JP7351128B2 - Facsimile machine, facsimile machine control method, and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a facsimile machine, a facsimile machine control method, and a program.

2. Description of the Related Art Facsimile machines that receive image information representing images have been known. Further, in the above-described facsimile apparatuses, a technique for storing image information in a storage section (for example, the technique described in Patent Document 1) may be employed.

As the storage section for storing image information, a storage section (hereinafter referred to as "first storage section") having a relatively large storage capacity is suitable. However, in a configuration in which image information is stored only in the first storage section, a problem will arise if the first storage section enters a failure state in which image information cannot be read normally.

As a configuration to solve the above problem, a storage section (hereinafter referred to as a "second storage section") that is more difficult to enter a failure state than the first storage section is provided, and the image information stored in the first storage section is also transferred to the second storage section. A storage (mirroring) configuration is possible. With the above configuration, even if the first storage section transitions to a failure state, image information can be read from the second storage section.

However, the second storage unit, which has a storage capacity greater than the first storage unit, is expensive and difficult to install, while the second storage unit, which has a smaller storage capacity than the first storage unit, continues to accumulate image information. In this case, there is a problem that part of the image information stored in the first storage section cannot be stored, and image information with high importance stored in the first storage section is not stored in the second storage section. In consideration of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to maintain the safety of highly important image information while suppressing the above-mentioned costs.

In order to solve the above problems, a facsimile device of the present invention includes a receiving section that receives image information indicating an image, a first storage section that stores the image information received by the receiving section, and a facsimile device that is different from the first storage section. , a second storage section that stores the image information received by the receiving section; and a second storage section that stores the image information received by the receiving section; and a storage control unit that stores the one image information in priority over the other image information in the second storage unit when the importance based on the specific information related to the image information is higher than the other image information.

According to the present invention, since image information with a high degree of importance is stored with priority in the second storage section, the safety of the image information with a high degree of importance is maintained.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the hardware configuration of an MFP, which is an example of a facsimile device. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a facsimile device. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a specific example of each piece of information stored in a storage unit. It is a flowchart of storage control processing in a 1st embodiment. It is a flowchart of storage control processing in a 2nd embodiment. It is a flowchart of storage control processing in a 3rd embodiment. It is a flowchart of storage control processing in a 4th embodiment. It is a flowchart of storage control processing in a 5th embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an image displayed at the time of mode transition in the sixth embodiment. It is a flowchart of the process at the time of mode switching in 6th Embodiment. It is a flowchart of processing at the time of a failure in a modification.

<First embodiment>
Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. An example in which the present invention is applied to an MFP (MultiFunction Peripheral) having a facsimile function will be described. However, the present invention may be applied to devices other than MFPs.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the hardware configuration of the MFP 1 according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the MFP 1 includes a controller 10 and an engine section 23. The above controller 10 and engine section 23 are connected via a PCI (Peripheral Component Interface) bus.

The controller 10 is a controller that controls the entire MFP 1, drawing, communication, and input from the operation unit. The engine section 23 includes a printer engine connectable to the PCI bus, such as a black and white plotter, a 1-drum color plotter, a 4-drum color plotter, a scanner, or a fax unit.

The controller 10 includes a CPU 11, a north bridge (NB) 13, a system memory (MEM-P) 12, a south bridge (SB) 14, a local memory (MEM-C) 17, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 16, and a hard disk drive ( HDD) 25. Further, the north bridge (NB) 13 and the ASIC 16 are connected by an AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) bus 15. Furthermore, the MEM-P 12 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12a and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 12b.

The CPU 11 controls the entire operation of the MFP 1 and includes a chipset including an NB 13, MEM-P 12, and SB 14, and is connected to other devices via the chipset. The NB 13 is a bridge for connecting the CPU 11, the MEM-P 12, the SB 14, and the AGP bus 15, and includes a memory controller that controls reading and writing to and from the MEM-P 12, a PCI master, and an AGP target. The MEM-P12 is a system memory used as a memory for storing programs and data, a memory for developing programs and data, a drawing memory for a printer, etc., and includes a ROM 12a and a RAM 12b.

The ROM 12a is a read-only memory used as a memory for storing programs and data, and the RAM 12b is a writable and readable memory used as a memory for developing programs and data and a drawing memory for a printer. SB14 is a bridge for connecting NB13, PCI devices, and peripheral devices. The SB 14 is connected to the NB 13 via a PCI bus, and a network interface (I/F) section may be connected to the PCI bus.

The ASIC 16 is an IC (Integrated Circuit) for image processing that includes hardware elements for image processing, and realizes the function of a bridge that connects the AGP bus 15, the PCI bus, the HDD 25, and the MEM-C 17, respectively. The ASIC 16 includes a PCI target and an AGP master, an arbiter (ARB) that forms the core of the ASIC 16, a memory controller that controls the MEM-C 17, and multiple DMACs (Direct Memory Access) that rotate image data using hardware logic. controller) and a PCI unit that performs data transfer with the engine section 23 via the PCI bus.

An FCU (Facsimile Control Unit) 18, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) 19, an IEEE 1394 (the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 1394), and an interface 21 are connected to the ASIC 16 via a PCI bus. The operation display section 24 is directly connected to the ASIC 16. MEM-C17 is a local memory used as a copy image buffer and code buffer.

The AGP bus 15 is a bus interface for a graphics accelerator card proposed to speed up graphics processing, and speeds up the graphics accelerator card by directly accessing the MEM-P 12 with high throughput. .

The FCU 18 is hardware that controls facsimile functions. Specifically, the FCU 18 is connected to a communication line N (for example, a telephone line) and communicates with an external device using a facsimile function. For example, the FCU 18 receives image information Da from an external facsimile device via the communication line N. The image information Da is image data indicating an image (for example, an image of a document). Further, the FCU 18 transmits (transfers) the image information Da to an external device via the communication line N.

As shown in FIG. 1, the FCU 18 is provided with a G3 terminal 18b and a G4 terminal 18c (receiving section). The FCU 18 can transmit and receive image information Da by G3 protocol communication via the G3 terminal 18b. Further, the FCU 18 can transmit and receive image information Da by G4 protocol communication via the G4 terminal 18c. However, the interface used for transmitting and receiving the image information Da is not limited to the above example. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which only one of the G3 terminal 18b and the G4 terminal 18c is provided.

As shown in FIG. 1, the FCU 18 is provided with an SAF (Store and Forward) memory 18a (second storage section). As the SAF memory 18a, for example, DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) is suitably employed. However, a configuration may be adopted in which a device other than DRAM is employed as the SAF memory 18a.

The HDD 25 (first storage unit) of the controller 10 is a storage for storing image data, programs, font data, and forms, and stores program files of application software executed in the MFP 1. ing.

Further, the HDD 25 of the controller 10 stores the image information Da received by the FCU 18 one by one. Furthermore, although the details will be described later, the HDD 25 stores bibliographic information Db related to the image information Da in addition to the image information Da. The bibliographic information Db of this embodiment is information that can specify the time since the image information Da was received.

The SAF memory 18a of the FCU 18, like the HDD 25 described above, stores the received image information Da one by one. That is, the image information Da received from the external device is stored in both the HDD 25 of the controller 10 and the SAF 18a of the FCU 18 (mirroring). Further, like the HDD 25, the SAF memory 18a stores each bibliographic information Db of each image information Da.

With the above configuration, even if the HDD 25 goes into a state where the image information Da cannot be read normally (hereinafter referred to as a "failure state"), recovery is possible using the image information Da stored in the SAF 18a. Similarly, even if the SAF 18a transitions to a failure state, recovery is possible using the image information Da stored in the HDD 25.

