JP3529230B2 - Facsimile communication system - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile communication system in which a computer is connected to a facsimile apparatus having a thinning function for thinning sub-scanning data of image data received by facsimile, and more particularly to a paper saving function by thinning. The present invention relates to a technique suitable for being applied to.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional technique having a paper saving function by thinning, there is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-132262.

The "facsimile machine" disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-132262 is
When the remaining usage amount detecting means detects a predetermined amount of remaining amount of the printing paper or less, by executing the usage saving means of the printing paper, it is possible to avoid the inconvenience of receiving out due to paper shortage. is there.

Further, as a conventional technique having a thinning function, there are JP-A-62-53572 and JP-A-63-26.
There is one described in Japanese Patent No. 3876.

The "facsimile apparatus" described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-53572 has an arbitrary reduction ratio according to the original length of an original having an arbitrary original length sent from a partner transmitter. By thinning out the image signals of the received original, it is possible to record the entire area of the received original on the cut recording paper.

Further, the "facsimile apparatus" described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-263876 outputs a long original on one sheet of printing paper by thinning out image signals and reducing and converting the image data. It was made possible.

[0007]

However, in such a conventional technique, when the paper saving function or the like is enabled, it is possible to decode the character unless the image is actually output on the paper and checked. Also, it is not possible to judge the deterioration of the image. Therefore, if you can't decipher the characters or the image is severely deteriorated by actually printing it on paper, you must output the image data without thinning out again, rather than saving paper, rather than saving paper. This results in wasted use.

Further, even when the paper saving function is disabled, when the remaining amount of paper is low, the paper saving function is automatically enabled and the paper cannot be used for a long time.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and it is possible to confirm the undecipherability of characters and the deterioration of an image due to thinning before output, and save paper without wasteful output. The purpose is to enable effective use of the functions.

It is another object of the present invention to enable the paper saving function to automatically operate to make the paper last longer even when the paper saving function is disabled, when the remaining amount of the paper becomes low. It is a thing.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application provides an interface with a computer for a facsimile apparatus having a thinning function for thinning out sub-scanning data of image data received by facsimile. By connecting a computer with the above, the thinned image data can be transferred from the facsimile device to the computer and displayed on the display screen, and the thinning function of the facsimile device can be set to be valid / invalid from the computer. When the device receives image data when the thinning function is enabled,
The thinned-out image data is transferred to a computer, the computer displays the thinned-out image data transferred from the facsimile apparatus on a display screen, and the operator is made to select valid / invalid of the thinning-out function, and according to the selection result. The thinning function of the facsimile device is set to be enabled / disabled. The facsimile device records and outputs thinned image data when the thinning function is enabled based on the setting from the computer, and the thinning function is disabled. If it is, the received image data is recorded and output without being thinned out.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile communication system according to the first aspect, the facsimile apparatus has a plurality of thinning reduction ratios and image data is set when the thinning function is enabled. Is received,
The thinned image data according to the plurality of thinning reduction ratios is transferred to the computer, and the computer displays the thinned image data for each thinning reduction ratio transferred from the facsimile apparatus on the display screen to allow the operator to perform the thinning function. Effectiveness/
Disable and thinning reduction ratio are selected, and the thinning function is set valid / invalid and the thinning reduction ratio is set to valid in the facsimile device based on the setting from the computer according to the selection result. When the thinning function is set to be invalid, the thinned image data having the designated thinning reduction ratio is recorded and output, and when the thinning function is set to be invalid, the received image data is recorded and output without thinning.

Further, in the invention described in claim 3, in the facsimile communication system according to claim 1 or 2, the facsimile device has a paper remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of recording paper. When the remaining amount of paper becomes less than or equal to a predetermined amount, the thinned image data is transferred to the computer regardless of whether the thinning function is valid or invalid.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a facsimile communication system according to the present invention. This facsimile communication system includes a facsimile device 10
0 is connected to a personal computer (PC) 200 that is widely used as a small general-purpose computer.

