JP2002101283A - Image information communication equipment and method for controlling the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image information communication equipment capable of informing inclusion of a blank sheet image information in a received image information by accurately specifying a transmission originator and a method for controlling the same. SOLUTION: The method for controlling the image information communication equipment comprises the steps of automatically registering a remote party identification information to be notified when a communication remote party registered with a dial registration table to transmit image information (303), collating the remote party identification information to be notified from the originator with the dial registration table at image information receiving time (309), specifying the originator telephone number, automatically calling the specified party telephone number (314) if the received image information includes blank sheet image information (308), and transmitting the image information included as a content in the effect that the blank paper image information is included in the received image information (315).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image information communication apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus and a control method therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image information communication apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus for exchanging image information with a destination apparatus,
When the image information to be transmitted is obtained by scanning with a scanner, if the original is set upside down, it is received by the receiving device, displayed on a display, or recorded on a recording paper and visually output. The received image information includes a page of blank image information. However, since the transmitting user intends to transmit correctly, the transmission and reception of the correct image information is not completed as it is.

[0003] When such blank page information is received, the receiving user notifies the transmitting user by telephone or the like to prompt the transmission of the correct image information in a general response method. However, such a response not only takes time and effort to the user, but also the transmitting side does not notice that the receiving side user has sent the blank image information until the receiving side user contacts the receiving image information, However, there is a possibility that the original which is the source of the transmission image information is already destroyed.

Therefore, if the receiving device detects whether blank image information is included in the received image information, and if the blank image information is detected, a warning to that effect is issued to the transmitting device. Can be automatically performed, the transmitting user can be encouraged to transmit correct image information that does not include blank image information, without the receiving user having to check and contact the received image information.

[0005]

However, in order for the receiving apparatus to notify the transmitting apparatus of a warning indicating that the transmitting apparatus has transmitted the blank image information, the receiving apparatus must receive the warning. It is necessary for the side device to know the subscriber number (destination number) of the transmitting side device on the public line accurately.

In an image information communication apparatus in which image information is transmitted by facsimile by calling a destination telephone number via a public line, a telephone number of a transmission destination (reception side) is designated by a user at the time of transmission. By doing so, you can know exactly.

On the other hand, the telephone number of the receiving party (transmitting side) cannot be known accurately at the time of reception. Originally, in the G3 facsimile apparatus which is one of the image information communication apparatuses, the transmission terminal identification signal T in the transmission control procedure is used.
Information for identifying the other party can be obtained by SI or the like. However, the destination identification information notified by the transmission terminal identification signal TSI or the like is arbitrarily set as the own device identification information in the destination device, and some users set the telephone number of the own device correctly. It is considered that some users set incorrectly, and even if the telephone number was changed, some users did not reflect the change in the setting of the own device identification information. It is possible to set the name of the machine itself in katakana or alphabet by a signal, and the name of the machine may be notified to the other party as the machine identification information. There is a problem that it is not always a telephone number.

As a known technique related to the blank page warning notification according to the present invention, there is a “facsimile mail storage and exchange device” described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-18628.

However, the above-mentioned known technique does not disclose in detail a method of acquiring a notification destination for notifying that the page is blank. It can also be said that it is necessary to register a telephone number in advance as user information. There is also a statement that a blank warning notification is sent to the number stored in the received TSI. However, there is no guarantee that the number stored in the TSI is a correct telephone number, and the person who should give the warning notification correctly is not guaranteed. This is not always performed first, as described above.

As described above, conventionally, there is a problem that the source of the blank image information cannot be accurately specified, and a notification for warning that the blank image information has been transmitted cannot be automatically given. Was.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an image information capable of accurately specifying a transmission source and issuing a warning that blank image information is included in received image information. An object of the present invention is to provide a communication device and a control method thereof.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image information communication apparatus for transmitting and receiving image information to and from a destination apparatus via a public network. When calling the destination telephone number via the public network and transmitting image information to the destination device, the destination identification information notified from the destination device is replaced with the designated destination telephone. A destination identification information automatic registration means for storing in the dial registration table in association with the number, and a destination telephone corresponding to the destination identification information notified from the communication destination when receiving the image information by collating with the dial registration table. A destination specifying means for specifying a number, a blank image information detecting means for detecting whether blank image information is included in the received image information, and a blank image information being included in the received image information. Detected by blank image information detection means If it is, automatically calls the destination telephone number specified by the destination specifying means,
A blank warning notifying unit for transmitting image information including the fact that the received image information includes blank image information.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image information communication apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein a blank page warning notification is issued for each communication destination registered in the dial registration table. Further comprising a blank page warning notification permission / prohibition setting unit for setting and storing the blank page warning notification unit, wherein the blank page warning notification unit detects that the blank image information is included in the received image information, The destination telephone number specified by the destination specifying unit only when the setting by the blank page warning notification permission / prohibition setting unit for the destination specified by the destination specifying unit is set to perform blank page notification. , And automatically transmits a call, and transmits image information including the fact that the received image information includes blank image information.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image information communication apparatus which transmits / receives image information to / from a destination apparatus via a communication path via a public network and communicates with the destination apparatus via a communication path via a network. An image information communication apparatus that supports both transmission and reception of image information between the image processing apparatus and the image processing apparatus, when calling a specified destination telephone number via the public network and transmitting the image information to the destination apparatus. A destination identification information automatic registration unit that stores destination identification information notified from the destination device in the dial registration table in association with the specified destination telephone number, and When the communication is via the public network, the destination identification information notified from the communication partner is checked against the dial registration table to specify a corresponding destination telephone number, and the reception is via the network. in case of A destination specifying means for specifying the address information obtained at the time of reception as a destination address, a blank image information detecting means for detecting whether blank image information is included in the received image information, and a blank image information in the received image information. In the case where the blank image information detecting means detects that the information is included, and when the receiving path is via the public network, the receiving telephone number specified by the other party specifying means is automatically changed to the destination telephone number. When a call is made and image information including the fact that the blank image information is included in the received image information is transmitted, when the reception path is via the network, the image is identified by the destination identification means. To a destination address, a blank warning notifying unit for transmitting image information including the content that the blank image information is included in the received image information over a network. That.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image information communication apparatus according to the third aspect, wherein a blank warning notification is set for each communication path of the public network and the network. A warning notification permission / prohibition setting unit, wherein the blank page warning notifying unit is configured to, when the blank image information detecting unit detects that the blank image information is included in the received image information, change a reception path through the public network. And when the blank warning notification permission / inhibition setting means is set to permit blank warning notification via the public network, a call is automatically made to the destination telephone number specified by the destination specifying means. Then, while transmitting the image information including the content that the blank image information is included in the received image information, the receiving path is via the network, and the When the paper warning notification is set to be permitted, image information including the fact that the received image information includes blank image information is transmitted to the destination address specified by the destination specifying means. It is characterized by doing.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image information communication apparatus according to any one of the first, second, third, and fourth aspects, wherein the blank-page warning notifying means is configured to output all the received image information. Only when the blank image information detecting means detects that the image information of the page is blank, the image information including the fact that the blank image information is included in the received image information is transmitted to the destination. Is performed.

