JP4979567B2 - Data communication apparatus, data communication method, data communication program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data communication apparatus, a data communication method, a data communication program, and a recording medium which perform data communication appropriately conforming to a communication procedure. <P>SOLUTION: In a multifunction device 1, for facsimile transmission, an image generation start control unit 16 calculates a data generation speed from when an encoding data decoding part 14 and a binary image encoding part 12 generate final encoding data from transmission data in an encoding data storage part 13 to when they are stored in the encoding data storage part 13, calculates a data transfer speed to transfer the final encoding data of the encoding data storage part 13 to a facsimile transmission control unit 30, determines whether it is necessary or not to generate the final encoding data from the data to be transmitted in advance to transmit them to the facsimile transmission control unit 30 on the basis of a data transfer size, the data generation speed, the data transfer speed, and the facsimile control signal and, when it is determined that the above processing is necessary, the processing is executed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a data communication device, a data communication method, a data communication program, and a recording medium, and more particularly, to a data communication device, a data communication method, a data communication program, and a recording medium that perform data communication appropriately corresponding to a communication procedure. .

  Conventionally, the facsimile communication procedure (transmission procedure) is ITU (International Telecommunication Union) -T recommendation T.264. 30. Generally, after the capability exchange between the transmitter and the receiver is performed, when training is performed and the transmission rate is determined, generation of a transmission image is started on the transmission side.

  However, from the determination of the transmission rate to the transmission of the image data, recommendation T.30. 30 has a minimum of only about 400 ms, and an image data generation unit that generates image data for transmission and a communication control unit that actually transmits the generated image data are separated, and many processes operate in a multiplexed manner. In such a system configuration, for example, in the case of a composite apparatus, when time is required for image transfer processing from the image data generation unit to the communication control unit, and the service to the facsimile processing process is limited, etc. The specified time cannot be satisfied easily. When transmission image data cannot be created and transmission cannot be started within the specified time, communication is cut off and appropriate communication cannot be performed.

  Therefore, conventionally, there is a technique for creating a transmission image in advance without waiting for the determination of the transmission rate (see Patent Document 1, etc.).

  This prior art starts creating image data before the start of facsimile protocol phase C. Further, when the transmission rate changes due to fallback, after decoding the previously created image data Re-encoding to match the new transmission rate.

  Conventionally, when the capability of a receiver once transmitted by facsimile is stored and transmitted to the same receiver again, the image data is stored based on the stored reception capability without waiting for reception of the capability of the receiver. The image data to be created in advance or the image data to be created in advance is limited to the reading time of 4 to 5 seconds at the beginning of the image, and the subsequent images are created after the start of the facsimile protocol phase C.

Japanese Patent No. 2521144

  However, in the above prior art, a transmission image is always created prior to the determination of the transmission rate regardless of the state of the transmission-side device. It is necessary to improve the efficiency of image processing to improve the processing speed. there were.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a data communication apparatus, a data communication method, a data communication program, and a recording medium that appropriately transmit data at a time required in a communication procedure and appropriately perform transmission processing.

  In the present invention, communication control means connected to a predetermined communication line exchanges communication procedure signals with a partner terminal via the communication line to execute the communication control procedure, and the communication procedure signal is transmitted from predetermined transmission target data. Transmission target data storage means for storing the transmission target data by the data processing when transmitting the final code data generated by the data processing means in accordance with the set communication mode from the communication control means to the counterpart terminal A data generation size per unit time from generation of the final code data from the transmission target data to storage in the final code data storage means is calculated as a data generation speed, and the final code data of the final code data storage means The transfer data size per unit time to be transferred to the communication control means is calculated as the data transfer rate, and the data of the code data is calculated. Based on the transfer size, the data generation rate, the data transfer rate, and the communication procedure signal, whether or not the data pre-generation processing for generating the final code data from the transmission target data in advance and transmitting it to the communication control means If the data pre-generation process is determined to be necessary, the data pre-generation process is executed.

  In the data processing, the present invention provides a decoding process for decoding predetermined encoded transmission target code data stored as the transmission target data in the transmission target data storage unit, and the decoded decoding And encoding processing for encoding the data into the final code data and storing the data in the final code data storage means.

  Furthermore, the present invention executes a facsimile control procedure by exchanging a facsimile control signal as the communication procedure signal with the counterpart terminal, and generates code data corresponding to the facsimile control procedure as the final code data in the data processing. In the pre-generation control process, the final code data is transmitted before the start of transmission of the first final code data limited by the data transfer size, the data generation speed, the data transfer speed, and the facsimile control procedure. Whether or not the data pre-generation process is necessary is determined based on whether or not the transmission control means is ready for transmission.

  Further, the present invention provides the data generation speed and the data transfer speed for the data size of the data to be pre-generated by the data processing before the transmission speed is determined by the communication procedure signal. It is further characterized by further comprising a prior data size calculating means for calculating based on the above.

  The present invention also provides final code data for adjusting a transfer size of the final code data to be transferred from the final code data storage means to the communication control means based on the data generation speed and the data transfer speed by the code data transfer means. A transfer size adjusting means is further provided.

  According to the present invention, a communication control means connected to a predetermined communication line exchanges a communication procedure signal with a counterpart terminal via the communication line to execute the communication control procedure, and the communication procedure is determined from predetermined transmission target data. Transmission target data for storing the transmission target data by the data processing when the final code data generated by the data processing unit according to the communication mode set by the signal is transmitted from the communication control unit to the counterpart terminal A data generation speed is calculated when the final code data is generated from the transmission target data of the storage means and stored in the final code data storage means, and the final code data of the final code data storage means is sent to the communication control means. Calculate the data transfer rate when transferring, based on the data transfer size, the data generation rate, the data transfer rate, and the communication procedure signal Determining whether or not the data pre-generation process is necessary by generating the final code data from the transmission target data in advance and transmitting the communication data to the communication control unit. Since the pre-generation process is executed, the final code data for transmission can be generated in advance only when it is determined that it is not in time for the data start timing required in the communication control procedure. While suppressing, data communication can be performed appropriately and communication quality can be improved.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, since the Example described below is a suitable Example of this invention, various technically preferable restrictions are attached | subjected, However, The scope of the present invention limits this invention especially in the following description. As long as there is no description of the effect, it is not restricted to these aspects.

