JPH09183U - Facsimile machine with computer interlocking function - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [PROBLEMS] To solve the problem that the facsimile transmission time from a facsimile device to another station increases due to the transmission speed of image data from a computer to the facsimile device.
Provided is a facsimile device having a computer interlocking function that reduces the connection occupation time of a telephone line. A facsimile device (1) connected to a telephone line (L) and connected to a computer (PC) via a dedicated line (L1), which stores image data.
3, a signal transmission unit 14 for transmitting and receiving command signals and image data to and from the computer PC, and the computer PC
In accordance with a command from the computer side, the signal processing unit 1 causes the image data transmitted from the computer PC side to be temporarily stored in the image memory 13 and then to be facsimile-transmitted to a designated destination.
0.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

 The present invention relates to an improvement of a facsimile device having a computer interlocking function, and more specifically, it is characterized in that image data transmitted from a computer side can be efficiently transmitted to a facsimile device of another station. Regarding things.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 The conventional single-acting type facsimile machine has only a normal facsimile transmission / reception function of transmitting / receiving image data to / from another facsimile machine via a telephone line. Therefore, the applicant of the present application has proposed, in the same application, a facsimile device having a computer interlocking function which is connected to a telephone line and is also connected to a computer through a dedicated line. This facsimile machine transfers the received image data to the computer side via a dedicated line for display, or it corrects the image data displayed on the computer side and corrects it. It has a new function such as returning it again to send it to another station (other facsimile machine), or transferring the image data received by the facsimile machine to the computer side to manage the database, and the conventional facsimile machine It is a renewed concept of.

However, in this facsimile apparatus, while image data is transmitted / received to / from a computer by a transmission format of an asynchronous unordered serial signal, a synchronous serial signal is transmitted / received to / from a facsimile apparatus of another station. Since the image data is transmitted and received according to the format, for example, in the case where the image data of the computer is transmitted to another station via the facsimile device by the instruction of the computer, the facsimile device transmits the image data to the other station. Since the transmission speed from the computer to the facsimile machine is slower than the transmission speed in the case of transmission, there are some points to be improved, such as an increase in the continuous occupied time of the telephone line as compared with a single-acting type facsimile machine. Was there.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 The present invention has been proposed in view of the above circumstances, and solves the problem that the facsimile transmission time from a facsimile machine to another station increases due to the transmission speed of image data from a computer to a fax machine. It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile machine having a computer interlocking function that reduces the continuous occupation time of telephone lines.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The present invention proposed to achieve the above object (Claim 1) is a facsimile device connected to a telephone line and connected to a computer via a dedicated line, and an image memory for storing image data. And a signal transmission unit that transmits and receives control commands and image data to and from the computer, and a signal processing unit that receives a control command from the computer side and performs operations necessary for control. When the signal processing unit transfers the image data from the computer side and stores it in the image memory according to the control command from the computer side, it automatically calls the designated destination and sends it to the fax machine. , Transmission start from the computer side Configuration to re-transmit the originals after the page that could not be transmitted due to the control command with the set page Going on. Further, the facsimile apparatus described in claim 2 is configured such that attribute information such as a communication speed of image data can be set from the computer side before automatically calling the designated destination.

[0006]

[Action]

 According to the facsimile device of the present invention, when the image data generated or processed on the computer side is transmitted to another station via the telephone line via the facsimile device according to a command from the computer, the image is temporarily displayed. The data is transmitted to the facsimile machine side and stored in the image memory. Then, after this, in response to a command from the computer, another station is called from the facsimile apparatus and the image data stored in the image memory is transmitted according to a normal facsimile transmission procedure. Therefore, it is possible to separate the image data and transmission from the computer to the facsimile machine and the transmission of the image data from the facsimile machine to the facsimile machine of another station, so that the signal transmission speed between the computer and the facsimile machine (asynchronous Even if the serial signal) is slower than the signal transmission speed (synchronous serial signal) between the facsimile machine and the facsimile machine of another station, the computer directly sends the fax via the facsimile machine. Compared to the case, the continuous occupancy time of the telephone line can be reduced and the telephone line can be opened earlier. Also, if a transmission error occurs during image data transmission, the transmission process is stopped and an error message is sent to the computer. Therefore, the computer sends a control command with a new transmission start page to the facsimile machine. As a result, it is possible to retransmit the originals after the page that could not be transmitted normally by specifying the page.

