JPH06105026A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily and surely perform the transmission confirmation and specification of image data by managing the image data to be transmitted by using a mark set arbitrarily by an operator and easy to manage and memorize. CONSTITUTION:An operator inputs a destination telephone number from an operation display part 5, and stores by inputting the mark easy to memorize as an ID code to manage the communication history of a transmission original from a keyboard 6 in the RAM of a system control part 1. The operator sets the transmission original on a scanner 2, and reads the image data, and forms the file name of the image data with a file number and the ID code, and writes the file name on a hard disk 10 via a hard disk controller 11 with the image data. File transmission is performed by issuing a call to a communication opponent, and when the transmission is completed, a transmission result is stored additionally in the communication history in the hard disk 10 by attaching a file number including the ID code. The operator performs the transmission confirmation by using the ID code.

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 which temporarily stores image data to be transmitted in a memory and then transmits the image data to a partner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a facsimile apparatus for transmitting image data between remote persons via a communication line has been widely used.
Then, the image data obtained by reading the transmission document is normally transmitted directly to the other party in real time. However, if the other terminal is communicating with another terminal at the time of transmission, it cannot be transmitted from the transmitting terminal side.
It was necessary to wait until the partner terminal became communicable and restart the transmission operation. As described above, there is a problem that the start timing of the transmission operation of the operator on the transmission side depends on the situation of the partner terminal.

Of course, the transmission original is set in the facsimile machine and the redialing function is used to periodically repeat the recalling so that the communication is automatically started after the other terminal is ready for communication. However, it has a limited function that can be performed only on one communication document. Therefore, recently, while temporarily storing in the memory the image data obtained by scanning the transmission document with a scanner,
Facsimile apparatuses that can perform memory transmission by inputting the destination information are becoming widespread. The feature of this fax machine that can send data to memory is that even if there are multiple send documents with different destinations, once the image data is stored in memory in advance, it will be sent automatically by using the send time designation and redial function together. Therefore, the operator is freed from the troublesome transmission operation.

However, since such a memory-transmittable facsimile machine handles a plurality of transmission originals, it is confirmed whether or not the image data is transmitted to the other party and whether or not the transmission is normally performed. Confirm the transmission, or if multiple senders store the image data in the memory,
You need to search the communication record of your image data. Therefore, conventionally, for example, an original document stored in a memory is managed by being given a serial number in particular as a file number for the system to manage, and the result of transmission confirmation is transmitted based on this file number. At the end, the operator was notified by a communication report or voice notification.

As a conventional facsimile apparatus of this type, for example, there is one described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-260740.

[0006]

However, in such a conventional facsimile apparatus, the file number for specifying the image data is the number designated by the system, and the transmission result is subsequently determined by the file number. I was supposed to be informed. Therefore, by storing the file number, which is a sequence of numbers designated by the time, or by taking a memo, it is possible to obtain information on the subsequent image data of the user.

However, if such a hard-to-remember file number is forgotten or a memo is lost, there is a problem that it is difficult to identify one's own image data by the file number. Also, on the receiving terminal side,
Since the file number designated by the transmitting terminal side is not notified, there is a problem that the image data cannot be specified by the file number on the transmitting side.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and manages image data to be transmitted by using a symbol which the operator himself arbitrarily sets and which is easy to manage and memorize. It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile device capable of easily and surely confirming and specifying transmission of image data.

[0009]

The invention according to claim 1 is
An original reading unit that reads a transmission original and converts it into image data, an image data storage unit that stores the image data in a memory, and a memory transmission unit that reads the stored image data and transmits it to a transmission destination in memory. In a facsimile device having the same, management code input means for inputting a management code peculiar to an operator managing the image data, and management code storage means for storing the input management code.
Prior to the storage of the image data in the memory, a file name forming means for forming a file name using the stored management code and a predetermined file number of the image data is provided, and the formed file The name is stored in the image data storage means together with the image data.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect, communication history storage means for storing a communication history indicating a transmission / reception status of image data and managing the communication status, and a communication charge for each communication. And a communication charge management means for managing the communication charge by storing the communication charge for each communication in the communication history, after the transmission of the image data,
When storing communication history related to communication status and communication charges,
The image data is stored together with the file name of the image data.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect, the file name of the image data is stored in the signal of the communication protocol exchanged between the transmitting and receiving terminals of the image data on the transmitting terminal side. A field name forming means is provided for forming a field and transmitting the file name of the image data to the receiving terminal side to notify the file name of the image data using the field, and the file name of the image data sent from the transmitting terminal side is received. Is received and stored in the communication history of the terminal itself.

