JPH09130571A - Facsimile equipment and its transmission method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify the entry operation of a setting value in the case of new installation of a facsimile equipment or in the case of revising the setting value. SOLUTION: At first an operation section 3 is used to enter a setting value and the entered setting value is stored in a main memory 6. In the case of revising the setting value, a setting value desired to be revised is entered. Then the setting value is printed on paper sheet by a print section 2 with items of the setting value and a symbol denoting the recognition position for each setting value. In the case of setting a new setting value, the setting value is entered by reading the printed paper sheet by an image read section 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and a transmission method for setting various setting values in a facsimile machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A facsimile machine must be set variously depending on the environment in which it is used. In the conventional facsimile apparatus, input of each setting value is often specified manually for each item. In addition, the current value of each set value can usually be printed on paper. In general, a facsimile machine does not have a function of saving various set values in an external storage device and restoring them. In some cases, a dedicated maintenance device that allows you to change, save, and enter all set values online is supported.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional facsimile apparatus, when the set value is erased for some reason, the user must reset the item one by one from the beginning. The number of setting items of the facsimile device is enormous, and inputting these items one by one not only requires a great amount of time and labor for the user, but also there is a risk of input error. Setting values can be saved and restored if a dedicated maintenance device is supported, but such devices are not possessed by general users and must be requested to the manufacturer's support staff. In this case, the setting value must be saved each time the setting value is changed, and if the setting value is changed relatively frequently like a telephone number, the latest value must not be saved. There is.

[0004]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a facsimile apparatus having a reading unit for reading a transmission original and a printing unit for printing received data, and sets various preset values as item names. Along with the function of printing on the paper in the printing unit in a format that can be read by the reading unit, the function of reading the various setting values and item names printed on the paper by the reading unit, and the various setting values and item names read It is characterized by having a function to collectively set.

According to the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, when setting a new setting value, the reading unit reads various setting values printed in a readable format in advance and their item names. The various set values read are set in the device itself. As a result, the set values are collectively set.

Further, in the transmission method of the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, the transmission destination number and the identification information are printed on a sheet, the transmission destination number is stored in the storage unit, and the printed transmission destination number and the identification information are read by the reading unit. It is characterized in that the transmission destination number is read from the storage unit according to the reading result and the transmission destination number is called.

According to the above invention, the destination number printed in advance is read by the reading unit, and the destination number is read from the storage unit according to the read result. Then, call this transmission number. This eliminates the need to input the destination number.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. Elements common to the drawings are assigned the same reference numerals. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a facsimile apparatus according to the first embodiment.

In FIG. 1, an image reading unit 1 reads image data from a document set in a document insertion port of the apparatus.
It also controls the mechanism of the scanner unit for reading an image and performs image processing on the read image. The printing unit 2 prints the given image data on a sheet. The operation unit 3 has a keyboard and a display unit, receives an input signal by an operation performed by the user, and displays a message to the user. The communication control unit 4 controls transmission / reception of facsimile communication through a communication line and voice communication through a built-in telephone.

The image memory 5 is an area for accumulating the image memory. The image input through the image reading unit 1,
Images received through the communication line and various reports generated in the facsimile device are stored in a compressed or non-compressed state, and the printing unit 2 or the communication control unit 4 is stored as necessary.
Is forwarded to The main memory 6 stores programs for controlling the facsimile apparatus, various set values, telephone numbers, communication records and the like. The control unit 7 also executes a program stored in the main memory 6 to control the entire apparatus.

When a facsimile machine is newly installed, various setting values are input. Also, when changing the setting contents and the registered contents, a new setting value is input. Next, the set value input operation when changing the set value will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the set value input operation of the first embodiment.

First, the user operates the operation unit 3 to give an instruction to change the set value (step 1). As a result, the manual input processing of the set value is started. The control unit 7
Various setting items in the main memory 6 and the current value of each item are displayed on the operation unit 3 (step 2) to prompt the user to select a change item. When the user selects a change item (step 3),
Enter new setting value input processing. There are two types of setting values, one for inputting numbers or alphabets depending on the item, and the other for determining from several options. The control unit 7 performs appropriate input processing according to the attribute of each item in the main memory 6 (step 4). .