The facsimile apparatus 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1 for controlling the entire apparatus, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 2 for storing a control program executed by the CPU 1, and a CPU 1 for executing the program. It has a RAM (random access memory) 3 that serves as a work area and stores various data relating to the operation of the apparatus.

Further, an operation display section 4 having a display such as an LCD for displaying information such as the operating state of the facsimile apparatus 100 and an input device such as a numeric keypad and a function key for the operator to perform various input operations, and a document A scanner 5, which is an image reading device that optically reads an image, a plotter 6 such as a laser recording device that prints image data on a recording sheet, image data that is coded and compressed during transmission, and a received image that is coded and compressed during reception. Communication control for exchanging a facsimile control signal between an encoding / decoding unit 7 for decoding / decompressing (reproducing) data into original image data and a partner facsimile apparatus via a communication line to execute a facsimile communication control procedure. Unit 8, a remaining paper amount detection unit 9 for detecting the remaining amount of recording paper, a page memory 10 for accumulating image data page by page, and a book An image processing unit 11 for performing various image processing such as scaling and resolution conversion process in addition to the image data thinning processing according to the bright, PC (Personal Computer)
Connected to 200 with Centronics or RS-232C,
It has a PC interface section 12 capable of bidirectional transmission and reception.

These CPU 1, ROM 2, RAM 3,
The operation display unit 4, the scanner 5, the plotter 6, the encoding / decoding unit 7, the communication control unit 8, the remaining paper amount detection unit 9, the page memory 10, the image processing unit 11, and the PC interface unit 12.
Is connected to the system bus 13, and data is exchanged between these elements mainly via the system bus 13.

Interface unit 1 with the PC 200
2, the image data received by the facsimile and the scanner 5
The image data read by the computer and the thinned-out image data thereof are transmitted to the PC 200, accumulated in the PC 200, displayed on the display thereof, and the document created by the PC 200 is output by the plotter 6 of the facsimile apparatus 100. Can be used to send a facsimile to another facsimile device. Further, the setting on the facsimile device 100 side can be changed from the PC 200 side, and the state of the facsimile device 100 can be displayed on the display of the PC 200.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment having the above structure will be described. FIG. 2 shows a facsimile device 10.
0 is a flow of image data when a facsimile is received, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing of the facsimile apparatus 100 at that time, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing of the PC 200. The sub-scanning thinning processing section 11a in FIG. 2 is included in the image processing section 11 shown in FIG.

In FIG. 2, the encoded image data received by facsimile from the line through the communication control unit 8 is reproduced into raw image data by the encoding / decoding unit 7 and stored in the page memory 10 (FIG. 3). Judgment 101 Y → process 10
2). Then, when the paper saving function of the facsimile apparatus 100 is set to off (invalid), the image data accumulated in the page memory 10 is used as it is for the plotter 6.
And the received image is recorded and output on a recording sheet (N of determination 103 in FIG. 3 → process 104).

On the other hand, when the paper saving function is set to ON (valid) and there are plural pages of image data, the sub-scanning thinning processing section 11a performs sub-scanning thinning before transferring to the plotter 6. The thinned-out image data is encoded and compressed by the encoding / decoding unit 7, and the PC interface unit 1
It transfers to PC200 via 2 (Y of judgment 103 of FIG. 3-> process 105).

In the PC 200, the facsimile device 100
When there is an image transfer from, the encoded thinned-out image data is decoded and developed, and displayed on the display (Y of judgment 201 in FIG. 4 → process 202). The user checks the image displayed on the display and determines the degree of deterioration of the image, especially whether or not the characters can be decoded. If the characters can be decoded, an input operation to the effect that the image is OK is performed, whereby the facsimile apparatus 10 is operated by the PC 200.
The paper saving function of 0 is set to ON (determination 203 in FIG. 4).
Y → judgment 204 Y → process 205).

