JP4063506B2 - Communication device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a communication apparatus, and more particularly to a communication apparatus in general that identifies a transmission source by recognizing a received image, and is suitable for application to a facsimile apparatus or an image communication apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in a communication device such as a facsimile machine, in order to identify a communication source, a DTMF (Dual Tone Multi-Frequency) signal used in a relay instruction is used, or OMR (Optical Mark Reader) or OCR is used as image data. (Optical Character Reader) sheet may be used. In addition, transmission system standards include a recognition signal (data) for recognizing a transmission source.
[0003]
In addition, there is a confidential function of the facsimile apparatus for performing communication with a specific person.
Further, in closed connection in which connection between specific terminals is performed, the connection destination is regulated using an identification number.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the method using the DTMF signal, OMR, or OCR sheet naturally requires operations related to these, and the operability in the normal operation is deteriorated.
Even in the confidential function, an operation for identifying the person is required at the time of output, and the operational efficiency is low. Furthermore, in a mailbox function or the like, there are many cases where a receiving location must be provided in the apparatus in advance, and this also requires an operation at the time of output, which is inefficient in terms of operation.
Further, the identification number of the closed area connection can be easily eavesdropped by analyzing the protocol, which is a security defect.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a communication device that can clearly and easily distinguish a specific communication partner.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention is a communication device that communicates image data via a communication line, and includes storage means for storing font data for generating a specific graphic character pattern. Transmission means for converting a character string representing into corresponding identification image data using the font data, placing the created identification image data in a predetermined area of the transmission image, and transmitting the transmission image data to the reception side Whether a character string representing any identification information can be detected by extracting an image of a predetermined area of the received image data when the image is received, and applying a pattern matching process referring to the font data to the extracted image. If it can be detected and detected, the first output processing is performed on the received image data. If it cannot be detected, the reception is performed. For the image data, in which a receiving means for performing a second output process.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the communication apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Although a facsimile apparatus will be described as an example of the communication apparatus of the present invention, the present invention can be applied to any apparatus that performs image communication.
[0011]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an apparatus configuration of a communication apparatus (facsimile apparatus) according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, at least the communication apparatus of this embodiment includes a main control unit 1, an operation control unit 2, a main memory 3, an image memory 4, a secondary storage unit 5, a communication / line control unit 6, and a font memory 7. , An image input / output control unit 8, a plotter 9, and a scanner 10.
The main control unit 1 controls the entire apparatus and directly controls the control units (operation control unit 2, communication / line control unit 6, image input / output control unit 8) of each unit.
The operation control unit 2 operates the operation panel, receives an instruction from the user, and displays a processing state and the like on the operation panel.
The main memory 3 is used for storing a program for operating the main control unit 1 and temporary information at the time of program execution, and mainly a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory).
The image memory 4 stores image data and is used as a buffer for temporarily storing input / output image information with the image input / output control unit 8 and image information received through communication.
The secondary storage unit 5 is a storage device that temporarily stores input / output image data, and mainly uses a non-volatile memory such as a hard disk.
The communication / line control unit 6 controls communication / line for connecting the line network and the apparatus.
The font memory 7 stores character data for embedding lists, reports, destinations, and the like in printing and image data. As this memory, ROM, RAM, flash memory, or the like is used.
The image input / output control unit 8 controls the plotter 9 and the scanner 10.
[0012]
When transmitting an image to a destination communication device, the transmission-side communication device embeds an image including a transmission source name in advance. In this method, an image of a transmission original read from the scanner 10 is developed in the image memory 4 and a transmission image is generated by overwriting the image memory 4 with a pattern corresponding to a transmission source name or the like from the font memory 7. This transmission image is transmitted to the other party via the communication / line control unit 6.
[0013]
In the communication device on the receiving side, the image data received via the communication / line control unit 6 is developed in the image memory 4. Only the number of lines determined in advance from the upper part of the received image data is analyzed, and the transmission source is classified. The received image may be stored in the secondary storage device 5 or the like and then expanded from the secondary storage device 5 to the image memory 4 and then analyzed. FIG. 2 is an example of image data generally received by image communication.
[0014]
FIG. 3 shows that after storing the received image in the image memory 4 and extracting the image for a predetermined number of lines from the upper part of the image data in order to analyze the transmission source, the transmission source is classified from the extracted image. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the division process to perform.
First, all character data is extracted from the extracted image data (step S11). In the case of FIG. 2, the position of “Corporation 123...
One image of the extracted character data is compared with the data in the font memory 7 (step S12). In this pattern comparison, if the match rate satisfies a predetermined numerical value, it may be determined that they match.
If there is a match, it is determined whether there is the next character data (step S13). If there is, the next data is compared (return to step S12). (Step S14).
