JPH06245042A - Memory managing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the occurrence of a situation where a memory is overflowed while storing information and only imperfect information is stored. CONSTITUTION:A memory remaining quantity detecting means 9 detects the memory remaining quantity M of the memory 30. A first comparing means 53 compares memory remaining quantity M with a first threshold value Mth1. The second comparing means 54 compares memory remaining quantity with the second threshold value Mth2(Mth1>Mth2). A storing start prohibiting means 51 prohibits the storing start of new information to the memory 30 when it is judged that memory remaining quantity M reaches the first threshold value Mth1 by the first comparing means 53. A storing stop means 52 stops storing information in the memory 30 when it is judged that memory remaining quantity M reaches the second threshold value 2 by the second comparing means 54.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a memory management device,
In particular, the present invention relates to a memory management device used in a communication terminal device or the like having a memory that temporarily stores various information such as image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a facsimile apparatus provided with an image memory for storing image data, and a communication terminal connected to a network for temporarily storing various information such as character data and numerical data Equipment is widespread.

However, the storage capacity of the memory is limited in terms of cost and space, and it is difficult to secure a sufficient storage capacity. For this reason, in many cases, it is empirical that the remaining amount of memory becomes insufficient during the accumulation of information and the accumulation cannot be continued, and various improvements have been attempted in order to cope with such inconvenience.

For example, JP-A-63-2336644, JP-A-63-2336645, and JP-A-1-1-1
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 832663, in order to ensure that an image memory can be transmitted in a facsimile machine without overflowing the image memory, if the remaining memory capacity of the image memory reaches a predetermined threshold value during the accumulation of the image data, the image data is accumulated. Techniques have been proposed for prohibiting and discontinuing.

[0005]

However, as in the above-mentioned conventional technique, if only a threshold value for stopping the accumulation is provided, the accumulation is allowed indefinitely until the remaining amount of the memory reaches the threshold value. Will be done. Therefore, for example, if another information B is input while accumulating one information A,
The information B starts to be accumulated even when the memory corresponding to the information A remains, and not only the information B but also the information A that would have been completely accumulated without the input of the information B. There was a problem that the peach could only be accumulated halfway.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and prevent the occurrence of a situation in which the memory overflows during the storage of information and only incomplete information can be stored as much as possible. It is to obtain a stable accumulation operation.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, a memory remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of memory, and first and second threshold values (first Threshold value> second threshold value), a first comparing means for comparing the remaining memory capacity with the first threshold value, and a second comparing means for comparing the remaining memory capacity with the second threshold value. A comparing means, and an accumulation start prohibiting means for prohibiting the accumulation start of new information in the memory when the remaining memory amount reaches the first threshold value;
It is characterized in that it has a storage stopping means for stopping the storage in the memory when the remaining memory amount reaches the second threshold value.

[0008]

According to the above structure, when the accumulation of the information A is started from the state where the remaining memory amount exceeds the first threshold value, the accumulation is continued until the remaining memory amount falls below the second threshold value. . On the other hand, when the other information B is input during the accumulation of the information A, the remaining memory amount is still above the first threshold value, and if the remaining memory amount is sufficient, the accumulation of the information B is performed in parallel. However, if the remaining amount of memory is less than the first threshold and the remaining amount of memory is insufficient, the start of storage of information B is prohibited. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the remaining amount of memory is reduced due to the storage of the information B input later and the previous information A cannot be stored.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the function of the present invention. According to the present invention, a threshold value (first threshold value) that prohibits the new accumulation operation while continuing the accumulation operation that is being executed, and a threshold value (second threshold value) that prohibits not only the new accumulation operation but also the ongoing accumulation operation. By setting the second threshold value <the first threshold value), it is possible to prevent the reception of information from being started even when the remaining memory capacity is insufficient.

In FIG. 1, a memory 30 stores various kinds of information such as image data, numerical data, or character data. The memory remaining amount detecting means 9 is the memory 3
The remaining memory capacity M of 0 is detected. The threshold value generating means 41 includes first and second threshold value generating sections 41a and 41b. From each threshold value generating section, a first threshold value Mth1 and a second threshold value Mth2 (Mth1> Mth2) relating to the remaining memory capacity of the memory 30.
Is output.

The first comparing means 53 compares the remaining memory capacity M detected by the remaining memory capacity detecting means 9 with the first threshold value Mth1 output from the first threshold value generating means 41a. The second comparison means 54 compares the remaining memory capacity M with the second threshold value Mth2 output from the second threshold value generation means 42a.

The accumulation start prohibiting means 51 prohibits the accumulation start of new information in the memory 30 when the first comparing means 53 determines that the remaining memory capacity M has reached the first threshold value Mth1. To do. In the accumulation canceling means 52, the remaining memory capacity M is determined by the second threshold value Mth2 by the second comparing means 54.
If it is determined that the value has reached, the accumulation of information in the memory 30 is stopped.

