JPH08251335A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To allow a receiver side facsimile equipment to print out image data without the provision of a printer control code to the receiver side facsimile equipment the same as that of a sender facsimile equipment while eliminating the need for converting transmission document data into image data. CONSTITUTION: A facsimile equipment 1 reads a document file (a) and a conversion program (b) through an input output control section 11 and stores them into a storage section 12. A transmission control section 15 connects a line to an opposite party facsimile equipment 3, receives an extension signal from the facsimile equipment 3 to discriminate whether or not the facsimile equipment 3 is a facsimile system. Moreover, the presence of the necessity of the conversion program is discriminated. When the conversion program is not required, the facsimile equipment 1 reads only the document data (a) from the storage section 12 and sends the data to the facsimile equipment 3 via a transmission control section 15.

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 capable of transferring document data (hereinafter also referred to as a document file) created by an external device such as a personal computer or a word processor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a document file created by a personal computer, a word processor or the like is to be transmitted through a facsimile apparatus, conventionally, the document file cannot be transmitted as it is. For this reason, conventionally, a document file is printed on paper using a printer, and the printed paper is read by a facsimile machine to convert the image data into image data that can be transmitted by the facsimile machine and transmit the image data.

According to this method, since a document file of any form can be transmitted since it is transmitted as image data, it takes time and effort to convert the document file into image data, and the image information is deteriorated due to image deterioration. However, there are problems such as missing data and increasing the amount of data by making it image data.

Therefore, in order to solve such a problem, a printer output file is transmitted from a facsimile device by providing a facsimile device with a printer function instead of printing out on paper by using a printer. There is proposed a facsimile machine that does so (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-63367).

This conventional facsimile apparatus is provided with a printer interface and a printer emulation function for realizing the printer function in addition to the functions of an ordinary facsimile apparatus, so that a document file created by a personal computer, a word processor, or the like. The printer output itself can be input to the facsimile apparatus, and the printer output is transmitted.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional facsimile machine, if the same printer control code is not installed in the transmitting side facsimile machine and the receiving side facsimile machine, the facsimile machines which can transmit / receive the printer output file can communicate with each other. Even if there is, it cannot be printed by the receiving facsimile machine.

When sending a document file created by a personal computer or a word processor,
Although there is no need to print to a printer, it is necessary to generate a print output file with the personal computer or word processor because the document file needs to be converted into a printer output file.
The effort of conversion still exists.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points,
An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus which can eliminate the trouble of converting document data to be transmitted into image data.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile machine capable of printing image data by the facsimile machine on the receiving side even if the facsimile machine on the receiving side does not have the same printer control code as the facsimile machine on the transmitting side. Especially.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an input / output control unit for inputting / outputting data to / from an external device such as a personal computer or a word processor, and image data and document data. A storage unit in which a conversion program for converting into data is stored in advance,
An analysis unit that executes the conversion program read from the storage unit to convert the document data into image data, and whether or not the recipient facsimile machine at the other end has the function to execute the conversion program Has a transmission control unit for transmitting the document data and the conversion program respectively, and for not having the execution function, the transmission control unit for transmitting the image data obtained by the analysis unit, and the printing unit for printing the image data. It is configured.

Further, according to the present invention, when the transmission control unit determines that the receiving side facsimile machine of the other party has the execution function, it is determined whether or not the receiving side facsimile machine of the other party has the conversion program. Based on the notification from the above, the document data and the conversion program are respectively transmitted when the receiving facsimile machine of the other party has the conversion program and only the document data is transmitted when the facsimile machine does not have the conversion program. It is what

[0012]

According to the present invention, it is discriminated whether or not the receiving facsimile machine of the other party has the function of executing the conversion program, and when it has the execution function, the document data and the conversion program are transmitted respectively. Therefore, the document data can be transmitted as it is without being converted into image data, and the conversion program is also transmitted, so that the conversion program can be used by the receiving side facsimile device.