[0007]

【Example】

 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example of the main configuration of a facsimile apparatus 1 having a computer interlocking function according to the present invention. In the figure, 10 is a signal processing section for performing signal processing of each section, and 11 is set on a document guide or the like. An image reading unit that reads and scans the read original and converts the image data into image data. Reference numeral 12 is a signal conversion unit that converts the image data into encoded data (described later) necessary for transmission / reception with an ordinary facsimile apparatus or computer. Is. Reference numeral 13 is an image memory, and in this embodiment, a mail box is used as a storage medium when transmitting and receiving image data to and from a computer or a normal facsimile apparatus. Further, 14 is a signal transmission unit having an interface for transmitting and receiving image data, command signals and the like to and from a computer separately arranged via the dedicated line L1. Further, 15 is a print output unit for printing out image data stored in the mailbox 13 on a recording paper (not shown), 16 is a key operation unit having various operation keys (not shown), and 17 is a telephone line L. It is a transmission / reception control unit for transmitting / receiving a facsimile device to / from a normal facsimile device via the.

Here, the signal conversion unit 12 converts the image data read by the image reading unit 11 into MH-coded data defined by CC ITT (International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee) or, as described later, on the computer side. In order to enable the transmission of data to and from the computer, it is freely converted into MH encoded data with tag bits or RL encoded data that is set independently, and the encoded data according to the specifications can be exchanged with the connected computer. It is ready for transmission.

In the mailbox 13, the image data read and scanned from the original by the image reading unit 11, the received image data, or the image data transmitted from the computer is MH-encoded by the signal conversion unit 12. Store.

Further, the facsimile transmission / reception control unit 17 is configured to include a protocol signal detection circuit 17a, a protocol signal generation circuit 17b, a modem 17c, and a line control unit 17d. The protocol signal detection circuit 17a uses a facsimile communication procedure. The protocol signal transmitted from the facsimile machine of the other station via the telephone line L is detected in order to execute, and the protocol signal generation circuit 17b generates and outputs the protocol signal necessary for executing the facsimile communication procedure. The modem 17c transmits the modulated image data via the telephone line L, demodulates the image data transmitted via the telephone line L, and the line control unit 17d calls the caller from the calling source. When a signal is detected, the switching connection between the modem 17c and the telephone line L is automatically performed.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of an image transmission processing system in which the facsimile device 1 of the present invention is incorporated between a computer PC and a normal facsimile device F. As shown in FIG. The facsimile F is connected via a telephone line L, and the computer PC is connected via a dedicated line L1. The facsimile device 1 has an image memory called a mailbox 13 for transmitting and receiving image data between the computer PC and the facsimile device F, and stores a specific block (mailbox numbers # 0 to # 9) of this mailbox. Image data is stored by designating, and the document read by the image reading unit is also stored in the mailbox 13 after being subjected to predetermined signal conversion. The facsimile machine 1 is a facsimile mode that performs the same function as a normal facsimile machine, and a FIP mode that operates in response to a command signal from the computer (a facsimile interface processor mode. When the FIP mode is set, various operations are executed in accordance with the command signal transmitted from the computer PC side.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the mode switching operation in the facsimile apparatus 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 4 shows an operation panel provided with a mode switching key. In the facsimile apparatus 1 of the present invention, all control and control environment settings can be made by command signals sent from the computer side, and mode switching settings can be made by operating the mode switching keys provided on the operation panel. It is also possible by doing.

