JP2683284B2 - Image communication method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial application] The present invention relates to an image communication method and apparatus, and more particularly to transmitting broadcast image data and information about a relay broadcast destination from a relay requesting station to a relay station, and relaying from the relay station. The present invention relates to an image communication method and apparatus for transmitting broadcast image data to a broadcast destination.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a communication apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus, a broadcast communication method of sequentially transmitting the same image information to a number of partner stations has been known. Broadcast, when there are several partner stations that want to send the manuscript, store the manuscript in the memory once,
This is a function that automatically sends the information to a plurality of destinations in order.

Further, a relay system is known in which image data is transmitted to a certain station and transmitted to another station, and a relay broadcast combining this relay system and a broadcast system is also known.

When relay broadcast is selected, the recipient of the broadcast is designated by the relay broadcast instructor (hereinafter referred to as the relay requesting station) or by the side instructed to relay the broadcast (hereinafter referred to as the relay station). There are cases.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] When a relay broadcast is selected, in a system in which the relay station specifies the other party of the broadcast, there is a problem that the relay requesting station cannot specify a desired broadcast partner station.

On the other hand, in the method in which the relay requesting station specifies the destination of the broadcast, the above-mentioned problem does not occur, but the relay station does not know which is selected as the destination for the relay broadcast, and the destination of the long distance is If specified, there is a problem that the communication cost burden on the relay station increases.

 An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, the relay is performed according to whether the communication distance from the relay station to the relay broadcast destination or the communication charge exceeds a certain value. We adopted a configuration in which the relay station performs control to determine whether or not to relay to the broadcast destination.

[Operation] According to the above configuration, in the relay station, when the communication distance or the communication charge is equal to or more than a certain value, the relay broadcast to the relay broadcast destination requested to be relayed can be rejected.

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on examples shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention. The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 functions as either a relay station or a relay requesting station.

In the figure, reference numeral 2 is an NCU (network control unit) for connecting the terminal of the line to control connection of the telephone switching network, switching to the data communication path, or holding a loop because the telephone network is used for data communication. ).

NCU2 has a built-in CML relay, and this relay switches the line connection. If the signal level of the signal line 50a is "0", the NCU 2 connects the signal line 2a to the signal line 2b, that is, connects the telephone line to the telephone 4 for talking or manual line control (CML relay off). If the signal level is "1", the signal line 2a is connected to the signal line 2c, that is, the telephone line is connected to the facsimile machine (CML relay on). In a normal state, the signal line 2a is connected to the telephone 4 side.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a hybrid circuit that separates a transmission system signal and a reception system signal.
To the signal line 2a via the
The signal is output to the signal line 6a via the NCU 2.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a reading circuit composed of an image pickup device such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), an optical system, and a document conveying system. A signal sequence to be represented is created and output to the signal line 8a.

Reference numeral 10 is an encoding circuit for inputting the read data output to the signal line 8a and encoding (MH encoding or MR encoding). The encoded data is output to the signal line 10a.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a modulator that performs modulation based on the known CCITT recommendation V27ter (differential phase modulation) or V29 (quadrature modulation). The modulator 12 inputs the signal of the signal line 50b, inputs the signal from the encoding circuit 10 (the signal of the signal line 10a) when the signal level is "0", and the signal level of the signal line 50b is "1". , The signal from the image memory circuit 22 is input.

Reference numeral 14 is a modulator for performing the modulation based on the well-known CCITT recommendation V21, which inputs the procedure signal of the signal line 50c and outputs the modulation data to the signal line 14a.

Reference numeral 16 denotes an adder circuit that inputs signals on the signal lines 12a and 14a and outputs a result of the addition to the signal line 16a.

Reference numeral 18 inputs a signal on the signal line 6a, and a known CCITT recommendation V
This is a demodulation circuit that performs demodulation based on 21. The demodulated procedure signal is output to signal line 18a.

Reference numeral 20 is a demodulation circuit for performing demodulation based on the well-known CCITT recommendation V27ter or V29 and outputting the demodulated data to the signal line 20a.

Reference numeral 22 is an image memory circuit that stores received data when performing relay broadcast communication. It does not operate when the level of the memory control signal from the control circuit 50 is "0", and the level of the memory control signal is "1". , The demodulated data from the demodulator 20 is stored in the corresponding memory space based on the address signal from the control circuit 50. Also, the level of the memory control signal is "3".
At this time, the data stored in the corresponding memory space is supplied to the decoding circuit 24 or the modulator 12 based on the address signal from the control circuit 50.

