JPH0392063A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To sent and receive a data prepared by a computer or the like without deterioration in picture quality by detecting whether a received data is a code data or a special data and switching automatically an output destination of the received data according to the result of detection. CONSTITUTION:A detection section 2 detects whether a received data is a code data resulting from coding a dot pattern or a special data such as a character code data and gives a command to a changeover section 1 to select an input/ output section or input/output devices 4, 6 suitable for kinds or the received data. Thus, a document or the like generated by a computer of a word processor is sent or received as it is without deteriorating its picture quality and the kind of the received data is discriminated automatically at the reception, and an image data is outputted to an input/output section of a facsimile equipment and a character code data or the like is outputted to external input output devices 4, 6.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] This invention enables connection of input/output devices such as disk devices, and also automatically determines whether a received signal is output to the print side or to the disk device, etc. This invention relates to a switching facsimile machine.

(Prior art) Figure 9 is from Mitsubishi Electric Technical Report Vol. 61, No. 5, for example.
(May 1987) P. 59 is a block diagram showing the structure of the conventional facsimile machine shown in FIG. In the figure, 10 is an image sensor (input/output unit) that reads a document l9, 1) is a reading processing circuit that binarizes the output signal of the image sensor, l2 is a line memory that can store binary signals for l lines, and 13 1 is a compression/decompression circuit that reads a binary signal from the line memory l2, converts it into code data, and restores the received code data into a binary signal; l4 is a control unit that executes a transmission control procedure, etc.; A modem for modulating and demodulating coded data and control procedure signals, 1
6 is a network control unit (NCU) for connecting to the line, 17 is a recording processing circuit that controls printing of the restored binary signal, and 1 is a thermal head (input/output unit) that prints on the recording board 20. , 21a, 2lb are stepping motors that run the original 19 and recording paper 20, and 22 is a stepping motor 2! 23 is a mechanical control drive circuit that drives other mechanical parts, and 24 is an operation section in which a display and switches are arranged. Next, we will explain the operation. The contents of the document 19 are read by the image sensor 10 while being moved by the stepping motor 21a. The image sensor 10 outputs an analog signal according to the read content. After this analog signal is binarized by the reading processing circuit l1,
Stored in line memory l2. Note that the reading processing circuit 1) may perform scaling processing, gradation processing, image quality correction processing, etc. The compression/expansion circuit 13 is a line memory l2.
A binary signal is input from the controller 10 and encoded, and the generated encoded data is sent to the modem 15 via the controller 14. The modem 15 modulates the encoded data using a predetermined modulation method. The modulated wave is sent to the NCU as a transmission signal.
It is sent to the line via 16. On the other hand, the received signal received from the line is input to the modem 15 via the NCU 16. The received data of the received signal is demodulated into code data by the modem 15, and this code data is input to the compression/expansion circuit 13 via the control section l4. Next, the compression/expansion circuit 13 restores the code data to a binary signal and stores it in the line memory 12. and,
The recording processing circuit 17 reads the binary signal from the line memory 12 and energizes the thermal head 18 according to the binary signal "1" or "0". As a result, the thermal head l
8 prints on the recording board 20 depending on the energization state. Here, the stepping motor drive circuit 22 is a recording processing circuit l.
Input the signal indicating that it has been printed on the l line output by 7,
A predetermined driving pulse is given to the stamping motor 2lb. Therefore, the recording paper 20 runs in l-line units.
The control unit 14 controls the operation of each block, and also creates and receives a control procedure signal, and this control procedure signal is transmitted to the modem 15 and the NCU before and after transmitting and receiving code data.
It goes back and forth on the line via 16. [Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Conventional facsimile machines are configured as described above, so when sending and receiving, it is necessary to read the original at the input/output section and print it on recording paper, which requires processing by a computer, etc. In order to send and receive the results, it is necessary to output a hard copy using a computer system or the like and then send and receive the result, so there is a problem that deterioration in image quality is unavoidable.

Furthermore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 142854/1983 discloses a facsimile machine that can directly send and receive processing results from a computer, etc., but code data, which is the processing result, is transmitted after being developed into pattern data (image data). Therefore, there was a problem in that it was difficult to process the received information again on a computer. The above publication does not disclose anything equivalent to the image sensor 10 or the thermal head 18, so it is unclear whether it can handle image signals or not, and even if it can, it cannot handle received data. In order to sort the thermal head 18 and other human output devices, there was a problem in that it was necessary to manually select them in advance.

This invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to send and receive documents, etc. created on a computer or word processor as they are, and when receiving data, it automatically determines the type of received data and converts it into an image. The object of the present invention is to obtain a facsimile device which outputs data to an input/output unit of a facsimile device, and outputs character code data to an external human output device. Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile device that can automatically select whether to send image data or character code data, etc., depending on the functions of the destination device. [Means for Solving the Problem] The facsimile device according to the invention described in claim (L) is provided with an input/output destination for transmitted data and received data that is either an input/output section of the facsimile device or an external input/output device. A switching unit detects whether the received data is code data or special data such as character code data, and when it detects that the received data is special data, it connects the external input/output device to the switching unit. and a detection section that instructs the user to make a selection.

Furthermore, in addition to the structure of the invention as claimed in claim (1), the facsimile device according to the invention as claimed in claim (2) has a control unit that provides that the other party's device does not have a special data receiving function. The system is equipped with a conversion unit that converts character code data, etc. manually input from an input/output device into pattern data when detected.

[For production]

The detection unit in the invention described in claim (1) detects whether the received data is code data encoded with a dot pattern or special data such as character code data, and performs appropriate processing according to the type of the received data. Instruct the switching unit to select the appropriate input/output unit or input/output device. Further, the conversion unit in the invention described in claim (2) converts character code data etc. manually inputted from the input/output device into dot images (Bakun data) according to instructions from the control unit, so that the partner device can perform the special data reception function. This makes it possible to send character code data, etc. even with a normal facsimile machine that does not have one. [Example] An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1st
In the figure, 1 is a switching unit that switches the input/output destination of transmission data and reception data, and 2 is a switching unit that detects whether the received data is code data or character code data and sends a switching instruction signal 2b via a control unit 3. In addition to the control performed by the conventional I1 control unit 14, 3 is a control unit that controls the transmission of data in the disk device 4 based on a character code data transmission instruction inputted to the operation unit 24. 4 is a disk device (human output device) such as a floppy disk device (FDD), hard disk, or optical disk device; 6 is a CRT
This display device (human output device) is the same as that shown in Fig. 9 with the same reference numerals. Next, the operation will be explained. Here, disk device 4
Assume that FDD4 is installed as follows. Furthermore, a floppy disk controller (FDC) lb is provided on the FDD 4 side inside the switching unit 1. A floppy disk attached to the FDD 4 stores code data created by, for example, a personal computer. Then, when sending, the floppy disk is attached to the FDD4,
The transmission instruction and file name from the floppy disk are entered manually into the operation unit 24. Then, the control section 3 outputs the switching instruction signal 2b, and causes the switching section 1 to connect the FDD 4 and the data line 3a. Then, the normal facsimile procedure is executed, and in phase C, data reading from the floppy disk starts. At this time, the read address of the floppy disk is determined from the file name entered manually on the operation unit 24. For example, floppy disk data is created so that a file with a certain file name starts at a predetermined address on the floppy disk, and the corresponding data on the floppy disk is FDC.
1b controlled FDD4, F[)Clb
The data is sent to the control unit 3 via a buffer memory (not shown). This buffer memory is for absorbing the difference between the line speed and the read speed of the floppy disk.

The data sent to the control section 3 is sent in the same way as normal coded data sent from the compression/expansion circuit 13.

Next, we will explain the case of reception. After starting reception, the control unit 3 executes the facsimile procedure, and in phase C, writes the received data output from the modem 15 into the buffer memory 2a of the detection unit 2, and instructs the detection unit 2 to start operation. do. Upon receiving the instruction, the detection unit 2 reads the received data from the buffer memory 2a and determines whether the received data is image data or character code data.

JIS code is usually used for character code data, and in JIS code, "00" (H) is usually not used, and one or more "l" bits exist in one byte. On the other hand, the encoding method is CCITT (International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee) T. G3 facsimile machines that comply with the 4 Recommendation have an end-of-line code (EOL) immediately before the first line code.
is added, and 'O'' is 1) in the EOL bit pattern.
Since there are parts where bits are continuous, if we pay attention to EOL, we can determine whether the received data is encoded image data or not.
Or not? L! I can understand. That is, if an EOL pattern can be found by searching received data of a predetermined length after the start of reception, it is determined that the received data is encoded image data, and if not, it is determined that it is code data. If it is determined that it is image data, switching instruction signal 2
b, the switching unit 1 connects the compression/expansion circuit l3 and the line memory l2.
A signal that connects the Then, the received data in the buffer memory 2a is outputted to the compression/expansion circuit l3,
When the buffer memory 2a becomes empty, the received data output source is switched so that the received data is directly output from the control section 3 to the compression/expansion circuit 13.

