JP2003046687A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize memory transmission causing the least memory insufficiency deficit at the time of reading a transmission original. SOLUTION: The setting possible range of the compression degree of date when image data is stored in an image memory or the number of the transmission originals which can be read or both of them are limited (S304 to S306) based on one in prescribed information on the data quantity of the image data of the transmission original such as a color or monochrome reading mode, the compression degree of data when the image data is stored in the image memory, the number of transmission originals and an original size or the remaining quantity of the image memory or on multiple pieces of information.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus capable of transmitting a transmission document placed on a document table.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a document is transmitted to a facsimile machine, all the image data of the read document is temporarily stored in an image memory, and the image data is transmitted from the image memory to a facsimile machine of the other party (hereinafter referred to as "image data"). There is something to send to memory). As a result, even when the transmission speed is low when transmitting the original to the other facsimile,
The waiting time is short because the reading of the transmitted document is completed quickly. Further, the transmission originals are manually placed one by one on the original table, and each time the predetermined reading key is operated to read the image data, all the originals are transmitted by a predetermined transmission operation (hereinafter, (Called manual scanning)
In this case, since the person cannot read the document at the transmission speed of the document, the memory transmission is essential.

[0003]

With the widespread use of digital cameras, color printers and the like, it is required for facsimile machines to be able to send and receive color originals. However, the amount of color image data is not the amount of monochrome image data. Much larger than that. For this reason, when the memory transmission is performed, there is a problem that a memory shortage easily occurs and a situation in which the transmission cannot be normally performed frequently occurs. In order to prevent this, a very large capacity of the image memory is required, which causes a problem that the memory cost increases. Further, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-203223, there is provided a means for selecting whether the transmission original is transmitted in the monochrome mode or the color mode, and when the monochrome mode is selected, the memory transmission is performed and the color is transmitted. When the mode is selected, the image data of the transmission original is sequentially transmitted from the read page (hereinafter referred to as direct transmission)
Facsimile machines have been proposed. However, when performing the manual reading transmission, there is a problem that the method described in the above publication cannot be used because a person cannot read the original at a transmission speed of the original. Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus that can perform memory transmission while preventing memory shortage as much as possible when reading a transmission document. It is in.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a transmission document reading means for reading image data from a transmission document placed on a document table, and the image read by the transmission document reading means. In a facsimile apparatus including an image memory for temporarily storing data and a memory transmitting unit for transmitting the image data temporarily stored in the image memory to a facsimile apparatus of a partner side, a predetermined amount relating to the data amount of the image data of the transmission original is provided. The degree of compression of the image data when storing the image data in the image memory, or the reading of the transmission document by the transmission document reading means, based on either or both of the information and the remaining memory capacity of the image memory. A facsimile machine characterized by being configured so as to limit one or both of As a result, when the amount of image data of the transmission original is large or when the memory remaining amount of the image memory is small, the compression degree of the image data is high or the reading is restricted so that the next transmission original cannot be read. It is possible to prevent interruption of reading and transmission of the original document due to lack of the image memory during the reading of the transmission original document.

Further, the predetermined information relating to the data amount of the image data is a reading mode selected as to whether the transmission original reading means is made to read the transmission original in the color mode or the monochrome mode, and the size of the transmission original. It is conceivable that any one or a plurality of the actual number of sheets read by the transmission original reading unit and the degree of compression of the image data. Then, using these pieces of information, for example, under the condition that the selected reading mode is the color mode, the memory remaining amount of the image memory, the actual reading number of the transmission document, the size of the transmission document, the image It is conceivable to limit one or both of the compression degree of the image data and the reading of the transmission original document based on one or more of the compression degrees of the data. As a result, when a color transmission original having a particularly large amount of image data is read, a reading limitation is applied so as not to cause a shortage of the image memory. Further, for example, under the condition that the selected reading mode is the color mode, when the remaining memory capacity of the image memory is less than a predetermined amount, or an accumulation point indicating the amount of image data accumulated in the image memory is set. When the value exceeds a predetermined value, the degree of compression of the image data is limited, and the accumulation point is determined according to a predetermined rule based on the actual number of read sheets of the transmission document, the size of the transmission document, and the compression degree of the image data. It may be one that is done.

