JP2009100212A - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a facsimile machine, capable of surely recording image information of high importance which is received in a condition, where the recording section is disabled on a paper sheet, without forcing the sender to carry out complicated works, as well as, restricting the increase in the manufacturing cost. <P>SOLUTION: When there is operation disabled state with a recording section 3 at reception of image information and when a facsimile number of the sender of the image information is stored in a sender memory 6, a control section 9 stores the image information which is received by a communication section 1, as image information of high importance in a non-volatile storage 4A. At this point, all of the image information received in a single reception by the communication section 1 is stored in only the non-volatile storage 4A. When the facsimile number of the sender of the image information is not stored in the sender memory 6, the control section 9 stores the image information which is received by the communication section 1, as an image information of low importance in a volatile storage 4B. At this point, all of the image information received in a single reception by the communication section 1 is stored in only the volatile storage 4B. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus that transmits and receives image information via a public telephone line and records the received image information on paper, and in particular, has an alternate reception function for storing image information received when a recording unit is inoperative in a memory. The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus provided.

  The facsimile apparatus supplies the image information received by the communication unit to the recording unit while performing predetermined image processing, and records it on a sheet. Image information received by the communication unit in a state where the recording unit is inoperable due to a problem such as running out of paper or ink is lost without being recorded on the paper.

In order to prevent the loss of image information, there is a facsimile machine provided with a proxy reception function (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The proxy reception function is a function of storing image information received by the communication unit while the recording unit is inoperable in a memory instead of recording on paper. The image information stored in the memory is read out after the problem of the recording unit is solved and recorded on the paper.

  In order to store all of the image information received while the recording unit is inoperative in the memory, a relatively large capacity memory is required, and if a non-volatile memory is used for the alternate reception function, the manufacturing cost increases. On the other hand, if a volatile memory is used for the proxy reception function, the image information stored in the memory will be lost if the power is not supplied to the facsimile machine due to a power failure or the like before the malfunction of the recording unit is resolved. The image information cannot be recorded on the paper even after the problem is resolved.

Therefore, a conventional communication apparatus includes a small-capacity nonvolatile memory that stores information on a transmission source and a large-capacity volatile memory that stores received image information (for example, Patent Document 2). reference.). In this communication apparatus, when the stored content of the volatile memory is lost due to a power failure or the like after the reception of the image information is completed, information that prompts the transmission source to retransmit the image information is transmitted with reference to the stored content of the nonvolatile memory. . By applying this configuration of the communication apparatus, it is possible to provide a facsimile apparatus that can reliably record image information received in a state where the recording unit is inoperable on a sheet at a relatively low cost.
JP 07-135544 A Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-038691

  However, in the facsimile apparatus to which the configuration described in Patent Document 2 is applied, when the highly important image information stored in the memory by the substitute reception function is lost due to a power failure or the like, the image information is retransmitted to the transmission source. This complicates the complicated work.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile capable of reliably recording high-priority image information received in a state in which the recording unit is inoperable without forcing the sender to perform complicated work and suppressing an increase in manufacturing cost. To provide an apparatus.

  The facsimile apparatus of the present invention includes a communication unit, a recording unit, a nonvolatile memory, a volatile memory, and a control unit. The communication unit transmits and receives image information. The recording unit records the image information received by the communication unit on a sheet. The nonvolatile memory and the volatile memory store image information. The control unit stores all of the image information received by the communication unit in one reception process when the recording unit is inoperable in only one of the nonvolatile memory and the volatile memory. The control unit acquires the reception time information when receiving the image information, and stores either the non-volatile memory or the volatile memory as the storage destination of the image information according to the importance of the received image information determined based on the reception time information. Select either one.

  With this configuration, all of the image information received by the communication unit in a single reception process when the recording unit is inoperable depends on the importance based on the reception time information acquired when receiving the image information. It is selectively stored in one of the volatile memories. For example, only the highly important image information received by the communication unit in one reception process when the recording unit is inoperable is stored in the nonvolatile memory. As a result, the capacity required for the non-volatile memory becomes smaller than when all of the image information received by the communication unit when the recording unit cannot operate is stored. Even when a power failure occurs before the operating state of the recording unit recovers, highly important image information is reliably recorded on the sheet without being retransmitted from the transmission source.

