JP2004274551A - Facsimile machine provided with memory transfer function - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a facsimile machine provided with a memory transfer function with excellent followup performance whereby a state of memory overflow which is the cause of the transfer can immediately and accurately be grasped. <P>SOLUTION: The facsimile machine is provided with at least (1) a storage means for a terminal number of a transfer destination, (2) a means for once storing facsimile reception data to a memory and carrying out a printout, and (3) a bar code information generating means. When a printout disabled state of the facsimile machine is detected and the residual capacity of the memory is less than a prescribed capacity, the memory transfer function transfers facsimile data, to which code information including at least information being a cause to the transfer and a substitute output message are attached, to a terminal of the transfer destination, releases the memory storing the data that are transferred, and prints out the facsimile data, to which the code information including the information being a cause to the transfer and the substitute output message are attached and which are returned from the transfer destination, after the printout disabled state is resolved. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus having a memory transfer function, and more particularly to a function of temporarily transferring received facsimile data to another transfer destination in order to avoid overflow of memory when storing the received facsimile data in the memory. The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus having a memory transfer function capable of accurately knowing at least a transfer situation from facsimile data returned from the company.
[0002]
[Prior art]
At present, facsimile machines are widely used not only in companies but also in ordinary households, and the frequency of use thereof is increasing. As this facsimile apparatus, a facsimile apparatus with a so-called memory reception function that prints out after storing received facsimile data in a memory once is known. When an abnormal state such as clogging occurs, printout of the received data cannot be performed. Since this abnormal state cannot be automatically recovered, if facsimile data is sequentially sent from the transmitting side until the user manually recovers, an overflow of the memory will eventually occur, and communication will be disabled. .
[0003]
In addition, especially in a company, in order to reduce the installation space of office equipment such as a facsimile machine, a copier, an image scanner, and a printer, a multi-function multi-function machine (hereinafter, referred to as a multi-function multi-function machine) having these multiple functions integrated "MFP") has been used. This MFP has not only a facsimile function but also a copy function, an image input function, an external storage function, a printer function, and the like. In addition, the MFP may have a sorter, a stapling function, a folding function, and the like. It may be connected to a plurality of computers (PCs), servers, or the like by an area network (LAN) or the like. In the MFP, facsimile data once received or input is stored in a memory, and thereafter, output processing such as print output and data transfer is performed.
[0004]
However, even in such a facsimile function unit of the MFP, when an abnormal state such as a paper out condition or a paper jam in the print output unit occurs, the overflow of the memory eventually occurs as in the conventional facsimile apparatus with the memory reception function. This will cause communication failure.
[0005]
On the other hand, in a conventional facsimile apparatus with a memory reception function, in order to solve the problem of memory overflow, a facsimile apparatus with a memory transfer function in which received data once stored in a memory is transferred to another facsimile apparatus is described below. It is disclosed in Patent Document 1. Therefore, first, one specific example of a facsimile apparatus with a memory transfer function disclosed in Patent Document 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0006]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first specific example of the facsimile apparatus with a memory transfer function disclosed in Patent Document 1. First, in step S51, it is determined whether or not there is an incoming call from the facsimile apparatus on the calling side. If it is determined that there is an incoming call, in step S52, the transmitting terminal identification signal TSI received based on the communication control procedure is used to determine whether or not there is an incoming call. The name, the terminal number, and the like are detected and stored in the memory, and it is determined whether or not printing can be performed by the printer unit. That is, it is determined whether or not the paper has run out and no paper jam has occurred in the printer unit, and whether the received facsimile data can be normally printed out on the paper.
[0007]
If it is determined in step S52 that printing can be performed, in step S53, facsimile data transmitted from the facsimile machine on the transmitting side is sequentially received based on the communication control procedure, and the received facsimile data is stored in the memory. Then, after the facsimile data stored in the memory is encoded / decoded, the printer unit prints out the data on paper and ends the processing.
[0008]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S52 that printing cannot be performed, facsimile data transmitted from the facsimile apparatus on the transmitting side is sequentially received and stored in the memory in step S54 based on the communication control procedure. After receiving all the facsimile data transmitted from the facsimile apparatus, a disconnection command signal DCN is transmitted to temporarily end the communication.
