JPH06205193A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To send picture information at a discount charge by designating a transmission start time. CONSTITUTION:A time designation propriety discrimination section 11 discriminates the propriety of time designation based on a data quantity of a transmission document, a memory residual quantity, a communication mode, and designated resolution or the like. When the time designation propriety discrimination section 11 discriminates time designation, a time designation control section 12 decides a transmission start time based on data of a communication charge table and a priority table and a time designation state. When the transmission time is designated, the result is displayed on a display section 7. When a command of registration permission is entered from an operation section 6, the time designation decided and registered by the time designation control section 12 is registered by the time designation registration section 16. A line control section 14 reads picture information of a transmission document from a picture information memory 2 at a time designated by the time designation registration section 16 and sends the information.

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 capable of designating a transmission time and transmitting.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to reduce the communication cost as much as possible when transmitting an original using a facsimile machine,
The device has been devised. For example, JP-A-1-12
In the facsimile device described in Japanese Patent No. 6872, when a plurality of originals to be transmitted to the same destination are stored in the image memory, the originals are read out as one image file and are collectively transmitted to shorten the communication time. I am trying.

Further, in this conventional facsimile apparatus,
Since the transmission time can be specified, the operator can specify a time zone in which a discounted charge is set, such as nighttime, in order to save communication charges.

[0004]

The above-mentioned conventional device has the following problems. That is, when the transmission time is designated and communication is performed in the time zone in which the discount rate is set, the designation of the time zone in which the discount rate is set is performed by the operator's input operation. Therefore,
In order to set the time at which communication can be performed most efficiently, the operator had to determine the discount time zone, the time setting status of other communications registered in the own station, and the time zone when the communication volume is low.

If the amount of transmitted data is not large,
Since the difference between the time zone for which the discount rate is set and the other time zones is small, you can start communication immediately after scanning the original without specifying the time. It was necessary for the operator to judge the large number and the small number. In particular, when there are a large number of communication reservations, it is necessary to pay attention to the designation of the transmission time so that they do not overlap.

As described above, the conventional facsimile apparatus has a problem that the operator's burden is heavy in making a decision or an operation for saving the fee.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile apparatus which can save communication charges without burdening an operator and can efficiently process a large number of communication reservations.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To solve the above problems and to achieve the object, the present invention provides an image information storage means for storing image information of a transmitted document and a long transmission time of the stored document. When it is determined by the transmission time determination means that determines whether or not this is the case, and the transmission time is determined to be long by the determination result of the transmission time determination means, a time zone in which the communication fee is cheap according to a preset communication fee table Among them, the first feature is that a time designation control means for designating the transmission time is provided.

The present invention further includes image information storage means for storing image information of a transmitted document, and memory remaining amount detection means for determining whether or not the memory remaining amount of the image information storage means is less than a predetermined value. When the remaining memory amount detecting unit determines that the remaining memory amount is less than a planned value, a time designation control unit for designating a transmission time in a time zone in which the communication fee is cheap according to a preset communication fee table. The second feature lies in that

Further, according to the present invention, a priority table is provided in which priorities are given to each sub-time zone based on the amount of traffic obtained from the past communication situation, and the priority is given in a time zone where the communication charge is cheap. A third feature is that the time designation control means is configured so as to designate the transmission time in the sub-time zone having a high rank.

Further, the present invention comprises means for detecting the transmission time designation status in the sub-time zone, and based on the detected transmission time designation status, it is arranged so as not to come close to other time-designated communication. A fourth feature is that the time designation control means is configured to designate the transmission time.

[0012]

According to the present invention having the above-mentioned first characteristic, when the transmission time becomes long, the transmission time is set in a time zone in which the communication charge is cheap, and the third characteristic causes the transmission time to be further set in the time zone. Then, the transmission time is selected within the time zone in which it can be estimated that the communication amount is small from the past communication situation.

Further, according to the present invention having the second feature, the transmission time is set in a time zone in which the communication charge is cheap only when the remaining memory capacity is sufficient.

