JPH09149175A - Communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To send a sentence of an optional part of an original converted into voice information. SOLUTION: An area surrounded by lines in a prescribed color decided in advance is recognized based on a signal from a read section reading a transmission original (S6), characters in the area are recognized and converted into code data (S8), the code data string is converted into voice data (S9), and at first the voice data are converted into a voice signal and sent (S16), the voice signal is recorded in an automatic answering telephone set of a transmission destination and then the coded data of an image at the outside of the area are sent (S18).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication device capable of transmitting voice information and image information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, when a map and its description are received by facsimile, it is necessary to read the description while comparing the map and the description, especially when the description is long.
It is troublesome. In such a case, if it is possible to see the map while listening to the explanations by voice, it is very easy to understand and convenient.

[0003]

However, in the conventional facsimile apparatus, a part of the original cannot be transmitted as voice information. For this reason, in the above case, only the map should be sent by facsimile first, and then the explanation should be heard by telephone, which is troublesome.

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a communication device capable of converting a sentence of an arbitrary portion of a document into voice information and transmitting the voice information.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the communication device of the invention described in claim 1 is a communication device capable of transmitting voice information and image information, and has a predetermined mark. Area recognition means for recognizing the area on the original designated by the character recognition means, character recognition means for recognizing the characters within the area recognized by the area recognition means, and a sentence which is a set of characters recognized by the character recognition means. The audio conversion means for converting the information into information, and the transmission control means for transmitting the audio information converted by the audio conversion means and transmitting the image information outside the area recognized by the area recognition means at the time of transmission.

A communication device according to a second aspect of the present invention is a communication device having a reading unit capable of reading a color original document and capable of sending voice information and image information, and the reading unit reading the original document. Area recognition means for recognizing an area designated by a line of a predetermined color, a character recognition means for recognizing characters in the area recognized by the area recognition means, and a character recognition means. Voice conversion means for converting a sentence, which is a set of characters recognized by the voice conversion means, into voice information, and at the time of transmission, the voice information converted by the voice conversion means is transmitted, and the image information outside the area recognized by the area recognition means is transmitted. And a transmission control means for transmitting.

Further, the communication device according to the invention described in claim 3 is the communication device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the transmission control means preliminarily places in the area recognized by the area recognition means. The image information of a predetermined predetermined message text is inserted and transmitted.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of a color facsimile apparatus as an example of a communication apparatus according to the present invention. The color facsimile apparatus includes a CPU 1 and an NCU.
2, RAM 3, modem 4, ROM 5, EEPROM 6,
A gate array 7, a codec 8, a DMAC 9, a voice conversion unit 10, a reading unit 11, a recording unit 12, an operation unit 13, a display unit 14, and the like are provided. CPU1, NCU2, R
The AM 3, the modem 4, the ROM 5, the EEPROM 6, the gate array 7, the codec 8, the DMAC 9, and the voice conversion unit 10 are connected to each other by a bus line, and the gate array 7 has a reading unit 11, a recording unit 12, and an operation unit. Part 13,
And the display unit 14 is connected. The NCU 2 is connected to the modem 4, and the telephone line 21 is connected to the NCU 2.

The CPU 1 controls the entire color facsimile apparatus. The NCU 2 is connected to the telephone line 21 and performs network control. The RAM 3 stores various data and the like. The modem 4 performs modulation of transmission data and demodulation of reception data. The ROM 5 stores various programs and the like. The EEPROM 6 stores various flags and registration data. The gate array 7 functions as an input / output interface of the CPU 1 and also the reading unit 11
The RGB data sent from the device is converted into CMY data. The codec 8 includes an image codec section and an audio codec section, performs decoding processing of received image data, encoding processing of transmission image data, and the like, and converts the audio data from the audio conversion section 10 into an audio signal. DMA
C9 controls writing and reading of data in the RAM 3.
The voice conversion unit 10 converts a code data string of a sentence, which is a set of characters, into voice data. The reading unit 11 includes a CCD, a color separation filter for three colors, a document feeding motor, and the like, and reads a document and outputs R, G, and B color signals. The recording unit 12 is composed of an inkjet color printer, a sublimation type thermal transfer color printer, or the like, and is capable of color recording. The operation unit 13 includes a key switch group and the like, and outputs a signal according to a user operation. The display unit 14 includes an LCD or the like, and performs various displays under the control of the CPU 1.

The CPU 1 recognizes a region surrounded by a line of a predetermined color determined in advance based on a signal from the reading unit 11 that has read the transmission original, and an area recognition unit.
A character recognizing means for recognizing the characters in the area recognized by the area recognizing means, and the voice data converted by the voice converting section 10 at the time of transmission are converted into a voice signal by the codec 8 and transmitted, and then the area recognizing means. And a transmission control means for transmitting the image information outside the area recognized by.

Next, the transmission processing procedure of the color facsimile apparatus thus constructed will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. The destination, that is, the facsimile machine on the receiving side has an answering machine function.

