JP3804833B2 - Internet facsimile machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an Internet facsimile apparatus, and more particularly to an Internet facsimile apparatus having a function of transmitting image data in a format suitable for the reception capability of a receiving apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general Internet facsimile communication, the format of image data transmitted and received between Internet facsimile apparatuses is standardized (for example, the recording paper size is A row No. 4, the encoding method is MH (Modified Huffman) method, and the resolution is 200 dpi). Therefore, the image data can be transmitted / received without any problem even if the transmitting Internet facsimile apparatus does not know the reception capability of the receiving Internet facsimile apparatus.
[0003]
In recent years, in order to transmit and receive higher quality image data than standard format image data (hereinafter referred to as “standard format”), information relating to the reception capability of the receiving Internet facsimile machine (hereinafter referred to as “reception capability information”). ), After the sender's Internet facsimile machine obtains information such as printable paper size, receivable resolution, and decodable encoding method from the receiver's Internet facsimile machine, it is optimal for the receiving ability of the receiver's Internet facsimile machine Internet facsimile communication for transmitting image data in a proper format has been proposed.
[0004]
In this Internet facsimile communication, a communication procedure shown in the sequence diagram of FIG. 2 is executed between Internet facsimile apparatuses. That is, the transmitting-side Internet facsimile machine T generates original image data having a high resolution from a document read from the reading unit, stores the original image data in the storage unit, converts the format of the original image data, and outputs the standard format image data. Generate data. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, a message 19 for requesting a reply of a delivery confirmation mail (for example, MDN defined in RFC2298) to the counterpart terminal device, and, if requested, higher quality than the image data in the standard format attached. Capability exchange notification information 20 for notifying the other terminal device that image data is to be transmitted, information on the format of image data attached to the e-mail (hereinafter referred to as “format information of attached image data”) 21, and An e-mail M1 in which information about the format of the stored original image data (hereinafter referred to as “format information of the original image data”) 22 is generated is generated, and the image data 23 in the standard format is attached and transmitted. (T1).
[0005]
On the other hand, the receiving-side Internet facsimile machine R that receives the e-mail M1 uses, for example, a delivery confirmation e-mail based on the capability exchange notification information 20 described in the e-mail M1 and the format information 22 of the original image data. As shown in FIG. 7, the transmission-side Internet facsimile machine is generated by generating an electronic mail M2 in which information about the reception capability of the device R (hereinafter referred to as "reception capability information") 25, various information 24 of the electronic mail M1, etc. Reply to T (T2).
[0006]
When the transmitting-side Internet facsimile machine T receives this e-mail M2, it is regarded as a response to the e-mail M1 sent by itself from the various information 21 described therein, and the e-mail M2 Is used to format image data in a format that is optimal for the reception capability of the receiving-side Internet facsimile machine 1B (hereinafter referred to as "high quality image data") from the original image data stored previously. Generate by converting. Then, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, an e-mail M3 attached with high-quality image data 23A is generated and transmitted to the receiving-side Internet facsimile machine R (T3). Hereinafter, the function of transmitting and receiving image data by the series of communication procedures from T1 to T3 is referred to as “capability exchange function”.
[0007]
According to such Internet facsimile communication, although it is necessary to transmit and receive a plurality of e-mails as described above, it is possible to transmit image data in an optimal format according to the reception capability of the counterpart terminal device.
[0008]
In the Internet facsimile apparatus having the capability exchange function, a function (hereinafter referred to as “transmission resolution designation function”) for designating the resolution of the high-quality image data 23A to be transmitted by an operator's input operation from the operation unit or the like. There is something to prepare.
[0009]
According to this transmission resolution specifying function, the transmitting-side Internet facsimile machine T generates original image data with the specified resolution, and an e-mail describing the format of the generated image data as the format information 22 of the original image data. Is transmitted as T1. Next, when there is a request for high-quality image data from the receiving-side Internet facsimile machine R as T2, the transmitting-side Internet facsimile machine T has a receiving capability sufficient for the receiving-side Internet facsimile machine R to receive the original image data. If it can be received from the reception capability information 25, the electronic mail M3 attached with the original image data as the high-quality image data 15A is generated and transmitted as T3. On the other hand, if it is determined that the receiving-side Internet facsimile machine R does not have the receiving capability to receive the original image data, the original image data is converted into a format optimal for the receiving capability of the receiving-side device R, An e-mail attached with this as high-quality image data 15A is generated and transmitted as T3.
