JPH05308454A - Document communication system and its equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To implement a relay multiple address communication instruction with an indication sheet obtained from a relay station through polling. CONSTITUTION:An indication sheet generating section 25 of a relay station generates an indication sheet according to a polling request from a instruction station nd sends the sheet to the instruction station. The instruction sheet includes description columns for telephone numbers of the relay station and a terminal station, a relay multiple address communication mark and a terminal station selection mark. The operator of the instruction station describes required marks on the instruction sheet and the sheet is given to a reader 1. An identification code analysis section 19 and an instruction information analysis section 21 analyze the content of the instruction sheet. A relay multiple address communication and the selected terminal station telephone number are sent to a relay station according to the result and the relay station implements multiple address communication of the picture information of the original received from the instruction station to the terminal station according to the instruction and the terminal station telephone number.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a document communication system and a device therefor, and more particularly to a document communication system and a device therefor capable of executing document transmission by a relay broadcast communication system by a simple procedure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a document is transmitted by a document communication device such as a facsimile device, in order to save communication charges,
A relay broadcast communication method (hereinafter simply referred to as relay broadcast) may be used. In relay broadcast, one of multiple destinations
One is set as a relay station and the remaining stations are set as terminal stations. At the instruction station, that is, at the transmission source, the image information is transmitted and the telephone number of the terminal station is notified to the relay station. The relay station sequentially calls the terminal stations according to the telephone number and transfers the image information received from the instruction station to this terminal station. By the way, in this relay broadcast, there is a problem that the telephone number input of the relay station or the terminal station is complicated and the operation is complicated as a whole.

On the other hand, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-5945.
A device capable of simplifying the input of a telephone number has been proposed as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-32760. In communication with these devices,
The mark sheet is used to give instructions to relay stations and terminal stations.

This mark sheet is provided with a mark entry place corresponding to a telephone number, and a mark is entered at a position corresponding to a telephone number (or abbreviated number) of a relay station and a terminal station to complete a transmission mark sheet. Let When the completed mark sheet and original are placed on the reading device, the telephone number is detected according to the mark, the dialed digits are automatically sent to the line, and the relay station is called. When the line with the relay station is connected, the document and the image information of the mark sheet are transmitted from the instruction station to the relay station. Furthermore, at the relay station,
Read the telephone number of the terminal from the received mark sheet,
The original received from the instruction station is transferred to the terminal station.

[0005]

The above-mentioned conventional device has the following problems. That is, in the conventional device, since the telephone numbers of the relay station and the terminal station are indicated by the mark positions on the mark sheet, the marking is complicated in the relay broadcast having a large number of destinations. For example, if the telephone number is 10 digits and the number of destinations including the relay station and the terminal station is 5, there are a total of 50 mark entry locations.
It also becomes a place. This is described, for example, in JP-A-62-594.
As disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 57-57, even if a three-digit speed dial is used, there are 15 mark entry locations. If there are many places where the marks are written in this way, there is a problem that not only it is troublesome, but also the possibility of marking errors increases.

[0006] In so-called multi-relay broadcasting, in which a plurality of relay stations are set and image information is transferred from each to a plurality of terminal stations, the labor of marking is further increased and the possibility of marking error is further increased. Has the problem.

Further, when the abbreviated numbers are marked for the purpose of reducing the mark places as described above, it is necessary for the instructing station, the relay station and the terminal station to hold the respective abbreviated number tables. is there. When the telephone number of any one station is revised or a new station joins, that is, when the stations that can be broadcast by the relay station change, the unified number table needs to be changed each time. However, the notification that the change has been made is not always thorough enough, and there is still the risk of an incorrect dialing.

In addition, it is necessary to always prepare a clean mark sheet, which increases the maintenance factor of the facsimile machine.

The object of the present invention is to solve the above problems,
(EN) It is possible to provide a document communication system which eliminates the risk of erroneous dialing and which can perform relay broadcast by a more simplified procedure, and an apparatus thereof.