When inputting a set value, the operation unit 3
Is displayed on the display section of (step 5). When the user inputs a set value using the keyboard of the operation unit 3 (step 6), the control unit 7 checks whether the input value is appropriate (step 7), and then the corresponding item in the main memory 6 is checked. The setting content is changed to the input value (step 8).
When selecting a setting value from the options, the control unit 7 displays the setting value to be selected on the display unit of the operation unit 3 (step 9). When the setting value is selected by the user (step 1
0), the setting content of the corresponding item is changed to the selected setting value (step 8). By repeating the above processing, settings suitable for the environment in which the facsimile machine is used are performed.

The various set values set for the facsimile machine to which the various set values are set are printed. Next, this printing operation will be described. FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the print operation of the set values in the first embodiment.

First, the user operates the operation unit 3 to designate printing of the set value report, thereby starting the printing operation. In step 11, an area for storing the report image is secured in the image memory 5. Drawing work is performed on this area. First, the header of the report title, date, telephone number, machine ID, etc. is drawn (step 12). Titles and headers are drawn at the same positions as in general reports. Next, the identification symbol and the recognition position indicating symbol are drawn in the upper left portion (step 13). The identification symbol is a symbol indicating that it is a set value report, and this symbol and the recognition position indicating symbol are used for determining the recognition area of each set value in the subsequent input operation. Next, a title, a current set value (character), and a recognition symbol indicating the value of each set value are drawn for each item (step 14). An example of the print result is shown in FIG.

FIG. 4A shows the overall print result, and FIG.
4B shows an identification symbol and a position designating symbol printed on the upper left portion, and FIG. 4C shows setting items and setting values. As shown in these figures, the title 11a of the report is printed on the upper center and the headers 11b are printed on the upper right. The identification symbol 11c and the recognition position indicating symbol 11d are printed on the upper left portion of the report, and the identification symbol 11c is represented by a bar code. The items 11e and the set values 11f and 11g are arranged and printed in a grid pattern for the number of items. Each item 11e
The set value 11f is printed in characters, and the set value 11g is printed in a bar code. This barcode is printed as a recognition symbol that represents the set value. The identification symbol 11c and the set value 11g can be other types of symbols instead of the barcode. For example, a character for an optical character reader (OCR) may be used as the form of the symbol indicating the set value. Alternatively, since it is basically read by the same device as the printing device, a unique symbol may be created and used.

The drawing position of each set value item is stored in the main memory 6 as relative coordinates from the recognition position designating symbol. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the inside of the main memory. As shown in the drawing, each symbol is stored in the main memory 6 as graphic data, and an appropriate symbol is combined and drawn according to the value of each set value in the main memory 6.

When the drawing is completed, the image data is printed by the printing unit 3.
(Step 15) and printing is started. Printing is performed in the same manner as a normal printing operation. When the printing is completed, a message indicating the completion of printing is displayed on the display unit of the operation unit 3, and the facsimile machine returns to the standby state.

When the various set values of the facsimile are erased for some reason, it is necessary to input new set values. In these cases, use the printed Settings Report to enter the settings. Next, the input operation using the set value report will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the input operation of the set value. The input device is the same as the printing device. Therefore, the hardware configuration of the device will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the user operates the operation unit 3 to specify batch input of set values. The set value report is set in the document insertion slot according to the instruction displayed on the display unit of the operation unit 3. As a result, the set value batch input operation is started. Even if the set value report is set in the document insertion port first and then the set value batch input is designated, the batch input operation is similarly started.

The image reading section 1 reads the set value report in the same manner as the normal document reading, performs appropriate image processing such as smoothing, and then transfers the read data to the image memory 5 (step 21). At this time, the image compression process is not performed. First, recognition processing is performed on the upper left part of the image to check whether the read image is a set value report. At the upper left position in the image, the recognition position indicating symbol 11d is printed together with the symbol 11c indicating the set value report. First, the recognition position indicating symbol 11d is detected (step 22). Since the recognition position indicating symbol 11d has a relatively simple form, a simple template matching method is applied for recognition. That is, it is a method of determining whether or not they have the same shape by overlapping with a sample of the position indicating symbol stored in the main memory 6 in advance. When it is determined that the position information is appropriate by detecting the position indicating symbol 11d (step 23), the area above it is indicated by the symbol 11 indicating the type of report.
Recognition processing is performed as an area where c exists (step 2).
4). If the document is different from the recognition target by this recognition processing (step 25), a message to that effect is displayed on the display unit of the operation unit 3 (step 26), the document is ejected, and the facsimile apparatus is placed in the standby state. Return.