Reference numeral 24 is a decoding circuit which receives the demodulated data from the demodulator 20 or the image memory circuit 22 and performs decoding (MH decoding or MR decoding), and the control circuit 50 outputs a signal of signal level "0". V27ter or V2 when
9 When the signal from the demodulator is output from the control circuit 50 at the signal level “1”, the image memory circuit 22
Input signal from.

Reference numeral 26 is a recording circuit for sequentially recording the decoded black and white signals output from the decoding circuit 24 line by line.

Reference numeral 28 is a calling circuit that inputs the data output to the signal line 50f when a calling command pulse is generated on the signal line 50g and sends a selection signal to the signal line 2b.

Reference numerals 30 to 42 (even numbers) are members for a user interface provided on the operation panel.

First, reference numeral 30 is a relay button for selecting a relay operation in the relay requesting station, and when this button is pressed, a pulse is generated on the signal line 30a.

Reference numeral 32 is an LCD panel for inputting the display information output to the signal line 50h and displaying this information.

Reference numeral 34 denotes a numeric keypad for manually inputting a telephone number, and the pressed numeric keypad information is output to a signal line 34a.

Reference numeral 36 is a one-touch key composed of a plurality of keys and capable of registering the telephone number of the partner station with respect to each key, and the pressed one-touch key information is output to the signal line 36a.

Reference numeral 38 is a speed dial key capable of storing a specific operation method and the telephone number of the partner station in association with each other. The speed dial information designated by pressing this key is output to the signal line 38a.

Reference numeral 40 is a set key for confirming the key input information, and when pressed, generates a pulse on the signal line 40a.

Reference numeral 42 is a start key used to start one unit of processing such as transmission / reception, and when pressed, the signal line 42
Generate a pulse on a.

Reference numeral 44 is a storage circuit for storing the broadcast destination designated by the relay requesting station. When the destination to be relayed and broadcast is stored, the destination number (for example, 01 to 50) and dial information are output to the signal line 44a, and then a write pulse is generated on the signal line 50i. Further, when the telephone number stored in the memory circuit 44 is read out, when the read pulse is generated in the signal line 50j after outputting the destination number to the signal line 44a, the storage circuit 44 corresponds to the designated destination number. The stored telephone number is output to the signal line 44a.

Further, reference numeral 46 is a circuit for storing the destinations not to be broadcast among the destinations for which the relay requesting station has given the broadcast instruction. When memorizing destinations that are not broadcast, the destination number (for example,
01 to 20) and dial information are output to the signal line 46a, and then a write pulse is generated on the signal line 50k. Further, when the telephone number stored in the memory circuit 46 is read out, when the read pulse is generated on the signal line 501 after outputting the destination number to the signal line 46a, the storage circuit 46 corresponds to the designated destination number. The stored telephone number is output to the signal line 46a.

Reference numeral 48 is a detection circuit for determining whether or not to relay each designated relay partner station. For example, the detection circuit 48 outputs the telephone number to the signal line 50m,
When a distance determination pulse is generated on the signal line 50n, it is determined whether or not the place where the telephone number output to the signal line 50m is located is within a predetermined distance from the place where the telephone number of this facsimile apparatus that has already been registered. When the distance is within a predetermined distance, a signal having a signal level "0" is output to the signal line 48a, and when the distance exceeds the predetermined distance, a signal having a signal level "1" is output to the signal line 48a. Specifically, the above determination can be performed by using a table memory in which the expected station number of the partner station is stored together with a flag indicating whether or not the communication distance to the station exceeds a predetermined distance.

Reference numeral 50 is a control circuit composed of a microprocessor or the like, and controls each of the above-mentioned members according to a program stored in the ROM 50r.

The outline of the communication control performed by the control circuit 50 is shown below. Here, the device of FIG. 1 is used as a relay requesting station and a relay station.

When the relay button is pressed at the relay requesting station, the LCD panel 32 displays "relay broadcast instruction".

Then, one-touch key 36 or speed dial key
38, or the numeric keypad 34 (if the numeric keypad is pressed, press the set key 42) to specify the calling party,
The LCD panel 32 displays "Please enter the broadcast destination".

Then, a plurality of one-touch keys 36 are sequentially operated to input the relay broadcast destination. The broadcast destinations may be sequentially designated by the speed dial key 38 and the ten-key pad 34 (in the case of the ten-key pad, the set key 40 is pressed every time one destination is designated).

After that, when the start key 42 is pressed, calling is started.

