JPH10190903A - Image communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively process received image data in memory and to avoid faults by a memory full state of a reception memory and a client side memory and the traffic increase of a network by transferring a reception document less than a prescribed amount to an information processor, specified by an identifier as image information in the case that the memory reaches a prescribed using amount. SOLUTION: Reception image data are stored in the magneto-optical disk drive unit 6 of this equipment. Then, in the case that the using rate of the memory exceeds a prescribed value, stored document data are selected. The reference for selection is a data amount which does not affect so much, even when data are made to flow onto the network. At the time of outputting the document data, when printing is instructed from a client side, the data are transferred to the equipment, returned to a facsimile part 4 and printed. Thus, the memory full state in the magneto-optical disk drive unit 6 is prevented, and the increase in the traffic of the network is suppressed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for transmitting image data read from an original or image data created by a computer or the like via a public line such as a telephone line, and forming and outputting received image data. The present invention relates to an image communication device having a function of transferring data to a computer or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a facsimile apparatus connected to a local network and transmitting image data transferred from a computer or the like to a partner communication apparatus via a public line has been known. Also, a facsimile machine having a function of notifying each client on a local network based on the designation of a sub address according to the ITU recommendation when image data is received from a public line is known.

[0003]

By the way, as described above, notifying that a document has been received means that the received document is stored in the memory of the apparatus until the received document is output thereafter. It will be.

[0004] Even if a notification of the reception is received, there is no guarantee that the information will be output immediately. If such communication increases, the memory will eventually become full and the communication may stop. The nature increases.

In some cases, a received document has been transferred to a designated client. However, although image data is compressed, the amount of data is enormous. Due to the development of data and the like, data having an increasingly larger data amount is also transmitted. Therefore, if all the received documents are transferred, there is a problem that the traffic on the network increases, sometimes other services on the network are stopped, and the memory of the client computer is full.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image communication apparatus capable of effectively processing image data received in a memory and avoiding a failure due to a full memory of a reception memory or a client side memory or an increase in network traffic. .

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a transmission means for transmitting and receiving image information and predetermined data through a public line in a predetermined procedure.
Means for exchanging an identifier (such as an IP address) for identifying a specific information processing device on a network, a memory for storing image information received by the transmission means, and designation by the identifier after image information is received by the transmission means Notification means for notifying the processed information processing apparatus, and transfer means for transferring the image information to a predetermined information processing apparatus on the network, and when the memory reaches a predetermined usage amount, a value of a predetermined amount or less is used. The received document is transferred with image information to a specific information processing apparatus by the identifier.

That is, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the memory of the apparatus reaches a predetermined amount of use, an image having a small data amount that does not adversely affect network traffic is selected, and the IP address or the like is selected. By transferring the image information to a predetermined memory of the information processing device or the network server specified by, the load on the network can be minimized and the memory of the device can be released, so that communication is always maintained. It becomes possible.

According to the present invention, there is provided a transmission means for transmitting and receiving image information and predetermined data through a public line according to a predetermined procedure, and an identifier for specifying a specific information processing apparatus on a network when transmitting and receiving the image information. Means for exchanging information (such as an IP address), a memory for storing image information received by the transmitting means, and a notifying means for notifying the information processing device designated by the identifier after receiving the image information by the transmitting means; Transfer means for transferring image information to a predetermined information processing device on a network, and when there is image information having a data amount larger than a predetermined value in the memory, the image information is specified at a predetermined time set in advance. The image information is transferred to the information processing device.

That is, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when there is image information having a data amount larger than a predetermined value in a memory of the apparatus, a network server is set during a predetermined time period when data transmission on the network is reduced. Alternatively, by transferring the image information to the client specified by the IP address or the like, it becomes possible to reduce the memory usage rate of the apparatus and maintain a constantly communicable state without abnormally increasing network traffic. .

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image processing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The reader unit 1 reads an image of a document, and outputs image data corresponding to the document image to the printer unit 2 and the image input / output control unit 3. The printer unit 2 includes the reader unit 1
Further, an image corresponding to the image data from the image input / output control unit 3 is recorded on a recording sheet. The image input / output control unit 3 is connected to the reader unit 1, and includes a facsimile unit 4, a file unit 5, a network interface unit 7, a LIPS formatter unit 8, a postscript formatter unit 9, a core unit 10, and the like.

The facsimile unit 4 expands the compressed image data received via the telephone line, transfers the expanded image data to the core unit 10, and compresses the image data transferred from the core unit 10, The compressed image data is transmitted via a telephone line.