  The reception time information may include information received by the communication unit. In this case, a transmission source memory for storing at least one transmission source information is further provided, and the importance is determined according to whether or not the transmission source information received together with the image information by the communication unit is stored in the transmission source memory. You may do it.

  The reception time information may include information generated when image information is received by the communication unit. In this case, it further includes a timing unit that generates current time information, and is important depending on whether or not the current time acquired from the timing unit when the communication unit receives the image information is included in a predetermined time set in advance. The degree may be determined.

  The above configuration further includes an image recognition unit that recognizes the content of the image information being received, and the control unit displays the recognition result of the image recognition unit for the received image information when the communication unit receives the image information. It may be acquired as reception time information, and the degree of importance may be determined according to whether or not a preset image is included in the image information being received. The received image can be stored in either the nonvolatile memory or the volatile memory according to the importance determined from the contents.

  According to the present invention, when the recording unit cannot be operated, only the highly important image information received by the communication unit in one reception process is stored in the non-volatile memory. It can be used, and an increase in manufacturing cost can be suppressed. In addition, even when a power failure occurs before the operation state of the recording unit recovers, highly important image information can be reliably recorded on a sheet without being retransmitted from the transmission source.

  Hereinafter, a facsimile apparatus according to the best embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The facsimile apparatus 10 includes a communication unit 1, an image processing unit 2, a recording unit 3, a nonvolatile memory 4A, a volatile memory 4B, a display operation unit 5, a transmission source memory 6, a document conveyance unit 7, a paper conveyance unit 8, and a control unit. 9 is provided.

  The communication unit 1 transmits / receives image information to / from other facsimile apparatuses via the public telephone line 20. For this reason, the communication unit 1 calls a fax number assigned to another facsimile apparatus when image information is transmitted.

  The image processing unit 2 performs predetermined correction processing or the like on the image information received by the communication unit 1.

  The recording unit 3 records the image information processed by the image processing unit 3 on a sheet by image forming processing such as an inkjet method or an electrophotographic method.

  The nonvolatile memory 4A is a flash memory as an example, and retains stored contents even when power is not supplied to the facsimile machine 10 due to a power failure or the like. The volatile memory 4B is, for example, an SDRAM, and the stored content is lost when power is not supplied to the facsimile machine 10. The non-volatile memory 4A and the volatile memory 4B store all of the image information received by the communication unit 1 in one reception process when the recording unit 3 is in an inoperable state due to out of paper or the like.

  The display operation unit 5 includes a numeric keypad, a cursor key, and the like together with a display, and is disposed on the surface of a housing (not shown). The display operation unit 5 accepts an operation for setting a fax number assigned to another facsimile apparatus that transmits and receives image information and an instruction operation for starting transmission of image information. Further, the display operation unit 5 receives an input operation for storing a name specifying another facsimile apparatus that frequently transmits and receives image information together with a fax number. The display operation unit 5 displays the operation state and operation content of the apparatus on the display.

  The transmission source memory 6 is composed of a non-volatile memory, and stores a name for specifying another facsimile apparatus that frequently transmits and receives image information and a fax number in association with each other. If the facsimile apparatus 10 has a function of assigning a shortened number to the fax number of another facsimile apparatus, the transmission source memory 6 may store the name and the fax number with the shortened number.

  The document transport unit 7 includes an image sensor and a transport member. The image sensor is a CCD as an example, and reads image information from a document. The conveyance member is, for example, a pair of conveyance rollers, and conveys the originals stored in the original tray one by one to the discharge tray via the position where the image sensor is arranged.

  The paper transport unit 8 includes a transport member. The conveyance member includes, for example, a paper feed roller and a conveyance roller pair, and conveys the paper stored in the paper tray one by one to the paper discharge tray via the recording unit 3.

