JP3059182B2 - Image communication apparatus and image communication method - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile communication system, and more particularly, to a facsimile device that wants to transmit information or a facsimile device that wants to collect information. The present invention relates to a broadcasting / collection system of a facsimile apparatus in which transmission is possible by designating specified facsimile apparatuses.

In recent years, with the development of the information society, the spread of facsimile machines has been remarkable, especially within each company, a facsimile machine of each company has formed a communication network,
We are trying to improve the efficiency of information transmission.

By the way, the facsimile apparatus has a broadcast function for transmitting information from one facsimile apparatus to a plurality of facsimile apparatuses, and a concentrating function for collecting information by polling from one facsimile apparatus to a plurality of facsimile apparatuses. Have been.

However, at the time of broadcasting, all the same information is transmitted to a plurality of receiving-side facsimile apparatuses, but the receiving-side facsimile apparatuses often require different contents of required information. The information is also received by the receiving facsimile machine.

Also, at the time of collection, there are facsimile apparatuses having information to be transmitted to another facsimile apparatus as well as information to be transmitted to one facsimile apparatus on the collection side, but information to be transmitted to the other facsimile apparatus is transmitted. I can't do it.

Therefore, in order to increase the efficiency of information transmission, it is necessary to eliminate the above disadvantages.

[Conventional technology]

 FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of the prior art.

FIG. 5A is a diagram for explaining the operation at the time of broadcasting, and shows a case where the facsimile apparatus 1 installed at the center transmits information to a plurality of facsimile apparatuses 2 to 6.

When the operator of the facsimile machine 1 sets the original in the facsimile machine 1 and instructs the broadcast, the facsimile machine 1 first dials the telephone number of the facsimile machine 2 to call it, and when the communication line is established, the original is transmitted. When the transmission is completed, the telephone number of the facsimile machine 3 is dialed for calling, a communication line is established, and the original is transmitted.

As described above, the facsimile machine 1 instructed to broadcast
Automatically automatically and sequentially transmits the set originals to the facsimile apparatuses 4, 5, and 6, respectively. Therefore, all the same originals are transmitted to the facsimile apparatuses 2 to 6, respectively.

FIG. 5 (b) is a diagram for explaining the operation at the time of data collection, and shows a case where the facsimile machine 1 installed at the center collects information from a plurality of facsimile machines 2 to 6.

Facsimile machine 1 instructed by the operator to collect data
Dials the telephone number of the facsimile apparatus 2 to call, and checks in the pre-procedure whether or not polling reception is possible.

When a document is set in the facsimile device 2 and a polling transmission reservation is made, the facsimile device 2 transmits the document in response to a call from the facsimile device 1. When the facsimile machine 1 has received the original transmitted by the facsimile machine 2, it dials the telephone number of the facsimile machine 3 and calls it, and checks in the pre-procedure whether or not polling reception is possible.

For example, if no document is set in the facsimile machine 3 and polling transmission is not reserved,
Since the facsimile apparatus 1 determines that polling reception is not possible, communication is not established, and the facsimile apparatus 1 subsequently dials the telephone number of the facsimile apparatus 4 and calls it. Check.

If polling transmission is reserved in the facsimile machine 4, the original is transmitted in the same manner as described above, and upon completion of transmission,
The facsimile machine 1 calls the next facsimile machine 5.

If polling transmission reservation is not made in the facsimile device 5, communication is not established in the same manner as described above, and the facsimile device 1 calls the next facsimile device 6, and if polling transmission reservation is made in the facsimile device 6, document transmission is performed. Is performed.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

As described with reference to FIG. 5 (a), at the time of broadcasting, the facsimile apparatus 1 transmits the automatically set original to the facsimile apparatuses 2 to 6. Therefore, even if there are a plurality of pages of a document and it is desired to transmit to a different facsimile apparatus for each page, all the pages are transmitted to the facsimile apparatuses 2 to 6, so that the facsimile apparatuses 2 to 6 Unnecessary documents need to be received, which requires extra time, which causes a problem that the information transmission efficiency in the facsimile communication system is reduced.

