JPH05284323A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simply send specific information to a specific destination on emergency, to freely select the combination or the like among the transmission information, its destination and its transmission destination depending on the state and to freely decide and revise the transmission order among all transmission originals when plural transmission originals are stored in a memory and the transmission order is decided among the originals. CONSTITUTION:The pre-processing is executed by placing an original on an original platen of a scanner section 3 and depressing an enter button of an operation section 2, a destination number is entered by using a key board of an operation section 2 and stored in a memory section 5. Then the scanner task is initiated, the scanner section 3 scans the original and picture information is coded. The coded picture information is given to a picture processing section 6, in which data are compressed and the result is stored in the memory section 5 as a picture information file. When the original is sent, the picture information and the destination number in the memory section 5 are given to the transmission task by depressing the execution button and the original is sent automatically.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine, and more particularly to a facsimile machine having a function of temporarily storing transmission document image information in a memory and automatically transmitting a predetermined transmission document to a predetermined partner station.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional facsimile apparatus, when transmitting a manuscript image to a partner station, a manuscript to be transmitted is first prepared, the manuscript is placed on a transmission stand, and then the destination number of the partner station is dialed. By using the or one-touch buttons, etc., the image data was sent to the partner station in real time while reading the original image with the scanner.

Therefore, the conventional facsimile apparatus is troublesome because the operator has to perform a series of facsimile transmission operations as described above when transmitting an original. Further, if a reading error by the scanner occurs during transmission, accurate information cannot be transmitted to the partner station, so the operator had to confirm whether the transmission was performed reliably.

Therefore, some recent facsimile machines have a memory transmission function of storing transmission information in a memory in advance and reading the memory data at the time of transmission to make the transmission data of the facsimile. In addition to this, for example, in the facsimile machine described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 64-16170, a fixed format of a header sheet that describes the destination of the original, the name of the original sender, the number of originals to be sent, and the like in addition to the original being sent Stored in memory,
At the time of transmitting a document, there is also a case where this header sheet is printed out, necessary information is entered, and then the document is transmitted together with the document.

Further, for example, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-129572, in the case of a facsimile apparatus having a large capacity memory capable of storing transmission image information in advance, a plurality of transmission originals are stored. In some cases, the transmission order is fixed in the storage order, or when the priority mode is selected and stored, the transmission is preferentially performed with respect to other originals stored before that.

[0006]

However, in such a conventional facsimile apparatus, even if the image information of the transmission original is stored in the memory, the operator can send the address according to each transmission image information at the time of transmission. There is a problem in that the number of dials and one-touch buttons must be used for inputting the numbers, which makes the sending operation troublesome. In particular, in an emergency such as a fire, if you can easily send the location of a fire that is difficult to reach by telephone by using a fax machine, accurate information can be sent, but it takes time and effort for the sending operation. There was a problem that information could not be reliably transmitted to the other party if the user could not make it in time for an emergency or if he / she was in a hurry and made a mistake in operation.

Further, as described above, when the transmission order is determined from the plurality of transmission originals stored in the memory,
Conventionally, the transmission order is determined in the storage order or in the order stored preferentially afterwards, so there is a problem that the transmission order cannot be freely determined in the entire transmission original document stored in the memory. The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and it is possible to easily send specific information to a specific destination in an emergency or the like, and the transmission information and its destination or destination It is possible to freely select the combination of items according to the situation, and when the transmission order is determined between each original in the state where multiple transmission originals are stored in the memory, the transmission order is set to all transmissions. It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile machine that can be freely decided and changed between manuscripts.

