JP2002185740A - Communication terminal equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide communication terminal equipment capable of read under a condition matched with the capacity of opposite party equipment in an original read stage. SOLUTION: This communication terminal equipment is provided with an image read part 11 for reading the images of a transmission original, an image memory 4 for storing read images, a communication control part 7 for controlling communication with the communication terminal equipment of the opposite party, an opposite party memory 3a for storing specifying information specifying the communication terminal equipment of the opposite party and the capacity of the communication terminal equipment of the opposite party and a control part 1 for specifying the communication terminal equipment of the opposite party and reporting that effect in the case that the read condition exceeds the capacity of the communication terminal equipment of the opposite party when the read condition of the images of the transmission original is specified.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication terminal for transmitting an image of a document to a destination via a public telephone line or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The capability of a facsimile apparatus has been rapidly improving in recent years. All pages of a plurality of originals are read in advance, encoded by a codec and stored in an image memory.
In addition to the mainstream memory transmission method for transmission, devices having a double-sided recording function for recording a received image on both sides of a sheet and a color image transmission / reception function have also appeared. There are also models that can use a large document such as an A3 size document and recording paper.

By the way, even if a facsimile machine of a transmission source reads a document and stores it in an image memory by designating a high-performance reading condition, if the destination device does not have the capability corresponding thereto, There is a problem that transmission under specified conditions cannot be executed. For example, there is a case where, even when a source apparatus reads a document at a high resolution, encodes the data, and stores the encoded data in an image memory, the destination apparatus has only a recording function at a lower resolution.

In such a case, after communication between the transmission source and the destination device is started, the data is stored in the image memory at the transmission source device, for example, based on the data on the capability of the device transmitted from the destination device. It is possible to transmit after automatically performing conversion for lowering the resolution of existing image data according to the capability of the other party.

[0005]

However, in the above example, the capacity of the image data actually transmitted is smaller than the capacity initially stored in the image memory as a result of the resolution conversion. This means that the capacity of the image memory is wasted. In particular, when the image data is stored in the image memory in advance and the transmission reservation function of the time designation to automatically start the transmission at the designated time is used, the image data is stored in the image memory for a considerably long time. As a result, the harmful effect of wasting the capacity of the image memory becomes large.

[0006] After reading at a high resolution, encoding and storing the encoded image data, if a conversion is performed to reduce the resolution of the encoded image data, the image data is read at a low resolution that matches the destination device from the beginning. There is also a problem that the image quality when recorded on paper by the destination device is slightly worse than when encoded and stored.

At the time of reading a document, the capability of the destination device is usually unknown, so the above-mentioned problem is caused by the fact that the paper size specified by the transmission source at the time of reading is the maximum size of paper that can be used by the destination device. This may occur when the size of the image exceeds the size, or when the other party can only transmit and receive a black-and-white image, even though the transmission source specifies the transmission as a color image and performs reading.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a communication terminal device capable of reading a document under a condition matching the capability of a destination device at a reading stage. I do. Therefore, a communication terminal device according to a first aspect of the present invention provides an image reading unit that reads an image of a document, an image memory that stores the read image, and a communication control device that controls communication between the communication terminal device and the communication terminal device. Unit, a destination memory for storing identification information (such as a facsimile number) for identifying the destination communication terminal device, and the capability of the destination communication terminal device; If the reading condition exceeds the capability of the communication terminal device of the other party when the reading condition is specified, the control unit notifies the user of the fact.

[0009] The capability of the destination device may be stored in the destination memory when data on the capability of the device sent from the destination device is received at the start of communication. Based on the data in the memory, it is determined whether the reading condition matches the capability of the destination device. If the storage contents of the destination memory are updated each time transmission is performed, the capability of the destination device can immediately cope with a change in the capability of the destination device from the next transmission.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first aspect, when the reading condition exceeds the capability of the communication terminal device of the other party, the control unit matches the capability of the communication terminal device of the other party. This is characterized in that the reading conditions are changed so that

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first or second aspect, the capability of the other party's communication terminal is determined by whether or not a function of recording a received image on both sides of a sheet and recording of a color image on a sheet. It is characterized by including the presence / absence of a function to perform, resolution, and paper size.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As schematically shown in FIG. 1, a facsimile device 14 as a communication terminal device includes a CPU.
(Central processing unit), etc.
ly Memory) 2, RAM (Random Access Memory) 3, image memory 4, codec 5, modem 6, NCU (Network Control Unit) 7 as a communication control unit, display unit 8, operation unit 10, image reading unit 11, recording The units 12 are connected to each other by a bus line 13.

