JPH08336010A - Communication management information processor for facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To surely obtain a recorded paper on which communication management information is mentioned without mixing it with the recorded paper of pictures by other reception and without losing old data. CONSTITUTION: The communication management information for each communication by a facsimile equipment is stored in a communication management information storage area 33a. The plural pieces of the output time of the communication management information are set by the output time setting key or the like of an operation panel 42 and stored in an output time storage area 32e. A CPU 30 judges whether or not the present time coincides with the set output time, and when the present time coincides with the output time, the communication management information stored in the communication management information storage area 33a is outputted to the recording paper at each set output time by a printer 11.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for processing communication management information of a facsimile machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a facsimile apparatus, for managing transmission and reception thereof, communication date and time, communication partner, discrimination between transmission and reception, number of transmission / reception, result of communication error, communication mode, etc. Communication management information such as is stored in a storage device for each communication, and is output to a recording sheet by pressing a function key provided on the operation panel or the like, and is used as management data. There is.

Further, when the communication management information is stored in the storage device with the full memory capacity, the communication management information may be automatically output to a recording sheet.

[0004]

However, in the former case of the prior art, since the time when the function key is pressed by the operator is not constant in many cases, if the operator does not output to the recording paper for a long time, the communication is not possible. The data amount of management information may exceed the memory capacity of the recording device. In that case, there is a problem that the old communication management information cannot be output in the storage device of the type in which the contents stored first are erased in order (first in, first out, FIFO). In order to solve these problems, a storage device having a large memory capacity is required, which causes an increase in cost.

On the other hand, the latter of the prior arts has the advantage that all of the stored communication management information can be output and there is no loss of information, but it is uncertain when the recording paper will be output, and reception Between the many recording sheets
There is a possibility that the recording sheet on which the management information is written may be misplaced and lost, which makes it difficult to manage the communication information.

Further, if the recording paper is output at a constant time interval, for example, 0 or a small number of communication management numbers is applied to the recording paper corresponding to a time zone where the number of times of communication is extremely small such as midnight or early morning. However, there are many blank spaces on the recording paper, which is wasteful.On the other hand, during the daytime hours when communication is frequent, the amount of communication management information that should be stored within a prescribed time interval is too large, and the memory capacity of the recording device is large. However, there is a disadvantage that the data of the old communication management information is erased.

The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional technical problem, and facilitates information management, and communication management information processing of a facsimile apparatus in which information loss does not occur. The purpose is to provide a device.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a communication management information processing apparatus of a facsimile apparatus according to the invention of claim 1 stores a communication management information storage for storing communication management information for each communication by the facsimile apparatus. Means, a time setting means for setting an output time of the communication management information, and a recording means for outputting the communication management information stored in the communication management information storage means to a recording sheet for each set output time by the time setting means. It is equipped with and.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication management information processing apparatus for a facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the time setting means is set to a plurality of arbitrary time points for 24 hours. Is configured to be settable. Further, in the communication management information processing device of the facsimile apparatus according to the invention of claim 3, in the communication management information processing device of the facsimile device according to claim 1 or 2, the number of the communication management information is set before the set time. When a predetermined number is reached, or when the storable remaining capacity in the memory area of the communication management information storage means reaches a predetermined value, the communication management information is output to a recording sheet and the time setting means presets the next time. The control means is provided so as to automatically set the temporary output time before the output time.

[0010]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. 1 is an external perspective view of a facsimile apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic side sectional view. The main body 1 of the facsimile apparatus is surrounded by a lower cover 2 and an upper cover 3, and a receiver 4 is attached to one side of the lower cover 2. As shown in FIG. 2, in the lower cover 2, a cassette 6 in which a large number of recording sheets 5 are stacked and accommodated is set so as to be insertable and removable.

The recording paper 5 in the cassette 6 is rolled up one by one by a paper feed roller 7 above the recording paper 5, and a line type thermal head 9 and a platen roller 10 are driven by driving a conveying roller pair 8.
When the image data is received from another facsimile apparatus, it is conveyed to the position immediately before the printer 11 serving as an image recording unit, and when the image data is received from another facsimile apparatus, the printer 11 is passed from the supply reel 12 to the take-up reel 13. The received image is reproduced and recorded on the recording sheet 5 that is conveyed at the same speed as the ink sheet 14 that is wound up on the recording sheet, and is ejected from a sheet ejection port 16 through a sheet ejection roller pair 15 to a tray (not shown).