Further, according to the present invention having the fourth characteristic, the transmission time can be selected based on the actual transmission time designation situation.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a principal block diagram showing the hardware structure of the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, the reading original is read by the reading unit 1 and converted into an electric signal, that is, image information. The image information read by the reading unit 1 and the image information received from the outside are converted into compressed data by the image processing unit 3 and accumulated in the image information memory 2. The image processing unit 3 performs compression encoding of the transmission image information and decoding of the reception image information.

The line control unit 4 controls the facsimile communication in the G3 communication mode and the G4 communication mode. The line control unit 4 is connected to the communication line via the network control unit 5.

The operation section 6 is provided with operation switches for giving an instruction to the facsimile apparatus by an operator, and the display section 7 includes a panel of a liquid crystal display system or the like for displaying an operation state of the facsimile apparatus. . The ROM 8 stores a program for controlling the entire facsimile apparatus and a program for controlling the line control unit 4 and the network control unit 5. The RAM 9 is a work area used for executing the program.

The system control unit (CPU) 10 uses the R
According to the programs and control data stored in the OM 8 and the RAM 9 and the instruction input from the operation unit 6, the control process and the transmission control procedure process of the entire facsimile apparatus are executed.

An example of a transmission procedure in the facsimile apparatus having the above hardware configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In step S1, the destination input by the operator from the operation unit 6 is read and stored in a predetermined storage area.

In step S2, an instruction to read the transmitted document is waited, and if there is an instruction, the process proceeds to step S3 to read the transmitted document and store it in the image information memory 2.

In step S4, it is determined whether or not the real-time transmission mode for immediately transmitting the transmitted document is set. This real-time transmission mode is preset as system data.

If the determination in step S4 is affirmative, the process jumps to step S18 to immediately transmit the image information of the transmission document. Since this image information transmission is performed by a well-known procedure, details will be omitted.

On the other hand, if the determination in step S4 is negative, the process proceeds to step S5, and it is determined whether or not the data amount of the transmission document read in step S3 exceeds a threshold value. If the amount of data is less than the threshold value, step S1
8, the image information is transmitted. On the other hand, if the amount of data is larger than the threshold value, the process proceeds to step S6, and an instruction for inputting the desired transmission time range, that is, within how many hours the transmission is desired is issued. In response to this instruction, the display unit 7 provides a display prompting the operator to make an input.

In step S7, it is determined whether or not the desired transmission time range is input, and if it is input, the input result is stored in a predetermined storage area (step S8).

In step S9, a time zone with a low communication charge is selected within the desired transmission time range. The time zone when the communication charge is low is detected by referring to a table in which the communication charge for each hour is stored in advance. This communication charge table is, for example, as shown in FIG.
Be registered with. In the figure, the time zone shown by the mesh is the cheapest time zone to which the late night discount rate is applied, the hatched time zone is the next cheaper night discount rate time zone, and the others. Is the time of day when the normal rate is applied during the day.

For example, when the time of the transmission instruction is 12:00,
If the desired transmission time range is instructed within 12 hours from the transmission instruction, it is assumed that the communication fee is low from 21:00 to 24 hours.
A midnight discount time zone is selected.

Next, in step S10, a time zone with a smaller communication amount, that is, a time zone with a smaller amount of transmission / reception at the local station is selected from the time zones with a low communication charge. In order to select the time zone in which the amount of communication is small, for example, a priority table set based on the operating status of the past month is used.

An example of the priority table is shown in FIG. In the figure, priority is given to each time zone of midnight, night, and day, and the priority is determined by the number of times of communication or communication time in each of these time zones, or an hourly unit (hereinafter , Called the sub-time zone). The time shown in FIG. 5 indicates the time of the beginning of the sub time period corresponding to each priority. In addition, the priority table is updated based on the latest operating status every scheduled period, for example, every day.

Here, the sub-time zone having a high priority between 21:00 and 24:00 is between 23:00 and 24:00,
This sub time zone is selected.

In step S11, it is detected how many transmission times are currently designated in the selected sub-time zone in which the communication volume is small. In step S12, it is determined whether the number is greater than the planned number, for example, five. If there are more than five transmission time designations, the process proceeds to step S13 to select the sub-time zone one priority lower.

