JP3380544B2 - Image communication device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image communication apparatus typified by a facsimile apparatus, and more particularly to a technical improvement for smooth and parallel processing of various operations with simpler hardware.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Many recent facsimile machines are equipped with a memory having a considerably large capacity for storing image data, and the image data of a document read by an image sensor is encoded and temporarily stored in the memory before transmission. Alternatively, a processing method is adopted in which received image data is temporarily stored in a memory and then printed out. Further, the recording unit is provided with a printer buffer (page memory) for temporarily storing the decoded image data (raw image data) to be printed page by page. Further, an encoding circuit that compresses and encodes image data and a decoding circuit that decodes the encoded image data to reproduce raw image data include an encoding / decoding that selectively executes encoding and decoding processes. As LS
An I-type microprogram control type device is used.

In this specification, an operation in which a user sets an original on an image scanner and gives a transmission command is referred to as a "file-in operation". In response to this operation, the original is read by an image sensor, and its image is read. "File-in process" is the process of encoding data and storing it in the image memory
Called. The operation of sending the coded image data stored in the image memory from the communication control unit to the line is referred to as "memory transmission processing".

The process of decoding the coded image data being received by the communication control unit in substantially real time and sequentially storing the decoded image data in the printer buffer is called "paper receiving process". On the other hand, the encoded image data that is being received is stored in the image memory in page units as it is,
The process of decoding as post-processing and storing it in the printer buffer is referred to as "memory reception process". The "received data processing" simply refers to both the paper receiving processing and the memory receiving processing. Of course, when a predetermined amount of image data is stored in the printer buffer, the printer control unit sequentially prints the image data on paper.

By the way, in facsimile communication, there is a reception mode in which the communication control section on the receiving side inspects the received data by the CRC method to detect an error (this is called an ECM mode), and the communication control section does not perform CRC. There is a reception mode in which the reception data processing unit decodes every line and checks the number of bits (this is called a non-ECM mode). The operation of inspecting the number of bits of one line while decoding the received data in this non-ECM mode is called "error check processing".

[0006]

In recent facsimile machines of this type, there is a case where a file is received during the file-in process, or a user performs a file-in operation while the received data is being processed. . It is not difficult to perform the received data processing and the file-in processing in parallel, and there have been facsimile machines having such a function conventionally.

In order to realize the above parallel operation, the conventional facsimile apparatus uses two expensive encoding / decoding circuits. The first encoding / decoding circuit performs decoding associated with the received data processing, and at the same time, the second encoding / decoding circuit performs encoding associated with the file-in processing. in this case,
Since two expensive encoding / decoding circuits are used, there is a problem that the device becomes expensive.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a hardware configuration in which only one encoding / decoding circuit is used in order to reduce the price, and to provide an encoding / decoding circuit. An object of the present invention is to provide an image communication device capable of smoothly executing communication control without causing a problem even when a single device is not used.

[0009]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention firstly provides an encoding / decoding means for performing error checking on received data and encoding / decoding image data. A printer buffer that stores the image data decoded by the encoding / decoding means in page units, a printer that stores the decoded data for one page in the printer buffer and prints it out, and a printer for one page
When the MPS signal is detected after data reception is completed,
When the printer is operating
Ignoring the MPS signal that arrives before the interruption,
After the interruption of the printer operation, the encoding / decoding means
Perform error check on newer received data and
When the check is completed, a response signal is sent back to the line
The printer operation is restarted, and the encoding / decoding means is
And a control means for executing the decoding of the image data .

Secondly, an image memory for storing the received data, an encoding / decoding means for decoding the image data in the image memory, a printer buffer for storing the decoded data in page units, 1 in this printer buffer
If there is an incoming call while printing out the image data stored in the image memory and the printer that stores and prints out the decoded data for pages, immediately connect the line and execute the communication procedure, and print after the training. Stop working
In this case, the incoming / outgoing data is
And a control means for receiving the data.

[0011]

According to the present invention, according to the above-described structure, firstly, when a new incoming call is received while printing the received data, a signal indicating that the transmission of one page is completed is received after the incoming call is received. At this time, the process of the encoding / decoding means is switched from the process of decoding the received data to the process of error checking the received data, and when the error check is completed, the reception confirmation signal is sent to the line and the code is transmitted. By returning the encoding / decoding means to the decoding processing of the received data again, one different encoding / decoding means can smoothly execute two different processings.