Although the SAF memory 18a of this embodiment has a smaller storage capacity than the HDD 25, it is less likely to enter a failure state than the HDD 25. Specifically, the HDD 25 is provided with movable parts, while the SAF memory 18a is not provided with any movable parts. Therefore, the HDD 25 is more likely to enter a failure state than the SAF memory 18a due to a malfunction of the movable part.

Note that the "failure state in which image information is not read normally" in this embodiment refers to a state in which image information Da cannot be read out, as well as a state in which the readout speed is lower than a non-failure state in which the above-mentioned problem does not occur. This is a concept that includes a state in which the Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a "failure state in which image information is not read normally" means that when the image information Da is read out, the image information Da is This concept includes a state in which the probability of being read properly is reduced.

By the way, as mentioned above, the SAF memory 18a has a smaller storage capacity than the HDD 25. Therefore, if the image information Da continues to be accumulated, part of the image information Da stored in the HDD 25 cannot be stored in the SAF memory 18a. For example, assume that the remaining capacity of the SAF memory 18a becomes insufficient at the time when up to the Mth (M is a positive integer) image information Da is stored in the SAF memory 18a. Even in the above case, the HDD 25 stores (accumulates) the image information Da from M+1 onwards in addition to the image information Da up to the Mth.

On the other hand, the M+1st received image information Da cannot be stored in the SAF memory 18a unless any of the M pieces of image information Da stored in the SAF memory 18a is erased. However, if any of the image information Da is deleted from the SAF memory 18a in order to store new image information Da, then when the HDD 25 enters a failure state, the image information Da deleted from the SAF memory 18a cannot be restored.

Assume that the importance of the image information Da deleted from the SAF memory 18a is low. In the above case, even if the image information Da cannot be restored, it is unlikely to be a major problem. On the other hand, if the image information Da deleted from the SAF memory 18a has a high degree of importance, this is likely to cause a big problem. In consideration of the above circumstances, the present embodiment has a configuration in which image information Da having a high degree of importance is stored preferentially in the SAF memory 18a (hard to be deleted). Details of the above configuration will be described later.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the facsimile device (MFP 1) 100 according to this embodiment. The following functions are realized by the CPU 11 described above executing the program.

As shown in FIG. 2, the facsimile device 100 includes a first control device 110 and a second control device 120. The first control device 110 and the second control device 120 described above are provided in the facsimile machine 100 as separate hardware. Specifically, the controller 10 described above functions as the first control device 110. Further, the FCU 18 functions as a second control device 120. As shown in FIG. 2, the first control device 110 includes a first storage section 111 and a storage control section 112. Further, the second control device 120 is configured to include a second storage section 121 and a receiving section 122.

The first storage unit 111 of the first control device 110 stores the image information Da received by the receiving unit 122 one by one. For example, the HDD 25 described above functions as the first storage unit 111. Further, the G3 terminal 18b and the G4 terminal 18c function as the receiving section 122.

The second storage unit 121 of the second control device 120 stores image information Da, similarly to the first storage unit 111 described above. Although the second storage unit 121 of this embodiment has a smaller storage capacity than the first storage unit 111, it is less likely than the first storage unit 111 to enter a failure state in which normal reading of image information Da is impossible.

Further, the second storage section 121 has a faster reading speed and writing speed of image information Da than the first storage section 111 . For example, the SAF 18a described above functions as the second storage unit 121. However, the second storage section 121 may be used which has a slower reading speed and writing speed of the image information Da than the first storage section 111. Although the details will be described later, image information Da having a high degree of importance is preferentially stored in the second storage unit 121.

As understood from the above description, in this embodiment, the image information Da received by the receiving unit 122 is stored in both the first storage unit 111 and the second storage unit 121. When one of the first storage unit 111 and the second storage unit 121 goes into a failure state, the facsimile device 100 is restored using the image information Da stored in the other.

For example, the facsimile device 100 (first control device 110) prints the image information Da stored in the first storage unit 111 during a period in which both the first storage unit 111 and the second storage unit 121 are in a non-failure state. . On the other hand, when printing specific image information Da, if the first storage unit 111 is in a failure state, the specific image information Da is read from the second storage unit 121 and printed.

Further, in this embodiment, when the image information Da is received by the receiving unit 122, bibliographic information Db related to the image information Da is generated. Further, the bibliographic information Db related to the image information Da is linked to the image information Da and stored in the first storage unit 111 and the second storage unit 121. The bibliographic information Db of this embodiment is information that can specify the time (year, month, day, hour, minute, second) at which the image information Da was received. Further, the above bibliographic information includes information that allows identification of the transmission source of the image information Da.

As described above, the storage capacity of the second storage section 121 is smaller than the storage capacity of the first storage section 111. Therefore, when the image information Da is stored one by one, the remaining capacity of the second storage section 121 becomes insufficient, and the image information Da stored in the first storage section 111 cannot be stored in the second storage section 121.

Considering the above circumstances, the storage control unit 112 controls the storage capacity of the second storage unit 121 when the remaining capacity of the second storage unit 121 becomes less than or equal to a predetermined threshold (hereinafter referred to as “threshold X”). Delete any of the image information Da. In the above configuration, the capacity for storing newly received image information Da is secured in the second storage unit 121.

Specifically, the storage control unit 112 deletes, from the second storage unit 121, the image information Da having the lowest importance among the image information Da stored in the second storage unit 121. When the importance of one image information Da is higher than the importance of another image information Da, the storage control unit 112 described above can prioritize and delete the other image information Da over the one image information Da. It can also be said in other words.

In this embodiment, the shorter the time since the image information Da is received, the higher the importance of the image information Da becomes. That is, the latest image information Da has the highest degree of importance, and the oldest image information Da has the lowest degree of importance. However, the criteria for determining importance can be changed as appropriate. Other specific examples of criteria for determining the degree of importance will be described in detail in the second to fifth embodiments described later.

When deleting the image information Da from the second storage unit 121, the storage control unit 112 determines whether the image information Da is the oldest image information Da from the bibliographic information Db of the image information Da. Furthermore, the storage control unit 112 deletes the oldest (least important) image information Da from the second storage unit 121. According to the storage control unit 112, when the importance level of one image information Da based on the bibliographic information Db related to the image information Da is higher than that of other image information Da, the one image information Da is more important than the other image information Da. It is stored (remained) in the second storage unit 121 with priority over the information Da.

If the configuration does not take into account the importance of the image information Da when deleting the image information Da in the second storage unit 121, a problem is likely to occur in which the image information Da having a high importance is deleted. In this embodiment, when deleting the image information Da in the second storage unit 121, the image information Da with low importance is deleted, so the above-mentioned inconvenience is suppressed. Note that the storage control unit 112 may be provided in the second control device 120 (FCU 18).

FIGS. 3A to 3B are diagrams for explaining specific examples of image information Da and bibliographic information Db stored in the first storage unit 111 and the second storage unit 121.

The facsimile device 100 of this embodiment receives image information Da from the external facsimile device 200 via the communication line N. The image information Da received by the facsimile device 200 is stored in both the first storage unit 111 and the second storage unit 121 as described above. Furthermore, the facsimile device 100 can communicate with an external device (personal computer) 300 via a network (LAN, etc.).

The facsimile device 100 can receive an instruction to transmit the image information Da from the external device 300, and transmits the image information Da to the external device 300 in response to the instruction. Specifically, when facsimile device 100 receives an instruction to transmit image information Da, facsimile device 100 reads image information Da from first storage unit 111 and transmits it to external device 300 . However, if the first storage unit 111 is in a failure state, the image information Da is read from the second storage unit 121 and transmitted to the external device 300.

