JPH03141766A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten recording time and to reduce the useless consumption of recording sheets by deciding whether stored original reading line data are blank or not, and canceling the transmission of the blank data more than plural continuous lines. CONSTITUTION:An original is read by an image scanner 22 and stored through a transmission/reception control part 12 of a transmission control means/ reception control means 18 in a CPU 10 to a memory 24. A judging circuit 14 decides whether the line data of this memory 24 are blank or not, and a counter 16 is counted up for each blank decision. When the continuous blank lines are more than a prescribed number, the transmission of the continuous blank line data through a MODEM 28 is stopped and the recording time on a reception side is shortened. Further, the useless consumption of the recording sheets is reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a facsimile machine, and more particularly to a facsimile machine that can cancel transmission of unnecessary data or cancel recording of unnecessary data.

[Prior art and problems to be solved by the invention] Conventionally, when a facsimile machine is used as a transmitter, an image scanner reads original data and converts it into data that conforms to a communication format, and then a modem transmits the data. It modulates the signal into a standard signal and sends the data to the telephone line. On the other hand, when used as a receiver, data demodulated by a modem is converted into image data according to a communication format, and based on this data, a printer records it on recording paper.

Here, when transmitting and receiving between facsimile machines,
For example, even when characters, etc. are written on only a few lines of an A4 document, the transmitter side sends the data within the entire reading range of the document as communication data. Therefore,
There was a problem in that the communication time increased by the time it took to communicate unnecessary data such as blank data, and the burden of telephone charges increased accordingly. On the other hand, on the receiver side, all the data of the A4 document sent from the transmitter is converted into image data,
Recording was performed using recording paper the length of A4 size paper. Therefore, there is a problem in that recording time increases by recording unnecessary data such as blank data, and recording paper is wasted.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is that when used as a transmitter, communication time can be shortened by canceling the transmission of unnecessary data, and telephone charges can be saved accordingly; An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile device that can shorten recording time and reduce unnecessary consumption of recording paper by canceling recording of unnecessary data.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A first invention comprises: a reading means for reading data of a transmission original; a storage means having an area for storing at least one line of data of the read transmission original; determining means for determining whether one line of data stored in the means is blank data; and based on the output of the determining means,
When a plurality of consecutive lines of blank data are provided, the apparatus includes a transmission control means that cancels the transmission of blank data exceeding a predetermined number of lines and sequentially controls the transmission of only other data.

A second invention includes a reading means for reading data of a transmission original, a storage means having an area for storing data of at least two lines of the read transmission original, and a front and rear two lines stored in the storage means. and a comparison means for comparing whether or not the data are the same; and based on the output of the comparison means, if the same data is continuous for multiple lines, the transmission of the same data for a predetermined number of lines or more is canceled and controlled; and transmission control means for sequentially controlling transmission of only data other than the above data.

A third invention provides a receiving means for receiving manuscript data, a storage means having an area for storing at least one line of data of the received manuscript data, and one line of data stored in the storage means. Based on the output of the determination means for determining whether or not is blank data, and the output of the 'I'l+determination means, if there are multiple consecutive lines of blank data, recording of blank data of a predetermined number or more is removed. and recording control means that sequentially controls recording of only other data.

A fourth invention provides a receiving means for receiving manuscript data, a storage means having an area for storing data for at least two lines of the received manuscript data, and data for two preceding and two lines stored in the storage means. and a comparison means for comparing whether or not they are the same, and based on the output of the comparison means, if the same data is continuous for multiple lines, the recording of the same data for a predetermined number of lines or more is canceled and controlled, and the other and recording control means for sequentially controlling recording of only data.

[Function] In the first invention, data for one line of transmission manuscript data read by the reading means and stored in the storage means is j
If the blank data is determined to be blank data by the l+ constant means, and if the blank data is continuous for a plurality of lines, the transmission control means cancels the transmission of the blank data for a predetermined number of lines or more.

In the second invention, when the data for two lines before and after read by the reading means and stored in the storage means are the same, and when the same data continues for a plurality of lines, the transmission control means controls The above transmission of the same data is canceled.