  1 and 2 are diagrams showing a first embodiment of a data communication apparatus, a data communication method, a data communication program, and a recording medium according to the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a data communication apparatus, a data communication method, It is a principal block block diagram of the hardware of the composite apparatus 1 to which the first embodiment of the data communication program and the recording medium is applied. The multifunction apparatus 1 has a scanner function, a printer function, a copy function, a facsimile function, and the like, and has a function of executing a plurality of functional operations in parallel. This embodiment is characterized by an operation at the time of facsimile transmission. Therefore, only the portion related to the characteristic portion is shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 1, the multifunction apparatus 1 is roughly divided into an image data generation unit 10 and a facsimile transmission control unit 30, and an operation display unit, a plotter unit, a system control unit, and the like. The operation display unit includes a display unit such as a liquid crystal display that displays various keys and information necessary for operating the multifunction apparatus 1. The plotter unit is an image generated by the image data generation unit 10. The image received by facsimile is recorded and output on paper by a printing method such as an electrophotographic method or an ink jet method. The image data generation unit 10 and the facsimile transmission control unit 30 are connected by an arbitrary interface.

  The system control unit includes a central processing unit (CPU), a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), and the like, and the CPU uses the RAM as a work memory based on a program in the ROM. By controlling the respective units, the basic processing as the composite apparatus 1 is executed and the data communication method of the present invention is executed. That is, the composite apparatus 1 includes a ROM, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory), an EPROM, a flash memory, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), a CD-RW (Compact Disc Rewritable), a DVD ( A data communication program for executing the data communication method of the present invention recorded on a recording medium readable by the composite apparatus 1 such as a digital video disk (SD), a secure digital (SD) card, or a magneto-optic disc (MO) is read. By being installed in a ROM or the like, it is constructed as a facsimile communication apparatus that executes a data communication method for generating code data for transmission in a transferable state from image data to be transmitted, which will be described later. This facsimile communication control program is a computer-executable program written in a legacy programming language such as assembler, C, C ++, C #, Java (registered trademark) or an object-oriented programming language, and is stored in the recording medium. And can be distributed.

  The image data generation unit 10 includes a document reading unit 11, a binary image encoding unit 12, a code data storage unit 13, a code data decoding unit 14, a pre-image data generation size calculation unit 15, an image generation start control unit 16, an image A transfer size information unit 17, an image generation rate information unit 18, an image transfer rate information unit 19, a code data transfer unit 20, and the like are provided. The code data transfer unit 20 includes an image data size correction control unit 21.

  For example, a line image sensor using a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or the like is used as the document reading unit 11 and generally includes an ADF. A plurality of originals are set in the ADF, and the ADF feeds the set originals one by one to the original reading position of the original reading unit 11. The document reading unit 11 performs main scanning and sub scanning on the document conveyed from the ADF, reads an image of the document with a predetermined resolution, and acquires image data. The document reading unit 11 can read an image of a document in a plurality of reading modes (line density or the like), and can change the reading mode between pages of a plurality of documents.

  A binary image encoding unit (data processing means, encoding means) 12 converts image data of a document read by the document reading unit 11 and image data decoded by a code data decoding unit 14 described later for each main scanning line. Then, it is converted into binary image data which is code data of the encoding method set in the facsimile communication procedure, and is transferred to the code data storage unit 13.

  The code data storage unit (transmission target data storage unit, final code data storage unit) 13 stores the code data (transmission target code data) encoded by the binarized image encoding unit 12, and the code data decoding unit ( (Data processing means, decoding means) 14 scales the code data stored in the code data storage unit 13 or adds character information to the binary image encoding unit 12.

  The pre-image data generation size calculation unit 15 calculates the size of image data to be generated in advance as image data for transfer from the code data stored in the code data storage unit 13.

  The image generation creation start control unit (pre-generation control means) 16 preliminarily selects the transmission target data from the data to be transmitted based on the data transfer size, a data generation speed described later, a data transfer speed described later, and a communication procedure signal (facsimile communication procedure). If it is determined whether or not the data pre-generation process for creating the final code data and transmitting it to the facsimile transmission control unit 30 is necessary, and if it is determined that the data pre-generation process is necessary, the data pre-generation process is executed.

  The code data transfer unit (code data transfer means) 20 is a data transfer unit that transfers the code data that is finally encoded in the encoding state to be transmitted and stored in the code data storage unit 13 to the facsimile transmission control unit 30. An image transfer size correction control unit 21 is provided for processing. The image transfer size correction control unit (final code data transfer size adjusting unit) 21 corrects the transfer size of code data to be transferred to the facsimile transmission control unit 30 when the system load of the composite apparatus 1 increases and the transfer size is reduced. To do.

  The image data transfer size information unit 17 stores the size of the image data transferred from the code data transfer unit 20 to the facsimile transmission control unit 30 in one transfer process as the image data transfer size.

  The image generation speed information unit 18 re-creates the image data matched with the transmission mode from the code data stored in the code data storage unit 13 of the composite apparatus 1 through the code data decoding unit 14 and the binary image encoding unit 12. The image generation size per unit time (hereinafter referred to as an image generation speed), and the image transfer speed information unit 19 is generated according to the transfer mode and stored in the code data storage unit 13. The transfer data size per unit time (hereinafter referred to as an image transfer speed) when the image data is transferred to the facsimile transmission control unit 30 is held.

  The facsimile transmission control unit (communication control means) 30 is connected to a communication line L such as a PSTN (Public Swiched Telephone Network), and executes line control at the time of outgoing / incoming calls to connect or disconnect the line. Line control processing and modulation / demodulation processing for modulation / demodulation by a modem device incorporating image data and various procedure signals, and facsimile communication by exchanging predetermined facsimile control signals (communication procedure signals) with the other facsimile communication device A procedure (communication control procedure) is executed to perform facsimile communication, and image data is transmitted and received.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The composite apparatus 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment needs to take into account the time required to process data to be transmitted into data that can be transmitted in the composite apparatus 1 before the transmission rate of facsimile communication is determined. Data in advance.

