JPH05160991A - Image transmission device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate program rewriting operation between image transmission devices which have different version numbers by transferring not only image data, but also program data at the time of an image data communication and altering a program. CONSTITUTION:A program storage part 6 replaces part or the whole of a new program, received through a line and the program which is already stored in itself when the image data communication is performed by a control part 8. An external storage device 7 can be stored with the difference program between the program which is already stored in a program storage part 6 and the new program received through the line, their version numbers, and image data read in by a read part 4. A modem 1 is connected to the program storage part 6, control part 8, external storage device 7, etc., by a system bus 10. Program data are sent and received in specific communication mode through the line to rewrite the stored program.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image transmission apparatus capable of receiving a program from a line and rewriting a part or all of the already stored program, and more specifically, to image data communication. The present invention relates to an image transmission device capable of rewriting a program at times.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional image transmission apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus, a control unit controls communication by a program already stored in the apparatus. This program is generally stored in a non-rewritable ROM (Read Only Memory), so if there is an error in the program, or if you need to change the program to upgrade, etc. A service person must go to the installation site and rewrite the program. Further, among facsimile machines having different version numbers, it is necessary to match the program to a facsimile machine having a lower version. Therefore, it is not possible to use the program that already enables efficient communication.

Therefore, there has been proposed a facsimile apparatus capable of receiving a program and rewriting a part or all of the program already stored (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-2227566). In this facsimile machine, the method of replacing part or all of the program is
CCITTV2 using C (binary data synchronous communication) means
Program rewriting communication is performed by transmitting program information in communication modes such as 9, V27ter, V21, and V23.

[0004]

However, in such an image transmission apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus in which the program can be rewritten, even if the program is rewritten for one facsimile apparatus, the program is rewritten for another facsimile apparatus. Have to do new work for. In addition, maintenance work must be performed for each version upgrade. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image transmission apparatus capable of changing a program and achieving new operation specifications by exchanging not only image data but also a program during image data communication.

[0005]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving data, a transmission / reception control means for controlling transmission / reception of image data by the transmission / reception means, and a control in the transmission / reception control means. The above-mentioned object is achieved by including a program storage means for storing specified program data, and a rewriting means for receiving the program data during image data communication by the transmission / reception means and rewriting the program data stored in the program storage means. To do. The image transmission device according to claim 2, wherein in the image transmission device according to claim 1, the version number of the program stored during image data communication and the version of the program stored in the program storage means of the transmission side image transmission device. The number is confirmed, and when the version number of the receiving side is higher than the version number of the transmitting side, the program rewriting means for transmitting the program data of the receiving side to the transmitting side is provided to achieve the above object.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image transmission apparatus according to the first aspect, the version number of the program stored at the time of image data communication and the program storage means of the image transmission apparatus on the transmission side are stored. The version number of the program is confirmed, and if the version number of the receiving side is lower than the version number of the transmitting side, the program data of the transmitting side is received, and the program stored in the program storing means of the receiving side is received. The above-mentioned object is achieved by providing a rewriting means for rewriting the program on the transmitting side. The image transmission device according to claim 4, wherein in the image transmission device according to claim 2, the version number of the program stored during image data communication and the version of the program stored in the program storage means of the transmission side image transmission device. If the version number on the receiving side is higher than the version number on the sending side and the program data on the receiving side is sent to the sending side, the program on the receiving side differs from the program on the sending side. The above object is achieved by providing a program rewriting means for transmitting only a certain difference program.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image transmission apparatus according to the third aspect, the version number of the program stored at the time of image data communication and the program storage means of the transmission side image transmission apparatus are stored. Check the version number of the program, and if the version number of the receiving side is lower than the version number of the sending side, when receiving the program of the sending side,
Rewriting means for receiving only the difference program in which the program on the transmitting side is different from the program on the receiving side, and storing the received difference program in the program storing means together with the program stored in the program storing means on the receiving side To achieve the above object.

[0008]

In the image transmitting apparatus according to the first aspect, not only the image data but also the program data is transmitted and received at the time of image data communication, so that the version-updated program of one image transmitting apparatus can be rewritten to change the other. It is not necessary to rewrite a new program for the image transmission device. In the image transmitting apparatus according to the second aspect, during image data communication, the program data on the receiving side is transmitted to the transmitting side when the version number on the transmitting side is low. Therefore, the image data can be received by the upgraded program, and efficient communication can be performed. Further, the version of the image transmission device on the transmission side that has communicated the image data will be upgraded. Further, another image transmitting apparatus that has communicated with the upgraded image transmitting apparatus on the transmission side will be upgraded subsequently. As a result, the version will be upgraded one after another.

