JPH0231559A - Picture communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To secure a picture memory area so that picture reception can always be performed certainly with priority by not transmitting data in a picture memory, but directly transmitting picture data to be transmitted without passing the picture memory when a record output device is in an unoperatable state. CONSTITUTION:A remaining quantity sensor 65 which detects the remaining quantity of recording paper 61 is provided to a printer 6 and a detecting result of the sensor 65 is outputted to a CPU 1. In the memory transmitting mode, the picture data read by a scanner 5 or the picture data to be recorded by the printer 6 are once stored in a picture memory 1c and the picture data in the memory 1c are transmitted after line connection. In a state where no remaining quantity is left on the recording paper and received data cannot by outputted successively by recording, the memory transmitting mode is forcibly canceled and alarmed. Therefore, the memory transmitting mode can be set only in the state where received data can be recorded successively. Since the picture data are caused to be directly transmitted without passing through the picture memory when the recorder is in an unoperatable state in such way, a picture memory area can be secured and picture reception can be performed preferentially.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an image communication device, and particularly to an image communication device having an image memory for storing transmitted image data and a recording output device for recording and outputting received image data. be.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, facsimile machines have been known that transmit and receive data by buffering it in a memory.

When performing memory transmission in this type of device, image data is read by a scanner, and after all 0 image data stored in the image memory is stored in the memory, the other station is called and the image data is transmitted from the memory.

In addition, devices equipped with such an image memory accept image reception even when all the recording paper for recording and outputting one image data is used up, and store the received image data in the image memory. According to 0 proxy reception, which is known to perform reception, there is no recording paper or various malfunctions of the recording output device, which were conventionally treated as errors.

For example, even if you run out of ink or toner, you will never miss a chance to communicate.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention J] In a device having an image memory as described above, the following problem arises when considering the balance between memory transmission and substitute reception in the case of recording failure.

In the conventional method, when a call arrives immediately after reading all the image data for memory transmission into the memory, and if this image reception is to be performed with priority, the transmission of the image data in the memory is suspended and the received image data is sequentially sent. The recording device outputs the image data in real time, and the image data in the memory is transmitted when the image reception is completed.

The above processing is possible only when the recording/output device can operate, and if recording/output is not possible, the transmitted data occupies the image memory, so proxy reception cannot be performed, and therefore even if there is an incoming call, There is no other way than to end the process with an error, and then the data in the memory is sent, which poses the problem of not being able to take full advantage of the opportunity to receive data.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and provide an image communication device that can give priority to image reception even when the recording device is inoperable.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problem W1, the present invention provides an image communication device having an image memory for storing transmitted image data and a recording output device for recording and outputting received image data. determining whether the recording output device is operable;
If the recording/output device is inoperable, the setting of the memory transmission mode in which the read image data is stored in the image memory and then the other station is called and the data in the image memory is transmitted is prohibited, and the transmission is disabled. A configuration is adopted in which a control means is provided for directly transmitting the desired image data without going through the image memory.

[Operation] According to the above configuration, when the recording device is inoperable, the memory transmission mode is prohibited, and an image memory area for proxy reception can be secured.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on the example shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a facsimile apparatus employing the present invention. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 1 denotes a CPU comprising a microprocessor or the like, which controls the operation of the entire apparatus in accordance with input operations from an operation panel 4. The operation panel 4 includes a numeric keypad, a display, function keys, one-touch keys for speed dialing, and the like.

A procedure signal between a communication line 3 such as a telephone line.

The input/output of image data is carried out by the communication control unit 2, which includes a modem, NCU, etc.The line interface of the communication control unit 2 is an analog line such as a telephone line, l5
A known configuration is used depending on the type of line, such as a digital line such as a DN network.

The CPUI controls the device according to a program described later stored in the ROM1a.
Used as the UI work area. It is assumed that the CPUI coordinates the operations of each part of the device, and also performs encoding and decoding of one image data and other data processing.

A scanner 5 and a printer 6 are connected to the CPUI as image input/output means. Of these, scanner 5 is CC
It is composed of a known image reading mechanism such as a D-line sensor and a document conveyance system.

Further, the printer 6 has a built-in recording paper 61 as shown in the figure.
The CPU is transported by the recording head 62 while being transported by the transport roller 64.
The image data transferred from I is recorded, and after one page of recording is completed, the recording paper 61 is cut into a predetermined size by a cutter 63.

The recording head 62 is configured according to various recording methods, such as a thermal recording method, an inkjet method, and a laser beam method. Further, although the recording paper 61 is shown in a roll shape here, it is also possible to use cut paper that has been cut in advance. In this case, the recording paper cutter 6
Needless to say, 3 is no longer necessary.

Furthermore, in order to detect the remaining amount of the recording paper 61, the printer 6 is provided with a remaining amount sensor 65 that detects a black band portion provided in advance at the end of the recording paper 61, etc. The remaining amount sensor 65 is composed of a reflective photo sensor, etc., and the detection result of the remaining amount sensor 65 is CP.
Output to UI.

Image data read by the scanner 5 or image data to be recorded by the printer 6 is stored in the image memory lc.The image memory lc is composed of a RAM, a magnetic disk device, and the like.

