JPH0416052A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the communication efficiency of a facsimile equipment by converting an image data inputted in the unit of pages into a mixed data for each minimum block incorporating the image data when a destination communication terminal equipment is provided with a mixed mode communication function and sending the converted data. CONSTITUTION:When a destination is provided with a G4 class 3 communication function, a personal computer 2 detects an image data in an inputted original page according to a data block detection processing program, converts it into a mixed data, and the G4 class 3 communication equipment 3 selects the G4 class 3 communication function and sends the data. When the destination equipment is provided with the G4 class 3 communication function, an image data read by a scanner 4, for example, is detected in the unit of minimum blocks in the page, converted into the mixed data and sent to a destination facsimile equipment, then the transmission of undesired white level data is avoided, the transmission efficiency is considerably improved and the communication cost is reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a facsimile device, and more particularly to a facsimile device having a mixed mode communication function.

[Conventional technology]

Telematic service terminal devices used in data networks such as L5DN (Integrated Service Digital Network) include G4 facsimile devices that transmit image information, teletex devices that transmit text information, and devices that transmit image information and text information together. There are mixed-mode devices that transmit this information.

Among these, the mixed mode device is realized, for example, as a class 3 terminal function of a G4 facsimile device, and has conventionally been constructed as a dedicated device.

However, such dedicated devices have disadvantages in that they are expensive and require a large area for installation.

Therefore, a communication terminal device has been put into practical use that attempts to provide a mixed-mode device at a lower cost by creating documents using the functions of conventionally widely used general-purpose and relatively inexpensive personal computers and workstations. has been done.

As a conventional communication terminal device, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-60645
This device supports Group 2 (G2) III communication mode and Group 3 facsimile communication mode.
(G3) Communication mode and group 4 In order to enable communication in group 4 (04) communication mode, it is equipped with a communication control unit corresponding to each communication mode, and can handle both character data and image data according to the communication function of the other party's terminal. can be sent and received.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in such a conventional communication terminal device, image data and character data were only transmitted in the G4 class 1 mode in the 04 communication mode, which caused problems in terms of communication efficiency. It was a disadvantage.

In other words, character code data is usually information transferred from a document creation device or information sent from Teletex, and when this information is transmitted using an 15DN line (in the case of Teletex, it is relay transmission). , transmitted as teletex information. Teletex manuscripts transmit character code information on a page-by-page basis, so even if a page has characters only partially (within the dashed line) as shown in Figure 15, the information for the entire page (the Since the Dohaku information) is expressed in character codes and transmitted, a lot of unnecessary information is transmitted, reducing communication efficiency.

Further, image data is usually information read from a scanner or information transmitted by G4 class 1 mode transmission, and when this information is transmitted using an 15DN line, it is transmitted by G4 class 1 mode. For manuscripts in G4 class 1 mode, image data is sent page by page, so for example, some parts (as shown in Figure 16)
Even if the page has image data only in the area (within the dashed line), the information of the entire page @ (with white information) is, for example, M
Since it is coded and transmitted using the MR method,
A large amount of unnecessary information is transmitted, reducing communication efficiency.

On the other hand, mixed mode manuscripts divide the page into multiple blocks and can be sent in block units, so even if some character data or image data as mentioned above is transmitted, it is possible to send only one character code. professional
It can be sent as a page consisting of a block or one block of image data, and unnecessary white information can be omitted.

Therefore, even when transmitting only character code or image data information between terminals capable of mixed mode communication, it is better to transmit the information as a mixed mode document to reduce the amount of information and improve communication efficiency.

In the present invention, when the destination communication terminal is equipped with a mixed mode communication function, even a document containing only character codes or image data is converted into a mixed mode document and sent, thereby improving communication efficiency. It is.

[Purpose of the invention]

