JPH04170156A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable the user to receive a picture even when a recording system is in failure by receiving a received picture data in a picture memory when a call comes while a fault takes place in the recording system and then transferring the data to a 2nd facsimile equipment designated in advance. CONSTITUTION:When a call comes while a fault takes place in a recording system, the received picture data is received by a picture memory 1A and transferred to a 2nd facsimile equipment 2 designated in advance. That is, when a fault in the recording system is found at the arrival of a call, the data is received by the picture memory at first in deputy and the picture received in the memory is forcibly transferred to the 2nd facsimile equipment 2 designated in advance by the user. Thus, when the user designates the 2nd facsimile equipment 2, even when the recording system of the 1st facsimile equipment 1 is failed, the reception of the picture is attained and the reliability of the facsimile equipment with a memory is more enhanced.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to a facsimile device.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in facsimile machines having image memory,
There is already a memory reception technology that stores the received image in an image memory without outputting it to recording paper when a call arrives.

Furthermore, if the facsimile machine has an automatic calling function, a technique for transmitting the image received in the memory to another facsimile machine is also known.

As for the usability of song titles, if there is a problem with the recording system,
A representative example is a proxy reception function that temporarily stores received images in memory and then outputs them when they are ready to be recorded.An example of the latter is a relay function that transfers images according to instructions from the sender. It has a function.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, the proxy reception function described above is widely used because reception is possible even in a state where recording is impossible, such as when the recording paper runs out.

However, although this method is effective in cases where the recording system can be easily repaired, such as when there is a shortage of consumables such as recording paper, ink sheets, or toner, this method is effective in cases where the recording system can be easily repaired. In this case, new problems arise.

That is, the above-mentioned image memory is generally an inexpensive volatile memory in many cases, and images are lost when the power is turned off for repair. Furthermore, since this is after an n-determined response is returned to the transmitting side, the transmitting side determines that the process has ended normally, and there is a drawback that no relief measures such as retransmission of the image can be expected.

To address this problem, there is already a method in which proxy reception is not performed when the recording system is out of order.

However, even in this case, the user cannot receive or receive the images, so this does not essentially solve the problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile device that allows a user to receive images even if the recording system is out of order.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a facsimile machine that has an image memory for storing image data and an automatic calling function that makes calls to pre-registered destinations, and that is capable of receiving incoming calls when a failure occurs in the recording system. If there is, the received image data is received in the image memory and then transferred to a second facsimile device specified in advance.

In addition, the present invention identifies the type of failure that has occurred in the recording system,
The present invention is characterized in that image data is transferred to the second facsimile device only when the failure cannot be repaired, and other than that, the image data is held in the memory as received.

Furthermore, the present invention provides that in a facsimile apparatus having two network control circuits, when a failure occurs in the recording system and an incoming call is received from the first line, a pre-designated second facsimile is sent from the second line. When a call is made to the device and a response from the second facsimile device is confirmed, the first line is closed and both lines are connected to allow the second facsimile device to receive the received communication. shall be.

[Operation] According to the present invention, if a failure in the recording system is discovered at the time of a 71st call, first the image memory receives the image on behalf of the user, and then the image received in the memory is sent to the second facsimile device specified in advance by the user. Since the transfer is forced, if the user specifies the second facsimile machine, it is possible to receive and receive images even if the recording system of the first facsimile machine fails.

In addition, if the fault cannot be repaired by the user due to the content of the fault, the data can be transferred to a second facsimile machine, and if the fault can be easily repaired by the user, such as by replenishing consumables, the memory will be automatically received as is. Further practicality can be achieved by holding the image and waiting for the user to retrieve it.

Furthermore, the present invention prepares two network control circuits (NCU), and if a failure in the recording system is discovered at the time of receiving a call, a call is made from the second line to the second facsimile machine, and the second After confirming the response from the first facsimile machine, the first line is closed, the two lines are connected, and the incoming communication is transferred to the second facsimile machine. Even if the second facsimile device is used, the images can be received and received by the second facsimile device.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows a system configuration showing an embodiment of the present invention.

The first facsimile device (FAXI) 1 has an image memory IA, and communicates image data between the other party's station 4 and the second facsimile device (FAX2) 2 via the telephone exchange a3.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of FAXI.

This FAX1 is comprised of a CPU 11 that controls the entire device, a ROM 12 that stores the control program of this CPU II, and an R memory that stores the work area of the CPU II and various data.
AM 13, the image memory IA, a communication control unit 14 that controls transmission and reception of image data, a display unit 15 such as an LCD that displays various information such as the status of this FAX 1 and data related to transmission and reception, and an operator who inputs various information. The image forming apparatus includes an operation section 16 for performing operations, a reading device 17 for reading a document, and a recording device 18 for outputting image data on recording paper.

Note that the FAX 2 is also assumed to have a similar configuration.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operating procedure in this embodiment.

