JPH09181873A - Facsimile system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the facsimile system in which an image of a facsimile signal is confirmed by displaying it on a screen of a monitor of a personal computer. SOLUTION: A facsimile equipment 2 uses a scanner section 12 to read an original and converts it into an analog video signal, an image processing section 16 applies A/D conversion processing to the signal to convert it into a digital video signal. In the case of the image processing, the image is processed at plural read density and the image data binarized at each read density are stored in each designated area of an image memory 7. A CPU 10 of the facsimile equipment 2 transfers image data of each read density or received image data to a personal computer 3 via an interface section 6 and the personal computer 3 displays the data on a CRT 4 together with an image data amount and a communication time. The operator visually confirms the image of each read density on a screen and selects proper image data thereby selecting transmission image data or the propriety of storage.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile system, and more particularly to a facsimile system in which a personal computer having an image display display is connected to a facsimile device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, various facsimile systems have been developed with the spread of facsimile machines.
Analog communication networks such as PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) and ISDN (Integrated S
ervices Digital Network: Comprehensive service digital network)
And other digital communication networks have been developed. Facsimile machines as communication terminals for transmitting and receiving image data by connecting to these communication networks have been developed and put into practical use.

Therefore, conventionally, an image memory for storing image data and a display means for displaying a transmission image based on the image data stored in the image memory are provided, and the transmission image is visually recognized using the display means. Facsimile device capable of judging properness of transmission (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-25686)
No. 2) is proposed.

Further, conventionally, MH compressed image data is converted into M
H (Modified Huffman) Converted into decompressed image data and provided with a function of outputting a file and a function of displaying, and a method of processing MH compressed image data that enables modification of the content of the received image data (Patent Document 4). -263
No. 576) has been proposed.

[0005]

However, in such a conventional facsimile apparatus, transmission image data obtained by reading a transmission original with a scanner or the like is temporarily stored in an image memory in the facsimile apparatus, and this image data is stored in the image memory. Whether the transmission is appropriate or not is determined by seeing the image partially displayed on a display unit such as a small liquid crystal screen provided on the operation panel of the facsimile apparatus.

With such a simple display unit of the conventional facsimile apparatus, it is very difficult to confirm the details of the transmitted image. Especially, when the size of the transmitted original is large size such as B4, the entire image is once displayed. Since it cannot be overlooked, there is a problem that it takes time to judge whether or not the transmission is appropriate, and the correct judgment cannot be made in a short time.

Further, in the conventional facsimile apparatus, when a transmission original is read by a scanner or the like, the original is read at a predetermined reading density (for example, 8 dpm), and when it is judged that the transmission image is appropriate, the result is "No". If judged, there is a problem that the reading operation must be performed again after resetting to a high reading density (for example, 16 dpm).

Further, in the conventional facsimile apparatus, the read document and the received document are accumulated in the image memory in the facsimile apparatus, but this built-in image memory usually has a storage capacity of about 1 megabyte, and a large amount. When a document is received, if the received image is displayed and the contents are changed, there is a problem that the memory becomes full.

Further, in the conventional facsimile apparatus, when a transmission original is read at various reading densities by using a scanner,
Although the image quality, the image data amount, and the communication time are different from each other, there is a problem that the reading density corresponding to the original cannot be appropriately selected while directly comparing the image quality, the image data amount, and the communication time.

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the image of the facsimile can be easily confirmed by displaying the image of the facsimile by using the display (image display means) of the personal computer connected to the facsimile apparatus. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a facsimile system that can be used.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, image data corresponding to a plurality of read densities is stored for each area of the image memory, so that image data having a plurality of read densities can be selectively selected by one reading operation. It is intended to provide a facsimile system that can be used.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, by displaying the image data on the display (image display means) of the personal computer and displaying the data amount, it is possible to erase an unnecessary document having a large data amount. It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile system capable of storing a required document having a large amount of data in a data storage means such as a hard disk (HD) which is a large-capacity memory of a personal computer.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile system capable of displaying facsimile communication time together with image data and performing transmission processing in consideration of image quality and communication time (communication charge proportional thereto). Is intended.

