JP2001127947A - Device and method for image communication - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control the orders of the color and monochrome of a received image on the basis of examination results by examining the surface and rear face of coated paper set on a device in color facsimile machine capable of both-side communication. SOLUTION: When color and monochrome images to be recorded on both the sides of a piece of recording paper are received (S1), this method urges the device to set a coated paper (S2), the types of the recording faces of a set recording paper are examined (S4), and the order of recording the received image is controlled on the basis of the decision results (S5 and S6).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image communication apparatus and method, and more particularly to an image communication apparatus capable of two-sided communication, such as recording images recorded on both sides of a received document on both sides of recording paper. And its method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A color facsimile apparatus capable of communicating color images has been commercialized. Further, communication based on double-sided recording capability at the receiving side, such as reading images recorded on both sides of a document and communicating image information so that images are recorded on both sides of recording paper (hereinafter, referred to as “two-sided communication”) A facsimile apparatus having the following has been proposed.

[0003]

In the duplex communication, the receiving facsimile machine prints the image information sent on both sides of the recording paper in the order of the page, but the communication image includes both color images and monochrome images. It is possible to do. If the received image is a color image, printing on a film-coated recording paper (coating paper) corresponding to color recording is preferable for improving print quality. Therefore, when a color image and a monochrome image are received as a continuous page, if recording on a coated paper, the color image is printed on the coated surface (front surface) and the monochrome image is printed on the non-coated surface (back surface). Printing is preferred. However, the relationship between the front and back of the coated paper set in the apparatus and the order of the color and monochrome of the received image do not always match. Depending on the relationship, a color image is printed on the uncoated side,
In some cases, a monochrome image is printed on the coated surface, and a good printing result cannot be obtained.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image communication apparatus and a method thereof capable of appropriately recording a received image on both sides of a recording sheet. .

[0005]

The present invention has the following configuration as one means for achieving the above object.

An image communication apparatus according to the present invention is an image communication apparatus having a function of recording images recorded on both sides of a received original document on both sides of a recording sheet. Determining means for determining and, when color and monochrome images to be recorded on both sides of one sheet of recording paper are received, control means for controlling the recording order of the received images based on the determination result of the determining means It is characterized by.

An image communication apparatus having a function of recording a received image on both sides of a recording medium, comprising: a judging unit for judging a type of the recording medium; a judgment result by the judging unit; And comparing means for comparing the attribute with the attribute.

An image communication method according to the present invention is an image communication method for recording images recorded on both sides of a received document on both sides of a recording sheet, and should be recorded on both sides of one recording sheet. When color and monochrome images are received, the order of recording the received images is controlled based on at least the result of determining the type of recording surface of the recording paper.

An image communication method having a function of recording a received image on both sides of a recording medium, wherein a type of the recording medium is determined, and a result of the determination is compared with an attribute of the received image. It is characterized by the following.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0011]

First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a facsimile apparatus according to a first embodiment.

In FIG. 1, a CPU 1 composed of a microprocessor or the like uses a RAM 3 as a work memory according to a program stored in a ROM 2 and controls a configuration described later via a system bus 17 to thereby control the entire apparatus. And various processes including image processing and communication processing.

The RAM 3 stores binarized image data read by the document image reading unit 8 and print image data recorded on recording paper by the print control unit 12. Further, the encoded image data for transmission output to the MODEM unit 13 and the encoded image data received from the MODEM unit 13 are also stored in the RAM 3. In addition, in order to store image data corresponding to a large number of images, a recording medium such as a hard disk can be used in addition to the RAM 3.

The nonvolatile memory 4 is a memory for storing data stored even when the power of the apparatus is off, for example, a dial number of a communication partner, and is, for example, a RAM backed up by a battery.

The CG 5 is a character generator that includes a ROM in which a character image corresponding to a JIS code or an ASCII code is stored, and outputs character image data corresponding to the code under the control of the CPU 1.

The reading unit 8 includes a DMA controller and an image processing I
C, consisting of a contact-type image sensor (CS), CMOS logic IC, etc., based on the control of CPU 1, binarizes the image signal read using CS using an image processing IC, and converts the binarized image data Send to RAM3 sequentially. The setting state of the document on the reading unit 8 can be detected by a document detection unit using a photo sensor provided on the document conveyance path.

The print control unit 12 includes a DMA controller, an ink jet recording device, a CMOS logic IC, and the like. Under the control of the CPU 1, it takes out the print image data stored in the RAM 3 and prints the image indicated by the print image data on the ink jet. Recording is performed on recording paper by a recording device. Further, the print control unit 12 has a mechanism for mechanically reversing the recording paper. After performing printing on one side of the recording paper in accordance with a command of the CPU 1, the printing control unit 12 reverses the recording paper and then reverses the recording paper. It also has a double-sided printing function for printing.

