KR100234341B1 - Apparatus and method for reduced display of FAX data in PDA(personal digital assistant) - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for reducing facsimile reception data of a personal portable information terminal apparatus, and a reduced display apparatus performs a predetermined initializing operation for receiving a facsimile, A facsimile connection setting unit for setting a transmission environment with a facsimile transmission side and preparing for reception; A facsimile data receiving unit having a receiving buffer for receiving facsimile data from the other party and storing received data; A bitmap image converter including a conversion buffer for reading data stored in a reception buffer and converting the data into bitmap image data and storing the converted data; A bitmap image reduction unit having a buffer for reading data stored in the conversion buffer and reducing the data to a predetermined size and storing the reduced data; A bitmap image output unit for reading data stored in a buffer of the bitmap image reduction unit and outputting the read data to a display screen; And a fax connection releasing unit for releasing the fax connection if there is no data reception.

According to the present invention, the portable personal digital assistant receives fax data, reduces data in real time, and displays the fax data on the screen, thereby enabling the user to confirm the fax information of a larger amount of contents.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a personal digital assistant (PDA)

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a personal portable terminal, and more particularly, to an apparatus and a method for reducing and displaying facsimile reception data of a personal portable information terminal device.

As society becomes more complicated and diversified in the modern world, users' needs for information and communication services are becoming diversified. One of these is a personal digital assistant (PDA), which is equipped with a mobile phone function, a portable computer function, a fax function, and an electronic notebook function. Such a PDA is referred to as a personal portable terminal because it provides multimedia and personalization of services that the recent information and communication service is pursuing. In other words, the PDA provides a graphical user interface (GUI) environment using a pen or voice instead of the conventional keyboard input for easy user access to a portable terminal which is convenient to carry, a computer function of a notebook computer, . Unlike the existing user access method of PDAs, PDAs actively intervene in user's use. That is, the user can directly input a character and receive a PDA input by using a pen attached to the terminal using the handwritten character recognition function.

Especially, communication function is one of the most important functions of personal portable information terminal. Internet access function, access to information media such as Unitel using public communication network (PSTN network), and fax transmission / reception function.

In general, the reception of a fax is performed in the following order in the portable information terminal. First, the fax modem is initialized and a reception waiting state for receiving fax data from the other party is established. Then, when the fax reception starts, it sets the transmission path to the remote fax machine, that is, the transmission speed and other option settings. And then receives the path data, wherein the data received is MH (Modified Huffman) Encoding Image Data. When the facsimile data is received, the received facsimile data is converted into a normal bitmap image by the facsimile data conversion module, and then the facsimile data reception is terminated. Finally, the fax reception data is processed and output.

In this case, a conventional fax receiving method in a personal portable information terminal generally receives and stores facsimile data in a memory, and displays it on a screen according to a user's request when all the receiving operations are completed. However, since most personal portable information terminals are not equipped with sufficient storage device for storing fax data (in order to reduce the size of the product and the manufacturing cost), there is a restriction on the amount of data to be received by the facsimile. If a large amount of memory is built in to receive multiple faxes, this will be a burden for cost increase.

In order to solve such a problem, there is a method of minimizing the use of the memory by eliminating the received fax data and by spraying the data directly on the screen every 16 lines, and deleting the received data. However, the problem still remains that when the fax receiving data is displayed on the screen, the size of the screen is too small to show all the actual received images. The typical LCD screen size is 320 x 240 or 480 x 320, and for A4 paper faxes the number of pixels is 1,728. Therefore, the current LCD screen can only display 320 or 480 pixels on the left. Therefore, it is inevitable to tell the facsimile to send the fax to the left visual area before receiving the fax. And this method is actually useful. Although this method is very effective, if the received data is full of A4 paper, some of the contents can not be seen.

In order to overcome the limitation of the viewing area due to the size of the screen, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, The present invention provides a facsimile data display apparatus and method for a personal portable information terminal that converts facsimile data into data and outputs the reduced bitmap image to a screen.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a fax data reduction display apparatus in a personal digital assistant according to the present invention.

