JP3872059B2 - Facsimile apparatus and facsimile communication system provided with the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus, and more particularly to a facsimile apparatus capable of transmitting image information of a document consisting of a plurality of pages to a plurality of other facsimile apparatuses. The present invention also relates to a facsimile communication system provided with such a facsimile apparatus.

  The facsimile apparatus includes an original reading unit that can read image information of an original, and a communication unit that transmits the read image information to another facsimile apparatus.

  As a conventional facsimile apparatus, an apparatus having an N (N.gtoreq.2) in 1 function for performing image processing by collecting image information of a document consisting of a plurality of pages on one page of paper is already known.

  This type of facsimile apparatus can be configured as a facsimile communication system by being connected to another facsimile apparatus via a public network. However, as such a conventional system, N-in-1 aggregation is performed in a transmission-side apparatus. That can be received at the receiving side (see, for example, Patent Document 1), and information received from the transmitting side is aggregated by N-in 1 at the receiving side (see, for example, Patent Document 2) ) Is already known.

  According to such a system, since the image information for a plurality of pages is output on one sheet on the receiving side, an overview of the entire document can be grasped with a small number of sheets, or information on the entire document can be obtained. There is an advantage that the number of sheets to be consumed can be reduced by outputting each page.

In particular, the apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a further advantage in that the transmission time is shorter than that of the apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2 and the communication fee can be reduced.
JP 11-215348 A JP 2001-257869 A

  However, the desired N value on the receiving side varies depending on the performance of the receiving-side apparatus, the number of originals on the transmitting side, and the like. As the number of devices increases, the N value desired by each device also varies and overlaps. In such a case, if the transmission side performs aggregation every time there is a request from the reception side, the processing load on the transmission side increases.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to reduce the processing load of a transmitting facsimile apparatus when transmitting image information of a document consisting of a plurality of pages to a plurality of receiving facsimile apparatuses.

A facsimile apparatus according to claim 1 is an apparatus capable of transmitting image information of a document consisting of a plurality of pages to a plurality of other facsimile apparatuses, and includes a document reading unit, an image information processing unit, a communication unit, and a storage Department. The document reading unit can read the image information of the document. When there is a transmission request from another facsimile device, the image information processing unit, based on the first image information for each page read by the document reading unit, corresponds to each of the other facsimile devices. The second image information can be prepared by N (N ≧ 1) in 1. The communication unit can transmit the second image information to another facsimile apparatus. The storage unit can store the second image information prepared by the image information processing unit and the N value corresponding to each of the other facsimile apparatuses. The communication unit is stored in the storage unit when there is a transmission request from another facsimile device that designates the same N value as the N value for the second image information transmitted to one other facsimile device. The second image information can be transmitted.

  In this apparatus, since the second image information prepared once is stored in the storage unit, the second image information stored in the storage unit is stored in another facsimile apparatus that has designated the same N value as the second image information. It is only necessary to send two image information, and it is not necessary to prepare the same second image information again. Accordingly, the processing load on the facsimile machine on the transmission side is reduced here. Further, since the second image information may be prepared for the first time when polling transmission is requested, it is not necessary to perform unnecessary processing such as preparing in advance.

  In the present invention, N-in 1 includes a case where the N value is 1. In this case, the first image information is used as it is as the second image information. The second and subsequent facsimile apparatuses that specify the same N value as the first facsimile apparatus include the first facsimile apparatus that requests transmission again.

  A facsimile apparatus according to a second aspect is the apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the storage unit stores a plurality of other facsimile apparatuses that specify the same N value as apparatuses belonging to one group.

  In this device, devices that specify the same N value are treated as devices belonging to the same group, so that the same second image information only needs to be transmitted to devices belonging to a certain group. Manageability such as data transmission is improved.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the second image information stored in the storage unit is deleted after a predetermined time has elapsed.

  In this apparatus, even if the second image information is prepared once, it is possible to reduce the capacity burden of the storage unit by erasing the second image information that has passed for a certain period of time, and to obtain a security merit for access from outside. .

  A facsimile communication system according to a fourth aspect includes a first facsimile machine and a second facsimile machine. The first facsimile apparatus is the apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The second facsimile apparatus is communicably connected to the first facsimile apparatus, and can request the first facsimile apparatus to transmit the second image information prepared by N-in 1 with a desired N value. .