[0014]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile system for transmitting and receiving image data via a line, and a personal computer which is connected to the facsimile device and exchanges image data with the facsimile device. A facsimile system comprising: an image reading unit that reads an image of a document and outputs image data; an image storage unit that stores the image data; and an image in the image storage unit. The personal computer comprises: data conversion means for converting data into image data in a data format processable by the personal computer; and transfer means for transmitting the image data converted by the data conversion means to the personal computer. Sent from the fax machine Data storing means for storing image data, a display unit having a display screen of a predetermined size,
The above-mentioned object is achieved by including a display control unit that causes the display unit to display the image data stored in the data storage unit.

Here, for example, a PSTN network (public telephone network) which is an analog communication network is used as the line,
Image data is transmitted / received to / from the other party using the PSTN network.

As the image reading means, an image scanner such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) provided in a facsimile machine is used, and this scanner scans a transmission original and reads an analog video signal in an image processing section. After A / D conversion and conversion into a digital video signal, binarization processing is further performed to obtain binary image data.

The image storage means is built in the facsimile apparatus and stores the binary data processed by the image processing section. The image data for transmission and the received image data are accumulated and read at a predetermined time. Then, the transmission process and the recording process are performed.

The data converting means converts the image data in the facsimile format into image data that can be processed by a personal computer, for example, bitmap data.

The data storage means is a large-capacity storage means provided in the personal computer, and is, for example, a hard disk or the like.

The display means, here, is a display unit of a personal computer connected to the facsimile apparatus, that is, a CR.
Examples are T (Cathode Ray Tube) and LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). This image display means has a large display area and a high resolution, unlike a display unit attached to an operation panel of a conventional facsimile apparatus. Therefore, an image obtained by reading a document of A4 size or larger at one time is displayed. Can be displayed. Therefore, by displaying the image when the document is read by using the above-mentioned scanner, it is possible to determine the suitability of the transmission document in detail.

According to the above construction, the personal computer is connected to the facsimile apparatus and the transmitted image or the received image can be displayed on the display means of the personal computer, and the image quality of the transmitted image or the received image is displayed on the personal computer side. It can be confirmed by means. as a result,
It is possible to easily check the details of the image and determine whether or not the image to be transmitted and whether or not to record or save the image are required, thus improving the usability of the facsimile system.

In this case, for example, as described in claim 2, the facsimile apparatus further includes image processing means for generating image data of a plurality of read densities from the image data read by the image reading means. The image storage means stores the image data of the plurality of read densities generated by the image processing means, and the transfer means,
The image data of the plurality of read densities stored in the image storage unit is transferred to the personal computer, the data storage unit stores the image data of the plurality of read densities sent from the facsimile apparatus, The display control means may display the image data of the plurality of reading densities stored in the data storage means on the image display means.

Here, the image processing means performs a process such as pixel thinning on the image data read by the image reading means to obtain a plurality of reading densities (for example, 8 dpm or 16 d).
image data (eg, pm). The method of generating the image data of the plurality of reading densities is not limited in any way, and any method may be used as long as it can appropriately generate the image data of the plurality of reading densities.

According to the above construction, the image data corresponding to a plurality of reading densities can be saved in the image memory, and also saved in the data storage means of the personal computer and displayed on the display means. Image data having an appropriate image quality can be selectively used from a plurality of reading densities only by the operation.

In this case, for example, as described in claim 3, the facsimile apparatus or the personal computer further comprises a data amount calculation means for calculating the data amount of the image data, and the display control means. The data amount calculated by the data amount calculating means may be displayed on the display means together with the image data.

Here, the data amount calculation means may be provided in the facsimile device or in the personal computer.

According to the above configuration, the amount of received image data and the amount of transmitted image data can be displayed together with the image, can be used as a guide for the transmission time, and the required capacity for saving the image data can be obtained. You can know. As a result, the usability of the facsimile system can be further improved.

Further, for example, as described in claim 4, the facsimile apparatus or the personal computer further comprises a transmission time calculation means for calculating a transmission time required for facsimile transmission of the image data, and the display control The means may display the transmission time calculated by the transmission time calculation means on the display means together with the image data.

Here, the transmission time calculating means may be provided in the facsimile machine or in the personal computer.

With the above arrangement, the transmission time can be displayed together with the image data, and the time required for transmission can be known. As a result, the usability of the facsimile system can be further improved.

[0031]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Since the embodiment described below is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, various technically preferable limitations are attached, but the scope of the present invention is particularly limited in the following description. Unless specifically stated to limit the present invention, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

1 to 3 are views showing a facsimile system to which an embodiment of the facsimile system of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the facsimile system according to this embodiment. In FIG. 1, a facsimile system 1 includes a facsimile device 2,
It is composed of a personal computer 3 and a CRT 4.

