JP2790820B2 - Facsimile communication method - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a facsimile communication system, and more particularly, to a facsimile communication system in which a plurality of pieces of image information of the same destination are collectively transmitted by a single communication.

(Prior Art) In recent years, with the spread of facsimile apparatuses and facsimile storage and exchange apparatuses, facsimile communication systems have also been advanced.

Above all, among multiple pieces of image information stored in the image memory, image information of the same destination is transmitted together in one communication.So-called serial communication eliminates the need to make calls and exchange communication protocols for each image information file. Can be.

Conventionally, in this communication, when a plurality of pieces of image information of the same destination are collectively transmitted, the image information is read from the image memory and transmitted in the order in which the pieces of image information are received, that is, in the order in which they are stored in the image memory.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in such a conventional facsimile communication system, a plurality of pieces of image information of the same destination stored in an image memory are read out in the order of storage and transmitted in a row communication. However, there is a problem that the communication time is not sufficiently reduced, and the communication time becomes longer than when the file is transmitted for each file, so that the communication cost cannot be sufficiently reduced.

In other words, if the image information stored as the image information of the same destination is only the image information that can be transmitted in the same mode in the communication protocol, all the image information can be transferred to a plurality of pages without changing the mode by the communication protocol during the communication. It can be transmitted as one sentence, and the communication time can be reduced. However, when image information of different modes coexist, it is necessary to change the mode by the communication protocol every time the mode of the image information is different. For example, if the image information stored in the image memory is arranged in the storage order, and the size of the image information is in the order of A4, B4, A4, A4, B4, etc. , The size of the image information is
When changing from the A4 size to the B4 size, or every time the size changes from the B4 size to the A4 size, the mode must be changed in the communication protocol, and communication time for the mode change is required. As a result, there has been a problem that the communication time cannot be sufficiently reduced and the communication cost cannot be sufficiently reduced.

(Object of the Invention) Accordingly, the present invention classifies a plurality of pieces of image information of the same destination in an image memory into pieces of image information having the same mode according to a communication protocol, and sets a predetermined mode among the modes. Set as communication mode, convert image information of other mode to this communication mode, and then transmit, shorten or delete protocol time for mode change, shorten communication time, reduce communication cost It is intended to be.

(Constitution of the Invention) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention manages image information stored in an image memory for each file or page, and transmits image information of the same destination collectively by one communication. In the communication method, a plurality of pieces of image information of the same destination are classified into pieces of image information having the same mode on a protocol, a predetermined mode among the modes is set as a communication mode, and image information of another mode is set. It is characterized by transmitting after converting to communication mode.

Hereinafter, a facsimile communication system for achieving the above object will be specifically described.

First, FIGS. 1 to 6 are diagrams showing a first example of a facsimile communication system different from the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the facsimile apparatus 1. The facsimile apparatus 1 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 2 and a RAM.
(Random Access Memory) 3, CPU (Central Processin)
g Unit) 4, CC (Communication Control) 5, line buffer 6, image memory 7, DCRI (Data Compression a)
nd Reconstriction) 8, DCR II 9, line buffer 1
0, an IPU (Image Processing Unit) 11, a plotter 12, a scanner 13, and the like.

ROM2, RAM3 and CPU4 are SCU (System Control Uni
t), and the line buffer 6, the image memory 7, the DCRI 8, the DCR II 9, and the line buffer 10 constitute an image processing unit.

The CPU 4 controls each unit in accordance with the program stored in the ROM 2 to execute the sequence as the facsimile apparatus 1 and executes the column communication process of the present example, and a work area is formed in the RAM 3.

