JPS61252751A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To form a facsimile equipment having high reliability of the content of transmission by sending transmission data corresponding to data not receiving a reception acknowledgment signal from a nonvolatile memory when no reception acknowledgment signal is received from an opposite station at the transmission. CONSTITUTION:A hardware disc equipment 50 and a flopy disc equipment 51 are provided as an external storage device, the equipments employ nonvolatile memories but backup memories can be used as the nonvolatile memory. After a prescribed block is sent, when no reception acknowledge signal is received from an opposite station, data of a block corresponding to the reception acknowl edgment signal not received is sent from the hard disc. That is, the data of the corresponding block is sent again. Thus, the reliability of the transmission data is improved.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to facsimile.

[Prior Art] When a conventional facsimile is received, data sent from a line is temporarily stored in a RAM (random access memory), and a printer prints the data on a predetermined sheet of paper based on the stored contents. On the other hand, in the case of transmission, a predetermined league reads the manuscript and temporarily stores this read data in RAM.
It memorizes and sends a signal to the line according to the stored contents.
Also, in the above reception and transmission operations, data compression is performed.

It is being expanded.

By the way, the above-mentioned RAM has a drawback that its stored contents are lost when the power is turned off.In order to overcome this drawback, it is possible to use a non-volatile memory such as a hard disk instead of the RAM.

In this case, if an abnormality occurs between the CCU (Communication Control Unit) etc. and the non-volatile memory mentioned above during reception, the non-volatile memory will not be able to store the received contents correctly. You will no longer be able to print.

The sending side may not notice the abnormality.

In this case, there is a problem in that the reliability of the received content decreases. From the perspective of the sending side, this becomes a problem in that the reliability of the transmitted content decreases.

On the other hand, there are two types of facsimiles: Class 1, which can send and receive only image data, and Class 2, which can send and receive image data and only receive character data.
and last 3, which can transmit and receive image data and character data. Class 3 adopts mixed mode (a mode for efficiently transmitting documents in which text and images are mixed on the page).

By the way, there is a problem in that it is inconvenient because it is not possible to send characters from the mixed mode terminal device to the class 1 terminal device. Another problem is that it is not possible to send data to Teletex from a mixed mode terminal device.

Furthermore, it is conceivable to connect a display means such as a CRT to the main body of the facsimile and display the received image data on the CRT. It is also conceivable to edit the images and characters to be transmitted using the CRT described above. If there is a reception during the editing process, an indicator such as a lamp may be turned on, and in this way, the reception can be known with certainty.

However, in the above case, an indicator must be provided in addition to the CRT, resulting in an increase in the number of parts.

On the other hand, when non-volatile memory is connected to the facsimile machine, in order to receive automatic reception, all power must be left on, but this has the disadvantage of wasting power. In addition, in this case, there is a drawback that the life of the hard disk is shortened because the hard disk is rotated for a long time. In order to overcome this drawback, it is conceivable to turn off the power to the facsimile until one call arrives, and then turn on the power to the facsimile after the call arrives. However, in this case, since it takes a predetermined time for the facsimile to start up, there is a problem in that the line is kept waiting.

[Object of the Invention] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile machine whose transmission contents are highly reliable.

[Embodiment of the invention] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the invention,
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the above embodiment.

The reader 10 reads a predetermined document and outputs an electrical signal.

The facsimile main body 20 includes a reader/printer interface 21, an image compression unit (hereinafter referred to as rIcUJ) 22, and a program memory (hereinafter referred to as rIcUJ).
PMEMJ) 23, bit move unit (hereinafter referred to as rBMUJ) 24, image memory (hereinafter referred to as rIMEMJ) 25, and bidet*RAM (hereinafter referred to as rBMUJ) 23,
VRAM) 26, and a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CP).
27, a community interface 28, a bus 29, and a communication control unit (hereinafter referred to as "CCU") 30.

The ICU 22 compresses or expands data, and in order to increase the encoding rate, two-dimensional pressure m (high compression) is used.
has been adopted. The PMEM 23 is an OS program for controlling the input/output devices provided around the facsimile main body 20 and each unit within the facsimile main body.
The application cage has a character program memory area, and also has a font memory area for converting character codes into image data.

In addition, PMEM23 is a memory management unit y
) (M M E M ), and a buffer γ of transmission data to be transmitted from the hard disk via the CCU 3O or stored from the CCU 3O to the hard disk.
It also has a work area. Note that the buffer γ is for adjusting the speed of the disk, line, etc.