[0008]

The invention according to claim 1 is
In a memory transmission type facsimile apparatus that temporarily stores image information of a document to be transmitted to a partner station in a memory and then transmits it to the partner station, a memory means capable of storing at least one page of image information and a specific destination number. Automatic transmission based on the destination number stored in the memory means and automatic transmission control means for transmitting the stored image information to the destination, and simple transmission for activating the automatic transmission control means with one touch And a command means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect, up to a plurality of destination numbers can be stored in the memory means, and the automatic transmission control means is
It is characterized in that it has a broadcast transmission function for transmitting the same image information stored in the memory means to a plurality of destinations, and the broadcast transmission function can be selected with one touch by the simple transmission command means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect, it is possible to register a plurality of destination numbers corresponding to one-touch buttons, and a simple destination for designating a destination by selectively pressing the destination numbers. Designating means,
Equipped with a simple transmission content designation means for allocating a plurality of types of text and image information corresponding to one-touch buttons and selectively pressing the transmission information,
One of the one-touch buttons of the simple destination designating unit and the simple transmission content designating unit is selected according to the situation, and the result of the combination of the destination and the transmission content is stored in the memory unit for automatic transmission.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile apparatus according to the third aspect, the memory means can store a plurality of pages of image information, and the simple destination designating means designates a destination, and One or more types of transmission content are designated by the simple transmission content designation means, and the designation result is stored in the memory means and automatically transmitted. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in a memory transmission type facsimile apparatus in which image information of a document to be transmitted to a partner station is temporarily stored in a memory and then transmitted to the partner station, a personal identification code unique to each operator who uses the apparatus. And having communication management means for performing communication management based on the personal identification code, and converting the personal identification code into a priority code indicating priority at the time of transmission of the original image information stored in the memory,
A transmission order management unit that determines the transmission order based on the priority code and a storage unit that stores the determined transmission order and file information of a transmission document are stored in the memory based on the personal identification code. It is characterized in that the order of transmission of documents waiting to be transmitted is determined.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the facsimile is operated, and at the same time, the operation display section for displaying the operation status displays the file information of the original document waiting to be transmitted and its transmission order. It is characterized by further comprising: a transmission waiting manuscript information display means and a transmission order changing means for changing the transmission order by designating the file information and the transmission order while watching the display of the transmission waiting manuscript information display means.

[0013]

In the invention described in claim 1, when the device is installed,
A manuscript in which a map of a user's house, an address, a name, a message and the like are described in advance and a destination number required in an emergency such as a fire department are input and stored in the memory of the main body.
As a result, when the emergency button, which is the simple transmission command means, is pressed, the information necessary for an emergency stored in the memory is quickly, accurately and surely transmitted by facsimile.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since there are a plurality of destinations stored in the memory and the same image information is broadcast to a plurality of destinations, a recipient may not notice the incoming call or may not be present. Even if there is, there is a high possibility that other recipients will notice, and information can be transmitted more reliably. In the invention according to claim 3, since the text to be inserted in the original and the destination thereof can be freely combined and selected by the one-touch button,
Appropriate manuscripts can be sent according to various situations.

According to the present invention, since the memory can store the originals for a plurality of pages, it is possible to freely select the originals to be transmitted with the one-touch button and to transmit several kinds of originals according to the situation. it can. In the invention according to claim 5, since the transmission order is determined by the personal identification code, the transmission priority order can be determined by the frequency of use and importance of the user. Further, since the transmission order is set for all of the transmission-waiting originals, the transmission order can be determined with reference to the order of the transmission-waiting originals every time the transmission originals are stored.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the transmission order of the designated original can be determined while visually confirming the transmission order of the transmission-waiting original, even if the original is to be transmitted urgently,
The transmission order can be accurately determined in consideration of the importance and the acuteness of all the documents waiting to be transmitted stored in the memory.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, the configuration will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure,
1 is a system control unit (SCU), which has a CPU inside
(Central Processing Unit) and ROM (Read Only Mem
ory) and controls the entire facsimile apparatus according to the system program stored in the ROM.

An operation unit 2 includes various operation keys and switches necessary for transmission and reception, a liquid crystal display (LCD) for displaying operation status and the like. In addition, buttons and one-touch buttons for executing the functions in this embodiment are provided. Reference numeral 3 denotes a scanner unit, which performs an encoding process on image information obtained by optically scanning a document.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a plotter unit, which physically images the image data from the scanner unit 3 or the received image data from the destination via the image processing unit described later by printing out. A memory unit 5 stores encoded image information as an image information file. Also,
The destination number in the case of automatically transmitting a document is stored (the inserted sentences of claims 3 and 4 are also stored here).

