JPH07283891A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the flexibility of the facsimile equipment by starting facsimile reception so as to implement proper facsimile communication when an external call comes while print processing of image data and an original image is subjected to read scanning simultaneously at a point of time of end of print or read scanning. CONSTITUTION:When two coding/decoding circuits 3a, 3b are operated simultaneously, an external call is received by a facsimile equipment F. A main control section 1 gives a command interrupting tentatively the print to a printer control section 6a when a print of a page on the way of print is finished. Furthermore, the control section 1 gives a command of interrupting tentatively read scanning to an image read section 5 when the reading of image is finished. A facsimile communication control section 2 receives a call automatically when either of the print of the print midway page or the page in the midway of read scanning is finished depending on the command.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to improvements in facsimile machines.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, various types of facsimile machines have been developed and proposed, but a single encoding / decoding circuit for executing encoding / decoding processing of image data is required. Generally, two facsimile machines are provided. If two encoding / decoding circuits are provided, for example, in parallel with image data print processing (print output processing) in a printer, simultaneous reading and scanning of an original image for executing memory transmission, for example, is performed. Can be done, etc.
The multifunctional function of the facsimile device can be achieved, which is convenient.

Thus, in the conventional facsimile apparatus, when both the above-mentioned two encoding / decoding circuits are used and a call is made from an external facsimile apparatus, the encoding / decoding is no longer performed. Due to the lack of room in the digitizing circuit (because it is necessary to decode the received image data when receiving a facsimile), the call was not immediately answered. That is, conventionally, when the printer finishes printing the image data of all pages, or when the image reading unit finishes reading and scanning all pages of the document, an automatic incoming call is made and then the facsimile reception mode is set. Was configured into.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, printing of all pages of image data is completed or reading of all pages of the original set on the original table after a call is made from an external facsimile device. It may take a considerable amount of time to complete the scan. In this case, the time until shifting to the facsimile reception mode is considerably delayed, and it is not possible to make an incoming call for an external call early, or even if an incoming call is made early, the image data is properly processed after that. Not ready to receive, communication error etc.,
The problem is that proper facsimile reception cannot be performed.

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above points, and is a case in which both of the two encoding / decoding means are used by simultaneously executing image data printing processing and reading scanning of an original image. Even if there is a call, the purpose is to start the facsimile reception operation early so that an appropriate facsimile reception can be performed when a call is made from an external facsimile apparatus, thereby improving the flexibility of use of the facsimile apparatus. .

[0006]

A facsimile machine according to the present invention, which is proposed to achieve the above object, comprises two encoding / decoding means, and these encoding / decoding means are used. When a call is made from the outside while the image data to be printed is being decoded and the original image data read and scanned by the image reading unit is being performed at the same time, the printing of the page in the middle of printing or the page in the middle of the scanning during scanning is performed. A control unit is provided for controlling the facsimile communication control unit so as to start the facsimile reception when either one of the reading scanning of the document is completed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first aspect, when the control means performs encoding or decoding processing by both of the two encoding / decoding means. When there is a call from outside,
After that, the image data received from the call destination is sequentially stored and accumulated in the image memory, and the memory reception is executed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the control means suspends after the image data received by the facsimile has been stored in the image memory. The control for restarting the printing of the image data or the scanning of reading the original which has been performed and for executing the printing process of the image data accumulated in the image memory at least after the printing process of all the pages of the image data is completed Is configured.

[0009]

In the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, the document data to be printed is decoded by the two encoding / decoding means and the original document read and scanned by the image reading section. When a call is made from an external communication terminal (facsimile device) while the image data is being encoded at the same time, the control means then controls the image data of the halfway page to be printed or to be scanned. The facsimile communication control unit is operated at a time earlier than the time point when the reading and scanning of the document on the middle page is completed, and control is performed so as to start the facsimile reception. Therefore, the shift to the facsimile receiving operation for a call from the outside can be started at an early stage before the printing process of all pages of image data or the reading scanning of the originals of all pages is completed, without causing a communication error. ,
Appropriate facsimile reception can be performed. In addition, since the printing process of the image data or the scanning of reading the original image is temporarily suspended at the end of the page in the middle of printing or the page in the middle of scanning for scanning, when restarting the printing or the scanning for scanning thereafter, Printing or reading scanning may be started from the beginning of the next new page, and the processing can be performed smoothly.

