JP3806597B2 - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a facsimile machine, and more particularly to a facsimile machine capable of paperless reception.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there exists a facsimile apparatus that can store and manage image data as a paperless electronic document.
[0003]
As a facsimile apparatus capable of storing and managing image data in a paperless manner, for example, there is a facsimile apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-334794. By providing an optical disk and an optical disk drive as image storage means, a large-capacity image can be obtained. Data can be managed.
[0004]
In the facsimile apparatus, when receiving a document, it is possible to perform normal reception printing, or transfer it to the image storage means and store it as an electronic document without outputting it. When transmitting a document, the read image data can be transmitted as it is, or can be temporarily stored in the image storage means.
[0005]
In addition, since the storage medium (in this case, an optical disk) can be exchanged and carried, data can be handled by other facsimile apparatuses having the same configuration. In addition, there are various types such as reservation transmission (sent documents are sent at the specified date and time), automatic proxy reception (when the receiving facsimile is out of paper, etc., it is automatically received and stored by the image storage means). The function is available.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional facsimile apparatus, in the processing on the transmission side, processing such as addition of transmission date / time and caller number, conversion of screen size for mutual communication, etc. is performed on the image data, and only processed image data is processed. Could not receive.
[0007]
For this reason, when it is desired to transfer the received image data to the image storage means and store it as an electronic document (file) without performing normal reception printing processing, the processed image data is saved as a file. Problems arise.
[0008]
In addition, when a plurality of image data are arranged at the same destination, they may be processed as one image data. In the case of G3 communication, the receiving side cannot classify the received image data as a whole. It is also inconvenient if you want to treat it as a document.
[0009]
Further, even when the image storage means is provided with an encoding means, etc. and has a capability higher than the reception capability of the facsimile apparatus main body, the image storage means is receiving with the reception capability of the facsimile apparatus main body. I couldn't make use of my reception ability.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and selects a mode for storing received image data as an electronic document in a facsimile apparatus connected to image storage means capable of storing received image data as an electronic document. If this is the case, use the communication protocol to declare (command) the image data to be sent without processing to the sending facsimile device, and to provide a facsimile device that makes it easier to handle it as an electronic document on the receiving side. This is the first purpose.
[0011]
In addition, when the mode to store in the image storage means is selected, a facsimile apparatus that prohibits serial processing in the transmission side facsimile apparatus and prevents a plurality of documents from being processed as a single document. The second purpose is to provide it.
[0012]
In addition, when the mode to be stored in the image storage means is selected, the capability of the image storage system is notified to the transmission side facsimile by the protocol, so that not the capability of the receiving side facsimile main body but the image storage system. It is a third object to provide a facsimile apparatus capable of receiving with capability.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve such an object, the invention described in claim 1 is connected to image storage means for storing image data as a file, and as a reception mode, an accumulation mode for transferring received image data to the image storage means and storing it. If the storage mode is selected when receiving image data, the sending facsimile device is notified to transmit the image data without processing, and the received image data is stored in the image. It is characterized by transferring to the means.
[0014]
The invention described in claim 2 is connected to the image storage means, has a storage mode, and when transmitting image data, a receiving facsimile apparatus notifies the image data to be transmitted without being processed. When the image data is transmitted without being processed, and when the image data is received, when the accumulation mode is selected, the transmission side facsimile apparatus is notified to transmit without processing the image data. The received image data is transferred to the image storage means.
[0015]
The invention described in claim 3 is characterized in that the processing is character string addition and insertion processing.
[0016]
The invention described in claim 4 is characterized in that the processing is reduction and scaling.
[0017]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, when image data is transmitted to the same destination, if the storage facsimile mode is selected, a series is not performed.
[0018]
The invention according to claim 6 stores the reception capability of the image storage means and, when receiving the image data, notifies the transmission side facsimile apparatus of the reception capability as the standard capability when the storage mode is selected. It is said.
[0019]
The invention described in claim 7 is characterized in that the reception capability of the image storage means includes an encoding capability.
[0020]
The invention described in claim 8 is characterized in that the reception capability of the image storage means includes resolution capability.
[0021]
The invention described in claim 9 is characterized in that the reception capability of the image storage means includes a recording width capability.