Then, after confirming that the partner station (relay station) has the relay broadcast function according to the present invention by the pre-procedure, it is instructed to perform the relay broadcast according to the present invention.

To check the relay broadcast function of the partner station, for example, use NSF
(Non-standard device) Use a signal. The image receiving side (relay station in this case) composed of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 uses the FIF (facsimile information field) of the NSF signal to indicate the presence or absence of the relay broadcast function of the present invention. For example, by setting the 49th bit of the FIF of the NSF signal to “1”,
If "0", this function is notified to the image transmitting side (relay request station).

At this time, the image transmitting side (relay requesting station) uses the FIF (facsimile information field) of the NSS (non-standard device setting) signal to indicate whether or not to use the relay broadcast function of the present invention. For example, by setting the 49th bit of FIF of the NSS signal to "1", the transmission by the function
When it is "0", the image receiving side (relay station) is notified of the transmission not using the function.

At this time, the total number of destinations for relay broadcasting is the FIF of the NSS signal.
Set to the 57th to 64th bits of the
Every 16 bytes is allocated as a telephone number area for one relay broadcast destination. Here, if one digit of the telephone number is expressed by 4 bits, the maximum number of telephone numbers for relay broadcast is 32.
Digits can be used.

On the other hand, on the image receiving side, that is, in the relay station, when the relay broadcast according to the present invention is instructed by the NSS signal, the 57th bit and subsequent bits of FIF of the NSS signal are stored in the information storage circuit 44.

Then, the information is recorded while receiving the image information in the memory. When all page information has been received, the memory circuit 44
It is determined whether or not to broadcast to all the broadcast partner stations stored in.

The condition for permitting / rejecting the broadcast may be, for example, whether the relay to the broadcast destination exceeds a predetermined distance. This determination is made using the detection circuit 48. When rejecting a relay broadcast to a certain broadcast destination, after receiving the procedure signal on the last page, the reason why the broadcast is not performed following the good reception signal (the distance of the broadcast destination is too long) The information of the other party is notified to the relay requesting station by a predetermined procedure signal.

The relay requesting station notifies the operator of the reason why the broadcast is not made and the other party thereof by a method such as recording output.

After that, the relay station, which receives the relay request, sequentially performs the broadcast transmission to the partner who satisfies the predetermined condition.

The above communication control will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 (A) to (D). 2A to 2D are flowcharts showing the control procedure of the control circuit 50 of FIG. 1, and the illustrated procedure is stored in the ROM 50r as a control program of the control circuit 50. 2 (A) and 2 (B) show the operation as the relay requesting station, and FIGS. 2 (C) and 2 (D) show the operation as the relay station. The flow in each figure is connected by nodes having the same number.

Initialization processing common to the relay requesting station and the relay station is shown from step S62 to step S72 in FIG. First, in step S62, the current time is displayed on the LCD via the signal line 50h.

In step S64, the relay status is set to "0".

In step S66, the signal level "0" is applied to the signal line 50a.
Then, the CML relay of NCU2 is turned off and the line is connected to the telephone 4.

In step S68, the image memory circuit 22 is set to the inoperative mode via the signal line 50d.

In step S70, the signal level of the signal line 50e is "0".
Is output, and the decoding circuit 24 is set to a mode in which the signal from the demodulator 20 is input.

In step S72, the signal level "0" is applied to the signal line 50b.
, And the modulator 12 is set to the mode for inputting the signal from the encoding circuit 10.

In step S74, the signal on the signal line 30a is input, and it is determined whether the relay button 30 has been pressed. When the relay button 30 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S76, and the relay status is inverted (1 if 0, 0 if 1). If the relay button 30 has not been pressed, the process proceeds to step S84.

In step S78, it is determined whether the relay status is 0. If the relay status is not 0, the process proceeds to step S80, and “Relay broadcast instruction” is displayed on the LCD via the signal line 50h, and if the relay status is 0, the step is performed.
Proceed to S82 to display the current time on the LCD via the signal line 50h.

Numeric keypad 34, one-touch key 3 in step S84
6. By inputting the information of the speed dial key 38, it is judged whether or not the calling is selected. If the calling is selected, the process proceeds to step S86, and if the calling is not selected, the process proceeds to step S120 of FIG.

In step S86, it is determined whether the relay status is 1. If the relay status is 1, the process proceeds to step S90, but if the relay status is 0, the process proceeds to step S88 to perform normal transmission.

In step S90, "Please input the broadcast destination" is displayed on the LCD via the signal line 50h.