In addition, the compression degree of the image data is determined by a plurality of predetermined options such as "low", "medium",
One may be selected from “high” and the like.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments and examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings to provide an understanding of the present invention. It should be noted that the following embodiments and examples are merely examples embodying the present invention and are not of the nature to limit the technical scope of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a facsimile apparatus A according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a procedure for reading and transmitting a transmission original in the facsimile apparatus A according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing for setting the image quality of a read image in the facsimile apparatus A according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a reading of a transmission original in the facsimile apparatus A according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a flow chart showing a procedure of processing.

First, the configuration of the facsimile apparatus A according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The facsimile machine A, as shown in FIG.
An NCU 12 (Network Control Unit), a modem 13, an image memory 14, a work RAM 15, a ROM 16, a display unit 17, an operation unit 18, a document reading unit 19, a JPEG encoding / decoding unit 20, and a printing unit 21 are provided. The control unit 11
Is composed of an MPU (not shown) and its peripheral devices, and controls the transmission / reception of documents and other processing in the facsimile apparatus A according to a program previously stored in the ROM 16. The NCU 12 controls communication such as transmission of dial signals to a telephone line. Also, the modem 13
Modulates and demodulates transmitted and received data. These said NCU1
2 and the modem 13 read the image data from the image memory 14 and send it to the facsimile machine on the other side,
The received data from the facsimile machine on the other side is stored in the image memory 14. At this time, before the data transmission / reception, whether the other party is a facsimile machine, has a common encoding capability with the other party facsimile machine, and whether color data or monochrome data is transmitted / received. Negotiation processing is performed to mutually confirm and determine the communication method. The image memory 1
4 and the work RAM 15 are temporary storage devices such as DRAM. In the image memory 14, the JPEG code /
The image data encoded or decoded by the decoding unit 20 is stored. The work RAM 15 stores various data other than image data, such as a telephone number of a destination and a management table. The document reading section 19 includes a document table (not shown) and a line sensor composed of an optical system such as a CCD, and reads an image of a transmission document placed on the document table to obtain color or monochrome image data. Is generated and output to the JPEG encoding / decoding unit 20. Here, whether to generate color image data (hereinafter referred to as color reading mode) or monochrome image data (hereinafter referred to as monochrome reading mode) can be selected by the operation unit 18. Further, when the image of the transmission original placed on the original table is read by the original reading unit 19,
The size of the transmission document is automatically detected by detecting the contour of the width of the transmission document. The JPEG encoding / decoding unit 20 compresses the image data generated by the document reading unit 19 into JPEG encoding, and then the image memory 1
Store in 4. Here, the compression degree when compressing the image data can be selected from three levels of "low", "medium", and "high". That is, it is possible to select the transmission image quality of the document in three stages of "super fine", "fine", and "normal" by the operation unit 18, and "super fine (compression degree = low)" → "fine (compression degree). =
The data is compressed at a higher compression rate (compression degree) by lowering the resolution of the image data in the order of “medium” → “normal (compression degree = high)”. Therefore, when "Super Fine" is selected, high-quality image data is transmitted, but the amount of image data is large. On the other hand, when "Normal" is selected, the image quality is low, but the amount of image data is small. Also,
The JPEG encoding / decoding unit 20 reads the image data received from the facsimile apparatus on the other side from the image memory 14, decodes it, and outputs it to the printing unit 21 to print it. The printing unit 21 prints on the paper the image data read from the image memory 14 and decoded by the JPEG encoding / decoding unit 20. At this time, the image data in the image memory 14 is sequentially erased from the one where printing is completed. The configuration described above is the same as that of a conventionally known facsimile device. The feature of the facsimile apparatus A is that the transmission originals are placed one by one on the original table, a predetermined reading operation is performed each time to read the image data, and then all the originals are transmitted by a predetermined transmission operation. (Hereinafter, referred to as manual reading transmission), the image quality (that is, compression degree) that can be set, and
This is to limit the number of readable transmission originals.

