JP2005123928A - Facsimile equipment and image file transfer system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide facsimile equipment and an image file transfer system which makes simple browsing by a portable terminal which has relatively slow data communication rate and another facsimile equipment possible by extracting only a thumbnail image in an image file in a digital camera and transferring the extracted thumbnail image to a network. <P>SOLUTION: In the image file transfer system, the facsimile equipment has a USB host control means which can be connected to a USB interface and a large-size display connected to the digital camera by the USB interface and capable of browsing and editing a USB storage means in the digital camera, a server device is connected to a network to which the facsimile equipment is connected, the thumbnail image of the image file is transferred from the facsimile equipment to the server device and the transferred thumbnail image is browsed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

The present invention is connected to a digital camera via a USB interface, can view and edit image files in the digital camera, is connected to a network such as the Internet, and the above-described image is connected to a dedicated server device. The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus capable of data modem communication for uploading files and an image file transfer system.

  Conventionally, an image file can be taken into a corresponding apparatus through an interface such as a USB, and then image data can be displayed in a directory and edited (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Furthermore, an image file in a memory connected to the device can be viewed and edited by a memory interface such as PCMCIA.

  In addition, digital cameras can be connected to each other via an interface, and the contents (file structure and file name) of one digital camera can be viewed and edited by the other digital camera (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  When uploading an image file to a network, an apparatus such as a PC (personal computer) that can be connected to the Internet uploads an image of a digital camera as it is.

  In recent years, when uploading a large number of digital camera image data, the communication speed of the data modem is slow and the load is too heavy. It is necessary to use communication.

On the other hand, uploading digital camera image data to a dedicated server on the Internet, setting a password and address, and viewing the image data from another device in another remote location has already been executed. In order to use such a server, it is general to use a PC capable of high-speed communication because of the problem of the capacity of the image file and the communication speed as described above.
JP 2001-148004 A JP 2000-78517 A

  However, in the conventional facsimile apparatus, it is difficult to upload an image file on a network and view an image in the digital camera from another facsimile apparatus existing in another place.

  Even when an image file is uploaded using a PC or the like, the communication speed is limited, so that the user is forced to perform operations such as reducing the image file capacity and the number of images.

Since the present invention extracts only thumbnail images from image files in a digital camera and transfers the extracted thumbnail images to a network, it can be used with a portable terminal having a relatively low data communication speed or another facsimile apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile apparatus and an image file transfer system that can be easily browsed.

The present invention provides a USB host control means that can be connected to a USB interface, a file system that can be connected to a digital camera via the USB interface and that can view and edit the USB storage means in the digital camera, and an image in the digital camera. A large display unit for browsing the file and directory structure, and a V. 34 or V.V. A facsimile apparatus comprising a data modem for performing 90 data communications, and a server apparatus connected to the predetermined network, the server apparatus being connected to the network to which the facsimile apparatus is connected, In this image file transfer system, thumbnail images of image files are transferred from the facsimile apparatus to the server apparatus, and the transferred thumbnail images can be viewed.

According to the present invention, only the thumbnail image is extracted from the image file in the digital camera, and the extracted thumbnail image is transferred to the network. Simple browsing with the device is possible.

  The best mode for carrying out the invention is the following examples.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a facsimile apparatus 100 that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  The facsimile apparatus 100 includes a control unit 1, a ROM 2, a work memory 3, a memory 4, an image recording unit 5, a document reading unit 6, an operation unit 7, a timer 8, a modem 9, and an NCU 10. A data modem 12 and a USB host 13.

  The control unit 1 is a control unit that controls the entire facsimile apparatus 100. The ROM 2 is a memory that stores a control program. The work memory 3 is storage means (memory) that stores user settings and holds received images and images read by the reading unit. The memory 4 is a work memory that is used for calculations necessary for control and is temporarily used.

  The image recording unit 5 is an image recording unit that records received images and the like. The document reading unit 6 is a reading unit in a facsimile. The operation unit 7 is an operation unit for a user to operate the present apparatus including a display unit and an input unit.

