JP2002237937A - Facsimile equipment and facsimile data transfer method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a facsimile equipment that sets a proper signal transmission level, different from that of communication through a telephone line, so as to adjust the signal level at which facsimile equipment at a destination can receive the signal, in the case of transferring image data between both the facsimile equipment interconnected by a cable. SOLUTION: The facsimile equipment having a function of transferring image data in a memory through the cable which is not via a real line, including a telephone line, is provided with a control section that sets a signal transmission level of the image data (S10), at which the signal of the image data can be received by the other facsimile equipment, in the case of transferring the image data to the other facsimile equipment not via the real line.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to data transfer of a facsimile machine having a receiving memory.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a facsimile apparatus has been developed which has a receiving memory and stores image data in the receiving memory when the received image data cannot be printed immediately.

Further, the facsimile apparatus can transfer the image data to another facsimile apparatus when the image data stored in the reception memory cannot be printed for some reason such as a failure of a printing section. There is something that I did. The transfer method is described in JP-A-4-170156.
Facsimile transmission via a telephone line (real line) to a designated station number as disclosed in
There is a method of connecting and communicating with another facsimile apparatus via a line cable (without passing through a telephone line).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-154148 discloses that a line is connected to a line connection terminal of a facsimile apparatus as usual, and a facsimile modem of a personal computer is connected to an external terminal connection terminal. A configuration in which transmission and reception are performed via a line between a facsimile apparatus and another facsimile apparatus by switching control of a terminal connection terminal and a modem in the apparatus is disclosed.

[0005]

However, in the method of directly transferring image data by a telephone code without passing through a telephone line from a facsimile apparatus to another facsimile apparatus, the transmission signal level is transmitted through a telephone line (real line). In some cases, the transmission signal is hardly attenuated due to short-distance communication, and may not be received by the destination facsimile machine.

For example, Super G, which has recently begun to spread,
In 3 facsimile, the receivable signal level is -9 to-
Although it is 43 dBm, the signal level at the time of transmission can be set at 0 to -15 dBm in consideration of signal attenuation in a telephone line.

[0007] The level of the transmission signal is 0 in the facsimile apparatus.
If it is set in the range of -9 dBm, super G
If image data is directly transferred to the 3 facsimile apparatus via a telephone code without passing through a telephone line (real line), the signal level on the transmission path does not deteriorate, and the signal level exceeds the receivable signal level on the receiving side. Can not do it.

[0008]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention mainly employs the following configuration. In a facsimile apparatus having a function of transferring image data in a memory through a cable without passing through a real line including a telephone line, when transferring the image data to another facsimile apparatus without passing through the real line, A facsimile apparatus comprising: a control unit that sets a signal transmission level of the image data so that the signal level is within a signal level range that can be received by the other facsimile apparatus.

Further, in a facsimile data transfer method capable of transferring registration data relating to a transmission destination stored in a memory via a cable without passing through a real line including a telephone line, the registration data may be transferred without passing through the real line. A facsimile data transfer method for changing the signal transmission level of the registration data so that the signal level is within a signal level range receivable by the other facsimile apparatus when transferring to the facsimile apparatus.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A facsimile apparatus and a facsimile data transfer method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a transmission operation in the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a reception operation of the transfer destination facsimile apparatus at the time of facsimile image data transfer of this embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state of signal transmission and reception between a facsimile machine on the receiving side and a facsimile apparatus on the transmitting side at the time of transfer not passing through a telephone line and at the time of transfer via a telephone line.

The configuration of the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment (this facsimile apparatus) shown in FIG.
Encoding / decoding unit 2, printing unit 3, operation panel 4, NCU 5,
Modem 6, transmission / reception memory 7, image memory 8, RAM 9,
It comprises a ROM 10 and a control unit 11.

The document reading unit 1 includes a CCD line sensor, a document table, and a sheet feeder (all not shown), reads an image of a document, generates image data, and outputs the image data to a coding / decoding unit. . NCU (network
The k control unit 5 performs network control such as transmission of a dial signal to a public communication line (telephone line) network. The modem 6 converts (modulates) the encoded image data so that communication using a telephone line can be performed. The modem also has a function of converting (demodulating) image data transmitted from the outside into a form (format) that can be handled by the facsimile apparatus.