First, the CPU 1 causes the reading unit 1 to be operated by the user.
It is determined whether or not the original is set to 1 (S1). This determination is made based on a detection signal from a document detection sensor (not shown) installed in the reading unit 11. As shown in FIG. 3, the manuscript has a map 22 drawn on the upper half portion thereof, and a description 23 of the map 22 is printed on the lower half portion thereof. The description 23 is surrounded by a blue line 24, for example. Then, the CPU 1 determines whether or not the start key of the operation unit 13 is pressed by the user (S2), and if the start key is pressed (S2: YES), the reading unit 11 is made to read the document (S3). As a result, the reading unit 11 outputs RGB
Data is output, and these are sent to the CM by the gate array 7.
It is converted into Y data and stored in the RAM 3 by the DMAC 9 (S4).

Then, the CPU 1 judges whether or not the reading of one page of the original is completed (S5), and if the reading is completed (S5: YES), the original of one page is surrounded by a line of a predetermined color. It is determined whether or not there is a region (S)
6). Specifically, the color of the read data for one page stored in the RAM 3 is checked pixel by pixel, only the blue pixels are extracted, and the blue pixels form a continuous line on the original. Then, it is checked whether the line is endless and surrounds a certain area. In the case of the original shown in FIG. 3, since the blue line 24 is closed, the above condition is satisfied. If there is a region surrounded by a line of a predetermined color, that is, blue (S6: YES), the CPU 1 calculates the address of the RAM 3 corresponding to the region and R
It is stored in AM3 (S7).

Then, the CPU 1 first reads all the addresses in the RAM 3 of the pixels in the area surrounded by the blue line from the RAM 3, reads the image data of those addresses, and recognizes them (S8). ), A code data string of a sentence that is a set of characters is generated, and the code data string is output to the voice conversion unit 10. As a result, the voice conversion unit 10 converts the code data string into voice data (S9) and stores it in the RAM 3 (S10). Since the methods of character recognition and voice conversion are well known, description thereof will be omitted.

Then, the CPU 1 reads the image data outside the area surrounded by the blue line from the RAM 3, encodes it in the codec 8 (S11), and stores it in the RAM 3 (S12). At this time, when recording on the receiving side,
The coded data corresponding to the fixed message is inserted and stored in the RAM 3 so that the fixed message of the phrase “description is voiced” is recorded at a predetermined position in the area. This encoded data may be stored in the EEPROM 6 in advance. Then, the CPU 1 determines whether or not the processing up to S12 is completed for all pages of the document (S13),
If it is completed (S13: YES), a call is made (S1
4) It is determined whether or not an incoming call has arrived (S15). If an incoming call has been received (S15: YES), the CPU 1 reads the voice data converted in S9 from the RAM 3, causes the codec 8 to convert the voice data, and controls the NCU 2 to transmit (S16). As a result, the transmitted voice signal is recorded by the answering machine function on the receiving side. And CPU
After transmitting the voice signal, 1 controls the NCU 2 to transmit the CNG signal (S17). As a result, the facsimile machine on the receiving side recognizes that a facsimile signal is sent, and exchanges the protocol. And CPU1
Reads out the coded data outside the area stored in the RAM 3 in S12, causes the modem 4 to modulate the coded data, and
2 is controlled and transmitted (S18). And CPU1
Judges whether the transmission is completed (S19), and if the transmission is completed (S19: YES), disconnects the line (S2).
0), the transmission process ends.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 4, the document recorded on the receiving side is only the part of the map 22, and the part surrounded by the blue line 24 in the transmitted document is "the explanation is a voice. The fixed message, "I will put it out in." Is recorded. Therefore, the recipient listens to the explanation recorded on the answering machine by voice while looking at the map 22.

If the transmission is not completed in S19 (S19: NO), the process returns to S18 and the transmission of the encoded data is continued.

In S15, if there is no incoming call (S1
5: NO), returns to S15 and waits for an incoming call. In this case, the calling may be stopped after a lapse of a predetermined time.

In S13, if the processing up to S12 has not been completed for all pages of the document (S13: NO),
The process returns to S3 to continue reading the original on the next page.

In S6, if the area surrounded by the line of the predetermined color, that is, the blue color, does not exist in the original for one page (S6: NO), the process proceeds to S11 and the CMY outside the area.
Encode the data. That is, if there is no area surrounded by the blue line, there is no need to convert it into audio data, so all CMY data on that page is encoded.

In S5, if the reading of one page of the document is not completed (S5: NO), the process returns to S3 and the reading of the document is continued.

If the user does not press down the start key of the operation unit 13 in S2 (S2: N
O), returns to S1 and waits for the start key to be pressed.

In S1, if the user has not set the document on the reading unit 11 (S1: NO), the process returns to S1 and waits for the document to be set.

As described above, the area surrounded by the line of the predetermined color, that is, the blue color is recognized based on the signal from the reading unit 11 which has read the transmission original (S6), and the characters in the area are recognized. Recognize and convert to code data (S
8) Convert the code data string into voice data (S
9) First, by converting the voice data into a voice signal and transmitting the voice signal (S16), the voice signal is recorded on the answering machine of the transmission destination, and then the encoded data of the image outside the area is transmitted ( Since S18), it is possible to convert the text of any part of the document into voice information and send it by simply surrounding it with a blue line using a marker or the like. Therefore, the recipient can listen to the explanation on the answering machine while looking at the received manuscript, and avoid the annoyance of having to read a long explanation while comparing the map in the received manuscript with its explanation. To be done.