[0009]
Next, in step S55, the terminal number of the transfer destination stored in advance is read, a call is made to the communication line based on the terminal number of the transfer destination, and the facsimile data stored in the memory after the communication line is closed is read. The message is transferred to the transfer destination and a message (circumstance explanation document 1) as shown in FIG. 6 is transmitted to the transfer destination to notify the transfer of the transfer, and the facsimile machine of the transfer destination prints out and transfers the transfer. Delete facsimile data from memory. Note that the message (circumstance explanation document 2) shown in FIG. 6 is a transfer document, a transfer source, a terminal number of the transfer source, and the like are described.
[0010]
Next, in step S56, a call is made to the communication line based on the name of the calling side, the terminal number, and the like detected in step S52. After the communication line is closed, a message (circumstance explanation document 2) as shown in FIG. 7 is transmitted to notify the facsimile transmitting side that the facsimile data has been transferred. Note that the message (circumstance explanation document 2) shown in FIG. 7 describes a notification of the transfer, the name of the transfer destination, the terminal number, and the like.
[0011]
As described above, in the specific example described in Patent Document 1, when an abnormality that cannot be printed is detected, the received facsimile data is stored in the memory, and the detected free space of the memory is determined in advance. The facsimile data stored in the memory and transferred to the facsimile apparatus of the destination stored in advance are compared with the predetermined limit value of the remaining memory capacity and when it is determined that the facsimile data is less than the predetermined limit value. The message (circumstance explanation document 1) indicating that the facsimile data has been transferred to the transmitting side is transmitted together with the message (circumstance explanation document 2). While reducing the operation of sequentially transferring all facsimile data received at a certain time, the communication disabled state due to memory overflow is reduced. In particular, if the operator can return the printer unit to a state in which the printer unit can print out before the free space of the memory becomes less than the predetermined limit of the remaining amount of memory, unnecessary transfer can be omitted, which is convenient. In addition to the effect of being able to improve the performance, the effect of being able to reliably perceive the transfer to the calling side is also obtained.
[0012]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-8-214139 (Claims 3 and 7, paragraphs [0064] to [0070], [0086] to [0092], FIGS. 6, 9, and 10)
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
[0013]
However, in the above-described related art, the facsimile data returned from the facsimile apparatus at the transfer destination is received after the unprintable state is restored at the receiving side (source), but the printout cannot be performed at the receiving side. Information such as the cause of the transfer, the amount of memory remaining at the time of the transfer, and the like, which has caused a memory overflow, cannot be immediately grasped. In addition, all the received facsimile data is transmitted to the transfer destination. Due to the configuration, a memory overflow may occur in the transfer destination facsimile apparatus, and in such a case, there has been a problem that facsimile data cannot be effectively transferred.
[0014]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and in particular, facsimile data received in memory on a receiving side (transfer source) can be transferred to another facsimile apparatus, and transferred to the transfer destination. When facsimile data is returned to the receiving side (transfer source), a facsimile machine equipped with a memory transfer function with excellent after-following capability that can immediately and accurately grasp the situation that caused the memory overflow that caused the transfer. The purpose is to provide.
[0015]
In this specification, "a facsimile machine having a memory transfer function" refers to a facsimile dedicated machine, a facsimile machine having a facsimile function and a copier function, or not only a memory transfer function and a facsimile function, but also a copy function and an image input function. Function, external storage function, printer function, sorter, stapling function, double folding function, etc., if necessary, is called a so-called multi-function peripheral (MFP). It is used to encompass things.
[0016]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To this end, the present invention provides
A facsimile apparatus having a memory transfer function, wherein the facsimile apparatus has at least (1) a storage unit for a transfer destination terminal number;
(2) means for temporarily storing facsimile reception data in a memory and then performing print output;
(3) a bar code information generating means;
If the printout disabled state of the facsimile apparatus is detected, and the remaining amount of the memory is less than a predetermined value, barcode information including at least the information that caused the transfer and a proxy output message are added. Transfer to the terminal, release the memory in which the transferred data is stored,
Facsimile data to which the predetermined barcode information and the proxy output message returned from the transfer destination are added after the printout disabled state is resolved, and the facsimile data is output. And
[0017]
With such a configuration, it is possible to add various information such as information that caused the transfer, a code indicating what operation to perform after replying, a transfer destination telephone number, and a stored document number to the barcode information. Therefore, at least when the transmitted facsimile data is returned, the pasted barcode information allows the user to immediately understand the memory overflow condition that caused the transfer, which is very useful for the maintenance management of the facsimile machine. Becomes effective.
[0018]
In this aspect, it is preferable that the facsimile apparatus further includes means for recognizing barcode information in the received facsimile data, and performs a designated process based on the recognized barcode information. . With such a configuration, when the transferred facsimile data is returned, a predetermined process can be automatically performed based on the attached barcode information.