An image information communication apparatus according to a sixth aspect is the image information communication apparatus according to any one of the first, second, third, and fourth aspects, wherein the image information communication apparatus is blank only when the received image information is blank for all pages. Blank warning notification condition setting means for setting blank warning notification conditions in advance to perform either a warning notification or a blank warning notification if one or more blank pages are included in the received image information. The blank warning notifying unit may further include a setting that, when the blank warning notifying condition is set by the blank warning notifying condition setting unit, one or more blank pages are included in the received image information. When the blank image information detecting means detects that the received image information includes one or more pages of blank image information, the blank image information is included in the received image information. Content that While the image information is transmitted to the destination, the blank warning notification condition is set by the blank warning notification condition setting means to perform the blank warning notification only when the received image information is blank for all pages. In the case, only when the blank image information detecting means detects that the image information of all pages of the received image information is blank, the content indicating that the blank image information is included in the received image information is used as the content. It is characterized in that the image information containing is transmitted to the destination.

An image information communication device according to a seventh aspect is the image information communication device according to any one of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth aspects, wherein the blank image information detection means includes: When performing blank page determination of the image information of each page constituting the received image information, the blank page detection invalid area is excluded and the determination is performed.

An image information communication apparatus according to an eighth aspect is the image information communication apparatus according to the seventh aspect, wherein the predetermined blank page detection invalid area is an area having a predetermined width at an upper end of the image information. Features.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image information communication apparatus according to the eighth aspect, wherein the predetermined blank area detection invalid area has a predetermined width at an upper end of the image information. An invalid area width setting means for arbitrarily setting the width is further provided.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image information communication apparatus according to any one of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth aspects. The apparatus further includes a self-identification information storage unit in which identification information is stored in advance, and the image information including, as the content, that the blank image information is included in the received image information transmitted by the blank warning notification unit includes the self-identification information. It is characterized by including information.

An image information communication device according to claim 11 is the image information communication device according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, The image processing apparatus further includes a timekeeping unit that measures the current date and time, and the image information including the content that the blank image information is included in the received image information, transmitted by the blank warning notification unit, is received when the received image information is received. It is characterized in that it also includes information on the date and time at which the time keeping means was keeping time.

An image information communication apparatus according to a twelfth aspect is the image information communication apparatus according to any one of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, and eleventh aspects. And a blank page number storage unit for storing a page number of the pages constituting the received image information, the page number being detected as blank by the blank image information detecting unit, wherein the received image information includes blank page image information. The image information containing the fact that the page information has been written is also characterized by including the blank page number stored in the blank page number storage means.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling an image information communication apparatus for transmitting / receiving image information to / from a destination apparatus via a public network. When calling the destination telephone number via the public network and transmitting image information to the destination device, the destination identification information notified from the destination device is replaced with the designated destination telephone. It is stored in the dial registration table in association with the number, and the destination identification information notified from the communication destination at the time of receiving the image information is compared with the dial registration table to identify the corresponding destination telephone number, and receive the image. When it is detected that the blank image information is included in the image information, a call is automatically made to the specified other party's telephone number, and a message indicating that the blank image information is included in the received image information. Specially to send image information including To.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling an image information communication apparatus, comprising: transmitting and receiving image information to and from a destination apparatus via a communication path via a public network; A method for controlling an image information communication apparatus that supports both transmission and reception of image information to and from an apparatus, wherein a call is made to a specified destination telephone number via the public network to send image information to the destination apparatus. When performing the transmission, the destination identification information notified from the destination device is stored in the dial registration table in association with the specified destination telephone number,
At the time of receiving image information, if the reception is via the public network, the destination identification information notified from the communication destination, while identifying the corresponding destination telephone number by collating with the dial registration table, When the reception is via the network, the address information acquired at the time of reception is specified as the destination address, and when it is detected that the blank image information is included in the received image information, the reception path is changed to the public path. If the received image information is transmitted via the network, the specified telephone number of the other party is automatically called, and the image information including the fact that the blank image information is included in the received image information is transmitted. If the received image information is transmitted via the network, the image information including the fact that the received image information includes blank image information is transmitted to the specified destination address via the network. Characterized in that it.

[0026]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.
An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to a first embodiment and a second embodiment.

First, FIG. 1 shows a block configuration of a facsimile apparatus 1 as an image information communication apparatus according to the first embodiment.

In FIG. 1, a facsimile apparatus 1 includes a system control unit 2, a ROM 3, a RAM 4, a scanner 5, a plotter 6, a clock circuit 7, an image memory 8, an operation display unit 9,
It comprises an encoding / decoding section 10, a modem 11, a network control section 12, and a system bus 13.

The system control unit 2 controls each unit of the apparatus according to the control program written in the ROM 3 while using the RAM 4 as a work area.

As described above, the ROM 3 is a read-only memory in which a control program for the system control unit 2 to control each unit of the apparatus is stored. Also, ROM
3 stores a font table 3a in which font data is associated with each character code. The system control unit 2 refers to the font table 3a when converting a character string into image information.

The RAM 4 is a random access memory used as a work area of the system control unit 2 as described above. The RAM 4 is backed up by a backup circuit (not shown), and the stored contents are retained even when the power of the apparatus is turned off.

As shown in FIG. 2, the RAM 4 stores, as shown in FIG. 2, self-identification information 4a, a dial registration table 4b, and blank page invalid area setting information 4.
c is stored.

The own device identification information 4a is transmitted by a transmission terminal identification signal TSI, a called terminal identification signal CSI or the like, which is a G3 facsimile protocol standard identification information notification signal, or a non-standard function setting signal NSS, a non-standard function. Identification signal N
It is also used to notify the communication partner device with the manufacturer's unique specifications by SF etc. Also, the source of the warning notification is specified in the image information of the blank warning notification transmitted to the transmission source device described later The information is embedded as information for performing the setting, and is set in advance by an operation input from the operation display unit 9 or the like. However, the content of the self-identification information embedded in the image information of the blank warning notification is not subject to restrictions on the types of characters that can be transmitted in the transmission control procedure, so the self-identification information for notifying the other party by the called terminal identification signal CSI or the like. It may be set separately from the identification information so that kanji and the like can be used.