2 is a block diagram of a more detailed configuration of the bitmap image reduction unit.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the fax data reduction display apparatus in the personal portable information terminal according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a more detailed operation of the bitmap image reduction unit, which is a core part of the present invention.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a personal portable information terminal device including a display device for displaying character and graphic data, a facsimile modem for transmitting / receiving facsimile data, and a storage device for storing data, The apparatus for reducing and displaying data performs a predetermined initializing operation for receiving a fax and makes the personal portable information terminal put in a fax reception standby state capable of detecting a ring signal of the other party, A facsimile connection setting unit for setting a transmission environment for facsimile connection with the facsimile machine and preparing for reception; A fax data receiver having a receiving buffer for receiving fax data from the other party and storing the received data; A bitmap image conversion unit for reading the data stored in the reception buffer of the fax data reception unit and converting the data into bitmap image data and storing the converted data; A bitmap image shrinking unit for reading the data stored in the conversion buffer of the bitmap image converting unit and reducing the data to a predetermined size and storing the reduced data; A bitmap image output unit for reading data stored in a buffer of the bitmap image reduction unit and outputting the read data to the display screen; And a fax connection releasing unit for releasing the fax connection if no data is received by the fax data receiving unit.

The bitmap image reduction unit may select whether to reduce or reduce the data stored in the conversion buffer; A fax image data analyzer for reading data stored in the buffer of the bitmap image converting unit and analyzing the data by a predetermined method to determine a reduction ratio of the fax image data; A bitmap image shrinker for shrinking bitmap image data according to a reduction ratio determined by the fax image data analyzer; And a buffer for storing the reduced data.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable information terminal device including a display device for displaying character and graphic data, a facsimile modem for transmitting / receiving facsimile data, and a storage device for storing data, A method of reducing display on a display device includes: performing a predetermined initialization operation for receiving a fax; Making the personal portable information terminal wait for a ring signal of the other party into a fax reception waiting state; Preparing a fax connection with a side of sending a fax; Receiving fax data from the other party and storing the received data; A converting step of reading the stored received data and converting the received data into bitmap image data and storing the converted data; A reduction step of reading the data stored in the conversion step and reducing the data to a predetermined size and storing the reduced data; A display step of reading the stored data at the reducing step and outputting the read data to a screen of the display device; And releasing the fax connection if there is no data reception in the receiving step.

Determining a reduction ratio of the fax image data by reading the data stored in the conversion step and analyzing the data by a predetermined method; And reducing the bitmap image data according to the determined reduction ratio. A reduction option step of asking the user whether the data converted in the conversion step is reduced; And performing the ratio determination step when the user selects to reduce the size in the reduction option step, and displaying the converted data in the display step without reducing the size if the user selects not to reduce the size .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 is a block diagram of a configuration of a fax data reduction display device in a personal digital assistant according to the present invention. The personal digital assistant includes a liquid crystal display device 130 for displaying text and graphic data, A facsimile 110 for transmitting and receiving data, a storage device 100 for storing data, and a processing device 120 for reducing and displaying facsimile data in the personal portable information terminal. The processing unit 120 includes a fax connection setting unit 121, a fax connection failure unit 122, a facsimile data receiving unit 123, a bitmap image conversion unit 124, a bitmap image reduction unit 125, And an output unit 126.

The fax connection establishing unit 121 performs a predetermined initializing operation for receiving a fax, sets the personal portable information terminal to a fax reception standby state capable of detecting a ring signal of the other party, Such as establishing a transmission environment for the fax connection with the other party. The fax data receiving unit 123 receives the fax data from the other party, and includes a flag indicating a reception state of the fax data and a reception buffer for storing the received data. For example, if the flag is set to 1, it indicates that the current fax data is received, and if the flag is 0, it indicates that no fax data is received.

The bitmap image conversion unit 124 reads the data stored in the reception buffer of the fax data reception unit 123 and converts the data into bitmap image data. If the flag indicates reception of the fax data, And a conversion buffer for reading the stored data and storing the converted data.