  In this system, for a receiving facsimile apparatus (second facsimile apparatus) that designates the same N value as the second image information that has been prepared once in the transmitting facsimile apparatus (first facsimile apparatus). Since it is only necessary to transmit the second image information stored in the storage unit, the processing load on the transmission side is reduced. In this system, since the second image information is prepared on the transmission side, the second image information is output on the reception side even if the second facsimile apparatus on the reception side does not have an editing function using N-in-1. be able to.

  According to the present invention, since the second image information prepared once is stored in the storage unit, it is stored in the storage unit for other facsimile apparatuses that have designated the same N value as the second image information. If the second image information is sent, it is not necessary to prepare the same second image information again. Accordingly, the processing load on the facsimile machine on the transmission side is reduced here. Further, since the second image information may be prepared for the first time when polling transmission is requested, it is not necessary to perform unnecessary processing such as preparing in advance.

[Facsimile communication system]
1 and 2 show a facsimile communication system 1 in which an embodiment of the present invention is adopted.

  The facsimile communication system 1 includes a first facsimile device 11 and second facsimile devices 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71. These devices 11-71 are connected via a public network 3. They are communicably connected to each other.

  The first facsimile apparatus 11 mainly transmits to the second facsimile apparatuses 21 to 71, and the second facsimile apparatuses 21 to 71 mainly receive from the first facsimile apparatus 11.

[First facsimile machine]
The first facsimile apparatus 11 includes a document reading unit 13, a communication unit 15, another input / output unit 17, and a control unit 19.

  The document reading unit 13 is for reading image information (including character information) recorded on each page of the document, and includes an optical system (not shown).

  The communication unit 15 is for transmitting and receiving the first and second image information to and from the second facsimile apparatuses 21 to 71. In the second image information transmission mode (described later), the communication unit 15 can perform polling transmission to an apparatus that has requested transmission of second image information.

  The other input / output unit 17 includes an image forming unit and a sheet feeding unit (not shown) and an input operation unit 18 (see FIG. 3).

  The image forming unit is based on image information transmitted from the other facsimile apparatuses 21 to 71 via the public network 3 and image information (first image information) for each page read by the document reading unit 13. This is for image formation, and includes a photosensitive drum, a developing device, a fixing device, and the like (not shown).

  The paper feed unit is for conveying paper stored in the paper feed cassette 20 (see FIG. 3) to the image forming unit 15.

  The input operation unit 18 is a numeric keypad for inputting a destination telephone number, a dial key for calling a telephone number already registered as a transmission destination, a setting key for various setting operations, reading a document, A start key for instructing transmission / reception of image information, copying of a document, and the like, and a display panel for displaying information related to communication of image information such as a telephone number of a transmission destination and a communication status. In addition, the input operation unit 18 is connected between the normal communication mode for transmitting the first image information and the second image information transmission mode for transmitting the second image information to the second facsimile apparatuses 21 to 71. It further has a mode switching key that can be switched with.

  The input operation unit 18 registers a second facsimile apparatus as belonging to any of a plurality of groups, or deletes a second facsimile apparatus once registered as an apparatus belonging to a certain group of apparatuses from the group. And a variable registration key for registering in addition to the group. The input operation unit 18 further includes a confirmation key for confirming registration information of each device before performing polling transmission to the second facsimile devices 21 to 71 in the second image information transmission mode.

  The control unit 19 is connected to the document reading unit 13, the communication unit 15, and the other input / output unit 19, and specifically includes a microcomputer having a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like.

  The CPU is for controlling the document reading unit 13 and the like. In the second image information transmission mode, when there is a polling transmission request from the second facsimile devices 21 to 71, the CPU reads the document reading unit 13 when the second image information is not stored in the storage unit. Based on the first image information thus prepared, second image information is prepared in accordance with N-in 1 based on the N value designated by each of the second facsimile apparatuses 21 to 71, and the prepared second image information is stored in the ROM. At that time, the CPU adds identification information indicating that the image information to be transmitted is the second image information to the second facsimile apparatuses 21 to 71 to the second image information. This identification information includes information on the destination (telephone number, mail address, etc.) of the first facsimile apparatus 11 that is the transmission source, and the second image information is received by the second facsimile apparatus on the receiving side. Can be understood.

