JP3085000B2 - Communication terminal device with storage function - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication terminal device, and more particularly to a communication terminal device having a function of temporarily storing image information and a storage function used by being connected to various communication lines or networks. It relates to a terminal device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a facsimile apparatus having an image memory for storing document information, a server connected to a network for storing various document information, and the like, have a function of temporarily storing image information. Various communication terminal devices have become widespread.

However, the storage capacity of the image memory is limited in terms of cost and space, and it is difficult to secure a sufficient storage capacity. For this reason, in many cases, the remaining memory capacity becomes insufficient during the storage of image information and the storage cannot be continued, and various improvements have been attempted to cope with such inconvenience.

For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 59-99874, a unique handshake with input means is performed to store image data in a facsimile apparatus in order to reliably transmit an image without overflowing the image memory. A technique has been proposed in which the storage of image information is prohibited or stopped when the remaining memory capacity of the image memory reaches a predetermined threshold.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, there is a problem that versatility is low because a unique handshake is required with the input means.

In the case where only a single threshold value for stopping the accumulation of image information is provided as in the above-mentioned prior art, image information having a capacity slightly exceeding the remaining capacity of the image memory is continuously output. There was a problem that transmission was not possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and to provide a timing at which the image memory becomes full even if image information having a capacity exceeding the remaining capacity of the image memory is input. An object of the present invention is to make it possible to collectively transmit a large amount of image information by delaying.

[0008]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image memory for storing image information,
Memory remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of memory in the image memory; storage control means for controlling the accumulation of image information in the image memory; discharge control means for controlling the discharge of image information from the image memory; Threshold value generating means for generating first, second and third threshold values (first threshold value> second threshold value> third threshold value) relating to the amount, and the discharge control when the remaining amount of memory reaches the first threshold value A discharge instructing means for instructing the means to discharge the image information, and instructing the accumulation control means to interrupt the accumulation when the remaining amount of memory reaches the second threshold, and restart the accumulation when the remaining amount exceeds the second threshold again. Storage suspend / resume instruction means for causing
It is characterized in that there is provided a storage stop instruction means for instructing the storage control means to stop the storage when the remaining amount of memory reaches the third threshold value.

[0009]

According to the configuration described above, when the remaining memory reaches the first threshold, the memory is discharged in parallel with the accumulation.
Thereafter, the difference between the read image information and the discharged image information is stored in the image memory, and the memory consumption speed is reduced. Further, when the remaining memory capacity reaches the second threshold, the accumulation is temporarily interrupted and only the ejection is performed, so that the remaining memory capacity of the image memory is restored. Therefore, the timing when the memory becomes full can be postponed, and the possibility that image information having a capacity exceeding the remaining amount of the image memory can be transmitted collectively is increased.

[0010]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the function of the present invention. According to the present invention, a threshold value (first threshold value) for performing discharge in parallel with accumulation and a reading speed (accumulation speed) are substantially reduced by intermittently performing interruption / resumption of accumulation. Is provided in addition to the threshold value (second threshold value) indicating the state in which storage is physically impossible (third threshold value), so that the timing at which the memory becomes full is greatly delayed. .

In FIG. 1, image information of a transmission original is stored in an image memory 3. The remaining memory detecting means 9 detects the remaining memory M of the image memory 3. Accumulation control means 5
1 controls accumulation of image information in the image memory 3. The discharge control unit 52 controls discharge of image information from the image memory 3.

The threshold generator 41 includes first, second and third threshold generators 41a, 41b and 41c.
Threshold Mth1, second threshold Mth2 and third threshold Mth
3 (Mth1>Mth2> Mth3) is output.

The discharge instructing means 53 compares the remaining memory M detected by the remaining memory detecting means 9 with the first threshold Mth1 output from the first threshold generating means 41a. Reaches the first threshold value Mth1, the discharge control means 52 is instructed to discharge the image information from the image memory 3.

The storage interruption / resumption instructing means 54 compares the remaining memory M with a second threshold Mth2,
When the threshold value reaches the second threshold value Mth2, the storage control means 51 is instructed to interrupt the storage of the image information in the image memory 3, and when the remaining memory amount M exceeds the second threshold value Mth2 again, Of the image information is restarted.

The storage stop instructing means 55 compares the remaining memory capacity M with a third threshold value Mth3, and determines whether the remaining memory capacity M is equal to the third threshold value Mth3.
When the threshold value Mth3 is reached, the storage controller 51 is instructed to stop storing image information in the image memory 3.

