JP3276764B2 - Color facsimile apparatus and image communication method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color facsimile apparatus and an image communication method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the speed of facsimile apparatuses has been increased, the resolution has been increased, and colorization has been advanced. In particular, facsimile apparatuses capable of transmitting and receiving color images have high expectations in the design field and the like.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, when a color image is received by a facsimile apparatus capable of receiving a color image, for example, the printer section of the apparatus can output a color by accidentally running out of toner or ink. However, when a monochrome image is output instead, the received color information is lost because the received image is automatically deleted from the memory.

The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional example, and retains color information even when a color image cannot be output.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a color facsimile apparatus and an image communication method capable of outputting a color image at a later opportunity or taking other measures.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a color facsimile apparatus according to the present invention has the following arrangement. That is, a color facsimile apparatus capable of receiving color image data from a line and outputting a color image to a recording medium, comprising: a receiving unit for receiving color image data from the line; and the received color image data. Storage means for storing the color image data received by the storage means into monochrome image data; and forming the color image data received by the reception means using a color recording material. Output means for forming and outputting the monochrome image data converted by the conversion means using a black recording material, determining means for checking the presence or absence of the color recording material, and If it is determined that there is a color recording material, the color image received by the receiving means by the output means Data is controlled to form an image using the color recording material and output. If the discriminating means determines that the color recording material is not present, the received color image data is stored in the storage means. Is stored, the presence / absence of the color recording material is checked again by the determination means. If the presence of the color recording material is determined, the color image data received by the reception means by the output means is subjected to the color recording. The color image data stored in the storage unit is converted by the conversion unit based on an instruction from the user if the presence of the color recording material is still not determined. The image data is converted into monochrome image data and controlled by the output means to form and output an image using the black recording material, or Characterized in that a control means for controlling so as to remove the color image data stored in comprising a color facsimile apparatus. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image communication method in a color facsimile apparatus capable of receiving color image data from a line and outputting a color image to a recording medium, the method comprising receiving color image data from the line. A storage step of storing the received color image data in a storage medium; a conversion step of converting the received color image data stored in the storage medium into monochrome image data; and An output step of forming and outputting the converted color image data using a color recording material, or forming and outputting the monochrome image data converted in the conversion step using a black recording material; and A discriminating step of examining the presence or absence of the color recording material. In the receiving step, the color image data received in the receiving step is controlled to form and output using the color recording material, and if it is determined in the determining step that the color recording material is not present, the storage is performed. After the received color image data is stored in the medium, the presence / absence of the color recording material is checked again in the determination step, and if the presence of the color recording material is determined, it is received in the reception step in the output step. The color image data is controlled to be formed and output using the color recording material, and if the presence of the color recording material is still not determined, the color image data is stored in the storage medium based on an instruction from a user. Converting the color image data into monochrome image data in the conversion step, and forming an image using the black recording material in the output step. Or controls to output Te, or comprises an image communication method characterized by a control step of controlling so as to remove the color image data stored in the storage medium.

[0006]

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a color facsimile apparatus which is a typical embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a CPU for controlling the operation of the apparatus based on the control program, 2 is a ROM for storing the control program, 3 is a work area when the CPU 1 executes the control program, and at least one page. The RAM 4 used for storing the received image data and the transmitted image data is a facsimile device of a communication partner which is a monochrome facsimile device and cannot receive transmitted color image data, or receives color image data. This is an image processing unit that converts color image data into monochrome image data when a color ink cartridge (hereinafter, a color cartridge) is not mounted in a printer unit described later.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a bubble jet printer unit for outputting a color image or a monochrome image by mounting either a black ink cartridge (hereinafter referred to as a monochrome cartridge) or a color cartridge, and 6 denotes a printer unit 5 An identification sensor 7 for irradiating the image original with light, receiving the reflected light, converting the converted light into an electric signal, and outputting the electric signal; ), 8 is an operation panel having a keyboard (KB) as a man-machine interface for controlling the apparatus and a display unit for notifying the user of the state of the apparatus, and 9 is a network and facsimile apparatus according to a communication control procedure. Connection to send and receive image signals, and to send image data Or perform over de or, CCU for decoding the received image signal (communication control unit), and 10 is a system unit that exchanges the components are connected to one another data exchange and control signals of the device.