Steps 100 to 103 show the operation procedure in the case of switching to the FIP mode in response to a command signal from the computer PC side, and the FIP mode option is specified in the check command received from the computer PC side. Then, the signal processing unit switches to the control program of the FIP mode and returns a check response indicating that the setting of the FIP mode has been completed to the computer PC side. Upon receiving the check response, the computer can recognize that the facsimile device 1 has been set to the FIP mode.

Further, steps 104 and 105 show an operation procedure in the case of switching to the FAX mode by a command signal from the computer PC side, and the check command received from the computer PC side is not the FIP mode but the FAX mode. If the option is specified, the signal processing unit switches to the FAX mode control program and returns a check response indicating that the FAX mode has been switched to the computer PC. The computer side receiving the check response can recognize that the fax machine 1 is set to the FAX mode.

Steps 106 and 107 are operation procedures for canceling the FIP mode and returning to the normal facsimile mode by operating the stop key 16b provided on the operation panel. Steps 108 and 109 are the operation panel. 7 shows a procedure for switching and setting to FAX, TEL, FAX / TEL, and FIP modes each time the reception mode key 16a provided in the is operated. Here, the FAX mode is a mode in which the facsimile device 1 releases the interlocking with the computer PC to perform automatic facsimile reception, and the TEL mode is a mode in which the facsimile device 1 is used as a telephone. The FAX / TEL mode is a mode in which the device operates as a telephone at the time of calling and can shift to facsimile communication by operating the start key.

FIG. 5 shows the internal structure of the facsimile apparatus 1 of the present invention in more detail. In addition to the basic structure shown in FIG. 1, a memory unit 18, a waiting time when an error occurs, etc. are set. A timer circuit 19, a calendar clock 20 for measuring the date and time, a display section 21 for displaying various kinds of information, a communication circuit 22, and a handset H are added.

In the figure, the signal conversion unit 12 uses an MH code, an MH code with a tag bit, or a run bit in order to transmit / receive black and white binarized image image data to / from a normal facsimile apparatus or computer PC. An encoding circuit 12a for converting image data of length code (hereinafter referred to as RL encoding) and a decoding circuit 12b for decoding these encoded image data into original image image data are provided. There is. Therefore, for example, when converting MH encoded image data into RL encoded image data, the MH encoded image data is once decoded into image image data by the decoding circuit 12b, and the decoded image image data is encoded. The RL coding is performed by the coding circuit 12a. The MH code with tag bits and the RL code will be described later.

The mailbox 13 is composed of a flexible memory having a predetermined capacity, and the address management of the mailbox 13 is performed by the mailbox management table 13A in order to store a plurality of image data by distinguishing them by mailbox number. Has become.

The signal transmission unit 14 includes a serial interface circuit 14 a for transmitting / receiving a serial signal (RS232C asynchronous non-procedural serial signal in this embodiment) to / from a computer via a dedicated line L 1, and a transmission buffer memory. 14b and a reception buffer memory 14c.

The memory unit 18 includes a ROM 18a storing a FIP program activated in the FIP mode, a ROM 18b storing a FAX program activated in the FAX mode, TEL mode, and FAX / TEL mode, and a ROM 18b in the signal processing process. It has a RAM 18c for temporarily storing data and the like.

FIG. 6 shows a transmission format of a serial signal transmitted between the facsimile device 1 of the present invention and the computer PC and the facsimile device F of another station. In between, the transmission format of the asynchronous non-procedural serial signal in which the start bit of “L” level and the stop bit of “H” level are added before and after the data of every 8 bits (1 byte) via the dedicated line L1. While the image data and the control command are transmitted by the printer, 8-bit data is sequentially transmitted between the facsimile device 1 and other stations by a synchronous serial signal. In other words, when transmitting data of the same capacity, transmitting image data from the computer PC to the facsimile device 1 side is better than transmitting the image data from the facsimile device 1 to another station via the telephone line L. It will take a lot of time.