FIG. 3A shows the first storage unit 111 and the second storage unit 121 (hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as “storage unit”) during a period before the remaining capacity of the second storage unit 121 becomes equal to or less than the threshold value X. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a specific example of each piece of information (image information Da and bibliographic information Db) stored in the . In the specific example of FIG. 3A, it is assumed that M pieces of image information Da are received by the facsimile device 100 (receiving unit 122) in the order of image information Da1, image information Da2, . . . image information DaM.

In the above case, image information Da1 to image information DaM are stored in the second storage unit 121. Similarly, image information Da1 to image information DaM are stored in the first storage unit 111. Further, as shown in FIG. 3A, bibliographic information Db (1 to M) related to image information Da (1 to M) is stored in both the first storage unit 111 and the second storage unit 121. is stored correspondingly.

In the specific example of FIG. 3A, the time from when the image information Da is received is the longest for the image information Da1, and the shortest for the image information DaM. As described above, in this embodiment, the shorter the time since the image information Da is received, the higher the importance of the image information Da becomes. Therefore, in the specific example of FIG. 3A, image information Da1 has the lowest importance, and image information DaM has the highest importance.

FIG. 3B is a diagram for explaining a specific example of each piece of information stored in the storage unit immediately after the remaining capacity of the second storage unit 121 decreases to the threshold value X or less. In the specific example of FIG. 3(b), it is assumed that in the specific example of FIG. 3(a) described above, image information DaM+1 is newly received and the remaining capacity of the second storage unit 121 decreases to below the threshold value X. .

When the first control device 110 of the present embodiment stores new image information Da in the second storage section 121, if the remaining capacity of the second storage section 121 is equal to or less than the threshold value X, the first control device 110 stores the image information Da of low importance. Delete Da. In the specific example of FIG. 3(b), among the image information Da stored in the second storage unit 121, the image information Da1 is the oldest and has the lowest importance. Therefore, when the image information DaM+1 is stored in the second storage section 121, the image information Da1 is deleted from the second storage section 121. With the above configuration, the remaining capacity for storing new image information Da in the second storage unit 121 is ensured.

However, as shown in FIG. 3B, even if the image information DaM+1 is stored in the second storage unit 121 and the image information Da1 is deleted from the second storage unit 121, the image information DaM+1 is deleted from the first storage unit 111. Image information Da1 is not deleted. Therefore, even if the second storage unit 121 goes into a failure state and the image information Da1 becomes unreadable from the second storage unit 121, the image information Da1 stored in the first storage unit 111 Printing is possible.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, even when image information Da is deleted from the second storage unit 121, bibliographic information Db related to the image information Da is not deleted. For example, in the specific example of FIG. 3B, even after the image information Da1 is deleted from the second storage unit 121, the bibliographic information Db1 related to the image information Da1 remains in the second storage unit 121.

As described above, the bibliographic information Db includes, in addition to the time when the image information Da was received, information that can identify the source of the image information Da (the name of the source, the fax number, etc.). In the present embodiment described above, even if the first storage unit 111 goes into a failure state and the image information Da is deleted from the second storage unit 121, the transmission source of the image information Da is 2 can be grasped from the bibliographic information Db left in the storage unit 121. Therefore, there is an advantage that it is possible to contact the sender specified from the bibliographic information Db and request retransmission of the image information Da.

FIG. 3(c) is a diagram for explaining another specific example of each piece of information stored in the storage unit. In the specific example of FIG. 3C, it is assumed that M+m pieces of image information Da from image information Da1 to image information DaM+m are received. Further, in the above specific example, it is assumed that the image information Da is received in the order of image information Da1, image information Da2, . . . image information DaM+m-1, and image information DaM+m. In the above case, as shown in FIG. 3(c), M+m pieces of image information Da are stored in the first storage unit 111. Further, M+m pieces of bibliographic information Db are stored in the first storage unit 111.

In the specific example of FIG. 3C, it is assumed that among the image information Da1 to DaM+m, m pieces of image information Da from image information Da1 to image information Dam are deleted from the second storage unit 121. In the above case, M pieces of image information Da are stored in the second storage unit 121. However, since the bibliographic information Db is not deleted when the image information Da is deleted, the second storage unit 121 stores M+m pieces of bibliographic information Db from bibliographic information Db1 to bibliographic information DbM+m, similarly to the first storage unit 111. be remembered.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the facsimile machine 100 of this embodiment. FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of storage unit control processing executed by the facsimile machine 100.

When the facsimile device 100 receives image information Da (document) from an external facsimile device (Sa1), it generates bibliographic information Db that can identify the time when the image information Da was received. Further, the above bibliographic information Db is linked with the image information Da received in step Sa1 described above, and stored in both the first storage unit 111 and the second storage unit 121 (Sa2).

After storing the image information Da and the bibliographic information Db in the first storage unit 111 and the second storage unit 121, the facsimile device 100 determines whether the remaining capacity of the second storage unit 121 is less than or equal to the threshold value X ( Sa3). If it is determined that the remaining capacity of the second storage unit 121 is not less than the threshold value X (Sa3: NO), the facsimile device 100 ends the storage unit control process.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the remaining capacity of the second storage section 121 is less than or equal to the threshold value X (Sa3: YES), the facsimile device 100 selects the image information with the lowest importance among the image information Da of the second storage section 121. Specify Da (Sa4). Specifically, in step Sa4, the bibliographic information Db (including the reception time) is referred to, and the oldest image information Da among the image information Da is determined to be the least important document.

After identifying the oldest image information Da from the image information Da in the second storage unit 121, the facsimile device 100 prints the image (document) indicated by the image information Da (Sa5). Furthermore, the image information Da containing the printed image is deleted from the second storage unit 121 (Sa6). However, as described above, the bibliographic information Db is not deleted from the second storage unit 121.

As understood from the above description, in this embodiment, when the image information Da is deleted from the second storage unit 121, the image of the image information Da is automatically printed. With the above configuration, the inconvenience that the image information Da is deleted from the second storage unit 121 before the image of the image information Da is printed is suppressed. However, a configuration may be adopted in which step Sa6 is omitted.

After deleting the image information Da from the second storage unit 121, the facsimile device 100 returns the process to step Sa3 described above. In the above configuration, it is determined whether the remaining capacity of the second storage unit 121 after deleting the image information Da is equal to or less than the threshold value X. If the remaining capacity of the second storage unit 121 after deleting the image information Da is not less than the threshold value X (Sa3: NO), the facsimile device 100 ends the storage unit control process.

On the other hand, if the remaining capacity of the second storage unit 121 after deleting the image information Da is equal to or less than the threshold value X (Sa3: YES), the facsimile device 100 re-executes steps Sa4 to Sa6 described above. In the above case, the oldest image information Da is deleted from the remaining image information Da stored in the second storage unit 121 after the image information Da is deleted. After that, the above-mentioned step Sa3 is executed again.

As can be understood from the above explanation, when one piece of image information Da is newly stored in the second storage unit 121, two or more pieces of image information Da are deleted from the second storage unit 121 in the order of oldest and remaining. Capacity may be secured. For example, when the amount of newly stored image information Da is relatively large, a plurality of pieces of image information Da are likely to be deleted from the second storage unit 121 in the storage unit control process. Further, the same applies when the amount of data of the image information Da that is deleted first is relatively small.

Note that in the present embodiment, each time image information Da is deleted from the second storage unit 121, it is determined whether the remaining capacity has increased to the threshold value X or not. Instead of the above configuration, a configuration may be adopted in which a plurality of pieces of image information Da are deleted from the second storage unit 121 at once when the data amount of the newly stored image information Da is larger than a predetermined threshold.