Secondly, even if an incoming call is received during the printing operation of the image data received by the memory, the line is immediately connected to execute the pre-procedure of the facsimile communication while executing the printing operation. While using one encoding / decoding means for the received data and newly received data, it is possible to start receiving the image data as soon as the printing operation is completed. If the printer operation is not stopped even after the pre-procedures for the facsimile communication are completed, the training side signal is sent again, and the pre-procedures for the facsimile communication are repeated again so that the transmission side retains the transmission of the image data. Therefore, the received data being printed and the newly received data are not mixed in the buffer.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [Schematic Configuration of Hardware] FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Is shown in. The CPU 1 is a ROM 2 that stores programs and the like, and serves as a temporary storage area for various information associated with control.
Together with the AM3, it is a system control unit that performs sequence control and signal processing that controls the entire facsimile apparatus. A network control unit (NCU) 4 is connected to a communication line and controls communication in accordance with line connection control and facsimile apparatus procedure. The modem 5 has a system bus B1 under the control of the CPU 1.
Control is performed to sequentially modulate and transmit the coded image data transferred from the image memory 6 through, and control to sequentially demodulate the received coded image data and output it to the system bus B1. The image memory 6 is composed of a DRAM having a relatively large capacity, and can store encoded image data for a plurality of pages. The image memory 6 is accessed by the CPU 1 through the system bus B1. At the time of reception, the modem 5 interrupts the CPU 1 every time one byte of coded image data sent from the communication partner is prepared. CP each time
U1 executes interrupt processing and stores 1-byte received data in the receive buffer area set in the image memory 6.

The display section 7 and the key input section 8 which constitute the operation / display panel for the user interface are connected to the panel control section 9, and the control section 9 performs display control and input processing. The panel control unit 9 is connected to the CPU 1 via the system bus B1, the display command and the display information are given from the CPU 1 to the control unit 9, and the key input information preprocessed by the control unit 9 is transmitted to the CPU 1.

The image scanner for reading the image of the original sends the CCD one-dimensional image sensor 10, a reading circuit 11 for driving the image sensor 10 and processing the output signal thereof, and the original for main scanning by the image sensor 10. And a sub-scanning mechanism 12 for sub-scanning, a sensor circuit 13 for detecting the presence / absence of a document in the sub-scanning mechanism 12, detecting the position of the document, and detecting the position of the sub-scanning movable part, and these parts cooperate And a scanner control unit 14 for controlling the document to be read correctly. The scanner control unit 14 uses the CPU 1 through the system bus B1.
The original reading control is performed according to the command information from the CPU 1.

The encoding / decoding circuit 16 is a micro-program control type LSI, and has operation modes such as an encoding mode, a decoding mode, a code conversion mode, and a received data check mode, which will be described later, in accordance with command information from the CPU 1. Run selectively. What should be noted here is
Encoding / decoding circuit 1 expensive in the facsimile machine
The point is that only one 6 is used.

A page printer 17 is provided as a recording unit for printing out image data on paper. The page printer 17 has its own control system for print control, but has a printer interface 18 for operating the control system in accordance with command information from the CPU 1, and through this interface 18, the system bus B1 and the printer are connected. 17 is connected. Further, the printer 17 is provided with a printer buffer (page memory) 19 for storing image data to be printed by the printer 17 in page units. The printer buffer 19 has a capacity capable of storing raw image data for several pages of a standard document. In addition, the printer buffer 19
The memory control unit 20 for performing the access control is provided. The operation mode of the memory control unit 20 is set according to the command information given from the CPU 1 through the system bus B1, and operates as follows.

That is, after the decoded image data (raw image data) is stored in the printer buffer 19, the CPU 1
When the printer gives a print command to the printer interface 18 and the memory controller 20, the printer interface 1
8 checks the status of the printer 17, and if the printer 17 is operable (otherwise waits until it becomes operable), the memory controller 20 reads the image data in the printer buffer 19 to the bus B4. , To the printer 17 via the printer interface 18. This prints the image data on the paper. The data transfer control in this case is mainly performed by the control system of the printer 17, and the access system of the printer buffer 19 is independent of the system bus B1. [Regarding Operation Related to Encoding / Decoding Circuit 16] In the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, the encoding / decoding circuit 16 is used.
There is only one The CPU 1 causes the encoding / decoding circuit 16 and other functional units to cooperate with each other as described later, and realizes the following various operation modes.

(A) Read / encode processing mode This is an operation mode during the file-in processing described above. The scanner control unit 14 and the encoding / decoding circuit 16 are made to cooperate with each other,
The original set on the scanner is read, and the raw image data sequentially output from the reading circuit 11 is sequentially fetched from the bus B2 to the encoding / decoding circuit 16 and MR encoded, and the encoded data is directed to the system bus B1. Output sequentially. The CPU 1 synchronizes with the encoding operation, and the system bus B
The coded image data on 1 is sequentially stored in the image memory 6.

(B) Paper reception / decoding processing mode Processing for decoding coded image data which is being accumulated in the reception buffer area of the image memory 6 substantially in real time in parallel with the reception operation and sequentially storing it in the printer buffer 19. Is. In this case, the target data in the image memory 6 is supplied from the system bus B1 to the encoding / decoding circuit 16 under the control of the CPU 1, and the decoded data is supplied from the bus B2 to the memory control unit 20 and the memory control unit 20. Stores the decrypted data in the printer buffer 19.

