JP3005412B2 - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is capable of receiving document information managed by a computer device via an interface, transmitting the received document information directly to a remote facsimile machine, etc. The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus that can print out information in its own recording unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A facsimile apparatus is a means for electrically transmitting document information to a remote place using a telephone line or the like.
The basic configuration is that original information is read by a digital scanner using a CD or the like, encoded, compressed, and transmitted. However, recently, facsimile boards and the like for directly facsimile transmitting document information created by computer devices such as personal computers and word processors have been developed, and interfaces between these computer devices, facsimile boards, and facsimile devices have been standardized. (EIA Standard Class
1, 2, etc.). Accordingly, general-purpose facsimile communication application software conforming to these standard interfaces has been supplied.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned general-purpose application, a transmitting function for directly transmitting document information created by a computer device to a partner facsimile via a facsimile device connected by an interface, and a facsimile device of a partner station are provided. Only the function of receiving the document information sent from the computer into the memory of the computer device is supported. That is, a print output function of directly printing out document information created by a computer device by a facsimile device connected via an interface is not supported.

A communication control method for a personal computer / facsimile disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-249560 (H04N1 / 32) or a facsimile apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-249560 (H04N 1/00) As a local operation or a remote print mode, image data held by a personal computer can be printed on a recording unit of a facsimile machine.

[0005] However, in the above-mentioned conventional technique, a computer apparatus gives a specific control command to a facsimile apparatus to perform the print control. Therefore, software for realizing this control is required. Therefore, existing general-purpose application software cannot be used as it is.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the recording unit of a facsimile apparatus is used even when existing general-purpose application software that does not support a function of directly printing out original information created by a computer apparatus by a facsimile apparatus is used. An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus capable of performing print output by using the facsimile apparatus.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A facsimile apparatus according to the present invention includes an interface for enabling connection with a computer, and connects to a partner station based on destination telephone number data sent from the computer. Receiving the data sent from the computer device and transmitting a signal corresponding to the data to the partner station, and receiving a signal transmitted from the partner station and transmitting a signal corresponding to the signal to the computer device. In a facsimile apparatus configured to transmit data held by the computer device to a partner station, a means for holding own station identification number data, and a destination telephone number data sent from the computer device Determining means for determining whether or not the data matches the own station identification number data;
If the discriminating means determines that the two data do not match, the data held by the computer device is transmitted to the partner station of the telephone number, and if it is determined that the two data match, Control means for responding to the computer device as if it were performing transmission processing to the other party, and controlling the data sent from the computer device by this response to be printed out by the recording unit. It is characterized by the following.

[0008]

According to the above configuration, the general-purpose facsimile communication application software is started on the computer device, and the self-station identification number registered in advance is input by the input operation of the destination telephone number in the file transmission sequence. The facsimile device determines the above, and in this case, obtains data from the computer device on the above-mentioned general-purpose software by responding to the computer device as if it is performing transmission processing to the destination. be able to. Then, printing is performed in the recording unit based on the obtained data.

That is, there is no need to change the existing general-purpose facsimile communication application software at all, and the file information held by the computer device can be printed out at the recording unit of the facsimile device using the software as it is. Of course, by inputting a number other than the own station identification number (the other party's telephone number), a file transmission process to the other party is executed.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on its embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a facsimile apparatus 20 of the present invention and a personal computer 21 connected thereto.

The personal computer 21 has a CPU
1, display control unit 2, input operation unit 3, disk control unit 4,
And an interface unit 5. The disk control unit 4 reads out general-purpose facsimile communication application software from a disk (not shown),
Runs the software. When this software is executed, the display control unit 2 displays a screen requesting a transmission destination input and a transmission information selection input. The operator can use the input operation unit 3 to specify a destination telephone number, file information to be transmitted, and the like. The specified file information is converted into image data by the above-mentioned software, and further encoded such as MH and MR. The compressed image data (hereinafter, simply referred to as image information data) is output from the interface unit 5 to the facsimile apparatus 20 according to a facsimile communication protocol executed by the software.

