JPH07283928A - Facsimile transmission equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically edit picture information of the same destination and the same transmission time into one picture information and to easily confirm which texts should be collectively transmitted. CONSTITUTION:This transmission equipment is provided with a picture information storage part where picture information are stored, a communication data file where transmission destinations and transmission times of picture information are stored, a data file retrieval part which retrieves whether picture information of the same transmission destination and transmission time exist in this communication data file or not, a means where picture information management numbers 11 which relate picture information storage addresses 12 to destination data and transmission time data are stored, and a picture information editing part 13. When the data file retrieval part retrieves already registered picture information having the same transmission destination and the same transmission time as new picture information at the time of registering this new picture information, the editing part 13 takes in these already registered picture information from the picture information storage part and edits them into one picture information together with new picture information and assigns the new picture information management number 11 to edited picture information.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile transmitter, and more particularly to a facsimile transmitter having an image information storage device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some facsimile apparatuses include an image information storage apparatus, and an operator preliminarily specifies a destination and time of facsimile transmission, and the transmission apparatus starts transmission. In such a conventional type of image information storage type facsimile, when a plurality of image information is registered in the image information storage unit, a part of the plurality of image information is sent to the same destination at the same time. Even when the image information to be transmitted is included in the image information, each image information needs to be communicated once.

As one solution to eliminate such irrationality of the transmission processing procedure, a plurality of pieces of image information at the same time and the same destination are re-registered as a new piece of image information, and then the transmission processing is performed. Although a procedure has been considered, the procedure shown in FIG. 5, for example, has been used as a conventional method for executing this process. That is, when the transmission reservation operation is started, in the processing step (hereinafter referred to as ST) 1, the image information to the same time and the same destination (hereinafter, abbreviated as “the same destination” is simply displayed) is already registered on the display unit of the operation panel. An inquiry message as to whether or not it is displayed is displayed.
In response to this, the operator responds by operating the numeric keypad, etc.
In step 2, it is determined whether or not the image information of the same destination exists, and if it does not exist, the registration process is performed immediately, while if it exists, an inquiry message is displayed in ST3 as to whether or not to combine it with other image information. It When the operator also replies to this inquiry message by operating the ten-key pad, based on this answer, in ST4, it is determined in ST4 whether or not the image information of the same destination is combined, and when it is determined that the image information is not combined. Shifts to the registration process, while shifts to the processing step of ST5 when it is determined that they are put together. In ST5, an inquiry message as to which image information should be combined with the image information is displayed on the display unit. When the operator designates the image information in response to this inquiry, it is judged whether or not the image information designated in ST6 exists in the facsimile, and if the designated image information does not exist, the process returns to the processing step of ST3. While displaying an inquiry message as to whether or not to combine with other image information, when it is determined that the image information designated in ST6 exists, the process proceeds to the processing step of ST7, and the image information is edited in this processing step. Then, the registration number is updated for the new image information.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional facsimile transmitting apparatus, the image information to be newly registered and the image information of the same destination which is generally registered are to be edited. In this case, it is necessary for the operator to remember the registration and destination of the image information that has already been registered, and it is necessary to instruct the facsimile of the registration number of the image information to be edited each time new image information is added. was there. For this reason, an error is likely to occur in the image information editing process, and if the registration number is wrong even though the image information is instructed, the image information is sent to a different destination or at a different time. There was a problem of being lost.

In addition, in the conventional image information editing method, when the new image information is registered, the facsimile and the operator are interactively performed, so that the operation is troublesome and the registration number of the already registered image information is required. If you do not check the destination etc., there is a possibility that operation mistakes will occur.

Furthermore, if the registration number of the image information that has already been registered is unknown, it is necessary to give a new image information registration number each time, and in that case, the same destination must be communicated many times. There was also the problem of not becoming.

Further, there is a technique for collectively broadcasting all facsimile originals to the same destination.
It is disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 655.