[0022]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The communication protocol will be described using the G3 standard as an example, but the G4 standard is also assumed.
[0023]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, a system control unit 1 monitors and controls the entire facsimile apparatus of the present invention. The system memory 2 stores information registered in advance in the apparatus. Data necessary for communication is temporarily stored. The image memory 3 temporarily stores image data read by the document reading unit 4 and received image data. The document reading unit 4 scans a document and reads it as image data. The printing unit 5 prints image data on paper. The operation unit 6 receives various operations by the user. The DCR 7 performs processing for compressing and decompressing image data by an encoding method. The G3 modem 8 modulates and demodulates data for G3 communication. The NCU 9 detects dialing to the line and ringing. The I / O interface 10 connects the image storage system 11.
[0024]
The image storage system 11 enables the received image data to be stored and handled as an electronic document (file) in addition to performing normal reception printing processing (hereinafter referred to as “normal printing”) in the main body. System. The image storage system 11 stores the image data transferred from the facsimile apparatus main body as a file (contents are image data). The user can select a stored file by the operation means of the operation unit 6 or the image storage system 11 and perform processing such as printing and transmission.
[0025]
FIG. 2 is a system schematic diagram according to the embodiment of the present invention.
In the present invention, as a reception mode, the user prints the received image data as usual (referred to as “normal print mode”), and transfers the received image data to the image storage system 11 for storage (“ Can be selected and set at any time.
[0026]
In FIG. 2, in the accumulation mode, the reception facsimile 23 transfers the image data from the transmission facsimile 21 to the image accumulation system 24 without printing, stores it as a file, and realizes paperless management of the document. In addition, the connection between the reception facsimile 23 and the image storage system 24 may be a telephone line connection, a serial cable connection, a network connection, a PCI bus connection, or the like.
[0027]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing exchange of communication protocols between facsimile apparatuses in the embodiment of the present invention.
[0028]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the facsimile apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, it demonstrates along a figure.
[0029]
After the power is turned on, the document receiving side facsimile checks whether or not the image storage system 11 is connected (steps S401 and S402), and if not connected, operates as a normal facsimile (step S403). If it is connected, the operation of the present invention is performed (step S402 / YES).
[0030]
In FIG. 4, a description will be given assuming that the above-described accumulation mode is selected for the receiving facsimile.
[0031]
In the standby mode, when a document or file to be transmitted is designated by the operator during standby (steps S413 and S414), a calling is called from the line (step S415), and transmission is started (step S416).
[0032]
In the standby mode, the reception side facsimile receives the incoming call by controlling the NCU 9 in response to the ringing tone from the line (steps S404 to S406).
[0033]
The receiving facsimile sends a signal such as CED / DIS / NSF from the G3 modem 8 to the transmitting facsimile (steps S407 and S408). At this time, the receiving capability of the receiving facsimile is declared in the DIS / NSF signal. In addition, it declares not to print normally, and instructs the sending facsimile not to process the image data to be sent.
[0034]
The sending facsimile receives the DIS / NSF signal from the receiving facsimile from the G3 modem 8 and recognizes the reception capability and reception mode of the receiving facsimile (steps S417 and S418).
[0035]
The transmission side facsimile transmits a signal such as DCS / NSS / TCF (step S419), receives the CFR signal from the reception side facsimile, and transmits the image data with both maximum capabilities. Control is performed so that transmission is performed without performing processing such as addition of information such as a caller ID or screen size conversion for mutual communication (step S420). After the image data transmission is completed (step S421), the process returns to the standby state.
[0036]
After receiving a signal such as DCS / NSS / TCF (step S409), the receiving facsimile transmits a CFR signal and starts receiving image data (step S410). After receiving the image data (step S411), the received image data is transferred to the image storage system 11 (step S412), and the process returns to the standby state. The image storage system 11 stores the transferred image data as a file.
[0037]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the facsimile apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an example in the case where the image data of the same destination is further transmitted after the transmission of the image data in the transmitting facsimile in the first embodiment of FIG. 4, and the operation after the transmission of the first image data is completed. Will be explained.
