JP2002084431A - Image communication unit and image communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image communication unit and an image communication method that can take precedence of communication of reversely coded color information over others without any deterioration in images even when ring communication is executed in the case that ring type transmission of color information is selected or color information is received and transmitted to a succeeding destination in a ring type. SOLUTION: In the image communication unit having a means to communicate color information, the ring type communication to communicate transmission information in a ring form is executed, and a sub address signal, a next destination and information denoting whether or not present unit makes first transmission in cross-reference with a ring type communication number are registered, then the transmission of color information adopting the reverse coding system is given priority over others when first transmission by the present unit is selected in the ring type communication and the color information is communicated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus, and more particularly, to an image communication apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus capable of transmitting color information to a plurality of destinations and an image communication method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional facsimile apparatus, when transmitting one piece of information to a plurality of destinations, sequentially calls the plurality of destinations to be transmitted and transmits the same information. Another one
To send one piece of information to multiple destinations,
Instructs transfer. Alternatively, it is conceivable to execute facsimile transmission in a ring shape.

[0003] In the case of facsimile transmission in the above-mentioned ring shape, facsimile apparatus FAX _A transmits to facsimile _B ,
Transmitted from the AX _B to FAX _C, transmitted from the FAX _C to FAX _D, transmitted from the FAX _D to FAX _E, FAX from FAX _{E F}
And FAX _F to FAX _A.

[0004]

In the case where facsimile transmission is performed in a ring shape and color information is transmitted, the facsimile apparatus that has received the color information transmits the color reception information again to the next destination. At this time, re-encoding is required. Here, since JPEG encoding is irreversible encoding, there is a problem that image quality deteriorates when color information is re-encoded in each facsimile terminal.

According to the present invention, when ring-type transmission of color information is selected, or when color information is received and transmitted to the next destination in a ring-type, priority is given to communicating color information by reversible encoding of color information. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image communication apparatus and an image communication method in which the image is not deteriorated even when the ring communication is executed.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image communication apparatus having means for communicating color information, comprising: means for communicating color information based on a reversible coding method; Means for communicating color information, means for executing ring communication for transmitting transmission information in a ring, and a subaddress signal, a next destination, and one ring communication corresponding to the ring communication number. In the registration means for registering information indicating whether the own device transmits first or not, and when the own device is selected to transmit first in one ring communication, when communicating the color information, And a control unit that prioritizes transmission of color information based on a reversible encoding method.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a facsimile apparatus FS1 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

An NCU (network control unit) 2 connects to a terminal of the line in order to use the telephone network for data communication and the like.
It controls connection of the telephone exchange network, switches to a data communication path, and holds a loop. The NCU 2 connects the telephone line 2a to the telephone (CML off) or connects the telephone line 2a to the facsimile machine (CML on) under the control of the bus 26. In a normal state, the telephone line 2a is connected to the telephone 4 side.

The hybrid circuit 6 separates the transmission system signal and the reception system signal, sends the transmission signal from the addition circuit 12 to the telephone line 2a via the NCU 2, and transmits the signal from the other party via the NCU 2 And sends it to the modem 8 via the signal line 6a.

The modulator / demodulator 8 is based on ITU-T Recommendation V. 8,
V. 21, V.I. 27ter, V.I. 29, V.I. 17, V.I.
This is a modulator / demodulator that performs modulation and demodulation based on the signal 34, and each transmission mode is designated by control of the bus 26. The modulator / demodulator 8 receives a transmission signal from the bus 26, outputs modulated data to the signal line 8a, receives a received signal output to the signal line 6a, and outputs demodulated data to the bus 26.

The calling circuit 10 inputs telephone number information in response to a signal from the bus 26, and sends DTMF to the signal line 10a.
Is output.

The adder circuit 12 inputs the information of the signal line 8a and the information of the signal line 10a, and adds the result of the addition to the signal line 12a.
Output to

A reading circuit 14 capable of reading color information
Outputs read data to the bus 26.

The recording circuit 16 capable of recording color information includes:
Information output to the bus 26 is sequentially recorded line by line.

The memory circuit 18 includes a work memory (R
AM), and further stores raw information or encoded information of the read data, and receives received information or
It is used for storing the decoded information and the like via the bus 26.

FIG. 2 shows an example in which, in the above embodiment, a subaddress signal, a next destination, information as to whether or not to start a ring-type start from the own device, etc. are registered in correspondence with a ring-type communication number. FIG.

The memory circuit 18 registers a subaddress signal, a next destination, and information indicating whether or not the own device transmits first in one ring communication in correspondence with the ring communication number. It is registered as shown in FIG. Here, the ring communication No01 does not start the ring communication from the own device (the self device does not transmit first in one ring communication), while the ring communication No02 indicates the ring communication from the own device. The communication is started (the own device transmits first in one ring communication).