  On the other hand, if the requested second image information is stored in the ROM, the CPU prepares by reading the second image information stored in the ROM, and sends it to the second facsimile machine via the communication unit 15. Send.

  The RAM functions as a work area for the CPU and holds contents input by the input operation unit 18. The RAM can hold the first image information read by the document reading unit 13 and the second image information prepared by the CPU.

  The ROM stores a program related to control performed by the CPU and a program related to the operation of the document reading unit 13 and the like. The ROM stores the second image information prepared by the CPU and the N value corresponding to each of the second facsimile apparatuses 21 to 71, and the stored second image information is erased after a predetermined time. It has become.

  Further, the ROM stores the telephone numbers of the second facsimile apparatuses 21 to 71 as transmission destinations, and stores the apparatuses that wish to transmit the second image information with the same N value as apparatuses belonging to the same group. One N value is assigned and stored for each group. For example, here, the second facsimile devices 21 and 31 are group A devices that desire the 2-in-1 second image information, and the second facsimile devices 41 and 51 request the 4-in-1 second image information B. As the group devices, the second facsimile devices 61 and 71 are respectively registered as the group C devices that request the second image information by 1-in-1. These second facsimile apparatuses 21 to 71 can be arbitrarily deleted from the group to which they belong by the variable registration key, and can be arbitrarily added and registered in other groups.

[Second facsimile machine]
Since the second facsimile apparatuses 21 to 71 have a basic configuration substantially the same as that of the first facsimile apparatus 11, only the differences from the first facsimile apparatus 11 will be described here. Further, since the second facsimile apparatuses 21 to 71 are all configured in the same manner, here, the second facsimile apparatus 21 will be described by paying attention to it.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the second facsimile machine 21 includes a document reading unit 23, a communication unit 25, another input / output unit 27, and a control unit 29. The other input / output unit 27 includes an image forming unit, an input operation unit, and the like, like the first facsimile apparatus 11.

  When the second image information transmission mode is selected on the first facsimile apparatus 11, the input operation unit can request the first facsimile apparatus 11 to transmit the second image information by pressing the start key. In addition to the numeric keypad and start key, the input operation unit clears the image information and identification information received from the first facsimile apparatus 11 and stored in the RAM so as to return to a state in which normal communication is possible. It further has a key.

  The control unit 29 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like, like the control unit 19 of the first facsimile apparatus 11. The CPU can recognize the identification information added to the second image information sent from the first facsimile apparatus 11. The RAM can hold image information and identification information transmitted from the first facsimile apparatus 11.

[System Operation]
Next, the operation of the facsimile communication system 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the first facsimile apparatus 11 on the transmission side, when the mode switching key is pressed in the normal communication mode, the mode is switched to the second image information transmission mode. When the second image information transmission mode is selected (S1) and a document of a plurality of pages is read (S3), the read image information is stored as first image information in the RAM of the control unit 19. (S4). When the mode selection key is not selected (S1), the first image information can be communicated under the normal communication mode (S2).

  In the second image information transmission mode, after step S4, registration information about the second facsimile apparatuses 21 to 71 is displayed on the display panel. If there is no particular change, the confirmation key is pressed to confirm, and if there is a change, a predetermined The registration is changed by operating the key to perform variable registration (S5).

  Then, the second facsimile machine on the receiving side waits for the start key to be pressed, and requests polling transmission from the first facsimile machine 11 (S21, see FIG. 5). Then, in step S6, the first facsimile apparatus on the transmission side receives this request, and if the second facsimile apparatus that made the request is a group A apparatus (S8), the second image converted in 2-in-1 format. It is determined whether or not the information is stored in the ROM (S9). If the information is stored, the second image information is read (S10), polled and transmitted (S11), and the second image information is stored. If not, the first image information held in the RAM is converted in 2-in-1 to create the second image information (S12). After the image information is held in the ROM (S13), polling is transmitted (S11). ). In step S6, if another process is required, such as when data is received from another second facsimile machine before a polling transmission request is received from the second facsimile machine, the corresponding other Is performed (S7).

