JP3001064B2 - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus having a memory function for storing received information.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In a facsimile apparatus having a memory function, received information is stored in the memory function (an electronic memory such as a RAM). The reception information includes image information and control information. The image information includes main information such as a picture or a character, and various parameters (page information, paper width information, bit information in the vertical and horizontal directions, etc.) when the main information is typed out. The parameters are set for each page. The control information includes information on the number of copies, relay communication information, and multi-copy information as information from the transmitting terminal, and information from the receiving terminal includes, for example, memory proxy information (when there is no receiving paper at the receiving terminal). Process information stored in a memory). That is, the control information means information other than the parameters used at the time of type-out, and is not always included in the received information.

When storing the above-mentioned received information in a memory function, there is a case where the image information and the control information are divided and stored in separate files. When creating a separate file in this way, if there is control information after connecting the line, create a control file immediately, and then receive image information and create an image information file. When it takes time to create the control file, the communication time with the other party becomes longer and the cost becomes higher. Therefore, a temporary memory for temporarily storing the received information is provided, and after connecting the line, the control information is stored in the temporary control information memory, and then the image information is stored in the temporary image information memory, and then the line is disconnected. Subsequently, a system has been proposed in which a regular control file and an image information file are created based on each temporary memory.

[0004]

However, in a facsimile apparatus which creates each file based on a temporary memory after a line is disconnected, for example, when performing relay communication, when a power supply is turned off for some reason during reception, a control file is not stored. Can not be created, when the power is turned on again, how to process the image information received so far,
That is, it is impossible to determine whether to transmit to another party or simply print out. In some cases, even the reception of image information cannot be recognized. Therefore,
The present invention solves the above-mentioned problem, and proposes a facsimile apparatus capable of printing out image information received so far even when power is turned off during reception and control information cannot be confirmed. It is.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the present invention, there is provided image information including parameters such as page information and resolution, and received information comprising control information such as relay communication information and multi-copy information. Temporary storage means for temporarily storing the image information, initial state determination means for determining the storage state of the image information and control information in the temporary storage means after power-on, and initial state determination means When it is determined that the included parameter is completely stored, the control unit includes a print control file creation unit that creates a print control file of image information from the parameter, even if the power is turned off during reception,
When image information is stored, the image information can be printed out.

[0006]

In the case of memory reception, the received information is temporarily stored in the temporary storage means 2 (FIG. 1). After the line is disconnected, a control file is created by the control file creating means 3 based on the stored reception information. Subsequently, image information linked to the control information in the control file is created by the image information file creating means 4. Stored in a regular image information file. The image information in the image information file is subjected to processes such as relay transmission and printout of a plurality of copies based on the relay communication information and the multi-copy information in the control file. If the power is turned off during such a receiving process, the received information remains stored in the temporary storage means 2.

When the power is turned on, the initial state determining means 5 determines whether the received information in the temporary storage means 2 is valid, that is, whether the parameters necessary for printing out the image information are stored. You.
If the received information is valid, that is, if parameters necessary for printout are stored, a print control file is created by the print control file creating means 6 based on these parameters. Subsequently, the image information in the temporary storage means 2 is stored in the regular image information file by the image information file creating means 4. Thereby, the image information can be printed out.

[0008]

Next, an example of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing functions of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a transmitting / receiving means, which is connected to a communication line such as a telephone line. Reference numeral 2 denotes a non-volatile temporary storage unit for temporarily storing received information, and a memory such as a RAM is used, for example. This temporary storage means 2 is a temporary control information memory 2
a and a temporary image information memory 2b. Reference numeral 3 denotes a control file creating means for creating a control file from the control information in the received information stored in the temporary control information memory 2a.

Reference numeral 4 denotes an image information file creating means for linking the control file created by the control file creating means 3 with the corresponding image information and storing it in a regular image information file. Reference numeral 5 denotes an initial state determining means for determining the storage state in the temporary control information memory 2a and the temporary image information memory 2b when the power is turned on. Reference numeral 6 denotes a print control file creation unit that creates parameters necessary for printout, such as page information and resolution, from the image information stored in the temporary image information memory 2b as a control file.

The above-mentioned plurality of means constitute a part of the reception control means 10 shown in FIG. In FIG.
Denotes a CPU for managing reception control, 12 denotes a ROM in which various control programs such as a reception program are stored, and 13 denotes a RAM in which image information to be transmitted is stored. The image information read by the image reading unit 14
, And then supplied to a modem and a network control circuit (NCU) 16 functioning as a transmitting / receiving means.

The image information input from the communication line is stored in the RAM 13 via the modem and the NCU 16 and then supplied to the recording unit 18 functioning as a printer via the interface 17 to record the contents. The telephone number or the like of the transmission destination is displayed by being supplied to the display unit 20 via the interface 19. A plurality of keys (not shown) are provided on the operation unit 21 provided in the facsimile apparatus. When these keys are operated, the contents thereof are transmitted to the CP via the interface 22.
It is taken in by U11.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a reception processing flow 30 for performing the above-described reception processing and the like. First, when the communication line between the calling terminal and the called terminal (the terminal according to the present invention) is connected (step 31), the information in the reception information is stored in the temporary storage means 2 and the reception is performed. It is determined whether the information is received in the memory (relay communication, proxy reception, or the like) (step 32). When the received information includes the control information such as the relay communication described above, or when there is no received paper at the called terminal, the result is affirmative.
If the control information is not included in the reception information and the reception paper is also set, the result is negative.