Next, referring to FIG. 2, the present facsimile machine A
The processing procedure of the reading restriction when the manual reading transmission is performed by the control unit 11 will be described. Hereinafter, S100, S101, and so on represent processing procedure (step) numbers. The facsimile device A limits the reading only in the color reading mode. Before the processing shown in FIG.
It is assumed that one of the color reading mode and the monochrome reading mode is selected by the operation unit 18 with the first transmission original placed, and a predetermined key input for starting the manual reading transmission is made. The operation section 18
By doing so, the processing of FIG. 2 is started.

First, in S100, after the JOB of the manual reading transmission is generated, it is determined whether or not the remaining memory capacity of the image memory 14 exceeds a predetermined amount (for example, 40% of the total capacity). If it is determined that there is no remaining memory, a message indicating that the manual reading and transmission cannot be performed because the remaining memory is small is displayed on the display unit 1.
7 is displayed (S111), the generated JOB is canceled (S112), and the process ends. S101
When it is determined that the remaining amount of the image memory 14 is equal to or more than the predetermined amount, the key input operation from the operation unit 18 is detected (S102), and then S103 to S103.
In 105, it is determined whether the input key detected in S102 is the image quality setting key, the one-sheet reading start key, or the transmission start key. If none of those key inputs (NO side of S105), S
Returning to 102, the key input is detected again. S10
If it is determined in 3 that the image quality setting key has been input, the image quality setting process (S200) is executed, and then the process returns to S102. The image quality setting process can be selected when the user selects with the operation unit 18 which of "super fine", "fine", and "normal" the image quality (compression degree) of the transmitted document is to be transmitted. It is a process of limiting the image quality. Details will be described later. If it is determined in S104 that the one-sheet reading start key has been input, the reading process (S300)
Is executed. The reading process is a process of reading one page of image data from a transmission document, storing the image data in the image memory 14, and limiting whether or not the next page can be read as necessary. As a result of the execution of the reading process (S300), if the reading of the next page is not restricted, the process returns to S102. At this time, the user places the transmission original of the next page on the original table and the process is repeated sequentially. On the other hand, when the image quality setting process (S200) is executed and it is restricted that the next page cannot be read, the process proceeds to S107. Details of the reading process (S300) will be described later.
In this way, the image quality can be set and the image data can be read every time the transmission originals are placed one by one on the original table.

On the other hand, if it is determined in S105 that the transmission start key has been input, in S106, the reading process (S300) (described later with reference to FIG. 4).
Check the number of transmitted originals read by
If it is determined that no sheets have been read (0 sheets),
A message such as "Please set the document and scan it" is displayed on the display unit 17 (S121), the JOB is canceled (S122), and then the process ends. On the other hand, if it is determined in S106 that one or more transmission originals have been read, a message prompting the input of the destination telephone number is displayed on the display unit 17, and the destination telephone number is input from the operation unit 18. When input, the image data in the image memory 14 is transmitted to the facsimile machine on the other side by the NCU 12 and the modem 13, and the process is completed.