The operation unit 7 is used to operate a facsimile apparatus, such as a start key for starting facsimile transmission, a mode selection key for selecting an operation mode such as a resolution of a transmission image, and a ten-key or one-touch key for dialing. Consists of the required keys.

The display section 6 has a 7-segment LC for clock display.
D, an LCD module that combines a pictograph LCD that displays various modes, a dot matrix LCD that can display 5 x 7 dot characters in 16 digits x 1 line, and an LED for indicators I have.

CODEC 9 composed of a hardware circuit is
It assists the CPU 1 in decoding the received encoded data and encoding the image data to be transmitted. The CODEC 9 includes a conversion circuit that converts image data into RL (run-length) codes, a conversion circuit that converts RL codes into image data, and the like. In facsimile communication, MH (Modified H
ufman), MR (Modified READ) and MMR (Modified Modifi
ed READ) code is used.

The resolution converter 10 composed of a hardware circuit converts the resolution of the image data stored in the RAM 3 into a resolution of 8 pel (8 pixels / mm) for facsimile communication and a recording resolution of 360 dpi (360 dpi) of the print controller 12. Dot / inch). Specifically, the resolution conversion unit 10 converts the resolution only in the main scanning direction, and stores the converted image data in the RAM 3. Thereafter, the CPU 1 copies or thins out the image data stored in the RAM 3 line by line, and converts the resolution in the sub-scanning direction.

The image reversing unit 11 reverses the direction of an image to be printed when performing double-sided recording when it is necessary to perform printing on the reversed recording paper from the rear end of the image. In other words, if the image received by the duplex communication is an image to be printed on the front side (FS) of the recording paper, it is left as it is, and if the image is to be printed on the back side (RS), the image direction is inverted by the image inversion unit 11. Is done. Then, the image to be printed on the back surface of the recording paper is printed by the print control unit 12 on the inverted recording paper from the rear end of the image.

The MODEM 13 comprises a MODEM unit having a G3 communication mode, a clock generation circuit connected to the MODEM unit, etc., modulates code data to be transmitted stored in the RAM 3 under the control of the CPU 1, The data is transmitted to the telephone line 15 via the unit (NCU) 14. Also, telephone line 15 and
The analog signal input to MODEM13 via NCU14 is
The data is demodulated by the DEM 13 and stored in the RAM 3 as code data.

The NCU 14 controls the telephone line 15 under the control of the CPU 1.
To MODEM 13 or telephone 16. The NCU 14 detects a calling signal (CI), and sends an incoming signal to the CPU 1 when detecting the calling signal.

The telephone 16 is a telephone integrated with the facsimile machine, and is specifically composed of a handset, a speech network, a dialer, and a ten-key or one-touch key.

Next, a communication procedure according to the present embodiment will be described. Figures 2 and 3 show the proposed ITU-T recommendations for duplex communication
It is a figure explaining (non-ECM).

As shown in FIG. 2, the receiving side performs DIS (Digital
Alternate mode (Alter
nate Mode), and the X + 1 bit declares the double-sided printing capability in continuous mode. The sender that has been notified of the duplex printing capability can use DCS (Digi
tal Command Signal) declares execution of double-sided transmission in Alternate Mode by X bit or Continuous Mode by X + 1 bit. Therefore, the receiving device prints an image alternately on both sides of the recording paper when the X bit of the DCS is set.
The Alternate Mode is executed, and when the X and X + 1 bits are set, a continuous mode in which images are sequentially printed on the front surface of the recording paper and then sequentially printed on the back surface of the recording paper is executed.

In FIG. 3, the device on the receiving side is Alternate M
The two-sided printing capability in ode and continuous mode is declared, and the transmitting device declares two-sided transmission in alternate mode. After that, training, TCF (Training Che
ck), CFR (Confirmation to Receive), after sending and receiving training, facsimile message (FAXMSG)
Is transmitted. And every message (every page)
The page number (PN) in MPS (Multi-Page Signal) or EOP (End of Page), and the front side (Front Side: FS) or inverted side (R
reverse Side: RS) is declared.

In the alternate mode, as shown in FIG. 3, the PN is incremented in order from "1", and the printing surface also advances as FS, RS, FS, RS,. If there is a next page, the sending side sends MPS.
OP is sent.

The ITU-T recommendation also includes color facsimile communication. Naturally, color images and monochrome images may be mixed in duplex communication. The device on the receiving side can perform duplex communication in which color and monochrome images are mixed by declaring duplex and color communication capabilities.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure in the two-sided communication according to the first embodiment, which is a processing executed by the CPU 1.