The RAM 3 temporarily stores various data required for control by the control unit 1, for example, the communication speed of the modem 6. Further, in a partial area of the RAM 3, there is provided a destination memory 3a having a backup function capable of retaining stored contents even when the power is turned off by a rechargeable battery or the like.

The image memory 4 is composed of a RAM or the like, and stores image data that has been read by an image reading unit 11 described below and encoded by the codec 5. The image memory 4 stores the encoded image data in the number 1 of the original.
It has a storage capacity capable of storing about 0 to several hundred pages.

The codec 5 sequentially encodes the image data to be transmitted, which is read by the image reading section 11, and
It has a role of decoding coded image data received from a destination communication terminal device (hereinafter, referred to as a destination device). The modem 6 modulates and demodulates the transmission / reception data, specifically, modulates the transmission data into a voice band signal and sends it to the communication line 15 such as a public telephone line network via the NCU 7, while the modem 6 transmits the above-mentioned data via the NCU 7 from the communication line 15. The voice band signal received from the partner device is demodulated into a digital signal.

The NCU 7 controls the connection between the communication line 15 and the document reading and recording device 14, and has a function of transmitting a dial pulse corresponding to the facsimile number of the destination device and a function of detecting an incoming call.

As shown in FIG. 2, the display unit 8 includes, for example,
The operation section 10 is provided with a plurality of keys. That is, A1 and A2 are selection keys for selecting either color image transmission or black and white image transmission, A3 to A5 are selection keys for selecting resolution, density and magnification when transmitting color or black and white images, respectively.
B1 to B3 correspond to “redial”, “broadcast (sending the same original to another destination)”, and “double-sided (both sides of paper at the destination) displayed in the display unit 8 in association with these. Key) for selecting various functions.

C is a menu key for switching the screen (menu) displayed on the display unit 8.
Although not shown, when the menu key C is repeatedly pressed, various screens such as a registration screen for abbreviated numbers of about two or three digits and a registration screen for a destination facsimile number for the one-touch key W are sequentially displayed from the standard screen of FIG. It is designed to switch.

D denotes a cursor (not shown) displayed on the display unit 8 and a cross cursor key for moving various selection items up, down, left and right. E denotes an instruction to start reading a document (not shown) set on the image reading unit 11. Start key, F is numeric keypad,
G is a reset key for resetting settings such as resolution to a standard "automatic" mode, and H is a stop key for instructing termination of facsimile transmission and the like.

Further, W is a plurality of one-touch keys provided. A facsimile number of a desired communication destination is registered in the destination memory 3a in correspondence with each one-touch key W, and the one-touch key W is pressed. The user can make a call to the destination device by simply performing the operation. Also, when the abbreviated number is registered, the abbreviated number and the actual facsimile number are registered in a correspondence state in the destination memory 3a, and the destination device can be called only by inputting the abbreviated number with the ten keys F. It has become.

The image reading section 11 has an automatic document feeder capable of sequentially supplying a plurality of documents to the reading device, and a reading device such as a line sensor and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), and reads a document for facsimile transmission. It is supposed to do. The recording unit 12 includes a printing device such as an electrophotographic system or an inkjet system, and records black-and-white or color image data received from a destination on paper in a black-and-white mode or a color mode, respectively.

In the ROM 2, a program for controlling the entire facsimile apparatus 14, such as a facsimile transmission / reception procedure, is stored in advance. This program includes data relating to the capability of the device to be transmitted from the destination device when transmitting using the one-touch key W or the abbreviated number, for example, whether or not there is a recording function on both sides of a sheet, a transmission and reception function of a color image. Correspondence of presence / absence, resolution, maximum paper size, etc. to the facsimile number of the destination
Is stored.