The third invention is an application of the first invention to the receiver side, and when blank data continues for a plurality of lines, recording of blank data exceeding a predetermined number of lines is canceled by the recording control means.

A fourth invention is one in which the second invention is applied to the receiver side, and when the same data continues for a plurality of lines, recording of the same data for a predetermined number of lines or more is canceled by the recording control means.

[Example] Hereinafter, first to fourth facsimile machines to which the present invention is applied
Examples will be described with reference to the drawings.

The devices of the first embodiment to the fourth embodiment both have the same configuration,
FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the overall configuration, and FIG. 1 shows functional blocks of the CPU in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 2, a CPU 10 controls transmission and reception of the facsimile machine, and the following various devices are connected to the CPU 1.0. The operation unit 20 includes various keys that are operated by the operator particularly during a transmission operation.

The image scanner 22, which is a reading means, optically reads the transmitted document, converts it into digital image data, and outputs the digital image data. The memory 24, which is a storage means, has a storage area for, for example, two lines of document data, and the memory 24 has a storage area for two lines of original data, and
One row of data from 2 is sequentially stored via CPU10. The printer 26 performs recording based on the image data output from the CPU 1.0 upon reception. The modem 28 modulates and demodulates signals, and when transmitting
The data conforming to the communication format output from PU10 is modulated into a communication signal and sent to the telephone line via NCU3O.

Furthermore, during reception, the modem 28 demodulates and outputs a communication signal input manually via the telephone line and the NCU 3O.

Next, the configuration of the main parts of the CPU10 will be explained with reference to FIG. The transmission/reception control section 12 controls the operation section 2.
0. Image scanner 22. It is connected to the memory 24 and printer 26, and controls various connected devices during transmission and reception.

That is, at the time of transmission, after the image data from the image scanner 22 is temporarily stored in the memory 24, only the data to be communicated is converted into data conforming to the communication format and output to the modem 28. Further, during reception, the data demodulated by the modem 28 is temporarily stored in the memory 24, and only the data to be recorded is converted into image data according to the communication format and output to the printer 26. This transmission/reception control section 12 has 1
11 disconnection circuit 14 is connected. This judgment circuit 14 is common in each embodiment in that it judges the data in the memory 24, but its contents are divided into the following two types depending on the embodiment.

One of them is to determine whether all one line of data stored inside the memory 24 is blank data. The other one is to compare whether or not the data of the two preceding and succeeding lines stored in the memory 24 are all the same. The judgment result of this judgment circuit 14 is output to the transmission/reception control section 12, and the judgment result of the judgment circuit 14 is outputted to the transmission/reception control section 12.
When the number is set to 1, the information is output to the counter 16.

The counter 16 counts the number of consecutive lines of blank data or the same data based on the output from the determination circuit 14, and outputs the result to the transmission/reception control section 12. Based on the count result of the counter 16, the transmission/reception control unit 2 controls the transmission and recording of only useful data in the memory 24, and cancels the transmission and recording of unnecessary data.

In this sense, the transmission/reception control section 12 and the counter 16
The transmission control means 18 or the reception control means 18 of the present invention
It constitutes.

Operation of the device of the first embodiment The device of the first embodiment is characterized by its operation at the time of transmission. If there are two or more consecutive lines of blank data based on the count value of , for example, the transmission of the blank data after these two lines [1 is canceled and controlled. In this example, only one line of memory 24 is used.

The operation will be explained below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

After the original to be sent is set on the image scanner 22 and the necessary keystrokes are applied via the operation unit 20, step 1 (
(hereinafter simply referred to as Sl, and the same applies to other steps), the transmission/reception control unit [2] sets the blank line count value of the counter [6] to zero.