If it is determined in step S1 that a color image has been received as the front side (page 1) and a monochrome image has been received as the back side (page 2), in step S2, it is determined that the color and monochrome images have been received. Please set a single-side coated paper of postcard size "on the display unit 6. In step S3, the user who sees this display sees a postcard-sized single-side coated paper (coated paper with film coated on one side)
Is set on the device.

The one-side coated paper is used for New Year's postcards for ink jet printing. The single-sided coated paper has a mark indicating the coated side so that it is possible to identify which is the coated side.

After the user sets the single-sided coated paper, for example, when the start key is pressed, the CPU 1
Detects the size and the coated surface of the recording paper set in step S4. The detection of the size is performed at a set position of the sensor or the paper guide, and the detection of the coating surface is performed by detecting the identification mark of the coating surface with the sensor. Then, the type of the recording paper set in step S5 is determined, and if it is determined that a single-side coated paper of an appropriate size is set, the process proceeds to step S6.

Then, in step S6, the CPU 1 determines whether or not the order of the received color and monochrome images matches the relationship between the front and back of the set coated paper. Then, a color image (first page) is printed on the front side which is the coated side, that is, a monochrome image (second page) is printed on the back side. If they do not match, in step S8, the order of the received images is changed, and a monochrome image (second page) is printed on the back side which is an uncoated surface, and a color image (first page) is printed on the front side.

If it is determined in step S5 that improper size and / or double-sided coated paper or plain paper is set instead of single-sided coated paper,
In step S9, for example, a confirmation message such as “Recording paper is inappropriate, do you want to print?” Is displayed on the display unit 6, and in step S10, an instruction from the user is waited. Then, for example, if the start key is pressed, printing is performed in the order of the pages received in step S7, and if, for example, the stop key is pressed, the process returns to step S2, and the type of recording paper to be set is displayed again. If a recording paper smaller than the appropriate size is set, step S2 is forcibly performed to prevent a problem that a part of the received image is not printed or to prevent printing outside the recording paper.
It is desirable to return to. Further, the processing can be ended without returning to step 2.

In the printing in steps S7 and S8, image processing is performed according to the type of image and the type of recording surface. In other words, when printing a color image on a coated surface, when printing a color image on an uncoated surface, when printing a monochrome image on an uncoated surface,
In addition, appropriate image processing is performed according to the case of printing a monochrome image on the coating surface so as to obtain a higher quality image.

FIG. 4 shows a case where two-sided communication for one recording sheet is performed. However, when two-sided communication is performed for a plurality of recording sheets in which color and monochrome images are mixed, The process shown in FIG. 4 may be repeatedly performed for each recording sheet.

When both sides are monochrome images, it goes without saying that the images may be printed on both sides of the recording paper (usually plain paper) set in the apparatus in advance. Further, when both sides are color images, it is required to set a double-side coated paper having film coating on both sides in step S2, and to detect the coating on both sides in step S4.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when two-sided communication in which color and monochrome images are mixed is received in facsimile communication, it is requested to set coated paper of an appropriate size in the apparatus. It is possible to determine whether the recording paper is appropriate or not, and perform a process according to the determination result. Further, it detects whether the set recording paper has a coated surface, and prints a color image on the coated surface and a monochrome image on the non-coated surface. Therefore, a received image can be printed with high quality according to the type and state of the recording paper set in the apparatus.

[0041]

[Second Embodiment] The processing in the two-sided communication according to the second embodiment will be described below. The processing according to the second embodiment is performed, for example, when many images are received in the memory or many transmission images are stored in the memory. This is executed when the free space of the RAM 3 is insufficient due to reasons such as the presence of the image, and the printing order of the received image cannot be changed, or when the processing of the image inverting unit 11 cannot be executed. In the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure in the two-sided communication according to the second embodiment, which is a processing executed by the CPU 1. Steps other than step S8 'are the same as in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

If it is determined in step S6 that the order of the received color and monochrome images does not match the relationship between the front and back of the set coated paper,
In step S8 ', for example, "Turn the recording paper over"
Is displayed on the display unit 6 and the user is asked to turn the recording paper upside down, and then the process returns to step S2.

In addition to the message display in each step described above, voice guidance can be provided.

[0045]

[Other Embodiments] Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus (for example, a copying machine) Machine, facsimile machine, etc.).

Further, an object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium (or a recording medium) in which a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a system or an apparatus, and a computer (a computer) of the system or the apparatus. It is needless to say that the present invention can also be achieved by a CPU or an MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Also,
When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code.
It is needless to say that a case in which the functions of the above-described embodiments are implemented by performing part or all of the actual processing.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, the CPU included in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 4 and / or 5 described above.