  On the other hand, if the device that has requested polling transmission from the first facsimile device 11 does not belong to the group A (S8) but belongs to the group B (S14), the second image information by 4-in-1 is It is determined whether or not it is stored in the ROM (S15). If stored, the second image information is read from the storage unit (S16), polled (S11), and if not stored, the RAM is stored. The first image information held in 4 is converted by 4-in-1 to create second image information (S17), which is stored in the ROM (S18) and then polled (S11).

  In step S14, if the device that has requested polling transmission to the first facsimile device 11 does not belong to the group B, the second image information is prepared by 1-in-1, that is, the first image stored in the RAM. The image information is stored in the ROM as second image information as it is (S19) and polled (S11).

  The second image information sent from the first facsimile apparatus 11 as described above is polled by the second facsimile apparatus on the receiving side (S22, see FIG. 5).

  If there is a polling transmission request from another second facsimile machine (S20), the process returns to step S6, and the operations up to step S10 are repeated as described above.

  According to the facsimile communication system 1 as described above, since the second image information prepared once is stored in the ROM of the control unit 19, it can be transmitted to another facsimile apparatus that has designated the same N value as the second image information. On the other hand, it is only necessary to send the second image information stored in the ROM, and it is not necessary to prepare the same second image information again. Therefore, the processing load on the first facsimile apparatus 11 on the transmission side is reduced. Even when there are a large number of second facsimile apparatuses on the receiving side, those specifying the same N value are variably registered as belonging to the same group, so that the second facsimile by the first facsimile apparatus 11 on the transmitting side is registered. Management of transmission to the device can be easily performed.

  Further, since the second image information may be prepared for the first time when polling transmission is requested, it is not necessary to perform unnecessary processing such as preparing in advance.

  Furthermore, since the second image information with a different N value for each device can be transmitted to each device, and the case where the N value is 1 is also included, it is possible to provide image information according to the needs of a wide range of receiving users.

  Further, when the N value is 2 or more, the number of sheets output on the receiving side is small, so that wasteful consumption of sheets can be avoided and the capacity is smaller than the first image information. The communication time can also be shortened.

[Other Embodiments]
(A) The storage unit is not limited to the ROM, and a RAM may be employed, or, instead of these main storage devices, auxiliary storage such as a hard disk device provided in the same facsimile apparatus by internal or external connection It may be a device.

(B) The present invention can also be applied to an image forming apparatus having a facsimile function.
(C) In the above embodiment, the timing for performing the variable registration in the first facsimile apparatus is after step S4. Not. Further, this variable registration operation may be performed separately from the operation according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a facsimile communication system in which an embodiment of the present invention is adopted. FIG. The block diagram which shows the structure of the said facsimile communication system. The perspective view which shows the 1st facsimile apparatus contained in the said system. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first facsimile apparatus. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the second facsimile apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Facsimile communication system 11 1st facsimile apparatus 13 Original reading part 15 Communication part 19 Control part 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71 2nd facsimile apparatus

Claims (4)

A facsimile apparatus capable of transmitting image information of a document consisting of a plurality of pages to a plurality of other facsimile apparatuses,
A document reading unit capable of reading image information of the document;
When there is a transmission request from the other facsimile apparatus, N (N) corresponding to each of the other facsimile apparatuses is determined based on the first image information for each page read by the document reading unit. N ≧ 1) an image information processing unit capable of preparing second image information by IN-1,
A communication unit capable of transmitting the second image information to the other facsimile device;
A storage unit capable of storing second image information prepared by the image information processing unit and an N value corresponding to each of the other facsimile apparatuses;
When there is a transmission request from the other facsimile apparatus that designates the same N value as the N value for the second image information transmitted to one of the other facsimile apparatuses , the communication section stores in the storage section The stored second image information can be transmitted.
Facsimile device.   The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores a plurality of the other facsimile apparatuses that specify the same N value as apparatuses belonging to one group.   The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second image information stored in the storage unit is erased after a predetermined time has elapsed. The first facsimile apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A second facsimile apparatus that is communicably connected to the first facsimile apparatus and can request the first facsimile apparatus to transmit the second image information prepared by N-in 1 with a desired N value. When,
A facsimile communication system.

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