JPH09200410A - Facsimile equipment with black stripe detecting function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect efficiently mixture of a black stripe image into a received image and to inform it to a transmitter side earlier by storing the result of detection of the black stripe image in cross reference with transmission destination information. SOLUTION: When an image by one line is outputted from an output section 3, image information by same one line is transferred and stored from a storage section 7 to a one-line image information memory 14 in a black stripe image detection section 8. Then the image information by one line is stored in a memory 13. A CPU 2 compares the images by one pixel in the memories 13, 14 to detect a black level. The detection of the black stripe image by one line is conducted for one page. The CPU 12 transfers the presence of the black stripe image for a prescribed number of times or over from a memory 15 to a black stripe image detection result storage section 9. The storage section 9 stores transmission destination information, black stripe image position information and system information in cross reference with each other.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the detection of black streak images in facsimile machines.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to prevent a user from transmitting a document without knowing that the transmission data includes a black streak image, a black streak image detecting means and a black streak image detection are notified. A facsimile machine provided with a means is known (Japanese Patent Application No. 2-274167).

According to the facsimile apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2-274167, it is possible to quickly notify that a black stripe image is added to the image of the original to be transmitted to the receiving side by the transmitting side facsimile apparatus. It is possible to notify the user. As a result, the user who has been notified that the black streak image is mixed in the transmission image can empirically remove stains on the image reading means (for example, a scanner).

In such a facsimile machine, it was possible to detect a "black streak image" in the "reception image" due to the structure of the apparatus. However, even if a "black streak image" is detected from the received image information, the receiving side cannot perform any processing. Also, if the received image contains a "black streak image", it is recognized that there is a cause for such an image to be mixed into the image output means of the own machine, and an inquiry is made to the support organization of the facsimile device.
There were cases where a serviceman was called. In such a case, upon investigation, many results are found to be the cause of the transmission partner.

Although the conventional facsimile apparatus can reliably detect the "mixing of the black streak image on the transmission side", the cause of the "mixing of the black streak image on the received image" is the own device or the transmitter. It is difficult to determine if it is on the side. Further, according to the facsimile apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2-274167, it is possible to output the transmission image through the image output means from the configuration of the apparatus, so that the image output means of the own device is It is possible to obtain information that it is normal. However, even if the sender is found to have the cause, he / she does not know the person in charge on the sender side, the telephone number of the destination cannot be checked immediately, or the discovery is delayed, so the user is notified directly. Sometimes you forget and forget about it as you want to let it know later.

[0006]

Although it is possible to detect and notify by the facsimile device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2-274167 of the mixing of the black streak image of the received image, the operator of the facsimile device can It must be detected directly and the method is complicated. Further, in consideration of the usage environment of a normal facsimile apparatus, it is actually difficult to notify the sender. Further, even if the notification can be made, the manual operation is complicated, and there is a problem that the transmission side is delayed in handling because the communication to the transmission side is not always guaranteed. As described above, the conventional facsimile apparatus has a problem that it is not possible to efficiently detect that a black streak image is mixed in the received image and notify the transmitting side early. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile apparatus which solves such a problem, efficiently detects that a black streak image is mixed in a received image, and notifies the transmitting side earlier. It is in.

[0007]

A facsimile apparatus according to the present invention comprises an image information storage section for accumulating image information,
A black streak image detection unit that detects a black streak image for the image information stored in the image information storage unit, and a black streak image detection notification unit that notifies that the black streak image has been detected by the black streak detection unit. In a facsimile apparatus equipped with, a black streak image detection result storage section for storing the detection result of the black streak image detection section in association with the destination information is provided, and when the black streak image detection section finds a black streak image, a black streak image is detected. A black streak image detection notifying unit is provided to notify the black streak image detection notifying unit that the black streak image has been detected when searching the information in the streak image detection result storage unit and detecting the same destination information. There is a feature in doing it.

Further, a black streak image detection result storage section for storing the detection result of the black streak image detection section in association with the destination information is provided, and the black streak image detection section receives it when the image information receiving operation is completed. When a black streak image detection operation is started for an image and the result is that a black streak image is found, if the same destination information is detected by searching the information in the black streak image detection result storage unit, the black streak image is detected. The communication line may be disconnected after the image detection notifying unit is notified that the black streak image has been detected.

Further, in a facsimile apparatus having a self-diagnosis function, when the black stripe image detection notification information is received from the facsimile apparatus provided with the black stripe image detection notification means, the self-diagnosis function is used to operate the apparatus. May be self-diagnosed.

[0010]

According to the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, the black streak image detection result in the black streak image detection result storage unit that stores the detection result of the black streak image detection unit in association with the destination information is stored in the past. The facsimile machine or facsimile system that has transmitted the image information mixed with is specified. Then, when the black streak image detection unit finds the black streak image, the information in the black streak image detection result storage unit is searched to detect the same destination information, so that the black streak image information is detected by the corresponding facsimile device. It turns out that the cause of mixing is not removed.