The dial registration table 4b is a table in which information necessary for an automatic dial function such as a so-called one-touch dial and abbreviated dial is stored. The details of the dial registration table 4b will be described later.

The blank page detection invalid area setting information 4c stores the blank page invalid area setting according to the processing procedure described later.

Returning to FIG. 1, the scanner 5 reads an original image at a predetermined reading line density of 3.85 lines / mm, 7.7 lines / mm, 15.4 lines / mm, etc. to obtain image information. It is for. The plotter 6 is for recording and outputting the received image information according to its line density, and for recording and outputting (copying operation) the image information read by the scanner 5 according to its line density.

The clock circuit 7 is for measuring the current date and time (date and time). The system control unit 2 can obtain the current date and time by reading the clock circuit 7. The image memory 8 is used for expanding image information when temporarily storing transmitted / received image information or creating various types of report image information.

The operation display unit 9 is provided with a numeric keypad, a start key, a one-touch dial key, and various other keys. On the other hand, the operation display unit 9 includes a display such as a liquid crystal display, and displays the operation state of the device to be notified to the user, Various messages are displayed.

FIG. 3 shows a specific configuration of the operation display unit 9.

In the figure, a numeric keypad 9a is used for directly inputting a destination telephone number or the like, or for inputting a number when specifying by a speed dial. The [Start] key 9b is for instructing the start of a facsimile transmission operation or the start of a copy operation. The [Stop] key 9c is for instructing forcible stop of various operations or for canceling the operation. [Yes] key 9d and [No] key 9
e is a key for allowing the user to make various selections of determination or cancellation. The [function] key 9f is used to register a one-touch dial, abbreviated dial, a user parameter setting function, and a function other than the function of the facsimile machine 1 as a standard facsimile machine, such as time designation transmission, department code designation transmission, and the like. The function can be called and executed by depressing the [function] key 9f and inputting a number corresponding to each function with the numeric keypad 9a.

The [abbreviated] key 9g is used for the abbreviated dial function, and is operated by depressing the [abbreviated] key 9g and a few digits (in the present embodiment, from 01 to 99 in this embodiment).
This is for designating a registration number for abbreviated dialing by a combination of input operations of numbers.

The one-touch key group 9h is for a one-touch dial function, and has a number "01" to "32".
It consists of keys corresponding to each number up to,
By pressing one of the one-touch keys, the registration number of the one-touch dial is designated.

The cursor key group 9j includes a [down arrow] key 9
jd, [left arrow] key 9jl, [right arrow] key 9jr,
And an [up arrow] key 9ju.
The [Down Arrow] key 9jd and the [Up Arrow] key 9ju are used to change the display contents of the display 9k or to scroll the display contents up and down in response to depression of each key. Also, the [left arrow] key 9jl and the [right arrow] key 9
jr selects an item, a function, or the like displayed on the display 9k in accordance with the depression of each key. The display 9k is
It displays the operating state of the device to be notified to the user and various messages.

Returning to FIG. 1, the encoding / decoding unit 10 converts the transmission image information into a predetermined encoding system such as an MH encoding system, an MR encoding system, and an MMR encoding system which conforms to G3 facsimile. While encoding and compressing the received image data,
The decoding is performed by a predetermined decoding method corresponding to an encoding method, an MR encoding method, an MMR encoding method, or the like. The modem 11 is a G3 facsimile modem and modulates data to be transmitted to the public network via the network control unit 12,
It demodulates a signal received from the public network via the network control unit 12. The modem 11 also sends out a DTMF signal corresponding to the input dial number. The network control unit 12 is connected to a public network, and closes / releases a DC loop of a line, detects polarity reversal of a line, detects line release, detects a dial tone, and outputs a tone signal such as a busy tone (busy). It controls connection with a line such as detection of a call signal and detection of a call signal, and generation of a dial pulse. System bus 13
Is a signal line through which the above components exchange data.

Next, a procedure for setting a blank page detection invalid area in the facsimile apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

In the figure, the system control unit 2 determines whether there is a combination operation of pressing the [function] key 9f and inputting the number "10" by the ten keys 9a, that is,
It is monitored whether the blank page detection invalid area setting mode is activated (No loop of the judgment 101).

When the blank page invalid area setting mode is activated (Yes in decision 101), a display D01 shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display 9k, and the blank page invalid area is set in mm units from the top of the image information page. (Step 102), and displays the value input by the ten key 9a on the display D0.
An input process for displaying the current input value and displaying the current input value is performed until the [Yes] key 9d is pressed (No loop of the determination 104).

When the [Yes] key 9b is depressed (Yes in decision 104), the current input value is stored as blank page detection invalid area setting information in the RAM 4 shown in FIG. 2 (Process 105).

In this manner, the width of the blank page detection invalid area at the top of the page can be arbitrarily set, and even if the blank page image information obtained by reading the inverted document or the like on the transmitting side, the source The top edge of the page where additional information such as date and time of transmission, page information, etc. are often embedded, and the area where blank page detection should be invalidated can be set optimally according to the width of the actual additional information. The accuracy of detection can be improved.

FIG. 6 shows the specific contents of the dial registration table 4b stored in the RAM 4 as shown in FIG.

In the figure, the dial registration table 4b
Is configured as a table in which the partial registration tables of the speed dial registration table and the one-touch dial registration table are combined. The abbreviated dial registration table is composed of 100 records corresponding to registration numbers “00” to “99”. The one-touch dial registration table includes 32 records corresponding to registration numbers “01” to “32”.

Each record specified by the registration number of each of the partial registration tables includes a “destination number”, a “destination name”, “destination identification information”, and a “blank warning notification flag Fh”. Field.

Of these fields, “destination number”, “destination name”, and “blank warning notification flag F
"h" is registered in advance by an operation input or the like from the operation display unit 9, and the "destination number" is a subscriber number of the destination facsimile apparatus in the public network. "Destination name" is displayed on the display 9k when the transmission destination is designated by one-touch dialing or speed dialing.
This is displayed for the user to confirm the designated destination. "Blank warning notification flag F
"h" sets whether or not to give a blank notice to the corresponding destination (value 1) or not (value 0). For example, the value 1 is set only for the destination which is a transmission source of an important document. Is set.

"Destination identification information" is information that is automatically registered by a process described later. When image information is transmitted, the transmission destination transmits a called terminal identification signal CSI or a non-standard function identification signal NS.
This information is notified by F and is arbitrarily set in advance as own device identification information on the transmission destination device side. The information notified from the other party at the time of transmitting the image information to the specific destination and registered as “destination identification information” is transmitted even when the image information is received from the specific destination. This is notified by the standard function setting signal NSS. However, the “destination identification information” notified at the time of receiving the image information can be used as information for distinguishing the destination, but the destination telephone number cannot be known only from the content thereof. However, dial registration table 4
By comparing with "b", the corresponding "destination number" can be known accurately.

