JP2750868B2 - Control method for facsimile machine - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a method for controlling a facsimile apparatus having an alternate reception function.

2. Description of the Related Art In a facsimile apparatus, an image is recorded and output on a recording sheet. In an image recording apparatus for recording and outputting the image, when the recording sheet breaks or a paper jam occurs, The received image cannot be recorded and output any more.

Thus, a facsimile apparatus having a so-called alternate reception function has been put to practical use so that a reception operation can be performed even when an abnormality occurs in the image recording apparatus.

A facsimile device capable of realizing this proxy reception function includes a storage device capable of recording received image information for a large number of pages,
For example, a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk storage device, or the like is provided, and received image information at the time of proxy reception is stored in these storage devices.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in such a conventional device, since an expensive device such as a semiconductor memory or a magnetic disk device is used as a storage device, the cost of a facsimile device having an alternate reception function is reduced. There was a problem that it became expensive.

Further, in order to control the semiconductor memory and the magnetic disk device, a complicated control device and a system control function are required, and there has been a problem that the configuration of the facsimile device and the control process are complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve such a problem of the conventional apparatus and to provide a control method of a facsimile apparatus which can realize an alternate reception function at low cost.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention relates to a method for controlling a facsimile apparatus having an alternate reception function for storing received image information when an abnormality has occurred in an image recording unit. Network control device, modem means for transmitting and receiving signals via a telephone line, and an intermediate signal connected between the network control device and the modem means for recording / recording analog signals exchanged via a telephone line network. A facsimile transmission procedure signal and image information are recorded in the audio signal recording / reproducing means at the time of proxy reception, and the audio signal recording / reproducing means is released when the abnormality of the image recording unit is released. Reproducing the signal recorded in the means and inputting it to the modem means,
From the reproduced signal, a pre-facsimile transmission procedure is identified to identify a transmission function, and based on the identified transmission function, image information is identified from the next reproduced signal, and a corresponding image is recorded via the image recording unit. This is to output.

Further, in a state where the transmission / reception operation is not performed, a predetermined storage medium inspection signal is recorded in the audio signal recording / reproduction means,
The quality of the recording medium is inspected by reproducing the recorded inspection signal, and the image information transmission speed is set based on the inspection result of the quality inspection.

The audio signal recording / reproducing means stores a counter value corresponding to the top of the page of the recorded image information, and accesses the image information recorded on the storage medium with reference to the counter value.

[Operation] Therefore, since an inexpensive audio signal recording / reproducing means such as a tape recorder is used as a storage device for image information, the cost of an additional element for realizing the alternate reception function can be reduced, and a low-cost facsimile apparatus. Can realize an alternate reception function. Further, since the image information transmission speed is set in accordance with the quality of the storage medium used for the audio signal recording / reproducing means, the state of the image information stored in the storage medium can be maintained in a good state, thereby enabling the alternate reception function. Can be appropriately exerted. Further, since the image information can be accessed in page units by referring to the counter value indicating the use position of the storage medium, the received image information can be managed more efficiently.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a facsimile apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a system control unit 1 is for performing control processing of the entire facsimile apparatus and facsimile transmission control procedure processing.
A control program executed by the system control unit 1 and the like are stored therein, and a work area of the system control unit 1 is formed. The non-volatile memory 3 is composed of, for example, a semiconductor memory backed up by a battery, and stores various information unique to the facsimile apparatus and management information at the time of proxy reception.

The scanner 4 is for reading a document image at a predetermined resolution, and the plotter 5 is for recording and outputting an image at a predetermined resolution.

The operation display unit 6 is for operating the facsimile apparatus. The encoding / decoding unit 7 encodes and compresses a transmission image signal and decodes received image information into an original image signal. is there.

The modem 8 modulates and demodulates digital data so that a public telephone line network or the like, which is an analog line network, can be used as a transmission line. A network control device 9 connects the facsimile device to the public telephone line network. belongs to. The network control device 9 has an automatic transmission / reception function.