In the image transmitting apparatus according to the third aspect, during the image data communication, if the version number of the receiving side is low, the receiving side receives the program data of the transmitting side. Therefore, the image data can be received by the upgraded program, and efficient communication can be performed. Further, the version of the image transmission device on the receiving side that has communicated the image data will be upgraded. Further, another image transmission device that has communicated with the upgraded image transmission device on the receiving side will be upgraded next. As a result, the version will be upgraded one after another. In the image transmitting apparatus according to the fourth aspect, during image data communication, the program data on the receiving side is transmitted to the transmitting side when the version number on the transmitting side is low. At this time,
Only the difference program data, which is the upgraded part, will be transmitted. In the image transmitting apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the receiving side receives the program data of the transmitting side when the version number of the receiving side is low during image data communication. At this time, only the difference program data which is the upgraded part is received.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a facsimile machine will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a system block diagram of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a facsimile machine. 1 is a modem for demodulating coded data received via a line or modulating and transmitting coded image data, 2 is a decoding unit for decoding image data demodulated by this modem, 3 is this decoding unit A recording unit for printing and recording the decoded image decoded by the recording paper, a reading unit for reading an image from a document or the like, an encoding unit for encoding the image data read by the reading unit, and a program A storage unit, 7 is an external storage device, 8 is a control unit that controls the entire program based on the program in the program storage unit, and 9 is an operation unit that operates this control unit.

Here, the program storage unit 6 can replace the new program received via the line with a part or all of the program already stored by the control unit 8 during image data communication. It is composed. Further, the external storage device 7 stores a difference program between a program already stored in the program storage unit 6 and a new program received via a line, their version numbers, image data read by the reading unit, and the like. It is configured to be able to. The modem 1 is connected to each unit such as the program storage unit 6, the control unit 8 and the external storage device 7 by the system bus 10.
As a method of transmitting and receiving a program through a line, BSC (binary data synchronous communication) means is used, and CCITT
Program information is transmitted / received and program rewriting communication is performed in communication modes such as V29, V27ter, V21, and V23.

Next, the operation of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a facsimile machine will be described. This operation has the same operation as that of the conventional facsimile apparatus, and further performs the following operation. The operation of rewriting the program during image data communication will be described with reference to FIG. After receiving an incoming call from the sending side, it is confirmed whether or not the version numbers of the programs stored in the program storage sections of the receiving side and the sending side are the same (step 1), and if they are the same (step 1; Y ), The operation for receiving the normal image data is started as it is (step 4). On the other hand, if the version number of the receiving side is different from the version number of the transmitting side (step 1; N), the version number of the transmitting side program is adjusted to the version number of the receiving side by transmitting the difference program (step 2). ). Then, it is confirmed whether or not the rewriting of the program in the program storage unit on the transmitting side is completed (step 3), and the above processing is repeated until the rewriting of the program is completed (step 3; N). Step 3; Y), the operation for receiving a normal image signal is started (step 4).

An operation of receiving a new program from a lower version number or transmitting a new program from a higher version number during image data communication will be described with reference to FIG. After the incoming call from the sending side, it is judged whether or not the version number of the program stored in the sending side program storage unit is higher than the receiving side version number (step 10). (Step 10; Y), the receiving side receives the differential program from the transmitting side (step 14), and rewrites the program stored in the program storing unit on the receiving side (step 1).
5). When the rewriting is completed, ACK is transmitted (step 16), and the operation for receiving a normal image signal is started (step 14). On the other hand, if the version number of the program on the transmitting side is not higher than the version number of the receiving side (step 10; N), it is determined whether the version numbers of the receiving side and the transmitting side are the same, and if they are the same, If so (step 11; Y), an operation for directly receiving a normal image signal is started (step 14). On the other hand, when the version number of the receiving side is higher than the version number of the transmitting side (step 11; N), the receiving side transmits the difference program (step 12). It is confirmed whether the program stored in the program storage unit on the transmitting side has been rewritten, and the above processing is repeated until the rewriting of the program is completed (step 13; N), and when the rewriting is completed (step 13; Y), the operation for receiving a normal image signal is started (step 14).