A line is connected to CC5, and CC5 controls communication. DC
The RI8 and the DCR II 9 compress (encode) the image data by a predetermined coding method in order to store the image data in the image memory 7 and to reduce the amount of data transmitted by the line.
Reproduce. The line buffer 6 stores the DCRI 8
The image data compressed by is stored, and the processing speed of the image data between the image processing by the DCRI 8 and the transmission processing is adjusted. The image memory 7 has a capacity to store image data for a plurality of pages, and stores image data compressed by the DCR II 9 and the like. The line buffer 10 temporarily stores image data read by the scanner 13, and also temporarily stores image data recorded by the plotter 12. The IPU 11 performs a scaling process and the like of image data.
Although the size is small, if the receiving facsimile machine has only an A4 size plotter, the image data of B4 size read by the scanner 13 is reduced to A4 size and output.

As the plotter 12, for example, a thermal recording device having a thermal element is used, and the plotter 12 performs recording directly on thermal recording paper or indirectly via an ink ribbon on ordinary recording paper.

As the scanner 13, for example, a CCD (Charge Coupled
A line image sensor using a device is used, and image information is read for each line and output as image data.

 Next, the operation will be described.

In this example, at the time of transmission, a plurality of pieces of image information of the same destination in the image memory are grouped for each image information having the same mode in the communication protocol, and are sequentially transmitted. Hereinafter, this column communication processing will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the transmission document is set on the scanner 13, the facsimile apparatus 1 reads the transmission document by the scanner 13, compresses the document by the DCR II 9 via the line buffer 10 by a predetermined encoding method, and stores the image information in the image memory 7. Accumulate as

Now, there are two types of mode A and mode B as the mode of image information, which 3 files one by a total of six files F ₁ to F ₆ image information of the same destination at each mode in the image memory 7 is stored And It is assumed that the image information of the six files F _{1 to} F ₆ has been stored in the order shown in FIG. 3 (the order of the subscripts).

The mode A and the mode B correspond to the document size (A4
Size, B4 size, etc.), line density, etc., and are classified into modes according to the communication protocol according to whether they are the same mode. Further, the number of pages of each file is not limited.

When transmitting a plurality of pieces of image information of the same destination stored in the image memory 7 in one communication, the facsimile apparatus 1 first sets a memory area for column communication processing in the image memory 7. generated (step S _1), the file counter C to reset to 1 to count the number of files (step S _2). Then, first checks whether there is a file of the same transmission time by storing files F ₁ and the same destination (step S _3), if there is a file multiple message that generated the file ID and the mode in the image memory 7 as well as it sets in the memory area for the process (step S _4),
The count value C of the file counter C is incremented by 1 (Step S _5). By the same processing, all the files having the same transmission time at the same destination in the image memory 7 are counted, and the file ID and the mode are set in the memory area. Now, it is assumed that six files F ₁ to F ₆ in the same transmission time in the same destination as shown in FIG. 3 there.
Therefore, the count value C is 6. When counting up all files, whether the count value C is greater than 1, i.e., checks whether more than one file exists (step S _6), when the file is present 2 or more, the memory area of the image memory 7 F ₁ of the file to
After setting the ID (Step S _7), summarized the image information in the image memory 7 for each mode (step S ₈ ~S _13). That is, first, checks whether the file in the same mode as the file F ₁ is set in the memory area (Step S _8), when the file of the same mode is present, sets collectively the file ID (step S ₉₎ . When the set of files F ₁ and the same mode of the file (F _3, F ₅₎ is completed, check whether other file ID which is set in the memory area exists in the step S ₄ (step
S _10), set for the first to accumulate file (this example in the file F ₁ different modes, the file ID of the file F ₂₎ in the memory area when there (step
S _11). Check if there is another file ID in the same mode as the file ID just set (step
S _12), when there is set the file ID in the memory area (Step S _13). When all file ID sets in the same mode as file F ₂ are completed (step
S ₁₂ , S ₁₃ ), check whether the file ID of another mode is in the memory area (step S ₁₀ ).
Turning to the transmission processing (step S ₁₄ ~S _20). In this manner, the image information in the image memory 7 is, as shown in FIG.
Each file in the same mode is grouped and its file ID
Are arranged for each same mode. With permutation is completed file ID in multiple message processing memory area in the image memory 7, and connects the line between the counterpart facsimile machine by CC5 (step S _14), starts transmission (step
S _15). The transmission of the image information is performed according to the order of the file IDs set in the memory area (the order in FIG. 4). That is, first, the image information of the file F ₁ is read from the image memory 7, and is decoded into raw data by the DCR II 9.
The data is sent to the DCRI 8 via the line buffer 10. The image information sent to the DCRI 8 is encoded by the DCRI 8 by a predetermined encoding method, sent to the CC 5 via the line buffer 6, and transmitted from the CC 5 to a destination via a line (not shown). When the transmission of the image information of the file F ₁ is completed, the count value C of the counter "1"
Is decremented only (step S ₁₆ ), and the count value C
There it is checked whether or not "0" (step S _17). Now
Since only transmitting the image information of the file F _1, the count value C is C = 5, image information to be transmitted is stored in the image memory 7. Therefore, after the facsimile device 1 which sent the MPS signal (multi-page signal) (step S _18), when set next file being ID in the memory area of the image memory 7 (in this example, as shown in FIG. 4 the image information of the file F is ₃₎ read from the image memory 7, similarly sends (step S _15). That is, as shown in the timing chart of the control signals in FIG. 5, between the files F ₁ and the file F ₃ and files F ₃ and the file F ₅ exchanges MPS signal and MCF signal (message confirmation signal) Only a training check (RE
TRAIN) to transmit the image information of the next file.

