JPH05268450A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain the communication between different models and quick reception by providing a control section transferring reception picture data from a public line and converting a data format and an operation section setting and revising a transfer destination on the equipment. CONSTITUTION:Picture data received by a public line interface 1 are stored in a control section 3 and transferred to a transfer destination set by an operation section 5. In this case, when an area in the inside of a file server 11 of a LAN is commanded to the transfer destination, data are transferred to an external part via a LAN interface 9. When data are processed as a file on the LAN, it is required to add additional data to a raw picture data format on the public line and the format conversion is implemented by the control section 3. When the control section 3 receives a call, the time of the real time clock is read and made correspondent to each other. Thus, the communication between different models is attained to quicken the reception.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine having an image storage function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally known facsimile machines having an image storage function are disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 2-79559 and 2-13.
There are 1079 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-137477. These facsimile devices have a storage function inside the device and are configured to store received image data. As an operation, upon reception from the public line interface, the storage function is stored in accordance with an instruction such as a confidential function in a unique mode, and the fact that the image data is stored is displayed on the control panel of the facsimile apparatus. When taking it out, the operator inputs it by entering the personal identification number from the control panel.

[0003]

However, in the past, confidentiality was not a function defined in the standard and was left to the specifications of each manufacturer, so that communication between different models was impossible. It has the drawback of limited use. In addition, these devices are usually installed as stand-alone devices, and it is necessary to check the display on the control panel to know whether or not image data has arrived. Further, conventionally, since the storage function is held for each device, there is a drawback that the capacity is wasted.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile apparatus having an image storage function that solves these drawbacks.

[0005]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a facsimile apparatus constructed according to the present invention. The present invention relates to the public line interface 1, LA
An N interface 9, a control unit 3 having a function of transferring received image data and a function of converting a data format, an operation unit 5 for changing settings of a transfer destination, and a clock unit 7 for giving a clock to the control unit 3. ..

[0006]

The image data received from the public line interface 1 of FIG. 1 is temporarily stored in the control unit 3.
The transfer destination of the received image data is set in advance by the operation unit 5 in the control unit 3, and the control unit 3 transfers the image data according to the setting. At this time, when the transfer destination is designated as an area inside the file server 11 on the LAN, the image data is transferred to the outside via the LAN interface. When image data is handled as a file on the LAN, it is necessary to add additional data to the raw image data format flowing on the public line, but such format conversion is performed by the control unit 3.

Further, the public line interface 1 has a sub-address identification function, and the information thereof is controlled by the control unit 3.
Pass to. In the control unit 3, the operation unit 5 is previously set.
A table storing transfer destinations is stored for each sub-address that is set, and image data is transferred according to the contents. Further, it is realized by the control unit 3 reading the time of the real-time clock at the time of incoming call and making a correspondence.

[0008]

FIG. 2 shows a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This facsimile device has a sub-address identification function and can set a transfer destination accordingly, which will be described below. As a basic facsimile function operation, at the time of facsimile transmission, a document is set on the scanner 29 and the apparatus is activated. The image data output from the scanner 29 is started to be accumulated in the buffer 27 via the image processing circuit 31 and the switcher 33. The image processing circuit 31 performs image enlargement / reduction or correction of resolution deterioration at the time of reading an original. Switcher 33
Provides the function of switching the image data from the scanner 29 side to the buffer 27 side or the printer 35 side. When the image data starts to be stored in the buffer 27, the CODEC 21 is activated to sequentially compress the data in the buffer and transfer it to the memory 23. When the image storage in the memory 23 is completed, the CPU 17 activates the public line interface 19 and starts transmitting the image data from the control panel 13 to the destination set in advance when the document is read.

At the time of facsimile reception, the public line interface 19 notifies the CPU 17 of an incoming call, and the device starts the operation of the incoming call. The image data from the public line interface 19 is temporarily stored in the memory 23 in a compressed state. When the accumulation is completed, the CPU 17 causes the CODE
The C21 is activated and the transfer from the memory 23 to the buffer 27 is started while decompressing the compressed data. Buffer 2
7 When 1 page of image data is accumulated, CP
U17 activates the printer 35 and outputs the image data in the buffer 27 to the printer 35 via the switcher 33. At this time, the switcher 33 works so that the data from the buffer 27 flows to the printer 35 side.

