JPH0556060B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a composite facsimile machine having a function of converting data obtained from external equipment such as video signals and character signals into image information data suitable for a facsimile communication form and transmitting the data. Regarding equipment.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems]

Conventionally, this type of device has been used to transfer data stored in the image memory of the display device to a form of facsimile communication, for example, in order to obtain a hard copy of a still image displayed on the display device at the destination. After correcting the number of lines, bit length, etc. to form raw image information data, this image information data is redundancy suppressed encoded and transmitted. Therefore, facsimile communication can be performed without using a document as in a normal facsimile device.

However, this type of compound facsimile device conventionally only had the above-mentioned functions and did not have the original function of a facsimile device of transmitting image information written on a document, so it lacked versatility.
It is also conceivable to simply add the functions of the original facsimile device to this type of composite facsimile device, but in this case, the selection of both functions becomes a problem. For example, in a complex facsimile device that continuously transmits still images, etc., there is a problem in that function selection cannot be performed.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a composite facsimile device that is versatile and can eliminate input waiting time for an operator operating a first input means of a facsimile system. purpose.

[Summary of the invention]

Therefore, the present invention provides a first input means for reading a document and sending out the image information data obtained, and a second input means for converting data input from an external device into image information data and sending it out for a predetermined period of time. Alternatively, if image information is not obtained even after a predetermined time has elapsed after selecting the first input means, the second input means may be selected alternately every time, or before a predetermined time has elapsed. The above objective was achieved by selecting the appropriate means.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is an information input device such as a kanji input device and a video signal receiving device, 2 is a display control device, 3 is a display device, and 4 is a facsimile interface. Ace,
5 is a reading scanning unit, 6 is a document detection unit, 7 is a lamp display, 8 is a lamp drive circuit, 9 is a reservation switch, 10 is an operation panel unit, 11 is a modem, and 12 is a network control unit (NCU). ), 13 is a transmission control unit, and 14 is a destination display.

The facsimile interface 4 reads data stored in the image memory of the display control device 2, corrects this data to be suitable for facsimile communication, and forms raw image information data.
The reading/scanning section 5 reads information written on a document placed on a document table to obtain raw image information data. The document detection unit 6 detects whether or not a document is placed on the document placement table.
The lamp indicator 7 includes an automatic input mode lamp a, a manual input mode lamp b, and a reservation lamp c, and is controlled to blink by a lamp drive circuit 8. The reservation switch 9 is a switch for instructing the reservation of transmission of raw image information data obtained by reading and scanning the original placed on the original placing table of the reading scanning section 5. The operation panel section 10 is used to specify the destination of the raw image information data obtained from the reading/scanning section 5. Like the control circuit of a normal facsimile device, the transmission control unit 13 has functions such as call processing control, display processing control, transmission and reception control, etc. This is a control circuit that has a function of performing selection control to alternately select the reading scanning section 5 at predetermined time intervals, and this type of control is realized by computer technology using a CPU.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained while explaining the operation of the transmission control section 13.

First, when transmitting data obtained from the information input device 1 (hereinafter referred to as automatic input mode), the data obtained from the information input device 1 is stored in the image memory of the display control device 2, and the display is adjusted based on this stored data. An image is displayed on the device 3.
Further, the information input device 1 sends an activation signal (transmission start signal) and a destination information signal indicating the destination to the transmission control unit 13 via the display control device 2 and the facsimile interface 4. The transmission control unit 13
Based on the input activation signal and destination information signal, a dial signal for the designated destination is sent out via the NCU 12, and the transmission operation is started and the destination is displayed on the destination display 14. When the line connection with the destination is completed, the transmission control unit 13 sends a synchronization signal to the facsimile interface 4. Then, the fax machine interface 4
reads the data stored in the image memory of the display control device 2, converts it into raw image information data, and sends out each line of image information data in synchronization with this synchronization signal. This image information data is redundancy suppressed encoded by the transmission control unit 13 and transmitted to the destination via the modem 11 and NCU 12. still,
At this time, the automatic input mode lamp a is lit under the control of the transmission control section 13.

Now, the transmission control unit 13 detects a standby signal for the facsimile interface 4 after a predetermined period of time (for example, a certain period of time or a period of time for transmitting image information data corresponding to a certain number of originals) and temporarily prohibits its operation. In addition, manual input mode lamp b
blinks and waits for input of image information data from the reading scanning section 5. When the destination information signal is obtained from the operation panel section 10, the transmission control section 13 establishes a line connection with the destination, starts the reading scanning section 5, and encodes the obtained raw image information data. Then, it is sent to the line via the modem 11 and NCU 12. At this time, the transmission control unit 13 changes the display of the manual input mode lamp b from a blinking display to a constantly lit display.