  The modem 9 is a modem that performs facsimile communication and transfers data. The NCU 10 has a telephone line and facsimile interface. The data modem 12 is connected to the V.C. 34 / V. This is a data modem compliant with 90 (ITU-T standard).

  Control unit 1, ROM 2, storage means 3, memory 4, image recording unit 5, document reading unit 6, operation unit 7, timing timer 8, modem 9, data modem 12, and USB host 13 are connected to each other by a bus.

  Also, signal lines are connected between the modem 9 and the NCU 10, between the NCU 10 and the public line 11, and between the NCU 10 and the data modem 12.

  The USB host 13 is connected to a DSC (Digital Still Camera, digital camera) 14 through a signal line.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the entire image file transfer system 200 in which the facsimile apparatus 100 is used.

  The image file transfer system 200 includes a server device 30, the Internet 40, ISPs 51 and 52, a wireless base station 60, a portable terminal 70, facsimile devices 100 and 101, and a digital camera 14.

  The server device 30 is installed by the ISPs 51 and 52, and is a server device for the user to store image files and the like. ISPs 51 and 52 are Internet Service Providers that call data from the facsimile apparatuses 100 and 101 to connect to the Internet 40 and perform data modem communication, and are examples of access points.

  The radio base station 60 is a radio base station that has the same functions as the ISPs 51 and 52 and serves for wireless connection of the mobile terminal 70 and the like. The facsimile apparatus 101 is the same apparatus as the facsimile apparatus 100.

  Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.

  First, the facsimile machine 100 can be connected to the digital camera 14 via a USB interface and has a USB host interface function.

  The digital camera 14 connected to the facsimile apparatus 100 has a system configuration corresponding to the DCF standard and has a USB storage function.

  In addition, the facsimile machine 100 is equipped with a data modem 12, and the ITU-T V. 34 / V. Data communication according to the 90 standard can be performed. As a result, connection to the Internet is possible via the ISP 51, 52, NTT (registered trademark) simple connection service, or the like.

  A separate server device 30 is prepared on the Internet 40. An ISP, a digital camera maker, or the like installs the server device 30, and the user is permitted to use the server device 30 under a contract with a business operator who installed the server device 30.

  All devices that can be connected to the Internet 40 can access the server device 30, and the data in the server device 30 is protected by the ID and password.

  Next, an operation in which the user connects the digital camera 14 to the facsimile apparatus 100 and transfers (uploads) image data to the server apparatus 30 on the Internet 40 will be described.

  First, the user connects the digital camera 14 and the facsimile apparatus 100 by USB connection. The digital camera 14 is connected to the USB peripheral side, and the facsimile apparatus 100 is connected to the USB host side.

  When the USB interface is established, the facsimile apparatus 100 can view and edit data in the USB storage in the digital camera 14 using a file system such as the FAT file system.

  Therefore, the facsimile apparatus 100 displays the directory structure, file names, and the like in the storage device (memory card, built-in memory) in the digital camera 14 on the display unit in the operation unit 7 provided in the facsimile apparatus 100.

  Since this display method is common as described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 and the like, the details thereof will not be described. However, what is important here is that the facsimile apparatus 100 has a file structure in the USB storage. And the thumbnail image are read from the digital camera 14 and displayed on the display unit of the operation unit 7.

  Next, in the operation unit 7 of the facsimile apparatus 100, the user selects a file in the digital camera 14 and gives an “upload” instruction to the server apparatus 30 by a key operation or the like.

  The facsimile machine 100 captures the telephone line 11 by the NCU 10 and makes a call to the ISPs 51 and 52 (access points). When the ISPs 51 and 52 are called, communication is started. 34 / V. If the 90 standard connection negotiation (handshake) ends normally, data communication becomes possible.

  Next, the facsimile machine 100 makes a connection request to the address of the server device 30. When there is a connection request, the server device 30 requests a user ID and a password in order to determine whether or not the user is an authorized user of the server device 30. The facsimile apparatus 100 requests the user to input the user ID and password by displaying on the display unit provided in the operation unit 7.

