CN1110938C - Facsimile apparatus and article carrying software program used in said facsimile apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The facsimile device of the present invention is used in conjunction with an image display screen and an input device. The facsimile device can transmit the data to be facsimile encoded into G3 format, including the image of the TV screen, to another user in a distant place through the telephone line. fax device or conventional fax machine, or receive fax data from another user. It enables users to read, send and manage fax data by displaying an image screen.

Description

Fax device

technical field

The field of the invention is facsimile images. Generally, when users want to fax, they purchase a fax machine to achieve the function of faxing. But because quite a few users only can use once in a while, so buying facsimile machine often forms waste. At present, computers are also used with fax software. However, due to the high price of computers and high power consumption when starting up, and the rapid rate of hardware obsolescence, and the fact that fax software often needs to be updated to match the hardware, the use of computers as fax functions is maintained. Expensive.

Background technique

Because television set is almost the most common home appliance device, and due to the popularization of cable TV and the development of current two-way cable TV, the function of TV set will be greatly different, so it should be useful to develop a kind of facsimile device matched with TV set. needs.

In addition, click on the image on the TV screen and send it to others by fax, which is also difficult for current fax machines. For example, when a user watches TV, he finds that a friend appears in the program, but he cannot send the picture to other friends. . Therefore, it should be necessary to develop a method that can facsimile TV screen images in a simple manner.

Contents of the invention

The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a device for users to facsimile data.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile device used in conjunction with a TV, which is easy for users to install and does not affect the original functions of the TV, and the user can select the image on the TV screen and send it by fax. others, or keep it on file.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a program software to control the operation of the facsimile device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile device capable of transmitting and receiving facsimile data with a traditional facsimile machine or another facsimile device, wherein the program software will check the other party's fax code to determine whether the other party also has the user's fax device.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the facsimile device of the present invention is used in conjunction with a displayable image screen (the best use is to match with a TV) and an input device, wherein a TV signal is first connected to the facsimile device through a transmission line, After being processed by the fax device, it is transmitted to the display image screen; the user inputs the data signal of text or instructions to the fax device through the input device, and the fax device can encode the data to be faxed into G3 format through the telephone line Send to another user's fax device or a traditional fax machine in a remote place, or receive fax data from another user, so that the user can read, send and manage fax data through a displayable image screen.

The facsimile device of the present invention has a system hardware structure similar to that of a general computer, such as a processor, a memory, a data storage device, a sound processing unit, and a modem. The image processing unit includes a tuner, an image encoder, and an image controller. The tuner is used to select a TV channel. In addition, the text or image data generated by the software program is synthesized and processed, and then output to the display image screen, so that when the text or image When the data appears, the text or image data can be displayed on the display image screen.

The program software required by the facsimile device of the present invention provides the ability to check the other party's facsimile code so as to determine whether the other party also has the user's facsimile device, and can issue instructions to select the image on the TV screen and send it to others in a fax manner.

A facsimile device of the present invention is used in conjunction with a displayable image screen and an input device, wherein a TV signal is first connected to the facsimile device through a transmission line, and then transmitted to the display image screen after being processed by the facsimile device; the first use Or input commands or data signals to the facsimile device through the input device, and the facsimile device can transmit the desired facsimile data to the facsimile device of the second user in the remote place or to the traditional facsimile machine through the telephone line, or receive information from the facsimile device 2. The facsimile data in the user's facsimile device or the traditional facsimile machine, the facsimile data can be displayed on the video screen, and it is characterized in that the facsimile device includes:

An infrared receiver is used to receive the infrared emission signal input from the input device;

A modem is used to receive incoming fax signals from the telephone line and output the fax signals to the telephone line;

A memory capable of storing an application program readable by the fax device, so that the first user can use the software program to achieve the purpose of receiving and sending faxes;

A data storage device capable of storing data. When the facsimile device is without power supply, the data stored in the data storage device can still be preserved;

It also includes a data transmission device;

a processor, processing and controlling the data signal in the facsimile device, and executing the software program in the memory, including determining whether the second user also uses the facsimile device of the first user; and

An image processing device, which receives TV signals, and processes the text or image data generated by the execution of the software program and then outputs it to the display image screen, so that when the text or image data appears, the text can be displayed on the display image screen or image data;

By means of the above-mentioned device and components, the facsimile device can achieve transmission and reception of facsimile data with a traditional facsimile machine or another facsimile device.