Further, according to the present invention, only the document data is transmitted when the receiving facsimile machine of the other party has the conversion program, so that the transmission of the conversion program can be omitted.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a system configuration diagram of an example of a system having an embodiment of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention. This system is a system for transmitting / receiving data between the embodiments of the present invention, and the facsimile devices 1 and 3 are the devices of the embodiment of the facsimile device of the present invention.

The facsimile device 1 is connected to the personal computer 2 to form a first facsimile system A, has a function of transmitting the document data and the conversion program input from the personal computer 2, and the facsimile device 1 The data received in step 2 can be displayed on the personal computer 2. Similarly, the facsimile device 3 is connected to the personal computer 4 to form the second facsimile system B, has a function of transmitting the document data and the conversion program input from the personal computer 4, and the facsimile device 3 The data received in step 3 can be displayed on the personal computer 4.

The facsimile machines 1 and 3 of this embodiment are
Input / output control units 11 and 31 for performing input / output with the personal computers 2 and 4, respectively, and storage units 12 and 32 for holding document data and conversion programs received from the personal computers 2 and 4, respectively. ,
Analysis units 13 and 33 for analyzing the sent data,
It is composed of printing units 14 and 34 for printing the image data stored in the storage units 12 and 32, and transmission control units 15 and 35 for transmitting and receiving data to and from other facsimile devices. There is.

The personal computer 2 has an input / output control unit 21 for inputting / outputting data and the like to / from the facsimile apparatus 1, data input from the facsimile apparatus 1 and data to be output to the facsimile apparatus 1. It comprises a storage unit 22 for holding a conversion program and the like, an analysis unit 23 for analyzing this data, and a display unit 24 for displaying the result. Like the personal computer 2, the personal computer 4 also includes an input / output control unit 41, a storage unit 42, an analysis unit 43, and a display unit 44.

Next, the operation of the system shown in FIG. 1 will be described. This is a case of transmitting from the facsimile system A to the facsimile system B. The storage unit 22 of the personal computer 2 stores in advance a document file a and a conversion program b created by the personal computer 2 or another word processor. The conversion program b is a program for converting the document file a into image data for displaying or printing.

In this state, the personal computer 2 reads out the document file a and the conversion program b in the storage unit 22 and outputs them to the facsimile machine 1 through the input / output control unit 21. The facsimile apparatus 1 reads the document file a and the conversion program b through the input / output control unit 11 and stores them in the storage unit 12.

In response to this, the transmission control unit 15 establishes a line connection with the destination facsimile machine 3 and investigates whether or not the destination facsimile machine 3 has the file receiving capability according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

That is, in FIG. 4, the extended signal (NSF signal) is received from the facsimile apparatus on the receiving side (step 101), whereby whether or not the facsimile apparatus on the receiving side is a facsimile system, that is, the present embodiment. It is determined whether the facsimile machine has the example function (step 102).

Here, since the receiving side facsimile apparatus is the facsimile apparatus 3 of this embodiment, it is judged that the facsimile apparatus 1 is a facsimile system, and the conversion program to be transmitted next is the receiving side facsimile apparatus. Inquire whether it is necessary for
In response to the inquiry, it is determined whether or not the conversion program is necessary based on the signal transmitted from the receiving side facsimile device (step 103). The inquiry as to whether or not the conversion program is necessary is made by introducing the file name of the conversion program to the facsimile apparatus on the receiving side.

Here, since the receiving side facsimile apparatus is the facsimile apparatus 3 of this embodiment and the conversion program d is input from the personal computer 4 and stored in the storage unit 32, the conversion program is unnecessary. To be judged. As a result, the facsimile machine 1 has the storage unit 1
Only the document data a is read from No. 2 and transmitted to the facsimile apparatus 3 through the transmission control unit 15 (step 104).

Referring back to FIG. 1 again, the facsimile apparatus 3 receives the transmitted document data a by the transmission control unit 35 and stores it in the storage unit 32. After that, the facsimile apparatus 3 reads the document data a from the storage unit 32 and outputs it to the personal computer 4 through the input / output control unit 31. The personal computer 4 temporarily stores the document data a in the storage unit 42 through the input / output control unit 41.