In the facsimile apparatus 100, the PC 200
After transferring the thinned-out image to, wait for the setting from the PC 200 (process 105 of FIG. 3 → N loop of determination 106). If there is a setting to turn on the paper saving function from the PC 200, the received image data accumulated in the page memory 10 is converted into a thinned image by the sub-scanning thinning processing unit 11a again, and a plurality of pages of images are converted by the plotter 6. One page or pages that are less than the number of received pages are collectively output (Y in decision 106 in FIG. 3 → N in decision 107 → Process 10
8).

On the other hand, if the user cannot decipher the characters, he / she performs an input operation to the effect that the image is not OK, thereby turning off the paper saving function of the facsimile device 100 in the PC 200 again (see FIG. 4 of judgment 203 Y → judgment 204 N → process 206). On the side of the facsimile apparatus 100, if there is a setting for turning off the paper saving function from the PC 200, the received image data stored in the page memory 10 is directly transferred to the plotter 6 and output without passing through the sub-scanning thinning processing unit 11a. (Y in decision 106 in FIG. 3 → Y in decision 107 → process 104).

As described above, it is possible to solve the problem that the characters of the output image cannot be decoded when the paper saving function is on, and the paper saving function can be effectively utilized without wasteful output.

Next, a second embodiment will be described.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing on the side of the facsimile apparatus 100 in this embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing on the side of the PC 200. Although the apparatus configuration and the flow of image data are the same as those in FIGS. 1 and 2, the facsimile apparatus 100 has three reduction ratios (reduction ratios) of 1/2, 1/3, and 1/4 as an example. It is assumed that decimation can be done at.

When the received image data has a plurality of pages and the sub-scanning thinning process is performed, the paper can be most saved by thinning it out to 1/4, but the image is most deteriorated and the characters of the received image are not printed. Depending on the size, it may not be possible to discriminate.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, when the paper saving function is turned on at the time of facsimile reception and plural pages are received, the thinned image data subjected to the thinned image processing at the reduction ratio of 3 patterns is transferred to the PC 200. Yes (decision 301
Y → process 302 → determination 303 Y → process 305).

On the PC 200 side, the transferred thinned-out images of each of the three patterns are displayed on the display (Y in judgment 401 in FIG. 6 → process 402). The user confirms the three patterns of images displayed on the display, and selects and operates an optimum pattern in terms of both paper saving and image discrimination. Thereby, the thinning reduction rate of the facsimile apparatus 100 is set by the PC 200 (determination 40 in FIG. 6).
3 Y → judgment 404 Y → judgment 405 → process 406 or process 407 or process 408).

In the facsimile device 100, the PC 200
After transferring the thinned image at each reduction ratio, the CPU waits for the setting from the PC 200 (process 305 in FIG. 5 → N loop of determination 306). When the thinning reduction ratio is set from the PC 200, the sub-scanning thinning processing unit 11 again receives the received image data accumulated in the page memory 10 at the set reduction ratio.
At a, it is converted into a thinned image, transferred to the plotter 6 and output (Y in judgment 306 in FIG. 5 → N in judgment 307 → judgment 30).
8 → Process 309 or Process 310 or Process 311).

On the other hand, when the user determines that none of the three patterns is suitable, the PC 200 sets the paper saving function of the facsimile device 100 to OFF (N in the determination 404 of FIG. 6 → process 409), and the facsimile device. On the 100 side, the received image is output as it is (Y in judgment 307 →
Process 304).

As a result, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the paper saving function can be effectively utilized at an optimal reduction ratio according to the type of received image data and the user's preference. It is also possible to minimize the image deterioration of the paper saving function.

Next, a third embodiment will be described.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing on the facsimile apparatus 100 side in this embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing on the PC 200 side. The device configuration and the flow of image data are the same as those in FIGS. 1 and 2.