At the time of transmission, a document 17 placed on a document table 18 which is inclined forward and downward with respect to the upper surface of the upper cover 3 is placed below the openable / closable cover body 19 in front of the upper cover body 3. By driving the reading / separating roller 20 and the reading / conveying roller pair 21 which are arranged, the original 17 which has been passed through the reading section composed of the CCD scanner 22 and which has been read is ejected via the ejection roller pair 23 to the original ejection port 24. Is discharged to a discharge tray (not shown).

FIG. 3 shows a control device 29 of the facsimile machine.
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a central processing unit (CPU) 30 as a communication management information processing device, a ROM 31 storing a control program and a readable / writable nonvolatile memory (EEPR) storing programs and data of various functions.
OM) 32 and RAM 3 for storing various data
3, a voice integrated circuit (LSI) 34 in which answering voices for answering machines and the like are stored, a handset 4, and a network communication control unit (NC) for performing line control through a telephone exchange 44 of an external telephone.
U) 35, a buffer 36 for temporarily storing coded image data transmitted and received between the modem 36 that modulates and demodulates a signal at the time of transmission / reception and a facsimile machine on the called side. A memory 37, a coding unit 38 for coding image data to be transmitted, and a CCD in the document reading unit
The scanner 22, the decoding unit 39 for decoding the received image data, the printer 11 including the thermal head 9 and the like, the image memory 40 for storing the received image data, and the answering machine function are activated. It is connected by a bus 49 to a voice memory 41 for storing a message or the like from the other party's telephone.

Further, the CPU 30 has an output time setting key 42a for setting an output time, which will be described later, a ten-key pad 42b for designating the telephone number of the other party, and the like, and an operation panel 42 for executing operations such as transmission. A clock circuit 43 capable of outputting time information with a calendar function for date, time, etc.
A counter 45 for counting the number of pieces of communication management information stored in the communication management information storage area 33a; and an operation panel 42.
The character generator 46 for displaying characters on the liquid crystal display 42c in FIG. 1 or for generating characters of the character corresponding to the character code for printing the characters on the printer 11 and the speaker 47 for amplifying the sound. It is mutually connected by a bus 49 to an amplifier 48 for outputting.

The EEPROM 32 stores a shortened telephone number storage area 32a, a destination telephone number storage area 32b, a communication state storage area 32c, and a function storage in which programs and data of various functions such as a communication mode are stored. An area 32d and an output time storage area 32e for storing and storing a set output time, which will be described later, are provided. Further, the RAM 33 has a communication management information storage area 33a for storing communication date and time.

Next, the processing of the communication management information in the facsimile apparatus configured as described above will be described. First, in order to set (designate) the time when the recording paper 5 of the communication management information is output, the operator presses the output time setting key 42a on the operation panel 42 to enter the output time setting mode, and the ten-key portion of the operation panel 42 is entered. After pressing 42b and inputting the desired output time, output time setting key 4 again
When 2a is pressed, this designated time is stored in the output time storage area 32e in the EEPROM 32 in the table format as shown in FIG. When there is no data in this table (when there is no time setting), Table (1) = data END.

If desired, 24 hours can be set as one cycle, and a plurality of n-1 (for example, about 5 to 10) arbitrary times can be set during the cycle. The set output times are stored in the output time storage area 32e of the EEPROM 32 in a state of being sorted in time order, as shown in FIG. Depending on the workplace, there are times when communication frequency is high and times when communication frequency is extremely low, such as at night, for example, as shown in FIG. In the time zone from 5 pm to 6 pm at the end of work, the output time is set to a large number so that the time interval becomes short. On the other hand, in the time zone from nighttime to midnight and early morning, the output time is set with a small number so as to have a long time interval.

Then, every time there is a transmission / reception, the CPU 3
In response to a command from 0, the destination telephone number is read from the destination telephone number storage area 32b when transmitting, the destination telephone number or name is extracted from the received data when receiving, and is output from the clock circuit 43. The date and time of transmission / reception are stored in the communication management information storage area 33a as the communication management information storage means. Further, the number of originals at the time of transmission / reception and the result of transmission / reception error are also stored in the communication management information storage area 33a. In addition,
When the power of the facsimile apparatus is turned off due to a power failure or the like, and it is difficult to erase the previously stored data of the communication management information, the data may be stored in a predetermined area of the EEPROM 32.

Data is stored in the communication management information storage area 33a in a first-in first-out (FIFO) format. That is, when the communication management information storage area 33a is filled with the stored data and new data is to be stored therein, old data (the previously inserted data, the first part of the area shown in FIG. 6, the communication management information The data is output (erased) in order from A). In FIG. 6, when the capacity of the communication management information storage area 33a is k,
Writing is sequentially performed from 1 while advancing the WP (write pointer) one by one. On the other hand, while also incrementing the RP (lead point) by 1, this is also read sequentially from 1.

