JPH09191383A - Facsimile equipment and facsimile transmission method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To send stored image data in a way of polling in a system reducing the running cost by providing a means combining image data of plural pages within a range that an input line number does not exceed a recording enable line number and applying transmission control to the data as image data by one page. SOLUTION: Image data of a page indicated by a page counter (i) are read from image data stored in an image memory 13 and stored in a transmission buffer in a 2nd RAM 4. When image data of (i+j)-th page (j indicates a page number from i-th page) are stored in the image memory 13, the data are stored in the transmission buffer just before the sum of the total read line number of the image data having already been stored in the transmission buffer and the read line number of the image data of the (i+j)-th page exceeds a recordable line number. Then the image data for the plural pages having been stored in the transmission buffer so far are sent as image data by one image in a way of polling.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus and a facsimile transmission method, and more particularly to a facsimile apparatus having a function of temporarily storing input image data in a memory and polling transmission / reception of the stored image data, and a facsimile. It relates to a transmission method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a facsimile apparatus having a function of temporarily storing image data read by an image reading unit in a memory and polling transmission / reception of the stored image data. When storing the read image data in the memory, the image data read from one original is stored as image data for one page regardless of the sub-scan length of the image data, and during polling transmission, It was sent in page units at the time of accumulation.

[0003]

Therefore, even if the length of the document in the sub-scanning direction is short and the number of reading lines is small, the image data for one page is polled and transmitted, and the polling reception side has the following configuration. For example, when an image is recorded only on the upper portion of the recording paper (cut sheet) and a large margin is formed at the lower portion, not only is the recording paper wasted, but also when the received image data of multiple pages is recorded. In addition, it is necessary to carry out extra paper feeding for the margin portion, which causes an adverse effect such as impairing the speed of recording, resulting in a high running cost.

The present invention has been made under such a background, and an object thereof is to enable polled transmission of accumulated image data in a format capable of reducing a running cost.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a facsimile apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention has a plurality of pages of image data input by an image input unit and accumulated in a storage unit for each page. A first recognition means for recognizing the number of input lines; and a second recognition means for recognizing the number of recordable lines per page on the polling reception side when the image data of a plurality of pages stored in the storage means is polled and transmitted. And the image data of a plurality of continuous pages within a range in which the number of input lines recognized by the first recognition means does not exceed the number of recordable lines recognized by the second recognition means. And a transmission control means for performing polling transmission as one page of image data.

In order to achieve the above object, in a facsimile apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention, the transmission control means according to the first aspect combines the image data of a plurality of pages by a polling receiving terminal that requests polling transmission. When it is requested to perform polling transmission as one page of image data, the number of input lines recognized by the first recognizing means exceeds the number of recordable lines recognized by the second recognizing means. It is configured to combine a plurality of consecutive pages of image data within a non-existing range and perform polling transmission as one page of image data.

To achieve the above object, in the facsimile apparatus according to claim 3, the second recognition means according to claim 1 or 2 is obtained by a digital identification signal compliant with the ITU-T recommendation. The polling reception terminal is configured to recognize the number of recordable lines per page based on the standard reception capability information of the polling reception terminal.

In order to achieve the above object, in a facsimile apparatus according to a fourth aspect, the image input means according to the first to third aspects is composed of an image reading means such as a CCD scanner.

In order to achieve the above object, in a facsimile apparatus according to a fifth aspect, the transmission control means according to the first to fourth aspects is such that the number of input lines recognized by the first recognizing means is the same. The image data of two consecutive pages within a range not exceeding the number of recordable lines recognized by the second recognizing means is combined and polled and transmitted as one page of image data.

In order to achieve the above object, in a facsimile apparatus according to a sixth aspect, the transmission control means according to the first to fourth aspects is such that the number of input lines recognized by the first recognizing means is the above-mentioned. The image data of an arbitrary number of consecutive pages within a range that does not exceed the number of recordable lines recognized by the second recognition means is combined and polled and sent as one page of image data.

In order to achieve the above object, a facsimile transmission method according to a seventh aspect of the present invention recognizes the number of input lines for each page of a plurality of pages of image data input by the image input means and accumulated in the storage means. In the first recognizing step, and when polling-transmitting the image data of a plurality of pages stored in the storage means, the polling reception side is set to 1
A second recognition step of recognizing the number of recordable lines per page, and the number of input lines recognized in the first recognition step do not exceed the number of recordable lines recognized in the second recognition step. A transmission control step of combining image data of a plurality of pages continuous within the range and performing polling transmission as image data for one page.