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the transmission side Internet facsimile apparatus T having the capability of encoding with a higher-level encoding system (for example, MR, MMR, etc. when the standard format encoding system is MH) should transmit. When the same resolution (200 dpi) as the resolution of the standard format is specified as the resolution of the image data, and transmission by the capability exchange function is executed, the following problem occurs.
[0011]
That is, at T1, the difference between the format information 21 of the attached image data 23 described in the e-mail M1 (see FIG. 6) and the format information 22 of the original image data is an encoding method (“image-coding =”). Even in the communication sequence using the capability exchange function, since the MMR is positioned higher than the MH, the receiving-side Internet facsimile machine R sends the e-mail M2 requesting high-quality image data. The data is transmitted to the transmitting side Internet facsimile machine T. In response to this request, the transmitting-side Internet facsimile machine T transmits the image data encoded by the MMR as high-quality image data 15A to the receiving-side Internet facsimile machine R by e-mail M3.
[0012]
As a result, although the image quality of the standard format image data received first by the receiving-side Internet facsimile apparatus R is the same as the image quality of the high-quality image data received thereafter, the capability exchange function allows the There is a problem that e-mail is exchanged and the communication time from the start of communication to the end of communication becomes meaningless.
[0013]
The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and the difference between the format of the high-quality image data to be transmitted after acquiring the receiving capability of the receiving-side Internet facsimile machine and the standard format is only in the encoding method. An object of the present invention is to provide an Internet facsimile machine that prevents transmission of high-quality image data.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an Internet facsimile apparatus according to claim 1 is provided with an ability exchange function and a transmission resolution designation function for designating a resolution of high-quality image data to be transmitted by the function. When the paper size of the original image data is the same as the paper size of the standard format and the resolution specified by the transmission resolution specifying function is equal to or less than the resolution of the standard format, the encoding method of the format of the original image data Even if the encoding method is higher than the standard format, the encoding method of the standard format is described as the encoding method of the format of the original image data described in the e-mail transmitted first.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an Internet facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, the Internet facsimile apparatus serving as the transmission side of image data is referred to as “transmission-side Internet facsimile apparatus”, and the Internet facsimile apparatus serving as the reception side of image data is referred to as “reception-side Internet facsimile apparatus”.
[0016]
The transmitting-side Internet facsimile machine and the receiving-side Internet facsimile machine have the same configuration, and a specific configuration example is shown in FIG. That is, the Internet facsimile machine 1A, 1B includes a CPU (central processing unit) 2, RAM (random access memory) 3, ROM (read only memory) 4, codec 5, modem 6, NCU (network control unit) 7, reading A unit 8, a recording unit 9, an operation unit 10, and a LAN I / F (local area network interface) 11 are provided. The units 2 to 11 are communicably connected by a bus 12.
[0017]
The CPU 2 controls each part constituting the Internet facsimile machines 1A and 1B according to a predetermined program.
[0018]
The RAM 3 functions as a storage unit for storing image data, facsimile numbers, mail addresses, etc. in advance, or as a storage unit for various data temporarily stored.
[0019]
The ROM 4 stores various programs for controlling the operation of each part of the Internet facsimile machines 1A and 1B by the CPU 2, programs for converting the format of image data, and the like.
[0020]
The codec 5 performs encoding (encoding) and decoding (decoding) corresponding to a plurality of protocols. That is, the image data read by the reading unit 8 is encoded by the MH, MR, MMR method or the like for transmission, and the received image data is decoded. Also, encoding and decoding are performed in a TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) format, which is a commonly used image format used in computers.
[0021]
The modem 6 is, for example, an ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union) recommendation V.3. Modulate and demodulate transmitted / received data according to the 34 standard or the like.
[0022]
The NCU 7 is a line network control device that controls a telephone line to place a call or hang up a telephone, and is connected to a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) 13.
[0023]
The reading unit 8 reads image data of a document and outputs image data converted into black and white.
[0024]
The recording unit 9 is made of, for example, an electrophotographic system, and forms an image of the received image data on recording paper.
[0025]
The operation unit 10 displays information relating to the status of the Internet facsimile machines 1A and 1B, a display 10a for displaying various operation instruction screens, an input of an e-mail address, an instruction for starting a document reading operation, and a reverse display in the display 10a. The operation unit 10 includes a plurality of operation keys 10 b for moving and the like, and various operations are performed from the operation unit 10.