The bitmap image reduction unit 125 reads out data stored in the conversion buffer of the bitmap image conversion unit 124 and reduces the image data into a predetermined size, for example, 1/4 or 1/9, A fax image data analyzer 210, a bitmap image scaling unit 220, and a buffer 230 as shown in FIG. The option selecting unit 200 is a block that can select whether the data stored in the conversion buffer is to be reduced or not. When the option selecting unit 200 selects no reduction, automatic reduction, manual reduction (1/4, 1/9 ), And the manual reduction is divided into 1/4 reduction or 1/9 reduction. The fax image data analyzer 210 reads out data stored in the buffer of the bitmap image converting unit 124 and analyzes it by a predetermined method. The fax image data analyzer 210 operates only when the option selecting unit 200 selects automatic reduction. To determine the reduction ratio of the fax image data. The bitmap image reducer 220 reduces the bitmap image data, and the buffer 230 stores the reduced data.

The bitmap image output unit 126 reads the data stored in the buffer of the bitmap image reduction unit 125 and outputs the data to the screen of the display device 130. If the flag indicates that there is no received fax data, the fax connection disassembly unit 122 releases the fax connection of the fax modem 110. [

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a facsimile data reduction display apparatus in a PDA according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, the operation of the present invention will now be described.

First, when facsimile reception is started, initialization of the facsimile modem 110 is performed through a facsimile initialization routine (step 300). In step 300, the facsimile initialization executes a modem initialization command and initializes a buffer, It says. After the initialization of the fax is performed, the process proceeds to a receiving step of waiting for a call of the remote fax sender (step 305). The receiving standby is set so that the modem can automatically detect a ringing signal When the modem detects the ring signal, it automatically receives the call and tries to connect with the other party's fax machine. When the connection is completed, the process proceeds to the next step. If the ring signal is not detected during the predetermined waiting time, the connection is canceled.

On the other hand, if the telephone receives a telephone call after detecting the ring signal, that is, if the modem detects the ring signal (step 310), the process proceeds to the fax data reception preparing step (step 315) In the reception preparing step 315, various information necessary for transmitting and receiving a facsimile, that is, information on a transmission speed, image size, high resolution support, processing speed (scanning time), whether to use an error correction function, And set it to a proper transmission environment. Then, when a series of connection test data is transmitted for 1.5 seconds from the transmitting side to the receiving side, the receiving side checks whether this data has arrived well and sends a confirmation signal to the transmitting side.

When it is ready to receive the fax, the data is received through the fax data receiving unit 123. In step 320, it is checked whether the reception of the data is completed in step 305. If the reception is not completed, Upon completion of storing the fax data (16 lines in this case) in the reception buffer of the fax data receiver 123, the received data (FaxMHdata) is converted into bitmap image data through the bitmap image converter 124 And stores it in the conversion buffer (operation 330)

When the conversion operation is completed, the bitmap image data stored in the conversion buffer is reduced to 1: 1 or 4: 1 or 9: 1 according to the option of the user through the bitmap image reduction unit 125, And stores the completed bitmap image in step 335. Thereafter, the reduced image is output to the output device, i.e., the liquid crystal display device, through the bitmap image output unit 126. In step 340, When the fax reception is completed, the fax connection is released and the reception of the fax is completed (Step 345)

4 is a flowchart illustrating a more detailed operation of the bitmap image reduction unit 125 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4, the bitmap image reduction unit 125 will be described in more detail . First, the user selects an option for reduction provided by the option selection unit 200. In operation 400, if the user selects the menu item 'do not reduce' in operation 410, The data stored in the buffer of the display unit 130 is displayed on the liquid crystal display device 130 through the bitmap image output unit 126 without being reduced. If reduction is selected (step 410), automatic reduction or manual reduction is checked (step 420). If manual reduction is performed, 1/4 or 1/9 reduction is performed on the set reduction ratio (step 450) (Step 460). If the process is finished, the process proceeds to step 420 again. In step 420, if the image is manually reduced, the bitmap image data is analyzed by a predetermined method through the fax image data analyzer 210 (step 430), and then reduced according to the analysis result (step 440) If there is no data to be stored (step 460), the process proceeds to step 420 if it is finished.