When the transmission of the image information to the file 5 is completed, the facsimile apparatus 1 sends out an EOM signal (message end signal) as shown in a time chart of the control signal in FIG. After exchanging the NSF signal (non-standard function identification signal), DIS signal (digital identification signal), NSS signal (non-standard function setting signal), and DCS signal (digital command signal), perform training to prepare for reception. There When complete (CFR signal), and transmits the image information of the file F _2. Then, the file F ₄ and file F _6, MPS signal as in the case of FIG. 5, can be performed continuously by only replacing the MCF signal, when the transmission of all the image information is completed (step S ₁₇ ), EOP signal (procedure end signal)
Delivering (step S _19). When the other party comes returns a MCF signal successfully received image information, to disconnect the line by sending a DCN signal (disconnect signal), the flow ends (step S _20). Therefore, as compared with the conventional case where image information in which different modes are mixed is transmitted in the order of accumulation and the protocol is changed every time the mode is changed as shown in FIG. Protocol exchange time can be greatly reduced. As a result, the communication time can be reduced, and the communication cost can be further reduced.

In the above example, each file is treated as having the same mode for each file.However, the facsimile communication method of this example is also applicable to a case where image information having different modes for each page is mixed in one file. can do.

For example, now, as shown in FIG. 7, the file F ₁ ~ file F ₆ it is assumed that mode A and mode B for respective pages are mixed. In this case, according to the conventional facsimile communication method, it is necessary to exchange a protocol for changing the mode for each page. Therefore, in this example, the image memory 7
The image information is managed in units of pages, and file information for each page of each file is registered in the memory area of the image memory 7 in units of pages. Image information is transmitted in page units based on the file information for each page. Hereinafter, this queue communication process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

