JPH09284447A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a communication cost by integrating transfer data being the telephone number of the transferring destination of picture data with picture data so as to transmit transferring data by fast communication. SOLUTION: The inputted telephone number of a transmission destination is temporarily stored in RAM. Then based on the inputted telephone number of the transmission destination, transferring data is prepared. Next a picture reading part reads a picture original to prepare binary and two-dimensional data based on gradation information of the original. Next transferring data is added to the top of read picture data to compose. At this time transferring data 21 is stored in a transferring data area 22 so that one transferring data may be equivalent to the one line part of picture data. Consequently this picture data 24 is added with one line part of transferring data 25 at the top row. Next, composed data is compressed by a two-dimensional encoding system. Then data transmission is started by a prescribed transmission control procedure.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

The present invention relates to a facsimile machine,
In particular, the present invention relates to a facsimile device that transmits image data and transfers the image data from a transmission destination to a transfer destination, and a facsimile device that can transfer image data transmitted from a transmission source to a transfer destination specified by the transmission source.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ordinary facsimile apparatus reads image data of an original and transmits the image data to a destination facsimile apparatus or the like via a telephone line. When transmitting the image data, first, the telephone number of the transmission destination is dialed, and the data is transmitted according to a predetermined transmission control procedure. The transmission control procedure is the procedure to connect the source device and the destination device correctly, the procedure to confirm the other party, the data transmission, the confirmation whether the data is received correctly, and disconnect the line. It includes procedures for doing so.

Some facsimile machines have a function of transferring image data transmitted from a transmission source to a transfer destination designated by the transmission source. In such a facsimile apparatus, the non-standard function setting signal (NSS) and the sub address (SUB) are included in the procedure data transmitted and received in the pre-procedure before the data transmission among the above-mentioned transmission control procedures. In general, it is commonly used to transmit / receive transfer data of a transfer destination.

When transmitting the transfer data by using the sub address (SUB), the transmitting side notifies the receiving side that the sub address function is used by using the DCS signal. Specifically, by setting a specific bit of this DCS signal, the reception side is notified that the sub-address function is used. The SUB signal is a frame capable of transmitting 20-digit character information in ASCII code, and transmits the telephone number of the transfer destination to the receiving side. When the receiving side detects the flag with the sub-address function in the DCS, it regards the transfer data in the SUB as valid and stores it in the memory as the telephone number of the next transfer destination.

Further, the receiving side decodes the image data received by the data transmission procedure and outputs it on the recording paper. Further, it communicates with the transfer destination telephone number based on the transfer data, and transfers the received image data to the transfer destination device.

[0006]

In the above transmission control procedure, the image data transmission procedure is 9600b.
Although communication is performed at a high speed of ps to 14400 bps, the pre-procedure before transmission of image data is usually 300 bp.
Communication is performed at the communication speed of s. Therefore, if the subaddress transmitted / received in the pre-procedure includes the transfer data indicating the telephone number of the transfer destination, the communication time becomes long and the communication cost increases. Further, since the length of the sub-address is regulated, there is a problem that a plurality of pieces of transfer data cannot be transmitted and other data cannot be added to the transfer data and transmitted.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile apparatus capable of transmitting / receiving transfer data of a transfer destination designated by a transmission source at high speed and also transmitting / receiving additional information.

[0008]

A facsimile machine according to the present invention comprises an image reading means, an encoding means, and a data transmitting means. The image reading means reads the image data. The encoding means adds the transfer data, which is the telephone number to which the image data is transferred, to the image data to create integrated code data. The data transmitting means transmits the coded data via the line.

In this case, since the transfer data, which is the telephone number to which the image data is transferred, is integrated with the image data, the transfer data can be transmitted by high-speed communication when transmitting the image data, and the communication cost is reduced. It is possible to It is also possible to add a plurality of pieces of transfer data or add other information and send the data. The transfer data can be added to the beginning of the image data or can be added to the end of the image data. Also,
It is also possible to add a plurality of transfer data to the image data as code data corresponding to one line of the image data. In this case, a transfer data area in which the telephone number of the transfer destination is stored and a check area filled with "1" for error check are formed in the code data corresponding to one line to be added. A transfer destination telephone number may be stored in the transfer data area and transmitted. Further, a data identification area filled with "0" may be provided between the transfer data and the image data so that they can be discriminated.