(C) Memory reception / decoding processing mode Basically, it is activated when there is no space in the printer buffer 19 during reception. Waiting for one page of data to be accumulated in the reception buffer area of the image memory 6, and when one page of data is prepared, a memory reception acceptance mark is added to it. If the printer buffer 19 becomes empty thereafter, the received memory reception data is sequentially read from the image memory 6 and supplied to the encoding / decoding circuit 16 via the system bus B1 and the decoded data is supplied via the bus B2. The data is sequentially stored in the printer buffer 19 via the memory control unit 20. The process of decoding the received memory reception data and storing it in the printer buffer 19 is called a memory reception data decoding process.

(D) Non-ECM batch error check processing mode This is an operation executed when the reception mode is the non-ECM mode and the memory reception processing is performed. During the memory reception, when the latest received data for one page is aligned in the receive buffer area of the image memory 6, the data for that one page is continuously supplied to the encoding / decoding circuit 16 under the initiative of the CPU 1. To do. The encoding / decoding circuit 16 sequentially decodes the received data, counts the number of bits of each line of the decoded data, and determines whether or not it matches a specified number (if they do not match, a data error occurs. is there). In this mode, the decoded data are discarded one after another, but the determination result for each line is transmitted to the modem 5. The modem 5 comprehensively judges the judgment result for one page and appropriately advances the handshake sequence with the communication partner.

In the paper receiving operation in the non-ECM mode, an error check is performed for each line in the page receiving / decoding process (B), and the result is transmitted to the modem 5.

(E) Code conversion processing mode at the time of transmission When the MR coded image data stored in the image memory 6 is transmitted by the file-in processing, the image data is converted into MMR coded data according to the communication partner. Processing. This is under the initiative of the CPU 1 to read MR encoded data from the image memory 6 by a predetermined amount and read the system bus B.
The data is supplied to the encoding / decoding circuit 16 via 1, and the encoding / decoding circuit 16 decodes the MR encoded data once and then performs MMR encoding. The MMR encoded data is temporarily stored in the transmission buffer in the image memory 6 via the system bus B1 and sequentially transmitted.

The operation of the image communication apparatus constructed as above will be described below. [Schematic Flowchart of FIG. 2] FIG.
3 is a flowchart showing the basic procedure of the control operation of FIG. In the idle state of the facsimile apparatus, the CPU 1 repeats steps 201 → 202 → 203 → 204 → 201 and waits for any processing request.
When a user sets a document on the scanner and performs a file-in operation with the key input unit 8, the panel control unit 9 causes the CPU 1 to operate.
Is interrupted, and the file-in request flag F1 is set. Then, the process proceeds from step 201 to 205 and the file-in process is started.

Further, when the communication control section centering on the modem 5 starts the receiving operation and proceeds to the stage of processing the received data, the interrupt from the modem 5 sets the received data processing request flag F2. Then step 202 →
In step 206, the received data processing is started. The received data processing 206 can operate in parallel with the file-in processing as described later.

Further, if the transmission execution flag is set, the process proceeds from step 203 to step 207, and the transmission process is started. Although not described in this specification, the transmission process 203 can operate in parallel with the file-in process. Other tasks are collectively shown as step 208. [Regarding Flowchart in FIG. 3] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing details of the file-in process in step 205 in FIG. First, in step 301, a line counter C for counting the number of read lines is used.
In step 302, the original is read for one line, coded, and written in the image memory 6. Next, after the line counter C2 is incremented, it is determined whether or not the reading and coding of one page of the original is completed by executing step 302 (step 303 → 3).
04). Line counter C if one page is not reached
It is determined whether or not the value of 2 has reached the specified value MAX, and if it has not reached it, the process returns to the 1-line read coding process 302.

The specified value MAX is the maximum number of lines for which the encoding process is performed without interruption when the length of the document to be read is longer than the normal size. That is, if the length of the original document to be read is very different from the normal size, the file-in process of FIG. 3 will take longer than usual. The CPU 1 monitors whether or not there is a reception data processing request (step 202) or a transmission reception request (step 203) after the encoding process for one page is completed.
If the encoding processing time for one page is long, the start of other processing will be delayed. The specified value MAX is determined by the processing amount or processing time after the file-in processing is started, and plays a role of preventing the start of other processing from being delayed.

When the reading and coding of one page of the original is completed by executing step 302, it is judged whether or not there is the next original to be read, and if there is no next page, the file-in request flag F1 is set. The process is reset and the process ends (step 304 → 305 → 306).
If there is a next page, the process ends without resetting the flag F1. Further, even if the process is in the middle of one page, if the value of the line counter C2 reaches MAX1, the process is terminated without resetting the flag F1.