According to this structure, when the storage of the information A is started from the state where the remaining memory capacity M exceeds the first threshold value Mth1, the remaining memory capacity M remains below the second threshold value Mth2. Accumulation continues. On the other hand, if another information B is input while the information A is being accumulated, the remaining memory capacity M
Is still above the first threshold Mth1, information B
However, if the remaining memory capacity M is less than the first threshold value Mth1, the start of storage of information B is prohibited. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the remaining amount of the memory decreases due to the storage of the information B input later, and the previous information A cannot be stored.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a facsimile apparatus to which the present invention is applied. The reading unit 1 is, for example, an image scanner, and reads document information and converts it into image information of electric signals. The image processing unit 2 encodes image information and decodes the encoded image information. The image memory 3 stores the encoded image information. The memory remaining amount detection unit 9 detects the memory remaining amount M of the image memory 3.
The line control unit (NCU) 6 is an ISDN line network and PS.
Connection, disconnection, incoming call detection, etc. between the TN line network and the facsimile machine are performed.

The printer unit 7 prints out the received image information on recording paper. The operation panel 8 has a numeric keypad, function keys, a display unit, and the like. The RAM 4 provides a work area, stores data set by the user from the operation panel 8 and the first and second threshold values described with reference to FIG. The ROM 10 stores a control program for operating the system, various basic data, and the like.

The main control unit (CPU) 5 operates according to a control program stored in the ROM 10, and has a storage start prohibiting means 51, a storage stopping means 52, a first comparing means 53, and Second comparison means 5
Function as 4.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the flow chart of FIG. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5A, the first threshold Mth1 is 50.
%, The second threshold value Mth2 is set to 10%, and the remaining memory capacity M at the start of processing is 70% excluding 30% being used for transmission reservation.

In step S1, the operator operates the operation panel 8 to set operation specifications. Here, whether the management information needs to be output (operation mode 1) or not (operation mode 2) is set as the operation specification.

When the line controller 6 detects an incoming call in step S2, the memory remaining amount M of the image memory 3 detected by the memory remaining amount detector 9 is detected in step S3.
The second threshold value Mth2 (10
%) Is compared in the main control unit 5.

At the beginning of the process, the remaining memory capacity M (70
%) Exceeds the second threshold value Mth2, the line control unit 6 accepts the incoming call in step S6. In step S7, the main control unit 5 compares the first threshold value Mth1 (50%) with the remaining memory capacity M this time. Here again, since the memory remaining amount M exceeds the first threshold value Mth1, the process proceeds to step S12, the image information A related to the incoming call is received, and the accumulation in the image memory 3 is started.

In step S13, the remaining memory capacity M and the second
Threshold value Mth2 (10%) is compared again, and if it is determined that the remaining memory capacity M is not below the second threshold value Mth2, it is determined in step S14 whether or not reception has ended. After that, as long as the remaining memory capacity M does not fall below the second threshold value Mth2 [FIG. 5 (b)], the processing of steps S12 or S14 is repeated until the reception is completed.

If it is determined in step S14 that the reception has been completed, the process proceeds to step S22 to create / output the management information and terminate the process [FIG. 5 (c)]. The image information A stored in the image memory 3 is read out at an appropriate timing and output from the printer unit 7 or the like.

As in the present embodiment, the second threshold value Mth
If 2 is set to a value of about 10% of the remaining memory amount, even if the remaining memory amount is close to the second threshold value Mth2 after the completion of the accumulation of the image information, an area sufficient for accumulating the management information can be secured. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the image information is erased by the creation of the management information or the management information cannot be created.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S13 that the remaining memory capacity M has fallen below the second threshold value Mth2, the receiving / accumulating operation being executed is stopped in step S15. In step S16, the image information of the intermediate page is discarded, and in step S17, a message as shown in FIG. 4 (c) is displayed on the display unit of the operation panel 8.

In step S18, the operation specifications are determined,
When the output of the management information is instructed, it is determined in step S19 whether or not a device for outputting the stored image information, for example, the printer unit 7 is operable.
If the printer unit 7 is in an unusable state due to paper exhaustion or the like, the stored image information is discarded (erased) in step S20.

If the printer unit 7 is usable,
In step S21, the image information is printed out and the output image information is erased from the image memory 3, so that the remaining memory capacity of the image memory 3 is recovered. Step S22
Then, the management information is created in the empty area of the image memory 3,
It is printed out by the printer unit 7.

On the other hand, when the next incoming call is detected in step S2 while the image information A is being received / stored, in step S3, the memory remaining amount M of the image memory 3 and the second threshold M are detected.
Th2 (10%) is again compared in the main control unit 5.

Here, the remaining memory capacity M is the second threshold value Mth2.
If it is determined that the incoming call is below the limit, the line control unit 6 rejects the incoming call in step S4, and thus the ringing tone continues to sound, and in step S5, the display unit of the operation panel 8 displays as shown in FIG. You will see a message like the one shown, then
The process ends.