[0019]
In a further aspect, the facsimile apparatus has a function of dividing received facsimile data stored in the memory for each predetermined number of pages and transferring the data, and the barcode information includes at least division information, It is preferable that the facsimile data returned based on the barcode information in the facsimile data returned from the transfer destination be divided and printed for each of the predetermined number of pages. With such a configuration, the facsimile data to be transferred is divided into small data having a small number of pages, so that the possibility of overflow of the memory of the facsimile machine at the transfer destination is reduced.
[0020]
Further, in this aspect, the facsimile apparatus includes a predetermined PJL command as the bar code information, and transmits the facsimile data returned based on the bar code information in the facsimile data returned from the transfer destination. It is preferable to execute the PJL command. With such a configuration, predetermined processing defined by the PJL command, such as stapling, selection of a sheet of a predetermined size, and the like, can be automatically executed on the facsimile data returned from the transfer destination. Become.
[0021]
In this aspect, if the PJL command is a command for designating a staple position, stapling at a predetermined position can be performed on a printout for each facsimile data transmitted from the transfer destination.
[0022]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, specific examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the facsimile apparatus of the present invention. A facsimile apparatus 10 having a memory transfer function according to the present invention is connected to a PSTN line (public telephone network) 12 via a built-in modem, and has therein at least one facsimile apparatus 16-1 serving as a predetermined transfer destination. 16-2... Are input, and bar code information generating means is provided. Reference numeral 14 denotes a facsimile machine on the transmitting side. Further, at least one computer PC1, PC2,... PCn may be connected to the facsimile machine 10 having the memory transfer function via a local area network (LAN) as necessary.
[0023]
First, in order to understand the operation of the facsimile apparatus having the memory transfer function according to the present invention, a transmission control procedure of facsimile transmission and reception will be described. When the calling-side facsimile apparatus transmits a ringing tone CNG signal to the receiving-side facsimile apparatus having a memory transfer function via the PSTN line (public telephone network) to make a call, the receiving-side facsimile apparatus sets After detecting the CNG signal, it transmits a called station identification CED, a called terminal identification CSI, a digital identification signal DIS, and a non-standard function identification signal NSF.
[0024]
In response to this, the transmitting-side facsimile apparatus detects the terminal number and various functions of the receiving-side facsimile apparatus, and then transmits the transmitting-terminal identification signal TSI, thereby obtaining the terminal number and the like of the transmitting-side facsimile apparatus. Notifying the receiving-side facsimile apparatus, among the functions of the receiving-side facsimile apparatus detected from the non-standard function identification signal NSF, the functions to be used from now on to the receiving-side facsimile apparatus by transmitting the non-standard function setting signal NSS. Notice. Next, after receiving the training check TCF, the transmitting side facsimile apparatus transmits a reception preparation confirmation signal CFR. When the receiving-side facsimile apparatus receives the reception preparation confirmation signal CFR, the transmitting-side facsimile apparatus transmits an image signal of the first page of the document, and then transmits a procedure end signal EOP to notify that the document to be transmitted is no longer present. Notify the receiving facsimile machine.
[0025]
On the other hand, when the receiving-side facsimile apparatus receives the procedure end signal EOP, the receiving-side facsimile apparatus receives the message confirmation signal MCF, and then transmits a disconnection command signal DCN to the receiving-side facsimile apparatus to terminate the communication. In this communication control procedure, the case where only one page of facsimile data is transmitted has been described. However, when the number of facsimile data to be transmitted is a plurality of pages, transmission and reception can be performed by a communication control procedure based on CCITT recommendations.
[0026]
Next, the operation when the facsimile machine 10 having the memory transfer function of the present invention receives facsimile communication from the facsimile machine 14 on the transmitting side will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, in step S10, it is determined whether or not there is an incoming call from the facsimile machine 14 on the transmitting side. If it is determined that there is an incoming call, it is determined in step S12 whether or not printing can be performed by the printer unit. That is, it is determined whether or not the paper has run out and no paper jam has occurred in the printer unit, and whether the received facsimile data can be normally recorded on the paper. If it is determined in step S12 that printout can be performed, facsimile data transmitted from the facsimile machine 14 on the transmitting side is sequentially received in step S14 based on a communication control procedure and stored in the memory. Next, after encoding and decoding the facsimile data stored in the memory in step S16, the printer unit prints out the data on paper, deletes the corresponding facsimile data from the memory, releases the memory, and ends the processing. I do.