At this time, the black streak image detection notifying unit is notified that the black streak image has been detected. From this notification, the corresponding facsimile apparatus side recognizes that the image information was transmitted with the black stripe image mixed. Also,
When the black line image detection unit starts the black line image detection operation without disconnecting the line for the image received when the image information reception operation ends, and the same destination information is detected as a result Causes the black streak image detection notification section to notify that the black streak image has been detected, the sending side may detect that there is a cause of the black streak image being mixed in the sending side facsimile device in a series of image information transmission operations. recognize.

Furthermore, in a facsimile apparatus having a self-diagnosis function, when the black stripe image detection notification information is received from the facsimile apparatus provided with the black stripe image detection notification means, the self-diagnosis function is used to operate the apparatus. Since self-diagnosis is performed, after completion of a series of image information transmission operations,
The cause of black streak image mixture is identified at an early stage.

[0013]

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings showing the embodiments thereof. 1 is a block diagram showing a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a black streak image detecting circuit which constitutes a black streak image detecting section, FIG.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a black streak image detection result in a black streak image detection result storage unit.

The facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. 1 has G3 or G4.
A control unit including a communication control unit 1 for performing a facsimile according to a procedure, a ROM or a RAM storing a control program, and an element such as a CPU for executing the control program and issuing a control signal to each unit of the apparatus to control the entire system. 2. Image information output unit 3 for printing image information received by facsimile communication on thermal paper or plain paper, operation unit 4 for executing various operations of the facsimile apparatus using ten keys or function keys, image for reading image information of original document The information reading unit 5, the display unit 6 for displaying characters and numbers for the operator to recognize the operating state of the facsimile apparatus, the image information read by the image information reading unit 5, and the facsimile image received by the communication control unit 1. The image information storage unit 7 that stores information, analyzes the image information stored in the image information storage unit 7, and A black streak image detection unit 8 that detects an image, a black streak image detection result storage unit 9 that stores in which part of the image information the black streak image exists when the black streak image is detected, and a black streak image is detected. A black streak image detection notifying unit 10 for notifying the information source of the image information, and a system bus 11 for transmitting and receiving data and control signals to which the above blocks are connected. Here, detailed description of blocks that perform basic operations of the facsimile apparatus will be omitted.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment (hereinafter, embodiment 1) of the present invention. Here, S1 represents step 1 of the flowchart, and will be described in the same manner hereinafter. When the facsimile device shown in FIG. 1 starts receiving a facsimile image (S1), the image information output unit 3 starts outputting the received image for one line (S2). At the same time, detection of a black streak image is started.
In order to explain the internal operation of the black streak image detection unit 8 that detects a black streak image, a description will be given based on FIG. The black streak image inspection unit 8 controls the entire black streak detection operation based on a control program stored in a memory (not shown), and a memory 13 that stores image information for one line to be output next. A memory 14 for storing the image information for one line being output, a memory 15 for storing the position of the black image image information, and dot image information (pixels) for one line
And a counter 16 for counting a pointer value that points to, and each unit is connected via an internal bus 17. Here, when an image for one line is output, the same image information for one line is internally stored in the one-line image information memory 14 being output from the black streak image detecting unit 8 from the image information storage unit 7 through the system bus 11. It is transferred through the bus 17 and stored (S3).

In the first embodiment, the image information is described as binary image information of a white image and a black image for the sake of explanation.
The same can be applied to multi-valued image information of two or more values.

Subsequently, the image information for one line which is being output next is similarly stored in the memory 13. Here, the image information of the previous line and the image information of the line to be output next are compared (S4). More specifically, the CPU 12 reads one pixel from each of the memory 13 and the memory 14 based on the counter value of the counter 16 and takes a negative logical product (S5). At this time, when the logical value is black, the black image detection frequency value is read from the image position of one line of the memory 15, and 1 is added to the value and returned (S6). The contents of the memory 15 are all initialized when the black stripe image detection operation is started. When the logical value is white, the black image detection count value at that time is a constant value (a value determined when the black streak image detection unit 8 is created)
If it has reached, then it is returned to the memory 15 as it is. In other cases, return to the initial value. The above detection is performed for the previous pixel for one line.

The above-described black line image detection operation for one line is performed for one page (S7). Then, it is determined whether there is continuous black image information (S8). When the operation for one page is completed, the number of times that the logical value of black is detected over a certain value is stored in the memory 15 in correspondence with the position of the pixel for one line. Therefore, the position of the pixel detected a certain number of times or more indicates that there is a continuous black streak image in the sub operation direction. At this time, the CPU 12 transfers the content of the memory 15 to the black streak image detection result storage unit 9 that the black streak image of a certain number of times or more exists. Here, FIG. 3 shows a data structure when the detection result 19 is stored in the black streak image detection result storage unit 9. The detection result 19 includes, for each detection result, the identification number 20, the transmission source information 21 sent from the transmission source, the black streak image position information 22 which is the contents of the memory 15, and the current information in the facsimile apparatus. The system information 23 indicating the operating state is stored (S9).