Subsequently, the personal computer 4 reads the document data a and the conversion program d from the storage unit 42, and the analysis unit 43 executes the conversion program d to convert the document data a into the display data e. This display data e
Is supplied to and displayed on the display unit 44 via the storage unit 42.

As described above, in this embodiment, the document data a
Since the (document file) is sent to the destination facsimile machine 3 as it is without being converted into display data, the sending facsimile machine 1 does not have to convert it into display data, and the conversion program is not sent. The transmission time can be shortened as compared with the case of performing.

Next, the system configuration and operation when the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment is used in another system will be described. FIG. 2 is a system block diagram of another example of a facsimile system having an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted. This system is a system in which a personal computer or a word processor is not connected to the facsimile machine 3 of the present embodiment on the receiving side.

In this system, the personal computer 2 outputs the document file a and the conversion program b to the facsimile apparatus 1 through the input / output control unit 21. The facsimile apparatus 1 reads the document file a and the conversion program b through the input / output control unit 11 and stores them in the storage unit 12.

In response to this, the transmission control unit 15 establishes a line connection with the destination facsimile machine 3 and investigates whether or not the destination facsimile machine 3 has the file receiving capability according to the flowchart shown in FIG. This allows
Similar to the system of FIG. 1, the extended signal (NSF signal) from the facsimile machine on the receiving side is received (step 10
1) As a result, it is judged whether or not the facsimile machine on the receiving side is a facsimile system (step 10).
2).

Here, since the receiving side facsimile apparatus is the facsimile apparatus 3 of this embodiment, it is determined that the facsimile apparatus 1 is a facsimile system, and the conversion program to be transmitted next is the receiving side facsimile apparatus. Inquire whether it is necessary for
In response to the inquiry, it is determined whether or not the conversion program is necessary based on the signal transmitted from the receiving side facsimile device (step 103).

Here, the receiving side facsimile device is the facsimile device 3 of this embodiment, but since the conversion program is not stored in the storage unit 32, it is judged that the conversion program is necessary. As a result, the facsimile machine 1
Reads out both the document data a and the conversion program b from the storage unit 12 and sends them to the facsimile apparatus 3 through the transmission control unit 15 (step 105).

Returning to FIG. 2 again, the facsimile apparatus 3 receives the transmitted document data a and the conversion program b by the transmission control unit 35 and stores them in the storage unit 32. After that, the facsimile device 3 reads the document data a and the conversion program b from the storage unit 32, executes the conversion program b in the analysis unit 33 to convert the document data a into the image data f, and stores the image data f in the storage unit 32. The image data f is supplied to the printing unit 34 via the printing unit 34.
Print on paper.

In the facsimile machine 1 of this system,
Since the conversion program b for converting the document data a (document file) into the image data without converting it into the image data is transmitted together, the trouble of converting the image data into the image data as in the above embodiment is unnecessary. it can. Further, even if the facsimile machine 3 on the receiving side does not have the same printer control code as the facsimile machine 1 on the transmitting side, the facsimile program 3 on the receiving side uses the conversion program a to reliably convert the image data into image data for printing. Printing can be performed by the unit 34.

Next, the system configuration and operation when the facsimile apparatus according to this embodiment is used in another system will be described. FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram of still another example of the facsimile system having the embodiment of the present invention.
In the figure, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted.

This system is a system in which the facsimile machine 5 on the receiving side is a facsimile machine 5 of a different model from the facsimile machine 1 of the embodiment, which cannot receive the conversion program. The facsimile device 5 includes a transmission control unit 55 for transmitting / receiving data to / from another facsimile device.
And a storage unit 52 for holding the data, a printing unit 54 for printing the data, and the like.

In this system, the transmission controller 15 establishes a line connection with the destination facsimile machine 5, and the destination facsimile machine 5 follows the flowchart shown in FIG.
Investigate whether or not it has the ability to receive files. As a result, similarly to the system of FIGS. 1 and 2, the extended signal (NSF signal) is received from the facsimile machine on the receiving side (step 101). It is determined (step 102).