When the file-in process 205 is entered as described above, basically one page of the document is read and the process routine is exited, and as shown in FIG. 2, the states of other process request flags are checked. Received data processing request flag F
If 2 is set, the routine proceeds to step 206, where the received data processing and the file-in processing are executed in parallel. [Regarding Flowchart of FIG. 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing details of the received data processing of step 206 in FIG. This includes the paper reception process 402
A memory reception process 403 and a memory reception data decoding process 406 are included. In each of these processes, the file-in process can be executed in parallel as follows.

When the received data processing is started, it is first checked whether or not the printer buffer 19 has a vacant area of a predetermined amount or more (step 400), and if there is a vacant area, the preceding received memory reception data is decoded. It is checked whether or not is completed (step 401). If the printer buffer 19 has a free space and it is not necessary to decode the memory reception data, the process proceeds to step 402 and paper reception and decoding processing of one page of data is performed. Printer buffer 19
If there is no vacant space, or if the decoding of the memory reception data has not ended, the process proceeds to step 403 and the memory reception decoding process is performed.

If the received data for one page is processed in step 402 or 403, the process proceeds to step 404.
Check whether reception of all pages has been completed or whether data of subsequent pages will be continuously received. If there is a subsequent page, the process returns to the first step 400, and if not, the process proceeds to the next step 405.

In step 405, it is checked whether or not the process of decoding the received data received in the memory receiving process of step 403 and storing it in the printer buffer 19 is completed. If the processing has not been completed, the remaining processing is ended in step 406. Then, in step 407, the reception data processing request flag F2 is reset, and the processing ends. [Regarding Flowcharts in FIGS. 5 and 6] FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts showing details of the paper receiving process in step 402 in FIG. When this processing routine is entered, it is first checked in step 500 whether or not the reception data being processed (initially to be processed) has been received up to the end of one page. Since the reception is not completed at first, the state of the file-in processing request flag F1 is checked in the next step 501.

(A) When the file-in processing request flag F1 is reset In this case, the paper reception decoding processing can be concentrated. That is, after waiting for the data to be processed for one line to be prepared in the reception buffer area of the image memory 6, the data for one line is decoded and written in the printer buffer 19 (step 502 → 503). Until the processing of one page is completed by executing step 503, step 503
→ 504 → 500 → 501 → 502 → 503 are repeated.

When all the received data for one page has been decoded, a print command is issued to the printer interface 18 and the memory controller 20. This completes the paper receiving and decoding process for one page, and the process routine is exited.

If the reception end of the page is detected in step 500 before the processing end of one page is detected in step 504, the process proceeds to step 508, the remaining data of the page is immediately decoded, and the step Fifty
In step 5, a print command is issued and the processing routine is exited. Therefore, no response is made even if the file-in request flag F1 is set during this period.

(A) When the file-in processing request flag F1 is set In this case, the file-in processing 507 is executed between the paper receiving and decoding processing. First, F1 = "1" is recognized and the process proceeds from step 501 to step 506 to check whether or not the target data of the paper receiving / decoding process is accumulated in the receiving buffer area of the image memory 6 by 4 Kbytes or more. If the data is 4 Kbytes or more, the above step 503
And the paper receiving / decoding process is performed, and if the data is less than 4 Kbytes, the file-in process of step 507 is started.

Details of the file-in process of step 507 are shown in FIG. The outline of this processing routine is the same as the file-in processing of FIG. 3 already described in detail.

That is, the line counter C2 is cleared, the original is read and encoded for only one line, and the image memory 6 is read.
Is performed and the line counter C2 is incremented, and then it is determined whether or not the reading and encoding of one page of the original has been completed (steps 509 → 510 → 511).
→ 512). If it has not reached one page, it is judged whether or not the value of the line counter C2 has reached the specified value MAX (step 512 → 515), and if not, step 5
In step 16, it is checked whether one page of data to be processed for paper reception has been completely received.

Judgment of this step 516 (step 50
The point that the same determination as 0) is performed is different from the processing of FIG. If you have not received one page of paper receiving data,
The process returns to the read and encode process 510 for one line.

When the reading and encoding of one page of the original is completed by executing step 510, it is determined whether or not there is the next original to be read, and if there is no next page, the file-in request flag F1 is set. The process is reset and the process ends (steps 512 → 513 → 514).
If there is a next page, the process ends without resetting the flag F1. Even if the process is in the middle of one page, if the value of the line counter C2 reaches MAX, the process is terminated without resetting the flag F1.

Even if the file-in process is in the middle of one page and the value of the line counter C2 has not reached MAX, it is recognized in the step 516 that "one page of the paper receiving target data has been received". in case of,
The file-in process is interrupted in the middle of the page, and the process jumps to step 508 to perform the paper reception decoding process on the data of the page for which the reception has been completed, as described above. Then step 50 by the route already mentioned
The file-in process of No. 7 will be entered again. [Regarding Flowcharts in FIGS. 7 and 8] FIGS. 7 and 8 are flowcharts showing the details of the memory reception process in step 403 in FIG. As described above, the memory reception process is divided into the pre-process for receiving the data for one page and the post-process for decoding the received data for one page and writing the decoded data in the printer buffer 19. If the reception mode is the non-ECM mode, the non-ECM mode is set during the preprocessing.
Collective error check processing is included.