Here, FIG. 2 shows the structure of the operation panel 4 of FIG. 1,
The operation panel 4 in FIG. 2 is provided with an LCD panel 41 for displaying time, communication status, etc. Further, a well-known keyboard 44 consisting of a numeric keypad, various function keys, etc. is provided, and in this embodiment, a key 42 for selecting memory transmission as a function key and a memory transmission mode set by this key 42 are displayed. LED 43 is provided.

The key 42 has a so-called toggle operation that switches between memory transmission mode and non-memory transmission mode each time it is pressed.When the key 42 is pressed in the non-memory transmission mode, the memory transmission mode is set, and when the key 42 is pressed again in this state, the memory transmission mode is set. Memory transmission mode is canceled. L.E.
D43 is turned on or off depending on this mode setting,
It shall be lit only in memory transmission mode.

Note that each part of one or more devices is directly controlled by the CPUI or controlled via a peripheral CPU (not shown) or the like.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be explained with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The flowchart in FIG. 3 is stored in the ROM1a in FIG.
3 shows a part of the communication mode control procedure of I, that is, the control procedure after memory transmission is once set by the key 42.

Step S1 in FIG. 3 shows a memory transmission mode setting process executed by the operator pressing the key 42 in the non-memory transmission mode. This mode setting is performed by setting a flag in a predetermined area of the RAM 1b. When memory transmission mode is set, L
Turn on ED43 to display this mode setting. In this memory transmission mode, all image data read by the scanner 5 is temporarily stored in the image memory IC, and then a line connection is made to execute transmission of the image data in the memory.

After setting the memory transmission mode in step S1, in step S2, the remaining amount sensor 65 is used to record and record paper 61.
Check the remaining amount. The recording paper 61 is detected by the remaining amount sensor 65.
If a black band indicating insufficient remaining capacity is not detected, the process moves to step S5 and the memory transmission mode is continued.

However, if a black band indicating an insufficient amount of recording paper 61 is detected, the process moves to step S3, and the memory transmission mode is canceled by resetting the flag set in step Sl. On this occasion.

The LED 43 is controlled to be in an off state indicating the non-memory transmission mode. Subsequently, in step S4, a warning is given that the memory transmission mode has been canceled due to an insufficient amount of recording paper 61, using a display means such as the LCD panel 41 in FIG. 2, or other warning lights or buzzers. It is assumed that the remaining amount detection process in step S2 is repeatedly performed at a predetermined timing after continuation of the memory transmission mode in step S5.

According to the above configuration, the memory transmission mode is set only when the remaining amount of recording paper is sufficient and the received data can be recorded sequentially without using the memory proxy reception function. If there is no memory and the received data cannot be sequentially recorded and output, the memory transmission mode is forcibly canceled and an alarm is generated. Therefore, since the memory transmission mode is set only in a state where received data can be recorded sequentially,: @- Even if a call arrives immediately after image data is stored in memory, image reception can be performed reliably by directly recording and outputting the received data. Never miss a chance to receive a message.

Furthermore, the above control is advantageous from the viewpoint of communication costs. This is because, in telephone lines, etc., charges are made according to the line connection time, and this charge starts when the other party receives a call. Therefore, unlike conventional methods, if communication is terminated due to an error after the line is connected, the charges up to that point are wasted, but with the above control, reception is always possible through proxy reception or direct reception. Because there is.

Although paper has been exemplified as the recording medium in the above, it goes without saying that the same structure is effective even when other materials such as plastic sheets are used as the recording medium.

In addition, although we have considered the case where the printer cannot operate due to running out of recording paper, the above-mentioned running out of recording paper can be used for various types of image recording output, such as running out of ink in an inkjet head or running out of toner in a laser beam printer, depending on the printing method of the printer. Of course, similar control may be performed by interpreting the problem as a problem with the means.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above, according to the present invention, in an image communication apparatus having an image memory for storing transmitted image data and a recording/output device for recording and outputting received image data,
It is determined whether or not the recording/output device is operable, and if the recording/output device is inoperable, the read image data is stored in the image memory, and then the other station is called and the data in the image memory is stored. Since the configuration includes a control means that prohibits the setting of the memory transmission mode that transmits the image data and directly transmits the image data to be transmitted without going through the image memory, if the recording device is inoperable, the memory Transmission mode can be prohibited and image memory area can be secured for proxy reception.
This has the excellent effect of ensuring that image reception can be performed with priority at all times.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile device adopting the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of the operation panel in the device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 shows a communication control procedure in the device shown in FIG. FIG. 1...CPU 2...Communication control unit 3...Communication line 4...Operation panel 5...Scanner
6... Printer 61... Recording paper 62 Recording head 63... Conveyance roller 65... Remaining amount sensor

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) In an image communication device having an image memory for storing transmitted image data and a recording output device for recording and outputting received image data, it is determined whether the recording output device is operable or not, and the recording output device is determined to be inoperable. If possible, prohibit the setting of the memory transmission mode in which the read image data is stored in the image memory and then call the other station and transmit the data in the image memory, and the image data to be transmitted is stored in the image memory. An image communication device characterized in that it is provided with a control means for direct transmission without going through.