As described with reference to FIG. 5 (b), at the time of reception, the facsimile apparatus 1 can collect information from the other facsimile apparatuses 2 to 6, but information is collected between the facsimile apparatuses 2 to 6. Can not do. Therefore,
For example, even if there is a document that the facsimile device 6 wants to transmit to the facsimile device 5, the document cannot be transmitted, so that there is a problem that the information transmission efficiency in the facsimile communication system is reduced as described above.

In view of such a problem, the present invention connects a plurality of facsimile machines in a loop, specifies and transmits a facsimile machine that requires information reception, and the specified facsimile machine receives the specified information. By doing so, the purpose is to increase the information transmission efficiency.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 includes a receiving unit for receiving an identification code that pairs a transfer destination address and a page number and image data from a transmission source. Storage means for temporarily storing the identification code and the image data; output means for recording the image data corresponding to the page number of the transfer destination address indicating the own station; A configuration including a code and a transfer unit for transmitting the image data is adopted.

Further, according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, a second storage means for storing an additional page number corresponding to the transfer destination address and additional image data corresponding to the additional page number; Control means for adding the additional page number to the page number corresponding to the transfer destination address and adding the additional image data to the image data.

Further, the invention according to claim 3 is configured to receive an identification code corresponding to a transfer destination address and a page number and image data from a transmission source, temporarily store the identification code, and temporarily store the image data. The image data corresponding to the page number is recorded and output, and the identification code and the image data are transmitted to the transfer destination address.

Further, in the invention according to claim 4, in the invention according to claim 3, an additional page number corresponding to the transfer destination address and additional image data corresponding to the additional page number are stored.
The additional page number is added to the page number corresponding to the transfer destination address of the identification code, and the additional image data is added to the image data and transmitted.

[Operation] As described above, the identification code and the image data corresponding to the transfer destination address and the page number are received and temporarily stored, and after the image data addressed to the own station is output, the image data is transferred to the transfer destination address, so that the transmission is performed. Since the work can be executed in a distributed manner by a plurality of terminals and only the traffic of the specific terminal does not increase, transmission of the same image data to a plurality of locations can be executed extremely efficiently. In particular, when the transmission device serving as the starting point is a subscriber of a toll station, and the transmission destination and transfer destination are subscribers of a city station, the communication cost can be reduced.

Further, since the transfer destination address and the page number to be output are paired, a different facsimile apparatus can be designated and transmitted for each page.

Further, when there is additional data at the transmission destination, the additional data can be transmitted by the same call as the transfer of the received image data, and both communication efficiency and work efficiency are improved.

Embodiment FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a circuit showing one embodiment of the present invention.

When transmitting and receiving a manuscript one-on-one, the processor 10
When a program stored in M11 is read and operated to transmit a document, the network control unit 18 is controlled and dialed based on the telephone number specified by the operator, a facsimile machine is called, and a communication line is established. .

Then, the document set in the reading section 13 is read and the RA
Once stored in M12 and read out, the compression / decompression unit 15
The data read from is compressed. Then, the compressed data is temporarily stored in the RAM 12 and then read out, transmitted to the modem 17 via the input / output port 16, converted into digital data from analog data, and transmitted to the facsimile machine via the network control unit 18.

When the network control unit 18 is called and responds and establishes a communication line, and receives data from the other party's facsimile machine, the modem 17 converts the analog data into digital data and sends it to the RAM 12 via the input / output port 16. Once stored and read, the data compressed and transmitted by the compression / decompression unit 15 is decompressed. Then, the data is temporarily stored in the RAM 12, read out, and sent to the recording unit 14 to be printed on recording paper.