A magneto-optical disk drive unit 6 is connected to the file unit 5, and the file unit 5 compresses the image data transferred from the core unit 10 and includes a keyword for searching the image data along with a magneto-optical disk drive. The data is stored on a magneto-optical disk set in the drive unit 6. The file unit 5 searches compressed image data stored on the magneto-optical disk based on the keyword transferred via the core unit 10, reads out the searched compressed image data, decompresses the decompressed image data, and decompresses the decompressed image data. The image data is transferred to the core unit 10.

The network interface unit 7 includes a personal computer or a workstation (PC)
/ WS) 11 and an interface between the core unit 10. The network server 12 is the center of network control.

The formatter units 8 and 9 are connected to the PC / WS 11
The PDL data transferred from the printer unit 2 is developed into image data that can be recorded by the printer unit 2. Although the core unit 10 will be described later, the core unit 10 controls the flow of data among the reader unit 1, facsimile unit 4, file unit 5, network interface unit 7, and formatter units 8 and 9. .

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the structure of the reader unit 1 and the printer unit 2. Document feeder 1 of reader unit 1
Reference numeral 01 denotes a document which is fed one by one onto the platen glass 102 in order from the last page, and discharges the document on the platen glass 102 after the reading operation of the document is completed.

When the document is conveyed onto the platen glass 102, the lamp 103 is turned on, the movement of the scanner unit 104 is started, and the document is exposed and scanned. The reflected light from the original at this time is reflected on mirrors 105, 106, 1
07 and a lens 108 to a CCD image sensor (hereinafter referred to as CCD) 109. The image of the document thus scanned is read by the CCD 109. The image data output from the CCD 109 is
After predetermined processing is performed, it is transferred to the core unit 10 of the printer unit 2 and the image input / output control unit 3.

The laser driver 221 of the printer unit 2
It drives the laser light emitting unit 201, and the reader unit 1
Causes the laser light emitting unit 201 to emit laser light corresponding to the image data output from. This laser beam is applied to the photosensitive drum 2
02, a latent image corresponding to the laser beam is formed on the photosensitive drum 202.

A developer is applied to the latent image portion of the photosensitive drum 202 by a developing device 203. Then, at a timing synchronized with the start of laser beam irradiation, the cassette 20
4 and the cassette 205, and feeds the recording paper to the transfer unit 206, and transfers the developer attached to the photosensitive drum 202 to the recording paper. The recording paper on which the developer is loaded is conveyed to the fixing unit 207, and the developer is fixed on the recording paper by the heat and pressure of the fixing unit 207.

The recording paper that has passed through the fixing section 207 is discharged by discharge rollers 208, and the sorter 220 sorts the recording paper by storing the discharged recording paper in each pin. When no sorting is set, the sorter 220 stores the recording paper in the uppermost bin.

When double-sided recording is set,
After the recording paper is conveyed to the discharge roller 208, the rotation direction of the discharge roller 208 is reversed, and the flapper 209 is rotated.
To the re-feeding conveyance path.

When multiplex recording is set, the flapper 20 is set so that the recording paper is not conveyed to the discharge roller 208.
9 guides the sheet to the re-feeding conveyance path. The recording paper guided to the re-feeding conveyance path is fed to the transfer unit 206 at the above-described timing.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the reader unit 1. As shown in FIG.

The image data output from the CCD 109 is subjected to analog / digital conversion by the A / D / SH unit 110 and is subjected to shading correction. A
The image data processed by the / D · SH unit 110 is
The image data is transferred to the printer unit 2 via the image processing unit 111, and is also transferred to the core unit 10 of the image input / output control unit 3 via the interface 113.

The CPU 114 controls the image processing device 111 and the interface 113 in accordance with the settings set on the operation unit 115. For example, the trimming process is performed by the operation unit 115 and is transferred to the printer unit 2.
When the facsimile transmission mode is set by the operation unit 115, a control command corresponding to the image data and the set mode is transmitted from the interface 113 to the core unit 1.
0. Such a control program for the CPU 114 is stored in the memory 116,
Performs control while referring to the memory 116. The memory 116 is also used as a work area of the CPU 114.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the core unit 10. As shown in FIG.

The image data from the reader unit 1 is transferred to the data processing unit 121, and the control command from the reader unit 1 is transferred to the CPU 123. The data processing unit 121 performs image processing such as an image rotation process and a scaling process. Image data transferred from the reader unit 1 to the data processing unit 121 is converted into a control command transferred from the reader unit 1. Accordingly, the data is transferred to the facsimile unit 4, the file unit 5, and the network interface unit 7 via the interface 120.