Next, the configuration of the facsimile machine 20 will be described.

The interface section 6 is connected to the interface section 5 described above, whereby the personal computer 21 and the facsimile apparatus 20 are connected. The facsimile device 20 is configured to respond to the facsimile communication protocol executed by the personal computer 21 through the interface unit 6 and to communicate with the destination facsimile device according to its own facsimile communication protocol.

The own station telephone number is registered in the own station number registration memory 7 in advance. The number to be registered is not limited to the local telephone number, and may be any arbitrary number as long as the number does not overlap with the other party's telephone number.

The judgment control unit 8 collates the own number information from the own number registration memory 7 with information from the personal computer 21 (telephone number data) input through the interface unit 6, It determines whether the two match or not, and outputs the result to the first selector unit 9 and the second selector unit 10. In addition, the determination control unit 8 controls the normal facsimile transmission and reception, and controls each circuit unit so as to perform a file print process described later when a match result is obtained in the above-described collation.

The first selector section 9 selects and outputs information from the personal computer 21 input through the interface section 6 to either the second selector section 10 or the encoding section 12. This selection is performed by a determination signal from the determination control unit 8. If the determination signal indicates a match, the second selector unit 10 is selected. Choose the side.

The second selector section 10 includes a first selector section 9
From the personal computer 21 and information from the destination facsimile apparatus input via the telephone line from the modem unit 13 and select one of them to decode the data. Output to The selection is performed by a signal from the determination control unit 8, and if this signal indicates a match, the first selector unit 9 is selected,
If the signal indicates a mismatch, the modulation / demodulation unit 13 is selected.

The decoding section 11 outputs image information data from the personal computer 21 output from the second selector section 10 or image information from a destination facsimile apparatus input via a telephone line from the modem section 13. The data is decrypted and output to the recording unit 14.

The recording unit 14 executes printout based on the decoded image information (image information).

The reading section 15 reads document information by a digital scanner using a CCD or the like, and outputs the read image information to the encoding section 12.

The encoding section 12 is provided with the first selector section 9 described above.
, And encodes and compresses file image information from the personal computer 21 or original image information from the reading unit 15, and outputs the image information data to the modem unit 13. In this embodiment, since the already compressed image information data is input from the personal computer 21, it may be output to the modulation / demodulation unit 13 as it is.

The modulation / demodulation unit 13 modulates the image information data from the encoding unit 12 into a signal suitable for a telephone line.
The modulation signal from the telephone line is demodulated and output to the second selector unit 10.

Next, the operation of the facsimile computer system configured as described above will be described.

FIG. 2 shows how a normal file transmission process is executed in the original file transmission sequence by the general-purpose facsimile communication application software in relation to the personal computer 21, the own facsimile machine 20, and the destination facsimile machine. 3 is a time chart shown in FIG.

The operator inputs destination information using the input operation unit 3, selects a file to be transmitted, and presses an execution key. Then, the destination information is transmitted from the interface unit 5 of the personal computer 21 to a dial. It is sent to the facsimile machine 20 as a command (101) and dial information (102).

In the facsimile machine 20, the judgment control unit 8
The dial information (102) is compared with its own telephone number. Here, since a case is shown in which a normal file transmission process is executed, the subsequent process will be described on the assumption that a mismatch result is obtained in the above collation.

If it is determined that they do not match as a result of the comparison, a circuit for sending information from the personal computer 21 to the encoding unit 12 is configured. Further, dialing (301) is performed on the telephone network (switch). The telephone network receives the dialing and calls the other party's facsimile by a calling signal.

Upon detecting the call signal, the other party's facsimile apparatus connects to the telephone line and transmits a facsimile apparatus capability disclosure signal (401) indicating its own apparatus capability to the telephone line.
Send

The above facsimile apparatus capability disclosure signal (4
The facsimile machine 20 that has received (01) extracts necessary information and sets it as facsimile machine capability information (201) and sends it to the personal computer 21 via the interface units 6 and 5.

