JPH07162622A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To effectively use a memory of large capacity in order to attain a new function by storing the read picture information and then outputting this information after output of its copy. CONSTITUTION:All picture information read by a scanner 1 are stored in an image memory 4. At the same time, a picture information file is produced in a parameter memory 5. When the picture information is copied, the display is carried out at an operation display part 3 for request of selection of the retrieving conditions. 'Then an operator selects his desired conditions, and a facsimile equipment performs a retrieving operation to show the information of the picture information file in a list. Then the operator selects this desired information out of the file, and this selected picture information is outputted through a plotter. When the memory 4 is filled with the picture information, the older information are successively erased and then the corresponding picture information file is also erased.

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 having a large-capacity image information storage means (hereinafter referred to as "memory"), by effectively utilizing the large-capacity memory. The present invention relates to a facsimile machine having a new function added.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional general facsimile apparatus (hereinafter, also simply referred to as "apparatus"), when operations such as transmission, reception and output, and copying are completed, an effective memory capacity is ensured. The stored image information is configured to be immediately deleted. As such a device, for example, the device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-29160 is known. This apparatus is a facsimile apparatus having a function of accumulating received images, a display unit for displaying the accumulated received images, a search unit for searching the received images to be displayed on the display unit, and a function of the search unit. It is characterized by comprising an operation input means for instructing and recording and outputting the received image searched by the searching means, even when receiving image information such as direct mail that the receiving side operator does not need, the image is received. Is output and the recording paper is wasted, or the device is occupied by the reception of unnecessary image information, and it is therefore an object of the present invention to eliminate the inconvenience.

[0003]

However, each of the above-mentioned prior arts has the following drawbacks. That is, (1) If the image information that has been transmitted and copied is erased, for example, if the document is lost at the destination, the transmitted image information is read again,
Must send. The same applies to the copy output, and if it is lost, the image information must be read again. (2) Also, if the image information that has been received is deleted,
For example, if the received document is lost,
It becomes necessary to request the destination again for transmission, which wastes time and communication costs. Further, even when the facsimile machine is used as a printer for a personal computer (personal computer) or the like, similar waste occurs. That is, (3) If the image information output from the printer is deleted, for example, if the printer output document is lost, the printer image information transfer has to be executed again. Not only is time wasted, but useless operations must be performed. Further, in the technique disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-29160, there is no awareness of such a point. As described above, in order to secure the effective memory capacity, when the operations such as transmission, reception and output, and copying are completed, the image information stored at that time is immediately deleted. There are many problems in terms of usability. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems in the conventional technique and to effectively use a large-capacity memory to add a new function. It is to provide a facsimile machine.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above object of the present invention is, in a facsimile apparatus having a large capacity memory, storing image information read by a scanner unit in the large capacity memory, and after copy output or transmission. , A facsimile device characterized in that a means for outputting or transmitting the same image information is provided again, or in addition to this, the received image information is temporarily stored in the large-capacity memory and the received image is output. After that, it is achieved by a facsimile machine characterized in that a means for outputting or transmitting the same image information is provided again.

[0005]

In the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention, the image information for which transmission has been completed, the image information for which copy output has been completed, and the image information for which reception and output have been completed are temporarily stored in a large capacity memory. Therefore, it is possible to re-output as needed at any time, and there is a great effect of eliminating waste of time, operation labor, and expense. The image information stored in the large-capacity memory described above can be effectively deleted by erasing the image information as needed when it is no longer needed and then organizing the memory area. it can. For this, the technique disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-29160 can be used. Furthermore, if a list of image information stored in the memory is created and output with images, the effect of facilitating the retrieval can be obtained.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is C
A scanner for transmitting and reading copy originals by a CD sensor or the like, 2 a plotter for copying or printing received originals, 3 for inputting an operation from the user, and an operation display section for transmitting information to the user, 4 a scanner 1. An image memory that stores the read image information, the image information received by communication, the image information received by the printer I / F (interface) from the terminal in a compressed state, and 5 is a parameter required for various controls. A parameter memory (RAM) to be stored, and a file for managing image information described later is also stored in the parameter memory 5. The parameter memory 5 is backed up by the battery 6 so that the contents of the memory are not erased even when the power of the device is turned off.

Further, as the above-mentioned image memory 4, RA
Although an M, a hard disk, or the like can be used, when RAM is used, it is necessary to make a backup with a battery so that the contents of the memory are not erased even when the power of the device is turned off. On the other hand, needless to say, backup using a battery is not necessary when using a hard disk. Reference numeral 7 is a modem that modulates transmission signals and demodulates reception signals, and also transmits various procedure signals for transmission control. Reference numeral 8 is a network control device that is connected to a communication line and performs predetermined line control at the time of call origination and reception. (NCU),
An encoding / decoding unit (DCR) 9 encodes image information according to a predetermined method, and also decodes the encoded image information,
A system control unit 10 controls each unit of the apparatus to perform facsimile communication and input control of a dial number.
(CPU) is shown.