Reference numeral 6 denotes an image processing unit, which performs compression / expansion processing of image information. Reference numeral 7 denotes a CCU, which is composed of a network control unit and a communication control unit, and controls these. Reference numeral 8 denotes a system bus, which connects all of the above-mentioned units and transfers data.

Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of an embodiment of the facsimile apparatus according to the invention described in claim 1. The operation described below is realized by software by the CPU of the system control unit 1 shown in FIG. First, the operator places a document on the document table of the scanner unit 3 and presses the execution button of the operation unit 2 for selecting this function (step 10).
0). The presence / absence of the original is confirmed by a sensor provided on the original table (step 101). If the original is present, the preprocessing of step 102 is started.

In this preprocessing, the destination number is first input. When the operator inputs the destination number using the keyboard of the operation unit 2, the destination number is stored in the memory unit 5. Next, also in step 102, the scanner task is started and the scanner unit 3 scans the document to encode the image information. The encoded image information is passed to the image processing unit 6, where it is subjected to data compression processing and then stored in the memory unit 5 as an image information file.

Then, at the time of transmitting the original, the execution button for selecting this function is pressed (step 100). In this case, there is no original on the original table in step 101, and preprocessing is started in step 103. In the preprocessing here, the destination number in the memory unit 5 and the image data passed through the image processing unit 6 are passed to the transmission task. By this transmission task, the image data can be surely transmitted to the destination number.
When the transmission task ends, it returns to the waiting state.

In this way, if the original document to be transmitted and the destination number are pre-stored in the memory section 5 by the preprocessing,
By simply pressing this function execution button, it is possible to quickly and reliably send a predetermined document to the destination number. Therefore, it is effective in accurately reporting the location in an emergency such as a fire. FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of an embodiment of the facsimile apparatus according to the invention of claim 2.

In the case of claim 2 shown in FIG. 3, similarly to the case of FIG. 2, the operator places an original on the original table of the scanner section 3 and presses an execution button for selecting this function of the operation section 2. When the original is present (step 200), the presence or absence of the original is discriminated (step 201). If the original is present, the preprocessing of step 202 is started. This pre-processing is different from that of FIG. 2 in that a plurality of destination numbers are input for performing broadcast transmission and the destination numbers are stored in the memory unit 5, but the scanner task in step 202 is the same.

At the time of transmitting the original, the execution button for selecting this function is pressed (step 100), and step 2
Pre-processing is performed at 03. In the preprocessing here, one destination number stored in the memory unit 5 and the image data passed through the image processing unit 6 are passed to the transmission task. By this transmission task, the image data can be surely transmitted to the destination number. In the case of claim 1 of FIG. 2, it returned to the standby state when one transmission task was completed, but in the case of claim 2, it is determined in step 204 whether transmission has been performed to all destination numbers, and the remaining numbers remain. If so, the destination number is updated in step 205, and the preprocessing and transmission task of step 203 are repeated. When the image data is transmitted to all the destination numbers, the process returns to the standby state.

In the case of this embodiment, the same image data is broadcasted to a plurality of preset destinations only by pressing this function execution button, so that the information is transmitted more reliably. be able to. FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of an embodiment of the facsimile apparatus according to the third aspect of the invention.

In the case of claim 3 shown in FIG. 4, the operator places an original on the original table of the scanner section 3, and the operation section 2
Select the one-touch button and input the destination number (step 300). Then, in step 302, the insertion sentence read by the scanner task is also input by selecting the one-touch button similarly to the destination number, is stored in the memory unit 5, and the preprocessing is ended.