The tape recorder 10 provided between the modem 8 and the network controller 9 is, for example, an analog (digital)
It is a device such as an audio cassette tape recorder capable of recording / reproducing a signal (analog sound signal) received via a public telephone line. The tape recorder 10 has a function of controlling the recording / reproducing operation from an external device and a function of accessing a tape counter value from outside.

The signal at the reception signal output terminal of the network controller 9 is input to one input terminal IN1 of the tape recorder device 10, output from the corresponding output terminal OUT1, and applied to the reception signal input terminal of the modem 8. The signal at the transmission signal output terminal of the modem 8 is input to the other input terminal IN2 of the tape recorder device 10, output from the corresponding output terminal OUT2, and applied to the transmission signal input terminal of the network control device 9. .

Also, a system control unit 1, a system memory 2, a non-volatile memory 3, a scanner 4, a plotter 5, an operation display unit 6,
Encoding / decoding unit 7, modem 8, network control device 9, and
The tape recorder device 10 is connected to a system bus 11, and necessary information is exchanged between these components via the system bus 11.

FIG. 2 shows an example of processing at the time of reception by the facsimile apparatus.

First, when an incoming call is detected (the result of determination 101 is YES), processing 102 of phases B and C of the facsimile transmission procedure is executed to execute 1
The image information for the page is received, recorded and output from the plotter 5, and recorded on the tape recorder 10.

Here, the signal recorded on the tape recorder 10 is
As is apparent from FIG. 1, the signal is an analog facsimile transmission / reception signal passed between the network control device 9 and the modem 8.

When the image information of one page is received, it is checked whether or not the received content is good (decision 103). When the result of the judgment 103 is YES, it is checked whether or not the plotter 5 has run out of paper or a paper jam (decision). 104).

When the result of determination 104 is NO, a message confirmation signal MCF is sent (process 105), and when there is a next page (the result of determination 106 is YES), the process returns to process 102 to return to the image information of the next page. To receive.

If there is no next page and the result of the determination 106 is NO, the transmission apparatus waits for the transmission of the line disconnection signal DCN, and upon receiving the line disconnection signal DCN, restores the line (process 107).

At that time, it is checked whether the plotter 5 has run out of paper or a paper jam (decision 108). If the result of decision 108 is NO, the plotter 5 responds to the image information of the first page received in the process 102 at that time. The tape recorder 10 is rewound to the tape counter value (step 109), and the receiving process is terminated. At the same time, the reception management information (described later) is deleted.

When the result of the judgment 108 is YES, the processing 109
, The receiving process ends.

When the result of the judgment 104 is YES, it is checked whether or not the tape recorder 10 has run out of tape at that time (decision 110). When the result of the judgment 110 is NO, the process proceeds to a process 105.

Further, when the result of the determination 110 is YES, since the image information cannot be received any more, the procedure interruption denial signal PIN is transmitted (process 111). At this time, it waits for a line disconnection signal DCN to be sent from the transmitting device, and upon receiving the line disconnection signal DCN, restores the line (process 112).

When the result of the judgment 103 is NO, a retrain negative signal RTN is transmitted (process 113), and the process proceeds to the judgment 106.

 FIG. 3 shows an example of the processing 102 of the phases B and C.

First, it is checked whether the image information to be received is the first page (decision 201), and when the result of decision 201 is YES, the called station identification signal CED is transmitted to perform the pre-transmission procedure (processing 202), the recording operation of the tape recorder 10 for recording signals input from the input terminals IN1 and IN2 is started (process 203).

As a result, thereafter, the reception signal from the transmission device and the transmission signal from the modem 8 are transmitted to the tape recorder device.
Recorded on 10.

Further, the tape counter value of the tape recorder 10 at that time is read out, and the reception management information RM as shown in FIG.
Is formed and stored in the nonvolatile memory 3 (processing 20
Four).

Here, the reception management information RM stores time information indicating the time when image information reception started, destination information indicating identification information of the transmission device, page number information indicating a page counter value, and image information of each page. It consists of tape counter information indicating the current tape counter value and a flag indicating whether the image information of the page is valid or invalid. Note that “image information is valid” indicates a state in which the image information has not been read out yet, and “image information is invalid” indicates a state in which the image information has been read out.