Next, it is assumed that a table holding the transfer destination for each subaddress is set as shown in Table 1. Table 1 ─────────────────────────────── Sub address Image data transfer destination ───────────── ────────────────── 0 or None Printer of this facsimile machine 1 Directory of file server 1 2 Directory of file server 2 3 Directory of file server 3 4 Memory storage of this facsimile machine 5 Memory storage of this fax machine 6 Printer of this fax machine 7 Printer of this fax machine ─────────────────────────────── Table Is managed by the CPU as software,
It is stored in an area in memory. In a normal facsimile, a large number of setting information such as header information at the time of transmission and speed dial is held in a memory, and even when the power switch is turned off, it is protected by a backup means such as a battery. Therefore, once this table is set by the same means, it is held unless changed. You can change or set the table from the control panel. In the initial state, the table is designed to be printed on the printer of this facsimile regardless of the subaddress, and the transfer destination is instructed by making some change in this state.

The details of the setting method will be described with a flow chart in FIG. After setting the control panel to the sub address transfer destination change mode, enter the sub address and select the transfer destination. The main unit printer, main unit memory, and external file are displayed as a menu at the transfer destination, and the menu is selected. If you select an external file here, the file server ID,
Enter more directories in the file server.

Regarding the subaddress from the public line,
Here, it is assumed that the dial-in sub-address of NTT is used. This subaddress is sent from the station side by a push button signal when the line is connected. Therefore, it is necessary to have a push button signal detection circuit in the public line interface. This is also ISDN
Of course, it is also possible to use the so-called sub-address as it is.

The sub-address identified by the above function is temporarily associated with the image data and temporarily stored in the memory 2.
Accumulated in 3. At the time of storage, the CPU 17 refers to the above table and determines the transfer destination. Here, for example, when the sub address is 0, the printer 35 of the main body is selected from Table 1 and is expanded by the CODEC 21 and output to the printer via the switcher as in the normal reception process. If the sub-address is 4, it is indicated from Table 1 that the storage in the memory 23 of the main body is instructed, and the control panel 13 displays that the stored document is stored in the memory 23 of the main body.

Next, if the sub-address is 1, table 1
Since the external file directory 1 is specified, the file is transferred to the file server via the LAN interface 25. With the LAN interface 25,
In the case of the so-called intelligent type, the address pointer of the data in the memory 23 is given and the data is activated to transmit the data to the specified node on the LAN while ensuring the reliability. But here LAN
When transmitting data to the above, it should be converted into a standard raster data format and output in consideration of compatibility with an application such as a PC (personal computer). However, it should be noted that it is desirable to support a plurality of types of format conversion because the raster data format differs depending on the type of LAN. In addition, it is indispensable to specify the file name when making a file, but in this case, it is effective to read the date and time of the incoming call from the real-time clock at the time of reception and make the file name.

As described above, the received image data can be stored in the file server. Further, by transferring the received image data to a specific area in the file server, for example, a mail box, a mail service operating on the LAN can be obtained. It is also possible to interlock. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, by operating an application having a function of searching and displaying the image data in the file server 41 and a function of transferring the image data in the file server 41 to the PC on the LAN, the user can be placed closer to the user. The received image can be confirmed with the PC 39 that is running, which is very effective.

[0016]

According to the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, it becomes possible to communicate between different models and to receive them promptly. Further, it is possible to reduce the waste of the storage function capacity.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a LAN application using an embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart for setting a transfer destination by a sub address.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 public line interface 3 control unit 5 operation unit 7 clock unit 9 LAN interface 11 file server

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical indication H04N 1/00 104 B 7046-5C 1/21 8839-5C

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A means for fetching image data from a public line, and a LAN for presetting image data received as an interface to the LAN and received through the public line.
Facsimile apparatus comprising means for transferring to the above file server, means for performing format conversion for transfer, and means for changing the setting of the transfer destination 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1,
Facsimile apparatus comprising means for identifying a subaddress on the public line side, means for transferring image data according to the table having a table that associates the subaddress with the transfer destination file, and means for changing the contents of the table 3. A facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for automatically setting a file name without an operator when transferring to a file server. 4. The facsimile device according to claim 3, wherein the incoming date and time is used as a file name.