Thereafter, a reading operation by the image scanner 22 is started, and in S2, one line of image data is outputted from the image scanner 22 and taken into the memory 24 via the transmission/reception control section 12. In S3, the data inside the memory 24 is taken into the judgment circuit 4, and it is judged whether or not all the data for one line is blank data. If it is determined that there is no blank data (in the case of No), the transmission/reception control unit 1
2 sets the blank line count value of the counter 16 to 0 in S4.
Thereafter, in S7, the data inside the memory 24 is converted into data conforming to the communication format and output. On the other hand, if it is blank data (in case of Yes),
The transmission/reception control unit 12 increments the blank line count value of the counter 16 by 1 in S5, and then proceeds to S6. S
At step 6, the transmission/reception control unit 12 determines whether the blank line count value of the counter 16 is 2 or more. If the blank data is in the first line (No), the process moves to S7, and if the blank data is in the second line or more, the process moves to S9. In S9, if it is not the last line, the process returns to S2. Here, since the device of the first embodiment uses only a storage area for one line as the memory 24, the determination in S6 is YES.
If the step S2 is then executed, the previously stored blank data will be erased by overriding the next data and converted into transmission data.

As a result, if there are two or more consecutive lines of blank data, the transmission of blank data from the second line onward is controlled to be canceled. Only if the data is not blank or if the first line is blank data, the one line of transmission data is sent to the modem 28.88 after passing through S7. It will be sent to the telephone line via NCU3O. The various steps described above are repeatedly executed if the last line of the transmission document is not reached in S9 (in the case of No), and the transmission operation ends if the last line is reached (in the case of Yes).

In this way, according to the first embodiment, the data sent from the transmitter is only data that is not blank data and blank data in the first line, and the amount of communication data is reduced, so the communication time can be shortened. You can save money on telephone charges. Furthermore, on the receiver side that receives data transmitted from a transmitter having this function, since the amount of data received is small, recording time is shortened and recording paper can be saved.

Operation of the device of the second embodiment The device of the second embodiment is characterized by its operation during transmission, and when the same data (including consecutive blank data) occurs in two or more consecutive lines, the second and subsequent lines This is to cancel and control the transmission of the same data of
4, it compares and outputs whether or not the two rows of data stored in the memory 24 are the same.

The operation of this second embodiment apparatus will be explained below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In S1, the transmission/reception control unit 12 sets the same line counter value of the counter 16 to 1, and then in S2, data for one line is manually inputted from the image scanner 22 and written into the memory 24. Since this data is the data of the first line of the transmission document, the process then moves to S8, where the data of the current line stored in the memory 24 is converted into transmission data by the transmission/reception control section 12, and then the modem 28 and NCU3
Sends data to the telephone line via O. After that, S1
At 0, it is determined whether or not it is the last line, but initially it is determined as No, so the process moves to S3. In S3, data for one line of 2 lines is manually inputted from the image scanner 22 and written into another storage area of the memory 24. After this,
In S4, the data for the two rows before and after are stored in the memory 24 are manually inputted to the judgment circuit 14, and it is judged whether or not these are all the same data. If the data are not the same (in the case of No), the same row counter value of the counter Perform the following steps.

If the determination in S4 is Yes, the same row counter value of the counter 16 is incremented by 1 in S6, and then the process moves to S7. In S7, it is determined whether the same row count value of the counter 16 is 2 or more. In this embodiment, if the same data is continuous for multiple lines, the transmission of data from the second line onward is controlled, so select Yes in S4 and 11.
If the answer is 1, the answer is always ``Yes'' in S7, and the process moves to S10. In SIO, if it is not the last row, the process returns to S3, and in S3, one new row of data is taken into the memory 24, and if the same data or continuous data continues, each of 53-34-86-37-310-33 is read. The step will be executed repeatedly, and the transmission of data from the second line onwards will be cancelled.

Then, only if it is determined No in S4, S
5. S8. Each step of S9 is executed to output the transmission data of the current line. Each of the above operations is repeatedly executed in S10 unless the data is in the final row, and the transmission operation ends when the data is 111 disconnected from the final row in S10.

Operation of the device of the third embodiment This device of the third embodiment implements the operation of the first embodiment on the receiver side, and among the contents of each step of the operation flowchart shown in FIG. The contents of S8 and S8 are the contents of the corresponding steps shown in FIG. 3 replaced with operations on the receiver side, and the other steps are the same as the contents of the steps corresponding to FIG. By implementing the contents of the flowchart shown in Figure 5, even if original data containing many blank line data is sent, this receiver will be able to handle two lines if there are multiple consecutive lines of blank data. Since it is possible to cancel the recording of blank data after the first blank data, it is possible to shorten recording time and save recording paper.