In step S92, it is determined whether or not the designation of the broadcast destination has been completed, and when the designation is completed, the process proceeds to step S96 in FIG. 2 (B). If not completed, the process proceeds to step S94, and the broadcast destination is input from the ten key 34, the one-touch key 36, the speed dial key 38, and the set key 40 and stored in the memory circuit 44.

In step S96 of FIG. 2 (B), step S84
Make a call to the other party specified in.

In step S98, the signal level "1" is applied to the signal line 50a.
Signal is output, the CML relay of NCU2 is turned on, and the line and the hybrid circuit 6 are connected.

In step S100, a publicly known facsimile communication pre-procedure is performed with a partner station (a relay station if the function of the present invention is provided).

Steps S102 to S108 show the part relating to the present invention in the pre-procedure. First, in step S102, the FIF of the NSF signal 49
By checking the bit, it is determined whether the partner machine has the function of the present invention. If it has the function of the present invention, go to step S108. If not, go to step S108.
Proceed to S104.

In step S104, normal transmission is performed for image transmission to the relay station.

In step S106, the fact that the partner device does not have the relay broadcast function and its partner are recorded and output by the recording circuit 26.

Step S108 represents the remaining pre-procedure. here,
The NSS signal designates transmission using the function of the present invention. In addition, the NSS signal is used to notify the other party of the other party to relay and broadcast and its total.

Step S110 represents transmission of relay image data to the relay station.

Step S112 represents a known post-facsimile communication procedure.

In step S114, a signal of signal level "0" is output to the signal line 50a, the CML relay of NCU2 is turned off, and the line is switched to the telephone 4 side.

In step S116, it is determined by a post-procedure whether or not there is a notification from the partner device that the relay destination is not to be broadcast (which is performed in the relay station in step S142 described later). If notified, in step S118, the other party who is not broadcast and the reason thereof are recorded and output. If there is no notification, the process proceeds to step S62.

On the other hand, on the relay station side, it is judged whether or not the reception is selected in step S120 of FIG. 2C, and when the reception is selected, the process proceeds to step S124. If reception is not selected, the process proceeds to step S122 to perform other processing.

In step S124, a signal of signal level "1" is output to the signal line 50a, the CML relay of NCU2 is turned on,
The line is connected to the hybrid circuit 6.

Step S126 represents a pre-procedure. At this point, the 49th bit of the FIF of the NSF signal is set to 1 to notify the partner device that it has the function of the present invention. This information is detected by the relay requesting station in step S102.

In step S128, the relay requesting station sends the information to step S1.
The NSS signal to be transmitted is checked at 08 to determine if the relay broadcast according to the present invention is selected. If the relay broadcast according to the present invention is selected, the process proceeds to step S134, and if not, the process proceeds to step S130.

 A step S130 carries out normal image reception.

In step S132, a normal post-facsimile communication procedure is performed.

In step S134, the storage circuit 44 stores the other party to whom the relay broadcast designated by the NSS signal is made.

In step S136, the detection circuit 48 determines whether the destination designated by the NSS signal is within a predetermined distance. Then, the destination exceeding the predetermined distance is erased from the storage circuit 44 and stored in the storage circuit 46.

In step S138, the image memory circuit 22 is set to the data reception mode via the signal line 50d.

In step S140, reception and recording operations and data storage of the relay image in image memory circuit 22 are performed.

Step S142 represents a post procedure. Here, if the storage circuit 46 stores the other party who has decided not to broadcast, the other party and the reason for not performing the relay broadcast are notified to the other machine.

In step S144, a signal of signal level "0" is output to the signal line 50a to turn off the CML relay of NCU2,
Connect the line to the telephone 4.

Then, in step S146 of FIG. 2D, the broadcast is sequentially performed to the relay destinations stored in the storage circuit 44. 1 As an example of transmission to the other party, first make a call.
After turning on the CML relay of the NCU 2 and connecting the line to the hybrid circuit 6, the modulator 12 is set to a mode for inputting a signal from the image memory circuit 22. Then, the image memory circuit 22 sequentially outputs the data to the signal line 22a to transmit the image signal, and then the CML relay is turned off. This processing is repeated, and after the broadcasting to all the destinations is completed, the modulator 12 is set to the mode for inputting the signal from the encoding circuit.