In such a configuration, the accumulation of image information in the image memory 3 proceeds, and the discharge instruction means 53 sets the remaining amount M of the image memory 3 to a first threshold Mth1 (for example,
If it is determined that the ratio is less than 50%, the discharge control unit 52 discharges the image information while the image information is continuously accumulated.

Generally, the speed of accumulating image information in the image memory 3 exceeds the speed of discharging, so that the accumulation of image information further proceeds.
If the storage interruption / resumption instructing means 54 determines that the remaining memory amount M has fallen below the second threshold value Mth2 (for example, 30%), the storage control means 5 continues discharging the image information.
1 stops the image information storage operation.

When the discharge of image information proceeds and the remaining amount of memory M exceeds the second threshold value Mth2 again, the accumulation control means 51 resumes the operation of accumulating image information.

In addition, while the accumulation of the image information is interrupted because the remaining amount of memory M falls below the second threshold value Mth2,
The image memory 3 is used by another function, and the storage remaining amount M is set to the third threshold value Mth3 by the accumulation stop instruction means 55.
When it is determined that the image information has reached (for example, 10%), the accumulation control unit 51 stops the operation of accumulating the image information while the discharge of the image information is continued.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a facsimile apparatus to which the present invention is applied. The reading unit 1 is, for example, an image scanner, and reads document information and converts it into image information of an electric signal. The image processing unit 2 encodes the image information and decodes the encoded image information. The image memory 3 stores the encoded image information. The remaining memory detecting unit 9 detects the remaining memory M of the image memory 3.

A line control unit (NCU) 6 automatically dials and calls a partner station when a transmission instruction is issued by one-touch dialing or abbreviated dialing, or executes a predetermined communication procedure or the like according to a predetermined protocol. Do.

The printer section 7 prints out the received image information on recording paper. The operation panel 8 has ten keys, function keys, a display unit, and the like. The ROM 10 stores a control program for operating the present system, various basic data, and the like, and also stores the first to third threshold values described with reference to FIG. The RAM 4 provides a work area and stores data set by the user from the operation panel 8 and the like.

The main control unit (CPU) 5 operates in accordance with a control program stored in the ROM 10 and stores the accumulation control means 51 and the discharge control means 5 described with reference to FIG.
2. Discharge instruction means 53, accumulation suspension / resumption instruction means 54,
And it functions as the accumulation stop instruction means 55 and the like.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the present embodiment, the first threshold Mth1 is 50%, and the second threshold Mth2 is 3%.
0% and the third threshold value Mth3 are set to 10%, and the memory remaining amount M at the start of the processing is 7% as shown in FIG.
It shall be 0%.

In step S1, the reading of the transmission original set in the reading section 1 is started, and the image information converted into the electric signal is sequentially stored in the image memory 3 in step S2.

In step S3, the main controller 5 compares the remaining memory M of the image memory 3 detected by the remaining memory detector 9 with the first threshold Mth1 stored in the ROM 10 in advance. The remaining amount M is the first threshold M
If it is not less than th1, it is determined in step S4 whether the accumulation of the image information has been completed. When the accumulation is completed, the image information is read from the image memory 3 in step S5 and transmitted to the intended partner station.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S3 that the memory remaining amount M is smaller than the first threshold value Mth1 (FIG. 4B), in step S6, the reading and accumulation of the transmission original is continued. Then, the discharge / transmission of the image information accumulated in the image memory 3 is started. Step S7
Then, a message as shown in FIG. 5A is displayed on the display section of the operation panel 8.

When the transmission of the image information is completed, the image information is deleted from the image memory 3 in page units, and the remaining memory capacity of the image memory 3 gradually recovers. After that, since the difference between the read image information and the discharged image information is accumulated, the memory consumption speed is reduced.

In step S8, the memory remaining amount M and the ROM
The second threshold value Mth2 stored in the main control unit 5
When it is determined that the remaining amount of memory M is smaller than the second threshold value Mth2 (FIG. 4C), it is determined in step S9 whether or not the accumulation of the pages being accumulated is completed. .

When the accumulation of pages is completed, step S1
At 0, the accumulation of the image information in the image memory 3 is interrupted while the discharge of the image information is continued. In step S11, a message as shown in FIG. 5B is displayed on the display section of the operation panel 8.