Subsequently, the control unit 2 detects whether the information finally recorded in the black streak image detection result storage unit 9 is the same as that sent from the same destination in the past (S10). At this time, the black stripe image position information 22 of the same transmission source is compared based on the transmission source information 21 (S10). As a result, when the transmission source in which the black streak image has been detected in the past is detected, it is further checked whether or not the black streak image exists at the same position (S11). If a black streak image appears at the same position, a message is sent based on the sender information after the facsimile communication is completed. At this time, the black streak image detection notifying section 10 transmits a document notifying that the black streak image has been detected to the other party by facsimile communication (S1).
2). The above is the description of the operation of the first embodiment.

In the first embodiment, the case where the number of received documents is one has been described, but this is because it is not detected that the black streak images do not continuously appear in the plurality of received images. In the second embodiment (hereinafter, second embodiment), a case where a plurality of originals are received by one reception will be described. The second embodiment is a case where a plurality of originals are received. Even when receiving a plurality of received documents, the detection of the black streak image is the same as in the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, one or more black stripe image detection results are stored in the black stripe image detection result storage unit 9. Here, when the reception of all the documents (one or more) is completed, the control unit 2 checks the detection result in the black streak image detection result storage unit 9 to check whether a black streak appears at the same position. As a result of the check, if black streak images appear in a plurality of received documents, a message is sent based on the sender information after the facsimile communication is completed. At this time, the black streak image detection notifying unit 10 transmits a document notifying that the black streak image has been detected to the other party by facsimile communication (S12 in FIG. 1).

In the second embodiment, the black stripe image detection operation is automatically performed when the number of received documents is plural, but when the number of received documents is one, the same operation as in the first embodiment is performed. Subsequently, a third embodiment (hereinafter, third embodiment) will be described. In the first and second embodiments, the receiving side device has been described, but the third embodiment
Then, the black stripe image is detected, and the notified facsimile machine performs the self-inspection function to detect the above and find out earlier than itself. In the third embodiment, when a black streak image is detected on the receiving side, a document notifying that the black streak image has been detected is transmitted to the other party by facsimile communication (S12 in FIG. 1). After this, a signal for activating the self-inspection function is sent from the receiving side to the transmitting side. Upon receiving this signal, the facsimile machine on the transmission side starts the self-inspection function and inspects the operation state of each part of the apparatus. The inspection result is stored in a management report, or an alarm means is used to notify the operator when urgent repair is required. The signal for starting the self-inspection function can be realized by using a non-standard facsimile signal or the like that can be communicated between its own machines.

[0022]

According to the present invention, even when a black stripe is seen in a received facsimile document, the operator determines whether the cause of the black stripe image is on the transmitting side or the receiving side. Even if the determination is not made, when there is a cause on the transmitting side, it is possible to automatically notify the other party that the cause of the black streak image has occurred. Further, in the case of a facsimile apparatus having a self-inspection function, after detecting a black streak image, the self-inspection function can be activated by a signal sent from the receiving side to detect the above-mentioned machine itself at an early stage.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram of a facsimile apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system diagram of a black streak image detection unit of the facsimile apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a system diagram of a facsimile apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ...- Communication control unit 11 ... System bus 2 ... Control unit 12 ... CPU 3 ... Image information output unit 13, 14, Line memory 4 ... Operation Part 15 ... Black image data position memory 5 ... Image information reading unit 16 ... Counter 6 ... Display unit 17 ... Internal bus 7 ... Image information storage unit 19: Black streak image detection result storage unit 8: Black streak image detection unit 9: Black streak image detection result storage unit 10: Black streak image detection notification unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image information storage unit for accumulating image information, a black streak image detection unit for detecting a black streak image in the image information stored in the image information storage unit, and a black streak by the black streak detection unit. In a facsimile apparatus including a black streak image detection notification unit that notifies that an image has been detected, a black streak image detection result storage unit that stores the detection result of the black streak image detection unit in association with destination information is provided, When the black streak image detection unit finds a black streak image, when the same destination information is detected by searching the information in the black streak image detection result storage unit, the black streak image is notified to the black streak image detection notification unit. A facsimile apparatus comprising a black streak image detection notifying means for notifying that it has been detected. 2. An image information storage unit that stores image information, a black streak image detection unit that detects a black streak image in the image information stored in the image information storage unit, and a black streak by the black streak detection unit. In a facsimile apparatus including a black streak image detection notification unit that notifies that an image has been detected, a black streak image detection result storage unit that stores the detection result of the black streak image detection unit in association with destination information is provided, When the black streak image detection unit starts the black streak image detection operation for the image received when the image information reception operation ends, and when a black streak image is found as a result, the black streak image detection result storage unit If the same destination information is detected by searching for the information of the black line image detection notification means for disconnecting the communication line after notifying the black line image detection notification unit that the black line image is detected Set up Facsimile apparatus according to claim. 3. In a facsimile apparatus having a self-diagnosis function, when the black stripe image detection notification information is received from a facsimile apparatus provided with a black stripe image detection notification means, the operation state of the apparatus is checked by using the self-diagnosis function. A facsimile machine characterized by self-diagnosis.