  The control unit 9 controls the communication unit 1, the image processing unit 2, the recording unit 3, the non-volatile memory 4 </ b> A, the volatile memory 4 </ b> B, the display operation unit 5, the transmission source memory 6, the document conveyance unit 7, and the paper conveyance unit 8. Control. When transmitting the image information, the control unit 9 controls the communication unit 1, the image processing unit 2, and the document conveying unit 7 according to the operation content on the display operation unit 5, and displays the image information read from the document by the image sensor. The data is transmitted to the facsimile machine having the fax number input by the operation of the unit 5. At this time, when the abbreviated number is input by the operation of the display operation unit 5, the control unit 9 displays the name corresponding to the abbreviated number on the display of the display operation unit 5 and transmits the fax number corresponding to the abbreviated number. The data is read from the original memory 6 and supplied to the communication unit 1.

  When receiving the image information, the control unit 9 controls the communication unit 1, the image processing unit 2, the recording unit 3, and the paper transport unit 8 according to the setting contents, and records the recording unit based on the image information received by the communication unit 1. 3 is operated and recording is performed on the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying unit 8.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the control unit of the facsimile apparatus. When the facsimile apparatus 10 is turned on, the control unit 9 determines whether image information is stored in the nonvolatile memory 4A (S1). If the image information is not stored in the nonvolatile memory 4A, the control unit 9 determines whether or not the image information transmission process to the other facsimile apparatus is instructed, and the image information from the other facsimile apparatus is It is determined whether or not an incoming call has been received (S2, S3).

  When the transmission of the image information is instructed, the control unit 9 executes a transmission process of the image information read from the document (S4).

  When image information from another facsimile apparatus arrives, the control unit 9 records depending on the presence or absence of consumables such as ink and toner in the recording unit 3 and the presence or absence of out of paper or jamming in the paper transport unit 8. The operation state of the unit 3 is confirmed (S5).

  The control unit 9 determines that the recording unit 3 is in an inoperable state when the consumable part of the recording unit 3 has run out, or when the paper has run out or jammed. When there are enough consumables in the recording unit 3 and no paper out or jam has occurred in the paper conveying unit 8, the control unit 9 drives the recording unit 3 and the paper conveying unit 8 to perform image recording processing. Is executed (S6).

  When determining that the recording unit 3 is in an inoperable state, the control unit 9 determines whether or not the fax number of the transmission source of the image information is stored in the transmission source memory 6 (S7, S8). When the fax number of the transmission source of the image information is stored in the transmission source memory 6, the control unit 9 stores the image information received by the communication unit 1 in the nonvolatile memory 4 </ b> A as highly important image information. (S9). At this time, all the image information received at the time of one incoming call of the communication unit 1 is stored only in the nonvolatile memory 4A.

  When the fax number of the transmission source of the image information is not stored in the transmission source memory 6, the control unit 9 stores the image information received by the communication unit 1 in the volatile memory 4 </ b> B as low importance image information. (S10). At this time, all the image information received at the time of one incoming call of the communication unit 1 is stored only in the volatile memory 4B.

  After the process of S9 or S10, the control unit 9 waits for the recording operation of the recording unit 3 to become possible (S11). When the malfunction is resolved and the recording operation is enabled, the control unit 9 performs the image recording process based on the image information stored in the nonvolatile memory 4A or the volatile memory 4B, and then performs the nonvolatile memory 4A or volatile. The image information stored in the memory 4B is deleted (S12, S13).

  When image information is stored in the nonvolatile memory 4A in the process of S1, the control unit 9 performs image recording processing based on the stored image information, and then stores the image information in the nonvolatile memory 4A. The existing image information is deleted (S14, S15).

  Through the above processing, the image information transmitted from the facsimile apparatus in which the fax number is stored in advance in the transmission source memory 6 is stored in the non-volatile memory 4A as image information with high importance. Highly important image information can be saved even if power is not supplied to the facsimile machine 10 due to a power failure or the like before the problem is resolved, and then the facsimile machine 10 is turned on. Sometimes it is read from the non-volatile memory 4A and recorded on paper.