At the time of the column communication, a memory area for column communication processing is generated in the image memory 7 (step P ₁ ), and the count value C of the file counter is reset to “1” (step P ₂ ). Then, first in accumulated files F ₁ and the same destination by searching the files in the same transmission time is set and the file ID mode for each page in the memory area, and increments the count value C by that the number of pages (step P ₃ , P ₄ ,
P _5). When the search for files to be exchanged and the setting to the memory area are completed, and there are multiple
P ₆ ), it is determined whether there is a page in the same mode as the mode (A mode) of the first page (file F ₁ −P ₁ ) of the file F ₁ from among the files to be transmitted. The mode is searched, and if there is a page in the same mode, file information of the page, for example, file F ₂ −
P ₁ , files F ₂ -P ₃ ... Are sequentially set in the column signal processing memory area of the image memory 7 (step P ₇ ). File
When all the file information of the page of the same mode as the F ₁ -P ₁ is set in the memory area, then the second page of the file F ₁ page of (file F ₁ -P ₂₎ the same mode as the mode (B mode) of Similarly, if there is a page in the same mode, file information of the page, for example, file F ₂ -P ₂ , file F ₂ -P ₁ ,...
Are sequentially set in the column signal processing memory area (step
P ₈ ). When the file information of the page in the same mode as the file F ₁ -P ₂ is set following the file information of the page in the same mode as the mode of the file F ₁ -P ₁ as shown in FIG. A call is made to the facsimile machine to connect the line (step P ₉ ). Then, as shown in FIG. 10, control signals are exchanged. At this time, if the facsimile apparatus on the receiving side has the identification function of this example, it declares the fact to the NSF signal and sends it out. If the facsimile apparatus 1 declares the presence of the row communication function of the present example in the NSF signal, the facsimile apparatus 1 declares in the NSS signal that the facsimile apparatus 1 is to be transmitted by the row communication function of this example, and gives an instruction of the row communication function mode. Thereafter, the facsimile apparatus 1 sequentially reads out the file information from the column signal processing memory area of the image memory 7 and transmits the file information by the NSS signal. When the destination facsimile apparatus confirms the file information by the NSS signal, it sends a CFR signal, and when the sending of the file information of all pages is completed, after performing a training check, the image is sorted in the page order arranged in the memory area of the image memory 7. and it transmits the read out image information from the memory 7 (step P _10). When the transmission of one page of the image information is completed, the count value C of the counter 1 only decremented (step P _11), unless the count value C is "0" (step P _12), and sends the MPS signal subsequently transmit the image information Te (step P _13, P _14). Now, when the transmission of the image information to the page of the file F ₆ -P ₂ is completed, the mode changes. However, since the file information is transmitted first as the information regarding the mode, the protocol exchange for the mode conversion is performed. it is not necessary, across the MPS signal, subsequently starts transmitting the image information of the file F ₁ -P _2. When the transmission of all information is completed (step P _12), and sends the EOP signal (step P _14), the MCF signal is returned, it disconnects the line by sending a DCN signal (step P _15). Therefore, it is not necessary to insert a protocol time for mode change during transmission of image information, and the communication time can be further reduced. As a result, communication costs can be further reduced.

In this case, the receiving-side facsimile apparatus, based on the file information of the NSS signal from the facsimile apparatus 1,
The received image information for each page is edited for each file, and a mode such as a size is adjusted and output from the plotter for each file. Therefore, on the receiving side, the page configuration of the image information is organized without being mixed, and the received information can be easily managed.

Furthermore, in the second example, one page is transmitted as one unit as a unit, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of predetermined pages may be transmitted as one unit. Hereinafter, the transmission process in this case will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the description of the flowchart of FIG. 11, the same steps as those shown in FIG. 8 will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