Wherein the image processing device also includes the function of selecting TV station channels.

Wherein when the television signal is an analog signal, the image processing device can convert the analog signal into a digital signal.

Wherein the memory is a readable and writable memory.

Wherein the data storage device is a hard disk.

Description of drawings

For further illustrating structure and feature thereof of the present invention, below in conjunction with accompanying drawing, the present invention is described in further detail, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a reference diagram of the use state of the facsimile device of the present invention in conjunction with a displayable image screen and an input device.

FIG. 2 is a hardware architecture diagram of the facsimile device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a software architecture diagram used by the facsimile device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a packet format of a communication protocol (Protocol) suggested by the facsimile device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a software architecture diagram related to the user interface.

Figure 6 is a software flow diagram for the transfer manager.

Fig. 7 is a software flow diagram for the reception manager.

Fig. 8 is a software architecture diagram related to reading the fax manager.

Fig. 9 is a flowchart of the software related to the fax import/export manager.

Fig. 10 is a software architecture diagram of the I/O manager.

Detailed ways

Please refer to FIG. 1 , the facsimile device 10 of the present invention is used in conjunction with a displayable image screen 90 and an input device 40 . In the present embodiment, the image screen 90 that can be displayed is an example of a TV set 91. A transmission line 92 (such as a TV cable) is first connected to the facsimile device 10, and then passes through the voice transmission line 18 and the image transmission line 19 (or adopts a method that can simultaneously A TV cable for transmitting sound and video) transmits sound and video to the TV set 91 .

The general use of the facsimile device 10 will be roughly described below. When the user is usually watching the TV 91, the remote controller 93 is used to select the facsimile device 10. When the fax is sent to another user, the input device is used. The button 41 of 40 (or the trackball selection instruction, not shown in the figure) input instruction to carry out fax. The facsimile is transmitted through the telecommunication network 94, and it is judged whether the other party uses a standard facsimile machine or the facsimile device 10 of the present invention to determine the transfer protocol.

Please also refer to the hardware architecture diagram of the facsimile device 10 in FIG. , a data storage device 13 (such as a hard disk), a sound processing unit 14 and a modem 15 etc., so those with ordinary skills can know how to complete the design of this hardware by this hardware architecture diagram. The hardware part of the present invention is mainly different from the general computer mainframe hardware in the part of the image processing unit 20 .

The image processing unit 20 includes a tuner 21 , an image encoder 22 and an image controller 23 . The TV signal is connected to the tuner 21 through the TV cable 92, so that the remote control 93 can select the TV channel.

The image controller 23 mainly synthesizes the text or image data generated by the internal software program, sends them to the image encoder 22 for processing into a signal acceptable to the TV 91 , and then outputs the signal to the TV 91 through the image transmission line 19 . Generally more common TV signal belongs to analog signal at present, and TV set 91 also belongs to receiving analog signal, and video controller 23 and video encoder 22 can adopt the CyberPro series chips such as IGS at this moment.

It should be noted that when the user is usually watching the TV 91 without using the fax function, the processor 11 can also control the video controller 23 to transmit data, and directly (ByPass) the TV signal to the video transmission line 19 . When the user is using the facsimile function, the image controller 23 combines and processes the TV signal and the text or video images generated by the facsimile device 10 (such as operating the window or previewing the data to be faxed). At this time, if the TV signal is an analog signal, It is first necessary to convert the analog signal into a digital signal in order to merge and process the TV signal and the picture of text or video.

As shown in the figure, the audio signal in the TV signal goes directly to the audio processing unit 14 via the video controller 23 .

In addition, the modem 15 can be internally connected or externally connected. When the externally connected modem 15 is adopted, the facsimile device 10 can use an RS232 connector so as to be directly connected to the most common modem 15 at present.