If it is determined in step S3 that the remaining memory capacity M is not less than the second threshold value Mth2, the line control unit 6 accepts the incoming call in step S6, and again in step S7. The remaining memory capacity M and the first threshold value Mth1 are compared.

Here, the remaining memory capacity M is the first threshold value Mth1.
If it is less than, the line control unit 6 declares that there is no reception capability in step S8. In step S9, a message as shown in FIG. 4B is displayed on the display section of the operation panel 8, and in step S10 the line is disconnected by the line controller 6. In step S11, it is determined whether or not the output of the management information is instructed, and if it is instructed (operation mode 1), the process proceeds to step S22,
If not instructed (operation mode 2), the process ends.

In step S7, the remaining memory capacity M does not fall below the first threshold value Mth1 [FIG. 5 (d)].
], The processing after step S12 is executed in the same manner as described above, and the image information B regarding the incoming call is stored in the image memory 3 together with the image information A.

According to this embodiment, the first threshold value Mth1 for continuing the accumulation operation being executed but prohibiting the new accumulation is executed not only for the new accumulation but for the state where the physical accumulation is impossible. Since the second threshold value Mth2 that prohibits the storage operation during storage is also provided, the storage operation of the image information that is being stored in advance is guaranteed, but the image information is stored despite the insufficient memory capacity. It becomes possible to effectively avoid the memory overflow due to the start of the accumulation of the.

Further, if the second threshold value Mth2 is set to the minimum remaining memory amount required to store the management information,
The management information is not erased or the management information cannot be registered due to the accumulation of image information.

Further, in the present embodiment, since a message indicating that the reception is rejected or the reception is interrupted is displayed, the operator can recognize the operating state of the device, and on the spot. Therefore, appropriate measures can be taken promptly.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the operation specifications such as whether or not to output the management information can be set in advance, it is possible to store more image information if the management information is unnecessary. If the management information is required, the management information can be stored with priority over the image information.

In the above embodiment, the second threshold value Mth is set so that the area for storing the management information can be secured.
Although 2 has been described as being set to 10% of the remaining memory amount, if the image information is to be stored preferentially over the management information, the second threshold value Mth2 may be set near 0% of the remaining memory amount. Good.

Further, although the present invention is applied to the facsimile machine in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is connected to various networks such as a file server and a print server. The same can be applied to various communication terminal devices having a storage function.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be achieved. (1) The first threshold that prohibits new accumulation while continuing the accumulation operation in progress prohibits not only new accumulation but also accumulation operation in progress that is in a physically impossible state. Since it is provided in addition to the second threshold value, the overflow of the memory due to the start of the accumulation operation is enabled while the accumulation operation being executed in advance is guaranteed while the remaining memory amount is insufficient. You can avoid it. (2) If the second threshold is set to the minimum amount of memory required to store the management information, the management information may be erased due to the information storage, or the management information may not be registered. Absent. (3) A message indicating that the reception was rejected or the reception was interrupted was displayed so that the operator can recognize the operating status of the device and promptly take appropriate measures depending on the situation. You will be able to take action. (4) Since the operation specifications such as whether to output management information can be set in advance, it becomes possible to store more information if management information is unnecessary, and if management information is needed. The management information can be stored with priority over the information.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a function of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a facsimile apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example of a message.

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing the relationship between the remaining memory capacity and a threshold value.

[Explanation of Codes] 1 ... Reading unit, 2 ... Image processing unit, 3 ... Memory, 4 ... R
AM, 5 ... Main control unit, 6 ... Line control unit, 7 ... Printer unit, 8 ... Operation panel, 9 ... Memory remaining amount detecting means, 10 ...
ROM, 30 ... Image memory, 41 ... Threshold value generating means, 51
... accumulation start prohibiting means, 52 ... accumulation stopping means, 53 ... first
Comparing means, 54 ... Second comparing means

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Eiji Nakahashi 3-7-1 Fuchu, Iwatsuki City, Saitama Prefecture Fuji Zerox Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yoshimi Kamimoto 3-7-1, Fuchu, Iwatsuki City, Saitama No. Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A memory for accumulating various kinds of information, a memory remaining amount detecting means for detecting a remaining amount of the memory, and first and second threshold values (first threshold value> second threshold value) relating to the remaining memory amount. And a first comparing means for comparing the remaining memory amount with the first threshold value, a second comparing means for comparing the remaining memory amount with the second threshold value, and a first comparing means. When it is determined by the means that the remaining amount of memory has reached the first threshold value, the storage start inhibiting means for inhibiting the start of accumulation of new information in the memory, and the second comparing means A memory management device comprising: an accumulation stopping unit that stops accumulation in the memory when it is determined that the second threshold value has been reached.