In the above embodiment, the predetermined color of the line 24 that divides the area for transmitting voice information is blue. However, the predetermined color is not limited to blue, and red or green may be used. It can be a color. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the area for transmitting the audio information is partitioned by enclosing the area with a color line that does not have an end. However, color marks are added to the four corners of the area, or the end and the end of the area are added. You may partition by adding a color mark.

Further, in the above embodiment, the endless line is used to partition the area for transmitting the voice information, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a predetermined predetermined shape such as a star shape or a diamond shape is used. The area may be divided so as to be surrounded by the mark of, or by writing such a mark of a predetermined shape at the beginning and the end of the area to be transmitted by voice information,
The portion sandwiched by the marks may be converted into voice information and transmitted. In this case, of course, the mark does not have to be colored, and can be realized in a monochrome facsimile machine. Further, in the above embodiment, the encoded data of the image is transmitted after the audio data is transmitted, but the opposite may be the case. That is, the audio data may be transmitted after the encoded data of the image is transmitted.

Further, in the above embodiment, the fixed message text is recorded at the position corresponding to the predetermined area on the recording original, but the fixed message text is not always necessary.

Further, in the above embodiment, the mark for designating the area is provided on the document, but the mark for designating the area may be set on the display means. For example,
When a manuscript is created on a monitor screen using a personal computer and the manuscript is directly sent by facsimile without printing, a mark may be added on the monitor screen of the personal computer.

[0030]

As described above, according to the communication apparatus of the invention described in claim 1, the area recognition means for recognizing the area on the original designated by the predetermined mark and the area recognition means. The character recognition means for recognizing the characters in the area recognized by, the voice conversion means for converting a sentence, which is a set of characters recognized by the character recognition means, into voice information, and the voice conversion means at the time of transmission. Since the transmission control means for transmitting the voice information and the image information outside the area recognized by the area recognition means are provided, the text of an arbitrary part of the manuscript can be displayed only by designating the range with a predetermined mark. It can be converted into voice information and transmitted.
Therefore, the recipient can listen to the explanation on the answering machine while looking at the received manuscript, and avoid the annoyance of having to read a long explanation while comparing the map in the received manuscript with its explanation. To be done.

Further, according to the communication apparatus of the invention described in claim 2, the area recognition for recognizing the area designated by the line of the predetermined color determined in advance based on the signal from the reading unit which has read the original. Means, a character recognizing means for recognizing characters in the area recognized by the area recognizing means, a voice converting means for converting a sentence, which is a set of characters recognized by the character recognizing means, into voice information, and a voice when transmitting. Since the audio information converted by the converting means is transmitted and the transmission control means for transmitting the image information outside the area recognized by the area recognizing means is provided, the desired area is surrounded by a marker of a predetermined color. With such an extremely easy operation, the text of any part of the manuscript can be converted into voice information and transmitted. Therefore, the recipient can listen to the explanation on the answering machine while looking at the received manuscript, and avoid the annoyance of having to read a long explanation while comparing the map in the received manuscript with its explanation. To be done.

Further, according to the communication device of the invention described in claim 3, the transmission control means inserts image information of a predetermined message text predetermined in the area recognized by the area recognition means. Since the message is transmitted, in addition to the effect obtained by the communication device according to claim 1 or 2, the recipient can easily know that the location is converted into voice information and transmitted by reading the message text. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of a color facsimile apparatus as an example of a communication apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a reception processing procedure by a color facsimile apparatus as an example of a communication apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a transmission document.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a received document.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CPU 2 NCU 3 RAM 4 Modem 5 ROM 6 EEPROM 7 Gate array 8 Codec 9 DMAC 10 Voice conversion unit 11 Reading unit 12 Recording unit 13 Operation unit 14 Display unit 21 Telephone line

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A communication device capable of transmitting voice information and image information, comprising: an area recognition means for recognizing an area on a document designated by a predetermined mark; and an area recognition means for recognizing the area. Character recognition means for recognizing characters in a region, a voice conversion means for converting a sentence, which is a set of characters recognized by the character recognition means, into voice information, and a voice converted by the voice conversion means during transmission. A communication device comprising: transmission control means for transmitting information and transmitting image information outside the area recognized by the area recognition means. 2. A communication device having a reading unit capable of reading a color original document and capable of transmitting voice information and image information, the predetermined unit being based on a signal from the reading unit reading the original document. A region recognition unit that recognizes a region designated by a line of a predetermined color, a character recognition unit that recognizes characters in the region recognized by the region recognition unit, and a set of characters recognized by the character recognition unit. A voice conversion means for converting a sentence into voice information; and a transmission control means for transmitting the voice information converted by the voice conversion means and transmitting the image information outside the area recognized by the area recognition means at the time of transmission. A communication device comprising: 3. The transmission control means inserts image information of a predetermined message text determined in advance into the area recognized by the area recognition means and transmits the image information. Item 2. The communication device according to item 2.