Table 1 shows an example of a part of data relating to the capability of the destination device registered in the destination memory 3a in association with the one-touch key W. In Table 1, the destination name and the facsimile number are data manually input by the operation unit 10. The data as shown in Table 1 can be displayed on the display unit 8 based on the operation of the menu key C or the like as necessary. As for the abbreviated number, the same data as in Table 1 is stored in the destination memory 3a.

[0024]

[Table 1]

The program in the ROM 2 further includes:
If the reading condition set by the operation unit 10 exceeds the capability of the destination device stored in the destination memory 3a, the fact is notified by displaying a message on the display unit 8, a warning sound, or the like, or automatically. It includes a procedure for changing the reading conditions so that the capabilities of the destination device match. Note that a flash memory or the like, which is a rewritable nonvolatile memory, may be used instead of the ROM 2.

In the above configuration, at the time of facsimile transmission, the image data of the original is read by the image reading unit 11 in accordance with the operation of the start key E, encoded by the codec 5 and stored in the image memory 4 and then transmitted to the modem 6. And transmitted from the NCU 7 to the destination device through the communication line 15. In this case, in the case of a color image, reading is performed a plurality of times for each color element such as three primary colors using a color separation filter or the like, as is well known.

At the time of facsimile reception, the received image data is demodulated by the modem 6 and stored in the image memory 4, then decoded by the codec 5 and printed by the recording unit 12. The facsimile device 14 also has a copying function, and although not described in detail, at the time of copying, image data read by the image reading unit 11 is encoded by the codec 5 and stored in the image memory 4. Thereafter, the data is decrypted again and printed by the recording unit 12.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when a document is transmitted using the one-touch key W or the abbreviated number, if a reading condition exceeding the capability of the communication terminal device of the other party is set, a message to that effect is set. Notification is provided.
Hereinafter, a control procedure by the control unit 1 when transmitting a document using the one-touch key W will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 and 4. The same applies to the case of using abbreviated numbers.

In step S1 in FIG. 3, first, selection of color transmission or black-and-white transmission, and setting of reading conditions such as presence / absence of double-sided recording, resolution, magnification, and the like in the destination apparatus (S1). Subsequently, the control unit 1 determines whether any one-touch key W is pressed (S2), and if not, the same determination is repeated.

If one of the one-touch keys W is operated, the data (see the example in Table 1) relating to the capability of the destination device corresponding to the one-touch key W is stored in the destination memory 3.
Then, it is determined whether or not it is registered in a (S3).

If the data relating to the capability of the destination apparatus has not been registered, the process proceeds to S18 in FIG. 4, and the original is read according to the set reading conditions. Since the data on the capability of the partner device is registered based on the transmission data from the partner at the time of communication with the partner device, if there is no communication case in the past, it is usually unregistered. Registration.

If the capability data of the partner device has been registered in S3, data relating to the capability of the partner device is read out from the partner memory 3a, and the set reading conditions correspond to those of the partner device in the previous communication. It is determined whether or not the capacity is exceeded (S4). If the result of the determination is negative, it is not usually necessary to change the reading conditions, so the process proceeds to S18 in FIG.
Reading is started under the set reading conditions.

In S4, if the set reading condition exceeds the capability of the partner device at the time of the previous communication, although not shown, "The reading condition exceeds the capability of the partner device at the time of the previous transmission." A message "Do you want to match the capabilities of the destination device?" Is displayed on the display unit 8, and preferably, an alarm sound is generated (S5).

When the operator of the facsimile machine 14 performs reading according to the set reading conditions in accordance with the further message displayed on the display section 8, for example, the user operates the selection key B1 to check the capability of the destination apparatus. To match, the selection key B2 is operated.

Despite the message of S5, the reading condition may be specified as set, for example, because the destination exchanged the communication terminal device with a higher-function device after the previous transmission. Is recognized by the operator, and in this case, the process proceeds to S18 and reading is started.

On the other hand, if it is selected in S5 to match the capability of the destination apparatus, then whether or not the destination apparatus does not have the duplex recording function despite the designation of double-sided recording. Is determined (S6), and if the result of the determination is negative, it is usually unnecessary to change the setting of the double-sided recording function, and the process proceeds to S9 described later.

