JPH07202822A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance the transmission quality of a signal and the transmission efficiency by forming a band compression signal from an audio signal and a video signal in which a maximum period difference of bands split into transmission frequency bands of a signal sent through a telephone line is set to the unity. CONSTITUTION:When a facsimile equipment 21 is started, a transmission frequency band for a telephone line L2 is divided into two equally and a maximum period difference between high and low frequencies is obtained. A facsimile equipment 23 is started during voice communication by a telephone set 29. While the content of an original is stored in a memory 25 in the inside of the equipment 21, the image is blocked in the unit of picture elements and the voice signal is blocked by an AMP 31 at a prescribed time interval of the voiced state and a compressed signal converter 27 obtains a maximum period difference between the audio signal and the video signal to implement band compression of a form of band compression rate marked signal + band compression signal. Then the audio signal and the video signal subject to band compression are sent to a destination via a MODEM 33.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus for transmitting images and sounds simultaneously and mutually.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there have been proposed facsimile machines capable of transmitting images and sounds simultaneously and mutually. In such a facsimile machine, the transmission frequency band of the telephone line is divided, and the audio signal is allocated to the low frequency band and the image signal is allocated to the high frequency band, respectively. It is necessary to band-compress audio signals and image signals above the transmission frequency band of the telephone line. As a method of band-compressing such a signal, there is run-length coding, etc., but depending on the content of the signal and the method of dividing the transmission frequency band of the telephone line, a band within the transmission frequency band of the divided telephone line may be used. In some cases, compressed signals could not be transmitted. Further, conventionally, transmission may not be completed depending on the amount of image information during a voice conversation or before the voice conversation ends. Also, when there is no audio signal but only the image signal, or when there is no image signal but only the audio signal, a blank is created in one band of the transmission frequency band of the divided telephone line, and noise or the like is generated in this blank part. It was necessary to keep the extra signal from.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile apparatus capable of achieving the following objects. The first object of the present application is to cope with transmission leakage of a band-compressed signal when band-compressed by run-length coding or the like, in which a transmission frequency band of a telephone line is fixed to be equally divided into two, and a voice signal and an image are transmitted. This is to form a signal that is band-compressed with a maximum period difference of 1 divided into transmission frequency bands of a telephone line. A second object of the present application is that the transmission cannot be completed during the voice conversation or by the end of the voice conversation when the volume of the image information is large, and the quality deterioration (information loss) due to band compression when achieving the first object. The problem is that the smaller the band compression rate, the longer the band compression time and the time and effort required for band compression conversion. It is to mold by an easy conversion method.

A third object of the present application is to provide an image signal without an audio signal and an audio signal without an image signal.
An audio signal or an image signal is transmitted over the entire transmission frequency band of the telephone line, and an extra signal is not inserted in a blank portion generated in one band of the divided transmission frequency band of the telephone line. The fourth object of the present application is, in the third object of the present application, in the case where there is no normal voice conversation and only the transmission of image information, in order to further shorten the transmission time, the transmission frequency band of the telephone line is divided into , To transmit the image signal in both the low frequency range.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a first invention of the present application is a facsimile apparatus which divides a transmission frequency band of a telephone line, allocates a voice signal and an image signal to each and transmits the same. The transmission frequency band of the line is equally divided into two, the maximum period difference between the high frequency band and the low frequency band is obtained, the voice data is blocked at a constant time interval in the voiced state, and the image data is blocked in pixel units, and the blocking voice is used. For the data and the blocking image data, the maximum period difference of the frequency band of the audio signal and the maximum period difference of the frequency band of the image signal are obtained, and the maximum period difference of the frequency band of the audio signal and the maximum of the high frequency band of the telephone line are obtained. The audio signal band compression ratio of the ratio to the period difference is obtained, and the ratio of the maximum period difference of the frequency band of the image signal to the maximum period difference of the low frequency band of the telephone line is calculated. A means for obtaining a signal band compression ratio, performing signal band compression of the signal band compression ratio on the blocked voice data and image data, and molding a band compressed signal to which a signal band compression mark signal is added; The band compression signal transmitted from the line is separated into the signal band compression mark signal and the band compression signal, the band restoration rate which is the reciprocal of the band compression rate is obtained, and the band restoration of the band restoration rate is performed on the band compression signal. And means for performing.

