JPH06291955A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely store received picture data even when a memory residual capacity is less when the received picture data and read picture data are stored in a memory in parallel. CONSTITUTION:The facsimile equipment is provided with a line control section 5 communicating picture data in a facsimile procedure, a read section 9 reading a picture from an original, a picture data storage memory 8 storing picture data, a means storing picture data received by the line control section in the picture data storage memory, a means storing the picture data obtained from the read section by reading the picture in the picture storage memory, and a CPU 1 provided with a means interrupting the storage of the read picture data in the picture data storage memory when the residual capacity of the memory reaches 20 kbytes or below while the storage control of received picture data to the picture data storage memory and the storage control of the read picture data are executed in parallel.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus having an image data storage function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a facsimile apparatus of this type, an image data storage memory is provided, and image data received via a line and image data obtained by reading a document are stored in parallel in the image data storage memory. Those that perform control are known. The control of storing the received image data and the read image data in parallel in the image data storage memory is realized by dividing the data into predetermined bytes, for example, 1 Kbyte units, and storing them at random.

When the received image data is stored in the image data storage memory, for example, when the apparatus is out of paper and the received image data cannot be printed out immediately, the memory proxy reception function operates to display the image data. The data may be stored in the data storage memory or the confidential reception function may operate to store the image data in the image data storage memory when the image data is transmitted to a specific person. When the image data read from the original is stored in the image data storage memory, the image data read from the original is temporarily stored in the image data storage memory, and then the image data is read from the memory by the transmission reservation function and transmitted. There is.

Therefore, for example, if a transmission reservation is made while the memory proxy reception function is operating, the received image data and the read image data will be stored in parallel in the image data storage memory.

[0005]

Conventionally, when the received image data and the read image data are stored in parallel in the image data storage memory, if the free space of the memory, that is, the remaining capacity runs out, a reception error occurs, There is a problem that the image data being received is lost on the way. This tendency was particularly remarkable in the type in which the image data storage memory has a small capacity.

Therefore, according to the present invention, when the received image data and the read image data are stored in parallel in the image data storage memory, the received image data is reliably stored in the image data storage memory without being lost. The present invention intends to provide a facsimile machine that can do this.

[0007]

According to the present invention, a communication means for communicating image data in a facsimile procedure, an image reading means for reading an image from an original, an image data storage memory for storing image data, and a communication means for receiving the image data. First data storage control means for storing the image data stored in the image data storage memory, second data storage control means for storing the image data obtained by reading the image by the image reading means in the image data storage memory, and Storage control of received image data in the image data storage memory by the first data storage control means, and second
If the data storage remaining capacity of the image data storage memory becomes less than or equal to a preset value while the storage control of the read image data to the image data storage memory by the data storage control means is being performed in parallel, Storage control interruption control means for interrupting the storage control of the read image data to the image data storage memory by the data storage control means is provided.

[0008]

According to the present invention having such a configuration, when the storage control of the received image data in the image data storage memory and the storage control of the read image data in the image data storage memory are performed in parallel, When the remaining data storage capacity of the data storage memory becomes less than or equal to a preset value, the control of storing the read image data in the image data storage memory is interrupted. That is, priority is given to the storage of the received image data in the image data storage memory to prevent a reception error.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a CPU (central processing unit) that constitutes the main body of the control unit, 2 is a ROM (read only memory) that stores program data for the CPU 1 to control each unit, and 3 is various types. A RAM (random access memory) provided with a memory used for data processing, 4 is a printer unit for printing and outputting image data, 5 is a line control for controlling the line 6 and transmitting / receiving image data to / from the line. 7 is a modem which is connected to the line controller 5 to perform modulation / demodulation, 8 is an image data storage memory having a capacity of, for example, 2 Mbytes for storing image data, 9 is a reading unit for reading an image from an original, and 10 is a message It is an operation control unit provided with a display 10a, an alarm 10b, and other various keys for displaying the remaining amount of memory, displaying an error, and displaying an error.

The line control section 5 and the modem 7 constitute a communication means, and the reading section 9 constitutes an image reading means.

The CPU 1, the ROM 2, the RAM 3, the printer unit 4, the modem 7, the image data storage memory 8, the reading unit 9 and the operation control unit 10 are electrically connected by a bus line 11.

