JP2004229246A - Communication unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem that the capacity of a memory may be insufficient for recording the image data of a facsimile but the memory capacity cannot be increased readily from the viewpoint of cost. <P>SOLUTION: A facsimile machine 100 is connected with an extension unit 200. PJL and other data being transmitted by facsimile are inputted from a PC to the extension unit 200. A codec section 210 stores the data in a first image memory 110 while rasterizing and compression encoding. When the free area of the first image memory 110 is deficient, the data is retreated to a page memory 134 which is essentially the memory for scanner. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a communication device, and more particularly to a communication device having a memory for storing transmission target data.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Digital multifunction peripherals having functions such as a printer, a copier, a scanner, and a facsimile, and also having a network-compatible function are becoming popular. When such a device realizes a printer function, for example, a printer language in a PJL (Printer Job Language) or PDL (Printer Description Language) format is analyzed, and characters and the like constituting a document are imaged and printed. Since the printer function part can interpret PJL or PDL (hereinafter, simply represented by PJL and simply called PJL), recently, facsimile transmission data is described in PJL and input to this digital multifunction peripheral. In each case, various design ideas have been devised in order to realize extremely various functions with limited hardware.
[0003]
For example, in Patent Document 1, while a controller such as a copy and a printer is configured to operate with separate hardware, a memory shared by the controllers is provided, and the facsimile controller outputs print image data output to the memory by the printer controller. A technology for reading and facsimile transmission is disclosed.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-9-191356 [0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As in Patent Document 1, in a multifunctional device, efficient use of memory is a factor that determines cost performance of hardware. However, even if the memory is simply shared, the optimum efficiency is not always realized because the memory is originally provided for different functions.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for effectively storing transmission target data in a memory in a communication device. Another object is to provide a communication device that effectively stores data to be transmitted by facsimile with a small memory and improves communication efficiency or reduces costs.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a communication device, which includes a first memory for batch reading / sequential transmission, a second memory for sequential reading / sequential transmission originally provided for a function different from the first memory, Control means for storing data to be transmitted in the memory and the second memory, wherein the control means normally stores the data to be transmitted in the first memory, and when the first memory becomes insufficient in capacity, the second means. The transmission target data is stored using the memory as a temporary buffer.
[0008]
According to this configuration, the first memory is originally provided for storing the data to be transmitted, so that the first memory is optimized for the batch read sequential transmission which is the use thereof, and for example, the time designation transmission and the memory batch transmission referred to by facsimile can be performed. When the first memory overflows, the second memory for another use can be diverted, and smooth data transmission can be realized without newly providing a memory.
[0009]
The communication device may include a facsimile function unit and an extension unit. In this case, the first memory and the second memory are mounted on the facsimile function unit, and the second memory is used for a scanner provided on the facsimile function unit. The transmission target data may be facsimile image data provided from the extension unit to the facsimile function unit. By separating the facsimile function unit and the extension unit, for example, the extension unit can be provided as an optional device. The extension unit receives data to be transmitted by facsimile from, for example, a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as a PC).
[0010]
The extension unit may receive data to be transmitted by facsimile from an external device, rasterize and compress and encode the data, and provide the facsimile image data obtained thereafter to the facsimile function unit. In this case, the calculation load on the facsimile function unit can be reduced, and the cost of the circuit unit can be reduced. If the extension unit is optional, the cost of the apparatus body can be reduced. The facsimile function unit may include a codec and other conversion units that convert facsimile image data according to the capability of the destination and other attributes.
[0011]
It is to be noted that any combination of the above-described components and any conversion of the expression of the present invention between a method, an apparatus, a system, a recording medium, a computer program, and the like are also effective as embodiments of the present invention.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a facsimile apparatus 100 and an extension unit 200 according to the embodiment. The extension unit 200 is an optional device for expanding the function of the facsimile machine 100, and can be attached, for example, inside the housing of the facsimile machine 100. The extension unit 200 according to the present embodiment adds to the facsimile apparatus 100 a printer function of receiving print data from a PC or the like and performing printing, and a function of executing the facsimile apparatus 100 upon receiving a facsimile transmission instruction from the PC. I do. The facsimile device 100 and the extension unit 200 may be collectively recognized as a “communication device”, or only one of the former and the latter may be recognized as a “communication device”.
[0013]
The first connector 116 is a connection terminal such as a modular jack for physically connecting to a public line. The modem / NCU 118 is a functional block for transmitting and receiving facsimile image data based on a facsimile protocol, and includes, for example, a modem and an NCU. When making connection using a public line, the NCU connects the public line to a modem, a digital service unit (DSU), or the like, and establishes communication with another facsimile machine. The modem modulates and demodulates facsimile image data.