Next, the image quality setting process (S200) executed when the image quality setting key is input (YES in S103 of FIG. 2) will be described with reference to FIG. First, a predetermined input operation is selected from the operation unit 18 to select which of "super fine", "fine", and "normal" the transmission image quality is to be transmitted (S).
201) and then in S202, the image memory 1
It is determined whether or not the remaining memory capacity of No. 4 is larger than the predetermined threshold value 1 (the above-mentioned remaining memory capacity is sufficient).
The image quality set in step 1 is directly used in S102.
Return to (Fig. 2). If it is determined in S202 that the remaining amount of memory is equal to or smaller than the predetermined threshold 1 (for example, 80%), the remaining amount of memory only exceeds the predetermined threshold 2 in S203. It is determined whether or not there is remaining (a state where the remaining amount of the memory is slightly small).
In S203, the predetermined threshold value 2 (for example, 60
%), The image quality set in S201 in S211 is either “fine” or “normal”. It is determined whether or not, and when neither is determined (that is, "super fine"), the message indicating that "super fine" cannot be selected because the remaining amount of memory is slightly small is displayed on the display unit 1.
7 is displayed (S212), the process returns to S201 to again detect the image quality setting input. Here, the user inputs the image quality again. When it is determined in S211 that the image quality is either “fine” or “normal”, the set image quality is adopted as it is and the process returns to S102 (FIG. 2). On the other hand, if it is determined in S203 that the remaining memory amount is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold value 2 (the state where the remaining memory amount is small), the image quality set in S201 in S204 is "normal". It is determined whether or not If it is determined in S204 that the image quality is not "normal", the amount of remaining memory is small and "super fine" is displayed.
After displaying a message indicating that selection is not possible on the display unit 17 (S212), the process returns to S201 to detect the image quality setting input again. Here, the user inputs the image quality again. When it is determined in S211 that the image quality is “normal”, the set image quality is adopted as it is and the process returns to S102 (FIG. 2). As described above, the image quality of the transmission original that can be set (the degree of compression of the image data of the transmission original) is limited according to the remaining memory of the image memory 14. It is possible to prevent the situation in which the original cannot be read and transmitted normally.

The reading process (S300) executed when the reading start key is input (YES in S104 of FIG. 2) will be described below with reference to FIG. First, in step S301, the reading of the transmission original is started, and in steps S302 and S303, until the reading of one transmission original is completed, the remaining amount of the image memory is very small and is equal to or less than a predetermined amount. Is referred to as "memory full"). If it is determined that the memory is full (YES side of S302) while reading one transmission original, a message indicating that the reading cannot be continued because the memory is full is displayed on the display unit 17 ( After S311), the JOB is canceled (S312) and the process ends. On the other hand, if the memory full does not occur before the reading of one transmission original is completed, the process proceeds to S304, and the image data of the transmission original read by that time (stored in the image memory 14) Accumulation points that are indicators of quantity are calculated. The accumulation point is the set image quality,
And calculated based on the actual number and size of the read transmission originals (detected by the original reading unit 19). For example, when the transmission original is A4 size, every time one transmission original is read, +5 points if the image quality is "super fine", +3 points if "fine", and +2 points if "normal". Points will be added.
If the transmitted document is B4 size, 1.5 times as many points as in the case of A4 size are added. The accumulation point is initialized (0 point) when the JOB is generated (S100 in FIG. 2), and is added every time one transmitted document is read. Next, in S305, it is determined whether or not the accumulated point exceeds a predetermined point (for example, 10 points). If it is determined that the accumulated point is exceeded, the reading amount is large and further reading is impossible. After the message indicating that is displayed on the display unit 17 (S321), the process proceeds to the transmission process of S107. In this way, by limiting the readable data amount for each reading of the original for one JOB, the image memory 14
You can leave room for. As a result, one user has read a large amount of color originals, so the image memory 14
Therefore, even if the next user tries to read the manuscript before the transmission process of the previous user is completed, it is possible to prevent the problem that the document cannot be used at all. In this case, for example, lower the image quality and read again, or
It is conceivable that the data may be transmitted in several times, and a message to that effect may be displayed on the display unit 17 (S321).

If it is determined in S305 that the accumulation point is equal to or less than the predetermined point, it is determined in S306 whether the remaining memory capacity of the image memory 14 is less than a predetermined amount (for example, 40%). If it is determined that the amount is less than the predetermined amount, a message indicating that further reading is impossible because the remaining memory is small is displayed on the display unit 17 (S331), and then the transmission process of S107 is performed. Transition. As a result, the memory full occurs while reading the original on the next page (YES in S302).
It is possible to prevent the JOB from being canceled. On the other hand, in S306, the image memory 1
If it is determined that the memory remaining amount of 4 is equal to or more than the predetermined amount, the process returns to S102, and the process for reading the next page of the transmission document is repeated. As another embodiment, when the process of FIG. 2 is started under the condition that the color reading mode is selected, the readable number of sheets in one transmission is limited to, for example, one sheet. You may comprise. In this case, in the process of FIG.
The process proceeds to YES side of S104 → S300 → S107.