In the case of performing the broadcast, the operator of the facsimile machine as a starting point, from the operation panel, the destination address of the facsimile machine to be transmitted, that is, the telephone number, and the number of the data to be received by the facsimile machine of the destination, that is, After inputting the page number of the manuscript, the manuscript of a plurality of pages is set in the reading unit 13 and a broadcast is instructed. Upon receiving this instruction, the processor 10 chains a plurality of pages of the document read by the reading unit 13 for each page and stores the document in the RAM 12.

Then, the identification code described with reference to FIG. 1C is created from the address specified by the operator and the page number, and the network control unit 18 is controlled to establish the communication line as described above. Following the identification code, data of a plurality of pages is transmitted to the partner facsimile machine. When the transmission is completed, the network controller 18 is controlled to be hooked on to disconnect the communication line.

The network control unit 18 called from the calling facsimile machine
Establishes a communication line, and receives data of a plurality of pages obtained by reading the document following the identification code.
A plurality of pages of data are sequentially chained and stored in M12, and a number for designating a page of a document to be received is checked from the identification code expanded and stored in RAM 12 as described above, and the specified page is expanded. The read data is read from the RAM 12 and sent to the recording unit 1 for printing.

Then, based on the content of the identification code, the address of the destination facsimile machine to be transmitted and the N
Check o., delete the data of the page of No. that does not need to be sent, and prepare for sending.

In this way, when the reception is completed, the network control unit 18 is controlled to hook on to disconnect the communication line, and then check whether there is a document to be transmitted. If there is a document to be transmitted, the facsimile designated with the identification code is used. N of data to be received by the device
The number indicating the page of the additional document is recorded in the column of o. The data of the additional document page is added to this identification code and transmitted. If there is no original to be transmitted, the data of the page of No. to be transmitted prepared for transmission is added to the identification code and transmitted.

Then, when the transmission is completed, the network controller 18 is controlled to be hooked on and the communication line is disconnected.

In addition, when collecting a call, the operator of the facsimile machine as a starting point inputs a destination address of the facsimile machine performing polling reception, that is, a telephone number from the operation panel, and then instructs the call collection. The processor 10 receiving this instruction creates an identification code based on the address designated by the operator, and stores the identification code in the RAM 12.

When the destination facsimile apparatus to be transmitted is recognized from the identification code stored in the RAM 12, the network control unit 18 is controlled to establish the communication line as described above, and the compressed identification code is transmitted to the other party facsimile apparatus as described above. . And
When the transmission is completed, the network controller 18 is hooked on to disconnect the communication line.

The network control unit 18 called from the calling facsimile machine
Establishes a communication line, and when the identification code is received, the processor 10 checks whether there is a document to be transmitted, and if there is a document to be transmitted, the processor 10 checks the address of the facsimile machine to be transmitted corresponding to the received identification code. Subsequently, the number indicating the page of the original to be transmitted is recorded in the column of the number of the data to be received by the facsimile apparatus, added to this identification code, and the data of the page of the original to be transmitted is transmitted.

If there is no original to be transmitted, the received identification code is transmitted as it is. Other operations are the same as in the broadcast.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of FIG.

The processor 10 checks in step whether the transmission has been instructed. If the transmission has not been instructed, the processor 10 proceeds in step to the network controller 18.
Find out if there is an incoming call. If the incoming call is not detected in the step, the process returns to the step, and if the transmission is instructed, the reading unit 13 is instructed to read the original in the step.

Then, in step S5, the network controller 18 is instructed to make a call, and when the communication line is established, the data is transmitted as described above in step S2. Then, it is checked in step whether transmission is completed. If not completed, the process proceeds to step. If completed, the network control unit 18 is controlled, the hook is turned on in step, the communication line is disconnected, and the process proceeds to step.

When an incoming call is detected in the step, the processor 10 receives the data of one page of the document in the step and stores the data in the RAM 12 as described above. Then, in a step, it is checked whether or not the content of this page is an identification code.