However, in the above configuration, compared to the present embodiment, the problem that image information Da is more likely to be deleted than necessary occurs more easily. For example, even if the amount of newly stored image information Da is larger than a predetermined threshold, if the amount of image information Da to be deleted first is relatively large, multiple pieces of image information Da may be deleted. There is no need to delete it from the second storage unit 121. In this embodiment, it is determined whether the remaining capacity is equal to or less than the threshold value X each time image information Da is deleted, so the above-mentioned disadvantages are suppressed.

According to the present embodiment described above, since the image information Da having a high degree of importance is stored with priority in the second storage section 121, the problem that the image information Da having a high degree of importance is not stored in the second storage section 121 can be solved. suppressed.

<Second embodiment>
Other embodiments of the present invention will be described below. In addition, in each embodiment illustrated below, for elements whose actions and functions are equivalent to those of the first embodiment, the reference numerals referred to in the description of the first embodiment are used, and detailed descriptions of each are omitted as appropriate.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the facsimile machine 100 of the second embodiment. FIG. 5 corresponds to FIG. 4 in the first embodiment described above, and shows a flowchart of the storage control process executed by the facsimile apparatus 100 in the second embodiment.

In the first embodiment described above, image information Da of low importance (image information Da to be deleted) is determined based on the time (specific information) since the image information Da was received. In the second embodiment, image information Da having low importance is determined based on the transmission source of the image information Da. The details of the above configuration will be explained below.

As shown in FIG. 5, when image information Da (document) is received from an external device (Sb1), the facsimile device 100 generates source information Dc that can identify the source of the image information Da. For example, the facsimile device 100 generates sender information Dc that can specify the name or facsimile number of the sender of the image information Da.

The facsimile machine 100 associates the above sender information Dc with the image information Da received in step Sb1 described above, and stores it in both the first storage unit 111 and the second storage unit 121 (Sb2). However, the transmission source information Dc is not limited to the above example, and any information that can identify the transmission source may be employed as appropriate.

After storing the image information Da and the sender information Dc in the first storage unit 111 and the second storage unit 121, the facsimile device 100 determines whether the remaining capacity of the second storage unit 121 is less than or equal to the threshold value X. (Sb3). If it is determined that the remaining capacity of the second storage unit 121 is not less than the threshold value X (Sb3: NO), the facsimile device 100 ends the storage unit control process.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the remaining capacity of the second storage unit 121 is equal to or less than the threshold value X (Sb3: YES), the facsimile device 100 selects image information Da with low importance among the image information Da in the second storage unit 121. (Sb4).

In step Sb4 of the second embodiment, for each image information Da stored in the second storage unit 121, the image information Da is transmitted from a specific transmission source (hereinafter referred to as "designated transmission source"). It is determined whether or not. Specifically, facsimile device 100 uses the designated transmission source table to determine whether the transmission source of image information Da is the designated transmission source.

Information that allows identification of a designated sender is registered in the designated sender table. For example, the name or facsimile number of a designated sender is registered in the designated sender table. In step Sb4, the facsimile device 100 searches the designated sender table for the sender (name or facsimile number) specified by the sender information Dc of the image information Da in the second storage unit 121.

The above specified source table is stored in, for example, the first storage unit 111 (HDD 25). In this embodiment, the user (receiver) can register a designated transmission source in the designated transmission source table by appropriately operating the operation unit of the facsimile device 100 (MFP 1).

However, the method of registering the designated sender is not limited to the above example. Specifically, a configuration may be adopted in which the designated sender is automatically registered. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which a transmission source that has received image information Da more than a predetermined number of times is automatically registered as a designated transmission source.

If the sending source specified by the sending source information Dc of the image information Da is not found as a result of searching the specified sending source table, the facsimile device 100 converts the image information Da into image information Da with low importance. Specify as. Note that in the following, for the sake of explanation, a transmission source that is not registered in the designated transmission source table will be referred to as a "non-designated transmission source."

The facsimile device 100 of this embodiment specifies, for all the image information Da stored in the second storage unit 121, whether the transmission source of the image information Da is a designated transmission source or a non-designated transmission source. Note that when a plurality of pieces of image information Da transmitted from a non-designated transmission source are stored, one of the pieces of image information Da is determined to be of low importance in step Sb4 by a predetermined method. be done. A specific example of the above method will be explained in a modified example below.

After specifying the image information Da of low importance from the image information Da in the second storage unit 121, the facsimile device 100 prints the image (document) indicated by the image information Da (Sb5). Further, the image information Da containing the printed image is deleted from the second storage unit 121 (Sb6). However, the source information Dc is not deleted from the second storage unit 121.

After deleting the image information Da from the second storage unit 121, the facsimile device 100 returns the process to step Sb3 described above. In the above configuration, it is determined whether the remaining capacity of the second storage unit 121 after deleting the image information Da is equal to or less than the threshold value X. If the remaining capacity of the second storage unit 121 after deleting the image information Da is not less than the threshold value X (Sb3: NO), the facsimile device 100 ends the storage unit control process.

On the other hand, if the remaining capacity of the second storage unit 121 after deleting the image information Da is equal to or less than the threshold value X (Sb3: YES), the facsimile apparatus 100 re-executes steps Sb4 to Sb6 described above. In the above case, the image information Da of the non-designated transmission source is deleted again from among the remaining image information Da stored in the second storage unit 121 after the image information Da is deleted. After that, the above-mentioned step Sb3 is executed again.

The second embodiment described above provides the same effects as the first embodiment described above. Furthermore, even in the period after the image information Da is deleted, the source information Dc of the image information Da is stored in the second storage unit 121. Therefore, even if the image information Da is deleted, there is an advantage that the transmission source specified from the transmission source information Dc can be notified of this fact and requested to transmit the image information Da again.

<Third embodiment>
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the facsimile machine 100 according to the third embodiment. FIG. 6 corresponds to FIG. 4 in the first embodiment described above, and shows a flowchart of storage control processing executed by the facsimile apparatus 100 in the third embodiment.

In the third embodiment, when receiving image information Da, the transmission source notifies whether the image information Da is important or not. The facsimile device 100 identifies image information Da with low importance based on the notification from the sender, and deletes the image information Da from the second storage unit 121. The above configuration will be explained in detail below.

As shown in FIG. 6, when image information Da (document) is received from an external device (Sc1), the facsimile device 100 determines whether or not the image information Da is set to be important at the transmission source. Specifically, in the third embodiment, importance information Dd is transmitted from the transmission source in addition to image information Da. The above importance information Dd indicates whether or not the image information Da is set as important by the transmission source.

The facsimile device 100 associates the importance information Dd with the image information Da received in step Sc1 described above and stores it in both the first storage unit 111 and the second storage unit 121 (Sc2). Thereafter, the facsimile device 100 determines whether the remaining capacity of the second storage unit 121 is less than or equal to the threshold value X (Sc3). If it is determined that the remaining capacity of the second storage unit 121 is not less than the threshold value X (Sc3: NO), the facsimile device 100 ends the storage unit control process.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the remaining capacity of the second storage section 121 is equal to or less than the threshold value X (Sc3: YES), the facsimile device 100 selects image information Da with low importance among the image information Da of the second storage section 121. (Sc4). Specifically, from the image information Da stored in the second storage unit 121, the image information Da whose importance level information Dd indicates that it is not set as important by the transmission source is identified.

Note that when a plurality of image information Da whose importance information Dd indicates that it is not set as important by the sender is stored, one of the plurality of image information Da is selected as a step by a predetermined method. In Sc4, it is determined that the importance level is low. A specific example of the above method will be explained in a modified example below.

After specifying the image information Da of low importance from the image information Da in the second storage unit 121, the facsimile device 100 prints the image (document) indicated by the image information Da (Sc5). Further, the image information Da in which the image is printed is deleted from the second storage unit 121 (Sc6).