Normally, all the data (communication management information) stored in the communication management information storage area 33a is stored in the buffer memory 37 at each of the set output times.
Once stored in the printer 11, the data is developed into a character pattern to be printed by the printer 11 in cooperation with the character generator 46, and the data of the character pattern is printed line by line in the printer 11.
Is printed on the recording paper 5 and output. In this case, the output communication management information data is erased from the communication management information storage area 33a.

Next, control for outputting a report of communication management information at each set output time will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, in order to determine whether or not the output time is set, Table (1) ≠ data END is determined based on the data in the output time storage area 32e of the EEPROM 32 (S1). If there is no data in the table of the output time storage area 32e, Table (1) =
This is the data END.

When the output time is set (S1: yes
s), first set the table number n to 0 (initial setting)
(S2), the table number n is incremented by 1 (S3), and whether the current time has already passed the output time corresponding to the table number n (not including the same time), that is, the current time It is determined whether or not time> Table (n) (S4).

When the current time has passed the output time corresponding to the table number 1, for example, when the current time is 11:00 am (S4: yes), the process returns to S3 and the table number n is set. It is incremented by 1, and it is determined whether or not the output time corresponding to the updated table number 2 has passed 10:00 am (S4). In this way, the processes of S3 and S4 are repeatedly executed until the current time is first exceeded.

If the current time has not passed the set output time, that is, if the current time is 11:00 am and the output time corresponding to the table number 3 is noon (S4: no), then, The current time is the table number n
It is determined whether it is the same as the output time corresponding to (S)
5). In this case, since the current time is before the set output time (the output time corresponding to the table number 3) (S5: no), the current time is set to the set output time noon (12:00). Wait (S5). When the current time reaches the set output time (S5: yes), R
The communication management information stored in the communication management information storage area 33a of the AM 33 is printed out on the recording paper 5 by the printer 11 in the oldest order (S6). Then, the table number n is incremented by 1 (S7), and it is determined whether the updated data of the table number n is the data END (S8). When the data of the table number n is the data END (S8: yes), the table number n is forcibly set to 1 (S9), and the process returns to S5 to start the communication management information output process on the next day.

On the other hand, after the table number is incremented in S7, if the data of the table number n is not the data END (S8: no), the process directly returns to S5 and the communication at the next set output time is performed. The output process of the management information is started. By the way, in the working hours, the communication management information storage area 33a is set after the previous output and before the next set output time.
If there is a large amount of transmission / reception that exceeds the memory capacity of, if the memory capacity is exceeded, the old data will be automatically deleted in order as described above.
It becomes a problem in management of communication management information. Therefore, when the storable portion of the memory capacity of the communication management information storage area 33a as the storage means becomes small or the storable portion is exhausted, the operator or the administrator is notified and the recording paper 5 is manually operated. Prompt output and ensure that old data can be recorded and saved.

Therefore, in the first embodiment, every time there is a transmission / reception, the communication management information stored (stored) in the communication management information storage area 33a as the communication management information storage means by the counter 45. Is counted, and when the number reaches a predetermined value set in advance, the liquid crystal display unit 42c
To display a message such as "Please operate the communication management report output key." Or blink an LED lamp (not shown) for alarm provided on the operation panel 42 and generate a buzzer alarm sound. It is configured to notify a person such as generation of a special telephone ringing tone or generation of a voice message of the above-mentioned words stored in advance in the voice LSI through the amplifier 48 and the speaker 47. If such an alert is noticed, the operator or the administrator manually outputs the recording paper 5 (by pressing the communication management report output key for manual output (manual output of the management report) on the operation panel 42). .

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the control of the notification process. When the power is turned on, the control program starts, and the initial setting is performed (S11). Here, the initial value of the WP (write pointer) is 0, and RP
The initial value of (read pointer) is set to 1, and the management information flag for determining the presence or absence of communication management information data is set to 0 (0
Means no data).

Next, it is determined whether or not there is a transmission or reception communication (S12). When there is communication (S12: yes), the value of the WP is incremented by 1 for each communication (S13), and W is set at the increased position.
Move P (write pointer). Whether or not the number k of pieces of communication management information that can be stored in the communication management information storage area 33a (in other words, the maximum number that can be stored) is exceeded, that is,
It is determined whether WP = k + 1 (S14). If it can be stored in the communication management information storage area 33a (S14: no),
Next, it is determined whether the management information flag is 1 (S1).
5). Since the management information flag is 0 until the first communication,
S15 is no. Next, after writing the data of the first communication management information A in the first area (1) of the communication management information storage area 33a and setting the management information flag to 1 (S16), the above S12 is executed. Return to.

