JPH05244433A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To quicken the processing by interpolating a fill code between a line in excess of a minimum transmission time and a line not in excess of the minimum transmission time so as to decide the addition of the fill code depending on the number of lines included in a quantity of codes when the quantity reaches a prescribed quantity. CONSTITUTION:When a quantity of codes stored in a buffer memory 6 reaches 2kbytes, a detection signal is generated from a code quantity discrimination circuit 12 to a controller 1. The controller 1 detecting is that the code quantity reaches a prescribed quantity or over calculates the minimum number of bits N required for the transmission and obtains the result. Then the controller 1 discriminates whether or not the code quantity in 2kbytes in the memory 6 is larger than the bit number N. When the number of bits N is larger, a difference from the number of data bits is obtained, a fill code generating circuit 11 is controlled and fill codes whose number corresponds to the obtained difference is generated and fed to the memory 6. When the fill code is generated, the controller 1 clears a full white level counter 9 and an integration counter. Thus, the minimum transmission time required for the transmission of codes for line number equivalent to the 2kbytes is attained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a G3 facsimile apparatus, one scanning line (hereinafter referred to as "1") according to the international standard (CCITT recommendation T.4) is used.
The minimum time required to transmit a code corresponding to image information of a line) is defined. That is, the minimum transmission time for one line is set to 20 msec, 10 msec, 5 m
sec and the like are accepted as options. The minimum transmission time is mainly determined by the recording speed of the facsimile apparatus on the receiving side and the capacity of the buffer that stores the transmitted code, and the facsimile apparatus usually holds such minimum transmission time information therein. The collation and selection of the minimum transmission time is performed by CCITT Recommendation T.264 between the facsimile machines on the transmitting side and the receiving side. The pre-message procedure follows the 30 control procedure.

By the way, one line of image information consists of a series of variable length codes. Each code represents a white or black run length, and the white run length and the black run length will appear alternately. 1
A line end code (hereinafter referred to as EOL) is inserted between the data code corresponding to the image information of the line and the data code corresponding to the next line, and this EOL code is added before the data code. .. When the time required to transmit the EOL code and the data code is less than the minimum transmission time, the fill code is added following the data code so that the transmission time longer than the minimum transmission time is required ( CC
ITT Recommendation T. 4).

[0004]

In the above-mentioned transmission method,
A fill code is inserted when the transmission time of the EOL code and the data code is less than the minimum transmission time because the data code of one line is few and the fill code is irrelevant to the actual image information. Since it is inserted only for the purpose of making the transmission time of the above more than the minimum transmission time, the time required for transmission of all document information is increased. That is, even if the lines before and after the line that does not reach the minimum transmission time greatly exceed the minimum transmission time, the fill code is inserted in the line that does not reach the minimum transmission time. Will be bigger.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and includes means for counting the number of read and encoded lines, storage means for storing encoded data, and code. Means for detecting that the converted data amount has reached a predetermined value, means for calculating the required minimum transmission bit number from the value of the line number counting means at the time of detection of the means and the minimum transmission time value at that time, It is composed of means for comparing the operation result data with the predetermined value and control means for controlling to add a fill code corresponding to the difference between the operation result data and the predetermined value when the comparison result operation result data is large. It is a thing.

Further, means for detecting all-white lines, means for counting the number of all-white lines, and means for encoding all-white lines with a special code are provided so that the encoded data amount becomes a predetermined value. When reaching, the means for calculating the required minimum number of transmission bits from the values of the line number counting means and the total white line number counting means and the minimum transmission time value at that time, and means for comparing the calculation result data with the predetermined value When the comparison result calculation result data is large, the control means is configured to control so as to add a fill code corresponding to the difference between the calculation result data and the predetermined value.