The facsimile apparatus 2 includes a plotter unit 5, an interface unit 6, an image memory 7, an NCU 8, a modem 9, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10, an operation port 11, a scanner unit 12, a data conversion unit 13, and a ROM.
(Read Only Memory) 14, System RAM (Random A
ccess Memory) 15, an image processing unit 16 and the like, and the above units are connected by a bus 21.

The personal computer 3 has a CPU 1
7, a memory 18, a hard disk 19, a graphic accelerator 20, and the like, and the above units are connected by a bus 22.

The CRT 4 is connected to the graphic accelerator 20 of the personal computer 3 and has a display screen of a predetermined size.

First, the facsimile apparatus 2 will be described below. The plotter unit 5 records and outputs binary data on a recording sheet. For example, a thermal recording device using a thermal element or an electrophotographic recording device is used, and when the thermal recording device is used, an image is printed. Is directly recorded on the thermal recording paper or indirectly on the ordinary recording paper through an ink sheet.

The interface section (transfer means) 6 serves as an interface between the facsimile apparatus 2 and the personal computer 3, and a Centronics interface is used.

The image memory (image storage means) 7 stores the binary image data processed by the image processing section 16, and temporarily stores the image data for transmission or for reception.

In particular, the image memory 7 stores various read densities, for example, binary image data of 8 dpm or 16 dpm by dividing the area for each read density.

An NCU (Network Control Unit) 8 is connected to a line such as a PSTN network and has a CPU 10
It operates under the control of and controls the line. That is, NC
U8, for example, automatically receives an incoming call from the line and also performs an automatic call processing to the line.

The modem 9 is connected to the NCU 8 and
It operates under the control of the CPU 10 to modulate a transmission signal and demodulate a reception signal.

The ROM 14 stores the system program of the facsimile apparatus 2 and the personal computer 3 described later.
In addition to storing image processing programs and the like utilizing the system, system data and various data necessary to execute each of these programs are stored.
The AM 15 is used as a work memory for the CPU 10.

The CPU 10 controls each part of the facsimile apparatus 2 based on the program in the ROM 14 to perform basic processing as the facsimile apparatus 2 and execute an image processing program using the personal computer 3 described later. That is, the CPU 10 sends a predetermined command or data to the CPU 17 of the personal computer 3 to display an image on the CRT 4, and writes / reads the image data to / from the hard disk 19.

The operation port 11 is an operation display unit used by a user to operate the facsimile apparatus 2, and includes various operation keys such as a ten-key pad and a start key, and a display (for example, a liquid crystal display).
The operation key is used for inputting various commands such as a transmission operation, and the display displays the command content input from the operation key and various information notified from the facsimile device 2 to the operator.

The scanner section (image reading means) 12 scans a document and photoelectrically converts the document image into an analog video signal. That is, the scanner unit 12 uses, for example, an image scanner using a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), scans a document, and reads image information of the document at a predetermined resolution (a reading density of a certain degree).

The image processing section (image processing means) 16 converts the analog video signal of the original read by the scanner section 12 into two.
Value image data, and compression and decompression processing of the binary image data, and, for example, pixel thinning out, so that a plurality of read densities, for example, 8 dpm are read from the image data read by the scanner 12. Or 16
Generate binary image data of dpm.

The data conversion section (data conversion means) 13 is
The binary image data is converted into image data such as bitmap data that can be processed by the personal computer 3, and the image data transferred from the personal computer 3 is converted into binary image data.

Next, the personal computer 3 will be described below. Hard disk (HDD: Hard D)
isk Drive) 19 is the OS of the personal computer 3
(Operating System) and other application programs, and a large-capacity memory for storing documents, image data, and the like created by the application program of the personal computer 3, and particularly displaying and editing image data transferred from the facsimile apparatus 2. And a facsimile application program for performing facsimile transmission / reception processing using the facsimile apparatus 2.

Hard disk (data storage means)
Reference numeral 19 stores the image data transferred from the facsimile device 2 as a substitute for the image memory 7 of the facsimile device 2, and stores it in the hard disk 15 even when a large amount of image data is received by the facsimile device 2. Allows the personal computer 3 to send a facsimile 2
Even when the image data transferred from is edited, the overflow of the image memory 7 of the facsimile apparatus 2 can be prevented.