Therefore, when the communication terminal of the other party has a mixed mode communication function, the invention as claimed in claim 1 converts image data input in page units into mixed data in units of minimum blocks surrounding the image data and transmits the converted data. However, the invention as claimed in claim 2 is a method of converting character data input in page units into mixed data in units of minimum blocks surrounding the character data and transmitting the converted data when the destination communication terminal is equipped with a mixed mode communication function. By doing so,
The purpose of this is to improve the communication efficiency of facsimile machines by reducing and transmitting unnecessary information such as white information.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 has a function of transmitting input image data or character data, and a function of editing the image data and character data to create and transmit mixed data. , has a mixed mode communication function that mutually exchanges communication function information and determines a predetermined facsimile communication procedure corresponding to each data when starting to transmit the image data, character data, or mixed data to a predetermined destination terminal. In the facsimile device, an image data conversion means is provided for converting the input image data into the mixed data constituted by the minimum block unit surrounding the image data, and the destination terminal is set in a mixed mode when exchanging the communication function information. The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that when the communication function is provided, the image data input in page units is converted into mixed data by the image data conversion means and transmitted. It has a function to send data and a function to edit the image data and character data to create and send mixed data, as well as a function to create and send the image data, character data, or mixed data to a specified destination terminal. In a facsimile device equipped with a mixed mode communication function that exchanges communication function information to determine a predetermined facsimile communication procedure corresponding to each data, the input character data is configured in units of minimum blocks surrounding the character data. character data conversion means for converting the mixed data into the mixed data, and when the communication function information is exchanged and the other party's terminal is equipped with a mixed mode communication function, the character data input in page units is converted by the character data conversion means. It is characterized by converting into mixed data and transmitting it.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 to FIG. 8 are diagrams showing an embodiment of a facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile machine 1 equipped with a 04 class 3 communication function, and the facsimile machine 1 is equipped with a personal computer (PC) 2, a G4 class 3 communication device 3, a scanner 4, a printer 5, etc. .

Personal computer (character data conversion means,
Image data conversion means) 2 is a keyboard for instructing document editing and facsimile communication, a CRT (Cat-hode Rey Tu) for displaying document data input from a scanner 3 and a 04 class 3i1 communication device 3.
bu), which allows you to edit document data for transmission, edit document data to be printed out on printer 5, and
04 with external G4 facsimile terminal via 5DN network
G4 class 3 instructions for performing facsimile communication
It is transmitted to the communication device 3. Also, Basonal Computer 2
The other party's 04 facsimile terminal is 04 class 1 or 0.
4 Class 3 information is registered in advance, and G4
When instructing the class 3 communication device 3, this registration information is notified along with the telephone number.

04 class 3 communication device 3 has a PC interface 11.04 as shown in FIG. , CPU12, ROM13, RAM
14, a DMA controller 15, a printer interface (PCI/F) 16, a storage device 17, a G4 communication control section 18, and the like.

PC interface 11 is a personal computer 2
It transfers instructions and data input from the personal computer 2 to each section, and also exchanges data with an external 04 facsimile terminal etc. via the G4 communication control section 18.

The CPU 12 controls each part according to the program in the ROM 13 to execute the G4 facsimile communication sequence.

The ROM 13 stores a program for execution by the CPTJ 12, and the RAM 14 has a work area for the CPU 12.

The DMA controller 15 performs DMA (Di
rect Memory Access) process, in other words, the ROM 13 and RAM are accessed without going through the CPU 12.
Data is exchanged only between memories of CPL 112 to enable data processing of CPL 112 to be carried out even during data transfer processing. This DMA processing is executed at a predetermined processing timing in order to improve the data processing efficiency of the CPU 12.

The printer interface 16 has a function of outputting mixed mode data stored in the storage device 17 to the printer 5. The storage device 17 is constituted by a large capacity memory such as a hard disk, and stores the mixed mode data received by the G4 communication control unit 18 and the mixed mode data to be transmitted. The G4 communication control unit 18 is connected to the 15DN line and transmits and receives mixed mode data according to the G4 facsimile communication protocol.

As the scanner 4, for example, COD (ChargeC
The scanner 4 reads the image information of the document line by line and sends the image data to the personal computer 2.
Output to.

The printer 5 outputs 1 from the G4 class 3 communication device 3.
One page of mixed data is recorded on recording paper of a predetermined size.

Next, the effect will be explained.

In this embodiment, when the communication function of the other party is 04 class 3, and the information in the page of the document to be sent consists only of image data, the blocks surrounding the image data are determined, and the determined block Its feature is that only the image data within is converted to mixed data and sent.

First, the communication function selection processing program shown in FIG. 3 will be explained.

The mixed data is edited by the operator using the personal computer 2 using the image data inputted from the scanner 4 and/or the character data inputted from the keyboard.
When instructed to send to a facsimile terminal, personal computer 2 sends G4 class 3ii! An instruction to start transmission is sent to the communication device 3 along with the telephone number of the other party and the above-mentioned pre-registered communication function information (step PL).

If the other party is not equipped with the 04 class 3 communication function (step P2), the G4 class 3 communication device 3 selects the 04 class 1 communication function and transmits the character data and image data (step P3). If the other party is equipped with the 04 class 3 communication function (step P2), the personal computer 2 detects the image data in the input manuscript page according to the data block detection processing program shown in FIG. 4 and converts it into mixed data. Step P4), the G4 class 3i1 communication device 3 is converted to G4
Select class 3 communication function and send (Step P5)
.