Position data indicating which position in the code data created by the encoding means is added to the position data is included in the procedure data transmitted / received by the pre-procedure transmitting / receiving means before transmitting / receiving the code data. You can Specifically, the position data can be stored in the frame of the subaddress in the procedure data and transmitted / received.

Further, the present invention constitutes a facsimile apparatus including a receiving means, a decoding means, an output means, an encoding means, and a data transfer means. The receiving means receives the first code data transmitted from the transmission source. The decoding means decodes the first code data to extract the image data and the transfer data including the transfer destination telephone number. The output means outputs the image data. The encoding means encodes the image data again to create the second encoded data. The data transfer means transfers the first code data or the second code data via the line based on the transfer data. Here, since the transfer data integrally encoded together with the image data is received, the communication time can be shortened and the additional information can be received.

The second code data to be coded by the coding means can be constructed so that the image data extracted by the decoding means and the transfer data are combined and coded again, and
The data to be transferred to the next transfer destination can be selected from the transfer data and encoded together with the image data.

[0013]

1 is an external perspective view of a facsimile apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. On the upper surface of the facsimile apparatus 1, a document table 2 on which a document is placed, an operation panel 3 including various keys and a display unit, and a handset 4
Etc. are arranged. Located on the left side of FIG. 1, a document discharge tray 5 for discharging the document after the image is read, a paper discharge tray 6 for discharging the paper on which the received image data is recorded, and an internal device are arranged. A detachable paper feed cassette 7 for supplying paper to the developing unit is arranged.

A control unit 10 is provided inside the facsimile apparatus 1 as shown in FIG. Control unit 10
Is composed of a microcomputer system including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, various drivers and the like. An operation panel 3 as shown in FIG. 1 is connected to the control unit 10. The operation panel 3 includes an input key unit including a numeric keypad and other command keys, a display unit including a liquid crystal display element, an LED, and the like.

The control unit 10 further includes an image reading unit 11
Is connected. The image reading unit 11 includes a light source such as an LED or a fluorescent lamp that irradiates a document conveyed from the document table 2 with light of a constant brightness, a CCD image sensor that scans light reflected from the document and reads a black-and-white pattern, or the like. It includes a photoelectric conversion element and an image processing unit for processing a monochrome pattern read by the photoelectric conversion element as two-dimensional image data.

The control unit 10 includes a ROM 13 in which each processing program and various fixed parameters are stored, and a RAM 14 in which image data read by the image reading unit 11, transmission destination data, transfer destination data, etc. are temporarily stored. It is connected. The control unit 10 further includes an encoding / decoding means 15
Is connected. The encoding / decoding means 15 compresses the image data into coded data, and decodes the compressed and transmitted coded data into image data. In the encoding / decoding means 15, as a method of compressing image data, a one-dimensional encoding MH encoding method, a two-dimensional encoding MR encoding method, an MMR encoding method, or the like can be adopted.

A modem 16 is connected to the control unit 10 and the encoding / decoding means 15. The modem 16 performs modulation so that the data to be transmitted is placed on the telephone line, and demodulates the data received via the line. The modem 16 includes a network control unit (hereinafter, NCU).
17) is connected. The NCU 17 connects to a line and dials a telephone number designated by the control unit 10 to transmit / receive data.

An image output unit 12 is connected to the control unit 10. The image output unit 12 outputs the image data received via the line onto a sheet of paper. For example, a photoconductor drum on the surface of which an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data is formed, or a static image on the photoconductor drum. A developing device that visualizes an electric latent image with toner, a sheet conveying unit that conveys a sheet from the sheet feeding cassette 7 to the photosensitive drum, a transfer device that transfers the toner image on the photosensitive drum onto the sheet, a toner image on the sheet A fixing device that heats and fixes the sheet, a sheet discharge unit that discharges the sheet to the sheet discharge tray 6, and the like are included.

The operation of the above embodiment will be described. When the facsimile apparatus 1 is turned on, various parameters are initialized in step S1 shown in FIG. In step S2, it is determined whether or not an operation to perform the transmission operation has been performed. For example, when a document is placed on the document table 2 or there is a key operation for performing the transmission operation of the operation panel 3, the process proceeds to step S3 and the transmission process is executed.

In step S4, it is determined whether or not an incoming call is made from another facsimile machine or a fax modem via the line. When an incoming call is received from another device, the process proceeds to step S5 and the receiving process is performed. In step S6, other processing is performed, and then the process proceeds to step S2.
In the transmission process in step S3, the operation as shown in FIG. 4 is executed.