While using the memory 18 as a work memory, the CPU 17 controls the entire system of the personal computer 3 and, in response to a command from the CPU 10 of the facsimile apparatus 2, based on the above facsimile application program, the personal computer 3 is controlled. To control and display the image data transferred from the facsimile apparatus 2 on the CRT 4, and to perform facsimile transmission / reception processing using the facsimile apparatus 2.

The graphic accelerator 20 is provided between the bus 22 and the CRT 4 of the display, and the C
Perform high-speed display processing of RT4. Therefore, CPU1
9. The graphic accelerator 20 and the facsimile application program operate as display control means.

The CRT (display means) 4 is a display for the personal computer 3, and displays a document or a graphic image created / edited by the personal computer 3 and a display of image data transferred from the facsimile apparatus 2. To do.

Next, the operation will be described. The facsimile system 1 connects a personal computer 3 having an image display unit such as a CRT 4 to a facsimile device 2 and displays image data to be transmitted / received to / from the other party on the CRT 4 of the personal computer 3, thereby improving the image quality of the transmitted image. The details can be confirmed, and the hard disk 19 of the personal computer 3 is used to store a large amount of received image data of the facsimile device 2,
The image data can be changed, the image data can be erased, or the like can be appropriately stored.
By storing the image data of the original document read by each area of the image memory 3 for each reading density and sending the image data of different reading density to the personal computer 3 to switch and display the image data, an appropriate reading according to the original document is performed. The feature is that the density can be easily selected.

The image processing will be described below for the facsimile apparatus 2 side (FIGS. 2 and 3) and the personal computer 3 side (FIG. 4), respectively.

First, the image processing on the side of the facsimile apparatus 2 will be described below with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

When the power of the facsimile apparatus 2 is turned on (step S1), the CPU 10 shifts to a standby state for waiting for the subsequent operation (step S2) and checks whether it is a reception (step S3). If not received in step S3, the CPU 10 checks whether or not a document is set on the scanner unit 12 (step S3).
4) When the document is set and the start key of the operation port 11 is pressed, it is determined that the document is transmitted, and reading of the document is started.

That is, the CPU 10 has the scanner unit 12
To read the image of the set original, convert it into an analog video signal, transfer it to the image processing section 16, and A / D convert it in the image processing section 16 to convert it into a digital video signal. Binarization processing is performed. CPU 10
This binary data is transferred to the image memory 7 and the image memory 7
(Step S5). At this time, the CPU 10
Controls the image processing unit 16 to perform image processing according to a plurality of reading densities (for example, 8 dpm or 16 dpm), and outputs binary image data of each reading density for each reading density of the image memory 7. To be stored in the area.

That is, the scanner unit 12 reads the image of the document at the maximum reading density, and the image processing unit 16 appropriately generates image data of a plurality of reading densities from the maximum reading density.

Next, the CPU 10 sends and receives signals to and from the CPU 17 on the personal computer 3 side through the parallel port, and determines whether or not the facsimile application software has been started up (step S6).

In step S6, when the facsimile application software of the personal computer 3 has not started up, the CPU 10 cannot transfer the image data to the personal computer 3, so after displaying the connection error on the display of the operation port 11 ( Step S7) returns to the standby state of step S2.

In step S6, when the facsimile application software of the personal computer 3 is running, the CPU 10 causes the interface unit 6 to operate.
Commands and data are exchanged with the personal computer 3 via the
For example, the file list data is transferred to the personal computer 3 (step S8).

As will be described later, the personal computer 3 sends the file list transferred from the facsimile apparatus 2 to the CR via the graphic accelerator 20.
Display output on T4 to enable selection of transmission image.

The CPU 10 of the facsimile apparatus 2 transfers the binary image data to the data conversion unit 13 while the personal computer 3 displays the file list and enables the selection operation of the transmission image, and performs the data conversion. Part 13
The binary image data is converted into a file that can be processed by the personal computer 3, for example, a file in the bitmap format, and transferred to the personal computer 3.

When there is a transmission instruction from the personal computer 3 in response to the transmission image selection operation, the CPU 10 starts the transmission operation to the designated destination, that is,
A call is made to the other party (step S9).

The CPU 10 is the personal computer 3
It is checked whether or not the transmission start operation has been performed a predetermined number of times set by the designation from, that is, the call operation has been performed (step S1
0) When the transmission operation is not performed a predetermined number of times, it is checked whether the other party is busy (step S11). When the other party is busy, the process returns to step S9, and the predetermined waiting set by the instruction from the personal computer 3 is performed. After a lapse of time, a re-call, that is, a transmission operation is started (step S9).

