function.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the present invention,
Facsimile machine (FAX) 1 connected to telephone line 3
And the computer device (PC) 2 are RS232C (C
1) through a communication path 4.

The facsimile apparatus 1 has an image reading section 14 for reading a document, and compresses the read document data (MH, M
R3, G3 data by MMR, etc.)
In addition to processing such as accumulation and decompression, a control unit 10 for controlling the entire facsimile, a printing unit 16 for printing decompressed document data, and a FAX for modulating and demodulating transmitted / received data
A Class1 control unit 11 that includes a modem and executes the control procedure according to Class1 described above.
CU (network control unit) 12, an operation unit 15 including a display unit for displaying predetermined contents, operated by a user, an image storage memory 17 for storing received image data, and a local station for storing a local facsimile number A facsimile number storage unit 18 is provided.

The received encoded data is temporarily stored in the memory 17, the encoded data is read from the memory 17, and is sequentially decoded to generate image data. The printing unit 16 is driven based on the image data to perform printing. To generate a received document, which is sequentially discharged.

The memory 17 has a page switching function, and can read out the received data of each image over a plurality of pages stored in the memory 17 in order from the last page.

On the other hand, the computer device 2 includes a Class1 control unit 21 for executing a control procedure according to Class1 with the facsimile device 1, a data conversion unit 22 for mutually converting a G3 file and an e-mail file, and a generated document. A data storage unit 24 for storing information, received data, and the like, an operation unit 25 including, for example, a keyboard and a mouse, and a local facsimile number and a country code of the facsimile apparatus 2 input by operating the operation unit 25 A number holding unit 23, a display unit 26 for displaying predetermined contents, and a control unit 20 for performing overall control are provided.

Facsimile machine (FAX) as described above
By constructing a system in which the computer 1 and the computer device (PC) 2 are connected, for example, the following functions can be obtained.

Scanner function (PC-SCANNE)
R): A function of using the facsimile machine 1 as a scanner of the computer device 2. When a document is set on the image reading unit 14 of the facsimile apparatus 1 and a scanner input key of the operation unit 25 is operated, the facsimile apparatus 1 reads the document, and the Class 1
Based on the protocol of s1, the original read through the communication path 4 using RS-232c as an interface is sent to the computer device 2.

Computer facsimile function (PC-
FAX): The facsimile machine 1 is replaced with the computer 2
This function is used as a modem. The original received by the facsimile machine 1 via the public line can be taken into the computer device 2, and the original created by the computer device 2 can be sent to the remote facsimile device via the public line via the facsimile device 1.

Printer function (PC-print): A function for using the facsimile machine 1 as a printer of the computer device 2. An original is created by the computer device 2, and the local number of the facsimile device 1 is dialed from the computer device 2 side. The facsimile apparatus 1 prints the original on the printing unit 16 when the number sent from the computer apparatus 2 is the local station facsimile number. At this time, the TSI in the Class 1 protocol is used.
Incorporates its own facsimile number. Therefore, the facsimile machine 1 has its own facsimile number storage 1
8 is provided, and the computer device 1 is also provided with a number registration holding unit 23 capable of storing a local station facsimile number.

Briefly describing facsimile transmission and reception,
At the time of transmission, an NCU (network control unit) 12 dials the telephone number of the other party, executes a predetermined handshake procedure with the other party after the line connection, and reads the image data read by the image reading unit 14. Is encoded by a modem and transmitted to the other party through the telephone line 4. On the other hand, when the NCU 12 detects an incoming call, it executes a predetermined handshake procedure with the other party, demodulates a modulation signal sent from the other party by a modem, obtains encoded data, Is decoded to generate image data, and the printing unit 16 forms an image. The printing section 16 is configured such that when a recording sheet (reception original) on which a received image is printed is discharged onto a discharge tray (not shown), the printing surface thereof faces upward.

Facsimile reception methods include recording paper reception and memory reception. Recording paper reception means that the received encoded data is sequentially decoded to generate image data, and the printing unit 16 is driven based on the image data to perform printing to generate a received document, which is sequentially discharged. This is a method of disconnecting the line after all reception (image formation) is completed.
On the other hand, the memory reception means that the received encoded data is temporarily stored in the memory 17, the encoded data is read out from the memory 9, and is sequentially decoded to generate image data, and the printing unit 17 is driven based on the image data. Then, printing is performed to generate a received document, and this is sequentially discharged.

Next, the facsimile receiving process according to the present invention, which is executed by the control unit 10, will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, when the facsimile apparatus 1 has selected the memory reception operation, it is first determined whether or not the remaining amount of the memory 17 is smaller than a certain amount (step S1). In the case of (1), memory reception is started, and a memory reception process for storing the received encoded data in the memory 17 is performed (step S2). When the data reception is completed, the communication end procedure is executed to disconnect the line (step S3), and then the received data of each image over a plurality of pages stored in the memory 17 is sequentially read from the last page and printed (step S3). Step S4). Then, the receiving operation ends. The execution of printing may be started before the line is disconnected.

If it is determined in step S1 that the remaining amount of the memory 17 is smaller than a certain amount, the facsimile apparatus 1
Is connected to the computer device 2 to determine whether the PC-FAX function described above can be operated (step S5). When determining that the PC-FAX function cannot be operated, the control unit 10 rejects reception with the other party and disconnects the line (step S6).

In step S5, when it is determined that the PC-FAX function is possible, the facsimile apparatus 1 starts receiving with the other party, and stores the image data received based on the PC-FAX function in the data storage unit 24 of the computer apparatus 2. (Step S7). When the reception of all the image data is completed, a communication termination procedure is executed to disconnect the line (step S9). Then, the PC-print operation described above is performed. In this printing operation, first, the received data of each image over a plurality of pages stored in the data storage unit 24 is sequentially read out from the last page and the order is changed. Then, the print data is sent to the facsimile machine 1,
The facsimile machine 1 performs recording paper printing (step S1).
0).

With the above configuration, all the pages are rearranged, and the received originals are stacked on the discharge tray in the same order as the transmission.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, even when a memory full occurs, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a communication error by making good use of the storage device of the computer device and receiving the memory. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile function device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of facsimile reception processing according to the embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Facsimile apparatus 2 Computer apparatus 3 Telephone line 4 Communication path 10 Control part 11 Class1 control part 14 Image reading part 15 Operation part 16 Printing part 17 Memory 24 Data storage part

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile function apparatus in which a facsimile apparatus main body and a computer are connected via a communication path having a communication interface, wherein the facsimile apparatus main body includes a memory for storing received document data;
A printing unit that performs printing based on the received document data written in the memory, and when receiving the received document data from the transmission side in the memory, confirms the memory capacity.If the memory capacity is smaller than a predetermined amount, When the judgment is made, the receiving original data is stored in the storage means in the computer device when the computer device is connected via the communication path, and the reception is rejected when the computer device is not connected. Facsimile function device. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the received data stored in the computer apparatus is transmitted together with a facsimile number of the own station via a communication path, and printed by a printing unit of the facsimile apparatus body. Functional device.