According to the present invention, the image data transmitted from the computer PC and temporarily stored in the mailbox 13 is processed by a signal processing unit which receives a facsimile transmission command transmitted from the computer side, and a facsimile apparatus of a designated destination. After making an automatic call, the image data stored in the mail box 13 is read out at high speed and is transmitted by facsimile. It should be noted that both the asynchronous serial signal and the synchronous serial signal are usually transmitted with a parity bit added, but the parity bit is omitted in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing the storage operation of the image data in the mail box 13 formed of an image memory together with the management table 13A. The mail box 13 has a predetermined capacity (in this embodiment). Has a capacity of 256 kilobytes, and each byte has a flexible memory of addresses 000000 to 03FFFF), and manages the writing state of image data to this mailbox 13. It is designed to be managed by the table 13A. In the management table 13A, a memory area for storing a start address and an end address is secured for each mailbox number 0-9, and, for example, the mailbox number 0 is designated to perform image data writing processing. Then, the signal processing unit 10 sequentially stores the image data from the address 000000. If the final address of the stored image data is 002FFF, the address data of the start address 000000 and the end address 002FFF are stored in the mail table of the management table 13A. The data is written in the memory area with the index number 0. In this way, after the image data is written by designating the mailbox number 0, the writing process of the image data is designated again by designating the mailbox number 0, and the mailbox number in the management table 13A is rewritten. The start address and end address of the corresponding memory area are once erased, then the image data is saved from the smallest address in the empty area of the mailbox 13, and the start address and end address are stored in the memory of the mailbox number 0. It is designed to be written in the area. Although the mailbox management table 13A is shown as being capable of storing one set of start address and end address for each mailbox number, it is possible to store a plurality of sets of start address and end address. It is also possible to manage the discrete memory areas of the mailbox 13 as one mailbox number.

8A to 8C show a transmission format of image data transmitted between the facsimile apparatus 1 of the present invention and the computer PC via the dedicated line L1, and therefore, the computer PC Between the image data stored in the mailbox in the MH coded form, the MH coded data with a specific tag bit or the run length so that the signal conversion unit can process the image data on the computer side. It is converted into encoded data and transmitted / received. Further, although the ASCII code is also transmitted from the computer PC side, the MH coded data is stored in the mailbox. As shown in FIG. 8A, the text data by the ASCII code created by the key input operation on the computer PC side (see FIG. 8A ') is basically one page of text. Before and after the data, a text frame header indicating the start of the text data and a text frame end indicating the end of the text data are attached and transmitted to the facsimile apparatus 1 side. In case of continuous, the text page end indicating the page break of the text data is attached instead of the text frame end. Further, the image data (see (b ') in FIG. 8) transmitted between the facsimile apparatus 1 and the computer PC is, as shown in (b) in FIG. 8, a text frame header and a text frame end. In the case of text data transmission, image data with an image frame header indicating the start of image data and an image frame end indicating the end of image data before and after is inserted between Similarly, when the next image data continues, the text page end is attached instead of the text frame end. Further, when the text data and the image data are mixed and transmitted between the facsimile apparatus 1 and the computer PC (see (c ') of FIG. 8), as shown in (c) of FIG. In addition, text data and image data with image frame header and image frame end are mixed and transmitted between the text frame header and text frame end, and if the next data continues, the text data As in the case of data transmission, the text page end is attached instead of the text frame end.

9 (a) to 9 (d), the MH code with tag bit transmitted / received between the facsimile apparatus 1 of the present invention and the computer PC via the dedicated line L1 is processed by the signal conversion unit 12. FIG. 9 shows the process of generation, in which the black-and-white binary pixel signal (image image data) for one line shown in FIG. 9A is passed through the run length data shown in FIG. 9B. Until the conversion into the MH encoded data shown in FIG. 9C, the MH encoding is the same as that defined by CCITT, but in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9D, The MH-coded data is divided into 7-bit data, and 1 is added to the most significant bit to obtain MH-coded data with tag bits. It should be noted that the run length data for the start of one line always starts with a white run, as in the CCITT standard, and if it starts with a black run, white run length data of 0 is added in a pseudo manner. In this way, if an MH code with a tag bit whose most significant bit is always set to 1 is transmitted to and from a computer PC, the computer PC side sends an ASCII code in which the most significant bit of 1 byte is always 0. Since it is used as a character code, it is possible to separate the character code and image data and perform correct processing. When the MH encoding with tag bit is performed, a high compression rate can be obtained with respect to the original image data capacity, so that the signal transmission time between the facsimile apparatus 1 and the computer PC can be shortened. However, the processing load of the computer PC is not enough because the load of the decoding process when the image data with MH coded with tag bits is decoded on the computer PC side and converted into the original image image data. Applies in some cases.