At step S11, when the other party responds,
When the normal facsimile transmission process is performed and the transmission of the image data is completed, the transmission process ends (step S1).
2) Then, the process returns to step S2 to enter the standby state.

In step S10, when the transmission operation has been performed a predetermined number of times, the CPU 10 transfers a signal (data) indicating that transmission could not be performed to the personal computer 3, and the personal computer 3 will be described later.
After the image data is stored in the hard disk 19 (step S13), the process returns to step S2 to enter the standby state.

In step S3, when receiving, C
As shown in FIG. 3, the PU 10 checks whether the direct transmission or the confirmation transmission is selected (step S).
14). The selection between the direct transmission and the confirmation transmission may be selected in advance by a key operation of the operation port 11, or upon reception, a display requesting selection of direct transmission or confirmation transmission is displayed on the display of the operation port 11, and the display is displayed. May be selected by a key operation based on.

When the direct transmission is selected in step S14, the CPU 10 demodulates the received image data in the image processing unit 16, transfers it to the plotter unit 5, and records it on the recording paper by the plotter unit 5. Output (step S1
5) Then, the process returns to step S2 of FIG. 2 to enter the standby state.

When the confirmation output is selected in step S14, the CPU 10 temporarily stores the received image data in the image memory 7 (step S16), and then sends a command to the CPU 17 of the personal computer 3 to send the personal computer. It is judged whether the application software on 3 is operable (is up) (step S1
7) If it is operable, exchange commands and data with the personal computer 3 (step S1).
8) It is checked whether a printout command is input from the personal computer 3 (step S19). At this time, the CPU 10 transfers the file list to the personal computer 3, and the personal computer 3 displays the file list on the CRT 4 and enables the selection operation of the file to be recorded and output, as described later.

During this time, the CPU 10 demodulates the compressed image data in the image memory 7 in the image processing unit 16, and then in the data conversion unit 13, the image data that can be processed by the personal computer 3 (file in bitmap format). )
And is transferred to the personal computer 3.

When the print output command is transferred from the personal computer 3 in step S19, the image data of the designated file is demodulated and then transferred to the plotter unit 5 to be recorded and output on the recording paper. When the recording and outputting of the image data on the recording paper is completed, the image data in the image memory 7 is erased (step S20), and the process returns to step S2 in FIG. 2 to enter the standby state. If no print command is received in step S19, the process proceeds to step S2 in FIG. 2 and returns to the standby state.

At step S17, if the application software on the personal computer 3 cannot be operated, a connection error is displayed (step S21), and the process shown in FIG.
The process returns to the standby state of step S2.

Next, with respect to the image processing on the personal computer 3 side, based on the flowchart shown in FIG.
This will be described below.

When the power of the personal computer 3 is turned on (step P1), the CPU 17 shifts to a waiting state for waiting for the subsequent operation (step P2), and when an interrupt request is received from the facsimile apparatus 2 (step P3). ), It is determined whether it is a transmission program or a reception program (step P4).

In step S4, when the interrupt request is the transmission program, the CPU 17 sets the file list (data list) transferred from the facsimile apparatus 2 to C.
The message is displayed on the RT4 together with the message "selection of transmission image" to prompt the user to select a file (step P5). While displaying this data list, the data format (bits) that can be processed by the personal computer 3 in the facsimile device 2 is displayed. When the image data converted into the map format) is transferred from the facsimile apparatus 2, the image data file is stored in the hard disk 19 with a predetermined file name (for example, “* .bmp”).

Next, in response to the selection request of the transmission image,
When one file is selected from the data list (step P6), the CPU 17 causes the hard disk 19
Call the selected file in the memory 18
(Step P7), the image is displayed on the CRT 4 through the graphic accelerator 20 (step P8).

At this time, the CPU 17 performs communication based on the facsimile application software at the right end or the left end of the screen of the CRT 4 when the displayed image data is MH-encoded in the MH-encoded image data and there is no line deterioration. Display the time. The data amount and transmission time of this image data are determined by the CPU 17 of the personal computer 3.
May perform arithmetic processing, or the CPU of the facsimile device 2
The arithmetic processing may be performed by 10 and transferred to the personal computer 3. Therefore, the CPU 17 or the CPU 10
Functions as a data amount calculation means and a transmission time calculation means.