If there is no abnormality in step 25, the reading operation for each set value is started. The position where the data of each set value is printed is stored in advance in the main memory 6 as relative coordinates from the recognized position indicating symbol 11d, as described above. The recognition target area for each set value obtains a value from the position and relative coordinates of the recognition position indicator 11d (step 2).
7). A corresponding area is cut out from the image data, and recognition processing is executed by software (step 2
8). It is checked whether the obtained value is an appropriate value (step 29), and the value is stored in the corresponding location of the set value storage area in the main memory 6 (step 30). Such recognition processing is performed for all areas (steps 31, 3).
2).

If the location cannot be read for some reason, the fact is displayed on the display unit of the operation unit 3, the setting value is not changed, and the operation for recognizing the next area is started.

When the processing of all the set value areas is completed,
The original is ejected, a new set value report is printed for confirmation (step 33), and the user is requested to confirm. If there is an item for which the correct set value is not set, the user manually inputs the correct value as in the case of inputting the normal set value.

As described above, various setting values of the facsimile apparatus are printed in a machine-readable format, and the printed setting value report is read by the reading unit, so that the setting values can be automatically input all at once. When various setting values are erased for some reason, if the setting value report is printed before being erased, the previous settings can be easily restored by reading this setting value report. Further, even when the same facsimile machine is newly introduced, the setting value can be input quickly and easily.

Next, a facsimile apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described. The hardware configuration of the facsimile apparatus of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. The difference from the first embodiment is that the setting value report includes a recognition position indicating symbol. In addition to the above, a symbol indicating the position of the recognition target area in the reading operation is printed. Further, since the operation of inputting the set value is the same as that of the first embodiment, the printing operation will be described. FIG. 7 is the second
5 is a flowchart showing a printing operation of the embodiment.

First, the user operates the operation unit 3 to designate the printing of the set value report, whereby the printing operation is started. In step 41, an area for storing the report image is secured in the image memory 5. Drawing work is performed on this area. First, a report title and headers are drawn (step 42). Titles and headers are drawn at the same positions as in general reports. Next, the identification symbol and the recognition position indicating symbol are drawn in the upper left portion (step 43). The identification symbol is a symbol indicating that it is a set value report, and this symbol and the recognition position indicating symbol are used for determining the recognition area of each set value in the subsequent input operation.

Next, a region designating symbol for determining the position of the recognition symbol of each item is drawn (step 4).
4). The recognition area indicating symbol is composed of a symbol indicating the vertical position and a symbol indicating the horizontal position of the recognition symbol of each item. Next, a title, a current set value (character), and a recognition symbol indicating the value of each set value are drawn for each item (step 45).
When the drawing is completed, the image data is transferred to the printing unit 3 (step 46) and printing is started. Printing is performed in the same manner as a normal printing operation. When printing is completed, the operation unit 3
A message indicating the end of printing is displayed on the display section of, and the facsimile apparatus returns to the standby state. An example of the print result is shown in FIG.

FIG. 8A shows the overall printing result, and FIG.
FIG. 8B shows an identification symbol, a position designating symbol, and a recognition area designating symbol printed on the upper left portion, and FIG. 8C shows correspondence between the setting value printed with the recognition symbol and the recognition area designating symbol. Show the relationship. As shown in these figures, the title 11a of the report is printed on the upper center and the headers 11b are printed on the upper right. Identification symbol 11c and recognition position indicating symbol 11d
Is printed in the upper left part of the report, and each item 11e and the set values 11f and 11g are printed in a grid pattern for the number of items. As the recognition area indicating symbol, a symbol 11h indicating the horizontal position of the recognition target area (the area where the recognition symbol 11g indicating the setting value of each item exists) and a symbol 11i indicating the vertical position of the recognition target area are printed. Horizontal symbol 11h
Is the recognition symbol 1 in the horizontal direction, as shown in FIG.
Printed in the same range as the 1g area, the vertical symbol 11i
It is printed in the same range as the area of the recognition symbol 11g in the vertical direction.

When the printing operation is completed, an end message is displayed on the display section of the operation section 3 and the facsimile machine returns to the standby state.

Next, the setting value input operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the set value input operation of the second embodiment.