In the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention as defined in claim 2, when a call is made from the outside while the code or decoding processing is being performed by both of the two code / decoding means, the call is then issued. When the facsimile is received from the callee, the received image data is sequentially stored and accumulated in the image memory, and the memory reception is executed. Therefore, even when the printer is still driven and the image data is being printed at the start of the facsimile reception (that is, the reading scan of the intermediate scanning page precedes the scanning of the intermediate scanning page). When the facsimile reception is started without interrupting the print processing), the facsimile reception can be appropriately performed.

In the facsimile apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, after the memory reception is completed, the printing of the image data or the reading scan of the original document, which has been suspended previously, is resumed. Then, after the print processing of all pages of the image data is completed, the print processing of the image data accumulated in the image memory by the memory reception is performed. Therefore, the image data that was started before the memory was received and temporarily suspended was printed, and the image data was printed continuously. The situation that the recording paper of the image data that has been mixed is mixed does not occur.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a facsimile device F according to the present invention. The facsimile apparatus F is for performing facsimile communication via a main control unit 1 (corresponding to a control unit of the present invention) including a CPU that executes operation processing and signal processing of each unit, and a communication line L. Facsimile communication control unit 2, two encoding / decoding circuits 3a and 3b for executing image data encoding or decoding processing, and image data to be transmitted by facsimile or image data received by facsimile are stored. The image memory 4 and the like are provided. Among them, the facsimile communication control unit 2 includes a line control unit for executing line connection with the communication line L and disconnection thereof, a modem for image data transmission / reception, and a hand executed prior to image data communication. It is provided with a protocol signal generation circuit, a detection circuit, etc. (neither shown) for performing a shake (mutual transmission of protocol signals).

In addition to the above, the facsimile apparatus F has an image reading section 5 for reading and scanning an original image, a printer control section 6a for controlling the printer 6, and a desired character or numeral for displaying on the screen. Also connected to the main control unit 1 are a display unit 7 including a liquid crystal display device, an operation input unit 8 including various operation switches, and a storage unit 9 such as a ROM 9a and a RAM 9b functioning as a system memory. It is provided.

Of the above, two encoding / decoding circuits 3
a and 3b are switchably connectable to the image reading unit 5 via the switch S2 so that the image data obtained by scanning and reading by the image reading unit 5 can be encoded, and by the facsimile communication control unit 2. It is switchably connectable to the facsimile communication control unit 2 via the switch S1 so that image data to be transmitted or received by facsimile can be encoded or decoded. Furthermore, two encoding / decoding circuits 3a, 3
The image memory 4 is connected to both of b and stores the encoded image data in the image memory 4 or
It is configured so that the image data read from can be decoded. A printer control unit 6a is connected to one of the encoding / decoding circuits 3b, and is configured so that the image data decoded by the encoding / decoding circuit 3b is printed (printed out) on the recording paper by the printer 6. ing.

Next, an example of use and operation of the facsimile apparatus F having the above-mentioned structure will be described with reference to a specific control operation of the main control section 1. First, as an example of the usage state of the facsimile apparatus F, when the printer 6 is printing the image data read from the image memory 4 (for example, the image data already received in the memory), the original image to be transmitted to the memory is read. The unit 5 may read and scan. In this case, the image data read out from the image memory 4 and printed by the printer 6 has been decoded by one of the encoding / decoding circuits 3b, and the original image obtained by the reading scanning by the image reading unit 5 Image data of the other is the other encoding / decoding circuit 3
It is stored in the image memory 4 after being encoded by a. Therefore, the two encoding / decoding circuits 3a and 3b are both in the operating state.

Further, while the two encoding / decoding circuits 3a and 3b are operating as described above, a call may be made to the facsimile device F from an external facsimile device. In this case, the facsimile communication control unit 2 receives the call signal (16 Hz) transmitted from the circuit switch, but when the call signal is received a certain number of times, the main control unit 1 prints to the printer control unit 6a. When the printing of halfway pages is completed, a command to suspend the printing is issued. Further, the main control unit 1 issues a command to the image reading unit 5 to suspend the reading scan at the time when the reading scan of the original image of the page in the middle of the reading scan is completed.