Therefore, the operator can confirm the image data of the file selected from the listed files, the image data amount, the communication time, etc. on the screen of the CRT 4, and the reading suitable for the transmitted image can be performed. It is possible to select a transmission image consisting of density.

When a transmission file (transmission image) is selected by operating the keyboard or mouse of the personal computer 3 according to the above display (step P9), the CPU
17 outputs a transmission request to the facsimile device 2 together with the file name of the selected transmission file and the information such as the telephone number of the transmission destination input from the keyboard (step P).
10).

Facsimile apparatus 2 which has received this transmission request
As described above, after the image data of the designated file is compressed by the image processing unit 16, it is modulated by the modem 9 and N
Facsimile transmission is made to the designated destination via the CU8.

When the transmission request is output, the CPU 17 checks whether a transmission end signal is input from the facsimile apparatus 2 (step P11). When the transmission end signal is input, the transmission file of the transmission file in the hard disk 19 is checked. The image data is erased (step P12), the transmission processing program (facsimile application program) is terminated, and the process returns to the standby state of step S2 (step P12).
13). In this case, the transmitted image data may be stored in the hard disk 19.

In step P11, when a signal indicating that transmission cannot be transmitted is input from the facsimile apparatus 2 because the other party is busy, the CPU 17 sets the image data of the file that could not be transmitted stored in the hard disk 19 ( (Step P14), the transmission program ends, and the process returns to the standby state of Step P2 (Step P13).

In step P4, when the program is the receiving program, the CPU 17 displays the file list (data list) transferred from the facsimile apparatus 2 on the basis of the receiving program of the facsimile application program and displays the received image on the CRT 4. Do you want to do it? "(Step P1)
5).

During this list display, the facsimile apparatus 2 expands (decodes) the received image data as described above.
After that, the image data is converted into image data in a data format (bitmap format) that can be processed by the personal computer 3 and transferred to the personal computer 3, and the CPU 17 of the personal computer 3 stores the transferred image data in the hard disk 19 in a predetermined manner. File name (for example, * .b
mp) and store it.

The operator can select a file to be displayed based on the display of the CRT 4, and the CPU
When a file is selected from the data list 17 (step P16), the image data (received image) of the selected file is displayed on the CRT 4, and the image data amount of the image data is displayed on the right edge or the left edge of the screen. (Step P17).

Based on the display of the contents and amount of the image data, the operator can determine whether to save the image data or record and output the image data.

Next, the CPU 17 checks whether or not the save operation has been selected (step P18). When the save operation is selected, the image data is stored in the hard disk 19 as it is (step P19), and the personal computer is saved. It is checked whether or not the print output (record output) is selected by the keyboard or mouse of the computer 3 (step P20).

In step P18, when saving the received image is not selected, that is, when erasing is selected, the image data once stored in the hard disk 19 is erased and it is checked whether the print output is selected. (Step P20).

When the print output is selected and operated in step P20, the CPU 17 outputs a print output command to the facsimile apparatus 2 together with the selected file name (step P21), and ends the reception processing program (facsimile application program). Then, the process returns to the standby state of step P2 (step P22).

When the print output command is input from the personal computer 3, the facsimile apparatus 2 reads the image data of the designated file from the image memory 7 and transfers the image data to the plotter unit 5, as described above, and prints the recording paper. Record and output to.

When the print output is not selected in step P20, the print output is left as it is, or the facsimile apparatus 2 is used.
After outputting the non-printing command to, the receiving program is terminated and the process returns to the standby state of step P2 (step P2
2).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the received image data and the transmitted image data are transferred to the facsimile apparatus 2
From the personal computer 3 to the CRT 4 connected to the personal computer 3 for display output,
The details of the image data can be easily confirmed in detail, and the subsequent transmission processing and recording / output processing, and the necessity of saving can be appropriately determined. Therefore, usability of the facsimile system 1 can be improved.

Further, according to the present embodiment, image data having a plurality of reading densities are created by one reading operation, stored in the hard disk 19, and stored in the personal computer 3.
Since the contents can be confirmed on the CRT 4, the image data of an appropriate image quality can be selected, and the selected image data can be transmitted quickly, and the processing speed of the facsimile system 1 is improved. be able to.

Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the CRT 4
Since it is possible to display the image data on the screen and determine whether the image data needs to be saved, it is possible to effectively use the image memory 7 of the facsimile device 2 and the hard disk 19 of the personal computer 3 and save the image data. Since the necessary image data of the above is stored in the large-capacity hard disk 19 of the personal computer 3 and the image data is deleted from the small-capacity image memory 7 of the facsimile apparatus 2, it is possible to effectively use the image memory 7. it can.