[0010]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION To solve the above problems and to achieve the object, the present invention is a control sheet for instructing relay broadcast, using identification codes and relay broadcast information. Location of the information start instruction mark, own station information to which a bar code indicating the own station telephone number is added, end station information to which a bar code indicating the identification number of the end station capable of broadcasting from the own station is added, and the above The relay station creates a relay broadcast instruction sheet in which the location of the terminal selection mark added to the terminal information is provided, and the instruction sheet is transferred from the relay station to the instruction station in response to a polling request from the instruction station. Sending, and the instruction station detects the relay broadcast start instruction mark and terminal station selection mark written in each mark entry place of the instruction sheet obtained by polling, and the instruction indicated by the mark is detected. Thus the identification number of the terminal station, there is a first feature to transmit the image information of the transmission document to the relay station together with relay broadcast instruction information.

Further, according to the present invention, the instruction station transmits the image information of the instruction sheet and the transmission original in which the marks are written in the respective mark writing locations to the relay station, and the relay station transmits the image information of the instruction sheet from the image information of the instruction sheet. The second feature is that the telephone number of the station and the relay broadcast instruction are detected.

Further, according to the present invention, the image information of the used instruction sheet is read, all the image information in each mark writing place among the image information is changed to white information, and the white information is output to the printing means. The third feature lies in the configuration.

[0013]

With the first feature, the instruction station can directly obtain the instruction sheet including the terminal information that the relay station can broadcast. Then, the identification sheet of the terminal station and the relay broadcast instruction can be notified to the relay station by the instruction sheet in which the mark is written at the mark entry location corresponding to the terminal station information.

According to the second feature, the instruction station transmits the image information of the instruction sheet to the relay station, and the relay station receives the relay broadcast instruction and the identification number of the terminal station from the instruction station. It is detected from the image information on the instruction sheet.

Further, according to the third feature, the mark on the used instruction sheet, that is, the instruction sheet in which the mark is written at the mark writing position is erased and reproduced in a state before use.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the document transmitting apparatus showing the embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the reading device 1 reads the image information of the set document. The operation panel 2 has a keyboard, a monitor screen, and the like. When a transmission command is issued by an instruction from the operation panel 2 and a control sheet which will be described later, the image information of the original read by the reading device 1 is compression-encoded by the encoding / decoding device 3, and the modem and NCU are turned on. It is supplied to the line control unit (hereinafter, simply referred to as NCU4) including and is sent to the line.

On the other hand, the image information input from the line is NC
After being decoded by the encoding / decoding device 3 via U4,
It is supplied to the printer 5 and printed.

The above-mentioned components are the ROM 6 and RA.
C according to the program and control data stored in M7
It is controlled by PU8.

In the document transmitting apparatus of this embodiment, in addition to the above hardware configuration, a relay broadcast instruction sheet is created in accordance with programs and control data stored in the ROM 6 and RAM 7, and this instruction sheet is used as a control sheet. Has a software function for performing the scheduled operation written in this control sheet.

An outline of the relay broadcast having the above hardware configuration will be described with reference to FIG. First, the sender, that is, the indicating station 9
Selects one of a plurality of destinations 10-1 to 10-n as a relay station. Here, the destination 10-1
A case where (hereinafter referred to as reference numeral 10) is a relay station will be described. The instruction station 9 issues a polling request to the selected relay station 10 to obtain a relay broadcast instruction sheet (hereinafter simply referred to as an instruction sheet). An example of the instruction sheet is shown in FIG. Details will be described later.

The operator of the instruction station 9 writes a mark at a predetermined mark writing position on the instruction sheet and puts it on the reading device 1. The reading device 1 starts relay broadcast based on the information read from the instruction sheet. The relay station 10 sends the received image information to the terminal stations 10-2 to 10-10 in accordance with the instruction from the instruction station 9.
-Transfer to n.

Next, a specific example of the instruction sheet will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, on the instruction sheet 11, first,
A registration mark 12 indicating the origin for determining the position of the image information is written. The alignment mark 12 has a predetermined length in the horizontal and vertical directions of the instruction sheet 11 so that the function as the origin is not lost even if the instruction sheet 11 is obliquely supplied to the reading position of the reading device 1. It has an L-shaped mark. Therefore, the alignment mark is not limited to the L-shape, and may be another shape such as a square as long as it is considered that the function is not lost. In the present embodiment, this alignment mark is only one, but the instruction mark
It is even better if they are provided at the four corners of gland 11.

An identification code 13 indicating that the instruction sheet 11 is a control sheet used for instructing a relay broadcast is provided at a predetermined position based on the alignment mark 12.
And information 14 about the relay station 10 and terminal stations 10-2 to 1
Information 15 about 0-n is provided. The identification code 13 is represented by a bar code.

