JP2003087542A - Communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide communication equipment in which carry and stop of an original do not have to be repeated in the middle of reading the original even though the read speed of one line is improved and an original carrying speed is accelerated, and direct transmission can be normally performed even without decelerating a carry speed in advanced to read the original. SOLUTION: The direct transmission is performed by using an image memory of at least one page. The image memory of one page is also shared by another function to be used.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication device such as a facsimile device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional facsimile apparatus, a line buffer is used when executing direct transmission for reading an original from a scanner in synchronization with a communication procedure and page.

Then, the original is read, the read image data is stored in a line buffer (there is no storage capacity for one page), and the stored image data is transmitted in synchronization with the communication procedure.

[0004]

In the direct transmission using the conventional line buffer, if the current reading speed is faster than the communication speed, if the line buffer becomes full during the reading of the original, the reading is temporarily stopped. If the line buffer becomes empty and the line buffer becomes vacant, it is necessary to restart the document transportation in order to restart the reading, that is, to repeat the document transportation and stop in the middle of reading the document.

However, if the reading speed of one line is improved and the document feeding speed is increased, the reading of the document cannot be stopped and restarted in the middle of one page, and the document is actually fed and stopped. There is a problem that the original cannot be directly transmitted in synchronization with the communication procedure while repeating the above.

In order to solve this problem, it is sufficient to reduce the feeding speed in advance and read, but this causes a problem that the ability to improve the reading speed for one line and the ability to improve the document feeding speed are wasted.

The above problem is a problem that occurs in communication devices other than facsimile devices.

According to the present invention, the reading speed of one line is improved, and even if the original feeding speed is increased, it is not necessary to repeat the feeding and stopping of the original during the reading of the original, and further, the feeding speed is lowered in advance. An object of the present invention is to provide a communication device that can directly perform direct transmission without reading.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises at least one
Direct transmission is performed using an image memory for pages.

The present invention also uses the image memory for one page in common with other functions.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication device CS1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The communication device CS1 has a CPU 101 that controls the entire communication device CS1, a ROM 102 that stores a CPU control program and data, and a RAM 103.

The RAM 103 stores program control variables and setting values registered by the operator, and is composed of an SRAM or the like. The RAM 103 stores setting values registered by the operator, management data of the apparatus, and various work buffers. Is.

Image memory 104 for storing image data
Is composed of a DRAM or the like. Resolution conversion processing unit 1
Reference numeral 05 performs milli-inch resolution conversion of raster data. The encoding / decoding processing units 106 and 107 perform encoding / decoding processing on the image data read by the image reading apparatus. The clock unit 108 for measuring the operation interval is composed of a clock IC or the like.

A facsimile modem (MODEM / modulator / demodulator) 109 modulates / demodulates a facsimile transmission / reception signal. The communication unit (NCU / network control device) 110 exchanges image information with a partner communication device through a line, and is configured by a network control device or the like. The NCU 110 sends a selection signal (dial pulse or tone dialer) to the communication line 117, and performs an automatic incoming call operation by detecting a ringing tone and a line control operation.

The scanner unit 111 for reading a document is a CS
It is equipped with an image sensor and the like. The scanner unit 111 optically reads a document and converts it into electrical image data.
The image processing unit 112 is configured by an image processing device or the like, which converts electrical image data obtained by optically reading a document. The image data is subjected to correction processing by the image processing unit 112 and becomes high-definition image data.

DMAC (Direct Memory)
Access Controller) 113 is a CP
Directly between memory and memory, without I processing
Data is transferred between the O-memory. The operation unit 114 is an operation unit for performing various input operations, and includes a keyboard and an L
It is composed of a CD and the like. Printer formatter 115
Analyzes the printer description language and converts it into image data.

The recording unit 116 is a recording unit for recording received images and file data on recording paper, and is composed of LBP or the like. The line 117 is composed of a telephone line connected to PSTN or the like. Also, LAN 120 and LAN 1
The network I / F unit 119 and the network control unit 118.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the direct transmission control system in the communication device CS1.

The direct transmission control system in the communication device CS1 is a reading control means 2 for controlling reading of a document.
01 and communication control means 20 for controlling communication of image data
2, direct transmission control means 203 for controlling the direct transmission function, operation / warning display means 204 for displaying the state of the device, a warning message, etc., and the communication device CS.
A job management unit 205 for monitoring the status of the first job;
Memory management means 20 for managing acquisition / release of image memory
6 and a clock means 207 for the CPU 101 to measure time according to a control program stored in the ROM 102.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an image management method of the communication device CS1.

In FIG. 6, the file management record is
It stores a creation time, a destination management record that stores a destination telephone number and a mail address, a pointer to the next file management record, a pointer to a page management record of the first page of this file, and the like.

The page management record stores the page number in the file, the image data pointer, the image attribute data such as the image size and the encoding method, and the pointer to the next page management record. The image data pointer indicates a pointer (block number) to an image block in the image data storage area.

The image data is stored in a plurality of memory blocks.

As described above, the image data is managed as a page, and the plurality of pages are managed as a file.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the operation of direct transmission control in the above embodiment.