For example, in the reception management information RM shown in FIG. 4, at time 10:15, the identification information receives the image information of four pages from the destination apparatus of ABC, and the image information of each page is the tape counter value.
Starting from 1000,1010,1031,1050, the reading of the image information of the first and second pages whose flag has been reset to 0 has already been completed, and the flag has been set to 1,3,4
It can be seen that the image information of the page has not been read yet.

When the reception management information RM is formed in this manner, the non-standard device signal NSF and the digital identification signal DIS are transmitted (process 205), and the non-standard device setting signal NSS or the digital command signal DCS transmitted from the transmitting device is transmitted. Receive (Process
206).

Then, the modem 8 is set to the modem speed specified at that time.
Is set, a training check signal TCF is received (process 207), and a reception preparation confirmation signal C is
The FR is transmitted (process 208).

Next, receiving the image information transmitted from the transmitting device,
The received image information is decoded into the original image signal by the encoding / decoding unit 7, and the image signal is output to the plotter 5 to record and output the received image (process 209). Repeat until receiving (NO loop of decision 210).

If the result of the determination 210 is YES, a post-message signal (any of a message end signal EOM, a procedure end signal EOP, and a multi-page signal MPS) transmitted from the transmitting device is received (process 211), and the tape recorder 10 The recording is stopped (process 212).

When the result of the judgment 201 is NO, the message end signal EOM is received at the end of the previous page to check whether or not the mode change is set (decision 213), and the result of the judgment 213 is NO. At times, the processes 214 and 215 are performed in the same manner as the processes 203 and 204, the recording of the tape recorder 10 is started, new information is added to the reception management information RM, and the process proceeds to the process 209.

When the result of the determination 213 is YES, the process waits for 6 seconds after responding to the message confirmation signal MCF (process 216).
Proceed to 203.

In this way, in the processing 102 of the phases B and C, the setting signal of the transmission function necessary for recording the image information and the image information of each page are stored in the tape recorder 10, and the respective receptions are performed. The reception management information RM for managing the image information is formed and stored in the nonvolatile memory 3.

In addition, in a state where no abnormality such as a paper breakage or a paper jam has occurred in the plotter 5 at the time of reception, the processing 109 in FIG.
Since the tape recorder 10 has been rewound to the beginning of the received image information received at that time, the recorded contents of the tape recorder 10 recorded at the time of receiving the image information are erased.

Therefore, in the tape recorder 10, only the image information that has been received by proxy is effectively stored.

Thus, the image information stored in the tape recorder 10 is recorded and output by the processing of FIG.

In this process, the abnormality of the plotter 5 is released (decision 30).
The result of 1 is YES) and the transmission / reception is not in progress (decision 302)
If the result is NO), the tape recorder 10 is rewound (process 303), and all the image information recorded on the tape recorder 10 at that time is subjected to image information recording and output processing.
Perform 304 (NO loop of decision 305).

When recording and output of image information is completed, the tape recorder
The tape 10 is rewound (process 306), and the quality of the tape set in the tape recorder 10 is inspected (process 307).
In this process 307, when it is determined that the tape is greatly deteriorated and the tape should be replaced (the result of the determination 308 is YES), the tape set in the tape recorder 10 is ejected (process 309), and the operator changes the tape. Wait (NO loop of decision 310).

When the tape exchange is completed and the result of decision 310 is YES,
Returning to the process 306, the quality inspection of the newly set tape is performed.

When the result of the determination 308 is YES, the process shifts to a standby state.

An example of the image information record output processing 303 is shown in FIG.
(B).

In this process, first, one page whose flag is set to 1 in the reception management information RM is selected, and the tape recorder 10 is set to a tape counter value representing the head of the image information of the page. The reproduction of the device 10 is started (processing 401).

Thus, thereafter, the reproduction signal of the tape recorder 10 is input to the modem 8, demodulated, and notified to the system control unit 1.