At the time of column communication, first, a memory area for column communication processing is generated in the image memory 7 as in the second example (step
P _1), after resetting to "1" to the count value C of the file counter (step P _2), is set in the memory area by examining the file number and page number of the same destination stored in the image memory 7 ( step P ₃ ~P _5). Then, when the image information is present more than one page, (Step P _6), a group of files information pages of the same mode each check mode for each page is set in the memory area (step P _7, P _8). When the creation of this file information is completed, the destination and the line are connected by CC5 (step
P ₉ ), exchange of predetermined control signals is performed. At this time, as shown in FIG. 12, the facsimile machine on the receiving side declares, by an NSF signal, that the reception function of the present embodiment is provided, and when the NSF signal is received, the facsimile machine 1 uses the NSS signal to transmit Instructs the mode of the communication function. Thereafter, after training is performed, file information of all pages of all files is read from the memory area of the image memory 7 and transmitted as a format shown in FIG. 13 (step P ₂₁ ). The file information is arranged collectively for each mode, and is in the transmission order of the image information. When the transmission of the file information is completed, the image information is sequentially read from the image memory 7 from the image information of the file F ₁ -P ₁ based on the file information arranged for each mode of the memory area, and the encoding is changed. It sends Te (step P _22). At this time, as shown in FIG. 14, the image information is transmitted in units of a predetermined n pages as one unit (one block), and six consecutive EOL signals are inserted and transmitted between each page. The number of pages as one unit can be set as appropriate, and is set as appropriate depending on, for example, the line conditions. When the transmission of the n pages is completed, decremented by n a count value C of the file counter (step P _23), the count value C is checked whether zero (step P _24). If the count value C is not zero, the process returns to step P ₂₂ is collectively transmitted image information of the next n pages (step P _22). Upon completion of transmission of all the image information (step P _24), and sends the EOP signal (step P _25), the MCF signal is returned, it disconnects the line by sending a DCN signal (step P _26).

When receiving the image information, the destination facsimile apparatus edits the image information for each file based on the previously received file information, adjusts the mode, and outputs the adjusted image information. Therefore, before transmitting the image information, the file information is transmitted at a time.
It is only necessary to insert a signal for each page, so that the protocol time can be further reduced, and the communication time can be further reduced. As a result, communication costs can be further reduced.

In the second example, if the destination facsimile machine does not have the receiving function according to the second example, a normal receiving process is performed, or the receiving function of the first example is performed. If it can be used, the processing is performed by the first example of the column communication method.
Further, in the third example, the destination facsimile apparatus
In the case where the system does not have the queue communication function according to the example, the processing is performed by the queue communication function that can be used among the normal queue communication function, the first example queue communication function, and the second example queue communication function.

15 and 16 show an embodiment of the facsimile communication system according to the present invention, which is applied to a facsimile storage and switching device.

In FIG. 15, the facsimile storage and switching apparatus 21 includes a main body 22 and an exchange 23, and the main body 22 includes a system control unit.
24, an image memory 25, a communication control unit 26, and the like.

Switch 23 is connected to the extension LI ₁ ~LIn and external LO ₁ ~LOm, extension LI ₁ ~LIn another and extension LI ₁ ~LIn and external LO ₁ ~L
Connect with Om. Facsimile machine for extensions LI _{1 to} LIn
FX _{1 to} FXn are connected.

The communication control unit 26 includes a modulator / demodulator, a compressor / reproducer, a multiplier, a double buffer memory, etc., and performs demodulation / redundancy suppression coding of image information transmitted from a terminal while performing one of the double buffer memories. And when it's full,
An input operation of transferring the image information to the image memory 25 and an output operation of storing the image information transferred from the image memory 25 in one of the double buffer memories, modulating the image information, and sending the modulated information to the terminal are performed. Further, the communication control unit 26 changes the size of image information by performing main-scanning magnification, sub-scanning magnification, and linear density conversion using the magnification.

The system control unit 24 controls the exchange 23, the communication control unit 26, and the image memory 25 to execute a sequence as the storage and exchange device 21, and also performs a communication process according to the present invention.

The image memory 25 accumulates image information transmitted from the facsimile apparatus, manages files for each designated destination, and stores various management information such as a designated destination name, a telephone number, and a mode type such as an image information size. .

 Next, the operation will be described.