(A) Preprocessing When the memory reception processing routine is entered, it is first checked in step 600 whether reception data to be processed has been received up to the end of one page. For convenience of explanation, it is assumed here that one page of data to be processed has been received. At this time, if the reception mode is the ECM mode, a page counter C1 for counting the number of received pages by putting a reception mark on the encoded image data for one page in the reception buffer area of the image memory 6 (the initial value is zero)
Is incremented (steps 601 → 603 → 60
4). With this, the preprocessing is finished, and the processing routine is once exited.

If the reception mode is the non-ECM mode, the process proceeds from step 601 to 602, and the encoded image data of one page in the reception buffer area of the image memory 6 is collectively processed by the encoding / decoding circuit 16 as described above. Error check process. Then, the image data of the page is marked with an acceptance mark, the page counter C1 is incremented (steps 603 → 604), and the processing routine is temporarily exited.

(B) Post-processing The post-processing or the file-in processing is performed while waiting for the reception of the received data to be processed up to the end of one page. First, when NO at step 600, the routine proceeds to step 605, where the value of the page counter C1 is checked. When the value of the page counter C1 is not zero, it means that the received encoded image data to be subjected to the post-processing exists in the image memory 6. If there is data to be post-processed, the process proceeds to step 606, and it is checked whether or not the printer buffer 19, which is the storage destination of the post-processed decrypted data, has a predetermined area or more.

If the printer buffer 19 has a free space, the process proceeds to step 607 to decode the target data in the image memory 6 by a predetermined amount and store it in the printer buffer 19. It is checked in the next step 607 whether or not the processing of one page of data is completed by this processing. The processing returns to step 600 until the processing of one page is completed, and 600 → 605 → 606 until the determination of step 600 changes. → 607 → 6
08 → 600 is repeated.

When the processing for one page is completed by executing step 607, the process proceeds to step 609, a print command is given to the printer interface 18 and the memory control unit 20, and the page counter C1 is decremented in the next step 610 to execute the step. Return to 600.

(C) When the file-in processing request flag F1 is reset: One page of preprocessing target data has not been received, and there is no postprocessing target data. If there is no free space, the flow advances to step 611 to check the state of the file-in processing request flag F1. If the flag F1 has been reset, step 600
Return to.

(D) When the file-in processing request flag F1 is set When it is recognized in step 611 that the flag F1 is set, the file-in processing of step 612 is started. Details of the file-in process of step 612 are shown in FIG. The outline of this processing routine is the same as the file-in processing of FIG. 3 and the file-in processing of FIG. 6 which have already been described in detail.

That is, the line counter C2 is cleared, the original is read for one line and coded, and the image memory 6 is read.
After the line counter C2 is incremented, it is determined whether or not the reading and coding of one page of the original has been completed (steps 613 → 614 → 615).
→ 616). If it has not reached one page, it is judged whether or not the value of the line counter C2 has reached the specified value MAX (steps 616 → 619), and if not, step 6
In step 20, it is determined whether the reception mode currently being processed is the ECM mode or the non-ECM mode. 1 in ECM mode
The process returns to the line reading / coding process 614. In this case, the file-in process of FIG.

Step 62 if in non-ECM mode
As in step 516 of FIG. 6, the process proceeds to step 1 to check whether reception of one page of preprocessing target data for memory reception has been completed to the end. It is different from the other file-in processings in that the determinations in steps 620 and 621 are performed. If one page of the data to be preprocessed for memory reception has not been received, the process returns to the one-line reading / coding process 614.

When the reading and coding of one page of the original is completed by executing step 614, it is judged whether or not there is the next original to be read, and if there is no next page, the file-in request flag F1 is set. The process is reset and the process ends (steps 616 → 617 → 618).
If there is a next page, the process ends without resetting the flag F1. Even if the process is in the middle of one page, if the value of the line counter C2 reaches MAX2, the process is terminated without resetting the flag F1.

Even if the file-in process is in the middle of one page and the value of the line counter C2 has not reached MAX2, the mode is the non-ECM mode, and at step 621, "pre-processing target data for memory reception is completed. is doing"
If the fact is recognized, the file-in process is interrupted in the middle of the page, the process jumps to step 602, and the batch error check process is performed on the data of the page for which reception has been completed, as described above. After that, the file-in process of step 612 is reentered by the route already described. [Regarding Flowchart of FIG. 9] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing details of the memory reception data decoding process of step 406 in FIG. In this processing routine,
The remaining work of the post-processing of the memory reception in step 403 is finished. Again, the file-in process 707 can be executed in parallel.