  The user ID and password are stored in the memory of the facsimile machine 100, so that the user judgment can be automatically exchanged with the server device 30 at the next and subsequent accesses.

  If the confirmation of the user ID and password is completed normally, the data is transferred to the storage medium of the determined address portion in the server device 30. The data transfer is not described in detail here, but a widely used transfer method such as FTP (File Transfer Protocol) or HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) may be adopted.

  The facsimile apparatus 100 extracts only thumbnail images from the image file in the digital camera 14 and transfers (uploads) the extracted thumbnail images to the server apparatus 30.

  Since the file name can be discriminated by the file system, a thumbnail image that is a pair of the image file that has been selected for transfer by the user is extracted and transferred.

  The thumbnail image transferred to the server device 30 has an image size of 160 × 120 dots and is equal to or smaller than the VGA size, and can be browsed by other similar devices such as the facsimile device 101 and the portable terminal 70 that can be connected to the Internet. Is a suitable image size.

  Then, if another user such as a remote place connects to the Internet 40 and uses the mobile terminal 70 including a mobile phone, the facsimile apparatus 100 connected to the Internet 40, etc., the image file transferred (uploaded) to the server device 30 Can be browsed easily.

  Next, an operation of transferring (uploading) to the server device 30 in the above embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of transferring (uploading) to the server device 30 in the above embodiment.

  First, in S201, the facsimile apparatus 100 is in a standby state. In S202, the user connects the facsimile apparatus 100 and the digital camera 14 with a USB cable. The USB host control means 13 detects that the USB connection is established, and establishes the USB connection with the digital camera 14 by the USB connection procedure. If this connection is established, the process proceeds to S203.

  In S <b> 203, the facsimile apparatus 100 reads the image file and directory structure in the USB storage unit in the digital camera 14. Here, reading is performed by the OS file system.

  In S204, the user can confirm the read image file and the directory structure on the display unit of the facsimile apparatus 100 (display unit provided in the operation unit 7). The display unit of the facsimile apparatus 100 can display a list of a plurality of image files at the same time, and select and display a single image file.

  Further, since the image files in all folders stored in the storage medium in the digital camera 14 can be identified and displayed by their file extensions (JPG, PNG, etc.), the user can Instead of working on the small display unit of the camera 14, it is possible to work on the large display unit of the facsimile machine 100.

  Furthermore, among the storage media in the digital camera 14, there are storage media that have been photographed by a plurality of digital cameras 14, and in this case, a plurality of folders and the like are often created. In this case, additional information such as in which folder all the image files are placed and how many image files are present can be confirmed in the facsimile apparatus 100, which is convenient for the user.

  In S <b> 204, the user selects an image file to be transferred to the server device 30 by using the operation unit 7 of the facsimile apparatus 100 while looking at the display unit of the facsimile apparatus 100. There is no problem even if the selected image file extends over a plurality of folders.

  Here, various methods can be considered for the user interface, such as adding a mark to an image to be sent to the server device 30.

  When the image file selection is completed, the user operates the operation unit 7 to instruct transfer. This operation is also a simple method such as pressing one key. When the transfer instruction is given by the user, the process proceeds to S205.

  In S205, the control unit 1 of the facsimile apparatus 100 controls the NCU 10 to capture the telephone line 11 and make a call. The call destination is a connection port of the Internet 40 such as an access point such as ISP 51 or 52.

  In S206, the ISPs (access points) 51 and 52 and the facsimile apparatus 100 are connected to the data communication V.P. 34 / V. Negotiation is performed and communication is established according to the 90 protocol. If communication is established, the process proceeds to S208. On the other hand, if communication cannot be established for some reason, the control unit 1 detects this and proceeds to S207.

  In S207, the control unit 1 notifies the user of an error on the display unit and stops data modem communication. After the cancellation, the process returns to S201 standby.