[0012]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the management code input means is used to input a management code specific to the operator who manages the image data, the management code is stored in the management code storage means, and the image data to be transmitted is stored in the memory. Prior to this, the file name forming means is used to form a file name from the management code and the file number of the image data, and the file name is stored in the image data storing means together with the image data.
In this way, the operator selects and inputs a unique management code that is easy to manage and memorize, and manages the image data based on this management code, so it is easy to specify the image data and confirm the transmission. And surely.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the communication history storage means stores the communication history indicating the transmission / reception status of the image data to manage the communication status, and the communication charge for each communication calculated by the communication charge management means. The communication charge is stored by storing it in the communication history. Then, after the transmission of the image data, when storing the above-mentioned communication history regarding the communication status and the communication charge, it is stored together with the file name of the created image data. Therefore, the file name with the management code is described in the communication management report and communication charge management report that are created based on the communication history, so you can easily and surely obtain your own image data from the communication management report and communication charge management report. Be searched for.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the file name notifying means provided on the transmitting terminal side forms a field for storing the file name of the image data in the signal of the communication protocol and transmitting the file name to the receiving terminal side. The file name specified by the sending terminal is notified to the receiving terminal using this field. Then, the receiving terminal side stores the file name of the transmitted image data in the communication history of its own terminal. In this way, since the file name of the transmitted image data is shared by both the receiving terminal side and the transmitting terminal side, the transmitting side inquires from the receiving side to specify the image data and the transmission confirmation is performed easily and surely. be able to.

[0015]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be specifically described below based on examples. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a system control unit (SCU) 1 controls the entire facsimile system, and a ROM (Read Onl) that stores a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and its basic programs.
y Memory) or a RAM (Random Access Memor) for storing management data such as an ID code in this embodiment.
y) etc. Further, in addition to the above, enlargement / reduction of images, conversion of linear density, generation of Kanji patterns, etc.

The scanner 2 optically reads a document and converts it into electrical image data. The plotter 3 prints out the received image data, communication management report, and the like on recording paper. The scanner / plotter control unit 4 is interposed between the scanner 2 and the plotter 3 and the system bus 15 to control the flow of image data.

The operation display section 5 is a keyboard 6 for inputting a management code (ID code) peculiar to the operator in this embodiment by a key operation, a keyboard controller 7 for controlling the keyboard 6, and an image of operation information and the like. It is composed of a liquid crystal display (LCD) 8 for displaying and an LCD controller 9 for controlling the LCD 8. A hard disk (HDD) 10 is a SAF memory that stores image data read by the scanner 2, and a hard disk controller 11 controls writing and reading of image data. Further, the communication history is added to the history file in the hard disk for each communication.

The G3 communication control unit 12 is connected to an analog line such as PSTN and operates in accordance with a predetermined transmission control procedure.
The image data is transmitted to and from the facsimile. The modem 13 performs modulation / demodulation of data related to facsimile communication. The G4 communication control unit 12 is connected to a digital line such as ISDN, and executes image data transmission with a G4 facsimile according to a predetermined transmission control procedure.

The system bus 15 is a signal line for connecting the above-mentioned units and exchanging signals. Next, the operation will be described. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a transmission operation according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a transmission confirmation operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the operator sends the original document to the other party, first the destination telephone number is displayed on the operation display unit 5.
Is input (step 100). Next, in order to manage the communication history of the transmitted document, the operator inputs a symbol that is easy to store as an ID code from the keyboard 6 of the operation display unit 5 (step 101). For example, assume that "ABCDE" is input as the ID code in this embodiment. The input ID code is stored in the RAM of the system control unit 1.
(Step 102).

Then, the operator scans the transmitted document with the scanner 2
Then, the start switch (not shown) of the operation display unit 5 is pressed (step 103). As a result, the transmitted document is read by the scanner 2 (step 10
4). Therefore, the file name of the image data read at this time is formed by a file number composed of a serial number that has been set conventionally and the above-mentioned input ID code. For example, a file name such as "1001ABCDE" is formed by continuing the file number and the ID code.

The image data of the transmission original read by the scanner 2 is the hard disk controller 11
It is written to the hard disk 10 together with the ID code of the file name via (step 105). Thereafter, the file is transmitted only when the call to the communication partner is possible (step 106), and when the call is possible, the transmission operation is started (step 107).