If it is an identification code, a check is made in step to determine whether broadcast or collection has ended. That is, if the last address of the identification code is the address of the own device, the end of the broadcast or the collection is completed, so the processing shifts to the step, and the network controller 18 is hooked on to disconnect the communication line.

If it is not the end of the broadcast or collection in the step, the number of the page to be printed in the step is saved in the RAM 12, and the number of the page to be transmitted to the subsequent facsimile machine is received in the step. N of data to be
Extract based on o. and save to RAM12.

Then, the address to be called is saved in the RAM 12 in the step, and the identification code is chained to the transmission queue terminal in the step in order to transmit the received identification code to the next facsimile machine.

When the content of the page received in the step is not an identification code, that is, when the page is a document page, the processor 10 checks whether or not printing is necessary in the step, and prints in the step if necessary in the content saved in the step. If printing is not necessary, the process proceeds to step S1 to check whether the page is a page to be transmitted to the subsequent facsimile machine.

That is, the page received only by the own device is deleted from the contents saved in the step, and the remaining pages, that is, the area of the RAM 12 storing the page to be transmitted in the step are chained to the transmission queue terminal.

Then, it is checked in step whether reception is completed. If not, the process proceeds to step S. If it is completed, the network controller 18 is hooked on in step S to disconnect the communication line.

Then, the step checks whether there is an additional document, and if polling transmission reservation has been made, the document is read in the step, the compressed data is chained to the transmission queue terminal, and the facsimile apparatus to which the identification code is to be transmitted in the step. The page number of the additional document is recorded in the field for recording the number of the data to be received by the facsimile apparatus following the address of the additional document.

The processor 10 makes a call to the next destination in the step, starts transmission in the step, monitors the end of the transmission in the step, and when the transmission is completed, makes the network control unit 18 hook on in the step to disconnect the communication line, and Return to the processing of.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an operation example of broadcasting and collecting of the present invention.

FIG. 4 (a) is an example of the operation at the time of broadcasting, where the facsimile apparatus at the origin is FAX1, FAX1 transmits No.1 and No.2 data to FAX2, and No.2 data to FAX3 and FAX4. At this time, FAX3 indicates that polling transmission reservation for transmitting No.3 data to FAX4 has been made.

The starting FAX ₁ adds No. 1 data and No. 2 data to the identification code A ₁ and transmits it to the FAX 2. Identification code A ₁ is as shown, No.1 and No.2 are designated as a symbol of the data to be received address and FAX2 of FAX2, subsequently, No as a symbol of the data to be received address and FAX3 of FAX3 .2 is specified, then No. 2 is specified as the address of FAX4 and the symbol of data to be received by FAX4, and then the address of FAX1 is recorded.

FAX2 examines the contents of the identification code A _1, data to be received is
Recognizing that it is No. 1 and No. 2 and that subsequent facsimile machines do not need No. 1 data,
When with printing a No.2 of data, it transmits the identification code A ₁ and No.2 data FAX3.

FAX3 the identification code A ₁ that has received, in order to specify that transmits data No.3 in FAX4, in the column of No. of data to be received in FAX4, and recorded by adding No.3, identification It is transmitted to FAX ₄ as code A2.

That is, the identification code A ₂ is as shown, the contents of No.1 and No.2 are designated as a symbol of the data to be received address and FAX2 of FAX2, followed FAX3 address and FAX3 should receive data No. 2 is specified as the symbol for FAX4
No. 2 as the address and the data symbol to be received by FAX4
And No. 3 are specified, and then the address of FAX 1 is specified.

No. 2 and No. 3 are assigned to the identification code A ₂ from FAX 3 to FAX 4.
Is added and transmitted.

With FAX4 prints the data from the contents of the received identification code A ₂ No.2 and No.3, recognizes that the transmission of data is not required for FAX1, transmits only the identification code A _2.

The FAX ₁ having received the identification code A2 determines that the broadcast has ended since the last address of the identification code is the address of the own device.

