JP2002314793A - Image information communication unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image information communication unit that can exhibit part of original image information to a receiver side with enhancement, without impairing the original. SOLUTION: The image information communication unit, transmitting original image information obtained by reading an original to a receiver, is provided with a valid range designation means that designates a valid range in the original image information in response to an operation input, an out of valid range density lowering means that lowers the density at the outside of the valid range more than that in the valid range and designated by the valid range designation means in the original image information, and an out of valid range density lowering image information transmission means that transmits the original image information, whose density is lowered by the out of valid range density lowering means to the receiver.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image information communication apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus, and more particularly to transmitting image information obtained by reading an original to a receiving apparatus while receiving image information from the transmitting apparatus. The present invention relates to an image information communication device that performs visual output by using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a facsimile apparatus for exchanging image information via a public telephone network and an image information communication apparatus such as a network facsimile apparatus for exchanging image information via a network, an original is read on a transmission side. There is a case where the receiving side wants to see only a part of the image information obtained as a result.

In order to make the receiving side see only a part of the image information to be transmitted, a method of extracting a part of the original and partially transmitting the original as in the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-253465 is considered. Can be

[0004]

However, in such a partial transmission, since the relationship with the surrounding image information which has not been transmitted becomes unknown, some persons who have received the data may retransmit the entire image information again. There is a problem that partial transmission is rather troublesome for both the transmitting side and the receiving side.

As a method of making a part of the image information stand out from the surrounding image information to be seen by the receiving side, a part of the original which is desired to be noticed by the receiving side is surrounded by a thick line in addition to the partial transmission. However, in such a case, a thick line is written on the original document itself, so that the original document cannot be reused, and there is a problem that it takes time and effort to copy the transmitted original document in a dimension.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide an image information communication apparatus which can emphasize a part of original image information and show it to a receiving side without damaging the original. And

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image information communication apparatus for transmitting original image information obtained by reading an original to a receiving side apparatus. An effective range designating unit for designating an effective range in the original image information; and an effective range low for lowering the density of the original image information outside the effective range designated by the effective range designating unit to be lower than the effective range. And an out-of-effective-range low-density image information transmitting unit that transmits the original image information whose density has been reduced by the out-of-effective-range low-density unit to the receiving-side device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image information communication apparatus for transmitting original image information obtained by reading an original to a receiving device, wherein the image information communication apparatus includes: An effective range designating unit for designating an effective range, and information of a predetermined format for specifying the effective range designated by the effective range designating unit in addition to transmission of the document image information to the receiving side device. And an effective range information notifying means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image information communication apparatus for receiving image information from a transmission side apparatus and visually outputting the image information. When the notification of the effective range designation information in the predetermined format is received, the outside of the effective range which lowers the density of the received image information outside the effective range designated by the effective range designation information to be lower than the effective range. The image processing apparatus further includes a density increasing unit, and a low-density image information outputting unit that visually outputs the received image information reduced in density by the out-of-effective-range density reducing unit.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image information communication apparatus according to the third aspect, wherein the image information received from the transmitting apparatus is stored in a memory as it is,
The image processing apparatus further includes a non-density-reduced received image information output unit that visually outputs the received image information held in the memory when a predetermined operation input is performed.

[0011]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.
An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

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

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, an image memory 7, an encoding / decoding unit 8, an operation display unit 9, a modem 10, and a network control unit 11. , And a system bus 12.

The system control unit 2 is a microcomputer that 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 that stores a control program for the system control unit 2 to control each unit of the apparatus. Also, R
The OM 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 scanner 5 has 3.85 lines / mm, 7.7
This is for obtaining image information by reading a document at a set reading line density such as book / mm and 15.4 book / mm. The plotter 6 is for recording and outputting image information on recording paper.

The image memory 7 temporarily stores image information read by the scanner 5 as a file for memory transmission, or temporarily stores received image information as a file until it is recorded by the plotter 6. It is used for temporary storage of unprocessed image information such as a flick.