Then, in response to the command from the main controller 1,
For example, when the printing of the page being printed by the printer 6 is completed before the scanning of the page being read and scanned by the image reading unit 5, the main control unit 1 interrupts the reading and scanning of the image reading unit 5. The command is canceled and the reading scan is continued. If the image data printing process is interrupted, one of the encoding / decoding circuits 3b becomes idle. Then, the main control unit 1 controls the facsimile communication control unit 2 at the time when the printing process in the printer 6 is interrupted, and if the number of times the call signal is received reaches a preset number or more, The facsimile communication control unit 2 is caused to make an automatic incoming call.

Further, unlike the above case, when the reading scanning of the reading scanning halfway page in the image reading unit 5 is completed earlier than the printing of the printing halfway page in the printer 6, the main control unit 1 The print processing interruption command to the printer control unit 6a is canceled, and the print processing in the printer 6 is continued. When the reading scanning in the image reading unit 5 is interrupted, the other coding / decoding circuit 3a becomes empty. In this case, the main control unit 1 also controls the facsimile communication control unit 2 to automatically make an incoming call at the time when the reading scan is interrupted.

Therefore, in any of the above cases, an automatic incoming call is made early after receiving the ringing signal and the line can be connected, so that the waiting time of the facsimile machine on the calling side can be shortened and a reliable line can be obtained. It will be possible to capture.

After the automatic incoming call is made as described above, the main control unit 1 causes the facsimile communication control unit 2 to execute a handshake necessary for facsimile communication,
Receive image data. Then, the main control unit 1 converts the received image data into two encoding / decoding circuits 3a,
Among the 3b, one of the coding / decoding circuits in the empty state decodes it, and then sequentially stores and stores it in the image memory 4, and executes memory reception. According to such memory reception, proper facsimile reception can be performed regardless of whether or not the image data is continuously printed by the printer 6.

After the facsimile reception is completed and the line is cut off, the main controller 1 restarts the interrupted printing process of the image data or the scanning of the original image. 6a or the image reading unit 5 is controlled. When the printing process or the reading scan is restarted, the main control unit 1 controls to start printing or reading scan of the image data of the first page of the unprocessed pages. Therefore, the image data of the same page will not be printed or scanned in duplicate.

Next, as described above, after the previously executed printing of the image data is completed, the main control unit 1
Controls the image data previously received in the memory from the image memory 4, decodes the image data by the encoding / decoding circuit 3b, transfers the image data to the printer control unit 6a, and causes the printer 6 to print. Therefore, the recording paper on which the image data previously executed and the recording paper on which the image data obtained by the memory reception are printed are not mixed with each other. The state can be appropriately distinguished, which is convenient for handling.

From step 100 of the flowchart of FIG.
Reference numeral 118 denotes a series of operation procedures of the main control unit 1 of the facsimile device F described above. If any of the two coding / decoding circuits 3a and 3b is idle at the time of calling from the outside, as shown in step 117, the facsimile communication control unit 2 is automatically called after that as usual. Then, the facsimile reception may be executed.

In the above-described embodiment, the automatic incoming call is made at the time when either the printing of the halfway printed page or the reading scan of the halfway scanning is completed, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, for example, a ringing signal is transmitted a certain number of times (for example, 2
(Time) When an incoming call is received, an automatic incoming call is performed, and then a handshake such as sending out a CED signal or a DIS signal is started when either printing of a halfway printed page or read scanning of a halfway scanned page ends. It doesn't matter what you do. Even in the case of such a configuration, since printing of a page in the middle of printing or reading scan of a page in the middle of scanning is completed in a considerably short time, an appropriate facsimile reception is executed without causing an error in handshake. It is possible.

Further, in the above embodiment, the main control unit 1 issues a stop request to both the printer control unit 6a and the image reading unit 5 when a call is made from the outside. The present invention described in Item 1 is not limited to this. For example, the main control unit 1 may not make a stop request to the image reading unit 5, but may make a stop request only to the printer control unit 6a. On the contrary, the stop request may be issued only to the image reading section 5 without making a stop request to the printer control section 6a. Kashi,
Even with such a configuration, the facsimile reception operation is started when the facsimile reception operation is started after the printing of all the pages of the image data is completed or after the reading scanning of all the pages of the document is completed. This is because, as compared with any of the cases, it is possible to shift to the facsimile reception operation earlier and to perform proper facsimile reception.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the print processing of the image data received in the memory is executed after the interrupted print processing of the image data is described (claim 3
The present invention according to claim 1 is not limited to this. The printing of the image data received by the memory may be preferentially executed so that the user can confirm the content of the image data received by the memory at an early stage.