The other embodiments of the image transmission apparatus according to the present invention will be listed below. That is, as a line for transmitting and receiving image data and new programs, ISD
Some use N (digital integrated service network) and lines such as telephone lines. Further, the image transmission apparatus of the present invention may be applied to an information processing apparatus having a built-in program such as a personal computer other than the facsimile apparatus.

[0015]

According to the image transmission device of the first aspect, if the version-updated program of one image transmission device is rewritten, the image data communication is performed to rewrite the program for another image transmission device. You don't have to do any new work. Furthermore, in the image transmission device according to claim 2, maintenance for each version upgrade is reduced, and during image data communication, if the version number of the sender side is low, the program data of the receiver side is sent to the sender side, and the upgraded program is sent. It becomes possible to receive image data. Further, since the version of the image transmitting device on the transmitting side is upgraded by communicating the image data, the work of rewriting the program becomes unnecessary. Further, another image transmitting apparatus that has communicated with the upgraded image transmitting apparatus on the transmission side will be upgraded subsequently. As a result, it is possible to upgrade sequentially.

In the image transmitting apparatus according to the third aspect, during image data communication, the receiving side receives the program data of the transmitting side when the version number of the receiving side is low, and the image data is received by the upgraded program. it can. Further, the version of the image transmitting device on the receiving side is upgraded by communicating the image data, and the work of rewriting the program is eliminated. Further, another image transmission device that has communicated with the upgraded image transmission device on the receiving side will be upgraded next. As a result, the version will be upgraded sequentially.
In the image transmitting apparatus according to the fourth aspect, during image data communication, the program data on the receiving side is transmitted to the transmitting side when the version number on the transmitting side is low. At this time, only the difference program data, which is the upgraded version, is transmitted. This saves the effort of sending all the programs. In the image transmission device according to the fifth aspect, during image data communication, the receiving side receives the program data of the transmitting side when the version number of the receiving side is low. At this time, only the difference program data which is the upgraded part is received.
This saves the effort of sending the entire program.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system block configuration of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a facsimile device.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of rewriting a program during image data communication in an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a facsimile device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of receiving a new program from a lower version number to a higher version number during image data communication in an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a facsimile apparatus.

[Description of Codes] 1 modem 2 decoding unit 3 recording unit 4 reading unit 5 encoding unit 6 program storage unit 7 external storage device 8 control unit 9 operation unit 10 system bus

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A transmission / reception unit for transmitting / receiving data, a transmission / reception control unit for controlling transmission / reception of image data by the transmission / reception unit, a program storage unit for storing program data defining control by the transmission / reception control unit, An image transmission apparatus comprising: a rewriting unit that receives program data during image data communication by the transmitting / receiving unit and rewrites the program data stored in the program storing unit. 2. During image data communication, the version number of the stored program and the version number of the program stored in the program storage means of the image transmission device on the transmission side are confirmed, and the version number on the reception side is transmitted. The image transmission device according to claim 1, further comprising a program rewriting unit that transmits the program data of the receiving side to the transmitting side when the version number is higher than the version number of the transmitting side. 3. During image data communication, the version number of the stored program and the version number of the program stored in the program storage means of the image transmission device on the transmission side are confirmed, and the version number on the reception side is transmitted. 2. The image transmission according to claim 1, further comprising rewriting means for receiving the program data of the transmitting side and rewriting the program of the receiving side with the received program of the transmitting side when the version number is lower than the version number of the transmitting side. apparatus. 4. During image data communication, the version number of the stored program and the version number of the program stored in the program storage means of the image transmission device on the transmission side are confirmed, and the version number on the reception side is transmitted. When the program number on the receiving side is higher than the version number on the receiving side, when the program data on the receiving side is transmitted to the transmitting side, the program rewriting means for transmitting only the differential program data, which is a portion where the program on the receiving side is different from the program on the transmitting side, is provided. The image transmission device according to claim 2, wherein 5. During image data communication, the version number of the stored program and the version number of the program stored in the program storage means of the image transmission device on the transmission side are confirmed, and the version number on the reception side is transmitted. When the program of the transmitting side is received when the version number of the receiving side is lower than the version number of the receiving side, the transmitting side program receives only the difference program data which is a different part from the receiving side program, and the receiving side program storing means. 4. The rewriting means for storing the received differential program together with the program stored in the program storage means in the program storage means.
The image transmission device described.