  In S <b> 208, since the user has previously stored the network address (IP address) of the server apparatus 30 in the facsimile apparatus 100, the facsimile apparatus 100 starts a connection request to the server apparatus 30.

  The server apparatus 30 that has received the request requests the facsimile apparatus 100 for a user ID and a password in order to confirm whether or not the login person has an access right, and proceeds to S209.

  In S209, the user inputs an ID and a password and transmits them. If the authentication is completed on the server device 30 side, the process proceeds to S210. If there is a problem such that the ID and password cannot be authenticated, it is possible to retry several times, but the process proceeds to S207 without further authentication confirmation.

  In S210, the facsimile apparatus 100 extracts thumbnail images corresponding to each of the image files selected in S204, and copies and transfers the data to a predetermined location of the server apparatus 30 by a method such as FTP or HTTP.

  In S211, the facsimile apparatus 100 and the server apparatus 30 can recognize that the thumbnail images have been transferred normally by confirming the file information of the respective thumbnail images. If it is a normal end, the process proceeds to S212.

  If there is a difference between the thumbnail images due to a problem such as interruption by the user or trouble in the transfer line during data transfer, the process proceeds to S207 as an error. It should be noted that the transfer may be retried several times.

  In S212, the facsimile apparatus 100 terminates the communication by the data modem and notifies the user of the end of transfer by displaying on the display unit or the like. The image file transferred to the server device 30 can be viewed from any device that can be connected to the Internet 40.

  That is, if the ID and password are notified, a person different from the user can easily view the uploaded image file from another place and another terminal. In particular, since thumbnail images are transferred, it is considered that browsing is mainly performed by the mobile terminal 70, the mobile phone, the facsimile machines 100, 101, etc. that mainly use up to about VGA size.

  By the way, the digital camera 14 is equipped with USB storage means. The “USB storage unit” is a storage medium defined by the USB standard, and is a unit that stores data such as image data and thumbnail images of the digital camera 14 for each directory structure.

  When the device A having the USB storage means is connected to another device B by USB, when the device A on the USB peripheral side is viewed from the device B on the USB host side, the inside of the device A The device B can browse information such as the directory structure and file name. It is also possible to copy, delete, and change files.

  In recent years, the number of cameras equipped with the USB storage means has increased in the digital cameras 14, and these digital cameras 14 are connected to a PC by USB, so that the image files in the digital camera 14 can be transferred to the PC. You can view and edit.

  Browsing / editing of electronic files including these directory structures is made possible by an OS (Operating System) typified by Windows (registered trademark).

  A typical OS is MS-DOS. By using a FAT file system or the like used in this MS-DOS, browsing / editing becomes possible.

  The “FAT file system” is a mechanism for managing files on a block device (floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk) in MS-DOS. A system in which files and directories that are logically handled by the user are associated with actual physical disks and the files and directories themselves are configured is called a file system. The file system of MS-DOS is managed by information such as directory entries and FAT (File Allocation Table).

  In addition, the digital camera 14 generally has two images: a photographed image file itself and a thumbnail image obtained by reducing the image file (small image used for list display or the like). This thumbnail image is indispensable for the digital camera 14 compatible with the DCF standard. When the image file is the main, the paired thumbnail image is always placed as a sub in the same directory.

  The above-mentioned “DCF” is mainly a design “Design rule for Camera” of the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA) defined for the purpose of easily using the image file of the digital camera 14 between related devices. Abbreviation of “file system”.

  The thumbnail image is a JPEG data file having an extension of THM as defined in the DCF standard. The image size is 160 × 120 dots and the screen aspect is 4: 3.

  The facsimile apparatus 100 is connected to the digital camera 14 via USB, and can view and edit image files and the like in the digital camera 14 including a directory structure, like a PC. The facsimile apparatus 100 is an apparatus having a larger liquid crystal display unit than the digital camera 14, and can easily view and edit image files in the digital camera 14 connected by USB.