However, according to this technique, when a call is made, a message to the same destination is selected and the messages to the same destination are collectively broadcasted. There is a problem that it is not possible to confirm whether the messages will be delivered in a batch. That is, since the registration number is individually assigned to each electronic message, the destination and the delivery time of each electronic message are checked one by one, and which electronic message and which electronic message are collectively delivered are collated. There is a problem that it is necessary to perform work and the work is extremely complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and an object thereof is to automatically obtain a plurality of pieces of image information of the same destination without an operator's operation of instructing to edit the image information. (EN) Provided is a facsimile transmission device which can be edited as image information and can easily confirm which electronic message is collectively delivered.

[0010]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a storage means for storing image information, a communication information storage means for storing a transmission destination and a transmission time of the image information, and this communication. Search means for searching whether or not image information of the same transmission destination and transmission time exists in the information storage means;
A unit that stores management information that associates the storage address of the image information with the transmission destination and the transmission time; and when the new image information is registered, the searching unit retrieves the registered image information of the same transmission destination and the same transmission time. Upon retrieval, the registered image information is fetched from the storage means, one image information is edited together with the new image information, and new management information is assigned to the edited image information.

[0011]

With this configuration, when new image information is input from the reading unit and a transmission reservation is made, the destination search means searches the image information data file and the destination and transmission time of the already registered image information. To retrieve data about. Then, when the destination and time reserved for transmission of the new image information exist in the already registered image information, both image information are edited to create the latest image information, and the latest image information is newly updated. A registration number is given and the latest image information is stored in the image information storage unit. As a result, image information at the same destination and at the same time can be transmitted by one-time communication without operator intervention.

[0012]

1 to 4 are views showing an embodiment and operation of a facsimile transmission apparatus according to the present invention.

In the facsimile transmission apparatus according to this embodiment, a reading unit 1 for reading an original, an image information storage unit 2 for storing image information input from the reading unit 1, and an image information storage unit 2 for reading. A transmission unit 3 for transmitting image information to the line 9,
An image information control unit 4 that edits and manages image information, and a communication control unit 5 that manages various data required for facsimile communication
And a panel section 6 connected to the image information control section 4 and the communication control section 5 by a signal line 8 and issuing an operation command to each of these sections. The reading unit 1, the image information storage unit, the transmission unit 3, and the image information control unit 4 are connected to each other by a data bus 7.

The image information control unit 4 stores an image information data file 10 in which various management data such as an image information management number 11 and an image information storage address 12 for each image information stored in the image information storage unit 2 are stored. The image information editing unit 13 for editing the already registered image information and the newly input image information, and the image information data file 10 and the image information editing unit 13 are connected to the image information data file 10 by the data bus 14. Data writing and reading, and a first CPU 15 that controls the operation of the image information editing unit 13.

The communication control section 5 is necessary for the communication operation of the second CPU 16 for performing the communication control operation and the image information management number 11, the destination data 17, the transmission time data 18, etc. processed by the second CPU 16. Each operation unit 16, 19, 20 is composed of a communication data file 19 in which various data is stored, and a data file search unit 20 for searching the destination data 17 and the transmission time data 18 stored in the communication data file 19. It is connected by bus 21. The second CPU 16 is connected to the first CPU 15 by the signal line 8, and a communication operation is performed between the two CPUs 15 and 16.

The operation of the facsimile transmission apparatus having the above configuration will be described below. When making a transmission reservation, the operator inputs the destination data 17 and the transmission time data 18 from the panel section 6 by, for example, operating the ten-key pad and sends the document to the reading section 1 where the image information is input. The image information input from the reading unit 1 is temporarily stored in the image information storage unit 2, and the image information management number 11 and the image information storage address 12 for this image information are stored in the image information control unit 4.
And is registered in the image information data file 10.
Then, the image information management number 11 is notified from the first CPU 15 to the second CPU 16 through the signal line 8. By the operation of the second CPU 16, the image information management number 11 is registered in the communication data file 19, and the communication data Destination data 17 and transmission time data 18 are registered in the file 19.

On the other hand, when the destination data 17 and the transmission time data 18 are input to the panel section 6, the communication control section 5
Then, in steps (hereinafter referred to as ST) 21 and 22, the second CPU 16 issues an operation command to the data file search unit 20, and whether or not image information of the same destination and the same transmission time already exists in the communication data file 19. Make a decision. If there is no image information at the same destination and at the same transmission time in the judgment processing steps ST21 and ST22, the registration of various data is completed and the transmission reservation operation is completed.