The network interface unit 7
Is transmitted to the data processing unit 121, which determines whether the PDL is LIPS or PostScript, and is transferred to the appropriate formatter unit 8 or 9 to be transferred to the image processing unit 121. This image data is developed into data processing unit 121
Is transferred to the facsimile unit 4 and the printer unit 2.

The image data from the facsimile unit 4 is transferred to the network interface unit 7. Also,
The image data from the file unit 5 is sent to the data processing unit 121
After that, it is transferred to the printer unit 2, facsimile unit 4, and network interface unit 7. CPU
The 123 performs such control according to a control program stored in the memory 124 and a control command transferred from the reader unit 1. The memory 124 stores C
It is also used as a work area of the PU 123.

As described above, the processing combining the functions of reading the original image, printing the image, transmitting and receiving the image, storing the image, and inputting / outputting the data from / to the computer can be performed with the core unit 10 at the center. It is possible.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the present apparatus checks in S1-1 to S1-5 whether there is any operation request.

In S1-1, first, a transmission request is checked. Then, an original is set on the reader unit 1 and a transmission instruction is given, or the computer 1 on the network is
A transmission request such as transfer of image information from 1 is checked, and if there is a request, transmission is performed in S2. This is I
Since this is facsimile transmission defined by the TU recommendation, details are omitted.

In step S1-2, a print request is checked. If there is a print request from the computer or a print request for a facsimile communication management report, printing is performed in S3.

In step S1-3, a reception request is checked. If there is a reception request, reception is performed in S4. The receiving procedure itself is the same as the transmission procedure
The details are omitted because they are known ones determined by the recommendation.

Next, after the reception of S4, in S5,
It is determined whether the mode is the confidential mode that is the mode of the present embodiment or the normal reception mode. For normal reception, S6
Is performed, and the process returns to S1-1, and the above operation is repeated.

If the confidential reception mode is selected in S5, S
Go to 7. Here, the confidential mode will be described.
The IP address of the client computer is transmitted by the sub-address defined by the U recommendation, for example. When the sub address is transmitted to the receiving side, the received image is left in the memory, and the client computer specified by the IP address of the sub address is notified of the reception. The transmission and reception of the sub-address is described in ITU Recommendation T. Because it is defined in 30,
Here, it is omitted.

In S7, the received image data is stored in the nonvolatile memory of the apparatus (in the example of FIG. 1, the magneto-optical disk of the magneto-optical disk drive unit 6). This image data cannot be output unless a predetermined password is input.

In step S8, a notice is sent to the designated client computer from the network interface unit 7. On the client, on the display,
For example, when the notification is received by e-mail or the like, a display indicating that the notification has been made is transmitted to the operator in the same manner as the display. When the operator inputs a predetermined password from the operation unit of the apparatus by this notification, a print request is generated,
The print operation of S3 is performed.

In this embodiment, if there is no reception request in S1-3, the memory usage rate is checked in the next S1-4. Here, if the document data equal to or more than the predetermined value is not stored, the process returns to S1-1. If the memory usage exceeds a predetermined value, the stored document data is selected in S9.

Here, the criterion for selection is that the data amount is such that even if the data is transmitted on the network, the data amount is not so affected. Actually, the degree of the influence depends on the environment and varies widely, but if it is about 1 megabyte or less, it can be said that the influence is almost small. This value can be set by a network administrator. Also, if the value is this value, the communication data of the normal resolution of the facsimile is applicable even if there are several pages.

In S10, the image data selected in S9 is sequentially transferred to the client computer of the IP address specified by the sub address. Or server IP
The data is transferred to a predetermined memory corresponding to the address. Or
Either can be selected depending on the address specification method.

When outputting the document data,
When a print instruction is issued from the client side, the data on the client or server is transferred to the apparatus, returns to the facsimile unit 4, and is printed.

As described above, it is possible to prevent the memory full in the image memory (the magneto-optical disk of the magneto-optical disk drive unit 6) of the apparatus and to perform the processing in which the increase in the network traffic is suppressed.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the present apparatus performs steps S11-1 to S11-
At 5, it is checked whether there is any operation request.

In step S11-1, first, a transmission request is checked. Then, an original is set on the reader unit 1 and a transmission instruction is given, or the computer 1 on the network is
A transmission request such as transfer of image information from 1 is checked, and if there is a request, transmission is performed in S12. Since this is facsimile transmission defined by the ITU recommendation, the details are omitted.

In step S11-2, a print request is checked. If there is a print request from the computer or a print request of a facsimile communication management report, the printing is performed in S13.

In step S11-3, a reception request is checked. If there is a reception request, reception is performed in S14. Note that the reception procedure itself is similar to the transmission procedure,
Since it is a publicly known one defined by the TU recommendation, its details are omitted.