In order to achieve the above object, in the facsimile transmission method according to claim 8, in the transmission control step according to claim 7, image data of a plurality of pages are combined by a polling reception terminal that has requested polling transmission. When it is requested to perform polling transmission as one page of image data, the number of input lines recognized in the first recognition step is equal to the number of recordable lines recognized in the second recognition step. It is configured to combine image data of a plurality of consecutive pages within a range that does not exceed and to perform polling transmission as one page of image data.

In order to achieve the above object, in the facsimile transmission method according to claim 9, claim 7 or claim 8 is provided.
In the second recognition step described above, the number of recordable lines per page in the polling reception terminal is based on the standard reception capability information of the polling reception terminal obtained by the digital identification signal conforming to the ITU-T recommendation. Is configured to recognize.

In order to achieve the above object, in a facsimile transmission method according to a tenth aspect, the image input means according to the seventh aspect is constituted by an image reading means such as a CCD scanner.

In order to achieve the above object, in the facsimile transmission method according to claim 11, the number of input lines recognized in the first recognition step in the transmission control step according to claims 7 to 10 is The image data of two consecutive pages within a range not exceeding the number of recordable lines recognized in the second recognition step are combined and polled and transmitted as one page of image data.

In order to achieve the above object, in the facsimile transmission method according to claim 11, the number of input lines recognized in the first recognition step in the transmission control step according to claims 7 to 10 is The image data of an arbitrary number of continuous pages within a range not exceeding the number of recordable lines recognized in the second recognition step are combined and polled and transmitted as one page of image data.

[0017]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
~ It will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The present facsimile machine has a CPU (central processing unit) 1 as a core to perform various processes related to facsimile transmission. The CPU (central processing unit) 1 has a ROM (read only memory). 2, first, second, third RAM (random access memory) 3,
4, 5, operation panel control gate array 6, read control gate array 10, recording control gate array 11, image memory 13, modulator / demodulator 14, and encoding device (codec)
16 are connected. Although not shown, the encoding device 16 includes an encoder, a multiplexing circuit, a demultiplexing circuit, a decoder, and the like.

A display 7 and a keyboard 8 are connected to the operation panel control gate array 6, and a contact sensor 9 is connected to the reading control gate array 10.
A laser printer 12 is connected to the recording control gate array 11, and a network controller 15 is connected to the modulator / demodulator 14.

The CPU 1 controls the other constituent elements according to various programs preset in the ROM 2 while controlling the binary code control procedure recommended by the ITU-T, and FIG.
Various processes corresponding to the flowchart shown in are executed. At this time, the CPU 1 uses the first RAM 3 as a work area.

The reading device 9 is composed of a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD, and converts the optically read original image into an electric signal under the control of the reading control gate array 10 and outputs it as image data. The reading control gate array 10 compresses and encodes the image data read by the reading device 9,
The image is stored in the image memory 13 including a DRAM or the like.

At this time, as the management information of the image data stored in the image memory 13, the reception number, the destination information, the number of pages, the stored image memory block information, the resolution, the image size, the number of read lines of each page, etc. are stored in the CPU 1. It is stored in the second RAM 4 under control. The reading control gate array 10 recognizes and outputs the number of reading lines when compressing and coding image data.

When transmitting the image data stored in the image memory 13, the image data is encoded by the encoder in the encoder 16 under the control of the CPU 1 according to the mode of the destination facsimile machine. Is compressed and compressed,
Further, the signal is modulated by the modulator / demodulator 14 and output to the line N via the network controller 15. When transmitting the image data, the management information is read out from the second RAM 4 and multiplexed with the image data by the multiplexing circuit in the encoding device 16 so that the management information of the image data is also transmitted together. Sent.

When the remote station issues a polling transmission request for the image data stored in the image memory 13, the polling password transmitted from the remote station is compared with the polling password stored in the second RAM 4. Only if they match, polling is sent.