[0010] The received image data is transferred from the CCU 9 to the RAM 3 via the system bus 10, and the transmission image data read by the scanner 7 is transmitted to the system bus 10.
And is temporarily stored in the RAM 3. Also,
The CPU 1 controls start / stop of reading of an image document by the scanner 7.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a communication control procedure when the apparatus of the present embodiment transmits / receives image data to / from a communication partner via a line. The communication control procedure of this embodiment is based on ITU-
TS T. In this case, the transmitting device can transmit a color image, and the receiving device can receive a color image. In FIG. 2, the upper half shows the control procedure of the transmitting apparatus, and the lower half shows the control procedure of the receiving apparatus.

The outline of the communication control between the transmitting and receiving apparatuses according to the communication control procedure shown in FIG. 2 is as follows.

First, when a line is connected between the image data transmitting / receiving apparatuses, the receiving apparatus sets the NSF / DIS.
(21 and 22 in FIG. 2) are output. At this time, a bit indicating that "color reception is possible" is set by using the extension field of the NSF to notify the transmission side apparatus of the fact. The transmitting device that has received the NSF / DIS
It outputs SS / DCS (23 and 24 in FIG. 2). Here, since the color image is transmitted, a bit indicating "color reception" is set by using the extension field of the NNS to notify the transmitting side apparatus that the color image is to be transmitted.

Next, the transmitting apparatus transmits a TCF (training check: 25 in FIG. 2) to check whether the line can be used at the data rate of the modem training. If the modem training is OK, the receiving device is CFR
Is transmitted (26 in FIG. 2). Upon receiving the CFR, the transmitting apparatus sends color image data (27 in FIG. 2), and sends EOP (28 in FIG. 2) when transmission of the color image data is completed. Upon receiving the EOP, the receiving device sends an MCF (29 in FIG. 2) if the image is correctly received, and upon receiving a DCN (30 in FIG. 2) from the transmitting device, performs a process of releasing the line. I do.

Next, a reception process when color image data is received using the apparatus having the above configuration and a communication control procedure will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

First, in step S31, the CCU 9 is
According to the communication control procedure described in the above, the color image data is received from the transmission side device of the communication partner via the line. Next, in step S32, it is checked by the identification sensor 6 whether the monochrome cartridge or the color cartridge is mounted on the printer unit 5. Here, if the identification sensor 6 detects that a color cartridge is mounted, the process proceeds to step S33, and a color image is output from the printer unit 5. On the other hand, the identification sensor 6
If it is detected that the monochrome cartridge is mounted, the process proceeds to step S34, and the received color image data is temporarily stored in the RAM 3 via the system bus 10.

Next, in step S35, the type of the printer cartridge mounted on the printer unit 5 is checked again by using the identification sensor 6, and it is checked whether the monochrome cartridge has been changed to the color cartridge. Here, if the attachment of the color cartridge is confirmed, the process proceeds to step S33, and the color image data stored in the RAM 3 is output in color. On the other hand, if the attached printer cartridge remains the monochrome cartridge, the process proceeds to step S36, and it is determined whether or not to output with the monochrome cartridge.

In step S36, if the device user desires monochrome output and inputs a monochrome output instruction from the operation panel 8, the process proceeds to step S37, where the color image data received by the image processing unit 4 is converted to monochrome. After converting the image data into image data, in step S38, a monochrome image is output using the monochrome image data converted from the printing unit 5. On the other hand, if the device user does not desire the monochrome output, the process proceeds to step S39.

In step S39, it is determined whether the received color image data is to be deleted. Here, if the user of the apparatus desires to delete the received image data and inputs an instruction to delete the received image from the operation panel 8, the process proceeds to step S40, where the color image temporarily stored in the RAM 3 is stored. To delete. On the other hand, if the user of the apparatus does not desire to erase the stored color image data, the process returns to step S35, and the type of the printer cartridge mounted on the printer unit 5 is again determined using the identification sensor 6. Find out.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when color image data is received, even if a color cartridge is not mounted, the data is temporarily held in the RAM, so that the color image is output until the color cartridge is mounted. And then output a color image, or output the color image data as a monochrome image or delete the color image data from the RAM at the discretion of the apparatus user.