When the facsimile is received, the remaining amount of paper is detected by the remaining amount of paper detector 9 in FIG. 1. If the remaining amount of paper is sufficient (Y in judgment 501 in FIG. 7, processing 502, judgment 5).
03 N), the same processing as that of the first embodiment is executed (N of judgment 504 → process 505, or Y of judgment 504).
→ Process 507 → Y of judgment 508 → N of judgment 509 → Process 510 or Y of judgment 509 → Process 505).

When the remaining amount of paper is low and the paper is near end, the paper near end is notified to the PC 200 and the thinned image data is transferred (Y in judgment 503 → process 506 → process 507).

On the PC 200 side, the facsimile machine 10
If the paper near end notification and the thinned image data are transferred from 0, they are displayed on the display (decision 601).
Y → process 602). The user recognizes that the remaining amount of paper is small by the paper near-end notification, confirms the thinned-out image displayed on the display, and determines the degree of image deterioration, especially whether or not the characters can be decoded. If the characters can be decoded, an input operation to the effect that the image is OK is performed, and thereby the paper saving function of the facsimile apparatus 100 is set to ON in the PC 200 (Y in judgment 603 in FIG. 8 → judgment). Y of 604 → process 605).

In the facsimile device 100, the PC 200
After transferring the thinned-out image to, wait for the setting from the PC 200 (process 507 in FIG. 7 → N loop of determination 508). If there is a setting to turn on the paper saving function from the PC 200, the received image data accumulated in the page memory 10 is converted into a thinned image by the sub-scanning thinning processing unit 11a again, and a plurality of pages of images are converted by the plotter 6. The data is collectively output to one page or pages smaller than the number of received pages (Y in judgment 508 in FIG. 7 → N in judgment 509 → process 51).
0).

On the other hand, if the user cannot decode the characters, he / she performs an input operation to the effect that the image is not OK, thereby turning off the paper saving function of the facsimile apparatus 100 in the PC 200 again (see FIG. 8 judgment 603 Y → judgment 604 N → process 606). On the side of the facsimile apparatus 100, if there is a setting for turning off the paper saving function from the PC 200, the received image data stored in the page memory 10 is directly transferred to the plotter 6 and output without passing through the sub-scanning thinning processing unit 11a. (Y in judgment 508 in FIG. 7 → Y in judgment 509 → process 505).

As a result, the same effect as the first embodiment can be obtained, and even when the paper saving function is off, the time from the paper near end state to the paper end becomes long, and the user Can get time to get the paper. The same effect can be obtained by applying the function corresponding to the remaining amount of paper to the second embodiment.

Note that the present invention is particularly effective when applied to the one having the paper saving function by thinning out as in the above-mentioned embodiment, but paper saving is not the main purpose, and the received long original is used. A thinning function is used to enable recording on a single sheet of cut paper. For example, JP-A-62-53572 and JP-A-63-352 cited in the prior art.
It is also effective when applied to those disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 263876.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the function of the present invention is made to work at the time of receiving a plurality of pages. However, when roll paper is used, it can be applied not only at a plurality of pages but also at the time of receiving one page. It is valid.