  That is, in the multi-function apparatus 1, after a document to be transmitted is set in the document reading unit 11 and various operations necessary for facsimile transmission such as a transmission destination and a reading mode are performed on the operation display unit, the start key is operated. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, in the image data generation unit 10, the image generation start control unit 16 acquires the image transfer size S (Byte) from the image transfer size information 17, and the image generation speed information unit 18 The generation speed Vc (Byte / s) is acquired, and further, the image transfer speed Vt (Byte / s) is acquired from the image transfer speed information unit 19 (step S101). The image transfer size is an image data size transferred in one transfer process, and one transfer process includes pre-processing, post-processing, and data transfer. In the transfer of image data, the larger the number of times that image data of the same size is transferred separately, the longer the time required for pretreatment and post-processing. On the other hand, the lower the number of times image data is transferred separately, the less The transfer size increases, and the transfer time required for one transfer of image data increases. Therefore, the image transfer size is variably controlled as appropriate from the system load state of the multifunction apparatus 1.

  Next, the image generation start control unit 16 transmits code data for transmission from the image data generation unit 10 to the facsimile transmission control unit 30 from the image transfer size S, the image generation speed Vc, and the image transfer speed Vt according to the following equations. Thus, it is determined whether the preparation time until the preparation is completed is 400 ms (0.4 s) or less, which is the time limit received from the protocol, that is, whether the transmission preparation is completed (step S102).

S × (1 / Vc + 1 / Vt) ≦ 0.4 (1)
When the expression (1) is satisfied in step S102, the image generation start control unit 16 completes the preparation of the transmission code data within the time limit of the protocol, and does not need to perform image generation in advance. Judgment is made and facsimile communication is executed as it is by a normal facsimile procedure.

  If the expression (1) is not satisfied in step S102, the image generation start control unit 16 determines that the preparation of the code data for transmission is not completed within the time limit of the protocol as it is, and receives it by the facsimile protocol. Waiting for the reception of functional capability information (step S103), when receiving the reception functional capability, the image data read by the document reading unit 11 is encoded by the binary image encoding unit 12 and stored in the code data storage unit 13. After that, the code data of the image transfer size S set based on the IO rate and the provisional transmission rate is decoded by the code data decoding unit 14 and then encoded into the transmission code data by the binary image encoding unit 12. Then, an image of the image transfer size S is created and stored in the code data storage unit 13, and the facsimile transmission control unit is processed by the code data transfer unit 20 0 performs data pre-generated processing to be transferred to (step S104).

  When the data pre-generation process is performed, the image generation start control unit 16 checks whether or not the facsimile communication procedure has shifted to the facsimile protocol phase C (step S105), and if not, the non-ECM (Error Correction Mode) ) It is checked whether transmission and fallback have occurred (step S106). When the non-ECM transmission or the fallback is not performed, the image generation start control unit 16 returns to step S105 to check whether or not the facsimile protocol phase C has been shifted. When the phase has not shifted to the phase C, the non-ECM transmission and the fallback are performed again. Is checked (steps S105 to S106). That is, considering the possibility that the environment of the communication network L, which is a transmission path, is bad and falls back (a process of automatically lowering the communication speed and continuing communication without disconnecting the line), the transmission rate is It waits while checking whether fallback has occurred until facsimile protocol phase C to be confirmed starts.

  Then, when a transition is made to the facsimile protocol phase C in step S105 without occurrence of fallback, the image generation start control unit 16 generates the remaining image data and sequentially transfers them to the facsimile transmission control unit 30. Transmission is performed from the transmission control unit 30 to the other party (step S107).

  In step S106, when a fallback occurs in the non-ECM transmission mode, the image generation start control unit 16 performs step S101 in order to reacquire various speed information that varies depending on the system load at that time. Referring back to FIG. 5, the image transfer size S (Byte), the image generation speed Vc (Byte / s), and the image transfer speed Vt (Byte / s) are processed in the same manner as described above (Steps S101 to S107).

  In the case of the ECM transmission mode, it is not necessary to recreate the image data in accordance with the transmission rate. Therefore, the image generation start control unit 16 waits for the transition to the facsimile protocol phase C and then the remaining image data. Are sequentially transferred to the facsimile transmission control unit 30 and transmitted from the facsimile transmission control unit 30 to the other party (step S107).

  As described above, the composite apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment exchanges a facsimile control signal, which is a communication procedure signal, with the counterpart terminal via the communication line L by the facsimile transmission control unit 30 connected to the communication line L. The facsimile control procedure is executed, and the final data generated by the code data decoding unit 14 and the binary image encoding unit 12 as data processing means according to the communication mode set by the communication procedure signal from the transmission target data. When transmitting the code data from the facsimile transmission control unit 30 to the counterpart terminal, the image generation start control unit 16 uses the code data decoding unit 14 and the binary image encoding unit 12 to transmit the transmission target data in the code data storage unit 13. The data generation size per unit time from when the last code data is generated to when it is stored again in the code data storage unit 13 is the data generation speed. And the transfer data size per unit time for transferring the final code data in the code data transfer process for transferring the final code data in the code data storage unit 13 to the facsimile transmission control unit 30 is calculated as the data transfer rate. Based on the data transfer size, the data generation speed, the data transfer speed, and the facsimile control signal, a data pre-generation process of generating the final code data from the transmission target data in advance and transmitting it to the facsimile transmission control unit 30 If it is determined whether or not the data pre-generation process is necessary, the data pre-generation process is executed.

  Therefore, only when it is determined that the data transmission start timing required in the communication control procedure is not in time, the final code data for transmission can be generated in advance, while suppressing the load on the composite apparatus 1, Data communication can be performed appropriately and communication quality can be improved.

  Further, in the composite apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the code data storage unit 13 stores the transmission target code data once encoded by the binary image encoding unit 12 as the transmission target data, and stores the transmission target code data. After being decoded by the code data decoding unit 14 to be decoded, the decoded data is encoded into final code data by the binary image encoding unit 12 and stored in the code data storage unit 13.