[0014]
The scanner control unit 132 reads a document to be transmitted as facsimile image data, and generates read image data. The scanner page memory 134 for sequential reading and sequential transmission is an area for temporarily storing scanned image data, and is used as a buffer when sequentially transmitting scanned image data while reading a document with a scanner, for example. You. The image memory control unit 108 converts the facsimile image data received by the modem / NCU 118, the read image data generated by the scanner control unit 132, and the facsimile image data transferred from the extension unit 200 into a first image for batch reading and sequential transmission. It is stored in the memory 110.
[0015]
In this embodiment, when a facsimile transmission instruction is received from the PC, first, facsimile image data is stored in the first image memory 110, but when the capacity becomes insufficient, the remaining data is diverted to the page memory 134. The feature is that it is evacuated. In general, the first image memory 110 is used for storing facsimile image data, while the page memory 134 is intended for temporary storage of scanned image data, and these two memories are originally used for hardware. Although it has an independent configuration that also has a different role in hardware, in this embodiment, the page memory 134 is used as a secondary memory of the first image memory 110, and the memory is effectively used.
[0016]
When the facsimile apparatus 100 is the transmitting side, the high-speed codec unit 112 reads out the facsimile image data from the first image memory 110 and re-encodes the data according to the capability of the transmission destination. On the other hand, when the facsimile apparatus 100 is on the receiving side, the high-speed codec unit 112 reads and decodes the facsimile image data received by the first image memory 110, and temporarily stores the page image data as decoded data in the page memory 106. Store. The printing unit 104 reads out page image data from the page memory 106 via the printer control unit 102 and prints the page image data.
[0017]
The first MPU 128 executes various programs stored in the data storage unit 120 to control hardware components provided in the facsimile apparatus 100.
[0018]
The facsimile apparatus 100 also functions as a printer by being electrically connected to the extension unit 200 via the second connector 130 and the third connector 206, and the sixth connector 131 and the seventh connector 207. The sixth connector 131 and the seventh connector 207 as the first system are mainly used for transmitting image data necessary for printing, that is, bitmap images, and the second connector 130 and the third connector 206 as the second system. Transmits control information for operating the facsimile apparatus 100 and the extension unit 200 in cooperation with each other. In this figure, there are two systems of connectors, but these may be integrated into one system.
[0019]
The fourth connector 220 is a connection terminal for physically connecting to a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or a WAN (Wide Area Network). The network control unit 216 is connected to a computer serving as a client via a PHY core 218 that performs processing of the physical layer, and receives, for example, print data in PJL / PDL format (hereinafter, simply referred to as “PJL data”). The parallel control unit 222 receives print data from a computer connected via a fifth connector 224 which is a terminal such as parallel or serial. The network control unit 216 and the parallel control unit 222 serve as input means for receiving print data from a device other than the facsimile device 100.
[0020]
The codec unit 210 rasterizes data to be transmitted by facsimile and generates bitmap facsimile image data. The second image memory 212 temporarily stores this data. The input / output unit 208 transmits and receives various information for cooperative work between the extension unit 200 and the facsimile machine 100. The codec unit 210 generates print data in addition to the facsimile image data, and the print data is stored in the page memory 106 of the facsimile apparatus 100 via the seventh connector 207 and the sixth connector 131, and is printed by the printing unit 104. You.
[0021]
The second MPU 202 executes various programs stored in the program storage unit 204 and forms a predetermined function. For example, the codec unit 210 may be formed as software by executing a program.
[0022]
An operation characteristic of the embodiment having the above configuration will be described. Here, a series of operations in which facsimile transmission data is transmitted from the PC to the extension unit 200 and transmitted to the transmission destination via the facsimile apparatus 100 will be described. At this time, the operation changes depending on whether the first image memory 110 overflows.
[0023]
FIG. 2 shows the operation of the extension unit 200. The extension unit 200 first receives PJL data from the PC (S10). This data is temporarily stored in the second image memory 212. Subsequently, the second MPU 202 extracts a facsimile number and a resolution (hereinafter referred to as “FAX number etc.”) from the PJL data, and sends them to the facsimile apparatus 100 (S12). Hereinafter, the facsimile apparatus 100 is also simply referred to as a “host”. The codec unit 210 rasterizes the PJL data stored in the second image memory 212 to generate image data (S14).
[0024]
Subsequently, the second MPU 202 determines whether or not there is a free area in the first image memory 110 of the host (S16). If there is a vacancy (Y in S16), the codec unit 210 compresses and encodes the image data (S18), generates facsimile image data (denoted as "FAX data" in the figure), and sends this to the first image memory 110. The data is transferred and stored (S20). Thereafter, if the PJL data is not completed (N in S22), the process returns to S14. If it is completed (Y in S22), the host is instructed to execute facsimile transmission, and the process is terminated (S24).