[0026]
The LAN I / F 11 includes an interface with a LAN (local area network) 14 and connects the LAN 14 and the Internet facsimile machine 1A so that they can communicate with each other.
[0027]
The Internet facsimile machines 1A and 1B have a facsimile function for transmitting and receiving image data such as a document by G3 facsimile, and an Internet facsimile function for transmitting and receiving image data such as a document by e-mail.
[0028]
Furthermore, the Internet facsimile machines 1A and 1B are provided with the “transmission resolution designation function” explained in the “Prior art” column and the “capability exchange function” explained based on FIG. That is, in the capability exchange function, first, the transmitting-side Internet facsimile machine 1A describes predetermined information 20 to 22 such as a message 19 requesting a reply to a delivery confirmation message, and an electronic data to which image data 23 in a standard format is attached. The mail is transmitted to the receiving-side Internet facsimile machine 1B (T1). On the other hand, the receiving-side Internet facsimile machine 1B returns an e-mail including various information 24 of the e-mail received at T1, receiving capability information 25, etc. to the sending-side Internet facsimile machine 1A (T2). The transmitting-side Internet facsimile machine 1A that has received this transmits an e-mail attached with the high-quality image data 23A to the receiving-side Internet facsimile machine 1B (T3).
[0029]
The transmitting-side Internet facsimile machine 1A and the receiving-side Internet facsimile machine 1B having the configuration and functions described above are installed and used in a network environment A as shown in FIG. 3, for example. In other words, the transmitting-side Internet facsimile machine 1A is connected to the mail server 15, the client PC 16 having the transmitting-side Internet facsimile machine 1A as a server, the router 17 and the like through the LAN 14 so that they can communicate with each other. It is possible to communicate with the Internet facsimile machine 1B. Further, G3 facsimile transmission / reception can be performed with other G3 FAX terminals 18 through the PSTN 13.
[0030]
Hereinafter, an operation in the case where the transmitting-side Internet facsimile apparatus 1A installed in the network environment A transmits image data such as a document by the capability exchange function will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. The operation described based on this flowchart is performed according to a command issued by the CPU 2 based on a control program or the like stored in the ROM 4 of the transmitting-side Internet facsimile machine 1A. In the capability exchange function, the receiving-side Internet facsimile machine 1B does not perform the procedure of T2 when the format of the original image data of the e-mail received at T1 is the same as the standard format. .
[0031]
First, when a predetermined transmission operation such as a transmission destination designation or a resolution designation by a transmission resolution designation function is performed by the operator from the operation unit 10 and a start key is pressed, the transmission-side Internet facsimile machine 1A. Stores various designated information in the RAM 3 (S1), and the reading unit 8 detects whether the paper size of the document to be transmitted is the standard format paper size, that is, column A No. 4. A determination is made based on the paper size information (S2). If the paper size of the original is A column No. 4, the resolution is designated in S1, and whether both the X direction and the Y direction of the designated resolution are equal to or lower than the resolution of the standard format. That is, it is determined whether it is 200 dpi or less (S3). When both the X direction and the Y direction of the designated resolution are 200 dpi or less, the original is read by the reading unit 8, the resolution is the resolution designated by the operator, and the paper size is A column No. 4. Original image data and standard format image data are generated and stored in the RAM 3 (S4).
[0032]
Next, an e-mail M4 as shown in FIG. 5 is generated and transmitted as the first e-mail to be transmitted by the capability exchange function. That is, the encoding method portion of the message 19, the capability exchange notification information 20, the attached image data format information 21, and the original image data format generated in S4 is MH, which is the standard format encoding method. The format information 22A (that is, even if the encoding method of the generated original image data is MR or MMR, the encoding method of the format information 22A is MH) corresponds to a predetermined column (“content-features:”). Column, “content-alternative:” column), and further, an e-mail M4 to which the image data in the standard format generated in S4 is attached is generated (S5). The generated e-mail M4 is transmitted to the receiving Internet facsimile machine 1B as T1 (S6), and the original image data stored in the RAM 3 and held in S2 and the standard format image data are deleted (S7). ). The e-mail M4 shown in FIG. 5 shows an example where the format of the original image data is the same as the standard format.