In step S12, the memory remaining amount M and the second
Is again compared with the threshold value Mth2 in the main control unit 5, and the remaining image memory M is recovered by discharging the image information.
If the value exceeds the second threshold value Mth2 again (FIG. 4D), the process proceeds to step S13.

In step S13, a message as shown in FIG. 5 (c) is displayed. In step S14, the accumulation of the image information in the image memory 3 is restarted, and then the process returns to step S8. Since the interruption of the image information is performed in page units (steps S9 and S10), the original can be read from a new page when the accumulation is restarted, and the image quality is not impaired.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S12 that the remaining memory M is smaller than the second threshold Mth2, then in step S15, the main controller 5 determines the remaining memory M and the third threshold Mth3. Are compared. Here, the image memory 3 is used by another function, and the remaining memory M
Has reached the third threshold value Mth3 (FIG. 4 (e)), the accumulation of image information in the image memory 3 is stopped in step S16. In step S17, a message as shown in FIG.
At 18, the page being stored is erased.

The third threshold value Mth3 is desirably set to, for example, a value of about 10% of the remaining memory so that an area for storing management information described later can be secured.

Thereafter, when it is determined in step S19 that the transmission of the image information stored in the image memory 3 has been completed, it is determined in step S20 whether or not to output the management information. If the instruction to output the management information is given in advance, the management information is created in step S21 and stored in a free area of the image memory (FIG. 4 (f)), and is printed out from the printer unit 7 at an appropriate timing. You.

As described above, in this embodiment, three thresholds are provided for the remaining memory capacity of the image memory 3, and every time the remaining memory capacity reaches each threshold, image information is discharged, reading is interrupted, and the like. Since the full timing is postponed, there is a high possibility that image information having a capacity exceeding the remaining capacity of the image memory can be transmitted collectively.

In this embodiment, since the image information storage is interrupted for each page, the original can be read from a new page when the storage is restarted, so that the image quality is not impaired.

In each of the embodiments described above, the present invention is applied to a facsimile apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is connected to various networks such as a file server and a print server. The present invention can be similarly applied to various communication terminal devices having a storage function.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be achieved. (1) Three thresholds are set for the remaining amount of image memory, and image information is discharged every time the remaining amount of memory reaches each threshold.
Since the timing at which the memory becomes full due to interruption of reading or the like is postponed, the possibility that image information having a capacity exceeding the remaining amount of the image memory can be transmitted collectively is increased. (2) Since the image information storage is interrupted on a page-by-page basis, the original can be read from a new page when the storage is resumed, and the image quality is not impaired. (3) If the third threshold is set to the minimum remaining memory required for storing the management information, the management information may be deleted or the management information may not be registered due to the storage of the image information. There is no.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining functions of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a facsimile apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a relationship between a remaining memory capacity and a threshold.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example of a message.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Reading part, 2 ... Image processing part, 3 ... Image memory, 4
... RAM, 5 ... Main control unit, 6 ... Line control unit, 7 ... Printer unit, 8 ... Operation panel, 9 ... Memory remaining amount detecting means, 10
... ROM, 41 ... threshold value generating means, 51 ... accumulation control means,
52: discharge control means, 53: discharge instruction means, 54: accumulation suspension / resumption instruction means, 55: accumulation stop instruction means

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Nobuyuki Obayashi, Inventor 3-7-1, Funai, Iwatsuki City, Saitama Prefecture Inside Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. (72) Eiji Nakahashi 3-7-1, Fuuchi, Iwatsuki City, Saitama Prefecture Fuji Xerox Incorporated (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/21 G06T 1/60 H04L 12/54 H04L 12/58 H04L 13/08

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An image memory for storing image information; a memory remaining amount detecting unit for detecting a remaining amount of memory in the image memory; an accumulation control unit for controlling accumulation of image information in the image memory; Discharge control means for controlling discharge of image information; and first, second and third threshold values (first
Threshold value> second threshold value> third threshold value), and comparing the remaining amount of memory with the first threshold value, and when the remaining amount of memory reaches the first threshold value, the discharge control unit A discharge instructing unit for instructing the storage unit to discharge image information, and comparing the remaining amount of memory with a second threshold value, and instructing the storage control unit to interrupt storage when the remaining amount of memory reaches the second threshold value. Storage interruption / resumption instruction means for resuming the accumulation when the value exceeds the second threshold value again; comparing the remaining memory amount with a third threshold value; A communication terminal device having a storage function, comprising: a storage stop instructing unit for instructing a unit to stop the storage.