The encoding / decoding unit 8 converts the transmission image information into G3
Encoding and compression are performed using a predetermined coding method such as an MH coding method, an MR coding method, or an MMR coding method, which is compatible with facsimile, while receiving image data is subjected to the MH coding method or the MR coding method.
The decoding is performed by a predetermined decoding method corresponding to an encoding method, an MMR encoding method, or the like.

The operation display unit 9 is provided with various keys such as a numeric keypad and a start key for designating a destination facsimile number, and is provided with a display such as a liquid crystal display device. The status and various messages are displayed.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the arrangement of the operation display unit 9. In the figure, a numeric keypad 9a is used to directly designate a destination fax number or the like. [Yes] key 9b and [No] key 9c
This is a key for allowing the user to select a decision or a cancellation. [Stop] key 9d is a key for instructing forcible stop of various operations. [Start] key 9e
Is a key for instructing the start of a facsimile transmission operation or the start of an operation such as a copy operation. The [Function] key 9f is used for a one-touch dial registration function, a speed dial registration function, a user parameter setting function,
This is for calling an extended function such as time designation transmission, department code designation transmission, etc., other than the function of the facsimile machine 1 as a standard facsimile machine. Press the [Function] key 9f and use the numeric keypad 9a. By inputting a number corresponding to each function, each function can be called and executed.

The cursor key group 9g includes a [down arrow] key 9
gd, [left arrow] key 9gl, [right arrow] key 9gr,
And an [up arrow] key 9gu.
The [Down Arrow] key 9gd and the [Up Arrow] key 9gu are used to change the display content of the display 9h or to scroll the display content up and down in accordance with the depression of each key. In addition, the [left arrow] key 9gl and the [right arrow] key 9
gr selects an item, a function, or the like displayed on the display 8h in accordance with the depression of each key. The display 9h is
This is for displaying the operating state of the device to be notified to the user and various messages.

Returning to FIG. 1, the modem 10 is a G3 facsimile modem, which modulates transmission data and demodulates reception data. The modem 10 also sends a DTMF signal corresponding to the dial number. The network control unit 11 is connected to the public network, and closes / releases a DC loop of a line, detects polarity reversal of a line, detects line release, detects a dial tone, detects a tone signal such as a busy tone, and calls. It controls connection to a line such as signal detection and generates dial pulses. The system bus 12
These are signal lines through which each section exchanges data.

Next, a transmission processing procedure in the facsimile apparatus 1 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. FIG.

First, in FIG. 3, the flag Fu is reset to 0 (process 101). The flag Fu indicates whether an effective range, which will be described in detail later, has been designated (value 1) or not (value 0).

Then, a display D shown in FIG.
After displaying 01 (processing 102), the process waits for a document to be set (No in decision 103 loop).

When the original is set (Yes in decision 103)
s), the destination number input by the numeric keypad 9a (“0312345678” in the display D01 of FIG. 7) is displayed on the display 9h and the destination input processing (processing 104) for storing in the RAM 4 is performed by the [Start] key 9e. Is pressed or the [↓] key 9gd is pressed (No in decision 105, No in decision 106).

If the [↓] key 9gd is depressed before the [Start] key 9e is depressed (Yes in decision 106), an effective range setting process is performed (process 107), and the process returns to process 104.

Here, a specific processing procedure of the effective range setting processing of the processing 107 will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 7, first, a display 9h is shown in FIG.
Is displayed to prompt the user to input the effective range in the horizontal direction (main scanning direction) in millimeters (process 401), and display the input effective range designation value on display D02.
An input process of displaying the input value in the RAM 02 and storing the input value in the RAM 4 (process 402) is performed until the [Yes] key 9b is pressed (No in the judgment 403). In the input process in process 402, “0” is input using the numeric keypad 9a.
050m when the number string "50100" is input
It is interpreted that the range from m to 100 mm is designated as the effective range in the horizontal direction.

When the [Yes] key 9b is depressed (Yes in decision 403), the input values input in the process 402 are set as Ds1 (corresponding to 050 mm in the display D02) and Ds2 (corresponding to 100 mm in the display D02) in the RAM 4. To memorize.