Furthermore, when the automatic input mode ends, the reading scanning section 5
When an original is placed on the original placing table and a signal indicating that there is an original is input from the original detection unit 6, the transmission control unit 13 selects the same destination as in the automatic input mode when switching to manual input mode. Continuously send data to

Further, in the automatic input mode, when the reservation switch 9 is operated and a destination is specified on the operation panel section 10, the transmission control section 13 turns on the reservation lamp c and stores destination information indicating the destination in the internal memory. The data is stored, and when the mode shifts to manual input mode, a transmission operation is started to the destination based on this destination information data.

By the way, the transmission control section 13 does not control the document detection section 6 even after a predetermined period of time has passed since the transition to the manual input mode.
If you cannot get a signal indicating that there is a manuscript from
The standby signal to the facsimile interface 4 is cut off, and the mode shifts to automatic input mode.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, two input systems can be used efficiently, so it is versatile and convenient to use. Furthermore, since unilateral monopolization of one of the two input systems can be prevented, the waiting time of each system can be averaged, and the overall waiting time of each system can be shortened. Furthermore, since the reservation setting means is used, it is possible to eliminate the input waiting time of the operator who operates the facsimile-type first input means, which is convenient.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. 1... Information input device, 2... Display control device, 3
... Display device, 4 ... Facsimile interface, 5 ... Reading scanning section, 6 ... Document detection section, 7 ... Lamp display, 8 ... Lamp drive circuit, 9 ... Reservation switch, 10 ... Operation panel unit, 11... Modulation/demodulation device (modem), 12... Network control unit (NCU), 13... Transmission control unit, 14...
...Destination display.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A facsimile-based first input means that reads a document and sends out the obtained image information data; and a non-facsimile-based first input means that converts data input from an external device into image information data and sends it out. a second input means; a reservation setting means for reserving a transmission destination of the image information data to be sent from the first input means and storing the reserved transmission destination as destination information data; and every predetermined time. alternately selecting the first input means and the second input means, and when selecting the first input means, specifying the image information data obtained from the first input means; When the second input means is selected, the image information data obtained from the second input means is transmitted to the destination based on the specified destination information. and furthermore, if the destination information data is stored in the reservation setting means when the destination information data is selectively transferred from the second input means to the first input means, the destination information data can be obtained from the first input means. and transmission control means for automatically transmitting image information data to a destination based on the destination information data. 2. The composite facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is a time for transmitting image information data corresponding to a predetermined number of original documents. 3. The first input means includes a document detection means for detecting the presence or absence of a document, and the transmission control means detects, when the first input means is selected, a signal indicating that there is a document in the document detection means. If the destination information data is obtained and the destination information data is not stored in the reservation setting means, the image information data obtained by reading the document is sent to the same destination as the destination to which the image information data was sent immediately before. A composite facsimile device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it transmits information. 4. The composite facsimile apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the transmission control means includes destination display means for displaying information based on designated destination information. 5. A first facsimile-based input means that reads the original and sends out the image information data obtained; and a second non-facsimile input means that converts data input from an external device into image information data and sends it out. , a reservation setting means in which a transmission destination of the image information data to be sent from the first input means is reserved and the reserved transmission destination is stored as destination information data; and a reservation setting means for selecting the second input means. select the first input means after a predetermined time after selecting the first input means;
When the image information data cannot be obtained from the input means, the second input means is selected even before the predetermined time has elapsed, and when the first input means is selected, the image information data is obtained from the first input means. When the obtained image information data is transmitted to a destination based on the specified destination information data and the second input means is selected, the image information data obtained from the second input means is sent to the destination based on the specified destination information data. when the destination information data is stored in the reservation setting means when the destination information is transmitted to the destination based on the destination information set, and the destination information data is selectively transferred from the second input means to the first input means; A composite facsimile apparatus comprising: transmission control means for automatically transmitting image information data obtained from said first input means to a destination based on said destination information data. 6. The composite facsimile apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined time is a time for transmitting image information data corresponding to a predetermined number of original documents. 7. The first input means includes a document detection means for detecting the presence or absence of a document, and the transmission control means, when the first input means is selected, causes the document detection means to output a signal indicating that there is a document. If the destination information data is obtained and the destination information data is not stored in the reservation setting means, the image information data obtained by reading the document is sent to the same destination as the destination to which the image information data was sent immediately before. 7. A composite facsimile device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the compound facsimile device transmits information. 8. The composite facsimile apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the transmission control means includes destination display means for displaying information based on designated destination information.