  Therefore, the code data storage unit can be obtained by re-encoding and transmitting the data read by the image reading unit 11 and stored in the code data storage unit 13 with the data amount reduced by the binary image encoding unit 12 at the time of transmission. 13 utilization efficiency can be improved.

  Furthermore, in the composite apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the facsimile transmission control unit 30 exchanges a facsimile control signal as a communication procedure signal with the counterpart terminal to execute a facsimile control procedure, and the binary image encoding of the image data generation unit 10 is performed. The unit 12 generates code data corresponding to the facsimile control procedure as the final code data, and the image generation start control unit 16 is initially limited by the data transfer size, the data generation rate, the data transfer rate, and the facsimile control procedure. Whether or not the data pre-generation process is necessary is determined by whether or not the final code data can be transmitted by the facsimile transmission control unit 30 by the start of transmission of the final code data (400 ms).

  Therefore, when necessary, code data for facsimile transmission can be prepared in advance within the time regulated by the facsimile control procedure, so that facsimile communication can be performed appropriately and communication quality can be improved. it can.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a facsimile communication control process by the composite apparatus to which the second embodiment of the data communication apparatus, data communication method, data communication program and recording medium of the present invention is applied.

  The present embodiment is applied to a composite apparatus similar to the composite apparatus 1 of the first embodiment. In the description of the present embodiment, the reference numerals used in the description of the first embodiment as necessary. This will be described using

  When the reading mode of the original changes between pages of the transmission original, the multifunction apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment controls generation processing of code data that is image data for transmission according to the reading mode. In the description of FIG. 3, the description of the processing steps similar to the processing steps of FIG. 2 of the first embodiment is simplified.

  That is, in the multi-function apparatus 1, after a document to be transmitted is set in the document reading unit 11 and various operations necessary for facsimile transmission such as a transmission destination and a reading mode are performed on the operation display unit, the start key is operated. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the image generation start control unit 16 acquires the image transfer size S (Byte), the image generation speed Vc (Byte / s), and the image transfer speed Vt (Byte / s) (step). S201). This image transfer size is the same as in the first embodiment.

  Next, the image generation start control unit 16 transmits the code data for transmission from the image data generation unit 10 to the facsimile transmission control unit 30 from the image transfer size S, the image generation speed Vc, and the image transfer speed Vt according to the above equation (1). And the preparation time until the preparation is completed is determined to be 400 ms (0.4 s) or less, which is the time limit received from the protocol, that is, whether the preparation for transmission is completed (step S202).

  When the expression (1) is satisfied in step S202, the image generation start control unit 16 completes the preparation of the transmission code data within the time limit of the protocol and does not need to perform image generation in advance. Judgment is made and facsimile communication is executed as it is by a normal facsimile procedure.

  In step S202, when the expression (1) is not satisfied, the image generation start control unit 16 determines that the preparation of the transmission code data is not completed within the time limit of the protocol as it is. It is checked whether to change the reading mode (step S203). When the reading mode is changed, the process transits again to the facsimile protocol phase B and waits to receive the reception function information when the reading mode is changed (step S204). .

  When receiving the reception function, the image data control unit 10 encodes the image data read by the document reading unit 11 by the binary image encoding unit 12 and stores the encoded image data in the code data storage unit 13. The encoded data of the image transfer size S set based on the transmission rate of the image is decoded by the encoded data decoding unit 14, and then encoded into the transmission encoded data by the binary image encoding unit 12, An image is generated, stored in the code data storage unit 13, and transferred in advance to the facsimile transmission control unit 30 by the code data transfer unit 20 (step S205).

  When the reading mode is not changed in step S203, the image generation start control unit 16 proceeds to step S205, and after the code data decoding unit 14 decodes the code data of the image transfer size S in the code data storage unit 13. The binarization is encoded into transmission code data by the image encoding unit 12 to create an image having an image transfer size S, stored in the code data storage unit 13, and the facsimile transmission control unit by the code data transfer unit 20. Data pre-generation processing to transfer to 30 is performed (step S205).

  When the data pre-generation process is performed, the image generation start control unit 16 checks whether or not the facsimile communication procedure has shifted to the facsimile protocol phase C (step S206). It is checked whether transmission and fallback have occurred (step S207). When the non-ECM transmission or the fallback is not performed, the image generation start control unit 16 returns to step S206 to check whether or not the facsimile protocol phase C has been shifted. If the phase has not shifted to the phase C, the non-ECM transmission and the fallback are performed again. Is checked (steps S206 to S207).

  Then, when a transition is made to the facsimile protocol phase C in step S206 without occurrence of fallback, the image generation start control unit 16 generates the remaining image data and sequentially transfers them to the facsimile transmission control unit 30. Transmission is performed from the transmission control unit 30 to the other party (step S208).

  In step S207, in the non-ECM transmission mode and when a fallback occurs, the image generation start control unit 16 performs step S201 in order to reacquire various speed information that varies depending on the system load at that time. Returning to FIG. 4, the image transfer size S (Byte), the image generation speed Vc (Byte / s), and the image transfer speed Vt (Byte / s) are processed in the same manner as described above (Steps S201 to S208).

  In the case of the ECM transmission mode, it is not necessary to recreate the image data in accordance with the transmission rate. Therefore, the image generation start control unit 16 waits for the transition to the facsimile protocol phase C and then the remaining image data. Are sequentially transferred to the facsimile transmission control unit 30 and transmitted from the facsimile transmission control unit 30 to the other party (step S208).

  As described above, in the multifunction apparatus 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment, when the image generation start control unit 16 changes the reading mode of the document between pages of the transmission document, the image data for transmission corresponds to the reading mode. Code data generation processing is controlled.

  Therefore, for example, when the final code data for transmission cannot be prepared due to a change between pages in the reading mode such as linear density, the final code data can be generated by image processing in advance, and communication can be performed. The facsimile communication can be performed more appropriately by preventing the time from being prolonged and the occurrence of communication disconnection from occurring.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a facsimile communication control process by the composite apparatus to which the third embodiment of the data communication apparatus, data communication method, data communication program and recording medium of the present invention is applied.