Then, a display D shown in FIG.
03 is displayed to prompt the user to input the effective range in the vertical direction (sub-scanning direction) in millimeters (step 40).
5) An input process of displaying the input effective range designation value on the display D03 and storing the input value in the RAM 4 (process 406) is performed until the [Yes] key 9b is pressed (No loop of the judgment 407). ). In the input process in process 406, “07011” is input using the numeric keypad 9a.
When the number string “0” is input, it is changed from 070 mm to 1
It is interpreted that up to 10 mm is specified as the vertical effective range.

When the [Yes] key 9b is pressed (Yes in decision 407), the input values input in the process 406 are set as Dh1 (corresponding to 070 mm in the display D03) and Dh2 (corresponding to 110 mm in the display D03) in the RAM 4. To memorize.

Then, the flag Fu is set to 1 to indicate that the effective range has been set (step 409).

Returning to FIG. 3, when the [Start] key 9e is pressed in the judgment 105 (Ye in the judgment 105).
s), it is determined whether the value of the flag Fu is 1, that is, whether the effective range is set by performing the effective range setting process of the process 107 (decision 108), and the value of the flag F1 is not 1 (0). In this case (No in decision 108), since no effective range is specified, the image information obtained by reading the original set in the scanner 5 in decision 103 is temporarily stored in the image memory 7 (step 109). A call is made to the destination designated by the process 104, and facsimile transmission is performed to the receiving side device by a control procedure based on the G3 facsimile protocol (process 110). The transmission mode of the original image information may be a so-called direct transmission mode in which the original image information is read and transmitted simultaneously, instead of the so-called memory transmission in which the image information is temporarily stored in the image memory 7. Not to mention.

In the judgment 108, the value of the flag Fu is 1
In the case of (Yes in decision 108), the processing 201 in FIG.
Move to

In the process 201 of FIG. 4, the number of pixels is calculated by multiplying Ds1, that is, the distance to the left end of the effective range in millimeters in the main scanning direction by the pixel density in the main scanning direction (8 pixels / mm in G3 facsimile). The distance G1 to the left end of the conversion effective range is calculated.

Further, Ds2, that is, the distance to the right end of the effective range in millimeters in the main scanning direction is multiplied by the pixel density in the main scanning direction (8 pixels / mm in G3 facsimile) to reach the right end of the effective range in terms of the number of pixels. Is calculated (processing 202).

In the G3 facsimile, the pixel density in the main scanning direction is fixed at 8 pixels / mm, but when the present invention is applied to a system in which the pixel density in the main scanning direction is not fixed,
It goes without saying that the pixel density specified at the time of transmission may be used.

Next, in the G3 facsimile, the line density in the sub-scanning direction is 3.85 lines / mm or 7.7 lines / mm as standard.
mm and 15.4 lines / mm can be set as an option, so that the reading linear density Lm actually set for the current transmission (setting procedure is omitted, but a special setting key or function operation is used in advance. (Set and stored in the RAM 4) (process 203), and Dh1, that is, the distance to the upper end of the effective range in millimeter units in the sub-scanning direction is multiplied by the set reading linear density Lm in the sub-scanning direction.
The distance L1 to the upper end of the effective range in line number conversion is calculated (step 204).

Further, Dh2, that is, the distance to the lower end of the effective range in millimeter units in the sub-scanning direction is multiplied by the set reading linear density Lm in the sub-scanning direction to calculate the distance L2 to the lower end of the effective range in terms of the number of lines. (Process 205).

FIG. 8 shows the relationship between the distance from the reference position (upper left end) to each of the upper, lower, left and right ends of the effective range set on the original image information. In addition, as the specification form of the effective range,
Not only the distance from the reference position to the top, bottom, left and right ends, but also a form such as specifying a width of several millimeters from the reference position, a width of several millimeters, and a height of several millimeters with a height of several millimeters as the top left corner Conceivable. Also, the effective range is not limited to a quadrilateral,
It is also possible to generalize to polygons such as triangles and pentagons,
In this case, it is needless to say that the effective range can be designated by designating the position of each vertex of the polygon, and the judgment inside and outside the effective range can be easily made.

Now, after the process 205 in FIG. 4, the process proceeds to a process 301 in FIG.

