JPH01144781A - Image receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To keep information secret and safe by discriminating it by information in a protocol whether reception information should be immediately printed or be stored in a storage means. CONSTITUTION:A list of file identification codes of image information files stored on a disk 3 is displayed on a display device 6, and an operator inputs the file identification code of the image file to be printed from an operation panel 5. When the identification code is expressed with a numeric string for the purpose of simplifying it, service dialing buttons are used as they are. A password (password code) is inputted by the numeric string. A data processor 4 searches a file corresponding to the inputted identification code on the disk 3 and confirms coincidence between the password code written in its file management part and the inputted password and reads out image information from the disk 3 to print it by a printer 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a facsimile machine having a function of exchanging image information and a large capacity storage memory for storing image information.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in this type of device that combines a facsimile and a mass storage device, the mass storage device merely functions as a buffer for the print spooler. That is, the printing speed of image information is usually slower than its transmission speed.

Therefore, the received image information is temporarily stored in a high-speed storage device, and the image information stored in this storage device is sequentially printed on a printer.

This prevents the transmission speed from decreasing even if the printer is slow.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional example and the normal facsimile machine described above, all received image information is unconditionally output to the printer.
The drawback was that even confidential information was exposed to the public.

c. Means and operation for solving the problem] According to the present invention, means for receiving an instruction in the reception start protocol as to whether to immediately print the received image on the printer or to store it in the image storage means is provided. By setting up this system, information that should not be exposed to the public can be stored in a storage device without being printed on the spot, and can be printed later according to the recipient's instructions. By providing means for receiving instructions in the protocol and printing the code only when it is correctly input, it is possible to maintain extremely high confidentiality of the received information.

[Example] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a line control device for controlling data communication through the Bunraku telephone line, which is connected to the public line via a signal cable 2. 3 is a storage device for storing received image information, which uses a disk. Here, a plurality of pieces of image information are managed as files on the disk using a computer's normal file management method. 4 is a data processing device that controls received data and the operation of this system, 5 is an operation panel that gives instructions to this system, 6 is a display device that displays various operation instruction information, etc., and 7 is a printer that prints image information. It is a device.

Next, the operations of the line control device 1, disk device 3, data processing device 4, and printer when receiving image information as a FAX in the above configuration will be explained. FIG. 2 shows the flow of this operation. At 21 in the figure, the system waits for the start of receiving image information.

When reception starts, first, from the first protocol, instruction information indicating whether the received image information is to be printed on a printer or written into an image storage device is extracted, and this instruction is determined in step 22. If this instructs printing, the received image is printed on the printer at 23 and the process ends, like a normal facsimile. On the other hand, if writing to disk 7 is instructed, the process proceeds to step 24, where the identification code name of the received image information is extracted from the protocol, and a file is created on disk 3 using the code name as the file name. . It is convenient to use the recipient's name or personal name code as the identification code.

Therefore, since images may be sent repeatedly with the same identification code, it is preferable to add a serial number or reception time to the identification code to create a unique file name.

At step 25, the password (recitation code) for the received image is subsequently extracted from the protocol and written at step 25 into the management section of the file. At step 26, all received images are written to the file, and at step 27, it is closed. This completes one reception process, and returns to the start to wait for the next reception.

Next, the operations of the data processing device 4, operation panel 5, display device 6, and printer when the image information written on the disk 3 at the time of reception is later printed in the configuration shown in FIG. 1 will be explained.

FIG. 3 shows the flow of this operation. 31 in the diagram
Fi of the image information file stored on disk 3
The le identification code is made into a table and displayed on the display device 6. 32
Then, the operator inputs the file identification code of the image file to be printed from the operation panel 5. For simplicity, if the identification code is a string of numbers, the button for dialing calls can be used as is. At step 33, enter the password (recitation code) again using a number string. At 34, the data processing device 4 searches the disk 3 for a file corresponding to the identification code input at 32, checks whether the recitation code written in the file management section matches the password input at 33, and confirms that the password is incorrect. If so, go to step 37 and the image information in the file cannot be printed. On the other hand, if the correct recitation code has been input, the process advances to step 35, where image information is read from the disk 3 and printed on the printer sheet.

When printing is completed, the unnecessary files are removed from the disk 3 at 36, and the storage area is freed for the next received image. This completes one print process, and returns to the start in order to receive the next print instruction.

The password can be a secret code agreed upon between the sender and the recipient.

FIG. 4 is a partial view of the operation panel 5 used in this embodiment according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 41 is the number key part for inputting the dial, file identification code, recitation code, etc. 42 to 45 are keys for instructing operations. After dialing, pressing 43 will send the fax to the other party like a normal fax. Send. Also, at step 32 in Figure 3, if you press 44 after inputting the File identification code using the numeric keys 41, you can instruct printing of the specified file, and at step 33, press 44.
Enter the recitation code that will become your password using the number keys,
If you press 45, you can specify a password.

In this way, the image information written on the disk at the time of reception can be printed later on the printer.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, important information is temporarily stored in the storage device by determining whether to immediately print out received information or to store it in the storage device based on the information in the protocol. It is possible to store the information in the computer and print it out later, and the information can be received without being exposed to the public or mixed in, which has the effect of protecting the confidentiality and safety of the information. Furthermore, by requiring a recitation code when outputting information,
This has the effect of protecting higher confidentiality and safety by preventing information from being intentionally taken out by others.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile machine embodying the present invention. Figure 2 is a diagram showing the flow of operation of this system when image information is received. Figure 3 is a diagram showing the flow of operation of this system when image information is later printed. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the operation panel. 1, a line control device 2, a signal cable 3 connected to a public line, a disk 4, a data processing device 5, an operation panel 6, and a display device 7, a printer.

Claims (1)

[Claims] It is composed of a line control means connected to the public line, an image storage means capable of storing a plurality of pieces of image information received from the line, and an image printing means for printing the image, and outputs the received image to this printing device. Information indicating whether it is prohibited, and if it is prohibited, a recitation code to permit it.
Provided in the first protocol of communication, the received image is immediately output to the printing means upon reception, and if output is prohibited, the received image is stored in the image storage means without being printed; An image receiving device characterized in that the image stored in the image storage device is printed by inputting the recitation code.