At this time, first, with the modem 8 set to the low-speed modem function, the non-standard device setting signal transmitted from the transmitting device is set.
When the NSS or digital command signal DCS is detected, the contents are analyzed and the transmission function to be used is identified (processing 40).
2).

Next, with the high-speed modem function of the modem 8 set to the transmission speed identified at that time, the training check signal TCF is detected (processing 403), and the plotter 5 is made to wait for recording (processing 404) to confirm reception preparation. Detect signal CFR (processing
405). In the processes 403 and 405, only the target signal is detected.

Then, the modem 8 is adjusted by the retraining immediately before the image information (step 406), and thereafter, the image information is analyzed until the plotter 5 runs out of paper or a paper jam or detects the signal RTC. The image information is decoded into the original image signal by the encoding / decoding unit 7, and the image signal is transferred to the plotter 5 to record and output the corresponding image (process 40).
7,408,409, NO loop 410,411).

When the result of the determination 411 is YES, the recording paper is cut (process 412), and the flag of the reception management information RM corresponding to the image information recorded and output at that time is cleared to 0 (process 41).
3).

Then, the post-message signal is a procedure end signal EOP, a multi-page signal MPS, or a message end signal EOM.
Is determined (determinations 414, 415).

At this time, when the multi-page signal MPS is detected and the result of the determination 415 is YES, the process returns to the process 406 to perform the recording process of the image information of the next page.

When the result of the determination 415 is NO after detecting the message end signal EOM, the process returns to the process 402, and after the transmission function is reset, the image information of the next page is recorded.

Also, the procedure end signal EOP is detected and the result of the judgment 414 is YE
When it becomes S, the reproduction of the tape recorder 10 is stopped at that time (process 416).

Also, when the result of the determination 410 is YES, the processing 416
Proceed to. At this time, since the flag of the image information recorded at the time of running out of paper or a paper jam has not been reset to 0, the next time this processing is executed, the image information whose recording was interrupted is recorded and output again. can do.

When the result of the determination 414 is YES, the reception management information RM relating to the series of image information whose recording and output has been completed at that time is deleted from the nonvolatile memory 3.

In this manner, the signal of the image information recorded in the tape recorder 10 is reproduced, decoded into the original image signal, and recorded and output from the plotter 5.

 FIG. 7 shows a processing example of the processing 307 of the tape quality inspection.

In this process, first, with the transmission speed of the modem 8 set to the high speed (9600 bps), the tape recorder 10
Is started (process 501), and a training check signal TCF is output from the modem 8 and recorded in the tape recorder 10 until a predetermined time TT elapses (process 502, a process loop of judgment 503).

If the result of decision 503 is YES, the tape recorder 10
Stops recording (process 504) and rewinds the tape (process 5).
05), playback of the tape recorder 10 is started (processing 50).
6).

As a result, the training check signal TCF is reproduced, and error detection (analysis) of the training check signal TCF is performed until the training check signal TCF is completed (processing 507, determination
508 NO loop).

If the result of decision 508 is YES, the tape recorder 10
Is stopped (process 509), and it is checked whether the number of error bits detected in process 507 is larger than a specified value (process 509).
510).

As a result, when it is determined that an error has occurred (the result of determination 511 is YES), a display prompting the operator to replace the tape set in the tape recorder 10 is output (process 512).

At the same time, it is checked whether or not the transmission speed of the modem 8 at that time was the minimum speed of 2400 bps (judgment 513).
If the result of the determination 513 is NO, the tape is rewound with the transmission speed of the modem 8 reduced by one step (processing 51).
4) In a state where the transmission speed at that time is set to the transmission speed at the time of receiving the image information (process 515), the process returns to process 501.

At this time, when the operator who sees the tape replacement display ejects and replaces the tape from the tape recorder 10, the process immediately proceeds to the judgment 310 in FIG. 5, and the subsequent processing is executed.

When the result of the determination 513 is YES, an eject flag indicating an instruction to eject the tape is set in a process 309 in FIG. 5 (process 516), and the tape is rewound (process 517), and this tape quality inspection is performed. The process ends.