First, when the operator sets a document on an ADF (not shown) and receives a direct transmission start instruction on the operation unit, in S301, the reading control means 201.
Feeds the original just before the reading position, and S302
Then, the memory management unit 206 acquires the memory for one page. When the memory for one page can be acquired, the process proceeds to step S303. If the memory for one page cannot be obtained, the reading control unit 201 stops the feeding of the document, and the operation / warning display unit 204 displays a message on the LCD indicating that the memory is free, and the step S
Move to 302.

In S303, the communication control means 202 makes a call, and when the call is connected, the process proceeds to step S304.
If a connection error occurs, the process proceeds to step S306.

In S304, the reading control means 201
However, the original feed is restarted, the image data of the original is read one by one according to the receiving capability of the other party, the communication control means 202 transmits the data, and the process proceeds to step S305.

In step S305, the presence or absence of the next original document is confirmed. If the next original document exists, the process proceeds to step S304.
At this time, the next page is overwritten and stored without releasing the memory block secured in S302. If the next original does not exist, the process proceeds to step S306.

In step S306, the memory is released and the direct transmission ends.

[Second Embodiment] A communication device CS2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention is a communication device C according to the first embodiment.
In S1, the memory management unit 206 is a device that determines the subsequent operation according to the determination result of the job management unit 205 when the memory for one page cannot be acquired.
The configuration of the communication device CS2 is the same as the configuration of the communication device CS1, and therefore the illustration of the configuration of the communication device CS2 is omitted.

4 and 5 are flowcharts showing the control operation in the communication device CS2.

The flow charts shown in FIG. 4 and FIG.
Only the parts different from the flowchart shown in FIG.

In step S302 shown in FIG. 3, the memory management unit 206 acquires the memory for one page, and if the memory for one page can be acquired, the process proceeds to step S303. If the memory for one page cannot be acquired, the process proceeds to step S401.

In S401, the job management means 205
If the job that uses the page memory and releases the memory after the operation is completed (for example, copy, received record, report output) is operating normally, and if it is determined that it is operating normally,・ Warning display means 204
Displays a message on the LCD indicating that it is waiting for a free memory, and shifts to step S301. If there is an error state (for example, no recording paper, recording jam, redial standby due to communication error), the process proceeds to step S402.

In S402, the operation / warning display means 204
As a result, since the remaining memory is insufficient, a message prompting the error cancellation of the job in the error state is displayed on the LCD, and the process proceeds to step S403.

In step S403, it is determined that the waiting time for error cancellation of the job in the error state has exceeded the predetermined time.
If 07 determines, the process ends in error.

If the error cancellation waiting time of the job in the error state has not exceeded the predetermined time, the process proceeds to step S302.

Further, when NO is determined in S403 of FIG. 4, the reading speed may be slowed down and the direct transmission by the conventional line buffer may be executed as shown in the flowchart of FIG.

According to the above-described embodiment, since direct transmission is performed using at least one page of the page memory for the original document, it is not necessary to carry and stop the document during reading. Direct transmission can be performed without repeating the conveyance.

Further, according to the above embodiment, the page memory can be shared with other functions, and even if the page memory cannot be acquired, the page memory is on standby, which is excellent in usability.

[0043]

According to the present invention, the reading speed of one line is improved, and even if the document feeding speed is increased, it is not necessary to repeat the feeding and stopping of the original during the reading of the original, and the original feeding is performed in advance. The present invention has an effect that normal direct transmission can be performed without slowing down and reading.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication device CS1 which is a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a direct transmission control system in the communication device CS1.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of direct transmission control in the above embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control operation in the communication device CS2.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control operation in the communication device CS2.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an image management method of the communication device CS1.

[Explanation of symbols]

CS1 ... communication device, 101 ... CPU, 102 ... ROM, 103 ... RAM, 104 ... image memory, 105 ... Resolution conversion processing unit, 106, 107 ... Encoding / decoding processing unit, 108 ... Timer, 109 ... a facsimile modem, 110 ... communication section, 111 ... Scanner section, 112 ... Image processing unit, 113 ... DMAC, 114 ... Operation unit, 115 ... Printer formatter, 116 ... recording section, 201 ... Read control means, 202 ... communication control means, 203 ... Direct transmission control means, 204 ... Operation / warning display means, 205 ... Job management means, 206 ... Memory management means, 207 ... Timekeeping means.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image reading unit for reading an original image and generating image data; a page memory for storing image data of at least one page of an original read by the image reading unit; And a direct transmitting unit for reading and transmitting the image data of the originals one by one from the page memory in accordance with the receiving capability of the other party after the connection. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a means for stopping the reading operation until the page memory for at least one page of the original cannot be acquired before calling the destination; When the page memory can be acquired, a direct transmission execution means for directly transmitting using the page memory;
A communication device, comprising: error termination means for terminating with an error when at least one page of a document cannot be acquired even after a lapse of a predetermined time. 3. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the page memory is shared with another function, and the acquired page memory is in a state of being acquired until the direct transmission is completed. 4. The direct transmission according to claim 1, further comprising a job status confirmation means.
If the page memory cannot be acquired, this page memory is used, and if at least one other job that releases the memory is operating normally after the end of the operation, the reading operation is stopped until it can be acquired, and another job is released. A communication device characterized by terminating with an error if a job has not been operated or is in an error state. 5. The communication device according to claim 4, wherein when the error is stopped, the shared memory is used, the job in the error state is displayed, and the operator is notified that the error is released. 6. The communication device according to claim 1 or 4, wherein when the memory cannot be secured, direct transmission in line synchronization is executed.