[0007]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, the fill code is not added even in the case of the line that does not reach the minimum transmission time, and the fill code is complemented between the line that exceeds the minimum transmission time and the line that does not exceed the minimum transmission time. Since the fill code is added when the code amount reaches a certain amount, the added fill code is reduced as a whole, and the transmission speed can be remarkably improved. Further, by using a special code for all white lines and processing one line in a time shorter than the minimum transmission time, the overall transmission speed can be further improved.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a transmission section of a facsimile apparatus of the present invention. (1) is a control device for controlling the entire transmission section, which is composed of a microprocessor and has a program memory (2 in which a processing program is stored in advance. ) Control is performed based on the program. (3) is a reading unit including a CCD or a contact image sensor, which converts the read original data into binary data and outputs the binary data. (4) is a line memory in which the data for one line read by the reading unit (3) is stored. (5) is an encoding processing circuit for performing a predetermined encoding processing such as MH and MR based on the read data stored in the line memory (4), and supplies the encoded data to the buffer memory (6). There is. Reference numeral (7) is a line counter for counting the number of lines encoded by the encoding processing circuit (5), and the count value is supplied to the control device (1). Reference numeral (8) is an all-white processing circuit that detects whether or not the data in the line memory (4) is all white, and generates a special all-white code when it detects that all white is white. It is output to 6). (9) is a counter for counting the number of all-white lines, and the count value is supplied to the control device (1). (10) is an E indicating the end of encoding of one line
The OL code generation circuit generates an EOL code under the control of the control device (1) by the output of the encoding processing circuit (5) and supplies it to the buffer memory (6). A fill code generation circuit (11) generates a fill code under the control of the control device (1) and supplies it to the buffer memory (6). (1
2) is a code amount determination circuit for determining whether or not the data amount of the buffer memory (6) has reached a predetermined amount set in advance,
The buffer memory (6) is composed of an integrating counter for counting the code amount and a comparison circuit for comparing the counter value with a predetermined value, and the code amount of the buffer memory (6) reaches the predetermined value. Then, the detection signal is output to the control device (1). Now the storage capacity of the buffer memory (6) is 4K
A code amount determination circuit (12) is configured to supply an output to the control device (1) when the code amount of 2 Kbytes is reached in bytes. At the time of transmission, the control device (1) fetches data from the buffer memory (6) and the modem circuit (13)
Supply to. The modem circuit (13) modulates the encoded data into a signal that can be transmitted to the telephone line (L), and sends the signal to the telephone line (L) via the line connection circuit (14).