In step S11, it is determined whether or not the destination telephone number has been input. The telephone number of the transmission destination can be input by operating a ten-key pad included in the operation panel 3 or a registration key in which a number is registered in advance.
If the destination telephone number is not entered, step S
Move to 12. In step S12, it is determined whether or not there is a cancel input. If it is determined that the cancel input has been made, this transmission process is terminated. If there is no cancel input, the process returns to step S11.

If it is determined in step S11 that the destination telephone number has been input, the process proceeds to step S13. In step S13, the input destination telephone number is temporarily stored in the RAM 14. In step S14, "Do you want to specify the transfer destination?" Is displayed on the liquid crystal display panel of the operation panel 3. Is displayed, and the operator waits for the input. In step S15, it is determined whether or not there is an instruction input for designating the transfer destination. If the transfer destination is not designated, the process proceeds to step S16. In step S16, the original image is read by the image reading unit 11, encoded by an encoding method such as MH, MR, MMR, etc., and the process proceeds to step S24.

If there is an input to instruct the transfer destination in step S15, the process proceeds to step S17. In step S17, "Please enter the transfer destination number" is displayed on the liquid crystal display panel of the operation panel 3.
In step S18, it is determined whether the telephone number of the transfer destination has been input. Also in this case, similarly to the case of inputting the number of the transmission destination, the input can be performed using the ten keys of the operation panel 3 or the registration key in which the number is registered in advance.

If no transfer data is input in step S18, the process proceeds to step S19. Step S19
Then, it is determined whether or not there is a cancel input. If there is a cancel input, the process proceeds to step S16, and if there is no cancel input, the process proceeds to step S17. Step S1
If the transfer destination number is input in step 8, the process proceeds to step S20. In step S20, transfer data is created based on the transfer destination telephone number input in step S18. For example, assume that the destination facsimile number is "06-764-1234". In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, "9" indicating that the telephone number of the transfer destination has 9 digits is added to the head, each digit is converted into a 4-bit binary number, and the transfer data is transferred. 21 is created.

In step S21, the original image is read by the image reading section 11 and binary two-dimensional data is created based on the grayscale information of the image. In step S22, transfer data is added to the beginning of the image data read in step S21 and combined. At this time, the transfer data 21 is stored in the transfer data area 22 (40 bits) of FIG. 5 so that one transfer data corresponds to one line of image data (1728 bits in A4 normal mode), and the remaining check is performed. The area 23 (1688 bits) is filled with "1". Therefore, 1 is added to the first line in this image data 24.
This means that the transfer data 25 for the line has been added.

In step S23, the data synthesized in step S22 is compressed by a two-dimensional coding method such as MR or MMR. In step S24, data transmission is started according to a predetermined transmission control procedure. When the data transmission is completed in step S24, the communication is completed in step S25. The transmission control procedure is performed as shown in FIG. Here, the binary transmission control procedure used for the G3 machine is shown. The left side of the figure is the transmission side,
The right side is the receiving side.

First, a ringing tone (CNG) is sent from the transmitting side.
Is sent. The receiving side receiving the CNG signal transmits a called terminal identification signal (CED), a digital identification signal (DIS) and a non-standard function identification signal (NSF). When the transmitter receives the DIS signal, it transmits a digital command signal (DCS) which is a setting command in response to the DIS signal. Also, N
Non-standard function setting signal (NS
S) and the sub address signal (SUB) in which originally the transfer data is stored are sent from the transmitting side to the receiving side.

Here, the data indicating that the transfer data is added to the first row of the code data is stored in the NSS signal,
The SUB signal remains empty and is transmitted or not transmitted. Next, a training check (TCF) for confirming training at the actual communication speed is transmitted from the transmitting side. For example, "1" is transmitted at a communication speed of 14400 bps for 1.5 seconds. When the receiving side normally receives this TCF signal, it transmits a reception preparation confirmation signal (CFR) indicating that data transmission may be started, and the TCF signal is transmitted.
When the signal reception fails, a training failure signal (FTT) requesting training transmission is transmitted again.

When the transmitting side receives the FTT signal, the communication speed is lowered by one rank and the TCF signal is transmitted again. Thereafter, this procedure is repeated until the transmission side receives the CFR signal, and if the CFR signal is not received even if the communication speed is reduced to a predetermined value, it is regarded that communication is impossible and the line is disconnected. When the transmitting side receives the CFR signal, code data including transfer data and image data is transmitted as an MSG signal at the communication speed at which the TCF signal was transmitted at that time.