If the destination apparatus does not have the double-sided recording function even though the double-sided recording is designated,
Although not shown, a selection key B1 or B2 is displayed on the display unit 8 so as to cancel facsimile transmission or change to one-sided transmission.
Is displayed by using the message (S
7). When the operator selects the change to the one-sided transmission, the change processing is executed (S8). On the other hand, cancellation of facsimile transmission can be selected, for example, when it is preferable to send a document to the destination by another means such as mailing, rather than facsimile transmission on one side.

In S9, it is determined whether or not there is a paper size mismatch due to the designation of transmission with a size exceeding the maximum paper size recordable by the destination apparatus. The process proceeds to S12 described below. If there is a paper size mismatch, subsequently, it is displayed on the display unit 8 that either the facsimile transmission stop or the reduction of the document size should be selected is displayed on the display unit 8 and the destination device can record the data. The maximum paper size is displayed on the display unit 8 (S10). If the operator selects stop, the process is stopped, and if reduction of the document size is selected, subsequently, the operator sets the reduction ratio in accordance with the destination key by using the selection key A5 (S11). .

In S12, it is determined whether or not there is a resolution mismatch due to the designated resolution exceeding the resolution of the recording unit of the destination apparatus. If there is no such mismatch, the process proceeds to S15 in FIG. move on. If there is a resolution mismatch, the display unit 8 informs the user that the user should select either to stop facsimile transmission or change the resolution at the time of reading.
And the resolution of the recording unit of the destination device is displayed on the display unit 8 (S13), and if the operator selects stop, the process is stopped. On the other hand, when the change of the resolution is selected, subsequently, the operator uses the selection key A3 to
A change process for lowering the resolution in accordance with the destination device is performed (S14).

In S15, it is determined whether or not the destination apparatus has a color image transmission / reception function despite the fact that the transmission of a color image has been designated. Proceed to. If the destination device does not have a color image transmission / reception function, a message is displayed on the display unit 8 indicating that either facsimile transmission should be stopped or a change to transmission as a monochrome image should be selected (S16). ).
If the operator selects the stop, the process is stopped, and if the change to the monochrome image is selected, the change process is performed (S17).

In S18, all pages of the document are read by the document reading unit 10, encoded by the codec 5, and stored in the image memory 4. Subsequently, the destination device is called based on the facsimile number stored in the destination memory 3a (S19). When communication is established, ITU-
DIS (Digital Identification Signal) indicating that it has a standard reception function of T (International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector) is sent from the partner device, and this is detected by the control unit 1.

The DIS includes data relating to the capabilities of the destination device as exemplified in Table 1.
This is stored in the RAM 3 or the like. Thereafter, the reading condition at the time of reading performed in S18 is compared with the capability data of the partner device in the DIS, and it is determined whether the reading condition exceeds the capability of the partner device (S21). .

If the determination result is negative, the process proceeds to S23, where the image data stored in the image memory 4 is transmitted to the destination device. On the other hand, if the reading condition in S18 is S20
If the capacity of the destination device indicated by the DIS received in step S1 exceeds the capability of the destination device, conversion processing for matching the encoded image data in the image memory 4 with the capability of the destination device (for example,
(Decrease in resolution and conversion from color images to black and white images)
Is performed, the process proceeds to S23, and the converted image data is transmitted to the destination device.

In this embodiment, when the reading condition set in S1 exceeds the capability of the destination apparatus at the time of the previous communication, the process of changing the reading condition (S3 to S1).
After the execution of step 7), the actual reading (S18) is performed, so that the image data conversion processing in S22 is usually unnecessary. However, in the case where the first communication with the destination device is performed or, in rare cases, when the destination device is replaced with a model having a lower function after the previous communication, S22 is executed.
There is a case where the conversion of the image data is necessary.

After the image data has been transmitted in S23, S2
0, the capability data of the destination device in the DIS received in the DIS is stored in the destination memory 3a in association with the facsimile number of the destination device (S24), and is used for determination of the destination capability at the next communication. Is done.