After deleting the image information Da from the second storage unit 121, the facsimile device 100 returns the process to step Sc3 described above. In the above configuration, it is determined whether the remaining capacity of the second storage unit 121 after deleting the image information Da is equal to or less than the threshold value X. If the remaining capacity of the second storage unit 121 after deleting the image information Da is not equal to or less than the threshold value X (Sc3: NO), the facsimile device 100 ends the storage unit control process.

On the other hand, if the remaining capacity of the second storage unit 121 after deleting the image information Da is equal to or less than the threshold value X (Sc3: YES), the facsimile device 100 re-executes steps Sc4 to Sc6 described above. In the above case, the image information Da that is not set as important is deleted again from among the remaining image information Da stored in the second storage unit 121 after the image information Da is deleted. After that, the above-mentioned step Sc3 is executed again.

The third embodiment described above provides the same effects as the first embodiment described above. Note that in the third embodiment as well, when the image information Da is received, the sender information Dc is generated, and the image information Da and the sender information Dc are linked and stored in the storage units (the first storage unit 111 and It may also be configured to be stored in the second storage unit 121).

<Fourth embodiment>
FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the facsimile machine 100 according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 7 corresponds to FIG. 4 in the above-described first embodiment, and shows a flowchart of storage unit control processing executed by the facsimile machine 100 of the fourth embodiment.

In the fourth embodiment, image information Da with low importance is determined based on the data amount (data size) of image information Da. The above configuration will be explained in detail below.

As shown in FIG. 6, when image information Da (document) is received from an external device (Sd1), the facsimile device 100 stores the image information Da in both the first storage unit 111 and the second storage unit 121. (Sd2). Thereafter, the facsimile device 100 determines whether the remaining capacity of the second storage unit 121 is less than or equal to the threshold value X (Sd3). If it is determined that the remaining capacity of the second storage unit 121 is not less than the threshold value X (Sd3: NO), the facsimile device 100 ends the storage unit control process.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the remaining capacity of the second storage unit 121 is equal to or less than the threshold value X (Sd3: YES), the facsimile device 100 selects image information Da with low importance among the image information Da in the second storage unit 121. (Sd4). Specifically, from among the image information Da stored in the second storage unit 121, the image information Da having the largest amount of data is identified as the image information Da having the lower importance.

Note that when a plurality of pieces of image information Da having the largest amount of data are stored, one of the pieces of image information Da is determined to be of low importance in step Sd4 by a predetermined method. A specific example of the above method will be explained in a modified example below.

After specifying the image information Da of low importance from the image information Da in the second storage unit 121, the facsimile device 100 prints the image (document) indicated by the image information Da (Sd5). Further, the image information Da containing the printed image is deleted from the second storage unit 121 (Sd6).

After deleting the image information Da from the second storage unit 121, the facsimile device 100 returns the process to step Sd3 described above. That is, it is determined whether the remaining capacity of the second storage unit 121 after deleting the image information Da is equal to or less than the threshold value X. If the remaining capacity of the second storage unit 121 after deleting the image information Da is not equal to or less than the threshold value X (Sd3: NO), the facsimile device 100 ends the storage unit control process.

On the other hand, if the remaining capacity of the second storage unit 121 after deleting the image information Da is equal to or less than the threshold value X (Sd3: YES), the facsimile device 100 re-executes steps Sd4 to Sd6 described above. In the above case, the image information Da having the largest amount of data is deleted again from among the remaining image information Da stored in the second storage unit 121 after the image information Da has been deleted. After that, the above-mentioned step Sd3 is executed again.

The fourth embodiment described above provides the same effects as the first embodiment described above. Further, in the fourth embodiment, image information Da having a small amount of data is preferentially stored in the second storage unit 121. The smaller the average data amount of each piece of information, the more information can be stored in one storage unit. Therefore, the configuration of the fourth embodiment described above has the advantage that a large amount of image information Da can be easily stored in the second storage unit 121, compared to a configuration in which priority is not given to image information Da having a small amount of data, for example. In other words, the above configuration has the advantage that the number of pieces of image information Da deleted from the second storage unit 121 is suppressed.

Note that in the fourth embodiment as well, when the image information Da is received, the sender information Dc is generated, and the image information Da and the sender information Dc are linked and stored in the storage units (the first storage unit 111 and It may also be configured to be stored in the second storage unit 121). Further, even in a period after the image information Da is deleted, the source information Dc of the image information Da may be stored in the second storage unit 121.

<Fifth embodiment>
In the fifth embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment described above, a communication line N is connected to the second control device 120 (FCU 18), and image information Da is input to the second control device 120 (see FIG. reference). The image information Da input to the second control device 120 is stored in the second storage unit 121 (SAF18) included in the second control device 120, and the image information Da input to the second control device 120 is stored in the first control device provided separately from the second control device 120. 110 (controller 10) is stored in the first storage unit 111 (HDD 25).

Further, the second control device 120 of the fifth embodiment can transfer the image information Da to an external facsimile device (hereinafter simply referred to as "external device") via the communication line N. In the above configuration, it is assumed that the image information Da to be transferred to the external device is stored in the second control device 120 (second storage unit 121) (remains without being deleted). In the above case, it is sufficient for the second control device 120 to transfer the image information Da from the second storage unit 121 to the external device, and there is no need to acquire the image information Da from the first control device 110 (first storage unit 111). There is no

On the other hand, assume that the image information Da to be transferred to the external device is not stored in the second control device 120 (the image information Da is deleted when newly received). In the above case, the second control device 120 needs to acquire the image information Da from the first control device 110 when transferring the image information Da to an external device. Therefore, compared to the case where the image information Da to be transferred to the external device remains in the second control device 120, the time required to transfer the image information Da tends to be longer.

For the above reasons, if a situation occurs frequently in which the image information Da to be transferred to an external device is not left in the second control device 120, the time required to transfer the image information Da tends to become longer, which is an inconvenience. occurs.

In consideration of the above circumstances, the fifth embodiment includes a configuration in which the above-mentioned disadvantages are suppressed. Specifically, the facsimile device 100 (storage control unit 112) of the fifth embodiment preferentially stores (leaves) image information Da that may be transferred via the communication line N in the second storage unit 121. ).

According to the above configuration, image information Da that may be transferred to an external device is stored in the second storage unit 121 with priority, compared to a configuration in which image information Da that may be transferred to an external device is not stored in the second storage unit 121. There is a high possibility that the information is stored in the section 121. Therefore, the above-mentioned disadvantages are suppressed. The above configuration will be explained in detail below.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the facsimile machine 100 of the fifth embodiment. FIG. 8 corresponds to FIG. 4 in the above-described first embodiment, and shows a flowchart of the storage unit control process executed by the facsimile machine 100.

As shown in FIG. 8, when image information Da (document) is received from an external device (Se1), the facsimile device 100 stores the image information Da in both the first storage unit 111 and the second storage unit 121. (Se2). After that, the facsimile device 100 determines whether the remaining capacity of the second storage unit 121 is less than or equal to the threshold value X (Se3). If it is determined that the remaining capacity of the second storage unit 121 is not less than the threshold value X (Se3: NO), the facsimile device 100 ends the storage unit control process.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the remaining capacity of the second storage unit 121 is less than or equal to the threshold value X (Se3: YES), the facsimile device 100 determines whether the image information Da in the second storage unit 121 may be transferred to an external device. The image information Da that is missing is identified (Se4). Specifically, facsimile device 100 determines whether or not image information Da is transmitted from a predetermined transmission source (hereinafter referred to as a "specific transmission source"). The above specific transmission source is registered in advance by the user, for example, like the designated transmission source in the second embodiment described above.