In step S148, the image memory circuit 22 is set to the inoperative mode via the signal line 50d.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to reject relay to a relay broadcast destination that does not meet a predetermined condition (distance to the relay destination in the above embodiment). In the method of instructing the relay broadcast from the relay requesting station to the other station, compared to the method of designating the relay destination by the relay station without increasing the burden on the relay station (communication cost according to the above embodiment). The degree of freedom for relay requests can be increased. Also, if the relay is refused, in order to return the information specifying the partner station to the relay request side,
The relay requester can take appropriate measures such as directly transmitting images to the other station.

In the above embodiment, it is considered that the relay station notifies the relay requesting station of the other party who does not perform the relay broadcast by the post procedure. However, after the relay is completed, the relay requesting station may be called from the relay station, and the other party who does not perform the relay broadcast and the message of the reason may be transmitted.

Further, in the above embodiment, it is considered that the relay requesting station records the list of the other parties whose relay is denied, but it may be displayed by other means.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, a line charged according to the communication distance is assumed, and the condition judgment as to whether or not to perform the relay broadcast at the relay station is made at the place where the facsimile apparatus instructed the relay broadcast and the relay broadcast. The information is sent according to the distance to the destination of the other party, and the relay is not broadcast to the other party exceeding a predetermined distance. However, this condition may be different.

For example, after receiving the memory, check the number of pages to be transmitted, the amount of information, and the unit communication charge to each destination, calculate one communication charge for each destination, and if this charge exceeds a certain value It is also possible not to broadcast by relay. In this case, information about the transmission capacity of the other party is acquired in advance and stored in a memory, etc., and the expected value of the transmission communication time is calculated from the transmission capacity of the other station and the amount of broadcast image data, and based on this, the communication charge is calculated. May be calculated. Also,
It may be possible to determine whether to perform the relay by combining the condition of the communication charge and the condition of the communication distance.

[Effects of the Invention] As is apparent from the above, according to the present invention, a relay destination is relayed to a relay broadcast destination depending on whether the communication distance from the relay station to the relay broadcast destination or the communication charge exceeds a certain value. Since the relay station is configured to control whether or not to perform relay broadcast, when the communication distance or communication charge exceeds a certain level at the relay station, the relay broadcast to the relay broadcast destination requested for relay is performed. This has the excellent effect that the information can be rejected and the advantage of being able to specify the relay broadcast destination from the requesting station is not impaired, while the burden on the processing and communication cost of the relay station can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a facsimile apparatus adopting the present invention, and FIGS. 2A to 2D are flow charts showing the communication control procedure by the control circuit of FIG. 2 ... NCU, 4 ... Telephone 6 ... Hybrid circuit 8 ... Read circuit, 10 ... Encoding circuit 12, 14 ... Modulator 16 ... Addition circuit, 18, 20 ... Demodulator 22 ... Image Memory circuit 24 …… Decoding circuit, 26 …… Recording circuit 28 …… Calling circuit, 30 …… Relay button 32 …… LCD panel 34 …… Numeric keypad, 36 …… One-touch key 38 …… Speed dial key 40 …… Set key, 44, 46 ... Memory circuit, 48 ... Detection circuit, 50 ... Control circuit

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image communication method for transmitting broadcast image data and information about a relay broadcast destination from a relay requesting station to a relay station, and transmitting the broadcast image data from a relay station to a relay broadcast destination, comprising: An image characterized in that the relay station carries out a control step for deciding whether or not to carry out the relay broadcast to the relay broadcast destination according to whether the communication distance to the relay broadcast destination exceeds a certain value. Communication method. 2. An image communication method for transmitting broadcast image data and information about a relay broadcast destination from a relay requesting station to a relay station, and transmitting the broadcast image data from the relay station to a relay broadcast destination, comprising: An image characterized in that the relay station carries out a control step for deciding whether or not to carry out the relay broadcast to the relay broadcast destination according to whether or not the communication charge to the relay broadcast destination exceeds a certain value. Communication method. 3. An image communication apparatus for transmitting broadcast image data and information about a relay broadcast destination from a relay requesting station to a relay station, and transmitting the broadcast image data from a relay station to a relay broadcast destination. The relay station is provided with control means for deciding whether or not to perform the relay broadcast to the relay broadcast destination depending on whether the communication distance to the relay broadcast destination exceeds a certain value. Image communication device. 4. An image communication apparatus for transmitting broadcast image data and information on a relay broadcast destination from a relay requesting station to a relay station, and transmitting the broadcast image data from the relay station to a relay broadcast destination. The relay station is provided with control means for deciding whether or not to perform the relay broadcast to the relay broadcast destination depending on whether the communication charge to the relay broadcast destination exceeds a certain value. Image communication device.