In the facsimile apparatus A, as shown in FIG. 3, the image quality that can be set is limited based on the remaining memory of the image memory 14. It is also possible to restrict by using the above-mentioned method, or by using an index such as the accumulation point calculated based on the number of read sheets, the document size, and the image quality. As a method of limiting the reading of the transmitted original, as shown in FIG. 4, in addition to the limitation by the accumulation point, a threshold value or the like is provided for each of the number of read sheets, the original size, and the image quality. It is also possible to consider a method of restricting the

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Information regarding the data amount of the image data of the transmission document, for example, whether the transmission document is color, the number of sheets of the transmission document to be read, the compression degree of the document data (the image quality) or the reading is limited based on the document size and the like. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the memory shortage as much as possible when reading the original.
It is possible to make effective use of limited memory and perform memory transmission.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a facsimile device A according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of FIG.

FIG. 2 is a facsimile device A according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a flowchart showing the procedure of reading and transmitting a transmission document in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a facsimile device A according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing for setting the image quality of a read image in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a facsimile device A according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a process of reading a transmission document in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... Control unit 12 ... NCU 13 ... Modem 14 ... Image memory 15 ... Work RAM 16 ... ROM 17 ... Display 18 ... Operation part 19 ... Original reading section 20 ... JPEG encoder / decoder 21 ... Printing department S100, S101, ... Processing procedure (step) number

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Teruki Matsuyama             22-22 Nagaike, Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka             Group Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi             22-22 Nagaike, Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka             Group Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yuki Shibayama             22-22 Nagaike, Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka             Group Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masahiro Inoue             22-22 Nagaike, Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka             Group Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5C062 AA02 AB02 AB17 AB42 AC02                       AC22 AC25 AC58 AC60 AC67                       AE02 AE03 AF07 BA00                 5C073 AA06 BC03 CE02 CE06                 5C078 AA04 AA09 BA57 CA02 CA27                       DA01 DA02                 5C079 HA11 HA13 JA23 LA26 LA31                       MA02 PA01

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A transmission document reading means for reading image data from a transmission document placed on a document table, an image memory for temporarily storing the image data read by the transmission document reading means, and a temporary storage in the image memory. In a facsimile machine including a memory transmitting means for transmitting the image data to the facsimile machine on the other side, either one or both of predetermined information regarding the data volume of the image data of the transmission document and the remaining memory capacity of the image memory. Based on the above, it is configured to limit either one or both of the compression degree of the image data when the image data is stored in the image memory and the reading of the transmission original by the transmission original reading unit. A facsimile machine characterized by. 2. A reading mode selected based on whether the transmission original reading unit reads the transmission original in a color mode or a monochrome mode, and the predetermined size information of the transmission original is used. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein any one or a plurality of the actual number of sheets of the transmission original read by the transmission original reading unit and the degree of compression of the image data is used. 3. Under the condition that the selected reading mode is the color mode, the memory remaining amount of the image memory, the actual number of readings of the transmission document, the size of the transmission document, and the compression degree of the image data are determined. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 2, wherein either one or both of the compression degree of the image data and the reading of the transmission original are limited based on one or more of them. 4. A storage point that represents a storage amount of image data in the image memory when the remaining memory capacity of the image memory is below a predetermined amount under the condition that the selected reading mode is the color mode. Is greater than a predetermined value, the degree of compression of the image data is limited, and the accumulation point is determined according to a predetermined rule based on the actual number of read sheets of the transmission document, the size of the transmission document, and the compression degree of the image data. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 3, which is determined. 5. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the compression degrees of the image data is selected from a plurality of predetermined options.