Next, the image data data block detection processing program shown in FIG. 4 will be explained.

First, when information for one line on one page of the transmission document is input (step pH), it is determined whether black dot data is included in this line (step P1).
2) If black dot data is not included, check the next line data (step P13). If black dot data is included, determine the black dot data at the first position (step P14), and set that position to the start position of the image data in the sub-operation direction of the document (C
) is set as data (step P15). If it is not the first black dot data, the end position (d
) is set (step P16).

Next, it is determined whether or not the end position (d) of this sub-operation direction is a position earlier than the previous start position (a) of the main operation direction (step P17), than the start position (a) of the main operation direction. If it is before, the main operation direction start position data (a) is corrected (step P18). If it is not before the start position (a) of the main operation direction, step 1 determines whether the end position (d) of this sub-operation direction is after the end position (b) of the previous main operation direction. P19), if it is after the main operating direction end position (b), correct the main operating direction end position data (b), step P20), and check the next line data (
Step P13). If the end position (d) in the sub-operation direction is not behind the previous end position (b) in the main operation direction, the next line data is checked (step P13).

Using the position data a, b, c, and d obtained through the above-described image data block detection processing, a minimum block surrounding the black dot data in the document page is generated, for example, as shown in FIG. It is possible to calculate the position and size based on this position data and convert it into a mixed mode disk.

Also, if there is image data in two positions as shown in Figure 6, a large block containing both is generated, but if the white line data continues for more than a certain value, the block is divided. If the program is changed, the smallest block will be generated at each position as shown in FIG.

Therefore, in this embodiment, if the other party has the 04 class 3 communication function, for example, image data read from the scanner 4 is detected in units of the smallest block within a page, and is converted to mixed data and sent to the other party. Since the information is sent to the facsimile terminal, unnecessary white data transmission is avoided, greatly improving transmission efficiency and reducing communication costs. Further, in the image data read by the scanner 4, areas to be divided into blocks can be specified in advance with colored lines, and only the image data within the area can be read.

On the other hand, for example, in the case of image data received from a facsimile terminal having a 04 class 1 communication function, relay transmission is performed to the 04 class 3 facsimile terminal via the facsimile apparatus 1 of this embodiment in the form shown in FIG. This will enable more efficient relay transmission.

9 to 14 are diagrams showing an embodiment of the facsimile apparatus according to the second aspect of the invention, and the configuration thereof is the same as that described in the first embodiment.
Since it is the same as the facsimile machine 1 shown in FIG. 2, illustration and explanation will be omitted.

In this embodiment, when the communication function of the other party is 04 class 3, and the information in the page of the document to be sent consists only of character data, the blocks surrounding the character data are determined, and the determined block Its feature is that only the character data within is converted to mixed data and transmitted.

First, the communication function selection processing program shown in FIG. 9 will be explained.

The mixed data is edited by the operator using the personal computer 2 using the image data inputted from the scanner 4 and/or character data inputted from the keyboard.
When the transmission to the facsimile terminal is instructed, the personal computer 2 outputs the transmission start instruction to the G4 class 3 communication device 3, as well as the destination's telephone number and the above-mentioned pre-registered communication function information (step P21). .

If the other party does not have the 04 class 3 communication function (step P22), the G4 class 3 communication device 3 selects the 04 class 1 communication function and transmits the character data as teletex data (step P23). If the other party is equipped with the 04 class 3 communication function (step P22), the personal computer 2 detects the character data in the input manuscript page according to the data block detection processing program shown in FIG. 10 and converts it into mixed data. Step P24), G44 class 3
The communication device 3 selects the 04 class 3 communication function and transmits (
Ste Nbu P25).

Next, the character data data block detection processing program shown in FIG. 10 will be explained.

First, when information for one line on one page of the transmission document is input (step P31), it is determined whether character data (character data data) is included in this line (step P32). ), if character data is not included, the next line data is checked (step P33). If character data is included, determine the character data in the first position (step P34)
, the position is entered as the start position (C) data of the character data in the sub-operation direction of the original (step P
35). If it is not the first character data, the end position (d) of the character data in the sub-operation direction of the character data at the final position is cented (step P36). Then,
It is determined whether the end position if (d) of this secondary operation direction is a position before the previous start position (a) of the main operation direction (step P37), and the main operation direction start position (
If it is earlier than a), the main operation direction start position data (a) is corrected (step P38). If it is not before the start position (a) of the main operation direction, step 1 determines whether the end position (d) of this sub-operation direction is after the end position (b) of the previous main operation direction. P39), if it is after the main operating direction end position (b), correct the main operating direction end position data (b) (step P40) and check the next line data (step P33). If the end position (cl) in the sub-operation direction is not later than the previous end position f (b) in the main operation direction, the next line data is checked (step P33).