Reference numeral 11 is a ROM that stores software for controlling this apparatus, and the system control unit (CPU) performs all control according to the instructions of this program. Reference numeral 12 denotes an I / F unit which is connected to a terminal such as a personal computer and uses this apparatus as a printer, and controls data with the terminal. In the apparatus according to the present embodiment configured as described above, normally, in the case of performing multi-copy, that is, copying such as copying a plurality of sheets, which is temporarily stored in the memory and output, or when transmitting to the memory, the document table is used. The original set on the scanner is read by the scanner 1, coded and compressed by the coding / decoding unit (DCR) 9, and the image memory 4 is read.
The compressed image information is stored in the image memory 4 and then output or transmitted by the plotter 2, but when the compressed image information is stored in the image memory 4, the image information file as shown in FIG. Is created, thereby managing a plurality of stored image information as described below.

The first operation example of the apparatus according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to the operation flow chart shown in FIG. In the apparatus according to the present embodiment, all the image information read by the scanner 1 can be temporarily stored in the image memory 4 even in cases other than the above-mentioned multi-copy and memory transmission. At this time, as described above, the image information file is created in the parameter memory 5 as shown in FIG. One image information file is created for each stored image information. The contents of the image information file are as follows. File No. 21 is one file No. for each stored image information.
Are allocated. Here, since it is stored in binary 2 bytes, a maximum of 65535 files can be managed. The file attribute 22 indicates in which mode the image memory 4 is stored, and the contents include copy, direct transmission, memory transmission, confidential transmission, polling transmission, and the like.
It consists of 1 byte.

As the storage date and time 23, the image information storage completion date and time is stored as BCD data of 7 bytes. In the destination information 24, the telephone number of the destination at the time of transmission, the RTI received by the protocol, or the like is stored in ASCII of 20 bytes. The image information storage location 25 indicates where in the image memory 4 the actually accumulated image information is stored, and a 4-byte address is stored therein. Image information attribute 26
Stores the linear density of the stored image information, the compression mode, the total number of pages, etc. in 3 bytes. Next, the case where the image information stored as described above is copied later will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the operator enters the accumulated file output mode 31. In this case, the display 40a requesting the selection of search conditions is output to the display unit of the operation display unit 3.

Here, if the operator selects, for example, the storage date and time "3" as the search condition, a storage date and time input request screen as shown by 40b is displayed on the display section. According to this, the operator inputs the remembered date and time of storage (step 32). At this time, hour, minute,
Although it is possible to enter up to the second, naturally, in many cases, it is not remembered, so for example, it is assumed that the year, month, and day are entered. Then, the device starts searching the storage date and time of the image information file currently stored (step 33), and as a result,
Display a list of image information file information accumulated on that day
(Steps 34, 35). When the operator finds a desired file from the listed files and selects it, the apparatus outputs the image information to the plotter (steps 36 and 37).

As a matter of course, when the corresponding image information file cannot be searched, the apparatus displays that the search is impossible and then returns to the search condition input mode again (step 34, 31). To send the retrieved image information, enter the storage file transmission mode (not shown), search for the image information in the same procedure as above, and then enter the FAX number of the destination and start. Pressing the key will send the retrieved image information to the destination. Here, when the image information stored in the image memory 4 becomes full in the image memory 4 by the above-described operation, for example, the oldest one is overwritten.
Erased. At this time, the image information file of the corresponding image information is naturally deleted.

Next, a second operation example of the apparatus according to this embodiment will be described. This operation shows a case where received image information is accumulated. Also in this case, when the received image information is stored in the image memory 4 as the compressed image information, at the same time, as shown in FIG.
Create an image information file. At this time, in the configuration of the image information file, only the portion of the file attribute 22 is different from the case of the above-mentioned transmission, and normal reception (including proxy reception), confidential reception, envelope reception, etc. are added. It should be noted that the operations for copying and outputting the accumulated image information and for transmitting the same are the same as those in the first operation example.

Next, a third operation example of the apparatus according to this embodiment will be described. This operation shows a case where image information from a terminal such as a connected printer is handled. For example,
As described above, when the facsimile machine is used as a printer for a personal computer or the like, the printer I /
The image information received by F is stored in the image memory 4 and managed by the image information file. The problem here is that the printer image input from the printer I / F is input in the form of being expanded into a bitmap, and if it is stored in the image memory 4 as it is, the capacity consumed becomes large.
Therefore, in this case, the data is compressed by the encoding / decoding unit (DCR) 9, and then the printer compressed image is stored in the image memory 4.

