JP2576121B2 - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Object of the Invention (Industrial Application Field) The present invention compresses read image information, temporarily stores the image information in a transmission buffer, and then transmits the image information to the outside via a communication line. The present invention relates to a facsimile machine.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, in a facsimile apparatus of this type, after an image written on a document is read by an image reading means, data is compressed and temporarily stored in a transmission buffer, and then a facsimile of a destination is transmitted in accordance with a predetermined procedure. The image information is transmitted to the device. The transmission of such image information is performed in page units. In a so-called phase C, the information is transmitted, and thereafter, a phase D for confirming that the information transmission is completed is performed.
A procedure called is performed.

In the phase D, an exchange is made as to whether there is no error in the transmission of the information and whether or not the information can be continuously transmitted. Transmission of image information for one page is completed,
If there is no information to be continuously transmitted, the facsimile apparatus notifies the transmission destination facsimile apparatus of the fact in phases D and E, terminates the communication, and disconnects the communication line.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, if all the originals to be transmitted at a time cannot be mounted on the image reading means, the following problem occurs. That is, there is a problem that the communication is terminated while the originals to be continuously transmitted are set, and the connection with the destination facsimile apparatus via the communication line is disconnected.

In particular, when the communication speed of the facsimile apparatus becomes high and the image information remaining in the buffer is output in a short period of time, as in the so-called G3 mode, etc., the allowable document for setting the next original is set. These issues cannot be overlooked due to the reduced time.

Furthermore, with a simple facsimile machine in which only one document can be loaded, if two or more documents are transmitted in succession, if the communication is terminated every time one sheet is transmitted, the telephone must be called many times. The transmission of a plurality of originals requires complicated work.

 The present invention has been made to solve such a problem.

Configuration of the Invention (Means for Solving the Problem) A facsimile apparatus according to the present invention includes image information reading means M2 for reading an image written on a document M1, as exemplified in FIG. A facsimile apparatus including a communication unit M4 for compressing information and temporarily storing the image information in a transmission buffer M3, and then transmitting the image information to the outside via a communication line, wherein a document which can be attached to the image information reading unit M2 at one time. When the reading of M1 is completed, an information amount determining unit M5 that determines whether the compressed image information amount stored in the transmission buffer M3 is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, and the information amount determining unit M5 performs the transmission. When it is determined that the amount of compressed image information stored in the buffer M3 is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, dummy data of a predetermined amount is transmitted prior to transmission of information indicating the end of image information transmission. Characterized by comprising a data sending means M6.

(Operation) The facsimile apparatus of the present invention is configured such that, when reading of the document M1 is completed, the information amount determining means M5 determines that the compressed image information amount stored in the transmission buffer M3 is equal to or less than a predetermined amount. Then, the dummy data transmitting means M6 transmits a predetermined amount of the demi data before transmitting the information indicating the end of the transmission of the image information.

That is, the information amount determination means M5 determines that the transmission is completed before the next original is set in the image information reading means M2 because there is little image information existing in the transmission buffer M3 after being compressed for transmission. Then, it is determined whether or not information indicating the end of the transmission of the image information (for example, a signal EOP in an embodiment described later) has been transmitted.

If the information indicating the end of the transmission of the image information has been transmitted, the facsimile apparatus ends the transmission processing,
Again, the other party has to be called and sent. Therefore, in order to prevent such transmission end, the dummy data transmitting means M6 transmits a predetermined amount of dummy data prior to transmission of information indicating the end of transmission of image information.

This delays the end of transmission, so that the next original M1 to be continuously transmitted can be set in the image information reading means M2 before the end of transmission, and the next original M1 is compressed again in the transmission buffer M3. Image information can be written. Therefore, even if the image information obtained by compressing the previous original M1 is short, there is enough time to set the next original M1, and continuous transmission is not hindered.

Example In order to further clarify the configuration of the present invention described above, a preferred example of the present invention will be described next. Second
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a facsimile apparatus as one embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the facsimile apparatus operates under the control of the electronic control unit 1 and conveys the original paper 5 in the direction of arrow A by the paper feed rollers 2 and 3, and writes the original paper 5 on the original paper 5. An image is read by using a reading head 10 provided to face the flat platen 7. The reading head 10 and the platen 7 constitute a reading mechanism.

The electronic control unit 1 is configured as a logical operation circuit centered on a well-known CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 14, a transmission buffer 15 for storing image information, and the like.
Port (SIO) 17, input port 18 and output port 19,
It has a configuration that is interconnected. SIO17 is the communication line P
Connected to another facsimile machine via
1 transmits / receives image data to / from another facsimile apparatus via the SIO 17. Also, the input port 18 is connected to the read head 10 via the flexible
The output ports 19 are each connected to a stepping motor 22 that rotates the paper feed roller 3.

The reading head 10 connected to the input port 18 is of a close contact type provided with an illuminating device and a line-type CCD sensor inside.
Read in dot units of [mm] pitch. The read image data for one line is stored in the flexible printed circuit board 20.
Via the input port 18 and read by the CPU 11 via the input port 18. Output port 19
Is rotated by the control of the CPU 11, and conveys the original paper 5 by 1 / 7.7 [mm] for each step.

