JPH09284450A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a facsimile equipment confirming whether data is normally communicated at each repeater station at the time of designating a transmission destination from a transmission source to allow a device on a receiving side to transfer image data. SOLUTION: The facsimile equipment receives code data (step S35), decodes it (step S36), extracts transferring destination data to transfer next from number data included in it (step S39), transfers code data to the transferring destination (step S41), judges whether the transferring is successful or not (step S42), adds communication situation data to number data when the transferring is not successful (step S43) and reports it to a prescribed calling back destination (step S46).

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 capable of transferring image data transmitted from a transmission source to a transfer destination designated 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]

Generally, the above-mentioned facsimile apparatus does not have a function of feeding back to the transmitting side whether or not the image data is normally received at the receiving side. . In particular, if you want the destination fax machine to transfer data to another device,
It is difficult for the sender to confirm whether or not the communication at each relay station has been performed normally. Therefore, the sender of the data may contact the telephone directly to confirm, or the confirmation of receipt may be returned at the transfer destination. It will be necessary to intervene with human resources such as receiving.
Therefore, there are problems that a new communication cost is required and the work becomes complicated.

An object of the present invention is to allow a receiving side device to transfer image data by designating a transfer destination from a source.
An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile device capable of confirming the communication status at each relay station.

[0008]

A facsimile apparatus according to the present invention comprises a data receiving means, a decoding means, an output means, an encoding means, a data transfer means, and a transfer error processing means. . Data receiving means is transmitted first
Receive coded data. The decoding means decodes the received first code data to extract the image data and the communication information data including the number data which is the telephone number of one or more transfer destinations. The output means outputs the image data received and decoded. The encoding means re-encodes the image data to create second encoded data. The data transfer means transfers the first code data or the second code data to the transfer destination based on the number data. When the data transfer means fails in the transfer, the transfer error processing means sends communication error information indicating that the transfer has failed to a predetermined callback destination.

With this configuration, when the relay station fails to transfer the code data, communication error information indicating that the transfer has failed can be transmitted to a preset callback destination. The communication error information may be transmitted to the transmission source that started the. The first and second coded data can be configured to integrally code the communication information data and the image data. The communication information data may include a number data area in which number data is stored and a communication status data area in which communication error information is stored. In this case, the transfer error processing means may add communication error information indicating that the transfer has failed to the communication status data area to encode the data and perform communication to the callback destination.

Further, one number data area and the communication status data area corresponding thereto can be configured to correspond to one line of image data, and the communication existing in the line of the number data corresponding to the own station number. It can be configured to add communication error information to the status data area and call back. The call-back destination number information can be included in the procedure data transmitted and received by the pre-procedure transmitting and receiving means. For example, the call-back destination telephone number can be directly stored in the sub address for transmission and reception. It is also possible to store in a sub address as an index for instructing a callback destination and to transmit / receive.

Further, there is provided a configuration comprising: own station number storage means for storing the own station number; and transfer destination extraction means for extracting transfer destination data to be transferred next based on a plurality of number data and the own station number. can do. In this case, it is possible to reliably extract the transfer destination to be transferred next from the plurality of number data and transfer the code data. For example, it is possible to extract the number data located on the line next to the number data corresponding to the own station number as the transfer destination data.

[0012]

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.

Inside the facsimile apparatus 1, a control unit 10 is provided 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 performed.

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 telephone number of the transmission destination is not input, the process proceeds to step S12. 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 a 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 S26. In step S15, if there is an input to instruct the transfer destination, the process proceeds to step S17. In step S17, the liquid crystal display panel of the operation panel 3 displays "Please input the transfer destination number". 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. In step S19, 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. If the transfer destination number is input in step S18, the process proceeds to step S20. In step S20, the operation panel 3
On the LCD panel of, "Specify another transfer destination? Is displayed, and the operator waits for the input. If there is an instruction input to specify another transfer destination in step S20, the process proceeds to step S17. If no instruction is given to another transfer destination, the process proceeds to step S21. In step S21, number data is created based on the telephone number of the transfer destination input in step S18. For example, the destination facsimile number is "06-76.
4-1236 ”. In this case, as shown in the third line of the number data area 22 in FIG. 5, "9" indicating that the telephone number of the transfer destination is 9 digits is added to the beginning, and each digit is made up of 4 bits. The number data 21 is created by converting it into a binary number. The number data shown in FIG. 5 is assumed to be the case where three transfer destinations are specified in the transfer data input of step S18, and the telephone numbers of the transmission source and the first transmission destination are added to this, and the transmission source is added to the first line. Telephone number (A), second destination telephone number (B) on the second line,
Transferee telephone numbers (C), (D), on lines 3-5
Five number data 21 of (E) are created.

In step S22, the original image is read by the image reading unit 11 and binary two-dimensional data is created based on the grayscale information of the image. In step S23, number data is added to the beginning of the image data read in step S22 and combined. At this time, the number data 21 is stored in the number data area 22 (40 bits) of FIG. 5 so that one number data corresponds to one line of the image data (1728 bits in the A4 normal mode), and the next communication is performed. "0" is stored in 8 bits of the status data area 23, and "1" is filled in the remaining check area 24 (1684 bits). Therefore, the communication information data area 26 including the number data of 5 lines is added to the head of the image data 25.

In step S24, the data synthesized in step S23 is compressed by a two-dimensional coding method such as MR or MMR. In step S25, callback number information is set. For example, the telephone numbers of the transmission source, the first transmission destination, and the transfer destination input in step S18 are displayed on the liquid crystal display panel of the operation panel 3, and the operator is instructed which number to call back. Let When the transmission source is selected, when a transfer error occurs in the relay station and the transfer cannot be performed, a setting is made so that the facsimile machine of the transmission source that started the transmission is called back. In this case, "1" is set in the frame of the sub-address (SUB) to be transmitted in the previous procedure, and the telephone number of the transmission source corresponding to the first line of the number data is set to be called back. In step S26, data transmission is started according to a predetermined transmission control procedure. When the data transmission is completed in step S26, the communication is completed in step S27.

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 in the figure is the transmission side and the right side is the reception side. First, from the sending side, the ringing tone (C
NG) is transmitted. On the receiving side receiving the CNG signal,
It 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, a non-standard function setting signal (NSS) that responds to the NSF signal and a sub-address signal (SUB) that originally stores transfer data are sent from the transmitting side to the receiving side. Here, data indicating that number data is added to the head of the code data is stored in the NSS signal, and "1" is set in the SUB signal for transmission.

Next, a training check (TC) for confirming the training at the communication speed is actually made from the transmitting side.
Send F). For example, "1" is 14400 bps
It transmits at the communication speed of 1.5 seconds. On the receiving side, this T
When the CF signal is normally received, a reception preparation confirmation signal (CFR) indicating that data transmission may be started is transmitted, and when the reception of the TCF signal is unsuccessful, training transmission is requested again. Signal (FTT)
Send

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, the code data including the number data and the image data is transmitted as the MSG signal at the communication speed at which the TCF signal was transmitted at that time. M
When the transmission of the SG signal is completed, a procedure end signal (EOP) indicating the end of one page and no continuous transmission is transmitted.

When the receiving side receives the EOP signal, it transmits a message confirmation signal (MCF) indicating that the code data is normally received. When the transmitting side receives the MCF signal, it transmits a disconnection command signal (DCN) to disconnect the line. In the transmission control procedure described above, 300 bps is used to prevent transmission error except for TCF signal and MSG signal.
Communication speed is used.

The facsimile apparatus on the receiving side operates as shown in FIG. First, in step S31, it is determined whether or not the transmitted data includes number data. Here, the presence or absence of number data in the code data and the addition position are determined by the data indicating the number data addition position included in the NSS signal. If it is determined that there is no number data, the process proceeds to step S32. In step S32, the code data is received from the transmitting facsimile machine. In step S33, the received coded data is decoded by the coding / decoding means 15 into image data. In step S34, the decrypted image data is visualized on the sheet by the image output unit 12 and output.

If it is determined in step S31 that the code data includes number 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 decoded image data is visualized on the sheet by the image output unit 12 and is output. In step S38, it is determined whether or not there is a transfer destination to which the data should be transferred. Here, for example, the own station number stored in the RAM 14 or the ROM 13 is compared with the number data, and it can be determined whether or not the number data exists on the line next to the number data corresponding to the own station number. If there is no transfer destination, the process ends,
If there is a transfer destination, the process proceeds to step S39.

In step S39, the number data included in the code data received in step S35 and the RAM 1
4 or the own station number stored in the ROM 13 is collated to search for a line containing the own station number in the number data, and the number data contained in the next line is transferred next. To extract. In step S40, the number data and the image data are recombined and encoded. In step S41, the telephone number of the transfer destination is dialed based on the transfer destination data extracted in step S39, and the code data re-encoded in step S40 is transferred to the transfer destination. The transmission control procedure in step S41 is similar to that between the transmission source and the reception side (relay station).
As shown in.

In step S42, it is determined whether or not the transfer was successful in step S41. Here, in FIG. 6, if the CFR signal for the TCF signal does not return even if it is lowered to a predetermined communication speed, or if the MCF signal for the MSG signal and the EOP signal does not return, it is considered as communication failure. If it is determined in step S42 that the transfer has succeeded, the process is terminated, and if it is determined that the transfer has failed, the process proceeds to step S43.

In step S43, communication status data indicating that the transfer has failed is added to the number data. For example, when the data transfer from the relay station (C) to (D) fails, the communication of the line (the third line in FIG. 5) corresponding to the own station number in the number data in the relay station (C). “1010 1010” (AA) is stored in the situation data area 23. In step S44, the communication information data including this communication status data is encoded. At this time, the communication information data can be added to the image data and encoded, or only the communication information data can be encoded.

In step S45, the callback number is extracted based on the contents of the sub address (SUB) transmitted from the facsimile machine on the transmission side. For example, S
If the content of the UB signal is "1", the data of the first line in the number data is recognized as the telephone number of the callback destination, and this is taken into the RAM 14. In the number data in which the telephone number of the transmission source is recorded in the first line as shown in FIG. 5, if the content of the SUB signal is "1", the number information of the transmission source is determined as the callback destination.

In step S46, the code data encoded in step S44 is transmitted based on the callback number determined in step S45. Although not shown, the facsimile device that receives the communication status data (in this embodiment, the transmission source facsimile device) decodes the number data and the communication status data and outputs them to the image output unit 12, or the liquid crystal of the operation panel 3. It may be configured to display on a display plate or the like.

In the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention as described above, a plurality of number data is compressed and encoded together with the image data, and the data is transmitted and received at a high speed, so that the influence on the communication time is reduced. Further, each number data is added to the image data, and it becomes possible to add a plurality of number data. Also, by storing the number information indicating which number of a plurality of number data is to be called back as an index in the SUB signal and transmitting the number information, the communication status at each relay station can be reliably called back to a predetermined facsimile device. it can. Therefore, when the relay station fails to transfer data due to a transfer error, this fact can be reliably reported to the transmission source. Other Embodiments (A) It is also possible to add communication information data to the end of image data. In this case, the compression efficiency in the case of using a two-dimensional encoding processing method such as MR or MMR is increased, and the communication time can be further shortened. (B) When inputting the transfer destination number, the transfer number is previously stored in the RAM.
It may be configured to be stored in the storage unit 14 and displayed on the liquid crystal display panel of the operation panel 3 or the like for reference during communication involving transfer. (C) It is also possible to directly include the call-back destination telephone number in the sub-address (SUB) for transmission and reception. In this case, it is necessary to send procedure data to the effect that the subaddress includes the telephone number of the callback destination in the NSS signal for transmission. (D) The image output unit may be a thermal recording paper or a thermal transfer recording system.

[0038]

In the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention, since the number data is encoded together with the image data, the number data can be compressed similarly to the image data, and high speed transmission / reception is possible. Therefore, even if a plurality of number data are added, the influence on the communication time is reduced. Also, the callback number for making a callback can be extracted without fail, and this can be reported reliably when the relay station cannot transfer.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a facsimile apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

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.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Facsimile device 2 Document table 3 Operation panel 4 Handset 5 Document discharge tray 6 Paper discharge tray 7 Paper feed cassette 10 Control unit 11 Image reading unit 12 Image output unit 13 ROM 14 RAM 15 Encoding / decoding means 16 Modem 17 NCU 21 number data 22 number data area 23 communication status data area 24 check area 25 image data 26 communication information data area

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus capable of transferring image data transmitted from a transmission source to a transfer destination designated by the transmission source, and a data receiving means for receiving first code data transmitted from the transmission source, Decoding means for decoding the first code data to extract image data and communication information data including number data which is one or a plurality of transfer destination telephone numbers; output means for outputting the image data; An encoding unit that re-encodes the image data to create second code data; a data transfer unit that transfers the first code data or the second code data based on the number data; and the data transfer unit. And a transfer error processing unit that transmits communication error information indicating that the transfer has failed to a predetermined callback destination when the transfer fails. 2. A facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication information data and the image data are integrally encoded in the first and second code data. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication information data includes a number data area in which number data is stored and a communication status data area in which communication error information is stored. 4. The transfer error processing means encodes communication information data in which communication error information is added to the communication status data area to create third code data, and transmits the third code data to a callback destination. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 3, wherein 5. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one number data area and a communication status data area corresponding thereto correspond to one line of the image data. 6. A pre-procedure transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving procedure data before transmitting / receiving code data, wherein the transfer error processing means is arranged to transmit communication error information based on number information of a callback destination included in the procedure data. The facsimile apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which transmits. 7. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the call-back destination number information is included in a sub-address of the procedure data and is transmitted and received. 8. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the call-back destination number information is a call-back destination telephone number. 9. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the call-back destination number information is an index indicating the call-back destination number data from the plurality of number data. 10. A self-station number storage means for storing a self-station number, and a transfer destination extraction means for extracting transfer destination data to be transferred next based on the number data and the self-station number. The facsimile apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9. 11. The transfer destination extracting means sets the number data located on the line next to the transfer data corresponding to the own station number among the number data as the transfer destination data to be transferred next. The described facsimile machine.