On the other hand, the line N and the network controller 15
Under the control of the CPU 1, the image data received via the is demodulated by the modulator / demodulator 14 to check / correct the data error, and the image data is decoded and expanded by the decoder in the encoder 16. After being stored in the laser printer 1, the laser printer 1 is controlled by the recording control gate array 11.
It is printed and recorded at 2. At this time, the management information received together with the image data is separated by the demultiplexing circuit in the encoding device 16 and stored in the second RAM 4, and then printed and recorded by the laser printer 12.

Although not shown, the keyboard 8 includes a ten-key pad for inputting destination information (FAX number), time transmission time, etc., a resolution setting key for setting resolution such as standard, fine, super fine, etc., and a transmission start instruction. Various types of keys such as a start key for starting, an end mark key for stamping an end mark indicating that the document has been sent, a selection key for selecting one of a first combining method and a second combining method described later. Function keys are provided, and the operation status of these keys depends on the operation panel control gate array 6
And corresponding input information, setting information, commands, etc. are stored in the third RAM 5 under the control of the CPU 1.

The display 7 is composed of a liquid crystal display, and information corresponding to the operation keys of the keyboard 8 and timekeeping information are displayed by the operation panel control gate array 6 under the control of the CPU 1.

Under each of the above components, the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment performs transmission as shown in FIG. 2 in response to a request from the polling receiving terminal. That is, regarding the read image data of a plurality of pages, continuous image data within the range of the number of recordable lines per page (recording paper length) of the polling reception terminal is combined and polled as one page of image data. I am sending.

Further, the polling transmission / reception is based on the binary code control procedure of ITU-T Recommendation 30.
The signal sequence is as follows.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the called side (polling transmission side) facsimile apparatus, after the line is connected, the CED signal, the NSF signal, the CSI signal, and the DIS signal of S1 to S4 shown in FIG. Are sequentially transmitted.

The calling side (polling reception side) informs the called side (polling transmission side) of selection / non-selection of polling transmission by combining the image data in the NSC signal (non-standard function command signal). (S5). Further, the polling transmission is requested by the DTC signal (digital transmission command signal) (S7).

On the other hand, the facsimile machine on the called side (polling transmission side) is based on its own function and the NSC signal (non-standard function command signal) sent from the calling side (polling reception side). Decide whether or not to perform polling transmission by combining image data, and
The signal (non-standard function setting signal) is transmitted to the calling side (polling reception side) (S8). Further, a DCS signal (digital command signal) is transmitted in order to give a reception command and an operation mode command (S10). After sending this DCS signal, the sequence of phase C according to the result of the above decision is started.

Next, the sequence of the above phase C when it is decided to perform polling transmission by combining image data will be described with reference to FIG.

First, on the polling transmission side, training is performed (S11), and a TCF signal (training confirmation signal) is transmitted (S12). When the CFR signal (reception preparation confirmation signal) is received (S13), the training is performed again (S14).

Then, the image data of a plurality of pages is sequentially transmitted (S15), and the RTC signal (control return signal) is transmitted, so that the image data of the plurality of pages sequentially transmitted in S15 is one page of image data. Tell that there is.
Next, when an MPS signal (multi-page signal) is transmitted and then an MCF signal (message confirmation signal) is received,
The transmission control of the image data is performed again at S14 to S17.

Next, the memory polling transmission operation in this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the CPU 1 selects the combined reception in which the continuous reception of the image data within the range of the recordable line number (recording paper length) is polled and received as one page of image data by the receiving side. It is determined whether or not there is (step S501). As a result, when combined reception is selected, the page counter i is initialized to "1" as the page number (step S502), and the page counter j and the variable Xi are initialized to "0" (step S503). ). Here, the page counter j is a page counter indicating the number of pages from the i-th page of the image data to be stored in the transmission buffer, and the variable Xi
Is the total number of read lines of the image data already accumulated in the transmission buffer.

Then, the image data of the page of the number indicated by the page counter i (hereinafter referred to as i) is read from the image data of the transmission request accumulated in the image memory 13, and is transmitted to the transmission buffer (second RAM 4). (Formed inside) (step S504).