If the transmission time designation is less than five, the process proceeds to step S14, and the time which is relatively thin in the selected sub time zone is designated as the transmission time. Times that are relatively free are selected as follows.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a time designation situation in the sub time zone. In the figure, assuming that four transmission times have already been designated between 23:00 and 24:00,
It is assumed that one of them has the time automatically designated, and three of them have the time directly designated by the operator. In the figure, between 23:00 and 23:20, and 23:00
Since the period from 0 to 23:40 is wider than the other transmission time designation intervals, it is determined that it is relatively thin. Moreover, since the time directly specified by the operator may be delayed if the communication related to the transmission instruction is extended, it is preferable to leave as much as possible before the time directly specified by the operator. From 23 to 20:23:20 is determined as the designated time in this transmission instruction.

In step S15, the determined designated transmission time is displayed on the display unit 7. From this display, the operator can confirm whether the time he / she desires, or whether the time is designated within the allowable range.

In step S16, it is determined whether or not the designated time is registered. This determination is made based on whether the operator inputs a confirmation (OK) instruction or a transmission start instruction. If the determination in step S16 is negative, that is, if the operator gives a transmission start instruction because the specified transmission time is unsatisfactory, step S1
Proceed to step 8 to immediately start transmission. On the other hand, step S1
If the determination at 6 is affirmative, that is, if the operator inputs an OK instruction, the process proceeds to step S17, and the designated transmission time is fixedly registered.

As a modification of the above-described procedure described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 3, it is conceivable to change the processing of step S5 variously to change the judgment standard. For example, instead of step S5, it is determined whether the communication mode is G4. Then, if the communication mode is G4, the communication time can be shortened. Therefore, the stored transmission documents are immediately transmitted, and when the communication mode is not the G4 mode, the transmission time is designated.

Further, instead of the process of step S5, it is determined whether or not the transmission resolution is high, that is, whether the transmission resolution is ultra-high resolution or high resolution, or standard resolution.
Then, in the case of standard resolution, the communication time is relatively short, so the transmitted documents that have been accumulated should be sent immediately. In the case of ultra-high resolution or high resolution, it takes time to send, so specify the transmission time, Make sure to send it during the bargain time.

In other words, whether or not the transmission time of the accumulated image information takes a long time is determined by the above determination criteria,
If the transmission time is long, specify the time so that the fee can be transmitted at a cheap time.

By the way, it is only necessary to judge whether the time is designated or not depending on whether the transmission time is long or not.
Inconvenience may occur. That is, when the designated number of transmission times increases, the amount of data accumulated in the image information memory 2 increases, and in an extreme case, the memory may become full and the memory reception may not be possible. Therefore, it is desirable to be able to deal with such inconvenience. Therefore, instead of performing the process of step S5, it is determined whether the remaining memory amount of the image information memory 2 after the transmission document is stored is equal to or less than a planned value, and the remaining memory amount of the image information memory 2 is planned. If it is less than the value, the transmission will be started immediately. On the other hand, the transmission time is specified only when the remaining amount of the image information memory 2 is equal to or larger than the planned value, that is, when the memory has a margin.

In addition, when the communication data amount, the communication mode, and the resolution are appropriately combined, and when the communication time becomes longer than the scheduled time, it is possible to specify and transmit the time when it can be transmitted at a bargain charge.

Next, the main functions of the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 2 indicate the same or equivalent parts. The time designation necessity determination unit 11 determines the necessity of transmission time designation based on the amount of image information newly accumulated in the communication and the remaining memory amount of the image information memory 2. Further, the time designation necessity determination unit 11 determines whether or not the transmission time designation is necessary based on the communication mode and resolution instructions input from the operation unit 6. Whether or not it is necessary to specify the transmission time may be determined based on one of the information such as the amount of image information, the amount of memory, the communication mode, and the resolution, or the combination of these information may be used to specify the transmission time. You may determine whether or not. When the time designation necessity determination unit 11 determines that the time is designated, the result is input to the time designation control unit 12.

In the communication charge table storage unit 13, the communication charge table shown in FIG. 4 is registered. Since this charge table may differ depending on the telephone company, it is also possible to prepare the charge table of each company and select the corresponding call charge table from the identification information designated by the operation unit 6, that is, the telephone number. Further, the priority table storage unit 14
Stores the priority table shown in FIG. This priority table is created based on the communication status in the past scheduled period stored in the communication result storage unit 15.