  Since the non-volatile memory 4A stores only highly important image information, the capacity is smaller than when all the image information received when the recording unit 3 is inoperable is stored in the non-volatile memory regardless of the importance. A memory can be used, and an increase in manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

  Further, even when a power failure occurs after receiving highly important image information when the recording unit 3 is inoperable, it is possible to reliably record on paper after recovery from the power failure without requiring retransmission from the transmission source. it can.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the facsimile apparatus according to the second and third embodiments of the present invention. The facsimile apparatus 10 ′ according to these embodiments includes a timer unit 11 and a set time range storage unit 12 in addition to the facsimile apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1. The timer unit 11 generates current time information representing the current time. The set time range storage unit 12 stores a time range set in advance via the display operation unit 5 as the time when image information with high importance is received. The set time range storage unit 12 is composed of a nonvolatile memory. Other configurations are the same as those of the facsimile machine 10.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the control unit of the facsimile apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The control unit 9 of the facsimile apparatus 10 ′ executes the processes of S21 and S22 instead of the processes of S7 and S8 in the flowchart of FIG.

  That is, when the control unit 9 determines that the recording unit 3 is inoperable when the image information is received, the control unit 9 reads the current time at the time of the reception process (S21), and the current time is stored in the set time range storage unit 12 in advance. It is determined whether or not it is within the set time range (S22). When the time at the time of reception processing is within the set time range, the control unit 9 stores the image information received by the communication unit 1 in the nonvolatile memory 4A as image information with high importance (S9). At this time, all the image information received at the time of one incoming call of the communication unit 1 is stored only in the nonvolatile memory 4A.

  When the time at the time of reception processing is not within the set time range, the control unit 9 stores the image information received by the communication unit 1 in the volatile memory 4B as image information with low importance (S10). At this time, all the image information received at the time of one incoming call of the communication unit 1 is stored only in the volatile memory 4B.

  With the above processing, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained by using the image information received within the set time range as highly important image information.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the control unit of the facsimile apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the facsimile apparatus 10 ′ having the configuration shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 9 executes the processes of S21 and S22 after the process of S8 shown in FIG.

  That is, when the control unit 9 determines that the recording unit 3 is in an inoperable state when receiving the image information, the control unit 9 determines whether or not the fax number of the transmission source of the image information is stored in the transmission source memory 6. (S7, S8). Next, the control unit 9 reads the current time at the time of reception processing (S21), and determines whether the current time is within the set time range stored in advance in the set time range storage unit 12 (S22).

  The control unit 9 stores the image information received by the communication unit 1 when the fax number of the transmission source of the image information is stored in the transmission source memory 6 and the time at the time of reception processing is within the set time range. The image information with high importance is stored in the nonvolatile memory 4A (S9). At this time, all the image information received at the time of one incoming call of the communication unit 1 is stored only in the nonvolatile memory 4A.

  When the fax number of the transmission source of the image information is not stored in the transmission source memory 6 or when the time at the time of reception processing is not within the set time range, the control unit 9 displays the image information received by the communication unit 1. The image information is stored in the volatile memory 4B as less important image information (S10). At this time, all the image information received at the time of one incoming call of the communication unit 1 is stored only in the volatile memory 4B.

  With the above processing, the transmission source fax number is stored in the transmission source memory 6, and the image information received within the set time range is regarded as highly important image information, and the same effect as in the first embodiment is obtained. Can play.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a facsimile apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The facsimile apparatus 10 ″ according to this embodiment includes an image recognition unit 21 in addition to the facsimile apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1. The image recognition unit 21 is not shown which is included in the communication unit 1 when receiving image information. The contents of a predetermined amount of image information held in the buffer are sequentially recognized, and the other configuration is the same as that of the facsimile apparatus 10.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the control unit of the facsimile apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The control unit 9 of the facsimile apparatus 10 ″ executes the processes of S31 and S32 instead of the processes of S7 and S8 in the flowchart of FIG.