At the time of transmitting the original, the one-touch button is pressed (step 300), and at step 303,
It is confirmed whether or not there is a sentence or a destination corresponding to the selected one-touch button, and if there is no sentence or destination, the transmission process is not performed and the process returns to the standby state. If there is a text or destination corresponding to the one-touch button, preprocessing and transmission task processing are performed in step 304. In the preprocessing here, the image information file and the inserted document are passed to the image processing unit 6, and the image processing unit 6 creates image data in which the inserted document is placed on the document. The image data and the destination number stored in the memory unit 5 are passed to the transmission task. With this transmission task, the image data created using the one-touch button as described above can be reliably transmitted to the destination number.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of an embodiment of the facsimile apparatus according to the invention of claim 4. In the case of the embodiment described in claim 4 shown in FIG. 5, the operator places an original on the original table of the scanner section 3 and selects the one-touch button of the operation section 2 (step 40).
0), the destination is stored in the memory unit 5. In the preprocessing in step 402 of claim 4, a file number is attached to the image information file and the image information file is stored in the memory unit 5. The scanner task process is processed similarly to the case of claim 1, and the pre-process is ended.

When one of the one-touch buttons is pressed during document transmission (step 400), it is confirmed in step 403 whether there is a file or destination corresponding to the selected one-touch button, and if there is no file or destination. Returns to the standby state without performing transmission processing. An image information file having a file number corresponding to the one-touch button is selected and passed to the transmission task in the same manner as in claim 1.
By this transmission task, the image data created using the one-touch button as described above can be reliably transmitted to the destination number.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a scanner unit which inputs a document file and performs an encoding process as image information. The image information obtained by optically scanning the original is subjected to encoding processing.

A plotter unit 12 outputs a copy of a document file from image information. Reference numeral 13 is a line buffer for matching the input speed of the image information from the scanner 11 with the processing speed of the compression reproduction section 17 which will be described later. An operation display unit 14 is an operation unit for inputting a personal identification code, a file number of a transmission document, a transmission order, and the like, and has an LCD display screen for confirming the operation.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a system control unit (SCU),
According to the control program stored in the ROM 18,
A queue operation for controlling the system and managing the transmission order according to claim 5 is performed. Reference numeral 16 denotes a RAM, which stores the file number of a document file waiting to be transmitted, file information such as a storage position in the image storage unit 20 described later, a destination, and the transmission order.

A compression / reproduction unit 17 compresses and reproduces image data. 18 is a ROM, and 19
Is a communication control unit, 20 is an image information storage unit,
The encoded image information is stored, and the transmission document file is also stored here. The operation will be described below.

FIG. 7 is an operation flowchart according to the invention of claim 5. As shown in FIG. 7, the operator, after inputting the personal identification code using the operation display unit 14,
Enter the destination and store the original file. The input personal identification code is converted into a predetermined priority order (step 500) and is passed to the queue management together with the file information such as the file number and the destination of the document file (step 501).

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of the queue management shown in FIG. The transmission queue can be changed by performing this queue management. In the example of FIG.
When a file F with the personal identification code 0004 is to be transmitted to a memory and the priority code indicated by the personal identification code is 0004, first, the file having the same priority code as this order (file D in FIG. 8). Is searched in the transmission queue, and if it exists, the transmission queue is changed so that the file F is transmitted after the transmission of the file D. If there is no same priority, the transmission queue is further searched and the same operation is repeated.

In this way, when there are no more files, the file D is placed at the head of the transmission queue. Next, when the transmission of the file currently being transmitted ends, the first file in the transmission queue is passed to the transmission task. FIG. 9 is an operation flowchart according to the invention of claim 6. As shown in FIG. 9, the operator presses the “send file display button” on the operation display unit 14 (step 60
0) Confirm the file number of the document waiting to be transmitted and the transmission order (step 601). Next, the file number to be changed and the transmission order are designated (step 602). When the change of the transmission order is designated, the queuing operation by the queue management is performed by the internal operation of the system control unit 15 as in the case of the fifth aspect.
The files are passed to the transmission task in the transmission order, and transmission is performed sequentially.