After the facsimile store and forward device 21 reproduced-compresses the original column credit transmitted from the facsimile device FX ₁ ~FXn connected to the extension LI ₁ ~LIn the communication control unit 26, and stored in the image memory 25, At the time of communication, if the image information of the same destination stored in the image memory 25 includes image information of a different mode, the image information is transmitted in a predetermined mode. Hereinafter, this queue communication process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

At the time of transmission, the system control unit 24 retrieves the image information of the column credit stored in the image memory 25, that is, the image information of the same transmission time at the same destination, and checks the mode of the image information. The system control unit 24 registers the most frequently used mode in the column image data as the communication mode (step Q ₁ ), and upon receiving a DIS signal (digital identification signal) from the partner facsimile machine (step Q ₂ ), the registered communication mode Is determined as the communication mode of this column credit (step
Q ₃ ). Register the determined column credit communication mode (step
Q _4), starts to transmit the image information of the communication mode file (Step Q _5). During the transmission of the image information, other file mode, i.e., image information width, it searches the image information length and linear density or the like (Step Q _6), compared to the communication mode (step Q _7). When the mode is different, (Step
Q _8), the main scanning magnification by zooming in a communication control unit 26, the sub-scan magnification, line density conversion, and the like to the mode change to the communication mode performed (Step Q _9). The same procedure is performed until all the column credit image information for the destination stored in the image memory 25 is transmitted, and when all the image information has been transmitted, this flow ends (step Q ₁₀ ). Therefore, the protocol time for mode change can be eliminated, and the communication time can be further reduced. As a result, communication costs can be further reduced.

In the above-described embodiment, the mode of the column credit image information, which is the most frequently used as the communication mode, is adopted. However, the present invention is not limited to this mode, and can be set as appropriate based on the functions of the partner facsimile apparatus and the communication cost. In this case, the setting may be performed manually by an operator, for example, by a key operation or a dip switch, or may be selected by software under certain conditions.

In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the facsimile storage and exchange apparatus 21 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the same applies to the facsimile apparatus 1 used in the description of the first to third examples. Can be applied. In this case, scaling processing or the like may be performed by the IPU 11.

(Effects) As described above, according to the present invention, the protocol time for changing the mode in communication can be shortened or eliminated, and the communication time can be further reduced. As a result, communication costs can be further reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1 to 6 are diagrams showing a first example of a facsimile communication system different from the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile apparatus to which the facsimile communication system is applied.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the column credit processing, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the column credit image information in the order of reception, FIG. 4 is a diagram in which the column credit information is grouped together in the same mode, and FIG. Time chart of control procedure between pages in the same mode, 6th chart
The figure is a time chart of a control procedure between pages in different modes. 7 to 10 are diagrams showing a second example of a facsimile communication system different from the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the page structure of the column credit picture information and its mode, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the communication process, FIG. 9 is a diagram in which the file information of the column credit image information is arranged in the same mode, and FIG. 10 is a time chart of the control signal of the column communication process. 11 to 14 are diagrams showing a third example of a facsimile communication system different from the present invention. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the sequence communication process, and FIG. 12 is a time chart of the control signal of the sequence communication process. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the format of the file information, and FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the format of the page configuration of the image information at the time of the transmission. FIGS. 15 and 16 are diagrams showing an embodiment of the facsimile communication system of the present invention. FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a facsimile storage and switching apparatus to which the facsimile communication system is applied.
The figure is a flowchart showing the sequence communication process. 1 ... facsimile machine, 2 ... ROM, 3 ... RAM, 4 ...
... CPU, 5 ... CC, 6 ... Line buffer, 7 ... Image memory, 8 ... DCRI, 9 ... DCR II, 10 ... Line buffer, 11 ... IPU, 12 ... Plotter, 13 ... Scanner, 2
1 ... Facsimile storage and exchange device, 22 ... Main unit, 23 ...
Switchboard, 24 ... System control unit, 25 ... Image memory, 26
.... Communication control unit.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A facsimile communication system for managing image information stored in an image memory for each file or page and transmitting image information of the same destination collectively by one communication. Image information of the same mode on the protocol, classifying a predetermined mode as the communication mode, converting the image information of the other mode to the communication mode, and transmitting the converted information. Facsimile communication system.