First, in step 701, the printer buffer 1
It is checked whether or not there is a vacant area of a predetermined amount or more in 9, and if there is a vacant area, the process proceeds to step 702 to decode the corresponding coded image data in the image memory 6 to the end of the page, store it in the printer buffer 19, and In step 703, a print command is issued to the printer interface 18 and the memory control unit 20. Then, the page counter C1 is decremented and it is checked whether or not the value of the counter C1 has become zero (step 704 → 705). Page counter C1
Is zero, it means that all the remaining work of the post-processing of the memory reception is completed, and in that case, the processing routine is exited and the received data processing request flag F2 is reset in step 407 of FIG.

If the page counter C1 is not zero, the process returns from step 705 to the first step 701 to check the vacancy of the printer buffer 19. If there is no space in the printer buffer 19, the process proceeds to step 706 to check the state of the file-in processing request flag F1. If the flag F1 is not set, the printer buffer 19 is waited until it becomes empty, and if the flag F1 is set, the process proceeds to the file-in process of step 707. The file-in process of step 707 is the same as the file-in process of FIG. 3 described in detail above, and the file-in process for one page of the original document is executed and the process is exited. [Processing Data Unit of Encoding / Decoding Circuit 16]
In order to perform the decoding accompanying the received data processing and the coding accompanying the file-in processing in a page by using one encoding / decoding circuit 16 in a time division manner, each processing is divided into line units. There is a need to. Encoding / decoding circuit 1
Since data input / output to / from 6 is performed on a byte-by-byte basis, in order to easily perform this time division processing, the data of a plurality of bytes for one line must not include the data of other lines. As is well known, a line end code is inserted at the end of the data of one line, but in one byte of data including this line end code, the data of the next line is included after the line end code. It must not happen.

Therefore, according to the present invention, when the raw image data is MR-encoded by the file-in process and stored in the image memory 6, if the line end code does not coincide with the end of 1 byte, a zero fill is continued after the line end code. Is added to make it 1 byte, and the data of the next line starts from a new 1 byte. This can be realized by setting that to a predetermined parameter that determines the operation mode of the encoding / decoding circuit 16.

As described above, if the encoding method of adding zero fill in line units is used, the redundancy increases by the amount of added zero fill, so naturally it has not been performed conventionally (in the past, zero fill was added in page units. The data was separated by bytes). However, if the present invention described above is adopted, it is desirable to adopt the zero fill addition method for each line. [Regarding line control] As described above, the internal control of the image communication apparatus that executes a plurality of processes in parallel by using only one encoding / decoding circuit 16 has been described in detail. Is also affecting. That is, if new separate data is received during the operation of printing out the received data, the encoding / decoding circuit 16 must execute decoding of the received data and error check of the new received data. . In the facsimile control procedure, CC
M indicating the end of the page from the sender according to the ITT convention
When PS is sent, the receiving side must check the received data for errors and send back some kind of reply. If the sending of the signal to be returned is delayed, the line may be disconnected and a communication error may occur.Therefore, it is necessary to prioritize the communication control, prioritize the error check of the received data, and interrupt the print output of the received data. The operation will be hindered. Further, it is extremely inconvenient for the image communication apparatus to reject new reception in order to avoid obstacles to the recording operation.

Therefore, in the present invention, the print output operation of the received data is interrupted by the arrival of the MPS signal indicating the end of the page, and the encoding / decoding circuit 16 is used to check the error of the new received data. When the error check is completed, the response signal is returned and the printer operation is restarted.

The details will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the control when a new incoming call is received during the printout operation of the received data.

First, when a new incoming call is received during the printout operation of the received data (ST1), even if the encoding / decoding circuit 16 is occupied by the decoding of the received data during the printout operation, The line is connected to receive new incoming data (ST2). It is confirmed whether or not the reception buffer area of the image memory 6 has a capacity for storing new reception data (ST3). Image memory 6 if there is no capacity
The receiving buffer area is expanded (ST4), and if there is a capacity, the data is sequentially stored in the receiving buffer area (ST5).

When the reception of one page of new received data is completed and the MPS signal arrives, the CPU 1 confirms whether the printer 17 is operating (ST6).
If it is in operation, it is confirmed whether or not the operation of the printer 17 can be interrupted, that is, whether or not one page of data is being printed out (ST7). Since the operation of the printer 17 can be interrupted before the printing of the next page is started after the printing output of the data for one page, the CPU 1 instructs the printer 17 to interrupt the printing operation. When the encoding / decoding circuit 16 decodes the received data for one page, the encoding / decoding circuit 16 suspends the decoding process of the received data, and the encoding / decoding circuit 16 instructs the encoding / decoding circuit 16 to stop. Of course, it is also possible to check the error of the new received data. However, interrupting the operation of the printer 17 and causing the encoding / decoding circuit 16 to perform an error check on new received data surely causes no trouble in the print output operation.