[0027]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S12 that printing cannot be performed, facsimile data transmitted from the facsimile apparatus on the transmitting side is sequentially received in step S18 based on the communication control procedure, and stored in the memory. After the end of the accumulation, it is determined in step S20 whether or not the free space of the memory is less than a predetermined limit value of the remaining memory for starting the automatic transfer, and it is determined that the free memory is sufficient. In such a case, the processing is temporarily terminated and the apparatus enters a standby state.
[0028]
In this state, if the above-mentioned state in which printing cannot be output is resolved before the free space of the memory becomes less than the value of the remaining memory for starting the automatic transfer which has been input in advance, a forced interrupt is performed by a user panel operation. Then, the printout is performed on the paper, the facsimile data stored in the memory is deleted, the memory is released, and the process is terminated.
[0029]
On the other hand, if the above-described state in which printing cannot be output is not resolved, the free space of the memory will eventually become less than the value of the remaining memory for starting the automatic transfer, and in that case, the memory is stored in the memory in step S22. Barcode information 30 and proxy output message including various information such as information that caused the transfer to the received facsimile data, a code indicating what kind of operation should be performed after the reply, a transfer destination telephone number, a stored document number, etc. Are read in advance in step S24, and the terminal numbers of the facsimile apparatuses 16-1, 16-2,..., Which are the transfer destinations, are read out in advance, and a predetermined terminal is selected from the terminal numbers based on this terminal number. Call to the communication line, and add the facsimile data stored in the memory and the barcode information 30 as shown in FIG. 3 after the communication line is closed. Transferring a proxy output message 32 to the destination facsimile machine. After that, in step S26, a message (circumstance description 2) similar to that of the conventional example as shown in FIG. 7 may be returned to the transmitting side.
[0030]
At this time, the facsimile machine 10 having the memory transfer function of the present invention uses the received facsimile data stored in the memory to reduce the possibility of the memory facsimile of the transfer destination facsimile and to facilitate the reception. A function can be provided for dividing a page by a predetermined number of pages, for example, by 10 pages. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, the division information 34 such as at least the number of the transmitted divided data, the number of pages from what page, and so on, are separately and collectively divided for each division unit. At the same time, barcode information 30 with an EOF signal added to the end is added. Further, when the transferred facsimile data is returned and stapling at a predetermined position or when printing on paper of a predetermined size is required, the barcode information 30 is added to the end of the barcode information 30 together with the corresponding PJL command. Add the EOF signal.
[0031]
The transfer destination facsimile machine has a function of storing the transferred facsimile data in a memory and automatically returning the data when a return request is notified (hereinafter referred to as an "automatic return function"). If so, the facsimile communication control procedure is executed as follows. First, the terminal number of the transfer destination is read, and a call is made on the communication line based on the terminal number. After the communication line is closed, based on the non-standard function identification signal NSF received from the destination facsimile apparatus, a function installed in the destination facsimile apparatus is detected, and the transferred facsimile data is stored in the memory. Then, it is determined whether or not a function for returning when a notification of the return request is received is installed in the facsimile machine of the transfer destination.
[0032]
If it is determined that the transfer destination facsimile apparatus has the automatic return function, the non-standard function setting signal NSS is transmitted to the transfer destination facsimile apparatus, and the fact that the facsimile information to be transmitted is transfer is to be transmitted. Notice. Thereafter, the facsimile data stored in the memory is transferred and stored in the memory of the destination facsimile apparatus, and the corresponding facsimile data is erased from the memory to release the memory, and the process is terminated.
[0033]
Further, if it is determined that the automatic return function is not installed in the destination facsimile machine, the facsimile data stored in the memory is transferred, printed out by the destination facsimile machine, and received by the receiving side ( After the condition in which printing cannot be output at the transfer source has been resolved, facsimile data transferred at the receiving destination is collected and a call is made between the receiving and transferring destinations, and then printed at the transferring destination. What is necessary is just to manually reply with the facsimile data.
[0034]
Also, when the facsimile machine at the transfer destination is communicating, or when the remaining memory is small due to paper shortage or paper jam, proxy reception may not be performed in some cases. In such a case, after receiving a signal indicating that reception is not possible from the facsimile machine of the transfer destination, the proxy is sequentially performed from a plurality of facsimile machines 16-1, 16-2,. What is necessary is just to select the facsimile machine which can receive.