Next, the page counter j is incremented by "1" (step S505), and it is determined whether or not the image data of the (i + j) th page is stored in the image memory 13 (step S506). As a result, (i
+ J) If the image data of the page is stored, the sum of the total number of read lines Xi of the image data already stored in the transmission buffer and the number of read lines of the image data of the (i + j) page Xi + j ( It is determined whether or not (Xi + Xi + j) is less than or equal to the number of recordable lines y (step S507).
The number of recordable lines y is determined from information such as recording paper width as standard reception capability information obtained from a digital identification signal (DIS signal) sent from the polling receiver in the above binary code control procedure. For example,
If the recording paper width is A4 size and the reading resolution is standard, the number of lines that can be recorded at the standard resolution on the A4 size recording paper is set as the recordable line number y.

If it is determined in step S507 that the sum of the number of read lines (Xi + Xi + j) is less than or equal to the number of recordable lines y, the image data of the (i + j) th page is read from the image memory 13 and sent. It is accumulated in the credit buffer (step S508). Then, the variable Xi is incremented by Xi + j (step S509), and step S505.
By returning to step 1, the sum of the total number of read lines Xi of the image data already stored in the transmission buffer and the number of read lines Xi + j of the (i + j) th page image data (Xi + Xi +
Until j) exceeds the number of recordable lines y,
Accumulates in the sending buffer.

In step S507, the above sum (Xi + Xi
If it is determined that + j) exceeds the number of recordable lines y, the image data for a plurality of pages stored up to that point in the transmission buffer is transmitted as image data for one page (step S510). , The page counter i is incremented by “j” (step S511),
It returns to step S503.

In step S506, (i + j)
When it is determined that the page number is not stored in the image memory 13, the image data stored in the transmission buffer until then is transmitted (step S517), and the process ends. At this time, when the image data for a plurality of pages is stored in the transmission buffer, the image data for a plurality of pages is transmitted as image data for one page,
When only one page of image data is stored, the one page of image data is transmitted as one page of image data.

If it is determined in step S501 that the combined reception is not selected, the page counter i is initialized to "1" as the page number (step S51).
2). Then, the image data of the i-th page in the image memory 13 is read and stored in the transmission buffer (step S
513), the image data accumulated in the transmission buffer, that is, the read image data for one page is transmitted as image data for one page (step S514).

Next, the page counter i is incremented by "1" (step S515), and it is determined whether the image data of the i-th page is stored in the image memory 13 (step S516). As a result, if the image data of the i-th page has been accumulated, the process returns to step S513 and the same single page transmission is repeated. On the other hand, if the image data of the i-th page is not stored, it means that all the image data related to the transmission request has been transmitted.
finish.

As described above, in this embodiment,
When it is requested to combine and transmit a plurality of stored image data, the polling reception side combines the image data for the maximum arbitrary pages that can be recorded on one recording paper and
Since it is polled and sent as image data for one page, the blank area of the recording paper can be reduced as much as possible, and it is not necessary to perform extra paper feeding by the amount of the blank area, which enables faster recording. The running cost can be further reduced.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, not only image data read and input by a CCD scanner or the like, but also image data input by a computer or the like is used. It is also possible to perform similar transmission control. Further, it is possible to recognize the recording paper length by using the non-standard function (NSF signal) without recognizing the recording paper length by the DIS signal which is the standard function defined by ITU-T. In this case, it is possible to use letter paper or legal paper used in North America as recording paper. Further, the number of combined pages can be limited to two.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention,
First image recognition means for recognizing the number of input lines for each page of image data of a plurality of pages input by the image input means and accumulated in the memory means, and image data of the plurality of pages accumulated in the memory means In the polling transmission, the second recognition means for recognizing the number of recordable lines per page on the polling reception side, and the number of input lines recognized by the first recognition means are the second recognition means. The polling receiving side is provided on the polling receiving side, since the polling receiving side is provided with the transmission control means for combining the image data of a plurality of continuous pages within the range not exceeding the number of recordable lines recognized by the means and performing polling transmission as one page of image data. , For example, an image is not recorded only on the upper part of the recording paper (cut paper) and a large blank space is not formed on the lower part, and waste of the recording paper can be prevented. In addition, when recording received image data of multiple pages, it is not necessary to perform extra paper feeding for the margins, and it is possible to avoid adverse effects such as impairing the speed of recording. Can be polled and transmitted in a format that can reduce the running cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining how to combine image data.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a signal sequence based on a binary code control procedure of ITU-T Recommendation 30 during polling transmission / reception.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a signal sequence continued from FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a memory polling transmission operation in the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... CPU (2nd recognition means, transmission control means) 2 ... ROM (2nd recognition means, transmission control means) 3 ... 1st RAM 4 ... 2nd RAM 5 ... 3rd RAM 6 ... Operation panel control gate array 8 ... Keyboard 9 ... Reading device (image input means) 10 ... Reading control gate array (first recognition means) 11 ... Recording control gate array 12 ... Laser printer 13 ... Image memory 14 ... Modulator / demodulator 15 ... Network control device 16 ... Encoding device (Codec)