In processing 301 of FIG. 5, one page of the original set on the scanner 5 is read and temporarily stored in the image memory 7 as binary image information (processing 301), and the stored binary image information of one page is stored. (Step 302), and repeats until there is no next page to be read (No loop of decision 303).

When there is no next page (decision 30)
No. 3), the image information stored in the image memory 7 in which the out-of-effective-range density reduction processing has been completed is called and facsimile-transmitted to the designated receiving-side apparatus (process 30).
4).

As a result, the density outside the specified effective range is reduced, and an image in which the specified effective range is emphasized is transmitted to the receiving device, and the receiving device records and outputs the image on recording paper. As a result, the receiving side that has received the partially specified image information can clarify the relationship between the image information within the effective range related to the partially specified transmission and the image information outside the effective range. The user's embarrassment can be reduced, troubles such as inquiries to the transmitting side can be avoided, and smooth partial designation transmission can be performed.

Here, a specific processing procedure of the density reduction processing outside the effective range of the processing 302 will be described with reference to FIG.

In the figure, first, a value 1 is set to a line counter variable Cl (process 501).

Then, it is determined whether the line counter Cl is equal to L1, that is, whether the line counter Cl has reached the upper end of the effective range in terms of the number of lines (determination 502).
If it is not equal to 1, that is, if the upper end of the effective range has not yet been reached (No in decision 502), the Clth line constituting the image information of the processing target page stored in the image memory 7 Read out the image data of
4 (process 503). Note that the reading process in the process 503 is performed when the image information of the processing target page stored in the image memory 7 is encoded and compressed.
Includes decryption processing.

Then, it is determined whether or not the Cl-th line is an odd line (decision 504). If the Cl-th line is an odd line (Yes in decision 504), the first of the Cl-th lines is determined.
The AND process is performed on the pixels from the pixel to the last pixel in the pattern (0, 1) (process 505), and the process proceeds to process 507. No. Cl
If the line is an even line (No in decision 504),
The first pixel to the last pixel of the Cl line are ANDed with the pattern (1, 0) (process 506), and the process 50 is performed.
Move to 7.

The processing in the processing 505 or 506 is typically the processing shown in FIG. 12, in which 2 × 2 pixels in the processing target page image information are divided into an odd line (0, 1) and an even line (1, 0). ), The black pixels (pixel value 1) are halved and the density is reduced.

Returning to FIG. 9, in the process 507, the process 50
In step 5 or the process 506, the Cl-th line subjected to the density reduction processing is written back as the Cl-th line of the processing target page image information stored in the image memory 7. The processing 507
The write-back process includes a coding and compression process when the image information of the processing target page stored in the image memory 7 is coded and compressed.

After the process 507, the line counter Cl is incremented (process 508), and the process returns to the judgment 502.

At decision 502, the line counter Cl
Is equal to L1, that is, when the upper limit of the effective range of the number of lines is reached (Yes in determination 502), FIG.
The process proceeds to determination 601.

In judgment 601, it is judged whether the line counter Cl is equal to (L2 + 1), that is, whether the line counter Cl has exceeded the lower end of the effective range of the line number conversion (judgment 601). If the line counter Cl is not equal to (L2 + 1), That is, if the lower limit of the effective range has not been exceeded (No in decision 601), the image data of the Cl-th line constituting the image information of the processing target page stored in the image memory 7 is read out. Is developed in the RAM 4 (process 60).
2). Note that the reading process in the process 602 includes a decoding and expanding process when the image information of the processing target page stored in the image memory 7 is encoded and compressed.

Then, it is determined whether or not the Cl-th line is an odd-numbered line (determination 603). If the Cl-th line is an odd-numbered line (Yes in determination 603), the first of the Cl-th lines is determined.
Pattern (0,1) from pixel to (G1-1) pixel
(AND processing) (processing 604) and (G2 +
1) The AND process is performed on the pixels from the pixel to the last pixel in the pattern (0, 1) (process 605), and the process proceeds to process 608. If the Cl-th line is an even line (N in decision 603)
o), AND processing is performed on the first pixel to the (G1-1) th pixel of the Cl-th line with the pattern (1, 0) (processing 606), and the pattern (1, 2) from the (G2 + 1) th pixel to the last pixel is processed. In step (0), an AND operation is performed (step 607), and the process proceeds to step 608.