The relay station 10 and the terminal stations 10-2 to 10-n
Information about one of them (here, 10-2) is shown enlarged in the lower part of the figure. As shown in this enlarged view, a telephone number 141 of the relay station 10 and a bar code 142 representing the telephone number 141 are provided as the information of the relay station 10.

As the information of the terminal station 10-2, a check frame 151, a terminal name and a telephone number 152, and a bar code 153 representing the telephone number 152 are provided. Further, a check frame 16 for instructing the start of relay broadcast is provided in the lower part of the instruction sheet 11.

In response to the polling request from the instruction station 9, the relay station 10 creates such an instruction sheet 11 and sends it to the instruction station 9. The operator of the instruction station 9 confirms the terminal station to which information is to be transmitted, and the check box 1 corresponding to each terminal station is checked.
A mark is written in 51 and the relay broadcast start instruction check frame 16. By making the reading device 1 read this, the relay broadcast is executed.

The bar code 13 contains at least information indicating that the instruction sheet 11 is a relay broadcast control sheet. At the same time, the control data storage means related to the relay broadcast can be accessed. Identification information is included. Further, the bar code 13 includes the check frames 16, 151 and the bar code 1.
You may include the coordinate which shows the position of 42,153. In addition, the configuration of the instruction sheet 11 includes the instruction station 9 and the relay station 1.
It can be changed according to the function of 0.

Next, the polling operation of the instruction sheet will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, FIG.
The polling request operation of the instruction station shown in (a) will be described. In step S1, a polling instruction signal based on a key input from the operation panel 2 is detected. If the polling instruction signal is detected, the determination in step S1 becomes affirmative and the process proceeds to step S2.

In step S2, the telephone number (dial number) of the relay station is read based on the key input from the operation panel 2, and the relay station is called by this dial number. In step S3, it is determined whether the line is connected. When the line is connected and the determination in step S3 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S4.

In step S4, it is determined whether or not the relay station has the ability to create an instruction sheet, based on the capability information received from the relay station by the non-standard function signal (NSF), for example. If it is not capable, it finishes processing the polling request. Here, an error signal may be output to notify the relay station of the inability.

On the other hand, when the relay station has the ability to create the instruction sheet, the process proceeds to step S5 to output the instruction sheet transmission request signal. This request signal can be included in, for example, a non-standard function setting signal (NSS) and transmitted to the partner station, that is, the relay station.

In step S6, the instruction sheet transmitted from the relay station in response to the instruction signal is received. The received instruction sheet is printed by the printer 5 as in a normal received document.

The operation of the relay station corresponding to the polling request is as follows. In FIG. 5B, in step S10, an incoming call from the partner station is detected. If there is an incoming call, the process proceeds to step S11, and the capability information of the own station including the instruction sheet creating capability is transmitted by, for example, an NSF signal. In step S12, it is determined whether or not the received NSS signal includes a transmission instruction request for an instruction sheet.
If this determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S13 to create an instruction sheet, and in step S14, the instruction sheet is transmitted. If the determination in step S12 is negative, the process of this flowchart is terminated and the normal image information receiving operation is performed.

Next, the operation of relay broadcasting by the instruction station which has obtained the instruction sheet by the above operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This relay broadcast operation is instructed using the instruction sheet as described above.

In step S100, the document supplied to the reading position of the reading device 1 is read and held in the buffer.
In step S101, it is determined whether the read document is an instruction sheet or a document for transmission. This judgment is made based on whether or not the identification information 13 indicated by the bar code is detected in the image information of the read document. The presence or absence of the bar code is determined by comparing the image data of the planned position (area of the planned range) with the alignment mark 12 as a reference with the bar code data registered in the storage means.

When the identification information 13 is detected, it is determined that the document is the instruction sheet, and the process proceeds to step S102.
In step S102, it is determined whether or not there is a mark in the check frame 16 of the relay broadcast start instruction. If the mark is detected, the process proceeds to step S103.

In step S103, the bar code 153 added to the terminal station information corresponding to the check frame 151 in which the mark is written among the check frames 151 corresponding to the respective terminal station information is analyzed, Detect the dialed digits of the terminal station. In step S104, the dialed number of the detected terminal station is temporarily stored.