The CPU 1 is adapted to perform the data reception control shown in FIGS. That is, when an incoming signal from the line 6 is detected by the notification from the line control unit 5, line connection is performed and negotiation is performed, that is, negotiation with the other party based on the transmission control procedure is performed.

Then, it is judged whether or not the memory is received. This is determined by checking, for example, whether or not there is paper in the printer unit 4 and whether or not confidential reception has been performed. When there is no paper or confidential reception, memory reception is started, and memory proxy reception is started.

In the memory proxy reception, as shown by the one-dot chain line arrow in FIG. 1, the image data received from the line 6 is further subjected to conversion processing such as data compression via the line control unit 5 and the modem 7, and the image is transferred. Data is stored in the data storage memory 8 in units of predetermined bits. (First Data Accumulation Control Unit) When a document is inserted into the reading unit 9 during the memory proxy reception process and an operation for transmission is performed by the operation control unit 10, a dotted line in FIG. As indicated by the arrow, the image data obtained by reading the document by the reading unit 9 is converted into data such as data compression and stored in the image data storage memory 8 in units of predetermined bits. (Second Data Storage Control Unit) The CPU 1 stores the received image data in the image data storage memory 8 and the read image data in the image data storage memory 8 in parallel. The image data is transferred to the storage memory 8 and the data management of the storage memory 8 is multiplexed.

In this state, the remaining storage capacity of the image data storage memory 8 is monitored.

When the remaining amount of memory reaches at least the amount of image data for one original, for example, less than 20 Kbytes, the reading of the original by the reading unit 9 is interrupted,
The storage control of the read image data in the image data storage memory 8 by the first data storage control means is interrupted.

At this time, the alarm 10b of the operation control unit 10
Sounds to inform the operator.

After that, when the storage control of the received image data in the image data storage memory 8 by the second data storage control means is completed, the line is cut off.

After that, when the printer unit 4 starts to print out the received image data stored in the image data storage memory 8 and the remaining memory capacity of the image data storage memory 8 becomes 20 Kbytes or more, the reading unit 9 scans the document. The reading is resumed, and the control of accumulating the read image data in the image data accumulation memory 8 by the first data accumulation control means is resumed.

After that, when the print output of the received image data stored in the image data storage memory 8 by the printer unit 4 is finished and the storage of the image data read by the reading unit 9 in the image data storage memory 8 is finished, Start a reserved transmission operation.

When this transmission operation is completed, the line is finally disconnected and the process is completed.

If the memory reception does not occur when an incoming call is received, the received image data is immediately printed out by the printer unit 4. When the transmission reservation is not made at the time of reading the original, the image data read by the reading unit 9 is immediately transmitted by facsimile via the modem 7 and the line control unit 5.

In this series of processing, the display 10a
Is designed to perform the following display operation.

First, the date, time, and remaining memory% are displayed. If there is no paper at this time, a "paper empty" message is also displayed.

When the incoming call is detected and the line is connected, the "online" message and the remaining memory percentage are displayed. When the negotiation is further started, the message of "connecting" and the remaining memory percentage are displayed.

Subsequently, when the substitute memory reception is started, the message during the memory reception and the remaining memory percentage are displayed.

Subsequently, when a document is inserted in the reading section 9, a "Document Ready" message and the remaining memory percentage are displayed, and when a transmission operation is performed,
A message for instructing to enter a telephone number and the remaining memory percentage are displayed, and when the reading of a document is started, a "Document reading" message and the remaining memory percentage are displayed.

When the original reading is interrupted, the message "wait for reading" and the remaining memory percentage are displayed. If there is no paper at this time, the message "Paper empty" is also displayed.

Then, when the storage of the received image data in the image data storage memory 8 is completed, the message "wait for reading" and the remaining memory percentage are displayed. Further, a "memory" message indicating that the received image data is stored in the image data storage memory 8 is displayed.

When printing is started, a "printing" message indicating that printing is being performed and the remaining memory percentage are displayed.

When the reading of the original is resumed, the message "Document reading" and the remaining memory percentage are displayed.

Further, when the reserved transmission operation is started, an "online" message and the remaining memory percentage are displayed.