The processing in the processing 604, 605, 606, or 607 is typically the processing shown in FIG.

In step 608, steps 604 and 60
5. The Cl-th line on which the density reduction processing has been performed by the processing 606 or 607 is rewritten as the Cl-th line of the processing target page image information stored in the image memory 7.
Note that the write-back process in the process 608 includes an encoding compression process when the image information of the processing target page stored in the image memory 7 is encoded and compressed.

After the process 608, the line counter Cl is incremented (process 609), and the process returns to the judgment 601.

In the judgment 601, the line counter Cl
Is equal to (L2 + 1), that is, exceeds the lower end of the effective range in line number conversion (Ye in decision 601).
s), and proceed to the determination 701 in FIG.

In judgment 701 of FIG. 11, it is judged whether the line counter Cl has exceeded the last line (judgment 70).
1) If the line counter Cl has exceeded the last line (Yes in decision 701), the process is terminated. If the line counter Cl has not yet exceeded the last line (No in decision 701), the image is deleted. The image data of the Cl-th line constituting the image information of the processing target page, which is stored in the memory 7, is read and expanded in the RAM 4 (process 70).
2). Note that the reading process in the process 702 includes a decoding and expanding process when the image information of the processing target page stored in the image memory 7 is encoded and compressed.

Then, it is determined whether or not the Cl-th line is an odd-numbered line (determination 703). If the Cl-th line is an odd-numbered line (Yes in determination 703), the first of the Cl-th lines is determined.
The AND processing is performed on the pixels from the pixel to the last pixel in the pattern (0, 1) (processing 704), and the process proceeds to processing 706. No. Cl
If the line is an even line (No in decision 703),
The first pixel to the last pixel of the Cl line are ANDed with the pattern (1, 0) (process 705), and the process 70
Move to 6.

The processing in the processing 745 or the processing 705 is typically the processing shown in FIG. 12 which has already been described.

In step 706, step 704 or step 7
At step 05, the Cl-th line on which the density reduction processing has been performed is rewritten as the Cl-th line of the processing target page image information stored in the image memory 7. Note that the write-back process in the process 706 includes an encoding compression process when the image information of the processing target page stored in the image memory 7 is encoded and compressed.

After the process 706, if the line counter Cl is the last line (Yes in the decision 707), the process is terminated. If the line counter Cl is not the last line yet (No in the decision 707). ), The line counter Cl is incremented (processing 708), and
Return to 2.

By performing the density reduction processing outside the effective range as described above, the image density within the effective range is reduced while the image density within the effective range specified by the user is maintained. Can be emphasized. The form of the density reduction processing outside the effective range of the binary image information is not limited to the simple pattern comparison method as shown in FIGS. May be applied.

In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the case of binary image information. However, when the present invention is applied to multi-value image information, the range of the designated effective range is limited. This can be easily dealt with by a method such as reducing the pixel value outside at a fixed rate.

Next, a modified example of the transmission procedure shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 will be described.

In this modification, of the transmission processing procedures of FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the processing procedure of FIG. 5 is replaced with the processing procedure of FIG.

That is, the judgment 108 in FIG. 3 becomes Yes, and the processing 201 to 205 in FIG.
After calculating 1, G2, L1, and L2, the process proceeds to the process 901 in FIG. 13, where the originals of all the pages set in the scanner 5 are read and temporarily stored as binary image information in the image memory 7 (process 901). Then, the image information temporarily stored in the image memory 7 is called to the receiving-side device of the designated destination and transmitted by facsimile (process 902). In the pre-transmission procedure at the time of facsimile transmission, the facsimile information field (FI
F), as shown in FIG. 14, G1, G2, L1 and L2
Of the transmission image information, and notifies the receiving side device of the information.

As a result, on the transmitting side, the density reduction processing outside the specified effective range is not performed, and the processing for the specified effective range is left to the receiving side.

In response to the process 902 in FIG. 13, the facsimile machine 1 performs the receiving procedure shown in FIG. 15 as a receiving side device.