In step S105, the bar code 142 set corresponding to the dialed number of the relay station is read to detect the dialed number of the relay station. It should be noted that the telephone number detection from the barcodes 142 and 153 is performed by the R
This is performed by referring to the bar code comparison table (number conversion table) registered in OM6.

In step S106, the relay station is called by the detected dialed number. In step S107, it is determined whether the line with the relay station is connected,
If this determination is positive, the protocol is started in step S108. In this protocol, the dial number of the terminal station and the relay broadcast instruction signal are transmitted to the relay station.

When the predetermined procedure is completed, step S10
Proceed to step 9 to send the image information. The image information transmitted may be the image information read by the reading device 1 after the above procedure is completed, or the image information read in advance and stored in the image information storage area of the ROM 6 or the external storage means. May be.

On the other hand, if the determination in step S101 is negative, that is, if the read document is a transmission document, the process proceeds to step S110, and the image information read in step S100 is transmitted by a normal transmission procedure. ..

If the determination in step S102 is negative, that is, if there is no mark in the check frame 16, the process ends. Note that an error display (step S111) may be performed if necessary.

Upon receiving the image information and the telephone number of the terminal station from the instruction station, the relay station transmits the image information to each terminal station according to the usual procedure. In the instruction sheet 11 created at the relay station, the telephone number of the terminal station represented by the bar code may be an abbreviated number or a special code that can identify the terminal station. If the telephone number of the terminal station is indicated by an abbreviated number or code, the relay station uses the telephone number table to convert the abbreviated number or code into a complete dialed number. Call the terminal.

As described above, since the instruction sheet is created by the relay station, if the terminal station can be identified by the abbreviated number or code that can be interpreted by the relay station, the instruction sheet will not be terminated. There is no need to register the telephone number or speed code of the station. That is, even if the instruction station does not know the information about the terminal stations, if it knows the telephone number of the relay station, it can carry out the relay broadcast to many terminal stations.

The operation of the instruction station described with reference to FIG. 6 is an operation in the case where the instruction station has a function of interpreting the contents of the instruction sheet and issuing a relay broadcast instruction. On the other hand, when a general facsimile apparatus that does not have the above function is the instruction station, the instruction station cannot interpret the instruction sheet. Therefore, in this case, the content of the instruction sheet is interpreted by the relay station and the relay broadcast is performed.

That is, in this case, the instruction station puts a mark on a predetermined place of the instruction sheet 11 obtained by polling, and transmits the image information of the instruction sheet 11 to the relay station together with the image information of the transmission document. When the relay station detects the identification code 13 in the image information of the received instruction sheet, the relay station recognizes that the image information is the instruction sheet 11 for relay broadcast. Then, the received instruction sheet 11 is interpreted to detect the telephone number of the terminal, and the image information of the received document is transferred to each terminal by broadcasting.

The instruction sheet 11 can also be used for relay broadcasting when a plurality of relay stations are set, that is, multi-relay broadcasting. In the multi-relay broadcasting, the instruction sheet 11 is acquired from each relay station by polling, and the plurality of instruction sheets 11 and the document are set in the reading device 1 to perform the relay broadcasting.

In this multi-relay broadcast, it is desirable to read all the plurality of instruction sheets 11 before proceeding to the calling operation. Therefore, before reading the instruction sheet, the operation panel 2 may be instructed that the multi-relay broadcast is to be performed, or another check frame may be provided on the instruction sheet 11 so that the multi-relay broadcast can be entered. It is better to

When the instruction from the operation panel 2 or the mark written in the check frame indicating the multi-relay broadcast is detected to identify the multi-relay broadcast, a plurality of instruction sheets 11 are provided. After all are read, the calling operation is sequentially performed to each relay station, and the image information of the document is transmitted.

Further, when the instruction station is a normal facsimile apparatus, the instruction sheet cannot be automatically polled from the relay station. In order to deal with such a case, the relay station can be provided with a function of creating an instruction sheet after receiving the telephone number of the terminal station and sending it to the instruction station.

Next, the function of this embodiment will be described with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 2 indicate the same or equivalent parts. In FIG. 1, first, the function of the instruction station will be described. Polling request unit 17
Outputs a polling request signal to the NCU 4a according to the instruction input from the operation panel 2. Image information memory 18
In a, image information of a document read by the reading device 1 and NCU
Image information received from another station via 4a is accumulated. The document read by the reading device 1 is sent to the line via the NCU 4a, and conversely, the image information taken in from the line via the NCU 4a is printed by the printer 5.