In ST7, if the operation of the printer 17 can be interrupted, the CPU 1 issues an operation interrupt instruction to the printer 17 (ST8), and the encoding / decoding circuit 16 stores it in the receiving buffer area of the image memory 6. The received data is checked for errors (ST9). MC indicating that data has been received on the line after the error check is completed
The F signal is transmitted, the operation of the printer 17 is restarted internally, and the remaining pages are printed out (ST10).

In ST7, it is determined whether or not the MPS signal has been detected a predetermined number of times (three times in this embodiment) (ST11). If the number of detections is 3 times or less, ST7
Then, it is judged whether or not the operation of the printer 17 can be interrupted, and if it exceeds 3 times, the error check is not carried out and it is shown that the data is received for the line and the process shifts to the phase B. The RTP signal is transmitted (ST12). As a result, if the operation of the printer 17 cannot be interrupted even if the MPS signal is ignored three times, the process returns to Phase B, the transmission / reception mode is determined, the synchronization state is confirmed, and so on. The time until the operation of the printer 17 can be interrupted can be earned. Communication procedure is
When the process advances to step C, the next page is received.

As described above, even when a new incoming call is received while the printer 17 is operating, new incoming data is received, and an instruction to suspend the operation is issued to the printer 17 when the MPS signal arrives. Until the interruption becomes possible, the operation of the printer 17 can be interrupted by ignoring the arrival of the MPS signal, and the error check of the new received data is executed, so that the operation of the printer 17 is not disturbed. In addition, the decoding / printing operation of the received data and the error check of the new received data are executed in parallel by one encoding / decoding circuit 16 without interrupting the communication procedure of the facsimile. You can

Next, the data in the image memory 6 is decoded /
The control when there is a new incoming call during the operation of printing out will be described.

In the present embodiment, the reception buffer for storing the reception data as described above is constructed by providing the reception buffer area in the image memory 6. Therefore, if there is a new incoming call during the operation of decoding the received data already stored in the image memory 17 and printing it out,
A mixture of received data and incoming data to be printed in the same image memory 6 may cause an unmanageable state. That is, the reception data accumulated in the image memory 6 is once moved to the reception buffer area and then passed to the encoding / decoding circuit 16 via the system bus B1 for every predetermined number of lines to be decoded. After that, the decrypted data is sequentially accumulated in the printer buffer 19 via the bus B2 and is printed out by the printer 17. Therefore,
In the reception buffer area of the image memory 6, the received data transferred to the encoding / decoding circuit 16 and the newly received reception data are mixed, and an unmanageable state of the data occurs. Even if there is a new incoming call while the data in the image memory 6 is being printed and output, the incoming call is received without completely connecting the line until the received data is completely ejected from the receiving buffer and the operation of the printer 17 is stopped. You can solve it by keeping it waiting.

However, even if the incoming call is made to wait until the printer operation is stopped, it is necessary to perform the pre-procedure of the facsimile communication before the data is received after the line is connected. It cannot start immediately.

Therefore, when the print operation receives an incoming call, the line is immediately connected so that the image data reception can be started immediately after the printer operation is stopped. In this case, when the line is connected, the CPU 1 sends an operation stop command to the printer 17, and if there is no operation stop response from the printer 17 by the end of training, the start of image data reception is suspended.

The control when there is a new incoming call during the printout of the received data in the image memory 6 will be described in detail below with reference to FIG.

First, when an incoming call is received (ST1), it is determined whether the printer 17 is operating (ST2). If it is in operation, an operation stop command is issued (ST3). Printer 1
A response signal is returned from 7 (ST4), CPU1
Issues a line connection instruction to the modem 5 (ST5), and the line is connected.

In ST2, the operation shifts to ST3 and the operation stop instruction is issued to the printer 17. Therefore, in ST6, it is judged in ST7 whether or not the operation stop notification is received from the printer 17 by the end of the training of the communication procedure. To do. If the operation stop notification has not been received, it means that the incoming data is not ready to be received, and therefore the modem 5 is made to transmit the training failure signal (FTT) (ST).
8) The sending side is made to hold the sending of the image data.

If the printer 17 is not operating in ST2, the process proceeds from ST6 to ST9, or ST7.
When the operation stop notification is received from the printer 17 at
The process proceeds from ST7 to ST9, and the reception preparation confirmation signal (CF
R) is sent to the modem 5 (ST9), and image data reception is started (ST10).

As described above, even if an incoming call is received while the printer 17 is operating, the line is immediately connected to execute the pre-procedure for facsimile communication.
When the printing operation ends, the image data reception can be started immediately. If the printer operation is not stopped even after the pre-procedure of the facsimile communication is completed, the pre-procedure of the facsimile communication is repeated again after sending the training failure signal, and the start of image data transmission is suspended. In the receive buffer area 6 the received data and new incoming data will not be mixed. [Regarding Journal Creation Control] The journal creation processing in this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 12 to 14. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the journal creation processing in this embodiment. FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram showing a process when a communication error file is created from a journal, and FIG. 14 is a memory diagram showing states of a journal and a communication error file.