Next, the operation of the present invention having such a configuration will be described. The original is set in the reading section (3) for transmission, the receiving side is dialed and the line with the receiving side facsimile machine is connected, and then a predetermined communication procedure with the receiving side is performed in step (S1) (step S2). The minimum transmission time determined by the communication procedure is set in the register in the control device (1). When the predetermined communication procedure is completed, the control device (1) controls the reading unit (3) in step (S3) to start reading the original. The read data is stored in the line memory (4) on a line-by-line basis in step (S4). Subsequently, the control device (1) controls the EOL code generation circuit (10) in step (S5) to generate an EOL code and writes the EOL code in the buffer memory (6), and in step (S6), integrates the code amount determination circuit (12). The counter integrates the code amount.
Next, in step (S7), the all-white processing circuit (8) determines whether the data stored in the line memory (4) is all-white. When it is detected as a result of the determination that it is all-white, the all-white processing circuit (8) increments the all-white counter (9) by 1 at step (S9), and then generates a special code indicating an all-white line at step (S10). And supplies it to the buffer memory (6). On the other hand, if it is detected in step (S7) that it is not all white, the process proceeds to step (S8), the line counter (7) is incremented by 1, and then the process proceeds to step (S11) to control the encoding processing circuit (5). , MH, MR, etc. are subjected to a predetermined encoding process and supplied to the buffer memory (6). When the encoded data is supplied to the buffer memory (6), the code amount determination circuit (12) accumulates the code amount by the integration counter in step (S12), and then proceeds to step (S13). It is determined whether or not the encoding of one line is completed. If the encoding of one line is not completed, the process proceeds to step (S11) and the encoding process is repeated until the encoding of one line is completed. A certain amount of code in memory (6) (2K bytes in this case)
It is judged whether or not it is the above, and if it does not reach the predetermined amount or more, the process proceeds to step (S15), the count data of the line counter (7) and the all-white counter (9) are fetched, and it is necessary for transmission in step (S16). The minimum number of bits N is calculated based on the minimum transmission time set in the control device (1). Now the transmission speed of the modem circuit (13) is 9600
If the minimum transmission time of one line is 20 ms at bps,
The number of bits required to transmit one line is 192 bps
And the count value of the line counter (7) is L, the count value of the all-white counter (9) is M, and the number of bits of the special code for designating the all-white line is W, the minimum number of bits required for transmission. N is N = 192 × L + W × M. When the minimum number N of bits required for transmission is calculated, the control device (1) is subsequently connected.
Advances to step (S17) to determine whether N is 4 Kbytes or more. If the result of determination is 4 Kbytes or less, the process returns to step (S3) to read the next line of the document in the same manner as described above. The reason why the control device (1) performs the process of step (S17) is that the original is simple image data and the code amount of one line is small.
When a large amount of line data is included in K bytes, the transmission side processing proceeds quickly despite the fact that this data is transmitted and the receiving side requires a lot of time to complete recording. This is done to prevent the previous data from being destroyed by writing the next data even though there is unprocessed data in the buffer memory (6). This is to guarantee that it can be done.

In this way, the document is read and coded, and the code amount stored in the buffer memory (6) is 2.
When the number of K bytes is reached, a detection signal is generated from the code amount determination circuit (12) to the control device (1).
The control device (1), which has detected that the code amount has reached the predetermined amount or more in 14), proceeds to steps (S20) and (S21) of the fill code processing of step (S18), and proceeds to the aforementioned steps (S15) and (S16). Similarly, the minimum number of bits N required for transmission is calculated and obtained. When this calculation is performed, the control device (1) proceeds to step (S22), and the code amount of 2 Kbytes in the buffer memory (6) is changed to step (S21).
It is determined whether or not it is larger than the minimum transmission bit number N obtained by the calculation of. If the minimum transmission bit number N is larger, the process proceeds to step (S23) to obtain the difference between the data bit numbers, and the step In (S24), the fill code generation circuit (1
1) is controlled to generate a number of fill codes corresponding to the difference obtained in step (S23), and the fill codes are supplied to the buffer memory (6). When the fill code is generated, the control device (1) proceeds to step (S25) to clear the line counter (7), the all-white counter (9) and the integration counter, and returns to step (S3) to repeat the above operation. This achieves the minimum transmission time required to transmit the number of lines contained in 2K bytes.

On the other hand, when the code amount is larger than the minimum number of transmission bits N in the determination of step (S22), the control unit (1) proceeds to step (S26) to perform an operation of subtracting N from the code amount. After that, the process proceeds to step (S27), and it is determined whether the calculation result is 4 Kbytes or more. If the size is 4 Kbytes or less, the process proceeds to step (S28), and the calculation result data obtained in step (S26) is set in the integration counter.
Proceed to 29) and set 4 Kbytes in the integration counter.
When the process of step (S28) or step (S29) is performed, the control device (1) proceeds to step (S30), clears the line counter (7) and the all-white counter (9), and then returns to step (S3). Start reading the next line.