Specifically, in a system in which a transmission frequency band of a telephone line is divided, an audio signal is transmitted to a low band and an image signal is transmitted to a high band, the transmission frequency band of the telephone line is divided into two equal parts in advance. Obtaining the maximum period difference between the high frequency band and the low frequency band, the image data, the audio data and the image data input from the audio input / output function, the audio data is blocked at a certain time interval in the voiced state, The image data is stored in a memory and blocked in pixel units, and the maximum cycle difference of the frequency band of the audio signal and the maximum cycle of the frequency band of the image signal with respect to the blocked audio data and the image data. The difference is calculated to obtain the maximum period difference of the frequency band of the voice signal / the voice signal band compression ratio of the maximum period difference of the high frequency band of the telephone line, and the maximum period difference of the frequency band of the image signal / the telephone line. An image signal band compression ratio of the maximum cycle difference in the low frequency band is obtained, and the blocked audio data and the image data are subjected to the signal band compression of the signal band compression ratio, and a band compression signal obtained by adding a signal band compression mark signal. And a means for molding a band compression signal transmitted from the telephone line to separate a signal band compression mark signal and a band compression signal, and obtain a band restoration ratio which is the reciprocal of the band compression ratio to obtain the band compression signal. Means for performing band restoration of the band restoration rate.

Further, the second invention of the present application is a shortened signal frequency converting means for converting a fixed signal frequency pattern into a shortened signal for blocked voice data and image data, and for the inputted shortened signal frequency, And a reproduction storage unit for storing or reproducing the combination information of the constant signal frequency pattern and the shortened signal frequency with respect to the shortened signal frequency conversion unit. Is characterized by.

The third invention of the present application further includes a molding means for molding a transmission signal of a band compression or shortening signal based on a predetermined frequency when the input is only an audio signal or an image signal. In the case of the same transmission signal as that of No. 1, the skip signal transmission means for transmitting the skip signal, the copy transfer means for copying and transferring the previous transmission signal in response to the input of the skip signal, and the storage and reproduction of the transmission signal. And a storage / reproduction unit for performing the above.

Further, in the fourth invention of the present application, the blocked image data is read in blocks of 2 from the beginning,
Transmission signal shaping means for shaping the odd-numbered block image signal in the low frequency band of the transmission frequency band of the telephone line, and the even block image signal in the high frequency band of the transmission frequency band of the telephone line, and shaping the transmission signal of the band compression or shortening signal. For the transmission signal transmitted via the telephone line, the image signal of the odd block on the low frequency side and the image signal of the even block on the high frequency side are separated, and the image signals of the odd and even blocks are connected. Together,
It is characterized in that it is provided with a shortened signal expanding means for performing band restoration or shortened signal expansion.

[0010]

The facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention can transmit a voice signal or an image signal having a transmission frequency band higher than that of the divided telephone lines by the band compression signal conversion system based on the period difference. In the facsimile apparatus of the second invention of the present application, a large amount of image information is transmitted during the voice conversation or by the end of the voice conversation by converting the image information data into the shortened signal frequency by the shortened signal frequency conversion means. You can Further, it is possible to prevent the quality of the audio data and the image data from being deteriorated, the transmission time and the transmission amount are small, and the reproduction of the signal conversion can be facilitated. In the case of the voice signal only or the image signal only, the facsimile apparatus according to the third invention of the present application transmits the voice signal or the image signal over the entire transmission frequency band of the telephone line, thereby eliminating the redundant band in the transmission frequency band. It is possible not to transmit a signal (noise or the like). Further, when the voice or image signal to be transmitted is the same as the previous transmission signal, the skip signal is transmitted, so that an extra signal can be omitted. Also, the transmission time can be shortened. Fourth application
The facsimile apparatus of the invention can realize high-speed data transmission of image information by transmitting an image signal in the divided transmission frequency band region of the telephone line.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a facsimile apparatus for the first purpose of the present application. As shown in FIG. 1, the facsimile apparatus according to this embodiment has a telephone interface 1 connected to a telephone line L1, a FAX interface 3 connected to a facsimile line L3, and these telephone interfaces 1 and FAX.
It is composed of a band compression signal conversion control unit 5 connected to the interface 3 and the telephone line L2. First, the telephone interface 1 sends to the band compression signal conversion control unit 5 an audio signal in a voiced state at fixed time intervals and an image signal blocked by the FAX interface 3 in pixel units. FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of the band compression signal conversion control unit 5. The following band compression ratio is calculated for the input audio signal (steps S1 to S3), and the band compression of the signal is performed.

That is, when A is the maximum period difference between the voice signal and the image signal and B is the maximum period difference in the area obtained by equally dividing the transmission frequency band of the telephone line, the band compression rate = A / B Further, a signal obtained by adding the signal with band compression mark to the signal subjected to band compression in step S5 is shaped in step S7 and transmitted to the corresponding region of the transmission frequency band of the telephone line L2. Further, for the band compression signal input from the telephone line L2, the band compression mark added signal and the band compression signal are separated, and the reciprocal band restoration ratio of the band compression ratio is calculated as follows to obtain the band compression signal. Band restoration is performed.