In the case of memory reception, the memory 2b of the temporary storage means 2 is opened (step 33),
After the image information is stored in the memory 2b (step 3
4), the temporary storage means 2 is closed (step 35). When the temporary storage means 2 is opened in step 33, a file name is determined corresponding to the image information, and the file name is sequentially stored in a predetermined area of the nonvolatile memory. The file name used here is not set by the operator to identify a plurality of files, but is automatically added when the memory is opened. The file name is created based on the serial number and the file type, that is, information indicating the distinction between the control file and the image information file. The file name is set to a fixed length, and a storage area for storing (n + 1) file names is secured as a storage area. However, no file name is stored in the last storage column, and it is always empty. Information indicating that there is no file name is stored in the storage column having no file name. When the temporary storage means 2 is closed in step 35, the file name is deleted from the file name storage column.

When storage of the received information is completed, an MCF signal (message confirmation signal) is transmitted from the called terminal to the communication line via the transmitting / receiving means 1, and the communication line is transmitted by a DCN signal (line disconnection signal) from the calling terminal. Is disconnected (step 36). Next, the control file is opened by the control file creation means 3 (step 37), and the control information (address in relay communication, whether or not to print, etc.) stored in the temporary control information memory 2a is stored in the control file. It is written (step 38). When the control file is opened in step 37, a new file name is determined corresponding to the control information and the image information, respectively, and the control file name is stored in the storage area.

Subsequently, the image information file in the temporary image information memory 2b corresponding to the above-mentioned control file is linked to a regular image information file (step 39).
As the image information file name, the file name determined in step 37 is used. Then, the control file is closed (step 40), and then the image information and the control information in the temporary storage means 2 are deleted (step 41), and the receiving process ends. When the file is closed in step 40, the file name in the file name storage column is deleted. If it is determined in step 32 that the received image information is not a memory reception, the received image information is directly printed out by the printer (step 42).

The procedure described above (steps 31 to 42) is for the case where the reception processing has been performed normally. On the other hand, if the power is turned off during the receiving process, for example, if the power is turned off near step 37, the control file and the image information file are not created, and the received information is stored in the temporary storage unit 2 as it is. It remains stored. When the power is turned on, the following initial processing is performed.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show an initial processing flow 5.
An example of 0 is shown. First, a reading pointer is set in the first storage column of the file name storage area in FIG. 4 (step 51). Next, information is read from the first storage column in which the pointer of the file name storage area is set (step 52), and it is determined whether the information has a specific file name (step 53). . If there is a specific file name, it is determined from the information indicating the file type in the file name whether or not the file is a regular control file (step 54). Here, it is determined that the control file is a legitimate control file when the power is turned off during steps 37 to 40 in FIG. 3 and it is not known whether all the control information is stored in the control file. Therefore, when the file name is determined to be a legitimate control file, the control file may not be completely created yet, and the control file and the image information file corresponding to the file name are deleted (step 5
5).

Next, the pointer set in the first storage column in step 51 is set in the second storage column (step 56). Subsequently, the processing after step 52 is performed. The processing from step 52 to step 56 is repeated as long as there is a file name. If the file name is determined to be an image information file in step 54, the image information file corresponding to the file name is left as it is, and the processing from step 56 is performed. And
When the processing is completed for all the file names stored in the storage section, it is determined in the step 53 that there is no specific file name in the next storage section, and all the file names in the file name storage area are deleted as shown in FIG. (Step 5
7).

Next, it is checked whether the image information remaining without being erased in the temporary image information memory 2b of the temporary storage means 2 is valid or invalid (step 58). Whether it is valid or invalid is checked based on parameters for printout, that is, whether page information and resolution information are stored. Next, it is determined whether or not the image information is valid (step 59). If the image information is valid, the print control file of the print control file creating means 6 is opened (step 60). At this time, step 37
The file name is determined in the same manner as described above, and this file name is stored in the file name storage area.

Then, the parameters and the information of one copy are written in the print control file (step 61), and the image information in the temporary storage means 2 is linked to the regular information file (step 61). Step 6
2). A file name corresponding to the print control file name is also determined for this image information. Next, the print control file 6 is closed (step 63), the image information in the temporary storage means 2 is deleted (step 64), and the initial processing ends. In step 63, the file name of the storage area is deleted. by this,
The image information in the image information file can be printed out based on the parameters in the print control file. If it is determined in step 59 that the image information is invalid, that is, if some of the print parameters are missing, the process of step 64 is performed next. The print control file is detected by an appropriate detection unit, and if there is a file, information indicating the presence of the file is displayed on the display unit 20. The operator sees this display, recognizes that the image information in the middle of the reception process is stored, and prints out the image information by operating a printout switch or the like provided on the operation unit 21. .

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention, the reception information is temporarily stored in the temporary storage memory, and the image information is stored in the temporary storage memory when the power is turned off during the reception. When the power is turned on, a control file for printout is created based on the image information. Therefore, according to the present invention, in communication control in which printout is not performed by the terminal itself, such as relay communication, even if the power is turned off for some reason during reception, image information is printed out from where There are effects such as being able to know whether the message has been transmitted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system diagram of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating processing of received information in the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an initial process in the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating initial processing in the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Transmission / reception means 2 Temporary storage means 5 Initial state judgment means 6 Print control file creation means

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A nonvolatile temporary storage unit for temporarily storing image information including parameters such as page information and resolution, and reception information including control information such as relay communication information and multi-copy information; Then, when the initial state determining means determines that the parameters included in the image information are completely stored, the initial state determining means determines the storage state of the image information in the temporary storage means. A print control file creating means for creating a print control file of image information from
A facsimile apparatus characterized in that even if the power is turned off during reception, if image information is stored, the image information can be printed out.