When the transmission operation is completed and the line is finally cut off, the first display state, that is, date, time,
Displays the remaining memory percentage.

In the embodiment having such a configuration, when the incoming signal is detected by the notification from the line control unit 5, the line connection is established and the image data is received. At this time, for example, the printer unit 4 is in a paper-free state. If it is, the memory proxy reception is started.

In this reception, the image data received from the line 6 is subjected to conversion processing such as data compression and stored in the image data storage memory 8. Then, the display 10a displays that the memory proxy reception is being performed. Memory remaining%
Is also displayed.

When a document is inserted into the reading unit 9 during the memory proxy reception process and an operation for transmission is performed by the operation control unit 10, the transmission reservation function operates and the reading unit 9 operates. The image data obtained by reading the original is subjected to conversion processing such as data compression and stored in the image data storage memory 8. Then, the display 10a displays that the original is being read. The remaining memory percentage is also displayed.

The remaining memory capacity of the image data storage memory 8 decreases rapidly due to the storage of both received image data and read image data. For example, the image data accumulated up to the hatched portion in FIG. 2 increases rapidly.

When the remaining memory capacity becomes less than 20 Kbytes (the position of point A in the figure), the reading of the original by the reading unit 9 is interrupted and the accumulation of the read image data in the image data accumulation memory 8 is interrupted. . And alarm 10
The interruption is signaled by a. Further, a message indicating that the reading of the original document is interrupted is displayed on the display 10a. If no paper is set, it is displayed that there is no paper. The remaining memory percentage is also displayed.

As a result, thereafter, the image data storage memory 8
Only received image data is stored in the received image data, which ensures that the received image data is stored in the image data storage memory 8.
Will be accumulated in. That is, it is prevented that the image data storage memory 8 becomes full and a reception error occurs.

After that, when the storage of the received image data in the image data storage memory 8 is completed and the paper is set in the printer unit 4, the received image data stored in the image data storage memory 8 is called and the printer unit is called. 4 is printed out. By this printout, the image data storage memory 8
The amount of memory remaining will increase. This increasing state is displayed on the display 10a.
Is displayed as a percentage.

When the remaining memory capacity reaches 20 Kbytes or more, the reading of the original by the reading unit 9 is restarted, and the storage of the read image data in the image data storage memory 8 is restarted.

When the print output of the received image data by the printer unit 4 and the storage of the read image data in the image data storage memory 8 are completed, the reserved transmission operation is started. That is, the read image data stored in the image data storage memory 8 is facsimile-transmitted to the line 6 via the modem 7 and the line control unit 5.

As described above, while the received image data and the image data read from the original are being accumulated in the image data accumulation memory 8 in parallel, the remaining memory capacity of the image data accumulation memory 8 becomes less than 20 Kbytes. When the error occurs, the storage of the image data read from the original is interrupted and the storage of the received image data is given priority, so there is no risk of a reception error and loss of the received image data. The data can be surely stored in the data storage memory 8.

In the above embodiment, the remaining amount of the memory when interrupting the reading of the document is set to 20 Kbytes, but this can be arbitrarily changed as required.

[0046]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the received image data and the read image data are stored in parallel in the image data storage memory and the remaining storage capacity of the memory becomes small, the read image data can be stored. By suspending the storage of the image data in the image data storage memory, the received image data can be surely stored in the image data storage memory without being lost on the way.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a change in the remaining memory capacity of the image data storage memory of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a main part process of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a main part process of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... CPU (Central Processing Unit) 2 ... ROM (Read Only Memory) 5 ... Line Control Unit 8 ... Image Data Storage Memory 9 ... Reading Unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A communication means for communicating image data in a facsimile procedure, and an image reading means for reading an image from a document.
An image data storage memory that stores image data, a first data storage control unit that stores the image data received by the communication unit in the image data storage memory, and image data obtained by the image reading unit reading an image. By the second data storage control means for storing the received image data in the image data storage memory by the first data storage control means and the second data storage control means. When the storage control of the read image data to the image data storage memory is being performed in parallel and the remaining data storage capacity of the image data storage memory becomes equal to or less than a preset value, the second data storage control is performed. Storage control interruption control means for interrupting the storage control of the read image data to the image data storage memory by means Facsimile device according to claim.