The personal computer 21 refers to the facsimile apparatus capability information (201) to generate control information for document information to be transmitted, and transmits this to the facsimile apparatus 20 as a transmission request command (103).

The facsimile machine 20 extracts necessary information from the transmission request command (103), converts it into a transmission request signal (302) conforming to the facsimile protocol, and transmits this to the partner facsimile machine. At the same time, the execution confirmation response signal (203) for the transmission request command (103) is sent to the personal computer 21.
Is transmitted.

After receiving the execution confirmation response signal, the personal computer 21 transmits a line diagnosis command (104) for confirming the state of the telephone line to the facsimile machine 20.

When the facsimile machine 20 receives the above-mentioned line diagnosis command (104), it transmits a line diagnosis signal (303) conforming to the facsimile protocol to the partner facsimile machine.

When the other party's facsimile apparatus can normally receive the above-mentioned line diagnosis signal (303), it transmits a line diagnosis response signal (402) to the facsimile apparatus 20.

The facsimile apparatus 20 transmits the line diagnosis response information (204) to the personal computer 21 after receiving the line diagnosis response signal (402).

The personal computer 21 confirms the line diagnosis response information (204) and checks the image information data (1).
05) to the facsimile machine 20.

The facsimile machine 20 transmits the image information data (105) to the partner facsimile machine as an image information data signal (304).

The other party's facsimile converts the sequentially transmitted image information data signal (304) into an image and prints it out (in a facsimile or the like having a memory or the like, once the image information data has been received, It may be printed out).

When the transmission of the image information for one page is completed, the facsimile machine 20 confirms the end of the page with an acknowledgment signal (2
05) to the personal computer 21.

The personal computer 21 confirms the acknowledgment signal (205), and transmits the page end command (106) to the facsimile apparatus 20 when all the image information data has been transmitted.

The facsimile machine 20 receives the page end signal (30) based on the page end command (106).
5) is generated and transmitted to the other party facsimile machine.

When the other party's facsimile apparatus has confirmed the page end signal (305), the page end confirmation signal (4)
03) is returned.

When the facsimile apparatus 20 receives the page end confirmation signal (403), it transmits this to the personal computer 21.

The personal computer 21 transmits a line disconnection command (107) for terminating the transmission to the facsimile machine 20.

The facsimile machine 20 transmits a line disconnection signal (306) to the partner facsimile machine,
An acknowledgment signal (208) indicating that the line has been disconnected is transmitted to the personal computer 21, and a series of transmission operations is completed.

(File Print Processing) Next, control for printing out the file information held by the personal computer 21 by the recording unit 14 of the facsimile apparatus 20 will be described.

FIG. 3 is a time chart showing the contents of the control in the relationship between the personal computer 21 and the facsimile apparatus 20. Since the general-purpose facsimile communication application software is used as it is, the file transmission shown in FIG. The response relationship between the personal computer 21 and the facsimile machine 20 in the sequence is maintained.

In order to execute the file print processing, the same number as the telephone number of the own station registered in advance is input instead of inputting the telephone number of the other party. The personal computer 21 treats the input own telephone number as the telephone number of the other party, and sets the dial information (10
2) will be output.

The facsimile apparatus 20 collates the dial information (102) with its own telephone number by the judgment control unit 8, and obtains a result of the coincidence in the collation. Judgment control unit 8
From the first and second selector units 9,
When the information is input to the decoder 10, the switching operation of the first and second selectors 9 and 10 forms a circuit for inputting the information from the interface 6 to the decoder 11.
Of course, at this time, dialing to the telephone network is not performed.

On the other hand, for the personal computer 21, the same processing as performed in the normal file transmission processing is performed. However, since dialing to the telephone network is not performed and there is no facsimile machine of the other party, various commands from the personal computer 21 are output to the telephone line without outputting corresponding signals to the telephone line. Acknowledgment of personal computer 2
Perform for 1

The facsimile machine capability information (20
With regard to 1), information on the capability of the own station apparatus is used, and a dummy signal is generated and transmitted to the personal computer 21 for the line diagnosis response information (204) to the line diagnosis command.