After the transmission is completed, the transmission result is added to the communication history which is a history file of the hard disk 10 for each communication (step 108). All file numbers including the above-mentioned ID code are attached to this communication history. Next, when the operator on the transmitting side inquires whether or not the image data is normally transmitted, that is, when so-called transmission confirmation is performed, an operator-specific ID code when inputting a document (see step 104 above) An inquiry is made by inputting "ABCDE" (step 200).

The facsimile machine searches for a file name having the input ID code (step 201).
It is judged whether or not there is a file name having the input ID code (step 202), and if there is no file having that ID code, a display indicating that there is no corresponding file is made (step 203), and the process ends.

On the other hand, when there is a file name having the input ID code, the contents of the communication history of the file are displayed on the LCD 8. Further, prior to inputting a document, the unit price of communication charge per communication is registered in advance in the memory of the system control unit 1 for storing management data, and the communication charge required for one communication is calculated from the communication time of the communication history. It can be calculated and stored in the communication history, and the communication fee can be recorded. This is because when the communication history is displayed on the LCD 8 or when the communication management report or the communication charge management management report is printed from the plotter 3, a file name including an operator-specific ID code is added and displayed or displayed. Since it is printed (step 205, step 206), it is possible to easily and surely specify the file, confirm the transmission, and the like.

Further, an ID code set on the sending terminal side is used in a field of a non-standard function setting signal (NSS: Non-Standard facilities Set-up) used in a communication protocol for exchanging between the sending terminal and the receiving terminal. It is stored and the ID code is transmitted from the transmitting terminal to the receiving terminal to notify it. Therefore, even on the receiving terminal side, it is possible to easily identify the communication history and confirm the communication by using the common ID code.

[0027]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the management code peculiar to the operator who manages the image data is input and stored, and the image data to be transmitted is stored in advance before being stored in the memory. A file name is formed by the management code and the file number of the image data, and the file name is stored in the memory together with the image data. Therefore, the management code in the file name is made of a symbol that is easy for the operator to manage and memorize, and the image data is managed based on this management code. Can be performed easily and reliably.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the communication history indicating the transmission / reception status of the image data is stored to manage the communication status, and the communication charge calculated for each communication is stored in the communication history to perform communication. Manage charges. When storing the communication history regarding the communication status and the communication charge after the image data is transmitted, the communication history is stored together with the file name of the image data. Therefore, the communication management report and the communication created based on the communication history are stored. The file name with the management code is described in the charge management report. Therefore, the image data can be easily and surely searched only by looking at these management reports.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the file name of the image data is stored in the field of the communication protocol signal on the transmitting terminal side, transmitted to the receiving terminal side for notification, and the file received on the receiving terminal side. By storing the name in the communication history of its own terminal, the file name of the image data can be shared between the sending side and the receiving side, so you can check the image data by inquiring from the sending side to the receiving side with the common file name. It can be done easily and reliably.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a transmission operation according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a transmission confirmation operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 system control unit (SCU) 2 scanner 3 plotter 4 scanner plotter control unit 5 operation display unit 6 keyboard 7 keyboard controller 8 LCD 9 LCD controller 10 hard disk (HDD) 11 hard disk controller 12 G3 communication control unit 13 modem 14 G4 communication control Part 15 system bus

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A document reading unit for reading a transmission document and converting it into image data, an image data storage unit for storing the image data in a memory, and a memory for reading the stored image data and transmitting it to a transmission destination in a memory. In a facsimile apparatus including a transmission unit, a management code input unit that inputs a management code unique to an operator who manages the image data, a management code storage unit that stores the input management code, and a storage unit that stores the image data. Prior to storage in the memory, a file name forming means for forming a file name using the stored management code and a predetermined file number of the image data is provided, and the formed file name is used as the image data. A facsimile apparatus characterized in that it is also stored in the image data storage means. 2. A facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a communication history storing means for storing a communication history indicating a transmission / reception status of image data and managing the communication status, and a communication charge for each communication are calculated. Communication fee management means for managing the communication fee by storing the communication fee for each communication in the communication history; and when storing the communication history regarding the communication status and the communication fee after transmitting the image data, the image data concerned. A facsimile machine characterized in that it is stored together with the file name. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a field for storing a file name of the image data is formed in a signal of a communication protocol exchanged between the transmitting and receiving terminals of the image data on the transmitting terminal side, File name notifying means for transmitting the file name of the image data to the receiving terminal side for notification using the field is provided, and the file name of the image data sent from the transmitting terminal side is received by the receiving terminal and the terminal itself is received. Facsimile apparatus characterized by being stored in the communication history of.