In FIG. 15, it is monitored whether there is an incoming call (No in decision 1001), and if there is an incoming call (Yes in decision 1001), facsimile reception based on the G3 facsimile transmission control procedure is responded. Then, a process for storing the received image information in the image memory 7 is performed (process 10).
02). In the pre-transmission procedure in facsimile reception in process 1002, the process 9002 in FIG.
, The non-standard function setting signal N
G1, G2, defined by SS as shown in FIG.
Upon receiving the notification of the information for specifying the effective range of L1 and L2, if it is a normal incoming call without specifying the effective range,
You will not be notified of such information.

After the process 1002, it is determined whether or not the effective range is designated by the non-standard function setting signal NSS (decision 1003). If there is no notification and normal facsimile reception is performed (decision 1003) No), the received image information received and stored in the process 1002 is sequentially stored in the RAM 4 one page at a time.
Is developed in the page memory area, and the developed image data is visually output by directly recording and outputting it on recording paper by the plotter 6 (process 1004). In addition,
It goes without saying that the form of visible output of the received image information may be another output form such as display on a large-sized display.

Then, the output received image information is deleted from the image memory 7 (process 1005), and the process ends.

In the judgment 1003, when the effective range is specified in the NSS (Yes in the judgment 1003),
The received image information received / stored in the process 1002 is developed as image data for one page in the page memory area of the RAM 4 (process 106). In addition, the concentration reduction processing outside the effective range specifically shown in FIG. 11 is performed (processing 100
7) The image information for one page after the density reduction processing is recorded and output on recording paper by the plotter 6 (processing 1008).
Then, it is determined whether there is an unprocessed next page (determination 10).
09), when there is no next page (Ye of judgment 1009)
s) The process ends, but if there is a next page (No in decision 1009), the process returns to process 1006.

In this way, for the received image information accompanied by the designation of the effective range from the transmitting side, it becomes possible to visually output the outside of the designated effective range in a low density mode.
Since the density reduction processing on the transmission side is unnecessary, it is possible to eliminate a decrease in the encoding efficiency of the transmission image information which may be caused by the density reduction processing on the transmission side, and to reduce the communication time of the communication relating to the partial designated transmission. You can plan.

Now, the receiving user who sees the document recorded and output by the processing 1008 in FIG. 15 in which the density outside the effective range is reduced and the effective range is emphasized is reduced. You may find that you need the original document before it was sent.

In this case, the received image information before the effective range density reduction processing received and stored in the processing 1002 is still stored in the image memory 7, so that the document before the density reduction processing according to the processing procedure of FIG. Can be obtained.

That is, in FIG. 16, there is a combination operation of the input of the number "20" by the [function] key 9f and the numeric keypad 9a, that is, the mode in which the received image information specifying the effective range is output without reducing the density. Is activated (No in decision 1101), and decision 110
If 1 is Yes, the image information with the effective range designation stored in the image memory 7 is recorded and output as it is on the recording paper by the plotter 6 (process 1102), and the output image information is deleted from the image memory 7.

Thus, even if the user needs the original document before the density is reduced outside the effective range,
This can be obtained without requesting the transmitting side for retransmission. When a plurality of pieces of received image information for which the effective range is specified are stored in the image memory 7, it is also possible to record and output / delete only the received image information for which a specific effective range is specified by specifying a file number. Conceivable.

Since the processing 302 shown in FIG. 5 and the processing 1007 shown in FIG. 15, which are specifically shown in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, are performed on a line-by-line basis, the transmission The present invention is not limited to the case of memory transmission in which image information is temporarily stored in the image memory 7 and then transmitted, or the case of memory reception in which received image information is temporarily stored in the image memory 7 and then recorded and output. It can be applied to direct transmission and direct reception.

In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to the G3 facsimile. However, the present invention is not limited by the communication mode of the image information, and the image information may be exchanged by e-mail. The present invention is similarly applicable to other communication modes.