[0038]
In the sending facsimile, after the transmission of the first image data is completed, it is determined whether there is a transmission document with the same destination (step S501). If not (NO in step S501), the process ends and returns to the standby state (step S504). If there is any (step S501 / YES), the reception mode of the receiving facsimile is confirmed (step S502), and if it is the normal printing mode (step S502 / NO), it is lined up (step S505). In the accumulation mode (step S502 / YES), the process returns to the standby state without receiving a line (step S503).
[0039]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the facsimile apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Also in FIG. 6, the reception mode of the reception side facsimile apparatus is the accumulation mode.
[0040]
Steps S601 to S603 are the same as in the first embodiment.
[0041]
When the receiving facsimile receives a notification from the image storage system 11 of the processing capability (including encoding capability, resolution capability, recording width capability, etc.) of the received image data that the image storage system 11 has, this capability Is stored in the system memory 2 (steps S604 and S605).
[0042]
Thereafter, after step S606, it is almost the same as in the case of the first embodiment, but in step S610, not the reception capability of the receiving facsimile main body but the reception capability of the image storage system 11 stored in the system memory 2 is declared. The receiving facsimile receives the image data with the receiving capability of the image storage system 11.
[0043]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the invention described in claim 1, in order to notify the transmission side not to process the image data to be transmitted, when the transmission side transmits without processing the image data, It becomes easy to handle as an electronic document on the receiving side.
[0044]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the image data to be transmitted is not processed on the transmission side, so that the reception side can easily handle it as an electronic document.
[0045]
According to the third aspect of the invention, since information such as the transmission date and time is not added or inserted into the transmission image data on the transmission side, it becomes easy to handle it as an electronic document on the reception side.
[0046]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the image data transmitted on the transmission side is not reduced or scaled, an electronic document with no image deterioration on the reception side can be obtained.
[0047]
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the receiving side selects a mode for storing the received image data in the image storage system, the transmitting side does not perform a sequence, so that a plurality of documents are regarded as one document. It will not be processed as a whole, making it easier to handle it as an electronic document on the receiving side.
[0048]
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when the image storage means has a reception capability higher than that of the receiving facsimile main body, the image storage means receives the image data. Utilizing electronic documents can be obtained.
[0049]
According to the seventh aspect of the invention, for example, when the image storage means has a JBIG encoding processing function, a JBIG image can be received, so that the communication time can be shortened.
[0050]
According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, for example, when the image accumulating means has a fine character capability (400 dpi or more), it can be received with the fine character capability, so that it is possible to prevent image deterioration caused by lowering the resolution. .
[0051]
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, for example, when the image storage means has the capability of the A3 recording width, the image can be received with the A3 recording width.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a system schematic diagram of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing communication protocol exchange of the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the facsimile apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of the facsimile apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the facsimile apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 System control part 2 System memory 3 Image memory 4 Original reading part 5 Printing part 6 Operation part 7 DCR
8 G3 modem 9 NCU
10 I / O interface 11 Image storage system 21 Transmission facsimile 22 Exchange 23 Reception facsimile 24 Image storage system

Claims (9)

Connected to image storage means for storing image data as a file,
As a reception mode, it has an accumulation mode for transferring and storing the received image data to the image accumulation means,
When the image data is received, if the accumulation mode is selected, the transmission side facsimile apparatus is notified to transmit the image data without processing, and the received image data is transmitted to the image accumulation means. A facsimile apparatus characterized by transferring to a facsimile machine. Connected to the image storage means;
Having the accumulation mode;
When transmitting image data, if it is notified from the receiving facsimile machine that the image data is to be transmitted without being processed, the image data is transmitted without being processed, and the image data is received. When the storage mode is selected, the transmission side facsimile apparatus is notified to transmit the image data without being processed, and the received image data is transferred to the image storage means. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing is character string addition and insertion processing. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing is reduction and scaling processing. 5. When transmitting image data to the same destination, when the storage mode is selected by the receiving facsimile apparatus, no series is performed. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: Facsimile machine. The reception capability of the image storage means is stored, and when receiving the image data, if the storage mode is selected, the reception capability is notified to the transmission side facsimile apparatus as a standard capability. 6. The facsimile apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 5. 7. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the reception capability of the image storage means includes an encoding capability. 7. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the reception capability of the image storage means includes a resolution capability. 7. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the reception capability of the image storage means includes a recording width capability.

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