JPH04345362A - Facsimile terminal equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To speedily transmit an original like a direct communication, and to carry away the original like a memory transmission by calling a destination immediately after starting the storing operation of an original picture, transmitting the stored picture when the destination answers it, and displaying the start of the transmission. CONSTITUTION:An operator first sets the original to be transmitted at a scanner 1, inputs the telephone number of the destination by a prescribed operation, and sets a transmission mode. The operator selects 'at once' or 'after picture storage' by the prescribed operation of a call timing selecting key 7C, and then activates a transmitting operation. A facsimile terminal equipment starts the picture reading of the transmitted original, and the storage of the read picture information in a picture memory 4 when it is activated, and discriminates the setting of the calling timing. Then, when the destination answers it, the transmission of the stored picture information is started by a prescribed transmission control procedure, and 'during transmission' is displayed at a display device 7e. And also, 'calling' and 'completion of transmission' are displayed.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine that transmits original images after they are stored in a memory.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art So-called direct transmission and memory transmission are well known as transmission methods for facsimile machines. In direct transmission, after placing a call to the destination, reading the original image is started, and the read image information is directly transmitted. Memory transmission is a process in which a document image is read and temporarily stored in a memory, and then a call is made to a destination and the stored document image is transmitted.

[0003] In direct transmission, the facsimile machine immediately calls the destination in response to a sending operation, so that the document can be sent quickly. However, in this case, the document placed in the facsimile device must be left in place until transmission is completed. For this reason, especially when the called destination is busy, the operator
I couldn't take the manuscript away right away.

On the other hand, in memory transmission, the original image is first read and stored, so that the operator can take away the original immediately after reading is completed. However, in this case, a call is made to the destination after the reading of the original image is completed, resulting in a delay in transmission.

[0005]

[Problem to be solved by the invention] In this way, conventionally,
If an attempt is made to transmit the original document quickly, the original document cannot be removed quickly, while if an attempt is made to remove the original document quickly, the original document transmission is delayed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile machine which can solve the above problems and can quickly transmit documents and carry away documents quickly.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] To this end, the present invention makes a call to the destination immediately after starting the storage operation of storing the original image in the memory, and if the destination responds, the storage operation is in progress. This feature is characterized in that the accumulated images are sequentially transmitted regardless of whether the transmission is completed or not, and a message to the effect that the transmission has started is displayed.

[0008]

[Operation] This allows the document to be sent quickly, and once the storage operation is completed, the document is no longer needed regardless of the transmission status, so the operator can quickly remove the document. Furthermore, since the message that the transmission has started is displayed, the operator can easily know the transmission status.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a scanner 1 is used to read original images, and a plotter 2 is used to record and output received images. The encoding/decoding unit 3 compresses image information to be transmitted, and decodes received image information to restore the original image information. The image memory 4 stores image information of the transmitted original. The modem 5 transmits and receives image information and various procedure signals for transmission control. The network control device 6 is connected to a telephone line and performs predetermined line control when making and receiving calls.

The operation display section 7 is used by the operator to perform various operations and to display the operating status of the apparatus. This operation display section 7 is provided with a numeric keypad 7a, a transmission mode setting key 7b, a call timing selection key 7c, a start key 7d, a display 7e, and the like. The numeric keypad 7a is used to input the destination telephone number to make a call, and the transmission mode setting key 7b is used to set the density of the transmitted document, the line density when reading an image, etc. The call timing selection key 7c is used to set the call timing to the destination. The start key 7d is used to start communication operation. The display 7e displays various character information.

The system memory 8 stores information registered in advance and information temporarily held during communication operations. The system control section 9 is a microphone computer that controls the above-mentioned sections, and the system bus 10 is a signal line through which the above-mentioned sections exchange various control signals and data with each other.

With the above configuration, FIG. 2 shows the transmission processing of the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment. That is,
The operator first sets the original to be sent on scanner 1 (
Process 101), a destination telephone number is input by a predetermined operation, and a transmission mode is set (Process 102). In this example,
The timing for making a call to the destination can be selected between ``immediately'' and ``after image storage.'' Here, the operator selects one of them by a predetermined operation of the call timing selection key 7c (process 103). Next, a transmission operation is started (process 104).

When the facsimile machine is activated, it starts reading the image of the transmitted document and storing the read image information in the image memory 4 (process 105), and determines the setting of the call timing (process 106).

Assuming that the call timing is set to "after image storage" (N in process 106), the progress of the image reading and storage process is monitored (process 10).
7 N loops). When the processing of all pages of the transmission document is completed (Y in process 107), a dial signal is sent to the telephone line and a call is made to the destination (process 108). and,
``Calling in progress'' is displayed on the display 7e (process 109), and the response of the other party is monitored (N loop of process 110).

[0016] When the other party responds (Y in process 110),
Transmission of the accumulated image information is started using a known transmission control procedure (process 111), and "transmitting" is displayed on the display 7e (process 112). Thereafter, the progress of the transmission is monitored (loop of N in process 113), and when the entire image information has been transmitted (Y in process 113), "transmission completed" is displayed (process 114), and the above process is performed. End the sending process.

On the other hand, if the call timing is set to "immediately" (Y in process 106), a call is immediately made to the destination and the same operation is executed (proceed to process 108). In addition,
In this case, if the reading and storage of original images are still being executed at the time when the other party responds, the stored image information is sequentially transmitted in parallel with these processes.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the call timing is set to "immediately", a call is made to the destination at the same time as the document image storage starts, and when the other party answers, the call is made in parallel with the storage process. I'm trying to send images. As a result, document transmission can be performed quickly, similar to the conventional direct transmission.