The identification code analysis unit 19 searches the image information read by the reading device 1 and accumulated in the buffer 20, and detects the presence or absence of the bar code, that is, the identification code 13. If the identification code 13 is not detected, the image information in the buffer 20 is transferred to the image information memory 18a. At the same time, an instruction for performing normal communication is issued from the identification code analysis unit 19 to the NCU.
4a is output.

On the other hand, when the identification code 13 is detected,
The detection signal is sent from the identification code analysis unit 19 to the instruction information analysis unit 21.
Is output to. In response to the detection signal, the instruction information analysis unit 21 checks whether or not each check frame 16 and 151 has a mark, and analyzes the bar codes 142 and 15 representing the telephone numbers. The coordinate data of the check frame and the bar code for detecting the presence or absence of the mark in the check frame and reading the bar code are also read from the identification code 13,
The identification code analysis unit 19 supplies the instruction information analysis unit 21. Further, the bar codes representing the telephone numbers of the relay station and the terminal station are compared with the data supplied from the number conversion table storage unit 22 and converted into dialed numbers.

The instruction information detected by the instruction information analysis unit 21 and the dial numbers of the relay station and the terminal station are output to the NCU 4a, and the NCU 4a instructs the relay broadcast based on the instruction information and the dial number.

When performing multi-relay broadcasting,
The instruction information analysis unit 21 detects the presence or absence of a mark in the check frame for multi-relay broadcasting, and when a mark is detected, outputs a detection signal to the multi-relay broadcasting control unit 23. In response to the detection signal, the multi-relay broadcasting control unit 23 instructs the reading device 1 to read all of the plurality of instruction sheets 11, and performs the calling operation based on the procedure for the multi-relay broadcasting. An instruction to perform an image information sending operation is output to the NCU 4a. Further, the activation of the multi-relay broadcast control unit 23 may be performed according to the instruction from the operation panel 2 as described above.

Next, the function of the relay station will be described. The polling request detection unit 24 detects the polling request from the instruction station and outputs the detection signal to the instruction sheet creation unit 25. The instruction sheet creating unit 25 creates an instruction sheet based on the data supplied from the data storage unit 26 and the terminal office telephone number storage unit 27.

That is, the data memory 26 stores the image data of the instruction sheet, and the terminal telephone number memory 27 stores the telephone number data of the terminal which can be broadcast from the relay station. There is. This telephone number data is converted by the instruction sheet creating unit 25 into characters and numbers indicating the terminal information and a bar code, and is combined with the image data supplied from the data storage unit 26 to complete the instruction sheet. The completed instruction sheet is transmitted to the instruction station via the NCU 4b.

Further, the relay broadcast instruction detecting section 28 and the dial digit detecting section 29 respectively detect the relay broadcast instruction and the dial digit of the terminal station supplied from the instructing station. The image information received from the instruction station is stored in the image information memory 18b.

The instruction signal detected by the relay broadcast instruction detecting unit 28 and the dial number detected by the dial number detecting unit 29 are supplied to the broadcast control unit 30. Then, the broadcast control unit 30 responds to this, and the calling operation and image information memory 1
The image information transmission operation for 8b is performed.

The function of the relay station described above corresponds to the instruction station when the instruction station can interpret the contents of the instruction sheet. On the other hand, when the instruction station cannot interpret the content of the instruction sheet, if the relay station has a function of interpreting the instruction sheet, it is possible to cope with the relay broadcast instruction by the instruction sheet. That is, the function of the relay station in this case is a function of reading each check frame and bar code from the image data of the instruction sheet, detecting the relay broadcast instruction, and detecting the dialed number of the terminal station.

Next, with reference to FIG. 7, an example of determination as to whether a mark is entered in the check frame is shown. The figure (a) shows the check frame 16 with no mark, and the figure (b) shows the check frame 16 with the mark 32.

When the image data near the check frame 16 is extracted in the main scanning direction (arrow direction), FIG.
"0001100 ... 00011000" in (a), and "0001100 ... 1100 ... 0011" in FIG. 7 (b).
A binary signal of "000" is obtained. If the change from the white data (0) to the black data (1) is made only twice as shown in FIG. 7A, it is determined that the black data, that is, the mark is not written in the frame. Change in data is 2 as in b)
If it is more than once, it is determined that part of the mark 32 has been detected. Furthermore, when the data that changes as described above is continuous for the expected length in the sub-scanning direction, the presence or absence of the final mark is determined.