The encoding / decoding section 2 encodes image data generated by the document reading section and decodes image data (encoded image data) transmitted from the outside. The encoding / decoding unit performs JPEG encoding / decoding of color image data and encoding / decoding of monochrome image data.

The transmission / reception memory 7 is a buffer for temporarily storing the encoded data generated by the encoding / decoding unit or the encoded data transmitted from the outside. Further, the transmission / reception memory 7 has a
It is also used as a work memory for executing the program stored in M. The image memory 8 is a buffer for temporarily storing the image data generated by the document reading unit before performing the processing by the encoding / decoding unit 2. The image memory also has a function of temporarily storing the image data decoded by the encoding / decoding unit 2.

The operation panel 4 includes an operation section having various operation keys, switches, a keyboard, and the like, and a display section including an LCD. These functions are used to receive a user's instruction and to indicate to the user the operating state of the facsimile apparatus and the state of transmission and reception of image data.

The control unit 11 has a CPU (Central)
Processing Unit), which is a central part of the facsimile apparatus that controls all operations in the facsimile apparatus. Further, the control unit has a function of executing the facsimile data transfer method of the present embodiment.

ROM (Read Only Memory)
y) 10 is a memory for storing various programs used by the control unit 11. A program for realizing the facsimile data transfer method of the present embodiment is stored. Also, a RAM (Random Access)
Memory 9 stores a fax number of a transmission destination, a management table, and the like. This memory 9 is backed up by a battery so that its contents are not erased during a power failure.

Next, the operation of the facsimile apparatus of the present embodiment will be described. In the flow chart showing the transmission operation in the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. 2, in S1, the user performs a normal transmission through a telephone line on an operation panel or directly transfers to another facsimile apparatus without passing through the telephone line. (For example, a certain facsimile machine in the same building and another facsimile machine are connected by a code and data is directly transferred between the two facsimile machines). If the printing unit is not capable of printing due to a trouble or the like, the control unit selects a transfer mode for transferring received data by controlling the modem unit and performing data transfer. If the normal transmission mode is selected in S2, the process proceeds to S3, and the control of the normal transmission is started.

In S3, the control section controls the original reading section to read images for all the originals set in the original reading section and stores them in the image memory. In S4, the control unit controls the encoding / decoding unit to encode the read image data stored in the image memory, generate encoded data, and store the encoded data in the transmission / reception memory. S3 and S4 are repeated until there is no document to be read in the document reading unit in S5.

When there are no more originals, the process proceeds to S6, and the signal level transmitted by the control unit is set to the level of the normal transmission mode according to the program in the ROM. In S7, off-hook and dialing are performed to establish a connection with the communication destination. In S8, the control unit controls the NCU / modem, transmits the encoded data to the destination input to the operation panel, and ends the processing.

If it is not the normal transmission mode in S2, the process proceeds to S9, where the direct transfer mode is selected and its control is started. In S10, the signal level transmitted by the control unit is set to the level of the transfer mode according to the program in the ROM. When the image data is transferred without passing through the telephone line, the signal level at the time of the transfer is set to a fixed value different from the normal set value and within a range that can be received by the transfer destination facsimile machine. Set to.

For example, some Super G3 facsimile machines are designed so that the signal transmission level can be adjusted within a range of 0 to -15 dBm according to the line conditions so that a sufficient level can be secured on the receiving side. is there. -8dBm
If communication is performed at the above set level, reception by the super G3 facsimile apparatus cannot be performed.
The signal level is set to a signal level at which communication with the three-facsimile apparatus can be reliably performed, for example, -15 dBm.

Thereafter, off-hook processing for signal transmission is performed in S11, and in S8, the data replaced in the memory is set to the set signal level (−15 dBm in the above example).
To send.

As described above, the transfer of the received image (steps S1 to S7 and steps S9 to S11) according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described. By the way, as another configuration example of the data transfer, the data to be communicated (transferred) in S8 is registered in addition to the image data described above, including the transmission destination registered in the shortcut key, the FAX number of the own station, and the like. It may be registration data of a facsimile transmission destination (registration data relating to a transmission destination).