Similarly, when A is the maximum period difference between the audio signal and the image signal and B is the maximum period difference in the area obtained by equally dividing the transmission frequency band of the telephone line, the band restoration ratio = B / A In this way, the band-restored signal is sent to the telephone interface 1 or the FAX interface 3.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of an embodiment according to the first object of the present application. When the facsimile device 21 is activated, the transmission frequency band of the telephone line L2 is checked. The transmission frequency band is equally divided into two, and the maximum period difference between the high frequency band and the low frequency band is obtained. Conduct a normal voice conversation with the handset of the telephone 29.
During the voice conversation, set the original in FAX23, FAX23
Press the start switch of. While storing the contents of the original document in the memory 25 inside the facsimile device 21, pixel unit (when the nominal minimum screen size taken out from the original image, that is, the scanning line density is F [lines / mm], 1 / F2 (The size of the pixel), the voice is blocked by the AMP 31 at fixed time intervals in the voiced state, the compressed signal conversion 27 determines the maximum period difference between the voice and the image signal, and Signal with band compression rate mark +
Band compression Performs band compression in the form of a signal. The band-compressed voice and image signals are transmitted to the other party through the modem 33. For the band compression signal transmitted from the modem 33,
The band-compressed signal and the band-compressed signal are separated, the band-compressed signal is decompressed by the reciprocal of the band-compressed rate, the voice signal is passed through the AMP 31, and stored in the handset of the telephone 29, and the image signal is stored in the memory 25. Output to the FAX 23.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a facsimile machine according to the third object of the present application. The telephone interface 1 sends an audio signal in a voiced state at fixed time intervals to the shortened signal frequency conversion control unit 9 as an image signal blocked in pixel units by the FAX interface 3. FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the shortened signal frequency conversion control unit 9. First, in step S11, a signal pattern analysis is performed on the input audio signal or image signal, and in step S13, the shortened signal frequency corresponding to the analysis result is extracted from the shortened signal frequency information storage unit 11, and this is extracted in step S15. Transmission is carried out in a band corresponding to the transmission frequency band of the telephone line 7.

For the shortened signal frequency input from the telephone line L2, a signal pattern corresponding to the shortened signal frequency is taken out from the shortened signal frequency information storage unit 11 and sent to the telephone interface 1 or the FAX interface 3. . Also, shortened signal frequency memory reproduction control 1
The external interface 7 edits the combination of the shortened signal frequency and the signal pattern by the external interface 7, and stores or edits it in the shortened signal frequency storage unit 11.

In an embodiment, a combination of a signal pattern and a shortened signal frequency is edited from the terminal and stored in a database file inside the facsimile machine. Have a normal voice conversation on the telephone handset. FA during voice conversation
Set the original on X and press the FAX start switch. Inside the facsimile machine, the contents of the original are stored in memory and blocked in pixel units.
The MP is blocked at a certain time interval in a voiced state, the signal pattern of the voice and image signals is used as a keyword, and the shortened frequency signal is extracted from the database file of the facsimile machine and transmitted to the other party through the telephone line. . Also, using the shortened frequency signal transmitted from the telephone line as a keyword, the signal pattern is extracted from the database file of the facsimile machine, the voice signal is stored in the handset of the telephone, and the image signal is stored in the memory.
Then, it outputs to the FAX.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a telephone line transmission frequency allocation diagram relating to the facsimile apparatus of the third object of the present application, and its flowchart is shown in FIG. If both audio signals and image signals are transmitted (step S25), step S2
In FIG. 7, a signal as shown in FIG. 6 (a), that is, a signal for arranging an image signal in the low frequency band and an audio signal in the high frequency band of the transmission frequency band of the telephone line is formed. If there is an audio signal and no image signal is transmitted, the process proceeds to step S29, and the band compression signal with the audio signal as a reference with a predetermined frequency (frequency a representing only the audio signal) as shown in FIG. 6B. Alternatively, if a shortened signal is formed and there is no audio signal and there is an image signal transmission as well, the image signal is given a predetermined frequency (frequency b representing only the image signal) as shown in FIG. 6C in step S29. Shape the reference band compression or shortening signal.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S21 that it is the same as the previous transmission signal, the process proceeds to step S23, where it is replaced with a skip signal and this is transmitted to the telephone line. Further, with respect to the signal input from the telephone line, the audio signal and the image signal are taken out, and when the signal is a skip signal, the previous transmission signal is copied and transferred.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of the facsimile apparatus for the fourth object of the present application, and its flowchart is shown in FIG. With the voice / image input check function, you can use FA without using the telephone.
When the document is set on X and the start switch is pressed, that is, when there is no normal voice conversation and only image information is transmitted, step S31 is followed by step S3.
3, the image information is stored in the memory and blocked in pixel units, and the blocked image information is read every two blocks, and one block is placed in the low frequency band of the transmission frequency band of the telephone line as shown in FIG. The image signal of the second (even block) image signal (step S35) and the image signal of the second block (odd block) in the high frequency band (step S39) are respectively formed into band-compressed or shortened signal-converted transmission signals. Transmit to telephone line. Also, with respect to the transmission signal input from the telephone line, the image signals of the first block and the second block are separated and taken out in the order of low band and high band, and the connection of the image signal of the first block and the image signal of the second block. Matching is performed, band restoration or shortened signal expansion is performed, this is stored in the memory, and then output to the FAX.