When a large amount of control information is included in the bar code 13, since the bar code 13 occupies a large proportion of the control sheet, this may be represented using a micro bar code. An example of the micro bar code is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the micro bar code 33 does not represent the code by changing the interval and the thickness of the bar like a normal bar code, but is an indicator that represents the code by the inclination direction of the bar. is there.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, when the instruction sheet obtained from the relay station is used once to perform the relay broadcast, and when it is necessary to perform the relay broadcast to different terminal stations via the same relay station, the polling is performed. By doing so, the operation of obtaining the same instruction sheet again is omitted. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the relay station creates an instruction sheet as shown in FIG. 9 and sends it to the instruction station. As shown in FIG. 9, the instruction sheet 11a is provided with a reproduction check frame 34 in addition to the elements described in the instruction sheet 11. When it becomes necessary to send a document to a terminal station of a different combination through the same relay station after performing the relay broadcast using the instruction sheet 11a once, a new instruction is given as follows. Get a sheet.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the instruction sheet reproducing operation. In the figure, in step S200, the document set at the reading position of the reading device 1 is read. In step S201, all the read image data is accumulated.

In step S202, the reproduction check frame 3
It is judged whether or not the mark is written in 4.
If the mark is entered, the determination in step S202 is affirmative and the process proceeds to step S203.

In step S203, the data in all the check frames such as the check frame for the relay broadcast instruction, the check frame for selecting the terminal station, and the reproduction check frame among the image data of the used instruction sheet 11a that has been read previously. Is converted to white data and then output to the printer 5. If the determination in step S202 is negative, step S1 in FIG.
The same transmission operation as that shown from 01 onward is performed.

Thus, the used instruction sheet 11a is used.
If a mark is written in the reproduction check frame 34 of No. 1 and set in the reading device 1, a new instruction sheet in which the mark in the check frame is erased is obtained by the above reproduction operation. Therefore, by rewriting the mark on the reproduced sheet, it is possible to give a relay broadcast instruction using this instruction sheet.

As described above, in this embodiment, the instruction sheet for relay broadcast instruction is obtained from the relay station. If a mark for giving a necessary instruction is written in the check frame of the instruction sheet, a call operation is automatically performed and the document can be transmitted to a plurality of destinations. If the relay stations are the same, the instruction sheet can be easily reproduced and used.

In the present embodiment, an example in which a check frame is provided as a mark writing place is shown, but the mark writing place is not limited to such a closed frame, but is represented by parentheses, predetermined points or figures. You may do it.

Further, the place where the relay broadcast start instruction mark is written, that is, the check frame 16 is not provided, and the same function as that of the check frame 16 is provided in the check frame 151 for terminal station selection provided corresponding to each terminal information. You may add. That is, if any one of the terminal station selection check frames 151 has a mark, the judgment of the relay broadcast start instruction is made based on that mark.

[0072]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. (1) Since the relay broadcast instruction can be given by the instruction sheet, the operation is simple and the input error of the telephone number is eliminated. (2) Since the instruction sheet is obtained from the relay station, the terminal station that can be broadcast from the relay station can be accurately grasped by the instruction station, and the document can be surely transmitted to the desired terminal station. (3) If the relay station has the function, the instruction station has the function of analyzing the instruction sheet only by dialing the relay station and reading the instruction sheet by the reading device. Even if there is not, a relay broadcast instruction can be given without manually inputting the telephone number of the terminal station. (4) The instruction sheet is easy to reproduce, and when relay broadcasting is performed via the same relay station, it is not necessary to obtain the instruction sheet from the relay station by polling.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main function of a document transmitting apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a document transmission device.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a relay broadcast system.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a relay broadcast instruction sheet.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a polling operation.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a relay broadcast instruction operation.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a mark detection method within a check frame.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a micro barcode.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another example of the instruction sheet.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an instruction sheet reproducing operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Reading device, 5 ... Printer, 11 ... Instruction sheet,
13 ... Identification code, 16 ... Relay broadcast start instruction check frame, 17 ... Polling request section, 19 ... Identification code analysis section, 21 ... Instruction information analysis section, 24 ... Polling request detection section, 25 ... Instruction sheet creation section, 34 … Instruction sheet playback check frame