10 (a) to 10 (c) are processes of generating the RL code, which is transmitted / received between the facsimile apparatus 1 of the present invention and the computer PC via the dedicated line L1, in the signal conversion unit 12. FIG. 10 (a) shows that one line of monochrome binarized pixel signal (image image data) shown in FIG. 10 (a) is converted into run length data shown in FIG. 10 (b), and is converted. The run length is expressed as the sum of a multiple of 64 and a fraction. Then, as shown in (c) of FIG. 10, the lower 6 bits of the make-up part in which both the most significant bit and the next bit are 1 indicate a multiple of 64, and the most significant bit is 1 and the next bit is 0. The lower 6 bits of the terminator part indicate the fraction. Note that the run length data for the start of one line must always start with a white run, as in CCITT regulations, and if it starts with a black run, white run length data of 0 is added in a pseudo manner. Since the most significant bit is always 1 in such RL encoded image data, it can be processed separately from the AS CII code on the computer PC side like the MH code with tag bit described above. Is. When this RL coding is performed, the compression rate with respect to the original image data capacity is reduced as compared with the above-mentioned MH coding with tag bits, so that the signal transmission time between the facsimile apparatus 1 and the computer PC is reduced. Although it increases, the decoding process of decoding the RL encoded image data on the computer PC side and converting it to the original image image data is reduced compared to the MH code with tag bit. It is applied when the physical capacity is insufficient. Further, in the RL coding of the present embodiment, when the run length is 64 or less, it is possible to omit the make-up part and use only the terminator part code, and it is possible to reduce the coded image data length. .

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the above-described facsimile apparatus 1 of the present invention. The operation will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. In order to simplify the explanation, it is assumed that the FIP mode has been switched and set in advance. 1. Operation when image data is transferred from the computer PC to the facsimile device 1 side (see steps 200 to 208 in FIG. 11). When a check command is transmitted from the computer PC side via the dedicated line L1, the signal processing unit 10 receives the check command via the signal transmission unit 14, and specifies the mailbox number, the encoding method, etc. The option parameter is read and temporarily stored in the RAM 18c. When a fill-in command is transmitted from the computer PC side via the dedicated line L1, the signal processing unit 10 receives it via the signal transmission unit 14, and returns a local response 1 if the image data can be received. . However, when there is no free memory in the mailbox 13, the local response 1 including an error message to that effect is returned. When the image data generated or processed on the computer PC side is transmitted, it is converted into the MH code by the signal conversion unit 12 and sequentially stored in the mailbox 13 of the number designated by the check command, When the reception is completed, the local response 2 including the data such as the memory usage amount is returned to the computer PC side and the transfer operation is completed. In this way, the image data transferred from the computer PC to the facsimile device 1 side is transmitted to another station by the following operation.