[0033]
In this way, when the receiving side Internet facsimile machine 1B receives the electronic mail M4 transmitted from the transmitting side internet facsimile machine 1A, the receiving side internet facsimile machine 1B receives the format information 21 of the attached image data described in the electronic mail M4. And the format information 22A of the original image data are the same, and the request for the high quality image data of T3 is not made.
[0034]
On the other hand, if it is determined in S2 that the document size is not A column No. 4, and if in S3, at least one of the X direction and Y direction of the resolution exceeds 200 dpi, the document is read by the reading unit 8. The original image data whose resolution is the resolution designated by the operator and the image data in the standard format are generated and stored in the RAM 3 (S8).
[0035]
Next, an electronic mail M1 as shown in FIG. 6 is generated and transmitted as the first electronic mail to be transmitted by the capability exchange function. That is, the message 19, the capability exchange notification information 20, the format information 21 of the attached image data, and the format information 22 of the original image data generated in S8 are described in predetermined columns, respectively, and the standard format image generated in S8. The electronic mail M1 with the data 23 attached is generated (S9), and is transmitted to the receiving-side Internet facsimile machine 1B as T1 (S10). Finally, the standard format image data stored in the RAM 3 in S8 is erased (S11).
[0036]
In this way, when the receiving side Internet facsimile machine 1B receives the e-mail M1 transmitted from the sending side internet facsimile machine 1A, the format described in the format information 22 of the original picture data is better than the format information 21 of the attached picture data. It is determined that the image quality is high, and the steps T2 and T3 are executed mutually to transmit the high-quality image data from the transmission-side Internet facsimile machine 1A to the reception-side Internet facsimile machine 1B. Note that the original image data stored in the RAM 3 in S8 is held until high quality image data is transmitted according to the procedure of T3.
[0037]
As described above, according to the transmission-side Internet facsimile machine 1A, the resolution of the transmission image data is designated by the transmission resolution designation function, and both the X direction and the Y direction of the designated resolution are determined. When the resolution is below the standard format, the communication procedures T2 and T3 are not performed among the communication procedures T1 to T3 by the capability exchange function. As a result, although the image quality of the image data received by the receiving Internet facsimile apparatus at T1 is exactly the same as the image data received at T3, the communication time is reduced by using the capability exchange function. The problem of becoming longer is solved.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the Internet facsimile apparatus of the first aspect, the image quality of the image data received first by the other party is specified by designating a resolution of a predetermined value or less by the transmission resolution designating function. Thereafter, although the image quality of the image data received as high-quality image data is hardly changed, the problem that a plurality of e-mails are exchanged by the capability exchange function and the communication time becomes long is solved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an Internet facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing a communication procedure of Internet facsimile communication by a capability exchange function.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a network environment in which the Internet facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is arranged.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation executed when a transmitting-side Internet facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention transmits a document with a resolution specified by a transmission resolution specifying function.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a description example of an e-mail first transmitted from a transmitting-side Internet facsimile apparatus in Internet facsimile communication by a capability exchange function.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a description example of an e-mail first transmitted from a transmitting-side Internet facsimile apparatus in Internet facsimile communication by a capability exchange function.
FIG. 7 is a description example of an e-mail returned from the receiving Internet facsimile apparatus to the transmitting Internet facsimile apparatus in the Internet facsimile communication using the capability exchange function, in which the receiving capability of the receiving Internet facsimile apparatus is described. Is.
FIG. 8 is a description example of an e-mail with high-quality image data attached, which is transmitted after the transmission-side Internet facsimile apparatus obtains reception capability information from the reception-side Internet facsimile apparatus in Internet facsimile communication using the capability exchange function; FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1A (transmission side) Internet facsimile machine 1B (reception side) Internet facsimile machine 2 CPU
3 RAM
4 ROM
22, 22A Original image data format information 23 Standard format image data 23A High quality image data

Claims (1)

In an Internet facsimile machine comprising a capability exchange function and a transmission resolution designation function for designating the resolution of high-quality image data transmitted by the function,
When the paper size of the original image data is the same as the paper size of the standard format and the resolution specified by the transmission resolution specifying function is equal to or less than the resolution of the standard format, the encoding method of the format of the original image data Internet facsimile, wherein the encoding method of the standard format is described as the encoding method of the format of the original image data described in the e-mail to be transmitted first even if the encoding method is higher than the standard format apparatus.

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