  The facsimile apparatus 100 has a built-in data modem, 34 / V. Data communication with 90 (ITU-U standard) is possible. This data communication simplifies connection to the Internet 40.

  The image file can be transferred to the prepared server device 30 via the Internet 40. The image file can be stored in the server device 30 and can be accessed by anyone at any place and at any time. The server device 30 is protected by a password, ID, etc., and can restrict access.

  The Internet provider etc. which provide the service regarding the electronic image storage using the server apparatus 30 via the above internet 40 are also performed.

  Regarding the facsimile apparatus 100, NTT (registered trademark) has already implemented a service using the simple Internet as described above. However, for the simple Internet connection as described above, the connection with the data modem is still common, and the line speed is V. 34, 33.6 kbps, Data communication is not so fast at 90 and about 56 kbps. It is different from a PC that can communicate at several Mbps such as ADSL.

  On the other hand, for mobile terminals including mobile phones, the liquid crystal size and data communication speed are comparable to those of the facsimile apparatus.

  In a communication device such as a facsimile machine including a cellular phone, the size of the color display portion is smaller than that of a PC and is about VGA size (640 × 480 dots).

  Therefore, when displaying an image file there, there is a demerit that the digital camera 14 requires processing such as reducing a large image file larger than a general VGA size.

  By connecting the digital camera 14 to the facsimile apparatus 100, the directory structure and the image file name in the digital camera 14 are confirmed on the display unit of the facsimile apparatus 100, and the image file selected on the operation unit 7 of the facsimile apparatus 100 is checked. Thumbnail images that are paired with each other can be collectively transferred to the server device 30 on the Internet 40.

  Further, the transferred thumbnail image can be browsed from another device existing in another place.

  Since the image to be uploaded is only a thumbnail image, the data size is kept small, and even in a data modem communication apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus having no high-speed communication means such as ADSL, when uploading a plurality of image data, Time and money restrictions can be reduced.

  For users who cannot use a PC, the digital camera 14 and the facsimile apparatus 100 can be connected to each other via USB and can be easily uploaded to the Internet 40 simply by operating the facsimile apparatus 100. Operation load can be reduced and convenience can be improved.

In the above embodiment, another network may be used instead of the Internet.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a facsimile machine 100 that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an entire image file transfer system 200 in which a facsimile apparatus 100 is used. In the said Example, it is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement uploaded to the server apparatus 30. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

100, 101 ... facsimile machine,
1 Control unit,
2 ... ROM,
3 ... Work memory,
4 ... Memory,
5 ... Image recording unit,
6: Document reading section,
7: Operation unit,
8 ... Timekeeping timer,
9 ... modem,
10 ... NCU,
12 ... Data modem,
13 ... USB host,
14 ... Digital camera,
200: Image file transfer system,
30 ... Server device,
40 ... Internet,
51, 52 ... ISP,
60 ... wireless base station,
70: A portable terminal.

Claims (4)

USB host control means capable of USB interface connection;
A file system connected to a digital camera via a USB interface and capable of browsing and editing USB storage means in the digital camera;
A large display for browsing the image file and directory structure in the digital camera;
Connected to a predetermined network, V.I. 34 or V.V. A data modem for 90 data communications;
A facsimile apparatus comprising: In claim 1,
The facsimile apparatus, wherein the data modem is a modem connected to the predetermined network and transferring thumbnail images. A USB host control means that can be connected to a USB interface, a file system that can be connected to a digital camera via the USB interface and that can view and edit the USB storage means in the digital camera, and image files and directory structures in the digital camera Connected to a predetermined network and a ITU-T compliant V. 34 or V.V. A facsimile machine comprising a data modem for performing 90 data communications;
A server device connected to the predetermined network;
The server apparatus is connected to the network to which the facsimile apparatus is connected, the image file is transferred from the facsimile apparatus to the server apparatus, and the transferred image file can be viewed. A featured image file transfer system. In claim 3,
An image file transfer system, wherein the image file transferred from the facsimile apparatus to the server apparatus is a thumbnail image.

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