The image to be subjected to the two-sided communication may be an image obtained by reading a two-sided document on the transmission side, or may be an image created by application software of a computer.

The medium for double-sided recording is not limited to paper, but may be a material such as vinyl or plastics. Appropriate recording may be performed based on the relationship between the physical characteristics of the surface of the medium and the attributes of the received image.

[0051]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image communication apparatus and a method for appropriately recording a received image on both sides of a recording sheet.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a facsimile apparatus according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an ITU-T recommendation for two-sided communication;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an ITU-T recommendation for two-sided communication;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure in two-sided communication according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure in duplex communication according to the second embodiment.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Masao Kiguchi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Takahiro Shimomaruko 3-30-2, Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Non-corporation (72) Inventor Takehiro Yoshida 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Daisuke Suga 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Teruyuki Nishii 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term in Canon Inc. (reference) 2C061 AP03 AP04 AQ05 AR01 AR03 AS02 AS11 HK03 HK11 HN15 5C062 AA02 AB22 AB32 AB38 AB40 AB46 AC04 AC09 AC22 AE03 5C079 HA01 HA13 HA20 HB03 LA01 LA02 LA03 NA29 PA01

Claims (22)

[Claims] 1. An image communication apparatus having a function of recording a received image on both sides of a recording sheet, comprising: a judging means for judging at least a type of a recording side of the recording sheet; And a control unit for controlling a recording order of the received image based on a result of the determination by the determination unit when a color and monochrome image to be recorded in the image communication is received. 2. The control unit controls the recording order of the received images so that a color image is recorded on a color recording-compatible surface of a recording sheet and a monochrome image is recorded on a color recording non-corresponding surface. 2. The image communication device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit that outputs a notification that prompts a user to set a predetermined recording sheet in the apparatus when a color image is received. Image communication device. 4. The notifying means, when it is determined based on the result of the judgment by the judging means that an unsuitable recording paper for recording a received image is set, notifies the fact. 4. The image communication device according to claim 3, wherein 5. An image communication method for recording a received image on both sides of a recording sheet, the method comprising: receiving color and monochrome images to be recorded on both sides of one recording sheet; An image communication method comprising: controlling a recording order of a received image based on a result of determining a type of a recording surface. 6. The recording order of the received image is controlled such that a color image is recorded on a color recording-compatible surface of a recording sheet and a monochrome image is recorded on a color recording non-corresponding surface. Item 5. The image communication method according to Item 5. 7. The image communication method according to claim 5, further comprising, when a color image is received, outputting a notification prompting a user to set a predetermined recording sheet in the apparatus. . 8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising, when it is determined based on the result of the determination that a recording sheet inappropriate for recording the received image is set, that fact is notified. Image communication method described. 9. A recording medium on which a program code for image communication for recording a received image on both sides of a recording sheet is recorded, wherein the program code is recorded on at least both sides of one recording sheet. When a color and monochrome image to be received is received, it has at least a code for a step of determining the type of the recording surface of the recording paper, and a code for a step of controlling the recording order of the received image based on the determination result. Recording medium characterized by the above-mentioned. 10. An image communication apparatus having a function of recording a received image on both sides of a recording medium, comprising: a determination unit for determining a type of the recording medium; a determination result by the determination unit; An image communication device comprising: a comparing unit that compares the attribute with an attribute of the image communication device. 11. The image communication device according to claim 10, wherein the received image is received by two-sided communication. 12. The image communication apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said recording medium is paper. 13. The image communication apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the type of the recording medium is a type based on physical characteristics of a surface of the recording medium. 14. The image communication apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising display means for performing display based on a comparison result by said comparison means. 15. The image communication apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising control means for controlling a recording order based on a comparison result by said comparison means. 16. An image communication method having a function of recording a received image on both sides of a recording medium, wherein a type of the recording medium is determined, and a result of the determination is compared with an attribute of the received image. An image communication method, comprising: 17. The image communication method according to claim 16, wherein the received image is received by two-sided communication. 18. The image communication method according to claim 16, wherein said recording medium is paper. 19. The image communication method according to claim 16, wherein the type of the recording medium is a type based on physical characteristics of a surface of the recording medium. 20. The image communication method according to claim 16, further comprising performing display based on the comparison result. 21. The image communication method according to claim 16, further comprising controlling a recording order based on the comparison result. 22. A recording medium on which a program code of an image communication method having a function of recording a received image on both sides of the recording medium is recorded, wherein the program code determines at least a type of the recording medium. A recording medium comprising: a step code; and a code of a step of comparing a result of the determination in the determination step with an attribute of the received image.