Further, according to the present embodiment, when the image data is displayed on the CRT 4, since the data amount of the image data is displayed, the transmission time and the image quality are taken into consideration, and the appropriate transmission image data is taken into consideration. Can be selected, and the necessity / unnecessity of saving can be appropriately determined in consideration of the remaining capacity of the hard disk 19.

Although the invention made by the inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. It goes without saying that it is possible.

For example, in the above embodiment, the CRT 4 of the personal computer 3 is used as the image display means for displaying the image data transmitted and received by the facsimile apparatus.
However, the type of display is not limited, and may be a liquid crystal display (LCD) used in a laptop personal computer.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, there are two kinds of reading density, that is, 8 dpm and 16 dpm, but image data of reading density other than this is generated and visually confirmed on the screen to select the reading density. It may be performed.

Further, in the above embodiment, when the transmission image data having different reading densities are selected, the image data amount and the communication time are displayed together with the image data on the screen, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, if the communication charge per unit time is known in advance, the communication charge calculated based on the communication time may be displayed.

[0103]

According to the facsimile system of the present invention, the personal computer is connected to the facsimile apparatus and the display means of the personal computer is connected to the personal computer.
The transmitted image or the received image can be displayed, and the image quality of the transmitted image or the received image can be confirmed by the display means on the personal computer side. As a result, it is possible to easily check the details of the image and determine whether or not to select the image to be transmitted and whether or not to record or save the image, thereby improving the usability of the facsimile system.

According to the facsimile system of the present invention, the image data corresponding to a plurality of reading densities can be stored in the image memory, and can also be stored in the data storage means of the personal computer and displayed on the display means. Therefore, it is possible to selectively use image data of appropriate image quality from a plurality of reading densities by only one reading operation.

According to the facsimile system of the third aspect of the present invention, the data amount of the received image data and the transmitted image data can be displayed together with the image, which can be used as a guide for the transmission time. You can know the required capacity when saving. As a result, the usability of the facsimile system can be further improved.

According to the facsimile system of the fourth aspect of the present invention, the transmission time can be displayed together with the image data, and the time required for the transmission can be known. As a result, the usability of the facsimile system can be further improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile system according to this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing image processing by a facsimile device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing image processing continued from FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing image processing by a personal computer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Facsimile system 2 Facsimile device 3 Personal computer 4 CRT 5 Plotter section 6 Interface section 7 Image memory 8 NCU 9 Modem 10 CPU 11 Operation port 12 Scanner section 13 Data conversion section 14 ROM 15 System RAM 16 Image processing section 17 CPU 18 Memory 19 Hard disk 20 graphic accelerator

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile system comprising: a facsimile device for transmitting and receiving image data via a line; and a personal computer connected to the facsimile device for exchanging image data with the facsimile device. An image reading unit that reads an image of a document and outputs image data; an image storage unit that stores the image data; and image data in the image storage unit into image data in a data format that can be processed by the personal computer. Data conversion means for converting and transfer means for sending the image data converted by the data converting means to the personal computer, wherein the personal computer stores data for storing the image data sent from the facsimile apparatus. Storage means and table of a predetermined size Facsimile system comprising: the display means having a screen, and a display control means for displaying on said display means the image data stored in said data storage means. 2. The facsimile apparatus further comprises image processing means for generating image data of a plurality of read densities from the image data read by the image reading means, and the image storage means is equivalent to the image processing means. The generated image data of the read densities are stored, the transfer unit transfers the image data of the plurality of read densities stored in the image storage unit to the personal computer, and the data storage unit is the facsimile. Image data of the plurality of read densities sent from the device is stored, and the display control unit causes the image display unit to display the image data of the plurality of read densities stored in the data storage unit. The facsimile system according to claim 1. 3. The facsimile device or the personal computer further comprises a data amount calculation means for calculating the data amount of the image data, and the display control means sets the data amount calculated by the data amount calculation means. 3. The display means displays the image data together with the image data.
The described facsimile system. 4. The facsimile device or the personal computer further comprises a transmission time calculation means for calculating a transmission time required for facsimile transmission of the image data, and the display control means calculates by the transmission time calculation means. 4. The facsimile system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission time is displayed on the display unit together with the image data.