  The present embodiment is applied to a composite apparatus similar to the composite apparatus 1 of the first embodiment. In the description of the present embodiment, the reference numerals used in the description of the first embodiment as necessary. This will be described using

  The composite apparatus 1 of this embodiment adjusts the image transfer size by repeatedly checking the image generation speed Vc and the image transfer speed Vt until the transmission rate is determined. In the description of FIG. 4, the description of the processing steps similar to the processing steps of FIG. 2 of the first embodiment is simplified.

  That is, in the multi-function apparatus 1, after a document to be transmitted is set in the document reading unit 11 and various operations necessary for facsimile transmission such as a transmission destination and a reading mode are performed on the operation display unit, the start key is operated. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the image generation start control unit 16 acquires the image transfer size S (Byte), the image generation speed Vc (Byte / s), and the image transfer speed Vt (Byte / s) (step). S401). This image transfer size is the same as in the first embodiment.

  Next, the image generation start control unit 16 transmits the code data for transmission from the image data generation unit 10 to the facsimile transmission control unit 30 from the image transfer size S, the image generation speed Vc, and the image transfer speed Vt according to the above equation (1). And the preparation time until the preparation is completed is determined to be 400 ms (0.4 s) or less, which is the time limit received from the protocol, that is, whether the preparation for transmission is completed (step S302).

  When the expression (1) is satisfied in step S302, the image generation start control unit 16 is ready within the time limit of the protocol because the system load state of the multifunction apparatus 1 becomes high until the transmission rate is determined. Since it may be impossible, it is checked whether the transmission rate is fixed (step S303). If the transmission rate is not fixed, it is checked whether the transmission rate is fixed or preparation is impossible in step S302. However, returning to step S301, the same processing is repeated from the acquisition of the image transfer size S (Byte), the image generation speed Vc (Byte / s), and the image transfer speed Vt (Byte / s) (steps S301 to S301). S303).

  When the transmission rate is determined in step S303, the image generation start control unit 16 determines that the preparation of the transmission code data is completed within the time limit of the protocol and it is not necessary to perform the image generation in advance, and continues. Facsimile communication is executed by a normal facsimile procedure.

  When the expression (1) is not satisfied in step S302, the image generation start control unit 16 determines that the preparation of the transmission code data is not completed within the time limit of the protocol as it is. It is checked whether or not the reading mode is to be changed (step S304). When the reading mode is to be changed, the process transits again to the facsimile protocol phase B and waits to receive the reception function information when the reading mode is changed (step S305). .

  When receiving the reception function, the image generation start control unit 16 encodes the image data read by the document reading unit 11 by the binary image encoding unit 12 and stores the encoded image data in the code data storage unit 13. The encoded data of the image transfer size S set based on the provisional transmission rate is decoded by the encoded data decoding unit 14, and then encoded into transmission encoded data by the binary image encoding unit 12, and the image transfer size S The image data is generated, stored in the code data storage unit 13, and transferred to the facsimile transmission control unit 30 by the code data transfer unit 20 (step S306).

  When the reading mode is not changed in step S304, the image generation start control unit 16 proceeds to step S306, and after the code data decoding unit 14 decodes the code data of the image transfer size S in the code data storage unit 13. The binarization is encoded into transmission code data by the image encoding unit 12 to create an image having an image transfer size S, stored in the code data storage unit 13, and the facsimile transmission control unit by the code data transfer unit 20. Data pre-generation processing to be transferred to 30 is performed (step S306).

  When the data pre-generation process is performed, the image generation start control unit 16 checks whether the facsimile communication procedure has shifted to the facsimile protocol phase C (step S307). It is checked whether a back has occurred (step S308). When non-ECM transmission or fallback is not performed, the image data control unit 10 returns to step S307 to check whether or not the facsimile protocol phase C has been shifted, and when not shifted to phase C, non-ECM transmission and fallback are performed again. It is checked whether it has occurred (steps S307 to S308).

  Then, when a transition is made to the facsimile protocol phase C in step S307 without causing a fallback, the image generation start control unit 16 generates the remaining image data and sequentially transfers them to the facsimile transmission control unit 30. Transmission is performed from the transmission control unit 30 to the other party (step S309).

  In step S308, in the non-ECM transmission mode and when a fallback occurs, the image generation start control unit 16 performs step S201 in order to reacquire various speed information that varies depending on the system load at that time. Returning to FIG. 5, the image transfer size S (Byte), the image generation speed Vc (Byte / s), and the image transfer speed Vt (Byte / s) are acquired in the same manner as described above (Steps S301 to S309).

  In the case of the ECM transmission mode, it is not necessary to recreate the image data in accordance with the transmission rate. Therefore, the image generation start control unit 16 waits for the transition to the facsimile protocol phase C and then the remaining image data. Are sequentially transferred to the facsimile transmission control unit 30 and transmitted from the facsimile transmission control unit 30 to the other party (step S309).

  As described above, in the composite apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the image generation start control unit 16 repeatedly confirms the data transfer size, the data generation speed, and the data transfer speed until the communication speed in the communication is determined by the communication procedure signal. is doing.

  Therefore, the system load state changes sequentially depending on the job standby state or operator's operation. Therefore, if image generation is performed in advance based on one system load state at a certain point in time, an error occurs in the determination. There is a possibility that transmission image data will be created within the time limit and transmission cannot be started, and there is a possibility that communication time will be prolonged or communication disconnection may occur. Regardless of the change in the system load state, the image data can be made in time for the start of the facsimile protocol phase C, and the communication quality can be improved.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a facsimile communication control process by the composite apparatus to which the fourth embodiment of the data communication apparatus, data communication method, data communication program and recording medium of the present invention is applied.