In the present embodiment, the correspondence table between the destination number specified at the time of transmission and the destination identification information is also used as the dial registration table 4b for one-touch dialing or abbreviated dialing. Destination number specified at the time (not limited to abbreviated dialing and one-touch dialing, but may be direct input using the numeric keypad 9a) and destination identification information obtained when calling and transmitting the destination number Is sufficient for the application of the present invention.

Next, a transmission processing procedure in the facsimile machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

In the figure, the system control unit 2 monitors whether a document is set on the scanner 5 (No loop of the judgment 201).

When the original is set (decision 20)
1 Yes), it is monitored whether the transmission destination is specified by direct input using the numeric keypad 9a or indirectly specified by one-touch dialing or abbreviated dialing (decision 20).
2 No loop).

When the transmission destination is designated (Yes in decision 202), a [Start] key 9b indicating the start of transmission is further provided.
Is pressed (No loop of judgment 203).

When the [Start] key 9b is pressed (Yes in decision 203), a call is made to the destination number specified in decision 202 (process 204). In this case, the destination number is the number directly input if it is directly input from the numeric keypad 9a. If the destination number is indirectly specified by one-touch dialing or abbreviated dialing, the corresponding destination number in the dial registration table 4b is displayed. Destination number ".

When the transmission destination responds to the call in step 204, a pre-transmission procedure based on the G3 facsimile protocol is performed. In the exchange of control signals in the pre-transmission procedure, a called terminal identification signal CSI or a non-standard function identification signal is transmitted. After acquiring the identification information notified by the NSF as destination identification information (step 205), the image information obtained by reading the original set in the determination 201 by the scanner 5 is transmitted, and a necessary post-transmission procedure is performed. After the transmission is completed, a facsimile transmission process for disconnecting the line is performed (process 206).

Then, the destination designation in the judgment 202 is as follows:
It is determined whether or not a one-touch dial or abbreviated dialing is performed. If direct dialing with the numeric keypad 9a is not a one-touch dialing or abbreviated dialing, the process ends (No in determination 207).
In the case of one-touch dialing or abbreviated dialing (Yes in decision 207), the destination identification information acquired in process 205 is stored in the dial registration table 4b of FIG. Automatic registration is performed as "destination identification information" corresponding to the "registration number" (process 208).

Next, a reception processing procedure in the facsimile machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

In the figure, the system control unit 2 monitors whether there is an incoming call (No loop in decision 301), and if there is an incoming call (Yes in decision 302), the clock circuit 7 sends the current date and time as the reception time. Is read (processing 30
2) A pre-transmission procedure based on the G3 facsimile protocol is performed, and in the exchange of control signals in the pre-transmission procedure, the identification information notified by the transmission terminal identification signal TSI or the non-standard function setting signal NSS is replaced with the destination identification information. (Process 303), receives the encoded and compressed image information, and decodes and expands the received image information by the encoding / decoding unit 10 while recording and outputting the image information on recording paper by the plotter 6. The process (process 304) and the blank page detection process (process 305) are repeated until the reception of the image information is completed (No loop of process 306). When the reception of the image information is completed (Yes in determination 206), the line To terminate the communication (process 207).

Note that, in the image information receiving process of the process 304, the recording and outputting of the received image information by the plotter 6 and the blank page detecting process of the process 304 are performed after the received image information is temporarily stored in the image memory 8 and the image information is received. In the case of performing recording and outputting, that is, so-called memory reception, this processing may be performed after the line is disconnected in step 307.

Specifically, in the blank page detection processing 305, for each page constituting the received image information, each decoded line is a line composed of only white pixels not including black pixels (all white lines). ), And belongs to an area set to be invalid by blank page detection invalid area setting information 4c set and stored in RAM 4 as shown in FIG. If all the lines except for the line are all white lines, this is a process for determining that the received image information includes blank page image information.

Note that a line belonging to an area set to be invalid by the blank page detection invalid area setting information 4c set / stored in the RAM 4 means that the blank page detection invalid area setting information 4c is defined in terms of mm from the top of the page. Since the width is set, the line density of the received image information at the top of the page (3.
85 lines / mm, 7.7 lines / mm, 15.4 lines / mm, etc.)
And the number of lines multiplied by the width in mm units are excluded from the determination as to whether or not the line is an all white line. As a form of blank page detection, it is the strictest to detect a blank page when a black pixel is not included in all areas except a blank page invalid area in a page of image information. Even if the scanner reads a blank document when reading information, all black pixels included in the page are considered in consideration of the fact that a certain number of black pixels are included in blank image information due to stains on the background of the document. If the number is equal to or less than a certain number, a blank page detection mode may be adopted, and the present invention is not limited to a blank page detection mode in a region other than the blank page invalid region in a page of image information.

If there is no blank page in the received image information (No in decision 308), the process is terminated because there is no particular notification to the transmission source, but the blank page is included in the received image information. If there is (Yes in decision 308)
s), the destination identification information acquired in the process 303 is checked against the dial registration table 4b in FIG. 6 to confirm whether the matching destination identification information is registered in the field of the "destination identification information" (step 309). ).

If the matching destination identification information is not registered (No in decision 310), the process terminates because the telephone number of the transmission source cannot be specified accurately.

If the matching destination identification information is registered (Yes in decision 310), the value of the “blank warning notification flag Fh” corresponding to the matching destination identification information in the dial registration table 4b is registered. It is determined whether it is 1 or not (0) (decision 311). If the value is 0 (decision 311)
No), the process is terminated, but if the value is 1 (Yes in decision 311), the own device identification information 4a stored in the RAM 4 is read as shown in FIG. A fixed character string indicating a blank page warning,
For example, "The received document contained a blank page.
Please check the front and back of the manuscript and send it again. "
Each character string is created by expanding the character string on the image memory 8 with reference to a (step 313), and the dial registration table 4 is added to the destination identification information acquired in step 303.
b, a call is made to the corresponding destination number (process 31).
4) The facsimile transmission of the blank page warning notification image information created in step 313 (step 315).

The blank page warning notification image information transmitted in the process 315 is received by the source device of the image information including the blank page, and is plotted on the recording paper by the plotter in accordance with the visible output form of the received image information in the source device. It is output, displayed on a display, visually output, and referred to by the user of the transmission source.

Since the image information of the blank page warning notification includes the above-mentioned fixed word that warns that a blank page has been sent, the blank page is sent to the transmission source user. The user can be made to recognize that the document is present, and take appropriate measures such as checking the front and back of the document and retransmitting the document. Also, since the image information of the blank page warning notification includes the reception date and time as the transmission date and time for the transmission source and the own device identification information 4a as the destination identification information for the transmission source, the transmission date and time are The fact that a blank page has been sent when the original document was transmitted can be easily specified based on the destination identification information.