When the transmission request command (103) is sent from the personal computer 21, necessary information is extracted from the command to prepare for printing, and when the image information data (105) is transmitted from the personal computer 21. The image is converted by the decoding unit 11 and output to the recording unit 14. The recording unit 14 performs a printing operation based on the image information obtained by the image conversion, and performs a print output. In the case where a memory or the like is provided, the printout may be performed after the image information data is once received.

The page end confirmation information (207) in response to the page end confirmation signal (403) from the other party's facsimile machine includes the line diagnosis response information (20).
As in 4), a dummy signal is generated and transmitted to the personal computer 21, and then the line disconnection processing is executed, whereby the file print processing ends.

As described above, the general-purpose facsimile communication application software is started on the personal computer 21 and the user's own telephone number registered in advance is input by inputting the destination telephone number in the file transmission sequence. Thus, the facsimile machine 20 determines this. In this case, the personal computer 21 responds to the personal computer 21 as if it is performing transmission processing to the other party. Image information data can be obtained. Then, based on the obtained image information data, printing is performed in the recording unit 14.

That is, there is no need to change the existing general-purpose facsimile communication application software at all, and the file information held by the personal computer 21 is stored in the recording unit 1 of the facsimile apparatus 20 using the software as it is.
4 to print out. Of course, if a number other than the own station telephone number (the other party's telephone number) is input, a file transmission process to the other party is executed.

In this embodiment, the personal computer 2
Since the image information data sent from 1 is compressed, the data transmission / reception time between the personal computer and the facsimile apparatus is reduced. Although data transmission / reception can be performed using character codes, by using image information as in the present embodiment, there is no need to have special font data for printing on the facsimile machine side, and the cost of the entire system is reduced. Reduction can be achieved.

When the image information data sent from the personal computer 21 is compressed as in the present embodiment, it is not necessary to pass the compressed image information data through the encoding unit 12; In the case of decoding and re-encoding, for example, it is necessary to pass through the encoding unit 12 described above. In this re-encoding, for example, general-purpose facsimile communication application software supports only MH and MR coding, the facsimile apparatus 20 supports MMR coding, and the partner facsimile apparatus also supports MMR coding. If the transmission request command (103)
Even if the encoding is requested, the facsimile machine 20 informs the destination facsimile machine that the transmission is to be performed by the MMR coding in the transmission request signal (302), and the MR-encoded image transmitted from the personal computer 21 is transmitted. It is conceivable that the information data is decoded once, coded again into the MMR, and transmitted to the other party facsimile machine.

[0059]

As described above, according to the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, the existing general-purpose application software which does not support the function of directly printing out the original information created by the computer apparatus by the facsimile apparatus is used. It is possible to print directly on the recording unit of the facsimile machine.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a facsimile apparatus of the present invention and a computer connected to the facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a time chart showing a basic transmission sequence.

FIG. 3 is a time chart showing a file print sequence of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 CPU 2 Display control unit 3 Input operation unit 4 Disk control unit 5 Interface unit (personal computer side) 6 Interface unit (facsimile apparatus side) 7 Own station number registration memory 8 Judgment control unit 9 First selector unit 10 Second selector unit DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Decoding part 12 Encoding part 13 Modulation / demodulation part 14 Recording part 15 Reading part 20 Facsimile apparatus 21 Personal computer

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An interface for enabling connection with a computer device; connecting to a partner station based on destination telephone number data transmitted from the computer device; and transmitting data transmitted from the computer device. The received signal is transmitted to the partner station, and the signal transmitted from the partner station is received and the corresponding signal is transmitted to the computer device. In a facsimile apparatus configured to transmit to a partner station, means for holding own station identification number data, and whether the other party telephone number data sent from the computer device matches the own station identification number data Determination means for determining whether or not the two data do not match if the determination means determines that the two data do not match; The data held by the computer device is transmitted to the partner station of the telephone number of the telephone number, and if it is determined that the two data match, it is as if the computer device is performing transmission processing to the partner device. And a control means for controlling the recording unit to print out the data sent from the computer device in response to the response.