When the transmission of the MSG signal is completed, 1
Procedure end signal (E) indicating the end of page and no continuous transmission
OP) is transmitted. When the receiving side receives the EOP signal,
A message confirmation signal (MCF) indicating that the code data is normally received is transmitted. When the transmitting side receives the MCF signal, it transmits a disconnection command signal (DCN) to disconnect the line.

In the above-mentioned transmission control procedure, except for the TCF signal and the MSG signal, 300 is used to prevent a transmission error.
A communication speed of bps is used. The facsimile machine on the receiving side operates as shown in FIG. First, in step S31, it is determined whether or not the transmitted data includes transfer data. Here, the presence or absence of the transfer data in the code data and the addition position are determined by the data indicating the transfer data addition position included in the NSS signal.

If it is determined in step S31 that there is no transfer data, the process proceeds to step S32. In step S32, the code data from the sending facsimile machine is received. In step S33, the received coded data is decoded by the coding / decoding means 15 into image data. In step S34, the decoded image data is visualized on the sheet by the image output unit 12 and output.

When it is determined in step S31 that the transfer data is included in the code data, the process proceeds to step S35. In step S35, the code data transmitted from the transmitting side facsimile device is received. In step S36, the received coded data is decoded by the coding / decoding means 15. In step S37, the transfer data at the additional position designated in the NSS signal among the decoded data is stored in a predetermined area in the RAM 14. Here, the first 40 digits of the first row of the decrypted data are recognized as the transfer data, and 5 to 40 digits are stored in the RAM 14 as the telephone number of the transfer destination.

In step S38, the line to which the transfer data is added is removed from the decoded data, and the image output unit 12 visualizes the image on the sheet and outputs it. In step S39, the transfer data is removed from the received and decoded image data, and this is compressed and encoded again by an encoding method such as MR or MMR. In step S40, the telephone number of the transfer destination is dialed based on the transfer data stored in the RAM 14 in step S37 to establish a line connection.

In step S41, the code data encoded in step S39 is transmitted to the transfer destination, and when the transfer is completed, the communication is ended in step S42. The transmission control procedure in step S41 is the same as the procedure between the transmission source and the reception side (relay station) and is as shown in FIG. In the embodiment of the present invention as described above, the transfer data is compressed and encoded together with the image data, and since it is transmitted and received at a high speed, it is possible to prevent the communication time from becoming long even if the transfer data is added. Also, the amount of data added to one line is large,
It is also possible to add data other than the transfer data. For example, the number of error lines generated can be used as additional information. Further, the number of lines to be added can be plural, and plural transfer destinations can be designated. Other Embodiments (A) It is also possible to add transfer data to the end of image data. In this case, the compression efficiency is improved when a two-dimensional encoding processing method such as MR or MMR is used, and the communication time can be further shortened. (B) When the received coded data is decoded and then output on the paper, the line in which the transfer data exists may be output as it is without being removed. Similarly, when the data is encoded and transferred again, the line containing the transfer data may be encoded and transferred as it is without removing the line, or the received code data may be transferred as it is. (C) When inputting the transfer destination number, enter the transfer number beforehand.
It may be configured such that it is stored in the M14 or the like and is displayed on the liquid crystal display panel or the like of the operation panel 3 for reference during communication involving transfer. (D) As shown in FIG. 8, the transfer data 25 is added to the beginning of the image data 24, the transfer data is stored in the transfer data area 22 as in the above-described embodiment, and the check area 2 is stored.
Store “1” in 3. A data identification area 26 filled with "0" can be provided between the line including the transfer data area 22 and the start line of the image data.
In this case, even when the transfer data is added to the head of the image data, it is possible to improve the compression efficiency of the image data during the two-dimensional compression encoding of MR, MMR, etc., and shorten the communication time. it can. (E) As shown in FIG. 9, it is possible to designate a plurality of transfer destinations. Here, it is assumed that three transfer destinations are designated in the transfer data input of step S18 of FIG. 4, and the telephone numbers of the transmission source and the first transmission destination are added to this, and the transmission source telephone is added to the first line. Number (A), the first transmission destination telephone number (B) on the second line, and the transfer destination telephone numbers (C), (D), and (E) on the third to fifth lines are created. ing.