If the transmission source of the image information Da is a specific transmission source, the facsimile device 100 determines that the image information Da may be transferred. On the other hand, if the transmission source of the image information Da is a specific transmission source, the facsimile device 100 determines that there is no possibility of transferring the image information Da.

Note that when a plurality of pieces of image information Da that has no possibility of being transferred to an external device are stored in the second storage unit 121, any one of the plural pieces of image information Da is specified by a predetermined method. Ru. A specific example of the above method will be explained in a modified example below.

After identifying the image information Da that has no possibility of being transferred from the image information Da in the second storage unit 121, the facsimile device 100 prints the image (document) indicated by the image information Da (Se5). Furthermore, the image information Da containing the printed image is deleted from the second storage unit 121 (Se6).

After deleting the image information Da from the second storage unit 121, the facsimile device 100 returns the process to step Se3 described above. In the above configuration, it is determined whether the remaining capacity of the second storage unit 121 after deleting the image information Da is equal to or less than the threshold value X. If the remaining capacity of the second storage unit 121 after deleting the image information Da is not less than the threshold value X (Se3: NO), the facsimile device 100 ends the storage unit control process.

On the other hand, if the remaining capacity of the second storage unit 121 after deleting the image information Da is equal to or less than the threshold value X (Se3: YES), the facsimile device 100 re-executes steps Se4 to Se6 described above. In the above case, the image information Da that has no possibility of being transferred is deleted again from among the remaining image information Da stored in the second storage unit 121 after the image information Da is deleted. After that, the above-mentioned step Se3 is executed again.

In the fifth embodiment described above, the image information Da that may be transferred to an external device is preferentially stored (left) in the second control device 120 to which the communication line N is connected. Therefore, compared to a configuration in which the image information Da is deleted from the second storage unit 121 regardless of whether there is a possibility of transferring it to the external device, the image information Da transferred to the external device via the communication line N is 2 storage unit 121 becomes more likely. Therefore, it is difficult for the image information Da transferred to the external device via the communication line N to be not stored in the second control device 120 to occur frequently, and the time required to transfer the image information Da is likely to be prolonged. This inconvenience is suppressed.

Note that in the fifth embodiment as well, when the image information Da is received, the sender information Dc is generated, and the image information Da and the sender information Dc are linked and stored in the storage units (the first storage unit 111 and It may also be configured to be stored in the second storage unit 121). Further, even in a period after the image information Da is deleted, the source information Dc of the image information Da may be stored in the second storage unit 121.

<Sixth embodiment>
In each of the above embodiments, the image information Da is stored in the first storage unit 111 and the second storage unit 121 (storage unit). In the sixth embodiment described below, image information Da can be stored in the storage unit, similarly to each of the above embodiments.

The facsimile device 100 of the sixth embodiment can shift to a first mode and a second mode, in which image information Da is stored in the storage unit in the first mode, and image information Da is not stored in the storage unit in the second mode. . Further, when shifting from the first mode to the second mode, the facsimile device 100 deletes the image information Da in the storage unit. In the second mode described above, the inconvenience that the image information Da in the storage unit is illegally obtained is suppressed (security is improved).

However, when transitioning from the first mode to the second mode, some users may wish to print part of the image information Da stored in the storage unit. For example, the user may want to select (excerpt) image information Da with a high degree of importance from among the image information Da stored in the storage unit and print it.

A configuration that allows the user to select the image information Da with high importance is to display a list of all the image information Da stored in the storage unit on the screen and allow the user to select the image information Da that he or she wishes to print. Conceivable. However, with the above configuration, if the number of pieces of image information Da stored in the storage unit is large, some users may find it troublesome to find the image information Da they wish to print from among the displayed image information Da. be. In consideration of the above circumstances, the sixth embodiment employs a configuration in which the above-mentioned disadvantages are suppressed. The above configuration will be explained in detail below.

FIGS. 9(a) to 9(c) are diagrams for explaining each image (G1 to G3) displayed when transitioning from the first mode to the second mode. FIG. 9A is a schematic diagram of a mode switching image G1 displayed when selecting (transitioning) a mode of the facsimile device 100. The above mode switching image G1 is displayed on the operation display section 24 of the facsimile device 100 (MFP1) by appropriately operating the operation display section 24, for example.

As shown in FIG. 9(a), the mode switching image G1 includes buttons Ba (1, 2), a setting button Bx, and a cancel button By. Further, the button Ba is configured to include a button Ba1 and a button Ba2. The user can shift the facsimile device 100 to the first mode by operating the setting button Bx after operating the button Ba1 (touch operation). On the other hand, if the setting button Bx is operated after the button Ba2 is operated, the facsimile apparatus 100 shifts to the second mode. When the cancel button By is operated, the mode switching image G1 is hidden and the mode does not change.

FIG. 9(b) is a mock diagram of the method selection image G2. The above method selection image G2 is displayed when the button Ba2 of the mode switching image G1 is operated and the mode is shifted from the first mode to the second mode. As shown in FIG. 9(b), the method selection image G2 includes a selection button Bb1, a selection button Bb2, and a selection button Bb3.

In the sixth embodiment, as in each of the above-described embodiments, image information Da with high importance (including image information Da that may be transferred to an external device) is stored in the second storage unit 121 with priority. be done. Specifically, when the remaining capacity of the second storage unit 121 decreases to below the threshold value X, the image information Da with low importance stored in the second storage unit 121 is deleted. In the above configuration, there may be image information Da that is stored only in the first storage unit 111 (HDD 25) among the storage units and not stored in the second storage unit 121 (SAF 18a).

Hereinafter, for the sake of explanation, the image information Da deleted from the second storage unit 121 may be referred to as "low importance information Dax." The above low importance information Dax can also be said to be image information Da stored only in the first storage unit 111 among the storage units. For example, when the image information Da stored in the first storage unit 111 and the image information Da stored in the second storage unit 121 match, the low importance information Dax does not exist. In the above case, it is assumed that the image information Da in the second storage unit 121 has never been deleted.

In the sixth embodiment, when the low importance information Dax does not exist when transitioning from the first mode to the second mode, the method selection image G2 is not displayed. In the above case, when the setting button Bx is operated after the button Ba2 of the mode switching image G1 is operated, all the image information Da stored in the first storage unit 111 (second storage unit 121) is printed. .

On the other hand, when shifting from the first mode to the second mode, if low importance information Dax exists, a method selection image G2 is displayed. As shown in FIG. 9B, a message asking whether to print the image (document) of the low importance information Dax is displayed on the method selection image G2.

For example, when the user operates the selection button Bb1, all image information Da (image information Da stored in the first storage unit 111) including the low importance information Dax is printed. Further, when the user operates the selection button Bb3, the low importance information Dax is not printed, but the image information Da stored in the second storage unit 121 is printed. Further, as will be described in detail below, when the user operates the selection button Bb2, a portion of the low importance information Dax can be extracted and printed.

FIG. 9(c) is a mock diagram of the document selection image G3. The document selection image G3 is displayed when the selection button Bb3 is operated during the period in which the method selection image G2 described above is displayed. Further, as shown in FIG. 9(c), the document selection image G3 includes document buttons Bc (1 to 5) and a decision button Bz.

As shown in FIG. 9(c), a plurality of document buttons Bc are displayed in the document selection image G3. Each of the above document buttons Bc corresponds to each piece of low importance information Dax stored in the first storage unit 111. In the specific example of FIG. 9C, it is assumed that five pieces of low importance information Dax are stored in the first storage unit 111. In the above case, five document buttons Bc are displayed on the document selection image G3, as shown in FIG. 9(c).

