JPH04248754A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the facsimile equipment able to utilize a memory effectively and ensuring a program required for the facsimile equipment without increasing the capacity of a ROM. CONSTITUTION:A means stores a program received by other communication equipment into a write enable memory of the facsimile equipment and deletes the program after lapse of processing time is provided to the facsimile equipment.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine equipped with a memory into which received information can be written.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Most recent facsimile machines are equipped with a memory for storing images, and are equipped with memory functions such as broadcast transmission and proxy reception.

[0003] However, with this increase in functionality,
For maintenance, service personnel go to the user's location to perform the maintenance, which increases time and cost.

[0004] Also, for this maintenance, each facsimile machine has a program for function diagnosis written and stored in a ROM within the machine, along with a program for executing normal functions.

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above-mentioned prior art, a function diagnosis program that is not directly useful to the user is stored in the ROM in the device.
There is a drawback that a large capacity ROM must be provided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile machine that can hold necessary programs such as functional diagnosis without increasing the capacity of the ROM.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a facsimile device having a writable memory, which stores a program received from another communication device in the memory, and erases the program after a predetermined period of time has elapsed. Features.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The main control section 1 controls the operation of the entire device, and includes a microprocessor and a work area R.
It is composed of AM, etc. On the other hand, a ROM 8 for storing programs is provided outside the main control unit 1.

The reading section 2 is composed of a CCD image sensor, a document transport mechanism, etc., and optically reads the image of the document and converts it into an electrical image signal.

[0011] The recording section 3 is constituted by a thermal printer, a laser printer, or the like, and prints an image on recording paper.

The communication control section 4 includes a modem, an NCU, etc., and performs communication of image information and the like with a communication device of the other party.

The operation section 5 is composed of a keyboard, etc., and is used by the operator to input various keys.

The display unit 6 is composed of an LCD or the like, and displays the status of the device, a telephone number, the abbreviation of the other party, and the like.

The memory 7 stores image information and other data in a rewritable manner, and in particular, in this embodiment, it stores a functional diagnosis program received from the outside via communication, and also stores this program. It is designed to store time data that determines the period for which the data will be kept.

The clock circuit 8 is for counting the time for erasing the functional diagnosis program.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of this embodiment when a call is received.

First, when the receiving side is activated by an incoming signal from the line, it receives a pre-procedure signal (S1) and, for example, a G
In the case of three aircraft, CCITT Recommendation T. By analyzing the NSS signal (non-standard function setting) from the sending side in step 30, it is determined whether an image or a diagnostic program is being sent based on a prearranged identification signal (S2 ).

If an image is sent here, normal reception processing is performed (S3).

Further, if a diagnostic program is sent, this diagnostic program is received and written into the memory 7 (S4).

Note that the memory 7 stores F during normal reception.
An IFO buffer or a memory area used for proxy reception may be used. Further, the program transmission method is file transmission of an executable program using an HDLC frame, and a method of replacing image data with the program in the ECM transmission method according to the CCITT recommendation can be adopted.

When the receiving and writing of the diagnostic program is completed (S5), post-procedures are performed (S6), and the line is disconnected (S7).

Next, referring to the time data stored in the memory 7 and the current time, the time at which the diagnostic program should be erased is calculated (S8). After this, the memory 7
The diagnostic program stored in is executed (S9). For this execution method, a method such as starting from a program in the ROM 8 in a subroutine format can be adopted.

[0024] When the execution of the diagnostic program is completed, the system returns to the standby state.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of erasing the diagnostic program stored in the memory 7.

In this example, by referring to the current time in the standby state, it is monitored whether the time set in S8 has elapsed (S11), and if it has elapsed, the diagnostic program stored in the memory 7 is executed. Erase (S12).

Note that if there is a key input from the standby state (S
13), performs processing according to the input (S14), and if there is an incoming call from another communication device (S15), performs the incoming call processing shown in FIG. 2 (S16).

As described above, by transmitting the diagnostic program from the service center, it is possible to diagnose the functions of the facsimile machine without dispatching a service person to the user's location, thereby achieving unmanned maintenance. Can be done. Further, by erasing the diagnostic program after a certain period of time, the memory area can be effectively utilized.

In the above embodiment, only one program was transmitted, but the type of program to be transmitted is notified by the identification signal in the pre-communication procedure, and a plurality of programs can be arranged in the memory 7. It is also possible to store time information for erasing programs separately for each program.

[0030] In addition to the diagnostic program, a user's enlargement function program may also be processed in the same way.

Further, in the above embodiment, the passage of time is monitored in the standby state, but it may be monitored by periodic interrupt processing. In this case, there is no monitoring while the program is running.

[0032] In addition to erasing the program over time, it may also be possible to erase the program by operating a key on the operation unit (for example, a start key, etc.).

[0033]

According to the present invention, a program necessary for a facsimile machine is received from the outside and stored in a writable memory.
There is no need to increase the capacity of the OM, and the memory area can be used effectively by erasing the diagnostic program after a certain period of time.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the incoming call operation in the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the program/erase operation of the same embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1... Main control unit, 2...reading section, 3...recording department, 4...Communication control unit, 5...Operation unit, 6...display section, 7...Memory, 8...ROM, 9...Clock circuit.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile device having a writable memory, wherein a program received from another communication device is stored in the memory, and the program is erased after a predetermined period of time has elapsed. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the program is a function diagnosis program.