Then, when there is the next communication (S12:
Yes), the WP value is incremented by 1 as in the above (S13), and the WP (write pointer) is moved to the increased position. Therefore, this time (at the time of the second communication), WP = 2. If it is determined that it can be stored in the communication management information storage area 33a this time (S14: no), the determination in S15, that is, whether the management information flag = 1 is determined. Since the management information flag is set to 1 in S16, the determination result in S15 is yes.
Next, the position (number) of WP (write pointer) and RP
The position (number) of (read pointer) is compared (S1
7).

Here, WP (write pointer) and RP
The (read pointer) is composed of a ring buffer that operates independently. Further, the RP (read pointer) indicates the position of the beginning when the recording paper 5 is output, in other words, when the communication management information to be output is read, while the WP (write pointer) indicates communication. Each time, the communication management information is stored in the communication management information storage area 33a.
It shows the latest position to be written in one section.

Therefore, when the WP reaches the point k in FIG. 4 and the writing is completed, it returns to the position 1 (S24).
In addition, WP is set at the position of RP without output to the recording paper 5.
When he catches up, after incrementing RP by 1,
When the WP comes to the previous position, the oldest data will be erased. Therefore, in S17, WP =
In RP (condition when both WP and WP are 1) or (| WP | − | RP |) = 1 (condition when WP exceeds 1 and is less than k), there is an empty area in the communication management information storage area 33a. Since there is a possibility that the data of the oldest communication management information may be erased when there is no communication, and the next communication is performed, "the communication management storage area is full" is displayed on the liquid crystal display 42c. Then, the warning process for generating a violent warning sound is executed (S18), and when WP = RP (S19: yes), RP is incremented by 1 (S20).

Then, it is judged whether or not RP = k + 1 (S
21), if RP = k + 1, that is, if at least one piece of old communication management information is rewritten with new communication management information (S21: yes), PR = 1 is forcibly set (S22), and the above S16 is executed. Transition. Also, RP ≠ k +
In the case of 1 (S21: no), the process directly proceeds to S16.

Next, in S16, the data of the communication management information by this communication is written in the first area (1) of the communication management information storage area 33a, and the management information flag is set to 1.
, And the process returns to S12. On the other hand, in S17, 2 ≦ (| WP | − | RP |)
When ≦ m, the communication management information storage area 33a has no more than two empty areas, which is less than m, and there is no room. Therefore, in the liquid crystal display 42c, “Please operate the communication management report output key.” Character display or operation panel 42
An alarm process is executed to notify the administrator of the fact by blinking the LED lamp for alarm provided in the above or generating a gentle alarm sound (S23). After that, the flow for returning from S16 to S12 is executed as described above.

In S17, (| WP |-
When | RP |)> m, communication management information storage area 3
Since there are more than m free areas in 3a and there is room,
The flow for returning from S16 to S12 is executed in the same manner as above without generating the above-mentioned display or alarm. The warning process may correspond to the notification process performed by the notification means of the present invention, or the warning process may correspond to the notification process.

Further, as another embodiment, instead of notifying based on the number of stored communication management information as in the above embodiment, a storable free area is stored in the memory area of the communication management information area 33a. When the (remaining capacity) reaches a predetermined value, the above-mentioned display or the LED lamp for alarm provided on the operation panel 42 blinks, or an alarm is generated to notify an administrator or the like, and output to the recording paper 5 by manual operation. It is also possible to encourage work. Further, it is also possible to control so that the recording paper 5 is automatically output instead of the manual operation at the time of the notification.

Next, what is to be done of the processing after the recording paper 5 is manually output before the output time set by the administrator due to the alarm notification as described above. Is a problem. Therefore, in another embodiment, before the output time set as described above, the number of remaining communication management information is t or less, or the capacity of the remaining memory area is less than or equal to a predetermined amount, When there is a manual (or automatic) output to the recording paper 5, the manual (or automatic) output time (temporary output time) is stored in the RAM 33, and after the next day, the temporary output time is also stored. By controlling so that the output to the recording paper 5 can be executed, it becomes similar to the case where the operator corrects the setting of the output time, and the communication management work is simplified. Then, the temporary output time data or all the output time data may be output to the recording paper 5 later and used as a reference material for the output time setting work later.