[0025]
In S16, when it is determined that there is no free space in the first image memory 110 of the host (N in S16), it is determined whether facsimile image data is being transferred from the extension unit 200 to the host at that time (S26). If it has been transferred (Y of S26), the host is instructed to execute facsimile transmission in order to make a free area in the first image memory 110 (S28). Subsequently, as long as facsimile transmission in the host continues, the end of the transmission is waited (N in S30). When the transmission is completed (Y in S30), the rasterized image data is transferred to the page memory 134 of the host (S32). When the PJL data ends (Y in S34), the process is terminated, and as long as the PJL data remains (N in S34), the rasterizing (S36) and the transfer to the page memory 134 are repeated (S38).
[0026]
If it is determined in S26 that the facsimile image data has not been transferred from the extension unit 200 to the host at that time (N in S26), it corresponds to a state where there is no free space in the first image memory 110 or the page memory 134. For this purpose, the host is instructed to execute automatic dialing for facsimile transmission in order to make free space in these (S40). As long as the automatic dialing process continues at the host (N in S42), the process proceeds to S32 (Y in S42), and the transfer to the vacant page memory 134 is started. The following processing is as described above.
[0027]
FIG. 3 shows processing on the host side corresponding to the series of operations in FIG. First, the host waits for reception of a FAX number and the like, and upon receiving this (Y in S50), creates transmission management data (S52). If the received data is not a facsimile number or the like (N in S50) but is facsimile image data (Y in S54), it is stored in the first image memory 110 (S56). If the received data is not facsimile image data (N in S54) but is a memory transmission instruction (Y in S58), an automatic dial is executed using the transmission management data (S60). Here, “memory transmission” refers to sequentially reading out facsimile image data batch-read in the first image memory 110 and transmitting the data to a transmission destination, and corresponds to S24 in FIG. After the automatic dialing, the high-speed codec unit 112 performs conversion processing by re-encoding and transmission according to the capability of the transmission destination (S62). This is continued until the facsimile image data is completed (N in S64), and when it is completed (Y in S64), a series of processing is completed.
[0028]
In S58, if the received data is not the instruction of "memory transmission" (N of S58), but is the instruction of composite transmission (Y of S66), the automatic dialing (S68) is performed, and the same processing as S62 and S64 is performed (S62). S70, S72). Note that “composite transmission” refers to starting transmission from a state where facsimile image data is stored in both the first image memory 110 and the page memory 134, and corresponds to S28 in FIG. However, in S70 and S72, the facsimile image data stored in the first image memory 110 is first processed. When S72 ends, it is determined whether facsimile image data has been transferred to the page memory 134, and if not, a series of processing ends (N in S74). If it has been transferred (Y in S74), the facsimile image data read from the page memory 134 is re-encoded and transmitted (S76). This process continues until there is no more facsimile image data in the page memory 134.
[0029]
In S66, if the received data is not an instruction of "composite transmission" (N of S66), the process waits for an instruction of "scanner transmission" (N of S78). If the instruction comes (Y of S78), automatic dialing is performed. (S80), successive transmission from the page memory 134 is executed. “Scanner transmission” refers to this reading and transmission from the page memory 134.
[0030]
The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments are exemplifications, and that various modifications can be made to the combination of each component and each processing process, and that such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention. .
[0031]
In the following, as an example, the “first memory” of the present invention is the first image memory 110, the “second memory” is the page memory 134, and the “control unit” is the second MPU 202, the codec unit 210, the first MPU 128, the image memory control. A functional block such as the storage unit 108, the printer control unit 102, or the scanner control unit 132 can specify a storage destination of facsimile image data.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, a communication device that effectively utilizes a memory is realized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a facsimile apparatus and an extension unit according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing performed when the extension unit of FIG. 1 receives a facsimile transmission instruction from a PC.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process performed when the facsimile apparatus unit of FIG. 1 receives a facsimile transmission instruction from a PC.
[Explanation of symbols]
100 facsimile machine, 102 printer control unit, 106 page memory, 108 image memory control unit, 110 first image memory, 112 high speed codec unit, 128 first MPU, 132 scanner control unit, 134 page memory, 200 extension unit, 202 second MPU , 210
Codec unit, 212 second image memory.

Claims (3)

A first memory for batch reading sequential transmission;
A second memory for sequential reading and sequential transmission originally provided for a function different from the first memory;
Control means for storing transmission target data in the first memory and the second memory;
The control means normally stores the transmission target data in the first memory, and stores the transmission target data using the second memory as a temporary buffer when the capacity of the first memory becomes insufficient. Characteristic communication device. The communication device includes a facsimile function unit and an extension unit,
The first memory and the second memory are mounted on a facsimile function unit,
The second memory is a page memory for a scanner provided in the facsimile function unit,
The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission target data is facsimile image data provided from the extension unit to the facsimile function unit. The expansion unit according to claim 2, wherein data to be transmitted by facsimile is input from an external device, the data is rasterized and compression-encoded, and facsimile image data obtained thereafter is provided to the facsimile function unit. A communication device as described.

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