First, the user operates the operation unit 3 to specify batch input of set values. The set value report is set in the document insertion slot according to the instruction displayed on the display unit of the operation unit 3. As a result, the set value batch input operation is started. Even if the set value report is set in the document insertion port first and then the set value batch input is designated, the batch input operation is similarly started.

The image reading unit 1 reads the set value report and performs appropriate image processing such as smoothing as in the case of normal document reading, and then transfers the read data to the image memory 5 (step 51). At this time, the image compression process is not performed. First, recognition processing is performed on the upper left part of the image to check whether the read image is a set value report. At the upper left position in the image, a symbol 11c indicating the set value report and a symbol 11d for indicating the recognized position are printed. First, the symbol 11d for indicating the recognized position is detected (step 52). Since the recognition position indicating symbol 11d has a relatively simple form, a simple template matching method is applied to the recognition also in this case. When it is determined that the position information is appropriate by detecting the position indicating symbol 11d (step 53), the area above it is indicated by the symbol 11 indicating the type of report.
Recognition processing is performed as an area where c exists (step 5).
4). If the document is different from the recognition target by this recognition processing (step 55), a message to that effect is displayed on the display unit of the operation unit 3 (step 56), the document is ejected, and the facsimile apparatus enters the standby state. Return.

If it is determined in step 55 that the original is proper and there is no abnormality, then the recognition area indicator 11
The operation for detecting h and 11i starts (step 57). Since the recognition area indicating symbols 11h and 11i have the same horizontal position or vertical position as the recognition position indicating symbol 11d, they can be found by checking in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction with the recognition position indicating symbol 11d as a base point. Since the recognition area indicating symbols 11h and 11i have a simple form, they are also recognized by the template matching method.

If the area information is found to be appropriate,
The recognition processing of the set value for each item is started. The area where the symbol 11g representing the setting value of each item exists is determined by the recognition area indicator symbols 11h and 11i (step 5).
9). That is, the upper horizontal symbol 11h indicates the horizontal position and width of the recognition target area, and the vertical symbol 11i at the left end portion indicates the vertical position and height of the recognition target area.

When the target area is determined, this area is cut out and recognition processing is performed by software (step 60). The value obtained by the recognition is checked to see if it is an appropriate value (step 61) and replaced with the current set value in the main memory 6 (step 62). Recognition processing is performed for all areas (steps 63 and 64), and when all recognition processing is completed, the set value report is discharged,
Print a new settings report for confirmation (step 6
5) Ask the user for confirmation. If there is an item for which the correct set value is not set, the user manually inputs the correct value as in the case of inputting the normal set value.

As described above, according to the second embodiment,
When reading the set value report printed in a re-entrant format, the set value report can be used to determine the position of the area to be recognized, even if the device does not have information about the position of the area to be recognized in advance. It can be done according to.
Therefore, the recognition process is possible even when the set value report is enlarged or reduced. Further, the print position of each item can be made variable, and the layout can be freely performed according to the number of items to be printed.

Next, a third embodiment will be described.
The third embodiment relates to a transmission method of a facsimile apparatus, and is one that simplifies the input operation of the transmission destination by the user when transmitting a document.

The hardware configuration of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. In this embodiment,
When sending a document, print a sheet that can automatically identify the recipient. First, the printing operation of the cover sheet for identifying the destination will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the cover sheet printing operation of the third embodiment.

First, the user specifies the printing of the transmission destination identification cover sheet by the operation unit 3. This starts the printing operation, and the control unit 7 prompts the user to input the destination. The user inputs the telephone number of the destination using the keyboard of the operation unit 3 (step 71). For inputting the destination, a so-called one-touch key or a speed dial may be used to specify a destination registered in advance.

An area for a cover sheet is secured in the image memory 5 (step 72), and a print image is drawn in this area. First, a title and headers are drawn (step 73), and an identification symbol and a position pointing symbol are drawn in the upper left portion (step 74). Next, a symbol and a character representing the destination telephone number are drawn in the center of the paper (step 75).
Each symbol is generated by combining the symbols stored in the main memory 6 so as to represent the input destination telephone number. The drawing position of the transmission destination telephone number is stored in advance in the main memory 6 as relative coordinates from the position indicating symbol, as in the first embodiment.