In the time designation registration unit 16, the time designation determined and registered by the time designation control unit 12 and the time designation directly input from the operation unit 6 are registered.

The time designation control unit 12 reads the communication charge table, the priority table, and the registration status in the time designation registration unit 16, and the transmission time is designated based on these information. If the transmission time is designated, the result is displayed on the display unit 7. The operation unit 6 depending on the display result
When a registration permission instruction is input from, the transmission time designation is registered in the time designation registration unit 16. The line control unit 4 reads the image information of the transmission document from the image information memory 2 at the time designated by the time designation registration unit 16 and transmits it.

Further, in the time designation necessity determination section 11,
If it is determined that the time is not designated, the result is input to the transmission instruction unit 17. In response to this, the transmission instruction section 17 issues a transmission instruction to the line control section 4. In response to this transmission instruction, the line control unit 4 immediately reads out the image information from the image information memory 2 and transmits it.

As described above, in the present embodiment, it is determined whether or not the transmission time is designated according to the preset criteria, and if the designation is made, the communication charge is cheap and the communication amount is large. It is a time zone in which the number of times is low, and in consideration of the designation status in the time zone, a time is selected so as not to come close to another communication whose time is designated.

The present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, only a time zone where the charge is cheap is designated, and the selection of the sub time zone depending on the amount of communication in that time zone is omitted. Good. It is also possible that the sub-time zone is selected and designated depending on the amount of communication and the determination of the free time in the sub-time zone is not performed.

[0048]

As is apparent from the above description, in the invention described in claim 1, when the transmission time is long, the transmission time is set in a time zone in which the communication fee is cheaper. You can save.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 2, since the transmission time is set in a time zone in which the communication charge is cheap only when the remaining memory capacity is sufficient, the number of transmission time designations is large. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the memory from becoming full, and as a result, it is possible to prevent the reception from being disabled due to the designation of the transmission time.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 3, in the sub-time zone in the time zone in which the communication charge is cheap, a sub-time zone which can be estimated from the past communication situation to have a small communication volume is selected, Since the transmission time can be selected among them, efficient communication can be performed.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 4, since the transmission time can be selected based on the actual transmission time designation situation, more efficient communication can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main function of a facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a communication charge table.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a priority order of sub time zones.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a time designation situation in a sub time zone.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Reading unit, 2 ... Image information memory, 4 ... Communication control unit,
6 ... Operation part, 7 ... Display part, 11 ... Time designation necessity determination part, 12 ... Time designation control part, 13 ... Communication charge table storage part, 14 ... Priority table storage part, 15
... communication result storage unit, 16 ... time designation registration unit, 17 ... transmission instruction unit

Front Page Continuation (72) Inventor Kazutaka Saito 3-7-1, Fuchu, Iwatsuki-shi, Saitama Fuji Zerox Co., Ltd. (72) Minoru Yoshida 3-7-1, Fuchu, Iwatsuki, Saitama Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. In the company

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile device configured to transmit image information stored in an image information memory, wherein a transmission time determination is performed to determine whether it takes a long time to transmit a document stored in the image information memory. And a time designation for designating a transmission time in a cheap communication charge time zone according to a preset communication charge table when it is determined that the transmission time is long according to the determination result of the transmission time determination device. A facsimile machine comprising a control means. 2. A facsimile device configured to transmit the image information accumulated in the image information memory, the remaining memory amount detecting means for determining whether or not the remaining memory amount of the image information memory is less than a predetermined value. And when the memory remaining amount detecting means determines that the memory remaining amount is less than a planned value, a time designation for designating a transmission time in a cheap communication charge time zone according to a preset communication charge table A facsimile machine comprising a control means. 3. The storage device stores a priority order table in which a priority order is assigned to each sub-time zone based on the amount of communication obtained from past communication conditions, and the time designation control means includes the communication means. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a transmission time is designated in a sub-time zone having a high priority in a time zone where charges are low. 4. A means for detecting a transmission time designation status in the sub-time zone is provided, and the time designation control means does not come close to another time-designated communication based on the detected transmission time designation status. 4. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the facsimile apparatus is configured to specify such a transmission time.