As a result, the number of data bits exceeding the minimum number of transmission bits required for transmission of the number of lines stored in 2 Kbytes is carried over, and the amount of fill code added is reduced, resulting in a large communication time. Can be shortened. Further, in step (S29), the upper limit of the number of carry-over data is set to 4K bytes which is equal to the capacity of the buffer memory (6), so that the print delay on the receiving side due to the carry-over bit is regulated and the delay is within the allowable range. I am trying to become. That is, when the code amount of one line is large,
Even if the number of lines is small due to the carry-over of data bits, the buffer memory (6) becomes full of 4 Kbytes, and when the receiving process on the receiving side is catching up with the writing of the modem, the print pause time for the carry-over bit occurs. There will be a delay. Since the upper limit of the number of carry-over bits is set to 4 Kbytes now, assuming that the transmission speed of the modem circuit (13) is 9600 bps, a delay of about 3.4 seconds occurs when the number of carry-over bits of 4 Kbytes occurs. Although it will occur, since there is a similar time for sending and receiving the control signal at the end of document transmission, it is possible to absorb the delay.

[0013]

As described above, the facsimile apparatus of the present invention does not add a fill code even if the original is a simple image and the code amount of one line does not reach the minimum transmission time. The fill code is complemented between lines that do not exceed, and when the amount of transmitted code reaches a certain amount, the addition of the fill code is determined according to the number of lines included in the fill code. Since the number of fill codes is automatically adjusted to be the minimum, the transmission speed of the document can be significantly improved.

Further, by using a special code indicating an all-white line for all-white lines, it is possible to process one line in a time shorter than the minimum transmission time, and further improve the transmission speed of the document. It becomes possible. When the number of bits required for the minimum transmission time exceeds the capacity of the buffer memory, the fill code can be added to guarantee the printing process on the receiving side.

Further, by setting the upper limit of the number of carry-over bits, the delay on the receiving side due to the number of carry-over bits can be suppressed within an allowable range.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Control device 3 Reading unit 5 Encoding processing circuit 6 Buffer memory 8 All-white processing circuit 11 Fill code generation circuit 12 Code amount determination circuit

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A means for counting the number of read and encoded lines, a storage means for storing encoded data, a means for detecting that the amount of encoded data has reached a predetermined value, and the means. At the time of detection, the means for calculating the required minimum number of transmission bits from the value of the line number counting means and the minimum transmission time value at that time, a means for comparing the operation result data with the predetermined value, and a comparison result operation result data When the value is large, the facsimile apparatus comprises a control means for controlling so as to add a fill code corresponding to the difference between the operation result data and the predetermined value. 2. A coded data amount is predetermined, comprising means for counting the number of read and coded lines, storage means for storing the coded data, and an integration counter for accumulating the coded data amount. Means for detecting that the value has been reached, means for calculating the required minimum number of transmission bits from the value of the line number counting means and the minimum transmission time value at that time at the time of detection by the means, the operation result data and the predetermined value It is constituted by means for comparing values and control means for controlling to set a data value corresponding to a difference between the predetermined value and the operation result data in the integration counter when the operation result data for comparison is small. And a facsimile machine. 3. If the data value corresponding to the difference between the predetermined value and the operation result data is larger than the capacity of the storage means for storing the encoded data, the control device stores the encoded data. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the capacity value of the storage means is controlled to be set in the integration counter. 4. A means for counting the number of read and encoded lines, a storage means for storing the encoded data, a minimum transmission bit number required from the value of the line number counting means and the minimum transmission time value at that time. And a means for comparing the capacity value of the storage means for storing the encoded data with the operation result data, and a control means for controlling to add a fill code when the operation result data for comparison is large. Facsimile machine characterized by being configured with. 5. A means for counting the number of read and encoded lines, a means for detecting all white lines, a means for counting the number of all white lines, and a means for encoding all white lines with a special code. Storage means for storing encoded data, means for detecting that the amount of encoded data has reached a predetermined value, the line number counting means and the total white line number counting means at the time of detection of the means. Means for calculating the minimum required number of transmission bits from the value of and the minimum transmission time value at that time, means for comparing the operation result data with the predetermined value, and the operation result data if the comparison operation result data is large. A facsimile apparatus comprising control means for controlling to add a fill code corresponding to a difference from the predetermined value.