JP2003087475A - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a facsimile machine which enables a user to retrieve when and where an original is sent. SOLUTION: An image memory 2 stores read image data and an image comparison section 3 compares the read original image data with the stored image data stored in a hard disk 4 to check whether or not they are coincident. The hard disk 4 is a nonvolatile storage section for storing the image data of the stored original, a communication section 5 is connected to a telephone line to transmit/receive the image data and receive a control signal or the like, and an operation section 6 is an entry section for a control signal to control the facsimile machine. The facsimile machine of the above constitution uses a scanner to read an original desirably to b confirmed, sequentially compares the read original with a transmission document having been stored in the hard disk, and displays a transmission date and time and a transmission destination of the stored document when they are coincident. Then the image recognition is omitted through discrimination of image comparison to quicken the retrieval.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine, and more particularly to a facsimile machine which facilitates searching and grasping of transmitted image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a facsimile apparatus is generally an apparatus for reading image data on a document with a scanner or the like and transmitting the read image data, and the transmitted image data is not stored and held.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional facsimile apparatus, it was not possible to confirm what document was transmitted after transmitting the document. Further, even in a facsimile machine having a function of accumulating and storing all transmitted originals, it is difficult to retrieve the transmitted originals. Further, in the conventional facsimile apparatus, there is a problem that it takes a long time to search for image recognition.

An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus which can retrieve when and where an original is sent.

[0005]

To achieve the above object, a facsimile apparatus of the present invention comprises a scanner for reading image data from an original, an image memory for storing and holding image data of the original read by the scanner, and a stored original. Has a hard disk that stores and holds the image data of the above, an image comparison unit that compares whether the image data of the original document and the image data of the stored original document match, and a printer that prints the image data. If there is a stored document, the transmission date and time of the stored document, the destination, the stored document is displayed and printed.

Further, it is preferable to further include a communication unit connected to a telephone line for transmitting / receiving image data, receiving an operation signal, and the like, and an operation unit for operating the facsimile apparatus.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, an embodiment of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown one embodiment of the facsimile apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment. The facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment is configured to include a control unit 1, an image storage memory 2, an image comparison unit 3, a hard disk 4, a communication unit 5, an operation unit 6, a scanner 7, an image memory 8, and a printer 9. To be done.

The control unit 1 controls the operation of the facsimile machine. The image storage memory 2 stores and holds the read image data. The image comparison unit 3 compares whether the read original image data and the stored image data stored in the hard disk 4 match. The hard disk 4 is a non-volatile storage unit that stores and holds the image data of the stored document. The communication unit 5 is connected to a telephone line to exchange image data, receive operation signals, and the like. The operation unit 6 is an input unit of an operation signal for operating the facsimile device. Scanner 7
Is an image reading unit that reads image data from a document. The image memory 8 is a volatile storage unit that temporarily stores image data. The printer 9 is a printing unit that prints image data.

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of this embodiment. In operation, first, a document to be confirmed is read by the scanner of the facsimile device (step S1). The read original is sequentially compared with the transmission document stored in the hard disk (steps S2 and S3), and if they match, the transmission date and time and the transmission destination of the stored document are displayed (step S2).
4). Further, operations such as displaying and printing the stored document can be performed from the operation unit (step S5).

According to the above, before the image recognition, the compression ratio / black and white ratio of the images are compared (step S2), and if they are significantly different (step S2 / NO), the compression ratio / black and white of the read document and the stored document are compared. Repeat the ratio. As a result, the operation of comparing the read document and the stored document by image recognition in step S3 is omitted. Therefore, the search is sped up by determining that the image is different and omitting the image recognition.

In the facsimile apparatus having the above-described structure, in a facsimile apparatus having a function of storing and storing transmission originals in a hard disk and a function of comparing originals by image recognition, the originals are read and stored by the scanner of the facsimile apparatus. The document is compared with the existing document by image recognition, and if there is a stored document that matches the compared document, the transmission date and time of the stored document, the destination, the stored document are displayed and printed.

Further, additional information such as compression rate / black and white ratio, resolution, etc. is given to the stored original, and if the difference in compression rate / black and white ratio from the original to be compared is large, the original is judged to be different and image recognition is performed. Not performed.

(Effect of Embodiment) Since the stored document can be searched, it is possible to search when and where the original was transmitted. Further, by omitting the image recognition, the search speed of the stored original can be improved.

[0015]

As is apparent from the above description, the facsimile apparatus of the present invention reads image data from a document and stores and holds the read image data of the document. Further, the image data of the stored original is stored and held, and it is compared whether or not the image data of the original matches the image data of the stored original. If there is a stored document that matches the original document in this comparison, the date and time of transmission of the stored document, the destination, the stored document is displayed and printed. Therefore, the search is sped up by determining that the image is different and omitting the image recognition.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 control unit 2 Image storage memory 3 Image comparison section 4 hard disk 5 Communication unit 6 Operation part 7 scanner 8 image memory 9 Printer

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A scanner for reading image data from an original, an image memory for storing and holding the image data of the original read by the scanner, a hard disk for storing and holding image data of an accumulated original, and image data of the original. An image comparison unit that compares whether the image data of the stored document matches, and a printer that prints the image data. If there is a stored document that matches the document in the comparison, the transmission date and time of the stored document. , A transmission destination, display and printing of stored originals, a facsimile apparatus characterized by the above. 2. Transfer of image data connected to a telephone line,
2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a communication section that receives an operation signal and the like, and an operation section that operates the facsimile apparatus.