The memory circuit 18 has a memory for registering a sub-address signal and an operation corresponding to the memory box. For example, the memory is registered as shown in FIG.

The memory circuit 18 is provided with a memory for registering a destination, a sub-address signal, and an operation corresponding to the one-touch dial, for example, as shown in FIG. 2 (3).

The operation unit 20 includes one-touch dial, speed dial, numeric keypad, * key, # key, start key,
There are a stop key, a set key, a ring communication selection key, a color communication selection key, a registration key to the memory, and other function keys.
Is output to The operation unit 20 has a display unit.
The information output to 6 is input and displayed.

A CPU (central processing unit) 22 controls the entire facsimile and executes a facsimile transmission control procedure. The control program is stored in a ROM 24.

The ROM 24 stores a control program. The control program is used in an image communication apparatus having a means for communicating color information. A means for communicating color information, a means for executing ring communication for communicating transmission information in a ring form, and a sub-address signal, a next destination, Registration means for registering information indicating whether or not the own device transmits first in one ring communication, and when the own device is selected to transmit first in one ring communication, the color information is When communicating,
This is a control program for realizing control means for giving priority to transmission of color information based on a reversible encoding method.

The facsimile apparatus that executes the ring communication receives the color information, and transmits the color information to the next destination. When the color information is communicated, the color information based on the reversible encoding method is used. Give priority to sending.

On the other hand, in color facsimile transmission,
If the image communication device that has received the color information does not need to transmit the reception information to the next destination, transmission of the color information based on the irreversible encoding method is prioritized.

More specifically, in point-to-point color facsimile transmission, transmission of color information based on an irreversible coding scheme is prioritized. Also, when a relay broadcast instruction or a transfer instruction is performed to transmit color information, priority is given to transmission of color information based on a reversible encoding method.

FIGS. 3 to 13 show a facsimile apparatus FS1.
6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment.

In S2, the memory circuit 18 is initialized via the bus 26, in S4, the display of the operation unit 20 is cleared via the bus 26, and in S6, the bus 2 is cleared.
6, the CML of the NCU 2 is turned off.

In S8, it is determined whether or not registration of information corresponding to the ring communication number has been selected via the bus 26. If registration of information corresponding to the ring communication number has been selected, the process proceeds to step S8. Proceeding to S10, the sub-address signal, the next destination, and the start from the own device are transmitted to the memory circuit 18 via the bus 26 in accordance with the ring communication number (the own device transmits first in one ring communication). ) Is registered, for example, as shown in FIG. 2A, and if registration of information corresponding to the ring communication number has not been selected, the process proceeds to step S12.

In S12, it is determined whether or not registration in the memory box has been selected via the bus 26. If registration in the memory box has been selected, the process proceeds to step S14, and the process proceeds to step S14. In the circuit 18, the sub-address signal and the operation corresponding to the memory box are, for example,
Registration is performed as shown in FIG. 2 (2), and if registration in the memory box is not selected, the process proceeds to step S16.

In S16, it is determined whether or not registration of one-touch dial has been selected via the bus 26. If registration of one-touch dial has been selected, step S1 is performed.
8, the destination, the sub-address signal, and the operation corresponding to the one-touch dial are registered in the memory circuit 18 via the bus 26, for example, as shown in FIG. 2 (3), and the registration of the one-touch dial is selected. If not, the process proceeds to step S20.

In S20, the operation unit 2 is connected via the bus 26.
Input information of 0, and determine whether transmission is selected,
If transmission has been selected, the process proceeds to step S26, and if transmission has not been selected, the process proceeds to step S22.

In S22, it is determined whether or not facsimile reception has been selected. If facsimile reception has been selected, the process proceeds to step S84. If facsimile reception has not been selected, the process proceeds to step S24, where other processing is performed. I do.

In S26, the operation unit 2 is connected via the bus 26.
0, and determines whether or not ring-type transmission has been selected. If ring-type transmission has been selected, step S
Proceeding to step S34, if ring-type transmission has not been selected, proceeding to step S28.

In S28, the operation unit 2 is connected via the bus 26.
0 is input, and it is determined whether or not the relay broadcast instruction is selected. If the relay broadcast instruction is selected (specifically, if the one-touch dial 02 is pressed), step S30 is performed. If the relay broadcast instruction has not been selected, the process proceeds to step S58.

In S30, the NCU 2
C32 is turned on, and in S32, a call is made to the destination of 03-3222-2222 using the calling circuit via the bus 26. In S34, the CM of the NCU 2 is connected via the bus 26.
L is turned on, and in S36, a call is made to the destination of 03-3333-6666 using the calling circuit via the bus 26.