One example of the predetermined method is to check the continuity of 0 and 1 of the received image and output it to the screen without reducing the image while receiving 10 times (total 160 lines) after starting the initial reception. The analysis is carried out to accumulate the number of times that the number of black pixels is less than two and the number of times that the number of times of less than three are continuously accumulated. Similarly, the number of times of accumulation is also counted for white pixels. In order to judge the continuity, all tests are performed for rightward, downward, and downward (diagonal) directions. Based on the cumulative result, it is not reduced, or 1/4 or 1/9 reduction is performed. If there are two consecutive cases (black spots, all white points), it is not reduced if it is 32 or more times. If there are not two consecutive cases and less than 32 cases and not three consecutive cases (black spot, white dot) Or more, it is reduced by 1/4. If less than 32 consecutive cases and less than 3 consecutive cases are less than 32 cases, 1/9 reduction shall be carried out. On the other hand, the user can use the manual setting at any time during the reduction process. And when the zoom setting is changed in the middle, the data is output again according to the new setting across the entire screen.

According to the present invention, when the facsimile data received on the screen that is not large enough is displayed, more contents can be output to the screen. That is, the personal digital assistant receives fax data to overcome a small liquid crystal screen generally employed, and displays data on a screen in real time so that the user can confirm more information of the fax information.

Claims (5)

A personal portable information terminal apparatus including a display device for displaying character and graphic data, a facsimile modem for transmitting and receiving fax data, and a storage device for storing data, The personal portable information terminal is set to a fax reception waiting state in which the ring signal of the other party can be detected and a transmission environment for a facsimile connection with a facsimile transmission side is set And establishing a fax connection; A fax data receiver having a receiving buffer for receiving fax data from the other party and storing the received data; A bitmap image conversion unit for reading the data stored in the reception buffer of the fax data reception unit and converting the data into bitmap image data and storing the converted data; A bitmap image shrinking unit for reading the data stored in the conversion buffer of the bitmap image converting unit and reducing the data to a predetermined size and storing the reduced data; A bitmap image output unit for reading data stored in a buffer of the bitmap image reduction unit and outputting the read data to the display screen; And And a fax connection releasing unit for releasing the fax connection if no data is received by the fax data receiving unit, The bitmap image reduction unit An option selection unit for selecting whether to reduce or reduce data stored in the conversion buffer; A fax image data analyzer for reading data stored in the buffer of the bitmap image converting unit and analyzing the data by a predetermined method to determine a reduction ratio of the fax image data; A bitmap image shrinker for shrinking bitmap image data according to a reduction ratio determined by the fax image data analyzer; And And a buffer for storing the reduced data. The method according to claim 1, The option of the option selection unit Wherein the fax receiving data reduction display apparatus comprises: a display unit for displaying the received fax data; The method according to claim 1, The fax data receiving unit A flag indicating the reception state of the fax data; And And a receiving buffer for storing the received data, The bitmap eigene transforming unit Reading the data stored in the reception buffer of the facsimile data receiving unit if the flag indicates reception of fax data, The fax connection releasing unit And if the flag indicates that there is no received fax data, disconnects the fax connection. A method for minimally displaying fax data received from a portable personal digital assistant (PDA) device including a display device for displaying character and graphic data, a facsimile modem for transmitting and receiving fax data, and a storage device for storing data, Performing a predetermined initializing operation for receiving a fax; Making the personal portable information terminal wait for a ring signal of the other party into a fax reception waiting state; Preparing a fax connection with a side of sending a fax; Receiving fax data from the other party and storing the received data; A converting step of reading the stored received data and converting the received data into bitmap image data and storing the converted data; A reduction step of reading the data stored in the conversion step and reducing the data to a predetermined size and storing the reduced data; A display step of reading the stored data at the reducing step and outputting the read data to a screen of the display device; And And releasing the fax connection if there is no data reception in the receiving step, The shrinking step Determining a reduction ratio of the fax image data by reading the data stored in the conversion step and analyzing the data by a predetermined method; And And reducing the bitmap image data according to the determined reduction ratio, and storing the reduced bitmap image data. 5. The method of claim 4, A reduction option step of asking the user whether the data converted in the conversion step is reduced; And Further comprising the step of: performing the ratio determination step when the user selects to reduce in the reduction option step, and displaying the reduced data in the display step without reducing if the user chooses not to reduce the ratio. A method for displaying reduced fax reception data of a portable information terminal device.