On the other hand, if the detection unit 2 cannot find an EOL pattern, it is determined that the received data is character code data. Then, the controller 3 is notified of this fact. In this case, the control section 3 sends the switching instruction signal 2b, and the switching section 1
The signal is used to connect D4 and the data line 3a. Next, the control unit 3 specifies a write address for the received data to the FDC 1b, generates a file name, and causes the FDC 1b to write the file name to the floppy disk. and,
The detection section 2 outputs the received data in the buffer memory 2a, and when the buffer memory 2a becomes empty, the received data output source is switched so that the received data is directly output from the control section 3 to the FDC 1b. The subsequent operations are performed in the same way as conventional facsimile machines (however, in the case of character code data reception, the input/output section and mechanical section are not operated).

That is, when the received signal ends, the control unit 3 executes the end procedure and ends the communication. In addition, the character code data is
The control unit 3 may print the telephone number of the other party, the time of reception, and the file name on the recorder 20 so that the operator knows that the data has been stored in the DD 4. In the above embodiment, whether the received data is encoded image data or character code data is determined based on the presence or absence of EOL, but whether the received data is output to the input/output section of the receiver or to the FDDA side An instruction to output may be set in a procedure signal and specified from the transmitter. Figure 2 shows a facsimile machine constructed based on this idea. In the figure, 3l is a control section including a detection section, and has a function of detecting the instruction bit in the procedure signal and setting the switching instruction signal 2b.

When sending data from a floppy disk,
As in the case of the embodiment, the control section 31 receives an instruction from the operation section 24 and causes the switching section 1 to switch to F using the switching instruction signal 2b.
Connect DD4 and data line 3a. And G
When transmitting in 3 modes, as shown in Figure 3, confirm that the "Code Receivable" bit set in the NSF (Non-Standard Function Identification) signal of the procedure signal received from the receiver is ONL. , the NSS (non-standard function setting) signal “
Set the "code transmission" bit ONL and send this NSS signal. After that, the operation is similar to that of the first embodiment.

When receiving, if a floppy disk is installed in the FDD 4, the "code reception possible" bit of the NSF signal is set ON. Then, the “code transmission” bit is ON.
When receiving the low NSS signal, the control section 31 switches the switching section 1 between the FDD 4 and the data line 3 using the switching instruction signal 2b.
Connect a. When phase C is reached, the received data is written to the floppy disk attached to FDD4 via FDClb. Note that when receiving an NSS signal with the "code transmission" bit OFF, the switching unit 1 is connected to the compression/expansion circuit 13 and the line memory 12 by the switching instruction signal 2b, and the received data is transferred to the compression/expansion circuit 13. and prints on the recording paper 20. After the data has been received on the floppy disk, the floppy disk can be removed from the FDD 4 and inserted into a personal computer, so that the data can be handled by the personal computer.

In addition, in the case of this embodiment, the received data given to the disk device 4 is not limited to only character code data;
It may be a mixture of character code data and graphic information.

FIG. 4 shows a facsimile machine which is equipped with a converter 7 for converting character code data into dot patterns in addition to the structure shown in FIG. In the figure, 7a is a pattern ROM in which dot patterns corresponding to character code data are stored. If configured in this way, in addition to the operation shown in FIG. 2, it becomes possible to convert data including character code data into image data and transmit it. For example, suppose that when an instruction to transmit character code data in the disk device 4 is input from the operation unit 24, an NSF signal with the "code reception possible" bit turned OFF is received. In this case, data containing character code data cannot be sent as is. Therefore, the control section 32 instructs the switching section 1 to connect the disk device 4 and the converting section 7 using the switching instruction signal 2b. Then, the converter 7 converts the character code data among the data including the character code data output from the disk device 4 into the pattern RO.
M7a is referred to and converted into a dot pattern, and this dot pattern is output to the compression/expansion circuit 13. Dot patterns such as graphic information that are not character code data are output to the compression/expansion circuit 13 as they are. The compression/expansion circuit 13 encodes the input dot pattern in the same way as when receiving a binary signal from the line memory l2. The code data created in this way is sent to the line via modem 15 and NCU 16. In the manner described above, data stored in the disk device 4 can be transmitted even if the other party's machine is a normal facsimile machine. In addition to the configuration shown in FIG. 4, FIG.
b. Generally, the thermal head 18
With thermal recording, the dots are printed in an enlarged manner, so it may be difficult to print pictures, photographs, fine text, etc.