The document button Bc displays information according to the low importance information Dax corresponding to the document button Bc. For example, the document button Bc displays the date and time when the low importance information Dax was received, the name of the low importance information Dax, information that allows identification of the sender, and the document number. By operating the document button Bc, the user can select the low importance information Dax corresponding to the document button Bc. In the specific example of FIG. 9C, it is assumed that three pieces of low importance information Dax from document number "0001" to document number "0003" are selected.

When the OK button Bz is operated after the document button Bc is operated, an image of the low importance information Dax corresponding to the document button Bc is printed. According to the above configuration, the user can print the desired low importance information Dax by appropriately operating the document button Bc.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the mode switching process. The mode switching process is executed when the mode is changed from the first mode to the second mode by the operation on the mode switching image G1 described above.

As shown in FIG. 10, when the mode switching process is started, the facsimile machine 100 shifts the mode from the first mode to the second mode (Sf1). After shifting the mode from the first mode to the second mode, the facsimile device 100 determines whether the image information Da is stored in the storage unit (Sf2). If it is determined that the image information Da is not stored in the storage unit (Sf2: NO), the facsimile device 100 ends the mode switching process.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the image information Da is stored in the storage section (Sf2: YES), the facsimile device 100 prints all the image information Da stored in the second storage section 121 (Sf3). Furthermore, the facsimile device 100 determines whether there is image information Da stored only in the first storage unit 111 (Sf4). That is, in step Sf4, the presence or absence of the above-mentioned low importance information Dax is determined.

If it is determined that the low importance information Dax is not stored in the first storage unit 111 (Sf4: NO), the facsimile device 100 stores the image information stored in both the first storage unit 111 and the second storage unit 121. Da is erased (Sf6), and the mode transition process is ended.

If it is determined that the low importance information Dax is stored in the first storage unit 111 (Sf4: YES), the facsimile device 100 displays the method selection image G2 (see FIG. 9(b) described above). Furthermore, the facsimile device 100 prints only the low importance information Dax specified by the user (Sf5).

Specifically, in step Sf5, when the selection button Bb1 is operated in the method selection image G2 described above, all low importance information Dax is assumed to have been selected, and all the low importance information Dax is printed. . On the other hand, when the selection button Bb3 is operated in the method selection image G2, it is assumed that the low importance information Dax has not been selected, and the low importance information Dax is not printed.

Furthermore, when the selection button Bb2 is operated on the method selection image G2, the facsimile device 100 displays the document selection image G3 (see FIG. 9(c) described above). Further, the low importance information Dax selected by operating the document selection image G3 is printed in step Sf5. After printing the low importance information Dax selected by the user in step Sf5, the facsimile device 100 erases the image information Dax in the storage section (Sf6) and ends the mode switching process.

According to the sixth embodiment described above, the same effects as those of the first embodiment described above can be achieved. Further, according to the sixth embodiment, there is an advantage that the convenience of the operation for selecting (excerpting) and printing the image information Da having a high degree of importance from among the image information Da is improved.

<Modified example>
Each of the above forms can be modified in various ways. Specific modes of modification are illustrated below.

(1) FIG. 11 is a flowchart of failure processing in a modified example. The above failure processing is executed when the first storage unit 111 transitions to a failure state. The facsimile apparatus 100 of the above-described modification example can be restored using the image information Da of the second storage section 121 when the first storage section 111 goes into a failure state, similarly to the above-described embodiments.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, when the facsimile device 100 detects that the first storage section 111 has transitioned to a failure state (Sg1), the facsimile device 100 stores the first storage section 111 using the image information Da of the second storage section 121. The image information Da of is restored (Sg2). Furthermore, after restoring the image information Da, the facsimile device 100 prints a document deletion report using the bibliographic information Db in the second storage unit 121 (Sg3).

Specifically, in this modification, bibliographic information Db related to image information Da is stored in the storage unit. The above bibliographic information Db is information that can specify the reception time of the image information Da, the sender (name of the sender, etc.), and whether or not the image information Da has already been printed. Furthermore, in this modified example, as in each of the above embodiments, even if the image information Da is deleted from the second storage unit 121, the bibliographic information Db related to the image information Da is not deleted (maintained). ).

The document deletion report printed in step Sg3 described above describes each piece of information specified from the bibliographic information Db from which the image information Da has been deleted. According to the document deletion report described above, various types of information (sender, etc.) related to the deleted image information Da can be confirmed.

Note that the information described in the above document deletion report is not limited to the above example. For example, the document deletion report may include the date and time when a failure of the first storage unit 111 was detected, the date and time when the image information Da was deleted, and the date and time when the document deletion report was created.

(2) In the storage unit control process of the first embodiment described above (see FIG. 4), when selecting the image information Da to be deleted from the second storage unit 121 (step Sa4), the oldest image information Da is selected. did. Further, in the above configuration, when a plurality of pieces of the oldest image information Da exist, one piece of image information Da is selected from the plurality of pieces of image information Da using a predetermined method. The above method is set as appropriate.

For example, a configuration may be considered in which among the oldest image information Da, image information Da having the largest amount of data is selected as a deletion target. Further, among the oldest image information Da, the image information Da received from the non-designated transmission source described in the second embodiment is selected as a deletion target with priority over the image information Da received from the designated transmission source. It may also be a configuration.

Further, among the oldest image information Da, the image information Da that is not set as important as described in the third embodiment is selected as a deletion target with priority over the image information Da that is set as important. You can also use it as Furthermore, among the oldest image information Da, image information Da that has no possibility of being transferred to an external device is selected for deletion in priority over image information Da that may be transferred to an external device. Good too.

Note that the storage unit control process in the second embodiment described above (step Sb4 in FIG. 5), the storage unit control process in the third embodiment (step Sc4 in FIG. 6), and the storage unit control process in the fourth embodiment (FIG. 7 In step Sd4) and the storage unit control process in the fifth embodiment (step Sd4 in FIG. 8), image information Da that satisfies conditions for determining that the degree of importance is low (image information Da that can be a target for deletion) is There may be more than one. In the above case as well, similarly to the above-described modification, an image satisfying the conditions determined to have low importance in other embodiments is selected from a plurality of pieces of image information Da satisfying the conditions determined to have low importance. A configuration may be adopted in which the information Da is selected as a target for deletion.

<Summary of actions and effects of the example embodiment of the present embodiment>
<First aspect>
The facsimile apparatus of this aspect includes a receiving section (122) that receives image information indicating an image, a first storage section (111) that stores the image information (Da) received by the receiving section, and a first storage section that stores the image information (Da) received by the receiving section. Differently, a second storage section (121) stores the image information received by the receiving section, and a second storage section (121) stores the one image information in the first storage section regardless of the importance based on the specific information regarding the one image information. and when the importance based on the specific information regarding one image information is higher than the other image information, a storage control unit ( 112). According to this aspect described above, image information with a high degree of importance is stored with priority in the second storage section, so the problem that image information with a high degree of importance is not stored in the second storage section is suppressed.

<Second aspect>
In the facsimile device of this aspect, the specific information related to the image information is the time since the image information was received, and the storage control unit stores the image information as the time from the image information is received is shorter. It is stored in the second storage unit with priority. According to this aspect described above, the problem that recently received image information (image information with high importance) is not stored in the second storage unit is suppressed.

<Third aspect>
In the facsimile device of this aspect, the specific information related to the image information is the transmission source of the image information, and the storage control unit prioritizes the image information from the specific transmission source over the image information from other transmission sources. and stored in the second storage unit. According to this aspect described above, the problem that image information (image information with high importance) from a specific transmission source is not stored in the second storage unit is suppressed.