The generated image is transferred to the printing unit 2 (step 76) and printed on paper. As a result, the cover sheet for automatic identification is printed. FIG. 11 shows the print result of the cover sheet. FIG. 11A shows the entire print result, and FIG. 11B shows a part of the print result. The identification symbol 11c is a symbol that indicates a cover sheet.
The position indicating symbol 11d is the destination telephone number symbol 11
It is a symbol for indicating the positions of j and 11k. The destination telephone number symbol 11j is represented by characters, and the destination telephone number symbol 11k is printed as a bar code.

Next, the transmission operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the transmission operation of the third embodiment. The user places a preprinted cover sheet on top of the transmission original and sets it in the original insertion port as in the case of normal transmission. Then, the destination automatic identification transmission is designated by the operation unit 3 (step 81).

When the automatic transmission identification of the transmission destination is designated, the control unit 7 instructs the image reading unit 1 to read the first sheet, that is, the cover sheet. The image on the cover sheet read by the reading unit 1 is stored in the image memory 5 (step 8).
2). At this time, the image data is not compressed.

Next, image recognition processing is performed. First, recognition processing is performed on the identification symbol 11c (step 8).
3) It is checked whether the read image is a cover sheet (step 84). Next, the recognition position indicating symbol 11d
Is recognized (step 85), and it is checked whether the position information is appropriate (step 86). When it is determined that the processing cannot be performed in steps 84 and 86, the fact is displayed on the display unit of the operation unit 3 (step 87).

If there is no abnormality, the position pointing symbol 11d
The position of the destination telephone number area is determined from the detected position of (1) and the relative coordinates of the destination telephone number area stored in the main memory 6 in advance (step 88), and the image is cut out from the image. Recognition processing is performed on the cut out area (step 8).
9) Obtain the destination telephone number. If the destination telephone number cannot be recognized (step 90), the fact is displayed on the display of the operation unit 3 to notify the user (step 91), and the original set in the insertion slot is ejected. To the reading unit 1 (step 92).

When the destination telephone number is obtained, the same processing as that for normal transmission is performed (step 93). The image of the cover sheet for automatic identification transmission read first is not transmitted.

As described above, according to the third embodiment,
By using the cover sheet for automatic identification transmission when transmitting the original, it is possible to greatly save the time and effort of inputting the telephone number of the other party for the second and subsequent transmissions. This function does not limit the number of recipients that can be automatically entered depending on the number of keys, and also eliminates the need to remember the abbreviated number in which the destination telephone number is registered.

[0049]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a function of printing various preset values together with item names in a format that can be read by the reading section on a sheet by the printing section, and a sheet Since the printer has a function of reading various setting values and item names printed on the printer with the reading unit and a function of collectively setting the read various setting values and item names, the setting values are provided to the facsimile device. It becomes possible to input all at once, and the input operation becomes extremely easy.

As a transmission method of the facsimile apparatus,
The destination number and the identification information are printed on paper, the destination number is stored in the storage unit, the printed destination number and the identification information are read by the reading unit, and the destination number is stored in the storage unit according to the reading result. Since this is read out and the transmission destination number is called, it becomes possible to transmit the original without inputting the transmission destination telephone number, and the transmission operation becomes extremely simple.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a facsimile apparatus according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a set value input operation according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a setting value printing operation according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a printing result according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the inside of a main memory.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a setting value input operation according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a printing operation according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a print result according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a set value input operation according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a printing operation according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a print result according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a transmission operation of the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 image reading unit 2 printing unit 5 image memory 6 main memory 7 control unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus having a reading unit for reading a transmission original and a printing unit for printing received data, wherein various preset values are printed together with item names in a format readable by the reading unit. Facsimile apparatus having a function of printing on a sheet, a function of reading various setting values and item names printed on paper by the reading unit, and a function of collectively setting various read setting values and item names . 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the various setting values are printed together with an ordinary character format. 3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit prints a recognition area instruction symbol that indicates a recognition area when reading various setting values, and the reading unit recognizes various setting values according to the recognition area instruction symbol. Facsimile machine. 4. A transmission method of a facsimile apparatus having an operation section for inputting operation instructions and a printing section for printing received data, wherein a transmission destination number and identification information are printed on paper, and the transmission destination number is stored in a storage unit. A method of transmitting a facsimile device, comprising: reading the stored and printed destination number and identification information, reading the destination number from the storage unit according to the read result, and calling the destination number.