[0043]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a facsimile machine having a thinning-out function for thinning out sub-scanning data of image data received by facsimile is provided with an interface with the computer and is connected to the computer. By doing so, the thinned image data can be transferred from the facsimile device to the computer and displayed on the display screen thereof, and the thinning function of the facsimile device can be set to be valid / invalid from the computer. When the image data is received when the setting is enabled, the thinned image data is transferred to the computer, and the computer displays the thinned image data transferred from the facsimile device on the display screen to allow the operator to perform the thinning function. Select whether to enable / disable the Enable / disable culling function of the facsimile apparatus in response to said facsimile apparatus,
Based on the setting from the computer, when the thinning function is enabled, the thinned image data is recorded and output, and when the thinning function is disabled, the received image data is recorded and output without thinning. Therefore, it is possible to confirm the indecisibility of characters and the deterioration of the image due to the thinning before the output, and it is possible to effectively utilize the paper saving function without wasteful output.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile communication system according to the first aspect, the facsimile apparatus has a plurality of thinning reduction rates, and an image is displayed when the thinning function is enabled. When the data is received, the thinned image data according to the plurality of thinning reduction ratios is transferred to the computer, and the computer displays the thinned image data for each thinning reduction ratio transferred from the facsimile apparatus on the display screen and operates. A user to select the valid / invalid of the thinning function and the thinning reduction ratio, and set the valid / invalid of the thinning function of the facsimile device and the thinning reduction ratio according to the selection result, and the facsimile device is based on the setting from the computer. , When the thinning function is enabled, the thinned image data of the specified thinning reduction ratio is recorded and output, and the thinning function is performed. Because if it is disabled and to record outputs without thinning the received image data,
In addition to the effect of claim 1, the reduction ratio pattern of the sub-scanning thinning process can be selected on the computer side, so that the paper saving function can be effectively utilized with the optimum reduction ratio.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 3, in the facsimile communication system according to claim 1 or 2, the facsimile device has a paper remaining amount detecting means for detecting a remaining amount of recording paper. However, when the remaining amount of paper becomes less than or equal to the predetermined amount, the thinned image data is transferred to the computer regardless of whether the thinning function is valid or invalid. The paper saving function can be automatically enabled when the remaining amount of paper is low, so even if the paper saving function is disabled, the paper can last longer when the remaining amount of paper is low. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a facsimile communication system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flow of image data when the facsimile apparatus according to the above embodiment receives a facsimile.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing of the facsimile apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the processing of the PC according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing of a facsimile apparatus according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing of the PC according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing of a facsimile device according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing of the PC according to the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 CPU 2 ROM 3 RAM 4 Operation display section 5 scanner 6 plotter 7 Encoding / decoding section 8 Communication control unit 9 Paper remaining amount detector 10 page memory 11 Image processing unit 11a Sub-scanning thinning-out processing unit 12 PC interface section 13 system bus 100 facsimile machine 200 PC (personal computer)

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/38-1/393 H04N 1/00

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A facsimile device having a thinning function for thinning out sub-scanning data of image data received by facsimile is provided with an interface with a computer and the computer is connected to transfer the thinned image data from the facsimile device to the computer. In addition to enabling display on the display screen, it is possible to enable / disable the thinning function of the facsimile device from the computer, and when the facsimile device receives image data when the thinning function is set to be valid, the thinned image data is received. To the computer, and the computer displays the thinned-out image data transferred from the facsimile apparatus on the display screen to allow the operator to select valid / invalid of the thinning-out function, and according to the selection result, Enable / disable thinning function Based on the setting from the computer, the facsimile device records and outputs the thinned image data when the thinning function is enabled, and thins the received image data when the thinning function is disabled. A facsimile communication system characterized by recording and outputting without performing. 2. The facsimile apparatus has a plurality of thinning reduction ratios, and when receiving image data when the thinning reduction function is set to be effective, transfers the thinned image data at the plurality of thinning reduction ratios to a computer, The computer displays the thinned-out image data for each thinning-out reduction ratio transferred from the facsimile apparatus on the display screen, and allows the operator to select the valid / invalid of the thinning-out function and the thinning-out reduction ratio, and according to the selection result. The thinning function of the facsimile device is set to be valid / invalid and the thinning reduction ratio is set. When the thinning function is set to be valid, the thinning image data of the facsimile device is set based on the setting from the computer. Is recorded and output, and when the thinning function is disabled, the received image data is recorded and output without thinning. Motomeko 1 facsimile communication system as claimed. 3. The facsimile device has a paper remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of recording paper, and when the remaining amount of paper is below a predetermined amount, regardless of whether the thinning function is valid or invalid, The facsimile communication system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the thinned image data is transferred to a computer.