When the document sheet 5 for reading is set, the facsimile apparatus having the above configuration reads an image on a document and sends image data according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing communication control of the present embodiment. When the manuscript 5 is inserted into the facsimile apparatus of the embodiment and transmission in the G3 mode is selected, first, a call control for calling the facsimile apparatus of the transmission destination is performed, a phase A for performing a call setting procedure, and a call setting After that, a procedure (phase B) to be performed prior to transmission of the message is executed (step 100). Further, the reading of the document is started, and as described above, the transmission data is read line by line, and the read data is compressed over one page and stored in the transmission buffer 15 (step 110). Is discharged from the department. The read data is sent to the connected facsimile machine via the transmission buffer 15 and the line P.

When the discharge of the original 5 is completed, it is determined whether or not the amount of data remaining in the transmission buffer 15 is smaller than a predetermined amount (step 120). A predetermined amount of dummy data (“0” in this embodiment) is transmitted before the RTC code indicating the end of the phase C added after the last data of one page.
It is sent to 15 (step 130). Thereafter, a code RTC indicating the end of the image signal is stored in the buffer (step 14).
0).

If the transmission buffer 15 has enough transmission data stored therein (step 1120), a code RTC indicating the end of transmission data without putting dummy data in the buffer is stored.
In a buffer (step 140).

Next, wait until the transmission buffer 15 is completely empty (step 150).
After the delay (step 160), it is confirmed whether or not the next original is set (step 170). When the next original is set, the phase C of the phase C is received as soon as a confirmation signal of completion of information transmission of the first page is received. Output the signal MPS that returns to the beginning (step 2
00) Then, the process proceeds to phase D in which a procedure for confirming the end of message transmission is performed. (Step 210). Thereafter, the control routine returns to step 110 to read the message of the next page, and repeats the control routine as in the case described above. In this manner, information is transmitted over a plurality of pages.

If it is determined in step 170 that the next original has not been set, the end of the message is confirmed, and a signal EOP indicating that no additional message is continued follows (step 180). A confirmation signal MCF of a certain message is received, and processing of phase D is performed. After performing the process of confirming the completion of the information transmission and disconnecting the line in the phase D and the phase E (step
190), and ends the present control routine.

Here, the signal MPS (multi-page signal) transmitted in step 200 indicates that the end of one page of facsimile information and the next continuous document exist, and returns to the beginning of phase C upon receipt of the confirmation. Is shown. The signal MP
Indicates the end of one page of facsimile information in place of S,
A configuration may be adopted in which a signal EOM (message end signal) indicating returning to the beginning of the phase B is transmitted. The signal EOP (procedure end signal) transmitted in step 180 indicates that there is no original document following the end of one page of the facsimile, and indicates that phase D processing is performed after the confirmation signal MCF. .

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of data transmitted by the facsimile apparatus of the embodiment. As shown in the figure, the transmission data usually includes one line of image data and a code indicating the end of the data (end of line EOL) in phase C.

In the present embodiment, when the data stored in the transmission buffer 15 is equal to or less than a predetermined amount at the time when the reading of the original of one page is completed, a predetermined amount of dummy data is transmitted prior to the signal RTC indicating the end of the transmission data. The data “0” is sent to the transmission buffer 15. Therefore, in this case, the transmission of the previous data of one page of the document is completed (FIG.
The phase C ends only after the dummy data “0” is transmitted, and then a signal RTC indicating the end of the transmission data is transmitted.

As a result, step 170 is performed until the transmission of the image data including the dummy data stored in the transmission buffer 15 is completed.
Is not made, and sufficient time for setting the next document to be transmitted is obtained. If the next original is set during this time, a positive "YES" determination is made in step 170, and continuous transmission is possible.

In the present embodiment, a configuration is adopted in which the image information data of the current page is read, and when it is determined that the data is small in the transmission buffer 15, dummy data is inserted. Therefore, when the transmission information at the time when the reading of one page is completed is less than the predetermined amount, the buffer amount can be supplemented by sending the dummy data to the transmission buffer 15, so that until the information of the next page is sent. Is delayed, and a sufficient waiting time can be obtained.

When the dummy data is replenished and stored in the transmission buffer 15 in this manner, the phase C does not end and the transmission line becomes
Not cut. Therefore, the time until the next document is inserted is delayed, so that a plurality of document data can be transmitted with a margin. As a result, there is no need to dial again to confirm the transmission.

Also, when it is determined that the data necessary for the next information transmission is not stored in the transmission buffer 15 due to the high-speed transmission, the dummy data is supplemented to connect the plurality of pages. Can be transmitted.

According to the present invention, when transmitting information of a document having a small amount of data, or when transmitting at high speed, the time required to insert the next document can be delayed by appropriately inserting dummy data. The document can be inserted continuously. As a result, there is no need to perform dialing again to confirm transmission.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of a facsimile as an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing transmission control of the embodiment, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of transmission data in the embodiment. 1 ... Electronic control device, 5 ... Document paper 10 ... Read head, 15 ... Transmission buffer P ... Communication line

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image information reading means for reading an image written on a document, compressing the read image information, temporarily storing the read image information in a transmission buffer, and transmitting the image information to the outside via a communication line. A facsimile apparatus provided with a communication unit that performs reading of a document that can be attached to the image information reading unit at one time, and determines whether an amount of compressed image information stored in the transmission buffer is equal to or less than a predetermined amount. Information amount determining means for determining whether the compressed image information amount stored in the transmission buffer is less than or equal to a predetermined amount; A facsimile apparatus comprising: dummy data transmitting means for transmitting prior to the transmission of information indicating the end of information transmission.