Next, FIG. 4 shows a block configuration of a facsimile apparatus 1a as an image information communication apparatus according to the second embodiment.

In FIG. 9, the same components as those of the facsimile apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

The facsimile machine 1a shown in FIG. 9 differs from the facsimile machine 1 shown in FIG.
N interface 14 and network communication via the LAN 20, specifically, e-mail communication according to the SMTP and MIME protocols, and the ITU-T Recommendation T.30. 38
Thus, real-time network communication can be performed. In the second embodiment, only the network communication via the LAN 20 by the LAN interface 14 is shown. However, a case where network communication by e-mail or the like by dial-up connection via a public network by the modem 11 as a data modem is performed. Needless to say, the present invention can also be applied to this.

Facsimile machine 1a according to the second embodiment
In the RAM 4 of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, in addition to its own device identification information 4a, dial registration table 4b, blank page detection invalid area setting information 4c, and storage areas 4d, 4e, and 4f, which are the same as the storage contents according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. Each of the flag values of the blank warning notification condition setting flag Fp, the blank warning notification enable / disable setting flag Fk via the public network, and the blank warning notification enable / disable setting flag Fn via the network are input in advance through the interactive input from the operation display unit 9. It is set and stored for example.

As in the case of the first embodiment, the own device identification information 4a is transmitted by a transmission terminal identification signal TSI, a called terminal identification signal CSI, which is a G3 facsimile protocol standard identification information notification signal, or It is also used to notify the communication partner device with the manufacturer's unique specifications using the non-standard function setting signal NSS, non-standard function identification signal NSF, etc.
Further, the information is embedded in the image information of the blank warning notification transmitted to the transmission source device, which will be described later, as information for specifying the transmission source of the warning notification. It is set. However,
Since the content of the own device identification information embedded in the image information of the blank page warning notification is not restricted by the character types that can be transmitted in the transmission control procedure, the own device identification information for notifying the other party by the called terminal identification signal CSI or the like. The setting may be made separately, so that Chinese characters or the like can be used.

The dial registration table 4b is a table storing information necessary for an automatic dial function such as a so-called one-touch dial, abbreviated dial, and the like. More specifically, FIG. The destination identification information is registered by the transmission processing procedure shown in FIG.

The blank page detection invalid area setting information 4c is a blank page invalid area set by the processing procedure shown in FIG. 4, as in the first embodiment.

A blank page warning notification condition setting flag Fp in the storage area 4d has a value 0 indicating that a blank page warning is to be issued when a document including one or more blank pages is received, and a value 1 indicating that all pages are blank. This indicates that a blank page warning notification is performed only when a blank message is received. With this setting, it is possible to set the blank page warning notification condition to a condition desired by the user.

The value 0 of the setting flag Fk of the blank page warning notification via public network in the storage area 4e indicates that transmission of the blank page warning notification regarding the reception via the public network via the public network is possible, and the value 1 Is not possible. With this setting, it is possible to set whether or not to notify a blank page warning for image information received via the public network as desired by the user.

In the storage area 4f, a blank page warning notification enable / disable setting flag Fk of network value 0 indicates that transmission of a blank page warning notice regarding reception via the network via the network is possible, and a value of 1 indicates that blank page notification is not possible. It indicates that there is. With this setting, it is possible to set whether or not to notify a blank page warning regarding image information received via the network as desired by the user.

Next, the facsimile machine 1a shown in FIG.
Will be described with reference to FIG.

In the figure, first, it is monitored whether there is a normal fax reception via the public network or a fax reception via the network (No loop in decision 401).
If there is a reception (Yes in determination 401), it is determined whether the type of reception is normal fax reception (network fax reception) (determination 402), and if the reception type is normal fax reception (Yes in determination 402). ), The normal fax reception process is performed (process 403), and the reception type flag F
r (stored in the RAM 4) is reset to a value 0 indicating normal fax reception (process 404), and the process proceeds to the determination 407.

In the judgment 402, when the reception type is the network fax reception (No in the judgment 402),
While performing network fax reception processing (processing 40
5) The reception type flag Fr is set to a value 1 indicating network fax reception (process 406), and the determination 407 is made.
Move to

Here, specific processing procedures of the normal fax reception processing in the processing 403 and the network fax reception processing in the processing 405 will be described.

First, a specific processing procedure of the normal fax reception processing in the processing 403 will be described with reference to FIG.

In the figure, first, the current date and time as the reception time is read out from the clock circuit 7 (step 60).
1) A pre-transmission procedure based on the G3 facsimile protocol is performed, and in the exchange of control signals in the pre-transmission procedure, the identification information notified by the transmission terminal identification signal TSI or the non-standard function setting signal NSS is replaced with the destination identification information. (Process 602), receives the encoded and compressed image information, decodes and expands the received image information by the encoding / decoding unit 10, and prints and outputs the image information on the recording paper by the plotter 6. The process (process 603) and blank page detection / page number storage process (process 604) are repeated until the reception of image information is completed (No in process 605).
(Loop), when the reception of the image information ends (Y in decision 605)
es), disconnect the line and end the communication (process 60)
6).

The recording and output of the received image information by the plotter 6 in the image information receiving process of the process 603 and the blank page detection / page number storing process of the process 604 are performed by temporarily storing the received image information in the image memory 8 and storing the image in the image memory 8. In the case of performing recording and output after information reception is completed, that is, when performing so-called memory reception, this processing may be performed after the line disconnection in step 606.

In the blank page detection / page number storage processing of the processing 604, specifically, for each page constituting the received image information, each decoded line is a line composed of only white pixels not including black pixels. (All white line)
As shown in FIG. 10, all the lines constituting the page are all white except for the lines belonging to the area set to be invalid by the blank page detection invalid area setting information 4c set and stored in the RAM 4. If it is a line, the received image information is determined to include blank image information, and the page number of the blank image information is stored in the RAM 4.

The line belonging to the area set to be invalid by the blank page detection invalid area setting information 4c set / stored in the RAM 4 is defined as the blank page invalid area setting information 4c in the unit of mm from the top of the page. Since the width is set, the line density of the received image information at the top of the page (3.
85 lines / mm, 7.7 lines / mm, 15.4 lines / mm, etc.)
And the number of lines multiplied by the width in mm units are excluded from the determination as to whether or not the line is an all white line. As a form of blank page detection, it is the strictest to detect a blank page when a black pixel is not included in all areas except a blank page invalid area in a page of image information. Even if the scanner reads a blank document when reading information, all black pixels included in the page are considered in consideration of the fact that a certain number of black pixels are included in blank image information due to stains on the background of the document. If the number is equal to or less than a certain number, a blank page detection mode may be adopted, and the present invention is not limited to a blank page detection mode in a region other than the blank page invalid region in a page of image information.