[0028] 2. Operation when image data stored in the facsimile apparatus 1 is facsimile-transmitted to another station according to a command from the computer PC (see steps 209 to 219 in FIG. 11). When a send command is transmitted from the computer PC side via the dedicated line L1, the signal processing unit 10 receives it via the signal transmission unit 14 and reads designated parameters such as the dial number of the transmission destination and the transmission start page. It is temporarily stored in the RAM 18c. In the signal processing unit 10, the protocol signal generation circuit 17b sends a dial signal to the telephone line L side to make a call, and if the called side receives the call within a predetermined time, the protocol signal detection circuit 17a and the protocol signal generation circuit. By 17b, data necessary for communication with the called side is mutually transmitted by handshake. However, if the called side does not receive an incoming call within a predetermined time in response to an outgoing call, a send response in which an error message indicating that the called side does not arrive is set is returned to the computer PC side. In the signal processing unit 10, the image data stored in the mailbox 13 is read out, the signal converting unit 12 performs a predetermined encoding, and then sequentially sends out to the telephone line L side. When the transmission of the image data is completed, the signal processing unit 10 transmits the send response including the communication result such as the transmission time and the transmission speed to the computer PC side through the signal transmission unit 14 through the dedicated line L1. , A series of facsimile transmission processing ends. However, when a transmission error occurs during the transmission of the image data, the signal processing unit 10 stops the transmission process and transmits the send response in which the error message is set to the computer PC side. Then, in the computer PC, the number of pages normally transmitted is obtained from the data included in the send response, and the send command with the new transmission start page is transmitted to the facsimile device 1 side, and the transmission cannot be performed normally. The manuscript after the specified page is retransmitted by specifying the page.

As described above, according to the facsimile apparatus 1 of the present invention, the image data transmitted from the computer PC side is stored in the mailbox 13 of the designated number according to the instruction of the computer PC side, and After that, the stored image data is sequentially read out and transmitted to another station. Therefore, as in the case of direct transmission from the computer PC via the facsimile device 1, the data is transmitted between the computer PC and the facsimile device 1. The signal transmission time eliminates the inconvenience of delaying the facsimile transmission time between the facsimile apparatus 1 and another station, thereby reducing the usage fee of the telephone line.

Further, in the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, attribute information such as the communication speed of the image data can be set from the computer side before the automatic call is made in order to send the image data to another station by facsimile. ing. FIG. 12 shows the transmission procedure of the check command transmitted from the computer PC side to the facsimile apparatus 1 side and the check response returned in response to this check command. The check command specifies the mailbox number, In addition to specifying the transfer of the received image data to the computer PC side, etc., depending on the options, FIP mode start, FAX mode start, encoding method specification, communication speed with external facsimile machine specification, original copy The scanning accuracy is specified, and in response to this check command, the specified contents, received recording paper size, remaining memory, and whether or not a data error has occurred are returned as a check response. And then handshake.

FIG. 13 shows a fill-in command transmitted from the computer PC side to the facsimile apparatus 1 side in order to transmit the image data on the computer PC side to the facsimile apparatus 1 side, and a series of signals accompanying this command. When the fill-in command is received on the side of the facsimile device 1, the local response 1 is returned to the computer PC when the image data can be received, and then the image data is received normally. If it is stored in the mailbox of the designated number, the local response 2 including the memory usage data and the like is returned from the facsimile device 1 to the computer PC side and the series of processing is completed.

FIG. 14 shows a send command transmitted from the computer PC side to the fax machine 1 side in order to fax the image data stored in the mailbox of the fax machine 1 to a designated destination. This figure shows the procedure for transmitting a series of signals that accompanies this command. When the fax command is received by the fax machine 1, the dial number added to the send command is automatically dialed, and the check command specified earlier was used. The image data stored in the numbered mailbox is sequentially read and sent by facsimile. When this transmission is completed, the facsimile device 1 returns a send response to which information such as the transmission time and the transmission speed is added to the computer PC side, and the transmission process is completed.

FIG. 15 shows a transmission procedure of a series of signals for storing the image data on the computer PC side in the mailbox of the designated number on the facsimile device 1 side and transmitting the image data to the designated destination. The check command, the fill-in command, and the send command described above are executed in combination.