  The present embodiment is applied to a composite apparatus similar to the composite apparatus 1 of the first embodiment. In the description of the present embodiment, the reference numerals used in the description of the first embodiment as necessary. This will be described using

  The composite apparatus 1 of this embodiment uses the data size of the code data to be generated before generating code data based on the facsimile protocol phase C in the facsimile communication control processing of the first and second embodiments. The pre-image data generation size calculation unit 15 calculates the image generation speed Vc (Byte / s) and the image transfer speed Vt (Byte / s).

  That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the pre-image data generation size calculation unit 15 acquires the image generation speed Vc (Byte / s) and the image transfer speed Vt (Byte / s) (Step S401), and acquires the acquired image. Based on the generation speed Vc (Byte / s) and the image transfer speed Vt (Byte / s) and the time limit 400 ms (0.4 s) received from the protocol, the prior image data generation size Sb is calculated by the following equation (2). (Step S402).

Sb = 0.4 / (1 / Vc + 1 / Vt) (2)
The minimum value of the advance image data generation size Sb is that the time required for one transfer is within the time limit (0.4 s), that is, the image data transferred in one transfer is within the time limit. Since it is a condition that the transfer is completed, it is equivalent to the transfer size of one time.

  As described above, in the multifunction apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the pre-image data generation size calculation unit 15 sets the data size of data that the image generation start control unit 16 pre-generates before the transmission speed is determined by the communication procedure signal. The calculation is based on the data generation speed and the data transfer speed.

  Therefore, by adjusting the data size to be generated in advance, extra processing can be reduced as the system of the composite apparatus 1, and the performance of the system as the composite apparatus 1 can be improved.

  The calculation of the pre-image data generation size Sb may be repeated until the transmission rate is determined.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 6, when there is a current previous image data generation size Sbr, the previous image data generation size calculation unit 15 first initializes the current previous image data generation size Sbr (Sbr = 0). (Step S501), the image generation speed Vc (Byte / s) and the image transfer speed Vt (Byte / s) are acquired (Step S502), and the acquired image generation speed Vc (Byte / s) and the image transfer speed are acquired. Based on Vt (Byte / s) and 400 ms (0.4 s) which is a time limit received from the protocol, the pre-image data generation size Sb is calculated by the above equation (2) (step S503).

  When calculating the pre-image data generation size Sb, the pre-image data size calculation unit 15 checks whether the pre-image data generation size Sb calculated this time is larger than the current pre-image data size Sbr (step S504). In the first process, since the current previous image data size Sbr is initialized in step S501, the previous image data generation size Sb calculated this time is larger than the current previous image data size Sbr. The pre-image data size Sb calculated this time is set as the current pre-image data generation size Sbr (step S505), and it is checked whether the transmission rate is confirmed (step S506).

  When the transmission rate is not fixed in step S506, the prior image data size calculation unit 15 returns to step S502 and starts acquiring the image generation speed Vc (Byte / s) and the image transfer speed Vt (Byte / s). Processing is performed in the same manner as described above (steps S502 to S506). If the previous image data generation size Sb calculated this time is equal to or smaller than the current previous image data size Sbr in step S504, the current previous image data Sbr is not updated. It is checked whether the transmission rate is confirmed (step S506).

  When the transmission rate is not fixed in step S506, the previous image data size calculation unit 15 returns to step S502 and performs the same processing as described above, and the calculated previous image data generation size Sb is the current previous image data generation size. If it is larger than Sbr, the process of replacing the larger pre-image data size Sb calculated this time with the current pre-image data size Sbr is performed until the transmission rate is determined (steps S502 to S506).

  When the transmission rate is determined in step S506, the prior image data size calculation unit 15 ends the process.

  In this way, since the additional image is created when the image size to be created in advance becomes larger than the already created size, the extra fill between the image data regardless of changes in the system load state of the composite apparatus 1 And continuous flag transmission can be suppressed, and communication quality can be improved.

  Further, when the prior image data size is determined, it may be adjusted depending on whether or not the transmission mode is the ECM transmission mode.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the prior image data generation size calculation unit 15 first checks whether the transmission mode is the ECM mode (step S601), and when the transmission mode is not the ECM mode, the image generation speed Vc (Byte). / S) and the image transfer speed Vt (Byte / s) are acquired (step S602), and the acquired image generation speed Vc (Byte / s) and the image transfer speed Vt (Byte / s) and the time limit received from the protocol Based on 400 ms (0.4 s), the prior image data generation size Sb is calculated by the above equation (2) (step S603).

  When calculating the advance image data generation size Sb, the advance image data size calculation unit 15 checks whether or not the transmission rate is fixed (step S604). If the transmission rate is not fixed, the process returns to step S602 to return to the image generation speed. From the acquisition of Vc (Byte / s) and the image transfer speed Vt (Byte / s), the process for calculating the pre-image data generation size is repeated until the transmission rate is determined (steps S602 to S604).

  When the transmission rate is determined in step S604, the prior image data size calculation unit 15 ends the process.

  In step S601, if the transmission mode is the ECM transmission mode, the prior image data size calculation unit 15 does not recreate image data by fallback in the ECM transmission mode. The total size for the page (image data total size) is set, and the process ends (step S605).

  In this way, when image generation is started before the start of the facsimile protocol phase C, the transmission path may fall back if the transmission path environment is bad, and the transmission rate is changed regardless of the ECM / non-ECM transmission mode. When the image is recreated, the performance of the system as the composite apparatus 1 is deteriorated. However, in the case of the ECM transmission mode, by avoiding the recreation of the image by the fallback, a wasteful image in the ECM transmission mode is obtained. Processing for re-creation can be reduced, and the performance of the system as the composite apparatus 1 can be improved.

  8 and 9 are flowcharts showing facsimile communication control processing by the composite apparatus to which the fifth embodiment of the data communication apparatus, data communication method, data communication program and recording medium of the present invention is applied.

  The present embodiment is applied to a composite apparatus similar to the composite apparatus 1 of the first embodiment. In the description of the present embodiment, the reference numerals used in the description of the first embodiment as necessary. This will be described using

  The composite apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment adjusts the image data transfer size according to the processing load variation of the entire facsimile communication system.