This flowchart shows the operation from the time when a FAXI call is received from the other party's station 4.

First, when the FAXI communication control unit 14 receives a call, the CP
The UII checks whether the recording device 18 is capable of recording (S1). If recording is possible, normal reception operation is performed (S3).

Also, if recording is not possible, perform memory reception (S
2). That is, the received images are stored in the image memory IA.

Next, when the reception is completed, it is checked whether the fault in the recording device 18 can be repaired by the operator (S4).

If the fault is such as a lack of recording paper and can be repaired, the display section 15 displays a message indicating that the image memory IA has received the data on behalf of the user, waits for the operator to repair the problem, and then outputs the received image. S6).

In addition, if the failure is a failure that requires repair by a service person, it will be registered in advance by the user and stored in RAM 1.
The destination information held in 3 is added to the image file received in the memory (S5).

Then, when a destination is added to the image and a file similar to normal memory transmission is created, a call is made to the set destination (37), and the image is transmitted to the FAX 2 (S8).

In this embodiment, if the recording device 18 is out of order, the transfer is performed unconditionally, but a configuration may also be adopted in which the user can set whether or not the transfer is possible in advance.

Further, in that case, when forwarding is prohibited, the practicality can be further improved by ignoring incoming calls when a serviceman error occurs.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

In the facsimile machine (FAXl) according to this embodiment, the communication control unit 14 has two network control circuits (NCUI,
2) It has 14A and 14B, and depending on the abnormality of the recording device 18, connect both lines of each NCUI and 2, and
This is to transfer incoming communications to FAx2.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operating procedure of this embodiment.

Note that FIG. 5 shows the operation from the time when a FAXI call arrives, and it is assumed that the call was received at NCU1.

First, when a call arrives at the FAXI NCU1, it is checked whether it is recordable (S t i), and if it is recordable, a normal reception operation is performed (S13).

If recording is not possible, the NCU 2 makes a call to the FAX 2, which is the destination registered in advance by the user (S12).

Next, the FAX 2 (7) response is monitored 6 (si4).

If there is no response within a predetermined time, the FAX 2 line is released and the process ends.

In this case, communication cannot be performed because both FAXI and FAX2 cannot be received.

Also, if FAX2 responds in S14, NCUl
Close the line of NCU2 (S l 5) and connect the line of NCU2 and NCU
1 line is connected (S17).

As a result, communications received at FAXl NCL71 are
AX2 will take over and communicate.

After S171, FAXI monitors the polarity reversal of each line of NCU1 and 2 (318), and if it detects polarity reversal of either line, releases both lines and ends the process (S19). .

Note that similar processing is performed when the first incoming call is on the NCU1 side.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the recording device is out of order, the transfer is performed unconditionally, but the user may be able to set whether or not the transfer is possible in advance.

Furthermore, the contents of the failure are supplements for consumables! 1i′f″s-
, determines whether the item can be restored by the user or requires repair by a service person, and transfers the item only if it cannot be repaired by the user, and if it can be easily repaired by the user, it is left as is. Practicality can be further improved by receiving the image by proxy, holding the image, and waiting for it to be retrieved by the user.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, even if a failure occurs in the recording device,
This makes it possible to reliably take out the received image, and has the effect of further increasing the reliability of the facsimile with memory.

Further, even if a failure occurs in the recording device, the second facsimile device can receive the received data, which has the effect of further increasing the reliability of the facsimile.

Furthermore, compared to installing a large-capacity image memory and performing proxy reception, it can be realized at a lower cost, and since there is no need to use volatile memory, there is no risk of images being lost due to accidents such as power outages. There is an effect that can be easily achieved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the facsimile machine of the same embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operating procedure of the same embodiment. FIG. 4 is a system configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operating procedure of the same embodiment. l...FAXI, IA...image memory, 2...FAX2. 3...Telephone exchange, 4...Counter station, 14A...NCUl, 14B...NCU2゜Patent applicant: Canon Co., Ltd. Agent: Arata Yokubo←

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) If a facsimile machine has an image memory that stores image data and an automatic call function that makes calls to pre-registered destinations, and a recording system failure occurs and a call is received, the received image data A facsimile device is characterized in that after receiving the image into an image memory, the facsimile device transfers the image to a second facsimile device designated in advance. (2) In claim (1), the type of failure that has occurred in the recording system is identified, and image data is transferred only when the failure is certain and cannot be repaired, and otherwise it is retained as received in memory. A facsimile device characterized by: (3) In a facsimile machine that has two network control circuits, if a failure occurs in the recording system and a call is received from the first line, the call will be sent from the second line to the second facsimile machine specified in advance. A facsimile machine characterized in that when a call is made and a response from a second facsimile machine is confirmed, the first line is closed and both lines are connected, and the incoming communication is received by the second facsimile machine. Device.