The BMU 24 performs editing (image processing) of one image in the CRT 60, and enlarges, reduces, rotates, moves, or cuts a predetermined image.

The IMEM 25 has 4 bytes and can store images from the reader, images edited by the BMU 24,
It stores data decompressed by the ICU 22, word processing code data based on key code characters, mixed data, or data obtained by exchanging character codes with images. Here, identification codes are attached to the mix data blocks, image blocks, and character blocks and stored. Also, IMEM25 is
By temporarily storing predetermined data, the reader 10,
There are also notes on how to match the speed of line 40, VRA
M26(f) This is to store the image data to be displayed on the CRT 60 as a bitmap code.

Additionally, a hard disk drive 2150 is used as an external storage device.
and a floppy disk unit 9151 are provided.

Although these devices are non-volatile memories, backup memories may be used as the non-volatile memories.

The keyboard 61 is used to input characters and the like and to specify a position on the CRT 60 using a cursor. Mouse 62 is one of the pointing devices. In addition, a printer 70 is provided.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be explained.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the transmission operation in the above embodiment. The flowchart below shows PMEM23
The CPU 27 executes the program based on the program stored in the CPU 27.

First, start negotiation with the other station.
, determine whether or not it is possible to communicate with the other station (SZ), and if communication is possible, transmit one block of the transmission data from the hard disk via the memory 23 (33), and then send the above from the other station. It is determined whether or not the reception confirmation signal (acknowledgement) of the l block has been received (34).
Before this, the binarized image data or mixed data from the reader 10 is stored on the hard disk.

If a reception confirmation signal is received, it is determined whether the next block to be transmitted remains (S5). If the next block still remains, return to S3 and perform the above steps. Repeat, send the final block and exit (
36).

If a reception confirmation signal cannot be received from the other station after transmitting one predetermined block (S3), the data of the block corresponding to the reception confirmation signal that was not received is transmitted from the hard disk (37). , that is, the data of the block is retransmitted. This improves the reliability of transmitted data.

In S2 above, troubles such as one line disconnection or communication '
If it is determined that communication with the partner station is not possible due to the difference in mode, an error is displayed (S8) and the transmission operation is terminated (36).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an embodiment in which a part of the transmission operation shown in FIG. 3 is changed.

Note that the transmitting side is assumed to be a mixed mode terminal device. Here, the mixed mode is a mode in which image pixel data (MMR code data) and character data (ASCII code data) can be sent and received, and is used to efficiently transmit documents in which text and images are mixed on the page. mode. Further, the same steps as those shown in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is an example in which transmission data is converted into a signal format that can be received by the partner station and then transmitted.

In other words, after starting negotiation (31), it is first determined whether the other station is class I (a station that can send and receive image data only) (step 521). If it is class 1, the character code After converting the data to image data and compressing it in the ICU22 (S25), 1
The above conversion, which is transmitted in units of one page for each block (33), is performed by a character generator that outputs a bit pattern signal corresponding to character data. After this S3, the process is the same as in the case of FIG.

If the other station is not class I, the other station is class 2 (
Stations that can send and receive image data and can only receive character data and mixed data) or class 3 (stations that can send and receive image data and character data, and where characters and images are contained within a page) 322, 323).

If it is class 2 or 3, the process advances to S3, where each block is transmitted.

If the partner station is not one of classes 1 to 3, it is determined whether the partner station is Teletex (32
4) If it is teletex, first send a message to the effect that images cannot be sent 326), then only send character data (S27), which is class l.
Similarly, one block is sent to Teletex as one page. Teletex can display the text of the block on one screen of the CRT 60, and also displays the message.

Therefore, multiple blocks result in multiple pages of print. Classes 2 and 3 are those in which data is reorganized into one page divided into a plurality of blocks so as to be compatible with the mixed mode, and one page is displayed or printed. However, since block reorganization is not possible for class 1 Teletex, one block and one page are played back.

This allows the mixed mode terminal device to communicate with a partner station that only transmits and receives image data, and also to communicate with teletex. When communicating with Teletex, a message is sent to the effect that image data cannot be sent, so that the other station does not misjudge that a failure has occurred due to not receiving an image.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, when communicating with Teletex, the character data is transmitted (or while the character data is being transmitted).

You may also send a message to the effect that images cannot be sent.

Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 3.4, for each block,
Although it is checked whether or not a reception confirmation signal has been received from the partner station, the presence or absence of a reception confirmation signal may be checked for each window size or for each document.

Next, the operation when transmitting will be explained in more detail.

First, a document is read by the reader 10, and its image data is stored in the IMEM 25 via the reader/printer interface 21 and saved on the hard disk. The data saved on the hard disk is
After being stored in the MEM 23, it is sent to the partner station via the CCU 3O and the line 40.

In order to edit the data stored on the hard disk, the data is imported into the IMEM 25, and the BMU 24 performs scaling, movement, etc. of one image. To mix one character in this editing, enter a character from the keyboard 61 and convert it to character data (or character data saved on the hard disk) and store it in the character block of the image edited by the BMU 24. To send the edited data, first save it on the hard disk, then write and read it to PMEM23.

CCU30. It is sent to the other party via line 40.

To print the edited results, write the 1m collection result data to the IMEM 25, take it out, send it to the printer 70 via the reader/printer interface 28, and display the 0m collection result or process data on the CRT 60. Write and retrieve the data to CR
Send to T60.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the receiving operation in the above embodiment.

First, negotiation is started (351), and it is determined whether or not it is possible to communicate with the other party (352). If communication is possible, information about reception, terminal number, class type, etc. of the other party is sent to the CRT 60. Displayed on! (553
), the indication that C has been received is made when the partner station is specified.

Also, the reception display is,! This also appears when you are working on an I collection, so that there is no problem with the editing work.
It appears at the bottom of the T60's screen and the display blinks. In addition, BMU24, IMEM25, CRT60, and keyboard 61. When an incoming call signal is received while mix-editing a character image and a league image using the mouse 62, the CPU 60 uses the interrupt and multitasking functions to send an incoming call from the CCU 3O without interrupting the mix-editing process. The received mixed data of PMEM23
Store it on the hard disk via .

Then, 11,077 minutes of data is received (554) and saved on the hard disk. Confirm the storage of this 11,077 minutes of data (S55), then send a reception confirmation signal (a signal indicating that the reception of the 11,077 minutes of data has been confirmed) to the other station (35B), and then proceed to the next block. (357)), and if there is, the reception, storage on the hard disk, and transmission of the reception completion signal are repeated.On the other hand, if communication with the other station is not possible,
An error is displayed (358).

As described above, since the reception confirmation signal is sent out after each block of received data is stored in the hard disk, the reliability of the received data is increased.

Note that instead of sending the reception confirmation signal for each l block, the reception confirmation signal may be sent for each window size or for each document.

When actually receiving, first, line 40. CCU3O
, the received data is read and written to the PMEM 23 via the ComuniCage 1 interface, and is stored in the hard disk. This hard disk cannot be taken out by the user and does not disappear even when the power is turned off, so it is highly reliable for storing received data.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the invention. Note that the same members as those shown in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In this embodiment, the CCU 3 is installed outside the facsimile main body 20a.
This embodiment differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that a CCU 30a is provided and this CCU 30a controls the power supply 1g35 of the facsimile main body 20a.

The CCU 30a includes a memory 31 that temporarily holds received data, and a battery 32 for preventing momentary power outages. The power supply 33 is a main power supply, and the power supply 35 is a power control section of the facsimile main body 20a.

Next, the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 will be explained.

When automatic reception is not to be performed, the switch 34 is connected to the right (opposite to the state shown in FIG. 6); in this case, the operation is substantially the same as that in FIG. 1.

When performing automatic reception, the switch 34 is turned to the left as shown in FIG. In this case, since the CCU 30a does not supply power to the facsimile main body 20a, the hard disk drive 9150 is stopped and the screen of the CRT 60 is turned off. Therefore, if there is no reception at night etc.
Saves energy. Furthermore, since the hard disk device 50 and the like are stopped while not receiving data, the lifespan of the hard disk and floppy disk is extended.

After receiving an incoming call signal from the other station and performing a short period of predetermined negotiation with the other station, the timer is activated and the memory 31 stores the received data. On the other hand, simultaneously with the reception of the incoming call signal, power is supplied from the power supply 35 to each part of the facsimile main body 20 and peripheral devices. Thereafter, when the hard disk is ready for storage, the memory 31
The received data stored in is sent to the hard disk and saved there. Also, at this time, the reception is displayed on the screen of the CRT 60.