Next, after the reception in S14, in S15, it is determined whether the mode is the confidential mode which is the mode of this embodiment or the normal reception mode. For normal reception,
In S16, printing is performed, and the process returns to S11-1, and the above operation is repeated.

In the confidential reception mode in S15,
Proceeding to S17, the received image data is stored in the non-volatile memory of the apparatus (in the example of FIG. 1, the magneto-optical disk of the magneto-optical disk drive unit 6). This image data cannot be output unless a predetermined password is input.

In step S18, a notice is sent to the designated client computer from the network interface unit 7. In the client, when a message is received, for example, by e-mail on the display unit, a display indicating that the notification has been made is transmitted to the operator in the same manner as when displaying the message. When the operator inputs a predetermined password from the operation unit of the apparatus in response to the notification, a print request is generated, and the print operation of S13 is performed.

In this embodiment, if there is no reception request in S11-3, a time check is performed in the next S11-4. Generally, the time when the load on the network is particularly reduced is considered to be midnight. Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that a large amount of memory reception data is transmitted using this midnight time zone.

If it is not the set time in S11-4, the process returns to S11-1. If it is the set time, the process proceeds to S19, and the data amount of the received document in the memory is checked. If the memory has been used at a predetermined value or more, an image having a data amount larger than the predetermined value is selected (S20).

Here, the criterion for selection is that the amount of data is such that data flowing over the network has an adverse effect. Actually, the degree of the influence depends on the environment and varies widely, but if it is about 1 megabyte or less, it can be said that the influence is almost small. Therefore, an image exceeding this value is selected. This value can be set by a network administrator.

In the case of communication data of normal resolution of facsimile, even if there are several pages, all of them are below this value. Therefore, even if the number of documents of the data corresponding to the criterion is small, the document data is transferred from the apparatus. If memory is available,
Considerable reception becomes possible.

At S21, the image data selected at S20 is transferred to the client computer at the IP address specified by the sub address. Alternatively, the data is transferred to a predetermined memory corresponding to the IP address of the server. Alternatively, either of them can be selected by an address specification method.

When outputting the document data,
Data is transferred to a magneto-optical disk attached to the client or server. Then, printing is performed by setting the magneto-optical disk in the magneto-optical disk drive unit 6 of the apparatus. By doing so, it is possible to print out without passing this large amount of image data over the network.

As described above, it is possible to prevent the memory from being full in the image memory (the magneto-optical disk of the magneto-optical disk drive unit 6) of the apparatus, and to perform processing in which an increase in network traffic is suppressed. .

[0061]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Normally, accumulate until the memory reaches a predetermined value,
Only when a predetermined value is exceeded, the device can always be kept in a receivable state by transferring only an image of a small data amount or by selecting and transferring an image of a large data amount at a selected time. In addition, the present invention can be realized without abnormally increasing network traffic.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a structure of a reader unit and a printer unit of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a reader unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a core unit of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Reader part, 2 ... Printer part, 3 ... Image input / output control part, 4 ... Facsimile part, 5 ... File part, 6 ... Magneto-optical disk drive unit, 7 ... Network interface, 8, 9 ... Formatter part, 10 ... Core Part, 11, 12 ... PC / WS.

Claims (4)

[Claims] A transmitting means for transmitting and receiving image information and predetermined data through a public line according to a predetermined procedure; and transmitting and receiving image information by said transmitting means, an identifier for specifying a specific information processing apparatus on a network. Means for exchanging; memory for storing image information received by the transmission means; notification means for notifying an information processing device designated by the identifier after image information reception by the transmission means; predetermined information processing on a network Transfer means for transferring image information to a device, wherein when the memory reaches a predetermined usage amount, the image information is transferred to a specific information processing device using the identifier for a received document of a predetermined amount or less. An image communication device, comprising: 2. Transmission means for transmitting and receiving image information and predetermined data over a public line according to a predetermined procedure; when transmitting and receiving image information, the transmission means transmits an identifier for identifying a specific information processing apparatus on a network to information. Means for exchanging; memory for storing image information received by the transmission means; notification means for notifying an information processing device designated by the identifier after image information reception by the transmission means; predetermined information processing on a network Transfer means for transferring image information to an apparatus, wherein when there is image information having a data amount larger than a predetermined value in the memory, the image information is transferred to a specific information processing apparatus at a predetermined time set in advance. An image communication device for transferring information. 3. The image communication device according to claim 1, wherein the specific information processing device is a network server. 4. The image communication device according to claim 2, wherein the specific information processing device is a client computer on a network specified by the identifier.