Front page continued (72) Inventor Kazuhiro Sugawara 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Satoshi Imai 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Toru Fujino 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Hitoshi Saito 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Invention Toru Maeda 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Shinichiro Gun, 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Makoto Kobayashi Tokyo 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A first recognition unit for recognizing the number of input lines for each page of image data of a plurality of pages input by the image input unit and stored in the storage unit, and stored in the storage unit. A second recognition unit that recognizes the number of recordable lines per page on the polling reception side when polling transmission of image data of a plurality of pages and the number of input lines recognized by the first recognition unit are Transmission control means for combining image data of a plurality of continuous pages within a range not exceeding the number of recordable lines recognized by the second recognition means and performing polling transmission as one page of image data. A facsimile device characterized by the above. 2. The transmission control means, when the polling reception terminal requesting polling transmission requests to combine image data of a plurality of pages and perform polling transmission as one page of image data. The image data of a plurality of continuous pages is combined within a range in which the number of input lines recognized by the first recognizing means does not exceed the number of recordable lines recognized by the second recognizing means. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein polling transmission is performed as image data. 3. The second recognizing means records on a page basis in the polling reception terminal based on standard reception capability information of the polling reception terminal obtained by a digital identification signal conforming to the ITU-T recommendation. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the number of possible lines is recognized. 4. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image input unit is constituted by an image reading unit such as a CCD scanner. 5. The transmission control means is consecutive 2 within a range in which the number of input lines recognized by the first recognition means does not exceed the number of recordable lines recognized by the second recognition means. 5. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein image data of pages is combined and polled and transmitted as image data for one page. 6. The transmission control means is arbitrary if the number of input lines recognized by the first recognizing means is continuous within a range not exceeding the number of recordable lines recognized by the second recognizing means. 5. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein image data of the number of pages is combined and polled and transmitted as image data for one page. 7. A first recognition step of recognizing the number of input lines for each page of image data of a plurality of pages input by the image input means and stored in the storage means, and stored in the storage means. The second recognition step of recognizing the number of recordable lines per page on the polling reception side when polling transmission of image data of a plurality of pages, and the number of input lines recognized in the first recognition step are A transmission control step of combining image data of a plurality of continuous pages within a range not exceeding the number of recordable lines recognized in the second recognition step and performing polling transmission as one page of image data. Facsimile transmission method characterized by. 8. In the transmission control step, when the polling reception terminal that requests polling transmission requests to combine image data of a plurality of pages and perform polling transmission as one page of image data, The image data of a plurality of continuous pages are combined within a range in which the number of input lines recognized in the first recognition step does not exceed the number of recordable lines recognized in the second recognition step, and one page worth is combined. 8. The facsimile transmission method according to claim 7, wherein polling transmission is performed as image data. 9. In the second recognition step, recording per page in the polling reception terminal is based on standard reception capability information of the polling reception terminal obtained by a digital identification signal conforming to ITU-T recommendation. 9. The facsimile transmission method according to claim 7, wherein the number of possible lines is recognized. 10. The facsimile transmission method according to claim 7, wherein the image input unit is constituted by an image reading unit such as a CCD scanner. 11. In the transmission control step, the number of input lines recognized in the first recognition step is continuous within a range not exceeding the number of recordable lines recognized in the second recognition step. 11. The facsimile transmission method according to claim 7, wherein image data of pages is combined and polled and transmitted as image data for one page. 12. In the transmission control step, the number of input lines recognized in the first recognition step is continuous within a range not exceeding the number of recordable lines recognized in the second recognition step. 11. The facsimile transmission method according to claim 7, wherein the image data of the number of pages is combined and polled and transmitted as one page of image data.