[0021]

As described above, the present invention has the effect of dramatically improving the quality and efficiency of transmitting a voice signal and an image signal by dividing the transmission frequency band of a telephone line. It is a thing.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a processing flow of a band compression signal conversion control unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a flowchart for explaining a processing flow of a shortened signal frequency conversion control unit shown in FIG.

6 (a), (b) and (c) are diagrams for explaining allocation of a transmission frequency band of a telephone line.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a flow of processing of allocating a transmission frequency band of a telephone line.

8 (a) and 8 (b) are views for explaining still another embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of processing of the embodiment shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 telephone interface, 3 FAX interface, 5 band compression signal conversion control unit, 7 external interface, 9 shortened signal frequency conversion control unit, 11 shortened signal frequency information storage unit, 13 shortened signal frequency storage reproduction control unit.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. In a facsimile apparatus for dividing a transmission frequency band of a telephone line, and allocating a voice signal and an image signal to the respective transmissions, the transmission frequency band of the telephone line is equally divided into a high frequency band and a low frequency band. The maximum period difference is obtained, the voice data is blocked at fixed time intervals in the voiced state, and the image data is blocked in pixel units, and the maximum period of the frequency band of the voice signal with respect to the blocking voice data and the blocking image data. Find the maximum difference between the difference and the frequency band of the image signal,
The audio signal band compression ratio of the ratio of the maximum cycle difference of the frequency band of the audio signal and the maximum cycle difference of the high frequency band of the telephone line is obtained, and the maximum cycle difference of the frequency band of the image signal and the low cycle of the telephone line are obtained. The image signal band compression ratio of the ratio to the maximum period difference of the band is obtained, and for the blocked audio data and image data, the signal band compression of the signal band compression ratio is performed, and a band obtained by adding a signal band compression mark signal. A means for shaping a compressed signal, a band compression signal transmitted from the telephone line is separated into a signal band compression mark signal and a band compression signal, and a band decompression rate that is the reciprocal of the band compression rate is obtained. And a means for performing band restoration of the band restoration rate on a signal. 2. A shortened signal frequency conversion means for converting a fixed signal frequency pattern into a shortened signal for the blocked audio data and image data, and a shortened signal frequency for the inputted shortened signal frequency. It is characterized by comprising: expansion means for expanding into a pattern; and reproduction storage means for storing or reproducing combination information of a fixed signal frequency pattern and a shortened signal frequency for the shortened signal frequency conversion means. The facsimile apparatus according to Item 1. 3. When the input is either an audio signal or an image signal, a molding means for molding a transmission signal of a band compression or shortening signal based on a predetermined frequency, and the same transmission as the previous transmission signal. In the case of a signal, a skip signal transmitting means for transmitting a skip signal, a copy transferring means for copying and transferring a previous transmission signal in response to the input of the skip signal, a storage reproducing means for storing and reproducing the transmission signal, The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: 4. The blocked image data is read every two blocks from the beginning, the image signal of the odd number block is in the lower frequency band of the transmission frequency band of the telephone line, and the image signal of the even number block is higher in the transmission frequency band of the telephone line. The transmission signal shaping means for shaping the transmission signal of the band compression or shortening signal in the frequency band, and the transmission signal transmitted through the telephone line, the image signal of the odd block on the low frequency side and the even block of the high frequency side. 3. An image signal is separated, an image signal of an odd-numbered block and an image signal of an even-numbered block are connected, and a shortening signal expanding means for performing band restoration or shortening signal expansion is provided. The described facsimile machine.