In S38, the operation unit 2 is connected via the bus 26.
0, and determines whether or not color transmission is selected. If color transmission is selected, step S40 is performed.
If the color transmission is not selected, the process proceeds to step S46.

In step S40, the pre-procedure is executed, color transmission in lossless encoding is specified, and 1248 is transmitted as a subaddress signal. In step S42, color information is losslessly encoded and transmitted. Execute the procedure and execute S46.
Then, the pre-procedure is executed, color transmission is not specified, and 1248 is transmitted as a sub-address signal.
Then, the monochrome information is transmitted, and in S50, the post-procedure is executed.

In S52, the operation unit 2 is connected via the bus 26.
0, and determines whether or not color transmission is selected. If color transmission is selected, step S54 is performed.
If the color transmission is not selected, the process proceeds to step S56.

In S54, the pre-procedure is executed, color transmission in lossless encoding is designated, and 5555 is transmitted as a sub-address signal. In S56, the pre-procedure is executed, and color transmission is not specified. 555 as a sub-address signal
Send 5

In S58, the operation unit 2 is connected via the bus 26.
0, and determines whether or not a transfer instruction has been selected. If the transfer instruction has been selected (specifically, if the one-touch dial 03 has been pressed), step S6 is performed.
If the transfer instruction has not been selected (specifically, if the one-touch dial 01 has been pressed), the process proceeds to step S60.

In S60, the NCU 2
In step S62, a calling circuit is used to send a call to the destination of 03-3221-1111 via the bus 26. In step S64, the CM of the NCU 2 is connected via the bus 26.
L is turned on, and in S66, a call is made to the destination 03-3222-3333 using the calling circuit via the bus 26.

In S68, the operation unit 2 is connected via the bus 26.
0 is input, and it is determined whether or not color transmission is selected. If color transmission is selected, step S70 is performed.
If the color transmission is not selected, the process proceeds to step S72.

In S70, the pre-procedure is executed, color transmission in lossless coding is designated, and 6666 is transmitted as a sub-address signal. In S72, the pre-procedure is executed, and color transmission is not specified. 666 as a sub address signal
Send 6.

In S74, the operation unit 2 is connected via the bus 26.
0, and determines whether or not color transmission is selected. If color transmission is selected, step S76 is performed.
If the color transmission is not selected, the process proceeds to step S82.

In S76, the pre-procedure is executed to designate color transmission in lossy encoding (for example, JPEG encoding), and no sub-address signal is transmitted.

In S78, the color information is irreversibly encoded and transmitted. In S80, the post-procedure is executed.
The pre-procedure is executed, the sub-address signal is transmitted without specifying the color transmission, and in S84, the NC is transmitted via the bus 26.
The CML of U2 is turned on, and in S86, the pre-procedure is executed,
It notifies that there is a sub-address signal receiving function, that there is a color receiving function in lossy coding, and that there is a color receiving function in lossless coding.

In S88, it is determined whether or not a sub-address signal has been received.
Proceeding to step S94, if the sub address signal has not been received, the process proceeds to step S90.

In S90, an image signal in the designated communication mode is received and recorded, and in S92, a post-procedure is executed.

In step S94, the value of the sub address signal is determined.
If it is 22, the process proceeds to step S114, and if it is 3333, the process proceeds to step S152.

In step S96, the image signal is received and recorded in the memory in the designated communication mode. In step S98, the post-procedure is executed. In step S100, the CM of the NCU 2 is connected via the bus 26.
L is turned off, and in S102, a wait is performed for 30 seconds.
In 04, the CML of the NCU 2 is turned on via the bus 26, and in S106, a call is made to 03-3111-4444 via the bus 26 using the calling circuit.

In step S108, it is determined whether the information received in the memory is color information. If the information received in the memory is color information, the flow advances to step S110. If the information received in the memory is not color information, the flow advances to step S110. S112
Proceed to.

In S110, the pre-procedure is executed, color transmission in lossless encoding is designated, and 1234 is transmitted as a subaddress signal. In S112, the pre-procedure is executed, and color transmission is not specified. 1234 is transmitted as a sub-address signal. In S114, the image signal is received and recorded in the memory in the designated communication mode. In S116, the post-procedure is executed. In S118, the NC is connected via the bus 26.
The CML of U2 is turned off. In S120, a wait is performed for 30 seconds. In S122, the CML of NCU2 is connected via the bus 26.
The ML is turned on, and in S124, a call is made to 03-3555-1111 via the bus 26 using the calling circuit.

In step S126, it is determined whether the information received in the memory is color information. If the information received in the memory is color information, the flow advances to step S128. If the information received in the memory is not color information, the flow advances to step S128. S132
Proceed to.

In S128, the pre-procedure is executed, color transmission in lossless encoding is designated, and no sub-address signal is transmitted.