With the position data a, b, c, d obtained by the above character data block detection process,
As shown in FIG. 1, a minimum block surrounding character data in a document page is generated. It is possible to calculate the position and size based on this position data and convert it into mixed mode data. Also, if there is character data in two positions as shown in Figure 12, a large block containing both is generated, but if the white line data continues for more than a certain value, the block is divided. If the program is changed as shown in FIG. 13, the minimum program will be generated at each position as shown in FIG.

Therefore, in this embodiment, if the other party has the 04 class 3 communication function, for example, the character data created and transferred from the personal computer 2 is detected in units of the smallest block within the page, and mixed data Since the data is converted into fax data and sent to the destination facsimile terminal, transmission of unnecessary white data is avoided, greatly improving transmission efficiency and reducing communication costs.

On the other hand, for example, in the case of character code data received from a facsimile terminal having a 04 class lil transmission function, the character code data is transmitted to the G4 class 3 facsimile terminal via the facsimile apparatus 1 of this embodiment in the form shown in FIG. By transmitting, more efficient relay transmission becomes possible.

[Effect] According to the invention described in claim 1, when the communication terminal at the other end is equipped with a mixed mote communication function, image data input in page units is converted into mixed data in units of the smallest blocks surrounding the image data. Furthermore, when the other party's communication terminal is equipped with a mixed mode communication function, character data input in page units is transmitted in units of the smallest blocks surrounding the character data. Since the mixed data is converted into mixed data and transmitted, unnecessary information such as white information can be reduced and transmitted, improving the communication efficiency of the facsimile machine and reducing communication costs.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 8 are diagrams showing an embodiment of the facsimile device according to the invention as claimed in claim 1, FIG. 1 is a block diagram thereof, and FIG. 2 is a diagram of the G4 class 3 communication device in FIG. 1. Block diagram: Figure 3 is a flowchart showing a program for G4 class communication function selection processing; Figure 4 is a flowchart showing a program for image data block detection processing; Figure 5 is a flowchart showing a program for image data block detection in Figure 4. Figure 6.7 is a diagram showing an example of an image data block detected by a processing program. , FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a communication form when image data is relayed and transmitted by the facsimile machine. 9 to 14 are diagrams showing an embodiment of the facsimile device according to the invention as claimed in claim 2, and FIG.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a program for class communication function selection processing, FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a program for character data block detection processing, and FIG.
Figures 12 and 13 show examples of character data blocks detected by the character data block detection processing program in Figure 10. Illustration showing an example, No. 14
The figure shows an example of a communication form when character data is relayed and transmitted by the facsimile machine. Figures 15 and 16 are diagrams showing an example of a document handled by a conventional facsimile machine. Manuscript 1
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a case where there is only a portion of image data within a page. 1...G4 facsimile machine, 2...
Personal computer (image data conversion means, character data conversion means), 3...G4 class 3 communication device, 4...
Scanner, 5...Printer, 11...PC interface, 12...
...cpu. 13...ROM. 14...RAM. 15...--DMA controller, 16...
-Printer interface, 17...Storage device, 18...G4 communication control unit. Figure 1 Figure 2, 3

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) It has a function of transmitting input image data or character data, a function of editing the image data and character data to create and transmit mixed data, and also has a function of transmitting the image data, character data or mixed data in a specified manner. In a facsimile machine equipped with a mixed mode communication function that mutually exchanges communication function information and determines a predetermined facsimile communication procedure corresponding to each data when starting transmission to a destination terminal, the input image data is Image data conversion means is provided for converting the image data into the mixed data constituted by a minimum block unit surrounding the image data, and when the communication function information is exchanged and the other party's terminal is equipped with a mixed mode communication function, input in page units is provided. 1. A facsimile apparatus, wherein the image data sent is converted into mixed data by an image data converting means and then transmitted. (2) It has a function of transmitting input image data or character data, a function of editing the image data and character data to create and transmit mixed data, and also has a function of transmitting the image data, character data or mixed data in a specified manner. In a facsimile machine equipped with a mixed mode communication function that mutually exchanges communication function information and determines a predetermined facsimile communication procedure corresponding to each data when starting transmission to a destination terminal, the input character data is A character data conversion means is provided for converting the character data into the mixed data constituted by a minimum block unit surrounding the character data, and when the communication function information is exchanged and the other party's terminal is equipped with a mixed mode communication function, the character data is input in page units. A facsimile apparatus, characterized in that the character data sent is converted into mixed data by a character data converting means and then transmitted.