Therefore, since data reception does not have to wait until the hard disk is started up, line utilization efficiency can be improved.

Next, a case will be described in which a signal is sent from a mixed mode terminal device to a teletex or class I terminal device.

When sending to Teletex, either send only the text without sending the image, or send the text and add a message to the image area.

The information from the mixed mode terminal is either all image information on one page, character information on one page, or a mixture thereof. One page of this mixed information is divided into aa blocks, and these blocks are composed of at least one character information block and at least one image information block (this is shown in Fig. 7). (as shown).

When transmitting the image information to the teletex, the block (or page) containing the image information is erased and the operator is notified of this erasure. When the operator requests a message regarding the erased image information, the message is expressed in characters at the location of the block (or page) of the erased image information.

Finally, a one-page document containing only character information without a block structure is transmitted. If you do not need the above message, leave the image part blank (blank) and send.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for sending signals from a mixed mode terminal to a teletex terminal.

First, after editing the document (T1), it is determined whether the editing information of one page on the 017 screen is divided into multiple blocks constituting the mixed mode (T2). It is determined whether the block is image information or not (T3, T4). This determination is made using the identification symbol attached to each block when mix editing is performed.

If it is image information, it displays on the CRT 60 whether or not the image information should be deleted (T5), and waits for an input instruction from the operator.

When receiving the instruction to delete, it waits for an input instruction from the operator as to whether or not to send a substitute message (T6).

When an instruction to send a message is received, the first input key data becomes a message character (T7), and the block information of the image data is converted into message information (T8). In this case, the block information is Even if it disappears from the list, it may be kept separately.

In this way, the remaining blocks are processed in the same manner as above (T9, T10).

If the above block is image character information, it will be left on the CRT 60 without erasing it, or if you do not wish to erase the image data, 1 Communication Unable will be displayed.
l1), if a substitute message is not desired, the image data block is left blank (T12).

When all the blocks have been checked, boundaries between blocks are deleted and the character information of one page is automatically re-edited (Tl3).

This is because Teletex does not send and receive blocks.
This is because it takes into account that it is a page unit. Note that deleting the above boundaries means creating a one-page food data map by memory scanning the code data for each block of code developed in the main memory from the initial address to the final address in page units. That's true.

In addition, if it is determined at T2 that the block does not have multiple blocks, and if it does have image data (T15),
Please determine whether an alternative message is required (TlB)
, enter the message character if necessary (T1
7) In the above case, if there is no image data, or even if there is image data, a substitute message is not required, the process ends.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart when a signal is sent from a mixed mode terminal device to a class 1 terminal device.

In this case as well, the flow is basically the same as shown in FIG.

- It is the same as the chart, and the first three steps are the same (Ul-03), and the image data is sent as is, and the character data is converted to image data and then stored in the IMEM25 (Ul-03).
4, U5), Check these operations for all blocks (U6, U7). In the case of one figure, convert the figure code data to image data for each block and convert it to IM.
Store in EM25.

After this, block boundaries are deleted and converted to one page of image information (U8).This is done by scanning the pixel data for each block developed in memory.
This is to create a pit data map of the page.

Then, it is transmitted to the class I terminal device (U9). If the block is not a plurality of blocks, the page is transmitted as in the case of FIG. 8 (UIOlUll).

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, there is an effect that the reliability of transmission contents is high.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the above embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the transmission operation in the above embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing another example of the transmission operation in the above embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the receiving operation in the above embodiment. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a plurality of blocks constituting a mixed mode. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation when transmitting from a mixed mode terminal to a teletex terminal. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation when transmitting from a mixed mode terminal to a class I terminal. lO...league, 20.20a...facsimile body, 22...IC
U. 23...PMEM, 24...BMU. 25...IMEM, 26・VRAM, 30.30a-...CCU, 40...Line. 50...Hard disk device, 60...CRT, 70...Printer. Patent applicant: Canon Co., Ltd.-1z″ / Part 3

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A non-volatile memory that stores transmission data; when a reception confirmation signal is not received from the partner station during transmission, transmission data corresponding to the portion that does not receive the reception confirmation signal is sent from the non-volatile memory; A facsimile machine comprising: a transmission signal sending means; and; (2) The facsimile according to claim 1, wherein the facsimile employs a mixed mode. (3) In claim 1, the reception confirmation signal is transmitted for each window size, for each document,
Alternatively, a facsimile is characterized in that it is received in blocks in a mixed mode.