FIGS. 3A and 3B are explanatory diagrams showing the receiving operation of the destination facsimile apparatus when transferring image data from the present facsimile apparatus. FIG. 3A shows the flow of normal reception, and FIG. Is a reception flow at the time of transfer. It goes without saying that this receiving function may be provided in the facsimile apparatus of the present embodiment.

In FIG. 3A, when an incoming call signal is received by an NCU from an external transmission source in S21, the process proceeds to S22, where the control unit controls the modem to receive data from the transmission source, and stores the data in the transmission / reception memory. Remember. When the communication ends in S23, the encoding / decoding unit decodes the image data stored in the transmission / reception memory under the control of the control unit in S24 and stores the image data in the image memory. Thereafter, the decrypted image data is sent to the printing unit when the printing unit becomes printable in S25 and printed. When printing is normally completed, the received data corresponding to the image data is deleted.

Next, in FIG. 3B, in S31, the user sets on the operation panel a manual reception mode for receiving image data transferred in accordance with the direct transfer mode of FIG. S32 to S35 are respectively shown in FIG.
This is the same as S21 to S25 in (a).

Here, in the above flow, the operation flow such as no dialing when no telephone line is passed, no tone signal coming from the line, and the like is different. There is no problem in performing individual processing.

This is shown in FIG. FIG. 4A shows a state of signal exchange between the transmitting side and the receiving side during transfer without passing through a telephone line. Since there is no dial, automatic reception start by ring detection is not performed, so transfer start and reception start are also performed manually. After performing negotiations such as confirming each other's performance, data transfer is performed. On the other hand, FIG. 4B shows a state of signal exchange between the transmitting side and the receiving side during normal communication. Although transmission is manually started, since the communication is performed via a circuit switch, the receiving side automatically starts a receiving operation when a ring is detected. Negotiation and data transfer are performed in the same manner as in FIG.

[0030]

According to the present invention, the control unit sets the signal transmission level within a range in which the signal can be received at the transfer destination. If the signal level is low and the signal transmission level is too high under normal settings, such as when transferring data, set an appropriate signal transmission level that is different from communication through the telephone line. Thereby, good transfer can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a transmission operation in the facsimile apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a receiving operation of a destination facsimile apparatus at the time of facsimile image data transfer of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a signal transmission / reception state of a facsimile apparatus on a receiving side and a transmitting side at the time of transfer not via a telephone line and at the time of transfer via a telephone line.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Original reading part 2 Encoding / decoding part 3 Printing part 4 Operation panel 5 NCU 6 Modem 7 Transmission / reception memory 8 Image memory 9 RAM 10 ROM 11 Control part

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yoshio Nishimoto 22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka F-term (reference) 5C075 CA14 CB01 FF02 FF90 5K101 KK01 QQ07

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus having a function of transferring image data in a memory via a cable without passing through an actual line including a telephone line, wherein the image data is transferred to another facsimile apparatus without passing through the actual line. A facsimile apparatus comprising: a control unit that sets a signal transmission level of the image data so that the signal level is within a signal level range that can be received by the other facsimile apparatus when transferring. 2. A facsimile data transfer method capable of transferring image data in a memory through a cable without passing through an actual line including a telephone line, wherein the image data is transferred to another facsimile apparatus without passing through the actual line. A facsimile data transfer method, wherein a signal transmission level of the image data is changed so as to fall within a signal level range receivable by the other facsimile apparatus. 3. A facsimile apparatus having a function of transferring registration data relating to a transmission destination stored in a memory through a cable without passing through a real line including a telephone line, wherein the registration data is transmitted without passing through the real line. A facsimile apparatus comprising: a control unit for setting a signal transmission level of the registration data so as to be within a signal level range that can be received by the other facsimile apparatus when transferring to another facsimile apparatus. 4. A facsimile data transfer method capable of transferring registration data relating to a transmission destination stored in a memory via a cable without passing through a real line including a telephone line. A facsimile data transfer method for changing the signal transmission level of the registration data so as to fall within a signal level range receivable by the other facsimile device when transferring to the facsimile device. 5. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a function of transferring image data in the memory via a real line including a telephone line, and wherein the control unit transmits the image data to the memory. A facsimile device for setting a signal transmission level of the image data so as to fall within a signal level range receivable by the other facsimile device when transferring to another facsimile device via an actual line. apparatus.