Next, a specific processing procedure of the network fax reception processing in 405 will be described with reference to FIG.

In the figure, first, the current date and time as the reception time is read from the clock circuit 7 (step 70).
1) At the time of reception via the network, the source mail address notified from the sender by the “FROM:” field or the like of the mail header portion or the IP address added to the IP packet from the sender is obtained and the RAM 4
(Process 702), and receives the encoded and compressed image information by MIME-converted e-mail or by real-time network facsimile communication, and the received image information is encoded and decoded by the encoding / decoding unit 10. The image information receiving process of recording and outputting on the recording paper by the plotter 6 while decoding and expanding (process 703) and the blank page detection / page number storing process (process 704) are repeatedly performed until the reception of the image information is completed (process 705). When the reception of the image information ends (Yes in the judgment 705), the processing is ended.

The blank page detection / page number storing process of the process 704 is specifically the same as the process 604 of FIG.

Returning to FIG. 11, by performing the normal fax reception process of process 403 or the network fax reception process of process 405, in the judgment 407 after the blank detection of the received document, the blank It is determined whether or not a page is included. If there is no blank page (No in determination 407), the process ends.

If there is at least one blank page (Yes in determination 407), it is determined whether the value of the blank warning notification condition setting flag Fp set to 1 is 1 as shown in FIG. Decision 408), if the value is 1,
It is determined whether or not all pages of the received document are blank (determination 409). If there is at least one non-blank page (No in determination 409), the process ends, but all pages are blank. In this case, the processing shifts to the judgment 501 in FIG. In the judgment 408, also when the value of the flag Fp is 0 (No in the judgment 408), the processing shifts to the judgment 501 in FIG.

As described above, by setting the flag Fp, the condition of the blank page warning notification can be arbitrarily set to a case where there is at least one blank page or a case where all pages are blank.

In the judgment 501 of FIG. 12, it is judged whether the value of the reception type flag Fr reset by the process 404 of FIG. 11 or the value of the reception type flag Fr set by the process 406 is 0 (1). In this case, that is, when a document is received by normal fax reception via the public network (Yes in decision 501), only when the value of the past blank warning notification past setting flag Fk via public network is 0 (Y in decision 502).
es), a blank page warning notification process (via the public network) is performed (process 504).

If the flag Fr is 1 in the judgment 501, that is, if the document is received by facsimile reception via the network (No in judgment 501), the value of the past setting flag Fn of the blank sheet warning notification via the network is set to 0.
Only in the case of (Yes in determination 503), a blank page warning notification process (via the network) is performed (process 5054).

Thus, regardless of whether the document receiving route is a public network or a network, a blank page warning notification can be made on a route that matches the document receiving route. Further, by setting the value of the flag Fk or Fn, it is possible to arbitrarily set whether or not to perform the blank page warning notification via the public network or the network.

Next, a specific processing procedure of the blank warning communication processing (via the public network) of the processing 504 will be described with reference to FIG.

In the figure, first, the process 403 in FIG.
In step 801, it is checked whether or not the matching destination identification information acquired in step 2 is registered in the “destination identification information” field by matching the matching destination identification information with the dial registration table 4 b of FIG.

If the matching destination identification information is not registered (No in decision 802), the process ends because the telephone number of the transmission source cannot be accurately specified.

If the matching destination identification information is registered (Yes in decision 802), the value of the “blank warning notification flag Fh” corresponding to the matching destination identification information in the dial registration table 4b is set. It is determined whether it is 1 or not (0) (decision 802). If the value is 0 (decision 803)
No), the process is terminated, but if the value is 1 (Yes in decision 803), the own device identification information 4a stored in the RAM 4 is read as shown in FIG. 10 (process 804),
The read out own device identification information, the received date and time information read out in the process 601, the blank warning notification image information including the blank page number and the like stored in the process 604 are referred to by referring to the font table 3 a. It is created by developing fonts on the image memory 8 (process 805), and process 60
In step 806, a call is made via the public network to the destination number corresponding to the destination identification information acquired in step 2 in the dial registration table 4b (step 806), and the blank warning notification image information created in step 805 is transmitted by facsimile (step 807). ).

The blank warning notification image information transmitted in the process 807 is, for example, as shown in FIG. 17, and the page number of the blank page is written in the item of “blank page:”.
The own device identification information 4a is described in the item of “receiving terminal:”,
The current date and time read out in the process 601 is described in the item “Reception date and time:”. Note that the description of the page number of a blank page in the item “blank page:” is not a simple list of page numbers of blank pages, but “all pages blank”,
It goes without saying that a general description such as “all pages except the first and fifth pages are blank” may be used.

The blank warning notification image information transmitted by the facsimile machine 1a is received by the transmission source device of the image information including the blank page, and the recording paper is output by the plotter according to the visible output form of the received image information in the transmission source device. Or output to the display, and visible output,
It will be referred to by the sender user, and the sender will recognize the fact that the blank page has been sent, and take appropriate measures such as checking the front and back of the original and resending it. Can be made. In addition, the image information of the blank warning notification includes the reception date and time as the transmission date and time for the transmission source and the own device identification information 4a as the destination identification information for the transmission source. The fact that a blank page has been sent when the original document is transmitted can be easily specified based on the destination identification information. Further, since the page number of the blank page is described in the image information of the blank warning notice, it is possible to easily grasp which page has a problem in transmission.

Next, a specific processing procedure of the blank warning notification processing (via the network) of the processing 505 will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 10, first, as shown in FIG. 10, the own device identification information 4a stored in the RAM 4 is read (process 901), and the read own device identification information and the reception date and time read in process 701 are read out. The blank warning notification image information including the blank page number and the like stored in the information and the process 704 is created by developing each character string in the font on the image memory 8 with reference to the font table 3a (process 902). The process 902 is sent to the source mail address or IP address acquired and stored in the process 702.
For example, the blank warning notification image information shown in FIG. 17 is transmitted over the network in a communication form such as e-mail or real-time network communication (step 90).
3).

In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to a facsimile apparatus which is an image information communication apparatus having a configuration in which an original is read by a scanner provided in the apparatus itself to transmit image information. The transmission image information is not limited by the acquisition mode.
N, the image information obtained by reading the original by the scanner device on a personal computer connected via an interface such as N is transmitted image information transferred from the personal computer via the interface. The invention is equally applicable.