When the result of the determination 513 is NO, the process proceeds to a process 517, where the tape quality inspection process is ended.

Thus, in this tape quality inspection process, first, with the transmission speed of the modem 8 set to the maximum speed,
The training check signal TCF is recorded, and it is checked whether or not the tape can be used at the transmission speed of the modem 8 at that time based on the number of error bits included in the reproduced signal.

If it is not usable, the transmission speed of the modem 8 is shifted down with the tape exchange indication output, and the modem training is performed again in the transmission state.

This modem training is performed until the transmission speed of the modem 8 reaches the lowest speed. When a data error is detected even at the lowest speed, the tape is in a state of deterioration, so the eject flag is set and the tape is set. Automatically eject and have operator replace.

If the transmission speed of the modem 8 is not available at the maximum speed, the transmission speed determined to be usable at that time is:
The tape recorder 10 responds to the transmitting device in a pre-transmission procedure at the time of reception so that the received image information can be appropriately recorded.

With the above configuration, when the facsimile apparatus receives a call and performs image information reception, when the called station identification signal CED is responded, recording of the tape recorder apparatus 10 is started.

As a result, the procedure signal of the pre-transmission procedure is recorded on the tape recorder 10, and the received image information is
At the same time as being recorded and output, it is recorded on the tape recorder device 10.

During the image information reception at this time, if no abnormality such as a paper breakage or a paper jam occurs in the plotter 5, the tape recorder 10 is rewound to the tape count value at the time when the image information reception started, Further, the reception management information RM formed at that time is deleted.

When an abnormality occurs in the plotter 5 during image information reception, the tape recorder 10 is not rewound, and the reception management information RM is also left in the nonvolatile memory 3. As a result, proxy reception in which the received image information is stored in the tape recorder 10 is performed.

When the abnormality of the plotter 5 is cleared and the transmission / reception operation of the facsimile apparatus is not performed, the reception of one image information transmission is performed by referring to the reception management information RM stored in the nonvolatile memory 3. Image information is selected, 1
The tape recorder 10 is set to the tape counter value of the image information of the page, and the reproduction of the received image information recorded based on the tape counter value is started.

As a result, first, the transmission speed of the modem 8 and the encoding method of the encoding / decoding unit 7 are set based on the procedure signal exchanged in the pre-transmission procedure, and in this state, the image information of the first page is set. Reading, decoding processing, and recording output are performed.

When the recording output is completed normally, reading of image information of the next page, decoding processing, and recording output are sequentially performed.

For image information for which recording output has been completed normally,
If the flag of the reception management information RM is cleared to 0 and an abnormality occurs in the plotter 5 during recording output, the flag is not cleared.

If all the pages received during one image information reception have been normally recorded and output, the reception management information RM relating to the image information reception is deleted.

In this way, when the recording and output of the received image information of the selected image information transmission is completed, next, the received image information of another image information transmission is selected, and the latter received image information is also the same as described above. Performs an appropriate recording process.

When the recording and output of all the received image information recorded on one tape is completed, a tape quality inspection process is performed.

By this processing, when it is determined that the tape is defective, a tape replacement display is output, and the tape determined to be unusable is automatically ejected from the tape recorder 10.

Therefore, the tape set when the tape change display is output, or the tape recorder 10
When the automatically ejected tape is replaced, a tape quality inspection process is performed on the newly set tape.

If the set tape is not replaced when the tape change indication is output, the transmission speed below the transmission speed according to the quality of the tape at that time is set when image information is received thereafter. As a result, it is possible to appropriately perform the alternate reception even when using a tape with reduced quality.

Thus, in the present embodiment, the tape recorder device
By using 10, the image information can be appropriately received by proxy. Therefore, a facsimile apparatus having a proxy reception function can be provided at low cost.

In this embodiment, when the quality of the tape being used is deteriorated, a message to that effect is displayed, and when the tape becomes inoperable, the tape is automatically ejected to replace the tape. , Can always be kept above a certain level.