FIG. 4 (b) shows an operation example at the time of data collection. The facsimile apparatus at the starting point is FAX1 and is instructed to collect data from FAX2 to FAX4. This example shows a case where polling transmission reservation for transmitting No. 2 data to FAX 1 for data 1 is made.

FAX1 origin transmits the identification code A ₃ to FAX2. Identification code
As the contents of the A ₃ illustrates, address and FAX3 address and FAX4 address and FAX1 address of FAX2 is recorded.

The FAX2 because the document is not being polled transmission reservation, and transmits the identification code A ₃ directly to FAX3. FAX3 to the identification code A ₃ is received, and transmits the No.1 of data FAX4, to specify to send No.2 of data FAX1, in the column of No. of data to be received in FAX4 , No. 3 is added and recorded, and No.
2 Add the recorded and transmitted as the identification code A ₄ to FAX4.

That is, as the identification code A ₄ illustrates, the contents of the address of FAX2, the address of FAX3, the address of FAX4 FAX4
No. 1 is designated as the symbol of the data to be received, followed by No. 2 as the address of the fax 1 and the symbol of the data to be received by the fax 1.

Then, from FAX3 the FAX4, the No.1 on the identification code A ₄ No.2
Is added and transmitted.

FAX4 together with print data No.1 from the contents of the identification code A ₄ which received, recognizes that the FAX1 is necessary transmission of data No.2, identification code A ₄ and No.2 data Send

The FAX 1 receiving the identification code A _{4 determines} that the collection is completed because the last address of the identification code is the own device, and recognizes that the collected data is No. 2,
Have o.2 data printed.

[Effects of the Invention] As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, an identification code and a pair of image data and a destination address and a page number are received and temporarily stored, and the image data addressed to the own station is stored. By transmitting to the transfer destination address after outputting, the transmission work can be executed in a distributed manner by a plurality of terminals, and the traffic of only a specific terminal does not increase. It can be executed efficiently. In particular, when the transmission device serving as the starting point is a subscriber of a toll station, and the transmission destination and transfer destination are subscribers of a city station, the communication cost can be reduced.

Further, since the transfer destination address and the page number to be output are paired, a different facsimile apparatus can be designated and transmitted for each page.

Further, when there is additional data at the transmission destination, the additional data can be transmitted by the same call as the transfer of the received image data, and both communication efficiency and work efficiency are improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

 FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a circuit showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of FIG. 2, and FIG. And FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of the prior art. In the figure, 1 to 6 are facsimile machines, 7 is a transmission information creation unit, 8 is an information acquisition unit, 10 is a processor, 11 is a ROM, 12 is a RAM, 13 is a reading unit, 14 is a recording unit, and 15 is a compression / compression unit. A decompression unit, 16 is an input / output port, 17 is a modem, and 18 is a network control unit.

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A receiving means for receiving an identification code and a pair of a transfer destination address and a page number from a transmission source and image data; a storage means for temporarily storing the identification code and the image data; Output means for recording the image data corresponding to the page number of the transfer destination address shown, and transfer means for transmitting the identification code and the image data to the transfer destination address. Image communication device. A second storage means for storing an additional page number corresponding to the destination address and additional image data corresponding to the additional page number; and adding the additional code to the page number corresponding to the destination address of the identification code. 2. The image communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising control means for adding a page number and adding the additional image data to the image data. 3. An image processing apparatus receives an identification code and a pair of a transfer destination address and a page number from a transmission source and temporarily stores the identification data, and corresponds to the page number of the transfer destination address indicating its own station. An image communication method, comprising: recording and outputting the image data; and transmitting the identification code and the image data to the transfer destination address. 4. An additional page number corresponding to the transfer destination address and additional image data corresponding to the additional page number are stored, and the additional page number is added to the page number corresponding to the transfer destination address of the identification code. 4. The image communication method according to claim 3, wherein said additional image data is added to said image data and transmitted.