In order to cooperate with the use of the TV set 91, it is recommended to adopt a wireless (cordless) method between the input device 40 and the facsimile device 10, such as an infrared signal. infrared signal. It should be noted that the transmission of the input signal can already be transmitted by means of radio waves or wires.

The architecture diagram of the software program is described below. Please refer to FIG. 3 . The software architecture is roughly divided into three levels. The top end is the application program 51 , the middle end is the communication protocol program 52 , and the bottom end is the system processing program 53 . Since the system processing program 53 is not the focus of the present invention, it will not be described in detail. The packet format (PacketFormat) of the protocol (Protocol) of the 52nd part of the protocol program is suggested as shown in Figure 4, wherein the "Header Field" field (Header Field) indicates the starting end of the packet, and it is recommended to occupy one bit; "length "Field (Length Field) defines the data length of the package, it is recommended to occupy two bits; "Data Field" (Data Field) is the message to be sent, it is recommended to occupy 1024-2048 bits; "CRC32" field is an error The check code field (error detection/correction code Field), the "Trailer Field" field (Trailer Field) indicates the beginning and end of the packet. Because the present invention is through the telecommunication network, so do not need as the destination address (ObjectID) and the source address (Source ID) of the TCP/IP agreement of Internet (Internet).

Please also refer to FIG. 5 , the user interface S10 is for the convenience of the user to operate according to the instructions, and mainly includes three functions. Allowing the user to input the other party's phone number S11 is a necessary means for establishing a connection with the other party. And the display operation interface graphics and text S12 are preferably in the form of windows to facilitate the user to operate the software. The selection operation mode S13 is for the user to select the transmission manager S20 and read the fax manager S40. Since the graphic or catalog design of the user interface S10 is not an improvement of the present invention, it is not described in detail in the drawings.

Please also refer to the software flow chart of the transfer manager S20 in FIG. 6 . First, execute the modem initialization setting, which is the step of the traditional modem. Set this machine facsimile code again, such as with " TVFAX " as the facsimile code (Local ID) of facsimile device 10 of the present invention, generally be to set facsimile number or username as facsimile code in traditional facsimile machine.

Next, the user selects the data to be faxed. At this time, there are two options to provide, one is to click the image on the TV screen S21 or to obtain the faxed data in S22 from the data storage device 13 . If the TV screen S21 is selected, the processor 11 orders the image controller 23 to transmit the image presented by the TV 91 to the processor 11, that is, the TV signal received by the image controller 23 (such as a full page of TV image). If you choose to select the fax data from the data storage device 13, call and read the fax manager S40 through the user interface S10, select the required data, because the present embodiment does not have a scanner (also can be installed), the prepared Good data is first stored in the data storage device 13 through the data transmission device 101 .

Next, encode the selected data to be faxed into G3 format S23 (the standard format for transmitting data by traditional fax machines). After the dial-up connection S24, start to check the other party's fax or modem parameters S25, step S25 is the standard checking action (handshaking) when the traditional fax machine transmits, and the fax device 10 must additionally check the other party's fax code, such as the other party's fax code Whether it is also "TVFAX" in order to judge whether the other party also owns the facsimile device 10 of the present invention, and finally enters step S50.

Please refer to FIG. 7 for the software flowchart of the reception manager S30. Like the initial process of the transmission manager S20, first perform the initial setting of the modem, which is the step of the traditional facsimile machine, and then set the local fax code. Next, the receiving manager S30 sets the fax device 10 in the mode of waiting for fax S31. After the other party sends a fax and connects, he starts to check the other party's fax or modem parameters S33 (such as transmission speed, resolution, etc.), and step S33 is Standard checking action (handshaking) when traditional facsimile machine receives, additionally facsimile device 10 must additionally check the facsimile code of the other party, such as whether the facsimile code of the other party is also "TVFAX" so as to judge whether the other party also has the facsimile device 10 of the present invention, and respond The other party's own fax code S34, and finally enters step S50.