First, when reception is started, the communication counter is incremented (ST1). The value of the communication counter becomes information indicating what communication has been made, and is set in the temporary buffer for journal creation (ST2). When the receiving process is completed (ST3), the journal file is changed to that shown in FIG.
It is created for each communication as in (2) of 2 (ST4). The journal is created at the end of the reception process in order to effectively use the software resources. That is, there are paper reception and memory reception for reception, and in the case of memory reception, there is time until paper output, so a journal is created after reception. In the case of paper reception, the journal may be created after the paper is output, but it is created after reception according to the memory reception. This eliminates the need to separately provide a process for journal creation for paper reception and memory reception.

After receiving, it is judged whether or not a communication error has occurred (ST5). If a communication error has occurred, a communication error file is created as shown in FIG.
6). The communication error file is created by transferring the data of the corresponding communication in the journal memory to the communication error memory as shown in FIG.

If the reception is paper reception (ST7),
The received data is recorded by the printer (ST8). When a print error occurs due to a paper jam or the like during this printer output (ST9), a situation occurs in which the error information at the time of journal creation and the error information after paper output differ.

Therefore, when a print error occurs,
Processing for rewriting the contents of the journal memory and the contents of the communication error memory is performed (ST10, 11). When the rewriting process of the journal memory and the communication error memory is completed, the correction is made as shown in FIG.

As a result, the situation in which the error information at the time of creating the journal and the error information after the paper output does not occur while the software resources for creating the journal are effectively used will not occur.

[0080]

As described in detail above, the present invention is
First, if a new incoming call arrives while printing the received data, the sending side finishes sending one page after receiving the incoming call.
Then, when the MPS signal arrives, the process of the encoding / decoding means is switched from the process of decoding the received data to the process of checking the received data for an error, and the reception is confirmed on the line when the error check is completed. By sending a signal and returning the encoding / decoding means to the decoding processing of the received data again, one encoding / decoding means can smoothly perform two different processings without trouble. You can

Secondly, even if an incoming call is received during the print operation of the image data received by the memory, the line is immediately connected to execute the pre-procedure of the facsimile communication while executing the print operation. While using one encoding / decoding means for the received data and newly received data, it is possible to start receiving the image data as soon as the printing operation is completed. If the printer operation is not stopped even after the pre-procedures for the facsimile communication are completed, the training side signal is sent again, and the pre-procedures for the facsimile communication are repeated again so that the transmission side retains the transmission of the image data. Therefore, the received data being printed and the newly received data are not mixed in the buffer.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart of a main routine executed by a CPU 1 in the above facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a detailed flowchart of step 205 in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a detailed flowchart of step 206 in FIG.

5 is a detailed flowchart of step 402 in FIG.

6 is a detailed flowchart of step 402 in FIG. 4 subsequent to FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a detailed flowchart of step 403 in FIG.

8 is a detailed flowchart of step 403 in FIG. 4 subsequent to FIG.

9 is a detailed flowchart of step 406 in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of internal control corresponding to communication control in the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing another embodiment of internal control corresponding to communication control in the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing journal creation control according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram showing processing when creating a communication error file from a journal.

FIG. 14 is a memory diagram showing a journal memory and a communication error memory before and after correction.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 CPU 5 modem 6 image memory 16 Encoding / decoding circuit 19 Printer buffer

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-4-129386 (JP, A) JP-A-4-92551 (JP, A) JP-A-2-246473 (JP, A) (58) Field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/32-1/36 H04N 1/42-1/44

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An encoding / decoding means for performing error checking of received data and encoding / decoding of image data, and image data decoded by this encoding / decoding means is stored in page units. Printer buffer, a printer that stores the decoded data for one page in the printer buffer and prints it out, and a page for receiving data for one page
When the communication is completed and the MPS signal is detected, the printer
Printer is interrupted when is running
Ignoring the MPS signal coming up to
After the interruption of the operation of
Error check of various received data, error check
When is finished, the response signal is sent back to the line and
Restart the operation of the image data to the encoding / decoding means.
And a control unit for executing the decoding of the image communication apparatus. 2. An image memory for storing received data, an encoding / decoding means for decoding image data in the image memory, a printer buffer for storing the decoded data in page units, and a printer buffer in the printer buffer. If there is an incoming call during the print output of the printer that stores and prints out one page of the decrypted data and the image data stored in the image memory, immediately connect the line and execute the communication procedure,
If the print operation is stopped after training
The incoming / outgoing data is received by the encoding / decoding means.
An image communication apparatus, comprising: a control unit that performs the operation . 3. The control means immediately connects the line and executes the communication procedure when a call is received while the image data stored in the image memory is being printed out until the training ends.
The image communication apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein when the print operation is not stopped, a training failure signal is transmitted to suspend the start of image data transmission.