[0019] Also, at each point in time, "calling in progress", "
Since the operating status is displayed as ``transmitting'' and ``transmitting completed,'' the operator can easily grasp the transmission status. Furthermore, if the destination responds immediately, the above display is performed during the period of reading the transmission document, so that by the time the reading of the document is finished, the operator has already confirmed the start of transmission. This allows the operator to take away the transmitted document immediately after reading is completed.

By the way, after the image information transmission operation has started, the transmission operation may be stopped due to, for example, a communication error. In such a case, with direct transmission that does not store image information, the original to be sent must be reset when sending again, but in this embodiment, the original to be sent can be retransmitted without having to be reset. .

On the other hand, when the scanner 1 reads the transmitted document one page at a time, reading errors such as skipping some pages or paper jams may occur. If such a reading error occurs when the call timing is set to "immediate", communication will be temporarily interrupted and the transmission process will be restarted. On the other hand, when the call timing is set to "after image accumulation", the image is read before the call is made to the destination, so if a reading error occurs, only the reading operation can be redone.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the call timing is set to "immediately" in the case of urgent transmission, and is set to "after image storage" if it is desired to prevent communication interruption in the event of a reading error. The operator can use them as needed.

[0023] In the above embodiment, the call timing is set each time during transmission processing, but once set, the setting is maintained as is, and the call timing is set only when changing. Of course it's a good thing.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

It is assumed that the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment has the same configuration as that shown in FIG. 1 except for the operation display section 7. The operation display section 7 does not have the transmission mode setting key 7b in FIG. 1, but is newly provided with a one-touch key 7f and a one-touch mode selection key 7g. The one-touch key 7f is a plurality of keys sequentially assigned alphabetical characters such as "A", "B", etc., and is a key for selecting and operating a destination telephone number and various identification information registered in advance. The one-touch mode selection key 7g is a key for specifying whether to select a destination or identification information using the one-touch key 7f.

As shown in FIG. 4, the system memory 8 stores the destination telephone number and TTI (Transmitter Terminal) corresponding to each key of the one-touch key 7f.
IDENTIFIER) information and call timing identification information are each registered. TTI information is
This is known information that is added to the upper edge of a document image when transmitting a document, and in this example, the department and name of each operator using this facsimile device are registered. Further, the call timing is arbitrarily specified by each operator. Through the prescribed registration process, this information is
It is assumed that the operator has registered in advance.

When transmitting a document using the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment, the operator sets the document to be transmitted as shown in FIG. 5 (process 201). Then, select the destination mode using the one-touch mode selection key 7g (process 202).
, set the destination using the one-touch key 7f (process 20
3). Next, the personal mode is set using the one-touch mode selection key 7g (process 204), and the operator presses his own key (process 205). Then, a transmission operation is started (process 206).

When the facsimile machine is activated, it reads out the destination telephone number specified in the above operation, TTI information, and call timing identification information from the registered information in the system memory 8 (process 207).

Thereafter, the processes after process 105 in FIG. 2 are executed in the same manner as in the previous embodiment. That is, the facsimile machine first sequentially reads original images and stores them in the image memory 4.

At this time, if the call timing is specified as "immediate", the call is made in parallel with the storage operation, and when the other party answers, the image information is sequentially transmitted. In addition,
At this time, the read TTI information is added to the top of each page of the image information to be transmitted. On the other hand, if the call timing is specified as "after image storage," the image is transmitted in the same way after the image information of all pages of the transmission document has been stored.

As described above, in this embodiment, the operator registers the call timing together with the TTI information in advance, and when transmitting a document, the operator specifies the TTI information and simultaneously sets the call timing. I'm trying to set it up. This makes it possible to omit the troublesome operation of setting the call timing as in the above-described embodiments. In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, when the call timing is "after image storage," the call is made immediately after image storage is completed.
Time-specified transmission may be performed using a known operating procedure.

In addition, in the operation shown in FIG. 2, after making a call, the caller simply waits for the other party's response, but if the caller is busy, known operations such as calling again after a certain period of time are executed. Needless to say, this is a good thing.

[0033]

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, after the start of the original image storage operation, a call is immediately made to the destination, and when the destination responds, the stored image is transmitted and the start of transmission is displayed. As a result, the document transmission can be executed quickly, the operator can easily confirm the start of transmission, and the document can be taken away immediately after the storage operation is completed.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is an operational flowchart of transmission processing.

FIG. 3 is a block configuration diagram of an operation display section in another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of registration information in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an operational flowchart of transmission processing in the above embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Scanner 2 Plotter 3 Encoding/decoding section 4 Image memory 5 Modem 6 Network control device 7 Operation display section 7a Numeric keypad 7b Transmission mode setting key 7c Call timing selection key 7d Start key 7e Display 7f One-touch key 7g One-touch mode selection key 8. System memory 9 System control section

Claims (3)

[Claims] Claims: 1. Image storage means for sequentially reading images of originals set in the device and storing them in a memory; immediate calling means for calling the destination immediately after the start of the image storage operation; A facsimile device comprising a transmitting means for sequentially transmitting the accumulated images regardless of whether the storing operation is being executed or completed when the destination responds, and a display means for displaying the fact that the transmission has started. . 2. Post-storage calling means for calling the destination after the storage operation is completed, and call timing for arbitrarily selecting whether to call using the post-storage calling means or the immediate calling means. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising selection means. 3. Post-storage calling means for calling the destination after the storage operation is completed; storage means for storing in advance identification information of a sender and identification information of call timing in correspondence with each operation key; When the operation key is pressed during image transmission, a call timing selection means makes a call using the post-accumulation call means or the immediate call means according to the identification information of the call timing corresponding to the operation key. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising sender identification information transmitting means for adding sender identification information corresponding to the pressed operation key to the image of the original document and transmitting the image.