In this case, after storing the received data in the disk device 4, the data in the disk device 4 may be transferred to another system and output to an output device with good reproducibility. To explain the operation, the received encoded data is first restored into a binary signal by the compression/expansion circuit 13. Next, the binary signal is R
Stored in AM8a. At the same time, the binary signals are also sequentially input to the image determination circuit 8b. And “l” in the binary signal
The number of bits (assumed to correspond to black pixels) and the total number of pixels are counted by the image determination circuit 8b. Counting is done by counting the number of clock signal pulses corresponding to one pixel and the number of "1"s obtained by sampling the input binary signal using this clock signal. Then, when one page's worth of binary signals has been stored in the RAM 8a, the control unit 33 compares the number of pulses of the clock signal (total number of pixels) and the number of black pixels, so that the ratio of the number of black pixels is a predetermined value. (
For example, if the size is larger than 1/5), it is assumed that there are many small characters etc. in one received page. If it is determined that there are many small characters, etc., the switching section 1 is caused to connect the disk device 4 and the RAM 8a by the switching instruction signal 2b, and the received data is stored in the disk device 4. If this is not the case, the received data is output to the line memory t2 and printed on the recorder 20. FIG. It is something that In order to detect the remaining amount, as shown in FIG. 7, the sensor 9 is a reflective optical sensor to detect a red portion 20a having a width of about 1c+s, which indicates that the remaining amount of the recording paper 20 is small. That is, the sensor 9 outputs light that does not contain red (for example, green light), and by detecting the amount of reflected light, the self portion and the red portion 20a are discriminated. When the sensor 9 detects the red portion 20a and recognizes that the remaining amount of recording paper is low, the control section 34 transfers the received data to the disk device 4.
A switching instruction signal 2b is given to the switching section 1 so as to output the signal to the switching section 1. In this way, even if the remaining capacity of the recorder 20 is small, it is possible to receive without worrying that the recorder 20 will run out. Here, the sensor 9 may be another type of sensor, such as a transmissive optical sensor that detects when the diameter of the roll paper has become less than a predetermined value. In each of the above embodiments, 1a is a manual switch, and the switching unit 1a is used to specify the input/output device that outputs the received data.
This is to provide switching information to the . For example, this is used when it is desired to switch the output destination between the disk device 4 and the display device 6. Further, although the above embodiment shows a facsimile machine, it may also be configured as a relay box from which the input/output section and mechanical section are removed. FIG. 8 shows the layout of the relay box 30, and in the figure, 2
5 is a personal computer (human output device), and 26 is an image input/output unit (input/output device). The image input/output unit 26 is the image sensor 1 shown in FIG.
0, a reading processing circuit 1l, a line memory 12, a recording processing circuit 17, and a thermal head 18. The switching unit 1 is also provided with an RS-232-C interface circuit 1c that converts the data format on the data line 3a into an RS-232-C interface. At the time of transmission, the control section 35 controls the operation section 24.
According to the instruction input, a switching instruction signal 2b is given to the switching section 1 so as to select the corresponding input/output device. When receiving data, if the received data is Inoji data, it is output to the image input/output unit, and if it is other data, the received data is output to the input/output device selected by the switching instruction signal 2b and the manual switch la. [Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, a facsimile machine detects whether received data is coded data or special data, and automatically determines the output destination of the received data according to the detection result. Since we have taken care to switch between the two, we have the advantage of being able to send and receive data created on a computer, etc. without deteriorating the image quality, and without compromising the original facsimile function. In addition, since the converter is configured to convert character code data etc. into pattern data, it is possible to send special data input from an input/output device even to a normal facsimile machine that cannot handle character codes. There are benefits to be gained.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a facsimile machine according to one embodiment of the invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a facsimile machine according to another embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a facsimile machine according to another embodiment of the invention. FIGS. 4 to 6 are block diagrams showing facsimile apparatuses according to still other embodiments of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing the transmission control procedure when sending and receiving is performed. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a relay box according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a conventional facsimile machine. 1 is a switching unit, 2 is a detection unit, 3 is a control unit, 31 to 35 are control units including the detection unit, 4 is a disk device (input/output equipment),
6 is a display device (input/output device), 7 is a conversion unit, 10 is an image sensor (input/output unit), l3 is a compression/expansion circuit, l8 is a thermal head (input/output unit). In addition, the same reference numerals in the figures indicate the same or equivalent parts.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) An input/output unit that reads an image and converts it into an electrical signal and prints based on the received image signal, compresses the amount of information of the electrical signal to create code data, and a code created from the received data. a compression/expansion circuit for restoring the image signal from data; inputting the encoded data created from the received data into the compression/expansion circuit; inputting the encoded data created by the compression/expansion circuit into a modem; and controlling transmission. In a facsimile machine, the facsimile apparatus includes a control unit that executes a procedure, a switching unit that switches the input/output edge of data between the input/output unit and an external input/output device, and a character code that determines whether the received data is the encoded data or not. and a detecting section that detects whether the received data is special data such as data, and when detecting that the received data is special data, gives an instruction to the switching section to output the received data to the input/output device. facsimile machine. (2) In the facsimile machine according to claim (1),
A facsimile machine comprising a conversion section that converts character code data input from the input/output device into pattern data when the control section detects that the destination device does not have a special data reception function. Device.