<Fourth aspect>
In the facsimile device of this aspect, the specific information related to the image information is the importance level of the image information designated by the transmission source, and the storage control unit stores the image information designated as having high importance by the transmission source. Image information that is not designated as having a high degree of importance by the transmission source is stored in the second storage unit with priority. According to this aspect described above, the problem that image information designated by the sender as having a high degree of importance is not stored in the second storage unit is suppressed.

<Fifth aspect>
In the facsimile device of this aspect, the specific information related to the image information is the data amount of the image information, and the storage control section gives priority to the image information as the data amount of the image information is smaller, and stores the image information in the second storage section. Make me remember. According to this aspect, a large amount of image information is easily stored in the second storage unit, compared to a configuration in which priority is not given to image information with a small amount of data.

<Sixth aspect>
In the facsimile device of this aspect, the second storage unit stores image information and transmission source information that allows identification of the transmission source of the image information, and the storage control unit stores image information whose importance level is higher than that of other image information. If the importance of the image information is higher than that of the image information, the other image information can be deleted with priority over the one image information, and even if the image information is deleted, the source information related to the image information will not be deleted. . According to the present aspect described above, it becomes possible to know the sender who deleted the image information.

<Seventh aspect>
The facsimile apparatus of this aspect includes a receiving section (122) that receives image information indicating an image from a communication line (N), a first storage section (111) that stores the image information received by the receiving section, and a first storage section (111) that stores the image information received by the receiving section. Unlike the storage unit, a communication line is connected to a second storage unit (121) that stores image information received by the reception unit, and a first control device (110) including the first storage unit. A second control device (120) that is provided separately from the first control device and includes a receiving section and a second storage section; a storage control unit that stores image information that has a possibility of being transferred via a communication line in a second storage unit with priority compared to image information that is stored in the second storage unit and has no possibility of being transferred via a communication line; (112). According to this aspect, the time required to transfer image information can be reduced, for example, compared to a configuration in which image information to be transferred to an external device (communication line) needs to be read from the first storage unit.

<Eighth aspect>
The facsimile apparatus of this aspect includes a mode switching unit that causes the first storage unit and the second storage unit to transition from a first mode in which image information is stored to a second mode in which they do not store image information; , a printing unit that automatically prints an image indicated by image information stored in both the first storage unit and the second storage unit; and a printing unit that automatically prints an image indicated by the image information stored in both the first storage unit and the second storage unit; For image information stored only in the first storage part of the parts, the apparatus further includes a selection operation reception part that can accept an operation for selecting whether or not to print an image indicated by the image information. According to this aspect, the time required to transfer image information can be reduced, for example, compared to a configuration in which image information to be transferred to an external device (communication line) needs to be read from the first storage unit.

<9th aspect>
The facsimile apparatus control method according to the present aspect includes the steps of receiving image information indicating an image, storing the image information received by the receiving section in the first storage section, and storing the image information in the first storage section, which has a smaller storage capacity than the first storage section. storing the image information received by the receiving unit in a second storage unit that is less susceptible to transition from the first storage unit to a failure state in which the information is not normally read; , higher than the other image information, the step of storing the one image information in the second storage unit with priority over the other image information. In this aspect, the same effects as in the first aspect described above can be achieved.

<10th aspect>
The program of this aspect is characterized by causing a computer to execute each step in the control method described in the ninth aspect. In this aspect, the same effects as in the first aspect described above can be achieved.

100...Facsimile machine, 110...First control device, 111...First storage section, 112...Storage control section, 120...Second control device, 121...Second storage section, 122...Receiving section.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-074575

Claims (9)

a receiving unit that receives image information indicating the image;
a first storage unit that stores the image information received by the reception unit;
a second storage unit that stores the image information received by the reception unit and has a smaller storage capacity than the first storage unit, unlike the first storage unit;
Regardless of the specific information related to the importance of the image information, the image information is stored in both the first storage unit and the second storage unit, and the remaining capacity of the second storage unit is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold. If the image information is stored in the second storage unit, the image information having the lowest importance is identified based on the specific information, and the identified image information is deleted from the second storage unit. a storage control unit to
a mode switching unit that causes the first storage unit and the second storage unit to shift from a first mode in which the image information is stored to a second mode in which the image information is not stored;
a printing unit that automatically prints an image indicated by the image information stored in the second storage unit when transitioning from the first mode to the second mode;
When transitioning from the first mode to the second mode, for the image information stored only in the first storage section of the first storage section and the second storage section, print an image indicated by the image information. A facsimile machine comprising: a selection operation reception unit that is capable of accepting an operation for selecting whether or not to perform a selection operation. The specific information related to the importance of the image information is information that can specify the reception time of the image information,
When the remaining capacity of the second storage unit becomes equal to or less than the threshold value, the storage control unit sets the image information having the oldest reception time among the image information stored in the second storage unit as the specific information. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specified image information is deleted from the second storage unit. The specific information related to the importance of the image information is information that allows identification of the transmission source of the image information,
storing a designated sender table including predetermined designated senders;
When the remaining capacity of the second storage unit becomes equal to or less than the threshold value, the storage control unit stores the image from a transmission source that is not included in the specified transmission source table among the image information in the second storage unit. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein information is specified based on the specific information, and the specified image information is deleted from the second storage unit. The specific information related to the importance of the image information is information that can specify the importance of the image information specified by the transmission source,
When the remaining capacity of the second storage unit becomes equal to or less than the threshold value, the storage control unit controls whether the image information stored in the second storage unit is not designated as having high importance by the transmission source. The facsimile apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the image information is specified based on the specific information, and the specified image information is deleted from the second storage unit. The specific information related to the importance of the image information is information that can specify the amount of data of the image information,
When the remaining capacity of the second storage unit becomes equal to or less than the threshold value, the storage control unit sets the image information having the largest amount of data among the image information stored in the second storage unit as the specific information. The facsimile apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the specified image information is deleted from the second storage unit. The second storage unit stores the image information and transmission source information that allows identification of the transmission source of the image information,
When the remaining capacity of the second storage unit becomes equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, the storage control unit stores the image information having the lowest importance among the image information stored in the second storage unit. According to any one of claims 1 to 5, even when the image information is specified based on specific information and is deleted from the second storage unit, the source information related to the image information is not deleted. facsimile machine. a first control device including the first storage unit;
a second control device connected to a communication line, provided separately from the first control device, and including the second storage unit;
The receiving unit receives the image information via the communication line and is provided in the second control device,
The specific information related to the importance of the image information is information that allows identification of the transmission source of the image information,
The image information received from a predetermined specific transmission source can be transferred via the communication line ,
When the remaining capacity of the second storage unit becomes equal to or less than the threshold value, the storage control unit specifies the image information from other than the specific transmission source among the image information stored in the second storage unit. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image information is identified based on information, and the identified image information is deleted from the second storage unit. receiving image information indicative of the image;
The received image information is stored in a first storage unit and a second storage unit that is different from the first storage unit and has a smaller storage capacity than the first storage unit, regardless of specific information related to the importance of the image information. A step for both parties to memorize,
When the remaining capacity of the second storage unit becomes equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, the image information having the lowest importance among the image information stored in the second storage unit is identified based on the specific information. the step of
deleting the identified image information from the second storage unit;
transitioning the first storage unit and the second storage unit from a first mode in which the image information is stored to a second mode in which they do not store the image information;
When transitioning from the first mode to the second mode, automatically printing an image indicated by the image information stored in the second storage unit;
When transitioning from the first mode to the second mode, for the image information stored only in the first storage section of the first storage section and the second storage section, print an image indicated by the image information. A method for controlling a facsimile machine, comprising: accepting an operation for selecting whether to do so. A program for causing a computer to execute each step in the control method according to claim 8.

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