[0110]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, destination identification information obtained at the time of transmitting image information to a destination device connected by calling a public telephone network to a designated telephone number is used as image information. When the blank image information is detected at the time of receiving the image information, the destination identification information notified at the time of receiving the image information is stored in the dial registration table in association with the telephone number designated at the time of transmitting the image information. By checking the dial registration table and calling the corresponding destination telephone number, that is, a telephone number that has been successfully transmitted, by itself, and notifying of a blank warning, If the original is set upside down and sent,
The receiving side can automatically notify the correct sender of a warning, and an effect that a reliable blank page warning can be notified without performing complicated initial settings is obtained. In addition, there is an advantage that the transmission side does not need to have a special configuration for realizing the present invention.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is set that whether or not a blank page warning notification is to be performed for each of the communication destinations registered in the dial registration table, and that a blank page warning notification be performed. Since a blank warning notification is issued only to the other party, for example, a blank warning notification is sent only when a blank page is accidentally sent from a destination that may receive particularly important documents, The effect of saving telephone charges and reducing the frequency of line use can be obtained.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, even when there are two communication paths, that is, a public network and a network, a correct destination corresponding to the reception path is specified, and a blank page is set on the same transmission path as the reception path. The effect that the warning notification can be performed is obtained.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to set whether or not a blank page warning notification can be made for each communication path. For example, transmission via the public network is charged to the transmission side, but communication via the network is not performed. Considering that the service is basically free of charge, it is possible to flexibly operate according to the communication route, such as setting blank warning notification via the public network to no, but setting blank warning notification via the network to enable. The effect is obtained.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the blank page warning notification is issued when all pages of the received image information are blank, that is,
It is performed only when there is a clear transmission or reading error that seems to have caused the original to be read upside down on the sending side, so it is unconditional if there is no problem that several pages of blank paper were intentionally read on the sending side The blank warning notification is not issued, and the communication cost can be reduced, and the effect of avoiding the complexity on the transmission side can be obtained.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to arbitrarily determine whether the blank image warning notification is to be performed if at least one blank page is included in the received image information or only when all pages are blank. Since the blank warning notification can be set and the blank warning notification can be performed according to the setting, an effect is obtained in which the blank warning notification can be flexibly operated.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, in consideration of the fact that additional information such as the transmission date and time and the number of pages may be embedded in the received image information in the transmission source device, By setting the area where information is embedded as a blank page detection invalid area and not subject to blank page determination, even if such additional information is embedded in the transmission source apparatus, it may be caused by a mistake in reading transmission image information at the transmission source. The effect that the blank image information can be accurately detected is obtained.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the additional information such as the transmission date and time and the number of pages, which are added at the transmission source device in the received image information, are almost always added to the upper end of the page. In view of the above, since the blank page detection invalid area is set at the upper end of the page, the blank page determination that appropriately excludes the area where blank page detection should be invalidated can be performed.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in the image information communication device which can be a destination at the time of receiving image information, the width of the blank page detection invalid area is adjusted according to the width of the area where the additional information is actually embedded. Can be set optimally, so that a part of the additional information is not subject to blank page determination, and a part of the net image information is not The effect that can be performed is obtained.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, since the image information of the blank warning notification includes the own device identification information, where the sending side that has received the blank warning notification has sent the original including the blank paper is sent. Can be easily specified.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the image information of the blank warning notice includes the reception time of the image information including the blank image information,
That is, since the sending side includes the information of the sending time, it is possible to easily specify when the sending side, which has received the blank warning notification, has sent the original including the blank sheet at the time of sending. The effect is obtained.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, since the image information of the blank page warning information includes the page number information of the blank page image information, the transmitting side that has received the blank page warning notice determines which page is transmitted as a blank page. This has the effect that it is possible to easily identify whether the error has occurred.

According to the thirteenth aspect, the destination identification information obtained at the time of transmitting the image information to the destination apparatus connected by calling the public network to the designated telephone number is transmitted. When the blank image information is detected at the time of receiving the image information, the destination identification information notified at the time of receiving the image information is registered in the dial registration table so as to be associated with the telephone number specified at the time. By checking the registration table and calling the corresponding destination telephone number, that is, a telephone number that has been successfully transmitted, by itself, and notifying of a blank page warning, the sending If you set upside down and send it,
The receiving side can automatically notify the correct sender of a warning, and an effect that a reliable blank page warning can be notified without performing complicated initial settings is obtained. In addition, there is an advantage that the transmission side does not need to have a special configuration for realizing the present invention.

According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, even when there are two communication routes, that is, a public network and a network, a correct destination corresponding to the reception route is specified, and a blank page is transmitted on the same transmission route as the reception route. The effect that the warning notification can be performed is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a facsimile apparatus as an image information communication apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing contents stored in a RAM of the facsimile apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an arrangement configuration of the operation display unit of the facsimile apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, except for parts directly related to the present embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a blank page detection invalid area setting processing procedure in the facsimile apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example in the processing procedure of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a dial registration table.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a transmission processing procedure in the facsimile apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a reception processing procedure in the facsimile apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a block configuration of a facsimile apparatus as an image information communication apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing contents stored in a RAM of a facsimile apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a reception processing procedure in the facsimile apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a reception processing procedure in the facsimile apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, together with FIG.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a specific processing procedure of a normal fax reception process.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a specific processing procedure of a blank warning notification process (via a public network).

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a specific processing procedure of the network fax reception processing.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a specific processing procedure of a blank page notification process (via a network).

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of the content of blank page notification image information;

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1a facsimile machine 2 system control unit 3 ROM 3a font table 4 RAM 4a storage area for own apparatus identification information 4b storage area for dial registration table 4c storage area for blank page detection invalid area setting information 4d blank page warning Storage area 4e for notification condition setting flag Fp 4e Storage area for blank warning notification enable / disable setting flag Fk via public network 4f Blank warning notification enable / disable setting flag F via network
Storage area for n 5 Scanner 6 Plotter 7 Clock circuit 8 Image memory 9 Operation display section 9a Numeric keypad 9b [Start] key 9c [Stop] key 9d [Yes] key 9e [No] key 9f [Function] key 9g [Shortened] ] Key 9h one-touch key group 9j cursor key group 9k display 10 encoding / decoding unit 11 modem 12 network control unit 13 system bus