Regarding the structure of the image information file created at the same time, the printer image is added to the file attribute 22, and the printer information is stored as the destination information. It should be noted that the operations for copying and outputting the accumulated image information and for transmitting the same are the same as those in the first operation example. Next, a fourth operation example of the device according to the present embodiment will be described. This operation shows a case where the image information stored in the image memory 4 is organized. If necessary, the image information stored in the image memory 4 can be deleted after the retrieval and output, and then the information determined to be unnecessary. For example, in FIG.
It is assumed that image information 1 to 5 is stored as shown in (a).

Here, it is assumed that the image information 2 out of these is unnecessary and is deleted. Then, as shown in FIG. 4B, the storage area is in a toothless state. This state does not cause a problem if the storage area of the image memory 4 is sufficient, but if the storage area is not sufficient, it is necessary to divide the image information to be stored next. Occurs. When the image information is divided and stored, if the image memory 4 is a hard disk, it takes time to read / write. Also,
The image information file also needs to have the ring information of the divided image information, resulting in a larger area of the parameter memory 5.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the area is missing due to the deletion of the image information, the image information is rearranged so as to be in the optimum state. For example, if the storage area of the image memory 4 in the state shown in FIG. 4B is rearranged as shown in FIG. 4C, the image information can be stored in the continuous area. The technique disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-29160 can be used for this rearrangement of image information. However, when the image memory 4 is a hard disk, it may take a long processing time to rearrange the image information. Therefore, it is not necessary to immediately perform the rearrangement upon deletion, but the processing may be executed when the arrangement change start time set by the operator comes. The arrangement change start time may be, for example, a time period when the FAX is not normally used.

Next, a fifth operation example of the apparatus according to this embodiment will be described. This operation shows a proposal for efficiently performing image information search. As mentioned above, in various cases,
It becomes necessary to retrieve image information. At that time, it may be difficult to search only by displaying characters on a display unit such as an LCD. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the search image information list is displayed, the first image information that the operator wants to print out is displayed.
The page size is reduced and the image information file is output together with the image information file. For example, the format shown in FIG. 5 is output. Since the image information is compressed and stored, the data may be demodulated / reduced by the encoding / decoding unit (DCR) 9 when the plotter is output, and then the image information may be embedded in the form shown in FIG. .

According to the above embodiment, since the image information used in the past is stored as a whole, not only the large capacity memory can be effectively used but also the following concrete effects can be obtained. It is a thing. (1) Since the image information after completion of transmission and copying is stored, it is possible to easily respond to a resend request or a re-output request (claim 1). (2) Since the received image information is stored even after output, it is possible to easily respond to a request for re-output or a request for transmission (claim 2,
Claim 3). (3) Since the image information can be stored in the continuous effective memory area, the access time can be shortened, the structure of the image information file can be simplified, and the parameter memory can be prevented from increasing (claim 4).

(4) Retrieval of a plurality of image information stored in the image memory is greatly facilitated. It is needless to say that each of the above embodiments is an example of the present invention and the present invention should not be limited to this. For example, in the embodiment, as the image memory,
I explained that it uses a hard disk,
This is an example, and any other type of storage means can be used, etc. Further, it goes without saying that a processing method other than those shown as examples can also be adopted for the rearrangement processing method of image information in the storage area of the image memory, the reduced output mode of the image information file at the time of retrieval, and the like.

[0021]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a remarkable effect that a facsimile machine having a new function added can be realized by effectively utilizing a large capacity memory. is there.

[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 diagram showing a configuration of an image information file according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating relocation of memory areas in the device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a search list in the device according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Scanner 2 Plotter 3 Operation Display Unit 4 Image Memory 5 Parameter Memory (RAM) 6 Battery 7 Modem 8 Network Control Unit (NCU) 9 Encoding and Decoding Unit 10 System Control Unit (CPU) 11 ROM 12 Printer I / F 40a, 40b display

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus comprising image information storage means having a large capacity, wherein the image information read by a scanner section is stored in the image information storage means, and is copied out or transmitted, and then the same image is read again. A facsimile machine provided with means for outputting or transmitting information. 2. In addition to the respective means, a means is provided for temporarily storing the received image information in the image information storage means, outputting the received image, and then outputting or transmitting the same image information again. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, which is characterized in that. 3. In addition to the respective means, a printer interface is provided, and the printer image information transferred from the connected terminal is temporarily stored in the image information storage means, and after the printer output, the same image information is again provided. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for outputting or transmitting. 4. In addition to the respective means, after deleting the image information stored in the image information storage means, the area in the image information storage means is rearranged to secure a continuous effective memory area. 4. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means. 5. A means for outputting a list of image information stored in the image information storage means with an image, in addition to the respective means, according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The described facsimile machine.