If it is determined that the data does not match in the middle of the comparison in step S12, it passes that the data does not match the next process (step S15).
[0015]
For example, FIG. 4 is an example when the character patterns do not match. “1” on the left indicates received image data, and “1” on the right indicates font data of the communication device on the receiving side. Since the arrangement of the dots constituting these characters is different, it can be seen that the character font data on the transmission side and the reception side are different.
In this way, when the character representing the sender name is embedded, it is a character that is mechanically embedded, so although there is deterioration during communication depending on the communication means, it is transmitted almost equivalently by the recent transmission means, so reception It is effective to compare whether image data and font data are identical.
[0016]
By making such a comparison, the transmission source can be classified. In other words, by making the font data used in the communication device on the transmission side and the communication device on the reception side the same, it is possible to distinguish whether or not these communication devices can communicate with each other.
[0017]
In addition to the embodiment described above, the font memory 7 may be read from a medium (flexible disk, memory card, etc.) and stored in the font memory 7 by using a rewritable memory. Alternatively, the font memory 7 may be rewritten by fetching font data remotely via the communication / line control unit 6.
Thus, by rewriting the font memory 7 in operation, the rewritten font data is distinguished as a device that can communicate with the same communication device.
[0018]
As described above, when the font data of the transmission source and the reception side match, a mark that is a communication device that uses the same font at a predetermined location of the received image data is not the same even when there is a mismatch. You may make it add the mark.
In order to determine whether or not this mark is a communication device that uses the same font, the mark may be matched only or mismatched.
Furthermore, a character or a pattern may be added instead of the mark.
[0019]
As described above, not only marks, characters, patterns, etc. are added to the received image, but also to recording paper such as a communication device (facsimile device in this embodiment) equipped with a multi-stage paper feed cassette as shown in FIG. At the time of output, different paper cassettes may be selected and distributed according to the case where the font data on the transmission side and the reception side match or do not match. Further, at this time, a further effect can be obtained by previously changing the colored recording paper for each cassette.
[0020]
In each of the above-described embodiments, the source name is embedded in order to distinguish the source. However, in order to group communication target communication devices into groups and perform communication only in the group, By associating special marks, patterns, images, and character strings with groups and storing the special marks as font data in the font memory 7, not only one-to-one divisions but also one-to-many divisions. Can be configured to
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to claim 1 of the present invention, by using the image data of the transmission source name embedded in the transmission source in order to identify the transmission source, the expressive power compared with the conventional recognition signal. Therefore, it is possible to make a finer distinction.
Further, in order to distinguish the transmission source, complicated processing such as character recognition is not required, and since it is a simple pattern comparison level, the structure is simple and the processing speed is increased.
In addition, since it is automatically embedded at the transmission source, no extra operation is required, so that the operability in normal operation is not deteriorated.
Furthermore, in the past, the identification number used in the closed connection can be easily eavesdropped by analyzing the protocol. However, in the present invention, since the data used for the discrimination is only the image pattern matching and the target data therefor, it is easily eavesdropped. It is not possible to do so, and the security is enhanced compared to the conventional method.
[0022]
According to claim 2 of the present invention, when a communication device is used in a closed area, both communication devices can be identified even if they are the same model by changing font information for each device. Become.
[0023]
According to claim 3 of the present invention, when the communication device is used in a closed area, the communication from inside and outside the closed area is received, and whether the communication is from outside the closed area or from within the closed area is distinguished by automatic determination. Can do.
[0024]
Further, according to claim 4 of the present invention, it is further easy to make a visual judgment by using color coding or the like in combination with the receiving paper.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a device configuration of a communication device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an example of received image data.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of transmission source classification processing;
FIG. 4 is an example for explaining comparison between received image data and font data.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a communication device equipped with a multi-stage paper feed cassette.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Main control part, 2 ... Operation control part, 3 ... Main memory, 4 ... Image memory, 5 ... Secondary storage part, 6 ... Communication / line control part, 7 ... Font memory, 8 ... Image input / output control part, 9 ... Plotter, 10 ... Scanner.

Claims (1)

A communication device for communicating image data via a communication line ,
Comprising storage means for storing font data for generating a specific graphic character pattern;
At the time of image transmission, the character string representing the identification information of the terminal is converted into corresponding identification image data using the font data, the created identification image data is arranged in a predetermined area of the transmission image, and the transmission is performed. Transmitting means for transmitting image data to the receiving side;
When receiving an image, an image of a predetermined area of the received image data is extracted, and a pattern matching process referring to the font data is applied to the extracted image to determine whether a character string representing any identification information can be detected. If it is determined and detected, a first output process is performed on the received image data. On the other hand, if it cannot be detected, a receiving unit that performs a second output process on the received image data is provided. A communication device characterized by that .

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