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. An image information communication apparatus for transmitting and receiving image information to and from a destination apparatus via a public network, wherein the apparatus transmits a call to a designated destination telephone number via the public network. When transmitting image information to a destination device, the destination identification information notified from the destination device is stored in a dial registration table in association with the specified destination telephone number. Registration means, destination identification information notified from the communication destination at the time of receiving the image information, and destination identification means for identifying the corresponding destination telephone number by comparing with the dial registration table, and blanking the received image information Blank image information detecting means for detecting whether or not image information is included; and identifying the destination when the blank image information detecting means detects that the received image information includes blank image information. Identified by means A blank-page warning notifying unit for automatically calling a destination telephone number and transmitting image information containing the fact that the blank image information is included in the received image information. Information communication device. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a blank warning notification setting unit configured to set and store whether or not to perform a blank warning notification for each communication destination registered in the dial registration table. When the blank image information detecting unit detects that the blank image information is included in the image information, the setting by the blank warning notification availability setting unit for the destination identified by the destination identifying unit is blank. Only when it is set to perform a warning notification, a call is automatically made to the destination telephone number specified by the destination specifying means, and a message indicating that blank image information is included in the received image information. The image information communication device according to claim 1, wherein the image information including the content is transmitted. 3. It supports both transmission / reception of image information to / from a destination device on a communication path via a public network and transmission / reception of image information to / from a destination device on a communication path via a network. An image information communication device, wherein when a call is made to a specified destination telephone number via the public network to transmit image information to the destination device, the destination notified by the destination device is Destination identification information, the destination identification information automatic registration means for storing in the dial registration table in association with the specified destination telephone number, at the time of receiving image information, if the reception is via the public network, The destination identification information notified from the communication destination is compared with the dial registration table to specify the corresponding destination telephone number. If the reception is via the network, the address information acquired at the time of reception is obtained. To A destination specifying means for specifying as a hand address, a blank image information detecting means for detecting whether blank image information is included in the received image information, and a blank image information being included in the received image information. In the case where the blank image information is detected by the blank image information detecting means, if the receiving route is via the public network, a call is automatically made to the destination telephone number specified by the destination specifying means, and While transmitting the image information including the content that the blank image information is included in the information, if the reception route is via the network, the reception information is sent to the destination address specified by the destination identification unit. An image information communication apparatus, comprising: a blank warning notifying unit configured to transmit image information including, as content, that blank image information is included in the image information to a network. 4. A blank warning notification setting unit for setting whether blank warning notification is possible or not for each communication path of the public network and the network, wherein the blank warning notification unit includes blank image information in the received image information. When it is detected by the blank image information detecting means that the content is included, the receiving route is via the public network, and the blank warning notification permission / prohibition setting means enables blank warning notification via the public network. When the setting is made, a call is automatically made to the destination telephone number specified by the destination specifying means, and image information including the fact that blank image information is included in the received image information is contained. On the other hand, if the transmission route is via the network and the setting is such that blank page warning notification via the network is permitted, the destination specified by the destination specifying unit is specified. 4. The image information communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image information including, as a content, that the received image information includes blank image information is transmitted to the destination address. 5. The blank image information notifying means, if the blank image information detecting means detects that the image information of all pages of the received image information is blank, the blank image information is included in the received image information. The image information including the fact that it is included is transmitted to the destination.
The image information communication device according to any one of items 3 and 4. 6. A blank warning notification is issued only when the received image information is all pages blank, or a blank warning notification is issued when the received image information includes one or more blank pages. The apparatus further comprises blank sheet warning notification condition setting means for setting conditions of the blank sheet warning notification in advance, wherein the blank sheet warning notification means sets the blank sheet warning notification condition to the received image information by one page by the blank sheet warning notification condition setting means. If the blank page warning notification is set if the blank page information is included, the blank image information detecting unit determines that the received image information includes one or more blank image information. If detected, the received image information is transmitted to the destination of the image information including the content that the blank image information is included, while the blank warning notification condition is set by the blank warning notification condition setting means. , Receiving When the blank page warning notification is set only when the image information is all pages blank, the blank image information detecting means detects that the image information of all pages of the received image information is blank. The image information including the fact that the received image information includes blank image information is transmitted to the other party only when the received image information is included in the received image information. Image information communication device. 7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said blank image information detecting means excludes a predetermined blank page invalid area when performing blank page determination of image information of each page constituting said received image information. 7. The method of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6.
The image information communication device according to any one of the above. 8. The image information communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined blank page detection invalid area is an area having a predetermined width at an upper end of the image information. 9. An image forming apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising an invalid area width setting means for arbitrarily setting said predetermined width of an area having a predetermined width at an upper end of said image information as said predetermined blank sheet detection invalid area. The image information communication device as described in the above. 10. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: own apparatus identification information storage means for storing own apparatus identification information in advance, wherein said received image information transmitted by said blank page warning notifying means includes blank image information as content. The information according to claim 1, wherein the information includes the own device identification information.
The image information communication device according to any one of 6, 7, 8 and 9. 11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a clock unit for clocking a current date and time, wherein the image information transmitted by the blank warning notification unit and including the fact that the received image information includes blank image information is included in the received image information. 11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising information on a date and time when said time-measuring unit measures time when receiving the information. The image information communication device as described in the above. 12. A blank page number storage unit for storing a page number of a page constituting the received image information, the page number being detected as blank by the blank image information detecting unit, wherein the received image information includes a blank page number. 7. The image information containing the fact that the information is included as content also includes a blank page number stored in the blank page number storage means. , 7, 8, 9,
12. The image information communication device according to any one of 10 and 11. 13. A method for controlling an image information communication apparatus for transmitting / receiving image information to / from a destination apparatus via a public network, wherein a call is made to a designated destination telephone number via the public network. When transmitting image information to the destination device, the destination identification information notified from the destination device is stored in the dial registration table in association with the specified destination telephone number. When the image information is received, the destination identification information notified from the communication destination is compared with the dial registration table to specify the corresponding destination telephone number, and that the blank image information is included in the received image information. When the detected image information is detected, an image is transmitted to the specified destination telephone number automatically, and image information including the fact that the received image information includes blank image information is transmitted. A method for controlling an information communication device. 14. It supports both transmission and reception of image information to and from a destination device on a communication path via a public network and transmission and reception of image information to and from a destination device on a communication route via a network. A method of controlling an image information communication apparatus, comprising: transmitting a call to a specified destination telephone number via the public network to transmit image information to the destination apparatus; The destination identification information to be received is stored in the dial registration table in association with the specified destination telephone number. When receiving the image information, if the reception is via the public network, the communication destination While the destination identification information notified from is compared with the dial registration table to specify the corresponding destination telephone number, if the reception is via the network, the address information obtained at the time of reception is transmitted to the destination. Address When it is detected that blank image information is included in the received image information, if the receiving route is via the public network, a call is automatically made to the specified destination telephone number. And transmitting the image information containing the fact that the blank image information is included in the received image information, and when the receiving route is via the network, the received image information is sent to the specified destination address. A method for controlling an image information communication apparatus, comprising: transmitting image information including, as content, that blank image information is included in the image information.