  In the description of FIGS. 8 and 9, the description of the processing steps similar to the processing steps of FIG. 2 of the first embodiment is simplified.

  That is, in the multi-function apparatus 1, after a document to be transmitted is set in the document reading unit 11 and various operations necessary for facsimile transmission such as a transmission destination and a reading mode are performed on the operation display unit, the start key is operated. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the image generation start control unit 16 acquires the image transfer size S (Byte), the image generation speed Vc (Byte / s), and the image transfer speed Vt (Byte / s) (step). S701). This image transfer size is the same as in the first embodiment.

  Next, the image generation start control unit 16 transmits the code data for transmission from the image data generation unit 10 to the facsimile transmission control unit 30 from the image transfer size S, the image generation speed Vc, and the image transfer speed Vt according to the above equation (1). And the preparation time until the preparation is completed is determined to be 400 ms (0.4 s) or less, which is the time limit received from the protocol, that is, whether the preparation for transmission is completed (step S702).

  In step S702, when the expression (1) is satisfied, the image generation start control unit 16 performs the facsimile communication as it is according to a normal facsimile procedure. At this time, the composite apparatus 1 is determined until the transmission rate is determined. In consideration of the fact that the system load state becomes high and preparation may become impossible within the time limit of the protocol, the same processing may be repeated by returning to step S701 until the transmission rate is determined. .

  If the expression (1) is not satisfied in step S702, the image generation start control unit 16 determines that the preparation of the transmission code data is not completed within the time limit of the protocol as it is, and first the facsimile protocol. Is received (step S703). When the reception capability information is not received, the image generation speed Vc and the image transfer speed Vt are acquired again as shown in FIG. In step S704), it is checked whether each acquired speed is slower than the previously acquired angle (step S705).

  When each speed acquired this time is slower than each speed acquired last time, the image generation start control unit 16 determines the image transfer size S in consideration of the fluctuation of each speed (step S706), and FIG. In step S703, it is checked whether reception capability information has been received (step S703).

  If the reception capability information has not been received in step S703, the same process as described above is performed again from the process of acquiring the image generation speed Vc and the image transfer speed Vt (steps S704 to S706). If the acquired speeds are not slower than the previously acquired speeds, the process proceeds to step S703 in FIG. 8 without adjusting the image transfer size, and it is checked whether the received functional capability information has been received (step S703). ).

  In step S703, when receiving the reception function information, the image data control unit 10 encodes the image data read by the document reading unit 11 by the binary image encoding unit 12, stores the encoded image data in the code data storage unit 13, and thereafter The code data of the image transfer size S set based on the IO rate and the provisional transmission rate is decoded by the code data decoding unit 14, and then encoded into the transmission code data by the binary image encoding unit 12, An image having an image transfer size S is created, stored in the code data storage unit 13, and transferred to the facsimile transmission control unit 30 by the code data transfer unit 20 (step S707).

  When the data pre-generation process is performed, the image data control unit 10 checks whether or not the facsimile communication procedure has shifted to the facsimile protocol phase C (step S708). Is checked (step S709). When non-ECM transmission or fallback is not performed, the image data control unit 10 returns to step S708 to check whether or not the facsimile protocol phase C has been shifted to, and when not shifted to phase C, non-ECM transmission and fallback are again performed. It is checked whether it has occurred (steps S708 to S709).

  Then, in step S708, the image data control unit 10 generates the remaining image data, sequentially transfers the image data to the facsimile transmission control unit 30, and performs facsimile transmission. It transmits to the other party from the control part 30 (step S710).

  In step S709, in the non-ECM transmission mode and when a fallback occurs, the image data control unit 10 proceeds to step S201 in order to reacquire various speed information that varies depending on the system load at that time. Returning, processing is performed in the same manner as described above from acquisition of the image transfer size S (Byte), the image generation speed Vc (Byte / s), and the image transfer speed Vt (Byte / s) (Steps S701 to S710).

  In the case of the ECM transmission mode, it is not necessary to recreate the image data in accordance with the transmission rate. Therefore, the image data control unit 10 waits for the transition to the facsimile protocol phase C, and then the remaining image data is transferred. The data are generated, sequentially transferred to the facsimile transmission control unit 30, and transmitted from the facsimile transmission control unit 30 to the other party (step S710).

  As described above, in the composite apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the code data transfer unit 20 transfers the final code data to be transferred from the code data storage unit 13 to the facsimile transmission control unit 13 based on the data generation speed and the data transfer speed. The size is adjusted.

  As described above, the composite apparatus 1 creates an image in advance in time for the start of image transmission based on the timely image generation speed and image transfer speed information between the top of the page and between pages. If the load on the network increases and the image generation speed and the image transfer speed decrease, it becomes impossible to create transmission image data and start transmission within the time limit, which may increase the communication time or disconnect the communication. When the system load increases and the image transfer speed decreases, the image transfer size is reduced and transferred.

  Therefore, the image data can be put in time for the start of the facsimile protocol phase C, and the communication quality can be improved.

  The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say.

  The present invention can be used for a facsimile apparatus that performs data communication such as facsimile communication appropriately and efficiently, a data communication apparatus such as a composite apparatus, a data communication method, a data communication program, and a recording medium.

The principal part block block diagram of the hardware of the composite apparatus to which 1st Example of a present Example is applied. 2 is a flowchart showing facsimile communication control processing by the composite apparatus of FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing facsimile communication control processing by the composite apparatus of the second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart showing facsimile communication control processing by the composite apparatus of the third embodiment. 10 is a flowchart showing a facsimile communication control process for calculating the size of data generated before phase C of the fourth embodiment. 15 is a flowchart showing a facsimile communication control process for repeatedly calculating the size of data generated before phase C in the fourth embodiment until the transmission rate is determined. 10 is a flowchart showing facsimile communication control processing for controlling the size of data generated before phase C of the fourth embodiment by ECM. 10 is a flowchart showing facsimile communication control processing by the composite apparatus of the fifth embodiment. 9 is a flowchart showing processing subsequent to the facsimile communication control processing of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Composite apparatus 10 Image data generation part 11 Document reading part 12 Binary image encoding part 13 Code data storage part 14 Code data decoding part 15 Prior image data generation size calculation part 16 Image generation start control part 17 Image transfer size information part 18 Image generation speed information section 19 Image transfer speed information section 20 Code data transfer section 21 Image data size correction control section 30 Facsimile transmission control section