In still another embodiment, for example, the preset output time is 10:00 am, but the number of pieces of communication management information is t or less, or the capacity of the remaining memory area is a predetermined amount or less. When the automatic output time to the recording paper 5 is 9:30 am, the recording paper 5
The output time to (9:30 am) is stored in the communication state storage area 32c in the EEPROM 32 instead of the next output time (10 am). As a result, after the next day, the corrected set output time (9: 3 am
When the recording paper 5 is controlled to be output every 0 minutes, the old data is not lost and the recording paper 5 can be automatically and surely obtained in the actual situation. In this case, it is possible to separately output a list of changed set output times or a list of latest set output times (including the changed output time) to the recording paper 5 to notify the administrator of that. .

As yet another embodiment, as described above, a plurality of output times are initially set, and the output times for the following several days (for example, one week) (normal set output time and manual output time) are set. It is also possible to store (or automatically) both output times) in the EEPROM 32 for observation. And the actual output time interval is within a predetermined time (for example, the interval is within 2 hours)
Of the minimum time interval among them, or the average value of the time interval is calculated, and from the standard setting output time of one day (for example, 8:00 am every day), the minimum time interval or the average time interval is calculated. The set output time may be determined so that the recording paper 5 is automatically output. In this case, the changed setting output time list or the latest setting output time list (including the changed output time)
It goes without saying that a separate output is made on the recording paper 5 to notify the administrator of that fact.

[0039]

As described in detail above, the first aspect of the present invention is as follows.
A communication management information processing apparatus for a facsimile machine according to the invention described above, a communication management information storage means for storing communication management information for each communication by the facsimile machine, a time setting means for setting an output time of the communication management information, A recording unit that outputs the communication management information stored in the communication management information storage unit to a recording sheet at each set output time by the time setting unit is provided.

Therefore, the recording sheet can be automatically output at every set output time, so if the administrator or the like waits for the output from the facsimile device at that time, the recording sheet can always be secured, and the communication management information can be obtained. It is possible to eliminate the problem that the recording paper described with is mixed with the paper on which an image is recorded by another reception.

According to a second aspect of the communication management information processing apparatus of the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, in the communication management information processing apparatus of the facsimile apparatus of the first aspect, the time setting means is set to a plurality of arbitrary times of 24 hours. Is configured to be settable. As described above, if 24 hours are set as one cycle and arbitrary plural times are set, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, communication information management is performed as a normal weekday daily operation. There is an effect that can be performed at a fixed time.

Further, in the communication management information processing apparatus of the facsimile apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, in the communication management information processing apparatus of the facsimile apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the communication management information is set before the set time. When the number of the communication management information reaches a predetermined number, or when the storable remaining capacity in the memory area of the communication management information storage means reaches a predetermined value, the communication management information is output to a recording sheet and the time setting means preliminarily outputs it. The control means is provided so as to automatically set the temporary output time before the set next output time.

In this way, when the number of pieces of communication management information stored in the communication management information storage means reaches a predetermined value before the set output time, in other words, it is stored in the communication management information storage means. If the communication management information is not output as a recording sheet when the number of records that can be recorded is reduced or cannot be stored any more, there is a risk that old data will be lost. Since the paper can be output, it is possible to reliably secure the recording paper without erasing the old communication management information stored in the communication management information storage means.

Moreover, the temporary output time is stored, and the output on and after the next day can be controlled so that the output to the recording paper is executed at the temporary output time in addition to the preset output time. For example, this is the same as the case where the operator corrects the setting of the output time, and the communication management work is simplified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a facsimile device.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side sectional view of a facsimile device.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a control device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the contents of an output time table.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a distribution of set output times within one day (24 hours), where Δ indicates a set output time portion.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of a communication management information storage area.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of communication management information report output control.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of output processing control.

[Explanation of symbols]

 5 Recording Paper 11 Printer 29 Control Device 30 CPU 32 EEPROM 32e Output Time Storage Area 33 RAM 33a Communication Management Information Storage Area 42a Output Time Setting Key 42c Liquid Crystal Display 43 Clock Circuit 45 Counter 47 Speaker

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A communication management information storage means for storing communication management information for each communication by a facsimile apparatus, a time setting means for setting an output time of the communication management information, and a set output time by the time setting means. A communication management information processing apparatus for a facsimile machine, comprising: a recording unit that outputs the communication management information stored in the communication management information storage unit to a recording sheet. 2. The communication management information processing apparatus for a facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the time setting means is configured to be able to set arbitrary plural times of 24 hours. 3. The communication management information when the number of pieces of communication management information reaches a predetermined number before the set time, or when the storable remaining capacity in the memory area of the communication management information storage means reaches a predetermined value. And output it to recording paper,
The control means for controlling so that the temporary output time is automatically set before the next output time preset by the time setting means is provided.
A communication management information processing apparatus for a facsimile apparatus according to 1.