[0035]
On the other hand, when the transfer source (reception side) receives the facsimile data returned from the transfer destination facsimile apparatus, the print disabled state has already been eliminated, and the print processing may be performed as it is. In that case, if you read the printed barcode using a well-known barcode reader, the information that caused the transfer, the code indicating what kind of operation to perform after replying, the transfer destination phone number, the storage The document number can be confirmed.
[0036]
If the transfer source (reception side) facsimile apparatus has bar code information recognition means, the bar code information is recognized from the received facsimile information, and the recognized information is printed as necessary. By storing the data in the memory, the data can be effectively used for the maintenance management of the facsimile machine thereafter. Means for automatically recognizing bar code information in a facsimile apparatus is well known, as disclosed in, for example, JP-A-10-222566, JP-A-11-12247, and the like. Description is omitted.
[0037]
On the other hand, if the facsimile data returned from the facsimile machine of the transfer destination is divided and transferred for each of a predetermined number of pages, the returned facsimile data is, as shown in FIG. And received separately. In this case, for example, if the barcode information 30 includes a PJL signal for stapling at a predetermined position, the staple 36 is automatically struck at a predetermined position and spelled at every predetermined page. Is easier to handle.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when facsimile data received in a memory causes a memory overflow, barcode information including information on the cause of the memory overflow and a proxy output message are added. Since the transfer is made to the transfer destination, if the facsimile data returned from the transfer destination is received, it is possible to immediately confirm the state in which the memory overflow that caused the transfer has occurred. It will be very effective. Further, according to the present invention, the facsimile data to be transferred can be divided and transmitted for each predetermined page, so that the possibility of a memory overflow occurring at the transfer destination is reduced, and in addition, the PJL command can be included in the barcode information. Since it is possible to automatically recognize the PJL command in the barcode information when receiving the facsimile data returned from the transfer destination and automatically execute the operation corresponding to the PJL command, the office Can greatly contribute to labor saving.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of a facsimile apparatus having a memory transfer function according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the facsimile apparatus having the memory transfer function of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example in which a facsimile apparatus having a memory transfer function of the present invention prints facsimile data to which barcode information and a proxy output message received from a transfer destination are added.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a facsimile apparatus having a memory transfer function according to the present invention receives a message when the facsimile apparatus is divided and returned by a predetermined number of pages from a destination facsimile apparatus.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a conventional facsimile apparatus having a memory receiving function.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a situation explanation document explaining a transfer reason transmitted by a conventional facsimile apparatus having a memory reception function to a transfer destination.
FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of a situation explanation document explaining that a conventional facsimile apparatus having a memory receiving function has transferred to a transmitting side.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 10 facsimile device 12 having memory transfer function of the present invention 12 public telephone line 14 originating facsimile device 16 destination facsimile device 30 barcode information 32 proxy output message 36 staple

Claims (5)

A facsimile apparatus having a memory transfer function, wherein the facsimile apparatus has at least (1) a storage unit for a transfer destination terminal number;
(2) means for temporarily storing facsimile reception data in a memory and then performing print output;
(3) a bar code information generating means;
If the printout disabled state of the facsimile apparatus is detected, and the remaining amount of the memory is less than a predetermined value, barcode information including at least the information that caused the transfer and a proxy output message are added. Transfer to the terminal, release the memory in which the transferred data is stored,
A memory configured to print and output the facsimile data to which the predetermined barcode information and the proxy output message returned from the transfer destination are added after the printout disabled state is resolved. Facsimile machine with transfer function. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for recognizing bar code information in the received facsimile data, and performing a designated process based on the recognized bar code information. A facsimile device having a memory transfer function according to item 1. The facsimile apparatus has a function of dividing received facsimile data stored in the memory for each predetermined number of pages and transferring the data.The barcode information includes at least the division information and is returned from the transfer destination. 3. The memory transfer function according to claim 2, wherein the facsimile data returned based on the bar code information in the facsimile data is divided and printed out for each of the predetermined number of pages. Facsimile machine. The facsimile apparatus includes a predetermined PJL (print job language) command as the barcode information, and transmits the PJL to the facsimile data returned based on the barcode information in the facsimile data returned from the transfer destination. 3. A facsimile apparatus having a memory transfer function according to claim 2, wherein said facsimile apparatus is adapted to execute a command. 5. The stapling method according to claim 4, wherein the PJL command is a command for designating a staple position, and staples can be stapled at predetermined positions in printouts for each facsimile data transmitted from the transfer destination. A facsimile device having a memory transfer function according to item 1.

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