In the above-described embodiment, when the set reading condition exceeds the capability of the destination device at the time of the previous communication,
The operator selects either to stop transmission and change to another transmission method such as mailing, or to change reading conditions (S
7, S10, S13, and S16), but when the reading condition exceeds the capability of the partner device at the time of the previous communication, a change process is automatically performed to match the capability of the partner device. Thus, the operability can be further improved.

It should be noted that the present invention is applicable not only to the ordinary facsimile apparatus 14 for transmitting data through a telephone line but also to the ITU.
-T (International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector) 3
The present invention can be applied to a communication terminal device or the like that performs facsimile communication in real time via the Internet using the eight recommendations. When the present invention is applied to a so-called Internet facsimile apparatus in which an image is attached to an e-mail and transmitted, the reception capability of the destination facsimile apparatus may be set and registered by, for example, an operation.

[0048]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
The communication terminal device, an image reading unit that reads the image of the transmission document, an image memory that stores the read image, a communication control unit that controls communication between the communication terminal device of the other party,
When a destination memory that stores identification information for identifying a destination communication terminal device and the capability of the destination communication terminal device, and a destination communication terminal device are specified, and a reading condition of an image of a transmission original is specified. If the reading condition exceeds the capability of the communication terminal device of the other party, it is provided with a control unit for notifying that fact.Thus, the person who intends to transmit the original, if the notification is performed, After re-specifying the reading conditions in accordance with the capability of the other party, the original can be read.

As a result, the amount of image data stored in the image memory can be suppressed to the minimum necessary from the beginning, so that the capacity of the image memory is not wasted. Also, since it is read and stored from the beginning under conditions that match the capabilities of the partner, it is read and encoded under conditions that exceed the capabilities of the partner, and then converted to reduce the amount of image data according to the capabilities of the partner. There is also an advantage that the image quality at the stage of recording on the sheet by the destination device is slightly improved as compared with the case where the process is performed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first aspect, when the reading condition exceeds the capability of the other party's communication terminal, the control unit matches the capability of the other party's communication terminal. Since the reading condition is changed so that the reading condition is changed, the person who intends to transmit does not need to manually re-specify the reading condition, and the operability is improved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first or second aspect, the capability of the other party's communication terminal is based on whether or not there is a function of recording a received image on both sides of a sheet and recording of a color image on a sheet. This includes the presence / absence of the function to perform, the resolution, and the paper size. If the destination side specifies color image transmission on the transmission side even though the destination side has no color image recording function, or the resolution of the destination side If the setting exceeds the limit of the paper size or the size of the paper, the notification that the capability of the partner device is exceeded or the reading condition is changed to match the capability of the partner device is performed. As a result, it is possible to prevent the reading from being performed under the condition exceeding the capability of the destination apparatus and the image memory from being wastefully used. In addition, even when the destination side does not have the double-sided recording function and specifies double-sided recording on the transmission side, problems such as a change in the transmission order of a plurality of pages of the document for double-sided recording do not occur.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a display unit and an operation unit of the facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a control procedure when facsimile transmission is performed using a one-touch key of the facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a subsequent control procedure in the facsimile transmission.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Control part 3a Destination memory 4 Image memory 7 NCU (communication control part) 11 Image reading part

Claims (3)

[Claims] An image reading unit for reading an image of a document, an image memory for storing the read image, a communication control unit for controlling communication with a communication terminal device of the other party, and a communication terminal device of the other party Memory for storing the identification information for identifying the communication terminal device and the capability of the communication terminal device of the other party, and specifying the communication terminal device of the other party, and specifying the reading condition of the image of the original, the reading condition is A communication unit that, when the capacity of the communication terminal device is exceeded, notifies the user of the fact. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the reading condition exceeds the capability of the communication terminal device of the other party, the control unit changes the reading condition to match the capability of the communication terminal device of the other party. Item 2. The communication terminal device according to item 1. 3. The capability of the destination communication terminal device includes whether or not there is a function for recording a received image on both sides of a sheet, whether or not there is a function for recording a color image on a sheet, resolution, and a sheet size. The communication terminal device according to claim 1.