Here, since the receiving side facsimile apparatus is the facsimile apparatus 5 of a different model, it is judged that the facsimile apparatus 1 is not the facsimile system, and the document data a and the conversion program b are read from the storage section 12 and converted. The analysis unit 13 executes the program b to convert the document data a (document file) into the image data c (step 106). Subsequently, the facsimile device 1 transmits the image data c to the facsimile device 5 through the storage unit 12 and the transmission control unit 15 (step 1).
07).

Returning to FIG. 3 again, the facsimile apparatus 5 receives the transmitted image data c by the transmission control unit 55 and stores it in the storage unit 52. Thereafter, the facsimile device 5 reads the image data c from the storage unit 52 and supplies it to the printing unit 54, which causes it to print on paper.

As described above, when the receiving side facsimile apparatus of the other party is the facsimile apparatus 5 of a different model,
Since the analyzing unit 13 converts the document data into the image data c using the conversion program b and transmits the image data c, the printing unit 5 uses the image data as in the conventional case.
4 can be used for printing, and can be applied to existing facsimile machines.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When the recipient's recipient facsimile machine has the function of executing the conversion program, by transmitting the document data and the conversion program respectively, the document data is directly transmitted together with the conversion program without being converted into image data. The conversion program can be used by the receiving side facsimile device, and therefore, it is possible to save the trouble of converting the document data into the image data, and the receiving side facsimile device can be provided with the same printer control code as the transmitting side facsimile device. Even if the facsimile machine does not have the above, it is possible to surely convert the image data into image data and print it by using the conversion program in the receiving side facsimile apparatus.

Further, according to the present invention, when the recipient's facsimile machine on the receiving side is connected to an external device such as a personal computer or a word processor and has a conversion program in the storage unit, only the document data is transmitted. Since the transmission of the conversion program is not required, the transmission time can be shortened by the amount that the conversion program is not transmitted, and the document data can be transferred directly to the external device connected to the recipient's facsimile machine on the receiving side. As a result, the document can be edited on the receiving side.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an example of a facsimile system having an embodiment of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram of another example of a facsimile system having an embodiment of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram of a further example of a facsimile system having an embodiment of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an operation at the time of data transmission of an embodiment of the device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Transmitting side facsimile apparatus 2 according to an embodiment 2 and 4 Personal computer 3 Receiving side facsimile apparatus 5 according to an embodiment 5 Receiving side facsimile apparatus 11, 21, 31, 41 Input / output control section 12, 22, 32, 42, 52 Storage section 13, 23, 33, 44 Analyzing section 14, 34, 54 Printing section 15, 35, 55 Transmission control section 24, 44 Display section a Document data b, d Conversion program c, f Image data e Display data

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An input / output control unit for inputting / outputting data to / from an external device such as a personal computer or a word processor, and document data and a conversion program for converting the document data into image data are stored in advance. A storage unit, an analysis unit for executing the conversion program read from the storage unit to convert the document data into image data, and whether or not the recipient facsimile machine at the other end has the function of executing the conversion program. Transmission control for identifying whether the image data obtained by the analysis unit is transmitted when the document data and the conversion program are respectively transmitted when the document data and the conversion program have the execution function. And a printing unit that prints the image data. 2. The transmission control section determines whether or not the receiving side facsimile apparatus of the other party further has the conversion program when it judges that the receiving side facsimile apparatus of the other side has the execution function. It is determined based on the notification from the device, and only the document data is transmitted when the receiving side facsimile device of the other party has the conversion program, and the document data and the document data are transmitted when the other receiving facsimile device does not have the conversion program. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the conversion programs is transmitted. 3. The transmission control unit stores the document data and the conversion program in the storage unit when receiving the document data and the conversion program, and the analysis unit reads the document data and the conversion program from the storage unit. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a conversion program is executed to convert the document data into image data, and the printing unit inputs the converted image data through the storage unit and prints the image data. 4. When the conversion program is stored in the storage unit by an external device connected via the input / output control unit, the document data is stored when the transmission control unit receives the document data. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the facsimile data is stored in the storage unit, and the input / output control unit transfers the document data read from the storage unit to the external device.