[0084]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the density of the original image information to be transmitted, which is outside the specified effective range, is reduced to be lower than the effective range. If the information is information, the density is lowered by lowering the pixel value of the multi-valued image information by thinning out the black pixels, and is transmitted to the receiving side device. Therefore, it is possible to emphasize a part of the original image information as an effective range without impairing the original original by writing, and to show it to the receiving side in a manner that does not seem uncomfortable in the partial designation transmission. can get.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when transmitting the original image information to the receiving side device, the effective range information can be added and notified, so that the range to be reduced in density is transmitted to the receiving side device. Can be designated, and the reception side device can perform emphasis processing on a part (effective range) of the medical examination image information. As a result, it is possible to avoid an increase in the transmission time of image information due to an increase in the code amount, which may occur when the transmission side performs low-density processing such as black pixel thinning. This has the effect of allowing the receiving device to have a variety of treatments.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the image information is received from the transmitting apparatus, the effective range information can be additionally received, so that any range of the received image information can be set to a low level. It is possible to determine whether or not to increase the density, and it is possible to perform emphasis processing on a part (effective range) of the examination image information. As a result, it is possible to enhance the effective range of the received image information while avoiding an increase in the transmission time of the image information due to an increase in the code amount, which may occur when the transmission side performs a low density process such as black pixel thinning. The following effect can be obtained.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, after viewing the received image information in which the outside of the effective range is reduced in density by the low-density image information output means, the received image in which the outside of the effective range is not reduced in density is displayed. When it is desired to view the information, the original received image information without lowering the density outside the effective range can be output as required by the user, thereby eliminating the need for a request for retransmission to the transmission source. Thus, the effect that the communication time can be reduced can be 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 an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an arrangement configuration of the operation display unit of the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, except for parts directly related to the present embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a transmission processing procedure in the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a transmission processing procedure in the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, together with FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a transmission processing procedure in the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, together with FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a specific processing procedure of an effective range setting processing.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of display on a display associated with a processing procedure in the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a relationship between an effective range set on a document and each variable;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a specific processing procedure of the low-concentration processing outside the effective range.

10 is a flowchart showing a specific processing procedure of the out-of-effective-range density reduction processing together with FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a specific processing procedure of the out-of-effective-range density reduction processing together with FIGS. 9 and 10;

FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically showing a density reduction process.

13 is a flowchart showing another example of the transmission processing procedure in the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, together with FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a form of notification of an effective range by a non-standard function setting signal NSS.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a reception processing procedure in the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an effective range designation received image information output processing procedure in the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 facsimile apparatus 2 system control unit 3 ROM 3a font table 4 RAM 5 scanner 6 plotter 7 image memory 8 encoding / decoding unit 9 operation display unit 9a numeric keypad 9b [start] key 9c [stop] key 9d [Yes] key 9e [ No] key 9f [Function] 9g Cursor key group 9gl Left arrow key 9gr Right arrow key 9gu Up arrow key 9gd Down arrow key 9h Display 10 Modem 11 Network control unit 12 System bus

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image information communication device for transmitting original image information obtained by reading an original to a receiving device, comprising: an effective range designating means for designating an effective range in the original image information in response to an operation input; An effective-range low-density reducing unit that reduces the density of the original image information outside the effective range specified by the effective range specifying unit to a density lower than the effective range; A low-density image information transmitting unit outside the effective range for transmitting the converted original image information to the receiving device. 2. An image information communication device for transmitting original image information obtained by reading an original to a receiving device, comprising: an effective range designating unit for designating an effective range in the original image information in response to an operation input; Effective range information notifying means for notifying information in a predetermined format for specifying an effective range specified by the effective range specifying means in addition to transmission of the original image information to the receiving side device. An image information communication device characterized by the above-mentioned. 3. An image information communication device for receiving image information from a transmission side device and visually outputting the image information, wherein a notification of a predetermined format effective range designation information is transmitted from the transmission side device in addition to the reception of the image information. And receiving the received image information out of the effective range specified by the effective range designation information, lowering the density outside the effective range. An image information communication device comprising: a low-density image information output unit that visually outputs the received image information whose density has been reduced by the density unit. 4. An unreduced-density received image that retains image information received from the transmission-side device in a memory as it is and, when a predetermined operation input is performed, visually outputs the received image information stored in the memory. 4. The image information communication device according to claim 3, further comprising information output means.