In addition, according to the present invention, the concrete example in which the printing of the image data and the reading and scanning of the original image are simultaneously performed is also for printing the image data received by the memory and transmitting the memory as in the above embodiment. It is not limited to the case where the image data is read and scanned at the same time. The printing of image data by the printer includes, for example, printing a communication management report or a telephone number list, and also executing so-called multi-copy.

[0028]

As can be understood from the above description, according to the facsimile apparatus of the present invention as defined in claims 1 to 3, the printing process of the image data and the reading scan of the original image are simultaneously executed. Even when a call is made from the outside in the situation where both the one encoding / decoding means are used,
Unlike the conventional method, the facsimile reception operation does not wait until the printing of all pages of the image data is completed, and the facsimile is received at an early time when the printing of the page in the middle of printing or the scanning of the original of the page in the middle of scanning is completed. You can start the receiving operation, without causing a communication error,
A particular effect is obtained in that proper facsimile reception can be performed, and the versatility of use and functionality can be enhanced.

Particularly, according to the present invention as set forth in claim 2,
When a call is made from the outside while the code or the decoding process is being performed by both of the two code / decoding means, a facsimile reception is performed from the called party in the memory reception mode. Even if the printing of the image data is not yet completed at the start of the process and the printer is operating, the facsimile reception can be appropriately performed, which is more convenient.

According to the present invention as defined in claim 3,
In order to execute the print processing of the image data received in the memory after the printing of the image data that was suspended previously is completed,
It is possible to solve the problem that recording sheets on which different kinds of image data are printed are mixed with each other, which is convenient for business processing.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

2 is a flowchart showing an example of a series of operation procedures of a main controller of the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 main control section (control means) 2 facsimile communication control section 3a, 3b encoding / decoding circuit 4 image memory 5 image reading section 6 printer 6a printer control section 7 display section 8 operation input section 9 storage section L communication line F facsimile machine

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] June 13, 1995

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] Claim 2

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0007

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0007] facsimile apparatus according to the present invention as set forth in claim 2, in the configuration of the first aspect, the control means
The above-mentioned facsimile reception by the image data received
It is configured to be sequentially stored and accumulated in the memory, and to be controlled to execute the memory reception.

[Procedure 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0010

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

In the facsimile apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, two encoding / decoding means are targets for printing.
Original image scanned by image data decoding and image scanning unit
When data is being encoded at the same time, an external communication
When there is a call from the communication terminal (facsimile device),
When the printing of the image data of the page being printed is completed, the control means
Point, or the point when the scanning of the original document on the scanning page is completed
Whichever comes first, the facsimile communication control unit is activated.
The received image data is sequentially stored in the image memory and stored.
Then, the memory reception is executed. Therefore, even when the printer is still driven and the image data is being printed at the time of the start of facsimile reception (that is, the reading scanning of the intermediate scanning page precedes the scanning of the intermediate printing page). When the facsimile reception is started without interrupting the print processing), the facsimile reception can be appropriately performed.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0029

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Particularly, according to the present invention as set forth in claim 2,
Printing of pages in the middle of printing or scanning of originals in the middle of scanning
When the inspection is completed, the fax reception
In order to perform the re-reception, even if the printing of the image data is not yet completed at the start of the facsimile reception and the printer is operating, the facsimile reception can be appropriately performed, which is more convenient.

Claims (3)

[Claims] Claims: 1. Two encoding / decoding means are provided, and the encoding / decoding means simultaneously decodes the print target image data and encodes the original image data read and scanned by the image reading section. At this time, when a call is made from the outside, the control means for controlling the facsimile communication control unit so as to start the facsimile reception at the time when either the printing of the halfway printing page or the reading scan of the original on the halfway scanning is completed. Facsimile machine equipped with. 2. The control means according to claim 1, wherein when a call is made from the outside while the code or decoding processing is being performed by both of the two code / decoding means, then the call destination is set. A facsimile apparatus configured to sequentially store and accumulate image data received from the image memory in an image memory, and perform control so as to execute memory reception. 3. The control means according to claim 2, after printing of the image data received by facsimile is completed in the image memory, restarts the printing of the image data or the reading scanning of the original document which has been interrupted. At the same time, the facsimile apparatus is configured to perform control to execute the print processing of the image data stored in the image memory after the print processing of at least all pages of the image data is completed.