Claims (16)

  A communication control means connected to a predetermined communication line exchanges a communication procedure signal with a partner terminal via the communication line to execute a communication control procedure, and communication set by the communication procedure signal from predetermined transmission target data In a data communication apparatus for transmitting the final code data generated by the data processing means according to the mode from the communication control means to the counterpart terminal, transmission target data storage means for storing the transmission target data, and the data processing means The final code data storage means for storing the final code data generated from the transmission target data by the code, the code data transfer means for transferring the final code data of the final code data storage means to the communication control means, and the data Until the final code data is generated from the transmission target data by the processing means and stored in the final code data storage means A data generation speed calculation means for calculating a data generation size per unit time as a data generation speed; and the code data transfer means transfers the final code data of the final code data storage means to the communication control means. A data transfer rate calculating means for calculating a transfer data size as a data transfer rate, a data transfer size by the encoded data transfer means, a data generation rate, the data transfer rate, and the communication procedure signal in advance From this, the final code data is generated and transmitted to the communication control means to determine whether or not the data pre-generation processing is necessary, and if it is determined that the data pre-generation processing is necessary, the data pre-generation processing is executed in advance. A data communication apparatus comprising: a generation control unit;   The transmission target data storage unit stores predetermined encoded transmission target code data as the transmission target data processed by the data processing unit, and the data processing unit decodes the transmission target code data. 2. A data communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: encoding means for encoding the decoded decoded data into the final code data and storing the encoded data in the final code data storage means. .   The communication control means exchanges a facsimile control signal as the communication procedure signal with the counterpart terminal to execute a facsimile control procedure, and the data processing means outputs code data corresponding to the facsimile control procedure as the final code data. The pre-generation control means generates the final code data before the start of transmission of the first final code data limited by the data transfer size, the data generation speed, the data transfer speed, and the facsimile control procedure. 3. The data communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein whether or not the data pre-generation processing is necessary is determined based on whether or not the transmission control unit is ready for transmission.   2. The pre-generation control means repeatedly confirms the data transfer size, the data generation speed, and the data transfer speed until a communication speed in the communication is determined by the communication procedure signal. The data communication apparatus according to claim 3. In the data communication apparatus, the transmission target data is original reading data whose reading mode can be changed depending on a page, and the pre-generation control unit is configured to transmit the data transfer size and the data generation speed even during the data transmission. Between the page being transmitted and the next page based on the difference in the reading mode between the data of the page currently being transmitted and the data of the next page to be transmitted. The data communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein whether or not the data pre-generation process is necessary is determined.   The data communication device is configured to determine the data size of the data that the pre-generation control unit causes the data processing unit to pre-generate before the transmission rate is determined by the communication procedure signal, the data generation rate and the data transfer rate. 6. The data communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising pre-data size calculation means for calculating based on the data.   The prior data size calculation means adopts the total size of one page of image data as the data size when the transmission target data is composed of a plurality of pages and the communication control procedure is in an error correction mode. The data communication apparatus according to claim 6.   The code data transfer means adjusts the transfer size of the final code data transferred from the final code data storage means to the communication control means based on the data generation speed and the data transfer speed. 8. The data communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means.   A communication control means connected to a predetermined communication line exchanges a communication procedure signal with a partner terminal via the communication line to execute a communication control procedure, and a data processing means uses the communication procedure signal from a predetermined transmission target data. In a data communication method of executing data processing for generating final code data according to a set communication mode and transmitting the final code data from the communication control means to the counterpart terminal, the data processing is performed by the data processing. A data generation speed for calculating a data generation size per unit time from generation of the final code data from the transmission target data of the transmission target data storage means for storing data to storage in the final code data storage means Code data for transferring the final code data in the final code data storage means to the communication control means; A transfer process, a data transfer rate calculation process for calculating a transfer data size per unit time for transferring the final encoded data in the encoded data transfer process as a data transfer rate, a data transfer size by the encoded data transfer process, and the data Based on the generation rate, the data transfer rate, and the communication procedure signal, determine the necessity of data pre-generation processing to create the final code data from the transmission target data in advance and transmit it to the communication control means, A data communication method characterized by executing a pre-generation control process for executing the data pre-generation process when it is determined that the data pre-generation process is necessary.   The data processing includes a decoding process for decoding predetermined encoded transmission target code data stored as the transmission target data in the transmission target data storage unit, and the decoded decoded data as the final code data. The data communication method according to claim 9, further comprising: an encoding process for encoding the data into the final code data storage unit.   The data communication method executes a facsimile control procedure by exchanging a facsimile control signal as the communication procedure signal with the counterpart terminal, and the data processing generates code data corresponding to the facsimile control procedure as the final code data. The pre-generation control process is configured to transfer the final code data before the start of transmission of the first final code data limited by the data transfer size, the data generation speed, the data transfer speed, and the facsimile control procedure. 11. The data communication method according to claim 9, wherein whether or not the data pre-generation process is necessary is determined based on whether or not the transmission control unit is ready for transmission. 12. The pre-generation control process repeatedly confirms the data generation rate and the data transfer rate until a transmission rate in the communication is determined by the communication procedure signal. Data communication method described in any   In the data communication method, the data size of the data that the pre-generation control process pre-generates in the data process before the transmission speed is determined by the communication procedure signal is set to the data generation speed and the data transfer speed. The data communication method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, further comprising executing pre-data size calculation processing based on the calculation.   The data communication method adjusts a transfer size of the final code data transferred from the final code data storage unit to the communication control unit in the code data transfer process based on the data generation rate and the data transfer rate. 14. The data communication method according to claim 9, wherein final code data transfer size adjustment processing is executed.   A data communication program for causing a computer to execute the data communication method according to any one of claims 9 to 14.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the data communication program according to claim 15 is recorded.

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