Also, a case has been described in which a bubble jet type printer is employed for the printing section of this embodiment, and a monochrome or color cartridge is used for print output. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a laser beam printer using a toner for the printing unit or a printer using an ink ribbon may be used.

Further, in this embodiment, whether a monochrome or color cartridge is mounted on the bubble jet type printer is identified, and control is performed as to whether to temporarily store the received color image data. The invention is not limited to this. For example, in a printer in which both a monochrome cartridge and a color cartridge can be mounted, it may be possible to determine whether the ink has run out and control whether to temporarily store the received color image data.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, the received color image data is stored in the storage means in accordance with the presence or absence of the color recording material. Even if the image cannot be output, the color information is not lost.

Even if the color recording material runs out and the received color image data cannot be output immediately as a color image, the color image output is suppressed until the color recording material is mounted.
There is also an effect that the color image can be output after the color recording material is mounted.

Further, means for converting the color image data into monochrome image data, means for deleting the color image data stored in the storage means, output of the color image data as monochrome image data, and storage in the storage means By providing the means for instructing the deletion of the color image data, it is possible to finally leave the determination as to whether the color image data cannot be output immediately to the apparatus user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a color facsimile apparatus as a typical embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a procedure for transmitting and receiving image data.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a color image receiving process executed by the apparatus of FIG. 1;

[Description of Signs] 1 CPU 2 ROM 3 RAM 4 Image processing unit 5 Bubble jet printer 6 Identification sensor 7 Scanner 8 Operation panel 9 CCU (communication control unit) 10 System bus

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A color facsimile apparatus capable of receiving color image data from a line and outputting a color image to a recording medium, comprising: receiving means for receiving color image data from the line; storage means for storing the color image data, color image data received is stored in the storage means
Converting means for converting the image data into monochrome image data, and forming and outputting the color image data received by the receiving means using a color recording material , or
The monochrome image data converted by the conversion means is converted to black
And output means for the recording material and the image formed by using the output, a determination unit to check for the color recording material, it is determined that more have the color recording material in said determination means
Is received by the output means, the
Forming color image data using the color recording material.
And output the color recording material.
The received color image is stored in the storage means.
After the data is stored, the color is
-Check the presence of the recording material again, and if the presence of the color recording material is determined,
And the color image data received by the receiving means.
Data is formed and output using the color recording material.
If the presence of the color recording material is still not determined,
Based on the instruction from the user,
The conversion means converts the color image data into a monochrome image data.
The black recording material by the output means.
To control the image formation and output using
Control means for controlling to delete the color image data stored in said storage means . 2. The color facsimile apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the output unit accommodates the color recording material in a first cartridge and accommodates the black recording material in a second cartridge. . 3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the output unit is a bubble jet printer that outputs a color image or a monochrome image by mounting one of the first and second cartridges. Item 3. A color facsimile apparatus according to item 2 . 4. A color facsimile apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said output means is a printer which outputs said color image or monochrome image by mounting said first and second cartridges. . 5. An image communication method in a color facsimile apparatus capable of receiving color image data from a line and outputting a color image to a recording medium, comprising: a receiving step of receiving color image data from the line; Storing the received color image data in a storage medium; and receiving the color image data stored in the storage medium.
Converting the color image data received in the receiving step into an image using a color recording material and outputting the color image data , or
Monochrome image data converted in the conversion process is black
And output step of forming an image output by using a recording material, a determination step to check for the color recording material, and there is Oite said color recording material in said determination step determines
The color received in the receiving step in the output step.
Image data is output by forming an image using the color recording material.
Control, and it is determined that the color recording material is not present in the determination step.
The received color image is stored in the storage medium.
After the image data is stored, the image data is stored in the determination step.
The presence of the color recording material is checked again, and if the presence of the color recording material is determined, the output process is performed.
Color image data received in the receiving step
To form an image using the color recording material and output the image.
If the presence of the color recording material is still not determined,
Stored in the storage medium based on an instruction from the user.
Color image data is converted to a monochrome image in the conversion step.
Data is converted to the black record in the output step.
Control to form an image using material and output it, or
Deletes the color image data stored in the storage medium.
And a control step for controlling the image communication.