[0039]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the specific original image information and the specific destination are preliminarily input and stored in the memory and automatically transmitted with one touch. Even if there is, the necessary information can be transmitted to the destination quickly, accurately and reliably.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the same image information is automatically broadcasted to a plurality of destinations with one touch, the information can be transmitted more reliably.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the text to be inserted into the original and the destination thereof can be freely combined and selected by the one-touch button, so that the appropriate original can be transmitted according to various situations.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the memory can store the originals for a plurality of pages, it is possible to freely select the originals to be transmitted with the one-touch button and transmit several kinds of originals according to the situation. it can. According to the invention of claim 5, the transmission priority is determined by the personal identification code, so that the transmission priority can be determined by the frequency of use and importance of the user. Further, since the transmission order is set for all of the transmission waiting documents, the transmission order can be determined while referring to the current order of the transmission waiting documents when storing the transmission documents.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the transmission order of the designated original can be determined while visually confirming the transmission order of the transmission-waiting originals. Therefore, the importance of all the transmission-waiting originals stored in the memory is important. It is possible to accurately determine the transmission order while taking into consideration acuteness and acuteness.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of an embodiment of the facsimile apparatus according to the invention described in claim 1.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of an embodiment of the facsimile apparatus according to the invention described in claim 2.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of an embodiment of the facsimile apparatus according to the invention of claim 3;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of an embodiment of the facsimile apparatus according to the invention of claim 4;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a facsimile apparatus according to the inventions of claims 5 and 6.

FIG. 7 is an operation flowchart according to the invention of claim 5;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the queue management of FIG.

FIG. 9 is an operation flowchart according to the invention of claim 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 system control unit 2 operation unit 3 scanner unit 4 plotter unit 5 memory unit 6 image processing unit 7 CCU 8 system bus 11 scanner unit 12 plotter unit 13 line buffer 14 operation display unit 15 system control unit 16 RAM 17 compression playback unit 18 ROM 19 communication control unit 20 image information storage unit

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A memory transmission type facsimile apparatus in which image information of a document to be transmitted to a partner station is temporarily stored in a memory and then transmitted to the partner station. At least one page of image information and a specific destination number can be stored. Memory means, automatic transmission control means for automatically making a call based on the destination number stored in the memory means, and transmitting the stored image information to the destination, and one-touch operation for the automatic transmission control means A facsimile machine, comprising: a simple transmission command means to be activated by. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the memory means can store up to a plurality of destination numbers, and the automatic transmission control means stores the same image information stored in the memory means into a plurality of destinations. A facsimile machine having a broadcast transmission function for transmitting to a facsimile device, wherein the broadcast transmission function can be selected with one touch by the simple transmission command means. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of destination numbers can be registered in correspondence with the one-touch button, and a simple destination designating unit for designating a destination by selectively pressing the one-touch button, and a one-touch button. A plurality of types of text and image information are assigned in correspondence with the above, and simple transmission content designation means for designating the transmission content by selectively pressing this, and the simple destination designation means and the simple transmission content designation A facsimile apparatus, wherein each one-touch button of the means is selected according to the situation, and the combination result of the destination and the transmission content is stored in the memory means and automatically transmitted. 4. A facsimile apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said memory means is capable of storing a plurality of pages of image information, and said simple destination designating means designates a destination and said simple transmission content designating means. A facsimile machine characterized in that one or more types of transmission contents are designated, and the designated result is stored in a memory means and automatically transmitted. 5. In a memory transmission type facsimile apparatus in which image information of a document to be transmitted to a partner station is temporarily stored in a memory and then transmitted to the partner station, each operator who uses the apparatus has a unique personal identification code, Communication management means for managing communication based on the personal identification code is provided, and the personal identification code is converted into a priority code indicating a priority at the time of transmission of the original image information stored in the memory, and the priority code. A transmission order management unit that determines the transmission order by the transmission order and a storage unit that stores the determined transmission order and file information of the transmission document, and the transmission waiting document stored in the memory based on the personal identification code. A facsimile apparatus characterized in that the transmission order of is determined. 6. The facsimile device according to claim 5, wherein a transmission waiting document information display means for operating the facsimile and displaying the file information of the transmission waiting document and its transmission order on an operation display unit for displaying the operation status thereof. And a transmission order changing means for changing the transmission order by designating file information and a transmission order while observing the display of the transmission waiting document information display means.