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Kazutaka Saito 3-7-1 Fuchu, Iwatsuki City, Saitama Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Iwatsuki Office

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. At the relay station, identification information indicating that it is a control sheet for instructing relay broadcast using a bar code, a place where a relay broadcast start instruction mark is entered, and a bar code indicating a local telephone number are provided. There is provided additional station information, station information with a bar code indicating the identification number of the station that can be broadcast from the station, and a location for writing the station selection mark given to the station information. Creating a relay broadcast instruction sheet, and transmitting the instruction sheet from the relay station to the instruction station in response to a polling request from the instruction station; and, in the instruction station, each of the instruction sheets obtained by polling. Detects the relay broadcast start instruction mark and the terminal selection mark written in the mark entry location, and in accordance with the instruction indicated by the mark, the identification number of the terminal and the relay broadcast instruction information are sent together with the transmission source. Article communication method and transmits the image information to the relay station. 2. In the relay station, identification information indicating that it is a control sheet for instructing relay broadcast by using a bar code, a place where a relay broadcast start instruction mark is written, and a bar code indicating a local telephone number are provided. There is provided additional station information, station information with a bar code indicating the identification number of the station that can be broadcast from the station, and a location for writing the station selection mark given to the station information. A relay broadcast instruction sheet is created, and the instruction sheet is transmitted from the relay station to the instruction station in response to a polling request from the instruction station. At the instruction station, a mark is written at each mark writing location. It is characterized in that the image information of the included instruction sheet and the transmitted document is transmitted to the relay station, and that the relay station detects the identification number of the terminal station and the relay broadcast instruction from the image information of the instruction sheet. Document communication system to be. 3. The document communication system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of relay stations are set. 4. Identification information using a bar code indicating that it is a control sheet for instructing relay broadcast, a location where a relay broadcast start instruction mark is entered, and a self-attached bar code indicating a local telephone number. Station information, terminal information to which a bar code indicating the identification number of the terminal that can be broadcast from the own station is added, and relay broadcasting provided with a place to write a terminal selection mark added to the terminal information. A document communication apparatus comprising: an instruction sheet creating means for creating an instruction sheet; and a transmitting means for transmitting the instruction sheet to a partner station in response to a polling request. 5. Identification information using a bar code indicating that it is a control sheet for instructing relay broadcast, a place where a relay broadcast start instruction mark is written, and a bar code representing a telephone number of a relay station are added. Relay station information, terminal station information to which a bar code indicating the identification number of the terminal station that can be broadcast from the relay station is added, and a relay station provided with a location to write a terminal station selection mark attached to the terminal station information. Polling requesting means for obtaining a broadcast instruction sheet from a relay station by polling, and a mark for detecting a relay broadcast start instruction mark and a terminal station selection mark written in each mark entry location of the instruction sheet obtained by polling The detection means and the identification number of the terminal station according to the instruction indicated by the detected mark,
And a transmission means for transmitting the image information of the transmission document together with the relay broadcast instruction information to the relay station. 6. An identification information indicating that it is a control sheet for instructing relay broadcast, using a bar code, a place for writing a relay broadcast start instruction mark, and a bar code indicating a telephone number of a relay station are added. Relay station information, terminal station information to which a bar code indicating the identification number of the terminal station that can be broadcast from the relay station is added, and a relay station provided with a location to write a terminal station selection mark attached to the terminal station information. Polling requesting means for obtaining the information instruction sheet from the relay station by polling, and the image information of the instruction sheet obtained by polling and having a mark written at each mark writing location, and the image information of the transmission document to the relay station. A document communication apparatus comprising: a transmitting unit for transmitting. 7. A relay broadcast instruction detecting means for detecting an identification number of a terminal station and a relay broadcast instruction from image information of an instruction sheet transmitted from the instruction station, and a relay station from the instruction station according to the detected relay broadcast instruction. 5. The document communication apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a transmission unit that transmits the transmitted image information of the transmission original document to the terminal station. 8. A reading means for reading the image information of a used instruction sheet, an image information converting means for changing all the image information in each mark writing place among the read image information to white information, and an image information converting means. 7. The document communication device according to claim 5, further comprising a printing unit that prints an instruction sheet based on the image information later.