In S130, the color information is reversibly encoded and transmitted. In S132, the pre-procedure is executed, no color transmission is specified, no sub-address signal is transmitted, in S134 monochrome information is transmitted, and in S136 The post-procedure is executed, and in S138, the C of the NCU 2 is connected via the bus 26.
The ML is turned off, and in S140, a wait is performed for 30 seconds.
At 142, the CML of the NCU 2 is turned on via the bus 26, and at S144, a call is made to 03-3555-2222 via the bus 26 using the calling circuit.

In step S146, it is determined whether the information received in the memory is color information. If the information received in the memory is color information, the flow advances to step S148. If the information received in the memory is not color information, the flow advances to step S148. S150
Proceed to.

In S148, the pre-procedure is executed to specify the color transmission in the lossless encoding, and no sub-address signal is transmitted. In S150, the pre-procedure is executed and the sub-address is specified without specifying the color transmission. Without transmitting the signal, S152
In, the image signal is received in the memory in the specified communication mode,
In step S154, the post-procedure is executed. In step S156, the CML of the NCU 2 is turned off via the bus 26.
At 158, a wait is performed for 30 seconds. At S160, the CML of the NCU 2 is turned on via the bus 26. At S162, the CCU of the NCU 2 is turned on via the bus 26 using the calling circuit.
Make a call to 66-1111.

The above embodiment may be applied to an image communication apparatus other than a facsimile apparatus such as a personal computer having an image communication function.

[0059]

According to the first, second, sixth, and seventh aspects of the present invention, when ring-type transmission of color information is selected, or when color information is received and ring-type transmitted to the next destination,
It is possible to give priority to communication of color information by reversible encoding of color information, and there is an effect that image deterioration is completely eliminated even when ring communication is executed.

According to the third and fourth aspects of the present invention, when color information is transmitted point-to-point and the receiver does not need to transmit the color information to the next destination,
It becomes possible to perform full-color communication using JPEG, which has become widespread as color communication, so that the effect of executing color communication increases.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when a relay broadcast instruction or a transfer instruction is performed and color information is transmitted, the terminal receiving the color information needs to re-encode the color information. By giving priority to transmission of color information based on a reversible encoding method, there is an effect that there is no deterioration in image quality.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a facsimile apparatus FS according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example in which a sub-address signal, a next destination, information on whether or not to start a ring-type start from the own device, and the like are registered corresponding to a ring-type communication number in the embodiment. is there.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the facsimile machine FS1.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the facsimile machine FS1.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of the facsimile machine FS1.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of the facsimile machine FS1.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the facsimile machine FS1.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the facsimile machine FS1.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation of the facsimile machine FS1.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the facsimile machine FS1.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an operation of the facsimile machine FS1.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an operation of the facsimile machine FS1.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an operation of the facsimile machine FS1.

[Explanation of symbols]

 FS1: facsimile machine, 16: recording circuit, 18: memory circuit, 20: operation unit, 22: CPU, 24: ROM.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An image communication apparatus having means for communicating color information, wherein: means for communicating color information based on a reversible coding method; and communicating color information based on an irreversible coding method. Means for performing ring communication for transmitting transmission information in a ring form; sub-address signal, next destination, and own equipment first transmitting in one ring communication corresponding to the ring communication number Registering means for registering information indicating whether or not to transmit the color information based on a reversible encoding method when the own device selects transmission first in one ring communication; Control means for giving priority to transmission of information; 2. The image communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image communication apparatus for executing ring communication receives color information and transmits the color information to a next destination. An image communication apparatus characterized by giving priority to transmission of color information based on a method. 3. The color facsimile transmission according to claim 1, wherein, in the color facsimile transmission, if the image communication apparatus that has received the color information does not need to transmit the reception information to the next destination, the image communication apparatus uses an irreversible coding scheme. An image communication device characterized by giving priority to transmission of color information. 4. The image communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein in the point-to-point color facsimile transmission, when transmitting color information, priority is given to transmission of color information based on an irreversible encoding method. . 5. The color information transmission method according to claim 1, wherein a relay broadcast instruction or a transfer instruction is issued, and the color information is transmitted. An image communication device, wherein priority is given to. 6. The image communication device according to claim 1, wherein the image communication device is a facsimile device. 7. An image communication method having means for communicating color information, the method comprising: communicating color information based on a reversible encoding method; and communicating color information based on an irreversible encoding method. Performing a ring-type communication for transmitting transmission information in a ring shape; and transmitting the sub-address signal, the next destination, and the own device first in one ring-type communication corresponding to the ring-type communication number. A registration step of registering information indicating whether or not to transmit the color information based on a reversible encoding method when the transmission of the color information is initially selected in one ring communication. A control step of giving priority to transmission of information.