Operation of Fourth Embodiment Device This fourth embodiment device performs the operations in the second embodiment on the receiver side, and among the contents of each step in the operation flowchart shown in FIG. 6, S2. S3. S8. S9
The contents of the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 are replaced with the operations on the receiver side, and the other steps are the same as those of FIG. 4. This sixth
By implementing the contents of the flowchart in the figure, even if a transmission document containing multiple consecutive lines of the same data is sent, this receiver will be able to cancel the recording of the same data from the second line onward. It is possible to save time and recording paper.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention. In each of the above embodiments, when blank data or the same data is continuous in multiple lines, the transmission or recording of the blank data or the same data after the 2nd line 1 is controlled to be canceled. By setting the comparison value at S6 shown in FIG. 5 or S7 shown in FIGS. It is possible to cancel and control recording and transmission.

Also, depending on the content of the manuscript, consecutive blank data or consecutive identical data may have meaning.
Instead of monitoring the transmission of secret blank data or identical data on a facsimile machine and canceling the recording,
For example, the above-mentioned content cancellation control may be performed only when a mode selection switch such as compressed transmission mode or compressed recording mode is operated.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, when the present invention is applied to a facsimile machine as a transmitter, it is possible to cancel the transmission of a predetermined number of consecutive blank data or the same data [1 and subsequent lines], Communication time can be shortened by reducing communication time, and as a result, it is possible to save on telephone charges.

When the present invention is applied to a facsimile machine as a receiver, it is possible to cancel the recording of continuous blank data or the data after a predetermined number of lines of the same data, so that the recording time is shortened and the recording time is reduced. It becomes possible to save paper.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the functional block configuration inside the CPU that is common to the first to fourth embodiments, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the overall configuration of the facsimile machine that is common to the first to fourth embodiments. 3 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the device of the first embodiment, FIG. 4 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the device of the second embodiment, FIG. 5 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the device of the third embodiment, FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the apparatus of the fourth embodiment. 14... Judgment means, comparison means, 18... Transmission control means, reception control means, 22... Reading means, 24... Storage means.

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) A reading means for reading the data of the transmission original, a storage means having an area for storing at least one line of data of the read transmission original, and one line of data stored in the storage means is blank. a determination means for determining whether or not the data is data; and based on the output of the determination means, if there are multiple consecutive lines of blank data, control is provided to cancel the transmission of blank data exceeding a predetermined number of lines, and control the transmission of blank data of a predetermined number or more; 1. A facsimile apparatus comprising: transmission control means for sequentially controlling transmission of only the facsimile apparatus. (2) A reading means for reading the data of the transmission original; a storage means having an area for storing at least two lines of data of the read transmission original; Comparison means for comparing whether or not they are the same, and based on the output of the comparison means, if the same data is continuous for multiple lines, the transmission of the same data for a predetermined number of lines or more is canceled and controlled, and the transmission of the other data is controlled. 1. A facsimile apparatus, comprising: transmission control means for sequentially controlling transmission. (3) a receiving means for receiving manuscript data; a storage means having an area for storing at least one line of data of the received manuscript data; and one line of data stored in the storage means is blank data. a determining means for determining whether or not there is a blank data; and a determining means for determining whether or not there is a blank data, and controlling the recording of blank data exceeding a predetermined number of rows to cancel the recording of blank data exceeding a predetermined number of rows based on the output of the determining means, and sequentially records other data. A facsimile device comprising: recording control means for controlling recording; (4) A receiving means for receiving manuscript data, a storage means having an area for storing data for at least two lines of the received manuscript data, and data for two preceding and two lines stored in this storage means are the same. and a comparison means for comparing whether or not the data exists, and based on the output of the comparison means, if the same data is continuous for multiple lines, the recording of the same data of more than a predetermined number of lines is canceled and controlled, and only the other data are sequentially recorded. A facsimile apparatus comprising: recording control means for controlling recording.