On the other hand, the processing step ST21,
In ST22, when the image information of the same destination and the same transmission time exists, the process proceeds to ST23. In this processing step, the second CPU 1 in the communication control unit 5 is
6 loads the image information management number 11 of the same destination and the same transmission time to be edited from the communication data file 19 and notifies the first CPU 15 of the image information control unit 4 of this. In the image information control unit 4, the first CPU 15 loads the corresponding image information from the image information storage unit 2 on the basis of the notified data and sends it to the image information editing unit 13, where the image information is edited. On the other hand, the image information management number 11 is newly determined, assigned to the edited image information, and registered in the image information data file 10. Then, the first CPU 15 outputs the edited image information to the image information accumulating unit 2, while at the same time notifying the second CPU 16 of the newly assigned image information management number 11, and the second CPU 16 then The information management number 11 is registered in the communication data file 19.

As described above, a plurality of pieces of image information registered at the same destination and at the same transmission time are edited as one piece of image information, and when the reserved time comes, the edited new image information is sent from the image information storage unit 2. By being read and sent out on the line 9 through the transmitting unit 3, the image information of the same destination is transmitted in one communication.

Further, since the new image information is edited as one image information together with the registered image information having the same transmission destination and the same transmission time as the new image information, a unique management number is not given to the new image information. A new management number is given only to the edited image information including the new image information. for that reason,
It becomes easy to confirm which image information and which image information are collectively transmitted.

This makes it possible to determine that it is better to transmit new image information at another transmission time when there are many image information at the same transmission destination and the same transmission time.

Further, when the operator changes the destination data 17 or the transmission time data 18 by operating the panel section 6 with respect to the image information already stored in the image information storage section 2, the communication control section 5 creates a data file. By the operation of the search unit 20, a search is performed as to whether or not image information at the same destination and at the same transmission time exists. If there is no image information, the state before data editing is restored. Edit the.

When returning to the state before data editing,
When the individual image information management number 11 does not exist for the image information to be changed, a new image information management number 11 is determined for the image information to be changed and the registration operation is performed.

When the image information editing process is completed, the process proceeds to ST24. In this processing step, the communication control unit 4 displays an inquiry message as to whether or not to delete old image information on the display unit provided in the panel unit 6. Then, in ST25, it is determined whether the old image information is to be deleted in response to the operator's reply operation signal. If not, the registration process is completed, and the old image information is left and the image information is transmitted to a plurality of destinations. To be able to deal with individual needs such as when registered. On the other hand, if it is determined in ST25 to delete, ST2
In 6, the old image information is deleted, and along with this, the image information data and communication data corresponding to this old image information are also deleted.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By automatically editing a plurality of pieces of image information registered at the same destination and the same transmission time at the time of transmission reservation into one piece of image information, accurate editing can be performed without operator's trouble. Since the image information of the same destination can be transmitted in one communication, the working efficiency of the facsimile can be improved, and various effects such as a lower communication charge can be obtained. Furthermore, since the editing process is performed when the new image information is registered, the management information is added only to the edited image information.
This makes it easy to check which image information and which image information are transmitted at once, and when there are many image information to the same destination and the same transmission time, other transmission time It is possible to obtain the effect that it becomes possible to determine that it is better to transmit new image information in.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an information control unit of the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a communication control unit of the above embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operating state of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of a conventional facsimile transmission device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 reading unit 2 image information storage unit 3 transmission unit 4 image information control unit 5 communication control unit 6 panel unit 10 image information data file 13 image information editing unit 15, 16 CPU 19 communication data file 20 data file search unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A storage unit for accumulating image information, a communication information storage unit for storing a transmission destination and a transmission time of the image information, and image information at the same transmission destination and transmission time in the communication information storage unit. A search means for searching whether or not it exists,
A unit that stores management information that associates the storage address of the image information with the transmission destination and the transmission time; and when the new image information is registered, the searching unit retrieves the registered image information of the same transmission destination and the same transmission time. Upon retrieval, the registered image information is fetched from the storage means, and 1 is added together with new image information.
A facsimile transmission apparatus comprising: an editing unit that edits one image information and assigns new management information to the edited image information.