Fig. 8 shows the framework of the fax output and output manager S40, and its functions can be divided into four parts: checking whether there are new faxes, reading faxes, managing faxes, and storing data to be faxed, wherein the fax data is suggested to be stored in the data storage device 13, The above-mentioned functions can be displayed through the TV 91 or display fax data and the like. In addition, the function of storing the data to be faxed is mainly in the flow chart of the transmission manager S20. If the user does not want to fax immediately, the fax data can be stored in the data storage device 13 first, and then transmitted at an appropriate time. In fact, a better design can be like the E-Mail management program of a computer, which stores the faxes that have been sent out in an "outbox" and stores the faxes to be sent out in a "draft box" , and store the incoming fax in an "incoming file directory" (inbox).

FIG. 9 shows the flow of the fax output and output manager S50. Firstly, it is judged whether the other party is also the fax device 10 of the present invention? As mentioned above, whether the other party's fax code is also "TVFAX" so as to judge whether the other party also has the fax device 10 of the present invention, if so, no matter sending or receiving faxes, all need to be processed by the communication protocol program 52, that is To comply with the communication agreement shown in Figure 4. But if the other side is not as the facsimile device 10 of the present invention, then regard the other party as a standard facsimile machine 96, as shown in Figure 1, the facsimile device 10 of the present invention can also transmit or receive faxes with the standard facsimile machine 96. Next, process S51 for the transmission standard, such as the control of the transmission speed, checking the fax and modem parameters of the other party, and whether there is a continuation page to be transmitted, etc. If it is the state of receiving faxes now, the G3 format needs to be decoded S52 in order to output the image data to the TV 91 or store in the data storage device 13 .

The input and output of the above data or information is managed by the input and output manager S70. Please refer to FIG. 10 for the software architecture diagram of the input and output manager S70, which shows four main functions. The input data processing S71 processes the data input by the input device 40, such as fax instructions, fax numbers and so on. Check the other party's fax and modem parameters, the input and output processing S72 of the fax code, which is related to the establishment of standard fax program communication, and judge whether the other party also has the fax device 10 of the present invention, and the output and input of the fax data S73 will fax The data is output to the fax device of the other party, or the fax data sent by the other party is received. Calling the user interface S74 is mainly to start the user interface S10 to remind the user that a fax comes in when the other party actively transmits fax data, such as displaying a reminder symbol (such as text or pattern) on the TV 91 . The output image S75 is to process the image to be displayed on the displayable image screen 90 .

It should be noted that the above is only an example, but not limited to the example. Those that do not deviate from the basic framework of the present invention should be within the scope of rights claimed by this patent, and the scope of the patent application should prevail.

Claims (5)

1. a picture unit is to use with a screen capable of displaying image and input unit collocation, and wherein a TV signal is connected to this picture unit earlier by a transmission line, imports the show image screen again into after handling through picture unit; First user by this input unit to this picture unit input instruction or data signal, and this picture unit can see through telephone wire with the true data transmission of tendency to develop afield in second user's the picture unit or in traditional facsimile machine, perhaps receive from second user's the picture unit or the facsimile material of traditional facsimile machine, this facsimile material can be shown on the video screen, it is characterized in that this picture unit comprises:

One infrared receiver is to receive the infrared signal of importing from input unit;

One modem is to receive the facsimile signal that telephone wire transmitted into and export facsimile signal to telephone wire;

One memory can store the application program that picture unit can read, and makes the user that wins can utilize this software program to reach the purpose that receives and transmit fax;

One data storage device can store data, when this picture unit when non-transformer is supplied, the stored data of data storage device still can be preserved;

Wherein also comprise a data transmission device;

The data signal in this picture unit is handled and controlled to one processor, and the software program in the execute store, comprising judging whether second user also uses as first user's picture unit; And

One image processor, received television signal, and export the show image screen to after again the literal of the performed generation of software program or image data being handled together, and make when literal or image data occur, can on the show image screen, show this literal or image data;

Can make picture unit be able to and traditional facsimile machine by above-mentioned device and element, perhaps another picture unit is reached and is transmitted and the data of receiving faxes.

2. picture unit as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that wherein image processor also comprises the function of selecting television station channel.

3. picture unit as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, wherein when TV signal was analog signal, image processor can change into digital signal with this analog signal.

4. picture unit as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, wherein memory is read-write formula memory.

5. picture unit as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, wherein the data storage device is a hard disk.

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