  That is, when the control unit 9 determines that the recording unit 3 is in an inoperable state when receiving the image information, whether or not a predetermined image set in advance is included in the recognition result of the image information by the image recognition unit 21. Is determined (S31, S32). The predetermined image is an image indicating the importance of image information such as “top secret”, for example, and is arbitrarily set by the user through the operation of the display operation unit 5. When a predetermined image is included in the image information being received, the control unit 9 stores the image information received by the communication unit 1 in the non-volatile memory 4A as highly important image information (S9). At this time, all the image information received at the time of one incoming call of the communication unit 1 is stored only in the nonvolatile memory 4A.

  When the predetermined image is not included in the image information being received, the control unit 9 stores the image information received by the communication unit 1 in the volatile memory 4B as image information with low importance (S10). At this time, all the image information received at the time of one incoming call of the communication unit 1 is stored only in the volatile memory 4B.

  With the above processing, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained with image information including a predetermined image as highly important image information.

  In addition, the process of S41 and S42 can also be performed with the process of S7 and S8 and / or the process of S21 and S22.

  In the first to fourth embodiments, the reception time information acquired when the image information is received is generated by the fax number which is the transmission source information received by the communication unit 1 and / or the fax machines 10 ′ and 10 ″. Although current time information which is reception time information is used, the reception time information is not limited to this.

  For example, image information to be stored in the non-volatile memory 4A, such as information indicating the transmission time of image information from the transmission source, information about whether or not a user exists in the vicinity of the apparatus, and information about the resolution of the image information And various kinds of information that can be used in distinction with image information to be stored in the volatile memory 4B can be used as reception time information.

  Information relating to the resolution of the image information is transmitted from the transmission source facsimile apparatus together with the image information. For example, the control unit 9 determines that image information with low resolution is low in importance and stores it in the volatile memory 4B, and determines that image information with high resolution is also high in importance and stores it in the nonvolatile memory 4A. .

  Finally, the description of the above-described embodiment is to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above embodiments but by the claims. Furthermore, the scope of the present invention is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of the claims.

1 is a block diagram of a facsimile apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the control part of the facsimile apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of a facsimile apparatus according to second and third embodiments of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the control part of the facsimile apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the control part of the facsimile apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the facsimile apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the control part of the facsimile apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1-communication unit 3-recording unit 4A-nonvolatile memory 4B-volatile memory 5-display operation unit 6-source memory 9-control unit 10-facsimile device

Claims (6)

A communication unit for transmitting and receiving image information;
A recording unit for recording image information received by the communication unit on paper;
A non-volatile memory and a volatile memory for storing image information;
A control unit that stores all of the image information received by the communication unit in a single reception process when the recording unit is inoperative only in either the non-volatile memory or the volatile memory; Acquire reception information at the time of reception, and select either the non-volatile memory or the volatile memory as a storage destination of the image information according to the importance of the image information being received determined based on the reception time information A control unit,
Facsimile machine equipped with.   The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reception time information includes information received by the communication unit.   The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reception time information includes information generated when image information is received by the communication unit. A transmission source memory for storing at least one transmission source information;
The control unit acquires transmission source information received together with image information by the communication unit as the reception time information, and determines the importance according to whether or not the acquired transmission source information is stored in the transmission source memory. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the facsimile apparatus discriminates. It further includes a timekeeping unit that generates current time information,
The control unit acquires current time information as the reception time information from the timing unit when the communication unit receives image information, and depending on whether the current time is included in a predetermined time set in advance The facsimile apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the importance level is determined. An image recognition unit for recognizing the content of the image information being received;
When the communication unit receives image information, the control unit acquires a recognition result of the image recognition unit for the image information being received as the reception time information, and an image preset in the image information being received The facsimile apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the importance level is determined according to whether or not a message is included.

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