Further, when the code data is received, it is detected how many lines an error has occurred in the image data, and the number of error lines is used as the communication status data, and the communication status data in the line in which the own station number exists. It can be configured to be stored in the area 27. For example, in the communication of the transmission source (A) → the first transmission destination (B) and the transfer destination (D) → the transfer destination (E), an error line is not detected, and the first transmission destination (B) → the transfer destination (C) If the number of error lines is “1” in the communication and the number of error lines is “13” in the communication of the transfer destination (C) → the transfer destination (D), the number data (B), (C),
Communication status data area 27 located after (D) and (E)
Are "0000" (0) and "0001" respectively.
(1), “1101” (13), and “0000” (0) are stored. However, "0" is stored in the communication status data area 27 located after the number data (A). (F) It is also possible to store the position data indicating the additional position in the code data of the transfer data in the SUB signal for transmission / reception. (G) The image output unit may be a thermal recording paper or a thermal transfer recording system.

[0037]

In the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention, since the transfer data is encoded together with the image data, the transfer data can be compressed similarly to the image data, and the high speed transmission / reception can be performed. Even if the transfer data is added, the influence on the communication time is reduced. Further, the amount of data to be added can be made large, and a plurality of transfer data and other data can be added.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a facsimile in which an embodiment of the present invention is adopted.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram showing the configuration.

FIG. 3 is a control flowchart thereof.

FIG. 4 is a control flowchart thereof.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of transfer data.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a transmission control procedure.

FIG. 7 is a control flowchart at the time of reception.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing transfer data according to another embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing transfer data according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Facsimile Device 2 Original Plate 3 Operation Panel 4 Handset 5 Original Ejection Tray 6 Paper Ejection Tray 7 Paper Feed Cassette 10 Control Section 11 Image Reading Section 12 Image Output Section 13 ROM 14 RAM 15 Encoding / Decoding Section 16 Modem 17 NCU 21 Transfer data 22 Transfer data area 23 Check area 24 Image data 25 Transfer data

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus that transmits image data and transfers the image data from a transmission destination to a transfer destination, the image reading unit reading the image data, and the destination to which the image data is transferred to the image data. And a data transmission unit for transmitting the coded data via a line. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the encoding means adds the transfer data to the head of the image data. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the encoding means adds the transfer data to the end of the image data. 4. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the encoding means adds a plurality of pieces of transfer data to the image data as code data corresponding to one line of the image data. . 5. The encoding means includes a transfer data area in which a telephone number of a transfer destination is stored in code data corresponding to one line of the image data and "1" for error check.
5. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the facsimile area is filled with the check area to form a check area. 6. A data identification area filled with “0” is provided between the transfer data and the image data.
Facsimile apparatus described in 1. 7. Pre-procedure transmitting means for transmitting procedure data before transmitting the code data, wherein the procedure data includes position data indicating an additional position of the transfer data in the code data. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1. 8. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the position data is stored in a subaddress in the procedure data and transmitted. 9. A facsimile apparatus capable of transferring image data transmitted from a transmission source to a transfer destination designated by the transmission source, and receiving means for receiving first code data transmitted from the transmission source, Decoding means for decoding the first code data to extract the image data and transfer data including the transfer destination telephone number, output means for outputting the image data, and second code for re-encoding the image data. A facsimile apparatus comprising: an encoding unit that creates data; and a data transfer unit that transfers the first code data or the second code data via a line based on the transfer data. 10. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said encoding means combines the image data decoded by said decoding means and the transfer data and encodes again. 11. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said encoding means selects data to be transferred to a transfer destination from the transfer data extracted by said decoding means, and encodes it together with said image data. 12. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the encoding means adds the transfer data to the head of the image data. 13. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the encoding means adds the transfer data to the end of the image data. 14. The encoding means adds a plurality of transfer data to the image data as code data corresponding to one line of the image data, respectively.
A facsimile apparatus according to any one of the above. 15. The encoding means includes a transfer data area in which the telephone number of the transfer destination is stored and a check area filled with "1" for error check in the code data corresponding to one line to be added. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 14, which forms a. 16. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a data identification area filled with "0" between the transfer data and the image data. 17. A pre-procedure transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving procedure data before transmitting / receiving the code data, wherein the procedure data includes position data indicating an additional position of the transfer data in the code data. 17. A facsimile apparatus according to any one of items 9 to 16. 18. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the position data is stored in a subaddress in the procedure data and transmitted / received.