The above description of the commands relates to the contents of the image data on the computer PC side transferred to the facsimile device 1 side and transmitted to another station. However, FIG. A local scan command transmitted from the computer PC side to the facsimile machine 1 side in order to read and scan the image data and send the read image data to the computer PC side, and a series of signals accompanying this command. It shows a transmission procedure. This local scan command is a process to read image data from the original as an option and store it in the mailbox, and a process to transfer the read image data to the computer PC in addition to this process, or to store it in the mailbox already. It is possible to selectively specify the processing for transferring the stored image data to the computer PC side. Then, in response to the local scan command, the local response 1 indicating that the processing specified by the option can be executed is returned from the facsimile apparatus 1 to the computer PC side, and thereafter the processing specified by the option is executed. . When the processing is normally completed, the local response 2 including the data of the memory usage amount by the command is returned from the facsimile apparatus 1 to the computer PC side and the series of processing is completed. Therefore, by using this local scan command, the image data read and scanned from the original on the facsimile device 1 side is transmitted to the computer PC side, and the corrected and edited image data is sent back to the facsimile device 1 side again. It becomes possible to perform such processing.

[0035]

[Effect of the invention]

 As can be understood from the above description, according to the facsimile device having the computer interlocking function of the present invention, when the image data received from the computer is transmitted to the facsimile device of another station by facsimile, the transmission speed of the image data is increased. Transmission of image data from the computer side, which causes delays in image data, is temporarily stopped, and after the image data is stored in the image memory, the signal processing unit follows the control command from the computer side After storing in the image memory, the designated destination is automatically called and sent by facsimile.Therefore, compared with the case of sending a fax directly from a computer to a fax machine of another station via a fax machine. The continuous occupancy time of the telephone line can be reduced, and the early opening of the telephone line can be realized. It is possible to perform the transmission of the image data. When a transmission error occurs during the transmission of image data, the transmission process is stopped and an error message is transmitted to the computer. The computer determines the number of pages that were transmitted normally based on the transmitted data, transmits a control command with a new transmission start page to the facsimile machine, and then sends the originals after the page that could not be transmitted normally. Since it can be retransmitted by page-specified transmission, the continuous occupation time of the telephone line can be reduced, the telephone line can be opened early, and efficient image data transmission can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a facsimile apparatus having a computer interlocking function of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a basic configuration example of an image transmission system using the facsimile apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a mode switching operation.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a key operation unit.

FIG. 5 is a detailed block diagram of a facsimile device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a transmission format of a serial signal transmitted between the facsimile device of the present invention and a computer and a facsimile device of another station.

FIG. 7 is a detailed explanatory diagram of a mailbox and a mailbox management table.

8 (a), (a ') to (c), (c') are explanatory diagrams of a transmission format of encoded image data transmitted to and from a computer.

9A to 9D are explanatory diagrams of MH encoded image data with tag bits.

10A to 10C are explanatory diagrams of RL encoded image data.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a schematic basic operation of the facsimile device.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a control operation procedure by a check command.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a control operation procedure by a fill-in command.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a control operation procedure by a send command.

FIG. 15: Computer PC by fill-in command
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a series of control procedures for facsimile-transmitting image data transmitted from the facsimile device to another station.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of a control operation procedure by a local scan command.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Facsimile device having a computer interlocking function 10 Signal processing unit 11 Image reading unit 12 Signal conversion unit 13 Image memory (mail box) 14 Signal transmission unit L Telephone line L1 Dedicated line PC computer

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Shinichi Tanaka 136 Takeda Mukodai-cho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto Inside Murata Machinery Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Utility model registration claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus connected to a telephone line and connected to a computer via a leased line, wherein an image memory for storing image data and a control command or image data between the computer. By receiving control commands from the signal transmission unit that performs transmission and reception and the computer side,
A signal processing unit that performs operations necessary for control is provided, and the signal processing unit transfers image data from the computer side and stores it in an image memory according to a control command from the computer side, and then a designated destination is set. A computer interlocking function is provided that automatically sends a call and sends it by facsimile, and if it cannot be sent normally, it will re-send the originals after the page that could not be sent by the control command with the send start page set by the computer. Fax machine. 2. A facsimile apparatus having a computer interworking function according to claim 1, wherein attribute information such as a communication speed of image data can be set from a computer side before automatically calling a designated destination. Facsimile machine with a computer interlocking function.