Further, since the reception management information for managing the image information recorded on the tape recorder 10 is stored in the nonvolatile memory 3, even if a power failure such as a power failure occurs, the image information is appropriately reproduced. be able to.

In the above-described embodiment, an analog (digital) audio cassette tape recorder is used as the tape recorder. However, any device capable of recording / reproducing an analog audio signal transmitted via a telephone network is used. For example, other tape recorder devices, such as a video tape recorder device, can be used.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the tape recorder is incorporated in the facsimile apparatus. However, an external tape recorder may be used. In that case, a terminal for connecting to the tape recorder device, an input / output circuit, and the like are required, but the cost can be further reduced because the tape recorder device main body is not required.

In the above-described embodiment, the image information stored in the tape recorder is managed using the reception management information, but other management methods may be used.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, in a control method of a facsimile apparatus having an alternate reception function for storing received image information when an abnormality occurs in an image recording unit, A modem for transmitting and receiving signals via a telephone line, and an analog connected between the network controller and the modem and exchanged via a telephone network. An audio signal recording / reproducing means capable of recording / reproducing a signal, and facsimile transmission procedure signals and image information are recorded in the audio signal recording / reproducing means at the time of alternate reception. The signal recorded in the audio signal recording / reproducing means is reproduced and input to the modem means, the pre-facsimile transmission procedure is determined from the reproduced signal, the transmission function is identified, and the identified transmission is performed. Based on the transmission function, next, image information is identified from the reproduced signal, and the corresponding image is recorded and output via the image recording unit. Therefore, an expensive large-capacity storage device as an image information storage device is used. By using an inexpensive audio signal recording / reproducing means such as a tape recorder device, it is possible to reduce the cost of an additional element for realizing the surrogate reception function and realize the surrogate reception function with a low-cost facsimile machine. Get the effect.

Further, in a state where the transmission / reception operation is not performed, a predetermined storage medium inspection signal is recorded in the audio signal recording / reproduction means,
Since the quality of the recording medium is inspected by reproducing the recorded inspection signal, and the image information transmission speed is set based on the inspection result of the quality inspection, the state of the image information stored in the storage medium is changed. Can be kept good,
As a result, an effect that the surrogate reception function can be appropriately exerted is also obtained.

Further, the audio signal recording / reproducing means stores a counter value corresponding to the top of the page of the recorded image information, and accesses the image information recorded on the storage medium by referring to the counter value. The image information can be accessed in page units with reference to the counter value indicating the use position, and as a result, the effect that the received image information can be managed more efficiently can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a facsimile apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of processing when image information is received, and FIG. 3 is an example of processing in phases B and C at the time of reception. Flowchart, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of reception management information, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of processing when recording and outputting an image of image information received by proxy, and FIGS. 6 (a) and (b) are FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the image information recording / output processing, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the tape quality inspection processing. 1 ... System control unit, 3 ... Non-volatile memory, 10 ...
Tape recorder device.

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method for controlling a facsimile apparatus having an alternate reception function for storing received image information when an abnormality has occurred in an image recording unit, comprising: a network control device for connecting to a telephone line network; Modem means for transmitting and receiving signals via the network control device and the modem means,
Record analog signals exchanged via telephone network /
A facsimile transmission procedure signal and image information are recorded in the audio signal recording / reproducing means at the time of proxy reception, and the audio signal recording / reproducing is performed when the abnormality of the image recording section is released. The signal recorded in the means is reproduced and input to the modem means, a pre-facsimile transmission procedure is determined from the reproduced signal to identify a transmission function, and based on the identified transmission function, the image information is read from the next reproduced signal. And a corresponding image recorded and output via the image recording unit. 2. In a state in which a transmission / reception operation is not performed, a predetermined storage medium inspection signal is recorded in the audio signal recording / reproduction means, and the recorded inspection signal is reproduced to perform a quality inspection of the recording medium. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the image information transmission speed is set based on the inspection result of the quality inspection. 3. The audio signal recording / reproducing means stores a counter value corresponding to the top of a page of the recorded image information, and accesses the image information recorded on the storage medium by referring to the counter value. 2. The method for controlling a facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: