JPH09321978A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten the communication time by applying the highest value of optimum linear density decided for the pages included in an image file to the image data. SOLUTION: The picture information (DTL: high linear density) obtained by coding and compressing the image data equivalent to one page at an encoding part 8 is stored in an image storage device 9. At the same time, the optimum linear density is decided for a read page. When the linear density of a transmission file is decided as the standard linear density (STD), the picture information transmission processing of an STD mode is carried out to the picture information stored for all pages. In this processing of the STD mode, the original image data of DTL are decoded at the part 8 and then converted into the image data of STD at a pixel density conversion part 7. The converted image data are encoded and compressed at the part 8, and the picture information thus obtained is stored in the device 9. Then the linear density of the transmission picture information is set at the STD, and the picture information of STD is sent to a designated density.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention reads a manuscript image at a predetermined linear density and determines an optimum optimum linear density for the manuscript image according to the number of appearances of a predetermined black run length included in the read image data. The present invention relates to a facsimile device for making a judgment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a facsimile apparatus, the resolution of an image of image information to be transmitted by a transmitting apparatus can be determined according to the resolution of an image that can be applied by a receiving apparatus, and an image read at a higher resolution can be transmitted. By doing so, a higher quality image can be obtained on the receiving side. Generally, if a higher quality image can be obtained on the receiving side,
It is evaluated that the quality of image information transmission is high.

By the way, when the reading resolution of the image to be transmitted is increased, the data amount of the read image data is increased by that much, and even if the image is compressed and encoded, the transmission data amount is increased and the communication time and cost required for image information communication are increased. The situation of becoming bulky occurs.

Therefore, there is a trade-off between the quality of image information transmission and the communication time and communication cost.

Further, depending on the type of image to be transmitted, the amount of information received by the receiving side may not increase even if the reading resolution is increased. For example, when an image of a text original is transmitted, if the characters recorded on the received original can be read on the receiving side, the object of image information transmission in this case may be achieved. It does not matter if the reading resolution is low. That is, in this case, it is not necessary to increase the image reading resolution on the transmitting side.

[0006]

Therefore, it is conceivable to determine the optimum resolution of the image information to be transmitted according to the image type recorded in the document image to be transmitted.

For example, in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, in the case of a text original, the resolution of the transmission image information can be reduced, and in the case of a photographic original, the resolution of the transmission image information should be increased as much as possible. Is preferred.

Therefore, in a group 3 facsimile apparatus, when a text original and a photo original are mixed in a plurality of pages which constitute one file to be transmitted, for example, the text original is standard linear density (STD; transmission image). The information is transmitted at a low resolution), and the photographic document is transmitted at a high linear density (DTL; the transmission image information has a high resolution).

In this way, if a transmission page of standard linear density and a transmission page of high linear density are mixed in one image information transmission, the following situation occurs.

For example, in the transmission control procedure of the group 3 facsimile apparatus (see ITU-T Recommendation T.30), for example, when a high linear density transmission page is transmitted following a standard linear density transmission page, the first standard After transmitting the transmission page of linear density, the procedure of changing the transmission mode that changes the linear density of the transmission image information from the standard linear density to the high linear density is performed, and then the transmission page of the next high linear density is transmitted. Since the operation is performed and the update procedure of the transmission mode needs to be executed every time the line density is switched, the communication time required for one image information transmission becomes long, and the communication cost increases.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus capable of performing appropriate image information transmission according to the image type of a transmission document.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a manuscript image is read at a predetermined line density, and an optimum line suitable for the manuscript image is selected according to the number of appearances of a predetermined black run length included in the read image data. In a facsimile device that determines the density, when transmitting an image file composed of a plurality of pages of originals, the optimum linear density of the highest linear density among the optimum linear densities determined for each original that composes the image file Set the linear density at the time of file transmission, and perform the image information transmission operation to transmit the image information of the image file with the image data of the originals on all pages converted to the image data of the set linear density. It is the one.

Further, in a facsimile apparatus which reads an original image at a predetermined linear density and determines an optimum linear density suitable for the original image according to the number of appearances of a predetermined black run length included in the read image data, When sending an image file consisting of a multi-page original, the transmission order is rearranged using the optimum linear density determined for each original that composes the image file as a key, and when transmitting image information, the original images are arranged in the rearranged order. It is designed to send data.

Further, it is preferable that a page number representing the reading order of each original image is added to the transmission image.

Further, in a facsimile apparatus which reads an original image at a predetermined linear density and determines an optimum linear density suitable for the original image according to the number of appearances of a predetermined black run length included in the read image data, When sending an image file consisting of multiple page originals, the sending side sorts the transmission order using the optimum linear density determined for each original forming the image file as a key, and when sending image information, the sorted order The image data of the original is sent to, and the page sort information that correlates the sent page order and the read page order of the original image is sent, and the receiving side temporarily stores the received image information, and based on the received page sort information. The accumulated image data is output in a state of being rearranged in the reading page order of the document image.

Further, in a facsimile apparatus which reads an original image at a predetermined linear density and determines an optimum linear density suitable for the original image according to the number of appearances of a predetermined black run length included in the read image data, When sending an image file consisting of multiple page originals, the sending side sorts the transmission order using the optimum linear density determined for each original forming the image file as a key, and when sending image information, the sorted order While sending the image data of the original to the receiving side, the receiving side is notified of the reading page sequence number of the page for each transmission page, and the receiving side temporarily stores the received image information and based on the received reading page sequence number. The stored image information is output in a state of being rearranged in the order of read pages.

Further, the original image is read at a predetermined high linear density, and an appropriate linear density for the original image is determined in accordance with the number of appearances of a predetermined black run length included in the high linear density read image data. When the determined linear density is the standard linear density, the high linear density read image data is converted to the linear density to form the standard linear density read image data by a facsimile apparatus, which is obtained by reading a document on which characters are recorded. Optical character recognition means for recognizing the characters recorded on the original document based on the image data stored in the original document. The transmission order is rearranged using the optimum linear density determined for the document as a key, and when transmitting image information, the image data of the document is transmitted in the rearranged order,
A page number indicating the reading order of the original image is added to each transmitted image, and the receiving side temporarily stores the received image information, and the page number added to the received original image is recognized by the optical character recognition. Characters are recognized by the means to determine the page order of each original image, and the output order of the original images is rearranged based on the determined page order.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the accompanying drawings,
An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

FIG. 1 shows a group 3 facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the system control unit 1 performs control processing of each unit of the facsimile apparatus and facsimile transmission control procedure processing. The system memory 2 is a control processing program executed by the system control unit 1. , And various data necessary for executing the processing program, and constitutes a work area of the system control unit 1. The parameter memory 3 stores various information unique to the group 3 facsimile machine. Is for storing.

The scanner 4 has a predetermined resolution (high linear density).
The plotter 5 is for reading the original image with
Is for recording and outputting an image at a predetermined resolution, and the operation display section 6 is for operating this facsimile apparatus, and comprises various operation keys and various display devices.

The pixel density conversion unit 7 is for performing linear density conversion of high linear density image data into standard linear density image data, and the encoding / decoding unit 8 encodes and compresses the image signal and also encodes it. This is for decoding the image information that has been coded and compressed into the original image signal, and the image storage device 9 is for storing a large number of image information that has been coded and compressed.

The group 3 facsimile modem 10 is for realizing a group 3 facsimile modem function, and is a low-speed modem function (V.21 modem) for exchanging transmission procedure signals and mainly exchanging image information. High-speed modem function (V.17 modem,
V. 34 modem, V.34. 29 modem, V.29. 27ter modem etc.).

The network control device 11 is for connecting the facsimile device to a public telephone line network and has an automatic call originating / receiving function.

The control unit 1, the system memory 2,
The parameter memory 3, the scanner 4, the plotter 5, the operation display unit 6, the pixel density conversion unit 7, the encoding / decoding unit 8, the image storage device 9, the group 3 facsimile modem 10, and the network control device 11 are connected to the internal bus 12. Data is exchanged between these elements mainly via the internal bus 12.

Data is exchanged directly between the network control device 11 and the group 3 facsimile modem 10.

Here, the standard linear density (STD) resolution is a reading resolution of 8 (dots / mm) in the main scanning direction and 3.85 (lines / mm) in the sub scanning direction, and
The high linear density (DTL) resolution is a reading resolution of 8 (dots / mm) in the main scanning direction and 7.7 (lines / mm) in the sub scanning direction (see ITU-T Recommendation T.4).

That is, the double linear density of the standard linear density in the sub-scanning direction corresponds to the high linear density. Therefore, the pixel density conversion unit 7 forms image data for one line of standard linear density from image data for two lines of high linear density. At that time, the image data for one line is simply thinned out from two lines, or the average value of the pixel values of two pixels for two lines at the same main scanning position is calculated to form the image data for one line. It is possible to apply such processing as pixel density conversion processing.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a process for transmitting image information with the above configuration.

First, an original image for one page set on the scanner 4 is read (process 101), and the read image signal is binarized to form image data (process 10).
2), black run length 1 appearing in the image data
The number of 4 is counted (process 103). As a result, the count values R (1), R (2), R (3), R (4) are obtained. The count values R (1), R (2), R (3), R (4)
Are count values of black run length 1, black run length 2, black run length 3, and black run length 4, respectively.

Next, the image data for one page at that time is encoded and compressed by the encoding / decoding unit 8 (process 10).
4) The image information (DTL) obtained thereby is stored in the image storage device 9 (process 105).

Then, based on the following equation (I), the optimum linear density is determined for the read page at that time (process 106).

R (1) + R (2) ≧ R (3) + R (4)
Then DTL

If R (1) + R (2) <R (3) + R (4), then STD (I)

Next, it is checked whether or not the read page at that time is the last page (decision 107), and when the result of the judgment 107 is NO, the process returns to the process 101 and the process of reading the next page is performed.

Further, when the result of the judgment 107 is YES, for all pages read at that time,
When there is one or more pages for which the optimum linear density is determined to be DTL, the linear density of the transmission file at that time is determined to be DTL, and in other cases, the transmission file at that time is determined. The linear density is determined as STD (determination 108).

At decision 108, the linear density of the transmitted file is set to ST.
When it is determined as D, the image information stored in the image storage device 9 is decoded into the original DTL image data by the encoding / decoding unit 8 for all pages (Process 1
09), and the pixel density conversion unit 7 converts the DTL image data into STD linear density image data (process 110).
The image data having the linear density of the STD is encoded and compressed by the encoding / decoding unit 8, the image information obtained thereby is accumulated in the image storage device 9 (process 111), and the linear density of the transmission image information is set to STD. Then, the STD mode image information transmission process (process 112) of transmitting the newly accumulated STD image information to the designated destination is executed.

Further, when the determination 108 determines that the linear density of the transmission file is DTL, the DTL image information stored in the image storage device 9 at that time is transmitted to the designated destination in the DTL mode. Image information transmission process (process 11
Execute 3).

As described above, in this embodiment, since the image information of the transmission originals of a plurality of pages which form one transmission file are transmitted at the same linear density, the transmission mode changing procedure is performed at page breaks. Is not executed, the transmission time can be shortened, and the communication cost can be reduced.

Further, if there is only one page for which the optimum linear density is determined to be DTL in the images of a plurality of pages forming one transmission file, the images of all pages are transmitted as DTL. Therefore, it is possible to transmit an image having the optimum line density of DTL with high image quality.

By the way, in the above-mentioned embodiment, when the page of which the optimum linear density is determined to be DTL is even one page among the images of a plurality of pages forming one transmission file, the images of all the pages are displayed. Since the data is transmitted as DTL, the transmission data amount increases for the page for which the optimum linear density is determined as STD, and there may be cases where the reduction in communication cost cannot be expected so much.

In this case, for example, if the pages determined to have the optimum linear density of STD are collectively transmitted and then the pages determined to have the optimum linear density of DTL are collectively transmitted, the linear density is changed. Since the procedure for changing the transmission mode is performed only once, the communication time does not become too long, and the image data can be transmitted at the optimum line density for each page. That is, the transmission pages may be sorted using the optimum linear density as a key.

In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 3A, one transmission file consists of a four-page original,
When the optimum linear densities of the first and third pages are STD and the optimum linear densities of the second and fourth pages are DTL, as shown in FIG. The determined first page original image and the third page original image are transmitted, and then the optimum linear density is determined to be DTL 2
The original image of the fourth page and the original image of the fourth page are transmitted.

At this time, if a page number indicating the reading order is added to each original image, the receiving side rearranges the received originals by referring to the page number added to the received image. You can

Here, rearranging from the page order of FIG. 7A to the page order of FIG. 7B is called “sort”, and conversely, from the page order of FIG. Sorting to the page order of (a) is called "reverse sorting".

At this time, the sending side notifies the receiving side of page sort information indicating the relationship between the reading page order of the original and the sending page order, and the receiving side receives the received page based on this page sort information. By rearranging and recording and outputting, it is possible to save the user of the receiving side the trouble of rearranging. It should be noted that this page sort information can be included as one information element of the non-standard function setting signal NSF which is a procedure signal used to notify the transmission function from the transmission side to the reception side in the image information pre-transmission procedure. .

FIG. 4 shows an example of processing on the transmitting side.

First, one page of the original image set on the scanner 4 is read (process 201), and the read image signal is binarized to form image data (process 20).
2), black run length 1 appearing in the image data
The number of 4 is counted (process 203). As a result, the count values R (1), R (2), R (3), R (4) are obtained. The count values R (1), R (2), R (3), R (4)
Are count values of black run length 1, black run length 2, black run length 3, and black run length 4, respectively.

Next, the image data for one page at that time is encoded and compressed by the encoding / decoding unit 8 (process 20).
4) The image information (DTL) obtained thereby is stored in the image storage device 9 (process 205).

Then, the optimum linear density of the read page at that time is determined based on the above-mentioned formula (I) (process 106). If the determined optimum linear density is STD (the result of determination 206 is STD), the image information stored in the image storage device 9 for the page is
The encoding / decoding unit 8 decodes the original DTL image data (process 207), and the pixel density conversion unit 7 converts the DTL image data into STD linear density image data (process 208). The image data having the linear density of is encoded and compressed by the encoding / decoding unit 8, and the image information obtained thereby is stored in the image storage device 9 (process 209).

Next, it is checked whether or not the read page at that time is the last page (decision 211), and when the result of the judgment 211 is NO, the process returns to step 201 and the reading process of the next page is performed. If the determined optimum linear density is STD (the result of determination 206 is DT
L), the process proceeds to immediate judgment 211.

When the result of the judgment 211 is YES, page order sort processing for rearranging the page order is performed using the optimum linear density as a key (step 212), and the page order after rearrangement at this time (that is, , Page sending information) and page order before sorting (that is, reading page order), forming page sort information.

Then, the image information transmission process (process 213) for transmitting the image information accumulated in the image accumulating device 9 to the specified destination in accordance with the transmission page order is performed.
Further, in this linear density-specific image information transmission processing, page sort information is included as one information element of the above-mentioned non-standard function setting signal NSF.

FIG. 5 shows an example of processing on the receiving side in this case.

When a predetermined image information receiving operation is performed with the partner terminal, the image information is received, and the received image information is accumulated (process 301), based on the page sort information received by the image information receiving operation. , The stored image information pages are reverse-sorted (process 302), the stored image information is taken out and decoded according to the page order after the reverse-sorting (process 303), and the image data obtained thereby is recorded from the plotter 5. Output (process 304).

As a result, the received original is recorded and output according to the reading order on the transmitting side.

By the way, in the above-described embodiment, the page sort information is transmitted, and the receiving side rearranges the image information pages received and accumulated based on the page sort information. An optical character recognition processing function is provided as a processing function of the system control unit 1, and character recognition is performed on a page number (see FIG. 3B) added to a predetermined area of a received image, and based on the character recognition result. It is possible to determine the reading order of each page and rearrange the received image information pages according to the reading order.

In the above embodiment, one page sort information is formed for one communication file, and this is transmitted in the image information pre-transmission procedure.
It is also possible to notify the read page sequence number every time one page is transmitted. However, in this case, it is necessary to define and use a special transmission procedure signal or the like.

In the above embodiment, DTL and ST
Although the case of using two linear densities of D has been described,
The present invention can be similarly applied to the case where a large number of other linear densities can be appropriately used.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the group 3 facsimile apparatus has been described, but the present invention can be similarly applied to the image transmitting apparatus other than the group 3 facsimile apparatus. it can.

[0061]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the highest value of the optimum linear densities determined for the pages included in the image file is applied to the image data of one image file, the linear density is changed during transmission of one image file. Therefore, the procedure for changing the transmission mode is not performed, so that the communication time can be shortened.

Further, since the image information transmitting operation is performed in a state where the pages forming one image file are rearranged by using the optimum linear density as a key, the number of times of the transmission mode changing procedure for changing the linear density occurs. As a result, image information can be transmitted in a short time with the optimum line density for each page.

Further, the receiving side rearranges the received image information pages in the reading order of the transmitting side, so that the user's labor for that can be saved and the usability of the apparatus is improved. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a group 3 facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of processing when transmitting image information.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining sorting and reverse sorting of image pages.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing another example of processing when transmitting image information.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of processing when receiving image information.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 system control unit 2 system memory 7 pixel density conversion unit

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus that reads an original image at a predetermined linear density and determines an optimum linear density suitable for the original image according to the number of appearances of a predetermined black run length included in the read image data. When sending an image file consisting of a multi-page original,
Of the optimum linear densities determined for each original forming the image file, the optimum linear density of the highest linear density is set to the linear density at the time of transmission of the image file, and the image data of the originals of all pages are set. A facsimile apparatus, which performs an image information transmission operation of transmitting image information of the image file in a state of being converted into image data having the set linear density. 2. A facsimile apparatus which reads an original image at a predetermined linear density and determines an optimum linear density suitable for the original image according to the number of appearances of a predetermined black run length included in the read image data. When sending an image file consisting of a multi-page original,
A facsimile apparatus characterized in that the transmission order is rearranged by using the optimum linear density determined for each original constituting the image file as a key, and when transmitting image information, the image data of the original is transmitted in the rearranged order. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each transmission image is added with a page number indicating the reading order of each original image. 4. A facsimile apparatus for reading an original image at a predetermined linear density and determining an optimum linear density suitable for the original image according to the number of appearances of a predetermined black run length included in the read image data. When sending an image file consisting of multiple page originals, the sending side sorts the transmission order using the optimum linear density determined for each original forming the image file as a key, and when sending image information, the sorted order The image data of the original is sent to, and the page sort information that correlates the sent page order and the read page order of the original image is sent, and the receiving side temporarily stores the received image information and based on the received page sort information. A facsimile apparatus, which outputs accumulated image data in a state in which the read pages of original images are rearranged. 5. A facsimile apparatus that reads an original image at a predetermined linear density and determines an optimum linear density suitable for the original image according to the number of appearances of a predetermined black run length included in the read image data. When sending an image file consisting of multiple page originals, the sending side sorts the transmission order using the optimum linear density determined for each original forming the image file as a key, and when sending image information, the sorted order While sending the image data of the original to the receiving side, the receiving side is notified of the reading page sequence number of each page to be transmitted, and the receiving side temporarily stores the received image information and based on the received reading page sequence number. A facsimile apparatus, which outputs accumulated image information in a state of being rearranged in the order of read pages. 6. An original image is read at a predetermined high linear density,
According to the number of appearances of a predetermined black run length included in the high linear density read image data, an appropriate linear density is determined for the original image, and when the determined linear density is the standard linear density, the above In a facsimile machine that forms standard linear density read image data by converting the linear density read image data into linear density, the characters recorded on the original are read based on the image data obtained by reading the document on which the characters are recorded. Equipped with an optical character recognition unit that recognizes, when sending an image file consisting of multiple page originals, the sending order is rearranged using the optimum linear density determined for each original that composes the image file as a key. , When transmitting image information, the image data of the original is transmitted in the rearranged order, and a page number indicating the reading order of the original image is added to each transmitted image. The receiving side temporarily stores the received image information, character-recognizes the page number added to the received document image by the optical character recognition means, and determines the page order of each document image. A facsimile apparatus which rearranges the output order of original images based on the determined page order.